Villain Cultivator

Chapter 415 – Regret of the Wood Dragon - Part 2

Uriel and the dragons arrested Cernun and brought him to another inhabitable world. Then, they buried him 3,000 kilometers deep, placing him inside the lava pool inside the planet.

The wood dragon was weak against fire. The flame, magma, and the residual heaven and earth Qi in the planet continued to burn him 24/7, torturing the dragon while he was under the planet's restraints and seals.

As the dragon's physique, vitality, and self-recovery speed were superior to the power of the planet's core, Cernun couldn't be killed while he was imprisoned there. 

The strength of Cernun was reduced to the 9th-stage, similar to Nero. However, he was unwilling to submit to the restriction. He attempted to break out.

Unfortunately, all attempts were futile. Cernun ran out of energy and Qi.

After 100,000 years, Cernun gave up resisting. He sulked in the lava pit, thinking of the past mistakes.

He started crying, just like when he was a timid dragon.

He missed his siblings.

He missed his mother.

He missed the peaceful life.

He regretted leaving the cave.

Funnily enough, Cernun cried so hard that his tear extinguished the planet's lava fire. After the heat in the planet's core was gone, the magnetic field stopped functioning, and the array was dispelled.

Still, Cernun didn't break out of the prison. He just sat there on the solid lava rocks, gazing at the wall with dimmed pupils.

He was broken. He gave up everything and became a lifeless doll.

Time passed. The planet crumbled apart and was reduced to pieces of asteroids.

Cernun, as usual, had no intention to go anywhere. He was ejected from the broken planet and floated in space aimlessly.

Uriel returned to check the dragon after another 100,000 years had passed. Upon discovering the state of the planet and Cernun's mind, he was bemused.

The archangel scanned through the memory of Cernun and the broken array formation.

"You cried so hard that you extinguished the lava? Damn, son."

"…"

Cernun didn't respond. He simply gazed to a distance, repeatedly thinking of his past memory.

Seeing the pathetic side of Cernun, Uriel had an inspiration. He brought the dragon to the ruined planet, which the latter had destroyed.

Then, the archangel gave him several mountains of tree seeds, flower seeds, and unknown saplings.

"You took billions of lives. How about you create a trillion new lives with those seeds? Water them with your tears and use your effort to grow them. If you can create the same amount of lives that you took, you'll be forgiven for your crimes. You might be able to see your family again after you're freed."

Suddenly, the pupils of Cernun regained light. He turned to Uriel, "Really? Wait, they are alive? My brothers and sisters are alive?"

"They have reincarnated. They were reborn, Cernun."

"Reborn?"

Uriel taught Cernun about reincarnations, souls, karma, and sins. He enlightened the dragon, giving him new hope and showing him a path of redemption.

Realizing that he had a second chance to redeem himself, Cernun cooperated with Uriel in joy. He carefully planted each seed and watered them with his tear and his Qi.

The dragon kept plowing the wasteland and planting more random tree seeds. Although he never stopped crying, he was smiling. 

500,000 years went by, and the planet regained the green color. Oceans were made with his teardrops and his sweat while the trees consumed his dragon Qi to grow. The atmosphere returned, and the planet became habitable for mortals.

However, because Cernun kept sacrificing his power to grow these plants, his cultivation base regressed.

By the time Cernun realized it, his Qi volume became even weaker than an essence-gathering realm human. Moreover, he could barely walk on four legs.

After planting the quadrillionth seed, Cernun collapsed.

Fortunately, Uriel had been watching the dragon. He shared some of his Qi with Cernun and nurtured him back to health.

Still, the damage had been done to his soul. Because he had been crying for over a million years, his heart and soul became fragile. Even Uriel couldn't heal his broken mind.

Realizing that his death would come soon, Cernun asked Uriel, "Now that I repented for what I did, will they forgive me now?"

Uriel shook his head, "I can't guarantee. Everyone has a different opinion."

"… I see."

"But I forgive you. My master also forgives you. I'm sure your victims will forgive you if they learn of your effort."

Cernun had a sad smile on his face. He nodded and lied on the ground.

Although Cernun was nurtured back to health, he could no longer raise his body or sit again. He became a half-vegetable ancient dragon, who couldn't even move his body.

He was too exhausted. Crying so much deteriorated his mental health, and nobody could cure his depression syndrome.

But Cernun could feel something familiar inside his dragon dantian. The Holy Element, which he hadn't been able to use for a long time, became active.

Light shone from the nearby stars, and more luck energy flowed to the planet. The light and Qi showered Cernun as if they were trying to help the dragon.

Cernun could stand again, but he was still weak. He struggled to get up while he gazed upon the bright stars.

Uriel knew what had happened. He was proud of Cernun, "See? Some of your victims forgive you. Their souls heard your voice."

"…"

Cernun cried again. But this time, it was the tears of joy.

He bowed his head to the stars before he staggered to the mountain of plant seeds, planning to continue working even though it was no longer necessary.

As the dragon was about to pick up another batch of seedlings, a little dryad girl walked toward him.

"Hello, senior. I have a present for you."

"???"

The little girl gave him a flower. She raised her tiny arms, trying to reach the tall dragon.

Cernun gazed at the little girl for a moment. Then, he thought of the similar dryad girl, whom he had stomped to death.

"That girl is the reincarnation of the dryad girl you killed. She also forgives you."

"…"

Cernun broke into tears, he lowered his head and allowed the girl to put the flower on one of his horns. He then smiled at her.

"What's your name, little girl?"

"I don't have a name."

Cernun bitterly smiled. He looked around and spotted a mountain of emerald nearby. He had an idea.

"You were born from a Hopea Odorata seed, so your name will be Emerald Hopea."

The dryad jumped in joy. She hugged Cernun's giant legs.

"Thank you! I have a name! I'm Emerald Hopea!"

"…"

…

Uriel no longer visited Cernun after Hopea had obtained her name. After all, he was no longer needed as Cernun finally had a friend. 

Cernun taught Hopea everything he knew, including the life lesson that he had learned the hard way. In turn, Hopea helped him grow more plants and trees, filling the world with more lives.

Hollowed Spring Water was soon created by Hopea. She filtered the ocean water and diluted Cernun's tears in them.

For a short hundred years, Cernun found happiness. He was never this happy in his life.

However, the blissful time was limited. As the dragon was no longer an immortal and he never stopped spending his dragon wood Qi, blood essence, and Holy Element Qi to grow trees, he grew older.

His lifespan soon ran out.

While Cernun was on the verge of death, Uriel revisited him once more. But this time, he came with a mural of time and space.

Hopea was by Cernun's side, tending what the dragon needed. She was also there when Uriel entrusted the mural piece to him and told him that seven dragons had been selected to protect this secret art.

Cernun had a bitter smile on his face when Uriel wanted him to protect the mural, "I'm sorry, Uriel. I can't do it."

Uriel checked Cernun's Qi and discovered that the dragon was about to die. He gently patted the dragon's head.

"I see. It doesn't matter. You've done enough."

"Will everyone forgive me now?" Cernun was still worried about his mistakes in the past.

"They probably forgot about you by now. It has been over a million years."

"Haha, you're right. Excuse me, Uriel. I'm so tired. I need to sleep."

"Sleep, friend. You deserve a peaceful rest."

Cernun closed his eyes. However, he never woke up again.

The infamous evil dragon a million years ago passed away of old age.

Uriel sighed as the dragon had completed his redemption and was cleansed of his sins. The angel reached out to take his soul, so he could bring him to Macho Joshua and reincarnate him as a divine dragon.

But as Uriel touched Cernun's soul, strange energy repelled him.

Suddenly, a billion stars shone as if they were terrified of something. Then, a certain devil descended to the world. 

The devil had a similar appearance as Uriel. Although he called himself the devil, he had white feather wings like other angels.

"You…"

"Don't take his soul. His redemption hasn't been completed yet," The Devil dragged Uriel away from Cernun.

"But why!? He did so much for the sake of redeeming himself! Are you going to keep torturing him!?"

"I'm not torturing him. It's his karma. Listen to the stars, feel the chain of karma, and look at the mural. This is not the time yet."

"…"

Both of them gazed at the corpse of Cernun and the innocent dryad, who thought that her mentor was sleeping. Then, they turned to the mural, which sent a strange thread of Qi to the dragon's head as if it was sending something to his soul.

"That mural…" Uriel squinted his glowing eyes.

"Leave him and the mural alone. There is something he must do to fulfill the role. Believe in destiny and fate, Uriel."

"So, it's fated? Funny. To think that someone like you believe in fate."

"Gods have their own mysterious ways of working, so do I."

"Pfft. Yeah, right."

Although reluctant, Uriel followed the Devil and left the world.

…

At long last, the million-year dream ended. Miaomiao found himself in a void, but Cernun's soul was floating before him.

Cernun continued with his cryptic words.

[After I died, I had two visions. The first one is the world without your existence. Xie Tian stole the mural from Hopea and escaped. Years later, he returned here and massacre Hopea and every being here. Then, he stole my bloodline and my technique before he destroyed this world.]

"…"

[Another future I saw. You and Xie Tian fought in this world, and you killed him. You and Hopea became husband and wife, and she could live happily after. You even migrate her people and the creatures that I created to your world.]

Miaomiao's face twitched. He didn't like novels with prophecy cliché, but he was experiencing one at the moment.

[I prayed for the second future while my soul was trapped here. Then, you appeared.]

"You're welcome."

[Thank you for being here for us. But I have other concerns about your future.]

"Will I die soon?" Miaomiao was being sarcastic as he was tired of having a million-year-long dream.

[Yes, you will die a horrible death.]

"Obviously, everyone dies… wait, what!?"

Now, Miaomiao panicked.

[I can't tell you what would happen to you, but be warned. Believe in the Devil, but don't become his underling. Appreciate the help from dao gods, but don't trust them. Protect your wives and your family from harm, but don't save them when they face an ordeal. And lastly…]

Cernun's voice cracked as if he tried to break the restraints or restrictions.

[Never confront Kishin Douji in this timeline!]

"HUH!?"

Cernun smiled as his soul in the dragon form patted Miaomiao's head gently. He whispered to him.

[I'm sorry.]

"???"

The dragon didn't clarify what he was sorry for. The void slowly cracked as the dream was about to end.

"… I wasn't one of your siblings in my previous life, was I?"

[Who knows? I already forgot what the souls of my siblings look like! Hahahaha!]

The cracks expanded and light leaked into the void. Miaomiao started hearing the voices of his wives, who were calling his name.

[Go. Take care of your wives. Take care of Emerald Hopea for me.]

The dark void faded as the light from outer space entered the domain. Miaomiao and Cernun were showered by the soothing light.

Before Miaomiao left the dream world, he muttered, "Regardless of what you did, I forgive you."

[... Thank you.]

…

The sunlight blinded Miaomiao for a moment after he opened his eyes. He looked around and found Wei Yuan and other girls, including Emerald Hopea by his side.

"It's been a while. Wei Yuan."

After getting stuck in the dream world for a million years, Miaomiao jumped up and embraced his precious wife.

He missed her so much!

Wei Yuan was surprised at first, but she patted his back, soothing him, "You finally woke up. You've been crying in your sleep."

"Did I?"

"Yeah. You wailed like a baby."

"…"

Miaomiao wiped his eyes. Indeed, the eyes were somewhat sore as if he had been crying for days. Traces of teardrops and dried salty substances were everywhere on his face.

Sensing the dirty face, Miaomiao circulated his water element Qi while he looked at Emerald Hopea, who had been chatting with Ju Shoufen.

"How long had I been sleeping?"

"Two weeks," Wei Yuan snickered.

"…"

Water came out of Miaomiao's hands as he intended. A gush of water splashed his face.

But something felt different.

The water tasted like unified spring water from the chalice artifact under the reservoir, but it was more potent. He sensed that it contained another element Qi, which he didn't know.

Ding

<Congratulations, you have successfully expanded your dantian capacity.>

<Congratulations, your Wood Element Crystal has evolved into Dragon Wood Element Crystal.>

<Congratulations, your Light Element Crystal has evolved into Holy Light Element Crystal.>

<Due to the affinity and the characteristic of the Holy Light Element, your Shadow Element Crystal has been automatically evolved into Dark Element Crystal.>

<Be warned, the brighter the light, the darker the shadow. Be wary of your dark side.>

Ding

<Your Isolation Training Space has been upgraded as all the conditions are met.>

<Your Isolation Training Space is now level 8!>

Ding

<Achievement unlocked! Your soul has lived for more than a million years!>

<Achievement unlocked! You have condensed two rare element crystals, the Dark Element Crystal and the Holy Element Crystal!>

<Congratulations, Isolation Training Space has been upgraded as all the conditions are met.>

<Your Isolation Training Space is now level 9!>