Chương 569: Glass and Crystal (3)

Jiiiiiing!

Along with Glass Peacock's sudden declaration of defeat, Something feels as if it is being released, and I am finally able to receive Jeon Myeong-hoon's 'signal.'

His signal had actually arrived about 300 years ago.

—We succeeded in escaping from Glass Peacock. Seo Eun-hyun. For now, we'll wait outside the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain for 500 years. If you don't show up by then, we'll come to rescue you. So hurry.

"... Ha..."

So that was it.

Jeon Myeong-hoon had actually escaped long ago, but I hadn't been able to receive his signal because Glass Peacock had been blocking it.

'Well, I had somewhat expected this...'

There had always been some suspicion that Glass Peacock might block or alter the signal before letting it reach me.

However, there is something I don't understand.

"... You could have just kept blocking the signal instead of letting it through... Why suddenly acknowledge defeat and let me hear it?"

"... Did you think I wouldn't know? This immortal has lived as an Immortal Beast for 1. 4 billion years... With the experience honed through countless battles, I could tell. The fact that you remain this calm even after this Immortal has come this far means you must have a technique that allows you to escape right in front of me. And one you have absolute confidence in at that... Isn't that right?"

"..."

As expected of Glass Peacock.

'I've been hiding Heavenly Escape...'

Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts' transcendent technique, Heavenly Escape.

A technique that allows one to momentarily hide within the domain of purity and vanish from this world entirely.

Of course, since it requires reaching the domain of purity, it's a technique that risks one's life...

But I am more than confident that I can use Heavenly Escape and survive.

Glass Peacock, separated from me by a single layer of barrier, speaks with a sorrowful expression.

"Do you truly have no intention of forming a relationship with this Immortal?"

"... I apologize."

"For over a thousand years... of exchanging words with you, you are the 162nd person I have met with whom I felt we matched so well. Among the over 9, 000 True Immortals, and the countless hundreds of millions, trillions of mortals and more, you are one of only 162."

Glass Peacock gazes at me with lingering emotions, as if unwilling to let me go.

But, upon confirming that my gaze does not waver in the slightest, they let out a bitter smile and step back.

"Fine. Go. Leave. Disappear, and never appear before my eyes again. If you ever come into this Immortal's sight again... ten million years may not be enough."

"..."

I gaze at Glass Peacock for a moment before bowing deeply in place.

"I cannot accept your feelings... but I will cherish the grace of your teachings. Thank you... Master."

At my words, Glass Peacock turns their back on me entirely, their body trembling.

Regardless of everything, Glass Peacock had been my teacher who taught me history.

Wo-woong!

I focus my heart, energy, and body, raising the Colorless Glass Sword.

'Here I go.'

Even a moment of lost concentration, and I will be dissolved within the purity itself, dying instantly.

Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.

Transcendent technique, Heavenly Escape (天遁)!

Sarararak!

Just as I am about to enter the domain of purity— Kwaaang!

Glass Peacock shatters the barrier and rushes at me as I begin to vanish, pressing their lips against my cheek.

"Did you think I would give up? This Immortal does not give up. With a will that does not give up, through countless efforts and failures, I even violated Azure Peng, the Seat Holder of Addiction, and took the Seat for myself!"

Kiiiiing!

My left cheek. There, an eye pattern from the tip of Glass Peacock's tail is engraved.

"I will never give up! I don't care about the others, but you! You, Seo Eun-hyun, I will form a relationship with you no matter what!!"

Glass Peacock's eyes gleam with madness and obsession as they roll their eyes wildly.

"You say you have no feelings for me!? Don't be ridiculous! I have them, so why don't you!? If you don't have feelings, then I'll carve them into you myself... Just wait. I will make you mine!"

Pasasasasa!

With that final declaration from Glass Peacock— I completely enter the domain of purity.

Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Head Realm.

There, a pure white light bursts forth, and a being at the Heavenly Being stage ascends and escapes beyond the Head Realm.

Wrapped entirely in bandages, clad in a silver robe, and wearing a silver-white mask, this being is the one Seo Eun-hyun once called [Gyeong-i], the one who governs Gyeong (庚) among the Ten Heavenly Stems.

The god of war and steel—Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

Woo-woooong!

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord does not ascend to the Bright Cold Realm but instead begins to transform within the Interdimensional Void.

Kudududuk!

Light seeps through the gaps between the bandages covering the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's body.

And then— Flash!

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's body expands, growing to a size comparable to five Middle Realm areas.

They have transformed into such a size that they rival a Middle Realm alone.

Now a giant god of light wearing a silver-white mask, they gaze into the distant cosmos.

:: Are you there, Rain Dew?:: Wo-woong!

In response to the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's words, someone emerges from the darkness of the Interdimensional Void.

It is another giant god, equal in size to the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

This one is a being of light wearing a black-blue mask.

Radiance Eight Immortals, the Eighth Seat—Rain Dew Heavenly Lord.

:: I have been waiting, Sword Spear. What happened? You were supposed to emerge within ten days at most, yet it took you a thousand years.:::: Myeong Woon toyed with me.:::: Then it couldn't be helped... Did you acquire the information?:::: I did. The Enders of this generation... all succeeded in ascension.:::: Horrifying. Just what kind of great chaos is approaching... Have you determined their location?:::: I have. These are the Heavenly Domains where the Enders currently reside.:: Woo-woong!

A sphere of light rises from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's palm and drifts towards the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord.

:: Received. Then we will dispatch the Great Immortals of Radiance Hall in each Heavenly Domain to eliminate them.::::... Regarding one, I will eliminate them with my own hands.:::: Is that necessary? Even if they are Enders, right now they are nothing but bugs below Upper Immortals at best... There is no need for you to act.::::... One of them... saw my face. To that Ender... I have developed feelings.

:: The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's body trembles, and the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord watches them before speaking slowly.

::... Once you kill that Ender...:::: I know. Since I have formed feelings... the position of Sword Spear must be passed on. I will entrust my execution to you.:::: Understood. I will send you off without pain.:: Woo-wooong!

As they move from the Interdimensional Void into the Astral Realm, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord raises a sphere of light in their hand.

The silver-white light transforms into the shape of a silver-white sword.

:: Where is that Ender right now?:::: Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain. He is there right now...:::: Do you know the exact location? I will open the gate.:::: I do not. Aside from knowing he is in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain... it seems the Naming Supreme Deity interfered with his Immortal Title.:::: I see... Hyeon Rang. They, too, should be discussed for imprisonment. If we cannot pinpoint the exact location, what do you intend to do?::::... I will take a slightly more forceful approach.:: Woo-woong!

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord arrives in the Astral Realm and presses both hands together in a prayer gesture.

At that same time, an illusion of the Seat of Light shimmering faintly appears behind the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

Paaaatt!

Behind the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's head, The form of a [silver-white snake biting its tail] rises like a halo, amplifying their power.

Upon witnessing this, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord flinches and sends their will somewhere.

It is as if they are transmitting a message to various True Immortals affiliated with Radiance Hall, warning them to prepare for the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's power.

:: Open the gate, Rain Dew.:: As the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord forms a hand seal, the void sinks deeply like a well before forming a gateway leading to the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.

From behind the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's mask, a murderous gleam radiates.

:: I will end everything.:: The first Heavenly Escape was used when I underwent True Immortal advancement.

Entering the domain of purity and accepting life and death took three thousand years.

During that time, I could not even properly keep my mind clear.

But the second Heavenly Escape is different.

Is it because I have already accepted life and death as a True Immortal? Or is it because I have grown accustomed to the power of Heavenly Escape?

I naturally blend into the domain of purity, moving while reflecting on the Immortal Dao of Repentant Enlightenment.

How long have I been shifting my will within this domain of purity?

Just when I begin to feel that I can no longer endure...

I finally emerge from the depths of its domain.

Puhwak!

"Heheok...! Heok..."

I gasp for breath and scan my surroundings.

Before I realize it, I have escaped from Glass Peacock's dimensional space and reached a distant galaxy cluster.

'Dangerous.'

Had I stayed even a little longer in the domain of purity, the balance of life and death within my body would have collapsed, killing me instantly and forcing my regression.

'Now, all that remains... is escaping to the Heavenly Domain where Jeon Myeong-hoon fled!'

Kugugugu!

I can feel it.

From afar, Glass Peacock has pinpointed my location and is soaring towards me.

'If I get caught now, there will truly be no mercy.'

I must move immediately!

The moment I make up my mind and try to flee at full speed— Hwioooooo.

Glass Peacock's true form is already visible in the distance.

'What...!? That fast!?'

The speed is so overwhelming that I am left dumbfounded.

I grit my teeth and throw myself to the Impermanence Sword.

Paaaaaatt!

Riding the Impermanence Sword, I flee at full speed.

Yet, Glass Peacock only draws closer and closer.

'No, no! I'm going to get caught!'

However, something feels off.

'But why... Why are they only chasing me with pure speed instead of using history revision or other authorities against me?'

Something is strange.

That sense of discord grows stronger the closer Glass Peacock gets.

Huarurururuk!

Glass Peacock is burning their own body.

They are exploding their own true form to chase after me.

'Why? Why are they doing this? Instead of using authority to hold me down, they are exploding their own life to amplify their physical strength...'

At that moment— My eyes meet Glass Peacock's.

There is a deep resolve within Glass Peacock's eyes.

Reading their resolve, I realize the reason they are chasing me to this extent.

'They're... trying to save me...?'

Glass Peacock's eyes hold an unshakable will to protect me.

'What...'

And then— Kwarururung!

Glass Peacock tears through countless spacetime and soars above me, spreading their wings.

At a glance, it looks as if they are about to pounce on me from above.

Yet, an inexplicable and strange premonition keeps me rooted in place.

They are not simply trying to pin me down.

The moment that thought crosses my mind— ——————!

The universe trembles.

A powerful wave seems to shake the universe itself before a colossal shockwave erupts from the back of Glass Peacock's neck.

"...!"

I recognize the source of the shockwave.

A silver-white sword!

A towering radiance of silver-white in the form of a sword is lodged deep into Glass Peacock's back.

'That's...!'

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's technique.

Sword-Guided Star Rain.

Struck by the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's single strike, Glass Peacock looks down at me and speaks.

"Before we are even bonded... I cannot let you die."

They incinerate their entire being, unleashing a blinding white light as they shatter the silver-white sword.

However, the force of Sword-Guided Star Rain must have been immense. Glass Peacock gasps for breath, their wings trembling.

"You called me Master. Why?"

"... Because I received your teachings."

"... Is that so. Then, since I have already once received a bow as your master..."

Glass Peacock burns even more fiercely, gazing up at the distant sky of the Astral Realm.

I can feel the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's will from there.

A will to annihilate me no matter what.

"I shall teach you properly. Watch closely..."

Kugugugugugu!

From far above, something begins to descend once more.

They are two swords forged of silver-white light.

Sword-Guided Sword Rain, two consecutive strikes!

Kurururu!

"This... is the true history revision of Immortal Beasts...!"

The will to protect me.

That resolve reverberates across the whole world.

At the same time, Glass Peacock's will erupts, and I witness the clash between the wills of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord and Glass Peacock.

Before the battle between two Immortal Lord-level beings, the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain begins to quake.