Chương 564: Earth Immortal (5)

"Being eaten... by the Owner of Light? Is that a metaphor?"

At Jeon Myeong-hoon's question, Golden Shaking Bird lands lightly in front of us and continues speaking in a slightly lower voice.

"It is literal. A Vestige Liberation Immortal who fails their advancement ritual. In other words... one lacking sufficient light to extract is ultimately forced to replace the missing parts with their authority and their main body.

"In the process, the entire body of the Vestige Liberation Immortal becomes light and scatters across the universe, and those scattered photons all return to the Owner of Light. In the end, failing the advancement ritual amounts to feeding the stomachs of the Supreme Deities... it is no different from being eaten."

"..."

"..."

Jeon Myeong-hoon and I remain silent in the face of this unexpected and terrifying truth.

After some time of brooding silence, I extinguish the campfire and distort the surrounding attraction force to block out all light.

Then, I ask her a question.

"What exactly is the Owner of Light? What kind of being wields such terrifying authority? Why in the world does the Radiance Supreme Deity have the authority to devour True Immortals?"

"Hmm..."

At my words, Golden Shaking Bird looks up at the sky for a moment before responding.

"There seems to be... a misunderstanding. This is not a problem with the Radiance Supreme Deity."

"What?"

"Governing Immortals... no, all Seats in this world ultimately represent realms of Immortal Cultivation. Or perhaps, portions of a realm, or the process of Immortal Cultivation itself."

She continues her explanation calmly, as though she is recounting a story she once heard from someone else.

The person who told her this story is obvious.

Behind Golden Shaking Bird, Jeon Myeong-hoon and I feel as though Yang Su-jin himself is narrating this to us.

"We all walk the path of Immortal Cultivation, but stop at some realm along the way and are buried there. Eventually, we rot and decay, becoming the nutrients of the world once again, providing the foundation for future generations to continue on the path. Being 'eaten' is simply decaying on the path of Immortal Cultivation and becoming its foundation.

"And the Governing Immortals have become the very path of Immortal Cultivation itself. Therefore, dying within the realms overseen by the Governing Immortals simply makes one their daily sustenance."

"... So what you're saying is..."

I recall the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

The Radiance Eight Immortals are said to oversee the realms of Qi Refining 4th star and the Vestige Liberation Immortal.

Which means...

"Aside from the Radiance Supreme Deity, what are... the other realms overseen by the Governing Immortals?"

At my question, Golden Shaking Bird flutters into the air and uses golden lightning to write words in the void.

The realms overseen by the Governing Immortals are as follows: Qi Refining 3rd star: Eastern Heavenly Venerable Flower Monarch, Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

Qi Refining 4th star: Radiance Supreme Deity.

Qi Refining 6th Star: Liberation Supreme Deity.

Qi Refining 7th star: Southern Heavenly Venerable True Ultimate Eternal Life Great Emperor.

Qi Refining 14th star and Four-Axis advancement ritual: Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

Four-Axis stage: Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

Integration stage: Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity.

Sacred Vessel stage: Liberation Supreme Deity.

Entering Nirvana and True Immortal advancement ritual: Western Heavenly Venerable Netherworld Ghost Mother.

Immediately after True Immortal advancement: Naming Supreme Deity.

Vestige Liberation Immortal: Radiance Supreme Deity.

Heaven and Earth Upper Immortal: Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

Great Net Immortal: True Martial Great Emperor, True Ultimate Eternal Life Great Emperor, and Flower Monarch, the Three Heavenly Venerables.

Immortal Lord: Radiance Supreme Deity, Emptiness Supreme Deity.

"... These are the realms overseen and controlled by each Governing Immortal."

"..."

As I observe the Immortal Cultivation systems dominated by the Governing Immortals, I let out a low sigh. Jeon Myeong-hoon glances at me before asking a question.

"Does the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity... not have a cultivation system they control?"

"Ah, the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity oversees [all advancement rituals]. And... the Naming Supreme Deity, although it seems like They only oversee the very narrow space of 'immediately after True Immortal advancement,' the establishment of [cultivation formulas for each realm] falls under Their domain."

"... What?"

Startled, I ask,

"The cultivation formulas for each realm... are created by the Naming Supreme Deity?"

"Exactly."

"... Wait, that means..."

Cultivation formulas are unnecessary for the Earth Tribe.

This is because their formulas are essentially nothing more than refining the instinct and wild nature engraved into their bloodlines.

Thus, those who rely on cultivation formulas are...

"Does that mean the Naming Supreme Deity is involved in the birth of the Heaven Tribe?"

Only the Heaven Tribe.

Golden Shaking Bird shakes her head.

"That is not the case."

"Haha, of course..."

"All of the Heaven Tribe are essentially extensions of the Naming Supreme Deity. Until they become Vestige Liberation Immortals and transcend their birth nature... the authority to oversee celestial energy for mortal beings belongs solely to the Naming Supreme Deity. In a way... you could even say that the Naming Supreme Deity governs the Qi Refining 7th star as well. Isn't that interesting?

The Naming Supreme Deity was once a human who, in the age before Heaven Tribe cultivation methods existed, reached the pinnacle of the Earth Tribe and became the Immortal Beast King... And yet, this same deity is most directly involved in the creation of the Heaven Tribe."

"..."

Naming Supreme Deity...

For some reason, I feel like the Naming Supreme Deity holds more hidden secrets than other dangerous Governing Immortals like the Radiance Supreme Deity, the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, or the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

"In any case, all Supreme Deities and Heavenly Venerables control the entire Immortal Cultivation system. And failing advancement within a system overseen by a Governing Immortal is essentially the same as being eaten by them."

"... That sounds familiar."

"Ahaha, there certainly exists a saying like that between the Star Shattering stage and Entering Nirvana stage. Something about being 'devoured by the Heavenly Domain'..."

My eyes gleam.

"The Heavenly Domain... or in other words, the Astral Realm as it's commonly called, belongs to the Supreme Deities?"

"That's correct. More precisely, the entire Heavenly Domain, including the Astral Realm, belongs to the Supreme Deities. Every Heavenly Domain has an owner who governs it, and each time a Supreme Deity is born, a new Heavenly Domain is inevitably created."

"I see."

Through Golden Shaking Bird, I manage to resolve many questions about the current Immortal Cultivation system and this world.

Golden Shaking Bird flutters upward and perches on Jeon Myeong-hoon's shoulder, continuing her explanation.

"In the end, all beings who set foot on the path of Immortal Cultivation are fated to either be devoured or to devour others. My master described it humorously as 'All things of all phenomena are pills.' Ahaha. Isn't it such an amusing joke? Ahaha!"

"..."

"..."

"Perhaps... all cultivators are fated to be consumed by the very system of Immortal Cultivation itself. Ahaha..."

Jeon Myeong-hoon clears his throat and asks a question.

"By the way, this makes me a little curious. If there is one Supreme Deity per Heavenly Domain... doesn't that mean there are currently ten Governing Immortals?"

"Ah, not Ten Existences (十存), but Eleven Existences (十一存). They are also referred to as the Eleven Governings (十一御)."

Hearing this, Jeon Myeong-hoon asks suspiciously.

"What are you talking about? After advancing to True Immortality and seeing the Supreme Deities in the [sky]... there were clearly only ten."

I, too, find this puzzling.

'Eleven Governings... why are there eleven? During my True Immortal advancement and even during my regression... there were clearly only [ten] Seats.'

Unexpectedly, Golden Shaking Bird scratches her head with her wings before lowering it.

"Ah... I apologise. I am not entirely sure about that either... However, Radiance Hall claims it to be [Eleven Governings]. All the allied factions of Radiance Hall accept this claim as well. While the Underworld or the Great Mountain Supreme Deity may not agree with it, they don't particularly refute it either. For now, the only faction making this claim is undoubtedly Radiance Hall."

"Radiance Hall is practically the entirety of this world... Hasn't the Golden Divine whispered anything to you?"

I question Golden Shaking Bird, and she places her two wings on her waist, glaring at me as she speaks.

"More importantly, why does Elder keep calling my master Golden Divine this, Golden Divine that and Yang Su-jin this, and Yang Su-jin that? Is my master your friend? It's infuriating to hear someone as young as you refuse to address my master with proper honorifics!"

"..."

'Bringing up age in front of me?'

Even assuming Yang Su-jin is still alive, the combined ages of Yang Su-jin and Golden Shaking Bird would barely exceed half of mine. What nonsense is she spouting at me?

Just as I'm about to smack Golden Shaking Bird with the Impermanence Sword, Jeon Myeong-hoon lightly taps Golden Shaking Bird on the head and says,

"Seo Eun-hyun is my friend and is also from the Golden Divine's homeland. Moreover, there's a time discrepancy between our homeland and Mount Sumeru. So, in terms of time, the age difference is only about 500 years at most. That's close enough to be an older-younger brother relationship, so don't fuss about it."

"Yes, yes, Master! I apologise. I did not realize the age gap was less than 500 years. It is Golden Shaking Bird's fault. As an apology, if he wishes, I will let Seo Eun-hyun lick my feet."

"... Alright, just answer Seo Eun-hyun's question. Did Yang Su-jin whisper anything to you?"

At Jeon Myeong-hoon's words, Golden Shaking Bird seems to recall an old memory before responding.

"My master once spoke about the reason why the number of visible thrones in the sky and the number of thrones claimed by Radiance Hall differ. He said, 'It's a truth that is both absurdly laughable and chilling'."

'A truth that is both laughable and chilling?'

Something about that doesn't seem to add up.

Can something laughable and chilling coexist in a single sentence?

'What a bizarre expression. Just what does it mean?'

"When I asked what my master meant, he massaged my feet while saying, 'If you're very quick, you'll learn after reaching Great Net Immortal. If you're slower, you'll learn after becoming an Immortal Lord or a Governing Immortal.' He also said, 'Once you realize this, you'll understand why Light rules the world.' However, he warned me not to try uncovering the truth from any realm below Upper Immortal, as Light would immediately notice and it would be dangerous."

'Information that Light will notice?'

I sense that this trust must be tied to some enormous truth of Mount Sumeru.

'Light is wisdom. Therefore, if one tries to perceive or uncover something... it immediately notices. Right. Yang Su-jin said the truth will naturally become clear as I advance in cultivation. So, I shouldn't delve into this for now.'

This is dangerous, no matter how I look at it.

As I contemplate this truth, Jeon Myeong-hoon raises another question.

"Here's the next question. Governing Immortals are known as the owners of Heavenly Domains or of dimensions overlapping those domains. Following up on the previous question... if there are four Heavenly Venerables and seven Supreme Deities, then shouldn't there be seven Heavenly Domains?"

That's right.

Something about the number of Heavenly Domains doesn't add up.

Sun and Moon, Heavenly King, Twin Holding, Earth Axis, Bearing Tree, Good Sight, Horse Ear, Elephant Nose, Earth Boundary.

'According to the wisdom I received from Blood Yin...'

Mount Sumeru's Heavenly Domains total nine!

"Why are there two extra Heavenly Domains?"

At Jeon Myeong-hoon's observation, Golden Shaking Bird scratches her head again with her wings before responding.

"Umm... Golden Shaking Bird does not know for sure. As for the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain and the Horse Ear Heavenly Domain, their original owner, the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, was imprisoned by Radiance Hall, leading to the current state. The Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain's owner became the Radiance Supreme Deity, and Horse Ear Heavenly Domain was created specifically to imprison the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity.

So, I can understand the existence of eight Heavenly Domains, but where the last one came from or who created it... Golden Shaking Bird does not know that either. I apologise."

"No, it's fine. Let's figure that out gradually..."

"Yes, thank you!"

Thus concludes Golden Shaking Bird's basic knowledge lecture for Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Wo-woong!

Clang!

And just as the lecture ends, Hong Fan succeeds in his resurrection from the pitch-black darkness devoid of any light.

"Huuu... Have you been well, Master?"

"Oh, Hong Fan. You've finally resurrected? How was the Underworld?"

"It's still running well as usual. However, I couldn't enter the depths of the Underworld. I'm a bit regretful about that."

"Haha, you and your jokes. What would I do if you entered the depths of the Underworld and ended up reincarnating?"

"Haha, Even if I reincarnate, I will find my way back to you, Master, so don't worry."

With that, I share a conversation with the newly resurrected Hong Fan as we welcome the morning sunlight that enters the Divine Thunder Realm.

The next day arrives.

Jeon Myeong-hoon gathered the necessary items he used for cultivating Immortal Arts from the hut.

Meanwhile, I temporarily sealed the minds of Ham Jin and Yu Hwi that are still affected by death energy as they just recently resurrected.

Now that Jeon Myeong-hoon has completed his True Immortal advancement, and since there's no more business left in the Divine Thunder Realm, it is time to move on to the Astral Realm and begin my cultivation as a Vestige Liberation Immortal.

Ever since realizing that Vestige Liberation Immortal falls under the domain of the Radiance Supreme Deity, I've wanted to escape this realm as soon as possible.

"By the way, was it you who killed the Sacred Master of the Divine Thunder Realm?"

"Oh, yeah. It was a devotee of Light... As soon as it saw me, it started going on about reporting me to Radiance Hall, so I blessed it with the Immortal Art, Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation."

"Blessing?"

"Lightning Sacred Body, I mean. Its entire body underwent lightning transformation, becoming a spirit of lightning."

Pajijijijik!

Jeon Myeong-hoon smirks as he pulls something out from the void.

It is a guzheng which burns a bright red.

[Editor: A guzheng is a type of plucked zither, an ancient Chinese string instrument.]

"I tore it from their Middle Realm Sacred Master position and refined it into an Immortal Treasure."

Jeon Myeong-hoon smirks as he taps the guzheng lightly.

The guzheng's form distorts as if trying to escape from Jeon Myeong-hoon's grasp with all its strength.

But Jeon Myeong-hoon grips the neck of the guzheng tightly, applying enough force to almost snap it, forcing it into submission.

Watching this violent display, I ask,

"Did it insult you or something? You seem to be treating it rather harshly."

"Yeah. The bastard insulted So-hae, calling her [a shriveled hand] or saying [it looks crispy and tasty, give me a bite]... Originally, I was just going to seal it after teaching it a lesson, but after hearing that insult, I lost my temper and decided to refine it into an Immortal Treasure."

Before I can say anything, Golden Shaking Bird's eyes flip over in anger.

"Master! Are you saying you were insulted!? What happened to this Sacred Master's kin and race!?"

"...? I just left them alone. They didn't witness our battle anyway, so they won't be able to report anything to Radiance Hall."

"Th-That's... Master! Isn't it only natural to exterminate the Sacred Master's race? To think it dared to insult Master. Please give the order. I will exterminate the Sacred Master's race, and through a blood sacrifice in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain for Master's convenience... descend Master's main body."

"Th-There's no need to go that far. Capturing this bastard is enough for me."

"Even though it's not about destroying the entire Divine Thunder Realm, but only exterminating its race? Th-Then Master, at the very least, let me capture the Sacred Master's family or descendants for you."

At Golden Shaking Bird's request, Jeon Myeong-hoon shakes his head and says,

"Didn't I say there's no need for that? This is an order. Don't make a fuss about this matter again."

"... Understood. However... I believe this Sacred Vessel bastard that insulted Master... has been insufficiently refined. May I add a special refinement process? I will refine it further to ensure it can neither resist nor escape from Master."

"Well... since it insulted So-hae, that's fair. Good. Assist with the refinement."

At those words, Golden Shaking Bird takes the guzheng from Jeon Myeong-hoon, absorbs it into her body, and begins refining it.

"Now then... shall we move on to the Astral Realm?"

With that, we depart from the Divine Thunder Realm.

"Twin Constructing Chains. Fly."

Huiiiiii!

Transforming Yeo Hwi into the form of a peng, I mount her back along with everyone and traverse the Interdimensional Void.

Huiiiiii!

As we speed through the Interdimensional Void, I suddenly notice that the 48 Middle Realms are arranged in a specific pattern.

'That's...'

Starting from the Myriad Laws Realm, countless realms extend outward.

These Middle Realms seem to draw a massive shape.

The shape begins at the Myriad Laws Realm, passes through the Divine Thunder Realm, and ends at a realm called the Feeling Life Realm.

Beside the Feeling Life Realm, the Myriad Laws Realm appears again.

The Middle Realms draw a circle.

And that circle is not merely a simple round shape but rather some kind of diagram.

Golden Shaking Bird furrows her brow as she gazes down at the forty-eight Middle Realms drifting in the Interdimensional Void.

"No matter how many times I see it... what a distasteful hobby. Those Radiance Hall bastards..."

The Middle Realms scattered in the shape of a circle seem to embody a certain symbol.

That symbol takes the form of the [Snake Biting Its Tail].

"It is the emblem of Radiance Hall. Radiance Hall is notorious for engraving the form of [Snake Biting Its Tail]... onto the remains of those who opposed them, or onto what their enemies cherished. Alternatively, they impose a fate related to that symbol, forcing it to take on this form."

Jeon Myeong-hoon clicks his tongue and grimaces.

"... To the dead... This is going too far."

Yeo Hwi, as though trying to avoid looking directly at the symbol below, clenches her eyes shut while breaking into cold sweat. Meanwhile, I silently offer a small gesture of mourning for the former subordinates of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity as I watch their pitiful state.

Hong Fan, either uninterested or unable to perceive the arrangement of the Middle Realms due to being in the Integration stage... remains indifferent. With an emotionless expression, he pulls out garbage and food scraps from his storage scroll and tosses them toward the Middle Realms, seemingly cleaning out his bag.

Golden Shaking Bird averts her gaze from the grotesque scene and, perhaps to shift the mood, begins to chatter.

Because of her quick chatter, I, too, forgot a little of the horror of that tragedy and join in on the conversation.

"By the way, aside from the Vestige Liberation Immortal cultivation, we need to find our other comrades..."

"We'll have to pass through the Astral Realm to reach other Heavenly Domains anyway, so heading to the Astral Realm for now makes sense. That said, do you know which Heavenly Domains the others went to?"

"For now..."

"By the way, Master. You still have the Vestige, right? If Master hands it to me, I will make it into a storage scroll. After reaching the True Immortal rank, most people make their storage scrolls from their Vestiges...

"Haha, Master, my storage scroll has been invaded by bugs. Because its functionality is so good that even living things can enter without restriction, bugs seem to have come in... I am starting to worry since the number of bugs has increased a lot."

With that, we cross beyond the Interdimensional Void and arrive at the Astral Realm within the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain to reunite with our other comrades and quickly proceed with our Vestige Liberation Immortal cultivation.

"Now then. Let's discuss methods to figure out the current situation of our comrades and plan our next steps in more detail..."

I rise from my seat, preparing to adjust our plans moving forward.

And then, Kigigigik, clank!

"... Huh?"

In an instant.

The movement of the universe halts.

A pure white light flashes, seemingly toying with the workings of the universe and rendering time itself a fool.

Within the pure white light, we behold a blindingly beautiful [bird].

:: I am the Immortal Beast, Glass Peacock.:: As the words of the [bird] continue, Golden Shaking Bird screams in horror.

:: Unfamiliar new faces, and that brute's attendant concubine... How splendid. I'll have to mate.::

"Run awayyyyyy!!! Twin Constructing Chains! If you don't want to be violated by [Glass Peacock], flap your wings like mad!!!"

The moment Yeo Hwi hears the name [Glass Peacock], it's as though her mind, broken by Golden Shaking Bird, is restored. Frothing at the mouth, she begins flapping her wings like crazy.

On our first day in the Astral Realm of the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.

:: Halt. I shall show you paradise...:: We encounter the infamous Earth Immortal of reproduction and mating—Glass Peacock.

:: History revision. Escape routes lost.:: To capture and violate us, Glass Peacock begins to unleash their power.