Chapter 606: Crumbling Cage (2)
Kurururung!
Countless True Immortals unleash a relentless barrage of firepower at Seo Eun-hyun.
Jeon Myeong-hoon, watching the scene, takes a step back and gazes down at the stellar system.
"..."
"You're not joining in?"
Shiriririk!
Kim Young-hoon suddenly appears right behind Jeon Myeong-hoon in an instant and asks.
But Jeon Myeong-hoon clicks his tongue."...I already know what he's trying to do. There's no need for me to join them."
A world without Immortal Cultivation.
A world without transcendent power.
Isn't it a world all too familiar?
"He's probably trying to recreate Earth."
"For something like that, you don't seem too pleased."
Jeon Myeong-hoon nods.
"And for good reason. He does this every time..."
He furrows his brows.
"Back during the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect incident, and even during the Cedarwood Painting incident, I just let it go. At the time of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, there was too much information we weren't supposed to know... And during the Cedarwood Painting incident, we were in the middle of fighting that bastard Seo Hweol, so we couldn't risk letting information leak so easily. But this time...honestly, I don't know."
With visible dissatisfaction, he gazes at Seo Eun-hyun's Filling the Heavens Governing View, which envelops the entire stellar system and nullifies all the True Immortals' prophecies and revisions into failure.
"Why doesn't he just explain? If he had simply asked for a few ten thousand years...or at least explained that we need to advance with a civilization without Immortal Cultivation, the True Immortals wouldn't have been this furious."
With a strangely hollow expression, he stares into the void.
"Sometimes...Seo Eun-hyun feels very distant. Based on my predictions, he's probably... No, I shouldn't say this. In any case, he is someone who knows a lot of information. But maybe that's exactly why. He tells us to trust him, but he doesn't seem to believe in us who believe in him."
He clenches his fist.
"This time as well. Even if he doesn't tell the other True Immortals...couldn't he have at the very least given us, his fellow Enders, some kind of hint?"
"..."
"What do you think, Young-hoon Hyung-nim?"
"...That's definitely Seo Eun-hyun's fault. Honestly, the guy is stubborn, self-righteous, and arrogant."
Kim Young-hoon sharply criticizes Seo Eun-hyun.
"However..."
But then, he looks towards something and speaks.
"It might not be entirely his fault."
"Pardon...?"
"Maybe that stubbornness and self-righteousness...are actually his way of struggling."
"What do you mean?"
Kiiiiiiing!
Behind Kim Young-hoon, a golden mass of light emerges.
The mass is split into two.
"For the past tens of thousands of years, after attaining Brahma Nature, I also obtained Narayana Nature. Now, I stand in the realm of Twin Divinities. And having reached this point...I've started to read not just the hearts of humans, sentient beings, and organic life...but also the consciousness of the world itself."
"...?"
"Seo Eun-hyun's attitude is clearly wrong, but do you know why I've never once criticized him for it?"
"Why?"
"Because only after reading the consciousness of Kim Yeon, Seo Eun-hyun...and...certain other consciousnesses, did I begin to grasp the reason."
Kim Young-hoon shifts his eyes slightly, staring into a point in the darkness of space.
"This is something...that guy should explain himself."
Tstststststs!
The area where Kim Young-hoon's gaze lands.
Light distorts, and a familiar black-haired young man reveals himself.
Candidate of Radiance Hall's Envoy of the Final Age of Dharma, it's the Great Net Immortal Maek Jin.
"Incredible... You noticed my concealment. Is that the True Martial Great Emperor's technique?"
"Strictly speaking, 'Martial Arts' aren't exclusively hers."
"Hmm, is that so? I wouldn't know much about that. In any case, your insight and senses are remarkable. That's right. Right now, Seo Eun-hyun...is under the strong influence of [someone]."
"[Someone]'s influence...?"
It's when countless True Immortals rain down bombardments on Seo Eun-hyun.
Jjeeooong!
A cosmic storm sweeps in, striking against the barrier of Filling the Heavens Governing View that Seo Eun-hyun created.
It is as if this entire space is trying to expel Seo Eun-hyun.
Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes widen as he watches this.
"Kim Yeon...? Wait, isn't he doing this with Kim Yeon's agreement? Even Kim Yeon is adding to the assault?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon turns to Maek Jin, feeling something off.
"Just who exactly is influencing Seo Eun-hyun, and why aren't you attacking him?"
"At first, I intended to attack him as well...but then I sensed a familiar presence. Right now, I'm holding back because I'm not exactly sure what's going on."
Maek Jin smiles as if lost for words, and looks toward the stellar system where Seo Eun-hyun is under siege.
His Filling the Heavens Governing View shrouding the area flickers with countless masses of light, resembling a nebula.
"Seo Eun-hyun is currently...possessed by [light]. He is under the influence of [light], and resisting that influence is taking up so much of his focus that he's lost the ability to explain anything to you."
"What...?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon stares at Seo Eun-hyun in disbelief.
"What kind of insane nonsense is that? That guy is possessed by light? Don't you know what he said to us ten thousand years ago when he was cultivating by compressing the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections?"
He narrows his eyes.
"He said he was creating [his own light]! On top of that, he already achieved the Radiance Ten Heavens and reached Earth Upper Immortal long ago. Why would someone who already passed the Radiance Ten Heavens and said they will walk that realm again be possessed by light again? Not to mention, the cultivation method he's practicing right now should be a light that is completely different from the normal light!"
"Hehe..."
Maek Jin laughs as if finding it incredulous.
"If it were the ordinary Radiance Ten Heavens, you'd be right. There's no reason the Supreme Deity would care about a mere Upper Immortal...and for someone who has become an Immortal Beast to be affected by the Radiance Ten Heavens would be disgraceful. But you see...that guy has now committed sacrilege against the Supreme Deity."
"What...?"
"Do you think it's even possible to create [one's own light]? The Radiance Supreme Deity is the rightful owner of all light across the Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds and of all phenomena. And yet, some mere Upper Immortal, even if he learned a bit from the Great Mountain Supreme Deity’s mantra, thinks he can create [his own light]...?"
He snickers.
"As if that's even remotely possible...! What that guy is doing right now...is stealing light. He's siphoning light from the Origin Essence of Radiance and making it his own!"
"...!!"
Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes widen in shock at Maek Jin's words.
"Wh-What kind of... No, then why didn't you stop Seo Eun-hyun? If you're from Radiance Hall, shouldn't you have stopped him more than anyone else!"
"Don't be ridiculous. What you're saying is no different from claiming that some street urchin could break into the emperor's treasury, chisel out a fragment of the imperial jade seal, and steal it away."
His expression turns serious as he continues.
"No matter how much a mere Upper Immortal throws a crazy tantrum, it is impossible to influence the Origin Essence of Light even a little. That's why I thought it was just a joke. But now I understand... That guy...has actually succeeded in [stealing light]...!"
Jeon Myeong-hoon flinches in shock at those words, while Kim Young-hoon lets out a silent sigh and looks towards Seo Eun-hyun.
Inside the hazy Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, countless lights shine.
"If that's the case, is Seo Eun-hyun's current self-righteousness a punishment from the Owner of Light as the price of stealing light?"
"Hahaha! As if that could be the case. If the Owner of Light were truly enraged, the Radiance Eight Immortals would have already descended upon this place. For Their will oversees the entirety of the Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds. They know of all things.
"The fact that it hasn't happened means that They are not angry. If an emperor does not grow furious even when his imperial seal is snatched away by a street child, what do you think the reason could be?"
Upon hearing Maek Jin's next words, Kim Young-hoon's face hardens, and Jeon Myeong-hoon realizes why even Kim Yeon is attacking Seo Eun-hyun.
"There are only two possibilities. Either Seo Eun-hyun stealing a portion of light was Their will from the very beginning...or the Radiance Eight Immortals, the warehouse keepers who must safeguard the Origin Essence of Light, have completely lost their minds and just dumbly stood there watching as Seo Eun-hyun tore away their light."
With an unconcerned expression, Maek Jin crosses his arms and watches as Seo Eun-hyun and the stellar system endure an all-out assault.
Hong Fan, synchronized with the fixed star of the stellar system, warmly illuminates the planet where Seo Eun-hyun stands, while the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections and the light within it cast their glow from above.
A faint silver-white light emanates from within the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
"Of course, the Radiance Eight Immortals can never be infected by madness unless they remove their masks. Therefore...this is essentially the will of the Radiance Supreme Deity!"
Maek Jin laughs with a face full of hope.
"The Supreme Deity has not abandoned me...! Hahahaha!!"
At that moment, Jeon Myeong-hoon finally notices the faint voice transmissions emanating from Maek Jin, reaching the True Immortals of Radiance Hall within the Flying Immortal Alliance.
One by one, the Radiance Hall True Immortals, having received some kind of message from Maek Jin, begin to halt their attacks.
As the members of Radiance Hall stop their assault, the other True Immortals, sensing something suspicious, also gradually cease their attacks.
Jeon Myeong-hoon sees this scene and speaks to Kim Young-hoon.
"...Hyung-nim. Then, should we..."
"Are you saying that at least we should attack Seo Eun-hyun?"
"Isn't that the right move?"
"...I wonder."
However, Kim Young-hoon only crosses his arms with an ambiguous expression.
Maek Jin bursts into laughter and spreads his arms wide.
"Hahahaha! It seems that you all, in the end, seek the grace of the Radiance Supreme Deity. If I manage to escape from here, I will go through the procedures to register you all as True Immortals friendly to Radiance Hall. If any of you wish to join Radiance Hall, I'll even write you a recommendation."
"..."
"...Hyung-nim? Isn't Kim Yeon still continuing the assault?"
Kim Young-hoon remains silent.
Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at him in confusion.
Something seems off.
Even though all the other True Immortals have stopped their attacks, only Kim Yeon continues to strike.
And yet, why is Kim Young-hoon just standing still?
However, Kim Young-hoon does not answer Jeon Myeong-hoon's question. He simply gazes down with deep and contemplative eyes at the stellar system bathed in in a silver-white light.
Having attained Twin Divinities and his vision of intent and heart essence evolved to the peak, Kim Young-hoon can clearly see it.
Swaaaaaa—
It is a [will], like the seafoam of waves.
That will, undoubtedly transmitted from a distant place, seems fragile like seafoam, as if it could collapse at any moment.
Yet...that fragile will alone is enough to change Seo Eun-hyun's attitude.
That will soaks deep into Seo Eun-hyun's Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, seeping into him.
In Kim Young-hoon's eyes, it appears almost as an illusion of a woman in a silver-white dragon robe embracing Seo Eun-hyun.
'You must be seeing this too, Kim Yeon... That's why you are the only one still attacking Seo Eun-hyun.'
Kim Young-hoon glances at Maek Jin and the True Immortals of Radiance Hall, who seem pleased.
Maek Jin firmly believes this is the divine will of the Radiance Supreme Deity.
That the Radiance Eight Immortals would not go mad and do such a crazy thing.
But to Kim Young-hoon...
The original owner of the light Seo Eun-hyun claimed as his own.
In other words, that powerful True Immortal who appears to be the original owner of the faint, silver-white light is undeniably...
'That True Immortal doesn't look sane at all.'
Mad.
The illusion of the woman tightly embracing the stellar system where Seo Eun-hyun resides...
Looks like that of a young child endlessly craving attention.
Kim Young-hoon, wary that Maek Jin might notice and scheme something, does not transmit his will to Jeon Myeong-hoon or send a heart message.
'That guy is someone who even managed to read Kim Yeon's will. That so-called Envoy of the Final Age of Dharma candidate is an unexpectedly dangerous person. For now...I should tread carefully.'
Seo Eun-hyun is currently in a tug-of-war.
Kim Young-hoon is certain of it.
It is not just a tug-of-war with the owner of that silver-white light.
Kim Young-hoon reads even the wills of the Imperial Kings subtly pervading this space.
'The will of the existence known as the Liberation Supreme Deity Bong Myeong. And the will of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity Do Gon, whose terminal I once severed along with Jeon Myeong-hoon...'
The Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, the Liberation Supreme Deity, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, and Seo Eun-hyun.
All of their wills are entangled within that stellar system.
Seo Eun-hyun is locked in a tug-of-war with them all.
Kim Young-hoon looks down at the scene for a moment before stepping out of the stellar system.
"Follow me, Jeon Myeong-hoon. I will explain in a way you can understand. We must follow the will of this so-called Radiance Supreme Deity."
"Pardon...? Alright for now. Just explain what you mean."
Avoiding Maek Jin's sight, Kim Young-hoon takes Jeon Myeong-hoon out of the stellar system and beyond the fragment world controlled by Kim Yeon.
Their destination is deep within Liberation Peach Garden Village, ruled by the law of the Liberation Supreme Deity Bong Myeong.
The moment Kim Young-hoon steps into Liberation Peach Garden Village, he thrusts a golden saber towards Jeon Myeong-hoon.
"H-Hyung-nim...?"
Just as Jeon Myeong-hoon is taken aback.
Kim Young-hoon suddenly slashes through him.
"...! This, this is...!"
Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes open wide.
The moment Kim Young-hoon's saber grazed his body,
For some reason, he became partially free from the laws governing Liberation Peach Garden Village.
Tstststststst!
In a flash, the environment shifts.
The surrounding environment shifts in an instant, and Jeon Myeong-hoon feels as though everything in Liberation Peach Garden Village has turned two-dimensional.
The world has turned into a painting.
In this world, only two figures retain their human form—Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Behind Kim Young-hoon, two faint lights are illuminating him.
"Ever since I obtained Twin Divinities...I had a feeling something like this would be possible."
"...!"
"What I just cut wasn't simply the law that was restricting you."
Chijijik...!
A snake made of dim light falls to the ground at Jeon Myeong-hoon's feet and writhes before dissipating into smoke.
"This is..."
"It seems to be a spell for surveillance that Maek Jin attached to you. It's not an Immortal Art, but a surveillance spell formed using the power of this Liberation Peach Garden Village. That guy may be acting as if he's cooperating with us, but he's a sly one."
Sheathing his saber, he continues.
"In any case...since Maek Jin's surveillance is now useless, I'll explain from here on. What state Seo Eun-hyun is in, and how we need to help him."
Step, step...
A woman is walking across a two-dimensional painting.
She is clad a silver-white dragon robe and wears a silver-white mianguan.
Shwikak!
She slices through the surface of the painting as she advances, constantly whispering into [something] in her hands.
Hwiiiiii—
From her shadow, silver-white strands of light faintly seep out and flow towards somewhere.
She is slowly walking towards that place.
But at that moment—
Flinch!
She halts in place and her body twitches. Then, she turns towards the opposite direction from where the strands of light are flowing.
A fierce gleam bursts forth from her eyes beneath the silver-white mask.
"...I heard it."
She clenches her bandage-wrapped hands and trembles.
"I heard...Seo Eun-hyun's name."
Sssiiik!
And the moment she hears that 'sound' and tries to move toward its source—
The will of the world strongly presses down on her.
At the same time, the drawings that had been quietly sliced apart by her until now suddenly cling to her all at once, attacking her.
Yet she only lets out a wild laugh and steps towards the origin that spoke Seo Eun-hyun's name.
"I see...Bong Myeong. You trapped me here and distorted the path to block where I was going...! But it's over. I definitely heard it...! Seo Eun-hyun's name!"
Shwikagagak!
She slices through the world itself and begins to dash towards the source where Seo Eun-hyun's name was called.
"Wait for me...! Seo Eun-hyun."
She.
The Fifth Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals.
The mad Sword Spear Heavenly Lord caresses the white Vestige in her grasp as she soars towards the origin of the voice.
"I will definitely...absorb you. I will absorb you...take back the light I gave you, and through you as a medium, reclaim even the light that was stolen by Great Mountain and Salt Sea!"
Before she knew it.
Amidst the relentless yearning towards Seo Eun-hyun.
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's goal had shifted slightly from what it was at the beginning.
She no longer simply seeks to unravel the bizarre Ender authority that Seo Eun-hyun cast upon her.
Now, she harbors the desire to reclaim all the lost light through Seo Eun-hyun.
And to do so, she must become one with him.
To merge completely with Seo Eun-hyun, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord hurriedly traverses the world of paintings.
The assault of the True Immortals has stopped.
All that remains is the will of Kim Yeon.
'It looks like Jeon Myeong-hoon and Kim Young-hoon went off to talk...'
I glance at Kim Yeon's will, tapping against my Filling the Heavens Governing View, and the silver-white lights that have become my light.
I know it too.
Because as I continue to fill the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections that is essentially myself with light, my goal gradually becomes more extreme.
However, as I cultivate the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, I begin to understand the wills of the great beings surrounding me.
The Liberation Supreme Deity and the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity seek to use me as a chess piece.
The Liberation Supreme Deity seeks to complete Kim Yeon.
The Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity seeks to further elevate Jeon Myeong-hoon.
And the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is desperately yearning for me.
'Between the objectives of the Liberation Supreme Deity and the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity...and the desire of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, there is only one way for us to survive.'
That is for me to sacrifice myself.
I intend to sacrifice myself in order to achieve the evolution of civilization and to satisfy those who seek to use me as their chess piece.
'That way...my comrades...Kim Yeon will be safe...!'
This is not simply suicide.
'I have obtained my own light.'
Of course, whether this light truly belongs to me or whether someone has temporarily permitted me to possess it for some unknown purpose, I do not know.
Perhaps, even though I feel as if I created it, this light is actually something I stole from the Origin Essence of Radiance.
But one thing is certain.
'The Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld permitted the light that Master stole from Radiance Hall to settle in the deepest depths of the Underworld...! And that light seems to be something the Underworld cherishes greatly. Therefore, the Underworld values the light stolen from Radiance Hall.'
So if I offer this light I have obtained to the Underworld...
Even if I stake my life and sacrifice myself, this life will not end merely as suicide.
'Use me as much as you like. Liberation Supreme Deity. Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity...! But as the price, you will have to look after my comrades.'
If not...
'I will definitely make you understand the true terror of a regressor!'
Thus, I calmly observe a world without Immortal Cultivation that is about to 'advance'.
"Ooooooh...!"
Beyond the stellar system.
Maek Jin and the True Immortals of the Flying Immortal Alliance simultaneously let out exclamations.
Having received a hint by Maek Jin that this is the 'workings of the Radiance Supreme Deity', they remain still and watch the miracle beginning to unfold in this world.
Clankclankclankclank...!
The time within the world begins to distort.
The time within the stellar system where Seo Eun-hyun resides, starting from the fixed star in the center, gradually begins to 'accelerate' from the inside out.
The world inside Filling the Heavens Governing View starts speeding up.
Kugugugugung!
The entirety of Mount Sumeru trembles.
Numerous Imperial Kings simultaneously glare at the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain that is enveloped by the winged garments of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
The Radiance Eight Immortals roar in fury.
: : Bong Myeong!!! What are you doing!? : :
With the administrator of time, the Heavenly Venerable of Time, now gone—
The Liberation Supreme Deity Bong Myeong is recklessly manipulating the time inside the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain.
The history of the world is about to be changed.