Zzzt, zzzt...
I recognize the presence before me and feel a deep chill in my heart.
Literally.
The being within the White Jade Pavilion is no different from a world itself.
The more I try to perceive, the more it feels like my consciousness is sinking into a quagmire.
A presence that evokes despair before any sense of intimidation.
The Administrator of the Bright Cold Realm.
Sacred Master Baek Woon.
Without realizing it, I have fallen to my knees and prostrated myself before Sacred Master Baek Woon."...Seo Eun-hyun of the Human Path pays respects to the Sacred Master."
Snap!
With the sound of something bouncing, I suddenly find myself inside the White Jade Pavilion.
I have entered a grand hall vast enough to be a castle.
'This authority...'
I have seen this kind of unreasonable authority once before—one that can instantly strip away someone's consciousness and place it before them.
The True Persons.
It's the authority of the True Persons at the Entering Nirvana stage.
Which means...
'The being before me must be considered on par with the True Persons.'
Gulp.
I swallow nervously.
Even if the Sacred Master intends to scatter my soul and spirit right now, I don't think I can resist...well not to that extent.
Regardless, it's clear that this is a being capable of harming me at any moment.
"...May I ask why the Sacred Master has summoned this one who is still merely a mortal from the Human Path?"
In response to my question, Sacred Master Baek Woon's clear voice resonates throughout the pavilion.
[Raise your head.]
With a trembling heart, I lift my head.
And then I see it.
A giant.
Kugugugugu!
A giant, whose upper body alone seems to be two or three li long, is sitting on a white jade throne, looking down at me.
Sacred Master Baek Woon's skin has parts that are partially exposed, resembling tree bark, and white branches seem to sprout from her head.
She is dressed in a pure white robe, and from her eyes, upright energy is flowing.
As I continue to gaze up at Sacred Master Baek Woon, I realize that what I am seeing is an illusion.
Flinch!
I snap back to reality and focus my consciousness, and the giant vanishes from my sight, replaced by a withered tree-like being sitting on a small throne.
It looks like a scarecrow made of dried-up wood hastily dressed in a woman's clothes.
Seven lightning spears of different colors are embedded in her chest and abdomen, softly sparking with lightning.
Golden, red, dark blue, purple, pale pink, dark red, and black lightning sparks whip around, forming chains that restrain her movements and coil around her.
Sacred Master Baek Woon tilts her head slightly and speaks.
[As expected...is your weight class at the Star Shattering stage, to have directly pierced through my aura and seen my true form.]
"..."
As I stare at those lightning spears, I somehow feel that I know who their owner is and I let out a sigh in my mind.
My eyes meet those of Sacred Master Baek Woon.
Though her body is like a withered tree due to the lightning spears, her eyes are remarkably similar to the clear, bright ones I have seen in the earlier illusion.
Perhaps the vision I have seen earlier is her true form in her prime.
[Do you know why I summoned you? Traveler from the ominous world.]
"..."
There are too many possibilities, making it impossible to pinpoint exactly what it is.
As cold sweat drips from my brow, she chuckles softly.
Her laughter, while not as potent as the laughter of Esteemed Ones at the Star Shattering stage that could strike like an Integration stage attack just by hearing it, I feel an even greater sense of danger.
While the laughter of the Esteemed Ones felt like they couldn't contain their overflowing power, the laughter of the Sacred Master feels like it has completely controlled that immense power, leaving only pure laughter behind.
A danger even more restrained than that of the Esteemed Ones.
That is the Sacred Master.
[You survived even after meeting that [Arrogant Monarch], did you not?]
"...!"
Arrogant Monarch.
Though the title is incorrect, I instantly know who she is referring to.
It seems she knows that I survived an encounter with the Owner of Great Mountain.
"...Yes."
[That tyrannical Governing Immortal wouldn't have retreated without a reason. Do you know what the reason is?]
"...!"
I'm startled by her words.
She casually mentioned a [Governing Immortal].
Seeing the slight shock on my face, she tilts her head and says,
[The reason why one should not carelessly perceive or utter the names of True Immortals is that doing so creates an attraction force. This force can shock and kill lesser beings. However, someone at my level can strip the power contained in the [title] and speak it. That way, discussing them isn't all that difficult.]
"...I see."
[So, your answer to the question is?]
I swallow.
"I cannot say."
After meeting the Heavenly Venerable of Time and using His power to travel back 190,000 years, I was saved from being killed by the Mountain God thanks to the help of the God of Light.
It's simple to say.
But there are too many Governing Immortals involved in this.
Even if I assume Baek Woon could suppress the attraction force generated from my words, it's hard to believe she can control the forces of so many beings at once.
Hearing my response, she seems slightly displeased, tapping the armrest of her throne with a 'hmm'.
I look at Sacred Master Baek Woon and speak.
"That aside, if you have nothing else to say, may I ask for a favor?"
[...What is it?]
"The presence of the Star Shattering stage trying to enter the Bright Cold Realm. Please help me subdue her and restore her rationality."
She replied.
[Why should I do that...?]
"Pardon...?"
I'm taken aback by her response.
"N-No...She's merely lost her reason, but she's still a being at the Star Shattering stage. I cannot stop her. And a Sacred Master, as far as I'm aware...aren't you the one who protects the Bright Cold Realm...?"
[...You seem to be mistaken.]
She clicks her tongue and says,
[Guest from the ominous world. I manage the Bright Cold Realm, but I am not responsible for the safety of the living beings within it.]
"What does that...? No, never mind."
I try to understand what she means but then remember I don't have time, so I shout.
"If there is nothing else to be said, please send me back! I will stop her, even if it has to be with my own hands!"
[That I cannot do. I must observe you to confirm whether there is an attraction force from the Arrogant Monarch. If you are indeed Their puppet, letting you go could lead to the world's destruction.]
I understand what she means.
I am the one who directly witnessed the destruction of the world by the Owner of Great Mountain.
But I can't back down now.
Tstststststststst—
I draw upon the power of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, causing spiritual energy like grains of salt to float around me.
I have no intention of recklessly using the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.
This is purely an intimidation tactic.
"Send me back immediately. I must stop her. If not, I will detonate this."
It's a simple bluff.
No one understands better than me the tyranny of the Owner of Great Mountain, and I resolved not to carelessly use anything related to True Immortals anymore.
However, Sacred Master Baek Woon doesn't seem to take it as mere bluffing. She flinches slightly before speaking kindly.
[If it's time you're worried about, don't be.]
Snap!
Wo-woong!
I tighten my focus as I feel the surrounding environment start to distort.
Her following words only heighten my tension.
[I have accelerated our consciousnesses by a hundred fold. We'll have time to share a brief conversation.]
"..."
The authority to casually pull someone's consciousness and accelerate it.
I have also accelerated Kim Yeon's consciousness within her dream, but that was due to the special nature of her dream.
However, Sacred Master Baek Woon has the power to interfere with someone else's consciousness directly in reality.
[While investigating the attraction force in your soul in this accelerated consciousness, while I can't say it's done in exchange, ask any questions you may have. I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.]
She intends to investigate me in this accelerated world while addressing any of my questions.
I think for a moment and then nod.
"Very well. Then, first, why does the Sacred Master leave the Mad Lord who is massacring the living beings of the Bright Cold Realm alone, and why does she allow the existence of the Ghostly Yin Transformation Immortal Root that will devour the land of the Bright Cold Realm?"
[As I said before, I am merely the administrator of the Bright Cold Realm. I am not your protector.]
"What does that mean?"
[Hmm...]
She seems to ponder for a moment before speaking.
[To make you understand, I will need to give a somewhat lengthy explanation. Do you know the purpose of the existence of Sacred Masters?]
"Other than being the administrators of worlds, I do not know much."
[Why do you think we manage worlds?]
"How would I know that?"
[Hehe...a cheeky thing. Listen carefully. From Sacred Masters onward, we begin cultivation by sensing the attraction force of fate.]
"...!"
Wasn't the attraction force of fate something only a True Immortal can handle?
'No, that's not right. Now that I think about it, even Quasi-Immortals used fate to bestow misfortune upon me.'
Perhaps from the latter stages of the Middle Boundary, one can begin to handle the attraction force of fate to some extent through the Plane of Fate.
[We cultivate by sensing a total of eight types of attraction forces of fate. And in that process, what's absolutely necessary is a vast world. The best option is a Middle Realm, the second is a star system, and the last is being captured by a living True Immortal and used as an immortal treasure.]
"..."
[You understand why the last one must be a 'living' True Immortal, right?]
"...Are you saying...it's possible to manage a dead True Immortal...?"
Baek Woon nods.
[Yes. Someone of your level might have already guessed, but the Middle Realms within the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, except for one, are entirely composed of the corpses of dead True Immortals.]
"..."
I am somewhat shocked, but since I suspected this for a long time, I only let out a silent sigh of acceptance.
[Around 500,000 years ago, under the lead of a great being known as the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, three Judges of the Netherworld, a Netherworld spy, and a grand Netherworld army—five Gods in total along with a grand army composed of innumerable Reapers and True Immortals—descended upon our Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain. It is said that the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, after competing with the four Heavenly Venerables and proving their strength, descended here with a certain purpose and waged war.]
It's fascinating.
Perhaps it's because Baek Woon can control the power contained in her words.
Despite the dangerous knowledge she is imparting, no matter how much I listen, it doesn't seem like it will cause any immediate problems.
[After competing with the four Heavenly Venerables, the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord descended to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain and waged war against [something] with overwhelming power. But it is said that the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord's forces, including the Netherworld army, suffered a crushing defeat.]
The origin story of the Bright Cold Realm from 500,000 years ago flows from her lips.
[You know of the Vestiges of the Interdimensional Void, correct? The shed skins of Quasi-Immortals when they ascend to become True Immortals, or their corpses...even beings of True Immortal rank can sometimes create Vestiges when they die incorrectly. And...the corpse of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, who died a miserable death, was especially prone to creating a Vestige. Can you imagine how terrifying the Vestige of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, who fought on equal terms with the four Heavenly Venerables, would be...?]
"..."
[The Vestige alone could destroy the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain. Thus, the True Persons of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain at the stage of Entering Nirvana all gathered and discussed. "Someone must take charge of the corpses of those Judges and the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, become a Sacred Master, and manage them so they don't turn into Vestiges." "We absolutely need gravekeepers to manage the remains of those beings."]
Sacred Master Baek Woon sighs as she speaks.
[And so, the corpse of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord was taken over by the first Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm and the descendent of a Judge, Lofty Dragon True Person, who temporarily lowered their realm to enter. In the Ancient Force Realm, it was Hae Yu (Hae means Xie in Xiezhi, Yu means willow/ 獬柳), the son of the Ancient Force True Lord. In the Nether Ghost Realm, it was Yu Oh (攸於), the retainer of the Nether Ghost True Lord. In the True Devil Realm, it was Sae Eum (Sae as in Imperial Seal, Eum as in Yin/ 璽陰), the Immortal Treasure of the Nether Devil True Lord. In the Purple Gold Realm, a child who had just risen to become a Sacred Master nearby was captured and became the Sacred Master...and after some time, Lofty Dragon True Person was killed by that thing, and I lowered my realm to become the Sacred Master...do you understand now?"]
She clenches and unclenches her withered hand as she continues.
[I am not the protector of the living beings of the Bright Cold Realm. If I were still a Sacred Master in the midst of cultivation, I might have protected the living beings because I would have needed to cultivate through the attraction force of fate. But I am beyond the point of needing to comprehend the meaning of attraction force, or rather, there is no need to do so. My role is not to protect you living beings, but to tether this Middle Realm mass known as the Bright Cold Realm with the attraction force of fate, preventing the world from splitting and giving birth to terrifying Vestige.]
"...So, you won't help us?"
[I've done what I could. I've called Jang Ik, so if you endure for about 500 years, he will arrive. In around 500 years, his avatar will reach here and take care of the Mad Lord and the Star Shattering stage ghostly creature.]
"Are you saying you'll just watch as living beings are massacred for 500 years...?"
[It's just 500 years. What are you so worried about?]
Sacred Master Baek Woon props her chin with one hand and points to her abdomen.
[In any case, I sustained a fatal injury while fighting the left ring finger of Yang Su-jin 120,000 years ago, so I don't have the luxury to waste my power. Summoning Jang Ik is the greatest mercy I could extend for the sake of the living beings.]
"..."
I sigh inwardly, coming to grips with the overwhelming truths I have just learned.
Woo-woong—
Paaaatt!
I suddenly realize that something that I haven't even realized is there which entered my body at some point has been extracted.
[The investigation is over. For now, I don't see any connected attraction forces...you don't need to worry about the Arrogant Monarch suddenly descending again.]
"...Then you'll let me go now?"
Despite our consciousnesses being accelerated, some time has passed while listening to her story.
Kang Min-hee's descent is imminent.
[I'll answer one last question before letting you go.]
"...Thank you. In that case..."
I organize my complicated thoughts and ask a question.
"Lastly, you said I came from an ominous world."
I ask her why some high-ranking beings, starting with Yang Su-jin and including Zhengli, consider the Head Realm to be ominous.
There are many other things I am curious about, but I feel this is the most important.
At my words, her expression hardens slightly before she speaks.
[...Do you know how the six Middle Realms are arranged?]
"...I don't know."
At my response, Sacred Master Baek Woon taps the armrest with her finger.
Toong—
From the place she tapped, a ripple spreads out, and soon the surroundings are dyed with an illusion.
I find myself standing within a vast darkness.
In the darkness, I see five sun-like lights and one small dark red light.
Her voice echoes amidst the darkness.
[Those lights are the five Middle Realms. The dark red one is the Blood Yin Realm. Look closely. As I made them in forms you can see.]
As I observe the Middle Realms as she said, I can see corpses within the masses of light.
I can't clearly see their faces, but I can tell that each and every one had died horrific deaths. Either grotesquely twisted, pierced with gaping holes, or in the case of the Ancient Force Realm, their entire body was crushed and turned into a pulp, leaving only a head.
The Blood Yin Realm is just a dark red mist, making it impossible to see anything clearly.
Takk!
When she snaps her fingers, tiny lights begin to appear again around us.
[These are the Decaying Corpse Realms. They are the fragments of beings from the Netherworld army and the followers of Vast Cold who were killed by the [something]. Observe them carefully.]
Between the five Middle Realms.
I shudder as I look at the small light that appeared in the very center.
It's the decaying head of someone with their eyes rolled back into their skull.
'The Head Realm...?'
The Head Realm is at the center of the five Middle Realms.
Though it's closest to the Bright Cold Realm, it isn't that close and is only slightly closer than the other Middle Realms.
[That is the Head Realm. The ominous world from which you have come.]
"Yes...it's in the center of the Middle Realms."
[That is not what's important. Look again at the direction in which the Middle Realms died.]
"Pardon...?"
At her words, I look at the corpses within the light masses.
The Ancient Force, which has been turned into pulp with only the head remaining, is looking towards the Head Realm.
The severed head and arms of the Purple Gold Realm, whose body has been cut into eight pieces, are directed towards the Head Realm.
The head of the twisted corpse from the Nether Ghost Realm, twisted grotesquely even in death, seems to be looking at the Head Realm, as if reaching out towards it.
The True Devil Realm, with its body horribly mutilated and missing parts, is also looking towards the Head Realm.
And then, the horrifically distorted body of the Bright Cold Realm.
The Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, too, has died with an outstretched hand, as if reaching out towards the Head Realm.
Only after realizing this do I feel a chilling sense of fear that makes my hair stand on end.
[Do you see? The Head Realm, from which you have ascended from...it looks as though the Gods who once made their names known throughout the Heavenly Domain met their tragic end while charging towards the Head Realm.]
"..."
For some reason, the words 'Audience Chamber' that Cheongmun Ryeong wrote seem to flicker before my eyes.
Audience Chamber.
A place where one greets a great being.
[Do you now understand why the Head Realm is considered an ominous place?]
If so, what kind of entity is the existence of the Audience Chamber that even the great Vast Cold Heavenly Lord and the Judges twisted their bodies in such a way to meet?