Chapter 610: Kidnapper, One Who Returns To Thee (歸依者) (1)
: : Seo Eun-hyun. : :
Kududududuk!
"Kuuuuughk!"
An overwhelming force grips my body as if to crush it.
: : Speak. : :
I rack my brain, unable to comprehend.
'Just why!? Wasn't the Immortal Title of Crystal Glass Being safe from the gaze of light? What is this? Why? Why is the reaction different from my past life? Is it because I have risen to Heaven Upper Immortal? No, that's not it...!'
: : Through the bizarre authority of an Ender...how did you steal this Immortal's light? : :"...!"
Only then do I understand why I was discovered immediately.
'Damn it!'
The light that the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld returned to me.
The light that I created in the past life through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections!
That light must have belonged to the domain governed by the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
'So...because I stole their light, they recognized it immediately.'
: : And also... : :
Wududuk!
The force of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord gripping me tightens even further.
: : What have you done to this Immortal? : :
Woo-woong!
I gaze at something that has settled within her.
It is...a powerful wave of intent.
Countless unknown, chaotic 'hearts' are dwelling within her.
Seeing this, my eyes widen.
'What is this? Why...?'
The emotions within her...
They are exactly the same as the heart of Yang Ji-hwang from my past life.
'This is strange...'
In the 'current moment', there is no reason for the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord to have such a heart.
'It's not like she realized I discovered her name, so why...?'
Thinking back, things had been strange since my past life.
In the past life, my encounter with the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord had been brief, and yet, in that short span of time, she had suddenly taken a liking to me.
Noticing this, I can only arrive at one conclusion.
'Is it...being passed down? Why...? How...? By what principle...?'
This has never happened before.
When I handed Buk Hyang-hwa the norigae of my tenth cycle, she displayed a powerful wave of intent.
After all, an artifact from the past life had returned to her.
'But in this life, I haven't given the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord anything?'
At the very least, if she had extracted and consumed the light within me, I could have understood.
But that didn't happen either.
She is simply revealing a powerful 'heart' to me out of nowhere.
'Underworld...'
I recall the words of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld on how They had 'received something greater'.
No matter how much I think about it, it's strange.
'Did the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld...do something?'
I have no way of knowing.
: : Speak! What have you done to this Immortal, and how can the curse you placed upon this Immortal be lifted!? : :
"...Curse...you say?"
Immediately after.
I raise the Pure-White Three Great Ultimates behind my back.
Kugugugugugu!
In an instant, an overwhelming force bursts from my body, briefly pushing back the grasp of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
: : A futile effort... : :
But it seems the gap between me and the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is undeniable, as even the power of the Pure-White Three Great Ultimates begins to be suppressed the moment she exerts a little more strength.
But it doesn't matter.
As long as there is even the slightest gap, I am confident I can escape.
"Heavenly Escape!"
Shukak!
I slice my own neck without hesitation and enter the domain of purity.
'This is different from before...'
I realize that I can maintain my consciousness in the domain of purity much more clearly than I could before.
'It must be thanks to this Three Great Ultimates imbued with Triple Divinity.'
Triple Divinity is protecting me within this domain of pure death.
I get the feeling that if I become even more proficient in handling Triple Divinity, I may one day be able to travel anywhere through suicide, just like Hyeon Mu.
'But I am not yet at the level where I can freely wander this place and traverse the entire world through the domain of purity like Hyeon Mu.'
I feel the urgent need to leave this domain.
If I remain here too long, I feel that I might truly die.
Chuhwak!
As I properly steady my mind, the contours of the world return, and a colorless world unfolds before my eyes.
It is a galaxy cluster, far from where the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord was.
Shururururuk...
The colorless world returns to its original state, and my body once again settles into this world.
"Huu..."
I have escaped from right under the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's nose using Heavenly Escape.
Kwaaaaaaang!
At that very moment, I see a massive explosion erupting in the distant galaxy cluster.
Everything caught in the blast turns into silver-white light and is absorbed into the core of the explosion.
The gaze of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, who has annihilated an entire galaxy cluster in an instant and returned (歸依) it to her, locks onto me.
Shiver!
I immediately retrieve Hong Fan from my internal world.
"Hong Fan! Go to the Head Realm and bring back the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect! If it's too dangerous as a Sacred Vessel, find someone in the Integration stage to act in your stead! Hurry! Just go for now!"
Before Hong Fan can say anything, I grab his shoulder with all my strength and hurl him far away.
Kugwagwagwang!
Hong Fan tears through the dimensional veil of the Astral Realm and flies beyond the Interdimensional Void towards the Head Realm.
Just then,
Chwararararak!
"...!"
I see the dimension moving before my eyes.
'This is...a dimensional veil...?'
It is a [band].
The bizarre 'band' formed from a dimensional veil semi-transparently allows the starlight of the universe to pass through.
Though I call it a 'band,' its width is vast enough to encompass six entire stellar systems, and its length stretches across the entire universe.
'This is...!'
Just when I notice this.
Paaaatt!
Silver-white light gleams through the 'band', and the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord appears before me.
I recognize the identity of that 'band'.
'That's a winged garment!?'
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's semi-transparent winged garment, made of a dimensional veil, has teleported her right before my eyes.
A fleeting instant.
From within that gap, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord extends a silver-white sword towards me.
It is Sword-Guided Star Rain.
That Sword-Guided Star Rain is imbued with prophecy. If I am struck, I will be impaled by the sword and pinned against the surface of the fixed star behind me, unable to escape.
'I can't let that happen!'
Sword-Guided Star Rain is fast.
Within a fleeting moment, it flies towards me at a speed surpassing light and reaches my chest in an instant.
Kiiiiiiing!
However, the Pure-White Three Great Ultimates turns.
The Triple Divinity dwelling within it aids me.
'I can see it.'
A fleeting moment.
I move just barely faster than the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's Sword-Guided Star Rain and sever my own neck.
Shukwang!
Once again, I use Heavenly Escape through suicide, escaping the grasp of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord once more.
Puhwak!
"Heok!"
I emerge from the domain of purity.
"This place is...!"
Interdimensional Void.
The Middle Realm region.
Woo-wooong!
Beyond the Interdimensional Void, the Astral Realm comes into view, and far in the distance, something like a dimensional veil band soars towards me.
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's winged garment is chasing me in a terrifying manner.
Seeing this, I think to myself.
'Even if I'm running, I must take everyone I can from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.'
Even if the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is scary, I can't abandon those I need to take with me.
'And to do that...'
I realize that I will have to take them through slightly forceful means this time, and let out a silent sigh.
'I'm sorry, everyone. Forgive me...!'
Chwararararak!
I draw forth the power of a Heaven Upper Immortal.
The winged garment I gained upon rising to Heaven Upper Immortal.
Woo-wooong!
Though not as massive as the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's, my winged garment still spans about the width of a single planet and can stretch long enough to wrap around five entire stellar systems. My 'dimensional veil band' appears behind me.
This is my winged garment.
I roughly understand how to use it by watching the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's.
I have to imbue my prophecy into the winged garment.
"Winged garment, bring me the ones I name. Show them to me..."
Suppressing my guilt, I command my winged garment.
"Kidnap them and confine them within my body. Make them return to me (歸依). Now, go! Summon my servants! Seize those I need!"
Chwararararak!
My winged garment receives my command, instantly piercing through spacetime and flying towards somewhere.
Chwarararak!
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's winged garment arrives before my eyes.
The winged garment emits a silver-white light, and through that light, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord appears before my eyes again.
Booong!
I attempt to cut my own neck, but the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, piercing through the fleeting instant, strongly grips my hand.
: : You cannot escape from this Immortal anyway. So... : :
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's massive body bends toward me, issuing a warning.
: : Do not die on purpose. : :
"Great Mountain!"
The jade of Yin-Yang and Five Elements gathers inside my head.
At that moment, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's slash does not cut me, only slicing through the jade of Yin-Yang and Five Elements, but it is already too late.
"Splitting Emperor!"
Kwagwagwang!
She restrained her strength to avoid injuring me, but because of that, she failed to stop my Great Mountain Splitting Emperor.
My head explodes on the spot, and I re-enter the domain of purity, escaping once again.
'Still, having seen Gwak Am's Splitting Heaven Mantra in the past life helped.'
Is it because I have witnessed the origin of the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique?
My Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique has strengthened to the point where a half-hearted, restrained slash cannot sever it.
Paaaaatt!
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's winged garment appears before my eyes, and once again, I use Heavenly Escape through suicide.
Thus, the game of tag with me and the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord through Heavenly Escape continues for quite some time.
But as time passes, I realize the situation is becoming unfavorable for me.
'The Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain...'
The entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain is gradually being filled with the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's winged garment.
As it is already a much narrower Heavenly Domain compared to others, the places to escape are steadily diminishing.
'If this continues...I'll be caught in the end! Please, don't be late, Hong Fan, winged garment!'
Shukwak!
As I look at the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, who has reached right in front of my eyes, I slit my throat.
: : Wait, Seo Eun-hyun. : :
Shukwagak!
: : Hold on. : :
Kwaduduk!
: : Seo Eun-hyun. I want to talk with you. : :
Kwachijijik!
: : Seo Eun-hyun...! : :
Gradually feeling that escape is becoming more difficult in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, I grit my teeth.
'Hurry...!'
Bright Cold Realm.
Human Race territory.
After the rampage of the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother Kang Min-hee, the Human Race barely managed to reestablish themselves in the Sky Island region and are once again experiencing a golden age.
However, what differs from before is that due to Kang Min-hee's lingering influence, there has been an increase in those who cultivate Ghost Path Methods or Devilish Path Methods that devour ghostly energy.
Human Race's Integration stage Grand Cultivator Association.
Seated at the leader position within the Grand Cultivator Association, the Grand Perfection Integration stage Grand Cultivator, Jun Jae, laughs heartily as he descends onto one of the Human Race's Sky Islands—Azure Cold Island.
At the summit of Azure Spirit Mountain, the highest mountain range on Azure Cold Island.
There, someone is about to face their advancement Heavenly Tribulation.
"With this, our Human Race will walk the path of revival once more. Hahaha!"
His face is filled with deep pride and satisfaction.
The reason is because of the two muscular men standing atop the peak of Azure Spirit Mountain.
Jun Jae flies towards them, looking down at them with a pleased expression as he speaks.
"Hahaha! Azure Tiger Saint! Have you finished your preparations to face the Heavenly Tribulation?"
"Yes, Association Leader. I am fully prepared."
"Good, good. And Jun Eom. You are well prepared as well, aren't you?"
The one he addresses, aside from Azure Tiger Saint, is another Grand Perfection Four-Axis stage cultivator and a descendant of Jun Jae—Jun Eom.
Born with the greatest talent among Jun Jae's descendants, he underwent harsh training under Jun Jae's guidance from childhood. Once he reached a certain age, Jun Jae sent him to the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, the most outstanding cultivation sect within the Human Race Grand Alliance.
Azure Tiger Saint, in his usual bold manner, accepted Jun Eom as his personal disciple and trained him with the utmost care among all disciples of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect.
As a result,
Despite being a mere 1,300 years old, Jun Eom has reached the Grand Perfection Four-Axis stage at an unbelievably young age.
"Though this grandfather could not obtain the Five Blessings Axes for you, you still built your axes through the Orthodox Five Elements Axis, so there should be no issue with your advancement. Therefore, you must become an Integration stage Grand Cultivator! If it's you, you can surely aim to become a Star Shattering stage Esteemed One!"
"...Yes, Ancestor."
"Hmph! Spineless brat. Once you reach the Integration stage, you will have to prepare yourself thoroughly to inherit my innate true method! Azure Tiger Saint, I leave him in your hands!"
Azure Tiger Saint meets Jun Jae's eyes and nods.
Though his words are cold, Azure Tiger Saint understands.
Jun Jae's affection for his descendant is undeniable.
Feeling the weight of Jun Jae's presence, Azure Tiger Saint calls out to his new disciple.
"Now then, let us begin, Jun Eom!"
"...Yes, Master..."
Under the watchful eyes of his ever-strict ancestor, Jun Jae, and his master, Azure Tiger Saint, who dragged his cultivation forward with insane training methods, Jun Eom challenges the Integration stage advancement together with Azure Tiger Saint.
Immediately after,
Kururururung!
Master and disciple begin facing the Heavenly Tribulation.
Heavenly Tribulation surges from all six directions, striking Azure Tiger Saint and Jun Eom.
Azure Tiger Saint completely blocks the Six-Directional Heavenly Tribulation using the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method.
However, despite having learned not only the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method but also the special methods taught by Jun Jae, Jun Eom's body wavers here and there under the force of the Heavenly Tribulation.
Then, at a certain moment—
"U-Uaaaaaaaaah! Master! Ancestor! Save me! I can't do this!"
Jun Eom rushes towards Azure Tiger Saint and clings to him, startling Azure Tiger Saint.
"N-No, Jun Eom! Use the methods I taught you properly! Do you fear this Heavenly Tribulation more than my fists!? More than the beatings from your Senior Brothers and Sisters, the lava fountains, the water torture, and the gold-tooth sharks!? You must endure! If you use the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method properly, you can..."
But Jun Eom is already past the point of enduring.
"Kuaaaaaaaagh!"
During advancement, it is not only the Heavenly Tribulation that falls.
Entities known as Heart Heavenly Demons also crawl out from the depths of the mind to gnaw and eat the cultivator.
Though Heart Heavenly Demons become prominent starting from the Star Shattering stage, they are not absent in the Integration stage.
It is just that only the very weak Heart Heavenly Demons appear.
However, black smoke is rising from Jun Eom's head.
Forced his entire life to become an Integration stage Grand Cultivator, living like a puppet, shoved into the Azure Heaven Creation Sect by his ancestor, and subjected to insane training methods, Jun Eom's Heart Demon have erupted.
With his mind overtaken by Heart Demons, Jun Eom is no longer in any condition to withstand the Heavenly Tribulation.
"Jun Eom! Get a hold of yourself!"
Azure Tiger Saint roars, and Jun Jae shouts to the point his eyes roll back.
"Azure Tiger Saint!!! If Eom-ah dies, I will annihilate the Azure Heaven Creation Sect!! Protect Eom-ah!! Someone like you could die and no one would care, but Eom-ah has the potential to become a Star Shattering stage Esteemed One!! Azure Tiger Saint!!"
At Jun Jae's roar, Azure Tiger Saint narrows his eyes.
He grits his teeth.
"Khaaaaap!"
Kurururung!
Azure Tiger Saint transforms into a giant of starlight.
At the same time, he pulls Jun Eom into his embrace.
The Heavenly Tribulation rampages wildly, and Jun Eom's Heavenly Tribulation strikes Azure Tiger Saint with even greater ferocity.
"Do not be afraid. I will protect you."
Jun Eom, consumed by his Heart Demon, sobs.
"Th-That's a lie! You're only doing this because you fear Ancestor!"
"...No. I do not fear your ancestor."
Azure Tiger Saint clenches his teeth.
The Heavenly Tribulation strikes down upon him even more viciously, and watching from the outside, Jun Jae's pupils tremble madly.
"I am your master! What reason or fear is there in a master protecting his disciple! Believe in me. You can overcome this!!"
"M-Master...!"
Jun Eom's eyes widen.
Just then,
"Secret Art. Temporary Name Change (一時改名)."
Azure Tiger Saint senses something flow out of Jun Eom's body and seep into his own.
"...!"
Simultaneously, Azure Tiger Saint's Heavenly Tribulation intensifies at least threefold.
Azure Tiger Saint's eyes snap open wide.
Jun Eom's Heavenly Tribulation vanishes.
"What...?"
Kwarurururung!
Outside the Heavenly Tribulation, Jun Jae clasps his hands together, his expression twisted with madness.
Jun Jae seems to be using some kind of secret art, burning his own blood as an offering.
Behind him, the form a [Taiji In The Shape Of A Fetus] very faintly emerges.
"Now...my lifespan doesn't have much time left...! Eom-ah is the future of our bloodline! He is my successor! At the same time, he is the future of the Human Race and must serve as our Progenitor's revival vessel in times of emergency! So, instead of Eom-ah, you, as his master, die in his place. Azure Tiger Saint! Even if you perish, Eom-ah must exist for the future of humanity to exist!"
Kwarurururung!
Terrifying Heavenly Tribulations strike upon Azure Tiger Saint's body.
Azure Tiger Saint writhes in agony beneath the pillar of light.
Then, all of a sudden,
Paaaaatt!
"Hyun...seok...ah... Seo...Eun-hyun..."
Azure Tiger Saint's shadow finally dissipates between the pillars of light.
Chiiiiiiiiiii!
Jun Eom and Azure Tiger Saint's Integration stage advancement Heavenly Tribulation ends.
Jun Eom, overwhelmed by the Heavenly Tribulation and his rampaging Heart Heavenly Demon, failed his advancement, and Azure Tiger Saint vanished within the Heavenly Tribulation.
Clicking his tongue, Jun Jae approaches Jun Eom.
"You stupid brat! It's a relief it ended with Azure Tiger Saint's sacrifice. You almost died! Not only did we lose a valuable asset that is Azure Tiger Saint, but you nearly died as well. Anyway, now that we've found the problem, I will prepare elixirs and dharma treasures to suppress your Heart Demon. Focus on preparing for your next advancement."
"...He...was my master."
"I know. But you were more important."
"He...had other disciples as well... He had the Azure Heaven Creation Sect... And yet..."
"Silence! What do other disciples matter!? What does the Azure Heaven Creation Sect matter!?"
Jun Jae suddenly pauses, recalling the [terrifying beings] connected to the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, causing his body to flinch. But he quickly regains his composure and presses down on Jun Eom.
"It's already been a long time since there was any news about them. Even Sacred Master Baek Woon found the traces of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect and those individuals unpleasant! Perhaps this may have been a good opportunity to erase them. Especially since the Azure Heaven Creation Sect is connected to the Sword Devil Seo Eun-hyun..."
"I've heard enough about the so-called Three Great Calamities! But..."
Just then,
"Hm?"
Jun Jae looks up at the sky.
Jun Eom does the same.
In an instant, the celestial energy shifts.
And at that moment,
Jjeook!
The [sky]!
The [sky] splits open.
And what is seen through the split sky...
Is a single, gigantic [eye]
"...Ah..."
Immediately after,
Huarurururuk!
The entire Human Race territory bursts into flames.
===
Author's Note: The original title was <Kidnapping, Confinement, Brainwashing, Return To Thee (歸依)>, but...I thought it was a bit too provocative, so I made some adjustments.