Tsaaaaa—
We gaze at the resting place of the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable.
A mere thousand years.
It's only been about a thousand years...
But to us, it was a painfully long thousand years.
Wo-woooong—
The Heavenly Venerable of Time distorts spacetime and speaks aloud.
The surrounding space becomes gentle under his influence, and we ease our tension a little.
"...All of you...thank you. At least, my friend seems to have died as a person in the end."
Cheon Woon bows his head to us, and we receive him in turn.
He raises his hand, grasps the white flower placed there, and with a slight pull as if plucking it from the void, he breaks it cleanly in the middle.
The white stem-like strand remains at the boundary of Cakravāda, and the flower enters Cheon Woon's hand.
"You were asked to bring this to the Underworld, weren't you...? Take it..."
I receive the white flower from Cheon Woon.
A strong power of ancient force brims from it, and the moment I hold the flower, I feel a faint, heartbeat-like throb rising within.
Wo-woooong—
At the same time, I sense faint traces of memories from a distant past within it.
'Powerful...'
It's something I felt the last time I borrowed power from Sal Tree as well, but once again, the memory is overwhelmingly strong.
So strong, it might swallow me whole if I'm not careful.
'It's not that the memory itself is strong... It's the heart inside it...that's strong.'
The resentful sorrow and pain that the original owner of this memory must have felt—
Those things are endlessly swirling inside.
And...
From within, I feel an unending longing.
The speaker in the memory is ceaselessly yearning for some kind of answer.
—What...is life?
—What is our world?
—I...
And within that yearning, I can sense an overwhelming thirst.
—Why do I live?
Why do I live?
To beings living in this world, it is such a primal and distant question.
Aside from the answer 'just because,' any answer one can give is an empty one, one nobody can be certain of.
—I... Why am I still...alive...? Why only me...?
And as I hear that question, I feel an illusion that even I am falling into a void of futility.
Yes, this ancient force is like...
'The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.'
A vicious past that would brainwash anyone who sees it, except for me.
Tststststst!
I draw upon the nature of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections embedded in Gracious Soul Filling the Heavens to maintain 'myself' and push back the memories whispered to me by this 'great feat'.
"Seal it for now."
I place the flower briefly upon the head of the deer that appears from Gracious Soul Filling the Heavens, and the pasts held within it seal the power contained in the 'great feat.'
"As expected, someone of your level is capable of controlling a past of this level on your own, disciple of Salt Sea."
"Thank you for that time."
I recall how the Heavenly Venerable of Time once saved me from Yeong Seung's clutches and offer him my gratitude.
"To have suffered such deep pain at Yeong Seung's hands and yet not bear any resentment toward me—that alone makes me feel gratitude. And more than anything...through you, I now know that the will of the Salt Sea Supreme Deity has not yet perished. It is I who should thank you and the others. Please take this."
The Heavenly Venerable of Time once again offers us a bow.
"There is something I must give to you."
"Something you must give us...you say?"
"Yes. You've likely heard a few meaningful words from Sal Tree... For example, the Eastern and Southern Twin Sal Trees, the Western Zero King, and the Northern Gang... I have matters to speak regarding what I've uncovered about them, and a few more matters you still need to know."
At those words, we listen solemnly.
"First...we Heavenly Venerables are ultimately nothing more than media for the prophecy of the Fate Supreme Deity. Living stars of prophecy, in a sense."
"..."
"Among us, however, Hyeon Mu is little different than Sal Tree and I. If Hyeon Mu is a consistent being who has existed since ancient times, then Sal Tree and I are beings who get 'replaced' each time the ages pass. But we ourselves do not know that we've been 'replaced'. This is because although we are replaced whenever needed, the very history in which the replacement occurs is torn out and becomes ancient force buried deep within the Head Realm, so the fact of the replacement itself disappears."
We exhale a silent sight at these shocking truths.
"The standard for replacement...is probably when the spirits bearing the memories of Sal Tree and Time become unable to endure the long years and desperately yearn for suicide, and that will surpasses a certain limit and begin to erase the spirits themselves...".
He looks at me—more precisely, at the Radiance Mantra slumbering within me.
"It is likely that the existence known as Heuk Sa edits history and time and replaces us."
"Is that so...?"
I now understand why Hyeon Mu cried out even more sorrowfully than Sal Tree or Time.
'If Sal Tree and Time are replaced without them knowing, does that mean...Hyeon Mu cannot be replaced at all?'
Even the phenomenon of self-erasure by the spirit seems to be somehow impossible for Hyeon Mu.
"In the end, we are tools. In the distant future...when the Absolute Being is born into this world, we are the media of prophecy meant to prepare for that moment, the beings who are to bless that existence... We are nothing more than well-crafted Immortal Treasures."
"..."
"Given the realm you have all reached, you must know what the Immortal Crown is."
"Yes, we do."
Immortal Crown.
Also called Immortal Staff, it refers to the attire and authority of Immortals—ultimately the process by which Immortals walking the pathway of a Supreme Deity invoke the soul and will of the Supreme Deity into themselves and are unknowingly and gradually devoured by that Supreme Deity's soul.
"And...you must also know what the 'winged garment' is, worn by those who follow the Fate pathway..."
"..."
At those words, we let out silent exclamations.
Indeed.
The winged garment is, in the end, the Immortal Crown of the Future King, his will itself.
"The more one draws upon the power of fate...the more often one dons the winged garment...the more we are eaten away by the Future King, becoming his eyes and ears, or his hands and feet.
"And especially those whose names or Immortal Titles include characters meaning Heaven...they are even more deeply affected. Born under the design of the Future King, they live as Supreme Deities and die accordingly.
"Therefore, their circumstances aren't so different from ours. The only difference is that they are slightly less important tools. If the Future King so desires, the 'will of the Future King' embedded within them will awaken and control them whenever he pleases. Of course, each one may have countermeasures, but that is all...In the end, all of us will either become meat for the Future King or his tools someday. However...becoming his tool lets one learn certain things."
The Heavenly Venerable of Time clutches his chest.
"In the distant past...I spoke with the Salt Sea Supreme Deity, the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, and others in various ways, and resolved to accept again the disgrace of the Heavenly Venerables. And as a result...I nearly became like Salt Tree and lost myself."
"...!"
"But thankfully, due to the blessings left behind by Salt Sea and Vast Cold, I barely managed to avoid losing myself. And because of that...I gained a few pieces of wisdom from within the power of the Future King that tried to consume my being."
He points toward somewhere.
Given the powerful sensation of attraction force, it seems to be toward Mount Sumeru.
"Each Gandhara of the Heavenly Venerables in Mount Sumeru. I realized the closer I get to them, the more the blessings of Salt Sea and Vast Cold would collapse, and I would ultimately lose myself..."
"...Then..."
I recall the Gandhara of the Heavenly Venerable of Time still remaining in Mount Sumeru, the Source River.
I had never understood why he left his Gandhara behind and crossed the sea of chaos with only his consciousness, traveling the distant Outer Sea.
Only now do I understand the reason.
'So the Gandhara itself is the medium of prophecy prepared by the Future King...and also his authority...'
"By any chance, is the Western Heavenly Venerable, the Netherworld Queen Mother...the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, also part of the Future King's arrangement?"
"You must be thinking so because of the title Western Zero King. But no. Though it may just be the guess of an old man, from now on, let me tell you the true nature of what Sal Tree spoke of."
Then, with a hardened face, the Heavenly Venerable of Time points toward Mount Sumeru and begins his explanation.
"As you know, the Eastern and Southern Twin Sal Trees are Sal Tree and me. As beings who govern 'Time' and 'Birth,' both of us were born to keep the Underworld in check, each symbolizing the Absolutes of 'Fate' and 'History'. And the Northern Gang (罡), as you know..."
Wo-woong!
Before us appears the being known as Gang (罡), who symbolizes the Northern Dipper Seven Stars.
Behind Gang, seven stars of seven colors appear, and as we feel the power emanating from those seven stars, we come to a realization.
'I see. The yellow light radiating from the summit of Mount Sumeru, the authority of the Absolute of History. And the seven-colored light emitting from the summit, the authority of the third absolute. The power of that third absolute...was being devoured midway by Hyeon Mu.'
Hwiririririk—
Above the hand of the Heavenly Venerable of Time, the form of the [Blackened Three Great Ultimates] appears and begins to spin wildly.
It looks like a black vortex swirling without end.
"...symbolizes the third absolute. Receiving the Absolute Being with the power of the Three Great Absolutes—that is the fundamental concept of the Heavenly Venerables' Gandhara."
"...That's strange."
I voice my doubt.
Names carry power.
That's why, if something this grand is part of the Future King's plan, even if he names the beings of the East and South as 'Twin Sal Trees,' there's no need to give the being of the North a different name.
'The Underworld who is the Western Heavenly Venerable is not someone designed by the Future King, so I understand—but why is Hyeon Mu's name different?'
Time hears my question and nods.
"I've wondered the same. But...Hyeon Mu has always been peculiar. As you know, she alone has never been replaced...and the form of her Gandhara, do you remember it?"
"Yes, I remember. Hyeon Mu's Gandhara..."
As I'm about to speak, I feel something else that is strange.
'Huh...?'
Come to think of it...
Yes.
The Gandhara of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, the Heavenly Venerable of Time, and the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable.
Their main bodies are the 'Underworld,' 'Source River,' and 'Eastern Heaven Flower Field' respectively, so whenever they move or leave with their Gandhara, their entire Gandhara disappears from Mount Sumeru.
But when I recall the battle with Hyeon Mu...
'Even though the Interdimensional Void and the Plane of Soul were closed off by her and rendered unusable, they still remained in Mount Sumeru. Through this, Young-hoon Hyung-nim managed to overlay the entire Interdimensional Void with his will through the Golden Great Thousand World.'
If that's the case...
What exactly was the main body of Hyeon Mu that fought us back then?
For some reason, Hyeon Mu had two Gandhara.
One was the Interdimensional Void.
The other was the [Tangled Mass of Snakes That Resembles a Black Three Great Ultimates] which was revealed during the fight with us...
"Hyeon Mu's Gandhara...is different from those of the other Heavenly Venerables."
I ask, full of doubt, and he nods.
"That's right. The Gandhara you know is probably not Hyeon Mu's main body. It is most likely just a 'vessel' used to receive the power of Enders..."
"Then...Hyeon Mu's true power is..."
Does that mean, back then, Hyeon Mu didn't use her real Gandhara but just brought along a vessel used for siphoning the power of Enders and fought us with that?
"That's probably not it."
Perhaps reading my doubt, the Heavenly Venerable of Time shakes his head.
"Hyeon Mu's limit is what you have seen. Rather, Hyeon Mu failed to fully seize her own Gandhara, the Interdimensional Void, and couldn't properly use its principle or power."
"Pardon? But a Gandhara is no different from one's own body... Is that even possible?"
"I do not really understand that part myself..."
The Heavenly Venerable of Time clicks his tongue and shakes his head at my words, while I find myself taken aback by a sudden rush of questions.
Just then, Hong Fan suddenly squeezes in beside us and begins to speak.
"Perhaps it is not actually their body."
"Mmm...! She received the body of another being instead of her own...so she couldn't properly wield that Gandhara...?"
Thinking of it that way certainly seems to resolve many of the doubts.
"Then the original Interdimensional Void...whose body is it? The Future King's?"
"It's hard to say. If Hyeon Mu is a being necessary for the Future King's plan, and the Future King is the one who made it so that the Interdimensional Void could be seized...then perhaps it once belonged to someone who detested fate..."
Hong Fan strokes his beard as he shares his thoughts, and both I and the Heavenly Venerable of Time nod.
'That's a reasonable deduction...'
There are still many puzzling parts, but this much isn't bad.
Cheon Woon continues his explanation.
"Anyway...setting aside who the Gandhara that is the Interdimensional Void originally belonged to...Hyeon Mu is a peculiar existence in such a way. A being who parasitically clings to a Gandhara that is not her own and absorbs the power of the Enders to create a vessel of Heavenly Venerable level, roaming about fighting. She is a unique being who, even after countless generations pass, may feel suicidal urges, but whose soul never vanishes under the will to kill herself. That is why I think she may not be a mere personality-entity at all...but perhaps a kind of 'virtual persona' created by the Future King out of necessity."
At those words, we each fall into thought, and Hong Fan strokes his beard as he quietly murmurs.
"...In a way, that's not a bad theory."
Cheon Woon's explanation continues.
The model of Hyeon Mu's Gandhara, still swirling within him, becomes embedded with the seven stars of seven colors, and something begins to appear.
It then flies into the void and takes its place beside the two models of the Twin Sal Trees.
"That is probably why, unlike the 'Twin Sal Trees' who are designated as the Future King's slaves and tools, a 'name' like 'Gang (罡) of the North' was given instead of 'Northern Sal Tree'."
"Then the Western Zero King..."
"Everyone probably knows due to Sal Tree...but the Western Zero King is the Final Immortal Beast King. The Naming Supreme Deity Hyeon Rang."
The East and West are the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable, who inherited the feat of the First Immortal Beast King, and Hyeon Rang, upon whom the feat of the Final Immortal Beast King is designated.
The North and South are Cheon Woon and Hyeon Mu, who respectively inherited the feats of connecting Six Heavenly Domains to complete Mount Sumeru, and emptying Mount Sumeru entirely.
'So the four directions of East, West, South, North have some shared causality.'
However, even considering that causality, there's still something I can't understand.
"The beings of the East, South, and North all seem to represent the Absolutes, so then what does the Naming Supreme Deity represent?"
If the other Three Heavenly Venerables symbolize the Absolutes, then what does the Naming Supreme Deity stand for?
"...Perhaps, they represent something that is not an Absolute."
At that moment, Hong Fan again interjects.
"There's something that, while not being an Absolute, still stands equal to it?"
At the Heavenly Venerable of Time's words, Hong Fan nods.
"There is one thing. It is not an Absolute, but holds a value equivalent to an Absolute."
"What is it?"
"Humaneness."
Hong Fan responds to Cheon Woon's statement with a self-deprecating smile, as if recalling something.
"Perhaps...the Western Zero King is a being who symbolizes humaneness."
"...Then, Hong Fan."
A certain doubt arises in me from those words.
Of course, because of what the remnants of my master told me, I've come to accept, more or less, that the life of a person is something immensely precious.
But even so, there's something I can't understand.
"You're saying that a being who governs fate...values humaneness enough that they would visibly manifest it alongside the birth of an Absolute One?"
"Well, I'm not sure about that."
"Hmm..."
Woo-wooong!
While I am lost in thought, next to the Twin Sal Trees and the model of Hyeon Mu's Gandhara, a model of a [Taiji In The Shape Of A Fetus] appears, and something starts to appear from its center.
Squirm, squirm...
Something begins to stir.
And as I gaze upon that something, I see the form of the [baby] I had seen before.
"Hmm...is that a seed?"
"Looks more like a sprout."
"No...it's a spring. It's spring water."
However, what appears as a [baby] to me seems to look entirely different to the others as each of my comrades describes it in a different form.
"What is that?"
I also ask the Heavenly Venerable of Time, and Cheon Woon shrugs as he answers.
"I do not know either. But...to my eyes, it appears as [seven stars]. Among them, six are connected to each other, and one is apart from the rest."
"Pardon...?"
"Six stars represent life, seven stars represent death...so a being that possesses death yet remains within the domain of life. Yes...that is the form of a 'mortal being'."
"...!"
At Cheon Woon's words, I get a deeply strange feeling.
'A being that shows something different to everyone, and evokes a different feeling in each...? Even though we've reached the domain where we can perceive the essence of all phenomena in near equivalence...'
What's more, all of this is just a kind of simulation, constructed by the Heavenly Venerable of Time using models of the Heavenly Venerables and a Supreme Deity—yet even that simulation fools the eyes of us who are of Heavenly Venerable rank. It makes one begin to fathom the rank of the [Absolute One].
Just then, I suddenly become curious and ask Hong Fan a question.
"Hong Fan, what do you see that being in the center of those four symbols as?"
In response to my question, Hong Fan answers without hesitation.
"To my eyes...it looks unmistakably like something that has died but is now resurrecting."
"Resurrection...?"
What kind of perspective is that?
But...
Considering that Hong Fan is a former member of the First Radiance Supreme Deity and, though he has erased his memories, knows more than anyone else in this world—
If his insight is the most accurate one...
'Then is the existence known as the Absolute One not simply being born, but rather a being that died before and is now resurrecting...'
As I grow confused amidst many questions,
We all momentarily fall into panic as we gaze at the form of the simulated Absolute One being born under the blessings of the Heavenly Venerables and Zero Kings of the East, West, South, and North.
Then...
In the midst of that confusion, the Heavenly Venerable of Time implants [something] into us.
At the time, we clearly understand what we are receiving, but the Heavenly Venerable of Time warns that continuing to Mount Sumeru with it could be dangerous and tells us to seal it. Hence, within the chaos, we erase our memories of what we received from the Heavenly Venerable of Time, and return once more to Mount Sumeru.
Kugugugugu!
Traveling through the vast sea of chaos, we return to Mount Sumeru borrowing the power of the Heavenly Venerable of Time.
In the distance, the familiar world of the inverted cone comes into view.
'Now there are three Gandhara.'
Feeling each Gandhara of the three remaining Heavenly Venerables within the inverted cone, I ride Song Jin and fly toward Mount Sumeru.
"...We're nearly at Mount Sumeru. We'll arrive shortly, but..."
I look toward Oh Hyun-seok and ask,
"Isn't it about time you told me, Hyung-nim? The Immortal Dao of Seven Stars that you are walking..."
"...Yes. I know."
Oh Hyun-seok, who has remained silent until now after hearing the explanation from the Heavenly Venerable of Time and coming all the way to Mount Sumeru, finally begins to speak.
"I'll tell you the truth as it is. The Immortal Dao of Seven Stars...is in fact identical to the Immortal Dao of the Mountain that you walk."
At last, he reveals to me the secret he has been keeping all this time.