Chapter 149: 14th Cycle's First Day

No matter how many times I experience it, I can never get used to it. It's always an unpleasant sensation.

Afterall, every moment before death is a completely different situation.

Wo-woong!

A barrier unfolds on the Flying Immortal Platform under my feet, and the surrounding space stabilizes.

The situation is right after ascending to the Bright Cold Realm.

And then.

That disgusting voice I heard at the end of my last life.

"Make your choice. We'll soon scatter according to the guidance of the Bright Cold Realm's seniors. Which faction will you join?"

I blink my eyes and look around.

Jin Byuk-ho.

Heo Gwak.

Cheongmun Sunwoo.

Seo Hweol...

And.

The Mad Lord.

After looking around once more,

I look at Kim Yeon, who is foaming at her mouth, collapsed next to the Mad Lord.

"...Could you please hold on for a moment?"

Without waiting for Seo Hweol's response, I immediately approach the collapsed Kim Yeon next to the Mad Lord.

The Mad Lord's eyes sparkle, but ignoring his gaze, I immediately press the acupoint of the fainted Kim Yeon.

"Uh, Ugh!"

Kim Yeon gasps for breath and opens her eyes.

"Wha, what…? Is that you, Deputy Seo…?"

And before Kim Yeon could fully regain her consciousness.

I hugged her tightly.

"Hoho…"

The Mad Lord looks at me with interest, and confusion is evident in the eyes of the others.

"Yeon-ah."

I call her name.

"I like you. And I will continue to like you."

The promise I made with her in the last life.

Continuing into the future, into the next life.

Even if the Kim Yeon of the next life is not the one I know.

I promised to love her, over and over again.

So, without hesitation, I held her and confessed.

"Ye, yes…?"

Kim Yeon looks around, bewildered, not understanding the situation.

Then, her face suddenly turns bright red.

"Ah, no… Is this, a dream?"

While holding her, I infuse her body with the spiritual power of Yuan Li's Blood Body without revealing my Formless Sword.

A small spell is engraved within her body.

A spell so I can continue to track her position in the future.

Since it's made referencing the spiritual energy circuits of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, there's no worry of being detected by the Mad Lord inside the fortress.

After holding the still confused her a bit longer,

I stand up and speak.

"Sir Jo Yeon."

A madman doesn't understand unless spoken to under the logic of the madman.

However, I have fully understood the logic of this madman by associating with him for over a thousand years..

"Yeon has the qualities of an excellent puppeteer. As someone who was her colleague, I can attest to that."

"Hoh…?"

"So, please raise her to be an excellent puppeteer. Someday, I will enter the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and become one of your [residents]. As a [resident] of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, I wish to be controlled by Yeon, who has become a puppeteer. I wish to be controlled by a fully accomplished puppeteer, so please do not modify her too much."

I fully lay bare my infatuation in front of him, saying I wish to be manipulated by the person I love.

There's no logic more appealing to a madman obsessed with puppets.

As expected, the Mad Lord bursts into tears and claps wildly.

"Ahhh…! Beautiful! Okay, okay! I'll do that! I will teach this child well. But, does that mean you want to become a [resident] right now?"

I shake my head.

"No. If you modify me in my current state, you would only get a Qi Building stage puppet. I do not wish for such a weak puppet to be used by Yeon. Therefore, I will train to become a more excellent puppet and will come to the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress on my own someday."

"Aaaaaah…!"

The Mad Lord sheds tears of emotion.

"What a splendid fellow! Okay, okay! The doors of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress will always be open for you!"

Kim Yeon, with a puzzled expression, listens to our conversation, and the Mad Lord, moved to tears, pats my shoulder.

Adjusting my explanation to fit the logic of the madman seems to have made it clear.

'This should be for the best.'

I bow to the Mad Lord and turn around.

I can't take Kim Yeon away from this madman right now.

It's clear that trying to take what he considers his would only make him more agitated and lash out….

I turn my back on the Mad Lord and look at the other forces.

It's obvious who I will go to.

'First….'

"I have always admired the reputation of Azure Tiger Saint Cheongmun Sunwoo, the founder of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect and the great ancestor of the Cheongmun Clan. Since I have had connections with the people of the Cheongmun Clan before, may I have your permission to receive the teachings of Azure Tiger Saint?"

I speak in the language of Byeokra and perform a respectful bow to Azure Tiger Saint.

Azure Tiger Saint laughs heartily with his arms crossed.

"Hahaha! Good! The Azure Heaven Creation Sect does not discriminate against anyone, so you too can become a distinguished disciple of our sect!"

"Thank you!"

And just like last time, when the green-armored wooden man tells us to go to our respective forces,

"Don'tWantToDon'tWantToDon'tWantToDon'tWantTo ... Do not command me...! [She] is speaking! Silence!"

The Mad Lord, having a tantrum, opens a box and takes out the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

Kugugugu!

And, just like last time, the same scene unfolds.

Seo Hweol quickly flees with Gyu-ryeon and the demon beasts, and Azure Tiger Saint erects a familiar barrier.

Kugugugugu!

The blue barrier covers my surroundings.

The sky flashes as the Mad Lord and Four-Axis cultivators collide.

And then.

Swoosh!

The Mad Lord, once again, captures the green-armored wooden man with the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and flies off into the distance with [Her].

[That madman!]

[Issue a bounty for him!]

The cultivators on the Flying Immortal Platform shout angrily towards the Mad Lord.

As the cultivators are raging against the Mad Lord,

Azure Tiger Saint looks at me worriedly and asks.

"By the way, are you really going to become a puppet to seek out that madman?"

I shake my head.

"No. I only said so because the person who was collapsed next to him is someone I like."

"Hahaha! Brilliant! To deceive that madman, the Mad Lord, for the sake of a comrade!"

Azure Tiger Saint laughs heartily.

Fsssh...

Azure Tiger Saint lifts the barrier, and Jin Byuk-ho and Heo Gwak also release their barriers, laughing.

"That's quite the feat. Deceiving that madman to ensure the safety of a comrade."

"It's a pity. Black Ghost Valley would have treated you well if you chose to come."

Heo Gwak looks at me with their androgynous appearance, licking their lips.

I also show my respect and reply.

"Having a small connection with Elder Song Jin of Azure Ghost Valley, I too feel a bit regretful."

"Oh, with Elder Song?"

"Yes, the great person who decided to stay in the lower realm to protect the Nether Crossing Ship that was destroyed in battle with the Mad Lord."

"Ah, to think you were an acquaintance with Elder Song, truly regrettable. If you had come, we would have treated you well."

"Haha, having had a relationship with the Cheongmun Clan before..."

"Then, it can't be helped..."

After briefly interacting with Heo Gwak,

I then respectfully address Jin Byuk-ho.

"I have something to say to the Sect Master of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect."

"What is it?"

Jin Byuk-ho, who was watching our conversation with interest, asks.

I speak directly without beating around the bush.

"By any chance, do you know about the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's immortal treasure, the Heavenly Lightning Banner?"

"...? Of course. It's the divine artifact of our sect..."

"Then..."

Without hesitation, I tell Jin Byuk-ho about the contents of the upper stele that was in the lower realm.

"...thus, due to the great war 40,000 years ago, the top part of the stele was damaged. And as I mentioned, possessing the immortal treasure Heavenly Lightning Banner can be dangerous..."

Kwarrrr!

Lightning struck down from the sky towards me.

"...!"

I clench my teeth and collapse as I'm struck by the lightning.

[How dare you, spouting nonsense about our sect's immortal treasure as if you know anything about it...!? Do you have any proof that what you're saying is true? If you knew this, why didn't you speak up when we met last time?]

Kurung, Kurung!

Jin Byuk-ho's body is enveloped in golden lightning, transforming into a lightning deity.

[You wouldn't say something absurd like you didn't know this when we met in the lower realm last time, would you? You're not going to tell me that during the few days of our ascension, you found the old temple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect in the middle of the Heaven-Treading Desert, discovered the top part of the stele in the center of that temple, and deciphered the ancient language to learn all this?]

"..."

He guessed correctly, but admitting it would seem like a mockery to him and will only fuel his anger further.

[Be thankful you joined the Azure Heaven Creation Sect! If it weren't for Azure Tiger Saint's face, I would have turned you into ashes and sold your soul to Black Ghost Valley!]

Pajijijijitt!

After absorbing the golden lightning back into his body, he turns and walks away from the Flying Immortal Platform.

Other cultivators from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect who have come with him follow suit.

"Hmm, honestly, your words don't carry much credibility, so it's no wonder Master Jin of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect reacted that way. Maybe when you have cultivated more and your words carry more weight, you can try speaking again."

Tap, tap!

Azure Tiger Saint pats my shoulder, and a blue spiritual energy envelops my body, healing my wounds.

"...Thank you."

Woosh!

Then, from above the sky.

The Four-Axis cultivators who failed in their pursuit of the Mad Lord descended.

[First, let's make identity plaques for everyone. Follow me.]

Guided by the Four-Axis cultivators, members of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, Azure Heaven Creation Sect, Black Ghost Valley, as well as various other cultivators from the righteous and devilish alliances followed them.

We descended from the Flying Immortal Platform and moved to another location.

[This place is called Kunlun Castle, located in the domain known as the Kunlun Central Area.]

A blue-skinned cultivator of another race led us and continued explaining.

[With the vitality of the Bright Cold Realm and the opening of spatial rifts connecting to the lower realms, we built the Flying Immortal Platform here to manage those who come from the lower realm. Since numerous races ascend from numerous lower realms, there are no wars or conflicts in this place.]

'Numerous lower realms...'

Indeed, there are other lower realms besides the Head Realm.

'In my past life, I only lived as a puppet for countless years, never having access to proper information.'

At best, I only know when major events will occur.

We follow the Four-Axis cultivator through several gates of Kunlun Castle, moving towards a destination.

When we pass through a large blue jade-colored gate of Kunlun Castle,

Bustle, bustle...

We see a massive crowd.

"Oh, who are these?"

Interest sparkles in Azure Tiger Saint's eyes.

I look at the people in the grand hall, slightly intimidated.

Each one is a Heavenly Being cultivator.

[These are cultivators who ascended from different lower realms than you. They came up using different Flying Immortal Platforms. Kunlun Castle has many such platforms.]

After finishing his words, the Four-Axis cultivator flies up and shouts.

[Cultivators who ascended from the Astral Realm, head over there, and those from the Decaying Corpse Realm, go in that direction!]

Following his words, dozens of cultivators head to their respective destinations.

Azure Tiger Saint asks the Four-Axis cultivator.

"What are the Astral Realm and Decaying Corpse Realm?"

[Oh, I haven't explained that to your group yet. To put it simply... was your land flat or round?]

"Um...?"

[The lower realms protected by some invisible force, where the land is flat, are collectively called the Decaying Corpse Realm. The lower realms where the land is round and the sky stretches infinitely are known as the Astral Realm.]

Hearing this, Azure Tiger Saint and others look towards where the Decaying Corpse Realm cultivators go.

"Then we must be from the Decaying Corpse Realm."

Azure Tiger Saint walks among the Decaying Corpse Realm ascended cultivators, and Jin Byuk-ho and White Bone Ghost Devil also lead their respective Heavenly Being elders into that group.

The Heavenly Being cultivators from other lower realms, sensing the early Four-Axis stage auras emanating from Azure Tiger Saint, White Bone Ghost Devil, and Jin Byuk-ho, cautiously step back.

[Now, let's issue the identity plaques. Everyone...]

Azure Tiger Saint's Heavenly Being elders, and the Nascent Soul cultivators following them were able to receive their identity plaques.

However, the numerous disciples of the sects brought from the lower realm were told they couldn't all receive identification plaques.

[Damn it! You're telling me you brought your entire sects to ascend together!? How is that even possible with the spatial pressure increasing to insane levels!?]

The elder of Kunlun Castle responsible for creating identification plaques is visibly frustrated, shouting loudly.

[Are you telling me I have to create identity plaques for millions of these people!? Stop talking nonsense! Make some sense! What kind of monsters are you to collectively ascend your entire sects!? Even if you reduced the burden by deploying formations within compressed spaces, it still doesn't make sense!]

After some arguing, it was decided that the disciples of the three sects would go to the Human Territory to receive their plaques.

And then.

Kugugugugu!

We, led by the Four-Axis cultivators who came to meet us from each race.

Scattered from Kunlun Castle to various racial territories.

"Ha, this is crazy. Our Human Race ascended in such large numbers this time..."

Our Four-Axis guide,

Heo Ryeong, one of the ancestors from Black Ghost Valley, looks at us incredulously.

"Really... Even though they are my latter generation, what have they done?"

"Heo Gwak greets the ancestor."

"...I heard you ascended to the Four-Axis as soon as you ascended. Really... this generation, huh..."

Heo Ryeong looks around at us for a moment, then with a flick of his tongue, floats into the air.

"Now then, everyone follow me! We're going to the Human Territory!"

Including other human cultivators who ascended from different lower realms, those from the three sects took out their flying artifacts and headed towards the Human Territory.

Whooooosh!

Chief Oh Hyeon-seok and I first boarded the flying artifact provided by Azure Tiger Saint and flew off.

I could have flown there directly with my Formless Sword, but fearing I might be mistaken for a spy from the Heart Tribe, I slowly unraveled the Formless Sword from within my body and dispelled it.

The Four-Axis cultivators fly at the front, and since the flying artifact carrying me and Chief Oh follow right behind Azure Tiger Saint, I can hear the conversations among the Four-Axis cultivators.

"Ancestor, could you perhaps give us a brief explanation about the Bright Cold Realm?"

"Sure, it's not anything difficult. Although there must've been information handed down to you, let me explain first..."

Information regarding the Bright Cold Ream begins to flow from Heo Ryeong's mouth.

"There are three major tribes in the Bright Cold Realm: the Heaven Tribe (天族), the Earth Tribe (地族), and the Heart Tribe (心族)."

"Hmm? But it seemed like there were many more races in the grand hall we were just in..."

One of the Heavenly Being cultivators following behind mutters in confusion, and Heo Ryeong responds.

"That's correct. There are an enormous number of races. However, since it's impossible to know all of them, in the Bright Cold Realm, the characteristics of the races are broadly divided into three: Heaven, Earth, and Heart."

He continues his explanation.

"The criteria for dividing into the three major tribes is just one thing: [Vision].

The Heaven Tribe are those who find rituals suitable for their race, offer sacrifices to the heavens, and possess the eyes to read celestial energy. Our Human Race is included in this category.

The Earth Tribe are those who train their bodies, pushing physical limits to awaken certain senses, possessing the eyes to read the spiritual energy of the Earth. Mostly, the demons born from beasts make up the absolute majority.

And lastly, the Heart Tribe..."

I listen even more intently, focusing on Heo Ryeong's explanation regarding the Heart Tribe.