Chapter 632: Golden Speed Heavenly King (金迅天王) (1)
Kurung, kurururung!
The twilight true energy inside my body shakes violently and begins evolving the living being who have ascended into me.
'Hooh, this is...'
Come to think of it, that's how it always was.
When devilish cultivators who learned devilish arts ascend to the True Devil Realm, they accept the Heaven and Earth devilish energy and evolve into the Devil Race. If they ascend to the Blood Yin Realm, they evolve into Heavenly Fiends.
And ghost cultivators who ascend to the Nether Ghost Realm accept the Heaven and Earth ghostly energy and become ghostly creatures.
Now, the ascenders within me begin evolving as they accept the boundless twilight true energy.
Wooo-woooong!'...!'
Huarurururuk!
Glass-like sharp scales sprout across their skin, and Glass True Fire gently rises from their entire bodies.
They look somewhat similar to the Candle Dragon Race, but also feel mixed with their original race.
As I watch them, I realize they need a name as well.
Just like how those of the Nether Ghost Realm are called ghostly creatures, and those of the True Devil Realm are called the Devil Race, there should be something to call these living beings of the Crystal Glass Realm.
'Hmm... Similar to the Candle Dragon Race, but not quite. Still, they burn with Glass True Fire, and they are affected by the laws of my world, so...'
"Would Candle Law Race (燭法族) be fitting.?"
But the more I think about it, the worse it sounds.
It feels unlucky.
'No, there's no need to decide right now.'
After all, the owner of the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain I'm heading to is the Naming Supreme Deity. If it comes to it, I can just ask the Naming Supreme Deity to give a suitable name.
It's while I'm mulling over these thoughts.
: : Congratulations. You've finally become a Great Net Immortal. : :
"Ah, Senior Ho Woon...! Until now, truly, thank y—"
: : Then now keep your promise. Speak the true will of Radiance Hall. : :
"..."
For some reason, I freeze at Ho Woon's words like a sheet of ice.
Then, I tell them the true will I know about Radiance Hall.
After listening to all of it, Ho Woon nods.
: : ...In truth, I already knew. Black Dragon revealed it to the world to cut Radiance Hall's power and sow discord between the Radiance Eight Immortals and Radiance Hall. : :
Hearing that, I feel sorry.
"Then...I've got nothing left to give you, Senior Ho Woon."
: : ...It doesn't matter. Now...I no longer care about anything. : :
"What happened?"
: : ...I know all too well the power of Radiance Hall. And especially more so for the Radiance Eight Immortals...On top of that, ever since learning that Radiance Hall has joined hands with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity to destroy Mount Sumeru, everything feels meaningless. : :
Ho Woon's intent and Triple Divinity is leaning toward the destructive aspect.
They are destroying themselves.
: : I'm someone who yearned for justice all my life and finally became a True Immortal amidst suffering... That is why, despite being from the Earth Tribe, despite being an Immortal Beast, I did not enter the Underworld and instead joined Radiance Hall. But...the justice I believed in was nothing but an illusion, and Radiance Hall was nothing more than a playground for madmen... : :
Ho Woon reaches out their hand toward me.
: : Now...nothing has any meaning. : :
I interpret Ho Woon's intent through Triple Divinity, tracing their thoughts from the very root.
—If the Radiance Eight Immortals unleash their power, we will all be annihilated eventually.
: : Including you, who I have raised with my own hands, I will reap what I have sown. : :
—Kill me before that. With your hands that I have raised with my own...
: : Die. : :
Kugugugugu!
Above Ho Woon's hand, a blue giant star is born and flies toward me.
Seeing that, I let out a low sigh.
—At least at the very end...let it be not by the hands of the Radiance Eight Immortals I devoted my life to, but by the junior brother of the wicked Great Mountain Supreme Deity, our enemy...and the one who has received my teachings. Let it be you who sends me off...
"..."
At the same time as I read Ho Woon's thoughts, I reach out my hand.
A single strike.
It is only a single strike.
The entire Twin Holding Heavenly Domain trembles.
Pasasasasasa—
A large hole pierces through Ho Woon's chest, and behind them, a portion of the Heavenly Domain collapses.
It's a strike reminiscent of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's Sword-Guided Star Rain, but I don't even have a moment to feel pleased with its power.
: : ...How...strong... : :
Ho Woon lets out an exclamation as they look at me.
: : Good... Now...devour me. : :
—Use the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra to compress me into a pill, and consume me.
"...What are you talking about?"
I ask with a trembling voice, and Ho Woon chuckles.
: : You, of the same lineage of the monstrous Great Mountain... Do not pretend to be virtuous...or keep up appearances. : :
—Even if I die...I said I'd teach you with all utmost sincerity... Until the very end...I want to be of help to you.
: : Kill me and consume me. This world is built upon sacrifice anyway. As I, too, have sacrificed others...I, too, shall calmly accept my own sacrifice at death. : :
—I only wish...to share my repentant enlightenment with you.
"..."
I cannot refuse.
Because I know Triple Divinity, I can now read intent at a more fundamental level than ever before.
I cannot bring myself to reject the will...the heart contained within Ho Woon's intent.
Their will to sacrifice themselves is that much sincere.
: : Immortal Cultivation is repentant enlightenment. : :
Wiiiiiiiing!
The jade of Yin-Yang and Five Elements rises between my hands and begins to absorb Ho Woon.
: : Like tiny grains of salt gathering to form the sea... : :
Kugugugugugu!
After resisting with all their strength for a time, Ho Woon gradually begins being pulled into me.
: : Build mountains through repentant enlightenment. : :
Even in their final moments, as if wanting to give their utmost until the very end, Ho Woon resists fiercely.
: : Building a mountain of salt is perhaps the fastest way to reach the heavens. : :
Holding hands with everyone at the sea,
Drink salt, and with the wind,
Soar.
Like combining all intents turns them colorless,
Embrace all connections and become impermanence.
But in the end, Ho Woon is finally drawn into the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.
As they are pulled in and annihilated, our eyes meet.
At the moment of their annihilation, as if they have laid down all the suffering of life,
Even in their True Immortal state...
Their face is visible.
: : ...That is the way...to reach the stars. : :
Paaaaaat!
Ho Woon is compressed into a single point.
And I stare at that condensed mass of light for a long while.
I had sworn never to consume a pill formed like this.
However...
More important than that oath...is Ho Woon's will.
Ho Woon undeniably, sincerely wished to be of help to me by being consumed.
My disciples, and countless others as well...
There were things I wished from them, but many of them desired an end of their own choosing, and I have long since realized that granting their wishes is, in fact, the better path.
But still...
"This alone is...truly...difficult..."
How many tears do I shed while agonizing over it?
Finally, I close my eyes and place that light into my mouth.
Kugugugugugu!
I feel my power as a Great Net Immortal increasing.
At the same time, Ho Woon's enlightenments are naturally transmitted to me.
This is...
'The repentant enlightenment...that Ho Woon realized.'
Before my eyes, Ho Woon's world faintly appears.
A world of endlessly unfolding snow mountains.
In one corner of this world of snow mountains, a snow fox with nine tails looks at me, then scatters into the blizzard and vanishes.
On this day,
After falling into Mount Sumeru...
For the first and last time, I consume a cultivator pill.
The taste of the pill I eat for the first time...
Is unbearably bitter.
Kugugugugu!
I stand before the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity.
I feel it.
The Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity is pleased to see me.
It must be because I have achieved Great Completion in the Flawless Mantra.
At the same time, I sense it.
That I am able to return (歸依) the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity to me.
'Of course, due to the difference in rank, it's closer to merging and becoming one rather than returning to thee...'
I watch as I give a bitter smile.
It feels like the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity is gesturing to me.
As if pleading, begging to become one with Them...
But I only offer a small bow to the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity and turn away.
'Thank you, Swallowing Heaven.'
I have power I have accumulated on my own.
Outside of Ho Woon, I need no pill.
Kugugugugugu!
Having made my resolve, I raise the Impermanence Sword in one hand.
And with the power of the Impermanence Sword fully drawn, I swing and cut my own neck.
Shukwak!
I vanish using Heavenly Escape.
Through a thousand instances of Yang Pitch and Yin Pitch, Triple Divinity has already become quite complete.
In an instant, I step into the domain of purity and direct my will toward the distant Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.
When I open my eyes, it will be the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.
And thus, the long years in the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain finally come to an end.
Kugugugugugu!
Surfacing my consciousness within the domain of purity, I awaken.
'This place is...'
Kuuuuuuuuu!
Nebulae are spread everywhere.
And there's also a dreamlike sensation in the atmosphere.
"...I've come to the right place."
Sensing the aura of my comrades in the distance, I take a single step forward.
Paaatt!
The place I arrive at is the center of the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.
A colossal palace of mist.
I feel an overwhelming presence within the palace, and I walk boldly toward its source.
I can also feel the trace of my comrades inside.
How long do I walk through the palace? I eventually reach its inner depths.
I stop for a moment before a massive gate of mist.
Kugugugung!
Moments later, as if detecting me, the gate of mist opens on its own, and I step into the inner royal chamber.
Kugugugugugu!
At last, what appears before my eyes is a giant god of mist who gives a hazy feeling as if in a dizzying dream.
It is the Progenitor of the Human Race, the Naming Supreme Deity Hyeon Rang.
"This lowly Great Net Immortal Crystal Glass Being greets the High Spirit Grand Dao Nine Heavens Overseeing Fate Preserving Life Celestial Great Emperor."
[Welcome, Ender. This Emperor is the Naming Supreme Deity. The Immortal Beast Pangu, and the Progenitor of the Human Race, Hyeon Rang. You may call me Hyeon Go.]
Woo-woooong!
Hyeon Rang's voice hums throughout the entire palace, and at Their feet, my comrades are seated.
I look up at Hyeon Rang.
Woo-woong!
'...As I thought...'
Hyeon Rang's massive body appears to be made of mist, and looking closely, I see four overlapping figures.
A white-haired child.
A white-haired youth.
A white-haired adult.
A white-haired elder.
And among them, the figure of the adult wearing a black robe looks exactly the same as the one I knew.
'Song Jin...'
If Hong Fan was at least subtly different from Song Jin, the Naming Supreme Deity feels as if Song Jin just changed his hair color, grew giant, and is now sitting there mocking me.
I immediately speak the question I've long held curiosity about.
"This lowly Great Net Crystal Glass Being wishes to ask the Naming Supreme Deity a question."
[Speak.]
"Just what is the Supreme Deity's...relationship with the Head Realm?"
[The Head Realm...]
Then, Hyeon Rang's following words hit my mind with a shock as if someone had struck me across the skull.
[I suppose I should introduce myself again. This Emperor is Hyeon Rang. The Progenitor of the Human Race and...the rightful heir (적자/嫡子) of the Head Realm.]
[TL/N: 적자(嫡子) basically means the eldest son born from the official/legitimate wife, so the one with the highest status among the sons and the one who would inherit the family.]
"...Pardon?"
[At the same time...unlike other True Immortals who, once escaping the Head Realm, are not born there again, one who is reborn in the Head Realm every generation, always as the same being, and regardless of what twists and turns they experience, eventually rises as the same Naming Supreme Deity each time... A kind of innate Supreme Deity. That...is this Emperor. Welcome to the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain, my sibling.]
Translator Notes: The story behind Candle Law Race (촉법족) is that Tremendous apparently got beaten up by a minor too young to be prosecuted (촉법소년). Candle Law (촉법) can also mean being in conflit with the law.