Record Phase (기축기)
The next stage after the Avatar Phase within the Mid World, a realm where the built ‘axis’ finally shines forth.
While governmental methods and the Cosmic Spirit (천지 영기) are significant, the foundation of that axis is paramount above all else.
“… So, the Record Phase is essentially the axis itself. It’s advisable to build the heavens (하늘) axis that the Spirit Roots (영근) of each attribute and the Ascetics (수도자) strive for.”
“……”
“Of course, it’s not strictly necessary to build the heavens axis to reach the Record Phase, but it wouldn’t hurt to have… Hayoung?”
“… Astonishing. Or perhaps I should say, it’s only natural?”
Outer outskirts of the Castle of Jeokmu-hyang (적무향의 궁).
Hayoung, who was in charge of the Practitioner Management Members within the new Jeokmu-hyang, couldn’t stop admiring me as I spoke about realizations regarding the axis.
I was engaged in training with Hayoung in the ascetic way without turning on the broadcast, and it had been exactly one week since I became the Archlord (향주).
And I had reached the Record Phase (기축기).
“Just five days ago. No, it was only four days ago that I was teaching you… and now I’ve become the one receiving lessons.”
“It’s not that difficult once you accumulate the axis.”
No matter how difficult cultivation is claimed to be, the essence is ultimately realization.
That realization had long been fulfilled through my extensive ‘past’, and resources were amply filled thanks to the authority of the Sovereignty of Jeokmuhyang.
Of course, this realization is not identical, but the laws of the world generally follow the same patterns.
“The issue lies with the Display Case (진열기). From the Display Case onward, mere realization is insufficient.”
From the Display Case onward, completely different ‘resources’ are required.
Even though it takes considerable time to obtain those resources, no matter how much realization and axis you accumulate for the Display Case, there’s no way to manage ‘that.’
It has been more than five days since reaching the Record Phase, yet I still couldn’t knock on the door to the Display Case.
“Life (명) is involved…”
To open the door to the Display Case, the Axis of Life (생의 축) is needed. In other words, ‘lifespan’ is required.
By sacrificing the life of an Ascetic, one can finally shed their mortal coil and become a god.
You might say that one could just burn some lifespan, but the problem is that the required lifespan exceeds what a Record Phase Practitioner can handle.
Record Phase Practitioners are said to last about twenty thousand years, yet the lifespan needed for upgrading the Display Case reaches up to one hundred thousand.
So where do I make up the remaining eighty thousand?
In response to my query, Hayoung calmly nodded her head.
Hayoung calmly nodded at my question.
“Because cultivation is about taking.”
“Is that so?”
“It takes the cosmic spirit of nature, it takes the resources from countless plants and animals, and it takes the assets and techniques of the ascetics. It’s just an extension of what has been done so far.”
To rise to the display case, you must take the lifespan of other ascetics.
In the end, it means doing something similar to what the former Lord Jeokmuhyang did this time.
“But that’s not the only method. As the Ascension Lord said, just absorbing the energy of ‘nature’ can build up a bit of the Axis of Life, and you don’t have to absorb everything.”
“Take it in little by little?”
“That’s something the former Lord Jeokmuhyang often did. Through periodic inspection, they provided support and took a part of the lifespan. Like a tax, so to speak.”
“……”
“By the way, I have also sacrificed my lifespan. If you want, I can do it right now…!”
“No. It’s okay.”
I stopped Hayoung, who charged in as if she had to be of some help.
There was no need to take her already limited lifespan.
Of course, while a practitioner reaching the Avatar Phase gains a lifespan of five thousand years, Hayoung had lived quite a long time.
Having already sacrificed her lifespan, doing it again could cause a problem.
‘If I can’t reach the Record Phase in the remaining time, I’ll just die.’
“Lifespan… lifespan…”
It’s not a difficult matter.
I am the former Lord Jeokmuhyang, and there’s no need to snatch the lifespan of living beings.
It just takes some time, but I could absorb the cosmic spirit of nature to fill the deficit.
Alternatively, I could get it through a proper ‘deal’ with the practitioners of the Record Phase and the display case who have overflowing lifespans.
If that doesn’t work…
‘…my lifespan is.’
It’s not lacking. In fact, it’s overflowing.
Heaven and demon races are born with the fate of never aging or dying unless forced, and I inherited their blood.
To be blunt, it wouldn’t be impossible to rise to the display case right now.
But for some reason, an inexplicable hesitation prevented me from pushing my lifespan in.
“I don’t like it.”
“Excuse me?”
I suddenly looked up at the sky.
Surely, the ‘sky’ here is something alive.
Is it really right to offer my ‘special’ lifespan to whatever that is?
“…I need to meet and talk again soon.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“There’s something like that. By the way, the Ascension Tower seemed a bit noisy earlier.”
“The Ascension Tower was a bit noisy earlier.”
“Oh, that’s because a new ascetic has shown up. Just a Master of Avatar level, so it shouldn’t be anything to worry about.”
“A Master of Avatar? Did they ascend alone?”
“Yes, they’re an exceptional ascetic from the Myojok tribe with impressive techniques, but Lord Jeokmu-hyang just left for there, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”
“……”
An exceptional one from the Myojok tribe…
“Where is that place?”
—
The Ascension Tower No. 3 underground in Jeokmu-hyang.
In the underground of the Ascension Tower, separate from where Lily ascended, there was a small prison.
A place for temporarily holding those who have heavily practiced the Magical Path or any troublesome elements that could pose a threat to Jeokmu-hyang.
Clank!
There, the ascendant Yena was growling with her hands and feet bound.
Chains suppressing the energy and spirit of ascetics.
In front of her were several peculiar ascetics, all looking down at Yena.
“Hey! Do you know who I am?! There’s no way I can just… Grrrgggh!”
“Shut up.”
[Hahahahahaha]
[Yena, dear…]
[Awoooow]
[Is this where Lily is?]
[Is this right?]
[Lightning fighting is hilarious]
[Why is Yena locked up?]
[Pretty cocky, huh? Hahahaha]
[Yena, Yena…]
The man who subdued Yena, who was performing strange spells, was the oldest among the ascetics—the old man from the Dog Tribe, stroking his long gray beard as he recited Yena’s offenses.
“You defeated three Masters of Avatar tasked with guiding you after ascending to the Avatar phase. You’ve got some boldness.”
“Argh! Those guys mocked me first!”
“This is the Ascension Tower. No matter how famous you were in the Lower Realm, you can’t just recklessly act here.”
“I had no intention of acting recklessly! Those guys started it—”
While Yena kept chattering on, the Ascension Deputy Lord, guarding with a vigilant gaze, observed her.
A freshly ascended Master of Avatar.
It’s surprising they reached the Avatar phase before ascending to the Mid World, and immediately knocked out three Masters of Avatar at the same level upon arrival.
And one of them wasn’t just any Master of Avatar.
That ascetic was well beyond the middle stage and approaching the late stage of the Avatar phase.
There was no way a newly ascended Master could defeat such an ascetic.
‘If it weren’t for that mysterious technique…’
A ridiculous technique that could reflect all attacks, magic techniques, and bizarre harmonies back at the opponent.
The power itself was fairly ordinary, but that technique turned the tide of battle 180 degrees.
In the end, I was defeated by the Ascension Deputy Lord Old Man, but he was certainly not someone to be underestimated.
‘If I join the Myojok like this, their revival is practically guaranteed.’
The old man from the Dog Tribe, who had a bad relationship with the Myojok, decided not to let this arrogant ascetic go just like that.
“Are you ready to face the consequences of recklessly jumping in?”
“I’m completely doggone unfair. No, I’m totally unfair.”
“According to the laws of the Ascension Tower, you will be restrained here for 100 years. After that, if you are deemed suitable, you may be released.”
“100 years?????”
[???]
[100 years, what a joke, LOL]
[This is absurd]
[Time concepts are crazy in the Fantasy Realm, LOL]
[Yena’s just out of this world]
[Throwing a life sentence at you]
[LOLOLOLOLOL]
[Let’s call Lily]
Clang!
“How could this be happening?!”
“You’ll need to take responsibility for your actions. Be thankful that I’m not messing with anything other than your restraint. If it weren’t for the grace of the Lord of Jeokmuhyang, you’d be in much worse trouble—”
“Lord of Jeokmuhyang? What? Was this the Lord of Jeokmuhyang all along?”
Filled with dissatisfaction, Yena smiled and swung the chain tied to her wrist.
“Lily! Call for Lily! Then everything will be resolved!”
“…How dare you speak the Lord of Jeokmuhyang’s name so casually!”
“Is this arrogant girl going insane?!”
“Are you dying to get yourself killed…”
The practitioners, taken aback by Yena’s words, gritted their teeth and glared at her.
The old man calmed the practitioners and took one more step toward Yena.
“How do you know the name of the Lord of Jeokmuhyang?”
“He’s my friend.”
“Friend? You must be talking nonsense.”
“It’s true!”
“…Can you take responsibility for that statement?”
“Of course!”
“Very well. I will find a way to bring the Lord here.”
Deputy Lord!
The practitioners stirred up a ruckus, blocking the old man, but he opened the air and summoned a small bird.
Soon, the bird grabbed something and opened a space, flying somewhere.
“However, if you cannot prove your relationship with the Lord, you will be trapped here forever. Do you understand?”
“That’s fine! Lily will definitely recognize me!”
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