It's surreal.
I feel as if I'm submerged in water, floating through a bizarre illusion.
It's a strange space.
The boundaries between colors are blurred, and at the same time, numerous pieces of knowledge, history, and futures seem to float around me.
I float aimlessly here, grasping onto my dazed consciousness.
'I definitely...'
I lost consciousness facing the Heavenly Tribulation that fell upon Heavenly Human Island.
But where am I now?
As I try to regain consciousness and become aware of my surroundings, delicate, white, jade-like fingers caress my cheek.
[I express my gratitude to you. By uttering my name, you have allowed my lord to find me more quickly... finally freeing me from the dreadful descendants of the Golden Deity.]
A soft voice.
Someone with white hair and clothes made of lightning is stroking my head.
[You bear a fierce fate of Heavenly Tribulation. In recognition of your help, I shall bestow a blessing upon you.]
The entity whispers into my ear with a distant-sounding voice.
And then, I feel something imbue itself into my very being as I lose consciousness along with the entity's whisper.
Flash!
"...!"
I open my eyes.
I am surrounded by ashes.
From my last memory, I remember the Heavenly Lightning Banner invoking some sort of judgment with the power of the True Immortal, scattering Heavenly Tribulation everywhere.
'This is...'
Certainly, it is the Heavenly Human Island.
But it's different from the Heavenly Human Island I know of.
There is nothing left.
The once-thriving headquarters of the Human Race has all turned to a handful of ashes floating away. Everyone walking the streets is...
Throb!
"Grrrrr!"
I clutch my head.
Images flood my brain of people praying, transforming into lightning, vaporizing, and being sucked up into the sky.
—Return....
—Return....
—Return....
"Ha, haaak, haaaak!"
I scream, holding my head.
Up until now, I have met True Immortals a few times and even thought I could have a decent conversation with them.
But at this very moment.
I realize how arrogant, foolish, and naive that thought was.
—Return....
Someone keeps whispering in my ear! Over and over!
I want to kneel down and pray right then and there.
Only that would bring relief!
But!
'No, no!'
I barely control my body and stand up.
"Huff...! Huff!"
Cold sweat drips down.
Encountering the other True Immortals had been painful to recall, but recalling them didn't pose a burden in itself.
Only now do I realize.
'It was all because I was facing merely avatars, or remnants of consciousness within a drop of blood...!'
What I saw today was the 'true body'.
A True Immortal revealing itself without any consideration for mortals is indescribably horrifying.
—Return....
"Ha, haaaah!"
I am startled by the voice echoing in my ears.
Not just startled, but terrified.
"What is this!"
My fingertips flicker, shimmering with a blue light.
It's electricity.
The nature of lightning flickers at my fingertips.
But it isn't just emitting spiritual energy with lightning properties.
What terrifies me is that my fingertips are slowly 'transforming' into electricity.
—Return....
As the whispering continues, the range of the transformation slowly expands.
"Huff... Huff..."
I sweat coldly, twisting a strained smile.
"Really... This life hasn't been easy."
The fingertips transforming into lightning will disperse and vanish if not supplied with spiritual energy.
I can feel it clearly.
This lightning consuming my body will eventually devour even my Nascent Soul, completely turning me into lightning itself and scattering me.
It isn't about becoming a spirit of lightning or evolving into another being.
Literally, it's about 'returning' to a more magnificent being as a streak of lightning.
Merely cutting off my hand won't solve the problem.
—Return....
As long as the whispers stay in my ears, even if I change bodies, this symptom will keep recurring.
'Will the whispering continue until my entire body and Nascent Soul is completely turned into lightning...?'
It's absurd.
What is terrifying is that this isn't necessarily done with malice by the True Immortal.
The target of the True Immortal's malice was the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
I clearly remember the energy of Heavenly Tribulation flying towards the direction of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
The Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was not to return to the True Immortal but was to be reduced to ashes and perish entirely.
Thus, this phenomenon isn't because the True Immortal harbored malice and cursed me.
It happened merely because I had directly gazed at the True Immortal's true body.
Just once!
When the True Immortal first pushed its gigantic eyeball into the sky, that one brief glance that was less than a second!
That one glance caused this phenomenon.
—Return....
"Out of nowhere, I've become terminally ill…"
Judging by the pace at which my fingertips are slowly being consumed, my lifespan is at most a year.
At the shortest, around 100 days.
"...Ha, haha... Hahahaha!"
Suddenly I burst into laughter, finding everything absurd.
"What in the world is this?"
Was it a mistake to choose Seo Hweol from the start?
Nothing has been going right in this life.
In the beginning, I was merely used by Seo Hweol. I vowed revenge and spent time in the Lower Realm but being in the Lower Realm, I couldn't exert any significant influence.
Even after coming back up, my plan to steal the Heavenly Lightning Banner failed completely.
Then, after checking the celestial energy and thinking there would be no problems, I carelessly called out a name and ended up with a terminal condition.
'Really…'
Full of misfortune.
'I'm going insane.'
I sigh, looking at my fingertips that are fizzling and dispersing.
What should I do?
I have at most a year left with this terminal curse.
'Within that time, can I possibly achieve anything?'
No, before that.
What should I do?
I chuckle vacantly.
Discovering the secrets of the Dragon Race, including Seo Hweol and the Black Dragon King.
Checking on Oh Hye-seo's situation.
Stealing the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
All failed.
I haven't achieved any of the goals I set for this life.
So, what more should I do?
What more can I do within this short, terminal life?
Perhaps it's not so bad to just wait for death to come slowly.
Yes, let's just comfortably give up like this.
Just...
"No."
I shake my head at the voice that came from within.
"That's not it."
What can I possibly do?
No, that's not the question to ask.
Don't question, stand up.
Crack...
"Though I haven't achieved anything in this life..."
That doesn't mean it's worthless.
It's a miserable life, but still, it's better than being a puppet of the Mad Lord.
At least now my heart is beating, my body is moving, and I can act on my own will.
"Huff..."
Despite the despair of achieving nothing, despite living a life of repeated failures.
Still, I am alive!
Then!
The very fact of being alive means I can do something!
I shake off the shadows looming in my mind and stand up.
"Yes, there's still one thing left to do."
Seo Hweol's purpose, Oh Hye-seo's whereabouts, the theft of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
Besides these, there is one more thing I aimed to do.
"Seo Hweol's marriage."
More precisely, the promise I made to be a witness to the Vast Cold Oath between Seo Hweol and Gyu-ryeon.
There is still an opportunity to keep that promise.
"Gyu-baek still has the Vast Cold Oath."
That means, Gyu-baek and Seo Hweol still have unresolved issues between them.
Witnessing how their relationship, their karma, ends.
That task is still left for me to do.
"My life has been full of failures."
It is also a life that will end in a year.
Then, let's at least fulfill that promise within that remaining time.
"To the Earth Tribe Territory... Let's go."
I soar into the sky.
"To the Earth Tribe Territory, let's settle their relationship."
After all, a story started must be seen to its end.
Thus, I decide to spend the last of my remaining life keeping my promise with Gyu-ryeon.
And, somehow or another, I vow to give Seo Hweol a piece of my mind within that final moment.
I activate the teleportation array to the Light Spirit Pond in Heavenly Human Island.
"When dealing with a madman, one must become a madman."
First off, I intend to meet the Mad Lord.
Earth Tribe True Dragon Alliance.
Near the Serving Command Ark, Cloud Heart Lake.
Near that Cloud Heart Lake, a building inspired by the Immortal Demon Tower of the Serving Command Ark is erected.
The tower's Core Formation realm master, Ma Won (Demon Ape) recruited musicians and dancers like the Demon Immortal Tower, and soon, two applicants appeared.
"What's your name?"
"Yu Hwa."
"And your specialty?"
"I can play the zither."
One is Yu Hwa.
She quickly passes the audition with her zither-playing skills.
Ma Won was moved by Yu Hwa's performance to the point of being stirred.
'Amazing. A great talent has come. With Yu Hwa alone, my Demon Ape Pavilion can become a popular place among the nearby demon races like the Immortal Demon Tower.'
Filled with hope, Ma Won accepts Yu Hwa and then interviews the next applicant.
"What's your name?"
"Gyu-baek."
"And your specialty?"
"Dancing."
"Um... You're a bit terse."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"..."
The next applicant, Gyu-baek, has a prickly personality, making it difficult for Ma Won to handle.
''Judging by her appearance, she doesn't seem to have a spiritual vein, almost like a slave race. What makes her act like this in front of me, a Core Formation demon….''
Though taken aback by Gyu-baek's attitude, Ma Won decides to see her dance.
'Yu Hwa may be excellent, but honestly, there are no other applicants besides these two... I should at least check her skills.'
However, as soon as Gyu-baek starts to move, Ma Won exclaims in amazement.
'It's like watching a majestic dragon.'
Her movements are strictly those of Dragon Form Soaring Claw but Ma Won recognizes Gyu-baek's martial arts as a dance due to her splendid movements.
By the time Gyu-baek's dance demonstration ends, Ma Won has made up his mind.
'These two must be secured.'
Although Ma Won is a Core Formation stage demon, he has a weak and frail body, unable to fight or work properly.
Ordinary tower masters buy weaker races sold as slaves in the slave market and exploit their talents to run their establishments. However, Ma Won, having not a spirit stone to his name, has to bring in employees instead of slaves.
"Do you have any desired salary conditions for joining my Demon Ape Pavilion?"
After accepting Gyu-baek and Yu Hwa, Ma Won calls them to negotiate their wages.
"I intend to accommodate whatever demands as much as possible."
'After all, they're probably from slave races who haven't even reached Qi Gathering, let alone Qi Building, so they won't have big demands.'
From Ma Won's perspective, they are almost free labor so he speaks as if he will support them with anything to keep their spirits up.
At that, Gyu-baek looks at Ma Won with a sullen gaze and asks,
"Do you have the means to meet those demands?"
"Eh? Of course. Is there something you want?"
"A hundred catties of high-grade clarity crystals, a bundle of top-quality demon fire grass, and at least mid-grade black essence fragrance are given as basics, right?"
"...? What?"
"These are items even slaves receive in Immortal Demon Tower. Don't they get provided here?"
"Ah, no, wait. Setting aside clarity stones and demon fire grass, black essence fragrance is something you can't even get without being at the Nascent Soul stage. What exactly are you asking for!"
"Hmm, can't you do even this?"
Gyu-baek tilts his head, seemingly not understanding for a moment. Upon receiving a signal from Yu Hwa with her eyes, she sighs and nods.
"Fine, I'll drop my greed. Then, let's lower the standard a bit...."
For a while, Gyu-baek and Ma Won struggle to find a compromise.
'Damn, if it weren't for her fantastic dancing skills, I would have turned this slave race into pill right away. She wants too much considering she's just a slave.'
'When Gyu-ryeon was alive, I lowered the standard to the treatment of the eastern beasts in front of Gyu-ryeon, and they can't even fulfill this? It's no different from the lower realms.'
'I lowered the standard to what the slave races in the east of Gyu-ryeon's territory received when she was alive, and yet they can't even fulfill that? This is no different from the lower realms.'
The two demons, despite being dissatisfied with each other, reluctantly make a contract. Afterwards, Yu Hwa and Gyu-baek head to the lodging assigned to them.
"Ugh, I don't like this."
After seeing her room, Gyu-baek clicks her tongue and enters. Yu Hwa follows, laughing.
"To Miss Gyu-baek, it may not be satisfactory. But for a poor Core Formation stage demon, this is quite a decent room."
"Don't act friendly, Heart Tribe. I've tolerated you because you were with Seo Eun-hyun, but I still find the existence of the Heart Tribe unpleasant."
"Oh my. Now that Miss Gyu-baek has also, albeit incompletely, entered the Last Quarter, you're officially a member of the Heart Tribe, are you not?"
"...Hmph."
Gyu-baek ignores Yu Hwa and enters the room, with Yu Hwa following her and continuing the conversation.
"I understand you don't like me, but have you made up your mind?"
"..."
Gyu-baek sighs and sits at the table of the room assigned to her.
Over the past month while returning from the Heaven-Earth Palace to the Earth Tribe Territory, Gyu-baek tried to sort out her feelings for Seo Hweol.
But her feelings for Seo Hweol are still unclear.
She despises him intensely, yet memories of deep affection are deeply missed.
She has no clue how to deal with him.
"...I don't know."
"Would you like to see him from a distance, at least?"
"What? What if he recognizes me?"
"It might be a bit cruel, Miss Gyu-baek, but Seo Hweol will not associate you with Gyu-ryeon when he sees you."
"What does that mean... Well, yes."
Gyu-ryeon lets out a hollow laugh.
The sturdy scales, powerful teeth, slender body, and even her cultivation.
She has lost it all.
Though the appearance of the transformed body is the same, that is it.
If she covers her transformed body's appearance and looks from afar, Seo Hweol will never recognize her.
'If I see him, can I sort out my feelings?'
She ponders for a moment, placing her hand on her stifling heart.
It's uncertain.
'I'm not even sure if I can see Seo Hweol sober.'
Perhaps she might rush at him in a frenzy the moment she sees his face.
Eventually, after a brief consideration, Gyu-ryeon shakes her head.
"Forget it. I don't think I can control myself."
"That so. Anyway, I also need to check on Seo Hweol's situation and what happened to my disciple, so I'll go regardless."
"Yea, I have places to visit near the Serving Command Ark anyway."
"Places to visit?"
Gyu-baek shrugs.
"I might have taken a job in disguise near where Seo Hweol lives, but honestly, I have no intention of really dancing and singing in such a place. There are a few resources around Serving Command Ark suitable for Core Formation stage cultivators, so I'm going to retrieve them."
"Ah, well... I enjoy playing music, so it doesn't matter how long I stay here. Alright then. After all, the more resources, the better."
As she's about to leave Gyu-baek's room with a smile, Yu Hwa suddenly feels something odd and looks back at Gyu-baek.
"But... Miss Gyu-baek wouldn't even consider anything less than Nascent Soul stage materials like black essence fragrance. Why did Miss Gyu-ryeon store merely Core Formation stage materials near Serving Command Ark when she was alive?"
Gyu-baek answers nonchalantly.
"It wasn't me who stored them."
"Excuse me?"
"There was a pet demon beast that Seo Eun-hyun was raising. He was looking for cultivation resources for it, so I gave him some suitable Core Formation stage resources. I heard the location from Seo Eun-hyun, so if I go there, I should find them."
"Hmm, Daoist Seo raising a pet demon beast is unexpected."
"He claimed it wasn't a pet but a friend… but well, given the difference in their cultivation, it's pretty much a pet. Seo Eun-hyun left it near Serving Command Ark before we fell to the lower realm… I wonder if it has reached Qi Building by now?"
"A friend, huh? What species is that demon beast?"
At Yu Hwa's question, Gyu-baek seems to think for a moment.
"It seemed like some kind of long worm… a centipede, I think? That should be right. And Seo Eun-hyun named it, if I remember correctly… Hong Fan (洪範, Great Plan)?"
