A Heartfelt Reunion (Part 2)
“…?”
What on earth is going on?
“Could it be that the memories from my previous life have resurfaced?”
“…That… is not the case. Something is about to surface… or rather, it is surfacing…”
He wore an expression as if recalling distant memories.
Perhaps this [Wheel] was truly connected to Hongbeom’s past life.
‘Should I tell him about it?’
Perhaps sharing it would help him.
After some thought, I shook my head.
“…I’m sorry. This matter is one I cannot reveal.”
The incident in the Mugeuk Sect still lingered in my mind.
One must not speak recklessly, especially on matters tied to the higher realms.
“…Very well. Understood.”
Hongbeom maintained that distant expression for a moment before breaking into a bright smile.
“…My apologies. What I originally meant to say was nothing more than a casual greeting. It seems I have troubled Master needlessly… Anyway. Allow me to congratulate you on obtaining new power. Master!”
“Haha, thank you!”
Of course he would say that.
From the matter involving Hyeol-eum and the sudden turn of events as seen through the eyes of others.
I had decided to explain the incidents with Hyeol-eum, the pursuit of the Gaeyeol beings, how we escaped the end, and my goals—without revealing my regression—before entering the Hall of Correction.
I dispatched my clones to my companions and released my pent-up emotions with them. Afterward, I sent the others to the middle realms and recalled the Venerables.
‘A Saintess in the middle realms… I suppose I must do so.
While residing in the Star Realm is fine, the middle realms carry a far higher risk of abduction.’
‘First, I must return to Ban-ta and visit the Ban-ta Star briefly. Then wander the middle realms, returning the symbolic items… and slowly decide which middle realm’s Saintess I will become. And if possible, ensure Jeon Myeong-hoon is not sent toward the Thunder Star Sea this life…’
I organized my plans while sealing the unconscious Jun-seon and storing him within my body. Then I prepared to return to Ban-ta using the method of flight.
At that moment.
Uuuung!
Space warped, and two upright figures appeared before me, kneeling.
They bowed deeply and spoke.
“We offer our deepest gratitude to the Benefactor. We are Hae-un and Jeok-ru, Star Plate Venerables who were captured by the cunning Jun-seon, Yeo-hui. We thank you for freeing us from that wicked being.”
I recognized them instantly.
“The Seonbo Chilha-seon and the Seonbo Jeokgyo-chae… those were the Seon beings.”
“Yes. I was refined into a Seonbo twelve hundred thousand years ago. My junior, Jeok-ru, was captured four hundred thousand years ago. She endured endless suffering without resistance. The Benefactor freed her wicked one, granting us freedom. Thank you once more.”
Their smiles were infectious. They bowed once more.
“The thanks are sufficient. I merely managed to subdue them after confronting the two of them.”
“Haha, even your modesty is admirable. In exchange for our gratitude, we offer our repayment. First, receive this. It contains the Seonbo cultivation manuals, the Gaeyeol ascension rites, and the Gaeyeol cultivation manuals.”
Hae-un handed over the jade box.
“Ah, thank you. This box can be received from Ban-ta Venerable waiting over there…”
The moment the name “Ban-ta” was spoken, the two Star Plate Seons exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.
“…Ban-ta Venerable will also bestow the same manuals later. No, not just him—many middle-realm Venerables will do the same. Compare their manuals with ours. You will immediately sense the difference. Never cultivate the Venerables’ manuals lightly. You will lose your right to choose.”
Following Hae-un, the red-robed archer named Jeok-ru spoke.
“And… the Purple Gold Realm’s prison—or rather, that wretched place—must never be visited. Even if invited! If you are invited and go, under no circumstances must you consume the Purple Gold Realm’s food. If Ban-ta Venerable invites you and you refuse, do not follow him. If you do follow, you must never eat the food. And finally, even if you do eat it, you must never accept Ban-ta Venerable’s final offer.”
“The final offer?”
“Yes. If the Benefactor ever touches the Purple Gold Realm’s food, Ban-ta Venerable will change the name of his residence to ‘Whatever-Star’ in the Benefactor’s name. Do not accept that offer at any cost.”
“Haha, what interesting advice. I shall remember it.”
I nodded, committing every word to memory.
‘Since my previous life, Ban-ta’s desire to find a successor has been well-known.’
From their words, it seemed frequent attempts had been made to invite Star Plate beings as successors.
‘I must remain cautious.’
The two sisters, Hae-un and Jeok-ru, finally offered me a drop of their blood.
Uung—
It was not real blood. It was a collection of their own qi and information.
It appeared to be a fragment of the Seon seed they carried.
“Keep these droplets. Call upon us whenever you need aid.”
“Once. I will lend the power of my sister’s celestial art, Chilha, and my own, Hyongryong.”
“Of course, we could simply call with a cup of tea.”
“I wish to maintain a good relationship with the Benefactor, so please accept.”
I stored the droplets in my world and nodded.
“I shall engrave their goodwill deeply.”
After speaking, the sisters vanished into the void.
I prepared to return to the Ban-ta Star using the method of flight.
At that moment.
Kugugugung!
“…!”
I froze in place, feeling as though an immense pressure was crushing my entire body.
‘This… is…’
Four immense pressures descended upon me.
I knew their source.
‘The Gaeyeol beings!’
Kugugugugu!
Beyond the nebula, two fish-like beings and two crane-faced beings appeared.
[Release Yeo-hui.]
[We are his friends. No matter what backers he has… we four can hardly be handled at once.]
[Even though you defeated Jun-seon, can you handle us…?]
[Before you tear us apart, hand over my Yeo-hui.]
They seemed to be those who had grown particularly close to the Gaeyeol beings I had taken hostage.
I uttered an absolute command and asked.
[Have the others not come?]
[The others refrained because they feared you.]
[We had sensed a terrifying being behind you. Or perhaps you yourself were a candidate for True Immortal Seon.]
[Yet we also have our own means.]
[We do not fear you. Hand over Yeo-hui.]
Kugugugu!
My body felt as though it would shatter.
I understood their intent.
‘These fools. They have no intention of letting me go.’
They would take whether I gave them the beings or not.
I could feel they had come to eliminate me entirely.
‘Four Gaeyeol beings… Can I fight them…? No, I cannot.’
I had to flee.
And fleeing seemed possible.
‘First… the oldest one…’
I began gathering my voice to call the names of beings I knew.
I was in danger, but I could deliver a truly cataclysmic blow to them!
Just as I was about to call the names of the True Immortals.
Uuuung!
Someone blocked my path.
[…?]
It was a familiar back.
A white-robed wooden figure.
Baek-woon Venerable stood before me.
Baek-woon looked at me and said.
[You did it. You truly extracted the [Symbols] from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect’s treasure vault!]
And others appeared at my sides.
A black-robed woman with long black hair.
Yu-o Venerable.
A handsome man with clear-scale armor and blue scales, clad in a clothes that left his chest exposed.
Hae-rin Venerable.
And behind me stood a Hearyong race man whose face bore an unpleasant resemblance.
Ja-eun Venerable appeared.
[We sensed the aura of the [Symbols] moments ago.]
[They belong to you, do they not? Hand them over.]
[You have overcome the end.]
However, the Gaeyeol beings roared.
[Venerables, how dare you!]
[What are you doing by sending clones to a place that is not even the middle realms!]
[Get out of here! He has business with us!]
Ddrdrdrdrd!
The universe itself vibrated from the Gaeyeol beings’ roars.
And the clones of the Venerables trembled as if about to be erased by those shouts.
I endured the sensation of my insides being shaken.
And Baek-woon shouted.
[Hand them over! If you have the [Symbols], I will help you right now!]
[Leave! How dare you humiliate us! You cannot escape…!]
I observed the Gaeyeol beings’ reaction and the Venerables’ response.
Then, with swift judgment, I took out the stele tablets and threw them at the middle-realm Venerables.
In Baek-woon’s hand went the stele of ‘Gwang-han Cheon-gun, King of Death.’
In Hae-rin’s hand went the stele of ‘Goryeok Jin-gun, King of Peace.’
In Ja-eun’s hand went the stele of ‘Myeong-ma Jin-gun, King of Good and Evil.’
In Yu-o’s hand went the stele of ‘Myeong-gwi Jin-gun, King of Longevity.’ And from a distant place, Ban-ta, with his face like a stone, rushed forward.
He too carried the stele of ‘Gwang-cheon Gun, King of Purple Gold.’
Uuuuung!
Five beams of light gathered in the spot, humming.
Gwanghan Realm Venerable Baek-woon
Myeonggwi Realm Venerable Yu-o
Goryeok Realm Venerable Hae-rin
Jinma Realm Venerable Ja-eun
Purple Gold Realm Venerable Ban-ta
The five middle-realm Venerables smiled faintly and infused their consciousness into the stele tablets.
The Gaeyeol beings spat furious roars, and the clones beside the stele tablets vanished.
But in the next instant.
Paaat! Paaat! Paaat! Paaat! Paaat!
Five massive dimensional doors opened around the stele tablets.
Beyond them lay Cheon-ryeon-san, Heuk-gung, Hae-wang-jeon, Ban-ta Star, and Hyeol-je-dan.
The residences of the five Venerables were revealed, and the Venerables themselves stepped out.
Baek-woon began to walk forward.
Kung! Kuwoong! Kuwoong!
With each step she took, Baek-woon’s size grew.
At first she was similar in size to me, but she grew to the scale of satellites, planets, and stars, eventually reaching the height of the Gaeyeol beings.
Uuuuung!
The dimensional door opened using the [Symbol] of the Gwanghan Realm.
From that door, the fierce aura of the Gwanghan Realm poured power into Baek-woon.
Baek-woon looked down at the Gaeyeol beings with a dangerous expression.
[Baek-woon! You dare wrap those Star Plate beings in front of us. They have taken our friend Yeo-hui. If you hand over that being…]
And in the next moment.
Kwaaang!
Baek-woon ignored them and struck one Gaeyeol being, crushing its form.
[You cannot call me senior! You child!]
Behind her, the Venerables of each realm began pulling the power of the middle realms to block me.
The Gaeyeol beings’ expressions changed in an instant.
The middle-realm Venerables who had obtained the [Symbols] began to wield proper power.
Kugugugugu!
Darkness swirled around Yu-o.
At the same time, a shadowy giant figure flickered behind her.
Just as Baek-woon and the others had learned the power of Geum-gwang Pal-seon.
She seemed to have learned the power of the Envoys of the Underworld.
Chik!
The projection of the Envoys opened the mouth of the bottle used to collect the souls of the dead.
Hwooohooo!
It was like a black hole of the universe!
The space where the Gaeyeol beings stood moved as a whole, pulling them into the hole.
[The stars of the fallen kingdoms must hear! We have arrived. While we reside here, during the time of the Great Yin, the interference of the Underworld is forbidden!]
The Veins of the World trembled.
And for the duration of a planet’s night, the Underworld overlapped with this world and temporarily separated.
No one would die in this vicinity for a full night.
However, Hae-rin’s voice rang out.
[I will let you beg to die.]
Ddrdrdrdrd!
His body grew.
At the same time, a waterfall-like ‘deep sea’ was released from the Goryeok Realm’s dimensional door into the universe.
The Gaeyeol beings were seen madly communicating with beings across distant realms.
It appeared to be a plea for support, judging by their frantic communication.
However, the connection was forcibly severed from the other side.
The opposing Gaeyeol beings had decided to ignore them.
The deep sea moved around Hae-rin and began to envelop him like armor.
I recalled the Cheongrin-gap.
Finally, the deep sea completely surrounded Hae-rin’s body.
It took the form of an enormous sea shaped like the mythical beast Haetae.
The Haetae brought down its paw.
The power of the Goryeok Realm mixed into that strike shattered the nearby realms’ space, and a corner of the universe collapsed.
‘Insane… This is rather…’
It rivaled Geomgeukcheongun’s strike.
Chiiii—
However, Hae-rin quickly sent the deep sea armor back to the Goryeok Realm and showed an exhausted expression.
Even while pulling infinite power from the Goryeok Realm, exhaustion meant the technique consumed enormous energy.
Yet it was still comparable to a True Immortal’s strike!
‘This is the true power of the middle-realm Venerables…’
Next, Ja-eun stepped forward.
Ja-eun smiled coldly and sealed the deal, summoning something from the corner of the universe that had collapsed into the Void.
Magic Art
Hyeol-eum Gui-gok Myeong-gong
Magic Art
Hyeol-je Bi-sik Hyeol-eum Gui-hyang
The vicinity changed into the outer edge of the Underworld that had been soaked in Hyeol-eum’s power.
At the same time, the Gaeyeol beings were suddenly connected to Hyeol-eum by attraction and began being pulled into the Hyeol-eum Realm.
[-----!]
[----!!!]
[!!!!!!]
The Gaeyeol beings howled madly and screamed toward the side of attraction, barely escaping Ja-eun’s power.
[You you you you you!!!]
The Gaeyeol beings glared at Ja-eun and trembled with anger.
However, in the final moment.
Ban-ta stepped forward.
[Die. You wretched beings worse than trash.]
Kwaak!
Infinite supply of Purple Gold Realm energy began flowing to Ban-ta.
At the same time, something fell from afar.
It was a staff.
Huge purple staffs, each capable of piercing a star, descended and pierced the Gaeyeol beings’ bodies.
Jjeong! Jjeong! Jjeong! Jjeong!
The Gaeyeol beings began fleeing in agony.
And Baek-woon stepped forward again, facing the fleeing Gaeyeol beings.
The nebula of the universe gathered.
Light and heat boiled from the center of the nebula, and by Baek-woon’s will and the power of the Gwanghan Realm, it was refined.
It became a single halberd.
The enlarged Baek-woon grasped the radiant Gwang-guk created from the gathered nebula and hurled it directly.
Ossik!
I recalled a scene from my past life from the light of that halberd.
It was the scene of Geomgeukcheongun’s Guang-geom flying across the universe.
Jjeo-eo-eo-eo-eng!
The Gwang-guk shattered a corner of the universe, causing the Gaeyeol beings to flee even faster.
Chiiii—
Baek-woon’s right arm burned away, but she showed no concern and simply cut it off, shouting loudly.
: : Hear this, Gaeyeol beings. The Seo Eun-hyun here is the great hero of the middle realms who has reclaimed the five middle-realm symbols from the arrogant Golden Divine’s new kin. From now on, any being that harasses the great hero of the Gwanghan Realm, Baek-woon herself will personally appear! : :
The entire Ilwol Cheonyeok seemed to vibrate with her voice.
‘These… the Venerables who can wield proper power even in the realms…’
In reality, Venerables who could pull power from the corpses of the middle realms were no different from True Immortals.
I looked up at them in admiration.
Paaaat!
Eventually, the Venerables returned to their original forms.
Baek-woon patted my collarbone with her left arm and praised me.
[You are the great hero. You accomplished in a short time what no Venerable could do… Thus, we have regained the power to withstand the end once more. As a senior of the Gwanghan Realm, I am truly proud of you.]
Hae-rin approached with a pleased expression and spoke.
[I wonder if you remember me. The reason I issued the expulsion decree last time was because you had learned the Dharma-Destroying True Word. I thought it would be more helpful for you to hide in the deep sea away from the Goryeok Realm’s waters and cultivate, so I only expelled you from the waters. There was no grudge. By the way… after you left, Yuk Rin completely went mad. He challenged a Venerable and went berserk thinking he was a Gaeyeong… destroying one sea, now sealed. ‘Just for a moment,’ will you come to the Goryeok Realm to check on him?]
He mentioned Yuk Rin’s incident and suggested I visit the Goryeok Realm.
[I thank you for the offer. Anyway…]
I approached Yu-o among the Venerables.
[It has been a while, Yu-o Venerable.]
[…?]
[Hmm, now that I think about it, it is not ‘that face.’ I did speak briefly with the back of Yu-o Venerable’s head last time. Did you hear something from the back?]
[…???]
Yu-o’s expression began to look strange, and I wondered what to say next, not knowing what she was thinking.
Before I could, Ja-eun approached with a faint smile.
[Haha, even when I heard from Baek-woon, I thought you were a bold soul-devouring Venerable. Now you have become a proper Dao friend…]
[…Ja-eun Venerable. I find the title ‘Dao friend’ somewhat burdensome.]
Precisely, hearing the title from that face felt too awkward.
‘It resembles Seo Hyul too much.’
Ja-eun nodded with a chuckle at my reaction.
[Understood, Seo sa. Then let us discuss the title a little more after becoming closer. By the way, Seo sa.]
[Yes?]
[I recall you were below Cheonin level back then. A few hundred years ago… Seo sa brought the Heavenly Thunder Banner to Jinma Realm and tried to send it below the Gongryeong-ji.]
[Ah yes…]
It had been tens of thousands of years for me.
Surely such an event occurred during the Golden Divine Thunder Gate.
[Speaking of which, I have something to say about it. Thanks to Seo sa bringing the Heavenly Thunder Banner, changes occurred in the flow of attraction… the fate and ecology of the local Sheng-lings changed. Seo sa should visit Jinma Realm to check.]
[Hmm…!]
The region with Gongryeong-ji was, naturally, where the fish-men and red-bone beings lived.
‘Changes occurred in the area where those two live?’
It seemed I would have to check.
[Indeed, it is partly my fault, so I should go and check.]
[Right. Speaking of which, let’s go take a quick look.]
Uuuung!
Ja-eun naturally used the power of the [Symbol] to open a dimensional door connecting to Jinma Realm, grabbed me, and naturally pushed me into Jinma Realm.
I stepped into Jinma Realm together with him as he walked.
And at the moment I was about to cross into Jinma Realm.
Kwa-ching!
The entrance of Jinma Realm was severely crushed.
Baek-woon, Hae-rin, Yu-o, and the others had struck the entrance with their own attraction.
Among them, Ban-ta bore a particularly twisted, evil expression.
[What are you doing, Ja-eun Venerable?]
Ban-ta growled and approached Ja-eun.
Ja-eun smiled faintly and said.
[Haha, Ban-ta Venerable. Why are you so excited? This is just…]
And.
Kwaak!
Ban-ta kicked Ja-eun’s shin directly.
He glared at Ja-eun with a twisted face.
[Is a smile appearing on your face now, Ja-eun?]
And the smile vanished from Ja-eun’s face as he met Ban-ta’s eyes.
[I do not know what the problem is, Ban-ta.]
[You are not understanding my situation. No, it is better that you do not know. If you did, you would want to invade Jinma Realm!]
Kkuddeu-deuk!
Ban-ta grabbed Ja-eun’s shoulder and pressed him down.
Ja-eun frowned and tried to resist, but his waist bent slightly under Ban-ta.
Ban-ta glared at the other Venerables with a twisted, evil face.
[Baek-woon, Yu-o senior, and Hae-rin. What is wrong with all of you? Are you mocking me!? Do you not know how I feel right now!!!]
At those words, Baek-woon smiled slyly and said.
[What is the problem, Ban-ta. I have no intention of doing anything. I merely wished to summon him to Baek-ok-ru for a brief greeting because he is a Venerable from our Gwanghan Realm.]
Hae-rin laughed at Baek-woon’s words.
[You say he is from Gwanghan Realm. How amusing, Baek-woon senior. Seo Eun-hyun gained substantial comprehension in the Goryeok Realm. No, isn’t our Goryeok Realm the one that gained the greatest comprehension from his origin?]
Yu-o had already joined their conversation.
[I apologize for interrupting, but if we are to discuss origins, he could be said to be from our Myeonggwi Realm. Look at the death energy overflowing in his soul. And you all saw how he fled from Hyeol-eum. The hand that shot toward him was clearly thick death energy! He is clearly from our Myeonggwi Realm, so we should speak briefly.]
[Haha, it is I who should speak. He is from our Jinma Realm’s…]
And.
Ban-ta roared angrily at them.
[Enough, you bastards! I have waited countless years! I will not yield an inch! Greedy fools! Then only strength can solve it!]
And Ban-ta sealed the deal.
Again, staffs fell from beyond the universe.
At the same time, the other Venerables pulled their power.
Chik! Chik! Chik! Chik! Chik!
The five middle-realm Venerables suddenly took up combat formation with me at the center.