My MDZS AU that I'm too busy to write rn in points PART 1
WWX remembers one more thing from his mother, not words or a solid memory, but a method of cultivation that he subconsciously uses. He has a vague sense that what he's doing is different from what the others in the Jiang Sect have been taught, but he keeps it a secret for whatever reason.
WWX progresses faster than usual, stifles his talents due to Madam Yu. However, he's closer to the people of Lotus Pier, the other disciples and the servants. (JFM has slipped up multiple times and called WWX by his father's name, WWX is kind of resigned about that)
in this universe I plan to have Sword Saints and their capabilities [pulling inspo from Return of the Mount Hua Sect] be canon, but only in legend, most cultivators think it's fiction. Will be relevant later maybe(?)
WWX meets LWJ, recognizes him as his equal and thinks "I want to cultivate to immorality with him... He's a really amazing person." AND DOESN'T REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT PLATONIC.
WWX still gets kicked out of Cloud Recess, but because of the whole Waterborne Abyss thing, he gets paranoid about the Wens and decides to start running evacuation drills with the other disciples and by extension civilians behind JFM's back. (He tried to warn him but was brushed off)
Wen archery competition happens and the Cloud Recess burns.
Wen Indoctrination takes place right as WWX makes a break through in the whole "Sword Saint" thing. He can't do anything as they have to give up their swords. But he's proven that it's not just a myth to himself, this might be important later (?)
His core gets extremely depleted while he and LWJ defeat the overgrown turtle, mostly because of the sword (it still sinks at the end of the fight). Madam Yu hears about him defying Wen Chao and whips him before he can fully recover, making him incredibly weak. (and then whips him again when the Wen come).
The burning of Lotus Pier is inevitable. Many disciples and civilians escape due to the evacuation plans. Madam Yu and JFM still die. WWX's core still hasn't recovered, he cannot use Sword Saint skills without his sword and injured body.
Core Transfer still happens. Core is depleted enough that WQ doesn't realize how close WWX was to cultivating to immortality (if given a few more years he would have done it)
WWX is dropped into the Burial Mounds. He breaks many bones and sustains grave injuries. Would not be able to move at all if not for resentful energy, which is holding him together like duct tape.
The difference in cultivation technique makes a difference when he develops demonic cultivation. His head is still muddled from three months of hell, but the resentment doesn't affect him mentally besides him having to deal with the screaming. "All that resentment he wields... Thousands of years worth from the Burial Mounds, and yet none of it is his. That is how he kept his sanity. His mind uncorrupted by the resentment."
WWX turns the tides of the war, he's the only reason they don't lose.
Clearer thinking does not mean he's less self deprecating. He still thinks LWJ hates him and thinks of himself as unclean. STOP ASKING HIM TO GO TO GUSU HE THINKS YOU WANT HIM CHAINED UP IN A NON-SEXY WAY.
WWX has always been oblivious when it comes to people caring about him. This will not change.
The Seal is created. WWX has immediate regrets after using it one (1) time. Sunshot is over, WWX basically won the war, JGY gets credit because he killed WRH.
WWX begins trying to find a way to start cultivating with Yang energy again, realizes that the combo of cutting out his core and immediate exposure to the Burial Mounds fucked up his meridians so he physically can't cultivate the orthodox way anymore even though his core was surgically removed and not melted.
In this Universe, in order to achieve immortality, one must overcome a trial. WWX's trial is the Burial Mounds. He recognized this when he first got there, but prioritized the war and going to help his sect over trying to complete the trial.
When WWX and the Wen Remnants settle in the Burial Mounds he focuses on a way to cleanse in fully, along with reviving WN. WN is revived, and somewhat more coherent than in canon. WWX doesn't give up on bringing him back fully (this will have consequences)
WWX makes an array that could possibly work to cleanse the BM. Places barriers and draws array around entire Burial Mound. This takes months (maybe a year?) to accomplish. It is incredibly complex and no one really understands what he's doing. (He hasn't forgiven himself for WN's death. He won't forget.)
JL's 100 days ceremony. The ambush happens. WWX manages to switch places with JZX at the last moment, WN's hand goes through WWX's stomach instead. WWX uses resentment to keep himself alive and commands WN to take them back to the BM. JZX lives. This does not change as much as it should.
Wen Yuan gets a terrible fever right before the ceremony is supposed to be, WWX asks LWJ for a favor, and LWJ takes WY to Gusu to be treated. Wen Yuan will remain there. He will never get to see his Xian-gege again.
WQ is mad at WWX. He's basically dying at a faster rate than he was before. WWX says he has a plan.
JGS makes a big fuss about the cultivators WN killed before WWX made them go home. They hold the pledge at nightless city, WWX never shows up. JYL does not die.
WWX finishes his array, makes an extremely strong layered barrier for a cave that doesn't have a blood pool and makes the Wen Remnants stay there with supplies. He tell them "Thank you and I'm sorry." He seals off the cave before WQ can realize what's going on and robs WN of his consciousness.
The Siege begins, LWJ is just catching wind of all of this because LQR sent him on a nighthunt far away so he wouldn't interfere.
LWJ will be too late to stop what's going to happen, but just in time to witness the fallout.
WWX refuses to ever give someone like JGS the Seal, so he uses it and his body as a catalyst for the array to work. He's already dying, so in his mind this is the best he can do. He makes WN lay in the center of the array. It spans the entirety of the Burial Mounds, he's spent so much time on it. He has no idea if it will work. But he will try.
As the cultivators reach the edge of the Burial Mounds a massive tremor sweeps across the land. And an enormous array is activated. And the energy builds up and explodes. Resentment is unleashed, everyone ducks for cover. Then it starts to draw back. All the resentful energy converging to one point, the seal, and WWX using his life energy to activate the array to cleanse it, destroying his body in the process. [Pulling inspo from the Legend of Korra when the new spirit portal is created]
WWX should have achieved immortality, he brushed against divinity. But without a golden core, and his body's horrible condition, he was ripped to shreds by the sheer power he wielded.
In the end, the Burial Mounds was cleansed of all resentful energy, the corpses turned to ash by the backlash, barring one. WWX had given one last miracle to the world, as WN woke up, fully alive, and mourned his best friend along side the Wen Remnants. They had survived and would continue to survive within the sanctuary WWX had created out of the Burial Mounds.
LWJ rushes into the burial mounds, past the army of cultivators that cannot breach the barriers in place. (because WWX had trusted LWJ regardless of everything. He was the one person that could enter the Barrier.) He finds WN, alive, and sobbing.
He knows deep within his soul that WWX is dead.
JYL and JWY will forever grieve their brother. JZX will never truly get over his guilt of being saved by WWX, and JWY won't be able to fully forgive him either. JL will grow up with his parents, but his Da-jiu will forever haunt the narrative of his life (until he comes back and proves himself a lunatic).
LWJ will spend the rest of his life grieving someone who he never managed to say "I love you" to. Raising Wen Yuan (now Lan Yuan) with frequent trips to the Burial Mounds (now known as Sanctuary to those who wish for help). Playing inquiry everyday trying to find the soul of his love.
However WWX's soul was changed from the power of a completed trial. He did not count as a spirit, and would never hear his other half calling for him, and LWJ will spend 13 years looking for someone who could not answer even if he heard him.
(and that's like part 1, part 2 would be the whole MXY reviving him thing, and that's where the sword saint stuff really comes into play along with him completing the trial. But yeah maybe one day I'll write it but I have no time at all. If anyone wants to write this or use anything from here pls feel free.)
