Chapter 457: Key (2)

Gyeong Chang's Sudden Wind, Sudden Rain.

Yu Yeon's Calm Winds, Resting Waves.

Ryeo Hwa's Endless Cold Window.

...

I move my hands swiftly.

I can see it.

In the far distance, weapons are scattered everywhere.

Their owners are not here.

However...

As I approach and grip the weapons, I feel as if I can understand what kind of lives their owners lived.

Yu Hwa's Illusory Play under the Rosy Afterglow.

Baek Yeom's Mountain Repelling Whip.

Kim Young-hoon's Surpassing Radiant Saber!

Flash, flash!

As the radiance swirls, the weapons in my hand continuously strike at the massive being before me.

Cut, crush, pierce, strike, break, push, deflect...

All of this is Martial Arts (武).

It is the method for approaching [death].

What I face is neither an individual nor a group, but a principle (理致) itself.

Opening the Middle Realm and wielding authority from the domain of an Immortal Seat.

It is Blood Yin.

The Manifestations of more than ten thousand Heart Tribe members explode from my hand.

Piiiiit!

I raise the All-Heavens Sword from the Plane of Soul, cutting towards [Above].

To a world filled with light.

Towards the main body of Blood Yin that resides in that world!

Chwararararara.

Blood Yin doesn't stay still.

Kuduk, kududuk.

Coral sprouts from my body.

: : I declare my judgment... : :

Kururung!

While I'm unleashing Heavenly Tribulation, I hear Blood Yin's mantra echo in my mind.

: : I see the karmic sins of uncountable living beings who were swept away into annihilation by an immense existence, all because of you. : :

Crack...

They immediately attack my weakness.

: : This is your sin, and thus your responsibility to bear! : :

I tightly shut my eyes.

The responsibility I've always carried on my chest.

If I die because of this, then that too will be my sin!

As I brace myself for the coral to grow and drain me dry,

"...?"

Zzzt—

The coral sprouting from my body shrinks and then burns away completely.

'What...?'

I recall the authority of Hyeon Eum, who had fused with the left foot of Esteemed One Swae Ryeong during a previous battle.

Back then, perhaps I didn't have enough severe sins for the coral to fully grow as it withered and died instead.

But now, it isn't just withering. It's burning away completely.

That's when it happens.

: : You... : :

Blood Yin begins trembling.

: : How could a living being have already received judgment? Who judged you in advance? Why do I feel the power of my Karmic Fire within you? : :

Their eye quivers.

: : Was it you I sensed as the target of Karmic Fire before? Then why is the Karmic Fire extinguished now? The only conditions for the Karmic Fire to extinguish out are either a Judge absolves the sin and extinguishes it, or one's own conscience stabs deeper than the pain of the fire itself! : :

Dudududududu.

Heaven and Earth begin to tremble.

: : It is impossible for the conscience and guilt of a mortal to exceed the agony of Karmic Fire. Then...which Judge have you met beforehand? Does this mean...you appeared before me carrying the will of a Judge of the Underworld? Does the will of the Underworld not wish for my reinstatement!? : :

Their eye starts to shake.

: : I am Yu Hao Te. I am none other than the Chief Judge Nether Devil True Lord! The Accumulating Virtue Dharma King and Right Hand of the [Oldest One]! I was the pinnacle of the Underworld!!! But why!? My Lord! Why do you reveal such will to me!!?? : :

Blood Yin begins to scream.

Dududududu!

Earthquakes and tsunamis start to occur throughout the Bright Cold Realm, and blood and brain matter begin to gush out from beneath the ground.

Blood Yin is wailing.

'...I see. They believe that my presence here, standing against them, is the will of the Reapers of the Underworld.'

It's certainly understandable to think so.

Had I not heard the 'conditions for the Karmic Fire to be extinguished' from Blood Yin's own mouth, I too would have mistaken my fate as being manipulated by the Reapers.

'Now I understand.'

The reason the fire went out after meeting Great Mountain wasn't because Great Mountain extinguished it for me.

It was because, right after my followers were massacred, the pain and guilt in my heart...

Grew vast enough to surpass the pain of the Karmic Fire.

From the moment a cultivator attains the consciousness domain, they sense more and think more than mortals.

Because of that, they are superior to mortals, but at the same time, they feel emotions far more delicately than mortals do.

When it comes to pleasure, this may be an advantage...

But when it comes to pain, the pain is far greater than what mortals feel, to the point where a mortal's pain seems trivial.

I laugh as I watch Blood Yin scream before me.

Kwarurururung!

A green podao appears in my hand.

In the past, if I didn't have the podao that Jang Ik personally embedded, it would've been impossible to manifest this destructive power.

But now it's different.

As long as Yeon's Play is activated, I can unleash Jang Ik's single strike at any time.

"Collapsing Immortals!"

Kururururu!

Jang Ik's Fighting Spirit, created solely to destroy the strong who oppress the weak!

That Will explodes from my hand.

"Annihilating Heavens!"

Kwarururururung!

With a sound akin to Heavenly Tribulation, the highest peak in the Bright Cold Realm, Heavenly Lotus Mountain, is split in half!

Chiiiiiiiiii!

The red aura sphere splits in half, and from within, I see Baek Woon, tainted by blood devilish energy.

Baek Woon's hands tremble as she clasps them together in a prayer pose.

[Please come...]

She's trying to summon [something]!

Blood Yin's remaining will in the area rapidly begins to take over Baek Woon's body again.

As if trying to stop her from completing the summoning!

I murmur softly toward Baek Woon.

"This will hurt...but please bear with it for a moment."

I have now unleashed everything.

What's left is...

"Jeon Myeong-hoon!"

Kwarurururung!

To drain Blood Yin's power and drive him out completely!

Red lightning flickers as Jeon Myeong-hoon's hand forms a lightning spear.

"Haaaaaaa!"

Kwajijijijijk!

With a thunderous roar, Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning spear pierces Baek Woon's stomach.

At the same time, the seven lightning spears of Yang Su-jin hidden within her body begin to react.

"Descend, Heavenly Punishment!"

Simultaneously, Heavenly Tribulation begins to erupt from Yang Su-jin's lightning spears.

These Heavenly Tribulations are filled with countless colors.

Not merely the seven-colored Heavenly Tribulation of Yang Su-jin, but all of the more than ten thousand Heavenly Tribulations I had scattered begin surging forth!

Baek Woon tries to pray but ends up screaming, though there's nothing that can be done right now.

I can feel Blood Yin, who is connected to her, suffering as well.

Heavenly Tribulation bursts forth even in the Plane of Fate and strikes Blood Yin, delivering a proper blow!

At the same time, I can see the power of Blood Yin, which had been entwined with Baek Woon's body, gradually fading.

Blood Yin, who had been corroding Baek Woon's body, begins to be repelled.

As more than ten thousand varieties of Heavenly Tribulation continuously descend, Blood Yin appears to be in excruciating pain, but they push back with even more strength, trying to endure.

Once again, Baek Woon's body is enveloped by red aura-like tentacles.

A dark red mist appears around her, wrapping her completely.

Blood Yin is now directly using their authority, unleashing their power.

However, the thunderstorm descending from the heavens shows no sign of stopping.

I take a step back, watching the pillars of light falling from the sky.

When I turn around, my comrades are there.

There are Kim Young-hoon and Oh Hyun-seok, who have regained their senses, along with Seo Ran, Shi Ho and others.

I notice Seo Hweol subtly trying to approach Seo Ran, so I strike him with the Sub-Heart Sword, causing his clone to explode, and laugh.

"Now...let's finish this."

Nine pairs of wings unfold from Oh Hyun-seok's back.

The massive form of a Golden-Winged Peng appears behind Kim Young-hoon.

Jeon Myeong-hoon becomes a giant of lightning again, Seo Ran uses the Ghost Path Method, and Shi Ho prepares an attack.

And Kim Yeon, all the way in the far back, after bursting apart all the Heart Heavenly Demons,

Readies her final move toward us.

Paaatt!

The Colorless Glass Sword appears in my hand.

I grasp the sword and aim for Blood Yin connected to Baek Woon inside the Heavenly Tribulation Pillar before me.

In the next moment, the full assault begins.

Golden light, purple light, red light, a faint pink light, and the hazy light of Accumulating Dust Forms a Mountain surge all at once, shattering the Heavenly Tribulation Pillar before my eyes.

Then, the following light pink quince flower forces the being inside the Heavenly Tribulation Pillar to be expelled from the Bright Cold Realm.

Kwarurururung!

: : You...!!! : :

Blood Yin rages in anger, but in the end, there is nothing they can do now!

As our offensive combines, the final wedge of Blood Yin is driven out from the Bright Cold Realm.

Pababababang!

Baek Woon's limbs are torn apart, and the will of Blood Yin that had clung to her body is completely driven out.

"Huu..."

I smile as I turn around, standing atop the rubble of the collapsed Heavenly Lotus Mountain.

"...We did it."

We succeeded in driving out Blood Yin.

Kim Young-hoon flops down, lying down, and Jeon Myeong-hoon plops to the ground with a thud.

Oh Hyun-seok pants as he laughs, and Kim Yeon quietly smiles.

At that moment, I see flower petals swirling in the air around Kim Yeon, appearing and then sinking into her face.

Tststststst!

For an instant, a pattern, similar yet different from the one that had appeared on Jo Yeon's face, flashes on hers before disappearing.

It was the pattern of a light pink bird flying freely in the sky.

I don't know what it means, but...

We can figure it out slowly later.

I, too, sit down on a nearby pile of rocks, trying to regulate my breathing.

"It's all over. Now..."

Just as I think so.

Kuuung!

A massive roar echoes from behind.

'No...this is.'

It's not a roar.

It's a 'vibration.'

The entire dimension trembles, and the souls of all of us standing in it resonate with the tremor.

Along with the vibration, an overwhelming sense of dread invades my mind.

Jjeookk...

Then, the void starts to 'open.'

Chills!

I feel goosebumps all over my body.

A dreadful foreboding.

A terrifying presence!

This is...

Blood Yin's main body!

"H-Heok..."

I understand what's happening right now.

Blood Yin, who had been gradually trying to invade the Bright Cold Realm, is now outright tearing the dimension apart and forcing their main body inside!

I break out in a cold sweat, trying to resist the presence.

Kugung!

"Kuheok!"

But as I cough up blood, I realize.

'I can't stop this.'

: : I...: :

It feels like my body is going to burst apart.

: : Will take at least... : :

This is...

A True Immortal.

A truly great being who has risen to the Plane of Fate.

: : You bastards alone... : :

The Great Masters of Fate!

: : You who have shattered...my grand plan into pieces...at least you...! : :

Due to the power of Vast Cold, Blood Yin cannot enter the Bright Cold Realm.

However, they can tear the realm apart and drag us out.

: : I will definitely take you and make you suffer for eternity! : :

Kugugugugu!

A massive attraction force starts pulling us in.

I connect with Kim Yeon's Yeon's Play and unleash Jang Ik's Four Treasures Annihilating Blade relentlessly. My comrades also begin their resistance.

Kim Yeon borrows the power of the Bright Cold Realm and fires the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

But we cannot stop Blood Yin's main body from pulling us from outside the dimension.

'N-No. At this rate, we'll be taken by Blood Yin...'

We start getting gradually dragged into the crimson world.

Oh Hyun-seok, in an attempt to stop his comrades from being dragged in, tries to put Hong Fan, Shi Ho, Seo Ran, and Azure Tiger Saint into his domain, but since he himself is being dragged in, it only worsens the situation.

Just when I think everything is over.

Pukwak!

From under the debris of Heavenly Lotus Mountain, a white hand emerges.

Beneath that hand, Baek Woon, with her left arm severed, raises her one remaining hand and shouts.

A chilling drop in temperature sweeps through, giving off a majestic yet ominous feeling of a great presence overseeing this place.

I've felt this presence before.

—Chief Judge has arrived!

[Please come...! Radiance Eight Immortals! (光明八仙)]

Chills!

A sense of danger sounds alarms in my mind.

Even when I directly witnessed the projection of the Great Mountain, I had never felt this level of fear and terror.

This is...

Dangerous!

The sky of the Bright Cold Realm brightens, and Blood Yin's attraction force suddenly weakens.

Blood Yin looks at me, screaming as if gripped by terror.

: : I see...you fulfilled the conditions! You called for Them! You! You...!!! : :

But I also feel my mind going blank, trembling in terror.

I can sense it.

When the sky of the Bright Cold Realm fully brightens, the [Great Beings] will descend, and we might face an end worse than being taxidermized by the Oldest One!

Just as my mind turns completely white.

Paaaaatt!

"...!?"

The Salt Crystal norigae shines pure white.

That pure white light begins to protect us, resisting the golden light blazing in the Bright Cold Realm.

As I watch the scene, a conversation I once had comes to mind.

The secret room where I spoke with the Queen of Penglai Kingdom.

Inside that room, the salt that radiated light....

The light brought by the Owner of Salt Mountain!

The pure white light responds to the light of the 'Owner of Light' and begins to exert a powerful attraction force.

'This, this is...'

The attraction force activates.

At the same time, Yeon's Play and the norigae resonate, and 'something' starts to happen.

The plan I had conceived from the start to summon the domain of Salt Mountain into this place is being realized!

'It's activating now...!? Suddenly? Is it because it touched the light!?'

It's when I feel bewildered.

Something begins to be 'summoned' to this place.

It's a massive mountain.

A pure white Salt Mountain has appeared here.

'Ah...'

I realize what this Salt Mountain is.

'Is that...the entrance to the dream...?'

We all start getting pulled into the Salt Mountain.

I quickly realize why this is happening.

Even though we managed to pull 'that world' into this one using Yeon's Play, due to the lack of power, 'we' are being dragged in instead.

: : You dare insult this Judge and try to escape into a dream!? : :

From far away, I hear Blood Yin's furious roar.

At the same time, I feel a chill run down my entire body.

: : With the authority of a True Immortal, I prophesize this... : :

Chills!

: : Within 100 years, you shall all surely face me again. : :

Kuuung!

The sky seems to rumble with a loud noise, and an enormous pressure briefly settles on our shoulders before disappearing.

Having reached the realm of Void Shattering, I can tell.

Blood Yin has imposed upon us the fate that 'within 100 years, we will inevitably meet Them again'!

At some point, we will, 'one way or another,' meet Blood Yin again due to the attraction force of fate...

Having saved the Bright Cold Realm, we are sucked into the dream of Salt Mountain amidst Blood Yin, Baek Woon, and the descent of Light.

Kugugugugu!

In the distance, shadows rise, and the 'closed-eyed' Seo Hweols of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens extend their hands toward us from the shadows.

The bastard's intention is clear.

Now that 'this situation' has settled, it's time to immediately betray me!

However, contrary to expectations, Seo Hweol's shadow passes by me and desperately reaches out toward Oh Hyun-seok, who brought Seo Ran into his domain.

Shukwak!

But in the next moment, Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens is once again severed by my Sub-Heart Sword.

[Hoho...I was just about to reunite with my beloved family, so why are you acting this way...]

"Sorry, but Seo Ran isn't your family...he's my friend."

[Friend...friend...? Ha, haha, ahahahahahaha!]

As I am sucked into the dream of Penglai, I fling Seo Hweol away, and Seo Hweol laughs madly as if he's heard something ridiculous.

After sending my Sub-Heart Sword toward Seo Hweol one more time, I quickly fly with my comrades toward the world beyond.

Everything has ended.

And we, avoiding the Light and Blood Yin...

Will go to meet those we long for.

Kugugugugu!

The eight beings of light casting over the Bright Cold Realm look down at Baek Woon, who is praying below.

Baek Woon kneels respectfully before the eight lights, and the first light among them extends a hand towards her.

At the gesture of that being, Baek Woon's cultivation as Sacred Master is instantly restored.

The eight lights, after briefly communicating their will to Baek Woon, extend their fingers toward Blood Yin, who is restlessly lurking outside the Bright Cold Realm.

Blood Yin, gripped by fear, flees into the shadows somewhere, and the eight lights, after exchanging their wills, depart once again without paying Blood Yin any care.

[...Huu...]

With the body of an old tree and her Sacred Master body pierced by seven lightning spears, Baek Woon gazes at the large Salt Mountain that has appeared before her eyes.

The Salt Mountain is slowly collapsing in the blowing wind.

Though it briefly reacted to the light of the Radiance Eight Immortals and became a passageway to another world, it is now nothing more than an ordinary mass of salt.

With a wave of her hand, she scatters the entire Salt Mountain.

At the center of Salt Mountain, a white norigae is emitting a pure white light.

[Salt Crystal...a remnant of Ancient Force?]

She sighs and looks beyond the Bright Cold Realm, somewhere outside of the dimension.

[An ominous ore originating from the Head Realm...this isn't even the sealed Ancient Force Realm. I shouldn't leave it here.]

Snap!

With a snap of her fingers, the Salt Crystal norigae is expelled from the Bright Cold Realm and flies off into the Astral Realm.

Without giving the norigae any more attention, she restores Heavenly Lotus Mountain and begins repairing the various parts of the Bright Cold Realm damaged by the recent events.

The Bright Cold Realm becomes peaceful, as if nothing had happened.

Blink—

A cool breeze.

I open my eyes.

'This place is...'

"Deputy Seo."

'My head...feels like it's about to split. I remember fighting Blood Yin and entering the dream of Penglai through the Salt Crystal norigae at the end, but...'

"Deputy Seo."

'It's too bright. Maybe it's because of those 'lights,' but I can't see well. The air is clean, and the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy is...what's this? I can't feel the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy? Just where is this...?'

"Deputy Seo, you bastard!"

Slap!

Suddenly, I'm dumbfounded by the hand that slaps my cheek, and I rub my eyes.

Gradually, my vision and senses adjust.

Maybe it's because I always had near-omniscient senses in the consciousness domain, and I possessed near-omnipotent power thanks to the authority of a cultivator, but my body isn't used to this, and I couldn't react properly to the slap just now.

I gather my thoughts and look around.

The forest is dense.

The air is clear, and a familiar face in loosely worn office attire is standing before me.

"...Jeon Myeong-hoon? What happened?"

"What? This crazy bastard... Are you asking because you don't know this happened due to you dozing off at the wheel? And what? Jeon Myeong-hoon? Am I your friend???"

"...???"

I rub my eyes and look around.

I see Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon...and Seo Ran.

Kang Min-hee and Oh Hye-seo are not here.

And...Seo Ran, absurdly enough, is wearing clothes similar to what Kang Min-hee wore back on Earth and is fixing his hair.

"What the...? Wait, what's going on...?"

"What do you mean, what's going on?! Everything's gone to hell because of you! Deputy Seo Ran hit her head because of you and now has amnesia, and you bastard—"

"Wait, wait! Shut up for a second!"

Pabat!

I strike the pressure points of Jeon Myeong-hoon and the rest of the people here, knocking them out, and quickly climb a nearby tree.

It's 'that' tree, the one I always climbed each time I regressed.

From the top of the tree, I gaze out at the vast sea of trees stretching endlessly before me.

Yes.

This is Ascension Path.

The current situation is my first regression point.