Chapter 372: At The Sea (2)

"In 10,000 years...!"

I take a sharp breath.

Though 10,000 years might seem like a long time, it isn't such a lengthy period for those at the Four-Axis stage and above.

"Wh-why is the End happening?"

"Hmm, I don't know the details...but from what I've heard, when the attraction force of a Heavenly Domain reaches its peak, the Astral Realm contracts, and the End occurs."

"Pardon?"

"The Sacred Master calls it the Great Contraction or the Great Collapse. My nickname and techniques are derived from it."

According to Jang Ik, the Heavenly Domain we are in seems to expand continuously but then starts contracting at some point, eventually returning to the singular point of its origin.

[Editor: Seems to be inspired by the Big Crunch/Bounce theory from cosmology.]

"The exact reason why this happens is unknown. But from what I know, even if the Great Collapse occurs, the Middle Realms will never be destroyed."

"The Middle Realms won't be destroyed?"

"Yeah. However, as the Sacred Master said, when the Great Collapse occurs and the End arrives, even if the Middle Realms remain intact, this Heavenly Domain will be filled with such intense heat and light that no living being can survive. Everything will turn into primordial light and vanish. Unless one is at the Quasi-Immortal level, they will die without any resistance. Even Sacred Masters, who have merged with the Middle Realms, may either endure or perish, purely based on luck. It's truly terrifying."

I tremble at this horrifying fact.

'Then, within 10,000 years, I need to grow strong enough to withstand the End.'

However, I'm not sure if I can reach the Star Shattering stage even after 10,000 years.

"...I understand about the End. Then, may I ask one last question?"

"Sure. Ask away."

"I understand that in order to enter the next realm, one must sever everything."

"That's correct. Hoho, have you found a clue to the next stage?"

"No, I just heard about it."

"That's also a skill. Well...that's right. If you want to enter the same domain as mine, you'll have to sever everything."

I ask with a serious gaze.

"How do I sever?"

Jang Ik seems to understand what I am implying by looking at my intent.

"I see. Are you saying you can't sever it?"

"Yes. Actually, the reason I tried to send an avatar through the middle zones of the Ancient Force Realm to the Lightning Sacred Sea where the Esteemed Ones are is for this."

I reveal my inner thoughts without hesitation.

"I came to ask if there's an external method to reach that realm without severing, or if it's truly necessary to sever everything to attain that stage."

"Hmm..."

Jang Ik strokes his chin.

"First, let me explain to you the difference between a typical Star Shattering stage and my realm. Those in the Star Shattering stage are people whose connections and emotions have become futile 'after ascending.' In contrast, I had to sever such things to reach this domain."

I ponder the difference between the two.

'The Star Shattering stage allows for emotions and connections during break through, which naturally fade afterward. But this realm beyond Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion requires severing connections and emotions to even enter into it?'

However, I feel a strange feeling and ask.

"But doesn't the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One have emotions?"

"How do you know if I have emotions or not? Are you saying you can read my intent?"

He chuckles as he retrieves the golden apple he had tossed into the bonfire and takes a bite.

Crunch—

Somehow, despite being an apple, it oozes meat juices instead of fruit.

The apple smells of protein.

As Jang Ik gnaws on the thing that can't be determined if it's apple or meat, he locks eyes with me.

His mouth moves greedily, but his eyes are cold and empty.

Indeed, it's incredibly difficult to read Jang Ik's intent.

His intent seems utterly hollow, vague, and doubtful whether it even exists.

Perhaps, from the perspective of those who have reached Three Flowers Gather at the Summit, Jang Ik is not a living being but an exquisitely crafted meat puppet.

Chuaaaak!

It's when I am meeting his gaze for some time.

I feel as if I am being sucked into his empty eyes.

When I come to my senses, I find myself in a cosmic space where all stars shine green.

It's an illusion induced by Jang Ik's mental pressure.

Kuguguguguk—

My mind feels like it's about to crumble.

Feeling an overwhelming sense of dread, I look up and see a green nebula taking the form of Jang Ik's face, looking down at me.

'This is...the extent of the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One's mind...'

It isn't just the size of his consciousness.

The very meaning he has pursued all his life is that immense.

'At this rate...is he going to cook my brain...?'

I can't maintain my focus under such pressure.

However, I know one thing for sure.

Jang Ik, has emotions!

And he cherishes his connections!

"These are words I once heard from someone."

I speak without yielding to his pressure.

"After being mocked that the heart is merely a metallic reaction, and relaying that mockery to someone else, this was the reply."

Seo Hweol had mocked Gyu Ryeon's heart, and Jang Ik had responded with these words.

"If the heart is of the Metal attribute, then according to the classification of cultivators, Metal (金) corresponds to Qian (乾/Heaven), hence the heart is as eternal as the Heavens."

I repeat the words of Jang Ik from my previous life in front of the present Jang Ik and shout.

"Isn't that right, O Esteemed One? Is it not that the heart of a person can never be erased?"

As I make this declaration and refine my consciousness, I find myself back by the bonfire, free from Jang Ik's pressure.

"This one...is quite something."

Jang Ik crosses his arms and smiles while looking at me.

"That's right. Emotions can never be erased. That's why even when one becomes an Esteemed One, they still have emotions, greed, and fear. Though I said that other Esteemed Ones lose their connections and emotions, in reality, they don't truly vanish. It's just a difference in perspective."

"...! So, does that mean the true way to reach the next realm is not to abandon emotions, but to properly acknowledge and refine them?"

"Huh...no?"

He bites into the golden apple as if he doesn't understand what I'm saying.

"You must erase what cannot be erased. Do you understand? That's the only way to get here."

"Then how do you erase what cannot be erased?"

"I told you, didn't I? You can't."

He smiles while speaking incomprehensible words.

"To enter here, you must be able to erase what cannot be erased. Finding out how to do that will be the way of your future training."

"...."

"Strictly speaking, although I've accepted you as my disciple, there isn't much I can teach you. I can only give advice as someone who has gone ahead. Each individual in our Heart Tribe is entirely different."

He points somewhere.

"When you entered the Lightning Sacred Sea, you must have fallen into a region where even consciousness couldn't be used. Isn't that right?"

"Yes."

"How did you get out?"

"I raised the All-Heavens Sword to the Plane of Fate and cut through the space to escape."

"When I first arrived there, I stimulated my body to extend my sensory range, pulling the Qi (氣) from outside that space to shatter the space and escape. As you can see, you and I have different methods of leaving the same place. I could recite my insights to you, but it wouldn't suit you nor be helpful."

Surung—

Jang Ik stands up from his seat and says,

"That's why, even among the disciples I have a master-student relationship with and whom I've helped, none are truly my successors. All I can do is assign them training tasks that I think might suit each disciple."

I listen to his words with a serious expression.

"Now, I will assign you a training task as well. This is your first training task."

He smiles slyly and says,

"Go outside the Lightning Sacred Sea and cut down a star. You can use the power of the Heaven Tribe, the Earth Tribe, a dharma treasure, or even someone else's help. No matter what method you use, destroy a star. Ah, I mean a star without any living beings on it. Don't invade some innocent planet and annihilate a civilization."

[Editor: Note that the term 'star' here can also more broadly refer to any heavenly body such as planets and moons.]

Boo-oong!

He swings his podao, and Jang Ik's podao turns into a ray of light that pierces my soul and embeds itself in my heart essence.

Kwaak!

Just like before, Jang Ik's podao takes its place on one side of my Sword Mountain.

Paaatt!

With a wave of his arm, Jang Ik sends me far away from the bonfire, sweeping me through vast spacetime.

Chwaaak!

Countless scenes flash past me, and soon I arrive in an Astral Realm bathed in starlight.

Kuguguguk!

And in front of me,

From where I have emerged, is a colossal Decaying Corpse Realm shrouded in a dimensional barrier.

'That is one of Yang Su-jin's remains.'

The Decaying Corpse Realm is in the form of an enormous ring finger, each segment almost the size of Earth.

Judging by its shape, it seems to be the left ring finger.

'Is Yang Su-jin's immortal treasure a ring?'

The Decaying Corpse Realm in the shape of a left ring finger has a circular indentation inside the finger. It's the mark of a ring that had been worn for a long time.

The ring finger, referred to as the Lightning Sacred Sea, is said to be the entrance to the space containing his immortal treasure. Therefore, reaching another space through traversing the Lightning Sacred Sea suggests one mind the enormous ring.

'But to cut down a star...'

Contrary to my expectations of getting beaten up by Jang Ik, it seems his training method is simply to assign tasks without much interference.

'A star...'

I recall Jang Ik splitting a planet in half.

'With my current power...even if I mobilize the Three Great Ultimates, I can only overturn the continent on the planet's surface. I should be able to put a slight crack on the planet but...'

That is my limit.

It is also the limit of a typical Grand Perfection Integration stage cultivator.

'If I raise my Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion and the Heaven and Earth Tribe cultivation to the level of the Grand Perfection Integration stage...borrowing the power of dharma treasures and formations, then...'

It might somehow work.

I think I understand what Jang Ik is trying to say.

'Is he telling me to first raise my cultivation to the highest point possible and then return?'

In the early stage of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion, although I imitated the strength of the Grand Perfection Integration stage by using the physical body and consciousness of the Heaven and Earth Tribes, my actual realm is still at the Four-Axis stage.

'Alright, let's go back and elevate my realm to the utmost possible before returning.'

Resolving to do so, I seek out my incarnation, Ham Jin.

Wo-woong!

Since I originally crossed into the Astral Realm through Ham Jin, we are connected, making it not too difficult to locate him.

Paaatt!

Ham Jin landed on a star near the Lightning Sacred Sea where life forms can survive.

He is on one of the continents of the star.

There, he has established a primitive tribal nation, and as the great chieftain, he is vigorously engaged in activities to proliferate his descendants.

"...Ham Jin."

"Huff, huff, huff...Huh!"

Sensing my presence, he emerges from his stone house to greet me.

"O, O Wuji Ghost King! Has the Great One arrived? I have been spreading the teachings of the Wuji Religious Order here for the Great One! I have even promulgated the Wuji Ghost King Ritual Scripture!"

"...Hooh, good. Well done. Thanks to you, it will be a bit easier when I return. Now, let's go back."

"Ah...actually, I have 13 wives here, but I've only given love to 3 of them so far. Could I fairly distribute my love among all of them first...?"

I chuckle in disbelief and reply.

"Come back after you reach the Four-Axis stage."

"Ah, understood. Then, let me bid farewell to my wives..."

He summons the chiefs, speaks to them briefly, and then receives bows from dozens of chiefs and wives before flying to me laden with numerous gifts including star's spirit stones, special products, and unique items.

For some reason, he looks a bit downcast.

"...No one tried to stop me. They all claimed to like me, but when I said I was leaving, they eagerly sent me off with bows and cheers...They are too much. I miss home. I want to see my wives back home."

"...Quiet. Let's go."

I enter Ham Jin's body.

"That person named Jang Ik said the star with the Ancient Force transmission array is that one."

"Right."

I direct attraction force to land on the star where the middle zone of the Ancient Force Realm is located.

'They said the worlds with middle zones are all on True Persons' bodies.'

So this star is also a True Person.

'And...the world Ham Jin resides on must also be a True Person disguised as a Decaying Corpse Realm.'

I wondered how the battle involving Star Shattering stage cultivators occurred without the world being destroyed, but it seems it wasn't an issue because the world is a True Person's body.

'Jang Ik telling Ham Jin about the location of the middle zone of the Ancient Force Realm must be his way of indicating that I should use it. And if he indicated using it, it means the True Person who had reached out to grab us earlier must be asleep again by now.'

In other words, there are no problems with returning.

Wo-woong!

I, along with Ham Jin, begin crossing vast spacetime once again.