Chapter 164: Drastic Change (3)

The height of water is called the water level.

Then, if there is also a height to dimensions, what should it be called?

The term created from such contemplation is precisely ‘plane.’

There is indeed a hierarchy within dimensions.

If one recalls the sensation of handling the Formless Sword, our material world belongs to a lower plane, and as one ascends to higher planes, one can encounter metaphysical essences.

Those who have reached the stage of Nascent Soul can distinguish the planes based on the height of dimensions.

When I fought against Yuan Li, and when I fought against other Nascent Soul cultivators.

Sometimes, they launch attacks that Core Formation cultivators cannot even perceive with their consciousness, and the principle that allows them to split space and teleport, originates from the sense of distinguishing planes.

If one from a higher plane splits the space of a lower plane to attack, or attacks from a higher to a lower plane, then cultivators of lower planes cannot possibly oppose them.

Of course, like Oh Hyun-seok, if one simply concentrates power brutishly, it can be effective even against higher planes, but fundamentally, the reason Nascent Soul cultivators overwhelm Core Formation cultivators is because of such planes.

Tstststs!

‘For 1,000 years, I have handled the circuits of the Mad Lord.’

The Mad Lord’s circuit itself contains the principle of condensing power to ascend to higher planes.

Moreover, by using the Formless Sword that transcends planes, I have somewhat grasped the essence of higher planes.

So now,

‘Gather Qi (vital force), and cultivate the soul towards the higher plane!’

Paaatt!

Focusing my consciousness and soul essence at the center of my Golden Core, I begin to connect to a higher plane using the Formless Sword.

I’m not revealing the Formless Sword for attack, but harboring it within to reach a higher plane, so there’s no worry of being discovered.

I continue to concentrate my consciousness at the center of the Golden Core, compressing power.

Inside the Golden Core, the spiritual energy converges to its apex, striving to leap towards an even higher plane.

And, that moment came.

‘Ah…’

Suddenly, while contemplating in the center of the Golden Core, I feel as if my will and Qi are intertwining.

‘Is this, Nascent Soul…’

As consciousness and spiritual energy mix, I suddenly feel a great Yin and Yang circulating within me.

Tststs....

"Tai Chi..."

Tai Chi, in turn, history.

Beyond the spiral drawn by Tai Chi, I see a certain scene.

It’s the history of a person named Seo Eun-hyun.

‘Ah, this is it.’

The thing Oh Hyun-seok talked about, the passing flashback.

Starting from my memories of ‘this’ moment, like descending into the abyss of forgotten time, I contemplate the history of ‘me.’

Spiritual power flows backward, illuminating the past.

Tstststs!

The time a few months ago, before riding the Flying Ship, when I was told by Azure Tiger Saint to visit the Devil Realm.

The time before that, when I arrived in the Human Territory with Kim Yeon. The moment before that, when I was being chased by the Mad Lord.

Even before that, when my head exploded because of Oh Hyun-seok.

The time before, when I was sparring with Oh Hyun-seok.

The moment when I just returned and chose the Azure Heaven Creation Sect.

Facing the Mad Lord’s Play, kissing Yeon, and dying from the strike sent by Seo Hweol.

The time trapped as a puppet...

The memories I clearly remember are slow and vivid, whereas those I vaguely recall pass by very quickly.

And finally, traversing through my memories, I reach the domain where my memories have sunk.

‘These are… the memories I have lost…’

And, the memories I have forgotten about 'Earth' are...

Paatttt!

‘Ah, no, too fast!’

The memories of the era I have forgotten fly past me too swiftly to even recognize.

‘No! I need to see this memory!’

I struggle within my heart essence to see the memories I’ve forgotten.

And then, at that moment!

"Cough!"

I spit out blood with my mouth open.

"Cough! Cough!"

Heart Demon!

It’s the price for paying too much attention to something else in the process of rising to the Nascent Soul stage.

"Cough, cough... Ack..."

I bleed profusely from my mouth.

Fssss....

Suddenly, the Nascent Soul that is about to form within me disperses, and the past scenes roaming in my mind disappear into the distance.

"Kugh, Damn it!"

Boom!

I punch my head hard enough for it to explode.

"Hu, huh! Cultivator Seo?"

Yeon Jin, who is beside me, is shocked, but I think to myself as I slowly regenerate my head.

‘By exploding my head, I prevented the Heart Demon from spreading further. But, the breakthrough to reach the Nascent Soul stage…’

Ended.

"What's going on there!"

From afar, Hyeon Woon flies over and asks me, who is regenerating my head.

I regenerate my mouth first and respond.

"...While challenging the Nascent Soul stage, a Heart Demon suddenly appeared, and I exploded my head to block it."

"What?"

Hyeon Woon's expression twists at my words.

"Even if the invasion hasn't started yet, you proceeded with such a critical matter without reporting it to higher-ups, and you injured yourself, reducing our strength due to such a mistake!"

Shwoosh!

Sssss!

"...!"

Hyeon Woon launches an attack at me while I’m still regenerating my head.

His attack cuts off my regenerating head and he burns my neck to prevent it from regenerating further.

"...!"

[Everyone, listen!]

Hyeon Woon's angry voice echoes in all directions.

[This person here attempted breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage recklessly before the Devil Realm's expedition force even set out, failed, and got injured by a Heart Demon! He proceeded without reporting this crucial fact to his superiors!

Listen, everyone! For the army to move properly, for the war to proceed smoothly, communication between superiors and subordinates is vital! From now on, anyone who doesn't report and injures themselves by encountering a Heart Demon while attempting to cross a significant realm will be disciplined by military law! Here, Seo Eun-hyun is ordered to go without a head until the expedition force conquers one region beyond the Devil Realm's barrier!]

"..."

Suddenly, I’m punished by military law and have to remain headless for a while.

“Cu-cultivator Seo... Are you okay?"

[Well, it's a bit inconvenient to only perceive my surroundings with consciousness since I don't have eyes, but it's not unbearable.]

Yeon Jin, seeing me with the upper part of my neck gone, trembles and asks.

"That, that... Doesn't it hurt?"

[It seems you, Cultivator Yeon, have never experienced losing your head.]

"No! How many Core Formation cultivators typically have such an experience!"

[Ah....]

'I see. In the lower realms, it's common for Core Formation cultivators to lose their heads in fights, but it seems in the Bright Cold realm, such incidents are rare.'

Perhaps due to abundant resources, there were fewer reasons to fight.

While I’m conversing with Yeon Jin,

Kim Yeon and Oh Hyun-seok hurriedly fly over and are startled to see me without a head.

"Uh, Eun-hyun Oppa?"

"Seo Eun-hyun! What on earth happened!"

[Ah, it's nothing serious. Just...]

I explained the incident that just occurred.

"No, but that's too harsh. No matter what, how can they just take away the ability to..."

Oh Hyun-seok coughs awkwardly and pats Kim Yeon's shoulder.

"Well... usually, those at the Core Formation stage and above can live even if their necks are severed, so this method is commonly used when giving out ordinary punishments."

"But still, it means you can't regenerate, right?"

[It seems fitting to receive a punishment for disrupting military discipline.]

Oh Hyun-seok clicks his tongue as if he doesn't understand my point.

"Still, it's a bit strange. Why weaken the strength of our own side before the war?"

[After all, there are many others besides me at Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages. It's more important to use me as an example to straighten military discipline. Besides, it's not like they killed me, just severed one neck.]

I slowly sooth Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon, then change the subject.

[Anyway, I saw it while challenging the Nascent Soul stage.]

"Wow, you saw it?"

Oh Hyun-seok smiles.

"How was it, did you find your memories through that flashback experience?"

[No.]

I attempted to shake my head, then realized I had no head to shake and waved my hand instead.

[As Hyung-nim knows, experiencing the flashback, blurry memories pass by too quickly to properly see. Not to mention memories I can't remember at all. In short...]

"Hmm, so you have to keep trying."

[Yes.]

The myriad of my memories visible before obtaining the Nascent Soul.

Perhaps if I just ignored them and continued, I might have been able to reach the Nascent Soul stage.

But I can't ignore them.

That's probably why the Heart Demon acted.

'But still.'

I smile inwardly.

'Maybe, I've found a way.'

Even if the Heart Demon acts, so what?

I have found a glimmer of hope to retrieve my lost memories.

What to do when the Heart Demon strikes?

'From now on, I'll challenge the Nascent Soul stage whenever there's an opportunity.'

I steadied my breath and thought.

And, I will review that flow of memories again and again.

Thus, I will surely regain my memories!

I resolved myself in this way.

After several more months, the expeditionary force’s personnel finally gathered.

The energy of the formation has been raised to its peak.

Kugugugugu!

The formation shines with a golden light, and the energy of the formation bares its teeth towards the dark mist at the entrance to the Devil Realm.

'It won't be long now.'

I think to myself and look around through my consciousness.

Everywhere in the formation, talents from various cultivation sects and human clans are sitting, supplying spiritual power to complete the formation.

The personnel are of a different level compared to the sparse formation we encountered upon arrival.

'Perhaps after one or two groups arrive, the formation will be complete, and the expeditionary force will set out.'

The organization of the expeditionary force is almost finalized.

Nascent Soul cultivators will lead teams of a hundred and Core Formation cultivators will lead teams of ten, commanding ten Qi Building cultivators to advance into the Devil Realm.

Of course, as a punished criminal before the expedition, according to Hyeon Woon's orders, I have to act within another Core Formation cultivator's team like a Qi Building cultivator until my punishment is lifted or I achieve some merit.

And, the leader of the ten-person team I joined is Yeon Jin, seated beside me.

"Whew, it's nerve-wracking, Cultivator Seo."

[There's no need to be too nervous. Cultivator Yeon will surely do well.]

"Uh, I don't know why I'm the Ten-Man Leader. Moreover, Cultivator Seo has a higher realm than me. It would be better if you were in command..."

[Steady your heart. As I am a punished cultivator, I cannot hold command, so Cultivator Yeon must take the burden. If needed, I'll help from the side, so don't worry.]

"Cultivator Seo! Thank you so much!"

[It's nothing.]

After comforting Yeon Jin, who is trembling before the war with the Devil Realm.

I prepare an incantation silently.

Since entering Azure Heaven Creation Sect and arriving here, decades have passed.

Throughout these years, I tirelessly researched combining the ‘Three Spirits Technique’ and the ‘Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll,’ analyzing and finally succeeding in merging the two methods.

‘There are still some things left to improve, but it's almost complete. Now, it's just a matter of testing it.’

This unnamed method, when used, forms an artifact spirit within one's dharma treasure, making that artifact spirit an avatar capable of sharing a part of the cultivation. Later, if cultivation falls behind, one can quickly regain their progress with the help of the artifact spirit.

‘Unfortunately, storing the entire cultivation itself within the dharma treasure to retrieve it all at once proved too difficult due to its complexity…’

Of course, if the dharma treasure is cultivated for a long time, and its quality grows along with its owner, it might be possible.

However, the extent of the current Colorless Glass Sword is limited.

But such things aren't of great importance.

Wo-woong!

As I practice the method, I ponder.

‘What's important is that, in completing this method, I can freely form the artifact spirits of entities that left an impression on me.’

That means,

‘From now on, within the flashback experience that appears when reaching the Nascent Soul stage, I can store all characters that appear as artifact spirits.’

Although it might be difficult to store complete memories,

If I record those memories, those reminiscences, those past figures as artifact spirits within the dharma treasure,

Perhaps, I can record all the rapidly fleeting memories of the lost flashbacks, allowing me to recall them by looking at those recorded figures.

Wo-woong!!

I raise my energy.

For the past few months, I have been continuously challenging the Nascent Soul stage.

Of course, being marked by Hyeon Woon, I’d be punished again if caught challenging the Nascent Soul stage, but it’s only a problem if caught.

Normally, achieving the Nascent Soul would be impossible to hide due to the Heavenly Tribulation that follows.

However.

My current goal isn't ‘reaching the Nascent Soul stage.’

It’s ‘to retrieve memories through the process of reaching the Nascent Soul stage.’

If I stop without obtaining the Nascent Soul and repeat this process, I can avoid detection indefinitely.

Tstststs!

I challenge the Nascent Soul stage again, traversing through past memories.

Activating the unnamed method, I begin recording the characters from those memories as artifact spirits in my dharma treasure.

Tstststs!

Ethereal figures form around me, transforming into the resemblances of Kim Yeon, Azure Tiger Saint, and Oh Hyun-seok.

Connections from this life.

But, before I can form more artifact spirits,

The flashback experience quickly passes by and disappears again.

Wo-woong!

I disperse the forming Nascent Soul again, and infuse the scattering energy into the newly formed artifact spirits, storing a part of my cultivation within them.

‘The speed of forming artifact spirits is too slow.’

Of course, it will get faster with practice.

‘From now on, I'll form artifact spirits like this, watching the flashbacks and recording my memories as artifact spirits.’

I smile inwardly, looking at the translucent figures of the three people I formed around me.

‘I will definitely regain my memories!’

"Ah, Cultivator Seo. What are those ethereal things around you?"

[Oh, they're manifestations from the method I'm practicing.]

"It seems you're practicing a unique method. But about those misty things..."

Yeon Jin starts rambling about the ethereal things he'd seen in his life upon seeing the artifact spirits I formed.

To others, artifact spirits are not visible, appearing only as misty fog, which makes sense.

However, I notice that Yeon Jin is unusually talkative today.

‘Ah, I see. Are you nervous?’

Soon, the formation will activate, and the entrance to the Devil Realm will open.

The invasion of the Devil Realm will truly begin.

I engage in conversation with Yeon Jin, trying to ease his nerves.

A few days later.

Wo-woong!

The formation changes into a brilliant golden light.

Ahead,

The commander of the expeditionary force, representative of the Human Race Grand Alliance.

A cultivator of the Four-Axis stage, Societal Tomb Child, Gyu Seok (Silica Stone), takes out his dharma treasure.

[Activate the Annihilation Formation!]

With those words, the formation we have been energizing with spiritual power for months activates.

Flash!

Golden light gathers and rushes towards the dimensional barrier of the True Devil Realm ahead.

The dark mist is torn apart and scattered by the golden light!

Kugugugugu!

[From now on, we begin the invasion of the True Devil Realm, all troops, advance!]

The Heavenly Being 1000-Man generals, Nascent Soul 100-Man captains, and Core Formation 10-Man leaders begin to arrange their formations as ordered.

"Hahaha! I'm going to taste some tender devil meat!"

"Cute little devils, this old man will take care of you!"

"They say that elixirs made from grinding down devils are very effective for devilish arts?"

Numerous cultivators draw their dharma treasures and magic artifacts, licking their lips as they charge towards the Devil Realm.

Whooosh!

I follow Yeon Jin, who holds the 10-Man leader's badge, and soon,

The scenery of the True Devil Realm comes into view.

Beyond the boundary, devils have built fortresses and spread out defensive formations to meet us.

"The evil Human Race has invaded!"

"Spread the defensive formations!"

"For the Devil Realm, let's block all these greedy humans! Unite!"

Thus, the Great War between Humans and Devils began.