Translator: TranslatingNovice

Editors: Z0Rel, BlueMangoAde

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Chapter 771: My Friend

Kugugugugung—

The world moves quickly.

As countless seas of stars and galaxy clusters rush by, repeatedly condensing and expanding under attraction force, the sight looks as if blood is circulating through the veins and a heart is beating within some beast.

Seeing that sight, we can tell that this entire Heavenly Domain is alive.

We all are living inside the body of a colossal animal called the universe.

: : Time...is accelerating...? : :

The Great Forest Heavenly Lord looks at me as if they cannot understand.

: : Even the Source River...no, even if the Heavenly Venerable of Time personally drags down their Gandhara and descends...they cannot accelerate all of Mount Sumeru to this level. What...what have you done...!? : :

However, no matter what Great Forest says, I pay it no mind and keep strengthening the Radiance Mantra.

Fragments of the God-Killing Spears that Ji Hwa brought charge the power of light and provide the foundation for the Radiance Mantra to activate.

Time in the True Immortal Realm slows even more, and as a reaction, the True Immortals must feel the Saha World is rushing by like mad.

On the Underworld side, because the speed of reincarnation becomes insanely fast, screams and wails are heard.

Moreover, as the Eastern Heaven Flower Field collapsed and all the workload of the flower field was dumped onto the Underworld side, the Reapers of the Underworld are practically on the verge of going mad.

Still, since all True Immortals possess at least the cognitive ability of instantaneous perception (瞬識), no matter how fast time flows in the Saha World, there is no problem interfacing with the Lower Realm.

But the problem is the living beings of the Lower Realm.

Because a time gap has arisen between the True Immortal Realm and the Lower Realms of the Three Planes of Qi, Soul, and Fate, no mortal being in the Lower Realm can undergo True Immortal advancement right now, and they are struggling.

In particular, the Sacred Masters who have been cultivating normally inside the bodies of True Immortals, or those carrying out missions in various places under the orders of Radiance Hall, all have their connections to the True Immortals and Radiance Hall severed and fall into confusion.

At least those who possess Nether Perception, Star Vein Eye, Fetal Movement, and Void Perception still retain some linkage to the Upper Realm, so they can push their minds into the True Immortal Realm in accordance with the slowed time of the True Immortal Realm.

Such existences, even amidst this chaos, at least possess the qualification to undergo True Immortal advancement.

Both the Netherworld and the Source River are dimensions in which True Immortals dwell.

Therefore, even now, those places become the connection between the Lower Realm and the True Immortal Realm.

Since each Gandhara is, in the end, within the body of each Heavenly Venerable, it is practically no different from the True Immortal Realm.

And...

Kugugugugugu—

In this moment, I watch spirits as they rapidly undergo birth and annihilation, cross to the Netherworld, and then come to the Saha World again from the Netherworld to be reborn.

They go back and forth between the Netherworld, a kind of True Immortal Realm, and the Saha World...

And they look upon the scenes we are watching.

Time passes in an instant, the universe narrows, fills with light and heat, and contracts to meet its End.

And the next moment, borrowing the power of the Seat of Radiance, the universe is reborn in an explosion within light.

In countless Heavenly Domains, such a phenomenon repeats, and the spirits repeating life and death behold that majestic spectacle together with us as they move to the Gandhara of the Underworld.

The creation and annihilation of the universe.

The swift flow of stars.

The movements of Heavenly Domains like living organisms...

All of it engraves itself upon them, and begins to engrave upon them the essential principle of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.

If they reincarnate in the Saha World, they will end up forgetting those principles, but the principles of the universe will remain in their unconscious, and they will spend their entire life thinking about what repentant enlightenment is.

That's right.

Right now, I...

By applying the Radiance Mantra, joining hands with the Underworld, and engraving the principle of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra upon the souls of all mortal beings who go in and out of the Netherworld, I am teaching them repentant enlightenment.

: : Are you watching, Gwak Am? : :

Woo-woooong—

I bring my two hands together and begin converging Yin-Yang and Five Elements to One within my hands.

: : Watch closely. This is...my interpretation of the Mountain. : :

With the True Immortal Realm slowed, and the Saha World of Mount Sumeru currently perceived as endlessly accelerating, it is the optimal situation to unfold the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.

Because of the accelerated creation and end of the universe, the present Mount Sumeru becomes the best battlefield for Mountain Divine Spirits.

On the battlefield I lay out for the decisive battle with Gwak Am, I feel the power of the Yin-Yang and Five Elements gathered in my hands and, with Ji Hwa's help, begin to fuse them.

Now, the crazed Radiance Eight Immortals no longer even enter my sight.

Woo-woooong—

The Yin-Yang and Five Elements gathered in my hands intertwine and return to the primeval form of Yin-Yang and Five Elements.

The primeval state of Yin-Yang and Five Elements is none other than Radiance.

Just as the Radiance Ten Heavens divide the Five Elements into Yin and Yang as Great Forest, Flower Plant, Great Sun, Torch Candle, Castle Wall, Field Garden, Sword Spear, Pearl Jade, Great Sea, and Rain Dew,

In the end, if one converges Yin-Yang and Five Elements to One, what emerges is their essential form, Light.

Even now, the light held in my hands, thanks to the power of the Radiance Mantra and the help of Ji Hwa, who was one of the Radiance Eight Immortals, strongly resonates with the Seat of Radiance itself.

The realm formula for Immortal Lord is Yin-Yang and Five Elements Returning to One (陰陽五行歸一).

The existences who preside over the Immortal Lord's realm formula are the Emptiness Supreme Deity and the Radiance Supreme Deity.

Originally, the Radiance Eight Immortals might have interfered with my Immortal Lord advancement ritual.

However, having seized the Radiance Mantra and turned the Radiance Eight Immortals all into that state, I can now begin the Immortal Lord advancement ritual without anyone's interference.

Tududududududu—

From the realm of Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation Great Net Immortal, I begin to step toward Immortal Lord.

I push my interpretation against the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, who currently holds the Seat of Repentant Enlightenment.

The words of Radiance Hall that say 'the Origin Essence of the First Light is the Third Absolute' is blatant false propaganda.

However, at least the statement 'the First Light is the beginning of all Origin Essences' is true.

The Immortal Lord's realm formula, Yin-Yang and Five Elements Returning to One, is, ironically, to feel the power of Radiance and to fill the Origin Essence one seizes with their own [light], or [wisdom], thereby filling the whole Origin Essence.

And the method by which a Great Net Immortal advances to Immortal Lord by usurping a Seat (座) is likewise the same.

Either breathe the light and wisdom formed by your interpretation into an emptied Seat, or with that light and wisdom push away or kill the Immortal Lord, or Supreme Deity, who sits in that place.

I relentlessly pressure the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, who is seizing the chaos of the Outer Sea, by sending the light of the Radiance Mantra and my wisdom and interpretation.

'Anyway, he cannot descend before he seizes the Outer Sea. And since the deceleration of the Radiance Mantra also affects him, he too will only descend after a hundred thousand years in the decelerated time of the True Immortal Realm.'

Within that time, while pretending to usurp the Seat of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity through the Immortal Lord advancement ritual, I will send my interpretation to his Corpse Mountain Blood Sea and inspire them.

And, through Wol Ryeong, I will grant the Radiance Eight Immortals the same fate of beginning, development, twist, and conclusion as the Enders, and I will make that beginning, development, twist, and conclusion undergo history repetition for all future candidates of the Radiance Eight Immortals who are to be born.

Lastly, I will also overlay that beginning, development, twist, and conclusion upon the Great Mountain Supreme Deity who is wearing the mask of the Castle Wall Heavenly Lord and partially recover his identity of light, and force upon him the same beginning, development, twist, and conclusion as ours.

If I can do so...

Only then can we fight on equal terms with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity who activates the Splitting Heaven Mantra and has seized the Outer Sea.

My grand plan is complete.

All that remains is to wait for Wol Ryeong's completion, guide the mad Radiance Eight Immortals for the remaining hundred thousand or so years and make them undo the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag, defeat the Liberation Supreme Deity immediately after they awake and undo the final Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag, and fuse all the powers I have gathered so far into 'one'.

'The moment all powers perfectly fuse into one...'

I will properly reach the domain of Divine Arts.

If only it happens as so...

Victory will be visible in the fight against the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

'I have finished all the preparations I can make. Seize chaos, and let us clash properly. Gwak Am.'

The comrades of the Wuji Religious Order who died back then.

And Yeon Wei and Hon Won, whose entire lives were toyed with by the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, and the life of their descendant, Hon Jin.

Holding all that resentment and retribution in my hands, I grasp Ji Hwa's arm and greatly activate the Radiance Mantra once more.

Jjeoooooong!

The Origin Essence of Light seems to tremble, and then around the Origin Essence a total of ten Imperial Thrones begin to shine.

Among them, two Imperial Thrones are dim, having lost their light.

They are the Imperial Thrones of the Castle Wall Heavenly Lord and the Field Garden Heavenly Lord.

And with the Radiance Mantra activated, I yank Ji Hwa's hand sharply toward me and begin to sever the principle.

: : The Fifth Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, Sword Spear Heavenly Lord...as of today, I proclaim your departure from the Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals. : :

Jjeooong!

With my proclamation, the light of the Imperial Throne of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord grows faint and becomes the same as the Seats of the Castle Wall Heavenly Lord and the Field Garden Heavenly Lord.

: : Mountain Divine Spirit!!! : :

At last, I finally achieve with my own hands a feat equal to the Mountain Divine Spirits of the past generation.

: : Your light is...now mine. : :

From Radiance Hall, from the Owner of Light...

I have stolen the light.

If Ji Hwa had remained in Radiance Hall as a spy, this would not be necessary, but now that she is exposed, there is no longer any reason to leave Ji Hwa and her light in Radiance Hall.

The white light tinged with silver flies into my hands and transforms into my light of all of heaven's natural colours.

Just as the yellow light my master stole was contaminated into a salt-like white, now the light that symbolizes Sword Spear becomes defiled in my hands and begins to shine with all of heaven's natural colors.

I pass that light to Ji Hwa.

Since Ji Hwa, unlike my master, does not abandon the power of light itself, she does not completely lose her Immortal Title and realm as the 'Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.'

However, perhaps because she loses the power supplied by the Seat of Radiance, which is ten times greater than other Origin Essences, she now cannot, as before, produce Supreme Deity-level power with the power of a single Immortal Lord.

Ji Hwa is no more than an ordinary Immortal Lord of Quasi-Supreme Deity rank.

Of course, since I do not tear out the Origin Essence itself, unless Ji Hwa throws away her realm entirely and accumulates anew in a new Immortal Dao, she cannot become a Supreme Deity.

What I tore out is merely one of the lights of Seat of Radiance.

Now, from the Seat of Radiance, that silver-white light of Sword Spear will never shine again.

: : You are now...the Radiance Seven Immortals (光明七仙). : :

I, who has changed the very concept of the Radiance Eight Immortals, only mutter toward the Radiance 'Seven Immortals' glaring at me with terrifying eyes.

: : Maintain...your reason. : :

And, because the rage toward me condenses far too greatly, in the end they manage to regain their reason.

: : Do not panic...! Panic is what the Mountain Divine Spirit desires... Never let it go their way... : :

Ooooo—

The Radiance Seven Immortals place their palms together and Rain Dew, who ironically regained their reason the fastest because they hold my paper flower in their chest, commands them.

In this very situation, the fact that the executor Rain Dew leads Radiance Hall in place of Great Forest is practically proof that their system has completely collapsed.

But even collapsed, they are the Lords of Light.

The snake's tail that commands the Radiance Seven Immortals, Rain Dew, shouts.

: : We lost Sword Spear, but there is no problem in deploying the Eight Immortals Formation. Unfold the True Title (眞號)...! : :

Kugugugugu!

At the center of the symbol of Heuk Sa that rises above them,

The name Radiance Supreme Deity appears.

: : True Title...huh? So you could use it too. : :

True Titles are the true Immortal Titles of Supreme Deities.

Because the rank and authority of Supreme Deities have grown far too vast, an ordinary Immortal Title cannot contain their authority and rank.

Therefore they always receive Immortal Titles from the Naming Supreme Deity that are much longer than other True Immortals, such as the 'High Spirit Grand Dao Nine Heavens Overseeing Fate Preserving Life Celestial Great Emperor (上靈高道九天司命保生天上大帝)' or the 'Red Summit Great Mountain Life Phenomena Extinguishing Great Emperor (彤岳太山天齊大生滅法大帝)', or the 'Nine Heavens Origin Responding Thunderous Sound Universal Transformation Great Emperor (九天應元雷聲普化天帝)'.

These long Immortal Titles are otherwise called 'True Titles (眞號)' among the Supreme Deities, and they serve to the role of assisting and managing all beings who receive the grace of the Supreme Deities' authority.

When those True Titles are compressed to contain only simple symbols, the resulting Immortal Titles are the ordinary ones like 'Naming Supreme Deity', 'Great Mountain Supreme Deity', and 'Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity'.

As I look at the Radiance Eight Immortals who release their True Title, I begin to prepare countermeasures against the True Titles.

For those at Immortal Lord and below, the Immortal Titles bestowed by the Naming Supreme Deity serve as usable Immortal Treasures to True Immortals.

But for those at the Supreme Deity level, Immortal Titles do not help much in battle and the like.

Since they are already far too complete as beings, the power of an Immortal Title does not add to their combat strength.

Therefore, Supreme Deities all use their True Titles for only one purpose.

: : True Title Unfolding. : :

As the voice of the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord resounds, the Immortal Title of the Radiance Supreme Deity at the center of the Black Snake Biting Its Tail begins to change.

Most Supreme who Illuminates Dawn, Wielder of Seals, Ruler of Brightness, Truth Embracing Dao Embodying Black Heaven Radiance Supreme Deity (太上開曉執符御明含真體道玄天光明上帝).

Kugugugugu!

As the True Title of the Radiance Supreme Deity activates, the Seat of Radiance begins to tremble.

: : We...shall reclaim Sword Spear. : :

And the true authority of Supreme Deities begins to activate.

: : Debt Enforcement (債券執行). : :

Kugugugugu!

Just as Hyeon Mu tried to exact the payment with interest from all of the Heart Tribe who used the Interdimensional Void,

The Radiance Seven Immortals, through the authority of the Radiance Supreme Deity, begin to exact payment from all who have received the grace of 'light' until now.

'As expected...the Radiance Mantra can't block that.'

Since the legitimacy over the Seat of Radiance itself lies with the Seven Immortals, it is impossible even for me to block the debt enforcement of light.

Chwaaaaa—

We all have a portion of our power taken by the Seven Immortals.

However, we pay it no heed and breathe our authority into them even more strongly.

As it is, to face us, the Seven Immortals took the Heavenly King Heavenly Treasures into their bodies and become all the more deranged.

The more they accept our power, the faster their madness will seize them.

Perhaps they realize this fact as well, as they try to accept our power as late as possible and pour their main effort into sucking in the power of others.

All the powers of light across the Saha World converge upon them.

And the greatest of these are...

The Heaven Immortals of the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain, who have been using the Immortal Crown of the Radiance Supreme Deity all this time.

: : No!!! : :

: : O Radiance Supreme Deity!! How can you do this to us!? : :

: : This cannot be. Then what has all our loyalty to Radiance been for...!? : :

Countless Heaven Immortals scream and begin to have their authorities stolen by the suction power emitted by the Radiance Seven Immortals.

At least the Envoys of the Final Age of Dharma and the Thirty-Three Heavenly Resplendent Treasure Immortals, by communicating with them and not fleeing but rather joining them, do not have their power stolen and, by rejoining on the side of the Radiance Seven Immortals, reinforce their strength.

The authorities the Radiance Supreme Deity gains by opening the True Title gather together and begin to lump up beside the Seven Immortals.

They are in the form of a total of three Immortals.

Those Immortals each are shrouded in yellow and silver-white light.

They are the Castle Wall Heavenly Lord, Field Garden Heavenly Lord, and Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, temporarily manifested by seizing the power of the debtors.

At the pitiable sight of dragging in every shred of power, regardless of strength or no strength, any power at all, in order to reproduce the might of the Radiance Ten Heavens, Ji Hwa turns her head as if she cannot bear to watch the downfall of her old comrades.:

: : We will take back Sword Spear. And...you will not be able to undo your Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag. For your Sealing Immortal Flag can be undone only by eight Owners of Light...! Even though we reproduce the power of the Radiance Ten Heavenly Lords, unless it is the true Owners of Light, no matter what attack we make on you, you will not be released! : :

Woo-oooong—

A God-Killing Spear is gripped in their hands.

Not of the Radiance Eight Immortals, but a God-Killing Spear deployed by reproducing the power of the Radiance Ten Heavenly Lords.

In addition, I notice the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord, who is forcibly drawing forth power and assimilating with the Heavenly Void Furnace, is on the verge of collapsing.

It seems they intend to draw in the power of the Head Realm and the Emptiness Supreme Deity through the Heavenly Void Furnace to face me.

However, I stride forward toward the power of the God-Killing Spear they are about to throw.

: : Do as much as you like. I no longer fear attacks from the likes of you. : :

: : ...I see. : :

However, as if the Rain Dew Heavenly Lord saw through my intention at once, they look outside Mount Sumeru.

They look toward the Source River that is eroded by the Artificial Gandhara and supplying the power of time to the Radiance Mantra.

Perhaps because they too hold a paper flower, they seem to faintly read my heart essence and infer my intention.

Inside the Source River.

There, the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, who have come to know of all truth, each summon a great flag and are concentrating their power.

: : Northern Dipper... Even you...betray us. All the allies of Radiance Hall...are leaving us...! : :

The Source River.

There, the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, shedding tears of blood, pour all their authorities into the flags under Yeong Seung's command.

: : Ah...O Lord. Our Lord. All this time, we have lived clinging in vain... : :

: : Lord...O God of Time. Hence please forgive us... : :

: : At least now...we will atone by answering your will...! : :

The Breaking Army Heavenly Lord sheds bloody tears and begins to wave their flag.

Soon the other flags also sway exactly like the Breaking Army Heavenly Lord's, and this creates a certain flow.

: : The Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag is...our half-body, made by us Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords forever forfeiting the possibility of becoming Supreme Deities, splitting our spirit, body, and Origin Essence in half. At the same time, it is both an Immortal Treasure that clings to the opponent and, by fusing with the opponent, grows ever stronger the stronger the opponent becomes, and a mantra we created. : :

The Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, weeping tears of blood, begin to weaken the binding cast on the being of nightmare into which they have embedded the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag.

: : I, Greedy Wolf. : :

: : I, Giant Gate. : :

: : I, Preserving Wealth. : :

: : I, Literary Melody. : :

: : I, Integrity Chastity. : :

: : I, Martial Melody. : :

: : I, Breaking Army. : :

Because the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag, created to seal an out-of-rank existence like the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, is a growth-type mantra wearing the shell of an Immortal Treasure, even they cannot change its release conditions arbitrarily.

All they can do is change the original condition as indirectly as possible. That is the greatest action they can take.

: : In the name of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords (北斗七天君), we command you. Let the release condition of the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag be altered...!!! : :

Deeeeng—

From the Source River, the power of the flags they raise ring the bell sound of the Source River.

The Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords and Seo Eun-hyun's Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flags resonate, and among the two Sealing Immortal Flags embedded in him, the condition of one is relaxed.

Tsuaaaaat—

From [taking the attacks in sequence without resisting from the Eight Owners of Light] to [taking the attacks in sequence from eight Immortal Lords who come from light].

Deeeng—

The request I asked Yeong Seung beforehand to pass to the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords resounds.

The condition of the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flag relaxes.

And this means...

'Now not only their attacks...but Ji Hwa's attacks will also affect me.'

Ji Hwa, whose light is stolen and drawn out from the Seat of the Eight Immortals, also counts as a [Heavenly Lord who comes from light], so if I simply take the attacks in order of Great Forest, Flower Plant, Great Sun, Torch Candle, Ji Hwa, Pearl Jade, Great Sea, and Rain Dew, my seal will release.

In addition...now the restriction of [without resisting] when being struck has also disappeared.

Not only counterattacking, but even standing against their attacks becomes a release condition.

The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord also seems to notice that fact and only glares at me in silence.

: : ...I see. You plan to induce our attacks to release the Sealing Immortal Flag. Futile... Do you think we will go along as you wish...!? : :

No sooner do Rain Dew's words end when the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord presses their hands together and begins to burn themselves.

: : Unfolding True Title. Emptiness Supreme Deity.

The Torch Candle Heavenly Lord links with the Heavenly Void Furnace and starts borrowing the power of the Head Realm.

At the same time, they start to unfold even the True Title of the Head Realm.

That distant Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

The Head Realm seems to tremble, and the true name of the Emptiness Supreme Deity that the Head Realm hides is revealed.

True Title (眞號).

Unsurpassed Emptiness Earth Mother Supreme Imperial Venerable (無上虛空地母至帝尊).

Jeook—

At the same time, one of the Head Realm's eyes [flips] over.

That eye shines with moonlight.

That is something all too familiar to me.

It is the Head Realm's Moon (月).

Suddenly, I become curious why only one of the eyes of Sun and Moon, not the whole, opens, and for some reason I get the feeling that the Emptiness Supreme Deity is not simply a single existence.

'Overlapping? What is this?'

But without even having time to ponder such a thing, I feel the Akashic Records draining our wisdom.

: : Return to your filthy homeland that is the Head Realm...you filthy Enders! : :

With the roar of the Radiance Seven Immortals full of anger, we start to be slowly sucked toward the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

: : Did you expect to be struck by us in order? Never, never will we follow your will. We will surely destroy...! Sword Mountain Devil Lord!! : :

The Rain Dew Heavenly Lord's shout full of hatred continues, and they let go of the God-Killing Spears from their hands.

Ten God-Killing Spears rise into the void, then, by Torch Candle's control, are driven toward the Emptiness Supreme Deity Myeong Woon.

Right after, Torch Candle controls Myeong Woon and, through Myeong Woon's attraction force, aims the God-Killing Spears at us.

If it goes like this, the God-Killing Spears become those thrown by Myeong Woon, so the Sealing Immortal Flag will not be released.

However, I instead turn my back to them and look at the Saha World.

Now, they are no longer my match.

: : ...I have no interest in you now. : :

I turn my back. Now my comrades will face them.

Kkiyoooooot!

With a ghastly shriek, a giant bird mixed with azure and glass colors beats its wings and descends to the spot.

: : To be able to violate the Radiance Supreme Deity, ahhh, I dreamed of this day all my life!! : :

It is the Glass Peacock Nameless One who kidnaped Azure Peng, repeated copulated to the point of half-mixing with Azure Peng, and rose to the position of Ecstasy True Lord (歡樂眞君).

Azure Peng's personality did not disappear, but it seems the Azure Peng is trapped in Glass Peacock's heart essence world, copulating within in a mentally dazed state.

Led by Glass Peacock, countless Immortal Beasts land around us, mix among my comrades, and start to glare at the Radiance Seven Immortals faction.

They are the Immortal Beasts whom Oh Hye-seo has drawn to our side with Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens until now, and whom Glass Peacock, joining forces with her, violated and brainwashed.

For a while the Seven Immortals will boast the power of the Ten Heavenly Lords, but in the end, when the power seized by debt runs out, they will have to face us as the Radiance Seven Immortals far weaker than in the era of the Eight Immortals.

I have no more business with them.

: : If you will not attack me...I can simply ask a 'friend.' : :

Woooooong!

Having completely taken my attention off the present Radiance Seven Immortals, I, with the authority of the Immortal Beast King, resist the suction force of the Emptiness Supreme Deity and look to my 'friend' beneath the Saha World, who at last pries open the distortion of time and attempts to enter the True Immortal Realm.

Within the hastened time of the Saha World, Wol Ryeong, who finally reached the Entering Nirvana stage and completed her Innate Immortal Art, is attempting True Immortal advancement.

: : Min-hee. : :

: : Alright. : :

At my request, Kang Min-hee forms a hand seal.

Woooooong—

A vast otherworld of Dark Heaven (暗天) opens its mouth behind us.

It is the arrangement space she weaved by intertwining law until now.

It is Kang Min-hee's arrangement, made so that all future Enders can place their arrangements inside it.

A flower garden of black and blue.

Inside that garden are also the arrangements left by Jeon Myeong-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, Oh Hye-seo, and others.

And the arrangement I left is engraved as well.

Woo-wooong—

The beginning, development, twist, and conclusion I engraved inside her arrangement.

In the beginning, or Spring, [one meets a being from another world].

In the development, or Summer, [one exchanges connections with the being from the otherworld, become closer than ever, and learns fate].

In the twist, or Autumn, [after losing the close friend, one suffers and receives pain to the point of losing the heart].

And in the final conclusion, or Winter, [after reaching the ending, obtaining true enlightenment]. This is precisely...the fate of beginning, development, twist, and conclusion I forced upon Ryeong.

This fate of beginning, development, twist, and conclusion engraved upon Ryeong will also engrave upon all future candidates of the Seven Immortals, making them become friends with the Enders of later generations.

And this history, powered by the Vast Cold Heavenly Circle, will repeat forever as history repetition through the Four Seasons...forever placing a bridle around the necks of the Radiance Seven Immortals, and someday making every one of the Radiance Seven Immortals the best friend and lover who helps the Enders.

: : As we are slaves of fate...you too will become slaves of the heart. So from now on, as fellow slaves of Absolute...let us live as friends. This is the punishment I leave you...and the arrangement for later generations. : :

This arrangement does not apply only to the future.

It reaches into the past as well. This arrangement also puts the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, who wears the mask of the Castle Wall Heavenly Lord, inside this beginning, development, twist, and conclusion so that he too, before me who is an Ender, must obtain enlightenment, accept my interpretation, and spit out the Seat.

This is my arrangement for later generations, and the move to face the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

And...

...it is the karmic retribution I must bear.

After entrusting the Radiance Seven Immortals, who pour attacks at me from behind, to Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kang Min-hee, Oh Hyun-seok, Oh Hye-seo, Glass Peacock, and the Immortal Beast party, I gaze ahead at my friend who begins to reach the True Immortal Realm.

She does not go to the Underworld.

A death deeper than the Underworld. The orthodox advancement method before the Underworld existed. She falls into the domain of purity just like I had, accepts death, and resurrects.

Life and death seem to mix, drawing Taiji, and soon within it a silver divine spirit is born.

Woo-woooong—

Soon, the silver divine spirit, receiving the gaze of Gwak Am who sits in the far Outer Sea, meets the advancement Heavenly Tribulation and begins to take form.

Tstststststs...

A familiar face appears.

Wol Ryeong, who forms an Immortal Body, compresses the Immortal Body and begins to settle in a human form within the True Immortal Realm.

I too approach Wol Ryeong and compress my true body into a Transformation form.

Ji Hwa also leaves the battle to our comrades for a moment and, together with me, transforms into a human form.

The two of us stand before Wol Ryeong in familiar appearances.

Soon Wol Ryeong regains consciousness and looks at us.

For a while, silence falls between us.

And the one who breaks the silence is Wol Ryeong.

"...It's Seo Gyeong's face. And...it's Seo Gyeong's soul."

After looking at me, she looks at Ji Hwa and Wol Ryeong's eyes tremble.

"...I see. So that is how it is..."

After observing Ji Hwa's bare face, her energy and spirit begins to laugh.

Drop, drop...

Tears of blood begin to flow from Wol Ryeong's eyes.

"My life...was completely toyed with by you. Sword Mountain Devil Lord...and...Master...aha. Ahahahahahaha!"

Bursting into wild laughter, Wol Ryeong wildly scratches her own face. At her gesture, that face tears as it is, and the Immortal Body begins to scatter.

"My life...my heart...my pain, all of it was toyed with by you all! Everything! My life, all of it is a lie!!"

Now, this is the last step.

Here, if I only complete her path of fate, the part corresponding to Winter, my arrangement will be complete.

And what I need to take that single step is...

"...Ryeong-ah."

"..."

"I will...tell you the truth."

To end everything, to beg her forgiveness, I take one step toward Ryeong.

"...The reason all of this happened is..."

I slowly approach her and begin to explain everything that has happened until now.

About the Enders.

About the Radiance Eight Immortals.

About the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

And the reason for which I toyed with her life.

Given the difference in realm between me and her, I can inject wisdom into her all at once, but I put on a human body entirely and explain, word by word, by mouth.

Ryeong, even as she claws at her own face, does not run or tell me to stop, and listens to me on the spot.

So as not to deceive her, I shut entirely both the Araya Consciousness that reads Indra's Net and the vision that sees intent, and facing only Ryeong with human senses I continue the explanation.

Whatever her feelings are, I do not read her with transcendent senses. Ji Hwa does the same.

After laying everything completely bare, I kneel before Ryeong.

"...I want to apologize to you, Ryeong-ah. For all of these things...I toyed with your life and pushed your feelings and soul into chaos. So please...let me apologize to you."

"..."

"..."

Neither I, Ryeong, or Ji Hwa.

None of us speak.

In silence, Ji Hwa and I kneel to Wol Ryeong and beg forgiveness.

"...Heh."

And then, Wol Ryeong's body starts to twitch.

"Heh, hehahahaha... Hhuhuhuhuhu... Hehaaaahahahahaha..."

She starts to laugh. She starts to laugh like she is mad.

That wild laughter is the saddest laugh I have ever seen.

"Hahahahaha... Ahahahahahaaaaaa... Aaaaaaa... Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

Soon, the laughter becomes the sound of a scream.

"...I..."

Wol Ryeong then collapses on the spot, clutches her head, and wails.

"Hate you..."

I do not feel the emotion of hate. What fills Wol Ryeong is only the look of anguish and grief.

Even without reading intent...the look of Wol Ryeong that I have faced through the years living as her friend Seo Gyeong reads itself to me.

"With a single apology...there is no way I would forgive you..."

"I will apologize again and again."

"Even if you apologize only with words ten billion times...do you think this feeling will disappear...?"

Wol Ryeong lifts her head. Her face is full of a pained smile.

The eyes of Wol Ryeong that always shined with confidence are completely sunken into panic and grief.

"Seo Gyeong..."

"I am listening, Ryeong."

"You also suffer for me... Just as you toyed with my life... Just as you rolled my life in your palm and made fun of it...you too...be stripped of all control over your life and suffer for me..."

She points to the sky.

The Black Sky of the True Immortal Realm. The symbol engraved on that Heavenly Throne, the [Mountain Exuding Darkness].

"Be eaten...by the Great Mountain Supreme Deity."

"..."

"If it is not to that extent, I cannot forgive you."

At that one line, I shake my head.

"I cannot do that, Ryeong-ah."

The grace and resentment with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity comes before Ryeong's. Therefore, that alone is impossible.

And at my words, Wol Ryeong laughs with eyes filled with madness, panic, and grief.

"...Right. In that case...I do not forgive you."

Wol Ryeong rises from the spot, tears falling.

"I do not need a chance at forgiveness that you toss to me as if you are granting it. I will seize with my own hands the chance to forgive you."

With my eyes of seeing Araya Consciousness intent shut, I cannot grasp any intention in Ryeong's words, and I only lower my head to her.

"After I tear apart and kill your 'real' beloved and your 'real' comrades and end their lives, I will put you in my grasp and then we will speak again Seo Gyeong. And Master. When you thus arrive at a situation perfectly the same as mine...only then will I be able to 'forgive' you. How is it, is that fine?"

"...Ryeong-ah."

I cannot say any words to her. The only words I can say are just...

"...You are right. I am sorry. But...I will protect my comrades."

"..."

"And...you are also my comrade, Ryeong-ah. If, at any time while you pursue revenge, your anger is relieved...I want to be with you again."

I close my eyes. Because I can guess her feelings just by seeing her expression, to respect her choice I close my eyes and beg forgiveness.

Wol Ryeong's sobbing bursts out.

"Why...do you...speak like that...? Why do you speak as if...you will not resent me even if I take everything from you?"

"..."

"When you speak like that...it's as if you really consider me a true comrade..."

"..."

"I cannot...hate you. But I also cannot forgive you... So, my revenge for you is..."

Her tear-mixed voice thus does not aim at me and instead aims at that faraway sky.

"I will 'borrow'...your power."

"Wol..."

I hurriedly open my senses including Araya Consciousness that I closed to apologise, and only then can I feel an appalling ominousness. An ominousness that only I, who pursued the Dao of the Mountain up to this realm and clashed several times with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, can feel.

This is...

'From the moment I met Ryeong, he has been in contact with Ryeong!?'

It is the energy of Gwak Am's wicked scheme.

'It wasn't just a while back when he made contact with her in the Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain...'

Splitting Emperor Splitting Heaven.

: : Annihilation Advancement Mu. : :

The sky collapses. Golden waves collapse all of Mount Sumeru and together with the chaos of the Outer Sea begin to shake Heaven and Earth. In the golden waves, the entire world collapses, and I see Wol Ryeong's spirit and flesh being absorbed into those waves.

Kugugugugu—

Twin Holding Heavenly Domain.

Axle Heavenly Domain.

Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain.

Good Sight Heavenly Domain.

Horse Ear Heavenly Domain.

Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain.

Earth Boundary Heavenly Domain.

All those Heavenly Domains collapse in a single flash, and the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain also cannot endure the golden flash and shatters, scattering in pieces toward various places of the chaos of the Outer Sea. The fragments of the fallen Heavenly Domains are absorbed as they are by the golden something that descends here by the flow of chaos.

It is an immense Mountain of Radiance that seems to burn this entire Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand World.

At that sudden descent, the Liberation Supreme Deity Bong Myeong, who is recovering their rank of Supreme Deity within the cocoon, is, before they can do anything with me, flung beyond the far chaos of the Outer Sea and disappears, and at the appearance of the tyrannical Mountain of Radiance, the Radiance Seven Immortals, the Enders, and all the divine spirits gathered here, freeze.

Before that tyrannical mountain that seems to crush all of Heaven and Earth, I rise, transforming into my true form, and take a stance to deliver a single strike.

Severing Heaven Sword Form.

Derived Ultimate Move.

: : Sword God... : :

: : Mantra. Impermanence Sword. : :

From within the golden mountain, a rugged golden authority in the form of an arm shoots out and grabs my skull. To the act of that arm, I fail to mount any resistance.

: : Retribution Enforcement. : :

That golden forearm, still gripping my head, detonates golden light.

Jjeoeoong!

As the golden flash explodes again, I am flung straight out to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain. The Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain shatters from the aftermath alone and begins to be absorbed by that God of Radiance, and I am flung all the way to the far edge of Mount Sumeru, to where the Emptiness Supreme Deity Myeong Woon opens the eye of the Moon. My entire body bursts with Immortal Beast True Blood and I just barely hold onto my consciousness that is about to drift away.

: : ...Ah... : :

At the very edge of Mount Sumeru, before the gate of the Audience Chamber that pulls in this world, I look [up] from the world's [below] and let out a hollow laugh.

Just one second. That was all it took for Mount Sumeru to perish and be absorbed by that bastard. All that remains is the Artificial Gandhara that remains outside Mount Sumeru and the Underworld. The Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand World in the form of an inverted cone that consisted of Heavenly Domains disappeared in a single strike.

And I, recognizing what hit me, rise from my place.

: : ...Right. So that is what it is. You have been waiting only for this moment. : :

I let out a hollow laugh as I realize what vicious scheme my Senior Brother, the Great Mountain Supreme Deity Gwak Am, plotted.

Just as I used the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra that was in the Great Mountain Supreme Deity's grasp by receiving recognition from the Salt Sea Supreme Deity and the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra, Gwak Am likewise used the Impermanence Sword that is in my grasp by receiving recognition from the Impermanence Sword.

Since Wol Ryeong entrusted to Gwak Am the authority over the retribution and karma she must pour onto me, the moment he descended in ambush and swallowed Wol Ryeong, he thereby gained the qualification to wield the Retribution of the Impermanence Sword.

The Retribution of the Impermanence Sword has always applied to me as well. For a sword is double-edged. Yes, perhaps he has been aiming for only this moment.

: : You gave up fully activating the Splitting Heaven Mantra...gave up completely seizing the chaos...and aimed only for this one moment, throwing a surprise attack before the arrangement is completed. : :

Kugugugugugu—

Kung, kung, kung!

I rise from the remains of Mount Sumeru that perished in an instant and begin to make my body gigantic.

Immortal Beast King authority.

The enlightenment of Martial Pinnacle that began from Entering Heavens Beyond the Path.

Wheel.

Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra.

Flawless Mantra.

Radiance Mantra.

Impermanence Sword.

Heaven-Earth Great Net Half-Step Immortal Lord.

Heart Dao Blooming.

Imperial Throne Circuit.

Primordial Origin Cultivation.

All those authorities circle around my body, then materialize and are absorbed into me.

My white round collar robe seems to shine pure white. The more it does, the more the five chains wrapped around my right hand contrast in black and emit darkness.

Kuuung—

Kuuung—

Kuuung—

My body grows larger and larger. Before long, my body becomes a size that rivals a true Gandhara and stands before the Golden Mountain of Radiance.

Even after I enlarge my size to the level of a Gandhara, that Mountain Divine Spirit of Light still stands a head taller than me.

The two Mountain Divine Spirits stand upon the remains of Mount Sumeru, which perished in an instant, and face each other.

I speak toward my senior brother and my mortal enemy who I cannot exist with under the same heavens.

: : Spit out Wol Ryeong. Gwak Am. : :

But that God of Radiance only looks down at me and only spits out a single line.

: : You failed again. You cannot protect anyone. : :

War is deception.

In the end, I fell one move behind in the contest of deception.

Thinking that he will seize all of chaos and then come, that he will descend only after fully activating the Splitting Heaven Mantra, I acted with ease and ended up confronting him without even drawing the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flags.

I even let him seize a partial stake in even the Impermanence Sword...

In other words, I handed Wol Ryeong's retribution into his hand.

: : Bow to me. Lower your head. The one who inherits Master's will...across Heaven, Earth, and Heaven's above, is I alone. : :

Hwoo-woong—

The Corpse Mountain Blood Sea, wrapped in golden light, takes the form of an arm and swings toward me.

Jjeooonnng!

In each and every one of those actions, the principle of Annihilation Advancement Mu is imbued.

Kwaching!

And I raise an arm wrapped with the Five Desires Chain and seize his wrist.

Golden light sparks from my hand.

My whole body shudders at that fearsome giant strength.

However...

: : Not as lofty as before. : :

I look up at the true body of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, now at best only about a head taller than me, and speak.

Kwoong, kwoong, kwoong, kwoong!

Familiar presences appear one by one behind me and reveal their true bodies.

The Red Pearl Cycling Heavenly King Jeon Myeong-hoon with a Gandhara like the Vajra That Removes Filth.

The Lapis Lazuli Flower Heavenly King Kang Min-hee with a Gandhara like the Medicine Buddha.

The Silver Nameless Heavenly King Oh Hyun-seok with a Gandhara like the Benevolent Kings.

The Tridacna Vast Cold Heavenly King Kim Yeon with a Gandhara like the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.

Oh Hye-seo, together with Glass Peacock and other Immortal Beasts, lays out a defensive formation and reveals herself.

: : Spit out Wol Ryeong. : :

Uduk, udududuk...

I grip the Great Mountain Supreme Deity's arm and begin to apply strength.

A sneer tints Gwak Am's eyes.

: : With just a rabble of Heavenly Kings that cannot even reach the tip of Vast Cold's toes in their prime, and a rabble of Immortal Beasts, you dare stand against me? : :

: : Spit out Wol Ryeong. : :

Uduk, udududuk...

But the next moment, Gwak Am looks at my arm engaged in the test of strength with a slightly surprised gaze.

Jeok, jeojeojeojeojeok...

Because my right arm, in which the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity is embedded, begins to directly yank out Gwak Am's left arm.

Jjeooooong!

I tear off the left arm of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity Gwak Am and deliver what I have to say.

: : Spit out Wol Ryeong. : :

Unlike before, the summit of the mountain is no longer out of sight.

: : I must beg that child for forgiveness. : :

Cheolkkeong—

And at that moment, instead of a sneer or a flicker of surprise, a proper competitive spirit finally begins to enter Gwak Am's eyes.

He, because he wears the mask of light, thinking that if my arrangement is completed it will be threatening, aimed only to seize the Impermanence Sword and ambushed me without even completing the Splitting Heaven Mantra, without even fully seizing chaos.

By doing so, he seemed to think he could block the beginning, development, twist, and conclusion of fate.

But he is wrong.

The beginning, development, twist, and conclusion of fate that I stake upon that child...

The final section corresponding to winter is...

Originally a prophecy I granted on the assumption of failure.

The conclusion of the prophecy I granted, winter, is not simply to obtain enlightenment.

[To know all truth, to accumulate a mountain of failures, and at the end to meet again, share enlightenment, and become free].

: : I could not protect anything all my life, and in my whole life I only failed. : :

I am a failure, a loser.

Therefore, I can only pave the road with failure as the bedrock.

: : But my apology to that child alone, I will not fail. : :

The arrangement does not fail.

For this an arrangement made of failure.

Failure cannot fail.

To the Great Mountain Supreme Deity Gwak Am, who has come wearing the mask of the Castle Wall Heavenly Lord and bearing the Splitting Heaven Mantra, I succeed in imposing the fate of beginning, development, twist, and conclusion, and I begin to infuse my enlightenment into him.

: : Spit out my friend. Senior Brother. : :

Sword God Dance!

The will contained in the white sword extends toward Gwak Am, and Gwak Am in turn detonates a golden flash, executing in Wol Ryeong's stead retribution for the wounds and pain she received.

Annihilation Advancement Mu!

Sword God Dance and Annihilation Advancement Mu collide, and chaos recedes.

Across a long and longer span of time.

At last, I commence war to settle the grace and resentment with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity (太山上帝) Gwak Am (गाॐ), who has taken everything from me.

The Great Mountain Battle (太山戰) begins.