Chapter 467: The Night Before (3)

The moment I saw So Jeong’s tear of blood—

A question I had never once considered coiled itself in my mind.

Was the figure of So Jeong before me truly an illusion of the Heavenly Record Immortal Sword?

However—

“I must have shown a moment of disgrace.”

As if it had all been a fleeting illusion, the blood that had streamed down So Jeong’s cheek had completely vanished.

“I’ll continue explaining.”

So Jeong, who had returned to a composed appearance in an instant, continued speaking.

“True Martiality, or Divine Martiality, is something even we haven’t properly obtained. I suspect the same applies to the current Master.”

Even though the current Senior Brothers should have reached their prime or at least a state comparable to it?

“If I had to describe it, it would be no more than an imitation of its form. It’s akin to scratching the surface of a Transcendent Technique while in the Transcendent Demon Realm.”

“How can one obtain this True Martiality?”

“To be precise, I don’t know.”

“……”

At So Jeong’s utterly unflinching words, I found myself momentarily speechless.

“It’s impossible to be certain of something one has yet to completely obtain. But among the Senior Brothers, a hypothesis has been proposed.”

“Please enlighten me.”

I extended a clasped-hands greeting, and So Jeong nodded and continued.

“Mind, Qi, and Body must all reach the Divine Domain. Even if only for a single moment, one must reach that level to grasp even a fragment of True Martiality.”

Divine Domain.

I had a general understanding of that domain.

However, rather than interrupting with my own assertions, I simply continued to listen intently to So Jeong.

“Once you step into the Transcendent Demon Realm, you can reach a domain where the surrounding time slows to an extreme. There’s no need to elaborate on that further, I presume.”

“Yes.”

Unless there was a significant disparity in martial arts compatibility, battles between experts of the Transcendent Demon Realm were decided by how much they could manipulate the flow of time.

“But that domain is merely a transitional phase. You’re aware of that, of course.”

“Of course.”

Only when one transcended the domain of time could they reach the Divine Domain where divinity existed, and gain the ability to strengthen or distort laws.

It was only upon reaching that domain that sorcerers could perform Divine Sorcery purely through their own capabilities without external aid, and martial artists could truly employ Transcendent Techniques.

It was the point at which one could be said to have reached the realm of a Demigod in the truest sense—a boundary attainable by the human body.

But—

What if one surpassed even that level?

If this so-called True Martiality that So Jeong spoke of referred to what lay beyond?

“Is it possible to aim for what lies beyond with a human body?”

“……”

I could say this with certainty.

It was impossible.

Implementing the Heart’s Path Transcending Resentment like Yoo Jeon was a different matter entirely from obtaining True Martiality.

“This world will not permit it.”

If one surpassed even the realm of the Supreme Demon, then the next step would be godhood.

Even I, who now stood on the cusp of Ascension, would undoubtedly be banished to the Higher Realm if I exceeded the Supreme Demon Realm.

To avoid that fate, one would either have to suppress their power completely like Cheon Taejong or use deceitful means to minimize their influence like the Grand Heavenly Lord.

“Ordinarily, yes. But didn’t I already say it?”

So Jeong raised three fingers.

“Mind, Qi, and Body are all necessary.”

“……!”

After a moment of thought, I finally understood what So Jeong was trying to say.

“Mind refers to Sword Intent, Qi to Inner Arts, and Body to the physical body. Yet in the advanced stages of martial studies, the importance of the physical body is surprisingly underemphasized. Do you know why that is?”

“Because once one reaches the Transcendent Demon Realm, the limits of Inner Arts effectively disappear.”

“Correct.”

Moreover, at that level, a martial artist wouldn’t be outclassed physically no matter where they went.

Take Sword Demon or Saber Demon, for example—their muscular forms were compressed and refined through actual combat, even if it didn’t show outwardly.

‘But what Senior Brother meant is that even that is far from sufficient.’

“In the world of time, it’s possible to shape Sword Intent and overlay it onto the body for resistance. That’s why the body’s significance is even further diminished.”

Attempting to follow accelerated thought with an unprepared body would simply result in the separation of flesh and bone.

“But the so-called standard of using Sword Intent as a barrier is, in truth, not a standard but a mere shortcut.”

“…A shortcut, you say?”

“One more question. Can you move in an accelerated world without the barrier of Sword Intent?”

“To a certain extent, I think I can.”

That was only possible because my body had already half-surpassed human limits.

The durability of my body now should be compared to that of Divine Beasts or top-tier Demonic Beasts.

Yet even with such durability, obtaining true freedom in the world of time remained a distant goal.

“Freely, then?”

“…Not with my bare body. But if I use the Asura God, then it should be possible.”

If the ability of the Asura God merged with the potential of my physical body, it would allow me to move and execute martial arts in the world of time even without the barrier of Sword Intent.

So Jeong continued to ask.

“Then what about in the Divine Domain?”

“…That’s…”

I responded a little hesitantly.

“Isn’t it fundamentally impossible to move within that domain in the first place?”

The Divine Domain was, to begin with, a completely different metaphysical concept from the world of time.

Only the mind and Sword Intent could reach it. Physically placing the body in that space was impossible.

“Why is it impossible?”

“…That’s…”

I had been about to answer naturally when I suddenly realized I had fallen into a fixed way of thinking.

If someone asked whether the body was defined solely by flesh and blood, I could say with certainty that it was not.

Just like that ‘auntie’ from my past life, it was even possible to have a body stretched across multiple dimensions.

However—

Instinctively, I could tell.

The moment my body entered the Divine Domain, I would be flung outside the world without resistance.

And if that happened, it would all be over. My ending would be no different from Cheon Taejong’s.

No, Cheon Taejong at least ascended to the Higher Realm, but I might be swept away into some chaotic realm that wasn’t even the Higher Realm.

Of course, that would mean I could neither save Yura nor even meet her again.

“……”

Seeing my expression darken, So Jeong faintly smiled.

“You’ve realized it.”

“I… cannot take that kind of gamble.”

My life now existed solely for Yura.

Since it was no longer my own, I could never gamble it away like that.

So Jeong placed a hand over my hair with a bitter gaze.

“But for you to reach a happy ending, there’s no other way.”

Flinch!

It was an abrupt phrase, yet I felt a tremendous weight behind it.

“In the past, before Master went completely mad, he had a discussion with the Senior Brothers.”

A discussion?

“That the complete form of True Martiality could truly kill Heavenly Evil.”

“……!”

“Even if you manage to separate your lover from Heavenly Evil, the essence of Heavenly Evil will eventually slumber in this land and one day be resurrected.”

“To stop that, I…”

“Are you prepared to pay a horrific price?”

Interrupting my words abruptly was the Heavenly Demon Founder who had been watching from behind.

He approached me from my back.

“I know to some extent what you are preparing, Disciple. But let me make this clear.”

His transparent eyes, as though they pierced through everything, stared straight at me.

“In the worst-case scenario, you will never return to the cycle of reincarnation and will suffer endless and miserable torment.”

“……”

“Is that the ending you truly want?”

“That’s… not it.”

What I wanted was to enjoy all the joys and sorrows of life with Yura until the end of the world.

Of course, I never intended to end things through one-sided sacrifice.

The Heavenly Demon Founder let out a quiet sigh.

“It seems that my future self arranged something to stop that, but even so, there is nothing absolute in this world.”

“……”

“No matter how disastrous failure may be, now is the time to take a risk. And…”

Tap.

The Heavenly Demon Founder placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Surprisingly, your chances of success are not as low as you might think.”

“Why are you so certain of that?”

The response I heard was unexpected.

“Because you, Disciple, are the descendant of no one else but Jin Gwanchun.”

Because I am the descendant of Jin Gwanchun?

“Earth Sage Body.”

“……!”

“Therein lies the answer.”

***

Somewhere atop the peak of Mount Tai.

At the sight of Baek Sang-ah and So Cheon appearing before him, Gunggi’s mouth split wide in shock.

“This is surprising. I heard you weren’t confirmed dead, but I didn’t think you’d actually be alive.”

Gunggi had personally witnessed the clash between Cheon Yura and them.

Considering the aftermath, it wouldn’t have been strange at all to assume they had surely died.

Even though Do Zun, Saber King, and Plum Blossom White Sword all attacked together—some of the top experts of the new Murim Alliance—they were unilaterally massacred.

“……”

“……”

The two didn’t respond to Gunggi’s words.

Yet Gunggi still didn’t wipe the pleasure from his face.

It was because he could vividly see the unextinguished rage smoldering beneath their hardened expressions.

“Weren’t you two leading quite a large force in the human world? Don’t tell me you abandoned them and came here alone?”

“As long as you’re alive, nothing else matters.”

With a cold expression, So Cheon unfastened something from his waist.

That object, now reduced to nothing more than rags, was none other than the last of the Three Great Treasures of the Hwan Family—Six Paths Veil.

“Ah, I remember now. A divine item from the underworld. Not something a mere human should possess… Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

A mocking smile appeared on Gunggi’s face as he looked at the Six Paths Veil.

“No matter how I look at it, that thing seems to have lost its function.”

Just as he said, the Six Paths Veil, which once shone in six brilliant colors, had lost most of its hues and seemed to have ceased functioning as a divine item.

“I can use it. One last time.”

“Oh?”

Blood vessels surged in So Cheon’s eyes as he could no longer suppress his emotions.

Clench!

So Cheon gripped the Six Paths Veil tightly and emitted a sharp killing intent.

“Because it contains the will that Master left behind.”

“Then why didn’t you head for the summit instead of coming for me?”

Gunggi asked with genuine curiosity.

“You two could have reached the summit undetected, I think.”

He didn’t know what method they had used, but they were survivors who had escaped Heavenly Evil’s blade.

With that kind of bug-like tenacity and stealth, it was entirely possible they could have slipped past his notice.

But the answer came not from So Cheon, but from Baek Sang-ah.

“Our target from the beginning has always been you.”

With that single line, Gunggi understood their intention.

“How wise. So you chose a realistic compromise instead of an impossible revenge?”

“……”

“So you’re leaving Heavenly Evil to Jin Yeomyung, then. Fine by me.”

Gunggi fully spread his wings, igniting his fighting spirit.

“But I’ll teach you just how arrogant the delusion of excluding me from your plan really is.”

He beckoned toward the two of them.

“Come.”

So Cheon didn’t hesitate and activated the Six Paths Veil.

While So Cheon and Baek Sang-ah were preparing to clash with Gunggi—

Not far from there, at the summit of Mount Tai.

There, Cheon Yura sat quietly in meditation with her eyes closed.

Unlike the surrounding region, which had become completely demonic, the summit where she sat was surprisingly no different from a normal environment.

There was only one reason for her calm demeanor even as the critical ritual for complete resurrection approached.

Right now, she was replaying in her mind the two battles that had occurred recently in Luoyang.

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