After countless regressions, trying again and again to fix the mistakes of his past, Mingyun had still failed to accomplish anything meaningful in his lifetime.
Then he discovered the truth—he had been summoned into another world, a world ruled by those known as Immortals.
In the mortal realm, these so-called immortals oppressed those who had failed to become immortal. Yet that did not mean mortals deserved to be treated unfairly.
Immortals could live for several hundred years, but they were still not true immortals of the Nine Heavens, where even an average person could live for thousands of years.
This meant their lifespan in the mortal realm was limited to only one or two hundred years.
And yet, these immortals ruled over the mortal realm itself, reshaping it according to their will.
They were considered immortal by mortals, but in truth, they were far from real immortals.
The reason they were granted such power was because of the blessings of the Nine Heavenly Ancestors.
These ancestors came from nine different realms, each existing within separate dimensions beyond the mortal realm.
The Nine Heavens themselves were said to be as vast as the sun.
Only immortals were allowed to dwell there.
This cruel law had been established by the founder of the Nine Heavens—the first human, a direct descendant of the very first being born within the Great Dao of Creation during the First Era.
And Mingyun possessed an artificial weapon said to have appeared during that ancient era.
This artificial weapon was more valuable than even the Seven Heavens themselves.
Its name was the Life and Death Artificial Weapon, ranked among the highest treasures of the Nine Heavens.
Unfortunately, Mingyun had been discovered by the Apex Sovereign Sect, the most powerful sect in existence.
The sect itself possessed the greatest mortal artificial treasures.
Yet all of them paled in comparison to the Life and Death Artificial Weapon.
A mortal possessing such an item was considered a grave threat, for not even true immortals of the Nine Heavens possessed such a treasure.
The Supreme Leader of the sect gave Mingyun a double glance before casually waving his hand.
Suddenly, a vermilion formation appeared, and thousands of so-called immortals emerged within it.
The Supreme Leader smiled and spoke in a calm, relaxed tone—one that did not suit his violent nature.
This was a man who showed no mercy, not even to his own children or wife.
"Hey, Mingyun. We know you are just a mortal trying to improve your life. I understand that."
He paused, his smile widening.
"But I am worried about you."
"The reason is simple—you do not understand that artificial weapons can become curses."
"When one uses the Life and Death Artificial Weapon, they become bound to it."
"It can only restore one dead person back to life."
"If you use it, you will remain trapped in the mortal world for what I estimate to be… an everlasting lifetime."
Mingyun gave him a cold stare.
His teeth clenched tightly as rage boiled within him.
Yet deep down, he had already begun considering surrendering the weapon.
Why should he continue clinging to it after suffering through countless regressions?
Even the strongest mind had limits.
And Mingyun had suffered beyond reason.
He looked directly at the Supreme Leader and suddenly smiled.
Then he spoke.
The moment his shameless words left his mouth, the Supreme Leader's face darkened with fury.
The immortals around them all turned pale.
The Supreme Leader felt humiliated.
"You want my artificial weapon not because you seek peace…"
"It is because your rotten brain convinced you to slaughter your own children so you could reach the Peak Artist Stage, the very peak of the mortal realm."
"This so-called world of heroes and villains does not truly exist."
"You all simply created these rules yourselves."
"You claim that the righteous path and the evil path can never coexist because of their different ideologies."
"But tell me—how is a righteous Supreme Leader like you any different from the evil path?"
"You murdered your own children."
"What a disgusting creep."
"A mortal like me, with no cultivation and no talent, still has more brain cells than you."
"That is honestly embarrassing."
"Even some of your men are trying not to laugh."
The Supreme Leader froze.
Never in his life had anyone spoken to him in such a shameless manner.
Mortals feared him.
Immortals feared him.
No one had ever dared to insult him so openly.
If news of this spread throughout the mortal realm, his reputation would be ruined.
His rivals would mock him endlessly.
Even ordinary mortals would laugh behind his back.
The Peak Artist immortals all looked away, desperately trying not to laugh.
But the moment the Supreme Leader shot them a fierce glare, their faces turned pale.
Some even began sweating.
The Supreme Leader sighed heavily and snapped his fingers.
A sphere of fire appeared in the air.
Pointing one finger toward it, he slowly rotated it.
The sphere grew larger with each passing second.
Then he stopped.
Pulling his hand back, he spoke loudly.
"Mingyun."
"I will give you forty seconds to beg for forgiveness."
"And if you do not hand over the artificial weapon…"
"Prepare to meet your end."
Mingyun already knew this would happen.
There was no escape.
Exactly one thousand immortals floated in the sky.
Each of them had reached the Peak Artist Stage, while some had even surpassed it into the Sage Artist realm.
And Mingyun?
He was merely a mortal wielding an immortal artificial weapon.
How ironic.
A mortal possessed an immortal treasure, while immortals themselves wielded mortal artificial weapons.
The Supreme Leader began counting.
"One…"
"Two…"
"Three…"
"Six…"
"Seven…"
"Eight…"
"Ten."
The immortals quickly backed away, not wanting to be caught in the flames.
Some shouted:
"Fool! What are you doing?!"
"Is this guy out of his mind?"
"He has no way out!"
"Just give us the weapon!"
"He is courting death!"
"We will grant you twenty thousand soul coins!"
"You could build your own sect!"
"You could create a family and live in luxury!"
"Not even half of us, despite once being mortals, have such wealth!"
"Boy, think carefully!"
Mingyun remained silent.
Deep down, he wondered if he should hand it over.
But he refused to act foolishly.
Then suddenly—
Someone appeared before him.
Mingyun's eyes widened as he stumbled back.
His soul trembled violently.
The figure standing before him looked exactly like him.
A perfect copy.
The figure grabbed Mingyun by the throat and smiled.
"If you hand over the artificial weapon now…"
"Wouldn't all of this suffering have been for nothing?"
Slowly, the figure released him.
A twisted grin spread across its face.
"What will you choose, Mingyun?"
"Hehehe…"
"I am curious to see whether you will surrender… or die."
"There is almost no way out."
Mingyun's heart pounded wildly.
For the first time in a long while, true fear consumed him.
If he died today, would he regress again?
He was not certain.
And if he did not…
Then everything would truly be over.
If the Supreme Leader killed him, the sect would claim the Life and Death Artificial Weapon.
All of his countless struggles would become meaningless.
But if he surrendered it…
Would he not also lose his chance to continue regressing?
Fear filled his heart.
For the first time, he questioned himself.
How could he ever be certain he would become a true cultivator in another life?
Then visions appeared before him.
His father.
His mother.
His uncle.
His brother.
His sister.
All of them stared at him with disappointment.
"Even my own family is disappointed in me…?"
"Who can I trust now?"
"No one."
"Only my useless self."
Mingyun's expression darkened.
A heavy gloom settled over his face as pain spread through his chest.
Then he froze as the Supreme Leader continued counting.
"Thirty…"
"Thirty-five…"
"Thirty-six…"
"Boy, hurry up."
"Do you wish to die?"
"Thirty-seven."
Mingyun dropped to his knees.
Slowly, he looked upward.
His face was filled with despair.
What should he do?