Time flows swiftly.
Before I know it, I reach my 700th reincarnation.
Now, I have fallen from the Integration stage to a level of cultivation around the innate Four-Axis stage.
But even in that state, I endlessly recite the Flawless Mantra while standing on my hands, cultivating the Flawless Mantra.
Yet unlike before, my handstand is one that resists the mantra trying to control me, and defies the laws of the world, so to some extent, I am able to live a somewhat normal life and form connections.
And, with each of those connections, my comrades always come find me and stay by my side.
They become my family every time.
In each and every life, I live with my comrades, and at the end of each life, I always offer myself as a sacrifice to strengthen the Immortal Crown I bestowed upon them.
At the same time, I seek the answer to the question posed by Black Dragon.
The answer that will refute the power of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.
I continue to ponder what it means to be King.
How many more reincarnations pass like that?
It is now the 750th cycle.
"...Yeon-ah."
Before I know it, my cultivation has now dropped to the innate Heavenly Being stage.
I look at Kim Yeon, who walks with me in this life as well, and ask.
"These days, everyone doesn't seem to be entering the White Magnolia Realm."
"Mmm..."
"Hmm..."
I read Kim Yeon's Triple Divinity.
The Triple Divinity merges and takes a form through intent, and I read that form of intent to understand her thoughts.
Perhaps because it is a restriction personally placed by the Liberation Supreme Deity Bong Myeong, it is not easily readable even in this way, but recently, I've been able to perceive it faintly.
"...I see. Black Dragon and Oh Hye-seo...the two joined hands and are turning the entire Twin Holding Heavenly Domain into a complete mess, aren't they?"
"...."
"Well, it's nothing too worrying. My cultivation of the Flawless Mantra seems to be approaching a bottleneck anyway. It's almost finished now, and once it's done, let's enter the stomach of the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity and hide there."
"...."
At those words, Kim Yeon looks at me for a moment, then puffs up her cheeks and stretches mine out.
"Ugk, what? You're saying we shouldn't go inside the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity's belly? That we should fight back?"
"Mm!"
"Hmmm... But rather than that, I'd prefer you all to stay safe."
"Mm-mm!"
"Ahaha...Thank you. But like I said, once I finish my Great Net Immortal advancement, let's go inside the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity. Because..."
With a dark expression, I recall the Radiance Eight Immortals.
The power of the Radiance Eight Immortals that overwhelmed both the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity and the Liberation Supreme Deity.
No matter how many times I think about it, it is a terrifying authority.
"...I want to be with all of you for a long, long time."
"...."
Truly, it's been a long time since I've lived this long with my comrades.
I've even lost track of how many years it's been.
"...I wonder if Young-hoon Hyung-nim is doing well."
"...Mmm..."
"Probably, you say? Huu... It doesn't seem like he's completely gone... I wish I could see him. Young-hoon Hyung-nim..."
I sometimes chat idly with Kim Yeon while sighing.
Sometimes, I spar with Oh Hyun-seok and Jeon Myeong-hoon using only the power of the Heavenly Being stage.
Sometimes, I retain my memories.
Other times, without bothering to retrieve them, I simply live immersed in the role I was given at birth.
Thus, the cycles pass quickly.
Before I know it, even the 777th cycle, which Obsidian was said to have reached, passes by swiftly.
800th cycle.
My cultivation falls to the Nascent Soul stage.
850th cycle.
I am born at the Core Formation stage.
900th cycle.
I am born at the Qi Building stage.
950th cycle.
I am born at the Qi Refining stage.
And from that point on, the expressions of my comrades begin to gradually darken.
Kurururung!
I look up at my Immortal Crown that covers the White Magnolia Realm with a hardened face.
In every single life, I offered my fortune and myself as a sacrificial offering, giving birth to Immortal Art, and with that power, I created the Immortal Crown that strengthens my comrades.
Yet, despite all that, the attraction force of my comrades surrounding the White Magnolia Realm has been pierced, and the True Immortals beyond the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain are exerting their influence.
'Black Dragon... Oh Hye-seo...'
I frown as I recall the two of them.
'The number of Heaven and Earth Upper Immortals and Great Net Immortals they're summoning is gradually increasing. On top of that, this aura...'
Shiver!
I flinch at the powerful force I feel beyond.
There are at least two more beings at the level of an Immortal Lord.
One is a massive black tiger that feels oddly familiar.
The black tiger circles around the White Magnolia Realm and slams its front paws down across various parts of the realm.
The other is a familiar face.
Kuuuuung!
White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus!
A massive half-human, half-horse beast, its entire body covered in dense muscle, is pounding at the side of the White Magnolia Realm.
Two Immortal Lords have answered Black Dragon's call.
'Damn it...'
Moreover, the recent situation seems to be getting even worse.
Oh Hyun-seok has recently left for the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain for a while.
He said he had something to confirm related to Azure Tiger Saint, but there's still no sign of when he'll return.
On top of that, due to the great war unfolding in Radiance Hall, countless people are dying. As a result, Kang Min-hee seems to be incredibly busy due to her position as Judge and will likely be unable to easily help us.
In short, the White Magnolia Realm is now being defended almost solely by Jeon Myeong-hoon and Kim Yeon.
Kurururung!
I narrow my eyes as I see the prophecies of my comrades, which blanket the White Magnolia Realm, tremble.
'Just hold on a little longer.'
The more I cultivate the Flawless Mantra, the more proficient I become in the power of Triple Divinity, and through that, I am gradually getting a sense of my Great Net Immortal advancement ritual.
Thus, as I continue cultivating the Flawless Mantra,
I cultivate Triple Divinity, understand life, and contemplate royal authority.
951st cycle.
My cultivation falls to the 13th star of the Qi Refining stage.
952nd cycle.
12th star of Qi Refining.
953rd cycle.
11th star of Qi Refining.
954th cycle...
...
...
970th cycle.
At last, I am born with no cultivation at all, just as an ordinary mortal.
Living a mortal life, I never forget my heart, and experience the short life of a human.
However, as the cycles continue to pass...
Finally, the 990th life.
I am no longer born as a human.
I am born as a dog.
As a dog, I am raised in a human household, I guard that house, and live a truly short life before I die.
There isn't even a moment to ponder anything.
The 991st cycle.
I become a horse.
As a horse pulling a cart, I spend my whole life hauling loads and serving humans until I die.
The 992nd cycle.
I am reincarnated as a female badger.
Living an ordinary life as a badger, I meet a male badger, give birth, raise my cubs, and repeat this cycle—serving my young until I die.
The 993rd cycle, the 994th cycle, and the 995th cycle.
The 996th cycle, the 997th cycle, and the 998th cycle as well.
In each life, I behave according to the body I am reincarnated into, and I do my best to survive within the limits of each existence.
And before I know it, I reach the 999th cycle.
'What is a king?'
Holding on to that question, I open my eyes in a new life.
In the 999th cycle, I am born as a deer.
Is it because in my previous lives I constantly died, offering up my life and the fortune I had accumulated for the sake of my comrades?
Gradually, my talents diminished, and the racial stats I was born with, or the characteristics inherent to the race became increasingly trivial and inferior.
And this 999th life, in which I am born as a deer, is precisely one of those.
Puk, puk!
I am bumped and knocked aside by the shoulders of other deer.
I am notably smaller than the others, and though I am a male, my antlers do not grow, perhaps due to some defect.
I am completely cast aside in the society of deer.
No doe or stag among the herd becomes close to me, and no one approaches me.
So rather than trying to befriend the other deer, I focus solely on chewing over the question I have carried for so long.
'What is a king? Why must a king not plunder others...?'
As I peacefully graze and dwell on such things—
Step, step...
Grrrrrr...
My body trembles with instinctive fear.
The countless deer, excluding myself, also tremble in terror.
That's right.
The king of this forest.
A tiger has arrived.
That tiger is one with pitch-black hair, a Black Tiger.
The Black Tiger looks around at our frozen bodies with serene dignity, then opens its mouth.
Grrrr...
Though it is the language of tigers, we deer can understand it.
Whether it's because it is a high-ranked tiger, or because its growl is halfway into the language of the Demon Race, I don't know.
[From now on, I am the king of this forest.]
We lower our heads toward the king of the forest.
Grrrr...
[I could eat you all right now, but I will not. I will eat only one deer a month. Instead, decide among yourselves which deer will be offered to me.]
Half-transformed into the Demon Race, the tiger smacks its lips, and leaves after conveying its will.
Watching this, the deer gather for a meeting.
How should we choose which deer will be eaten by the king of the forest?
The method is simple.
A lottery.
We draw lots to decide which deer will be offered to the Black Tiger, and once a month, we offer a companion as sacrifice when the Black Tiger comes.
Watching this, I ponder over the question of why the Black Tiger, called the king of the forest, is considered a king.
Then, one day—
Grrrrrrr...
The Black Tiger arrives, and as usual, during the lottery in front of the Black Tiger, a female deer is chosen.
[So it's you today. Come forward.]
But unlike before, when those chosen would enter the tiger's jaws without complaint for the safety of the herd...
This time, the doe begins to weep.
"O King of the Forest, please do not eat me. There is a child in my belly. Even if not for me, this child is far too pitiful."
The doe cries and pleads in the language of deer, and the Black Tiger lets out a snort.
[A promise is sacred. And yet you dare ask to break the promise and spare your life?]
"O King, I beg you for mercy..."
[My mercy is that I do not devour your entire herd right now. When you graze, do you talk to the grass and give it a chance before you tear it up?]
"Ah..."
In the end, the doe stands before the tiger's jaws, tears falling.
And I—why do I do it?
I step forward in front of the doe.
I feel the astonishment of countless deer.
"O King of the Forest, I humbly beg of you. Please spare this doe and take me instead."
At my plea, the Black Tiger's pupils narrow into vertical slits as it glares at me.
[Are you telling me to break a sacred promise? That doe was chosen by lot, and the chosen deer is the one to be eaten by me.]
"O great King of the Forest."
I lower my head toward the Black Tiger.
"Indeed, a promise is sacred, but is not the new life in that doe's belly, a life yet untouched by light, sacred as well? Please consider it as giving that new life a chance."
At my words, the Black Tiger rises and glares at me.
[You speak of nonsense. The child in that doe's belly was fated to be eaten by me. And to be born with such a fate means it was a sinner who committed vice in its past life. Are you not defending a sinner?]
"...."
Suddenly wondering how a mere tiger, at most of the Qi Refining stage, knows of such things, I look up at the Black Tiger.
It is at that moment.
"...!"
I forget my memories.
I forget my name.
I am...
Just a deer.
A malformed deer, at that. A stag who has yet to grow antlers.
Why do I stand before such a terrifying predator, speaking such words?
I am filled with deep regret.
But...
Though I regret it, the burning hearts in my chest push me forward.
It's as if they are telling me there is no reason to lower my head.
"O King of the Forest. I am nothing more than a mere deer. I do not understand what it is the King of the Forest speaks of. However, even if this child had sinned in a previous life...if it is granted this life, could it not cleanse that sin? To deny even the slightest chance simply because of past sins...I believe that is too cruel.
"Rather, if the King of the Forest grants this sinner the opportunity to cleanse its sins, grants them a new life—would that not be even more sacred than the promise we have made?"
[...]
The Black Tiger stares at me intently.
[...Pitiful deer bearing much in your heart, yet born with nothing. What are you, to speak such words before me, the King of the Forest? Why must I, the King of the Forest, concern myself with your words?]
"I..."
I fall silent for a moment.
When I look into the Black Tiger's eyes, I cannot remember who I used to be.
I am but a mere deer.
However...
"I am the one who makes a king a king."
If the one before me is a king, then I am their subject.
Every king is called such because they have subjects.
And thus, I can stand proudly even before the king.
[Then, deer who makes a king a king, would it be permissible for me to devour you whole instead of that doe?]
"Yes."
[Deer who makes a king a king, for the child in the belly of a doe you do not even know of, why do you so carelessly offer your precious life?]
"That is..."
Once more, I look up at the Black Tiger's eyes.
When I first looked into those eyes, I had feared being nothing but a deer.
But now, it is no longer so.
"...As Your Majesty said, if there is such a thing as a past life...then when I too am reborn someday, and face the danger of being eaten the moment I am born, I would wish for someone to help me."
[You mean to say you offer your life for retribution that may or may not come?]
"It will come."
[Hmm?]
"Just as Your Majesty holds promises sacred and does not devour us all at once, and in return is provided with us every month...I too, for the sake of what I hold sacred, have given my body. And hence, I too shall be repaid."
[...]
The Black Tiger stares at me for a moment, then speaks.
[Very well, deer who makes a king a king. I shall grant you mercy. I shall not eat you whole and take your life. Seeing your noble heart, I shall only tear off and eat one of your legs.]
With those words, the Black Tiger bites off one of my legs.
For a mere deer like me, it brings unspeakable pain, yet I express my gratitude to the Black Tiger.
"Thank...you."
[Be on your way.]
Whether it is a demon ability cast by the King of the Forest, the leg that is torn off heals quickly.
From that day on, I live on as a deer with one less leg.
Daily life continues to repeat.
Then one day, the same event happens again.
Once more, a pregnant doe is selected by lot.
"O King of the Forest, please have mercy. Please spare me..."
The doe sheds tears as she pleads to the King of the Forest.
Seeing this, I drag my three legs and step before the Black Tiger, making the same request as before.
The Black Tiger looks at me and, without many words, ends it by biting off one of my hind legs.
With my front left and rear right legs gone, I become a deer with only two legs.
Several months pass.
A few strong stags and does without fawns are eaten by the Black Tiger.
Then, another certain month arrives.
Once again, a pregnant doe draws the lot.
"O King..."
The doe weeps, and I naturally limp forward with my two legs.
The Black Tiger looks at me and this time bites off my other hind leg.
Now, without both hind legs, I am left with only one front leg.
Fortunately, this forest is abundant. Even with a single leg I am able to drag myself to eat grass, so I manage to survive.
Another year passes.
Now, I have become well-known among the deer.
No deer scorns or disregards me for lacking antlers anymore.
All the young deer grow up hearing my story, and when I pass by dragging my body with one leg, they bow in respect.
Before I know it, I become a deer who, with the most pitiful body, receives the most noble treatment.
And one day.
That day comes again.
"O King."
A pregnant doe once again sheds tears as she pleads to the King.
I, to offer my last remaining leg, drag this pitiful body forward on my single leg and stand before the King of the Forest.
"O King of the Forest, I thank you for the mercy you have shown time and time again. Please...give the child about to be born a chance, and take this old body in full. After all, once my last leg is gone, I will not be able to live on anyway..."
[....]
Then, the King of the Forest, the Black Tiger, looks down at me and asks.
[Deer who makes a king a king. Are you not afraid of death? Are you not afraid of having your life taken away? Even if there is another life, the you in the next life is not the you of now. It is not a continuation of you with your memories.]
"...That is certainly true."
I acknowledge those words.
However...I feel no fear.
"But...I am truly not afraid. Because...even if I die today, the child I save today will survive and live to have a life. And...among all the deer, my heart will remain."
[....]
"Even if I die...my heart will never disappear. Perhaps it will be within me in a future life...but it will also dwell within my family, the herd of deer, and continue to be passed on."
Without a single lingering regret, I offer my neck to the Black Tiger.
"I will not disappear. O King, please take me..."
[...Deer who makes a king a king. I ask you one final thing. To you, what is a king?]
"A king..."
I answer with the brightest smile a deer can make.
"A king is one who gives and receives. Your Majesty became the king of the forest because you exchanged a promise with us. And in holding that promise sacred, and because you also honored us as sacred, did you not become our sanctity as well, O King?"
[...In your words, a king, in the end, is one who holds the other as sacred.]
For some reason, I feel as though the Black Tiger is smiling.
[Then, O deer who makes a king a king. As you truly hold your fellow deer sacred, and as you yourself are held sacred by them...]
The Black Tiger rises and cries out.
[Are you not then the King of Deer!?]
"...."
At those words, I look up at the Black Tiger.
Then I look behind me.
Behind me, countless deer who have heard my story and shown me respect bow their heads at my final moment.
[O King of Deer, born in a pitiful form. I make you this promise. Since you have answered me what a king is, I shall, with you as the last, touch your herd no more.]
"...! Thank...you."
[Yes. O Deer King, sleep in peace...]
Waduk, waduduk, wadudududuk!
And so, in the jaws of the Black Tiger,
Within the mouth of the King of the Forest, I am slowly chewed to pieces and die in pain.
And as I am chewed by its teeth, I recall something.
Each time it bites down on me, a rush of memories from my life as a deer flashes before my eyes.
The day it chewed my first leg.
The day it chewed my second leg.
The day it chewed my third leg.
And today...as it chews my last leg along with my entire self.
'Ah...'
For some reason, through that stream of memories, I gain an unknown wisdom.
In the flash of the day my first leg was torn, I gain wisdom of a name called Krita (कृत).
In the flash of the day my second leg was torn, I gain wisdom of a name called Treta (त्रेता).
In the flash of the day my third leg was torn, I gain wisdom of a name called Dvapara (द्वापर).
In the final flashback, when my fourth leg and entire life are torn away,
I gain wisdom of a name called Kali (कलि).
And when I attain all that wisdom—
'Ah...'
I reclaim [myself].
"Ah...!"
Paaaatt!
Snapping back to my senses, I realize I have finally returned to my main body and look around.
Then, I hurriedly look down to the White Magnolia Realm to find the Black Tiger, who had brought a final close to my life as the Deer King.
I sweep through the entire White Magnolia Realm with my consciousness in search of the King of the Forest.
But...
Strangely, I cannot find the Black Tiger, nor even the forest of deer where I once lived.
As if that entire life as a deer had been nothing more than a fleeting daydream.
"...I see"
At last, I understand everything.
Then, the three exalted Immortal Lords knocking from beyond the White Magnolia Realm.
White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus.
Black Dragon.
And...
A Black Tiger, seemingly forged from the darkness of the universe.
I look up at the Immortal Beast Supreme Tiger.
Kugugugugu!
"It was you."
I notice the essence of Supreme Tiger.
In Supreme Tiger's eyes, there is none of the dizziness I saw in the 'King of the Forest' I once met.
And yet, I realize that the two beings are fundamentally connected.
That's right.
The 'King of the Forest' I met was...
'The former master...of the Flawless Mantra.'
The god who created the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, and at the same time, the very one who brought forth the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity.
The lingering thought of the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King!
Realizing I had encountered the lingering thought of the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King, I take a deep breath.
Today,
After 999 cycles...
I have, at long last, truly brought the Flawless Mantra to Great Completion.
-x-X-x-
The reason I feel that I've truly achieved Great Completion in the Flawless Mantra isn't just for any particular reason.
Pasasasasa...
It's because the power of the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity, which had forcibly repeated my cultivation of the Flawless Mantra through the power of history induction until now, completely releases me.
At the same time, I realize the true identity of the Immortal Beast Supreme Tiger.
'I see, Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity...'
The Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity is neither a Heaven Immortal nor an Earth Immortal.
They are simply a mass that formed amidst the devouring of all things by the power of the mantra and rose to the position of Supreme Deity, and thus they are both and neither at the same time.
And...
It is foretold that mental fragmentation would befall a Heaven-Earth Upper Immortal.
The Immortal Beast Supreme Tiger turns out to be one of the fragmented mental bodies of the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity.
However, perhaps because the powers on both sides were not divided equally, the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity holds overwhelming power, while the side that feels more like a living being is Supreme Tiger.
In essence, power resides in the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity, while life resides in Supreme Tiger.
'Did the lingering thought of the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King reach out to me through Supreme Tiger...?'
That is the only conclusion I can reach.
And as I sense the will dwelling within the lingering thought of the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King, I spread my arms.
'I see...'
With the 999th cycle, my cultivation of the Flawless Mantra has come to an end.
And after facing my 999th death and awakening once more in my main body...
I can say that I've ultimately undergone my 1000th reincarnation.
'500 times of Yin Pitch, 500 times of Yang Pitch.'
The perfect harmony of Yang Pitch and Yin Pitch resonates from within me.
Having more than enough to distribute twelve each to both sides of Heaven-Earth Upper Immortal, I feel immensely reassured.
'Now, what remains is...'
At this point, where I have reached the peak of Heaven-Earth Upper Immortal, all that is left is to carry out the advancement ritual to become a Great Net Immortal.
'Becoming a Great Net Immortal... But...'
I look around.
'Where is everyone...?'
It's when I'm scanning the various parts of the White Magnolia Realm.
"...Master..."
"...! Oh, isn't this Hong Fan! It feels like it's been a very long time since I last saw you!"
Hong Fan looks no different from before.
Even his realm remains at the Entering Nirvana stage.
"Well...since I've been cultivating the Flawless Mantra, I haven't been able to keep accurate track of time. By any chance, do you know how many years it's been since I started cultivating the Flawless..."
It's just when I'm about to continue speaking.
Pakang!
A refreshing sensation flows through my body as something is pulled out.
'This is...!'
It is the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag.
"...!"
I open my eyes wide at the sight of the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag being drawn out from my body.
After one was forcibly extracted when I became the Immortal Beast Candle Shadow, there were six. Now, one of its seals is undone again.
Only five seals remain in the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag.
Startled, I reach out my hand toward the extracted Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag, and soon I realize the reason it was released.
'I see, the condition has been met...'
Though it can be forcibly extracted, originally, as Yeo Hwi once explained, the proper way is to connect to the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag and fulfill the conditions each one demands.
And the release condition for this one is...
'A thousand or more reincarnations...'
I click my tongue at this insane condition.
'Now that I think about it, up until now it has only imposed minor restrictions on me and nothing too fundamental, so I've left it alone...but it's about time I start figuring out the release conditions.'
I breathe consciousness into the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flags and uncover the release conditions for the five remaining flags.
The release conditions for the five Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flags are as follows:
First flag, destroy and recreate a Heavenly Domain while below the realm of Immortal Lord.
Second, withstand each of the Radiance Eight Immortals' single strikes at least once in order.
Third, obtain a clue to the coordinates in the Outer Sea where the Heavenly Venerable of Time resides.
Fourth, challenge one of the Heavenly Venerables and their specialty and win.
Fifth, while in the realm of a Great Net Immortal, battle and defeat three Supreme Deities.
"..."
All of them are utterly insane release conditions.
'Well, come to think of it, these are Immortal Treasures created to seal the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord.'
Especially the third to fifth conditions feel hopeless.
'No. Since the third could possibly be resolved with help from Yeong Seung, Hyeon Mu, or the Heavenly Venerables of the Underworld...in reality, the truly difficult ones are the fourth and fifth.'
At least the fifth Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag does not require battling all three Supreme Deities simultaneously. As long as I find and challenge appropriate Supreme Deities one by one as a Great Net Immortal, it's not entirely hopeless.
Kkiriririk...
It's when I'm organizing my thoughts.
The recently extracted Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag, as if rewarding me for its removal, begins to bestow new wisdom upon me.
"...Hmm?"
As I read this wisdom, a strange feeling creeps over me.
'Is this...a method to cross the Outer Sea...? I see. The Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords... If I succeed in unlocking the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flags, they intend for me to find the Heavenly Venerable of Time, so they are giving me knowledge related to the Outer Sea.'
In any case, since the wisdom of crossing the Outer Sea itself isn't bad at all, I accept the knowledge and then read the flow of passed time through the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag.
And without needing to ask Hong Fan, I come to know how many years have passed since I began cultivating the Flawless Mantra.
"...This is insane. Seventy million years... Has it really been seventy million years, Hong Fan...?"
"...Yes, Master."
At those words, I let out a silent sigh.
'Now I've fully surpassed the mental age of a hundred million.'
"First of all, do you know where the others are now?"
"The other elders...have currently gone over to the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain. And Elder Kang Min-hee seems to be active in a deepest depths of the Underworld."
"Kang Min-hee is expected...but the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain...? Kim Yeon and Jeon Myeong-hoon too...?"
"Yes."
"Even if Hyun-seok Hyung-nim went off to investigate regarding Azure Tiger Saint...why did the others go there?"
"I'm not exactly sure myself. However, I was told that once Master's cultivation of the Flawless Mantra is complete, I should pass on a message."
"Hmm?"
I accept something like a spirit stone from Hong Fan.
At the same time, messages left by my comrades flow into my mind.
"..."
I come to understand the situation.
'I see...'
Near the end of my Flawless Mantra cultivation, while I was repeatedly reincarnating as an animal...
They received a message from Oh Hyun-seok.
The content of the message is none other than this:
His master, the owner of the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.
The Naming Supreme Deity Hyeon Rang discovered signs in the Outer Sea that Kim Young-hoon is attempting to return.
And for Kim Young-hoon to return from the Outer Sea, the help of his fellow Enders is required, so Kim Yeon and Jeon Myeong-hoon temporarily head to the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain to assist in Kim Young-hoon's return.
'The Naming Supreme Deity Hyeon Rang... Why do They keep helping us...?'
Is it perhaps because I suffered at the hands of the Liberation Supreme Deity?
I don't feel entirely comfortable about Their goodwill.
'Well, whatever. Since it's come to this, I might as well go see the others and find out more about the Naming Supreme Deity. It's also been a while since I've seen Young-hoon Hyung-nim.'
With that thought, I look toward Hong Fan.
"By the way Hong Fan...why have you maintained the Entering Nirvana stage for seventy million years...?"
"Ah, well...it is nothing special. It's simply that at the present time, among Master's Immortal Treasures, there are no longer any mortal beings. In order for Master to freely exert influence in the Lower Realm, I believed it would be best to have at least one mortal Immortal Treasure, so I kept my realm as is."
"What? Then that means..."
"Haha, yes. Please see for yourself!"
Hong Fan points toward the sky of the White Magnolia Realm, filled with a hazy, white chaos.
Where his hand points, familiar figures at an entirely unfamiliar realm are engaged in battle against incoming True Immortals from beyond.
Yeo Hwi, Ham Jin, Yu Hwi!
My Immortal Treasures...
During the long years I've been cultivating the Flawless Mantra, they've all succeeded in reaching the realm of Upper Immortal!
Attached to each of their bodies are my Immortal Crowns, passed down by Jeon Myeong-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, and Kim Yeon.
Drawing on the power of my Immortal Crowns, they are blocking the massive army of True Immortals attempting to invade the inner parts of the White Magnolia Realm.
"Ham Jin! Yu Hwi! Yeo Hwi!"
I shout loudly to my familiar Immortal Treasures and subordinates, and their faces brighten as they look at me.
"Master!"
"Master!"
"Teacher!"
Hwiiiiiii!
I fly over and land beside them.
"Have you all been well? Hahaha, goodness... You've all reached Upper Immortal."
"Haha, seventy million years is...a long time, after all. Even cowardly Yeo Hwi managed to reach Upper Immortal after begging Elder Kang Min-hee and making sure she wouldn't die."
Perhaps from being together so long, it seems Yu Hwi now speaks casually with Yeo Hwi.
Yeo Hwi coughs as if embarrassed, and respectfully greets me.
"Hmm, it has been a while, Master. I heard Master has been cultivating a powerful mantra. According to Yu Hwi, it's called the Flawless Mantra...but the only mantra I know is the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra."
She then scans me up and down with meaningful eyes.
"That being said...Master...you are still an Upper Immortal? Of course, compared to us who have only just reached it, Master's cultivation as an Upper Immortal is already complete..."
'Ah, this Yeo Hwi...She probably thinks my realm is lower than expected, and she doesn't understand the true power of the Flawless Mantra, so she's doubtful.'
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I consider that maybe it's better to string her up and beat her harshly whenever I think of her to keep her loyalty in check.
"I'll be undergoing the Great Net Immortal advancement ritual soon anyway, so don't worry. More importantly, Ham Jin, you..."
I smile gently as I look at Ham Jin, who bows respectfully to me.
Among my Immortal Treasures, Ham Jin is the one whose growth stands out the most.
"You've grown splendidly."
"Thank you, Teacher."
"Haha, what kind of teacher am I, abandoning his students for seventy million years? Still, it's good to see you've all grown safely. So, all of you chose the Heaven Upper Immortal path?"
"Yes, the power of fate is the most intuitive and powerful, after all. I recommended it."
Hong Fan walks up beside me and laughs heartily.
Then, suddenly turning serious, he speaks.
"That aside, Master. Why...did you suddenly destroy the Colorless Glass Sword and the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections? It was frightening. As I understand it, they were practically Master's Immortal Treasure and Immortal Art... Are you alright?"
"Ah, I didn't really explain that properly. But don't worry. The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections...has not disappeared."
Woo-woooong!
I smile as I look at my Immortal Crowns attached to my Immortal Treasures.
"It simply took on a different form, becoming another sword, and another Immortal Art. And through it...I will never lose my memories, so there's nothing to worry about."
"..."
However, Hong Fan doesn't look convinced.
"Still, next time...I would appreciate at least a word of explanation. That Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections...was it not basically you yourself, Master? As I understand it, my own form was also recorded within it..."
"Yeah, you are right. I'm sorry. I didn't think it through enough. I should've realized you'd be shocked and explained things properly..."
"...No, it's fine. What's done is done..."
"Don't worry too much, Hong Fan."
I smile faintly and take out the norigae from my waist.
"Even though its form has changed, and the essence of the Immortal Art now resides within my heart...it's not as though it can't be restored."
Paaaaaatt!
The norigae, turned white and into Salt Crystal, emits light and scatters power throughout the White Magnolia Realm's nebula, which had been eroded by the power of my Colorless Glass Sword and the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
"Retrieve the power of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections. Flower Soul Filling the Heavens."
Hwaaaaaaak!
Flower Soul Filling the Heavens embeds into the norigae as its medium.
At the same time, infused with my power and will, the norigae flies to the center of the white nebula and begins to draw it in.
Because Flower Soul Filling the Heavens is the most effective when it comes to spells that infuse 'will' and heart, I deliberately choose to use it.
Chwarararak!
Simultaneously, my winged garment unfolds and blocks the beings beyond the nebula.
Kugugugugugu!
"Anyway, we've nearly finished all business here in the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain. Now...let's wrap things up and head to the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain."
I begin absorbing the entire White Magnolia Realm, filled with memories, into the norigae imbued with the power of ancient force.
The White Magnolia Realm, which contains the entirety of the Colorless Glass Sword and the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, starts to converge around the norigae.
As the nebula fades, I spot hundreds, even thousands of True Immortals who had been attempting to enter from the outside.
The most noticeable among them is the Immortal Beast Supreme Tiger, who radiates a familiar will toward me.
Next is the half-human, half-horse giant god boasting cosmic muscles, the main body of White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus.
Lastly, there is the Great Yin True Lord Black Dragon, who shares an ill-connection with me, and above their head, the projection of Oh Hye-seo.
Kugugugugu!
I feel the power of Flower Soul Filling the Heavens, which had condensed the entire nebula behind me, returning to me.
Centered on the norigae, Flower Soul Filling the Heavens, looking like clouds of clumped white nebula, appear imbued with the power of both the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections and the Colorless Glass Sword.
I calmly extend my hand toward the compressed clumps of nebula to retrieve the norigae.
Just then,
Hwaaaaaak!
"...!"
My history, Flower Soul Filling the Heavens, and the remnants of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and the Colorless Glass Sword begin to resonate as they meet.
At the same time, I feel Flower Soul Filling the Heavens completely fusing with the nebula.
'This is...!'
I realize what change is occurring within Flower Soul Filling the Heavens.
As my history in the White Magnolia Realm is newly passed on to Flower Soul Filling the Heavens, Flower Soul Filling the Heavens is evolving.
Its form changes, and I feel it fully embed itself into the norigae.
Soon after, the appearance of Flower Soul Filling the Heavens is something familiar.
It has taken the form of my 999th reincarnation of the Flawless Mantra.
Its form has changed to that of the Deer King from that time.
[White Deer Without Antlers]
That is the newly transformed form of Flower Soul Filling the Heavens.
-x-X-x-
'Huh...'
As I watch this scene, I feel an emotion I can't quite grasp.
Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, which had undergone countless twists and turns, became Flower Soul Filling the Heavens, and now it has evolved once more.
The remnants of the Colorless Glass Sword and the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, which I thought were no longer necessary due to their evolution into the Immortal Crown, have now merged with Flower Soul Filling the Heavens to take on a new form.
'In this world...there's not a single thing that is unnecessary.'
Even a single speck exists because it is needed in this world.
From now on, this deer-shaped Flower Soul Filling the Heavens could be refined back into the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, or used for another purpose.
I gently stroke the deer for a moment, then absorb it into the norigae and fasten the norigae back to my waist.
"It's been a while, Black Dragon. And..."
[I am called White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus. The Flower Overseer under the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable. I've been enjoying watching you cultivate the Flawless Mantra from the flower field.]
"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you, Elder Flower Overseer."
I glance slightly toward Supreme Tiger,
'I see. Oh Hye-seo must have poured a lot of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens into the mindless Supreme Tiger, inputting commands to control them. It looks like she is barely managing to control them by refining a single Corpse Mountain Blood Sea into Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens...'
Because Supreme Tiger's power is so great, it looks like even a light push could unravel Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens. That precariousness is quite amusing to watch.
"Anyway...are all these many True Immortals gathered here just to strike me down?"
Black Dragon looks down on me with arrogance and says,
[Indeed. You, having reached great completion in the Flawless Mantra and seeking to devour Mount Sumeru, are a candidate of the Devil Heaven King... At the same time, it has been confirmed that you are the return of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, wanted by Radiance Hall. On top of that, it has been confirmed that you possess the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra...so you must also be connected to the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, who is currently reciting something called the Splitting Heaven Mantra. Obsidian Devil Heavenly King, Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, Great Mountain Supreme Deity... Learning the arts of even one of them is dangerous, but you are a being who has learned them all. Knowing of your existence, how could we possibly leave you be?]
I let out a hollow laugh and point at Oh Hye-seo.
"That one is a direct disciple of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, yet why are you letting her sit above your head and running... No, never mind."
I sigh.
Looking closely, I realize that all the True Immortals gathered here, excluding White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus, are naturally infected with Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
Though turning the infected into complete slaves like Seo Hweol is impossible, it seems possible to input a simple command, like making them ignore Oh Hye-seo.
'Moreover, when Black Dragon fought me before, they were heavily infected by Oh Hye-seo's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens and were implanted with many commands, so they seem half-enslaved to Oh Hye-seo now... As for White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus, they don't seem even remotely interested in Oh Hye-seo, with or without Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens...'
Realizing that no one will care even if I point out Oh Hye-seo, I look at Black Dragon and speak.
"...You talk about not being able to let me be and all that...but in the end, you've come to punish me simply because I didn't take your hand, is that not so?"
[So what if that's true? Is punishing you something to be ashamed of? There is no reason to hide it.]
"I just...wanted to make it clear."
I look up at Black Dragon and signal to my Immortal Treasures with my eyes.
The Immortal Treasures enter my body in an instant, and White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus, seemingly sensing something, begins to overlap their body with the Eastern Heaven Flower Field.
They look ready to flee into the Eastern Heaven Flower Field if necessary.
"Listen well, Black Dragon. You once asked me—what is a king? By what standard could a king dare be judged?"
With a solemn expression, I speak about the meaning of King (王) I have come to understand.
"A true king is not someone who only sacrifices others. Nor are they merely a being who bends others through overwhelming violence."
Black Dragon's eyes twitch at my words.
"Of course, your words stand true as well. Indeed, even if one does not stake themselves and sacrifices others to climb to the peak through effort, that too could be called a king. However! A true king does not end there."
At best, this is an enlightenment I gained in the past life as a deer during my mortal days.
Yet I shout with confidence that the enlightenment I gained as a lowly animal can still be properly conveyed even on a battlefield of True Immortals.
"A king is one who cherishes others. One who gives and receives, and one who takes care of others."
[...]
"You believed that the sacrifices of the living beings of Mount Sumeru didn't matter in order to become a Heavenly Venerable, Black Dragon. But if you truly are a king, then shouldn't you treasure them instead?"
I speak the heart I awakened as the Deer King.
"A king is not one who stands at the peak! Ruling simply because they are strong and high above does not make one a king! A king is one who cherishes those beneath them, who has something to give and receive with them, who possesses the will to care of them.
"Every single speck of dust in this Mount Sumeru...has a reason for its existence. There is not a single living being who is without value. Therefore, you, who cannot cherish even a speck, are unworthy to be this mountain's king, Black Dragon!"
[...]
Black Dragon glares down at me with displeasure and mutters.
[...Let me ask again. Can you say those words...before the Great Mountain Supreme Deity?]
"...Of course."
Cheok!
I raise both hands high.
White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus chuckles and immediately flees into the Eastern Heaven Flower Field.
[Apologies, but as my master told me to conserve power, this Immortal shall withdraw.]
It seems White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus, being of the realm of Severing Heaven, senses the ominousness.
"I can say it."
Kiiiiiiing!
Within both of my palms, the jade of Yin-Yang and Five Elements begins to gather.
Seeing this, the True Immortals all begin to stir at once.
[Do not be shaken. Even if he uses the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, he is still just an Upper Immortal. He can never produce the majesty of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.]
Black Dragon hardens their expression as they try to calm the True Immortals, and the face of Oh Hye-seo, sitting on Black Dragon's head, grows rigid and stiff.
"Because...a king who knows how to cherish all...can definitely become stronger than the Great Mountain Supreme Deity!"
Kiiiiiiing!
A brilliant white light begins to radiate from my palms.
At the same time, my body begins to expand.
Kurururung!
Wearing a white round collar robe from which countless glass swords protrude forth, with bare flesh composed of Glass True Fire, tails of mist extending from the robe's edges, and a Pure White Three Great Ultimates circling behind my head—my true form descends upon this place.
Dudududududu!
The jade of Yin-Yang and Five Elements gathered within my hands begin to emit a resplendently brilliant light.
The True Immortals start to panic.
Because attraction force is intensifying.
: : Phenomena... : :
Spacetime begins to contract around me.
: : Extinguishing... : :
Then, I begin to see countless threads of attraction force extending from me connecting to the many True Immortals.
: : Man— : :
[Wait!]
[What's going on, Black Dragon!? We're being pulled in!]
[In what world does that look like an Upper Immortal!?]
[Come up with a plan!]
However, no one can escape.
: : —Tra!!! : :
Heaven, Earth, and Heavens above.
My voice fills the entire world as I begin concentrating attraction force around the light within my palms.
Compressing the Heavenly Domain itself is still somewhat difficult.
But...
What if it's just True Immortals?
Especially the True Immortals who have been incessantly pounding at my Immortal Treasures over the past tens of millions of years?
Wiiiiiing!
: : —!! : :
: : !!! : :
: : ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ! : :
[Editor: Read as 'om mani padme hum,' often translated to 'praise to the jewel in the lotus'. It's typically recited to purify negative karma and cultivate compassion.]
The retribution of the Impermanence Sword is enforced.
The True Immortals who have been pounding on us over the past tens of millions of years begin to be drawn in all at once by the attraction force of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.
'I still can't compress a Heavenly Domain into a single point.'
However...
'If retribution is enforced against those who bore malice toward us, then it's more than possible!'
Yes.
If it's at this level, it's possible.
Because...
'I have succeeded in completely mastering the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra!!'
Both Phenomena Extinguishing and Flawlessness—today, I have made them all mine.
Kiiiiiiiing!
No one can escape.
For I will not permit it!!
: : Be annihilated in full, you who tried to harm my family! : :
Countless divine spirits try to flee from the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, but it's futile.
No one escapes, all are sucked and absorbed by the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.
The Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra does not stop there.
Distant spacetime.
Star clusters.
Galaxies begin to be drawn in.
'I don't need those.'
Pointlessly causing the living beings inside them to die is not preferable.
: : Krita (कृत)! : :
I speak the four wisdoms I obtained from the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King.
That is, I recite the four Immortal Arts.
At the same time, the innocent living beings of the galaxy clusters, who are about to be absorbed by the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, ascend all at once to Krita, one of the four Great Middle Realms of the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain.
Kudududududuk!
Star clusters, nebulae, sea of stars, galaxies, and galaxy groups are ground and compressed into a single point by the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.
Even the many True Immortals who had managed to escape far away are drawn in all at once and compressed into a single point.
Kugugugugugu!
The light exploding from between my two hands is overwhelming.
Well, it's the compression and annihilation of thousands of True Immortals at once. How could there not be such a massive release of light and heat?
But within that light and heat, inside the overwhelming attraction force, I look upon the two beings who endure without fleeing.
They are the Immortal Beast Supreme Tiger, and the Immortal Beast Black Dragon.
Supreme Tiger slowly enters the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, as if they don't particularly intend to resist, but Black Dragon clenches their teeth and endures.
They mutter and attempt to unleash the Great Yin Mantra, but even the Great Yin Mantra, which draws upon the Origin Essence of Great Yin, is utterly devoured by the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra and rendered useless.
Yet, perhaps because even Black Dragon cannot hold on forever,
In the end, they begin to be dragged into the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.
And finally,
Kururururung!
Black Dragon's massive body begins to be sucked into the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.
: : It is over. : :
: : ... : :
Even as they are sucked into the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, Black Dragon looks at me.
In their final moment, Black Dragon only sighs.
: : Am I...not allowed to become King...? : :
With those final words, Black Dragon's massive body is completely sucked into the single point of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra and is annihilated.
Kugugugugugu!
I breathe heavily, letting out a low groan at the overwhelming hegemonic force between my hands.
: : It was only the method that was wrong. : :
After acquiring the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, I have finally succeeded in fully mastering it.
Of course, I haven't completely shattered the prophecies and revisions of the True Immortals, so in time, they will likely resurrect somewhere.
But it will take a significant amount of time before that happens.
Kurururung!
Gazing at the power surging between my hands, I speak.
: : You seem to have something to say, Senior Ho Woon. : :
That's right.
Ho Woon, who has at some point reached Great Net Immortal, stands behind me, arms crossed.
Revealing their true form, they mutter briefly.
: : Truly terrifying...the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra... : :
: : Indeed, it is. : :
: : Are you going to eat it? : :
Ho Woon asks while looking at the light compressed into a single point in my hands.
: : Are you insane? That will never happen. : :
: : In that case...now would be the best time. : :
Hearing Ho Woon's next words, I flinch in surprise.
Not because of the content of their words, but because of the ice-cold intent contained in Ho Woon's voice.
: : If you won't consume it, then use it. Through it...begin your advancement to Great Net Immortal. : :
: : ...! : :
: : Because this...will be the final teaching this Immortal imparts to you while alive. : :
And so, my Great Net Immortal advancement begins.
-x-X-x-
Kugugugung!
The advancement to Great Net Immortal proceeds as follows:
First, one transmits the power of their Immortal Dao toward the worlds where they have either destroyed or created civilizations.
Then, toward 'all' worlds that possess civilizations in each Heavenly Domain.
In other words, toward stars, Decaying Corpse Realms, and Middle Realms, they invoke phenomena through their Immortal Dao.
Through those phenomena, one simultaneously elevates the cultivation of all living beings in the Heavenly Domains connected to them.
If the Immortal Dao of the Mountain accumulates specks to build a great mountain,
Then the Great Net Immortal advancement ritual overseen by the Great Mountain Supreme Deity is to scatter the self that has become a great mountain and distribute it to the insignificant specks of life.
And if, during this process, the power to be distributed to the Heavenly Domains where one has cultivated as an Upper Immortal becomes insufficient, the entire body is forcibly scattered and absorbed into Mount Sumeru to be devoured by the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.
This is the Great Net Immortal advancement ritual.
: : Begin. : :
Kiiiiiiiing!
I trigger an explosion using the boundless light gathered in my palm as a medium.
Kwaaaaaaang!
The explosion spreads across the entire cosmic space.
At the same time, the years I spent cultivating Yang Pitch and Yin Pitch in the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain begin flashing before my eyes.
The advancement to Great Net Immortal has begun.
'Although I haven't been able to exert influence strongly across the entire Heavenly Domain...'
This should be enough.
: : I, revise. : :
Kwagwagwagwang!
I use the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra I just unfolded as a medium.
Regardless of anything, the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra is a mantra that affects the entire universe.
Using the influence of the mantra that just affected the entire universe, I exert power across the entire Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, shake history with explosions, and revise it to my liking.
: : In all places where intelligent races dwell, the mountains of this Immortal shall rise... : :
Kugugugugugu!
At that very moment, the glass sword mountains within my body begin to appear above the countless stars of the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain.
Sword mountains rise.
Above countless stars, across Decaying Corpse Realms, within Middle Realms!
It's when the entire Twin Holding Heavenly Domain feels as though it rests in the palm of my hand, and I am momentarily intoxicated by the omnipotence.
Kurururung!
: : ...! : :
My physical body begins to scatter.
I flinch in shock.
'Th-This is...! The Great Mountain Supreme Deity!!'
I understand it all too well.
The Great Mountain Supreme Deity Gwak Am has interfered with the advancement ritual!!
They are trying to devour me right now.
Kugugugugu!
Beyond the distant Dark Sky.
Across the Outer Sea, the endlessly spreading sea of chaos.
Beyond the depths of that chaos, there lies a tiny world.
A world at most the size of Earth.
And within that tiny world resides the Great Mountain Supreme Deity!
They are reaching out Their hand.
: : I S H A L L D E V O U R Y O U ... : :
Jiiiiiiiing!
'Crazy...!'
The moment I connect with the consciousness of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, I feel the same sensation I did when I looked directly at the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld and the Emptiness Supreme Deity—like my eyes are about to burst. I writhe in agony.
The Great Mountain Supreme Deity, completing the Splitting Heaven Mantra, is now becoming an existence equal to Underworld and Emptiness.
'N-No...'
As I am about to lose consciousness under the overwhelming pressure of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity—
: : Get a hold of yourself!! : :
Ho Woon's voice snaps me back.
: : You! Think carefully! Have you ever experienced death in a place other than the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain? If not that, have you ever slain an Upper Immortal or above being somewhere else? If so, that too could count as Upper Immortal cultivation to some extent, so extend your power to that Heavenly Domain immediately! : :
: : ...! : :
At those words, my eyes snap open.
'Have I experienced death in another place...?'
Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.
Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.
Good Sight Heavenly Domain.
Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain.
Twin Holding Heavenly Domain...
Before regression, I experienced death in five—no, including the use of Heavenly Escape in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, six Heavenly Domains.
And as for slaying Upper Immortal and above beings...
'I annihilated Blood Yin in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, experienced death as an Immortal Beast in the Good Sight Heavenly Domain, and in the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, I reincarnated beings of Upper Immortal and above into the recreated Earth—would that count as killing too? In the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, I just recently destroyed a few thousand True Immortals, and I also committed a great massacre in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain...'
Recalling all of that sends a cold sweat down my spine.
'Insane... If it's like this, could it be...?'
I grit my teeth hard.
It really feels like I'm receiving retribution for all the atrocities I committed while wandering here and there during regressions.
: : Guaaaaaaaagh! : :
Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.
Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.
Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.
Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain.
Good Sight Heavenly Domain.
Twin Holding Heavenly Domain.
I transmit the explosion of revision to all six Heavenly Domains and squeeze out the power of my Immortal Dao toward them.
'Scattering the Immortal Dao across a single Heavenly Domain was bearable, but...'
Trying to scatter it across six entire Heavenly Domains makes my whole body feel like it's being wrung dry.
It feels like I'm becoming Seo Eun-hyun vegetable juice.
: : Guaaaaaaah! : :
Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, the five Middle Realms.
There, bizarre phenomena begin occurring at the homelands of each civilization.
Kugugugugu!
Suddenly, the celestial energy flips, and from beneath the earth, glass sword mountains begin to rise.
All the Sacred Masters of the Middle Realms who see this are struck with immense shock, and Ban Ta, who has served as a Sacred Master for seventy million years, roars in anguish, shedding tears of blood from grief and deprivation.
At that moment, mountains begin rising simultaneously in all Decaying Corpse Realms and stars across the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, excluding only the Head Realm.
Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.
There, the Radiance Eight Immortals, who are sweeping away the True Immortals of Radiance Hall, speak with expressions of disgust.
: : Black Dragon... Of all times, to leak our secret at such a critical moment and turn Radiance Hall against us. How bothersome. : :
: : A deluded and foolish being. : :
: : It does not matter. Once the Great Mountain Supreme Deity exerts Their power...all the bridles of oppression, all the beings of the Immortal Family—they will be utterly annihilated. We just need to endure until then. : :
: : Our long-cherished wish is nigh. : :
The Radiance Eight Immortals, calmly conversing as they massacre their former subordinates, appear almost as if they are out for a stroll.
It is at that moment.
The Fifth Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, trembles all over.
: : This...aura...? : :
The Radiance Eight Immortals simultaneously scan the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.
Something is happening.
Although there are no Middle Realms or Decaying Corpse Realms in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, the sheer number of living beings dwelling in its overwhelmingly numerous stellar systems is terrifying.
Across the entire Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, sword mountains of glass begin to rise.
Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.
Good Sight Heavenly Domain.
It is the same in the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain as well.
In all these worlds, either governed or currently governed by various Supreme Deities or Heavenly Venerables, glass sword mountains begin to rise in various places.
Within the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's eyes begin to gleam sharply.
: : ...Someone is undergoing an advancement ritual. And if it is this Immortal Dao of the Mountain and this aura...without doubt... : :
Kugugugugu!
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord murmurs as they gaze across the entirety of the trembling Mount Sumeru.
: : It's you... : :
Another mountain spirit is trying to be born within Mount Sumeru.
: : Draw out your power. It's still far from over! : :
I snap back to my senses at Ho Woon's rebuke.
: : Heok! : :
Though each of the rising glass sword mountains are small, even within a single Heavenly Domain, the sheer number of civilizations makes the term immeasurable (無量大數; 10^68) feel insufficient.
To channel my Immortal Dao to every single one of those places and squeeze out power, I feel like I'm truly about to die.
: : This is only the beginning. Clear your mind, and through the Immortal Dao you have manifested...bestow divine grace upon the mortal beings! : :
: : Haaaaa... : :
Following Ho Woon's guidance, I begin rotating the Pure White Three Great Ultimates behind my head.
Power begins to surge infinitely.
Kugugugugu!
However, even with such infinitely surging power, the mere fact that I must bestow divine grace upon immeasurable civilizations across six Heavenly Domains and elevate the cultivation of living beings who have endured kalpas—that alone feels utterly suffocating.
Kwarururung!
The Flawless Mantra, called the power of the God of Gods.
The Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, which gathered and compressed True Immortals.
The power of the two mantras dwells within me.
Through the power of these two mantras, I begin to draw out twilight true energy from my entire being.
The infinite twilight true energy pulled from me flows in unison toward the mortal beings living in the six Heavenly Domains.
Through the medium of my Immortal Dao—the glass sword mountains—my power spreads across all six Heavenly Domains, and as I forcefully feed twilight true energy to the living beings, even the Pure White Three Great Ultimates which had been endlessly exuding power suddenly feels exhausted.
My Immortal Body begins to shrivel and dry up like Seo Eun-hyun dried radish (무말랭), transforming into something resembling a piece of bark.
But at the same time, I begin to feel it.
'I can grasp it...in one hand...!'
The countless flows of power spread across all of Mount Sumeru.
The directions of attraction force, the magnitude and quality of authority—all seem to fit within a single palm.
Simultaneously, I feel my consciousness forcibly expanding.
For an instant, having exhausted all my energy and embodied emptiness, my spirit forcibly grows.
'This is...!'
Where once I had to use Immortal Art to observe, now I perceive Mount Sumeru as if it sits in the palm of my hand.
The nine Heavenly Domains.
And...
'Mm...!?'
The four dimensions that exist [outside] of Mount Sumeru.
The Underworld, the Interdimensional Void, the Source River, the Eastern Heaven Flower Field!
I begin to sense them.
I flinch in surprise as I perceive the locations of the four dimensions, but now is not the time to focus on that.
: : Now we have arrived. Have you scattered your Immortal Dao and your power upon all the lands you have tread? : :
I nod weakly.
: : That will become your Great Net. Now then, if you have cast the net, it is time to reel it in. : :
Ho Woon commands with their eyes gleaming.
: : This is the final step. Those of the Lower Realm whose cultivation have grown by consuming your twilight true energy...reel them into your body! : :
Kugugugugu!
At that moment, I feel an immense attraction force fall into my grasp.
It is an attraction force capable of acting on all of Mount Sumeru.
'Wh-What in the world is this...!?'
But there is no time to be amazed.
'They're coming!'
Among the mortal beings whose cultivation suddenly advanced due to the opportunity given by me—
Those greatly affected by my twilight true energy and have reached the Heavenly Being stage, Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage, or even the Four-Axis stage, begin to ascend.
I extend the attraction force toward the cultivators ascending from the six Heavenly Domains, and fully open my Immortal Body, now completely exhausted and in a state of emptiness.
: : Come...! Children, to the embrace of this Immortal...! : :
Originally, those from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain shouldn't be able to come due to the blockade of Radiance Hall. But perhaps because Radiance Hall is now plunged into great chaos, even those from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain begin to rush into my embrace.
: : The essence of the Great Net Immortal advancement ritual is the opening of a Middle Realm. Become the Middle Realm yourself. Become the foundation upon which the living beings will live. Offer your body to them, let them feed upon you...and help them ascend the heavenly path. That shall be your new duty from now on. : :
The moment the living beings ascend into my Immortal Body and take their first steps—
: : Aaaaaaaagh! : :
I feel that my domain has been firmly engraved into the True Immortal Realm.
At the same time, I become aware that from now on, the entirety of Mount Sumeru—especially the six Heavenly Domains—has become more attuned to me, making it easier to exert attraction force toward them.
Seizing a part of the True Immortal Realm as my domain, I feel a powerful exaltation as my very existence etches itself into the Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds, and I cry out in joy.
: : ——! : :
At my roar, those who have just ascended prostrate toward the sky, trembling as they bow, and I grant them revelation so they may live within the Middle Realm that exists inside my body, the Crystal Glass Realm.
The 1004th cycle of regression.
And...the 1000th cycle of reincarnation.
After eighty million years of real time, one hundred million years of perceived time...
At long last, I have succeeded in rising to Great Net through the Dao of Earth.