The Book Soul Chronicles: Godslayer

I am Mo Qian, and my birth dates back to a very, very long time ago, so long that I don't even remember how many years have passed. My birth originated from one person—Pei Youzhi. I also regard him as my only master.

The master, Pei Youzhi, was born during the height of the Great Sheng Kingdom. The country was powerful, prosperous, and stable, so the national customs were open and various kinds of silk and bamboo music and dance were popular. There were also many well-known and beautiful articles, which led to the flourishing of the country's literary style and gave children from poor families the opportunity to be appreciated and recommended by noble people to enter officialdom.

The master was not from a poor, lowly family, but rather from a relatively humble but powerful clan—the Pei family. The Pei family was originally a large merchant family. When the founding emperor, Emperor Shengyuan, was still a general, the Pei family ancestors frequently donated supplies to him without expecting anything in return. Later, when Emperor Shengyuan raised an army to overthrow the previous dynasty's tyranny, the Pei family spared no effort in providing financial assistance and also sent two of their adult sons to join the army, hoping to end the war as soon as possible.

After the war ended, Emperor Shengyuan established the country and lavishly rewarded the founding heroes, including the Pei family. Emperor Shengyuan remembered that two of the Pei family's sons had died in battle for the establishment of the Great Sheng Kingdom and had repeatedly provided financial support for his great cause, so he planned to confer the title of Duke on the Pei family's ancestor.

However, the Pei family ancestor knew he was merely a merchant. Although he harbored ambitions and aspired to be remembered in history, he also knew that the imperial family was ruthless and would eventually turn against the Pei family. Therefore, he declined the offer, claiming he was a merchant and lacked the wisdom of governance. He also arranged marriages for all his daughters with great speed and warned his children never to marry Pei family members into the royal family or into other aristocratic clans. Upon hearing this, Emperor Shengyuan lowered his guard, thus saving the Pei family from annihilation.

Even so, the subsequent emperors continued to suppress powerful clans, and later, rising families also ostracized them. In addition, few members of the Pei family entered officialdom, leading to the decline of the Pei family.

When the master was born, the old lady had a difficult childbirth. Although she eventually gave birth, she was still on the verge of death. At that time, the master named him Youzhi, hoping that he would be blessed by God.

Later, the master survived as he wished, but the old lady's health was damaged, making it difficult for her to conceive again. The old lady and master were loving and harmonious, and even knowing that the old lady could no longer conceive, they never considered taking a concubine. Instead, they cherished their master's only son very much, even moving the whole family out of the bustling capital to Runze County, a place more suitable for recuperation, and entrusting him to the care of their younger brother, Pei Shiyan. The master's uncle, whose courtesy name was Minqing, was intelligent, quick-witted, and as pure as jade.

As his name suggests, he was naturally intelligent, able to read many articles by the age of six, debate with numerous renowned scholars by twelve, and pass the imperial examination at twenty-one. Later, he spoke frankly and offered advice in officialdom, offending powerful figures and hindering his career. Seeing through the corruption of officialdom and disgusted by the flattery and deceit among officials, he resigned and returned to his hometown, becoming a refined scholar with considerable prestige among the people, and was one of the "Six Outstanding Scholars." When his master was twenty, he was given the courtesy name Yude, meaning unwavering commitment and noble virtue. This foreshadowed his lifelong relentless pursuit of excellence.

Influenced by his uncle, the master disliked officialdom and preferred associating with renowned scholars and collecting rare books. At 22, he married, but two years later, his uncle was forced into a court intrigue and killed. He sought help everywhere to prove his innocence, but the corrupt officialdom, entangled in vested interests, and oppressive imperial power left him helpless. He also hated the officialdom and the hypocritical court, vowing never to enter officialdom again and determined to fulfill his promise to his uncle by writing the most unique book in the world, thus achieving lasting fame.

To this end, the owner collected various books through various channels and began to create works after reading extensively, but he was never satisfied.

During this time, the master's first child died at the age of two. Six months later, the old lady passed away after instructing her wife to take good care of the master. Two years later, the master fell ill from missing the old lady and told the master, "You must create a book that is extraordinary and go down in history, fulfill the unfulfilled wish of your ancestors, and also fulfill the promise you made to your uncle!" The master solemnly agreed with tears in his eyes and then followed the old lady in death.

Six years later, in order to allow her master to focus on his writing, the lady overworked herself and miscarried. Her health deteriorated, and she became bedridden. During this time, the master moved all his books to the lady's room for easier care. The lady said to her master, "My husband, you have talent, perseverance, and determination. You will not let down our parents' expectations and will fulfill our ancestors' wishes and our promise to my uncle. I believe that everything I have done has been worthwhile!"

The master gently embraced his wife and tenderly agreed. His moist eyes were filled with self-reproach, which gradually turned into determination! Not long after, his wife still passed away from illness! After that, the master used all his connections and almost spent all his wealth just to acquire rare and out-of-print books. Later, the master created a large number of books, which were praised by all his friends who read them, but the master was still not satisfied, believing that they could not encompass everything or be intuitive and easy to understand.

The master's friends were mostly famous or highly respected celebrities and scholars. His books and articles were also circulated, and he gained a great reputation. Many students would visit him from time to time to seek answers to their questions.

But the master still hadn't written a book that satisfied him or made him stand out. Then, on his 57th birthday, he got drunk and returned to his study. He accidentally knocked over a candlestick, which ignited the books. In his attempt to protect them, he missed the best time to escape. By the time people discovered the fire, it was already out of control. Looking at the burning books, he briefly reflected on his life, thinking of his family's rise and fall; his own journey from aspiring to create something extraordinary to enduring the seasons and braving the scorching heat and bitter cold of creation; and the unwavering support and trust his loved ones had shown him until his death. Reluctantly and helplessly, he closed his eyes, letting the flames engulf him.

He felt a strong sense of resentment, and this obsession merged with the vast energy emanating from the surrounding books at that moment, giving birth to me.

At that moment, I had neither a spirit nor a physical body; I was just a ball of black energy.

I saw the house burned to ruins, the owner's body burned to a crisp, and was properly buried by his servants and friends. The books, paper, and ink that were not burned were buried with him.

In the years that followed, many famous figures and patriots went to pay their respects. Later, war broke out, and the once prosperous Dasheng Kingdom, a dynasty that revealed extravagance and corruption, finally perished. A new country was established again, and the wheels of history continued to turn. I seemed to see yet another "Dasheng Kingdom".

I also gave myself the name Mo Qian. Ink contains the universe. Ink can be used to paint, to depict the magnificent landscapes of the country, and to depict the beauty and ugliness of all things. Ink can also be used to write, to record the grandeur of history, and to express the desires of the heart.

All things in the world are born of desire; without desire, there is no reason for existence. I was born of a deep-seated passion, and creating unique books is my desire, the reason for my existence. Therefore, I will record the desires of all things, documenting what I see, hear, and feel. Please join me in exploring the form of desire. Desire is everywhere, and so will I be everywhere!