Kugugugugu!
All of Heaven and Earth is black.
But it is not simply black.
Black, yellow, and all of the heavens" natural colors divide Heaven and Earth into three parts as they revolve, and that sight makes Wol Ah feel as if she has entered into an illusory world of the Three Great Ultimates.
'Keok...keheoek...!
Wol Ah cannot even properly breathe.
She once thought she endured the gaze of a Heaven Immortal.
She believed she could, before long, reach even those transcendent beings like True immortals.
It was a dull delusion.
"What is this...this despair...2"
The pressure of the existence before her, surpassing even the universe, makes Wol Ah unable to let out even a voice.
And what is even more frightening is...
"Even this...is not their true power...!?"
Her deduction and interpretation of the existence before her, arising from her own talent. it instantly tells her that the existence before her is not their main body.
itis not even an incarnation, nor a clone, nor a projection.
it is literally nothing more than a 'tiny speck' manifesting before her through [some trigger].
She looks at the Sword Mountain before her.
That Sword Mountain takes on a form, yet is not clear.
Even the power it contains cannot be fathomed.
And yet, this is only the power of a mere speck of the Mountain Divine Spirit!
Her body trembles.
'A-Am I going to be killed?"
Nothing else comes to mind.
Only the thought of how despairing this existence before her is floods her mind.
Just then, the existence before her asks again.
:: Do you not...desire power? : :
"Haak..."
Power!
Only at that single word does she barely come back to her senses.
No, rather than regaining her senses, it might be that she is drawn by the fundamental magic that word carries.
Only by being lured in by that magic does she barely regain her senses.
"I, I don't need it...! Disappear!"
Words spoken half-instinctively.
If the existence before her truly were the projection or incarnation of the Mountain Divine Spirit, she would never have been able to utter such words.
The only reason she can do so now is...
"The being before me is absolutely not real..."
Her absolute talent, stemming from her very fate, strongly denies the reality of the existence before her.
And along with Wol Ah's denial, she finally exhales a breath of relief while watching the remnant image of the Mountain Divine Spirit gradually fade away.
It, it's disappearing. As expected, it is an existence that cannot truly affect...
But just as she is about to feel relief, something sharp brushes against Wol Ah's cheek. Shiver!
itis a hand.
A hand of glass, from which glass swords jut outt
The hand that bursts forth from the remnant image of the Sword Mountain slightly scratches Wol Ah's cheek, drawing a drop of blood.
As if to read her petty thought and declare, 'l can exert influence whenever I wish". Sururuk—
Even as the hand of glass fades, it slides down to her chest and pierces through. Sssuk—
The hand passes straight through her clothes, her skin, her muscles, her ribs, and reaches her heart.
Thump, thump...
She feels it.
At any moment, just as that hand scratched her cheek, it can scratch her heart and burst it apart.
Because she is at the Heavenly Being stage, wounds like that no longer have meaning to her, but if it is an existence that can crush her heart, then it can do anything else as well. And as Wol Ah's heartbeat grows maddeningly loud, at last the vision completely vanishes, and only the [voice] flows into her ear as it fades away.
: : When you desire power, call for me...I shall aid you... : :
At last, the vision disappears.
Amid the sound of her pounding heartbeat, Wol Ah prays to the "God of Light! in whom all the living beings of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain believe in.
"Amitayus Buddha (E2262)... Amitayus Buddha..."
Murmuring the regnal name of the "God of Light' that is spread widely among mortals, Wol Ah checks the wound left on her cheek and the single drop of blood.
That drop of blood is instantly swept away by her cold sweat and vanishes, and even the wound is healed by the regeneration of a cultivator at the Heavenly Being stage.
But the shock she just received is not so easily healed.
What she must do is simple.
Because she is a human overflowing with talent, she knows well what she must do.
If something incomprehensible lies before her, she must first gain the [wisdom] to comprehend it.
That is the teaching that all who follow the God of Light, the Amitayus Buddha, must engrave upon themselves.
Wol Ah quickly goes to the Radiance Spirit Sect's Scripture Pavilion.
The Scripture Pavilion's texts, even for her, normally require contribution points to access, but books that are not concerning methods, spells, or formations—such as histories or works of basic knowledge—do not require contribution points.
Wol Ah frantically searches for books containing information on the "Mountain Divine Spirit.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, there are many such books to be found.
Though Wol Ah does not know it, in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, the beings called "Mountain Divine Spirits' are nothing less than archenemies, receiving the hatred of all the True Immortals of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.
In fact, some groups within Radiance Hall even hold a "regular hatred session' toward the Mountain Divine Spirits.
Because of this, to make sure that everyone of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain becomes familiar with the enemies known as the Mountain Divine Spirits, Radiance Hall widely spread knowledge of the Mountain Divine Spirits even in the myths and tales of mortals.
Especially their negative aspects are described in detail.
"Th-This is a Mountain Divine Spirit...2"
Wol Ah trembles as she examines the countless negative legends, myths, and observation records about the Mountain Divine Spirits stored in the Scripture Pavilion. There are mainly three famous Mountain Divine Spirits, and Wol Ah steadies her pounding breath as she looks at a collection of tales containing illustrations of them.
The first Mountain Divine Spirit is the father of all Mountain Spirits, the thief who stole precious treasures from the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, and became the friend of the "God of Darkness,' who governs the Underworld after death.
"The God of Salt Mountain."
The illustration shows a vast mountain made of countless red salts, and because the background is in darkness, it looks incredibly grotesque.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, it seems that the God of Salt Mountain has already been annihilated by the Gods of Light.
"Good, s0 not all such savage Mountain Divine Spirits are still alive."
Turning to the section on the second Mountain Divine Spirit, Wol Ah shudders again. Though it is not a direct depiction of the true form but merely an illustration passed down, her body trembles.
"Madness...
The second Mountain Divine Spirit, the God of Great Mountain.
The illustration depicts a horrifying mountain made of blood and corpses...and things so revolting that it is difficult to even look at.
Just seeing the illustration makes her stomach churn, and strangely her eyes begin to ache, so she quickly reads the description of the illustration.
tis a divine rank that still exists, and it is said to be preparing for war against the God of Light in order to one day destroy the entire world...?"
Wol Ah feels overwhelming dread toward the Mountain Divine Spirit of Great Mountain, and she hastily flips to the next page.
Just seeing it brings terror.
However, when she sees the illustration depicting the third Mountain Divine Spirit, she feels her breath catch.
"This, this is..."
Sword Mountain.
Countless evil spirits and rakshasas are impaled on that Sword Mountain, screaming, and just looking at it makes the nape of one's neck chill, as if sharp sword energies are infused into that mountain.
There is no doubt.
This third Mountain Divine Spirit is the Devil God who came to her.
She slowly reads through the information about the third Mountain Divine Spirit.
—Third Mountain Divine Spirit.
—Sword Mountain.
—A terrifying Devil God who clashed with the Owner of Light many times, and who brought down four divinities equal in rank to the Owner of Light.
—As befitting a savage Mountain Divine Spirit, they are seeking to kill the second Mountain Divine Spirit, Great Mountain. They too are preparing for war against the Owner of Light, while also being close with the God of Death and Lord of Darkness, the Divinity of the Underworld.
—Unlike Great Mountain, who exists alone, countless evil spirits and rakshasas follow them.
Though currently missing, there is the Golden Bird, faster than anything in this world. The Red Vajra, always filled with rage.
The Blue Ghost King, always shedding tears.
The Giant God of Chaos, who killed their own master, devoured their flesh, and became a god.
The Witch of Destruction, who controls innumerable puppets and spews infinite power. And the vile opportunistic spirit who once served Great Mountain but betrayed their master and joined Sword Mountain instead.
—This Mountain Divine Spirit not only brought down four divinities equal to the Owner of Light, but also captured and killed a benevolent god, split them into five, and turned them into dharma treasures, which they carried around. These are said to be black chains that each symbolize one of the Five Desires.
—It is said that those who catch their eye are eternally tortured in the wicked glass- coloured flames of hell, as much as the Mountain Divine Spirit desires.
Jiiiing—
Even though it is not direct, Wol Ah indirectly receives information about a Governing immortal, and she feels a nosebleed coming. However, gripped by fear, she cannot put the book down.
The fallen God of Salt Mountain, or the God of Great Mountain who supposedly travels alone while destroying the universe—she feels little toward them.
But the God of Sword Mountain who directly spoke to her, and this collection of myths containing the most terrifying information...
Wol Ah feels as if her mind is going numb from the fear of this fearsome Mountain Divine Spirit of Sword Mountain.
A True Immortal notices when someone mentions or thinks of them.
It is because an attraction force forms between the one who thinks of the True Immortal and the True Immortal themselves.
If it is a famous True Immortal, they often do not care about such attraction force and ignore it, but 1 am not like that.
Hmm..."
Though I am indeed famous, my main body remains hidden, so I have no choice but to keep a close watch on those who think of me.
And now, I smile as I see a familiar face among those who have formed an attraction force with me.
You've walked well into it'
Wol Ah, who lacks knowledge about True Immortals, is steadily forming an attraction force with me.
At first, it is I who deliberately approached and faintly implanted my essence into her Heart Demon, but afterwards it is Wol Ah who keeps recalling me, and thus the attraction between us is growing stronger.
"This is why it's impossible for mortal beings to resist True Immortals."
Quite literally, just by recognizing them, an attraction force is formed, and the more one thinks of a True Immortal, the more they grant that True Immortal a foothold to approach. Not only a single human being, but if I wished, I could dye an entire Middle Realm with thoughts of me, and destroy it utterly without the need of Immortal Arts or any special authority.
Just by connecting attraction force and revealing my presence.
I have wronged you.
As I dye Wol Ah, I inwardly apologize to her.
"Truly...I am sorry."
I am using her.
The gap between True Immortals and mortal beings that I once lamented—now, I am using that very gap to affect her life.
From now on, she will become my arrangement.
No, everything around her, everything that happens in her vicinity...
it will all be dyed by me, and divine providence will be distorted.
Step, step...
Through my clone Seo Gyeong, I arrive at the Radiance Spirit Sect.
The Radiance Spirit Sect is filled with those overflowing with talent.
And that, paradoxically, becomes the reason why the ones brimming with talent constantly compare themselves to each other and fall into inferiority complexes.
Wol Ah falling into inferiority after seeing me is not unusual.
In this place called the Radiance Spirit Sect, such a phenomenon happens so endlessly that even the power of history repetition has settled to some degree.
If perhaps ten million more years pass, this repetition of inferiority will accumulate enough to become an Immortal Art, and an innate Sacred Vessel like Seo Hweol may be born."
If such a being is born, that too will be a disaster.
"Therefore...forgive me, but I will use you.
I apologize to Wol Ah, to the Radiance Spirit Sect, and to everyone in this stellar system. "Even if I must use you...I will prevent such a tragedy."
Step, step...
I approach a disciple in one dark valley of the Radiance Spirit Sect, where he is violating sect rules by practicing a forbidden art.
"Uuugh...Wol Ah, Lady Wol Ah. Lady Wol Ah is mine, mine... I cannot let anyone else touch her. Wol Ah, Lady Wol Ah is mine..."
I frown as I look around.
Though less than Yuan Li, he too has slaughtered countless mortals, using their corpses to produce devilish energy and cultivate devilish arts.
"Disgusting.
I want to ip out his spirit immediately and bring retribution upon him for what he has done, but...
I glance upward at the sky.
"Those Heavenly King Heavenly Domain bastards.'
If I use my strength here, they will notice instantly, burn away this clone, and interrogate Esteemed One Baek Geom, who has taken me in as a disciple.
That existence, infused with the soul of Sword Spear, will fall under suspicion.
Not only Ji Hwa, but Baek Geom, whose status was forcibly taken after Sword Spear suddenly possessed them, would see their life fall into ruin.
Even such a bug, in this place, I cannot punish with excessive strength.
Suruk—
With movements imperceptible to anyone, I use Heavenly Escape to momentarily cut off surveillance of the nearby space.
"Killing this bug alone is no difficulty.
I look at the corpses scattered in the surroundings and decide what to do with him.
"But in this Radiance Spirit Sect, on this planet, there exists history repetition that amplifies the feelings of inferiority of the geniuses that were gathered in one place to foster talent.'
Even if I kill this one, the ring of misfortune will not end.
The ring of suffering that Radiance Hall knows of yet ignores.
'So...I will make good use of trash like you."
I read this one's fate.
There are many like him in the Radiance Spirit Sect.
Thinking themselves superior, living arrogantly in their hometowns, only to come to the Radiance Spirit Sect and realize they are frogs in a well. Falling into inferiority, they sink into forbidden arts or devilish arts and become devilish cultivators.
Such individuals are nothing but "supporting characters,' used by Radiance Hall to raise the geniuses they desire.
If I end such beings now, Radiance Hall will immediately notice that a fate has disappeared. But making them move according to my will within their fixed fate...that, even they will not notice.'
I slightly alter his fate.
Leaving behind the stench of corpses, I begin to reinterpret his fate so that this wretch's fe, driven mad by inferiority, seized by inner demons, lusting after Wol Ah who is kind to everyone, and dying miserably, may at least hold some meaning.
"Senior Brother...do you need power?"
His fate is to fall into the Devilish Path and be destroyed.
But instead of falling into lowly Devilry that harms countless lives, would not I, whom Radiance Hall itself designates as an enemy, be a far better Devilry?
Twitch, twitch...
[Kwerruk? Kwerruk?]
I draw out a speck, just a tiny remnant, of a Heart Demon remaining within me, and begin to release it through my hand.
A mere lump of base instinct, not even able to take a form like mine.
Burning in Glass True Fire and weeping blood tears, the Heart Demon that emerges outside sees one tormented by lowly inferiority, and its eyes shine.
The Heart Demon of I, who reached Great Net Immortal, already possesses substance itself, and this pitiful being who beholds the charcoal-lump monster weeping black blood tears stretches a hand out to me.
"P-Power...2"
"Yes, Senior Brother. Power. True power and enlightenment, on a level utterly different from the lowly devilish energy you gain by killing pitiful mortals..."
Were this not the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, I could even have rewritten his fate anew.
For I now hold that much authority.
But as long as this place lies within the domain of Radiance Hall, all I can do is...
Bend his fate slightly more toward the path of non-killing.
Intoxicated by my presence and by the power I offer, he clasps my hand, and as I bestow power upon him, my eyes gleam.
In a den of snakes...I too have no choice but to become a snake."
I too will use whatever means necessary to poison and kill Radiance Hall from within.
I too will become a snake.
-x-X-x-
Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.
Heroic Star Realm (£5), where the Radiance Spirit Sect lies.
Law Protecting Immortal Wol Woon, assigned the duty of guarding the Heroic Spirit Realm for one hundred thousand years, half-opens their eyes at a strange sensation. Wol Woon, a Heavenly Immortal of the Earth Tribe like Ho Woon, raises their vast body made of pure white moonlight from within a nebula and gazes upon the Heroic Spirit Realm.
Just now, what was that?'
What kind of position is the Law Protecting Immortal of Radiance Hall?
As the name Law Protecting implies, is it a position that guards Radiance Hall and the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain from outside invasion?
itis not.
In the first place, since the Radiance Eight Immortals and the Envoys of the Final Age of Dharma reside in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, what kind of existence would ever come to invade it?
Even if there is an invasion, unless every Radiance Eight Immortal and the Envoy of the Final Age of Dharma are away, Immortals from Upper Immortal and below have almost no reason to move personally for the protection of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain. Thus, what Law Protecting Immortals protect is not the safety of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain itself, but its fate.
Just now, one of the flows of fate of the Heroic Spirit Realm...seems to have strangely twisted.
The duty of Law Protecting Immortals is to observe whether there is a disturbance or not in the countless living beings that exist in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain and the countless fates bestowed to them, and see whether someone has applied artificial interference or not, and if such a flow is seen, to return it to its original state or trace it back.
Hm...!
Their mission is to prevent Heaven Immortals or Earth Immortals of other Heavenly Domains from interfering in the fate or history of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain. Therefore, Wol Woon uses both their Earth Tribe authority and their Heaven Immortal authority to read history and observe fate.
And they find the answer.
"Was it just my imagination?"
They look into the place where the flow of fate had slightly shifted just now.
The fate still remains unchanged.
The fate of the mortal being in the Radiance Spirit Sect, where they had sensed an anomaly, still is [the fate of falling into the devilish path and perishing].
"Nothing has changed. Nothing. Perhaps this is not a problem of fate, but of myself.
Of course, it may not be a Heart Demon. Perhaps, if they look more deeply, they may sense a subtle change.
But Wol Woon does not bother to take such a dangerous action.
"The current Sword Spear Heavenly Lord has sent down a split soul to test the next Sword Spear candidate, so whatever happens, it will be handled by them. If I step out on my own, it might even be an insult to them."
Therefore, Wol Woon turns the circuit of their thought.
They decide it is not a problem with fate, but a problem of themself.
"Perhaps because one of my direct descendants is said to be a candidate for the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, without knowing, I allowed a slight Heart Demon to form from my nervousness and excitement..."
Wol Woon looks upon their own Heart Demon and smiles faintly.
They do not reject the Heart Demon.
For one who has reached True Immortality, such a thing is laughable.
"The Radiance Supreme Deity has chosen my bloodline..."
Of course, whether their descendant can truly walk the fate of being the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord candidate depends solely on that child's will and ability.
But what is certain is, if that child truly succeeds in becoming the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord candidate...
Wol Woon will be the ancestor of the next Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
"The replacement cycle of the Radiance Eight Immortals, unless one falls wrongly due to Evil Gods like the Mountain Divine Spirits or the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, is about ten trillion years in times of peace."
For weak-willed True Immortals, they may live a mere billion years before death, but Wol Woon holds ambition.
If my descendant becomes the next Sword Spear...then at least for twenty trillion years, my name will resound even in the True Immortal Realm.
If that happens, then perhaps, truly perhaps...
"Perhaps I too, really perhaps...can aim for the Seat, surpass Heavenly Dao Envoys, and become a Supreme Deity!
If I become a Heavenly Envoy and roam the universe for twenty trillion years...
it may not be such an impossible thing.
For twenty trillion years, if they bear the name of Radiance Hall on their back, they might become a Supreme Deity as terrifying as the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.
Wol Woon, indulging in delusion of a future full of hope where the world's powers are divided into three between Radiance Hall, the Underworld, and the "Moonlight Supreme Deity Wol Woon, once more closes their eyes and falls asleep.
Wol Ah, after receiving the summons of the Mountain Divine Spirit, devotes herself even more earnestly to cultivation.
itis because she thinks that her own insufficiency allowed an Evil God to pierce through the gaps of her heart.
"Yeah, let's let go of things like inferiority. Such things all arise from my own lack."
She is a genius.
A talent bestowed by the heavens cannot possibly show a gap in her heart over something as petty as inferiority and be seduced by an Evil God.
The talent given to her by the heavens tells her the answer she seeks right away.
"To escape from inferiority and fill the gaps of the heart, it is important to face the root of that inferiority.
She faces her own heart.
"Master. And Seo Gyeong."
The fact that Baek Geom, who will one day be surpassed by her, does not treat her kindly like Baek Yeong.
And...
More than that, the fact that Baek Geom shows an absurd degree of favoritism toward Seo Gyeong, who is even inferior to herself.
"How laughable. To feel such deep inferiority over something so trivial.
Wol Ah soothes her own feelings and begins to console herself that it is not such a big matter.
"When I think about it, the Radiance Spirit Sect is only a place to pass through anyway." Her master, and Seo Gyeong as well, are only things to pass through.
'Do not be swayed by emotions."
Steeling her heart, Wol Ah decides to go see her master and Seo Gyeong.
If she confronts them directly, then the root of this inferiority too will be resolved. Thinking so, she quickly heads toward the cave residence of her master Baek Geom. And Wol Ah is able to see a new scene once again.
Patststststs!
The lights of Heaven and Earth converge upon a single human.
And the converging radiance begins to reverse the time of that human's body.
Return to Youth (REE)!
The body of Seo Gyeong, who has entered adolescence and is already becoming quite grown, returns to the appearance of the thirteen-year-old boy he had when Wol Ah first met him.
No, judging by how much younger he becomes, it seems not thirteen but closer to ten years old.
"Hahaha, splendid. The accomplishment of the Youth Samsara Sword Method (£88 S57) has reached great completion."
The praise of Esteemed One Baek Geom pours onto Seo Gyeong.
Kugugung!
And from Seo Gyeong, who has returned to youth, an even stronger aura and sword energy spill out.
"Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage! Soon he may even aim for the Heavenly Being stage..."
As expected, such talent is nothing special.
Wol Ah herself has already reached the Heavenly Being stage.
"Splendid, Seo Gyeong."
At Wol Ah's congratulations, the gazes of Baek Geom and Seo Gyeong turn toward her. "As I thought, such a fellow is not worth my concern, nor worth feeling inferior towards." Her master's love?
Let him have plenty.
She does not care about her master's love anyway.
Within five hundred years at the earliest, she may surpass her master's realm.
By then, she will have no need to care about Baek Geom's favoritism.
So, to cast away her inferiority and childishness, she steps toward Seo Gyeong and pats his shoulder.
At that sight, the eyes of Esteemed One Baek Geom twitch, but she pays it no mind.
"As expected of my fellow disciple. Reaching the Heavenly Being stage will come quickly, but there's no need to be too hasty. I will teach you step by step. I have no congratulatory gift right now, but when you reach the Heavenly Being stage..."
Just then, it happens.
Tak!
Baek Geom forcefully strikes away Wol Ah's hand.
"Whose shoulder do you think you are touching? Gyeong-i dislikes others touching his shoulder."
"No, just now..."
Seo Gyeong seems about to refute something, but Baek Geom, as if to show Wol Ah, brushes off Seo Gyeong's shoulder where her hand has touched, as if dust is clinging to it, and kneads his shoulder.
"Gyeong-i's shoulder can only be touched by me. And tell me, why did you come all the way here to give needless congratulations? Do you have some business here?"
At Baek Geom's cold attitude, Wol Ah again feels her chest ache, but she forces herself to maintain her expression as she speaks.
"I apologize for visiting without informing you beforehand, Master. It is only that now that I have reached the Heavenly Being stage, I wish to gain enlightenment to cross beyond the limit of the Minor Boundary and enter the Middle."
"Empty words. You have no need for enlightenment. Something like enlightenment is something fate grants on its own, so why would you need such a thing! You came to me with a purpose... Ah, yes. Seeing those eyes, you are troubled by a Heart Demon!" "Pardon?"
At Baek Geom's words, which diagnose her condition in an instant far quicker than she expected, Wol Ah is taken back.
"A Heart Demon usually leaks out because one cannot control their emotions. To fail to control even such emotions and let a Heart Demon grow... What a defective thing." Kugung!
For some reason, at those words, Wol Ah feels a shock as though her chest collapses. "Again.'
itis always like this.
Her nominal master, Baek Geom, goes beyond indifference toward her, sometimes even spitting harsh words, and each time that happens, she feels as if her very essence is being denied.
"A being who cannot even control emotions as they wish can never be a candidate... Tsk. Get lost. Right now, I only wish to see Seo Gyeong's face! What are you doing!? Begone at once, you defective thing."
Wol Ah, swept up by an overwhelming torrent of emotion she cannot even begin to fathom, leaves as though running away before Baek Geom, who reveals affection toward Seo Gyeong.
Even she herself does not know what this emotion entangling her truly is.
"Isn't that too harsh?"
After Wol Ah departs, Seo Gyeong speaks to Baek Geom.
Baek Geom strokes Seo Gyeong's ever youthful shoulders as though handling a precious gem, and smiles.
"In my time as well, I endured it all. The previous Sword Spear Heavenly Lord stripped me bare at that age, threw me into the mud to roll, and then made me lick their feet. Compared to that, I am being exceedingly gentle. If I had not met you, I would have had no need to be kind. I would have treated that child the same way through the 'refining' method I learned from the previous Sword Spear Heavenly Lord."
"To become one of the Radiance Eight Immortals, there is a need to regard emotions lightly. One must learn it as something to cast aside from the body at any time. After meeting you, I realized such a thing is impossible...but in any case, in the orthodox process of raising an Eight Immortal, it is absolutely necessary to go through a process of insulting emotion."
Baek Geom.
Strictly speaking, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord possessing the body of Baek Geom, the junior sister of the Radiance Spirit Sect's Sect Master Baek Yeong, grips Seo Gyeong's shoulders and continues with a fierce massage as she speaks.
"Of course, it is not something I wish to do, but if I do not go through such a process, I may be deposed immediately by the executor Rain Dew Heavenly Lord."
"Is that 50.2"
"In any case, if you intend to leave behind an arrangement, isn't it best that the states of the Radiance Eight Immortals are as similar as possible?"
"..That is true."
Seo Gyeong's eyes shine.
"...Since the arrangement I intend to leave behind will bring great change even to the bridle of the pitiful Eight Immortals."
Wol Ah trembles.
itis always like this.
it feels as if her very foundation is being denied.
The status and cultivation of Baek Geom itself are not that important to her, yet Baek Geom's very existence presses upon her with immense pressure.
Just why is this happening at all?"
She seeks an answer.
The answer is that her fate as the "next Sword Spear Heavenly Lord candidate' derives from the current Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, making her very foundation none other than the current Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
In a sense, the current Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is even closer to being her parent than Wol Woon, who provides a bit of bloodline.
And...
The fate directly bestowed upon her by Radiance Hall.
Her genius arising from that fate derives an answer close to the truth.
"Master is a being similar to me in some way. Either similar in temperament, or similar in the nature of the spirit, or if not...similar in something metaphysical like fate.
A metaphysical sense of kinship.
Perhaps, she concludes, she herself is feeling a sense of kinship with Baek Geom.
And within that kinship, she grinds her teeth.
"..It makes me angry.'
Her eyes burn with rage and hatred.
Why does an existence like her, an existence similar to her, favor not her, who could be called their kin, but some other lowly brat?
If she and Baek Geom are similar existences, should she not cherish her even more? Budududuk...
She clenches the flame blazing in her chest and grits her teeth.
It feels so unjust that she could cry.
Why does Baek Geom, her own kin, not look upon her?
Why must she be robbed of the attention of her own Kin, attention she ought to rightfully receive, by some other irrelevant thing?
Why...1?
Yes!
And then, with her eyes reddened, she reaches one conclusion.
If I take it away."
That conclusion is a thoroughly distorted and twisted one.
The fate of the Radiance Eight Immortals, which demands discarding emotion, the power of history repetition of the Radiance Spirit Sect, which provokes inferiority, and the acts of the current Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, who deliberately gives her humiliation.
All of these overlap, planting warped and crooked emotions within her heart.
If I take away with my own hands what Master treasures, then will she perhaps look at me?'
What her master, Baek Geom, treasures.
With bloodshot eyes, Wol Ah recalls the one who, by cultivating a method imbued with the power of returning to youth, has taken on the form of a boy.
"Seo Gyeong..."
At first, she tried to resolve her sense of inferiority toward Seo Gyeong.
But now, she knows.
"Inferiority...cannot be resolved.'
No matter what, Seo Gyeong receives more favoritism from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
0...
If I claim that Seo Gyeong for myself...then Master will look back at me."
She will make her regret it.
She will make her master realize too late that Seo Gyeong, whom she cherishes, has been taken from her, and cause her to pound the ground in despair and sink into ruin. Fixing on that twist goal, Wol Ah buries an emotion—whether it is inferiority toward Seo Gyeong, warped affection toward Baek Geom, or an obsession and possessiveness born without her even realizing, deep within her own chest.
:: Do you...desire power? : :
Within that possessiveness, the phantom of the Sword Mountain forms faintly again, but Wol Ah instantly casts the phantom aside and snaps sharply.
"Begone, Evil God."
At that one utterance, the remnant of the Mountain Divine Spirit shatters apart.
"I have no need of help from an Evil God that seduces the hearts of people and plunges them into corruption. With my own hands, with my own hands I will steal what my master cherishes."
Is it the fate of the Radiance Eight Immortals repeated through generations that drags Wol Ah into this state, or is it the remnant of the Mountain Divine Spirit called an Evil God?
No one can know which is the true Evil God, but Wol Ah resolves that one day she will escape from the Evil God.
"With my own strength, with my own fate...I will break free from the power of the Evil God, and I will seize what I desire. Even if...I must steal it from another..."
Within the fate of Radiance, as she destroys her own heart...
Wol Ah thus begins to cultivate madly.
And four years pass.
"Is everyone gathered?"
Baek Geom, along with the Star Shattering Esteemed One of the Radiance Spirit Sect, brings their direct disciples and speaks.
These are all disciples who have reached at least the Grand Perfection Four-Axis stage to the Integration stage.
And among them, those who are still only at the early Four-Axis stage stand out.
They are the early Four-Axis stage Seo Gyeong, who has cultivated the Youth Samsara Sword Method and taken the form of a boy.
The early Four-Axis stage Pal Jin, who has cultivated the Eight Trigrams Sword Formula. And likewise at the early Four-Axis stage, yet having already prepared all the foundations to build the axes whenever she sets her mind to it, Baek Geom's disciple. Now ascending to adulthood and receiving the courtesy name 'Ryeong (%), the one who previously bore the name 'Wol Ah,' now 'Wol Ryeong (54).
Esteemed One Baek Geom, having summoned them, looks at them and opens her mouth.
"From today onward..we go to another Heavenly Domain to sweep away the mad fanatics of the recently much-talked Evil God, the "God of Sword Mountain"
-x-X-x-
Kuguguguung!
Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, Heroic Spirit Realm.
From the main hall of the Radiance Spirit Sect in the Heroic Spirit Realm, a massive warship rises into the void.
its sheer size alone equals the continent of a decent-sized planet, and inside it, spatial spells are even set in place, making the warship no different from a small moon.
it sails upon interstellar winds rather than ordinary breezes, and when needed, it possesses large-scale spatial transmission functions through attraction force. It is the warship of the Radiance Spirit Sect, the Radiance Spirit Ship.
"Another Heavenly Domain..."
"Does that mean there's another universe besides this vast cosmos?"
"Couldn't they just be referring to another galaxy cluster?"
Even the cultivators of the Integration stage, who usually roam across entire stellar systems as if they are their homes, cannot hide their excitement this time and chatter together in groups.
And toward them, the Esteemed Ones participating in the subjugation growl.
"It will take about ten years to reach our destination, the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain. During that time, information about the Heavenly Domain will also be released, so stop chattering and go study!"
At once, the Integration stage cultivators of the Radiance Spirit Sect shrink under the growls of the Esteemed Ones and quickly retreat into the ship.
Those left on the deck are the three Esteemed Ones Baek Geom, Baek Eun, and Baek Jin, along with Baek Geom's disciples Wol Ryeong, Seo Gyeong, and Pal Jin.
"You three...would it not be better for you to go inside as well? The reason I purposely sent the other disciples in is because soon the Heaven Immortal who will bless us is descending. I thought it might be too much for you to endure."
Baek Eun asks carefully toward Wol Ryeong and the others, and Baek Geom frowns. "They can handle it. Do you dare think my disciples are unable to endure something like that?"
"N-No, Baek Geom...elder.."
Baek Eun and Baek Jin tremble at Baek Geom's anger, averting their eyes from her disciples.
When those disciples first entered under Baek Geom's tutelage, the fact that a certain high Heaven Immortal, a being the Star Shattering stage Esteemed Ones could never imagine, was possessing their fellow disciple Baek Geom was an open secret among the upper echelons of the Radiance Spirit Sect.
No, if it were merely a case of possession, perhaps they would not be afraid.
They could simply report it to the overseeing Law Protecting Immortal of the nearby galaxy.
But perhaps because Baek Yeong received some warning about Baek Geom's matter, they sternly instructed that they must never report or even pretend to know regarding the existence possessing Baek Geom.
Thus, those who once were fellow disciples of Baek Geom can only keep their mouths shut and act as if they know nothing.
Even the Law Protecting Immortal Wol Woon of Radiance Hall must know of this being, and yet they pretend not to. That can only mean this being is an unimaginably high existence.
"Perhaps not merely a Heaven Immortal, but a true Great Net Immortal...or even an Envoy of the Final Age of Dharma...ugh. Better not think of it."
The Esteemed Ones try to reason about Baek Geom's true identity, but thinking too much of high existences causes them to feel divine fervour, so they hastily shake off such thoughts.
Before long, a vast moonlight gathers at the bow of the Radiance Spirit Ship and takes the shape of a giant hound.
"Radiance Spirit Sect Esteemed One Baek Eun greets the Ancestor of the Celestial Dog Race."
"Radiance Spirit Sect Esteemed One Baek Jin..."
"Greetings."
Baek Eun, Baek Jin, and Baek Geom bow in turn to Wol Woon. In that process, seeing Baek Geom half-heartedly bow and greet with little care makes Baek Jin and Baek Eun feel an even greater fear.
And the Heaven Immortal, Wol Woon, who sent their projection onto the Radiance Spirit Ship, also tries their utmost to avoid meeting Baek Geom's gaze while blessing their ship.
: 1, the Moonlight Immortal Wol Woon, grant my blessing... The light of all moons shall swiftly push your ship forward. : :
Chwaaaaa—
Multiple Immortal Arts cover the Radiance Spirit Ship.
Beginning with the representative Immortal Art of "Light-Speed Enforcement', which "pulls up' the basic speed of the ship to light speed, countless other Immortal Arts add favourable winds to the vessel.
Soon, gentle moonlight envelops the Radiance Spirit Ship, and Wol Woon, finishing the blessing, turns their gaze toward their distant descendant Wol Ryeong and smiles as though proud.
Tstststss—
Wol Woon's projection vanishes, and Wol Ryeong, who meets Wol Woon's eyes, gains dozens of divine powers related to moonlight.
Esteemed One Baek Geom frowns deeply as if displeased but says nothing on the spot. "...From now on, the Radiance Spirit Ship will pass three planets, sailing through the galaxy cluster, until it reaches the teleportation formation leading to other Heavenly Domains. First, we will directly sail to the first target point, where the first planet lies, using lightspeed sailing. From that first point, we will perform a large-scale spatial transmission to arrive near the second target. Prepare yourselves for the impact of the lightspeed voyage that is about to begin. I need to step away for a moment to offer counsel to "Lord Heaven Immortal'"
Finishing her words, Baek Geom immediately uses the ground-shrinking technique and rushes in a single strike into the nebula where Wol Woon resides,
Baek Eun and Baek Jin both know that no Star Shattering stage could possibly use a ground-shrinking technique of that level, but they all pretend not to see it, clear their throats awkwardly, and begin to set the Radiance Spirit Ship in motion.
"Th-Then, since Esteemed One Baek Geom will catch up on her own, let us depart first. Baek Jin, summon the interstellar winds from the rear!"
"Understood. All of you, get inside the ship. Experiencing a large-scale lightspeed voyage for the first time could make you fall off completely."
Esteemed Ones Baek Eun and Baek Jin each move to the stern and bow of the Radiance Spirit Ship and begin to activate Immortal Arts. Seeing this, Pal Jin's voice trembles as he hurries inside.
"I-I'l be inside, everyone. My body's strength isn't enough yet to endure something like lightspeed sailing."
"Alright, Pal Jin. Gyeong-i and I will stay here a while longer. I'm curious about how light- speed sailing feels."
Wol Ryeong pats Seo Gyeong's back as she speaks, and Pal Jin, watching, nods before heading inside.
Kugugugugu!
From the stern, Baek Jin drives in the interstellar wind and begins to launch the ship, which gradually accelerates.
Standing upon the accelerating ship, Wol Ryeong looks at Seo Gyeong.
"This is a rare chance.
itis one of the few times Seo Gyeong and Baek Geom are apart.
"Seo Gyeong, did you know? In the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain we are heading to, there is a Middle Realm called the Bright Cold Realm. Rumors say it is the birthplace of the Evil God's followers. Perhaps we will have to go all the way there to sweep them away."
"R-Really? That sounds frightening."
"Don't be too afraid. There may be times you must carry out missions alone, but I will protect you. You are our master's cherished disciple, after all."
At Wol Ryeong's words, Seo Gyeong scratches his head as though embarrassed, and Wol Ryeong strokes his hair.
She no longer dares to pat his shoulder as before, for Back Geom has placed a protective spell upon Seo Gyeong's shoulder. If anyone besides herself touches it, a teleportation spell will trigger to summon that person before Baek Geom.
"Hmph...that damned shoulder.
One of Wol Ryeong's goals is that someday, right in front of her master's eyes, she will madly mess up Seo Gyeong's shoulder.
She herself has no special feelings toward shoulders, but her desire is to defile with her own hands what her master treasures most.
Kugugugu!
Flash!
At last, by the Immortal Art of Light-Speed Enforcement, the Radiance Spirit Ship's speed is pulled up to light speed.
The Immortal Art of Light-Speed Enforcement not only drags down beings faster than light to light speed, but also pulls those below up to it.
And unless one is like the Star Shattering stage Esteemed Ones who can travel light- years by attraction force, the speed of a light is a velocity that only Quasi-Star Shattering stage cultivators can normally reach.
And now, on the deck of the Radiance Spirit Ship that has reached light speed, Wol Ryeong casts a protective spell around herself and Seo Gyeong, smiling warmly.
"I will protect you, Seo Gyeong. Don't worry."
"Thank you, Ryeong-ah."
Several years have passed since her twisted resolve toward Esteemed One Baek Geom arose.
That span of time is more than enough to turn the once-pure maiden "Wol Ah' into the Wol Ryeong consumed by vexation.
By now, she also realizes why Seo Gyeong receives favoritism.
"Seo Gyeong must be Master's night attendant.
She knows it too.
She has learned that cultivators of certain realms treat some of their disciples as concubines, and she comes to think of Seo Gyeong's role as such.
"Most likely...he is nothing more than Master's furnace cauldron."
Perhaps Seo Gyeong's future is to be found drained of his essence by Baek Geom, left a corpse.
"That is why...
And for that reason, her eyes shine.
"tis all the more worth stealing.'
She no longer feels jealousy toward Seo Gyeong, nor does she feel inferior to him.
"To steal away Master's cherished furnace cauldron...and for that to be me... "R-Ryeong-ah? What are you doing all of a sudden?"
Wol Ryeong buries her nose in the youthful Seo Gyeong's hair, savoring the scent of his youth.
"Mm? Nothing really. I'm just checking your cultivation realm through your Baihui point. If there's any stagnation in your realm, as your senior sister I ought to guide you properly."
"Mm, I see. If that's the reason, then..."
Seo Gyeong innocently accepts her excuse, and Wol Ryeong lifts the corners of her mouth as she smells the scent of Baek Geom from Seo Gyeong.
Seo Gyeong still says that Baek Geom bathes him and dresses him.
It could be said that this is because his body is still that of a child, but by now Wol Ah also knows.
"There's no way she's just bathing and dressing him like that. She must have done everything."
imagining the figure of Baek Geom doing this and that to Seo Gyeong, Wol Ah inhales the scent of Baek Geom and smiles.
'Someday...f I hang Seo Gyeong in front of her...and mess up Seo Gyeong with my own hands, what would that feel like? Just thinking about it...
She trembles as she imagines the future ecstasy.
And inside Seo Gyeong, Seo Eun-hyun naturally reads her inner thoughts and makes a sour expression.
"Sword Spear never did anything like that...Why on earth is she thinking such things... Seo Eun-hyun contemplates whether to protect this child's privacy, or whether to reveal these lewd thoughts to Sword Spear.
"From the beginning, there were times when I drew attention away from my clone and pulled out the split soul for a while, leaving the body entirely in Sword Spear's hands...but Sword Spear's heart was always clean.'
Seo Gyeong's body may outwardly look young, but his inner self is that of an old monster who's lived through several kalpas.
Washing and dressing are things he knows how to handle on his own, so whenever his consciousness is in his clone, he always washes, dresses, and eats by himself.
It seems she's misunderstood Sword Spear keeping my clone clean when my mind leaves the body...tsk."
Since it is difficult to clear up the misunderstanding, Seo Eun-hyun simply decides to divert her attention elsewhere.
Shwik!
Seo Gyeong's body squirms slightly in Wol Ah's embrace, as if feeling suffocated, and with one hand, he secretly forms a mudra that no one notices.
[Editor: Mudras are symbolic/ritual gestures, such as hand seals.]
And, responding to Seo Gyeong's seal...
Several individuals already beneath the deck of the Radiance Spirit Ship begin to respond.
The Radiance Spirit Ship is not carrying only the disciples of the Esteemed Ones.
There are also those who aim to trade with other Heavenly Domains, those who seek to establish branches of the Radiance Spirit Sect in other Heavenly Domains, and even disciples at the Four-Axis stage, Heavenly Being stage, and Nascent Soul stage who serve as attendants for the disciples of the Esteemed Ones.
And among those lower disciples, one named Ju Ho bites his nails as he leans against a wall inside the ship with his eyes trembling.
"Hey, Ju Ho! Are you alright? You don't look so good..."
"..Yeah, I'm fine. Get lost."
"Teh, I was trying to show concern and you bite back. Didn't you say you quit the Blood Devil Arts? What, going through withdrawal or something?"
Some disciples had come to check on Ju Ho's condition, but at his cold response, they leave grumbling. Ju Ho keeps gnawing at his nails and mutters under his breath.
"Wol Ah, Wol Ah, my Wol Ah..."
The moment he first saw Wol Ah, she stole his heart.
He thought she must be a celestial maiden.
Of course, he called her that since he doesn't know the truth about the beings actually called celestial maidens, such as Glass Peacock, Granny Samsin, or Zhengli, but...
In any case, Ju Ho decided to regard Wol Ryeong as his celestial maiden.
He offered up all the wealth he has, and doesn't have, to approach her.
There were even moments when he breathed the same breath as her, from up close. Because Wol Ryeong is always kind and gentle to everyone, to Ju Ho, who is steeped in inferiority and defeat from the endless competition within the Radiance Spirit Sect, she became salvation itself.
But getting close to her proved to be far from easy.
She entered as a disciple of a Star Shattering Esteemed One, reaching Nascent Soul within a few months and becoming a Heavenly Being within a few years. The gap between her and Ju Ho only continued to widen.
To chase after her, Ju Ho sought a way to rapidly raise his realm, and he even turned to Blood Devil Arts, which use human blood and brains as materials, grinding and devouring hundreds of humans.
But such things were useless.
What actually proved to be "truly' useful is...
The revelation of a God that came to Ju Ho several years ago.
itis the "blessing' of that being.
Because of that "blessing,' Ju Ho instantly overcame the stagnation that even Blood Devil Arts could not break through and reached the Heavenly Being stage.
Moreover, he even recently learned and secretly practiced a powerful formula called the [Vast Cold Heavenly Circle] in order to reach the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage.
Compared to others who cultivate the standard Heavenly Being formula of Acceptance at Fate's End, he can grow several times stronger.
But...
In those few years, Wol Ah became an adult and directly reached the Four-Axis stage. Furthermore, rumor has it that she already possesses all the materials and rituals necessary to build the axes, but she deliberately remains at the early Four-Axis stage in order to achieve a more special strengthening.
In other words, while Ju Ho is coughing up blood just to reach the Four-Axis stage and stand at her level, she could finish that special strengthening' in an instant and leap straight to the Grand Perfection Four-Axis, or even reach the Integration stage. "Why...why must you only grow farther away? Wol Ah, my Wol Ah. My celestial maiden... Buduk, bududududuk!
Just then, when is he gnawing his nails like a madman.
[Do you need power?]
Kkeruk, kkeruk...
Ju Ho's pupils shrink as he hears the squirming sound from inside his chest and the spiritual waves flooding into his mind.
Thump, thump, thump, thump...
He has two hearts.
One is the original lump of flesh he was born with.
The other is the heart of "blessing' he gained after encountering God.
Since obtaining that heart of blessing, he no longer needs to practice Blood Devil Arts. The heart of blessing continuously bestows new cultivation methods, formulas, and divine powers, leading him forward.
Ju Ho wonders what triggers the heart of blessing to grant him power, but in the end, he is unable to figure it out.
It doesn't matter.
What he needs is the "power' to follow after Wol Ah, not the circumstances of the heart of blessing.
"P-Power...I need it... Please grant me power...the power to get closer to Wol Ah..."
With bloodshot eyes, Ju Ho clutches his chest, and suddenly—
For some reason, he feels a power welling up from within his chest that is incomparable to anything until now.
"Wh-What...? Th-This is... Haha... Hahahaha! With this power...with this power, I..."
The power surges.
"I can make Wol Ah mine..."
The power...continues to surge.
"...HUh? W-Wait..."
The power surges endlessly, and glass-like coral begins sprouting from Ju Ho's forearms.
"Ah, aaaaaagh! Kuaaaaaaaght"
Only then does Ju Ho realize something is wrong, and he screams.
From his whole body, corals of glass are sprouting.
[Your fate has ended.]
The heart of blessing he had received.
From it, a creature of charcoal begins to spew glass flames, compressing itself into a Vajra—
And from its center, it begins eroding an entire corner of the Radiance Spirit Sect ship through Ju Ho.
[But do not worry. It is not as if you are perishing within the power gained by massacring hundreds of millions of mortals as your original fate dictates. The karmic sin you bear will be endlessly lighter. You won't taste Avici Hell in your next life.]
And so, Ju Ho—who carries both [the fate of falling into the Devilish Path and perishing] and [the fate of being growth material for a candidate of the Radiance Eight Immortals]— under the power of the wicked Mountain Divine Spirit...
feels himself bound by the phantoms of the mortals he killed with his own hands, and dies screaming.
And using his death as a medium, the wicked God begins stretching its hand into the world of Light.
-x-X-x-
Kugugung!
A great shock spreads through the Radiance Spirit Ship.
itis a shock that anyone can feel.
"Hmm..."
Esteemed Ones Baek Jin and Baek Eun let out low voices.
"Of all times, why does something troublesome have to happen when Baek Geom is away..?'
Baek Geom is in a state assumed to be possessed by a Heaven Immortal.
Thus, as long as she is present, they do not have to worry no matter what danger arises. "The shock arose from the lower deck. Moreover, this wave is..."
"It is not of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain. Perhaps a True Immortal of another Heavenly Domain has intervened..."
"Since we are in transit, it is troublesome to request aid from the Law Protecting immortal..."
After some discussion, the two beings realize that in the present situation, they can only block it with their own strength.
"But since we are in lightspeed navigation, it is difficult for us to go directly. If the navigation stops suddenly, the Radiance Spirit Ship will be smashed apart."
"Kngh...it cannot be helped. We must lend a hand and tell the disciples to block it. Whether those brats can hold it back..."
"Itis not such a strong wave."
"Complacency is forbidden. If the one who acted is of True Immortal rank...even if the power seems weak, who knows what unpredictable tricks may be used..."
"Even if we worry, there is nothing we can do. Let us suppress the wave for now, and entrust the handling of it to the disciples."
"...50 be it."
Baek Eun and Baek Jin, each taking the stern and the bow of the Radiance Spirit Ship, simultaneously form hand seals.
Their seals become a white radiance that blocks the strange phenomenon arising beneath the ship from spreading and suppresses the power of the phenomenon.
Soon after, the voices of the two Esteemed Ones spread throughout the entire Radiance Spirit Ship.
[To all disciples of the Radiance Spirit Sect, heed this. At present, in the lower deck of the Radiance Spirit Ship, in the Mu (1) sector, an abnormal phenomenon has occurred. We have taken measures, so there is no great danger, but as we have only suppressed its power, the phenomenon must be eliminated within a short time. Disciples who aid in dispelling the abnormal phenomenon will each be granted Sacred Light (EE) in accordance with their merit.]
At the voices of the Esteemed Ones, the whole Radiance Spirit Ship becomes noisy. "Sacred Light...?"
"Hmm, it seems even the Esteemed Ones are pressed for time. Sacred Light, huh..."
Seo Gyeong tilts his head as if puzzled, and Wol Ryeong touches his cheek and explains. "They say Sacred Light is one of the dharma treasures mainly used by those who are Esteemed Ones and above. It is the condensed power of light that the Esteemed Ones can wield, and since its form is ever-changing, it can be used in many ways."
"...How do you know that? Nobody taught me."
"Hm? Well, usually you learn it from fairy tales or basic knowledge books from when you are four or five years old. In most sects or clans, if you learn as a child, it is impossible not to know..."
Wol Ryeong looks down at Seo Gyeong with puzziement, and he gives an awkward smile as he points toward beneath the deck.
"Anyway, Wol Ryeong, are you going to go?"
"Of course I will"
Wol Ryeong nods vigorously.
"To grant Sacred Light...
it is like granting a Core Formation cultivator's dharma treasure to a Qi Building cultivator.
Granting an Integration cultivator's Refining Void Dharma Treasure to a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Like Granting a True Immortal's winged garment to a Sacred Vessel Sacred Master. "Being able to use a massive lump of power that even Quasi-Immortals and Esteemed Ones use, from the Four-Axis stage onward."
That experience will be useful even after becoming an Esteemed One.
Seo Gyeong, watching Wol Ryeong, also grasps a sense of what this Sacred Light is.
I see, so it is like the Immortal Crowns of the Radiance Supreme Deity that all the True immortals of Radiance Hall use...only a degraded version.'
In the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, when one becomes an Esteemed One, one is granted a small star. In the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, it seems one is granted a strand of Sacred Light.
When one nurtures and cultivates this Sacred Light well, once reaching the True immortal rank, it naturally evolves into the Immortal Crown of Radiance.
Wol Ryeong takes Seo Gyeong down below the deck, sets him down, and descends into the sector spoken of by the Esteemed Ones.
Already, several Integration stage senior brothers and senior sisters are positioned there, and Wol Ryeong, standing at their center, gazes at the massive mountain of coral that is emitting ominous ripples.
That mountain of coral made of glass, with its countless sharp and pointed edges... Looks like a sword mountain.
Shiver!
Wol Ryeong feels goosebumps rise over her whole body.
tis that Mountain Divine Spirit again.'
She thinks the Divine Spirit of Sword Mountain is spewing some kind of malice around her.
itis then,
[Wo, Wol Ah...]
A voice calling her childhood name echoes from somewhere.
Since she still has not gotten used to the name Wol Ryeong, she finches when she hears it.
Uduk, udududuk!
The coral mountain of glass begins to move.
Kugugugugu!
"I-It's moving!"
"Suppress it with Integrated Dao Domains!"
The Radiance Spirit Sect's Integration stage disciples rush to spread their Integrated Dao Domains, forming a sealing formation that engulfs the coral mountain, but soon an enormous roar explodes out.
[DONOTINTERFERE mm]
Dudududududut
The monstrous roar filled with dreadful resentment tears apart the Integrated Dao Domains of the Integration stage Grand Cultivators all at once, and ruptures the nearby space.
Shwikak!
Wol Ryeong cuts down the aftershock of that roar with sharp sword energy, her eyes gleaming.
"Dangerous.'
Wol Ryeong has not learned any special methods.
The only method she has learned is the Radiance Spirit Sword Formula, a Core Formation method she received when she first entered the Radiance Spirit Sect.
Even what she had learned before in the Wol Clan, the Radiance Formula, is nothing more than a basic method widely spread throughout the whole Heavenly Domain.
Yet, even though she has not learned any special method, she reinterpreted the Radiance Spirit Sword Formula, creating her own specialized method and advancing her cultivation through the succeeding realms.
Chuaaaatt!
Based on the Radiance Spirit Sword Formula, Wol Ryeong's own innate law formula spews out light, placing a sword of radiance in her hand.
"Light is a sword."
She knows well the sharpness that light holds.
How to refine light into sharpness, how to wield light as a weapon—such knowledge gushed up in her mind like a flood from the very moment she first learned the method. [Wol Ati]
Kugugugugugu!
While receiving attacks from the other Integration cultivators, a massive body rises within a section of the Radiance Spirit Ship.
itis a monster.
The monster whose entire body is formed of blade-like glass coral looks down at Wol Ryeong, glass-colored flames bursting from its eyes.
(Guaaaaaaaaagh!!t]
Kugugugung!
The monster, locking eyes with Wol Ryeong, immediately charges at her with a body slam.
If not for the Integration stage senior brothers and senior sisters restraining it, she would have been smashed to death by that single charge.
"Let's trust in the senior brothers and senior sisters."
Gripping the sword of radiance, Wol Ryeong's eyes shine, trusting the Integration stage senior brothers and sisters who are twisting their Integrated Dao Domains into binding ropes that tie the monster's body.
I do not need much.'
Woo-woong!
The sword of radiance floats into the void, becoming a flying sword.
Wol Ryeong imbues her will into the flying sword.
Just a single strike.
Only, that one strike must contain the Dao.
Though separated from her body, Wol Ryeong feels the unity of body and sword with the flying sword.
Unifying her mind and body with the flying sword, forging her entire will into that one strike, Wol Ryeong releases the flying sword.
Woo-woong—
The flying sword is slow.
But everyone present can sense it.
If this flying sword grows one day...
it will become a dreadful strike capable of tearing apart even Upper Immortals in a single blow.
"Sword (8), Dao (&)...!"
Tsuaaaaat!
Since it is still incomplete, the name is not yet complete, but Wol Ryeong utters the first words of the ultimate technique's name in advance and unfolds the sword formula.
And, at that very moment—
Jjeoeeeeong!
Wol Ah's flying sword pierces through the core of the monster, shattering its body into pieces.
Kugugugugu!
The monster's body collapses.
"Huu..."
Only then does Wol Ryeong also release the tension she unknowingly held tight within her body.
It was only a technique I imagined, but as expected, it worked well.
This technique will likely continue to be refined, until it eventually becomes her genuine ultimate technique.
And she will not be content with just that.
If I go beyond simply making it my ultimate technique, and instead fill the heavens with t..2 If I create a Sword Rain...?"
If that happens, she may be able to destroy even an entire world with a single strike. While she is immersed in that vision of the future—
[Wol Ahtit Why met? Why are you attacking meeeeee!!??]
Kwarururung!
From within the remains of the Glass Mountain, a monster whose whole body has become charcoal emerges.
Though its size is now human-scale and smaller than the previous giant form, the menace it exudes is of considerable degree.
And above all, itis fast.
"Huh..2"
Wol Ryeong, having poured everything into the ultimate technique and now exhausted, can only barely move her body in response to the monster charging at her.
Woo-woong!
She squeezes out the last of her strength and forms a radiance halberd out of light.
After swords, what she handles best is the halberd or spear.
Kaang!
Her radiance halberd collides with the monster's hand.
The monster's hand has transformed into a massive glass sword, and the pressure it carries is immense.
[Wol Aht I love you! Please accept my heart! Wol Ah, love me. Look at me. Be mine. Hehe, hehehuhuhuhuhehe...!]
Kaang, kaang, kaang!
The other Integration stage senior brothers and sisters also seem exhausted, for they only cast simple spells and none use attraction force directly to assist.
Seizing that gap, the charcoal monster dodges all their spells and attacks while continuing to pressure Wol Ah.
"What level of skill is this...2"
Wol Ah realizes that each and every sword strike unleashed from the monster embodies profound principles of the Sword.
It is clearly a monster with faint reason, so how can it possess such overwhelming sword enlightenment?
Her talent immediately finds the answer again.
"This is not its own insight."
itis borrowing enlightenment.
Wol Ryeong swings her halberd to block the monster's sword strike, her eyes shining. Tsuaaaat!
The world grows silent.
itis as if only she and the monster before her exist in this world.
She senses countless flows from both the monster and herself.
The results of countless movements emanates from them, and suddenly—
Reading those lines, she notices that two distinct flows are emerging from the monster. The two flows are so intricately overlapped that if not for her eyes, anyone else would have missed them.
"Those two flows..."
Tststststs—
Wol Ryeong's eyes gleam as she grips her halberd.
"I will split them apart and tear them away separately."
If she does so, then these bizarre sword strikes unleashed by the charcoal monster will all lose their path.
A world of hyper-concentration where everything stands still.
To True Immortals it is daily life, but to mortals it is an endlessly distant world of darkness. To that world, Wol Ryeong takes a step.
Tsuaaaat!
The sound of water splitting is heard.
Her halberd transcends all laws for an instant, surpassing the plane through pure enlightenment alone.
Beyond the Plane of Qi, into the Plane of Soul.
And further stil...
Her spear reaches the essence of the Plane of Soul—Void.
In that instant, it slices directly between the two flows emanating from the charcoal monster.
Shuwaaak!
Then, she opens her eyes wide once more.
"This, this place...
Hwarurururuk!
All of Heaven and Earth burns with glass-colored flames.
And before her stands a giant of mist, seated upon a Glass Sword Mountain as their throne.
itis impossible to clearly perceive its form, but instinctively, she knows that she must not perceive it properly.
:: Child of Light. Do you still not desire power? : :
"... know who you are. I dare not borrow power from an evil god like you."
: : You say you cannot borrow my power... Haha, amusing words for one most closely aligned with my power. I wonder how long such hypocrisy wil last. : :
Wol Ryeong does not answer. She lowers her eyes, avoiding its gaze.
:: Child of Light, I shall watch over your journey. Through you, I shall leave behind what I desire. : :
Words beyond comprehension.
That one sentence, appearing like a prophecy, leaves her unable to respond.
And right after—
Tsuuaaaaat!
She returns to reality and opens her eyes wide again.
"Damn it, that cursed Mountain Divine Spirit..."
In that brief moment of conversation with the Mountain Divine Spirit—
Within that moment, she succeeded in severing the "connection' between the Mountain Divine Spirit and the charcoal monster.
However...
"I haven't yet finished off the charcoal monster...
Even though the connection is cut, the charcoal monster still charges toward her, spewing countless glass swords from its body.
[Become! One with me! Wol Ah!tt]
A fleeting instant not enough to even draw back her halberd of radiance.
Pukwak!
"Eh?"
In that fleeting instant, another sword of radiance pierces into the charcoal monster's forehead.
She knows who the owner of that radiance sword is.
She recognizes the fluctuation of that spiritual power.
"Seo, Seo Gyeong..?"
itis Seo Gyeong, standing behind her with an oddly apologetic expression.
The monster, its head impaled by Seo Gyeong's sword, finally collapses, its strength exhausted.
Tsuaaaaaaah!
The charcoal covering the monster vanishes, and from within, the face of Ju Ho, the disciple of the Radiance Spirit Sect, is revealed.
Those who know him rush to his side, and Wol Ryeong, recalling that she has seen him somewhere before, gazes with bitter eyes.
"...Thank you, Seo Gyeong."
"No need, Wol Ryeong. It's just what fellow disciples should do."
Seo Gyeong speaks awkwardly, then slowly walks over to close the disciple's eyes. "...Go in peace. May your next life be a little more peaceful."
As she watches Seo Gyeong, Wol Ryeong feels that despite his youthful appearance, there's an inexplicable maturity about him.
.What is this...?"
And as she sees this unexpected side of Seo Gyeong, Wol Ryeong feels a strange ripple stir within her chest.
Thus ends the incident aboard the Radiance Spirit Ship.
Esteemed Ones Baek Jin and Baek Eun commend Wol Ryeong and the Integration stage disciples, and even Baek Geom, who later joins them, rarely acknowledges Wol Ryeong's contribution.
"Not bad. I saw from afar as well, and it seems you have at least grasped a foundation that can be passed down to."
At Baek Geom's cold praise, Wol Ryeong's whole body tingles and soars, only to cool down again when she sees Baek Geom looking for Seo Gyeong.
Wol Ryeong, the Integration stage cultivators who distinguished themselves during this incident, and Seo Gyeong, all receive shards of the special dharma treasure "Sacred Radiance' from Baek Jin and Baek Eun, using them to grow strong their abilities.
All the other disciples praise them.
At the same time, they secretly harbor jealousy.
And...
Within the bridle of jealousy and inferiority, a certain shadow begins to seek them out. "P-Power...I want...power..."
"You...desire power, I see."
Seo Gyeong takes out a white powder from his robe and pours it into the mouth of a cultivator in the Heavenly Being stage.
The cultivator, who appears as an old man with hair turned completely white, despite his aged appearance, grins foolishly and rolls his eyes back as he eats the salt powder. "Ugh, uuuuugh...good... This is...good..."
Hwarurururuk!
At the same time, a strong Glass True Fire surges from the Heavenly Being cultivator's body and injects enlightenment directly into his mind.
Though the outward appearance when receiving enlightenment may seem a bit disturbing, they are excellent realizations without any side effects.
"Good. Since I drew attention, I was able to leave behind more traces. More than anything...because my trace rampaged once, I can now draw power and influence directly from the main body without raising suspicion. Excellent."
Muttering to himself, Seo Gyeong walks along a shadowed corridor and speaks toward one of the shadows cast by his figure.
"Are preparations proceeding well, Yu Hwi, Ham Jin?"
Tstststst—
At that moment, massive figures emerge from within the shadow and bow their heads behind Seo Gyeong.
[Yes, Lord. Once you arrive in the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, the followers are set to act simultaneously.]
[Just give the order, Teacher.]
"Good... It relieves me to know the preparations are going well. However, do not grow complacent yet."
Seo Gyeong looks up at the eastern section of the Radiance Spirit Ship, where he lives with Pal Jin, Wol Ah, and others, his eyes glinting.
"For truly unimaginable numbers of eyes are watching the next Sword Spear candidate." Continuing his secretive conversation with the even more secretive shadows, Seo Gyeong walks further along the shadowed corridor.
At last, more than ten years pass, and the Radiance Spirit Ship arrives at the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain.
A stellar system of the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, the Gi Jin Realm.
The most powerful force there, the Gi Clan, welcomes the people of the Radiance Spirit Sect.
"Greetings, Esteemed Ones of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain. I am Gi Yeon, the current head of the Gi Clan. While the Esteemed Ones and disciples of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain carry out your subjugation campaign in the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, we of the Gi Clan will do everything we can to accommodate you." Dressed in a light pink palace attire, the head of the Gi Clan wears a gentle expression as they bow to the members of the Radiance Spirit Sect.