Gadak
Jeon Myeon-hoon stares at me.
But why does his eyes not seem to belong to the living?
Those eyes look... akin to those of the dead.
Behind those lifelessly dark eyes, something fervent seems to slumber.
Overall, he appears dead and gloomy, with his hair disheveled and long.
His skin has become much paler than before, with dark shadows under his eyes.
He looks like a corpse, as if he might die at any moment.
Yet, from this corpse-like appearance, I sense a volcano about to erupt.
Right now, he is like a bomb on the verge of exploding.
"Jeon Myeong-hoon, are you alri"
Woosh!
And then.
The next moment, a fiery red lightning bolt strikes towards my chin.
"!"
I split the lightning with the Formless Sword enveloping my body and back away to create some distance.
But in the next instant.
Kugugugu!
As if thunder roars, he suddenly appears in front of me, extending his palm towards my face.
In that instant, he literally became lightning itself!
Crack, boom!
Around him, seven spears made of red lightning forms, aiming at me.
Above, below, front, back, left, right!
The red spears aim at me from the six directions, and the last spear is thrown directly at me by Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Vroom!
The last spear, transcending planes, fly towards me!
Each one is as fast as lightning!
'But, they're not actual lightning.'
I recognize the six directions and extend my hand.
Zoom, zoom, zoom, zoom!
Boom!
Just once!
With a single gesture, six lightning spears are sliced, and I dodge the last one by moving my body.
Zip!
In an instant, I charge in front of Jeon Myeong-hoon and throw a punch.
He tries to defend by crossing his arms, but the moment my fist touches his defense.
Jeon Myeong-hun's upper body is cleanly cleaved in half.
Slash!
"Hmm, it's a bit regrettable that our reunion and greetings turned out like this after such a long time."
Zip, zap!
Crackle!
However, from Jeon Myeong-hoon's severed body, lightning sparkles, and shortly after, his body reattaches itself.
Then, Jeon Myeong-hoon, with his corpse-like eyes, spoke.
"Quiteimpressive."
"?"
Sensing something odd, I question him.
"Hey do you not recognize who I am?"
Clearly, his mental state is somewhat unstable.
Actually, very unstable.
To my question, Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at me with his dead eyes and replies.
"8th occupied territory... Aren't you the provincial governor? I know because I tortured the soul of the inspector."
"I'm Seo Eun-hyun. Do you really not remember?"
"Seo Eun-hyun?"
"From the same place as you! Remember where you come from!"
"The same place"
At those words, Jeon Myeong-hoon suddenly clutches his head.
"Ah, aah Aaaaaaah! Huaaaaaaah!"
Crackle, crackle!
Streams of multicolored lightning begin to flow from his entire body.
"Aaargh!"
Kugugugugugu!
Behind him, six faint flags begin to appear.
The six flags are stuck on Jeon Myeong-hun's back, like wings.
'Is that... a technique he learned?'
It seems like some sort of restriction, but the flow of spiritual energy is quite natural, suggesting its simply characteristic of his own technique.
After screaming and emitting lightning in all directions for a while, he calms down.
And then, those corpse-like eyes look at me once more.
"Seo Eun-hyun. Yes, I remember."
He smirks.
"It's been a while. Ever since facing [That], my mind hasn't been right, hence the disgraceful behavior. Try to understand, will you?"
"[That]?"
"Shut up! Just shut it! I'll kill you! Definitely! I'll grind and chew you into bits!!!"
Kugugugugu!
Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes tremble erratically and he begins to rampage.
Lightning strikes all around, and I dodge them while taking a moment to observe him.
Fortunately, Jeon Myeong-hoon stabilizes after a while.
Looking back at me with a gloomy expression, he opens his mouth again.
"...Well, no need for any chit-chat, I came looking for you, Provincial Governor of the 8th occupied territory, Seo Eun-hyun."
"What's the matter?"
"Did a disciple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect named 'Yeon Jin' come by the 8th occupied territory? Where did he go now?"
"Yeon Jin? If you mean Yeon Jin... he said he was going to the mainland of Bright Cold Realm to find you..."
"The mainland...? Ha, hahaha, hahahahaha!"
Suddenly, Jeon Myeong-hoon bursts into mad laughter at my words.
"Hahahaha! The mainland! He went to the Bright Cold Realm! Are you saying we missed each other!?"
Tears stream from his eyes.
"Why! Why the hell! Why is this happening!!!"
Kugugugugu!
From Jeon Myeong-hun's body, crimson lightning bursts forth.
"Look, Jeon Myeong-hoon. Calm down and..."
"Enough!!!"
Before I can say anything more.
Jeon Myeong-hoon screams, scattering red lightning in all directions.
"Let them all die! Everyone! All of them!!!"
Kugugugugu!
What!
Lightning strikes envelop the area.
"Everything on this land, all of it, worthless! All, all of it, die!!!"
It isn't about the color of Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning. His consciousness itself is drenched in a bloody red hue.
Rage.
He is violently spewing out his anger like molten lava.
"Hold, hold on a moment!
Simultaneously, the lightning he scatters starts to split and directly penetrate the barrier.
'So letting in the Human Race means all the techniques performed by the Human Race also get through!'
I swiftly move with the Flying Escape Technique inside the barrier, blocking all the falling lightning with my Formless Sword.
Below, I can see the Devil Race, still trapped, bustling about
'If even one of those lightning bolts hit where the devils are...'
It would be total annihilation!
Kugugugu!
Thunder and lightning violently erupts from Jeon Myeong-hoon.
'But still, if it's only that much, I can find a gap and subdue him...'
Shhhhhh
The next moment.
The head of the inspector that Jeon Myeong-hoon is holding turns to ashes and scatters.
From the six flags embedded in his back.
A purple flag is pulled out and melts into his lightning.
As one flag is removed, the quantity and quality of the lightning bursting from his body drastically increases!
'Is, is this...!'
Each strike is equivalent to a late Nascent Soul stage cultivator's attack!
Koooong!
And then, another flag is pulled from his back.
A blue flag is removed and melts into his lightning.
Kugugugugu!
I grit my teeth.
The lightning grows even stronger.
'Considering the inspector was a Four-Axis stage cultivator, killing him means
If all the flags are pulled out, he will reach power equivalent to the Four-Axis stage!
'It seems like a consumable power, but the explosiveness is absurdly high! It's likely to end in a short-term battle rather than a long one!'
Keep calm.
I compose myself and contemplate the Nascent Soul I have just acquired.
The concept of planes began to become visible.
'That's right...'
Upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, every cultivator realizes a certain truth, which aligns with the enlightenment of a Nascent Soul cultivator and also aligns with the laws of the world.
'Qi () is essentially Intent ().'
There are high and low planes in this world.
And these planes are broadly divided into three categories.
The plane of Qi (), which has a profound impact on the material and life force of the world.
The plane of Soul (), guiding the direction of all things from a position higher than Qi's plane.
And even higher in a remote place, the plane of Fate (), guiding the truths of the world.
The world is made of these three planes.
Depending on the dimension's hierarchy, existence manifests as Qi, Soul, or Fate.
Essentially, Qi, Soul, and Fate are the same.
'This aligns with the enlightenment of Beyond the Path to Heavens...'
All manifestations are one.
That is, Heaven, Earth, and Man are one, the principle reached by Beyond the Path to Heavens.
Similarly, all essences are fundamentally one.
It's just that the manifestation varies depending on the level of the dimension.
Yes, now I understand why all the races in the Bright Cold Realm are categorized into three.
Why the Heart Tribe, far from reaching the heights of the Heaven Tribe and Earth Tribe, are included among the 'Three Great Tribes.'
It isn't merely about 'vision.'
The Earth Tribe gathers spiritual energy to the extreme within the plane of Qi and builds up their cultivation, while the Heaven Tribe directs their rituals towards the plane of Fate, elevating their existence towards it. The Heart Tribe roams freely within the plane of Soul.
Its only after I became aware of the planes that I finally understand how humans cultivate to become true immortals.
From the plane of Qi to the plane of Fate, elevating one's existence from the Qi-born mortals to the realm of Fate, becoming what is known as a True Immortal.
I grasp the principle behind the creation of Nascent Soul.
Gathering pure Qi from the plane of Qi and ascending to the plane of Soul, merging the Soul and Qi. No, thats not it.'
Spiritual energy and the soul are originally one.
They are just divided differently according to the hierarchy of planes.
Elevating spiritual energy, crossing the hierarchy of planes to connect with 'essence'!
That is the Nascent Soul!
Thus, Qi is indeed Intent!
Why is it necessary to cultivate spiritual power and mystical abilities, and learn techniques for mental cultivation?
Why does gathering 'energy' increase a cultivator's 'consciousness' along with their realm?
Qi is both the Soul and Intent.
They are essentially the same, hence such phenomena occurred.
"Ahaha, now I finally understand."
Back in the day when I just became a peak master,
I saw red lines even from jiangshi.
But upon surpassing the peak, I felt that theoretically, jiangshi, not being living creatures, shouldn't have red lines of intent.
Why did I see red lines of intent even from jiangshi without consciousness?
Because energy is consciousness, even if jiangshi lack souls, if they possess Qi, they can possess faint intent.
Now I see more clearly than before.
The planes of 'Qi' and 'Soul' are distinctly separated.
With the vision of demon beasts seeing the flow of spiritual energy,
Combined with the vision of Beyond the Path to Heaven seeing the color and essence of intent, I can delve deeper into the essence of the world than before.
They merge
Upon realizing that Qi and Intent are the same.
The visions I had gained from demon beasts and Beyond the Path to Heavens slowly melds into one.
The colors of intent merge with the yin and yang of spiritual energy, creating an indescribable metaphysical landscape.
I look up at the sky.
Still, the vision of reading celestial energy from the Heaven Tribe hasn't melted into this vision.
Upon becoming a True Immortal, becoming fate itself, will that sight merge into this vision?
The source of life, spiritual energy.
The source of mind, heart essence.
The source of fate, celestial energy.
What will be seen in a vision that combines all of that?
After briefly imagining it, I focus my sight and glare at Jeon Myeong-hoon.
His power is becoming stronger.
But...
I see it.
Calmly organizing my enlightenment and adjusting my vision, I begin to see!
The pattern of heaven and earth.
The pattern of heaven and earth mixed with human consciousness, birthing all processes under the name of supernatural abilities.
In that process, the numerous vulnerabilities of opponents are seen!
A vision only I, having both the sight of demon beasts and Treading Heaven, can see!
Wo-woong!
I aim the Formless Sword at the precise gap of the lightning Jeon Myeong-hoon is emitting.
Chwack!
The lightning is split right through.
At the same time, I can almost predict where Jeon Myeong-hoon's thunderbolts will head next, and within that foresight, I find gaps in his attacks.
Shall we dance.
I hold the Formless Sword and begin to perform a sword dance in the void.
With the sword dance, the Formless Sword scatters.
What a monstrous power it is to traverse planes.
Only after reaching the Nascent Soul stage do I realize the magnitude of this power.
To disregard the planes of Qi and soul, and to be able to slice through Nascent Soul without any constraints is a dreadful monstrosity!
That is the Formless Sword!
And now, I finally obtained the 'eyes' to properly wield this monstrosity!
If the Pure Spiritual Force obtained during the Qi Building stage supplies infinite energy to Beyond the Path to Heaven,
The 'eyes' obtained in the Nascent Soul stage precisely guides where Beyond the Path to Heaven should head.
They complement each other.
Added to this, the physical strength obtained through body cultivation, the Formless Sword, drawing on the power of the plane of Qi, possesses overwhelming dominance and transcends to a higher plane, cutting through the essence of the lightning in its very dimension.
Charak!
An azure flag is pulled from Jeon Myeong-hoon's back.
Now, every single lightning strike is of the Heavenly Being stage!
However, with the strength of the physical body.
The eyes of the Nascent Soul.
And the capabilities of the Formless Sword combined, my Formless Sword precisely hits the weak points of Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning, slicing through it directly.
Slice!
Shall we see how far it goes?
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
Stepping forward, I draw a circle around me with my sword.
His lightning continues to gradually grow stronger.
It starts to require slightly more effort to slice through the lightning.
In other words, until now, slicing through lightning of Heavenly Being stage required no effort at all!
Kung, kung kung!
Green and yellow flags are simultaneously pulled from Jeon Myeong-hoon's back, and each of his lightning strikes elevate to the level of Heavenly Being Great Perfection.
Kwoong!
At that point, my sword feels heavier.
Despite finding his weakness, wielding the sword that cuts through everything with the powerful force of the physical body, there's a limit when the power gap becomes too great.
However, I smile, deciding to test my limits now that I have reached the Nascent Soul stage.
Gradually, greater strength begins to attach to my Formless Sword.
The sword dance becomes faster.
This is the state of Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains!
Woogwoogwoog!
I continue to channel the strength of Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning into my Formless Sword, repeatedly reflecting its force.
Though the strain on my entire body gradually intensifies, the realm of Nascent Soul combined with the physical body tempered through body refining tightly holds together what should have ended in an explosion.
Kwaang, Kwaang!
The barrier laid out by Wi Ryeong-seon is trembling from our clash.
Gradually, the colorless sword begins to push back against the red lightning.
Pwook!
Finally, the last orange flag is pulled from Jeon Myeong-hoon's back, melting into the lightning.
Kururung!
The already red lightning shines even more violently red as it shoots towards me.
The lightning directly cuts through space!
This might be a bit too much... but still
I look up at the sky with a smirk.
Let's give it a try!
Kuguguguruk!
Stars swirl around my entire body.
Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method!
I utilize the starlight and blue light to the extreme, infusing these energies into my Formless Sword.
Wo-woong!
The Formless Sword dyes with starlight.
Tstsstsstsst!
My Formless Sword becomes a strand of the Milky Way.
What I hold is no longer emptiness.
The Galaxy.
A small Milky Way is held in my hand.
The ultimate technique of the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method.
The technique of Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter, finely tuned to the extreme and blown into the Formless Sword.
Releasing all the power in my body in one strike!
Ah
At this moment.
I feel like there is nothing I cannot cut through.
Phshhhhh!
With Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains, the attack power of the Formless Sword soars to the extreme, and with the added power of Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter, it sweeps the sky clear.
That is the end.
Fwoah!
The baptism of red lightning that covered the sky is swept away in one go.
I smile and spit out a mouthful of blood.
Using Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains is fatal.
Or, it used to be.
"Curse, reversal!"
Pwaah!
The pressure of Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains that filled my body is all redirected back to Yuan Yu.
Pwook!
Down below, Yuan Yu, who had been protecting the Devil Race from getting swept away by my command, explodes as a curse doll.
His body, having reached the Core Formation Great Perfection, took on all the load that had been on me.
Wo-woong!
Then, Yuan Yu quickly rises to our location and lifts a skull staff towards Jeon Myeong-hoon, who is unable to regain his senses after spilling all the lightning.
Tsrrrrrk!
His vital energy is sucked into Yuan Yu.
Gradually, Yuan Yu absorbs Jeyon Myeong-hoon's energy, regenerating his exploded body.
Jeon Myeong-hun staggers and falls below the barrier, drained of energy by Yuan Yu.
Whish!
I have Yuan Yu catch him and bring him slowly down to the ground.
"Hey, Jeon Myeong-hoon."
I ask him, who had unleashed all his power along with his madness in one go.
"Are you okay?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at me and says,
"Shut up."
"What?"
"Don't pretend to understand..."
He clenches his teeth.
"Kill me... If I recover my strength, I will kill all living beings in this area without exception."
Fury blazes in his eyes.
"No matter how much I pour out, this pain and rage doesnt subside... My heart feels like it's burning...! I can't stand it unless I kill everything in sight...! So, if you want to stop me, kill me now, Seo Eun-hyun!"
"...Calm down, anger is not resolved by killing others."
"You!"
He shouts and lunges at me, angrily grabbing my collar.
"What do you know? Have you ever lost a lover right before your eyes? Have you experienced being helpless as your teacher, friends, loved ones, and all acquaintances are swept away like insects by an unstoppable entity? Do you know the misery of being unable to do anything as your precious ones die? What do you know about me? Shut up! Just shut up!!! I..."
Tears of blood flow from Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes.
"I've lost everything!!!"
Kwarururung!
From his body, red lightning bursts out once more, sweeping the surroundings.
-x-X-x-
Ah, I see.
I had seen those eyes before.
In the decayed depths of those eyes, I found a sense of familiarity from a distant past.
I too, had once possessed those eyes.
And as soon as I realized that sense of kinship, I had a guess as to why Jeon Myeong-hoon is searching for Yeon Jin.
To confirm my guess, I look at him and ask,
"Explain the situation. What happened?"
"I lost everything! You...!"
"Calm down!"
Wo-woong!
"...!"
With the realm of Treading Heavens, I strongly implant a command in Jeon Myeong-hoon to momentarily stop his outburst.
"Explain properly. Why are you looking for Yeon Jin? I'll help you!"
The soul within Yeon Jin that had been hiding, Yeon Wei, had said that when the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was destroyed, their lifespans were shortened to under 20 years.
I have a rough guess.
Perhaps the True Immortal that destroyed the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect somehow manipulated the lifespans of those associated with the sect.
At my shout, Jeon Myeong-hoon trembles and slowly opens his mouth.
"That being... brought down a Heavenly Tribulation."
His face turns gloomy.
"As soon as [It] opened its eyes, [It] took the Heavenly Lightning Banner from us. Using the banner as a medium, [It] brought down the Heavenly Tribulation across the entire Thunder Spirit Island from [Above]...."
I see despair consuming Jeon Myeong-hoon's consciousness.
Those who were not in the sect due to missions at the time of the incident, or possible survivors. Everyone registered in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. Everyone across the Three Thousand Worlds who had formed a master-disciple bond with the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, was fixed with the fate of Heavenly Tribulation...."
Crack....
He grinds his teeth.
"At most 20 years... within that time, all beings in the Three Thousand Worlds who follow the teachings of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's founder, Yang Su-jin, will be forced into a fate of annihilation by Heavenly Tribulation!"
"I see..."
I understand why he is searching for Yeon Jin.
"So, are you trying to save the survivors of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect?"
"Yes."
He grabs the hem of my clothes with his decayed eyes, pleading with agony.
"Help me find Yeon Jin... You said you would help, right? Please, help me.... Everyone... is dead. Apart from five disciples who were dispatched far away, those who were sent nearby... died in order according to their proximity to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect...! Yeon Jin, who was dispatched to the Devil Realm, and the remaining four who went to explore the Nether Ghost Realm, are the only disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect left in this world...!!"
"...I understand."
I nod.
"Yeon Jin, with the Heavenly Being puppets I gave him, headed to the Bright Cold Realm to look for you. Even though the puppets are far away, I can still contact them."
With those words, a spark of life begins to appear in Jeon Myeong-hoon's decayed eyes.
"Really... Seo Eun-hyun...!? Is that true!!"
"Yes, it will take a few days for my message to reach, but... I should be able to get in touch with Yeon Jin within four days."
With a roar, Jeon Myeong-hoon grips my shoulder, trembling with a soulless face.
"Thank you...! Thank you, Seo Eun-hyun...!"
With those words, Jeon Myeong-hoon faints on the spot.
'This is...'
Exhaustion.
It made sense he would collapse from exhaustion, having killed a Four-Axis inspector before fighting with me and using a taxing technique to extract flags from his body during his rampage here.
I sigh, looking at the fainted Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Everyone.
Everyone who fell into this world has changed, without exception.
'I've regained all my memories.'
I close my eyes and contemplate my Nascent Soul.
Good memories, bad memories....
I retrieved all memories submerged in the depths of unconsciousness and recorded them within the artifact spirits.
Even memories that I wanted to forget.
In those memories, honestly, Jeon Myeong-hoon wasn't exactly a pleasant figure to me.
But, even so.
Whether there were good times or bad, it was my life.
And Jeon Myeong-hoon, annoying as he may have been, was a part of my life's journey, a connection I made.
Rustling...
The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections now records the appearance of Jeon Myeong-hoon, who has come this time.
'Honestly, I don't like you.'
However, annoying as he might be, this guy was not my enemy.
Not an ill connection, but just a regular bond.
That's why I decided to help Jeon Myeong-hoon.
'Youve lost everything, you say...'
I can't help but feel a sense of kinship with him.
I know all too well the feeling of helplessness from losing loved ones due to overwhelming power.
Perhaps knowing it all too well makes me want to help him even more.
After having a puppet take the fainted Jeon Myeong-hoon to the Governor's mansion,
I head to look for the Devil tribes who have not yet managed to leave the barrier's interior.
"Daoist Gyeon, can you lead them safely?"
[Well, there was a bit of conflict, but it's not a big deal. The barrier made of Vast Cold Jade is a problem... But watching from afar, it seems that the Lord Governor can dismantle the barrier.]
"That's right."
[Hmmm...]
The tentacled being, adjusting to my eye level, speaks.
[You seem different from before, Lord Governor. Instead of the unstable consciousness wave I've seen before, I now feel a firm wave of consciousness from you.]
I smile at him.
"I've regained what I had lost. I won't waver anymore, whether by the Devil Race or the Human Race..."
I glance at the devils, who are anxiously chattering behind Gyeon Shin.
And the pair of young men and women mingled among them.
"I will not let those dear to me die in front of me."
[Congratulations. You've shed your worries.]
"I've just regained my standard."
Wriggle, wriggle...
Suddenly, Gyeon Shin crosses two of its tentacles to make a scissor gesture.
[Our Yuchok Tribe prides itself on being a highly cultured and intellectual race. Since our racial trait involves parasitizing others, we prefer to define ourselves by the essence rather than appearance.]
His intent contains a certain respect for me.
[And this gesture signifies a salute containing respect for a member of our tentacled race who can clearly define themselves. Please accept it.]
Wo-woong!
A faint light of spiritual energy shimmers right at the center of Gyeon Shin's scissor gesture with his tentacles.
It seems not just a greeting but some specific mystic technique.
Feeling sincerity in his intent, I express my gratitude and accept the light of spiritual energy he shoots out.
Wo-woong!
Simultaneously, I feel a peculiar sensation take root in my Nascent Soul.
'This is...'
A special sensation swirls around my Nascent Soul.
I become able to contemplate my Nascent Soul more clearly and distinctly than before.
It seems that Gyeon Shin has granted me a particular ability.
[Our race primarily lives by overpowering others' minds and parasitizing them. The technique I've given you transforms a part of your soul into something similar to our race, allowing you to detach your soul and parasitize another's Nascent Soul. You can eventually dominate their Nascent Soul to condense a second Nascent Soul using the technique of Mysterious Bizarre Gu.]
"This technique..."
I feel a sense of familiarity with the technique Gyeon Shin gave me.
And I know where this familiarity comes from.
'Yuan Li's Blood Spirit...'
It's similar to the devilish art that splits one's own Nascent Soul to create Blood Spirits, hiding them in the dragon veins of various cities.
'Indeed, the Devil Realm is the homeland of devilish arts.'
Yuan Li's Blood Spirit might also have originated from the Yuchok Tribe or a similar race.
"Thank you. However, to use this technique, I would ultimately have to parasitize someone else's soul with my own, and I don't think I'll be using such demonic arts."
[Well, whether you use it or not is up to you. Besides, the essence of Mysterious Bizarre Gu is not about ruthlessly exploiting others' souls.]
Gyeon Shin continues.
[In the distant past, when the True Devil Realm was whole, the Devil Realm was divided into two factions: the Demonic Devils and the Heavenly Fiends. Among them, the Heavenly Fiends would consume Demonic Devils as resources through their peculiar devilish arts. They were especially known for techniques that eroded the minds of Demonic Devils, corrupting and turning them into eternal slaves of the Heavenly Fiends, which was popular among the Heavenly Fiends at that time.
Our Yuchok Tribe was once enslaved by the Heavenly Fiends, but one of our ancestors countered the mind erosion of the Heavenly Fiends by parasitizing the Heavenly Fiends mind in reverse with clear self-awareness and personal standpoint, battling their mental power with a technique that became the origin of Mysterious Bizarre Gu.]
"In other words, this technique was created to counter the Heavenly Fiends?"
[You could say that. Now, the worlds have split into the Blood Yin Realm where the Heavenly Fiends reside and our True Devil Realm where we Demonic Devils live. People from the Bright Cold Realm have no reason to see Heavenly Fiends but it's a well-known fact in the True Devil Realm that the Heavenly Fiends have been peculiarly obsessed with the Bright Cold Realm for ages. Since you've come to the True Devil Realm, you might encounter Heavenly Fiends, so I'll give you this technique.]
"...Thank you."
[It's I who should be thanking you for treating our Devil Race well.]
We smile at each other.
"...I'd like to send you off right away, but according to the celestial energy, a calamity will envelop this area in a few days."
I explain to Gyeon Shin after observing the celestial energy.
After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, my ability to perceive celestial energy has grown even more.
And from what I can see, this occupied territory will be engulfed by those harboring malice within a few days. If Gyeon Shin leads the devils out of this place to escape the occupied territory, they will likely be caught by those with ill intentions.
'Considering the nature of the calamity, it's likely to be humans.'
If they were devils like Gyeon Shin, I would have let them go without hesitation.
However, it seems that the Human Race Grand Alliance is likely to send people.
"I cant send you off just yet, so please be patient a little longer."
[Understood. We will wait.]
"Since it's a calamity I can handle, I'll send you off after dealing with them."
After conveying this to Gyeon Shin, I went to a place in the occupied territory where spiritual energy is dense and stabilized my Nascent Soul's realm for several days.
'Is the Human Race Grand Alliance coming to capture me?'
It's highly likely.
Perhaps I was already registered as a traitor to the Human Race and have a bounty on my head.
'...Let's prepare ourselves.'
Being able to read celestial signs doesn't mean I can foresee my own fate.
In fact, being able to read celestial energy only gives me a vague understanding of my future, and preparing for it without being able to read all possible changes means that, no matter how much I read the celestial energy, I cannot know my own fate.
I don't know what will become of me, but...
'Maybe... I might have to betray the Human Race!'
Let's brace for the future and face it head-on!
With determination, I waited for several days.
Four days later.
Jeon Myeong-hoon woke up.
Reading the celestial energy, I realized that people from the Human Race will arrive in two days.
'Maybe I'll need Jeon Myeong-hoon's help.'
Having ascended to the Nascent Soul stage, I gained a 'vision' of a different dimension.
Now, I can unfold the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts that transcends planes themselves, so surviving is not an issue unless a Grand Cultivator at the Integration stage personally comes.
The challenge is protecting the Devil Race.
'Jeon Myeong-hoon should be able to handle that, right?'
Now that I have sent a message to Yeon Jin, a reply should be coming soon.
'I'll convey Yeon Jin's news to Jeon Myeong-hoon and then ask for his help.'
With the strength that Jeon Myeong-hoon displayed in killing an Inspector at the Four-Axis stage, he will be of considerable help.
Wo-woong!
I feel the jade slip in my grasp vibrating.
'A responsealready?'
Its a reply from the Heavenly Being stage puppet that went with Yeon Jin.
'That's good, he must be on his way here.'
Wo-woong!
As I infuse spiritual energy into the jade slip, it trembles and projects an image into the air.
Flash!
"What?"
Kurururung, Kurung!
Flash!
Heavenly Lightning.
Its lightning falling from the sky.
Within the lightning, Yeon Jin, with his half-white, half-black hair, and the soul entity attached to him disintegrates simultaneously.
A bolt of lightning from the lightning strike surges towards the puppet.
Fizz...
Thats the end of the footage.
"...What, what is this...?"
I am dumbfounded, gasping in shock.
'They, they died in the meantime...?'
Yeon Wei mentioned they would die within 20 years.
I interpreted it as meaning at least, they wouldn't die for another 10 years at the earliest.
But it seems within 20 years' meant they could die at any point within that time frame.
They simply died.
I clench my fists tightly, grinding my teeth.
'...Sorry, Yeon Jin.'
Maybe it's my fault.
If I hadn't insisted on sending the puppet to find Jeon Myeong-hoon and kept him here, perhaps he couldve met Jeon Myeong-hoon here.
'What should I tell Jeon Myeong-hoon?'
Now, rather than thinking about receiving help, Im more worried about how to break the news to him.
Should I tell him the truth, or should I lie?
Before going to Jeon Myeong-hoon, I stand in place, deeply pondering.
'What should I tell him!
After much contemplation, I went to find Jeon Myeong-hoon.
He had just regained his energy and was standing up, blankly staring outside the Governor's office.
Jeon Myeong-hoon, have you woken up?
How long has it been since I fainted?
Four days.
I see. Didnt you say it would take about four days for the message to reach Yeon Jin? How much longer do I need to wait for a response?
I have a question to ask you, Jeon Myeong-hoon.
I look at him and ask,
What will you do when you meet Yeon Jin? Though I heard that a being called True Immortal... has fixed Yeon Jins fate with a Heavenly Tribulation
I will block it for him.
His eyes shine as he speaks.
It's not a tribulation called upon by his own cultivation, but one artificially imposed by another. I can block it for him. The Heavenly Tribulation inflicted on the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is a bolt of lightning struck by a True Immortal directly. However, the tribulation fixed by the True Immortal on his fate is not directly exerted by a True Immortal, but indirectly, so I'll definitely be able to block it!"
Is that so.
Now that you've heard what youre curious about, give me an answer, Seo Eun-hyun. Has the message reached Yeon Jin?
I look at Jeon Myeong-hoon.
I observe his intent and heart essence.
A field of corpses.
A sea of blood and mountains of corpses!
That is Jeon Myeong-hoon's current heart essence.
His mind is showing a highly unstable appearance within that sea of blood and corpses.
If I were to tell him now that Yeon Jin is dead, he might completely lose his mind.
Theres still no response from Yeon Jin.
I clench my teeth and lie.
It will take some time for a response to come back.
It only takes time to connect the puppet from the 8th occupied territory.
Once connected, theres no delay, but I lied.
He needs hope.
Without even a glimmer of hope, he would crumble and go mad on the spot.
I see. I understand.
When theres a response from Yeon Jin, Ill let you know.
Having cowardly lied, I can't ask him to help me protect the Devil Race.
'I have no choice. The calamity I've seen is something I can handle, so I'll have to resolve it as much as I can with my own power.'
I head outside the Governor's office and start waiting again.
And then, two more days passed.
Theyve come.
While contemplating my Nascent Soul, I open my eyes and look up at the sky.
Wo-wong, wo-woong, wo-woong...
Beyond the barrier, numerous Nascent Soul stage and Heavenly Being stage cultivators are lined up.
The gap in the barrier that had been made during the fight with Jeon Myeong-hoon had since self-repaired, closing up once more.
Kurung, Kururururung!
The sky is covered in dark clouds and enveloped in yin energy.
Soon, rain begins to fall from the sky.
Swoosh...
'Yin attribute techniques.'
I assess the situation, looking at who seems to be the leader among the Heavenly Being stage cultivators.
The Devil tribes have been told to go underground for shelter.
Remaining on the surface of the occupied territory are now only myself and Jeon Myeong-hoon, who should be resting in the governor's building.
'Ill resolve it somehow.'
Three Heavenly Being stage cultivators.
Eight Nascent Soul stage cultivators.
I can handle this much.
Wo-woong!
The sky roars, and a Heavenly Being stage cultivator wrapped in yin energy unfurls a scroll and begins to read.
[The messenger of the Human Race Grand Alliance, this Hyeon Shin proclaims. The traitor of the Human Race, former Provincial Governor Seo Eun-hyun, and the Slaughterer Demon Jeon Myeong-hoon, come out and willingly submit to the arrest of the Grand Alliance!]
Hmm?
Slaughterer Demon Jeon Myeong-hoon?
[Especially the Slaughterer Demon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, who mercilessly massacred innocent members of the Human Race in the first, second, third, and fourth occupied territories, causing tremendous damage to the Alliance and killing the Inspector of the Four-Axis stage dispatched by the Human Race. If you resist, you will be executed on the spot!]
I stare, mouth agape, towards the Governor's building where Jeon Myeong-hoon should reside.
'What madness has he wrought on his way here?'
I chuckle hollowly and look at Hyeon Shin.
"Given the situation, it might seem a bit humorous to ask, but if the fourth occupied territory was devastated by Jeon Myeong-hoon... what happens to the original plan?"
The expressions on Hyeon Shin's face, as well as those who came with him, twists grotesquely at my question.
[...The Human Race Grand Alliance is in chaos because of him. His rampage turned our strategic areas into a mess, completely derailing our comprehensive battle plans! He must be captured and brought to trial by the Alliance for his crimes, including the murder of the Four-Axis stage Inspector. Of course, as a former provincial governor and accused traitor of the Human Race, you're to be tried as well!]
Then let me ask one more thing.
Holding a glimmer of hope, I look at Hyeon Shin and inquire,
"Does this mean the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation plan is also canceled?"
If that is the case, there won't be an urgent need to evacuate the Devil tribes.
If so...
'I don't need to kill these people.'
The reason for the urgent evacuation of the devils is because the start of the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation plan will obliterate those I am connected with and their lands without a trace.
If the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation plan is canceled, I am prepared to quietly allow myself to be captured.
The Devil tribes can be slowly evacuated using puppets.
However, Hyeon Shin's response is despairing.
[What are you talking about! I said the plan was disrupted, not canceled. The Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect I belong to has deep ties with the Black Dragon Race among the Earth Tribe, and fortunately, the Integration stage Black Dragon King has decided to help us this time, considering our relationship. Even if the Grand Alliance has to share rights with the Black Dragon Race, the plan itself won't change much!]
I see.
I sigh.
'No choice then.'
There is only one way left.
'Suppress or kill them, then quickly evacuate those Im connected with.'
I am prepared to become a traitor to the Human Race!
Hyun-shin, perhaps attempting to crush the spirits of Jeon Myeong-hoon and me, bellows out loud.
[Anyway, criminals Seo Eun-hyun and grand traitor Jeon Myeong-hoon, comply with the noble Human Race Grand Alliance's arrest! If you resist, not only will the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, that you Seo Eun-hyun belong to, face repercussions, but depending on the actions of Jeon Myeong-hoon, the last survivor of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, it will also determine how the sect is recorded in the history of the Human Race]
And then.
Boom!
The Governor's office explodes, and Jeon Myeong-hoon, who had been resting inside, growls as he spits out a curse.
[...The last survivor of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, what does that mean?]
[Exactly as said! Survivors of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect dispatched to the Nether Ghost Realm are missing due to the vast distance between dimensions, and another survivor who was sent to the Devil Realm has recently had their light extinguished from the Life Registry in Temporal Fate Island!]
Temporal Fate Island is an island that provides proof of identity for those belonging to the Human Race, and it contains something known as the Life Registry.
The Life Registry, equipped with a magical spell that lights up in response to the life signals of all Human Race members registered on Temporal Fate Island, provided a way to know the life or death of any member.
Only inspectors affiliated with the Human Race Grand Alliance can access the comprehensive Life Registry, which the Grand Alliance uses to manage the movements of the Human Race.
Hearing Hyun-shin's words, I clench my teeth.
'Damn it...'
In the end, Jeon Myeong-hoon learned about Yeon Jin's death.
[I repeat, the two criminals]
And in the next moment.
Snap!
[...Grand Alliance]
Boom!
A vertical streak of blood shoots across Hyeon Shin's face.
A moment later.
His body is split in half.
Kuarururung!
Suddenly appearing behind Hyeon Shin, Jeon Myeong-hoon holds Hyeon Shin's Nascent Soul in his hand.
Crackle!
As he clenches his hand, Hyeon Shin's Nascent Soul explodes.
Kurung, Kurururung!
Within the dark clouds summoned by Hyeon Shin, red lightning begins to wriggle.
Red!
Although Jeon Myeong-hoon is at the Nascent Soul stage, for some reason, his consciousness begins to expand, covering everything around him.
And looking at the color of his intent, I felt as if the sky and earth were covered in a bloody hue.
Looking at the color of his intent, I witness the illusion of the sky and earth being covered in a bloody crimson hue
I bite my lip.
Jeon Myeong-hoon, who had been in a state of precariousness, has completely collapsed.
[To reach my comrades in the Nether Ghost Realm, it will take 200 years due to the distance between dimensions. But I only have 20 years left... I came here hoping to save at least one disciple of our sect... even just one]
Drip, drip...
Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes roll back, showing the whites, and tears of blood stream down his face.
[They're all... dead. Everyone... Yes....]
'Ah...'
I realize.
Jeon Myeong-hoon's mind, at this moment, has completely shattered.
I have seen such states of mind before.
Seo Hweol and the Mad Lord.
And myself when I lost Buk Hyang-hwa to Yuan Li.
Those whose heart essences were enveloped in darkness.
Today.
[Nothing matters anymore. Everyone... just die.]
Jeon Myeong-hoon went completely insane.
-x-X-x-
Kururung!
The heavens and earth are engulfed in purple lightning.
Damn it
Even sending heart language to try and calm his mind doesn't help.
His heart essence is completely shattered.
It was already in a precarious state, but the fact that Yeon Jin died must have been the tipping point.
Can I subdue him?
Just then.
Wuduk, wududuk!
Swoosh!
"Kuh...ughaaaah!"
"...??"
Sure enough, the messenger from the Human Race Grand Alliance, whose Nascent Soul had exploded due to Jeon Myeong-hoon, is screaming while regenerating his body.
How!? I clearly saw his Nascent Soul explode
Even if one loses their entire body, as long as the Nascent Soul exists, resurrection is possible for cultivators from the Nascent Soul stage and above.
Conversely, this means the biggest weakness of cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage is the Nascent Soul itself.
He's alive even after his Nascent Soul exploded?
"Wait, that is...?"
Wo-woong!
Behind Hyeon Shin, three Nascent Souls appear.
"...!?"
And one of the Nascent Souls re-enters Hyeon Shin's body.
Soon after, Hyeon Shin is completely resurrected.
"You...! How dare, how dare you consume one of my Nascent Souls...!? I will definitely kill you!"
Did he condense not just one, but four Nascent Souls?
Jeon Myeong-hoon, engulfed in lightning, silently watches Hyeon Shin with his eyes inverted.
The sight is quite eerie, and Hyeon Shin, startled by Jeon Myeong-hoon, starts to ramble about his Nascent Souls.
"Ha, haha! The Four Symbols Nascent Soul technique of our Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect allows splitting the original Nascent Soul into four and then slowly nurturing them to obtain a total of four Nascent Souls! I won't be easily defeated by someone like you!"
After finishing his words, he immediately forms a hand seal.
Wo-woong!
Behind him, three Nascent Souls float up..
The Nascent Souls position themselves in a '' shape behind him, forming the same hand seal as him.
Wo-woong!
Simultaneously, a ''-shaped spatial rift appears behind him.
However, due to one of the Four Symbols Nascent Souls being missing, the spatial rift doesn't seem to be in its complete form.
"Jeon Myeong-hoon, who killed the Four-Axis Inspector, and Seo Eun-hyun, estimated to be of Four-Axis strength! I have come to capture both of you!"
Wo-woong!
Simultaneously, from the spatial rift behind Hyeon Shin.
Something begins to emerge.
I watch the scene with wide eyes.
'What is that...?'
The plane of Qi trembles.
With the vision of the Earth Tribe, Yin and Yang rotates, diving deep into the plane of Qi.
At the same time, I see something 'pulling up' through the spatial rift, with Yin and Yang swirling within the plane of Qi.
Wo-woong!
In regular vision, visible changes are happening to Hyeon Shin.
Black scales sprout on his skin.
Simultaneously, from the black spatial rift behind him, the shadow of a dragon emerges and clings to his body.
Kugugugu!
Hyeon Shin's body transforms, becoming half-human, half-demon like Seo Ran!
[Many disciples of our Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect are demi-humans of the Grand Cultivator Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum (Mysterious Yin) and human concubines... Gifted with the true blood of the immortal beast Black Dragon, bestowed by him, it is possible to draw upon the power of ancient immortal beasts from the distant past!]
Kugugugu!
At the same time, the weather begins to change.
The air fills with yin energy, and once again, rain begins to fall.
Swoosh!
This time, the rain is black water.
Kugugugu!
The dark clouds in the sky gather, transforming into the shape of an ink dragon.
Kwaaaaaah!
Rain pours from the sky, and water gushes from the ground.
The natural world is changing.
'This is...'
Clearly, the power of the Four-Axis stage!
'The shadow of the Black Dragon clinging to him... It's giving him power!'
It isn't the power he cultivated.
Through this so-called true blood of the immortal beast, hes borrowing the power of [something] existing far away!
Below the ink dragon, Hyeon Shin points at Jeon Myeong-hoon and shouts.
[Surrender quietly and hand over your Nascent Soul, Jeon Myeong-hoon! Otherwise....]
And then.
[Shut your mouth...]
With a thunderous roar,
[Shut up!]
The clouds filling the sky are torn apart in a single strike.
The red lightning, clustering like the sun, tears the clouds apart, and from its center, Jeon Myeong-hoon screams madly.
[Everyone... should die. In this meaningless world, why are you all still alive?]
Kugugugugu!
The sky is covered with red lightning.
The ink dragon formed by dark clouds created by Hyeon Shin with confidence is torn to shreds and disintegrated by Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning.
[Wait, what is this...]
Before he can grasp the situation, Jeon Myeong-hoon flies at the speed of lightning towards Hyeon Shin, grabbing his face.
Kuarururung!
Thunder follows Jeon Myeong-hoon, and the cultivators in the Heavenly Being stage and Nascent Soul stage who came with Hyeon Shin are flustered, each forming hand seals and casting their spells towards Jeon Myeong-hoon.
However, the next moment.
Kwarurururng!
The heavens and earth are enveloped in crimson lightning.
The entire 8th occupied territory is filled with red lightning, covering everything in existence.
Not only the cultivators who came to assist Hyeon Shin but also I am enveloped in red lightning.
In an instant, the world turns blindingly white.
Shhiiiii.
I gasp for air while looking up at the sky, my body smoking.
Kurung, kururung...
Red lightning is still writhing in the sky.
And I, having drawn upon the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method to its limit, clench my teeth.
Wo-woong!
The starlight of the Starlight Protecting Void Body circles my entire body.
Like Oh Hyun-seok before, my body had transformed as if embodying the night.
'I... blocked it.'
Gasping for breath, I look down at the Devil Race who fainted just from the aftermath.
Fortunately, Jeon Myeong-hoon's attack hadn't killed the Devil Race I was trying to protect because I had thrown my body with all my might to block Jeon Myeong-hoon's red lightning.
But I look up at the sky with a tense face.
Jeon Myeong-hoon is still convulsing at the center of the sphere made of red lightning.
The cultivators of the Heavenly Being and Nascent Soul stages who had been supporting Hyeon Shin until now have all disappeared.
They seem to have turned to ash.
As I survey the situation and look around, I see a small cloud cluster in the distance.
Its a dark cloud made of yin energy.
The dark cloud envelops something like a small cocoon, and after a while, a person emerges.
Its Hyeon Shin.
Hes spitting blood, glaring at Jeon Myeong-hoon with bloodshot eyes.
Dressed solemnly as a messenger of the Human Race Grand Alliance, his clothes are all torn and turned into rags, and his body is half-cooked to a golden brown.
Hyeon Shin looks at me and shouts.
"Seo Eun-hyun! You, help me!"
He grimaces with bloodshot eyes.
"We must stop this mad murderer! If we let him go, he will roam around committing countless massacres! We must seal him now! Help me seal him, and I will support you with all my power at the Human Race Grand Alliances trial!"
Chyararak!
Hyeon Shin opens his mouth and pulls out seven flag dharma treasures from his Golden Core.
Each black flag dharma treasure depicts a black dragon clutching a pearl.
I am dazzled by the pearl in the mouth of the black dragon, which looks very similar to the Vast Cold Jade.
"We will catch him using the barrier spread across the occupied territory! Cooperate, Seo Eun-hyun!"
"..."
I silently gaze at the crazed figure..
'How did it come to this, Jeon Myeong-hoon.'
Perhaps.
I should have joined the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect instead of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect.
If I had known the circumstances,
Perhaps I could have saved him, completely lost to madness.
But Jeon Myeong-hoon has already gone mad, and in this life, I have people I need to protect.
So,
'I'm sorry.'
Wo-woong!
I must seal him.
'This is the best I can do right now.'
Under the influence of the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, my entire body increasingly becomes immersed in starlight.
The power of the Starlight Protecting Void Body endlessly amplifies the strength of my flesh.
My body transforms as if visualizing the universe, like the starlight in the night sky.
From my dantian, a five-colored light swirls, while blue light orbits around both fists.
Bo-oong!
[I will hold Jeon Myeong-hoon back, move during this time!]
Ironically, Hyeon Shin, who came to capture me, started to collaborate against the insane Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Bo-oong, Boong, Boong, Boong!
I draw my Formless Sword.
'The speed isn't that of real lightning.'
The red lightning fired by Jeon Myeong-hoon, while powerful, is significantly slower compared to the speed of true Heavenly Lightning.
Slow enough for me to see with my eyes and dodge.
And being able to dodge means.
Bo-oong!
Shwoosh!
I can precisely strike and cut at the weakest point!
Kurung, Kurururung!
Lightning scatters in all directions, erratically rushing towards me.
However, the Formless Sword's unpredictability matches that of the lightning.
I extend the Formless Sword forward.
The Formless Sword also bizarrely transforms to meet Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning.
Each strand of lightning he extends is enough to cut through space itself.
But with eyes that transcend planes, cutting through space is something I can adequately respond to.
'The space formed by the plane of Qi...'
Everything under the heavens.
Everything that exists in this world is ultimately determined by the plane.
The matter of this world.
All physical sciences exist at the bottom of the plane of Qi, a lower dimension of spiritual energy!
And such spiritual energies interweave messily, forming the space of this world.
With my eyes that have reached the Nascent Soul stage, I can see the energies that make up space.
How is it possible for those at the Nascent Soul stage to slice through space and perform spatial movement?
Bo-oong!
With the Formless Sword, I naturally cut through the spiritual energies forming the plane of space, countering Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning.
Originally, being at the Nascent Soul stage only allows one to see the Qi plane that makes up space, but actually intervening requires significant effort.
Therefore, freely slicing through space and entering the void to move through space is a privilege only for those at the Heavenly Being stage and above.
However, my Formless Sword, freely slicing through planes, combined with the eyes of the Nascent Soul stage, allows me to dodge Jeon Myeong-hoon's attacks as freely as a Heavenly Being stage cultivator.
Kururung!
His energy gradually intensifies.
Once again, six flags sprout from his back.
But this time, the flags are not drawn out one by one as before.
Kwaeung!
Instead, all six flags are drawn out at once.
Wo-woong!
Simultaneously, the red lightning covering his surroundings begin to change shape.
The lightning takes form, transforming into the figure of a giant.
It looks akin to a Thunder God.
The fearsome figure of the Thunder God raises its arms to the sky.
The Thunder God's shoulders stretch out, sprouting another pair of arms.
The newly formed Thunder God spread its pair of arms on both sides again.
And once more, another pair of arms sprout from the Thunder God's shoulders.
The newly sprouted arms reach forward.
In the form of a six-armed figure, each hand holds a flag.
Oooooooh!
The Thunder God roars.
Simultaneously, the sky turns red, and the earth trembles.
Kugugugu!
The Thunder God absorbs the surrounding lightning power, gradually increasing in size.
The flags in the hands of the Thunder God also grow larger.
After a while, the Thunder God, grown to about 2000 meters in size, looks down at me.
Zzirit, Zzirit
The space between the heavens and earth is filled with lightning energy, causing static electricity to prickle all over my body with every movement.
I gaze at the red glow in the eyes of the Thunder God.
"...I am sorry, Jeon Myeong-hoon."
I take the Starting Form.
"For leaving you to become a monster."
Kurururung!
The Thunder God roars and swings its flags.
With each swing of its six arms, colorful lightning bolts fall towards me.
Our battle has begun.
At the headquarters of the Human Race Grand Alliance, Heavenly Human Island.
At the very center of that Sky Island, Grand Cultivators at the Integration stage reside on Heavenly Cauldron Mountain.
There are seven cave mansions on Heavenly Cauldron Mountain.
From one of the seven, a bright burst of light shines forth.
Soon after, the white light soars to the summit of Heavenly Cauldron Mountain and settles in a small formation there.
Wo-woong!
As the formation activates, the white light transforms into the figure of a man and takes his place within the formation, and shortly after, six faint figures appear above it.
[Cultivator Wi, what matter requires the summoning of the Council of Grand Cultivators?]
One of the figures asks the white light, Wi Ryeong-seon
Wi Ryeong-seon frowns and replies.
[Previously, we sent an inspector to arrest Seo Eun-hyun, the provincial governor of the 8th occupied territory of the Devil Realm, on charges of betrayal to the Human Race. The inspector was captured and killed by Jeon Myeong-hoon, a survivor of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. We then sent Hyeon Shin to apprehend him.]
[Hyeon Shin, isnt that the one with the most potent lineage of immortal beasts from the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect?]]
[Excessive force was sent.]
[Considering that Hyeon Shin can borrow the power of ancient immortal beasts to exhibit the peak strength of a mid Four-Axis stage entity despite being at the Heavenly Being stage...]
[Even if both Seo Eun-hyun and Jeon Myeong-hoon are considered Four-Axis stage forces, according to what has been assessed, Seo Eun-hyun barely reaches the Four-Axis stage. Jeon Myeong-hoon can only exert the power of the mid Four-Axis stage explosively for a short duration, right? It's unlikely he can defeat Hyeon Shin, who can stably exhibit the peak power of the mid Four-Axis stage throughout the day.]
Following the Grand Cultivators' discussion, Wi Ryeong-seon sighs and then speaks.
[I just received a message from Hyeon Woon, the Chief Strategist of the Devil Realm Conquest Army. He felt the death of his brother, Hyeon Shin.]
[What...! How can that be...!? Could Hyeon Woon have felt wrong?]
[I just confirmed with my avatar in Temporal Fate Island. Hyeon Shins life marker has vanished.]
[This is unbelievable Are you saying Jeon Myeong-hoon and Seo Eun-hyun have surpassed the mid Four-Axis stage in power?]
Wi Ryeong-seon coughs and continues.
[According to the message from Hyeon Woon, it seems the situation is roughly as follows:
Jeon Myeong-hoon began an uncontrollable rampage, and Hyeon Shin, briefly joining hands with Seo Eun-hyun and using the barrier of the 8th occupied territory, managed to seal Jeon Myeong-hoon. However, in the process, he was fatally injured by Jeon Myeong-hoon, and all his Nascent Souls of the Four Symbols Nascent Soul Technique were scattered. Hyeon Shin informed Hyeon Woon of the situation using a technique before dying.]
[...]
[It seems Seo Eun-hyun wasnt the problem. The real issue is Jeon Myeong-hoon.]
[How absurd. Those not even of direct immortal beast lineage killed a Four-Axis stage cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage? Especially the cultivators from the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect specialized in survival?]
A silence lingers among the gathered Grand Cultivators.
[Both are undoubtedly incredible talents.]
[Had it not been for this incident, they might have reached the stage of Grand Cultivators leading the Human Race]
Sighs leak among the Grand Cultivators.
[To think they killed a disciple of the Hyeon Clan from the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect]
[Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum will be furious.]
[Furious? More like he'll pretend to be angry to meddle in the affairs of the Human Race.]
[Regardless, giving him a pretext is the problem!]
[Damn it, pretending to be enraged, he'll barge in, kill Jeon Myeong-hoon, and use that as a pretext to kill Seo Eun-hyun as well.]
[He'll kill off the talents of the Human Race using this opportunity and fend off the Integration stage Grand Cultivators of the Devil Realm, using that as a pretext to snatch away most of the occupied territories the Human Race has conquered for the Black Dragon Race!]
The Grand Cultivators all sigh deeply.
[It's chaos everywhere. A lunatic called the Mad Lord of the Human Race has been rampaging through different races, tarnishing the prestige of our Human Race... Our ambitious invasion of the Devil Realm hardly showed results, and most of the occupied territories are about to be snatched away by the Black Dragon Race. Moreover, all of us, the Integration stage Grand Cultivators, are severely injured, making it difficult to even leave our abodes...]
[Given the situation, we might as well execute the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation plan properly, turning the Devil Realm into ruins so that no one benefits.]
[Right, since Jeon Myeong-hoon, that damned lunatic, has already turned the 4th occupied territory to ruins, let's not incorporate it into the Bright Cold Realm but instead detonate the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation right there...]
[The Black Dragon Race won't be able to gain much from this either.]
[It's come to this point so we all might as well go down together!]
They grit their teeth as they share their opinions.
The Council of Grand Cultivators continued for several days.
A few days later, at the summit of Heavenly Cauldron Mountain where the Council of Grand Cultivators is held,
One of the Four-Axis stage Masters of the Grand Alliance arrived.
"I report to the Grand Cultivators, at the entrance to the True Devil Realm, the Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum has arrived and is demanding passage permission from the Grand Alliance's envoy controlling the entrance."
[So, the old man has finally arrived...]
The Integration stage Grand Cultivators sigh as the meeting continues.
[Let him through. I don't like the old mans meddling, but under the current circumstances, he's the only one who can stop the Integration stage beings of the True Devil Realm.]
Wi Ryeong-seon clicks his tongue and speaks to the Four-Axis stage Master.
[Once the old man avenges his descendant in the 8th occupied territory and heads to the front line, immediately activate the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation and relay this order.]
His eyes shimmer menacingly.
[Since it has come to this, it's better if no one benefits. After activating the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation, close the entrance to the True Devil Realm so that the Black Dragon King can't come back to protest.]
Thus, an order that would mark the end of the war between the Humans and Devils was issued by the Council of Grand Cultivators of the Human Race Grand Alliance.
At the entrance to the True Devil Realm within the Human Territory,
A pale-faced middle-aged man in black robes stands expressionlessly.
The middle-aged man has a pair of small black azure antlers on his forehead.
Next to him, a Four-Axis stage envoy of the Grand Alliance is nervously standing.
"When exactly is the passage permission arriving? Are your people evolved from snails? I'm starting to get annoyed."
"M-my apologies to the Black Dragon King, but if you can wait just a bit longer..."
"You've been saying just a bit longer over and over again, but when exactly does this 'bit longer' end?"
"That is..."
My descendant, Hyeon Shin, has died, and I'm already in a very foul mood. I'm waiting for the passage permit out of the minimum respect for you Human Race folks, but if you're going to delay it like this, how do you think I feel?
"That is..."
Just then.
Wo-woong!
A bright light emanates from the jade slip at the waist of the Four-Axis stage envoy.
The Four-Axis stage envoy hastily presses the jade slip to his forehead.
After reading the message conveyed through the jade slip, his face lights up.
"Pe-permission has been granted! Black Dragon King, you may now enter!"
"Hmm, so the permission has finally been granted?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Fine... By the way, did Wi Ryeong-seon not send an avatar to this side of the True Devil Realm entrance?"
Ah, yes, that's correct. Grand Cultivator Wi has been gradually reducing his avatars and entrusting the management of the Human Race to the cultivators under the Grand Alliance
"I see. Then who is the direct contact for the Human Race Grand Alliance at this entrance to the Devil Realm?"
I am the sole person directly responsible for communication with the Human Race Grand Alliance! No one else can communicate directly with the
"In that case."
Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum looks at the Four-Axis stage envoy with a sneering smile.
If I just kill you, despite whatever happens here, the Human Race Grand Alliance will be none the wiser.
"...Excuse me?"
Crack!
"Aaargh!"
Black Dragon King moves faster than the Four-Axis stage envoy can react, grabbing and lifting him by the neck.
"Gurk, Grrrrk!"
Blood spurts from the envoy's seven orifices.
His entire body's blood vessels writhe as blood splatters in all directions.
"Wh-What are you doing..."
Regrettably, right after the Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum crossed into the True Devil Realm, a meteorite coincidentally fell near the entrance to the True Devil Realm, resulting in the total annihilation of your forces. The benevolent Black Dragon King had legally crossed into the True Devil Realm with the permission of the Human Race Grand Alliance's Council of Grand Cultivators, and the unfortunate incident of the meteorite falling has nothing to do with him. It's a truly sad event, but the benevolent Black Dragon King had no other choice but to express his condolences. You understand, right?
Kugugugu!
At the entrance to the True Devil Realm.
A massive accumulation of black water forms in the sky.
Kugugugu!
The black water falls towards their location.
The Human Race army stationed at the entrance to the True Devil Realm scream as they look up at the sky.
"Wha, what is that!"
"It's the Black Dragon King! The Black Dragon King is trying to kill us!"
"Run! We must inform the Human Race Grand Alliance!"
Numerous Heavenly Being stage and Nascent Soul stage cultivators use their Flying Escape Techniques to flee.
However, one of the Heavenly Being stage cultivators feel something strange.
'Wait, was the encampment near the entrance to the True Devil Realm... always this extensive?'
Wo-woong!
The Heavenly Being stage cultivator looks around suspiciously.
He finds himself unable to leave the encampment.
'Why, why?'
Paaat!
He stops momentarily in mid-air before using the Flying Escape Technique again.
However, shortly after.
The Heavenly Being stage cultivator arrives back to the same spot.
"What? Wait... this is the same place I just came from?"
His face turns pale.
"Going in circles? This is..."
He and other Heavenly Being and Nascent Soul stage cultivators look at their surroundings in horror, realizing something.
"The space has been warped!"
"Damn it! We're trapped here!"
Watching the scene, Black Dragon King crushes the Four-Axis stage envoy of the Grand Alliance he was holding.
Boom!
At his gesture, the moisture in the envoy's body explodes outward, and the fleeing soul of the envoy is crushed in the hand of the Black Dragon King.
Crackle!
The Black Dragon King, having crushed the soul of the Four-Axis stage envoy, strokes his beard and laments,
"Unfortunately, after the Black Dragon King crossed into the True Devil Realm, a meteorite fell, leading to the total annihilation of the Human Race army stationed at the entrance to the True Devil Realm without giving them a chance to react, a truly regretful event. This King will express his condolences for the annihilated Human Race army."
Having finished speaking, Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum walks into the entrance of the True Devil Realm.
Kugugugu!
Behind him, the gigantic cluster of black water he summoned falls to the ground, eliciting numerous screams.
As Black Dragon King clenches his hand, the Five Elements change, turning the black water into massive rocks.
The Black Dragon King, having crossed the dimensional gate into the True Devil Realm, smirks wickedly.
"Rotten Human Race fools, do you think you've only backstabbed me once or twice? With the nature of the Human Race, you'd close the entrance to the True Devil Realm the moment I cross over. Hitting you in the back of the head before you can do the same to me is the best way to deal with the Human Race, understand?"
He rises into the air of the True Devil Realm, forming hand seals.
"Now, shall we see if the Esteemed One of the Blood Yin Realm has any objections?"
Kugugugu!
Strange yin energy swirls around the Black Dragon King.
Wo-woong!
Behind him, four Nascent Souls emerge.
The Nascent Souls create spatial rifts, and through those rifts, a blood-red light begins to shine.
[In the name of the Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum, I call upon thee, Esteemed One of the Blood Yin Realm. Let your Esteemed Self be revealed, nourished by the massacres and wicked deeds the Human Race has perpetrated in the Devil Realm.]
Kugugugu!
Hyeon Eum laughs ambitiously as he chants the spell.
[I dare speak on behalf of the billions of devils slaughtered, exploited, and devoured by the Human Race.]
Wo-woong!
A bloody radiance extends from behind Hyeon Eum, piercing the ground.
Soon, it begins to spread across the entirety of the Human Race's occupied territories.
[Come forth, O great Esteemed One, and reveal your true self!]
A land laden with countless acts of wickedness perpetrated by the Human Race.
In the dragon veins of all the Human Race occupied territories that the humans exploited and oppressed, a crimson light swirls.
***
Brururu
Splash!
I spit out a mouthful of blood amidst the debris.
"Geok... Kughh..."
Trembling
My whole body hurts.
A tingling sensation echoes from various parts of my body.
'This place is...'
I look around to grasp the situation.
This place is the collapsed building of the governor's office.
The nearby occupied territory was completely devastated.
All the buildings and facilities built by the Human Race have turned into a handful of ashes, and the slightly sturdier ones have all collapsed into piles of rubbish.
A wasteland.
Yes, this place has become a wasteland.
Kurung, Kurururung!
I snap back to reality at the sound of thunder coming from one place.
In the 8th occupied territory is a barrier formation spread around by 7 pieces of Vast Cold Jade.
At the heart of that formation.
Seven flags with a black dragon drawn on them are planted in the center, forming a barrier-like shape.
'That is...'
I stagger towards the flags.
'Jeon Myeong-hoon...'
The flags are forming a single formation.
A formation to seal Jeon Myeong-hoon, borrowing the power of the barrier that covers this occupied territory.
Wo-woong...
I sit down an the boundary of the formation.
There is no trace of Hyeon Shin's energy anywhere.
He must have died after exhausting all three of his remaining Nascent Souls in the fight against Jeon Myeong-hoon.
We fought for almost three days and nights.
The Lightning Path Method mastered by Jeon Myeong-hoon is truly terrifying.
Getting hit once instantly paralyzes the body, making it impossible to move, and even after the paralysis wears off, the remaining lightning energy will chase after you like a guided missile endlessly.
Moreover, each strike, although slightly slower than real lightning, is too fast to ignore, and its power is dreadful.
Facing the Lightning Path Method, which boasts extreme offensive power, I had to pour out everything I had.
'I managed to barely win using 90% of my strength.'
I look at Jeon Myeong-hoon, trapped in the center of the flag formation.
Dark yin energy became chains, trapping the Lightning Orb in the center of the formation.
Its Jeon Myeong-hoon's Golden Core.
I look at Jeon Myeong-hoon's Golden Core and the Nascent Soul trapped inside it with mixed feelings.
You I cannot know what kind of life youve lived.
Pjijijijijik
Maybe Yes, its my fault. I could have chosen the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect instead of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect at that time. I chose the Azure Heaven Creation Sect simply because I thought I couldn't handle the True Immortal. But
I may not have been able to do anything about the True Immortal, but I might have been able to understand the life he had lived.
Perhaps, out of cowardice due to my feelings of powerlessness, I deliberately neglected him knowing he would suffer.
It's a paradoxical statement for someone who can travel back in time, but time cannot be reversed.
This moment, even if time were to turn back, will never disappear.
It will remain within me forever, becoming one with me.
'I'm sorry.'
Jeon Myeong-hoon is as good as dead now.
Perhaps, this is the same as having killed a fellow from the same world with my own hands for the first time.
"...Rest in peace."
Splash!
Spitting blood from my mouth again due to the injuries sustained from Jeon Myeong-hoon,
I turn my back on him like that.
Gulp, gulp...
Blood spurts from my mouth in several gushes.
'Those I sought to protect...'
As soon as the fight began, through Yuan Yu, I evacuated them along with Gyeon Shin to the basement of the governor's office.
I approach the collapsed governor's building and clear the debris.
Boom, bang!
Even with internal injuries, with my flesh strengthened through body cultivation, I can easily toss aside the debris of the building like feathers.
After clearing the debris, I find the entrance leading underground.
Step, step...
I slowly head down to the basement.
After walking for a while,
I see a green light shining in the distance.
Step, step.
Beyond the green light, the Devil Race inhabitants and Gyeon Shin are chatting.
"Governor!"
"Uncle Governor!"
From afar, Su In and Hong Yeon, seeing me walking towards them bleeding, hurriedly run towards me.
'Everyone is safe.'
Behind them, I see Gyeon Shin hastily running towards me on the puppet I had given him, and then I lose consciousness.
I had a dream.
In the dream, I reviewed the fight with Jeon Myeong-hoon.
From the start to the end of the battle.
The things I lacked in between, what I did well, and what could be developed.
I reflected on all those things to improve myself.
During that process, I suddenly felt like I could understand something.
'Something... I feel like I can pursue an even higher realm.'
Why is that?
Is it just a feeling?
But I knew it wasn't just a feeling.
'It's not just a feeling.'
It's clear.
Something definite is calling me beyond this.
'What is it, this...'
After much contemplation, I finally realize.
'Ah, I see.'
The dream tears apart.
Its a green podao.
The overwhelming trace of destruction I had seen in the distant past!
The memory from that time replays in my mind.
Why did that memory replay at this moment?
The reason is obvious.
The lightning spread by Jeon Myeong-hoon, albeit a bit immature, was infinitely similar to the Heavenly Tribulation.
And that green podao was the same.
'It too, is like the Heavenly Tribulation.'
Im not talking about the attribute of destruction.
The power of destruction itself is the personal enlightenment that the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One gained throughout his life.
What I felt was the principle behind the creation of that destructive force!
'It's similar, undoubtedly so.'
The strike of the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One was infinitely similar to Heavenly Tribulation.
But what exactly, is so similar?
Even though I felt that his strike and the Heavenly Tribulation were similar, I couldn't pinpoint exactly what or why they were similar.
Perhaps, the day I realize that, I might be able to reach [Beyond].
Maybe the reason cultivators fear and despise the Heart Tribe is...
It might not be just because they practice bizarre and unfathomable methods.
In my dream, I blankly watch the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One's strike and the lightning close to the Heavenly Tribulation that Jeon Myeong-hoon unleashed, and close my eyes.
Blink...
"Ah, Uncle!"
"Uncle Governor!!!"
Upon opening my eyes, familiar faces are in view.
"...Where is this?"
I hold my head and get up from my seat.
"He's up!"
"He's up, the Governor is up!"
Following the words of Su In and Hong Yeon, the two Devil Race children, numerous devils rush over.
"Oh my, Governor!"
"Have you awakened?"
"We didn't know what to do since you've been unconscious for two days!"
As I look around at them bewilderedly,
[Everyone, please step aside.]
Clank, clank, clank.
Gyeon Shin rides atop a puppet and approaches me.
[Are you alright, Lord Governor?]
Ah, there are a few sore spots, but well, Im fine. But why why is everyone reacting like this?
Until now, the devils haven't been so friendly with me.
Even if children like Su In and Hong Yeon were an exception, to the adult devils, I was just a vile Human Race native who was their governor.
Especially recently, because of the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation plan, I was the villain who tried to send the devils far away.
So why are their reactions like this?
[I've been sending distress signals to our kin for a while without any response. However, during your battle, a response came.]
Gyeon Shin continues to explain.
[The Integration stage Grand Cultivators of the Devil Realm, after capturing and interrogating the front-line humans, learned about the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation plan. They also found out that you were trying to send us far away because of it.]
"...You told the devils about that."
It seems the plan was exposed by the Integration Stage Grand Cultivators of the True Devil Realm.
Is that why everyone is so happy? Even though I was someone who drove you away from your homes and exploited you
[Hahaha! Exploit, Lord Governor? My words aren't finished yet. Learning about the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation plan is one thing, and recently, a tremendous event occurred in the True Devil Realm...]
Gyeon Shin speaks in a serious tone as his tentacles wriggle.
One end of his tentacle points somewhere.
Its the Void Spirit Pond.
[Don't you find it a bit strange, Lord Governor? Why such a strategic area as the Void Spirit Pond was so easily taken over by the Human Race from the True Devil Realm, why I, a member of the True Devil Realm's army, never mentioned this Void Spirit Pond to you, and why such precious Void Spirit Ponds were found in three close intervals within the Human Races occupied territories?]
"...You're saying something's not normal."
As I ask with a stern face, Gyeon Shin flicks his tentacle.
[Over the past few days while you were unconscious, I received a message from the devil forces. A tremendous uproar has occurred in the Devil Realm.]
"A tremendous uproar?"
[Yes. What we are looking at is not an ordinary Void Spirit Pond.]
"Not an ordinary Void Spirit Pond?"
[Yes, according to the information I received, what we see in front of us is a trace left by the Heavenly Fiends of the Blood Yin Realm attempting to enter the Devil Realm by scraping the dimensional barriers of the Devil Realm from the outside.]
"What...!"
I stand up abruptly from my seat.
Does that mean this is connected to the Blood Yin Realm!? Then, shouldnt we not be here?"
I previously heard.
The Heavenly Fiends of the Blood Yin Realm, even if they are of the same Devil Race, do not hesitate to devour each other and are said to be far more sinister, cruel, and cunning than the devils of the Devil Realm.
However, Gyeon Shin laughs and replies.
[Hahaha, correct. This Void Spirit Pond is indeed made by the Blood Yin Realm. However, it is not connected to the Blood Yin Realm.]
"What?"
[The beings of the Blood Yin Realm grow by feeding on negative and evil energies. Such wickedness allows the beings of the Blood Yin Realm to exert their power where it exists. Due to the malevolence accumulated as the Human Race assimilated and occupied the Devil Realm, slaughtering and weakening countless devils, the beings of the Blood Yin Realm were successful in connecting the Void Spirit Ponds in the occupied territories other than the 8th territory to the Blood Yin Realm.
However, the Void Spirit Pond in this 8th occupied territory could not be connected by the Blood Yin Realm's Heavenly Fiends.]
He grins.
The other devils also look at me with smiles filled with relief.
[According to the devil army, the 8th occupied territory is the only Human Race occupied territory where not enough malevolence has accumulated to connect to the Blood Yin Realm. In other words, Lord Governor Seo, due to your benevolence, this territory did not become hell.]
"..."
[For not abusing and exploiting the devils here, in great appreciation We bow our heads deeply in gratitude for your benevolence. Thank you, Lord Governor Seo.]
Gyeon Shin, along with countless devils who are aware of the Heavenly Fiends of the Blood Yin Realm, bow their heads in gratitude to me.
"...It is I."
I slump down on the spot.
Somehow, watching them made me think of something I wanted to say to Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Something I felt from seeing them, that I wish I could convey to him.
Shhhhh.
The expressions of gratitude from those thanking me now are added to my artifact spirits.
I wipe my eyes and return their greetings.
"Who should be thankful. I am grateful."
Even if this world becomes hell.
Nothing matters anymore. Everyone... just die.
Not everything is meaningless.
Even if this world is filled with pain and madness,
Perhaps there is something meaningful after all.
Someday, even if not now.
I want to convey that to him.
Inside the Void Spirit Pond reflecting dimensions, I harbor such thoughts while receiving the gratitude of the countless devils I have saved.
"...This is magnificent."
A vast procession is heading this way.
Giant warships and chariots carrying numerous Vast Cold Jades.
And the many Human Race soldiers flying towards the 8th occupied territory.
Wo-woong!
The purple sky of the Devil Realm is now enveloped in a soft red hue.
Wo-woong!
With the Flying Escape Technique, familiar faces land outside the barrier of the 8th occupied territory.
"It's been a while, Chief Strategist. Or should I now address you as Military Commander?"
I speak to the cultivator in tattered clothes looking disheveled.
"...Stop teasing and open the barrier, Governor Seo."
He bites his lip as he speaks.
The Left Hand and Left Foot of the Blood Yin Realm Esteemed One have descended. Fortunately, thanks to Governor Seos defense of the Void Spirit Pond, the Left Eye has not descended. We plan to hold out in the 8th occupied territory until reinforcements from the Bright Cold Realm arrive.
Thus, the territory once ruled by a spy for the Devils and traitor of the Human Race,
Eventually became the last hope for the remnants of the Human Race.