Chapter 559: Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain
Kwa-jijijijik!
An overwhelming lightning tribulation!
The Interdimensional Void of the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, Middle Realm zone.
One of the 48 Middle Realm zones of the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, the Myriad Laws Realm (萬法界).
There, a crimson Blood Shark Race is undergoing a Nascent Soul stage advancement tribulation.
Kwarururung!
The golden lightning tribulation madly strikes the entire body of the Blood Shark Race demon beast.
Then, at a certain moment,Flash!
A large crack forms on the forehead of the Blood Shark Race demon beast, and its entire body begins to collapse.
"N-No!"
The Blood Shark cries out with despair-filled eyes.
"I can't die like this! It's unfair! Unfair! There are still so many things I haven't accomplished...! It's unfair...!"
At that very moment.
Flash!
The lightning tribulation suddenly amplifies.
'Ah, damn it. For it to amplify at the last moment...is advancing to the Nascent Soul stage truly this difficult...?'
Just as the Blood Shark is about to give up on life.
From within the amplified lightning tribulation, two shapes burst forth.
One is [a candle flickering with a fusion of glass-colored flames and aurora light], and the other is [a surging river of countless bird heads sparking with lightning].
"Kuaaahhh!"
The Blood Shark's eyeballs burst.
Glass shards protrude from all over their body, and its entire being begins to disintegrate into scattered lightning.
'It's un...fair...'
As the Blood Shark is on the verge of annihilation.
: : S U C H A P I T I F U L T H I NG : :
Kugugugugu!
From within the bizarre candle, a powerful will seems to emanate, sending a certain energy toward the Blood Shark.
The Blood Shark receives this energy and snaps back to their senses.
In that instant, the crack on the Blood Shark's forehead widens further, and from within, a new form of the Blood Shark emerges.
It is a form that has somewhat taken on the shape of a human!
Chwararararak!
The Blood Shark's original body crumbles into husks, seemingly collapsing, but then moves as if alive and envelops the newly transformed human-like form, becoming her clothing.
The once ordinary Blood Shark Race demon beast, Du Hwa (斗華), now possesses crimson hair, surrounded by a subtle glass-colored flame, and her movements are accompanied by golden lightning flickering across her newly transformed body.
Kwa-jijijijik...
And with her Transformation complete, Du Hwa finally realizes that the hellish lightning tribulation has ended.
"Ah...ahh..."
Having overcome the lightning tribulation, she has risen to the Nascent Soul stage.
As she begins to well up with tears of deep emotion, her body suddenly trembles.
"Thank goodness. My apologies. That Golden Shaking Bird...she didn't tell me in advance that we can only move to other Heavenly Domains within lightning tribulation. We almost made you go insane."
Du Hwa feels a chill of terror as she hears a voice from behind her and turns around.
There, she sees a Human Race individual dressed in white standing before her.
This human is only at the Qi Refining 7th star.
And yet, why is it? Du Hwa's senses are frantically sounding an alarm.
'H-Heaven and Earth spiritual energy is...'
In her demon race vision, the being before her is a being completely devoid of the flow Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.
As if an illusion, the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy permeates straight through the man in white.
Yet, at the same time, the man undoubtedly exists in this world.
"Well, even so, you've gained something good from staring directly at us. I hope you consider this a blessing in disguise."
Huarururuk!
As the man approaches her, the glass-colored flames flowing along Du Hwa's hair blaze even brighter.
Du Hwa collapses to the ground in fear.
"Wh-Who are thee? O Great One. I...I am not tasty. At most, I am just a low-level Nascent Soul stage cultivator of the Blood Shark Race..."
"Blood Shark Race! How delightful. To think there are Blood Sharks even in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain... This Immortal seems to have a deep connection with the Blood Shark Race."
"P-Pardon?"
When the word 'this Immortal' escapes the man's lips, Du Hwa trembles with so much fear she nearly wets herself.
Because for someone to refer to themselves as 'this Immortal' signifies that they are, at the very least, a Quasi-Immortal of the Entering Nirvana stage!
Still unfamiliar with her transformed body, Du Hwa hides her jagged teeth and cautiously asks in a respectful tone,
"If I may ask, Elder, do you have any commands for this humble junior?"
"Hmm, first, let me explain about us. This Immortal is a True Immortal who has crossed over from another Heavenly Domain. I am the Crystal Glass Being Seo Eun-hyun."
"T-T-T-True Immortal...!"
Du Hwa begins trembling violently at the realization that the old monster before her is a True Immortal.
"P-P-Please spare me. I am far too young to return to thee."
"Hmm, do not worry. This Immortal does not simply make anyone return to thee... And this Immortal is Golden Shaking Bird."
Seo Eun-hyun reassures Du Hwa as he reaches out towards the empty void, as though introducing someone.
But Du Hwa sees nothing, and she can only look on in confusion.
At that moment, Seo Eun-hyun scratches his head awkwardly as if hearing something from [someone] beside him.
"Ah, my mistake. Because of the difference in planes, you cannot perceive her. The Immortal named Golden Shaking Bird is also a True Immortal, but unlike me, is unable to easily interfere with lower planes. Since she currently resides in the True Immortal Plane, it seems you are unable to recognize her."
"P-Pardon...?"
Du Hwa finds it difficult to follow Seo Eun-hyun's words.
She cannot understand why an old monster, a True Immortal no less, would go out of his way to explain things so kindly to someone like her, a mere Nascent Soul demon beast.
The True Immortals she knows are monsters who would typically flood their target with [wisdom], vaguely explain the situation, take control of lower realm beings like puppets without asking for consent, and discard them once they were no longer useful.
Rather, this kind of considerate behavior only makes it more terrifying because she cannot predict his intentions.
'Just why is he doing this to me!?'
While she struggles in thought, he speaks again.
"There is something I wish to request of you. Will you accept my request?"
"Y-Yes! Please speak, Elder!"
Terrified, Du Hwa slams her head to the ground.
Though he calls it a 'request,' there is no way she can refuse a request from a True Immortal.
In that case, wouldn't it be better to devote herself fully from the start?
Seeing her reaction, Seo Eun-hyun looks slightly apologetic as he explains.
"To be honest...while this Immortal is fine, my companion, Golden Shaking Bird, has neither a foundation, followers, nor Immortal Treasures here in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, which makes it a bit inconvenient to operate in the lower realm. So, would you be willing to become a devotee of Golden Shaking Bird and assist temporarily? I will ensure you are well rewarded."
"Pardon? A devotee? What does that mean...?"
Just when she expresses her confusion.
Pajijijijik!
"Ah, uaaahhhhhh!"
Powerful lightning engulfs her.
At the same time, she collapses on the spot, groaning in agony.
The last thing Du Hwa remembers is the realization that a powerful being is descending using her body as a medium.
I narrow my eyes as I look at the Blood Shark Race demon beast lying before me.
Pajik, pajijijijik!
The Blood Shark Race demon beast writhes in pain as golden lightning engulfs her, before her transformation body begins to change.
Having transformed into the human form of Golden Shaking Bird, she brushes off her body and looks herself over.
"If it had been a bird demon beast, that would have been ideal. Unfortunately, it's a Blood Shark Race demon beast. Well, it can't be helped. Even though it's only at the Nascent Soul stage...I can raise its realm to a suitable level."
"Hey, Golden Shaking Bird."
"What is it, Elder?"
I look at her with a slightly displeased expression.
'I was taken aback when I heard about moving through lightning tribulations, but to think she'd snatch someone else's body so quickly like this.'
"Why did you take over that child's body without permission? I was in the process of obtaining her consent."
"Hmm, Elder. Just why would we need to seek consent or introduce ourselves to a mere Nascent Soul creature? Rather, after borrowing her body for a while and raising her realm to at least the Four-Axis stage, she'd be so grateful that she'll cry and willingly service my feet."
"That is true. But no matter what you plan to do for them later, make sure to obtain consent first."
"You're so strict. Fine, I'll meet this one's consciousness later and obtain her consent."
"There's no need for that."
I place my hand on Golden Shaking Bird's head. Using the Impermanence Sword, I connect to the Blood Shark Race demon beast's spirit and pull her spirit as a form of consciousness.
"Uh, uh, ahhh!"
The Blood Shark Race demon beast regains her senses and collapses to the ground, trembling in fear as if realizing what just happened.
"In, in, in, inside my body...a True Immortal revived, and...I've been replaced... I'm, I'm going to die..."
"Calm yourself."
Wo-woong!
I forcibly stabilize her mind through a blessing incantation, and explain the situation while sharing a brief conversation.
"...For these reasons, we need to borrow your body. Golden Shaking Bird will use it for a few decades and then return it. Your realm can be raised to the Four-Axis stage. Of course, not only the Four-Axis stage, it could be raised past the Grand Perfection Integration stage and reach a level above the Integration stage, but...you would not be able to handle your own body, so we will raise it only to around the Four-Axis stage. What do you say?"
Hearing my explanation, the Blood Shark Race demon beast who introduces herself as 'Du Hu' begins to cry and prostrates herself at my feet, kissing them.
"Thank you, thank you, True Immortal Elder! Not making me return to thee but even raising me to the Four-Axis stage...I will gladly offer my body with utmost sincerity!"
"Good. Now then, I have some questions for you, so answer honestly."
"Yes, yes, Elder. What would you like to know?"
"First...where exactly are we within the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, what is the culture here like, how many devotees of Light are there, and have you heard anything about a [cultivator emitting red lightning] recently?"
"Yes, I will explain everything one by one."
I manage to get a general overview about the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain from Du Hwa.
First, the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain has an overwhelmingly large number of Decaying Corpse Realms.
The number of Decaying Corpse Realms alone count 600 quadrillion. As for the Middle Realms, there are 48 of them.
Moreover, there are even a few Great Net Immortals dispatched from Radiance Hall, effectively bringing the number of Middle Realms to over fifty.
"I do not know if our universe is called the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain. But in any case, our universe is governed by the faction of Light known as the Radiance Hall. Because of this, the number of devotees who worship the Light here is no small number. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that one-tenth of our universe's population are devotees of Light. Especially among the Heaven Tribe, the majority are devotees of Light. However, among us Earth Tribe, there aren't as many devotees."
"Hmm, I see. Are there many of the Heaven Tribe in this world?"
"The ratio of Heaven Tribe to Earth Tribe is approximately one to twenty or thirty. The Earth Tribe overwhelmingly outnumbers the Heaven Tribe, but...the Heaven Tribe receives backing from the True Immortals of Radiance Hall, learning methods that borrow their authorities. So despite their smaller numbers, their overall power isn't significantly inferior to the Earth Tribe. This applies not only to our Middle Realm but to the entire universe."
Du Hwa teaches me about the culture and common knowledge of the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, as well as various other things.
"And...about the cultivator who emits red lightning, I am not too sure. Since learning the Lightning Path Method is prohibited in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, if such a cultivator existed, the news would have spread immediately. Of course, it might simply be because my realm is too low to know about such things, but...ah! One of the Middle Realms neighboring us, the Divine Thunder Realm (神雷界), recently lost its Sacred Master. There is a rumor that red lightning struck the spot where the Sacred Master passed away."
"I see. That is sufficient information."
I nod and commend her.
After gathering a bit more information, I once again seek her consent before pushing her consciousness deep into her unconsciousness.
Pajik!
As her mind sinks deep into her unconsciousness, the consciousness of Golden Shaking Bird surfaces, and she frowns.
"You really handle things in a bothersome manner. It would be much simpler to just tear out her soul and browse through the information."
"Maybe if it were someone as vile as Yeo Hwi. But there's no need to treat an innocent Demon Race in such a way, is there?"
"Huuu...I already miss my master. To think I've fallen from the lightning tribulation of a mere Nascent Soul-level creature. With the standard of the Great Desolate Path, it shouldn't have been a lightning tribulation of a Nascent Soul stage creature but a Star Shattering stage, or at least the Integration stage. We could have obtained a much better body or devotee if it were beings of that level. For it to be merely a Nascent Soul stage means...Elder must currently be carrying some form of misfortune. Is there anything that comes to mind?"
"Misfortune..."
I recall the celestial sphere I received from Yeong Seung.
'So even after becoming a True Immortal, it still applies that gifts from True Immortals bring misfortune. Well, this is why I was afraid, resulting in the Naming Supreme Deity making a deal.'
But I let out a small sigh of relief.
'Still, it's fortunate. For the misfortune I received from Yeong Seung to only be this much...'
Gifts received from True Immortals always become misfortune.
However, now that I've become a True Immortal, it seems the misfortune I receive has diminished.
The closer the gap in realm between me and the giver, the weaker the misfortune I receive seems to become.
'If I continue raising my realm, someday I might even be able to properly accept gifts.'
Contemplating this newfound fact, I speak.
"It seems there was some misfortune I overlooked. My apologies."
"Hmph. If it were my master, he would have prepared plenty of sacrificial offerings to ward off the misfortune, preventing such problems in the first place. Let's hurry and find my master."
"...Let's do that."
Wo-woong!
I draw in the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of the Myriad Laws Realm, raising my cultivation realm.
In an instant, my realm surges from the Qi Refining 7th star to the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage.
Golden Shaking Bird also quickly raises Du Hwa's realm to the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage.
Heavenly Tribulation rumbles, but as Golden Shaking Bird takes a breath, the entire cloud of the Heavenly Tribulation is absorbed into her body and vanishes.
"For now, we should head to the Divine Thunder Realm, but...how should we find it? Should I meet an Integration Grand Cultivator to ask?"
"Hah! If you're going to ask, it'd be better to find the Sacred Master of the Myriad Laws Realm and interrogate them. Please stop saying such soft things. And...I've been to the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain before, so just follow me."
Kiiiiiing!
Under the will of Golden Shaking Bird, the power of celestial energy guidance radiating from Du Hwa's body intensifies.
At a certain point, the celestial energy guidance transforms into attraction force, twisting the surrounding space.
I also strengthen my celestial energy guidance into attraction force, distorting the dimension of the Myriad Laws Realm.
Kigigigik!
We open a dimensional gate and step out of the Myriad Laws Realm.
As soon as I emerge into the Interdimensional Void of the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, I narrow my eyes.
How gruesome!
Throughout the Interdimensional Void lies the corpses of countless True Immortals.
The corpses of True Immortals, riddled with holes, are the most common sight.
There are True Immortals that have gigantic trees or flowers blooming from their bodies.
There are True Immortals that are roasted or melted by flames.
There are True Immortals sliced apart by sharp blades.
There are True Immortals bloated with something resembling water, dead swollen or frozen solid.
The corpses of innumerable True Immortals are scattered across the Interdimensional Void!
Faced with such a gruesome sight, I let out a heavy sigh.
However, Golden Shaking Bird doesn't pay them much attention, pointing to a Middle Realm in the distance.
It is the corpse of a True Immortal with something long impaled in its stomach.
That object looks like a ruler, a sword, or perhaps the hilt of a glaive.
Although it is unclear exactly what it is, the energy emanating from it feels identical, suggesting it may have been the True Immortal's own Immortal Treasure during their lifetime.
The True Immortal bears the scars of being sliced all over their body by a sword, and Golden Shaking Bird gestures toward the body.
"That is the Divine Thunder Realm. Let us head over there."
"...Golden Shaking Bird."
Joining strengths with her, we fly towards the Divine Thunder Realm using attraction force while I ask her.
"What in the world...is this horrifying scene? Why are there so many Middle Realms and Decaying Corpse Realms in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain?"
"Well...you must have already realized by now. Middle Realms and Decaying Corpse Realms are all corpses of True Immortals. This is the result of the Supreme Deity who opposed Radiance Hall long ago and the True Immortals who followed Them."
"The Supreme Deity...who opposed Radiance Hall?"
"Isn't it obvious? The Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, Do Gon. This Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain used to be the Heavenly Domain of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity. However, after it was revealed that They harbored rebellious intent towards the rule of Radiance Hall, the Radiance Eight Immortals acted personally. They imprisoned the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, slaughtered all 48 Great Immortals under Their command to the point that they couldn't even be resurrected, turned them into Middle Realms, and incorporated the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain under the direct control of Radiance Hall."
I ask in a trembling voice.
"By Great Immortal...do you mean Great Net Immortal?"
"Not necessarily. The beginning of the Immortal Family is the Entering Nirvana stage Quasi-Immortal. Beyond the Quasi-Immortal, those of 'at least' a Vestige Liberation Immortal are called True Immortals. Those of 'at least' Heaven-Earth Upper Immortal are called Upper Immortals. Those of 'at least' Great Net Immortal are called Great Immortals. From Immortal Lords and Governing Immortals onwards, there are barely one hundred across the entire Three Thousand Great Thousand Words, so they are typically addressed by their titles. In short...the corpses of the True Immortals lying here consist of not only Great Net Immortals but also include many corpses of Heavenly Lords and True Lords, who are beyond the realm of Great Net Immortals."
"..."
"The Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, who cried after all Their subordinates were killed, only had Their Immortal Treasure, the Heavenly Lightning Banner left, but...even that was later stolen by my master and embedded in the Head Realm! Isn't my master simply magnificent? Ahaha! Elder should have seen the reaction of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity when Their Immortal Treasure was kidnapped by my master."
"..."
Golden Shaking Bird becomes ecstatic recounting Yang Su-jin's tale, while I click my tongue bitterly at the overwhelming power of Radiance Hall.
'Is this the power of the light faction...?'
A pinnacle of tyranny, annihilating anyone who refuses to submit to their will.
And now, we are being pursued by such beings.
'Though I'm managing to evade them using the Immortal Title of Crystal Glass Being, how will the others be faring...?'
Wo-woong!
Crossing the Interdimensional Void, Golden Shaking Bird and I enter the Middle Realm known as the Divine Thunder Realm.
Pajijijijik!
Upon entering the Divine Thunder Realm, we immediately react to the sharp static electricity filling the area.
Golden Shaking Bird's eyes roll halfway back.
"Th-This is the Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation Method!!! Master...it's Master! It's Master's aura!"
She flares her nostrils, wearing an ecstatic expression as though she's about to inhale the static electricity, and stares somewhere into the distance.
The east of the Divine Thunder Realm.
As I look east, I sense through the foresight of a True Immortal that heading there will lead me to Jeon Myeong-hoon.
'Out of the countless futures, only the ones where I head east can I meet Jeon Myeong-hoon?'
The new sense I gained after becoming a True Immortal is truly mysterious.
In my eyes, who seized control of the Plane of Fate, the future appears like countless grains of sand scattered across the ground.
I feel as if I can now cross over to any point I desire within those countless scenes.
'Back during the Sacred Vessel stage, this ability was limited to within the Middle Realm, but now...it's possible from anywhere.'
The act of selecting and solidifying one of the countless possibilities of the future—that is what is called 'prophecy.'
'But it's a little strange.'
I suddenly feel uneasy.
'After becoming a Vestige Liberation Immortal, I gained the ability to use prophecy. But...'
Back during the Entering Nirvana stage, I used powers like the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, Filling the Heavens Governing View, Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, and more, mobilizing all my strength to wield the authority of the Immortal Art, History Revision.
At the time, I vaguely thought that becoming a True Immortal would make prophecy and history revision easy.
'Why is it that after becoming a Vestige Liberation Immortal, although my vision of the planes of Qi, Soul, and Fate have been strengthened, I can only use prophecy? I clearly rose to True Immortality through Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation and Severing Heaven, becoming a True Immortal through the Three Great Ultimates...'
Thinking about it now, it feels quite strange.
Just then.
"M-Master. My master."
Pajijik!
Golden Shaking Bird begins to emit lightning and quickly flies east, leaving me behind.
As I start to chase after her, I suddenly realize that my cultivation realm has fallen once again.
Chijijijik...
'Damn it, this is so bothersome.'
While obtaining a fortuitous encounter in the Head Realm, I had managed to partially escape the restrictions of the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag.
I had slightly broken free of the Qi Refining 7th star restriction.
But that restriction isn't entirely lifted. Even after gathering energy up to the Heavenly Being stage, over time, my cultivation will drop back down to the 7th star of the Qi Refining stage.
To recover up to the Heavenly Being stage, I have to gather spiritual energy from Heaven and Earth again.
'No, wait. Do I really need to bother with this hassle? This is why I got Immortal Treasures.'
Wo-woong!
I retrieve Yeo Hwi, refined as my Immortal Treasure, from within my body.
Yeo Hwi seems to have been excellently refined by Golden Shaking Bird during this time.
Clang, clang!
Black chains coil around the area.
At each end of the chains are ornaments resembling a bird's skull and a human skull, while the body of the chain is dyed as dark as the night.
"This Immortal's Immortal Treasure, Twin Constructing Chains (雙造鎖), heed my command."
Chwararak!
At my will, Yeo Hwi, refined into the Immortal Treasure Twin Construction Chains, trembles.
Clang!
Soon, the chains of the Twin Constructing Chains gather before me, writhing as they take the shape of a human.
What appears is Yeo Hwi, draped in a black robe with chains dangling all over her body.
She trembles and laughs with an expression that looks somewhat deranged, muttering 'hehe'.
"Spread your wings, Yeo Hwi. We're heading east, after Golden Shaking Bird..."
It's when the name 'Golden Shaking Bird' escapes my lips.
Her eyes roll back until they are completely white, her body trembles violently, and she immediately transforms into the form of a peng.
"I am sorry, Miss Golden Shaking Bird. I was wrong. Please forgive me, Miss Golden Shaking Bird. I apologize for killing the disciples of the Black Bird True Star Sect in the past. I am nothing but a worthless, garbage Immortal Treasure. Miss Golden Shaking Bird, please forgive me."
"...Let's just go east."
I climb onto Yeo Hwi's back as she carries me eastward and speak.
"And I'm not Golden Shaking Bird, but your master, Yeo Hwi. Remember this well."
"H-Hiiiik! I am sorry, Miss Golden Shaking Bird. It is my fault. Everything is my fault. I am nothing more than a worthless sparrow flapping its wings. No, I am an Immortal Treasure even less than a bug. Please, do not be angry."
"..."
It seems that leaving her refinement to Golden Shaking Bird has left her somewhat unstable.
'Well...considering she was an evil deity whom Golden Shaking Bird had a personal grudge against, there's no need for sympathy.'
From what Golden Shaking Bird told me, Yeo Hwi was an evil deity who, regardless of gender, obsessively indulged in lust and cared nothing for the lives of mortals. Perhaps this is simply retribution.
In the past, even the Sacred Vessel sisters condemned her as vile, and not long ago, she harbored impure thoughts and tried to betray me. So, I decide to simply leave it at is.
In any case, I quickly ride on Yeo Hwi, chasing after Golden Shaking Bird.
After pursuing her for a while, Golden Shaking Bird finally appears in Yeo Hwi's sight, causing her to tremble even more and repeatedly mutter 'I was wrong'.
Golden Shaking Bird glances back at us, then stops her flight and flies to my side, landing on Yeo Hwi's back with me.
"Well, in our current state, it seems Immortal Treasures are indeed faster. Let's travel together. That aside, shut up, Twin Constructing Chains. You're incredibly noisy."
"H-Huuup!"
With just a single remark from Golden Shaking Bird, Yeo Hwi immediately clamps her mouth shut.
I look at Golden Shaking Bird and speak.
"By the way, she calls me 'Miss Golden Shaking Bird' even after seeing me. No matter what, it should at least have the sense to recognize her owner. Haven't you broken her too much?"
"Ah, my apologies, Elder. If you leave it to me, I will retrain it and restore its intelligence."
"Please do."
Hwiiiiii!
We move to the eastern edge of the Divine Thunder Realm and sit down for a moment.
I glance at the refined Yeo Hwi and ask Golden Shaking Bird.
"That aside, while it's convenient in the lower realm, why do other True Immortals, who are not sealed like me, use Immortal Treasures? I can't understand it."
"Ahaha, that's because Elder's Immortal Art is unique. First of all...does Elder know why True Immortals cannot descend freely into the lower realm?"
"I know the gist of it."
Why is it that, after becoming True Immortals who have transcended the Three Planes, are our actions even more restricted than before?
The reason is quite simple.
If the Three Planes are considered a 'painting,' then we are 'beings who have transcended the painting.'
A being within the painting could have freely roamed within it. But now, having completely left the painting, if the being tries to reach their hand back into it, the painting would tear apart.
In other words, if a True Immortal recklessly tries to descend into the lower realm, one of two outcomes will occur.
Either the area where the True Immortal descends is annihilated entirely along with space itself, or the True Immortal is repelled while descending.
"Beings of at least the Great Immortal level are free from such restrictions, but...for ordinary True Immortals, controlling this is nearly impossible. Rather, it is Elder who is weird for being able to freely enter and exit the painting."
"Hmm..."
"Of course, to be honest...the painting 'tearing' is the normal result. If a human sticks their hand into a painting, what painting would push the human out? Normally, it would just tear. So, when a True Immortal gets repelled while trying to descend into the lower realm, it is usually for another reason."
"What is it?"
"The Owner of the Heavenly Domain, the Governing Immortal! Their power protects the Heavenly Domain, which prevents ordinary True Immortals from recklessly descending. Therefore, to exert influence in the Heavenly Domain...True Immortals sever a much lower ranked split soul and descend it to the Lower Realm."
As she continues speaking, I begin to grasp the concept of Immortal Treasures.
"The split soul, compared to the authority of the True Immortal, is akin to a mere drop of blood blending into the painting...becoming part of it. When this split soul descends into the lower realm, enters the painting, delivers the True Immortal's prophecy, and is granted a physical body...that is what we call an Immortal Treasure."
"I see. So, all Immortal Treasures are ultimately agents of True Immortals, like apostles?"
"One could say so. A split soul refined for exerting influence in the lower realm. And since this split soul can shatter the fate of other True Immortals that have descended to the lower realm, attacking them, it becomes both a weapon and a dharma treasure. This is why, since ancient times, True Immortals have referred to their apostles as Immortal Treasures."
I recall Zhengli.
The one who called herself the agent of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity.
'So she really was an agent in the truest sense.'
"But then, why not use their own split soul instead of capturing Sacred Vessels to turn them into Immortal Treasures?"
"An Immortal Treasure created from a True Immortal's split soul usually returns to the True Immortal after fulfilling the prophecy it was sent for. Once a prophecy is completed, its function as an Immortal Treasure disappears. To maintain the Immortal Treasure, the True Immortal would need to keep making prophecies...but what kind of True Immortal would welcome such a troublesome task?"
"Hmm..."
"Sacred Vessels are already beings that have become 'flow' itself. If you capture one and connect its flow to your own body, the Sacred Vessel can act as the Sacred Master of the True Immortal's internal world and can continue cultivating. Furthermore, they can fulfill tasks in the lower realm by giving a revelation instead of having to constantly make prophecies. Because of this, many True Immortals capture Sacred Vessels and use them as Immortal Treasures."
She seems to search for a fitting analogy and then explains it in a simple way.
"For example, it's similar to how cultivators of Ghost Path sects capture spirits and refine them into ghost souls to enslave them. Even if an Integration stage Ghost Path cultivator refines a Refining Void Dharma Treasure to make a powerful weapon, that Refining Void Dharma Treasure would only perform its intended function. On the other hand, if they extract the spirit of a suitable junior and refine it into a ghost soul, it will perform tasks on its own and can also be used as a weapon in emergencies. Why wouldn't they use it?"
Hearing those words, I feel a bit uneasy about the concept of Immortal Treasures themselves.
'If you look at it as something gained by sacrificing others, it's similar to Qi Building Pills. The advantage is...at least the Sacred Vessel turned into an Immortal Treasure gains a powerful backer and can cultivate well as an Immortal Treasure. But if the True Immortal using the Sacred Vessel as an Immortal Treasure harbors ill intentions...'
The Sacred Vessel would be unable to escape and would literally become an eternal plaything, subject to endless abuse under the True Immortal.
This is the true nature of Immortal Treasures.
"...Yeo Hwi..."
'This poor Yeo Hwi. During her Immortal Treasure transformation, I briefly transferred the refinement authority to Golden Shaking Bird, leaving her defenseless and subject to abuse... No, wait. If it's according to what Golden Shaking Bird said, why did she capture the Sacred Vessel sisters and refine them into Immortal Treasures? Their Immortal Arts are powerful, but not to the point of being useful as Immortal Treasures are to True Immortals...'
Suddenly, a memory resurfaces of the sisters referring to Yeo Hwi as 'vile.'
'...Ah, the sisters' Immortal Arts were strong, and their appearances matched her tastes, so she captured them, refined them into Immortal Treasures to render them incapable of resistance, and...I see.'
"...Come to think of it, she's not as pitiful as I thought. Golden Shaking Bird, I ask that you properly educate Yeo Hwi in the future."
"Ahaha, I will make sure to educate her thoroughly. Please do not worry. That aside, that is not an individual entity but Elder's Immortal Treasure, so it's only proper to address it clearly by the name 'Twin Constructing Chains'."
Yeo Hwi sheds tears as she listens to the conversation between Golden Shaking Bird and me, and we finally arrive at the eastern edge of the Divine Thunder Realm.
Kugugugugu!
The eastern end of the Divine Lightning Realm, in the Chaos Realm region.
There, I spot a small hut beneath crimson thunderclouds spilling red lightning.
Chwararararak!
I lightly slap Yeo Hwi's body, and she reverts to the form of chains, returning to my body and leaving us floating in the void.
Golden Shaking Bird, inhabiting Du Hwa's body, quickly descends and lands in front of the hut below.
Perhaps sensing our presence, someone inside the hut opens the door and steps out.
It is a man with long hair and wearing a golden robe, tenderly stroking the crispy-fried hand of So-hae.
It is Jeon Myeong-hoon.
To the eyes of us, who have transcended the Three Planes, Jeon Myeong-hoon's fate becomes visible.
In the Plane of Fate, his fate glows with a red light as vivid as blood.
The moment we confirm his fate, Golden Shaking Bird bursts into tears and rushes towards Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Jeon Myeong-hoon tries to evade her in panic, but since his realm is still lower than ours, he cannot resist Golden Shaking Bird's prophecy.
: : Please, hold me, Master! : :
Puhwak!
She throws herself into Jeon Myeong-hoon's arms and cries like a child.
It's a cry filled with 120,000 years of resentment.
Watching this, I feel a complicated mix of emotions as I slowly descend from the sky.
"It's been a while, Jeon Myeong-hoon."
"Huh...!? No..."
The eyes of Jeon Myeong-hoon, who perceives me, shrink tightly.
Peobeobeong!
"...Huh?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon...has begun his True Immortal advancement.