A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

Chapter 515: Festival Of The Eve (前夜祭) (1)

Shring, Shriring!

Kim Young-hoon is drenched in cold sweat in Cedar Wood Grove of the Bright Cold Realm.

Then suddenly!

Paaaatt!

In the Plane of Soul overlapped with the Bright Cold Realm, a massive sphere of light resembling the sun appears.

"Haaaaaaahht!"

Tuk-wang!

"...Ha, hahahahaha!"

Watching this scene, Kim Young-hoon laughs.

And...standing beside him, Jang Ik grins.

"Now you're become somewhat useful."

"Haha! 'Now', you say? I've reached this stage several times faster than you did, Senior Jang. Aren't you afraid? That I'll surpass you?"

"Hahaha!"

Jang Ik lets out a hearty laugh, as if hearing a funny joke.

"How could you surpass me? 'Right now.' 'In this very moment!' I am stronger than you! So what if you surpass me in the next second? At this very moment, I can sever your neck!"

Then, the greetings between Heart Tribes begin.

Kwaaang!

Jang Ik charges toward Kim Young-hoon.

Four Treasures Annihilating Heavens Blade.

Executing Immortals Annihilating Heavens.

A sharp slash strikes in an instant, flying straight towards Kim Young-hoon's face.

Kim Young-hoon bends his body so low it looks as if he's bowing, then forcefully shakes off the attack.

Boo-oong!

A golden saber deflects a green podao.

Surpassing Radiant Genesis Form.

Third Style.

Golden Blade Jade Resonance (金刃玉音).

The Golden Blade (金刃) shakes off the Jade Resonance (玉音).

Like Seo Eun-hyun's Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Mountain Echoes Valley Responds, that shakes off a sword cry, Kim Young-hoon's saber vibrates wildly and the resonance ripples, seeping into Jang Ik's body.

Clicking his tongue, Jang Ik immediately dashes forward and strikes into Kim Young-hoon's chest.

"...Keheok!"

Kim Young-hoon vomits blood then scans his surroundings.

'This is insane...'

He finds himself knocked from the Stable Realm region all the way into the skies above the Chaos Realm regions.

Even though his protective body force was in place, his entire body is shattered. His limbs are torn off, and his internal organs are crushed into pulp.

Even at this moment, he's hurtling through the atmosphere of the Bright Cold Realm like a meteor, burning up from the frictional heat.

All this from allowing just one hit from Jang Ik.

Boo-oong!

Jang Ik leaps through space and reappears above Kim Young-hoon.

'If I take one more hit, I'll die!'

Kim Young-hoon quickly creates a martial art.

Yang-Birth Nine Revolutions Technique (陽生九轉功).

In a fleeting instant, countless golden threads gush out from Kim Young-hoon's body, crawling along his body.

They reconnect his crushed blood vessels, bones, and nerves everywhere.

His internal organs are restored. 

His dismembered limbs are regenerated. 

Kim Young-hoon's body is dyed in golden light.

The golden internal energy rotates within his body nine times, granting him regeneration equivalent to an Integration stage cultivator.

Four Treasures Annihilating Heavens Blade.

Slaughtering Immortals Annihilating Heavens (戮仙滅天)

At the same time, Jang Ik overlays his legs with Four Treasures Annihilating Heavens Blade and slams them down towards Kim Young-hoon.

In that instant, Kim Young-hoon quickly moves his body, gripping the Surpassing Radiant Saber and readying himself to counter.

Surpassing Radiant Genesis Form.

Golden Wing Defiles the Light!

The silhouette of a Golden-Winged Peng seems to flash before clashing with Jang Ik's strike.

Ururung!

In the next moment, from the sky to one of the wastelands in the Stable Realm...

Kim Young-hoon is driven deep into the earth, all the way underground.

"Kuaaaagh!"

Dudududu!

Jang Ik's immense will presses down on Kim Young-hoon.

The willpower imbued in the Four Treasures Annihilating Heavens Blade continues to push Kim Young-hoon further underground.

'Facing him with just strength is impossible.'

Feeling his entire body being torn apart by the energy of Slaughtering Immortals Annihilating Heavens, Kim Young-hoon grits his teeth.

'I can't allow the attack itself. Otherwise, I'll lose without question! Without letting Jang Ik see me, I have to cut him down with countless strikes!'

Boo-oong!

Then, as Kim Young-hoon steels his resolve, Jang Ik charges forward once again, unleashing his most powerful ultimate technique. 

Four Treasures Annihilating Heavens Blade.

Collapsing Immortals Annihilating Heavens!

The dimension itself collapses!

Interdimensional Void.

Outside the Bright Cold Realm.

Kwaaaang!

A powerful tremor echoes out, and the dimensional barrier of the Bright Cold Realm shatters completely.

From within appears Kim Young-hoon, his entire body covered in burns and rapidly regenerating, and Jang Ik, grinning wickedly and laughing with excitement.

Kim Young-hoon begins to move.

Boo-oong!

Surpassing Radiant Genesis Form.

Fourth Style.

Golden Radiance Flint to Flash (金光石火).

Created Martial Art.

Hundred Severings!

Kim Young-hoon's body transforms into golden light.

For an instant, he transcends the light.

Jang Ik raises his podao to counter, but before he realizes it, his entire body has already been slashed apart by a hundred strikes.

Chwajwajwak!

Blood sprays from Jang Ik's body like a fountain.

But in the next moment,

Jang Ik grins.

"Passable."

"...!"

Kim Young-hoon quickly tries to react, but a technique he has never seen before erupts from Jang Ik's body.

Created Martial Art.

Blazing Radiance Slaughtering Soul (烈光屠魂).

In a flash, Jang Ik moves like a streak of light, matching Kim Young-hoon's speed and extends a single saber strike towards him.

Four Treasures Annihilating Heavens Blade.

Severing Immortals Annihilating Heavens.

Shukak!

Paaatt!

Kim Young-hoon stares at Jang Ik with a chill running down his spine, then looks at his own severed strands of hair.

Though he barely avoided the strike, the feeling that if it had landed directly, he wouldn't have even had the chance to regenerate his body is overwhelming.

He looks at Jang Ik's small body, which had been definitely slashed over a hundred times.

It's stitched back together.

Just like Kim Young-hoon's body, Jang Ik also created a martial art on the spot, manipulating the energy within his body with a suitable technique to stitch himself together.

However, unlike Kim Young-hoon, his regeneration is far from perfect. Traces of the slashes still remain on Jang Ik's body.

It is a crude martial art.

Its level of completion is not particularly high.

Yet...

Kim Young-hoon realizes something.

"...How, Senior Jang Ik...how could you have that talent...?"

"I accumulated it over time. You, on the other hand, seem to have somehow been 'born' with it. But...once you reach this stage, it's inevitable to 'accumulate' a talent of this level. Even Seo Eun-hyun, from what I've seen, seems to have accumulated this sense."

Jang Ik smirks, floating four podaos around his body.

"I believe in what I've accumulated. Am I afraid that you'll grow and surpass me? Huhu! That's a good provocation, but it won't work on me! What I've accumulated has already touched upon the ultimate realm! Come! Do you have the resolve to stand against me as I am!?"

Kim Young-hoon stares at Jang Ik for a long moment, then breaks into a grin.

"Very well. Then please show me, Senior. This 'ultimate realm' you claim to have touched upon..."

"This isn't something to show to you. As there's already someone else to whom I wish to unfold it..."

"...Then I'll make you unfold it."

Once again, the two Heart Tribe clash.

The entirety of the dimension beyond the Bright Cold Realm becomes their battlefield, as gold and green collide against each other.

In terms of weight class, Jang Ik has the upper hand.

His Fighting Spirit itself embodies overwhelming and domineering 'strength.'

In terms of speed, Kim Young-hoon is ahead.

Naturally so, as his Surpassing Radiant Saber is a martial art specialized in speed.

The space beyond the Bright Cold Realm resounds noisily.

The dimensional barrier explodes in various places, Sacred Master Baek Woon's furious roar reverberates from within, and thousands of Vestiges of the Interdimensional Void are obliterated.

Then, when their clash reaches its peak!

Collapsing Immortals Annihilating Heavens and Golden Wing Defiles the Light collide.

Kim Young-hoon sees it.

The ultimate realm that Jang Ik has reached.

The despair of that realm, known as the Third Step Before the Throne!

Jang Ik, in turn, also sees it.

The overwhelming genius of Kim Young-hoon, and...the hope that he might one day reach the Third Step Before the Throne!

Confronting this new precipice, Kim Young-hoon bares his teeth in a grin.

Confronting this new light, Jang Ik also bares his teeth and laughs.

In the next moment, their clash shatters the dimensional barrier of the Bright Cold Realm.

Shiiiiiiiii!

Kim Young-hoon and Jang Ik stand facing each other, steam rising from their entire bodies.

Having returned full circle to Cedar Wood Grove, the two look at each other and burst into laughter.

"...If you had used 'that,' I would likely have died. Why didn't you use it?"

"I told you already. It's not something to show to you."

"Huhaha! Well...for now, I'll have to be satisfied with just catching a faint glimpse of the true nature of 'that.'"

"You shameless brat. Do you think you can reach the realm I've devoted my entire life to attaining so quickly?"

"...I will probably need a thousand years."

"...Definitely a shameless brat."

Jang Ik grins and sits down casually.

However, his expression is brighter than ever.

"...What is the 'Void' you've attained?"

At Jang Ik's sudden question, Kim Young-hoon also slumps to the ground and answers.

"The Void of the moment."

Kim Young-hoon could not bring himself to sever his connections to reach Void Shattering.

Seo Eun-hyun embraced his connections and attained impermanence, but that is Seo Eun-hyun's enlightenment.

It is not something he can obtain for himself.

Thus, he found his own path.

"In the moment I face martial arts! For that moment, I chose to forget everything and embody the void!"

He cannot forget his family.

However, in those moments when his heart awakens to the desire to return to them!

In that moment of resolve, he can focus entirely on that purpose and let go.

"To forget something once and assume it is forgotten forever was my own misconception. A person's life is made up of moments. And in those countless moments, there are times when we forget something, times when we immerse ourselves and forget, and times when we remember. Thus, among the countless moments, I decided to attain the void of the moments I need most."

"Seo Eun-hyun seems to have 'gathered.' You, on the other hand, have 'disassembled.' It's an interesting choice!"

Jang Ik laughs heartily at Kim Young-hoon's words.

"At last, you have cast aside all hesitation and found the proper answer. Congratulations!"

At Jang Ik's acknowledgment, Kim Young-hoon smiles in satisfaction.

"You've reached the peak of the Second Step Before the Throne!"

This is one thousand years since Seo Eun-hyun became a Sacred Master.

Kurung, kurururung!

In a certain part of the universe.

An enormous celestial phenomenon is unfolding there.

Pajik, pajijijijijijik!

A cultivator at the Grand Perfection Integration Stage appears to be condensing their Integrated Dao Domain.

And at a certain moment—

Kwaaaaaang!

Their Integrated Dao Domain, the Great Heavenly Rain of the Charged Lightning Veil, bursts forth entirely.

[Guaaaaaaaah!]

The cultivator who detonated their Integrated Dao Domain, Jeon Myeong-hoon, grits his teeth as if overwhelmed by unbearable pain and seems to be 'contemplating’ on something.

That 'something' is...

Amidst the explosion of his Integrated Dao Domain, untouched by the blast due to prearranged arrangements, a [hand].

That shriveled, scorched [hand]!

Centered around that hand, Jeon Myeong-hoon's consciousness begins to coalesce.

[So...hae...]

Around the hand of Jin So-hae, scenes start to unfold. 

The scenes depict the moment Jin So-hae perished, her entire body obliterated by lightning, leaving only her hand behind.

The day the entirety of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was utterly annihilated by lightning under the [eye] that appeared in the sky!

[So...hae...!]

Centered on the pain and fury of that day...Jeon Myeong-hoon regains his awareness.

Kwarung, kwarururung!

Inside the nebula created by Jeon Myeong-hoon's explosion due to the 'prelude phenomenon' of the Star Tribulation, preludes of Heavenly Tribulations appear.

Regaining his senses, Jeon Myeong-hoon seizes control of the prelude Heavenly Tribulations using Jin So-hae's hand as his anchor.

Kwajijijik!

The prelude Heavenly Tribulations are infused with the power of the Immortal Art, Various Omens.

Simultaneously, Jeon Myeong-hoon's physical body begins to condense.

[So...hae...!!!]

Kururururung!

Finally, Jeon Myeong-hoon succeeds in condensing the 'physical body' of a Star Shattering Esteemed One.

And immediately after—

Flash!

A vast beam of light descends from the universe.

The Heavenly Tribulation that falls upon an Esteemed One.

It is the Star Tribulation.

And towards that Star Tribulation, someone present at the scene leaps forward.

It is Hong Fan.

[Entering Heavens Beyond the Path. Void Sword!]

Paaaaaatt!

Guided by Seo Eun-hyun and Kim Young-hoon, Hong Fan, who has once again reached Entering Heavens Beyond the Path in this life, charges towards the Star Tribulation without hesitation.

Scattering Jeon Myeong-hoon's prepared blood, he resounds in mental speech. 

[On the last day of the last month, where no light reaches, the Tribulation (劫) shall arise. Tribulation, come hither, so that all may partake in the feast before the light enters.]

The ritual prepared with Jeon Myeong-hoon's blood scatters, and Hong Fan's Void Sword touches the Star Tribulation.

Immediately after, Hong Fan's entire body is nearly reduced to ashes and he is blasted away.

Kwaaaang!

As Hong Fan is flung away, the Star Tribulation fuses with 'all the Star Tribulations' that are supposed to come after and converges upon Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Jeon Myeong-hoon faces the Star Tribulation.

Flash!

The expected sound of when Heavenly Tribulation collides does not occur. 

Though space lacks a medium for sound to travel, the corresponding spiritual wave should reverberate. Yet even such waves of spiritual energy fail to ripple.

The Star Tribulation is merely absorbed and devoured by Jeon Myeong-hoon's Great Heavenly Rain of Charged Lightning Veil Great Star.

Kurururung!

Above Jeon Myeong-hoon's main body, Heaven and Earth spiritual energy condenses, forming a projection.

It's a phenomenon that naturally occurs as Jeon Myeong-hoon's authority surges powerfully, manifesting his combat technique form.

The main body of Jeon Myeong-hoon, the Two-Headed Six-Armed Lightning God, begins to transform.

Kwajijijijik!

As lightning condenses around Jeon Myeong-hoon's two heads and six arms, another head emerges.

The complete form of a Three-Headed Six-Armed Lightning God!

But it doesn't stop there.

On the six arms of the Three-Headed Six-Armed Lightning God, despite not being a practitioner of Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation, a 'winged garment' of thunder and lightning forms.

[Ooooooooh!]

Kwarurururung!

As the Three-Headed Six-Armed Lightning God roars, the entire Heaven and Earth begins surging with lightning force.

Kwajijijijik!

The Lightning God with three heads and six arms extends all six of its hands, concentrating the energy of the Star Tribulation.

Then, in the center of the six hands, a certain form begins to coalesce.

Rain (雨).

It is a sphere of lightning inscribed with the character 'Rain (雨)'.

Subsequently, other spheres begin to materialize in the Lightning God's hands one by one.

Clearing (霽), Cloudiness (蒙), Want of Connection (驛), Crossing (克).

Inner Diagram (內卦) and Outer Diagram (外卦).

Holding these six symbols in his six hands, excluding the symbol Rain (雨) in the center, Jeon Myeong-hoon opens wide all of the eyes of the Three-Headed Six-Armed Lightning God, releasing a massive roar.

[Haaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!]

Kwarururururung!

With that final act, the Star Tribulation is completely absorbed into Jeon Myeong-hoon's body.

Half-closing his eyes, he finally draws his Origin Star into the projection.

[...At last, I've made it this far.]

He has finally become a Star Shattering stage Esteemed One.

He gazes at the symbols held in his hands.

These are dharma treasures forged from the power of the recent Star Tribulation.

With these, it is certain that he will be able to easily create the remaining six Origin Stars.

'Perhaps within a thousand years, I should reach the Grand Perfection Star Shattering stage and aim for advancement to the Sacred Vessel stage.'

This is the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body!

Reigning as the master of all thunder and lightning, impervious to Heavenly Tribulations, and even using them as a spiritual elixir to advance cultivation!

'Perhaps my Ender, Yang Su-jin, who is presumed to have the same ability as I do, also utilized these traits to their fullest, allowing him to reach the pinnacle of True Immortality within three thousand years.'

Jeon Myeong-hoon muses this as he approaches the figure who was observing his advancement ritual nearby.

"Ancestor, I have finally succeeded in becoming an Esteemed One."

The one who was watching over him.

Yeon Wei, with an expression of letting go a big burden from her heart, kneels before Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"Please, do not speak to me with such formality, O Esteemed One. You are now the greatest pillar of our Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. This humble one merely took on the role of ancestor due to being born a little earlier than Esteemed One. I am but a small and insignificant being, utterly unable to match the achievements of the Esteemed One."

Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at that Yeon Wei with a complicated expression.

However, he soon shakes his head and, as if accepting his position, speaks.

"Understood, Yeon Wei. From this day forward, this Esteemed One declares himself as the Supreme of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. Within the sect's hierarchy, unless the founder returns, no one may surpass this Esteemed One. From henceforth, the Great Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect shall once again enter its golden age!"

Yeon Wei, with an expression far more natural and relaxed than the one she had shown to Seo Eun-hyun in the past, presses her lips to the top of Jeon Myeong-hoon's foot.

"Glory to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect!"

As if her worries about the sect's future are now largely cast aside, her face becomes greatly relaxed.

This is 1,300 years since Seo Eun-hyun became a Sacred Master.

Thus, Jeon Myeong-hoon became an Esteemed One.

Whisperwhisperwhisperwhisper...

Countless whispers echo in her ears.

Kang Min-hee slowly opens her eyes.

She, flying upside down in the sky, escapes from the whispers and looks ahead.

Before her, countless blue souls ripple and sway.

On the day she regained her sanity thanks to Seo Eun-hyun and came to fully understand her own fate (命),

Since that day, the ghosts that followed her have all transformed into these blue spirits.

"...Thank you, everyone. I've finally regained all of my memories."

She had lost her memories during the Sacred Vessel advancement ritual and became an Immortal Art.

As an Immortal Art, she originally existed without any memories, but during the advancement ritual, she was able to recover her memories thanks to the blue spirits that came to follow her.

These ghosts, having let go of all their grudges from life, now serve Kang Min-hee with complete loyalty.

Of course, once their grudges are resolved, it would be normal for them to be pulled into the Netherworld... However, for some reason, the blue spirits do not leave Kang Min-hee's side.

It is as if, by staying near her, they are unaffected by the attraction force of the Netherworld.

She begins to grasp a certain understanding of her 'true' ability.

'I'll probably only fully understand once I reach the level of True Immortality...but my true ability is likely the creation of bridles.'

Though the word 'bridles' evokes a sense of resistance, the true nature of her ability is essentially 'creation of laws.'

Creating a desired law to bind opponents, or to protect those she wishes to protect.

A power particularly specialized in protection—that is the true essence of her ability.

'If I discuss this with my comrades and deliberate on how to utilize this ability, I'll probably be able to develop it further, but...'

Regrettably, Seo Eun-hyun had repeatedly warned her that such a thing must never happen.

Thus, Kang Min-hee has kept silent about her true ability to this day.

In any case, the reason these blue spirits remain by her side instead of falling into the Netherworld is because she created a law.

By declaring herself as a 'part of the Netherworld' and establishing herself as a sanctuary where spirits could linger before being judged, she enabled the spirits to stay by her side and remain loyal to her.

'This ability is still unstable.'

That is the truth.

The law Kang Min-hee created stems from the deepest parts of her heart.

It emerged from the realm of her unconsciousness and is not something she had intentionally created.

'If I rise to True Immortality, will I be able to properly wield this ability...'

There are things she wants to do with this power.

There are things she wants to see.

But...as she has yet to reach a level where she can freely create laws, she lets out a small sigh.

'Let's grow stronger.'

Now that she has recovered her memories, the advancement ritual to the Sacred Vessel stage becomes easy.

In order to advance to Sacred Vessel, advance to Entering Nirvana, and advance to True Immortality to fully unleash her ability, she begins to move forward.

Wo-woong!

Countless spirits follow her, who is upside down.

Kang Min-hee strolls through Peaceful Cloud Star, the location chosen for her Sacred Vessel advancement ritual.

The scattered fragments of Kang Min-hee begin to be absorbed into her, centering on her identity as an Immortal Art.

At first, as she prepared for the Sacred Vessel advancement ritual, she felt resistance.

Replacing herself with Immortal Arts!?

It was such a terrifying and aversive concept.

In general, beings at the Integration stage and above perceive 'Immortal Arts' as 'an art that moves through attraction force.'

The basic Immortal Art of the Integration stage—Various Omens, and the basic Immortal Art of the Star Shattering stage—Examination of Doubts.

All of them are activated through attraction force.

Thus, becoming a Sacred Vessel felt unsettling, as though replacing oneself with the 'flow of attraction force'.

But...

Seo Eun-hyun explained it to her.

That Immortal Arts, in truth, are the power of the heart.

That they are an authority that is activated through one's heart.

'Now, I'm not afraid.'

Because of that, she can step forward without hesitation.

Immortal Arts is a branch of the heart.

To say that one replaces oneself with Immortal Arts is nothing extraordinary.

It merely means restructuring oneself around a portion of one's heart, the part of the heart one pursues the most.

In other words,

It is one's 'character'.

A sage once said:

If one aligns their heart with goodness, later, even when acting on instinct, they will behave with goodness.

If a swordsman develops and maintains a habit of honing their sword, in due time, their instinctive actions will involve honing the sword.

This is what it means when Immortal Art is said to replace one's persona.

'Perhaps being human is not solely determined by one's physical body, brain, or even spiritual form.'

Becoming completed by what one does and what one desires to become.

That is what it means to be a person.

And...

Replacing one's persona with Immortal Art signifies completing oneself based on one's desires.

Immortal Cultivation is not simply about growing stronger, living longer, acquiring superior dharma treasures, or consuming better pills.

It is about completing oneself.

It is about finding one's own path and advancing forward.

—That is what Immortal Cultivation is, Kang Min-hee. So...there's no need to be afraid. We'll cheer you on.

Those are the words Seo Eun-hyun had told her before she began her Sacred Vessel advancement.

Paaaatt!

The fragments Kang Min-hee scattered begin to coalesce around the heart she desires.

Centered on the Immortal Art she has chosen—the Flawless Mantra—they start to gather.

Immortal Cultivation is, ultimately, a bridle.

A bridle is something placed upon slaves or livestock.

Kang Min-hee obtained this mantra in the past from the [Deep and Dark Being].

And as she proceeds with her Sacred Vessel advancement ritual, she feels as though she understands the heart of the one who created this mantra.

Unending distress!

It is this distress that created this Immortal Art.

However, Kang Min-hee adds her own interpretation to this distress. 

"Immortal Cultivation is ultimately a bridle. But..."

At last, she completes a full circle around Peaceful Cloud Star.

"It is also something meant to protect."

The being who created the mantra undoubtedly sought to reveal their own servitude through it, and at the same time, to make those who learned the mantra serve them like slaves.

However, for some reason, she perceives within the meaning of that action a will 'to protect'.

"Attraction force is a chain, and fate is a bar.

"Thus, until one becomes flawless, remain within this place. I, shall protect you..."

Paaaatt!

She, who completed a full circle around the planet, absorbs the final fragment. 

Paaaaaaatt!

Countless blue spirits leap with joy, and Kang Min-hee's body begins to grow enormously.

Paaaatt!

Transformed into a brilliant blue spirit form, she dons a navy-blue robe, and with her body now vast enough to encompass the planet's continent, she kneels down on the spot.

Most of the humans of the Peaceful Cloud Star cannot see her, who exists only within the Plane of Soul. However, a Grand Perfection Heavenly Being cultivator half a step into the Four-Axis stage, Yu Hwi, breathes heavily and gazes at Kang Min-hee as if his eyes might burst while gaining [knowledge].

Kang Min-hee, in this state, gazes into the distant universe.

She sees Kim Young-hoon, who perfected his martial arts.

She also sees Jeon Myeong-hoon, who has advanced to Esteemed One, and Kim Yeon, who possesses the power of an Esteemed One, all protecting her as she undergoes the Sacred Vessel advancement.

Kang Min-hee, looking at the comrades, speaks softly.

[I will protect you all. From now on as well.]

Kim Yeon smiles warmly, and Jeon Myeong-hoon nods as he strokes So-hae's hand.

Kim Young-hoon laughs heartily and jokes, saying, 'Hey! What do you mean by you all!?'

Kang Min-hee's gaze moves beyond Kim Young-hoon, Kim Yeon, and Jeon Myeong-hoon, all the way to the distant Cedarwood Painting, meeting the eyes of Seo Eun-hyun who is watching over her.

Kang Min-hee and Seo Eun-hyun exchange glances and share a gentle smile.

1,900 years since Seo Eun-hyun became a Sacred Master.

Kang Min-hee fully completes her Sacred Vessel advancement.

Wo-woong!

Suddenly, a [door] opens in the void, and someone emerges.

It is Yu Oh, the Sacred Master of the Nether Ghost Realm.

Kang Min-hee lowers her head and bows to her.

[Disciple of the Black Ghost Valley greets the Palace Lord.]

[...? I am not the Palace Lord of Black Ghost Valley. To begin with, Black Ghost Valley operates under a collective leadership, governed by a council of Grand Elders, so a Palace Lord cannot exist.]

[...Pardon? But Seo Eun-hyun clearly told me so...]

Kang Min-hee looks confused, and Yu Oh also scratches her cheek in bewilderment.

[Hmm... Now that I think about it, Sacred Master Eun-hyun did say some strange things to me last time as well. Something about the back of my head. It's true I once cultivated the Ghost Path Method of Two Faces...but I achieved great completion in it over a million years ago, so my faces have long since merged... Truly strange words.]

Shaking her head as if she doesn't understand, Yu Oh extends her hand to Kang Min-hee.

[In any case. There is something I must give to the distinguished one. Please stop by the Nether Ghost Realm for a moment.]

Kang Min-hee looks at Yu Oh with a somewhat skeptical expression and asks.

[...I heard from Seo Eun-hyun, but...you're not planning to dump the position of Sacred Master of the Nether Ghost Realm on me and immediately advance, are you?]

[Ohoho. Distinguished one truly has great faith in Sacred Master Eun-hyun. It's not exactly that. At least, until the End, I still need to look after the children of the Nether Ghost Realm. Distinguished one would indeed make the most fitting successor, but it's not mandatory. I will swear it upon the one I serve. Before the End, I won't forcibly pass the position of Sacred Master onto the distinguished one.]

Hearing Yu Oh's words, Kang Min-hee's face flushes slightly.

[I apologize for misunderstanding. Then, what is it that you wish to give me...?]

[What I have to give are fragments of an Immortal Treasure and information that will provide aid in the mantra the distinguished one is cultivating.]

[Thank you for your kindness, Senior.]

After bowing to Yu Oh, Kang Min-hee conveys the situation to Seo Eun-hyun and her comrades before following Yu Oh to the Nether Ghost Realm.

Jeon Myeong-hoon and Kim Yeon exchange glances, then return to Cedarwood Painting through the dimensional gate Seo Eun-hyun has prepared.

Kwajijijijik!

The barrier that Kim Yeon and Jeon Myeong-hoon created using Seo Eun-hyun's power dissipates, and some time later...

Kwaaaang!

A dimensional gate of a Middle realm bursts apart like an explosion, and someone shouts in rage.

[Yu Ohhhhhhh!!! Did you use the attraction force of the Ghost Path to sense things in advance and take the initiative!? Have I missed it once again!? Just how long must I remain stuck with these useless, parasitic bastards!!??]

Ban Ta's voice transmission, laced with blood-tears, resounds through the now completely vacant expanse of space.

The Enders, one by one, continue to grow with the passage of time.

Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and Kang Min-hee each raise their respective realms, and...

Oh Hyun-seok also continues to grow well.

And now, two thousand years since Seo Eun-hyun became a Sacred Master.

With eight thousand years remaining until the End.

Seo Eun-hyun and his comrades, who have been growing and cultivating throughout the universe, all gather again at Cedarwood Painting.

Then, Seo Eun-hyun begins to attempt [something].

Shortly after Seo Eun-hyun's plan begins,

All the rulers of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain sense something strange.

The most experienced ones, Baek Woon and Yu Oh, detect it first.

Baek Woon looks up at the sky, her eyes narrowing.

"...The celestial energy...? Just what is happening...!"

Yu Oh, too, trembles violently.

"This... Could it be...?"

Soon after, Ban Ta, Hae Lin, Ja Eum, and others notice the anomaly as well.

"'J-Just what on earth is happening!?"

The Entering Nirvana True Persons also sense the strangeness.

Countless True Persons communicate with one another, seeking advice and falling into confusion.

And...as expected, the Owner of the Blood Yin Realm, Blood Yin, realizes what is going on.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

: : Insane lunatic. : :

Blood Yin, having identified the source of the celestial phenomenon, clicks his tongue softly.

Baek Woon trembles and mutters.

[The End...is being brought forward?]

Indeed.

The End, originally set for eight thousand years in the future, is now being brought forward.

Half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea (7-8 minutes).

It is only 'half a tea session', but without a doubt, the End is drawing closer.

Even now!

The attraction force of the Heavenly Domain continues to increase in real time, drawing the End closer by the time it takes to blink.

Although it is not an amount of time significant enough to bring alarm, it is a grave matter.

Because if the cause of this acceleration remains unidentified, the speed at which the End approaches could increase drastically!

[Find it! Find the cause!]

[Blood Yin! We must seek advice even if it's from Blood Yin!]

[Search the entire universe! If anything suspicious is found, report it to everyone immediately!]

Countless True Persons of the Entering Nirvana stage scatter their wills across the universe in a panic.

And, while the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain stirs with commotion.

In the center of Cedarwood Painting, Seo Eun-hyun is reciting something.

[Immortal Cultivation is repentant enlightenment.

[Like tiny grains of salt gathering to form a sea,

[Build mountains through repentant enlightenment.

[Building a mountain of salt is...]

Wo-woong!

Around the Sacred Master Seo Eun-hyun, the power of the mantra reacts, creating salt.

Seo Eun-hyun half-opens his eyes and gazes upward at the sky.

[...perhaps the fastest way to reach the heavens.]

The celestial energy changes.

TL Notes: Festival Of The Eve (前夜祭) as in a that is held festival that is held on the eve of an event.