Chapter 367: Holding Hands (4)

The interrogation of Yuk Rin has concluded.

There are two methods Yuk Rin intended to use to betray us.

The first is the characteristic that all oaths and contracts disappear upon entering Penglai Island.

The second is another characteristic of Penglai Island's interior.

'Truly bizarre.'

According to Yuk Rin, the interior of Penglai Island is a kind of massive illusion formation.

Upon entering this illusion formation, the internal world of the formation reconstructs to match us, and we become characters within that illusion, only able to explore the formation using the powers and abilities that those characters possess.

'The power granted to these 'characters' is said to be the power originally held by their race...'

For me and others, it would be the power of humans.

And for Shi Ho and Yuk Rin, they would undoubtedly gain the power of fox and dragon.

In other words, he planned to betray us by using Penglai Island's inherent characteristic of 'nullifying all oaths and contracts' and the characteristic of 'nullifying all powers except the original power held by the respective race' granted by the island's formation.

'We could have been in quite a predicament.'

However, even if we were deceived and entered Penglai Island as he intended, Kim Young-hoon and I might not have been in significant danger.

Having everything except our original human powers being nullified and being unable to use any cultivation techniques?

'We can still use martial arts anyway.'

Kugugugugu!

It's currently night in the Ancient Force Realm.

Unlike the Nether Ghost Realm, where day and night are distinguished only by the presence or absence of constellations, the Ancient Force Realm has a clear distinction between day and night.

A ring-like structure stretches across the sky of the Ancient Force Realm, emitting a light similar to moonlight, creating the atmosphere of a dim and dark night.

After conquering Governing Dragon Island, we are currently heading to another sea domain to join forces with the Buk Hyang Fleet, with Yuk Rin captured.

I will likely see Song Jin soon.

Standing at the edge of the Twilight Domain, I turn back after gazing at the night sea of the Ancient Force Realm.

The ghosts of the Nether Ghost Realm, more energetic at night than during the day, are now enthusiastically throwing a ghostly feast.

Having just returned from volunteer work on Governing Dragon Island, everyone seems to feel a sense of fulfillment.

As I watch them, I fall into thought.

'If the condition for fixing my regression point is truly to go to and return from the Head Realm...should I go once more?'

The Head Realm is an extremely terrifying place.

Just sensing the presence of the Owner of Salt Mountain in that place fills me with immense fear and despair.

That world is full of unfathomable malice and ominousness.

But...

'If they were to disappear...'

I can't even imagine how much my heart would ache.

It first started as just a religious order to build the Longevity Axis, but they have now become a part of me.

Wo-wooong—

My consciousness sweeps through the Twilight Domain.

The ghostly creatures boasting about their volunteering activities on Governing Dragon Island and holding a feast.

Yeon Wei's split soul, temporarily leaving Yeon Jin's body, being fervently praised by the Guardian Ghost Kings.

Wei Shi-hon and Eum Wa engrossed in making their second generation.

Baek Rin tending to Yuk Yo's wounds.

Shi Ho getting a massage from Seo Ran.

Jeon Myeong-hoon practicing cultivation methods with Yeon Jin in a private room.

Oh Hyun-seok training the ghostly creatures who want to become stronger using the Azure Heaven Creation Sect's methods.

Kim Yeon and Buk Hyang-hwa drunkenly fighting, pulling each other's hair.

'It's peaceful.'

No matter how ominous the Head Realm may be.

If going there again means I can continue to be with them, I will go anytime.

'After investigating the salt mountain on Penglai Island and finding a way to heal Cheongmun Ryeong.'

Descend to the Head Realm and, if possible, fix my regression point.

'Yes, if I can go to the Head Realm in this life, let's go again.'

Resolving myself like so, I look around at the night sea of the Ancient Force Realm.

Wo-woong—

The night sea of the Ancient Force Realm is incredibly mysterious.

Shuwaaaa—

The sound of the waves crashing echoes.

Within that sound, the voices of countless beings can be heard.

Simultaneously, beyond the multitude of voices, the entire sea of the Ancient Force Realm faintly glows.

Murmurmurmurmurmur...

Above the undulating seawater, countless shadows appear and disappear repeatedly.

How long have I been watching this?

"Eun-hyun, you shouldn't stare at the Deep Sea of the Ancient Force Realm for too long at night."

"...Young-hoon Hyung-nim...?"

I turn around to see Kim Young-hoon calling me.

He has a bruise around one eye and his clothes are torn in several places.

Chiii—

It seems he is healing himself with a healing talisman.

"I thought you didn't get hurt while fighting Yuk Rin?"

"Oh, this injury is from Oh Hyun-seok."

"Pardon?"

"Oh Hyun-seok and I were drinking, and his cultivation method seemed similar to a path I briefly pursued before so I asked him how he cultivated. Then, the guy offered to train me and when I told him to go ahead, this crazy bastard tied me to a pillar and..."

"...I see."

It seems Kim Young-hoon was subjected to the training method of the Great Azure Heaven Creation Sect for a while.

A Kim Young-hoon of a previous life had once been training in martial arts when he discovered a part of it that was connected to demon beast methods and briefly tried to pursue that path.

It seems the Kim Young-hoon of this cycle had also briefly attempted that path.

"But you didn't beat up Hyun-seok Hyung-nim and escape?"

"It's fine to take a few hits from a close younger brother. It wouldn't be right to get angry and draw my blade over it, no?"

"Then why, when it was me...?"

"Because if I don't draw my blade against you, I feel like I might die."

Kim Young-hoon laughs heartily, and after his wounds heal due to the talisman, he removes it and places his hand on his saber hilt.

"You want to go at it again?"

"Haha, my beloved weapons are all broken. If I go against you again, I'll just get beaten up without being able to resist. I'm here for another reason."

Bo-woong—

He draws his saber from the sheath and swings it in the air.

He doesn't particularly slash or attack me.

There isn't even a hint of killing intent, but for an instant, I see an illusion of the world splitting before my eyes from his swing.

"...While fighting you, I glimpsed the next realm."

"...!"

I shudder at his words.

There is only one realm Kim Young-hoon could have reached.

'S-Second Step Before the Throne? The same realm as Jang Ik?'

I'm frighteningly startled, but then I think of Kim Young-hoon's trait and chuckle.

"Then, in about fifty years, I'll be able to learn from you, Young-hoon Hyung-nim."

"...Well, that's not it."

"Ah, then in a hundred years?"

"Not that either."

"I can wait a few hundred years."

"..."

However, Kim Young-hoon seems to become gloomier at my hopeful questions.

"...Hyung-nim?"

"...For now."

He speaks with a bitter expression.

"Even with my talent, I'll have to diligently polish and refine this enlightenment for hundreds of years before there's a chance to reach the next realm."

"Haha, it seems Young-hoon Hyung-nim hasn't yet adapted to the sense of time in the cultivation world."

"But,"

He bites his lips and looks at me with desolate eyes.

"I cannot reach the next realm."

"Huh...?"

I stare at Kim Young-hoon for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Hahaha!!!"

It isn't mockery, but genuine amusement.

How many times have I heard Kim Young-hoon say that?

"Hyung-nim! Believe in yourself. You can do it!"

By now, it's practically a given that Kim Young-hoon will reach the next realm after saying such words.

Of course, in the past, Kim Young-hoon was often hindered by his lifespan. But now that he has reached this stage and gained an additional ten thousand years, it's enough!

However, Kim Young-hoon's expression does not brighten.

Silently, he raises his saber.

I watch him for a moment before drawing my Colorless Glass Sword and letting it hang down.

"Let's just purely compete in martial arts."

"Sounds good."

In the next moment, Kim Young-hoon and I rush at each other, exchanging martial techniques.

We both refrain from using excessive internal energy or spiritual power.

He and I compete purely by channeling the vital energy that flows through our human bodies into our blades as we contest our skills.

As we exchange moves for a while, our movements gradually become more intense.

Kim Young-hoon spins from right to left, swinging his saber.

The tip of his saber grazes my cheek.

My sword slashes upwards from above my right foot, cutting Kim Young-hoon and leaving a vertical scratch beneath his eye.

Tadat!

Tadadat!

Even though we only use the basic vitality of our bodies, the amplification of power is astounding because of our high level of mastery.

Kim Young-hoon and I move from one end of the Twilight Domain to the other in an instant, dancing as if to slice each other's shadows.

He's too fast to catch, and I'm too free to hit.

As we roam around the entire Twilight Domain for some time, I suddenly find myself out of the Twilight Domain and over the vast void, above the night sea of the Ancient Force realm.

Of course, since we can move even by stepping on the void, it's not a problem for our duel.

Kugugugugu!

Before we know it, the Twilight Domain is passing by us who are fiercely clashing blades in mid-air, gradually advancing towards the horizon of the sea domain.

Leaving the Wi Jeong Sea domain behind, we head towards the end of the sea domain that looks like an air bubble.

Towards the 'wall' formed by the Dome Sky.

Tadat!

As I exchange blows with him for a while, I momentarily lose my balance due to Kim Young-hoon's attack and nearly fall into the Deep Sea.

Chwaaaaak!

Fortunately, just before falling into the Deep Sea, I manage to float in the void by enveloping my entire body with the All-Heavens Sword.

But at that very moment.

I see something absurd.

Too-woong—

A clear sound seems to ring, and Kim Young-hoon stands firmly on 'top' of the Deep Sea.

"...How are you doing that"

"It's not that difficult. Since this isn't real water but a type of dimension, just thinking of standing on the dimension makes it easy."

"...And, how are you doing that?"

"You just need to stand on the dimension. And maintain your balance."

"..."

I give up understanding and just float near the surface of the Deep Sea.

Around Kim Young-hoon who is briefly laughing, illusions suddenly appear around him.

They are the illusions I saw at the edge of the Twilight Domain earlier.

The faces of the illusions are not clearly visible, just appearing as blurry shadows.

However, while looking at the shadows, I suddenly feel a sense of déjà vu.

At that moment, Kim Young-hoon points his saber at one of the illusions that approaches him and speaks.

"The sea of the Ancient Force Realm reflects the past of its target. So sometimes, I think of Earth while looking at the night sea. Of course, it's not always the faces I like, which can be annoying at times..."

"Ah..."

'I see. This sense of déjà vu is...'

I realize the source of the déjà vu I feel from the night sea of the Ancient Force Realm.

The Ancient Force Realm is reflecting the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections to me.

As Kim Young-hoon aims his saber at the nearby illusion that has briefly approached him, he warns me with a wary look.

"Be careful. Sometimes deep-sea monsters appear pretending to be ordinary illusions of the Ancient Force Realm."

Having warned me, he swings his saber and cuts down the illusion.

Surung—

The illusion is split and vanishes.

The illusion that dissipated around Kim Young-hoon had been wielding something like a whip that emerged from its arm before disappearing.

After cutting down the illusion, Kim Young-hoon asks me.

"Let me ask you, Seo Eun-hyun. What do you think martial arts are?"

"...I don't know."

It's too vast to simply define and it's too easy an answer to a difficult guess.

That is the meaning of martial arts.

"Maybe I'm not a martial artist."

To me, martial arts are a part of life, but not everything.

At the same time, since it's one of my strengths along with the numerous cultivation methods I have learned, I can't confidently say I understand what martial arts truly are.

However, Kim Young-hoon grins widely and says,

"You are indeed a martial artist. I can guarantee that."

"Even though I use not only martial arts but also cultivation methods and demon beast methods?"

"Well...having seen someone who is truly not a martial artist, I can confidently say you are one."

Wo-woong—

The same illusion that Kim Young-hoon had just cut down rises again and attacks him.

Feeling slightly annoyed, he no longer pays any attention to the illusion.

The illusion brushes past Kim Young-hoon, and I realize that I have seen the outline of that illusion somewhere before.

'That man.'

It's Jin Ma-yeol, the pirate captain of the Fighting Demon Pirates, who fought against Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Kim Young-hoon glances at the illusion and says,

"When I first came to the Ancient Force Realm, I fought the pirate captain of a notorious pirate group. Surprisingly, he had been stuck at Entering Heavens for thousands of years. At first, I thought he was a martial artist, so I tried to treat him with respect. But after a few exchanges, I could tell. He is not a martial artist."

"Not a martial artist..."

It's a strange thing.

That man has certainly entered Treading Heavens.

Perhaps he gained enlightenment after fighting Kim Young-hoon and broke through.

Why then does Kim Young-hoon not acknowledge him as a martial artist?

"That's why I took his weapon. It was too good a blade to be in the hands of someone who isn't a martial artist. The demon saber that fused with my hand and moved as if alive that you destroyed was his."

"Ah, I remember now."

Indeed, it was a tough blade, and it took some time to tear it apart,

Curious, I ask,

"Why isn't he a martial artist?"

Yuk Rin even obtained a magic artifact to protect against Jin Ma-yeol's sight, meaning he has perfectly acquired the vision of the Heart Tribe.

Moreover, if he reached the Integration stage and rose to Treading Heavens, his efforts must have been indescribable.

Why then does Kim Young-hoon not acknowledge him as a martial artist?

Kim Young-hoon is silent for a moment, then lifts his saber.

"...I will show you why it's impossible for me to reach the next stage. Then you will understand."

Too-woong, toong—

He begins to perform a saber dance, stepping on the dimension.

The illusions and remnants of the past around him are all cut down by his dance.

But strangely, his movements leave no afterimages.

Literally, it seems as if Kim Young-hoon exists only in 'this very moment.'

It's a metaphysical expression, but it's true.

His Heaven and Earth spiritual energy cannot be read, and his next move cannot be predicted.

It's as if his figure cannot be seen at any boundary of history and fate.

Existing but not existing, in a strange Emptiness (空), his saber dance ends, and I let out a gasp.

Though my talent is limited, I can understand as someone who has held a sword for thousands of years.

"...Because of Sir Cheongmun Ryeong, you did not name the next realm, right?"

"Well, that's right."

"But in truth, you have already named it."

I quietly utter the name that resonated from his dance just now.

First Step Before the Throne.

What did Kim Young-hoon name this realm?

"Is it not 'Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion' (좌탈입망/坐脫立亡)?"