As the Twin Soul moved deeper into the fog around the base of Thunder Mountain, Sage suddenly felt a deep sense of unease. Something was wrong. He’d had these sorts of feelings when his life was at risk in the past. Now, just like then, they came too suddenly to allow any room for thought. It was purely instinct, one that said escape now or it would be too late. Those who’d never felt such a thing would have trouble recognizing it and freeze up, usually leading to an unfavorable outcome. On the other hand, those who have faced enough dangerous situations would react instantly. All those gut feelings, premonitions, or other sorts of reactions were said to be the subconscious mind processing information without the conscious mind taking notice.

Sage wanted to flee immediately. He started to stand, when he realized the feeling of danger wasn’t originating from his body. It came from the link with his Twin Soul. The Twin Soul was trapped in a dense cloud of fog and had lost all sense of direction. Sage tried to direct it to run, but he seemed to have lost all control. Suddenly, even his physical body was out of his control. Even the link with his merged insect was interrupted.

How is this possible? What happened? Why…

Why?

Why am I here?

Isn’t this just an errand set by the Zhu Clan, hiring someone to perform a job? I expended so much effort just to take a look at what Thunder Mountain Bridge is? Isn’t this just a waste of my time?

Why do I live the way I do?

I’m constantly researching methods to make money and make myself more powerful. If I didn’t want to be more powerful, would I just be happy to rely upon the Holy Flame Sect for my protection? Didn’t I join them to be protected? Why do I have to get any stronger and galavant around for treasure, can’t I just stay at home and peacefully make stuff? I have plenty of ideas for things to adapt from Earth that should be useful here.

Why have I made these choices?

I came to this world when my life ended. The original occupant of this body passed away and I took over. I lost all my family and friends. To cope with my loss I tried to enjoy this place like it was a game. A world full of superhumans, the dream of so many youngsters is to have fantastical powers and abilities. To be more than the norm, something extraordinary to set you apart from everyone else. Even though I was only barely able to become a cultivator, I have still soldiered on, trying to be one of those great people.

Why do I even exist?

Why was I chosen to be saved after death? There was a mysterious voice that seemed to take pity on me, and now here I am. Why do I continue to strive on each and every day? To what purpose am I living? What have I actually accomplished? Do great accomplishments redeem your existence? Are those without any achievement merely wasted lives? Why are we all here? Why… Why…

Sage felt a cool sensation flowing outwards from his dantian, the energy originating from the Life Nebula. The heavenly materials emitting a wave of power, one that washed over his soul and shook it from reverie. Sage had re-established control and he acted immediately, shattering his Twin Soul. He reversed the Anima Devour technique, the ability normally used to consume other souls, having the Twin Soul turn the ability upon itself and severing Sage’s link with it. Different from before when Sage carefully destroyed the Twin Soul to try and destroy the soul mark, this time, Sage decisively abandoned it. He had essentially released a now mindless spiritual being into the world, one that knew only how to devour other souls. He would normally never do something so careless, but the place where the Twin Soul was at was far too dangerous.

Not only had that mist overwhelmed the Twin Soul, it had also traveled across the link and into his mind. It was only now, after the fact, that he realized that the fog had forced him into an extremely contemplative state. He had rapidly started questioning everything about himself. Such self reflection was rarely performed by most people and when something caused them to ‘look into the mirror’ so deeply they would often be met with crisis. Sage felt the same way, it was time to reevaluate his decisions and his future path. At the same time, all of this was caused by that terrible fog, and he realized that it could not be a random coincidence. Whoever created Thunder Mountain was at the very least an expert in matters of the soul and that fog had performed some sort of questioning on him.

Was it a trap? Sink people into endless self reflection? Perhaps it would lead to extreme depression, or the complete loss of self worth. Was the layer of fog a defensive wall that caused people to commit suicide?

He thought it over a while, trying to recall what had happened. Thankfully, he still had the link to his Charming Lance Beetle and now that the Twin Soul was severed, he could once again control the beetle just fine. After some time he made a determination.

It was always asking why. Could it be screening entrants for their motives? Ferret out spies by getting to the truth of things? Why… that’s the sort of thing that inquisitive children say. Maybe its not a defense at all. It could be some sort of fledgling intelligence or spirit that is on the verge of forming?

“Hah, as if I could solve such a mystery with so little evidence.”

Sage actually spoke out loud, talking to himself to clear his mind of the quagmire he’d found himself in. Still standing from when he had been startled upon entering the fog with his Twin Soul, Sage realised he had no idea how long he’d been standing and even with his enhanced body he felt tired. Taking a deep breath he sat back down again and sunk into a meditative state. As much as he wanted to head out, he wouldn’t neglect his every weapon. He sent his consciousness inward and started the unique technique to form another ‘Avatar of Excess’, the name of the ancestral technique he’d gained from the Twin Ringed Soul Serpent. A few minutes later, his soul split in half and another Twin Soul was created.

Seems I need to go hunting instead of just sitting around and watching the fun inside the Thunder Mountain Bridge.

Since Sage didn’t actually know anybody in town, he merely walked down the streets of Plum Lantern City and picked out the rowdiest looking tavern. Heading inside and sweeping his eyes over the crowd of drinkers. Some were yelling, others were singing, some were talking, but everyone was drinking. He knew he’d come to the right place. He slapped a gold coin onto the table and yelled out, “Wine, please!”

Seeing his rowdy gesture, the others at the table started laughing. They too were waiting for drinks and they copied his move, slapping down coins and calling out in the same vulgar way. Of course, they only put down stacks of copper coins or a single silver coin, the actual prices of the common drinks they wished for. Sage, compared to common folk, was quite rich so he chose to tip extravagantly in order to save time and make up for acting so rudely. He was only on the first floor, where all the common folk drank, so he was received quite well.

Dozens of other patrons all found his act funny and did the same thing, turning the place into a cacophony of yelling and table slapping. Finding this all amusing, Sage added to the fun and he tossed a bag of gold onto the plate of the nearest server, “A round for everyone on me!”