On Stone Lotus Island, Feng Jiuge carefully reviewed all the memories Red Lotus had left behind.
He returned to reality.
Red Lotus's will was vivid and lifelike, as though it were a living person: "Apart from these memories, there are two more things I must entrust to you. One is the Eighth Transformation killer move, Future Self, and the other is the Immortal Gu recipe for Destiny Gu."
Then Red Lotus's will went on to explain in detail: "The Eighth Transformation killer move, Future Self, allows you to instantly possess the strength of a Half-Venerable. After all, you are destined to be the Path Protector of the Great Dream Venerable. Throughout history, every Path Protector who grew to their potential has reached roughly this level of cultivation. Future Self projects your strongest future form into the present, making it available for your use."
"As for the Immortal Gu recipe for Destiny Gu, although it is only an incomplete recipe, it was originally created based on the Song of Fate that you will compose in the future. It is directly connected to your Song of Fate."
"More than a thousand years from now, you will create the complete Song of Fate. But I cannot pass it on to you directly, because Fate Gu has not been completely destroyed, and that does not allow it."
"So, I have transformed it into this Ninth Transformation partial recipe for Destiny Gu. It will surely be of immense help to you — enough for you to comprehend the initial version of the Song of Fate."
Feng Jiuge's heart stirred with excitement.
The true inheritance that Red Lotus's true will had given him perfectly suited his tastes. There was simply no way he could refuse it.
But he had not lost his composure. He keenly caught the implications behind Red Lotus's words.
"The initial version of the Song of Fate?" Feng Jiuge asked.
Red Lotus's will nodded: "That's right. Over the course of more than a thousand years, you refined and improved the Song of Fate multiple times. Eventually, you made this killer move extraordinarily sophisticated. The final refinement actually gave the killer move the ability to grow on its own. The more Gu Immortals it affected, the more it could absorb the power of fate from them, making itself stronger. It was a truly remarkable killer move."
"However, I must remind you of one thing. As long as Fate Gu still exists, even for a single day, your Song of Fate will be suppressed and sealed for that day."
Feng Jiuge shook his head: "Demon Venerable Red Lotus, I thank you for this true inheritance. I understand what you mean. In fact, before this, Fang Yuan has also pointed this out to me many times. But I will not destroy Fate or stand against the Heavenly Court just because of this inheritance."
Red Lotus's will chuckled softly: "I'm not asking anything of you. I'm merely sharing my experiences with you, placing this key power for breaking free from fate into your hands. How you choose to use it — that is your business. All the decision-making power lies with you, doesn't it?"
Feng Jiuge left Stone Lotus Island, but his heart was heavy.
Fate had already shown favor to Demon Venerable Red Lotus — it had taken his parents and his lover, yet it had also granted him extraordinary talent, strength above all living beings, and a lofty position. Yet Red Lotus refused to accept any of it.
People are not puppets. People have thoughts of their own.
"If even Red Lotus, who was a Venerable, felt this way, then what about me as a Path Protector?" Feng Jiuge could not help but reflect on himself.
Seeing Feng Jinhuang grow up strong and healthy — yes, that could bring comfort and joy to any parent.
Setting aside the identity of Path Protector, even without it, how could Feng Jiuge not protect his own daughter?
"But is this role of Path Protector truly what I want? Something I genuinely desire?" Feng Jiuge asked himself in his heart.
In truth, no one had ever asked him this before.
Dragon Lord had not asked, Qin Dingling had not asked, and none of the Supreme Elders from Spirit Affinity Hall had asked either.
As though this identity were inherently an honor, something completely natural and right — as if Feng Jiuge should be grateful to accept it, and questioning it would be entirely unnecessary.
But was that really the case?
Feng Jiuge then thought of an even deeper question: "Why do people live?"
This question was far too broad, far too profound, and the answer varied from person to person. A thousand people would give a thousand different answers, and even one's own answer might change from one moment to the next.
Feng Jiuge could not answer such a question either.
He could only settle for a simpler version and ask himself honestly: "Why do I live?"
Feng Jiuge could not help but look back on the course of his life up to this point.
From a young age, he had loved music, and without hesitation, he chose to cultivate the Path of Music.
At the very start of his cultivation, he had made a grand vow: to create nine songs that would sing of himself, of all living beings, and of heaven and earth.
Later, he stumbled upon a stroke of fortune in a valley, unexpectedly discovering the inheritance left behind by the great music cultivator, Immortal Elder Kong Xiang.
He built a thatched hut in the valley and secluded himself there. Alone, yet never once did he feel lonely. He immersed himself in the beauty of music, cultivating ceaselessly, and every day was deeply fulfilling. In this valley, he easily passed through a critical tribulation and quietly reached the Sixth Transformation Gu Immortal realm.
Having reached the realm of Gu Immortal, Feng Jiuge felt not the slightest hint of pride or desire to show off.
Everything was natural, and everything was peaceful.
He continued cultivating in the valley, managing his immortal orifice, and his cultivation rose from the Sixth Transformation to the Seventh Transformation.
One day, two Gu Immortals happened to wander into the valley and began singing together with Feng Jiuge.
It was nighttime. The moon hung bright and clear, a gentle breeze stirred the valley, making a small lake shimmer with dancing light.
The three Gu Immortals sang back and forth as time flew past, and they sang straight through until dawn.
When the three immortals finished, they all laughed. Yet they never showed each other their faces, departing contentedly when the joy had run its course.
Later, those two immortals were slandered and hunted by the Righteous Path. When Feng Jiuge learned of this, he did not hesitate for a moment. He stepped forward without a second thought.
And so came his legendary debut — single-handedly challenging the Ten Great Ancient Sects, with no hero under heaven able to stop him!
The Ten Great Ancient Sects, having lost all face, branded Feng Jiuge as a member of the Demonic Path and began to resist him in unison.
Feng Jiuge stood tall, unafraid. He fought across thirty million miles, then suddenly turned his forces around and struck at the heart of the enemy, throwing all ten sects into utter disarray and confusion, utterly powerless to stop him.
During this time, Feng Jiuge met Fairy Bai Qing of Spirit Affinity Hall. The two fell in love, and Feng Jiuge joined Spirit Affinity Hall, becoming a member of the Righteous Path.
From then on, Spirit Affinity Hall's prestige soared. Relying on Feng Jiuge's strength, they continuously expanded their territory and influence, firmly suppressing the other nine ancient sects.
After this, the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building collapsed, and Feng Jiuge led a group of people to investigate.
And so began the chain of subsequent events — he was accidentally saved by Fang Yuan, and in the Southern Border, he repaid that debt of life by shielding Fang Yuan from Wu Yong. After settling that obligation, Feng Jiuge once again began hunting Fang Yuan.
Up until the present, Fang Yuan had repeatedly spared Feng Jiuge's life and had even offered him guidance on multiple occasions, directing him to Stone Lotus Island, where he received Red Lotus's true inheritance.