Inside the Primordial Chaos, the story begins to grow longer and longer.
The units of time inside the story jump to a transcendent degree.
And not watching the story or escaping from the flow of the story is impossible.
: : Hong Fan... : :
Hong Fan's stories have activated within Primordial Chaos inside the Heavenly Void Furnace by his will.
And now, inside the Heavenly Void Furnace, it has become impossible for me to add rules, and I can do nothing but follow the story.
Unlike before, I no longer worry of melting away in the chaos, but instead, because I am dragged by the story's flow, I lose the time to cultivate inside the Heavenly Void Furnace.
'Extracting qi from the chaos as before and raising my rank to the True Immortal level is impossible.'
In this story, there is only one thing I can cultivate.
Kiiiiiing—
The cultivation of the Star Extinguishing True Chapter, called the Primordial Origin Immortal Art.
Cutting Principle that cuts the thread of connection.
And the sword cultivated with the heart.
It is only the Formless Sword.
From that day on, I follow Hong Fan's story and begin to cultivate Cutting Principle and the Formless Sword at the same time.
"...Hong Fan, are you there?"
I come out of the Heavenly Void Furnace.
"Ah, Master. Are you awake?"
Hong Fan is leaning his back against the outer wall of the Heavenly Void Furnace, and when I come out, he greets me.
"Are your internal injuries healed?"
"Yeah. Indeed, it is treated as having recuperated for a whole year. Now there is no problem with my body."
But there is also something a little embarrassing.
"By the way, Hong Fan...the story you were telling me yesterday...I am sorry about that. I fell asleep and did not properly hear it."
Strangely, even though there is the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, what happened yesterday was not properly recorded.
It seems it was because I passed out early and lost consciousness.
'Considering I took on the Heavenly Tribulation like that, it would be strange to not lose consciousness...'
From Hong Fan's perspective, he brought up the story because I asked him to, so it would be natural to feel bad if I say I didn't hear any of it.
However, Hong Fan shakes his head.
"I am fine. I have already laid out everything anyway, and you must have heard plenty inside the Heavenly Void Furnace."
"...Sometimes when I talk with you, I feel like something is misaligned."
"Haw haw, it seems to be a racial difference."
"Is that so...?"
I go up with Hong Fan to the surface of Ascension Path and look at the sky.
The weather is clear.
Looking up at the clear sky, I suddenly say to him.
"Hong Fan, by any chance..."
"Yes, Master."
"Would you like to learn martial arts?"
"...? Pardon?"
As if my words are unexpected, Hong Fan looks at me with slightly surprised eyes.
"By all means...why does Master have such a thought?"
"Hm? No, it is nothing special...it's just because I thought you would learn it well. Since you already entered Transformation, you can learn human martial arts too, can't you?"
"..."
For some reason, Hong Fan quietly stares at me.
"...The martial arts that Master practices...I do not know if I can learn them. What I know is...only killing arts."
"Haha, what does that matter? If you control and refine killing arts, that is martial arts."
"Then, martial arts is, in a sense, killing arts?"
"Hm...not necessarily."
At Hong Fan's question, I shake my head.
What is called Martial Arts has many meanings besides killing the opponent.
"If I have to put it, killing arts is one category within the system called Martial Arts. You can say Martial Arts is a larger classification than killing arts."
"Mm...even so, is not the most important thing in what is called Martial Arts killing?"
As if puzzled, Hong Fan discusses the definition of Martial Arts in front of me.
"What meaning does Martial Arts have if it does not kill the enemy?"
"Certainly...that may be so. But there is another aspect."
"Do you mean self-cultivation?"
He continues as if it does not resonate much.
"Rather, if it is the aspect of self-cultivation, is not Immortal Cultivation better? There are far more chances to sit still and enter repentant enlightenment. In my view, it is more specialized with Martial Arts being for killing and Immortal Cultivation being for self-cultivation."
"Well...that may be so."
I readily nod and make Hong Fan take a stance.
"For now, let's try learning it once and define it as we go."
As of yet, Hong Fan is a pure beginner who has learned no martial arts at all.
Before me of Treading Heavens, he should at least reach the peak to dare discuss Martial Arts.
Until then, whatever he says, there is no reason to debate it so seriously.
Whether he knows my thoughts or not,
Hong Fan only looks at me with slightly sullen eyes.
"For now...since things like my internal energy can be replaced with demonic power, shall we start by learning basic external arts and combat? Now, first, take the horse stance."
From that day on, I begin to teach Hong Fan martial arts.
Inside the Heavenly Void Furnace.
An uncountably long time repeats.
Dragged along by Hong Fan's story, I gradually come to understand why Hong Fan suddenly began telling me his story.
'There is no time to cultivate.'
He activated the story in order to block me inside the Heavenly Void Furnace from cultivating for a hundred million years at a time, adding rules one by one and accumulating authority.
'Because the training of the heart is possible, I can repeat cultivation endlessly and hone the Formless Sword and Cutting Principle...but that's all.'
Not much improved.
Only recently, beyond the Plane of Soul from among the three planes intermingled within the chaos,
I merely discovered three certain properties in the domain of purity where nothing exists.
'Creation, Preservation, Destruction...'
For hundreds of millions of years, the Formless Sword developed and developed and touched upon those three properties.
'But nothing changes in terms of might.'
Honestly, I cannot grasp how I should further cultivate here.
I only dissolve the Formless Sword even more into that domain of purity, making it infinitely close to nothingness...and that is the end.
'Offensive power or destructive power does not increase at all.'
It only grows more transparent and closer to emptiness.
'Must I be satisfied with only this?'
I let out a sigh.
Just as I let out that sigh.
"You have touched the domain of purity."
"Yes, but I cannot tell what more I should..."
Then, before I know it, inside the domain of purity of the Primordial Chaos world inside the Heavenly Void Furnace.
I hear the voice of [someone].
"What amazing willpower. If I were alive, I would have taken you as a disciple."
"...Who are you...sir?"
I try to sense the owner of that voice in a tense state.
But as if they know everything I am thinking.
They laugh heartily and speak.
"Do not be surprised. You are not hearing hallucinations because you are mad, and I do not hold malice toward you. I am already a dead being, so I do not possess power strong enough to desecrate your fate. I am only at the level of keeping you company in conversation."
"...Who...are you?"
"I am..."
At the words that follow, for some reason I feel a warm comfort.
Clearly, they must be an existence high in rank like a lofty True Immortal, yet it feels like I met someone very familiar.
"The Heavenly Venerable of Purity. A being no different from you, Ender."
I feel like their voice is smiling.
"I shall help you. I will teach you a way to communicate with the Salt Sea… that is the chaos of the Outer Sea from the Heavenly Void Furnace.”
"Do you...have something you desire from me?"
"There are a few. My idiot disciple, the crybaby old hag. And...a child seized by the past. Please pass some words to them."
"...."
I don't know why.
That voice refers to those beings casually and playfully, but I can instinctively tell that the beings the voice speaks of are without exception extraordinary beings.
"What words should I pass along? And...if the beings you mention are beings too mighty...even if I spend a lifetime, my words might not even reach them."
"That may be so. But do not worry. One is already close to you. It is fine if you pass it only to him."
"...Where the place called the Outer Sea you speak of is...I cannot know. But clearly, if I go out to the place called the Outer Sea..."
"No, there is no need to do that. In any case...you are already conveying it to that one."
"...?"
I cannot make sense of what they are saying.
"Your outside self. Are you not trying to teach that one the Martial Heart?"
"...That one...could it be..."
I realize who the being the voice speaks of is and flinch in surprise.
"Do not speak the name. He is needlessly sinister and also terribly voyeuristic, so he will quickly notice that you and I are talking."
"..."
"As you follow his story, you temper your own Martial Heart. In that process, before you know it, your outside self is trying to teach that one the Martial Heart. You are already...through what is called Martial Arts, influencing your outside self. Therefore, you can quickly pass on my words as well."
That is right.
Starting from some moment, my outside self began teaching Hong Fan martial arts, and I also do not know why I came to think of doing that.
Hong Fan also does not understand at all why I am suddenly trying to teach such a thing.
However, according to this voice's explanation...
Because here I am dragged along by Hong Fan's story and am endlessly cultivating the Formless Sword and the Martial Heart, it seems to even affect my outside self.
Hearing those words, my voice trembles.
"Do you mean...that through martial arts, I can...give influence outside the Heavenly Void Furnace...?"
It feels like I see a hope I can advance toward.
"Do not lean too much on a promiseless hope. With only that, you absolutely cannot get out. Rather, if you wish to get out, it is better to grasp the variables on the outside."
"Variables...on the outside...?"
"Yes. For it is about time for a being to come to set down incense fire."
Woo-woooong—
It is at that moment,
Before the tone of the voice even ends,
Within the Primordial Chaos inside the Heavenly Void Furnace, where only Hong Fan's story is activated, another story activates.
"Seize and subdue."
Tzaaaaaa—
In the ashen Primordial Chaos world where no colors are even discernable, a deep scarlet appears and warmly illuminates the world.
That is a torch candle that illuminates the inside of the Heavenly Void Furnace.
"That is a split soul sent down by the snake to reassert the usage authority of the Heavenly Void Furnace. If you subdue that, and use that being as a medium...you can perceive the [outside]."
At those words, I, while watching Hong Fan's story, simultaneously start approaching those bright, warm stories that are someone's split soul.
Kugugugugu!
Formed of green light, creating a body with innumerable True Immortal-level laws, I rush at that split soul and take a big mouthful out of its story.
: : Who are you? : :
Kugugugugu!
The inside of the Heavenly Void Furnace, by that split soul, begins to heat up fiercely and fill with anger.
: : This power that reaches tens of thousands of True Immortals...are you Great Net devoured by Myeong Woon? : :
Kugugugugugu!
The center of the Heavenly Void Furnace grows hot.
In the endless Primordial Chaos world, someone's split soul begins to take shape.
That split soul, taking a human form, joins their palms and begins to summon the [scarlet snake biting its tail] behind their back.
: : Do you dare oppose the messenger of Light? O pitiful Great Immortal. Quietly sleep within Myeong... : :
Crunch—
The next moment, I move the body made of countless clusters of green light and tear off the arm of the divinity of Torch Candle.
For an instant, stillness flows through the Primordial Chaos world.
Before long, the divinity of Torch Candle,
Reading the wisdom contained in their arm, the True Immortal who uses the name 'Torch Candle Heavenly Lord' begins to panic.
: : Wh-What...? How...? The Heavenly Void Furnace and the Emptiness Supreme Deity are surely worlds where the authority of light is maximized. How can the likes of you resist me, one of the Seat Holders of Radiance Hall...? : :
Wo-woooooong—
I follow Hong Fan's story, and at the same time I glare at the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord.
In Hong Fan's story, Hong Fan slays all the Chief Gods who govern the six universes, joins the six universes together, and creates a new world.
He then gathers into one the souls of the six Chief Gods and the will of the origin of their authority, the Three Daos, and creates a new authority.
Its name is the [First Light].
It is the authority that exists at the apex of the Immortal Cultivation system Hong Fan created, and his Immortal Treasure.
: : I already know...the principle and authority of light. : :
The one who directly observed with his own eyes the making of the First Light is me.
That sort of Heavenly Lord who seems to borrow the power of light.
If it is facing not the main body but only a single strand of split soul, I am confident I will not fall behind at all.
Kuuuuuu—
I, turning into a wave of green light and starting to cover the entire Heavenly Void Furnace, begin to pounce on the split soul of the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord.
: : Such authority does not frighten me. : :
: : This cannot be. I have spent my whole life to govern the Heavenly Void Furnace. Connecting to the Heavenly Void Furnace is my fate! : :
I tear off the split soul of the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord, hold it inside me, and, as the voice says, begin to melt it into that story and laugh.
: : How many years did you spend inside the Heavenly Void Furnace. A hundred million years? A billion years? Ten billion years? : :
: : This cannot be! : :
: : I already lived in the Heavenly Void Furnace for trillions of years. : :
Entering the Heavenly Void Furnace every single day, and every single day suffering for a time reaching one hundred million.
Consuming my pained but grown spirit entirely to engrave rules, and within those rules, receiving the transmission of what my previous self left behind. I have already done this so many times I cannot count.
: : Before me, you cannot dare to speak of authority over the Heavenly Void Furnace: :
Tududududuk—
The True Immortal with the name Torch Candle Heavenly Lord.
I forcibly rip off the mask worn upon that True Immortal's split soul.
It may have no effect on their main body, but perhaps it is something quite important to this one as they scream and resist me.
It might seem that I am too overbearing toward another personality I have finally met inside the Heavenly Void Furnace at the end of a span of time that reaches eternity, but if I am to read this True Immortal's story and use them as a medium to contact the outside, there is no other way.
They throw a tantrum, but it is only cute.
: : Stay still. : :
Woo-woooooong—
I focus on Hong Fan's story, and toward the split soul of the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord.
I gradually dye the story contained within them with my light.
The [power of light] that the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord borrows stands against me, but as I read Hong Fan's story and read the formation process of the [First Light], it is meaningless.
In the story, Hong Fan, before long, stitches together the six universes, gives the name Heavenly Domain to those universes, and names the new world made of the Heavenly Domains Mount Sumeru.
After creating Mount Sumeru, he in earnest begins to scatter the grace of the Immortal Cultivation system across all of Mount Sumeru.
Thus, because of Hong Fan, the very first cultivation method in this world is scattered to living beings.
The first method is a system that divine descents power from the [First Light], which was made by melting the souls and the origin of the authorities of the Chief Gods, and it is a system completely different from the current Heaven and Earth Immortal Cultivation system.
Chuuuuung— Chung—
As I read the content about the primeval Immortal Cultivation system, I begin to divine descent the split soul of the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord into me.
The [voice] I met in the domain of purity teaches me the method to connect to the 'outside' using the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord's story as a medium.
: : At last... : :
Over a long and longer span of time.
I at last begin to head out outside the Heavenly Void Furnace.
Woong-woong-woong—
Where is this place?
I can't exactly tell, but I realize I am mixed into the mind of some vast divinity, sharing that divinity's sight and senses.
'Ah...I see.'
These are the sight and senses of the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord.
A vast existence that cannot even be compared to the split soul sent down into the Heavenly Void Furnace.
A divinity that borrows power directly from the origin of Light.
This is the perception of the great envoy of light, the Fourth Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord.
Wooo-woooooong—
I realize that the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord is communicating with other True Immortals and surveying all the many Heavenly Domains. That is, they are looking over all the regions corresponding to a single universe when compared to Hong Fan's story.
In the midst of that,
The Torch Candle Heavenly Lord's perception reaches a place called the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.
The Five Great Middle Realms of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain!
'Aaaah...'
And I am able to learn the recent circumstances of my comrades that I have been wondering about.
The Torch Candle Heavenly Lord does not know who my comrades are, but since their consciousness domain touches my comrades at least once, I come to know all of their situations.
Kim Young-hoon is for some reason in the Ancient Force Realm.
Jeon Myeong-hoon became the Lightning Harbinger.
Kang Min-hee is undergoing the process of gradually transforming into the Ghost Mother.
Oh Hyun-seok is still cultivating in the Azure Heaven Creation Sect...
And Kim Yeon is living while suffering under the Mad Lord.
Oh Hye-seo is in the middle of spending a hot night with Seo Hweol...
And Seo Eun-hyun went back under Makli Cheon-sa to cultivate again, and on Red Moon Island is becoming a devilish cultivator respected by many of those on the Devil path.
'...?'
I feel a strange sense of disharmony and eeriness.
But at that moment, the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord's consciousness, which blankets the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, focuses only inward upon the Bright Cold Realm and concentrates on Sacred Master Baek Woon at the summit of Heavenly Lotus Mountain.
: : Baek Woon. I have sent my consciousness to the Head Realm to check, and it seems singularities are about to occur. Beings like Yang Su-jin will be born. Among the ones who have recently ascended from the Head Realm, are there any who are special. : :
It seems that in addition to sending a split soul into the Heavenly Void Furnace, they also let another thread of consciousness flow to check something.
Sacred Master Baek Woon reports several incidents to the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord, and the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord nods and withdraws their consciousness.
: : Is that so? It seems I must still watch for now. Since there are none who particularly stand out like Yang Su-jin...it is not yet certain whether Enders have been born. : :
Finishing their words, they withdraw their consciousness from the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain and begin to attend to other duties.
Around that time, I find it taxing to continue to hide within the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord's consciousness, so I return my consciousness back again to the Heavenly Void Furnace.
If my consciousness recovers, I can at any time make contact with the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord's consciousness through the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord's split soul.
However, I can't even think of such things and blankly gaze outside the Heavenly Void Furnace.
Seo Eun-hyun has gone back under Makli Cheon-sa.
But the me outside is still at Ascension Path of the Head Realm.
Yet, by the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord's consciousness, the one who went under Makli Cheon-sa is definitely Seo Eun-hyun.
There is only one way such a thing is possible.
'The connections that I cut with the Star Extinguishing True Chapter, someone attached them to themselves.'
And in the current circumstances there is only one person for whom such a thing is possible.
'Hong Fan...'
The Three Spirits Art clone that Hong Fan ascended under the pretext of gathering information.
It ascended to the Bright Cold Realm and is devouring my causality.
Hong Fan is gradually replacing me.
The moment I realize that.
The 'Heart Demon', who has until now lived half-mad and lied fainted beneath the surface of my consciousness, raises its head and begins to whisper.
"See? Hong Fan is replacing you. If you keep living like this...the existence called Seo Eun-hyun itself might disappear."
The 'Heart Demon' whispers sweet words in my ear.
"Cut it. Cut and receive my power, and confirm Hong Fan's sinister true face. Before the existence called you is replaced and the seat of the Devil Heavenly King is stolen..."
"...Hong Fan..."
I, through the Star Extinguishing True Chapter Cutting Principle, hold in my hand the thread of connection with Hong Fan and blankly look at it.
"I..."
And then, all too naturally, what Hong Fan gave me comes to mind.
"..."
It is difficult to obtain a human's body, and it is difficult still to realize the dao.
"...If it is difficult to obtain a human's body, it must be difficult still to obtain a person's connection."
Because countless coincidences piled upon coincidences...
The connection called Hong Fan came to me.
This connection, too, is one I have built with difficulty.
"Though you replace me and live my life...I too peek at your memories and live your life... The connection has deepened even more."
The Heart Demon's eyes are filled with desire.
It seems to be desire itself.
But the more it listens to my words, the more the joy gradually disappears from the face of desire.
"I will watch your story to the very end. And only at that end can I give you an answer. What you are to me. In what form I must tie off the connection..."
I release the thread of connection I hold in my hand.
I do not cut it now.
All things will be decided only after I see the end of the story.
Thus, recognizing that the connection has grown even deeper, I continue to follow Hong Fan's story.
Following the story, continuing the connection...
I continue to calmly cultivate the Martial Heart.
Though my rank as a True Immortal does not grow, the Formless Sword keeps becoming ever clearer and more transparent.
Where the end of this lies...
I truly want to see it.
And, from the eyes of desire that sees my decision, hope disappears.