Kugugugu!
A gigantic ring finger covered by a dimensional veil appears before my eyes.
'It's been a while since I've come here. No, it's probably the first time I've come in person, isn't it?'
Last time, I had only sent my consciousness rather than my main body, so it hadn't felt particularly real.
But this time, maybe because I'm here in my main body, or perhaps because I've risen to the Star Shattering stage...
'The Lightning Immortal Yang Su-jin...it feels as though he's right in front of me.'
I calm my tingling body and focus my mind.
Woo-oong—
When I extend my consciousness and exert my authority, I feel my consciousness domain transforming into attraction force again.Unless I take special measures, it will likely turn back into attraction force.
Of course...
Since I've already found a solution to consciousness turning into attraction force, I can revert it back to intent at any time by taking the proper measures at the right moment.
'Now then, shall I enter the Lightning Sacred Sea?'
Let's go find the Esteemed Ones who are struggling within the remains of Yang Su-jin.
I slowly begin to make my way into the inner area of Yang Su-jin's remains.
Kugugugu!
The Heavenly Rain Great Star gradually moves further into the dimensional veil of the Lightning Sacred Sea.
Just as my main body enters the inner area of the Lightning Sacred Sea,
Kwa-jijik!
"...!"
I look around.
'This place...'
Above and below is a world with nothing but black clouds and golden lightning pouring down like rain.
The first time I entered here with Jang Ik, it had looked like a simple bathhouse, so I'm slightly taken aback as I scan the surroundings.
'There's nothing in particular that catches attention.'
The only notable aspect, just like before, is that I can't use the powers of Qi or Soul.
However...
[I am not the same as before.]
Even in this world, attraction force exists.
Kuguguguk!
Starting from an Esteemed One, consciousness transforms into attraction force. It is not merely handling attraction force like in the Four-Axis or Integration stages, but a level where attraction force becomes part of the soul itself!
Thus, by merely thinking, I can distort space with attraction force or tear holes in spacetime more easily than breathing!
Kwaaaang!
I pierce through the space composed of black clouds.
As the space seems to dissipate, I find myself in a new location.
'This place is...'
The world is even more densely filled with thunderclouds (雷雲) than before.
The clouds are thicker, and even more electric charges rumble between them.
Kwaaang!
Once again, I pierce through the space with attraction force and move forward.
However, the next space I reach is yet another world of thunderclouds!
'What's going on? It wasn't like this last time.'
I am bewildered but then suddenly notice the movement and flow of the clouds.
'This flow of clouds...this reaction of lightning...this is...!'
I open my eyes wide and smile.
'So that's it! The Lightning Path Method! Each of these worlds of clouds are an expression of each aspect of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's Lightning Path Method! Simply breaking through recklessly won't let me escape.'
I begin to operate the formula of the Lightning Path Method, utilizing the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy generated on the surface of my planet.
For someone like me, who has learned all the techniques of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect through the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique, mimicking the formula of the Thunder Path Method is as easy as eating cold porridge.
Kwa-jijijik!
As lightning sparks across the surface of my main body, the surrounding clouds naturally dissipate.
However, in an instant, the area fills with clouds again.
'As expected. To leave this place, I must align the Lightning Path Method's formula with the flow of these clouds and lightning.'
Kwarurung!
Focusing my mind, I begin to earnestly operate the Lightning Path Method.
Kwa-jijijik!
Lightning dances.
Multicolored bolts of lightning paint the surroundings with vibrant hues, pushing back the clouds.
Though more clouds gather as I push them away, the clouds once dispersed by the formula do not drift back towards me.
And finally, harnessing every formula of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's Lightning Path Method, I synchronize the flow of the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy coursing through my main body.
Kwa-jijijik!
With that, the world once filled with thunderclouds suddenly erupts with a frenzy of lightning, transforming everything around me with a golden glow.
It resembles the scene from my advancement to the Star Shattering stage, where the Star Tribulation had raged upon me.
For a normal Star Shattering stage, one would need to exert all their strength to resist this lightning. However, observing the flow of the lightning, I realize this is the final trial.
'If the descendant here is one who has learned the Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation Method, they would devour this lightning entirely... If it's instead a disciple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, they would absorb the lightning matching their mastered formula, receiving a blessing, and...'
In the final case,
If it's an entity who has fully mastered all Lightning Path Methods of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and obtained the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique...!
Kurururung!
The lightning begins to merge and vanish into nothingness!
Just like how, when all Lightning Path Methods of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect combine, the spiritual power and energy vanish, leaving only the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique as the sole Immortal Art.
As the lightning fades, only the black clouds remain in its place.
Kugugugu!
The world, previously just filled with lightning, becomes a realm left only with dark clouds in an instant.
The nearby black clouds no longer emit lightning, nor do they gather around me.
They simply rotate around me, following the attractive force I radiate.
After waiting for a while in that state...
Kwa-jijijijk!
Suddenly, a lightning possessing all of the heavens' natural colors boils up from within the black clouds and strikes my body.
'W-Wait, this...!'
Knowing the effect of the prismatic lightning, I am shocked to the point of almost fainting.
'It strikes the soul directly?'
The next moment,
Under the power of the relic left by the True Immortal Yang Su-jin, I lose consciousness entirely.
Murmuringmurmuringmurmuringmurmuring—
The sound of countless murmuring voices reverberates in my mind.
'Where is this? And what...'
I feel as though my mind is fragmented like powder, scattered everywhere.
The fragmented pieces of my consciousness are hearing dozens, hundreds, thousands, billions, trillions of voices.
The voices are so numerous and so vast that I cannot comprehend them all.
Fortunately, since having my consciousness splintered like dust is something I experienced to the point of exhaustion during the Star Shattering stage advancement ritual, I focus my mind on the consciousness hearing the most familiar voice.
Paaaatt!
Then, I become unable to hear any other sound except that voice, and I feel my mind sharply concentrate on the place where that voice resounds.
"Hah!"
When I come to my senses, I see Kim Yeon in front of me.
"Hm?"
"Uh?"
Slightly taken aback by this absurd situation, I look around.
Then, the eyes of Kim Yeon, who seems to be demonstrating something like a magic artifact, widen.
"Mm...! Mmm mmm!"
"H-Huh? Kim Yeon? What's wrong—huh!"
I suddenly flinch in surprise upon hearing my voice.
'Th-This is...!'
Perhaps because my consciousness hasn't fully coalesced yet, my senses feel a bit unstable.
I concentrate even more on gathering my consciousness while observing my body.
Then, I let out a hollow laugh as I come to understand my current situation.
I have descended into the body of Jeon Myeong-hoon, who is cultivating in the Bright Cold Realm.
"Mm-hmm-hmm!"
It seems that Kim Yeon realizes my mind has inhabited Jeon Myeon-hoon's body, as her eyes gleam with recognition.
"Uh...that's right, Yeon-ah. I've arrived at the Lightning Sacred Sea, and somehow I ended up possessing Jeon Myeong-hoon's body. And..."
As I feel my senses gradually returning, I sense the presence of Yeon Jin and Yeon Wei nearby.
I close my eyes.
Pajik, Pajijik...
I feel it.
The locations of the disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect are detected by me in the form of Lightning Souls (雷魂).
Simultaneously, I realize that as I am now, I can 'possess any disciple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect without question.'
'No, it's not just that.'
Through the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique, I notice that I can seize the cultivation of Yeon Wei or Yeon Jin, or even inject the energy of the Lightning Sacred Sea to amplify it. Moreover, I can issue commands to them at will.
'I see. When one who has learned the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique arrives at the Lightning Sacred Sea, they gain the authority to freely command the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect...no, all disciples of Yang Su-jin.'
At this moment, my position is practically equivalent to having unrestricted access to the Founder's Command of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect without even needing the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
"Jeon Myeong-hoon, can you hear me?"
Feeling a little guilty for suddenly taking over Jeon Myeong-hoon's body, I try to communicate with him.
However, I receive no response.
It seems that any disciple who becomes possessed via the Lightning Sacred Sea falls into such a deep slumber that they cannot remain conscious.
'This could be somewhat dangerous.'
It's fortunate that it was me who mastered the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique and entered the Lightning Sacred Sea. If someone like Oh Hye-seo had mastered the technique and entered, a Thunder Beast might have been born in the Head Realm that very day.
After explaining the current situation in detail to the flustered Kim Yeon, I ask her about the current circumstances.
Kim Yeon eagerly explains with hand and food gestures while going 'Mmmhmm'.
"So, you're saying that since you can't speak, I should ask someone else?"
"Mm!"
"All right, I'm sorry."
"Mm..."
Leaving Kim Yeon behind, I move using Jeon Myeong-hoon's body.
As I move in his body, I realize something.
'This, this is...'
Is it because I descended through the Lightning Sacred Sea?
I sense that I can naturally use all of Jeon Myeong-hoon's techniques.
Kwa-jijik!
The Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is also famous for its Flying Escape Technique, which moves at the speed of lightning.
The Flying Escape Technique of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is also called the Lightning Shadow Flying Escape Technique because it leaves afterimages of lightning when moving. In the past, while I was still in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, I too used to be able to use the Lightning Shadow Flying Escape Technique before completing the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique.
'This looked quite cool, so I would occasionally move using the Lightning Shadow Flying Escape Technique, but after completing the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique, I couldn't use it anymore...this is excellent!"
Using the Lightning Shadow Flying Escape Technique, I move to the area where my comrades are with flashes of lightning.
I quickly circle around Cedar Wood Grove once.
Pajijik!
Cedar Wood Grove is tranquil, just as before.
'There doesn't seem to have been any major disturbance in the Bright Cold Realm.'
Possessing Jeon Myeong-hoon's body, I draw out my original consciousness domain through his body.
Kururung!
A storm begins to whirl around centered on Jeon Myeong-hoon's body.
Using his body as a medium, I raise my consciousness domain and quickly reach the peak of Heavenly Lotus Mountain.
I make contact with Baek Woon.
Flash!
Inside Baek Woon's White Jade Pavilion.
I appear in front of Baek Woon through the projection of Jeon Myeong-hoon.
She glares at me and speaks.
[When I sensed someone suddenly intruding on my territory, I thought some Integration stage human had gone mad...but it was you, not some descendant of Yang Su-jin. Seo Eun-hyun.]
[I apologize for my rudeness, Sacred Master. Is your body well?]
[You crazy bastard... Do words of concern even come out of your mouth?]
She glares at me, growling as if she could tear me apart.
It seems that the incident of electrically torturing her and summoning Blood Yin as a result left quite an unpleasant memory for her.
I clear my throat and say.
[I truly, sincerely apologize for the unfortunate incident before. However, I have done my best in my own way to clean up the mess I made.]
[Hmph! It wasn't you, but the great ones who probably exerted their power! If it weren't for your shoulder, I would have beaten this projection you've Divine Descent into and your comrade to death on the spot.]
It seems she still harbors a grudge against Jeon Myeong-hoon, as she spits out harsh words.
'My shoulder, huh...'
I subtly touch the left shoulder of Jeon Myeong-hoon's body, which I have borrowed.
Rotten though she may be, she is indeed a Sacred Master.
She somehow managed to figure out from that vast distance that I was chosen by the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
[In any case, I don't wish to maintain a bad relationship with Sacred Master. My main body has currently reached the Lightning Sacred Sea. If I return from the Lightning Sacred Sea with the [Symbols of Names] of the Middle Realm...would you consider reconciliation?]
Regardless of what happened, resolving the tension with Baek Woon is the right thing to do.
She's not a wicked villain to the core, and as long as she is the Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm, the lives of my comrades are essentially in her hands.
Seeing me go this far, she sighs and says.
[...To voluntarily participate in the Lightning Sacred Sea expedition... If you truly manage to retrieve the symbols, I will not only forgive you but also grant an appropriate reward. After all, the divine artifacts stolen by Golden Divinie are crucial for the Middle Realms.]
[I see. Being able to resolve the grudges between me and Sacred Master is truly a rel—]
[But!]
Baek Woon's eyes blaze with fire.
Confirming that a great misfortune has filled the celestial energy in an instant, I flinch.
[No matter what, I cannot simply let go of the fact that you shocked me with electricity, tortured me, summoned Blood Yin, and threw the Bright Cold Realm into chaos without any consequence.]
[...]
With nothing to say, I clear my throat.
[...What do you want?]
She gives a sly smile.
[I will strike you with a sincere blow. If you take it, I'll forget everything that happened in the past.]
[Hm. Then, I will ascend back to the Bright Cold Realm to meet you. If you can wait just a bit...]
[No need to wait. Since you're already possessing the descendant of Golden Divine, take this hit in that form to resolve the grudges regarding both of you.]
[What!?]
I look at her in shock.
Without waiting for my response, Baek Woon brightens her gaze and begins gathering Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.
'This insane woman... She really intends to hit me with a strike.'
Breaking into a cold sweat, I swiftly withdraw the projection and pull my consciousness back into Jeon Myeong-hoon's body in Cedar Wood Grove.
Kugung, Kugugugung!
Above Cedar Wood Grove.
The energy of the sky appears to distort dramatically, before pure white clouds gather in the sky.
The white clouds condense into the form of Baek Woon, dressed in a simple white robe, and her figure starts to expand endlessly.
Soon, Baek Woon's form, now as enormous as a planet, raises her hand to the heavens.
The entire sky over Cedar Wood Grove seemed to darken, completely obscured under the sole of her enormous foot.
I look up at her with a dumbfounded expression, letting out a low groan.
Kururururung!
'Just how much resentment has piled up...?"
Honestly, considering the havoc I caused by summoning Blood Yin and flipping the entire Bright Cold Realm, this is a light price to pay.
[Tree Halberd (樹戟).]
In the consciousness domain of the Sacred Vessel stage, Baek Woon's planet-sized body is fixed.
At the same time, her incarnation's hand grips a massive wooden spear, over ten times larger than the incarnation itself.
Kururururung!
Her form made of clouds siphons lightning from Jeon Myeong-hoon's Heavenly Golden Thunder Body.
Simultaneously, it feels as if the entire Bright Cold Realm is suppressing me, blocking any attempt to draw upon my main body's authority.
'Is she really planning to kill Jeon Myeong-hoon? Even if he can revive...I can't just waste Jeon Myeon-hoon's life on something like this.'
Woong—
I form a Qi sword, gripping it as I take my stance and begin performing a sword dance.
[Did you know, Sacred Master?]
[Just die already, you vile scum!]
In an instant, my consciousness rises to a higher realm.
The single strike of a Sacred Master who is virtually no different from a True Immortal inside a Middle Realm!
Unlike last time, when she dealt with me half-heartedly, the authority where I can feel her genuine will to rip me apart entirely!
[Facing Blood Yin, I blocked Their single strike once.]
The Sword Dance of Divine Descent unfolds in my hands.
A world enters within the sword dance.
At the same time, I feel the power of the entire Bright Cold Realm settling within the sword dance.
I faintly sense the strands of Baek Woon's emotions that are interwoven throughout the entire Bright Cold Realm and adjust the world's flow.
She is shocked.
[How!? I am the Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm! I am its rightful administrator!]
Dudududududu!
Using Jeon Myeong-hoon's body, I draw a circle.
Usually, only my power and the world's strength reside in the Sumeru Sword Dance.
But now, using the power of the Lightning Sacred Sea to Divine Descent into Jeon Myeong-hoon's body,
Kwarururung!
I feel even the power of the Lightning Sacred Sea, from that distant place, enter into the Sumeru Sword Dance.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Thirty-Third Move.
Sumeru.
Transformation Technique.
Sumeru Bright Cold Lightning Path (須彌光寒雷道)!
Heavenly Lightning surges into the sky with peach blossom petals, unleashing a roar like a dragon's cry.
Baek Woon's earnest single strike, borrowing even the power of the Bright Cold Realm, bursts apart as I pierce straight through her incarnation, scattering the clouds as I soar into the sky.
: : I implore. : :
My will, having briefly accelerated into the domain of True Immortals, reverberates across the entire Bright Cold Realm.
: : The grudges be resolved. : :
Among the living beings who hear my will, the weaker ones faint on the spot, those at the Heavenly Being stage or higher feel a severe strain on their hearts, and those from the Four-Axis stage and above have their eardrums rupture.
Even the Integration stage Grand Cultivators and Demon Kings tremble uncontrollably and collapse where they stand upon hearing my will.
Baek Woon's form, manifested as clouds, disperses and speaks.
[...To gain the selection of a Heavenly Lord, must one be a genius of your caliber...]
Her tone carries a hint of lament.
[I will resolve my grudges here. My admirations for your talent that shines like the sun.]
Baek Woon withdraws her consciousness while admiring me, and I descend upon Cedar Wood Grove using Jeon Myeong-hoon's body.
The Heart Tribe of Cedar Wood Grove, my comrades, and a few of the Grand Cultivators residing there have all gathered.
[I apologize for causing a disturbance. Everyone, I am Seo Eun-hyun, currently undergoing Divine Descent into Jeon Myeong-hoon's body. My main body remains at the Lightning Sacred Sea and...]
It's when I begin to calmly explain the situation.
From among my comrades, Yeon Wei, who is possessing Yeon Jin's body, pops out.
She looks at me and asks.
"...So you possessed Jeon Myeong-hoon's body?"
[Yes. Since I am part of the Heart Tribe, like the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One, I can use the Heart Tribe's characteristics to—]
"Even Jang Ik couldn't directly possess a Bright Cold Realm's Heart Tribe from the Lightning Sacred Sea."
[Well...it seems activating the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique's formula from the Lightning Sacred Sea enabled the possession.]
"...Of Jeon Myeong-hoon?"
[Yes, that's correct, but...?]
"...Among the records of the Lightning Sacred Sea left in the ancient texts of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect...the only one who used the Divine Descent characteristic of the Lightning Sacred Sea was the Founder himself, and...only a few True Immortal direct disciples of the Founder. From the start...for such Divine Descent to be invoked...there is a transmission that states one's mind must extend across the five domains, much like a True Immortal."
[I believe there is a slight misunderstanding, Elder Yeon Wei. While my mind may indeed span across the five domains, this is ultimately just a workaround method. And as I've mentioned multiple times before...]
"...I have something to say. Let us meet shortly in Jeon Myeong-hoon's quarters."
With those words, she flies off to Jeon Myeong-hoon's residence.
Sensing her unsettled intent, I briefly explain to the taken aback Heart Tribe before going to seek out Yeon Wei.
"Ah, by the way, Esteemed One Seo. Sir Kim Young-hoon is looking for you."
"Please inform Hyung-nim that I'll visit him shortly as well. There are some matters I must attend to first..."
To clear up Yeon Wei's misunderstanding, I fly to Jeon Myeong-hoon's quarters.
"Elder, are you here?"
Creak—
I enter Jeon Myeong-hoon's quarters and find her.
There, I meet the eyes of Yeon Wei, kneeling submissively in the center of the room waiting for me.
The unsettled look in her eyes has subsided.
"Hold on, Elder Yeon Wei. What are you doing? Please, rise. That voice just now was only..."
"The yell you let out just now was heard throughout the entire Middle Realm. It was only recently that the voice of [that being] from the Blood Yin Realm struck the Bright Cold Realm. How could I forget that sensation so quickly?"
She kneels before me humbly, then suddenly starts to remove my shoes and socks.
[Wait, you're misunderstanding. No, before that, what are you even...?]
Then, my mind goes blank at her continuing actions.
Yeon Wei no longer looks up at me with trembling, anxious, hollow, or despair-filled eyes.
Instead, she exudes an intent of her heart being completely at peace, carefully removing Jeon Myeong-hoon's shoes and setting them aside before lowering her head before my bare feet.
"Please do not address me as Elder, O Great One. I have spent much time in thought, and I have finally come to a conclusion. Now that the Founder of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is gone...our sect is left without his protection, and instead, only True Immortal-level beings with deep resentment against the Founder remain. Yet, the Great One...has always extended your support to help maintain the lineage of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect."
With a sincerely devoted intent directed towards me, she continues, her face bowed beside my feet.
"As the highest elder of the current Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, I humbly ask. From now on, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect will become a sect devoted to serving the Great One. Therefore, I implore, please become the divine spirit that guards us in place of the Founder."
After finishing her words, she presses her lips to the top of my foot, repeating her plea.
"This foolish mortal humbly asks. Please take pity on our Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. Until the successor of the Golden Divine, Myeong-hoon, fully matures, please protect us...!"