Chương 656: Heaven's Key (4)

Shwiriririk— Is it because I encountered the Underworld at the very start of this life?

I couldn't unravel the taenghwa of my past life to my comrades of this life.

Paaatt!

As I travel through the Heavenly Domain, I unravel four taenghwa stored within my body.

Except for the one belonging to Kim Young-hoon, who vanished into the future, They are the taenghwa of Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kang Min-hee, Oh Hyun-seok, and Kim Yeon.

The taenghwa begin to each fly away into distant spacetimes.

Chwarararak!

Among them, Jeon Myeong-hoon's taenghwa seems to fly toward a very nearby location, and following it, I arrive at the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.

Kwarrrung!

Upon arrival, I instantly sense a familiar sticky gaze enveloping me.

'Glass Peacock... is it?'

From a faraway star cluster, a clone of Glass Peacock flies toward me, trailing lustful intent.

"G-Goodness... You're the best. The absolute best! Are you perhaps a Heaven-Earth Great Net!? Unbelievable! How euphoric. Come here, become one with me!"

"..."

Is it because the mark of Glass Peacock on my body flew over to Azure Peng?

Unlike the past life, their eyes do not seem as crazed.

I stare at Glass Peacock's clone, gauging its power and capability.

'Overall power is practically at the level of a Great Net Immortal. If it's main body, then it should be at the level of an Immortal Lord. It'd be worth a fight if the main body does come.'

Then, while looking at Glass Peacock, I simply extend my hand.

"Uh, uuh...!"

Kwaak!

In an instant, my true body grabs Glass Peacock's throat.

My true body, in the form of a half-human half-dragon, grabs Glass Peacock with a hand of mist like a vicious beast and smashes them to the ground.

Kugwaaaaang!

Glass Peacock's body slams into a nebula where civilization can't be felt, and from the clone's entire body, Immortal Beast True Blood gushes out, staining the surroundings.

'Glass Peacock's true body is...'

After rendering Glass Peacock's clone completely incapacitated in a single strike, I use Indra's Net to trace the location of the true body.

'Near the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain...?'

It seems Glass Peacock's main body senses me as well, but apparently has no thoughts of coming all the way here.

"You don't seem all that desperate for me, Ignorant One."

"Hu, huuuh... This intense power. This violent momentum... It reminds me of the Mountain-Destroying Demon Ape. Truly... delightful...!"

"..."

"If we ever meet with my main body, I sincerely wish to mate with you. What a shame, such a shame... If I were still an Immortal Lord, I could've surely captured and mated with you. But since Azure Peng took my Seat, even if I try hard, the chances of copulating with you are probably around four-hundredth at best. Hahhh..."

"... It really seems like the main body has no plans to come here."

"Well, that's how it is. By the way, dear... could you tell me your Immortal Title?"

"I have no Immortal Title to share with you. Still, it's strange. Normally, when you see someone as unique as me, aren't you someone who would bring your main body just to violate me, Ignorant One?"

At Glass Peacock's sticky and lustful response, I find myself reacting coldly unconsciously.

This is because the allure emitting from Glass Peacock's true body is so intense that without such coldness, it becomes difficult to endure.

"Hng, well, you aren't wrong. Normally, I'd fly over with my main body just to violate you. But unfortunately, I've found a perfect lead for hunting Azure Peng, who is also a mating partner who truly excites me. So I'm currently preparing to violate her, and use her as a medium to forcibly summon Azure Peng for abduction."

"Who is this 'her' you are talking about?"

"Don't be shocked. She's the new disciple of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity!"

"..."

"Hehe, you don't know how excited I was when I discovered her. I don't know what kind of Immortal Art it is, but it seems she's learned an Immortal Art that allows her to freely draw and wield the authority of us Immortal Beasts, simply by being aware of our existence. I knew it the moment I saw her! That one is the greatest partner I've seen in nearly five hundred thousand years!

And by using her Immortal Art, I can create a plan to draw in Azure Peng's authority, use that as a medium to summon Azure Peng, and kidnap them!"

I realize who Glass Peacock is talking about, and I can't help but let out a silent sigh.

'... It can even turn out like this...? Oh Hye-seo, just what kind of battle did you go through in your past life...?'

"The Great Mountain Holy Mother (泰山聖母) Oh Hye-seo! The newly ascended divine spirit, and direct disciple of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity. If it's her, she will surely be able to accept everything I have! Uuuut! Abducting Azure Peng who's hiding in the Underworld may be nearly impossible... but through the Great Mountain Holy Mother, the chances of kidnapping would rise exponentially.

And rather than Azure Peng, it's far easier to find the Great Mountain Holy Mother hiding in the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, make her into a fool, and make her mine."

"..."

I look at Glass Peacock with a slightly disturbed feeling, but then realize there's actually some overlap between our goals.

'Yes, come to think of it... I also need to make contact with Oh Hye-seo.'

And to do that, I need to break through the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, which is now filled with the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea left behind by Great Mountain.

'If I can join forces with Glass Peacock to contact Oh Hye-seo, that wouldn't be so bad.'

In the previous life, even when Glass Peacock charged at her in heat, Oh Hye-seo seems to have somehow managed to defend herself, and during that time she apparently even joined hands with Black Dragon.

But in this life—what would happen if I join hands with Glass Peacock and invade the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain?

'I can break through. I can break through the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain!'

And...

Just as I swore in my past life, I might be able to grasp the starting point to saving Oh Hye-seo.

'Yes, in that case, let's look at the situation and think about joining hands with Glass Peacock.'

"Uh, uugh! What are you doing right now!?"

I grab Glass Peacock's clone tightly and begin compressing it like a ball.

"This, this is good, too. Ahh! There! Press there a little more!"

"..."

Kkudududuk!

After rolling the ever-blabbering Glass Peacock into a tight ball, I cover them entirely with Glass True Fire, then embed three Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flags to seal them away.

Since it isn't the same sealing method used for myself, Glass Peacock shouldn't be able to take control of it.

'I'll use this clone as a medium to later track down Glass Peacock's main body and propose a collaboration.'

With the plan set, I immediately begin heading to find Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"Have you been well, Jeon Myeong-hoon?"

"Seo Eun-hyun!"

Jeon Myeong-hoon is right in the middle of building a small hut at the edge of a Middle Realm in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.

It seems he hasn't been here long.

'And is it because it hasn't been long since I sent the taenghwa? He's still only at the Entering Nirvana stage.'

It looks like he'll need a separate push to advance to True Immortality.

"You haven't advanced to True Immortal yet."

"Hm, yeah. I think I still need to prepare my heart before I do that, you see."

"There's no need for that."

"Hm?"

Toward the confused Jeon Myeong-hoon, I snap my fingers.

Pukwak!

Just like that, Jeon Myeong-hoon, who is at the Entering Nirvana stage, dies in a single blow.

'The Underworld has begun to support me.'

Which means, the Underworld has already chosen to raise the Enders of this era to the peak through me.

In other words, there will no longer be cases like before where he was taxidermized in front of the Underworld with his butt stuck.

Jeon Myeong-hoon will soon advance to True Immortal, and while I wait for his advancement, I summon Ham Jin, Yu Hwi, Yeo Hwi, and others, explain the situation, and fuse them with the bodies of their previous lives.

That is, I fuse them with my Immortal Treasures.

Of course, if their power increases too drastically all at once, their souls won't be able to endure it. So I seal their past life realms and take measures so that their realm can be gradually unlocked depending on their cultivation progress.

For several days, I take such measures for my Immortal Treasures, and before long, I witness Jeon Myeong-hoon's ascension as a True Immortal.

Kwarururung!

From within the red lightning, Jeon Myeong-hoon succeeds in his True Immortal advancement and turns to look at me.

"Seo Eun-hyun, you...!"

He seems about to say something to me, but after sensing my aura, he trembles, suppresses his anger, and lets out a sigh.

"... are a... Great Net Immortal, huh..."

"That's right. More precisely, a Heaven-Earth Great Net Immortal."

"..."

Jeon Myeong-hoon lets out another deep sigh and then asks.

"What are you going to do from now on?"

Kururung!

Since Jeon Myeong-hoon also received the power of the taenghwa, the total strength he can currently exert is nearly on par with a Great Net Immortal, though only in short bursts.

But perhaps because he still doesn't understand his own strength, he speaks to me with a lowered attitude and asks about my plans.

"First... let's gather all our comrades."

"... Not a bad idea. I wonder who needs to meet with who..."

"And, I need your help."

"Hmm?"

I tell Jeon Myeong-hoon about the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade.

And the mission the Underworld entrusted to me.

"... So, in order to learn the disgrace of the Heavenly Venerables that the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld told you to uncover, you need to go out to the Outer Sea. And to go to the Outer Sea, you need the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade, so you're asking us to help activate it?"

"That's right. Your role is especially important, since you should be able to properly control the Great Desolate Path."

In fact, I already handed over the Great Desolate Path to Jeon Myeong-hoon, and since Golden Shaking Bird is very satisfied, he should be able to wield it quite skillfully.

And for someone like Jeon Myeong-hoon, who I have plans for assigned within the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, and can enter and exit it immediately when needed, he is essential to activating the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade.

"Hmm... well fine. I'll help."

"Thank you."

Thus, after reuniting with Jeon Myeong-hoon and joining forces, I head to the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain to find the next comrade.

Twin Holding Heavenly Domain.

The place that can be called the center—the seat of the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity.

I activate the Flawless Mantra and, together with Jeon Myeong-hoon, enter the belly of the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity.

Is it because I cultivated the Flawless Mantra at least 999 times through the orthodox method?

To my eyes, the insides of the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity appear completely visible.

'I can see it... There she is.'

In an instant, I find a path inside the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity's body and manage to meet Kang Min-hee.

"It's been a while, Kang Min-hee."

"..."

Kang Min-hee, surprised to see me appear so suddenly, shows a slightly startled expression before speaking.

"... You still have a knack for startling people, Seo Eun-hyun."

Is it because I reached Indra's Net and attained all of Triple Divinity?

Unlike before...

I now realize that I can see into Kang Min-hee's heart, which I had previously avoided looking into too closely, as clearly as looking at my own palm.

'... Damn it.'

The longing that lingers in a corner of her heart.

The sorrow.

And led by those feelings...

The desire to protect me—to protect us.

That heart is so vivid, I can't help but feel bitter.

I don't sense it from Jeon Myeong-hoon, who holds only a long-time friend's concern for me, but from her, who still carries the heart of a former lover, I sense it immediately.

'... I see.'

The reason why the Underworld said we lack souls becomes immediately clear.

We are not people who possess human souls.

Only now do I realize what it means to be mere fragments of an Absolute.

'It's... entirely artificial.'

How can a human heart revolve solely around one thing called 'sorrow'?

How can every thought process be centered only on sorrow?

That's right.

Kang Min-hee was born solely to be sad.

And through that truth, I finally understand why Yang Su-jin tried so desperately to change his fate.

'Yang Su-jin's fate was probably anger... meaning, his life, his ideology, and his entire way of thought revolved solely around 'being angry'.'

He, himself, probably wished to stop being angry.

"... Kang Min-hee."

"Mm?"

I place my hand on Kang Min-hee's shoulder and, after long hesitation, finally say something.

"... I hope you won't only be sad."

"..."

I know well that the greatest cause of that sorrow is me.

However...

I hope that, even if she feels some sadness over me, one day she realizes that life is not made up of sorrow alone. That's what I think.

'Someday... I hope that all of you, too, may come to possess not a mind and fate artificially implanted into you by someone, but a true soul, and through it, come to enjoy a broader range of emotions... and live more joyfully...'

No. Not hope.

I will definitely make it so.

Hwaak!

Startled by my sudden words, Kang Min-hee blushes and stumbles back.

"What, what was that? Are you crazy, Seo Eun-hyun?"

"..."

I stare directly into the depths of Kang Min-hee's chest and observe the reaction.

'There's definitely the workings of a heart. But...'

That heart cannot surpass the vast authority that governs 'sorrow'.

It isn't that a single emotion is bound to her life. Rather, it's as if her entire life is bound to that one emotion.

And from seeing that, I realize something.

'Let's try—steadily, continuously—to turn the heart that life is bound to, into a heart that is bound to life. Let's keep trying, so she can come to understand that heart.'

It's not only Kang Min-hee.

It applies to all of us.

I want to let them know that life isn't something expressed by just a single emotion, but is made of countless more.

'Someday... I want everyone, including Kang Min-hee, to break free from the fate and artificially imposed absolute nature that binds them...'

And as they break free, I want to plant the seeds from which their souls (魂) can sprout.

I establish a new goal moving forward.

Meeting Kim Young-hoon and challenging the Audience Chamber isn't the end. Giving all my comrades a seed of life, In other words, a seed of the soul, has become another goal I now carry forward.

In any case, I meet with Kang Min-hee and join forces with her.

Next is Oh Hyun-seok.

Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.

Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kang Min-hee, and I arrive at the palace of the Naming Supreme Deity located within the Heavenly Domain.

"We greet Your Majesty, the Supreme Deity."

I bow toward the giant god of vapor seated in front of an enormous Immortal Registry, and the giant of vapor— Hyeon Rang nods in response.

"Welcome to the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain, brother."