Chương 738: Snakes (3)

The first thought I have is extermination or return to thee.

'If I just temporarily send them all to the Underworld through dimensional transfer or return to thee into my body and make them reincarnate, there's no way I'll be caught.'

Either way, since even if I kill them, it is within my authority to bring them back from the Underworld and resurrect them, so they won't suffer any real loss.

'But I must not do that.'

I gained the realization that my own heart can become the fate of another, and I decide to refrain from recklessly wielding my heart under the excuse of it being just mine.

'What is fine by my standard may not be fine for someone else.'

Therefore, I do not kill or make them return to thee.

'Since it has already come to this... I can only use the situation to further prove my identity.'

Immortal Beast King authority, open.

Ancient Force Manifestation.

My consciousness processing speed, incomparably higher than other True Immortals, reaches the speed of Araya, and I summon scenes from a timeline forgotten and turned into ancient force.

Radiance Hall Envoy of the Final Age of Dharma candidate, Maek Jin.

Attraction Force Connection.

History Revision.

The connection between Maek Jin and I, who do not meet in the current timeline.

But through the authority of Immortal Beast King, I summon the connection between him and me from another timeline, and revise that history to fit this current timeline.

Chwararararak!

As if the Taiji is rotating the world, by my will, history twists, and into the twisted history is inserted the interpretation of a new history.

The 'fragments of power' that Maek Jin scattered in Heavenly King Heavenly Domain at the time of the Vast Cold Great War, so that he may revive upon death.

Into the history of those fragments of power, the history of 'me' is inserted and embedded.

The Heaven Immortals of Radiance Hall are sensitive toward the history revisions of their nemesis, the Earth Immortals, but...

Chwararararak!

When the authority of my [Wheel] combines with the authority of Immortal Beast King, my history revision becomes vast enough to rival the history revision of the Head Realm, covering all of Mount Sumeru.

Thanks to that, other than the Underworld, Great Mountain, and the Heavenly Kings of the Earth Immortal pathway, none are able to perceive my history revision.

'If Torch Candle Heavenly Lord were at their peak, they might have noticed...'

But after the Naming Supreme Deity Battle, the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord is too busy shoving the Heavenly Void Furnace back into Head Realm to notice my history revision.

Furthermore, the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord is a Heaven Immortal who only touches history by borrowing the power of the Heavenly Void Furnace and the Head Realm, therefore they fall short of being a true Heavenly Venerable rank of the Earth Immortal pathway.

After completing that history revision through my clone Seo Gyeong, blood spurts all over my body and my head explodes.

Pukwagwang!

As my head explodes, perhaps due to the main authority of the Heaven Immortal that watches us, the composition of my clone transforms into resplendent moonlight.

From within the exploding clone, traces of Maek Jin spill out.

:: Maek Jin...?:: From the sense of doubt that I feel from them, it seems they do indeed know Maek Jin.

For a while, that Heaven Immortal stares at me intently, as though connecting with somewhere in Radiance Hall to peruse the records of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain. Then, as if convinced, they begin reconstructing my exploded clone.

:: I h a v e c a u s e d y o u t r o u b l e.:: Chwarararak!

The Heaven Immortal adjusts their rank and revives all of us who died in this trial, including me, before vanishing from that place.

Tststststs!

I act dazed with a blank face after being revived by them.

'Tsk, what a bothersome fellow.'

When I decode the [wisdom] remaining in the mind of the clone, I see that the name of that Heaven Immortal just now is Wol Woon (月雲/Moon Cloud), a being who treads the Immortal Dao of Moonlight (月光).

Since their Immortal Dao is a direct branch diverged from the Immortal Dao of Radiance, they are indeed a promising Heaven Immortal, and...

'So that mortal being called 'Wol Ah' is their direct descendant.'

It seems they are also someone holding the position of Law Protecting Immortal of Radiance Hall, like Ho Woon.

'Ah, that's right.'

And I remember that the being called Wol Woon is one whose main body I once burst apart and killed when I invaded the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.

'The power of their Immortal Dao was usable enough... but their fundamentals were weak, so they were weaker than Ho Woon. Why then does the [wisdom] say that they have a promising future? Ah, I see. It is not an objective evaluation but simply what they themselves think, which has come to me.'

I click my tongue inwardly and continue looking around with a dumb expression, and then the Sacred Vessel Sacred Master of the Radiance Spirit Sect approaches me as I look dumbfounded and speaks.

"Have you come to your senses? It seems you also have had the arrangement of a Heaven Immortal of Radiance Hall. Thanks to that, you have survived, and this too is a fortuitous encounter. You too seem to be born with a strong fate, so you also pass this trial."

"Is, is that true...?"

At my question, the Sacred Master, who seems to be from the Earth Tribe, rubs his head and nods.

And so...

Though I suffered trouble because of the Heaven Immortal called Wol Woon, Without having to undergo the troublesome trial, I became a disciple of the Radiance Spirit Sect.

"Disciples who pass the entrance trial of the Radiance Spirit Sect are basically treated as common disciples. But among them, those who achieve the first, second, and third place in the entrance trial are specially taken in as direct disciples by the seniors of the Radiance Spirit Sect."

Guided by Baek Yeong, the sect leader of the Radiance Spirit Sect and a demon beast Sacred Master from the Heavenly Dog Race, 'Wol Ah' walks toward the inner valley of the Radiance Spirit Sect with those called second and third place.

'To think I am a descendant of a Heaven Immortal...'

Wol Ah was born at the Core Formation stage.

From birth, she carried a Golden Core within her, and even a part of her Nascent Soul has already manifested.

Now, at thirteen years old, she has already reached the half-step Nascent Soul stage, and in fact, she has already embodied the enlightenment of the Heavenly Being stage.

As a genius who shakes Heaven and Earth, she came to the Radiance Spirit Sect carrying all the expectations of the cultivation clan she was born into, and she has come to know the source of her talent.

Of course, her talent originates not merely from being the descendant of a Heaven Immortal, but literally from the fate bestowed by Radiance Hall. Still, realizing she is the direct descendant of a Heaven Immortal makes her hold her head high.

'In this Radiance Spirit Sect, am I the greatest prodigy?'

Passing the trial of enduring the gaze of a Heaven Immortal and receiving their wisdom, she can already foresee her future.

The Radiance Spirit Sect is merely a stepping stone, for in a very short span she will surpass even this Sacred Vessel Sacred Master before her and become a True Immortal.

Since that is certain, she thinks it only natural that the Sacred Vessel Sacred Master personally guides them to their teachers.

But there is something unpleasant.

'I can understand the Sacred Vessel Sacred Master Baek Yeong not personally taking me as their disciple.'

She had already heard in advance that the rules of the Radiance Spirit Sect are like that.

The rules of the Radiance Sect were established by a True Immortal from the Radiance Spirit Sect itself, so she can accept them.

'But why do I have to go to be assigned a master together with the second and third place, who are far inferior to me?'

She looks at those called second and third place, 'Seo Gyeong' and 'Pal Jin.'

Seo Gyeong is a dumb-looking Qi Building stage, and Pal Jin, though at Core Formation stage, does not seem to have any special talent, even less than Seo Gyeong.

'Truly annoying. Why must I, together with such things...'

And it is then, when she arrives with Baek Yeong at the inner valley of the Radiance Spirit Sect, where the Esteemed Ones of the Star Shattering stage dwell.

"Baek Geom (White Sword), come forth."

Kurururung!

As though thunder rumbles, a woman descends before Baek Yeong and them, her face covered by a silver mask, her whole body wrapped in bandages, and wearing a silver robe.

"Hm..."

Baek Geom looks at Wol Ah and Pal Jin and speaks curtly.

"This one is my direct successor candidate, and this one is the candidate of Pearl Jade?"

"...?"

Wol Ah looks up at Baek Yeong in puzzlement at what is being said, but Baek Yeong only sweats coldly and smiles awkwardly, as if they heard nothing at all.

"They are Junior Sister's disciple. Wol Ah, as you can see, is born with a powerful fate. Seo Gyeong and Pal Jin are..."

"Ah, I know, I know. I'll take all three as my disciples. Go take care of your business."

"Yes, Junior Sister."

As if it is uncomfortable to face Baek Geom, Baek Yeong gives a full respectful bow to Baek Geom and then leaves in a hurry as though fleeing. Seeing this, Wol Ah grows confused.

'Since they are both of the Baek surname, it seems they are of the same line... Moreover, the Sect Leader has a higher realm, so why do they speak so respectfully to that one?'

But before she has the chance to dwell on that thought, Baek Geom roughly gropes Seo Gyeong's body and speaks.

"For now, you two train on your own. This one shows no sign of talent, so I must do a talent inspection.

"Sw-Sword-White True..."

"Hehehe, who is that supposed to be? I am the Esteemed One 'Baek Geom' (White Sword), so I know no such person. And I am your master, so obediently follow my words."

Finishing her words, Baek Geom hoists Seo Gyeong over her shoulder. As she turns at once to leave, Wol Ah calls out hurriedly.

"M, Master...? Please wait... If you could watch over our cultivation just a little..."

"Hm, you two are born with fate, so you have no need for such help. Even if you only breathe, your realm will rise on its own, so do not disturb me."

At the irresponsible words of Esteemed One Baek Geom, Wol Ah's mouth falls open in disbelief, and Pal Jin, sweating, also speaks.

"M, Master...? In truth, there is something I must reveal..."

"I know what you mean. In truth, you have no talent, and the reason you have come this far is thanks to the secret of that mysterious jewel you possess, is it not?"

"...!"

"That mysterious jewel is not separate from you, but a tool derived from your fate. That too is part of your talent, so use it well. In fact, many Pearl Jade candidates grow just like you, relying on external tools. Using it well to reach a higher realm is your own task. To give some advice, both of you are born with the fate of metal... so if you eat things like iron powder as though it were your daily food, your essence will resonate and your cultivation will progress more quickly."

Having said this, Baek Geom takes Seo Gyeong and disappears into her own cave residence.

This all happens in but a moment after Baek Geom becomes their master.

Two years pass after Seo Eun-hyun, Wol Ah, Pal Jin, and the others join the Radiance Spirit Sect.

The three reach the edge of the Minor Boundary in no time.

All in the Radiance Spirit Sect praise their talent, and by all rights they should be brimming with confidence and pride in their own talent and fate, filled with a sense of superiority.

However, Wol Ah cannot.

"Seo Gyeong!!!"

In her own cave residence, Wol Ah grits her teeth and screams toward Seo Gyeong.

No matter how much she is born with talent of a thousand ages, the realm of a Heavenly Being is not easy.

Even if she already embodied enlightenment up to the Heavenly Being stage, it is not something she could reach just breathing.

Thus, she believed that upon reaching the Heavenly Being stage, she would be able to draw her master's attention.

But...

—You only now reached the Heavenly Being stage? At this rate, can you even become a successor... tsk.

Only Baek Geom's cold sneer greeted her.

She still cannot tell if this one is truly her master.

'Surely I surpass them in talent. My fate is stronger as well.'

And yet...

For some reason, Baek Geom only pays attention to Seo Gyeong.

Even though Seo Gyeong is still only in the late Nascent Soul stage.

'Why in the world...? Why...? Even though within a hundred years I could catch up to Master's realm... why...?'

She cannot understand why she feels so resentful.

It feels as if the existence called Baek Geom is powerfully connected to her, and if Baek Geom denies her, her very existence itself is denied.

"Hey, Wol Ah."

Then, startled by Seo Gyeong's voice suddenly calling her from outside her cave residence, Wol Ah flinches and steps outside.

"Why, what is it, Seo Gyeong?"

Despite the strong inferiority she feels toward Seo Gyeong, Wol Ah greets him with a bright smile in front of him.

In any case, as a natural-born genius, she must maintain outward dignity.

"Congratulations on reaching the Heavenly Being stage. Master may not say it, but she cherishes you. It's just that Master's gaze is a little hard to understand, so it feels cold."

"Ahaha, thanks for the congratulations."

After exchanging kind words with Seo Gyeong, Wol Ah goes back inside her cave residence.

But even with Seo Gyeong's 'comfort,' she only suffers deeper under her Heart Demon.

'What...? Hard to understand? Then you mean, you understand Master? Someone like you?'

Budududuk...

Anger rises.

Seo Gyeong's kind appearance, Esteemed One Baek Geom who for some reason only pays attention to Seo Gyeong.

And most of all, herself!

'I must... become overwhelmingly stronger than Seo Gyeong.'

She believes there is only one way to resolve the inexplicable inferiority she feels toward Seo Gyeong.

Overwhelming advancement in cultivation!

Only that can dissolve her sense of inferiority toward Seo Gyeong.

'I must devote myself more to cultivation. Even more...'

And then, just as Wol Ah is about to begin cultivation at the Heavenly Being stage while engulfed by her Heart Demon— From her shadow, a [voice] speaks.

:: Do you desire power?::

"... What?"

At the sound of that single utterance, she suddenly beholds an illusion.

It is the divine spirit of a Sword Mountain, with glass swords sprouting all over.

"Power...?"

Hearing the call of the Mountain Divine Spirit from within her Heart Demon, the pupils of Wol Ah, the next Sword Spear Heavenly Lord candidate, begin to tremble madly.