Chương 769: Radiance (4)

Kugugugugu— Light collapses.

And what remains are only the surging foams whirling inside the glass sword mountain.

However, Wol Ryeong cannot forget what she saw inside those foams.

'What was that? Was what I just saw... an illusion?'

But for some reason her instincts speak.

They say that was not a simple illusion.

And so Wol Ryeong cannot help but tremble.

'Master... is alive...?'

If what she just saw is not an illusion, if that scene where her master, Esteemed One Baek Geom, fighting Seo Gyeong is reality...

Wol Ryeong feels as if the hatred she kept deep in her heart is about to be washed away.

Pushing the minion of the Evil God into a corner, and in return, confirming that her master is alive!

It is such a beautiful conclusion.

However, why is it that even as she expects her hatred to be washed away, Wol Ryeong cannot help but feel a strange sense of disharmony.

'What is this? This is like...'

Is this not an ending that befits only the stories of protagonists in fairy tales?

Is reality this beautiful?

'... Let's not get ahead of myself. This is only an illusion. This illusion is not even confirmed as fact, is it?'

Wol Ryeong shakes her head as she recalls the illusion she saw.

But even as she tries to think it is only an illusion, Wol Ryeong's own intuition whispers far too strongly that the illusion is the truth.

Because her intuition is usually right, Wol Ryeong becomes uneasy about her own intuition for some reason.

'Why? Shouldn't I rather be happy if Master is alive... Is it because that scene looked as if Master and Seo Gyeong are fighting? Is what I saw a different space in the present, or a scene of the future...? Or...'

Wol Ryeong bites her lip hard.

'Is it the key that will reveal this persistent sense of disharmony...?'

Lost in many thoughts, Wol Ryeong turns around.

The colossal body of the hair clone is collapsing.

She goes out beyond the collapsing body of the hair clone and, from afar, looks toward Seo Gyeong and the palanquin of Eun Geom that greet her.

The Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords also send Wol Ryeong friendly looks.

But Wol Ryeong does not relax.

'Right now, I am less than a single hair of the Sword Mountain Devil Lord.'

She would never have defeated even this hair clone made from a single strand of hair if not for the help of others.

'I must go further. From here on...'

Only by going even further and finally standing at a similar eye level to the Sword Mountain Devil Lord can she properly see the world.

'Let's keep going forward.'

After reaching the Entering Nirvana stage, Wol Ryeong decides she will properly temper her own Immortal Art and reach the True Immortal advancement.

It is at that moment.

Flash!

Wol Ryeong suddenly flinches as she sees a great force of light pink spew madly from the collapsing body of the hair clone.

"Th-This, what in the world...?"

She stares at that power in shock.

Because this is clearly...

The Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of the Vast Cold Realm.

But before she even has a moment to be surprised, the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy seems to soar madly, and then it begins to form a 'path' that leads straight to somewhere.

Kugugugugugu!

"Th-This is...?"

Seeing that 'path,' Wol Ryeong cannot help but fall into panic.

For along that straight path that pierces the Heavenly Domain, the very same intent, exactly the same as the intent Wol Ryeong poured in when she struck down with her halberd, is brimming.

She knows it instinctively.

'Sword Mountain Devil Lord...!'

The evil Mountain Divine Spirit used her.

To complete some unknown wicked plan.

"... Again... are you using me...?"

Wol Ryeong grinds her teeth and summons the radiance halberd.

"This time... I will not be taken advantage of."

It is a path of intent made by her own hand.

She does not know for what purpose it is made, but it is surely a wicked act.

Therefore, that wicked act... she shall sever it with her own hands.

"Please help! O Seven Immortals!"

In order to use everything she can use right now, Wol Ryeong asks the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords.

If they are indeed beings who came to thwart the wicked Mountain Divine Spirit's scheme, they will surely try to erase that 'path' of the wicked Mountain Divine Spirit as well.

But Wol Ryeong suddenly feels something strange.

"...?"

::...::::...::

"O... divine spirits...?"

None among the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords answer; they only gaze gloomily at somewhere in the void.

Their gaze reaches the end of the 'path' that appears from the hair clone.

Wol Ryeong cannot see it, but that path of light pink energy pierces the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, pierces the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, pierces the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, and then the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain...

It reaches the far edge of Mount Sumeru, the Head Realm.

And reaching inside the Head Realm's ascension gate is the true identity of that path.

The Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords look at that path and the Head Realm at its end.

And finally, they are wailing at the 'truth' that the path reveals.

Hwaaaaaa— The light pink energy of the Vast Cold Realm, containing the principle of the Vast Cold Heavenly Circle, denies the principle of Acceptance at Fate's End and shows the cycle of the Four Seasons.

Mortal beings cannot see it, but all the Immortals of this world, the True Immortals, are seeing it.

Beginning at the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain and reaching the Head Realm's Ascension Gate made by Yang Su-jin, that light pink pillar of light reveals the truth.

Immortal Cultivation is repentant enlightenment.

The mantra that begins from that is the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.

The Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra is an Immortal Art that brings the End of the universe and at the same time is an Immortal Art to observe Mount Sumeru.

The Vast Cold Heavenly Lord heard that enlightenment from the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, and from there discussed an enlightenment that goes one step further.

Immortal Cultivation is progress.

And what was born from there was...

An Immortal Art that does not end with observing the inside of Mount Sumeru, but an Immortal Art that lets one faintly peek [outside] it.

Vast Cold Hall White Jade Pavilion Beam-Raising Ritual (廣寒殿白玉樓上樑式).

Kugugugugugu!

In that far Astral Realm, something enormous begins to be summoned.

"Vast Cold Realm...?"

Wol Ryeong shudders as she sees that something.

The Vast Cold Realm, which should be in the Interdimensional Void of the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain, is being summoned to this place.

At the same time, from one place in the Vast Cold Realm that is being summoned, something surges upward.

It is the Vast Cold Realm's Heavenly Lotus Mountain.

More precisely, it is the White Jade Pavilion built at the summit of that Heavenly Lotus Mountain.

Shiver— As she looks at that White Jade Pavilion, Wol Ryeong is seized by an unknown terror.

Chwaaaak!

But before she even has time to feel that terror, she sees the light pink [path] that leads all the way to the end of the distant universe connect with the White Jade Pavilion that has risen from the Vast Cold Realm.

And seeing that, Wol Ryeong realizes what the wicked Mountain Divine Spirit has done through her.

"Heavenly Lotus Mountain...?"

They made Wol Ryeong smash apart the Vast Cold Realm's Heavenly Lotus Mountain with her own hands.

The illusion of the glass sword mountain she saw was not a glass sword mountain.

It was the Heavenly Lotus Mountain, which the Mountain Divine Spirit altered to show in the shape of a different mountain.

Ooooooo— Inside the universe.

Somewhere.

From there, a sound that seems to be made by some ancient being is heard.

As that sound resounds, all the beings fighting in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain freeze.

To the True Immortals of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, it is the sound of a nightmare.

Because it is the roar of the Tridacna Vast Cold Heavenly King.

After the roar of the Tridacna Vast Cold Heavenly King resounds, the True Immortals in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain all stare with terrified eyes at the light pink pillar that pierces through the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.

For the energy coming from that pillar is exactly the same as that of Vast Cold, who declined several hundred thousand years ago.

:: V-Vast Cold... Vast Cold has revived!:::: The Vast Cold Heavenly Lord has come back to life again!!!:::: Everyone, flee from the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain!!!:::: The monster has opened its eyes again!!:: Tududududu!

Numerous Heavenly Immortals who survived the Vast Cold Great War start fleeing madly from the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, and those who remain stare at the light pink weapons that begin to resonate with that light pink pillar in the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.

They startle in fright as they look at the things the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord summoned under the name of 'Heavenly King Heavenly Treasures'.

The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord lets out a shout as if in a fit.

:: Vast Cold, Vast Cold's Immortal Art... how can Vast Cold's Immortal Art activate again!!?? It cannot be activated even if an Ender with the same fate as Vast Cold presides over it, unlike the Immortal Art of Cause and Connection. Just who, and how did they discover that secret...!?:: As they speak, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord glares at the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, who is fighting Seo Eun-hyun.

:: Sword Spear... I see. Sword Spear...!!! You sold the secret of Radiance Hall to the Mountain Divine Spirit!!!:: Originally, even an executor like the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord does not have the authority to interrogate another Heavenly Lord without complete evidence.

In the current wartime situation where command authority has passed to the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, even more so!

However, as a survivor of the Vast Cold Great War, Rain Dew's reason becomes paralyzed by the terrible authority the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord showed back then, and they shout out.

:: Great Forest!!! Arrest Sword Spear!!! Sword Spear is a traitor!! Sword Spear sold the hidden secret of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord to the Mountain Divine Spirit!!:: Jjeooooooong!

The light pink road stretching from the end of Mount Sumeru to the Vast Cold Realm looks as if it supports the inside of Mount Sumeru like a pillar.

While Vast Cold's mantra supports the summit of Mount Sumeru, it spreads horizontally across the upper part of Mount Sumeru, the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, like an upper beam [上樑].

It even looks like a light pink cross (十字架).

It appears as if a light pink cross has burst out from the Vast Cold Realm and is supporting the entirety of Mount Sumeru.

After Vast Cold's death, the Radiance Eight Immortals, in order to annihilate the Immortal Art of Vast Cold Hall White Jade Pavilion Beam-Raising Ritual, bound the Immortal Art of White Jade Pavilion, the symbol of 'progress', to the mountain that symbolizes 'looking back'.

That mountain bounded the activation of the White Jade Pavilion, and the Radiance Eight Immortals seated the believer of Radiance Hall in that White Jade Pavilion as Sacred Master and defiled the White Jade Pavilion with the name of Radiance Hall.

Afterwards, in the name of Radiance Hall, they changed the [name] of the Vast Cold Realm to one that contains light (光), and even turned a blind eye to the secret plan of Blood Yin to seize Vast Cold's flesh.

For if Blood Yin reinstated himself in the Underworld by occupying Vast Cold's body, the Immortal Art of White Jade Pavilion, once defiled by light, would have become defiled by Blood Yin a second time and turned completely to dust.

Even if Blood Yin did not bother to occupy Vast Cold's body, it did not matter.

If the mountain gods rampaged and grew stronger, the power of the Heavenly Lotus Mountain would have also grown stronger, and the power of repentant enlightenment would have completely crushed the power of 'progress' and annihilated the Immortal Art called White Jade Pavilion.

Even if the mountain gods did not rampage, even if the White Jade Pavilion remained simply bound to the Heavenly Lotus Mountain, it did not matter.

Since Vast Cold is dead, the Immortal Art of White Jade Pavilion was bound to be annihilated someday.

They also did not worry about the possibility of the Heavenly Lotus Mountain collapsing and White Jade Pavilion being freed.

The Heavenly Lotus Mountain itself is structured so that it can 'never' collapse unless it is by one Seat among the Radiance Eight Immortals.

Flash!

However, piercing through the possibility of all impossibilities...

The Immortal Art of Vast Cold Hall White Jade Pavilion Beam-Raising Ritual has activated and illuminates the far end of Mount Sumeru, 'beyond' the Head Realm.

:: Sword Spear!!:: The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord, their reason paralyzed, cries out to the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

The essence of the Vast Cold Hall White Jade Pavilion Beam-Raising Ritual is the beyond of the Head Realm.

An Immortal Art that illuminates the 'outside' of Mount Sumeru.

In other words, it is an Immortal Art meant to prove the existence called the 'Owner of the Absolute,' which Radiance Hall most hates and feels uneasy about.

No matter how much Radiance Hall oppresses and annihilates Immortal Cultivators, if there exists an existence that seized fate, history, and the like above all of them, then all their actions are meaningless, hence Radiance Hall repeatedly denied that the Absolute has an owner and continued proving that such a being does not exist.

For the Radiance Eight Immortals, the world is nothing but Mount Sumeru and the Outer Sea, and in their worldview, the Absolute has no owner.

But during the Vast Cold Great War, the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord proved it to the Radiance Eight Immortals.

That even if the Owner of the Absolute is unknown to exist, the [outside] of Mount Sumeru and the Outer Sea exists.

If an 'outside' exists for Mount Sumeru, then there is clearly the possibility that there also exists a 'different existence' outside Mount Sumeru, and there is also the possibility that said existence is the Owner of the Absolute.

The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord recalls the days when they desperately tried to erase the Immortal Art of White Jade Pavilion in order to forget and block that possibility.

:: You!!! You spilled the truth to the Sword Mountain Devil Lord!! What did you do with the half of the Sword Mountain Devil Lord's Nascent Soul!? That [wisdom] carries a danger of Eul-grade to Radiance Hall, so if you disclosed it to the Sword Mountain Devil Lord there is no way they would not know. Yes, Sword Spear! After you held half of the Sword Mountain Devil Lord's Nascent Soul in your embrace, you gave away that story in your bosom!!

Even if the Sword Mountain Devil Lord cannot themselves, if you place half of their Nascent Soul in your bosom, you could have blocked the ripples from the disclosure of that wisdom!!:: They sob.

Rain Dew, though they may have suspected Sword Spear, also believed in her.

:: You, you truly betrayed Radiance Hall!! Sword Spear!!:: And the Great Forest Heavenly Lord, looking a bit pityingly at the frenzied Rain Dew Heavenly Lord, speaks.

:: Rain Dew... every word you speak... has not a single piece of evidence. Though I dislike saying this, Rain Dew, your assertions rely entirely on your imagination. To suspect a comrade, swayed by emotion without clear evidence... is that not against the teachings of the Radiance Eight Immortals.:: The Great Forest Heavenly Lord cannot understand the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord.

Indeed, they also know the danger of the Immortal Art Vast Cold left behind.

From the beginning, even if there was the advice of Rain Dew, seating a Sacred Master named Baek Woon in the White Jade Pavilion and inserting light into the name of the Vast Cold Realm were all done under the leadership of the Great Forest Heavenly Lord.

They are also aware how dangerous the concept of the 'outside' is to those who think Mount Sumeru and the Outer Sea are everything.

However...

They cannot understand.

:: Calm yourself, Rain Dew. After we put light into the name of the Vast Cold Realm and seated the devotee named Baek Woon as sacred master and placed them into the White Jade Pavilion, the Immortal Art of White Jade Pavilion has been steadily defiled. Behold, Rain Dew. That Immortal Art does touch the summit of Mount Sumeru... but it is not revealing that Mount Sumeru has an 'outside', is it?

:: Clicking their tongue, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord looks at the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord, who is swept up in irrational madness.

:: You are irrational right now, Rain Dew. The one who must be arrested now appears not to be Sword Spear, but you.:::: Great Forest!! Believe my words.:: Looking at the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord, who looks consumed by madness, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord judges coldly.

'At present... the Immortal Art of White Jade Pavilion Beam-Raising Ritual is not activating. It must be because it is too contaminated by light... and yet Rain Dew, consumed by excessive worry and suspicion toward Sword Spear, is irrationally denouncing Sword Spear without clear evidence. This is undeniably... proof that Rain Dew has lost qualification...'

:: Rain Dew. In the name of I, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord, representative of the Radiance Eight Immortals... I hereby discard you, who have lost your qualification.:: Looking at the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord, who is self-destructing under excessive suspicion and worry, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord invokes the authority of the representative of the Radiance Eight Immortals.

Vast Cold Hall White Jade Pavilion Beam-Raising Ritual.

That Immortal Art, which observes the 'outside' of Mount Sumeru, was originally developed by the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord and created to awaken the True Immortals of Mount Sumeru.

However, after Vast Cold's death, that Immortal Art was thoroughly forgotten by the actions of Radiance Hall.

That this Immortal Art now reveals itself is also because, just as Rain Dew Heavenly Lord suspects, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord secretly sold the secret of Radiance Hall to Seo Eun-hyun.

However, even though Seo Eun-hyun clothed Wol Ryeong with Sword Spear's power and liberated the Immortal Art of Beam-Raising Ritual, the Immortal Art of Beam-Raising Ritual is indeed far too contaminated.

Even though the principle of the 'Vast Cold Heavenly Circle,' which means the 'beyond' after reaching Acceptance at Fate's End that symbolises the end of Mount Sumeru, activated the Immortal Art, it is still not properly illuminating the outside.

The vast majority of the living beings of Mount Sumeru do not perceive that outside.

However...

A few are different.

:: Aah, aaaaaaaah...:: The Martial Melody Heavenly Lord sheds tears of blood.

And all of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, who lived as siblings with the Martial Melody Heavenly Lord and share spirit and authority, share the sensations sent by the Martial Melody Heavenly Lord and shed bloody tears together.

The Vast Cold Hall White Jade Pavilion Beam-Raising Ritual, weathered by light, does nothing.

Therefore, Seo Eun-hyun had to create a 'medium' to let them sense the outside of Mount Sumeru through the Immortal Art of Beam-Raising Ritual.

If there exists a clear 'medium' that resonates with the existence outside, then all beings of Mount Sumeru could sense, however faintly, the 'outside'.

That medium is precisely the True Martial Arts of the Future King.

By resonating the Future King, who exists beyond the summit of Mount Sumeru, with the True Martial Arts of the Future King, though it is only a few, all who can feel the [True Martial Arts] can sense, however faintly, the presence of 'some existence' outside Mount Sumeru.

Yes.

'Those who can feel the True Martial Arts.'

In other words, all beings who learned the power of Heart Dao Blooming that Seo Eun-hyun scattered...

Among those who did not learn it, those who learned Triple Divinity...

All beings whose chests bloom with paper flowers come to know, however faintly, that there exists [some existence] outside Mount Sumeru.

White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus stares at the summit of Mount Sumeru in terror, and the majority of the Underworld Ten Kings pant for breath.

Even as the Martial Melody Heavenly Lord sheds tears of blood, they accept that the God they serve and their homeland, the Source River, are the Absolute One's leftovers.

The higher one's realm is, the more one cannot help but feel the presence of the Future King.

Beings around the fifth stage of Manifestation such as Ham Rak and Jun Eom only feel a distant sense of terror, and Heart Tribe members below merely realize unconsciously that there exists a 'being who has reached a frightening realm'.

The more one has bloomed a flower in their chest, the purer the energy of that flower is...

The more vividly it is felt.

:: Sword!!! Spear!!!:: The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord sobs.

The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord, sensing the paper flower that blooms in their chest...

Denies and raves at this reality that proves true the truth the Radiance Eight Immortals have been denying.

—In the name of Vast Cold, I declare: the executor Rain Dew shall doubt their comrades, but also trust them with a heart as vast as the sky...

The poison that the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord implanted in the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord long ago.

That poison slowly took root in the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord's chest, and in the generation of Seo Eun-hyun's party, was given the environment to sprout by the system called 'Heart Dao Blooming'...

Doubting the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord yet having the evidence of doubt erased by the power of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld's [Wheel], and seeing the trustworthy conduct the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord kept showing, finally caused a paper flower to bloom.

The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord knows that they must be discarded.

The flower of faith that blooms in their chest is proof that they stepped outside the system of the Radiance Eight Immortals.

But at the same time, they cannot simply be discarded.

For the flower blooming in their chest tells them that the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is a traitor just like themselves.

For the Radiance Supreme Deity, for the justice they believe in...

They cannot be discarded alone.

They must expose the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's betrayal and then die.

Thus Rain Dew, at times to an irrational degree, could only obsess over expelling the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord and pressing them despite lacking decisive evidence.

The driving force behind the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord's ceaseless suspicion of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is, in the end, the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord's own betrayal.

:: All of you, look at Sword Spear... look at Sword Spear!! It is Sword Spear, it is Sword Spear who is the traitor of the Great Radiance Hall, of the Radiance Eight Immortals!!! Sword Spear!! Sword Spear!!!: The battlefield of the Enders and the Radiance Eight Immortals falls into a lull due to the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord's seizure.

There, the Radiance Eight Immortals all approach the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord with hardened expressions.

In order to discard the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord who has gone mad, without even needing to present evidence.

:: In the name of the Great Forest Heavenly Lord, the First Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, I bring forth the emergency agenda of discarding executor Rain Dew Heavenly Lord. All shall state approval or disapproval for the current discarding of the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord.:: Woo-wooong— Within the battlefield that falls into a lull, the voice transmissions of the Eight Immortals flow into the Great Forest Heavenly Lord.

The executor Rain Dew can investigate a suspected Eight Immortal and execute immediately, but for the other Eight Immortals who do not have the executor's authority to execute Rain Dew, they must gather opinions by majority vote.

Looking at the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord with regretful eyes, the Great Forest Heavenly Lord reveals the gathered approval and disapproval votes for them.

:: Of the Radiance Ten Heavens, a total of 2 invalid votes. By the unanimous agreement of all other members of the Radiance Supreme Deity... it has been decided to discard the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord who has gone mad. We shall execute you, Rain Dew.:: Many of the Eight Immortals, feeling at least a little pity, extend their hands toward Rain Dew.

Only the Pearl Jade Heavenly Lord rejoices quietly inside at the fact that there is no longer anyone who suspects Sword Spear.

'It was long... but it is over. Yang Ji-hwang... your unjust false accusation... shall surely be cleared.'

Thinking that they can at last finish the Sword Spear surveillance duty they have borne, the Pearl Jade Heavenly Lord smiles from behind their mask.

Chuaaaaat!

Wol Ryeong can only feel taken aback as she watches the pale pink pillar stretch endlessly beyond the Heavenly Domain after uniting with the Vast Cold Realm.

'Why... is everyone just shedding tears and staying still...?'

Not a single one of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, even though it is certain they hold a grudge against the Sword Mountain Devil Lord, moves.

They only sob in place.

'... I cannot receive their help.'

Wol Ryeong quickly analyzes the situation.

'I must, with my strength alone, cut it down.'

Can she do it?

Can a small Human Race Sacred Master like her cut this endlessly unfolding gigantic light?

It is a question.

But Wol Ryeong puts the question away.

Recalling the sacrifices that the Star Shattering Esteemed Ones showed, recalling Jin Wol-ryeong's charge toward the Martial Arts she showed, Wol Ryeong begins to wring out every bit of a life's worth of concentration.

No, it is rather a resolve to die.

Wol Ryeong, firming her do-or-die resolve, concentrates essence-energy-spirit into the radiance halberd.

'I must cut it down.'

Even if she must stake all of herself!

Her radiance halberd, which is white, begins to be dyed silver-white.

Wol Ryeong's hair begins to turn silver.

Woo-woooong— Wol Ryeong's fate begins to veil her face with silver-white energy.

Among the substances drifting in the universe, iron particles concentrate on Wol Ryeong's face, and a silver mask similar to those of Baek Geom and Eun Geom covers her face.

Feeling her fate enveloping her, Wol Ryeong feels herself becoming complete iron.

'Yes, to save the world... and to block the Sword Mountain Devil Lord's evil plan... I am fine offering both this heart and body...'

Wol Ryeong thinks of Seo Gyeong.

'Only you...'

She recalls Seo Gyeong's soft shoulders, Seo Gyeong's clear heart and gentle chest.

'If only you can remain in my dream...'

Clench— Just then Wol Ryeong suddenly feels someone large wrap their hand with hers.

"Huh...?"

"Hmph, seeing you again, it looks like you plan to die gloriously while indulging in lewd thoughts."

"M-Master...?"

It is Eun Geom.

True Person Eun Geom, who always treated her coldly like Baek Geom, stands behind Wol Ryeong, holding her hand together and gripping the halberd.

"Is your heart turning to iron?"

"H-How did you...? No, why is Master..."

"Hmph, it is natural for a master to step out to save their disciple. You think me a good-for-nothing, you brat. Of course... playing the master of the next the Eight Immortals does require behaving like a degenerate during ones mortal days... but the one who annoyed me is gone, so I can grant you this much favor. Consider it luck."

"...?"

Wol Ryeong wears a puzzled expression, unable to understand what Eun Geom means.

"Simply having your heart turn to iron is not your end. Even if the heart and the body turn to iron... what is contained within does not simply disappear."

"Huh...?"

At the words of Sword Spear whispering behind her, Wol Ryeong widens her eyes.

Sword Spear corrects Wol Ryeong's stance. She teaches the method of circulating energy.

And, body to body, she passes on a warm heart.

"Even if a sword melts in fire and loses its form, it is born in a new form. Martial Arts, the heart, even oneself are the same. They only lose form; they do not vanish. Remember. Even if there is something called impermanence that changes unendingly... the essence of that impermanence never changes."

She sees a paper flower.

Together with her master, clutching the silver-white radiance halberd, Wol Ryeong begins to thrust.

A thrust to transcend all realities before her, to reach the utterly unreachable paper flower that lies beyond... unfolds from Wol Ryeong's hand.

'I am... reaching it...!'

Feeling herself step into the domain of that paper flower she has only ever held before her eyes all her life yet never reached, Wol Ryeong unfolds the greatest thrust from within Eun Geom's embrace.

Somehow, Seo Gyeong also seems to be close by.

Flash!

Light explodes.

Within the subsiding light, Wol Ryeong can see something.

It is a [hand].

"... Huh?"

Someone's hand is blocking Wol Ryeong's radiance halberd.

"What are you doing...?"

She asks as she looks at the one who blocks them.

The name of the one who blocks their thrust with one hand is Pal Jin.

"Pal Jin...?"

And Pal Jin, with a gloomy face, casts his gaze beyond Wol Ryeong to Eun Geom.

Pal Jin opens his mouth.

It is the exact same question as Wol Ryeong's.

"Right now... what are you... what are you doing...?"

Eun Geom, who until just now seemed about to become Wol Ryeong's absolute support, for some reason is rigidly frozen.

"I asked... what are you doing right now, Sword Spear."

"..."

"I'm asking you. Right now... why are you pushing the next Sword Spear... into the domain of the Sword Mountain Devil Lord... and why are you strengthening Vast Cold's Immortal Art with the power of the next Sword Spear, Yang Ji-hwang!!??:: The Sixth Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Pearl Jade Heavenly Lord Pal Hwang, who until now hung on Pal Jin's neck in the form of a dharma treasure and accompanied him while taking on the duty of surveilling the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord...

Witnessing the scene of their faith being betrayed head-on, they call to the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord in a voice full of pain.

And, within the preordained catastrophe, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's answer is not what the Pearl Jade Heavenly Lord desires.

:: My name... is not Yang Ji-hwang.::