The Grand Duelist

Chapter 154: Start of an Epic Journey[15]

Cooking is death...

Eating is life...

Life is the beginning...

Death is the end...

These two concepts are inevitable and could never be escaped.

But why?

Aren't immortals undying beings that could never die?

Since they can't die, then they had already escaped the constraints of this concept.

But is that really the truth?

They are not dead, therefore...

They are alive.

But when you are alive, there's only one way for you to go and that is death...

Zero may be nothing, but it also signals a beginning.

Death is the end and it signifies the state of zero.

Life is the beginning for it starts at zero.

From when we are born in this world as infants until we become adults, and then die as elders...

The journey that took us from Zero to the end is Life itself.

Life is a journey and death is the destination.

This journey can be considered as the same journey that the raw ingredients undertake in the process of cooking.

Once cooked, their destiny was to be eaten and that can be considered as Death...

Death cannot survive without Life and without Death, Life cannot begin.

These two are always intertwined and can never be separated.

In other words, The Grand Concept of Life and Death is an inevitable fate that will definitely fall upon everything.

In that case, what's the use of cultivating? 

What's the use of pursuing immortality when one will still die anyway? 

Joseph furrowed his eyebrows.

He thought of an idea towards the answer to this question, but a sharp headache assaulted his body. Pain spread through his nerves as his body continuously twitched. His mouth opened and gave a silent roar in order to release this pain, but it was still continuing.

Suddenly, Joseph's consciousness blacked out, and when he opened his eyes.

He found himself inside a completely dark space with something floating in the center.

Yes, something...

No...

Someone was floating at the center of this dark space.

Who is that?

Joseph wanted to approach the person floating at the center of the dark space, but he didn't have any limbs that he could use to move. In fact, Joseph didn't feel like he was even in the dark space. It felt like he was truly in it, but at the same time, he felt like he was just nothing but a mere observer.

Joseph narrowed his illusory eyes and his eyesight became better. He closely observed the person floating in the dark space and his illusory pupils constricted. It was because he found out that the person floating at the center was actually him!

Precisely, it was an infant that had the face of the adult Joseph!

Joseph felt incomparably disturbed.

What the fuck?

These were the words that he inwardly uttered as he violently cursed. 

The infant that had his face calmly floated there as if it was a boat on calm seas. 

Joseph closely observed the infant and it suddenly opened its eyes!

Its blank and lifeless eyes stared directly at Joseph's eyes and at this moment, enlightenment suddenly dawned upon Joseph.

An infant...

Everyone starts as an infant, one way or another.

When one is at this stage, they are beginning to show signs of their own talents and potential.

In other words, this infant version of me is probably the manifestation of my Nascent Soul.

Joseph imagined himself sitting cross-legged on the floors of the dark space as he took an illusory deep breath and sucked the illusory spiritual energy in the area into his body.

Life and Death can never be separated.

Zero is the beginning, yet it also signifies the end.

The Grand Concept of Life and Death...

Joseph inwardly uttered.

A strange sensation of grasping something popped up in his mind as several system notifications simultaneously popped up in front of him. However, since Joseph had his eyes closed, he couldn't see these system notifications along with the message that they displayed.

Joseph was completely absorbed in comprehending the Grand Concept of Life and Death at this moment.

Infancy signifies the start of life so, therefore...

My Nascent Soul is life!

Breathe life into my Nascent Soul! 

Ascend!

Spiritual Energy from all directions madly surged towards Joseph as if his body was a black hole.

The infant Joseph opened its eyes once again, but this time...

Its eyes which previously didn't have any life in them now radiated the vitality of life.

This signified that Joseph had thoroughly understood the first half of the Grand Concept of Life and Death which was...

Life!

Joseph opened his eyes and the spiritual energy flowing into his body abruptly disappeared.

In just a few seconds, everything had returned to normal.

"M-M-Master..."

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth nervously uttered as she surreptitiously glanced at the skies.

She thought that Lightning Tribulation would descend at this moment, yet it mysteriously backed out and disappeared.

Did Master fail on comprehending a Grand Concept? That's the only reason why the Lightning Tribulation would voluntarily dissipate itself!

She turned her eyes to Joseph and found that the killing intent that his body subconsciously let out actually became tame.

Does this mean that Master succeeded?

I don't know...

Let's ask him!

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth decided as she opened her mouth and said, "M-Master... Did you succeed?" 

Joseph gave a light smile, "Hehe... I did. I managed to comprehend the first half of the Grand Concept of Life and Death."

"T-T-The Grand Concept of Life and Death?! Master! That's the first of the Grand Concepts in existence! Y-Y-You managed to comprehend something like that?" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth whispered in utter shock.

Joseph awkwardly scratched his head, "Y-Yeah... I did..." He didn't know, but Pixie Fairy Elizabeth being shocked made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

It was the same feeling that everyone has whenever they were being serenaded with a happy birthday song, and they couldn't understand if they should smile or clap along with their friends and family.

"That's awesome, master!"

Joseph gave an awkward smile and kept on scratching his head. He swept his gaze in the shop and found that he made quite a huge disturbance. Turning to look at the entrance of the shop, Joseph found that the independent space he established was still holding on. He felt relieved.

But before he could even sigh in relief, his eyes were attracted to something. He saw that the leader of those people who visited the shop earlier was lying on the ground. There was blood on his mouth and it was clear that the blood marks on the floor belonged to him.

Joseph then diverted his gaze to Pixie Fairy Elizabeth and asked, "What did you do to him?"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth momentarily glanced at Matthew and said, "Master, you can't blame me on what I have done to him, he tried on interrupting your cultivation earlier just so he can save himself..."

"I had no choice but to attack him so he won't become a hindrance to your cultivation. But don't worry, master. I didn't kill him."

Joseph wore a bitter smile on his face when he saw Matthew's injuries.

Yeah, you didn't kill him but you did seriously injure him to the point that he's now on the brink of death.

Joseph could only sigh as he ordered, "Fix him up..."

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth replied, "I'll do that, master. But first! Can you show me what you have learned from the first half of the Grand Concept of Life and Death?" 

"What I've learned from the Grand Concept of Life and Death?"

Joseph thought for a moment before a look of clarity flashed across his face.

He could seem to remember that several system notification sounds rang when he was in the middle of contemplation.

He opened up his [Logs] and saw that indeed, there were several unread system notifications within his [Logs]!

Joseph opened them all and they simultaneously appeared in front of him.

[You are absorbing the nearby Spiritual Energy...]

[You have acquired Experience: 22,533] 

[You have acquired Experience: 23,722]

[You have acquired Experience: 21,723]

[...]

[You have comprehended the first half of the Grand Concept of Life and Death: Life.]

[As a reward for your comprehension of a Grand Concept. You are awarded a Unique Skill.]

[Unique Skills are skills that are unique to a user in this world. They can never be copied nor reverse-engineered by others. It is a skill only for the owner of the Unique Skill.]

[Unique Skill: Bolster has been added.]

[Unique Skills are procedurally generated whenever a user meets certain criteria such as comprehension regarding a certain concept. Since it is something that cannot be defined, the skill is unknown and the user is encouraged to find out about the effects of the skill by practical usage.]

[You have ascended to the Pseudo-Nascent Soul Realm.]

[As a reward for your ascension, you are given Experience: 1,502,531] 

Unique Skill Bolster...

There's no description about it, so in other words... I don't know what it is about...

Joseph thought for a moment before he proceeded to open Mister Google and ask about the meaning of the word Bolster so he could have an idea about the effects of his very first Unique Skill. 

It says that bolster means to reinforce, support, and strengthen. Hmmm, it doesn't really sound nor feel dangerous. How about I just try to use it and see its effects? 

Joseph turned to look at a nearby fallen chair and whispered.

"Bolster."

A ray of brilliant light flew from Joseph towards that fallen chair.

The light sunk into the chair as if it was a stone dropped into an ocean.

[You have used your Unique Skill: Bolster.]

[Your identity as the Grand Duelist has been recognized and Bolster's effects have been reinforced with your Divinity.]

[-10 Divinity.]

What? It actually deducted points from my Divinity stat. But now, what? Do I assume that the chair has been reinforced?

Joseph turned to look at Pixie Fairy Elizabeth and said, "Can you try attacking that chair for me?"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth had a look of confusion on her face when she was observing everything, but it changed when she heard Joseph's request. She hurriedly opened her palm and flicked her wrist, sending a ball of dazzling light towards the chair.

Bang!

A small explosion occurred when the light struck the chair, but miraculously...

The chair was unharmed?

Interesting...

Joseph inwardly thought.

So this Unique Skill of mine is drastically increasing the defense of objects?

But to what extent?

How can I measure something like that?

Joseph fell into deep contemplation, but he was interrupted when Pixie Fairy Elizabeth suddenly spoke up.

"Woah! Master! So, the ability that you acquired from comprehending the Grand Concept of Life is reinforcement? That chair actually became really strong! I thought my attack would turn it into dust, but it survived!" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth said.

Joseph made a sidelong glance at her and replied, "How strong was that attack of yours?"

"Uh..." Pixie Fairy Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, "About one percent of my full power?"

"Ugh..."

Joseph almost immediately facepalmed.

Afterwards, a magnificent idea suddenly came to him as he walked towards the chair.

He picked it up and placed it into his inventory. There, he tapped on the icon of the chair, and the information that he saw about the chair thoroughly astonished him.

[Wooden Chair 

Tier: Epic

Durability: Infinite

This chair was a completely normal wooden chair that had a lifespan of about a decade. However, after the reinforcement of the Grand Duelist through the use of the Grand Concept of Life and Death: Life. The chair had gained infinite durability and could now endure through everything in the world, save for Death.]

Joseph rapidly blinked.

Say, what?

The chair became an indestructible object?

What am I supposed to do with this chair now?

Wait, if a chair can become this durable after the enhancement of Bolster and my Divinity. What will happen if I used Bolster on a living being? Will they transform into an immortal, or what?

Joseph didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.

The skill that he got was too overpowered and ridiculous that he didn't know what to say.

But where should I try this? 

Hmm...

Joseph's eyes landed on Pixie Fairy Elizabeth.

Should I test it on her?

Nah, what if something goes wrong? 

How about I test it on that guy? I heard from Elizabeth that he tried ruining my cultivation earlier. But actually, I don't really blame him. I mean, he was just trying to save his life. I can't possibly blame him for doing everything that he can to save his life.

However!

That does not invalidate the fact that he tried on interrupting my cultivation.

That may be a crime that does not deserve capital punishment for me, but it doesn't mean that I'll just let him off.

Hehehe...

An evil grin appeared on Joseph's lips.

I'll just try it on him.

Joseph lifted his finger and pointed at Matthew.

"Bolster."

Another ray of light flew towards Matthew. It entered his body and swiftly disappeared as if it had never existed.

Joseph then turned to look at Pixie Fairy Elizabeth and said, "Punch him."

"Punch him, master?" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth asked in confusion.

"Yeah, just do it. But you must hold back, of course, we don't want him to die after all." Joseph lightly chuckled.

Matthew who was lying on the ground felt a surge of energy that awakened him from his slumber.

When his eyes slowly opened, he could vaguely see the figure of a beautiful young woman who had this sweet smile on her face. 

A Goddess?

Matthew subconsciously lifted his arm and stretched it towards the young woman as if he wanted the young woman to come closer to him. 

But why is a Goddess here? Am I already dead? 

Matthew uttered in doubt.

Then, that Goddess that stood before him suddenly raised her arm above her head and clenched her hand into a fist.

What...? 

Matthew blankly uttered as the fist of the Goddess descended unto his face.

Aaah!!! 

Matthew pushed himself backward in a panic, but he failed for he was already at the border of the independent space.

The punch grew closer in his eyes, but before it could strike him squarely on his face. It was stopped by an invisible force that made contact with Pixie Fairy Elizabeth's fist and gave off a dull thud.

"AAAHHH!!!" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth gave a shrill scream as she held her fist.

Joseph held back his laughter as he stepped forward in front of Matthew.

The reason why Joseph made Pixie Fairy Elizabeth punch Matthew first was that Joseph wanted to make sure that Bolster gave protection to living beings.

If Joseph punched Matthew without any sort of protection, his cultivation strength would definitely enough to turn Matthew's body into dust with a single attack.

This was the reason why Joseph urged Pixie Fairy Elizabeth.

He wanted to make sure that Bolster was protecting Matthew.

"Oh, you're finally awake..." Joseph moved closer to Matthew.

Matthew's expression paled.

Joseph lifted his arm and formed a fist with his right hand.

"Senior... Yes, I'm already awake... Please don't punch me... I don't want to sleep no more." Matthew whispered in fear.

Joseph gave a languid smile: "It's fine, didn't you see how you didn't get hit by her punch earlier? Something is protecting you right now. I am just testing the limits of that protection." 

Matthew gulped a mouthful of saliva.

Indeed, an invisible wall protected him from Pixie Fairy Elizabeth's punch.

That wall should be able to hold back against the might of a Nascent Soul Expert who was assuming the form of a mortal without breaking, right?

Matthew reassured himself and calm himself down.

However, in the very next moment, Joseph circulated his entire cultivation base and embued the strength of his Pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivation into his fist.

Fuck... Matthew audibly cursed.

But before he could even say his complaints. Joseph had already raised his fist above his shoulders before swinging his arm, sending a punch flying towards Matthew's face.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!!!

Matthew went pale. He subconsciously rotated his cultivation base to react, but Joseph's punch was actually stopped by an invisible wall?

Ding!

A crisp sound rang out as Joseph's punch was audibly stopped.

Matthew raised his head and stared at Joseph. He found that there was this look of amusement and calmness on Joseph's face as he said.

"Oh... It can block a fully-powered punch... Interesting..." 

Joseph then turned around and faced Pixie Fairy Elizabeth.

At this moment, unbeknownst to Matthew...

Joseph's face contorted in pain as he held back his breath.

"Pfft..." Pixie Fairy Elizabeth almost busted her guts when she saw the look of pain on Joseph's face, but she quickly held herself back when she realized that Joseph was trying to keep up his appearance of an unfathomable expert in front of Matthew.

Matthew stared at Joseph's back and inwardly praised.

What a god... Having an attack forcibly stopped like that must hurt! But it looks like senior doesn't feel any pain. If it was me I would be jumping up and down right now in pain. 

Matthew was finally convinced. He opened his mouth and spoke, "Senior... Congratulations on reaching the Nascent Soul Realm!"

Joseph turned around and faced Matthew with a languid smile. Pixie Fairy Elizabeth, on the other hand, even though she had a smile on her face. There was this clear look of enmity in her eyes.

Matthew gave a bitter smile. He knew the reason why this gorgeous young woman whom he misunderstood as a goddess was angry at him. It was because he tried on escaping from this shop earlier when he thought that tribulation was about to descend.

Matthew heaved a sigh.

He turned to look at Joseph, bowed his head, and then confessed: "Senior... I will tell you the truth. I tried on escaping this shop earlier since I was afraid that I'll get involved with your tribulation. But please, believe me, senior that interrupting your cultivation never crossed my mind!"

Joseph lightly chuckled, "A man like you in the world of cultivation is incredibly rare! Usually, cultivators with cultivations like you are innately arrogant, not knowing that in the grand scheme of things. Their strength amounts to nothing!"

Matthew was astonished by the words that he heard. 

Admiration flashed across his face as he said, "I thank you for the praise, senior!"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth revealed a look of satisfaction when she saw how Matthew was worshipping her master right now.

Hehehe, Master doesn't want me to bully him right now, but if he becomes a subordinate of the master. That means that I'll gain superiority over him! I'll be able to bully him that way, hehehe... Hmmph, how dare he try to interrupt the master's cultivation earlier...

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth was inwardly making her own schemes.

Joseph and Matthew worked together and Joseph finally understood how Bolster worked along with its usage conditions and cooldown.

[Your trial use of the Unique Skill: Bolster has been completed.]

[The Description of the Unique Skill: Bolster has been updated.]

[Unique Skill: Bolster 

A unique skill created based on the Grand Duelist's comprehension on the first half of the Grand Concept of Life and Death: Life. This Unique Skill based on the Grand Duelist's input can reinforce, strengthen, and support anything in the world.

*If used on an inanimate object, the object will acquire infinite durability albeit with some limitations.

Number of inanimate objects reinforced: 3/3

Dispelling the skill on the reinforced inanimate object will cause the inanimate object to crumble into dust.

* If used on a living being, the living being will acquire [Absolute Protection].

[Absolute Protection] lasts for a minute and grants complete immunity to any form of damage. The blessing of life is selfless. This skill can never be used on oneself. 

Skill Usage Conditions: Unique comprehension in the first half of the Grand Concept of Life and Death.

Skill Cost: Divinity Stat

Skill Cooldown Time: 12 hours.]

1. He still not confident if he can hold back his strength since he just ascended lol.