A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

Chapter 573: Radiance Ten Heavens (光明十天) (2)

Kurururung!

I completely emerge from the Heavenly Tribulation, lowering my rank as I approach Du Hwa.

Du Hwa looks up at me, flinching in fear, and bows her head to the ground.

"A-Are you perhaps a senior at the Four-Axis stage? Wh-Wh-What brings Senior to me...?"

"Four-Axis, huh...? Well, I'm at a realm higher than that. First, that Demon Race over there who died from the Heavenly Tribulation—do you know him?"

"...He's my brother. He was impatient and recklessly faced the Heavenly Tribulation without even properly preparing for the Nascent Soul advancement, and died just like that."

"Hmmm..."

"Seems like...your brother didn't have much attachment to this world."

"Yes, that's right. He always boasted that if he couldn't advance his cultivation, he'd just aim for the next life."

"An impatient fellow."

"...Yes. He was really...an impatient one."

Du Hwa's eyes glisten with tears, uncharacteristic for someone of the Blood Shark Race. I click my tongue as I watch her.

'If he had only stayed in the outskirts of the Underworld, I could've revived him...but he had to rush straight into its depths, making it impossible to bring him back.'

I can't carelessly bring someone back if they themselves had no lingering attachments.

"Alright. Then, Du Hwa...I have a few proposals for you."

I present a few proposals to the sniffling Du Hwa.

Just like in the past life, I ask her to become a temporary devotee of me and Golden Shaking Bird.

Du Hwa nearly faints in shock upon realizing our identities, but she accepts our proposal. Once again, Du Hwa becomes the temporary vessel of Golden Shaking Bird.

"Hmph, to think I'm stuck in the body of a mere Core Formation stage Demon Race. It's so inconvenient I could die."

Kurururung!

As soon as Golden Shaking Bird takes over Du Hwa's body, she quickly raises the cultivation realm to the Heavenly Being stage, absorbs the Heavenly Tribulation to replenish energy, and grumbles while reshaping Du Hwa's Transformation form into her own.

"Can't be helped. Now, just follow me. We're going to find Jeon Myeong-hoon."

I summon Yeo Hwi and ride her towards the Divine Thunder Realm. At the eastern edge of the Divine Thunder Realm, in the Chaos Realm, I spot a small hut that seems to have been built by Jeon Myeong-hoon.

But just before Golden Shaking Bird can dash toward him, teary-eyed from sensing Jeon Myeong-hoon's aura—

"Hold on, Golden Shaking Bird."

"Yes? What is it, Elder?"

Chijijijijijik!

I absorb Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, slightly raising my cultivation to the Heavenly Being stage. Then, in that state, I concentrate a curse spell into my left hand that's potent enough to affect even True Immortals.

Kiaaaaaaa—

Under the immense power of the curse, the surrounding celestial energy distorts into malevolence.

Sensing the anomaly, Jeon Myeong-hoon bursts out of the hut in a panic, but it's already too late.

"Feel the pain, Jeon Myeong-hoon!"

Kwaaaaang!

The spear formed with the curse spell doesn't strike Jeon Myeong-hoon directly.

Instead, it pierces the ground beneath his feet. The moment it touches the earth, the curse detonates, transforming the area into a hellish demonic landscape.

"Kuaaaaaaaagh!"

There, I see Jeon Myeong-hoon writhing in agony, consumed by unbearable pain.

Booong, booong, booong!

Unfazed by his suffering, I continue hurling curse-infused spears, each one laden with my own torment.

The sheer agony distorts the very fabric of spacetime, causing parts of the Middle Realm's dimension to melt away.

At the center of it all, Jeon Myeong-hoon absorbs fragments of my pain into his very being, enduring unspeakable torment.

Pain worse than death itself!

Golden Shaking Bird, who had been staring dumbfounded at the scene, contorts her face like an evil spirit and tries to attack me in fury.

"You vile fiend...! What are you doing to my master!?"

Kwaduduk!

But with a single strike, I subdue Golden Shaking Bird and patiently wait for Jeon Myeong-hoon to endure and overcome the agony.

"Wait a little. If I don't give him misfortune beforehand, it'll be dangerous later."

"What...!?"

And so, after some time—

Having burned away all the curses with his own lightning, Jeon Myeong-hoon looks around with bloodshot eyes.

Seeing him like that, I leap down in front of him alongside Golden Shaking Bird.

"Jeon Myeong-hoon! Long time no see!"

"Master! Hic! I'm sorry. I couldn't stop that vile villain from casting those curses. Please forgive Golden Shaking Bird!"

At Golden Shaking Bird's words, Jeon Myeong-hoon seems to grasp the situation and growls, glaring at me.

"Good to see you, Seo Eun-hyun...but why the hell did you suddenly bombard me with curse spells like a madman!?"

"Ah, I'm a bit sorry about that. It's because I had to become the 'misfortune' brought here by Golden Shaking Bird for you. I hope you understand."

"You...!"

"Jeon Myeong-hoon! Do you not trust me!?"

"..."

Jeon Myeong-hoon grits his teeth, glaring at me, then forcibly takes deep breaths, suppressing his anger.

"...I'll...trust you...damn bastard."

"Hahaha!"

Thanks to scattering misfortune in advance this time, Jeon Myeong-hoon manages not to coincidently advance to True Immortality upon seeing me.

After exchanging brief words with Jeon Myeong-hoon, I ask why he still hasn't attempted his True Immortal advancement.

"By the way, Jeon Myeong-hoon, why haven't you tried advancing to True Immortality yet? Your Immortal Art seems complete."

"Heh... The Immortal Art is complete. But...it's a matter of resolve. Who can so easily throw themselves into the domain of death?"

"Is that so...?"

I understand the situation Jeon Myeong-hoon is in.

It seems he's waiting for a bit of a push.

"Jeon Myeong-hoon, then let me tell you about my True Immortal advancement experience. Listen closely."

I share with Jeon Myeong-hoon the process of my advancement, the feeling of embracing life and death, and the things I saw when I followed him into the Underworld in the past life.

Is it perhaps because I've experienced life and death multiple times?

I don't explain vaguely like others. Instead, I convey clear, precise insights to Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"Hmmm...! That's accurate."

Golden Shaking Bird also shares a bit of her experience to aid Jeon Myeong-hoon's True Immortal advancement.

Of course, since she forcibly advanced to True Immortality as a Thunder Beast, it's not particularly helpful.

"Listen carefully, Jeon Myeong-hoon."

"Hm?"

"You will succeed in your True Immortal advancement."

"...!"

"I will make sure of it. So...follow the path your fate points to without hesitation!"

"..."

Jeon Myeong-hoon lets out a low breath at my words, then nods.

"...Alright. If you say so...I'll trust you this time as well."

Pajijijijijik!

Without another word, he begins his True Immortal advancement on the spot.

Golden Shaking Bird seems a bit startled by the suddenness of it, but I nod.

After all, in our past life, the reason I followed him was because both Golden Shaking Bird and I were considered 'misfortunes' to him.

'In this life, since I've already thrown misfortune at him and he's attempting the advancement on his own will...the success rate is much higher!'

Of course, since there's still a chance of failure, I prepare the Impermanence Sword, ready to rush to the Underworld if any sign of trouble appears.

And so, after half a day passes—

Kwarurururung!

Jeon Myeong-hoon bursts out from the Underworld with thunderclaps, as if celebrating his True Immortal advancement, and rises to the True Immortal Plane.

From there, everything proceeds smoothly.

He once again draws the gaze of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity and receives the Immortal Title Heaven-Destroying One from the Naming Supreme Deity.

I revive Hong Fan, Yu Hwi, and Ham Jin in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, and we share long conversations.

Reuniting with Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Everything up to that point proceeds according to plan.

The morning after Jeon Myeong-hoon's True Immortal advancement.

I speak to my comrades.

"I'm against going to the Astral Realm."

"What? Were you even listening during our talk yesterday?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon snaps at me, and Golden Shaking Bird, perched on his shoulder in the form of a hummingbird, joins in sharply.

"Exactly! Seriously, you need to go to the Astral Realm to undergo the cultivation of the Radiance Ten Heavens to advance to Upper Immortal. Are you stupid, Elder?"

"I'm not stupid. It's just that we have things to do here right now, so I'm suggesting we postpone going to the Astral Realm."

"What? What could you possibly do in this wretched Middle Realm? Elder and my master are both Vestige Liberation Immortals now. Is there anything more important than cultivating as a Vestige Liberation Immortal?"

"I need to check on the other comrades from our hometown besides Jeon Myeong-hoon. So shut your mouth."

"No, just who does Elder think he is to shut me up? I am my master's messenger—"

"Golden Shaking Bird, Seo Eun-hyun is speaking. Be quiet."

Jeon Myeong-hoon grabs Golden Shaking Bird's beak to shut it up, and I continue explaining.

"First, we'll rely on Hong Fan and Jeon Myeong-hoon's help regarding the status of our comrades."

I calmly lay out the plan.

"Hong Fan has a unique technique called Void Sword, which allows him to read the flow of Heavenly Tribulation and even control it. Moreover, when combined with the authority of the Earth Tribe, he can trace the flow back to its very source."

"I know."

"And as you already know, Jeon Myeong-hoon holds the authority to command Heavenly Tribulation at will. When their powers are combined, the range of what we can attempt increases significantly."

"Such as?"

"Hong Fan."

I call for Hong Fan.

"I heard you have the auras of our other comrades."

"Yes, Master. I kept them just in case."

Woo-woooong!

From Hong Fan's sleeve, six auras rise.

Kim Young-hoon's, Jeon Myeong-hoon's, Kang Min-hee's, Oh Hyun-seok's, Kim Yeon's, and my own aura.

Unfortunately, there's none from Oh Hye-seo, but I don't care since I'm not interested in Oh Hye-seo's status anyway.

"Jeon Myeong-hoon, you'll cultivate these auras and refine them through Heavenly Tribulation. You can handle that, right?"

"I can. The Immortal Art of Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation is specialized in controlling Heavenly Tribulation. And after that?"

"Then, during Hong Fan's Star Shattering stage advancement, embed those refined Heavenly Tribulations into him along with the Star Tribulations. This way, Hong Fan will be able to read the aura of those Heavenly Tribulations and trace their source."

"Is that really possible for a mere Integration stage centipede demon?"

"Of course, I'll also combine my Earth Tribe senses with Hong Fan's to observe together. With the help of my True Immortal insight and Hong Fan's genius, we'll surely be able to read the status of our comrades."

"Hmm..."

Jeon Myeong-hoon contemplates for a moment, then nods willingly.

Thus, we decide not to head straight to the Astral Realm but to make preparations for a few years before making our way there.

"You're asking if I can activate the Great Desolate Path one more time?"

Golden Shaking Bird shakes her head at my question.

"Not possible at the moment. Of course, if Master returns and promises to pet Golden Shaking Bird whenever Golden Shaking Bird desires, I can act as the main soul of the Great Desolate Path and operate it. Additionally, with the authority of the fate Master possesses, he should be able to unlock all the hidden functions of the Great Desolate Path."

"Then why can't you do it immediately?"

"You're truly foolish, Old Man Seo."

"Don't call me Old Monster."

"You're not denying being 'foolish'. Hehe. Anyway...if I connect with the Great Desolate Path and become its main soul, I can certainly use many of its functions. But how are we supposed to return to the Lightning Sacred Sea where the Great Desolate Path is right now? The Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain connects only to the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, which is the base of Radiance Hall. In other words, to get back to the Lightning Sacred Sea, we must pass through the base of Radiance Hall. Do you think that is possible?"

I let out a faint sigh at those words.

'To properly operate the Great Desolate Path and travel across all Heavenly Domains, a being like Golden Shaking Bird must act as its main soul. But to convince Golden Shaking Bird, I'd have to bring her along all the way to the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, far from the Great Desolate Path...is that it?'

"If I told you to wait as the main soul of the Great Desolate Path while I bring Yang Su-jin's reincarnation, would you have believed me?"

"Ahaha! Absolutely not. Master always taught us Thunder Beasts never to trust anyone. So we trust no one except Master. Of course...it seems some ungrateful Thunder Beasts decided not to trust even Master."

"Hmm..."

Then, how should I persuade Golden Shaking Bird when the next life comes?

'I live each life to the fullest.'

But beyond that, I need to understand my position as a regressor.

'I have to think about the next life too.'

I must create an absolute proof that can persuade Golden Shaking Bird.

'I'll have to think about that from now on.'

With that thought, I watch Hong Fan as he prepares for his advancement in the Chaos Realm of the Divine Thunder Realm.

This time, Jeon Myeong-hoon is set to oversee Hong Fan's Star Tribulation.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!

Hong Fan, having restored his cultivation to the Grand Perfection Integration stage, explodes himself.

From within, he condenses himself through basic Immortal Arts, forming the body of the Star Shattering stage.

Kururururung!

Dust clouds condense, and the Star Tribulations begin to react.

Naturally, since there's hardly any starlight in the Chaos Realm, the Star Tribulations Hong Fan must endure are few in number.

However,

Jjeoooooong!

'As expected...'

I frown, watching the Star Tribulation strike down with a momentum capable of destroying worlds.

It's the same this time.

Hong Fan's Star Tribulation is far more intense than what others endure.

Kurururung!

Though this will strengthen his connection to the stars through the Heavenly Tribulation, a single moment of carelessness would mean instant death.

Jeon Myeong-hoon looks down at Hong Fan and begins to manipulate the Heavenly Tribulation.

The Heavenly Tribulation infused with the nurtured auras of each of us!

Kwarurururung!

The six-colored Heavenly Tribulation starts to descend.

Wiiiiiiing!

Meanwhile, the prophetic stars which I, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and Golden Shaking Bird prepared during Hong Fan's advancement preparation, rise into the sky.

Seven stars in total.

Within them are scenes of Hong Fan and us succeeding.

Kurururung!

Hong Fan reads the flow of the Heavenly Tribulation, tracing its source with the senses of the Earth Tribe.

I read alongside him, following the flow of the Heavenly Tribulation.

At the same time, the prophetic stars resonate with our senses, guiding us toward success.

"Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation."

Kururururung!

Jeon Myeong-hoon also supports us through Immortal Arts.

"Indra's Net!"

Kwachijijik!

Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning spreads like a net across the surroundings.

Lightning has a property known as 'returning lightning strike'.

It refers to the phenomenon of Heavenly Tribulation that strikes the ground from the sky returning back to the sky.

Jeon Myeong-hoon's Indra's Net is one of the techniques that utilize this property of lightning.

Pachijijik!

The Heavenly Tribulation of the Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation Method, now within the domain of Immortal Arts, carries the history-reading ability of Hong Fan and I and the returning lightning ability of Indra's Net, splitting into six fragments.

Kwajijik!

Of the six fragments striking Hong Fan, one returns to my body, and another is reabsorbed into Jeon Myeong-hoon's body.

The remaining four Heavenly Tribulations scatter, flying towards the locations of our other comrades.

Golden Shaking Bird assists in controlling the lightning, and my mind briefly unites with Hong Fan's, reaching out to the other Heavenly Domains where our comrades reside.

The Good Sight Heavenly Domain, where Kim Young-hoon is.

The Underworld, where Kang Min-hee is.

The Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain, where Oh Hyun-seok is.

The Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, where Kim Yeon is.

The Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, where Oh Hye-seo is!

'...Huh?'

I observe the status of our five comrades with Hong Fan.

Kim Young-hoon senses my gaze and responds with a faint smile, slicing through it with Martial Arts that has reached the Severing Heaven realm.

As if to say, 'Come at me'.

Oh Hyun-seok wanders through a misty haze.

He seems to have reached True Immortality, growing stronger as he navigates through the fog.

Kim Yeon, like Oh Hyun-seok, walks an endless labyrinth.

However, unlike the misty world, hers is quite literally a maze resembling the extreme of mechanical constructs.

It seems she's dismantling each mechanism, growing stronger with every step.

But I can't help but be astonished by the scenes of two individuals that I simply cannot comprehend.

'K-Kang Min-hee!?'

Kang Min-hee.

For some reason, she is kneeling before the illusion of the [Oldest One]'s [White Wheel], drawing something.

It's a taenghwa.

For reasons unknown, she seems to be receiving teachings of the taenghwa under the [Oldest One] in some dark place.

Noticing my gaze, she meets my eyes, silently mouthing, "Don't worry," before flicking her sleeve to block my view.

'Upper Immortal...Kang Min-hee has already reached at least the realm of an Upper Immortal.'

If that weren't the case, she wouldn't be able to block my vision so completely.

'I see. The reason that person transformed into Kang Min-hee before me in the past life was...'

It must be because They already placed her beneath Them and were teaching her.

'But to say it's the Underworld... Something feels different.'

I narrow my eyes, sensing something strange.

The place where Kang Min-hee is feels like the Underworld, but at the same time, it feels like another domain altogether.

'It's as if...it's a place connected directly to the deepest depths where the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld resides. It seems linked to the Underworld, yet...it doesn't feel like the complete Underworld.'

Perhaps it's a special space within the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain.

Deciding to leave it at that for now, I shift my gaze seriously to the final scene.

"...It's been a while, Oh Hye-seo."

I glare at the illusion of Oh Hye-seo, someone whose whereabouts I never even thought to check.

Oh Hye-seo smiles slightly.

"It's been a long time, Seo Eun-hyun."

"...You've...changed a lot."

I flinch in surprise at her appearance.

She has changed greatly since the past.

Her entire body is draped in a dark-red robe, her hair loose and wild, with dark-red eyes gleaming as she grins slyly, making her look like a witch.

Even though she wears a robe, patches of her skin are exposed in a provocative fashion.

Reclining seductively, she pokes at something beside her with a finger, then licks it with her tongue.

Her sticky saliva stretches between her fingers.

Though it's a simple scene, the scent of blood it evokes makes me glare at her.

"What are you eating, Oh Hye-seo? Are you stuffing yourself with human flesh again like in Cedarwood Painting? You better stop...before I come and carve out your belly."

"Ahaha, don't worry, Eun-hyun-ah...I'm not randomly killing people for food. Look, it's not even a human skull."

She lifts the skull of whatever she's been eating to show me.

It looks human but has horns—someone's skull.

She's slurping out the brain from that skull.

"Just like humans slaughter cows, pigs, and chickens to eat...I'm just eating a devil from the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain. I've got to eat to live, you know?"

"...So you've stepped foot into the Immortal Family."

I glare at her, deducing her cultivation realm.

"You've reached the Entering Nirvana stage, and yet you still need to eat things like that?"

"Puhuhuhu...Eun-hyun-ah, do you know?"

Oh Hye-seo pulls out a lump of bloody flesh from the skull and starts shoving it into her mouth.

"Me...you see... My chest hurts so much."

She starts to cry, her robe slipping and revealing just enough to tempt.

As I look deep into her eyes, I realize.

'...She's broken.'

"Ever since I...inherited Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens from...Seo Hweol...my chest has been hurting so much...you know? I don't know why it hurts so much, why it's so agonizing. It used to be so simple and easy. Back then, I just had one simple, clear desire—'Dominate and make them my slaves!' That was it. But now...it's gotten strange. What Seo Hweol entrusted to me...because of that...I feel like I'm going insane..."

Drip, drip, drip...

Blood tears begin to flow from Oh Hye-seo's eyes.

"After being dragged to the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, I met a great being. The great and honorable Red Summit Great Mountain Life Phenomena Extinguishing Great Emperor (彤岳太山天齊大生滅法大帝) bestowed teachings upon me. I even died while receiving Their teachings. Who else could say they've experienced such a thing? Already a hundred times! I've died a total of one hundred times, suffering every kind of pain and torture imaginable... But you know..."

She claws roughly at her own chest, gritting her teeth.

"More than all that pain...the ache I feel inside this chest...is even stronger... I don't know why. Usually, when I don't understand something, Seo Hweol would come and teach me...but he doesn't this time. It's probably because he doesn't have a body anymore. That's why I'm going to make a body for Seo Hweol. I'm going to resurrect him."

"..."

"And then...I'll share this pain...with him. You understand...? But until then, I have to...pass this pain...onto others!"

Kwaduduk, kwaduk, kwaduk!

From within the skull of the devil clenched in Oh Hye-seo's hand, a terrible scream echoes.

The devil seems to still be alive.

"The pain...slightly eases. That's why I'm eating things like this, Eun-hyun-ah..."

She reaches her hand out towards me.

"The Red Summit Great Mountain Life Phenomena Extinguishing Great Emperor told me. To bring you...to bring you to the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain and feed you the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea (屍山血海) there. They said They left some of it just for you! So come and eat it. If you eat this...They will create a body for Seo Hweol. They said They will bring Seo Hweol back to life! Your realm will rise, and Seo Hweol will be resurrected and I'll be able to share this pain again and ask him what to do. We'll both...we'll both benefit. Right?"

"..."

"So come, Seo Eun-hyun. I've received Their teachings and got a grasp regarding the Devilish (魔) path. My cultivation is Entering Nirvana...but within the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, near the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea, I can crush Upper Immortals like you can. It's limited power, but overwhelming. Just borrowing this power makes me this strong. If you inherit it properly, you'll be even more incredible. So, come here. With my ability, I can bring you over right now..."

"...Oh Hye-seo."

I gaze at where Oh Hye-seo is.

She's leaning against something massive.

Only now do I realize.

It's a massive bone.

The corpse of a large sea dragon.

"Seo Hweol is..."

Looking at that sea dragon's corpse, I understand.

There's no soul there.

And having faced Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens dozens, even hundreds of times, I can tell.

Seo Hweol's configuration doesn't exist there.

Seo Hweol is already deep within the Underworld.

Paying for his sins at the very bottom of hell.

Maybe he's already been reincarnated as some lowly beast and is being slaughtered.

"Already dead. He's not there."

At my words, Oh Hye-seo freezes.

'...It's been a while. Since I've seen eyes like that.'

The eyes of Mad Lord and Jeon Myeong-hoon.

And...my own eyes, back when I lost Buk Hyang-hwa in the 10th cycle.

"...Seo Eun-hyun."

Oh Hye-seo smiles.

"You're stupid, aren't you?"

"I'm not stupid."

"No, you are stupid. Or maybe you've become blind in exchange for your strength. Look. Here, Seo Hweol is right here! [Seo Hweol]! [Seo Hweol] is with me right now!"

"...Listen carefully, Oh Hye-seo. Regardless of what happened...I'll tell you this, for your sake."

I relay the truth to her with a stern face.

"Seo Hweol is dead! That day! After sending you to the Middle Realm, he died! Let Seo Hweol go! What's by your side..."

"SHUT UUUUUUP!!"

"...is nothing but Seo Hweol's corpse!"

"Shut up, Seo Eun-hyun! You r-reptilian bastard. That habit of lying while wearing a human mask is showing again, huh? Don't make me laugh! Seo Hweol is here! [HERE]! [HERE], I TELL YOU!!!"

"That's nothing but Seo Hweol's bones!"

"SHUT UUUP!! I-I'll kill you. I'll kill you! I'll resurrect Seo Hweol, and together with him, I'll find you and flay that filthy body of yours! They said it's fine to fight you. They said as long as you merge with the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea, it doesn't matter! They even said killing you and burying you in the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea is acceptable! Listen well, Seo Eun-hyun!"

Kigigigigik!

The surroundings begin to distort.

Taiji twists, and history trembles.

"I've experienced a hundred deaths. And through those deaths, my power has grown unimaginably. To a level someone like you could never comprehend! Someone like you, who cherishes life, maybe experienced death once while advancing to True Immortality? Hahaha! You can't defeat me. Because the power of us Enders reaches its peak when we experience death!!!"

"..."

"Listen well. This is my true authority! [Truth Manipulation]!"

"...! This crazy bitch..."

Seeing her reveal her ability out loud, I hurriedly summon the [Wheel].

"I, rewrite..."

For an instant, I feel it.

The power of the [Wheel] and Oh Hye-seo's authority, [Truth Manipulation], collide.

As the past rewrites itself, the fact that she spoke those words is erased, and I am suddenly thrust into a world drenched in blood by some bizarre authority.

"Reading the [truth], flipping that truth inside out, and as I please..."

Watching Oh Hye-seo flaunt her ability after pulling me into this alternate space, I let out a small sigh.

: : Filling the Heavens Governing View. : :

Shaaaaaa—

A hazy mist spreads, covering the blood-colored sea.

Oh Hye-seo's pointless explanation is cut off mid-sentence, failing to deliver.

"Ahahaha! It's this again, Seo Eun-hyun? Yeah...I still remember. You cornered Seo Hweol with this Filling the Heavens Governing View. But do you hear that? Seo Hweol is whispering to me. He's telling me that this time, he won't lose!"

I squint as I watch Oh Hye-seo draw power from the blood-colored sea.

From that sea, I sense the power of an all-too-familiar being.

'It's a portion of my Senior Brother's authority...'

The Great Mountain Supreme Deity, Gwak Am.

It belongs to my Senior Brother.

Clicking my tongue, I look at Oh Hye-seo.

Because she claims Seo Hweol is whispering to her, I glanced again just in case...but, as expected.

Even with my True Immortal eyes, there's no sign of Seo Hweol.

No spirit, no configuration.

All that exists is Oh Hye-seo herself, having inherited a part of Seo Hweol's heart that resided in the deepest depths of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.

She is simply rambling to herself, practicing repentant enlightenment under the influence of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, and reflecting on Seo Hweol's heart within her own heart.

'If I were to put it in Earth's terms...how ironic.'

Oh Hye-seo, who carries Seo Hweol's heart, has become exactly like the Mad Lord he despised.

"It's part of the Blood Sea of the Red Summit Great Mountain Life Phenomena Extinguishing Great Emperor. In here, I am equal to an Upper Immortal..."

"I've always wondered..."

I cut off Oh Hye-seo's rambling, summoning my true body into this strange space.

Dududududu!

Glaring at her from the center of the Glass True Fire's candle flame, I draw forth the Three Great Ultimates and smirk.

: : If you keep hitting the Mad Lord, would even he return to sanity? In front of someone far stronger, someone of a vastly higher rank, wouldn't even their rage be controllable? That kind of thought... : :

Though the Mad Lord faced Jang Ik once before, honestly, I don't consider that a proper encounter.

: : I guess I'll test it with you. : :

Heaven, Earth, Heart, and Wheel merge.

At the same time, my true body, having reached the realm of a True Immortal, hums and resonates.

Oh Hye-seo laughs as she stares at me.

"Don't be ridiculous, Seo Eun-hyun. You think you're stronger than us? In this Blood Sea, against me and Seo Hweol...you'll never win!"

Flash!

The light of Glass Peacock erupts from Oh Hye-seo.

At the same time, I charge straight through the light and slam my fist into Oh Hye-seo's face.

"...Huh?"

Kwagwagwagwang!

Her head explodes instantly, and cracks spread like a spider web across this Blood Sea space.

Chiiiiii!

Regenerating within the Blood Sea, Oh Hye-seo detonates the Glass Peacock's light again like flash bombs.

"Wh-What? Why isn't the power of the Glass Peacock..."

Kwarurururung!

Ignoring the light once more, I leap at her and chop down with my hand blade.

Jjeoooong!

The Blood Sea shatters again, and she screams.

"Why? Why isn't it working!? Why isn't it working!?"

Oh Hye-seo pulls out the Space Labyrinth Divine Power of Azure Peng, but I completely break through it in a single breath and grab her shoulders.

: : You don't know a damn thing about addiction... You think that just wielding power that toys with the truth can make you Glass Peacock themself? Azure Peng themself? : :

"Th-This can't be happening!? This can't be happening! G-Glass Peacock's power is invincible! The Glass Avidyā Advancement Light has always been the stronge—"

Kwaaaang!

I slam my hand blade down on Oh Hye-seo's face, splitting her in half.

Though she revives within the Blood Sea, every time I exert my strength, the entire space crumbles further.

Perhaps because it's a place that's half-similar to the True Immortal Plane, even the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag doesn't function.

Unleashing my full power, I smirk, flying at her once more and crushing her shoulder in my grip.

: : Keep flaunting that so-called 'strongest'. From now on, this Immortal... : :

Still holding her shoulder, I raise my hand blade again.

: : ...will heal you. : :

Jjeooong!

Once again, Oh Hye-seo is split in half and killed.

: : So, be grateful. : :