Chương 591: Mount Sumeru (4)

The Fifth Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, gazes silently at Seo Eun-hyun after slicing him in half.

The great devil who wrecked havoc upon Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, committing a grand massacre.

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord reads the wisdom of the being who died by their hand.

Crystal Glass Being, Seo Eun-hyun.

That is the name of the one now lying in halves.

:: Oooooooo!:::: O Sword Spear Heavenly Lord!:::: O Great One! Truly, to have descended for our sake and slay that devil...:: The divine spirits, who had either fled or hidden from Seo Eun-hyun's rampage, now emerge and begin to praise the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

:: Be silent.:: But the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord cuts off all their voices with a cold tone.

:: I did not kill him. He escaped.:: The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord radiates silver-white light as they look towards the teleportation formations at the edge of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.

Their appearance carries a trace of fury, causing the divine spirits to tremble in fear.

:: The moment this Immortal sought to annihilate him, he slipped into the true domain of death, shedding his shell and fleeing.:: What remains before their eyes now is nothing more than a husk.

A pitiful remnant even less than the Vestiges that appears when advancing to True Immortality.

Yet, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord still reaches out and condenses even this scrap into above their palm.

The remains of Seo Eun-hyun merge with the Vestige the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord possesses.

::... Did anyone recognize that the one who just escaped is the return of Vast Cold, whom Radiance Hall has placed a bounty upon?:: Their words send the divine spirits into panic.

:: We do not know!:::: None of us could recognize him.:::: W-We truly did not know he was the return of Vast Cold. From what we know, that being had only just advanced to True Immortality in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain. For the past hundred thousand years, the only one known to have practiced the formula of the Radiance Ten Heavens is the Madam Ghost Mother (鬼母娘娘) Kang Min-hee of the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain. Is the Great One saying... that Upper Immortal was him?::::... Indeed.

I do not know what trickery he used, but it seems he managed to advance to Upper Immortal without anyone realizing.:: The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord glares into the distance, their eyes narrowing.

'When an Ender enters the domain of Radiance Hall, the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, all eight of the Radiance Eight Immortals are alerted. Yet, despite Seo Eun-hyun running rampant in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, I knew nothing. Moreover, even after he advanced to Upper Immortal, none of us noticed or could respond.'

A fierce light bursts from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's eyes.

'So that's it. It's the Immortal Title. The title Crystal Glass Being was hiding his existence from us—shielding him from our gaze! Fortunately, it is impossible for an Ender to completely hide their presence in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, causing his existence to be faintly revealed.'

The Immortal Title Crystal Glass Being.

As the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord reflects on this title, they recall the one who must have bestowed it.

:: Hyeon Rang... Are you not sick of this? Are you being broken again?:: Revealing their fury, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord turns towards the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.

:: If he has fled beyond the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, that Immortal Title will make him untraceable once more. Must this era's Hyeon Rang... be discarded as well?:: There is neither light nor darkness.

A world of nothingness that no brush nor tongue could describe.

I blanky come to my senses there.

'This place is...'

It is the domain of purity.

'Did I survive?'

Tststststststs!

Regaining consciousness within the domain of purity, I force my body to move with all my strength.

Tsaaaaaaat!

As I surface from the domain of purity, what comes into view is the interior of a teleportation formation's dimensional gate.

I am flying from the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain towards the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.

"Huuuuu..."

I let out a sigh of relief.

I barely made it.

'If I hadn't refined Heavenly Escape even further after witnessing the Hyeon Mu of my past life... no. If I hadn't reflected on my Martial Arts after seeing her...'

I would have withered away, trapped in the Small Heavenly Domain of the Thirty-Three Heavenly Resplendent Treasure Immortals, long before the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

'That was dangerous.'

It was an impulsive decision that even I am shocked by.

To cross the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain unprepared.

Honestly, thinking back now, it was pure madness.

'I was out of my mind.'

Quite literally.

It's something I would have never attempted without the madness of the Head Realm.

Even if the Great Nets and Immortal Lords had left on expeditions, what if they had returned?

Even though Heavenly Escape is the ultimate technique for concealment and escape, it is honestly difficult to use consecutively.

'If the Immortal Lords and Great Net Immortals had returned, I would have to use Heavenly Escape consecutively just to flee.'

Even in hindsight, it was pure insanity.

Chwachwachwachwa!

I feel the ripple of dimensions.

At the same time, the familiar Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain appears before me.

'I'll be continuously regressing to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain in the future. I can't keep doing this.'

I envelop the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain with my Earth Tribe senses.

Jiiiiiiing!

And perhaps having noticed me, I can sense Glass Peacock in the far distance hurtling towards me in a frenzy.

Glass Peacocks sends a voice transmission across vast spacetime.

:: An Immortal Beast I'm seeing for the first time. You are... wait!!! That mark engraved on your soul!!! What is that!? This won't do. Stay right there. Stay right there!!::::...:: I ignore Glass Peacock and immediately move to the Middle Realm where Jeon Myeong-hoon is located.

'I'll have to quickly raise my realm to Great Net. For now, there's no other option.'

Or, perhaps, I could search for an artifact that shields the mind.

'If there's a decent Immortal Treasure, I could use that for mental protection.'

With that thought, I first vomit the Lightning Sacred Sea from inside my body and speak to Golden Shaking Bird, who is trembling violently within it.

"How about it, Golden Shaking Bird? Didn't this Immortal tell you? This Immortal truly has no intention of lying. Now... lead me to where he is."

"..."

Golden Shaking Bird meets my consciousness as though about to speak, but then shuts her mouth again.

However, she doesn't resist like before.

Perhaps she thinks that a being as strong as me has no reason to deceive someone like her.

I glance behind me.

"... Glass Peacock is closing in. Once we find Yang Su-jin's successor, be ready to activate the Great Desolate Path immediately. Unless you want all of us caught and defiled for hundreds of thousands or millions of years by Glass Peacock."

Golden Shaking Bird flinches the moment she hears the name Glass Peacock and opens her mouth.

"... If what the distinguished one says is true... I will prepare to activate the Great Desolate Path immediately. But if you're lying... I will hole myself up in the Lightning Sacred Sea for eons and watch as you get violated by Glass Peacock."

"Sure. That won't happen, so do not worry. Ah! And one more thing—when you meet him, do not face him directly."

After warning Golden Shaking Bird, I go to find Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Jeon Myeong-hoon, located in one of the Middle Realms within the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, widens his eyes as I appear before him.

"A-Ah... Seo Eun... hyun...?"

"... It's been a while, Jeon Myeong-hoon."

I glance at Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Unlike before, Jeon Myeong-hoon doesn't immediately advance to True Immortality upon meeting me.

'... I see. The Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld... that cunning existence.'

Because...

Jeon Myeong-hoon is already a True Immortal.

Fate has twisted.

Before our meeting, Jeon Myeong-hoon seems to have fused with the taenghwa painting I brought from my past life. Gaining confidence through that power, he has long since advanced to True Immortality.

The image of the taenghwa remains vividly imprinted on Jeon Myeong-hoon's fate.

"M-M-Masteeeer!!!"

Ignoring my warning, Golden Shaking Bird bursts out from Lightning Sacred Sea and dives straight into Jeon Myeong-hoon's arms.

'... If this was before Jeon Myeong-hoon's True Immortal advancement, I would've punished her, but I'll let it slide.'

Fortunately, since he's already advanced, there won't be a problem even if he meets with us.

Kurururung!

I look up at the sky of the Middle Realm, now starting to darken.

"Golden Shaking Bird!"

Glass Peacock.

They are enveloping the entire Divine Thunder Realm with their true body.

It's cutting off our escape route.

Immortal Art, Glass Avidyā Advancement Light.

Glass Peacock's signature technique unfolds.

A light that turns everyone into fools.

But I'm not foolish enough to fall for it this time.

Immortal Art, Filling the Heavens Governing View.

Tsuuaaaaah!

A hazy mist blankets the entire Divine Thunder Realm.

The light that turns foes into fools and the mist that turns all into losers collide.

Filling the Heavens Governing View blocks Glass Peacock's Immortal Art head-on, scattering and diffusing it completely.

"Golden Shaking Bird! It's Glass Peacock!!! If you don't want to be made a complete mess, move fast!!!"

"... Understood."

Golden Shaking Bird sniffs Jeon Myeong-hoon's scent and makes a blissful smile as she sluggishly starts moving.

Her slow pace makes my blood boil, but eventually, Golden Shaking Bird returns to the Lightning Sacred Sea and reaches out her hand on the 100th floor where the Great Desolate Path lies.

Kugugugugu!

Lightning Sacred Sea's Great Desolate Path starts resonating with Golden Shaking Bird's soul.

Kururururung!

Glass Peacock's will clashes against mine.

:: Impress... ive. Is this the mark I left behind? Why don't I remember it? But... fine. This Immortal Art of Defeat. This history of failures and losses you've endured... this realm of Immortal Beasts you reached by carving through your bones... I really like it. I like it. I like it so much.:: Paaaaatt!

Glass Avidyā Advancement Light shines even brighter, pouring down onto my Filling the Heavens Governing View.

:: What is your name, newbie?::::...:: I keep my mouth shut, but in an instant, Glass Peacock draws out my history through some inexplicable means and uncovers my true name.

:: I see. Crystal Glass Being, Seo Eun-hyun! Immortal Beast Candle Shadow, huh? Ahahahaha! So you're Crystal Glass Being. Nice to meet you. This Immortal is Glass Peacock. My Immortal Title is Ignorant One (無明子/Avidyā Being). Remember it well. Because this Ignorant One Glass Peacock is the one who will pin you beneath me and violate you for at least five million years!:: At the searing heat rising inside me, I bite my lip hard.

I want to grab Golden Shaking Bird by the throat right now.

Even if it's me, going head-to-head with Glass Peacock would only end up costing me.

I could win, but the longer I stay near this seductive Immortal Beast, the more I feel my mind becoming tainted. I don't want this to drag on.

'A master who taught me is still a master, regardless.'

But something that is crude and vulgar is crude and vulgar regardless.

I pour all my strength into Filling the Heavens Governing View, scattering Glass Avidyā Advancement Light.

:: Hahahahaha! You scattered (산란) my light? Soon, I'll lay eggs (산란) in you too so wait for me. Of course, if you want, I can let you lay eggs (산란) in me as well. Mmm! This feeling. This history! The depth of this refinement and study! Damn it, Crystal Glass Being! I like you!::

"..."

Kururururung!

Glass Peacock begins to descend into the Divine Thunder Realm.

Countless living beings in the Divine Thunder Realm go into heat all at once, pairing off and mating.

... Some males with males, and females with females too.

Regardless, I can feel Glass Peacock's presence corrupting the minds of the living beings.

Glass Peacock's obsession starts to pierce through my Filling the Heavens Governing View.

I could intercept it with the Impermanence Sword, but I honestly don't want to.

After all, the being before me is the past of one who had been my master.

"Golden Shaking Bird!!! Quickly activate it before I kill you!!!"

I feel Golden Shaking Bird, now fully merged with the Great Desolate Path.

[Please just wait a little. Gathering energy takes—]

"This damned thing!"

I rage at Golden Shaking Bird's leisure and flood the Great Desolate Path with a surge of my twilight true energy.

[Ugh! Ububup! Please just! Wait a little, Elder. Ubup!]

"Activate it now!!"

Finally— Kwaaaaaaaaang!

Glass Peacock's heat pierces through my Immortal Art of Failure.

:: I love you, Crystal Glass Being. Let us become one!::

"Damn it all!!!"

And just before Glass Peacock lunges at me— [Great Desolate Path, activated.] The world becomes engulfed in lightning.

Jeon Myeong-hoon, Golden Shaking Bird, and I are transported into a world made entirely of lightning with the Lightning Sacred Sea.

Kururururung!

The entire world is thunder and lightning.

A familiar place.

It's the teleportation space of lightning created when the Great Desolate Path activates.

[Ahaha, how was it, Elder? Quite impressive—]

"Ghost-Face Killing Heavenly Order."

Kiaaaaaaaaagh!

The curses and pain I've endured rise to the level of Immortal Arts and spread across the entire Great Desolate Path.

[Kyaaaaaaaagh!!!] Golden Shaking Bird screams, and I grit my teeth.

"You damn thing! You do this even knowing what kind of existence Glass Peacock is?"

[Kuaaaaagh! Kuhahahaak! Kuhaaaagh! Hukeok. Keok! Heok! What are you doing! Don't you know that if I lose focus, we might return to where we originally were? Did you want to be violated by Glass Peacock?]

"What kind of dogshit were you pulling? Did you not realize that Jeon Myeong-hoon, you, and I almost ended up violated into a complete mess and turned into idiots by Glass Peacock?"

I shout at Golden Shaking Bird.

Kwachijijijik!

Golden Shaking Bird creates an incarnation in the form of a small hummingbird and appears before me and Jeon Myeong-hoon, who are still trying to grasp the situation.

[First, I apologize for playing a prank on Master. However, please understand there was a reason for this prank.]

"A reason?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon asks, puzzled, while I glare at Golden Shaking Bird.

"If you can't explain it properly, expect to receive the same pain you just felt."

[Hah, there is a proper reason. First... should I call you Senior Brother Crystal Glass Being?]

"... Forget it. I don't want to hear 'Senior Brother' from you. Call me Elder."

[Understood. First, it was revenge for Elder not giving me any proper reason and pulling out the Lightning Sacred Sea then crossing the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain. Surely, Elder knows that if something had gone wrong, the Lightning Sacred Sea could have ended up being an offering to the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain?] The mention of revenge nearly makes my eyes flip, but I control my breath and hold back.

'She's not wrong.'

From her perspective, it's like some lunatic uprooted her home and then crossed a pirate island.

'This must be retribution.'

"What is the second reason?"

[That was for the sake of my master.]

"Oh?"

I thought it was simply revenge against me, but it seems there's a proper reason.

[Whenever my master used the Great Desolate Path, he always used it like this.]

"What?"

[Whenever the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity or Their lackeys were chasing my master, he would always let them get right up to his nose before activating the Great Desolate Path to escape. It was a way of taunting them while also gathering as much information as possible before fleeing.]

"..."

[Because my master always escaped that way in his past life, I thought perhaps the present master might recall his past and gave it a try.] So bringing Glass Peacock right up to our noses and then fleeing wasn't just for revenge—it was also to trigger Jeon Myeong-hoon's past life memories.

I let out a bitter smile.

'Well, now I feel a little bad.'

Honestly, in my view, we are completely different beings who only share the same fate as the past Enders.

But from her perspective, sharing the same fate means being the same person, which is why she says such things.

I nod.

"... Fine. I'll acknowledge it. But it's a high-risk method, and it doesn't seem to have helped Jeon Myeong-hoon much, so don't do it again."

[...] Golden Shaking Bird stays silent at my words, and Jeon Myeong-hoon, who seems to grasp the situation, speaks up in support.

"Y-Yeah. Seo Eun-hyun is right. Don't do that again."

[Yes, Master. I have received your command.] I introduce Golden Shaking Bird to Jeon Myeong-hoon, and we spend about a day inside the Great Desolate Path, deciding on our next destination.

The next day arrives.

After catching up with Yeo Hwi, who has separated from our fusion, Hong Fan, who has been within my body until now, and Golden Shaking Bird and Jeon Myeong-hoon, we decide to head towards the destination we set last night.

"Alright then, Golden Shaking Bird. As we decided last night, let's head to the Good Sight Heavenly Domain first."

[Yes. Then I will begin the transfer to the Good Sight Heavenly Domain.] Golden Shaking Bird nods and begins activating the Great Desolate Path.

Kururururung!

Within the world of thunder and lightning, we begin preparing to move into the Heavenly Tribulation within the Good Sight Heavenly Domain.

Hong Fan and Yeo Hwi return inside my body, while Jeon Myeong-hoon and I sit in a lotus position and silently observe the Great Desolate Path.

[Great Desolate Path, activating! Destination: Good Sight Heavenly Domain!] Kururururung!

Thunder roars and we set off towards the Good Sight Heavenly Domain.

That's what should have happened.

"...?"

I feel something strange and glance at the surroundings.

Jeon Myeong-hoon abruptly jumps to his feet.

His eyes begin to turn bloodshot.

"This... energy is... Golden Shaking Bird!"

"... Jeon Myeong-hoon, calm down. Golden Shaking Bird won't be able to answer."

"What?"

"... Time has fractured. Under the attraction force of a formidable existence, the world has momentarily come to a halt. A being like Golden Shaking Bird won't even be able to resist. I'm saying the only ones who are conscious here are us."

The surroundings are frozen.

The Great Desolate Path, which was about to activate.

Yeo Hwi and Hong Fan, who were chatting inside me.

Even the seething lightning around us.

Everything is at a standstill.

And inside this frozen spacetime— Kwachijijik!

A portion of the lightning begins to surge, and from within, a figure emerges.

It's a [foot].

A pure white foot, as clean as freshly fallen snow, gently steps into this space.

A palace attire made of lightning.

A hair of white.

A strange being, their face hidden.

It is Zhengli.

"...!"

"...!"

Jeon Myeong-hoon and I simultaneously tremble, and Zhengli smiles.

[This is... surprising. I only permitted the consciousness of the Heaven-Destroying One, but your will is so immense that time-stop didn't work. What a monster you are, Seo Eun-hyun.]

"... It's been a while, Zhengli."

I greet Zhengli calmly, exuding killing intent.

But Jeon Myeong-hoon grits his teeth as red lightning sparks around him.

"... Have you come... seeking death, my nemesis...?"

[Kukuk... Someone like you? Kill me? Absurd. I, who acts on behalf of my Lord, stand equal to the Judges of the Underworld. I can crush the likes of you beneath my finger.] Kududududuk!

Zhengli's aura covers the entire Great Desolate Path.

Jeon Myeong-hoon collapses to his knees, struggling even to breathe.

Yet, even as he kneels, he cannot suppress his fury. Red lightning seeps from his seven orifices as he slowly begins to rise again.

It looks as though he's weeping blood.

Zhengli stretches out her hand, as if intent on finishing him.

A terrifying authority of Heavenly Tribulation can be felt from the surroundings.

"... That won't do."

I summon the Wheel behind my back and take a step forward.

Jjeooong!

Zhengli's aura is nullified by my presence.

"I know I'll lose to you, but I am confident I can make you regret attacking us."

Kiiiiiiiing!

The jade of Yin-Yang and Five Elements gathers before me.

It's not my preferred method, but right now, even the Great Mountain Supreme Deity's way is necessary.

"I am prepared to sacrifice myself to force-feed you the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra. If you are set on attacking us, be ready for the price."

[... Kukuk. Damn it. I sensed it the moment the temptation failed, but you really aren't human, Seo Eun-hyun...] Zhengli laughs as she looks at me.

Zhengli and I confront each other for a moment.

A while later.

She lets out a chuckle and steps back.

Chiiii— Her oppressive aura fades. Jeon Myeong-hoon, as if released from his tension, collapses entirely and coughs up crimson spiritual energy.

[Even I am wary of that savage Mountain Divine Spirit's mantra, so let us end this fight here.]

"State your purpose for coming here."

[I was going to tell you anyway. Don't rush me.] Pajijijijik!

Lightning writhes and forms a chair.

A seat made entirely of lightning, without any true substance.

Despite only having form, Zhengli sits comfortably upon it.

[My Lord speaks thus: 'I seek the strength of you Enders. Come to the Horse Ear Heavenly Domain and create a gap in the imprisonment Heavenly Domain. Do this, and this Immortal shall bestow upon you the greatest gift that I can give.']

"...!"

A sudden collaboration offer from the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, Do Gon!

I flinch at the offer, while Jeon Myeong-hoon gasps for breath as he glares at Zhengli.

She smiles faintly and extends her hand towards us.

[Choose. Take my Lord's hand and liberate my Lord to obtain future hope. Or... be ground to dust along with Mount Sumeru by the Great Mountain Supreme Deity who is gathering Their strength...]