Chương 522: Seo Hweol's Origin (本) (3)

Blink— Seo Hweol opens his eyes.

'... Has the opportunity come?'

The gaze of Seo Eun-hyun, who has been persistently following him all this time!

At last, it has diminished.

At the same time, he senses that the surveillance over Seo Ran has also weakened.

'Seo Eun-hyun... is preoccupied with something important. Even if he has completed the artificial Middle Realm, for him to slacken his surveillance of me while the Sacred Masters are keeping a watchful eye...'

Seo Hweol quickly predicts Seo Eun-hyun's actions within Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens and smiles faintly.

"Entering Nirvana advancement. That must be it, as expected..."

He looks down at his hand.

'I'm holding on by pouring every kind of secret art into it... but it's difficult.'

Seo Hweol's collapse is accelerating.

The connections among the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, scattered across the entire universe, are gradually thinning.

'That being knows me well.'

Terrifyingly, Seo Eun-hyun has been suppressing Seo Hweol in a way optimized to weaken his power.

From severing his connection with Seo Ran and forcing the erosion of the Middle Realms while evading the watchful eyes of the Sacred Masters, Forcibly summoning the star veins of the Astral Realm through Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens to sketch a star vein formation exclusively for Cedarwood Painting.

All of it consumes a tremendous amount of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, and each time such missions continue, the connection between Seo Hweols grow weaker.

At this rate, Seo Hweol will collapse much sooner than he anticipated.

Seo Eun-hyun, perhaps, is deliberately aiming for that outcome.

'... Should I act now?'

Seo Hweol's vertical pupils widen as he sinks into thought.

He has two plans: Plan 1 and Plan 2.

Plan 1 offers a method to immediately seize Seo Ran. Plan 2 requires more time, but allows him to thoroughly manipulate Seo Eun-hyun and achieve his ultimate goal.

If he follows Plan 1, there is a four in ten chance of reclaiming Seo Ran from Seo Eun-hyun's grasp.

However... if he follows Plan 2, there is a nine in ten chance of successfully manipulating Seo Eun-hyun.

'But there's not much time. Moreover, if I miss this moment when that bizarre old monster is focused on advancing to Entering Nirvana, I don't know when another opportunity will come. I need to execute Plan 1, but...'

The problem is the success rate.

A mere 40%!

No, even that is an optimistic estimate. When he adjusts the probability coldly and rationally, the probability is no more than 18%.

'Must I gamble on such slim odds?'

With his vertically slit pupils, Seo Hweol quietly gazes up at the sky.

'Is there truly no way to escape the hands of that old monster Seo? I'm searching for Seo Hye, but... even if I find Seo Hye, surely that old monster must have done something. It might not even be the split soul of Oh Hye-seo I once knew. If that's the case, then what am I supposed to do...?'

Seo Hweol feels as though he can't breathe.

He's simply trying to find a way to deal with Seo Eun-hyun, but every time he thinks of Seo Eun-hyun, no solution comes to mind.

'To defeat Seo Eun-hyun now... I need a variable. A single variable that can deceive his... eyes...'

Shudder...

Seo Hweol looks at his trembling arm and lets out a faint sigh.

Then, following Seo Eun-hyun's orders, he continues assisting Kim Yeon with adjusting Cedarwood Painting.

Cedarwood Painting, loosely tied together with the power of countless Decaying Corpse Realms and parts of the Middle Realms, must be adjusted frequently to keep functioning as a world.

Of course, this will eventually be resolved after tens of thousands of years once the adjustments are complete.

Woo-woong— Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens is touched by Kim Yeon's consciousness.

Kim Yeon's thread of consciousness, inherited from the Mad Lords' Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, reaches Seo Hweol and delivers an order to him.

Seo Hweol somehow feels as though this entire situation is as if he is working under the Mad Lord's orders.

'In his lifetime, I couldn't touch the Mad Lord himself, but I controlled his direction with my own hands... Yet now, after his death, I am controlled by the hand of his disciple.'

It is, in a way, an ironic situation.

And as Seo Hweol is thinking this— Suddenly, for a brief moment.

For a very brief moment after receiving Kim Yeon's command, Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens falters.

'... This is...'

It is a fleeting instant.

An incredibly brief moment, but through Kim Yeon, Seo Hweol senses the 'power of the Bright Cold Realm' that Kim Yeon has been cultivating within the Mad Lord's Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

The authority that Hyeon Eum or Blood Yin would call the 'power of Vast Cold.'

Seo Hweol, albeit briefly, 'witnesses' that power using Kim Yeon as a medium.

That is all.

But... just that alone sparks an inspiration in Seo Hweol's mind.

It is a coincidence.

No, perhaps it is fate.

But the crucial point is that just witnessing the power of Vast Cold for a moment allows Seo Hweol to think of a new plan that he could not have conceived before.

'...'

Seo Hweol silently observes the plan that arises in his mind.

And he realizes that this plan has a considerably high chance of success.

'... Why have I been unable to think of this plan until now?'

Seo Hweol quickly understands the reason.

'... I see. That's right... Because this is completely different... from the oath I made and embedded in my soul. It's because I thought my Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens might waver... and if I execute this plan, Seo Ran might discover the secrets of my Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens. Seo Ran, too, seems to have recently gained a feeling for it...'

A perilous plan that might shake Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens and reveal its weakness to Seo Ran.

However, Seo Hweol thinks that this plan is still better than proceeding with Plan 1 alone.

'Along with the original Plan 1, I will execute this plan simultaneously.'

That is the only way for Seo Hweol to raise his odds of victory against Seo Eun-hyun.

In the deepest depths of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, Seo Hweol sharpens his vertical pupils even further and makes his decision.

'... Good. It's a perilous plan, but I must attempt it.'

He rises from his spot and begins walking towards an event currently taking place in a corner of Cedarwood Painting.

And in the deepest depths of Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, A 'voice' resounds.

—You've gone mad. Seo Hweol. Completely mad and corrupted...

The western edge of Cedarwood Painting.

In a mountain range known as the Golden Shaking Mountain Range, a grand hall has been erected for someone.

This hall belongs to the person with the highest status when only considering distribution within the current Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

It is for Yeon Wei.

Yeon Wei lies on a bed, staring at the ceiling.

'It seems my life is coming to an end...'

Her main body is a spirit that is enshrined in the Head Realm's Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

What is here now is merely a split soul strand of her soul.

In the past, when there was no vessel for this split soul to reside in, she always remained within her descendant, Yeon Jin. But ever since Seo Eun-hyun became a Sacred Master, Yeon Wei resided in the human body Seo Eun-hyun created for her, watching over the cultivation of Jeon Myeong-hoon, who represents the very future of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. This has been Yeon Wei's joy as of late.

Step, step...

A group of people enter the bedroom where Yeon Wei lies.

At the forefront is Jeon Myeong-hoon, followed by several others.

"Yeon Wei. Is your body well?"

As the Supreme of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks to Yeon Wei equally.

Yeon Wei attempts to rise and show respect, but Jeon Myeong-hoon stops her.

"Do not rise. That's an order. I've recently heard that your lifespan is coming to an end, but..."

"... Yes. That is true. Embarrassingly, as my lifespan diminishes, the attraction force of the Netherworld grows stronger. Soon, I will likely be dragged to the Underworld... to pay for the sins of my life."

"... Yeon Wei."

Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks with a bitter expression.

"Now, this Esteemed One has reached the Grand Perfection Star Shattering stage. Soon, I will undergo the advancement ritual to the Sacred Vessel stage and possibly become a Sacred Master. When that happens... with the authority of a Sacred Master, I can extend your lifespan. A Sacred Vessel is an existence of at least that much power!"

"... It is alright. I have already lived a life far longer than I deserve. I have spent too much time in this world and even witnessed the growth of Sir Jeon Myeong-hoon, the successor of the Golden Divine. Now... I simply wish to rest."

"... Yeon Wei..."

Jeon Myeong-hoon, along with Kim Yeon and Oh Hyun-seok, who have been with Yeon Wei from before, as well as Seo Ran and Hong Fan, who have gradually built a connection with Yeon Wei under Seo Eun-hyun, all wear gloomy expressions.

"... How much time remains?"

At Jeon Myeong-hoon's question, Yeon Wei reads the celestial energy and responds.

"About seven years."

Seven years.

For mortals, it is quite a long time.

Some might say it is enough time to accomplish many things.

But... for Yeon Wei, whose spirit is that of a cultivator of the Four-Axis stage, the seven years would be nothing more than an agonizing period of constant resistance against the Netherworld's attraction force.

Jeon Myeong-hoon lets out a sigh and closes his eyes.

"... I will pray for your lifespan to increase."

Following Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kim Yeon, Oh Hyun-seok, Hong Fan, and Seo Ran all join Jeon Myeong-hoon in their prayer for Yeon Wei.

At that moment—

"May I... join in that prayer as well?"

Seo Ran flinches in surprise and stumbles backward, while Hong Fan steps in to shield him.

Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at the owner of the voice with an irritated expression, and Kim Yeon glares at the figure with wary eyes.

It is Seo Hweol.

Jeon Myeong-hoon does not hide his annoyance as he asks.

"What is it, Sea Dragon King? Why are you here?"

"Like I just said. I have come to offer my prayer for Great Master Yeon's wellbeing."

At this, Kim Yeon speaks in a solemn tone.

"Mm-mm-mm...? Mmm-mm-mmm mm-mmm-mm mm-mm mmm-mmmm-mm?

"She is probably... questioning your sincerity."

Hong Fan, seemingly focused on interpreting Kim Yeon's words, barely manages to explain her meaning.

Seo Hweol looks at Hong Fan.

More precisely, at Seo Ran, who is hiding behind him.

"From the Sacred Vessel stage onward, one gains the ability to influence the Plane of Fate. And... the prayers of such Sacred Vessels can, by themselves, affect one's lifespan. With even a modest prayer, it is possible to extend a predetermined lifespan by one or two years."

"Are you saying you will extend Yeon Wei's lifespan?"

"That is not what I mean. I am simply expressing 'goodwill.' As the goodwill of a Sacred Vessel has the effect of enhancing lifespan on its own... I merely wish to offer my heartfelt prayer."

"And who are you to do so?"

"... I am a natural-born Sacred Vessel."

At Seo Hweol's words, Jeon Myeong-hoon considers slapping him but clicks his tongue instead.

"Do as you please. If you attempt anything suspicious, Seo Eun-hyun will stop you anyway. However, only your genuine goodwill will be allowed. If you reveal any malicious intentions, whether you are Seo Eun-hyun's tool or slave, I will kill you immediately."

"Hoho... hohohoho..."

As if Jeon Myeong-hoon's words are amusing, Seo Hweol laughs.

Seo Hweol briefly meets Seo Ran's gaze before approaching Yeon Wei. He presses his palms together as if praying to the land gods enshrined in a temple.

Closing his eyes and erasing all expression from his face, he speaks.

"... For your well-being. I, Seo Hweol, offer my prayer."

Seo Hweol bows slightly.

Yeon Wei watches this scene and nods absentmindedly. Seo Hweol then smiles again, turns around, and exits Yeon Wei's chamber.

"... Hey, Kim Yeon."

Jeon Myeong-hoon asks with veins bulging on his face.

"I know you're specialized in consciousness. Did you sense any malicious intention from Seo Hweol just now?"

However, Kim Yeon responds with a serious face.

"Mm-mm-mm... mm-mm-mm-mm mm mm-mm... mm-mm... mm-mm-mm-mm..."

"'No. Surprisingly, he was sincere,' she says."

Hong Fan, straining his mind, interprets Kim Yeon's language and delivers the message to Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Hearing this, Jeon Myeong-hoon looks slightly surprised and stares in the direction Seo Hweol left.

'What is this...? I've heard about his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens from Seo Eun-hyun. I know of that Sea Dragon King's schemes and cunning... And yet, that sly man just walked away after offering a sincere prayer for Yeon Wei out of goodwill?'

Unable to understand, Jeon Myeong-hoon stares towards the place Seo Hweol has left.

Leaving the hall built for Yeon Wei, Seo Hweol hides one of his clones in the darkness.

Then, in the deepest depths of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, Seo Hweol hardens his expression.

"... I've been exposed... to Seo Ran... Now that brat will try to delve even deeper into Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens."

Seo Hweol's vertical pupils slit further as a cold look spreads across his face.

Splatter!

In the deepest depths of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, From Seo Hweol's seven orifices, black liquid begins to stream.

At a glance, it almost resembles blood, an evident sign that his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens is distorting.

"... The backlash is too severe. The entirety of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens is shaking."

Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble!

It is exactly as it seems.

Starting from the deepest depths of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, the configurations spread across the entire universe begin to tremble.

Yet, Seo Hweol laughs.

"Hoho... As expected, any action that violates the oath has a massive impact on the Immortal Art. Hoho..."

What Seo Hweol did just now is simple.

He sincerely prayed for Yeon Wei.

As Kim Yeon had detected, A sincere benevolence.

A very simple and primal emotion.

Nothing more.

And yet...

Because of it, his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens is shaking.

'... The die is cast.'

Seo Hweol slits his vertical pupils and grits his teeth, smiling.

'I have staked everything on this act that's capable of overturning the foundation of my Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens. So... come over.'

He looks in a certain direction.

It is not towards Glass Cedarwood Mountain, where Seo Eun-hyun resides.

It is... towards where Seo Ran is.

Because Seo Eun-hyun has already grown too large to be part of his plan, He needs someone who can fit in his plan.

And that person is none other than Seo Hweol's main body.

'Seo Ran...!'

It is Seo Ran.

After Seo Hweol has left, Seo Ran's eyes gleam.

'... I see.'

With a slightly flushed face, he approaches Yeon Wei and prays sincerely.

'Please, let Elder Yeon Wei's lifespan increase, even if just a little. O heavens above...'

Seo Hweol had said it.

That he is a 'natural-born Sacred Vessel.'

And Seo Ran is 'Seo Hweol's main body.'

Which means that, although Seo Ran has yet to perceive it— He, too, is a Sacred Vessel.

Therefore...

With Seo Ran's wishes, Yeon Wei's lifespan can surely extend.

'Even with Great Master Kim Yeon's awareness, she didn't notice any tricks Seo Hweol might have pulled. Additionally, Senior Seo Eun-hyun said he is always watching Seo Hweol and me. If Seo Hweol had done something suspicious, he would have noticed. Since neither of them has said anything... it means there's no problem with praying as Seo Hweol said!'

Seo Ran prays for Yeon Wei with a heart of benevolence.

Please, let her remain by their side for just a little longer...

At the same time, as Seo Ran reflects on the heart of benevolence, he realizes something.

Seo Ran leaves Yeon Wei's chamber alongside the others.

Jeon Myeong-hoon and the rest immediately leave to cultivate or fulfill their assigned tasks, but Seo Ran holds back one of them.

It is Kim Yeon.

"... Great Master Kim Yeon, I think I finally understand now."

At those words, Kim Yeon, who was about to fly into the sky, turns back and lands in front of Seo Ran, asking,

"Mm?"

"... I don't know why Seo Hweol suddenly appeared in front of me and showed me so openly. But... I finally understand."

Seo Ran, somehow, feels a sense of relief.

"I have at last understood the weakness of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens. And... I think I can also finally be certain of the existence known as 'Seo Ran'."

Somewhere far away in the Astral Realm.

On a certain planet, a woman is painting.

She is a being named Seo Hye, and also a being who split from Oh Hye-seo.

Suddenly, Seo Hye looks up at the sky.

"... Have you found the answer, Seo Ran?"

Since splitting off from Oh Hye-seo, She has been pondering for thousands of years.

Along with 'Seo Ran's' Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens configuration attached to her soul, She has been contemplating on their identity together with Seo Ran.

And after thousands of years, Seo Ran has found the answer to the question of his existence.

The deepest depths of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.

Within that deep darkness, an incarnation of Seo Hweol dressed in a dark-red robe—formed from the overlapping wills of countless Seo Hweols—crawls across the floor, gritting his teeth.

Buduk, budududuk, bududuk...

Black liquid seeps from his sevens orifices and across his body.

The smile that had once hung on Seo Hweol's lips has disappeared, and with an expressionless face, he writhes in pain.

Budududuk...

Seo Hweol clutches his chest and frantically scratches the floor of the deepest depths of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens with his hands.

Each time, his fingernails tear off, and black pus widely flows from his body.

Even with an expression devoid of emotion, Seo Hweol is clearly 'suffering.'

"... Have you established it, Seo Ran?"

Seo Ran speaks with certainty before Kim Yeon.

The Heaven Tribe Seo Eun-hyun, who is not conducting the advancement ritual.

The Martial Artist Seo Eun-hyun.

And Kim Yeon and Hong Fan, who are present, all listen to Seo Ran's answer.

"While spending time with the children of the Candle Dragon Race, remembering them, and holding them in my heart... And while spending time with Seo Hye, while spending time with Shi Ho... Finally... today, I understand. No, perhaps, I think it's more accurate to say that what I already knew has finally been established today."

Seo Ran smiles brightly.

"The weakness of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens is benevolence. Though Tainted Soul Filling the World manipulates the world as it pleases... it cannot invade the power of benevolence. That is why, through my mother's benevolence and love, I was born into this world."

Kim Yeon silently smiles and holds Seo Ran's hand.

Hong Fan looks at Seo Ran with a subtle, ambiguous smile.

"It doesn't matter if I am not truly Seo Ran. I have already received endless benevolence and love from innumerable connections, and I have also given it. As long as the fact that I have shared benevolence remains... I am Seo Ran."

As if finally free from the burdens that had weighed upon his heart, Seo Ran smiles brighter than ever.

In the distant Astral Realm.

Through Seo Ran's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens configuration, Seo Hye—who shares Seo Ran's enlightenment—sheds tears.

"... I see, Seo Ran. Then... I, too, am Seo Hye."

With a face that somehow seems much more at ease, she looks up at the stars in the sky.

"Thank you, Seo Ran..."

Center of Glass Cedarwood Mountain, Seo Eun-hyun warmly smiles as he witnesses Seo Ran's enlightenment.

In his mind, the image of a comrade and friend from long ago, Someone who was also like a child to him—Seo Li—flickers faintly.

Deepest depths of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, Seo Hweol, who has been writhing in agony while vomiting black pus, finally clenches the ground and rises.

His pupils, which were once merely slit, are now entirely drenched in a dark-red hue, gleaming ominously.

"... At last, I have reached it. The relic of the Guard Dog (番犬)."

Clench!

Seo Hweol gathers dark-red energy into his left hand and clutches the void.

While Seo Eun-hyun, Kim Yeon, and the others all focus on Seo Ran, who has achieved great enlightenment and finally revealed the weakness of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, establishing his own version of it, Seo Hweol deceives everyone's attention... and reaches the 'something' he has been aiming for.

It may have been sheer luck, a heavenly fortune, but Seo Hweol succeeds.

Seo Hweol's consciousness finally pierces through the distracted consciousness of Seo Eun-hyun during his advancement, diving deep into his heart essence world.

There, he reaches something embedded in one corner of the Colorless Sword Enclosure.

Long buried and nearly forgotten due to not being useful, Yuan Li's memento.

Yuan Yu's Blood Body begins to emit a crimson light.

Inside the Colorless Sword Enclosure.

Oh Hye-seo, who has wandered the desolate wastelands of the Colorless Sword Enclosure for thousands of years, suddenly looks up at the sky with disheveled hair and cries out.

"Ah, aah? Aaaah!! Aah, uaaaaah!!"

Tears fill her eyes.

Oh Hye-seo, whose emotions have been faint since birth, can not help but have even those faint emotions burst out explosively at the signal that came after thousands of years.

For thousands of years, she has wandered this desolate land, driven half-mad by fear and loneliness brought upon by Seo Eun-hyun.

In that situation, Seo Hweol's signal has reached her.

Oh Hye-seo, who had nearly forgotten the human language, collapses on the spot and bursts into tears.

From the grasp of Seo Eun-hyun, the terrifying old monster who seeks to destroy the world, Seo Hweol, the Sea Dragon King who inherited the bloodline of the sacred Sea Dragon Race, Connects with Oh Hye-seo, the Saintess of Myriad Beasts, who has been imprisoned for millennia.

Seo Hweol, who has gambled for a sliver of hope to free himself from the grasp of Seo Eun-hyun, who wields the universe, now resolves to struggle with all his might.

Against Seo Eun-hyun, who has become like a god, Seo Hweol's desperate rebellion begins.

Author's Note: Seo Hweol's spring has begun.

??: If it fails, it's a rebellion...