I once made a vow.
Watching Seo Li's death, I swore to never create clones recklessly again.
And even if I were to create a clone, I swore never to let that clone meet its end as another 'me'...
-x-X-x-
[I] clutch my throbbing head as I walk through this strange forest known as Ascension Path.
I don't know why.
But instinctively, I can tell.
This world is not Korea.
It's not Earth.
No, it's not even the Heavenly Domain where we used to live.
'...What even is a Heavenly Domain?'
I shake my head violently, sighing at the strange knowledge that occasionally pops into my mind.
'Suddenly falling into a strange world, with strange knowledge in my head...and...'
Shirururururuk—
A sense of breathlessness overcomes me as I see a massive snake slither past my field of vision.
It is a red snake.
The red snake, with two heads, carries an oppressive presence so intense it feels suffocating. Its sheer girth is on par with a two-story building.
'Wh-What is this...!? What is this...!?'
As I reel in shock and nearly collapse on the spot—
The snake's gaze meets mine.
The serpent flicks its tongue a few times, then suddenly widens its eyes.
[Huaaaaaaah!!!]
A scream, almost human-like, erupts from the serpent's mouth.
Hearing that scream, my head begins to throb and ache.
Tsssaaah!
One of the snake's heads opens its mouth wide and spews out something that looks like a crimson mist.
"Guaaaaghk!"
As I inhale the mist, an unbearable pain engulfs my entire body, making me feel as though I'm on the verge of suffocating.
And yet, for some reason, the red snake, which had sprayed its poisonous mist to incapacitate me, stares at me with terrified eyes before fleeing quickly.
"Gugh... Aaaargh! Kuaaaghh!"
In the middle of the red mist, I force myself to move, summoning every ounce of my willpower.
Each step sends jolts of pain through my body, which gradually grows more paralyzed.
Simultaneously, unbearable pain crashes over me.
But somehow, I manage to move. I escape the mist's range and collapse onto a patch of grass nearby, gasping for breath.
'I-It hurts...! It hurts! It hurts so much! I feel like I'm dying! Mom, Mom...! I think I'm going to die...!'
Tears and mucus stream down my face as I lose control of my bladder and bowels.
The substance that the snake spewed at me was that much painful and excruciating.
Through this pain, I come to a single realization.
This world is 'real'.
'It's...not a dream...?'
This isn't some aftermath of a landslide, where I lost consciousness and began dreaming.
This isn't a level of pain I could ever experience in a dream!!!
Grinding my teeth and shedding tears, I faint.
While heading to our destination with my colleagues in a car, I was caught in a landslide and fell into this strange world.
What should I do now...?
When I come to my senses, it's night.
Although my body still tingles and moving is difficult, I manage to get by somehow.
'I...I need to move my body to a safer place!'
Encountering a wild animal would spell disaster.
As I recall how I lost control of myself earlier, I decide to at least clean myself with some leaves.
However, for some reason, there are no traces of what I let out behind.
'What...?'
Apparently, I was mistaken about losing control of myself.
'...I'm sure I felt it... Whatever, for now, let's just...head to that cave...that cave...'
Dragging my aching body, I make my way towards the cave.
As I search for the cave, my thoughts become a tangled mess.
Just then.
'Light?'
That's right.
A 'light' is flickering inside the cave.
It is a warm, flickering light, carrying with it a faintly wavering sensation.
At the same time, there is a smell of something burning.
'A campfire!'
It's a campfire.
Someone—someone living here in Ascension Path—must have lit it.
'A-A person! I need to make contact with a person!'
I need to figure out what kind of world this is.
And I must find a way to escape this forest!
With that thought, I walk into the cave.
"...Huh?"
[...Huh?]
I manage to see a bizarre sight.
It's a bear.
A bear.
A bear that is 3 or 4 heads taller than Chief Oh Hyun-seok and a huge stature is dressed in something that appears like a modernized hanbok with a gamtu over its head, tending to a campfire. Above the campfire is something that looks like a cauldron, and the bear is sprinkling a ton of what looks like spices into the cauldron.
It seems...to be cooking.
A bear, wearing clothes and cooking...
"Haha..."
Then, what would the ingredients be?
Next to the bear, I can see a human, tightly bound with something like rope.
'A, a bear that eats people...!'
I have to run!
But my legs won't move.
'A-Am I going to get eaten too...?'
As that thought crosses my mind—
[Huaaaaaahh!!!]
The bear lets out a scream and charges at me like a shot arrow.
It's just when I think I'm as good as dead.
The bear rushes right past me and flees into the dark forest.
It looks as though it saw something terrifying.
'...The snake from earlier, and now the bear... Are they...afraid of me?'
Feeling puzzled, I quickly move towards the 'prey' that the bear tied up with ropes.
'I should free them. If the bear comes back, I won't be able to carry them and run.'
The prey the bear captured appears to be a woman.
She's dressed in silver clothing and wears a silver-white mask on her face. Her entire body is wrapped in bandages, leaving not a single patch of skin visible.
The only part of her that is visible is her long, flowing silver hair, the only uncovered part of her body.
"H-Hey, you there. Please wake up."
But no matter how much I shake her, she remains fast asleep, as if oblivious to the world.
"What should I do...?"
After hesitating, I decide to use a more drastic method.
Slap, slap, slap!
I slap her face repeatedly.
Then, all of a sudden—
Thud!
The mask covering her face falls off from the impact of my palm.
Clang!
The silver-white mask hits the ground, producing a rather loud noise.
Still, she does not get up.
Underneath the mask, her face is also tightly wrapped in bandages, leaving only her eyes and mouth exposed.
'...I should hit her more, right...?'
I feel sorry, but there's no telling when that bear, which was planning to cook and eat a person, might return.
Sure, it ran away from me earlier, but I don't know why. If it comes back and realizes I'm nothing special, it will likely cook and eat the both of us.
'I can't just die, or leave her behind and escape on my own, or carry her and die together.'
I must wake her up somehow and escape with her.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
I strike her face even harder.
"Wake up! Hey! It's dangerous to sleep here!"
Slap!
Every time I strike her face, the bandages covering it slip off.
And when her bandages finally fall away, fully revealing her face—
I can't help but freeze in place, my hand stopping mid-air.
"...Uh..."
Beautiful.
Her face is so beautiful that I feel I will be completely captivated just from staring at her.
Silver hair, snow-white skin.
Lips so pale they are almost gray, completely devoid of color.
She seems as though she is the embodiment of the concept of silver-white (銀白).
At the same time, there is an impression of incredible strength emanating from her, as if she is a sculpture forged from iron.
Feeling this way about someone I know nothing about, solely based on their appearance, and having my heart race like this...
It has only ever happened before when I first saw Oh Hye-seo at work.
'Right, let's stop hitting her. She'll wake up eventually.'
For some reason, seeing her face drains me of the confidence to strike her again.
I carefully re-wrap the bandages around her face, restoring them as best as I can.
Then, I place the silver mask back on her face.
'Damn it, I don't even know when another one of those monsters from earlier might show up...What am I even doing right now?'
I sigh, picking up a piece of firewood nearby.
Then, I grab a stone from the ground and strike it against another stone to make a crude stone knife. Using that knife, I start carving the firewood.
It feels like I won't be able to relax unless I make at least a wooden sword to use as a weapon.
Scrape, scrape, scrape...
As I carve the wooden sword with the stone knife, I feel an odd sense of déjà vu.
For some reason...
It feels familiar, as though I have done this several times before.
'Do I have some kind of talent for carving wooden swords...?'
Before I realize it, the crude knife has shaped the wood into a rather decent-looking wooden sword.
When I see the wooden sword, I feel an overwhelming urge to swing it.
No, this isn't just an urge.
It's yearning.
An intense yearning for the sword.
Twitch—
The masked woman seems to twitch slightly.
After cutting the ropes binding her with the stone knife and letting her lie down comfortably, I swing the wooden sword.
Boong, boong, boong!
At first, it's just crude, unrefined 'sword swings'.
However, the more I wield the sword, the more I begin to see the optimal paths for wielding it.
Before long, the 'sword swings' rise into the realm of 'skill'.
It becomes something that can be called swordsmanship.
I follow the tip of the wooden sword as if entranced.
And as I follow the tip of the sword, completely absorbed—
All of a sudden, enlightenment about the sword fills my mind completely, and I swing the sword towards the cave wall.
Boong!
Shukak!
The wooden sword splits open the cave wall!
"Haah!"
Realizing what I've just done, I stagger back in shock.
Drip, drip...
Cold sweat trickles down my chin.
'Did I...do that?'
I can't even begin to understand how it was possible.
'With a wooden sword, I split the cave wall...'
Suddenly, a strange feeling comes over me.
'A terrible accident, falling into a strange world, encountering monsters, meeting a stunningly beautiful woman, and discovering some latent power within myself... This is...!'
It's just like the stories Jeon Myeong-hoon often reads.
'The situation seems a bit...'
Just then.
Twitch—
The masked woman's body twitches.
"Hah! Are you waking up?"
I grab the wooden sword and approach her.
At that moment—
Hawk!
She suddenly reaches out to the wooden sword I am holding, gripping the blade tightly and pulling it towards herself.
"Ah, no... What are you doing?"
For some reason, I feel an intense unwillingness to let go of the sword and pull back on the handle.
It's nothing more than a hastily made wooden sword, but the idea of [having my sword taken away by someone else] is something, for some reason, my very being refuses to tolerate from deep within.
However, I soon realize that this woman possesses an incredible amount of strength.
'What kind of strength...?'
Kuuuuk...
Even in her half-conscious state, she forcefully pulls my sword towards her.
"...Sword..."
For some reason, she seems to intensely desire the sword.
If this were Earth, I would have just handed over a wooden sword like this without hesitation. But now, it feels different.
'I cannot let it go... This is...my sword...!'
"This is...my sword... I can't give it to you...!"
Growling ferociously in a way that even I find irrational, I glare at her.
"Let go...! I said, this is my sword...!!!"
Kuuuuuk!
An immense strength wells up from deep within me, surprising even myself.
At the same time, I pull back the sword that was about to be taken away by her.
But she also pulls with strength not inferior to mine, yanking the sword towards herself.
"...Mi...ne..."
Still not fully conscious, she mumbles.
"All...weapons...in the world...are...mine..."
"Don't spout nonsense! This is my sword. I said, it's my sword!"
Growling so fiercely that I even surprise myself, I muster all my strength and pull at the sword.
In the next moment.
Crack!
The wooden sword, unable to withstand the force of both of us pulling, snaps in the middle.
I almost stumble backwards, but instinctively regain my balance and return to my original stance.
"Heok...heok..."
'What just happened? Did I lose my mind?'
Even to me, my obsession with the sword was too much.
It's when that thought crosses my mind.
"...Uuuuhm..."
The masked woman rises.
She looks around with a dazed expression and then glances down at the half of the sword still in her hand.
Then, she looks at me.
Through the mask, her silver eyes meet mine.
"...You... You're the one...who woke me..."
"Uh, yes. That's correct."
"..."
She stares at me for a moment before brushing her hand over her head.
"...The bandages... Their position is strange...Did you...perhaps...see my face?"
"Pardon...?"
I hesitate, unsure how to respond to her question.
It feels a little embarrassing to admit that I slapped her face multiple times to wake her, only to stop when I saw her face.
'What do I even say...?'
Just then.
"Lying...doesn't work... [Living beings]...can't deceive...my eyes. Tell me the truth..."
'Living beings can't lie to her?'
I scoff inwardly.
'What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that...?'
I make my decision.
"I didn't see your face. Why would I even pry and look at your face?"
The memory of her face surfaces in my mind—so beautiful that it left me out of breath.
My heart starts pounding for no reason.
'I won't get caught, right?'
And as expected, she only tilts her head in confusion.
"...No...reaction... Is it not a lie...?"
"Of course. Why would I suddenly lie?"
"...I see...That's really fortunate..."
For some reason, I feel that she's smiling.
"If you had seen my face...I would've had to kill you..."
Chills!
Why is that?
She is a little strong, but she's still smaller than me and has a slender build.
Yet, with just a single word from her, I feel chills run across my entire body, like sinking into a deep quagmire.
It feels as if a dread far surpassing the time I encountered the giant snake or the bear dressed in human clothes is sweeping over my entire being.
Instinctively, I can tell that what this woman is saying is the truth.
"Kill? What do you mean?"
"...I...cannot show my face. If I show my face...emotions will arise. For us, emotions are tools. They cannot be used for any other purpose beyond that, so...we can never reveal our faces to anyone. Hence, we have killed all those who have seen our faces."
Her speech, which is a bit awkward at first, gradually becomes faster and clearer.
However, as I talk to her, I realize that I am conversing with her in a language I've never spoken before in my life.
'Just what is this as well...? No, forget it. It's not just one or two things that are strange at this point."
"Who is this 'we' you speak of?"
"...We... We are...hmm..."
Even though her speech has become more clearer, she scratches her head as if she can't quite remember something.
"Right. Who are we? Hmm, I can't remember."
"You don't remember? Then, how much do you remember?"
"Hmm...well...I don't know. Only a few fragmented pieces of information come to mind. I can't remember anything else."
It seems she's a woman with amnesia.
'It's not because I kept hitting her on the head, right?'
Feeling a twinge of unease, I ask her a question.
"Do you perhaps feel pain anywhere?"
"Hmm, my cheek feels a little hot and sore."
"..."
"Other than that, well, there's no pain. However, I know for certain that I didn't lose my memories from hitting something hard. The reason I lost my memories is specific. In other words...this isn't some accidental case of amnesia, but rather, I deliberately made myself lose my memories for a certain purpose."
"Ah, I see."
I breathe a sigh of relief, freeing myself from guilt.
'Still, if she can't remember anything at all...doesn't that mean she's not going to be much help in learning anything about this world?'
I click my tongue slightly, let out a small sigh, and decide to at least ask about the things she does remember.
"Do you remember your name?"
"Name... My name, yes, I remember it."
"Oh, then please tell me your name."
"But I cannot tell you my name. Just as I cannot show you my face, I cannot recklessly share my true name either. Because when we become who we are, we discard our true names, and promise to live our lives in accordance with our masks."
"...Do you still not remember who this 'we' is?"
"That's right. I still don't remember."
"Then what should I call you?"
"Hmm... Instead of my name, call me by the title I was known by among us."
"What title is that?"
The 'title' that comes out of her mouth is short and simple.
"Gyeong (庚). Call me Gyeong."
"Hmm, Gyeong... Then I will call you Miss Gyeong from now on."
"Do as you wish."
"By the way, how old are you, for you to be speaking so informally to someone you've just met?"
At my words, she suddenly touches her chest and then gropes at her hips.
"...?"
"Hmm, it's not there. I'm currently female."
"Pardon, what?"
"And I know males are not supposed to ask females about their age. Do not carelessly ask a woman her age!"
"..."
'Is she crazy? Never mind her gender for a moment—'female' and 'male'?'
[TL: She used a term for female and male that is used in the context for animals or biology.]
It's as if she's implying that her race isn't human.
Also, the fact that she suddenly checked her gender as if realizing it for the first time—does that mean she even lost her memory regarding her gender?
'Unless she's some kind of being without a defined gender, she must have completely lost her memory.'
Clicking my tongue softly, I ask another question to this woman who has completely forgotten everything.
"Well then, since neither of us knows the other's age, I won't bother speaking formally either. You look younger than me anyway."
"Do as you please."
"In that case, Gyeong. You said you lost your memory intentionally, right? What's your purpose then?"
"My purpose... My purpose seems to have been twofold."
"Twofold?"
"That's right. To confirm [something]. And to capture [someone]. To accomplish that, I lost my memory and came here."
Placing her hand on her chest as if feeling proud, she speaks with a boastful tone.
"'We'—though there are a few conditions—can enter and leave this place freely. Consider yourself honored. This alone is proof of how extraordinary 'we' are. Meeting me, a member of such a 'we,' is an unparalleled blessing in your life."
"...Hmm... Are you saying you can freely enter and leave this cave?"
"...Hmm..."
It feels like she's implying she entered 'somewhere,' but she doesn't seem to remember what that 'somewhere' is.
Clearing her throat, she continues.
"In any case, that's not what's important. I will regain all of my memories soon. Until then, cooperate with this body. And even though I've lost my memory, if you can help me a little, do so. In return, I will give you...many good gifts that I can offer."
"Hmmm... Well, fine. I do need information about this world anyway..."
The first day I fell onto Ascension Path.
I decide to join forces with her—a woman who lost her memory yet claims to be here to confirm [something] and capture [someone].
-x-X-x-
Kaaang, kang, kaaaang!
Last night, after forming an alliance with Gyeong, we agreed to take turns keeping watch.
After standing my turn and waking her, I went to sleep. When I woke up, a loud noise was echoing inside the cave.
'What on earth...? No!'
I widen my eyes in shock as I see what Gyeong is doing.
'That, that's...what is she...?'
The bear from last night, the one that tried to boil and eat Gyeong.
The iron pot that the bear had.
'She's...ripping apart the iron pot with her bare hands...?'
She is grabbing that pot with her bare hands, tearing it apart, grinding it, and making a [sword] out of it.
Kaang!
As she punches the pot one more time, two swords made of iron are completely finished.
I stare at the scene with my mouth agape.
'Tearing apart iron with bare hands...what kind of monstrous strength is this?'
I can clearly tell now.
Her words last night about 'killing anyone who saw her face' was absolutely not a joke.
"Th-That, what in the world is...?"
"In this forest...there is a master. Don't you feel it?"
"What?"
"While standing watch last night, I could feel it. A prickling sensation, the gaze of something watching us. That gaze covers this entire forest. In other words...that entity dominates and controls this forest as its 'master.'"
"...I don't feel anything like that..."
"Useless. Anyway, I don't know why that entity hasn't attacked us yet. But what's certain is that if we find and defeat it, it will greatly help us escape this forest." ℞𝘼₦Ȫ𝖇ƐⱾ
I grab my head and ask her.
"So...you're saying a demon spirit like the giant snake from yesterday, or the bear that tried to boil and eat you, is ruling this forest, and we need to defeat it to leave Ascension Path?"
"Correct."
"Impossible! How could we possibly...I'm just a human!"
"Stop whining and pick up a sword."
She lifts the two swords and says,
"Humans are quite a powerful race. I'm not entirely sure, but there's some information suggesting they are one of the [dominating species]. Trust in the potential your body holds and follow me."
"...Huuu..."
I let out a deep sigh.
"Then, for now—"
"Hurry up and decide. I'm leaving first."
Without even listening to the rest of my words, Gyeong stands up, grabs the two swords, and steps out of the cave.
'Why is she in such a rush!'
Grinding my teeth, I follow her outside.
Tadadadat!
Gyeong is running.
I start running as well, but the distance between us doesn't shrink at all.
"Hey! Wait up! If we fight a demon spirit or whatever, we're going to die!"
But she doesn't even glance back, only running faster and faster.
'Carrying two giant swords like that and running so fast...'
It's clear she has some kind of extraordinary ability.
Her terrifying strength is the same...
But I feel uneasy.
The only human I've met in this Ascension Path is her.
If she ends up dying to this so-called master of the forest, what am I supposed to do alone?
'I can't keep up...'
The gap between us grows wider and wider.
Her speed doesn't seem human.
'The very way she runs feels fundamentally different... Wait, the way she runs?'
Suddenly, my eyes focus on her stride.
Her strides are consistent.
At the same time, there's a distinct rhythm to her movements.
If I do this, and add elasticity to my body like this...'
Taatt!
I apply the elasticity of my body to my steps.
At the same time, I analyze the rhythm of her movements and start imitating her.
Toong, toong, toong.
Gradually, my body feels lighter.
At the same time, the distance between her and me grows shorter and shorter.
'Ah, so this is how she moves. But I can't close the gap any further. There's some other secret...'
I scrutinize her entire body.
Her back, shoulders, waist...
Then, as I focus on the area near her ribs, I notice something unusual about her breathing.
'Even her breathing has a rhythm? Should I try imitating it?'
Hoooop!
I inhale and exhale.
After watching her breathing from a distance and imitating it for a while...
Paaaatt!
Suddenly, I'm able to close the gap and reach just behind her.
"Wait, let's go together!"
"...! What? How did you catch up?"
"I just watched how you were running and copied it. I also mimicked your breathing a bit..."
At my words, Gyeong finally turns to look at me, her eyes wide open.
Her silver pupils are trembling.
"...When I checked during the night watch, you didn't have any Qi and hadn't learned any special body technique... And now, you've already imitated me?"
Her voice is filled with disbelief.
But after a moment, she smirks and says,
"Fine. Since you've come this far, I'll teach you properly. You're breathing all wrong. When you breathe, take it in and let it sink deep into your body, below your navel."
I adjust my breathing as she instructs.
As I follow her directions, I feel a sensation like my entire body is opening up.
'Ahhh...'
[Light]!
It feels as if the [light] of the world rushes towards me, licking every corner of my body.
It feels oddly ticklish, but also refreshing.
In an instant, I'm immersed in a selfless state where it feels like I'm running not through Ascension Path, but through a space of light.
A space of light.
Gyeong, who is running ahead of me, lets out a laugh.
"Impressive! To follow me into my domain in such a short time... Truly, you have brilliant talent."
After finishing her words, she glances away from me and says,
"Then, I'll go on ahead. Catch up quickly. As my memories return, so do my senses of controlling power..."
Paat!
With that, she disappears from my sight once more.
'Ah...I can't catch up.'
She is too far ahead.
Not just in terms of physical distance—her ability to control this mysterious power, her understanding of it, seems to be on an entirely different dimension from mine.
'Will I be able to reach it...? Her domain?'
I unconsciously find myself longing to someday reach her domain.
'Someday, I want to stand on the same horizon as her... No, higher than that..."
It happens at that moment.
Thwack!
As I continue running, I crash into something in front of me.
"Kuaaah!"
My body bounces backward, and I let out a scream from the shock.
When I regain my senses, I realize what I have collided with.
'A...centipede...?'
It is a massive centipede.
The centipede, covered in a pitch-black carapace, exudes a ferocious aura, flicking its antennae at me and Gyeong.
"So, it's you. The owner of this forest...The one who's been sending killing intent towards us."
Gyeong, looking at the enormous centipede, grips the two swords in her hands and mutters.
She seems like a fearsome monster herself.
But suddenly, a certain scene flashes through my mind, bringing with it excruciating pain.
The scene is from an area in front of a place called [Ascension Gate].
A man with blue hair, dressed in a blue robe, with small horns protruding from his head.
And a ghost with only bones remaining, shrouded in black ghostly energy.
In front of those two beings, I am doing something.
Countless centipedes scatter in front of the place called [Ascension Gate].
Out of all the centipedes, only one clings to my foot, while the rest scatter across the entirety of Ascension Path.
'What is this memory?'
Taken aback, I try to recall more about this strange memory, but the intense pain prevents me from remembering anything further.
'I-I don't know. For now, let's focus on the situation in front of me.'
I take out a newly carved wooden sword to replace the broken one from last night and aim it at the centipede.
At that moment, a voice comes from the centipede.
Chwarururuk!
The giant centipede's head falls toward where I stand.
The centipede's antennae come right up to my face and begin probing all over my head and body.
[...It is a familiar scent. I sense traces of poison energy as strong as mine from you...but it is much more refined and of much higher rank than mine... Astonishing. The poison transcended the Plane of Qi and rose to the Plane of Soul, clinging to your spirit... Yet, strangely enough, it does no harm to your soul...]
As the antennae brush against me, goosebumps rise all over my body.
But my body is frozen, unable to move.
[A poison cultivator of a higher rank...and poison of the same kind as mine... Which means... You...must be someone blessed by one of my ancestors. If it is poison of this rank, it is definitely Four-Axis, no...only a being at the level of an Integration Demon King can wield this poison. Every demon spirit you have encountered must have trembled in fear at the mere trace of this poison, sensing the aura of an Integration stage Demon King. Hahaha...]
Chururuk, chururuk...
From between the centipede's carapace, its mouth becomes visible.
Chills run across my body.
The centipede is now licking its lips.
[How regretful... If I could devour someone blessed by one of my ancestors...I feel as though I could advance to the Four-Axis stage immediately, surpass this realm, and ascend... But doing so would surely enrage my ancestor, would it not? Ahh, what a dilemma. I should not eat you, but...I so desperately want to devour you. Ahhh...]
Chwarururuk!
The centipede's antennae wildly probe my body.
[Mmmmm... Very well.]
Chiiiiiik...
From the centipede's mouth, a pitch-black liquid that looks like poison drips incessantly.
It appears to be saliva.
[Arm! Offer me just one of your arms. If you allow me to eat one of your arms...I will take it as an offering to the master of this forest and spare you any harm. I will ascend, and you will ensure your safety within the Ascension Path, this Ascension Forest...]
Chwarararak!
The centipede's antennae wrap around my left arm.
'N-No...! My arm is going to be torn off!'
The centipede doesn't seem to care about my consent, as it begins exerting pressure with its antennae.
It feels like my arm is about to be ripped from its socket.
At that moment—
Shukak!
A silver light flashes before my eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous."
Chwak!
A sword of iron slices through the centipede's antennae.
"That belongs to me. Whether you are the master of this forest, the master of the river, the master of the flower field, or the master of the underground...you cannot lay a scratch on what is mine."
"...Why am I yours?"
"You owe me a debt, do you not? You stole and learned my breath, and you stole my footwork. Until you repay that debt, you are my slave."
"...No, I never agreed to—"
"If you touch my possession, I will kill you. Stop spouting nonsense and guide us out of this forest to the town of humans. If you refuse, your life ends today."
Gyeong growls at the centipede and points her sword at it.
At Gyeong's words, the centipede stiffens for a moment, then bursts into maniacal laughter.
[Kuhahahahaha! How insane. That one may survive because he carries my ancestor's blessing, but do you think you can challenge my temper and live? You will become my meal!]
Chwaruruk!
The centipede regenerates its antennae and lunges straight at Gyeong.
Kwaaang!
The centipede's head slams into the spot where Gyeong was standing.
"Gyeong!"
I scream, but when the centipede raises its head, her corpse is nowhere to be seen.
Paaatt!
At the same time, Gyeong suddenly appears above, descending as she swings her two swords.
Puhwak!
The carapace on the centipede's head splits apart.
The centipede writhes wildly, flailing to shake Gyeong off.
But Gyeong clings to the sword embedded in the centipede's head, tormenting it further.
In an instant.
Paaat!
Gyeong's body vanishes again.
'No, it's not gone!'
It's simply that she's moving too fast for my eyes to follow.
'Let's find her.'
I search for Gyeong's figure.
And then, I sense her beneath the centipede's belly.
Chwaak!
When she swings her twin swords, the centipede's belly splits open.
Chiiik!
Venomous blood sprays out and melts the ground, but Gyeong has already disappeared.
'She disappeared again. This time...'
The centipede's tail.
I slowly begin to track her movements.
'I can see it. I'm starting to see her!'
I don't know why, but as I mimic her breathing, her movements become increasingly clearer to me.
Her actions, her movements, the dance-like motions she performs with her twin swords, all enter my eyes.
'Beautiful...'
Not her appearance or figure, but the dance she performs.
Her movements, the perfection of that sword dance!
Each and every single one of her motions looks like a refined work of art.
With every swing of her sword, rays of light bloom.
She appears just like a goddess of war.
It's not simply the act of swinging the sword.
Within each swing lies the history of countless weapons itself.
Her swordsmanship embodies war itself.
Kugwaaaaang!
The centipede uses strange abilities, akin to supernatural powers, to obliterate the surrounding terrain and melt entire areas with poison. Yet she evades all of it, closing the distance and slicing into the centipede's body.
Then, at a certain moment—
Kwaaaaang!
The centipede collapses, defeated by Gyeong.
[Heok, heheok... Heok...]
Sururung—
Gyeong points her sword at the centipede and speaks coldly.
"I will spare your life. Heal your body and take us out of this Ascension Path."
[U-Understood. Please forgive me...]
Thus, the brief battle between the centipede and Gyeong comes to an end.
Chwarurururuk!
The next day.
Gyeong and I sit atop the healed centipede's head, heading westward.
"So, is there something in the west?"
"Hmm, I am not entirely sure. Among the fragments of memory that have returned, I have an intuition that [the one I am pursuing will head west]."
"So, we're heading west to catch that [someone]? How do you know they'll go that way? And how far west are we going?"
"Hmm, I am not entirely sure. But from what I remember, before I lost my memory, I made a prediction based on fairly reasonable assumptions that the [someone] would go west. Ah, do you perhaps want to go east instead of west? If that is the case, I can order this one to drop you off and then continue westward."
"N-No, since you're heading west, then...I'll go west too. By the way, how far west are we going? Are we just aimlessly going west?"
"Hmm..."
She seems to deeply ponder something, her hand brushing through her hair.
"Based on the memory that surfaced earlier...if we keep heading west, we will eventually come across a massive mountain range. Above that mountain range...there seems to be a village inhabited by people who control lightning. I intend to wait for [someone] in that place."
"You still haven't recovered all your memories. How will you identify the person you're chasing?"
"It will not be a problem. When I see the [someone], even without my memory, I'll recognize them instantly. Also...they are not even human, so it will be obvious."
"Not human?"
"Correct."
Gyeong begins explaining information about this [someone] to me.
As I listen to her explanation, I feel chills running across my body.
"From what I have remembered so far...the [someone] I am pursuing is not human but a monster that has lived for more than ten thousand years."
"T-Ten thousand years!?"
"Yes. That old monster..."
"Wait, old monster you say. If you're chasing something like that, how old are you?"
"..."
The moment I hear the term 'old monster,' I feel an inexplicable discomfort and find myself questioning her.
Gyeong, who remains silent for a moment, suddenly shouts at me.
"Insolence! How dare a mere slave ask his master such an impudent question. Do you wish to be stripped naked, hung upside down, and severely beaten!?"
"Ugh..."
Perhaps it's because I saw her crush that centipede. I realize that if I push her too far, it could very well happen, so I shut my mouth.
"...Anyway, that old monster is a [snake with a human head] that has lived for over ten thousand years."
"S-Snake with a human head?"
"Yes. Before I lost my memories, I searched for the descendants of that old monster and investigated it. Its tail is adorned with flames that inflict excruciating pain to torture its enemies, its scales are as beautiful as glass, and when you look into its eyes, it is said you see an incomprehensible abyss. I...descended to this land to capture such an ancient creature."
"...Descended to this land...you say."
For some reason, her words make her seem like a celestial maiden who has come down to the land.
"Truly...a terrifying and dreadful being. I hope you can catch it."
Hearing my words, Gyeong places her hand on my shoulder and says,
"And...that being can transform into a human. Moreover, it is said to spit a 'black liquid imbued with the power of death' from its mouth. If you ever encounter it in battle...the fight will not end as easily as it did with this centipede. If that time comes, use every bit of your strength to run away from the battlefield. I am saying even if the [snake with a human head] does not show up, if I'm fighting someone, do not just stand around watching like you did earlier."
"A-Alright."
Her tone is a bit cold, but I know her words come from concern, so I nod.
"But, can you let go of my shoulder?"
"...How dare a slave command his master!"
In response to my words, Gyeong tightens her grip on my shoulder, squeezing it recklessly in a sadistic manner.
Chwararararak!
Before long, Gyeong and I managed to leave the forest while riding on the centipede.
The moment we escaped, it felt like I was about to faint.
'A f-floating island...'
A massive landmass was floating in the sky!
Underneath the massive landmass, I let out a small gasp in wonder at this world.
Gyeong also looked slightly surprised at first, but she seemed to recall some memories as she accepted it like it's normal.
In any case,
The centipede leapt down from the Sky Island.
'When we came down from the Sky Island, it disappeared from view. That's fascinating as well.'
Gyeong explained that a [barrier] is placed around it.
'It's said the barrier lifts Ascension Path into the sky, hides it from others' sight...and also serves to [seal something]?'
That seems to be the gist of it.
'What could be sealed in Ascension Path? A treasure? A monster? Hmm...'
While I'm lost in thought, the centipede sets Gyeong and me down on a sandy floor.
After traveling together for several days through the desert, I started calling her 'Gyeong-i,' and she started referring to me as 'slave'.
We're both casually using nicknames for each other.
"You useless slave! When your master dismounts, you should have gotten off first and made a mat with your body! Do you not see the sand getting everywhere?"
"There's sand everywhere anyway, so unless I carry you on my back, it's pointless..."
"Then should you not be carrying me on your back? Slaves these days really have no sense of servitude!"
Grumbling, Gyeong-i dismounts from the centipede.
"In any case, you did well. I cannot reward you for today's work right now, but once I recover my strength and memories to some extent, I will bestow incredible fortune upon you."
[Y-Yes, Elder. Please take care.]
The centipede bids us farewell politely, and I walk alongside Gyeong-i towards the edge of the sandy desert, towards a certain city.
The city has the name [Cheon-saek City] written on it.
Sapak, sapak, sapak...
As I stare at the gates of Cheon-saek City, I feel nauseous for some reason.
'Why is this happening...I feel like I'm going to throw up.'
When my complexion turns pale, Gyeong-i glances back at me and furrows her brow.
"How insolent! With your master right here, who else are you thinking about!"
"...I'm not thinking about anyone."
"You are lying! That is clearly the face of longing for someone else, you wicked fool. Hmph, forget it. Just hurry up and follow me. First, we need to gather some information."
Following Gyeong-i, we roam around this desert city, learning about this world and this country.
First, it turns out that we are in a place called Byeokra, and further west lies Yanguo and Shengzi.
Her destination, however, is a place called the 'Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect', a cultivation sect located in Shengzi.
'Cultivation sect... So, this is a world where martial artists and cultivators exist, with the cultivators working behind the scenes to control the world...is it?'
"Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, Shattered Heaven Peak. Yes, this is the place. The location that the [someone] from my memory would seek out is exactly here!"
"But, about these cultivation sects..."
I ask, basing my questions on the information I've gathered while wandering around Cheon-saek City with Gyeong-i.
"How do we even get in?"
In the case of the Daoist sects on Earth, they often doubled as Daoist shrines or temples.
Because of this, there were many instances where visitors would come to offer incense, making it sufficiently accessible even for civilians to enter.
However, the cultivation sects in this world are completely different from Daoist temples.
'They seem like secretive underground organizations...'
"We aren't cultivators and we don't even have that thing called spiritual roots, do we?"
"Don't have spiritual roots? Ahaha, do not worry. My memories are gradually coming back. If we don't have spiritual roots, we can simply [make one]."
"Make...spiritual roots?"
"That's right. Creating a Five Elements Spiritual Roots is simple. I can show you right now. Watch and follow later."
As if she can't waste any more time, she immediately books a room at an inn and sits in a lotus position on the floor, regulating her breathing.
At a certain moment,
Flash!
Five streams of multicolored energy swirl above her head and are absorbed into her body.
Simultaneously, cracking sounds echo as her body contorts.
Wuduk, wudududuk!
Paaaatt!
After some time, her twisting body stabilizes and returns to normal. Smiling with her eyes, she speaks.
"Something like complete transformation is no challenge to me. If you do what I just did, you too can obtain spiritual roots. Now then! For now, I will focus on acquiring and learning cultivation methods. I recall that once I reach the 4th star of Qi Refining, all of my memories will return. As for you, train in the sword techniques and breathing methods I have taught you, and strive to acquire spiritual roots through diligent effort."
And so, in Cheon-saek City, I begin learning the 'martial arts' and 'sword techniques' she teaches me while studying this world, aiming to achieve the complete transformation she mentioned—the state of [Five Energies Converging to the Origin].
In this way, ten years pass.
-x-X-x-
"Gyeong-ah! Look at this! I think I'm about to reach the realm of Five Energies Converging to the Origin! Once I have my spiritual roots and start practicing cultivation methods...I'll be able to join a cultivator cl..."
I stop mid-sentence and stand frozen, looking into Gyeong-i's room.
She sits inside the room and stares at the sky with hollow eyes, her face hidden behind a mask.
"...Gyeong-ah, don't be too discouraged..."
Over the ten years, Gyeong-i and I became external members of the only cultivator clan that rules Byeokra—the [Cheongmun Clan].
As a martial artist who has reached the realm of Five Energies Converging to the Origin, she is treated with considerable respect. But that's all.
For ten years, she has been stuck, unable to advance even to the 1st star of Qi Refining.
"...Heavens above. Why...?"
When she sees me enter and realizes how close I am to reaching Five Energies Converging to the Origin, her eyes tremble violently.
"Damn it!!!"
Gyeong-i's piercing scream echoes beyond the estate granted to us by the Cheongmun Clan.
I smile bitterly, trying to comfort her.
"Don't be too discouraged, Gyeong-ah. Like you said, cultivation methods are incredibly difficult and gruelling. Look at me—I haven't even started practicing cultivation methods yet."
"...Ah, haha, yes. That's right. Five Elements Spiritual Roots. I wasn't originally of the Five Elements Spiritual Roots. The Five Elements Spiritual Roots is the problem! Yes, practicing cultivation methods with the Five Elements Spiritual Roots is not easy. It's as you said. It truly is a grueling process."
Perhaps feeling a bit comforted by my words, she lets out a long sigh, regains her composure, and steps outside the estate with me.
"Rise to Five Energies Converging to the Origin. I'll stand as your law protector while you undergo complete transformation."
"Got it, Gyeong-ah!"
Woo-wooooong!
Using the martial arts I've trained in for over ten years, I achieve complete transformation and reach Five Energies Converging to the Origin.
"Huuuuu..."
'The world looks entirely different.'
Is this the consciousness of a cultivator?
Feeling my newfound senses, I bow to Gyeong-i.
"Then, as you have taught me thus far, I ask that you also guide me in cultivation methods, Senior Gyeong-i."
"Haha, very well. Follow diligently. The world of cultivation methods is far more grueling than you can imagine."
From that day onwards, having reached Five Energies Converging to the Origin and obtained the Five Elements Spiritual Roots, I begin learning the basic cultivation methods Gyeong-i acquired from the Cheongmun Clan.
Half a year passes.
I have reached the 6th star of Qi Refining.
From a corner of the estate where we live, a sharp scream erupts once again.
"Heavens above! Why!? Am I!? Still!!??"
-x-X-x-
Qi Refining 6th star!
This is the final stage that can be achieved through general cultivation methods before conducting the Seven Star Ritual.
Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends, Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, Twelve Earthly Melodies, Ten Heavenly Stems Diagram, Nine Palaces, and Eight Trigrams.
These concepts represent the pinnacle of mastery that one can attain.
When it became known that I had reached the 6th star of Qi Refining, the Cheongmun Clan sent a notice, stating that they will accept me not just as an external member but as a household member of the clan.
It seems that someone at my level is considered a reasonably valuable human resource.
Over the span of ten years, I intermittently practiced the swordsmanship and martial arts that Gyeong-i taught me.
At the same time, I also tried to locate my colleagues who faced the landslide with me, either by asking around or by sending people to the Heaven-Treading Desert, but...
They remain untraceable.
Nevertheless, I didn't give up on anything.
I continued searching for my colleagues, training in martial arts without rest, and studying cultivation methods.
As a result, despite the significant obstacle of having the Five Elements Spiritual Roots, I managed to reach the Qi Refining 6th star in just half a year.
'Well, the faster I grow stronger, the more influence I gain, and with that influence, I can broaden the scope of my search for my colleagues, so it's a good thing, but...'
Everything is progressing smoothly.
But if there's one thing that's a concern, it's Gyeong-i's recent state.
"Gyeong-ah, I brought the fasting pills."
"..."
Even with the Five Elements Spiritual Roots, I graduated from the Qi Gathering stage and reached the 1st star of Qi Refining in just a single day.
That alone shocked her greatly, but within just one month after reaching the Qi Refining Stage 1st star, I rose to the 2nd star.
Then, every month afterwards, I advanced by one star.
'To be honest, even this is because I slowed down to avoid shocking her too much...'
She, having not yet even reached 1st star of Qi Refining, has been looking lifeless for several days as I sped through the stages.
"...Gyeong?"
"...Don't call me so familiarly, you damned slave. Why? Why is this happening...? Even if it's the Five Elements Spiritual Roots, it shouldn't be like this. Just because of something like spiritual roots, can cultivation really slow down this much? That cannot be. Spiritual roots are fundamentally based on us. We are the masters of the spiritual roots. For spiritual roots to hinder us is impossible..." ṝáɴőＢÈs
She clutches her head and mutters incomprehensibly for a long while.
Watching her like that, I speak with a sympathetic expression.
"Gyeong-ah, I saw you cultivating last time. You were doing it completely differently from me, weren't you?"
"...Well, yes."
Her Immortal Cultivation method is very unusual.
No, to put it kindly, it is unique. To put it bluntly, it is an 'absurd' cultivation method.
Her method of cultivation involves nothing more than [sitting still, aligning her body naturally, and reciting formulas].
There is no deliberate gathering of spiritual energy through breathing, nor any focusing of will based on an understanding of the formula.
Literally, after memorizing the formula once, she would just sit there doing nothing.
That is her way of cultivating.
'I, on the other hand...understood the meaning of the formula as soon as I received it. Based on that understanding, I concentrated my will and guided my breathing. Why is she doing it like that?'
To be honest, it's hard not to find her complaints about her cultivation not progressing a bit absurd, given that she isn't actually doing anything.
"In that case, why don't you try cultivating my way? I'll teach you my method. Consider it repaying the debt for teaching me swordsmanship and breathing techniques."
"...Your method? What exactly do you mean by your method?"
"Hmm, well...it's something called [Understanding Before Breakthrough]."
Understanding Before Breakthrough.
A method where you first comprehend the formula of each stage and then guide your power according to that formula.
Breakthrough Before Understanding.
A method where you guide your power first and then gain enlightenment from that power.
These two Immortal Cultivation methods are widely recognized in the cultivation world.
Those without talent use Understanding Before Breakthrough to first comprehend the formulas, while those with talent use Breakthrough Before Understanding to advance stages first and then gain the corresponding insights.
Although I seem to advance stages too quickly, making it appear like Breakthrough Before Understanding, in truth, I understand the meanings of the formulas as soon as I see them, making Understanding Before Breakthrough exceedingly effective for me.
I plan to explain the meanings of the formulas I have understood to her and advise her to try cultivating using my method.
'Gyeong-i's natural method is...in a way, the extreme of Breakthrough Before Understanding.'
For those overflowing with talent, simply sitting still as she does would naturally attract Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, allowing their cultivation to rise.
But such things are usually only possible for those with Heavenly Spiritual Roots.
And even then, it is said to only occur for a very small number of exceptionally special individuals with Heavenly Spiritual Roots.
'For people like us with Five Elements Spiritual Roots...well, it's common sense that such a method would never work.'
Why does she, someone without talent, try to imitate the methods of those who possess it?
'In any case, if she is to quickly advance her cultivation and recover her memories, she needs Understanding Before Breakthrough.'
Only Understanding Before Breakthrough is the method that can help her advance in her cultivation.
It's when I plan to explain Understanding Before Breakthrough to her and describe the insights on the cultivation stages I have achieved.
"Wait, wait, wait..."
Gyeong-i cuts me off immediately, glaring at me through her mask as she speaks in a low voice.
"I refuse. I cannot advance my cultivation with something like that."
"Hm? What are you even talking about?"
"...That is..."
Her following words suddenly make my head feel a strange jolt of pain.
"Because it is the Way of Salt."
Ziiiiing—
"The Way...of Salt? What is that?"
"...I do not know. If I recover my memories, I might find out... But in any case, Understanding Before Breakthrough is not acceptable. We fundamentally despise the Way of Salt. We...can never acknowledge the Way of Salt you speak of."
"What are you even talking about? Isn't Understanding Before Breakthrough a method that allows even those without talent to aim for higher heights? In a way...it's a method that offers opportunity to anyone with the will to do so. Why are you rejecting it?"
"...Is a being who has the will and who works hard to reach a certain position...good?"
"Hm?"
Gyeong asks with a serious expression.
"Do only good people work hard, while evil people do not? If evil people can also work hard using the Way of Salt you speak of and become even stronger...would they not become uncontrollable great evils?"
"Hmm..."
I speak about the nature of effort, but Gyeong shifts the topic to good and evil.
"What do you think is absolute in this world?"
"Absolute... Hmm..."
I think carefully and respond.
"Wouldn't it be death? Everyone eventually dies."
"...Death is not absolute. The heavens are. Even if people die, the heavens remain."
"What about the earth?"
"You would not know since you are merely a mortal, but...even the earth dies. Most [earth]s are spherical in shape, but those spheres also have a lifespan and eventually collapse. Only the heavens are eternal."
"Damn it, don't treat me like some primitive fool! Even I know the world is round!"
"...No. There are places that are not round. This world is not round."
"...?"
I stare at her, wondering what kind of bullshit she is spouting.
"...Do not look at me with those eyes like you are staring at a savage!"
"No, what are you even saying, Gyeong-ah? You just said the earth is round, and now you're saying this world isn't round. Are you trying to say this world is flat?"
"Ha...never mind. I cannot explain it properly right now since my memories are incomplete anyway. In any case, only the heavens are eternal. Now, do you know what those cultivators who cultivate under the heavens are called?"
"Heaven-Defying Ones (逆天者). Cultivators are also known as Heaven-Defying Ones."
"Do you know why they are called that?"
I think carefully before responding.
"I've heard that walking the path of Immortal Cultivation extends the lifespan given by the heavens, which is why they are called Heaven-Defying Ones."
"Yes, that is part of it. But...what is important is not that."
"Then what is it?"
"It is that they are undeserving."
Her gaze grows cold.
"Cultivators enjoy excessive power and longevity. And at the end of Immortal Cultivation...they themselves become Immortals who determine fate and lifespan. But have you ever considered this? In this world, there are undoubtedly cultivators who cultivate the Devilish Path. Even those evil beings, as long as they follow the proper procedures and walk the path of Immortal Cultivation, eventually become Immortals. There is no restriction on that."
"..."
"Do you think that is right? If an evil person easily gains power and inflicts unbearable pain and torment upon another being, is that just?"
Her question carries profound anguish.
"'We' were formed because we believe it is not right. And what 'we' aim for, in the end, is precisely that."
Her silver eyes are filled with conviction.
It is the belief that she and the group she belongs to are absolutely right.
"To ensure no one can easily escape the principles under the heavens. To ensure no one can oppress others under the heavens with overwhelming violence. That is who 'we' are.
"Thus, 'we' despise the Way of Salt, which allows those untested to gain power and authority with will. Only the tested should gain power, and only the chosen should rise. Only the [Way of Light] that does so is the truly great truth."
"..."
"That is why I will endure even if my cultivation does not advance immediately. Once I build up my cultivation up to the 4th star of Qi Refining, I will remember everything and properly advance my realm. This is my belief, and it is the conviction 'we' have established. I will never bend."
"...So, you're saying you won't even rely on pills or spirit stones?"
"Those are unnecessary as well. Whether it is absorbing spiritual energy from a spirit stone imbued with spiritual energy or directly refining and consuming a pill, to speak in extremes...both are the Way of Salt. Only waiting, sitting still. That alone is our Way of Light."
I listen to her words and sink deep into thought.
The conversation we are having clearly touches on something buried deep within my heart.
If there is a being who gains excessive power, would that being be good or evil?
'Since good and evil cannot be tested, only the chosen ones are allowed to rise...huh.'
Perhaps that is a rather valid way of distinguishing good and evil, making it a rather decent method.
But for some reason, a thought occurs to me.
'Then what about the unchosen ones? Whether it is right or wrong, are they meant to be ruled by the chosen ones? Is that truly right?'
She despises the so-called [Way of Salt], but my thoughts are different.
Couldn't it be that the Way of Salt is not entirely bad?
Ziiiiiing—
As I think of that, the headache that has been writhing in my mind grows even more intense.
—Immortal...Cultivation...is...
—Repentant enlightenment...
—Like tiny...grains of salt...
Incomprehensible formulas seem to flash before my eyes.
But as I try to recall those formulas, the headache becomes so severe that I shake my head and decide to stop thinking about them.
'What is this headache? I don't know... For now, let's just focus on the Seven Stars Ritual.'
Carrying these various concerns I head out to perform the Seven Stars Ritual.
I had gone to Gyeong with the intent of giving her the choice of Understanding Before Breakthrough, but in the end, it feels like I failed and ended up burdened with even more questions.
Qi Refining stage, Seven Stars Ritual.
"...What is this...?"
I am left dumbfounded, my tongue tied.
To perform the Seven Stars Ritual, I had intended to ask one of the elders of the Cheongmun Clan to examine my auspicious date.
'I was going to go see the elder after having a mock trial of the Seven Stars Ritual first...'
For practice, I piled up some dirt to roughly form an altar and recited a portion of the ritual incantation. But just like that, the Seven Stars Ritual for the Qi Refining stage was [completed].
I am now at the 7th star of Qi Refining.
'What kind of absurd...?'
Woo-woong!
From the sky, something known as celestial energy begins to manifest.
At the same time, I feel my spiritual natures becoming fuller and my spirit growing larger.
Even the power of the spells I've used until now has noticeably increased.
Undoubtedly, I have reached the Qi Refining 7th star.
'No, wait, it isn't even my auspicious date, and it's still daytime?'
Stunned by this bizarre phenomenon, I find myself trying to understand what caused it.
Then, it happens.
Ziiiiing!
"Kughhhh!"
I clutch my head and collapse on the spot.
A headache overtakes my mind as certain words emerge.
Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal (北斗封仙).
Seven Stars Harnessing God (七星借神).
Ziiiiiing!
"Ughhhhh...!"
[Flag]!
I don't fully understand, but a vision of [seven flags] flashes before my eyes.
The moment I perceive the seven flags, it feels as though my head will explode.
But at the same time, [wisdom] flows into my mind.
It is unmistakably wisdom related to the Seven Stars.
These flags are, without a doubt, composed with the authority of the Seven Stars.
Thus, one who holds the power of these flags does not need to perform the Seven Stars Ritual and can perpetually remain at the level of the Seven Stars Ritual.
"Heok...heok..."
I don't understand it well, but it seems to be quite important information.
However, no matter how hard I try, no further special [wisdom] about this comes to mind.
'Though I don't fully understand it, does this mean that the power of those seven flags is imbued within me, and because of that, the Seven Stars Ritual was established just from a mock attempt, without formally performing it?'
It certainly seems to be the case.
'I feel like Gyeong-i might know something about this phenomenon...'
Perhaps she knows something about these [seven flags].
Even if she doesn't, telling her about the [seven flags] might help her regain some lost memories.
'Should I go and ask her?'
But I quickly shake my head.
'She just cried when I told her I reached the Qi Refining 6th star earlier.'
If I tell her that I've already reached the Qi Refining 7th star within half a day, she might start bawling.
That's how visibly melancholic Gyeong-i looks right now.
'I'll tell her later.'
With that decision, I set my sights on reaching the Qi Refining 8th star and begin cultivating with courageous and diligent effort.
Thus, another ten years pass.
"Finally!"
I cry out, tears of joy streaming down my face.
"Finally! I've reached the 8th star of Qi Refining!"
Ten years.
After ten years of diligent cultivation, I've managed to rise from the 7th star to the 8th star of Qi Refining.
"Ahaha! Congratulations!"
"Yes! Gyeong-ah, I really congratulate you too!"
"Indeed, indeed! Did I not tell you before? It is possible even with this method!"
That's right.
While I spent twenty years progressing from a mortal to the 8th star of Qi Refining, she had spent the same twenty years completing the Qi Gathering stage and successfully reached the 1st Star of Qi Refining.
"Truly, to think advancing by a single star could be so difficult."
"Indeed. It is quite remarkable."
For some reason, I faced immense obstacles in reaching the Qi Refining 8th star from the Qi Refining 7th star over the past 10 years.
'Every time I tried to rise to the 8th star, an overwhelming headache would hit, accompanied by the words Sealing Immortal (封仙), making it impossible for me to even attempt the Six Harmonies All Path.'
In the end, I did everything I could.
I gathered countless spirit stones and absorbed their energy, studied Understanding Before Breakthrough like a madman, and earned immense merit through the martial prowess of Five Energies Converging to the Origin, accumulating achievements within the Cheongmun Clan to learn their exclusive cultivation methods.
Through one of their exclusive cultivation methods called Body Cultivation, my body grew even more resilient. While training in martial arts, I managed to create something called a 'Gang Sphere,' and when I placed that Gang Sphere in my dantian, it transformed into what is known as an Inner Core.
When that Inner Core combined with my Body Cultivation, I developed a bizarre new sense beyond the ability to read celestial energy, granting me a vision akin to that of a demon spirit.
'And then, combining the way of demon spirits, the way of cultivators, the strength of the internal energy method I learned through martial arts, and finally...Gyeong-i's natural body method! By bringing all these together, I finally succeeded!'
I pushed my body, my martial arts, and my cultivation method to the absolute limit of the 7th star of Qi Refining.
On top of that, the extreme version of Breakthrough Before Understanding, as described by Gyeong-i.
A natural body state, endlessly 'hoping' for Heaven and Earth spiritual energy to arrive.
By simultaneously pursuing the so-called [Way of Light] and [Way of Salt],
And by waiting under the heavens as the sun and moon cycled day after day,
I found myself momentarily drawn into the cycle of the sun and moon, and finally broke through the wall of the 7th star of Qi Refining and reached the 8th star.
It took me ten full years to accomplish this.
'To think breaking through a single star could be this difficult. Other cultivators must also overcome such terrifyingly huge walls to advance in their cultivation. Truly, the elders at the Qi Building stage are incredible.'
I quietly respect the high-ranking cultivators and the efforts they have made thus far as I continue cultivating my method.
'Ten years for one star... Will I even be able to finish this within my lifetime?'
With that, I carry on with a slight sense of worry as I continue my cultivation.
Regardless, I must keep cultivating.
'I need to raise my realm, and raise it further to find my colleagues and...understand the reason I came to this world!'
For that purpose, I continue my training as a member of the Cheongmun Clan.
Half a year passes once again.
"..."
"...Hmm, Gyeong-ah. You don't need to be so disheartened. Even if you cultivate according to that [Way of Light] you mentioned, while it might take more time, it's overwhelmingly stronger in the same realm, isn't it?"
"...That is not a matter of the [Way of Light]. It is simply that I am strong. The [Way of Light] is strong too, but fundamentally, it is because of my strength."
"Yes, yes. Either way, Gyeong-i, you're incredibly strong, aren't you? To the point someone like me is no match for you? You can even contend against opponents far above your own realm, so you are..."
I am massaging Gyeong-i's shoulders, comforting her.
It has already been about 21 years since I came to this world.
In that time, I have reached the Qi Building stage.
Yes, that's right.
It took me 20 years to reach the Qi Refining 8th star, and then just another half year to reach Qi Building.
My cultivation speed accelerates by the day.
'Truly...the more I look at cultivation formulas, the easier it becomes to understand them. Not only that, but I can directly draw out the power inherent in the formula and absorb it into my body, so my cultivation speed simply cannot be slow, but...'
Gyeong-i, who had initially been at a higher level than me, now finds herself far below me in cultivation. From her perspective, comparing herself to me can only result in feelings of inadequacy.
Kneading, kneading...
As I massage her shoulders, I speak.
"Gyeong-ah... Have you thought about trying out Understanding Before Breakthrough? If it's you right now, if you advance even a little through Understanding Before breakthrough, I'm sure it would yield incredible..."
"Silence, you! Did I not already say I refuse to use the Way of Salt! No! More importantly, how dare a slave like you touch your master's shoulders without permission!?"
She snaps irritably, yet she doesn't seem entirely displeased with the shoulder massage, leaving her shoulders in my hands as she grumbles.
"You insolent slave. I will definitely catch up to your realm, and when I do, I will strip you bare, hang you upside down, and beat you senseless to show you the dignity of your master."
"What's so wrong about me giving you a shoulder massage?"
"You...shut up, you insolent fool. How dare you leave your master behind, skipping ahead in cultivation with that vile Way of Salt..."
"What do you mean skipping ahead...?"
It's simply a method based on my own enlightenment.
'If anything, aren't those with Heavenly Spiritual Roots the ones who skip ahead in cultivation through the Way of Light?'
But if I say something like that, Gyeong-i, who possesses the Five Elements Spiritual Roots, would think I'm mocking her and get furious. So, I choose my words carefully.
"Anyway, are you making progress on the matter I mentioned?"
"Yes, I've submitted my application to join the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect."
In any case, since I've already surpassed her in cultivation, I decided to fulfill the goal she originally aimed for.
I chose to enter the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, located in a great mountain range on the western edge.
"Hehe, the Cheongmun Clan must be beside themselves with frustration. Watching a talent of their family being snatched away by the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect right before their eyes."
"Well, there's no helping it."
Over the past 20 years, I've received a lot from the Cheongmun Clan.
While I've earned many contributions for them, I've also received significant support.
From establishing my proper status in this world to ensuring I could live comfortably in this unfamiliar world, they've provided me with the resources and even manpower to help me search for my companions.
'Yet I still haven't found them.'
Neither in the Heaven-Treading Desert, nor in Shengzi or Yanguo, nor in the Northern Grasslands, the Southern Black Wind Sea, or the eastern tribal nations...
There hasn't been a single word about my colleagues.
Either they've all died,
Or perhaps I am the only one to came to this world in the first place.
'No, even if I'm the only one who ended up in this world...they were swept away by the landslide, so perhaps they all died in the end.'
I let out a bitter laugh and gaze up at the sky.
'Let's enter the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. Once there, I'll continue cultivating alongside Gyeong-i with better cultivation methods...and simply carry on cultivating for now. While her realm is currently low, regardless of everything, Gyeong-i was undoubtedly...a high-ranking being.'
Even after all these decades, she hasn't aged at all.
I cannot discern what lies beyond her mask, whether through my consciousness or my senses. However, from the sound of her heartbeat and her body's responses, it's clear she remains as youthful as ever.
Regardless of her undergoing complete transformation or practicing cultivation methods, and despite not even reaching the Qi Building stage, she hasn't aged a bit.
And...
She is impossibly strong for someone at the 1st star of Qi Refining.
'The centipede we fought back then...it was said to be somewhere between the Core Formation stage and Nascent Soul stage.'
With only a minimal use of the breath of Light and using only her sword techniques, she managed to push a beast at the very early Nascent Soul stage to the brink of death.
Now, with her proper mastery of the breath of Light, her advancement to Five Energies Converging to the Origin, and her 1st star of Qi Refining, her power rivals that of the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage.
'I still have no idea how such a thing is even possible...'
Perhaps the Immortal Cultivation method of the Way of Light is simply that powerful, but it seems more likely that the enlightenment and strength of [her before she lost her memories] were at an overwhelming level. Even recovering fragments of those memories is enough to display such incredible power.
'From here on...I'll probably have to follow her.'
Following her, and what she refers to as 'we'.
Joining the group she belongs to seems like a decent choice.
The ideology of the group she explained left a deep impression on me, and from what she says, the organization she belongs to seems powerful enough to influence the entire world.
'And...'
If I join that group...
I'll be able to stay with her.
Having spent 20 years together, it would be a lie to say I feel nothing for her.
However, it's not the kind of affection between a man and a woman, but rather one of deep friendship.
'From the beginning, she didn't seem human.'
I remember the day I first saw her beautiful appearance.
Her beauty was so overwhelming that it didn't even stir lust within me.
It didn't seem like something a human would possess.
And then there's the way she acts while wearing a mask.
In each and every one of them, I couldn't feel like we were the same species.
Rather than human, she is probably something else wearing a human shell.
Because of that, I don't love her.
It's just that...she's become precious to me.
'Together with the precious Gyeong-i, let's join the organization she belongs to.'
She said she will regain all her memories once she reaches the 4th star of Qi Refining.
And once she regains her memories, she said there will be no need to continue her cultivation at such a slow pace.
When that day comes, she will likely surpass me in an instant, reaching a transcendent realm.
'I'll raise my cultivation realm higher and higher...to follow her as much as I can.'
With that vow, I discuss with her how we can enter the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect together.
"...A servant? Are you saying I have to enter as your servant?"
"No, well...the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect only accepts inner disciples who are cultivators of high realms. While I might be accepted as an outer disciple...it would be a bit difficult for you. So, what I mean is, you'd have to enter under the guise of being my servant."
"...This...insolent...slave, this s-slave bastard..."
Gyeong-i trembles with anger, clenching her fists tightly.
But what can we do?
This is the only way for us to enter the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect together.
"Over the years, I have received great grace."
"...Are you really going to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect? Our Cheongmun Clan has restored over eight-tenths of the [Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method], an ancient method of the Cheongmun Clan from ten thousand years ago, which rivalled the methods of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. A genius with talent like yours could learn the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method."
The head of the Cheongmun Clan, a Nascent Soul stage cultivator named Cheongmun Jung-jin, speaks with a regretful voice.
"Won't you reconsider? We can give you everything. My daughter, the Cheongmun Clan's pills, spirit stones, and the best cultivation methods. Do you truly have to go to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect?"
"...Yes. My apologies."
"...Hmmmm..."
He lets out a deep hum.
"Very well. In that case, I won't stop you."
"Thank you, Clan Head. And before I leave, I have one request."
"What is it?"
"Over the past twenty years, I have received great grace from the Cheongmun Clan. As a gesture of gratitude...please allow me to pay my respects at the shrine where the ancestral tablets of the elders of the Cheongmun Clan are enshrined."
At first, I didn't think much of it. But for some reason, the moment I see Cheongmun Jung-jin's face, an overwhelming urge tells me to do so.
Cheongmun Jung-jin nods with a warm smile at my words.
"...If that is your request, I will grant it."
I follow Cheongmun Jung-jin into the Cheongmun Clan and stand in front of the ancestral shrine, where the tablets of the clan's ancestors are enshrined.
The shrine holds the tablets of ancestors dating back over ten thousand years.
"The Cheongmun Clan was once a very small family. However, it was the middle ancestor of the Cheongmun Clan, Cheongmun Sunwoo, who elevated the clan to greatness about fifteen thousand years ago. Unfortunately, the identity of the Cheongmun Clan's founding progenitor has been lost to time...but Cheongmun Sunwoo, the middle ancestor, is prominently recorded in our history."
I approach the innermost tablet, the one that reads [Azure Tiger Saint, Cheongmun Sunwoo], and I bow deeply before it.
"And this person is the one who led the Cheongmun Clan after Ancestor Azure Tiger Saint ascended from the lower realm. Strangely enough, this ancestor shares my name—Clan Head Cheongmun Jung-jin."
Ziiing—
A strange headache seizes my mind.
'What's this?'
Behind Cheongmun Jung-jin, who is explaining, I see another figure overlap with him.
That figure bears the same name and the same face as him.
'Why...?'
I feel a sensation that is both nostalgic and chilling at the same time.
I bow before his tablet as well.
"And this person..."
Another tablet comes into view.
"This is the great figure who reestablished and created all the cultivation methods that have been passed down for the last ten thousand years, making the Cheongmun Clan what it is today. He, too, is regarded as a middle ancestor, following the middle ancestor Azure Tiger Saint."
The tablet is inscribed with the name, [Yellow Snake, Cheongmun Ryeong].
As soon as I look at the tablet, I feel an intense surge of emotion well up within me for some reason.
At the same time, a powerful headache and inexplicable emotions overwhelm me.
I bow before the tablet of [Yellow Snake, Cheongmun Ryeong] with greater sincerity than ever before.
-x-X-x-
I bow before countless tablets.
Cheongmun Jung-jin doesn't insist that I bow to every single tablet, only to the tablets of the notable ancestors or elders of the Cheongmun Clan.
Even so, it takes me nearly two days to finish paying my respects at the shrine of the Cheongmun Clan.
I somehow manage to bow before the many middle ancestors of the Cheongmun Clan and leave the shrine.
"...Thank you truly for everything."
I bow once more, both to the entire shrine of the Cheongmun Clan and to Cheongmun Jung-jin himself, before departing from the Cheongmun Clan.
"Do you feel at ease now?"
"...Mhm."
Gyeong-i grumbles about wasting two whole days, but my heart feels lighter than ever.
To the point it feels as though my very reason for coming into this world was to bow before those tablets.
With the newfound lightness in my heart, I head westward with Gyeong-i.