Chapter 368: Holding Hands (5)

Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion.

What does it mean?

Literally, it means passing into nirvana while seated.

It's a term implying the ability to control life and death freely and to project one's soul at will (astral projection).

The 'single strike' in the First Step Before the Throne is essentially a part of me, so if you consider it as soul projection, that isn't wrong either.

However, there is something I don't understand, so I ask.

"Why did you name it but never call it by that name?"

"...What good is reaching the ultimate state alone? It's a realm reached by cutting down my friend. Though the intention is clear, it's far from simply sitting comfortably and passing into nirvana. Too many things have happened."

"Is that so...?"

It seems that he doesn't call it by its name due to the lingering guilt over Cheongmun Ryeong.

"Well, anyway, was there anything else you saw?"

"...I saw something."

What Kim Young-hoon showed through his dance.

It's a clue to the next realm.

And though I may be dull, I haven't spent all this time wielding a sword for nothing. I understood that clue too.

Beyond the realm of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion.

To reach what is also called the Second Step Before the Throne, we must draw out all the possibilities within us.

Just as Kim Young-hoon laid down his blood veins on his devilish swords and demon sabers to trigger their potential.

Just as Tae Yeol-jeon drew strength from the depths of her heart essence.

Drawing out every possible potential is the key to the next realm.

So, how does one with a mortal body draw out other possibilities?

Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion is the nickname for the First Step Before the Throne given by Kim Young-hoon, and also the training method for this realm.

It is both Standing Oblivion (입망/立亡) and Entering Oblivion (입망/入亡).

One must forget.

In other words, one must sever.

Sever all attachments to one's past, all fears about one's fate.

Only by severing and forgetting everything, leaving only 'this moment' and reaching true Emptiness (空), can one reach beyond Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion.

I understand why Kim Young-hoon said he can't reach the next realm.

"...You can't sever it."

"..."

Indeed.

Reaching beyond this realm requires severing and forgetting everything.

But the only reason he could come this far is because of his longing.

Telling him to forget everything is no different from telling him to throw away his identity.

Kim Young-hoon looks at his saber with powerless eyes.

"How can a person...sever all connections?"

"..."

I let out a silent sigh at the sight.

As Kim Young-hoon said, if severing everything is the key to the next realm...

'I, too, cannot reach the next realm.'

How can a person claim to sever all their connections without hesitation?

Hearing his words, I feel endlessly gloomy.

I found the method to the next realm.

But it's an impossible path.

"...Damn it."

Kim Young-hoon, with a despondent expression, swings his saber.

The surface of the dimension where he stands fluctuates along the trajectory of his saber.

"That's why I asked Oh Hyun-seok to train me. Because no matter how much I train...it might really be impossible to reach the next realm."

"..."

He stands still with his saber, as if tasting bitterness, then walks on the surface of the Deep Sea towards the Twilight Domain in the distance.

"That's why I suggested a spar to talk about it. I wanted to confirm whether the enlightenment I have is truly correct."

"...You're saying strange things. This is the first time I've heard about the clue to the next realm from Young-hoon Hyung-nim, so why would you spar with me to test it?"

"That's because...haven't you already embodied the enlightenment of the next realm?"

"What...?"

I ask back in surprise, and Kim Young-hoon chuckles softly.

"It seems you still haven't realized it yet, but you already possess the same level of enlightenment as I do, and you've embodied it entirely. That's why I gained enlightenment while fighting you."

"That's..."

"There's no need to explain it to you in detail. Once you encounter the right opportunity, you'll naturally realize it on your own, and it's best to realize it by oneself. Anyway, I've confirmed my enlightenment. I'm...going to see Oh Hyun-seok to receive some more training in that body cultivation method."

With those words, Kim Young-hoon returns to the Twilight Domain.

I stand there for a moment, unable to say anything.

The surroundings are still filled with countless illusions flickering around.

I understand why Kim Young-hoon had cut down one of the illusions.

The night sea of the Ancient Force Realm vaguely reflects one's past, and Kim Young-hoon was trying to sever his own past.

Of course, he must have known it's impossible and thus left again.

"..."

I quietly remain in the night sea and look around.

"...Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections."

Tstststst!

The Colorless Glass Sword hums, releasing faint fog around.

It appears as though a hazy sea mist has appeared over the sea of the Ancient Force Realm.

And within that mist, countless nostalgic and longed for connections emerge.

Woo-wooong—

As if resonating with the nature of the Ancient Force Realm or something, the entire Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections vibrates with the deep sea.

Of course, it isn't awakening some hidden power or potential, it's just resonating together ordinarily.

Floating above the night sea for some time, I reach out to them.

Sururuk—

My hand passes through their illusions.

I can't grasp them.

They are clearly connections I have once made, but now they are nothing more than intangible phantoms.

Reaching out foolishly into the air and reminiscing about old memories has become a habit of mine.

Though it seems like a foolish act, I can't stop.

It feels as if I keep reaching out, eventually I will be able to grasp them.

My tendency to spout nonsense about being an 'Earthling from a civilized society' when I'm struggling isn't without reason.

Even if it's meaningless, I feel like if I keep repeating it, I could go back to that place.

This act is the same.

Even if it's meaningless, I'm doing this because I feel that I could grasp them again if I keep gesturing.

But to reach the next realm, I have to sever this...?

"...It's impossible."

Pasasak—

As I reach out, the hazy mist scatters.

In the end, it's just the night sea around me again.

I seem to understand the contradiction Kim Young-hoon is trapped in.

To return home, one must train and refine their martial arts to reach a higher realm.

But without abandoning their initial goal, one cannot reach the next realm.

It's a situation where the cart is before than the horse.

So what should be done?

"...Up to the Integration stage, it's still somewhat manageable."

There's hope that if I continue to build the Five Blessings Axes and realize the Six Extremes to complete the Earth Axis stage, I can somehow reach the Integration stage.

But the Star Shattering stage, and beyond Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion, I can't get a sense for it at all.

Can I truly reach it?

Even now, the difference between the Star Shattering stage and those below it is insane.

Usually, I believe that if I raise the Three Great Ultimates to the extreme, I can have a good fight against beings two realms above. But even if I reach the Grand Perfection Integration stage with the Three Great Ultimates, it's uncertain if I can handle the insane Kang Min-hee.

"...Why am I doing this?"

Suddenly, a fundamental question arises as to why I am doing this.

Is it because I am out alone at night?

Random thoughts enter my head, and eventually, a Heart Demon starts gnawing at my mind.

—Why do you live?

Another illusion of myself appears before my eyes.

—A life that isn't truly living. You have no interest other than breaking the cycle of regression. You pour your entire life into becoming stronger, running yourself ragged to save people like Kang Min-hee and Kim Yeon, even though you know it's futile...do you know how pitifully foolish you look from the side?

"..."

—Acting as such, do you think anything will change even if you save them? You know that fate is fixed. Even if you save them, they will be miserable again. You might as well abandon all those connections and shut yourself away in some remote place, train for a million years, become a True Immortal, and then regress to save them all. No? You know that's the best way. Isn't that right?

"..."

The illusion of 'me' is dressed in black, with nineteen heads.

It whispers to me.

—So just kill yourself right now and, using a more optimized method...

"And then?"

But I look up at the Heart Demon before me with empty eyes.

I don't tell others, but this type of Heart Demon frequently torments my mind.

However, I have never been devoured by any of these Heart Demons.

"And then, if I die? Then what?"

I look down at the Heart Demon with hollow eyes.

It starts to shrink gradually.

Even if I die, I come back to life.

I can't describe how madly jealous and filled with resentment I felt seeing Seo Li die peacefully with a smile.

I am, so incredibly envious of him.

Cultivators have various reasons for cultivating.

Immortality, infinite power, vast knowledge, new truths.

Exploring the world, complicated grudges.

To avoid being manipulated by others, just feeling it suits them and they make steady progress.

But I dare to claim,

I am cultivating for a reason that is different and alien to any other cultivator in the Three Thousand Worlds.

"I want to die too...!"

Clench!

I grab the Heart Demon before me and open my mouth.

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

The Heart Demon with nineteen heads is caught in my hands and torn apart in my mouth.

The reason I have never gone completely mad despite encountering countless Heart Demons.

It's because I myself am my greatest Heart Demon.

Even if I go mad, it's useless.

In my first life, I went mad, screaming that I am an Earthling from a civilized society.

It was useless.

Everything was undone.

Next, I became mad for work and achieved nearly everything, though it was somewhat unsatisfactory.

It was useless.

Everything was undone.

I became stronger, learned the secrets of the world, gained recognition for my position, lost precious people, gained them back only to lose them again, gained invaluable experiences, made cherished friends, grasped many truths and powers, and my position rose rapidly again...

It was all useless.

Everything was undone.

I did manage to retain some connections through the regression point fixing it itself.

But!

"Still! There is more left!"

The regression!

Has not disappeared.

In the end, due to Yang Su-jin's warning, I never uttered the word 'regression' out loud.

But because of that, it feels like my heart is burning even more.

Chuaaaaa!

I strike my fist down with all my might.

The power I have accumulated up to this point invokes immense force, causing the Deep Sea to surge.

After devouring the Heart Demon, I realize the reason it has suddenly appeared with a gloomy expression.

'...It's because I heard that it must be severed.'

It cannot be severed.

I have already lost everything, numerous times, within the flow of time.

Because of the curse of regression, countless times!

I know well that Kim Young-hoon never lies about the next realm.

If he provides a clue about the next realm, it is always true.

Thus, when he said that severing everything is the only way to reach the next realm, he is surely correct.

I feel the Three Great Ultimates rise behind my back.

Recently, I feel like I've come to understand.

'The cultivation methods of the Heaven Tribe and Earth Tribe are gradually converging.'

Up to the Heavenly Being stage, the cultivation methods of the Heaven and Earth Tribes differed. But from the Four-Axis stage, even with Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation, the path of power and the method of expressing power, along with the cultivation methods have no major distinctions, other than the amount of spiritual power one can contain within their body.

And according to the words passed down by others, by the Star Shattering stage, the cultivation methods of the Heaven and Earth Tribes have almost no difference.

I also know well the ascension ritual for the Star Shattering stage.

The Grand Cultivator Association made everything public for those who potentially want to become an Esteemed One beyond a Grand Cultivator.

However, Grand Perfection Integration stage Jun Jae, late Integration stage Gol Maek,

Even Hon Won, who was once at the late stage, all remained at the later stages of the Integration stage and never attempted to become Esteemed Ones.

'The ascension ritual for the Star Shattering stage is also similar to what Kim Young-hoon mentioned.'

Interestingly, just as the planes of Qi, Soul, and Fate are essentially one, Heaven, Earth, and Heart become increasingly similar as one progresses to the later realms.

I don't know if it's All Streams Return to the Origin (萬流歸宗) or something.

But now, if I want to advance to the next realm, there is only one way.

Abandon!

Ruthlessly abandon what I absolutely can not!

That is the way to rise even higher.

"How...do I abandon..."

There is only one reason why the Heart Demon came to me, spouting nonsense and ended up being devoured.

Because there is no answer.

I have to raise my realm, but the path ahead is bleak.

Regardless of how much time I invest!

Just how can I possibly use that method?

Previously, I had a subtle expectation that even the most daunting realms could be broken through by throwing enough time.

But now I know.

There are things that cannot be done even with time.

Like the nonsense the Heart Demon spouted while knowing nothing, even pouring in a thousand, ten thousand, even a hundred million years would not make that method possible.

At least not for me!

Having faced countless Heart Demons and experienced numerous such frustrations, I can predict my next action.

Still, I will continue to train and challenge the extremes of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion.

Then, I will raise my cultivation to the Integration stage in all aspects.

Achieving Grand Perfection Integration with all three Heaven, Earth, and Heart will be quite useful.

Perhaps, I might even be strong enough to attempt escaping before a Star Shattering Esteemed One.

But I know the outcome.

Once again, I will hit a wall and wail for a thousand, ten thousand, even a million years.

This isn't a matter of talent.

This is a matter of whether I can abandon or not.

"...Damn it."

Gazing upon the Deep Sea that has returned to its original state, I mutter a low curse.

I can see something wriggling below.

A deep-sea monster seems to be eyeing me.

Chuaaaa!

Towards the void above, a whale-like monster covered in countless illusions opens its mouth and leaps at me.

Boo-oong!

It's a monster at the Grand Perfection Four-Axis level but I casually slice it open and pull out an ancient stone the size of a head from inside.

It is said that deep-sea monsters are not living creatures, but a type of 'record' taking shape, formed by the histories of countless dimensions.

The monster floats above the Deep Sea for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before melting away and disappearing.

Tsutsutsutsu―

The deep-sea monster, made from the records of the past, appears to dissolve into the air, and its corpse melts and scatters into the void.

The countless remnants of the past within the deep-sea monster scatters.

It's when I stare blankly at the scene,

Suddenly, a faint greenish shadow from the past brushes past in front of me.

Within that remnant, I see a scene of a neighboring family carrying a large coffin up a mountain with someone.

The family consists of a middle-aged couple, climbing the mountain with a small girl.

The girl is the Ju Family daughter.

"...Wait."

Seeing that remnant, my eyes are wide open as I approach it.

Just then.

Pachecheche!

The remnant that emerged from the deep-sea monster's body coalesces in the void, forming a green beast.

It's a small deep-sea monster, reconstituted from the information entity that emerged from the original deep-sea monster's body.

"W-Wait!"

I lunge at the green beast.

It has the form of a deer, and as I charge at it, it immediately starts to flee.

Toong―Toong―

My eyes are wide open as I stare at the deep-sea monster.

"...Wait, what are you?"

I begin to chase the deer.

Above the mystical night sea of the Ancient Force Realm.

There, the chase between the green deer and me begins.

The deer leaps across the sea like Kim Young-hoon.

I keep chasing its tail, but strangely, the closer I get, the farther it seems to be.

"Stop...! Stop right there!"

My eyes are bloodshot as I chase after the suddenly appearing deer.

"Stop!!! I'm saying stop right there!!! I demand you stop this instant!!!"

Chwaaa!

I use every method at my disposal, from the Flying Escape Technique, ground-shrinking technique, Gliding Technique, and sword flight.

However, the deer never gets any closer to me.

Gritting my teeth, I yell at the deer.

"C-Come back! Come back!!!"

But the deer evades me and flees far away, and I can only float above the dark sea, having lost sight of it.

"...What was that...?"

It's a strange occurrence.

I ran with my full strength for quite some time.

I flew at a speed that could cross the Wi Jeong Sea Domain multiple times, yet not only did I fail to catch it, but the sea seemed to stretch endlessly.

"What did I see?"

Regaining my senses, I realize I haven't strayed far from where I had caught the whale-like deep-sea monster.

"Tell me too."

"Whatever. It seems the deep-sea monster showed me an illusion."

I sigh, rubbing my head.

'Did I go mad?'

If Kim Young-hoon was nearby, he would have taken precautions for me falling into the illusions, but since he left and I am alone in the night sea of the Ancient Force Realm, I must have briefly been enchanted.

"...That was close."

I shake my head.

It seems there was a reason why Kim Young-hoon warned me about the dangers of staring too long into the night sea of the Ancient Force Realm.

I turn back to look at the spot where I caught the whale monster.

All the illusions have scattered and vanished, with only the sea of dimensions rippling.

"...I should head back."

I didn't think one deep-sea monster was particularly dangerous, but witnessing that bizarre illusion just now changed my mind a bit.

I use the ground-shrinking technique to return to the floating Twilight Domain in the distance.

Kugugugu!

The Twilight Domain has already reached the edge of the air bubble before I knew it.

Now, the wall of the Dome Sky is visible right in front of me.

Chwaaaaaa!

The end of the bright blue 'horizon' I had seen from Sacred Orchid Island is right in front of my eyes.

'It really looks like the view from the Head Realm.'

Just like the Head Realm, the end of the horizon here is cut off as if it's the world's end.

However, if something like the World Shield Force blocks the world's end in the Head Realm, this sea domain has 'seawater' rising vertically, forming a wall of 'Deep Sea' that stretches endlessly into the sky, creating the Dome Sky.

To cross into another sea domain, one must overcome this wall.

'Let's see...when it's time to cross the wall, I was told to call for either Yeon Wei, Seo Ran, Shi Ho, or Buk Hyang-hwa...'

Seo Ran and Shi Ho seem very busy, and Buk Hyang-hwa is currently drunk and going 'wah wah' while having her hair sucked by the equally drunk Kim Yeon.

Shaking my head, I look towards Yeon Wei.

Fortunately, Yeon Wei is gambling with the slightly recovered Yuk Yo.

"I'll have to ask Yeon Wei."

I send a voice transmission to Yeon Wei, and she, who is in her split soul state, overturns the board where she is losing to Yuk Yo, and takes the stakes straight into the room where Jeon Myeong-hoon and Yeon Jin are training.

A moment later, after a brief commotion inside, Yeon Wei, now in Yeon Jin's body, flies towards me.

"Ah, have we already reached the end of the sea domain?"

"Yes, please cool off your sweat."

"No need. It's not my body anyway. Huhu. Anyway, since the Conqueror King kid said it's the same as before, my help should be enough to cross."

Yeon Wei wipes her sweat and gazes at the enormous wall of the Dome Sky ahead.

"For now, do you have any ancient stones?"

"Here you go."

I break the ancient stone from the whale monster I just caught into small pieces and hand it to her.

Yeon Wei grasps a handful of ancient stone pieces and forms a hand seal.

Paaaatt!

The ancient stones emit light in mid-air, transforming into a compass-like shape.

The compass-like shape creaks in the air and points to a specific spot on the Dome Sky wall.

"Move the Twilight Domain over there."

"Yes."

Kugugugu!

After moving the Twilight Domain to the indicated spot, Yeon Wei nods.

"Extend your attraction force straightforwardly in the direction indicated by the Ancient Force Compass spell."

Wo-woong!

I extend my attraction force as instructed.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, I feel as if my attraction force and consciousness are being sucked into the direction far beyond the Dome Sky indicated by the compass.

At some point, my attraction force and consciousness connects to somewhere beyond the Dome Sky wall.

"Is it connected?"

"Yes. However..."

"I'll teach you the hand seal. Chant the invocations while forming the hand seal and pull!!"

Woo-woong!

Following her instructions, I form the hand seal while pulling the Twilight Domain to the designated location with attraction force.

Simultaneously, the Twilight Domain embeds itself into the Dome Sky wall.

Kugugugu!

Countless dimensional fragments flicker like shattered glass.

'These are the remnants of destroyed worlds...'

I feel a sense of disorientation, as if I might lose my way at any moment.

However, something connected to me gently pulls me along, guiding us on our path. With this, I advance without panic and lead the Twilight Domain forward.

And soon after,

Flash!

Kugugugu!

The Twilight Domain enters somewhere.

"...Is this another sea domain?"

I look around.

It's a rather narrow space.

It's just large enough to contain the Twilight Domain, which is the size of the Indian Ocean.

Of course, that size isn't small, but compared to the 'sea domain' I know, it's quite confined.

However, Yeon Wei shakes her head.

"This is the middle zone."

"The middle zone?"

"Yes. Between sea domains, there are numerous overlapping dimensions and spaces, making it easy to lose your way if you swim through them for too long. Therefore, many Integration stage cultivators and Esteemed Ones have created 'middle zones' at appropriate distances. Think of them as relay stations between sea domains. Try reading the attraction force surrounding this space. You can interpret it like this..."

Following her method, I read the flow of attraction force surrounding this alternate space.

"Can you feel the flow of attraction force? Within that flow, you should sense the coordinates of the Wi Jeong Sea Domain and another sea domain. We need to repeat what we just did to reach the coordinates of the sea domain we are heading to."

"..."

"Are you listening to me?"

While listening to her words, my eyes tremble.

'This flow of attraction force...this spell etched into this alternate space...'

"Seo Eun-hyun, you rascal! When your ancestor speaks, you listen!"

'This is...'

Suddenly, a Decaying Corpse Realm comes to mind.

At the bottom of a valley of that realm, that formation and jade tablet.

'The world with Ham Jin...!'

Activating the formation in that world transforms the surrounding area into an air bubble, separating it from the Decaying Corpse Realm with a peculiar attraction force surrounding it.

I didn't know what it was back then, but now I understand.

'The thing in Ham Jin's world is a 'middle zone'!'

Recalling the flow of attraction force I had read back then, I use Yeon Wei's interpretation method to read it again.

"You insolent brat! If this were my time, you'd have been smacked for showing such an attitude towards a senior!"

In the middle zone of Han Jin's world.

There are two sets of coordinates imprinted.

One is here, the Ancient Force Realm.

And the other leads to a place called the Lightning Sacred Sea (雷聖海).

As I shake off Yeon Wei, who is dangling from my shoulder, my eyes brighten.

'...Yes. Now that I think about it, he is there.'

Using her interpretation method, I have obtained the coordinates for the Lightning Sacred Sea.

According to Seo Hweol, the Lightning Sacred Sea is a distant place where Esteemed Ones ventured for expeditions.

Among them is Jang Ik.

Kugugugu!

As I move the Twilight Domain to a completely different sea domain, I quickly ponder.

'If truly, as Kim Young-hoon said, severing all connections is the way to proceed, how did Jang Ik manage to do so?'

It doesn't seem like he has abandoned all worldly desires and attachments.

Though he has an air of transcendence, he is still fighting for the interests of the Heart Tribe.

How can someone who abandoned everything still do that?

While I don't think Kim Young-hoon's method is wrong, considering Jang Ik's case,

'Surely, there must be another way that doesn't require abandoning everything!'

I think with bright eyes.

'Let's go meet Jang Ik.'

Perhaps, if I receive his teachings, I can discover another path.

Massaging my somehow stiff shoulder, I resolve to meet Jang Ik in the Black Sea Domain, where the main fleet of the Buk Hyang Fleet is located.

Translator Notes: Term changes!

Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect -> Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect

72 Earthly Sha True Words -> 72 Earthly Fiends True Words

36 Heavenly Gang Method Decrees -> 36 Heavenly Spirits Law Decrees

12 Earthly Branches -> 12 Earthly Melodies

Immortal General -> Immortal Lord