Chapter 434: Her (6)

Wo-woong—

The moment I regain consciousness, I find myself in the Chaos Realm region of the Bright Cold Realm.

'This place...'

It's the opposite of the Heart Tribe's territory in the east.

Beyond the Swiftwind Domain and Dead Earth Domain, I've arrived at the Chaos Realm in the west.

Jjeong!

As soon as I come to my senses, an overwhelming 'weight' presses down on me, and I am slammed straight into a spot within the western Chaos Realm.

In a corner filled with jade stones within the Chaos Realm.

As I witness the entire area being grinded down by a massive attraction force, I slowly begin to stand.

Crack!

The weight on my shoulders is even heavier than the gravity of the star I briefly sat on when I fought Jang Ik.

Jjeoook!

The space around me distorts with overwhelming force, and a giant planet appears above me.

It's the Within Heavens Star that Sacred Master Baek Woon bestowed upon me.

[Even though I personally explained everything and told you this was for your sake, you still refuse? Just accept it quietly!]

"...I apologize. However, this is something related to those [above], so I cannot speak of it. I have no need for the title, so please, take it back."

I can't speak about anything related to the Star Vein Eye.

Just like with Zhengli or the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, I've experienced firsthand how painful it can be to carelessly reveal anything involving True Immortals.

[...That will not do.]

"Pardon...?"

[Listen well, Seo Eun-hyun of the Human Race.]

Kugugugugugu!

An immense power starts concentrating in the Chaos Realm.

At the same time, the Within Heavens Star floating above me is trying to forcibly connect with me.

[You are my successor.]

"...!?"

Startled, I look up at the sky.

[In 600 years, no one has achieved the late Integration stage with the cultivation of the Heaven and Earth Tribes and reached the fifth stage of Manifestation of the Heart Tribe. I've neither heard of nor seen such a being. Though your growth may be a bit slower compared to the Golden Divine, he focused solely on the Heaven Tribe's cultivation. In pure talent, you surpass the Golden Divine.]

"...There seems to be a misunderstanding."

[Whether it's a misunderstanding or not doesn't matter, as the results speak for themselves...]

Resisting the increasing pressure of the Within Heavens Star, I struggle to prevent it from connecting with me.

[You surely have the potential to reach the Sacred Vessel stage. For that reason, you were born with the fate of becoming the Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm after me. Thus, as the current Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm, I have every reason to bind you to this realm as my successor!]

Dududududududu!

I don't even have time to respond.

'This...is the Sacred Vessel stage...'

I grit my teeth as I barely withstand the pressure of the Within Heavens Star.

These are beings who control their own Middle Realm.

Beings who, within their star system, are monsters that wield power close to omnipotence.

The fact that I was instantly transported from Heavenly Lotus Mountain to the Chaos Realm, and I'm now being crushed by an increasingly overwhelming pressure that I am unable to resist, is a display of the overwhelming disparity.

[Accept it. Seo Eun-hyun...if you become the Sacred Master, the Human Race will become the dominant race in the Bright Cold Realm. The Tall Tree Race, who don't know their place and all they do is pollinate when bored, can be burned as firewood by your people. The Paired Wings Race as mounts, the Fungal Bone Race as snacks, the Rotting Owl Race as toys, and the Fighting Ghost Race as foot rags—no one would dare to speak against you.]

"I have no desire to do such things, nor any reason to!"

[As the god of the Bright Cold Realm, you can rule for thousands of years, fulfill the duties of a Sacred Master, and delve deeper into the power of attraction force, eventually becoming a True Person. Of course, you'd need to find a successor eventually, but by then, there will surely be promising ones among the Esteemed Ones of the Bright Cold Realm.]

Rumble!

The Heaven and Earth spiritual energy from the Within Heavens Star descends upon me.

From the moment I become connected to it, I will inevitably become the Within Heavens Esteemed One.

[If you dislike the name, you can change it once you become the Sacred Master. Who would dare oppose you?]

"...I never had any intention of accepting it in the first place. What meaning is there in changing it later?"

[Are you so displeased with becoming my successor?]

"If the title is not given, I will consider it."

[How arrogant. In that case, how about this... If you become the Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm...you will be able to resolve your fundamental problem.]

"...Pardon?"

[Your soul... Isn't it hot?]

"...!"

Baek Woon's tone softens, as if she's trying to persuade me.

[I've been watching your soul for a long time. The Karmic Fire burning hotly within...the authority of the Judge in the form of flames. Aren't you suffering from that power?]

"..."

[I can see it even now. Your soul trembles in pain upon pain. If you reach the realm where you can borrow the power of the Bright Cold Realm, you will be able to rid your body of that fiery tribulation. How about it? Will you still refuse?]

"..."

I remain silent.

And then, I smile bitterly.

"It seems you have misunderstood."

[...Ho?]

"This thing burning inside me...cannot be extinguished. Even if I become the Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm, no matter what I do, it cannot be put out."

[Ha...are you, who is merely an Esteemed One, trying to teach me?]

"You seem to be talking about the Karmic Fire. Certainly, in regards to normal authorities, the Sacred Master's words may be right. However...in regards to this case, there's no way to rid myself of the pain."

[What?]

I shout as I look up at the sky.

"Sacred Master...it seems you cannot even begin to guess my pain, the reason for my pain, or the nature of my pain. I have no intention of escaping this suffering...! So please, stop forcing the position of Sacred Master upon me!"

[You insolent...!]

The next moment.

I unleash a powerful surge of energy and soar toward the sky.

Bo-oong!

The power of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, now truly united with me, flows into my sword.

'Accumulating Dust...'

In the past, whenever I performed a technique, my body would always move along with it.

Because it became second nature.

But after obtaining the Sub-Heart Sword, I realized that if the strength of the heart directly connects to the strength of the body, there's no need to move the body.

Starting from Transcending Peaks to Transcending Mountain Ridge Embedment, with all the techniques in between,

Now, just by recalling the moves of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship engraved in my heart, I can execute them all.

'...Forms a Mountain!'

Paaaat!

The already fearsome technique of Accumulating Dust Forms a Mountain no longer has any preparatory movements. With just my intention, it shoots towards the star in the sky.

Kuadududududuk!

The Sacred Master's Within Heavens Star is split in half, and I smash through the star as I soar upward.

"I apologize, Sacred Master...but I will not become an Esteemed One of the Bright Cold Realm."

[You...!]

Woo-woooong!

Energy begins to concentrate in the sky.

Then, a very familiar scene unfolds.

Jjeoong!

The sky splits in two.

Simultaneously, Sacred Master Baek Woon's 'gaze' envelops the Chaos Realm where I am.

A sight reminiscent of the descent of the Owner of Heavenly Punishment.

Though it doesn't carry the same mind-crushing pressure as it did then, its appearance is eerily similar.

'Her intent can't be read.'

Come to think of it, it has always been like this.

The hands and feet of the Blood Yin Esteemed One,.

The Esteemed Ones I encountered in the Lightning Sacred Sea.

And now, Sacred Master Baek Woon.

None of their intent could be read.

It may be that beings at the realm of an Esteemed One and above, when entering full combat readiness, become unreadable in terms of intent.

'But that doesn't mean they have no intent.'

When I stood face-to-face with Sacred Master Baek Woon earlier, I could read her intent to some degree.

They, too, have a heart, and they have emotions.

Without a doubt!

'And if they have a heart, they can surely feel pain.'

I prepare for my counterattack and boldly lock eyes with Baek Woon's gaze.

Baek Woon said that I am suffering from pain.

She must have seen the Karmic Fire burning within me.

But she misunderstood something.

The Karmic Fire inside me has long since been extinguished.

Then, what is it that still burns within me, causing me suffering?

Isn't it obvious?

'It's me.'

Strangely enough, ever since I encountered the Owner of Great Mountain and the order was annihilated, the Karmic Fire was immediately extinguished.

I don't know why.

But it doesn't seem like the Owner of Great Mountain extinguished it for me.

I still can't tell what the conditions are for the Karmic Fire to go out.

But one thing is certain.

Even though the Karmic Fire is gone, I am still in pain.

What now burns inside me is not the Karmic Fire.

It's my Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections. It is remembering the pain of the Karmic Fire and giving it to me.

Thus, what is burning my soul now is not the Karmic Fire.

This is my own guilt.

[As the Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm, I command thee...]

She begins to exert her power.

I raise my sword.

At the summit of Heavenly Lotus Mountain, in the White Jade Pavilion.

Baek Woon gazes off into the distance, staring at some far-off place.

Crackle, crack-crackle...

Lightning spears embedded in her body flicker.

Twitch—

Her brow furrows slightly.

In her consciousness, she feels the presence of Seo Eun-hyun in that distant place, clashing against her authority.

Earthquakes and tsunamis are triggered.

Volcanoes erupt, and firestorms rain down.

The entire surrounding region is transformed into a world of heat, like the core of a fixed star.

However, Seo Eun-hyun is cutting through all the 'phenomena' happening there, facing her head-on.

A Sacred Master of the Middle Realm is akin to a world unto themselves.

For that reason, whether it's a star system or a Middle Realm, a Sacred Master fears not even the lowest-ranked True Immortal within the domain they rule.

However, Baek Woon shows signs of unease.

Regarding the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, Baek Woon doesn't really expect Seo Eun-hyun to actually use it.

Of course, he might use the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra when cornered. Therefore while Baek Woon could have used Seo Eun-hyun's comrades or the Human Race to threaten him, she hasn't gone that far.

However, even putting aside the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, she cannot figure out what that ignorant, wicked human is hiding.

'I must make him a Sacred Master.'

Clench...

A Sacred Master of places like the Ancient Force Realm, the Purple Gold Realm, the True Devil Realm, the Nether Ghost Realm, or the Astral Realm will not do.

'I must! I must bind him to Bright Cold!'

Grind, grind...

As if recalling the nightmare from 120,000 years ago, she grits her teeth while looking at the lightning spears embedded in her body.

Even 120,000 years ago, there was such an existence.

A supreme genius from the ominous world.

Baek Woon judges that Seo Eun-hyun is of the same kind as that supreme genius.

'I cannot allow another massacre like the one 120,000 years ago... Even if he wreaks havoc, if I can confine him to the Bright Cold Realm, I will be able to save countless lives.'

She recalls the supreme genius from the Head Realm 120,000 years ago.

The Golden Divine, Yang Su-jin.

The Human Race cultivator who, at first glance, had an outwardly affable demeanor and polite manners.

And now, Seo Eun-hyun overlaps with the image of Yang Su-jin at that time in her mind.

The human who once seemed so amiable and polite that turned into a terrifying slaughter devil, sweeping across the entire Heavenly Domain.

Recalling the time when all Sacred Masters and True Persons of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain had to unite just to face Yang Su-jin's ring finger, Baek Woon trembles.

'Even if I have to sacrifice my position as Sacred Master...even if I have to turn the Bright Cold Realm into hell...I must confine him.'

Despite everything she suffered at the hands of Yang Su-jin, she does not hate him.

After all, Yang Su-jin's atrocities were not entirely his fault.

Having cultivated the attraction force of fate and taken on the role of Sacred Master, she understands.

Life is something that cannot be controlled by a mortal's will.

Thus, Baek Woon believes that if someone becomes a slaughter devil, it's because fate has cast them in such a role, and it's not entirely the slaughter devil's sin.

And in Baek Woon's eyes, Seo Eun-hyun's behavior more or less resembles Yang Su-jin's.

Therefore, Seo Eun-hyun is highly likely to walk a similar fate to Yang Su-jin.

'I must bind him!'

Recalling that nightmare, Baek Woon swears to do whatever it takes to narrow the scope of Seo Eun-hyun's massacre.

'That is my duty, entrusted to me by [Them] when I took on the position of Sacred Master!'

Wo-woong!

The wings that have appeared around Baek Woon shine brightly.

[Give up. Accept it!]

Chwaralarak!

Behind her, a Black Ancient Paper floats into view.

On the Black Ancient Paper are written the titles of countless Esteemed Ones.

[You shall inevitably become the Sacred Master of the Bright Cold Realm.]

Her gaze pierces through tens of millions of li, locking onto Seo Eun-hyun in the Chaos Realm.

She imposes her will, beginning to intensify the authority of the Bright Cold Realm onto Seo Eun-hyun.

[I shall definitely make it so...]

At that moment.

Baek Woon sees something appear in Seo Eun-hyun's hand.

It's a pitch-black banner.

From Seo Eun-hyun's seven orifices, the power of darkness flows down like a river.

Flowers seem to grow from the banner, only to soon morph into grotesque monsters.

Rolling, rolling...

The grotesque creatures, seemingly devoid of reason, swivel their eyes, glancing nervously at Seo Eun-hyun who summoned them.

The next moment, Seo Eun-hyun breathes power into the banner.

All the monsters begin to flee in unison.

But they are caught by Seo Eun-hyun's attraction force one by one, crushed on the spot, and absorbed into the banner.

The horrific screams of the monsters echo from within the banner held by Seo Eun-hyun.

Flinch!

Baek Woon momentarily foresees a dark future and unleashes her full force in a single strike aimed at Seo Eun-hyun.

A brilliant white light, as if from a Heavenly Tribulation, strikes Seo Eun-hyun from the sky.

But the pitch-black darkness devours the light and advances, striking Baek Woon's 'eyes' that gaze down upon Seo Eun-hyun!

Kuajijijk!

[Ah, ah, ahh...]

Baek Woon trembles in place as if struck by lightning.

Seo Eun-hyun's voice resonates through the Plane of Soul, crossing tens of millions of li to reach her ears.

[Extinguishing (滅) Realm (界) Demonic (妖) Curse (呪) Banner (旛)...!]

Seo Eun-hyun's agony, evolved through the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner and the Black Ghost Curse Banner, has now transformed to the point where it can collapse an entire realm by itself.

Demonic devils manifested from countless Heart Demons.

These demonic devils, captured and compressed into the form of a banner, have become a monstrous flag!

That is the Extinguishing Realm Demonic Curse Banner.

And then, Baek Woon begins to scream.

[Huuaaaaaahhh!!!]

She clutches her head and screams from the heights of Heavenly Lotus Mountain.

'Th-This is...!'

As befitting a veteran cultivator who has cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years, Baek Woon instantly analyzes the methodology of the Extinguishing Realm Demon Curse Banner and traces its origin.

'Asceting Lightning Curse Banner...! Golden Divine's torture devilish art!!! He evolved it into something like this...?'

Grind...

Baek Woon grits her teeth and steels her heart.

'Just as I thought, even though he pretends to be normal like Yang Su-jin, he's no different. A wicked breed! I must bind him to the Bright Cold Realm!'

Her entire body trembles as she fights to suppress the pain with desperate willpower.

'Fortunately the distance is great, so the full pain didn't transmit. I need to counterattack...'

However,

In that single instant when she was struck by Seo Eun-hyun's Extinguishing Realm Demon Curse Banner and lost her focus.

In that fleeting pause when she briefly stopped her relentless assault on Seo Eun-hyun!

That moment determined the outcome between the two.

Paaaatt!

[What...]

Seo Eun-hyun appears before Baek Woon's eyes.

He traversed tens of millions of li in a single step, through the Plane of Soul.

Baek Woon flinches.

It isn't because of Seo Eun-hyun.

It's because of the 'other man' that Seo Eun-hyun brought with him during that brief moment, from the Cedar Wood Grove of the Heart Tribe.

It's Jeon Myeong-hoon, crackling with lightning.

In another instant.

Before Baek Woon can react, Seo Eun-hyun brings Jeon Myeong-hoon right in front of her and places the spear embedded in Baek Woon's body into Jeon Myeong-hoon's hand.

"Come to think of it, I was curious."

[W-Wait...]

"What happens if the successor of the Golden Divine wields this?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon, understanding Seo Eun-hyun's will, begins to draw forth his power.

[D-Don't do it...!]

The spears embedded in Baek Woon's body all simultaneously start to glow red.

[Nooooooooo!!!]