The Named One (2)
If the Great Lord commands it, I shall obey.
The Core Formation elders bowed respectfully before Seo Hyeol and offered their salutations.
Since arriving in the Gwanghan Realm, Seo Hyeol had been granted the title of King from his previous rank of Marquis. From that day onward, he was addressed as the Great Lord.
“However, if the Great Lord is seeking a being that bears a certain predetermined fate…”
“Indeed.”
Upon the elder’s question, Seo Hyeol nodded slowly.
“Beings who carry such specific fates are not easily found. If they truly possess a marked destiny, they must exist—yet they could simply not have been born yet, or they could have already grown old and passed away.”
“It matters not. Even if it is merely a record of such beings, send it to me. If I gather those records and uncover the reincarnation rules they follow, I can one day predict where they will be born.”
“Yes… yet even if we catch them, it will take at least three hundred years. I ask the Great Lord to consider this.”
“There is no issue with that.”
I listened to Seo Hyeol’s words and fell into deep thought.
*What Seo Hyeol is referring to is clearly…*
The children I know.
They bear names of karmic connection, are born close to one another with different genders.
They inevitably fall in love and die on the same day.
I have seen such beings before.
*Why does he seek out these particular existences…*
The more I learned about Seo Hyeol, the deeper the feeling of being pulled into a swamp.
From the Water Realm onward.
He was not only a being of the Heavenly Person stage that I could not reach, but he always seemed to weave plans beyond my imagination and move in perfect accordance with them.
What exactly was he after?
What Seo Hyeol desired was…
“…I will have to strengthen my practice soon.”
Anyway, once I reached Core Formation, I would find a way to survive even before Seo Hyeol of the Four Pillars.
To converse on equal footing with him, I needed to reach at least that realm.
Shiver, shiver…
I gazed at the glass box I kept in my room.
Inside, a centipede-like creature writhed.
It had followed me since the Water Realm.
It was a karmic thread granted to me by Bongmyeongin.
*When I first met it, it was the egg laid by the mother centipede I saw in that village.*
In my past life, during the early days after Changhoja’s Changcheon Gaebyeokmun, I had slain the elder of the Seo-ryeong Gate that attached itself to me and raised the creature based on the scrolls I obtained regarding the youkai.
I fed it the Sachinghwan that helped youkai, and provided support so it could adapt well within the spiritual energy of the Gwanghan Realm.
Had my efforts been wasted? Until just before I was dispatched to the Demonic Realm, the creature lived well.
Yet it could not escape its own centipede lifespan, and it died of old age.
“…This time it will be in the youkai territories.”
Would it survive longer here and awaken as a youkai?
While examining the creature, a thought struck me about its “name.”
*Still, I never gave this fellow a name, did I.*
Thinking of that made me feel a little guilty.
Even if this life was new, in the loops I had spent with Goe-gun, the creature had helped me greatly.
To imagine it living for years without a name filled me with regret.
“What name would suit it…”
Names carry destiny.
Just as Seo Hyeol had spoken of the Gwanghan Realm’s legends, a good name could summon good fortune.
*I should give it a good name…*
I pondered for a moment, then decided that during the upcoming Thousand Phenomena Naming Task, I would name this centipede.
*If it is such a grand plan, it will be good to give the creature a fine name.*
Furthermore, the Thousand Phenomena Naming Task involved assigning names to the heavenly beings according to the fate read from their names, so naming it here would suit its destiny perfectly.
*It will be done several months later, so I will wait until then.*
While feeding the writhing centipede, I continued to think.
The creature showed no sign of thought.
***
The Thousand Phenomena Naming Task.
The work of collecting and managing the names of all heavenly beings, and if a name was missing, attaching one by any means necessary.
Because names held destiny, the plan was to manage the names to observe their trends and thereby grasp the overall fates of the heavenly beings indirectly.
This plan had been advanced by Seo Hyeol and others, and only now, barely two years after my regression, was it finally being carried out.
The Core Formation elders Seo Hyeol had sent to the Jinryong-maeng sent him periodic names that met the conditions he had requested.
Of course, it was not merely that the names matched, but there were almost no beings among the heavenly creatures that satisfied Seo Hyeol’s conditions.
*It seems the Thousand Phenomena Naming Task is nothing but an excuse, and Seo Hyeol’s true goal is simply to find the owner of those names.*
Given Seo Hyeol’s personality, he would have little interest in any altruistic endeavor such as uncovering the fates of heavenly beings.
It was merely an opportunity to gather the names of heavenly beings scattered across the world and their “records” in one place to compile them.
His true intention was simply to find the owners of those names.
“I greet you with morning respect, Great Lord.”
I visited Seo Hyeol’s study and paid my respects.
“Oh, what brings you here?”
Seo Hyeol had prepared an altar platform in the center of his study and appeared to be refining pills.
The faint scent of blood suggested the elixir was made through the youkai realm.
“…I heard that the Thousand Phenomena Naming Task has been announced and is now being implemented in the heavenly being territories.”
“Haha, indeed.”
Seo Hyeol smiled faintly and stirred the contents inside the pill furnace.
“The thirteen major races seem quite satisfied. No doubt my proposal was pleasant to hear.”
“…Indeed.”
Seo Hyeol had proposed to the opposing factions who opposed the naming task: capture weak races or youkai from the mountains and seas, turn them into resources, and offer them to the opposing side.
The opposing factions had all been satisfied and unanimously approved the Thousand Phenomena Naming Task, making it possible in this manner.
*Except for the weak races sacrificed due to Seo Hyeol’s proposal.*
The flow was extremely revolting, yet at my current level I could do nothing about it.
“…When the naming task is carried out this time, I would like you to name my friend as well.”
“Oh? Your friend? Does your friend also lack a name?”
“Yes, my friend still has no name. Yet he is precious to me, so I wish to give him a good name.”
“Haha, I understand. I will entrust it to my naming officer. Now, who is your friend?”
I took out the glass box from Jeomuldo and showed the centipede to Seo Hyeol.
Seo Hyeol looked at the creature with an amused expression and asked.
“Is this tiny thing your friend?”
“Indeed.”
“Hmm…”
I noticed a faint flicker of interest in Seo Hyeol’s mind.
Lately it had become difficult to sense Seo Hyeol’s thoughts, but he occasionally revealed them in this way.
Seo Hyeol seemed to be regretting something.
*He tried to use the centipede as a hostage, but since he thought it was just a pet rather than a true friend, it has no value, and he is regretting it.*
The probability of that regret was ten out of ten.
After briefly examining the centipede, Seo Hyeol smiled and said.
“You seem like a cute friend, so treat him well. Then I will continue refining pills.”
Seo Hyeol tossed two youkai realm pills—one blue and one red, containing yin and yang qi—into the furnace.
“Incidentally, are you not interested in pill refining? Although our youkai pill refining is inferior to that of humans, refining pills is difficult to skip when advancing in the mortal realm, so I advise you to learn it.”
“…I am grateful for the advice, but I am too busy with my own practice to have time for pill refining.”
“Indeed… but the deeper you delve into pill refining, the more interesting it becomes. Enlightenment from pill refining also connects to enlightenment from practice.”
Whoosh!
Inside the furnace where Seo Hyeol had placed the two youkai realm pills containing yin and yang qi, the form of the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate) appeared.
“Originally, the foundation and purpose of the youkai cultivation methods practiced by youkai is the cycle, rotation, and harmony of yin and yang. However, from the mortal realm onward, I have gained enlightenment by refining pills.”
Seo Hyeol took out a green jade bottle from Jeomuldo and poured the liquid inside into the Taiji-lit furnace.
“This is a spiritual liquid called Green Stand Acid. It prevents the yin and yang qi from mixing with each other.”
Whoosh!
When Seo Hyeol poured in the Green Stand Acid, the Taiji form that had been rotating and mixing separated instead.
“Yet the strangest thing is this: yin and yang inherently desire to become one. That is why, even when we insert a liquid to separate them, the yin and yang qi do not move to mix.”
Whoosh!
As he said, the yin and yang qi began to rotate on their own inside the furnace to mix by holding each other’s tails.
“And when yin and yang are together but cannot mix, they rotate most intensely.”
“….”
“If we separate the flowing yin and yang and maintain a precarious state where they seem to meet yet do not, the yin and yang will continue rotating and produce power close to infinite. How about it? This is a fact I discovered through my pill refining, and our youkai methods may even apply it.”
“…Indeed, what a surprising fact. Thank you for the instruction.”
“Haha, I am sorry to have kept you waiting. Now you may go.”
What was this fellow trying to say?
After greeting Seo Hyeol, I left his study.
***
Seo Hyeol stood inside his study, gazing at the Taiji that rotated endlessly inside the furnace.
“…Originally, qi is the soul, and the soul is the fate. Therefore, if qi and destiny are ultimately connected…”
He smiled and looked toward where Seo Eun-hyun had left.
“Separating beings who must meet is also a force of immense destiny.”
Whoosh!
At the same moment, a spatial crack appeared beside Seo Hyeol, and an individual in white robes appeared just like Seo Eun-hyun.
“Um… Seo Hyeol-nim. I could not fully understand the protocol of the Ho-pung Seong-hyeolpyeon, so…”
“Come here. I have prepared a pill for you.”
Crack, crackle…
When the woman in white robes crossed the spatial crack and entered the study, the flow of yin and yang across the entire space accelerated dramatically, causing all the magical artifacts using the fine spiritual energy circuits installed in the room to lose their light.
The circuit formed by Goe-gun that Seo Eun-hyun had installed stopped functioning instantly.
Seeing this, she lowered her head in embarrassment and said.
“I am truly sorry, Seo Hyeol-nim. I could not control my strength… I always…”
“It is fine. By covering your useless eyes, you have done well.”
“…?”
“Come here. Do not worry. I will definitely help you meet your companions and return to your original hometown. I promised you that.”
Seo Hyeol extended his hand with a kind expression.
“The way you are working hard to meet your companions again is truly admirable. Continue to persevere.”
***
Boom!
I carried the glass box and headed to the central territory of the Jinryong-maeng.
The top floor of Bongmyeong-ju was as busy as ever today.
I found the administrative district on the top floor of Bongmyeong-ju and located the department where the naming task was being carried out.
“You have come to have a name given, correct?”
The youkai resembling a deer asked politely upon seeing my black dragon bloodline and revealed scales.
“Indeed. However, it is not my name but my friend’s.”
“Your friend…”
I held up the glass box.
“This creature. You may think I am bringing a pet and talking nonsense… but I once saved my life thanks to this creature, so I wish to give it a good name and, if possible, awaken it as a youkai.”
“Ah… I see.”
The deer-like youkai briefly looked at the centipede and nodded.
“Well, if that is what you wish, I have no reason to refuse. On the contrary, it seems the dragon clan looks favorably upon our Insect Clan, so I am grateful.”
*Hm, was the centipede a bug?*
“…Well, since I have received a great favor, I suppose so.”
Upon my words, the deer youkai carefully took the glass box containing the centipede.
“I will first speak to the naming officer here and have a name given. And regarding your friend… you wish to awaken him as a youkai, correct?”
“Indeed.”
“Then have the name given and look for other centipede youkai to receive assistance. Since they are of the same species, they may be able to help. If the elder desires, I can introduce friends I know…”
“Oh, if you do, I will be grateful.”
“It is an honor.”
The deer-like youkai bowed and expressed gratitude.
After some time, the naming officer of the heavenly beings returned the glass box with a paper bearing a fitting name for the centipede.
*What is the creature’s name…*
I was curious about the new name and unfolded the paper I received from the naming officer.
The centipede’s name was Hongbeom.
“This is the name most suited to the creature’s destiny. It is not as grand as that of the Heavenly Race, but our naming officers for heavenly beings have been trained to read fate lightly through spiritual energy flows, and a name given by such an officer is surely the most fitting for the creature. Allow me to explain the meaning of the name Hongbeom…”
The deer youkai naming officer explained the meaning of the name on the paper with politeness.
“Indeed, thank you. Thank you for giving it a good name.”
After thanking them, I left the administrative district.
*Hongbeom…*
I gazed at the centipede and thought.
*Why does this name give me such a sense of familiarity?*
Why?
Somehow I felt I had heard this name before.
*Well, I can think about it slowly later.*
First, I needed to meet the centipede youkai introduced by the deer youkai, carrying Hongbeom with me.
***
The thirteen major races that formed the Heavenly Being Jinryong-maeng were as follows.
Dragon Clan, Peng Clan, Peacock Clan, Tiger Clan, Fox Clan, Horse Clan, Monkey Clan, Turtle Clan, Phoenix Clan, Shark Clan, Ox Clan, Ghoul Clan, Insect Clan.
Among them, the Dragon Clan was considered the most noble, and the Insect Clan the most lowly.
Originally, the other twelve races were species of the Player bloodline that inherited the Player’s true blood, while the Insect Clan referred to the entire union of all bug-like youkai scattered across the world, so it was only natural.
And the one I had come to find was the centipede youkai, considered exceptionally weak even among the Insect Clan.
Boom!
I arrived swiftly through the transmission array to the Insect Clan district, where the centipede youkai resided.
The centipede youkai were located in a deep valley within the Insect Clan district.
After conversing with the centipede youkai introduced by the deer youkai, I succeeded in obtaining several secret techniques from him to awaken Hongbeom.
“The Rite of the Naming Stone God Great Law…”
After discerning the flow of spiritual energy through the centipede youkai’s body,
I infused spiritual energy into the flow to bring the centipede’s body to the brink of explosion,
Then offered a rite through the creature’s name to strongly engrave its name on its brain and awaken its spiritual essence.
“Originally this is a method used by the Heavenly Race to create their pets, but since you have received the Player’s true blood, you should be able to achieve the same effect through the rite.”
I nodded while listening to the centipede youkai.
*If it is a secret technique originally for the Heavenly Race, it is all the better.*
With the Rite of the Naming Stone God Great Law, Hongbeom could be awakened even in future lives without following Seo Hyeol to the heavenly being territory.
I paid the centipede youkai for the Rite of the Naming Stone God Great Law and returned to the Sea Dragon Palace.
*I am sorry I could not be more attentive.*
I looked at Hongbeom, who had received the new name, and prepared the Great Law with Yeonwoo.
*From now on, let us go together.*
A binding array with a rite inscribed on it was laid in the room.
I unfolded the Soundproofing Law and placed the centipede in the center of the array, then activated it.
The Rite of the Naming Stone God Great Law activated.
Whoosh!
Spiritual energy flowed into Hongbeom’s body, and the creature writhed.
I adjusted the spiritual energy flowing into its body to suit it and manipulated the array.
“Hongbeom, come here!”
Kwoong!
When I called the creature’s name, the array activated and the spiritual energy inside Hongbeom began to tremble.
The rite to awaken the spiritual essence of an unintelligent bug youkai by calling its name three times.
“Hongbeom, come here!”
Calling the name again, the spiritual energy inside Hongbeom began to explode and transform due to the name.
The explosion of spiritual energy became pure vitality that strengthened Hongbeom’s flesh and began to stabilize the spiritual energy rotating inside.
“Hongbeom, come here!”
Kwoong!
This time a large explosion erupted from Hongbeom’s body loud enough to be heard by my ears.
The creature writhed in pain, but after enduring the pain, the flow of spiritual energy finally settled into its body.
After calling the name three times, Hongbeom finally awakened its spiritual essence and ascended to the ranks of the youkai.
Krrick, krrick…
Hongbeom let out strange sounds and looked around.
Spiritual energy corresponding to the early stages of Qi Condensation emanated from the creature.
Even if youkai possessed spiritual essence, unless they were special races born with Player blood, they had almost no intelligence until they reached the Four Pillars realm.
Before reaching the Four Pillars realm, the previous centipede I knew would differ greatly.
I approached Hongbeom and said while looking into its eyes.
“Let us live well from now on.”
Cheon-un, whom Bongmyeongin had brought to me.
What aid would Hongbeom bring me in the future?
*No, it does not matter if it cannot help.*
Whether it helps or not.
Anyway, it had come to find me.
I would do my best to aid the creature.
Recalling Changhoja’s teachings, I stroked the head armor of Hongbeom.
“Let us go with me in this frozen ice plate of the dragon clan.”
From now on, there would be many painful and difficult matters beneath Seo Hyeol.
No one in the Sea Dragon Palace was my ally, yet by having Hongbeom, I had at least gained one ally.
*From now on, we will endure.*
It had only been two years beneath Seo Hyeol.
Although only two years, feeling his warm gaze made it seem like two hundred years had passed.
But from now on, I had to endure to achieve the goals I had set for this life.
*Endure while continuing, and surely achieve all my goals.*
I steeled my heart and gazed out the window of the Sea Dragon Palace with Hongbeom, who had just awakened his spiritual essence.
And thus, five years passed.
***
Krrung, kurrurung!
I inhaled the dense aura of the Taum while half-closing my eyes.
*At last…*
For five years.
I had reached the Heaven Sovereign Field Train stage of Core Formation Great Completion with the Heavenly Race cultivation method,
And with the youkai cultivation method, I had reached its extreme limit.
“Now it is time to return to Core Formation properly.”
Seven years since regression.
If we counted the time until [that] tested me, it was seventeen, but in terms of time’s flow, it was seven.
I stood before the Core Formation with the power of the Ten Thousand Phenomena Affinity Diagram after seven years.
*Once I reach Core Formation, I will be able to move more freely beneath Seo Hyeol from then on.*
I could also begin training the Core Formation cultivation methods in earnest.
*Then… shall we return to Core Formation?*