"Hah...hahk...!"
I can't breathe.
My breathing is labored.
'This is...'
Star Shattering stage (碎星期).
Born as a mortal, these demigods begin to shed the trappings of mortality.
In the life where I lived as General Seo, I didn't understand because I inhabited the body of a 'puppet' rather than a 'living being.'
Even when I met Jang Ik, I couldn't grasp his true power. The first time was in General Seo's body, and the second time, Jang Ik's clone was imprinted in Yu Hwa's heart, containing an aura not even at the Qi Refining level.
But now, I think I understand.
'How can such an existence...!?'
Even though we haven't entered the Swiftwind Domain yet and are still in the Dead Earth Domain, I feel a pressure so intense it squeezes my heart.
And it seems that the Mad Lord, riding in the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, feels the same way as he clutches his chest with a pale expression.
[She] is trying to block the aura in front of the Mad Lord, but since she isn't her thousand-year future self who had nearly reached the Quasi-Star Shattering stage, she fails to properly do so.
Crunch...
I grit my teeth and give a bitter smile.
'Kang Min-hee...'
In the end, fate is fate.
Attraction is attraction.
Even though Seo Li tried to exchange emotions with her as much as possible and left behind the Mysterious Bizarre Gu, she was still led by fate to become the Ghost Mother.
Sururuk—
Seo Li, who had already slipped out of my body, turns into his human form and clenches his fist.
"Seo Eun-hyun..."
He grits his teeth and looks at me.
"Kang Min-hee..."
"I know. So, what will you do?"
"..."
I look at Seo Li with cold eyes.
"As you should know already, this aura is at the Star Shattering level. Even if we join forces with the Mad Lord, we can't handle a Star Shattering stage existence. We should focus on escaping instead."
"I know that. But..."
Seo Li's eyes are completely filled with confusion.
"Kang Min-hee is there! We have to. We have to save Kang Min-hee..."
I look at the panicking Seo Li.
Seo Li, with Yuan Yu's face, is clutching his head and tearing at his hair.
Watching this, I closed and opened my eyes.
"Seo Li."
"Seo, Seo Eun-hyun. Isn't there some way? How can we...she is our companion...!"
"Seo Li."
"I know you don't have any special feelings for her. But still..."
Bang!
Without calling Seo Li a third time, I calmly punch him in the face.
That head, reminiscent of Yuan Li, explodes cleanly.
Calming my emotions, I unsheathe my sword with a cold gaze.
"Why, why the Formless Sword...?"
"Formless Sword, huh...Come to think of it, you still consider this as the Formless Sword."
But over the past 500 years, my Formless Sword has evolved into something slightly different.
Lifting the sword imbued with starlight, I look at Seo Li.
"From now on, I'll show you what I've realized over the past 500 years."
"Ah, no, Seo Eun-hyun. Now is not the time for..."
Bo-oong!
Without mercy, I swing my sword at Seo Li.
'This insane little—!'
I hastily cast Ghost King Transformation, retrieve the Clear Scale Armor, and use the ground-shrinking technique to quickly distance myself from Seo Eun-hyun.
'Why in the world is he acting like this? Has he truly gone mad after being infected by Seo Hweol?'
Why suddenly swing a sword without any explanation?
Even though I feel a strange sense of déjà vu from Seo Eun-hyun's behavior, I run away to avoid losing my life.
However, I can still feel his 'gaze' from afar.
Dangerous.
Bo-oong!
In the blink of an eye, Seo Eun-hyun traverses hundreds of li without using the ground-shrinking technique and thrusts the Formless Sword at my throat.
'Must...dodge!'
Overwhelmed with terror, I attempt to dodge, but it feels impossible.
'I, I can't...dodge!'
No matter 'where' I try to dodge, I feel I will get hit.
In reality, it seems like the Formless Sword is calmly held in Seo Eun-hyun's hand in the shape of a sword, but the true essence of the Formless Sword is absolute freedom.
Whether I dodge or not, its trajectory will change freely and hit me.
It's a different kind of strike from Kim Young-hoon's speed or Tae Yeol-jeon's certain hit!
That is the meaning of the Formless Sword!
'If I can't dodge...'
The only answer is to block.
I move the retrieved Clear Scale Armor to quickly cover my entire body.
The power of the Clear Scale Armor that nullifies all physical force!
However, Seo Eun-hyun's Formless Sword seems to mock me as it so effortlessly 'permeates' the Clear Scale Armor and cuts my body.
"Kugh!"
Coughing up blood, I try using attraction force or some spells to escape from his grasp.
But it's all useless.
The puppet circuit is useless against Seo Eun-hyun, who knows the circuit just as well.
The Ghost Path Method shrinks before Seo Eun-hyun, who has a stronger death aura than I do.
The Yin Soul Ghost Incantation is equally useless..
Using the tactic of overwhelming strength that cultivators use against the Heart Tribe is also ineffective because Seo Eun-hyun has obtained the Four-Axis stage of the Earth Tribe thanks to Seo Hweol.
In other words, Seo Eun-hyun is the worst possible match against me.
Kugugugu!
The Dead Earth Domain shakes violently.
Dust rises up.
In the dust, I am beaten, slashed, and forced to taste Seo Eun-hyun's martial arts without being able to fight back.
How long do I have to endure this relentless assault?
Suddenly, I feel Seo Eun-hyun's heart message reaching me.
[Why aren't you using martial arts?]
Kwaduduk!
With 16 of my 18 heads turned to powder by the Formless Sword, I spit out ghostly energy and glare at him.
[Are you kidding me? How can I beat you with martial arts?!]
On the contrary, I would be further restricted against Seo Eun-hyun.
At my words, Seo Eun-hyun looks at me with an even colder gaze.
Why is it?
I can't bear to meet Seo Eun-hyun's eyes.
And in the next moment.
'Huh?'
I see that the sword containing all of Heaven's natural colors in Seo Eun-hyun's hand has 'disappeared.'
'What? The sword...'
No.
It isn't that the sword disappeared...
Bo-oong!
I feel the hair on my nonexistent body stand on end.
That is it.
That is why Seo Hweol reacted as if he couldn't see it.
At the last moment, I use the ground-shrinking technique to move backward and evade Seo Eun-hyun's attack.
That was really dangerous.
[That attack just now...]
I look at Seo Eun-hyun with fearful eyes and ask.
[It was completely in the plane of Soul. To completely step foot into the plane of Soul, is that the true First Step Before the Throne…?!]
Seo Eun-hyun looks at me with an expressionless face for a moment, then stops his attack and smiles faintly.
"[How] did you notice the attack?"
"What?"
"Just as you said, this attack completely encompasses the plane of Soul. No matter how skilled cultivators are, unless they've mastered consciousness methods, it's not easy to approach the plane of Soul. Even if one has practiced the Ghost Path Method, they can only barely approach it; ultimately, the core of Immortal Cultivation lies within the plane of Qi."
He continues while stroking the prismatic sword of light.
"Especially since my enlightenment focuses on formlessness and freedom, it's even harder for opponents to perceive it. It has been like this since the days of the Formless Sword, but after reaching this state, I've become unparalleled in terms of [trajectory]."
"That's true. Since the days of the Formless Sword..."
"So then, 'how' did you avoid that strike just now?"
"What do you mean, how...?"
"It was an invisible and imperceptible strike. How were you able to avoid it?"
I ask back in bewilderment at his question.
"What do you mean? Even though I'm not using martial arts, I know every martial art 'I' can use."
What Seo Eun-hyun had just executed is one of the moves of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, specifically 'Deep Mountain.'
It's a move that involves closing in on the opponent's chest and then slicing upward. If one carefully observes the peculiar, hard-to-follow footwork, it could be avoided.
At that, Seo Eun-hyun smiles faintly.
'...Ah.'
Suddenly, I understand the sense of déjà vu I had felt when Seo Eun-hyun suddenly started attacking me.
"Do you know how I reached this state?"
"..."
"I observed myself. And I was able to realize. What I needed was already within me."
'I see.'
He brings his finger to my chest.
"You are Seo Li, but at the same time, you are another possibility of mine. Martial arts are already within you. You just have to wield them."
'You've become like Kim Young-hoon.'
—Wield it, it's already within you.
Kim Young-hoon's voice seems to faintly echo in my ears.
"Your will is also within you. You just have to wield it. Don't rely on me, Seo Li. From the moment we separated, your life became your own."
His eyes seem to burn with starlight.
'I see.'
It isn't that the Formless Sword has become invisible.
In fact, it has merged even closer with Seo Eun-hyun.
'To fully rise to the plane of Soul, perhaps...'
The plane of Soul isn't spread as wide as the plane of Qi. Rather, it might exist within the inner depths of one's heart.
"There was a time when I forced my disciples to live a certain way. While I did it with a master's heart, now that I think about it, perhaps it would have been better to respect their will, even if it led to their deaths.
"..."
"So, I will respect your will as well, Seo Li. Don't seek answers from me. Follow where your heart leads you. Do you want to save Kang Min-hee or not?"
I stand there.
The suffocating pressure from the direction of the Swiftwind Domain still bears down on me.
"...I..."
Looking into Seo Eun-hyun's eyes, I clench my teeth.
"I want to save Kang Min-hee."
"If you go to her now, you might die."
Death.
Hearing that word, I strangely feel my legs tremble.
It's odd.
Death should be familiar to me, yet...
However, despite the fear,
"...I still want to go."
"Why? You might die."
Why indeed.
Why do I want to go to her?
Why...?
I try to craft an answer with countless logical explanations, but the words that come out are unexpected.
"The scenery of that day that Kang Min-hee and I saw together...I couldn't remember it."
"Hmm?"
"Kang Min-hee's domain. You saw it within my heart essence, didn't you? I couldn't recall that memory."
"..."
"I can easily retrieve the memory from you through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections...but I want to hear that answer from Kang Min-hee."
"..."
"...Ah..."
Thinking about it, I realize how nonsensical this is.
It seems completely illogical and foolish, especially given that my life is on the line.
"No, I mean...if you...hear the answer...wouldn't it be beneficial for the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections as well...?"
Since Seo Eun-hyun and I are the same person, accessing the memory through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections is possible.
I babble nonsensically.
And then.
"Is that so?"
Seo Eun-hyun laughs.
It's a clear laugh.
"Then let's do that."
Without a moment's hesitation, he turns around and starts walking towards the Swiftwind Domain.
"Contact the Mad Lord. Since he has come to his senses, we might be able to get his help. If there are any survivors, let's rescue them and escape with his help."
"...Seo Eun-hyun."
With a trembling voice, I question Seo Eun-hyun.
"Just a moment ago...weren't you against saving Kang Min-hee?"
Surely, he wasn't in favor of rescuing Kang Min-hee.
It felt like he was coldly assessing Kang Min-hee's power at the Star Shattering stage and devising an escape strategy.
But why did he suddenly change his mind?
And why because of such a flimsy and foolish logic?
Although Seo Eun-hyun is an emotional person, he has at least the minimum amount of rationality.
He isn't the type to be swayed by such foolish logic, which is why I thought there was almost no chance.
So why did he agree so easily?
At my words, Seo Eun-hyun turns back to me with a gentle smile.
Unlike Seo Hweol's, it's a smile that truly seems to put one's heart at ease.
"I'll explain, so follow me."
"..."
Tadatt!
After contacting the Mad Lord, I follow Seo Eun-hyun.
Neither of us use the Flying Escape Technique, we only use lightness skills to tread the air.
Of course, I still use the ground-shrinking technique to close the distance, but strangely, it's still hard to keep up with him.
He isn't using the Earth Tribe's Gliding Technique or the Flying Escape Technique, neither is he using the Formeless Sword's Sword Flight. He is just running purely with lightness skills, but I can only see Seo Eun-huyn's back.
I feel like I could get ahead if I use the Flying Escape Technique, but strangely, I don't feel like doing so.
The ground-shrinking technique is within an acceptable range, but I don't want to use anything beyond that. I want to chase Seo Eun-hyun using only lightness skills.
However, I kept running seeing only Seo Eun-hyun's back until the end.
Kugugugugu―
After a while.
We arrive at the center of the Swiftwind Domain.
Oooooooooh―
Kyiaaaaaaah―
Millions of ghosts are howling.
At the center of the ghost horde is a black orb, and the location of that orb is the base temporarily set up at the Swiftwind Domain by the Black Ghost Valley's branch in the Bright Cold Realm to create a side path.
In other words, it's the place where a Nether Crossing Ship is docked.
Kiiiyaaaah―
Hi-hiyahhh!
The horde of ghosts scream and shudder as we approach, but strangely, they do not flee.
It's as if they can't leave the vicinity of that pitch-black sphere.
"Can you sense the Nether Crossing Ship inside?"
"Yeah, I can."
With my senses honed by the Ghost Path Method, I can vividly feel the presence of the Nether Crossing Ship.
And naturally, I sense that there are still 'living' survivors inside it.
'The ghosts inside...have all lost their will and been subdued. We need to at least save the survivors.'
Regrettably, the Ghost Kings are beyond saving.
I can tell instinctively.
As someone who has practiced the Ghost Path Method, I can clearly feel the power of the sphere before me and its influence.
I sort out who can be saved and who can't and inform Seo Eun-hyun.
Seo Eun-hyun nods.
"Alright. Then first, we need to breach the orb and pull the Nether Crossing Ship out, then extract the survivors inside."
"Judging by the power of the sphere, it will regenerate almost instantly even if we damage it."
"It's fine. We can divide the roles."
Kugugugugu―
Before he can finish his words, the Mad Lord's Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress arrives.
From inside, the Mad Lord's voice echoes.
[Kuhu, did you call me to deal with that thing?]
Seo Eun-hyun looks up at the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and laughs.
"Of course not. We will make the scratches; we just need the elder to pull out the Nether Crossing Ship inside."
[Hmm, you're trying to rescue the survivors inside? I know from fighting with those Black Ghost Valley guys...but ghosts tend to cluster together. Even if you pull out that Nether Crossing Ship, which is practically a ghostly entity in itself, it'll just get dragged back.]
That is certainly true.
Even if we pull out the Nether Crossing Ship temporarily, it's highly likely it will be dragged back inside.
In the brief moment we pull it out, we have to extract all the survivors within the Nether Crossing Ship, but the time is too tight.
"Hadn't the elder once entered the Nether Crossing Ship and removed the power source himself?"
[Yes, I have.]
"How did the elder enter back then? Did you politely walk through the entrance and take it?"
[Of course not. I pierced through the hull, went straight to the power source, and removed it.]
"Please do the same this time. As soon as we pull out the Nether Crossing Ship, drill a hole and go straight in to remove the power source. Once the power source is out, the ghostly energy of the Nether Crossing Ship will weaken significantly, buying us more time before it gets dragged back. During that time, please extract the survivors with your bee puppets. Regarding the power source, well, you can do whatever you want with it."
I look at Seo Eun-hyun with a bewildered face.
"Hey, the power source of the Nether Crossing Ship belongs to the Black Ghost Valley. Why are you giving it to the Mad Lord?"
"It's called strategic relocation."
"..."
"Anyway, can it be done?"
[Hohu. Well, there isn't much time left while I'm still sane, so if I can save people in that brief period of time, I should do so.]
The Mad Lord readily accepts and shouts.
[Good, it's been nearly a thousand years since I last clashed with Black Ghost Valley! Let's do this!]
"Prepare yourself, Seo Li."
Seo Eun-hyun, gripping the Colorless Glass Sword, speaks with a serious expression.
"Let's go rescue Kang Min-hee."
And so, the Battle of the Ghost Mother (鬼母戰) with the Mad Lord, Seo Eun-hyun, and I begins.
***
"Follow me."
The prelude to the battle is initiated by Seo Eun-hyun.
Chuaaaa!
Light.
The starlight of all Heaven's natural colors seem to shine from his hand, transforming into a vertical line that strikes directly at the sphere.
Kuadududuk!
A scar of starlight remains on the sphere.
I cast Ghost King Transformation.
Perhaps due to the ghostly energy filling the surroundings, the 18 heads that had been destroyed by Seo Eun-hyun instantly regain their original form.
Great Desert to Dead Sea.
Glutinous Devil Ghost Devouring (食魔鬼沒).
Cheok, cheok, cheok, cheok...!
All 18 heads simultaneously open their mouths.
An immense suction force emanates from them, absorbing all the ghostly and yin energy in the vicinity.
An overwhelming power surges forth!
Ooooooh—
From the eye sockets of the 18 heads, a ferocious ghost fire erupts violently.
Simultaneously, the surrounding yin energy is temporarily weakened, causing the ghost horde to retreat.
But that isn't the end.
The next stage of the Qi Building Yin Soul Ghost Incantation which I had inherited from the curse lineage's Bi Yul.
A method that begins at the Nascent Soul stage and can be mastered up to the Grand Perfection Four-Axis stage.
Black Blood Tears Flower (黑色血淚花).
Chuaaaa—
From the 18 skull heads, pitch-black tears fall.
The tears scatter on the ground, causing sinister buds of curses to sprout from the earth.
'A long time ago, I had almost independently evolved the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation to reach Black Blood Tears Flower.'
The buds of the curses resemble the grotesque masses I had created in my 10th cycle using the Black Ghost Curse Banner.
The malice they emit is also quite similar.
If I hadn't discovered the White Orchid Blessing Incantation back then, I would have obtained the Black Blood Tears Flower.
Of course, although I had come close, this Black Blood Tears Flower is still the masterpiece created over several generations by the curse lineage of Black Ghost Valley.
The buds of curses I created back then with the Black Ghost Curse Banner were the 'end,' but this is just the 'beginning' for the Black Blood Tears Flowers.
Kyaaaaaaa—
Kuuaaaaa—
Huaaaaaaaaaa!!!
The buds bloom.
Simultaneously, the area is filled with screams louder than the wailing of the ghosts.
The black flowers look more like the gaping mouths of several split snakes, with eyeball-like objects wriggling inside.
Usually, blooming one Black Blood Tears Flower would be classified as 1 star.
Blooming three flowers would be 2 stars.
Blooming five flowers would be 3 stars, corresponding to the early, middle, and late stages of the Nascent Soul stage.
Eight flowers would be 4 stars, representing the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage.
Ten flowers would be 5 stars.
Twenty flowers would be 6 stars.
Thirty flowers would be 7 stars.
Blooming fifty flowers to create a flower bed would be 8 stars, corresponding to the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage.
Afterwards, blooming a hundred flowers would be 9 stars, two hundred flowers would be 10 stars, three hundred sixty flowers would be 11 stars corresponding to the late Four-Axis stage, and successfully creating a flower garden with a thousand flowers would signify achieving 12 stars, representing great achievement.
Around me, countless grotesque flowers bloom, filling a radius of ten li in an instant.
Even the ghosts guarding the sphere flinch and retreat at the sight of this monstrosity.
Chuararararak!
As I call forth my will, a yin wind swirls in the surroundings.
In that yin wind, the petals of the sinister flowers scatter.
The black petals from the curse gather before me and coalesce into a sword.
Bo-oong!
I concentrate my mind and swing the cursed flower sword.
Kwaaaang!
The sword slash of the flower sword overlaps with the starlight scar left by Seo Eun-hyun.
Yet, the sphere remains intact, with only traces of damage.
[Curse Assimilation.]
However, the sword mark from my cursed flower sword permeates into the sphere.
I can sense it.
The sphere is a conglomerate of all kinds of pain, resentment, and sorrow.
A massive force condensed with the grudges of ghosts.
Inside it, my curse naturally blends in, assimilating with the sphere.
Like a spy, the petals of my Black Blood Tears Flower infiltrate within.
Seo Eun-hyun and I exchange glances.
Wo-ooong!
The sword scar left by Seo Eun-hyun begins to shine with all of Heaven's colors.
What is the First Step Before the Throne?
Seo Eun-hyun's eyes gleam.
For 500 years, he had self-reflected and comprehended the essence of the Formless Sword.
He then further forged the Formless Sword that had grown immensely through becoming a Heavenly Tribulation.
He realized that the enlightenment already laid within him.
He awakened the heart of Martial Arts that he had learned and united it with himself once more.
And like so, he reached the First Step Before the Throne.
The essence of the First Step Before the Throne is as follows:
Resolutely preparing for one's soul to be crushed and to perish, one compresses their heart essence into depths of their martial arts.
A realization that resonates with Seo Eun-hyun's Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.
If one's true heart aligns with their martial arts, they won't perish even when delving into the depths of their martial arts.
Unbeknownst to him, Seo Eun-hyun had preemptively practiced the enlightenment of the First Step Before the Throne through his Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.
In this way, if one stakes everything and succeeds in infusing their heart, their heart essence, into the depths of their martial arts, uniting the heart of their martial arts with their own heart, their martial arts will completely rise to the plane of Soul.
In the case of Tae Yeol-jeon, it reaches the depths of the plane of Soul.
She draws power from the source of heart essence as she continues her battles. For Jang Ik, he leverages his Fighting Spirit, which has risen to the plane of Soul, to gather an immense amount of energy from the plane of Qi to unleash his attacks.
Those who reach the First Step Before the Throne can all achieve a strike at the plane of Soul.
Using that strike, they can embed their heart essence into their opponent's heart essence or manifest their heart essence externally to create an avatar.
Jang Ik's ability to embed a podao into the heart essence of numerous subordinate Heart Tribe members to support them with a single strike. The ability to create an avatar through the podao and dispatch it in times of emergency. Kim Young-hoon creating an avatar exactly like his main body except for the total amount of energy. They are all based on the same principle.
The First Step Before the Throne corresponds to both the Four-Axis and Integration stages of the Heaven and Earth Tribes.
Why is this so?
The reason is that the 'strike' of the First Step Before the Throne, forged by putting in one's 'everything,' is powerful enough to split dimensions and rival the full-force strike of a Grand Cultivator in the Integration stage.
However, the strike of the First Step Before the Throne must literally contain 'everything.'
The Heart Tribe often falls into a near-death state after unleashing a single compressed strike of their heart essence.
While their overall skills improve after merging the heart of their martial arts with their own heart, the main strength of the Heart Tribe in the First Step Before the Throne lies in the 'strike infused with heart essence.'
A single use would drain their combat power, making it a do-or-die gamble of mutual destruction.
Therefore, Heart Tribe members in the early stages of the First Step Before the Throne are regarded as being in the Four-Axis stage.
However, as they become more familiar and skilled with the attacks of the First Step Before the Throne, and their understanding of heart essence deepens, the number of times they can launch 'heart essence strikes' increases.
Their personal skills gradually improve, allowing them to push the power of their heart essence to its extreme. The initial single mutually destructive strike increases to two strikes, then three strikes.
As their understanding of heart essence deepens further, at some point, members of the Heart Tribe become capable of launching multiple 'heart essence strikes' in rapid succession.
Therefore, Heart Tribe members who reach the later stages of the First Step Before the Throne and can skillfully handle the power of heart essence, rapidly unleashing multiple heart essence strikes, are recognized as being on par with those at the Integration stage.
Furthermore, the reason why ordinary Heart Tribe members fall into a near-death state after launching a heart essence strike is because they wield a power their frail bodies cannot handle.
That means...
Chuaaaaaaatt!
"Second strike."
Seo Eun-hyun, who possesses the physical body of a Four-Axis stage Earth Tribe, will not be in a critical state from just one or two heart essence strikes.
In an instant, Seo Eun-hyun's body seems to be enveloped in sharp energy, and he swings his sword.
Kwadududuk!
Once again, scars of light are engraved on the sphere.
"Third strike."
Flash!
Once more.
"Fourth strike."
Once more again.
Seo Eun-hyun's strikes continue to land, and seven scars in total are embedded in the sphere.
"Hoo..."
Seo Eun-hyun wipes the sweat off.
The light embedded in the sphere becomes even brighter.
This light is visible only to Seo Eun-hyun, who is of the Heart Tribe, Seo Li, who shares his vision, and the Mad Lord, who also has a vision like that of the Heart Tribe.
That light represents both sword scars and Seo Eun-hyun's avatars.
"Now, Seo Li!"
Seo Eun-hyun shouts.
Seo Li forms hand seals.
[Curse Reversal.]
And then.
Flash!
The black petals flowing inside the sphere reverse into pure white petals in an instant.
Boom!
A massive brilliance erupts from the top of the sphere, creating a large air hole.
Simultaneously, the seven sword scars merge into one, burrowing deep into the sphere.
"Let's go!"
[Please! Elder!]
[Alright!]
Bo-oong―
Seo Eun-hyun and Seo Li enter within the sphere, followed by an enormous swarm of puppets.
How far have the two chased after Seo Eun-hyun's slash?
Before their eyes.
There, the Nether Crossing Ship comes into view.
"The space is distorted."
Seo Eun-hyun mutters as he runs through the interior which is larger than the sphere seen from the outside.
Bo-oong!
The swarm of puppets cling to the Nether Crossing Ship, trying to pull it out.
However, the Nether Crossing Ship does not budge, as if it's anchored in place.
Underneath the Nether Crossing Ship.
Black ghosts are gathered as if to form a liquid, holding onto the ship.
[You! Will you not get lost?!]
Seo Li commands fiercely with ghost fire raging. But the ghosts, though trembling with fear, do not retreat.
Seo Eun-hyun gazes at the ghosts calmly.
The ghosts seem to fear Seo Eun-hyun even more than Seo Li, yet they still do not move.
Seo Eun-hyun clicks his tongue and speaks.
"We have to remove them. I'll take care of extracting the Nether Crossing Ship, so you follow the light."
Seo Eun-hyun points somewhere while looking at Seo Li.
There, the merged seven strikes he had unleashed earlier are piercing through the darkness beyond the Nether Crossing Ship, continuing forward.
[That's...]
"From my vision, at the center of those depths lies her heart essence. Kang Min-hee's main body should be there. Go, Seo Li."
[...]
Seo Li looks at Seo Eun-hyun.
[Seo Eun-hyun.]
"What is it?"
[You didn't tell me...why you came to rescue Kang Min-hee.]
Seo Eun-hyun gently smiles at those words.
"Until recently, you called me the main body. Now, you need me to tell you for you to understand?"
Somehow, his tone seems reproachful.
However, his expression seems filled with joy.
"You, having originated from me, should already know."
Seo Eun-hyun turns his back to Seo Li.
Kugugugugu—
The starlight of the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, altered by Seo Hweol, begins to shine from Seo Eun-hyun's entire body.
His body begins to grow larger, resembling that of Azure Tiger Saint.
Seo Eun-hyun becomes a Giant embodying the starry night.
[People, from birth to death, receive immeasurable grace that cannot be expressed in words.]
Seo Li, from his memories...
No, the figure of a giant that exists in Seo Eun-hyun's memory overlaps with that form.
[Struggling to repay that grace, to give back to this world, is our duty, our obligation, and our privilege.]
Kudududuk!
The giant of stars begins to tear away the Nether Crossing Ship that's anchored by the ghosts from the ground.
"It–it's Azure Tiger Saint!"
"He's come from the Azure Heaven Creation Sect to save us!"
The few remaining disciples of Black Ghost Valley in the Nether Crossing Ship cheer as they see the giant of stars.
[Moving towards impossible dreams while overcoming endless hardships. Enduring unbearable pain. Living while struggling like that...is who we are.]
Seo Li stares blankly at the giant's back.
[Because you struggled with your own will, because you sought to break through with your own will, because with your own will you had belief and aimed to reach the stars...I decided to help you. Go, Seo Li. The saying 'the heavens help those who help themselves' might be false, but I will help you.]
[...]
Seo Li remains silent.
Then he turns and chases after Seo Eun-hyun's slash.
'I'm always just following.'
Behind him, the disciples of Black Ghost Valley cheer, but as they exit, they scream upon encountering the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Soon, Seo Eun-hyun will probably follow him.
He will overtake him again.
No, since Seo Eun-hyun's slashes which are burning through the darkness ahead are like his avatars, he is already ahead of him.
'I'm only looking at your back.'
Seo Li grits his teeth as he runs after Seo Eun-hyun.
He realized they have already diverged.
Although he doesn't know what the next regression will bring, they are already different people.
And Seo Eun-hyun respects Seo Li, pushing him in order to be independent from his embrace at any time.
However, Seo Li feels a lingering frustration in his heart.
He doesn't know why.
How far has he run along the path of darkness?
Paaaatt!
Seo Eun-hyun's slash exhausts its energy and fades, and Seo Li finally reaches the end of the path.
There, a massive Ghost Guiding Holy Mother in the form of an 8-foot ghost monster is curled up and sleeping.
***
As he approaches the ghost with a body length of about 30 meters, blue eyes sprout from its body.
Upon meeting those eyes, Seo Li feels his body stiffen.
[Kurrrgh...]
Seo Li's body freezes, unable to move any further.
It's the Great Desert to Dead Sea he has mastered.
The entirety of the Ghost Path Method within his body solidifies, forbidding any movement.
It feels as though his ghostly energy was seized control of by the entity before him.
However, it's different from the last time when he met this entity's gaze and was dragged into its domain to encounter Kang Min-hee.
Seo Li grits his teeth and shouts.
[Kang Min-hee! Kang Min-hee!]
But the ghostly entity shows no reaction.
It simply stares at Seo Li with its completely transformed piercing blue eye, doing nothing else.
Seo Li clenches his teeth.
Chuaruru—
Ghostly energy moves, sealing off the path Seo Li had come through.
Now, only Seo Li and Kang Min-hee remain in this space.
But Seo Li gradually realizes that his body is moving on its own against his will, trying to expel him from the space.
'No, no!'
He can't move.
The ghostly energy moves on its own accord.
[Kang Min-hee! Get a hold of yourself! I'm here! I'm...]
Suddenly, the speaking Seo Li is startled.
The me that Kang Min-hee knows is the me that's 'Seo Eun-hyun's clone.'
In other words, the one she needs to be facing might not be me but Seo Eun-hyun.
I am Seo Li.
Not Seo Eun-hyun.
[I...]
I don't know by what right I have to be calling Kang Min-hee, so I briefly fall silent.
[...Damn it.]
I grit my teeth.
And then,
Wududuk—
Forcefully,
Using all the circuits of the Mad Lord and all my willpower,
Forcefully, forcefully!
Kudududuk!
I move one of my arms and tear off one of the heads attached to my shoulder.
Kuadududuk!
[Kuuuuughh!]
It's painful.
But Seo Eun-hyun wouldn't even bat an eye.
The torn head is condensed into a Gang Sphere and thrown into the void.
Then I tear out another.
Kuadududuk!
[Aaaaraaagh!]
It hurts.
But Seo Eun-hyun wouldn't even twitch.
Budududuk!
"Kuaaaargh!"
How many heads have I torn out? Before I knew it, my Ghost King Transformation had significantly loosened, and my voice had returned to its human form.
However, simultaneously, the ghostly energy in my body is gradually decreasing.
I condensed the very essence of my Ghost Path Method into Gang Spheres and released them into the void.
Kuaduduk!
I tear out the last head.
And I completely return to my human form.
However, as a human, I am only at the Heavenly Being stage at best.
Having also temporarily extracted other techniques like the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body, I am in a severely weakened state.
"Keugh, kugh..."
I gasp for breath, expelling 'Seo Eun-hyun's' death from my body.
Of course, I feel like my heart might burst and kill me at any moment.
Not just from the pain, but from the pressure emitted by Kang Min-hee, who is at the Star Shattering stage!
It feels like I am about to be crushed by that terrifying power.
But!
"...I am...Seo Li...!"
At this moment.
I become complete as myself.
And I am no longer affected by the ghostly energy!
I muster all my remaining strength and reach out to Kang Min-hee.
Kuadududuk!
My body feels like it's being crushed and torn apart.
But it doesn't matter.
'I can reach her.'
With every step forward, my body breaks down.
The darkness enveloping Kang Min-hee is pierced bit by bit by the power gathered in one hand.
But in exchange, I have to give up everything.
Yet I move forward.
'I can reach her.'
Looking back, 'I' was born the moment I didn't convey Kang Min-hee's words to Seo Eun-hyun.
'I' came into existence because of her.
Even though her heart might have been directed at Seo Eun-hyun, not me.
Even though I might have been just a bystander.
Even though it might not have been a heart originally meant for me.
Her feelings reached me, and I was born.
Therefore, Kang Min-hee,
I must,
Return my heart to you.
Kuadududuk!
Even the flesh of Yuan Yu's body begins to rot, unable to withstand the death energy pervading the space.
'Kang Min-hee...'
I like you.
It isn't because of Seo Eun-hyun's memories.
The moment with her, when we were together even if brief.
Combing her hair.
Trying to kill me because of a misunderstanding.
All those brief moments together...
They were truly wonderful.
Step, step...
As I approach her, I feel that the 30m tall figure I see of her is not her true form.
Inside the ghostly body composed of ghostly energy, I feel 'her' presence.
Without caring that my flesh is freezing solid, I enter the ghost body made of ghostly energy, taking steps towards the center where she lies.
'Ah...'
I can't withstand this.
I can feel it.
Even if the original Yuan Li came back and resurrected seventy times, he wouldn't be able to go any further.
My body starts to freeze and crumble into powder.
Maybe just as Jeon Myeong-hoon is loved by lightning,
Kang Min-hee might be loved by all the ghosts and spirits of the world.
I might be a ghost born from Seo Eun-hyun's deluded thoughts (妄念).
Kuaduduk—
My whole body begins to scatter into the aura of death.
'No...'
Even if I am to die, I want to reach her.
And then.
Clench!
A warm hand grabs my shoulder from behind.
"You fool. Why did you abandon the Ghost King's body and face this with your bare body?"
It's Seo Eun-hyun.
Somehow, he had thrown the Nether Crossing Ship outside, saved everyone in Black Ghost Valley, torn apart the sealed space, and reached here.
'It's...warm...'
Why is that?
As Seo Eun-hyun grabs my shoulder, I feel my body, which seemed about to freeze in the ghostly energy, start to thaw.
'Is it that?'
For a moment, I see the flame burning inside Seo Eun-hyun.
It's a fire that scorches Seo Eun-hyun's soul.
"Though I can't hurt others with the Karmic Fire, it seems to have a warming effect."
He explains with a faint smile, attributing it to the effect of the Karmic Fire.
He too seems exhausted, spitting blood from the effort of coming this far.
'The pain of Karmic Fire...must be unimaginable...'
How can he stand so calmly?
He smiles as he holds my shoulder.
"Go forward, Seo Li."
"Wouldn't it be better if you went? Maybe..."
"Do you think Kang Min-hee needs me?"
"..."
"Maybe so."
Seo Eun-hyun nods calmly.
But his next words make me clench my fists.
"But I think you need Kang Min-hee."
"What do you mean...?"
"Did you forget I'm a cunning Heart Tribe spy? Don't think you can deceive my eyes. Look ahead and walk. If there's something you desperately want to convey, you do it yourself!"
At Seo Eun-hyeon's sharp words, my mind feels like it snaps into place.
"...Yeah."
I look ahead.
From behind, Seo Eun-hyun's voice echoes.
"Form the Gang Sphere."
Wo-woong!
I form a Gang Sphere on my hand.
I can't use Entering Heavens Beyond the Path, but I can manage Ultimate Pinnacle.
"Divide the Gang Sphere into nine."
"What's the point of..."
"Just do as I say!"
I obediently divide the Gang Sphere.
"Circulate the Gang Spheres."
I think I understood what he's trying to do.
He might be trying to help me reach Entering Heavens.
But it's a ridiculous idea.
'I haven't been able to use Entering Heavens for hundreds of years.'
"...The path of the sword you walked isn't mine."
When I thought I was Seo Eun-hyun, I believed I could use the Formless Sword with his memories.
But knowing I am Seo Li, I realized it clearly.
These aren't my experiences, nor my insights.
Therefore, I can't use the Formless Sword.
Even if I try to infuse my insights into the Gang Sphere, it's impossible.
However, Seo Eun-hyun's next words go beyond my imagination.
"For the past 500 years, what have you done?"
"What?"
"I asked what you've been doing for 500 years."
"...Didn't you observe it through heart essence?"
"Just answer."
"...I cultivated through the Great Desert to Dead Sea, through the Black Blood Tears Flower, and through the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body."
"Then you should know what you like best, right?"
"..."
"When I fought Tae Yeol-jeon, you were also connected to me. Have you forgotten how she reached Entering Heavens?"
That's right.
Tae Yeol-jeon reached Entering Heavens by sublimating her insights from the Buddhist Family Methods she practiced.
But could I do it too?
Could I do it with the cultivation methods I practiced?
Could I really...?
...
...
"Seo Eun-hyun, do you know?"
"What?"
I look back at Seo Eun-hyun and smile.
Really, he's annoyingly similar to Kim Young-hoon.
Why can't he just tell me straightforwardly?
"You're really...an annoying guy. Can't you just tell me directly?"
"It's only meaningful if you figure it out yourself."
Seo Eun-hyun receives my smile with a laugh.
He's the one who's been observing me through heart essence for 500 years.
He is a grandmaster of martial arts and the original owner of my talents.
Seo Eun-hyun is not a madman, and there is no reason for him to suddenly force an awakening on me.
Which means...
"I've already said it's within you. Swing it."
"Come to think of it, that's plagiarized from Young-hoon hyung-nim."
It's already within me.
At the moment of realization, I move forward, believing in myself.
'Ah...'
This is, [Me].
The result of abandoning all Ghost Path Methods, forsaking the death that isn't mine, believing in what I have cultivated, and becoming whole as 'me', is this.
My own Manifestation.
The Gang Spheres cycle at my fingertips.
They draw a circle.
Within that circle, I see my own Three Great Ultimates.
The Great Desert to Dead Sea, the Black Blood Tears Flower, the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body that I have all practiced.
'Entering Heavens Beyond the Path.'
At my fingertips, a flower begins to bloom.
"Fallen Flowers Cannot Return to Branches (落花難上枝)."
What emerges from my hand is neither the White Orchid Blessing Incantation nor the Black Blood Tears Flower, but something black.
Using the enlightenment of martial arts from Seo Eun-hyun's memories, I dissolve devilish arts and curses to create my own Entering Heavens.
What initially had the form of the White Orchid Blessing Incantation gradually changes shape and transforms into a different flower.
Black Lily (黑百合).
What appears to be a single Black Lily blooming, quivers and spreads in all directions.
The black lily petals envelop my surroundings.
Step.
I become able to take another step.
Absorbing pain while straddling the Plane of Soul and Plane of Qi and transforming it into pure energy that scatters upon the ground – this is my Entering Heavens.
Through Fallen Flowers Cannot Return to Branches, I scatter the pain and sorrow filled in this darkness and move forward.
And, I feel Seo Eun-hyun smiling behind me.
"Let's go."
He stands not behind, but beside me.
"It's impressive."
Seo Eun-hyun draws his sword of light from the void.
"I said I reforged the Formless Sword. Can you now hear its name?"
Wo-woong―
I can hear it.
In my ears, which have completely entered a new Entering Heavens, I hear the hum of the Formless Sword.
"Since it resembles its owner, your Entering Heavens also seems to like plagiarism."
"Plagiarism? It's a name she gifted me."
I burst into a hearty laugh at Seo Eun-hyun's words.
Chualalalak!
The black lily petals gather to form a Flower Sword in front of me.
Just like when we first entered the sphere, we each hold the Flower Sword and the Formless Sword.
'No, that's not the Formless Sword now.'
I utter the name the Formless Sword conveyed directly to me.
"All Heavens Sword is the final form of the Colorless Glass Sword."
"Since the Colorless Glass Sword was created to contain the Formless Sword, it's not strange to attach its form to the Formless Sword's name."
"Try coming up with a cool name like Young-hoon hyung-nim."
After a brief exchange of banter, we assume our stances without anyone needing to say more.
Seo Eun-hyun's intent echoes, and his absolute technique engraves itself into my mind.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Thirtieth Move.
Deep Mountain, Emerging Dao (山深然後道).
—I will rip through. Strike and enter.
Only deep within the mountain does the path emerge (山深然後道).
A faint forest scent seems to spread.
It feels like entering a deep mountain.
Through Seo Eun-hyun's consciousness, I understand what the thirtieth move of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship he has newly attained is about.
In an instant, Seo Eun-hyun's All Heavens Sword becomes completely transparent.
He has risen to the much deeper and higher Plane of Soul.
The basic technique of the sword is a downward slash.
Lifting the sword high and then slashing downwards.
Using precise muscle movements, raising the sword high, and accelerating it downwards with gravity to strike the opponent.
It looks very simple, but in reality, it is an immensely powerful technique.
And, I can feel it.
Seo Eun-hyun's All Heavens Sword advancing to a much higher plane than 'can be seen.'
The sword moves.
From a higher plane, the sword slashes downward and descends lower.
From a high position to a low position.
From a high plane to a low plane.
As the sword tip lowers, it accelerates, and as the plane lowers, the cultivation of the Heaven and Earth Tribe is added to the sword.
And finally, his sword descends completely to the material plane.
Shukak!
The last moment is beyond the speed my eyes can follow.
For just a moment, it seems as if his downward slash surpasses the Surpassing Radiant Saber's speed, but is that just an illusion?
And when his downward slash finishes.
Chwaaak!
I witness Kang Min-hee's darkness, having reached the Star Shattering stage, split open like a valley.
A path to Kang Min-hee opens.
Tadat!
Without hesitation, I charge towards her with the Flower Sword.
Holding the sword made of black petals, I concentrate.
The center of the ghostly energy forming the eight-foot ghost monster.
I see her, completely blackened, crouching.
After entering deep within the mountain and attaining the Dao, one contemplates the spring before the flowers fall (山深然後道 花落以前春).
Fallen Flowers Cannot Return to Branches.
Application technique.
Spring Before Flowers Fall (花落以前春).
Kwaak!
The Flower Sword made of black lily petals pierce Kang Min-hee's body.
At the same time, the Flower Sword starts to reverse and turn pure white.
The white lily petals push away the darkness that envelops Kang Min-hee.
Originally, Fallen Flowers Cannot Return to Branches absorbs pain and scatters it by converting it into energy.
The reversed Spring Before Flowers Fall absorbs my power and conveys my emotions to the opponent.
Though it seems similar to the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts's ultimate technique, Endless Paths Within Paths, it's a technique several levels higher!
Towards the immense sorrow enveloping Kang Min-hee, I burn everything.
My cultivation.
My life.
My soul!
Kwadudududuk!
A pillar of light seems to penetrate Kang Min-hee.
Reaching.
Reaching.
Kugugugugu―
An immense repulsive force rebounds from Kang Min-hee.
As if telling me not to approach.
It's an overwhelming repulsive force.
It feels as if it will tear the space apart.
But, I can't lose.
'Please, please...!'
Just for a moment, reach!
Seo Eun-hyun comes up behind me and pushes my back.
Together, we thrust the light.
And, the light explodes.
Shuaaaaaaa—
It's raining.
I look around what became the ruins of the Swiftwind Domain.
Nothing remains.
Everything has been ground down by Kang Min-hee's power, turning into a desert like the Dead Earth Domain.
It was originally a place with only valleys and mountain peaks, but now there is truly nothing left.
"...Are you satisfied, Seo Li?"
I sit cross-legged, gazing at Seo Li who lays beside me.
No, saying he is lying down isn't accurate.
Seo Li's body is entirely torn into pieces and scattered somewhere, with only his head remaining.
Only his head is left, barely clinging to life thanks to the tenacious vitality of Yuan Yu.
Seo Li's attack, which burned everything he had, succeeded.
I close my eyes and recall the situation just moments ago.
My All Heavens Sword overlapped with Seo Li's Fallen Flowers Cannot Return to Branches, creating an immense piercing force in an instant.
We narrowly succeeded in embedding Seo Li's Spring Before Flowers Fall into her.
Seo Li's heart was conveyed.
But regardless, she has reached the Star Shattering stage.
Kang Min-hee has already become the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother.
Kang Min-hee opens her eyes.
In her eyes, burning with blue ghost fire, blue tears are streaming down.
Kang Min-hee.
No, the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother swings her arm at us.
That is the end.
The overwhelming difference in power crushes any will to resist.
With that, we are thrown away, and the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother screams a terrifying ghostly wail and flies off somewhere.
'Kang Min-hee...'
But I know.
Seo Li's feelings have been conveyed.
And for a very brief moment, she regained her sanity.
[Seo Eun-hyun...]
Kang Min-hee called my name as she looked at me, then lost her reason again and flew away.
"...Are you alright?"
She called my name at the last moment.
To her, 'Seo Li' does not exist.
Kang Min-hee always thought of Seo Li as just a 'clone of Seo Eun-hyun.'
In a way, Seo Li's expectations were betrayed.
However, Seo Li is smiling.
"...I'm...fine..."
"...What do you mean, fine?"
Blurgh.
Suddenly, I feel a tightness in my chest and try to breathe, but pieces of my innards flow out with blood.
My sturdy Earth Tribe body is utterly shaken.
Death energy has permeated my body in such a way that even resurrection seems impossible.
Seo Li must feel the same.
"Even after reaching the Four-Axis stage after all that effort, we die without a chance to even resurrect."
I sigh with a bitter smile, breathing heavily.
"Are you really fine, Seo Li...?"
"...Seo...Eun-hyun..."
Seo Li, with lungs crushed, vibrates the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy with his remaining consciousness and continues speaking.
"I'm...really...fine..."
"...What is fine...?"
Chiiiii—
The ghostly energy left by the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother gradually invades my body.
It's the power of the Star Shattering stage.
No matter what, I can't resist.
The path of resurrection in the plane of Soul is distorted by the attraction force, preventing our resurrection.
But, using all my strength, I try not to collapse in front of Seo Li, to hear his last words.
I will regress.
But Seo Li will not.
Facing death, I instinctively feel it deep within my soul.
This guy is now a different being from me.
A kind of familiar born from me.
Yet, even so, he is a different entity.
Therefore, he will not return.
Thus, I have a reason to listen to his final words.
Seo Li continues speaking with a bright expression.
"My...heart has...been conveyed... It's all...fine..."
"...Even if it wasn't reciprocated?"
"...Yes."
He smiles.
"I did my best. And by reaching and conveying it...what I wanted to do was completed."
"..."
"Rather...you..."
Seo Li looks at me.
He has a face as if he's about to cry.
Yes, Seo Li is pitying me.
"I will...be buried here. But you...will continue to live. Right...?"
"..."
I see.
You feel it too.
That you won't regress...
At the end of our lives, we speak slowly.
It's hard to talk.
It's too painful.
But still, I feel at ease.
Death is imminent.
Not the death I felt through Seo Eun-hyun's memories.
Neither the death felt through the Ghost Path Method, nor the death felt on the side path, but 'true death.'
And now, standing before 'true death,' I seem to understand.
I will not regress.
My life ends here.
Only then do I unravel a few mysteries.
The reason I was a bit more cautious with my body than before.
The reason I felt life was more precious than before.
And...the 'real' reason Seo Eun-hyun helped me against Kang Min-hee.
It was because we both vaguely sensed that I will not regress.
"Seo Eun-hyun..."
"..."
"The reason you helped me...aside from helping me to become independent of my own will, there was one more reason, wasn't there...?"
He nods heavily.
For some reason, his voice is trembling.
Seo Eun-hyun, who always seemed like a giant in this life, looks very small now facing death.
"...You are me."
It's the exact opposite of what he had always said.
From the mouth of Seo Eun-hyun who always distinguished between Seo Eun-hyun and Seo Li, an interesting truth flows.
"You are another possibility of mine. The possibility of me loving Kang Min-hee, the possibility of me learning devilish arts. And..."
"The possibility of entering eternal rest?"
"..."
"Ha...ha..."
I laugh.
I feel light.
But at the same time, I feel pity.
I will die on this land.
I will enter eternal rest.
But the connections I made on this land won't disappear over time.
I will be buried in this land.
Even if I decay into a handful of fertilizer and become soil, I will remain on this land.
The connections I have made will remember me.
Even if Kang Min-hee does not know me, the fact that I conveyed my feelings to her—this history will remain unchanged.
Kim Yeon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kang Min-hee, the Mad Lord, Azure Tiger Saint...
The Integration stage Grand Cultivators, the people of Black Ghost Valley, those I met on this journey, and even Seo Hweol, despite being annoying.
They will not forget me, and I will remain in this land as a handful of soil, remembered by those who recall me.
Even if this time is annihilated by regression, I will vanish with the others.
Whether the timeline remains after regression or not.
I am now with them.
But what about Seo Eun-hyun?
He will regress after he dies.
Even if his body becomes soil, his soul will regress and endlessly repeat life.
Even if his body remains here, his soul will move to another time, and he will no longer be able to reminisce about those connections that remember him.
Only the records stored in the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections will comfort Seo Eun-hyun, warmly but sorrowfully.
I am the possibility that Seo Eun-hyun wants the most.
To die and be buried in this land, in this world, in this time.
I cry.
Crying loudly like a child, and laughing with joy at fulfilling one of my deepest wishes, I pity Seo Eun-hyun.
"I...will stay here. But you...will leave, right?"
"...Yes."
What words can I leave him?
Feeling my consciousness fading, I leave my final words to Seo Eun-hyun.
"...Live well. And..."
Crying and laughing, enjoying this life that was like a fleeting dream, I peacefully bury myself in this land.
"Farewell, Seo Eun-hyun."
"Stay well, me."
That is my final death.
Seo Eun-hyun closes his eyes and looks at the peaceful expression of the dead Seo Li.
The beautiful face left by Yuan Li, whom he detests.
A face he loathes so much that he often smashes it out of boredom.
But at this moment.
Seo Eun-hyun finds Seo Li's face to be extremely beautiful.
"I have...to bury...him..."
Thud―
But Seo Eun-hyun can no longer hold out any longer and collapses on the spot.
Seo Eun-hyun, dressed in white, and the corpse of Seo Li, covered in black fragments, lay facing each other under the falling raindrops.
Wo-woong―
Is it the will left behind by Seo Li?
The Gang Spheres hidden all over, left behind by Seo Li, enter Seo Eun-hyun's body.
Gang Spheres containing the spiritual power of the Ghost Path Method.
Of course, since it's filled with the energy of death, it does not help Seo Eun-hyun recover from his injuries.
But that power settles within Seo Eun-hyun, harmonizing the Three Great Ultimates.
Seo Eun-hyun closes his eyes.
On the land where two incarnations of life, cultivators of the Four-Axis stage, have died.
Is it the spirits of the two cultivators, unable to resurrect, creating harmony?
At some point, the rain stops, and a quince tree and a lily tree grow on that land.
Someone approaches the two trees, and a wind blows from somewhere.
The petals of the lily tree cling tightly to its branches without scattering, but the petals of the quince tree scatter and fly far away.
The branches of the white lilies sway in the wind, but the petals do not scatter, almost as if they are waving goodbye.
To say farewell.
That is Seo Eun-hyun's nineteenth return.
===
Author's Note: First, I apologize if you were expecting a lot from the Christmas consecutive chapters and found them a bit dull. However, upon finishing the cycle, I felt it was right to conclude here.
If I had pushed forward to the next chapter today, it might have felt even more unresolved, so I decided to stop at these three consecutive chapters. I will try to bring a bit more for the New Year's consecutive chapters.
As for the story, Seo Li represents another possibility for Seo Eun-hyun and directly showcases Seo Eun-hyun's objective. This is also a kind of return to the original intention, intended to clearly remind readers of Seo Eun-hyun's purpose.
Seo Li may seem distinct, but he is another protagonist and another version of Seo Eun-hyun. Although they appear different, both deeply fear regression and the emptiness of disappearing connections in their hearts.
In a way, Seo Li represents the Seo Eun-hyun who achieved what he most desired.
Being buried in the land. Being remembered in history. Ensuring that his connections do not fade into emptiness—this is Seo Eun-hyun's ultimate goal.
It's a slightly more concrete goal than simply breaking the cycle of regression or committing suicide.
With lots of foreshadowing and numerous stories, the 18th cycle has ended. I am deeply grateful to all readers for appreciating this somewhat complex and sometimes unfriendly story. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas for the remaining time!
***
It's strange.
An eerie sound brushes my ears.
No, that's not right.
I don't have ears.
'I...died...'
No, this is strange too.
Whenever I die, I always regress immediately so my body is restored.
So why don't I have ears?
'Ah...'
I regain 'consciousness.'
'This place is...'
―――――!
A bizarre sound.
No, perhaps it would be better described as a melody?
I can feel my soul being transported somewhere along with that sound.
And then, I realize I'm in a place that seems like a giant 'river,' flowing against its current.
Tsutsutsutsutsu―
'Ah...I see.'
There are scenes in the river.
No, to be precise, in the huge Yin and Yang.
The Taiji spirals as it flows, and within that spiral, 'scenes' flow like a 'river.'
I understand.
'So this...is how my regression works...'
I am undoubtedly experiencing 'regression in progress.'
I must have regained consciousness while traveling back in time.
However, nothing like this has happened before.
Why is this happening now?
As I ponder, I realize I have changed from before.
'Ah...right. I reached the Four-Axis stage, didn't I?'
Qi, Soul, and Fate are one.
Just as Heaven, Earth, and Heart are one, if you gather power at the Plane of Qi, it also affects the higher planes.
Therefore, when you gather energy and elevate your realm, your consciousness grows and your lifespan changes.
And because Seo Hweol elevated me to the Four-Axis stage, my physical body reached the Four-Axis level of the Earth Tribe, and consequently, my consciousness also attained the level of the Four-Axis stage.
'No, wait...'
As I quietly observe my soul, I feel something more.
It's...
'This is...Seo Li's spiritual power?'
It's the 'realm' that Seo Li had achieved.
That's right.
He had extracted and condensed my death within his body and then passed it on to me.
'Seo Li...'
Thank you. I won't forget this.
Wo-woong―
As soon as I acknowledge him, I feel the Three Great Ultimates more distinctly flowing within my soul.
'I see. The reason I can regain consciousness during this regression...'
It might be because I had fully raised the Three Great Ultimates to the Four-Axis stage.
The Heavenly Being stage and the Four-Axis stage are clearly steps to completing the Heavenly Circle and Earthly Bearings, so why are they divided into the Minor Boundary and Middle Boundary?
Moreover, although there is a difference in power between the Four-Axis stage and the Heavenly Being stage, it isn't that significant.
Yet, why are the Boundaries split between the Four-Axis stage and the Heavenly Being stage, and why does the completely separate Heart Tribe have three stages of Manifestation up to the Heavenly Being stage and Three Steps Before the Throne for the Middle Boundary?
I feel like I'm starting to understand something.
'The reason the Minor Boundary and Middle Boundary are distinctly separated...'
From the Four-Axis stage onward, there is an overwhelming difference in realms and lifespan compared to the previous stages.
The reason is attraction force.
As the soul itself begins to generate attraction force, it becomes the first realm resembling fate, thus separating the Minor Boundary and Middle Boundary, and the attraction force of the heavens resonates with one's own, allowing for an even longer lifespan.
Tsutsutsutsutsu!
While traveling back in time, I try to resist the act of reversing time by moving attraction force.
But it's impossible.
I can feel that regression is something I can 'never' touch, no matter how much I struggle.
'Damn. It can't be helped.'
I decide to quietly wait, entrusting my body to the force pulling me back to the past.
While doing so, I observe my soul.
'Hmm? What's this?'
I'm startled as I examine my soul.
'My soul and my dharma treasure have completely merged?'
No, to be precise, even my soul emits energy.
And my Colorless Glass Sword is completely synchronized with the energy emitted by my soul.
'Ha, ha...'
This means I no longer need to drink the White-Red Wine.
It has completely synchronized with the energy of my soul.
This is the ability of the Four-Axis stage.
From the Four-Axis stage onwards, even if one is killed and the body dissected, the dharma treasure cannot be retrieved.
The dharma treasure becomes partially merged with the energy of the soul and follows it around.
And since it is merged with the energy of the soul, it seems to follow my regression without needing to drink the White-Red Wine.
'No, perhaps White-Red Wine is actually a method that momentarily makes the dharma treasure resemble the connection of a Four-Axis stage cultivator's dharma treasure.'
That is probably the case.
'I won't need to worry about obtaining White-Red Wine anymore.'
However, there is something more concerning than the Colorless Glass Sword.
'The Soul-Bearing Flower given by Yu Hao Te...and the Clear Scale Armor are also merged with my soul.'
The Soul-Bearing Flower was already a flower entwined with the plane of Soul, so I expected this.
But I didn't expect even the Clear Scale Armor to be connected to my soul.
'Well, actually, this is that but...'
What surprises me the most is something else entirely.
'Axis! The Axis of Wealth also follows?'
Yes.
Surprisingly, the Axis of Wealth is also following my soul!
'Come to think of it, the fact that the Colorless Glass Sword is completely merged with my soul itself must be due to the influence of the Axis.'
And reflecting further, Seo Hweol had removed only 'his Axis' from my body while being deprived of control.
At the time, I thought it was Seo Hweol's deep and mysterious divine power, but if the Axis is connected to the soul in the first place, it would have been easy for Seo Hweol to retrieve the four Axes of Five Blessings because they were connected to his soul.
'Back then, when I tried to return to the Owner of Heavenly Punishment in front of Seo Hweol, he blocked me by 'consuming' his Axis and then mentioned needing to go to the Blood Yin Realm.'
Seo Hweol has to go to the Blood Yin Realm to replenish his Axis whenever it's consumed, so the Axes of Five Blessings are not easily obtained and are his precious treasures.
He wouldn't have recklessly infused such treasures into my body only to have them taken away.
'Once an Axis is obtained, does it become completely controlled by one's soul...?
That seems to be the case.
Perhaps the difference between the Orthodox Axis Foundation and Heterodox Axis Foundation is that the Heterodox Axis Foundation doesn't synchronize well with the soul because it was taken from someone else.
I'm discovering many intriguing facts.
As I'm being pulled into the past, I watch the scenes reversing around me.
Maybe because I'm traveling back 500 years, the regression is taking some time.
Suddenly, while moving backward through time, I look up at what seems to be [above] and am shocked.
That place, that place is...
[The Heavens]!!!
A vast sky filled with immense darkness!
At the center of that sky, the seats (座) of [Great Beings] shine like stars in the dark night.
As soon as I recognize a total of [ten seats], I feel a shock that seems to shatter my mind.
'Heo, heok...heok...!'
I can feel it.
The power of the seats!
I can see the positions of the seats!
Amidst the darkness, the clusters of light are centered around [four lights] with [six lights] positioned around them.
And, the four central stars have [rings] around their bodies, like the rings around Jupiter or Saturn.
Among the six stars surrounding the four central ones, one also has a [ring] around it.
A total of five stars have [rings], while five stars do not.
'...?'
No, looking closely, something seems off.
Though I can't pinpoint what's strange.
'Grrrk...'
While feeling the agony of my soul being crushed, I recognize the aura emanating from the ten stars.
I feel it.
Those stars are [Beings]!
Those stars are the [eyes] that look down on the earth from the sky!!!
A Being that [seems imprisoned somewhere].
A Being that [feels somehow familiar].
A Being that [gives the feel of an unending and boundless hunger].
A Being that [gives a hazy feeling as if in a confusing, dizzying dream].
A Being that [exudes a determination as immovable as a great mountain].
A Being that [feels both extremely familiar and yet simultaneously repulsive].
'Don'trecognizethemdon'trecognizethemdon'trecognizethemdon'trecognizethem...!'
I feel the four stars that have taken their place in the center.
One that [gives a hollow feeling of emptiness].
One that [feels like the owner of the Soul-Bearing Flower].
One that [seems to be watching me right now].
One that [seems to be the oldest of all]...
Ah.
The moment I feel the last being, I experience a terror and chill I have never felt before.
'Aaah...'
I've been feeling this strange sensation for a while. I now know what this sensation is.
The feeling I had when I was briefly stalked by Kim Yeon on my way home from work.
The feeling that someone is chasing after me.
I now understand.
'It's coming, it's coming, it's coming, it's coming, it's coming!'
I can feel it.
The will that seems to say there's no longer any need to even bother hiding now that I have noticed.
From afar, from the [future] time I had passed, pitch-black darkness is spreading and chasing after me.
The oldest one.
The Death God.
The Master of the Netherworld.
The Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, reversing history, is chasing my regression.
Ziiiiiiing―
The darkness gathers like a hand covering the world and reaches out to me.
If it weren't for this peculiar situation of reversing time, it would have been impossible to even perceive the will of the [Great Being], but now it is being conveyed across spacetime.
Taxidermy (剝製), Sealing (封印), Incarceration (投獄), Detainment (收監), Endless Eternity(永世永劫), Life Imprisonment (無期徒刑).
'Ta-taxidermy!'
I would be eternally preserved in the darkness.
I would be trapped in the deepest depths of the Underworld where no light could ever reach, unable to live or die.
'No, no!'
I think of death as a blessing.
But, I can never accept [something like that]!
Being unable to die or live, unable to meet anyone, trapped in the deepest abyss of the Underworld where no light ever reaches for endless eternity!
'Even if I die, I can't die trapped by [that]!'
I cling even more desperately to the force pulling me into the past with all my might.
I have desired death, but not like this!
If I'm trapped in a place where I can never meet any connections again, what difference is there between that and regression!?
Such a thing is absolutely unacceptable!
But the hand of darkness chases after me with relentless force.
'Nononononononononononononononono!'
Overwhelmed by a fear I have never experienced even once before, I rack my brain for a way to shake it off.
In the midst of this, my gaze falls upon the [Clear Scale Armor] that is following my regression.
I can feel it.
The [Clear Scale Armor] is emitting [attraction force].
'Yu Hao Te!!!!!!!!!'
Was it said that what True Immortals could give us are only calamity?
Perhaps Yu Hao Te thought he was giving me a blessing, but they are also the tears of Hae Nyeong who was a judge under the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.
Clinging to the attraction force emitted from those tears, the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld is pursuing me.
I hurriedly sever the link between the Clear Scale Armor and my soul.
Thunk―
The Clear Scale Armor vanishes to the other side of time.
However, even though the attraction force is gone, the hand continues to chase me through time.
'No, no, I'm going to get caught, I'm going to get caught...!'
I feel my mind freezing with fear.
Then suddenly, my gaze falls on the Soul-Bearing Flower.
'Yes! The Soul-Bearing Flower!'
I grasp the Soul-Bearing Flower linked to my soul.
Tsutsutsutsutsu!
As I use the Soul-Bearing Flower, a brilliant white light erupts, creating a blinding radiance between me and the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.
Simultaneously, I feel a will emanate from one of the ten stars in the dark sky, from the one that [feels like the owner of the Soul-Bearing Flower].
Displeasure (不快). Rage (震怒).
However, the original owner of the Soul-Bearing Flower, though enraged, does not chase after me like the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.
I vaguely sense that they're hesitant to come here out of fear of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.
Paaaatt!
As the light fades, I see the darkness of the Owner of the Netherworld momentarily blocked.
Kuguguguk―
Even so, the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld tries to extend their hand through the light to grasp me, but eventually, perhaps unable to withstand further reversal of time, fails to reach me.
Thus, the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld can no longer chase after my regression and is left in the future.
And I fall to the starting point of my 19th cycle.
"Heok...heok...heok..."
It's a familiar sky.
Around me, Jeon Myeong-hoon and Hong Fan are observing the night sea from the mass-produced Nether Crossing Ship.
I clutch my chest, wiping away the cold sweat.
'What chased me just now...was not the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld themself.'
At most, it was the Heavenly Venerable extending one arm towards me.
And for a being of that level...
'I absolutely must not die in front of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld!'
If it was the main body of the Master of the Netherworld, they might have caught me without needing attraction force, merely by reversing history.
19th return.
How will this cycle, which already started with a not-so-smooth regression process, unfold?