[What a funny guy.]
Black Dragon King laughs, baring his teeth.
[A human of the Human Race who has mastered the body refining method? Daring to stand before me? Do you not know that the vast majority of body refining methods you humans learn are but inferior versions of the demon beast methods? To boldly use an inferior method before me, one of the strongest of the Earth Tribe?]
Azure Tiger Saint remains silent.
Shiiiiing―
"...?"
I’m startled as I look at Azure Tiger Saint.
'The color, it’s changing.'
It’s just as said.
The Azure Spirit Striking Origin Technique contained in his fists, which should have been rippling with a blue light and his wings, are gradually changing to a different color.Redness gradually fades from the body of Azure Tiger Saint.
It’s clear without asking.
It’s the essence of his life, the energy of his blood, rippling and leaving the body of Azure Tiger Saint.
The blue of the Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter and the red of Azure Tiger Saint merge, turning into purple.
As the Tenth Wing unfolds, Azure Tiger Saint transforms into the incarnation of purple.
His appearance seems vaguely similar to Oh Hyun-seok, who had transformed his body with the energy of Primordial Chaos.
[Ha, you dare to oppose me? A mere body cultivator?]
Kurung, Kurururung!
Dark clouds begin to gather around the Black Dragon King, augmenting his power.
However, Azure Tiger Saint pays no heed and walks towards the Black Dragon King.
Kung, Koong, Kung!
With each step forward, his entire body gradually becomes larger.
With one step, he grows as much as a Fen (0.32 cm) with two steps, a Cun (3.33 cm), with three steps, a Chi (32.3 cm).
After four steps, he grows as much as a Ren (165 cm), five steps a Jian (1.8 m), and after six steps, he grows as much as a Ting (110 m).
Finally, after seven steps, Azure Tiger Saint's body has grown as much as a Li (500 m)
Kwoong!
Eight steps.
Azure Tiger Saint grows another 10 Li.
Kwoong!!!
Nine steps.
100 Li!
And at last.
Ten steps!
Kwaang!
[What…!?]
Black Dragon King is flustered.
The body of Azure Tiger Saint continues to grow.
‘That’s, the Giant Transformation Technique that can be unleashed at the Heavenly Being stage through the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method…!’
But this transformation is even more immense than what I have heard.
'Burning his life to gain power beyond the Four-Axis stage!?'
It’s a power that can't be explained otherwise!
Soon, Azure Tiger Saint, now far larger than the mountain-sized Black Dragon King, raises his fist.
Akin to a Titanic Deity in Purple!
Suddenly, Azure Tiger Saint's wings retract into his body, and two purple dragons writhe on his arms.
[What…!]
Before the Black Dragon King can fully regain his composure.
Kwaang!
Azure Tiger Saint's punch plummets down on the Black Dragon King.
Kugugugugung!
Literally.
The heavens and earth split apart.
The black sea created by the Black Dragon King is torn asunder.
And the Black Dragon King, who had seemed formidable in our confrontation until now, coughs up blood and falls!
[You...bastard...! Are you burning your life!?]
Kururung, Kurung!
The body of Azure Tiger Saint appears like a purple universe.
Within his body, numerous purple celestial bodies can be seen floating.
Azure Tiger Saint remains silent even as he faces Black Dragon King.
He just keeps pressing on!
That's the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method’s final stage.'
The state of Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter becomes the base while life is burned.
The ultimate technique of the Azure Spirit Striking Origin Technique, the Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter, is wrapped around the fist. After transforming into a giant deity through Celestial Body Transformation of the Starlight Protecting Void Body, the tremendous power of the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture supports him.
Fighting against the Black Dragon King, surrounded by darkness, his giant form looks like a purple celestial god.
Kim Yeon doesn’t just watch. She controls the Integration stage puppets to press the Black Dragon King.
The Black Dragon King, who had been fighting evenly against the Integration stage puppets, begins to be pushed back.
No, he was clearly being driven back by Azure Tiger Saint.
Kwagwang!
With every punch from Azure Tiger Saint that grazes his scales.
It is visible to the naked eye how the body of the Black Dragon King is being torn apart.
Kwaang!
The Black Dragon King is blown back, coughing up blood.
He glares at us, bleeding.
[You...kr, krh...dare...dare...!]
He is furious.
The Black Dragon King roars.
[Do you think I would lose to the likes of you!? I do not lose! I am the Black Dragon King, Hyeo Eum! I will return to my grand position!]
Chiieeeee!
Simultaneously, a red aura begins to swirl around his entire body.
Between the Black Dragon King's black scales, red blood energy starts to surge.
[Very well, now that I know your determination, let me prepare mine as well. Consider it an honor, I'm willing to shorten my lifespan just to annihilate you all!]
Kiiiiing!
"...!?"
And the next moment.
The blood energy emanating from the Black Dragon King soars even higher, and he suddenly charges towards the Esteemed One's left foot.
The Black Dragon King and the Esteemed One's Left Foot merges.
Kiiing!
Red light twists and writhes together.
[Ooooooh...!]
Within the writhing Esteemed One's Left Foot, the red tentacles of the corals seem to pull the Black Dragon King's body.
However, the next moment, the Esteemed One's Left Foot completely disperses in all directions!
"...!?"
The Esteemed One's Left Foot becomes a cloud.
No, it becomes a storm.
Kurung, Kururung!
At the same time, a sea.
The red blood cloud, harboring black lightning inside, disperses in all directions.
Simultaneously, the blood swarming between the red clouds look almost akin to a sea.
Woong, Wooroong!
"...!?"
The Black Dragon King merged with the Esteemed One's Left Foot, transforming into a phenomenon of the heavens and earth.
The devilish energy of the True Devil realm is drawn into the red storm, attacking the giant transformed Azure Tiger Saint.
Azure Tiger Saint, buried within the dark red storm, silently faces off against the massive amalgamation formed by the fusion of the Black Dragon King and the Esteemed One.
Kim Yeon also mobilizes the Integration stage puppets to block the red storm, but it proves futile.
'It can’t be stopped!'
It has already surpassed the power of the Integration stage!
I have seen a being emitting that level of power before.
[Her]!
The [Her] who was modified by the Mad Lord braggingly to the Star Shattering stage emitted precisely that level of authority!
'We have to help!'
I look at Azure Tiger Saint burning his life.
The red storm is not just attacking his body.
The mind!
It’s clear to my eyes that Azure Tiger Saint's mind is also being rapidly eroded by the storm.
'I can't physically block the storm. Even if Kim Yeon mobilizes the entire Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, it will be difficult. What I can do is...'
I barely manage to move my trembling body again.
'To infuse blessings into his heart, so he can protect himself!'
The Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace, in addition to infusing the Nascent Soul, is a strike that expels all of oneself in an instant.
Naturally, it places an enormous strain on the body as well, not only on the Nascent Soul.
Last time, I used the Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace to save everyone from the Esteemed One's technique and to lift Kim Yeon's seal, I used it once more.
Having performed the feat of squeezing out my entire being twice in one day, my body has been in a very poor state since then.
If I use Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace again this time, it will shave off at least 200 years off my lifespan.
But….
'That's nothing.'
After all, once you reach the Nascent Soul stage, time is in abundance.
So, there's no need to hesitate any longer!
Tstssts!
I gather every droplet of strength in my entire body.
Kim Yeon manipulates the Integration stage puppets to support Azure Tiger Saint, and Oh Hyun-seok is also gathering power, squeezing out his strength for Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter
The remnants of the Human Race from within the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress also came out, each preparing spells to support Azure Tiger Saint.
"Master!"
Oh Hyun-seok shouts loudly as he charges forward.
Charararak!
Seven pairs of wings extend from his back.
They are wings surely made at the cost of his lifespan.
Just when numerous individuals prepare to assist Azure Tiger Saint with their abilities,
At that moment,
Azure Tiger Saint, who was blocking the storm, suddenly glances back.
The instant I see Azure Tiger Saint's eyes, I realize his intentions and shout.
"Master! Don't…."
Kugugugugu!
Azure Tiger Saint throws a punch towards us.
"...!"
As his fist moves, the armor he is wearing,
The Blue Sky Armor, which had been dyed purple along with his technique, is stripped away and flies towards us.
And perhaps due to the Blue Sky Armor's function,
We can feel the space itself being pushed back by the fist wind emanating from his fist, distancing us from him.
Azure Tiger Saint's voice softly reaches us.
[The Earth Tribe Grand Alliance will soon close the dimensional gate again. Leave quickly.]
"Master!!!"
Oh Hyun-seok, with tears streaming down his face, calls out to Azure Tiger Saint, and I employ Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace with all my focus.
Paaat!
It seemed as though a flash of light moved forward.
However, my Nascent Soul failed to reach Azure Tiger Saint.
Due to being pushed away from him, the distance my Nascent Soul had to travel became larger.
My Nascent Soul just barely fails to reach Azure Tiger Saint and is about to return to me!
But, I keep my mouth shut and use a different technique.
The moment my Nascent Soul wielded by the Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace gets closest to Azure Tiger Saint,
I use the mystical technique given to me by Gyeon Shin.
The spell of the Mysterious Bizarre Gu!
Whizz!
From my Nascent Soul, a fragment of my soul falls off and permeates into the body of Azure Tiger Saint.
A spell originally created to counter the mental interference of the Blood Yin Realm Heavenly Fiends.
Through Mysterious Bizarre Gu, I crawl into Azure Tiger Saint’s soul.
I then support his soul, resisting together against the mental interference of the Esteemed One that is eroding his mind.
'Are you… Seo Eun-hyun?'
Noticing the presence of my soul, Azure Tiger Saint asks.
I imbue strength into Azure Tiger Saint's consciousness and reply.
'Come to this side now! If Master moves now, we can barely cross over to the Bright Cold Realm together!'
I share my partial soul and vision with Azure Tiger Saint from above the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, persuading him.
Gradually behind us, the dimensional gate of the Bright Cold Realm that Azure Tiger Saint broke through becomes visible.
We are being pushed towards the dimensional gate by the fist wind and the power of the Blue Sky Armor.
The dimensional gate is still closing in real-time.
'If you come quickly now, we can time it so that just Master and not that monster can cross over! Hurry!’
'...Eun-hyun-ah.'
Azure Tiger Saint softly responds to my words.
'Do you know what I promised in exchange for the Earth Tribe Grand Alliance to open the dimensional gate for a moment?'
'Yes?'
‘I promised to halt the advance of the Star Shattering stage Esteemed One with my life. If an Esteemed One of the Blood Yin Realm, even just a clone, are to set foot in the Bright Cold Realm, it will immediately resonate the dimensional coordinates between the Bright Cold Realm and the Blood Yin Realm, providing a foothold for the Esteemed Ones of the Blood Yin Realm to cross into the Bright Cold Realm.’
Azure Tiger Saint smiles bitterly, consoling me.
‘This is fine. If it means I can save my disciples, my juniors, I am satisfied with this.’
I bite my lip tightly.
Tstssts!
The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress finally crosses the dimensional gate into the Bright Cold realm.
‘Why, why do you, instead of yourself, choose to act for your disciples, your juniors? The cultivators I know are selfish, caring only about themselves! You too! Isn’t it okay to live like that?
'....'
After a moment of silence, Azure Tiger Saint smiles at my divided soul.
'Eun-hyun-ah, please convey my last words to Hyun-seok.'
Crack, craduduk!
Gradually, red rays break through Azure Tiger Saint's mental barrier.
I try to block them by sacrificing my soul, but the power of a Star Shattering stage Esteemed One is impossible to stop with just my partial soul.
Crack…
I silently heard the Azure Tiger Saint's last will, his final teaching.
Woooong!
Azure Tiger Saint's body begins to overheat.
After finishing his last words, he speaks to my splitting partial soul.
'...Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I might have already been consumed by the Esteemed One's mind and possibly gone to kill Hyun-seok with my own hands.'
'...Master.'
'Once again, please convey my words to Hyun-seok. You too, keep my words in your heart and live by them. Yes...'
He smiles faintly.
'All this time, as a master, I have learned a lot from you. Thank you, my disciples.'
Flash!
The next moment.
My partial soul is completely torn apart, and red light floods into Azure Tiger Saint's mind.
As I fade away from within Azure Tiger Saint, I witness him gathering all his energy to self-destruct with all his might.
Flash!
Me, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, and the countless members of the Human Race within the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
We see a great star shining from beyond the Devil Realm.
Like fireworks, like flames.
What is certain is that it is a star shining in the darkness.
"Ah, ah… Ahhhhh…!"
Oh Hyun-seok stares at the star with a lost expression.
Finally, we cross the dimensional gate and arrive back in the Bright Cold Realm.
Surrounding us, an immense energy surge.
The Grand Cultivators of the Integration stage!
Seven Human Race Grand Cultivators surround us.
'No, it's not.'
They are projections.
A kind of avatar they sent by projecting their images into the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
These avatars each form a seal, stretching their hands towards the dimensional gate we came from.
"Close the gate!"
Kugugugugu!
The dimensional gate begins to close.
Upon seeing this, Oh Hyun-seok screams out in despair.
“Wait! Just a moment! Please wait! My master, my master is still there!”
He shouts as if he lost his mind, reaching out towards Azure Tiger Saint.
"Quiet! Stay still. Azure Tiger Saint swore to sacrifice his own life to save you! Are you going to waste your Master's death?"
One of the Integration stage Grand Cultivators sternly shouts at Oh Hyun-seok.
But Oh Hyun-seok, half-mad, gathers his energy.
"Wait! What are you doing!"
The Eighth Wing spreads from his back.
The power of a Four-Axis stage at its peak emanates from him.
Oh Hyun-seok too is willing to shave off his lifespan to save Azure Tiger Saint.
"Move! I'm going to save Master!"
Flash!
A dazzling blue light ripples, tearing open the dimensional gate the Grand Cultivators are trying to close.
As a result, the closing of the dimensional gate slows down.
And in that brief gap.
Kwaang!
‘Something’ pushes its hand into the Bright Cold Realm.
“Damn it, you cursed creature!”
“Damn, it’s the Esteemed One's blood corpse!”
It’s a ‘hand’ familiar to us.
The 'hand' thrust into the gap of the dimensional gate gradually moves to pry open the gap in the dimension.
At the same time, from beyond the dimensional gap, a voice identical to the owner of the 'hand' is heard.
"Eun…hyun, ah. Hyun, seok…ah. Open, it. Behind, it, is chasing, me."
"Master…!?"
Oh Hyun-seok is shocked as he looks at the 'hand'.
And then, me and the Grand Cultivators simultaneously shouts.
"Hyung-nim, no!"
"Stop! Stop it, that's not Azure Tiger Saint!"
Crunch....
I grit my teeth.
Recalling the moment when Yuan Li morphed his face with Hyang-hwa’s to beg for his life, the indignation of that insulting anger flared up in my mind once again.
Azure Tiger Saint died.
He perished gloriously.
But that damned Star Shattering stage Esteemed One, and that Black Dragon King!
Just like Yuan Li, they are desecrating the soul of the dead!
"Hyun, seok, ah…! It hurts! Ah, ahh! If, you, help… can live…."
"Master? Is it really you, Master…?"
Crack!
I struggle to my feet, speaking to Kim Yeon.
"Yeon-ah, please suppress Hyun-seok Hyung."
"...Yes."
Kim Yeon, too, seems to be in pain, biting her lips tightly as she moves the puppets to suppress Oh Hyun-seok.
Chirak, chirarak!
Simultaneously, the projections of the Integration stage Grand Cultivators also use their spells to bind Oh Hyun-seok tightly.
"No! Let go! Let me go! Seo Eun-hyun! What are you doing, Master is right there! Master is…!"
"..."
'That's how it was.'
In my past life.
I realize why Oh Hyun-seok fell into madness.
Azure Tiger Saint probably also entered the True Devil Realm to save Oh Hyun-seok back then, and had self-destructed to allow Oh Hyun-seok to escape.
However, Azure Tiger Saint from my past life wasn't protected by my Mysterious Bizarre Gu, and might have been completely taken over by the Esteemed One even before self-destructing.
Now, only an arm is being used by the Esteemed One, but in the past life, perhaps his entire body was taken over and used for such purposes.
The Integration stage Grand Cultivators would have unhesitatingly killed Azure Tiger Saint transformed like that in front of Oh Hyun-seok and then closed the entrance to the True Devil Realm.
The Esteemed One, until the very end, would have begged Oh Hyun-seok for salvation through the mouth of Azure Tiger Saint.
Thus, until the very end, they would have desecrated Azure Tiger Saint's death!
And now!
In this life, since I have become his disciple.
I will never let it happen!
"Do not desecrate…"
Crunch, crunch!
My entire body creaks.
Moving any more feels like it will kill me.
But still, I move.
Taking my stance, I prepare Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.
"Someone’s death..."
Roar!
Once again, squeezing out my Nascent Soul, I growl towards the arm desecrating Azure Tiger Saint's death.
"With that filthy mouth!"
Flash, flash, flash!
Kim Yeon's puppets each shoot beams and cast spells to push the 'arm' out of the dimension.
The projections of the Grand Cultivators also try in their own way to expel the 'arm'.
"Senior Brother Oh."
Not as Seo Eun-hyun, Oh Hyun-seok's younger brother, but as the disciple of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, I call Oh Hyun-seok while concentrating my energy.
"Grand, Cultivators! I have, good, information, to share! That guy, is, from the, Heart, Tribe! He, learned, the Heart Path, Method!"
The 'arm' wriggles, pointing at me, but I pay it no mind, my eyes shining as I continue.
"From now on, I will convey the last words of our master to you."
Why did Oh Hyun-seok fall in my past life?
Why did he go mad with grief?
It might have been due to the schemes of the Blood Yin Realm Esteemed One, but perhaps it was because the last words of Azure Tiger Saint hadn't been conveyed to him.
Although he inherited the symbol of Azure Tiger Saint's power, the Blue Sky Armor, he hadn't inherited the true essence of Azure Tiger Saint's spirit.
That's why, possessing power but a crushed spirit, he fell into corruption.
Zzzing!
The 'arm' gradually turns red.
From the 'arm', red corals sprout, coloring the surroundings.
The voice of the Black Dragon King, overlapped with someone else's, echoes all around.
[The Vice is palpable. The wickedness of the filthy Human Race, who cold-heartedly abandoned their own kind in the Devil Realm and closed the gate...]
Chiieeee!
"What is this…!"
"The Blood Yin Esteemed One is using some kind of sorcery!"
"It's the devilish arts of the Blood Yin Realm!"
Red corals begin to grow from the projections of the Integration stage Grand Cultivators.
The red corals dye the heaven and earth spiritual energy in the Bright Cold Realm into devilish energy, further empowering the 'arm'.
Gradually pushed back by the attacks of the Integration stage puppets, the 'arm' slowly approaches us.
[Another Vice is felt. The wickedness of a madman who crazily modified other races into puppets....]
Suddenly, red corals also begin to sprout from the puppets controlled by Kim Yeon.
Creak, creak, creak…!
"Ugh…!"
Kim Yeon clenches her teeth, attempting to control the Integration stage puppets, but the red coral creates fissures in the command system between her and the puppets.
At some point, the red energy emitted by the red coral flows back along Kim Yeon's consciousness thread, invading her upper dantian.
"Aaaagh!"
Kim Yeon endures the pain, struggling to push the red energy out of her mind using her consciousness.
In an instant, Kim Yeon is incapacitated.
[Another Vice is felt... The wickedness of those filthy beings who without hesitation baked and ate the same sentient species as elixirs....]
"Haah!"
"What is this…!"
"My body…!?"
Red corals begin to grow from the bodies of the Human Race remnants around.
'What is...!'
I am shocked by this scene.
‘Can the concept of Vice be manipulated like this? No, more importantly... The Blood Yin Esteemed One's Left Hand and Foot didn't use such sorcery. Has the Black Dragon King started using such spells after merging with the Esteemed One's Left Foot?'
Fzzt, fzzt...
Corals sprout from me as well, but fortunately, the corals that emerge from me wither and die on the spot.
Seeing this, I intuitively understand.
Until now, the Black Dragon King was just one of the dragon kings from the demon race.
An Integration stage Black Dragon King who was born with a bit of immortal blood, but that was all.
But at this moment.
Having merged with the flesh of the Blood Yin Esteemed One, it seems the Black Dragon King had transformed into something [Different].
'He freely uses techniques that even a division of the Star Shattering Esteemed One couldn't use.... What exactly is he?'
To use the concept of Vice so freely?
"Ugh, no!"
"Damn it, that Blood Yin Realm Fiend...!"
The projections of the Grand Cultivators are quickly covered in coral, and the humans near the dimensional gate are all enveloped in coral, starting to be annihilated.
"Haa..."
I smile bitterly.
I think of what Azure Tiger Saint, no.
What my Master had said to me.
If it has come to this, I have no choice but to act similarly.
If I'm the only one who can act properly, shouldn't I uphold his will now?
Indeed, maybe I should have done this from the beginning.
I quickly take out the White-Red Wine I saved in my storage bag.
The Colorless Glass Sword tightly connects to my soul.
I clench my teeth and summon the power of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.
I have no intention of using a strike that penetrates the essence of that being.
I can't comprehend its thought process.
So, what should I do?
'Convert all the power of the Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace, which is used to penetrate the plane of Soul, into physical force.'
Kiiiiing!
I explode my Nascent Soul at the plane of Qi!
With such a strike, regardless of whether that creature transforms the surroundings into devilish energy or not, I can send it far beyond!
"Listen, Senior Brother Oh"
I approach the being with fierce determination in my eyes.
"This is the last teaching Master has passed on to us."
Sarak, sarararak!
Countless figures appear behind me.
The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
The artifact spirits that make up the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections are only clear as human figures to my eyes.
To others, they will appear as nothing more than a faint mist.
To Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon, it might seem like countless mists are laid out behind me.
Since the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections store memories by 'reproducing' scenes through artifact spirits, it doesn't contain memories in the artifact spirits themselves, making it impossible to transmit memories through it under normal circumstances.
However, at the moment of my soul's explosion.
As my soul's energy is torn apart and scatters in all directions, under the name of 'death', the boundary between self and others disappears, allowing me to show my Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections to others for a very brief moment.
I plan to use this brief instant to reproduce the moment Azure Tiger Saint passed his last words to me and convey it to Oh Hyun-seok.
I turn around.
Oh Hyun-seok, who still hasn't regained his senses.
And Kim Yeon, who is making eye contact with me.
Kim Yeon's eyes tremble.
Fortunately, it seems she could overcome the red energy that invaded her mind.
"Don't go..."
Noticing what I am about to do, tears well up in her eyes.
"...I'm sorry."
I clench my teeth.
I don't want to die either.
Though a regressor’s life is said to be infinite, this time is once in a lifetime.
Every moment is once in a lifetime.
Because I regress, death is all the more terrifying.
Because I regress, it's all the more grievous to abandon this moment and reverse time.
Because I regress, this moment is all the more precious.
And.
Because it’s precious.
I will protect these precious people with my life.
Being able to protect, as my master’s last will says…. is a privilege.
I recall the last words of Azure Tiger Saint, the will he passed at the end.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Once again, I bloom a new technique.
No, to call it a new technique is somewhat inaccurate.
The Twenty-Sixth Move.
If Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace involves fusing all power within the sword and unleashing a strike, the newly created technique merely changes the process of 'unleashing' to 'exploding.'
‘Master.’
"One Annihilation to the Near Shore (一滅導此岸)."
From the sword in my hand, a burst of pure white brilliance explodes.
I explode all the power integrated within my Nascent Soul, with all the energy at the plane of Qi.
The next moment, the brilliant white light covers everything, and my mind is flooded with whiteness.
The Nascent Soul collapses.
But I have no regrets.
If this allows me to protect the precious connections I've formed in this life, even at the cost of my own life, then it is enough.
Countless figures follow behind me.
Through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, everyone I've met so far is my connection and, at the same time, my master
Therefore, I return the favor to my masters as much as I received.
However, I could not return the favor I received from Azure Tiger Saint.
So by upholding Azure Tiger Saint’s will, I will fulfill my duty.
Thus, embracing the words of Azure Tiger Saint, I step towards death with a smile.
"Ah, ah..."
Kim Yeon sheds tears.
He’s going to die.
Seo Eun-hyun, with no one else being able to react to the sorcery used by that evil being from the Blood Yin Realm except him, chooses to sacrifice his life to block the Blood Yin Esteemed One.
'Not like this!'
Just as she gathers all her strength to try and stop him.
Sarararak...
Before her eyes.
Faint illusions appear.
The faint mist that rose behind Seo Eun-hyun materializes as if depicting a person.
It’s Azure Tiger Saint.
The last moments of Azure Tiger Saint.
'That's...!'
A scene from Seo Eun-hyun's memory.
Kim Yeon's pupils narrow instinctively realizing this fact.
And Oh Hyun-seok, having seen the image of Azure Tiger Saint, also stops crying and looks at him.
[Why, why do you, instead of yourself, choose to act for your disciples, your juniors? The cultivators I know are selfish, caring only about themselves! You too! Isn’t it okay to live like that?]
Seo Eun-hyun's voice is also heard.
His question resonates with Oh Hyun-seok.
Oh Hyun-seok wanted to ask Azure Tiger Saint the same.
What exactly is righteousness, what is affection… How could you so easily sacrifice yourself for your juniors?
[Eun-hyun-ah. Please convey my last words to Hyun-seok.]
And Azure Tiger Saint turns around with a smile.
Oh Hyun-seok feels as if the projection of Azure Tiger Saint is looking right at him.
[People, from birth to growth, receive immeasurable grace that cannot be expressed in words. The reason I have upheld righteousness and maintained my version of goodness is because it is the duty and responsibility of everyone who has received grace throughout their life. No, it is not a duty but a privilege.]
The last words of the Azure Tiger Saint continue.
[To act with righteousness, dreaming the impossible dream.
To act with righteousness, overcoming endless trials,
To endure unbearable pain for the sake of righteousness,
To die for the noble ideal that righteousness defines.
Gazing upon righteousness, knowing how to mend our wrongs….]
It is his song.
The belief that Azure Tiger Saint pursued all his life.
Born with a strong and blessed body, living life with the willpower to make bone-grinding efforts.
As a chosen one, showing mercy to the weak.
Providing opportunities to those with abilities, protecting successors as an elder.
Fulfilling responsibilities to those under him.
Azure Tiger Saint, deemed a kind soul by the Mad Lord, sang of pure goodwill.
[...To love each other with purity and goodwill.
To have pride in impossible dreams…]
Hearing Azure Tiger Saint's song, Oh Hyun-seok stops crying.
Wiping his tears, he stands up and respectfully bows towards the illusion of Azure Tiger Saint.
Kim Yeon could no longer try to stop Seo Eun-hyun.
All cultivators.
Especially those above the Nascent Soul stage, reaching the Heavenly Being stage, are madmen.
Though they seem sane on the outside, every one of them has a part that's flawed or gone insane.
Yes.
Azure Tiger Saint was mad with goodwill.
No, to be precise, he was mad with purity.
To believe and act on the insane logic that one can sacrifice oneself for others, for those one is responsible for, for one's people.
Kim Yeon could no longer stop Seo Eun-hyun's actions.
Seo Eun-hyun is now inheriting Azure Tiger Saint's will.
Bearing Azure Tiger Saint's last words in his heart, he truly upholds that will.
Because she can read heart essence through the Mysteriously Wonderful Innate Heart Canon, she was rendered unable to move, reading the resolute heart of Seo Eun-hyun.
Azure Tiger Saint’s song, his purity, finally comes to an end.
[Believing thus, reaching the stars.]
This is not a simple verse.
This is his purity conveyed to Seo Eun-hyun, Oh Hyun-seok, and all remaining disciples of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect.
[Once again, please convey my words to Hyun-seok. You too, keep my words in your heart and live by them. Yes…]
Boom!
The body of Azure Tiger Saint bursts
And just as he had sung,
Azure Tiger Saint becomes a star.
[All this time, as a master, I have learned a lot from you. Thank you, my disciples.]
Flash!
The spirit of Azure Tiger Saint, just like himself, becomes a star and illuminates in all directions.
A madman, lost in purity.
But if this world is hell, maybe it's because he was pure that he had to die now.
Maybe it was because he was too good that he could not live any longer.
However, his will is definitely conveyed to Oh Hyun-seok through Seo Eun-hyun.
Oh Hyun-seok sees a person dispersing with a white glow beyond the star that Azure Tiger Saint became.
"...From now on, I will continue to carry on this will."
Oh Hyun-seok clenches his fist and shouts.
"By doing so... definitely. Definitely, I will prove that Master's heart was not meaningless! Watch over me from the other side, Seo Eun-hyun!"
Oh Hyun-seok, with determination, swallows his tears and shouts at Seo Eun-hyun.
As simply as that.
A person's heart, conveyed to another.
And with that
The fate of Oh Hyun-seok, who would have become a fallen wreck after Azure Tiger Saint's death, twisted.
Step by step...
Kim Yeon slowly approaches Seo Eun-hyun.
Seo Eun-hyun stands there, with his sword swung.
Seo Eun-hyun died while triggering his Nascent Soul.
The dimensional gate completely closed, and the arm of Azure Tiger Saint completely vanished, no longer subject to desecration.
He died with a smile.
Maybe it was the relief of being able to protect his connections in death.
She approaches Seo Eun-hyun and closes his eyes for him.
And then, Seo Eun-hyun's body finally seems to find peace, slowly collapsing into Kim Yeon's embrace.
Kim Yeon lowers her head and gently kisses the lips of the fallen Seo Eun-hyun.
Oh Hyun-seok, watching this scene, murmurs..
"You were... truly meaningful to so many people, Eun-hyun."
Around Seo Eun-hyun, countless ethereal figures stand centered on him.
Those figures embrace Seo Eun-hyun, who now rests on Kim Yeon.
"To me, there was only one master, but for you, Eun-hyun... to you, your masters were everyone now embracing you, weren’t they?"
Oh Hyun-seok momentarily feels as if he sees his own figure among those ethereal spirits and closes his eyes.
"Rest well, Seo Eun-hyun. You’ve sufficiently repaid all the grace of the masters you wished to protect. Now... rest on the other shore."
Oh Hyun-seok thus commemorated Seo Eun-hyun.
However, contrary to Oh Hyun-seok's wishes, Seo Eun-hyun did not reach the other shore (彼岸).
As the name of the ultimate technique, One Annihilation to the Near Shore (一滅導此岸), suggests, the place Seo Eun-hyun was to reach was just another near shore (此岸).
But, for this moment at least.
As he struggled, trying with all his might to repay and protect the grace of all the masters he has met in his life.
Perhaps, Seo Eun-hyun was able to rest comfortably, embraced by the many people around him.
This was Seo Eun-hyun's fifteenth return.
Author's note: I would like to disclose that the last words of Azure Tiger Saint are a homage to 'Don Quixote.'
Azure Tiger Saint was greatly influenced by Don Quixote, especially by Don Quixote's 'purity.'
Now, the purity of Azure Tiger Saint, akin to that of Don Quixote, has been passed on to Seo Eun-hyun.
The Azure Heaven Creation Sect episode was written to awaken both Seo Eun-hyun and myself, feeling that we both had somewhat forgotten the initial spirit of the early days of ‘If I find the way in the morning, I am content with death in the evening.'
Now, having inherited Azure Tiger Saint's purity, Seo Eun-hyun has gained the heart to die again for a noble ideal, bear impossible dreams, fight invincible foes, and endure endless pain.
In a way, it can be said he has rediscovered his original intentions.
As finding the original intention was the main goal of this episode, both Seo Eun-hyun and I will strive to rediscover our initial intentions and work harder.
I extend my gratitude to all readers who have been with us so far and promise to continue delivering good stories in the future. Thank you.
Translator Notes: This cycle is probably my favorite cycle yet. Also, this chapter took the longest time ever to translate (and is probably one of the longest being almost 6k words), almost six hours. Phew.
Btw, Blue Sky Armor can also be translated as Azure Heaven Armor which correlates to Azure Heaven Creation Sect but idk, it sounds too tacky. Blue Sky Armor has that simplistic feel that I think fits better with it being just a dharma treasure. It's totally not because I don't want to go back and update the terms ahahaha.
Extra donated chapter by previous donators on Ko-fi (I forgot to note down the previous donators before deleting Ko-fi. I apoligize!) and A Sexy Cow. Thanks for the support!
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