The Three Great Ultimates flow behind me.
I feel a resonance forming between the Three Great Ultimates and the Wheel.
'This is...'
Something is drawing the two toward each other.
Just in case, I try overlapping the Wheel and the Three Great Ultimates.
It's at that moment.
Pasasa!
[...?]
The Wheel shatters, unable to withstand the amplification rate of the Sacred Vessel stage Three Great Ultimates.
Though it isn't easily broken by external pressure, it seems to be somewhat vulnerable to the internal pressure caused by the explosive forces within me.
'These two seem capable of overlapping, but...to make that possible, it seems I need to further perfect the Wheel and deepen my understanding of the Immortal Art.'
It feels like there might be something incredible awaiting, but for now, it seems to be a card I can't play.
Of course, it isn't a major issue.
Badududuk!
Because I am already an erupting volcano myself.
A Quasi-Immortal at the Entering Nirvana stage traverses thousands of light-years and flies toward me.
Then, they open their mouth wide and hurl another antimatter bomb at me.
Shwaaaaaa!
I don't know the exact principle behind it, but it seems to be a secret art that transforms water-attribute spells into antimatter at a subatomic level.
Slowly, I grip the Colorless Glass Sword in my hand.
Before I had the Three Great Ultimates, the existence before my eyes seemed difficult to handle...
But now, it's different.
'I can handle this much.'
As the antimatter makes contact with the matter of the universe, it transforms the surroundings into Qi, eroding the space around it with light.
It's as if the primordial scene of creation is unfolding.
The entire world is engulfed in light.
I place the tip of my sword against the void and slice upward.
Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.
Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts.
Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts Scripture.
Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts.
Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Martial Arts.
Record of Surpassing Path and Martial Art.
Entering Heavens Beyond the Path Martial Arts...!
From that point on, the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts of Kim Young-hoon and I that completely melted into the realm of Entering Heavens Beyond the Path. 𝘙
This peerless divine technique has only now, today, obtained a name beyond Entering Heavens Beyond the Path Martial Arts.
In its earliest stage, Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts merely severed the opponent's intent (意) and consciousness (識), erasing their perception of existence.
Over 400,000 years, that Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts has, in my hands, evolved, and evolved, and evolved again.
Now, it can not only hide myself but also conceal others, maintaining that state for up to 500 years.
Thus, it is time to give it a new name.
[Hidden Heavens Beyond the Path
Shukaak!
Beyond the Dao, I shall conceal myself from the heavens.
The tip of my sword scorches through the void.
The next moment.
Paatt!
The antimatter explosion before me vanishes like an illusion in an instant between the Quasi-Immortal and me.
[Wh-What...!? What kind of sorcery is this...?]
The Quasi-Immortal is momentarily taken aback.
Jiiiiiing!
A terrifying shockwave is transmitted directly to the soul.
I quickly use Mountain Echoes Valley Responds to unleash a sword cry that neutralizes the shockwave, protecting both myself and Kang Min-hee behind me.
However, the Quasi-Immortal, seemingly unable to adapt to the shockwave transmitted in the Plane of Soul, lets out a scream and howls madly.
Through Hidden Heavens Beyond the Path, I elevated the recent explosion entirely to the Plane of Soul.
The explosion occurred in the Plane of Soul, transformed from a material detonation into a shockwave that impacts the mind.
Not just severing consciousness and hiding within perception, but cutting apart the very phenomenon of an opponent's attack, sending it to the Plane of Soul and erasing it from sight.
No...it doesn't just stop at erasing. It transfers the phenomena itself into a battlefield advantageous to me!
That is the vision of the repeatedly transcended Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.
This is Hidden Heavens Beyond the Path.
'If it were Kim Young-hoon, he probably could have created Hidden Heavens Beyond the Path in about six thousand years.'
He wouldn't have taken 400,000 years like me.
[You...]
It's when I'm gauging the power of Hidden Heavens Beyond the Path.
The Quasi-Immortal glares at me and mutters.
[The Three Great Ultimates behind your back...they are undoubtable proof that you have learned Heaven, Earth, and Heart.]
I give a bitter smile.
Just moments ago, this Quasi-Immortal, who had been casually firing antimatter bombs in an attempt to hunt me down, now has an entirely different gaze.
It seems they finally regained some composure.
The Quasi-Immortal glares at me and mutters.
[...I will apologize. I was too rash.]
At those words, I let a slight look of joy to show on my face.
[If that's the case, then perhaps we can reconcile...]
[But reconciliation is impossible. An enmity has already been born. How could I ascend to True Immortality peacefully while having an unresolved enmity with an entity like you?]
[...]
[I apologize for underestimating you. This Immortal will crush you with my full strength.]
Kugugugugu!
Up until just now.
The Quasi-Immortal, who resembled nothing more than a large, foolish pigeon, begins to transform.
'The Peng form from earlier...was merely a convenient mode for movement, and is this...their true Combat Technique Form?'
Chwarak, chwarararararak!
The Quasi-Immortal's body transforms.
Their avian form morphs into a beastman form.
Yet their massive size remains unchanged, with an arm still large enough to cover an entire fixed star.
Even though they take on a beastman form, the resemblance to a human is limited to their general frame. The overall appearance is anything but human.
The Quasi-Immortal's face resembles a goblin, composed of black liquid and dark blue ice crystals.
Their arms, still wings, now reveal each feather transformed into separate 'arms' of black liquid, with each hand writhing with eleven fingers.
Dozens of eye-like patterns, similar to those on my Ghost-Face Killing Heaven Furnaceare engraved all across their body, and their legs are obscured by a curtain formed of a black waterfall, obscuring them from view.
The waterfall resembles a kind of skirt, and as it flows downward, it melds into the darkness of the universe, until their lower body appears entirely fused with the Astral Realm itself.
Chiiiiiiiiii—
[I declare:]
The Quasi-Immortal begins to use its spell.
[O quickly spinning Troubled Star (煩星), come to this place.]
Chichichichichit!
Space begins to distort.
At the same time, a star appears above one of the arms of the Quasi-Immortal.
Wiiing!
The summoned star begins to rotate.
However, the speed of its rotation is unusual.
At first, it seems to rotate at a speed similar to that of a regular planet, but it gradually accelerates, spinning over 60 times per second.
Yet it does not stop there. The rotational speed increases even further.
[I declare: Let the Troubled Star summon a storm.]
Gugugugugu!
An interstellar wind sweeps through the cosmic space.
This is not an interstellar wind like before, which could be resisted to some degree.
This is truly a terrifying cosmic gale that sweeps me away, hurling me towards a distant star system.
Chichichichiching!
Once more, space warps, and the Quasi-Immortal leaps through the space to follow me.
Holding the frantically spinning star in their hand, they continue speaking.
[I declare: Let the stars of the nations listen.]
Wooo-woooong!
At the Quasi-Immortal's words, all the starlight shining upon this place begins to hum in response.
I feel the stars of the star veins resonating, and an overwhelming sense of foreboding rises within me.
[Create a fence from which the foe before me cannot escape. Weave a net with starlight so they lose their way forward.]
I can feel it.
The star veins entwine, sealing a distance of several hundred light-years.
A barrier is formed, ensuring neither I cannot escape the battlefield between the Quasi-Immortal and I.
[I declare: O path of starlight, do not bestow the heaven's attraction force upon my adversary. O vibration of stars, do not grant the earth's resonance to my foe.]
Clang!
The laws within the barrier shift.
At the same time, I feel a sensation of darkness overtaking my vision.
'The Heaven Tribe's sight and the Earth Tribe's sight...have been sealed?'
The vision tied to both is blacked out.
The constellations no longer allow me to read the future or the past.
It seems the Quasi-Immortal cannot interfere with the Heart Tribe's vision, but it feels as though my perceptual faculties have been divided.
[I declare: O Troubled Star, twist this Immortal's bridle and seize the Five Elements.]
Kuguguguguk!
It doesn't end there.
The star in their hand appears to spin even faster, causing the nearby Five Elements to transform.
'Astounding...'
The Five Elements converge into one, and all attributes are transformed into the water attribute.
In a remote corner of the universe.
Though this twisting of laws is limited to within this barrier, even that is an overwhelming miracle.
Nearby fixed stars extinguish, ignoring the laws of physics, and turn into frozen masses of ice.
All the planets in the vicinity either become engulfed in water or plunge into an ice age.
[Now, shall we begin?]
The Quasi-Immortal looks at me.
They seem fully prepared to fight me.
I look up at them.
Forming a hand seal, I draw forth one of the two forms of the Crystal Glass to Treading Sea Great Star that I had yet to reveal.
Crystal Glass to Treading Sea Great Star.
Torch of Myriad Forms and Connections (萬狀因緣燈).
My body becomes a torch, and my Glass True Fire becomes its flame.
Around the flame, akin to candlelight, my Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections unfolds.
Perhaps, in the Quasi-Immortal's eyes, I appear as a mass of hazy mist.
Though the vision of the Heaven and Earth Tribes may have vanished, the authority remains intact.
Therefore...the Three Great Ultimates are still present.
Hwarururuk!
I amplify the Glass True Fire, again and again.
With the Three Great Ultimates behind my back and the hazy mist, I begin flying towards Quasi-Immortal.
The two cosmic entities collide.
The Entering Nirvana Quasi-Immortal holds the spinning star in their hand and shouts.
[O Troubled Star, hear me! Twist the Water of the Five Elements and reverse it with the power of darkness (暗黑).]
Kugugugugu!
The star system, once overflowing with water energy, transforms into antimatter and begins to explode.
However, Quasi-Immortal's incantation does not end there.
It's as if they anticipate that such an attack would have no effect on the foe before them.
[Troubled Star, heed my command! Whisper the curse with a thousand mouths! Let this Immortal's authority echo and manifest throughout the entire world.]
An orbit forms around the Troubled Star.
It is an orbit created from attraction force and rotation.
The orbit gradually expands, quickly engulfing the surrounding star system and reaches the edges of the barrier Quasi-Immortal has erected.
Soon, whispers begin emanating from the orbit.
Attraction Force Reversal.
Gravitational Concentration.
Collapse of the Five Elements.
Antimatter Waterfall.
Summoning Supernova Explosion.
Spatial Waterways.
Wrath of Water.
Knight of Winter.
Twilight of Frozen Earth.
World of Extreme Cold.
Within what living creatures might call a moment,
Thousands of spells and incantations are activated.
Each one is a grand spell capable of annihilating an entire world or civilization!
Attraction force reverses.
At the same time, to Seo Eun-hyun's left, gravity concentrates, creating a terrifying repulsion force.
The Five Elements collapse, shaking Seo Eun-hyun's physical body.
An antimatter waterfall materialises.
A supernova, on the verge of explosion, is summoned to block Seo Eun-hyun's path.
A waterway connecting one space to another emerges, allowing the water of a distant supermassive planet's ocean to flow in.
The water, heeding its master's command, erupts in fury and clings to Seo Eun-hyun.
Meanwhile, the black water surrounding the Quasi-Immortal condenses, forming a knight-like figure that radiates boundless cold.
The planet-sized knight wields a spear and charges toward Seo Eun-hyun. The moment Seo Eun-hyun and the knight collide, a blinding light bursts forth, followed by an explosion.
After the explosion, the entire surrounding space is dyed in extreme cold, rendering movement impossible according to laws of physics.
However, Seo Eun-hyun continues to move.
Kugugugugugu!
[This Immortal bestows upon thee a minor misfortune. You shall never reach this Immortal.]
The space between the Quasi-Immortal and Seo Eun-hyun layers itself. While the distance appears close at a glance, Seo Eun-hyun is actually subjected to an immense 'distance'.
Yet, Seo Eun-hyun advances.
[I declare to the Troubled Star: O Troubled Star, summon this Immortal's influence amidst the interstellar wind.]
Dudududu!
Interstellar wind sweeps through, distorting the space.
And, amidst the distorted space, two beings at the Sacred Vessel stage descend.
[Immortal Treasure, Cutting River Fan (㓼河扇), come to this Immortal's hand. Immortal Treasure, Red Flood Dragon Plaque (赤蛟牌), respond to this Immortal's call.]
A pitch-black sea that scatters sharp energy.
A colossal fan, formed from that black sea, is grasped in the Quasi-Immortal's hand.
A writhing plaque, crafted from what seems to be the flesh of some creature and adorned with the image of a red flood dragon, floats above the Quasi-Immortal's head.
However, the Immortal Treasures resist the will of the Quasi-Immortal, thrashing as if unwilling to obey.
The Quasi-Immortal roars in fury and suppresses the two Immortal Treasures with attraction force.
[Do not resist! I declare this: Let the Immortal Treasures' intellect be temporarily relinquished!]
Kwarururuung!
A sound akin to thunder reverberates, and the two immortal treasures fall silent.
Yet, controlling the treasures seems to have drained the Quasi-Immortal considerably as its arms tremble faintly.
The Quasi-Immortal swings the Cutting RIver Fan.
Hwiiioooooo!
Interstellar wind begins to rage wildly.
But that is not all.
Within the storm of interstellar wind, hundreds of slashes at the same level of the spells that bombarded Seo Eun-hyun emerge and surge toward him.
However, in the center of the hazy mist.
Where the flames of glass burn brightly, the fire morphs into a sword-like shape, deflecting and repelling all the incoming slashes.
Kwagwagwang!
Each slash that collides with the fire unleashes terrifying interstellar winds that shake the surrounding nebulae.
From the Red Flood Dragon Plaque comes what sounds like the roar of a red flood dragon, and the black water surrounding Seo Eun-hyun turns red, transforming into a red tide that encircles and dissolves him.
Then,
Kwaaaaang!
A glass-colored flame explodes, and a glass candle bursts forth from within the red tide, piercing through the distortion of space and advancing towards the Quasi-Immortal.
Finally.
Kwa-jiijijik!
Seo Eun-hyun reaches the hem of the Quasi-Immortal's skirt.
The edge of the waterfall.
Shiiii!
Seo Eun-hyun wraps around the Quasi-Immortal and begins moving up.
Along his path, the hazy mist from the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections lingers like a trail, gradually entwining around the Quasi-Immortal's body.
The scene resembles a hazy dragon with a head shaped like a candle, coiling around a giant god.
Chwararararak!
From the Quasi-Immortal's body, tens of thousands of hands of darkness erupt, attempting to push the dragon away.
But the dragon does not release its hold, continuing to coil upwards.
Once the dragon fully coils around the Quasi-Immortal, it becomes difficult for the Quasi-Immortal to attack with the Immortal Treasures.
Instead of panicking, the Quasi-Immortal raises the revolving star they summoned further into the sky.
[I declare this: O River of Black Water, transform into a River Whip and come to this hand.]
Chwararararak!
The accumulated water energy in the star system condenses, forming a massive river of black water.
The river flows into the Quasi-Immortal's grasp in an instant, transforming into a black whip.
[I declare to the Troubled Star: Bestow thy condemnation upon the adversary.]
Chwak!
The giant god swings the black whip towards the revolving star.
The star, called the Troubled Star, trembles violently upon being struck by the whip of black river.
Seo Eun-hyun's body also shakes, as though struck by the whip.
The Quasi-Immortal begins lashing the Troubled Star.
Kwa-jijijik!
The body of the star begins to be torn apart.
At the same time, the head of the dragon, the candle,
Seo Eun-hyun's main body begins to be gradually torn apart.
The curse of a Quasi-Immortal!
Chwak! Chwak!
However, it's when the Quasi-Immortal continues to lash the star.
Chwararararak!
The star begins to gradually darken, dying black.
The dragon's head.
From the place resembling a candle flame bursts forth a pitch-black flame.
[You reversed the curse? Terrifying one, what pain have you endured to overturn the curse of a True Person with your weight class alone...?]
Gradually, as Seo Eun-hyun's main body, the dragon's head, climbs higher and higher towards the head of the giant god, the Quasi-Immortal begins to grow visibly impatient.
Even antimatter is ineffective.
Even the thousands of spells cast simultaneously are ignored as he continues to advance.
Attacks using Immortal Treasures are deflected and he draws closer.
Even their curse is overturned by the weight class of his own curse and swallowed instead.
'This monstrous being...! Wasn't Vast Cold said to be at this level in their youth? If I let him go, he will undoubtedly become a vicious villain like Golden Divine and exact merciless revenge upon us.'
The Quasi-Immortal's eyes burn with ferocity.
A grim resolve to deal with Seo Eun-hyun here and now through whatever means is etched onto the Quasi-Immortal's face.
Jeoook!
The dragon with a head like a candle.
The monster known as Candle Dragon opens its mouth.
At the center of that mouth, Seo Eun-hyun, with the Three Great Ultimates on his back and spewing Glass True Fire, meets the gaze of the Entering Nirvana True Person.
Kiiiiing!
The Quasi-Immortal feels a chill run through their entire body.
It wasn't merely climbing up their body.
It wasn't just climbing. He has hidden himself with that candle, endlessly performing a sword dance all the way to this point.
The eyes of Seo Eun-hyun, who elevated himself to the True Immortal Domain through the sword dance, now burns incandescently white.
The Quasi-Immortal feels their entire being blaring with a sense of crisis.
'Ominous... If that strikes directly, even this Immortal will suffer a fatal wound...! If so, I must counter it...'
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Thirty-Third Stance.
Sumeru!
However,
There is something they didn't anticipate.
That is, every form of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship can naturally connect to another!
At the climax of the Sumeru Sword Dance, which borrows the power of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, Seo Eun-hyun transitions into the stance of the next move.
The ideal of the thrust that reached the Ultimate!
And at its tip, the power of death!
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Thirty-Fourth Stance.
Kunlun!
The chained technique of Sumeru Kunlun unfolds right before the Quasi-Immortal's eyes.
In that instant, the Quasi-Immortal tries to escape, either by cutting through the hazy mist binding them or by shrinking their body.
But escape is impossible.
It is as though thousands, hundreds of millions, quadrillions of people are clutching their body in countless places, refusing to allow any transformation or flight.
There is no escape.
Bound and sealed, there is no way to evade.
Then, what remains is...
'To strike back!'
A terrifying authority emanates from the Quasi-Immortal's head that resembles a goblin.
In that brief moment, even Seo Eun-hyun feels his legs weaken.
At the same time, the entirety of the Quasi-Immortal's body, which Seo Eun-hyun is holding, seems to reverse itself.
The Quasi-Immortal's colossal body undergoes complete antimatter transformation!
A spell in which they momentarily detonate their cultivation, transforming their entire body into antimatter to induce mutual annihilation.
Because their body itself has been turned into antimatter, it can no longer be nullified by Seo Eun-hyun elevating it to the Plane of Soul as he had done just moments earlier.
The equivalent of three stars' worth of antimatter explodes, and within that explosion, a thrust resembling a black line pierces through the center of the blast.
Like so,
A small stellar system, where intelligent life has not yet emerged, becomes buried in light and disappears entirely.
Chiiiiiiii—
Looking at the smoke emanating from my body, I glance back.
Behind me.
The entire stellar system where we had just been fighting moments ago.
No, an area far larger than that is engulfed completely in light.
'I almost died.'
I click my tongue.
Had the chained technique of Sumeru Kunlun been even slightly delayed, I would have probably died right there.
To be precise, my cultivation would have fallen to the Star Shattering stage, and I would have revived, but...
Standing in front of a Quasi-Immortal with Star Shattering stage cultivation is the same as dying.
Amidst a field of planet-sized asteroids, I sit down on a suitable meteor.
Thanks to the perfectly executed chained technique of Sumeru Kunlun, I managed to pierce straight through the Quasi-Immortal's center and escaped with nothing but a slightly scorched body as my only injury.
'I wonder what happened...'
I don't believe that the last strike had killed the Quasi-Immortal.
The life force of an Entering Nirvana True Person is immense to the point that it transcends imagination.
Just as I am thinking of this.
Ududk, udududuk!
Space distorts as if being crumpled, and someone appears.
Chhiiiiiiii—
It is an Entering Nirvana Quasi-Immortal with smoke rising from its entire body.
They still have that goblin-like face, wings transformed into arms, and the waterfall-like skirt. However, their size is now closer to my own, resembling that of a regular human.
The being glares at me.
[What sorcery have you performed? I cannot use my cultivation...!]
I smile faintly without saying a word.
The power of Sumeru Kunlun has struck its mark.
Through the power of pure death, a pin-sized hole has been pierced in the Quasi-Immortal's soul, leading directly to the domain of pure death.
The natural restorative forces of the world will eventually seal the hole, and their cultivation will return on its own. But for now, no matter what they do, they will be unable to use their cultivation.
[Speak. What must be done to restore my cultivation?]
[...]
[You will not answer? Then...]
The Quasi-Immortal glares at me and stretches out one hand in my direction.
[I have no choice but to subdue you in close combat!]
I tense up and raise the Three Great Ultimates once more.
'The physical ability of an Entering Nirvana True Person...just how strong is it?'
The next moment,
Paaatt!
The Quasi-Immortal's body reaches me as if folding through space.
Though they lost their cultivation, they seem capable of manipulating a slight amount of attraction force. In an instant, they use the ground-shrinking technique to close the distance and thrusts their fist.
Kwagwagwagwang!
The planet-sized meteor shatters completely.
'This is Entering Nirvana...!'
A simple 'punch,' without any cultivation, Qi, attraction force, or martial technique, is enough to destroy a planet.
Considering that even Star Shattering Esteemed Ones would need to use techniques or 'skills' or 'authorities' to destroy a planet, the power of a Quasi-Immortal is truly absurd!
Wiiiiing!
Drawing volcanic energy from the Three Great Ultimates behind me, I lock eyes with the Quasi-Immortal who can't use their cultivation.
The next moment, we collide once again.
Jeeeoooong!
Kicking off a meteor fragment, they fly towards me with an outstretched hand.
Activating my Sword Sea Star Body, I extend my sword fused with my hand, deflecting their punch before stepping in and driving my knee into their solar plexus.
Jeong!
A meteor behind the Quasi-Immortal shatters completely from the shockwave of my strike to their solar plexus.
But as if unfazed, they adjust their posture, twist their body, and escape from my grasp.
Paatt!
I take a step back and execute a cross slash before reaching towards the horn on the goblin-like face to grab it.
Clench!
Gripping tightly to prevent their escape, I start swinging the Quasi-Immortal's body violently.
Kwaaaaang!
I slam their body into the meteor floor, repeating the motion until the meteor shatters completely.
Boong!
Tak!
The Quasi-Immortal's arms grab mine, using a precise counterforce to break free of my hold.
It seems they haven't wasted their hundreds of thousands of years of age.
Displaying a familiarity with close combat, the Quasi-Immortal grabs my arm with their left hand and punches towards my solar plexus with their other fist.
Kwang!
A meteor behind me shatters.
However, I show no sign of pain and immediately lunge forward to headbutt them.
The Quasi-Immortal, as if to accept the challenge, meets my headbutt head-on.
Kwaaaaang!
The shockwave erupting between us shakes the very space around us, shattering several nearby meteors.
Paatt!
Thus, the real battle between me and them begins.
Even though it's close combat, the Entering Nirvana True Person is indeed strong.
Even when I wield the formless All-Heavens Sword to control thousands of trajectories and press them, they use the sheer mass and force of their physical body to close in and deliver strikes against me.
Drawing forth power from the Three Great Ultimates, I relentlessly press the Quasi-Immortal who cannot use their cultivation.
Slash, strike, hit, grab, and swing again!
How long have I been pressing and pressing the Quasi-Immortal?
At last,
Pasasak!
My fist slams into the Quasi-Immortal's face.
The area where my fist strikes is deeply gouged, breaking apart their face.
The goblin-like face shatters, revealing the face in a Transformation state.
[TL: Transformation state referring to the appearance of demon beasts who can transform into humans during the Nascent Soul, aka, Transformation stage.]
The gloomy visage of a woman glares at me with clenched lips.
I smirk and unleash a flurry of attacks on her face like crazy.
Victory begins to tilt in my favor.
Bit by bit, her Combat Technique Form breaks down, revealing the ordinary body of her Transformation state.
And finally!
The move of Severing Mounting bursts forth, and simultaneously, her body pierces through three meteors before being flung out of the asteroid field entirely.
Pasasak!
Her Combat Technique Form shatters completely.
Puhwak!
I follow her through the asteroid field, grab her by the hair, and soar towards a nearby planet, smashing her face directly into its surface.
Kwagwagwagwan!
The surface of the planet, filled with poisonous clouds, quakes violently.
Descending into the planet's outer core, I stomp down on the Transformation state's skull belonging to the Entering Nirvana True Immortal who has expended all of her energy.
Kiiiing—
The power of the Three Great Ultimates begins to wane slightly.
For the Three Great Ultimates that amplifies power to near infinity to fade, it means the energy expended is beyond imagination.
The expenditure was monumental. However,
[I...]
At long last, I took down a True Person.
"I won."
I defeated an Entering Nirvana True Person.
Not only that, but I also captured a hostage—one of the True Persons suspected to have formed a direct contract with Blood Yin.
This is the extent of my current strength.
Clap, clap, clap, clap...
Suddenly, the sound of applause echoes from behind me.
"...!"
Startled by the sudden noise, I whip around.
There, I see a man clad in a purple-gold robe with jet-black hair cascading down his back, clapping his hands.
Possessing reddish-purple eyes, he licks his lips with his tongue and speaks.
"Impressive. It doesn't seem like it's been long since you reached the Sacred Vessel stage, yet to have already taken down a Quasi-Immortal. Truly, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this the Half-Immortal Realm."
Gripping the limp head of the utterly exhausted Quasi-Immortal, I ask him a question.
"Who is the distinguished one?"
At my words, the man in the purple-gold robe steps closer and responds.
"Sacred Master of the Purple Gold Realm, Ban Ta."
Clench!
He stretches out his hand for a handshake, grinning as he does so.
It seems to be the greeting custom of the Purple Gold Domain.
"Congratulations on rising to the Sacred Vessel stage. Until recently, you were merely an Esteemed One, weren't you? A remarkable figure deserving of being called a Half-Immortal...is worthy of visiting Ban Ta Castle of the Purple Gold Realm. That's why I have come personally."
Clench!
Still gripping my wrist, he begins to apply strong pressure for some reason.
"Will you accept the invitation?"
-x-X-x-
'Ban Ta Castle...'
I heard that the Sacred Master of the Purple Gold Realm resides in a place called Ban Ta Castle.
It seems he is inviting me to congratulate me on reaching the Sacred Vessel stage.
'It'd be good to go at least once.'
As I briefly deliberate while looking at the oddly glimmering eyes of Ban Ta, I suddenly recall something.
"Ah, Sacred Master. Please wait a moment."
I try to withdraw my hand from Ban Ta's handshake.
For some reason, he seems to have a habit of holding handshakes for a long time, gripping tightly and reluctant to let go. However, when I pull out the split soul of Blood Yin that I am holding in one hand, he finally lets go.
"That is..."
"It's the split soul of Blood Yin."
The very thing embedded in the Heavenly Lotus Fruit.
'Just now, through Kang Min-hee, I briefly gazed into the Underworld. Thanks to that...I successfully fulfilled every fate that Blood Yin bestowed in a simplified manner.'
Thus, the absolute nature of Blood Yin's fate has now been fulfilled.
Only one task remains.
Wo-woong!
I raise the split soul of Blood Yin, concentrating attraction force.
'I can feel it...'
Wo-woong—
In a far-off corner of the universe, there is a [star].
It is a star connected to the split soul of Blood Yin through attraction force.
That star is also connected to me through attraction force.
I quickly announce before the star.
"I, Seo Eun-hyun, have [reunited with Blood Yin within a hundred years and experienced death due to Blood Yin]."
A simplified Seven Stars Ritual.
However, unlike the Seven Stars Ritual, which seeks approval from the heavens to continue cultivation, this is an act proclaiming to the heavens that I have fulfilled my fate. 𝖗
That star is a star created by Blood Yin.
Just as the Entering Nirvana True Persons collectively created a star and imposed fate upon me, Blood Yin also created a star and endowed me with that prophecy.
Deeeeng—
With the echo of a brahma bell reverberating from the depths of the universe, I perceive that I have at last succeeded in breaking free from the star's attraction force.
'I've deceived fate!'
Paaaat!
Along with that, I crush the split soul of Blood Yin, which is no longer needed.
"I hope we never meet again, Blood Yin."
Thinking of the main body connected to this split soul, I let out a single remark towards Blood Yin's split soul.
'A powerful curse or misfortune of True Immortal level could be unleashed, so I should prepare.'
But it doesn't matter.
'Fate of the same kind develop resistance, so I no longer need to suffer under the absoluteness as before!'
In other words, the fate of Blood Yin seeking reunion with me is much harder to realize.
Still, I must remain cautious, as Blood Yin can directly invoke misfortune on me.
It's at that moment.
'...?'
The split soul of Blood Yin unexpectedly disperses into the void without any resistance.
Somehow, I feel Blood Yin's gaze through the dissipating split soul.
For some reason, within that gaze, I feel no anger mixed in.
'Why? Shouldn't he be flying into a rage?'
Perhaps my confrontation with the Yama True Lord unexpectedly worked to my benefit.
The Interdimensional Void.
In that void beyond the Astral Realm, Blood Yin is burning in flames.
Scarlet flames engulf his entire body, delivering a pain that affects even True Immortals.
However, Blood Yin does not resist the pain. He remains still, quietly experiencing the torment.
The scarlet flames.
Different from the Karmic Fire he had once wielded, these flames were given to him just moments ago by the Yama True Lord when he briefly glimpsed the Underworld while following Seo Eun-hyun.
Yet, rather than seething with anger at Yama True Lord's actions or writhing in agony, Blood Yin seems to be lost in thought.
: : Could this Immortal have been mistaken? : :
He gazes at a section of the Interdimensional Void.
It is the place where the Bright Cold Realm resides.
: : Could it be that he wasn't a spy of Light? How could that be? If he wasn't a spy of Light, how did he fulfill the summoning conditions for the Radiance Eight Immortals? : :
Blood Yin murmurs bitterly.
: : Without a devout faith in Light, the conditions could never be satisfied. How...did the Imperial Venerable know of this, or did they not...? Is all I can do only to silently hold my breath in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain while that insidious Light takes action? : :
After mumbling to himself for a while, Blood Yin lets out a small sigh and surrenders his body to the pain of the scarlet flames.
Blood Yin resolves to lay low for some time within the grand scheme of the giants.
However, he decides to continue to observe Seo Eun-hyun.
Blood Yin.
The Light he knows of is a being so insidious it defies imagination.
It might very well be a plot to reach the depths of the Underworld through Seo Eun-hyun...
Blood Yin's gaze lingers until the split soul completely dissipates, then it disconnects.
Yet I believe that Blood Yin is still watching me.
Though it doesn't show in the celestial energy, the actions of True Immortals are inherently beyond the comprehension of mortal eyes, so such readings are meaningless.
'...Anyway. For now, I've fended off Blood Yin's devilish grasp.'
Of course, I'm still a little concerned about the remaining Entering Nirvana True Persons, but...I could retreat into a Middle Realm or seek help from those like Jinlu Gok in the Path of Stars to solve the problem.
Now, what remains is...
The End.
And the events that will unfold after 'Hon Won' dies.
'The chain reactions caused by Hon Won's death, which I learned about when I became the Annihilation Flower of the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable. To prevent those...Hon Won cannot be allowed to die.'
And finally...
'Seo Hweol.'
I must confirm and suppress Seo Hweol's movements.
I recall the Seo Hweol, who had become a 'blue earthworm' at the end of my previous life.
Has Seo Hweol in this life also become a 'blue earthworm'?
'He'll probably be fine this time around.'
The final moments of my past life.
The reversal of the White Wheel shown by the [Oldest One]!
'When that reversal began, my regression started, and the three seats shrouded in darkness began to radiate light once more.'
In a sense, the fact that the Great Mountain Supreme Deity and the other Governing Immortals safely returned alive through regression could also be interpreted as part of the [Oldest One]'s arrangement.
Because of that, I believe Seo Hweol has also returned due to the reversal of the wheel.
'The goals of this life are survival through the End, the absolute prevention of the chain reaction starting from Hon Won's death, and the complete control of Seo Hweol. I'll think of it like this for now.'
On top of that, it would be ideal to raise my cultivation realm as much as possible.
'I must begin the Sacred Vessel stage cultivation...and as for the Entering Nirvana stage advancement ritual...if luck permits, I might be able to achieve it within this lifetime.'
The Entering Nirvana stage advancement is relatively lenient, so even someone as untalented as me doesn't need to worry about failing to reach that stage.
The real problem is the True Immortal advancement ritual.
'Well, advancing to True Immortal is still a somewhat distant goal for now, so let's put it aside for the moment...'
In any case, I decide to set my goal in this life to also reach the pinnacle of Void Shattering and achieve the Grand Perfection Sacred Vessel stage.
Having set all of my goals for this life, I turn to Ban Ta and say,
"The urgent matters are over now."
"Oh, then..."
"And, I have something to give you."
"Something to give me?"
I rummage through my domain and retrieve an item I had stored there in my past life.
As soon as he confirms it, Ban Ta's eyes widen in astonishment.
Wo-woong!
In my past life, I hadn't had the chance to examine it properly, but looking at it again now, it's incredibly beautiful.
It's a purple stele about the size of a single sheet of paper.
However, it gives the impression that it was heavily compressed from something far larger and, once released, its size would easily expand to span ten li, perhaps even a hundred li.
Large characters are engraved on the purple stele, and I recognized that they are names written in ancient language.
Radiance Hall (光明殿).
Fallen Guiding Envoy of the Final Age of Dharma (墮導末法使者).
Seat Holder of Wealth (富裕座主).
Purple Gold Heavenly Lord (紫金天君).
Heuk Am (黑庵/Black Hermitage).
'Radiance Hall...'
From the various accounts I had heard, it seems that the Purple Gold Heavenly Lord was secretly an infiltrator planted by the Underworld in the forces of Light.
Hence, why their position was also recorded to belong to Radiance Hall.
Woo-woong!
As soon as I look at the name, my head begins to spin, and I glimpse what seems to be a small hermitage shimmering before my eyes.
Beyond the hermitage, I can faintly make out a figure cloaked in shadows.
Paatt!
However, the vision does not go beyond that.
'A black hermitage...could this be related to the essence of the Purple Gold Heavenly Lord?'
Shaking my head, I dispel the influence of the Purple Gold Heavenly Lord and promptly take out other items.
Familiar names appear before me.
Chief Judge of the Netherworld.
Seat Holder of Good and Evil, Nether Devil True Lord Yu Hao Te.
Deputy Judge of the Netherworld.
Seat Holder of Health, Ancient Force True Lord Hae Nyeong.
Reincarnation Judge of the Netherworld.
Seat Holder of Longevity, Nether Ghost True Lord Yu Su Ryeon.
And finally...
Seat Holder of End (終命座主).
Vast Cold Heavenly Lord (廣寒天君).
These are the true names and positions of the legendary Five Blessings Immortals (五福仙).
I can feel the immense waves of power emanating from these inscriptions.
'These are...the [symbols] of the five Middle Realms...'
As I stare blankly at the symbols for some time, I suddenly realize the nature of these steles.
The power radiating from those 'names' are so overwhelming that I didn't notice it at first, but the material of these steles is something I am very familiar with.
'Salt Crystals!'
To my astonishment, all of these steels are made of Salt Crystals.
Wo-woong!
However, unlike ordinary Salt Crystals, which return to the Ancient Force Realm when used, these Salt Crystals seem to be directly connected to their respective Middle Realms, allowing them to return there.
'These aren't just ordinary Salt Crystals.'
Generally, the energy of the Ancient Force Realm condenses into ancient stones, which then gather and transform into Supervisory Jades.
These Supervisory Jades, when compressed by the thousands, further transform into Salt Crystals.
However, the [symbols] of each Middle Realm are not mere Salt Crystals. They exude a wave of Salt Crystal energy, as if they are composed of hundreds of millions of such Salt Crystals combined.
'With this...it wouldn't just allow me to descend my consciousness to the Lower Realms or reflect the places I've been through like the Supervisory Mirror...I could open and close [gates] to any of the Middle Realms at anytime, anywhere.'
After staring at the [symbols] for a moment, I focus on the [symbol] of the Purple Gold Realm.
Using attraction force, I move the stele inscribed with the true name of the Purple Gold Heavenly Lord towards Ban Ta.
"As the End will soon come, this junior, Seo, presents the symbol of the Purple Gold Realm to senior Ban Ta."
Ban Ta, who had been staring blankly at the symbol of the Purple Gold Realm for a moment, runs his hand over the stele.
Then, with a trembling voice, he says,
"You are...truly...remarkable."
"It's too high of a praise."
"This is no exaggeration... You are truly remarkable, unlike the parasites of the Purple Gold Realm... Hu, huhahahaha... You have a sense of responsibility, and your face has a likeable appearance that will garner favor from the masses well. You are perfect for governance."
"I am ashamed. As a junior, I am far from qualified to be a leader."
I shake my head, and Ban Ta looks at me with widely flickering eyes for some reason.
"Far from qualified, you say? You're even modest. How could there be someone this perfect... Heh heh... As a senior...I am truly...satisfied!"
With wildly flickering eyes, he approached me and grabs my hand with both of his.
"Truly...I want to invite you. If you were to visit Ban Ta Castle, I'd even be willing to rename it 'Eun-hyun Castle' for the day of your visit."
"I deeply appreciate your kindness, but..."
"Will you come now?"
"I have a matter I need to attend to."
After asking for Ban Ta's understanding, I manage to slip away from his strangely firmer grip and head towards Kang Min-hee.
I temporarily left her behind in a nebula while fighting the Entering Nirvana Quasi-Immortal.
Taatt!
At a distant corner of a nebula.
There, I reunite with her as she sits among spirits that have turned light blue, waiting for me.
Her hair has turned blue, and she wears a robe mixed with blue and black.
Unlike before, when her hair had been disheveled, it is now neatly arranged, reaching down to her waist. Though her face shows a hint of fatigue, she looks much cleaner than before.
Kang Min-hee's gaze meets mine.
"I told you not to come, didn't I? I said you could die... Anyway, you never listen."
"Well, I didn't die, didn't I? In the end."
"Next time, I won't let you pull a stunt like this. Got it?"
I chuckle and nod my head.
"Do as you please, Daoist Kang. And..."
At my following words, Kang Min-hee lets out a faint smile.
"Welcome back, Kang Min-hee."
"...Yes, Seo Eun-hyun."
I approach Kang Min-hee and hug her once.
After 999 lives.
I have finally succeeded in rescuing Kang Min-hee from the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother.
"...That's enough."
Kang Min-hee, who is hugged by me for a moment, pushes me away before clearing her throat as she avoids my gaze.
"All the other comrades have been gathered, right? Where are the others?"
"They're inside me."
"...What?"
"It was a dangerous situation. If they had stayed where they were, they would have all withered away and died. So, without a choice...I temporarily relocated them. It was a bit abrupt, but I think they'll understand."
"What do you...?"
"I'm not trying to make excuses, but...I received a prophecy from some immense being. And to escape that fate and prophecy, I had no choice but to make this decision. To be honest...I think the others are more comfortable being inside me."
I explain the situation to Kang Min-hee in detail.
After a while, Kang Min-hee fully understands the situation, and perhaps having initially misunderstood something, she slaps my shoulder, saying, 'You scared me, you glutton!'
"Haha, so, you want to meet them?"
"...Yeah. It's been a while...I should see their faces. So much has happened since then..."
"Alright. Then..."
I open the Colorless Sword Enclosure and move Kang Min-hee inside, then send an incarnation into the enclosure.
From the perspective of my comrades, they were suddenly abducted from the world of Penglai Island into the world inside my body, only to see Kang Min-hee a few days laters.
Everyone except Jeon Myeong-hoon looks very surprised.
"No, what!? You've reached the Sacred Vessel stage?"
Starting with Oh Hyun-seok.
"You...your presence has sharpened significantly. What did you see!?"
Kim Young-hoon, stirred by the presence I gained from obtaining Kunlun.
"Mmm! Mmm-mm-mmm!"
Kim Yeon, still incomprehensible as ever.
"...Don't worry. I've always trusted you. But...suddenly reaching the Sacred Vessel stage... I'm a bit overwhelmed wondering just what you've been doing, but...I'm sure you handled it well."
Jeon Myeong-hoon, giving a trusting smile.
There is no one who isn't surprised.
Kang Min-hee also seems shocked by the state of our comrades.
"...Director...Kim Young-hoon? What on earth happened to your hair...?"
"Hm? Hahahaha! Uhahahaha! It's good to see you, Deputy Kang!"
"Kim Yeon...? What's going on with you?"
"Mmm...mmm-mm-mmm mmm."
"..."
Kim Young-hoon's hair has undergone a drastic transformation, and Kim Yeon has become mute.
But what surprises Kang Min-hee the most is something else.
"It's been a while, Kang Min-hee."
"You're..."
It's Jeon Myeong-hoon.
He approaches Kang Min-hee while stroking So-hae's hand, and calmly offers both a greeting and an apology.
"I'm sorry for the past. I've done many things that wronged you. There are some things I can't say here, but...if it's you, I trust you know what I mean. Back then, I was too young to distinguish right from wrong. I don't expect forgiveness. I just hope that, as comrades facing this world together from now on, we won't have to feel uncomfortable."
"..."
Hearing this, Kang Min-hee stares at Jeon Myeong-hoon, her mouth slightly agape, and rubs her eyes.
"...You're not possessed by a ghost, are you? Just...happened to you, Jeon Myeong-hoon?"
"...It's a long story. I'll tell you later."
He gives a bitter smile as he continues to stroke Jin Seo-hae's hand.
Kang Min-hee also gives a bitter smile.
"...It seems everyone...has been through a lot."
She, together with the other comrades, as if overwhelmed with emotions after reuniting after so long, holds the hands of Kim Yeon and Jeon Myeong-hoon and lowers her head briefly.
"...Still, I'm glad everyone is safe."
We all hug Kang Min-hee tightly.
"There must be a lot to talk about. Let's go inside and share a conversation for a bit."
Snap!
I create a house out of crystal within the Colorless Sword Enclosure and send my comrades inside.
There is much to discuss, starting from our entry to Penglai Island.
Seo Ran and Shi Ho enter...and I prepare to send in Hong Fan last.
At that moment, Hong Fan approaches me with a question.
"Master."
"Oh, what is it, Hong Fan?"
"You've acquired a new Immortal Art."
"Hm...! You've noticed?"
In real time, the only instances when I used the Immortal Art of the [Wheel] were once briefly in front of Blood Yin, once for a moment before the True Persons, and once again in front of the Yama True Lord.
For him to notice that I acquired a new Immortal Art based on those brief displays, it truly feels like Hong Fan.
"That's right, I've obtained a new Immortal Art."
"Who is the one who passed on that Immortal Art?"
For some reason, Hong Fan is wearing an expression almost devoid of emotion, with a rather businesslike and emotionless face.
However, because I'm unsure how to respond, I clear my throat.
'I can't exactly say I acquired it while helping Kang Min-hee's Sacred Vessel advancement ritual in a past cycle...'
Clearing my throat again, I reply,
"Em, it's a bit difficult to explain, so... You know how there are things that one shouldn't even mention."
"...I am curious about this Immortal Art as well. Would it be possible for Master to teach it to me?"
"Hmm... That might be a little difficult."
I can feel it.
If I were to recklessly pass on this Wheel Immortal Art, there's a high chance it would provoke interference from either the Yama True Lord or the Underworld.
Just as the Great Mountain Supreme Deity descended at the end of a previous cycle because I recklessly used the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique...
I have a familiar feeling with this Wheel.
What's certain is that I mustn't carelessly spread it.
"..."
At my response, Hong Fan looks at me for a moment.
"It gives me...a yearning feeling. For some reason, this Immortal Art truly...feels yearnful..."
The gaze in Hong Fan's eyes as he says this is, how should I say it...
It resembles his gaze when he first saw Tae Yeol-jeon as a nun.
-x-X-x-
"...?"
What's going on?
"By any chance, have you remembered your past life?"
"...That's...not it, but it feels like something is about to...emerge..."
His expression shows he is feeling somewhat nostalgic.
Perhaps this [Wheel] is really connected to Hong Fan's past life.
'Should I tell Hong Fan...?'
Maybe letting Hong Fan know could help.
But after some deliberation, I shake my head.
"...I'm sorry. But this...I can't tell you."
The memory of that incident with the Wuji Religious Order still lingers in my mind.
I cannot carelessly reveal anything.
Especially matters concerning those of higher rank.
"...I see. I understand."
Hong Fan maintains that nostalgic expression for a moment before breaking into a wide smile.
"...I apologize. What I originally wanted to say was...it's nothing significant, but I just wanted to offer my congratulations. It seems I ended up unnecessarily troubling Master... Anyway, congratulations on obtaining a new power, Master!"
"Haha, thank you!"
Well, that makes sense.
Starting from the matter with Blood Yin to everything else, it must have all felt sudden and overwhelming from the perspectives of others.
I explain the matter regarding Blood Yin, the pursuit of the True Person, our circumstances regarding surviving the End, and my goals within the line of not revealing my regression. Along with that, we step into the crystal pavilion.
I send an incarnation to reconnect with my comrades, and after sending them to the Middle Realm, I decide to summon the Esteemed Ones again.
'I'll have to become a Sacred Master of a Middle Realm soon...'
Living as a Sacred Master in a star system isn't bad, but the issue is there's too high a risk of abduction compared to the Middle Realms.
'I'll first return to Ban Ta and make a brief stop at Ban Ta Castle before traveling to other Middle Realms to return the symbols of their Middle Realms...then slowly consider which Middle Realm's Sacred Master I will become. And if possible, I'll make sure Jeon Myeong-hoon doesn't end up near the Lightning Sacred Sea in this life...'
Organizing my plans, I seal the unconscious Quasi-Immortal within my body and prepare to use the ground-shrinking technique to return to Ban Ta.
It's then,
Wo-woong!
The space distorts, and two Sacred Beings kneel gracefully in a humble manner before me.
Bowing their heads deeply, they speak.
"We offer our gratitude to benefactor. We are sworn sisters who were held captive by the vile Quasi-Immortal Yeo Hwi (戾熙), Sacred Vessel Sacred Masters Ha Woon (Cutting River) and Jeok Ru (Red Flood Dragon). Thank you for saving us from that licentious enemy."
I immediately recognize who they are.
"Immortal Treasure Cutting River Fan and Immortal Treasure Red Flood Dragon Plaque...so you were Sacred Beings."
"Yes. I was captured 120,000 years ago, and my sworn sister Jeok Ru was captured 40,000 years ago. After being refined into Immortal Treasures by that Quasi-Immortal, we suffered a long, exhausting, and painful existence without being able to put any meaningful resistance. Thanks to benefactor capturing that depraved foe, we were able to become free. We offer our deep gratitude once more."
Smiling brightly as if genuinely happy just thinking about it, they bow to me once again.
"Enough with the gratitude. I simply happened to defeat her in the course of confronting her."
"Huhu, you are even humble. In any case, instead of just giving our thanks, we wish to repay benefactor. Please accept this. It's a jade slip containing the cultivation formula for the Sacred Vessel stage, the advancement ritual for the Entering Nirvana stage, and the cultivation formula for the Entering Nirvana stage."
Ha Woon hands me the jade slip containing the formulas I need.
"Ah, thank you. However, I could have received this jade slip from Sacred Master Ban Ta who is waiting over there..."
The moment I say the words 'Ban Ta,' it happens.
The two Sacred Vessel Sacred Beings glance at each other, then exchange a meaningful smile.
"...Later on, Sacred Master Ban Ta will also give you the same formulas. No, not just Sacred Master Ban Ta, but the other Middle Realm Sacred Masters as well. When that happens, compare their formulas with ours. You will be able to immediately sense something strange. You must not recklessly cultivate the formulas given by the Sacred Masters. You will lose your ability to choose."
Following Ha Woon, the woman in the red robe, known as Jeok Ru, speaks.
"And...regarding that prison called the Purple Gold Realm... No, that impoverished place, I strongly recommend that you never go there. Even if you're invited! If you happen to be invited and still go, under no circumstances should you eat the food of the Purple Gold Realm. If Sacred Master Ban Ta invites benefactor, ignore the invitation, and if benefactor didn't ignore it, do not follow him. Even if benefactor do follow him, you must never eat the food of the Purple Gold Realm. And...lastly, even if benefactor does eat the food of the Purple Gold Realm, never, under any circumstances, accept Ban Ta's final proposal."
"Final proposal?"
"Yes. If benefactor were to consume the food of the Purple Gold Realm, Sacred Master Ban Ta will without fail rename his residence using benefactor's name, calling it 'So-and-So Castle'. Whatever happens, you must never accept that proposal."
"Haha, these are quite interesting warnings. Understood, I'll keep it in mind."
I nod, committing their warnings to memory.
'From my previous life, it was well-known that Ban Ta was eager to find a successor Sacred Master.'
Judging by their words, Ban Ta seems to have frequently invited Sacred Vessels in an attempt to make them his successor.
'I'll have to be cautious with him as well.'
I decide to be slightly more vigilant regarding Ban Ta.
Before leaving, the sworn sisters Ha Woon and Jeok Ru hand me a drop of their blood.
Wo-woong—
It isn't actual blood but rather a collection of information imbued with their energy.
It seems to be a portion of the Immortal Beast seed they possess.
"Please keep these drops of blood, and when you ever need help, call upon our names."
"Once in the future, we will lend you the strength of Unnie's Immortal Art, Cutting River (㓼河), and my Immortal Art, Ominous Dragon (凶龍)."
"Of course, you can also call us through the blood simply to share a cup of tea."
"We wish to maintain a good relationship with benefactor in the future, so please accept them."
After storing their blood droplets in my inner world, I nod.
"I will remember the goodwill of the Sacred Beings."
At my words, the sisters Ha Woon and Jeok Ru, having said their part, disappear beyond the space.
I prepare to use the ground-shrinking technique to return to the star system where Ban Ta is.
It is then,
Kugugugung!
"...!"
An immense pressure that feels like it's crushing my entire body freezes me in place.
'Th-This is...!'
Overwhelming pressure is pushing down on me.
From approximately four sources!
Those pressures press against me from different directions, and I can discern what they are.
'True Persons!'
Kugugugugu!
Beyond the nebula, two True Persons resembling fish and two True Persons resembling human-faced birds appear.
[Release Yeo Hwi.]
[We are her friends. No matter what kind of entity you have as your backing...facing all four of us at once will be difficult.]
[Even if you were lucky enough to defeat a Quasi-Immortal, do you think you can handle us...?]
[Before we tear you to shreds, hand over my Yeo Hwi.]
It seems they are True Persons particularly close to the one I took hostage.
I let out mental speech, posing a question.
[Are the others not coming?]
[The others are not coming, feeling reluctant about you.]
[They suspect that there might be a terrifying existence backing you. Or perhaps you yourself are a candidate for a True Immortal's Immortal Treasure.]
[But we, too, have means at our disposal.]
[We do not fear you. Hand over Yeo Hwi.]
Kuguguguk!
It feels as though my body is crumpling.
I notice their intention.
'They don't particularly have thoughts of letting me live and leave.'
Whether I hand over the True Person or not, it's the same.
I can feel that they have come to eradicate me, leaving no roots unpulled.
'Four True Persons. Could I face them...?'
No, I can't.
I have to focus on escaping.
And if it's escaping, I think I can manage at least that.
'Fist, starting with the [Oldest One]...'
I begin to clear my throat, preparing to call upon the names of the beings I know.
While it's dangerous for me too, I'll be able to deal a truly devastating hit to these True Persons!
Just as I am about to utter the names of the True Immortals,
Woo-woong!
Someone blocks my front.
[...?]
It's a familiar back.
A wooden figure clad in white robes.
Sacred Master Baek Woon has appeared before me.
Baek Woon turns to face me and speaks.
[You've done it. You really managed to take out the [symbols] from the Golden Divine's treasure vault!]
Then, others appear to my left and right.
A woman with black hair, wearing black robes.
Sacred Master Yu Oh.
A handsome man with blue skin covered in scattered blue scales and wearing an open-front garment.
Sacred Master Hae Lin.
And behind me, a male Sea Dragon Race whose face resembles one that makes me feel unpleasant.
Sacred Master Ja Eum.
[Just earlier, I felt the aura of the [symbols].]
[The distinguished one must have them, correct? Please hand them over.]
[We will be able to withstand the End.]
However, at their words, the True Persons erupt in fury.
[How dare mere Sacred Masters!?]
[What do you think you can do, sending clones to a place that isn't even the Middle Realms!?]
[Scram! We have business with him!]
Dududududu!
The roars of the True Persons cause a corner of the universe to tremble.
At their shouts, the clones of the Sacred Masterr shake as if they are about to disappear.
I endure the sensation of my insides churning by the vibrations of their roars.
Then, Baek Woon suddenly shouts loudly.
[Hand it over now! If you give me the [symbol], I will help you immediately!]
[Gal! You dare to mock us? Will you not get lost at once...!]
I observe the reactions of both the True Persons and the Sacred Masters.
With swift judgment, I take out the steles and throw them to each of the Middle Realm Sacred Masters.
Baek Woon receives the stele of the 'Seat Holder of End, Vast Cold Heavenly Lord.'
Hae Lin receives the stele of the 'Seat Holder of Health, Ancient Force True Lord.'
Ja Eum receives the stele of the 'Seat Holder of Good and Evil, Nether Devil True Lord.'
Yu Oh receives the stele of the 'Seat Holder of Longevity, Nether Ghost True Lord.'
And, from a far distance, Ban Ta rushes to this place with a stern expression.
He also carries the stele of the 'Seat Holder of Wealth, Purple Gold Heavenly Lord.'
Woooo-woooong!
Five beams of light hum and gather at the scene.
Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm, Baek Woon.
Sacred Master of the Nether Ghost Realm, Yu Oh.
Sacred Master of the Ancient Force Realm, Hae Lin.
Sacred Master of the True Devil Realm, Ja Eum.
Sacred Master of the Purple Gold Realm, Ban Ta.
The Sacred Masters of the five Middle Realms smile faintly and infuse their consciousnesses into the steles.
The True Persons let out roars filled with fury, and the clones of the Sacred Masters standing beside the steles all vanish in unison.
But in the next moment—
Paaatt, paaatt, paaatt, paaatt, paaatt!
Centered on the steles, five massive dimensional gates open.
Beyond the dimensional gates, Heavenly Lotus Mountain, Black Palace, Sea King Hall, Ban Ta Castle, and Blood Sacrificial Altar.
The residences of the five Sacred Masters appear, and the five Sacred Masters step through the gates simultaneously.
Baek Woon begins walking forward.
Thud, thud, thuuud!
With every step she takes, Baek Woon grows larger.
At first, she is about the same size as me, but with each step, she grows to the size of a moon, a planet, and then a fixed star, until she stands eye-to-eye with the True Persons.
Woo-woong!
The dimensional gate opened with the [symbol] of the Bright Cold Realm.
From that gate, the ferocious energy of the Bright Cold Realm is empowering Baek Woon.
Baek Woon looks down at the True Persons with an ominous expression.
[B-Baek Woon! Are you protecting that Sacred Vessel in front of us? That one has captured our friend, Yeo Hwi. If you just hand him over...]
In the next moment.
Kwaaaang!
Without listening to further words, Baek Woon strikes one of the True Persons at the Entering Nirvana stage, 'crumpling' their form completely.
[You dare not call me senior? You impudent brat!]
Behind Baek Woon, the Sacred Masters of each Middle Realm begin drawing upon the power of the Middle Realms and step forward to block the way in front of me.
The faces of the True Persons, who were full of confidence at first, change drastically in an instant.
The Sacred Masters of the Middle Realms, having obtained the [symbols], begin to properly use their strength.
Kugugugugugu!
Darkness surges and churns around Yu Oh.
At the same time, the dark figure of a giant flickers faintly behind her.
Just as Baek Woon and Geuk Gwang learned a method of borrowing the power of the Radiance Eight Immortals,
She seems to have learned a method that borrows the power of a Reaper of the Netherworld.
Clank!
The projection of a Reaper opens the mouth of the gourd used to collect the souls of the dead.
Hwioooooooo!
It's like a black hole in the universe!
The space where the Entering Nirvana True Persons are begins to shift as a whole, pulling the True Persons into the hole.
[Hear us, stars of the nations (列邦)! We declare: During the Time of Great Yin, the place where we reside shall be free from the Netherworld's interference!]
The star veins writhe.
Then, during the time corresponding to 'night' on one planet, the Netherworld that overlaps with this Astral Realm temporarily detaches itself from this world.
For the duration of one night, no one in this vicinity will die.
However, Hae Lin's voice resounds.
[I will make you beg for death.]
Dudududududuk!
His body grows larger.
Simultaneously, from the dimensional gate of the Ancient Force Realm, a waterfall-like 'Deep Sea' is unleashed into the cosmic space.
The True Persons can be seen frantically communicating across the distant Astral Realm.
Judging by their frantic communication with other the True Persons, it seems they are requesting for reinforcements.
However, the connection they sent to the other side of the Astral Realm is forcibly severed.
The True Persons on the other side have chosen to ignore them.
The Deep Sea begins to move centering on Hae Lin, and wraps around his body like armor.
Watching this, I can't help but think of the Clear Scale Armor.
Finally, the Deep Sea completely envelops Hae Lin and takes shape.
It becomes a colossal sea in the form of a Xiezhi, more massive than anyone else present.
The Xiezhi slams its forepaw down.
In that single strike, imbued with the authority of the Ancient Force Realm, the nearby space of the Astral Realm is entirely shattered, causing a corner of the universe to collapse.
'Crazy... This is practically...'
...Comparable to the single strike from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
Chhiiiiiii—
But immediately after, Hae Lin sends the Deep Sea armor back to the Ancient Force Realm, wearing a visibly exhausted expression.
For even Hae Lin, who can endlessly draw upon the power of the Ancient Force Realm, to be this drained means the technique consumes an unimaginable amount of energy.
Even so, to unleash power comparable to the single strike of a True Immortal!
'This is the true power of the Middle Realm Sacred Masters...!'
Next, Ja Eum steps forward.
Ja Eum, making an unpleasant smile, forms a hand seal and summons something from the corner of the universe, which has collapsed into an entrance to the Interdimensional Void.
Devilish Spell.
Blood Yin Ghost Valley Labyrinth.
Devilish spell.
Blood Sacrifice Consuming Style: Blood Yin Returning Home.
The surroundings transform into the outskirts of the Netherworld that has been eroded by the authority of the Blood Yin.
At the same time, the Entering Nirvana True Persons are suddenly connected to Blood Yin through attraction force and start being dragged into the Blood Yin Realm.
[
[!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
The True Persons scream madly and shout towards the other side of the attraction force, narrowly managing to escape Ja Eum's authority.
[How dare you!!??]
The True Persons glare at Ja Eum, trembling with rage.
But it the last moment,
Ban Ta steps forward.
[Die. You scum worse than parasites.]
Clench!
The energy of the Purple Gold Realm begins to be endlessly supplied to Ban Ta.
At the same time, something falls from a distant place.
It is a totem pole (장승/長栍).
[TL: Jangseung, aka 장승, is basically a guardian totem pole traditionally placed at the edges of villages to mark boundaries and fend off demons.]
Each and every purple totem pole are large enough to pierce through a fixed star, descending from beyond the cosmic space and embedding themselves into the bodies of the True Persons.
Jeong, jeong, jeong, jeong!
The True Persons, overwhelmed by pain, begin to flee.
Towards the scattering True Persons, Sacred Master Baek Woon steps forward once more.
The nebulas of the universe converge.
At the core of the nebulas, light and heat begin to surge and churn. That light, under Baek Woon's will and the power of the Bright Cold Realm, starts to be refined.
The light takes the form of a halberd.
The gigantic Baek Woon, now grasping the resplendent Light Halberd (光戟) forged from the gathered nebula, hurls it without hesitation.
Chills!
From that spear of light, I recall a scene from my past life.
The scene of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's sword of light flying across the universe.
Jjjeoong!
The Light Halberd collapses a corner of the universe, and the True Persons, sensing this, flee even more frantically.
Chiiiii—
Baek Woon's right arm burns away, but she remains unfazed, slicing off her right arm entirely with an indifferent expression. She then shouts loudly.
: : Hear me, Entering Nirvanas. This Seo Eun-hyun before you is the Great Hero of the Middle Realms, who reclaimed the symbols of the five Middle Realms from the bird of the tyrannical Golden Divine. Henceforth, any being who dares oppress the Great Hero of the Bright Cold Realm shall face me, Baek Woon, personally! : :
Her voice reverberates across the entirety of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.
'This is...Sacred Masters who have gained the ability to wield their power even within the Astral Realm...!'
In truth, Sacred Masters capable of drawing power from the corpses of the Middle Realms are no different from True Immortals.
I gaze up at the Sacred Masters in awe of their power.
Paaatt!
Soon, the Sacred Masters return to their original forms.
Baek Woon taps my collarbone lightly with her left arm, praising me.
[You are a Great Hero. To accomplish in such a short period of time what no Esteemed One could achieve... Thanks to you, we have regained the strength to endure the End. As a senior of the Bright Cold Realm, I am deeply proud of you.]
Hae Lin approaches with a pleased expression.
[I don't know if you remember. Last time, I issued an exile order because you learned the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra. I believed it would benefit you more to cultivate hidden in the depths of the Deep Sea rather than staying in the sea domains of the Ancient Force Realm. That's why I expelled you from the sea domain with that exile order. There was no malice behind it. By the way...after you left, Yuk Rin completely lost his mind. Attempting to challenge the realm of Esteemed Ones, he fell into madness, mistaking himself for Yuk Ung. In the process...he destroyed an entire sea domain and is now sealed. Would you mind 'briefly' stopping by the Ancient Force Realm to check on him?]
He mentions Yuk Rin's situation and suggests I visit the Ancient Force Realm.
[Thank you for the suggestion. Ah, by the way...]
I approach Yu Oh, who is standing among the Sacred Masters.
[It's been a while, Sacred Master Yu Oh.]
[...?]
[Hmm, now that I look at it, it's not 'that face'. Last time, I had a brief chat with the back of Sacred Master Yu Oh's head. By any chance, did the back of your head tell you anything?]
[...???]
Yu Oh's expression begins to take on something peculiar, and I can't figure out what she is thinking, leaving me pondering how to continue the conversation.
At that moment, Ja Eum approaches me with a faint smile.
[Hoho. When I first heard about you from Baek Woon, I thought you were just a cheeky Heart Tribe Esteemed One. But now, you've become a respectable Daoist...]
[...Sacred Master Ja Eum... The title of Daoist is still a little burdensome.]
To be precise, hearing the term Daoist directed at me from that face is very unsettling.
'It looks...far too much like Seo Hweol.'
At my reaction, Ja Eum chuckles and nods his head.
[Understood, Cultivator Seo. Then perhaps we'll discuss titles again once we're better acquainted. By the way, Cultivator Seo.]
[Yes?]
[I am reminded of when Cultivator Seo was below the Heavenly Being stage. Was it just a few hundred years ago...? I recall when Cultivator Seo brought the Heavenly Lightning Banner to the True Devil Realm and attempted to send it below the Void Spirit Pond.]
[Ah, yes...]
To me, it's something from hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Back in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect days, such an event had indeed occurred.
[Incidentally, I do have something to say regarding that. Because of Cultivator Seo bringing the Heavenly Lightning Banner back then, there were changes in the flow of attraction force...which in turn altered the fate and ecology of the living beings in that area. I believe Cultivator Seo should visit the True Devil Realm to check on it.]
[Hmm...!]
The region where the Void Spirit Pond is located is, of course, the area where Su In and Hong Yeon reside.
'There were changes in the area where those two live?'
It definitely seems like something I need to confirm.
[Indeed, that is partly my responsibility. I should go and take a look.]
[Exactly. Since we're on the topic, why don't we briefly go take a look right now?]
Wo-woong!
Ja Eum casually uses the power of the [symbol] to open an interdimensional gate connecting to the True Devil Realm, then grabs me and casually pushes me inside.
Before I know it, I find myself stepping into the True Devil Realm alongside him.
Just as I'm about to cross into the True Devil Realm—
Kwaching!
The entrance to the True Devil Realm is violently warped.
Baek Woon, Hae Lin, Yu Oh, and Ban Ta. The other Sacred Masters each strike the entrance with their respective attraction forces.
Among them, Ban Ta, in particular, has a twisted expression resembling an evil spirit.
[What do you think you're doing, Sacred Master Ja Eum?]
Ban Ta growls as he approaches Ja Eum.
Ja Eum, smiling faintly, replies,
[Hoho, Sacred Master Ban Ta. Why are you so worked up? This is just...]
Then,
Kwak!
Ban Ta kicks Ja Eum squarely in the shin.
With his face fully distorted, he glares at Ja Eum and speaks.
[Is this the time to be laughing, Ja Eum?]
The smile from Ja Eum's face disappears as he meets Ban Ta's eyes.
[I don't see what the issue is, Ban Ta.]
[Are you saying this, not knowing my situation? No, ignorance would be preferable. Because if you knew and still acted this way, I'd want to invade the True Devil Realm!]
Kudududuk!
Ban Ta grabs Ja Eum by the shoulder and presses him down.
Ja Eum furrows his brows as if trying to resist, but his waist bends slightly under Ban Ta's pressure.
Ban Ta, with his face twisted like an evil spirit, glares at the other Sacred Masters.
[Seniors Baek Woon and Yu Oh. And Hae Lin. What's going on with you? Are you mocking me right now? Don't you well understand what I'm feeling right now!!!]
At those words, Baek Woon sneers and responds.
[What's the issue, Ban Ta? I have no intention of doing anything in particular. I only meant to briefly invite him to White Jade Pavilion for some commendation, since he's a native of our Bright Cold Realm.]
Hae Lin laughs at Baek Woon's remark.
[A native of the Bright Cold Realm, you say? How amusing, Senior Baek Woon. Seo Eun-hyun attained significant enlightenment in the Ancient Force Realm. Wouldn't that make his origin the Ancient Force Realm, where he acquired the greatest enlightenment?]
Yu Oh also joins the conversation all of a sudden.
[My apologies for interrupting, but if we're going by that logic, he could also be considered a native of our Nether Ghost Realm. Just look at the power of death brimming in his soul. And everyone here saw him fleeing from Blood Yin. That strike at Blood Yin's hand was definitely the thick power of death! He is undoubtedly a native of our Nether Ghost Realm. I must speak of this matter further.]
[Hoho. Rather, the one who should be speaking about this is me. He is our True Devil Realm's...]
And then.
Ban Ta, seething with rage, roars at them.
[Fine, you dog bastards! After all the years I've waited, are you telling me none of you are willing to yield even a little? Greedy fools! In that case, I have no choice but to settle this with strength!]
Ban Ta forms hand seals.
Once again, totem poles descend from beyond the universe.
At the same time, the other Sacred Masters also begin drawing upon their authorities.
Chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk!
The five Sacred Masters from the Middle Realms take combat stances, encircling me in the center as they suddenly prepare to fight.