Kugugugugu!
The attraction force grows stronger.
It's the attraction force of misfortune.
The power of misfortune, touched by the Mountain God, slowly pulls us down as if trying to drag us into a quagmire.
Kugugugugu!
After just escaping the Ancient Force Realm and entering the Interdimensional Void, I can feel terrifying Vestiges gathering ahead of us.
'This is insane...'
The entire Interdimensional Void is filled with Vestiges at the Four-Axis stage.
Not a single Heavenly Being Vestige is in sight.
Even Vestiges at the Integration stage are swarming by the thousands.
But that isn't the real problem.
Kuung—
Far in the distance,
Sensing the presence of three beings from afar, I begin to sweat coldly.
Truly overwhelming auras!
While the powers held by the Mountain God, the God of Light, the Heavenly Venerable of Time, or Yeong Seung are terrifying because of their sheer magnitude that I can't even comprehend,
The presences emerging from afar are even more overwhelming precisely because their magnitude is comprehensible.
I can never defeat those beings.
Kuung—
The presence of three entities.
They are, in fact, three Vestiges at the Esteemed One-level.
Kuung—
Though they haven't even revealed themselves, their mere presence is terrifying.
The Vestiges in the Interdimensional Void are the corpses or husks of True Persons.
Their vulnerability to Heavenly Tribulation is precisely because of this.
They are symbols of defying the heavens, but at the same time, they are entire worlds in themselves.
When the entities meant to receive Heavenly Tribulation and those meant to inflict it become one and the same, Heavenly Tribulation that enters the bodies of the Vestiges will amplify uncontrollably, ultimately causing them to explode and perish.
But I can sense it.
When thinking of how the Esteemed Ones who emerged after the creation of the Heavenly Domain are responsible for generating Heaven and Earth spiritual energy and spitting out cosmic nebulae, it's likely that even if Heavenly Tribulation is to amplify within the bodies of the Esteemed One-level Vestiges, they will be able to withstand it for a long time by continually producing Heaven and Earth spiritual energy and nebulae.
They could just spit out Heaven and Earth spiritual energy or nebulae as much as they are damaged by the Heavenly Tribulation.
'Damn it...'
At this rate, isn't it still the same situation even when we managed to expel the Mountain God?
While I'm confident that I can break through and escape the thousands of Integration-level Vestiges, I know I can't handle those.
Not against them!
As I stand with a stunned expression, feeling the presence of the Esteemed One-level Vestiges.
Kwaa-jik, kwa-jijijik!
A hole is torn open in my Integrated Dao Domain, and from inside, a giant body of lightning and thunder bursts forth.
Jeon Myeong-hoon emerges from within.
"Jeon Myeong-hoon..."
His eyes are gloomy.
Not as much as mine, but his face clearly shows considerable pain.
But despite groaning in agony, he opens his mouth.
[I've come this far always believing in you.]
"..."
[Ever since that day, no matter how many times. No matter what you said. No matter how suspicious it seemed.]
"...I..."
[And I still trust you.]
Red light flows from his eyes.
[So, [this time too], lead us.]
"..."
The red light becomes red lightning, pulsing under Jeon Myeong-hoon's face as if dripping down.
It looks as if crimson tears of lightning are streaming down.
[No matter how many times, no matter how many times we've failed, haven't you always led us in the end?]
He stands before me.
As his Integrated Dao Domain unfolds, Kim Young-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, Buk Hyang-hwa—all those who can fight immediately—emerge.
[Find the answer! Right now!]
With those words, my comrades turn their backs to me and begin to protect me.
As if to buy me time to think.
Watching them, I clench my fists.
'He's right.'
I have to come up with an answer.
Whether it's returning to the Ancient Force Realm, descending to the Lower Realms, or doing whatever it takes, I have to find the answer!
Saying there's no answer is just an excuse.
I have to do whatever it takes!
Woo-woong—
And as I wrack my brain with a desperate will, something begins to enter the views of my eyes.
"...That..."
It's a Star Vein.
"..."
Currently, there are a total of three threads of star veins in the Interdimensional Void around us.
They are star veins emanating from the Star Shattering-level Vestiges.
The Esteemed One-level Vestiges are connected by these star veins.
But isn't that strange?
Three beings at the Star Shattering stage.
Yet, there are also three threads connecting them.
It's not like the star veins of the three Star Shattering creatures are forming a triangle.
Like constellations, the star veins of the Vestiges are connected to somewhere.
First Vestige to second Vestige to third Vestige.
In that manner.
And the third Vestige is connected by a star vein to 'somewhere.'
For a star vein to be connected means that there is a star at the other end.
'Seeing that the Esteemed Ones are connected by star veins, it seems that the Esteemed Ones are treated as stars.'
In other words, there might be one more Star Shattering Vestige here, or perhaps even a Vestige of a higher level.
However, after scrutinizing the end of that star vein for a while, I realize the identity of the final star vein connected to the Esteemed Ones.
'Ah...I see.'
Crunch—
I let out a hollow laugh.
It's such an obvious thing when I think about it.
I should have realized it from the moment I was bestowed misfortune.
I want to sit down right here and now, and cry out of sheer frustration and disbelief.
But I can't afford to do that.
I need to calm my mind and body, and though I should spend a long time preparing before taking on this challenge, there's no time.
I have to go up now right now and cut it down.
Failure means annihilation.
I speak to my comrades.
"Immediately, right now! We're going to the Esteemed One-level Vestige down below!"
[What?]
Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at me as if I lost my mind.
But after meeting my gaze, he seems to ponder for a moment before nodding his head.
[...Understood. But that can't possibly be the end of it, right?]
"Right, I'll explain the detailed plan."
I quickly send a heart message to my comrades, explaining my plan.
"After moving to the very lowest Esteemed One, following my lead, we'll use the star veins...you can think of them as attraction force. We'll use the attraction force between the Esteemed Ones to gradually move upward to the next Esteemed one right above. Then, from the very last Esteemed One, we'll have to leap even higher beyond!"
There's no time to fully explain the exact details of the plan, nor do they yet understand our ultimate objective.
But my comrades nod in agreement, their eyes shining with determination.
"Escaping between the Esteemed Ones...it might be possible, even if just for a moment. But the problem is that we likely only have enough power to do it once..."
[Don't worry about that.]
Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes glint as he extends six arms toward Kim Young-hoon.
In an instant, Kim Young-hoon is surrounded by six massive hands, but as Jeon Myeong-hoon's red lightning flows into him, something begins to change.
Kwa-jijijik!
The Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation transforms into Golden Divine Heavenly Lightning.
[I don't know the reason, but my Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation Method reacts and changes when I use it on you. I confirmed this back in the Head Realm as well.]
"...Indeed, this golden lightning...is perfectly suited for my use."
Kim Young-soon seems amazed as he feels the golden lightning for a moment, then begins to compress it within his saber.
[If the two of us combine our strengths, moving between the Esteemed Ones won't be an issue. But the problem is reaching them. We can't afford to waste any power until then.]
In response to Jeon Myeong-hoon's words, Buk Hyang-hwa shouts and sends a voice transmission inside my domain.
A moment later,
Kugugugugu!
Seo Ran, who had been hiding inside my Integrated Dao Domain, emerges with the Nether Crossing Ship.
"There's so much I want to ask...but this is urgent, so I'll follow for now!"
Seo Ran speaks hurriedly, quickly transferring command of the Nether Crossing Ship to Buk Hyang-hwa.
Buk Hyang-hwa speaks to Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon.
"I'll need the two of you to assist me! Soul Extinguishing Ghost King, please replenish power in the Nether Crossing Ship's power space with Sir Seo Ran's help. When I make the Nether Crossing Ship go berserk, Mysterious Bizarre Ghost King will need to control it. With the Nether Crossing Ship's strength we will surely make it to the front of the Esteemed One!"
We quickly exchange opinions and set off.
Kugugugugu!
Oh Hyun-seok becomes the power source for the Nether Crossing Ship, activating it, while Seo Ran, using the owner's authority, unlocks the ship's functions.
Through this authority, Buk Hyang-hwa pushes the Nether Crossing Ship into a berserk state, while Shi Ho protects Seo Ran and Buk Hyang-hwa on the deck.
Meanwhile, Kim Yeon's consciousness threads seep into every part of the Nether Crossing Ship.
The Nether Crossing Ship, which has risen to the Four-Axis stage through going berserk, begins to rise even further in level as it comes under Kim Yeon's control.
Originally, the Nether Crossing Ship isn't exactly a combat dharma treasure.
Back during the Black Ghost Valley era, I heard from a Ghost King that the true purpose of the Nether Crossing Ship is the collection and storage of souls,
And their transmission to the Netherworld.
The Nether Crossing Ship can use its transmission function to temporarily shift the ship itself to the outskirts of the Interdimensional Void or the Netherworld, and then perform spatial movement.
Kugugugugu!
As ghostly energy seems to engulf the surroundings of the Nether Crossing Ship, we instantly enter a very shallow area of the outskirts of the Netherworld.
A place close to reality.
Is it because it's such a shallow area?
The surroundings only became slightly hazy, with the Vestiges remaining around as they were.
But I know all too well.
Why are ghosts such terrifying beings?
Because they are unfair existences whose attacks can reach you, but your attacks pass right through them.
Hoo-woong, hoo-woong—
The Four-Axis Vestiges launch attacks at us, but in our semi-transparent state, we evade all of them.
Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and I conserve our strength for the right moment, while Kim Yeon pilots the Nether Crossing Ship quickly towards the Esteemed Ones.
Kugugugugu!
Grand Cultivator-level Vestiges come flying at us.
Each and every single of their strikes carry the power of a dimension, so even in the outskirts of the Netherworld, they have a certain mass as they fly toward us.
And then, Kim Yeon moves her hand.
Flash, flash!
The main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship fires.
The main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship, amplified significantly by the ghostly energy of the couple Wei Shi-hon and Eum Wa, fly forth, piercing through the Vestiges.
Our attacks land with amplified force, while theirs barely affect us.
Wo-woooong!
"We're going!"
Kim Yeon aggressively steers the Nether Crossing Ship, rapidly charging toward the Esteemed One-level Vestige.
Wo-woong—
In the distance, the Esteemed One-level Vestige can be seen.
I know instinctively.
Regardless of whether we are in the outskirts of the Netherworld, it would be of no use against an Esteemed One-level Vestige.
But that doesn't matter.
We have already arrived!
Paaaatt!
I expand my domain, pulling Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon, and put the entire Nether Crossing Ship within my domain. I then join forces with them.
[Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation!]
Kwazi-jijijik!
Red lightning cycles and touches Kim Young-hoon, transforming into golden lightning, with the words Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder appearing on his back.
It's a situation similar to what happened in the Head Realm.
The Esteemed One raises a gigantic arm in front of us.
"Go!!!"
I shout, and Kim Young-hoon raises his saber.
The next moment, we see a golden bird formed from thunder and lightning.
The golden bird carries me and instantly dodges the Esteemed One's hand.
I open my Star Vein Eye and guide the golden bird towards the path of the Esteemed One's star vein.
Pa-jijijik!
Through the star vein, the golden bird flies towards the next Esteemed One.
A Vestige resembling a snake opens its mouth wide.
The golden bird forms a trail of thunder and lightning, evading the snake-like Vestige in the void. Once again, under my guidance, it flies towards the final Esteemed One.
Woo-woong!
I heighten the perception of the Star Vein Eye even further.
The star vein is peculiar.
The more I traverse the star vein, the closer I get to its essence, the more my consciousness ascends to a certain world.
I have a rough idea of what it is.
Just as cultivating the Ghost Path Method gradually draws one's consciousness closer to the outskirts of the Netherworld.
The more I perceive the star vein and traverse its path, the closer my consciousness comes to the 'domain of the Heavenly Venerable of Time.'
[Next!]
I draw forth the power of my domain and shout in mental speech.
Finally, Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon escape the grasp of the last Esteemed One and follow the star vein connected to an unknown place.
As the star vein and my consciousness assimilate, my consciousness and vision elevate to a world of a higher plane.
'Ah...'
I can see it.
Far in the distance.
A star connected to the Esteemed Ones.
Kugugugugu!
That star is emitting an attraction force.
The identity of that attraction is misfortune (厄運).
Tststststss!
It's that.
That is the identity of the misfortune that slowly started to manifest in the Ancient Force Realm and tormented me.
The unknown misfortune that is constantly chasing after me.
'Now that I think about it, when the Wuji Religious Order entered the Ancient Force Realm, there was an enormous shockwave that spread and vibrated throughout the entire world.'
It's a ridiculous occurrence.
The combined mass of the Wuji Religious Order, the Twilight Domain, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and I amounted to at most five or six Integration stage cultivators, so how could the entire Middle Realm shake just because of that?
It makes no sense at all.
The shockwave that swept across the entire Ancient Force Realm wasn't caused by us.
It was caused by that [star] that followed us into the Ancient Force Realm.
The reason I saw attraction force in the Ancient Force Realm, which has no sky, is obvious.
A star entered the Ancient Force Realm.
Those in the Lower Boundary use curse dolls when casting a curse.
Beings in the Greater Boundary use stars when bestowing misfortune.
In that case, who gifted me that star?
Who granted me that misfortune?
It's clear at first sight.
The Malice (惡意) of fifty-some beings emanating from the star.
It's the malice of the Quasi-Immortals from the Nether Ghost Realm who had peeked on the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.
On top of that, the malice of the Owner of Great Mountain is added to it, creating a powerful mass of misfortune which has been bringing misfortune upon me from a higher plane.
Surung—
Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon became my foundation.
They don't seem to understand what I am trying to do since they lack the Star Vein Eye, but I can tell they trust me.
That is enough.
I compose my will.
Then, squeezing out every last bit of my lifelong will and energy, I prepare the martial technique that partly severed the authority of Yeong Seung.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
The Thirty-first Move.
Accumulating Dust Forms a Mountain!
Starting with a horizontal slash, a vertical cut, and a thrust, all the techniques of my Heaven, Earth, Heart, and Puppet converge into one.
The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, which contains my history, shines purely as a hazy mist settles on my sword.
But I can tell.
This won't be enough.
I don't unleash Accumulating Dust Forms a Mountain. Instead, I hold it in my hand, focusing my soul.
Kiiiiing—
'More.'
Kiiiiing!
'More!'
Paaaatt!
"More!!!"
I compress it.
I compress the All-Heavens Sword, formed by compressing the Formless Sword, crazily compressing it with the weight of my entire history.
The All-Heavens Sword begins to thin.
What lies before me is a star, but at the same time, it's a concept.
To cut through a concept, what I wield must also transform into a concept.
Kiiiiing!
The All-Heavens Sword gradually begins to thin.
I recall a memory from long ago.
It's from when I was very young.
The time I fought against a 3rd star Qi Refining cultivator in the royal palace and gained enlightenment on Sword Silk.
Sword energy is assimilated into Will (意)
In doing so, energy is compressed like a thread in the same way intent is.
I compress the All-Heavens Sword in my hand with my Will (意).
The pressure required is on a completely different level from compressing sword energy.
Like the thread of intent, I transform and manifest my sword.
Swordsmanship consists of three fundamental actions.
Slashing, thrusting, and blocking.
Slashing forms a line, thrusting forms a point, and blocking forms a surface.
And the most optimal form to perform these three actions is something else entirely.
I close my eyes, then half-open them.
Something is in my hand.
It's something extremely thin but stronger than anything else in the world.
It's a form that closely resembles the thread of intent that a martial artist first sees when they begin to enter the world of martial arts.
This is no longer a sword.
Its name is...
"Immortal cultivation is repentant enlightenment."
I feel the gaze of the Owner of Great Mountain watching me from [Above].
But it doesn't matter.
I have already found my purpose. External pressure doesn't scare me.
On the contrary, I will sever Their gaze right here and now!
The line-turned All-Heavens Sword begins to blaze white.
"Like tiny grains of salt gathering to form a sea...build mountains through repentant enlightenment."
Tstststststsst!
I raise the All-Heavens Sword.
In the world of star veins, the All-Heavens Sword shines brighter than anything else.
"Building a mountain of salt is perhaps the fastest way to reach the heavens..."
Learning this mantra, everyone was annihilated.
I can still feel it.
This mantra is the power that calls upon Great Mountain.
Through the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, I can feel the gaze of the Owner of Great Mountain growing stronger, and an attraction force between us begins to form.
If this continues, I will become nothing more than a puppet dancing and dying under the Owner of Great Mountain for the rest of my life, just like Hon Won.
"Each to one another holding hands, with everyone at sea, drink salt, and with the wind, soar."
The attraction force between Great Mountain and I grows stronger.
If this continued, Great Mountain might descend once more.
However, at this point, I twist the mantra.
"Like combining all intents turn them colorless..."
Kiiiing—
The proper sequence of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra is twisted, causing the attraction force to skew greatly.
The white hue of the All-Heavens Sword remains, but most of the tyrannical energy (覇氣) felt from the sword evaporates.
I don't care.
I never intended to rely on someone else's power anyway.
What I have built up from the beginning is more than enough.
Instead, I infer the mantra's formula and focus my intent even further.
The white light seems to shine closer to colorlessness.
Taatt!
I leap from the golden bird that is supporting me, raising the All-Heavens Sword even higher.
'Is it still lacking?'
I can't know for sure.
Can I cut down a star?
If I melted the star over decades with curses, perhaps it might be possible. But to cut it in a single strike, no matter how strong I am, is a daunting task.
The distance is...ambiguous.
If only, just a little closer, I can definitely cut it down!
And then, at that moment.
Ta-aht!
Hong Fan, who has emerged from my domain, pushes me from behind.
"Please show me, Master."
"..."
I smile.
"Embrace all connections and become impermanence."
Twisting the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, I swing what is in my hand.
"That is,"
I can feel it.
Great Mountain is eager to descend and crush me at any moment.
But I will sever it here.
Great Mountain's gaze.
The misfortune left to us.
Even whatever fate that may come in the future.
I see my masters flash before my eyes.
And I embrace their words into my chest and speak them aloud.
Before my eyes, I see a pure giant who sacrificed himself, singing of goodwill.
—Believing thus, reach for the star.
"The way to reach the star."
The Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra twists.
Simultaneously, the star in front of me splits apart.
The power of Great Mountain that placed some attraction force and gaze upon me is completely erased by the twisted Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra that nullifies attraction force.
Salt Mountain leaves my embrace.
Though it's a natal dharma treasure I refined over countless years, I have no intention of holding onto it.
How can I rely on such an external object?
What I have built up is already within me.
The misfortune that surrounded us has now disappeared.
Even the gaze of Great Mountain was severed along with our single strike.
Now, all that remains is to carve our way forward.
Thud!
With my domain, soul, and body all in tatters, I vomit blood while supported by Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and Hong Fan.
"I-Is it done, Seo Eun-hyun!?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon asks urgently.
I smile faintly.
"...It will be."
"No, damn it...The Esteemed One-level Vestiges are still perfectly intact! And what about those thousands of Integration-level Vestiges!? Damn it! Just what did you do!"
"Some...how...it will..."
I can barely speak.
My whole body feels shattered.
But we will be able to escape.
The misfortune that surrounded us is gone.
Kugugugung!
I see the star of misfortune that I have cut down explode before my eyes.
As the misfortune dissipates, the wind from the explosion blows forth.
It's the fair wind of fate.
And then,
Paaat!
From within my domain, Yuk Yo emerges.
She glances at me and my comrades, then bows her head.
"...Thank you for everything."
Recognizing her intention, I ask.
"Will you be alright?"
"...For me, that place is home."
After bowing to us, she quickly flies towards the Salt Mountain.
As she reaches the Salt Mountain, it shines brightly.
At the same time, the previously miniaturized Salt Mountain and Salt Crystal Palace become huge once again.
She reaches the summit of the Salt Mountain.
"...Will you be alright?"
I ask once more.
This time, it's directed not at Yuk Yo, but at Baek Rin.
Baek Rin, who has emerged from my domain, gives a faint smile.
"...Please take good care of Shi-hon and Eum Wa."
"I will. Go."
"I am eternally grateful for your Majesty's grace"
With those final words, Baek Rin quickly flies over to stand beside Yuk Yo.
Baek Rin is a beloved presence.
Not only by Shi-hon and Eum Wa, but also by the followers.
By the former disciples of the White Vein Gate who became followers.
But now, they are no more.
So, he is merely following the one he loves even more among those who remain.
I understand Baek Rin's resolve.
Even if the world he is heading towards is an illusion, he believe his feelings for Yuk Yo are real.
Baek Rin takes Yuk Yo's hand in front of the palace and looks back at us.
Then, the two demon spirits, who are smiling at each other.
No, the two people, enter the palace.
In that final moment.
In my eyes, the two appear not as a ghost reduced to bones and a demon who lived indulgently, but a tidy young man and a pure princess.
Flash!
The two cross into another world, and the fair winds of fate blow us away as the Penglai Island's formation activates.
[Kiyaaaaaa!]
[Kigeggegegek!]
[Kwengeeeee!]
The Esteemed One-level Vestiges and Grand Cultivator-level Vestiges are all sucked into the formation and disappear.
They no longer pursue us.
In a world that may be an illusion or may be real, they will live on forever.
"I will...never forget you all..."
Seeing my friends who are once again leaving us, but did not meet an entirely tragic end, I smile with tears.
With the fair winds of fate, and until we finally reached the Bright Cold Realm,
I laughed and cried, filled with loss, joy, and emotions that words could never dare express.
Thus, I finally placed a period on our long pilgrimage through the Middle Realms.
-x-X-x-
Kuaaang!
With a deafening explosion, my comrades and I simultaneously cross the Interdimensional Void and arrive in this otherworldly space.
It's a familiar place.
The Care Layer of Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll.
The familiar burning smell.
The familiar landscape.
The familiar beings...
And the pain of loss that I can never get used to.
I turn back to check on those who remain.
Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, Buk Hyang-hwa, Hong Fan, Seo Ran, Shi Ho, Yeon Jin, Wei Shi-hon, Eum Wa...
Out of the countless followers of the Wuji Religious Order, which numbered up to four hundred million, only eleven people have successfully entered the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person.
Including Baek Rin and Yuk Yo, as well as the other Guardian Ghost Kings and other mid-level leaders—none of them made it here with us.
No one else reached this place with us.
For a while, I gaze silently at the entrance of the Interdimensional Void from which we escaped from.
My other comrades do the same.
Especially Jeon Myeong-hoon, who is trembling with both hands and biting his lips. If it weren't for us, he might have gone berserk right here and now.
Woo-woong—
The gap in the dimensional barrier that we pierced through begins to close again, thanks to the restorative power of the storage scroll.
Only then do I take a deep breath and turn my head.
There, standing with tense expressions, are Gyo Yeom and the other two members of the Heaven Tribe.
"Did you send everyone out of the storage scroll?"
At my question, Gyo Yeom nods frantically.
Before they could perform the summoning ritual, the miscellaneous forces who had entered this place with them were all sent outside of the storage scroll.
They probably thought Gyo Yeom and the Four-Axis stage cultivators were trying to hog the treasures, but unfortunately, what they got was not treasure, but us—who have lost comrades and are extremely on edge.
"You...why aren't you answering and just nodding your head...do we look laughable to you...?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon glares at Gyo Yeom and growls.
His bloodshot eyes seem full of anger from not being able to save any of the disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, who were part of the Wuji Religious Order.
Gyo Yeom, a Four-Axis stage cultivator of the Blood Shark Race with also quite the temper, has no choice but to bow down in fear before the Integration stage Grand Cultivator emitting streams of red lightning from his body and glaring at him with bloodshot eyes.
"N-No, Elder. I dared to act disrespectfully. Please forgive me! I-I have a wife waiting for me at home..."
At the mention of a wife, Jeon Myeong-hoon grinds his teeth and shifts his gaze to the other members of the Heaven Tribe.
"And just what are you two, standing there with your heads held so high?"
"Ah, o-o-our apologies, Grand Cultivator, Elder. Please forgive us."
Nok Ju and Baek Wi-ik break out in cold sweat.
I reach out into the air, retrieving the Purple Soul Filling the Heavens that is tied to them.
Woo-wooong!
By my attraction force, the Heavenly Lotus Fruit hanging from the Melia tree falls into my hand.
After taking the Heavenly Lotus Fruit, I walk to the side of the Melia tree and look at a corpse.
It's the corpse of Hyeon Gwi.
The body of Hyeon Gwi, which has just begun to decay, looks quite gruesome.
But that is all.
There's no suspicious energy or any strange signs.
I extend my consciousness toward Hyeon Gwi's body and search it thoroughly, but find nothing unusual.
Hyeon Gwi practiced the orthodox methods of the Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect. He primarily cultivated methods that borrowed the power of Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum, optimizing his body for the Four Symbols Nascent Soul, which borrowed Hyeon Eum's power.
Even when I concentrate the precision of my consciousness to examine his body down to the cellular and genetic levels, I find nothing out of the ordinary.
After observing Hyeon Gwi's corpse for a while, I eventually bury it with a spell.
No matter how I think about it, he was connected to a True Immortal.
It's better not to touch the corpse further and attract unwanted attention.
Holding the Heavenly Lotus Fruit, I return to the altar where my comrades are while deep in thought.
'From now on, I must be careful not to get entangled with True Immortals.'
I recklessly used the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.
As a result, those who had believed in me were annihilated due to being entangled with the Owner of Great Mountain.
This world is filled with malice.
Though Yeon Wei's words are sometimes wrong, they are fundamentally correct.
In this world, even a drop of water in the stream or a grain of sand on the roadside can be connected to a great being.
From now on, even breathing must be done with caution.
I must be extremely meticulous and careful to the point of feeling like my head's about to burst.
"Gyo Yeom."
I approached Gyo Yeom.
Gyo Yeom, showing his humility, bows his head before me.
"Take it. This is your reward for helping us."
"Th-Thank you!"
He trembles as he squeezes a handful of juice from the Heavenly Lotus Fruit and offers the rest back to me.
"I-I offer to the great one."
"I gave it to you, so why are you returning it?"
"I-I have heard that the Heavenly Lotus Fruit is a spiritual fruit that aids in rising to the Star Shattering stage. I hope the Elder takes it and elevates your realm."
"Hmm..."
After contemplating for a moment, I decide to accept the Heavenly Lotus Fruit.
Even if I don't need it, it might be useful for my comrades.
After receiving the Heavenly Lotus Fruit, I turn my gaze to the other two who have pulled us here along with Gyo Yeom.
Nok Ju and Baek Wi-ik are bowing before me, their faces pale with fear.
Uguguk—
As I reach out my hand, the space distorts.
At the same time, the space that I warped returns to normal, revealing a hidden warehouse within the Care Layer.
"...!"
"T-That's...!"
I speak with an expressionless face.
"Pick what you need from inside. It should be more useful than most things in the storage scroll."
These are the treasures I pulled over and accumulated within the storage scroll over several decades through my avatar.
They should be quite useful.
The two exchange awkward glances before entering the storage I have revealed to choose their items.
Nok Ju chooses a lump of Lightning Marsh Gem Soil (雷澤瑨土), beneficial for trees.
Baek Wi-ik selects one of the spiritual fruits known as Heavenly Blessing Summit (天慧峰)
"Good. Now, you two go over there for a moment..."
I nod toward Baek Wi-ik and Nok Ju, and they hurriedly nod back and withdraw to the rear.
Gyo Yeom, however, looks at me with a pale face, seemingly not understanding why I left him behind.
"E-Elder, do you have some business with me...?"
"...You are from the Earth Tribe, correct? Specifically, the Blood Shark Race among the Sea Demon Race..."
"Y-Yes! That's correct, but..."
"In that case...how do the Sea Demon Race conduct funerals?"
"Pardon...?"
I ask Gyo Yeom about the funeral customs of the Demon Race.
Over 80% of the Wuji Religious Order's followers were ghostly creatures.
Wei Shi-hon and Eum Wa know well how to honor ghostly creatures, but about 20% of the followers were demon beasts recruited in the Ancient Force Realm.
Among them, those of the Sea Demon Race were particularly numerous, and I need to know how to conduct their funerals.
I could have asked Seo Ran, who is of the Sea Dragon Race, but since Seo Ran stated that the entire Dragon Race, including the Sea Dragon Race, only holds funerals in the manner of the Dragon Race, it seems pointless to ask him.
Of course, Seo Ran does know some funeral customs of the Demon Race, but they are all from the Lower Realm, so they might not be appropriate. That's why I left Gyo Yeom behind.
After thinking for a moment, Gyo Yeom responds.
"May I ask how the deceased passed away...?"
"...They were killed by an existence that could not be resisted."
At my words, Gyo Yeom's eyes gleam as he answers.
"For our Demon Race, particularly the Sea Demon Race in the Middle Realms, most of our funeral customs are similar. When someone dies of natural causes, or while advancing their realm, or falling victim to Qi Deviation and Heart Demons, or to Heavenly Tribulation, we perform a sky burial to allow them to become one with nature. However, if they die due to a natural disaster or disease, they are cremated...and if they are murdered, the relatives of the deceased and those who had a close relationship bury them and vow revenge."
Natural death calls for a sky burial.
Accidental death leads to cremation.
In the case of murder, they are buried, and revenge is vowed.
Such is the funeral custom of the Demon Race.
After discussing it with my comrades, we exterminate the fire corpses on the first level of the storage scroll, the Water Flow Layer, and build a large burial mound.
This is to honor the countless 400 million followers of the order.
It is also to etch into our hearts the desire for revenge against the God of Great Mountain, who slaughtered these followers.
We specifically chose to build the tomb inside the storage scroll to keep it as close as possible to the place where they died.
Just like we did after the incident with the God of Heavenly Punishment, Jeon Myeong-hoon, myself,
Kim Young-hoon,
And the rest of my comrades.
We swear our vows in the midst of roaring flames.
"I will avenge you."
I speak.
"I will take revenge."
Kim Young-hoon says.
"I will avenge you all."
Oh Hyun-seok says.
Following, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kim Yeon, Buk Hyang-hwa, Seo Ran, Shi Ho, Hong Fan, Yeon Jin, Wei Si-hon, Eum Wa, and everyone else all speak of revenge.
Woo-woong!
Kugugugugugu!
When we all simultaneously unleash our auras, powerful Five Elements spiritual energy swirls around us.
Perhaps it's because we all stared directly at the God of Great Mountain.
No matter how much the Mountain God lowered Their rank and descended, a great being is still a great being.
After seeing Them, we all gained powerful Five Elements divine powers.
In my case, I became able to see the Yin-Yang and Five Elements energy even more clearly, and in Oh Hyun-seok's case, just witnessing the Owner of Great Mountain caused the creation of the Five Elements Axes within his body, allowing him to reach the Grand Perfection Four-Axis stage.
Kim Young-hoon suddenly formed a Golden Core infused with the Five Elements within his body, reaching the Core Formation stage.
Buk Hyang-hwa gained a divine power that enabled her to create hands made of Five Elements spiritual energy, and Kim Yeon unexpectedly formed a Demon Core within herself, reaching the Earth Tribe's Core Formation stage.
Seo Ran, as if his bloodline was stimulated, advanced from the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage to just half a step into the Four-Axis stage. Shi Ho, also as if his bloodline had been stimulated, is now able to imbue his illusory dream divine powers with attributes similar to the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.
The Yin-Yang Five Elements of Yeon Jin's Nascent Soul perfectly aligned, allowing him to leap over the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage in an instant to the early Heavenly Being stage. Jeon Myeong-hoon is now able to infuse the lightning within his Integrated Dao Domain with the Five Elements, enabling him to rain down Five Elements Lighting Tribulation.
Wei Shi-hon and Eum Wa each gained the ability to create ghost fire with the attributes of the Five Elements.
Every one of us had to endure a terrifying experience with the appearance of the Mountain God, but in exchange, each one of us have become much stronger.
It's as if merely encountering the Mountain God was treated as a Heavenly Tribulation, as even those who had their cultivation realm rise did not face any tribulations.
After we all spoke of revenge and ignited the flames,
I look at them and say.
"...I'm sorry to everyone, but you know there's still something left to do, right?"
At my words, they all nod weakly.
"We need to rescue Kang Min-hee."
Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks with a gloomy expression.
"Yeah. And judging by my estimation, she..."
My face hardens.
"She may have reached the Star Shattering stage by now."
She would have already metamorphosized into the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother and gone berserk.
At this point in time, there's no way to stop her from rampaging.
Just like how the power of fate kept restoring things to their original state whenever I tried to save my comrades.
Kang Min-hee at this point of time will have gone berserk and is to devour the Bright Cold Realm.
"...It's a bit awkward to say this, but if I can just have 300 more years, I'm confident I can reach the Grand Perfection Integration stage and attempt to advance to the Star Shattering stage."
I have the experience of having reached the Grand Perfection Integration stage before.
Even though I regressed and fell to the early Integration stage, I'm confident I can rise to Grand Perfection again with that experience.
"Our goal is one."
I look at my comrades and speak.
"Let's become stronger."
Clenching my fist, I say,
"Let's become even stronger, so that no one can oppress us."
Drip, drip drip...
Something flows from my eyes.
It's a curse.
Just like after the tenth cycle's Yuan Li, black curses are falling from my eyes.
Chiiiiii—
The surrounding ground decays and crumbles in an instant.
It's been a long time since anything like normal tears flowed from my eyes.
Kuang—
Feeling an inexplicable tightness I hit my chest.
A monstrous thing formed of curses crawls out of my body, looks at me, and then hastily flees.
Monsters grow out of my body and flee, while the serene scene of my Integrated Dao Domain is reflected around me.
My Integrated Dao Domain is a desert.
In the desert, three thousand Colorless Glass Swords are embedded. During the day, the ground burns fiercely, while at night, monsters grow in the darkness, trembling with fear and wailing as they try to escape my domain.
Standing in the center of the monsters fleeing from me, I feel curses flowing from my seven orifices and speak.
[Let's become stronger, and stronger, and take revenge. We must...!]
The curses flow through my body, covering me completely.
Amidst the curses, I reveal my true form with twenty heads and roar.
[We must avenge them and honor the dead...!]
Kururururu—
Jeon Myeong-hoon becomes the Giant of Red Lightning.
Perhaps due to his elevated cultivation, Jeon Myeong-hoon's head split in half, becoming the Lightning God with Two Heads and Six Arms.
Oh Hyun-seok reveals his giant body of purple primordial chaos, and Kim Young-hoon, unable to contain his sorrow, shouts toward the heavens.
The shadow of a golden Peng swirls around Kim Young-hoon.
Wei Shi-hon and Eum Wa, Hong Fan and Seo Ran. and Shi Ho all reveal their gigantic true forms, and while they shed tears of blood, they let out ghostly wails, while Buk Hyang-hwa and Kim Yeon silently shed tears with pale faces.
Yeon Jin, through his Taiji Quaking Lightning Body, sheds tears as his face splits in half, and Gyo Yeom, Nok Ju, Baek Wi-ik, and the others huddle together in fear, trembling with the monsters that collapsed under my roar.
The goal for this life is simple.
Save Kang Min-hee.
And to save her, I will raise my cultivation.
I will elevate my realm and become stronger.
With that simple yet difficult goal engraved in my heart, I swallow my tears, embrace my comrades within my Integrated Dao Domain, and set out from the storage scroll.
-x-X-x-
Paaaat!
A streak of white light pierces through the void, accompanied by the sound tearing through the air.
Kugugugugu!
Within the white light, a powerful pressure of spiritual energy and a massive gust of wind erupts, causing numerous demon beasts and spirit beasts to flee in terror as soon as they feel its presence.
Kurung, urrrrrrrng!
Suddenly, dark clouds seem to flow toward the white light and are drawn into it.
The white light is Seo Eun-hyun, and what entered him are the clouds of Heavenly Tribulation.
However, despite the bizarre and terrifying event, Seo Eun-hyun merely twitches his eyes slightly without any change in expression as he flies swiftly toward the Human Race territory.
-x-X-x-
Kurung, Kurururung!
Inside my domain, Seo Ran is currently completing his advancement to the Four-Axis stage.
Perhaps the Sea Orchid Fruit I previously obtained from the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person proved to be quite helpful. After consuming the fruit, Seo Ran achieved a tremendous rise in his cultivation and became able to attempt advancing from half-step into the Four-Axis stage to the complete Four-Axis stage.
Of course, due to time being the essence in our current situation, we decided to proceed with the advancement while I am carrying him within me.
Naturally, this meant that the Heavenly Tribulation would rage within my domain, potentially causing damage. Fortunately, Jeon Myeong-hoon is able to minimize the impact of the Heavenly Thunder, preventing any major issues.
Woo-woong!
I move rapidly through the air, absorbing the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of the Bright Cold Realm.
"Hoo..."
For 190,000 years, I slowly raised my cultivation realm.
Although I had advanced my realm within the dense Heaven and Earth spiritual energy right after the beginning of creation, I nonetheless acquired a considerable amount of insight into the realm that an Integration stage cultivator should possess. Therefore, I was able to elevate my realm from the very beginning of the Integration stage to the early stage in an instant.
Of course, progressing through the middle and late stages to reach Grand Perfection will require considerable time.
The formula for the Integration stage is divided into six major aspects.
Rain (雨), Sun (陽), Heat (燠), Cold (寒), Wind (風), and Time (時).
These aspects represent cloudiness (雨), clearness (陽), warmth (燠), coldness (寒), and wind (風), symbolizing the changes of the seasons (時).
Cultivation in the Integration stage involves unifying Heaven, Earth and the Four Directions—the Six Harmonies (六合)—within one's Integrated Dao Domain.
By integrating each of these Six Harmonies, one can gain a divine power, and these divine powers are named after the six aspects mentioned above.
Collectively, they are referred to as Various Omens (庶徵), a process of mastering one's domain more perfectly and harmonizing within it.
In the case of Jeon Myeong-hoon's Integrated Dao Domain, the Charged Lightning Veil of the Great 'Heavenly Rain' (雨天), he most 'strongly' awakened the divine power of Rain (雨), hence the name.
Most Integration stage Grand Cultivators typically awaken their divine powers in the order of Rain (雨), Sun (陽), Heat (燠), Cold (寒), Wind (風), and Time (時).
However, I am different.
Woo-woong!
I can feel day and night circulating within my domain.
Day and night, also known as Twilight (光陰/Light and Shade), are other terms representing the passage of time.
When I first gazed upon the Immortal Treasure of Time, Yeong Seung, my body had scattered into Twilight as if I had become one with time itself.
Regardless, the crucial point is this:
Time.
I awakened the divine power of Time first, rather than Rain.
I have some guesses as to why I awakened the divine power of Time first.
'Vast Cold Heavenly Circle...'
Woo-woong—
The formula of the Vast Cold Heavenly Circle rotates, awakening the divine power of Time.
Wiiiiiing—
As Twilight rotates according to the formula of the Vast Cold Heavenly Circle, the last of the six divine powers is awakened.
'Since I've awakened Time instead of Rain, I'll have to gain enlightenment of the divine powers in the opposite direction compared to other cultivators.'
In the previous cycle, at the beginning of creation, I awakened Wind after Time, rather than Sun following Rain.
Wind (風).
Kugugugugugu!
Normally, I would move quietly, but in order to obtain the divine power of Wind, the next divine power after Time, I advance while scattering storms around me with the sound of tearing through the air.
How long have I been flying through the air?
Paaaang!
Within the wind, I notice a familiar region appearing in the distance.
Swiftwind Domain.
Whiooooooo!
Swiftwind Domain, where wind, darkness, and yin energy gather abundantly, has not transformed into something akin to a part of the Nether Ghost Realm this time, as Kang Min-hee did not emerge from here in this cycle.
'The Kang Min-hee of present is...very likely to emerge around the Human Race territory.'
Using the ground-shrinking technique, Flying Escape Technique, Gliding Technique, and Sword Flight, I quickly pass through Swiftwind Domain, heading toward the Human Race territory.
At the same time, I slightly open my domain to absorb a portion of the wind from the Swiftwind Domain into it.
Paaat!
A few days later.
In the distance, the Human Race territory, the Sky Island Archipelago, comes into view.
'She hasn't awakened yet.'
Kang Min-hee, the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother, will inevitably awaken at this point and devastate the surroundings.
Last time, she awakened in Swiftwind Domain and wreaked havoc, but this time, there was no cause for her to awaken there.
In other words, she is likely to awaken at the Black Ghost Valley's Human Race branch and lay waste to the surrounding area.
'I can't even imagine how many humans will die.'
Flying with a sharp gaze, I quickly ponder through the situation.
'I don't know when Kang Min-hee will awaken. It wouldn't be strange if she woke up right now.'
Therefore, before she awakens,
I need to evacuate the Human Race.
To a place out of reach of Kang Min-hee's influence, who is at the Star Shattering stage...
At Temporal Fate Island, located at the very outskirts of the Human Race territory, I notice that a barrier has been activated, likely in response to sensing my rapid approach to that direction.
The entire Human Race territory is shrouded in clouds, making its presence faint.
If I were a mindless monster or a Grand Cultivator visiting the Human Race territory for the first time, I might not have noticed its existence and simply flown past.
This is the barrier grand formation activated through the dragon vein of the entire Human Race territory, also known as the 'Concealment Grand Formation,' hiding and protecting the territory by making it invisible to powerful beings flying nearby.
Kwaaaang!
However, I accurately sense a gap in the Concealment Grand Formation and smash through one of its corners, entering the Human Race territory.
Simultaneously,
Flash, flash, flash!
Multiple orbs of light float around me.
The orbs twist in the air and transform into human figures.
They are the projections of the Grand Cultivators of the Human Race Grand Alliance.
Jun Jae, Gol Maek, Gae Jin, Eung Yeon, Wi Ryeong-seon, and Wi Su.
These are the six Integration stage Grand Cultivators of the current Human Race Grand Alliance, excluding Hon Won.
They seem to flinch in surprise as they look at me.
"It's been a while, everyone from the Grand Cultivator Association."
[...Hah, haha...so it was you, Cultivator Seo.]
Jun Jae seems to be breaking out in a slight cold sweat, but then he smiles.
However, I see his heart essence wildly fluctuating.
[You managed to escape from the Ancient Force Realm I see. We were actually planning to extract you soon, but you managed to get out on your own...moreover you reached the Integration stage while in the Ancient Force Realm? Haha, it seems you've truly earned the right to be called a Grand Cultivator now. Perhaps we should hold a celebration...]
"Thank you for your kind words, but there's no time for that."
I awkwardly smile, cutting off Jun Jae's attempt to avoid my wrath.
"There is a high possibility that a Star Shattering stage entity is going to attack the Human Race Grand Alliance. We need to relocate the entire Human Race to another place immediately. If not, the entire Human Race territory will be completely destroyed today."
At my words, they all look up at the sky.
Ironically, the celestial energy is clear.
But it's the truth.
This is simply a matter in which an extremely high-ranking entity, such as the Chief Judge of the Netherworld, is involved, so they can't read the celestial energy.
"It seems that due to the involvement of a high-ranking entity, the celestial energy cannot be read at this moment. But you all know it too. That we were unable to read the celestial energy concerning [a certain entity] that revealed itself on Thunder Spirit Island..."
At my words, they seem to exchange opinions via voice transmission and then nod.
[Indeed...I understand what you're saying. However, relocating the Human Race territory is a matter that requires great caution. Even if it's the word of Grand Cultivator Seo, we must gather all the Grand Cultivators in their main bodies, perform collective foresight, submit a petition to the Sacred Master, and only after receiving a reply confirming the danger should we...]
"I apologize, but there's no time for that. We must relocate the Human Race territory immediately, even if it's just one day earlier."
[...To be honest, I find it hard to believe. But since you are a Grand Cultivator, I'm considering the procedures for your sake, so please bear with us. If this matter was so urgent that it required immediate attention upon your arrival, why didn't you notify us in advance?]
Jun Jae seems to be sternly reprimanding me, but I suppress the rising irritation and calmly open my mouth to speak.
"First, calm down and listen to what I have to say. I tried to inform you about this matter in advance. But Alliance Head Jun Jae, you cut off my contact right away and even prevented me from reaching out to the Human Race Grand Alliance!"
At my words, Jun Jae's mouth opens and closes before he awkwardly coughs.
[Th-That was...I'm sorry. I was in the middle of training my newly acquired lightning divine power, and the lightning within me acted up, causing me to accidentally cut off Cultivator Seo's connection. But to immediately evacuate based on Cultivator Seo's claim that a terrifying entity is descending, to be honest...]
And at that moment.
Kua-jijijijik!
A streak of red lightning seems to emerge from within me, followed by a terrifying voice that reverberates through the area.
[Don't spout dogshit. The lightning...is whispering that your words are lies...]
Kururung!
From within my domain, thunder roars as Jeon Myeong-hoon growls.
He grinds his teeth and emerges from within my domain.
Thud!
Jeon Myeong-hoon's upper body crawls out from behind me, his blood-red lightning-filled eyes glaring at Jun Jae and the projections of the Grand Cultivator Association.
[These dog bastards are mocking us. The lightning is clearly whispering to me that you cut off the contact in a hurry, fearing Seo Eun-hyun might return. Lying is one thing but...seeing you trash sitting on your hands while Seo Eun-hyun is kindly running around to save your worthless lives makes my already rotten five viscera and six bowels twist. I can't stand it any longer...]
Barely containing the lightning, he threatens the Grand Cultivator Alliance.
[Seo Eun-hyun is politely explaining the situation to you, yet it seems your stomachs are too bloated and your butts are too heavy to move. I'm warning you, stop with the disgusting lies and excuses, and follow his instructions. If you don't, I'll tear you limb from limb and scatter your remains throughout the Human Race territory.]
At Jeon Myeong-hoon's murderous words, the expressions of the Grand Cultivator Association also darken.
[And who is this bastard? It looks like you've reached the Integration stage, but it seems you're acting without knowing your place just because we're kind to Cultivator Seo. Cultivator Seo proved his strength back in the Four-Axis stage, but do you think we're afraid of some nobody like you who crawled out of nowhere? Besides, it seems your main cultivation method involves lightning divine power, but each and every one of us gained lightning divine powers and enlightenment in lightning in general, so we're not particularly afraid of your lightning. Behave yourself!]
At those words, Jeon Myeong-hoon falls silent.
Then, I see the veins bulging across his body.
[Seo Eun-hyun.]
"...What?"
Red lightning crackles in all four directions around him as he opens his mouth.
[Let's just kill them all.]
I understand what Jeon Myeong-hoon is implying, knowing that he has been communicating his thoughts to our comrades via voice transmission.
In any case, there's no way to drive out the Human Race from this area through persuasion alone.
Therefore, with force, we will combine our strengths and expel the entire Human Race from this area.
That, Jeon Myeong-hoon is saying, is the fastest and easiest way.
Normally, I would have opposed it.
Even if it took some time, I would have calmly explained the reasons, shown the evidence, and led them slowly.
But right now.
With my comrades massacred by the Owner of Great Mountain, and knowing that Kang Min-hee will soon descend,
I realize that I can't afford to waste time.
I close my eyes briefly, opening them with an exhale.
Huuuuu—
Then, black ghostly energy and curses begin to emanate from around me.
[...Alright.]
Wuduk, wududuk, wuduk!
Nineteen heads sprout from my shoulders, and I become the Ghost King with twenty heads.
The projections of the Grand Cultivators vanish, and six spatial rifts begin to form in their place.
The Human Race's Grand Cultivators are gathering.
The power I sense beyond the rifts are strong, as if they have significantly recovered from their injuries, and there is a subtle presence of lightning power, likely the knowledge and divine power they gained from facing the Owner of Heavenly Punishment.
Bulge, writhe!
My comrades emerge from within my domain.
From behind me, the true form of Hong Fan, Seo Ran, and Shi Ho spring forth, followed by a gigantic Wei Shi-hon and a devilized Eum Wa.
At the same time, from my shoulders, Jeon Myeong-hoon in his Two-Head Six-Armed Lightning God form and the Starlight Giant Oh Hyun-seok, who has now reached the pinnacle of the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, emerge.
From my chest, Buk Hyang-hwa and her puppet, created by modifying the dharma treasures and materials from Lofty Dragon's storage scroll, along with Kim Yeon, appear.
Woo-woong!
I draw the Colorless Glass Sword from my domain and hold it in my hand.
From the Integration stage onwards, one can directly retrieve items from their domain, so I can summon things from anywhere I desire without having to retrieve dharma treasures from my mouth.
Kua-jijijijijik!
I can sense the clones of Wi Ryeong-seon sending voice transmissions across the Human Race territory.
I see sects loyal to the Grand Cultivators flying in from various places.
Even most of the Six Major Sects of the Human Race are heading this way.
[Even now, if you withdraw your dharma treasures and divine powers and peacefully come with us to Heavenly Human Island, I will overlook your earlier rudeness! Seo Eun-hyun! If you don't want to fight the entire Human Race, then even now...]
[The entire Human Race, huh...]
Wooo-wooong!
The Three Great Ultimates rise behind me.
Now that I have entered the Integration stage, the Three Great Ultimates I summon exude a far more distinct and domineering aura than before.
It is no longer like an active volcano, but more like watching the volcano erupt in real-time.
Now, the Three Great Ultimates behind me are no longer just mere forms.
As the Three Great Ultimates rotate, they begin generating tangible physical force.
Kugugugugugu!
A whirlwind begins to blow around me due to the power of the Three Great Ultimates.
From the forty gleams in my eyes, curses ignite and radiate.
Under the influence of the curses, parts of my body begin to bulge and writhe as monsters begin to emerge from me.
I let out a small chuckle.
Of course, it's a small laugh, but with so many mouths, and perhaps because of the wind, my laughter sounds like the wailing of a cacophony of ghosts.
No, this is indeed the wailing of ghosts.
Buried within my chest are the grudges of the dead followers, having turned into ghosts.
In order for such a horrific massacre to never happen again,
Amidst the ghostly wails, I open my mouth with hardened eyes.
[From now on, I will drive the entire Human Race out of this area.]
Whether she awakens in the Swiftwind Domain or in the Black Ghost Valley's Human Race branch, it doesn't matter.
Kang Min-hee will attack the Human Race first no matter what.
After all, the souls that follow her the most are none other than those of the Human Race.
Therefore, whether through persuasion or force, I must drive the Human Race out of here and force them to evacuate.
[Come at me, Human Race bastards.]
And so, the clash between me and the entire Human Race begins.
-x-X-x-
Jun Jae swallows.
He can feel it.
Even during the Four-Axis stage, this is a monster that fought against the Grand Cultivator Association and even took a hostage.
Just that alone is enough to redeem him the qualifications of someone at the Grand Perfection Integration stage!
And now, this monster brought along an Integrated Dao Domain with him.
Jun Jae can't even imagine how much stronger he has become.
Gulp—
Jun Jae swallows again, focusing all his attention on the monster before him.
And then, the specter of the Three Great Ultimates raises his sword.
"Do not be nervous! No matter how strong he has become, he's only at the early Integration stage..."
Of course, even if he isn't confident, it is still the leader's duty to boost his comrades' morale.
Jun Jae steps forward, putting his golden scale-covered body at the forefront.
In the next moment.
Jun Jae's foresight reveals the Human Race territory split in two.
"H-Heok?!"
Flash!
A single line of light.
The sound follows belatedly.
But Jun Jae, no, everyone including Jun Jae, knows immediately.
'This is insane...'
Jun Jae breaks out in a cold sweat, his expression one of utter shock.
Life drains from his eyes.
He feels on the verge of a panic attack.
The attacks from Integration Grand Cultivators are powerful enough to vaporize an area with a diameter of 30,000 li with a single strike.
But look at this.
With a single strike from Seo Eun-hyun, the monster of Three Great Ultimates, land with a diameter of 300,000 li, along with the sea of clouds and all the Sky Islands in its path, are sliced apart.
Only because he himself is at the Grand Perfection Integration stage can Jun Jae comprehend.
That the being before him is a monster capable of annihilating a small Decaying Corpse Realm in its entirety with a single blow.
Of course, Jun Jae, being at the Grand Perfection Integration stage, can bring about the extinction of the 'ecosystem' within a Decaying Corpse Realm.
By triggering a sufficiently large earthquake and completely twisting the earth's crust so that no living being can survive, all life within the Decaying Corpse Realm would face extinction that very day.
However, there is a vast difference between wiping out all life within a Decaying Corpse Realm and annihilating the Decaying Corpse Realm itself.
Being at the Great Perfection Integration stage himself, Jun Jae realizes as soon as he sees Seo Eun-hyun's single strike.
'He...this power is beyond the Integration stage.'
Tremble, shuddershuddershudder—
As soon as he senses the level of power Seo Eun-hyun wields, Jun Jae can tell.
What level of power the being before his eyes has reached.
'Not quite...at the Quasi-Star Shattering stage but a being beyond the Integration stage...'
Clench...
But he can't give up.
This Human Race territory is a precious domain his ancestors risked their lives to obtain.
It's a cherished place that cannot be recklessly moved at the whim of a single member.
"Everyone, charge at the Colorless Sword Ghost!"
Colorless Sword Ghost, Seo Eun-hyun.
This is the title Seo Eun-hyun earned after his previous battle with the Grand Cultivator Association.
A nickname given that describes him literally, a ghost wielding a sword.
"Stay put, you Sword Ghost bastard!"
"No matter how strong you are, do you really think you can defeat all of us?"
Gae Jin, Eung Yeon, and others.
The Integration stage Grand Cultivators who are still young or inexperienced excitedly charge at Seo Eun-hyun.
But Wi Ryeong-seon and Wi Su,
Those with more experience or keen minds,
Or figures like Jun Jae himself or Hon Won, who are at higher cultivation realms, hesitate, launching their attacks at Seo Eun-hyun from the rear.
Yet, despite being in the back, Jun Jae's expression remains calm.
'An Integration stage cultivator capable of producing attacks nearing the Star Shattering stage...but that's all.'
He focuses his attack on Seo Eun-hyun with a serious expression as he instructs the sects that have responded to the Grand Cultivator Association's summons to target Jeon Myeong-hoon and other Integration level comrades, all while contemplating.
'The Integration stage. At the early stage at that. There's no way he can use such overwhelming attacks frequently. At most, he can use it three times. We just need to be cautious for two more attacks. After that, his power will drop to the level of an ordinary Grand Perfection Integration stage cultivator. At that point, Gol Maek and I can join forces to subdue him.'
Jun Jae completes what he believes to be the most rational judgment within the scope of his knowledge, his eyes gleaming.
"Keep attacking! As long as he's enduring our full assault, he won't be able to move easily!"
Wi Ryeong-seon swings his fan, causing flames to surge, and Wi Su amplifies the firepower with a gust of wind.
Gae Jin sprouts spores and hyphae from within the flames, covering Seo Eun-hyun's body, while Eung Yeon pulls out her tower, a quasi-Refining Void Dharma Treasure, and presses down on Seo Eun-hyun.
Gol Maek gathers energy in both hands, sending a violet glow shooting towards Seo Eun-hyun, and Jun Jae unleashes his magnetic dharma treasures to suppress Seo Eun-hyun's body.
At the same time, they don't forget to attack Seo Eun-hyun with lightning divine power, scorching him like Heavenly Tribulation.
'It's working, he's unable to move! If we can stall him like this and avoid two more of his attacks, victory will be ours!'
However, despite gaining the upper hand, Jun Jae anxiously surveys his surroundings.
Kwarururung!
Among the Six Major Sects of the Human Race, the Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect, Entering Truth Gate, and Heavenly Lotus Sect are all focusing their efforts on keeping a single Jeon Myeong-hoon at bay.
Jeon Myeong-hoon swings his six arms in all four directions, brandishing his lightning spear, and each time he swings the lightning spear, the martial forces of each sect fall apart like paper.
[Guaaaaaaah!]
As Jeon Myeong-hoon roars, a Taiji emerges around him, and a domain of lightning and thunder begins to form in the vicinity.
Kuarurururung!
As soon as he opens his domain, countless red lightning bolts start raining down from above.
'Integration with late-stage power...considering how his current realm appears to be at the early stage, it's terrifying to imagine how much stronger he'll become once he reaches the late stage...'
Jun Jae turns his gaze elsewhere.
On the battlefield, Penglai Palace of the Human Race Six Major Sects is being confronted by Hong Fan, Kim Yeon, and Buk Hyang-hwa.
The poison scattered by the giant centipede demon leaves left the law enforcers of Penglai Palace unable to focus, and in the chaos, Kim Yeon is manipulating Buk Hyang-hwa's puppets to fight against Penglai Island.
Penglai Palace deployed the General Seos they previously took from Seo Eun-hyun, but in the span of three blinks, they were taken over by Kim Yeon.
Though it appears like Hong Fan and the puppets are being pushed back by the Penglai Palace disciples' Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique, Buk Hyang-hwa, who is within the puppets, is continuously modifying them in real-time, and making them stronger.
'No, more than that...how is that woman so calmly evading and breaking through the attacks of higher-level cultivators so effortlessly?'
Jun Jae is staring at Kim Yeon.
A woman clearly only at the Heavenly Being stage.
However, her movements are bizarrely fast.
Wo-woong—
"...?"
Jun Jae frowns as he notices five orb-like things floating around Kim Yeon.
Each time one of the orbs enters her body, her puppet manipulation speed increases significantly.
It's not simply at the level of being fast.
That speed rivals the Flying Escape Technique of an Integration stage Grand Cultivator.
'That woman is also a major factor at the level of a Grand Cultivator.'
He analyzes the combat potential of those Seo Eun-hyun brought with him.
The Black Ghost Valley is in combat with Shi Ho and Seo Ran.
Shi Ho is baring his six tails and growling atop Seo Ran's Nether Crossing Ship, while the Black Ghost Valley has deployed two Nether Crossing Ships, several Four-Axis Ghost Kings, as well as Heo Gwak and Heo Ryeong to pressure the two of them.
However...
'Damn it, what the hell is that now!?'
Oh Hyun-seok, who has joined with the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, that has just risen to the bottom of the Six Major Sects of the Human Race, is fighting together with them against the entire Black Ghost Valley.
[Uhahahahaha!]
[Huhahahahaha!]
Azure Tiger Saint Cheongmun Sunwoo and Oh Hyun-seok are both exuding the same energy as they battle against the Ghost Kings of the Black Ghost Valley.
[You fools! What are you doing right now!? Are you declaring your betrayal to the Human Race!?]
Jun Jae shouts towards the Azure Heaven Creation Sect.
But what he receives in return is the boisterous laughter of Azure Tiger Saint.
[Hahaha! Before being part of the Human Race, we are of the same sect!]
[They are traitors to the Human Race!]
[Before being a traitor, he is my disciple!]
Azure Tiger Saint puffs out his chest in front of Oh Hyun-seok and shouts.
[If you wish to imprison my disciple, you must first imprison me, his unworthy master!]
Jun Jae is at a loss for words, utterly bewildered.
'He...he doesn't even realize that it's only due to his dharma treasure which makes him at the Quasi-Integration level that his sect was accepted into the Human Race's Six Major Sects...'
Jun Jae grinds his teeth with his eyes gleaming.
[They're all hopeless. Every single one of them has something wrong...]
Kugugugugu!
Starting with Jun Jae, domains begin to emerge from the bodies of the Grand Cultivators of the Grand Cultivator Association.
Wo-woong!
The domains of the Grand Cultivators wrap even more tightly around Seo Eun-hyun, who is already trapped.
Their domains overlap, enveloping the entire area where the battle is taking place.
Typically, when domains overlap, they collide and push against each other.
However, when the owners of the domains give permission, the domains instead overlap, and the energy amplifies even more.
Kugugugugu!
Jun Jae's eyes shine with a stern light.
His entire body transforms into a giant covered in golden scales.
Gol Maek becomes a giant figure completely enveloped in unknown bones.
Gae Jin turns into a mass of mushrooms and hyphae sprouting from his entire body, while Eung Yeon merges with her dharma treasures, becoming a golden dragon. Wi Ryeong-seon becomes a butterfly of flames, and Wi Su becomes a butterfly with wings of wind, all revealing their true forms.
[This is the end, you bastards! Now kneel before the authority of humanity...]
Just as the golden-scaled giant, who released all his strength, raises one hand,
Crack!
Jun Jae suddenly turns around at the spine-chilling sound coming from behind him.
Kuguguguk!
As a dark wind sweeps in, a pitch-black hand shoots up from within the prison of flames.
Then, a Ghost King with twenty heads emerges from within, wielding a colorless sword.
[Th-This, damn it! Stop it!]
At Jun Jae's shout, all the Grand Cultivators combine their powers, intensifying the seal on the Ghost King and launching their attacks.
But the Ghost King, despite being struck by countless attacks, calmly converses with someone.
[Why are you still staying inside alone?]
"It's because I'm not yet fully accustomed to the consciousness domain and spiritual power of the Core Formation stage..."
[Isn't your strength even greater now?]
"Before I can control my power even more perfectly, I'm trying to hold back."
[Well...do as you wish.]
Jun Jae feels an inexplicable chill as he watches this exchange.
Tstststststststs!
Countless futures flash before his eyes.
At the Integration stage, a Grand Cultivator no longer sees just one possible future but multiple possibilities.
If one sits quietly and concentrates for years, one could even predict possibilities far into the distant future.
However, in Jun Jae's vision, only one possible future becomes visible.
[Everyone, get out of the way!!!]
Kwagwagwagwang!
The prison of flames collapses.
The shockwave causes all the domains surrounding Seo Eun-hyun to crumple.
And Seo Eun-hyun grips his sword once more.
Jun Jae grits his teeth and shouts.
[He must have exhausted a significant amount of energy while escaping! Just avoid that!]
Kugugugugu!
Then, Seo Eun-hyun's single strike splits the entire Human Race territory in half once more.
Jun Jae feels a chill run down his spine.
The sheer power is one thing, but despite the massive slash cutting through the entire Human Race territory, while the terrain was destroyed, not a single living being was harmed.
A single strike that passes through anything that isn't its target, cutting only what is intended.
The precision is terrifying.
However, Jun Jae feels relieved.
'He must have used up all his strength by now.'
He shouldn't be able to show such feats any longer.
Then, Seo Eun-hyun swings his sword.
Boo-woong!
[...!!]
Jun Jae is shocked and quickly dodges Seo Eun-hyun's slash again.
Once more, his sword splits Heaven and Earth.
Eight out of ten of the Human Race's Sky Islands have been sliced off by Seo Eun-hyun's sword.
In disbelief, Jun Jae shakes his head.
[Th-That's right. I made a slight misjudgment. But that must have truly been the last...]
Seo Eun-hyun grips his sword again.
And he swings towards the Grand Cultivators.
Once again, the Grand Cultivators strain with all their might to dodge, and Jun Jae's face turns pale.
[He must have learned some special secret art to conserve his energy. But this time, his strength must truly be...]
Seo Eun-hyun swings his sword once more.
Kugugugugu!
The entire Human Race territory is filled with slashes, and the Sky Islands begin to fall.
The foundation of humanity is being destroyed.
[...Ah ...I see.]
'That is no ordinary Above-Integration stage...'
Only then does Jun Jae realize.
The Seo Eun-hyun in front of him was never fighting them from the beginning.
To the being before him, the Grand Cultivators are nothing more than insignificant fruit flies.
He is simply doing what he said he would do from the beginning—attacking their foundation to drive humanity out of their homeland.
Boo-woong, boo-woong, boo-woong!
Each time the sword is swung, the floating formations of the Sky Islands shatter, and the Sky Islands fall.
[S-Stop...]
Sword light flashes.
The formless sword light shatters all the formations within the Human Race territory.
[Stop it...!]
Jun Jae shouts with despair in his eyes.
As the clouds above the Human Race territory clear, their home is being destroyed by Seo Eun-hyun's atrocities.
[I said stop!]
The land that humanity's ancestors had protected for generations is crumbling just like that.
[I'm telling you to stop right now!!!]
Jun Jae cries out in rage, shedding tears of blood as he screams at the monster swinging the sword.
And then, Seo Eun-hyun and Jun Jae's eyes meet.
For the sake of humanity's territory, Jun Jae charges at the monster before him.
Someone has to stop it.
They have to stop this monster from bringing the end of the human era!
Kwaaang!
The next moment, Jun Jae is struck by Seo Eun-hyun's single strike, and his entire golden-scaled body shatters and is flung away.
His domain is split in half.
It's immediately clear.
That Seo Eun-hyun could have crushed them all to death at any time.
[Bastard!]
Gol Maek roars in fury as she expands her body and charges at Seo Eun-hyun.
Wi Ryeong-seon, Wi Su, Gae Jin, and Eung Yeon also launch a full-scale assault on Seo Eun-hyun once more.
Under Wi Ryeong-seon's command, the Six Major Sects, no, the Five Major Sects excluding the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, that are fighting Seo Eun-hyun's comrades, all rush at Seo Eun-hyun together.
[Do not threaten humanity's foundation, you traitor!]
At Gae Jin's shout, countless members of the Human Race begin bombarding Seo Eun-hyun with dharma treasures and spells.
And as Seo Eun-hyun's forty eyes glow, he begins to reveal a spine-chilling aura.
[...I kept playing along with you, and now you don't know your place.]
Seo Eun-hyun, who had never fully unleashed the power of the Three Great Ultimates, begins to emit ghost fire from his glowing eyes.
[Fine, let's do this properly.]
The next moment, Seo Eun-hyun vanishes.
And in the following instant,
The only one who reacts properly is Gol Maek.
Pabung, Papeong!
Gae Jin and Eung Yeon's bodies are sliced in half, and Seo Eun-hyun's sword digs into Gol Maek's crossed arms, severing both of them.
Seo Eun-hyun coldly surveys his surroundings, using the Flying Escape Technique, Sword Flight, and the Gliding Technique.
From the beginning, he had no intention of facing the Human Race's great army.
Though Jeon Myeong-hoon said he would kill them all, Seo Eun-hyun was confident he could suppress the entire Human Race without killing anyone, so they were just objectives on his list.
His goal was to instill overwhelming fear and drive humanity out of their base.
That's why he only used large-scale attacks to turn the Human Race territory into a mess.
But no one,
Not a single member of humanity fears Seo Eun-hyun.
They are shocked, but that's all.
Every one of them is burning with determination to protect their base.
'So this is why they're called the Two Evils with the Fighting Ghost Race.'
The Fighting Ghost Race, constantly burning with fighting spirit as they battle.
The Human Race, who will continue to burn with fighting spirit even if their lives are about to be extinguished, as long as they have something to protect.
Both races have parts of them that will never let their fighting spirit break, which is why they are both grouped together and called the Asura Race.
'I thought wrong. After all, I'm human as well...'
Seo Eun-hyun finally changes his mindset.
'With a half-hearted resolve, I can't make humanity kneel.'
He adjusts his sword stance.
No longer is it a stance to merely intimidate the opponent, but a stance meant to properly kill the opponent.
With fierce killing intent in his eyes, he opens his mouth.
[I apologize for underestimating you. In that case, from now on...]
He begins to unleash his killing moves.
[I will face you properly.]
Right now, his opponent is humanity.
One of the two races in this vast Bright Cold Realm that never falters.
A thread-like sword energy erupts from his hand.
No, it isn't something as trivial as sword energy.
It's too terrifying to be called sword energy, too tyrannical to be called sword gang, and too sharp to be called sword pill (劍丸).
It is...indeed.
It is something that should rightfully be called Surpassing Path (越道).
The last technique of the first part of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship is called Sunrise Emerging Peak.
Like sunlight breaking over a mountain peak.
The countless thrusts pouring forth from the technique resemble a sunrise.
But what Seo Eun-hyun is now executing is far from a mere sunrise.
It is not a sunrise.
This is Creation (開闢).
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Twelfth Move.
[D-Dodge!!!]
[We'll be annihilated!]
Six-Hundred-Million Lights Creation Emerging Peak (六䖁光開闢峯).
The thread-like Sword Will pierces through Heaven, Earth, and the Four Directions.
And it doesn't stop at just piercing.
Kugwang, Kuguaguagwang!
It explodes.
From the point where the thread-like thrust hits, a storm of sword energy erupts, turning the surrounding area into a wasteland.
A tempest of slashes arises from all four directions.
The foundation of humanity collapses entirely, plummeting to the ground.
The territory of one of the mighty Six Heaven Tribe Races crumbles.
Gol Maek stares at the monster before her with an aghast expression.
[Sword...Sword...Ghost...]
Before her is the infamous Sword Ghost.
However, she cannot accept that thing being under the mere title of 'Sword Ghost.'
Such a name is far too insufficient to contain it.
And it seems everyone in the Grand Cultivator Association feels the same.
From Wi Ryeong-seon's mouth, as he watches humanity's territory being destroyed, a new name emerges.
"...Sword Devil (劍魔). It's the Sword Devil."
Kugugugugu!
As a storm of slashes passes by, they swallow hard as they stare at the being before them.
The Sword Devil, who has completely devastated all of humanity's territory, is still moving.
Woong, wo-woong, woooo-woong!
Heaven and Earth spiritual energy converges towards the being before them.
The Sword Devil...is preparing the next technique.
[Destroyed be all...!]
Wi Ryeong-seon sheds tears.
[Everyone, flee!]
His will spreads across all of humanity.
Wi Ryeong-seon's thousands of clones issue orders to tens of thousands of sects.
[The Grand Cultivator Association has been defeated! The devil of the sword seeks to trample us humans!]
He shouts as he faces Seo Eun-hyun's killing intent.
[Run away! If you wish to survive, escape from the range of the Sword Devil's attacks!]
Humanity has been defeated.
And they are forced to abandon their homes, embarking on an indefinite exodus, driven out by the devil of the sword with twenty heads.
From that day on, Seo Eun-hyun gained a new infamous name.
The evil ghost who wields a formless sword.
The Formless Sword Devil (無形劍魔) Seo Eun-hyun.
And not long after, all the races in the Bright Cold Realm started to face the Three Great Disasters that began to sweep across the realm in earnest.
The mad puppet master who began to 'truly' grow the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Mad Lord, Jo Yeon.
The madman who expelled one of the Two Evils of the Heaven Tribe's Six Great Races, the Human Race, from their homeland.
Formless Sword Devil, Seo Eun-hyun.
And the mindless monster that appeared with an army of ghosts and began to devour the world.
Ghost Guiding Holy Mother, Kang Min-hee.
The Mad Lord (怪君).
The Ghost Mother (鬼母).
The Sword Devil (劍魔).
The Bright Cold Realm collectively called these three the Three Great Disasters (災殃).
Translator Notes: Yep. The twelfth move was originally translated as ____ Lights Emerging Peak. I thought the imagery was there without having the sunrise which would make the name longer. I was but an ignorant mortal back then, daring to question the mind of the Great Tremendous. Who would've thought it would come back to haunt me now. T.T