The stages of the Heavenly Being stage are as follows:
Early Heavenly Being Stage: Will to Become an Immortal Established ().
Mid Heavenly Being Stage: Unswayed Amidst the Heavenly Mandate ().
Late Heavenly Being Stage: Heavenly Compliance, Heart's Governance ().
Grand Perfection Heavenly Being Stage: Heavenly Circle ().
If the Nascent Soul takes the form of a baby when first born into the world, from the Heavenly Being stage, the Nascent Soul begins to merge with the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.
That is, it experiences the vicissitudes of the world directly through the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.
Thus, from the Heavenly Being stage onward, fundamental changes occur in the form of the Nascent Soul.
The purest form, that of the baby, changes, and it 'grows' according to the life and death cycle of a living being.
The early Heavenly Being stage is called Will to Become an Immortal Established, but in fact, it is more accurate to divide it into the transitional 'Will to Become an Immortal' and the proper initial stage 'Established'.
In the 'Will to Become an Immortal' (), it is the phase where one is born as a cultivator and sets their heart on cultivating immortality.
The form of the Nascent Soul grows from an infant to a youth.
From the 'Established' phase () onward, the Nascent Soul becomes solid and large enough to act outside the body without issues, growing from a boy to a young adult.
This symbolizes the beginning of the cycle of life and death, with the season of life being spring.
The mid Heavenly Being stage also divides into the 'Unswayed' and 'Amidst the Heavenly Mandate' phases.
In the Unswayed (), the form of the Nascent Soul fully aligns with the cultivator's true body. It is the time when the cultivator's own vitality reaches its peak.
In 'Amidst the Heavenly Mandate ()', although the cultivator's vitality decreases slightly from the previous phase, their ability to perceive celestial energy maximizes, and they gain short-term prophetic abilities. Also, the form of the Nascent Soul grows from a young adult to a mature adult.
This symbolizes the transitional period in the cycle of life and death, with life corresponding to the season of summer ().
The late Heavenly Being stage.
In Heavenly Compliance (), one becomes attuned to the voice of the heavens. This expression is merely figurative, but in reality, it means that the sense of reading celestial energy enhances further. The form of the Nascent Soul becomes elderly,
This represents the season of autumn () in life, where the fruits of one's life are harvested.
Heart's Governance () represents the 'heart' accumulated throughout the Heavenly Being stage.
That is, madness reaches its extremity, and it becomes capable of slightly influencing the celestial energy. With will alone, it can distort natural phenomena, becoming a disaster in itself, and the form of the Nascent Soul is 'on the verge of death', representing the end of the season, winter
Thus, throughout the early, mid, and late Heavenly Being stages, the four seasons () are completed, and the seasons endlessly cycle.
From the Qi Refining stage, laying the foundation of cultivating immortality,
To the Qi Building stage, creating stars,
To the Core Formation stage, painting the sky,
To the Nascent Soul stage, creating morning and night to form 'a day.'
In the Heavenly Being stage, the four seasons are created, symbolizing an endlessly flowing 'cycle.'
Finally, once the foundation of the cycle is complete,
Reaching the Heavenly Circle at the Grand Perfection of the Heavenly Being stage.
That is, reaching the state of [encapsulating the heavens within the body].
In other words, completing the 'Heavens' as a cultivator is precisely the Heavenly Being stage.
Hence, it is called Heaven and Man Unity (), also known as the Heavenly Being stage ().
Following the Heavenly Circle achieved through Heaven and Man Unity,
In the Four-Axis stage, four axes are built to create the Four Divine Directions (), creating the directional bearings () of 'Earth'.
The Circle of Heaven.
The Directional Bearings of Earth.
The Heavenly Circle and Earthly Bearings ().
Through the Heavenly Being and Four-Axis stages, creating the Heavenly Circle and Earthly Bearings, one turns oneself into a 'miniature world.'
Completing the Heavenly Circle and Earthly Bearings through the process of Heaven and Earth Unity () is the Integration stage.
Heaven and Earth spiritual energy connects the interior and exterior of the body.
At the same time, I realize that I can freely manipulate the surrounding Heaven and Earth spiritual energy through my will.
'Let's go.'
Many cultivators find themselves trapped in the Heavenly Being stage.
It is not a stage that can be resolved by merely consuming a lot of elixirs and mindlessly gathering Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.
No, to be precise, cultivators reach the mid Heavenly Being stage relatively easily.
This is because it is in the mid Heavenly Being stage that they replicate the prime of their lives through the Nascent Soul.
But they do not know.
The feeling of reflecting on one's life at the end.
The feeling of seeing one's life flash before one's eyes at the moment of death.
Due to the excessively long lifespan in the Heavenly Being stage, most do not understand the autumn and winter of life unless they are nearly at the end of their longevity as old masters of the Heavenly Being stage.
Yeon Wei might simply look at the magnitude of my madness and declare it's the Grand Perfection of the Heavenly Being stage, but that is incorrect.
'I know'
The memories from my childhood.
When I reached the peak of my life.
When I reflected on my life in its later half.
And when I faced the winter of my life just before death.
Because I was dying from a cold on a cold winter day, miserably like a civilized man from Earth, that's precisely why I know.
Interestingly, the beginning and end of a person's life are very similar.
When it's time to die, the body shrinks like that of a baby, and the mind becomes just simple.
The only difference is that a baby comes from the womb of a human mother, while an elderly returns to the embrace of Mother Earth.
But ultimately, if you think about it, it's the same.
All living beings come from the womb of life and return to nature, the source of life.
Like so, this world eternally cycles.
Wo-woong!
A circle is formed within me.
At the same time, my Nascent Soul endlessly changes form from an infant, to a boyish state, to a youthful man, to a mature adult, to an elderly, to a state of death, and finally returns to its original form, the Nascent Soul in the form of a baby.
It cycles.
This is the Heavenly Circle.
Wo-woong!
With my memories of a mortal reaching the core enlightenment of the Heavenly Being stage, I feel a strange irony as I draw upon the power of the circle.
From behind my head, the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth circulates, creating a halo in the shape of a circle.
Simultaneously, the Heavenly Tribulations above in the sky transform, and within them, Heavenly Tribulations at the level of the Heavenly Being stage begin to emerge anew.
From the Nascent Soul stage to the Heavenly Being stage, there are five Heavenly Tribulations.
From the early to mid Heavenly Being stage, there are 10 tribulations.
From mid to late stage, there are 15 tribulations.
From late stage to grand perfection, there are a total of 20 tribulations.
And I became a Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage cultivator all at once.
So, how many Heavenly Tribulations will fall upon me?
"...Tremendous."
Kururung!
Fifty streams.
With blue and golden Heavenly Tribulations divided...
"...A hundred? Haha..."
I chuckle, drawing more and more energy.
Having reached the Heavenly Being stage through the Heaven Tribe's methods just before.
Now it's time for the Earth Tribe's methods.
The Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method begins to roar wildly.
The core principles of the Earth Tribe's methods are similar to those of the Heaven Tribe.
However, from the Heavenly Being stage, the Earth Tribe's methods begin exploding each cell of the cultivator.
Kugugugu!
My entire body explodes.
Thus, by exploding each cell and resonating the life force of the cells with the Nascent Soul, the vicissitudes of life are imprinted on the Nascent Soul from the cells.
When the form of life and the process of birth, aging, illness, and death are all imprinted on the Nascent Soul, similar to the Heaven Tribe, one reaches the stage of Heavenly Circle and becomes a Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage cultivator.
For the Earth Tribe, it's easier.
Memories from my mortal days, from when I was 'old,' are clear in my mind.
In this soul, the memories of having wrinkly hands filled with age are all too vivid.
Chalalalak!
I grow within the Heavenly Tribulations, becoming a mature adult, then elderly, and transforming into a form just before death.
And then I return to my original form once again.
Thus, once more, I replenish my Nascent Soul with the Earth Tribe's methods.
Zuwoooong
Within the circular halo behind my head, demonic power resides.
Heaven (), Earth (), Heart ().
The Three Powers have reached the Heavenly Being stage.
Kurururung!
As I watch the 100 streaks of Heavenly Tribulations descend upon me, I stretch out my hand.
Cheoeoeong!
All 100 strands of Heavenly Tribulation burst at once.
I no longer even fear such Heavenly Tribulations.
I feel an inexplicable, endless surge of confidence and power.
Peong, peobeobeobeong!
I thrust the Colorless Glass Sword towards the sky.
With each thrust, exactly one strand of Heavenly Tribulation bursts apart.
Peong, peong, peong!
Continuously, over and over.
Thrusting and thrusting and thrusting.
Peobeobeobeong!
Thus, I burst all one hundred strands of Heavenly Tribulation.
'Now'
I am fully a Heavenly Being.
Just when I think so.
'Wait'
Kiiiiing
A strange sensation overwhelms my mind.
At the same time, I feel the energies of Heaven, Earth, and Heart, which were somewhat intertwined until now, 'completely' merge into one.
'What is this!?'
The symbol of Grand Perfection Heavenly Being behind my head.
Inside the halo, the spiritual power, demonic power, and the energy of the Formless Sword flows in.
Simultaneously, the Three Powers of Heaven, Earth, and Heart within the circle harmonize perfectly, forming the Three Great Ultimates (Samtaeguk / )!
Cheolkkeung!
"Ah'
I can feel it.
At this moment.
At the Heavenly Being stage, the Three Powers have achieved perfect harmony.
At the same time, having attained the Three Great Ultimates, irrespective of the process called cultivation,
Regardless of what kind of power I have attained,
I feel as if I have become myself 'completely.'
And at the same time.
Kurururung!
I feel an energy erupting throughout my body like an active volcano.
"I see."
I stop attacking towards the sky.
Kwajijijijik!
The characters for Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder emerging from Kim Young-hoon's body strengthened the disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and enhanced the Consoling Lightning Ritual. The current power of the Heavenly Tribulations had been reduced from the Grand Perfection Integration stage to the early Integration stage.
However, even at the early Integration level, it surpasses what Jeon Myeong-hoon and Kim Young-hoon can handle, and as I stopped countering, the Heavenly Tribulations gradually began to fall.
"Seo, Seo Eun-hyun! What are you doing?"
"!"
Jeon Myeong-hoon yells at me, and Kim Young-hoon seems startled by something as he looks at me.
I grasp the Starting Form.
'Until now, I've just been foolishly creating new moves for the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.'
But today, I have grasped a new perfected form of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
The Severing Mountain Swordsmanship to be created from now on will be completed with a total of 36 moves..
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship ().
The Twenty-Ninth Move ().
"Boundless Dao to the Other Shore ()."
If the initial move of One Annihilation to the Near Shore is a self-destructive technique that detonates the Nascent Soul within my sword, the Boundless Dao to the Other Shore is a technique that fills my sword with the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth using the abilities of the Heavenly Being stage, exploding over a thousand times per second, and encapsulating all my power within the move using the Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.
Because the explosions of my Nascent Soul and the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth are continuous, it's a life-risking technique that demands I constantly swing my sword to release the explosions of spiritual energy outward, lest my Nascent Soul shatters from the explosive energy.
A sword dance that absolutely cannot stop until it exhausts all the Qi in my body besides life force!
'From now on, seven more forms.'
Now that I've created the Boundless Dao to the Other Shore, filling in seven more moves will complete the sword techniques of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
I look forward to that moment, channeling all the energy bursting forth like an active volcano from the Three Great Ultimates into my sword.
The reason I created such a dangerous technique that requires me to constantly wring out all the Qi in my body is one.
"Rest easy, both of you."
The power erupting from the Three Great Ultimates is like that of an active volcano, making it feel as if my entire body might explode.
Boo-oong!
Through the 22nd move of Severing Mountain, I continuously perform my sword dance.
Seureureureung!
Upon swinging the sword once, an energy surges forward as if it could split the heavens, akin to the sword of the Heaven-Splitting Emperor.
Kwagwagwagwang!
The sword energy seems to cleave the sky itself, colliding with the Heavenly Tribulations.
The majority of the descending Heavenly Tribulations are blocked by this strike and cease to fall any further.
I continuously perform the sword dance.
Kwang, kwang, jeoooong!
With flashes of light, the Heavenly Tribulations gradually begin to dissipate.
However, I do not stop.
[Aaaaah!]
At this moment.
I am like an active volcano.
Power seems to endlessly erupt, as if infinite.
Carrying the Three Great Ultimates on my back, I continue to ceaselessly unfold the Severing Mountain technique.
Kwarururung!
Gigantic sword energies fly, creating dozens of spatial rifts in the sky.
With each swing of my sword, the sky literally splits, utterly shattering the Heavenly Tribulations into pieces.
Transcending Peaks, Entering Mountain, Ascending Vein, Flowing Ridge
Layered Mountains, Mountain Tiger...
Endless Mountains Beyond Mountains, Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains, Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace, One Annihilation to the Near Shore, Guiding to the Summit, Vajra, Twelve Thousand Peaks, Boundless Dao to the Other Shore...
A myriad of sword moves continue,
All combined into one strike.
Severing Mountain!
Flash!
The tip of the sword blazes through the air, pouring out all forms at once.
Simultaneously, the sword strike becomes a ray of light, turning into a sword wind even greater than the Heavenly Tribulations, and begins to devour them.
Kugugugu!
The sight of the Heavenly Tribulations being shattered feels almost surreal.
"Phew"
I still feel an overflow of energy.
It seems as if the Heavenly Tribulations have surely vanished.
But I can tell.
The malice left by the Owner of Heavenly Punishment will not end with just this.
'There's still some left.'
In the sky, I can see the celestial energy twisting.
As long as this celestial fate, this heavenly mandate remains,
Heavenly Tribulations will continue to target us.
Kurung, kurururung!
As if to prove my thoughts correct.
From the sky where I had swept away the Heavenly Tribulations, celestial energy fluctuates again, producing more Heavenly Tribulations.
"Jeon Myeong-hoon, Young-hoon Hyung-nim. I will deliver the final strike."
I speak to them with fiery eyes.
"With that, I'll try to handle the celestial energy, so please just block those Heavenly Tribulations a bit."
""
"Haha, well. Let's give it a try."
Jeon Myeong-hoon, overwhelmed by the volcanic power emanating from me, falters in his words, while Kim Young-hoon chuckles and nods.
Tadat!
Both of them leap towards the heavens and each deliver a strike towards the falling Heavenly Tribulations.
Kurururung!
Simultaneously, the Heavenly Tribulations are split.
'Hmm?'
But I furrow my brow suddenly.
The Heavenly Tribulations are behaving strangely.
As if they are alive, moving and avoiding Jeon Myeong-hoon and Kim Young-hoon.
'That's!'
I chuckle wryly.
It's them.
Although they haven't pursued us to the Head Realm, I can feel it.
The Owner of Heavenly Punishment...
No.
Zhengli!
That is definitely Zhengli's malice.
The intricate movements of lightning energy are very similar to how Zhengli manipulated the electrical currents in the brain. There is no doubt.
Indeed.
Zhengli's malice is melting into the Heavenly Tribulations, aiming not at 'us' who are strong but rather falling away towards the 'relatively weaker' disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
Jeon Myeong-hoon is taken aback, but by then, the Heavenly Tribulations are already falling.
Just as I'm about to give up the final strike and sweep the surroundings once more.
Wo-woong!
A massive Taiji symbol emerges in the sky, blocking Zhengli's scattering malice from falling in all directions.
Kugugugu!
Along with that, in the direction from which Yeon Wei's soul had been ejected, she emerges.
"Huaaaah!"
She, embodying Yeon Jin, bleeds from the seven orifices as she blocks the dispersed Heavenly Tribulations in all directions.
But in the next moment, the Heavenly Tribulations move as if alive again, this time focusing on Yeon Wei.
The Taiji symbol she summoned crumbles, and she is exposed to the Heavenly Tribulations.
Pajijik!
Flash!
Red lightning and golden radiance flash beside me, and Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon arrive next to me.
Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks,
"Seo Eun-hyun, please! Say you're ready!"
"...Jeon Myeong-hoon."
I look at him.
Then, I turn to Kim Young-hoon.
"Young-hoon Hyung-nim."
Grinning, I say
"First, let's save that person over there, then go for the final blow."
Having heard the plan through heart language, Kim Young-hoon nods.
"Alright."
"Okay, then let's go!"
The next moment, Kim Young-hoon, having understood my intent, becomes a beam of light and grabs both Jeon Myeong-hoon and me through the napes of our necks.
Whoosh!
Kim Young-hoon turns into light.
As if time had been sliced away, Jeon Myeong-hoon and I find ourselves inside the Heavenly Tribulation, having been seized by Kim Young-hoon.
"Go!"
Within, Kim Young-hoon infuses the energy of the Surpassing Radiant Saber into our bodies and throws us upwards, towards where Yeon Jin is.
But the Heavenly Tribulation is striking down from above, and we need to ascend.
No matter how much we are enveloped by the Surpassing Radiant Saber, we eventually start to halt.
[Jeon Myeong-hoon.]
I speak through heart language, looking at him.
[Go.]
I interlock my fingers above me, and recognizing my intent, Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes light up.
[...Thank you.]
Crack!
Jeon Myeong-hoon steps on my clasped hands, and after I envelop his body with the Formless Sword, I fling my clasped hands upward.
The recoil sends me plummeting downward, falling even below Kim Young-hoon.
Jeon Myeong-hoon ascends with the sword enveloping his body and reaches Yeon Wei.
[This time... I won't let anyone die...!]
His eyes are fiercely bloodshot.
[Never! Not anyone!]
Jeon Myeong-hoon, holding Yeon Wei tightly, shouts with a frenzied look,
[I won't let anyone touch my family!]
Crackle!
With that, the red lightning surging from Jeon Myeong-hoon's entire body turns into six hands, devouring the Heavenly Tribulation falling towards him and Yeon Wei.
Kururung!
The Heavenly Tribulation is completely absorbed by Jeon Myeong-hoon.
It's a strange sightall the tendrils of the massive Heavenly Tribulation being consumed solely by Jeon Myeong-hoon.
However, the Heavenly Tribulation that I had once eradicated is now showing itself again, slightly weakened.
The energy of the Heavenly Tribulation begins to rise again.
And below, I summon the energy I had been preparing all this time.
The power of destruction I had been endlessly accumulating through Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains emits a dark aura of death.
This deathly aura resonates with the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation.
"Huuu..."
Hong Fan had described my curse as a poison.
And Zhengli said that if the spirit is raised to the plane of Fate, the curse wouldn't affect it.
That means a curse raised to the level of fate will work, and the calamity of the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique is a kind of fate-level curse.
And, it's a poison affecting fate.
What is poison?
Poison is 'excess.'
In this world, there's no such thing as 'poison' per se.
Only 'excess' and 'deficiency' exist.
And all things excessive become poison.
This includes common poisons, bacteria, medicines, sugar, salt, and even oxygen.
Excess becomes poison.
This is true for Qi as well.
And to cultivators, who gather spiritual energy from Heaven and Earth beyond normal living beings, from the perspective of the heavens, they are a powerful poison requiring purification through Heavenly Tribulation.
But has this ever been considered?
To the heavens, we are poison. But,
To us, the heavens could also be poison.
If concentrated power is poison, prompting purification through Heavenly Tribulation,
Why can't we purify this overwhelmingly powerful force called fate?
"Heavens above,"
Kugugugu
"I,"
I activate the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique.
But this time, it is different from the original Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique.
If the original Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens used a sacrificial offering to move celestial energy and invoke heavenly calamity,
This Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique uses 'the heavens' as the sacrificial offering, making 'me' the calamity striking the heavens.
"Will become your Tribulation ()!"
Of course, this can only be symbolic.
Whether I use the heavens as a sacrifice and declare myself as the calamity, I ultimately have no power over the heavens.
I am but an insect before the heavens.
But that is enough.
As a result of the ritual, at this very moment,
The plane of Fate has opened.
Just this one moment!
[Take this!]
Just this one instant!
Tribulating Heavens Beyond the Path ()!
The Formless Sword transcends the plane, reaching the plane of Fate in this fleeting instant!
I soar into the sky, past Kim Young-hoon, past Jeon Myeong-hoon embracing Yeon Jin, and as the Tribulation to the Heavens (), I tear through space while ravaging away the Heavenly Tribulation.
I feel as if all the volcanic energy filling my body is exhausted in this one strike.
"!"
Indescribable pain fills my entire body.
'Please, please!'
A strike akin to a gamble!
Indeed, can a mortal body that has sacrificed everything truly reach the plane of Fate?
But then,
Crack, crackle!
Suddenly, I am surrounded by a seven-colored lightning.
I see a vision of a shadow, crying tears of blood, pushing its hand out towards me from beyond Shattered Heaven Peak.
In the next moment, I feel as if something pushes my back, and I 'enter' somewhere.
Kugugugu
Despite my entire body bursting apart, I ascend.
With all the destructive force gathered through Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains and pouring out all my curses, I hone my will sharply to become poison and cast tribulation upon the heavens!
Finally, I reach an indescribably vast and massive world and see itfacing the source of the Heavenly Tribulation...
I swing!
Flash!
"!"
Whooosh
As I come to my senses, I realize I am falling from the sky.
Without a single ounce of strength left in my entire body.
Falling in such a state, I look at the heavens and smirk.
"Fate..."
Do you see it, oh heavens?
This lowly being.
"Has been cut through by me"
Whooosh
I have defeated you.
Now that I have wrung out all the strength in my body,
If I fall like this, I will surely die.
But I'm not worried about dying a miserable death from falling.
"Seo Eun-hyun!"
"Seo Eun-hyun!"
Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon, both simultaneously fly to catch me as I fall, bringing me down to Shattered Heaven Peak.
"...It's over."
Blood-soaked, I look at the sky and smirked.
The sky is split in all directions, filled with spatial rifts due to my sword strike.
But between the rifts, the celestial energy has returned to normal.
As I look at the sky,
Yeon Wei, nestled against Jeon Myeong-hoon's side, squirms.
"Uh, ugh... Where is this? Jeon... no, Senior Brother Jin Myeong-hoon?"
However, it seems Yeon Wei fell back asleep, and it's Yeon Jin who woke up.
Yeon Jin looks up at Jeon Myeong-hoon and says,
"Uh, senior brother. I'm sorry, but could you put me down?"
""
Suddenly looking down at Yeon Jin, Jeon Myeong-hoon begins to cry.
He sets Yeon Jin down and suddenly embraces him.
"Kuaaaaaaaaa!"
A scream mixed with grief, wrath, and relief.
These mixed emotions burst forth from the depths of Jeon Myeong-hoon.
"Huaaaaaa! Aaaaaaa! Aaaaaaaaa!!!"
"Hu, Hua! Sen, senior brother?"
Yeon Jin seems flustered but manages to comfort Jeon Myeong-hoon, who continues to shed hot tears, shouting at me.
"Seo Eun-hyun!!!"
"...What... is it."
"...I'm sorry."
Drip, drip, drip, drip.
Once again feeling as if the sect had been destroyed.
Jeon Myeong-hoon endlessly cries out.
"I'm sorry, Seo Eun-hyun. I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!! And"
These apologies are not just directed at me.
They are apologies meant for his family that he couldn't protect, who had died.
At the same time, they are apologies for not having trusted me.
For a while, he just buries his face in Yeon Jin's chest, sobbing like that.
'Still... there are many unresolved emotions remaining?'
I watch Jeon Myeong-hoon's intent for a while and then sigh deeply.
Despite the Heavenly Punishment being over, human emotions remain.
"...Jeon Myeong-hoon."
His intent is bleak.
Crimson, red, dark blue
A terrible vortex of negative intents all mixed togethera horrifying abyss. Probably, anyone else seeing this abyss wouldn't dare to comfort him.
They wouldn't even know how to begin.
But, I calmly open my mouth.
"It's not your fault."
Whether that is true or not.
I remember the time when I lost everything to Yuan Li, seeing Jeon Myeong-hoon on the verge of entering the same abyss I had.
Perhaps I might be the only one here who can understand his rage.
"It's not your fault."
I spit out a mouthful of blood and chuckle wryly.
"It's just the world that's messed up that's all. So..."
I continue, looking at Jeon Myeong-hoon's intent.
"Forgive. Jeon Myeong-hoon forgive yourself."
When a person is consumed by anger, by madness and pain,
I know best how miserable it makes them, which is why I dare to offer this comfort.
And then, Jeon Myeong-hoon's intent begins to calm down.
Slowly, he lifts his head, gradually.
And quietly, he responds.
"...You, you can't understand my feelings."
"I know."
People cannot understand each other.
No matter how close they are or even if they experience the same events.
Because they are others, they cannot become oneself.
But still
He lifts his head while tears stream down his face.
"...Thank you."
Crrrack.
He embraces Yeon Jin even tighter, his face distorted with tears, and says,
"Thank you, really thank you. Really thank you!"
Yeon Jin coughs as if it's hard to breathe, but Jeon Myeong-hoon holds on without caring, and Kim Young-hoon laughs heartily watching him.
What does that thank you mean?
Thanking me, or thanking me, Yeon Jin, and everyone in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect for living.
Or thanking his own situation...
'There could be various meanings but what does it matter?'
"...Yeah."
After responding to him,
Covered in blood, I smile and close my eyes.
We thus,
Overcame the fate imposed by the Owner of Heavenly Punishment.
'That's... enough.'
"Seo, Seo Eun-hyun? Don't die!"
"Wait, Deputy Seo?"
That, is my eighteenth return
"Seo Eun-hyun!!! Don't die!!!"
"No!!! Wait!"
...or so I thought.
Splurt!
I vomit blood and retort.
"...I'm, not dead yet."
Cough, cough
Somehow, I have a feeling this life is going to be a long one.
With that premonition, I smile and lose consciousness, the last thing I see being the two of them running towards me in shock to check on me.
-x-X-x-
Kurung, Kururung...
[This is a place where an Ender who has not realized their fate reaches through a miraculous probability...]
I open my eyes.
A space filled with seven-colored lightning.
There, I open my mouth while looking at a familiar afterimage.
"...Yang Su-jin."
Translator Notes: The Three Great Ultimates is also known as Samtaeguk or Gakyil. If you search it up, its basically the Taiji diagram but with three colors instead of two. The Samtaeguk consists of blue representing the heavens, the red representing the earth, and the yellow representing humans. The Gakyil is more deeply related to Tibetan and Eastern Asian Buddhism.
***
I find myself in a space filled with seven-colored lightning.
At its center, I gaze upon a shadow shedding tears of blood.
'Did I shout 'Shattered Heaven' back then?'
Thinking back, it seems likely since I was causing trouble atop Shattered Heaven Peak.
Amidst the frantic confusion, I spoke swiftly, cursing at Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon.
'Well, putting that aside'
I recall the last time I used the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique.
Certainly, I saw the afterimage of Yang Su-jin, and as he reached out his hand, I felt 'pushed' and managed to slice through fate.
"Was it you who helped me?"
[Yes.]
"At the bottom of the Netherworld, I faced the remnant you left behind and received the transmission of the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique."
[Is that so.]
I look at him and ask.
"I must tell you one thing. I am very negative about your 'non-human' theory, and I do not agree with it. If we follow your theory, then the beings called Enders, who follow fate, are no different from non-humans, right?"
[Indeed.]
"...?"
I feel something strange in his oddly enlightened tone.
Drip, drip
The bloody tears from the shadow's eyes begin to grow thicker.
[The remnant you met was created before I faced He was overconfident and deluded into thinking he could achieve anything at that time.]
""
I shudder at the profound despair emanating from the afterimage of Yang Su-jin.
[Because I spoke out my fate, I thought there was no chance in the final battle with and wanted to change fate. Of course, I knew it was impossible, but I thought I had a chance if I could seize the domain of Heavenly Punishment However, I was wrong]
The crimson tears from the remnant of Yang Su-jin grows more numerous, gradually staining his dark body red.
[You are right. There is a severe contradiction in my non-human theory.]
His next words make me shudder.
[We are nothing more than non-humans ourselves. We are mere toys, less than dust Everything we have built isall meaningless]
Sururu.
The completely crimson remnant of Yang Su-jin begins to scatter.
[Later generation Be careful with the fate you've received. Keep silent about the miracles you can cause. Hide the gifts you have received from the world. Among the Governing Immortals, there is only one you can trust.]
With each word he utters, the remnant of Yang Su-jin gradually scatters, and eventually, completely dissipates into the air.
[If you carelessly speak of matters related to fate, even the last speck of hope will be crushed Do not follow in my footsteps.]
With those final words, Yang Su-jin completely vanishes.
I watch his end and close my eyes.
Blink
When I open my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling is above me.
'This is'
It seems like a cave.
Unexpectedly, there is a significant amount of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy in the atmosphere for the Head Realm.
Sururuk
As I get up, the soft blanket flows off my body.
It appears that someone had prepared bedding in this cave-like place and laid me down.
Not only that, but the cave is filled with spiritual herbs and elixirs, and beneath the bed, a formation that boosts vitality is spread out.
"This is"
Feeling a strange familiarity, I gather my consciousness.
Wo-woong!
A vast domain of consciousness bursts forth from my upper dantian.
Kugugugu!
The intent of a Heavenly Being has power in itself.
Thus, just by expanding the domain of consciousness, Heaven and Earth tremble, and the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth begins to stir.
"Hoo"
Within a radius of two hundred li, everything becomes clear as if it's held in my hand.
This is the expanse of the consciousness domain of a Grand Perfection Heavenly Being that I have achieved.
And as soon as I expand my realm of consciousness, I know where this place is.
"Ascension Path...!?"
It's the cave where my colleagues and I had first stayed.
It seems I was brought here because Ascension Path is the place in the Head Realm where the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth is thickest.
Wo-woong!
"Hmm?"
As I rise from the bed, I feel the life-enhancing formation hum and send a signal somewhere.
It seems like Jeon Myeong-hoon and other disciples from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect had set this up.
'Well, I'll know if I wait.'
I get up and walk out of the cave.
"Hoo...."
It really has been a long time.
I remember the time when I first met the three cultivators at the Heavenly Being stage in front of this cave.
Now, I have successfully reached the same realm as those Heavenly Being stage cultivators back then.
What would happen if I went back to that time now?
Perhaps I would have intimidated them and taken my colleagues away, claiming them as my disciples.
Swish
I quietly raise one hand towards the sky.
With my finger, I trace a line towards the heavens.
Kugugugu!
At the same time, the spiritual energy vibrates, and the celestial phenomenon changes by my will.
Wo-woong!
It was as if lightning had struck when Jin Byuk-ho was enraged.
At my wish, dark clouds began to billow in the sky exactly in the shape I had traced with my finger.
Sssshhhhhh
This is the realm of Heaven and Man Unity.
Merely by desire, rain falls, and I can freely manipulate the forces of nature.
Crash!
When I clench my fist, the dark clouds filling the sky swell in size and soon spread throughout the entire Ascension Path, beginning to sprinkle rain.
Ssshhh
In an instant, rain falls everywhere in Ascension Path, and heavy rain begins to pour.
Surururu
As I spread my hands and lower my arms, the rain turns into sleet and then transforms into pristine white snow, coloring Ascension Path.
I rise into the air amidst the snowstorm.
Flight in the Core Formation stage is a type of 'technique' that lightly manipulates the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth around the Golden Core.
But from the Heavenly Being Stage onwards, it feels as if the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth naturally lifts me as soon as I will it.
No spiritual power is consumed.
I fly up into the sky, reaching above the dark clouds.
Kugugugu!
Gradually the blizzard intensifies, and soon it becomes a dragon's ascent (watersprout), wreaking havoc across various parts of Ascension Path.
Wo-woong
A circular halo appears behind my head.
Although it does not bring forth the Three Great Ultimates, purely the power of a Heavenly Being of the Heaven Tribe is so formidable.
Kugugugu
As I wave my hand, even without forming any special seals, whirlwinds multiply into dozens and spread throughout Ascension Path.
As I spread my arms, the whirlwinds scatter and disappear..
However, the sky churns and thunder roars from various areas.
The sky is covered with a sea of lightning!
Following that, hail falls, and a tidal wave surges, dropping water beneath Ascension Path.
I command the celestial phenomenons at will from above Ascension Path, waving my arms.
And at that moment.
Boom!
As I clench my fist, a gale blows, pushing all the celestial phenomenons outside Ascension Path, clearing it away.
"This is the Heavenly Being stage."
The realm of resonating with celestial phenomenon through will.
Where the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth and consciousness unite, with the size of the consciousness becoming power itself.
From the Heavenly Being stage, one can manifest the attributes of the methods they have practiced into celestial phenomenons.
A cultivator who has mastered the Earth attribute method can induce earthquakes and tsunamis.
A cultivator who has mastered the Water attribute method can bring about rain and heavy snow.
A cultivator who has mastered the Fire attribute method can cause droughts and wildfires.
A cultivator who has mastered the Wood attribute method can summon lightning and promote the growth of forests.
A cultivator who has mastered the Metal attribute method can control storms and magnet force.
Such celestial phenomenons can be summoned and 'pulled forth' at will by Heavenly Being cultivators, and they call this manipulation of celestial energy [Celestial Energy Guidance].
The Mad Lord tried to strangle Yuan Li from thousands of li away using the same principle, turning a curse into a celestial phenomenon and directing it at Yuan Li.
Furthermore, which attribute is emphasized becomes crucial in the late Nascent Soul stage due to such attribute-specific control.
However, due to the effects of the Five Surpassing Paths to Cultivation and the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture, I can guide all five elemental attributes through Celestial Energy Guidance.
'Even common members of the demon race can guide all five elements of celestial energy...'
They are not specialized compared to the cultivators of the Heaven Tribe.
Only a few demon beasts born with immortal beast lineage are specialized in the attributes governed by their immortal beast lineage, but those not born with immortal beast lineage often chose to infinitely strengthen their bodies through Celestial Energy Guidance
But since I have learned all five elements through the methods of the Heaven Tribe, all five are as specialized as those of the Heaven Tribe cultivators while also being as versatile as those of the Earth Tribe cultivators.
This alone significantly differentiates me from typical Heavenly Being stage cultivators. If I mix in the power of Tribulating Heavens and draw the Three Great Ultimates, and even use the puppetry circuits on top of that, just how powerful could I become?
I realize that even I do not fully understand the extent of my power.
'This is something I'll have to figure out over time.'
I check my condition and look behind me.
Crackle, sizzle...
"Are you awake?"
"You've recovered, then."
Suddenly, Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon had flown over and were looking at me.
I grin and nod my head.
"Yes, I slept well."
"I thought you were a goner. It was tough forcing the disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect to raid nearby cultivator clans to make medicine from spiritual herbs to shove down your throat."
"You were the one who shoved it in?"
"No, I had Yeon Jin do it."
"."
Then why is he taking the credit?
I glance at Jeon Myeong-hoon, clicking my tongue, and then look at Kim Young-hoon.
"It seems my body has somewhat recovered."
Kim Young-hoon grins and reaches for his scabbard.
"Well, honestly, there's no need for long talks, right?"
"."
Of course.
My hand is itching to draw the Formless Sword and swing it at Kim Young-hoon.
But I suppress my desire and ask.
"There's one thing I need to confirm."
"What is it?"
"Last time, Young-hoon Hyung-nim, you mentioned the realm of Shattering Heavens Beyond the Path. Is that correct?"
"That's right."
"But, Yeon Wei's reaction at that time. And... now that I see it with my own eyes, it's even clearer."
I swallow hard and ask.
"You're not... just Shattering Heavens Beyond the Path, are you?"
"."
Kim Young-hoon seems to pause in silence for a moment, then smiles faintly.
It's a smile of affirmation.
Chill
I feel goosebumps rise on my skin.
Yes, this is the 'Kim Young-hoon' I know.
The reason Yeon Wei was terrified when she saw Kim Young-hoon back then.
And the strange sense of unease I feel from him now.
And the 'golden Peng' I saw during our descent to the lower realm.
When everything is combined, only one conclusion emerges.
"Young-hoon Hyung-nim. You are, beyond Shattering Heavens... a realm that someone I know calls 'One Step Before the Throne.' And the current you, that is, the you who overcame the Heavenly Tribulation with us at Shattered Heaven Peak, was not your true self but an avatar, right?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon, failing to understand, alternates his gaze between Kim Young-hoon and me.
I can feel it.
When the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One Jang Ik was in the lower realms, he traversed vast distances across space and time through his cultivation, dispatching his 'avatar.'
The current Kim Young-hoon is an avatar that has reached the same 'One Step Before the Throne' as the one Jang Ik had created.
And, the golden Peng Bird we saw while descending to the lower realm was indeed the true body of Kim Young-hoon, who was ascending at that time.
I feel a thrilling chill throughout my body and chuckle.
"How on earth... how did you reach that realm?"
Kim Young-hoon chuckles as well.
Golden radiance faintly glints in his eyes, reflecting my image.
My expression, somehow, is one of intense excitement.
Yes, it's similar to the smile Kim Young-hoon is pulling up at the corners of his mouth right now.
"Do you want to know?"
Cheolkeok!
He places his hand on the hilt of his blade.
I draw the Colorless Glass Sword from my mouth and reply.
"Of course."
"Is there a need for words?"
I shake my head.
With an exhilarated expression, Kim Young-hoon grips his saber and says,
"I'll show you."
The next moment, the Surpassing Radiant Saber and the Colorless Glass Sword clash, tearing through the instant.
-x-X-x-
Kim Young-hoon and I step forward at the same time.
Simultaneously, we enter a frozen world.
I unleash my full power without any intention of holding back.
'If I think of Jang Ik's avatar, I cannot afford to relax.'
For ordinary cultivators of the Heaven and Earth Tribes,
Even if they create avatars or externalized spirits, their realm is always lower than the main body, and the power they can exert is significantly reduced.
However, it's different for members of the Heart Tribe.
'The only difference lies in the magnitude of power. The techniques and realm accessible are identical to those of the original body.'
If there is any difference, it would only be in the magnitude of power and the endurance due to the presence or absence of a physical body.
In other words, the Kim Young-hoon before me is no different from the real Kim Young-hoon in a short-term battle.
'A short-term battle is sufficient.'
Smirking, I grip my sword and accelerate my consciousness.
The reach of my consciousness, spanning two hundred li, is endlessly accelerated by my Formless Sword.
At the same time, I achieve Lightning Speed due to Tribulating Heavens.
This vast consciousness is further accelerated.
The pure speed of this Heavenly Tribulation-like Tribulating Heavens is enough to keep up with Jeon Myeong-hoon.
With the acceleration of my consciousness added, I feel as fast as to consider Jeon Myeong-hoon trivial.
We almost simultaneously enter the frozen world and thrust our swords and sabers towards each other.
The next moment.
Pabatt!
"...???"
I suddenly realize that my body has been struck by eight slashes.
In an instant, eight vital points have been cut.
I continuously accelerate my consciousness.
My brain overheats.
Finally, I became aware of Kim Young-hoon above me, brandishing his saber downwards towards me.
Pabatt!
In the realm of extreme speed, I maneuver my body and thrust my sword.
Paang!
But Kim Young-hoon evades in an instant again.
'Insane.'
Even though I accelerated my mind to near-stillness and gained speed close to lightning with Tribulating Heavens, I am barely keeping up through instincts.
I can't even follow him with my eyes!
My Formless Sword tries to capture him, changing infinitely, but the difference in speed is so great that it feels like all possibilities are blocked.
'He's fast.'
If we were to fight seriously, Ascension Path could collapse, so Kim Young-hoon and I are currently fighting with our powers limited to the Core Formation stage.
Yet, even with our powers restricted, our speeds are beyond what that level could possibly follow.
Flash!
Suddenly, Kim Young-hoon who had been sending saber strikes from in front of me appears to my right, enveloped in the Surpassing Radiant Saber, and kicks with a speed transcending lightning.
Whoosh!
I think I have been slashed at from the side, but suddenly, I am flying far away at an unimaginable velocity.
Whoosh!
In this still world, I am moving so fast it is hard to regain my senses.
'Crazy.'
One kick had sent me from the center of Ascension Path all the way to the Heaven-Treading Desert.
Flash!
Before I can think further, Kim Young-hoon appears above me once more, ready to strike down vertically with his Surpassing Radiant Saber.
I chuckle wryly.
Yes, indeed, I cannot even follow his heels with pure martial prowess.
Then...
[Here I come.]
I communicate through heart language, drawing upon the power of demon beast methods.
Kugugugu!
Heaven and Earth spiritual energy fortifies my body.
My vitality surges, and the potential of my flesh soars immensely.
Simultaneously, my upper, middle, and lower dantians are filled and strengthened with life force.
The overheated upper dantian quickly stabilizes due to this enhancement.
I have some leeway now.
Yet, even with the added power of demon beast methods, I continue to accelerate my mind even more.
To the utmost, burn it to the limit!
It feels as if time is being split even further.
Together with this, I gradually begin to 'catch up' to the speed of the golden-clad Kim Young-hoon moving within this frozen world.
[Hmm.]
Kim Young-hoon smiles slightly in surprise in the halted realm.
Is it my imagination?
Or is it because I have entered too deeply into this still space.
It feels as if the surroundings are darkening.
In this world, only Kim Young-hoon and I have any color.
[Are you following me?]
Paang!
We exchange clashes of sword and saber.
Rays clashing with rays.
Our arms seem to split into thousands, and the colorless and golden rays collide wildly in the darkness of stillness.
'It's working!'
I grin, exhilarated.
'I'm keeping up!'
Before I knew it, we had already exchanged tens of thousands of strikes.
Kugugugu!
With each strike exchanged in this extremely rapid world, shockwaves flurry in all directions, stirring up storms throughout the Heaven-Treading Desert.
At the center of the chaos, he and I clash at a speed reminiscent of light.
With every movement we make, the sand melts into glass.
The vicinity of our battlefield quickly turns into a sea of molten glass.
My body heats up so intensely that it seems to melt like water, and I step on this sea of molten glass, locking eyes with Kim Young-hoon.
My body heats to a glowing red, and as I step on the sea of molten glass, akin to water, I lock eyes with Kim Young-hoon.
[If this continues, I will win.]
If I can just keep this up for a day, I can defeat Kim Young-hoon.
Because I am confident that in that time, I can completely exhaust the energy in Kim Young-hoon's avatar.
Of course, I feel that using a slightly more powerful technique would push him even further.
Just when I think so.
[Very well.]
Within the darkness of the stopped world, Kim Young-hoon, wrapped in golden radiance, smiles.
Kuung!
He is struck by my attack and crashes into the sea of glass.
While flying, he changes his posture and seizes the Starting Form, and in the next moment.
He sends me a heart language.
[Then, Seo Eun-hyun.]
Cheolkeok!
With the Heavenly Being's foresight of celestial energy.
The short-term insight of the demon beast methods.
And the sixth sense of seeing intent as a Heart Tribe member.
I see the future of being sliced up just before my death.
[From now on, I will begin to accelerate.]
'What?'
So, was that just now.
The pure capability of Surpassing Radiant Saber without acceleration?
The next moment.
Pukk!
I feel a golden saber entering through my unintentionally opened mouth.
The Surpassing Radiant Saber doesn't stop. It continues into my mouth, severs my spine, and protrudes out the back of my head.
It doesn't end there.
Golden lines begin to embed themselves all over my body.
'I must, must counter'
Preparing to be sliced up into a Seo Eun-hyun without substance, I try to swing my Colorless Glass Sword at him.
But in an instant.
Flash!
"!???"
Before I can even realize what is happening,
Kim Young-hoon's strong grip has seized my face and is flying somewhere.
Behind his grip, a trail of golden light stretches out straight.
The next moment.
Boom!
With a tremendous explosion, I crash into [somewhere].
Splurt!
I feel as though my entire body will explode, gushing blood from various places like a fountain.
'This, this is. where am I?'
The western end!
Beyond Shattered Heaven Peak, the [World's End] I once visited with Buk Hyang-hwa.
'Insane'
I inwardly chuckle in disbelief, realizing I had gone from the center of the Heaven-Treading Desert to the edge of the world without even noticing.
!
Even sound couldn't catch up to Kim Young-hoon's saber strikes.
I feel countless golden flashes slaughtering my whole body amassed at World's End.
Certainly, I had entered the stopped world too.
I had increased the potential of my flesh with demon beast methods, and there, I accelerated my consciousness of the Heavenly Being stage to the brink of bursting.
The typical consciousness radius of a Heavenly Being stage cultivator is one hundred li.
Mine has a radius of two hundred li.
The consciousnesses of Five Energies Converging to the Origin and Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, Heaven Tribe, and Earth Tribe, all overlapping, make the size of my consciousness absurdly huge compared to those of equal rank.
Yet, even accelerating to the point of burning intensity, I am struggling to even follow Kim Young-hoon's heels.
If this continues like this, I won't be able to keep up.
If that's the case, it can't be helped.
'Demon beast methods felt like martial arts because they are the power of the body, but regrettably, I must resort to using spell techniques as well.'
I begin to draw upon the power of the Heaven Tribe too.
!
Kim Young-hoon, emitting golden radiance from his eyes, launches thousands of slashes at Seo Eun-hyun in the darkness.
'Even Cheongmun Ryeong didn't die despite being sliced several times during his Core Formation days, but how many times must I cut down Seo Eun-hyun at the Heavenly Being stage? It's hard to even guess.'
He intended to stop his slashes once the regeneration slowed.
However, as if he became undying, the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy from the surroundings automatically flowed into Seo Eun-hyun's body, replenishing his vitality.
As long as Heaven and Earth spiritual energy exists here, the person before him is essentially undying.
So, how can he possibly kill this undying body?
Kim Young-hoon's conclusion is simple.
'I just need to keep slashing until every last strand of the local Heaven and Earth spiritual energy is swept away by the aftermath of my slashes!'
!
Each time he swings the Surpassing Radiant Saber, shockwaves belatedly explode, causing natural disasters and burning the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth.
If there is no Heaven and Earth spiritual energy left for Seo Eun-hyun to use for regeneration, then victory will undoubtedly be Kim Young-hoon's!
It's when he thought so.
Paaaaaatt!
Seo Eun-hyun's entire body is enveloped in a brilliant white light.
'Flying Escape Technique?'
Kim Young-hoon smirks.
It's a spell used by Core Formation cultivators when they need to move long distances or increase their speed in combat.
Primarily, it involves elevating the flow of spiritual energy etched in the Golden Core, so it's more of a unique capability of Core Formation cultivators than a spell technique.
That is the Flying Escape Technique.
But Kim Young-hoon is not worried.
'At best, it's clumsy. The Flying Escape Technique of Core Formation cultivators can never catch up to me. Even if it's a Heavenly Being cultivator's Flying Escape Technique...'
Kim Young-hoon, lifting the Surpassing Radiant Saber, chuckles in the enveloped darkness.
And in a flash.
Wo-woong!
Through the tip of the Surpassing Radiant Saber, Seo Eun-hyun's Tribulating Heavens.
The intent of the Formless Sword is heard.
Cut.
It's a voice he would have ignored just moments ago.
However, Kim Young-hoon suddenly feels a chill down his spine.
'This is dangerous.'
Almost instinctively, he steps back.
With one step backwards, he and the Surpassing Radiant Saber instantly move 800 li away in the frozen darkness.
However, Kim Young-hoon's golden pupils shrink tightly in the next moment.
"What!?"
Seo Eun-hyun had followed.
Using the Flying Escape Technique, demon beast methods, and Tribulating Heavens,
Accelerating to the extreme, the white light-clothed Seo Eun-hyun swings his sword at the golden-clad Kim Young-hoon.
Kim Young-hoon grins, staring straight at the sword strike flying towards him from Seo Eun-hyun.
'A direct hit will annihilate the avatar!'
Kim Young-hoon's avatar has the same power as the original body in a short-term fight.
In other words, the current Seo Eun-hyun is capable of exchanging blows on equal footing with the real Kim Young-hoon.
'But he's still a bit slower compared to me.'
Kim Young-hoon faces Seo Eun-hyun's sword with his Surpassing Radiant Saber, dispersing and diverting the force of the strike.
'Even a dodge will lead to annihilation. I need to deflect and neutralize the energy.'
The force it carries is palpable.
Just the shockwave alone will certainly leave his whole body tingling...
"Keok!!! Keh-ugh..."
The next moment, Kim Young-hoon spits out a clump of golden light with a hollow laugh.
Just as Kim Young-hoon had impaled Seo Eun-hyun at the western end.
Under Seo Eun-hyun's strike, Kim Young-hoon was impaled at the northern end.
Beyond the northern plains.
'Just now, the avatar was almost annihilated.'
Kim Young-hoon gathers his energy, salvaging his nearly shattered avatar while lifting the Surpassing Radiant Saber.
Seo Eun-hyun is not as fast as Kim Young-hoon. Hence, even though he had sent Kim Young-hoon flying, he still hasn't caught up to him completely.
'But a proper hit and it's over.'
Kim Young-hoon laughs, sweating coldly.
The laughter continues incessantly.
He is exhilarated.
He feels like he might go mad with joy!
'Was the last time I felt this thrilled since Baduk, when I faced the Mad Man Cheongmun Ryeong at the Nascent Soul stage, and when I faced the Buk Hyang Fleet?'
"Haha..."
Do you know the saying that boredom drives a person mad?
That is precisely the state Kim Young-hoon is in right now.
Flash!
A brilliant white light streaks across towards the northern end.
Bo-oong!
Within the swarm of white light, a formless slash stretches out long, aiming directly at Kim Young-hoon.
Kim Young-hoon quickly dodges the sword strike.
Kuaaaaang!!!
Where he had been standing.
At the northern end of the world, the World Shield Force craters in, and part of the dimensional barrier tears open.
'The dimensional barrier that the main body had to join forces with the Buk Hyang Fleet to tear apart at full strength...'
Kim Young-hoon locks eyes with Seo Eun-hyun, who had torn open the dimensions barrier with the Three Great Ultimates behind his head.
"Ha, haha... The full force of the original body..."
Kim Young-hoon is sweating coldly, and at the same time, he feels a chilling and exhilarating delirium about to drive him insane.
"To you, is it just a 'simple' strike?"
Seo Eun-hyun silently spreads his hands.
Around him, 3,000 Colorless Glass Swords arise, and the Formless Sword interweaves these glass swords.
Paatt!
He swings the Surpassing Radiant Saber without giving Seo Eun-hyun a chance to react.
As Seo Eun-hyun, enveloped in the Formless Sword, waves his hand, the slash from the Surpassing Radiant Saber is deflected, and 3,000 Colorless Glass Swords rain down on the spot Kim Young-hoon had been.
Piiiing!
Seo Eun-hyun opens a sword formation.
Within the sword formation, the sword energy amplifies, and he begins to exude an ominous and chilling intent.
Kugugugu!
Leaving behind the dimensional barrier that is automatically restoring itself due to the world's regenerative power,
Seo Eun-hyun exchanges glances with Kim Young-hoon, his eyes flickering wildly.
Both are madmen.
'Still, I am three moves ahead.'
Kim Young-hoon grins.
Seo Eun-hyun hasn't yet fully adapted to Kim Young-hoon's speed.
He still has the upper hand in speed when facing Seo Eun-hyun.
And.
'That should be enough.'
Kim Young-hoon holds the Surpassing Radiant Saber and smiles.
His mind whirls furiously, analyzing Seo Eun-hyun's movements.
He reads his purpose ().
Linking situation to situation, he begins to combine martial arts appropriate for the moment.
'Ah...'
Why is it?
Facing Kim Young-hoon, I realize that he is 'creating' a martial art right now.
'How do I know that?'
No matter how much I read his intent or heart essence,
I can only guess about the opponent's 'state' and 'background.'
I can't know everything about the opponent.
There is no way to know what he is thinking right at this moment.
However, somehow I feel that Kim Young-hoon is creating a martial art.
And I seem to know 'what' martial art he is creating.
'Ah...'
Paanng!
Within the sword formation, I compress the Formless Sword into a thread and swing Guiding to the Summit at Kim Young-hoon.
Seeing the technique, Kim Young-hoon flinches slightly, then steps forward with his right foot, cutting through Guiding to the Summit with three slashes and takes the Starting Form.
'Ahhh!'
I read Kim Young-hoon's 'intention' while continuing to exchange blows with him.
I can feel it.
'What' martial art he is trying to create.
'What intention' he has and 'how' he is creating 'what' martial art.
I think I know!
I realize how this can be possible.
The fourth sense I had recently begun to feel.
Slightly different from the Heart Tribe's vision, but very similar and complementary to it.
This sense is informing me.
Paang!
Sparks fly in my mind.
In my head, the martial art Kim Young-hoon is trying to create starts to be 'predicted'.
I 'predict' what Kim Young-hoon is creating and, before he can execute the martial art, I think of the perfect countermeasure.
And then, as I feign attacking him with my intent, when he actually uses that martial art, I counter it.
Kim Young-hoon then instantly creates a counter-countermeasure in response and retaliates against me.
Even with my senses, I can't follow if he again creates a counter-countermeasure and retaliates against me.
However,
Paang, Paaaang!
With a feeling of sparks flying in my head, I realize something.
"Ah"
I understand what I have realized.
At the same time, I also finally understand the identity of the fourth sense I had been experiencing up to now.
While performing a horizontal slash at Kim Young-hoon and simultaneously changing my footwork from the lower right to upper left,
Facing his Surpassing Radiant Saber with my Colorless Glass Swords, I exchange what can only be described as [dialogue] with him.
Yes.
This is [dialogue].
At the same time, it is a game of Go ().
My 'intention' and Kim Young-hoon's 'intention' intertwine, engaging each other in conversation.
'So, that's it'
All this time, this is the world Kim Young-hoon had been living in.
At some point, I completely synchronize with Kim Young-hoon, countering the martial arts he creates with my martial prowess, breaking down his moves and countering the counters.
Paang!
In the frozen world, we prepare our decisive strikes to unleash on each other.
But at the last moment.
Kim Young-hoon's Surpassing Radiant Saber accelerates, and my sword does not.
Paang!
Finally, the halted world is released.
Our duel has ended.
"Ah"
Kim Young-hoon's Surpassing Radiant Saber is at my neck, and my Formless Sword hangs downward.
However, Kim Young-hoon just smiles silently.
Szzzzz
The golden energy flowing through his worn saber disperses.
"I have lost."
Kim Young-hoon verbally admits his defeat.
"At the last moment, if you had swung your sword, your head would have flown off, but my body would have exploded into mush. You can regenerate your head, but if my body explodes, that's the end for me, so it's my loss."
"Heh"
I re-sheath my Colorless Glass Sword into my Golden Core while raising my hand.
And then I wipe my eyes.
Kim Young-hoon looks at me and grins.
"Brilliant. You see and hear the same things I do!"
"So it seems. You have been living in such a world."
I sit down abruptly.
Tears wouldn't stop.
Not swinging my sword at Kim Young-hoon wasn't due to any sentimental reason.
If anything, had I stopped my sword out of a notion of consideration, Kim Young-hoon would have been furious.
The reason I couldn't swing my sword was that I was overwhelmed by burgeoning emotions.
Today, I understood the identity of the fourth sense.
The sense I had recently begun to awaken,
Is 'the same' as Kim Young-hoon's.
A perception belonging to the same category as 'Kim Young-hoon's talent'!
I had died seventeen times.
Living for 2,500 years, since reaching first-rate, I have never been without a sword.
Martial arts () had become my life.
And now, I have finally blossomed the talent that Kim Young-hoon possessed.
It is still incomparable to Kim Young-hoon, as if not even worthy to be dust under his feet.
Kim Young-hoon's sense reaches beyond the heavens.
If his talent feels connected to 'somewhere,' directly receiving creativity from 'somewhere', my talent is akin to water droplets falling drop by drop.
A stalagmite built upon those water droplets.
Even that is minuscule, no larger than a fingernail. To reach beyond the heavens like him, not just a thousand but perhaps a hundred billion years might be needed.
However, what matters is that it blossomed from barren ground.
Currently, merely recognizing intentions is all I can manage.
But if this sense reaches the heavens, combining and deconstructing intentions and creating martial arts in real-time just like Kim Young-hoon might be within my grasp.
Martial arts are my life.
And the martial arts I have diligently practiced have never betrayed me.
***
"Uh... Um..."
Jeon Myeong-hoon gazes vacantly into the air.
Fast.
Incredibly fast.
It's so fast that it's hard to comprehend what's happening.
Swoosh, swoosh-swoosh, swoosh-swoosh-swoosh, swoosh!
He stares blankly as Seo Eun-hyun and Kim Young-hoon clash rapidly in front of his eyes and then suddenly disappear towards the direction of the Heaven-Treading Desert.
'What just happened?'
He scratches his head, puzzled.
Roughly speaking, Seo Eun-hyun and Kim Young-hoon had suddenly drawn their swords, looked each other in the eyes, laughed like mad, and then charged at each other, colliding furiously.
That is what Jeon Myeong-hoon saw from his perspective just moments ago.
'I thought Director Kim was strange for liking things like hiking since working at the company... but I never imagined Seo Eun-hyun to be that crazy too.'
Jeon Myeong-hoon clicks his tongue as he watches the direction where the two had vanished.
A minute or two passes.
Pop!
Kim Young-hoon and Seo Eun-hyun return.
"Have you returned?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at the two of them.
Seo Eun-hyun had neatly adjusted his clothing using a clothing spell, but Kim Young-hoon's clothes are tattered in many places.
"Yeah, that was fun!"
"Well, if the Director had fun, that's good, I guess."
Jeon Myeong-hoon nods indifferently.
"More importantly, Director. Shall we go now?"
"Hm? Go? Where to?"
"Where to? Did you come here just to have a sword fight with Seo Eun-hyun?"
"I came here for that, yes?"
"..."
Jeon Myeong-hoon decides to give up on understanding Kim Young-hoon.
"Well, anyway, Seo Eun-hyun. I have something to tell you that doesn't concern the Director. Follow me."
With that, Jeon Myeong-hoon floats up into the air.
'Something to tell me?'
What does he mean?
I wonder at Jeon Myeong-hoon's words, and soon feel a calm descending as I sense his intent.
The joy and excitement of checking my level of martial prowess while clashing with Kim Young-hoon vanishes.
Jolt!
Jeon Myeong-hoon turns into a streak of red lightning and soars west through the air.
I follow him, and Kim Young-hoon chases after me.
Kurung, Kururung!
As I chase after Jeon Myeong-hoon, I form a hand seal.
Click, click, click!
As I form the hand seal, the surrounding spiritual energy moves, and the clothing spell activates.
Clothing spell.
Below the Core Formation stage, clothing is not easily torn due to protective body force.
However, cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage or higher often face attacks that can even penetrate the protective body force during combat, resulting in torn or burned clothes, hence the need for a technique to repair clothing.
This technique twists spiritual power to create clothing.
During my Nascent Soul days, I could only make one set of clothes.
But upon reaching the Heavenly Being stage, various kinds of clothes can be made as nearby Heaven and Earth spiritual energy gathers
Tsutsutsut!
My pure white garment turns black like Kim Young-hoon's.
Jeon Myeong-hoon glances back at me and also changes into black garments using the clothing spell.
Papabat!
Changing into mourning clothes, we finally reach the west.
The Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect had 're-established' itself at Shattered Heaven Peak.
As befits cultivators, all the civil engineering work was already completed, and pavilions sprouted all over Shattered Heaven Peak.
At the same time, these pavilions suppressed the dragon vein and created formations, forming the sect's defensive grand array.
The administrative system also seems nearly restored, so in essence, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect has succeeded in continuing its lineage in the Head Realm.
As Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kim Young-hoon, and I appear overhead, disciples from various parts of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect rush out.
30,000 disciples originating from the Vast Cold Realm, and another 30,000 from the Head Realm.
A total of 60,000 disciples.
Among them, there are only 3,000 Qi Refining cultivators, the overwhelming majority are Qi Building cultivators, and there are also 1,000 Core Formation cultivators.
Simply put, just the lower lightning disciples of the current Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect amount to more than the entire power of the Head Realm combined.
And among them, the disciple with the highest level of cultivation in the Core Formation stage, Jin Hae-min, a descendant of Jin Jin-chan, rises into the air and pays his respects to us.
"This disciple greets the Grand Elders of the Heavenly Lightning."
"Good. Sect Leader should prepare. Since Grand Elder Seo has awakened, it is now appropriate to hold the memorial."
It seems that Jeon Myeong-hoon had naturally appointed Jin Hae-min as the new Sect Leader.
"...Why didn't you take the position of sect leader yourself?"
I ask him.
Jeon Myeong-hoon shakes his head with a self-mocking smile.
"I'm not worthy. If only I had trusted you, a fellow townsman, a little more, none of this would have happened."
"..."
"I am not worthy to uphold the Jin lineage. That's why I did not take the position of sect leader."
"I see."
"Jin Hae-min also has excellent achievements in the Seven Lightning Quaking Scripture and is on the verge of reaching the Nascent Soul stage, so he should be capable enough to handle it."
I silently follow Jeon Myeong-hoon.
After a while, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kim Young-hoon, and I, along with Jin Hae-min, reach the lower areas of Shattered Heaven Peak.
There are numerous flags planted there.
These are not banners (), but rather flags ().
In the future, the use of banner-type dharma treasures will be prohibited within the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
There are no corpses in the graves.
That is to be expected, as none of those present that day had left a body behind.
Hong Su-ryeong was also turned to soil by me with the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation.
Still, Jeon Myeong-hoon visits each false grave where no bodies rest.
He walks through all those tens of thousands of false graves, and having received a bottle of liquor from Jin Hae-min, he poured it out.
Walking through all those tens of thousands of false graves, he receives a bottle of liquor from Jin Hae-min and pours it out.
I follow Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Kim Young-hoon, being an outsider, does not follow us but simply stands far away and pays his respects quietly.
Jeon Myeong-hoon and I, followed by Jin Hae-min and countless disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, pour liquor on tens of thousands of graves, which takes a long time.
It takes us about ten days to pour liquor on most of the graves.
How much time has passed?
Only the graves of the Grand Elders remain, and I personally pour liquor on Hong Su-ryeong's grave.
Jin Hae-min pours liquor on the graves of Jin Jin-chan and Jin Min.
And when we reach the graves of Jin Byuk-ho and Jin So-hae, we pause.
Their graves are at the very edge of the cemetery.
Slowly...
Jeon Myeong-hoon pours the liquor slowly.
Soon, when the bottle is empty, he reaches out to Jin Hae-min again.
Jin Hae-min, who had diligently brought and refilled the liquor every time it ran out during these days, looks at Jeon Myeong-hoon with slightly puzzled eyes.
I read Jeon Myeong-hoon's intent and signal to Jin Hae-min with my eyes. Receiving my cue, he quickly fetches another bottle.
Jeon Myeong-hoon opens that bottle and pours all its contents on the grave of Jin So-hae.
Then he extends his hand again.
Jeon Myeong-hoon ends up pouring twenty-one bottles of liquor on the grave of Jin So-hae alone.
The ground became so saturated it's almost muddied.
Chururuk
When Jeon Myeong-hoon finally stops his hand.
I notice that his eyes are reddened.
"...Today."
Wo-woong!
As he speaks, the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy naturally vibrates, spreading Jeon Myeong-hoon's words everywhere.
[Today, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect bids farewell to our old fellow daoists.]
He continues.
[Many have perished due to the schemes of the old demon, slain by the great Lightning God. Everyone, engrave that day in your hearts. Remember those fellow daoists who died at the hands of that mighty being.
[Our sect's seniors, grand elders, and countless friends were taken from us that day. Among them were those who had been with us from the Head Realm, and those we met anew in the Bright Cold Realm. There were those who were reaching new heights in their cultivation, and those who had just begun their path to immortality. There were men and women, the young and those reaching their tranquil ends. There were joyful practitioners reaching the peak of joy in dual cultivation, dreamers with vast ambitions, and the steadfast souls tirelessly forging ahead on their path!]
His voice is heavier than it had ever been before.
At the same time, I observe the intent emanating from Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Still, his rage has not yet subsided.
However unlike in his past lives, this time, there are those who share his anger.
[Remember, disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. Today should be remembered as the day a new Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was born. Today we must engrave one thing in our hearts.]
Crack, crackle!
Red lightning begins to spark from Jeon Myeong-hoon's body.
[Remember this fury! Understand this anger! Disciples, I vow here: I, Jeon Myeong-hoon, born with the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, will definitely! Definitely!]
He cries out towards the heavens.
[Reach the True Immortal stage and avenge us against the great Immortal who trampled us!!!]
At his words, cheers erupt all around.
"We will help you!!!"
"Let us join you!"
[Yes, you all will come with me as far as you can go!!!]
More cheers erupt.
"Aaaaaaaaah!!!"
"Aaaaaah!"
"Aaaaaaaah!"
It resembles the war cries of warriors before going into battle.
No. Perhaps, they were just screams.
The screams of those who could not overcome the pain of losing their families.
And then, Jeon Myeong-hoon also begins to scream.
[Aaaaaaaaah!!!]
I, too, mix with them, letting out my emotions.
"Haaaaaaaaah!!!"
Together, we gather and release our emotions towards the heavens.
Kuarurururung!
The red lightning bursting from Jeon Myeong-hoon's body grows in intensity and turns into red lightning bolts scorching the sky.
Kurung!
[Aaaaaaaaah!!!]
Jeon Myeong-hoon, within a pillar of light, strikes with the Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation towards the sky, crying out like that.
Kuarung, Kuarurung!
How long did he scream?
After some time, the bursts of lightning cease from him.
He takes over the remaining proceedings of the memorial.
After the memorial ends, the disciples return to Shattered Heaven Peak.
However, among the disciples, those who had lost their friends, relatives, or kin in this tragedy remain by the graves for a while, swallowing their sorrow.
Jeon Myeong-hoon stands for a long time in front of the graves of Jin So-hae and Jin Byuk-ho.
I, too, pay my respects in front of the grave of Hong Su-ryeong next to him.
And then, a month passes.
Ssssshhh...
Now, only Jeon Myeong-hoon and I are standing in front of the graves.
The other disciples didn't have the physical strength to stand in front of the tombs, maintaining their grief and anger for so long.
Suddenly, Jeon Myeong-hoon raises his head in the rain amidst the rain.
"Seo Eun-hyun, do you know?"
"What is it?"
"It's something I've realized this time."
Plop!
Unperturbed by the rain, he kneels in front of Jin So-hae's grave and sweeps over it.
Click
Suddenly, he pulls a small wooden box from his robes.
Inside the box is a single, crisply fried [hand].
Looking at the size and shape of the hand, I guess its original form before it had been fried.
And I know who the hand belonged to.
'Jin So-hae'
Jeon Myeong-hoon, carefully taking the fried hand out of the box, holds it tenderly.
Drip, drip, drip
It's unclear whether the drops falling from his face are rain or tears.
His eyes are fiercely red.
"Anger, perhaps, is something that is truly necessary in this world."
He continues while holding Jin So-hae's hand.
"Anger is a cycle. It clears blockages, resists what is wrong, and can also be a driving force in life. Even if all will is lost, it forcibly moves people. It's somewhat... similar to a Heavenly Tribulation."
I read Jeon Myeong-hoon's intent.
His intent is mostly dyed in deep red.
Although not as much as in his past life, I know this intent is barely holding Jeon Myeong-hoon from wanting to die right now.
Literally, he is living by his anger.
"Life is essentially anger."
His face contorts as he speaks.
"That's what I've come to realize. This is So-hae's hand. And I The True Immortal who brought down Heavenly Punishment. I will kill that being, retrieve the Heavenly Lightning Banner, and make it mine. Only after taking such revenge, fulfilling the vendetta of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, will I..."
His hands tremble as he lifts Jin So-hae's hand.
"Will I finally lay So-hae to rest."
He isn't completely mad. A strand of reason still remains in him.
But his life is yet again marked by anger.
I nod as I look at him.
"...Yes."
I acknowledge Jeon Myeong-hoon's anger.
I understand his pain.
And then.
"But Jeon Myeong-hoon."
"...What is it?"
I suggest to him what comes after anger and revenge.
"After you've quenched your anger, please... make sure to lay Jin So-hae to rest here."
"...Alright. I understand."
Thus.
The revenge-obsessed Lightning Harbinger becomes Jeon Myeong-hoon, sharing his anger with 60,000 survivors and looking forward to what comes after vengeance.
We completed the entire mourning ceremony.
Jeon Myeong-hoon, as the sole grand elder of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect for a while, personally oversaw the sect's affairs with the sect leader, Jin Hae-min.
After helping with basic duties, I met with Kim Young-hoon again.
"Thank you for paying your respects last time, even though you are not from the same sect."
"Not at all. It's only right to show respect given how they died."
"...Thank you."
I thank Kim Young-hoon for his 'matter-of-fact' response.
After leaving the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and crossing the great mountains.
Arriving in Shengzi, we settle in a local inn and start talking.
"So, Young-hoon Hyung-nim."
"What is it?"
I ask him.
"Can you please tell me what has been happening in the Lower Realm all this time?"
What has happened for Kim Young-hoon to possess the strength of the Four-Axis stage?
Where has the cunning fox gone, and what stage has Cheongmun Ryeong and Seo Ran reached?
And Hwang-hwa...
My curiosity is immense.
But the next moment, I'm startled by Kim Young-hoon's expression.
His face is rigid, and his intent is severely fluctuating.
Kim Young-hoon speaks in a somber voice.
"...Where should I start? First off Yes. The circumstances that allowed me to reach this realm. That is..."
The following words of Kim Young-hoon nearly make me blast the city where the inn is located away.
"Let me start with the story of how I... no, we ended up killing our greatest adversary, the Mad Man Cheongmun Ryeong."