The Last Breath (4)
The Eumhon Gwijumun was a cultivation method that could be explained in a single sentence.
It was a curse-based method.
That was right.
Wasn't it a method that required the very creator of the law technique to understand pain?
The Eumhon Gwijumun was a law technique that, the more one understood pain, created curses and scattered them to inflict all sorts of status afflictions and weakening.
Status afflictions and weakening were the main focus of this method.
It was a method where one could hardly expect any physical law techniques.
Normally, one learned it as a supplementary method to demonic arts.
But ironically, the one who seemed to be the creator of the method itself had never fully mastered it.
Having a deep understanding of pain to the point of mastering a method meant having endured that much pain.
Generally speaking, most living beings would die long before reaching that level of suffering.
Except, of course, for those like me who could not die even in death.
I stared at the method scroll and thought.
To be precise, it was not a demonic art scroll, but a method scroll that led one down the demonic path far too easily.
Understanding pain was the same as having endured it.
But it was also the act of inflicting pain.
Therefore, it seemed possible that one could be led down a sinister path while trying to understand pain.
Pain…
The Eumhon Gwijumun said that each time one understood one pain, one could form one curse.
One could redirect the formed curse with law energy, or redirect it as a law technique to use as a curse.
The creator of the method could handle 108 curses simultaneously, it seemed.
Depending on the user's understanding of their own pain, the number of curses one could handle at once varied.
The creator himself could not master it, but if he were to master it, he wrote that it would become an extremely difficult method to deal with.
Indeed, by continuously weakening the opponent through the curses, one would find it very troublesome and irritating if one faced an opponent who kept weakening without end by pouring over 108 curses.
But…
I clicked my tongue after reading the method through to the end.
The weakness was clear. There were almost no direct methods to deal damage.
The method scroll itself stated that it was mostly learned as a supplementary method to demonic arts.
With ferocious demonic arts, it would exert quite the effect, but it held no special meaning for me.
It seemed I would have to learn it alongside other methods…
And the method that could be learned alongside it, at this point in time, was only one.
The Ten Thousand Scales Tree Ocean gifted by my master.
Fundamentally a method focused on the wonders of foresight and afterthought, it was difficult to master but boasted overwhelming power.
The best way was to understand pain through the Eumhon Gwijumun, break through the Foundation Establishment realm, and then master the Ten Thousand Scales Tree Ocean while stepping on that realm.
Break through the path with the Eumhon Gwijumun, fertilize it, and plant the seeds of the Ten Thousand Scales Tree in that land.
That seemed the most appropriate method.
I read the Eumhon Gwijumun and the Ten Thousand Scales Tree Ocean method, compared them, and was forming my training plan for the future.
Seo Ran had succeeded in decoding the method left by Song Jin.
“Seniors, please come for a moment.”
SWOOSH!
And around that time.
The Seopmyeong Ship had by now reached Seo Ran’s dwelling, and we entered his room to speak.
Although there was a bit of cold energy because it was underwater, the environment was far better than the ever-ghostly Seopmyeong Ship.
UWOONG!
Seo Ran wove numbers in the air with pure law energy, and Song Jin’s method seal appeared engraved in the air.
Simultaneously, as Seo Ran infused consciousness into the method seals, they activated and erupted.
SWOOSH!
It was a single enormous map.
And on that map, one red dot flashed and kept moving somewhere.
This map…?
“Perhaps you may have heard of it, Senior. This map represents the coordinates of Bongmyeong Castle.”
“Bongmyeong Castle…?”
“Ah, explanation is needed.”
Seo Ran went to his study and brought a book.
When he opened the book, an illustration was included.
A pure white castle roofed with jade-green tiles.
Uniquely, it was not a square-shaped fortress like ordinary buildings, but an oddly shaped castle with a round form.
Under the illustration was written the name Bongmyeong Castle.
“In ancient times, one of the masterpieces made by the artificer of the Seopmyeong Ship when he was still human. It is said that inside it, space compression at the level of the Seopmyeong Ship is performed, and inside the compressed space there is not only a paradise where all sorts of spiritual herbs and elixirs grow but also warehouses overflowing with various artifacts and law tools. It is a treasure trove with many traces left by the old sages.”
“Hmm!”
Seo Ran swallowed and continued.
“Indeed, the remnant of a Heavenly Person cultivation expert. Not only Core Formation but even Nascent Soul cultivators have not found the coordinates of Bongmyeong Castle and must wait for the day when it appears. But a Heavenly Person cultivation expert seems to have created a law technique that leaves coordinates inside Bongmyeong Castle and can detect it whenever desired.”
He said with admiration.
But I noticed something strange in his words.
“According to Seo Do-woo, Bongmyeong Castle is a place that ‘appears’ and one that does not. The position Seo Do-woo is currently tracking must be the position when it does not appear?”
“That is correct. Since Bongmyeong Castle floats on the outer edge of space, it only enters this world once every few hundred years and reveals its body so that countless cultivation experts can find it.”
“Then what is the use of this map? Since it is the outer edge of space, tracking the coordinates in real time would be pointless.”
“Generally speaking, yes.”
Seo Ran grinned.
“But with us, although our Seopmyeong Ship is badly damaged and can only be used a few more times, we still have the Seopmyeong Ship.”
Seo Ran’s explanation continued.
“It is said that the artifact that is the original of the Seopmyeong Ship can even cross the underworld. And since the Seopmyeong Ship has a similar nature, it is possible to use a technique that surpasses space.”
“Oh? Really?”
“I believe so. I once saw a battle of Black Ghost Valley from afar. When Black Ghost Valley was in a disadvantageous position, it led the Seopmyeong Ship, crossed space, and suddenly disappeared. If that was not crossing space, what was it?”
His words continued.
“Therefore, my proposal is for the seniors to come with me to Bongmyeong Castle.”
“At best, I would be utterly unable to challenge it alone as I am only Foundation Establishment, but with the space law energy of the Seopmyeong Ship, I might be able to reach it.”
“Hmm…”
But I actually found myself troubled.
Full of elixirs and spiritual herbs…
Honestly, that did not hold much appeal for me.
After all, I was used to pouring foresight and afterthought into advancing my realm.
External objects only hindered rather than helped.
Just when I was about to refuse.
“It is said that inside Bongmyeong Castle, a spiritual fruit called Jangsaengwa exists that extends lifespan by 100 years.”
…!
I flinched and looked at him.
“Really…?”
“Yes. The elders of the Haeryongzu occasionally challenge when Bongmyeong Castle appears and have brought back the Jangsaengwa.”
“Oh…”
If that were true.
I glanced at Kim Young-hoon.
From what I knew, his lifespan was only about 10 years.
Although he could cut Thunder, whether he could survive just by cutting Thunder was another matter.
Therefore, if there was a way to extend lifespan, it should be found.
Perhaps it could even become a key to slightly extending Kim Young-hoon’s lifespan.
***
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Me, Seo Ran, and Kim Young-hoon flew toward a certain place on the Seopmyeong Ship.
It was the place where Song Jin’s coordinates flashed.
Well, can we really cross space?
Indeed, among the methods Song Jin had taught, there was one that broke formations or manipulated to surpass space.
Of course, since we had to break through several formations just to leave, it was natural.
Anyway, I had also learned the method of breaking through space that way, and arriving at the place indicated by the coordinates would be Bongmyeong Castle.
“This far.”
“Good. Then let us break through.”
I grabbed the steering wheel of the Seopmyeong Ship and infused consciousness.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Seopmyeong Ship seemed enveloped in ghost energy for a moment, then broke through something invisible.
SWOOSH!
In an instant, all sounds and energies around us vanished, and we entered a completely pitch-black world.
And in that pitch-black world.
Me, Seo Ran, and Kim Young-hoon discovered it.
Jade-green tiles, body like white jade, and a round cylindrical castle.
Bongmyeong Castle.
In Bongmyeong Castle, there was a large jade-green gate, but because it was not the time to open, it was tightly shut.
Also, the entire castle seemed locked with some gold formation, making entry impossible from anywhere other than the gate.
“Hmm, this is a shame…”
Seo Ran clicked his tongue in regret.
“It seems we will have to find a weak spot in the gold formation, interpret it, and dismantle it to enter.”
“Hmm, this one doesn’t look like it will break.”
CRASH!
Kim Young-hoon shot a lightning bolt and struck the gold formation.
Thunder echoed and light flashed.
But.
CRACK, CRACK…
The gold formation only scattered a few sparks and did not even sway.
Is it on a different level from the formation guarding the discarded Seopmyeong Ship…?
I too struck the gold formation everywhere with the Invisible Sword, but the result was the same.
At least a Nascent Soul cultivation expert would probably be needed to exert power on this gold formation.
Tsk, is there really no way…?
KWUNG, KWUNG!
I pounded a few more places, but it was the same.
Of course, from the reaction of the gold formation, I could roughly tell which spots were weaker.
But beyond that, it was impossible.
What if I ram the Seopmyeong Ship into the gold formation and self-destruct?
A sudden thought crossed my mind, but to self-destruct the Seopmyeong Ship, someone inside would have to sacrifice themselves.
Me, Seo Ran, and Kim Young-hoon pounded the gold formations of Bongmyeong Castle and observed.
After investigating for a while, we returned on the Seopmyeong Ship again.
“Well, I will have to search among the youzu for someone well-versed in formations. Of course, such people among the youzu are extremely rare, and most of those rare ones were captured in this defeat…”
Seo Ran sighed.
I clenched my teeth in sorrow.
Those who had studied formations, like me, could roughly guess.
This gold formation was a problem that could not be solved by a few people coming.
It was a problem that first-rank formation masters and gold formation experts would have to devote several years to.
When Seo Ran left and I set the Seopmyeong Ship in a nearby valley and came down to sulk.
Kim Young-hoon asked me with an odd expression.
“Well, Eun-hyun. Why are you so gloomy?”
“…Kim hyung has not mastered the cultivation method and reached Foundation Establishment, so he will die soon enough.”
“Hmm…”
At those words, Kim Young-hoon made a puzzled expression.
“Eun-hyun. People… die naturally, don’t they.”
“That is true.”
“But what is so gloomy about dying.”
“…My lifespan has now increased by another 300 years. When Kim hyung goes, I will have to spend the remaining 300 years alone, won’t I.”
“Hmm, that makes sense.”
Kim Young-hoon nodded.
But a moment later.
He looked at the sky and grinned.
“Well, what do you think?”
“No…”
“I have reached the realm I have sought all my life, and I have understood what is precious and even more precious. You may not know, but since I obtained the lightning bolt, I have felt that I can now understand my fate.”
“Yes…?”
“It feels like fate is whispering to me. Why I am living, where I should go… what mindset I should live with. It feels like fate is supporting me.
It sounds ridiculous, but I feel like I have understood my fate. Hahaha, even a great sage of the world does not know his own fate. What kind of talk is this from a guy like me…”
Suddenly, some kind of illusion flashed before my eyes.
—Next regressed Terminus One.
—The fact that you entered this space means you have achieved the conditions I set in a miraculous probability.
—When you had not yet understood your own fate, you entered Shattered Heaven Peak…
Understand your fate.
Why did Yang Su-jin’s remnant’s words about one of the conditions seem connected to Kim Young-hoon’s words about understanding fate.
What did it mean to understand one’s fate.
And what exactly was the fate that Kim Young-hoon had understood.
It was too curious, but.
—Absolutely do not leak the fate bestowed upon you.
I could not ask.
I merely listened as Kim Young-hoon, looking happy, spoke about his mindset toward martial arts.
“If I can live by this fate, I am fine even if I die. Do not be lonely and continue your training diligently. One day, you too will be able to understand your own fate.”
He grinned and raised the path.
“Well, shall we spar once more after so long?”
“…That would be good. This time, will Kim hyung win?”
“I can win again!”
“Last time you seemed to have gone easy on me.”
Kim Young-hoon and I held the Invisible Sword and lightning bolt, and we fought while turning the nearby valley into a mess.
Thus.
Seventeen years passed.
***
Kim Young-hoon’s momentum had changed.
Seventeen years after obtaining the lightning bolt.
He had already far surpassed me in pure martial arts realm.
Of course, I too had gradually become accustomed to Foundation Establishment output and did not lose easily to Kim Young-hoon.
2049 wins, 2039 losses, 9 ties.
This was the record Kim Young-hoon had accumulated while sparring with me until now.
UWOONG—
Sharp energy swirled from Kim Young-hoon’s eyes.
He had also sensed the youzu’s perception and become able to see the flow of heaven and earth, so although he did not predict fate, he could foresee to some extent what would befall him.
“Today seems to be the day my lifespan ends.”
He grinned.
I could not say anything.
“Do not talk so gloomily. I have no doubt I can cut the lightning bolt. My heart is also something I can control with law force. Hahaha, is it really that a person of my caliber cannot overcome lifespan?”
Kim Young-hoon raised the path with a confident face.
I could not hide my gloomy feelings.
Seventeen years of trying to break the gold formation of Bongmyeong Castle, but Seo Ran had said that to break the gold formation, I would need to research it for at least another 50 years.
“Do not worry. Even the heavens cannot stop me. No, they will not stop me. Feeling that fate is on my side this vividly on my skin… how could I die?”
He smiled faintly.
“I will not die.”
Kim hyung…
I knew one thing that had painfully pierced my bones after living 500 years.
It was that fate was not on anyone’s side.
Would Kim Young-hoon really overcome his fate?
Could his martial path surpass the heavens?
Thus, the end of Kim Young-hoon’s lifespan was approaching.