"Yes...?"
"Don't pretend you didn't understand."
"..."
I'm a bit flustered.
"While I can understand the experiment, dual cultivation seems meaningless now that I've lost the Lightning Sacred Body. Why prepare for that as well?"
"I want to see what happens when the hidden technique interacts with the conventional Lightning Path Method."
"Hmm..."
"Come on, make your choice."
Curious, I ask.
"Does it really matter which one I do first?"
"Hm? It does matter. Whichever we start with, there's a lot to examine, so the other will likely be pushed to another day."
"Ah, I see."
"Hurry up and choose. I'm itching to examine your body right now."
'Should I refuse?'
Honestly, my mind is cluttered right now, so I'm not really in the mood for either option.
However, sensing my hesitance, Hong Su-ryeong took the initiative.
"If you help me in either case, I'll give you a clue to reach the Heavenly Being stage."
"Eh?"
"You're now at the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage, so it's about time you prepare for entering the Heavenly Being stage. I'm saying I'll share my enlightenment with you so you won't be confused when you breakthrough."
"Hmm, I could just ask my master."
"Hehe. Grand Elder Jin might be able to explain enlightenment with words, but it's hard to directly experience it. However, if you help me today, you'll be able to embody the enlightenment needed to reach the Heavenly Being stage."
At those words, I nod.
'Certainly... Hong Su-ryeong's radical method could be helpful.'
Now that I've reached the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage, I've used up all my accumulated knowledge. From now on, I need to strive to reach the Heavenly Being stage along with guiding Jeon Myeong-hoon to do the same. Hence this is a necessary process.
Moreover, if I can physically experience the enlightenment for reaching the Heavenly Being stage as she said, it will be a significant help.
"...Alright. I'll help you."
"Hehe, I knew you would. Now, human experimentation or dual cultivation. Choose."
I glance back and forth between the frame and the bed.
"...In that case..."
I open my mouth.
The next day arrives.
"Ugh... I feel quite stiff."
I speak as I leave Hong Su-ryeong's cave residence.
Her face is flushed as she follows me out, smiling in the morning sunlight.
"Hehe, it was very satisfying. Your body was worth examining."
"I also appreciate yesterday."
I reflect on the enlightenment needed for reaching the Heavenly Being stage that Hong Su-ryeong had let me experience the night before.
"Grand Elder Jin might have been able to explain it with words, but he couldn't have made you experience it like I did. Only I in the entire sect can make you experience it, so be thankful."
"Yes, it certainly was that kind of method."
I nod.
She let me experience the flow of her innate cultivation method, Extinguishing Lightning Inner Heavenly Temple, and her flying sword techniques, teaching me through experience.
Anyway, I somehow acquired the experience needed for reaching the Heavenly Being stage, albeit through a bit of an aggressive method.
'This is why it's good to be part of a major sect.'
This is an experience hard to come by while wandering the lower realms in seclusion.
It feels like my mind is enlightened, similar to when I learned about Understanding before Breakthrough from my master in the Cheongmun Clan.
I organize what I felt yesterday as I return to my cave residence.
'Madness. Madness is necessary.'
Observing my Nascent Soul, I noticed that unlike before, the Yin Spirit and Yang Spirit are not distinctly separated but are naturally mixed with the seven colors of the Yin and Yang and Five Elements, forming a seven-colored Nascent Soul sleeping within my Golden Core.
Having reached the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage, I completed my Nascent Soul by fully integrating my consciousness with the Map of the Sun, Moon, and Five Great Mountains on the Imperial Throne.
I remember what Hong Su-ryeong said last night.
Cultivators become emotionless as they progress in their cultivation. Do you know why?
Because they take in the nature of heaven and earth into their bodies and become one with it.
You must have felt it now that you've reached Grand Perfection. Creating the Map of the Sun, Moon, and Five Great Mountains with the Yin and Yang and Five Elements of nature, fully merging it with your consciousness. Unknowingly, you will become increasingly emotionless and eventually lose all humanity, becoming no different from a plant, with your personality erased.
I ponder about what Hong Su-ryeong did to me last night as I massage my sore body.
The Heavenly Being stage is also known as Heaven and Man Unity. From this stage onwards, the microcosm you created within and the macrocosm outside truly connect, allowing one to wield the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth.
When the microcosm within opens up and comes into contact with the 'real' nature of Heaven and Earth, what do you think will happen? Your insignificant personality will be swept away by the great nature, turning you into a vegetative state.
Then, how should one prevent this? Madness. Madness is necessary. Gather human madness to stand against heaven and earth. Protect yourself with madness.
That's why, from the Heavenly Being stage onwards, most cultivators lose their sanity. Everyone must be mad about at least one thing. Like this, like this! Like this!!!
I recall the madness Hong Su-ryeong had shown.
Last night, both she and I, influenced by her, were engulfed in madness.
'Do I have to choose something to be mad about?'
Finding something to go mad over.
That's the first step to entering Heavenly Being.
'What I desire the most'
Is concentrating my madness on what I desire most the way?
'What I desire the most is'
I leave the cave residence and head to find Jeon Myeong-hoon.
I had to start his training first.
"...Yes?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon's face twitches.
"From today onwards, I'll assist you in your cultivation practice."
"What in the world are you talking about. sir?"
He looks at Seo Eun-hyun, no.
'Jin Eun-hyun,' who has changed his name, and asks,
"My master is Grand Elder Jin Jin-chan"
"Yes, I've also received permission from your master."
"No, but"
"Listen, Jeon Myeong-hoon."
Jin Eun-hyun looks at Jeon Myeong-hoon.
"Supreme Sect Master Jin Byuk-ho has also given his permission. Soon, a formidable threat will target the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect."
"What?"
"And the only one who can stop that threat is you, Jeon Myeong-hoon."
"What threat are you even, I mean, what is it, sir?"
"I can't tell you because your level is too low. It could harm your mind. I'll tell you once you've entered the Nascent Soul stage."
Crack.
Veins pop on Jeon Myeong-hoon's forehead.
'This guy, he's blatantly disregarding me.'
"Well, fine. No, I understand. Then, how does sir intend to teach me?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon says, emitting his pure spiritual force.
"As you can see, I've already created 6 spiritual energy stars. It won't be long until I reach Qi Building Fourth Constellation. Dual cultivation methods have been incredibly efficient so far, but is there a way to further efficiently elevate my cultivation?"
"Yes."
"Oh, what kind magnificent method is that?"
Responding to Jeon Myeong-hoon's sarcastic remark, Jin Eun-hyun silently pulls out a club from his storage bag.
"This is it."
"...Excuse me?"
Before Jeon Myeong-hoon can react, Jin Eun-hyun swings the club at him.
Whack!
"...! Aaaaaaah huh?"
Flung away by the club, Jeon Myeong-hoon screams while clutching his shoulder. But soon after, he removes his hand, looking puzzled at his shoulder.
'What, I got hit on the shoulder?'
It hurt when he was hit, but strangely, there are no wounds and the pain is gone.
As he looks at Jin Eun-hyun in confusion, Jin Eun-hyun shows him the wooden club.
Woong!
Green spiritual energy emanates from the wooden club.
"It's the healing effect of wood spiritual energy. Wood corresponds to the Zhen () in the Eight Trigrams, symbolizing lightning. From now on, I'll chase you around with this club filled with wood spiritual energy and beat you relentlessly."
"..."
"And every time you get hit, I'll use my consciousness method to help you understand the Lightning Path Methods through the insights of Understanding before Breakthrough. Having successfully mastered all the methods of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, I'm fully qualified to teach you about the Lightning Path Method."
"..."
"Of course, you can retaliate against me. The focus of this training is to fend off my attacks while embodying the knowledge of Understanding before Breakthrough that I hammer into your head with my clubbing. I will use only the strength of the Qi Building stage to teach you, so you should be able to counterattack me sufficiently."
"..."
"Any questions?"
"Elder, now that I think about it, I seem to have done a lot of wrong things on Earth. Please, please forgive me."
"I'm not doing this for such petty grudges."
Whack!
With that, Jin Eun-hyun begins to beat Jeon Myeong-hoon.
About a month into training Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Thump, thump, thump!
"Aaaaaah!!!"
I mercilessly beat Jeon Myeong-hoon, infusing his body with wood attribute spiritual energy everywhere.
At the same time, I inject the intricacies of the Lightning Path Method into his brain, converting the infused wood attribute energy into lightning attribute, forcing him to operate the method and forcibly embodying the Lightning Path Method throughout his body.
His Lightning Path Method is improving day by day.
Especially when I keep hammering Jeon Myeong-hoon and his anger explodes.
"You son of a biiiitch!!!"
Crackle!
Red lightning surges in all directions.
'He's grown again.'
Strangely, Jeon Myeong-hoon's cultivation reacts and grows faster whenever he gets angry.
'Does the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body grow faster with more anger?'
If there's a constitution designed for those with anger management issues, it would probably be the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body.
Kugugugu!
Before his red lightning bolt hits at me, I dodge it by reading his intent and move under Jeon Myeong-hoon's left side to swing up my club.
Whack!
"Aaaaaaack!"
Unable to dodge a single hit and continually getting beaten, his eyes roll back as he spews lightning.
I swing my club, cutting through all the lightning bolts.
Woong!
The Gang Qi wrapped around the club crackles.
'The power of his lightning has grown stronger.'
The growth of his cultivation method is smooth.
As I endlessly infuse him with wood attribute spiritual energy and the insights of Understanding before Breakthrough, Jeon Myeong-hoon is visibly growing.
To the extent that he entered Qi Building Second Constellation in just a month.
However, something is strange.
'This guy, why on earth...'
Red lightning is being emitted.
I delved into his weakness, guiding him with wood attribute spiritual energy towards the next stage of the "Seven Lightning Quaking Scripture" he is learning.
But Jeon Myeong-hoon, in a state of rage, only spews red lightning.
Red, red, red.
'Why... Why can't he advance to the next stage of the Seven Lightning Quaking Scripture?'
No matter how much I beat him, Jeon Myeong-hoon can't surpass the first stage of the "Seven Lightning Quaking Scripture," the "Red Lightning Quaking Scripture."
By now, it's time to move to the next stage, the 'Vermilion Lightning.'
I also infused him with the intricacies of the Vermilion Lightning.
'Normally, he should have entered Vermilion Lightning as soon as he reached the second stage of Qi Building.'
However, Jeon Myeong-hoon has already created 10 spiritual energy stars and still can't use Vermilion Lightning.
It's a problem with understanding.
'It feels like he can't embody it at all.'
It's not like my teaching method is purely brutish, beating him senselessly.
In the evenings, I healed Jeon Myeong-hoon, explaining the intricacies of Understanding before Breakthrough he had been infused with throughout the day until he understood them.
Jeon Myeong-hoon understood the concepts, and his understanding of the method increased.
However, even though his understanding increased, the embodiment of the method in his body is slow.
'He can't use Vermilion Lightning with his body, so he can't advance to it.'
Yes, I understand that far.
It can be the case if he is a slow learner.
But what puzzles me the most is this.
'...But then, how is he continuing to advance beyond the second stage of Qi Building?'
The Red Lightning Quaking Scripture and the Vermilion Lightning are methods learned during the Qi Building stage.
Among them, the Red Lightning Quaking Scripture is only learned during the first stage of Qi Building, and one must move to Vermilion Lightning to reach the peak of Qi Building.
Yet, Jeon Myeong-hoon somehow continues to advance to higher stages with only the Red Lightning Quaking Scripture.
Thump!
"Argh! Damn it!"
Kugugugu!
Jeon Myeong-hoon extends his hand to shoot lightning at me.
Bo-oong!
I swing the club, slicing through the lightning.
'The power has increased again.'
Now, he's beginning to use attacks that are above his cultivation level.
It's a late Qi Building stage attack.
'This guy he's evolving the Red Lightning Quaking Scripture by being angry.'
I chuckle as I watch Jeon Myeong-hoon enveloped in red lightning.
'He's supposed to advance to the next stage of the method, but since he can't, is he evolving the stage he's stuck in into a different method altogether.?'
What kind of talent is this?
Crack!
The next moment, Jeon Myeong-hoon transforms into red lightning itself and charges at me. I easily dodge before swinging my club towards the back of his head.
Thump!
"Aaaaack!"
Jeon Myeong-hoon rolls away as he is knocked down.
The Red Lightning Quaking Scripture he is operating disperses as well.
But I can't help but laugh incredulously.
"...The method has dispersed, but why does it feel like his spiritual power has increased?"
"...This... Seo Eun-hyun, you damn bastard..."
"Crazy... How does simply getting angry increase spiritual power?"
"Shut up!!!"
Kugugugu!
I smirk as I watch Jeon Myeong-hoon speed up and swing my club at him.
'Good, keep growing!'
Under my guidance, Jeon Myeong-hoon is growing at a pace incomparable to his previous life.
"Phew"
Night fell.
At night, Jeon Myeong-hoon would take a short break and then return to his own cave residence to start cultivation with Jin So-hae.
He'd cultivate until late into the night, sleep a little at dawn, and then start training again.
This has been Jeon Myeong-hoon's training schedule lately.
Well, almost no sleep is not a problem after reaching the Qi Building stage thanks to pure spiritual force.
If it were the Qi Refining stage, I would have let him rest a bit more considering his physical condition, but since it's the Qi Building stage, he can withstand this intensity.
I return to my cave residence and contemplate my Nascent Soul.
'To enter the Heavenly Being stage, I need madness.'
Then, what madness do I need?
What can I go mad over?
"..."
It should have been an easy answer.
The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections proved it.
I could've gone mad over preserving the preciousness of the connections I had made.
But, after hearing Yang Su-jin's words, I felt uncomfortable.
The essence is 'freedom'. Only beings that possess 'freedom' or have the potential to acquire 'freedom' are [Human], and thus have the right to enjoy the privileges of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Thus, only we Enders are [Humans], and all other beings in this world, including True Immortals, are [Non-Humans]!
Non-humans.
Puppets moving as fate dictates.
I remember Seo Hweol's words.
This world is a play under fate, and we are merely actors acting within this play. Why would you say acting by an actor is not emotion?
Seo Hweol's claim that emotions don't exist.
And Yang Su-jin's statement that even the Heart Tribe, who prove their emotions to the extreme to rise in strength, are slaves of fate.
'...What's what?'
If emotions don't exist and the connections I've made are just part of a play dancing under fate, then what exactly have I been doing all this time?
Recently, while training Jeon Myeong-hoon in the Azure Heaven Creation Sect's method, there's a reason why I specifically chose to beat him with a club.
The Azure Heaven Creation Sect's method is sufficient with just two fists, but there is a reason I wielded a club.
To review the basics of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship with the club, to empty my mind and leap beyond Treading Heavens. It feels like I could counter Yang Su-jin and Seo Hweol's words if I do so.
'Damn it...'
It's as if I'm caught by a Heart Demon.
Woong, boong, boong!
I grasp the Colorless Glass Sword and perform the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship from beginning to end.
Practicing martial arts seems to slightly alleviate my worries.
Just when I stop repeating the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship from the 1st move to the 26th move after who knows how many times,
[Non-Human]!
Yang Su-jin's voice seems to echo in my ears.
I grit my teeth while looking at the Colorless Glass Sword.
"Damn... Stop spouting nonsense!"
By mind has been in turmoil since meeting Yang Su-jin.
'If the connections existing in this world are nothing but puppets'
I clench the Colorless Glass Sword tightly, gazing at its transparent blade.
'Who have I loved?'
What exactly are the connections I've built?
It's not enough to simply dismiss it as Yang Su-jin's extreme ideology. Yang Su-jin is someone who likely saw the truth of the world after reaching the pinnacle among True Immortals.
Seo Hweol, presumed to have been an exceedingly high-level being, said something similar as well.
'So, what exactly have I been doing?'
Yang Su-jin's words and Seo Hweol's voice circle in my mind.
To reach the Heavenly Being stage, madness is necessary.
It's a stage where one must go mad over something, lest the mind dissipate into the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth.
What I can go mad over are the connections I've built.
Yet, these great beings declare the connections I've made are nothing but lies.
Then, what should I do?
Thud....
I let the Colorless Glass Sword dangle to the ground.
I don't have the strength to swing the sword.
'Day by day... the Heart Demon gets worse.'
I stare out blankly at the moon outside my cave residence.
'What should I do...'
As I'm lost in my contemplation.
Ziiiing
"...Huh?"
From somewhere far away, I feel something stimulating my consciousness.
And at the same time.
"...!"
Tsssst!
I feel my consciousness being pulled somewhere.
'This is...!'
In a space tinged with colorful hues, I open my eyes.
'This place is...'
Someone's dream.
And I immediately know whose dream it is.
Woong!
I operate the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, aligning my consciousness with the wavelength of the dream.
In this dream, due to my Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, the surroundings that had been fluctuating stabilize into a calm space.
I speak to the being who had 'called' me.
"Finally, you've succeeded."
From within the white light, someone walks towards this place.
Wearing a pink palace attire.
"Yeon-ah."
It's Kim Yeon.
She has finally mastered the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and, through the Mysterious Bizarre Gu I had connected to her, summoned me into her dream.
***
"Ah it's Deputy."
Kim Yeon looks at me with slightly dazed eyes.
Seeing that, I understand how she called me.
'She didn't call me by her own strength.'
She momentarily drew out the power of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon with her overflowing talent for consciousness methods.
'The level of her talent for consciousness methods is unbelievably high, so it's understandable how she achieved mastery... But she doesn't even realize she has mastered it.'
Well, that's okay.
Whether intentionally or by chance, we can continue to connect in the future as long as she roughly remembers the method for it now that we've 'connected' once.
"Yeon-ah, Kim Yeon!"
I approach her, who still looks dazed. I shake her by grabbing her shoulders.
"Ehehe, Deputy. Because I miss you, you even appear in my dreams..."
Thump
I press my forehead to hers and strongly operate the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
"Huh?"
She opens her eyes wide as if feeling a sense of dj vu.
At the same time, the world of dreams shakes intensely.
'I'll guide her into a lucid dream so she doesn't wake up.'
I use the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon to lift her consciousness into a symbol.
Tsstsssst!
Instantly, the world of dreams shakes, and countless dream scenes flash by.
Most of them are somewhat similar dreams.
Scenes of she and I walking down a path inside a botanical garden.
Inside the botanical garden, under a flowering tree, Kim Yeon's own appearance of finally realizing her emotions is fully reflected.
As those scenes disappear, Kim Yeon's eyes finally clear.
"Uh, uh? This dream"
She seems not to believe I'm in front of her and tries to pinch her cheek.
I pull my head away from her forehead and stop her hand.
"Wait, don't give yourself a big shock yet. It'd be okay if you knew how to operate the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon more, but right now, you might wake up from the dream immediately."
"Ah yes."
She looks at me blankly and nods her head.
It seems is still in something of a dream-like state.
"Now, follow what I do and try to operate the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, Yeon-ah. Got it?"
"Yes"
As she operates the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, her eyes gradually become clearer.
I guide her consciousness and help her to gain even more control over the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
Kim Yeon had mastered the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon on her own over the past 10 years without even realizing it.
So, teaching her a little through guiding consciousness will immediately allow her to achieve mastery in the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
After some time.
"Uh? Uh?"
Finally, having fully mastered the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, Kim Yeon's eyes clear completely. Her eyes are wide as she fully grasps her dream.
Woosh, woosh!
She waves her hand towards me.
If I were just an accessory in her dream, the proper outcome guided by her consciousness which had fully mastered the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon would have been for me to disperse.
However, I too operate the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and remain in the dream, resisting her consciousness.
"Uh, DeputyEun-hyun?"
"Yes, it's me."
"De, Deputy...!"
Kim Yeon, with tears in her eyes, runs and hugs me.
I hug her small frame tightly.
"Th, the last 10 years... 10 years..."
"Yes, I know. The Mad Lord is a lunatic."
"Hu, hukk... gughk..."
Kim Yeon tearfully talks about everything that has happened over the years.
I combine the operation of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and Ultimate Pinnacle to accelerate her dream, changing the time ratio between the dream and reality.
We slowly share the conversations we couldn't have over the years.
"...So this is the kind of world it is."
"Yes. Right now, I'm in the Human Race Territory. I can't come to get you right away, but I will definitely find you."
"...Thank you."
"From now on, let's meet in our dreams every day. The Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, and the craziness felt from the Mad Lord's puppets and the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, I'll resolve it for you. And..."
I look at Kim Yeon.
"From now on, I'll teach you something in our dreams."
"What is it?"
"I'll borrow the dream for a moment."
I operate the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, changing the dream's environment.
Strange clusters of light fluctuate, and the space we are in instantly transforms into a huge training ground.
"From now on..."
In my last life, and the life before that, I didn't have the chance to properly take care of her.
So, from now on, I'll be more attentive and care for her.
"I will teach you martial arts."
I will teach Kim Yeon martial arts, aiming to at least get her to Beyond the Path to Heavens.
If not, then at least to Ultimate Pinnacle.
'Just reaching Ultimate Pinnacle will allow her to accelerate her consciousness.'
The efficiency of consciousness acceleration is directly proportional to the size of the consciousness.
Now, on the verge of reaching the Heavenly Being stage, I am confident that I can achieve a speed similar to the Kim Young-hoon who had reached the early stage of Beyond the Path with just the acceleration effect of Ultimate Pinnacle.
Then, if Kim Yeon, who possesses a consciousness domain of the Four-Axis stage, reaches Beyond the Path to Heaven.
No, even if she just reaches Ultimate Pinnacle.
'At that moment, Kim Yeon will gain at least the minimum power required to escape from the Mad Lord.'
There is enough time.
By operating the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and Ultimate Pinnacle in Kim Yeon's dream, the dream's time ratio can be increased by about three times.
'It's a shame that this is the limit because it's not my dream, but it's still enough.'
Teaching her is no problem.
No matter how trashy Kim Yeon's talent might be, could it be more trashy than me, who spent an entire lifetime to become a peak master?
"Martial arts?"
"Yes. I will create martial arts that perfectly suits you."
If she learns martial arts, we can find a way to utilize her vast consciousness to its fullest.
Thus, I became a teacher to Jeon Myeong-hoon in the morning and to Kim Yeon at night.
________________________________________
A year has passed.
"Good, that's it!"
"Shut up!"
Boom!
Red lightning sweeps over the place I was at.
Gradually, it's becoming harder to overcome Jeon Myeong-hoon with just the strength of the Qi Building stage.
In just one year, Jeon Myeong-hoon has reached the Fourth Constellation of the Qi Building stage.
He has formed all 28 spiritual energy stars.
Astonishingly, Jeon Myeong-hoon has still not learned the Vermilion Lightning Quaking Scripture.
'But it's fascinating how he evolved the Red Lightning Quaking Scripture without Vermilion Lightning and reached the Grand Perfection of Qi Building.'
Still, with this rate of growth, he can definitely reach the Grand Perfection of Core Formation within 10 to 20 years.
Once he reaches the Grand Perfection of Core Formation, I will not hesitate to turn Jeon Myeong-hoon into a pancake and throw him into the Nascent Soul stage, by any means necessary.
'Hurry up and grow, Jeon Myeong-hoon.'
Boom!
I dodge the red lightning Jeon Myeong-hoon shot out with ease and charge into his arms, raising my club.
"Argh! Damn it..."
"Get up."
"Fuck... Seo Eun-hyun, this bitch..."
"Don't just curse with words. Hurry up and reach Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Heavenly Being, and beat me up. That's the best way."
"Raaaaah!"
'He's quite fierce and stubborn.'
No, maybe it's just because I've been too harsh on him.
But anyway, Jeon Myeong-hoon has learned to attack with venom in his heart.
I effortlessly dodge Jeon Myeong-hoon's attacks while continuously pouring on him a barrage of beatings filled with the essence of Understanding before Breakthrough.
Over the past year, Jeon Myeong-hoon has grown significantly.
Kim Yeon, too, has rapidly improved her martial arts under my tutelage over the year, reaching the level of a second-rate martial artist.
'Such an incredible speed.'
Of course, even though I had created the most optimized martial arts for Kim Yeon, the speed of her growth is still remarkably fast.
'Well, moving one's own body is indeed easier than manipulating tens of millions of puppets at once.'
It seems that her experience manipulating tens of millions of puppets in the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is quite helpful.
'The problem is me...'
However, unlike the rapidly growing Kim Yeon and Jeon Myeong-hoon, I still failed to break free from the Heart Demon.
If Kim Yeon and Jeon Myeong-hoon are considered humans as Yang Su-jin said,
What about the others?
'What exactly are the connections I've made in this world...?'
I would have just ignored it if Yang Su-jin was just some worthless thug on the street.
But it was the words of Yang Su-jin, claimed to have reached the pinnacle of a True Immortal.
I can't get it out of my mind.
'What exactly is a human...'
It's when I'm teaching Jeon Myeong-hoon with these thoughts.
Whoosh!
"...!"
A familiar dull glow flies in from afar.
The golden light of a Flying Escape Technique.
"Hey, Elder Jin Eun-hyun!"
It's Hon Wei.
She lands beside me with a bold face and says,
"Here's this month's dowry fund."
Woosh!
She throws a storage scroll towards me.
I silently receive the storage scroll.
As expected, it contains the same amount of spirit stones as the last time I received it.
Over the past year, Hon Wei has been visiting me once a month, pouring an enormous amount of spirit stones on me under the guise of a 'dowry fund.'
Although it's definitely problematic for her to enter the territory of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect so often and so freely, Jin Byuk-ho, after receiving the spirit stones from Hon Wei, seemed uncomfortable but eventually permitted her passage.
'Now she's even openly bringing her own people...'
I see someone following Hon Wei from about 30 miles away.
He seems to be attempting to hide, but the intent he emits is clearly visible, making it impossible for him to escape my notice.
'Is he a bodyguard?'
I concentrate my consciousness on the person following Hon Wei while looking at her.
"Do you still have no intention of marrying me?"
"I am sorry, but I still do not."
"Hmm... It's regrettable. Then, would you at least form a dual cultivation partnership with me? Not as Dao Companions but just exchanging energies as dual cultivation partners would really be appreciated..."
"..."
I ask her while looking at her.
"A hundred billion mid-grade spirit stones... would be enough for Lady Hon to breakthrough to the late Heavenly Being stage through Breakthrough before Understanding. I really don't understand why you'd want to form a dual cultivation partnership with someone like me."
"Didn't I say? It was love at first sight."
"Hmm..."
I cool my head while reading Hon Wei's intent.
At the same time, I discover that she is manipulating the spiritual energy of heaven and earth subtly while conversing with me, attempting to do something behind the scenes.
'She's subtly laying a formation in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect...'
More specifically, she is slightly moving the surrounding Heaven and Earth spiritual energy according to her mood to distract me, while the guard following her from thirty li away sneakily messes with the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
She might've thought I wouldn't notice her moving the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, but having delved to the extremes in the art of formations under the tutelage of Cheongmun Ryeong, it's obvious to me.
'It's a formation that pressures earth attribute spiritual energy in one go.'
Although I haven't informed anyone, I have secretly laid circuits of the Mad Lord throughout the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect without anyone's knowledge.
It might have been an absurd sense of paranoia, but I installed the circuits just in case Seo Hweol or perhaps a clone of Wi Ryeong-seon is spying on me, so I never let my guard down.
Through those circuits, the formation she is laying is transmitted to my mind.
'The energy of the formation flows in perfect opposition to the energy of the method flowing through Hon Wei's body.'
In case of emergency, activating this formation will allow me to perfectly suppress her.
Why would she come into the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and lay a formation that can suppress herself?
I push Jeon Myeong-hoon, who is charging at me, away and approach her with a smile.
"Thank you for your words. However, I have a proper dual cultivation partner, and casually forming a dual cultivation partnership with another would be a betrayal to her."
Tap, tap
I approach Hon Wei amiably, tapping her shoulder. Without her noticing, I plant the Mysterious Bizarre Gu in her, using the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts to hide its presence.
'I don't know what she's plotting, but I should keep an eye on her for now.'
***
It seems like she's resorting to some tricks since I kept resisting her attempts to win me over.
But the tricks she's playing are really cute compared to the ones Seo Hweol had used.
"Therefore, I'm sorry Lady Hon, but I wish we could stop discussing the matter of marriage."
"Ha, you think I'll give up? I'll keep coming to you until you accept me!"
Hon Wei leaves with a sullen expression, seemingly displeased, and flies away using the Flying Escape Technique.
'...What a ludicrous formation.'
It's a formation that induces the dragon vein.
If I hadn't laid the circuits of the Mad Lord everywhere, hadn't learned the Silica Earth Great Wall Practice sensitive to the flow of dragon veins, and hadn't learned about formations from Cheongmun Ryeong, I would not have noticed it.
'If activated properly, it's a formation that can perfectly suppress a Heavenly Being cultivator. Especially so for an Earth-attribute Heavenly Being cultivator; it can even instantly reduce them to mere mortals. Furthermore...'
The flow of this formation is literally created to restrict Hon Wei herself.
'Why would she set up such a formation?'
I decide to think from her perspective.
'She wants to win me over. So she keeps giving me spirit stones to show her affection and lets others know about it. At the same time, she lays a formation that can suppress herself in an emergency.'
Why would she create such a formation?
Obviously, it's made to be used.
Who is it intended for?
From her point of view, I am a genius in the Lightning Path Method.
There's no reason for her to specifically lay a formation that suppresses Earth attributes to subdue me.
'It's likely to suppress someone from her own Penglai Palace.'
It's a formation that perfectly counteracts the methods she practiced.
Then why would she lay such a formation here?
'If she lures someone from Penglai Palace here and uses the formation...'
The person from Penglai Palace will instantly become unable to resist.
'Is she planning to suppress a faction within Penglai Palace that opposes her and shift the blame to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect? No. She truly wants to have me. There's no love, but the desire is real.'
Then, the purpose of that formation is...
'...Perhaps it's intended for use on herself.'
She waits for a moment when we are alone.
Then, she activates the formation to incapacitate herself.
If, at the right moment, another person from Penglai Place witnesses the scene, they might misunderstand that I am attempting something on her.
'If that happens, the reputation of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect will hit rock bottom for attempting something on the daughter of an Integration stage Grand Cultivator... And I might be forced to marry her as an apology.'
It's a pretty cunning move.
'But this is just one trap, and there might be two or three more layers of traps behind it.'
Perhaps this formation is just a test to gauge my abilities.
'Well, from here on, I'll have to use the Mysterious Bizarre Gu.'
I immediately start using the Mysterious Bizarre Gu to monitor her.
________________________________________
"Is the aphrodisiac ready?"
A cold voice asks.
[Yes, Master. We've successfully obtained a top-grade aphrodisiac produced by the Yin Soul Ghost Sect. Even a late-stage Heavenly Being cultivator will immediately lose their senses upon inhaling it.]
A soul echoing sound resonates.
"If it's used on someone at the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul, they'd lose their senses and rush in."
[Of course.]
"Between next month and the month after, I'll create an opportunity to be alone with Jin Eun-hyun. Can you hit him from a distance with a dart filled with the aphrodisiac?"
[It's entirely possible. What is the extent of his consciousness domain?]
"Twenty li is the range of his consciousness."
[A Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage with the consciousness domain of an early to mid Heavenly Being stage... Still, I can accurately hit the target from 50 li away, so please don't worry.]
"Excellent. There must be no mistakes. When he tries to pounce on me, you must appear at the scene with the record."
[How could there be any doubt.]
"Once it's perceived that he attempted to violate the bloodline of a Grand Cultivator, control will be mine. I will definitely... obtain the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect!"
________________________________________
"...Is that all?"
I chuckle wryly while monitoring her and her guard through the Mysterious Bizarre Gu.
If it's Seo Hweol, there would be a 100% chance there's something more behind this formation.
But seeing her only play such conspicuous tricks before leaving, it almost seems cute.
No, it's because it's me that I saw through the tricks. A normal cultivator at the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage probably couldn't have.'
She did her best to play her scheme.
But it seems my standards have become too high.
Well, then I suppose I should just let such tricks slide...'
It's while I'm pondering how to counter her scheme.
Boom!
"You're still far from..."
Puh-ack!
"...!?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon's fist, along with lightning, pierces through my guard and strikes my face.
"Finally!"
"...Huh?"
I touch my cheek in disbelief.
"...How did you do it?"
There's no way this guy should have been able to reach me with his level.
Even against Jin Byuk-ho or Azure Tiger Saint without their dharma treasures, I'm confident I can win fairly easily.
Unless there's a miracle, Jeon Myeong-hoon can absolutely not reach me.
But, he did.
'How?'
Rather than feeling annoyed, I look at Jeon Myeong-hoon with wonder.
"That technique just now... wasn't your usual attack, was it? Who did you learn it from?"
The attack that had just caught me off guard felt more like the essence of martial arts rather than a cultivation method.
"Was it Hong Su-ryeong?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon, pulling up red lightning, smirks.
"Do you think a man would be so loose-lipped? I'm not telling you, you bastard."
"Oh..."
'He's also growing.'
Feeling intrigued, I lift my club.
And a moment later.
"Aaagh! Aaack! I'll talk! I'll tell you!"
"...Didn't you say something about men not being loose-lipped?"
"I meant women, damn it."
"..."
I click my tongue and ask..
"So, who is it? It's Hong Su-ryeong, right?"
The only person who can teach something resembling martial arts in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is Hong Su-ryeong. It's almost certainly her.
'Recently, Hong Su-ryeong and I did share some insights on martial arts...'
Has she already grown to the point of teaching Jeon Myeong-hoon something like this in the meantime?
It's when I'm puzzled.
"Hong Fan."
"Huh?"
"I learned it from Hong Fan. He kindly told me about your weaknesses and habits, and how to exploit them to find openings."
"...What?"
I'm momentarily dumbfounded and ask again.
"You learned that move just now from Hong Fan?"
"Yes."
"..."
I never taught Hong Fan anything like martial arts.
'Of course, I did practice martial arts a lot in front of Hong Fan...'
And Jeon Myeong-hoon isn't lying.
'So... Hong Fan just watched me practice martial arts and understood the essence of martial arts enough to teach it to Jeon Myeong-hoon?'
What exactly is this centipede?
"To defeat you, I even knelt before a bug! I may be beaten like a dog now... but I will, I definitely will surpass you!"
Crackle!
Jeon Myeong-hoon, lying beneath me, emits red lightning.
"...Ah."
I lift my foot off Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Realizing something, I burst into laughter.
"...? What, have you lost it, Seo Eun-hyun?"
"Haha... Thank you, Jeon Myeong-hoon."
"What?"
I feel a tickling in my chest.
It feels as if the demons plaguing my mind are instantly cleared away.
'Even Jeon Myeong-hoon found something to learn from Hong Fan.'
Then.
Even if, as Yang Su-jin said, the entire world is filled with non-humans, worse than bugs.
Even if the connections I've made are nothing but trash.
'They have taught me.'
Even if it's merely a speck of dust, there's something to learn from it.
"Truly, thank you."
I open my mouth and pull out the Colorless Glass Sword.
"If you're thankful, why are you pulling out a sword...?"
"Your actions have given me sudden enlightenment."
What does it matter if it's human or non-human?
Even if all those feelings are just parts of a scripted plot we're following.
I have become my own person within that script, and I have found meaning within it.
If we can exchange meanings, isn't that what being human is about?.
Silently, I start to perform a sword dance.
'It's not enough.'
This sword dance will never allow me to advance to the next stage.
The Sudden Enlightenment () is sufficient.
But, the Gradual Cultivation () is lacking.
However, that also means, if I only fill up the Gradual Cultivation, I can reach [Above]!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Immersed in a trance, I recall Jang Ik's words.
I will tell you how to reach the third stage of Manifestation.
The power of the Heart Tribe begins by imposing one's heart, one's ideal self, upon the world.
My ideal of Fighting Spirit is precision and destruction taken to the extreme. By imposing that power of destruction on the world, I crossed the three stages.
What is the ideal of your martial arts?
Imposing one's ideal upon the world.
At first, I didn't understand what that meant.
Now I can finally grasp it.
"Wait a minute. Seo Eun-hyun, what are you doing?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon hastily flees upon sensing the aura emanating from me.
Woosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Kururung
Even though I'm supposed to have lost the Lightning Path Methods, lightning begins to rumble around me.
'Imposing... one's ideal upon the world.'
It means engraving the pinnacle that my martial arts can reach into the laws of the world.
Then, what is the pinnacle of my martial arts?
How can I advance to the next stage?
What is the meaning of my martial arts?
'It means nothing.'
Because meaning is something one assigns.
Only now do I finally understand.
It's not only me who has a heart.
My martial arts have a heart and meaning as well.
The meaning I have upheld all my life is embedded in my martial arts.
Awakening the meaning one has pursued all their life.
This is the stage beyond Treading Heavens!
'I'm starting to enter!'
Boom!
I swing the Colorless Glass Sword.
Without even drawing the Formless Sword, an enormous thunderclap follows, and a small mountain range far away is cleanly sliced through.
An unbelievable force shakes the mountains and rivers, sending a massive rumble through the world.
The clouds are torn asunder, and Heavenly Being stage Grand Elders practicing in the distance hastily look around.
"What's going on here!"
"An attack!?"
"No, someone seems to be practicing Lightning Path Methods?"
"No, it's Heavenly Tribulation! The aura of Heavenly Tribulation!?"
The overwhelming power displayed even while holding back to the level of the Qi Refining stage!
Kururung....
The resounding thunder around me gradually subsides.
'It's lacking.'
I didn't reach the next stage.
But, I'm no longer lacking in enlightenment.
What's needed is effort, and more effort!
The confidence to impose one's will upon the world!
In this life, I might not ascend to the Heavenly Being stage.
But it's clear.
I'm truly just one step away from the stage beyond Treading Heavens.
Translator Notes: Sudden Enlightenment and Gradual Cultivation () are Buddhist terms.
***
Wo-woong!
Numerous gazes suddenly turned in this direction.
Among them, the most noticeable is the Administrator of Thunder Spirit Island.
It's the gaze sent by the clone of Wi Ryeong-seon.
Wo-woong!
As Wi Ryeong-seon's clone focuses its spell and concentrates its gaze above, the sky suddenly starts to tint with a faint green hue.
I do not hide and directly meet Wi Ryeong-seon's gaze.
Kugugugu!
The sky suddenly vibrates and along with the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, the voice of Wi Ryeong-seon resonates.
[Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's Elder Jin Eun-hyun, can you tell me what just happened?]
Wi Ryeong-seon's will is heard from the sky.
I shamelessly respond with a thick face.
"I was practicing a cultivation method, but for what reason does the Administrator of Thunder Spirit Island take interest in me, a mere Nascent Soul stage Elder?"
[The aura of Heavenly Tribulation was sensed, making me wonder if someone was attempting a breakthrough in their cultivation level. If Elder Jin rises in cultivation again, this time to become a Heavenly Being stage Grand Elder, it would be necessary to congratulate you once more]
"Hahaha, I'm grateful for your kind view."
[However, the energy I felt just now was indeed very similar to that of Heavenly Tribulation. Is it really just a phenomenon that occurred during the practice of a cultivation method? To my knowledge, only the Heart Tribe can induce energy similar to a Heavenly Tribulation during their practice.]
"That is a misunderstanding. Our Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect studies and delves into understanding and controlling lightning and thunder, mainly focusing on Heavenly Tribulation. Perhaps the result similar to a Heavenly Tribulation was just a coincidence while delving into the Lightning Path Method?"
[Really, it was just the Lightning Path Method that gave such a similar feeling to a Heavenly Tribulation?]
"Hmm, is it that strange to try to manifest the power of heavenly lightning through the Lightning Path Method?"
It's then that a hint of suspicion lingers in Wi Ryeong-seon's gaze.
Kururung!
The sky roars with golden lightning, and Jin Byuk-ho flies up to the sky towards Wi Ryeong-seon's gaze and shouts.
"Greetings to the Administrator. But, what is the Administrator doing right now?"
[I was observing the movements of Elder Jin Eun-hyun of your sect.]
"Did Elder Jin do something wrong? Did he learn some vicious devilish arts that are forbidden in Thunder Spirit Island?"
[That is not the case]
"Then why is the Administrator peering into the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's internal affairs and digging into the secrets of our sect's Lightning Path Method without restraint?"
Jin Byuk-ho's words seem to make Wi Ryeong-seon hesitate for a moment.
Regardless of the reason, Wi Ryeong-seon is clearly scrutinizing the interior of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, as well as practically interrogating one of the elders about his cultivation method.
"Our Elder Jin Eun-hyun's method is peculiar even compared to other methods of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, which might have given you an unusual feeling. This matter is a secret of our sect, so please withdraw."
[I understand. I was overreacting.]
After finishing his words, Wi Ryeong-seon withdraws his spell. The sky, which had been filled with Wi Ryeong-seon's gaze, once again returns to its original color as his will dissipates and the sky that had been dyed green is restored.
Jin Byuk-ho, who had stood in the sky blocking the will of Wi Ryeong-seon, comes down to where I am.
"Are you alright, Jin Eun-hyun? No, no, rather than that"
Kugugugu!
As Jin Byuk-ho clenches his fist, thunderclouds form in the sky, blocking observation from beyond the sky.
A prohibition is set up, preventing the surrounding Heaven and Earth spiritual energy from being monitored.
"I felt a powerful force of Heavenly Tribulation. It's clear you should have lost all attributes of the Lightning Path Method due to the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique!"
"Ah"
Not knowing exactly how to explain, I pause for a moment before attempting an explanation.
"I was trying a few things to revive the attributes of the Lightning Path Method and coincidentally managed to manifest the power of heavenly lightning."
"What?!"
Jin Byuk-ho's eyes widen at my words.
"Is that even possible!?"
"Well it just happened."
"Heh, huh Hahaha."
He stands dumbfounded for a moment before beginning to laugh heartily.
"It wasn't that the founding ancestor chose you because you have a Lightning Sacred Body, but rather, he gave his arrangement because it was you."
Jin Byuk-ho pats my shoulder as if to commend me.
I flinch but don't show it.
"Indeed, you are the future of our sect. Lately, you've hardly had any time to practice because you've been looking after Jeon Myeong-hoon, right? Tsk, that Jeon Myeong-hoon Still, since he also possesses the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body, he seems to be growing quickly. Once he reaches the Nascent Soul stage, you'll also have a comfortable environment to challenge the Heavenly Being stage."
"How could I ascend to the Heavenly Being stage first? Since we joined the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect on the same day, it seems only right to ascend to the Heavenly Being stage on the same day as well"
"What are you saying?! You should ascend to the Heavenly Being stage as soon as possible! Even if you don't have time to ascend to the Heavenly Being stage because you're looking after Jeon Myeong-hoon, everyone knows that if you just had a bit more time, you'd reach it!"
'Given time, it's true that I would ascend.'
I awkwardly smile at Jin Byuk-ho's enormous wall of misunderstanding.
"Sparing time to help a fellow disciple is never a waste. Even if my rise to the Heavenly Being stage is delayed, I will do my best to help Jeon Myeong-hoon improve his cultivation."
"You"
Jin Byuk-ho looks at me with eyes full of pride.
After expressing my gratitude to Jin Byuk-ho, I go search for the escaped Jeon Myeong-hoon.
After the day's events, I return to my cave residence and call for the guy who should be practicing nearby before contacting Kim Yeon.
"Hong Fan, come here for a moment."
Swish!
Despite not calling out loudly, a dark centipede suddenly appears in front of me.
"Did you summon me, Master?"
"Yes. I heard from Jeon Myeong-hoon today. You taught him, didn't you?"
"I worry if I've inadvertently taught Jeon Myeong-hoon some bad habits with my modest skills."
"Hmm, no. Anyway, he's not primarily focused on martial arts. More importantly, at one moment, his movement reached me. Jeon Myeong-hoon said he received your guidance. What kind of guidance did you give him?"
Hong Fan lowers his head and says to me,
"I may have overstepped. I advised him that if he wishes to reach Master during a confrontation to wait until Master is deep in thought after finishing the conversation. By drawing Master's attention with the Lightning Path Method when Master is engrossed in thought, and then striking towards the most seemingly impregnable part, it might be possible to reach Master."
"Hmm."
Jeon Myeong-hoon's movement had a martial element, but it was Hong Fan who had completely grasped my habits and routines to teach him the gaps.
"That alone wouldn't have been enough for Jeon Myeong-hoon to reach me. His movement had the characteristics of a stepping technique for a moment. Did you also teach him that stepping technique?"
"I slightly adapted the stepping technique you use, Master, to suit Sir Jeon Myeong-hoon."
"What? That was my Mountain Lord's Soaring Steps?"
I'm dumbfounded, recalling the stepping technique that was completely different from what I use.
He modified the movement technique I use to teach Jeon Myeong-hoon, but it transformed so much that I couldn't recognize it.
"If I have displeased you, I sincerely apologize. From now on, I will not recklessly share Master's martial arts with others and will keep them to myself."
"No, it's not that. But, Hong Fan, you."
I look at Hong Fan and feel anew how incredible he is.
'In about 500 years, I might be calling this guy my master.'
"Do you have any interest in learning martial arts?"
If Hong Fan also has talent in martial arts, not teaching him will be a tremendous waste of talent.
Hong Fan gladly nods.
"I would be honored to learn from Master and will gratefully do so."
"Well, it's an honor for me to teach a genius like you."
"A genius? I am no genius."
"Your words just now are deceiving to countless dullards. Haha Now, what martial art should I teach you"
I ponder over what martial arts would be suitable for Hong Fan.
Then, it strikes me that there is no need to ponder. Among the martial arts I had developed in the past, there is one that would be the best fit for him.
'Yes, that would be the best fit for Hong Fan.'
I take out a few hidden weapons from my storage scroll.
"The martial art you will learn is called the Fighting Monster Hidden Weapon Technique."
As a centipede demon beast, Hong Fan is a master at producing and dispersing poison, and there is no martial art more suitable to be used with poison than the Fighting Monster Hidden Weapon Technique.
From then on, I spend the days hitting Jeon Myeong-hoon with a stick while practicing my Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, teaching Hong Fan the Fighting Monster Hidden Weapon Technique in the evening, and teaching Kim Yeon martial arts at night.
Like so, about two months pass.
Wheeze
This day is unusually cloudy, with dark clouds covering the sky and strong winds swirling around.
'It's cold.'
I'm outside the territory of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
"When will she arrive?"
A few days ago, Hon Wei contacted me to meet alone, and according to her message, I have been waiting here for a while.
'Today might be the day to have a decisive discussion with her.'
She also seemed to plan to make me her slave through a decisive meeting, making today the day of a final confrontation.
After a while, Hon Wei appears in the distance, flying towards me with her Flying Escape Technique, and lands in front of me.
"It's been a while. So, have you still not changed your mind?"
She asks, feigning a hearty laugh and crossing her arms.
I smile wryly and reply.
"I apologize, but no matter what you say, I am content with my current state."
"Hmm"
"If you want all the spirit stones you've given me so far, I will return them. It would be good if Cultivator Hon could gradually let go of her intentions."
"There's no need to return them. They were given for you to use. But really, you won't marry me?"
"Yes."
"Not even a dual cultivation partnership?"
"That's right."
"Hmm Do I lack appeal as a woman?"
"Cultivator Hon is beautiful. However"
That's when I notice,
She is secretly forming hand seals behind her back.
"Enough. Let's end this. Even if you don't accept my love, you're just..."
The next moment.
She smirks and completes her hand seals.
"Making me seem like a villain by forcing you into submission."
With that, Hon Wei shouts while still forming her hand seals.
"Abandoning Mountain Formation, activate!"
""
""
""
And nothing happens.
"Uh...? Why isn't it activating?"
Seeing her confused, I smirk.
"You planned to use the activation of the formation as a signal to shoot a tranquilizing dart from afar, but it seems you're flustered because it got tangled up from the start."
Hearing that, her face stiffens.
"You how did you...!"
She emits killing intent.
"I don't know how you found out, but you're making things difficult."
"Making things difficult? I don't think so"
"What Huh!"
The next moment, against her will, she raises one arm and sends a signal to someone far away preparing the tranquilizing dart, a gesture that means 'wait a moment' among the signals exchanged with her servant.
"What is this! What have you done to me"
She rolls her feet, raising dirt walls in all directions.
Instantly, a house made of her spiritual energy surrounds us.
"Now, shall we have a more comfortable conversation?"
"You."
At the same time, the confident smile vanishes from Hon Wei's face, leaving only a chilly expression.
"What have you done to me?"
***
"Please sit down. It's not as serious as you think."
I half-pull out the Mysterious Bizarre Gu from her body to show her.
Since it isn't fully extracted, her actions are still restricted.
"I merely monitored Cultivator Hon for about two months with my technique."
"...You've got guts. You dare to parasite your spell onto me, the daughter of a Grand Cultivator at the Integration stage, and monitor me for two months? Do you think you can stay safe?"
"Hmm That's not much of a threat."
I smirk and reply.
"After all, Cultivator Hons siblings and others in Penglai Palace have been sticking tracking and monitoring spells all over the Cultivator Hons body, haven't they?"
""
"Some of them you genuinely didn't notice, but a few you intentionally ignored, didn't you? Adding one more piece of my spell shouldn't cause such an overreaction, considering you usually walk around with those things attached."
She continues to maintain an expressionless face, looking at me with a cold gaze.
However, reading her intent, I can tell she is quite flustered.
"First of all I've monitored Cultivator Hon for two months with my spell, and I've also separately recorded a few important scenes."
As I slightly manipulate the Mysterious Bizarre Gu, it squirms and projects an image into the air.
Its the scene of her plotting with her servant to put me in a difficult situation.
"Since Cultivator Hon is the one who started by trying to do this to me, wouldn't it be better for us to have no hard feelings towards each other?"
"What do you want?"
She asks me with a cold expression.
I smile gently.
"I should be asking you. What does Cultivator Hon want? What do you hope to gain by obtaining me?"
To that, she answers with a stiff face.
"Release this spell, and I'll tell you."
"Sure."
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing her words, I extract the Mysterious Bizarre Gu from her body. Suspicious of how easily I removed it, Hon Wei still refrains from rash actions.
I really did release it, though
Of course, I want to have a somewhat sincere conversation now, so I truly did remove the Mysterious Bizarre Gu.
"Now that I've kept my promise, please tell me. Why did Cultivator Hon approach the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect?"
"To gain the favor of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect."
"Hmm."
Im a bit puzzled as I observe her intent.
It isn't a lie.
"The sect's 'favor' was your goal?"
"Exactly. The ultimate goal was to become a beloved person of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect through close exchanges and relationships with this sect. That's why I attempted to obtain you, who will eventually become the leader of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect."
""
Its odd.
Not to gain control of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, but 'to be loved' was her goal.
Surprisingly, she speaks the truth.
Why exactly?
I ask, slightly perplexed.
"Why did you seek the love of the sect?"
"May I ask a question now?"
"...Yes, go ahead."
"What do you want from me? What's your reason for doing this to me?"
"Why did I do this... You were the one who sent your attendant to lay a strange formation on the sect first."
"What...! You managed to uncover actions taken beyond the reach of your consciousness..."
"I am the future sect leader of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. I have eyes everywhere."
"...I see. I was the one who was rude first."
Her attitude softens slightly as I ask a question.
It seems her plan wasn't some sinister scheme to deal with the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect itself after all.
"What do you hope to gain by obtaining a relationship with the sect?"
"Well, might as well just tell you since it came to this."
Hon Wei sighs.
"I was trying to obtain the position of vice-palace master of Penglai Palace."
"The vice-palace master?"
"Yes. Aside from my father, its the highest position in Penglai Palace. Currently, all 17 of us siblings are competing for that position."
"What does that have to do with the sect?"
"Its very much related. All of us siblings are born from different concubines, and our father doesnt have an official wife yet. Do you know why?"
Following her explanation, I finally understand why she sought the favor of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
"The woman my father truly loved and wanted to make his official wife was originally from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. However, she was 'devoured' during a war 40,000 years ago by a two-headed ancient beast that had participated in the war."
""
"Since then, my father lived a very desolate life. The father Ive seen was always strict, stern, and cruel. But... after hearing that your Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect collectively ascended and pushed back the ancient beast behind Thunder Cloud Pavilion, becoming the leading sect of Thunder Spirit Island, my father... for the first time in 40,000 years, was overjoyed. He had never shown such a humane side before. Seeing that, I immediately realized that gaining the love of your Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is the opportunity to become my father's closest confidant...."
"This is something I'm personally curious about."
I ask out of curiosity.
"Why didn't Grand Cultivator Hon seek revenge against the ancient monster that ate his beloved?"
I seem to know who that ancient monster is.
According to the ancient documents of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, it was Yeon Wei who had betrayed and devoured her fellow sect members 40,000 years ago.
Then, why had Yeon Wei, who ate the Grand Cultivator's beloved, been able to live until recently in Thunder Cloud Peak?
"I don't know the details. I've only heard that the event 40,000 years ago involved complicated interests and relationships between forces and sects."
"I see"
"Anyway."
She looks at me and asks.
"Having heard all this, do you still have no intention of marrying me? I don't love you. I've never been infatuated with you. I admit that. But if you marry me, you can truly become my father's direct disciple. My father would be overjoyed to have his child connected to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and would naturally accept you as a direct disciple. Moreover, I could receive my father's favor and rise to the position of vice-palace master of Penglai Palace."
""
"My father may be the palace master of Penglai Palace, but he doesn't involve himself much in its management. In other words, the vice-palace master is the real head of Penglai Palace. The Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and Penglai Palace could become one and stand tall among the Human Race."
"I cannot marry you."
Upon hearing my words, Hon Wei shows a visibly disappointed expression.
"However"
But I propose something that will benefit both her and the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
Kugugugu!
Hon Wei breaks the dirt house surrounding us and looks at me.
"Well, it's not a bad deal."
"We can help each other."
"Yes, perhaps not using marriage as a bargaining chip could be more beneficial for both sides. However."
She looks at me.
"Promises must be kept. You must not join hands with my other siblings in Penglai Palace."
"Would there be any doubt?"
"Good, then I'll leave now... and not come looking for you anymore."
Whoosh!
Hon Wei, having made a secret agreement with me, flies away with a satisfied expression towards where her servant is waiting.
'That settles it Things went better than expected with her.'
While there might be a few incidents arising from this arrangement in the future, they will likely be minor.
'Now, I can truly focus on my cultivation without worrying about other nuisances.'
I look up at the sky, content.
Thus, another decade passes.
Tsutsutsut!
In Kim Yeon's dream, I look at her, who has a bright smile as she waits for me.
"You seem to be in a good mood recently."
"Hehe Isnt that natural?"
After all, considering her situation is confined to a factory with only a mad old man who talks to his puppet as company, being able to converse with me inside her dream must be a relief.
It would be strange if she isn't in a good mood.
Snap!
With a flick of my finger, the intricacies of my Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and the Ultimate Pinnacle synchronize, extending the time scale of her dream.
"Before we start today's training, shall we review what we learned yesterday?"
"Yes!"
Whoosh!
Perhaps due to being in a dream, pink fans appear in her hands the moment Kim Yeong imagines it.
Holding the two fans, she begins to dance a fan dance. This is not just a simple dance but a martial art in itself.
The Mad Lords [Her]s Parallel Wings Spear transformed into the Twin Immortals Dance and was passed down. I combined the Twin Immortals Dance with the Parallel Wings Spear, adding a few techniques from my Severing Mountain Swordsmanship to create a martial art perfectly suited for Kim Yeon.
The Paired Wing Dance is that martial art.
Consisting of a total of eight forms, Kim Yeons Paired Wing Dance somewhat resembles the movements of the Twin Immortals Dance. At the same time, it is designed to completely nullify the offensive and defensive characteristics of the Parallel Wings Spear in case of emergency, allowing it to render it powerless.
This martial art is created for Kim Yeon to suppress [Her] if she ever escapes from the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
"Yeon-ah, circulate your energy faster when you step in"
I point out the areas where her Paired Wing Dance is lacking as I watch her perform.
Besides suppressing [Her], my focus on the Paired Wing Dance was on the 'continuous circulation of power'.
By incorporating the principle of Endless Mountains Beyond Mountains from the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, performing from the first to the eighth form will seamlessly lead back from the eighth form to the first form again, allowing the dance to continue endlessly.
Just as one can endlessly execute sword techniques with Endless Mountains Beyond Mountains as long as the body can withstand the rebound, the Paired Wing Dance can also continue endlessly 'as long as one's energy does not deplete'.
However, unlike Endless Mountains Beyond Mountains which forcefully suppresses the rebound within the body, the Paired Wing Dance allows for the continuation of the martial art by consuming more energy, which has its pros and cons.
'Of course, if executed correctly, the advantages are clear'
What's crucial in the Paired Wing Dance isn't the forms but the inner method.
I named this internal energy method as the Intertwined Branches Heart Method, implying that the forms and internal energy are interconnected like branches touching each other. When executing the forms,internal energy is consumed, and simultaneously, a little bit of energy is gathered.
When executing the Paired Wing Dance and Intertwined Branches Heart Method simultaneously in a prolonged battle, cycling through the eight forms of the Paired Wing Dance increases the rate of energy accumulating in the Intertwined Branches Heart Method with each cycle.
Once the critical point is surpassed while using the Paired Wing Dance, theoretically, the internal energy consumed becomes less than the energy gathered by the Intertwined Branches Heart Method, allowing one to wield 'infinite' power with this martial art.
'In theory, anyway.'
To cross that 'critical point', Kim Yeon would have to perform the Paired Wing Dance over 7 billion times in the same spot.
So, it is a martial art with infinite potential, but only in theory.
Even after crossing such a threshold, in reality, it would only be as powerful as a Core Formation level attack.
'If it was Young-hoon Hyung-nim, he would have created a more practical and efficient martial art than this inefficient and foolish one.'
Of course, Kim Yeon, having reached the Qi Building stage and using pure spiritual force flowing within her, would never lack the internal energy to perform the Paired Wing Dance.
'This is merely for suppressing [Her] in an emergency, as well as helping Yeon realize her intent and progress beyond the Five Energies Converging to the Origin and Ultimate Pinnacle.'
Beyond that, it has no particular significance.
I guide Kim Yeon in her martial arts, pointing out her minor flaws.
"Good job, Yeon-ah."
"Hehe"
Recently, her skills have improved rapidly, reaching the level of an early first-rate martial artist.
Perhaps after another 10 years of training, she will reach late first-rate and be on the verge of becoming a peak expert.
From the pinnacle onwards, she'll be able to perceive intent, and her Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon will be a great help.'
The Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon will greatly assist her in Three Flowers Gather at the Summit and Five Energies Converging to the Origin. Although the Ultimate Pinnacle is a bit concerning, there wont be any worry about Beyond the Path to Heavens once she reaches the extreme of Ultimate Pinnacle.
'She will attain the vision of Beyond the Path once she reaches the extreme of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.'
Through that vision and the martial arts she has learned, she will be able to reach Beyond the Path to Heavens even faster.
'Once Yeon surpasses the pinnacle, given her innate talent in consciousness, it'll be easier for her from there.'
In fact, teaching the movements was only challenging in the beginning which is better for me.
I quietly smile as I watch her happily perform the Paired Wing Dance.
Its only been 20 years.
When I first ascended to the Bright Cold Realm, I was captured by the Mad Lord.
Back then, Kim Yeon's face was always filled with fear and pain.
During the 15th cycle, I was unable to contact her due to her intense conflict with Seo Hweol, leading to her mental breakdown.
Only now could I see Kim Yeon smiling, even if just in her dreams.
'I'm glad I can comfort you, even if it's only through dreams.'
"Let's end here for today."
"Ah, is it over already?"
"Yes."
"I'll wait for you tomorrow."
Initially afraid of parting from me, she has gradually grown stronger over time.
Now, she is looking forward to tomorrow.
A stark contrast to the Kim Yeon of the past, who was always tormented by the Mad Lord.
Ssssss.
I wake up from the dream.
Thump, thump
I feel a tickling sensation rise from deep within my chest.
Over the past ten years, teaching Kim Yeon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and Hong Fan,
Watching them grow, I gradually began to feel something.
'Non-human'
Teaching them, I thought again about the non-human theory Yang Su-jin mentioned.
I had overcome the mental barrier created by Yang Su-jin's words ten years ago and realized a clear direction beyond Treading-Heavens. However, I also realized I haven't completely eliminated the mental barrier.
Being a slave to fate makes one non-human, but if I assign meaning, then it has meaning.
That is my realization.
Over the past ten years, I understood that I need to shatter the notion of being a 'slave to fate.'
'Non-humanNo, this isn't just about non-humans.'
I remember dancing hand in hand with Buk Hyang-hwa.
I remember receiving lessons from Cheongmun Ryeong.
I remember when Azure Tiger Saint died protecting us.
'Was that all just a script for puppets? No'
Fundamentally, I need something to break free from Yang Su-jin's logic.
'But, how can one escape fate?'
Fate is absolute.
Nothing can escape fate.
If escaping fate is possible, it would require being on the level of a creator god.
How can one deny fate that exists at the end of the heavens?
As I ponder these thoughts.
Crackle.
Boom!
A waterfall of red lightning pours onto me as I am quietly practicing in my cave residence.
I quickly draw my club and split the waterfall of lightning in half.
The next moment, Jeon Myeong-hoon rushes at me with the speed of lightning.
Simultaneously, I penetrate his angle with my club and strike him dozens of times.
"Ugh!"
Kururung!
Jeon Myeong-hoon, wrapped in red lightning, retreats.
But the next moment, I rush in front of Jeon Myeong-hoon and raise my club towards his head.
And then.
Boom!
I smash his head completely.
His brain matter scatters in all directions.
[Damn!]
Sssss!
With a sizzle, red lightning crackles from where his head should be, and Jeon Myeong-hoon's head begins to regrow.
Indeed.
Over the past ten years, Jeon Myeong-hoon has become a Core Formation cultivator.
[Die, Seo Eun-hyun!]
Kururung!
Thunder roars as Jeon Myeong-hoon soars into the sky and hurls lightning at me.
Now, instead of just me beating Jeon Myeong-hoon, he launches proactive attacks against me.
Flash!
A pillar of red lightning strikes me down.
Injecting a handful of Sword Gang into my stick, I defend against the Core Formation level attack while looking for an opening.
But Jeon Myeong-hoon, determined not to give me any openings, pours even stronger red lightning at me.
[I'll turn you into Seo Eun-hyun tempura!]
Crackle!
In an instant, the lightning explodes.
"Is he finally dead?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon looks into the dust cloud with hopeful eyes.
Sssss.
Seeing only ashes where Seo Eun-hyun is supposed to be, Jeon Myeong-hoon smirks.
"Finally! I killed him! He's dead."
"I'm not dead."
Thud!
Contrary to Jeon Myeong-hoon's hopes, Seo Eun-hyun appears out of thin air like a ghost and begins beating Jeon Myeong-hoon.
After a while, Jeon Myeong-hoon lies on the ground, gasping for air. Seo Eun-hyun says while holding his club.
"Your movements have been improving lately. You've even evolved your Red Lightning Quaking Scripture to the early Core Formation stage"
He looks at Jeon Myeong-hoon incredulously and asks,
"But how can you evolve the Red Lightning Quaking Scripture to that extent, yet still can't practice the rest of the Seven Lightning Quaking Scripture?"
"I don't know, don't ask."
Jeon Myeong-hoon avoids the question.
However, Jeon Myeong-hoon thinks to himself,
'Good. I'm managing to deceive him.'
Lately, as Seo Eun-hyun praised, Jeon Myeong-hoon had been increasingly able to make meaningful movements that allowed attacks against Seo Eun-hyun.
It wasn't that he had suddenly awakened a talent for martial arts.
Recently, Jeon Myeong-hoon was gradually awakening a new sense.
Not the vision of intent that Seo Eun-hyun sees, nor the vision of the Demon Race that Hong Fan sees.
It isn't the vision of fate seen by the Heaven Tribe either.
It is, literally, a third sense.
The voice of lightning.
Jeon Myeong-hoon calls it that.
'It whispers'
He closes his eyes and concentrates on the voice of lightning.
Lately, as he advanced in his cultivation, he felt more and more as if the 'lightning' was speaking to him.
At some point, Jeon Myeong-hoon followed the voices of the lightning in his practice of the Lightning Path Method, discovering that there is a hidden secret in the Red Lightning Quaking Scripture.
The lightning was whispering.
The real name of the Red Lightning Quaking Scripture isn't this.
They promised that if he follows them, he will reach even greater power.
He gradually followed the voices of the lightning, and recently, his efforts are paying off.
'The number of times I'm able to make meaningful attacks against Seo Eun-hyun is gradually increasing.'
Seo Eun-hyun finds it strange that Jeon Myeong-hoon can't learn the Vermilion Lightning Quaking Scripture.
But the reason Jeon Myeong-hoon can't learn the Vermilion Lightning Quaking Scripture is simple.
The technique he is learning isnt the Red Lightning Quaking Scripture anymore.
Its something higher.
'If I succeed in mastering this technique, I feel like I will become literally invincible.'
He looks up at Seo Eun-hyun.
Over the past 20 years.
They have unknowingly become quite close through the cycle of being beaten, retaliating, and attacking.
There were countless times he wanted to kill Seo Eun-hyun, but that desire gradually turned into familiarity after reaching a certain threshold.
And the desire to kill slowly transformed into a spirit of rivalry and competitiveness.
'I will definitely surpass him.'
Crackle, crackle
Jeon Myeong-hoon thinks, listening to the roaring voice of the red lightning within him.
'If I master this new technique guided by the lightning... perhaps I can beat him.'
He burns with a competitive spirit as he looks at Seo Eun-hyun.
'I will definitely surpass you!'
Its when Jeon Myeong-hoon is glaring at Seo Eun-hyun.
"Elder Jin! And Jeon Myeong-hoon! It's about to start soon!"
Far away, Jin So-hae flies over using the Flying Escape Technique and shouts.
Hearing her, Jeon Myeong-hoon and Seo Eun-hyun's eyes turn towards Jin So-hae.
Jin So-hae lands next to Jeon Myeong-hoon, dusting off his clothes and helping him up.
"Is it time already?"
Seo Eun-hyun, now Elder Jin again, asks Jin So-hae.
"Yes, Elder. Hong Fan is all prepared and just waiting for you to watch."
"Alright."
Jeon Myeong-hoon chuckles.
"Damn. Ended up being later than him after all."
"Why are you even competitive with Hong Fan? Demon beast methods and human techniques are completely different."
She pinches Jeon Myeong-hoon's side as she snaps at him. Jeon Myeong-hoon, though smiling on the outside, grimaces inwardly.
'Even purely in cultivation realm, even the pet demon beast he keepsthey all surpass me. Seo Eun-hyun'
Seo Eun-hyun uses the Flying Escape Technique and heads somewhere, and Jeon Myeong-hoon and Jin So-hae follow him.
'But I will definitely surpass you!'
He thinks sp as he watches Seo Eun-hyun, still far ahead in the distance.
Whoosh!
"Have you arrived?"
Hong Su-ryeong greets me.
Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's Guiding Thunder Peak.
This place is where demon beasts of the appropriate realm come to face their Heavenly Tribulation.
I nod to Hong Su-ryeong.
Members of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect are present around us.
"You've come, Master."
There, I smile at Hong Fan, who has now grown to the size of a small mountain, almost as large as a three-story building in every segment.
Today, having reached the Grand Perfection Core Formation stage, Hong Fan is about to attempt Transformation () into the Nascent Soul stage.
***