Chương 544: Black Snake Biting Its Tail

The Third Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals.

The Great Sun Heavenly Lord compresses the sun surrounding their projection.

:: So, it escaped in the end.:: Even when the projections of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lord were sent, they hadn't been particularly concerned.

The destruction of a Heavenly Domain?

What kind of living being could possibly wield such power?

It was absolutely impossible.

They had simply assumed that Baek Woon, who had reported it, had gone senile.

After all, being impaled by Yang Su-jin's Lightning Spear for tens of thousands of years, it's inevitable she would eventually go mad.

So even when the subordinate True Immortal under Radiance Hall said they casually requested assistance from the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lord and Yeong Seung, they hadn't thought much of it.

Yeong Seung acts according to his whims and is unlikely to move anyway, and the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, who have ventured out to the Outer Sea for exploration, would likely only send one or two projections at most among the seven, even if they were struck by a sudden surge of goodwill.

After those measures were taken, they stopped paying attention.

At present, the more urgent issue was dealing with the suspicious movements of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity in the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain.

Or so it should have been.

The Great Sun Heavenly Lord recalls that moment.

—The flow of time has twisted.

—The flow of the predetermined annihilation has been extinguished.

—As requested, we shall descend.

—Please, provide a detailed explanation regarding this matter.

—Open the gate of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain. We shall descend our projections upon our disciples.

The Radiance Eight Immortals had thought that the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords had collectively gone insane.

What began from a trivial request for salvation from a lowly being like Baek Woon resulted in the direct disciples of a Heavenly Venerable, the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, to personally descend upon the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain?

If the Great Sun Heavenly Lord hadn't personally observed the situation in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, they would have believed that the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords had betrayed the Radiance Hall and were scheming to open a path to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

However, in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, the Great Mountain Supreme Deity's Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra was being activated more intensely than ever before.

The Radiance Eight Immortals could not help but be enraged.

The reason for the Great Mountain Supreme Deity's suspicious behavior immediately became clear.

They were planning something through the terminal in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

The entirety of Mount Sumeru knows well of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity's sinister schemes.

Though They might appear overtly tyrannical, They are notorious for being a profoundly cunning and sinister individual.

Thus, the living being using that Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra must undoubtedly be either the Great Mountain Supreme Deity's terminal or a slave bound within Their prophecy.

Even so, it would be fine if the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords sent their projections directly.

That's what they thought.

And so, the Radiance Eight Immortals, including the Great Sun Heavenly Lord, focused even more on sealing the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

The Great Mountain Supreme Deity is indeed fearsome, but the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords personally dispatched their projections.

Moreover, their disciples who revered the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords were present in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Lord.

While those so-called disciples were, in truth, no better than scraps, they were still Quasi-Immortal rank beings in their own right.

If those disciples joined forces with the projections of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, their combined strength would effectively amount to ten True Immortals.

No matter how much power one living being wielded through the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, they could not possibly overcome the strength of ten True Immortals.

Thinking this, the Radiance Eight Immortals focused solely on the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain.

Then, the projections of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords were annihilated.

It was said their disciples were utterly defeated and scattered.

When they first heard this news, the Radiance Eight Immortals, including the Great Sun Heavenly Lord, were displeased.

They thought the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords were playing a joke unbefitting their rank.

However...

It was ultimately revealed to be true, and the Radiance Hall was thrown into utter chaos.

If those words were true, then right now in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, a nightmare on the level of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord in their youth has reappeared.

Moreover, the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord is wielding the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra?

A being with potential rivaling the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, in collaboration with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity?

Just the thought alone is horrifying.

Because of this, among the Radiance Eight Immortals, who were monitoring the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, it was decided for one of them to directly move their projection.

It would cause some mental distraction, but the situation left no other choice.

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord insisted vehemently on going themself, but since their presence is needed to suppress the movements resonating in the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, they could not send their projection.

In the end, the Third Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Great Sun Heavenly Lord, took action.

And the moment the Great Sun Heavenly Lord descended, what they witnessed was the final moment of the True Immortal Blood Yin, who had already engaged in a fierce battle with the return of Vast Cold and was now sacrificing his life in a self-destructive explosion.

Kugugugugugu!

:: A filthy remnant of the past dares...:: If this were Yu Hao Te, the Nether Devil True Lord in his prime, they would have honored his nobility. But this wretched leftover, claiming to be Yu Hao Te without knowing his place...

To the Great Sun Heavenly Lord, someone like Blood Yin was nothing more than filth to be swept away.

Although Blood Yin managed to scatter the Great Sun Heavenly Lord's gaze briefly by self-destructing immediately after their descent, he ultimately failed to conceal the truth.

Through their winged garments, the Great Sun Heavenly Lord grasped everything that has happened here.

Yes.

:: Enders...:: Or beings also referred to as the Seven Brilliances King.

The highest wisdoms, which the likes of leftovers like Blood Yin are incapable of even remembering, had been present there.

:: Have they already been born again?:: For the true purpose of the Radiance Hall, several conditions must be met.

And one of them is the annihilation of the Enders.

:: That filth... did he self-destruct in the end to scatter the Enders across the various Heavenly Domains?:: It is impossible to determine exactly which Heavenly Domains they've been scattered to.

This is because in his final moments, Blood Yin made history unreadable through history revision.

In matters of history, the Great Sun Heavenly Lord cannot match Blood Yin's expertise, and so they decide to abandon the effort to locate the exact positions of the Enders.

Instead, they send their will to the Radiance Hall.

The will of the Great Sun Heavenly Lord that reaches Radiance Hall also reaches countless Heavenly Domains.

:: True Immortals under the Radiance Hall and fellow allies, heed the decree.:: All living beings directly under the Radiance Hall in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain respond.

The will of the Owner of Void, an ally of the Radiance Hall from the Good Sight Heavenly Domain, responds.

The will of the Owner of Names, an ally from the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain, responds.

Every living being directly under the Radiance Hall in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain responds.

In the directly ruled Horse Ear Heavenly Domain, a sealed being unleashes thunder, but the Great Sun Heavenly Lord's will ignores it and resounds throughout the Horse Ear Heavenly Domain.

In the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, a faint response comes from the will of the Owner of Liberation, a quasi-ally of the Radiance Hall.

In the Source River, the will of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, affiliated with Radiance Hall, responds.

In the Eastern Heaven Flower Field, the will of the Owner of the Flower Field, an ally of the Radiance Hall, responds.

Almost every Heavenly Domain on Mount Sumeru, except for the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, and the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, responds to the Radiance Hall's decree.

:: The filth left behind by Yu Hao Te has scattered seeds of calamity across countless Heavenly Domains.:: Seeds of calamity.

Or, disaster.

One of the ominous titles the Radiance Hall uses to refer to the Enders.

:: All beings who distort the predetermined celestial energy must be reported to Radiance Hall. True Immortals under Radiance Hall shall descend to eliminate these disasters who twist the celestial energy.:: The will of the Great Sun Heavenly Lord spreads across countless Heavenly Domains, and each domain responds in its own way.

The Great Sun Heavenly Lord recalls the situation after they deliver the decree.

::...:: In the end, the Ender who wields power worthy of being called the return of Vast Cold...

The being named Seo Eun-hyun...

Could not be captured.

The Vast Cold of that era also escaped from the grasp of Radiance Hall solely through the power of the soul, and advanced to True Immortality in their own way.

The Great Sun Heavenly Lord grips the physical body of Seo Eun-hyun they have brought into their hands.

Seo Eun-hyun's body is crushed instantly, turning into a flesh pancake.

From behind their mask, the Great Sun Heavenly Lord's eyes gleam.

They tremble as they sense an ominous foreboding.

:: Even that Vast Cold, during their advancement, received aid within the embrace of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity. But just how can this Ender...?:: Though he received the support of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, he advanced through the Interdimensional Void and leapt into the domain of purity solely through his own means, advancing by himself.

Perhaps, he might become an even more fearsome Ender than Vast Cold.

And...

:: You have interfered again, Great Mountain.:: In front of the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, the Great Sun Heavenly Lord murmurs directly with their main body along with the Radiance Eight Immortals.

:: Even 500, 000 years ago in the era of Vast Cold. Even 40, 000 years ago during the Supreme Deity advancement of Bong Myeong. And even today. I have lost count how many times your sinister schemes have come to fruition.:: Kugugugugu!

The Radiance Eight Immortals push open the gates of the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain.

Above their heads, a resplendently brilliant Seat of Radiance rises.

:: Today, we shall punish you...:: Kuuung!

The entrance to the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain opens.

Shiiiiiii— The stellar wind between dimensions howls, and the Radiance Eight Immortals shudder.

And in the next moment—::...!:::: How!!??:::: What have you done, Ra Cheon!!??:: The Radiance Eight Immortals roar furiously toward the now [absent] Great Mountain Supreme Deity, who has vanished without even birds or rats knowing from within the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain.

Kugugugugugu!

Combining their strength, the Radiance Eight Immortals summon the authority of Light and set the entire Earth Axis Heavenly Domain ablaze, but the Great Mountain Supreme Deity is nowhere to be seen.

The sealed Great Mountain Supreme Deity has vanished without a trace.

The entire Sumeru Mountain trembles.

Now, the return of Vast Cold no longer seems like such an urgent matter.

For the most fearsome Devil God in the history of Mount Sumeru has escaped Their seal and is now hiding somewhere.

In the Palace of Light located in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.

At the center of that palace, the Radiance Eight Immortals gather around the Round Table of Radiance.

:: Has the Great Sun not arrived yet, Great Forest?:::: Do not rush, Pearl Jade.:::: A reply has come from the Owner of Names. Great Mountain has abandoned Their Immortal Title and concealed Themself. Instead of Their Immortal Title, a new Immortal Registry created under the Great Mountain Supreme Deity's true name will soon arrive from the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain. Through it, we might discern Their movements.

:::: How can a hastily created Immortal Registry accurately reveal Great Mountain's location and movements? At best, it will only show whether Their prophecy is being fulfilled!:::: Even that would be monumental. Through it, we can sufficiently locate the Great Mountain.:: At the center of the Palace of Radiance.

Inside the meeting chamber of the Radiance Hall, excluding the Great Sun Heavenly Lord, the Eight Immortals have gathered.

The First Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, Great Forest Heavenly Lord (大林天君).

Second Seat — Flower Plant Heavenly Lord (花草天君).

Fourth Seat — Torch Candle Heavenly Lord (燈燭天君).

Fifth Seat — Sword Spear Heavenly Lord (劍戟天君).

Sixth Seat — Pearl Jade Heavenly Lord (珠玉天君).

Seventh Seat — Great Sea Heavenly Lord (大海天君).

Eighth Seat — Rain Dew Heavenly Lord (雨露天君).

The seven Heavenly Lords exchange countless opinions among themselves as they wait for the new Immortal Registry promised by the Great Sun Heavenly Lord and the Owner of the Names.

Then, all of a sudden, Flash!

One Entering Nirvana True Person enters the meeting hall at the speed of light, holding up a scroll and presenting to them.

:: The Naming Supreme Deity has completed the new Immortal Registry and has sent it to the rulers of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.:: The First Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord, nods and gestures with their hand.

Sururuk...

At their gesture, the Immortal Registry floats above the round table surrounded by the Radiance Eight Immortals.

Chwararak!

As the Great Forest Heavenly Lord gestures again, the Immortal Registry unfurls.

The Registry displays the pinnacle of Sumeru Mountain.

The symbols and names of the Eleven Governings—the Four Heavenly Venerables and Seven Supreme Deities—are inscribed upon it.

[Blackened Three Great Ultimates].

[The Transparent Seed].

[Six Interconnected Stars].

[White Wheel].

[Lightning Spear].

[Sun And Moon Pair Of Eyes].

[Bird Trapped In A Cage].

[Black Sun].

[Taiji In The Shape Of A Fetus].

[Mountain Exuding Darkness].

[Black Snake Biting Its Tail].

Upon seeing these eleven symbols, the Radiance Eight Immortals bow in respect in acknowledgment of their ranks and achievements.

However, after offering their respects, most of them simultaneously glare upon the symbol of the [Mountain Exuding Darkness].

:: That vile traitor.:::: Just what do They expect to change by crying out for repentant enlightenment while committing the most wicked of deeds...!?:::: The path of our Radiance Hall has always been obstructed by Great Mountain, more than even the Underworld.:: Just as anger begins to spread among the Radiance Eight Immortals, Sururuk— Eighth Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals.

The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord raises one hand.

At the gesture of the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord, who wears a dark blue mask, the Radiance Eight Immortals simultaneously fall silent.

:: Excessive.:: At that single word, the Radiance Eight Immortals collectively close their mouths.

:: Do not reveal your emotions. We need no emotions beyond our roles as tools.:: At the cold words of the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord, the Radiance Eight Immortals calm their agitation and resume their conversation in hushed tones.

:: Is it already Seven Supreme Deities?:::: It has been 40, 000 years since the enthronement of Bong Myeong.:::: Who could have imagined it? That the Heavenly Craftsman once called the Left Arm of the Underworld would be enthroned as the Liberation Supreme Deity and escape the embrace of the Underworld.:::: Why not entrust matters regarding the Enders to Them? They have always sought to use Enders as materials.:::: Let us appoint the Liberation Supreme Deity as the chief overseer of tracking the Enders.

They have always sought to form a proper alliance with us, and through this achievement, we can include Them in the alliance of the Radiance Hall...:: It's when the covenants of the Heavenly Lords are about to be made.

Hwaruruk!

The sun rises in front of the round table.

It is the Third Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Great Sun Heavenly Lord.

:: Why are you so late, Great Sun?:: At the reprimand of the Great Forest Heavenly Lord, the Great Sun Heavenly Lord, wearing a reddish-yellow mask, raises something before them.

It is a fragment of flesh.

:: This is the Vestige (尸) of the Ender called the return of Vast Cold that I obtained through my projection. The return of Vast Cold has learned the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, so I took this fragment and briefly ventured out into the Outer Sea just in case.:: At the words of the Great Sun Heavenly Lord, the Radiance Eight Immortals nod.

:: I see. You resonated it with the domain of Salt Sea, the original owner of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra?:::: That's right. And... through it, I discovered one thing.:::: What is it?:::: The location of Penglai Island (蓬萊島).:: At those words, the Radiance Eight Immortals collectively shudder.

:: Penglai Island was in the Outer Sea. While I cannot track its exact location... the Great Mountain Supreme Deity is surely hiding there.:: For a moment, silence flows over the round table.

After a while, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord nods.

:: Excellent.:: Receiving praise from the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord, the Great Sun Heavenly Lord shudders and clutches the fragment of Seo Eun-hyun's flesh even more tightly.

:: By the way, this Immortal would like to study it.:::: It has served its purpose, so do as you wish.:: The Great Sun Heavenly Lord hands Seo Eun-hyun's flesh fragment—his Vestige—to the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord and then looks up at the newly arrived Immortal Registry.

There, in the order of each Governing Immortal's symbols, their names are listed.

Northern Heavenly Venerable – True Martial Great Emperor (眞武大帝).

Eastern Heavenly Venerable – Flower Monarch (花王公).

Southern Heavenly Venerable – True Ultimate Eternal Life Great Emperor (眞極長生大帝).

Western Heavenly Venerable – Netherworld Queen Mother (冥王母).

Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity – Do Gon (屠乾).

Emptiness (虛空) Supreme Deity – Myeong Woon (命運).

Liberation Supreme Deity – Bong Myeong (奉命).

Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity – Hyeon Ryul (玄律).

Naming Supreme Deity – Hyeon Rang (玄朗).

Great Mountain Supreme Deity – Gwak Am (गाॐ).

These are the names inscribed in the new Immortal Registry.

The Great Sun Heavenly Lord looks at these names and reflects.

At some point, new names have filled the Immortal Registry, while others have been erased.

A great upheaval is now about to sweep across the world.

'Once again, we are entering an era of great chaos.'

The Great Sun Heavenly Lord walks towards the round table where the Immortal Registry floats.

Arriving before the table, they bow towards the name at the 'very bottom' of the Immortal Registry.

Along with them, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord, Flower Plant Heavenly Lord, Torch Candle Heavenly Lord, Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, Pearl Jade Heavenly Lord, Great Sea Heavenly Lord, and Rain Dew Heavenly Lord—all of the Radiance Eight Immortals—rise and bow towards the name at the very bottom.

Radiance Supreme Deity (光明上帝), Heuk Sa (黑蛇/Black Snake).

:: Glory to the Radiance Supreme Deity.:: Only then do the Radiance Eight Immortals, now fully assembled, begin their proper meeting.

In the center of Radiance Hall, where the Great Sun Heavenly Lord has been admitted, the doors of the round table chamber close.

Khiiiiiiik...

Kuung!

At the same time, the symbol engraved on the doors of the round table chamber, the symbol of the Radiance Hall, The symbol of the [Black Snake Biting Its Tail] glows brightly, sealing the space so that no one in the Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds can eavesdrop on the conversation of the Radiance Eight Immortals.

Now, within this space, a momentous meeting that will decide the fate of the entire universe begins.

The fate of the Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds is once again on the verge of being reshaped.

Somewhere in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

There, Hong Fan wipes his sweat and builds a massive altar atop a planet.

"You are challenging the True Immortal advancement, Master."

He realizes that Seo Eun-hyun has begun his Immortal Ascension.

As faint memories of his past life resurface, he understands how he can best assist Seo Eun-hyun and acts accordingly.

"I will... assist to the best of my ability. Please return safely..."

Hong Fan, more sincerely than anyone else, prays for the safe return of Seo Eun-hyun and waits endlessly for Seo Eun-hyun's return.

"As long as we exist beneath this sky... I will forever... serve Master with heartfelt loyalty. So please, safely complete the Immortal Ascension Ritual and return to us."

In a corner of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, Hong Fan's voice, filled with hope for Seo Eun-hyun's safety, softly echoes.

Author's Note: Hello, dear readers.

The long Middle Realm arc has finally come to an end.

It was a journey filled with many ups and downs, and much was said throughout this arc, but ultimately, it has reached its conclusion.

I would love to leave a long afterword for the end of the Middle Realm arc, but as the deadline approaches, I'll have to post it separately on my blog.

In any case... it was indeed a long Middle Realm arc.

With the end of this arc, I plan to take a one-month break to further refine the story of Regressor's Tale of Cultivation, which I have been sprinting through like crazy with all my might.

The planned return date is September 1st, as summer's heat begins to fade and the power of the Great Sun Heavenly Lord slightly diminishes.

To all the readers who have loved the Middle Realm arc thus far, thank you so much, and I, too, love you all.

See you again soon!!!