Sky Severing (3)
Kugugugugu!
The starlight of Ilwol Cheonyeok began to shift.
Seo Hyoel had first demonstrated how he brainwashed the stars through Takhonmancheon, followed by the Gaeyeol-stage True Immortals and Hyeol-eum.
Then came the ability Yeo-hui had shown.
Controlling the starlight connected to me, I realized one thing.
‘The range of the Star Vein Formation I can control… is overwhelmingly greater than that of other Gaeyeol-stage cultivators.’
Indeed.
If ordinary Gaeyeol-stage Quasi-Immortals could form a Star Vein Formation across a distance of ten, the distance I could cover reached sixty or seventy.
Far more stars submitted to my command.
‘Good. Let’s begin.’
I loaded hope into countless stars and projected the scene onto Mansang Inyeondo.
It began from the moment Seo Hyoel’s plan was established in the previous life, through the scene of him brainwashing the Water Realm.
The moment Seo Ran met a tragic end, aided by Seo Hyoel’s scheme.
And immediately after, the scene of Seo Hyoel’s history being rewritten, leading to his miserable fall!
Yeon-ui Yeon assisted me, allowing me to unleash Myeonsingeobcheon once more.
Urrurung!
Within Myeonsingeobcheon, I deceived the world and drew forth the power of the fiercely spinning wheel.
The Star Vein Formation supported me.
With greater caution than any history alteration I had performed before, I offered my past as a sacrifice to Myeonsingeobcheon and began twisting history.
: : I, hereby alter…. : :
Dudududududud!
Even as a Quasi-Immortal, the immortal art targeting the Water Realm demanded extreme care.
I had already witnessed what happened when the three of Eoseot were crushed and turned into the Middle Realm in the previous cycle.
I could not dare to use anything excessive against such a terrifying existence.
‘I must not be greedy.’
I could not hope for Seo Hyoel’s grand plan to succeed, for him to converse with the Water Realm and return as though alive.
Nor could I wish for Seo Hyoel to fail meaninglessly inside the Water Realm.
What I had to do was simply grant the greatest possible justification for Seo Hyoel’s “failure.”
If I interfered with the Water Realm any further…
I had no idea what might happen to me.
: : Seo Hyoel. : :
I did not touch the fate of the “Water Realm.”
Instead, I altered the history of the existence known as “Seo Hyoel.”
: : You must awaken the heart within yourself. : :
Thump!
Inside Seo Hyoel’s grand plan.
The arrangements Seo Ran and I had planted began to open their eyes.
‘Now, awaken, Seo Hyoel.’
What I had touched was neither Seo Hyoel’s fate nor the Water Realm’s fate.
I had merely twisted history so that the true heart hidden within Seo Hyoel’s mind could be properly seen.
* * *
It happened the moment the brainwashing wave reached the Sea Dragon Palace.
Flash!
From one of Seo Hyoel’s brainwashing waves, a brilliant ray of light erupted.
The ray took the form of a six-tailed fox and howled atop the brainwashing wave.
The spirit body of Sachuk-stage Siho began fiercely howling, interfering with Seo Hyoel’s brainwashing wave.
The one who had been scattered across the universe through Takhonmancheon had gained the justification to return through Seo Eun-hyun’s history alteration.
Yet Seo Hyoel paid no heed and continued pushing the brainwashing wave forward.
After all, to him—a being born at the Star Plate stage—Siho was nothing more than an insignificant creature he could kill at any time.
At least, that should have been the case.
Siho poured every ounce of his strength into shouting.
[Remember, remember! ■■!]
Hearing those words, Seo Hyoel felt an inexplicable nausea.
[■■!!!!]
Siho called out a name that had been erased.
The pronunciation was mangled and could not be spoken properly, and even Siho himself did not know whom he was calling, yet he was clearly calling out.
[■■!!!]
Someone was pulling Siho, who resided in the Water Realm.
It was Seo Eun-hyun, outside the Water Realm.
As though Siho’s role had ended with a single call of ■■’s name.
Seo Eun-hyun was calling Siho back.
If he returned, Seo Eun-hyun would likely grant him a new body, allowing him to live once more as a cultivator.
However, Siho rejected even Seo Eun-hyun’s call and continued shouting at Seo Hyoel’s brainwashing wave until the very end.
He screamed into the depths of Seo Hyoel’s Takhonmancheon, even detonating his own spirit body.
As though begging for his voice to reach, even for a single moment.
He became a pure white ray of light.
[■■! Remember! I… we… loved you!]
Siho’s spirit body burned away every last bit of its power atop Seo Hyoel’s brainwashing wave and vanished.
[We loved you! Not Seo Hyoel, but ■■! You!]
Unable to save ■■.
Siho had obtained a new chance at life, yet chose to disappear once more.
After completely casting Siho’s soul into the underworld, Seo Hyoel settled into the Sea Dragon Palace, reaching the southernmost edge of the Water Realm’s sky.
He arrived at the Water Realm’s [forehead].
‘Finally… I’ve reached it.’
Seo Hyoel’s soul had arrived directly at the edge of the Water Realm’s brainwashing wave through Takhonmancheon.
Now, if he pierced through this forehead and left the Water Realm, the Water Realm would awaken, and Seo Hyoel would gain the chance to briefly gaze upon the Void Record stored within.
He recalled the first time he had seen the Void Record.
Back then, the Void Record had granted Seo Hyoel the knowledge he [desired].
This time as well, it would bestow upon him the knowledge of his origin that he sought.
And then, Seo Hyoel would be absorbed into the Void Record, drawn into his origin.
Thus… he would influence the origin that had given birth to him.
Seo Hyoel’s goal was finally complete.
That was what he thought.
‘…?’
Seo Hyoel felt an inexplicable sensation.
Something had [twisted].
Why did he suddenly feel reluctant to go beyond this forehead and be absorbed into the Void Record?
Seo Hyoel’s [heart] was rejecting it.
‘What is this, why…?’
He was bewildered by his suddenly unresponsive heart.
It was no special immortal art.
There was no trace of any technique.
It was simply… that his heart, quite literally, refused to move his body.
‘A mere heart… how dare it…!’
Grind….
Seo Hyoel gritted his teeth.
The thing that had tormented him his entire life was the heart.
Perhaps he had suffered because he had possessed a heart from the very beginning.
‘A mere heart!’
Ignoring his heart, Seo Hyoel forcibly reached for the southern edge of the Water Realm.
“A mere heart!!!”
And finally, he grasped the southern edge of the Water Realm, squeezing his eyes shut.
“…What have you done to me again, Seo Eun-hyun….”
One more step, and his goal would be right before him.
Yet that single step.
His heart would never allow him to take it.
The history of Seo Hyoel that Seo Eun-hyun had altered was only one thing.
The realizations Seo Eun-hyun had beaten into his heart.
Those hearts were not the hearts of ordinary Heart Tribe members.
It was a strike that had melted in the hearts of all those who had suffered because of Seo Hyoel throughout Seo Eun-hyun’s life.
Starting from Seo Eun-hyun himself, Gyu-ryeon, Gyubaek, Yu Hwa, Baek Nyeong, the slave races, the Water Clan, Hong Yeon, and countless other living beings of Ilwol Cheonyeok….
And even [Seo Ran]’s heart!
Seo Eun-hyun had engraved all those hearts into Seo Hyoel’s heart in the form of realizations.
And what Seo Eun-hyun had altered was this.
To allow [Seo Ran]’s will—which should have been completely dissolved into Takhonmancheon—to remain, [even if only faintly].
If even a faint trace remained, then [Seo Ran] would awaken once more through the countless hearts Seo Eun-hyun had engraved.
And [Seo Ran] would hold Seo Hyoel’s steps back.
That was the history of Seo Hyoel that Seo Eun-hyun had altered.
Seo Hyoel soon realized this fact as well.
“…I see. So you’re still… alive inside me. ■■!”
* * *
Staring at the Water Realm where Seo Hyoel resided, I bit my lip hard.
‘Please, [Seo Ran]. I beg you… come out.’
The odds were fifty-fifty.
[Seo Ran] would surely emerge and surpass Seo Hyoel thanks to my arrangement.
But the problem was… that place was the Water Realm.
I had no idea what variables might arise.
* * *
“Damn it… damn it… damn it…!”
For the first time in his life, Seo Hyoel spat out vulgar curses while grinding his teeth.
“What the hell… is a heart supposed to be!”
Even though everything was right before his eyes, Seo Hyoel could not move because of the aching [Seo Ran]’s heart within his chest.
He remembered Seo Eun-hyun’s punches.
Every time Seo Eun-hyun swung his fist, an inexplicable ‘pain’ had been carved into Seo Hyoel.
Among that pain, there was something familiar.
He remembered Seo Eun-hyun’s Mancheon-eoram.
He remembered the ‘gazes’ visible beyond the hazy fog of Mansang Inyeondo.
Those ‘gazes’ were clearly familiar.
He remembered Siho’s call.
Siho had been a mere insignificant creature with no real connection to him.
Yet Siho’s ‘call’ had clearly resonated deep within Seo Hyoel’s heart.
And… Seo Hyoel realized the source of that déjà vu.
‘…It’s you. ■■….’
The words that he would never disappear.
His gaze was echoing within Seo Hyoel’s chest.
‘I….’
Suddenly, everything felt utterly meaningless.
What if he simply let go like this… and watched to see what answer [Seo Ran] had found?
That alone….
The heart of [Seo Ran] resonating within Seo Hyoel was far too powerful.
The hearts of countless beings Seo Eun-hyun had manifested inside Seo Hyoel, based on [Seo Ran]’s heart, were trying to turn Seo Hyoel’s steps around.
At that moment, Seo Hyoel suddenly looked up at the sun and moon of the Water Realm.
He recalled his [first parents] within the light of the Water Realm’s sun and moon.
Seo Hyoel remembered the time when he had been born and loved by them.
His parents back then….
“…No….”
Staring at the light of the Water Realm, Seo Hyoel ground his teeth.
[Seo Ran]’s heart was certainly intense.
The hearts Seo Eun-hyun had arbitrarily placed inside him were also far too intense.
However….
Seo Hyoel once again recalled that he, too, possessed a heart.
A fierce hatred rose within him.
If it had been only that hatred, Seo Hyoel might not have been able to overcome Seo Ran and the other ‘hearts.’
Yet….
It was only today that Seo Hyoel discovered what lay behind his hatred.
He had simply wanted to see his first parents once more.
Just as the deeper the shadow, the brighter the light that creates it, the source of Seo Hyoel’s hatred was, in truth, the [first parents] who had been nothing more than an empty existence.
Therefore….
Within Seo Hyoel, there remained not only hatred, but also a sliver of hope.
His first parents, at the very least, were real existences.
For the sake of that faint [hope] that he had once been loved by those real existences, for the sake of that sliver of light, he had run all the way here.
Seo Hyoel’s hatred, as vast as Mount Taesan, could not withstand the hearts Seo Eun-hyun had piled up.
However….
The tiny spark of hope Seo Hyoel had discovered within his own heart was different!
It allowed Seo Hyoel to resist Seo Eun-hyun and [Seo Ran]’s hearts!
“…I… must….”
Breaking free of the restraints Seo Eun-hyun had driven into his chest, Seo Hyoel slowly reached for the southern edge of the sky.
The light of the Water Realm was awakening Seo Hyoel’s hope.
“I must… confirm it…!”
Eventually.
Seo Hyoel finally stretched his hand toward the edge of the Water Realm, even while suffering under Seo Eun-hyun’s countless restraints.
Having transformed into a psychic wave itself, Seo Hyoel moved toward the Water Realm’s forehead.
No, he tried to.
Kwaaaak!!!
Seo Hyoel, whose upper body had been heading toward the Water Realm’s forehead, was yanked back out by a hand that fiercely grabbed his ankle.
That hand seized Seo Hyoel and sealed his body through countless mystical arts.
However, the existence soon vomited blood under the countless waves erupting from Seo Hyoel’s body.
The existence hurled Seo Hyoel somewhere.
Seo Hyoel opened a dimensional gate of the Water Realm and was sent flying into the Star Realm.
The one who had thrown Seo Hyoel fell beneath the sea of the Water Realm, vomiting blood.
That existence was Hong Beom, who had lowered his cultivation to the Sachuk stage to enter the Water Realm.
* * *
“Well done, Hong Beom….”
In the end, I had failed to turn Seo Hyoel’s steps around.
But….
Hong Beom had promised to stop Seo Hyoel.
I had explained the dangers of the Water Realm, yet Hong Beom had insisted on going even if it meant lowering his cultivation, and so he had headed into the Water Realm.
And Hong Beom had seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to extract Seo Hyoel.
‘He didn’t awaken the Water Realm….’
I let out a sigh of relief.
If Seo Hyoel had awakened the Water Realm, I would not have been able to handle the aftermath.
I looked toward where Hong Beom had thrown Seo Hyoel.
There, Seo Hyoel was floating blankly through space with a dazed expression.
Uuuung!
At the same time, Seo Hyoel’s body began emitting a powerful Taiji energy, repeatedly fading and reappearing from nearby.
‘Even if he couldn’t awaken the Water Realm… that reaction is….’
It was the appearance of someone who had directly witnessed something inside the Water Realm.
The moment Hong Beom had been able to subdue and extract Seo Hyoel was truly the optimal instant.
If he had captured Seo Hyoel any earlier, even Hong Beom might have been brainwashed by Takhonmancheon from a conscious Seo Hyoel.
If he had captured Seo Hyoel any later, perhaps only Seo Hyoel’s pants would have remained.
Hong Beom had extracted Seo Hyoel the moment he peered into the secrets of the Water Realm, witnessed [something], and lost consciousness.
It was truly an outstanding judgment.
“Rest for now. At the Sachuk stage, you should be safe even in the Water Realm… When you return, I will spare no support until you reach the Star Shattering stage….”
Uuung!
Feeling gratitude toward Hong Beom, I prepared to leap toward where Seo Hyoel was.
Seo Hyoel was flickering through space in various places, but the frequency of his flickering was gradually decreasing.
It seemed the influence of [something] he had witnessed in the Water Realm was fading with time.
‘…Now, everything is over. Seo Hyoel….’
With a somewhat dazed expression, I reached out toward Seo Hyoel.
His Takhonmancheon activated, and all Takhonmancheon throughout the universe vanished.
The only remaining Takhonmancheon was that flickering figure over there.
And because he had witnessed something in the Water Realm, he seemed unable to activate Takhonmancheon any longer.
In other words, the only chance to eradicate Takhonmancheon and awaken Seo Ran was now!
Kugugugugugu!
My hand crossed the universe, advancing toward where Seo Hyoel was.
Just as I was about to seize him.
Paaaat!
A Taiji ripple spread around Seo Hyoel, and Oh Hye-seo appeared, snatching his body away.
She began fleeing somewhere at high speed.
‘Not her main body… but a clone through the Seonsu Jin Blood? Interesting….’
I observed her clone with interest.
Her clone was absorbing the Taiji ripples emitted by the dazed Seo Hyoel, gradually growing faster and stronger.
At a glance, I understood the principle.
‘Seo Hyoel’s body is currently filled with Goryeok obtained from witnessing the Water Realm. And… Oh Hye-seo can absorb that Goryeok for herself?’
She gradually accelerated, eventually leaping across light-years as though at the Star Shattering stage, heading somewhere.
Of course, it was not true Star Shattering-stage power; she seemed to have massively amplified the power of the Seonsu Jin Blood through the Goryeok emanating from Seo Hyoel.
It was quite a bold act.
To come rescue Seo Hyoel despite the fear of being caught by me….
It seemed her mindset had changed somewhat as well.
And that was all.
Uuuuung!
I clenched my fist.
Oh Hye-seo, thousands of light-years away, began being pulled into my grasp.
I was confident I could trace the energy of her clone and drag even her main body here in one go.
[Come, Oh Hye-seo. Come here….]
She seemed to be trying to escape my attraction while holding the dazed Seo Hyoel.
But it was useless.
No matter how much power at the Star Shattering stage she had obtained by chance, it made no difference.
Between her and me, there was already an insurmountable wall.
She was already nothing more than an insignificant creature.
And the same was true for Seo Hyoel, who had now exhausted all his Takhonmancheon and was half out of his mind.
[You can no longer escape this True Immortal’s grasp.]
I had already decided how to deal with Oh Hye-seo.
I had given her chances, and thousands of opportunities to change her nature while living as a member of the Water Dragon Clan.
Yet she had thrown away every opportunity and even tried to kill Siho.
Now, there were no more chances.
Her body would be remodeled into a living puppet by Kim Yeon, her soul refined into a Ghost King by Kang Min-hee, and after learning Ghost Dao techniques, she would become a puppet Dharma treasure to serve as a Seonbo for one of us in the future.
And Seo Hyoel would never rise again.
What would remain in this world would only be [Seo Ran]….
That was what I thought.
Deng-
A small temple bell rang, and I sensed that the stars around me had stopped moving.
At the same time, the flames of the stars around me hardened.
The Seongsa and True Immortals who had been contacting me fell silent.
My companions, who had been raising toasts of joy, froze.
‘This is….’
Time in Ilwol Cheonyeok had momentarily stopped.
And then.
An elderly man I knew appeared before my eyes.
The Seonbo of the Heavenly Venerable of Time.
It was Yeongseung of the Southern Pole Treasure.
Without the fear I had felt before, I calmly asked.
[What is the matter, Proxy of Time?]
With a blank expression, Yeongseung questioned me.
[You have touched the natural order. Did you prevent the end of Ilwol Cheonyeok?]
Seeing Yeongseung’s attitude, I felt relieved.
The fact that he was speaking in Yeoneon out of consideration meant he at least held goodwill toward me.
[That is correct.]
[…Your recent action was an act of twisting the natural order, and it has resonated widely among those who govern ‘death,’ ‘end,’ and ‘restart.’ And… it was a powerful vibration that we, the gods of the Time lineage, could not possibly miss.]
Yeongseung continued his explanation with a blank face.
[In particular, it was an achievement that directly resonated with me, the Proxy of the Lord, and the Lord’s direct disciples. And… while I do not mind, one group among the Lord’s direct disciples is extremely displeased. They will soon descend upon Ilwol Cheonyeok and punish you and your associates.]
[…Who are they?]
Lowering his voice, Yeongseung said.
[The Seven Heavenly Lords of the Big Dipper. Beings comparable to the Ten Kings of the Underworld will soon descend using their pawns in Ilwol Cheonyeok.]
I let out a low groan at those words.
[Why are you telling me this? Are we not on the same side?]
[They are the ones who disagree with me. More than anything… the Lord has shown respect toward you. That alone is more than enough reason to help you….]
Uuuung!
Yeongseung clenched his fist as though about to strike, then held something out before me.
It was a small celestial globe similar to Yeongseung’s main body, the Southern Pole Treasure.
[The Honghwangdo of the Golden God is my replica. As such, I can interfere with it to some extent. If you go to Noe-seong-hae and use this celestial globe, you will be able to activate the Honghwangdo once. Use it to escape to another heavenly realm.]
Looking at him, I asked one question.
[Can my companions come with me as well?]
[If you cram them in, one person can go together. But any more would be difficult. I have no interest in your companions either.]
[…Then I must refuse.]
If I left my companions behind and something like the Myeolbeop Jin-eon incident happened again, with enraged True Immortals tearing them all apart, what would I do?
At my words, Yeongseung frowned.
[Foolish. They will not come in their main bodies, but will descend as projections using their pawns in Ilwol Cheonyeok. But that is all. Even as projections, they are powerful. Each one of them can annihilate all mortals in Ilwol Cheonyeok. If seven projections descend, they are beings capable of killing even Hyeol-eum.]
[…If they are such existences, then I must take my companions with me all the more. If not together with my companions, I will not go.]
[…Foolish. Unless you are at the level of Gwang-han in your youth, you cannot stop them.]
[That may be so. However….]
Calmly, I expressed my will to Yeongseung.
[I would rather die than run away alone without doing anything.]
I had already experienced that kind of pain bitterly during the Taesansangje incident.
I would not go through such suffering again.
Even if we all die together!
At my words, Yeongseung stared at me quietly for a moment, then let out a small sigh. He handed me the celestial globe model and turned away.
[Do as you wish. If that is your will, I will not stop you.]
Uuuung!
Finishing his words, Yeongseung vanished from that spot.
And in the place where he disappeared, only Yeongseung’s brief voice remained, instilling hope in me.
[Among your subordinates, the one called Yeo-hui is one of the pawns of the Seven Heavenly Lords of the Big Dipper. Originally, the Seven Heavenly Lords of the Big Dipper must borrow the power of forty-nine Gaeyeol-stage cultivators to descend, so with one missing, their descent will not be complete. Even seven of them would struggle to capture Hyeol-eum. This is the only help I can give you.]
[I will gratefully accept it.]
I received the celestial globe and stored it in my domain for now.
Receiving things from True Immortals was said to bring calamity, but now was the time to accept it.
This was literally my final stronghold.
Kigigigik!
I looked toward one part of the universe.
As Yeongseung had said, familiar figures were doing something somewhere in that sky.
They were familiar faces.
[Truly, you all have a tiresome bad relationship with this True Immortal.]
The roughly fifty Gaeyeol-stage cultivators who had tormented me since the Myeonggwi Realm!
Now, with Yeo-hui removed, the number had become forty-eight Gaeyeol-stage True Immortals. They were connecting star veins among themselves and drawing some kind of Star Vein Formation in space.
After glancing between them and Seo Hyoel, I reached out toward Seo Hyoel.
Uuung!
One of my Ganghwan clones shot out from my hand, flying toward Seo Hyoel and Oh Hye-seo.
[Capture Oh Hye-seo and witness the end of Seo Hyoel.]
Now, they held only that level of significance to me.
I began flying toward the location of that Star Vein Formation to face the Seven Heavenly Lords of the Big Dipper, who were said to be coming to intimidate me.