Chapter 220
Translator: uly
Chapter: 220
Chapter Title: The Secret of the God-Sealing Platform
Suddenly, Wi Seongcheon found himself in an incredibly awkward position.
The things Yeomyeong was chattering about through transmission were absolutely impossible to relay to the Taiji Sword Lord, who was staring right in front of him with gleaming eyes.
"It seems Jinchung is putting you in a tough spot."
"Uh... well... yes, something like that."
"Is it something you can't tell me?"
"Yes."
The Taiji Sword Lord let out a short burst of laughter at the honest reply.
"No need to worry. I've already steeled myself to some extent. But just wait a little. I haven't told you everything yet."
[There's no need to hear more of this nonsense.]
Yeomyeong spat out.
Wi Seongcheon could guess why Yeomyeong was losing it like this.
The God-Sealing Platform.
From the moment the Taiji Sword Lord brought it up, Yeomyeong hadn't been able to stay quiet.
When the Kunlun Sect's True Heaven Hall had asked about the God-Sealing Platform during the conference, Yeomyeong had worn a troubled, pained expression and dodged the question to the end.
"What is the God-Sealing Platform?"
"It's a legend passed down in Kunlun Mountain—no, in the Kunlun Sect."
[You, you bastard...!]
Yeomyeong's form wasn't visible. But Wi Seongcheon could easily imagine him rolling his eyes back and foaming at the mouth.
Wi Seongcheon tried his best to ignore the transmission as he focused on the Taiji Sword Lord's words. He too was curious about this God-Sealing Platform.
"Hundreds of years ago, the immortals living on Kunlun Mountain—for some unknown reason—created something called the God-Sealing Platform and migrated there."
"They abandoned Kunlun Mountain?"
"Something like that. Kunlun was originally a sacred spirit mountain inhabited by countless immortals, serving as a barrier that blocked demonic beasts rampaging from the Demonic Realm all the way to Qinghai. But once the immortals left, it gradually lost its spirit energy and could no longer suppress the demonic beasts."
That was why the Kunlun Sect had no choice but to leave Kunlun Mountain, and now Qinghai had become a Demonic Realm teeming with all sorts of demonic beasts.
"So, in the end, Qinghai ended up like that because the immortals left Kunlun Mountain?"
[This, this filthy bastard. What bullshit are you spouting?!]
Wi Seongcheon had said it partly to provoke Yeomyeong, but it wasn't a thought that had never crossed his mind.
After all, demonic beasts hadn't crossed into the Demonic Realm as long as the immortals were on Kunlun Mountain, right? Qinghai bordered the Demonic Realm in Xinjiang directly. Once Qinghai fell to the demonic beasts, they began appearing even in Sichuan beyond it.
"Hmm, in the end, that's how it is. But there must have been a grave reason for the immortals to abandon Kunlun Mountain. Otherwise..."
"But you said you don't know the exact reason, Sword Lord. Doesn't that mean it's not just your personal opinion?"
"...The legend of the God-Sealing Platform exists only in the Kunlun Sect. There are no such legends in Wudang or other Daoist sects."
"So, even the Kunlun Sect doesn't know why the immortals migrated to the God-Sealing Platform?"
"...That's right."
"I don't know what you think, Sword Lord, but... honestly."
Before continuing, Wi Seongcheon glanced at the Taiji Sword Lord's expression. He wore the same melancholic, bitter look as before.
As expected. The Taiji Sword Lord shared the same thoughts as Wi Seongcheon. While discussing with the sect leaders and coming here, he must have reached his own conclusions.
"I suspect the immortals fled."
The Taiji Sword Lord quietly closed his eyes. He too could only think that way. If there was no reason given for the immortals leaving Kunlun Mountain, it must be because of some unspeakable circumstance.
"You don't even know, and you're spouting off!"
A thunderous roar shook the sea. Though he had braced himself, Yeomyeong's lion's roar ruptured Wi Seongcheon's eardrums and rattled his mind. Wi Seongcheon clutched his ringing ears and staggered.
"So that's where you were hiding."
The Taiji Sword Lord clicked his tongue and muttered. Yeomyeong leaped out from the sea, dripping water from his soaked hair as he glared at Wi Seongcheon and the Taiji Sword Lord.
"From what I hear, you're freely spewing utter nonsense!"
Yeomyeong unleashed another lion's roar. His wet hair stood on end, the moisture evaporating, enveloping his entire body in steam. Even in that majestic form, the Taiji Sword Lord's expression remained impassive.
"We can only speak freely because we don't know. So, Jinchung, wouldn't it be great if you came out and explained it yourself?"
"How dare you, how dare—!"
"Jinchung!"
As Yeomyeong clenched his fist in rage, the Taiji Sword Lord called his name with force. Yeomyeong's body stiffened with a twitch.
He slowly unclenched his fist. Though he had stormed out because he couldn't let it slide, regret came late.
It was true that Yeomyeong had lived nearly twice as long as the Taiji Sword Lord, but most of that life had been spent in cultivation to become an immortal. Thus, he couldn't match the Sword Lord in martial prowess.
"...From what I hear... really. Look here, Taiji Sword Lord. You're from a Daoist sect, aren't you? Even if I couldn't become a true immortal, shouldn't you show respect to someone who became a half-immortal?"
"You're not even an elder of my sect. If you had been taught by Zhang Sanfeng the Daoist, I'd waste my dantian on the spot and serve you for life."
At those words, Yeomyeong immediately rummaged through his genealogy. But no matter how he thought, he had no connection to Zhang Sanfeng.
His master, the Pure Harmony True Man, was a disciple of the Supreme Lord Laozi, and strictly speaking, he shared the same lineage as Zhongli Quan or Lü Dongbin of the Eight Immortals of Daoism, but not with Zhang Sanfeng.
"If there's no connection, I have no reason to respect you. And you're not someone worthy of respect anyway."
"What have I done...?"
"I have no intention of digging up your messy misdeeds and judging you. I just want to know what you know."
"..."
Yeomyeong ground his teeth.
"Listen, Taiji Sword Lord. I'm no saint. I know that. And the beliefs and stubbornness I hold are light enough to cast aside in the face of my life and situation."
"...Then why?"
"Didn't I say? They're light enough to discard before my life and situation."
Yeomyeong's brows furrowed. He bowed his head with a pained expression.
"I was once truly immersed in Daoist thought, yearning to become an immortal. Honestly, my martial talent wasn't great, so I lacked confidence even to enter a Daoist sect."
But as a scholar, your Yeomyeong was extraordinary. Using his connections, he sought out ancient dojos and, through the introduction of the Yuanxiang Sect Leader, entered a dojo continuing the lineage of the Primeval Chaos.
"Now I've forgotten all that sincerity and desperation from back then. But my respect for immortality remains. That's why I can't just let it pass."
"Then..."
"Do you think I'm keeping quiet because I don't want to talk? I'm this furious at ignorant fools like you prattling on without knowing anything! It's not that I won't speak... I can't."
Yeomyeong squeezed his eyes shut.
"...Because my life is at stake."
The Taiji Sword Lord stared at Yeomyeong without pressing immediately. Wi Seongcheon's ruptured eardrums healed quickly, allowing him to hear Yeomyeong's words.
It was the same as before. When the Black Demon King and White Flame Witch had pressed him, Yeomyeong had dodged by saying it wasn't that he wouldn't tell, but that he couldn't.
"...What has your throat in its grip?"
"..."
"Is it the Jet-Black Fox?"
Yeomyeong let out a long sigh.
"You're ignorant of the Jet-Black Fox. But I'm not. I know all too well what kind of being it is."
"Has that Jet-Black Fox sealed your lips?"
"The Jet-Black Fox is the last remaining immortal in this world, and I'm just a half-baked failure. Even so... I know some stories about immortals. The Jet-Black Fox didn't place any spell on me, but I received a warning not to blab carelessly."
"You're this scared over just that?"
"Ha ha ha! You can say that only because you're ignorant of the Jet-Black Fox."
Yeomyeong's face twisted.
"The immortal sects are largely divided into two. The largest and most famous is the Kunlun school following Yuanshi Tianzun, the Elucidating Sect. The Elucidating Sect consists mostly of immortals who attained enlightenment from humanity, while the opposing sect is the Intercepting Sect. Unlike the Elucidating Sect, it's made up of immortals who attained enlightenment from animals or objects' spirits."
This was new to the Taiji Sword Lord as well. Yet he listened quietly to Yeomyeong without showing surprise.
"The Jet-Black Fox is a fox immortal with unrivaled power even within the Intercepting Sect. Even Tongtian Cult Lord, the leader of the Intercepting Sect, couldn't treat it lightly. Do you understand what that means?"
"...Hmm..."
"It's a ancient monster that looks down on sword immortals like the legendary Lü Dongbin, or even Wudang's founding patriarch Zhang Sanfeng! How could I ignore a warning from such a Jet-Black Fox? Even if it's not on this island! I've never once taken its warning lightly. The truth about the God-Sealing Platform and the immortal realm is known only to the Jet-Black Fox and me in this world. How could I speak of such a grave matter after receiving that warning!"
"...Jinchung. I've never met the Jet-Black Fox. The Black Demon King has once, but I haven't encountered such a being."
The Taiji Sword Lord spoke in a low voice.
"That's why I can only judge it by your words. But I don't feel the same fear you do. So, if necessary, I'll hold a sword to your throat to hear it."
"Ha ha! If you must, go ahead and try. Dying by your hand would be far more comfortable than being trapped in limbo by the Jet-Black Fox's sorcery, unable to live or die!"
Yeomyeong thrust out his neck, not as mere bravado. Wi Seongcheon watched with sparkling eyes, half-expecting the Taiji Sword Lord to actually press the blade to it. But as expected, the Sword Lord didn't resort to further coercion.
"If I truly intended that, I'd have drawn my sword and hunted you down long ago. The reason I haven't is out of respect for your circumstances."
"...I figured as much. I think most of the Ten Heroes are madmen, but you, Taiji Sword Lord, seem a bit less insane than the others."
As if he'd expected it, Yeomyeong quickly pulled back his neck. He shot Wi Seongcheon a glare before stepping back a few paces.
"I can't tell you much, but think about it carefully. If the immortals truly fled this world, why would they leave a legend of the God-Sealing Platform in Kunlun Mountain? And why name their paradise after abandoning Kunlun the God-Sealing Platform? And what I said about Wudang and the other Daoist sects—ask that damned brat about it."
With those words, Yeomyeong vanished. The Taiji Sword Lord didn't pursue him, standing lost in thought over what was left behind.
Yeomyeong was right. Fleeing Kunlun Mountain, where immortals had lived for ages, would be dishonorable. Yet Kunlun's immortals had left the legend of the God-Sealing Platform to the Kunlun Sect.
'God-Sealing...'
It referred to enshrining and worshiping gods at an altar. In other words, it could also mean sealing gods.
"...So what did Yeomyeong say?"
"...Well... that is."
"It's fine, just tell me."
Pressed that far, he had no choice. Wi Seongcheon gauged the Taiji Sword Lord's mood as he relayed Yeomyeong's transmission.
There had never been any immortal arts in Wudang or other Daoist sects to begin with. It was true that Zhang Sanfeng founded Wudang, but from the start, it was a sword sect emphasizing martial arts, not pursuing immortality; later generations just arbitrarily slapped the Daoist label on it.
"...Ha ha!"
Wi Seongcheon expected the Taiji Sword Lord to rage or sigh deeply, but throughout the tale, the Sword Lord's eyes sparkled like a child's, his lips twitching, until he finally burst into loud laughter.
"Ha ha! I see. We've been lamenting the loss of something that never existed."
"Are... you alright?"
"Hm? Why wouldn't I be? Didn't Jinchung say it? If you awaken profundity on your own, even just breathing in and out can build immortal energy as a basic breathing method. In the end, Daoism isn't pursued through martial arts or immortal arts—it's a matter of cultivating the mind."
The Taiji Sword Lord rose with a relieved laugh.
"Whether Wudang is a secular sword sect or a Daoist one doesn't matter. What matters is what you feel within it, what you pursue, and what you uphold. I've swung the sword my whole life, chased enlightenment through it, and never doubted Daoist thought. Even if my heart leaned more toward the sword and I couldn't grasp the teachings' profundity, that doesn't make me any less a Daoist."
The Taiji Sword Lord chuckled heartily and patted Wi Seongcheon's shoulder.
"Rather, hearing that lifts a long burden from my heart."
Wi Seongcheon was momentarily surprised by the reaction, then felt admiration. The lack of agitation or despair came from the Taiji Sword Lord's unwavering faith in himself and Wudang.
"Do you remember why I told you all this?"
"You said it was a warning and a transmission."
"Yes. You've learned immortal arts, so you might get dragged into related matters somehow. The Jet-Black Fox might even take an interest in you. That's why I thought I should pass on what I know first."
Worry flickered in the Taiji Sword Lord's eyes as he looked at Wi Seongcheon.
"So, you must beware of the divine mysteries that might come your way. Especially if that Jet-Black Fox... is as fearsome as Yeomyeong claims."
That warning weighed heavily on Wi Seongcheon's chest.
He hadn't met it, only heard tales... but the Jet-Black Fox was something the Ten Hero Yeomyeong feared, and the strongest among the Ten Heroes, the Black Demon King, was wary of. Perhaps, as the Sword Lord worried, it might take an interest in Wi Seongcheon.
'My fate seems to be drawing the gaze of unfathomable monsters.'
Such thoughts made his brows droop helplessly.