Chapter 612: A Hungry World (1)
Chwarararak!
Using Heavenly Escape, I arrive at the edge of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain after several days.
I reach the teleportation formation leading to the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.
'A lot has changed from before.'
Setting aside the regression point, the fact that the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord can now perceive me is an enormous problem.
'I can no longer let my guard down under the gaze of Radiance Hall like before...'
As I step onto the teleportation formation heading to the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, I contemplate.
'I need a different approach from now on. If I want to live long and grow stronger, I have to hide in a deep place.'There was clear longing in the voice of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord calling out to me.
Had this been before, I wouldn't have been able to ignore that longing. I would have at least listened to some of what the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord had to say.
'But now...I know.'
Thanks to Maek Jin, I now know of their insane, ultimate goal that only a select few in Radiance Hall are aware of.
And judging by her actions thus far, I can tell that the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is truly and sincerely devoted to that insane ultimate goal.
'The reason I tried to erase the Immortal Cultivation system a little radically and self-righteously in my past life must have been because I was influenced by the [light]. In the end, their ultimate goal must have been subtly melded within that light... I, too, momentarily resonated with their will.'
Recalling the ultimate goal I heard from Maek Jin sends shivers throughout my body.
Even thinking about it again, isn't it a truly insane goal...?
'And Maek Jin, who remained in Radiance Hall even after learning of that goal for the sake of justice...he was really quite something. No...should I say he was crazy as well...?'
Flash!
As I blink, the scenery of the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain unfolds before my eyes before I know it.
: : Hm... : :
And the moment I reveal myself in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, yet another familiar presence rushes toward me.
It is Glass Peacock.
: : Damn it, what even are you!? My goodness, to think someone like you exists in this world. Why did this Immortal not know? Why did I not know until now? C-Come here. Come here! I will make you happy! : :
"..."
Letting out a faint sigh, I scatter the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections around me.
Kiiiiing!
A Pure-White Three Great Ultimates appears behind me.
Immortal Art.
Glass Avidyā Advancement Light!
A radiant white light crosses through distant spacetime, flying towards me.
I calmly draw forth the figure of In Ye from the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections and aim at the incoming Glass Avidyā Advancement Light.
Immortal Art.
Sun Shooting!
Tuwang!
The arrow imbued with the power of Filling the Heavens Governing View and the Impermanence Sword pierces through the Glass Avidyā Advancement Light, tearing through space, and shoots towards Glass Peacock.
Glass Peacock attempts to evade using the strength of explosion, but I open my eyes.
Fate Prophecy (運命豫言).
History Revision (歷史改竄).
Triple Divinity (三神性)!
A scene of Glass Peacock being skewered by the arrow of Sun Shooting is imbued.
History revision counters Glass Peacock's revision, forcibly changing all possible outcomes of evasion into failure.
Tukwaaaaang!
The arrow of Sun Shooting plunges directly into Glass Peacock's chest.
The power of Brahma Nature momentarily overlays Filling the Heavens Governing View onto Glass Peacock's mental world.
Endless failures are imprinted into Glass Peacock's mind in an instant, and Narayana Nature maintains those moments of failure.
Finally, the power of Mahesvara Nature extinguishes all the power of explosion within Glass Peacock, and momentarily erases their will to resist.
Through prophecy and history revision, I successfully land my attack. Then, with Triple Divinity, I infuse my Immortal Art into Glass Peacock, forcing them to experience endless defeat.
: : Ugh, uguguk! Uguk! : :
Glass Peacock twitches, impaled by my arrow and their body skewered against a nearby fixed star.
'If it were the main body, I wouldn't be so sure, but a mere clone at most at the Great Net Immortal-level isn't that difficult anymore.'
It's just when I think so.
: : Ugh, uguguk... Wh-What in the world is this...!? Marvelous! My goodness, to think such an enlightenment exists! Moreover, revision and prophecy at the same time? You...you're a Heaven-Earth Upper Immortal! : :
"...?"
Glass Peacock appears strangely excited.
: : What a pitiful thing...! You don't even realize the flaws of the path of Heaven Earth Upper Immortal, do you? I shall embrace and comfort you. If it is a curse that splits your personality, then through communion with this Immortal, it can be sufficiently delayed. Even if your personality fragments, if I completely violate both...! Hhhngh! J-Just imagining it is...far too delightful... Come here. Hurry, come...! : :
"..."
Kurung, kurururung!
Though Glass Peacock has clearly taken a hit from my strike, from the way they move, they neither seem to be in much pain nor significantly injured.
'They'll break free before long. I need to get to Jeon Myeong-hoon before that happens.'
Clicking my tongue, I gather Glass True Fire in both hands and hurl another Immortal Art of Sun Shooting at Glass Peacock.
The arrow of Glass True Fire embeds itself into Glass Peacock once more, and their entire body ignites in its flames.
'That should buy me a bit more time, right...?'
: : Oh, ohhh! Uoooooooh! : :
However, Glass Peacock only seems to enjoy it more, so I hurriedly head towards the Interdimensional Void.
I ignore Glass Peacock's voice that's filled with madness, echoing behind me.
: : Damn it, this brat. Just what attack did he do to me! My body... It keeps heating up... : :
'They sure are impressive...'
Rather than suffering from the pain imbued in Glass True Fire, they recognize the enlightenment within it and grow excited. Regardless, it is still something worthy of respect.
Letting out a sigh, I leave Glass Peacock behind and head for the Divine Thunder Realm.
Upon arriving, I let Jeon Myeong-hoon and Golden Shaking Bird meet. This time, unlike in my past life, Golden Shaking Bird does not take a reckless gamble but instead assimilates obediently with the Great Desolate Path and activates it.
Kurung, kurururung!
Entering the domain of lightning, I wait for Zhengli.
'Now Zhengli should come, delivering the will of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, right?'
Sure enough,
Just as Jeon Myeong-hoon and I prepare to move to another Heavenly Domain,
Kurururung!
Time seems to slow, and a familiar presence begins to enter the surroundings.
Zhengli is trying to descend.
At that moment, I take out the Pure-White Wheel.
Kigigigigik!
The power of the Wheel is the regulation of causality.
History rewriting and similar abilities are merely additional effects born from the extreme application of this principle.
Through the arrangement of causality, I can return the powers of other Immortals—whether authority, history revision, prophecy, or Immortal Art—back to their original state.
Kugugugugu!
The outer edge of the Pure-White Three Great Ultimates is encircled by the Wheel.
The White Wheel devours the immense force emanating from the Pure-White Three Great Ultimates and begins radiating a soft starlight.
Kiriririk!
: : You... : :
I can sense Zhengli, who notices the Wheel in the midst of descending, flinching from beyond.
: : That's...definitely the Underworld's...! Wait, Seo Eun-hyun...! : :
"It's nice to see you, Zhengli. Now that our long awaited reunion is over, go back."
I speak coldly as I begin to send Zhengli, who is trying to descend into the Great Desolate Path, back to her original place.
'If it's with a liberated Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, it might be another matter... But do you think I would fear a mere projection of Zhengli in her current state...!?'
I cannot allow Zhengli to descend into this space.
'Otherwise, the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity will once again subtly Divine Descent into Zhengli's body and deliver a prophecy that will lead us to free Them.'
I will not let myself be swayed again in this life.
: : Wait...! Just listen for a moment. Seo Eun-hyun...! : :
Zhengli shouts urgently from beyond the dimension.
Kwachijijik!
A rift of lightning tears through the void, and a hand formed of lightning forces its way through the dimensional gate.
Jeon Myeong-hoon flinches in shock.
This time, since Zhengli is hastily descending due to my interference, she fails to control time, allowing Golden Shaking Bird to notice her presence as well.
: : You bitch...! A filthy mutt dares to target Master again!!?? : :
Golden Shaking Bird begins to control the Great Desolate Path.
Once again, Zhengli is pushed back beyond the rift.
Jeon Myeong-hoon, too, crackles with red lightning and reveals his fury.
: : Z H E N G L I !!! : :
Perhaps because he has now become a True Immortal, he no longer feels any fear in uttering Zhengli's name.
He tightly grips a spear of red lightning.
Kwachijijik!
The lightning spear soars towards Zhengli, and though Zhengli's barely outstretched arm is pushed back beyond the dimensional gate.
Woo-woong!
I squeeze out all my strength and activate the Wheel.
It feels as if a storm is raging.
Swept up in the storm surging from the Wheel, Zhengli cannot cross over despite using all her strength. To make matters worse, the lightning dimensional gate she had kicked open begins to close.
: : At least...! At least listen to me! : :
Zhengli screams desperately, but I click my tongue and respond.
"No. I won't listen. I don't intend to listen. Go back already."
: : Eeeek! : :
Kugugugugu!
The combined forces of Golden Shaking Bird, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and the Wheel, now strengthened by my newly acquired Three Great Ultimates, continue to intensify.
Jjeooong!
Barely clinging on beyond the dimension, Zhengli is ultimately flung away.
Kwachijijik!
At the same time, Golden Shaking Bird hurriedly closes Zhengli's dimensional gate that had formed inside the Great Desolate Path.
: : Master! Elder! Zhengli's main body is directly approaching this place! We need to flee to any Heavenly Domain at once! : :
Though we have repelled Zhengli's projection, her enraged main body seems to be coming here in person.
Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at me and asks,
"Seo Eun-hyun! Where do we go!?"
"Hm..."
I stroke my chin and think.
'The Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain is not an option. Glass Peacock saw my power and might have even brought their main body there.'
Excluding Sun and Moon, Bearing Tree, and Heavenly King, I think of the other Heavenly Domains.
'The Good Sight Heavenly Domain has Hyeon Mu guarding it. We do need to retrieve Kim Young-hoon from the Outer Sea...but honestly, I can always call Hyeon Mu from the Interdimensional Void. And since the Good Sight Heavenly Domain is practically Hyeon Mu's front yard, if she ever decides to kill us, we wouldn't even be able to resist. The Good Sight Heavenly Domain is out. The Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain is also a no-go.'
Although Kim Yeon is there, just thinking about what happened in my past life at the hands of the Liberation Supreme Deity makes my teeth tremble.
'Unless I break into Liberation Peach Garden Village from the outside and rescue her, getting trapped inside with her and trying to break out together is sheer madness. And regarding the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, who knows what the Great Mountain Supreme Deity has done to it, so that's out. In that case...'
The only remaining options are the Twin Holding and Elephant Nose Heavenly Domains.
'Elephant Nose would be a good place to hide, but...'
I recall receiving an Immortal Title from the Naming Supreme Deity Hyeon Rang and giving Them a portion of my desire in return.
'Damn it... It feels unsettling.'
Meeting a Supreme Deity with whom I have direct ties means carrying the risk of being manipulated by them at any moment, which leaves me with an uneasy feeling.
'This won't do. I can't be blindly manipulated by a Supreme Deity again like in my past life. Even if I go, it will only be after making thorough preparations!'
Because of Bong Myeong in my previous life, my distrust of Supreme Deities has reached its peak.
'Then the only option left is the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain...?'
I grit my teeth and shout,
"Head for the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain!"
"Golden Shaking Bird! To the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain!"
Kurururung!
We move through the world of thunder and lightning towards our destination.
Before long,
Kwachijijik!
We emerge within the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, from a lighting tribulation striking a Star Shattering stage cultivator.
After doing my best to ensure that the Star Shattering Esteemed One doesn't see us and die, I take a deep breath.
"For now...let's get some distance. We don't know what Zhengli might try to do through the tribulation..."
"Agreed."
Leaving the Star Shattering Esteemed One behind to endure the tribulation, I survey the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain with Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Porurur—
Golden Shaking Bird shifts from the form of the Great Desolate Path into a hummingbird and flies towards us before transforming back into her human form.
"Hm! Twin Holding Heavenly Domain. It's been a while."
"You've been here before?"
"Yes, well. The Twin Holding and Heavenly King Heavenly Domains are the two most active Heavenly Domains in the Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand World, after all. This is also where you, Master, shared union with Glass Peacock in your past life."
"..."
"Ahem... Well, anyway, this is fortunate."
Jeon Myeong-hoon clears his throat before speaking.
"If you've been here before, then guide us. What kind of place is this, and why is it one of the most active?"
"Yes. First...the fastest way to understand that would be to go meet the ruler of the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain. Would you like to go see Them together?"
"...!"
I flinch in surprise at her words.
"You mean to go meet the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity!?"
"Yes, well, that would be the case."
"Isn't that dangerous!?"
The reason I avoided other Heavenly Domains was because their rulers were Supreme Deities or Heavenly Venerables with ties to me.
'Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, Liberation Supreme Deity, Heavenly Venerable of Void, Radiance...Great Mountain. They all tried to use me as a pawn. I don't know much about the Naming Supreme Deity, but I can't let my guard down with Them either.'
Only the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity seemed uninterested in us, which was why I chose this place.
And now she's telling us to go and meet Them?
Just as I'm about to refuse outright, Golden Shaking Bird's next words make me pause in confusion.
"Regardless of what happened, since we've entered a Heavenly Domain, it's only proper to pay our respects to its ruler, is it not? Please follow me. The Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity is a specialty of the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, after all. Even Shattering Star Esteemed Ones, True Persons, and True Immortals from other Heavenly Domains come here just to witness Them. Huhut..."
"...?"
Something about the way she speaks seems off.
Jeon Myeong-hoon also looks puzzled, so Golden Shaking Bird giggles and grabs our hands, pulling us forward.
"Well, you'll both understand when you see for yourselves. Let's go! Since we're already here, we have to at least meet the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity!"
Woo-woong!
It's just when she is about to use the ground-shrinking technique.
Gigigik!
"...!"
Suddenly, the direction of the attraction force she is exerting twists unpredictably.
In the next moment,
Kwaaaang!
We are abruptly yanked away to somewhere in an instant.
It's fortunate that I was prepared and managed to disperse the impact, otherwise Jeon Myeong-hoon and I would have suffered a huge shock.
"Hey, Golden Shaking Bird. What just happened? It looked like your ground-shrinking technique got distorted just now..."
"Hahaha, of course. In the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, all movement techniques that rely on attraction force are forbidden, after all. Here, no matter where you try to bend space to move, you'll be forcefully pulled to this location instead."
Golden Shaking Bird points towards somewhere.
The moment Jeon Myeong-hoon and I see it, our eyes widen.
"Since the ground-shrinking technique doesn't work in the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, long-distance travel is only possible through the explosions of Earth Upper Immortals. As a result, this place has become a paradise for countless Earth Immortals. Now, allow me to introduce you to the greatest specialty of the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain...the one who distorts all attraction forces towards Themself. One of the two Governing Immortals who is an [Innate Supreme Deity]—Their Majesty, the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity, Hyeon Ryul!"
Kugugugugu!
What stands there is a massive darkness.
All light is being sucked into it.
All of a sudden, I realize it is a [hole].
But not just any hole.
I feel an overwhelming degeneracy pressure from it.
That thing is...
My eyes bulge wide.
"A black hole. And not just any black hole, but a supermassive one large enough to match five entire superclusters."
"...!"
I turn to look at the figure that has suddenly appeared between Jeon Myeong-hoon, Golden Shaking Bird, and myself.
"...You..."
"The Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity Hyeon Ryul. An Innate Supreme Deity...and an ancient remnant. A [mantra] left behind by a terrifying entity called...the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King."
She twirls a strand of her blue hair around her fingers and smiles at me.
"At the same time, they say one of the two only Governing Immortals that possesses no reason."
I hesitate, unsure of what to say to her.
Then, recalling the words of Jeon Myeong-hoon from my past life, I open my mouth to speak.
But regretfully, the one who makes the first move is her.
"Welcome to the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity's Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, Seo Eun-hyun...I've missed you."
"...Me too, Kang Min-hee."
How many tens of thousands of years have passed since I became a True Immortal?
After such an endless long time, seeing a truly old comrade again brings a bright smile to my face.
"If you missed me, then help me brush my hair. It's been getting tangled a lot lately."
She snaps her fingers, and in an instant, we are transported to somewhere in the depths of a deep and dark darkness.
"This place is...?"
It's the same dark space I saw when I last tried to check on Kang Min-hee's whereabouts.
'So this place...wasn't the Underworld?'
I distinctly remember her being here before, learning how to draw taenghwa.
As I remain puzzled, Kang Min-hee gives me a faint smile and sits down, pulling out a comb.
"Listen while you brush."
Suruk, suruk...
I naturally begin combing her hair.
Jeon Myeong-hoon sits down indifferently, stroking Jin So-hae's hand like always.
"This place is a mysterious space, connected to various extraordinary realms—like the deepest depths of the Underworld, the Outer Sea, and even the inner sanctum of Radiance Hall."
At her next words, I flinch in surprise, and Golden Shaking Bird, trembling with horror, lets out a shrieking scream.
"We're inside the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity's stomach."