Chapter 471
The path to higher realms from Qi Condensation through Core Formation to Unity has one shared element.
It is the act of accumulating.
At Qi Condensation one stacks Heaven and Earth spiritual energy. At Foundation Establishment one refines law power into pure force. At Core Formation one compacts the golden core even tighter with law power. At Nascent Soul one divides law power into the nascent soul itself.
At Heavenly Person one stacks the Heavenly Round using Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.
At Four Pillars one stacks the Earthly Realm through the Five Elements and Five Blessings.
At Unity one merges the Heavenly Round and Earthly Realm to fill the Dao Integration domain with Heaven and Earth spiritual energy and stack the flesh channel.
That was the common thread running through every advancement from Qi Condensation onward.
Yet Void Refinement marks a small but decisive difference.
Void Refinement no longer accumulates.
It only shatters.
As I prepared my Void Refinement ascension ritual, Hyeol-eum paused his attempt to kill me in one strike and looked down at me.
He seemed to find it amusing.
Well, facing the Void Refinement ascension ritual from above is inevitable.
Because the Void Refinement ascension ritual is infamous for its brutality—many Core Formation and above cultivators call it a suicide offer from the heavens.
Perhaps I chose the most horrific suicide method imaginable, and he found it entertaining.
And the ritual itself was shockingly simple.
Simpler than any realm I had ever ascended through.
It was simply to detonate everything.
The Void Refinement ascension ritual was exploding every single cultivation practice I had accumulated from Qi Condensation all the way to the Heavenly Round integration domain.
‘Go ahead, keep looking down. Hyeol-eum.’
He probably thought I would fail the Void Refinement ascension and die horribly anyway, and even if I succeeded I could still crush me later.
‘Now I won’t be able to look down anymore.’
I would make him chase a dog.
Though called the half-god ascension and the peak of practice, the Void Refinement ascension was surprisingly similar to the Foundation Establishment ascension.
At Qi Condensation 14th layer one used the one yuan one ying seal to gather and condense Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, then the 15th layer wu ji yun yun seal to explode it into spiritual cloud and create spiritual star, completing the Foundation Establishment ascension.
The Void Refinement ascension was identical in method.
One treated one’s accumulated practice and the Dao Integration domain as one yuan one ying, then exploded it.
Kwarrurrung!
My Dao Integration domain—already filled to bursting with colorless glass swords—began to surge.
Dao Integration Domain
Colorless Sword Sea-Crossing Mountain.
My Dao Integration domain, named the Colorless Sword Sea-Crossing Mountain together with the Paryeo-dohae-seong, met its end the moment the name was given.
‘Don’t worry.’
This was not the end. It was only the beginning.
I raised the will to shatter my already-destroyed Dao Integration domain and poured strength into it.
“Go!”
Kwakuakwang!
The miniature world inside me collapsed.
Enormous roars and explosions shook the void space, and from my body erupted blinding light.
The explosion I created formed a monstrous dust cloud that became a star cloud.
If Qi Condensation 14th layer creates spiritual cloud with the wu ji yun yun seal, Void Refinement uses the explosion of the Dao Integration domain to turn it into a star cloud.
Perhaps the ascension from Qi Condensation to Foundation Establishment had been a rehearsal for this very moment.
Shiiiiii-
I found my consciousness inside the star cloud.
Everything was hazy.
Of course it was.
I had poured every ounce of my power into exploding the Dao Integration domain that was essentially my own body and soul.
Who could remain intact after exploding their own body, soul, life, and practice into powder?
Eight out of ten Core Formation and above cultivators die completely when their Dao Integration domain is shattered during the ascension ritual, their soul and body dispersing into the dust with the star cloud.
‘What is needed for this is the Lianxu Fapao.’
Through the colorless glass sword that glowed at the center of the star cloud I began to discern my consciousness more clearly.
The Lianxu Fapao, which had merged with the cultivator’s Dao Integration domain and connected to their mind, did not explode even as the domain shattered.
Of course. Even if it had merged, it was a divine item.
‘But it is a divine item that has merged.’
That was why, even without exploding, it remained and used its nature to help gather the dispersed soul and consciousness inside the star cloud.
Most Core Formation and above cultivators move to the edge of the difficult realm during ascension, stabilize space, set up formations around them to help concentrate their consciousness.
Then a weak help comes from a Heavenly Master in the middle realm using the laws of the middle realm.
They help concentrate the consciousness a little using the laws of the middle realm.
Of course even that usually fails.
‘I didn’t need to worry.’
Yet having already achieved the void-shattering realm, I could regain my senses instantly even though my consciousness had completely dispersed into the star cloud.
Kiiii-
Kiiiii!
The heavenly demons of Hyeol-eum slipped into my star cloud and tried to interfere with my concentration of consciousness.
‘Since they haven’t dispersed the star cloud itself yet, they probably plan to trample me even more painfully once I reach Void Refinement.’
That arrogance would save me.
I ignored the heavenly demons completely and maintained clear consciousness, moving to the next step.
‘This is the most important part.’
When a Core Formation and above cultivator uses the Lianxu Fapao to gather consciousness completely from the exploded body, that is the true beginning of the ascension.
Just as one forms spiritual cloud at Qi Condensation 14th layer and creates a star of spiritual energy at Foundation Establishment 1st layer,
during the Void Refinement ascension one must create a real star using the star cloud obtained by exploding the Dao Integration domain.
Of course it will not be at the level of a sun or planet, but a satellite level.
Anyway, that star will become the cultivator’s body in the future, allowing them to travel thousands of light-years using the star’s gravity and wield cosmic authority.
Explode everything, turn yourself into a dust cloud, and create a star inside the dust cloud!
That is why those who reach Void Refinement are called Star Shatterers.
And.
The real problem began now.
‘I have lost all my practice.’
I had found my consciousness inside the star cloud, but that was the end.
I was now only one soul that had entered the star cloud.
I could not use the vast gravity, law power, law arts, or even the law treasure I had handled until now.
The Lianxu Fapao had to devote all its power to maintaining consciousness, and the remaining authority had been lost when I exploded all practice moments ago.
There was no hope that the star cloud born from me would let me move.
This star cloud was not born from me. It was nothing more than the remains of my suicide.
How could a dead soul move its own corpse?
It was impossible.
‘And I have to do it from now on.’
To reach Void Refinement I had to accomplish the impossible.
Kurrurrung!
Heavenly Tribulation began to hammer down wildly inside my star cloud.
Heavenly Tribulation fell like endless meteors toward my consciousness.
Kwarrung!
It was a joke compared to the size of the star cloud.
‘But I have to ascend quickly.’
Otherwise the Heavenly Tribulation would keep growing.
Kurrurrung!
Lightning began to flicker more and more inside the star cloud.
At first it was only tiny static electricity prickling from the outside, but gradually its size and shape became clear.
This Heavenly Tribulation was already at the level of late Core Formation, and I could not even imagine how terrifying it would become if it continued to grow.
Moreover this was not yet the main Heavenly Tribulation of Void Refinement.
It was only a precursor phenomenon before the main one appeared.
Weiiiiing!
Using the colorless glass sword I maintained my consciousness and began to block the precursor Heavenly Tribulation with the colorless glass swords.
Since I possessed the void-shattering realm, it was possible because my dependence on the Lianxu Fapao was lower than that of other cultivators.
‘All right, let’s do it!’
At Unity one obtains six flesh channels.
And according to what I learned from Cheongmun Ryeong, these six flesh channels are actually the basic art of the sea-crossing sword technique.
Moreover the sea-crossing sword technique can be activated by the mind alone without any practice.
‘Originally, a cultivator who could not train the Unity flesh channels to the level of sea-crossing sword technique cannot even attempt Void Refinement ascension.’
At this point when I had lost all practice, what was needed to condense a star was exactly the sea-crossing sword technique.
Yu, yang, yuk, han, pung, si.
Using the rain technique to pull the star cloud together.
Using the warmth technique to raise the temperature at the center of the star cloud.
Using the wind technique to shape the form of the star at the center of the star cloud.
Using the time technique to begin rotating the star.
Using the cold technique to gradually cool the star’s temperature,
and using the clear technique to completely sharpen the star’s form.
Weiiiiing!
In an instant six techniques activated and one after another completed the star inside the void space.
From now on this would be my new body.
My spirit resided in the satellite I had created.
Kurung, kurrung!
I gradually solidified my consciousness deeper inside the satellite and saw the precursor Heavenly Tribulation blowing toward me.
The size of the precursor Heavenly Tribulation gradually grew until it looked like it was trapping the entire satellite inside a prison of thunderbolts.
‘Now the main Heavenly Tribulation is coming.’
I swallowed hard and waited for it.
Uuuuung!
My vision began to catch the middle realms.
Each middle realm had its own sky, and on each sky countless constellations shone.
Then what were those constellations?
The identity of the constellations was the Star Realm.
The sky of each middle realm shone upon the Star Realm.
Paahaaat!
Then why did the middle realms shine upon the Star Realm?
Because the light of the Star Realm was the most important aspect for the living beings to practice.
Exactly like now.
Uuuuung!
Beyond the void space, the starlight of the Star Realm shone upon me.
And the Heavenly Tribulation began.
Flash!
The Heavenly Tribulation that started from Void Refinement was not the ordinary brain tribulation.
The Void Refinement Heavenly Tribulation was also called star tribulation, and it was the tribulation that the stars of the Star Realm themselves descended upon me.
And.
Unlike the fixed-number Heavenly Tribulation up to Core Formation,
the Void Refinement Heavenly Tribulation was that every single star shining from the Star Realm descended upon the cultivator performing the ascension ritual.
Kwarrurrurrung!
The first star descended its star tribulation.
Kwazizizik!
I squeezed every ounce of my strength to protect the star I had created while taking the power of that enormous star directly.
A normal Void Refinement cultivator performs the ascension in the difficult realm at the edge of the middle realm.
Many difficult realms exist in the middle realm where starlight shines poorly, similar to the Sato Territory where the Jeungryong Jinin’s pocket dimension once existed, so they chose that period to drastically reduce the number of Heavenly Tribulation they would receive.
But that did not work in the void space.
Kwarrurrurrung!
‘Kruuuuk!’
Overwhelmingly many starlights shone from beyond the void space, from the Star Realm.
Originally the void space was stuck to the Star Realm like the underworld, the cycle of life, and the fire realm.
Here one could see starlight as many times as one wanted simply by adjusting the realm slightly.
Kwazizizizik!
Finally one star tribulation that was as huge as a heavenly punishment ended.
Because I had reached the void-shattering realm I could endure it easily.
But the problem began now.
‘Ah…’
I let out a groan at the incredibly many starlights shining from beyond the void space.
‘Can I block all of that?’
Just the brightly visible stars already numbered in the billions.
Even with the dimmer starlights added, I would have to face tens or hundreds of billions of these star tribulations.
‘I have to do it.’
And that was the moment.
: : Tears upon tears. : :
Hyeol-eum, who had been watching so far, sent me a message while laughing mockingly.
‘Heok, heok…’
When I saw the true body of Hyeol-eum I shook with shock as if my mind would collapse.
‘That… is the true body of the true immortal…!!!’
Having gained the body of a star, I could finally recognize even higher dimensions.
And only now did I understand how vicious a true immortal truly is.
At the void-shattering realm the systems were completely different, so I had understood the terror of true immortals but not fully accepted it just from seeing Hyeol-eum.
But at this moment.
I felt as if my very existence was forcibly writhing in front of Hyeol-eum.
‘This time… misjudged again.’
Attaining Void Refinement might actually make me even more vulnerable in front of Hyeol-eum.
Having met so many more truths and understandings, I had not even realized how dangerous the action was.
It was the moment I was trembling.
: : As a senior, I cannot turn my back on the junior’s suffering. : :
Hyeol-eum began to work some technique in my mind with a pitiful tone.
And in an instant I understood the true nature of that technique.
‘This… is…!?’
Magic Technique
Divine Song
Paahaaaah!
In an instant my mind cleared.
Spiritual energy flowed through the white sphere and rotated inside my brain, then rushed out through the eyebrows.
Of course my body, which had become a star, could not have such organs, but the sensation was the same.
At the same time I felt my consciousness domain becoming infinitely clearer and my sensory organs clearer than after taking the poison Hong Beom had given me.
It was not something like purple soul filling the heavens or heart demon that was invading me.
It was simply temporarily amplifying my own abilities.
Yet despite having no sweat glands, I felt a cold sweat on my back.
‘It cannot be an absolute blessing.’
It was obviously a backlash.
And the next moment.
Magic Technique
Protection Song.
Only after Hyeol-eum gave me a blessing that raised my physical ability and life force did I understand his intention.
‘Ah…’
After the blessing of Hyeol-eum passed, the star tribulations densely packed in the sky were briefly blocked by a barrier he created.
‘Ha… haha…’
Hyeol-eum looked down at me with a chilling smile.
Star tribulations one after another fell and continued to amplify above the barrier he had created.
: : Come, as a senior I will help my junior. : :
Flash, paahaaaah!
Gradually the starlight in the sky brightened.
‘Crazy….’
Is this karma?
I even felt like I was receiving the retribution for what I had done to Won Rip.
And finally, as the star tribulations amplified and amplified again…
when the barrier of Hyeol-eum began to crack from the stress…
only then did I look at the avalanche of star tribulations falling toward me and laugh hollowly.
‘If Jeon Myeong-hoon offers his finger as a sacrifice… no, no… even if I turn him into juice and make him a human offering… with this much Heavenly Tribulation, can I hold out for even one second?’
The next moment.
I received the entire avalanche of star tribulations with my whole body and experienced the sensation of their pain crushing even my scream.
The sensation amplified to the unit level by Hyeol-eum, the pain of the star tribulations amplified, and each grain of sand inside the body of the star I had created was crushed to pieces even as my life force, which had been lengthened and hardened by Hyeol-eum, endured.
Yet I survived for ten days.
Amid the pain that felt as if I would become a white sphere, I could recall the memories I had forgotten.
‘Ah… I see.’
The celestial prison demon-suppressing divine technique I handled with multiple treasures was not a creation martial art I had invented.
It was a martial art I had learned from someone.
Yes…
It was the martial art I had learned from Hong Beom, who possessed talent in martial arts.
He had told me,
‘If there is a next life, I will follow my master in the next life as well. So teach me martial arts then. My Woldoipcheon will not change even then. My heart will never change no matter how many years of the eternal void pass…’
Recalling a scene from the forgotten 16th loop, I lost my consciousness while searching for a clue to break the cycle of this time.
‘Hong Beom’s Woldoipcheon.’
Only that could help me in my current situation.
That was my 700th regression.