Chương 174: Even If This Place Is Hell (3)

"Indeed, you were not wrong, Seo Eun-hyun."

After accepting the Military Commander Hyeon Woon and the remnants of the Human Race, I start a conversation with Oh Hyun-seok as we watch more remnants come in.

Oh Hyun-seok looks quite haggard at the moment.

"I also tried... to stop this unreasonable massacre of the Devil Race... but after hearing that it could disadvantage the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, I was unable to continue through with it. However... you were different. You chose the right path and saw it through to the end."

"It was nothing more than not letting go of my irresponsible stubbornness"

"That stubbornness has now returned to us as hope. Thank you for holding on."

I give a bitter smile.

"I just... did what is obvious."

"In modern society, all the goodness, peace, and common sense that were considered obvious are seen as utterly insignificant in this world. That 'obviousness' is never truly obvious."

"Is that so..."

Oh Hyun-seok suddenly trembles, asking,

"Wait, didn't you say you couldn't remember?"

"Ah, about the memory..."

I smile.

"I've finally recovered them all."

"Heh..."

He smiles.

"Hahahaha! Yes, that's right."

Bang, Kwang!

Like Azure Tiger Saint, he heartily pats my shoulder and exclaims.

"Finally... you're back, Seo Eun-hyun!"

I smile back at him.

"Yes, Hyung-nim."

"Good, very good. This is truly moving."

He grins and laughs heartily.

And after a while, The smile gradually fades from his face.

"... It's good that at least you've regained your memory."

"... Yes."

"With Kim Yeon in this state, it's really fortunate that you've recovered your memory."

We look with bitter faces towards Kim Yeon, who is sitting in the back.

"Eh, ehehehe..."

In the middle of blocking an attack from the Blood Yin Realm's Esteemed One, Kim Yeon was said to have suffered a tremendous mental restraint on her consciousness during the process. As a result, she is in a mentally impaired state until the restraint is lifted.

'That vast consciousness... completely suppressed and sealed.'

It's somewhat similar to the effect of the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner, but much more sophisticated and superior.

I tried to release her restraint, but the level of the seal was so absurd that even my mind was at risk of being swallowed by it.

'To unlock a restraint of this magnitude, perhaps the Mad Lord himself will have to come.'

Unless he brings the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress directly and shakes the restriction using the madness it contains, she won't be able to regain her consciousness.

'It's definitely in the same category as the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner...'

The spell is deeply embedded in her consciousness, weakening and shrinking it before sealing it.

However, if she can overcome the mental restriction on her own, it might be possible to soften and assimilate it for her own use.

I estimate that its power will be much greater than my Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.

'Of course, that's if she can break out of the seal.'

Hoping for her to break out of the mental restriction on her own under the current circumstances is too unrealistic.

It'd be more realistic to defeat the Star Shattering Esteemed One who imposed the mental restriction on her and learn the method to undo it.

The level of mental restriction imposed on her is just that much beyond imagination.

I approach Kim Yeon to observe the seal again.

'The principles of the Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams, and even the concept of Taiji are incorporated. Moreover, the distinctive malicious and bizarre nature of the Blood Yin Realm is also mixed into the mental seal.'

I can interfere using the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner, Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, and the heart language of Entering Heavens, but to actually undo the restraint through such interference will take about 100 years.

'Actually, this mental restriction is more of an offensive spell.'

In my view, this mental restriction is a curse that disperses the consciousness and damages the soul, killing even a Four-Axis stage cultivator on impact.

It is only precisely because Kim Yeon's consciousness is several orders of magnitude larger than her peers that the curse acted merely as a seal.

Her extraordinary ability made the curse, intended as an offensive spell, only have the effect of a mental restriction.

'Soon, I will have to face the Star Shattering Esteemed One who launched such an attack on Kim Yeon.'

Esteemed One.

That title is not to be taken lightly in the Bright Cold Realm, the True Devil Realm, the Blood Yin Realm, and numerous Middle Realms.

Excluding those at the Entering Nirvana stage, who are akin to mythic beings, the pinnacle of all Middle Realms ultimately lies with the Sacred Vessel cultivators and the Star Shattering stage is just below them.

From the Star Shattering stage onwards, one is practically a deity.

Even I shudder with unspeakable terror whenever I remember the strike from the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One, Jang Ik.

'Even the fearsome Mad Lord was defeated in battle against a Star Shattering Esteemed One.'

And that was just a clone sent from a far dimension, not his true body.

'Can we win...'

I clench my teeth.

There is too much doubt within me.

Oh Hyun-seok approaches me with a somewhat gloomy expression.

"By the way, Seo Eun-hyun."

"Yes, please speak."

"After seeing the third color last time, I was able to see countless more colors. The more I focus on it, the more colors I can see."

He continues.

"And at some point, I had the thought that I might be able to 'combine' these colors. If I can combine them... I feel like I might be able to fight in an even higher realm."

"..."

"I feel like you might know about that state. Could you tell me if I'm heading in the right direction?"

"Heh..."

I chuckle softly while looking at Oh Hyun-seok.

Incredible.

Could it be that he's already trying to step into the realm of Five Energies Converging to the Origin?

'He might not be specialized in martial arts... but he's not bad at it either.'

Not a freak talent like Kim Young-hoon, but he seems genuinely gifted in martial arts.

'Just how far can Oh Hyun-seok's martial arts talent go.'

He can't match Kim Young-hoon.

But can he reach the Ultimate Pinnacle if trained?

Kurung, Kururung...

I look far away.

The red hue in the sky has been deepening for the past few days.

According to Hyeon Woon, it's a celestial phenomenon occurring because the Left Hand of the Blood Yin Esteemed One is approaching this side.

The Blood Yin Esteemed One is expected to arrive here within three days.

Then.

'It wouldn't be bad to strengthen our forces as much as possible before then.'

I decide to help Oh Hyun-seok fully reach the realm of Five Energies Converging to the Origin.

Helping him establish the enlightenment of Five Energies Converging to the Origin wasn't difficult.

He had already realized all intents, understanding that there are no boundaries to all intents, reaching the pinnacle of Three Flowers Gather at the Summit.

'All that's left is to integrate intent and evolve the consciousness into one, leading to the realm of Five Energies Converging to the Origin.'

Honestly, there was no need to worry.

He had literally achieved all the required enlightenment.

'The only slight concern is the spiritual roots, but even that isn't really a big issue considering what I've studied.'

In the Human Race, there had been research on complete transformation and the realm of Five Energies Converging to the Origin.

Martial arts themselves had no room for evolution in this world, but by trying various body refining methods in a similar manner, many methods were developed that produced results similar to martial arts through convergent evolution.

The Mysterious Bizarre Innate Heart Canon is also among these categories.

Furthermore, the realm of Five Energies Converging to the Origin and Complete Transformation akin to metamorphosis were results of the Human Race researching 'demon beast methods.'

Demon beast methods require cultivators to continuously undergo complete transformation, and in the process, many demon beast methods forcibly create Five Elements Spiritual Roots by accepting the Five Elements Spiritual Energy, similar to Five Energies Converging to the Origin.

Such demon beast methods that create Spiritual Roots in this way are almost never learned by the Heaven Tribe.

This is because if one obtains Five Elements Spiritual Roots through Five Energies Converging to the Origin, a cultivator with Heavenly Spiritual Roots will turn into Mixed Spiritual Roots.

It's a dreadful affair for those with Heavenly Spiritual Roots as it means a degradation in their cultivation qualities.

To prevent such dreadful outcomes, the process of obtaining Five Elements Spiritual Roots was removed from the general demon beast methods, which became the origin of the general body refining methods learned by the Human Race.

'However, Oh Hyun-seok has a Unique Holy Body. He can learn all types of methods. In other words, even if he obtains additional Five Elements Spiritual Roots with the Five Elements Spiritual Energy, it doesn't matter.'

Therefore, if I guide him to achieve the realm of Five Energies Converging to the Origin, it will actually increase his power, even if just a little.

Wuduk, wududuk.

I stand by Oh Hyun-seok, supporting him as he completes his transformation.

Slowly, he is completing his transformation by guiding the heaven and earth spiritual energy according to the enlightenment of Five Energies Converging to the Origin.

'... Wait.'

While observing Oh Hyun-seok's transformation, I reach a certain thought.

'General body refining methods are adaptations of demon beast methods for humans, including the process of obtaining Five Elements Spiritual Energy. Regarding the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture of the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, one typically does not learn the entire Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture but only learns one elemental method before moving on to the next stage.

Master also based his teachings on the Wood Element Enduring Origin Scripture to learn the Starlight Protecting Void Body and the Azure Spirit Striking Origin Technique. It's only later, at the Nascent Soul stage, that one weakly draws out the power of the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture through a dharma treasure with the attributes of the Five Elements.'

Those who reach the Nascent Soul stage usually possess dharma treasures of the Five Elements due to the specialty of their realm.

But both Oh Hyun-seok and I have learned 'all' the elemental methods of the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture.

Then...

'The Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method that Hyun-seok Hyung and I have learned... isn't it infinitely close to the original demon beast methods?'

And since I can also form a Demon Core...

'Hmm...'

Since reaching the realm of Treading Heavens, I've never formed a Demon Core.

The Demon Core is already merged into my Formless Sword, flowing within me, so why bother making another Inner Core?

But now, I'm considering whether forming an Inner Core while practicing in the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method might be a good idea.

'The Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method can only be properly trained from the Nascent Soul stage. So far, it was just a taste, as my master said. Then... I'll have to take the time to do so later.

I organize my thoughts while standing beside Oh Hyun-seok.

The sky gradually reddens.

Probably, it's a sign that the Star Shattering stage Esteemed One is getting closer.

And finally, a few days later.

Under my protection, Oh Hyun-seok slowly completed his transformation.

He isn't naturally talented in martial arts like Kim Young-hoon, nor did he have medical knowledge of the human body like me, so his transformation was inevitably slow.

"Haaah..."

Kugugugu!

And after completing his transformation, Oh Hyun-seok somehow seems much more...

'Demonic.'

I bitterly smile, looking at Oh Hyun-seok, who is exuding a unique demonic beast aura.

Later, when he reaches the Ultimate Pinnacle, it's uncertain if the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method really evolves into a demon beast method.

"It's really amazing, Eun-hyun. But now..."

His gaze turns towards the crimson sky.

Not only that, but a considerable number of the Human Race surviving soldiers have come to this vicinity, focusing on the fordboding of 'something' approaching from beyond the distant mountains.

Hyeon Woon, too, has arrived at this place and is showing a vigilant attitude towards the existence beyond.

"It's coming…."

Hyeon Woon swallows his saliva.

Oh Hyun-seok clenches his fist.

I focus my consciousness and watch the entity arriving from beyond.

Thump, thump, thump….

The gigantic mountain range.

The vibration echoing from beyond that mountain rage.

It's immense.

Not that the being coming from beyond is huge, but the presence it carries feels so enormous it seems suffocating.

"That is…."

Thump, thump!

The Blood Yin Realm's Star Shattering stage Heavenly Fiend.

The Esteemed One's Left Hand.

Thump!

An avatar of a being that transcends the mortal coil.

"Esteemed One…!"

A part of an entity becoming a deity.

Kugugugu!

The sky turns blood red.

The entire occupied territory, which should have been assimilated with Vast Cold Jade, begins to flow with devilish energy.

The entity reveals its form.

Just by doing so, the heaven and earth spiritual energy is eroded.

Thump!

Beyond the mountain range, it reveals its form.

Coral!

Red coral, writhing and surging as if alive.

Such masses of coral cover its surface, and on that surface, there are dozens of giant 'eyes'.

Those red corals and eyes together form a shape resembling a 'Left Hand'.

The red hand reaches over the mountain range, approaching here.

Thus, the confrontation with the Blood Yin Realm Esteemed One's Left Hand began.