Chapter 298: Death (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 298: Death (1)
Most of the Nine Great Sects and One Clan delve deep into the Tao, elevating their martial arts mastery through the enlightenment they gain.
Naturally, their martial arts come to reflect the form of the Tao they follow. The Wu Wei of the Taiji Sword Immortal is no different.
But can human enlightenment truly reach the ultimate essence of that pure principle?
If the Taiji wielded by the Taoists of the Wudang Sect had truly grasped that essence, the continent would likely be named Wudang instead of the Central Plains.
The Taiji Sword Immortal is no exception.
His understanding of Wu Wei, the Tao he follows, and Taiji is far deeper than others, and that profound cultivation shows in his martial arts—but he has by no means grasped the true essence of Taiji.
If he had, would the Taiji Sword Immortal still be lingering in the Transcendent Realm?
He would have ascended to the Celestial Realm long ago, sharing drinks and calling the Three Purities his brothers.
Even the Taiji Sword Immortal, the Sect Leader of Wudang, is merely a seeker constantly striving toward the Tao he follows.
Consequently, the essence of Heaven-Defying is a power meant to negate the heavens.
Even if the essence of Heaven-Defying itself is inferior to Primordial Unity, it has no trouble negating the Tao or the natural order wielded by mere humans of the Mortal Realm.
No matter how you look at it, Heaven-Defying is a hard counter specifically designed against the martial arts of the Nine Great Sects and One Clan.
"Wh-whoa...! Don't point that at me...!"
True Human Heo-do's reaction proved that exact fact.
* * *
Taiji exists because Wuji exists.
Heaven-Defying exists because Primordial Unity exists.
However, unlike Taiji, which is the manifested form of Wuji in motion, Heaven-Defying does not originate from Primordial Unity.
Heaven-Defying is a power meant to negate Primordial Unity.
While one cannot deny a sequential relationship similar to that of Wuji and Taiji, their fundamental connection is entirely different.
"Hmm."
Seo-jun peered inward, introspecting.
The Ideal World—and somewhere even deeper than that.
The murky Primordial Unity resided there.
He could see the essence of the Leader of the Black Lotus Union being slowly digested within the Primordial Unity.
'I am the same as the others.'
For some reason, Primordial Unity clearly dwelt within him, but it was incomplete.
If Seo-jun's Primordial Unity had been perfect from the start, he would already be running around beating up gods and everyone else.
The incomplete Primordial Unity progressed bit by bit by absorbing the essence of the Leader of the Black Lotus Union. As it drew closer to perfection, Seo-jun also took another step forward in his cultivation.
'Then, as for our little Heaven-Defying...'
As Seo-jun searched here and there within his inner mindscape, a small lump caught his eye.
A pitiful little friend, asserting its presence like a forgotten, dust-covered coin beneath a dresser.
'Oh, you poor thing...'
Heaven-Defying was cautiously orbiting the Primordial Unity.
Then, Seo-jun suddenly realized something.
'Wait, it's not as small as I thought, is it?'
The actual volume of the Heaven-Defying energy was considerable. It was large enough to dye the entire Ideal World and then some.
The fact that he could handle the Anti-Ideal World, which had dyed his domain with demonic energy, already proved that Heaven-Defying was capable of staining the Ideal World.
What did this imply?
'Wow.'
It meant that the Primordial Unity was truly, incredibly massive.
Between Primordial Unity and Heaven-Defying, there was a gargantuan disparity that made the size difference between the sun and the moon look negligible.
Wasn't that why Heaven-Defying was currently too intimidated to challenge the Primordial Unity, choosing instead to just loiter around the perimeter?
'It's far too immense to be called a power I possess.'
Looking at it this way, it wasn't strange that he couldn't fully control the Primordial Unity yet.
Even with Seo-jun's talent, perfectly mastering such a power would take a considerable amount of time.
Yet, even this was not the complete Primordial Unity.
No, far from complete, it was likely nothing more than a mere fragment.
'I don't know what that Leader of the Black Lotus Union saw that made him throw such a fit.'
The Primordial Unity was a great power, sure, but was it enough to go that crazy over? Honestly, he didn't think so.
"Hmm."
Finishing his introspection in an instant, Seo-jun withdrew the Heaven-Defying Qi he had thrust toward True Human Heo-do.
"Hoo..."
True Human Heo-do, who had unconsciously backed away quite a distance, cleared his throat.
"Is that perhaps one of those conflicting powers you mentioned?"
"Yes."
"Hmm... It is certainly a formidable power worthy of your concern."
"Pardon?"
"Hmm?"
"No. It's not because of this guy."
"It's not?"
"Yes?"
"No, wait."
True Human Heo-do pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
The Emperor burst into a short laugh as he watched Heo-do and Seo-jun.
"What are you two doing? Is this some game I'm not in on? Your conversation isn't connecting at all."
At the Emperor's words, True Human Heo-do gave a bitter smile.
"It is because my understanding simply cannot keep up. As expected, it seems more appropriate to ask the Sect Leader about this matter rather than me."
"No, you've been plenty of help."
Having tucked away his Heaven-Defying Qi, Seo-jun scooped up the dazed Chun-bong.
His mind, which had been grumbling about not wanting to study, quickly quieted down thanks to the 'Chun-bong Therapy' effect.
"I think I've got a vague grasp on the Creation side of things, and I feel like I understand Wuji and Taiji a bit better now... This is more than enough."
"I am grateful you would say so, even if it is just out of politeness."
"No, I'm serious."
Seo-jun flicked his fingers.
The figures of Seo-jun, True Human Heo-do, and the others who had been at the Three Blades Coin suddenly appeared atop one of the peaks of Mount Wudang.
Their location had changed in the blink of an eye.
True Human Heo-do blankly surveyed his surroundings.
"...What kind of Creation is this?"
He hadn't felt the slightest sign, yet the scenery had completely changed before he knew it.
Had they leaped through space?
No, that wasn't it.
True Human Heo-do was a swordsman who had reached the Super Peak Realm, and a Taoist to boot.
No matter how skilled a Transcendent Realm martial artist was, if they had torn or connected space to move him, there was no way he wouldn't have noticed.
"Oh, spot on. I guess a Wudang Taoist really is different."
"......?"
Leaving behind True Human Heo-do, who didn't understand what was being said, Seo-jun began to nag Ju Won-jang.
"Since we're at it, you should cultivate the Tao a bit too. You only hone your martial arts and neglect the Tao; that's why you're like that."
"If that's the case, shouldn't you be the one in a hurry, not me? I think you need to become a decent human being before you worry about the Tao."
"What did you say, you punk?"
"What? You gonna hit me again? Go ahead. Try it... Ack! Who actually hits someone just because they were told to!"
"You literally told me to."
"Haha, come here, you rascal. Let me get a hit in too."
"I don't want to."
True Human Heo-do, blankly watching the fleeing Seo-jun and the chasing Ju Won-jang, looked at Namgung Su-ah with an awkward expression.
"Is... is it alright to leave them like that?"
"Hehe, of course. I'm just glad they look like they're having fun. He seemed to have a lot on his mind lately."
At Namgung Su-ah's words, True Human Heo-do let out a small chuckle as he watched the two Transcendent masters bicker.
BOOOOOM────────!!!
It was a bit violent, but... since they still possessed such pure hearts, he felt that perhaps there was no need to find them difficult to approach just because they were in the Transcendent Realm.
'More importantly, I truly don't know what method he used.'
How did he move their position without him even noticing?
He was curious, but True Human Heo-do didn't have the confidence to jump in between those two right now.
In the end, just as he was about to bury his curiosity, Mu-hye, who couldn't hold back, asked Namgung Su-ah.
"Do you perhaps know what principle that spatial movement just now was based on?"
To Namgung Su-ah, Mu-hye was her brother's friend. Looking at her with warm eyes, Namgung Su-ah gently shook her head.
"I'm not sure either."
"Ah..."
Mu-hye's mouth hung open slightly. Though her expression was faint, Namgung Su-ah noticed she was feeling dejected.
With a soft smile, Namgung Su-ah cupped her hands near her mouth and shouted.
"Seo-jun! Can you come here for a second?"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Seo-jun appeared in front of her.
Ju Won-jang chased after him, but he couldn't bring himself to smack the back of Seo-jun's head.
As a rule, in a normal friendship, when a friend runs off because his wife calls, one should quietly read the room and step back.
"What's up?"
"How did you do that just now?"
"That?"
Seo-jun glanced at True Human Heo-do and tilted his head.
"It's Taiji."
The Two Forms—that is, Yin and Yang—originate from Taiji, so even if they are opposing energies, they achieve harmony.
By the same logic, even if two lands are physically separated, they ultimately come from a single source. Thus, if you achieve harmony between the two lands and then divide them once more, you can traverse a great distance in an instant.
"Like True Human Heo-do said earlier, it's ultimately the principle of Creation."
"When did I say such a thing...?"
"Didn't you ask if this was Creation?"
"......?"
"Earlier, when you said, 'What kind of Creation is this?'"
"No, that was..."
He had meant 'How did you do that?' not 'Could this be the principle of Creation?'
Was it okay to point this out?
True Human Heo-do shifted his eyes for a moment before eventually just laughing it off.
"Haha... Now that I'm at this age, I seem to be getting forgetful."
"Oh, dear. You'd better reach the Transcendent Realm soon or something."
Ju Won-jang let out a hollow laugh.
"You talk as if you're telling him to visit a neighborhood clinic. The Transcendent Realm isn't a stage you can reach just because you want to."
"I know. I'm in the Transcendent Realm too."
"So what? I'm in the Transcendent Realm too."
"But you lose to me."
"We haven't fought yet, so how would you know?"
"What, you want to go right now?"
"Hmm... It would be troublesome if we destroyed Mount Wudang, so not right now."
"Scared?"
"Not scared."
"If you're not scared, let's have a round."
That is a Transcendent master...?
While Bi-yeon, an actual child, looked confused at the sight of them bickering like toddlers, True Human Heo-do merely maintained a serene smile.
It wasn't exactly that his cultivation as a Taoist was helping him stay calm.
He was chewing over the principle of spatial movement Seo-jun had explained.
'Since the lands originate from one, they can achieve harmony...'
...Why does that work?
Hearing it, it didn't sound wrong, but it didn't sound particularly right either.
He couldn't understand the principle at all, but since the Evil-Annihilating Heavenly Lord claimed to have caught a clue from his own words, what could he do?
'Well, I suppose that's how it is once you reach the Transcendent Realm.'
True Human Heo-do nodded, having reached a reasonable level of acceptance.
Only Mu-hye still wore a puzzled expression.
* * *
As has been said many times, Heaven-Defying is the will to go against the heavens.
In other words, it means going against the natural order. As Seo-jun understood it, it roughly meant tearing down and rebuilding the laws of the world to suit his own taste.
Armed with a just-about-adequate understanding, Seo-jun had roughly modified the laws to his liking, performing spatial movement through the harmony between lands.
While he was touring the Wudang Sect, popping up here and there like a ghost, a strange sound caught Seo-jun's ear.
"Huh?"
A few days ago, in the process of fighting a Peak Realm martial artist with a body no better than a commoner's, Seo-jun had gained a deeper understanding of his own physical form. His five senses were now razor-sharp.
To his judgment, that was the sound of wailing.
Such sorrowful wailing in the middle of the Wudang Sect?
He had a bad feeling about this.
Seo-jun, along with his party, moved toward the direction of the wailing.