As I threw myself into the storm of blue lightning, an enormous bolt struck me with fury.
Even draped in the absorbed Infinity and holding onto the Dragon Heart, the lightning was quite bothersome.
I spread my golden wings and ascended at high speed before the lightning could rampage more.
Shwaaaaaak!!
[Oh]
[Oh]
[What is this]
[It got dark]
[Huh]
[Looooool?]
[Lightning is insane]
[Universe?]
“Where is this…?”
As I emerged through the waterfall of lightning, a void filled with emptiness came into view.
A space literally void (空虛) and packed with darkness.
It was an expansive area that swallowed even sound, but it stretched long ‘to the side’ only, not wide above.
If I go up a bit more, I’d encounter an entirely different space.
I released the lightning armor created with Infinity and surveyed the surroundings before once again leaping beyond the space.
Shwaaaaaak!!
“Ugh?!”
Pressure!
A gigantic force enveloped me.
I quickly wrapped myself in Infinity again to alleviate the pressure and soon noticed my body soaring upwards.
Not only was I ascending by my will, but I also felt some kind of ‘gravity’ pulling me up.
The second space was a relatively bright monochrome space, not as void-like, and occasionally strange things appeared.
Distant planets or worlds, and bizarre creatures floating in the void.
─Kruuuuh!
─Cack! Cack!
Creatures resembling manta rays spotted me and began to chase as they opened their mouths.
It wasn’t surprising to see monsters emerge.
In the past, it was quite common for monsters to inhabit the void, and it was a point the Heavenly Horse had mentioned separately.
The real problem was their strength.
“…Transition Device?”
The swarm of about five manta rays each possessed strength equivalent to a Transition Device.
In fact, the one that appeared to be their leader felt like it exceeded a Transition Device, reaching ‘Mid World’ levels of power.
“Not one, but five…”
Kwahjijik!!
I ripped off some Infinity from my lightning armor and hurled it at the manta rays.
─Kigaagaagak!!
As soon as the manta ray swarm got hit by lightning, they turned into lightning-cooked snacks and vanished into the distant void.
The leader manta ray showed a brief moment of resistance, but when I threw another Infinity bolt, it screamed and disappeared.
[?]
[Hahaha]
[What’s with the manta ray swarm?]
[Monsters are far away.]
[What’s with the grilled squid? Hahaha]
[Looks delicious.]
[Oh.]
[The scenery is sweet.]
“Seems like lightning is its weakness.”
With its power, it was subdued surprisingly quickly.
If it had the strength of a transition device or Mid World level, that would mean it’s on par with Leo or Yena, or the Heavenly Horse, so such an existence wouldn’t fall to lightning so easily.
‘That Mid World manta ray was somewhat sturdy, though.’
In the end, it fell to Infinite Completion, so lightning must be its weakness.
I continued to unleash Infinite Completion on the Abnormal Creatures attacking me, and once that repeated several times, the assaults ceased.
All that was left was to ascend.
“There are about two places.”
[Two places?]
[What is it?]
“It’s the place guiding me now.”
A mysterious ‘force’ has been pulling me since earlier.
One is pulling me strongly to the right, so much so that I could just relax and it would take me there.
If I head in this direction, I should reach the right world.
The other one to the left isn’t as strong as the right but if I put in the effort, I should be able to get there.
They both seem like one of the Mid World levels…
“Right or left? I think we need to decide quickly.”
[Right, let’s go!!]
[Left!]
[Ooooooooh!]
[Let’s go left!]
[Left then.]
[What’s the difference between you two?]
“The difference… I’m not really sure.”
The energy felt similar, so I can’t pinpoint accurately here.
If I go a bit further, I’d be able to identify it, but by then, I’d be too close to change direction.
After some hesitation, I decided to just go right.
‘Might as well start with the basics.’
Since there’s no rule against doing Infinite Completion twice, going right first and then visiting left later shouldn’t be a problem.
As I entrusted my body to the right force, my body shot up rapidly and transcended the world.
Boom!!!
“This place…?”
At the moment of ascent, it felt as though the world had flipped, and I was suddenly standing on the ground.
The floor was peculiarly made of glass, and upon closer inspection, it was a gigantic well made of water.
Outside the well, there were practitioners resembling Beastmen, and they were staring at me with surprised eyes.
Ding!
[You have cleared ‘World – Path of Ascension (EP.2).’]
I cleared the quest.
I gained a massive amount of experience points.
Some of the penalties have been alleviated.
[Title – Ascendant of the Main Temple (Mythical) has been acquired.]
The third episode is about to start.
“Oh.”
The episode has been shattered.
With some penalties alleviated, it should be smoother from here on out.
“Wait…? Did I ascend alone?”
“Looks like it’s just at the transition device level, but pretty impressive.”
“They seem close to human in appearance. They’re not backing down in front of us…”
“Did they mix with the blood of the White-winged Bird? Their rank is quite substantial compared to their power.”
“If you’ve come to your senses, come out here.”
“?”
[?]
[LOL]
[Who are those guys?]
[Beastmen?]
[Let’s kill them all.]
[Why are there so many?]
[Where the heck is this, Lily?]
[Huh? LOL]
I calmly emerged from the well.
“Where is this place?”
“This is the Ascension Gate of Jangmugye. It’s one of the worlds that practitioners inevitably enter when they ascend from the Lower Realm. Almost all practitioners ascend through the Ascension Gate.”
“Got it?”
“Those who ascend through the Ascension Gate must be managed by Jeokmuhyang. Complete the registration of human practitioners there and receive the proof plate.”
“Do I have to get it?”
“Absolutely. There are no exceptions.”
Hmm! A man with a dragon horn growing on his forehead looked down at me with a serious expression.
He had green hair and wore a long robe that gave off a vibe similar to Nokju.
‘Though he looked completely different.’
The man’s level was mid-world class.
He had stronger power and rank than the captain manta ray I met before, and the other practitioners around him were just as strong.
‘There’s definitely way more spirit around here than in the Lower Realm.’
It’s clear that their strength is heavily influenced by the environment.
“Follow me. By the way, this area is all under the sovereignty of Jeokmuhyang, so it would be wise for you to behave.”
“Wow… That person must be incredibly strong.”
“Of course. That person is a deity beyond Avatar and Record, having reached the ‘Display Case’ period. No matter how strong you were in the Lower Realm, in front of them, you’d be like dust.”
“Got it…”
“Well, that’s enough of the explanation… Hayoung! Lead me to the Human Territory.”
“Got it, Dragon King.”
The woman called Hayoung bowed her head slightly and started to guide me.
Hayoung was a woman with red hair and red deer antlers growing from her forehead.
She was also dressed in red robes.
[LOL LOL LOL LOL]
[Let’s kill her]
[Is it dust? LOL]
[Hayoung unnie is so cute]
[Unnieeeeeeeeee]
[The Avatar Phase here is Mid World level]
[Fact: Whether in Record or Marriage Device, Lily is stronger]
[Is she a bit arrogant?]
[If it was the real Lily, she’d knock her out in one hit]
[For real LOL]
[She’s definitely arrogant LOL]
Hayoung pulled out a huge brush-like something from near a well.
“This is a Flying Device, so get in. I’ll guide you to the Human Territory.”
“Hayoung?”
“Ask away.”
“What level are you at, Hayoung? The Lord of Jeokmuhyang is a Display Case, right?”
“Hmmm, I am an Avatar Phase. From Mid World onward, it’s divided into Avatar, Record, True Nirvana, and Marriage Device. By the time you reach Marriage Device, it’s safe to say it’s practically Junseon level.”
“Oooh.”
So the final goal would be to reach the Marriage Device level, huh?
I had already undergone Ascension once, and since this is a Sword Immortal world, the goal must be to reach a higher realm.
I wasn’t sure how long we had been flying on the device.
After passing through endless turbulence and mist, we arrived at a gigantic Sky Island.
The red mist spread out like a sea in the Sky Island.
Hayoung slowly landed the Flying Device and sent signals here and there.
“This is the main temple of Jeokmu-hyang. Here, you’ll receive the Human Nameplate, and then I’ll guide you to the Human Territory. After that, you’re on your own.”
“Understood.”
As I got off the device, the massive buildings of Jeokmu-hyang welcomed me.
Ding!
[World – Path of Transformation (EP.3)]
Objective – Ascend to Immortality. Or Kill the Immortal.
Reward – ?, Title – Immortal of the Main Temple (Transcendence), Transformation’s Split Soul (3/3).
With a new episode ahead.
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