Chương 539: Vast Cold's Descendant (2)

The three forms included in Severing Heaven Sword Form.

The words that can describe the sword will contained in these forms are as follows: First Form, Entering Heaven.

This is also referred to as Hand Commands.

Swordsmen refer to it as Hand Commands Sword, and the sword will of Entering Heaven can be described as freely wielding the sword within one's own hand.

Chwaaaak!

I hold the Colorless Glass Sword and begin to swing it.

Now, both the speed of my movements and the preparation time have reached the point where they can be said to be as fast as light.

Starting from Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, every sword technique I've seen from martial artists during my time in the martial world, the flying sword techniques of cultivators, the natural disasters I witnessed in Bright Cold Realm, and the principles of the universe I observed while traveling through the Astral Realm...

All of them burst forth in a single motion (一手).

Chwararararak!

At first, it seems almost like scribbles.

Lines and dots crossing each other meaninglessly, as if a child had wildly brushed a painting.

But soon, the dots and lines begin to converge around me, consuming the surroundings with countless trajectories.

This is, rather, an explosion.

Chwararararak!

The explosion of Martial Arts seems to devour the surrounding space.

A storm of countless slashes appears to consume the surrounding area in an instant.

The projections of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords momentarily retreat.

I quickly prepare the next form.

Second Form, Treading Heaven.

This is also referred to as Eye Commands.

Since ancient times, among martial artists and flying sword cultivators, it has been referred to as a swordsmanship that freely unfolds within one's field of vision or domain of consciousness.

Paaaatt!

It is light.

No, to be precise, it is a trajectory.

Thousands, tens of thousands of light trajectories split through the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords.

Countless curves and straight lines tear through the Heavenly Lords, then scatter apart and detonate nearby planets and fixed stars.

Simultaneously, the trajectories move freely, changing form on the spot and twisting their paths.

Perhaps, with the second form of Severing Heaven Sword Form now complete, it could rival Surpassing Radiant Saber in pure speed alone.

I watch as the trajectories extend according to my will, returning, splitting, overlapping, bending, twisting, and softly connecting.

The trajectories chase after the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords like living entities, relentlessly pursuing their projections.

At the same time, the eyes of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords shine.

:: How troublesome.:::: Yet... that's all.:::: It's time to bring this to an end.:::: In the name of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, we prophesize...:: The Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords scatter to different positions and stretch their arms towards me.

Kugugugugugu!

Stars begin to form in the cosmic space.

At the same time, scenes are reflected within the interior of the stars.

:: Heaven-Defying One. After three breaths, you shall gaze upon us.:: It is a simple and clear prophecy that, in approximately three seconds, I will 'gaze' upon them.

But is it because it is such a simple prophecy...

I can sense that the attraction force of this prophetic star is more powerful than any they have created so far.

However, I silently reveal the third form.

Third Form, Punishing Heaven.

This is also called Heart Commands or Heart Commands Sword, a form capable of fully drawing out the power of the Impermanence Sword.

At the same time...

'If up to Treading Heaven represents the ultimate limit that can be reached solely by pursuing Martial Arts... then Punishing Heaven requires pursuing something beyond Martial Arts.'

The Impermanence Sword is not only the manifestation of my Entering Heavens, but also my Immortal Art.

Until now, I have been wielding this Immortal Art merely as a formless sword.

However, the 'true' ability of the Impermanence Sword has not yet been revealed.

Every Immortal Art possesses its own unique ability.

As I take a single breath, it seems as if countless crystal glass sword mountains are shining around me.

The true ability of the Impermanence Sword.

It is, precisely, Retribution (應報).

Retribution.

Also known as Causality Retribution, the meaning of this concept is incredibly simple.

'You reap what you sow.'

'You receive as much as you give' is the essence of the term retribution.

I have pondered over and over about freedom.

I have contemplated how to escape the oppressive attraction force of fate.

And in doing so, my thoughts arrived at the idea of 'giving and receiving.'

To receive as much as one gives.

Isn't that the essence of true freedom?

Isn't the reason why the beings of this world are not free because they cannot receive as much as they have given, or cannot give as much as they have received?

That is my thought.

Therefore, everything must be returned in equal measure to what was given.

If I return as much as I have received, my heart will be unburdened and light.

If I receive as much as I have given, I will likewise have no worries and remain light.

Perhaps people are beings that can become free simply by maintaining the balance of giving and receiving.

Chwararararak!

In the moment that thought takes hold in my heart, Countless sword trajectories begin to revolve around me.

The trajectories soon form a circle, and within the circle, a mandala begins to be drawn.

Upon witnessing the shape of the mandala, the expressions of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords seem to change.

:: That is...:::: You...!:: Kiririririk...

The mandala spins and settles behind my head like a halo.

I 'stare' directly at the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords.

However... nothing happens.

I do not die.

What is drawn within the mandala is the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

It is a mandala that symbolizes the entirety of this world.

To give and receive is, in other words, to 'form a connection.'

My Immortal Art, the Impermanence Sword, as a sword that truly pursues freedom, can 'give and receive' power not only with the planes of Qi, Soul, and Fate but also with the Interdimensional Void, the Netherworld, the Eastern Heaven Flower Field, and the Source River, all layered upon the Astral Realm.

Simply put, the Formless Sword, which once freely roamed the Three Planes, can now move beyond both the Three Planes and the Five Dimensions.

For example, I can now borrow power from the Underworld, the Source River, or the Eastern Heaven Flower Field to directly face a True Immortal 'without advancing'.

This is a feat and miracle that only I, who has thrown my life into countless deaths and understood the nature of death to its limits, can achieve.

The only Quasi-Immortal who can gaze upon a True Immortal and remain unscathed is I.

[... Have you finished what you needed to do...?] Of course, the power I am currently borrowing from the 'Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain' is not merely power from places like the Underworld or the Source River.

I raise my hand with a meaningful smile.

The sword trajectories seem to change infinitely, altering the shape of the mandala.

The mandala begins to bloom even further.

In truth, there is no real reason to draw a mandala.

The mandala merely provides slight assistance when using Immortal Arts, and the ability to 'give and receive' can still be used solely through my Impermanence Sword.

The mandala itself holds no special significance.

However, this is a matter of courtesy.

Courtesy towards those who lend me their power and those who accept mine.

Therefore, although it serves no purpose in battle, I begin to draw the mandala while borrowing strength.

The power of the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain begins to pour into me.

Kiiiiiing!

Power begins to surge wildly throughout my entire body.

Because I have shown goodwill to the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain is showing goodwill to me.

Although the blessing of Vast Cold, which raised my rank proportionate to goodwill, had been consumed as a one-time phenomenon, the power flooding towards me is separate from that.

The reason I do not die despite borrowing the power of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain instead of the Underworld— It is because since I prevented the End of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain does not wish for my End either.

I... have formed a connection with this world.

:: Right now... for this one moment, I am Undying (不死).:: Looking up at the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, I half-open my eyes in the center of the undying power I have obtained.

'If it's this much... it's doable...'

Kugugugugu!

Behind my head, the Three Great Ultimates begins to 'rotate' fiercely.

Until now, I had merely kept it afloat, allowing it to spin lightly from time to time, but had it remain stationary in its manifested form otherwise.

The reason was simple.

'Because I have become too strong.'

If I had amplified my power too much with the strength of the Three Great Ultimates, I would have likely reached the Immortal Domain and might as well have ended up challenging the True Immortal advancement.

But as the price for postponing the End of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, my own death has also been deferred, making me undying.

Therefore...

Even if I fully draw upon the power of the Three Great Ultimates, I will not advance.

Paaaaat!

As the Three Great Ultimates rotates, the boundaries between them vanish.

At the same time, I feel my entire body being dyed pure white.

Paaaatt!

::... Huuuu...:: It feels as if my whole body is burning.

No, my entire body is already burning with something pure white.

White!

I have become [power] itself that is dyed in pure white light.

'This is... the fully drawn power of the Three Great Ultimates... in the Entering Nirvana stage!'

Feeling the explosive authority surging within me, I stare directly at the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords.

Their expressions have completely changed.

:: Have we misjudged?:::: It is a rather terrifying force. Though far inferior to Vast Cold during their Quasi-Immortal era... it is to the point of being reminiscent of them.:::: Regardless of the magnitude of power, the scale of his actions rivals that of the Golden Divine.:::: With that level of power, we cannot allow him to cause chaos at the scale of the Golden Divine and disrupt the providence of the entirety of Mount Sumeru.:::: Today, here and now, we must sever this root.

:: They sincerely glare at me and begin drawing forth their rank.

Once again, they and I clash.

:: In the name of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, I prophesize...:: Once more, a star is born.

I fake charging towards the Giant Gate Heavenly Lord, who created the star, then immediately change my trajectory and charge at the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord.

The target is the star of prophecy within the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord, still locking my future into [Beheading].

I, having become [power] itself, collide with the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord.

'I see it.'

The Breaking Army Heavenly Lord instantly creates a star within their body.

In the scene shown by the star, the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord holds their ground against me without yielding.

They counter my attacks while continuously creating small planets and storing them within their body.

The planets they create bring them light fortune while imposing moderate misfortune upon me.

Though their martial prowess is far beneath mine, they calmly counter my attacks with appropriate prophecies, seizes opportunities for counterattacks, and keeps my feet tied.

'This one... is no martial artist or fighter, but a general.'

As a commander directing the battlefield, they use themself as bait to hold me down and systematically exploit my weaknesses.

Boo-woong!

In the cosmic space, the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord's palm strike crashes into my chest.

I am flung across an immense distance, but they quickly arrive before me, clenching their fist.

Ujijijik!

My entire body feels as if it's being crushed under attraction force.

They raise both palms towards my body, which has become pure white power itself, and unleash countless palm strikes.

Toong, toong, toong, toong!

Though their palm strikes do not deliver significant damage to me, they directly hit various points of my body that have been enlarged through my combat technique form, embedding planets or satellites into me.

Each one carries misfortune and prophecy that cannot be ignored, and I gradually begin to be pushed back against the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord.

'The other Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords are also a problem.'

While clashing one-on-one with the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord, I survey the surroundings.

The Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords are continuously creating stars while making prophecies aimed at me as I confront the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord.

Gradually, my shoulders grow heavy, and I feel as though my throat is being choked.

Coincidental misfortunes continue to accumulate, driving me into a corner.

Severing Heaven Sword Form.

Second Form.

Treading Heaven!

Chwararararak!

Countless curves and straight lines sweep across the vicinity.

The trajectories of those straight and curved lines undulate throughout the universe, beginning to shatter the stars.

As the stars collapse, the fates binding me also begin to crumble.

The Breaking Army Heavenly Lord's palms come flying at me once more.

I clash with the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord in close proximity with the First Form of Severing Heaven Sword Form, Entering Heaven, while continuously intercepting and destroying the prophetic stars with Treading Heaven.

'This... is the projection of a High True Immortal...!'

If I face them one-on-one, victory seems possible.

However... I cannot completely fend off the combined coordination of all seven Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords.

An absolute deadlock.

An overwhelming sense of defeat.

Victory thickens on the enemy's side.

No future remains visible to me.

'... Even so.'

I smile faintly.

'Despair is already all too familiar.'

How many times in my life have I been cornered, felt the shadow of defeat, suffered pain, and tasted despair?

The number of times in my life that I felt, 'Ah, this is the end,' is not just once or twice.

Is the despair I felt back when thugs chased me out of my soap business any different from the despair I feel now, cornered by the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords?

It is not.

Both are the same despair.

Only the scale and circumstances have changed slightly.

The weak have the despair of the weak, and the strong have the despair of the strong.

Those born strong rarely face such despair.

So they train themselves to ensure they will never fall into it.

But for those born as the weak, life itself is despair.

That is why we cultivate the heart to always stand up again even when plunged into despair.

I have always been weak.

'Therefore...'

:: I will not fall.:: The pinnacle of the basics of the sword that I have grasped, wielded, and explored throughout my life.

The single strikes of Entering Heaven begin to reach the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord.

Pakang!

A planet forming on the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord's shoulder shatters.

One of the fortunes working in their favor falls away.

The trajectories of Treading Heaven launch upward, destroying the newly formed star of prophecy.

One of the destructive fates imposed upon me collapses.

One step.

Tukwang!

I strike the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord's pelvis, tearing into their waist.

Once again, planets are ripped away.

Minor misfortunes gradually fall off my shoulders.

Two steps.

Entering Heaven and Treading Heaven link together, relentlessly pressuring the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord.

Finally, both arms of Breaking Army Heavenly Lord's projection are severed. Though they will regenerate anyway, for a fleeting moment, a gap emerges.

Three steps.

Following Entering Heaven and Treading Heaven, the form of Punishing Heaven begins to dance within my chest.

The mandala seems to bloom, and my Impermanence Sword passes through the Interdimensional Void, the Eastern Heaven Flower Field, the Source River, and the Underworld in an instant, swiftly reaching the Astral Realm.

A single strike, imbued with the power of the five dimensions, pierces the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord's chest, slicing their upper body cleanly in half.

Kwaaaang!

Boundless starlight bursts forth from the Heavenly Lord's projection, dyeing the entire world.

'Here I go!'

Through Punishing Heaven, the authority of the Impermanence Sword begins to shine at its maximum capacity.

All those who have 'given and received hearts' with me throughout all this time.

The hearts of all those people begin to burst forth through the form of manifestation.

Retribution is not simply about giving and receiving power with the world.

Giving and receiving hearts can also...

Be a form of retribution in itself.

Green, deep crimson, sunset, white, black, light pink, sky blue...

Countless rays of colored light head towards the dantian of the cleaved Breaking Army Heavenly Lord.

Flash!

Light explodes.

And with that, it ends.

The prophecy within the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord that I would be beheaded bursts apart by my hands.

Tukuakakwang!

Along with that, the projection of the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord explodes.

Chiiiiii— After watching the exploding projection of the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord turn into starlight and scatter, I continue to look at the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, who are preparing their prophecy in the distance.

:: Astounding.:::: To endure our interference with merely the body of an Entering Nirvana... and still suppress a True Immortal.:::: Even if it is just a projection, to possess the potential to defeat a True Immortal one-on-one... it is a fearsome talent.:::: With such talent, with such a fate, and yet, you, who dare mock and distort the providence of the Heavenly Domain... we cannot overlook you any longer.:: Wiiiing!

The light emanating from the bodies of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords begins to intensify.

Tingle, tingle...

I feel goosebumps rising on my skin from the sheer rank they are releasing.

But it does not stop at just slightly raising their rank.

The Greedy Wolf Heavenly Lord sends a transmission somewhere.

Then, familiar figures begin to gather.

'... Damn it... so it has come to this after all.'

Cheok, choek, choek, cheok!

Following the will of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, 48 Entering Nirvana True Persons that are summoned by them begin to surround me.

:: Even a beast gives its all when hunting small prey.:::: We apologize for underestimating you.:::: In return, we will now use every means at our disposal to utterly crush you...:: Chwararararak!

At the same time, I see the form of the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord, who had scattered into starlight behind me, returning.

Of course, among them, the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord seems to be in the worst condition... but everything is returning to the starting point in the end.

'Can I... really defeat them all?'

No matter how highly I evaluate myself, I am worth only one True Immortal.

But these are seven True Immortals, along with a group of Entering Nirvana True Persons capable of fulfilling the role of one and a half additional True Immortals.

In essence, it is no different from fighting nine True Immortals.

I let out a low groan and spin the Three Great Ultimates even more fiercely.

'... There's no other choice.'

Even if I despair, what cannot be done cannot be done.

Nothing will change just because I despair.

I will not give up.

Just as I never have before!

And so, Greedy Wolf, Giant Gate, Preserving Wealth, Literary Melody, Integrity Chastity, Martial Melody, and Breaking Army.

The seven True Immortals simultaneously reach out towards me.

:: In the name of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, we prophesize...:: At that moment— Paaaatt!

From somewhere.

From a faraway place, someone transmits their will to me.

'... Huh?'

That place is Lofty Dragon Star.

The Lofty Dragon Star where Seo Hweol met his conclusion.

From there, [someone] is looking at me.

And then, they speak to me.

—Think about what you have.

Chills!

I meet their gaze.

And as I see them touching the traces of Seo Hweol, I feel chills running down my entire body.

Draped in a dark-red robe and covering the entire Lofty Dragon Star with red coral, that being looks at me with chilling blood eyes and speaks.

—Heaven, Earth, Heart. Do you think that is all? Do you not have something even more precious?

'Something precious...!?'

However, separate from the fear I feel towards this being, I listen carefully to his advice.

And I immediately understand.

'He's talking about...'

Kwarurung!

It feels like lightning striking my mind.

I've never once considered using it in such a way.

But the moment I hear his words, I realize it is entirely possible.

Suppressing the tremors that rise from my chest, I quietly offer him my gratitude.

:: Thank you for your advice.:: The projections of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords seem puzzled, but I can't stop myself from smiling.

Why didn't I think of something so simple...?

Well, in truth, it's been less than two days since I advanced to the Entering Nirvana stage of the Three Great Ultimates.

I simply haven't had time to try various things.

Wiiiiiiing!!!

The fiercely spinning Three Great Ultimates.

Following [his] advice, I add one more thing to that Three Great Ultimates.

:: Heaven, Earth, Heart. And... Wheel (軌).:: Above the spinning Three Great Ultimates, the Wheel overlaps.

Of course, I can still feel that the [Wheel] hasn't been completely added to the Three Great Ultimates.

When the [Wheel] is completely added to the Three Great Ultimates, I feel as if something utterly terrifying would emerge. But for now, there is only one result from adding the two.

An amplification of power through a new pathway.

Just as I once amplified power through the Mad Lord's puppet circuits, now I can achieve the same through the authority of the [Wheel].

Wiiiiiing!

Though imperfect and slightly awkward, the [Wheel] and the Three Great Ultimates overlap.

However, the moment they combine— I explode.

The universe trembles.

This is no joke, no metaphor—but the literal description.

I can feel the entirety of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain vibrating under my power.

The expressions of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords turn urgent, and the Entering Nirvana True Persons scatter their shocked intent as they begin to flounder around in confusion.

In this moment when Heaven, Earth, Heart, and Wheel have combined— I realize, quite literally, that I have obtained a power akin to that of a god.

The power and senses amplified through the Three Great Ultimates and the [Wheel].

Beyond them, I faintly hear Baek Woon's voice from the distant Middle Realm.

[... Vast, Vast Cold...?] Following her words, the Greedy Wolf Heavenly Lord speaks in a trembling voice.

::... Vast Cold Heavenly Lord's... return (再臨)!!!::::... This is absurd. How could such a horrifying event occur? How could you possess such power in your hands...!?:::: After only 500, 000 years, is the world truly about to face great chaos once again!?:: The Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords begin to exude a vicious killing intent as they erupt in rage.

I swallow my spiritual energy and look at them.

They are preparing to fight in earnest.

'Can I do this...?'

Then once again, that familiar message reaches me.

—Raise your head. What you bear is not something that one who lowers their head can dare to carry.

Lofty Dragon Star.

From there, a dark-red light begins to bloom.

I can feel it.

A being from the Interdimensional Void is descending into the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain in their true form.

—Right now, you are on equal footing with this Immortal. The likes of the imperfect projections of the Northern Dipper are nothing to you in your current state.

::... Why are you giving me such advice...?:: —You do not need to know. However, for as long as you face them, I will support you... You must not bring shame to the name of what you bear.

::... Thank you. Yu...:: —Blood Yin. For as long as you carry it, I am Blood Yin before you.

::... Thank you, Blood Yin!:: That's right.

The one who has advised me to overlap the [Wheel] and the Three Great Ultimates is Blood Yin.

That being, also known as the Seat Holder of Vice, has begun to support me.

All the beings of the universe are trembling.

In particular, those who have lived for over 500, 000 years are trembling like aspen trees, recalling the terrifying existence from 500, 000 years ago.

Since that terrifying being also defeated Upper Immortals (上仙) during their Entering Nirvana era, the traces of that terrifying being can't help but be seen on Seo Eun-hyun.

Among them, the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, along with Baek Woon and the other Sacred Masters of the Middle Realms, are literally writhing as if in a seizure.

The forms of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords begin to change.

Until just now, they had projected themselves in their Transformation state, intending to send off Seo Eun-hyun in a somewhat gentle manner. But now, their projections begin to reveal their cosmic true forms.

As if determined to eradicate this absurd existence here and now, down to the very roots.

Yes, they are undoubtedly... afraid of Seo Eun-hyun.

In him, they see the nightmare of 500, 000 years ago.

They see the potential of the Tridacna Vast Cold Heavenly King.

However, even as every ruler in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain trembles, there is one being who does not, and instead stares calmly at Seo Eun-hyun.

It is Blood Yin, seated upon and eroding the Lofty Dragon Star, descending into the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Beside Blood Yin is Ja Eum, wearing a purple robe and standing with a bright and clear expression.

[Have you finally come to your senses...!? O Blood Yin...! P-Perhaps... your neck...] [... Silence.] With a confused expression, Blood Yin cuts off Ja Eum's words and mutters as he gazes at the place where Seo Eun-hyun is fighting.

[There is simply... something I wish to see.] Thus begins the battle of Seo Eun-hun, who has intertwined the four systems of power of Heaven, Earth, Heart, and Wheel to bring the potential of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord from 500, 000 years past to his hands, and the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, who are convulsing with fear at the nightmare of that time and ready to unleash their full strength.

The entirety of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain begins to tremble.