Chương 611: Kidnapper, One Who Returns To Thee (歸依者) (2)

"Kuaaaaaaaagh!"

"Hukuaaaaaagh!"

The entire Human Race writhes in agony as Glass True Fire engulfs them.

Especially in the areas where the eye is directed, the flames burn even more fiercely.

Azure Cold Island is right there.

The disciples of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect revel in the flames, bathing in the Glass True Fire, while Jun Eom grits his teeth, enduring the pain it brings.

But Jun Jae is different.

"Hukuaaaaaagh!!"

Jun Jae's entire body!

Is transforming!

His whole body transforms into flames of glass as he screams in pain and terror.

"Ah, ugh, no! No! Wh-What is this!? Kuaaaaaaaagh!"

Jun Eom, witnessing the sight, subconsciously tries to [look up] at the sky.

Seeing this, Jun Jae clenches his teeth and rushes toward him, pressing his head down.

"Kuugh! No! Don't look! You must not look at them! Kuugh! J-Jun Eom-ah..."

Jun Jae, his expression sorrowful, begins to dissolve into glass flames and is absorbed into the sky.

"I leave the rest... to you..."

Gradually, his expression turns blank as he is sucked even faster towards the sky.

"... Ugh... uuuuh... Re... Retu..."

Jun Eom, hearing his final words, stands frozen in confusion, staring blankly into the void.

"Return (歸依)... to thee..."

Huarurururuk!

At last, the dreadful [eye] looming in the sky vanishes.

And Jun Eom, having witnessed that existence, is treated as if he has undergone [Heavenly Tribulation] and advances to the Integration stage.

"Ah... Uh... Ah..."

Jun Eom rises to his feet.

That being bestowed [wisdom] upon him.

"S... Sword Devil...?"

It is the wisdom of the entity his ancestor, Jun Jae, had taught him about—the Sword Devil Seo Eun-hyun.

He now understands what situation has befallen Jun Jae.

According to the [wisdom] granted by that being, it is not such a terrible situation.

By returning (歸依) to the 'Sword Devil Seo Eun-hyun,' who was once called one of the Three Great Calamities of the Human Race, he will now live a far better life as their subordinate.

Even the lifespan issue that Jun Jae had worried about is resolved.

"..."

Having just witnessed his ancestor being kidnapped in an instant, Jun Eom can only stare blankly at the sky.

"... Am I... free...?"

The two figures who had oppressed him his entire life— Jun Jae and Azure Tiger Saint—have vanished today.

One within the Heavenly Tribulation, and the other by returning (歸依) to a True Immortal.

Jun Eom has gained the 'freedom' he desired. But having acquired it so suddenly, he has no idea what to do. Amidst panic, and confusion, he simply collapses onto the ground.

Nether Ghost Realm.

There, 'someone' practicing the Ghost Path Method looks up at the sky.

"Hmm? What is this...? The celestial energy..."

Just then...

Jjeook!

Just like in the Bright Cold Realm, the sky [splits open], and a gigantic [eye] appears.

"Kuaaaaaaaagh!"

The Ghost Path Method cultivator, Yu Hwi, screams as he instantly 'returns (歸依)' to that being.

The eye then disappears from the sky of the Nether Ghost Realm once again.

Such events occur throughout the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Seo Eun-hyun's winged garment drifts across the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, delivering Seo Eun-hyun's 'gaze' to various locations.

'It's done! I've secured Yu Hwi, and I've got Jun Jae to use when I head to the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain. And...'

I read through history while gritting my teeth towards Jun Jae, who has now entered my body.

'So it was you who pushed Azure Tiger Saint to his death? You bastard...'

But just as I am about to direct my anger toward Jun Jae, I catch a strange scene within his past.

'Hmm?'

The moment Azure Tiger Saint underwent the Heavenly Tribulation.

'What's that?'

Jun Jae hadn't noticed, but the beings present at that moment were [four].

Azure Tiger Saint, Jun Jae, and Azure Tiger Saint's new disciple, Jun Eom.

And one more entity...

'A deer?'

It is a [white deer].

The deer approaches Azure Tiger Saint as if unaffected by the Heavenly Tribulation, and then vanishes.

Immediately after, Azure Tiger Saint disappears as well.

'What in the world...?'

I am taken aback, unable to comprehend it.

'Wasn't Azure Tiger Saint killed by the Heavenly Tribulation...?'

Azure Tiger Saint wasn't 'obliterated' by the Heavenly Tribulation. Instead, he 'disappeared' along with that deer-like something.

That too towards a place I can't even begin to identify.

'Did some higher existence take him away...?'

There's nothing I can verify right now.

:: I have something to say. Please...:: Pukwak!

I continue maneuvering my winged garment while fleeing from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

Next, the winged garment reveals the location of Ham Jin.

Through it, my 'gaze' reaches where Ham Jin is.

The sky above Ham Jin's planet 'opens,' and my [eye] stares directly at him.

Ham Jin meets my gaze and calmly turns into Glass True Fire as he naturally returns (歸依) to me.

'Next is Yeo Hwi!'

:: Listen to my words, Seo Eun-hyun.:: While my true body keeps the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord occupied, my winged garment heads toward Cedarwood Painting.

Blink!

The sky of Cedarwood Painting opens, and I look upon Yeo Hwi.

"Huekkyaaaaaaagh!"

Yeo Hwi stares at me in shock before speaking with a face of disbelief.

"N-No way, that's a winged garment...? C-Could it be Heaven Immortal...?"

Recognizing me as a Heaven Upper Immortal at once, Yeo Hwi lets out a hollow laugh before charging straight at me.

"Hahaha! As expected, my judgment was never wrong! I, Yeo Hwi, pledge my loyalty to my master!"

Huarurururuk!

Yeo Hwi instantly transforms into Glass True Fire and naturally returns (歸依) to me.

'The last one... is Golden Shaking Bird!'

:: I'm telling you to wait...!:: Pukwak!

Chwararararak!

My winged garment carries my command and swiftly moves to the edge of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

To the place where Yang Su-jin's ring finger, the Lightning Sacred Sea is located.

And through my winged garment, I transmit my will to Golden Shaking Bird there.

I inform her about Jeon Myeong-hoon, and as Golden Shaking Bird is half in doubt,:: Seo Eun-hyun. I'm telling you to listen to me!:: Flash!

Kwagwagwagwang!

With both my arms gripped by the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, I am slammed onto the surface of a planet.

'Ah, no! I'm caught. There's no time left!'

There is no time to kindly explain things to Golden Shaking Bird.

I transmit my power towards my winged garment.

Kururururung!

At the far edge of the universe, I sense my winged garment absorbing my power and wrapping around the Lightning Sacred Sea.

Golden Shaking Bird convulses, but there's no choice.

Chwararararak!

My winged garment envelops the entire Lightning Sacred Sea and, regardless of Golden Shaking Bird's convulsions, connects to the Lightning Sacred Sea through the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique and extracts it.

:: Seo Eun-hyun. There is something I need to say to you.::

"... What is it?"

:: Just what exactly is it that you have instilled into me?::

"..."

I swallow.

'Hurry, hurry!'

Golden Shaking Bird resists, but at last, the Lightning Sacred Sea is completely pulled out from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

'Now!'

Then, my winged garment transfers the Lightning Sacred Sea into my body.

"That is..."

I slow my speech as much as possible, trying to buy time.

Immediately after, Paaaaatt!

My winged garment swiftly heads back towards the Middle Realm zone.

A short while later, from the distance, I see Hong Fan, who has taken the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

My winged garment swallows Hong Fan whole and transfers him into my body, and only then do I realize that my business in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain is finally over.

"... For now, I cannot tell you."

:: What...?:: Jjeooooook!

My body instantly turns into a hazy mist.

And from within the mist, a familiar figure emerges.

It is In Ye.

Drawing the bowstring, In Ye shoots an arrow straight at the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's chest.

The Immortal Art Sun Shooting strikes her chest.

::...!:: Even the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, one of the Radiance Eight Immortals, flinches from being struck by Sun Shooting and momentarily pulls away from me!

Seizing that fleeting instant, I cut my neck.

'With this, it's over.'

Shukak!

:: Wait, Seo Eun-hyun! I said wait!:: The next place I appear is the teleportation formation leading to the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.

Paatt!

As soon as I exert my will, my winged garment, flying from afar, lands neatly upon me.

'How incredibly convenient, this winged garment...'

Draped in my winged garment, I glance behind me.

Kiiiiiiiing!

The jade of Yin-Yang and Five Elements gathers in my hand.

I begin collapsing the entire dimension containing the teleportation formation with the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.

Kurururung!

The entrance to the teleportation formation on this side crumbles.

At the same time, I see the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord flying towards me from afar.

:: Seo Eun-hyun!!::

"... I apologize, but let us meet again next time. Well then, I shall take my leave..."

With that, I kidnap those I need from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain and depart for the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.

Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.

Flash!

I arrive at the teleportation formation there.

:: Who goes there...?:: And after swiftly killing the bothersome gatekeeping True Immortal in a single strike, I reveal my true form.

Kururururung!

My true form as the Immortal Beast Candle Shadow emerges.

Before long, familiar True Immortals appear.

:: How dare you!? Do you think you can invade Radiance Hall and walk away unscathed...!?:: Jjeooooook!

I open my mouth towards a familiar one among the bothersome True Immortals.

:: Heok! Y-You bastard! What are you—:: A True Immortal I met in the past cycle who walks the same Immortal Dao of the Mountain (山) as I do.

'I need this one.'

Gulp!

After wrapping the True Immortal, who walks the Immortal Dao of the Mountain, with my winged garment and sealing them away, I swallow them in my Candle Shadow form and imprison them in my inner world.

Seeing this, the True Immortals of Radiance Hall begin convulsing in madness.

:: That bastard ate an Upper Immortal of Radiance Hall!!!:::: Look at the power radiating from him! Th-That power is...:::: It's the Immortal Dao of the Mountain!!!:::: A Devil Immortal influenced by the Great Mountain Supreme Deity has been born!! Capture him!! Do not let him escape!!:: It seems that the sight of me consuming a fellow Immortal touches their reverse scale, reminding them of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

Numerous True Immortals charge at me even more ferociously than in my previous life.

And perhaps because my perspective has shifted, I can sense even Immortal Lord-level and Great Net Immortal-level beings in the distance.

However, I am not particularly worried.

:: I have no further business with you all. So then... farewell.:: Heavenly Escape!

Shukwak!

I instantly transform into my Transformation form, then cut my neck, committing suicide.

Thus, by using Heavenly Escape to enter the domain of purity, I very easily shake off the pursuit of the True Immortals of Radiance Hall.

'In this life... I won't be caught so easily.'

At the end of my last life, I saw hope.

The hope of severing regression!

Thus, my first priority in this life is longevity!

'I will live long, accumulate as much power as possible... reach the realm of Great Net Immortal, and seize a definitive starting point to severing regression! And before that even happens... like hell will I let myself be caught by the likes of you!'

Unlike my past lives, I will not get entangled with Supreme Deities or Heavenly Venerables. Instead, I will live as long as possible, elevate my cultivation to the realm of Great Net Immortal, and grasp the hope of breaking free from regression!

That is the greatest objective of this life.

Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Gazing at the collapsed teleportation formation there, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord trembles.

:: Seo Eun-hyun...:: She strokes her mask as she continues speaking.

:: There are... too many things... I need to ask you...:: What are these memories that are surfacing within her?

Why does she have recollections of feeling affection for someone in the Head Realm, that she has not been to?

She must ask him about it.

But soon, as she trembles, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord sharply fixes her gaze towards a specific point.

She peers beyond the dimension, into a deep and even deeper dimension.

Towards a darkness where no light reaches.

::... Is it you? Underworld.:: No answer comes from the darkness.

:: You... What have you done to me, joining hands with the Ender!?:: Still, there is no reply.

The darkness only wavers, as if mocking the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

Clutching at her chest, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord growls.

:: I will find the answers... What these memories are, what this strange feeling boiling within my chest is... And I will expose your sins one by one, making you all pay for your mockery of Radiance Hall...!:: After gazing at the Underworld for some time, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord leaves the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

With the teleportation formation destroyed, she has to cross over to the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain on her own.

The depths of the Underworld.

The deepest, darkest place.

There, a being carries a [White Wheel] upon their back.

That ancient and dark being lets out a slow chuckle.

Then, whispering so no one can overhear, they mutter.

:: Stay vigilant, O Regressor...:: That being looks up at Seo Eun-hyun, who arrived in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, slaughtered the Heaven Immortals there, and kidnapped a few, confining them within his body.

:: Those of Heavenly Venerable rank are beginning to awaken...:: The being, known to some as the [Oldest One], looks over the many Seats scattered across the Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand World, as well as their Seat Holders, and murmurs softly.