Celestial Realm
The Sword Immortal, Yeodongbin, was staring intently at the Sword Demon. Then, he glanced around at us before shifting his gaze toward me. Yeodongbin spoke,
“Won’t you yield here, Yeonje?”
“……”
“What more do you wish to achieve? Did you not seek to defeat the demons to live a happy life?”
Yeodongbin’s words left me in a state of confusion.
That’s right. Why was I defending the Demand Blockade against the Celestial Realm? If I were to hand it over in this life, couldn’t I just start over in the next? The thought of facing off against an immortal in battle was frightening.
However, the weight of the Sword Demon’s words pressed down even harder upon my heart. No matter how nicely it was phrased, theft was still theft. I intuitively understood from my past life’s experience that simply yielding the Demand to the Celestial Realm wouldn’t lead to a good outcome. I realized that listening to the Sword Demon was the right choice.
After a moment to gather my thoughts, I said,
“I will gather the Seven Luminaries and defeat the Ancient Ruler.”
“… That’s quite a lofty dream.”
Yeodongbin sighed and replied,
“And an impossible one. The Seven Luminaries must never be liberated.”
“Why not…?”
I ground my teeth.
“Don’t you know the Celestial Realm sees the Ancient Ruler as the fundamental cause? Then, isn’t it logical to gather the Seven Luminaries, a force capable of opposing them? Why do you interfere with my path?”
“The fundamental cause… That statement holds some truth.”
Yeodongbin surveyed the surroundings with a grave expression.
“However, who could possibly take responsibility for the outcome?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors created the Seven Luminaries, but amongst them, only Emperor Gongson Hyunwon knows what will happen when they all gather. If releasing the Seven Luminaries were to accelerate humanity’s demise… who would be responsible for that outcome?”
“……”
“The destruction of humanity is still about five hundred years away. It’s wrong for the Seven Luminaries to be released prematurely.”
I was taken aback by that statement.
To suggest that the destruction of humanity was predetermined and to even give a rough estimate!
Since it came from the mouth of the Great Immortal, it carried immense credibility. Perhaps that’s why both the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong wore surprised expressions. I hadn’t expected the Zhuge clan’s talk of human extinction to have any merit!
After regaining my composure a moment later, I said,
“I don’t understand. If everything is to be destroyed in five hundred years anyway, why would the Celestial Realm desperately try to prevent it?”
“I cannot say. But I will tell you that the Celestial Realm has a plan for at least some measure of peace. That’s the Heavenly Mechanism, and it is the most righteous option for all beings.”
Saying firmly, Yeodongbin gradually raised his sword.
“I will say this once more. Cast away your futile desires. Humanity’s strength has its limits.”
At that moment.
Mangnyang, who was beside me, suddenly formed a strange hand symbol and said,
“I seal!”
Paaah!
“……!!”
In that moment, I found myself suddenly speechless and my body frozen stiff. As if that were a signal, Yeodongbin, the Sword Demon, and Dokgo Seong moved simultaneously. The world’s unmatched experts were engaged in combat and decision-making!
Shu-kwang!
The clash of the Sword Demon’s sword technique and Yeodongbin’s sword technique rang out like a strange sword sound, and Dokgo Seong’s sword energy flew late in an attack against Yeodongbin. Yeodongbin easily dodged the sword energy and instantaneously created three clones, taking on the positions of the Three Resplendent Directions.
Unable to do anything but watch their battle unfold, I heard Mangnyang’s telepathic voice.
[Sorry, but Baek Woong, I have to seal your movements starting with the Bull Step Technique. Your technique of Isolation is far too dangerous.]
I’ve been played!
I realized that Mangnyang had made his move before I did. Although I was caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the formidable opponent Yeodongbin, I could have easily countered him by casting Isolation if I hadn’t been so surprised. Mangnyang, knowing my life experience thanks to the Obsidian, had anticipated my best possible move and countered it instead.
Mangnyang remained still, looking our way, while I desperately attempted to raise my energy to break free from the seal, but it wouldn’t budge an inch. As veins throbbed on my forehead, Mangnyang’s telepathic voice echoed again.
[It’s useless. This Bull Step Technique reaches the level of Immortal Techniques. Unless your power is unlimited, you will eventually be stuck.]
[Dammit! Do I really have to go this far?]
I sent a telepathic cry to Mangnyang.
[You must know this—it’s just that I’m doing my best!]
[… I know. Just enough to acknowledge your memories are real.]
Mangnyang paused for a moment before responding.
[But even so, there’s too much I have to protect right now. After seeing that memory, I genuinely wanted to help you live comfortably.]
[What?]
Mangnyang’s expression turned serious.
[If you just give up the Demand Blockade here, you can easily grasp a happy life. You already have a good mentor, a stronghold in Muyeongmun, and a prospective spouse. The Imperial Palace has been destroyed. With your affiliation to the Thirteen Rules of Goryeo, you could enjoy a normal and joyful life going forward.]
[……!!]
[Don’t you understand? I understand your suffering and thought to help you feel at ease. If I had truly hardened my heart, I would have sealed you with that strike earlier. Know that I’m being quite lenient.]
Mangnyang’s words weren’t mere bragging or jokes. His magical ability reached the level of earthly immortals, far surpassing regular human sorcerers. Perhaps he was even stronger than Zhuge Bu. I found myself unable to think clearly.
A happy life.
Could it really be right in front of my eyes?
Would letting go of the blockade mean it would be within my grasp?
The despair I felt when I started my sixteenth life surged back. If it hadn’t been for Mangnyang’s words back then, I’d have given up on everything in hopelessness. Yet, it was Mangnyang’s one phrase that I held onto like a lifeline, pulling me this far. Now that my friend, who presented me with the reason for living, was saying that I could give up.
“……”
A happy life.
I repeated that word in my mind once more. Just as I was deep in thought, Mangnyang continued.
“Now that the Imperial Palace has fallen, the demons will unleash havoc in the western world. But there are guardians in the west, so they will handle it there. No longer must your life walk the path of trials.”
Kwa-kwang!
At that moment, a thunderous explosion sounded from the sky. When I looked up, I saw an intense battle raging above, difficult even to describe.
Heavenly Escape Sword Technique
Six Intent Sacred Heavenly Map
Cloud Decision
In an instant, thousands of sword shadows appeared near Yeodongbin. The light swords poured down like clouds, unleashing a raging wave of lightning and fire from the front. Time and space rippled as a mighty sword flicked from Yeodongbin’s hand. This was the ultimate technique he used when eliminating demons, yet witnessing it as an outsider was a first for me.
But as I beheld its majesty, my heart sank.
‘What in the world…!!’
How could there be such mastery? I hadn’t fully grasped it before, but Yeodongbin’s Heavenly Escape Sword Technique and Six Intent Sacred Heavenly Map possessed overwhelming power! Each of those sword shadows was filled with living intent and attack power that dwarfed any human martial arts. If the Cloud Decision were to rain down, I would have no way to contend!
As Cloud Decision spread through the air, it attacked both the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong, who wore exhausted expressions after barely holding their ground for less than a hundred breaths against Yeodongbin. The Sword Demon let out a fierce cry.
“Hah!!”
At the same time, as the Cloud Decision dispersed, the Sword Demon surged with renewed vigor. An ultimate technique I had never seen exploded forth. It embodied the Taiji (Tai Chi) principle. The Gulkuong Sword and Sky Margin Sword fluidly shifted according to the Sword Demon’s intent, freely altering distance and space, scattering the mighty current of Cloud Decision.
Dokgo Seong seized the opportunity and shot forth with sword energy, combining his might with the Sword Demon’s. He aimed to attack Yeodongbin. However, Yeodongbin’s illusions pierce through Dokgo Seong’s fierce speed, and he had already summoned dozens of massive swords once more.
Kwa-kwang!
“Grrgh!!”
Dokgo Seong howled as he was thrown back. He had narrowly avoided a serious injury, but his face was filled with disappointment. Despite his best efforts, Yeodongbin had almost completely brushed off his attack. Knowing Dokgo Seong’s level of martial prowess, I felt a chill run down my spine.
‘What the heck? Would Yongbichem or Han Baek-ryeong manage here!’
Yeodongbin was pressing them lightly as he faced two opponents. Only now did I appreciate how strong Yeodongbin was. Previously, it had been a little more than guessing, as they were all opponents I could not reach, but now, with my enhanced martial level, I could objectively compare. Yeodongbin was a powerhouse well beyond the Aegis with the Heavenly Day, a being fundamentally beyond human martial prowess.
Peeking at this spectacle, Mangnyang sent a telepathic message.
[Yeodongbin is an incredibly powerful figure, with few peers even in the Celestial Realm. He could survive a fight against the Monkey King, and it naturally makes sense to pit such a being against human experts.]
[I see.]
[Under these circumstances, the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong are sure to die.]
I could see it too. Yeodongbin, the Great Immortal and an unrivaled fighter, moved with such freedom that neither energy limits nor thought boundaries seemed to apply; he unleashed ultimate techniques and super techniques in rapid succession. The fact that the Sword Demon could even fend off his attacks was impressive.
[How did Yeodongbin descend upon the human world? It shouldn’t have been possible due to the causality rules.]
[The second liberation of your Demand Blockade provided considerable justification for the Celestial Realm. Yeodongbin’s descent was, in fact, a forced intervention from the world to halt your rampage.]
[……]
[Now. Give up. If it were me, I could stop Yeodongbin.]
I could feel myself being cornered further. If things continued this way, the Sword Demon or Dokgo Seong would face dire straits. The Sword Demon was managing to hold on, but it was too much to defeat Yeodongbin. Additionally, Dokgo Seong had already begun to show signs of exhaustion.
Ultimately, I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to send a telepathic message.
“I will give the Demand Blockade…”
At that very moment.
Ki-iing!!
The Demand Blockade shone brightly. And I felt something massive within the blockade’s interior calling out to me.
“Are you really going to bow to such weaklings?
How boring.
Let me make this a bit more fun.”
Guuuuu…
“Ah.”
At once, I felt Mangnyang’s Bull Step Technique released, and my body was free once more. But before I could adapt, a tremendous something began to press down upon me, causing me to shudder. An overwhelmingly vast existence was encroaching upon my soul, something beyond human comprehension.
“Grrgh…!!”
Mangnyang froze in shock.
“Is… is this possible? The Ancient Ruler is descending?!”
Simultaneously, an illusion arose before my eyes. It was the formidable form of the Skeleton Giant I encountered when liberating the Blockade in the past. Its name was Itaka, a being allied with the Ancient Ruler, who had formed a contract with the blockade. As I trembled in intense pain, Itaka’s spirit addressed me.
[You didn’t perish? What kind of being are you?]
Itaka genuinely seemed taken aback. When I didn’t respond, Itaka continued,
[Well, it doesn’t matter. I will clear away everything that stands before you.
That is the will of I, Itaka.]
As my consciousness began to slowly sink inward, my appearance gripping the Demand Blockade felt like that of someone else.
[Be gone!!]
Itaka, controlling my body, suddenly unleashed the Seal of Isolation.
Gaaah…
At that moment, the Sword Immortal Yeodongbin began to vanish without a trace as he battled against the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong. It seemed Itaka could freely draw upon and use magic from my memory.
Paaah!
Then, Itaka used the golden ascent to move somewhere.
The grave silence set in, with an ominous presence lurking in the mountains and fields! I already knew where this place was. It was the site where the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors cleaved heaven and earth asunder, the place where Han-woo had once brought me—the point between heaven and earth. Standing there now, Itaka, possessing my body, donned a wicked smile and aimed the Demand Blockade at the sky.
[Break!!]
Kwa-kwang!
With that, the space of the realm splintered, creating rifts in the void. Beyond those rifts lay a fantastical realm, reminiscent of what the people of this world often call the Land of the Immortals or the Celestial Realm. Without hesitation, Itaka stepped into this realm.
Whoooosh…
The moment Itaka entered, I sensed something flying toward me from all directions. Each of them appeared as either immortals, sages, or celestial maidens. This location was the Celestial Realm I had only heard tales of, and they were indeed celestial beings.
The immortals seemed to sense my essence rather than my appearance, each wearing expressions of fear. Leading them was a strong-looking immortal whose status seemed to equate to that of the Great Immortal.
“Ancient Ruler, how dare you invade the Celestial Realm! Have you broken the pact with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors?!”
Eyebrows twitching, Itaka smiled and replied,
“Filthy insects. You don’t even understand our contract with the Emperor.”
“What did you just say…”
“Just die.”
Heavenly Ice
At that moment.
Itaka swung the Demand Blockade toward the void.
Yet, the power of the blockade froze time and space itself, and soon, the entirety of the Celestial Realm was enveloped in ice. All that shimmered through the pure white brilliance came to a frozen halt.
“Gaaaah!”
“Run away!!”
The immortals screamed and tried to flee from the Heavenly Ice, but there was no escaping, nor any way to block it. It was the very authority of the Ancient Ruler that killed and froze all, whether they were spectral beings or gods! Instantly, hundreds of immortals and Great Immortals began to perish or be frozen solid.
Rumble…
“Ancient Ruler, perish!!”
“Be obliterated!!”
Just then, stronger immortals began to appear and surround Itaka. Among them were some labeled as the “Tu-Seon,” powerful beings, as well as Divine Beasts. As they began their simultaneous assault, Itaka conjured a shield.
Kwa-kwang!
Kwa-kwang!
Despite the attacks crashing down as if obliterating an entire realm, Itaka’s shield gradually faded, yet there was no sign of it breaking.
“Bugs like you!”
Yet even Itaka had limits to his power; finally, he wore a vexed expression before executing Heavenly Ice once more.
“Block it…!!”
Woo-ooooo…
As Heavenly Ice spread, the powerful beings of the Celestial Realm collectively erected a barrier to counter it. However, it became apparent that some of them were vanishing as they struggled against it.
Another shout echoed.
“The time of foretold extinction has not yet arrived!”
“I shall make you regret your arrogance, Itaka!!”
Whoosh!
Simultaneously, additional entities appeared across the field. Among them were existences I had seen before, such as Taixu Tianzun, Queen Mother of the West, and Southern Flower Immortal. Powerful beings hailed by all inhabitants of the earthly realm joined the fray, aiming to eliminate Itaka.
Upon catching sight of Taixu Tianzun, Itaka hesitated.
Then he said in a defeated tone,
“You’re quite the playful one.”
Taixu Tianzun said nothing, only offering a cryptic smile. They then resumed their fierce battle.
The fight lasted for three nights and days.
In the end, I was defeated.
Facing death now, Itaka released his essence and vanished somewhere, and I, who had been consumed by Itaka, slowly regained my senses.
My entire body drenched in blood, I found myself kneeling in the heart of the Celestial Realm, bewildered by how events had spiraled so drastically.
Surrounding me was a prison created by intricate formations using the Eight Trigrams, a kind of cell.
The Great Immortals hesitated to make a hasty decision about my fate; they had taken the blockade away and placed me in confinement for the time being.
And standing guard before me was Mangnyang. Returning to the Celestial Realm, he looked at me with sorrowful eyes and said,
“Baek Woong. It is now impossible for you to escape using the golden ascent. The Celestial Realm is a place where artifacts won’t work.”
“……”
He then approached and whispered softly,
“… The palace is not important. You must change your goals moving forward.”
“What do you mean?”
Whooooooosh
“……!!”
At that moment, through the clasped hands between Mangnyang and me, I felt a torrent of knowledge and experience from his sorcery flooding into me. I was shocked and turned to look at Mangnyang, realizing it was a unique sorcery akin to the Obsidian technique, allowing one to transfer memories to another. After a brief moment, Mangnyang gasped and said,
“Haah… Hah… The Death Rites given by the Nine Heavens, seems like I was able to use it well…”
Looking at him in surprise, Mangnyang gave me a sorrowful smile and said,
“I… am not the Mangnyang you once knew, but I have lived my life in my way… And when this mission is over… I planned to fulfill the secret mission given by the Nine Heavens… but my guilt just won’t allow it…”
“What do you mean…”
“If this continues… you will be unable to die or be sealed for eternity… So before that…”
Mangnyang coughed up blood. Then, with his last ounce of strength, he said,
“… In the deepest parts of the Celestial Realm… there exists darkness… You must uncover it…”
Thud.
At last, Mangnyang’s breath stopped. I understood what that meant.
Mangnyang had chosen to pass down his memories and experiences at the cost of his life! Knowing I possessed the ability to reincarnate upon my death, he was betting on my “future” self to reveal that darkness.
Perhaps… he had lacked the confidence to unveil that darkness himself.
When I peered into Mangnyang’s memories, that darkness was undoubtedly far too powerful for a mere earthly mage like Mangnyang to excavate recklessly.
Moreover, Mangnyang had mentioned his guilt.
While I couldn’t fully transmute the memories I had transmitted through the Obsidian to alter my current moral stance, they had certainly influenced me.
I stared blankly at Mangnyang’s corpse before me. Unlike before, a complex array of emotions curled within me. It was shocking to realize that he had become an enemy; more shockingly, I had to grapple with the possibility that he could become an enemy in the first place. This gave me a weighty shock internally. Because of this, I couldn’t simply grieve as I had in the past or engage in self-reproach.
So what should I do?
How can I achieve my goals?
What is the best path?
“……”
I believed I knew what I had to do. With a sigh, I spoke,
“It can’t be helped.”
Puh-choo!
I then severed my lifeline. I felt considerable pain and a rush of blood burst forth from my entire body. It was a somewhat absurd suicide to compare it to my previous attempts, but this time I had at least a semblance of choice in the matter.
This was my sixteenth death.
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