A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation
A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation - Chapter 177: Master's Grace (9)

Chapter 177: Master's Grace (9)

The 25th newly created move of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.

Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace (義海恩山).

In fact, the essence of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship I created is hard to consider purely martial.

The first half of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, from the first to the twelfth moves, combines basic forms to extract the maximum power from movements and actions in martial arts.

Starting with horizontal slashing in Transcending Peaks, lower slashing in Entering Mountain, and upward slashing in Ascending Vein,

The twelfth form, Twelve Lights Emerging Peak, is also based on numerous stabbing motions.

Each form in the first half of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship requires precision and is more focused on the importance of connecting the moves rather than the complexity of each technique.

The second half of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, from the thirteenth to the twenty-fourth move, is specialized in handling the sword energy acquired in the first half, measuring the gap in intent between oneself and the opponent.

Especially, the 22nd move, Severing Mountain, is a move that requires hitting the opponent with all the techniques from the 1st to the 21st, making it meaningful only if all those forms ‘hit’ the target.

As such, it demands the utmost ability to measure the opponent's intent and gap.

The twenty-third move, Endless Mountains Beyond Mountains, and the twenty-fourth form, Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains, essentially require measuring the opponent's full strength and one's own physical condition with intent.

In essence, the use of the first half of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship involves precise basics and their combination.

The latter half focuses on the use of sword energy created from the basics, measuring the harmony in intent, and combat experience as the core of the martial principle.

And beyond the latter half, the newly created 25th move.

I close my eyes and contemplate the essence of this new technique.

'I poured my all into that single strike.'

A move created while following the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One's Single Strike.

Imitating his strike, an extreme move where I pour in all my strength.

If Foolish Old Man Moves Mountain continuously assaults the enemy with tiny forces gathered within my body,

Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace is an attack that squeezes out the entire power gathered within my body to the extreme, unleashing it as the ultimate single blow.

Then, is the essence of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace a one-hit kill?

‘No.’

While creating the twenty-fifth move, I gathered the enlightenment I realized, closed my eyes, and focused my consciousness.

'The essence of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace is... Fusion (通合).'

The essence is not about squeezing out power to its limit.

The essence of the form called Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace was about compressing power to the extreme and using all the myriad miscellaneous powers I had cultivated within that pressure.

Therefore, if the fusion is maintained, it's possible to reproduce that strike anytime.

'Fusion.'

All the basic techniques of Five Surpassing Paths to Cultivation

The flow of all methods realized through Understanding before Breakthrough

Followed by the skills I learned later, Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea, Silica Earth Great Wall Practice...

The nuances and flows of various methods flash through my mind.

When I first used Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace, the epiphany hit me in an instant, allowing me to unleash it all at once.

However, without such a sudden serendipity, I ultimately need to unravel and integrate all methods' flows by myself.

'Thinking about it... I've learned a lot of Earth attribute methods.'

Yin Soul Ghost Incantation is a method created from the Kun (☷) trigram, symbolizing Tai Yin (Great Yin/Moon) in the Eight Trigrams.

The Kun trigram ultimately corresponds to the Earth among the Five Elements.

The Dragon Vein Qi Method I learned during my martial arts days is also of the Earth attribute.

The first cultivation method I learned is the Earth Surpassing Path to Cultivation, Earth attribute.

Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, Earth attribute.

Silica Earth Great Wall Practice, Earth attribute.

The Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll can vary in attribute depending on the linked dharma treasure, but my Colorless Glass Sword is made of desert sand, strictly speaking, also Earth attribute.

Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea is somewhat Wood attribute.

White Orchid Blessing Incantation, influenced by Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea, has the power of the Wood attribute but ultimately originates from the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, making it a method mixed with Earth attribute as well.

'Somehow... I have a profound connection with the earth.'

Then, indeed, the center of Fusion is the Great Earth (大地).

Countless methods and their intricacies.

The Five Surpassing Paths to Cultivation and the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture.

Other attribute methods like Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea,

Center around the spiritual energy of the Earth.

Earth (土) is originally the center among the Five Elements (五行).

Even just considering the directions associated with the properties of the Five Elements, it's easy to see that it holds the center.

Wo-woong!

Yellow spiritual energy symbolizing the Earth attribute surges throughout my body.

Isn't there a saying that the sky is black and the earth is yellow?

All earth is yellow (黃色).

However, I half-open my eyes and concentrate my consciousness even more while gathering the yellow spiritual energy.

Glass (琉璃).

Melt the earth to refine it into clear glass.

Accelerate and temper the spiritual energy to its extreme.

Compress the consciousness, merging the consciousness at the plane of Soul and the spiritual energy at the plane of Qi.

Tsst-tssts!

The Formless Sword materializes in my hand.

The colorlessness (無色) possessed by the Formless Sword spreads around, tinting the yellow spiritual energy transparent.

But, being colorless means it can also become any color.

'Here I go.'

I imbue everything into what I hold in my hand.

Not just consciousness, but everything.

When reaching the Nascent Soul stage, a sword as if containing the Milky Way appeared in my hand.

Perhaps from the moment I reached the Nascent Soul stage, I had grasped the beginning of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.

The colorless sword transforms into a sword of galaxy containing the radiance of all stars in the universe, all of the heavens' natural colors.

It's as if the starry sky is held in my hand.

And, looking at this starry sky once again, I am finally able to establish the enlightenment of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace completely.

'A single strike infused with the soul.'

The technique of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.

Its essence is one's own soul.

Or, after infusing the sword with the Nascent Soul, a deadly single move that fuses all of one's power from within the Nascent Soul across the two planes of Qi and Soul, into a single strike.

Since what I hold is my soul itself, should Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace fail, I will die immediately as my Nascent Soul collapses.

Betting everything in a single gamble, putting the entirety of myself at stake.

A move far more dangerous than Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains!

"Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace (義海恩山)!!!"

As I execute the move towards Yeon, I brace my mind with the will to survive.

I become the sword, piercing into her.

I realize.

Through the knowledge of Understanding before Breakthrough that I've mastered, I can leave the enlightenment of Understanding before Breakthrough in the other's heart essence.

I can also leave the enlightenment of martial arts.

The enlightenment about the puppet circuits.

The enlightenment about the emotions I've felt.

With the White Orchid Blessing Incantation, I can bless, and with the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, I can curse.

Whoosh!

In an instant, I 'enter' her heart essence.

With the realm of Treading Heavens Beyond the Path, it's not just about seeing other's heart essence.

I infiltrate the other's heart essence as naturally as entering my own heart essence!

Pats-tsts-ts!

I enter the origin of countless colors.

And in the next moment.

I see an immensely beautiful sight.

Isn't the human body called a microcosm?

Then, what about the human heart?

Can the human heart not be called a Boundless Heart Heaven (無量心天)?

Like a universe filled with starry heavens.

'Is this, Yeon's exterior heart essence?’'

The human heart essence is divided into the exterior heart essence and the core heart essence within which is the heart essence seen by those who reached Beyond the Path to Heavens.

The domain I entered is the exterior heart essence.

Those who have reached the realm of Beyond the Path to Heavens can see the heart essence of themselves and others.

Why is that?

It is because the 'heart essence' seen by them is originally located in the deepest regions of human beings.

And those who have reached Beyond the Path to Heavens integrate their core heart essence, which resides in the deepest area, with the exterior heart essence.

Already having nothing to hesitate about themselves, they can properly see others' heart essences too.

However, ordinary people need to go through the exterior heart essence to enter deeply into the core heart essence like I am doing right now.

Perhaps cultivators above the Four-Axis stage, assuming their consciousness is intact, can attempt to block the intrusion of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.

But I enter without any hindrances.

Perhaps because Kim Yeon’s exterior heart essence is unprotected.

Entering her heart essence, a distinct feeling captures my attention

'This is...'

A pinkish intent brushes past me.

As I become a beam of white light, gliding through her consciousness akin to the universe, I can't pay much attention to the passing consciousness.

However, if similar consciousnesses endlessly pass by me, won't I inevitably become aware of them even without paying attention?

―I like you.

In a universe dotted with multicolored stars.

As I delve deeper into the core of this consciousness filled with starry skies, I feel the number of pinkish stars gradually increasing.

―Hello, Deputy Manager. I'm Kim Yeon, the new employee who just joined!

―Deputy Manager, how do I handle this?

―Ah, you’ll listen? Thank you.

―Ahaha, Deputy Jeon is picking on you? I don't get along with him either. What? That person became a Section Chief?

―What's Deputy Manager’s blood type? Oh, you're also type A like me?

―You like Hye-seo Unnie too, right? She's really like an angel.

―Wow, Deputy Manager is also confused by Excel? I find it really confusing too. Should we ask Hye-seo Unnie for help?

―Hm? You think I haven't been getting along with Hye-seo Unnie recently? Haha... Oh.It's lunchtime, what should we eat?

―Hehe, as expected, sweet and sour pork should be dipped... Oh, Deputy Manager is also a dipper? Seems like we really do get along.

It’s impossible to look into every memory in detail.

But I can faintly hear the voices of the stars.

Listening to these fleeting voices, I venture further inside.

And then, at some moment.

I reach the very center of the galaxy where countless stars gather.

Countless consciousnesses and emotions.

Among them, the place where the happiest emotions gather.

To enter the depths of human consciousness, there are seven gates.

And the gate I have reached seems to be the gate governing love.

Just beyond here is her inner heart essence.

Her true essence.

Suddenly, before leaping into her inner heart essence.

I look at a certain illusion that passes through her consciousness.

Rustle...

'Ah...'

I remember.

There was a time in spring when I had to go on a business trip to a botanical garden due to work-related matters.

Yeon had finished all the business tasks and was walking through the botanical garden with someone.

That someone, glorified by her emotions, remained beautifully in her memory.

The two stood in front of a quince tree for a moment, admiring it.

―By the way, do you like any particular flowers?

She asked, seemingly curious, to the glorified someone.

The glorified someone pointed at the quince tree and said.

―...do. Does Team Leader have any favorite flowers?

―I...

After a moment of hesitation, she started to speak, seemingly embarrassed.

'I’m sure back then..'

I smile at the memory of that moment.

Thinking back on what she said then, it was practically a confession.

And I was too dumb to realize it.

'I'm sorry.'

Such a fool I was, not realizing even a confession until it was far too late.

'But please forgive me.'

Whizz!

At the center of the galaxy.

Jumping beyond the clusters of pinkish light and reaching her heart essence, I smile.

'Even if it’s now, I will give you my answer.'

I enter the passage leading to her heart essence.

But there is something sticky and filthy clogging that passage.

That thing, reeking of blood and filth.

The Esteemed One's restraint.

'Cut.'

Swoosh!

I become a sword.

My soul, forged into a sword, cuts through and shatters the obstacles in front of me.

Ordinary consciousness techniques would never easily break through this.

But, having staked my soul to enter here, I can cut through it all too easily from a position equal to the seal.

Whish...

The seal crumbles like dust, dispersing into her consciousness and becoming one with her mind.

As the seal disappears, I feel a strong resistance from her heart essence.

The sealed consciousness is being liberated, trying to expel me, a foreign entity.

'It's done.'

She's now freeing herself from the seal

I am naturally ejected from her consciousness.

Then.

'Huh?'

I notice from within her consciousness,

from her memoriesofthemomentsbeforefallingintoascensionpaththegiantjade.

Zap!

Trickle...

I feel a sharp pain and headache coming on, along with the realization that blood is trickling from my nose.

Though it felt like a long moment in the world of consciousness, it was just a blink of an eye after using the technique of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.

A mere instant in real time.

But in that instant, it felt as though something had struck the upper part of my nose, and I could feel blood rushing from inside.

'Why am I suddenly bleeding from the nose?'

Clearly, I had naturally exited the world of consciousness thanks to the resistance of her consciousness.

'No, that's a ridiculous thought.'

Kurok!

An immense feeling of powerlessness envelops me.

It feels as though all the vitality in my body has been squeezed out.

In fact, it’s correct to say that my vitality has been drained.

Injecting my Nascent Soul into the sword, fusing the power of two planes into one, and then channeling all that power into the Nascent Soul across the planes, I executed a decisive strike.

Naturally, this took a toll on both my consciousness and body.

'My consciousness...'

I had launched a strike that risked not just my life, but my very soul, twice.

As the tension releases, I fall forward.

And then.

Gently...

Soft hands catch me, preventing my body from crashing to the ground.

"Thank you, Eun-hyun Oppa."

She, dressed in pink attire, smiles while embracing.

I look at her, moving my lips slightly.

Wo-woong!

Similar to the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.

The restraint that had been sealing her mind until just a moment ago seems to be suppressed by her now, manifesting according to her will.

Flash!

Above her head, a white circular ring appears, resembling a Western crown.

"Yeon, ah..."

"Yes, I know."

Bo-oong!

A white thread of consciousness swiftly passes through my head, and through this thread of consciousness, I convey my heart language to her.

A firm determination shines in her eyes.

"Let's end this war now."

Embracing me with one arm, she raises her other.

'Something has changed.'

I think to myself, looking at her holding me.

She is a bit different from the Kim Yeon I know.

Is it because I unsealed the restraint for her?

Or because the consciousness technique that serves as the seal now amplifies her consciousness?

Or is it because, unlike the thousand years she spent captured by the Mad Lord, she lived in a place where her consciousness is more stabilized?

Various thoughts cross my mind.

But looking into her eyes, I understand something.

'...I see.'

Just as I had seen countless emotions when entering her heart essence.

Perhaps she too had glimpsed a bit into mine.

As the saying goes, when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.

Perhaps, in looking into someone, one must be prepared to be seen by the other.

'You've read my heart, too.’

"Thank you, Oppa."

Kim Yeon smiles brightly, clenching her fist.

"For liking me."

White threads of consciousness gather in her hand, and the restraint that had been placed by the Esteemed One's Left Hand shines brightly as a crown, further amplifying the power of her consciousness.

It's visible.

The consciousness at the plane of Soul is overflowing so massively that it influences the plane of Qi.

Kududuguk!

The ceiling of the underground cavity of the Void Spirit Pond is torn away.

Kugugugu!

A loud explosion resounds, and the countless battlefields still raging are brought into view.

Kugugugu!

In the distance, the Esteemed One's Left Hand is seen being pierced through by [Her] spear and crumbling.

The battlefield is heading towards its end.

Jeon Myeong-hoon, too, unable to withstand the Mad Lord's human wave tactics, is sealed again as soon as he was released.

And then, the Mad Lord's gaze turns towards us below.

"Oho, who do we have here? My disciple! Yes, my beloved disciple. The disciple of Jo Yeon, Kim Yeon! I received a letter from that fellow clinging to you! Have you finally decided to fulfill my long-standing wish? Yeon-ah! Oh, my disciple! Good! Good, good, goodgoodgoodgoodgoodgoodgoodgoodlet'ssee! If the results are unsatisfactory, Iwillembedthatguy'sheadintothebodyofGeneralSeo,whichhasbeenmodifiedtotheextremeleveloftheFour-Axisstage!!!”

In Yeon’s arms, I exchange silent words while looking at Jo Yeon screaming in the distance.

We silently exchange heart language, sharing our thoughts.

Perhaps because we had just deeply connected, our understanding seems even clearer.

Silently, we reach out towards the sky.

Towards the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

"...Let's begin."

"Yes."

Both she and I reach out towards the wonderful and mysterious world.

Without deciding who is first, we stretch out our consciousness and exclaim.

"Wonderfully Mysterious (奇妙)!"

"Innate Heart Canon (成心)!"

In an instant, the consciousness of the two unravel like threads, spreading in all directions.

The consciousness of the two that touch the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress begin to take control of it.

"Whooa!?"

The Mad Lord's eyes sparkle with interest.

Kiiiiing!

'Activate, the poison of General Seo!'

The influence of General Seo inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress begins to run rampant.

In a brief moment.

The command system of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is paralyzed, and I quickly mark various places within the Fortress with my consciousness.

As my consciousness paves the way, Kim Yeon's consciousness follows, gradually taking control of the Fortress.

Although my cultivation realm is lacking compared to the previous life, the mental technique passed on by the Esteemed One's Left Hand and her much more stabilized consciousness added, she begins to take control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress just like in the past.

"Ah..."

The Mad Lord, with a distant expression, looks at the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and casually throws away the Golden Core of Jeon Myeong-hoon, which he had just sealed and was holding in his hand.

He quickly enters the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, followed by [Her], who had completely dealt with the Esteemed One's Left Hand.

Something we had activated together in a past life.

Kim Yeon might not fully know yet, but I naturally lead her consciousness, effortlessly pulling her along to active Yeon’s Play.

Unlike my past life, I’m not worried about her life force being drained away by Yeon’s Play.

Now, I am confident I can sever the link between her and the Alternate Spacetime with the Formless Sword.

And finally.

Flash!

A brilliant light bursts forth from the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, triggering the Mad Lord's final puppet show.

The puppet that appears is the Mad Lord himself, and the puppeteer is his disciple, Kim Yeon.

Yeon’s Play reveals itself.

Wo-woong!

"Ah..."

I didn't know what form the [fully activated Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress] would take when Yeon’s Play is activated.

The Yeon’s Play in my past life was after all within a broken Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

"Honestly."

Kim Yeon grimaces with a bitter smile.

In the center of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, the Mad Lord is extracting his own life to complete Yeon’s Play.

Kim Yeon's power is indeed being drained into it, but compared to the Mad Lord who became a puppet directly inside, her power is draining less.

"It's beautiful. Really, it doesn't suit a madman at all."

"…Perhaps."

As I maintain activation of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon with her, I see the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress shining brilliantly before us.

The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is shining more brilliantly than anything we had seen before.

"Perhaps at that moment, even he might have not been insane."

Intents of the artificial souls, previously unseen, flutter into view with the naked eye.

Those souls spiral around the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, forming a rotation.

All the brilliance of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress spirals, creating an appearance as if being sucked into the center of a galaxy.

And from the center of that galaxy, a golden radiance signifying joy splendidly reveals to the naked eye through the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

A tree.

It’s a golden tree.

Wo-woong!

The golden energy spreads throughout the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, overflowing and extending beyond its confines.

It’s as if with the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress as the trunk, golden branches stretch out in all directions.

'That tree...'

I have seen it before.

It is exactly the same shape as the rotten tree existing within the Mad Lord's heart essence.

But unlike that decaying tree, the golden tree marking Jo Yeon's end shines too brilliantly.

The branches are bare.

No leaves, no flowers adorn it.

Yet, I feel as if those bare branches are supporting the heavens.

Perhaps, the leaves and flowers of that tree are the unpredictable sky itself.

Music flows from within the tree.

The melody of the Twin Immortals.

The Twin Immortals Melody traditionally serves to comfort the souls of those captured by demon beasts.

Listening to the soul-claiming requiem emanating from the center of gold, everyone gazes at the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

The Esteemed One's Left Hand and Jeon Myeong-hoon were put to rest by the Mad Lord.

All urgent fires are extinguished, and now is the time to rest.

This includes Hyeon Woon, and those cultivators who greedily exploited other races for their own gain.

Both the wicked and the virtuous.

All, without discrimination, catch their breath listening to the soul-calming requiem.

Exhausted, I forcibly turn to look behind me.

Those I sought to protect were all horrifically killed by the Esteemed One's power.

The righteousness I defended was so ruthlessly trampled by an unstoppable force.

Now, all the meaning I have upheld is gone.

However.

"Farewell."

I have no regrets.

"The brief moments we spent together..."

So what if it's meaningless?

I will give it meaning.

I will remember you, and I will honor you.

Even if I gained nothing, I will use this time as nourishment to grow further.

So, to all of you.

"I will never forget."

I am truly grateful.

Within the requiem, I close my eyes, remembering those precious ones who had died.

Thus.

All the events in the True Devil Realm came to an end.

Kugugugu!

Atop the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress with Kim Yeon, I bask in the wind of the True Devil Realm.

The Mad Lord's Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is now hers.

[She] hasn't moved since activating the Yeon’s Play.

After burying Jo Yeon and [Her] next to the Void Spirit Pond, Kim Yeon and I are leading the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress towards the Bright Cold Realm.

Numerous remnants of the Human Race also following us.

Under Kim Yeon's command, even without [Her], there are eight Integration stage puppets remaining. Now, even the Human Race Grand Alliance can no longer ignore us.

"Eun-hyun Oppa."

"Hmm?"

Facing the devilish energy of the True Devil Realm, she looks down into the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress with a bitter smile.

"...Can we save Section Chief Jeon...?"

"..."

Silently, I looked inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

At the sealed Golden Core of Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Although sealed, our eyes, capable of seeing intent, clearly see it.

The emotions emanating from Jeon Myeong-hoon's Golden Core.

After all, we are from the same hometown.

And though she doesn’t know, to me, the little harassments from Jeon Myeong-hoon don't matter much anymore.

Even the plots to offer me as a sacrifice to the demon fox, annoying as they were until reaching Beyond the Path to Heavens, ceased to bother me after capturing and beating the fox to death.

Moreover, I can fully understand the feelings of someone who had lost everything, so I didn't want to keep him sealed forever.

"Let's find a way."

I say, looking down at Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"There must be a way. The Bright Cold Realm is vast... As we explore the Bright Cold Realm, eventually we'll find something that can help heal him..."

When my memory was intact, I paid him no mind because he seemed so inconsequential.

When I lost my memory, I didn't pay attention because I couldn't clearly recall who he was.

But paradoxically, after regaining my memories of him, I finally started to care about him.

"...It's a bit surprising, Oppa. You had quite a bit of trouble with Section Chief Jeon, right?"

"Right."

I nod readily and smile at Kim Yeon.

"That's why it's even more important to bring him back to his senses and receive an apology."

Good or bad, all relationships are ultimately connections.

Then, wouldn't it be better to definitively receive an apology and tie up those bad connections?

Of course, in the case of someone like Yuan Li, reconciliation might require a few more rounds of tearing him apart.

But Jeon Myeong-hoon wasn't to that extent, so receiving an apology when he is in his right mind would be sufficient.

As we are talking,

"It looks like you lovers are having fun."

Thump!

Oh Hyun-seok flies over using his Flying Escape Technique and lands next to me and Kim Yeon.

"Sorry to interrupt, but something seems to be chasing us from behind."

"Chasing us?"

"I'm not sure. It seems like an Integration-stage Grand Cultivator, and it appears to be just one person. Did Kim Yeon say this is the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress? Even if she can control it, fighting an Integration stage will be troublesome, so how about we speed up?"

"Yes, let's do that."

Kim Yeon readily agrees and increases the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress's pace.

Soon we'll reach the mainland of the Bright Cold Realm.

The Human Territory.

Just then.

Woong!

Hyeon Woon, who had been recuperating inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, flies up and lands on the roof.

"Oh, what brings you here, Chief Military Strategist?"

"...Well, there's a lot to say. For starters... the Integration stage Grand Cultivator chasing us from behind seems to be, for some reason, the Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum, the progenitor of our Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect."

"Ah, then it doesn't seem to be an enemy..."

However, my words are cut short as Hyeon Woon grimaces and says,

"No, increase the speed."

"Excuse me?"

"Those with the Immortal Beast bloodline are influenced by the consciousness of others with the same bloodline. Usually, a higher realm being has a significant influence on cultivators of a lower realm. Right now, I'm being influenced by the Black Dragon King's consciousness."

He holds his head and frowns.

"For some reason, the Black Dragon King is currently in a state of extreme rage, seething with anger. If we stop here, a battle might break out, so we must keep moving forward."

"Why is the Black Dragon King so angry?"

I ask, puzzled.

Hyeon Woon sighs deeply and shakes his head.

"...I don't know. Don't ask."

Confused, we sit atop the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, watching the landscape of the Devil Realm pass by quickly.

Soon, the scenery of the True Devil Realm will come to an end.

"Farewell, True Devil Realm..."

I have learned and experienced much.

I express my small gratitude towards the True Devil Realm itself, looking ahead.

There, the entrance between the True Devil Realm and the Bright Cold Realm we used to cross over.

The first occupied territory where the entrance is located comes into view.

"Well, despite everything that happened..."

Oh Hyun-seok chuckles and says,

"Everyone did a great job! Now, let's go back!"

We head towards the first occupied territory, towards the dimensional gateway to the Bright Cold Realm.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Surely, we arrived.

"...Wasn't there a dimensional gate here?"

Kim Yeon's face stiffens as she looks around.

I also look around.

It’s certain.

That is the place where I first set foot in the True Devil Realm.

That is the spot!

But why...

"Why is the dimensional gate gone?"

Oh Hyun-seok shouts.

Hyeon Woon, with a stiff face, closes his eyes and uses some technique.

Then, his eyes suddenly open wide.

"Ha...haha..."

His voice is filled with resignation.

"Hahahaha... Damn it. The Human Race Grand Alliance has closed the gate from the other side."

"...Excuse me?"

"The traces in space show the Gate Closing technique used by the Human Race Grand Alliance."

"Wh-what does that mean!? Not to mention us, there are still many Human Race cultivators left in the True Devil Realm... Our life markers are still lit..!?"

His following words leave me feeling disoriented.

"From the perspective of the Grand Alliance, it must have been more important to block the Star Shattering Esteemed One's avatars in the True Devil Realm or the Integration Stage Grand Cultivators from the True Devil Realm than to worry about the human cultivators who still haven't returned."

"..."

"We are trapped in the True Devil Realm."