[It is a needless worry.]
[Heh heh, if it is just a single strand of hair...]
In an instant, the mood in the conference hall loosens, and the faces of the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain's Entering Nirvana Quasi-Immortals noticeably brighten.
However, watching that, Wol Ryeong feels an unknown unease.
And Baek Yeong seems the same, frowning as she speaks.
[To the Quasi-Immortals of the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, I apologize...but this is quite a major incident. Even if it is but a single strand of hair, it is clearly a terminal part of the body of a powerful Great Immortal...]
[Hm, Sacred Master of the Radiance Spirit Sect. We, rather, do not know why you make such a fuss.]
However, at Baek Yeong's words, one Quasi-Immortal snorts and speaks.
[Think of the time of the Lightning Immortal Yang Su-jin. That one reached the very limit of True Immortality. Even so, with only his ring finger, all the Quasi-Immortals and Sacred Masters existing in the Heavenly Domain stepped forth and could only come to a draw with the ring finger. But...according to what this Immortal heard from a True Immortal elder I know, the realm of the Sword Mountain Devil Lord is one step lower than Yang Su-jin's. It is a single strand of hair from an Immortal of a realm lower than Yang Su-jin. Moreover...]
The Quasi-Immortals look at Wol Ryeong and laugh.
[I heard that one of the Upper Immortals of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain shall also come to aid us. They say they are that child's progenitor, is that right?]
[...That is correct.]
Indeed.
Though they do not know the hidden inside story well, the Law Protecting Immortal Wol Woon of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain is set to participate in this subjugation of the Sword Mountain Devil Lord's strand of hair.
[Frankly, I think it is overkill. Why must even an Upper Immortal descend just to seize a single strand of hair...?]
At the words of an Entering Nirvana Quasi-Immortal of the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, one existence among the Radiance Spirit Sect's Elder Council opens their mouth.
It is a being with their entire body wrapped in pure white garments, their face covered by a silver iron plate.
'...? Did someone like that originally exist among the Radiance Spirit Sect's Elder Council...?'
Wol Ryeong, suddenly thinking she has not read any record about that existence, looks at them,
[The affairs of the Immortal Family are not for those of you to meddle in. Though Quasi-Immortals are treated as part of the Immortal Family, in the end those of the Entering Nirvana stage are but the terminal part. I advise you not to even dare to burrow into the true interior of the Immortal Family.]
[You are...]
[True Person Eun Geom (Silver Sword) of the Radiance Spirit Sect.]
[...I have never heard of such a Daoist in the Radiance Spirit Sect...]
[I have just newly risen.]
[Hmm...]
[Do you have a complaint?]
[Ah, n-no...]
At the appearance of the 'True Person Eun Geom,' the Entering Nirvanas of the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain seem to somewhat guess their identity, and one by one they fail to meet that existence's gaze and turn their eyes away.
It is a figure that is plainly strange to anyone, and indeed, many Star Shattering Esteemed Ones attending there feel the strangeness in that sight.
Those who do not sense the strangeness are only three.
Wol Ryeong and Pal Jin, for whom recognition of the strangeness is refused by fate itself.
And Seo Gyeong.
Wol Ryeong simply looks at that being and has only one thought.
'Why is it...that the way they dress feels similar to Master's?'
She is in a state where the very act of feeling the strangeness is refused by the unit of fate, and only wonders about the outfit of the True Person Eun Geom.
[Be that as it may, the devil spirit composed of that single strand of the Sword Mountain's hair is now in the Palace of the Owner of Liberation, drawing in power and attempting something. We must not only think of the hair's intrinsic power, but also consider the case where that single strand of hair has obtained something in the Palace of the Owner of Liberation.]
[To have obtained something means...]
[It is obvious. Either it obtained a divine artifact of that Heavenly Craftsman...or it obtained a portion of that existence's power and gained a powerful divine ability, or else it may even have gotten power at or above the Sacred Vessel stage.]
[Such a thing...!]
At the words of the True Person Eun Geom, they finally seem to realize the weight of the matter and let out low murmurs.
[The Law Protecting Immortal Wol Woon will soon arrive. Until then, we must at least lay out a plan to destroy that existence. Everyone, put forth your opinions!]
Thus, the subjugation plan to confront the strand of hair of the Sword Mountain Devil Lord begins to take form in earnest.
The strategy meeting ends.
[Then, when Wol Woon arrives, I shall deliver the plan. Let us conclude today's subjugation strategy here. The next strategy meeting will be held in one hundred years, so until then carry out your assigned duties well!]
The strategy meeting is carried out in an instant under the command of the True Person Eun Geom, who seized the meeting at once, and none present opposed her plan.
And, after the meeting ends.
The True Person Eun Geom descends below the nebula where the Star Shattering Esteemed Ones are seated, and lands before Wol Ryeong, Pal Jin, and Seo Gyeong.
[Good to see you. I am the True Person Eun Geom. I serve as an elder of the Radiance Spirit Sect. I have just recently risen, so this will be your first time seeing me.]
"We greet the True Person Eun Geom."
Wol Ryeong and her group politely bow to the True Person Eun Geom, and Eun Geom chuckles heartily as they stroke Seo Gyeong's head.
Wol Ryeong dislikes the sight, but since they are an elder of the sect, she endures for now.
[By the way, did you say that your master suffered defeat at the hands of the Sword Mountain's apostle...that devil spirit who descended into the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain?]
"...Yes."
[Hmph, pathetic. Even if they were only of the Esteemed One level, to fall to such a devil spirit. Moreover, I heard that at the time of the descent it was only at the Sacred Vessel stage... If it had been captured right then, the matter would have been resolved without fear of its strengthening! A waste that does not know how to seize an opportunity.]
Eun Geom harshly disparages not only Baek Geom, but also Baek Eun and Baek Jin, before Wol Ryeong and Seo Gyeong.
At that tone, Wol Ryeong cannot help but grit her teeth.
"...Forgive my rudeness, True Person Eun Geom. Is the True Person then saying that they themselves could have captured such a being when they were at the Star Shattering stage?"
[If it were I, I would have captured it. Do you have a problem?]
"...Your false boasts are excessive."
[Oh-ho, impudent one. Do you know what words you have just spoken to a venerable elder of your sect?]
At Eun Geom's words, Wol Ryeong sneers as she meets their gaze.
"I know. To cast such words at a venerable elder of my sect is discourteous. But if you are truly a venerable elder of the sect, should you not mourn the juniors who regrettably lost their lives?"
[Ahahaha, arrogant thing. Were you not a descendant of Wol Woon, you would already be dead by my hand.]
"Seeing how desperate you are to devour even one junior, I doubt whether you are truly a venerable elder. Are you certain you are indeed a venerable elder? Though you say you have just risen as a True Person of the Radiance Spirit Sect, your conduct is so arrogant I thought you were not of the Radiance Spirit Sect at all."
[Hahahaha...]
At Wol Ryeong's words, the True Person Eun Geom laughs loudly and speaks.
[Fine, Impudent thing. You wish for me to prove that I am indeed a venerable elder of the Radiance Spirit Sect? Then I shall. But if you see it, you may have to pay the price...how about this. Let us make a wager.]
"A wager?"
[You may decide the content of the wager. Instead, if I win the wager, you must acknowledge that I am a venerable elder of the sect and beg forgiveness.]
"I will. But I also have a condition."
[What?]
"If you lose the wager, you must apologize to my master and my martial elders."
[Ahahaha, impudent thing. Very well. Instead, I too shall add one more condition. If I win the wager...you shall be taken as my disciples. You must serve me as master and obey my every word.]
At the words of the True Person Eun Geom, Wol Ryeong frowns.
"Why do you drag in Seo Gyeong and Pal Jin, who are staying silent?"
[Did you not say the three of you are that Baek Geom's disciples? Since it concerns the honor of that Baek Geom, it is only natural that all three of you share responsibility.]
"...Then I too will add one more condition. If I were to win the wager..."
Wol Ryeong decides that since everyone's positions are at stake, she will stake for a greater reward.
She glances at Seo Gyeong.
"Please remove Seo Gyeong's curse. If that cannot be done, at least find a way to release it."
The day she rose to the Star Shattering stage, and Baek Geom died before her eyes...
Seo Gyeong fell under a curse.
'Bi Hwa...'
Wol Ryeong grinds her teeth, recalling Bi Hwa driving those pure white stakes into Seo Gyeong.
Mu Geom pulled out the pure white stakes Bi Hwa drove into Seo Gyeong, but the very act of Bi Hwa bringing the stakes into contact with Seo Gyeong is the problem.
From that day on, whether it is an issue with his bloodline or not, Seo Gyeong often fell into endless sleep.
The reason why Seo Gyeong, who entered the Radiance Spirit Sect with a fairly high score, still remains at the Integration stage lies in that.
'I'm sorry, Seo Gyeong.'
Wol Ryeong thinks that if Seo Gyeong had not fallen under that curse where he sleeps for a long time and can rise and act only for a short period afterward, he would surely have reached the Star Shattering stage by now.
'If only I had noticed Bi Hwa's trick back then in advance...you might not have fallen under the curse...'
She is always wrapped in a feeling of guilt toward Seo Gyeong.
If she can resolve that through this wager, she must resolve it.
And, at those words, the True Person Eun Geom speaks.
[Well...it seems like a curse on the illusory dream side. I cannot guarantee it. The more it is entangled with a higher being, the harder such curses are to undo. However...I do know a method that would offset that curse over several thousand years. If you win, I will apply that great method for free.]
"Understood."
Wol Ryeong also asks Pal Jin what he wants.
Pal Jin, seeming to realize that leaving this place is impossible without Eun Geom's permission, likewise puts up a powerful dharma treasure as the wager's reward and accepts Eun Geom's proposal.
[Then what bet will you make?]
"Judging by your Dao title, it seems True Person Eun Geom has profound attainment in the sword."
[Not only the sword. I am proficient in all sorts of weapons.]
"Then that is fortunate. Let us have a contest of thrusting with spears."
[...Huh? Are you insane? You really want to wager on something like that?]
Eun Geom looks at Wol Ryeong as if it is absurd, and Wol Ryeong nods.
"I am not insane, so let us have the wager in that event. The contents are simple. Everyone will lower their cultivation to the level of a mortal, and with a spear each has forged, we will exchange thrusts. The side that inflicts a more fatal wound on the opponent wins."
[...You are insane. Tsk... If I become your master, prepare yourself.]
"...Instead, since there is a gap between us and the True Person in realms and the years lived, all of us will charge the True Person at the same time, and the True Person must block our attacks simultaneously. If the wounds on the True Person's body are smaller than the wounds on each of our bodies, it is the True Person's victory. If the wounds on each of our bodies are smaller than the wounds on the True Person's body, it is our victory."
[Hah, it still sounds insane. The weapons will not be magic artifacts or dharma treasures, but just iron weapons, correct?]
"Yes."
[Then, to give you a piece of advice, entrust the weapon forging to Pal Jin. Only then will you at least have some chance of victory.]
Eun Geom, as if finding it absurd, sets the date of the wager and leaves, and soon after, Pal Jin and Seo Gyeong ask Wol Ryeong with worried looks.
"Ryeong-ah, are you alright?"
"No matter what, a spear-thrusting match against a Quasi-Immortal confident in weapons is..."
"It's fine."
Yet Wol Ryeong is confident.
At least in spear thrusting, more than anyone else.
'Now...I can almost imitate the form of that Lightning God's thrust.'
She still cannot read the meaning contained within that thrust, but it is the thrust of a God.
It is hard to imagine any existence that can use the spear better than the God who governs Heavenly Tribulation.
'At least in thrusting, that Lightning God's spear is above all others. Therefore...my thrust that imitates that existence will not lose.'
For this wager, at least, Wol Ryeong is more confident than anyone.
The center of the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain.
Inside the Palace of Liberation.
Within, something forming a massive cocoon faces a small dragonoid.
The dragonoid opens its mouth.
[Have you considered my proposal, Bong Myeong?]
And from within the cocoon, an answer comes.
[You mean that before the Great Mountain Supreme Deity descends, you want me to deliberately lose to you?]
[That is correct.]
[It must be to remove the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag, I suppose. Those bothersome Seven Heavenly Lords... It is possible. But why not borrow the power of the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity...? If you make the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity play rock-paper-scissors, one of the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flags would be removed...]
[Swallowing Heaven has already lost the rank of Supreme Deity ever since it became my Immortal Treasure and its strength was divided into five...That is why I need your power.]
[...Since it will take one hundred thousand years to digest my power and leave the cocoon, it is certainly possible to be defeated by you before the Great Mountain Supreme Deity descends. However, O Thee.]
At Bong Myeong's continued words, the glass-colored dragonoid shudders.
[Strangely enough, it seems your Immortal Treasures hinder your path. When you deliberately divided your Immortal Treasure, the Five Desires Chain, into five parts, was there not someone who deliberately lowered the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity's rank from Supreme Deity?]
[...]
[Is it not that among you, there is someone who does not wish for you to escape the restrictions on your power?]
At those words, Seo Eun-hyun lets out a long silent sigh.
[My foresight catches a traitor in your future. Take caution...]