Chương 254: Heavenly Tribulation (6)

Beneath the Punishment Lightning Cave of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect where the early stage disciples of the sect who committed crimes are sent, Jin Byuk-ho flies with sparks of thunder trailing behind him towards the area.

Boom!

At the deepest bottom of the Punishment Lightning Cave.

There, a woman is tied with dozens of chains.

"... Hong Su-ryeong."

Jin Byuk-ho asks the woman, Hong Su-ryeong.

"Information has come in. You supported Jin Eun-hyun's act of stealing the Heavenly Lightning Banner and his proclamation of a new Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect."

"..."

"Because of that incident, Penglai Palace suddenly issued a bounty in anger. You were not listed in the bounty as you defended yourself by saying that you are being punished in the Punishment Lightning Cave of the sect, but still, public opinion about you is not good. There are not just a few who say that your grand elder position should be immediately revoked..."

"Is that so."

"Just tell me one thing. Why did you support Jin Eun-hyun? Merely because you are dual cultivation partners?"

At that question, Hong Su-ryeong smiles faintly.

"Beyond being simple dual cultivation partners... That person wouldn't do anything that would harm the sect."

"Umm..."

Jin Byuk-ho lets out a sigh.

"What he is doing is essentially dragging the reputation of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect to the ground…"

"I believe in him."

"…Soon, the expulsion of Jin Eun-hyun... no, Seo Eun-hyun, will be finalized with the Ancestral Command, and he will be completely excommunicated from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. If you continue to side with him even after he is completely expelled, I have no choice but to keep you in solitary confinement in the Punishment Lightning Cave."

"Is that so? Then it's not bad to face the wall until I reach the Four-Axis stage."

"... I'll be going."

Whoosh!

Jin Byuk-ho soon leaves, and at the bottom of the Punishment Lightning Cave, Hong Su-ryeong looks up at the sky.

'What are you doing, you...'

She absentmindedly looks at the sky, thinking of Seo Eun-hyun.

Because she was chained, she was able to survive, albeit forcefully, even when the entire sect was momentarily distracted by the Heavenly Lightning Banner.

The chains that bound her were made and bound by herself.

Hong Su-ryeong had sworn that she would not unbind these chains until she sees 'the next stage.'

'He wouldn't do anything harmful... but, Seo Eun-hyun. Even so, I resent these chains now.'

She is the one who wants to go and ask him what had happened immediately.

Even when she accepted Seo Eun-hyun's proposal, she only decided after seeing his intent, but still, she hadn't thought that what Seo Eun-hyun talked about would actually happen.

However, it has already passed.

'What should I do...'

There's nothing she can do right away.

Since these chains were made by her own special technique, they won't be released until she lifts the restrictions she had set.

'There's only one thing I can do.'

Elevate my realm.

Increase my power.

That is the best Hong Su-ryeong can do.

'I will definitely increase my power and elevate my realm, then come to ask you. Seo Eun-hyun, was there a meaning to what you did?'

She doesn't intend to reprimand or interrogate him.

Instead, she intends to confirm her belief that Seo Eun-hyun would never have done something wrong.

'So wait for me. I will follow the path you have shown me and surely…'

Wo-woong!

She slightly opens her eyes and separates her consciousness.

The separated consciousness seems to move around her for a while and then returns to her consciousness.

'I will break free from the limits of the martial arts I've known so far...!'

Ultimate Pinnacle.

She vows to leap towards the state beyond Five Energies Converging to the Origin that Seo Eun-hyun had shown her.

Determined to vindicate Seo Eun-hyun's innocence, she continues her cultivation at the bottom of the Punishment Lightning Cave.

Jin Byuk-ho is troubled.

He, carrying the title of the Supreme Sect Master, is ironically running around the sect trying to manage the situation.

"... For that reason, Elder Seo Eun-hyun will be expelled. We prohibit the formation of any factions that follow Seo Eun-hyun from now on."

Seo Eun-hyun was a genius among geniuses within the sect, possessed a considerable status, and thus had more than a few followers.

Jin Byuk-ho is notifying these 'followers' to officially stop following Seo Eun-hyun anymore.

In the midst of this, he arrives at Thunder Cloud Peak.

He looks at a figure standing dazedly where the remnants of the Thunder Tribue Hall stand.

It's Jin Hwi, the vice sect leader of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

"... Elder Jin."

Jin Byuk-ho approaches Jin Hwi with a troubled expression.

Jin Hwi has an indescribable expression on his face.

To him, Seo Eun-hyun was his greatest pride and joy.

Although he had taught him little as a master, Seo Eun-hyun was Jin Hwi's disciple, and had always revered Jin Hwi.

Jin Hwi, too, had been smiling for decades thanks to Seo Eun-hyun.

But now, Jin Hwi looks like an old man who has come to a funeral.

"... Jin Eun-hyun... no, Seo Eun-hyun was... the sect's greatest genius."

Seo Eun-hyun was a genius and the pride of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

But not anymore.

That 'pride of the sect' is now betraying the sect, stealing the Heavenly Lightning Banner, and attempting to establish a new Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

At the same time, according to information from Penglai Palace, Seo Eun-hyun is a traitor to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and has been in collusion with Jin Wei, whom Jin Byuk-ho had been searching for.

"... Perhaps, we should not have been concerned about Jeon Myeong-hoon's etiquette but should have paid attention to Seo Eun-hyun's intentions. It's all... my fault for not looking after my disciple as a master."

Jin Hwi, tormented, sits down and sighs.

Jin Byuk-ho watches Jin Hwi's back for a while before heavily saying,

"... With the Ancestral Command, we plan to excommunicate Seo Eun-hyun."

"... Yes."

Jin Hwi answers heavily.

"Stealing the divine artifact, denying the current sect to claim a new Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, and joining hands with the sect's traitor... is a grave crime. Moreover, he was confirmed to be the next sect leader, so it's right to impose such a punishment."

"..."

"However... senior brother."

Jin Hwi turns to Jin Byuk-ho and speaks.

Though Jin Byuk-ho is far superior in terms of talent, Jin Hwi and Jin Byuk-ho were disciples of the previous Supreme Sect Master, making them senior and junior brothers.

"Can we... delay his excommunication a little longer?"

Jin Hwi asks with a trembling voice, touching the ruins of the Thunder Tribute Hall, which had rotted away due to Seo Eun-hyun's curse.

"... Penglai Palace is pressuring us to quickly formally expel him and pursue him. Also, the disciples of our sect are disturbed, so we need to expel him quickly."

"... Is that so. I understand. If that is the will of my senior brother... no, the Supreme Sect Master, I will follow it..."

He answers powerlessly, hanging his head, and Jin Byuk-ho leaves Jin Hwi's side with a bitter feeling.

"... What do the two of you think?"

Jin Byuk-ho called the current sect leader, Jin Lin, and the next sect leader, Jin Jin-chan, to ask.

Jin Lin, Jin Byuk-ho's cousin, and his son, Jin Jin-chan, unanimously say,

"We believe that it is correct to excommunicate Seo Eun-hyun as soon as possible to quell the voices of those in the sect who are agitated, and to receive support from Penglai Palace to pursue Seo Eun-hyun and retrieve the Heavenly Lightning Banner."

Jin Lin gives his opinion coldly, and Jin Jin-chan sighs.

"... Jin Eun-hyun, no, Seo Eun-hyun... was a symbol of hope for the sect. Announcing his expulsion under the Ancestral Command will inevitably lead to discord throughout the sect."

"Is that your opinion, Chan?"

"... I don't know. Logically, excommunicating Seo Eun-hyun is correct. However... those influenced by Seo Eun-hyun are still very shaken. Notably... Myeong-hoon is having the hardest time."

"Jeon Myeong-hoon? Didn't he dislike Seo Eun-hyun?"

"I thought so too, but..."

Kurung...!

As they speak, several red lightning bolts shoot up towards the sky from Jeon Myeong-hoon's cave residence.

"... Understood. I'll go see Jeon Myeong-hoon as well."

Jin Byuk-ho sighs and flies towards Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Jin Byuk-ho lands in front of Jeon Myeong-hoon's cave residence.

"... So-hae."

"Ah, Grandfather."

He catches the worried gaze of Jin So-hae outside Jeon Myeong-hoon's cave residence.

"How is Jeon Myeong-hoon?"

"... He's having a hard time right now."

"Weren't he and Seo Eun-hyun not on good terms?"

"Yes, for Myeong-hoon, Elder Seo Eun-hyun was a wall and a mountain to overcome. But... at the same time, it seems he was also a strong pillar of support for him."

"I see..."

Boom!

Once again, red lightning furiously swirls inside Jeon Myeong-hoon's cave residence.

Jin Byuk-ho looks at the lightning for a moment before walking into the interior of Jeon Myeong-hoon's cave residence.

Boom!

He pushes aside the red lightning and enters, startled by its powerful force.

'He's strong...'

He guesses at Jeon Myeong-hoon's rage.

It was already known among the higher ranks of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect that Jeon Myeong-hoon becomes stronger with anger.

Even the records of their founding ancestor, Yang Su-jin, mentioned growth alongside anger, so it was accepted that Jeon Myeong-hoon would be the same based on that precedent.

"Hm?"

However, Jin Byuk-ho is a bit surprised by the unexpected sight he encounters upon reaching Jeon Myeong-hoon.

'I thought he would be rampaging...'

Contrary to his expectations, Jeon Myeong-hoon is calmly sitting in a meditative posture, practicing his methods.

But Jin Byuk-ho felt even more eerie upon seeing the calm Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Not an erupting anger, but a suppressed, compacted, and refined anger is faintly felt.

"... You've arrived, Supreme Sect Master. Forgive me for not standing up as I am overcoming a critical moment."

"You..."

Jin Byuk-ho widens his eyes.

If he isn't mistaken, Jeon Myeong-hoon is on the verge of attaining the Yang Spirit.

He is trying to reach the mid Nascent Soul stage in just a short time after reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

"... Understood. Continue what you were doing."

"Thank you."

More than gratitude, Jin Byuk-ho feels a repressed anger in his gaze and sighs.

Then, he speaks to Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"We've decided to expel Seo Eun-hyun using the Ancestral Command."

"..."

"What are your thoughts?"

"... Does my opinion matter? According to the sect's rules, isn't it natural to expel him?"

"Your opinion matters."

"Why? Because I am the possessor of the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body?"

Jin Byuk-ho shakes his head at Jeon Myeong-hoon's question.

"Because you, who was influenced by Seo Eun-hyun..."

Jin Byuk-ho, looking at Jeon Myeong-hoon, carefully chooses his words and continues.

"... are his close friend."

"... Close friend. Ha, haha..."

And then, Jeon Myeong-hoon begins to laugh.

"Hahahahaha!"

"..."

"You're mistaken. He's nothing like a friend to me. Before we entered the sect, our relationship was that of a superior and subordinate. Upon entering the sect, our roles reversed, and I've spent decades grinding my teeth, trying to revert our relationship back to what it was."

"..."

"I've always harbored feelings of inferiority and resentment towards him. Expulsion? It's truly a good thing. Please do so. He was the cause of my anger, the culprit who prevented me from spending time with So-hae, a lowlife who beat me up over past incidents before we joined the sect.

"He always provoked me with his words, beat me up under the pretense of helping me improve my skills and teaching me unnecessary things arrogantly. He would remind me of my hometown with occasional miserable memories, meddled in my relationship with So-hae unnecessarily, and sometimes, despite being poor at drinking, would have a drink or two, and he even helped me accept the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect as family!"

Crack, crackle!

Jin Byuk-ho involuntarily takes a step back as he sees the blood-red lightning boiling violently from Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"Why! Why did that damned man make me part of this family only to betray the sect himself!? Why!? Really! I don't understand the reason!"

Crackle!

The face of Jeon Myeong-hoon, which appeared calm, gradually distorts with feelings of betrayal as he speaks, and the thickness and red glow of the lightning grows stronger.

[Why!] Boom!

Once again, a wave of red lightning sweeps through the residence, and Jin Byuk-ho raises one arm, pulling up his spiritual power to block the wave of lightning.

'... I see.'

Jin Byuk-ho realizes.

Jeon Myeong-hoon is practically already at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul.

He will be able to reach the mid Nascent Soul stage just by facing a Heavenly Tribulation.

'This is the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body.'

Although he had been significantly behind Seo Eun-hyun in terms of growth rate, Jin Byuk-ho instinctively feels at this moment, From now on, Jeon Myeong-hoon's growth rate will catch up to Seo Eun-hyun's in a single breath.

"I want to know… why he did such nonsense and betrayed the sect."

After venting his rage, Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks with a slightly exhausted face.

Jin Byuk-ho sighs as he looks at Jeon Myeong-hoon.

In the Golden Thunder Hall.

Jin Byuk-ho sits in the seat of the Supreme Sect Master, thinking about Seo Eun-hyun.

After meeting with the disciples of the sect and conveying the news of Seo Eun-hyun's expulsion, he asked for their opinions.

Logically, expelling him immediately with the Ancestral Command is the correct decision.

However, emotionally, that is not possible.

The reason is something Jin Byuk-ho knows best.

"... Why, why did he betray the sect..."

He sighs deeply, stroking his face.

Seo Eun-hyun is the genius who could have changed the history of the sect.

And now, he is also the person to be listed as 'the worst traitor' alongside Jin Wei, known as the worst traitor in the history of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

Jin Byuk-ho believed in Seo Eun-hyun.

He, too, had regarded Seo Eun-hyun as the pride of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, just as much as Jin Hwi did.

But in the end, due to Seo Eun-hyun's hidden schemes, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was betrayed by Seo Eun-hyun.

Even he himself finds it hard to believe that he has to expel Seo Eun-hyun.

But it is inevitable.

Seo Eun-hyun had already betrayed the sect, and drastic measures are needed.

Seo Eun-hyun's goal is clear.

'As he said before, it must be to place the Heavenly Lightning Banner in the Head Realm.'

If that happens, more than 70 to 80 percent of the current Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's power will instantly disappear.

Without the Heavenly Lightning Banner, the position of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is uncertain.

In the worst case, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect might vanish into the annals of history.

The option of following Seo Eun-hyun into the Head Realm to retrieve the Heavenly Lightning Banner is practically impossible.

Descending to the lower realm is possible for those who have reached the Heavenly Being stage or higher, but absolutely none of the cultivators who ascended to the Bright Cold Realm returned to the lower realm.

At best, they transmitted information to their descendants left in the lower realm, and most did not interfere with the affairs of the lower realm.

The reason is simple.

Descending to the lower realm means they have to 'ascend' again.

Ascending isn't child's play that can be done easily once reaching the Grand Perfection of the Heavenly Being stage.

The risk of death from spatial storms is high, and there's the risk of encountering bizarre creatures living in the gaps between dimensions. Sometimes one might even see the 'terrifying beings' between dimensions, making ascending a gamble that risks everything.

Especially the Head Realm they ascended from is even more threatened by such dangers.

Descending from above is no problem.

However, if one wants to ascend again from within the Head Realm, even those at the Four-Axis stage have to wait until the opening period of the Ascension Gate.

The Head Realm is especially known for its strong World Shield Force compared to other Decaying Corpse Realms, making it difficult for even Four-Axis cultivators to freely come and go.

'If it's Seo Eun-hyun, even though he's at the Nascent Soul stage, he lacks nothing to reach the Heavenly Being stage. Soon, he will be able to descend to the Head Realm by his own power. If not, he'll somehow find a way back to the Head Realm through the assistance of someone above the Heavenly Being stage.'

Time is of the essence.

They have to capture Seo Eun-hyun before he returns to the Head Realm.

"... Seo Eun-hyun."

Jin Byuk-ho grits his teeth.

"I've decided. You..."

And finally, he successfully concludes his decision regarding Seo Eun-hyun, embracing his complex emotions.

At Thunder Cloud Peak, where the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's divine artifact was sealed.

The elders and higher ups of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect gathered at its peak.

They were summoned by the Supreme Sect Master's order.

And from above them, Jin Byuk-ho shouts.

"Listen, everyone!"

Jin Byuk-ho speaks with a grave voice.

"We have recently suffered a tragic event. We were betrayed by the disciple we believed to be the sect's greatest genius. This is an act that should have never happened. It is an atrocious crime that denies the sect's hierarchy, relations, and master-disciple bonds. However, this Supreme Sect Leader knows. The disciple who has betrayed us had a significant influence on the sect and had many followers. But listen.

That disciple has fled with the sect's divine artifact, the Heavenly Lightning Banner, declared a new Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, and is conspiring with Jin Wei, the sect's traitor. Therefore, After discussing with council of elders, this Supreme Sect Master has decided on the disciplinary action for that disciple!"

Jin Byuk-ho takes out the Ancestral Command from his pocket.

"I declare the expulsion of Seo Eun-hyun from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect! However! The expulsion by the Ancestral Command is not permanent. Going forward, a pursuit team by the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect will be formed to track down the traitor Seo Eun-hyun. The decision whether to permanently expel the traitor Seo Eun-hyun with the Ancestral Command will be made when the pursuit team captures him and retrieves the sect's divine artifact!"

He looks around the elders and locks eyes with one person.

"Pursuit team leader, Jeon Myeong-hoon, come forward!"

At those words, Jeon Myeong-hoon steps forward.

"From now on, Jeon Myeong-hoon, pillar of the sect and peer of Seo Eun-hyun, will lead the pursuit team tracking the traitor. The Ancestral Command is entrusted to him, and when Seo Eun-hyun is captured and the Heavenly Lightning Banner is retrieved, the decision on his permanent expulsion will be made based on the pursuit team leader's decision!"

Jin Byuk-ho hands the plaque identified as the Ancestral Command to Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"Grand Cultivator Hon Won, for personal reasons, has also issued a bounty to track down Jin Wei, the sect traitor and collaborator with Seo Eun-hyun! If the sect's traitors are captured by Hon Won's forces of Penglai Palace, they will be punished according to their methods! They may be 'the sect's' traitors, but they are still 'our sect's' traitors! Therefore, before they are captured by the other forces, let us capture them with our own hands and restore our sect's honor!"

Jin Byuk-ho, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Jin Hwi, and all those related to Seo Eun-hyun feel an indescribable bitterness at Jin Byuk-ho's words.

"Volunteer for the pursuit team. Please… with our own hands, end the one who was the future of our sect."

Thus, for the traitor of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, The Seo Eun-hyun pursuit team is formed.