Center of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.
Palace of Radiance.
Inside, eight colossal Giant Gods of Light sit around a round table, holding a council.
: : That Devil Immortal has declared war on us. : :
: : What a madman. Are they saying they will face us before facing the Great Mountain Supreme Deity? : :
: : It must be an unspoken protest asking us to draw the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag. : :
: : That must not be allowed! We must aim to use poison against poison between the Great Mountain Supreme Deity and that Devil Immortal. We cannot carelessly loosen that one's leash. : :
: : Then what shall we do? Must we expend all the God-Killing Spears we have accumulated before even fighting the Great Mountain Supreme Deity? : :
: : That is not right. It is an inferior strategy. : :
The gazes of the Eight Immortals turn to the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord and Pearl Jade Heavenly Lord, who take on the military strategist role of Radiance Hall.
: : What should be done, Sword Spear, Pearl Jade? : :
: : It is too early to use our hidden stratagem. Therefore, weakening the opponent is correct. : :
At Sword Spear's words, all nod.
: : What is the best method? : :
At Rain Dew's question, Pearl Jade answers.
: : [Name]. : :
: : Name? : :
: : That Mountain Divine Spirit currently has no Immortal Title. There is no currently Naming Supreme Deity to begin with, so it is a difficult situation to compose an Immortal Title. Therefore...if we instead confer an Immortal Title upon them and fix their attributes, we can weaken them. : :
: : What is the current situation of the Seat of Naming? : :
: : The Great Net Immortals of the Naming Immortal Dao who were in hiding are struggling to ascend to Immortal Lord. : :
: : Torch Candle Heavenly Lord, can you temporarily occupy the Naming Seat? : :
: : It is possible. However, I will have to go on an expedition into the inner Immortal Domain of the Naming Immortal Dao. : :
: : Immediately after the council, go to the Immortal Domain of Naming and occupy the Naming Seat. After that, if the Mountain God invades the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, we will lure them here and forcibly bestow a name upon them. : :
The council of the Radiance Eight Immortals.
There, they thus conclude to confer a new Immortal Title upon the Mountain Divine Spirit through the Naming Immortal Dao.
: : Then what name should we confer upon them? : :
: : We must attach a name that is antagonistically weak to light. A name that, when receiving light, can melt them down violently suits them... : :
: : In that case...a name containing Devil (魔) is good. : :
: : Right, all Devils (魔) lose their power before Clear Righteousness (正明)... : :
: : They are currently an Immortal Beast King. We also need a name that degrades the power of Immortal Beast King. : :
: : In truth, only their realm is of Heaven-Earth Great Net. They are in essence a Governing Immortal! We must pull down the rank of that Governing Immortal. : :
: : We cannot drag them down blindly below Great Net Immortal. Even by the power of Names, it is at best uncertain whether we can pull them down one step. : :
: : Then...let us grant them the title of Lord (君). Though it is an honorific too grand for a Heaven-Earth Great Net...it will be enough to drag their authority, which is to some degree at the Governing Immortal weight class, down to the Immortal Lord level. : :
: : Then, for now, do we all agree to attach the name Devil Lord (魔君)? : :
: : Agreed. : :
: : Agreed. : :
Thus, in the council of the Eight Immortals, the shackle and name to be attached to the Divine Spirit of Sword Mountain is decided.
: : Weakening their power is one thing, but if the name does not fit them, in the end that one can shake off the power of the name themselves. : :
: : We must include a name that is not awkward for them, one that explains their identity. : :
: : Mountain must be included no matter what. That mountain spirit bastard... : :
: : At least one more character is needed. What symbol do they have? : :
: : They go around taking the Wheel, Salt, and Glass as their symbols. For the Earth Tribe, it seems their symbol is a 'Spiraling Candle Dragon'. : :
: : How about Candle Mountain Devil Lord. Attaching the character Candle (燭), that is. : :
: : Good. But if we do so, it will overlap with the Immortal Title of Torch Candle Heavenly Lord. The domain of Torch Candle will become important. Can you handle it, Torch Candle? : :
At those words, the newly appointed Torch Candle Heavenly Lord clears their throat as if lacking a little confidence.
In fact, after the Naming Supreme Deity War, the one who wielded the Heavenly Void Furnace, anchored it in the Head Realm, and then died is the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord again, so a new Torch Candle Heavenly Lord has been selected once more.
In such a situation, being given another burdensome role immediately makes the new Torch Candle Heavenly Lord appear flustered.
At that moment, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord steps forward.
: : That one is a being who wields the sword (劍). Then let this Immortal divide the power of my symbol so that Sword (劍) enters into that one's Immortal Title. : :
: : Such a thing, Sword Spear. This means as much of the power of the Immortal Title weakens them, that much of your power will be pulled away. Will you be fine? : :
: : This Lord is the martial force of Radiance Hall. I am a being that does not easily collapse. Do not worry, Rain Dew. : :
: : Sword Spear! Ahhh... O Sword of Radiance Hall...! : :
Rain Dew lets out an exclamation in awe of Sword Spear's sacrifice, and the other Radiance Eight Immortals also exhale silent exclamations at their sacrifice.
: : You need not do so, Sword Spear. : :
: : You are our martial strength. : :
: : Your sacrifice may instead become an even greater threat to Radiance Hall. : :
However, even at everyone's dissuasion, Sword Spear shakes their head.
: : It is fine. This Immortal is the vanguard of the Radiance Eight Immortals. In every dangerous matter, I have always gone ahead. This time is no different. : :
Cheok—
Woo-wooooong!
When the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord stretches out their hand, silver-white light extends from their palm and gathers in the void.
Then, centering on Sword Spear's light, part of the light of the Eight Immortals also gathers and engraves a certain [Name] into the void.
Sword Mountain Devil Lord (劍山魔君).
That is the shackle of the Eight Immortals created to weaken the Immortal Beast King Seo Eun-hyun, and his new Immortal Title.
: : It is the Mountain Divine Spirit's new name. : :
: : Torch Candle. You head with Great Sun to the Immortal Domain of Naming. : :
Kugugugu!
The Great Sun Heavenly Lord and Torch Candle Heavenly Lord rise from their seats.
Shortly after, they sweep their hands through the void, and before them unfolds a completely different otherworld.
A world of the Immortal Dao of the Naming Seat that only those who tread the Naming Immortal Dao can enter.
It is the Naming Immortal Domain.
Tsuaaat!
Yet, though they are not ones who walk the Dao of Naming, by the power of the Radiance Eight Immortals they ignore the rules and step into the Naming Immortal Domain.
Immediately after, the Eight Immortals rise from their seats.
Great Forest speaks.
: : Now when Great Sun and Torch Candle return after occupying the Naming Seat, we will all combine strengths and prepare a trap to bestow an Immortal Title upon the Mountain Divine Spirit. Until then, each of you, return to your own residence and prepare. : :
After Great Forest's words, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord clasps their palms together and bows toward the Seat of Radiance shining brilliantly above them.
: : Glory to the Radiance Supreme Deity. : :
: : Glory! : :
With those words, the Eight Immortals each return to their residences at the speed of light.
The council hall of the Eight Immortals falls empty.
But after a while, a cluster of light gathers.
Patststststst!
Great Forest, Flower Plant, Pearl Jade, Great Sea, Rain Dew.
Great Sun and Torch Candle, who have gone to occupy the Immortal Domain of Naming.
All except the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, who has gone to their dwelling, now gather separately.
: : You have seen it. : :
The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord speaks coldly.
At their words, all the Heavenly Lords let out silent sighs.
: : Sword Spear is bewitched by the Mountain Divine Spirit. Even this time, wishing to cling stubbornly to the Mountain Divine Spirit, they contributed their own power into the Immortal Title that can exert the greatest influence on the Mountain Divine Spirit. Now, they must be executed. : :
: : ... : :
The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord particularly looks toward the Pearl Jade Heavenly Lord, who governs Metal (金) as Sword Spear does.
: : All the evidence this Immortal speaks of has been laid bare. Though Sword Spear represents martial force, with a great battle imminent, they have meddled needlessly in matters that other Heavenly Lords should do, even consuming their own martial force, showing an 'irrational' appearance.
: : Furthermore, look at Sword Spear's light. Is it not gradually diminishing? Above all, that strangely emotional demeanor. The sense of incongruity about Sword Spear that comes as memories of past timelines return... All of it shows that whether they are bewitched by the Mountain Divine Spirit, or have joined hands with the Underworld and betrayed us...it is showing proof that they are a traitor. : :
: : ... : :
: : Even having come to this point, will you still oppose the execution of Sword Spear, Pearl Jade? : :
: : ...O Executor Rain Dew Heavenly Lord. Sword Spear and I are one body. I symbolize the Yin (陰) of Metal (金) among the Five Elements, and Sword Spear symbolizes the Yang (陽). We as Taiji (太極) have always moved as one body, and we have always together repelled the enemies of Radiance Hall... : :
: : O Pearl Jade. That is emotion. It is true that we must understand emotion, but we must not be consumed by it. We must judge with reason. : :
: : This Immortal...is rational. Rather, to begin with, Rain Dew, is not the very fact that you do not unilaterally execute Sword Spear but instead seek our opinion because the evidence of Sword Spear's betrayal is insufficient? : :
: : Has it not already been confirmed that the [Wheel] was used to tamper with our memories of other timelines? : :
The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord's eyes gleam.
The timeline in which the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord slayed the Mountain Divine Spirit Seo Eun-hyun with the Filling the Heavens Sword Rain.
From that timeline onward, it is felt that the Underworld has twisted their history in a subtle way through the Wheel.
Because of that, the Radiance Eight Immortals have still yet to fully recover their complete memories.
: : At the center of that manipulation of memory is Sword Spear. : :
: : To begin with, even the so-called other timelines are due to the strange authority of the Ender. Are we not still seeking a way to determine whether it is real? This Immortal believes that only after the decisive battle with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity is over, and before we deal with the weakened Sword Mountain Devil Lord, should that matter be investigated. : :
: : And if Sword Spear betrays us before then? If at the crucial moment they put a blade to our throats? : :
: : ...Sword Spear...will never do so. I...have walked with the Sword Spear of that era since our mortal beings days, so I know Yang Ji-hwang well. : :
: : Pearl Jade. That is... : :
: : I know. I do not harbor emotion beyond what is necessary. But it is true that the evidence of Sword Spear's betrayal is insufficient, and until decisive proof is found...I will defend her. : :
: : ...If, even after decisive proof comes forth, you still shield Sword Spear, then I will have no choice but to execute you as well, Pearl Jade. : :
: : I know. If I witness decisive proof...then I will seize the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord with my own hands and deliver them before you, Rain Dew. : :
Suruk...
The Pearl Jade Heavenly Lord removes the mask covering their face, lifts their gaze to the Seat of Radiance, and makes an oath.
: : I, the Pearl Jade Heavenly Lord, upon the true name of Pal Hwang (八黃), swear before the Radiance Supreme Deity. : :
Outside Mount Sumeru.
The Outer Sea.
In that sea of chaos, someone is creating something.
What looks at times like a spirit of pale pink, or like a huge spool of thread, is tens of thousands, hundreds of millions of pale pink cloths gathered and fluttering.
At the center of those fluttering strips of cloth.
There, a woman is moving the cloths, creating something.
It is a domain existing outside Mount Sumeru.
That domain, comparable to several Heavenly Domains, is gradually coming to completion in her hands.
Its name is Artificial Gandhara.
The being creating it is the one known as the successor of Vast Cold, Kim Yeon.
Kim Yeon, with her eyes closed, ceaselessly manipulates the cloths and weaves a dimension through them.
Then, she suddenly feels a certain resonance ringing in her chest and half-opens her eyes.
"...You are..."
Tsuat!
Before her eyes, silver-white light appears to gather, and someone in a pure white silver robe and a silver mask appears.
It is the Fifth Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.
Resonating with the paper flowers blooming within Kim Yeon's Full Blossom, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord thus arrived before her.
"I have...something to ask of you."
"What shall I help you with?"
There is no small talk between the two.
Since they both already carry the same paper flower and are so closely connected to the owner of that paper flower...
Trivial small talk and curiosities and the like are things they can know just by looking into each other's eyes.
"The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord has, bit by bit, caught my tail. But perhaps they are not yet certain, as they seem to be in discussion with the other Eight Immortals."
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, Ji Hwa, looks at Kim Yeon and takes off her mask.
Ji Hwa's bare face and Kim Yeon's face meet.
After facing Kim Yeon for a while and briefly looking at Kim Yeon's hand, she smiles faintly.
"Refine...me..."
"Pardon...?"
"You are an artisan. I am metal. Seo Eun-hyun is fire. With his fire, refine me and make me into his sword."
Wo-woong—
Ji Hwa opens her mouth and vomits out something pure white.
Kim Yeon realizes what it is and widens her eyes.
It is Ji Hwa's soul.
"I am soon to be killed by the other Eight Immortals before long. I will not even be able to revive with the Heart Dao Blooming system. The God-Killing Spear is a mantra for killing the undying. All means of revival are useless. Therefore...even if I die, let me be Seo Eun-hyun's sword, wielded within his hand...so that I can eat his fire and be born again. Make my soul into a sword."
Kugugugugu!
Receiving Ji Hwa's spirit, which radiates an overwhelming presence, Kim Yeon looks at her.
"You...have given me nine-tenths of your soul."
"Yes."
"Do you...trust me?"
Kim Yeon asks carefully.
Though they have come to know each other through the connection of Seo Eun-hyun, the two originally met as enemies.
The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord has the fate to annihilate Kim Yeon.
And...
Even as a friend of the human named Seo Eun-hyun, the two are archrivals.
To call them love rivals is also correct.
But Ji Hwa smiles brightly.
"I trust you."
She knows Seo Eun-hyun.
Because she has seen everything of Seo Eun-hyun.
Because she knows with what heart Seo Eun-hyun accepted Kim Yeon.
She knows what kind of person Kim Yeon is.
"Because he trusts you."
Step, step...
Approaching Kim Yeon slowly, Ji Hwa continues.
"Because he loves you."
Cheok—
At last, having come right before Kim Yeon, Ji Hwa presses her forehead against Kim Yeon's and affectionately strokes her head.
"And...because I know him. If it is love chosen by someone as pure as he is...then I believe that you too are surely even purer and more lovable than him."
Kugugugugu!
Sword Spear's spirit is sucked into Ji Hwa's hand.
Before long, Ji Hwa's soul becomes a lump in her hand.
"I will trust in the sword you make. So...with his fire, burn my soul...and forge the sword. I will die later, but my soul will be wielded in his hand...and surely, feeding on his heat, shall awaken again."
Handing the lump of steel held in her hand to Kim Yeon, Sword Spear speaks.
"I have heard of your power. They say you inherited part of the power of Vast Cold. Please...with your power, strike down hard on my soul. Whatever sword it becomes, I will be grateful to you."
"...Yes."
Kim Yeon trembles.
In a way, there's never been interaction between the two.
To the point that today is the first time the two of them have talked like this alone.
Has she ever received such trust from someone she's met for the first time?
Not even Seo Eun-hyun did so.
At this trust, she grips the soul of iron held in her hand and speaks.
"...Yes. I promise."
Her eyes blaze.
As one who inherited the talent of the Mad Lord Jo Yeon.
As one who inherited the heart of Buk Hyang-hwa.
She...
Will forge this iron into something stronger than any dharma treasure, stronger than any Immortal Treasure.
"I will make the greatest sword. So that Eun-hyun Orabeoni...uses it more than any other sword."
Thus, outside Mount Sumeru, one Heavenly Lord and one Heavenly King designate form a covenant firmer than any other, bound in trust.
Thus, amidst the conspiracy of the Eight Immortals and the secret pact between Sword Spear and Tridacna...
At last, the Devil Lord of Sword Mountain begins to raise their sword toward Radiance Hall.
It is the outbreak of the first Bright Sword Great War (明劍大戰).
Countless Middle Realm Sacred Masters, Immortal Treasures, and Entering Nirvana Quasi-Immortals tremble in terror, and within that mythic war, those who inherit the bloodline of myths begin to receive ominous revelations.
"Huk...!"
Wol Ryeong rises from her chamber, gasping for breath.
Normally, once one reaches the Nascent Soul stage, sleep is no longer necessary, but she is different.
Sleeping and dreaming is the most effective way to digest [wisdom] gained from directly perceiving existences such as the Moonlight Immortal Wol Woon or the Lightning God, so she prefers sleeping in order to absorb the wisdom of True Immortals.
However, because of what she has just seen in her dream, she has to gulp down cold water and steady her trembling body.
'What is this...?'
Wol Ryeong steps outside her cave residence and reads the celestial energy.
"The celestial energy...is not visible...?"
In her dream, she saw eight immense lights clash with a wicked mountain god, and she understands that some great event has befallen this world.
Right away, the fact that the celestial energy has become invisible is the first sign.
'The celestial energy has vanished.'
And immediately, she finds the answer revealed by her fate.
'Some...transcendent existences are contending with each other above the heavens...!'
Sensing that all the celestial energy she can read is being severed by the steps of those transcendent beings, Wol Ryeong bites her lips tightly.
'I am still...weak. Far too weak...'
She looks back at Seo Gyeong, whom she dragged into her cave residence and is sleeping soundly, and thinks.
The incident with the Mad Lord's puppets not long ago.
The decisive battle with the Lightning God.
She is still far too weak.
'I must become stronger.'
The world has fallen into chaos.
Therefore, she recognizes she must become even stronger.
'Let's rise...Star Shattering stage...'
There is no time to wait for her master to come.
Before her master, Esteemed One Baek Geom, descends twenty years from now,
She firmly vows to reach the Star Shattering stage with her own strength alone beneath the sky.
'To protect Seo Gyeong...'
And to stand before Baek Geom and place her hand proudly on Seo Gyeong's shoulder.
Wol Ryeong enters her cave residence, ceases her sleep of digesting the wisdom of True Immortals, repentantly enlightens on what she has, sits in a lotus position, and enters cultivation.
Thus, twenty years pass in an instant.
In the Human Race territory of the Vast Cold Realm, Heavenly Human Island.
There, at last, the descent formation to summon Esteemed One Baek Geom and the other Star Shattering stage Esteemed Ones of the Radiance Spirit Sect is completed.