Chương 787: Protagonist (主人公) (2)

I look up at that transcendent, immeasurably distant God of Light and Hope, and open my mouth.

"Then, O Heavens. I ask you."

He does not answer my question.

He only looks down at me in silence.

"If there is no such thing as hope for us, then why... when you greet us, do you tell us not to lose hope?"

No answer comes, but I also know this time.

This silence, too, is an affirmation.

"Perhaps that is how it was. You... while acting as my friend through dreaming, separated your main body, qi, soul, and fate, and stuck to us."

Why are the fairy tales twisted into happy endings unlike the originals?

From the insight of a Supreme Deity.

It is because the qi, soul, and fate that separated from the Future King's main body all manifested while the Future King dreamed, from within his unconscious, as what he hoped for the most.

Unhappy tales became happy tales.

The invincible divinity who has no rival became a Heavenly Venerable called Hyeon Mu, who has much to surpass and much to overcome.

The monster who loathes himself became the light that loathes fate...

Each aspect he hoped for became the form he desired. The pieces that fell away in his dream were precisely the Future King's three faces we have been seeing.

"... Therefore, the instant you awoke from the dream, half-asleep and dazed, your true heart slipped out; was that not so?"

Silence.

"O God of Hope. You pretend to strip away hope, yet instead you bolster our hope. You pretend to plunge us into despair, yet you show only adversity we can bear, so we do not give up entirely.

"You clearly want us to have hope. You are guiding us so. I do not know the reason. But there is one thing I do know."

Kugugugugu— As I see that vast darkness swell enormously before my eyes and looking down on me like a bug, I raise my sword.

"If I do not hold hope, something becomes troublesome for you, doesn't it?"

"..."

"I will not have hope."

Kiriririk...!

Time turns back.

Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens subdues spacetime, and we cross over to the 2015th cycle.

Within the reversal of time, the comrades who died live again, and we arrive at that moment when we reached the Audience Chamber.

We return to that time when we succeeded in pressing down the Future King's main body with Great Mountain Pressing Down.

And, within the regression I achieved by my own power, I deny head-on the fate of the Fate Supreme Deity and declare.

"In the name of the myriad stars, I prophesize. I shall awaken in the 3001st cycle and prove that you are wrong!"

Hong Fan's prophecy says I will die without completing three thousand regressions.

I, in reverse, prophesize that I will achieve regressions surpassing three thousand, and I directly deny the prophecy of the Future King.

Kuwung!

Seated again upon the jade throne, he mutters with expressionless eyes.

"To face fate without hope. A good hopeful wish."

Sururu— He raises his hand.

At the same time, I realize something.

"...!"

Though time turned back, there are three things that did not.

First is the Emptiness Sword's Final Profundity, Hope.

It still chases me from the far side of time.

At the same time, the time it takes to reach me has not changed.

It has shortened slightly from 360 days.

Second is the black Absolute fragment covering the right hand of the Fate Supreme Deity Hong Fan Gu Ju.

The power that fixes him in the character not of the Owner of Fate but of the Devil Heavenly King remains unchanged from before the regression.

And third...

Clang, clang...!

Still within the Fate Supreme Deity's birdcage, with eyes closed, gathering power and resisting, is the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, the Netherworld Queen Mother Bong Hwa.

"A hopeful wish is fine, but I am already beginning to adapt to your Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens."

Woo-wooong!

Through the Radiance Mantra, I feel him gradually recovering his grip on spacetime.

As he learns the nature of my regression, I see the wicked scheme to steadily increase the things that do not apply to the regression of Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens.

"It seems you hope that only when [Hope] arrives will you be annihilated. But you will die by my hand before [Hope] arrives."

"What is long and short is always..."

—Emptiness Sword —Sixth Form.

Before I even finish speaking.

I die.

All links with the myriad stars are cut, I am miserably murdered, and I feel my main body and the Heavenly Domain that belongs to me tear apart and get slammed into the domain of purity.

—Future (未來).

From the First Form to the Fourth Form of the Emptiness Sword, at least their shapes are recognizable...

But the Sixth Form, Future, like Hope, has its principle, its form, and even the moment it was used all beyond my ability to perceive.

About ten seconds after crossing into the 2015th cycle.

Just before I am torn by Future and completely annihilated, I turn time again, cross over to the 2016th cycle to preserve my life, and I grip my sword even tighter.

Because what that guy in the 16th cycle told me...

If it is now, I think I can use it.

16th cycle.

Inside the demon beast cave, I stare blankly at Hong Fan, who grew to the Qi Building level in a month by sucking down pills and spiritual elixirs.

Thanks to the Colorless Glass Sword and the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, I too at some point recovered to the early Nascent Soul stage, but Hong Fan is not on the same level.

His is a rise in realm far more overwhelming than mine.

This does not feel like a genius.

Before I know it, I look at the centipede that has grown taller than me and is approaching the peak of the Qi Refining stage, and I ask.

"Hong Fan, I have something I am curious about..."

"Yes, please speak."

"No matter how I look at it... it feels like you are not raising your realm, but 'recovering' your original realm."

"..."

"Hong Fan... please tell me. Are you by any chance... a True Immortal who lowered his realm on purpose and appeared before me?"

"Mm... in truth, Master. I was about to tell you about that anyway."

With solemn eyes, Hong Fan speaks to me.

"In my previous life, it seems I was some quite powerful being."

"Previous life...?"

"Yes. Something black covers it so I do not remember clearly... but perhaps I might have been the True Immortal Master speaks of."

"...!"

At those words, I flinch and look at Hong Fan.

Pajik, pajijik...

I vividly feel the curse of lightning that changes me from within.

True Immortal!

If he is a being of that degree, he is a high and terrifying existence to the point of affecting my regression.

Hearing that Hong Fan is such a being, I naturally cannot help but fear him.

"... If so, Hong Fan."

I ask him.

Perhaps...

A True Immortal, claiming I disturbed his amusement, might kill me in a single blow and place on a curse at a level similar to the lightning curse, but...

Even so, I must ask.

"For a being like you, what is the reason you serve me as your master?"

"Mmm..."

"Of course, you still do not know your previous life's memories, but you clearly explained to me, through that Qi is explosion or whatever, that [you know your own fate]. Tell me. What is your fate...?"

Hong Fan scratches his head with an antenna.

And after a short while, he answers.

"My fate is... to assist you."

"To... assist me?"

"Yes. So that you, Master, walk the right path, walk the right fate. So that under the heavens you can be upright and not ashamed... Following you is my fate."

I look at Hong Fan's intent and heart essence.

His heart essence is truly bright.

It is a bright world filled entirely with light.

Seeing that clear, pure, and beautiful heart essence...

I cannot dare think he speaks lies.

'A light so bright and pure that my eyes hurt and it is hard to look directly...'

If it is a heart essence like this, can I not trust him?

Of course, even this could be a trap.

At the time when Zhengli and the True Immortal of Heavenly Punishment, suspected to be the owner of Zhengli, descended, I could not read anything from them.

It can simply be that even the heart essence is recreated and everything is fabricated.

Gulp...

Should I trust this being who has such a clear heart essence.

Or should I doubt him to the end...

"... Hong Fan."

"Yes...?"

I look at Hong Fan and speak.

I am suspicious.

Right in the previous life, I got burned by a True Immortal and it even affected my regression.

If Hong Fan truly is the incarnation of a suspicious True Immortal... I may once again be toyed with and suffer immense harm.

However...

At the same time, in the previous life I got burned by Seo Hweol.

—Emotion is merely the amount of air coming from the lungs. Ah, since the lungs correspond to metal in the Five Elements, perhaps emotion is of the metal attribute. Hoho.

The sophistry that emotions are nothing but of the metal attribute.

An illusion that can be forged at will and fabricated.

That was his logic.

"..."

I cannot trust Hong Fan.

But I cannot accept Seo Hweol's words.

"... I..."

A person's heart cannot be forged.

It cannot be replaced with breath.

I recall Jang Ik's words that if a person's heart is Metal, Metal corresponds to Qian in the Eight Trigrams, thus it is the same as the heavens.

Yes, the heart is like what the heavens grant.

If not the heavens, then at least the heart cannot be forged.

"I... will trust you."

It is partly to deny Seo Hweol and partly to accept Jang Ik's words.

But the biggest reason is... because Hong Fan is my connection.

In every previous life, it was Hong Fan who helped me.

Even if they are not the same existence, since I cannot repay the grace I received from them, it is only humaneness to repay it at least to this Hong Fan.

I, from deep in my chest.

Even if in this life Hong Fan truly is a True Immortal, I decide never to betray his trust and to believe in him.

"Even if you are a True Immortal, it does not matter. I will believe your words and your heart."

I look at Hong Fan with straight eyes.

Seeing his heart essence like light, I declare that I will trust him.

And, receiving my gaze, Hong Fan lowers his head.

"Then... for this life, I ask for your care. Master."

"Right. Let us do well from here on."

Thus, in that way, we succeed in cementing a bond of trust that is a bit comical and also a bit serious.

"Star Extinguishing True Chapter?"

"Yes, Master. It is the method that first came to mind when I thought to protect you. It will suit you very well."

"Is that the method you say you obtained in your previous life?"

"Yes. I do not know for certain... but for now, as a method to break through the situation Master currently faces, namely the curse of lightning transformation, it is the most suitable."

"Hmm..."

I ponder whether I can block the curse of lightning transformation through the method that Hong Fan says he obtained in his previous life.

"For now, can I see the formula first before making a judgement?"

"Yes. First, the early section of the Star Extinguishing True Chapter is... uuugh...!"

"...! What's wrong?"

"As it is a slightly powerful knowledge, trying to hold it in a body at the Qi Refining stage seems to put a strain. For now, the early section. Among that, I will tell you only about the 1st star."

"Mm, it is fine, it is fine! As much as you can!"

Hong Fan writes down, upon the shed shell he molted, the formula and cultivation method of the method called Star Extinguishing True Chapter that he says came up in his head.

The first layer of the Star Extinguishing True Chapter is a cultivation method by which one can obtain power at the Qi Refining level.

However, the important thing is not the level of authority gained through the Star Extinguishing True Chapter.

'The cultivation method...! The method itself is what is important...'

The cultivation method of the first layer of the Star Extinguishing True Chapter is called by one term.

Cutting People (斬徒)." A cultivation that... cuts connections...?"

"That is correct. For the Master to be under the curse of a True Immortal means, at present, there is a connection between the Master and that True Immortal."

"In that case..."

"Yes. If Master wishes to escape the curse, you must sever the connection with the True Immortal of Heavenly Punishment."

With Hong Fan's help, I am able to find in an instant a way to escape the curse laid by the True Immortal of Heavenly Punishment.

However, the problem is the method.

"... Hong Fan, it is written like this in the Star Extinguishing True Chapter, but... am I understanding it correctly?"

Cutting People.

There are three ways in total to cut connections, which are as follows.

Cutting Other (斬他).

Kill the other with whom the connection is tied.

Cutting Self (斬我).

Kill the self and become emptiness.

Cutting Principle (斬理).

Strike and cut the very principle of causality that is the connection between me and the other, thereby severing the connection.

That is right.

The methods are: I kill the True Immortal of Heavenly Punishment.

I commit suicide.

Or I strike what is called the principle.

"Of course... you recommend the last method, right? But what is that 'principle,' and how am I supposed to strike and cut it?"

"Pardon? No, I recommend the first method... Can Master not do Godslaying?"

"...?"

"...?"

"Ah..."

For a moment I am dumbfounded by the difference in perception between Hong Fan and me, but I soon understand.

"Right, you said memories arose that you were True Immortal in a previous life, right...? So you must be briefly confused. I apologize... that your master's realm is still shallow. But generally, it is normal that a mortal being cannot kill a transcendent such as a True Immortal."

It seems Hong Fan, as a True Immortal, has killed fellow True Immortals a few times.

At my words, Hong Fan scratches his head with an antenna with slightly dazed eyes.

"Ah... I see. I was not particularly criticizing Master's low realm. It is just... since my memories have not fully returned, there seems to have been a difference in perception."

"Haha, very well, I understand. In any case, I should be grateful that an existence like you is sincerely helping me.

"Haw haw, Master flatters me. Master is a person with far greater potential and talent than I... soon you will soar at a speed that someone like me cannot follow."

"..."

I almost grow ashamed at Hong Fan's excessive expectations, but I clear my throat and ask back.

"So... in any case, I cannot use the method of Cutting Other. So I seem to have to use the method of Cutting Principle... but how does one carry out this Cutting Principle.?"

"I understand that Master possesses a sword; is that not so?"

"That is correct."

"What does Master think is the use of a sword?"

"The use of a sword... A sword cuts. At the same time, it is a weapon that can harm others. To cut, slice, and divide something with it—that is the purpose and meaning for the existence of what is called a sword."

"Yes, you just cut it with that."

"...? The principle...?"

"Yes."

"..."

I, in any case, feel a need to help a bit more with finding Hong Fan's memories first.

Recovering them only roughly and not completely instead seems to poison our communication.

Kururung!

Two more months pass.

I undergo Heavenly Tribulation and rise to the Nascent Soul stage.

And...

Within that short time.

Hong Fan also rises to the Core Formation stage.

Even that speed is because Hong Fan prioritized recovering memories over raising his realm. If he had focused on raising his realm, I judge he would have reached the Nascent Soul stage at the same time as me.

'At this rate... I am not going to be raised by Hong Fan like livestock, am I?'

If Hong Fan overtakes me and directly reaches the Heavenly Being stage...

I worry the master-servant relationship will reverse at that time.

'... Let's trust Hong Fan.'

One way or another, he said he will assist me.

Having forged mutual trust with him, I decide to believe that even if he surpasses my realm, he will respect me.

"Master, congratulations! Haw haw... To think you have already become a Nascent Soul stage cultivator."

"... That's excessive praise. Your cultivation speed is faster, isn't it?"

"I cannot be compared to Master."

"... Thank you. So... upon reaching Core Formation, have you recovered your memories a little more?"

"Mmm... there are still vague parts, but I found parts that are likely to help Master. Haw haw... I liked that the early realms can be raised quickly because I am of the Demon Race, but... I think recovering memories would be faster with Heaven Tribe cultivation."

"I see... that is unfortunate."

In my heart, I want to find even a ritual method for Hong Fan, but such a thing is not an easy matter.

Yet even though I cannot give the fellow anything, he laughs and hands me his shed shell on which he wrote a certain formula.

His shed shell, now as grown as big as a house, flies to me, and I can read the densely written 'Cutting Principle' cultivation formula on that shell.

"This is..."

"It is a formula by which a mortal being can reach Cutting Principle."

"Hoh..."

'This seems like...'

I look at what is called 'Cutting Principle,' the cultivation that comes close to a method of striking the principle itself.

'A combination of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, and the Formless Sword...?'

The Cutting Principle cultivation method is simple.

First, it is to practice the method of severing connections.

The first stage of the cultivation of Cutting Principle is to cut the weakest connections.

Kururururung!

The clouds of the Heavenly Tribulation that struck down on me scatter, and seeing that, the followers of Makli Cheon-sa swarm this way like a cloud.

At the birth of a new Nascent Soul stage cultivator, they rush to forge a connection by any means.

Chak!

Following the formula Hong Fan taught me, I gather energy and bring my hands together in prayer.

After taking a pure praying posture, I focus consciousness, intent, and energy between my joined hands.

As consciousness gathers between my palms, I feel it condense like a thin thread-line.

And in an instant, Shikagak!

I fire that thread-line at the Grand Perfection Core Formation stage cultivator at the very front who rushes to me to make a connection.

The line becomes a slashing strike that cuts through everything and shoots at the cultivator.

And the moment it touches them!

Paatt!

The slashing strike that flows straight into the cultivator's body cuts the cultivator's intent, flows inside of their heart essence, and cuts the very heart that says they [want to meet] me.

Wuduk!

"Mm...?"

They, in the middle of coming to meet me, stops and stands there, looking around with a puzzled face.

As if they find it puzzling why they are here.

I did not cut their memories, nor did I twist their personality.

I merely made the very heart that wants to meet me a little faint.

With just that, they no longer bother me and simply leave.

I cut the heart.

"Huu..."

A severing strike that does not kill a person, but scatters a person's heart.

Because it requires an enormous, extreme degree of concentration, the moment I succeed at it for the first time, I feel my energy drain right out.

"Let us end today's cultivation here."

"... Yes, let us... do that."

Feeling an overwhelming tiredness, I roar toward the lower realm cultivators who rush at me to form ties.

[All of you, go back! If you trouble me, I will not forgive you!] At my threat, the Qi Building cultivators hesitate then soon flee. The Core Formation cultivators try to hold out a bit, but when I put Formless Sword's momentum into the threat, unable to overcome the fear, they too run away.

I enter the cave residence and catch my breath.

"Huu..."

The Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts that attacks intent, Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon that erodes consciousness, and the Formless Sword that is made of will.

It feels as if I unfold all of them at once, yet at the same time it feels like a far higher supreme art.

Perhaps it is because I already learned the three techniques that I can at least grasp the cultivation method of Cutting Principle.

'To directly strike the opponent's heart itself...'

In a sense, it is a true Heart Sword.

'It is a terrifying divine power.'

At the same time, I consider whether, with this, it might even prove effective on someone with a monster's heart like Seo Hweol.

'... This is not the time to be pondering about that.'

At the same time, I realize the cultivation of this Cutting Principle is nothing more than the 'basics' to proceed to Cutting People, and I sigh.

I have not even properly initiated into the first layer of the Star Extinguishing True Chapter.

"Hong Fan... for now, I do understand well the power of this thing called Cutting Principle."

"Haw haw, it is powerful as expected, is it not?"

"However... if I truly continue this cultivation that severs the opponent's heart in this manner, can I truly sever what is called principle?"

Honestly, I feel a bit uncomfortable with this cultivation method itself.

In a way, it is a cultivation that directly denies the enlightenment of my Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.

Therefore, if I cannot truly sever the curse of the True Immortal with this cultivation...

I am directly denying my enlightenment and have no choice but to be captured by a powerful Heart Demon.

"What relation does the heart and principle have, that by repeating the severing of the heart, one can come to sever the principle?"

At my words, Hong Fan nods and explains.

"Heavenly mandate is what the heavens set. Life is what the earth bestows."

"That is right."

"Then, Master. Is connection something bestowed by the heavens, or bestowed by the earth?"

"..."

I ponder that topic, then I answer, aligning it to the enlightenment Jang Ik gave me.

"The heavens and the earth... I think it is bestowed by both."

"Correct. What everyone holds is connection. But if so, at the same time, does it not mean that connection is also nowhere in particular?"

"Hmm..."

"In the end, what makes connections form is neither the heavens nor the earth, but merely the recognition and hearts of those who will form them. It is the hearts of people who live between the heavens and earth who decide connections."

Hong Fan draws something on the ground.

It is a net.

"Thus, the connections that begin from the heart of people soon come to hold even the heavens and earth within its embrace, making everything connect. The cognition and recognition of people, their wishes, become the net of connections and becomes the Law of Causality that entangles all phenomena. Some... call this Indra's Net."

"Indra's Net..."

I have seen it once in a scripture of the Cheongmun Clan long ago.

They say there is a God called Indra.

It is said that the God's net has a jewel attached on every mesh, and because one jewel reflects all the other jewels, it is a net that shows everything in this world is related to each other.

Everything in this world is connected.

"Qi, soul, and fate... in truth, are all one, are they not? In fact, everything is joined as one. So, by starting from cutting people's hearts, if you can come to see a more and more deepened world... perhaps someday you can sever the very thread of connection itself."

"To sever connections..."

I feel a strange sensation at those immense words, and I ask a question.

"Are you saying that simply by practicing the workings of the heart, one can sever the principle of the world that is called connection?"

At my doubt, Hong Fan's antennae twitch.

Somehow, that sight looks like a faint smile.

"It is difficult to obtain a human's body, and it is difficult still to realize the Dao."

From his mouth, an aphorism flows out.

Why is it?

"Following the human heart, one seeks the root of the Dao."

It feels like something I have heard before and yet also something I have never heard.

But at the same time, it is an aphorism that bears a distant, dizzying profundity.

"The root of every Dao lies in the person's heart. It means that if one gains a person's body, if one gropes forward along that heart, one can someday obtain the Dao."

"..."

"Let us polish the heart together as you go. If you do so, someday you will be able to reach even the realm that is called principle."

Hearing those words, I feel as if some sediment that sits in a corner of my heart washes away.

'Right... the heart touches principle.'

It is a path by which one can grope along the root of the Dao.

The powerful pressure Seo Hweol gave me, and that sophistry that discussed the emptiness of the heart.

Even if Jang Ik's enlightenment washed away part of that sediment and frustration, it could not completely shake off the lingering discomfort.

But upon hearing Hong Fan's aphorisms and his interpretation, I naturally come to shake off Seo Hweol's logic that remains in my heart.

"... Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to blow away the Heart Demon that remained in a corner of my heart."

"I am glad it could be of help. If someday Master succeeds in severing connections through the heart, Master will be able to sever the curse of the True Immortal of Heavenly Punishment and become free."

"Freedom..."

Hearing the words of freedom, and the words of severing connections, I ponder whether the freedom found by severing connections is truly right.

"Please do not think too complicatedly. Just think of it as another way of cultivating the heart."

"To sever connections... you say?"

When I look at him with a slightly worried gaze, Hong Fan once again expresses a smile with his antennae.

"This is the latter half of the aphorism I just recited to Master. I think it will be of help, so I will recite it."

Then, he once again lets out that dizzying aphorism.

"If this body cannot achieve transcendence in this life, when shall I wait again to transcend this existence?"

I tremble as I hear that aphorism.

"When shall I wait again... to transcend this existence...?"

The final aphorism strikes me far more directly than the earlier ones.

'How many things have I lost by missing the time?'

Even when I rose to peak master, I missed the enlightenment of that time and blew away an entire life.

Even in the life with Hyang-hwa, I blew away several years because I did not say a single word of love, and let her be murdered.

"... Right, I understand what you mean."

I speak while I feel the curse of lightning transformation.

"As one lives life, there are surely things that must be cut off."

If anything, there are things that become all the more grueling if one misses the time.

By failing to decisively cut off what must be cut off, the curse could even pass on suffering to others.

"'If this body cannot achieve transcendence in this life, when shall I wait again to transcend this existence'... I will engrave it deep in my heart."

"Haw haw, it is an honor for Master to lend an ear to my counsel."

"... But..."

I suddenly tilt my head, feeling that the aphorism Hong Fan recited is uncomfortably familiar.

'No matter how I think about it... I feel like I have heard this aphorism somewhere...'

Jeon Myeong-hoon or Kim Young-hoon, I think I have once glimpsed it in media they occasionally saw on Earth.

"Hong Fan, do you by any chance know where you have heard this aphorism?"

At those words, Hong Fan laughs heartily.

"In my previous life, I seem to have wandered a bit through several worlds. I think I heard it in one of those places. Because they are words that profoundly resonated with me, I remember them. But I do not quite remember where."

"I see..."

I tilt my head and nod.

'Indeed, there are various worlds including the Middle Realms. It wouldn't be strange even if there is an aphorism similar to Earth's in one of those worlds.'

It is merely a coincidence that came up by probability.

"Anyway, I understand. I appreciate the good counsel. And I will continue the cultivation of Cutting Principle as well."

I press my palms together and begin to continue the cultivation of Cutting Principle.

For now, it is only a cultivation that just makes the heart a little hazy.

But someday, with this single cultivation method, I will be able to sever principle itself.

"... By the way, Hong Fan. Have you perhaps..."

The present.

I put my palms together and half-open my eyes.

"Cutting."

Kiiiiiiiiing!

The Heavenly Domain concentrates and compresses in my hand like a line.

Soon, the compressed line shoots straight forward.

"Principle."

In the 16th cycle, I asked him that question.

—By the way, Hong Fan. Have you perhaps... learned the Star Extinguishing True Chapter? As I see it, this seems completely different from the Heaven and Earth Immortal Cultivation system, so if you also learn it, would it not help you find your memories?

—The Star Extinguishing True Chapter is also a method I discovered somewhere during my previous life. It is an excellent method... but personally, I did not like its offensive power.

—Offensive power?

—Yes. Therefore, I did not bother to learn the Star Extinguishing True Chapter. Instead, I modified the Star Extinguishing True Chapter and, in exchange for abandoning its stability and senses to the extreme, I created and used another method that maximizes killing power and offensive power.

—Huh, if you extremely abandon stability and senses, does it not rather become harmful?

—Haw haw, that is correct. But... I think of it like this. No matter how unstable and indistinct in sense a method may be, if the wielder perfectly grasps the principle of that method and seizes all the structures that constitute its instability, then side effects such as being unstable or losing one's sense are in fact as good as not existing, are they not?

—Is... that so...? Well, fine. If you have the talent to handle it, it should be no problem. Then, what is the name of that method?

—I named it thus.

—Apex of Internal Energy Methods.

—Darkness World.

Shikagak!

The technique of Cutting Principle seems to get sucked straight into the darkness, and as if nothing exists, it passes straight through Hong Fan at the center of the darkness and flies on.

"What do you intend to do by attacking me with what I taught you?"

"..."

I simply smile.

The strike of Cutting Principle is used only to prove something.

What do I prove?

"You may be endlessly close to omnipotence... but you are not omniscient, are you?"

Hong Fan looks at me expressionlessly.

"If I hide the true intent with Heavenly Escape and fire it, even you cannot know everything."

The strike just now was one fired by mixing Heavenly Escape into the technique of Cutting Principle.

Only then does Hong Fan, realizing something, look back.

Bong Hwa, imprisoned behind Hong Fan.

On the surface of the cage that imprisons her, a faint slash mark is drawn.

"You sneered that not holding hope and opposing fate is merely my hopeful wish, did you not, Hong Fan?

"You taught me.

"If this body cannot achieve transcendence in this life, when shall I wait again to transcend this existence...?"

Wooo-wooooong— Strength enters the hand gripping the sword.

The consciousness domain that has become Heavenly Domain stabilizes around me.

"Hope that may or may not come someday... I do not need it. Right now. Right now, at this moment, if I can achieve transcendence... that alone is enough."

Through the teaching Hong Fan taught me, I shout as I directly deny Hong Fan's enlightenment.

"Did you tell me to have hope? I do not need it. For I... in this very moment! Am saved, and am being saved!"

Nothing is taken for granted.

Time that has passed does not return.

Therefore...

This very now, which is never taken for granted, is the greatest miracle to me.

Twitch— At my declaration, for the first time a reaction finally appears on the face of expressionless Hong Fan.

I cannot read all the workings of that heart, but with the insight and intuition of a Supreme Deity, I can discover something.

The Future King Fate Supreme Deity Hong Fan Gu Ju is, for the first time, displeased.

"Is the enlightenment of hope something that does not get through to you?"

"Yeah, I am..."

"Then that is enough. Let us stop playing."

And Hong Fan raises his hand dyed black.

Tsuaaaaat!

The black-dyed hand returns to its original state.

"I will show a bit of sincerity."

He throws off the rank of the Devil Heavenly King.

Only then can I tell that it was, rather, nothing but a restriction upon him.

Greeting us truly as the Future King, he begins to exert his power.

"Descend upon my hand. Immortal Treasure Radiance Supreme Deity."

The Emptiness Sword elongates, and the entire Emptiness Sword begins to be covered in radiance.

'That is...!'

Great Forest.

Flower Plant.

Great Sun.

Torch Candle.

Pearl Jade.

Great Sea.

Rain Dew.

The spirits of the Radiance Seven Immortals, whom I revived, get sucked into his hand without even being able to resist and wail.

Amidst the screams of the Heavenly Lords who once reigned as the guardians and rulers of Mount Sumeru, he takes his stance.

A throwing stance!

'That is...!'

In Silver Basket's memories, the strike with which the Future King skewered and killed Silver Basket!

—True Martial Arts Emptiness Sword.

—Fifth Form.

Paaaaatt!

'I have to dod—' —Upper.

Jjeoooooong!

One strike.

By that one strike, my body is pierced through and I die.

—Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens!

Kiririririk...

Right before I completely perish, I once again narrowly turn back time with Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens.

The 2017th cycle once again...

Pukwak!

"...!?"

The moment I think so, I am pierced and killed again by the Fifth Form of the Emptiness Sword, Upper.

Kiririlik!

Once more, I turn time back with Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens.

And then, Pukwak!

Once again, I get skewered and killed by that spear of light.

Only then do I realize.

'Th-This attack...!'

The Fifth Form of the Emptiness Sword.

This technique is thrown beyond regression itself.

Pukwagwagwagwak!

Thus, in an instant, the cycle count of regression through Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens begins to shoot up like mad.