Chapter 264: Tribulating Heavens (4)

"...Is that true, Seo Eun-hyun?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon asks me.

I nod.

I roughly explain to Jeon Myeong-hoon the whole story of what had happened up to now.

Jeon Myeong-hoon seems to be quite fine even after directly facing the Owner of Heavenly Punishment, which is why I could tell him the truth.

Fortunately, he doesn't melt away or die, and he doesn't go mad even after talking about the Owner of Heavenly Punishment.

'Earlier, this guy... muttered something about knowing his fate.'

It seems to be related to that.

"...That's the reason I've been trying to steal the Heavenly Lightning Banner up till now."

"...Is that so."

"...Yes. It's difficult to say how I knew about these pieces of information beforehand. But just like you were born with the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body, I also possess something similar."

"..."

Jeon Myeong-hoon has a dazed look in his eyes for a long while.

And then, he bursts out laughing in resignation.

"Ha, haha... I see. I understand, Seo Eun-hyun."

He screams as if howling, holding his face in his hands.

"We were, fools, weren't we? If I had listened to you... Ha, haha... Damn it. Hahaha! Aaaaaah!"

"..."

I stand up with a complicated expression.

"...It can't be helped. The important thing now is not that. If you've grasped the situation, get up."

"Alright."

Jeon Myeong-hoon, drowning in despair and gloom, stands up without falling into madness.

He rises above the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and shouts.

[All survivors, come to this place!]

Kugugugu!

Seeing the lightning energy released by Jeon Myeong-hoon, numerous lower lighting disciples begin to gather after a while.

[Hear me, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect has been annihilated by a being beyond True Immortals!]

Murmurs...

[And you must have all read the celestial energy, but your lifespans have been reduced to around 20 years, haven't they?]

"That is so!"

All disciples answer in unison.

[That fact is wrong! Not 20 years, but all of you will face Heavenly Tribulation within at most 3 years!]

Murmurs...

"Then, Grand Elder, what should we do? We have never faced the Heavenly Tribulation before! And we understand that each one of them is beyond our capability to handle!"

[That's right. Therefore, in the current situation where the Supreme Sect Master and all elders of the sect have disappeared, I, Grand Elder Jin Myeong-hoon, command!]

Kuoong!

As he stomps his foot, lightning gathers behind Jeon Myeong-hoon.

A tremendously large palace made of lightning appears behind him.

It is one of the techniques of the Extinguishing Lightning Inner Heavenly Temple, and the ability of the Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation Method that Jeon Myeong-hoon had learned.

[Most of you have experienced hardships when ascending from the Head Realm to the Bright Cold Realm, right?]

"That's correct!"

[Just like that time, you will enter this palace, deploy formations, and I will protect you as we descend back to the Head Realm!]

With those words, the crowd stirs once again.

"Grand Elder, then does that mean we have to leave the rich resources of the Bright Cold Realm and return back to the Head Realm?"

[Yes. Can't you see? Your lifespans are running short!]

"But, even if we return to the Head Realm, there's no guarantee that we'll definitely live, is there?"

[If you stay here, you will 'definitely' die. But if you return to the Head Realm, you at least have a slim chance to live! What will you do!]

Faced with Jeon Myeong-hoon's fierce question, the lower lightning disciples, with faces stricken with fear, nod at each other and then say,

"We, we will go to the Head Realm!"

[Good, you've made the right choice. Everyone, enter! Form the formation like you did during the ascension! For those who did not experience the ascent or who joined the sect relatively recently, learn from the other disciples!]

Under his clear and concise command, all disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect enter the palace made of lightning summoned by him.

Jeon Myeong-hoon gathers the remaining remnants of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

And he reaches out towards the lighting palace.

Kugugugu!

The palace of lightning compresses and fits perfectly into the size of Jeon Myeong-hoon's hand.

As he flutters his sleeve, the palace enters within.

While he was organizing the disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, I went to the Sealing Spirit Hall where I had been sealed.

Next to my sealing stone was the sealing stone of Hong Fan.

For now, I took the sealed orb in which Hong Fan resides.

It will take time to release his seal, but there's no time for that now.

"Jeon Myeong-hoon, by the way, there are disciples currently assigned to missions outside of Thunder Spirit Island. What about them...?"

"I know. I will bring all of them too. However..."

He speaks with a grim expression.

"Some sent on missions to the Nether Ghost Realm by the Supreme Sect Master cannot be brought back now."

"I understand."

"But."

He says.

"We can resonate with the few sent to the True Devil Realm with their Lightning Path Method. They might...be able to come with us!"

"...!"

"Let's go!"

"Understood."

I move along with Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Paaat!

We use the Flying Escape Technique and head outside Thunder Spirit Island to bring back the disciples on missions in foreign lands.

Occasionally, there were disciples who recognized me and tried to flee in horror.

Since there wasn't enough time to explain individually, I simply caught them and inserted the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner to restrain them and brought them back.

Thus, all disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect dispatched to various places of the Human Race Grand Alliance's Cloud Island Archipelago were successfully retrieved.

Fortunately, the further a place was from where the Owner of Heavenly Punishment appeared, the more time was left until the Heavenly Tribulation would fall, so we could be much more relieved about the disciples who were outside.

"So, Jeon Myeong-hoon, how many disciples are left now?"

"Thirteen disciples dispatched to the True Devil Realm. And including one more, fourteen remain."

"What do you mean by one more?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon says as if it's obvious.

"Disciple Yeon Jin of Blue Lightning. Isn't he in the True Devil Realm?"

"...That guy is..."

"A traitor to the sect?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon shakes his head.

"His ancestor was indeed a traitor, but the descendant himself is undeniably a disciple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect! Thus, we will save Yeon Jin as well and bring him with us!"

"...Alright."

I nod, acknowledging Jeon Myeong-hoon's determination.

Paaat!

He and I fly towards the True Devil Realm.

And just when we are flying towards the True Devil Realm.

Kurung, Kururung!

Flash!

Dark clouds seem to swirl in the sky, and suddenly, a massive golden bolt of lightning falls towards me.

"...!"

Kwarurung!!

I hastily use Endless Mountains Beyond Mountains to block the golden lightning, but immense pain engulfs my entire body, and I truly feel the brink of death.

"What was that just now?"

"...".

"Seo Eun-hyun?"

I silently glare at the sky.

'It has begun.'

As a result of slightly twisting fate with the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique.

The price paid is countless ominous calamities.

Kugugugu!

The pressure bearing down on my entire body intensifies.

The calamities of the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique come in the following manner:

The distortions in fate altered by the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique all come back in the form of calamities.

And to endure these calamities, a sacrificial offering is needed.

But now, the sacrificial offering is myself.

Therefore, I also have to receive the twists in fate altered by the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique.

Then, how do the calamities for twisting Heavenly Tribulation come?

Naturally, the calamities for twisting the Heavenly Tribulation come as Heavenly Tribulations.

In other words.

It's as if I've concentrated all the Heavenly Tribulations that would pour over the entire Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect onto myself.

"Seo Eun-hyun, I asked what happened."

At Jeon Myeong-hoon's growl, I explain the situation to him.

Hearing that, Jeon Myeong-hoon asks,

"Is it possible to connect that Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique to me?"

"What?"

"I mean, can I also register as the sacrificial offering?"

"Hmm..."

"I don't care about Heavenly Tribulations. It's over if I transform all of them into spiritual power."

"It's possible. However, it'll take some time."

"Then that's settled. Let's first think about going to the Head Realm."

"Right."

We continue to fly towards the True Devil Realm.

Jeon Myeong-hoon and I are ready to quickly knock down the Four-Axis stage guardians blocking the entrance to the True Devil Realm and enter.

"Then let's go quickly."

"Wait. Hold on, Jeon Myeong-hoon."

"Hmm?"

I resonate with the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon on the spot and connect with Kim Yeon.

Over the past few years,

When I was being pursued by the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, I connected with Kim Yeon and adjusted the direction of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress through her.

Through her, I launched an attack on the Earth Tribe's True Dragon Alliance, and thanks to that, Gyu-ryeon is also still alive.

I ask Kim Yeon for one more thing.

[Can you do this for me?]

[Yes, Eun-hyun Oppa. Of course. I've been waiting for Eun-hyun Oppa to talk to me for the past 8 years, really... I'm really happy.]

[I'm sorry, Yeon-ah. Maybe... I might not be able to contact you for a few more years.]

[Is that so.]

She looks sad.

[It can't be helped. But... you'll definitely come back, right?]

[Yes.]

[Then it's okay. I'll spend my time practicing the Paired Wing Dance. Anyway, I've just reached Three Flowers Gather at the Summit, thanks to the method Eun-hyun Oppa taught me. Since there are quite a lot of similarities between the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and the method of reaching Five Energies Converging to the Origin from Three Flowers Gather at the Summit... I should be able to reach it without much problem if I invest time.]

I accelerate my consciousness and briefly chat with her.

I want to talk much longer.

Because there is so much we hadn't talked about for 8 years.

But, as sorry as I am for her, we don't have much time left.

[Then, Yeon-ah. Let's meet again later.]

[Yes, Oppa!]

Tsutsutsut!

I wake up from the dream and look at Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"It's done. Now let's go."

"Alright."

As we speak and look up at the sky, Heavenly Tribulation is about to pour down on me again.

'If I cannot withstand the Heavenly Tribulation and die, the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique will be undone, and those who avoided their fate will immediately face the Heavenly Tribulation.'

I decide to endure as long as possible and face the Heavenly Tribulation that strikes this time.

Kururung!

"Is it over?"

"Yes."

"Let's go."

We charge straight for the dimensional gate of the True Devil Realm.

Fortunately, we were soon able to quickly find the 13 disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

Most of them were on missions near the first and second occupied territories of the Human Race, which made them easy to find.

Now, the only one left is Yeon Jin.

'How do we find Yeon Jin...'

I should have perhaps left a Mysterious Bizarre Gu on him.

It's then that Jeon Myeong-hoon looks in a certain direction and says,

"Yeon Jin is in that direction."

"Hmm? What?"

"Just go straight in that direction."

"Huh... Is that your ability?"

"Well, the lightning... No, never mind. You wouldn't understand even if I explained."

Jeon Myeong-hoon tries to explain further but then shakes his head and stops.

Before we leave the Human Race's occupied territory to find Yeon Jin,

We build a small shrine for the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect within the Human Race's occupied territory and pay our respects to our numerous ancestors.

I also bow to my teacher, Jin Hwi, and Jeon Myeong-hoon does the same.

Paaaat!

After paying our respects, we immediately leave the occupied territory.

The dense devilish energy of the True Devil Realm welcomes us, and Jeon Myeong-hoon flies recklessly towards the place where Yeon Jin is said to be, with me following behind him.

It seems that the voice of lightning continues to guide him.

I look up at the sky once again.

'The Heavenly Tribulations are becoming more severe.'

Until just a while ago, it felt like a strike from a late Four-Axis cultivator, but now the power of the Heavenly Tribulation is gradually approaching the Grand Perfection of the Four-Axis stage.

'We need to descend to the Head Realm quickly. Otherwise... I might die, and the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique will be undone.'

Once we find Yeon Jin, there will be no time left to delay.

'Straight away, we'll descend to the lower realm through the Void Spirit Pond!'

Today is the day to use the prepared Void Spirit Pond, Longevity Formation, and Yuan Yu.

Translator Notes. Had some personal stuff come up and translating/releasing wasn't my priority or something I wanted to think about. Now that things have settled down (my mental as well), I'll be releasing again.