Chương 222: 17th Cycle's First Day

Wandering for 500 years with Hong Fan to gather strength and escape the curse, But ultimately failing to completely escape the curse, dying after leaving a will in front of Hong Fan.

That was my seventeenth return.

I blink my eyes and look around.

The familiar figure of Seo Hweol.

And the figures from the Flying Immortal Platform.

"...?????"

'What?'

I feel an overwhelming sense of incongruity.

It's strange.

This is definitely the '17th cycle.'

But I have an overwhelming feeling of déjà vu as if I had jumped directly from the 15th cycle to the 17th.

The memories of just before, accepting Gyu Baek's heart and dying after passing Jang Ik's message to Yu Hwa, are vivid.

It feels like it has just happened.

No, more precisely, it feels as if the '16th cycle' has just vanished entirely.

'Something's wrong.'

I remember there was a 16th cycle.

But I can't remember the 16th cycle.

It feels like I've skipped directly from the 15th to the 17th!

'Why is this happening...'

I hold my head in confusion.

Then it happens.

Zing!

Nine Categories (九疇).

The term 'Nine Categories' is etched into my mind.

'Nine Categories?'

What is this term?

Is it related to the memories of the 16th cycle that I've lost?

'Nine Categories, Nine Categories...'

Amidst my confusion, I repeat the word 'Nine Categories' internally.

Then, at some moment.

'Nine Categories...!'

I feel the realization of what 'Nine Categories' means dawn on me.

'Nine Categories is a [Name]!'

It's someone's name!

As I repeat this [Name] to myself, I suddenly flinch.

I remember the memories from the 15th cycle when I faced disaster for recklessly calling the name of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.

But then, a vague memory surfaces.

'No, that's not it...'

[Nine Categories] is not the name of someone terrifying like the owner of the Heavenly Lightning Banner or anything similar.

Instead, it's a very familiar name, as if uttering 'Nine Categories' poses no threat whatsoever, an unfounded belief that takes hold within me.

'Who is Nine Categories?'

Could it be related to someone who erased my entire 16th cycle from my memory?

'Has a True Immortal, or at least a being above the Star Shattering stage, interfered with me?'

I can think of no other explanation.

"... Hey?"

At that moment, I am startled by Seo Hweol's voice, calling me in a familiar tone.

"Are you alright? You suddenly looked panic-stricken and very confused."

"Ah..."

For now, I set aside my thoughts on 'Nine Categories ' and the lost 16th cycle and look at Seo Hweol.

Perhaps because I lost the 16th return, I realize that the emotions I felt during the 15th return are still vivid towards Seo Hweol now.

I briefly look at Seo Hweol, then at Gyu Ryeon behind him, who is trying to lead the demon beasts to the True Dragon Alliance.

Gyu Ryeon looks dissatisfied with Seo Hweol's slow movements and with me, whom Seo Hweol is trying to recruit.

I feel bitter looking at her.

The Gyu Ryeon I know from the 15th cycle is gone, and Gyu Baek, one of those connections, is also forever out of reach.

With that sentiment, I politely greet Gyu Ryeon in the demon race language, not overtly but subtly.

"As a member of the Human Race, Seo Eun-hyun greets the envoy of the Earth Tribe."

[Hmmph, don't talk to me, human.]

"..."

I turn my gaze away from Gyu Ryeon, who looks annoyed, to Heo Gwak leading the Black Ghost Valley, And Jin Byuk-ho, leading the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

The Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and Black Ghost Valley.

These are the only two factions I haven't visited yet.

Wo-woong!

I naturally release my consciousness domain.

Rumble!

A vast consciousness fills the area.

And seeing the size of my consciousness, everyone, including Seo Hweol, are astonished.

A Nascent Soul stage consciousness!

'In the 16th cycle, I think I reached the mid-stage of Nascent Soul, forming a Yang Spirit.'

My consciousness has always been larger than cultivators of the same stage since the time of Five Energies Converging to the Origin, and it has always been significantly larger after learning the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.

Although I don't remember much from the 16th cycle, reaching the mid-stage of Nascent Soul means my consciousness domain is similar to that of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Join our Azure Heaven Creation Sect! Seeing the size of your consciousness, you are a talent well suited for refining the body!"

"Haha, splendid. You... how about joining the Earth Tribe?"

"Hmm~ Hmm. Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm~ Hmm-hmm~" Azure Tiger Saint and Seo Hweol both reach out to me, and the Mad Lord, watching my consciousness, suddenly starts humming and swaying his body.

The Mad Lord seems ready to kidnap me if necessary.

And Jin Byuk-ho and Heo Gwak also rush towards me, eyes wide.

"This is unbelievable!!! You must come to our Black Ghost Valley! It's the perfect place for you to flourish your talents! With death filled in your soul and your consciousness domain, even in your current state, you could command dozens of ghost kings just by learning the basics of the Ghost Path Method!!!"

"W-We, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect also..."

"Shut up, Jin Byuk-ho! This guy is absolutely necessary for our Black Ghost Valley! He's got the perfect talent for learning ghost techniques, what room does your lightning methods have to interfere..."

Right then.

Zing!

"...!?"

The Heavenly Lightning Banner that Jin Byuk-ho possesses.

As the Heavenly Lightning Banner approaches me, I feel a sudden heat surge through my body.

At the same time.

Crackle, crackle!

"...!?"

I am shocked to see lightning sparking from various parts of my body.

'Damn it...!'

The memory from the 16th cycle faintly resurfaces again.

The 15th cycle.

The curse of lightning transformation I received from directly facing the owner of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.

It had followed me even beyond returns.

I struggled for 500 years alongside Hong Fan in various places around the world during the 16th cycle to shed the curse of lightning transformation.

Fortunately, as time passed, the curse of lightning transformation gradually faded, and just before dying, the speed of becoming lightning significantly slowed down.

And now, in the 17th cycle.

'Damn it...'

I realize with a grimace that the lightning sparking is not coming from my body but from my blood.

The droplets of my blood are slowly, And definitely turning into lightning.

The curse is progressing 'definitely' slower than in the previous cycle.

But undoubtedly, my body is 'definitely' transforming into lightning.

Despite dying twice in the 15th and 16th cycles, I am still terminally affected by the True Immortal's curse.

The somewhat relieving aspect is that in my last life, I had lived for 500 years before my body disintegrated into lightning. This means in this life, I will have quite some time.

'Anyway, I must exert effort to shed the curse of lightning transformation in this life as well...'

It's then.

Suddenly, Jin Byuk-ho's eyes turn.

"This, this, this is...! Lightning Sacred Body (雷聖體)...!!! Get lost, Heo Gwak! This guy's physique is very similar to the Lightning Sacred Body, a legend passed down in our Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect! There was no reaction when we tested him in the lower realm, I don't know what happened... Anyway, this guy must be taken by our Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect!"

"Don't talk nonsense! Why should we give someone born with a natural talent for Ghost Path Methods to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect!?"

"A natural talent for Ghost Path Methods? This guy is undoubtedly a genius of Lightning Path Methods born with a Lightning Sacred Body, what kind of nonsense are you spouting!?"

Heo Gwak shouts at me with an excited expression, ignoring Jin Byuk-ho.

"Lightning Path Methods are plenty even in our Black Ghost Valley, which has a history of 500, 000 years! From the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Spirit comparable to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's Taiji Quaking Lighting Body, to the Primordial Lightning True Devil Technique, Great Blood Lightning Barrier War Force, and more! Even if you are born with a talent for Lightning Path Methods, you can bloom your talent in the Black Ghost Valley!

However, since the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, with its short history, lacks Ghost Path Methods, if you go there, your other talents will never be able to bloom!"

"Hmph! Such Ghost Path Methods can just be stolen from other sects and learned in our sect! And the Lightning Path Methods of the Black Ghost Valley that Heo Gwak mentioned were developed only to counter the power of our Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's Lightning Path Methods!

In actuality, when cultivators of the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Spirit, which he claims can compare to our Taiji Quaking Lighting Body, clash, the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Spirit gets beaten up and only manages to run away with their life in countless cases! If you join the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, you can overcome the Black Ghost Valley's devilish arts right from the elemental compatibility!

In fact, when disciples of the Black Ghost Valley and the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect spar, the win rate is about 7 to 3 in favor of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect!"

"Nonsense! The example he's talking about is just 'friendly sparring'. In actual combat, our sect's devilish arts have not just one or two advantages over being on equal footing!"

Heo Gwak and Jin Byuk-ho spit at each other, eyes rolling back in fervor over me.

In that overheated atmosphere, Seo Hweol steps forward to mediate between the two.

"Shouldn't one of you concede? It's not good to get heated like this so soon after joining the Flying Immortal Platform."

"Well, that's true, but..."

"If that's the case, why don't you both calmly explain to the junior why he must absolutely come to your sect?"

With a few words, Seo Hweol manages to calm them down a bit more.

With Seo Hweol's mediation, Jin Byuk-ho steps forward to speak first.

"Anyone with a spiritual root knows how we cultivate the Lightning Path Methods in our sect. Our sect's spirit is even more cohesive than the Black Ghost Valley's depending on how one practices the Lightning Path Methods. Moreover, mastering the Thunderclap Wall Force can be a definite help when overcoming Heavenly Tribulation in the future. What could be more important to a cultivator than overcoming Heavenly Tribulation?"

Following Jin Byuk-ho, Heo Gwak speaks.

"Let's cut to the chase. Born with a Lightning Saint Body and possessing the highest talent for Ghost Path Methods, you are the best candidate to learn the Six Extremes Yin Lightning Spirit. Jin Byuk-ho says it loses to the Taiji Quaking Lighting Body, but that's because there hasn't been anyone who fully mastered the Six Extremes Yin Lightning Spirit in the history of our sect.

If you can master the Six Extremes Yin Lightning Spirit, regardless of compatibility, it will not lose to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's Lightning Path Methods! Remember, there's no method our sect, with its 500, 000-year history, does not possess!"

Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect or Black Ghost Valley.

I contemplate which sect to choose.

Honestly, I'm not too concerned about what methods they have.

At my current level, if I just recover my cultivation, I can even confront a Four-Axis stage cultivator, so I don't covet any methods.

Instead, I decide to focus on the incidents that will occur in both sects.

'The Heavenly Lightning Banner leads its owner to descend where the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is located, and the Black Ghost Valley nearly falls apart as Kang Min-hee becomes the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother.'

I ponder about the two people involved in both sects.

'Jeon Myeong-hoon for the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and Kang Min-hee for the Black Ghost Valley...'

Honestly, Jeon Myeong-hoon isn't that appealing to me.

Although the negative feelings have dissipated, I don't particularly harbor good feelings either.

I think about Kang Min-hee.

"Hmm..."

The first thought that comes to mind about Kang Min-hee is,

'Uncomfortable.'

Literally, my feelings towards Kang Min-hee are 'uncomfortable.'

If Jeon Myeong-hoon and I were alone, he would try to bother me.

But I can tolerate that. It would be at a level where I just find him cute (as in a baby).

However, if Kang Min-hee and I end up alone in the Black Ghost Valley...

"... Hmm..."

It'd feel insanely 'uncomfortable.'

'It doesn't matter to me since time has passed, but Kang Min-hee would probably avoid meeting me as much as possible.'

For me, it's something that happened over 2, 500 years ago, but for Kang Min-hee, it's only been a year and a half.

However the problem is, I need to interact with Kang Min-hee to figure out why Kang Min-hee becomes the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother.

'Damn...'

Thinking about my relationship with Kang Min-hee gives me a slight headache.

Kang Min-hee will definitely not talk to me.

At Ascension Path, she might have pretended to talk to me because of the company people, but if we were alone, it was clear she would treat me as if I didn't exist.

'It's troublesome...'

I've made my decision.

I look at Jin Byuk-ho and greet him.

"I have long heard of the illustrious reputation of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect."

"Haha! A good choice!"

Jin Byuk-ho laughs heartily and pats my shoulder, while Heo Gwak turns his pale face away in frustration.

"Damn... Damn..."

Then, Seo Hweol approaches Heo Gwak and whispers something in his ear.

After hearing Seo Hweol's words, Heo Gwak sighs deeply.

"Hmm..."

He seems to ponder deeply before gritting his teeth and pulling something out of his storage bag.

"...?"

It's a skull.

The skull is inscribed with intricate details of techniques and resembles a cultivation manual, similar to how demon beast methods are inscribed on parts of the body.

Zzzt!

When Heo Gwak grasps the skull, eerie souls flow into the top of the skull, covering the engraved characters.

He extends the skull towards me, saying,

"Take this, it's a manual containing the Six Extremes Yin Lightning Spirit."

"...!?"

"Though it's regrettable that you're going to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, and it pains me... Should you ever wish to leave the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and come to the Black Ghost Valley, confess your sincerity to the soul sealed in this manual. The soul sealed in the manual will teach you the intricacies of the Six Extremes Yin Lightning Spirit, and you can come to the Black Ghost Valley after mastering it."

"To give me something like this..."

Heo Gwak smirks.

"It would be a waste to leave such a talent that's fated to master the Six Extremes Yin Lightning Technique behind. We can't just leave the technique collecting dust in the archives. You are someone who must master it, so keep it."

I express my gratitude to Heo Gwak's generosity by also giving him a formal bow.

Jin Byuk-ho seems displeased but allows it for the time being.

After I chose the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, Gyu Ryeon and Seo Hweol returned to the True Dragon Alliance's territory, and Mad Lord began his mischief once again.

Taking advantage of the chaos caused by Mad Lord, I secretly implanted the Mysterious Bizarre Gu back into Kim Yeon, unnoticed by anyone.

Mad Lord abducted the wooden man again, and a bounty was placed on him.

After Mad Lord's departure, I followed Jin Byuk-ho back to the Human Race Territory once more.

After registering my name in the Register at Temporal Fate Island, I closed my eyes to organize my thoughts.

Choosing the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect this life wasn't solely due to my relations with Kang Min-hee being complicated.

The first reason I chose the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was due to my aversion to devilish arts.

'First of all, the Black Ghost Valley is a sect that practices devilish arts.'

I had never been keen on practicing devilish arts, but my aversion reached its peak after dealing with Yuan Li.

Although I use Yuan Yu as it feels more like spoils from killing Yuan Li, I actually dislike seeing Yuan Yu's face and use it periodically as a practice target for curse techniques.

Besides the aversion to devilish arts, The second reason is that while there seems to be a solution for the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's problem, there is little information about the Black Ghost Valley.

I still don't know why Kang Min-hee became the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother and how to resolve it.

Therefore, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, with a clearer solution, is a better choice for me.

The third reason is guilt.

'Last life... or was it the life before that? Anyway, in the 15th cycle, I annihilated the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.'

It was beyond my control and I was unaware at the time.

However, it's a fact that millions of humans died because of me.

In the 15th cycle, my body suddenly became terminally ill and I was solely focused on ending Seo Hweol, so I didn't have time to properly feel guilty.

But undoubtedly, that is a significant karma of mine.

I can't just ignore it and choose the Black Ghost Valley, pretending nothing happened.

The fourth reason is the curse of lightning transformation.

'After all, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect specializes in Lightning Path Methods, being descendants of Yang Su-jin, the Golden Deity. They might have records or solutions to the curse.'

Even if not specifically the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, their location, Thunder Spirit Island, is famous for its Lightning Path sect. There might be a clue revealed if I investigate around.

The fifth reason is for a hint beyond Treading Heavens.

The commonality between lightning and life isn't just the instant.

Studying the Lightning Path Methods in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and contemplating over Heavenly Tribulation and Heavenly Lightning might also give me a chance to fully understand what lies beyond.

'So, do I have two main goals in this life?'

I sort out my thoughts.

First, to find a way to undo the curse of lightning transformation.

Second...

'To steal the Heavenly Lightning Banner from within the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.'

And then return to the Head Realm.

'I won't plan on shoving it into Seo Hweol's mouth or anything like that.'

Now that I've realized I can return from the upper realm to the lower realm again, I'll steal the Heavenly Lightning Banner from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and seal it in the Head Realm.

Undoing the lightning curse and stealing the Heavenly Lightning Banner will be the major objectives of this life.

'Of course, I should also try to find the lost memories of the 16th cycle.'

However, the reason I don't set finding the 16th cycle's memories as a goal for this life is...

Because, somehow, I feel that I will never be able to find those memories again, a notion deeply ingrained in my subconscious.

Not instilled by others, but my own instincts and cognition perceive it that way.

This sense of void, as if a part of history is cut out, perhaps indicates that I shouldn't dare to find those memories again until I reach True Immortal status.

'The memories of the 16th cycle... I'll try to find them slowly.'

The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections of the 16th cycle, too, is hidden from my eyes, shrouded in a misty fog.

Setting the two objectives in mind, I arrive at Thunder Spirit Island with Jin Byuk-ho.

Upon arrival at Thunder Spirit Island, the Heavenly Being stage elders of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect appear around Jin Byuk-ho.

Zap, zzzt!

Jin Byuk-ho waves his hand and a familiar flag appears.

The Heavenly Lightning Banner!

I pretend not to see the Heavenly Lightning Banner and greet the elders.

"Haha, such fortune!"

"To have two disciples with such talent join our sect. The ancestor, the Golden Deity, would be pleased."

The elders laugh heartily, calling the lightning transformation curse a 'Lightning Saint Body' and welcome me warmly.

Jin Byuk-ho, amidst chatting with the elders, says,

"Then, as the supreme sect leader, I shall go subjugate the traitors of our sect and those despicable ones from Thunder Cloud Peak. Only a few elders should stay behind, and all others should follow me. The remaining few should take out the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's flag and prepare the disciples to follow… Let's get the new disciples ready to learn the Lightning Path Methods."

"Understood."

Two of the oldest-looking Heavenly Being stage elders stay behind, and the rest follow Jin Byuk-ho to one side of Thunder Spirit Island and fly away.

"First, we must prepare to learn the Lightning Path Methods..."

An elder chuckles, stroking his beard and giving me a meaningful look.

'Lightning Path Methods...'

This is my first time directly learning Lightning Path Methods.

Though I had indirect exposure, direct proficiency is something I haven't much experience with.

'How exactly do we prepare to learn it?'

Was it like the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, where they tie you up and electrocute you?

Or perhaps, like the Mad Lord, some modification to easily accept lightning energy?

I am ready to accept any harsh training.

Just when I steeled my resolve.

"Lightning is born from the circulation of Yin and Yang, which is the core of all Lightning Path Methods. Therefore, those who practice Lightning Path Methods must primarily focus on the circulation of Yin and Yang, that is, the cycle of Taiji."

"Yes, I am aware."

This information was previously obtained from Yeon Wei, regarding the gender-changing technique, the Taiji Quaking Lightning Body.

"That's why our Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect forms dual cultivation partners (雙修道侶) during training to facilitate the smooth exchange of Yin and Yang."

"...?"

"Starting now, let's find you a suitable dual cultivation partner."