Gazes focus on me.
I can feel the eyes of the Mad Lord and Hon Won, and even the sticky stare of Seo Hweol from afar is directed this way.
'Are they mistaking me for a True Immortal?'
"...It seems there's some misunderstanding, Ancestor. I am not some True Immortal entity."
However, she doesn't listen to my words and instead bows her head at my feet.
[O Great One. Please, I beg thee to now spare our sect. We are nothing more than a small sect in the Head Realm. There are not many of us who even truly believe and follow the legend of the Founder. We are those who have nothing to do with the Founder's deeds, so please. Even if you have a grievance against the Founder, please, I implore thee, let your anger be appeased with just me...!]
Just as I'm about to say something in response to her desperate demeanor, as if she would lick my feet,
Flash!
The dull light of the Flying Escape Technique flickers, and in that instant, Hon Won swiftly charges in and kicks Yeon Wei's projection away.
Kwaaang!Yeon Wei, kicked in the stomach by Hon Won, is sent flying and crashes into a pillar of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Hon Won glares at Yeon Wei and growls.
"What do you think you're doing right now, Jin Wei...!"
[...Hon Won.]
She trembles as she looks at Hon Won.
[You've become blind. Those once-shining eyes have completely lost their focus...]
Yeon Wei lets out a short 'hah' and bites her lip as if in despair.
[I expected this from the start. When I was trying to pluck out your eyes and extract the contamination of the great being embedded in your soul, I could feel that the contamination was regenerating your eyes and giving you strength. I've always thought that the spiritual eye divine power you later gained was certainly something bestowed upon you by someone.]
She looks at Hon Won with bitter eyes and then looks up at me.
[If it was bestowed by someone, then that someone could retrieve it whenever they wish, is that not right? O God...]
She staggers as she gets up from the ground.
[The power I felt when I stitched that fool's mind. The presence I sensed while chasing that being called Cheon Ra. And...the aura I started to feel from you at some point. They were all the same.]
Yeon Wei, stumbling, walks forward and kneels before me again.
[O God. I've been aware of it. I've suspected it from the very day you took me, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and your followers to that familiar-feeling Salt Mountain.]
Thud!
She bangs her head on the ground before me.
[Even so, I trusted you deep down in my heart. Ah, Great One. Just as you protected us from the Owner of that wicked Heavenly Lightning Banner, I believed you wouldn't bring us misfortune this time. However, what we mere mortals dared to and yet, cannot comprehend is your purpose. Yes, you must have had a need, hence you used us. Our Founder was such a person as well. But please, I beg of you, this insignificant thing has a request.]
Bang! Bang!
She bangs her head on the ground, even materializing her projection to do so.
I can feel it.
Though it's just a projection, it's connected to the soul enshrined within the Head Realm, bearing all of the same pain.
[Please, take me as the last, and spare the descendants!]
Bang!
At her words, I try to say something, but I find myself at a loss for words and close my mouth.
She felt that the presence of Cheon Ra, which she sensed while suturing Hon Won's mind in the past, the presence of Penglai Island's Salt Mountain when I brought her there, and the presence of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra that I had internalized, were all identical. This led her to fully believe that I am the incarnation of the Owner of Great Mountain.
In other words, from her perspective, I am now the very being who drove Hon Won to madness 40,000 years ago, shattering her heart, and the source of the misfortune that has plagued her life.
I close my eyes.
In truth, perhaps this is how most people see me.
Unless they are my comrades who also quickly accumulated power after arriving from Earth, this is probably the normal way people see me.
There is a method to clear up this misunderstanding to prove that I am not a True Immortal.
That's by revealing my regression.
But I can't do that.
So what should I do?
I find myself at a loss, unable to think of a solution, and can only open and close my mouth.
And the one who saves me from this predicament is none other than Hon Won.
Clench!
He grabs Yeon Wei by the collar and lifts her up, growling with an even more furious expression than before.
"Answer my question, Jin Wei. I asked what do you think you're doing?"
[...What does it matter to you what I do? It's none of your concern, is it?]
"Why wouldn't it matter? Right now, are you not offering yourself to that person without repaying the debt you owe me?"
[Debt? What debt? Ah, you mean plucking out your eyes? Ha! Those eyes that couldn't even properly distinguish people were too good for you, so I removed them. In fact, the eyes that have lost their light suit you much better!]
She laughs scornfully at Hon Won and shouts.
[How many times do I have to tell you, you blind fool. There's no such person called [Cheon Ra], and I've only ever killed one disciple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect with my own hands. That wasn't even the Cheon Ra you knew, but my own senior brother. Got it?]
"Stop spouting nonsense! You are clearly the monster who devoured all your fellow disciples! You took everything from me! I will never allow you to become someone else's possession before you repay that debt!"
[...Foolish man.]
Yeon Wei looks down at Hon Won while still being held by the collar.
For some reason, her eyes hold a faint trace of longing and deep despair.
[You can't even remember the promise of that day, and now you're blocking me with this nonsensical logic driven by leftover emotions...how pathetic. Pathetic, pathetic, and even more pathetic, my old lover...If you want to stop me, first recall the promise of that day.]
She's currently a projection made of lightning, so it doesn't show.
But I suspect that if she had a physical body, she would be in tears right now.
That's how heart-wrenching Yeon Wei's intent is at this moment.
"Nonsense. Aside from the formal pact we made through political marriage, I've never made any promises with you...!"
[...]
She no longer responds to his words and, in her projected form, slips through Hon Won's grasp and approaches me. Yeon Wei glances at Hon Won briefly and then bends forward slightly without kneeling.
[Will the Great One please grant my request?]
With great difficulty, I force myself to speak.
"...I am not a True Immortal. I am just...one person of many. Just like you..."
[...]
Yeon Wei doesn't respond.
But I can't help but hear her inner thoughts echoing within her heart essence.
—Are you trying to mock us until the very end...?
And as that thought crosses her mind, as if something saps her strength, Yeon Wei's projection slumps to the ground.
Seeing this, Hon Won's face twists in anger, as if something doesn't sit well with him.
Bududuk—
[I told you not to kneel. Wei...!]
Kugugugu!
The power of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements begins to surge around Hon Won, and just as I prepare to subdue him,
Kwoooong!
The body of Hon Won, who was about to launch an attack, is suddenly crushed under a puppet.
It's [Her].
Kuguguguk!
[She] synchronizes with the black energy emanating from the [Black Lord] and unleashes a tremendous force, and Hon Won is completely subdued beneath her.
"You're really putting on quite the show in my world. If you don't want to be modified, keep your mouth shut until we arrive!"
Though the words come from the Mad Lord, who is only at the mid Four-Axis stage, no one present can oppose his words.
Hon Won glares at Yeon Wei with an unreadable emotion overflowing in his eyes before being dragged away by [Her]. Yeon Wei, after briefly glancing at me, lowers her eyes and dissipates her projection, vanishing.
"You too, stop causing trouble. Don't test my patience. Remember that I'm holding back my anger with superhuman restraint."
The Mad Lord also gives me a warning before hastening his control over the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
I stand there, recalling Yeon Wei's words for a moment.
Up until now, I've done everything I could for the sake of saving my people.
I've always been careful with my words and cautious of the future.
I knew long ago that the heavens are not on our side, so I've done everything I could to ensure we could overcome any misfortune that befalls us.
But even so, there are those who saw my actions and formed such sentiments.
'Have I been too arrogant?'
When I think about it, I realize that I have.
I've always cared about those I wanted to protect, but I never considered their own perspective.
Even when I recently drove the Human Race out of their territory.
There may have been those who valued their homeland more than their own lives...
I thought that with strong power, I could lead everyone.
But I never considered the perspective of those being led.
I ask the Mad Lord without thinking.
"May I ask you a question?"
"What is it?"
"There must have been someone you wanted to protect, right?"
"...Of course."
"If the thoughts of the person you want to protect differ from yours...in other words, if the one you want to protect doesn't actually want to be protected by you, what would you do?"
"...Are you talking about that woman from a moment ago?"
He glances at me briefly, then seems to be deep in thought, letting out a faint hum.
"...That's a problem I've never considered."
He seems to have found some sort of insight from my question, and his expression becomes one of deep contemplation, even forgetting his anger.
Suddenly, he asks me a question.
"I heard you taught my disciple the martial arts of mortals?"
"Yes."
"I was told that the level of that martial art...far surpasses that of my old friend, of even my lover."
It was only for a brief moment, but it seems that he and Kim Yeon had quite the conversation through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
"There's one thing I'm curious about. I completed the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon by researching martial arts and the intent of martial artists with the goal of perfecting my lover's martial art. Then...you, who taught my disciple such a high-level martial art, you must know."
He asks.
"Could you defeat cultivators with that martial art alone? And if you could, what is the name of that martial art, and what is the name of that realm?"
I look into the Mad Lord's eyes, recalling the past.
'There was a time like that.'
The days when I was obsessed with whether one could challenge cultivators with martial arts or not.
The name that was given in those days.
"'Entering Heavens Beyond the Path Martial Arts.' It's the name of the method where mortals can become the heavens. And the realm is called 'Entering Heavens Beyond the Path.'"
"Entering Heavens..."
The Mad Lord seems to roll the name around in his mouth for a moment before asking again.
"In the eyes of someone who has reached that realm, how do I appear? Have I reached what you call Entering Heavens Beyond the Path? On behalf of the ones who entrusted their hearts to me, I've dedicated my entire life to reaching that realm with cultivation methods but... I've only managed to slightly glimpse heart essence. In your eyes, how do I seem?"
I look at him for a moment before answering.
"Half-step. You've only just reached that point."
"...Is that so?"
The Mad Lord lets out a bitter smile.
Then, he gives an answer to my earlier question.
"You asked what I would do if the hearts of those I wanted to protect differed from mine. Look at me. I devoted my entire life, but I couldn't reach the Entering Heavens you spoke of. I couldn't protect the ones I wanted to protect, nor have I gained a single thing I sought. Isn't that life? Isn't that fate?"
He continues speaking while glaring at a certain place.
The place he is glaring at is where Seo Hweol is looking over in this direction.
"Even that scorpion-snake bastard glaring at us from afar tried so hard but couldn't obtain what he wanted. In the end, nothing in this world goes exactly as we want it to. So just do what you can. How others think, that isn't something you can control. For things you can't control, just let it go and for things you can...just give it your all."
Suruk—
The Mad Lord speaks while stroking [Her] hand.
"That...is the only reason I'm still alive in this strange and bizarre world, even while harboring this pain..."
As if recalling something.
His voice somehow lacks strength.
With those words, the conversation between the Mad Lord and me comes to an end.
Three days later.
The Mad Lord's Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress arrives at Heaven-Earth Palace.
—Are you ready, Seo Hweol?
I ask Seo Hweol through heart language, and he responds.
[The preparations for pulling are almost complete. However...]
—However?
[It seems that being will climb up to the Bright Cold Realm sooner than expected.]
—What! Around when?
[...It will arrive in about half a day.]
I let out a low groan at those words.
—Understood. Get ready to pull when I give the signal. The Mad Lord will hold, and I will push.
[Yes, got...]
And then, it happens.
Kwagwagwagwang!
The entire Bright Cold Realm shakes, and celestial energy begins to flow erratically.
I flinch in surprise and look up at the sky, and a hurried message comes from Seo Hweol's side.
Upon receiving Seo Hweol's message, I roar in anger.
"Seo Hweol! Just what...!?"
[...I apologize, Daoist Seo. I wasn't aware of the correlation between them and the Ghostly Yin Transformation Immortal Root, so I couldn't foresee this.]
"Damn...fine!"
I explain the situation to the Mad Lord.
The Mad Lord listens to my explanation and lets out a hollow laugh.
"...Look at that. In the end, nothing in this world goes the way you want it to."
"Damn it, damn it, damn it...!"
I'm on the verge of losing my mind, grinding my teeth.
Contrary to Seo Hweol's prediction, the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother isn't emerging from the Void Spirit Pond.
Instead, Kang Min-hee is being summoned near my comrades who are with the Nether Crossing Ship.
It's clear that the Nether Crossing Ship has summoned Kang Min-hee.
Right now, I must immediately go to my comrades, who are preparing to leap from the edge of the Stable Realm to the Heart Tribe territory!
'But how?'
There's no way.
Just as my mind is about to go blank.
Tstststst!
Kim Yeon, who is connected to me through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, sends me a voice transmission.
[Can you come right away?]
"...No. I'm at the Heaven-Earth Palace. It's impossible to get there right now..."
[Hyang-hwa says she has a way.]
"What!"
Startled by her words, I ask back.
"What's the method?"
[For now...I'll send Hyang-hwa's consciousness over there.]
Woo-woong!
Kim Yeon's consciousness links with Buk Hyang-hwa, and through Kim Yeon, Buk Hyang-hwa's projection appears here.
Paaaatt!
Buk Hyang-hwa encounters Jo Yeon inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
"Hello, Elder Jo Yeon. I, this lowly junior Buk, am honored to meet the idol of all artisans in the Head Realm."
At her words, Jo Yeon frowns and asks.
"And who are you?"
"...She's the artisan with the Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent who was mentioned to have helped Yeon previously. She's currently close with us."
However, upon my explanation, the expression on the Mad Lord's face becomes somewhat strange.
"...Are you saying you're a bloodline of the Jo clan?"
[Pardon?]
"That's strange...there's no way you could be a bloodline of the Jo clan...absolutely not..."
[What do you...?]
"Well, never mind. I'll hear the details later. So why are you here?"
At the Mad Lord's question, Buk Hyang-hwa regains her composure and forms hand seals.
Simultaneously, a certain design appears before us.
[Though it may be inadequate to present to the pinnacle of the Head Realm's artisans, with this, it should be sufficient to travel from the Heaven-Earth Palace to here.]
"That is..."
The Mad Lord gazes at the design she has shown with interest.
It's the blueprint of the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation.
However, I ask, feeling frustrated,
"Time is of the essence right now, where do we have the time to create that! Why not join forces with me and fly the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress instead!"
But to my words, the Mad Lord simply sneers.
"Where do you think time is needed? How much time do you think it even takes?"
"Pardon? What does that...?"
Kiiiing!
At the Mad Lord's gesture, a humanoid puppet flies in from somewhere and lands in front of Buk Hyang-hwa.
"No more words are needed. I'll show you, so just watch. Since you don't seem to be of the Jo clan bloodline, I'll temporarily use you as my assistant. I don't know how you acquired the Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent without being from my clan, but if it's the Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent, you should be able to at least assist well enough!"
At the Mad Lord's words, Buk Hyang-hwa possesses the puppet called by him and responds with an enthusiastic voice.
"It is an honor! Elder Mad Lord Jo Yeon!"
"Now, let's show them! The power of artisans!"
Clangclangclangclangclangclang!
The mechanisms of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress begin to move.
At the same time, the Mad Lord and Buk Hyang-hwa combine their abilities, tearing the Void Spirit Pond from the land of the Heaven-Earth central region, and rapidly start implanting the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation into the interior of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
'Insane...'
Even though I've seen Mad Lord several times, to be honest, even after nearly 200,000 years, I'm still not used to it.
Clangclangclangclang...kong!
With a grand sound resounding, the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation, smaller in size but more intricate than the one installed in the Twilight Domain, is quickly established at the center of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
"It was made in a makeshift way, but it should be usable! Now, let's get going!"
The Mad Lord wipes his sweat and activates the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation, causing the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress to begin leaping through space.
Chwararararak!
Traversing thousands upon tens of thousands of li in an instant, we soon find ourselves facing a Ghost Mother Heaven.