Direct descendant of the Mountain Divine Spirit!
Wol Ryeong is startled to learn that Seo Gyeong is a direct descendant of that terrifying Devil God.
"Seo Gyeong...did you know about this...?"
At Wol Ryeong's words, Seo Gyeong shakes his head.
"...'m learning it for the first time. But...for what reason am I said to be the descendant of the Devil God?"
"Several hundreds of thousands of years ago, I once met the incarnation of that Devil God who infiltrated the Vast Cold Realm. At that time, the Vast Cold Realm was not in the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain but in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain..."
From Jin Wol-ryeong's mouth flows a story about the Devil God.
Hearing of the Devil God's feats, Wol Ryeong cannot help but click her tongue.
"..In only a few tens of thousands of years, they ascended from the Lower Realm, reached the Sacred Vessel stage, fought against all the cultivators of the Entering Nirvana stage and Sacred Vessel stage in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, and finally attempted to annihilate the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain with a terrifying Immortal Art, failed, and afterward clashed with seven True Immortals and fifty Entering Nirvana stage cultivators, yet emerged victorious!?"
"That is right. Those are the incidents and disasters that that clone of the Devil God caused in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain. I once met that incarnation of the Devil God back then. At first, I only thought of them as a human brimming with talent...but only later did I realize they were a Devil God unlike any other in this world."
Jin Wol-ryeong clicks her tongue and continues.
"Appearance can be the same. This world is vast, and there are many other Heavenly Domains. But...from this child I sense the same flow of attraction force, the same lingering echoes of history, as that being. His appearance is identical, and he even carries a trace similar to that being? Then with high certainty, he must be a blood descendant."
"That's..."
"Hey, kid. You must have sometimes seen, within the darkness, a colossal existence beckoning toward you. Or you must have had nightmares connected to the Glass Sword Mountain, which symbolizes that existence. Perhaps that being has at times endlessly whispered something to you; is that not so?"
At those words, Seo Gyeong seems to hesitate for a long while, then exhales a deep sigh and speaks.
"..That is...s0."
"As I suspected...how pitifult That means as a descendant of the Devil God, you are receiving direct and indirect influence from them."
"Seek out ritual books or records concerning dreams and interpret your dream. By doing so, you may come to know what that Evil God desires. And if you do so, you may by your own hand do what that Devil God does not wish, and thereby break their purpose." "Ah...yes... I see.."0
"Still, despite such an Evil God constantly beckoning you, you neither went mad, nor suffered mutation, nor returned to thee. Truly, you are a child possessing an upright and extraordinary mental strength."
At Jin Wol-ryeong's praise, Seo Gyeong's expression turns strange for a moment. Seeing this, Wol Ryeong feels an unknown feeling.
"You...have suffered much."
She always thought of Seo Gyeong as someone meaninglessly favored by Master.
That is what she thought...
But even Seo Gyeong carried pains unknown to others.
Perhaps, her master's favoritism toward Seo Gyeong was not mere favoritism, but because such favoritism was necessary for Seo Gyeong's mind to endure.
"I.without knowing anything all this time, only hated him."
Without any concern for Seo Gyeong's pain, she only hated him.
Only envied him.
Even resented him.
But...
"I am sorry. ..was the ugly one.'
She realizes that the one she truly must hate and resent is not Seo Gyeong, but her own malice.
Bududuuk...
tis so shameful... cannot stay still
Squeeze...
Wol Ryeong tightly holds Seo Gyeong's hand and speaks.
"...Do not worry, Seo Gyeong. Being born with the bloodline of an evil god...is not a sin." "No matter what that vile existence does to you, no matter what cruel malice they reveal to you... will help you."
"That vile, filthy, repulsive, detestable Devil God will not be able to lay a single finger on you."
"I promise. No matter what I must do, I will help you escape from that nauseating fate!" Seo Gyeong says nothing.
But Wol Ryeong can tell from the trembling that runs through Seo Gyeong's body.
"He's overwhelmed. Of course he would be."
Until now, no one has recognized his burdens, nor even tried to.
For someone else to shoulder that burden for him must be immense for Seo Gyeong. Seeing this, Jin Wol-ryeong also watches the two with satisfaction.
"That child...is interesting."
In Jin Wol-ryeong's eyes, it is clear.
Within Wol Ryeong's heart essence, the lumps that have been knotted together are melting away.
Those lumps, originally bound by resentment and hatred toward her teacher and Seo Gyeong, within obsession and thirst for revenge, are now largely dissolving, and in their place new emotions are beginning to fill
"Huhu, yes. By gradually becoming honest with her feelings...she will thus come to enlightenment.'
Jin Wol-ryeong looks at Wol Ryeong holding Seo Gyeong's hand and smiles warmly. Afterward, matters proceed smoothly.
Jin Wol-ryeong exchanges several "greetings' with Yu Jin, then skips Yu Jin's procedures and, laughing, slings Wol Ryeong's entire group over her shoulders.
"Haha, you have grown much, Yu Jin. At this pace, you will soon be able to approach Fighting Dance Fifth Step."
"...Could you not speak in terms of the Heart Dao Blooming system instead?"
"I do not know such things. In my time, each person brimmed with self-respect and individuality, so we never spoke of realms by names that did not suit us. Kid these days, tsk tsk... miss you, Elder Jang Ik!"
Jin Wol-ryeong stomps her foot, and in an instant carries Seo Gyeong, Wol Ryeong, Mu Geom, and Bi Hwa out of the Heart Tribe territory.
Chwaaaa—
Scenes of the Vast Cold Realm flash past, and Wol Ryeong glances back at the Heart Tribe territory.
"..It was a place I wanted to look around at least once. It is a shame."
"Haha, do not worry. In the Vast Cold Realm, you can meet Heart Tribe fellows everywhere, so there is no particular need to cling to their territory."
"Still, the Heart Tribe...how fascinating. In the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, I never encountered such a race..."
"They are especially numerous in the Vast Cold Realm. Especially since the spread of the Vast Cold Martial Alliance, truly, those fellows are spread all across the Vast Cold Realm."
Kugugugugu—
In an instant, Seo Gyeong, Wol Ryeong, Mu Geom, and Bi Hwa arrive in the Human Race territory.
Kwaaaaaaang!
A massive Sky Island Archipelago.
At the front of that cloud-filled zone, Jin Wol-ryeong slams down.
"First, go to a place called Temporal Fate Island, register your names with the Human Race Grand Alliance, and...do this and that properly. Then, since I have brought you this far, I will be taking my leave. The request I received from the Radiance Spirit Sect was only to bring you as far as the Human Race territory..."
With that, Jin Wol-ryeong drops them off in front of the Human Race territory and then stomps once more, disappearing to somewhere far away.
Then, Wol Ryeong takes Seo Gyeong's hand and enters the Human Race territory of the Vast Cold Realm.
"Hm... You say you come from another Heavenly Domain? Radiance Spirit Sect... Yes, here it is. As it happens, there is a letter sent to our Grand Alliance from that Radiance Spirit Sect. I see...so you have come to subjugate the Thunder Resonance Valley."
The various administrative procedures of Temporal Fate Island finish in an instant.
This is because the Radiance Spirit Sect had already sent a letter in advance to the Human Race Grand Alliance of the Vast Cold Realm.
"Welcome. I hear you are disciples of the colossal sect called Radiance Spirit Sect. I am Wi Jin-nambuk, the vice-alliance leader of the Grand Cultivator Association. Since my father's generation, we have been serving as the strategist of the Human Race Grand Alliance."
"Your father would be..."
"Grand Cultivator Wi Ryeong-seon, formerly of the Grand Cultivator Association, is my father. Of course...compared to disciples of colossal sects such as the Radiance Spirit Sect, whose power surpasses even the entirety of the Human Race, it is but an empty name."
Introducing himself as the strategist of the current Human Race Grand Alliance's Grand Cultivator Association, Wi Jin-nambuk laughs heartily and welcomes them.
"By the way, Daoists, how many thousands of years do you plan to stay in the Vast Cold Realm? For now, your strength is somewhat weakened due to the adaptation period, but once that adaptation period passes, I heard your abilities wil rise to the Integration stage. If so, then while you remain here, the Grand Cultivator Association's power will effectively double...which means the Human Race will be able to accomplish much." "Th-Thousands of years..2"
At Wi Jin-nambuk's casual remark, not only Wol Ryeong but also Mu Geom and Bi Hwa's faces stiffen.
"W-We cannot stay for such a long time."
At Mu Geomn's words, Wi Jin-nambuk asks curiously.
"A long time, you say...2 For us Grand Cultivators, a few thousand years is...ah, perhaps you are not yet at the Integration stage?"
"Other than Seo Gyeong here, all of us are disciples of the Integration stage. But we still consider thousands of years far too long a time."
"Hm...So in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, the sense of time must be different...By the way, the ages of fellow Daoists are..."
Hearing the disciples of the Radiance Spirit Sect call thousands of years a "long time,' Wi Jin-nambuk asks about their ages just in case.
And soon, Wi Jin-nambuk's face is dyed with shock.
"This year, I am 513 years old."
Mu Geom.
"I am 430...years old."
Bi Hwa.
"Seo Gyeong and I are both 30 years old."
Wol Ryeong and Seo Gyeong.
At their introductions, Wi Jin-nambuk is so shocked his eyes nearly pop out, gasping for breath, and the administrative disciples of Temporal Fate Island listening nearby also stare at them in astonishment, eyes bulging.
"M-Madness... Not even a thousand years old and already the Integration stage...? No, not even a hundred years old and the Integration stage..? D-Do not lie! Adaptation period or not...lies are...heott!"
Wi Jin-nambuk, eyes bulging in disbelief, suddenly seizes Mu Geom's hand and injects his consciousness to check, but soon exhales empty breaths once more.
"Heheook...! R-Really is the Integration stage..."
What is weakened during the adaptation period is only the magnitude of their power; their realm remains unchanged.
In other words, the abilities of their realm, such as the Integrated Dao Domain and their Refining Void Dharma Treasure, remain intact.
Wi Jin-nambuk, having re-confirmed the realms of Wol Ryeong's group, stares at them with a dazed look, his voice trembling on its own.
"Radiance Spirit Sect...so this is an Immortal sect backed by True Immortals...a genuine immortal Cultivation Sect. Hahaha, when the Esteemed Ones came and said that the strength of the Radiance Spirit Sect alone is equal to the Six Great Heaven Tribe Races, I thought it was a joke..."
At Wi Jin-nambuk's intense reaction, Wol Ryeong's group seems to grow proud, confidence rising on their faces.
"I shall escort you to the Grand Cultivator Association..."
Thus, Wol Ryeong's group once more follows Wi Jin-nambuk's lead to Heavenly Human Island of the Human Race Grand Alliance.
To the Grand Cultivator Association.
Human Race Grand Alliance, Heavenly Human Island.
The main mountain of the Grand Cultivator Association.
There, all the Integration stage Grand Cultivators of the Human Race Grand Alliance assemble.
Grand Cultivator Association Leader, Gol Maek.
Strategist, Wi Jin-nambuk.
Penglai Palace Lord, Hon Jin.
Black Ghost Valley Grand Elder, Heo Nam-gwon.
Azure Heaven Creation Sect Supreme Sect Master, Cheongmun Gok.
Grand Cultivator of the Mountain and Rivers origin, Do Ryeok.
A total of six Grand Cultivators.
Before them, four figures appear.
Wol Ryeong, Seo Gyeong, Mu Geom, and Bi Hwa.
"Please offer your greetings. This is the Grand Cultivator Association Leader, Lady Gol Maek. And this one is..."
The greetings between the disciples of the Radiance Spirit Sect and the Grand Cultivators of the Human Race are brief.
"Astonishing. All of you have reached the Integration stage at such young ages... The might of the Radiance Spirit Sect is clear."
Gol Maek speaks in a slightly aged voice, and at her words, everyone nods in agreement.
"Disciples of the Radiance Spirit Sect, first rest and recover from your journey. In a few years, the so-called adaptation period will end. When it does, as long as you carry out a few missions assigned by this Grand Cultivator Association, then we shall in turn aid the mission of the Radiance Spirit Sect's disciples to subjugate Thunder Resonance Valley." At that, Mu Geom gives a short laugh and speaks.
"Hm, forgive me for saying this, but what missions could mere Integration stage cultivators from a backwater Middle Realm have to assign to disciples of the great Radiance Spirit Sect?"
At that arrogant remark, the atmosphere in the hall instantly turns cold.
-x-X-x-
Mu Geom's meaning is simple.
A contest of momentum.
The Radiance Spirit Sect, a great sect that far surpasses the entire Human Race of the Vast Cold Realm, and a backwater Middle Realm village head who is an Integration stage Grand Cultivator.
Things proceed far more smoothly once the superiority between the two is decided.
It is clearly such a calculation.
At Mu Geom's arrogant attitude, Gol Maek smiles faintly and speaks.
"This is really...my apologies. I did not consider the hearts of our Radiance Spirit Sect's late-stage prodigies and tried to do things too much in the Vast Cold Realm's way."
The expression of the white-haired, red-eyed woman softens gently, and those who see that gaze feel their hearts grow warm without realizing it.
Seeing that, Seo Gyeong clicks his tongue and quietly marvels, Wol Ryeong, not knowing why, raises her guard to the extreme, and Mu Geom and Bi Hwa become even more overbearing.
"Right, even if other Heavenly Domains have laws of their own, we are disciples of the Radiance Spirit Sect who came receiving a sacred mission. Therefore, this is not a mutual exchange of help in the form of a deal; you must unconditionally cooperate with us. We have come to subjugate the Evil God's fanatics, so know that this is an important duty that determines the course of the entire universe!"
At Mu Geom's shout, the eyes of the Grand Cultivators in the hall each become filled with their own meanings, and Wol Ryeong glares at Mu Geom without realizing it.
"...Senior Brother, no matter what, isn't it right to respect the ways of the Vast Cold Realm?"
"Haha, Wol Ryeong. It seems you do not know well, but for cultivators in such a remote, backwater Middle Realm, the teachings of us immortal talents are what matter."
"Teachings, you say!"
At that one word, Gol Maek lets out a cry of admiration and shouts.
"Yes, now that I think of it, I forget to ask the upper prodigies of the Heavenly Sect supported by the Heaven Immortals to give teachings. For cultivators of a backwater, small realm like us, if you could perhaps bestow teachings, it would truly be an honor of ten thousand generations. Might you perhaps deign to grant us teachings?"
At Gol Maek's words, Mu Geom laughs even more heartily and says,
"If you desire a sermon, then as much as you like. From the basics of my Radiance Spirit Sect's teachings..."
"Hahaha, a sermon, you say? Cultivators like us from a small realm are dull of ear and cannot receive teachings by such things. We are ignorant folk. Therefore, rather than a sermon...I hope you would give teachings through something else."
"Through what...?"
"A friendly spar."
At Gol Maek's words, Mu Geom laughs awkwardly and takes a step back.
"...I am sorry, but I am still only at the mid Integration stage, so against a Quasi-Star Shattering stage cultivator like the Grand Cultivator Association Leader, there is no need to..."
"Haha, I too know my realm; would I make such a shameless request. What I want is simply... if fellow Daoist could give their teachings to the ordinary Grand Cultivators of the Grand Cultivator Association."
"Ahem, if it is only to that extent..."
Bududuk...
At Mu Geom's words, Wol Ryeong glares at him fiercely, but no matter what, she cannot publicly outright deny the words of Mu Geom, who is nominally her senior brother.
'To think I am in the same group as this guy...'
Seeing the latent strength of the Integration stage Grand Cultivators seated in the Grand Cultivator Association, she sighs inwardly.
And then, Seo Gyeong's tiny hand lightly tugs Wol Ryeong's hand, and Seo Gyeong speaks.
"...It's okay, Ryeong-ah. They say misfortune turns to blessing. Good things will happen."
Seo Gyeong stares fixedly at the old and frail Grand Cultivator called 'Hon Jin,' then smiles faintly.
At those words, Wol Ryeong looks at him with slightly surprised eyes.
'Seo Gyeong's realm is still only at the early Four-Axis stage...how in the world...? I see. Regardless of realm, he has the discernment to have endured as Master's disciple.'
While reevaluating Seo Gyeong inwardly, she also changes her mind.
'Right, Seo Gyeong's words are right. Misfortune turns to blessing. Perhaps it is a chance to suppress Senior Brother and Senior Sister's momentum right before the subjugation without dirtying my hands.
With meaningful eyes, Wol Ryeong looks at the old monsters of the Grand Cultivator Association sitting before her, and the Integration stage Grand Cultivator from the Mountains and Rivers Origin, the person named Do Ryeok, rises from their seat with a sneer.
"...I will face you. Come forward, young master of the Radiance Spirit Sect."
At those words, Mu Geom also sneers and steps forward from his seat.
"Haha, it is always the ones without real skill who keep their noses high."
Do Ryeok's red hair shoots up to the sky, and the aura of blazing heat spreads around them,
Seeing this, Seo Gyeong speaks to Mu Geom.
"...Senior Brother Mu Geom, please be careful. They still are someone who stands at the peak of the Human Race territory in the Vast Cold Realm."
"Haha, can you still not tell when you look at that Wi Jin-nambuk or whatever the name is? These are people who waste thousands, tens of thousands of years just to step into the Integration stage. How could dullards not chosen by the heavens and fate ever stand against genuine Immortal talents?"
At Mu Geom's words overflowing with confidence, Seo Gyeong does not bother to dissuade him further and steps back, while Do Ryeok and Mu Geom walk toward one another.
Ttak-
Right after, when Gol Maek snaps her fingers, the mountain peak where the Grand Cultivator Association is gathered instantly shifts into an alternate space.
"This is..."
Mu Geom, unable to notice the change contained in that one move, is taken aback, and Bi Hwa also looks around flustered.
Only Wol Ryeong, among the Integration stage disciples of the Radiance Spirit Sect, perceives the principle behind the change.
'She flipped the surface of the dimension and transformed it into an alternate space. A level capable of touching the laws of the Vast Cold Realm itself. At that level, she could soon advance to the Star Shattering stage...why does she remain at Quasi-Star Shattering stage...?"
A strange two-dimensional otherworld where Heaven and Earth do not exist, and gigantic go stones float densely across the void.
Mu Geom and Do Ryeok stand facing each other atop one of those massive go stones.
Wo-woong!
Perhaps those go stones boast some special function as all the Radiance Spirit Sect disciples who step onto them realize that their power has returned.
"Hoh, so this lets us ignore the adaptation period and display our original power temporarily? I give my thanks, Grand Cultivator Association Leader."
Mu Geom pays his respects in his own way to Gol Maek, who reveals her realm at the Quasi-Star Shattering stage without restraint.
Meanwhile, the other Integration stage cultivators each move onto nearby giant go stones, and Wol Ryeong lifts Seo Gyeong by the waist onto another stone and speaks.
"Who do you think will win, Seo Gyeong?"
"I think it will be a draw. With my low realm, how could I possibly measure the strength of senior brothers and sisters, much less those of the Grand Cultivator Association of the Vast Cold Realm?"
"Haha, a draw, you say...?"
At Seo Gyeong's words, all the Integration stage cultivators who hear that voice smirk.
Each of them seems to think that one side will clearly and decisively overwhelm the other.
Wol Ryeong shakes her head.
To her eyes, it is clear.
...Senior Brother Mu Geom will lose. Overwhelmingly."
In terms of realm, Mu Geom and Do Ryeok are equal, both at the mid Integration stage.
On top of that, Mu Geom is a prodigy of the Radiance Spirit Sect, having received the Radiance Spirit Sect's Refining Void Dharma Treasure, artifacts, spiritual medicines, and unique divine powers in abundance, making him a troublesome opponent. Within the sect, he is an extraordinary prodigy who boasts certain victory against cultivators of the same realm, and even gains slight advantage over late Integration stage cultivators.
Yet, in Wol Ryeong's eyes, she sees something contained within Do Ryeok.
'What should I call that? Killing intent? Madness?'
It is the venom of a human who roamed the harsh Human Race territory of the Vast Cold Realm Human Race without a sect, accumulating evil.
Something that instantly bridges a mere gap in realm.
The moment she saw it, she instantly knew Mu Geom will lose.
"Now then. For the 'teachings' of the Great Radiance Spirit Sect's late-stage genius, I declare the friendly spar...to begin."
Gol Maek's proclamation rings out, and as soon as it ends, Mu Geom joins his palms together and shouts. "Integrated Dao Domain."
Kugugugung!
At the same time, Mu Geom's true body begins to reveal itself.
From the Four-Axis stage onward, depending on the method the cultivators practice, their true bodies transform, and this is called 'Immortal Transformation'.
Mu Geom's Immortal Transformation is the form of a fox whose whole body is covered in sharp swords. Those scales are thick and sharp like those of a pangolin, and unknown sharp energy scrapes fiercely at the surroundings.
And that is not all.
Centered on Mu Geom, a dimensional veil spreads and covers the surroundings.
Mu Geom's Integrated Dao Domain, Cold Dao Swordless Cage(), encloses the area in a cafe of ice.
[TL/N: Mu Geom's name can mean Swordless.]
Kakang, kagagagang!
Cold winds blow in all directions, creating a snowy field, scattering snow blossoms, and throughout the snowy field where snow blossoms scatter, cold energy clusters and forges swords of ice.
Those ice swords (K) are so transparent they look like glass, appearing endlessly close to colorlessness.
[Behold, I am the blood descendant of the Snow Mountain Heaven Immortal...!]
Seo Gyeong listens to Mu Geom's roar and smirks.
"Ah...I see."
[Transparent Winter Sword Barrier (7). Deploy!]
Thousands of colorless ice swords draw a sword formation and bare their fangs at Do Ryeok.
The deployment of that entire domain and the sword formation are completed within two seconds- worthy of being called a divine skill.
The storm of the sword formation looks as though it will devour Do Ryeok whole.
And at that storm, Do Ryeok takes a step forward and lets out a hollow laugh.
"What is this retard?"
Kwajik-
He takes a single step.
At the same time, to everyone watching their duel in Gol Maek's alternate dimensions, the flow of attraction force engraves a single name.
Immortal Art (1).
Sunlight (PE).
The Integration stage realm formula, the power of the basic Immortal Art Various Omens concentrates on Do Ryeok.
At the same time, an immense power of Extreme Yang begins to spread out centered on Do Ryeok.
Huarurururuk!
It is instantaneous.
Do Ryeok rapidly uses the ground-shrinking technique to arrive in front of Mu Geom, and with nothing more than a single kick from a body suffused with the energy of Extreme Yang, he flings Mu Geom away. It all happens truly in a fleeting instant.
Kkwaaaang!
The sword scales that sprout all over Mu Geom's body shatter in an instant, and there is not even a wound on Do Ryeok's leg.
Even though he does not even undergo Immortal Transformation, Do Ryeok does not have so much as a brush mark, and he laughs as if he finds it absurd.
"I don't perfectly embody the formula of Sunlight either, but I at least have the basics... What are you even? Shouldn't you at least show the effort to internalize the formula of Cold?"
Kwaduduk-
Grabbing Mu Geom's immortalized body with bare hands, he directly swings Mu Geom's body.
Hwoong-
"No matter how young you are, still, did they not say True Immortals are behind you? They say your sect has Star Shattering Esteemed Ones and even Sacred Vessels."
Kwaaaang!
Kwajijik!
He simply hurls Mu Geom's body, and one of the arms of the flung Mu Geom directly tears off.
Chijijik-
And at the torn spot, the energy of Extreme Yang settles, making it so the wound cannot even heal.
"Hey, young master, try saying something. I am also four thousand years old so I am not far from you in age, but I can do at least this much. Yet you, who they say cultivated after entering a great sect, did you focus only on decorating your domain without internalizing the formula?"
Huarurururuk!
The power of Extreme Yang spewing from Do Ryeok starts to gradually melt the entirety of Mu Geom's Integrated Dao Domain.
The whole world begins to burn, and Do Ryeok, without even unfolding a domain, speaks as if it's absurd. "With this much difference in skill, what teaching... Heh heh, you are insane. I hear you took on a subjugation mission suited to your level but... that cult subjugation or whatever, it's actually insanely easy and you lot are just trying to take credit, aren't you? What a funny bunch."
Kwajijijik!
With his left hand turned into flame, Do Ryeok grabs Mu Geom by the collar and, cracking his joints, raises his right hand.
"Now then, young master. Still, as a senior in life, shall I show you what happens if you wag your tongue the wrong
It's just when Do Ryeok is about to stretch his right hand toward Mu Geom's heart.
Kwaching
"...1?"
Mu Geom's collapsing Integrated Dao Domain and Do Ryeok's power of Extreme Yang simultaneously break apart, and someone slips between them and seizes Do Ryeok's wrist.
"Heh heh, let us stop here, Daoist Do."
"... Yes, Elder Hon Jin."
It is Hon Jin, the Penglai Palace Lord.
Hon Jin coughs and separates the two Integration stage cultivators, and Wol Ryeong's eyes gleam.
'That one called Do Ryeok tried to kill Senior Brother Mu Geom.'
Though it was a hidden killing intent, Wol Ryeong could perceive it.
It was so hidden of a killing intent that, on the Grand Cultivator Association's side as well, except for Gol Maek and about one person, no one noticed.
'And that one called Hon Jin...noticed the killing intent and intervened to stop it.'
Cough, cough-cough!
Hon Jin, as if it was hard to block Do Ryeok's strike, coughs blood and returns to his seat, but Wol Ryeong, looking at Hon Jin's back, grows tense.
'And moreover, even if the Integrated Dao Domain was collapsing, to smash it in a single moment like this...that one seems to be the strongest after Gol Maek.'
After setting up a barrier of attraction force around them, Wol Ryeong quietly speaks to Seo Gyeong.
"Seo Gyeong, I think that old man seems to be the strongest after Gol Maek. What about you?"
"Mm? Well...I don't think so."
"Right, on the surface he may look weak. But...there is something inside him, a power that cannot be disregarded."
Wol Ryeong glares at the existence called Hon Jin, and Seo Gyeong, watching Hon Jin together with her, only gives a smile of unknown meaning without saying anything.
After a while, Do Ryeok withdraws from the arena, and Bi Hwa descends from her seat with a face that looks unwell.
The next one to step forward is a Grand Cultivator named Heo Nam-gwon.
"Greetings, young lady. I am Heo Nam-gwon, who manages the Vast Cold Realm branch of a minor sect called the Black Ghost Valley. I humbly hope to receive the Radiance Spirit Sect's profound teachings." Heo Nam-gwon bows politely to Bi Hwa, and Bi Hwa accepts the greeting with an awkward smile.
"... Even in my hometown, even in the Heroic Spirit Realm, and in other stellar realms, there is always a Black Ghost Valley, a Black Ghost Palace, a Ghost Bone Sect... Please do not say such things. I know your sect is a secret grand sect rooted throughout the Heavenly Domains. If it reveals all its strength, it would be comparable even to the Radiance Spirit Sect."
Pff-
Seo Gyeong suddenly bursts into laughter, and Wol Ryeong looks at him in puzzlement for a moment before dismissing it and turns back to gaze down at the two.
"Who do you think will win this time?"
"I think one side will forfeit."
Indeed, on Bi Hwa's face, after seeing Mu Geom's miserable defeat, shows deep concern.
But Wol Ryeong instead shakes her head.
'This time, Bi Hwa will still win.'
The one called Heo Nam-gwon is at the very beginning of the Integration stage, and does not look that strong.
Moreover, he does not carry the poison of someone like Do Ryeok.
'And furthermore, the Black Ghost Valley... That secret sect mainly cultivates Ghost Path Methods, which are perfectly countered by Bi Hwa's methods.'
After a while, their duel begins.
Bi Hwa is a cultivator of Sacred Dao Methods(), which hold the power of blessing, purification, and healing, and from the beginning she overwhelms Heo Nam-gwon, who reveals the power of Ghost Path Methods.
Gradually, Bi Hwa presses Heo Nam-gwon and seizes the momentum, and at last, just when she is about to land a decisive blow against them.
Shiver-
From Heo Nam-gwon, who is wielding Ghost Path Methods, a chilling aura that no one can ignore spreads.
From that terrifying, spine-chilling aura, everyone present realizes that Heo Nam-gwon has a hidden trump card.
Even Bi Hwa's eyes show signs of defeat.
Wol Ryeong, seeing the flower blooming inside Heo Nam-gwon, is reminded of one thing.
'A flower?'
It is some black flower that exudes the aura of a curse.
But in that instant,
"Hm...I will concede."
Heo Nam-gwon, as if pondering something, stops the blooming of the black flower and surrenders.
"What, what is this? Are you mocking me?"
"No, Lady Bi. My secret art is incomplete, so it would be dissolved by your blessings."
But Wol Ryeong realizes he is lying.
'It is the opposite.'
If Heo Nam-gwon had used that curse in flower form, it would not have been Bi Hwa's blessing that melts his curse, but Bi Hwa who is killed by that curse.
'So he went easy because he can't control the killing move. Cultivator Heo forfeited, but in truth it is Bi Hwa's defeat...'
And suddenly, Wol Ryeong notices something strange.
'Somehow...everything goes exactly as Seo Gyeong says. Is it just my imagination?'
It is a strange feeling.
And with Heo Nam-gwon's defeat, Wol Ryeong's turn arrives.
"Hm, I shall..."
More than anyone present, Wol Ryeong wants to cross moves at least with Gol Maek and tries to name Gol Maek as her opponent.
But just then, Hon Jin steps forward.
And as if waiting, Seo Gyeong flies to the front of Hon Jin.
"What, Seo Gyeong!? What are you doing, the opponent is at the Integration stage!"
"Ah, sorry Ryeong-ah. But still, I am also a disciple of the Radiance Spirit Sect, so shouldn't I at least show my face?"
"Seo Gyeong! Even if he looks the weakest, that one is..."
"Mm? When did I ever say that?"
"What?"
But before Wol Ryeong can stop him, Hon Jin chuckles.
"Heh heh, it is fine. Do not mind this old man. Anyway, if it is a late-stage disciple of the Great Radiance Spirit Sect, then against an old man like me...cough, cough...!"
While speaking, Hon Jin coughs up blood.
Though he stopped the fight between Do Ryeok and Mu Geom, no matter how one looks at him, he is an old man on the verge of death.
In some sense, it even seems fitting for him to spar with Seo Gyeong, who is at the Four-Axis stage.
But Wol Ryeong feels anxious.
'That man is the one most dangerous after Gol Maek!'
But to drag seo Gyeong back by force, when he has already resolved himself, would be to disgrace not only Seo Gyeong's face but also the face of the one called Hon Jin.
She does not know what Seo Gyeong is thinking, but she decides, helplessly, to respect his will.
...Well, perhaps it will be good for Seo Gyeong to experience defeat at least once outside.'
Whether Bi Hwa knows her worries or not, Bi Hwa speaks in a carefree tone.
"Certainly...though he is an Integration stage Grand Cultivator, he seems to have even gone senile, and may be a good opponent for Seo Gyeong."
"What? Senile?"
But she soon understands Bi Hwa's words.
"So you are a True Immortal wearing a human mask."
Because at Hon Jin's very first words, the strategist of the Grand Cultivator Association, Wi Jin-nambuk, apologizes to the disciples of the Radiance Spirit Sect.
"...From his youth, the Penglai Palace Lord poured much of his vitality into raising Penglai Palace... Now, as a consequence, he is in a slight state of dementia. We ask for your understanding."
'Hm, dementia...?'
At those words, Wol Ryeong eases her heart a little.
'He certainly looks that way. If so, then I don't have to worry too much about Seo Gyeong getting badly hurt.'
Thus, though he is at the late Integration stage, Hon Jin whose vitality has declined and senility has set in, and Seo Gyeong, who has the lowest cultivation among the Radiance Spirit Sect's party, enter into a friendly spar that none in the arena watch with much interest.
Hon Jin knows.
He cannot forget.
Ever since he came to Penglai Palace and learned the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique, the being who continued to aid his cultivation through the connection with that technique is...
The very existence before his eyes.
"Truly...I have wished to meet you."
Before him, the existence in the form of a boy does not speak aloud, but shapes his lips to convey something to him.
Reading the lip movements, Hon Jin smiles brightly and reaches his hand out toward his long-time friend.
The moves of those who inherit the lineage of the Mountain God collide in one place within the Vast Cold Realm.
-x-X-x-
Thud-
Hon Jin takes a step and assumes a posture with one hand extended.
That stance, which also looks like a stance to deliver a palm strike, is the basic stance of the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.
And, seeing that posture, I take the basic sword form, the middle guard stance, and with the Youth Samsara Sword Method, I summon a radiance sword and grip it in my hand.
After we first assume our sparring stances, a brief stillness envelops the arena.
My eyes and Hon Jin's eyes meet.
And then, my pre-emptive strike begins.
Shikak!
Wrapping attraction force around my sword, the sword momentum fired at Hon Jin directly warps the surrounding dimension and drives thrusts into various parts all over his body.
And in the next moment, I notice that small symbols of the Five Elements appear at every place I thrust and block my sword momentum.
'He saw this.'
His eyes have improved.
This is not something achievable with a mere consciousness domain.
The sword strike I unleashed looks simple, but it contains the principle of Martial Pinnacle.
'I'll go faster.'
Our gazes exchange for a fleeting instant, and in that moment two sword strikes simultaneously fly toward Hon Jin.
It is not that I split one sword strike into two, nor that I use a feint.
Chuaaaat!
A slash that no one in this arena can perceive.
Within spacetime itself, 'two' actions overlap, and slashes fly simultaneously from both right and left.
If the first left slash is a slash simply sent forth, the right slash is a slash hurled by transcending spacetime.
'If you exceed light speed, you can reach the past.
Recently, by combining the principle of the Radiance Mantra, the abilities of Immortal Beasts, and the divine art Kim Young-hoon once displayed, I succeeded in implementing a slash that, if only for an instant, can return to the past.
'From the future to the past.'
By surpassing superluminal speed, I twist causality and cause the actions of two strikes to exist at the same time.
'Using the foundational principle of the Radiance Mantra, I transcend light!'
Chuaaaat!
It is still an imperfect technique that needs much experimentation.
Even so, this is the technique of I, who reached Martial Pinnacle.
Even though I control the power to an extremely delicate degree, if you cannot see it, you cannot block it.
And in a fleeting instant.
Hwoong-
The energy of Yin and Yang appears at Hon Jin's left and right and naturally blocks the two strikes. Kwaching-
However, no matter how large the consciousness domain is, it is a single consciousness.
Even if it is the energy of Yin and Yang, perhaps it is unavoidable that power leans ever so slightly more to one side. The two slashes dig persistently into the weaker side among them, break through the defense, and reach Hon Jin's body.
Kaaaang!
The Integrated Dao Domain's dimensional veil wrapped around Hon Jin's body blocks my radiance sword. However, in the end he endures only by relying on the Integration stage weight class. If I was in the late Four-Axis stage, Hon Jin's body would have been cut in half.
Up to here, these are very brief instant exchanges.
On the surface, it would look like the old Hon Jin and I, a fresh green fledgling, trading a few swings.
In truth, through Indra's Net, most of the inner thoughts of the Grand Cultivators flowing in are them swallowing dry laughs, and most of them are seen to pay no attention to our spar.
Here, the only ones who come to their senses and watch us are Gol Maek and Wol Ryeong.
With senses that have reached the Quasi-Star Shattering stage, Gol Maek barely keeps up with, then loses, then catches up to the exchanges between Hon Jin and me, and strains to glimpse the hidden side concealed within our exchange, while Wol Ryeong, though unable to sense or see anything, feels that 'there is something' and glares with eyes blazing in an effort to figure it out.
'Remarkable talents.'
But in this world, there are realms that cannot be reached by talent alone.
That is why the Radiance Hall does not simply raise its future Eight Immortals candidates by letting them breathe idly in their subordinate sects, but sends them to the Middle Realms to accumulate various experiences.
"Integrated Dao Domain..."
With a trembling voice, Hon Jin clasps his hands together and unfolds his Integrated Dao Domain.
"... Island of Taiji Great Dust Within Fierce Winds (S)."
His Integrated Dao Domain unfolds in a very peculiar way.
Instead of covering the surroundings with a dimensional veil, he tempers the Integrated Dao Domain like a sharp blade between his clasped hands, then breathes out a shout and sends the tempered Integrated Dao Domain flying at me.
Outwardly, it only looks like he is sending out a thin thread-like line, but in truth, he is compressing the Integrated Dao Domain itself into a single blade and sending it forth.
As expected, the only one who notices this method is Gol Maek, and Wol Ryeong, though unable to even discern its identity, thinks that it's 'amazing' and gapes with her mouth open.
'I originally intended to hold back in case Wol Ryeong suspects my identity, but...'
I smile faintly at Hon Jin and begin tempering the radiance sword taught by Sword Spear until it becomes endlessly transparent.
'But in front of him, I cannot.
I must show at least a fraction of my true skill.
The dimensional slash compressed from the Integrated Dao Domain itself has a powerful suction force, so it is absolutely unavoidable at close range.
Furthermore, though it appears to be fired separately from Hon Jin, because it is still connected to him through the domain, it will pursue even if I dodge, and fuse even if I cut.
Cheok-
I raise my now colorless sword and assume a thrusting stance.
'I will sever the connection.'
I will thrust through the gap of that blade and aim for Hon Jin beyond.
Shukwak!
The thrust at extreme speed instantly pierces through the gap in the dimensional slash and seeks Hon Jin's heart beyond.
The moment it touches the heart, it will scatter through all of Heaven and Earth and grind Hon Jin's body apart.
But immediately after, Hon Jin instantly recalls the dimensional slash he had fired at me, compresses it into a single point, and with that one point blocks my thrust.
Kwaaang!
But it is not enough to just block that thrust, as he is driven back all the way to the very edge of the go stone we rose upon.
"Hmm...when will this end...?"
"Grand Cultivator Hon, haha... He seems to be having a hard time."
"Still, to think someone who was once even called the strongest of the Human Race is now..."
From the Human Race Grand Cultivator Association flows opinions of pity toward Hon Jin.
The spar between me and Hon Jin is exceedingly dry.
Unlike others, it is not flamboyant, and only restrained methods are used, and each and every strike is of levels that transcend imagination, so there are not many who can even recognize them.
The only ones present who shudder are three.
Hon Jin himself, receiving ceaseless teachings as he faces me.
Gol Maek, straining to glimpse my teachings no matter what.
And Wol Ryeong, though unable to even discern what is happening, with talent alone unconsciously senses the value of our exchange and trembles.
Kang, kang!
Our monotonous exchange continues.
And within that monotonous exchange, our duel gradually ascends to a metaphysical dimension. Kwaquagwang!
Hon Jin unleashes a palm strike with the power of explosion, from within which he mixes dozens of nets of Five Elements and lightning.
Shwikak!
With the barest of motions, I cut that strike, evade the aftershock, and try to counterattack, but in that instant Hon Jin, hiding behind his own attack, thrusts with both palms.
Kwaaang!
The power of Taiji dwelling in his hands seizes my Qi and blood, twists and entangles the Taiji of my entire body, and tries to rupture all my spirit veins.
Hwooo-
With a single breath I try to neutralize the Taiji and expel Hon Jin's Taiji settling in my spirit veins, but at the same time, the Taiji resonates with the Five Elements spiritual energy and tries to tear my whole body apart.
"Splitting Emperor."
A terrifying strike that rends the opponent's entire body spreads within me from the inside out.
'He fused the Taiji Quaking Lightning Body and the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique!?'
I realize what Hon Jin has done and let out a hollow laugh.
Shikagak!
But in an instant, I concentrate the attraction force of the Four-Axis stage into a single point to suppress the power of the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor, and I carry that rebound into my sword to counterattack Hon Jin.
An old Grand Cultivator and a young cultivator, in a way unfit for people called cultivators, stick close and engage in close combat.
There are no grand visual effects of great spells, and the spells we unfold are all colorless, formless, and traceless, so they are not that flashy.
On the surface, it looks simply like an old man and a little kid grappling in a messy brawl.
Yet within it, I am able to converse with Hon Jin.
My lips flick into movement.
Seeming to have learned lip-reading, Hon Jin reads it and smiles.
-You have grown a lot. Yeon Jin.
Hon Jin.
My old friend who inherited the position of Penglai Palace Lord from Hon Won, and inherited the Hon surname to become 'Hon Jin'.
-It has been a long time since I was called by that name. It is good to see you again, Elder Seo Eun-hyun. -Hahaha...
I smile faintly as I trade blows with Hon Jin.
By now, some Grand Cultivators grow drowsy and even fall asleep or enter meditation.
Each blow boasts immense might that crosses dimensions and planes, but because the moves are so high-level, they, instead, fail to notice.
-Why have you not risen to the Star Shattering stage? At this level...you would have been more than able to reach the Star Shattering stage.
I wonder why Yeon Jin has not risen to the Star Shattering stage.
Why is it that, despite having the skill to trade hands with me, he 'does not' rise to the Star Shattering stage?
Unlike Gol Maek, who is merely at the Quasi-Star Shattering stage in weight class only, he fulfills all the conditions to rise to the Star Shattering stage. Why does he still deliberately remain here and grow old?
Immortal Art Various Omens-Rain, Sunlight, Heat, Cold, Wind, Time.
Every formula is mixed into each of Yeon Jin's moves.
It is an application of the Immortal Art in a different dimension when compared to the one called Do Ryeok.
And above all...
Watching Yeon Jin's gaze gradually brighten, to see to what level his eyes have reached, I, for an instant so that no one notices, deliver a faint strike at the speed of True Immortals.
But the next moment,
Chuaaaaat!
It is only a brief instant, yet I see a character clearly engraved in Yeon Jin's eyes, and I smile.
-So you have brought the Supervisory Eye within your grasp as well.
-...To reach you again...I devoted my whole life to this.
Supervisory Eye.
An eye that opens only when a mountain divine spirit directly lends power to a being who inherits the power of a mountain divine spirit.
Among all eye arts at or below the Entering Nirvana stage, that eye is the highest-level eye art, and it is an overwhelming spiritual eye that surpasses all those eye arts.
Hon Won, too, once obtained the spiritual eye when the Great Mountain Supreme Deity granted the Supervisory Eye to him in order to watch over the Enders.
However...
Yeon Jin, by his own power, devoted his whole life to trace back along Penglai Palace's Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique in order to reach the Mountain Gods at its origin.
It is similar to Heavenly Venerables.
It is the difference between the Three Heavenly Venerables who borrow the power of the Absolute from the True Emperor, and the Underworld who, by their own power, divine descents the power of the Absolute.
-Like the Mountain God who toyed with the fates of Hon Won and ancestor Yeon Wei, I, too...suspected whether you are a Mountain God who toyed with me and the ancestor... And whether you, who saved the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, was merely a split soul of a Great Immortal at that time who toyed with fate, or whether you truly were simply a genius who grew with us and experienced many things together... To know that answer, I had to reach you.
For that, he traced back the method of Penglai Palace to connect, with the power of a mortal being, to the Immortal Dao of the Mountain, and he succeeded in connecting with me, who stands at the summit of that Immortal Dao.
That is Yeon Jin's feat.
Unlike Hon Won's Supervisory Eye, which is only the highest eye art at the level of mortal beings, the Supervisory Eye that Yeon Jin obtained on his own...
That Supervisory Eye alone is no different from the eye of a True Immortal.
-...Have
you obtained the answer?
By his own power Yeon Jin reaches me, who stands at the peak of the Mountain Immortal Dao, and, by borrowing my strength, he connects to my essence.
In that process, I do not intervene at all.
-...I have obtained it. You...
Awakening the eye of a True Immortal, Yeon Jin smiles brightly, and beyond the Plane of True Immortality, he directly perceives my presence.
His gaze, using my consciousness dwelling in Seo Gyeong's body as the medium, crosses numerous Heavenly Domains in an instant and reaches my main body in the Heavenly Escape Realm.
It is a power any True Immortal can use if they know the other's existence or Immortal Title, but Yeon Jin, with only the strength of a mortal being, obtained the eye of a True Immortal and unfolded that ability.
Tuk, tuk...
Tears of blood flow from Yeon Jin's eyes.
It is astonishing.
Even though I restrain my rank, his Supervisory Eye still clearly reveals my existence to him.
Even if it is a power that originates from me and therefore has some resistance to my wisdom, it is undeniably a great feat.
A feat of looking directly at the body of an Immortal Beast King while only at the Integration stage and yet not exploding and perishing.
-You were...truly nothing more than our friend.
Yet the mortal being who achieved such a feat only looks up at me with the eyes of one meeting an old friend and smiles.
-You were not a True Immortal who toyed with the fate of the ancestor. You did not toy with my fate either. You and Senior Brother Jeon Myeong-hoon were truly...
From that single sentence, I feel countless knots inside Yeon Jin unravel.
-...my friends...
Kwaaaaaaang!
Hon Jin's arm shatters my sword and strikes down upon my head, slamming me into the ground, and I cough out a mouthful of blood.
The duel between the old Grand Cultivator at the Integration stage and the young cultivator at the Four- Axis stage.
Naturally, it ends in victory for the Integration stage Grand Cultivator.
"...Thank you...for your teaching."
Yet even so, the Integration stage Grand Cultivator, whose eyes flicker as if in senility, bows with deep respect to the Four-Axis stage cultivator who is defeated by him.
At that absurd sight, the Grand Cultivator Association, including Wi Jin-nambuk, sigh and support Heon Jin back to his original seat.
...I am the one who should thank you, Yeon Jin.'
I smile as I watch Yeon Jin whose vitality wanes.
Fighting him, I understood.
Yeon Jin has no thoughts of rising to the Star Shattering stage, and only intends to die at the Integration stage.
Like Yeon Wei, he suspected throughout his life whether Jeon Myeong-hoon and I were True Immortals who toyed with them.
When Yeon Wei was alive, he was too young to harbor doubt, but after Yeon Wei's death, he inherited Yeon Wei's heart.
I could have sworn directly that it is not so, but I never made such an oath until now, and only today did I finally unravel Yeon Jin's knots.
Because it was a knot that could not be undone unless confirmed with his own hand.
'I accepted your heart as well.'
His concern and his knots about me.
The doubt of whether his life was toyed with by True Immortals is now resolved.
But one knot remains in Yeon Jin's heart.
The knot toward the Great Mountain Supreme Deity who toyed with the fates of Yeon Wei and Hon Won now passes to me.
'I will return it to that one... on your behalf without fail.'
Trading blows with my friend Yeon Jin, I decided to accept his heart.
He too seems to realize this, as he nods his head with a peaceful face.
The other Grand Cultivators only shake their heads, thinking Yeon Jin has gone senile again.
'He will not reach the Star Shattering stage.'
For a cultivator at the Integration stage and beyond, the desire to rise in realm is not that immense.
It is said that humans want endlessly to live and live again, experiencing every joy of life, but even so, their lifespan is 150,000 years.
150,000 years.
A span of time where Yang Su-jin could appear 50 times.
Even that, with special secret arts or elixirs, their lifespan can extend up to 200,000 years.
In extreme cases, there are even Integration stage cultivators who live up to 300,000 years.
After enjoying every pleasure in life, every mountain and sea delicacy, and relishing in all manner of new things, do they truly want to live endlessly?
Human desire is not infinite.
The power of desire seems strongest, but its limits are also the clearest.
I realize that Yeon Jin's desire and goal come only this far, and I nod.
-You have suffered much. When you go...go in peace.
I send a heart message to Yeon Jin, and I take measures on Yeon Jin's Supervisory Eye that reaches me.
Chijijik-
Yeon Jin flinches in shock, squeezes his eyes shut, and soon surprise settles on his face.
From now on, Yeon Jin's 'eye' can be passed down to the next Palace Lord of Penglai Palace.
The descendant he designates will inherit the Supervisory Eye generation after generation along with the position of Penglai Palace Lord.
Yeon Jin's descendants will obtain this eye that he reached by devoting his entire life, merely by inheriting the Palace Lord position.
Of course, to use it at Yeon Jin's level would require over fifty thousand years of bitter training, but considering the ability of the Supervisory Eye, even that would be a cheap price.
Sensing my consideration, Yeon Jin once again offers me a small thanks.
Thus, in that brief meeting with Yeon Jin, I do everything I need to do.
'What was that, just now?'
From the eyes of third parties, Seo Gyeong and Hon Jin's sparring is lousy.
The spar between Hon Jin, who despite being an old monster at the Grand Perfection Integration stage, drifts in and out of senility and his vitality is so drained he may die on any day, and the Four-Axis stage kid Seo Gyeong, is disappointing.
It just ended with them scuffling a bit.
However, Wol Ryeong can tell.
'Between the two, something immense was exchanged. Seo Gyeong, you...'
In some ways, it is a situation where Seo Gyeong can seem suspicious.
But for some reason, Wol Ryeong's heart chooses not to suspect Seo Gyeong, but to dig into the techniques Seo Gyeong showed.
Just how in the world did you...manifest such transcendent divine authorities in a human body...? I want to know, too...'
Ordinarily, the power of the fate she belongs to should reveal what is suspicious and make her wary of what is unknown, but...
Strangely, that power does not activate.
As if some part is subtly broken.
Perhaps an error that no one knows has arisen in her fate...
But no one notices it.
For that error is too subtle to even call an error, and in some respects it even further realizes her fate.
Wol Ryeong does not spar.
It is because she has realized much from the spar between Seo Gyeong and Hon Jin and does not even have the leisure to digest those enlightenments, and because Gol Maek also says to stop the friendly sparring.
In the end, the contest of momentum of the Radiance Spirit Sect party ends in the defeat of the Radiance Spirit Sect disciples.
All the Radiance Spirit Sect late-stage prodigies perform the missions assigned by the Grand Cultivator Association in accordance with the Human Race Grand Alliance's demands, and only ten years later do they finally become eligible to receive support for the Thunder Resonance Valley subjugation mission.
Kurung, kururururung!
Earth Tribe territory.
There, Dragon King Gyu Ryeon, who established herself as the Earth Tribe's True Dragon Alliance Lord, meets the Grand Cultivator Association of the Human Race Grand Alliance and the Radiance Spirit Sect disciples.
"Are fellow distinguished ones the ones who have come to subjugate that fanatic cultist group called Thunder Resonance Valley that has settled in our Earth Tribe territory and is sucking dry all the dragon veins of the Earth Tribe territory?"
At Gyu Ryeon's words, Wol Ryeong nods and steps forward.
"Yes, it is us four disciples of the Radiance Spirit Sect-Wol Ryeong, Mu Geom, Bi Hwa, and Seo Gyeong. We have come to subjugate Thunder Resonance Valley, so we ask that the Dragon King also help with the Thunder Resonance Valley subjugation."
"Well, good. As it is, the entire Earth Tribe territory is caught in a shortage of cultivation resources because of those Thunder Resonance Valley bastards...so I would like it if the subjugation were done even a day faster. First, let us go to Thunder Resonance Valley's main mountain, Thunder Sword Mountain, over there in the distance, and I will give you the detailed explanation as we go."
Thus, the subjugation of Thunder Resonance Valley, a fanatic cultist group under an evil god, finally begins.
-x-X-x-
"Thunder Resonance Valley is a newly risen sect that suddenly appeared a few years ago and expanded its power. You can say they mainly train Lightning Path Methods and Sword Path Methods...but in essence, they are a cult that worships a transcendent True Immortal. Centered on the Lightning Sword High Person of the Human Race, they aggressively proselytize without distinguishing between the Heaven Tribe, Earth Tribe, or Mortal Races... In everything they do, they keep pulling in nearby dragon veins with formations and are reducing the amount of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy everywhere."
Kugugugugu!
Together with Gyu Ryeon, as they transfer to a place called Thunder Mountain in the Earth Tribe territory, Wol Ryeong's party listens to her explanation.
"If they were only depleting the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of a single region, it would be inconvenient but bearable. But...whatever they are trying to do, they are depleting the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of the entire Earth Tribe territory. At this rate, the Earth Tribe territory's Heaven and Earth spiritual energy will drop to the level of a Decaying Corpse Realm."
At that grave voice, Wol Ryeong asks, looking puzzled.
"That aside, Senior Gyu. Why is such a heinous evil god's cult still left alone? Even in the Earth Tribe there are Esteemed Ones at the Star Shattering stage, and just looking at you, Senior Gyu, it seems you could trample someone like the Lightning Sword High Person or whatever as is..."
"Hah, in the end it is because we are the Earth Tribe."
Gyu Ryeon clicks her tongue with a cold sneer.
"Hundreds of thousands of years ago, when the Vast Cold Realm, which was originally in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, moved to the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, Sacred Master Baek Woon, who originally held the Sacred Master position, disappeared...and the will of some transcendent True Immortal took the Sacred Master seat. Unlike Sacred Master Baek Woon, that True Immortal's will truly takes a completely hands-off stance, not interfering no matter what happens in the Vast Cold Realm. Aside from restoring the name of the realm from Bright Cold () to Vast Cold (), that True Immortal has done nothing in this world. Thanks to that...the Esteemed Ones who were formerly bound to duties and obligations under Sacred Master Baek Woon are not particularly staying in the Vast Cold Realm now." "Pardon? But the Heart Tribe territory also has three Esteemed Ones, and there is even a person called the Final Heaven Esteemed One of the Fighting Ghost Race..."
"Ah, the originally sly Heart Tribe spy bastards, whether their main body is in the Vast Cold Realm or in another Middle Realm, find it easy to exercise power regardless of distance...so we have to set those ones aside."
When the Heart Tribe comes up, Gyu Ryeon's expression worsens, and toward the puzzled Wol Ryeong, Seo Gyeong suddenly sends a voice transmission.
[I looked into it before I came. They say Senior Gyu was a cotton plantation owner who worked the Mortal Race as slaves, but when one of the Mortal Race awakened as a Heart Tribe and fled, she suffered an injury.]
[Oh dear...]
Clicking her tongue inwardly, Wol Ryeong brings the topic back.
"If so... is there some relation between being of the Earth Tribe and being unable to subjugate Thunder Resonance Valley?"
"The True Immortal."
Gyu Ryeon continues.
"A sect that clearly has a True Immortal as backing...even if it is a race of a Middle Realm, no one dares touch it. If it is a Middle Realm that has a Sacred Master, the Sacred Master on their own keeps even sects backed by True Immortals from crossing the line...but the True Immortal who currently rules the Vast Cold Realm does not care at all no matter which sect crosses what line or how far. If it were ordinary matters between sects, clans, or races, it is possible to respond at the Heaven Tribe or Earth Tribe level, but in the case of a sect with a True Immortal as backing..."
Gyu Ryeon's eyes grow dark.
"...unless it is a faction backed by a True Immortal as well, if things go wrong, there is absolutely no way to deal with the aftermath."
Gyu Ryeon bitterly glares at Thunder Resonance Valley's main headquarters, Thunder Mountain, and
mutters.
"We are the Earth Tribe. This world is ruled by Heaven Immortals, and since the Immortal Beasts who support the Earth Tribe mostly are beings of the faction after death...unless we have the help of the Heaven Tribe, who are far more likely than us to receive the support of Heaven Immortals, there is no answer."
"And...for that reason, even if it is because you bear the orders of Heaven Immortals on your backs...nonetheless, I extend deep thanks to you members of the Radiance Spirit Sect who have come to help us."
Paaat!
At last, they arrive right in front of Thunder Mountain and look up at it.
"Have you come?"
Kwarurung!
Then, as they arrive in front of Thunder Mountain, thunder roars and someone appears.
A race whose entire body is made of wooden logs.
It is the Tall Tree Race.
Flinch!
And, seeing that Tall Tree Race, Wol Ryeong cannot help but be startled.
"E-Esteemed One?"
"My name is Slaughtering Heaven Esteemed One Geuk Gwang. I am the one who requested support from the Radiance Spirit Sect for the subjugation of Thunder Resonance Valley."
From Geuk Gwang, who introduces themselves as the Slaughtering Heaven Esteemed One, Wol Ryeong feels for some reason as if she can exert strong influence over them.
More precisely, it is not influence, but rather the feeling she once had when looking at family slaves or dogs raised in the household when she was in her clan.
It is a distinct sense of treating someone beneath her.
'What in the world is this? As an Esteemed One, they should be in the same realm as Master...so why do they look so easy to face...and feel like someone beneath me?'
Just then, while she feels puzzled.
Her eyes meet Geuk Gwang's, and their eyes shine.
"Hmm, you must be the representative of the late-stage disciples of the Radiance Spirit Sect. Somehow it feels as though your fate itself resonates with mine, do we share a connection? Of course, you come from the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain where that one resides, so it is only natural we share a connection." "...It seems...so."
"In this subjugation campaign, I leave it in your care. Everlasting Sword Spear."
"Amitayus Buddha."
Geuk Gwang and Wol Ryeong exchange greetings by speaking the folk-religious names of the divinities they believe in, and soon the explanation of the operation begins.
"The current Valley Master of Thunder Resonance Valley, the Lightning Sword High Person, seems to be continuously transmitting the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of the Earth Tribe territory in the Vast Cold Realm to somewhere else. And in exchange for repeating such transmissions and proselytizing, they seem to be receiving power from an evil god."
"By power, what kind...?"
"Things like special authority or divine power. However, the reason I urgently requested subjugation from the Radiance Spirit Sect recently is because...from the information I obtained while infiltrating Thunder Resonance Valley, there are signs that they are trying to summon something terrifying into the Vast Cold Realm."
"Something terrifying...?"
"The Divine Banner of the God they enshrine in Thunder Resonance Valley. They seem to be trying to bring something called the Heavenly Lightning Banner into this land. And if that Heavenly Lightning Banner is truly the one I know..."
Shiver...
The body of Esteemed One Geuk Gwang trembles.
"... The Valley Master Lightning Sword High Person will instantly rise to become a Star Shattering Esteemed One, and Thunder Resonance Valley will sweep across the entire Vast Cold Realm, proselytizing the doctrine of their evil god to all of the Vast Cold Realm and turning all into fanatics."
At those words, Wol Ryeong realizes the danger of the matter.
'It is not without reason that the Star Shattering stage Esteemed Ones were mobilized.'
Though she is separated from her master for now due to the insidious scheme of the Gi Clan's clan head, their group was to originally conduct the subjugation of Thunder Resonance Valley together with Esteemed One Baek Geom.
Considering that even one of the Vast Cold Realm's Esteemed Ones, Slaughtering Heaven Esteemed One, is taking part in the subjugation, a total of two Esteemed Ones were being mobilized just to destroy a sect whose sect master is, at best, only at the Integration stage.
'Carrying out the missions of the Grand Cultivator Association for ten years in the Vast Cold Realm has been beneficial.'
She realizes that the Grand Cultivator Association has actually been considerate towards them.
If they had recklessly charged into Thunder Resonance Valley without even their master, they surely would have suffered a great setback.
Perhaps some of them may have even lost their lives.
Through cultivation and missions over the past ten or so years, Wol Ryeong rose to the Grand Perfection Integration stage, and Seo Gyeong, by diligently hunting criminals and devilish cultivators of the Vast Cold Realm, quickly built the axes through the Heterodox Axis Foundation and rose to the Grand Perfection Four-Axis stage.
Seo Gyeong's progress as everyone expects, but none can help but be appalled at Wol Ryeong's speed of growth.
A being who had just entered the early Integration stage rose to the Grand Perfection Integration stage in only ten years?
This means that the being either is the clone of a True Immortal, or they carry on their back an immense fate beyond imagination.
The reason the Grand Cultivator Association decided to help them after only ten years is perhaps because they perceived the possibility that Wol Ryeong might be the clone of a True Immortal.
However, rather than such things, Wol Ryeong contemplates what she gained from this journey to the Vast Cold Realm.
'Rain, Sunlight, Heat, Cold, Wind, Time.'
The formulas of Various Omens, which the Radiance Spirit Sect did not exactly teach with passion.
By continually contemplating and repentantly enlightening herself on those basic formulas, she made them her own in ten years and attained Grand Perfection of the Integration stage.
'While repentantly enlightening, I came to understand. These formulas are not simple formulas. They are symbols containing power in themselves...'
She recalled the power shown by Do Ryeok on her first day in the Human Race territory, and the transcendent enlightenments shown by Hon Jin, and by madly racing toward those things, she has reached this place.
'Had I not seen those enlightenments, I would still be lingering in the early Integration stage. That I could behold those enlightenments that day is heavenly fortune.'
"I will explain the details as we go in. Right now, time of the essence..."
Following Geuk Gwang, she infiltrates Thunder Resonance Valley and thinks.
'Did Master...see such things, know of them, and send me here so that I would undergo repentant enlightenment upon them?'
For some reason, it does not seem to be something so simple.
'My fate is set to head to the Vast Cold Realm. If so, then the being called my master is not actually the existence called Baek Geom, but fate...the heavens themselves, isn't it?'
The heavens are her master.
Wol Ryeong, feeling a strange sensation she herself has never felt until now, follows along with Geuk Gwang.
"...First, their Heavenly Lightning Banner summoning ritual proceeds in four stages. Drawing in the nearby dragon veins and amplifying them, 'Amplifying Spirits'. Offering the amplified spiritual energy as a sacrifice to the Evil God, 'Banner Offering'. Mediating between the Evil God and the Lightning Sword High Person while also summoning the spirits of lightning that aid the summoning ritual of the true Heavenly Lightning Banner, 'Spirit Summoning'. Lastly, arranging a formation with those spirits of lightning to descend the Evil God's divine artifact, the Heavenly Lightning Banner, into this Vast Cold Realm, 'Heavenly Lightning Banner Summoning"."
"We must interfere with them at the third stage, 'Spirit Summoning"."
Listening to Geuk Gwang's explanation, Wol Ryeong's eyes gleam, and Seo Gyeong, Mu Geom, and Bi Hwa look at her in puzzlement.
"What do you mean, Junior Sister? Isn't it best to ruin the ritual of Amplifying Spirits rather than Spirit Summoning? Or during Banner Offering..."
"The Amplifying Spirits ritual is not that difficult. They can do it anywhere even if not here. If we interfere here, they can just move their base, hide somewhere else, and carry out the ritual.
"The Banner Offering ritual is difficult because it requires a place with the right conditions and the making of a consecrated site, and it also consumes a lot of materials each time it is performed, so it is a good point to interfere... But since the Evil God is directly involved, that too is dangerous.
"However, if it is only summoning the spirits of lightning that merely represent the will of the Evil God... then even if a portion of the spirits of lightning's power is summoned, it is relatively safe, the materials consumed by the summoning ritual would be astronomical, the creation of the altar to summon the spirits of lightning would also take an enormous amount of effort, and during the summoning ritual, it would be difficult for the caster to move, so they would be far more openings."
At Wol Ryeong's explanation pouring out like flowing water, they nod, and Geuk Gwang speaks. "Your words are correct. You understand well. And that Spirit Summoning ritual is set to take place ten months from now. What you must do is, starting today, infiltrate into Thunder Resonance Valley, become thoroughly familiar with the valley's divine powers, their actions, and their habits, and then raid their Spirit Summoning ritual. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand. But if we are to infiltrate, by what method should we do so...?"
"How else? It is simple. I have already arranged to push for the initiation of new disciples, timed with your arrival."
Geuk Gwang, who has long hidden within Thunder Resonance Valley and taken up an important position, speaks with gleaming eyes.
"You will each conceal your identities and realms and enter as Qi Refining disciples of Thunder Resonance Valley!"
At those words, Seo Gyeong's face takes on a strangely odd expression, while Wol Ryeong, Mu Geom, and Bi Hwa, encountering an infiltration mission for the first time, wear expressions of fascination.
"... With this, the initiation test is concluded, and by the special selection of Elder Dae Gwang, these four individuals are specially admitted: Wol Ryeong of the Celestial Dog Race, Mu Geom of the Heavenly Fox Race, and Bi Hwa and Seo Gyeong of the Human Race!"
A Qi Building cultivator supervising the new Qi Refining disciples entering Thunder Resonance Valley raises a register and shouts, and at his declaration, the Qi Refining disciples glare, seeking those lucky ones with such fortune.
They may be a cult of fanatics, but Thunder Resonance Valley is one that clearly has the backing of a True Immortal.
How hard is it to enter such a Thunder Resonance Valley, and yet they come in so easily merely under the status of being connected to an Elder called 'Dae Gwang'!
And so, the eyes filled with jealousy instantly find the four.
A white robed cultivator showing the ears and tail of a dog, Wol Ryeong.
A white robed cultivator showing the ears and tail of a fox, Mu Geom.
A white palace-robed disciple with flower-like beauty: Bi Hwa.
A white martial-robed cultivator with no distinguishing features, Seo Gyeong.
These are the ones who catch their eyes.
"You are the specially selected disciples of the Elders? Follow me. Since Elder Dae Gwang has recommended you to the Inner Valley, you are Inner Valley disciples."
The Qi Building cultivator serving as their guide repeatedly glares at them, clearly displeased that these new disciples are entering Thunder Resonance Valley through special selection.
Seeing this, Wol Ryeong's group does not know what to do with the strange amusement rising inside them.
[Well now, hiding our realms and pretending to be at the Qi Refining is quite fun.]
[Ahaha, indeed, Senior Brother. If that one found out I am actually at the Integration stage, I wonder how his expression would change.]
Mu Geom and Bi Hwa chatter and chuckle through voice transmission, and Wol Ryeong, holding Seo Gyeong's hand so he does not grow too tense, also finds it hard to suppress her smile at the strange amusement of this situation.
'This...is more fun than I thought.'
Hiding their realms, hiding their strength and skill, pretending to be low-level Qi Refining cultivators, and calling a mere Core Formation cultivator their 'great senior-the very situation itself is ridiculous and entertaining.
'Elder...Dae Gwang. Even Esteemed One Geuk Gwang is amusing too.'
She recalls the Star Shattering stage cultivator Geuk Gwang, who infiltrated Thunder Resonance Valley under the name Daeg Gang and the realm of Nascent Soul, and she lets out a chuckle.
"Give your greetings, you kids. This is Elder Ten Thousand Laws. At Elder Dae Gwang's request, though they are not your formal master, they will serve as your temporary master."
"Call me Ten Thousand Laws Spiritual Lord. I hold the role of spreading Thunder Resonance Valley's teachings. Greetings are unnecessary. Now then, you will soon be at the Qi Building stage, so let us first go get your Qi Building pills and Qi Building methods."
The old man who introduces himself as Ten Thousand Laws Spiritual Lord leads them to the library of Thunder Resonance Valley.
"Give your greetings, this is Eastern Brilliance. He is the keeper of the Valley's library."
"I am the Library Keeper Eastern Brilliance. Call me Eastern Brilliance Spiritual Lord. Do you have any particular type of method you want?"
"Well, nothing too grand. Just basic methods would be greatly appreciated."
Wol Ryeong and the others accept Thunder Resonance Valley's basic Qi Building methods handed to them by Eastern Brilliance Spiritual Lord, thinking to themselves.
'My word, Qi Building methods! I've never practiced them since I was born at the Core Formation stage. How fascinating."
'I learned these as a baby since I was born at the Qi Building stage. How nostalgic.'
'These are the foundational methods I learned as a child. Haha, it brings back memories of when I was six years old.'
[Are they not just too cute, Junior Sisters?]
[Yes, Senior Brother. Was he called Eastern Brilliance Spiritual Lord? He brought this for us to practice, right? He's so adorable I want to scratch his belly.]
[But why are they staring at us so intently, Senior Sister, Senior Brother?]
[Who knows. There is no way Nascent Soul babies could overhear the voice transmissions of Integration Grand Cultivators...they must just be putting on a solemn act. So cute. And did you hear? Spiritual Lord! Ahahaha, even if it is just a title...they're calling themselves Spiritual Lords as a Nascent Soul! Ahahaha! Ten Thousand Laws Spiritual Lord, Eastern Brilliance Spiritual Lord...ahahaha! Them pretending to be dignified is so cute it is killing me.]
Centered around Mu Geom, Wol Ryeong's group accept the basic methods while exchanging amused voice transmissions about how cute they find the Ten Thousand Laws Spiritual Lord and Eastern Brilliance Spiritual Lord, who stare at them with peculiar eyes.