Chương 571: 1002nd Cycle's First Day

Kikikikikik!

A sound like something is being forcibly moved.

I barely regain consciousness within that sound.

'This is...'

Yes.

Right after I died in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.

The world has begun to turn.

'I see...'

I let out a faint sigh as I look around, experiencing regression for the first time since advancing to True Immortal.

Everything seems to be reversing.

Soon, this reversing world transforms into the shape of a river.

After a while, I enter that river of familiar scenes and begin to regress once more.

'I see...'

Suddenly, I understand one of the principles of regression.

At first, it just feels like the world is reversing, but then I am [bounced] into a world I call the river of time.

'This space of regression is similar to the True Immortal Realm. But it's not the True Immortal Realm. Still, it's certainly similar. This place is...'

It's a space that transcends the original world itself.

I can feel it is so.

Thanks to that, I realize that regression isn't simply about turning back time.

Rather, it's one of the methods of [transcending the world].

'Time and space... A power that transcends fate and history... No, this regression is at the level of toying with fate and history... What on earth is it...?'

As I reflect on the power of regression, I faintly grasp what kind of power is granted to the Enders.

'Are all the authorities granted to the Enders powers that either toy with fate and history or transcend them...?'

Perhaps this regression belongs to that category as well.

And I come to realize another fact.

'Death... Death is what draws out the power of regression to its extreme.'

That's right.

In truth, my real authority doesn't seem to be something like [Death Regression].

Rather, the reason I cannot wield the authority to control regression or time at will is because I haven't realized my own fate.

Because I haven't realized my fate, I am forced to bear the risk of death to trigger the authority to defy time.

'Now that I've reached the realm of True Immortal... I can see much more than before.'

Hwiiiiii!

I look up at the [sky] as I go against the river of history.

In the past, I had to be extremely cautious not to look at that sky.

After all, seeing Governing Immortals during regression could have driven me mad.

But now, it's no longer a problem.

Instead, I observe the [Ten Seats] floating beneath the black sky.

So far, I've identified the emblems of two out of the ten Seats.

[Mountain Exuding Darkness].

[White Wheel].

In other words, the Great Mountain Supreme Deity and the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.

'Shall I try to identify the other Seats as well?'

While regressing, I examine the Seats and manage to read three more located at the center.

[Transparent Seed].

[Six Interconnected Stars].

[Blackened Three Great Ultimates].

That's what they are.

As I recognize those seats, I come to know who their owners are, along with their names.

Eastern Heavenly Venerable, Flower Monarch, Gwan Myeong (官命).

Southern Heavenly Venerable, True Ultimate Eternal Life Great Emperor, Cheon Woon (天運).

Northern Heavenly Venerable, True Martial Great Emperor, Hyeon Mu (玄武).

'These are the names of the Heavenly Venerables... Then the other Supreme Deities and the Underworld are...?'

Just as I am about to look at the other Seats— Paaaaatt!

'Damn...'

Unfortunately, the time for regression ends here.

I close my eyes, aware that I am about to reach reality once more.

A new life begins.

The first moment of my one-thousand-and-second life is there.

'I see... this place is...'

It's the very moment right after I used Heavenly Escape from the Interdimensional Void to the domain of purity, declaring my intention to advance to True Immortality before the Great Sun Heavenly Lord.

'Damn... I need to focus...'

Perhaps it's because I've regressed to right after the True Immortal advancement ritual.

Even though there are many things I need to think about, I can't focus my mind within the domain of purity.

Despite having grown accustomed to Heavenly Escape, I realize my consciousness is fading and understand why.

—History repetition.

'Damn...'

A repeating history becomes an Immortal Art in itself.

It was the teaching of Glass Peacock.

'Kk... uuuuugh...'

Despite having grown used to Heavenly Escape in my previous life, my True Immortal advancement ritual lasted three thousand years.

Because that history has been 'fixed,' it cannot be twisted with ordinary power.

'No... I have to... regain... consciousness... faster...'

And so, I fall asleep once more within the domain of purity.

I end up having to undergo the True Immortal advancement ritual again.

Life and death are accepted.

At the same time, I snap my eyes open, regaining consciousness directly at the True Immortal Plane.

'This place... I see.'

In the end, the regression point has been fixed.

'What determines the fixing of the regression point...?'

It's clearly something that is beyond my comprehension.

'One thing is certain.'

The Interdimensional Void.

'I once thought it was the Head Realm that served as the standard... but it wasn't. The regression point has always been fixed whenever I passed through the Interdimensional Void.'

True Martial Great Emperor Hyeon Mu!

Recalling her hollow laughter, I can't shake the thought that the Heavenly Venerable of Void is somehow connected to regression.

'Sooner or later, I'll inevitably have to clash with her. Now then... should I wait for Great Mountain Supreme Deity's True Immortal advancement ritual?'

Just as I prepare to receive the gaze of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity,

"...?"

Something feels off.

I look up at the distant sky of the True Immortal Realm.

The Ten Seats located there.

None of them pay attention to me.

No, that's not true.

I can feel that each of them is giving me a bit of attention.

They are curious.

But that's all.

'What... is this?'

The Great Mountain Supreme Deity does not impose tribulation upon me, nor does the Naming Supreme Deity appear for some reason.

'Something... something is strange.'

While feeling this strange sense of déjà vu, I realize that my True Immortal advancement has somehow been completely 'completed.'

"Hmm? What is this...? I see. The body from my past life..."

The body that had been entirely destroyed by the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord in my past life has followed me through regression.

And the potential of that body has now merged with my current body in this life.

'Has the advancement ritual become unnecessary because the Immortal Body that completed the True Immortal advancement in my previous life has fused with the Immortal Body of this life? This is... good. For now, let's descend to the Lower Realm and assess the situation.'

Wo-woong!

I slowly descend to the lower plane using the Impermanence Sword.

Once fully descended, I observe the positions of the stars and the flow of attraction force, realizing something.

'Wait... this is different!? It's different... Th-This is...'

Indeed.

In my past life, I regained consciousness three thousand years after advancing to True Immortality.

But in this life, I regressed to the point right after beginning my True Immortal advancement and awakened after approximately two thousand nine hundred and sixty years after completing my advancement.

'The time taken for the True Immortal advancement... is faster than before!?'

It's a slight difference, but faster nonetheless.

Is it because I've experienced advancing to True Immortality one more time?

I seem to regain consciousness faster in the domain of purity.

'Haha...'

That's right.

Though history repeats itself, through regression, small changes can be made little by little even within those subtle repetitions.

'Well, good. For now...'

Just as I become aware of the shift in the timeline and begin to move swiftly— Paaaatt!

A flash of light bursts forth.

At the same time, time itself seems to come to a halt.

I widen my eyes at the presence before me.

The being that has appeared before me.

That being is...

Yang Ji-hwang.

Yes, it is the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord who revealed their true name in my past life.

The giant god of light wearing a silver-white mask radiates silver-white light before me.

For a while, I stare at the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

'I was foolish...'

It is my fault.

Perhaps it's because of the traumatic memory of being torn apart along with the Heavenly Domain in my past life that my mind is momentarily frozen.

'So, this is how I'll die immediately after regressing...'

I shut my eyes tightly, waiting for the death that is soon to come, or perhaps the sadistic torment of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

However, at that moment, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord looks around, then disappears while speaking words similar to those from my past life.

:: There was foresight that you would appear here... I see. Since you are of the Heart Tribe, you might have moved through the Plane of Soul.:: After finishing their words, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord disappears before my eyes just like before, mentioning they will go somewhere I might visit.

Seeing this, I realize something.

'Th-That reaction is...!'

Whiiiii!

I descend and sit at the altar created by Hong Fan, observing my inner self.

Within me, something very familiar illuminates me, and something that [should have been] inside me has [disappeared].

'A part of my soul is missing, and in its place... is an Immortal Title.'

Immortal Title, Crystal Glass.

Indeed.

The Immortal Title 'Crystal Glass Being' granted to me by the Naming Supreme Deity, Hyeon Rang, still remains within me.

And from that, I come to realize a terrifying truth.

'Does that mean... [what has been exchanged directly with Governing Immortals] remains even after regression!?'

I can't fully understand the exact principle.

Considering that memories aren't directly passed to the Governing Immortals, and only one of them can follow regression, it might just be speculation.

However, one thing is certain—they are beings capable of resisting, to a significant extent, the authority of the Enders.

"Master, here you are."

"Ah, Hong Fan. Yes. It's been a while..."

I smile as I lock eyes with the familiar face of Hong Fan.

Facing Hong Fan, I set aside my complicated thoughts for a moment, starting a new life as I briefly look up at the sky.

'... Regardless of the outcome, I've regressed again...'

My head starts to ache.

Glass Peacock, who threw herself to save me in the final moment.

And the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, who destroyed me with the technique called Filling the Heavens Sword Rain, yet, to the very end, failed to suppress the warmth held for me.

Now, both of them...

Have become beings beyond regression.

'... It was a good life.'

Drip—

"Master, what is wrong?"

As I recall the final moments of my past life, tears flow down my face. Hong Fan, flustered, hands me a handkerchief, and I wipe my tears as I speak.

"It's nothing. I just... thought of those I'm grateful for."

Since the words have already come out, I bow in the center of Hong Fan's altar, offering my respects to my masters of my past life.

'Thank you.'

Not just to my masters, but to that past life itself.

And so, my 1002nd life begins with gratitude towards the life before.

"Alright, Hong Fan. I was just sorting out my emotions over something that troubled me... Let's move on."

This time, I probably won't be able to visit the Head Realm.

I'll likely have to send Hong Fan or some others there instead.

'I'll tell them to bring the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect out from the Head Realm, and for the connections in the other Middle Realms...'

It seems I'll have to bid farewell through dream manifestation (現夢).

'And this time, I'll directly take Golden Shaking Bird with me to find Yeo Hwi.'

There's probably no need to fight Golden Shaking Bird this time.

After all, she'll know our purpose.

And by visiting Yeo Hwi with Golden Shaking Bird, there won't be any unnecessary history of betrayal. It'll be good for both sides.

'That's right. Now that I think about it, I paid less attention to the Candle Dragon Race in my past life.

In this life, I should check how the Candle Dragon Race is faring.

'Good. Now then, shall we move quickly to meet Jeon Myeong-hoon?'

With that resolve, I soar into the sky alongside Hong Fan.

"Let's go, Hong Fan."

"Yes. Then, I'll dispose of that altar."

"Hmm?"

At those words, I glance down at the altar Hong Fan created.

It's a stone altar on a desolate planet, but beneath it, I see small creatures squirming that appear to be bugs, and snake-like beings.

Among them, a silver snake particularly catches my eye, stirring memories of Gyeong-i from my past life. For some reason, it feels wrong to just let it die.

"Don't do that. It seems to have become a habitat for many creatures."

"Hmm, I am not sure. They are utterly useless life forms. No different from trash. Besides, the altar has served its purpose, so disposing of it seems appropriate..."

"..."

"Well, if it is Master's wish, I will show some mercy."

Seeing the look in my eyes, Hong Fan nods and waves his hand.

Kurururung!

The altar sinks deep into the ground, and the nearby creatures are gently pushed underground along with it.

Not a single life, not even a bug is harmed. They'll continue living beneath the surface.

"I did not destroy it. Just buried it. Will this suffice?"

"Yes, that's enough. There's no need to kill innocent living beings."

"Haw, haw. Merciful as always, Master. Listen well, you creatures. I intended to discard you along with the altar... but Master has spared you. Know your place, and live without ever attempting to surface above the ground again."

With those parting words, Hong Fan and I swiftly move into the Interdimensional Void of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

As we travel, I reflect on the teachings of my past-life master— The final lesson from Glass Peacock.

'The past never returns. And history revision is merely a difference in the perspective through which we interpret the unchanging past...'

Yet, amidst these thoughts, a strange feeling creeps in.

'... Wait. If that's the case...'

What exactly is my [Wheel]?

'How is it performing something like rewriting (改變) rather than a mere revision (改竄)!?'

My eyes widen at the terrifying truth I've just uncovered.

Just how, and by what principle, does the [Wheel] produce miracles that directly violate the absolute axiom of history?