Kurung, kurururung!
The twilight true energy inside my body shakes violently and begins evolving the living being who have ascended into me.
'Hooh, this is...'
Come to think of it, that's how it always was.
When devilish cultivators who learned devilish arts ascend to the True Devil Realm, they accept the Heaven and Earth devilish energy and evolve into the Devil Race. If they ascend to the Blood Yin Realm, they evolve into Heavenly Fiends.
And ghost cultivators who ascend to the Nether Ghost Realm accept the Heaven and Earth ghostly energy and become ghostly creatures.
Now, the ascenders within me begin evolving as they accept the boundless twilight true energy.
Wooo-woooong!
'...!'
Huarurururuk!
Glass-like sharp scales sprout across their skin, and Glass True Fire gently rises from their entire bodies.
They look somewhat similar to the Candle Dragon Race, but also feel mixed with their original race.
As I watch them, I realize they need a name as well.
Just like how those of the Nether Ghost Realm are called ghostly creatures, and those of the True Devil Realm are called the Devil Race, there should be something to call these living beings of the Crystal Glass Realm.
'Hmm... Similar to the Candle Dragon Race, but not quite. Still, they burn with Glass True Fire, and they are affected by the laws of my world, so...'
"Would Candle Law Race (燭法族) be fitting.?"
But the more I think about it, the worse it sounds.
It feels unlucky.
'No, there's no need to decide right now.'
After all, the owner of the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain I'm heading to is the Naming Supreme Deity. If it comes to it, I can just ask the Naming Supreme Deity to give a suitable name.
It's while I'm mulling over these thoughts.
: : Congratulations. You've finally become a Great Net Immortal. : :
"Ah, Senior Ho Woon...! Until now, truly, thank y—"
: : Then now keep your promise. Speak the true will of Radiance Hall. : :
"..."
For some reason, I freeze at Ho Woon's words like a sheet of ice.
Then, I tell them the true will I know about Radiance Hall.
After listening to all of it, Ho Woon nods.
: : ...In truth, I already knew. Black Dragon revealed it to the world to cut Radiance Hall's power and sow discord between the Radiance Eight Immortals and Radiance Hall. : :
Hearing that, I feel sorry.
"Then...I've got nothing left to give you, Senior Ho Woon."
: : ...It doesn't matter. Now...I no longer care about anything. : :
"What happened?"
: : ...I know all too well the power of Radiance Hall. And especially more so for the Radiance Eight Immortals...On top of that, ever since learning that Radiance Hall has joined hands with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity to destroy Mount Sumeru, everything feels meaningless. : :
Ho Woon's intent and Triple Divinity is leaning toward the destructive aspect.
They are destroying themselves.
: : I'm someone who yearned for justice all my life and finally became a True Immortal amidst suffering... That is why, despite being from the Earth Tribe, despite being an Immortal Beast, I did not enter the Underworld and instead joined Radiance Hall. But...the justice I believed in was nothing but an illusion, and Radiance Hall was nothing more than a playground for madmen... : :
Ho Woon reaches out their hand toward me.
: : Now...nothing has any meaning. : :
I interpret Ho Woon's intent through Triple Divinity, tracing their thoughts from the very root.
—If the Radiance Eight Immortals unleash their power, we will all be annihilated eventually.
: : Including you, who I have raised with my own hands, I will reap what I have sown. : :
—Kill me before that. With your hands that I have raised with my own...
: : Die. : :
Kugugugugu!
Above Ho Woon's hand, a blue giant star is born and flies toward me.
Seeing that, I let out a low sigh.
—At least at the very end...let it be not by the hands of the Radiance Eight Immortals I devoted my life to, but by the junior brother of the wicked Great Mountain Supreme Deity, our enemy...and the one who has received my teachings. Let it be you who sends me off...
"..."
At the same time as I read Ho Woon's thoughts, I reach out my hand.
A single strike.
It is only a single strike.
The entire Twin Holding Heavenly Domain trembles.
Pasasasasasa—
A large hole pierces through Ho Woon's chest, and behind them, a portion of the Heavenly Domain collapses.
It's a strike reminiscent of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's Sword-Guided Star Rain, but I don't even have a moment to feel pleased with its power.
: : ...How...strong... : :
Ho Woon lets out an exclamation as they look at me.
: : Good... Now...devour me. : :
—Use the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra to compress me into a pill, and consume me.
"...What are you talking about?"
I ask with a trembling voice, and Ho Woon chuckles.
: : You, of the same lineage of the monstrous Great Mountain... Do not pretend to be virtuous...or keep up appearances. : :
—Even if I die...I said I'd teach you with all utmost sincerity... Until the very end...I want to be of help to you.
: : Kill me and consume me. This world is built upon sacrifice anyway. As I, too, have sacrificed others...I, too, shall calmly accept my own sacrifice at death. : :
—I only wish...to share my repentant enlightenment with you.
"..."
I cannot refuse.
Because I know Triple Divinity, I can now read intent at a more fundamental level than ever before.
I cannot bring myself to reject the will...the heart contained within Ho Woon's intent.
Their will to sacrifice themselves is that much sincere.
: : Immortal Cultivation is repentant enlightenment. : :
Wiiiiiiiing!
The jade of Yin-Yang and Five Elements rises between my hands and begins to absorb Ho Woon.
: : Like tiny grains of salt gathering to form the sea... : :
Kugugugugugu!
After resisting with all their strength for a time, Ho Woon gradually begins being pulled into me.
: : Build mountains through repentant enlightenment. : :
Even in their final moments, as if wanting to give their utmost until the very end, Ho Woon resists fiercely.
: : Building a mountain of salt is perhaps the fastest way to reach the heavens. : :
Holding hands with everyone at the sea,
Drink salt, and with the wind,
Soar.
Like combining all intents turns them colorless,
Embrace all connections and become impermanence.
But in the end, Ho Woon is finally drawn into the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.
As they are pulled in and annihilated, our eyes meet.
At the moment of their annihilation, as if they have laid down all the suffering of life,
Even in their True Immortal state...
Their face is visible.
: : ...That is the way...to reach the stars. : :
Paaaaaat!
Ho Woon is compressed into a single point.
And I stare at that condensed mass of light for a long while.
I had sworn never to consume a pill formed like this.
However...
More important than that oath...is Ho Woon's will.
Ho Woon undeniably, sincerely wished to be of help to me by being consumed.
My disciples, and countless others as well...
There were things I wished from them, but many of them desired an end of their own choosing, and I have long since realized that granting their wishes is, in fact, the better path.
But still...
"This alone is...truly...difficult..."
How many tears do I shed while agonizing over it?
Finally, I close my eyes and place that light into my mouth.
Kugugugugugu!
I feel my power as a Great Net Immortal increasing.
At the same time, Ho Woon's enlightenments are naturally transmitted to me.
This is...
'The repentant enlightenment...that Ho Woon realized.'
Before my eyes, Ho Woon's world faintly appears.
A world of endlessly unfolding snow mountains.
In one corner of this world of snow mountains, a snow fox with nine tails looks at me, then scatters into the blizzard and vanishes.
On this day,
After falling into Mount Sumeru...
For the first and last time, I consume a cultivator pill.
The taste of the pill I eat for the first time...
Is unbearably bitter.
Kugugugugu!
I stand before the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity.
I feel it.
The Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity is pleased to see me.
It must be because I have achieved Great Completion in the Flawless Mantra.
At the same time, I sense it.
That I am able to return (歸依) the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity to me.
'Of course, due to the difference in rank, it's closer to merging and becoming one rather than returning to thee...'
I watch as I give a bitter smile.
It feels like the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity is gesturing to me.
As if pleading, begging to become one with Them...
But I only offer a small bow to the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity and turn away.
'Thank you, Swallowing Heaven.'
I have power I have accumulated on my own.
Outside of Ho Woon, I need no pill.
Kugugugugugu!
Having made my resolve, I raise the Impermanence Sword in one hand.
And with the power of the Impermanence Sword fully drawn, I swing and cut my own neck.
Shukwak!
I vanish using Heavenly Escape.
Through a thousand instances of Yang Pitch and Yin Pitch, Triple Divinity has already become quite complete.
In an instant, I step into the domain of purity and direct my will toward the distant Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.
When I open my eyes, it will be the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.
And thus, the long years in the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain finally come to an end.
Kugugugugugu!
Surfacing my consciousness within the domain of purity, I awaken.
'This place is...'
Kuuuuuuuuu!
Nebulae are spread everywhere.
And there's also a dreamlike sensation in the atmosphere.
"...I've come to the right place."
Sensing the aura of my comrades in the distance, I take a single step forward.
Paaatt!
The place I arrive at is the center of the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.
A colossal palace of mist.
I feel an overwhelming presence within the palace, and I walk boldly toward its source.
I can also feel the trace of my comrades inside.
How long do I walk through the palace? I eventually reach its inner depths.
I stop for a moment before a massive gate of mist.
Kugugugung!
Moments later, as if detecting me, the gate of mist opens on its own, and I step into the inner royal chamber.
Kugugugugugu!
At last, what appears before my eyes is a giant god of mist who gives a hazy feeling as if in a dizzying dream.
It is the Progenitor of the Human Race, the Naming Supreme Deity Hyeon Rang.
"This lowly Great Net Immortal Crystal Glass Being greets the High Spirit Grand Dao Nine Heavens Overseeing Fate Preserving Life Celestial Great Emperor."
[Welcome, Ender. This Emperor is the Naming Supreme Deity. The Immortal Beast Pangu, and the Progenitor of the Human Race, Hyeon Rang. You may call me Hyeon Go.]
Woo-woooong!
Hyeon Rang's voice hums throughout the entire palace, and at Their feet, my comrades are seated.
I look up at Hyeon Rang.
Woo-woong!
'...As I thought...'
Hyeon Rang's massive body appears to be made of mist, and looking closely, I see four overlapping figures.
A white-haired child.
A white-haired youth.
A white-haired adult.
A white-haired elder.
And among them, the figure of the adult wearing a black robe looks exactly the same as the one I knew.
'Song Jin...'
If Hong Fan was at least subtly different from Song Jin, the Naming Supreme Deity feels as if Song Jin just changed his hair color, grew giant, and is now sitting there mocking me.
I immediately speak the question I've long held curiosity about.
"This lowly Great Net Crystal Glass Being wishes to ask the Naming Supreme Deity a question."
[Speak.]
"Just what is the Supreme Deity's...relationship with the Head Realm?"
[The Head Realm...]
Then, Hyeon Rang's following words hit my mind with a shock as if someone had struck me across the skull.
[I suppose I should introduce myself again. This Emperor is Hyeon Rang. The Progenitor of the Human Race and...the rightful heir (적자/嫡子) of the Head Realm.]
[TL/N: 적자(嫡子) basically means the eldest son born from the official/legitimate wife, so the one with the highest status among the sons and the one who would inherit the family.]
"...Pardon?"
[At the same time...unlike other True Immortals who, once escaping the Head Realm, are not born there again, one who is reborn in the Head Realm every generation, always as the same being, and regardless of what twists and turns they experience, eventually rises as the same Naming Supreme Deity each time... A kind of innate Supreme Deity. That...is this Emperor. Welcome to the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain, my sibling.]
Translator Notes: The story behind Candle Law Race (촉법족) is that Tremendous apparently got beaten up by a minor too young to be prosecuted (촉법소년). Candle Law (촉법) can also mean being in conflit with the law.
-x-X-x-
"...The Head Realm's...rightful heir...? Innate Supreme Deity...?"
When I panic, my comrades seem to notice and turn to look at me.
Only then do I feel a familiar presence lying ahead of them.
"...! Kim Young-hoon!"
It is Kim Young-hoon.
Tadat!
I immediately run toward Kim Young-hoon.
"...! Everyone, what is going on!?"
"Eun-hyun, you came? Just as we conveyed through Hong Fan...Master told us that Young-hoon Hyung-nim's mind is flying this way from the Outer Sea. And for Young-hoon Hyung-nim's spirit to enter Mount Sumeru, Master said our strength is needed...so we left you behind for a moment."
"I see. I'm fine, but...then Young-hoon Hyung-nim is..."
"For now...it looks like we'll need your help, Seo Eun-hyun."
Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks.
Currently, Kim Young-hoon's head is covered in light pink consciousness threads, and they are coming from Kim Yeon.
"I don't know exactly what's going on right now, but Hyung-nim's mind is surrounded by something like a strong firewall. Because of that, his mind is trapped and he can't regain consciousness. The spirit has returned, but since there's no consciousness, Kim Yeon is trying to surface his consciousness as much as she can using her threads."
He looks at me as he speaks.
"And according to the words of the Naming Supreme Deity here...to awaken Young-hoon Hyung-nim's mind, something called Triple Divinity is required. And apparently, you're the only one among us who has learned it."
"Got it!"
Without saying anything else, I immediately draw the Impermanence Sword on the spot.
Surung—
I point the Impermanence Sword toward Kim Young-hoon's head.
'So that's it... Right now, Young-hoon Hyung-nim is using his own Triple Divinity to seal his consciousness. What's going on?'
For now, it seems I am needed.
"Yeon-ah, when I give the signal, pull your consciousness out. You might get hurt otherwise."
I have to pour in a lot of strength to the point I can't be distracted considering for Kim Yeon, so her consciousness might be damaged.
"Mm...!"
"Alright. Then pull out on the count of three. One, two...three!"
Shwirik!
Kim Yeon's consciousness threads withdraw, and I bring the Impermanence Sword down toward Kim Young-hoon's spirit.
At the same time, my Impermanence Sword digs through Kim Young-hoon's spirit, which is sealed by Triple Divinity, and forcefully tears apart the powerful seal.
That's when it happens.
Flash!
Kim Young-hoon's eyes snap open.
A little later.
He blinks several times, then slowly raises his body.
"This place is..."
"Hyung-nim, are you awake?"
I ask cautiously, and Kim Young-hoon looks at me briefly before properly glancing around at all of us.
And shortly after.
He presses his hand to his face and grits his teeth.
Drip...drip...
"...It's not a dream. Yeah...It really is...all of you."
Kim Young-hoon staggers as he gets up.
We support him as he rises, and Kim Young-hoon embraces all of us.
"I missed you... It was such a long, long time... I truly missed you..."
Kim Young-hoon trembles as he holds us tight.
Looking at the intensely twisted intent within Kim Young-hoon, I feel like I can't even begin to imagine what he must have gone through.
And just as I'm about to ask because I'm curious.
Shwik—
Before I know it, the Naming Supreme Deity, who had been sitting on a massive jade throne beside us, transforms into a proper human form.
Now appearing as a sturdy young man dressed in a purple robe, with hair like vapor, he stands with his hands behind his back and speaks to Kim Young-hoon.
"The Emperor is Hyeon Rang, the Naming Supreme Deity. If you've returned from the edge of the Outer Sea, then you must have heard of me from them."
"...Right. Are you...the substitute Cheon Woon spoke of?"
"Substitute, huh...? Is that what they said? How laughable. Not a substitute... Just a fragment of a dream, that's all."
Hyeon Rang's expression darkens as his face stiffens.
"...So then, is there any message you received from Cheon Woon?"
"A message... Uh, uugh! Uuwoooop!"
It happens right then.
Kim Young-hoon suddenly starts retching and collapses on the spot.
Startled, I check his pulse, but surprisingly, there's nothing wrong.
Nor do I sense any trace of Immortal Arts or spells.
Nor do I feel anything resembling Immortal Arts or spells at play.
Then, all of a sudden.
"Uwehheeegh!"
"...!"
Kim Young-hoon vomits a jade-green, egg-like object from his mouth.
"Heheok...heok...!"
As I stare at the egg, for some reason I sense something similar to what I once felt from Yeong Seung.
Then Hyeon Rang approaches us and picks up the jade-green egg, now covered in Kim Young-hoon's saliva and stomach acid, without hesitation.
After gazing at it for a while, Hyeon Rang's eyes narrow sharply.
"I see...A remnant of Cakravāda (鐵圍). A substance from the Boundary (境界). So you truly did reach the end of the Outer Sea."
"Heheok...heok..."
Kim Young-hoon speaks between gasps.
"...The Heavenly Venerable of Time, Cheon Woon, told me. That They placed the information the Naming Supreme Deity seeks inside there. They said you must only view it in a place where light does not reach."
"...Understood. Then I must seal it until I arrive there... Is there anything else?"
"There isn't. Though there is one more message...that belongs to the Enders."
"I see. Very well. Then I'll go seal this. The rest of you, take a moment to rest."
Shururuk—
Having received the jade-green egg from Kim Young-hoon, Hyeon Rang gazes at it with care, then disperses into mist and vanishes from the spot.
I watch Hyeon Rang for a moment before turning to ask Kim Young-hoon a question.
"Hyung-nim, just what is going on? And Cheon Woon...are they not the Heavenly Venerable of Time?"
"...Yes. Well...while I was training in the Outer Sea after asking for help from Hyeon Mu, I felt a disturbance and flew off to somewhere in the Outer Sea. And somewhere at the edge of the Outer Sea...in a place called the Boundary, I met Them. The Heavenly Venerable of Time, the True Ultimate Eternal Life Great Emperor Cheon Woon! They told me countless truths about us Enders...how we might escape this world and return home...and much more."
"...!"
"And after hearing much from Them...I tried to return to Mount Sumeru. But...it was a miscalculation. The Outer Sea is chaos in its entirety. Distance, concepts, and direction are all twisted...and just swimming through the sea of chaos and finding a path back took me a hundred million years. Then...after finding a path and swimming back toward Mount Sumeru, it took me another 1.8 billion years to systematize that process."
Kim Young-hoon's complexion grows pale.
"And at long last...I came back. I've returned... Ha, haha... Hahahahaha...!!"
Perhaps it's because he is seeing us again after so long, he alternates between weeping and laughing before eventually collapsing unconscious on the spot.
We fall silent, simply watching Kim Young-hoon for a while. Then, Oh Hyun-seok picks him up in his arms, and we all fly with him to the inner guest chamber of the Naming Supreme Deity's palace.
"I don't know what exactly happened to Hyung-nim, but one thing's clear. Let's ask him once he's had some rest."
"...Understood."
And so, we lay Kim Young-hoon on one side of the guest chamber and wait for him to wake up.
A pure white hospital room.
It's been a long time since I last saw a hospital room like those on Earth, so I gaze out the window with fascinated eyes while sitting on a chair.
Outside the window, the familiar scenery of Earth spreads out.
It is a temporary Seoul constructed inside the guest chamber by Kim Yeon.
She said she made it to help Kim Young-hoon recover his mental strength after he wakes up.
Feeling a sense of awe at the modern civilization I haven't seen in so long, I look at Kim Young-hoon lying asleep on the hospital bed.
"..."
There are many confusing things.
'The Naming Supreme Deity is an innate Supreme Deity...?'
Of course, based on what the others explained, it seems that rather than being an innate Supreme Deity, he is someone whose fate is fixed to become a Supreme Deity due to the repetition of history.
A fate of being born as a mortal in the Head Realm and becoming a Naming Supreme Deity without exception.
That is Hyeon Rang.
'Though that's not much different from being an innate Supreme Deity.'
I think about the strangeness of Hyeon Rang.
'He called me a sibling. Is that just because we are fellow members of the Human Race, or...is there truly some connection between the Enders and Hyeon Rang?'
I don't know.
What is certain is that he is a being similar to the Head Realm.
'The Sun and Moon Eyes of the Head Realm...'
The eyes of Hyeon Rang that I saw when I first received my name from him.
The two are extremely similar, and even the nature of their power is alike.
I draw the form of the Head Realm on paper.
Its form is that of rotting flesh and exposed skill.
Then, the bone structure of the Head Realm.
'...Song Jin... Right, Song Jin.'
I recall Song Jin, who always greeted us in the form of a skull.
'Thinking back, why didn't I realize it?'
Song Jin, in the form of a ghostly creature with his skull exposed.
And the bone structure of the Head Realm I drew on paper.
The two skulls match almost exactly, to a startling degree.
Only slight differences exist.
'The Head Realm's right heir...does that literally mean one born from the Head Realm itself, from the Decaying Corpse Realm?'
Based on what Oh Hyun-seok said, that seems to be the case.
'Beings' born without parents, or who inevitably lose their parents at a young age, who awaken in the Head Realm at some point, wander through its streets, and at some point learn cultivation methods and ascend to become a Supreme Deity.
Those are called Hyeon Rang.
'So was Song Jin...also one such Hyeon Rang?'
Even thinking again, it doesn't feel like Song Jin was Hyeon Rang himself.
'Thinking about it now, it's easy to distinguish those True Immortals who once played the role of mortals.'
But Song Jin at that time was definitely not Hyeon Rang.
If, as he says, Hyeon Rang is a being repeatedly born in the Head Realm, with a fate fixed as the Naming Supreme Deity and endlessly being 'produced'...
Then Song Jin feels like one of those 'products'.
'What is Hyeon Rang, and what are the Enders...?'
My mind grows tangled, and I let out a sigh.
For now, it seems fastest to ask Hyeon Rang directly when he shows up again.
'What am I going to figure out just by agonizing over it? Nothing will come out of just worrying.'
It's true that I lack too much information.
I shift my thoughts to another subject.
'The four new Immortal Arts I obtained this time.'
The Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali gifted to me by the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King.
I bring forth the power of those Immortal Arts in the void.
Strange runic characters that some True Immortals in the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain call Sanskrit (梵語) appear before my eyes.
These four Immortal Arts revolve around me, emitting a strange melody.
'This is...'
For some reason, I feel as if I might become entranced by the melody.
And for an instant, I see an illusion of Triple Divinity spinning before my eyes.
"...!"
At the same time, I understand what powers these Immortal Arts hold.
The true name of these Immortal Arts is the Immortal Art Mahayuga.
The ability of Mahayuga is to momentarily amplify Triple Divinity, an advanced stage of intent, and forcibly manifest power that surpasses my current realm.
'To turn the method of wielding Triple Divinity...into an Immortal Art!? Obsidian Devil Heavenly King...were they also someone who learned Martial Arts?'
It's when I ponder about them.
Blink—
"...!"
Kim Young-hoon suddenly opens his eyes.
"Hyung-nim!"
"...It's not a dream. I've really come back..."
He exhales heavily and rises from the bed.
"Are you all right?"
"..."
When I ask with concern, Kim Young-hoon glances here and there around the hospital room, then chuckles softly.
"...It's well made. Did Kim Yeon make this? She was always good with her hands, even back at the company."
Tap tap...
Brushing himself off as he rises, Kim Young-hoon looks outside the hospital room.
He gazes at the artificial Seoul created by Kim Yeon and smiles.
"It's a scenery I haven't seen in a long while. Really...Earth was a good place."
"It was. A place where all kinds of magic artifacts lined the streets, where even mortals could easily use them. A land without the tyranny of cultivator clans."
"Well...that's true."
Dudududu!
Perhaps noticing that Kim Young-hoon has awakened, Oh Hyun-seok comes running and hugs his waist from behind.
"Hyung-nim!!! You're finally awake!!"
Kim Yeon and Jeon Myeong-hoon also rush over, and we surround the awakened Kim Young-hoon.
"It's been so long..."
"Long time no..."
"Is your body all..."
Then, Kim Young-hoon looks around at us and cuts us off.
"Listen carefully, everyone."
He speaks with a grim expression.
"If we want to return home, there's something we must do."
"Pardon...?"
"I heard it from the Heavenly Venerable of Time. If we want to return home...Hyeon Mu must die."
And at Kim Young-hoon's following words, my eyes widen.
"If we do not hunt the Heavenly Venerable, we cannot have even the slightest hope of returning home!"
Good Sight Heavenly Domain.
Interdimensional Void.
There, a girl in black martial attire sits above the Vestiges of the Interdimensional Void, eyes half-open.
"So you've finally returned, Golden Speed."
As she gazes into the far distance, she slowly rises to her feet.
"Among this generation's Enders, are you the first Heavenly King...?"
At the very edge of her gaze.
There...
Something golden, that has completely seized Triple Divinity, is visible.
"Then I suppose...it's time to go. To retrieve what I lent Golden Speed all this time..."
The girl in black martial attire, with eyes of emptiness, begins to walk toward the place bathed in golden light.
"For all borrowed fate must one day be paid back with interest..."
The Northern Heavenly Venerable, the True Martial Great Emperor Hyeon Mu.
The Owner of the Interdimensional Void,
In order to hunt the First Seat of the Seven Brilliances Kings, the Golden Speed Heavenly King, begins to move.
-x-X-x-
"What do you mean by that? That we have to defeat Hyeon Mu?"
When I ask in confusion, Kim Young-hoon speaks with goomy eyes.
"That is...hm!"
Just as he's about to explain something to us, Kim Young-hoon suddenly glares toward somewhere.
"Hyung-nim...?"
"..."
Glaring sharply into the distance, he spits out his words as if chewing them.
"...She is coming."
"...! Y-You mean Hyeon Mu!?"
Reading a portion of Kim Young-hoon's intent, I recoil in shock and ask.
But Kim Young-hoon shakes his head and says,
"Yes, but she is not coming immediately, so there's no need to worry. Most likely...she's trying to descend her true body inside. Only after descending the true body of the Heavenly Venerable into Mount Sumeru, will she try to fight me, so the battle between us and Hyeon Mu isn't that imminent."
I nod, but then realize that Kim Young-hoon immediately grasped both Hyeon Mu's presence, who must be unimaginably far away, and her purpose, and a question arises.
"There's something I'm curious about, Hyung-nim. Right now, are you—"
"And Seo Eun-hyun."
Just as I'm about to ask whether he has gathered all of Triple Divinity and reached Wuji.
"Do not call me Hyung-nim."
"...Huh?"
"Back in our hometown, it was because of the difference in position that we used positions to address each other. And here, it was due to the age difference that you called me Hyung-nim."
"Well, yes...isn't that natural? You said you've endured for 1.8 billion years, haha. At that point you're more like a grandfather than just Hyung-nim..."
"It wasn't 1.8 billion."
"Pardon...?"
"It's probably even longer than that. If any of you are in the Earth Immortal system, try reading my history."
"Understood."
Oh Hyun-seok reaches his hand toward Kim Young-hoon.
At the same time, he begins reading Kim Young-hoon's history, and after a short while—
His eyes become dyed in shock.
"Uh, uhhh? One hundred...no, a billion...t-ten billion...!? T-T-Twenty billion!!?"
Oh Hyun-seok's face twists in shock as if his mouth might tear apart, and hearing his words, I also make a face of disbelief.
"T-Twenty billion years!? What in the world is going on!?"
Even Kim Young-hoon seems a little surprised by Oh Hyun-seok's words.
"Oh... T-Twenty billion? Was it that much...?"
"Pardon...?"
"If I were to tell you the process of how I arrived at Sumeru...I once said that fixing the coordinates of Sumeru, becoming accustomed to swimming through chaos, and systematizing it took 1.8 billion years. And...from that point on, I no longer had the confidence to endure that infinite chaos, so I sealed my consciousness using Triple Divinity. In that state, I had only my spirit body 'set' to move toward Mount Sumeru like a rigid machine. So, while dreaming a long dream and falling into sleep, I came close to Mount Sumeru. It was in that state that you all and the Naming Supreme Deity received me."
"I see..."
I now understand why Kim Young-hoon's mind had been sealed using Triple Divinity.
"Twenty billion years is a number even I find a bit surprising, but...anyway, it's in that way that I've returned here to see you all."
"Hmm, in that case..."
Even more confused, I ask,
"Isn't it even more fitting to call you Hyung-nim?"
"Well, it's fine if Oh Hyun-seok or the others call me that."
"What? Then..."
"But you don't need to call me that."
"...Pardon?"
"Because among us, the one who is the oldest...is you."
At those words, my gazes of my comrades shift toward me in confusion.
At the same time, I erase all expressions from my face and meet Kim Young-hoon's eyes.
"E-Eun-hyun? What does...that mean?"
"Ah, I think I get it...but don't try to understand. There must be a reason that guy's saying something like that."
Oh Hyun-seok blinks, and Jeon Myeong-hoon chuckles knowingly and stops Oh Hyun-seok.
I calmly look at Kim Young-hoon and speak.
"...Of course, I am somewhat older. But...I've never lived through something like twenty billion years like Young-hoon Hyung-nim."
"Twenty billion years...huhut. Seo Eun-hyun. I'm sorry to say this, but...isn't it possible that you've spent a great deal of time that you don't remember?"
"..."
"There definitely must be. Days that you [cannot remember]...isn't that right?"
"..."
At those words, I gaze at Kim Young-hoon with deep eyes.
Then I speak.
"...You..."
Tap tap—
Kim Young-hoon pats me on the shoulder and gives a faint smile.
"I'll explain in detail once everything is over. And...when we return to Earth, I'll make it up to you for blowing up your house last time. So keep that in mind."
"Pardon...? Hyung-nim blew up Eun-hyun's house? Something like that happened? When did that...?"
Oh Hyun-seok scratches his head, and I stare blankly at Kim Young-hoon.
Kim Young-hoon waves his hand.
Pasasasasa—
With just a single gesture, the temporary Seoul and hospital room that Kim Yeon created are sliced at the molecular level and scattered.
At the same time, the Naming Supreme Deity's guest chamber is revealed.
A massive, cozy space within a nebula, where ordinary True Immortals or divine beings can come and rest.
That is the guest chamber of the Naming Supreme Deity.
Passing by everyone, Kim Young-hoon gathers a reasonable amount of dust clouds and sits on them, then speaks.
"First, let me say this to everyone. I...have risen to the realm of Heavenly King. This is...a certain point that only us Enders can reach, and the rank of Heavenly King can be said to correspond to the Heavenly Venerable rank among Governing Immortals."
A certain radiance flows from Kim Young-hoon's eyes.
Simultaneously, a certain taenghwa appears, depicting an image of a Buddha with two wings and two arms making an abhayamudra.
That golden Buddha supports a golden divinity shaped like the sun behind its head, and the moment I see it, I immediately realize that Kim Young-hoon has obtained all of Triple Divinity.
At the same time, I see 1004 shadows emanating from Kim Young-hoon.
As I look at those shadows, I can see familiar faces among them.
Yes, the one before my eyes...
Drip...
'Ahhh...'
Tears fall from my eyes.
"When we Enders reach a certain point in our cultivation and realize the principle that pierces through our lives, we all transform (化現) as beings known as the Seven Brilliances Kings."
Starting from the very first, a being formed by the fusion of each Kim Young-hoon from [every cycle].
Yes...
The one who understands my loneliness, my isolation, this vain regression.
It is my first comrade.
Drip...drip...
I cannot put into words the overwhelming emotion and gratitude. Tears stream down my face as I sob uncontrollably.
Yes.
That is what it is.
An Ender who reaches Heavenly King no longer becomes influenced by regression.
Overwhelmed by a flood of gratitude and emotions that shakes my entire being, and unable to come to my senses, I collapse on the spot, gasping.
This single moment of emotion shakes me far more intensely than any pain or torture the world has inflicted upon me.
Kim Yeon supports me and looks at me with worried eyes, but upon seeing my intent, she smiles in relief.
Kim Young-hoon looks at me briefly, then continues his explanation.
"There are a total of seven types of Seven Brilliances Kings.
"Golden Heavenly King, Red Pearl Heavenly King, Lapis Lazuli Heavenly King, Silver Heavenly King, Tridacna Heavenly King, Agate Heavenly King, and Obsidian Heavenly King. These seven Heavenly Kings have slightly different names depending on the fate each Ender has realized. A representative example is the Tridacna Vast Cold Heavenly King.
"Previously, it is said that the name used to be almost fixed as Tridacna Love Heavenly King. However, after the appearance of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, the Immortal Title [Vast Cold] became forcibly engraved throughout the entire universe, causing the name of Tridacna Heavenly King itself to become twisted."
Wo-woooong!
Kim Young-hoon draws his saber.
His saber is dyed in golden light.
Shiiik!
He swings his saber, and a wave of golden saber light brushes past us.
"What I want to say is this. Depending on the 'interpretation' each Ender pushes forward, the titles of the Heavenly Kings change each time. Of course, they are fixed to some extent, and the essence itself doesn't change since the essence of the seven Heavenly Kings is constant...but one thing is certain."
Within that golden wave, we can feel countless emotions.
Joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, love, hatred, desire...
"[Interpretation]. If the Heavenly Venerables govern things like the Underworld, Reincarnation, Time, and Nothingness...then the Seven Brilliances Kings are Heavenly Venerables that govern the very concept of [interpretation] itself."
"...!"
"The mindset to declare how to interpret all beings of this world, and how to live...that is our unique right and authority."
It sounds almost arrogant and prideful.
But none of us can dare rebuke him as arrogant.
Because the golden wave emitted by Kim Young-hoon is showing us [all possibilities] itself.
And at the same time, that golden wave filled with countless possibilities is displaying an [absolute] power that no one can resist.
We all tremble, because we recognize where we've felt this [absoluteness] before.
Fate and history.
It's from the power known as the three great absolute laws of Mount Sumeru.
"A Heavenly Venerable is one who reaches [the absolute]. And...as I rose to Heavenly King, I realized that what we Enders, Heavenly King designates, gained is...to be precise, what we gained as we became Enders...comes from this power known as the [third absolute]."
Kugugugugu!
The golden wave that sweeps over us soon takes on a form, and that form is Mount Sumeru shaped like an inverted cone.
At that moment, the true structure of Mount Sumeru appears before our eyes.
I can recognize it immediately, as it matches the structure I have sensed since reaching the realm of Great Net Immortal.
The Mount Sumeru Kim Young-hoon created takes the shape of an inverted cone.
And inside that inverted cone are countless worlds and living beings, nine universes, and [outside] Mount Sumeru, the power of eleven mighty presences can be felt.
The structure of Mount Sumeru created by Kim Young-hoon inverts and normalizes.
At that moment, we come to understand.
We realize the 'positions' of the eleven mighty presences [outside] Mount Sumeru.
"As you can see, the six Supreme Deities all succeeded in leaving Mount Sumeru, but they are only at the bottom. However...the four Heavenly Venerables are different."
Heavenly Punishment, Great Mountain, Liberation, Emptiness, Swallowing Heaven, Naming.
The six Supreme Deities reside at the base of Mount Sumeru, the beginning of the mountain, so to speak.
And Underworld, Time, Void, Sal Tree.
The four Heavenly Venerables...
They are at the midsection of Mount Sumeru!
There, they encircle Mount Sumeru like a belt, and devour more of the Radiance emitted from the summit than anyone else.
That radiance is golden.
Among the Heavenly Venerables, Underworld, Time, and Sal Tree are condensing the golden radiance flowing from the summit.
However, upon closer look, the radiance emitted from the summit actually consists of eight kinds.
Aside from the golden radiance,
There is a pure gold light, subtly different from the golden hue.
A red light like a red pearl.
A blue light like lapis lazuli.
A distant silver light like the galaxy.
A soft pink light, beautiful like tridacna.
A mottled dark-red light like agate.
A pitch-black light like obsidian.
These are the seven types of light.
"Among the four Heavenly Venerables, three—Underworld, Time, and Sal Tree—are devouring that golden light. But...one of them is different."
He points to someone.
"The Heavenly Venerable of Void, the True Martial Great Emperor Hyeon Mu."
Where he points, among the belts encircling Mount Sumeru, is a pitch-black band.
"Those seven types of lights, excluding the golden light...are precisely the identity of [our] authority. And..."
The pitch-black band.
It holds the exact same energy as the Interdimensional Void.
"Only Hyeon Mu, the one called the God of Martial Arts, unlike the other Heavenly Venerables, absorbs [our] authority."
It is so.
Unlike the other Heavenly Venerables, only Hyeon Mu devours the seven lights.
"As long as Hyeon Mu exists, we cannot return home through the summit of Mount Sumeru, through the Audience Chamber. Because Hyeon Mu exists as a Heavenly Venerable by feeding on our authority. Ultimately, we are practically caught within Hyeon Mu's attraction force. Therefore...in order to return home, we must first destroy the bridle that is Hyeon Mu!"
Kim Young-hoon declares as his eyes gleam with golden light.
"The interpretation of my power is speed. Only speed that transcends all things is my true authority. Thus, I interpreted myself as the Golden Speed Heavenly King."
Kugugugu!
The taenghwa that floats behind his back spreads its wings and begins to overlap with Kim Young-hoon.
"As the Golden Speed Heavenly King...I ask you all. I...must go home. So all of you...please help me subjugate Hyeon Mu."
That day, we come face to face with the will to hunt a Heavenly Venerable, one who holds the worst possible compatibility with our very authority.
-x-X-x-
Kugugung!
Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, the Palace of Radiance at the center of the universe.
There, the Radiance Eight Immortals are gathered.
The First Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord, speaks in a heavy voice.
: :Did you all feel it? : :
: : Yes. : :
: : It is still being felt in real time... : :
They all simultaneously gaze toward the space that exists between Heavenly Domains.
They look into the Inner Seas of Mount Sumeru.
The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord mutters in a hardened voice.
: : The Northern Heavenly Venerable True Martial Great Emperor, the Heavenly Venerable of Void, is... : :
The Eight Immortals, each with hardened expression, tremble as they watch something descending deep within the depths of the Inner Seas.
"They are drawing in Gandhara (犍陀羅) into the inside of Mount Sumeru."
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord asks at those words.
: : Should we not block Void immediately? : :
: : It is impossible. When the Heavenly Venerables confront us inside Mount Sumeru only with their incarnations from outside, it requires Time, Void, and Sal Tree to combine their strength just to oppose us... But if they drag Gandhara (犍陀羅), which is outside Mount Sumeru, into the interior and descend... : :
To the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's question, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord explains with a hardened voice.
"Each one of the Heavenly Venerables is on par with Great Mountain. On top of that, they are practically undying. In a long-term battle, we must assume they would overwhelm the Great Mountain Supreme Deity."
: : Then that means... : :
: :Yes. If it is the current Hyeon Mu who is descending Gandhara, then we Radiance Eight Immortals must give it our all to stop Them. And this, just when our long-cherished wish is right before our reach... : :
: : ... : :
: : Anyway, as you all know, the only times when the Heavenly Venerable of Void descends Gandhara are when facing off against the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld or hunting the Enders. Since we are not the target, let us simply observe and hope for the mutual destruction between the two. There is no need to worry, Sword Spear... : :
At the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord's words, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord nods as if understanding and leans back in their seat.
However, watching Sword Spear in that moment, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord feels a sense of déjà vu.
For some reason, when the Heavenly Venerable of Void was said to be hunting the Enders...there seemed to be a strong emotional wave from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
'...Well, it must be a misunderstanding. With the Heavenly Venerable of Void descending, the Plane of Soul won't be functioning properly...so I must have felt it that way because emotions are warping strangely. At any other time, maybe, but at least right now, this is no time to be suspecting one another over something like this.'
This is a time when all must gather and give their all for the destruction of the Immortal Family.
Pointless division must be avoided.
Thinking so, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord shifts their gaze away from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
Kugugu!
Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, the Bright Cold Realm.
Cedar Wood Grove.
There, countless Heart Tribe members are rampaging wildly.
Some Heart Tribe members, rather pleased, begin actively 'greeting' other Heart Tribe members, while several with weaker will powers fail to endure the fear and end up taking their own lives.
The Supreme Council of the Heart Tribe tries to bring the Heart Tribe under control, but no one listens to their words anymore.
This is because all within Cedar Wood Grove are finding it difficult to sense intent and are beginning to lose their own manifestations.
It is a phenomenon similar to when the Enders disappear, plunging the Cedar Wood Grove into utter chaos.
Fortunately, the Bright Cold Martial Alliance, which once worshipped Kim Young-hoon, values the righteousness he taught and begins contributing to the stabilization of Cedar Wood Grove.
Bright Cold Realm, Heavenly Lotus Mountain.
There, the newly appointed Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm constantly offers prayers to Radiance Hall, watching the twisting Plane of Soul.
Yet, not a single response comes from Radiance Hall.
As if to say it is none of their concern...
Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds.
Those who cultivate consciousness methods, or those who cultivate the Ghost Path Method simultaneously perceive that something has gone wrong with their cultivation methods.
Because one of the Three Planes intricately tied to their methods—the entire Plane of Soul—is beginning to twist under the influence of something.
At the same time, the entire Interdimensional Void where the Middle Realm zones are located starts to ripple and shake.
The Heavenly Venerable of Void Hyeon Mu.
The very act of Them trying to descend Their true body inside Mount Sumeru is affecting the entirety of the Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds.
Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.
There, we immediately realize something is wrong.
'The Plane of Soul...'
Forget the fact that the Interdimensional Void, one of the dimensions, is rippling.
But the Plane of Soul, one of the Three Planes, is beginning to surge wildly, becoming blurry and then distinct, over and over.
At the same time, the intent and consciousness domain, excluding Triple Divinity, is shaking violently.
Even my own spirit is being affected.
"What in the world...?"
As I'm taken aback, Kim Young-hoon speaks with a hardened expression.
"...Hyeon Mu is descending Their main body. This phenomenon will likely repeat for a few months..."
"...Then shouldn't we deal with Them before They fully descend?"
Kim Young-hoon starts moving somewhere, and we follow him.
The place Kim Young-hoon arrives at is within the palace of the Naming Supreme Deity.
It is before the empty jade throne that lies there.
"That is impossible. Rather, we must wait for the moment Hyeon Mu descends—then act."
"Why is that?"
"Look."
Kim Young-hoon points.
Behind Hyeon Rang's jade throne is a scroll.
Upon that scroll, made of Black Ancient Paper, are a total of eleven names.
It's a hanging scroll written with names starting with the Heavenly Venerable of Void Hyeon Mu, and ending with the Radiance Supreme Deity Heuk Sa.
Oh Hyun-seok explains to me.
"That is Master's Immortal Registry. Based on the Immortal Titles given to the Supreme Deities, it roughly indicates their current state and location. At the same time, it also bestows the power of names upon the Supreme Deities."
"Is that so...? Then, why bring us here...?"
"Regardless of how they are inscribed, Heavenly Venerables and Supreme Deities are always marked separately."
Indeed, that is the case.
The four Heavenly Venerables are placed slightly apart at the top of the registry, and the seven Supreme Deities are placed slightly apart at the bottom.
"That is because the Heavenly Venerables are beings who have attained undying. One of the major reasons for their undying lies in the fact that their main bodies exist 'outside' of Mount Sumeru, where, unlike inside, the concept of life and death does not apply."
Kim Young-hoon's words continue.
"According to the diagram of the True Immortal Realm, the presence of the Supreme Deities clearly resides at the bottom of Mount Sumeru. However, while they may exit Mount Sumeru, they cannot completely escape it. Because of this, they are not entirely free from life and death, and although they might move freely to the lower part of Mount Sumeru, they can not climb beyond its midpoint while outside."
"To be precise."
While Kim Young-hoon is explaining, a familiar face appears among us.
Song Jin, no...
It is Hyeon Rang, who has the exact same face as Song Jin.
Looking at Hyeon Rang, I suddenly feel confused, and I summon Hong Fan and the rest of my Immortal Treasures from within my body so we can all listen to the current explanation together.
Hong Fan stares intently at Hyeon Rang, and for a brief moment, their eyes meet.
Hyeon Rang blinks, then speaks in a tone of curiosity.
"Hmm, seems to be from the Head Realm... What did I do in the Head Realm before I ascended? Does his Transformation body resemble mine because he was influenced by my power? Interesting."
And that's all.
Hyeon Rang turns his attention away from Hong Fan and tries to continue explaining, while Hong Fan continues staring at Hyeon Rang as if entranced.
Hong Fan's gaze seems almost...deeply affectionate.
As if seeing a yearned-for brother or friend. Or maybe...someone even deeper.
But in the next moment, Hong Fan erases all emotion from his eyes as he looks at Hyeon Rang.
Rather than looking as if he is 'hiding' emotion...
It's as if Hong Fan feels he 'isn't worth caring about'.
Without bothering to be troubled over Naming, Hong Fan simply focuses on what Naming is saying.
'...What is that reaction...? Strange...'
I take note of Hong Fan's odd response, then turn my attention to Hyeon Rang's words.
"After True Immortals rise to the Immortal Realm, they come to seize a domain there. That domain gradually expands over time, and when they become a Great Net Immortal, they completely take control of that domain. Furthermore, when they become an Immortal Lord, they obtain the source of their Immortal Dao that serves as the origin of their domain, giving the domain an immense independence... And so, it starts to separate from Mount Sumeru.
"Finally, upon becoming a Supreme Deity, their domain completely transcends to outside Mount Sumeru. In short, the presence of Supreme Deities who exist in the [lower part] of Mount Sumeru is proof that they have transcended Mount Sumeru. Their jade thrones are the materialization of their domains.
"A Supreme Deity is one who has established a jade throne with their domain outside of Mount Sumeru, and as long as that throne exists, the Supreme Deity can, no matter where in the Heavenly Domains of Mount Sumeru they are, even if they are blocking the entrance of the Audience Chamber at the vertex, always head toward the lower part of Mount Sumeru. Toward the entrance of the Salt Sea."
Kim Young-hoon, who is still only at the Heavenly Being stage within the Immortal Cultivation system, doesn't seem to know this well and listens quietly to Hyeon Rang's explanation.
"But just as Kim Young-hoon here, as Golden Speed has said...they have merely established a seat in the lower part of Mount Sumeru and have not fully transcended it. Thus, they are still subject to the principle of life and death and, if slain, can indeed be annihilated. But the Heavenly Venerables are different. They are beings who have truly transcended Mount Sumeru..."
"Are they not beings...who have merged with Mount Sumeru...?"
I recall the words of Black Dragon and ask, and Hyeon Rang shakes his head.
"That would be the Supreme Deities. I don't know who you learned from, but it seems there's a slight misunderstanding of the concept."
"..."
"In any case, they are beings who have transcended Mount Sumeru, and thus possess the qualification to [climb] it."
"...!"
"Therefore, they began their ascent from the outside of Mount Sumeru, and now, each of them is halted at the highest point of Mount Sumeru they can reach—its midpoint. The inner counterpart of this location corresponds to the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain. That's where they now stand. Because of this, though they have transcended life and death of Mount Sumeru, they linger near the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, and are able to intervene across Mount Sumeru's entirety."
From Hyeon Rang's words, I understand what Kim Young-hoon is trying to say.
"Then, the talk about needing to wait for Hyeon Mu's main body is..."
"Yes. Hyeon Mu is now...descending Their own true body, which has transcended life and death, back into the interior of Mount Sumeru in order to hunt down the Golden Speed Heavenly King. When that happens, since the body that had transcended life and death has returned to the Saha World, life and death will come into existence again."
"...So, you are saying we can only kill Hyeon Mu once They summon Their true body...?"
Indeed.
What Kim Young-hoon is trying to say is that only by waiting for Hyeon Mu to summon her true body can we see the possibility of killing her.
However, Kim Young-hoon shakes his head.
"That's not what I mean. Even setting aside the matter of not having fused with Mount Sumeru...Hyeon Mu will not die easily."
"Pardon...?"
"Such are the existence of Heavenly Venerables. Even if they cross back over the boundary of life and death, they are effectively undying. With our strength, we cannot kill Hyeon Mu. And...even though I said we need to kill Hyeon Mu, it will be rather difficult..."
He continues with a hardened expression.
"That's why, rather than killing Hyeon Mu, our goal must be to inflict as fatal a wound as possible."
"You mean..."
"Yes. Even if we don't kill Them, if we can at least render Hyeon Mu unable to interfere with us for the next few thousand years...then our chances of returning home will increase."
"...!"
Among my Immortal Treasures listening to our conversation, Yeo Hwi laughs as if delighted at those words.
"Hahaha! Even if They are a Heavenly Venerable, if we're not killing Them but just turning Them into a half-cripple, it won't be that hard. Besides, isn't Hyeon Mu the weakest of the Heavenly Venerables?"
At those words, Hyeon Rang looks at Yeo Hwi with sorrowful eyes.
"...What in the world are you saying, descendant of Glass Peacock...?"
"Pardon...? Haha, I am familiar with that Immortal Registry."
Yeo Hwi points behind Hyeon Rang's jade throne and speaks.
"Is that not the Immortal Registry that denotes the authorities of the current Supreme Deities and Heavenly Venerables, of the Governing Immortals? From what I know, the lower a name appears on the Immortal Registry, the stronger the Supreme Deity or Heavenly Venerable, while the higher names are the weaker Governing Immortals. Isn't that why the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld and the Radiance Supreme Deity are each at the very bottom of the Heavenly Venerable and Supreme Deity groups, and right above them are the Heavenly Venerable of Time and the Great Mountain Supreme Deity?"
At those words, Oh Hyun-seok sighs and responds.
"...There's a misunderstanding, Twin Constructing Chains. The order on Master's Immortal Registry is indeed arranged with the lower positions being stronger."
"Pardon...? Then does that not mean I am right?"
"The issue is...that strength is not based on authority. The Immortal Registry isn't sorted by the order of the true authorities of the Heavenly Venerables and Supreme Deities. It's arranged based on 'how strongly they influence the fate of Mount Sumeru'."
"..."
"At the top of the Supreme Deity and Heavenly Venerable columns, the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity and the Heavenly Venerable of Void are listed there because one is imprisoned, and the other is emptiness itself, completely uninterested in all matters of the world. On the other hand, the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld and the Radiance Supreme Deity are placed where they are because they exert powerful influence over Mount Sumeru..."
Oh Hyun-seok lets out a sigh and mutters.
"The Heavenly Venerable of Void is by no means one of the weaker Heavenly Venerables in terms of might. It is only because They have no interest in anything other than suicide that They have no faction, making Their influence weak.
"In fact, according to Master, in terms of might...They are one of the only three Governing Immortals—alongside Great Mountain and Underworld—who can resist something called the [Calling] of Radiance Hall."
Hyeon Rang nods.
"The 'belt' of Mount Sumeru where the Four Heavenly Venerables reside is known to higher beings as Gandhara (犍陀羅). Originally, this name was something created by this Immortal and Radiance Hall combining our strengths to restrain the Four Heavenly Venerables...but a certain Ender from the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King's generation used Obsidian's power and changed it."
Wo-woong!
Above Hyeon Rang's hand, the structure of Mount Sumeru appears.
"Gandhara refers to the deepest depths of the Underworld, Source River, Interdimensional Void, and Eastern Heaven Flower Field... At the same time, they are the locations of each Heavenly Venerable's jade throne, and can be said to refer to the main bodies of the Heavenly Venerables themselves."
With a solemn expression, he continues speaking.
"When Hyeon Mu descends into Mount Sumeru dragging along her own Gandhara...the expected power level will be, excluding the current Great Mountain, just below the Radiance Supreme Deity and the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld."
"...!"
"But precisely because of that, if Hyeon Mu starts rampaging at this moment...all the fates of Mount Sumeru will be thrown into disarray, and history will be twisted. Moreover, the plans of this Emperor will be ruined as well."
Hyeon Rang reaches a hand out to us.
"It may seem like I am intervening out of nowhere, but to this Emperor, this matter is also grave. Therefore...this Emperor will aid you Enders. The estimated time for Hyeon Mu's Gandhara to descend is about 108 days. Until 108 days from now, before you begin the Heavenly Venerable Battle...this Emperor promises to fully support you without reservation...!"
And so, we end up gaining Hyeon Rang's support.
'There's no avoiding it.'
The clash with the True Martial Great Emperor Hyeon Mu is something that must take place.
Thus, bolstered by Hyeon Rang's support, we begin preparations for the Heavenly Venerable hunt that is to come in 108 days.
-x-X-x-
The time remaining until the descent of the Heavenly Venerable of Void is a total of 108 days.
Within that time, we must refine everything we can.
"First, the fastest way to grow would be for you to receive a [name] from this Immortal."
Hyeon Rang proposes this to Kim Young-hoon, but Kim Young-hoon rejects it immediately.
"I don't need it. Power gained through such unorthodox methods just ends up being cumbersome because I can't adapt to it."
"Well, do as you wish. In that case, let me recommend a way for you all to strengthen yourselves in a short time."
He looks around at each of us in turn and continues speaking.
"First, Golden Speed Heavenly King. You say you don't need unorthodox methods since you can't adapt to them...but what about a [weapon]?"
"A weapon?"
"Yes. I know where a weapon perfectly suited for you is."
"Where is it?"
"The place you all came from. The Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain."
Hyeon Rang points somewhere as he smiles.
"I heard you all created a place called Cedarwood Painting in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain; isn't that right?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"On the reverse side of that Cedarwood Painting...lies the enlightenment of the previous Golden Body Heavenly King."
"Enlightenment...? Something like that exists?"
"Yes. To be exact...Red Lotus. Prajna. Dragon Flower... It is an enlightenment regarding the Manifestation of the Heart Tribe of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld."
"...!"
I learn something new.
The realms of Red Lotus, Prajna, and Dragon Flower all refer to stages of Heart Tribe manifestation used by the Underworld's side.
"Your predecessor Golden Body Heavenly King had a different authority than you, so their level of Manifestation only reached Red Lotus... However, they completely mastered the method of Manifestation through the unorthodox method used by the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, and recorded that enlightenment in a mandala there."
"...I see."
I come to understand the truth behind the mandala of Cedarwood Painting that I once researched with Kim Young-hoon.
"Go seek out that mandala and look at it again. If you do so, you will be able to see what you couldn't see before...and you will be able to refine the mandala left behind by the previous Golden Body into a weapon suitable for you. That itself...was a preparation made for the future Golden Body."
"Thank you for the advice."
Kim Young-hoon nods and begins to stretch, seemingly preparing to head to Cedarwood Painting.
Hyeon Rang then turns to Jeon Myeong-hoon.
"The fastest way you can become stronger in a short time is...the treasure vault of Yang Su-jin. I assume you've already searched its interior?"
"I have. There were many Immortal Treasures Yang Su-jin left behind. Though without the main rituals, I'd have to capture some Sacred Masters or something..."
"Use the treasure vault of Yang Su-jin itself."
"Hmm?"
"I'm a bit sorry to Heavenly Punishment, but...given the situation, I have to tell you this. Yang Su-jin's treasure vault is, in and of itself, also a prison meant for the Heavenly Lightning Banner."
"...!!"
"Through Yang Su-jin's treasure vault, find the Heavenly Lightning Banner and abduct her. Then, using the suppressive power of the treasure vault, subdue the Heavenly Lightning Banner and extract only Zhengli's power for your use. That is the way for you to become the strongest in the shortest time."
At those words, Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes blaze.
The corners of his mouth lift up as if tearing.
"...Truly, I am grateful to you... Kuk... Kukuk... Kuhuhuhuhu..."
"Sure, then next... The current Lapis Lazuli Protecting Heavenly King should be studying well under the Imperial Venerable, and Hyun-seok just needs to summon my soul and invoke divine descent into his body, so there's no issue. The current Tridacna, as for you..."
He turns his gaze to Kim Yeon.
"You too should go to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain. The fastest way for you to grow in a short time...is to receive support from the flesh of Vast Cold and move their physical body. If you were still a mortal being, that would've been impossible, but now that you've reached the level of a Great Net Immortal, you should be able to draw out at least six tenths of the power of Vast Cold's body."
"Mm!"
Kim Yeon nods, and Hyeon Rang's eyes finally turn to me.
"You've learned the Flawless Mantra. If you've learned the Flawless Mantra...then given about four hundred million years, you could fully turn the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity into an Immortal Treasure. But since we don't have the Heavenly Venerable of Time, and Yeong Seung doesn't have the right, that would be difficult. Hm, since you haven't awakened your fate, I can't tell whether you are Agate or Obsidian."
"Em..."
I speak while pondering.
"I think I'm probably the Agate Heavenly King."
"Haw... I see...Master."
Hong Fan exhales deeply as if intrigued and nods, while I look back on my past lives.
My regressions, filled with nothing but pain.
And, according to what I once heard from the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld who took the form of Tae Yeol-jeon, the Agate Hatred Heavenly King symbolizes pain.
That being the case, with my life steeped in suffering, I'm highly likely to be the current designate for the Agate Hatred Heavenly King.
'Oh Hye-seo is the one with a blackened heart, so she's probably the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King of this generation.'
At that, Hyeon Rang clicks his tongue in regret.
"Tsk... If it's Agate, then things have gotten even more troublesome. The powers most suitable for Agate are either the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea in the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity...or the power of the previous Agate. But all previous Agates had their preparations completely devoured by the Head Realm, so there's nothing left. As for the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea..."
"I'd rather refuse that one myself."
"Well, if that's the case, it can't be helped. I'll just...teach you how to use ancient force in a short time."
Thus, we each part ways in order to refine our powers in a limited time.
"Ancient force is forgotten history, the remnant of a destroyed world."
A faint mist rises over Hyeon Rang's hand.
Within the mist, countless scenes seem to appear.
Together with Oh Hyun-seok, I focus on Hyeon Rang's lesson.
"Normally, ancient force can be harvested from the center of a planet. This is because forgotten histories and dreams are pulled in by the attraction force toward the center. Memories and histories that could not be remembered by sentient beings...such ancient forces gather and form Salt Crystal. Of course, they didn't used to take the form of Salt Crystals, but ever since the appearance of the Salt Sea Supreme Deity, ancient forces have become fixed in the form of Salt Crystals..."
Kiririk!
The mist above Hyeon Rang's hand gathers and condenses into a mineral that looks like a small lump of salt.
"In any case, ancient force, which would originally form in small amounts naturally inside planets, began to be produced in much greater quantities due to Immortals. For instance, what would happen if an Earth Upper Immortal annihilates a dynasty and revises history as [only villains existed in that dynasty, and so it was rightly destroyed by Heavenly Punishment]? What about the good people who lived in that dynasty? Who remembers their dreams and histories?"
Wo-woong!
From the Salt Crystal visible in Hyeon Rang's hand, a scream echoes forth.
"In this way, the cherished wishes of those whose very histories were buried by transcendental Earth Upper Immortals...appear as ancient force. And as a result, ever since Earth Upper Immortals began roaming freely, ever since history revision began, ancient force has been gushing forth in large quantities.
"In short, ancient force can be said to be the power of [forgotten beings of the past reaching out to beings of the present, asking to be remembered]."
"..."
'In that case...the reason why the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections is considered as ancient force is...'
I reflect deeply as I recall my Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
Kirik, kiriririk!
The Salt Crystal at the tip of Hyeon Rang's finger begins to change.
"That is why the Head Realm is the origin of all ancient force, and the cradle where all ancient force gathers. More precisely, it's the Akashic Records in the Head Realm that serves as the origin. Since [all history] is recorded in the Akashic Records, it is the only existence that acknowledges forgotten history, at least to the extent of what is recorded in it. That is why...it is said that the power of ancient force obtained by Earth Upper Immortals all originates from the Head Realm. After all, in the end it is the Akashic Records that store the forgotten histories, and Earth Upper Immortals who excavate those forgotten histories recorded in the Akashic Records and refine them into the form of ancient force..."
Kiiiiiiing!
The form of Salt Crystal at the tip of Hyeon Rang's finger is shaved down and compressed, taking on the shape of a small skull.
It is the appearance of the Head Realm.
"You know that Immortal Beasts can temporarily transcend reality through explosion and are able to access a place known as the [River of Scenes], right?"
"Yes."
"That place is not actually the Source River."
"Pardon...?"
"The Source River is nothing more than a parasite that imitates that place and feeds off its power...The [River of Scenes] that Immortal Beasts access is..."
At Hyeon Rang's continuing words, my eyes widen so much they nearly pop out.
"It is the Akashic Records. More precisely, it's connected to a certain facet of the Akashic Records, allowing one to see scenes flowing like a river. In other words, Immortal Beasts are beings that possess the fundamental right to access the Akashic Records."
"..."
'That means...'
The River of Scenes I connect to every time I regress is not actually the Source River, but...
'It was the Akashic Records all along!?'
That's right.
The River of Scenes I enter every time I regress is not the Source River, but the Akashic Records.
'Then...every time I experience death...'
With every regression, I access the Akashic Records.
In other words,
It is no different from entering and exiting the Head Realm.
I can't help but open my mouth at the shocking truth.
'I see... Those [threads] I saw then...the ones constantly connecting me to the Head Realm...'
They were all proof that I was connected to the Akashic Records.
In other words, to the Head Realm.
As I tremble at the horrifying truth, Hyeon Rang begins to speak even more shocking truths.
"Forgotten histories born of history revision become ancient force, and it is said the way to obtain that ancient force is by accessing the Akashic Records and thoroughly investigating the forgotten histories recorded there. If so, one might think what Hyun-seok is thinking right now: 'Can just a few bug-like Earth Upper Immortals twisting history really generate that much ancient force?'"
"Ahem, forgive me, Master...I don't think of Earth Upper Immortals as bugs."
"Well, anyway, the important point is this. Just a few Earth Upper Immortals...have not been the ones revising the world until now."
Wooo-woooong!
The model of the Head Realm above Hyeon Rang's hand begins to [duplicate].
"Great Net Immortals, Immortal Lords, Supreme Deities...and even the Heavenly Venerables. All those countless Immortals have ceaselessly revised history until now, and the result is the current world. Do you know how much the Supreme Deities and True Lords who followed the history pathway revised Mount Sumeru and created forgotten histories?
"Do you know how many past Enders, how many Heavenly Kings...have buried history?"
Swaaaaaaaa!
In an instant, the surroundings become a sandy shore made entirely of Salt Crystals in the form of the Head Realm.
"Especially Radiance Hall...They have deliberately buried the truths of this world, the histories, deep within the Head Realm, deep within the Akashic Records."
Hyeon Rang continues speaking with a hardened face.
"The Heavenly Domains of Supreme Deities who died resisting Radiance Hall are fed to the Head Realm after a long time. Even the defeated Supreme Deities are fed to the Head Realm...
"There have even been Enders who were born already possessing the authority of [universe creation]...or Heavenly Kings who awakened authorities like [Mount Sumeru replication], or [Origin Essence generation]. The Heavenly Domains they created, the replicated Mount Sumerus, the countless Origin Essences they made...the countless civilizations they cultivated..."
With every word Hyeon Rang speaks, his expression darkens further.
"All those brilliant histories...were crushed by Radiance Hall and turned into leftovers of the Head Realm. Buried deep in the Akashic Records, the replicated Mount Sumerus, the newly created Origin Essences and civilizations, the Heavenly Domains born from the hands of Enders—everything was annihilated and buried deep beneath. And Radiance Hall holds what they call the Supreme Deity Banquet, and through a ritual that erases the ancient forces created in such a way, they have been burying those histories even deeper into the abyss of the Akashic Records."
He clenches his fist.
Paaaaaatt!
With that single gesture, countless Salt Crystals rush toward Hyeon Rang's grip and explode.
Kwaaaaang!
From the explosion formed in Hyeon Rang's hand, I feel something shake.
It is 'reality' itself.
The very history we stand upon right now is faintly trembling.
"That is why...the true power of ancient force is only displayed when it is [properly recorded]. Even a forgotten history, as long as a single person remembers it...that history is never truly forgotten. It becomes the strength of Immortal Beasts, and the key to transforming this reality that has been twisted by endless revisions."
Wooo-woooong!
A faint mist begins to spill out again from Hyeon Rang's hand, and I flinch in surprise as I look at him.
Because that power...
It is far too similar to the power of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
"From now on, what you must do is record your history from beginning to end, without leaving anything out, and transmute it into Immortal Art. If you can leave behind your own history as Immortal Art and prove your own existence through it...then that becomes the most optimal and shortest path to strengthening your authority as an Immortal Beast!"
That's right.
The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections I created during the Nascent Soul stage...
Turns out to be the optimal Immortal Art for Immortal Beasts recommended by the former Immortal Beast King Hyeon Rang.
And so, from that day on, I begin to restore the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections that I collapsed with my own hands.