Kururung!
We cross the sea of lightning and reach another Heavenly Domain.
'This place is...?'
I inhale the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of the Heavenly Domain and read the information regarding this domain.
It is at that very moment.
"...!"
I feel a chill running across my entire body and scream.
"Golden Shaking Bird!!!!!! Activate the Great Desolate Path!!! Right now!!!"
Kugugugugu!
From the distant universe.
A seven-colored bird, with an unusual aura, flies towards us.
Its appearance is so reminiscent of a certain Immortal Beast I know that I can't help but feel shocked.
"Glass Peacock is here!!"
Indeed.
Glass Peacock who possesses color like resplendent glass.
The being that is following is undoubtedly Glass Peacock.
Golden Shaking Bird is flustered and begins to manipulate the Great Desolate Path again.
It is then.
[Huh? Huhhh? M-Master! Elder! There is something wrong with the Great Desolate Path!]
Jeon Myeong-hoon and I look towards where Golden Shaking Bird is screaming.
For some reason, the Great Desolate Path has stopped functioning.
'Damn it...! Judging by the momentum of what's chasing us, the being coming right now is Glass Peacock's main body!'
It is not merely at the level of the clone in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.
'I am confident I can win even against a Great Net Immortal.'
But Glass Peacock is a being capable of defeating the seat holder of their Immortal Dao, in other words, an Immortal Lord.
They must be considered an Immortal Lord, a significantly powerful Immortal Lord at that.
'I have no confidence in winning against an Immortal Lord!'
Even though I attained Triple Divinity, using it consecutively right after a fierce battle with the Hyeon Mu is too much.
My Triple Divinity seems much smaller in size than Kim Young-hoon's, and because of that, my endurance appears to be slightly lacking.
'At this rate...'
We will be violated!
This being will capture us, turn us all into fools, and violate us madly.
At that moment, Kim Young-hoon clicks his tongue and speaks.
"Well, just escaping Hyeon Mu's Heavenly Domain is enough, right? This should be enough. The rest, we can just run away with our feet."
"...!"
I watch Kim Young-hoon stepping out confidently and smile brightly.
"Ah, there was that method as well. I request you, Hyung-nim! That seven-colored bird is famous throughout the Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds as a notorious rapist. We must never get caught!"
"Yeah, I got it. I've met a few True Immortals, and they all had bizarre tastes. If it's a famous rapist even among them...I understand!"
I go out and absorb the ring finger of Yang Su-jin containing the Great Desolate Path into my body, then cling to Kim Young-hoon.
Tsts!
Having become practically akin to having no physical substance upon becoming a True Immortal, it is easy to attach myself to Kim Young-hoon, who is at the Heavenly Being stage.
As I provide him with energy and vitality, Kim Young-hoon smirks and glances once at the bird.
"Hey! You cosmic rapist! Come try following me. If you can catch up that is!!! You see, lecherous creatures like you..."
Kududududu!
Kim Young-hoon kicks off into space and starts running.
"Will never catch me!!"
Piiiiiit!
The surrounding environment starts to gradually change.
As Kim Young-hoon kicks off, stars and galaxies instantly pass by him.
It looks as though clusters of galaxies are moving at ultra-high speed backwards relative to him.
Kugugugugugu!
Yet, despite running at a speed far surpassing light-speed, the seven-colored bird calmly continues to chase us.
Kim Young-hoon clicks his tongue upon seeing this.
"It's really fast. What on earth is that thing to be so quick?"
"It's Glass Peacock."
While attached to Kim Young-hoon, I explain to him about Glass Peacock.
Kim Young-hoon, who is somewhat familiar with the knowledge of Origin Essences, Seats of Immortal Daos, and the such, is left with a dumbfounded expression when he hears that Glass Peacock violated Azure Peng for twenty million years to seize its Seat.
"...They are a Great Net Immortal who possesses that level of power. Though they were deprived of their position of Immortal Lord and demoted to Great Net, you can practically consider them as an Immortal Lord."
"Crazy..."
Kim Young-hoon looks at Glass Peacock as if he has goosebumps.
His pace quickens even more.
It seems he is genuinely starting to feel fear towards Glass Peacock.
"...Alright, I got it. I will do my best to escape. I'll increase the speed even more. Hang on tight!"
"Yes!"
Gradually, a golden aura begins to swirl around Kim Young-hoon's steps.
As Kim Young-hoon's heart essence reveals itself through his intent, he starts running in a state where the form of a golden Peng overlaps with his form of a human.
Piiiiiit!
Superclusters begin to swiftly pass by him.
Yet still insufficient, the speed continues to accelerate.
Shiririririk!
In the superluminal speed that has far surpassed light, I feel a phenomenon as if the layers of the world are gradually turning planar and narrow.
I, who can sense the dimension above the fourth dimension at the True Immortal-level, begin having my perception degrade to the third dimension, and then to the second dimension as the speed accelerates.
'The world...is turning into a flat plane?'
The universe transforms as if into a sheet of paper, and Kim Young-hoon runs on top of the paper drawn with countless constellations and superclusters.
'When speed increases to this extent, does the world look like this...?'
I marvel at the transcendent speed Kim Young-hoon displays and look back.
I am greatly startled.
The seven-colored bird is still chasing us.
"I-It's still coming!"
"Damn it..."
Kim Young-hoon grits his teeth.
"Hold on tight. If it keeps chasing us, we have no choice..."
Golden light begins to radiate from his eyes.
"I will leap beyond the Heavenly Domain!"
Piiiiiiit!
In that state, Kim Young-hoon begins to accelerate once more.
And I feel the universe, which has become planar and started to resemble a sheet of paper, gradually 'narrowing.'
If we accelerate to the extreme at this rate, the universe will eventually become a thin line.
In other words, it seems it would turn into a first-dimensional level.
However, reaching that level seems a bit difficult even for Kim Young-hoon as he does not achieve one dimension.
The universe, having turned into a sheet of paper, only contracts to the level of a typical mortal's country.
The nation-sized path stretching forward in the direction Kim Young-hoon is running extends far ahead, and in that distant place, there is a point where the background of this path changes.
I instinctively realize that is the boundary of the Heavenly Domain.
"Please keep running, I will break through."
I scatter Glass True Fire towards Jeon Myeong-hoon and Golden Shaking Bird, who cannot keep up with Kim Young-hoon's speed with consciousness and perception.
Within the extremely short time, the Glass True Fire clings to the two True Immortals and sucks their energy.
Originally flames meant to absorb energy and provide enlightenment, the Glass True Fire is used similarly to the star devouring technique this time.
After sucking energy from the two True Immortals, roughly replenishing the power lost in the battle with Hyeon Mu, I raise the [Wheel] behind me.
In the state of being attached to Kim Young-hoon's body, I somewhat reveal my true body and raise the Colorless Glass Sword, focusing my consciousness at its tip.
'I will pierce through!'
The thrust containing the principle of Kunlun of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship bursts forth from my hand.
Amplifying power through the Wheel, we charge towards the boundary of the Heavenly Domain along with Kim Young-hoon's speed.
[Here we go!]
: : Yes! : :
His speed, my power.
And the sharp thrust containing the principle of Kunlun unfolds.
Jjeoooooong!
A tremendous explosion resounds,
And Kim Young-hoon and I feel as if we are caught in something sticky, along with the feeling that the boundary of the Heavenly Domain is stretching.
'This, this is...!'
And I can't help but be shocked.
The moment we pierced the boundary of the Heavenly Domain.
Someone used history revision to alter the boundary's attributes.
Some has given the boundary of the Heavenly Domain a powerful elasticity and tension, like a bowstring.
'No...!'
Stretch!
The boundary of the Heavenly Domain does not break.
I try to nullify the history revision through the Wheel's ability to rectify causality, but it does not work.
The history revision by [someone] pushes back the might of the [Wheel] as if it isn't much, nullifying my authority, and I receive a tremendous shock from the backlash of the Wheel being negated.
"Kuheogh!"
Immediately after.
Tuuuuung!
The boundary of the Heavenly Domain, stretched due to powerful elasticity, snaps back to its original state and flings us away.
The direction we are flung towards is, of course, the path we have been running along.
In other words...
Towards the direction of the seven-colored bird chasing us.
With dizziness overtaking my vision, I make an expression of despair.
'N-No...'
Is this how we become fools, violated for ten million years?
However, Kim Young-hoon does not despair.
"Nonsense!"
He grabs the golden saber as he is flung towards the seven-colored bird.
"I will not give in!"
Flash!
Enveloped in golden light, he shouts with firm resolve.
"I will go back. Until then...I will absolutely not be corrupted or distracted by anything!"
Kururung!
He becomes a flash of light.
Becoming a light that seems as if it would cleave through the Heavenly Domain, he aims the tip of the golden blade at the seven-colored bird.
"Leave us be, you cosmic lecher, you lust demon!"
Jjeooooong!
A golden storm seems to envelop the universe.
And I open my eyes wide.
The seven-colored bird, hit by Kim Young-hoon's all-out strike, doesn't bear any wounds.
I detach from Kim Young-hoon's body and stand dazed with my mouth agape.
"Seo Eun-hyun! Help, together we can create the gap to escape! We even escaped before that Heavenly Venerable of the Void. There is no reason we can't escape before a mere rapist! Come on! Seo Eun-hyun!"
"..."
Cold spiritual energy crazily seeps from my entire body.
"Seo Eun-hyun!!! What are you doing! Are you feeling scared from a mere rapist? Come on! You can do it!! Let us show this damn pervert that your and my martial arts, the fruits of what we have accumulated, can overcome it!"
"...Hyung-nim."
Wiping the spiritual energy that forms like cold sweat, I smile awkwardly.
The Great Desolate Path that is within me.
Inside, Golden Shaking Bird is bowing deeply, and Jeon Myeong-hoon, following Golden Shaking Bird's instructions, is bowing towards the seven-colored bird.
"Seo Eun-hyun! Why are you acting this way! Are you scared of this rapist!?"
"...I'm sorry, Hyung-nim."
I close my eyes tightly and bow my head towards Kim Young-hoon.
"I...was mistaken. It is not Glass Peacock."
Honestly, I couldn't help it.
Based on appearance alone, doesn't it look almost identical to Glass Peacock? It's to the point that I only realized its essence upon facing it up close.
'Thinking that the actual Glass Peacock is following us made it urgent too...'
But ultimately, it wasn't.
The being before us is not a [Peacock], but a [Falcon composed of seven-colored light].
Though, as far as falcons go, its tail feathers are extraordinarily long, giving it a feeling more akin to a phoenix, vermillion bird, or peacock.
Only then does Kim Young-hoon, after examining the outline of the seven-colored bird, smile awkwardly.
"...So it's not...a rapist?"
"Hyung-nim...please stop saying..."
Just then,
The seven-colored falcon opens its mouth.
: : The name of this Immortal is Bong Myeong. : :
I prostrate before Bong Myeong, who has descended before us.
"...I greet Your Majesty, the Supreme Deity."
: : I am a being known as the Liberation Supreme Deity, Bong Myeong. : :
Kim Young-hoon, tactfully, also bows down on the spot, and I look up at Bong Myeong while sweating cold spiritual energy.
'They aren't upset about being called a rapist, right...?'
And at Bong Myeong's next words, I widen my eyes in shock.
: : Follow me. Currently, all of the Radiance Eight Immortals are gathered in this Immortal's Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain... : :
"...!"
: : You shall be executed. : :
Before we can resist in any way.
Chwararararak!
A scroll depicting a landscape painting unfurls from Bong Myeong's wing feathers.
And before we can even resist, Kim Young-hoon and I find ourselves transported to a valley depicted within the landscape painting the moment we regain our senses.
But what's surprising is that it doesn't end there.
"Huh!?"
"What?"
There's a small village inside that painting, and as men who look exactly like Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and me walk out, they look at us with expressions of shock.
"What in the..."
It's when Kim Young-hoon is bewildered.
"Uh, huaaagh!"
"Huaaaaaagh!!!"
Three humans who look identical to us.
And for some reason, a person who looks similar to Kim Yeon is suddenly dragged up into the sky.
Flap, flap, flap!
From where they were dragged, the projection of the seven-colored falcon appears and adjusts its size before us.
"I apologize for the rough treatment, given the unfortunate timing of your arrival of all times. However, with this, both this Immortal and you will be somewhat free from the gaze of light."
"This place is..."
"A move created by this Immortal to defy light... It is a fake world pre-constructed with the genetic information of you Enders obtained through various methods. The versions of you from this world that were just taken will be executed in front of the light instead of the real you."
"...!"
Upon hearing those words, my face hardens.
"...We appreciate the goodwill you have bestowed upon us. However...the safety obtained through the sacrifice of others is not specifically necessary."
"Sacrifice...? Whom do you mean?"
"Our substitutes you just took...the humans used as replacements for us."
"Sacrifice...sacrifice... You speak strangely."
Bong Myeong tilts Their head.
"They are promised bliss in the afterlife in return for serving this Immortal. I have spoken specifically to the Owner of the Underworld, so they will all reincarnate as the Dragon Race or as beings of noble status even within the Heaven Tribe, enjoying long lifespans... So, who is being sacrificed?"
"Still...suddenly having their current lives taken away is..."
"How amusing."
Jjuuuuk!
The neck of the seven-colored falcon stretches out.
Its neck elongating like a snake to bring its face close to mine creates an eerie sight.
"In this Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds, even the lowliest and most pitiful of bugs born have a nobler and happier determined futures than you Enders. Who is worrying about whom?"
"...Pardon?"
"Those who have another life need not worry. Even those in the Head Realm, though they repeat, have an afterlife. The only ones who should worry are those without a next life..."
Bong Myeong's eyes approach, leaving only a palm's breadth between us.
The eerie falcon with the elongated neck discloses a foreboding truth to me.
"What use is living a single life as kings...? You are only that... Once you enjoy a fleeting moment, that is all... You, whose fates are entirely mortgaged, are to be pitied, not to pity."
Kim Young-hoon asks in confusion.
"Mortgaged...? Just what do you mean by that?"
Hearing that questions, Bong Myeong's eyes glint a somewhat blue light as if pitying us.
"Currently, this Immortal's Heavenly Domain is...where the banquet of the Radiance Eight Immortals and other Supreme Deities is being held... Once the banquet of the Supreme Deities concludes, all will be revealed."
After finishing speaking, They fly upward with a flap.
"The banquet of the Supreme Deities shall conclude in 100 years. Until then, play the role of your scapegoats in the world created by this Immortal. If you do not act according to your roles...the desecration of fate by this Immortal will become null, and you will be caught by the light..."
Chchchuch!
From where Bong Myeong flaps and passes by, three seven-colored feathers remain.
The feathers swiftly fly towards us, transforming into light beams and entering our eyes in an instant.
"This, this is...!"
As soon as the feather enters my eyes, I understand my role in this world.
Archaic Underworld characters appear before my vision, explaining my role.
Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon, too, are bewildered as they carefully voice the roles they have been assigned.
"Pyromaniac...? Me...?"
"A spy?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon is given the role of a pyromaniac.
Kim Young-hoon seems to be assigned the role of a spy.
However, I am so incredulous that I cannot even bring myself to say the role I have been given.
—Your role is [Human Soap Merchant].
—You are to capture humans in this world and play the role of a madman who makes and sells soap out of them.
—Please capture people and make soap.
—Please feel pleasure while making soap.
—Actions not aligning with the role will increase the chances of being detected by the Radiance Eight Immortals in the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain.
Author's Note: Thank you everyone for loving < Regressor's Tale of Cultivation> until now.
Starting from next week,
-x-X-x-
'What kind of crazy talk is this?'
Although events regarding True Immortals are always like this, I am amazed at the bizarre actions of Bong Myeong, which surpass common sense even for ordinary True Immortals.
"This feels like a status window."
Jeon Myeong-hoon, seemingly fascinated, touches the words floating before us.
"Ahaha, look, Seo Eun-hyun!"
Then, as if manipulating the words here and there, he quickly discovers how to use them.
"It's completely a status window! If we act diligently according to the roles we've been assigned, we can accumulate experience points, and through that, we can increase the rank of our roles. It seems that as the rank of the roles increases, we can gain special privileges concerning this world. To put it simply, it's a job change!"
"Hmm...it's difficult."
"Indeed. I am not familiar with this kind of thing either..."
Kim Young-hoon and I spend a long time searching and examining the abilities of this status window.
After a while, Kim Young-hoon completely masters the status window, and I only finally grasp it much later.
"From what I can see, it seems we have to perform the missions the status window guides us through at least once a day to fulfill our roles. Otherwise...it says we will get caught by the light."
"Hmm...but what is this light?"
"Regarding that, let's ask Seo Eun-hyun."
Jeon Myeong-hoon explains the status window, and I give them a brief overview of the light and the Radiance Eight Immortals.
"...For these reasons, we must not get caught by the light and the Radiance Eight Immortals. Moreover...currently, the forces of light have put a bounty on us 'Enders.' So, for now, I believe it is best to move according to Bong Myong's intentions here... Oh, and as for what an Ender is..."
I explain more about Enders to Kim Young-hoon in detail and then speak.
"That's pretty much the basic knowledge. For now, we should explore a bit about this world inside a picture."
Woo-woong!
I grasp at the void.
'I can use attraction force. Prophecy and revision as well...Everything is usable just as before. However, the senses of Heaven, Earth, Heart and the consciousness domain are restricted.'
What measures has Bong Myeong taken?
The planes of Qi, Soul, and Fate are not visible.
Only by focusing on one of Qi, Soul, or Fate for a long time can any of the three planes barely be faintly seen.
Moreover, the consciousness domain is also restricted by powerful laws.
'Yet the world itself...is quite soft.'
It's a fragile world one wouldn't think a Supreme Deity created.
If I clench my fist once, it feels like it would just crumple and burst apart.
'Of course, if I did that, I'd be caught by Radiance Hall, right?'
I decide not to destroy the world in a single strike.
'And...'
I look at my body.
'It's my main body.'
Currently, my physical body is the main body of an Immortal Beast.
I'm only in the form of a human through Transformation. I am ready to change back into a Candle Dragon at any moment.
'Jeon Myeong-hoon, and Golden Shaking Bird inside Jeon Myeong-hoon, are the same. Everyone has been sealed in this world with their True Immortal main bodies.'
When Bong Myeong captured us, it seems They even dragged our main bodies from the True Immortal Realm.
'Although this world breaks when force is applied...how much power can I actually exert?'
Wiiing!
I draw upon my power as an Immortal Beast.
However, as I draw upon my power beyond a certain level, an extremely ominous foreboding fills me.
Whisperwhisperwhisper...
The world is whispering to me.
That if I reveal more power beyond this point, I risk exposure to the entities outside.
'Is this the limit?'
It appears that the total amount of power one can wield within this landscape world is around the Heavenly Being stage to the early-mid Four-Axis stage.
"First, as you all might have felt, there seems to be a risk of being detected by the Radiance Eight Immortals if we exert power beyond the Four-Axis state in this world. Therefore, it seems it would be challenging for us to leave this world solely with our strength. I will try summoning others as well."
Woo-woong!
With those words, Jeon Myeong-hoon brings out Golden Shaking Bird from within his body, and I release my subordinates, Hong Fan, Yeo Hwi, Yu Hwi, and Ham Jin from within mine.
'Opening and closing the internal world isn't much of an issue either.'
"Hmm... Master, where is this place?"
Hong Fan looks around with suspicious eyes, while Ham Jin and Yu Hwi bow to me.
As soon as Golden Shaking Bird and Yeo Hwi emerge, they furrow their brows.
"Emm, Master. What on earth is this place...?"
"The world seems to be forcing a form on Golden Shaking Bird. Golden Shaking Bird will change her form for now."
Parurururu!
Golden Shaking Bird transforms into a hummingbird, and Yeo Hwi into a crow.
And the two newly transformed Immortal Treasures are exuding aura only at the early Four-Axis level.
This seems to be the restriction applied to them by the world.
I explain the current situation to them.
"...This is the situation. For now, do any of you see the text...for example, something called a 'status window'?"
However, Hong Fan and the others shake their heads.
Yeo Hwi shrugs her wings and says,
"It seems I've been treated as rubbish rather than formally invited, so I'm only subjected to restrictions and not given such roles. However...as Master said, if I try to exert power beyond the Four-Axis stage, an extremely ominous intuition overwhelms me. For now, I will transform into a bird demon beast at the Four-Axis stage to assist Master."
"Besides that, the power restricting us seems much stronger than the power restricting the masters. Although I'm fused with the Great Desolate Path and considered an Immortal Treasure, I am in reality in the realm of a True Immortal. I feel I have to squeeze quite a bit of my power to just barely overcome this restriction."
I nod at their words.
"Alright. Then, everyone transform into the form you feel most comfortable in and follows us. Hong Fan, do you prefer the form of a human?"
"...No. It seems the world wants to restrict me because I have exceeded the level of power the world allows. I will transform into a smaller form like Golden Shaking Bird and Yeo Hwi."
Surururuk-
Saying that, he transforms into a small, black centipede and climbs onto my shoulder.
"I will follow in the form of a centipede. It seems this world prefers it as well."
"Alright. For now, hide in my clothes and follow along. Later, I will make a pouch for you to stay in."
I look at Ham Jin and Yu Hwi.
"What about you two?"
Since bringing them from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, I've been intermittently explaining the situation and infusing them with 'wisdom', so they seem to understand and follow the current situation well.
"We are...only restricted by about one stage, but we are not pressured to transform into something or to shrink."
"It seems to be because our original realm is at best at the Integration stage. Although it could also be because we are originally of the Human Race. We will...follow as Master's human subordinates."
"Alright. Go ahead then."
We quickly determine our positions.
Paatt!
Just when the general situation is grasped.
In front of Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kim Young-hoon, and me, the status window begins to change.
The status window, composed of an array of words, assigns us daily tasks.
"Go to the village, settle in, and identify your role. Then prepare to act according to your assigned roles...?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon slowly reads the status window and then lets out a hollow laugh.
"...I'm going to go crazy. It's telling me to go to someone else's house and set off flames."
"...Fortunately, I'm just told to draw a map of the village. Seo Eun-hyun, what about you?"
"..."
I grit my teeth as I look at the daily task assigned to me.
I feel like I am already getting a headache.
—Go to the village, settle in, and identify your role.
—Your role is [Human Soap Merchant]. Please prepare to act your role.
—To capture people to make soap, a detailed kidnapping plan is necessary. Please devise a thorough kidnapping plan.
"...They want me to...kidnap people."
Feeling a throbbing in my head, I first descend to the village with my comrades.
After going to the village and gathering some basic information, we somewhat grasped an understanding of this landscape world.
First, the people here call this world [Liberation Peach Garden Village].
'Peach Garden Village...it's a kind of Peach Garden Painting.'
A type of storage scroll used by cultivators when putting living creatures inside, known as the Peach Garden Painting.
This Liberation Peach Garden Village seems to essentially be a gigantic Peach Garden Painting.
Liberation Peach Garden Village consists of four nations on a single vast continent: 'Sea Nation,' 'Square Nation,' 'Center Nation,' and 'Circle Nation,' each situated in the east, west, south, and north of the continent, respectively.
Each nation is about the size of Yanguo in the Head Realm, and their overall culture seems similar.
Beyond the continent lies an endlessly vast sea, and it looks like if you travel far enough across the sea, you emerge again on the opposite side.
'It's not a spherical world.'
Through the words of the residents, I gained an understanding of the world.
It isn't merely that the planet is round and sailing across the sea brings you to the opposite side.
If you go to the eastern end, you come out at the western end, and if you go to the southern end, you emerge at the northern end.
It's not a spherical world like a planet, but a flat world akin to a Decaying Corpse Realm.
However, instead of the world shield force, there's a peculiar spatial distortion that relocates entities reaching the world's edge to the opposite side.
'And...the residents also don't seem like normal inhabitants.'
"Ugh... Ah..."
"What is the name of this country we are in? Do the people of this world use martial arts? Are there cultivators? What about rumors of monstrous strength and chaotic spirits, tales of demon spirits and phantoms, and of ghosts, tigers, and immortal monsters?"
Sitting on the wooden porch of the house set as my role's 'home', I watch Yu Hwi interrogate the neighbor, Mr. Jang, using the soul-invoking art.
"Our country...is in the west of the continent...Square Nation... Martial artists...exist. There are also...pseudo-daoists called...sorcerers, though...I've heard legends...of Immortals...parting the skies...and summoning lightning...demons spirits...do exist..."
"Understood. Forget today's events and return to your work..."
Sururuk...
With a gesture from Yu Hwi, the spirit of the neighbor, Mr. Jang, slowly returns to his body.
"This seems to be the extent of what we can extract from this one, Master. Like other worlds, cultivators seem to be hidden among the mortals"
"Well done. But Yu Hwi...didn't you feel anything while using the soul-invoking art?"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"...Try bringing over the spirits of the passing dog, cat, and person for a moment."
"Yes."
Yu Hwi follows my order and briefly extracts the spirits of those passing by in front of the house.
"..."
I glance at the spirits and let out a silent sigh.
"I see..."
Looking at the souls, I feel an inexplicable chill.
'I was wondering why each and everyone felt familiar... They carry the scent of the flames of the Underworld Ten Kings. These beings...none of them are living people!'
All the residents of this world are deceased.
They are beings dragged out from the depths of the Underworld, temporarily escaping from the Underworld flames.
Each and everyone is a sinner who escaped from hell.
'Did They momentarily pull out the vile souls who committed atrocious sins in their lifetime and were suffering in the flames of hell to fill Their world as supporting characters?'
Upon realizing this, I feel two opposing emotions.
One is a flimsy defense mechanism that slightly alleviates the guilt of performing a mad role like 'Human Soap Merchant.'
The other is a feeling of desolation.
'This world...is not free even in death.'
Only sinners have been dragged here.
But...doesn't being pulled into the realm of the living even after death mean that, for a True Immortal that has friendship with the Underworld, it is possible to drag out either sinners or noble spirits from the afterlife, torturing them for eternity or manipulating them like puppets at will?
'Both life and death are at the whims of True Immortals.'
Throb!
For some reason, it feels like the sword scar left on my shoulder by the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is throbbing a bit.
'Bong Myeong seems to be a being capable of discerning good and evil...but what about other beings?'
Is the fate decreed by the heavens truly only evil?
I weigh between the Way of Light and the Way of Salt that Gyeong-i told me before, pondering over which one is truly right.
'Perhaps...the Way of Light may not be so bad after all...'
For some reason, the thought that the Way of Light might be right does not leave my mind.
A chaotic space where everything is mixed together.
There, eight giant gods of light appear and take their positions.
The representative of Radiance Hall, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord, and the executor, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord, join forces to create eight thrones of light and the symbol of the [Black Snake Biting Its Tail] in front of them.
Upon those thrones, the other Eight Immortals take their seats.
The Flower Plant, Great Sun, Torch Candle, Pearl Jade, and Great Sea Heavenly Lords are each communicating with the dimensions of their respective domains in real-time, continuing to tend to various tasks even from their seats.
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is looking and continuously whispering to a hazy, misty something made from someone's Vestige.
They are ceaselessly infusing [wisdom] that symbolizes the Way of Light.
Only the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord knows why they are doing such a thing.
And, beginning with these Radiance Eight Immortals, various colossal entities reveal their wills in that place.
Amidst the chaos, several powerful 'symbols' begin to appear, each engaging in conversation with one another in their respective languages.
There are a total of eight symbols gathered:
[Black Snake Biting Its Tail]
[Transparent Seed]
[Bird Trapped in a Cage]
[Spear of Lightning]
[Black Sun]
[Taiji In The Shape Of A Fetus]
[Mountain Exuding Darkness]
[Six Interconnected Stars]
The wills of the eight Imperial Kings (帝王) marks their presence in this space.
The Imperial Kings Banquet is about to begin.
-x-X-x-
The Great Forest Heavenly Lord surveys the eight symbols and then turns towards the two symbols in the corner.
The symbols are all enveloped in powerful light.
However, the symbols of [Mountain Exuding Darkness] and [Six Interconnected Stars] glow dimly.
In the space of chaos where the symbol of [Black Snake Biting Its Tail] presides, the Radiance Eight Immortals each occupy seats, creating a throne of light to sit on.
The first seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord, looks at the gathered symbols and speaks.
: : Even in these turbulent times, to think so many Imperial Kings have attended the banquet... : :
The Great Forest Heavenly Lord, seemingly satisfied, looks down at the faces of the symbols as if they are the master of this place, and at those who have descended on behalf of each Supreme Deity and Heavenly Venerable.
In front of the symbol of [Transparent Seed], White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus sits on a throne blooming with countless flowers.
At the location marked by the symbol of [Bird Trapped in a Cage], the owner of the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain and the host providing the banquet venue, the Liberation Supreme Deity, Bong Myeong, is seated.
The giant falcon of light, as if about to swallow the universe, sits in a half-human, half-beast form on a seven-colored throne, supporting its face on one hand and slowly gazing around the surroundings.
Enveloped in the light of seven colors, the detailed expression and gaze cannot be discerned, but Bong Myeong's face points towards the something in the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's hand and stops there.
At the symbol of [Spear of Lightning], a faceless white-haired woman sits in flowered shoes on a throne made of lightning.
At the symbol of [Black Sun], there is a pitch-black throne that seems to suck in light, where a massive black tiger, whose body is composed of the universe's darkness, lies covering the entire throne, licking its body.
It seems indifferent to other beings, focusing only on instinct as ordinary tigers would.
In front of the symbol of [Taiji In The Shape Of A Fetus], there is a throne of chaos.
A hazy figure faintly appears on this throne of chaos, seemingly wearing a black robe.
Having looked around to this point, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord displays a slightly uncomfortable expression as they glance at the remaining two symbols.
: : Is the master of the distinguished one still unaccounted for? : :
[I apologize.]
The symbol of [Six Interconnected Stars] is very dim, as if it might extinguish at any moment.
And standing in front of it is Yeong Seung.
In their Transformation form, Yeong Seung bows towards the Radiance Eight Immortals, their expression hardening.
: : If it is your master, wandering around the Outer Sea may be difficult, but returning to Mount Sumeru should surely be easy... However, seeing as They have not returned, is it because you have failed to faithfully persuade your master? : :
[...I have nothing to say.]
: : It is alway the same words. The Heavenly Venerable of Time, the True Ultimate Eternal Life Great Emperor, is an essential being for Mount Sumeru. Do you even know how many errors have arisen across Mount Sumeru due to Their absence? Find a solution. Why are you just stretching out your legs and waiting for your master!!?? : :
It is when the Great Forest Heavenly Lord continues to press Yeong Seung.
Bong Myeong, appearing slightly uncomfortable, shifts slightly.
: : Please stop there, O Radiance. It makes me a bit uncomfortable to see Yeong Seung continuously reprimanded. : :
: : Hmm, my apologies, Liberation. That was not my intention. : :
The Great Forest Heavenly Lord gives a cursory apology to Bong Myeong, the creator of Yeong Seung, and then glares once more at Yeong Seung.
: : I expect you to find a way to contact your master and make Them return. : :
[Understood...]
Having finished speaking, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord finally glares at the symbol of [Mountain Exuding Darkness].
: : ...Are you ridiculing us to the end, Great Mountain...? : :
Where the Great Forest Heavenly Lord's gaze lands.
There stands a beautiful, expressionless woman in a dark-red blood robe.
She does not move an inch from her spot.
It is Oh Hye-seo.
: : You make an Ender your disciple, feed them the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea, and send them to this place...!!! Just how much must you mock Radiance Hall to be satisfied!? Ra Cheon!! : :
Jjeoooong!
As the Great Forest Heavenly Lord waves their hand, an enormous beam of light pours down towards Oh Hye-seo.
However, the light merely passes through her in vain.
She does not move even as much as a speck of dust.
It is as if she is nailed to that spot.
Seeing this, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord trembles with anger.
: : So this time, you send not even the tiniest bit of energy, but just a pure illusion!? How utterly displeasing. : :
Kururung!
As they wave their hand again, the light converges on her illusion, trying to erase it.
Yet, despite the Great Forest Heavenly Lord's efforts, the illusion remains unaffected and stays in place.
Upon witnessing this, Great Forest shakes with even greater fury.
: : Ha! Did you put some special trick into this illusion meant to mock us? So you invest effort into ridicule. Just wait. Your disciple will definitely be captured someday...! Ra Cheon!!! : :
Watching the Great Forest Heavenly Lord seething in anger, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord raises a finger to their lips.
Seeing this, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord seems to tremble slightly before stroking their mask.
Ssak!
Simultaneously, as if the previous display of anger was a lie,
The Great Forest Heavenly Lord surveys the surroundings in a monotonous voice like a doll.
: : As the Great Mountain Supreme Deity appears to be engaged in strange actions, we shall ignore it and proceed with the banquet. I thank all the many Governing Immortals who have gathered for the banquet this time as well. : :
There is no particular reaction among the Supreme Deities and Heavenly Venerables.
Only the entity in the form of a black tiger continues to gnaw at the pitch-black throne it sits upon like a beast, while the white-haired woman representing the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity,
Zhengli, merely scoffs.
: : And since the Flower Monarch and the Flower Overseer have shown their faces, you may leave whenever you wish. The same goes for you, Yeong Seung. : :
White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus scoffs at those words.
[Do you think the Heavenly Venerable and I are dogs that come and go at your command? Do not order us around. We will leave if we want to. With the Heavenly Venerable's attendance, this should be called a Governing Immortal Banquet rather than a Supreme Deity Banquet.]
Though somewhat provocative, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord accepts as if unconcerned.
: : How unusual. The Heavenly Venerables will not gain much from this... Do as you like. : :
[Hmph, it's amusing how you unleash anger on Yeong Seung, who has no backing, while maintaining a courteous attitude towards me, who does. Just get on with it!]
White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus, seemingly displeased, crosses their arms and leans back on the floral throne.
The Great Forest Heavenly Lord shows little reaction and utters a few customary words.
: : I would like to thank the Liberation Supreme Deity for providing this venue today to hold the Governing Immortal Banquet. This banquet also serves as a celebration of the Liberation Supreme Deity's enthronement, which occurred several tens of thousands of years ago. : :
: : I am overwhelmed. It still feels unbelievable that a mere distant bloodline of the Ignorant One like myself can enjoy such luxury. : :
: : Enjoy it, Liberation. Surpassing your vulgar ancestor and being enthroned as a Supreme Deity is the highest of honors, is it not? : :
: : Thank you for your praise. : :
: : Then once again, I thank everyone for gathering at this time's Supreme Deity...no. Since the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable has joined us, this time's Governing Immortal Banquet! : :
The Great Forest Heavenly Lord expresses gratitude to the Governing Immortals once more, but only receives a cold response in return.
Zhengli speaks with disdain.
[How laughable. Forcibly gathering everyone to flaunt your power every now and then, and you speak of gratitude?]
: : Haha, it seems the Heavenly Punishment Supporting Envoy (天罰奉養使者) has some dissatisfaction. However, I know that once the banquet begins, you will all enjoy yourselves as usual. I merely hope that you enjoy it this time as well. : :
[...]
: : For this banquet, in addition to the delicacies of the mountains and seas provided by our Radiance Hall...at the end of the banquet, the Liberation Supreme Deity, who has provided this venue, has also said They will offer a very special treat. Perhaps the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity will be thrilled and rush in. : :
The Great Forest Heavenly Lord glances at the black tiger gnawing on the pitch-black throne out of hunger, and then continues speaking to Bong Myeong.
: : If what you hinted before the banquet is true, you are indeed a true sibling to our Radiance Hall. Our Radiance Hall will stand as a sturdy fence for the distinguished one instead of the Underworld. : :
: : Thank you for your words. I hope the relationship with Radiance Hall deepens, and that the Ender situation resolves with their complete annihilation of those who have stepped into True Immortality. : :
Bong Myeong's words embed themselves into the universe as a prophecy.
A scene of the entities called Enders being eventually captured by Radiance Hall flickers faintly across the entirety of Mount Sumeru and then vanishes.
Seven of the Radiance Eight Immortals show very satisfied reactions upon seeing this.
: : Now then, the introduction was lengthy. : :
The Great Forest Heavenly Lord chuckles and extends a hand.
At their gesture, countless innate Entering Nirvana True Persons, who lack reason, appear in the void and begin to bring something.
: : From now on, I declare the start of the Governing Immortal Assembly (御仙會). : :
The banquet of great divine spirits begins.
The innate Entering Nirvana True Persons start to revolve around the space of chaos, using their bodies as drums and pipas to create a bizarre melody.
Amid this cosmic melody, the chaotic space transforms according to the will of the Radiance Eight Immortals.
Dust clouds and ice masses spin within the chaos, forming a round table for the Supreme Deities.
Yeong Seung, observing this scene, bows slightly to the Radiance Eight Immortals as if feeling uncomfortable, and then bows once more towards the symbol of the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable.
White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus also bows towards Yeong Seung, and Yeong Seung vanishes from the spot.
Then, the Entering Nirvana True Persons start placing items fitting for the banquet upon the round table.
: : The mountain and sea delicacies (山海珍味) prepared this time are very special. They have been extracted for only about 500,000 years since the Vast Cold Incident... : :
Kugugugung!
They are literally mountains and seas.
Mountains and seas are laid upon the round table.
Composed of mountains, seas, and various strange worlds, they appear to be a literal landscape scene when observed up close. Yet from a distance, something seems different.
These strange worlds somehow take on shapes akin to human heads, beast limbs, and even intestines.
: : These are the fresh ancient forces extracted from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain by the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord... : :
The Great Forest Heavenly Lord laughs, gesturing to the round table if presenting precious delicacies.
: : Then, please, eat your fill. : :
With that, the meal of the Supreme Deities begins.
Jjeooek!
The masks of the Radiance Eight Immortals split open where their mouths should be.
The Eight Immortals reach out their hands to the round table and start picking up the [mountain and sea delicacies] to eat.
Wadududuk, chomp, chomp!
The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord stuffs a world resembling a child's skull into their mouth, chewing.
The Naming Supreme Deity Hyeon Rang picks up and eats an organ from the table with a hazy hand.
The Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity Hyeon Ryul undergoes a change in demeanor as soon as the banquet begins.
In the form of a black tiger, They exude majesty befitting a Supreme Deity, adorned in a pitch-black mianguan and dragon robe.
Yet, as soon as They touch what's on the table, countless sharp mouths sprout from Their entire body, voraciously gnawing and swallowing the food.
Waduduk, jjeeek! Kkadududuk!
The Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity Do Gon possesses Zhengli.
Zhengli's form changes.
From a white-haired woman, she transforms into a massive something made entirely of lightning, and starts devouring the food on the round table.
Wooduduk, kwadududuk!
Chewchewchewchewchew!
Consuming food resembling a woman's arms and legs, Do Gon releases lightning into the surroundings as if satisfied.
Heavenly tribulations capable of destroying galaxies fall around.
White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus seems displeased but picks up an eyeball the size of their fist and puts it in their mouth.
Kudududuk!
As they chew and burst the eyeball, tiny somethings within the eyeball scream and are absorbed into White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus's body.
With each movement of their jaw, the world within the food collapses as Heaven and Earth are overturned.
Shururuuk—
The somethings absorbed into the body of White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus are drawn into the symbol of [Transparent Seed] beyond their throne.
And, the Liberation Supreme Deity Bong Myeong picks up someone's hand that is missing a ring finger from among the dishes.
They briefly glance at the side of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, then back at the Radiance Eight Immortals.
The Great Forest Heavenly Lord looks at Bong Myeong and casts a warm, gentle light upon them.
: : Please, eat. : :
Bong Myeong gazes at the food in Their hand.
Food.
Mountain and Sea Delicacies.
Or...
Ancient Force (古力).
The Supreme Deity Great Banquet (上帝大宴會).
Known as the Supreme Deity Assembly, or when conducted with the attendance of a Heavenly Venerable like this time, referred to as the Governing Immortal Assembly, is a celebratory feast for Imperial Kings.
The purpose of this Governing Immortal Assembly is simple.
The Imperial Kings who rule the world are half-forced by Radiance Hall to gather and consume the ancient forces extracted from the Head Realm.
However...
Though softened by the term ancient force, what ultimately lies upon the round table are the corpses of True Immortals.
In essence, the true meaning of the Governing Immortal Assembly is for the Supreme Deities to officially gather and feast upon True Immortals.
It is as the Great Forest Heavenly Lord says.
Though some, like Zhengli, feel displeased about being forced to gather, once they start eating the [mountain and sea delicacies] of the Radiance Eight Immortals, they feel extreme satisfaction and no one complains.
Bong Myeong ponders.
Since being enthroned as a Supreme Deity, how many beings have They devoured?
Though They have yet to properly devour a True Immortal, They will be devouring those who advance to True Immortality as countless eons pass.
In the realm of Vestige Liberation Immortal, the Radiance Supreme Deity devours Vestige Liberation Immortals.
In the realm of Upper Immortal, the Great Mountain Supreme Deity devours Upper Immortals.
They, too, will devour the True Immortals, or cultivators, of the realm They oversee.
Have They not already consumed a considerable number of Entering Nirvana True Persons?
Wuduk—
Unable to withstand the gaze of the Radiance Eight Immortals upon Them...
Unable to bear the light of the [Black Snake Biting Its Tail] behind Them...
They finally bite into the hand missing a ring finger.
Waduduk!
The world that Bong Myeong puts into Their mouth is truly delicious.
The act of not absorbing by understanding, but digesting and dissolving the power source.
The act of not making the ancient force one's own, but converting it solely to one's strength and annihilating it.
The act of passing down one's throat the hidden histories, the achievements of once-living and breathing True Immortals.
The act of getting rid of hidden wisdom with their own hands before Radiance Hall!
Bong Myeong deeply despises this act.
Yet, regardless of Their will, They find Themself gluttonously shoving the food on the round table down Their mouth like the other Supreme Deities.
'Radiance Hall...has repeated this act for as long as the history of the Imperial Venerable...'
A repeated history ultimately becomes strength.
Thus, there are almost no Supreme Deities who can refuse this act.
No one even thinks to refuse in the first place.
From the beginning, the other two Heavenly Venerables besides Underworld and Void have all risen to Heavenly Venerable through such means, and the Heavenly Venerable of the Void rose using even more chilling methods.
In the end, continuously devouring True Immortals is akin to the orthodox path to becoming a Heavenly Venerable.
The current Heavenly Venerables are practically performing what they now do endlessly in real time.
However, Bong Myeong recalls the two beings who have escaped such 'banquets' of Radiance Hall.
'Salt Sea...Gwak Am...and the Imperial Venerable... Though this may be just a guess, perhaps you too, Cheon Woon...wagered your existence to escape the bridle of Heavenly Venerables.'
Though the Great Mountain Supreme Deity's escape is relatively recent, They nonetheless broke free.
The Heavenly Venerable of Time, having distanced Themself from Mount Sumeru, likely somewhat weakened Their continuous erosion of True Immortals as well.
Of course, the Heavenly Venerable of Time would not be entirely free as They are a Heavenly Venerable, but They would have escaped considerably.
However, Bong Myeong, greedily stuffing Their mouth with the food from the round table, feels that They cannot escape this act.
It is a terrifying pleasure that none in the entire Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds could offer.
They ponder while They are engulfed in pleasure.
Even They, who reached Supreme Deity...
...seem not much different from a pig or dog ravenously consuming the feed scattered by the Radiance Supreme Deity.
'You...knew this and distrusted us because of it, didn't you...? Yang Su-jin.'
—What kind of Imperial Kings are you!? What kind of Supreme Deities are you!? What kind of gods are you! Are you not...just livestock feeding on the fodder thrown by Light!? How can beings like you, who are the same as me, be gods or kings!!??
Remembering Yang Su-jin's anguished cry,
Bong Myeong thinks that they are like beasts.
They remember the words of the Great Forest Heavenly Lord.
That Radiance Hall would be Their fence.
Yet for some reason, Bong Myeong finds the words laughable.
It is not a fence.
'It is...a pen.'
A pen that confines livestock.
Wadududuk!
Waduk!
Jjeodudududuk!
Chompchompchomp!
Uduk, uduk!
Thus.
Bong Myeong, like the other beasts trapped in the pen, diligently eats and digests the fragments and wisdom dissolved from the Head Realm.
Thinking that if They continue to eat like this, They might become plump and fat...
They ceaselessly stuff mountain and sea delicacies into Their mouth.
-x-X-x-