The Night of Gathering (3)
I narrowly escaped being eternally imprisoned in the Underworld.
I witnessed the entire Mugeuk Sect torn apart by Taesan.
And I endured endless deaths orchestrated by Hyeol-eum.
At the end of it all, I saw Seo Hyoel reduced to a lowly worm and the Emperors and Heavenly Venerables dead.
As I gazed upon these horrors, a single thought crystallized in my mind.
This world is one that can never be trusted.
*Regression is not absolute.*
Even with overwhelming power, I might face the same relentless cycle of death that Blood Demon and Underworld Venerable suffered.
Or be dragged back to the Underworld as if caught by the regression itself.
Before those absolute beings, direct physical attacks might prove useless.
Therefore, the repeated deaths of Blood Demon, the Underworld, and Void Refinement entities were not only possible but inevitable.
Yet among the True Immortals, the one most terrifying to me, the one that made my breath catch, was none other than Taesan Sangje.
*I know better than anyone how tenaciously he exploited the fates of Heon-won and Yeon Wi.*
He was meticulous, powerful, and utterly ruthless.
At the same time, the mountain of corpses he had devoured to build his domain was a reminder of just how malevolent a demon he truly was.
Even though he had shown me a measure of kindness within the Bongrae-do realm.
But...
That was all it amounted to.
*I have reached the Star Plate now.*
My core strength was already at Fissure Opening, and through interrogating the captured Fissure Opening True Immortal Yeo-hui, I had learned the truths behind both Fissure Opening advancement and True Immortal ascension.
The True Immortal realm was right before me.
*'Come upward, and let us settle this once and for all.'*
I understood his character better than anyone.
Taesan was never honorable or just.
He only occasionally displayed fairness in matters concerning his master.
Fundamentally, he was a colossal evil.
*Given how he had said “come upward and let us settle this,” there was no reason I could dismiss the possibility that the moment I succeeded at True Immortal ascension, he would charge at me with full power.*
Of course, “come upward” might have hidden conditions, but considering my interpretations of his character, I could not afford to ignore even the slightest chance.
Therefore...
I could not simply sit here idly playing the role of a Saint and wait.
*Preparation was essential. At the very least... after reaching True Immortal, I needed to be able to offer some resistance in front of Taesan.*
I could never again allow something as terrifying as the Mugeuk Sect incident to happen!
Therefore...
What I must do now was to temper myself as fiercely as humanly possible using every method at my disposal!
To accomplish that, I shared my plan with my companions.
Each one added their own thoughts to support me.
Whenever Yeo-hui voiced her doubts in the middle of the discussion, I would gently remind her of the impossible possibilities and listen to everyone’s opinions.
Kim Yeon and I collaborated on the artificial Middle World plan.
We would gather the seas of the entire Ilwol Cheonyeok, refine them ourselves, fuse them with Samokdo, and create the artificial Middle World.
Though I myself was somewhat skeptical that such a thing was even possible...
Kim Yeon, who had inherited the Gui Mun Law and evolved it into something completely new, seemed capable of it.
Of course, even if successful, it would never match a true Middle World, but we could use the lives of the Ilwol Cheonyeok to protect it in emergencies, and it would certainly help safeguard Samokdo until I completed my plan.
Kim Young-hoon also contributed by discussing saber techniques with me and providing valuable insights into the Mandala of Samokdo.
Hong Beom supplemented every detail of my plan and offered countless wise suggestions to ensure its success.
I discovered that it was possible to “extract and use” some of the power of the entity I had wandered eternally within my thoughts—Oh Hye-seo.
Using my Saintly authority as the Saint, I began to weave together the combined strength of all my companions to secure the lives of the entire Ilwol Cheonyeok’s beings and my comrades.
* * *
Kugugugugug!
Burning like hellfire, Samokdo shielded by the Cheongrin-gap.
The moment this Samokdo connected fully with Jeongryong Jinin’s Pocket Dimension, the eyes of the True Immortals and Saints widened in astonishment.
They, too, had lived long and accumulated profound insights, so they immediately sensed what Seo Eun-hyun was planning.
*[Creating a Middle World!?]*
*[Insane talk...! Even celestial artisans only dared attempt such things after reaching True Immortal...!]*
*[Stop him! The Dharma-Destroying True Word grows even stronger!]*
Exactly as the final True Immortal had warned.
As Samokdo expanded further and the absolute nature of its truth intensified, the power and authority of Seo Eun-hyun’s will embedded within it grew stronger, slightly amplifying the force of the Dharma-Destroying True Word.
Though the acceleration of the impending end was minuscule, it had still increased.
The True Immortals and Saints were horrified and shivered in terror at Seo Eun-hyun’s madness.
*[That madman...! Very well, if you want a proper war, then so be it...!]*
*[But how? Don’t you know about the hellfire? We can never directly touch him. Contacting him means only suffering worse than death! Even if we endure it and attack, what will happen to the Cheongrin-gap!]*
*[All physical attacks will be completely blocked by the Cheongrin-gap.]*
*[Jade! Contact your core. Demand the return of the hellfire!]*
The True Immortals raged wildly, desperately seeking ways to break through Seo Eun-hyun’s defenses.
Jade gave a bitter smile and shook her head.
*[Blood Demon already knew. But... even after seeing the hellfire, he doesn’t budge. Don’t count on his help.]*
*[Hae-rin! It is the tear of your ancestor. As a direct descendant, you should be able to control the Cheongrin-gap. Open it at once!]*
*[I’m sorry, but I have no authority to wield the Cheongrin-gap. It refuses to respond even to my direct descendant’s abilities. There is only one explanation. Someone higher than even my ancestor, the Chief Judge of the Underworld, has granted Seo Eun-hyun the authority to control the Cheongrin-gap...]*
The True Immortals erupted in fury at Hae-rin’s words.
*[Blood Demon! That mad son of his! He’s the one who orchestrated all of this!]*
*[The Chief Judge of the Underworld granting him authority over the Cheongrin-gap and hellfire! There’s no doubt he’s allied with some heinous demon! I’ve sensed it since the first time I borrowed the power of the Mountain of Corpses and Sea of Blood!!!]*
The True Immortals thrashed in anger, glaring at Seo Eun-hyun.
*[Then... we have no choice.]*
*[Since direct contact is impossible, we must break through with power alone!]*
And so the True Immortals began to expend their strength.
*[Hear me, you stars of the Four Seas!]*
Jin-rugok stepped forward, face rigid as he shouted.
*[We declare it. The spiritual veins of the Ilwol Cheonyeok must obey our will alone. The wicked shall not trespass upon the domains of the True Immortals!]*
Uuuung!
The spiritual veins controlled by Seo Hyoel twisted.
Yet the next instant, Seo Eun-hyun’s projection smiled and raised a finger.
Weeeing!
Behind Seo Eun-hyun’s head, a **[Wheel]** manifested.
[------!]
[---!!!]
[!!!!!!!]
The True Immortals screamed in panic, sealing their own eyes to avoid staring at the **[Wheel]**.
*[I, the one who changes the stars. The array of the stars, heed my call and draw in the Takhon Realm.]*
Kiieeing!
At the same time, Jin-rugok’s array and the True Immortals’ spiritual veins shifted under Seo Hyoel’s control.
The array obeying the spiritual veins instantly transformed into a formation that answered Seo Eun-hyun’s will.
**[Wheel]**, the force of the Dharma-Destroying True Word, and Takhon Mancheon surged, drawing a vast mass from beyond the universe.
Kugugugugug!
The sea realm shaped like an **[Eye]** burst through space at terrifying speed and fused once more with Samokdo, just as it had with Jeongryong Jinin’s Pocket Dimension.
Kim Yeon’s artificial star entered that **[Eye]**’s sea realm, completely fusing the Takhon Realm and Samokdo.
*[Stars of the array, heed my call and draw in the Seonggye Realm.]*
From beyond the distant reaches of the universe, beyond the Void Space, another True Immortal’s body part began to arrive.
And Baek-woon extended her hand, expression stern.
Kwaaaaang!
Immediately after, the incoming sea realm exploded, killing every lifeform within it in an instant.
Kugugugugug!
The universe trembled.
Excluding Yu-o, Baek-woon and the other Saints of the Middle World stared at Seo Eun-hyun with an aura equal to that of True Immortals.
Baek-woon spoke first.
*[No more ruckus will be tolerated. No matter how many times or how many thousands you summon the sea realm, I will destroy them all before they arrive!]*
*[A sea realm teeming with billions of lives... and you would casually destroy it without hesitation.]*
*[If that is what it takes to prevent the Ilwol Cheonyeok from entering your stomach, then I can do far worse.]*
*[Have I not made it clear? You will suffer no harm from me. And what I intend to do has nothing to do with devouring the Ilwol Cheonyeok. Nor am I handing it over to the current master of the Dharma-Destroying True Word! Would you require a blood oath upon the Hyeongo Paper in front of the [Name’s Owner]?]*
*[No need. The fact that you are connected to True Immortals is already abundantly clear. Anyone of your level has plenty of ways to escape. Yang Su-jin did the same! Will you continue!?]*
Seo Eun-hyun met Baek-woon’s gaze.
The being before him now was not the one who had occasionally exchanged opinions with Seo Eun-hyun and playfully chased him away while shirking his duties as a Saint.
This was an existence prepared to eradicate Seo Eun-hyun completely and block every action he might take.
One who would crush any small matter without hesitation for the sake of the greater whole.
That was the Saint Baek-woon standing here.
Seo Eun-hyun somehow found himself locking eyes with the enigmatic Yu-o Saint.
*[Yu-o Saint. Are you withdrawing?]*
*[I will remain neutral.]*
Yu-o stepped back one pace with perfect composure.
*[Without orders from the Four Sages, I cannot take other actions. You all understand my position.]*
The True Immortals and Saints nodded. Seo Eun-hyun nodded as well.
Having even one Saint withdraw was a significant help.
Among them, Seo Eun-hyun turned to one more.
Hae-rin, whose expression was somewhat ambiguous, asked.
*[Saint Hae-rin, you seem hesitant. What will you do?]*
Hae-rin appeared to deliberate, then spoke with a firm resolve.
*[I am a Saint of the Goryeok Realm. I have decided to protect the lives of the Goryeok Realm!]*
Hae-rin stepped forward and shouted at Seo Eun-hyun.
*[Stop the Dharma-Destroying True Word, Seo Eun-hyun! No matter how strong you are... we cannot stop all of us...!]*
The words carried an almost pleading tone.
Yet Seo Eun-hyun only saw the resolve in his eyes.
He did not retreat.
*[Is there more?]*
The remaining True Immortals and Saints showed nothing but cold eyes—no one retreated.
Only Baek-woon whispered coldly once more, informing Seo Eun-hyun of the truth.
*[Summon the sea realm as many times as you wish. Summon star systems too. No matter how many times I shatter them, it will be to no avail. We...]*
And Seo Eun-hyun smiled.
*[...Very well, as you wish...!]*
Immediately after.
Another massive projection appeared beside Seo Eun-hyun’s projection.
It was a woman clad in black-and-blue robes, with hair as white as the sky.
*[I, the Saint Mother guiding the dead, embrace them in my arms.]*
The woman who had reached Star Plate—Kang Min-hee—raised one hand and stretched toward the remnants of the sea realm that Baek-woon had just destroyed.
*[Return, O slumbering dead, to the embrace of the Avatar of Yeomyeong.]*
Kiieieeing!
At the declaration of Kang Min-hee, the souls of the lives erased by Baek-woon’s explosion were sucked into her like bolts of light.
Not only that.
Uuuung—
This world had a soul for everything.
That was the meaning of “soul” that applied even to stone, wind, dust, and flames; when such souls lost their place, they returned to the Origin River after death.
And the “world” itself was no different.
The souls of the sea realm were seen being drawn into the Origin River.
Yet they hesitated before Kang Min-hee’s call and were pulled toward her.
Perhaps her authority over “the dead” held a slight edge over the laws of the Origin River.
Or perhaps because the current master of the Origin River was absent, or because her power intersected with the Underworld Heavenly Venerable, who is also called the Goddess of Death.
Uuuung!
Kang Min-hee placed the souls and spirits of the ruined sea realm into Samokdo.
Seo Eun-hyun immediately stored them within his thoughts, duplicated them with the Mansang Inyeondo, and fused them with part of the authority of the entity he had been wandering within his thoughts—Oh Hye-seo’s power—and the Saintly authority that allowed him to pull things from the realm of his thoughts into reality and make them eternal.
Thus, through the combined efforts of Kang Min-hee, Seo Eun-hyun, and Oh Hye-seo, the dead lives were reborn with flesh and blood.
Tzutzutut!
Not only that.
Oh Hyun-seok began to exert his strength.
[Haaaaaaaah!!!]
Although the lowest among Seo Eun-hyun’s companions had only reached Integration Grand Completion, he had recently obtained his power in the Bongrae-do realm.
The thick power of the Chaotic Origin flooded his entire body.
Within the violet steam, Oh Hyun-seok seized the souls Seo Eun-hyun had devoured.
Uuuung—
Everything mixed.
In the chaos, reality and illusion blurred as the remnants of the sea realm that had been outside were drawn by the souls and entered Samokdo.
Paaaah!
Kim Yeon’s consciousness moved as well, using the artificial stars to reassemble the ruined sea realm and its souls inside Samokdo.
It was the power of the Liberation Saint.
The sea realm that had been reassembled inside Samokdo melted into it, expanding Samokdo once more.
Seo Eun-hyun’s power grew stronger once more after completing the process.
Seo Eun-hyun looked into Baek-woon’s eyes and spoke.
*[You said you would destroy them as many times as I wish? Go ahead. No matter how many times you destroy them, it will be of no use to us. We...]*
Seo Eun-hyun turned to his companions and smiled.
*[The Void God Demon. The Lord of Thunderbolts. The Ghost Dao Holy Mother. The Hope of the Great Collapse of the Ten Thousand Phenomena. The Owner of the Wondrous Castle, along with countless heroes. Give up.]*
Baek-woon stared at Seo Eun-hyun with an unreadable expression, then exchanged messages with the True Immortals and Saints.
After whispering in cosmic voices, they finally looked at Seo Eun-hyun with determination.
*[Very well. Then, we shall face you with the orthodox method of attacking a Middle World...]*
Chi-ji-jiji-
An eerie sound echoed as Baek-woon, the True Immortals, and the Saints simultaneously erupted their own domains.
*[No matter how many hundreds of years or thousands, I will stop you, Seo Eun-hyun.]*
The power of the inscribed array manifested within the True Immortals’ domains.
At the same time, a mark seemed to be engraved on the domains of all the Saints and True Immortals.
Beyond that mark, a certain “scene” was drawn.
Baek-woon’s eyes blazed like flames.
The True Immortals’ bodies rose together.
*[I, as the sovereign of the world, place a calamity upon the entirety of Samokdo...]*
The True Immortals and Saints combined their power to create something within their domains.
It was a star.
Seo Eun-hyun understood exactly what they were doing.
It was something he had experienced firsthand in the Myeonggwi Realm.
The True Immortals combining power to touch the name’s rank.
*[Prophesy. The defense covering Samokdo will have a flaw within four hundred years, and through that flaw Samokdo will collapse.]*
Something appeared before Seo Eun-hyun’s eyes.
The defensive barrier of the Cheongrin-gap and hellfire.
And the formation of Samokdo, created with the absolute nature of the Dharma-Destroying True Word, Takhon Mancheon, and the sea realm itself, was a scene showing a small gap after four hundred years.
Tzutzutut!
Beyond the world where the domains of the True Immortals and Saints merged.
A new star appeared there!
Following Baek-woon’s will, that star began to “become reality.”
Jiieeing-
The star crossed into the realm of reality and connected with the spiritual veins of the entire universe.
At the same time, Seo Eun-hyun felt it.
His Samokdo had been prophesied with fate, just like when Blood Demon had been there.
Prophecy and the placement of a calamity.
And the true battle of immortal cultivation, which might span thousands or tens of thousands of years through the resolution of fate and history.
The first chapter of that epic had just begun.