The future Theresa maintained her previous haughtiness. Her scarlet-red pupils, however, hid madness even Theresa could not imagine. She was so far detached from Theresa that she did not feel like Theresa.
“Yin comes from the same source as the Moon. Mind telling what else it is synonymous with?”
“..!”
Theresa's Dao was Primordial Moon. It was derived from the Daos of Moon, Time, and Yin-Yang. By deriving its power, she could exert influence comparable to the first Moon created upon a world's birth.
Its practice required her to consume yin-type spiritual materials. Theresa did not have any limitations on its quantity and quality. Things that would have killed others is a light snack for her. It was even more so with dual cultivation. It was the final key to her cultivation.
Shi Tian, as the possessor of the ultimate-grade Five Elements Yin-Yang spirit root, has power that surpasses most Pure Yang physiques and spirit roots. Physical attraction between him and Theresa is an inevitable thing. She is destined to be with Shi Tian; her cultivation aptitude said so.
Nevertheless, Theresa wasn't some kind of woman who will blindly follow destiny again. Her decisions to blindly believe in her grandfather caused countless suffering. Even with the Fenghuang Down factored in, the fact she never suspected him until decades later made it her fault.
That was the case, but she still fell for him. Shi Tian wasn't a saint. He could only try his best to protect what was close to him. That was one of the reasons behind his kindness—and overwhelming affection towards his partners. Theresa was completely won over by it. One could imagine the affection she held towards him, more so after thousands of years.
“What did you do?”
Theresa's voice turned cold as she stared at her future self. The latter remained unbothered by her questioning, however.
“Guess?”
“You…”
Her heart chilled to its core.
Yin is an aspect that exists throughout all of heaven. All of its creations have it. Theresa's consumption of specific spiritual materials and dual cultivation are but a few methods to increase her cultivation.
Another overbearing and cruel way to do the same is deprivation. Theresa could cultivate evil techniques, commit endless massacre, and absorb the yin qi rising from within. The evil and malice condensed by the resentment of the deceased turn every other energy into cold yin qi.
The future Theresa's implications were clear:
She became an evil cultivator!
Strangely enough, Theresa did not say harsh words, nor did she deny her existence.
Deep down in her heart…
‘I… I am capable of that.’
…she knew she could do it.
“If you truly want a future other than mine, prove it.”
Bam-!
Shatter-!
Rumble-!
The castle they were in crumbled down like sand. Theresa was exposed to the blood red moon hanging in the sky. Its dim red shade carried immense malevolence. Cries of those she murdered ensued, and so did the strong stench of blood wafting in the air.
At this moment, Theresa was surrounded by boundless malice.
‘He wouldn't want to see this…’
*****
To live in the present and face whatever that may come.
That was Senti’s determination. It is the idea that took root in her heart, further solidified by her eighth-level Tao Heart. Fu Hua resolved herself to stay in the past while she looked forward to the things present would give her. Such was the way of life she had comprehended.
Looking at the woman identical to herself, Senti's eyes widened. The said woman, on the other hand, smirked.
“Look at that stupefied look of yours.”
A sudden surge of pressure pressed down upon the future Senti. She brushed it off with ease, however, as her smirk only intensified.
“You dare impersonate me?” Senti said slowly.
Senti roleplayed as a scammer every now and then. She loved the feeling of making a fool out of others. Of course, she ultimately makes it up by surprising them with various opportunities.
Now, even if the woman in front of her was an illusion, Senti was irked by the smile she gave.
In short, she was ragebaited.
“Having eyes but cannot see Mount Tai…”
“You're stealing my lines too!”
“Tsk, tsk. Calm down, fellow daoist, lest you suffer from qi deviation.”
“...”
Senti lost.
Facing her future self, she couldn't do anything.
Pop-!
Several mini Sentis popped up. They encircled the future Senti, cheering while jumping.
“All hail the Herrscher of Sentience!”
“All hail the Herrscher of Sentience!”
“All hail the Herrscher of Sentience!”
…
Senti became more speechless at this grand display. Shamelessness was something she developed over the course of time. That was how she roleplayed as a mysterious expert-slash-charlatan on her whims. She didn't expect there was someone who could best her in this regard!
‘This sensation…’
Her mind wasn't idle at that time. Her words were partially a distraction to allow her to further analyze who this woman was. After repeated cross-analysis, Senti found similarities between her and the future Shi Tian who released the Sea of Suffering.
‘She is a future projection of me.’
She was unclear whether she was the only one who faced this situation, but her intuition said so otherwise.
“What do you want?”
Senti was out of options, hence she asked the future Senti directly.
“I will teach it to you. The Dao you cannot comprehend.”
“..!”
Senti took the same Dao Fu Hua was currently comprehending. Utilizing their connection, they could have the same Dao despite being two ‘individuals’. It is the same as Seele and Veliona’s shared ownership of the Dao of Eternal Samsara.
“The Dao of Extinguished Nirvana is elusive and contradictory.” The future Senti paused as she looked at her. “How could you change your heart because of your dao?”
“...”
Nirvana is a state of supreme enlightenment. Nothing in the world could shackle one who attained it. In turn, they are liberated from unending suffering. There are many interpretations to it done by countless great minds.
Still, Senti could not grasp what the meaning of nirvana should be. Even when she moved onto its other components—Life and Time—she couldn't find any clues.
Her Tao Heart conflicted with this Dao so much she faced troubles others did not have. She was one of the few whose Dao comprehension hasn't reached the threshold for Dao Integration Realm breakthrough. Her options now were to either give up and recultivate or keep on trying.
Senti chose the latter.
Fwoosh-!
A spark of bright crimson flames emerged from the future Senti's fingertips. Her red irises stared at Senti before the latter felt her robes getting scorched. Space seemed to have rejected her, exerting crushing force from all directions. Senti's irises narrowed as she saw a faint candlelight being extinguished by a gentle breeze. That sensation was the exact same as her situation now.
‘Nirvana…’