Chapter 637: Heavenly Venerable Hunting (3)
'I didn't intend to restore the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections itself...'
I pull out a norigae that has been transformed into an Immortal Treasure from my waist.
Tsuaaaa—
At the same time, a hornless white deer reveals itself, centered around the norigae.
'For now, I have to strengthen my power for the battle with Hyeon Mu, so let's temporarily revive it just for the time being.'
Kugugugugugu!
The moment I make up my mind, the stag in front my eyes begins to expand, and the surroundings become shrouded in a pale mist.
Simultaneously, Hyeon Rang's eyes widen."This is... Just what in the world...? This much ancient force...?"
He stares at me, seemingly dumbfounded.
"I-If it's this much...you could qualify as a candidate for Immortal Beast King even now. Honestly, I'm surprised. And...haw, what even is this...an Immortal Art that even this Immortal can't observe..."
Hyeon Rang seems to try and peer into the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, but even he apparently cannot see inside and clicks his tongue.
"...It's merely a discarded Immortal Art."
I look at Hyeon Rang and let out a bitter smile.
"After all, what has been given and received through history resides within me. The past is simply the past... It's just that this time, considering the upcoming battle with Hyeon Mu, I am temporarily restoring it to more smoothly supply ancient force."
"..."
Hyeon Rang looks at me for a moment after hearing those words, then suddenly floats something above his hand.
"Do you know what this is?"
"What...is that?"
I frown as I gaze at the lump of light that exudes a familiar aura for some reason.
Hyeon Rang stares at it and speaks.
"I don't know either."
"..."
"But one thing is certain... This is connected to you. And it's a power that should go to you."
"..."
I realize the identity of what floats above Hyeon Rang's hand.
'I see. It's a fragment of my desire that I gave him when I first became a True Immortal...'
"Originally, if you and Hyun-seok had succeeded in learning the Immortal Art that this Immortal spoke of, this Immortal planned to refine this into another [name] and bestow it upon you then. That's the fastest way to strengthen you. But...for some reason, my instincts as a pure Namer, not as a Supreme Deity, are rejecting it."
He once again absorbs what floats above his palm back into his body and hides it.
"This...feels 'still' too early to give to you. A name that suits a vessel of your level. A thought comes to mind that I can't hastily create one after only just meeting you."
"Hmm, how strange."
At that, Hong Fan, who has been attending the same lesson with me, strokes his beard.
"To think the Naming Supreme Deity would be troubled like this. Your naming alone is in itself a great strength for Master. Wouldn't it be better to grant a name now, and later give an even greater one?"
"...My apologies. For now, I offer my apology to you all. Especially you, Seo Eun-hyun... My instincts as a Namer are screaming. I cannot grant you a name of this level. A name for you must be attempted only after far more history has accumulated and I've come to a much deeper understanding of you."
Ignoring Hong Fan's words, he speaks while staring at me with blazing eyes.
Hong Fan, too, doesn't press further when his words go ignored and simply steps back.
"Someday...someday. I will give you a name that fits you perfectly. I promise."
"...Well if that's how it is, do as you please."
I nod as I look into Hyeon Rang's eyes.
If nothing else, his 'eyes' are sincere.
I can feel that he sincerely wants to give me a name meant just for me.
Hong Fan looks somewhat dissatisfied, but says nothing further.
After that, I continue learning from Hyeon Rang the methods of handling ancient force, and how to properly control explosions as Immortal Beast.
At the same time, I learn methods to extract ancient force from the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
Perhaps because I've been continuously connecting to the Akashic Records, I absorb Hyeon Rang's teachings surprisingly well, and in the end, I mange to fully understand and master his teachings within just a shichen (two hours).
Oh Hyun-seok still groans and struggles, and I playfully tease him from the side while helping him out.
That's when it happens.
Woowoong!
Suddenly, a voice transmission arrives from the comrades who went to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.
Kim Young-hoon, Kim Yeon, Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Each had gone to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain for their own reasons, and now it seems one of them has sent something.
'Not Kim Young-hoon... Is it Jeon Myeong-hoon?'
Jeon Myeong-hoon did mention he was setting a trap to catch Zhengli in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, so it's probably a request for help with capturing her.
However, the voice transmission that arrives from Jeon Myeong-hoon is completely unexpected.
"This is..."
As I read the new information Jeon Myeong-hoon claims to have found in the Bright Cold Realm, my expression hardens.
His message is filled mostly with details about a recently uncovered plan of Blood Yin.
It's mostly information related to Blood Yin, but for us at this point in time, Blood Yin's old plans and oaths are not all that important.
What draws my attention, however, is how this information was obtained.
"Oh Hye-seo... She..."
At the unexpected news, my body trembles.
"She committed suicide...?"
That's right.
It's said Oh Hye-seo has committed suicide in the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain.
Flash!
Through the Great Desolate Path, I arrive at the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain together with Oh Hyun-seok.
To be precise...
Oh Hyun-seok's main body is still receiving training from Hyeon Rang, and what's next to me now is one of his clones.
Kurururung!
The outskirts of the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain are filled with remnants of a restriction that Radiance Hall once laid down, and traces left behind by Oh Hye-seo using the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea to block it from within.
Kugugung!
But I ignore all of that and reach out my hand, and at that moment, the dimensional barrier of the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain opens, inviting us inside.
Shwiriririk!
At the same time, the powers of the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea that fill the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain twist space as if it's been waiting for us, instantly transporting us before a massive palace.
The architectural style resembles that of the Sea Dragon Palace, but everything is tinged with a blood-red.
Kkiiiiiik...
I push open the door of the Sea Dragon Palace and stride forward to where Oh Hye-seo's history can be felt.
The structure of this Sea Dragon Palace is exactly the same as the one Seo Hweol had built before, so I quickly grasp its layout and identify the place where she died.
"..."
"..."
Oh Hyun-seok and I remain silent.
And finally, I stop at the place where Oh Hye-seo's history is last severed.
This place is...yes...
Structurally, it's the room that had once served as Seo Hweol's office.
"...Shall we go in?"
"..."
Oh Hyun-seok remains silent for a while, and only after some time does he open his mouth.
"I will see it with my own eyes. Let's go."
"...Yes."
Kkiiiik...
What we see as the door opens is...
Yes.
A massive alchemical furnace.
Inside the alchemical furnace, which stands on three legs, something bubbles and boils.
Oh Hyun-seok begins to tremble.
Both he and I have reached the realm of Earth Upper Immortal.
We immediately read the history to know exactly what Oh Hye-seo has done.
"...Oh...Hye...Seo...!"
With a cry that's unclear whether it is sorrow or fury, Oh Hyun-seok stumbles forward and tears open the iron cauldron with both hands.
Kwaaang!
From inside, the bubbling crimson liquid gushes out, and in the center of that liquid, something like a pure white pill, in the midst of condensing, appears before our eyes.
Oh Hyun-seok howls as he looks at the pill.
"Oh Hye-seo...!!!"
I let out a silent sigh at the miserable sight.
The moment I see the materials of this pill, history informs me.
Seo Hweol's bones.
And Oh Hye-seo herself...
Shwiririririk...
Though we do not wish for it, the power of an Earth Upper Immortal instantly shows us the history.
Of course, I could have refused to look, but I firmly read her history.
The appearance of her gently caressing Seo Hweol's bones, after personally building the Sea Dragon Palace where she once lived together with Seo Hweol.
The appearance of her continuously calling Seo Hweol's name, seeking him again and again.
She was insane.
But...
Time passed.
Ten thousand years.
She was mad.
A hundred thousand years.
She firmly believed Seo Hweol would come back to life.
A million years.
She began to think she must resurrect Seo Hweol with her own power.
Ten million years.
Gradually accumulating her cultivation inside, she spread her schemes across the entirety of Mount Sumeru, creating a plan for Seo Hweol's resurrection.
Fifty million years...
She slowly began to feel doubt.
And then...
Seventy million years.
Her madness began to 'heal'.
Could it be because she spent endless years alone, crying out only for Seo Hweol?
At some point, Seo Hweol's bones began to gradually ease her madness, and it became clear that she was slowly returning to her senses.
She began to accept Seo Hweol's death.
But the more she did so, the more she suffered.
She couldn't bring herself to accept the fact that she could not see Seo Hweol again.
And finally, she reunited with me.
She seduced Black Dragon and incited them to kill me, causing us to clash.
But...
In the end, I used the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra to completely annihilate Black Dragon and Oh Hye-seo's projection, rising to Great Net Immortal.
That is what marked the end,
The enlightenment of repentant enlightenment contained in the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra caused Oh Hye-seo projection to undergo repentant enlightenment, completely awakening her.
Oh Hye-seo finally realized.
—Seo Hweol...You...you're not coming back, are you...? Master...even the Great Mountain Supreme Deity...can't return you, can They...?
Had it gone well, her madness could have been completely healed through time and my Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.
However...
She chose not to heal her madness.
—I...can't give you up... You are me. You gave me meaning. So...a world without you has no meaning... So...I won't let you go...
That was Oh Hye-seo's choice.
As I read the history, I witness her end with my own eyes.
—If giving you up means returning to sanity, then I won't give you up... I'll stay like this, stay mad like this...and be with you.
With those words, she shoved Seo Hweol's bones into the alchemical furnace made from the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea.
She then added the many Immortal Beast True Bloods she gathered until now, entered the furnace herself, and embraced Seo Hweol's bones.
She unraveled all her history, spirit, and authority, melting all the possibilities of resurrection into the furnace.
In this way, Oh Hye-seo melted away with Seo Hweol and closed her eyes.
—It was fun... If someday someone eats us, let's be born together inside them. Someday...let's meet again...
That is Oh Hye-seo's final moment.
I read the history, and read the Plane of Soul embedded within the history to trace where Oh Hye-seo's soul has gone.
I even send a voice transmission to Kang Min-hee, but Kang Min-hee only says that Oh Hye-seo's spirit has not entered the path of reincarnation.
She says it is impossible to find where Oh Hye-seo's spirit has gone.
As if her spirit has soared into the heavens.
"Hye-seo-ah..."
Perhaps reading her history together with me, Oh Hyun-seok simply sheds tears.
"Is this the end you wanted...? Was there truly no better future...? Why...every time your wounds are healed, do you only try to die...!? Even back then! In Big Brother's 'Hall of Love'!"
It seems to be a place known only between Oh Hyun-seok and Oh Hye-seo.
"Why!? Why do you always make this kind of choice!!??"
Oh Hyun-seok cries in anguish, and I let out a silent sigh as I watch him.
It's always like this.
I save my comrades, and block the future where they are helplessly slaughtered by someone.
But every time, every day, every moment!
Even though I save them, and save them, and save them again...
There are always those I cannot save.
Even though I never had the intention of saving Oh Hye-seo, I could not save Oh Hyun-seok from the pain inflicted because of her.
'Azure Tiger Saint... Oh Hye-seo too...'
I am always unable to save those related to Oh Hyun-seok.
Those tied to Oh Hyun-seok—I am never able to save them.
After I have Oh Hyun-seok take the pill formed from Seo Hweol and Oh Hye-seo's bodies, I step out from Seo Hweol's office.
And as I look around the Sea Dragon Palace, I discover that many books scattered throughout contain information about me.
They were written by Oh Hye-seo.
Most of them focus on targeting my weaknesses, deducing my identity, and laying out plans to defeat me.
I can't help but be deeply impressed as I read her journal, where she carefully analyzed my weaknesses and thoroughly documented, one by one, the opportunities I'd encountered and the origins of my power.
There are even methods written to exploit weaknesses I have overlooked and Immortal Arts I've gained but never properly used.
As I step outside the Sea Dragon Palace and mentally absorb the most intriguing contents of these books—
I suddenly read a passage written at the end by Oh Hye-seo.
—Seo Eun-hyun is my enemy, and my greatest adversary. Because...Seo Eun-hyun was Seo Hweol's greatest adversary. So even if I cannot defeat him...someday, when he returns to life, together with him, gain the starting point to bring Seo Eun-hyun down.
Seo Hweol's greatest adversary.
As I read that phrase, a feeling I cannot name washes over me.
Hwarururuk...
I burn the book and walk out of the Sea Dragon Palace.
"...Seo Hweol. Are you there?"
I glance toward the Sea Dragon Palace for no reason and ask.
"...I know you're there. Come out."
But of course, there is no response.
If it were before, the bastard who would have answered with something like, 'Hoho, Daoist Seo. So you've noticed,' and crawled out from some gloomy shadow...
Now no longer replies.
And yet, even though I know I will never hear that reply again...
For some reason, I feel as if Seo Hweol is still alive.
'Even now it feels like you're still alive...and seem to cling to our shadows no matter what.'
Even now.
Even though he's dead, it feels like he is still grasping onto us, unable to let go of his gloomy hand, and still slowly dripping pain upon us.
And realizing that, I quietly turn toward the Sea Dragon Palace and speak.
"...Seo Hweol. Listen well."
I sense Oh Hyun-seok collecting Oh Hye-seo's remains.
"From now on...I'm going to properly kill you."
Feeling Oh Hyun-seok's sorrow and pain, I vow.
"I will save Oh Hye-seo too."
Oh Hye-seo is detestable and irritating.
To be honest, I just want to stop getting involved now.
But...
Sadly, she is Oh Hyun-seok's family.
"I'm going to sweep away every part of you that's embedded in Oh Hye-seo's mind, and completely liberate her from you. Do you understand?"
Therefore, in order to completely wash away Oh Hyun-seok's sorrow, I realize that I must save her.
"So... When I do save Oh Hye-seo someday, stop clinging to us and move on peacefully."
With that, I turn away as I watch Oh Hyun-seok leave the Sea Dragon Palace carrying her remains.
I've made a vow.
If I die fighting Hyeon Mu this time and live again...
Then from that life onward, I will save Oh Hye-seo from Seo Hweol's shadow.
Protect the family.
That is the heart I swore upon while mastering the Flawless Mantra.
And whether she likes it or not...she is the family of my family, Oh Hyun-seok.
'107 days remain.'
I steel my heart, thinking of my match with Hyeon Mu.
'Within that time...I will fill the gaps Oh Hye-seo analyzed in me.'
Among the weaknesses she analyzed, the one I can resolve right now is the Immortal Art Mahayuga (महायुग).
Realizing that I've misunderstood how to handle Mahayuga from the beginning, I begin researching the most optimal way to rapidly grow stronger by combining the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections with Mahayuga.
Thus, Kim Young-hoon obtains the legacy of the previous Golden Body Heavenly King at Cedarwood Painting,
Jeon Myeong-hoon temporarily succeeds in capturing Zhengli,
And Kim Yeon becomes able to move the body of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord.
Kang Min-hee, saying she shares our will, begins descending into the Saha World with a group of Reapers from the Netherworld.
Oh Hyun-seok, pushing his sorrow aside, begins to Divine Descent the Naming Supreme Deity into his body.
The day of the decisive battle begins to draw near.
"Did you manage to learn that Mahayuga without issues?"
Kim Young-hoon approaches and asks me.
"Yes, don't worry."
I nod without a problem and reply.
If you'd like, Hyung-nim, I can apply to you as well. Do you need it?"
"Hm... Sure. Go ahead."
"Then..."
I begin striking Kim Young-hoon's body at specific blood points.
At the same time, I infuse various parts of his body with the energy of the Immortal Art, maximizing the potential lying dormant within him.
Kkudududuk...
Mahayuga is an Immortal Art used in the form of a blood point striking technique, originally said to be a part of a yoga meditation method from the world of the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King.
Kkududuk...
Kim Young-hoon's body briefly twists, then he looks down at his own hand.
"This is...excellent. It aligns with the enlightenment I gained from the previous Golden Body Heavenly King... Of the enlightenment of the realm of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld."
"Hooh..."
It seems Mahayuga itself is an Immortal Art created by combining the yogic meditation method from the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King's homeland, the Immortal Arts of this world, and a portion of enlightenment from the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.
'So the past hundred or so days of effort weren't for nothing.'
I also apply the Immortal Art of Mahayuga Immortal to Oh Hyun-seok, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and Kim Yeon, and decide to restrain from using it myself until I face Hyeon Mu.
Roughly one shichen remains until the descent of Hyeon Mu's Gandhara.
We are currently inside the Inner Sea, the space between the Heavenly Domains of Mount Sumeru.
We have entered a space known as the Abyss (深淵)
'The Outer Sea is chaos, the Inner Sea is the abyss, huh.'
The Outer Sea of Mount Sumeru mixes the Three Planes together and allows for no laws to function. The Inner Sea of Mount Sumeru, though a mix of the Three Planes and the True Immortal Realm, is affected by the attraction force of each Heavenly Domain with laws faintly lingering.
However, despite the laws remaining, the laws of the Inner Sea are for the most part, completely in contrast to the Outer Sea, 'immutable.' Because of this, many entities of the Immortal Family refer to this place as the Abyss.
Kugugugugu!
Yet, we now witness those very laws of the Abyss, known for being unchanging, wildly twisting and distorting.
It is because, deep within the Abyss, Hyeon Mu is descending.
And for how long do we watch the depths of the Abyss?
Shrrrik!
From far in the distance, Hong Fan flies toward us.
"Hong Fan!"
"Master!"
Seeing Hong Fan soaked in blood, I bite my lip.
"Damn it, are you alright!?"
"I-I'm fine. More importantly, first..."
Woo-woong!
Even as he coughs up blood, Hong Fan injects us with 'wisdom.'
We come to know how far Hyeon Mu has descended, and roughly what form her true body takes.
Hong Fan, with a mere Entering Nirvana stage body, had declared he would go scout Hyeon Mu, carrying our protection and fate on his back.
But as expected, it seems this task was too much for Hong Fan. He is on the brink of death.
"Hong Fan..."
I look at him with sorrowful eyes and speak.
"Rest in the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain. Hyeon Rang will take care of you."
"M-Master..."
But even as he bleeds, Hong Fan smiles.
"I...refuse."
"What...?"
"Until the end...I will remain within your body, Master...! So please...allow me to stay with you."
"..."
I gaze bitterly at Hong Fan and hesitate for a while.
But finally, I nod.
"The restored Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections will protect you. So stay hidden deep inside my body...within the range its power can reach."
"Yes...! Master...!"
Hong Fan smiles faintly, happy to remain by my side, and seeing that smile, I make a firm vow.
'I will not lose. No matter what.'
"Hong Fan. Life is..."
"Yes...?"
"Eat boiled potatoes. Don't you like...boiled potatoes? I've prepared plenty inside my body."
"..."
[TL Notes: Pun again. 'Life is' is homonymous with 'boiled'.]
For my loyal retainer who risked danger to directly face Hyeon Mu's descent, I manifest boiled potatoes within my body.
I remember everything, like how he smiled and said he liked them last time.
Though I cannot give him much, I can at least give him boiled potatoes.
"While eating boiled potatoes, wait for me. I swear...I will defeat Hyeon Mu and return."
"...Keok! Kuheok!"
Hong Fan, who had been listening quietly to my words, suddenly begins to cough up congested blood.
"Kuheok! Kuhuk! Kuugh...!"
"Hong Fan...! Kugh..."
Even with all of our protections carried on his back, perhaps witnessing Hyeon Mu's descent with a mere Entering Nirvana stage body was too much after all.
Hong Fan continues to cough up blood from deep within his chest without stop.
"M-Master..."
"Hong Fan...!"
He coughs up blood, whispering to me with a face full of pain and suffocation.
"...I have seen...Hyeon Mu and returned. And...Master. Upon seeing the Governing Immortals...there was something that came to mind."
I block his whisper from reaching anyone else.
It seems he wants to keep this a secret between us.
"Master... Do not trust the Naming Supreme Deity... They are...hiding something..."
"...Alright. I'll ask for details...after we've won."
He's too injured to say more anyway.
I hug the admirable Hong Fan once, then place him inside my body.
Inside, Hong Fan begins to stuff the prepared boiled potatoes into his mouth.
Looks like he really likes them.
"Now then..."
Everyone's expression grows solemn.
From afar, a massive presence is felt, only to vanish in an instant.
The owner of that presence is perfectly controlling their aura.
"From now on...shall we begin the Heavenly Venerable hu—"
I open my mouth with confidence, drawing forth my power, ready to declare the start of the Heavenly Venerable Battle.
"...?"
Then, in an instant.
I realize the world looks flipped.
'Wha...'
I understand immediately.
Hyeon Mu has appeared among us and, without us realizing it, has sliced my throat.
In the fleeting instant that the Heavenly Venerable Battle begins,
I am killed by Hyeon Mu.