HBWnovel Chapter 541: Vast Cold's Descendant (4)
Chapter 541: Vast Cold's Descendant (4)
Chapter 541: Vast Cold's Descendant (4)
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
I step along the flow of the universe, gradually approaching Blood Yin.
Dududududu!
Gradually, the [power] of Heaven, Earth, Heart, and Wheel overflows, and my body expands into that of a white Giant God.
Now, it feels like I could cradle a fixed star in one arm.
At the same time, Blood Yin also begins to expand his form.
Kurung, kurururung!
The dark-red mist emanating from his entire body spreads and devours the cosmic space.
Simultaneously, I can see something immensely colossal.
It is...
A [Head]!
A [Head] formed from dark-red mist reveals itself in the universe, with its eyes burning fiercely.
That head, much like the Head Realm...
No, it seems even more eroded by time than the Head Realm. There's not a single piece of flesh or muscle left—only the form of a skull remains.
Within that head, I can sense the movements of thousands, hundreds of millions, trillions, quadrillions of living beings.
True Immortal Blood Yin.
The Blood Yin Realm itself begins to exert its true power.
'Enormous...'
Even for me—now capable of wrapping a star with one arm—Blood Yin's main body is enormous.
With his mouth, large enough to swallow my entire body in one bite, he speaks.
: : In the name of Blood Yin, I prophesize... : :
Kugugugugu!
At the same time, a star is born inside [Blood Yin's mouth].
[...!]
: : You shall enter this Immortal's mouth and be crushed to death. : :
[...Hah.]
Though an enemy, I can't help but feel awe at such a prophecy of fate.
To overcome the prophecy, I must destroy the prophetic star.
But to destroy the prophecy, I must crawl into Blood Yin's mouth.
And Blood Yin's prophecy declares that [I will enter his mouth and be chewed to death].
'This is a True Immortal who was once said to have coveted the seat of a Supreme Deity...!'
It is a masterful use of prophecy, akin to a seasoned veteran who has seen countless battles.
Along with it, countless whispers begin to echo from within Blood Yin's body.
—Prophecy...prophecy...
—Prophecy...prophesize...
—Today, the unbreakable ill-fate between you and this Immortal will be resolved.
—You shall wait for an opportunity by this Immortal's side.
—You shall become a fearless warrior who knows no retreat... If you flee from this Immortal today, you will become nothing but a cowardly, pathetic weakling who knows only defeat, living the rest of your life trapped in a cave until you finally take your own life. ȓâNǒᛒËŚ
Tingle, Tinge...!
'This is...'
A prophecy.
However, a prophecy that is not limited to this moment of battle but encompasses even a distant future fills Blood Yin's mouth.
At the same time, I can feel [two] futures being revealed before me.
Will I fight Blood Yin today and become a fearless warrior, or will I retreat and live the rest of my life as a bug who knows nothing but failure, drowning in defeat until I take my own life?
Two choices are forced upon me.
With this, escape from this confrontation with Blood Yin is no longer an option.
: : Prophecy, after all, is the act of fixing the future by my will. It is undoubtedly an act of defying the heavens. Therefore...prophecy demands a price to be paid. : :
His will swiftly whispers wisdom into me.
: : However, prophecies that offer choices like this require almost no price. The choice given to the opponent becomes the very price they must bear... : :
Ziiiiing!
It is forced.
Fate selects a choice 'by my hand,' and the [future where I face Blood Yin fearlessly] becomes locked in place, entirely erasing the option to retreat.
: : Then let us begin in earnest. : :
I stretch my hand towards Blood Yin.
Kugugu!
Impermanence Sword.
Heavenly Shatter Impermanence!
White power surges and flares from my entire body, and my form swells dramatically for an instant.
I become destruction itself.
Revealing the fierce power of destruction, I swing my fist down in a state larger than even Blood Yin's main body.
: : The stars of the Five Elements shall obey this Immortal's command. : :
Flash!
At the same moment, five stars are created above Blood Yin's head, imbued with the light of the Five Elements.
Greenish-blue, reddish-yellow, yellow, silvery-white, blackish-blue.
The five beams of light seem to envelop Blood Yin's head, and then each star projects five scenes, scattering in five directions.
However, strangely enough, the stars of the Five Elements created this time by Blood Yin do not contain scenes related to 'my' or his victory or defeat.
What is contained in those stars is...
'Submission (屈從)?'
The properties of the Five Elements are commanded to submit to Blood Yin's will.
Simultaneously, the star veins emanating from each star connect.
It seems as though the energy of the Five Elements is dyeing the surroundings in an instant, the Five Elements in the vicinity are gripped firmly in Blood Yin's grasp.
Kwaaaang!
The single strike of my Impermanence Sword is deflected by the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy canopy formed from the Five Elements by Blood Yin's Immortal Art.
'It can't be cut...?'
: : Do you believe you can sever the principles of the universe with merely the heart? Such arrogance... The stars of the Five Affairs (五事) shall follow this Immortal's principle. : :
The Five Elements in the surroundings under Blood Yin's control move, creating a 'single' star once again.
Within that one star, five scenes are contained.
Simultaneously, the 'Five Affairs Star' resonates with the 'Five Elements Stars', and Yin-Yang begins to ripple across the stars of Five Elements.
: : The Five Affairs are seeing, hearing, and thinking—ultimately, perceiving the Taiji. Recognizing the cycle of Twilight (Light and Shadow) is the path to attaining the Five Affairs. : :
Though somewhat esoteric, the meaning feels strangely clear to me.
'Perceiving Taiji is the Five Affairs. And...through the Five Affairs, perceive the Taiji of the Five Elements...to establish the ten pillars...'
: : The Ten Heavenly Stems have been completed... : :
Taiji ripples around the Five Elements Stars, and then the Five Affairs Star explodes.
At the same time, the Five Affairs Star transforms into a fixed star, forming a stellar system at the center of the Five Elements Stars. The stars of Five Elements illuminated by the fixed star, now possess 'day and night,' beginning the cycle of yin and yang.
Seeing this, I realize,
'This is dangerous...!'
But at the same time, it is awe-inspiring.
The grand principles of the universe are being drawn by Blood Yin's hand.
At this moment, it almost seems insignificant whether Blood Yin is a Devil Immortal or not.
I just want to stupidly stare at that stellar system.
: : The Eight Paths shall bow and prostrate before this Immortal's principle. : :
Eight principles are engraved around the stellar system.
At the same time, I suddenly realize something.
The Eight Paths I possess.
In other words, the authority of the Sacred Vessel is being 'extracted' into that stellar system.
'...!'
Only then do I regain my senses and swing the Impermanence Sword at Blood Yin once more.
Impermanence Sword.
Entering Heaven.
Heavenly Shatter Impermanence.
The powers of Entering Heaven and Heavenly Shatter Impermanence simultaneously hammer down upon Blood Yin.
This time, the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy canopy of the Five Elements that he has unfolded cannot withstand my strike and collapses.
At the same time, the aftermath of my strike slices the stars of the Five Elements and the entire stellar system into thousands of pieces, scattering them into the void.
But...
'What's this? Why...? Even though I've cut down the star of prophecy...'
Even now, the Five Elements are supporting Blood Yin.
: : The prophecy has already been fulfilled, and this current state is its result. What use is there in trying to collapse the star of a prophecy that has already been fulfilled? : :
'...!'
The Five Elements of Heaven and Earth obey Blood Yin's command, and at the same time, my Sacred Vessel authority is being stripped away by the Five Elements.
Along with that, Blood Yin's authority begins to forcibly impose the power of the Eight Paths over the entire Astral Realm, as if declaring the entire Astral Realm is his Sacred Master domain.
Blood Yin begins to utter the next prophecy.
: : The Five Epochs shall submit to this Immortal's principle. : :
Year, Month, Date, Hour, Calendar.
That's right...
The light of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain begins to tremble under Blood Yin's command.
That is not the end.
: : Starting from Royal Perfection, Correct Rule (正克), Strong Rule (剛克), and Mild Rule (柔克) hear me. You shall become dancers who dance under this Immortal's hand, bringing delight to the eyes and ears. : :
He mocks.
Blood Yin mocks the light across the entire region, wielding it according to his will.
Jiiiiiik!
Together with that, I feel my head spinning.
'Th-This is...'
Blood Yin raised the light to the Plane of Fate and is infusing that light into me.
[Guuuaaaaah!]
I scream.
[Something] is being etched into my mind by Blood Yin.
: : Examination of Doubts and Various Omens shall dance by the command of this Immortal and proclaim to the stars of the nations. Perceive the unfolding of this Immortal's authority throughout the entire world and rightfully uphold it.
: : Recognize that this Immortal's authority spreads across all realms and serve accordingly. : :
Kugugugung!
The Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain begins to tremble.
Simultaneously, I can feel the attraction force emanating from Blood Yin grabbing hold of all the stars in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.
Shiver!
I stare at Blood Yin with a stunned expression.
'I-Isn't this...no different from declaring the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain...as his Middle Realm as a Sacred Master...?'
Chwaaaaa—
The entire region becomes tainted with dark-red blood devilish energy.
Everywhere my gaze and senses reach is filled with thick blood devilish energy, and I can feel it all falling under Blood Yin's control.
I feel an overwhelming sense of powerlessness at the insurmountable gap between myself and Blood Yin, and I nearly feel like collapsing on the spot.
: : The Six Extremes shall listen, and the Five Blessings shall also heed. Now that the constellations are complete, this Immortal prophesizes once more. : :
Blood Yin's decree carves itself into reality and begins forming a star once more.
Following the authority of the Examination of Doubts and Various Omens, Blood Yin's blood devilish energy spreads across the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain in the forms of Rain, Clearing, Cloudiness, Want of Connection, Crossing, Inner Diagram, Outer Diagram and Rain, Sunlight, Heat, Cold, Wind, Time.
'Why am I...so powerless...!?'
It's just when Kim Yeon is despairing over her weakness.
Through Oh Hyun-seok's authority of Primordial Chaos, Seo Eun-hyun's enlightenment faintly reaches her.
It is...
An enlightenment of faith.
—Believe in yourself.
—Believe in what you have accumulated.
At first glance, it seems like nothing more than a cliché lesson about perseverance.
But...
Kim Yeon feels as though Seo Eun-hyun himself is speaking those words directly to her.
No...
It's not just a 'feeling.'
Beyond the enlightenment, Seo Eun-hyun's warm will is emitted towards her.
For some reason, she sees an illusion of Seo Eun-hyun, running ahead and turning slightly to look back at her with a gentle smile, flashing before her eyes.
Seo Eun-hyun is intentionally transmitting the enlightenment Kim Yeon needs right now.
'...That's right. I will believe in myself.'
Wiiiiiing!
Around Kim Yeon, quince blossoms bloom profusely.
At the same time, the spiritual energy of the Bright Cold Realm rises thickly around her.
Amidst the fully bloomed quince flowers, the scent of peach blossoms gradually mixes in.
'Let's borrow the power of the Bright Cold Realm as well. More, more...! Just a little more...!'
She recalls the path she has walked.
Until now, she has not advanced her cultivation realm from the Heavenly Being stage.
The reason she has not done so is only one.
That is...
The being beyond the peach blossom tree.
The lingering will of Vast Cold told her not to walk that path.
The lingering will of Bright Cold told her this.
Do not walk the path of Immortal Cultivation and instead walk only the path that transforms the world purely through the heart.
For that reason, after obtaining the Vast Cold Heavenly Circle, she intentionally refrained from advancing her cultivation realm.
Instead...
She focused entirely on moving the world with the power of her heart.
Paaaatt!
Kim Yeon's consciousness domain burns brightly.
Now having grown to an unimaginable extent...Kim Yeon's consciousness domain, capable of covering the entire Bright Cold Realm, explodes with a light powerful enough to illuminate an entire galaxy.
For a brief moment, Kim Yeon holds power so immense to the point that she mistakes herself for having become a True Immortal.
'Suc...cess...!'
Within her consciousness domain, filled with the scent of quince flowers, her Full Blossom blooms completely.
The Full Blossom is converting Kim Yeon's consciousness into power.
However, Kim Yeon cannot move from her spot.
'I have to...pass this on...'
She must deliver her power to Seo Eun-hyun.
Otherwise, everything she has done will be utterly meaningless.
However...the sheer magnitude of her power is so overwhelming that she realizes she is pinned down by it, unable to move.
'I have to move...! Even if it's not with my power, even if I have to borrow another's...!'
Wiiiiing!
Through her consciousness, Kim Yeon draws a formation within the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
The Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation is drawn by her, and she instantly gains a way to reach Seo Eun-hyun.
'I can use the power drawn from the Bright Cold realm to activate the Ground-Shrinking Formation.'
With the torrents of power from the Bright Cold Realm, she plans to be launched towards Seo Eun-hyun along with the formation.
But there is a problem.
'If I activate it with the Bright Cold Realm's power, the formation will break...!'
That cannot happen.
If the formation collapses while she is in transit, Kim Yeon will become a lost soul in the universe.
'But I can't waste any more time...!'
Seo Eun-hyun will eventually be devoured by Blood Yin while charging forward.
'I need another way...another way... Eun-hyun Oppa...he believes in me...! I need a way, quickly...'
Then, she suddenly feels someone pushing her back.
Chiiiiiii—
It is Hong Fan, with steam rising from his entire body.
As if he ascended again from the Head Realm, he smiles at her with his body in tatters.
"Sometimes, please trust in others. Please go on. I will control the power surging from the Bright Cold Realm."
"...Mm!"
At his words, Kim Yeon nods with tears welling in her eyes and steps onto the Ground-Shrinking Formation.
In the next moment, Kim Yeon flies towards Seo Eun-hyun, carrying the power she has created through Full Blossom.
Kwachijijijik!
Only Hong Fan remains in place, using his own body to receive and control the power originating from the Bright Cold Realm to activate the Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation.
Leaping through countless spacetime, Kim Yeon finally reaches Seo Eun-hyun.
Seo Eun-hyun is titanic.
He is a white colossal Giant God.
To such a being, the small Kim Yeon seems unlikely to be of any help.
But...
With her small hands, Kim Yeon pushes against the gigantic Seo Eun-hyun's back.
At the same time, the immense power of Full Blossom generated within her body—
And the power of the entire Bright Cold Realm, transmitted through Hong Fan and Kim Yeon as mediums, adds onto Seo Eun-hyun.
[Huuuaaahhhh!!!]
Hong Fan's entire body bursts apart.
Yet, even despite this, Hong Fan endures, firmly holding on as he controls the power.
And at the moment when Hong Fan's control reaches its peak—
Flash!
The torrent of power surging from the Bright Cold Realm is channeled through Hong Fan into the Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation. Kim Yeon's body, receiving that power, explodes radiant light outwards.
The overwhelming magnitude of Vast Cold's rank is so immense that the bird pattern imprinted on Kim Yeon's face briefly detaches from the [power].
Spanning tens of thousands of years.
Kim Yeon shouts towards Seo Eun-hyun, who is charging ahead at the front.
"Stop! Always charging ahead every day, and look back sometimes, Seo Eun-hyun! Because...I'm waiting here."
Kim Yeon's cry pierces through the bird pattern that momentarily detached from her and reaches Seo Eun-hyun.
Once again, she yells out the confession that went unnoticed by Seo Eun-hyun tens of thousands of years ago on Earth, pushing Seo Eun-hyun with her small hand.
"I like you...! Seo Eun-hyun!"
With those words, an immense brilliance of light pink bursts forth from her body.
The scent of peach blossoms fades, leaving only the fragrance of quince blossoms filling the Heaven and Earth.
Seo Eun-hyun turns back to look at that Kim Yeon and smiles.
Kim Yeon meets Seo Eun-hyun's eyes.
Though no words come in reply, Kim Yeon understands.
Seo Eun-hyun has finally accepted her.
Flash!
With the help of his comrades and Kim Yeon's power, Seo Eun-hyun charges into Blood Yin's mouth.
Becoming a spear of light, he smashes the star within Blood Yin's mouth and pierces through Blood Yin's vital point, emerging at the back of the head.
Blood Yin's prophecy shatters. Seo Eun-hyun smiles victoriously, and his companions look at him with faces full of trust.
Kim Yeon, too, smiles brightly as she speaks the words she had held in her heart for tens of thousands of years.
"Life...is...love..."
The tattoo of the Liberation Law Talent, briefly pushed out of Kim Yeon's body by the power of Vast Cold, returns to her, sealing her word spirit once more.
Hong Fan collapses unconscious within the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, rolling off somewhere, but his face is filled with satisfaction.
Perhaps he feels proud to have properly supported his master.
And,
At the edge of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain,
From where the Lightning Sacred Sea lies, a brilliantly resplendent light of sunset bursts forth.
Through the gap held back by Yang Su-jin's ring finger, an immense beam of light explodes as [someone] descends.
They, are the Sun.
One of the rulers of the Great Radiance Hall.
Radiance Eight Immortals.
Third Seat.
Great Sun Heavenly Lord.
They have descended personally to destroy the monster that annihilated the projections of the Northern Dipper Seven Heavenly Lords, allies of the Radiance Hall and the subordinates of the Heavenly Venerable of Time.
'...Are you satisfied?'
Blood Yin regains his senses and gazes at the faint purple afterimage flickering before his eyes.
And then, Blood Yin smiles.
'If it's to this extent...it's enough.'
The purple figure smiles along with Blood Yin.
'Let us return now. Even if not as a Lord, even if only as a mere defendant.'
At Blood Yin's words, the purple figure, perhaps just to make sure, asks him a question.
'Are there no lingering regrets? Truly?'
'...None.'
Blood Yin closes his eyes.
: : I have aided the workings of the Imperial Venerable...with my own hands. With that...I have no regrets... : :
Within the dark-red aura, Blood Yin smiles brightly.
In an instant, the dark-red light begins to blaze.
It is no longer a dark-red light.
It is dusk (黃昏).
The light of dusk, like the evening twilight, bursts forth centered around Blood Yin and begins to push against the radiance of the Sun (太陽) rising from afar.
: : Listen. As I have just shown, the mantra of the Five Elements is to conclude with the Five Blessings. And what then returns as Five Elements and repeats...is their power. Etch into your mind...the method to resist it...! : :
While passing his final teaching to Seo Eun-hyun, the victor, Blood Yin closes his eyes.
At that moment, an immense explosion of light bursts forth from Blood Yin.
The explosion tears a hole through the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain itself, and through that hole, everyone except Seo Eun-hyun is flung far away into a distant Heavenly Domain.
Seo Eun-hyun, struck directly by Blood Yin's explosive light, is immediately forced into the True Immortal advancement ritual.
Pushing Seo Eun-hyun towards death, Blood Yin peacefully closes his eyes.
'O Imperial Venerable...please...find what thee have been seeking...'
To save Seo Eun-hyun, believed to be the workings of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, from the grasp of the Radiance Eight Immortals—
Blood Yin thus self-destructs.
Under a Melia tree, a certain figure watches him with a smile and closes their eyes.
The former Chief Judge of the Netherworld, Nether Devil True Lord Yu Hao Te (攸好德),
On that day, falls into complete slumber.