Chapter 490: Eve of the End (終末前夜) (1)
Clank-
"O-O Esteemed One, what has happened!?"
"Just what is...?"
Covered in bruises, I step out of Yeon Wei's holding cell.
"Don't worry about it. Today's events will be kept under wraps."
I emerge from Yeon Wei's confinement room, bruised all over.
Woong-
Using my heart essence, I manipulate my heart essence avatar, restoring its bruised and damaged body back to its original state.Just moments ago.
I released Yeon Wei and sealed both of our spiritual power, internal energy, consciousness, intent, Immortal Art, all weapons, and martial techniques, and fought with bare fists.
Yeon Wei was able to use her puppet's special abilities, so the fistfight between us was fairly intense.
Without going that far, no words would have reached her. Her panic was that severe.
After that, I spent quite some time explaining the truth to her.
Golden Shaking Bird, the matured Thunder Beast created by Golden Divine Yang Su-jin.
The connection between the Lightning Sacred Sea and Golden Shaking Bird. Her plans.
Sacred Master Baek Woon's descent, and how, through her, Golden Shaking Bird kidnapped Jeon Myeong-hoon.
And how, to rescue Jeon Myeong-hoon, I'm even working with a vile entity born from the Blood Yin Realm.
That, given just ten thousand years, I am certain I will be able to save Jeon Myeong-hoon.
I explained all of this after a long bout of exchanging punches with her.
I don't know if Yeon Wei accepted it.
I deliberately avoided checking her intent and heart essence.
For the truth I could reveal, I conveyed to her with all my sincerity.
Now, accepting it is her part.
'Hon Won...'
I hate Hon Won.
The fall of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was partly due to that bastard.
Just thinking about Hon Won makes me want to immediately beat him to death on the spot.
However...
Killing him was, at the very least, Yeon Wei's right.
Not him recklessly rushing in and killing himself like that.
"I'm sorry, Yeon Wei."
Right now, all I can do...is just this much.
With that thought, I disperse the heart essence avatar and prepare to return my consciousness to the Astral Realm.
Kiiiing-
At that moment.
My heart essence avatar is suddenly at the White Jade Pavilion on Heavenly Lotus Mountain in the Bright Cold Realm.
I stand before Sacred Master Baek Woon's throne.
And I am not alone.
The other Esteemed Ones of the Bright Cold Realm.
Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One Jang Ik, Opening Heaven Esteemed One Wol-jin, Trampling Heaven Esteemed One Ham Rak, Slaughtering Heaven Esteemed One Geuk Gwang, Final Heaven Esteemed One Jin Wol-ryeong, Safe Heaven Esteemed One Gwi Ro.
And recently risen to the realm of Esteemed One and acknowledged as such by the Sacred Master, 'Kim Young-hoon'.
The eight Esteemed Ones of the Bright Cold Realm have all gathered in one place.
All the Esteemed Ones, except for Jang Ik and Kim Young-hoon, prostrate themselves to the Sacred Master from where they stand.
"We pay our respects to the Sacred Master!"
Jang Ik, Kim Young-hoon, and I merely pay respects within the bounds of not being rude.
Sacred Master Baek Woon waves her hand and speaks.
"That's enough. This is not the time for empty formalities. I'll get straight to the point. First, take a deep breath and prepare yourselves for the shock of the [wisdom] I'm about to reveal."
At the Sacred Master's words, the Esteemed Ones murmur among themselves briefly before making preparations.
Kim Young-hoon looks slightly bewildered as if not sure what to expect, but Jang Ik and I each explain to him a method to prepare oneself when facing [Higher Beings].
'What on earth is she planning to show us?'
I harden my heart, using the ultimate sense of calm to clear my heart.
Baek Woon scans the room and says,
"It seems everyone is ready. In that case...I will tell you. In this world, there are beings called Governing Immortals who oversee the entire world."
"...!!!!"
"...!"
"!!!"
The Esteemed Ones gathered in the White Jade Pavilion collapse to the floor simultaneously, vomiting blood-like lava or Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.
Even I, who built up some resistance, feel my head buzzing after hearing those words after so long.
The one most affected, however, is Kim Young-hoon.
Lacking almost any resistance to the concept of such beings, he bleeds from his seven orifices, collapses to the floor trembling, and nearly faints, foaming at the mouth.
Jang Ik and I use our Sub-Heart Sword and podao to stimulate his heart essence, helping him regain a bit of senses, but it is clear that he is struggling to adapt to the shock of the [wisdom] he has just received.
She waits until we've somewhat recovered before she resumes speaking.
"And...among these Governing Immortals, the Governing Immortal known as the Mountain God and the Governing Immortal known as the Owner of Light are currently...in the midst of a confrontation. A confrontation took place a few hundred years ago as well, and back then, it ended in the Light's victory."
I recall a few hundred years ago in the world's timeline.
Around the 19th cycle of my regression, when 'the world's light dimmed for a moment, and the mountains' spirit veins trembled for a moment'.
'So that's it...! Then, the reason such a phenomenon occurred across the entire world back then...was because the Great Mountain Supreme Deity clashed with the Light!?'
At that moment.
"...!"
"This, this is..."
"My heavens...what on earth is happening...?"
It is currently daytime.
And yet, suddenly, the light across the entire world dims.
The sun loses its light, and a sky full of stars appears above.
It doesn't end there.
Chiiiiii-
The stars in the sky, too, suddenly begin to lose their light.
Dudududududu!
Along with this, the spirit vein of the Heavenly Lotus Great Mountain where we stand begins to rampage wildly, shaking violently.
Kududududu!
Earthquakes spread across the entire Bright Cold Realm.
Volcanoes erupt in various places, and anything in the form of 'piled earth' either collapses or begins to shake.
Heavenly Lotus Great Mountain nearly crumbles as well, but with Baek Woon and all of us exerting our strength, we manage to keep the mountain stable.
And a little while later.
The strange phenomenon from moments ago fades away, and the sky returns to its normal daylight state.
The trembling of the mountain ceases as well.
But I can feel it.
'The mountain's spirit vein has weakened, and the light of the sky remains dim.'
Slaughtering Heaven Esteemed One Geuk Gwang asks in a hopeful voice.
"It, it seems light has returned. Then, doesn't that mean that mountain or whatever has been defeated? Has it been sealed away again like a few hundred years ago?"
It appears that Geuk Gwang, having heard much from Sacred Master Baek Woon, seems to know quite a bit.
The other Esteemed Ones show expressions of joy at the words, but I feel a sense of unease.
'That Great Mountain Supreme Deity got sealed away this easily?'
The nightmare of that time still lingers in my mind. When They, with just a single Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, compressed the entire universe to annihilation using a mere projection, not even Their main body.
'It makes no sense. The light is still weakened, and the mountain's spirit vein is also weakened. Could it be...?'
Cautiously, I voice my speculation.
"Could it be...that the two gods are still fighting? Both the light and the mountain's energy seem to be a bit weak..."
At my conjecture, Geuk Gwang retorts angrily.
"You faithless wretch! You dare doubt the Great Light? And yet you are the Light's devot..."
[Silence.]
Baek Woon speaks, her expression tense.
At her words, Geuk Gwang clamps their mouth shut, and all the Esteemed Ones focus their attention on Baek Woon.
Baek Woon seems to be observing something, gazing intently at the sky.
'I've heard that Sacred Masters' foresight, by drawing on the power of the Middle Realm itself, can be comparable to that of a True Immortal, but...'
It seems she might be directly observing the battlefield of the deities beyond the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.
'Even if it's not to that extent, she might be able to calculate the celestial energy with the Middle Realm's power and read the situation on the battlefield...'
Just what is happening right now in the other Heavenly Domains?
It's when we are all gripped with anxiety.
Tremble, tremble-tremble-tremble...tremble-tremble-tremble-tremble-tremble...
Like an aspen tree, Sacred Master Baek Woon begins to tremble like mad.
Then, she shouts in a voice filled with terror.
: : Hear me, all Esteemed Ones! Hear me, all Sacred Masters! Hear me, all True Persons! Even you, Blood Yin, listen! : :
Ziiiiing!
I can feel her putting all her power into projecting her voice, making it resonate across the entire universe.
: : The Great Mountain Supreme Deity has escaped from the grasp of the Radiance Supreme Deity! They are heading somewhere! The Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain will be annihilated! Everyone prepare for destruction! : :
"...!!!"
Knowing the terror of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, I scream as my eyes roll back in panic.
"Immediately!!! Immediately make that evacuation space or whatever it is!!! Immediately!!!"
Dududududududu!
Astral Realm.
My half-crazed main body shoves the entire Mengyun Star where Kang Min-hee is located into an alternate space created by my attraction force, then frantically prepares to ascend to the Bright Cold Realm.
[We're ascending. Seo Ran, Hong Fan, prepare yourselves!]
I surrender my body to the attraction force of the Bright Cold Realm, and quickly ascend my main body towards it.
Since piercing through the path of ascension takes quite some time, my original plan was to just head to an Astral Realm area close to the Bright Cold Realm and enter from there.
But now is not the time to worry about such things.
I smash through all the Star Shattering stage Vestiges rushing towards me and ascend to the Bright Cold Realm in an instant.
'W-Wait, Hong Fan! I left Hong Fan in the Astral...damn it, damn it, damn it!!! I'm sorry!!! Hong Fan!!!'
I realize I hadn't brought Hong Fan along, but there's no time to dwell on that now.
In an instant, I summon my comrades towards me using attraction force, and while in my Combat Technique Form, I pull them all into my embrace and shout.
"I love you! All of you! You have all been connections more than I deserve!"
For all this time, everyone has truly been undeserved connections in my life.
Sacred Master Baek Woon, with light drained from her eyes, leans lifelessly against her throne, while the Esteemed Ones who are still unable to grasp the situation are yelling frantically at her to do at least something.
And then, five faint projections appear in the White Jade Pavilion.
From each of those presences, I sense the aura of Ancient Force, aura of True Devil, aura of Nether Ghost, aura of Purple Gold.
Because I have built the Five Blessings Axes, I can perceive them clearly.
And from the final projection...
As I feel the aura from that last projection, I recoil with goosebumps.
'B-Blood Yin!!?'
I cannot forget.
The vicious True Immortal who killed me hundreds of times.
It is the presence of Blood Yin.
As I stand there in shock, the projection imbued with the aura of Ancient Force speaks.
[Everyone, thank you for your hard work. It has been a good life.]
I recognize who he is.
It's Sacred Master Hae Lin of the Ancient Force Realm.
'Blood Yin's presence and Hae Lin's voice...then these people must be...'
It seems they are the Sacred Masters from the other Middle Realms.
Baek Woon's body also glows, as if she has also sent her projection to other Middle Realms.
Baek Woon speaks.
[We're all going to die in such an absurd way, but...it was an enjoyable life in its own right. Those Tall Tree Race sapling brats trying to spread their pollen as well, was enjoyable in its own way. Of course, back when I was young and undergoing the Sacred Vessel advancement ritual, I really wanted to exterminate (滅族) them, but...somehow, I grew fond of them over time. Hae Lin, I remember helping you with your Sacred Vessel advancement as well. Yu Oh, I remember clearly when I received assistance from the distinguished one. Ban Ta, to think that the young Sacred Vessel is still holding the Sacred Master position, keke...Ja Eum! Honestly, I still have no idea what you're thinking. And...Blood Yin. To you...I have so many things to say but since we're about to die, I'll keep it to one. It's not as if you are truly unaware of who you are, so stop being so disgraceful.]
Her last words come to an end.
Ban Ta, the Sacred Master of the Purple Gold realm, opens their mouth.
[...If I had known it would come to this, I wouldn't have advanced to the Sacred Vessel stage back then. In five hundred thousand years, I don't know what happened, but not a single worthwhile successor has shown up. These parasite Purple Gold Realm Esteemed One bastards. If I had known it would come to this, regardless of whether the living creatures of the Purple Gold Realm are screwed or not, regardless of whether the Purple Gold Heavenly Lord's Vestige appears and shatters the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain to pieces or not, I would have just lived doing whatever I wanted!]
For some reason, they seem to have quite a few regrets.
Then, Yu Oh opens her mouth.
[All is according to the will of the Imperial Venerable. They are at work among us.]
Her words are brief.
Just as Baek Woon is a devotee of the Light, Yu Oh seems to be a devotee of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.
Among the Sacred Masters, the Sacred Master of the True Devil Realm, 'Ja Eum,' speaks last.
I look at Ja Eum, and now understand where the first Sea Dragon King who appeared in the Ancient Force Realm has been all this time.
'So, he became the Sacred Master of the True Devil Realm...'
Ja Eum hesitates for a moment, then looks to the sky.
[...Has that tyrannical god broken through the encirclement of Light? Given the obvious place They always targeted...it seems the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain will soon be finished. Hoho...]
He lets out a brief, hearty laugh.
Then Ja Eum turns to the projection of Blood Yin and opens his mouth.
[Hoho...Blood Yin, you pathetic Immortal. All this time you've been disgracefully trying to reclaim your honor by throwing a fit and this is all that it amounts to in the end. To use as a protective charm in case of emergency, you created Hyeon Eum as a reserve body. But then, terrified of that Black Dragon, who once couldn't even dare look at Yu Hao Te's heel, might come to intervene, you created the Sea Dragon Race to escape from the possibility of Black Dragon.
[If you were truly the former Chief Judge, you wouldn't have cared in the slightest what some Black Dragon does. The very fact that you resorted to such actions is a perfect demonstration that you're not the former Chief Judge at all.
[If you were truly Yu Hao Te, there would have been an uproar, with the Underworld rushing to receive you, with the Radiance Hall vying to invite you, and with third-party forces clamoring to welcome you. Doesn't this prove just how utterly moronic your conduct is? Please stop wallowing in the delusion of past glory and take a good look at reality.
[Were you pleased? For shedding the name given by Lofty Dragon and Sae Eum through Hyeon Eum and me, creating a reserve body for emergencies and even as a sacrificial offering in one, and even using me meticulously and frugally to put the True Devil Realm under your control? Though I am no Heavenly Immortal, I dare prophesize this. Even if the tyrannical god does not descend, your own deeds will eventually strangle around your neck. If you ever get another chance, I sincerely hope you live properly this time.
[Hoho...how refreshing. It feels like my chest has been completely cleared. Hoho...]
At the words of the True Devil Realm Sacred Mater Ja Eum, the other Sacred Masters, the Esteemed Ones of the Bright Cold Realm, Baek Woon, and myself.
All of us, even Blood Yin, stare at Ja Eum with dumbfounded expressions.
'Ja Eum that guy...wasn't he supposed to be just a fragment or puppet of Blood Yin? Who would have thought he held such a deep-seated resentment against Blood Yin, who is practically the main body...'
Then, Blood Yin's projection opens its mouth.
[...I only...wanted to witness the Imperial Venerable's workings once again, from that right hand seat. That was all.]
They, too, seem to have much more to say, but after speaking plainly, They simply dispel Their projection and vanish from the hall.
In my incarnation, I bid my final farewells to the other Esteemed Ones inside the White Jade Pavilion, and in my main body, I tightly embrace my comrades and tell them I love them without restraint.
Thus, the Great Mountain Supreme Deity descends.
And the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain meets its end...
Or so I thought.
"...Sacred Master Baek Woon."
"...What?"
"Pardon me for asking, but...when exactly are we supposed to be annihilated?"
Baek Woon, seeming slightly flustered, reads the celestial energy.
"...The celestial energy is too disrupted by the battlefield of the gods to read any further. Even I do not know. Just why...is the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain not being annihilated...?"
After trying for a while to read the celestial energy, Baek Woon lets out a deep sigh and speaks.
"...For now, there's nothing more I can discern. In a few days, the gods I serve will provide a response. At that time, I'll submit a detailed inquiry and deliver their answer."
At those words, I and the Esteemed Ones around me let out a sigh of relief.
At the very least, Sacred Master Baek Woon's statement of 'a few days' could be taken as a certified time frame.
The Interdimensional Void between the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain and the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain.
There, traces of a colossal battle remain.
The bodies of countless divine spirits are shattered, drifting in pieces throughout the Interdimensional Void, and the Radiance Eight Immortals at the center are trembling, flickering as though they might extinguish at any moment.
The Seat of Light that was once above them is nowhere to be seen.
The Radiance Eight Immortals are all trembling, as if humiliated.
: : Cunning one. : :
: : To feign directly entering the Audience Chamber, only to sharply change course. : :
: : We had no idea Their hidden power was this much. : :
: : Weren't They nearly comparable to prime Vast Cold, Obsidian, and Silver Basket? : :
: : There's no need for concern. Unlike those monsters, that one's power is consumable. : :
: : Indeed. The more They expend that Corpse Mountain Blood Sea They accumulated, the more Their strength will wane unless They have a stronger sacrifice. : :
: : Such are the limits of the Devil God's power. When the time comes, we'll capture Them. : :
: : After facing us, there's no way They'll be able to immediately find a powerful sacrifice. Let us wait for the right moment... : :
It is then.
A messenger from the Radiance Hall comes rushing towards them.
A True Person, in the form of a bird, swiftly flies over and delivers urgent news.
[O Great Gods! The Tyrannical Mountain has appeared in the Horse Ear Heavenly Domain! They are making contact with the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity!]
Upon hearing this, the Radiance Eight Immortals tremble as if struck by lightning, and release a furious roar.
: : ------! : :
Their rage-filled shout seems to reverberate across the entire Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds.
Prison of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity.
The Imprisonment Dimension, Horse Ear Heavenly Domain (馬耳天域).
In front of the Heavenly Domain that appears as a prison made of light, a colossal Great Mountain that seems to crush the entire universe appears.
The Great Mountain seems to be communicating with the entity inside the Horse Ear Heavenly Domain.
Cosmic voices and signals seem to pass back and forth between the inside and outside of the Heavenly Domain.
After a moment, the domineering Great Mountain bellows in anger.
: : D E F E A T E D O F T H E E R A W I L L Y O U R D E C A Y B E E T E R N A L : :
Then, a reply comes from within the Horse Ear Heavenly Domain.
Hearing the returned message, the Great Mountain Supreme Deity begins to tremble.
It is a tremor mixed with rage.
: : I N T H A T C A S E : :
Dududududu!
The entire Horse Ear Heavenly Domain begins to shake.
The Great Mountain Supreme Deity raises Their hand.
The Imprisonment Dimension that seals the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity begins to gradually compress.
: : B E C R U S H E D W I T H T H E H E A V E N L Y D O M A I N A N D P E R I S H D E F E A T E D O F F A T E : :
Dudududududu!!!
Along with the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, the entire Horse Ear Heavenly Domain begins to crumple and be destroyed.
Then, before that Great Mountain, a white-haired woman appears.
This woman, whose face cannot be seen, is dressed neatly and wears flower-patterned shoes. She bows to the Great Mountain Supreme Deity and speaks.
[Arrogant and savage tyrant. My lord will not come to an end.]
As if the words of a bug aren't even worth hearing, the Great Mountain Supreme Deity pays her no mind, focusing entirely on obliterating the Owner of Heavenly Punishment along with the entire dimension.
[Their dream has already been passed on. Their prophecy will never end! They will not be devoured as a defeated one, like your master!!!]
In the next moment, the white-haired woman, Zhengli, is torn limb from limb.
As if thoroughly crushing a bug to death, she is tortured before the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, repeatedly dying and resurrecting by the hundred millions, until finally, her entire body is shredded into pieces.
Kwadudududuk!
And at last,
Having compressed the entire Horse Ear Heavenly Domain, the Great Mountain Supreme Deity swallows the compacted Heavenly Domain.
Booooooong!
[KUAAAAAAAAAH!]
[HUAAAAAAH!!!]
[UUUUUGH! AAAAAARGH!]
From the mountain of corpses beneath Them, lava-like blood tears burst forth, accompanied by the most agonizing screams ever heard.
At the same time, dark red lightning seems to seethe and overflow around the Great Mountain.
The Great Mountain Supreme Deity looks down upon the entirety of Mount Sumeru with an air of indifference and begins to draw forth Their power.
: : S H A L L W E B E G I N T H E S U P R E M E D E I T Y H U N T : :
The fate of the entire Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds begins to shake.