Chapter 567: Glass and Crystal (1)
Dududududu!
"...!"
I feel a chill run down my spine at the overwhelming presence emanating from Glass Peacock.
"The prophecies of Heaven Immortals absolutely require stars. But for us, that is not necessarily the case..."
'Star veins...'
The star veins, which had been radiating from every star in the nearby galaxy, seem to distort before directly connecting to Glass Peacock.
Wo-woong!
It resonates.Glass Peacock's will reverberates throughout the entire universe, as if overturning its very foundation.
History Revision (歷史改竄)!
Ziiiiiiing!
The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections cries out in agony.
However, it does not fundamentally twist my history as it did just moments ago.
At the same time, I see something like a transparent jade forming above Glass Peacock's hand.
I recognize what it is.
'Supervisory Jade!?'
An ancient stone formed from the condensation of ancient force of the Ancient Force Realm.
When that ancient stone further condenses and compresses, it becomes Supervisory Jade, which then transforms into Salt Crystal!
"There is no need to waste this Immortal's Salt Crystal on the likes of you. An impromptu Salt Crystal will suffice."
Zuuuuung!
I see it.
Just as the prophetic stars of Heaven Immortals contain 'scenes,' the Salt Crystal created by Glass Peacock contains a 'scene' within it.
"Fate is ultimately attraction force, so the prophecies of Heaven Immortals condense. But life is explosion...so our revision, it disperses."
Kwachik!
Glass Peacock crushes the Salt Crystal in their hand, and the power of the explosion—along with the 'scene' within—bursts forth, unfolding across all the star veins connected to Glass Peacock.
I see the scene.
The truth that Glass Peacock, having thoroughly violated Yeo Hwi while returning, had actually 'secretly left behind a single strand of split soul' now spreads.
'Ah, no...!'
And as that fact disperses, beyond the sealed barrier—
There, I see a single strand of Glass Peacock's split soul at the Entering Nirvana stage flying.
The very notion of 'being completely captured' has been nullified.
"What you're thinking is quite obvious."
Glass Peacock smirks as they look at my expression.
"You think that a mere Entering Nirvana-level fragment won't be able to capture your two comrades at the True Immortal rank? Puhuhuhu, as if that could be the case. Do you really think a mere concubine of the Golden Divine and some fledgling who only just reached True Immortality could resist the authority of an Immortal Beast? Absolutely impossible. Once one becomes an Upper Immortal, it becomes possible to still use the authority of prophecy and revision freely even if one's realm drops to Entering Nirvana. My split soul may only be at Entering Nirvana, but in truth, it is equal to the highest peak of True Immortals."
They extend a hand toward me.
"Your plan is over. Surrender quietly. This Immortal is one who, back in my Great Net Immortal days, captured and violated an Immortal Lord. Even as an Upper Immortal, my combat strength is no different from a Great Net Immortal. Even if my strength is dispersed among my split souls, this Immortal can devour the likes of you at any time. This is my final advice. There is no malice in this..."
With gentle eyes, Glass Peacock extends their hand to me.
"This Immortal simply enjoys...bedroom arts, dual cultivation, and union. That is all... This Immortal will even offer you enlightenment and teachings with utmost sincerity. Of course, since you've committed the offense of disregarding this Immortal's words, you will suffer through a slightly harsher method...but there will be no pain. If the endless waves of pleasure eroding your reason count as pain, then perhaps it is pain... Release the barrier and come to this Immortal's embrace. After about 400,000 years, this Immortal shall even send you off with a gift, in good health."
"..."
I remain silent.
Then, after a moment of silence, I look at Glass Peacock and speak.
"I...have people in my heart. Because of that, to not bring shame upon myself before them...I will not engage in union carelessly."
"...I see. I did think you looked a bit young... So you're pure, huh?"
Perhaps my words have provoked Glass Peacock's sadistic urges, as their expression twists violently.
They are undoubtedly brimming with mad excitement.
"Do not worry... Love. Love... Love is wonderful. This Immortal shall be your beloved for 400,000 years. Physically, mentally, fatefully, even historically—I shall give you the greatest pleasure...! So...!"
Wiiiiiiiiiing!
I stop listening to Glass Peacock's words.
Closing my eyes, I draw forth Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
Filling the Heavens Governing View.
Maximum deployment!
Kugugugugu!
The authority of Filling the Heavens Governing View explodes.
At the same time, the layers upon layers of my [failures] spread upon the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.
I extend my consciousness towards Glass Peacock's split soul, which is flying towards Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Wielding the Impermanence Sword, I inject Glass Peacock's split soul with the power of Filling the Heavens Governing View at a speed that transcends planes.
Kiiiiiiiiiing!
Glass Peacock's split soul writhes, and in its forward path, [failure] is engraved.
Glass Peacock smirks as they look at this.
"...This power binding me right now...and that Immortal Art you just used... You."
"..."
"Do you even know that it is one of the authorities of an Immortal Beast?"
"...?"
"Ha, hahahahaha! You were using it without even knowing? Ahahahaha! This is...good. Very good. Let us add a bit more excitement to this gamble."
Glass Peacock lifts Yeo Hwi.
Holding onto Yeo Hwi's chains, they pluck a single strand of white hair from their head and let it float upward.
'Th-That's!'
Recognizing what that white hair truly is, my body grows cold.
'Their hair... It's all Salt Crystal!?'
At that moment, the hair explodes, forcefully drawing out Yeo Hwi's power.
History revision.
Centered around Yeo Hwi, a new 'history' begins to spread.
It is the history of Glass Peacock capturing Yeo Hwi just moments ago, violating her, and forcibly drawing out her power to create a spatial labyrinth around them.
"So, she's a distant descendant of Azure Peng, huh? Using the spatial labyrinth divine power dormant within her bloodline, I have temporarily blocked your comrades' path. My split soul may continue to experience failure...but your comrades will not be able to escape easily from the spatial labyrinth encompassing this galactic cluster. Decades, centuries, will be wasted."
Glass Peacock smirks.
"Will I capture you first, or will your comrades escape first? In addition to this, another has begun. Will your comrades manage to escape, or will my split soul succeed in capturing them first? Quite the gamble, is it not?"
"..."
"I've decided. You have the talent of an Immortal Beast. A Vestige Liberation Immortal who, beyond prophecy, can wield the authority of an Immortal Beast... How magnificent. Simply three or four hundred thousand years won't be enough."
I meet Glass Peacock's eyes, spilling cold spiritual energy.
"There is no greater union than ravishing a talented junior. And one who is pure, at that...! Ahaha, 3 million years. If I capture you, I shall massage you for 3 million years. After all, you're the most delightful one in my heart!"
Kwa-jijijijik!
Glass Peacock quivers their fully exposed lower body, as they steadily approach me.
I deflect the weight of their presence and, with all my strength, deploy Filling the Heavens Governing View.
Three years pass.
I am still within the mist of Filling the Heavens Governing View, holding back Glass Peacock as best as I can, while they continue to approach me in heat.
"This, this... Are you not reconsidering today? Have you still not changed your mind? I'm asking if you are still unwilling to release the barrier?"
"..."
For three years, Glass Peacock has tried to persuade me with countless sweet words and threats, but I have never responded.
'I have no intention of responding in the future either.'
It's when I think so as I unfold Filling the Heavens Governing View with single-minded focus.
Glass Peacock presses their face against the distant barrier, panting as they stare at me.
"You're struggling to maintain your focus. Ahaha...I look forward to the moment when that expressionless face of yours twists in pleasure."
Ignoring their ever-vulgar remarks, I do not even glance at them, instead continuously reciting the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra while spreading Filling the Heavens Governing View.
"This isn't any fun like this. For the sake of entertainment, and for the sake of my talented junior...I should try shaking your focus a little."
"..."
"Now, let me explain the authority of Immortal Beasts. This includes that [Immortal Art of Failure] you're using without even knowing what it is."
"...!"
But the words that follow from Glass Peacock are something I cannot possibly ignore.
Wo-woong!
Kwaduduk!
Piercing through the mist of Filling the Heavens Governing View, Glass Peacock takes another bold step forward.
I hurriedly refocus my consciousness.
However...
Beyond the barrier, Glass Peacock continues delivering a lecture I cannot afford to ignore.
"The authority of Immortal Beasts is more diverse than that of Heaven Immortals. Those beings only have one fundamental power—prophecy of fate. At best, they might have winged garments? But...we are different. We have more than just history revision."
Wiiiiiing!
As Glass Peacock raises their hand, Salt Crystals rise above their palm and begin to 'rotate.'
The Salt Crystals draw a circle.
"History Repetition (歷史反復). That is one of the authorities of Immortal Beasts. The more an Immortal Beast repeats a certain act, and the more that act accumulates as history...the act itself becomes an Immortal Art."
The rotation of the Salt Crystals grows faster, and within their spinning motion, I see a scene.
Bathed in pure white light, the details are unclear, but it is a scene of Glass Peacock doing something.
'They are...violating?'
Crushing the will of those who resist.
Chasing down those who try to escape.
Trampling even more cruelly upon those who rebel.
An existence that has repeated such things endlessly.
That is the Immortal Beast, Glass Peacock.
"Your Immortal Art of Failure is clearly an imitation of the ability of Immortal Beasts. Which means...you must have repeated failure to an extent that truly transcends imagination. Isn't that so?"
"..."
"History repeats itself. And this Immortal Art forces your repeated failures upon your opponent. But, for you to have endured this much failure and still stand before me as a True Immortal..."
In that moment, Glass Peacock shifts once more into the form of a human woman, speaking in a gentle voice.
"You really have been through so much."
Why is it...
My opponent is undeniably an insane True Immortal of copulation who seeks to capture me and violate me for three million years.
And yet...
With just those words, something indescribable wells up in my chest.
You've been through so much.
Yes, perhaps, I had longed to hear those words from someone.
Ururung!
My steadfast focus, maintaining Filling the Heavens Governing View, wavers.
And Glass Peacock's [History of Reproduction] begins to pierce through my [History of Failure].
I feel tears threatening to fall as I look at them.
'Should I resist?'
Should I push away the one who just told me I had suffered?
Glass Peacock's light shines upon me, and I feel my mind grow hazy.
I just want to entrust everything to them.
Surely...they will embrace me warmly.
Just then.
Jiiing!
The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections warns me of something.
'This is...'
Jiiiiiiing!
A memory.
A vow made before a certain presence beneath a Melia tree begins to awaken me.
'...Right.'
That being, too, once comforted me, just like Glass Peacock.
But I did not cry back then.
The moment I allow myself to cry my heart out, to release all the emotions I've accumulated—
Is only after everything is over.
After I sever my regression.
'I can't cry now.'
Kudududuk!
I summon the Colorless Glass Sword, placing it atop my knees, and steel my heart.
"There was a time...when I made a vow."
My heart solidifies once more.
As my chest pains powerfully flares up, I amplify Filling the Heavens Governing View to its utmost.
"The time I cry my heart out will only be after I have fulfilled my purpose. Right now, I cannot shed tears so easily...!"
Paaaatt!
The hazy mist of failure explodes with my will, pushing Glass Peacock back another step.
Seeing this, Glass Peacock smirks.
"...This will be savoring to break. I'll have you sobbing beneath me..."
And so, another fifty years pass.