"Hmm..."
Seo Hweol stares at Gyu-baek with an expressionless face.
His demeanor seems as if he is merely observing Gyu-baek in front of him.
"Sincerity... I believe Elder Jeon Hyang said something similar at the end, you're alike in that regard."
Step, step...
Seo Hweol approaches Gyu-baek.
"Do you really want to see my sincerity?"
"Of course."
"You'll regret it."
With an expressionless and empty face, Seo Hweol flicks his finger.
Snap!
As he flicks his finger, the characters of Love of Virtue that were pressing on my body return to Seo Hweol.
In other words, Seo Hweol is more urgently concerned about the Vast Cold Oath than me currently being connected to the owner of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
Crackle, crackle!
Watching my body rapidly turn into lightning, I witness the conclusion between Seo Hweol and Gyu-baek.
Wo-woong!
Around Seo Hweol.
Four axes rise in all four directions.
Longevity, Wealth, Health, Love of Virtue.
The four axes form four pagodas around Seo Hweol.
"Huh?"
The appearance, similar to the four protective pagoda dharma treasures protecting the Yuan Li, makes me frown.
Kugugugu!
And just as the protective pagodas of Yuan Li spread a barrier to protect the Yuan Li, Seo Hweol's Four Axes connect to each other, forming a canopy.
"Curse of Tainted Soul Deadly Gaze."
Wo-woong!
Above Seo Hweol and Gyu-baek, a blood-red eyeball emerges, creating a ceiling above the Four Axes.
The completed canopy covers Seo Hweol and Gyu-baek in the blink of an eye.
Wo-woong―
At the same time, I feel a sinister, revolting, and indescribably nauseating sensation from within.
'That is...'
As if it’s a representation of Seo Hweol's heart essence inside!
Kim Yeon's figure remains calm, still reaching out her hand inside, and the Vast Cold oath is activated without any problems.
However, I can't shake off a foreboding feeling.
In a way, this is one of Seo Hweol's hidden cards.
This is one of the first tricks Seo Hweol reveals after removing the smile from his face. What will happen?
Wo-woong―
That's when I feel a strange sensation from the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
'Why, is there something else?'
But while contemplating the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, I realize something.
'That’s...!'
The curse used by Seo Hweol, Tainted Soul Deadly Gaze.
I realize that it, for some reason, greatly resembles the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
'So it is...'
The misty thing Oh Hye-seo saw when she was reading me was likely the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
The only thing that she could describe as 'misty' when looking at me was that.
Then, the reason she tried to shake my Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections might have been to test if she could find a way to target Seo Hweol, assuming Seo Hweol had learned a similar method to mine.
'If Oh Hye-seo couldn't completely read me using the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections... Seo Hweol couldn't completely read me either.'
Crack, crackle...
I manage to hold myself together, preventing my body from fully transforming and vaporizing into lightning.
Wo-woong!
The power contained in Black Dragon’s True Blood pulls me from the opposite direction from the power attempting to return me to the owner of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
Crack, crackle!
It is only at the brink of death that I understand.
The power of the Black Dragon’s True Blood is not a blessing or a powerful force.
It is a calamity.
Gulp, gulp...
The power of the Black Dragon is trying to engulf me.
It isn't doing something kind like preventing me from turning into lightning and returning. It is merely pulling me because it doesn't want to lose its prey.
If I hadn't faced the situation of dissolving into lightning by directly confronting the owner of the Heavenly Lightning Banner, I might have been slowly consumed by the Black Dragon’s True Blood.
However, I manage to maintain my form, balancing the forces of True Immortal level beings pulling me from both sides.
Creak, creak...
My body, transforming into lightning, takes on a half-human, half-dragon form and emits black lightning.
'If I lose balance even slightly, the power of the Black Dragon or the lightning will immediately devour me.'
Wriggle, wriggle...
I take out the White-Red Wine from my storage bag and drink it.
The Colorless Glass Swords become directly connected to me.
'The power of the Black Dragon...'
Wriggle, wriggle...
Through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, I discover the sticky, wriggling power of Taiyin.
Gulp...
Cold sweat runs down my face.
I can feel it.
Even if I don't know about the curse of becoming lightning, the power of the Black Dragon’s True Blood will continue into the next life!
Because I can feel all too clearly through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections that the power of the Black Dragon is eroding my history.
'It's more dangerous than becoming lightning.'
I've decided.
Since the end of my life is near, at the very last moment, I must purify my whole body with the power of the owner of the Heavenly Lightning Banner, shaking off the power of the Black Dragon.
To me, a regressor who has built a long history, the power of the Black Dragon is an even greater calamity.
Hoo-woong—
Maintaining a balance between the power of lightning and the Black Dragon, I grab one of the 3,000 Colorless Glass Swords floating around me.
Thanks to being refined in the Golden Core for nearly a hundred years, each of the Colorless Glass Swords have become as hard and sharp as a bronze sword or an iron sword sold in a village forge.
"Colorless Glass Sword, combine."
Wo-woong!
3,000 Colorless Glass Swords overlap ten at a time.
300 Colorless Glass Swords each rise from the level of inferior to a fairly good iron sword.
The Colorless Glass Swords overlap again, ten at a time.
30 Colorless Glass Swords reach the level of iron swords made with the highest refining techniques.
The Colorless Glass Swords overlap once more, and 3 Colorless Glass Swords each become as hard and sharp as a famous sword.
And the last 3 Colorless Glass Swords combine again.
Ssssst!
When the 3 famous swords combine, a treasure sword is born.
The final stage of the Colorless Glass Sword.
All Heavens.
When spiritual power is injected into the treasure sword-level Colorless Glass Sword, 3,000 circuits activate, and the power begins to amplify due to the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
'The power is sufficient.'
All that remains is to help Gyu-baek and witness Seo Hweol's end.
I reinforce the Colorless Glass Sword once again by overlaying it with the Formless Sword.
Jjeong!
The Colorless Glass Sword swings, shaking Seo Hweol's canopy.
However, there isn't even a scratch on the barrier.
'Continue.'
Again and again!
Koong, koong, koong!
I use Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains to gradually amplify the destructive power.
My power, mixed with the three forces of Heaven, Earth, and Heart, gradually increases, reaching the level of the Four-Axis stage.
Jjeong!
Jjeong!
Jjeong!
With each collision, the resonance grows louder.
Then at some point, Yu Hwa, who was hit by the light of the Lustrous Glaze Peacock by Oh Hye-seo, rises.
She doesn't ask any details.
Instead, as she watches me strike Seo Hweol's canopy, she begins to play without saying a word, perhaps understanding the situation.
Kururung!
Heavenly Thunder.
A sound akin to Heavenly Tribulation resounds around her, striking Seo Hweol's canopy multiple times.
Our combined attack hits Seo Hweol's canopy several times.
But, Seo Hweol's canopy, despite its tremors growing, shows no signs of cracking.
Kim Yeon's figure, whether it has consciousness or not, merely presides over the Vast Cold Oath. I keep striking Seo Hweol's canopy, assessing the survival of Gyu-baek and Seo Hweol through Kim Yeon's figure.
How long has it been?
Kugugugugu!
From afar, a familiar fortress flies in.
It isn't a spatial leap. It officially broke through the top entrance of the Serving Command Ark and entered.
The Mad Lord's Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress has finally arrived here.
'Indeed, what will the Mad Lord do upon seeing us?'
He might immediately capture me to use as puppet material and capture Seo Hweol separately.
However, unexpectedly, the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress doesn't attack me right away.
Instead, a solemn voice of an old man comes from inside.
"Seo Hweol's Four-Axis Canopy, huh? Instead of the Five Elements, he built the Axis on something else. It's not a typical Four-Axis. It's solid enough to be believed as a unique domain of the Integration stage. Moreover, something inside is strengthening the gravitational pull, making the solidity of that canopy no different from the very peak of the Integration stage."
I’m startled to hear the Mad Lord's voice.
'That voice is...'
The Mad Lord is in his right mind.
For some reason, the Mad Lord is clear-headed.
"Senior Jo Yeon. Please lend us your strength to capture Seo Hweol."
"That sounds good. However, I came here to see my disciple."
Creak...
The gates of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress opens, and the Mad Lord appears with his hands clasped behind his back along with [Her].
The Mad Lord squints his eyes upon seeing Kim Yeon's figure.
"Hmm, not the main body. Only an avatar is here. And... manipulating laws with consciousness? What exactly is happening here"
The Mad Lord speaks, licking his lips.
"Why didn't you bring Yeon's main body here?"
"I hid Yeon's main body, fearing that Senior Jo Yeon might take her away once you arrived."
"Hahaha, that's good. A wise decision."
The Mad Lord laughs heartily and nods his head.
"Well... that aside. Yeon is currently manipulating laws with her consciousness, managing something… or should I say, proceeding with something? What is she doing right now? Explain the situation to me."
I briefly explain to the Mad Lord about Gyu-baek, Seo Hweol, the Vast Cold Oath, and Kim Yeon.
"I see... Gyu-ryeon, was it? Haha, she might have ended up like me if she were alive."
After hearing about Gyu-ryeon and Gyu-baek, the Mad Lord briefly comments on Gyu-ryeon.
"...?"
As I look at the Mad Lord with a puzzled expression, he snaps irritably.
"The reason [She] ended up like this... is because Seo Hweol set up the stage, so it's no different from me losing a lover to Seo Hweol. Huh... Anyway, today seems to be the perfect day for revenge. Seo Hweol's downfall by someone who loves him..."
The Mad Lord raises his hand with a bitter smile.
Wo-woong―
27 Integration stage level puppets.
And the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress itself along with [Her].
A total of 29 Integration stage puppets aim their muzzles at Seo Hweol's canopy all at once.
"Fire."
As the Mad Lord lowers his hand, beams capable of burning the heavens and earth strike Seo Hweol's canopy.
Integration stage's peak-level defense?
It’s futile against the salvo from around 30 Integration stage puppets.
Seo Hweol's canopy is instantly turned into rags.
However, true to the Mad Lord's analysis as a peak-level canopy of the Integration stage, it turns into rags without being punctured.
But the Mad Lord calmly raises his hand once more and slams it down.
"Second strike."
Jjeoeeoeng!
A tremendous hole is blasted in the floor of the Serving Command Ark everywhere except where Seo Hweol's canopy is located.
"Third strike."
Flash!
The floor of the 4th layer of the Serving Command Ark collapses, creating a hole between the 3rd and 4th floors.
And finally.
A large hole is blasted through Seo Hweol's canopy.
The Mad Lord, with his hands clasped behind his back, says,
"I've made a hole for you, so pulling Seo Hweol out should be something you can handle."
It seems like he is assigning a task to me and Yu Hwa, but I realize the Mad Lord is giving us an opportunity for revenge. I express my gratitude.
"Thank you for giving us this opportunity."
"Quiet, go now! The Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon is resonating so my mind is clear for now, but who knows when I'll go mad again? There's no time!"
"...Yes."
We enter inside the canopy.
Wo-woong!
From the outside, it appears as a small canopy, but upon entering, a vast space unfolds.
'Reaching the Four-Axis stage and stacking more than three Axes... gives one a space that becomes the foundation for the unique domain obtained during the Integration stage.'
Within that space, the abilities of an Integration stage cultivator becomes tremendously powerful, and they can do things they couldn't do before.
Woong―
Far away, I feel the energy of the Vast Cold Oath pulling me in.
I am a witness to the Vast Cold Oath of Seo Hweol and Gyu-ryeon.
I can feel the energy of the Vast Cold Oath.
The inside of the canopy is a space filled with a repugnant smell and darkness.
Though we thought we had made a large hole in the canopy from the outside, swimming through the domain of darkness, the hole through which we entered appears smaller from this far back.
'It's cold...'
I feel that this space somehow resembles Seo Hweol's heart essence itself.
Cold, filthy, sticky, repulsive, dark.
Merely being here feels like my mind is being contaminated.
If the heart essence of Yuan Li, who had devoured countless people, is a dung field, then Seo Hweol's heart essence is like the site of a nuclear power plant explosion.
Staying here for too long might make one go mad, tainted by Seo Hweol's darkness.
Pah!
Far away, a faint golden light is visible.
"Gyu-baek...!"
It’s Gyu-baek.
Gyu-baek stands in the middle of the darkness, emitting golden rays from her chest.
"Miss Gyu-baek, are you alright?"
I fly towards her with Yu Hwa, shouting.
But Gyu-baek does not respond.
I try to read Gyu-baek's heart essence and sigh deeply.
She had received a significant shock.
What had she seen in this darkness?
"Miss Gyu-baek...?"
And then, at that moment.
Step, step...
Seo Hweol emerges from the darkness.
With an expressionless face, Seo Hweol looks at me and speaks..
"You brought the Mad Lord, Daoist Seo. But it's no problem. Even if the Mad Lord comes, I can escape easily."
"...What did you do to Gyu-baek?"
"I only gave her what she desired. She asked to see my sincerity, so I showed her the sincerity I had stored."
"..."
It seems that the technique Seo Hweol had learned, similar to the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, is a kind of technique for storing not memories but emotions.
"Now, what do you think, Gyu-baek? Even after this, would you wish I had kissed you?"
Seo Hweol takes a step towards Gyu-baek with an expressionless face.
Startled!
Gyu-baek steps back in surprise at Seo Hweol's approach.
Seo Hweol says with an empty face.
"...Emotions are quite interesting, aren't they? You talk as if you could accept my sincerity depending on the emotions but after confirming those emotions, you are instead afraid."
He looks at Gyu-baek and commands.
"That's your sincerity, Gyu-baek. With the witness of the Vast Cold Oath gathered, if the caster wishes, it's possible to undo it. Undo the Vast Cold Oath, Gyu-baek. Aside from me giving you my sincerity, I know you can undo it if you wish."
"Ah, ahh..."
Gyu-baek attempts to form a seal with trembling hands.
At that moment, I shout powerfully.
"Don't do it, Senior ‘Gyu-ryeon’!!!"
"...!"
At those words, Gyu-baek looks at me in shock.
"I... I am..."
"I'm well aware of how disgusting, how filthy Seo Hweol's true nature is, and I understand the shock you must have received, Senior Gyu-ryeon."
Imagine thinking about proposing to Buk Hyang-hwa only to find out it was Yuan Li.
The mere thought makes one dizzy and nauseous.
Gyu-ryeon's feelings must be similar.
"But! Didn't Senior Gyu-ryeon want to take revenge on Seo Hweol!"
"...I am not Gyu-ryeon."
Gyu-baek, significantly weakened, steps back from Seo Hweol and speaks.
What has she seen in Seo Hweol?
It wasn't just a glimpse of Seo Hweol's heart essence.
Perhaps something much deeper.
Something even I hadn't seen, something even more grotesque.
"How ironic, Daoist Seo. Emotions are like that. One moment you like someone, and the next, seeing another aspect of them, everything falls apart. That's what emotions are. To an object, emotions are like the amount of air in the lungs. That alone is sufficient. That's all there is to emotions."
"Are you still spouting the logic that the lungs correspond to metal, so emotions are metallic?"
I coldly spit words at Seo Hweol and look at Gyu-baek.
I don't know what she saw. Therefore, I can't understand Gyu-baek.
But I can understand Gyu-ryeon.
"Certainly, you are not Senior Gyu-ryeon. You are an independent entity. However, you are precisely what was born from Senior Gyu-ryeon’s will, shaped into form. You're not just some leftover, you are one of the countless aspects Senior Gyu-ryeon possessed!"
Therefore, she is indeed Gyu-ryeon as well.
"Let me ask you one thing."
"How pointless."
Seo Hweol extends his finger towards me.
The entire space twists, and a tremendous gravitational force presses down on me.
Then, Yu Hwa stands in front of me.
"Stop, Baek Nyeong.”
The gravitational force in the space lightens, and a green light wriggles in the darkness.
Baek Nyeong’s figure emerges next to Seo Hweol.
"...Master..."
Yu Hwa protects me and Gyu-baek from Seo Hweol and begins conversing with Baek Nyeong.
The master and disciple begin their separate conversations.
I briefly look at them before focusing on Gyu-baek's eyes.
"Senior Gyu-ryeon wanted to return what she received from Seo Hweol, didn't she? That's why, on the day you were born from Senior Gyu-ryeon, you said you would 'kill Seo Hweol,' right?"
"...Yes. But..."
Gyu-baek hesitates with trembling lips.
I nod at her.
"Has it become difficult to kill Seo Hweol?"
"...I’m sorry. The moment I confirmed his sincerity... I lost the confidence to accept it, from him."
"I understand"
I nod.
"Then, may I take on that role for you?"
"What...?"
"Upon my hands, would you entrust me with your feelings towards Seo Hweol?”
"…Is that, possible?"
"I'll try."
"...Alright."
Gyu-baek slowly approaches and hugs me.
I hug Gyu-baek tightly in return.
Gyu-baek forms a seal.
Tssss...
The golden chains emanating from her chest fades away.
She’s undone the Vast Cold Oath herself.
It isn't a foolish mistake to throw away the chance to bind and take revenge on Seo Hweol.
I feel her heart entrusted to me.
"Hmm? This ends rather anticlimactically."
Soon, Gyu-baek's body grows cold.
Without a heart, Gyu-baek had been forcibly circulating Qi to extend her life. Now, she dies.
I, too, am barely holding on between the power of the Black Dragon and lightning. But soon I will be completely consumed.
Yu Hwa, as well, can not possibly handle Seo Hweol alone in this space.
What should be done then?
Before dying.
I will muster the last of my strength and deliver a strike to Seo Hweol.
Swoooosh―
The Colorless Glass Sword, having reached the stage of Total Heavens, shines in all of heavens colors. The misty Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections unfolds in Seo Hweol's darkness.
Tststst!
Contemplating my body transforming into lightning, I close my eyes.
Using the Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace daily on Kim Yeon, I continually reflected on my body transforming into lightning and martial arts.
And while watching my body disperse into lightning, I reflected on what lightning is, gaining insight into it.
‘From now on…’
"I return to thee..."
Merely saying 'Return to thee' isn't enough to summon the True Immortal.
But perhaps it can attract their 'attention.'
Seo Hweol, too, might have blocked me because he feared receiving that attention.
But there's something I fear more than the attention of True Immortals.
Therefore, risking the attention of True Immortals, I strongly recall the 'eyes' I saw then and accelerate the electrification of my entire body even further.
Crackle!
3rd stage of Manifestation.
When reaching the stage beyond Treading Heavens, the nature of the attack changes, becoming akin to Heavenly Tribulation.
Then.
If I, already transforming my entire body into Heavenly Tribulation, use Treading Heavens Beyond the Path, would that be the same as 'the next stage'?
The answer is.
Crackle!
'Over 90% similar!'
The lightning wrapping my body and the Formless Sword of Treading Heavens naturally merges, and the color of the lightning turns colorless.
Kurung, Kururung!
The essence of lightning is the instant (刹那, sattva).
Our lives are also instant.
Therefore, beyond Treading Heavens, which maximizes life, it bears a trait similar to Heavenly Tribulation.
But to be more precise, I can only know once I've 'truly' reached the next stage.
"Let's pose a problem."
I smirk and aim the Colorless Glass Sword at Seo Hweol.
"From now on."
For now, this is sufficient.
Kururung―
"How many Heavenly Tribulations will be added to you?"
Translator Notes: Sattva (刹那) in Chinese and Japanese, originally derived from Sanskrit, refers to an extremely brief moment or instant. In Buddhist philosophy, it is often used to describe the smallest unit of time, emphasizing the transient nature of all things where each moment is fleeting and quickly gives way to the next, the constant flux of the universe.
