He had previously discussed his lifespan with me and had rejected both my procedure and the puppet's body, so it makes sense that he passed away now.
He lived according to his natural lifespan, or perhaps even beyond it.
Seo Ran blows Song Jin's ashes onto the Nether Crossing Ship.
The Nether Crossing Ship that Buk Hyang-hwa restored becomes Song Jin's tomb and headstone.
Song Jin's funeral is conducted grandly in its own way.
Seo Ran sits atop the Nether Crossing Ship that Song Jin left behind and gazes at the sky.
I sit beside him and ask.
"...Are you sad?"
"...Master said something to me before he passed away."
"What was it?"As he strokes the Nether Crossing Ship, he speaks.
"My mother, during her time living in the Head Realm, always feared death when she was young. She was so terrified of death that she often screamed out in fear, as if she were suffering from some kind of mental illness."
"..."
"But when she had me, she risked her life to give birth to me despite the potential danger to her own life."
I listen to Seo Ran's words in silence.
"Master said, 'Those who have something precious are not afraid of death.' He cherished me, and he said he had no regrets since he saw his disciple grow up."
He wipes his tears as he looks up at the sky.
"He showed no signs of fear or sorrow when he passed. So, I too will not be sad."
Tears are clearly streaming down his face.
I can read his emotions.
However while I can read them, I cannot understand what they are.
It's said that reaching Five Energies Converging to the Origin requires reading all emotions, but in truth, reading every emotion is impossible.
One must simply acknowledge this fact to reach that realm.
Thus, I cannot grasp Seo Ran's emotions.
Kim Young-hoon said that a martial artist is one who imbues meaning into their weapon.
If so, is a master who entrusts everything to their disciple also a martial artist?
After comforting Seo Ran, I rise into the air to give him some time alone. As I look at Seo Ran sitting on the Nether Crossing Ship, I realize something.
Seo Ran has already come to resemble Song Jin more than Seo Hweol.
He had entrusted even his own image to his disciple.
'If a martial artist is one who imbues meaning into their weapon, then every master in this world is a supreme martial artist.'
The bond and ties that form between people when they entrust something to one another.
Can't the relationships between people also be considered a form of martial arts?
I ponder this question as I leave Seo Ran and return to the religious hall.
And I then realized that because of Song Jin's death, I am shedding tears.
"...Ah."
I'm not particularly sad.
Song Jin was a good person, and while I owed him many favors, there were also many times I almost got scammed and nearly died because of him.
I did learn some methods from him, but he never felt like a master to me like Cheongmun Ryeong did.
I'm not sad.
Yet, like Seo Ran,
I am shedding tears.
And through those tears, I finally understand why my Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections is rampaging.
Imbuing meaning into a weapon is Martial Arts.
And the exchange of meanings between people is a connection.
And sometimes, when there are disruptions in those connections, emotions can become uncontrollable.
Because for the deceased, you can't return anything.
When you have received much from the deceased, those many things overflow as emotions.
The same is true for my Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
I have received too much from those of my past lives.
However, there are many things I can no longer return.
I succeeded in imbuing meaning into my weapon.
However, it was an overflow of meaning.
Having received too many favors, my sword is running wild and exploding.
I do not hold the frenzied sword but quietly mourn for Song Jin.
Even if I hadn't received much from him, even if my connection with him wasn't deep, he was undoubtedly one of my connections.
And so, several decades pass once more.
Kugugugugu!
A Heavenly Tribulation sweeps through the Twilight Domain.
Kwa-jijijik!
Seo Ran is breaking through to the next realm.
After enduring some time under the Heavenly Tribulation, Seo Ran finally showcases his cultivation at the mid Heavenly Being stage.
"Congratulations, Seo Ran."
I smile as I look upon Seo Ran, who is now perfectly transformed into a human form, with none of the characteristics of the Demon Race.
Following my praise, others also shower Seo Ran with congratulations.
In the spiritual energy-rich Ancient Force Realm, Seo Ran acquired a seed of madness after Song Jin's death.
Eventually, Seo Ran used that seed to rise very quickly to the mid Heavenly Being stage.
However, Seo Ran doesn't seem particularly happy about his breakthrough.
"I'm not that great. The truly amazing one is...Shi Ho."
No sooner after Seo Ran finishes speaking does an enormous Heavenly Tribulation strike from afar.
Under the shadow of that Heavenly Tribulation, we see Shi Ho howling.
Shi Ho, having recently consumed a tremendous spiritual fruit from the Ancient Force Realm's Deep Sea, saw his cultivation soar and is now reaching the Four-Axis stage.
How long does thunder and lightning rage in the sky?
When we fly to his location after some time, we see Shi Ho barely getting up, coughing blood.
Hong Fan, standing nearby, says while smiling.
"He almost died enduring the Lightning Tribulation...but Sir Shi Ho successfully reached the Four-Axis stage."
When Shi Ho sees us, he runs crying to Seo Ran.
"Uwaah! Seo Ran! I almost died!"
Seo Ran looks like he is about to lose his mind, but whether he has given up or accepted it, he no longer exudes the disgusted intent he used to.
I laugh heartily and congratulate the two who have safely overcome their Heavenly Tribulations.
"Both of you have successfully passed your Heavenly Tribulations. It's a great blessing for our Wuji Religious Order."
"Thank you."
"Thank you, Cult Leader. And...Cult Leader, may you also safely overcome the Lightning Tribulation!"
"Alright."
I turn my head to look behind me.
At the center of the Wuji Religious Order.
On the roof of the Wuji Religious Hall.
There, my true body is preparing to face the Heavenly Tribulation.
"Now then...shall I take on the Heavenly Tribulation?"
After about a hundred and twenty years.
I have finally completed the Health Axis.
Unlike before, I built it very quickly by receiving lifespans in hundred and two hundred year increments from the Lower Realm beings instead of the previous ten years.
"Now then, I shall complete my Axis."
Paaaatt!
I reabsorb my Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar back into my main body.
Wo-woong!
I draw the dragon vein of Black Island through the Twilight Domain.
An overwhelming strength surges around me.
After surrounding myself with twelve flames created from the Ancient Force Realm's energy, I close my eyes.
I offer a ritual to the Ancient Force Realm.
[O Great Realm of Ancient Force.]
I tear apart ten thousand years of my lifespan!
Kuguguguk!
And I convert that ten thousand years of lifespan entirely into the Health Axis!
Paaaatt!
Then, I return the lifespan accumulated over the past one hundred twenty years back through the Ancient Force Realm.
Wo-woong!
With the Health Axis properly built, I feel the Emptiness (空) of the Six Extremes as the shadows beneath my feet ripple and dance.
With this, they are Longevity, Wealth, and Health.
I have built three axes, and my sense of the Six Extremes has become clearer than ever before.
Previously, the Six Extremes had been mere shadows at my feet, but now they have risen around me, circling like eerie ghosts.
What used to be the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body that spewed black lightning now no longer emits lightning.
They merely hover around me ominously, as if hungry and starving.
However, I pay them no mind and embrace the Axes of Longevity, Wealth, and Health into my bosom.
Thus, I enter the late Four-Axis stage.
Kurung, Kurururung!
Blue and Gold lightning stir in the sky.
Though there is no sky, that bothersome Heavenly Tribulation still occurs even in the Ancient Force Realm.
A terrifyingly powerful Heavenly Tribulation descends upon me!
But when I move my hand, the black clouds releasing the Heavenly Tribulation tears apart with a massive hole, and the tribulation disperses.
The countless ghostly creatures of the Wuji Religious Order witnesses this and cry out in jubilation.
—Kiyaaaaaah!
—Giyaaah!
'A Heavenly Tribulation at the Four-Axis stage is no longer that frightening.'
Honestly, Heavenly Tribulations have long become akin to celebratory fireworks marking my advancement in cultivation.
However, from the Integration stage, Heavenly Tribulations become somewhat more challenging to deal with, and starting from the Star Shattering stage, the severity of Heavenly Tribulations escalates to a level where it practically commands you to perish. Thus, the fear of Heavenly Tribulation should never be fully discarded.
Wiiing-
I close my eyes and float the three Axes around me.
The Six Extremes Axes has only taken shape and lacks any attraction force or spiritual force, making it essentially non-existent.
'It seems the Six Extremes Axes can only be completed when the Five Blessings Axes are completed.'
Just as how the shadow darkens the brighter the light.
The three Axes draw a face.
[TL/N: Face as in mathematical terms.]
In any case, it is now possible to unfold the Four-Axis Canopy.
I extend my hand over the face.
Wo-woong—
Given that the Four-Axis method I practice is the Great Desert to Dead Sea, my Four-Axis Canopy is somewhat predetermined.
Chuaaaaaah!
The image of an endless ashen gray desert appears over the face.
This desert, devoid of both sky and land, only filled with an ashen exterior, looks like the outskirts of the Netherworld.
This is the appearance inside my Four-Axis Canopy.
But I can put in at least one or two things that I want.
Wo-woong!
I float the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections over the desolate desert.
Countless connections from the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections rise to the sky, coloring the world.
The connections emit light. The light they emit, resembling aurora borealis, illuminates the desert.
Of course, to others, it will merely appear as a dull desert covered with hazy clouds, becoming even gloomier, but that doesn't matter to me.
In any case, the interior of this Four-Axis Canopy is now my world.
Wo-woong!
I unfold the Four-Axis Canopy.
The land of the endless desert covers the surroundings.
Typically, a Four-Axis stage could not cover even a tenth of the Twilight Domain with their Four-Axis Canopy, but perhaps it's thanks to Vast Cold's Heavenly Circle and the Six Extremes Axes.
Or maybe due to the presence of the Three Great Ultimates.
Akin to a cultivator at the Integration stage, I manage to cover the entire Twilight Domain with my Four-Axis Canopy.
[Everyone listen! Today, this seat has an important announcement to make.]
All the ghostly creatures of the religious order listen attentively at my words.
Why, of all days, did those who could endure Heavenly Tribulation and advance in cultivation do so today?
[This seat has someone I wish to save. And there are secrets I wish to uncover. Moreover, the cultivation method this seat has practiced is also related to those secrets. Furthermore, this seat discovered some information over a century ago and learned that a certain hidden cave will open soon!
[Only the power of a certain artifact within that hidden cave can help the one this seat wishes to save. Additionally, the secrets this seat seeks to uncover and this seat's method can also be assisted by the power of that artifact!
[Therefore, this seat plans to head towards that hidden cave. However, within that hidden cave, one's cultivation falls to the level of a mere beast that has not undergone spiritual enlightenment or a miscellaneous ghost. Thus, this seat seeks your assistance in that cave. Assist this seat and save those who follow into the cave.
[This matter is not so much related to our order but is a personal affair of this seat, so it is not a command. Those who wish to come may come, and those who do not wish to come may stay.
[This seat, no, I. Not as the Cult Leader, but as a fellow follower of the Wuji Religious Order, ask you. Will you help me?]
In three days,
According to Yuk Rin, Penglai Island will open.
The Salt Mountain within Penglai Island,
And the countless treasures, the Ritual Worship Scriptures for Axis Foundation Practice, among them the Ritual Worship Scripture of Love of Virtue, and more.
There is so much to gain.
According to the information provided by Yuk Rin, it is a very dangerous place.
Even if our cultivation is restricted, it wouldn't matter for me or Kim Young-hoon, but there seems to be limitations that neither my nor Kim Young-hoon's martial power can resolve.
Therefore, I proclaimed to the entire Wuji Religious Order to resolve this with the 'numbers' of the order.
And shortly after my proclamation.
The ghostly creatures and the Demon Race who have joined the Wuji Religious Order in the Ancient Force Realm cheer in unison.
[We believe!!!]
[O Cult Leader! Of course, we shall follow!]
[We believe that we will be shown another miracle!]
[You have never forced us, but even if it were a demand, not a request, we would comply!]
They all cheer in unison, declaring they will follow me. I smile as I look upon them.
[...Thank you.]
As long as they are here, this life must be different from any previous ones.
I will definitely save Cheongmun Ryeong, uncover the secrets of the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique, and prepare to leap to the next realm.
Definitely!
After my declaration,
Countless newly-joined Demon Race followers from other branches of the Wuji Religious Order pour in, declaring their intent to join this Penglai Island expedition.
And three days later.
"Is it here?"
"Yes."
We, led by Yuk Rin, arrive at a small sea domain.
This sea domain, without a proper palace lord and ruled by a Four-Axis island lord, is called Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain.
"It will be revealed at night. Today is a special day."
Kugugugugugu!
Before long, night falls, and the sky is filled with yin energy.
The 'ring of light' that marks daytime in each sea domain fades, and darkness envelops the vicinity.
Usually, that ring of light would emit moonlight, but it does not shine today for some reason.
Yuk Rin speaks.
"Today is the day when Sacred Master Hae Lin stops supplying light to all the sea domains once every few centuries. It's a day when only darkness remains. Since the Sacred Master binds the dimensional canopy of the Ancient Force Realm and forbids (禁) 'light' itself, no sea domain will be illuminated."
Kugugugugu!
Of course, no one here has any problem being without light, so each extends their consciousness domains to perceive their surroundings.
And then, we see the Deep Sea ahead suddenly starting to 'split.'
"The island that only appears on the day when light does not shine. That is Penglai Island."
I lead the Twilight Domain toward the splitting Deep Sea.
'Just like the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person, it seems hidden caves only reveal their entrances on days when light does not shine.'
While pondering idle thoughts, I move the entire Twilight Domain over the fully split gap of the Deep Sea.
"Can you see below?"
Kugugugu!
Below the Deep Sea.
Something massive, like a giant barrier, is caught within the scope of my consciousness.
"That barrier is Penglai Island. As the Sacred Master's rules do not apply inside, there is a separate light source. Do not be surprised if it suddenly becomes bright."
"Thanks for the detailed information."
Following Yuk Rin's explanation, I send the Twilight Domain down towards the barrier.
Since the entire Wuji Religious Order is heading to Penglai Island, I brought the entire Twilight Domain with me.
In other words, the benefits for the entire Wuji Religious Order are hanging on this trip to Penglai Island.
'My shoulders are heavy.'
Perhaps it's because of my thoughts of carrying the entire Wuji Religious Order.
For some reason, my shoulders feel stiff.
Kugugugugugu!
It's just when the Twilight Domain is almost about to approach the barrier.
Chwaaaaak!
From one side of the split Deep Sea, a familiar ship suddenly appears!
"That's...!"
The Salt Bones Ship of the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang!
Yuk Rin's face scrunches at the sight!
"Damn it! What are you doing! Stop those bastards! The structure of Penglai Island is such that the ones who enter first gain the advantage!"
With my expression becoming serious at his words, I launch sword energy.
But at that moment, from behind the Salt Bones Ship, a huge darkness seems to rise, and several deep-sea monsters emerge.
The Fighting Demon Pirate Gang has brought along a horde of deep-sea monsters.
And while we are dealing with the deep-sea monsters, the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang enters the barrier of Penglai Island slightly ahead of the Twilight Domain.
Chwaaaaak!
Our Twilight Domain also enters the barrier shortly after, but Yuk Rin remarks sarcastically.
"Well, what can we do? It seems those thieves will gain more benefits!"
"Be quiet."
Kugugugugu!
When the Twilight Domain finally fully enters the barrier, I open my eyes wide at the sight before me.
It's a colossal Salt Mountain.
At the top of the Salt Mountain is a pure white palace made entirely of Salt Crystals, and the Salt Mountain suddenly emits a bright white light.
Then, all of us, including myself, lose consciousness.
Blink!
I open my eyes.
"...Where is this?"
***
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