Chương 599: Pen (5)

The Great Forest Heavenly Lord surveys the eight symbols and then turns towards the two symbols in the corner.

The symbols are all enveloped in powerful light.

However, the symbols of [Mountain Exuding Darkness] and [Six Interconnected Stars] glow dimly.

In the space of chaos where the symbol of [Black Snake Biting Its Tail] presides, the Radiance Eight Immortals each occupy seats, creating a throne of light to sit on.

The first seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord, looks at the gathered symbols and speaks.

:: Even in these turbulent times, to think so many Imperial Kings have attended the banquet...:: The Great Forest Heavenly Lord, seemingly satisfied, looks down at the faces of the symbols as if they are the master of this place, and at those who have descended on behalf of each Supreme Deity and Heavenly Venerable.

In front of the symbol of [Transparent Seed], White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus sits on a throne blooming with countless flowers.

At the location marked by the symbol of [Bird Trapped in a Cage], the owner of the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain and the host providing the banquet venue, the Liberation Supreme Deity, Bong Myeong, is seated.

The giant falcon of light, as if about to swallow the universe, sits in a half-human, half-beast form on a seven-colored throne, supporting its face on one hand and slowly gazing around the surroundings.

Enveloped in the light of seven colors, the detailed expression and gaze cannot be discerned, but Bong Myeong's face points towards the something in the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's hand and stops there.

At the symbol of [Spear of Lightning], a faceless white-haired woman sits in flowered shoes on a throne made of lightning.

At the symbol of [Black Sun], there is a pitch-black throne that seems to suck in light, where a massive black tiger, whose body is composed of the universe's darkness, lies covering the entire throne, licking its body.

It seems indifferent to other beings, focusing only on instinct as ordinary tigers would.

In front of the symbol of [Taiji In The Shape Of A Fetus], there is a throne of chaos.

A hazy figure faintly appears on this throne of chaos, seemingly wearing a black robe.

Having looked around to this point, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord displays a slightly uncomfortable expression as they glance at the remaining two symbols.

:: Is the master of the distinguished one still unaccounted for?:: [I apologize.] The symbol of [Six Interconnected Stars] is very dim, as if it might extinguish at any moment.

And standing in front of it is Yeong Seung.

In their Transformation form, Yeong Seung bows towards the Radiance Eight Immortals, their expression hardening.

:: If it is your master, wandering around the Outer Sea may be difficult, but returning to Mount Sumeru should surely be easy... However, seeing as They have not returned, is it because you have failed to faithfully persuade your master?:: [... I have nothing to say.]:: It is alway the same words. The Heavenly Venerable of Time, the True Ultimate Eternal Life Great Emperor, is an essential being for Mount Sumeru. Do you even know how many errors have arisen across Mount Sumeru due to Their absence?

Find a solution. Why are you just stretching out your legs and waiting for your master!!??:: It is when the Great Forest Heavenly Lord continues to press Yeong Seung.

Bong Myeong, appearing slightly uncomfortable, shifts slightly.

:: Please stop there, O Radiance. It makes me a bit uncomfortable to see Yeong Seung continuously reprimanded.:::: Hmm, my apologies, Liberation. That was not my intention.:: The Great Forest Heavenly Lord gives a cursory apology to Bong Myeong, the creator of Yeong Seung, and then glares once more at Yeong Seung.

:: I expect you to find a way to contact your master and make Them return.:: [Understood...] Having finished speaking, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord finally glares at the symbol of [Mountain Exuding Darkness].

::... Are you ridiculing us to the end, Great Mountain...?:: Where the Great Forest Heavenly Lord's gaze lands.

There stands a beautiful, expressionless woman in a dark-red blood robe.

She does not move an inch from her spot.

It is Oh Hye-seo.

:: You make an Ender your disciple, feed them the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea, and send them to this place...!!! Just how much must you mock Radiance Hall to be satisfied!? Ra Cheon!!:: Jjeoooong!

As the Great Forest Heavenly Lord waves their hand, an enormous beam of light pours down towards Oh Hye-seo.

However, the light merely passes through her in vain.

She does not move even as much as a speck of dust.

It is as if she is nailed to that spot.

Seeing this, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord trembles with anger.

:: So this time, you send not even the tiniest bit of energy, but just a pure illusion!? How utterly displeasing.:: Kururung!

As they wave their hand again, the light converges on her illusion, trying to erase it.

Yet, despite the Great Forest Heavenly Lord's efforts, the illusion remains unaffected and stays in place.

Upon witnessing this, Great Forest shakes with even greater fury.

:: Ha! Did you put some special trick into this illusion meant to mock us? So you invest effort into ridicule. Just wait. Your disciple will definitely be captured someday...! Ra Cheon!!!:: Watching the Great Forest Heavenly Lord seething in anger, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord raises a finger to their lips.

Seeing this, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord seems to tremble slightly before stroking their mask.

Ssak!

Simultaneously, as if the previous display of anger was a lie, The Great Forest Heavenly Lord surveys the surroundings in a monotonous voice like a doll.

:: As the Great Mountain Supreme Deity appears to be engaged in strange actions, we shall ignore it and proceed with the banquet. I thank all the many Governing Immortals who have gathered for the banquet this time as well.:: There is no particular reaction among the Supreme Deities and Heavenly Venerables.

Only the entity in the form of a black tiger continues to gnaw at the pitch-black throne it sits upon like a beast, while the white-haired woman representing the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, Zhengli, merely scoffs.

:: And since the Flower Monarch and the Flower Overseer have shown their faces, you may leave whenever you wish. The same goes for you, Yeong Seung.:: White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus scoffs at those words.

[Do you think the Heavenly Venerable and I are dogs that come and go at your command? Do not order us around. We will leave if we want to. With the Heavenly Venerable's attendance, this should be called a Governing Immortal Banquet rather than a Supreme Deity Banquet.] Though somewhat provocative, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord accepts as if unconcerned.

:: How unusual. The Heavenly Venerables will not gain much from this... Do as you like.:: [Hmph, it's amusing how you unleash anger on Yeong Seung, who has no backing, while maintaining a courteous attitude towards me, who does. Just get on with it!] White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus, seemingly displeased, crosses their arms and leans back on the floral throne.

The Great Forest Heavenly Lord shows little reaction and utters a few customary words.

:: I would like to thank the Liberation Supreme Deity for providing this venue today to hold the Governing Immortal Banquet. This banquet also serves as a celebration of the Liberation Supreme Deity's enthronement, which occurred several tens of thousands of years ago.:::: I am overwhelmed. It still feels unbelievable that a mere distant bloodline of the Ignorant One like myself can enjoy such luxury.:::: Enjoy it, Liberation.

Surpassing your vulgar ancestor and being enthroned as a Supreme Deity is the highest of honors, is it not?:::: Thank you for your praise.:::: Then once again, I thank everyone for gathering at this time's Supreme Deity... no. Since the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable has joined us, this time's Governing Immortal Banquet!:: The Great Forest Heavenly Lord expresses gratitude to the Governing Immortals once more, but only receives a cold response in return.

Zhengli speaks with disdain.

[How laughable. Forcibly gathering everyone to flaunt your power every now and then, and you speak of gratitude?]:: Haha, it seems the Heavenly Punishment Supporting Envoy (天罰奉養使者) has some dissatisfaction. However, I know that once the banquet begins, you will all enjoy yourselves as usual. I merely hope that you enjoy it this time as well.:: [...]:: For this banquet, in addition to the delicacies of the mountains and seas provided by our Radiance Hall...

at the end of the banquet, the Liberation Supreme Deity, who has provided this venue, has also said They will offer a very special treat. Perhaps the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity will be thrilled and rush in.:: The Great Forest Heavenly Lord glances at the black tiger gnawing on the pitch-black throne out of hunger, and then continues speaking to Bong Myeong.

:: If what you hinted before the banquet is true, you are indeed a true sibling to our Radiance Hall. Our Radiance Hall will stand as a sturdy fence for the distinguished one instead of the Underworld.:::: Thank you for your words. I hope the relationship with Radiance Hall deepens, and that the Ender situation resolves with their complete annihilation of those who have stepped into True Immortality.:: Bong Myeong's words embed themselves into the universe as a prophecy.

A scene of the entities called Enders being eventually captured by Radiance Hall flickers faintly across the entirety of Mount Sumeru and then vanishes.

Seven of the Radiance Eight Immortals show very satisfied reactions upon seeing this.

:: Now then, the introduction was lengthy.:: The Great Forest Heavenly Lord chuckles and extends a hand.

At their gesture, countless innate Entering Nirvana True Persons, who lack reason, appear in the void and begin to bring something.

:: From now on, I declare the start of the Governing Immortal Assembly (御仙會).:: The banquet of great divine spirits begins.

The innate Entering Nirvana True Persons start to revolve around the space of chaos, using their bodies as drums and pipas to create a bizarre melody.

Amid this cosmic melody, the chaotic space transforms according to the will of the Radiance Eight Immortals.

Dust clouds and ice masses spin within the chaos, forming a round table for the Supreme Deities.

Yeong Seung, observing this scene, bows slightly to the Radiance Eight Immortals as if feeling uncomfortable, and then bows once more towards the symbol of the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable.

White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus also bows towards Yeong Seung, and Yeong Seung vanishes from the spot.

Then, the Entering Nirvana True Persons start placing items fitting for the banquet upon the round table.

:: The mountain and sea delicacies (山海珍味) prepared this time are very special. They have been extracted for only about 500, 000 years since the Vast Cold Incident...:: Kugugugung!

They are literally mountains and seas.

Mountains and seas are laid upon the round table.

Composed of mountains, seas, and various strange worlds, they appear to be a literal landscape scene when observed up close. Yet from a distance, something seems different.

These strange worlds somehow take on shapes akin to human heads, beast limbs, and even intestines.

:: These are the fresh ancient forces extracted from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain by the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord...:: The Great Forest Heavenly Lord laughs, gesturing to the round table if presenting precious delicacies.

:: Then, please, eat your fill.:: With that, the meal of the Supreme Deities begins.

Jjeooek!

The masks of the Radiance Eight Immortals split open where their mouths should be.

The Eight Immortals reach out their hands to the round table and start picking up the [mountain and sea delicacies] to eat.

Wadududuk, chomp, chomp!

The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord stuffs a world resembling a child's skull into their mouth, chewing.

The Naming Supreme Deity Hyeon Rang picks up and eats an organ from the table with a hazy hand.

The Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity Hyeon Ryul undergoes a change in demeanor as soon as the banquet begins.

In the form of a black tiger, They exude majesty befitting a Supreme Deity, adorned in a pitch-black mianguan and dragon robe.

Yet, as soon as They touch what's on the table, countless sharp mouths sprout from Their entire body, voraciously gnawing and swallowing the food.

Waduduk, jjeeek! Kkadududuk!

The Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity Do Gon possesses Zhengli.

Zhengli's form changes.

From a white-haired woman, she transforms into a massive something made entirely of lightning, and starts devouring the food on the round table.

Wooduduk, kwadududuk!

Chewchewchewchewchew!

Consuming food resembling a woman's arms and legs, Do Gon releases lightning into the surroundings as if satisfied.

Heavenly tribulations capable of destroying galaxies fall around.

White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus seems displeased but picks up an eyeball the size of their fist and puts it in their mouth.

Kudududuk!

As they chew and burst the eyeball, tiny somethings within the eyeball scream and are absorbed into White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus's body.

With each movement of their jaw, the world within the food collapses as Heaven and Earth are overturned.

Shururuuk— The somethings absorbed into the body of White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus are drawn into the symbol of [Transparent Seed] beyond their throne.

And, the Liberation Supreme Deity Bong Myeong picks up someone's hand that is missing a ring finger from among the dishes.

They briefly glance at the side of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, then back at the Radiance Eight Immortals.

The Great Forest Heavenly Lord looks at Bong Myeong and casts a warm, gentle light upon them.

:: Please, eat.:: Bong Myeong gazes at the food in Their hand.

Food.

Mountain and Sea Delicacies.

Or...

Ancient Force (古力).

The Supreme Deity Great Banquet (上帝大宴會).

Known as the Supreme Deity Assembly, or when conducted with the attendance of a Heavenly Venerable like this time, referred to as the Governing Immortal Assembly, is a celebratory feast for Imperial Kings.

The purpose of this Governing Immortal Assembly is simple.

The Imperial Kings who rule the world are half-forced by Radiance Hall to gather and consume the ancient forces extracted from the Head Realm.

However...

Though softened by the term ancient force, what ultimately lies upon the round table are the corpses of True Immortals.

In essence, the true meaning of the Governing Immortal Assembly is for the Supreme Deities to officially gather and feast upon True Immortals.

It is as the Great Forest Heavenly Lord says.

Though some, like Zhengli, feel displeased about being forced to gather, once they start eating the [mountain and sea delicacies] of the Radiance Eight Immortals, they feel extreme satisfaction and no one complains.

Bong Myeong ponders.

Since being enthroned as a Supreme Deity, how many beings have They devoured?

Though They have yet to properly devour a True Immortal, They will be devouring those who advance to True Immortality as countless eons pass.

In the realm of Vestige Liberation Immortal, the Radiance Supreme Deity devours Vestige Liberation Immortals.

In the realm of Upper Immortal, the Great Mountain Supreme Deity devours Upper Immortals.

They, too, will devour the True Immortals, or cultivators, of the realm They oversee.

Have They not already consumed a considerable number of Entering Nirvana True Persons?

Wuduk— Unable to withstand the gaze of the Radiance Eight Immortals upon Them...

Unable to bear the light of the [Black Snake Biting Its Tail] behind Them...

They finally bite into the hand missing a ring finger.

Waduduk!

The world that Bong Myeong puts into Their mouth is truly delicious.

The act of not absorbing by understanding, but digesting and dissolving the power source.

The act of not making the ancient force one's own, but converting it solely to one's strength and annihilating it.

The act of passing down one's throat the hidden histories, the achievements of once-living and breathing True Immortals.

The act of getting rid of hidden wisdom with their own hands before Radiance Hall!

Bong Myeong deeply despises this act.

Yet, regardless of Their will, They find Themself gluttonously shoving the food on the round table down Their mouth like the other Supreme Deities.

'Radiance Hall... has repeated this act for as long as the history of the Imperial Venerable...'

A repeated history ultimately becomes strength.

Thus, there are almost no Supreme Deities who can refuse this act.

No one even thinks to refuse in the first place.

From the beginning, the other two Heavenly Venerables besides Underworld and Void have all risen to Heavenly Venerable through such means, and the Heavenly Venerable of the Void rose using even more chilling methods.

In the end, continuously devouring True Immortals is akin to the orthodox path to becoming a Heavenly Venerable.

The current Heavenly Venerables are practically performing what they now do endlessly in real time.

However, Bong Myeong recalls the two beings who have escaped such 'banquets' of Radiance Hall.

'Salt Sea... Gwak Am... and the Imperial Venerable... Though this may be just a guess, perhaps you too, Cheon Woon... wagered your existence to escape the bridle of Heavenly Venerables.'

Though the Great Mountain Supreme Deity's escape is relatively recent, They nonetheless broke free.

The Heavenly Venerable of Time, having distanced Themself from Mount Sumeru, likely somewhat weakened Their continuous erosion of True Immortals as well.

Of course, the Heavenly Venerable of Time would not be entirely free as They are a Heavenly Venerable, but They would have escaped considerably.

However, Bong Myeong, greedily stuffing Their mouth with the food from the round table, feels that They cannot escape this act.

It is a terrifying pleasure that none in the entire Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds could offer.

They ponder while They are engulfed in pleasure.

Even They, who reached Supreme Deity...

... seem not much different from a pig or dog ravenously consuming the feed scattered by the Radiance Supreme Deity.

'You... knew this and distrusted us because of it, didn't you...? Yang Su-jin.'

—What kind of Imperial Kings are you!? What kind of Supreme Deities are you!? What kind of gods are you! Are you not... just livestock feeding on the fodder thrown by Light!? How can beings like you, who are the same as me, be gods or kings!!??

Remembering Yang Su-jin's anguished cry, Bong Myeong thinks that they are like beasts.

They remember the words of the Great Forest Heavenly Lord.

That Radiance Hall would be Their fence.

Yet for some reason, Bong Myeong finds the words laughable.

It is not a fence.

'It is... a pen.'

A pen that confines livestock.

Wadududuk!

Waduk!

Jjeodudududuk!

Chompchompchomp!

Uduk, uduk!

Thus.

Bong Myeong, like the other beasts trapped in the pen, diligently eats and digests the fragments and wisdom dissolved from the Head Realm.

Thinking that if They continue to eat like this, They might become plump and fat...

They ceaselessly stuff mountain and sea delicacies into Their mouth.