Chapter 411: 20th Cycle's First Day.

Tstststststststss!

Just like before, I open my eyes in the middle of another regression.

Once again, I am moving against the river of time formed by the Taiji.

Up [Above], I can see the black sky, and just like before, there appears to be [ten seats] (座) emerging.

In the past, merely glimpsing those [seats] would have driven me insane. However, this time, perhaps because I fully embraced the meaning of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra's formula deep in my heart, I keep silently reciting the mantra, and though the sight of the [seats] still shocks my mind, it doesn't drive me mad.

As I gaze at the [ten seats], I suddenly flinch in shock.

'Wait, that is...!'

Chills, Chills!

My very soul trembles like mad.

The reason is that most of those seats above are focused on me.

The seat with [a determination as immovable as a great mountain] is glaring ferociously at me.

The seat with [a hazy feeling as if in a confusing, dizzying dream] is looking upon me with curiosity.

The seat that's [somehow familiar] shows no discernible emotion but is looking down at me.

The seat that [seems imprisoned somewhere] feels to be looking at me with excitement.

The seat that bears [an unending and boundless hunger] conveys nothing but a sense of 'starvation.' making it impossible to discern anything further.

And among the seats at the center,

The seat that [gives a hollow feeling of emptiness] seems to pay me no mind, instead focusing on the seat beside Them.

The same is true for the seat that [feels like the owner of the Soul-bearing Flower].

It's most definitely the seat I saw during my 19th regression, the one that [seems to be watching me]

But unlike before, that seat is no longer emitting light.

As if it suddenly died, the light has grown so faint that it seems like it will extinguish entirely at any moment.

The two seats in the center seem to be concerned about this dimming seat.

And I know who that fading seat is.

'The Heavenly Venerable of Time...'

Surely, it's Him.

He mentioned giving me a gift, and through some tremendous cost He sacrificed something of His own.

'Is that why He called it a gamble...?'

His tone suggested that in order to break free from something, one requires a sacrifice.

It's clear that the price the Heavenly Venerable of Time paid is far from trivial.

As proof, during my 19th regression, it felt as though only the Heavenly Venerable of Time and the oldest of all could perceive me. But in this 20th regression. it seems as though the Heavenly Venerable of Time can no longer even detect me.

No, it feels as if His consciousness has vanished entirely.

'...'

I look up at Him, expressing my deep gratitude towards the Heavenly Venerable of Time.

Then, I notice the last seat in the sky.

The seat of the [oldest of all], is calmly gazing down at me.

Tingle, tingle...

I feel chills.

For some reason, I find the [oldest of all] far more terrifying than the seat with [a determination as immovable as a great mountain], presumed to be the Owner of Great Mountain.

'The reason everyone is looking down at me this time must be because this is a regression influenced by the Heavenly Venerable of Time.'

I can sense it.

Because the Heavenly Venerable of Time intervened, the other Governing Immortals became aware and are watching me.

It's possible that the regression this time isn't due to my ability, but instead the Heavenly Venerable of Time directly sending me back.

However, it seems that when the Heavenly Venerable personally uses His power, the other Governing Immortals notice, and I can feel that [eight] out of the [ten] are watching me.

Among the ten seats, the seat of Time has lost its light and can't see me, and the remaining seat seems to be simply uninterested.

Because the Heavenly Venerable of Time exerted His power, all of them, including the [oldest of all], are fully aware of and observing me.

But this time, I feel it clearer than ever.

The oldest of all has always been capable of perceiving my regressions.

I can tell.

Their gaze is so calm that I immediately notice.

In the previous life, I thought it was thanks to the Clear Scale Armor that They were able to track me, but that wasn't the case.

The Clear Scale Armor was just a pretext. Now knowing that the oldest of all can immediately, at any time, pursue me through history, I am filled with overwhelming dread.

'Perhaps...'

It might just be that They aren't chasing me right now because the other Governing Immortals are directing their attention towards me due to the Heavenly Venerable of Time's involvement.

But if that's the case...

Doesn't that mean in the next regression, when the other Governing Immortals are not watching, They might pursue me?

The thought suddenly strikes me with terror.

Tststststststststs—

I can feel the regression process nearing its end.

Just ahead is my regression point.

However, I suddenly notice something strange in the sky.

Thinking back, I vaguely perceived it during the 19th regression as well.

'That's...'

In the center, there are [rings] surrounding four of the seats.

And among the six seats on the periphery, [all but one] have rings.

But I notice something strange and open my eyes wide.

The [ring] on the periphery.

At first, I thought it was a [seat with a ring].

But no,

It's just a [ring]!

There is nothing but a ring!

In reality, there are only [five] starlights on the periphery.

Among the six seats on the periphery that I assumed were there, one is actually something without a central star, just a [ring]!

It was simply too distant, so I mistook its shape.

In reality, there are only [nine] seats in that sky.

Nine seats, five rings.

That is the true nature of the [ten] lights beneath that sky.

Paaaatt!

As I recognize this strange truth, my regression ends.

Thud—

Along with a sensation as if something forcefully caught on somewhere during the process.

Paaatt!

'This place is...'

An enormous turbulence of power surges around me.

And as I withstand the turbulence, I find myself holding hands with several others.

'Ah, I see...'

I understand.

I know exactly when this is.

Right after the Wuji Religious Order was annihilated.

The moment when I am holding hands with my remaining 23 comrades.

'This...must be the Heavenly Venerable of Time's gift.'

I understand the gift from the Heavenly Venerable of Time.

Revealing my fate in exchange for this time was Yeong Seung's proposal.

I clearly rejected Yeong Seung's proposal and declined what It wanted to use as a bargaining chip.

But I know deep down.

It's because I respect this time so much that I don't want to use it as a bargaining chip.

This moment itself is something I deeply, deeply long for.

Yes...

I have been yearning for my comrades of this time.

Squeeze!

I hold the hands of Hong Fan and Jeon Myeong-hoon on either of of me, feeling their warmth.

Beyond their warmth, I can feel Buk Hyang-hwa, Kim Yeon, Yeon Jin, Kim Young-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, Wei Shi-hon, Eum Wa, Baek Rin, the remaining Guardian Ghost Kings, Yuk Yo, Seo Ran, Shi Ho, and others...

As I feel the warmth of those who remain, tears well up in my eyes.

'Thank you...'

After quickly expressing my gratitude to the Heavenly Venerable of Time, I swiftly enter the time of extreme speed and rapidly expand the domain within my body.

Wo-woong!

Due to my domain already being synchronized with my soul (魂) through the Refining Void Dharma Treasure, it returned with me from 190,000 years in the future.

However, maybe there was a problem as my Grand Perfection Integration stage cultivation is now only at the early Integration stage...

But there's no problem in unfolding my domain!

I pull Hong Fan and Jeon Myeong-hoon into my domain and quickly bring my comrades into my body.

Kwajik!

The Seventh Guardian Ghost King I fail to retrieve in time is being crushed.

Badudududuk!

Gritting my teeth, I look up at the sky.

There, Great Mountain is still standing as always!

And then,

Flash!

The sky!

From the sky!!!

Reveredandevenmorereveredeightnoblebeingsdecend—

"Kugh..."

I immediately lower my head.

Paaatt, Paaaat!

Brilliant light wraps around the mountain of darkness.

'As expected...even the Governing Immortals have detected the regression!'

It seems the Supreme Deity of Light has also recognized this reversal of time and came down to capture the Owner of Great Mountain.

Cold sweat trickles down as I keep my head down.

Surprisingly, the Owner of Great Mountain doesn't resist much.

They just calmly look down at me from above.

Beware of the light!

Many beings have warned me of this fact.

Perhaps it's the Light, even more so than Great Mountain, that I need to be cautious of.

I keep my head lowered, waiting for Great Mountain to be completely captured by the light.

That's when it happens.

Jiing!

"...!"

I suddenly realize that I have entered my heart essence world at some point.

'This, this is...!?'

A clear Dao Mountain Sword Way.

That is my heart essence.

And, I suddenly become aware that there is [someone] [behind] me.

[Someone] has invaded my heart essence and even forcibly dragged my consciousness into it!

However, I dare not recklessly look [behind].

It feels as though my neck is being strangled.

No...it's more accurate to say it feels like a knife is in my mouth, or a gun is pressed against my temple.

I have a strong premonition that if I make any reckless move, I will be disassembled along with my soul and die!

I hear the voice of [someone].

A strange, distorted voice, impossible to tell if it's a male or female, human or not.

[You are not worthy of having that.]

A voice with a subtle hint of anger.

[...I will leave for today.]

I hear the sound of whispering in my ears.

[Come up. Let's see who’s more worthy above.]

Then, Their presence disappears.

I hurriedly turn around, but there is no one in my heart essence world.

No one except me.

I break out in a cold sweat.

I have a sense of who it is.

It's the Owner of Great Mountain.

They had brazenly entered my heart essence world.

Even Seo Hweol couldn't enter it recklessly, yet the Mountain God instantly entered my heart essence, trapped even me, the owner of the heart essence, within it, and disappeared after leaving a message.

It's a chilling display of authority.

But instead of trembling before Their power, I grind my teeth.

Because I know what They have done.

Wo-woong—

I exit my heart essence world, shedding tears of blood.

In the Integrated Dao Domain I unfolded, a hole has been pierced.

Tsutsutsutsu—

Before my eyes, the Great Mountain of darkness seems to gradually turn transparent before vanishing somewhere along with ropes of light.

But I can no longer hold back and shout out.

"Great Mountain!!!"

Among my remaining 23 comrades,

One was captured and killed by the God of the Mountain because I couldn't put them into the Integrated Dao Domain in time.

However, even among the comrades I quickly brought into the domain, aside from Wei Shi-hon, Eum Wa, and Baek Rin, all other nine Guardian Ghost Kings were crushed to death.

Even until the very last moment, They killed my comrades before leaving.

Sssss—

The projection of Great Mountain disappears along with the eight lights, but I can feel Their gaze still stuck on me.

It seems They have done something when They entered my heart essence.

Grinding my teeth, I hold my remaining comrades even more dearly.

Just a few seconds ago, I wondered what would have happened if the Heavenly Venerable of Time returned me to before the Wuji Religious Order was annihilated.

But upon reflection, I realize it wouldn't have made any difference.

The Mountain God would have relentlessly destroyed everything of mine, even while being captured by the light.

Kugugugugu!

To make matters worse, the attraction force of misfortune that has been following me since the Ancient Force Realm has grown even stronger.

It must be something added by the Mountain God.

Grinding my teeth and shedding tears of blood, I make a vow.

Just as Jeon Myeong-hoon swore revenge against the God of Heavenly Punishment, I swear revenge against the Mountain God.

The world has not yet perished, but my emotions are boiling even more fiercely.

As I am drawn towards the attraction force of misfortune, on the first day of my return,

I burn with a desire for vengeance against the Owner of Great Mountain.