Chapter 516: Festival Of The Eve (前夜祭) (2)
Kugugugugu!
The entire universe trembles.
The True Persons shake with anger as they scour every corner of the universe.
[Has there been any response from Blood Yin!?]
[No reply has come!]
[Damn it all! What in the world is it!? What is bringing forth the End!?]
[Contact the Sacred Masters immediately!]
All the Entering Nirvanas run wild, stirring the universe to uncover the reason the End is approaching faster.And, in the Middle Realms.
Baek Woon is praying to the Radiance Hall, while Yu Oh and Hae Lin are praying to the Underworld.
Ja Eum, too, frantically tries to contact Blood Yin, but Blood Yin remains silent.
Everyone is thrown into confusion, desperately seeking answers!
However...strangely enough, the answer comes from the one least interested in the matter.
[Hmm?]
Ban Ta, who is observing Cedarwood Painting, where Seo Eun-hyun, Kang Min-hee, and many others with the potential to advance to the Sacred Vessel stage are gathered, senses something amiss.
'What on earth is this?'
As he observes Cedarwood Painting, he notices that its attraction force has become unusual.
[That... What is going on? The celestial energy of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain is converging around Cedarwood Painting?]
Kikikikikik—
As he observes the celestial energy, he senses something suspicious.
'This is...! Wait, the movement of that attraction force...!?'
As Ban Ta discerns the true nature of the celestial energy's flow, he is struck with shock.
Comparing the flow of the accelerating End and the attraction force emanating from Cedarwood Painting, he becomes completely certain of its nature and trembles.
The eyes of Ban Ta, who until now has been solely focused on the True Person advancement, are now clouded with horror.
Being over 700,000 years old, Ban Ta knows.
This is undoubtedly a flow he witnessed once before.
The terror he felt the first time he witnessed it is something Ban Ta has never forgotten even until now.
[Ph-Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra!!!]
Ban Ta's eyes roll back in shock.
Woo-woong!
The entire Purple Gold Realm vibrates.
Immediately afterward, Ban Ta lets out a shout.
: : Hear me! I, Ban Ta, have uncovered the cause of this strange phenomenon! : :
Ban Ta's voice reverberates throughout the entirety of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.
All eyes of the True Persons and Sacred Masters are drawn to Ban Ta's voice, which sounds intensely startled.
: : It's the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra! The Sacred Master of Cedarwood Painting, Seo Eun-hyun, is [using] the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra!!! : :
After Ban Ta's desperate proclamation.
The entire universe falls silent for a moment.
Perhaps it is because it's taking a little time for the Sacred Masters and True Persons of the universe to grasp the meaning of those words.
After all, no one could understand how a mere Sacred Master could [use] the mantra that only the tyrannical Mountain God could utter.
However, after a brief moment of processing.
When everyone finally grasps the meaning of those words.
The entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain quakes.
————————!!!!
———!!
——————!!
————!!!!!
Bright Cold Realm, Heavenly Lotus Mountain, White Jade Pavilion.
There, Baek Woon is frantically sending transmissions to the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.
The rulers of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, who usually pay little attention to Baek Woon's reports,
For today, the Radiance Hall opens an ear to Baek Woon's words.
: : Is there someone [using] the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra? : :
[Yes, there is. It is the current Sacred Master of Cedarwood Painting, Seo Eun-hyun. He was once a disciple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect in the Bright Cold Realm. After the authority of the Owner of Heavenly Punishment led to the destruction of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, he wandered from place to place for 800 years before advancing to the Sacred Vessel stage. His origin...as I reported, is the Head Realm. I humbly request the descent of the Heavenly Lords.]
: : Impossible. The Heavenly Lords of the Radiance Hall are currently all focused on the movements of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity. : :
[But...]
: : Instead, we will request assistance from Yeong Seung and the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords as allies. As direct descent is impossible due to the Lightning Sacred Sea, have their disciples prepare the ritual for divine descent. : :
[...! Thank you. However...one of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords' disciples, Yeo Hwi, is currently captured by the Sacred Master of Cedarwood Painting. The descent may not be perfect.]
: : As long as they are not the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord in their youth, an imperfect descent will suffice. : :
[...Yes, certainly... No matter what, he could not possibly wield the strength of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord in their youth...]
Baek Woon nods as if understanding.
[How long will it take for the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords to descend?]
: : I do not know. : :
[Pardon!? What on earth does that mean!?]
: : They are currently in the Outer Sea (外海), trying to save their master. Contacting them is uncertain. Everything depends on fate. You should seek assistance from Yeong Seung. : :
Crackle...
The True Immortal of Radiance Hall, having finished delivering the divine oracle to Baek Woon, soon conceals their presence.
Baek Woon grits her teeth, letting out a low groan.
'Those fools who only know how to flaunt their arrogance!'
But there is nothing she can do for now.
[O great agent of calendrical methods and chronicles. Apostle of the Lord who governs the passing of time. I, Baek Woon, Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm and Saint of Light, humbly request your assistance.]
Woo-woong!
In an instant, Baek Woon's mind is pulled beyond the distant sky, to some unknown place.
She whispers something in prayer to Yeong Seung.
Her wish is for the current crisis to be resolved.
However, at that moment,
Pajiijijik!
[Kuuuugh!]
Baek Woon's mind abruptly returns to her body, and she opens her eyes wide in disbelief as she shouts.
[Unbelievable! What do you mean by this!? Are you saying you will not assist the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain!? Are you turning your back on Radiance Hall!? The Radiance Hall will not stand idly by!!!]
However, despite Baek Woon's cries, there is no one to answer her.
Baek Woon's expression darkens.
She sends her will to Yu Oh of the Nether Ghost Realm to inquire about the situation, but the only response she receives from Yu Oh is, 'The Underworld, too, offers no answers.'
[The South Polar Ritual Treasure...has betrayed Radiance Hall!? And the Underworld side used the Ghostly Yin Transformation Immortal Root to create the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother...and even though there is someone [using] the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, the tyrannical Mountain God does not take action...?
[Just what in the world is going on!? How could something like this happen!?]
Letting out a deep groan, Baek Woon lets out a burst of lament.
[Great chaos...will descend upon the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain...! The chaos of forty thousand years ago will be nothing in comparison. No, this...might be comparable to the great chaos during the era of the Golden Divine...!]
Ancient Force Realm.
Sea King Hall.
Seated on the throne within, Hae Lin's eyes tremble.
[...Unbelievable. It was possible to [use] the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra? And that too by a mere Sacred Master who hasn't even lived for ten thousand years!? For a Sacred Master to wield it, one would need to chant the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra continuously for at least 330,000 years while deeply understanding Immortal Arts... Even then, that would assume direct tutelage from that being. How on earth is such a thing possible!?]
Hae Lin lets out a low groan, as if unable to comprehend it at all.
[...What should I do? Should I fulfill my duty as a Sacred Master? Or should I repay the debt as a descendant of the Immortal Beast Xiezhi? What should I do...Father?]
True Devil Realm.
Blood Sacrificial Altar.
There, Ja Eum gazes at Cedarwood Painting with an expression full of unease.
[...What madness is this, Seo Hweol? Why are you assisting him with Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens? Isn't that not our goal?]
Huarurururuk!
The power of Purple Soul Filling the Heavens ripples around Ja Eum.
[...As expected, those born of the Head Realm cannot be trusted. In the end, did you completely lose your mind...Seo Hweol? If it's come to this...am I to proceed with my plan without Seo Hweol's aid...?]
Letting out a small sigh, Ja Eum's expression turns bitter.
Astral Realm.
Around Cedarwood Painting, numerous entities begin to appear.
Quasi-Immortals!
All the Quasi-Immortals of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain leap across thousands of light-years in their main bodies and encircle Cedarwood Painting.
Among them, Jinlu Gok, a member of the same race as Seo Eun-hyun, is present as well.
Chuuuaaak!
Jinlu Gok, assuming a human form, speaks.
[I thought highly of you because we are from the same race. But what is it you are doing now? Stop this at once!!!]
However, the attraction force radiating from Cedarwood Painting remains unyielding.
It continues to distort the surrounding space, slowly but steadily bringing the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain closer to the End.
Finally, the True Persons erupt in fury.
[There's no need to speak any further!]
[Cease the use of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra!]
[How you acquired that ominous and evil mantra, avoided retribution, and are now able to wield it is unknown. However, that mantra is dangerous! Stop using that vile devilish art at once!!!]
The True Persons, who had been observing Seo Eun-hyun since the Nether Ghost Realm, speak with a mix of anger and fear in their eyes.
[He is the one who grasped the true meaning of the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique in the Nether Ghost Realm.]
[Does this mean he traced back the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique to obtain the true Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra?]
[Was what he was using until now not just an imitation of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantras power, but the 'real' mantra?]
[Even with the recognition of the mantra's owner, it would take hundreds of thousands of years of repentant enlightenment to use the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra at the level of a Sacred Master. How could such an anomaly exist!?]
However, as the True Persons clamor among themselves—
Paaaaaatt!
Five colossal lights blossom around Cedarwood Painting.
Simultaneously, five dimensional gates open, and countless figures emerge from within.
Bright Cold Realm Sacred Master Baek Woon, accompanied by six Esteemed Ones of the Bright Cold Realm.
True Devil Realm Sacred Master Ja Eum, accompanied by three Esteemed Ones of the True Devil Realm.
Ancient Force Realm Sacred Master Hae Lin, accompanied by four Esteemed Ones of the Ancient Force Realm.
Nether Ghost Realm Sacred Master Yu Oh, accompanied by four Esteemed Ones of the Nether Ghost Realm.
Purple Gold Realm Sacred Master Ban Ta, accompanied by four Esteemed Ones of the Purple Gold Realm.
As they step forward, all of them speak to Seo Eun-hyun with stern, hardened expressions.
Yu Oh and Baek Woon step to the forefront.
[Seo Eun-hyun, listen. The Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra you are currently chanting is among the most dangerous mantras in existence. We knew you had been cultivating with it, but...we never thought you'd be able to wield and unleash its true power. We weren't even certain if it was the 'true' Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, yet to think it was to this degree...I implore you—please stop using the 'true' Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra. You've only been cultivating with it, so you likely don't understand the full extent of its power.
[The true power of that mantra is truly terrifying. It is enough to threaten the entirety of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain! So stop it at once!]
[I have personally witnessed the power of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra from afar.]
Yu Oh desperately tries to persuade Seo Eun-hyun.
[Using it will cause countless living beings to perish. Many will be sent to the Netherworld, unable to find rest, and instead will be absorbed by the mantra's user and suffer eternal torment. I implore Sacred Master Eun-hyun to listen. The Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra is an utterly horrifying devilish art. Please stop using it.]
And then...Seo Eun-hyun's reply is heard from within Cedarwood Painting.
[For all the countless beings who have been observing me until now to fail to realize that what I was using was the 'real' thing...how unfortunate it is. Without even being able to discern between the true and fake Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, how can seniors simply label it as a horrifying devilish art? Depending on how I use it, could it not become the starting point to saving everyone?]
At those words, one of the True Persons shouts angrily.
[You! A brat not even 5,000 years old dares to judge us with your meager experience!? This Immortal has seen the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra once before. Do you have any idea what happens when it is unleashed!?]
Baek Woon, too, reveals her anger at Seo Eun-hyun's and speaks sharpy.
[Most of the True Persons have witnessed the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra! Just recalling that horrifying and gruesome devilish art is enough to make one shudder. You have never even seen the true face of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, so how can you so arrogantly claim you can control it? Save everyone? That is nothing but a path to total annihilation!]
At Baek Woon's voice, laughter can be heard from within Cedarwood Painting.
[To think you dare to speak before me of having seen the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra from afar, that it's terrifying, and question whether I understand its nature. It truly makes me laugh.]
Woo-wooong!
Above Cedarwood Painting, a massive projection of Glass Cedarwood Mountain rises.
Standing at the summit of Glass Cedarwood Mountain, Seo Eun-hyun looks down upon the True Persons, Sacred Masters, and Esteemed Ones and speaks.
[Through the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, I intend to save everyone in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain from the End. As for the details of how I plan to do so, I cannot reveal them since those here would be connected to True Immortals and suffer greatly if I did. However...I swear upon the Immortal Arts that constitute my essence: no one here will be harmed. Furthermore, the End will still come in 8,000 years as scheduled. At most, it might be brought forward by a week. There is nothing for anyone to worry about.]
[Stop this at once! Even mentioning the connections to True Immortals is suspicious! You! Did you receive some kind of instruction from the Mountain God? The Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra accelerating the End is not the problem. The problem is that the mantra is [properly] used during the End!]
[...Heh, think what you will...I expected opposition, but it's quite severe.]
Seo Eun-hyun smiles faintly and raises one hand.
[Move the stars, Seo Hweol!]
Dudududududu!
The True Persons and Sacred Masters glare in unison at Seo Eun-hyun and Cedarwood Painting.
Under Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, the star veins twist, forming some kind of formation centered around Cedarwood Painting.
Kuuuuung!
At the same time, a certain [small dimension] is extracted from the Bright Cold Realm, crossing spacetime to attach itself to Cedarwood Painting!
Kwaaaaang!
It's the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person, which had been lodged in the Bright Cold Realm!
[I, the rightful owner of the tears and armor of Hae Nyeong, the Clear Scale Armor, hereby declare.]
Woo-woooong!
At Seo Eun-hyun's declaration, who was granted the authority of ownership by the Nether Devil True Lord Yu Hao Te, the lake of the Clear Scale Armor, buried beneath the Melia tree, is drawn out from Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll and envelops the entirety of Cedarwood Painting.
Simultaneously, bright-red Karmic Fire erupts from the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person, dyeing the entire universe.
The Sacred Masters and True Persons retreat in shock, escaping the range of the Karmic Fire.
Baek Woon shouts in astonishment as she watches Seo Eun-hyun burning brightly at the center of the Karmic Fire.
[Th-That...lunatic! How can he remain composed in the center of the Karmic Fire!? It's impossible for a living being to be free of sin. Did he undergo judgement in advance!?]
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...
The entire cosmic space seems to be cooking under the heat of the Karmic Fire.
Wiiiiiing!
Then, just as the True Persons and Sacred Masters retreat,
One of the 28 artificial stars within Cedarwood Painting enters the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person attached to the world.
[Now, Kim Yeon!]
As soon as Kim Yeon forms a hand seal, the artificial star that entered Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll begins to glow brightly, connecting with Seo Eun-hyun within Cedarwood Painting.
Wiiiiiing!
The artificial star resonates with Seo Eun-hyun.
Cedarwood Painting and Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll begin to completely fuse (融解)!
The dimension of Cedarwood Painting devours the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person, becoming one and expanding even further.
Simultaneously, on the other side of the Peaceful Cloud Continent, another continent emerges.
[From now on...]
Seo Eun-hyun, relishing in his strengthened authority and the absoluteness of Cedarwood Painting, declares.
[The Artificial Middle Realm Plan shall begin!]
Thus begins the 8,000-year-long war between Seo Eun-hyun and all the beings of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.