Thump-thump-thump—
I clutch my throbbing heart and regain my senses.
"Heok...huk..."
The surroundings are still inside my body.
"...What was that just now?"
I had a conversation with [someone of unknown identity].
And that [someone] had gifted me something called the [Annihilation Flower (滅亡花)].
I quickly feel around my incarnation's body and rummage through my main body as well.
As I toss and turn, earthquakes and storms erupt in various places, but now is not the time to worry about that.'Just [what] did I receive, and from [whom]?'
I feel cold sweat trickling down as I observe my body, soul, and celestial energy.
'There is no conspicuous ominous misfortune...but what exactly is it?'
However, not seeing anything special only makes me only more anxious.
Paaaatt!
I gather my comrades, who are scattered and each cultivating on their own, into one place.
"Everyone, I have something to tell you."
"Hm? What is it?"
Paaaatt!
I take out the All-Heavens Sword and stick one into each of their heads.
"From now on, with this, you'll be able to communicate with me. So...please ascend immediately."
"Mm, what's the matter, Master? Mm, this doesn't come off easily."
Hong Fan brushes something off my chest, saying something is stuck and asks.
"Firstly..."
I tell my comrades an important truth.
"It's about 'us'. The higher beings of this world call the seven of us, who come from other worlds and possess special powers, as Enders (終命者)."
"Oh, then me and this..."
"And! I have occasionally mentioned this before but do not recklessly reveal what you possess!"
I interrupt Oh Hyun-seok's words and shout loudly.
"I know some of you may not know, but I have met a [higher being] long ago. It was a being also known as a True Immortal. And they told me this. 'True Immortals can bestow us with nothing but misfortune.' In other words, even if True Immortals show us goodwill and bless us, their goodwill and blessings will become a misfortune that we cannot bear."
I continue with a stern face.
"And just now, I received something like an unknown blessing as a gift from a being I presume to be a True Immortal."
Hearing this, the color drains from all my comrades' faces.
Perhaps because they had been killed by the True Immortal-level Blood Yin hundreds of times, everyone seems fearful.
'Ah, is this not it?'
Experiencing death too much in a short period, I got confused.
There's no way my comrades died hundreds of times.
They must be worried because they are remembering the time when Blood Yin invaded the Bright Cold Realm.
'I wasn't confused before, but maybe it's because the records in the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections piled up too rapidly that I got confused momentarily.'
I feel a headache coming on for some reason as I recall my meeting with Sacred Master Yu Oh.
'...What was it? Something was off. There was a sense of discomfort during my meeting with Yu Oh, but...I can't figure out what it exactly was."
I shake my head and decide to investigate slowly before continuing my explanation.
"Anyway. Since I have received a blessing from such a being...it's currently dangerous to be near me."
"What are you talking about!? We need to stick together at a time like this."
"Mmm!"
"That's right. Just like when you suddenly started leaking black water and fainted earlier, someone needs to be there to help you!"
After hearing that, I look at Seo Ran and Hong Fan and say,
"If that's the case, then everyone except Seo Ran and Hong Fan, please ascend."
"What?"
"Seo Ran's Nether Crossing Ship and Hong Fan's Entering Heavens Beyond the Path and Integrated Dao Domain are more than useful to me. Regardless of the realm I mean. However, if others want to stay with me, it would be better to raise your realm first."
I sternly lay out the facts to my comrades.
"Frankly, at your current levels, you're more of a hindrance."
My words darken my comrades' complexions.
Kim Yeon and Kim Young-hoon look at me with strange eyes for some reason, while the rest of my comrades nod with bitter expressions.
"...Well, alright. If that's the case...once I reach the same realm as you, I will definitely come and find you!"
Oh Hyun-seok says this and turns around with Azure Tiger Saint.
After a while, led by Oh Hyun-seok, the rest of my comrades begin to attempt their ascension to the Bright Cold Realm.
Woo-woong!
They embody the attraction force of the Middle Realm, connecting their attraction force with the attraction force of the Bright Cold Realm and start creating a path to the Interdimensional Void.
I see off my comrades.
And, just as they are about to ascend,
Kim Young-hoon speaks to me in heart language.
—Seo Eun-hyun. Can't you feel that something is off with yourself?
—What do you mean?
—The past you would never have said it like that.
—I'm not sure what you're saying.
—...Alright. Since you seem completely unaware, I'll tell you... Take a good look at your intent. You will be able to understand immediately what I am talking about.
Puzzled by his words, I look at Kim Young-hoon, and they ascend back to the Bright Cold Realm from my body.
"What about my intent...?"
"If it's about Master's intent, it has become difficult to read due to the advancement in realm."
Hong Fan, who remains here, immediately answers me.
"It has become difficult to read... Ah, that's right. Thinking about it, it was like that."
Both the Esteemed Ones of the Blood Yin Realm and those seen in the Lightning Sacred Sea.
It was difficult to read any of their intent.
At that time, I just vaguely thought it was because of the difference in realms, but now I should be able to figure out the reason.
I sit in a lotus position and begin to observe my intent.
"What about my intent...? Oh."
I immediately understand.
'This, this is insane...'
Thud!
I immediately rise from my seat and clutch my head.
Back in the days of the True Devil Realm invasion.
When I first saw the left hand of Esteemed One Swae Ryeong, I couldn't read the intent at all.
Back then, I thought it was simply due to the difference in realms that the intent was unreadable.
But now, I finally understand the reason.
'Void Shattering is achieved through realizing emptiness, and Star Shattering Esteemed Ones eventually become emptiness upon becoming Esteemed Ones.'
I also understand the reason.
The intent of Esteemed Ones begins to slowly transforms into attraction force.
That is why I couldn't properly read the intent of the Blood Yin Realm Esteemed One.
Esteemed Ones naturally realize emptiness when they reach the Star Shattering stage.
"...I see."
Fate is essentially attraction force.
And Immortal Arts is the method by which fate and the world are twisted by the heart.
Therefore, from the Star Shattering stage onward, the heart begins to transform into attraction force itself.
"...The reason why my intent, which was previously fine, suddenly began changing into attraction force is probably because..."
I vomited the power of death using the Death Path Three Great Ultimates.
'Sacred Master Yu Oh...'
I smile bitterly.
[She] had said it.
The heart is essentially death.
Thus, the moment I momentarily shed the power of death from my body, the transformation of my heart into attraction force began.
'In the end, I found a method I can't use...'
If I empty out death, my heart turns into attraction force, and I eventually become emotionless.
If I retain my heart without it transforming into attraction force, I end up being dragged to the Underworld by the power of death, trapped for eternity.
Either way, it's a dreadful ending.
Kugugugu!
I lead the Colorless Sword Mountain Treading Sea Great Star and navigate towards the far end of the universe while letting out a sigh.
Three years have passed.
Kugugugu!
During my space journey, I finally arrive at a Decaying Corpse Realm after a long time.
"This is the place."
Decaying Corpse Realms are usually scattered across the Interdimensional Void, but some special Decaying Corpse Realms are occasionally found within the Astral Realm.
Like Yang Su-jin's ring finger, or this [thigh bone], so to speak.
I extend my consciousness towards the [thigh bone] surrounded by a dimensional veil.
'As expected, it's pretending to be a Decaying Corpse Realm, but it's something alive. It's not like the Vestiges of the Interdimensional Void...is it an Entering Nirvana True Person?'
I carefully avoid provoking that being as I approach the inside of the thigh bone.
In front of the world called the Peaceful Cloud Continent, I shrink my main body and overlay it with my incarnation, shaping it into a human form before descending within.
Paaaatt!
In one place on the continent.
After finding a familiar presence there, I head to the brat's dwelling.
Ruler of the Peaceful Cloud Continent.
The Grand Perfection Golden Core Sage God (現人神) who is said to have set a foot inside the True God realm, the Black Blade Great Emperor (黑刃大帝) Ham Jin, is tilting his cup of wine surrounded by pond of alcohol and a forest of meat (酒池肉林).
[TL: Pond of alcohol and a forest of meat is an idiom used to describe an environment of luxury, wealth, and indulgence.]
"Hahahaha! This is indeed the paradise of the mortal world! Soon, through the True God advancement ritual, I will reach the Nascent Soul stage! Then, truly no one will be able to oppose this seat's imperial words!"
He embraces beautiful women and several handsome men, eyeing the virgins brought before him.
"Hahaha! You were the ones who dared to challenge this seat's power and prestige! Good. As an example, tonight this seat shall show you affection."
"You filthy thing! If you are a cultivator, should you not cultivate the Dao instead of lusting after women like us who are already betrothed! Because of you plundering our nation's treasury for your entertainment, our country is in chaos!"
"Not to mention our clan! Do you even know how many women and men you have taken away from us!? Why do you make our lives miserable!?"
"Hahahahahaha!"
Ham Jin laughs uproariously.
"Impudent things! Speak all you want. I have power, and you do not. That is all!"
Ham Jin joyfully raises his cup towards the sky.
"May the power and prestige of this seat be eternal!"
Kwarurung!
Just then.
Clink—
Ham Jin feels as if lightning flashed before his eyes, and the whole world seems to have stopped.
'What's this? The flow of particles is slowing down. No...is it my mind that has accelerated? I see! 'Both' are happening. This, this is...'
Suddenly, Ham Jin realizes 'someone' has arrived before him.
"W-W-Wuji...! Cult Leader! Has the Cult Leader personally descended!?"
Wuji Cult Leader Seo Eun-hyun.
A giant devil with over a dozen heads, the source of the power Ham Jin has cultivated.
Seo Eun-hyun, who has descended by distorting the spacetime around him, looks around and clicks his tongue.
"With your talent and the Black Blade Maturing Secrets I made, you should have reached the mid Nascent Soul stage long ago. Just what have you been doing all this time?"
"Th-Th-That is...I, I have been struggling to spread the name of the Cult Leader across this continent..."
"Did I ask you to do that? Tsk...enough. Just hand over the key."
"Yes, yes!"
Ham Jin hastily pulls out a green jade tablet from his possession and presents it to Seo Eun-hyun.
Receiving the jade tablet, Seo Eun-hyun looks at Ham Jin.
"Just looking at you, your mind is full of delusions, desires, and greed."
"Yes, yes. I, Ham Jin, have erred. If Cult Leader just gives me time..."
"I originally intended to make you my direct disciple if you ascended."
"Pardon...?"
Seo Eun-hyun silently reveals his presence before Ham Jin.
"Hu, huaaaaack! Hukuuaaaaack!"
Ham Jin's eyes burst and begin to melt.
Blood tears stream from his eyes, and Ham Jin, unable to withstand Seo Eun-hyun's presence, kneels down and starts vomiting.
[Listen well. You seem to be following me and playing Cult Leader or Emperor, so I will warn you. If you truly wished to follow me, you should have disciplined yourself and accumulated cultivation, not oppress those weaker than you and enjoy such a pond of alcohol and forest of meat like this.]
"Hukuuaaaaack! Kuuaagk! Ah, uaaaah!!!"
Flames begin to rise from Ham Jin's body.
They are glass-colored flames.
From within these flames, glass swords start violently erupting from all over Ham Jin's body.
[You, my old connection, Ham Jin. If you had accumulated cultivation and reached the Heavenly Being stage, ascended and came to my side, then as someone with a connection to me, you would have become my true disciple. Then, someday, you might have reached the same realm as I.]
"Kuaaaaack! Uhueok! Uheuong!"
The screaming Ham Jin suddenly starts to weep.
[You, Ham Jin. You yourself threw away the opportunity to become a god-like being and chose to stay here. I respect your choice, but you shall never face me directly again.]
Kwaduduk!
Blades of glass sprout from Ham Jin's eyes.
Ham Jin rolls on the ground screaming in agony, and Seo Eun-hyun suddenly disappears from the spot.
Simultaneously, time begins to flow normally again.
"He-heok...! Kuaaaaah! Aaaaah!"
Ham Jin regenerates his body, pushing out the glass shards that have grown from him.
Yet, even after pushing out all the glass shards and regenerating his eyes, Ham Jin does not open his eyes.
It's because he feels that if he opens his eyes, the terrifying presence of Seo Eun-hyun might still be before him.
"Ku...kuhugk..."
Ham Jin feels the knowledge of 'the process of star formation' forcibly injected into his mind as he rises from the spot.
The process of a star's formation and the principle of nature's cycle rotate in Ham Jin's mind.
Drip—
He feels a nosebleed and, holding his head, shouts.
"Get out! Everyone get out!"
At Ham Jin's shout, everyone inside the great hall quickly exits.
He climbs onto his throne and falls into thought for a moment.
And a little later.
He buries his face in his hands and sighs heavily.
"Just what...have I been doing all this time...?"
After that day.
The Black Blade Great Emperor Ham Jin, who had swept through the Peaceful Cloud Continent, suddenly disappeared.
Some say he was murdered, others say he became a true Heaven Beyond Heavens and ascended.
The truth is, Ham Jin, reflecting on his own ugliness, cast aside all his power and prestige and began proper cultivation hidden in a mountain valley, but everyone on the Peaceful Cloud Continent speculated that Ham Jin met his end through whatever means.
After rebuking Ham Jin, I activated the jade tablet in the Decaying Corpse Realm and moved to another star.
Paaaatt!
'Now I understand.'
I click my tongue as I leap between stars.
This 'Path of Stars,' where each is a True Person.
This wasn't simply installed by Esteemed Ones.
'Using the Entering Nirvana True Persons as stepping stones, someone developed this.'
I follow the Path of Stars leading to the Lightning Sacred Sea.
Looking at the path of these formations, I speculate who could have developed this.
"Just who could it be, using the bodies of True Persons as stepping stones to establish these transmission arrays...?"
I land on a planet filled with poisonous clouds and mutter.
Just then.
[ Lofty Dragon. ]
"...!"
I flinch in surprise at the sound coming from around me and look around.
[ They Instructed The True Persons At That Time To Create This Path ]
I soon realize who the voice belongs to and am shocked.
'A star...! No, a True Person imitating a star...?'
[ And When We Reached This Realm They Told Us To refine this path. ]
The voice around me grows louder and clearer.
[In order to repay that person's grace, we became True Persons and refined their path. Therefore, the 'path' that originally comprised of three True Persons that worshiped Lofty Dragon has now become a path formed of dozens of True Persons.]
The incarnation of this star-mimicking True Person appears before me.
He is dressed in ancient attire, his face marked with dozens of bizarre tattoos, and a magnificent beard, presenting a dignified image of an elderly man with white hair.
[Cultivation spells are ultimately a path to reach Immortal Arts. The more it's called a peerless divine skill, the closer it is to Immortal Arts. Moreover...Lofty Dragon arranged for two Immortal Arts to activate this Path of Stars. And, the methods to reach those two Immortal Arts are precisely...[Purple Soul Filling the Heavens], [Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade].]
He looks at me and asks.
[I am the Lofty Dragon Care Chief Priest of the Human Race. Why can I feel the aura of these two techniques from a Human Race Sacred Vessel junior? I don't know about Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade, but Purple Soul Filling the Heavens should be unattainable without transmission beyond mere formulas... Purple Soul Filling the Heavens was passed down to the Dragon Race, not the Human Race. What exactly is your identity?]
I recognize who he is and my eyes light up.
"You're the one who left the diary in the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person. The one who was hung upside down by Lofty Dragon True Person for not being able to draw a taenghwa and got beaten quite badly..."
[...]
"..."
An awkward silence hangs between us for a moment.