Chapter 556: World Of Sun And Moon (7)
After returning my true soul to my main body, I inform Gold Shaking Bird, Hong Fan, and Yeo Hwi of our destination.
"First, I'll confirm old connections in each of the Middle Realms, and then head straight to the Lightning Sacred Sea."
"...As you wish."
"I have no objections. Huhu..."
Hong Fan still seems a bit curt, perhaps harboring lingering resentment over my earlier reckless actions. On the other hand, Gold Shaking Bird appears inexplicably overjoyed.
Yeo Hwi, having seemingly been refined into an Immortal Treasure by Gold Shaking Bird, rests quietly within my body, only letting out soft sounds of 'Hwi, hwi, hwi...'
It seems none of them have faced significant problems over the last forty-nine years.
I quickly send split souls to four of the five Middle Realms, excluding the Purple Gold Realm.Ancient Force Realm, Sea King Hall.
I see a familiar face there.
"It has been a while, Sacred Master Hae Lin."
"..."
Hae Lin locks eyes with my split soul and lets out a deep sigh.
"You've now come as a senior. It feels like just yesterday I was chasing after you to appoint you as my successor."
"Haha, even so. I still remember the grace you showed me when I was chanting the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra in complete ignorance and concealed me in the Deep Sea to evade the eyes and ears of the savage Mountain Divine Spirit."
"Ahem..."
When I bring up the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, he clears his throat awkwardly, seemingly embarrassed.
"Back then...I thought you only intended to destroy the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain. Please allow me to apologize for my misunderstanding."
"There's no need. If it had been me, and I saw a madman recklessly chanting a mantra capable of destroying the universe without any explanation, I would have likely lashed out and tried to kill them as well."
At the time, the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra was used to borrow the attraction force of the universe's End to scatter Filling the Heavens Governing View across the world.
However, explaining its principles would have required explaining the wisdom of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity and the Salt Sea Supreme Deity, so I refrained from doing so.
'Of course, it also served as a smokescreen to distract the five Sacred Masters of the Middle Realms. While they were preoccupied, I set up the true starting point for properly activating Filling the Heavens Governing View without even Seo Hweol noticing.'
In any case, the incident back then was largely my fault.
Hae Lin, however, still looks regretful and forms a hand seal.
Kururururung!
"...This is..."
From within the Sea King Hall, a torrent of blue water surges inward.
Recognizing its identity, I click my tongue.
"Clear Scale Armor?"
Indeed.
It is the Clear Scale Armor that I enveloped over Cedarwood Painting when I advanced to True Immortality.
"The Karmic Fire and the Seat of Vice left behind by Blood Yin were reclaimed by the Underworld. However, the Clear Scale Armor wasn't retrieved. Since I couldn't let it fall over to Radiance Hall or the Source River, I've been managing it instead. Please accept it."
"Such generosity...I gratefully accept it."
"In addition, I will share a portion of the power of ancient force as well."
Wo-woong!
Hae Lin divides a portion of the Deep Sea of the Ancient Force Realm and gives it to me.
As I look at the whirlpool of countless dimensions within the Deep Sea, I let out a small sigh.
'From a True Immortal's perspective, this is truly...profane.'
The Ancient Force Realm is, quite literally, a world made up of the corpses of countless True Immortals.
Heaven Immortals who failed in their prophecies, forgotten Immortal Beasts erased from history. The deaths of countless True Immortals overflow in the form of the Deep Sea.
At the same time, I see dimensions whose nature is completely indiscernible flickering within the sea.
'Are these...fragments of Heavenly Domains?'
Among the fragments in the Deep Sea, some appear to be pieces that can only be described as remnants of 'Heavenly Domains'.
'What on earth is ancient force...?'
"Ancient Force originates entirely from the Head Realm."
Hae Lin explains further.
"The Head Realm...I don't know much about it myself, but I've heard it's a place that devours and stores countless [worlds] and [realities]. Why such a phenomenon occurs, and what its true nature is...only the truly exalted ones would know.
"But one thing is certain. All beings who control the Plane of Qi and walk the pathway of history...when they observe the threads of history, they inevitably perceive threads of [lost] history among them. And when they connect with those [lost histories] through their unique powers, what they gain is ancient force."
"..."
"Through that ancient force, some Immortal Beasts gain special authorities, some uncover unknown truths, and some are said to acquire Seats that were lost long ago. However, the crucial point is this... Anyone who obtains ancient force is said to be able to discern its origin. And the origin of all ancient force is the Head Realm..."
As I listen to Hae Lin's words, I once again recall the ominous nature of the Head Realm.
"In this world, there are many [forgotten histories] and [disappeared truths]. And all those who gather ancient force are, in essence, beings who [excavate the truths of forgotten history]."
Wo-woong!
Hae Lin rises from his throne, kneels before me, and offers a portion of the Deep Sea's water.
"My ancestor, the Immortal Beast King candidate, and the Deputy Judge of the Netherworld, the Ancient Force True Lord Hae Nyeong...once sought to uncover the disgrace of the Heavenly Venerables trapped within ancient force. To prevent their disgrace from being revealed, three Heavenly Venerables attempted to eradicate my ancestor.
"However, the original owner of the Phenomenon Extinguishing Mantra, the Owner of Salt Mountain, invited my ancestor to the Outer Sea, persuaded the three Heavenly Venerables, severed the ancient force my ancestor had obtained, and sealed it within the Outer Sea. Due to this, my ancestor avoided being pursued by the three Heavenly Venerables...and was able to safely enter the service of the Imperial Venerable."
Wo-woooong!
Over the stream of Deep Sea offered by Hae Lin, certain formulas emerge.
"There are innumerable hidden truths in this world, and they are deeply tied to the Heavenly Venerables and the Head Realm. My ancestor devoted their entire life to uncovering the hidden truths of the world. My ancestor...500,000 years ago, followed the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, believing that by following, they could uncover the entirety of ancient force. But they were ultimately defeated. The resentment of my ancestor at that time, I, as their descendant, understand better than anyone. Thus, I ask you to accept this."
"...These formulas are..."
"It is an Immortal Arts that was deliberately hidden from the savage Owner of Mountain. This is because that one cannot claim to be the successor of the Owner of Salt Mountain. The Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade scattered throughout the Ancient Force Realm is just a degraded version of this Immortal Art..."
Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade (鹹海歸露玉).
[TL: The salt in the degraded version is the salt in salt crystal, while the salt in the Immortal Art is the salt in Salt Sea Supreme Deity.]
That is the name of the formula rising above the water of the Deep Sea.
"The ancient force of my ancestor, which the Owner of Salt Mountain sealed in the Outer Sea. The [disgrace of the Heavenly Venerables] was set as coordinates, which this Immortal Art uses to navigate the Outer Sea. That is Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade. Please accept it. Accept it and...after inheriting the sorrowful wish of the Owner of Salt Mountain and my ancestor, please uncover the hidden histories in their entirety."
"...Why give this to me? Would it not be better to entrust it to another among the Immortal Beasts, or to an Immortal Beast King candidate that is more suitable for it?"
"...The fact that you have inherited the will of the Owner of Salt Mountain signifies that you are someone with both great nobility and grand aspirations—enough to catch the eye of that being's lingering soul. Among the current candidates for the position of Immortal Beast King, there is only the savage [Mountain God], the sinister [Black Dragon], the foolish [Supreme Tiger], the lustful [Glass Peacock], the small-dreaming [Azure Peng], the [White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus] who loathes my ancestor, and the [Yin Ghost Black Turtle] who cares only for the Underworld. That is all. Compared to them...you are a far more suitable Immortal Beast King candidate than the [Mountain God]."
I look at Hae Lin as I absorb the formulas of Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade that he offers.
"Please, inherit the will of my ancestor..."
Like so, in the Ancient Force Realm, I receive the formulas of the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade that symbolize the will of the Ancient Force True Lord Hae Nyeong, a portion of the Deep Sea dimension, and the Clear Scale Armor.
With that, my meeting in the Ancient Force Realm comes to an end.
Kururung!
I arrive at a familiar place for the first time in a long while.
A violet sky.
The writhing devilish energy.
The name of this chaotic world is the True Devil Realm.
The previous Sacred Master of the True Devil Realm, Ja Eum, perished together with Blood Yin inside Blood Yin.
Then, who has succeeded Ja Eum as Sacred Master?
Interestingly, it is none other than the Salt Sea Esteemed One from the Ancient Force Realm, Yuk Jeung.
"It's been a while, Senior."
Salt Sea Esteemed One Yuk Jeung looks at me and gives a short greeting.
"The forces of Light are supposedly chasing you or whatever, yet you sure are wandering freely."
"How...did you become the Sacred Master of the True Devil Realm?"
I look at Yuk Jeung with a puzzled expression, and he clicks his tongue before replying.
"Ja Eum! That vile thing...extracted only his soul and embedded it within Blood Yin, then dragged both my soul and body and embedded into his [flow]. It's as if I was forcibly made to inhabit Ja Eum's body..."
Yuk Jeung mutters with a displeased look.
"Our entire Sea Dragon Race...was in truth born from Ja Eum's Purple Soul Filling the Heavens. And this Esteemed One knew one thing. As long as Ja Eum's Purple Soul Filling the Heavens exists, our Sea Dragon Race was essentially a slave race that could at any time be offered as a sacrifice to Blood Yin if Ja Eum desired. Even compared to the slave races abused in the Bright Cold Realm, we were far more wretched."
From Yuk Jeung's mouth comes the history of the Sea Dragon Race.
"So, I originally requested Ja Eum. I petitioned to liberate us from Purple Soul Filling the Heavens. But...he refused. He said that we were nothing more than chess pieces of great beings like Blood Yin, Hyeon Eum, and Ja Eum, saying that there existed no other possibilities for us. And so...I made a resolution. Though no matter what I do, I could never defeat Blood Yin, for at least Ja Eum and Hyeon Eum, for at least those two, I resolved to destroy them and...to break free from the Purple Soul Filling the Heavens that bound us and escape from the grasp of True Immortals. To break free from our fate of being born as slaves! But...haha."
He lets out a hollow laugh.
"Ultimately, this is how it turned out. Blood Yin, Hyeon Eum, Ja Eum...Senior eliminated them all. And Ja Eum, after extracting the soul of the Sea Dragon Race with the highest realm—me—and embedded it into his body, self-destructed. After reading the history left behind by Ja Eum in his body, I came to understand...that Ja Eum had deeply loved the Sea Dragon Race deeply from the very beginning.
"I cried out for liberation from Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, but...as it turns out, our Sea Dragon Race, born from the power of Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, would lose our status as a Dragon Race if its power were extinguished. At worst, we would degenerate into protein-clump monstrosities. At best, we might retain some semblance of life but lose all reason, becoming mere demon spirits. In the end..."
Yuk Jeung lets out a sigh in a voice that sounds drained of strength.
"I, who once cried out for the liberation of the Sea Dragon Race from Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, became the very master of the Purple Soul Filling the Heavens that oppresses the Sea Dragon Race. And now, for the sake of the Sea Dragon Race, I am in a position where I must protect Purple Soul Filling the Heavens. Isn't it truly laughable? Hahaha..."
"...So, what do you plan to do from now on?"
"What else can I do? There is only one path."
Yuk Jeung's eyes glint.
"Unlike someone like Ban Ta, who hides his tender heart behind a facade of malice, I will do whatever it takes to quickly find a successor. After that, I will advance to the Entering Nirvana Stage, complete my Immortal Art, and challenge the True Immortal advancement. Then...I will become an Immortal Beast and engrave the Immortal Beast bloodline of the [Sea Dragon Race] into this world. If I can do that...even if Purple Soul Filling the Heavens is dissolved, the Sea Dragon Race will not degenerate into beasts. That is my ultimate goal for now."
I smile faintly at Yuk Jeung's grand aspiration and offer my blessing.
"I hope you definitely achieve your goal someday."
"Thank you for your support."
After meeting Yuk Jeung, who has become the Sacred Master of the True Devil Realm, I check on the status of the other Esteemed Ones of the True Devil Realm. Briefly, I meet with the Black Fog Esteemed One, pat their shoulder, and say, [Let's do well from now on].
With that, my business in the True Devil Realm concludes.
The Nether Ghost Realm.
I look back on the connections I made there.
Cha Jo-gwi and his subordinate.
And the followers who once served under the Wuji Religious Order but fled from the Twilight Domain.
They are all doing well currently.
I secretly repair the puppet bodies of the followers who had fled, and later happen to meet a rather memorable connection.
"...You are..."
"I greet the great being."
It is Yu Hwi, who had ascended to the Nether Ghost Realm at some point.
Having reached great completion in the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets that I taught him, he has fully transformed his Nascent Soul into a Ghost King and has splendidly ascended to the Nether Ghost Realm.
The one who was once my follower has now become a powerful cultivator at the mid Four-Axis stage, becoming a renowned figure in the Nether Ghost Realm.
He is one of the few remaining followers of the Wuji Religious Order.
That is who Yu Hwi is, so I smile warmly as I look at him.
Unlike Ham Jin, who fell into corruption, Yu Hwi has grown admirably.
"You've grown well. Unlike some other kids."
"Haha, is the Great One talking about Ham Jin?"
"...You know him?"
"I have met him. He is currently wandering the Astral Realm in training. He has already turned over a new leaf. And...he is already stronger than me."
"...I see."
Thousands of years ago.
Before my battle with Seo Hweol, I already placed Filling the Heavens Governing View to its maximum on Ham Jin and assigned him a task.
At the time, he had been infected by both Filling the Heavens Governing View and Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
—If you can completely rid yourself of both my Filling the Heavens Governing View and the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens within you, then return to me.
That is what I said before kicking him out to the Astral Realm.
If I hadn't given him a mission of such high difficulty, he would have continued to fall into corruption and live a debauched life.
In any case...
'If he has grown stronger and turned over a new leaf as Yeo Hwi says...then it must mean he understood the meaning behind the task I gave him and gained enlightenment.'
It seems worthwhile to test Ham Jin one more time and perhaps bring him along in the future.
I turn to Yu Hwi and ask him a question.
"I am planning to embark on a distant journey. Do you have any thoughts of following me?"
"It would be an honor! Please allow me to accompany the Great One!"
"To follow me...even if you have to die once?"
"Yes!"
"...Very well."
After explaining some of my plans to Yu Hwi, I head to the Black Palace of the Nether Ghost Realm.
There, Yu Oh is waiting for me.
"It's been a while, Sacred Master Yu Oh. It's been a long time since I came to the Nether Ghost Realm. The night sky is remarkably clear today."
"It is all thanks to Senior, who either beat those Entering Nirvana True Persons into unconsciousness or forced them to advance. Currently the number of True Persons of the Source River faction are...about twenty-eight? The rest were pushed into advancing and were unable to accept death, falling into the Underworld. It is said they are being judged. The remaining True Persons are currently in hibernation for a long, long time, recovering from their fatal injuries."
"If you wish, I will assist the remaining True Persons in their True Immortal advancement as well."
"Hoho, there is no need for that. In any case, the night sky of the Nether Ghost Realm will remain clear for a while... That alone is enough."
After sharing some light conversation, we gradually shift to discussing the true matter at hand.
"By the way, there is something I must ask, Sacred Master Yu Oh."
"What is it?"
"Who is...the distinguished one exactly?"
I voice the question I've been harboring for some time.
According to rumors, she is said to be a fragment or split soul of the Reincarnation Judge Yu Soo Ryeon.
From what I've experienced, she is not simply a vessel for the [Oldest One].
Above all, the one who possesses the powerful presence of being Seo Ran's mother is her.
'Though it was said that the split soul is Seo Ran's mother, and she isn't truly Seo Ran's mother...'
If that is the case, just why did she send a split soul to the Head Realm in the first place?
"What is your true identity? Why did you send a split soul to the Head Realm? After the death of the Reincarnation Judge...why does someone of your caliber, who could have gone to the Underworld to become a Reaper, remain here to be a Sacred Master... May I ask about this?"
At my question, Yu Oh smiles meaningfully.
"...Originally, I would have no reason to tell you even if you reached True Immortality, but...I sense the workings of the Imperial Venerable in the distinguished one's death. Have you met the Imperial Venerable?"
"If you mean the [Oldest One], then yes. Before my advancement to True Immortality."
"...I see. In that case, your presence before me must also be by Their will. As you are deemed worthy, I shall tell you."
As she reveals her identity, I feel as though my eyes might pop out of their sockets.
"I am both the split soul and the former Immortal Treasure of the Reincarnation Judge, Yu Soo Ryeon. At the same time...I am also an aspect of her elder brother, the Chief Judge Yu Hao Te's Seat of Good and Evil. I am the incarnation of the Seat of Good."