Chương 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.