Kugugugu!
I enter the Black Sea Domain and head towards the home of Seo Ran and Song Jin at its center.
I make my way towards Black Island.
After a while, I can sense a familiar presence.
Kugugu!
In the distance, I see a valley that resembles the valley of Black Ghost Valley.
It seems that just as Song Jin has renamed this domain, the island that once looked different has also been transformed into the appearance of Black Ghost Valley.
'But it doesn't have the same ghostly energy as Black Ghost Valley.'
Of course, this isn't the Nether Ghost Realm and obtaining such ghostly energy in the Ancient Force Realm is no easy feat.
If Seo Ran, who practices the Ghost Path Method, reached the Four-Axis stage and could control the dragon vein, it might have been different, but since Seo Ran's cultivation is lower than even Shi Ho's, it's meaningless.
Kugugung!
Soon after, when the Twilight Domain reaches Black Island.
"Ho?"
Wo-woong!
A strong suction force begins to emerge from Black Island, starting to suck in the ghostly energy of the Twilight Domain.
And from within the Black island that's absorbing ghostly energy, formation made of ghostly energy seems to arise, amplifying the ghostly energy.
Kugugugugugu!
Soon, living up to its name, Black Island turns into a truly eerie island with an environment perfectly suited for the cultivation of ghostly creatures.
Paaaatt!
Seo Ran hurries out of his room, wiping sweat from his excited face as he looks down at Black Island.
"We've arrived at Black Island!"
"Yes. But that formation on Black Island."
"Oh, that's a formation laid down by my master from one of the formations of Black Ghost Valley. Originally, it was meant to amplify the ghostly energy within the island to aid my cultivation and make my master's body more comfortable..."
He has a particularly cheerful expression.
"With this level of ghostly energy...!"
Kwaggagagak!
Suddenly, I sense a massive vortex of ghostly energy at the center of Black Island.
"That ghostly energy..."
It's a familiar wave of ghostly energy.
Soon after, a familiar ghost emerges from the vortex of ghostly energy.
[Hahhh...!]
It's Song Jin.
He inhales the ghostly energy comfortably, looks at Seo Ran, and then notices me beside him, shuddering slightly.
He sighs and speaks.
"...I've heard everything from Seo Ran, Senior. Please come in."
"Haha, calling me senior? Just call me comfortably."
"...Your joke is too much. Someone of Senior's level must have lived for thousands of years. It was rather disrespectful of me to not recognize Senior in the Head Realm."
Having heard about me from Seo Ran since the incident at Wi Jeong Sea Domain, Song Jin apparently thinks I'm some old monster who hid his cultivation, and he respectfully bows.
'Well...if that's what he believes, there's nothing I can do.'
Since he firmly believes it, nothing I say would change his mind.
"...Well, okay. If you want to treat me that way, do as you please. Anyway...is this Black Island a branch of Black Ghost Palace?"
"Yes, that's correct, Senior. But due to the nature of the Ancient Force Realm, we cannot contact the main sect, so we haven't been officially approved yet."
"I see. Then, does it have maintenance functions like the main sect, the Bright Cold Realm's branch, or the Head Realm's Black Ghost Valley?".
Black Ghost Valley created functions to maintain the Nether Crossing Ship even while it's floating in the air, to prepare for the possibility of it being unable to dock at sea.
Even if the Nether Crossing Ship's power source is temporarily halted, the formation of Black Ghost Valley can keep it suspended in the air, recharge its ghostly energy remotely, and perform maintenance.
"Yes, we have certainly installed such functions on our Black Island..."
"Then that's good. I'd like our Twilight Domain to be supported by Black Island for a while."
"Uh..."
Song Jin glances at the Twilight Domain and breaks out in a cold sweat.
"Uh...Senior. With all due respect, that landmass is so large compared to the Nether Crossing Ship...I'm not sure if the function will work."
"It's fine. It will work sufficiently."
Kugugugu!
I move the Twilight Domain above Black Island and signal to Song Jin with my eyes.
Song Jin sighs as he forms hand seals, and Twilight Domain begins to float above Black Island.
"Hong Fan, deactivate Twilight Domain's floating formation."
I send a voice transmission to Hong Fan, and soon he temporarily deactivates the floating formation.
Kuuung!
Then, a formation activates across the entire Black Island, lifting six translucent shadows towards the Twilight Domain.
The shadows become more distinct as they rise into the air, transforming into translucent, massive skeletal hands by the time they reach the Twilight Domain.
The six massive skeletal hands shimmer translucently as they support the Twilight Domain.
Kuguguguk!
Of course, due to the weight of the Twilight Domain, the skeletal hands appear like they are about to crack, but the Twilight Domain is a landmass torn from the mainland of the Nether Ghost Realm.
In other words, it's a land imbued with the pure ghostly energy of the Nether Ghost Realm.
Tsutsutsut!
Nourished by the ghostly energy of the Nether Ghost Realm, the skeletal hands become even more defined, repairing any cracks and fissures on their arms and properly supporting the Twilight Domain.
Song Jin observes this scene for a moment before clearing his throat.
"...Senior. Originally, three of these hands support the Nether Crossing Ship, while the other three are used for its maintenance but...now, they're all being used to support your territory...making maintenance impossible."
"It's fine. We'll handle the maintenance of Twilight Domain ourselves."
The reason I'm specifically using Black Island's formation is because Twilight Domain has been floating for too long, and its floating formation needs a break.
"Well then, come in. It's been a while, and I'm glad to see a familiar face."
Although I hadn't formed a close relationship with Song Jin like with Cheongmun Ryeong, we aren't on bad terms either, so it's a pleasant reunion.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally enters the Twilight Domain.
Reuniting with Song Jin after such a long time is truly delightful.
"That's really fortunate!"
Song Jin, who was almost out of ghostly energy and on the brink of being dragged to the Netherworld, had his lifespan extended by absorbing the pure ghostly energy of the Twilight Domain.
"No, this won't do. If you wish, I can also give you a new body through our order's 'procedure' and 'grace'."
I point to one of the followers doing chores in the Wuji Religious Hall and explain the grace of the Wuji Religious Order.
However, Song Jin laughs heartily and shakes his head.
"Thank you for the offer, but I no longer need a body outside the Nether Crossing Ship. I've raised an excellent disciple and opened a branch of Black Ghost Valley in the Ancient Force Realm. Now, I just want to pass away peacefully when the ship's lifespan ends."
"Hmm...I heard from the Conqueror King that the Nether Crossing Ship can last a long time if you recharge the power source and repair it entirely?"
It's exactly as said.
If Buk Hyang-hwa repairs the Nether Crossing Ship, which was severely damaged by the Mad Lord, and recharges its power source with Twilight Domain's ghostly energy, it would allow Song Jin to live for quite a long time.
However, Song Jin bursts into a hearty laugh and says,
"If we only consider the Nether Crossing Ship, that's true. But...the Nether Crossing Ship. And that history ended in the war with the Mad Lord. The history of the Black Ghost Valley disciples laughing and chatting, being born and raised on the ship, practicing methods, kidnapping and looting, marrying and having children who then entered the main sect...the peaceful history of the Black Ghost Valley that was embedded in the Nether Crossing Ship...is no more."
He smiles faintly.
"I am grateful for the slight extension of my lifespan. Thanks to you, I can live for another hundred years or so. But I...will enjoy this lifespan and close my eyes within the Nether Crossing Ship. By then, my disciple will have become a great cultivator at the Heavenly Being stage, just like I once was, and I will have no regrets."
"...I understand. I will respect your decision."
I nod at Song Jin, who refused the procedure.
One hundred years might seem long, but for cultivators, it's a short time.
Take the path to Penglai Island for example. According to Yuk Rin, it won't open for another 120 years, so Song Jin will close his eyes before then.
However, despite such persuasions from Seo Ran, there is no sign in Song Jin's eyes that he intends to change his decision.
He truly intends to close his eyes after raising Seo Ran.
Suddenly curious about Song Jin's attitude, I ask him a question.
"Let me ask you something."
"Please ask."
"If, for the revival of Black Ghost Valley, you had to abandon your most precious things...for instance, your memories of Black Ghost Valley or your feelings towards your fellow disciples, would you abandon them?"
Song Jin seems to ponder for a moment before responding.
"To abandon Black Ghost Valley for Black Ghost Valley...if I were part of a group, it would be my duty."
"Hmm..."
"However, abandoning is in itself a ridiculous notion. If I were to abandon my emotions for Black Ghost Valley for the sake of Black Ghost Valley, would the Valley abandon me?"
He speaks with a calm smile.
"Even if I abandon my emotions for them, no. Even if I forget everything and become a monster, the Valley would not abandon me and would still remember me. Therefore, I believe that completely 'abandoning' or 'severing' something is very difficult. They say attraction force is a mutual connection. Even if one side severs, if the other side pulls, the connection will still remain, will it not?"
"...Thank you for the good answer."
Heavenly Being stage cultivators are not just simple-minded people with poor talents.
They are those who have condensed their own kind of madness to reach their level, and they have their own beliefs and answers about life.
Thus, even though Song Jin has lived shorter than me, and his cultivation is lower than mine, his answer has its own profound wisdom.
"I am embarrassed. I merely mixed my understanding into the words of an argument I once heard before."
"Oh, from whom did you hear such words?"
The people who would converse with Song Jin, who had been at the Heavenly Being stage when 'alive', are quite limited.
It should probably be the elders of Black Ghost Valley, or Azure Heaven Creation Sect, or Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, or perhaps the Sea Dragon Tribe.
In any case, it would be someone I know, but unexpectedly, someone else comes out of Song Jin's mouth.
"I heard it from Seo Ran's mother. In other words...a child who was a Ghost Soul disciple of our valley."
Song Jin speaks with warm eyes, looking at Seo Ran.
'He's changed a lot.'
Perhaps it's because he has been with Seo Ran for about 200 years.
In the past, even if he cherished Seo Ran, he would grumble a bit because he's from the Sea Dragon Race, but now he openly shows his affection for him.
Seo Ran also smiles warmly at Song Jin's words.
"...Master, you said that whenever my mother came to ask about Immortal Arts, you would have many conversations with her."
"Yes, she was a truly...lovely child. That child, Yu Oh..."
Song Jin, who was talking with me, speaks briefly with Seo Ran about his mother, Yu Oh.
"Haha, the conversation got sidetracked for a moment."
"No, it's alright. It's good to see. I think we've discussed everything needed anyway, so you two should enjoy your conversation after a long time."
I laugh heartily and step aside for the two of them.
The ghostly creatures of the Twilight Domain have gone down to Black Island and are engaging in voluntary activities such as teaching the disciples of the Ancient Force Realm's Black Ghost Valley branch.
Though there are faint cries and screams coming from below, it's nothing to worry about since the ghostly creatures usually make such noises.
I descend to the basement of the Wuji Religious Hall and turn my attention to the Salt Crystal guarded by Hong Fan and Yeon Wei.
"Is this the Salt Crystal obtained from Governing Dragon Palace?"
"Yes, the Governing Dragon Palace Palace Lord willingly handed it over."
Hong Fan has already installed a Flying Immortal Formation with the Salt Crystal from Governing Dragon Palace, allowing me to use it like a Void Spirit Pond.
Yeon Wei grumbles discontentedly.
"In my opinion, didn't I say that guy is definitely hiding something more!? The fact that he's willingly giving up such a precious treasure means there's a 99 plus 1 out of a hundred chance that he's trying to hide an even more valuable treasure! My eyes can never be deceived!!"
She crosses her arms and gives Hong Fan a slight glare.
"Listen here, Eun-hyun. When I suggested to Hong Fan that we should feed Yuk Rin the poison that amplifies pain by 60,000 times and torture, didn't he say no? Don't you think he's going easy on him just because they're both from the Demon Race, or maybe he has other motives?"
"No, Lady Yeon Wei..."
Hong Fan, looking aghast, waves his hands in refusal.
"The poison that amplifies pain by 60,000 times is so severe that even a Demon King in the Integration stage would likely go mad. No matter how much of an enemy Palace Lord Yuk is, what did he do to deserve such torture?"
I shake my head and say,
"Hong Fan is right. The 60,000 times poison is too excessive."
He hasn't betrayed us or driven us into a corner, so there's no need for such harsh torture just to find more hidden treasures.
Yeon Wei turns her head with a pout, not receiving support even from me.
"Hmph. If it's that Yuk Rin guy, he probably swallowed all the inheritance from the Cherry Blossom Dragon Palace Lord by himself...we could have gotten that legacy too...if we lose those treasures just because we couldn't be a little harsher, I think my stomach will hurt..."
"Well, let's search for such great treasures gradually. For now, let's focus on fully building the Health Axis."
"Do as you please. Why ask an old fossil like me?"
She leaves the basement in a sulky manner, and I sigh while letting my consciousness drift.
According to what I heard from Yuk Rin, the path to Penglai Island will open in about 120 years.
Until then, the plan is to build and complete as much of the Health Axis as possible.
Peaceful Cloud Continent.
In Yuhwa, located in the borders of the continent, three Great Masters at the peak Qi Refining stage and one Demi-God of the Qi Building stage dominate the land.
And Yuhwa's only Qi Building Demi-God,
The Qi Building cultivator who settled in the nearby Black Ridge Valley after the collapse of Split Turtle Valley,
Fighting God (鬪神) Ham Jin, that day as well, respectfully places a bowl of water on a small altar inside his cave residence and prays.
Just then.
Rattle, rattle, rattle—
Suddenly, the bowl begins to tremble, and the water turns black.
"Haht...!"
And the moment Ham Jin regains his senses, he finds himself pulled into a pure white mental world.
In that mental world, a giant Ghost King looks down upon him.
Ham Jin bows his head in the presence of the Wuji Ghost King.
"O Great One, did you summon me?"
The Wuji Ghost King looks down at him and speaks.
"I need to borrow your body. Have you kept the jade tablet safe?"
"Yes, I have always kept it within my bosom."
"Good. Let's go to that place immediately."
Ham Jin nods, and as soon as he gives his consent, the Wuji Ghost King instantly takes control of his body.
Chchchut!
After taking control of Ham Jin's body, I try moving it around.
"Hoho, excellent."
How much time has passed? Ham Jin has already reached the second constellation of Qi Building
―Your praise is too much.
Ham Jin responds humbly from within his heart essence, but in my eyes, his talent is truly outstanding.
'No, perhaps his unique talent has continued to blossom because I've often possessed his body.'
Whether his inherent talent is good or it improved because of me, it's great either way.
It's when I'm about to leave Ham Jin's cave residence.
"Hmm, Sir Husband, where are you going?"
A woman from another room calls out to him, rubbing her eyes in a disheveled appearance.
Ham Jin speaks, flustered.
―G-Great One can just wave her off and it will be fine.
Following his words, I wave my hand, and she politely bows and steps back in understanding.
"Have you married?"
―Ah, that...while the previous Core Formation old monsters had Demi-God disciples and followers, the old monsters implanted restrictions that killed their followers and disciples upon their death. Because of this, I am the only Demi-God left in Yuhwa so...the topic of marriage kept coming up from various cultivator clans and...
"Well, that's your decision to..."
"Sir Husband, are you skipping breakfast today?"
However, shortly after, another woman comes out from another room in the cave residence and asks Ham Jin. I wave her off as well and try to leave the cave residence.
But as I try to leave the cave residence, I keep encountering 'more' of Ham Jin's wives emerging from various rooms.
"You...just what kind of life are you living?"
After sending off the 17th wife and stepping outside the cave residence, I can't help but ask in exasperation.
Ham Jin coughs a bit awkwardly, as if embarrassed.
— Uh...I definitely did not force them or anything. They really are daughters sent from cultivator clans. They begged to stay here, saying they would have to marry much older old monsters from other countries...
"..."
I click my tongue as I control attraction force with Ham Jin's body, arriving at that location.
Since Ham Jin has reached the Qi Building stage, there is much more I can do now with his body now.
Kuguguguk!
As I clench the void, attraction force twists.
I take out the jade tablet from Ham Jin's bosom and activate it.
Split Turtle Valley disappears, and over the wide expanse of land, a green formation shines brightly.
After a while, I notice that the surrounding space has transformed into a 'middle zone' just as before.
Wo-woong!
I read the flow of attraction force within the middle zone and calculate the coordinates.
The middle zone not only serves as a relay station connecting the sea domains of the Ancient Force Realm but also makes it easier to leap across vast spaces.
In other words, the location that the Esteemed Ones are heading to, the Lightning Sacred Sea, is so incredibly far that it required the creation of a middle zone.
Wiiiiiing!
Having connected the other side's coordinates with attraction force, and consciousness, I pull the coordinates toward me.
Kugugugugu!
In an instant, Ham Jin's body leaps across an immense space.
Within his mind, Ham Jin looks around through my vision, marveling at the sight.
Around us are countless stars, nebulae, and galaxies, all appearing as clusters of light.
The very act of witnessing this vast world seems to trigger an awakening effect, further enhancing Ham Jin's upper dantian.
'This kid's cultivation will rise even faster now.'
It's a good thing for me.
How much space do we cross?
Finally, I arrive at the next set of coordinates.
'This place is...?'
Kurung, Kurururung!
Lightning is crashing all around.
Toxic gases lethal to humans float in the atmosphere, and sandstorms rage across the arid desert.
It looks like a star (planet/celestial body) where life can't exist.
'Is this the Lightning Sacred Sea? Ah...it's not.'
I realize that another middle zone has been set up at the location I have arrived at.
Uguguguk!
I reactivate the middle zone.
'I see. The place called the Lightning Sacred Sea is so far away that the Esteemed Ones had to create an additional middle zone.'
It means it's a distance so far that a single middle zone is still insufficient to reach it.
Once again, I use attraction force to activate the middle zone and travel to the next coordinates indicated by this middle zone.
Wo-woong!
This time, I find myself on a star without any air.
Like the moon, its gravity isn't very strong, and the land is barren.
A place where life can't exist.
And...
'This is also a middle zone?'
I am slightly taken aback.
How far away is the Lightning Sacred Sea that even the Esteemed Ones had set up multiple middle zones?
Suddenly, I recall that Jang Ik, who was summoned by Sacred Master Baek Woon, sent his clone only a thousand years later.
'Perhaps it's a distance where even the Esteemed Ones, who travel through vast space and time using attraction force, take a thousand years to reach this distant location...'
This implies that there could be many more such middle zones ahead.
'No, what is this? Damn, the coordinates were clearly labeled 'Lightning Sacred Sea'.'
It seems that the Esteemed Ones had lazily omitted 'middle zone' from what should have been labeled 'middle zone to Lightning Sacred Sea.'
'They should've been more precise with their labeling. Well, at this point, I have no choice but to keep going.'
Wo-woong!
I activate the middle zone again and cross space.
How many times do I jump through middle zones like this? I notice that Ham Jin's body is gradually failing to endure.
'Ham Jin, who accepted me into his body, is struggling to endure.'
Even though he has reached the mid Qi Building stage, which allows me to exercise more power than before, he is still only at the mid Qi Building stage.
Despite the grandiose and laughable title of Demi-God, he hasn't yet surpassed the limits of humans.
'What should I do...?'
I frown as I arrive on another planet filled with toxic gases.
Ham Jin's spiritual power and energy are depleting, and all the middle zones are on stars where no life can survive.
If his spiritual power runs out, Ham Jin is doomed to die.
'I could consume Ham Jin's life force to draw on my power and partially modify the environment on the star to make it habitable but...'
I'd feel too guilty towards Ham Jin.
'For now, let's keep going.'
I grit my teeth and continue moving through the middle zones.
How many middle zones do I traverse like this?
Despair begins to set in on my face.
'Damn it, are there no worlds where people can live, except for Ham Jin's?'
Every middle zone designated by the Esteemed Ones are on stars with extreme environments where no life can exist.
'This won't work...damn, I'll have to replenish Ham Jin's life force later with longevity and other methods. For now, I'll modify the area using his life force...'
Just as I'm about to seriously exert my power to modify the area for human habitation,
"Is it you, the one using the Ancient Force Realm's transmission array since earlier?"
"..."
I turn around towards the voice, which appears without a trace.
This is the surface of a planet so hot that even rocks melt.
However, there stands a being unprotected by spiritual power, looking at me from atop a scorching rock.
"This is peculiar. Clearly, you're a First Step Before the Throne, but your soul came from the Ancient Force Realm. Does the Heart Tribe exist in the Ancient Force Realm as well?"
It is none other than the green dwarf with four podaos on his back, the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One Jang Ik.
"Well, it's whatever. The important thing is not that."
Jang Ik smiles at me and draws one of the podaos from his back.
"When you meet an elder, you should greet them properly, right? Come greet me. If I like you, I might consider taking you as my 23rd disciple."
***
I swallow as I watch Jang Ik draw his podao.
"...O Great Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One, I have heard of your illustrious name."
"Well, do you have something to say?"
"To start, I am not just an ordinary member of the Heart Tribe, but originally from the Heaven Tribe. And the method through which I have descended into the Astral Realm is by temporarily possessing this boy from a Decaying Corpse Realm. In other words, if we fight, this boy is sure to die. Even if you do not spare me, please show mercy to this child."
At my words, Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One looks at me with a curious gaze.
"You claim to be from the Heaven Tribe...? Fascinating. The Heaven Tribe I know of think of the lives of their possessed bodies as mere fertilizer..."
"..."
"Well, fine. Then come out of that boy's body for now. Even a Heaven Tribe member should be able to 'greet' me adequately with just an avatar, given that you've reached the First Step Before the Throne."
"...Thank you for your consideration, but if I come out, this child will burn to death in the heat of this planet."
"Do you think I would ask you to come out without considering that?"
Jang Ik swings his podao towards the surrounding hot zone.
Kuguguguk!
Then, something astonishing happens.
It feels as if attraction force twists for a moment.
No, it's as if the very laws themselves are twisting.
Under a scorching star, a part of the planet's surface that once revealed a hellish appearance changes according to Jang Ik's will.
Just as cultivators use spells to bend laws, Jang Ik's single move feels as if nature itself is obeying his will.
In an instant, the hellish landscape becomes a pristine, clear valley where humans can survive.
Although without grass and trees, clear water bursts forth immediately, cooling and soaking the ground.
A crystal-clear lake, as if greenery would soon sprout from somewhere, unfolds before my eyes.
"Throw him adequately in there and come out."
"..."
I am at a loss for words and my mouth gapes open.
'With the power of the Heart Tribe...is such a thing possible?'
Until now, I thought martial arts focused solely on confronting and defeating opponents compared to spell techniques.
Of course, there are martial arts that can ignite flames or guide water, but transforming nature itself like Jang Ik is considered more the domain of spell techniques used by cultivators.
After placing Ham Jin's body in the lake Jang Ik created, I use the single strike of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion to exit from his upper dantian.
Splash, plop.
The first strike of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion is an avatar, and the avatar doesn't differ significantly from the main body in terms of pure skills of the Heart Tribe.
Of course, it lacks endurance compared to the main body, but that is the only difference.
Jang Ik looks somewhat displeased as he sees me crawl out of Ham Jin's upper dantian.
"...Well...everything is fine, but why did you come out in such a sinister manner, like a parasitic monster crawling out to find a new host? You could have just come out normally."
"...I guess it became a habit since I cultivated the Ghost Path Method a little. I ask for your understanding."
After glancing at the unconscious Ham Jin, whose spiritual power and energy have been completely exhausted, I look around at the completely transformed surroundings and speak.
"Just what did you do?"
"Why learn to fly when you can't even walk? Anyway, if you're a Heaven Tribe at the level of descending into the Lower Realms, you should be able to do something similar with spell techniques."
He leaves me with nothing to say to his truthful words. After exiting the area Jang Ik has created, I take my stance.
"I was merely inquiring while thinking about the next step."
"Well, that's not a bad attitude. But what I did is less about the enlightenment of Second Step Before the Throne and more about a technique I developed to stabilize regions in the Chaos Realm to establish a Heart Tribe territory after reaching Second Step Before the Throne."
"I see...then I shall save questions about the next realm for later...after I greet you properly."
Before finishing my sentence, I focus my mind and shoot towards Jang Ik like lightning.
Gathering Heaven and Earth spiritual energy to form a Qi Sword, I aim straight for Jang Ik's face.
However, he deflects my sword effortlessly with just one podao, not even drawing the others.
"Come closer."
A rather abrupt statement.
But I understand what he means.
Between Jang Ik and me, countless 'domains' and 'scenes' are overflowing.
Mostly, these are 'scenes' of me being beaten up by Jang Ik, my body being split apart, or my head exploding.
And the domains are places that Jang Ik could obliterate along with the entire space with a single move.
Such places and scenes, numbering in the thousands or tens of thousands, are violently pressing down on my mind.
And despite the physical proximity between Jang Ik and I, the myriad domains and scenes between us make him feel incredibly distant.
Jang Ik is telling me.
To come a little closer.
'I will strip away his domain.'
Kuuuung!
Stepping forward with the right foot and leaning my left side back, I slash from the upper left to lower right towards Jang Ik.
Before the stone fragments I have kicked off the ground fall back down.
Jang Ik moves his podao, spinning three times on the spot, and sends three slashes towards my right side.
It feels as if a gigantic claw is coming down to rip me apart.
I immediately change my stance, slightly deflecting my sword to ward off the claw.
I have to deflect it.
If I can't...
The next moment.
'Huh?'
I find myself flung into outer space.
When I regain my senses, I see the aftermath of my exchange with Jang Ik wreaking havoc on the planet where I had been standing.
'From that single strike, I ended up here...'
Before I can finish my thought, I sense Jang Ik above me, holding a podao in both hands and ready to slice apart.
'I have to dodge!'
In a panic, I transform my body into the All-Heavens Sword to evade his strike.
Though there is no wind in space due to the lack of air, the sight of everything in the area where Jang Ik's dual podaos traverse being obliterated sends chills down my spine.
Then, in the vacuum of space, Jang Ik's intent resonates like words enlightening the heart (혜광심어/慧光心語).
—Do not dodge.
Chills!
Rip!
I definitely dodged, but my waist is severed and my upper body and lower body are split apart.
—You will die.
'Why, why!?'
The avatar of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion being cut in half is not the issue.
Jang Ik's single strike was clearly executed in a dimension that I cannot comprehend.
"Master!!!"
Suddenly, an emergency alarm blares throughout the entire Wuji Religious Order.
It's an alarm that sounds when the cult leader, Wuji Ghost King Seo Eun-hyun, suffers a critical injury.
Hong Fan is shocked seeing the body of Seo Eun-hyun, who is sitting on the cult seat, being severed at the waist and stomach split open. He quickly begins to stitch the severed parts back together.
"Wh-what in the world...why all of a sudden...?"
A mysterious incident that makes no sense.
However, despite such a bizarre occurrence, Seo Eun-hyun does not rise.
Instead, he sits on the cult seat with an even more focused expression, his eyes closed and concentrating intensely on something.
'I don't know what he did, but he even cut the main body!'
A spine-chilling skill!
It means that to Jang Ik, shallow tricks like using an avatar or the main body makes no difference.
Gritting my teeth, I manifest about 3,000 Qi Swords around me.
I have materialized the Colorless Glass Swords.
Chuaaak!
3,000 Qi Swords dance and attack Jang Ik.
The dance of formlessness boasting an infinite trajectory that becomes a colossal slash that could cleave mountains—
Bo-ong!
—Has the sword formation shattered and my right arm cut off at the swing of Jang Ik's podao.
Gugugugugugu!
There is no sound in space, but there is vibration.
Looking back, towards where Jang Ik has struck.
Not the place where Ham Jin is, but another planet in this star system is split in half and is crumbling apart.
—Do it properly.
Sururung—
Just his gaze alone seems to crush my soul.
All of a sudden, Jang Ik is already before me, holding his podaos in both hands.
―Even though you are of the Heart Tribe, as long as you are also from the Heaven Tribe, I have no qualms about killing you.
Wiiiing!
My Qi Sword rises to the Plane of Soul and descends below.
The single strike of Deep Mountain, Emerging Dao explodes towards Jang Ik, but he shatters it head-on with his podao.
Kwaaaang!
My Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar fails to withstand Jang Ik's blade attack and is flung towards a star from the expanse of space.
Jang Ik is chasing after me again.
No, saying he is chasing is incorrect.
The moment I blink, he is in front of me again.
He is different from Kim Young-hoon and other Integration stage cultivators.
If Kim Young-hoon is too fast to perceive, and Integration stage cultivators leap through space, he uses another method entirely.
Hoo-woong!
To avoid being burned by the heat of the star's surface, I tightly wrap the All-Heavens Sword around my body and focus all my mental strength to deflect Jang Ik's next strike.
Jang Ik raises his foot then lowers it down.
Though it's the foot of a small green dwarf, I see a terrifying vision of a slash that seems capable of shattering a continent from his kick.
Kwa-jijijijilk!
The Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar is driven straight into the surface of the star.
I watch as crimson flames and heat storms erupt from the star's surface.
A storm large enough to engulf an entire small planet!
'Th-this is the Star Shattering stage...'
I am utterly stunned by this cosmic power, but I clench my teeth and focus my mind on the All-Heavens Sword.
There is no time to think about anything else!
'I've figured out how Jang Ik is moving!'
Surprisingly, Jang Ik is moving through planes!
Of course, he isn't really moving entirely through planes; it's a method of briefly shifting to the Plane of Soul before descending to a lower plane.
After figuring out Jang Ik's method, I sense the Plane of Soul and extend the All-Heavens Sword.
Severing Mountain!
Pasaak!
The ultimate technique of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, unleashed with full power, barely grazes Jang Ik's cheek as he suddenly appears before my eyes in a blink of an eye.
His skin splits and a tiny drop of blood drips out.
Despite being on the surface of a star, the fact that the blood droplet is oozing out ordinarily like any other Decaying Corpse Realm or planet suggests that the area around Jang Ik is practically an alternate world.
Wiping the blood droplet with a surprised expression, Jang Ik exclaims through heart language.
'Smart fellow. You figured out I was moving between planes and immediately counterattacked.'
Kwaaang!
Jang Ik slashes down with his podaos again as he speaks, and I draw out all the remaining power in my Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar to deflect that force.
However, the residual impact alone leaves the entire body of my avatar tattered, and to make matters worse, my main body seated in the Wuji Religious Hall is vomiting blood and dying.
'E-Even so, I can't die fighting Jang Ik in this life!'
Using the All-Heavens Sword, I begin drawing power from my main body through the Plane of Soul.
Kugugugugu!
The dragon veins of Twilight Domain converge around my main body, expending their power to open a path between us.
Although the main body can't truly cross over, it's a technique that allows me to temporarily use my main body's other powers for a short battle.
After converting the cultivation of the Heaven and Earth Tribes from the main body, I raise them to the Plane of Soul through the All-Heavens Sword and bring them over before lowering them to a lower plane and integrating Heaven, Earth, and Heart.
Of course, this method isn't without cost as I feel the dragon veins of Twilight Domain temporarily drying up as a consequence.
Wiiiiing!
The Three Great Ultimates rise behind me.
Jang Ik exclaims in amazement once more.
—Hah, I was planning to burst your head with that single strike… That sword, is it moving through planes? You're using your Manifestation very well.
He chuckles and praises me.
Then another green slash comes flying.
Deflecting Jang Ik's force, I am flung away again.
Kwagwagwagwang!
I am swept beyond the star's horizon and thrown back out into space.
Attraction force and spells, circuits, curses, blessings, immortal beast power—there is no time to pick and choose.
If I don't want to die, I have to use everything I have!
Kwaduk!
Jang Ik's hand grasps my head.
―Excellent. I don't know how you did it, but having all Heaven, Earth, and Heart at a similar level is impressive. Combining all your power to reach the Grand Perfection Integration level...other Esteemed Ones would want to take you in as their disciple if they saw this.
Though his hand is small, I feel as if every single cell in my body is clenched by his hand.
'I have to counterattack.'
Jang Ik raises his podao once more.
Though he releases my head, I can't move.
But...
If I take another hit, I'll die!
Wududuk!
I force my body to move through the terror he has implanted in me.
Then, I combine all the techniques of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Simultaneously, I pour all the power of the Three Great Ultimates into this one sword strike.
I bet everything on this one move!
―Haha, a rather cute struggle. But...
I can feel it.
No, I can see it.
In the next moment, my whole body will be crushed, turning into a bright-red Seo Eun-hyun kimchi pancake.
Therefore, I will change that future!
―Become delicious, little Heaven Tribe brat!
[Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts!]
Paaaatt!
In an instant.
My body disappears amidst all flows and perceptions.
I can not be found in the future, the past, or the present.
By transforming into the very Emptiness (空) Tae Yeol-jeon tried to teach me, I evade Jang Ik's perception for a single moment.
Kwadududududak!
I can see Jang Ik's eyes narrowing sharply.
His podao can not find me.
However, in that brief instant, Jang Ik converts his podao single strike into a wide-range attack.
His podao dyes the area around the star in green.
Chwararararak!
Fine needle-like strikes spread around the star's vicinity.
And, in that brief moment of time, having just barely evaded his gaze, I, completely exhausted, with holes all over my body, am pulled into the star by its gravitational force.
'Damn it...'
I can't move my body.
The tiny needles Jang Ik scattered have penetrated my entire body, holding me in place.
I lost.
And Jang Ik appears before me.
[Excellent.]
All of a sudden, he is holding Ham Jin in one hand.
[...Why...have you brought...that child...?]
Jang Ik is distorting the laws around him, allowing Ham Jin to breathe normally even in the Astral Realm.
But I don't understand.
Does he intend to kill Ham Jin because he is also of the Heaven Tribe?
However, Jang Ik suddenly grabs the back of my neck, laughs heartily, and starts flying somewhere.
[I went a bit overboard looking for you, brat, and might have disturbed a superior. Let's run away.]
[What...?]
And then, it happens.
Kuguguguguk!
The 'middle zone' where Ham Jin and I came from.
From that 'middle zone', from that scorched planet with a hellish temperature, shoots out a black 'hand.'
'What the...!?'
Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiing!
My whole body trembles.
It's hard to maintain my sanity.
That is, that is...
[A Quasi-Immortal in slumber is tossing around because of us. Let's get out of here quickly.]
Kugugugugugu!
Jang Ik brings us along and starts leaping through boundless spacetime.
And, chasing the spacetime-leaping us is the 'giant hand' shot from the star, resembling a withered old tree branch.
[Wh-what is this...why, why, why, why, why, whyisanEnteringNirvanathere...!?]
[Hoh, to see a Quasi-Immortal for that long and still remain sane, you're quite something. Those below the Integration stage might not know, but most True Persons are in slumber, embodying stars in the Astral Realm. In fact, all worlds where Ancient Force transmission arrays are installed are essentially on the bodies of True Persons and...while there are some awake among the whole, they're focused on other worlds, making them difficult to meet.]
He laughs heartily as he speaks.
[Well, to sum up what I'm saying, that person is just stirring in their sleep so we won't be caught. Anyway, with this level of mental strength and mastery of the basics...how about it? Becoming my disciple?]
I can't respond to Jang Ik's words, merely watching the giant hand chasing us and screaming in the cosmic void.
Thus, Jang Ik and I cross the vast expanse of spacetime, flying off to somewhere.
Tranlsator Notes: Second Term Changes.
Comprehension (in the context of mantra) -> repentant enlightenment
Gyu-Ryeon/Gyu-Baek/Gyu-hwa -> Gyu Ryeon, Gyu Baek, Gyu Hwa
Dailim Tree -> Great Forest Wood
***
Ancient Force Realm.
Wuji Religious Order.
In the underground headquarters of the Wuji Religious Hall, the high-ranking members of the Wuji Religious Order have gathered, wearing serious expressions.
"So...Seo Eun-hyun, who descended his consciousness to the Lower Realms to build the Health Axis, suddenly had his abdomen split open and vomited blood, is that correct?"
"Yes. And since then, Master has been in a comatose state."
Splurt!
Kurururururu...
Seo Eun-hyun, connected to the Flying Immortal Formation while seated on the cult leader's seat, fails to open his eyes. Occasionally, blood will boil up and spew from his seven orifices.
Jeon Myeong-hoon gives a bewildered look to Hong Fan, who has been with Seo Eun-hyun and Hong Fan nods and hands over the records documenting the incident the entire time.
"Please take a look at this first."
After examining the past scenes through Hong Fan's Demon Ability, Jeon Myeong-hoon asks with an even more serious expression.
"Just what in the world is going on here?"
"In my opinion..."
It's at that moment.
Yeon Wei, who is examining the records shown by Hong Fan, speaks with a grave expression.
"This, this can't be...!"
"Ah, Ancestor. Do you know something?"
"Yes. Fortunately, it's something I'm familiar with."
She looks at Seo Eun-hyun's condition with a darkened face and speaks.
"A sudden coma with symptoms of boiling blood. It is highly likely that he has been cursed by a deep-sea monster from the Ancient Force Ream with a Deep Sea Curse (沈海呪)!"
"Deep Sea Curse...?"
"Yes. Occasionally, some deep-sea monsters of the Ancient Force Realm cast very bizarre curses. When afflicted by such a curse, one falls into a coma and exhibits bizarre symptoms. I've seen the Cherry Blossom Dragon Palace Lord, who chased me around in the past, also fall into a frequent coma and suffer from a fever due to a mild Deep Sea Curse."
At Yeon Wei's words, Buk Hyang-hwa asks with a slightly puzzled expression.
"Ah, but from what I heard, scales like flower petals appear on the body when afflicted with a Deep Sea Curse..."
"Nonsense! I arrived at the Ancient Force Realm 40,000 years ago and gathered all sorts of news and information. What you know is just a peculiarity of some specific Deep Sea Curses!"
With that, Buk Hyang-hwa nods and steps back.
'Yeon Wei-nim has certainly lived much longer than I have, so she must know more.'
Ignoring Buk Hyang-hwa's question, Yeon Wei speaks to Kim Young-hoon with a serious face.
"Hey, Heart Tribe. Make a wound on Seo Eun-hyun's body."
"Well, alright."
Bo-oong!
A golden light flashes, and a small wound appears on Seo Eun-hyun's cheek, causing blood to flow.
Yeon Wei takes a drop of that blood and floats it in the air.
Wo-woong!
Seo Eun-hyun's blood, lifted into the air by Yeon Wei's telekinesis spell, begins to boil as if alive and emits a hazy mist.
"Look at this. Such a reaction only occurs with the true blood of Immortal Beasts. But since this kid isn't of the Immortal Beast lineage and is purely human, this phenomenon indicates that he has absorbed some power of history from the depths of a deep-sea monster."
With a solemn face, Yeon Wei bursts Seo Eun-hyun's blood.
Paaatt!
As the blood droplet explodes in the air, it emits a pitch-black and eerie energy.
"And this evil and bizarre energy! It definitely resembles the ungraspable nature of deep-sea monsters! Seo Eun-hyun must definitely have been cursed by a Deep Sea Monster!"
However, Hong Fan speaks with a puzzled expression.
"Hmm...but Strategist Yeon Wei-nim. To me, this energy seems similar to the 'devotees' of the Nether Ghost Realm's True Persons...?"
"What...?"
"I think, rather than being inflicted by a Deep Sea Curse, Master might have directly encountered a passing True Person while descending his consciousness to the Lower Worlds."
"Silence! You fool! Would my insight, honed over countless years, be more accurate, or would your less-than-500-year-old insight be more accurate?"
At Yeon Wei's words, Hong Fan steps back while tilting his head.
She crosses her arms, clicks her tongue in dissatisfaction, and speaks.
"Anyway, the Cherry Blossom Dragon Palace Lord, who was afflicted by a Deep Sea Curse back then, only suffered from a fever and occasionally woke from a coma. But Seo Eun-hyun's blood is boiling, and he shows no signs of waking up. He must be afflicted by a much stronger Deep Sea Curse."
"I-Is there a cure?"
Kim Yeon asks with concern, and Yeon Wei nods with an air of confidence.
"Of course! The Deep Sea Curse may be terrifying, but it is a curse that can be treated. It can be cured using ancient stones."
"Ancient stones?"
"Yes. You can transfer the curse of a deep-sea monster into the ancient stones. When treating the Cherry Blossom Dragon Palace Lord, who was afflicted by the Deep Sea Curse 40,000 years ago, I heard that about one million ancient stones were needed. Seo Eun-hyun's symptoms seem five to six times worse so...roughly ten million ancient stones...should be needed."
Upon hearing this, Buk Hyang-hwa, Seo Ran, and many others' eyes widen as if they are about to pop out.
"Ten, ten million ancient stones...?"
"Isn't even one million ancient stones the ten-year budget of a single sea domain palace...?"
Seeing their reactions, Yeon Wei speaks.
"Well, is it not at least fortunate that the curse can be treated with ancient stones? Since we have obtained four sea domains, we should be able to gather several million ancient stones immediately, no?"
Seo Ran speaks while flustered.
"Currently...from the four sea domains, we can gather about four million ancient stones. Ancient stones...given their high value are traded at a ratio of one ancient stone to one hundred spirit stones."
"Hmm...Then we still need about six million more."
Yeon Wei racks her brain with a serious expression, while Hong Fan sighs as he looks at Seo Eun-hyun.
"...I don't think this is it...Master being cursed...?"
"What? What did you say, Hong Fan?"
"...It's nothing."
"Good. Then let's all work together to gather the missing six million ancient stones!"
Thus, except for Hong Fan, Yeon Wei and everyone else began their efforts to gather the ancient stones needed to save Seo Eun-hyun.
________________________________________
It's hot.
No, should I say it's warm?
It's the comforting feeling of being in my mother's amniotic fluid.
'Wait, what?'
"Heok!"
Splash!
When I come to my senses, I find myself in water.
'Water?'
As I become increasingly aware, I realize I am half-submerged in a place that seems to be a hot spring covered with steam.
"This, this is...?"
Just moments ago, I was fighting Jang Ik and being chased by an Entering Nirvana True Person.
But where am I now?
I try to extend my consciousness to survey the surroundings out of bewilderment.
However, I soon realize that my consciousness cannot extend.
'What's this? Is the water blocking my consciousness? No...it's the space itself that's blocking it.'
On guard, I raise my body from the hot spring.
But as I do so I feel a sense of unease and look down at the floor submerged up to my knees.
"What...!?"
There is no floor.
Splash!
As soon as I realize there is no 'floor,' whatever I have been 'standing on' disappears, and I sink back into the hot spring below.
Splash, splosh!
Eventually resurfacing, I try to gather my energy to perform Ladder to Heaven, but I suddenly feel something strange again.
[TL/N: Ladder to Heaven (上天梯): A martial arts technique in 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' where one steps on one's own foot to jump or leap higher into the air.]
'There's no qi!?'
That's right.
Strangely, there is no qi in this hot spring-like place.
No, even when I try to release the qi within my body, it won't come out.
'This space itself is distorted.'
Surely, this is not an ordinary space but some place within a formation or a restriction.
Paaatt!
Feeling the flow of steam and air around me with my skin, I control my physical body to an extreme degree and rise into the air by stepping on the air.
'I need to survey my surroundings.'
How high do I ascend for exploration?
"What?"
Although I ascended into the 'sky,' for some reason, the 'hot spring' I have just left appears right above me.
Splash!
And I fall back into the hot spring I have just escaped from.
'Just what is this damn thing?'
Feeling a surge of frustration, I realize that either the space is distorted or my sense of direction is messed up.
I decide to keep my eyes open underwater and try going down.
For how long do I hold my breath and swim down the hot spring?
Splash!
"..."
I stick my head out over the hot spring, seeing the same scenery as before.
'Stay calm.'
Though I am startled by this bizarre situation, I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm without falling into panic.
'If there is no qi (氣), then what moves this space? If neither qi (氣) nor consciousness (識) can move, then what constitutes this place...?'
As I ponder, I recall when I stepped on the air to rise into the void.
"Attraction force."
Yes, that is it.
Qi and consciousness cannot be used and do not function in this space.
However, attraction force certainly exists.
Even if something has warped and twisted the space, 'existence' remains.
'If attraction force exists, then fate also exists.'
I close my eyes and ponder.
The All-Heavens Sword is a sword that transcends planes.
If only attraction force exists in this space, then at least fate must also inevitably exist.
And the fact that 'I exist here' definitely means that 'my sword also exists'.
Because the All-Heavens Sword is essentially me.
Which means,
Tsutsutsut!
Sharp energy arises from my entire body, starting to slice through the hot spring water around me.
Chwaaaaa!
In an instant, every single water droplet around me bursts and transforms into steam.
Wiiiiing—
'I see, this is...'
Feeling the All-Heavens Sword completely transformed into attraction force, my eyes brighten.
Empowered by the characteristics of this space, the All-Heavens Sword has risen to the Plane of Fate!
Kukuguguk!
Using the All-Heavens Sword, I slash through this space, cutting the attraction force that governs this place!
Chwaaaak!
I swing my sword toward the void.
In the next moment, the hot spring world that envelops me seems to be engulfed in mist, and I find myself someplace else.
'This is...?'
Chwaaaak!
Hot water.
Steam covering the surroundings.
Another hot spring.
But.
[Hey, how long has it been since you opened your eyes and you're already out of the bubble?]
[Insane, this one.]
[It's a bit of a waste to have him for dinner tonight.]
Kugugugung!
From various places, I hear immense [voices] that seem to shake Heaven and Earth.
Keheok!
Splurt!
As soon as I hear those voices, blood spurts from my seven orifices, and I feel as if my internal organs are shaken.
The one saving grace is...
Woo-woong!
'I-I can use qi!'
In this other hot spring, I can draw upon qi and consciousness, and I quickly channel energy to heal my body.
Unlike the previous hot spring, this one has many visible rocks and reefs, and a definite 'floor' that allows me to climb up.
I climb onto a nearby rock and look around.
Kugugugugu!
'Wh-what is that!?'
However, as soon as I try to extend my consciousness, I hurriedly retract it and lower my eyes.
Beyond the hot spring's mist, gargantuan shadows resembling enormous giants flicker and loom.
Recalling how my internal organs had shaken the moment I heard their voices, I guess at their identities.
Swallowing hard, I respectfully bow on the rock toward the shadows beyond the mist.
"...This humble Human Race cultivator, a certain Seo, greets the Esteemed Ones."
As I offer my greetings towards their direction, a chuckling sound echoes from beyond the mist.
Splurt!
Puhkwak!
It's as if the entire space is vibrating.
Even though it's just the sound of laughter, it strikes my entire body like a full-force attack from an Integration stage Grand Cultivator.
[Ah, oh dear. He's dying.]
[Come to think of it, we were speaking in our usual manner. Haha...]
[You should understand. Since living in the Astral Realm, we often have to convey our thoughts to those across the vast space, so we tend to always speak a bit loudly.]
"...Thank you for your consideration."
'Is this speaking a bit loudly?'
I find it a somewhat absurd, but I continue to keep my head bowed.
Then it happens.
[By the way, you look quite tender and chewy for a Human Race. Can I taste just one arm, no, perhaps just your left side?]
Twitch!
One of the Esteemed Ones asks in a subtle voice, drooling from beyond the mist.
I look up at them with eyes full of tension.
Malice (惡意).
While there is the sentiment of 'looks delicious,' this Esteemed One seems to harbor some grudge against the Human Race, sending malice my way.
But how am I supposed to respond to this?
As I remain silent, unable to respond, a shadow beyond the mist clicks their tongue in annoyance and says,
[Since you didn't answer, I will take one of your legs as punishment.]
Waduk, wadududuk!
Then, my leg starts to get torn away.
"...!!!"
An attraction force close to cosmic power is tearing at my leg like it's a bug!
However, gritting my teeth, I wrap the All-Heavens Sword around my leg and shift planes to escape the attraction force's influence.
The shadow speaks in a tone of both interest and displeasure.
[Impressive. A mere Grand Cultivator escaping from my grasp? Let's see how long you can endure...]
The next moment.
Kugugugugu!
My entire body begins to feel as if it's being crushed.
The Esteemed One's attraction force focuses on me.
'Wh-what is this...!?'
It's literally a force capable of compressing an entire continent into the size of a fist.
I realize I have less than a second before I will be crushed into Seo Eun-hyun dough and grit my teeth to endure.
Wiiiing!
The halo of the Three Great Ultimates appears behind my head, pushing back against the Esteemed One's power.
However, the Esteemed One only seems amused, applying even more pressure to crush me.
'I-I'm going to die...'
Just when I think I can't hold out any longer.
Chwaak!
The hot spring water nearby splits, and something green rises into the air.
It's the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One, Jang Ik.
He wipes the water off his head and shakes his body, then looks at me.
"Hah, you've already regained your senses and emerged? Quite impressive. But anyway...what are you doing?"
He looks towards the voice that has been toying with me, his eyes burning with green light.
The voice seems to flinch at the sight of Jang Ik, then laughs and says,
[The food you brought looks so delicious, I thought I'd have a taste first. If you share a little, I'll also offer a suitable compensation.]
At those words, Jang Ik climbs onto a nearby reef and says with a stern face.
"Let go immediately. He's my disciple."
[Hoh, he's your disciple. My apologies.]
"...You know now, so why aren't you letting go?"
However, despite Jang Ik declaring me as his disciple, the Esteemed One across merely chuckles.
[If he's your disciple, let's test him as such. After all, to survive here, one must have a certain level of skill, no?]
"I've already tested him. And it seems he escaped from the bubble with his own power. That much is sufficient. Let him go."
[Hmm. Well, everything's fine but your tone bothers me. Considering your disciple is in my grasp...]
The next moment.
Jang Ik disappears from the spot.
The attraction force holding me vanishes, and a terrifying scream echoes from beyond the mist.
[KKEEUUUUAAAAHHH!!!!!!]
Flash!
Green light flickers where the shadow is.
[HUKEUUUAHH! KUUAAAAAH!!!]
The Esteemed One who had bound me screams in agony, thrashing about.
The entire space vibrates and trembles.
Soon after, the voice subsides, and Jang Ik reappears beside me.
The Esteemed Ones who have been chatting around us collectively fall silent all of a sudden.
"No one will mess with you from now on, so don't worry. That Esteemed One is from the True Devil Realm and has harbored a grudge against the Human Race since before they became an Esteemed One, so they act like that whenever they see humans."
"..."
"Well...discussing here isn't appropriate. Shall we move to another place?"
Boo-wong!
As Jang Ik waves his hand towards the void, the space is cut, and we are instantly moved to a different location.
It's a place filled with endless darkness.
Crackle, Crackling!
And in the darkness, Jang Ik lights a fire.
"You must have many questions. Since you must be taken aback, ask them slowly."
"...First of all, where are we?"
"This is the outskirts of the Lightning Sacred Sea. The outskirts are intertwined with countless barriers and dimensions set up by the Golden Deity, resulting in numerous overlapping dimensions."
"The Lightning Sacred Sea..."
Regardless of what happened, it seems I've arrived at my intended destination.
"...Do you know where Ham Jin is?"
"You mean that boy who came as your incarnation? I left him on a planet where he can survive near the Lightning Sacred Sea. A Human Race at the Qi Building level shouldn't get beaten to death easily."
"...Thank you."
"You're a peculiar one. Is he important to you?"
"Among all the connections I've made until now, which one isn't important?"
"A wise answer to a foolish question."
Jang Ik laughs heartily as he slices through the void.
Brilliant golden light pours through the cut, and Jang Ik reaches beyond the light and takes something out.
'An apple?'
It's a golden apple that shimmers with a golden light.
He tosses the golden apple into the campfire and asks while roasting it.
"Do you have any other questions?"
"Will you take me as your disciple?"
"Did you not already agree?"
"Pardon?"
Confused, I retrace my memory and recall that during our escape from the True Person's hand, I inadvertently accepted his proposal.
"You are my 23rd disciple. Congratulations. Hahaha!"
"...That was...something I said when I wasn't quite in my right mind..."
"Are you saying you accepted while in a state of mental weakness? From what I saw back then, the emotion you expressed was one of strong desire."
"..."
"Anyway, since I've already accepted you as my disciple, you are my disciple. Know that."
He waves his hand dismissively, as if he won't accept any objections.
However, I shake my head and say,
"There is a more outstanding genius than me. You should take that person as your disciple instead."
"Then I can take that person as a disciple, and you as a disciple too. What are you saying? Just introduce them to me later."
"...Understood."
Surprisingly, it's settled easily.
'In any case, I've created a link to introduce Kim Young-hoon to Jang Ik...that's good enough.'
"Is there anything else you're curious about?"
"...Why are you asking me to ask what I'm curious about?"
"To empty."
"Pardon?"
"I'm trying to satisfy your curiosity as much as possible to empty your cluttered heart. That way, it will be easier to train you."
"Hmm..."
I have an instinctive feeling that Jang Ik's training will be extremely harsh and arduous.
But I can't refuse.
'Since it's come to this, I should ask everything I can.'
I start with what I am most curious about.
"I've heard that the reason the Esteemed Ones have come to the Lightning Sacred Sea is to retrieve very important things for the Middle Realms. What exactly are these important things for the Middle Realms?"
"They are [Names]."
"Names...?"
"That's right. Each Middle Realm, including Bright Cold, True Devil, Ancient Force, Purple Gold, Nether Ghost, and Blood Yin, has a 'true name'. A long time ago, the Golden Deity stole jade plaques imbued with the power of those true names and embedded them in their immortal treasure. That's why we are here to retrieve them."
"What happens if you find these names...?"
"If we find the names, the dimensional barriers of the Middle Realms will become much thicker, there's a significant ritualistic meaning, and the attraction force will so-and-so and become much better. I don't know all the details...but one thing is important."
I am startled by Jang Ik's next words.
"If the jade plaques inscribed with the true names of the Middle Realms are retrieved, the chances of the living beings in the Middle Realms avoiding the End increase exponentially!"
"...!"
The End!
It's a term I've heard intermittently before.
I swallow nervously and carefully ask,
"What is this...End?"
"It's self-explanatory from the name. The world will be destroyed. This Heavenly Domain, in other words, our Astral Realm, the six Middle Realms, and the Decaying Corpse Realms connected to those Middle Realms. All worlds will perish."
"Then..."
"I understand the timing is about 10,000 years from now."
"...Pardon?"
I stare blankly at Jang Ik, losing my focus.
He repeats calmly, as if it's nothing new.
"In 10,000 years, the world will end."
***
"In 10,000 years...!"
I take a sharp breath.
Though 10,000 years might seem like a long time, it isn't such a lengthy period for those at the Four-Axis stage and above.
"Wh-why is the End happening?"
"Hmm, I don't know the details...but from what I've heard, when the attraction force of a Heavenly Domain reaches its peak, the Astral Realm contracts, and the End occurs."
"Pardon?"
"The Sacred Master calls it the Great Contraction or the Great Collapse. My nickname and techniques are derived from it."
According to Jang Ik, the Heavenly Domain we are in seems to expand continuously but then starts contracting at some point, eventually returning to the singular point of its origin.
[Editor: Seems to be inspired by the Big Crunch/Bounce theory from cosmology.]
"The exact reason why this happens is unknown. But from what I know, even if the Great Collapse occurs, the Middle Realms will never be destroyed."
"The Middle Realms won't be destroyed?"
"Yeah. However, as the Sacred Master said, when the Great Collapse occurs and the End arrives, even if the Middle Realms remain intact, this Heavenly Domain will be filled with such intense heat and light that no living being can survive. Everything will turn into primordial light and vanish. Unless one is at the Quasi-Immortal level, they will die without any resistance. Even Sacred Masters, who have merged with the Middle Realms, may either endure or perish, purely based on luck. It's truly terrifying."
I tremble at this horrifying fact.
'Then, within 10,000 years, I need to grow strong enough to withstand the End.'
However, I'm not sure if I can reach the Star Shattering stage even after 10,000 years.
"...I understand about the End. Then, may I ask one last question?"
"Sure. Ask away."
"I understand that in order to enter the next realm, one must sever everything."
"That's correct. Hoho, have you found a clue to the next stage?"
"No, I just heard about it."
"That's also a skill. Well...that's right. If you want to enter the same domain as mine, you'll have to sever everything."
I ask with a serious gaze.
"How do I sever?"
Jang Ik seems to understand what I am implying by looking at my intent.
"I see. Are you saying you can't sever it?"
"Yes. Actually, the reason I tried to send an avatar through the middle zones of the Ancient Force Realm to the Lightning Sacred Sea where the Esteemed Ones are is for this."
I reveal my inner thoughts without hesitation.
"I came to ask if there's an external method to reach that realm without severing, or if it's truly necessary to sever everything to attain that stage."
"Hmm..."
Jang Ik strokes his chin.
"First, let me explain to you the difference between a typical Star Shattering stage and my realm. Those in the Star Shattering stage are people whose connections and emotions have become futile 'after ascending.' In contrast, I had to sever such things to reach this domain."
I ponder the difference between the two.
'The Star Shattering stage allows for emotions and connections during break through, which naturally fade afterward. But this realm beyond Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion requires severing connections and emotions to even enter into it?'
However, I feel a strange feeling and ask.
"But doesn't the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One have emotions?"
"How do you know if I have emotions or not? Are you saying you can read my intent?"
He chuckles as he retrieves the golden apple he had tossed into the bonfire and takes a bite.
Crunch—
Somehow, despite being an apple, it oozes meat juices instead of fruit.
The apple smells of protein.
As Jang Ik gnaws on the thing that can't be determined if it's apple or meat, he locks eyes with me.
His mouth moves greedily, but his eyes are cold and empty.
Indeed, it's incredibly difficult to read Jang Ik's intent.
His intent seems utterly hollow, vague, and doubtful whether it even exists.
Perhaps, from the perspective of those who have reached Three Flowers Gather at the Summit, Jang Ik is not a living being but an exquisitely crafted meat puppet.
Chuaaaak!
It's when I am meeting his gaze for some time.
I feel as if I am being sucked into his empty eyes.
When I come to my senses, I find myself in a cosmic space where all stars shine green.
It's an illusion induced by Jang Ik's mental pressure.
Kuguguguguk—
My mind feels like it's about to crumble.
Feeling an overwhelming sense of dread, I look up and see a green nebula taking the form of Jang Ik's face, looking down at me.
'This is...the extent of the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One's mind...'
It isn't just the size of his consciousness.
The very meaning he has pursued all his life is that immense.
'At this rate...is he going to cook my brain...?'
I can't maintain my focus under such pressure.
However, I know one thing for sure.
Jang Ik, has emotions!
And he cherishes his connections!
"These are words I once heard from someone."
I speak without yielding to his pressure.
"After being mocked that the heart is merely a metallic reaction, and relaying that mockery to someone else, this was the reply."
Seo Hweol had mocked Gyu Ryeon's heart, and Jang Ik had responded with these words.
"If the heart is of the Metal attribute, then according to the classification of cultivators, Metal (金) corresponds to Qian (乾/Heaven), hence the heart is as eternal as the Heavens."
I repeat the words of Jang Ik from my previous life in front of the present Jang Ik and shout.
"Isn't that right, O Esteemed One? Is it not that the heart of a person can never be erased?"
As I make this declaration and refine my consciousness, I find myself back by the bonfire, free from Jang Ik's pressure.
"This one...is quite something."
Jang Ik crosses his arms and smiles while looking at me.
"That's right. Emotions can never be erased. That's why even when one becomes an Esteemed One, they still have emotions, greed, and fear. Though I said that other Esteemed Ones lose their connections and emotions, in reality, they don't truly vanish. It's just a difference in perspective."
"...! So, does that mean the true way to reach the next realm is not to abandon emotions, but to properly acknowledge and refine them?"
"Huh...no?"
He bites into the golden apple as if he doesn't understand what I'm saying.
"You must erase what cannot be erased. Do you understand? That's the only way to get here."
"Then how do you erase what cannot be erased?"
"I told you, didn't I? You can't."
He smiles while speaking incomprehensible words.
"To enter here, you must be able to erase what cannot be erased. Finding out how to do that will be the way of your future training."
"...."
"Strictly speaking, although I've accepted you as my disciple, there isn't much I can teach you. I can only give advice as someone who has gone ahead. Each individual in our Heart Tribe is entirely different."
He points somewhere.
"When you entered the Lightning Sacred Sea, you must have fallen into a region where even consciousness couldn't be used. Isn't that right?"
"Yes."
"How did you get out?"
"I raised the All-Heavens Sword to the Plane of Fate and cut through the space to escape."
"When I first arrived there, I stimulated my body to extend my sensory range, pulling the Qi (氣) from outside that space to shatter the space and escape. As you can see, you and I have different methods of leaving the same place. I could recite my insights to you, but it wouldn't suit you nor be helpful."
Surung—
Jang Ik stands up from his seat and says,
"That's why, even among the disciples I have a master-student relationship with and whom I've helped, none are truly my successors. All I can do is assign them training tasks that I think might suit each disciple."
I listen to his words with a serious expression.
"Now, I will assign you a training task as well. This is your first training task."
He smiles slyly and says,
"Go outside the Lightning Sacred Sea and cut down a star. You can use the power of the Heaven Tribe, the Earth Tribe, a dharma treasure, or even someone else's help. No matter what method you use, destroy a star. Ah, I mean a star without any living beings on it. Don't invade some innocent planet and annihilate a civilization."
[Editor: Note that the term 'star' here can also more broadly refer to any heavenly body such as planets and moons.]
Boo-oong!
He swings his podao, and Jang Ik's podao turns into a ray of light that pierces my soul and embeds itself in my heart essence.
Kwaak!
Just like before, Jang Ik's podao takes its place on one side of my Sword Mountain.
Paaatt!
With a wave of his arm, Jang Ik sends me far away from the bonfire, sweeping me through vast spacetime.
Chwaaak!
Countless scenes flash past me, and soon I arrive in an Astral Realm bathed in starlight.
Kuguguguk!
And in front of me,
From where I have emerged, is a colossal Decaying Corpse Realm shrouded in a dimensional barrier.
'That is one of Yang Su-jin's remains.'
The Decaying Corpse Realm is in the form of an enormous ring finger, each segment almost the size of Earth.
Judging by its shape, it seems to be the left ring finger.
'Is Yang Su-jin's immortal treasure a ring?'
The Decaying Corpse Realm in the shape of a left ring finger has a circular indentation inside the finger. It's the mark of a ring that had been worn for a long time.
The ring finger, referred to as the Lightning Sacred Sea, is said to be the entrance to the space containing his immortal treasure. Therefore, reaching another space through traversing the Lightning Sacred Sea suggests one mind the enormous ring.
'But to cut down a star...'
Contrary to my expectations of getting beaten up by Jang Ik, it seems his training method is simply to assign tasks without much interference.
'A star...'
I recall Jang Ik splitting a planet in half.
'With my current power...even if I mobilize the Three Great Ultimates, I can only overturn the continent on the planet's surface. I should be able to put a slight crack on the planet but...'
That is my limit.
It is also the limit of a typical Grand Perfection Integration stage cultivator.
'If I raise my Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion and the Heaven and Earth Tribe cultivation to the level of the Grand Perfection Integration stage...borrowing the power of dharma treasures and formations, then...'
It might somehow work.
I think I understand what Jang Ik is trying to say.
'Is he telling me to first raise my cultivation to the highest point possible and then return?'
In the early stage of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion, although I imitated the strength of the Grand Perfection Integration stage by using the physical body and consciousness of the Heaven and Earth Tribes, my actual realm is still at the Four-Axis stage.
'Alright, let's go back and elevate my realm to the utmost possible before returning.'
Resolving to do so, I seek out my incarnation, Ham Jin.
Wo-woong!
Since I originally crossed into the Astral Realm through Ham Jin, we are connected, making it not too difficult to locate him.
Paaatt!
Ham Jin landed on a star near the Lightning Sacred Sea where life forms can survive.
He is on one of the continents of the star.
There, he has established a primitive tribal nation, and as the great chieftain, he is vigorously engaged in activities to proliferate his descendants.
"...Ham Jin."
"Huff, huff, huff...Huh!"
Sensing my presence, he emerges from his stone house to greet me.
"O, O Wuji Ghost King! Has the Great One arrived? I have been spreading the teachings of the Wuji Religious Order here for the Great One! I have even promulgated the Wuji Ghost King Ritual Scripture!"
"...Hooh, good. Well done. Thanks to you, it will be a bit easier when I return. Now, let's go back."
"Ah...actually, I have 13 wives here, but I've only given love to 3 of them so far. Could I fairly distribute my love among all of them first...?"
I chuckle in disbelief and reply.
"Come back after you reach the Four-Axis stage."
"Ah, understood. Then, let me bid farewell to my wives..."
He summons the chiefs, speaks to them briefly, and then receives bows from dozens of chiefs and wives before flying to me laden with numerous gifts including star's spirit stones, special products, and unique items.
For some reason, he looks a bit downcast.
"...No one tried to stop me. They all claimed to like me, but when I said I was leaving, they eagerly sent me off with bows and cheers...They are too much. I miss home. I want to see my wives back home."
"...Quiet. Let's go."
I enter Ham Jin's body.
"That person named Jang Ik said the star with the Ancient Force transmission array is that one."
"Right."
I direct attraction force to land on the star where the middle zone of the Ancient Force Realm is located.
'They said the worlds with middle zones are all on True Persons' bodies.'
So this star is also a True Person.
'And...the world Ham Jin resides on must also be a True Person disguised as a Decaying Corpse Realm.'
I wondered how the battle involving Star Shattering stage cultivators occurred without the world being destroyed, but it seems it wasn't an issue because the world is a True Person's body.
'Jang Ik telling Ham Jin about the location of the middle zone of the Ancient Force Realm must be his way of indicating that I should use it. And if he indicated using it, it means the True Person who had reached out to grab us earlier must be asleep again by now.'
In other words, there are no problems with returning.
Wo-woong!
I, along with Ham Jin, begin crossing vast spacetime once again.
***