Chương 701: Annihilation and Flower (2)

Kugugugu!

In the deepest depths of the Underworld, we board Song Jin.

[I am called the Nether Treading Ship (冥渡艦), Song Jin. I will escort you to the boundary of Cakravāda.]

"The control method is based on the steering method of the Nether Crossing Ship you've steered before. Just increase the consciousness connection nodes by six hundred billion and manually regulate the output of twenty billion core engines."

Fortunately, it isn't that complicated.

It only requires a bit more attention beyond what I've learned from human Song Jin's control method of the Nether Crossing Ship.

I connect my consciousness with the Nether Treading Ship Song Jin and leave the deepest depths of the Underworld.

Kuuuung!

The gate to the deepest depths of the Underworld closes, and the entire Underworld writhes, with the Ten Hells and Paradise convulsing around us.

Kugugugugu!

'This is...'

I shudder slightly as I see the Ten Great Hells line up and transform into something like an artillery battery.

'They're planning to launch us into the Outer Sea.'

The Ten Great Hells become the battery, Paradise becomes the gun barrel, and we become the warhead.

Kugugugugugu!

From the depths of darkness, a colossal [hand] appears.

That hand is composed of countless deceased, endless ghosts, and the death energy of the dead.

Kuuuung!

The Nether Treading Ship Song Jin, quite large in its own right, is lifted up like a small toy boat in that palm.

The palm is jagged and rough like a ferocious beast's hand, and each finger emanates a terrifying savageness.

'The hand... of the Gandhara main body of the Underworld...!'

It is not just the projection of the Underworld that has been shown until now, but the actual proper hand of the Underworld's main body.

Kuuuung!

The hand of the Underworld's main body places the Nether Treading Ship into Paradise.

Immediately after— Kwaaaaaaang!

The Immortal Beast's authority of 'explosion' activates, and we shoot out through the barrel of Paradise at high speed.

As I pass rapidly through Paradise...

I catch a glimpse of the countless living beings that exist within.

Paradise is a realm overflowing with happiness and joy for those who performed good deeds.

Everyone in Paradise is a spirit body, and for them, clear qi that brings joy to the spirits is being dispensed on a cosmic scale. Therefore, the spirits in Paradise are quite literally experiencing paradise (極樂; lit.'extreme comfort').

Moreover, there are separate sections for those who wish not for mere happiness or comfort, but an actual afterlife, where they head to their next lives or prepare for future reincarnations.

They too are spirit bodies, but rather than just clear qi, they live the lives they wished for during life, in the places they longed to be.

The projections of history recreate the desires they had within their lives.

Finally, a few spirits do not seek for either Paradise or an afterlife. Instead, they attune their ears to the jade voice of the Underworld, aspiring to ascend as higher beings.

They require neither clear qi nor the reenacted lives through the projections of history, but instead withstand explosions caused by the Underworld, enduring the explosion of Taiji in order to become a Reaper of the Underworld. That is the cultivation of Reapers.

Hwioooooooo— As I gaze at the scenery of Paradise for a moment, I recognize a few familiar faces within.

'So you're happy there...'

I smile faintly as I look at them.

Immediately after, we are launched by the Underworld into the Outer Sea.

Kugugugugu!

While still connected to Song Jin, I activate Gracious Soul Filling the Heavens.

The Purple Soul Filling the Heavens that transmits the heart from the past to the future.

That Purple Soul Filling the Heavens merged with the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections and Ryeo Hwa's heart, becoming the Flower Soul Filling the Heavens that transmits the heart by transcending all spacetime.

Then, there is the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens that leaves a yoke in a person's heart and reaches for its goal no matter what.

As the three combined, they became the Gracious Soul Filling the Heavens that sets a chosen coordinate as a yoke, and transcends all space and time to reach it without fail.

I fix the coordinate given by the Heavenly Venerable of Time, Cheon Woon, into Gracious Soul Filling the Heavens, and together with the power of the Nether Treading Ship Song Jin, we transcend the chaos of the Outer Sea and begin soaring.

When I add the power of my Martial Pinnacle as well, the Nether Treading Ship accelerates even faster.

[The estimated time of arrival is one thousand years, Your Highness Immortal Beast King.] Song Jin informs me of the expected time to reach the 'boundary of Cakravāda'—the place where Cheon Woon's incarnation resides.

I nod, and mounting the horns of Gracious Soul Filling the Heavens on my head, I swiftly race through the chaos.

"One thousand years... It's but a moment."

It truly is a short time.

Kugugugugu!

A ship of the Netherworld sails through chaos.

One of the masterpieces of Bong Myeong, practically on par with Yeong Seung.

I pilot Song Jin, one of the direct Immortal Treasures of the Underworld, and create a Gang Sphere clone to look down below the chaos.

"... Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I've felt this relaxed."

Jeon Myeong-hoon and my comrades approach me.

"It's only a thousand years, but we will be able to get some solid rest for at least that long."

Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks as he sits down, and I nag him as I look at him.

"Since we have time, why not cultivate more?"

"You damned cultivation maniac. It's only a thousand years, what are you going on about? Let's just take a little break. Besides, at this point, I'm basically at the level of the legendary Obsidian and Silver Basket."

"You'd have to add the full strength of Zhengli and the Jade Pivot Lightning Immortals to reach that level. Your own strength alone doesn't come close. Of course, from what I see, your potential as a Heavenly King is enough to reach the level of the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King, so if you just keep cultivating..."

As I'm about to nag Jeon Myeong-hoon further, he suddenly pushes Kang Min-hee and Kim Yeon forward in front of me with a laugh.

"You guys talk some sense into this damned cultivation maniac. A bit of tension is fine, but people need to relax too. Especially you!"

Finishing his words, Jeon Myeong-hoon transforms into a streak of lightning and heads down to the lower deck of the Nether Treading Ship.

"... By the way, Orabeoni."

Kim Yeon glances briefly at Kang Min-hee, then whispers quietly to me.

"... What we were doing earlier..."

"... Ahem. Got it."

Kang Min-hee watches us for a moment, then sighs and takes a deep inhale from her smoking pipe.

"Jeon Myeong-hoon's got a point. You two should rest. I've got something to talk about with Oh Hye-seo, so I'm going."

"Hmm, then I can't lose either. Let's go cultivate togeth—"

"You insane bastard, just rest with Kim Yeon!!! I'll summon your Immortal Treasure with the Flawless Mantra, so please, just take a damn break!"

Moved by Kang Min-hee's words about cultivating, I almost join her, but she bursts out angrily as if she's so fed up she could die, then turns into a gust of yin wind and descends beneath the Nether Treading Ship.

Then, the last one remaining on deck, Oh Hyun-seok, stares out at the sea of chaos with an odd expression.

"... Strange. For some reason... now that we've entered this sea, I feel something familiar."

"Familiar?"

"Yes. It's Master's presence..."

"You mean the Naming Supreme Deity...?"

"No. Not Hyeon Rang... Cheongmun Sunwoo. The presence of Azure Tiger Saint."

"Hmm...?"

However, I sense nothing from within the chaos, so I can only feel puzzled.

'He feels Azure Tiger Saint's presence? But why?'

I use the Immortal Beast King's authority to sense ancient force, but still feel nothing.

'What in the world does this mean?'

Woo-woong!

Oh Hyun-seok taps on his armor and speaks.

"The divine artifact of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, the Blue Sky Armor... is said to have been melted and forged by the ancestors of Azure Tiger Saint's master from a stone that descended from the sky in ancient times. They say that the 'will' of someone imbued in that stone, when it meets a righteous and upright heart that protects justice and watches over the weak, amplifies one's might through the power of that heart."

Woo-woong!

Oh Hyun-seok continues as he strokes his armor.

"Looking back on it now... it seems to have been a material infused with someone's Immortal Art. Most likely, a True Immortal or higher being from the ancient times launched a fragment imbued with an Immortal Art toward the Head Realm. And judging by how the Immortal Art can still be felt now, its original owner must have been an immensely powerful being. And..."

He looks out toward the sea of chaos.

"This armor has been resonating with 'something' ever since we entered the Outer Sea... and has been telling me something. Somewhere out in this Outer Sea... my master himself. Or a being who possesses a very similar aura to him, is out there..."

Woo-woong!

Oh Hyun-seok senses the vibration of the Blue Sky Armor, and his eyes gleam.

"... I'll go in and contemplate the Blue Sky Armor and the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method. I might be able to find a clue about Master."

"I will also he—"

"It's fine! This is my matter. So please, just rest here! If you don't take a proper rest, I'll take it as a declaration of hostility against me!"

Even though it concerns Azure Tiger Saint, he claims he doesn't particularly need my help, flares up in anger, and heads inside the Nether Treading Ship.

'Everyone's telling me to rest...'

I scratch my head, a bit dumbfounded.

'Well, thinking about it now, I really have been running like mad all this time.'

It's about time I take a breath.

Taking a deep rest for about a thousand years doesn't sound too bad.

"Then, Yeon-ah."

I take Kim Yeon's hand and head to the cabin.

"Let's finish what we started last time."

What we began atop Flower Soul Filling the Heavens last time had gone unfinished, not knowing how much time it'd take.

But now, with my realm greatly advanced, and the Underworld having even lent us the Nether Treading Ship, compressing the time to a thousand years with clear duration, We can bring it to a proper conclusion.

After resting for several days inside the cabin with Kim Yeon, I decide to follow everyone's advice and truly take a proper break.

Together with Kim Yeon, I recreate Earth inside the Nether Treading Ship, reconstructing architectural buildings from memory, and even creating cities and such.

Jeon Myeong-hoon begins subduing the Jade Pivot Forty-Eight Lightning Heavenly Great Immortals and Zhengli as they start resisting after grasping the situation.

Kang Min-hee spends her time cultivating to become a Heavenly King, and Oh Hyun-seok focuses on tracking the energy of Azure Tiger Saint.

Oh Hye-seo...

Though she hasn't regained her memories, she has fully regained the heart that had eased after meeting Seo Hweol in the previous timeline, along with the heart of her vow of loyalty to me, and has grown significantly gentler.

She travels around with the other comrades, resolving misunderstandings between them, and especially aids Jeon Myeong-hoon frequently when he subdues the Jade Lightning Immortals or when they ambush him.

For a time, we continue our voyage peacefully toward the Heavenly Venerable of Time.

Then, sometime later— Woo-woong!

"Seo Eun-hyun, the summoning is complete."

Using the Flawless Mantra, Kang Min-hee has summoned my Immortal Treasures.

Clank, clank, clank, clank, clank!

"Twin Constructing Chains, Yeo Hwi, greets the Lord."

"Unruly Chain, Ham Jin, greets Teacher"

"Obsidian Chain, Yu Hwi, greets the Lord."

:: ---:: Yeo Hwi, Ham Jin, and Yu Hwi kneel before me, and the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity, taking the form of the Immortal Beast Supreme Tiger, circles around me and flicks my face with its tail.

And finally, Hong Fan, who has refined himself into an Immortal Treasure, and has all of a sudden reached the realm of Vestige Liberation Immortal, kneels before me.

"Primal Chaos Chain (鴻濛鎖), Hong Fan. Accompanied by Twin Constructing Chain, Unruly Chain, Obsidian Chain, and Swallowing Heaven Chain, present ourselves before Master."

"... Yes, Hong Fan. It's been a long time."

I commend Hong Fan, who has refined the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity into the same chain form as the others and even refined himself into a chain.

"You've gone through a lot."

"Fortunately, the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity responded passionately to Master's energy and willingly synchronized with the Immortal Treasure transformation, so it wasn't difficult."

Though Hong Fan has become a Vestige Liberation Immortal, his appearance hasn't changed from when he was in the Entering Nirvana stage.

"By the way, you haven't gotten any younger."

"Emm, I'm not sure why, but after reaching Vestige Liberation Immortal, I've felt no need to alter my appearance further. Continuously getting younger might just confuse Master, so I've decided to keep this appearance fixed."

It seems Hong Fan has chosen to maintain the same look he had during the Entering Nirvana stage, and intends to maintain that form going forward.

For some reason, I get the feeling that it's because this appearance suits Hong Fan's essence the best.

'That guy is an Imperial King.'

The imperial dignity exuding from his appearance radiates an aura of power and ambition on its own.

'The leader of the First Radiance Supreme Deity, Hong Fan. Along with Hyeon Mu... perhaps the one who knows the most hidden secrets of this world.'

And perhaps...

One of the four beings mentioned by Sal Tree to give birth to and bless the Absolute One.

Eastern Twin Sal Tree.

Southern Twin Sal Tree.

Northern Gang.

Western Zero King.

A being who may be one of those four.

'He may even be someone who, along with the Three Heavenly Venerables, holds the greatest and most powerful secret of this world...'

But I set aside those complex truths for now.

Hong Fan is suspicious.

However...

The one who embraced that suspicious Hong Fan as a subordinate is none other than me.

"... Yes, it suits you well. In any case... welcome back, Hong Fan."

I approach Hong Fan, pat his shoulder, and smile.

"Lend us your aid. My friend."

"Please, speak comfortably... haw haw."

Though he says that, Hong Fan doesn't seem to dislike being called a friend. With a faint smile, he rises from his spot.

And so, with everyone gathered except Kim Young-hoon, we head toward the Heavenly Venerable of Time.

400th year of the voyage, The journey proceeds smoothly.

My comrades continue to grow steadily, each grasping a clearer direction for what they seek, and as they urged, I take four hundred years to deeply rest my body and heart.

And then— Kim Yeon becomes pregnant.