chpater 20
!
[Take this!]
Just this one instant!
Tribulating Heavens Beyond the Path (越道劫天)!
The Formless Sword transcends the plane, reaching the plane of Fate in this fleeting instant!
I soar into the sky, past Kim Young-hoon, past Jeon Myeong-hoon embracing Yeon Jin, and as the Tribulation to the Heavens (劫天), I tear through space while ravaging away the Heavenly Tribulation.
I feel as if all the volcanic energy filling my body is exhausted in this one strike.
"———!"
Indescribable pain fills my entire body.
'Please, please!'
A strike akin to a gamble!
Indeed, can a mortal body that has sacrificed everything truly reach the plane of Fate?
But then,
Crack, crackle!
Suddenly, I am surrounded by a seven-colored lightning.
I see a vision of a shadow, crying tears of blood, pushing its hand out towards me from beyond Shattered Heaven Peak.
In the next moment, I feel as if something pushes my back, and I 'enter' somewhere.
Kugugugu—
Despite my entire body bursting apart, I ascend.
With all the destructive force gathered through Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains and pouring out all my curses, I hone my will sharply to become poison and cast tribulation upon the heavens!
Finally, I reach an indescribably vast and massive world and see it—facing the source of the Heavenly Tribulation...
I swing!
Flash!
"…!"
Whooosh—
As I come to my senses, I realize I am falling from the sky.
Without a single ounce of strength left in my entire body.
Falling in such a state, I look at the heavens and smirk.
"Fate..."
Do you see it, oh heavens?
This lowly being.
"Has been cut through by me…"
Whooosh—
I have defeated you.
Now that I have wrung out all the strength in my body,
If I fall like this, I will surely die.
But I'm not worried about dying a miserable death from falling.
"Seo Eun-hyun!"
"Seo Eun-hyun!"
Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon, both simultaneously fly to catch me as I fall, bringing me down to Shattered Heaven Peak.
"...It's over."
Blood-soaked, I look at the sky and smirked.
The sky is split in all directions, filled with spatial rifts due to my sword strike.
But between the rifts, the celestial energy has returned to normal.
As I look at the sky,
Yeon Wei, nestled against Jeon Myeong-hoon's side, squirms.
"Uh, ugh... Where is this? Jeon... no, Senior Brother Jin Myeong-hoon?"
However, it seems Yeon Wei fell back asleep, and it's Yeon Jin who woke up.
Yeon Jin looks up at Jeon Myeong-hoon and says,
"Uh, senior brother. I'm sorry, but could you put me down?"
"…"
Suddenly looking down at Yeon Jin, Jeon Myeong-hoon begins to cry.
He sets Yeon Jin down and suddenly embraces him.
"Kuaaaaaaaaa!"
A scream mixed with grief, wrath, and relief.
These mixed emotions burst forth from the depths of Jeon Myeong-hoon.
"Huaaaaaa! Aaaaaaa! Aaaaaaaaa!!!"
"Hu, Hua! Sen, senior brother?"
Yeon Jin seems flustered but manages to comfort Jeon Myeong-hoon, who continues to shed hot tears, shouting at me.
"Seo Eun-hyun!!!"
"...What... is it."
"...I'm sorry."
Drip, drip, drip, drip….
Once again feeling as if the sect had been destroyed.
Jeon Myeong-hoon endlessly cries out.
"I'm sorry, Seo Eun-hyun. I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!! And…"
These apologies are not just directed at me.
They are apologies meant for his family that he couldn't protect, who had died.
At the same time, they are apologies for not having trusted me.
For a while, he just buries his face in Yeon Jin's chest, sobbing like that.
'Still... there are many unresolved emotions remaining?'
I watch Jeon Myeong-hoon's intent for a while and then sigh deeply.
Despite the Heavenly Punishment being over, human emotions remain.
"...Jeon Myeong-hoon."
His intent is bleak.
Crimson, red, dark blue…
A terrible vortex of negative intents all mixed together—a horrifying abyss. Probably, anyone else seeing this abyss wouldn't dare to comfort him.
They wouldn't even know how to begin.
But, I calmly open my mouth.
"It's not your fault."
Whether that is true or not.
I remember the time when I lost everything to Yuan Li, seeing Jeon Myeong-hoon on the verge of entering the same abyss I had.
Perhaps I might be the only one here who can understand his rage.
"It's not… your fault."
I spit out a mouthful of blood and chuckle wryly.
"It's just… the world that's messed up… that's all. So..."
I continue, looking at Jeon Myeong-hoon's intent.
"Forgive. Jeon Myeong-hoon… forgive yourself."
When a person is consumed by anger, by madness and pain,
I know best how miserable it makes them, which is why I dare to offer this comfort.
And then, Jeon Myeong-hoon's intent begins to calm down.
Slowly, he lifts his head, gradually.
And quietly, he responds.
"...You, you can't understand my feelings."
"I know."
People cannot understand each other.
No matter how close they are or even if they experience the same events.
Because they are others, they cannot become oneself.
But still…
He lifts his head while tears stream down his face.
"...Thank you."
Crrrack….
He embraces Yeon Jin even tighter, his face distorted with tears, and says,
"Thank you, really thank you. Really… thank you!"
Yeon Jin coughs as if it's hard to breathe, but Jeon Myeong-hoon holds on without caring, and Kim Young-hoon laughs heartily watching him.
What does that thank you mean?
Thanking me, or thanking me, Yeon Jin, and everyone in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect for living.
Or thanking his own situation...
'There could be various meanings… but what does it matter?'
"...Yeah."
After responding to him,
Covered in blood, I smile and close my eyes.
We thus,
Overcame the fate imposed by the Owner of Heavenly Punishment.
'That's... enough.'
"Seo, Seo Eun-hyun? Don't die!"
"Wait, Deputy Seo?"
That, is my eighteenth return…
"Seo Eun-hyun!!! Don't die!!!"
"No!!! Wait!"
...or so I thought.
Splurt!
I vomit blood and retort.
"...I'm, not… dead yet…."
Cough, cough…
Somehow, I have a feeling this life is going to be a long one.
With that premonition, I smile and lose consciousness, the last thing I see being the two of them running towards me in shock to check on me.
Kurung, Kururung...
[This is a place where an Ender who has not realized their fate reaches through a miraculous probability...]
I open my eyes.
A space filled with seven-colored lightning.
There, I open my mouth while looking at a familiar afterimage.
"...Yang Su-jin."
Translator Notes: The Three Great Ultimates is also known as Samtaeguk or Gakyil. If you search it up, it's basically the Taiji diagram but with three colors instead of two. The Samtaeguk consists of blue representing the heavens, the red representing the earth, and the yellow representing humans. The Gakyil is more deeply related to Tibetan and Eastern Asian Buddhism.
Chapter 269: Heavenly Being Stage (天人期)Translator: TranslatingNovice
Editor: Z0Rel
Chapter 269: Heavenly Being Stage (天人期)
I find myself in a space filled with seven-colored lightning.
At its center, I gaze upon a shadow shedding tears of blood.
'Did I shout 'Shattered Heaven' back then?'
Thinking back, it seems likely since I was causing trouble atop Shattered Heaven Peak.
Amidst the frantic confusion, I spoke swiftly, cursing at Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon.
'Well, putting that aside…'
I recall the last time I used the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique.
Certainly, I saw the afterimage of Yang Su-jin, and as he reached out his hand, I felt 'pushed' and managed to slice through fate.
"Was it you who helped me?"
[Yes.]
"…At the bottom of the Netherworld, I faced the remnant you left behind and received the transmission of the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique."
[Is that so.]
I look at him and ask.
"I must tell you one thing. I am very negative about your 'non-human' theory, and I do not agree with it. If we follow your theory, then the beings called Enders, who follow fate, are no different from non-humans, right?"
[Indeed.]
"...?"
I feel something strange in his oddly enlightened tone.
Drip, drip…
The bloody tears from the shadow's eyes begin to grow thicker.
[The remnant you met was created before I faced ■■… He was overconfident and deluded into thinking he could achieve anything at that time.]
"…"
I shudder at the profound despair emanating from the afterimage of Yang Su-jin.
[Because I spoke out my fate, I thought there was no chance in the final battle with ■■ and wanted to change fate. Of course, I knew it was impossible, but I thought I had a chance if I could seize the domain of Heavenly Punishment… However, I was wrong…]
The crimson tears from the remnant of Yang Su-jin grows more numerous, gradually staining his dark body red.
[You are right. There is a severe contradiction in my non-human theory.]
His next words make me shudder.
[We are nothing more than non-humans ourselves. We are mere toys, less than dust… Everything we have built is…all meaningless…]
Sururu.
The completely crimson remnant of Yang Su-jin begins to scatter.
[Later generation… Be careful with the fate you've received. Keep silent about the miracles you can cause. Hide the gifts you have received from the world. Among the Governing Immortals, there is only one you can trust.]
With each word he utters, the remnant of Yang Su-jin gradually scatters, and eventually, completely dissipates into the air.
[If you carelessly speak of matters related to fate, even the last speck of hope will be crushed… Do not follow in my footsteps.]
With those final words, Yang Su-jin completely vanishes.
I watch his end and close my eyes.
Blink—
When I open my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling is above me.
'This is…'
It seems like a cave.
Unexpectedly, there is a significant amount of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy in the atmosphere for the Head Realm.
Sururuk…
As I get up, the soft blanket flows off my body.
It appears that someone had prepared bedding in this cave-like place and laid me down.
Not only that, but the cave is filled with spiritual herbs and elixirs, and beneath the bed, a formation that boosts vitality is spread out.
"This is…"
Feeling a strange familiarity, I gather my consciousness.
Wo-woong!
A vast domain of consciousness bursts forth from my upper dantian.
Kugugugu!
The intent of a Heavenly Being has power in itself.
Thus, just by expanding the domain of consciousness, Heaven and Earth tremble, and the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth begins to stir.
"Hoo…"
Within a radius of two hundred li, everything becomes clear as if it's held in my hand.
This is the expanse of the consciousness domain of a Grand Perfection Heavenly Being that I have achieved.
And as soon as I expand my realm of consciousness, I know where this place is.
"Ascension Path...!?"
It's the cave where my colleagues and I had first stayed.
It seems I was brought here because Ascension Path is the place in the Head Realm where the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth is thickest.
Wo-woong!
"Hmm?"
As I rise from the bed, I feel the life-enhancing formation hum and send a signal somewhere.
It seems like Jeon Myeong-hoon and other disciples from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect had set this up.
'Well, I'll know if I wait.'
I get up and walk out of the cave.
"Hoo...."
It really has been a long time.
I remember the time when I first met the three cultivators at the Heavenly Being stage in front of this cave.
Now, I have successfully reached the same realm as those Heavenly Being stage cultivators back then.
What would happen if I went back to that time now?
Perhaps I would have intimidated them and taken my colleagues away, claiming them as my disciples.
Swish—
I quietly raise one hand towards the sky.
With my finger, I trace a line towards the heavens.
Kugugugu!
At the same time, the spiritual energy vibrates, and the celestial phenomenon changes by my will.
Wo-woong!
It was as if lightning had struck when Jin Byuk-ho was enraged.
At my wish, dark clouds began to billow in the sky exactly in the shape I had traced with my finger.
Sssshhhhhh—
This is the realm of Heaven and Man Unity.
Merely by desire, rain falls, and I can freely manipulate the forces of nature.
Crash!
When I clench my fist, the dark clouds filling the sky swell in size and soon spread throughout the entire Ascension Path, beginning to sprinkle rain.
Ssshhh—
In an instant, rain falls everywhere in Ascension Path, and heavy rain begins to pour.
Surururu…
As I spread my hands and lower my arms, the rain turns into sleet and then transforms into pristine white snow, coloring Ascension Path.
I rise into the air amidst the snowstorm.
Flight in the Core Formation stage is a type of 'technique' that lightly manipulates the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth around the Golden Core.
But from the Heavenly Being Stage onwards, it feels as if the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth naturally lifts me as soon as I will it.
No spiritual power is consumed.
I fly up into the sky, reaching above the dark clouds.
Kugugugu!
Gradually the blizzard intensifies, and soon it becomes a dragon's ascent (watersprout), wreaking havoc across various parts of Ascension Path.
Wo-woong—
A circular halo appears behind my head.
Although it does not bring forth the Three Great Ultimates, purely the power of a Heavenly Being of the Heaven Tribe is so formidable.
Kugugugu—
As I wave my hand, even without forming any special seals, whirlwinds multiply into dozens and spread throughout Ascension Path.
As I spread my arms, the whirlwinds scatter and disappear..
However, the sky churns and thunder roars from various areas.
The sky is covered with a sea of lightning!
Following that, hail falls, and a tidal wave surges, dropping water beneath Ascension Path.
I command the celestial phenomenons at will from above Ascension Path, waving my arms.
And at that moment.
Boom!
As I clench my fist, a gale blows, pushing all the celestial phenomenons outside Ascension Path, clearing it away.
"This is… the Heavenly Being stage."
The realm of resonating with celestial phenomenon through will.
Where the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth and consciousness unite, with the size of the consciousness becoming power itself.
From the Heavenly Being stage, one can manifest the attributes of the methods they have practiced into celestial phenomenons.
A cultivator who has mastered the Earth attribute method can induce earthquakes and tsunamis.
A cultivator who has mastered the Water attribute method can bring about rain and heavy snow.
A cultivator who has mastered the Fire attribute method can cause droughts and wildfires.
A cultivator who has mastered the Wood attribute method can summon lightning and promote the growth of forests.
A cultivator who has mastered the Metal attribute method can control storms and magnet force.
Such celestial phenomenons can be summoned and 'pulled forth' at will by Heavenly Being cultivators, and they call this manipulation of celestial energy [Celestial Energy Guidance].
The Mad Lord tried to strangle Yuan Li from thousands of li away using the same principle, turning a curse into a celestial phenomenon and directing it at Yuan Li.
Furthermore, which attribute is emphasized becomes crucial in the late Nascent Soul stage due to such attribute-specific control.
However, due to the effects of the Five Surpassing Paths to Cultivation and the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture, I can guide all five elemental attributes through Celestial Energy Guidance.
'Even common members of the demon race can guide all five elements of celestial energy...'
They are not specialized compared to the cultivators of the Heaven Tribe.
Only a few demon beasts born with immortal beast lineage are specialized in the attributes governed by their immortal beast lineage, but those not born with immortal beast lineage often chose to infinitely strengthen their bodies through Celestial Energy Guidance
But since I have learned all five elements through the methods of the Heaven Tribe, all five are as specialized as those of the Heaven Tribe cultivators while also being as versatile as those of the Earth Tribe cultivators.
This alone significantly differentiates me from typical Heavenly Being stage cultivators. If I mix in the power of Tribulating Heavens and draw the Three Great Ultimates, and even use the puppetry circuits on top of that, just how powerful could I become?
I realize that even I do not fully understand the extent of my power.
'This is something I'll have to figure out over time.'
I check my condition and look behind me.
Crackle, sizzle...
"…Are you awake?"
"You've recovered, then."
Suddenly, Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon had flown over and were looking at me.
I grin and nod my head.
"Yes, I slept well."
"I thought you were a goner. It was tough forcing the disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect to raid nearby cultivator clans to make medicine from spiritual herbs to shove down your throat."
"…You were the one who shoved it in?"
"No, I had Yeon Jin do it."
"…."
Then why is he taking the credit?
I glance at Jeon Myeong-hoon, clicking my tongue, and then look at Kim Young-hoon.
"It seems my body has somewhat recovered."
Kim Young-hoon grins and reaches for his scabbard.
"Well, honestly, there's no need for long talks, right?"
"…."
Of course.
My hand is itching to draw the Formless Sword and swing it at Kim Young-hoon.
But I suppress my desire and ask.
"There's one thing I need to confirm."
"What is it?"
"Last time, Young-hoon Hyung-nim, you mentioned the realm of Shattering Heavens Beyond the Path. Is that correct?"
"That's right."
"But, Yeon Wei's reaction at that time. And... now that I see it with my own eyes, it's even clearer."
I swallow hard and ask.
"You're not... just Shattering Heavens Beyond the Path, are you?"
"…."
Kim Young-hoon seems to pause in silence for a moment, then smiles faintly.
It's a smile of affirmation.
Chill…
I feel goosebumps rise on my skin.
Yes, this is the 'Kim Young-hoon' I know.
The reason Yeon Wei was terrified when she saw Kim Young-hoon back then.
And the strange sense of unease I feel from him now.
And the 'golden Peng' I saw during our descent to the lower realm.
When everything is combined, only one conclusion emerges.
"Young-hoon Hyung-nim. You are, beyond Shattering Heavens... a realm that someone I know calls 'One Step Before the Throne.' And the current you, that is, the you who overcame the Heavenly Tribulation with us at Shattered Heaven Peak, was not your true self but an avatar, right?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon, failing to understand, alternates his gaze between Kim Young-hoon and me.
I can feel it.
When the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One Jang Ik was in the lower realms, he traversed vast distances across space and time through his cultivation, dispatching his 'avatar.'
The current Kim Young-hoon is an avatar that has reached the same 'One Step Before the Throne' as the one Jang Ik had created.
And, the golden Peng Bird we saw while descending to the lower realm was indeed the true body of Kim Young-hoon, who was ascending at that time.
I feel a thrilling chill throughout my body and chuckle.
"How on earth... how did you reach that realm?"
Kim Young-hoon chuckles as well.
Golden radiance faintly glints in his eyes, reflecting my image.
My expression, somehow, is one of intense excitement.
Yes, it's similar to the smile Kim Young-hoon is pulling up at the corners of his mouth right now.
"Do you want to know?"
Cheolkeok!
He places his hand on the hilt of his blade.
I draw the Colorless Glass Sword from my mouth and reply.
"Of course."
"Is there a need for words?"
I shake my head.
With an exhilarated expression, Kim Young-hoon grips his saber and says,
"I'll show you."
The next moment, the Surpassing Radiant Saber and the Colorless Glass Sword clash, tearing through the instant.
Translator Notes: Kim Young-hoon exceeds all our expectations again!
Chapter 270: Pillar (1)Translator: TranslatingNovice
Editor: Z0Rel
Kim Young-hoon and I step forward at the same time.
Simultaneously, we enter a frozen world.
I unleash my full power without any intention of holding back.
'If I think of Jang Ik's avatar, I cannot afford to relax.'
For ordinary cultivators of the Heaven and Earth Tribes,
Even if they create avatars or externalized spirits, their realm is always lower than the main body, and the power they can exert is significantly reduced.
However, it's different for members of the Heart Tribe.
'The only difference lies in the magnitude of power. The techniques and realm accessible are identical to those of the original body.'
If there is any difference, it would only be in the magnitude of power and the endurance due to the presence or absence of a physical body.
In other words, the Kim Young-hoon before me is no different from the real Kim Young-hoon in a short-term battle.
'A short-term battle is sufficient.'
Smirking, I grip my sword and accelerate my consciousness.
The reach of my consciousness, spanning two hundred li, is endlessly accelerated by my Formless Sword.
At the same time, I achieve Lightning Speed due to Tribulating Heavens.
This vast consciousness is further accelerated.
The pure speed of this Heavenly Tribulation-like Tribulating Heavens is enough to keep up with Jeon Myeong-hoon.
With the acceleration of my consciousness added, I feel as fast as to consider Jeon Myeong-hoon trivial.
We almost simultaneously enter the frozen world and thrust our swords and sabers towards each other.
The next moment.
Pabatt!
"...???"
I suddenly realize that my body has been struck by eight slashes.
In an instant, eight vital points have been cut.
I continuously accelerate my consciousness.
My brain overheats.
Finally, I became aware of Kim Young-hoon above me, brandishing his saber downwards towards me.
Pabatt!
In the realm of extreme speed, I maneuver my body and thrust my sword.
Paang!
But Kim Young-hoon evades in an instant again.
'Insane.'
Even though I accelerated my mind to near-stillness and gained speed close to lightning with Tribulating Heavens, I am barely keeping up through instincts.
I can't even follow him with my eyes!
My Formless Sword tries to capture him, changing infinitely, but the difference in speed is so great that it feels like all possibilities are blocked.
'He's fast.'
If we were to fight seriously, Ascension Path could collapse, so Kim Young-hoon and I are currently fighting with our powers limited to the Core Formation stage.
Yet, even with our powers restricted, our speeds are beyond what that level could possibly follow.
Flash!
Suddenly, Kim Young-hoon who had been sending saber strikes from in front of me appears to my right, enveloped in the Surpassing Radiant Saber, and kicks with a speed transcending lightning.
Whoosh!
I think I have been slashed at from the side, but suddenly, I am flying far away at an unimaginable velocity.
Whoosh!
In this still world, I am moving so fast it is hard to regain my senses.
'Crazy.'
One kick had sent me from the center of Ascension Path all the way to the Heaven-Treading Desert.
Flash!
Before I can think further, Kim Young-hoon appears above me once more, ready to strike down vertically with his Surpassing Radiant Saber.
I chuckle wryly.
Yes, indeed, I cannot even follow his heels with pure martial prowess.
Then...
[Here I come.]
I communicate through heart language, drawing upon the power of demon beast methods.
Kugugugu!
Heaven and Earth spiritual energy fortifies my body.
My vitality surges, and the potential of my flesh soars immensely.
Simultaneously, my upper, middle, and lower dantians are filled and strengthened with life force.
The overheated upper dantian quickly stabilizes due to this enhancement.
I have some leeway now.
Yet, even with the added power of demon beast methods, I continue to accelerate my mind even more.
To the utmost, burn it to the limit!
It feels as if time is being split even further.
Together with this, I gradually begin to 'catch up' to the speed of the golden-clad Kim Young-hoon moving within this frozen world.
[Hmm.]
Kim Young-hoon smiles slightly in surprise in the halted realm.
Is it my imagination?
Or is it because I have entered too deeply into this still space.
It feels as if the surroundings are darkening.
In this world, only Kim Young-hoon and I have any color.
[Are you following me?]
Paang!
We exchange clashes of sword and saber.
Rays clashing with rays.
Our arms seem to split into thousands, and the colorless and golden rays collide wildly in the darkness of stillness.
'It's working!'
I grin, exhilarated.
'I'm keeping up!'
Before I knew it, we had already exchanged tens of thousands of strikes.
Kugugugu!
With each strike exchanged in this extremely rapid world, shockwaves flurry in all directions, stirring up storms throughout the Heaven-Treading Desert.
At the center of the chaos, he and I clash at a speed reminiscent of light.
With every movement we make, the sand melts into glass.
The vicinity of our battlefield quickly turns into a sea of molten glass.
My body heats up so intensely that it seems to melt like water, and I step on this sea of molten glass, locking eyes with Kim Young-hoon.
My body heats to a glowing red, and as I step on the sea of molten glass, akin to water, I lock eyes with Kim Young-hoon.
[If this continues, I will win.]
If I can just keep this up for a day, I can defeat Kim Young-hoon.
Because I am confident that in that time, I can completely exhaust the energy in Kim Young-hoon's avatar.
Of course, I feel that using a slightly more powerful technique would push him even further.
Just when I think so.
[Very well.]
Within the darkness of the stopped world, Kim Young-hoon, wrapped in golden radiance, smiles.
Kuung!
He is struck by my attack and crashes into the sea of glass.
While flying, he changes his posture and seizes the Starting Form, and in the next moment.
He sends me a heart language.
[Then, Seo Eun-hyun.]
Cheolkeok!
With the Heavenly Being's foresight of celestial energy.
The short-term insight of the demon beast methods.
And the sixth sense of seeing intent as a Heart Tribe member.
I see the future of being sliced up just before my death.
[From now on, I will begin to accelerate.]
'What?'
So, was that just now.
The pure capability of Surpassing Radiant Saber without acceleration?
The next moment.
Pukk!
I feel a golden saber entering through my unintentionally opened mouth.
The Surpassing Radiant Saber doesn't stop. It continues into my mouth, severs my spine, and protrudes out the back of my head.
It doesn't end there.
Golden lines begin to embed themselves all over my body.
'I must, must counter…'
Preparing to be sliced up into a Seo Eun-hyun without substance, I try to swing my Colorless Glass Sword at him.
But in an instant.
Flash!
"…!???"
Before I can even realize what is happening,
Kim Young-hoon's strong grip has seized my face and is flying somewhere.
Behind his grip, a trail of golden light stretches out straight.
The next moment.
Boom!
With a tremendous explosion, I crash into [somewhere].
Splurt!
I feel as though my entire body will explode, gushing blood from various places like a fountain.
'This, this is…. where am I?'
The western end!
Beyond Shattered Heaven Peak, the [World's End] I once visited with Buk Hyang-hwa.
'Insane…'
I inwardly chuckle in disbelief, realizing I had gone from the center of the Heaven-Treading Desert to the edge of the world without even noticing.
―――――!
Even sound couldn't catch up to Kim Young-hoon's saber strikes.
I feel countless golden flashes slaughtering my whole body amassed at World's End.
Certainly, I had entered the stopped world too.
I had increased the potential of my flesh with demon beast methods, and there, I accelerated my consciousness of the Heavenly Being stage to the brink of bursting.
The typical consciousness radius of a Heavenly Being stage cultivator is one hundred li.
Mine has a radius of two hundred li.
The consciousnesses of Five Energies Converging to the Origin and Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, Heaven Tribe, and Earth Tribe, all overlapping, make the size of my consciousness absurdly huge compared to those of equal rank.
Yet, even accelerating to the point of burning intensity, I am struggling to even follow Kim Young-hoon's heels.
If this continues like this, I won't be able to keep up.
If that's the case, it can't be helped.
'Demon beast methods felt like martial arts because they are the power of the body, but regrettably, I must resort to using spell techniques as well.'
I begin to draw upon the power of the Heaven Tribe too.
―――――!
Kim Young-hoon, emitting golden radiance from his eyes, launches thousands of slashes at Seo Eun-hyun in the darkness.
'Even Cheongmun Ryeong didn't die despite being sliced several times during his Core Formation days, but how many times must I cut down Seo Eun-hyun at the Heavenly Being stage? It's hard to even guess.'
He intended to stop his slashes once the regeneration slowed.
However, as if he became undying, the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy from the surroundings automatically flowed into Seo Eun-hyun's body, replenishing his vitality.
As long as Heaven and Earth spiritual energy exists here, the person before him is essentially undying.
So, how can he possibly kill this undying body?
Kim Young-hoon's conclusion is simple.
'I just need to keep slashing until every last strand of the local Heaven and Earth spiritual energy is swept away by the aftermath of my slashes!'
――――!
Each time he swings the Surpassing Radiant Saber, shockwaves belatedly explode, causing natural disasters and burning the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth.
If there is no Heaven and Earth spiritual energy left for Seo Eun-hyun to use for regeneration, then victory will undoubtedly be Kim Young-hoon's!
It's when he thought so.
Paaaaaatt!
Seo Eun-hyun's entire body is enveloped in a brilliant white light.
'Flying Escape Technique?'
Kim Young-hoon smirks.
It's a spell used by Core Formation cultivators when they need to move long distances or increase their speed in combat.
Primarily, it involves elevating the flow of spiritual energy etched in the Golden Core, so it's more of a unique capability of Core Formation cultivators than a spell technique.
That is the Flying Escape Technique.
But Kim Young-hoon is not worried.
'At best, it's clumsy. The Flying Escape Technique of Core Formation cultivators can never catch up to me. Even if it's a Heavenly Being cultivator's Flying Escape Technique...'
Kim Young-hoon, lifting the Surpassing Radiant Saber, chuckles in the enveloped darkness.
And in a flash.
Wo-woong!
Through the tip of the Surpassing Radiant Saber, Seo Eun-hyun's Tribulating Heavens.
The intent of the Formless Sword is heard.
―Cut.
It's a voice he would have ignored just moments ago.
However, Kim Young-hoon suddenly feels a chill down his spine.
'This is dangerous.'
Almost instinctively, he steps back.
With one step backwards, he and the Surpassing Radiant Saber instantly move 800 li away in the frozen darkness.
However, Kim Young-hoon's golden pupils shrink tightly in the next moment.
"What!?"
Seo Eun-hyun had followed.
Using the Flying Escape Technique, demon beast methods, and Tribulating Heavens,
Accelerating to the extreme, the white light-clothed Seo Eun-hyun swings his sword at the golden-clad Kim Young-hoon.
Kim Young-hoon grins, staring straight at the sword strike flying towards him from Seo Eun-hyun.
'A direct hit will annihilate the avatar!'
Kim Young-hoon's avatar has the same power as the original body in a short-term fight.
In other words, the current Seo Eun-hyun is capable of exchanging blows on equal footing with the real Kim Young-hoon.
'But he's still a bit slower compared to me.'
Kim Young-hoon faces Seo Eun-hyun's sword with his Surpassing Radiant Saber, dispersing and diverting the force of the strike.
'Even a dodge will lead to annihilation. I need to deflect and neutralize the energy.'
The force it carries is palpable.
Just the shockwave alone will certainly leave his whole body tingling...
"Keok!!! Keh-ugh..."
The next moment, Kim Young-hoon spits out a clump of golden light with a hollow laugh.
Just as Kim Young-hoon had impaled Seo Eun-hyun at the western end.
Under Seo Eun-hyun's strike, Kim Young-hoon was impaled at the northern end.
Beyond the northern plains.
'Just now, the avatar was almost annihilated.'
Kim Young-hoon gathers his energy, salvaging his nearly shattered avatar while lifting the Surpassing Radiant Saber.
Seo Eun-hyun is not as fast as Kim Young-hoon. Hence, even though he had sent Kim Young-hoon flying, he still hasn't caught up to him completely.
'But a proper hit and it's over.'
Kim Young-hoon laughs, sweating coldly.
The laughter continues incessantly.
He is exhilarated.
He feels like he might go mad with joy!
'Was the last time I felt this thrilled since Baduk, when I faced the Mad Man Cheongmun Ryeong at the Nascent Soul stage, and when I faced the Buk Hyang Fleet?'
"Haha..."
Do you know the saying that boredom drives a person mad?
That is precisely the state Kim Young-hoon is in right now.
Flash!
A brilliant white light streaks across towards the northern end.
Bo-oong!
Within the swarm of white light, a formless slash stretches out long, aiming directly at Kim Young-hoon.
Kim Young-hoon quickly dodges the sword strike.
Kuaaaaang!!!
Where he had been standing.
At the northern end of the world, the World Shield Force craters in, and part of the dimensional barrier tears open.
'The dimensional barrier that the main body had to join forces with the Buk Hyang Fleet to tear apart at full strength...'
Kim Young-hoon locks eyes with Seo Eun-hyun, who had torn open the dimensions barrier with the Three Great Ultimates behind his head.
"Ha, haha... The full force of the original body..."
Kim Young-hoon is sweating coldly, and at the same time, he feels a chilling and exhilarating delirium about to drive him insane.
"To you, is it just a 'simple' strike?"
Seo Eun-hyun silently spreads his hands.
Around him, 3,000 Colorless Glass Swords arise, and the Formless Sword interweaves these glass swords.
Paatt!
He swings the Surpassing Radiant Saber without giving Seo Eun-hyun a chance to react.
As Seo Eun-hyun, enveloped in the Formless Sword, waves his hand, the slash from the Surpassing Radiant Saber is deflected, and 3,000 Colorless Glass Swords rain down on the spot Kim Young-hoon had been.
Piiiing!
Seo Eun-hyun opens a sword formation.
Within the sword formation, the sword energy amplifies, and he begins to exude an ominous and chilling intent.
Kugugugu!
Leaving behind the dimensional barrier that is automatically restoring itself due to the world's regenerative power,
Seo Eun-hyun exchanges glances with Kim Young-hoon, his eyes flickering wildly.
Both are madmen.
'Still, I am three moves ahead.'
Kim Young-hoon grins.
Seo Eun-hyun hasn't yet fully adapted to Kim Young-hoon's speed.
He still has the upper hand in speed when facing Seo Eun-hyun.
And.
'That should be enough.'
Kim Young-hoon holds the Surpassing Radiant Saber and smiles.
His mind whirls furiously, analyzing Seo Eun-hyun's movements.
He reads his purpose (意).
Linking situation to situation, he begins to combine martial arts appropriate for the moment.
'Ah...'
Why is it?
Facing Kim Young-hoon, I realize that he is 'creating' a martial art right now.
'How do I know that?'
No matter how much I read his intent or heart essence,
I can only guess about the opponent's 'state' and 'background.'
I can't know everything about the opponent.
There is no way to know what he is thinking right at this moment.
However, somehow I feel that Kim Young-hoon is creating a martial art.
And I seem to know 'what' martial art he is creating.
'Ah...'
Paanng!
Within the sword formation, I compress the Formless Sword into a thread and swing Guiding to the Summit at Kim Young-hoon.
Seeing the technique, Kim Young-hoon flinches slightly, then steps forward with his right foot, cutting through Guiding to the Summit with three slashes and takes the Starting Form.
'Ahhh…!'
I read Kim Young-hoon's 'intention' while continuing to exchange blows with him.
I can feel it.
'What' martial art he is trying to create.
'What intention' he has and 'how' he is creating 'what' martial art.
I think I know!
I realize how this can be possible.
The fourth sense I had recently begun to feel.
Slightly different from the Heart Tribe's vision, but very similar and complementary to it.
This sense is informing me.
Paang!
Sparks fly in my mind.
In my head, the martial art Kim Young-hoon is trying to create starts to be 'predicted'.
I 'predict' what Kim Young-hoon is creating and, before he can execute the martial art, I think of the perfect countermeasure.
And then, as I feign attacking him with my intent, when he actually uses that martial art, I counter it.
Kim Young-hoon then instantly creates a counter-countermeasure in response and retaliates against me.
Even with my senses, I can't follow if he again creates a counter-countermeasure and retaliates against me.
However,
Paang, Paaaang!
With a feeling of sparks flying in my head, I realize something.
"Ah…"
I understand what I have realized.
At the same time, I also finally understand the identity of the fourth sense I had been experiencing up to now.
While performing a horizontal slash at Kim Young-hoon and simultaneously changing my footwork from the lower right to upper left,
Facing his Surpassing Radiant Saber with my Colorless Glass Swords, I exchange what can only be described as [dialogue] with him.
Yes.
This is [dialogue].
At the same time, it is a game of Go (棋).
My 'intention' and Kim Young-hoon's 'intention' intertwine, engaging each other in conversation.
'So, that's it…'
All this time, this is the world Kim Young-hoon had been living in.
At some point, I completely synchronize with Kim Young-hoon, countering the martial arts he creates with my martial prowess, breaking down his moves and countering the counters.
Paang!
In the frozen world, we prepare our decisive strikes to unleash on each other.
But at the last moment.
Kim Young-hoon's Surpassing Radiant Saber accelerates, and my sword does not.
Paang!
Finally, the halted world is released.
Our duel has ended.
"…Ah…"
Kim Young-hoon's Surpassing Radiant Saber is at my neck, and my Formless Sword hangs downward.
However, Kim Young-hoon just smiles silently.
Szzzzz
The golden energy flowing through his worn saber disperses.
"…I have lost."
Kim Young-hoon verbally admits his defeat.
"At the last moment, if you had swung your sword, your head would have flown off, but my body would have exploded into mush. You can regenerate your head, but if my body explodes, that's the end for me, so it's my loss."
"Heh…"
I re-sheath my Colorless Glass Sword into my Golden Core while raising my hand.
And then I wipe my eyes.
Kim Young-hoon looks at me and grins.
"Brilliant. You see and hear the same things I do!"
"…So it seems. You have been living in such a world."
I sit down abruptly.
Tears wouldn't stop.
Not swinging my sword at Kim Young-hoon wasn't due to any sentimental reason.
If anything, had I stopped my sword out of a notion of consideration, Kim Young-hoon would have been furious.
The reason I couldn't swing my sword was that I was overwhelmed by burgeoning emotions.
Today, I understood the identity of the fourth sense.
The sense I had recently begun to awaken,
Is 'the same' as Kim Young-hoon's.
A perception belonging to the same category as 'Kim Young-hoon's talent'!
I had died seventeen times.
Living for 2,500 years, since reaching first-rate, I have never been without a sword.
Martial arts (武) had become my life.
And now, I have finally blossomed the talent that Kim Young-hoon possessed.
It is still incomparable to Kim Young-hoon, as if not even worthy to be dust under his feet.
Kim Young-hoon's sense reaches beyond the heavens.
If his talent feels connected to 'somewhere,' directly receiving creativity from 'somewhere', my talent is akin to water droplets falling drop by drop.
A stalagmite built upon those water droplets.
Even that is minuscule, no larger than a fingernail. To reach beyond the heavens like him, not just a thousand but perhaps a hundred billion years might be needed.
However, what matters is that it blossomed from barren ground.
Currently, merely recognizing intentions is all I can manage.
But if this sense reaches the heavens, combining and deconstructing intentions and creating martial arts in real-time just like Kim Young-hoon might be within my grasp.
Martial arts are my life.
And the martial arts I have diligently practiced have never betrayed me.