A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

Chapter 471: Divine Descent (降神)

All the divine spirits ruling this world know one thing.

That is, while the realm after death may belong to the Heavenly Venerables, life before death is spent entirely under the gaze of light.

As such, countless spirits fear, revere, and simultaneously worship the [Light].

And, for that reason, they also despise it. 

Among them, Blood Yin particularly hates the light.

No, to be precise, they have hated it ever since the days when they were still Yu Hao Te.

When they learned the truth about the light and its ugly purpose from [The Oldest One], they began to despise the light.

Of course, now that they have lost the power and backing they once had, they are treated like a bug by the light and must fear it, but they still hate the light.

With the added matter of their old friend, Vast Cold, the light became even more loathsome.

Thus, they cannot forgive Baek Woon, the devotee of the light who manages Vast Cold's corpse.

Moreover, they cannot forgive Seo Eun-hyun, the one who brought light into that world.

While they might not be able to touch Baek Woon, who is assimilating with the Bright Cold Realm, Seo Eun-hyun is different.

At most, Seo Eun-hyun only became an Esteemed One by handling discarded old power like the Heart Tribe or whatever it's called.

He isn't particularly intimidating, and even if he raises the realm of his Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation to the Star Shattering stage, it wouldn't be scary.

There's no need to mention the Entering Nirvana stage, and even Sacred Masters are not frightening unless they are assimilated with the Middle Realms.

How much less so would someone at the mere Star Shattering stage be!?

However, Blood Yin feels something strange.

It's Seo Eun-hyun, with whom they reunited due to their own prophecy.

The moment Seo Eun-hyun saw them, he immediately began advancing to the Star Shattering stage, as if desperately trying to resist.

Originally, Blood Yin planned to kill him and extract and torture his soul for tens of thousands of years. But now, Blood Yin watches with amusement, as if Seo Eun-hyun is saving them the trouble of killing him.

After all, the probability of advancing to the Star Shattering stage isn't high, and even if by some miracle he succeeds, it would only make him more vulnerable to a True Immortal after reaching the Star Shattering stage, so there's nothing to worry about.

Even if he doesn't become more vulnerable, it's just a single Star Shattering stage.

An early Star Shattering stage at that. Compared to a True Immortal, the difference is as extreme as that between a human and a long-tailed tit or perhaps a chick. 𝐑�

: : Surely, it must be like that. : :

But as Blood Yin watches Seo Eun-hyun advance before their eyes, and the star he completed, they are shocked.

: : What are you? : :

Normally, a star created during one's first advancement to the Star Shattering stage is about the size of a satellite.

However, the star that appeared before Blood Yin's eyes...

It's clearly the size of a planet.

This is definitely not a normal situation.

Wiiiiiiiiing!

Moreover, Blood Yin can't help but be astonished by the 'ring' that begins to form around Seo Eun-hyun.

: : Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation! How!? : :

No matter if it's someone who cultivated Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation during the Integration stage, they cannot undergo the Star Shattering advancement all in one go.

From the Star Shattering stage onward, if one wants to cultivate Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation, they must perform the absurd advancement ritual 'one more time.'

In the state where they've already formed a star, they must explode the star once again to comprehend attraction force through the insane process. Otherwise, Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation at the Star Shattering stage is impossible.

Yet, for some reason, Seo Eun-hyun is wearing the 'ring,' the proof of a Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation practitioner.

: : Child, what kind of sorcery have you used? Reveal the truth before this Chief Judge. : :

I failed.

I failed.

I failed, and failed, and failed again.

I exploded myself in front of Blood Yin dozens, hundreds of times.

And...through that process, I delved deeper and deeper into the nature of attraction force.

In a state where my star was complete, I repeatedly caused it to explode and continually improved.

And after enduring the strikes of a True Immortal hundreds of times with my body, I came to understand True Immortals even more.

A True Immortal is a world itself.

Not a fake world like the small worlds formed in the Integration stage or the satellites made in the Star Shattering stage, but a [true world] itself—this is what a True Immortal is.

In the body of a True Immortal, real living beings can grow, possessing true birth, aging, sickness, and death, with cultivators who advance toward Immortal Cultivation emerging from within.

They are no different from Gods (神) who dominate from above, regulating the fates of all phenomena under the heavens like invincible rulers.

After enduring the power of a [world] hundreds of times, I finally found a way to counter the [world].

A mere mortal cannot withstand a world's power.

Therefore, one must borrow it.

If I cannot defeat the world with my own hands, I, too, must borrow the world's power.

Woo-wooong!

Once again, I soar towards the Heavenly Tribulation that Hong Fan shot at me.

And I see it.

Blood Yin's attraction force, moving in the Plane of Fate...

'I too must soar into the Plane of Fate, if only for an instant.'

Paaatt!

In an instant, the star I created shrinks and enters my body.

How many times have I created a star, self-destructed, and regressed?

At some point, a 'ring' had appeared around me.

'This 'ring' is drawing in the surrounding power.'

Much like the Heavenly Circle formed during the Heavenly Being stage that draws in Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, the power of the 'ring' seems to draw in the power of the 'world' itself.

Blood Yin attempts to strike Hong Fan.

I push my main body, which is now encircled by the ring, inside my incarnation and transform into human form, charging towards Blood Yin's single strike.

The Colorless Glass Sword is grasped in my hand.

Though brief, in this short period, I regressed hundreds of times, and the Colorless Glass Sword, which had been 'overlapped' hundreds of times, evolved into a dharma treasure at the Star Shattering-level.

Holding the now more fearsome Colorless Glass Sword, my eyes gleam as I begin to draw a circle.

Blood Yin's attack seems about to strike Hong Fan at any moment, but I pay it no mind and continue drawing a circle with my sword on the spot.

Kiiiiing—

This is the Sub-Heart Sword, Transcending Mountain Ridge Embedment.

Simultaneously, it is also Accumulating Dust Forms a Mountain.

Within the hazy mist, a colorless circle is being drawn.

Just as Kim Yeon's Paired Wing Dance had, for a brief moment, reached the realm of true infinity due to the puppets of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress,

Each time my sword draws a circle, my consciousness accelerates more and more.

Boong—

Boong boong—

Boong, boong, boong, boong!

...

Kiiiiiiiiiiiiing!

At first, the rotation seems a bit slow, but before I know it, I feel like I've entered a realm where the world has come to a halt.

'Up to this point, this is a state that can be reached with normal mental acceleration.'

I accelerate further.

My sword moves faster.

'More.'

Kiiiiiiing—

'More!'

Kiiiiiiing!

'More!!!'

Piitiiiitt!

At some moment.

I feel as if the world has completely stopped.

I feel as if I have become light itself.

No, perhaps I might even be faster than that.

In this frozen world, I look up at the Plane of Fate.

Even now, Blood Yin is still moving within this frozen world.

And They're moving so naturally.

Blood Yin meets my gaze.

: : How astonishing. To reach this realm with the body of a mortal. : :

Their eyes gleam.

: : I see. Do you possess all Five Senses? : :

Five Senses?

What does that mean?

: : I was wondering how a mere mortal could push his mind into the realm of the Immortal Family, but for you to use such a method... Astonishing, truly astonishing. : :

I don't understand what They're saying.

But one thing is clear.

At this moment, my mind has, even if only briefly, risen to a level equal to those beings called True Immortals.

By endlessly drawing circles and accelerating my mind, I have reached this realm.

Blood Yin seems to grasp my intention and mocks me.

: : Are you perhaps struggling to block my strike? : :

I can't answer.

To remain in this realm, even temporarily, I must desperately keep drawing the circle.

: : It's useless. Do you think raising your mind to our level will solve anything? Hahaha... : :

Then, the next moment.

Blood Yin's attack strikes me, standing in front of Hong Fan.

'I must maintain the circle...'

A red wave from the Plane of Fate engulfs me.

I grit my teeth as I feel my entire body evaporating under the overwhelming force.

'No. Endure. Continue maintaining the circle. If I do, I can succeed. If I keep, keep maintaining it...the move of Sumeru...!'

But in the end, I fail to maintain my balance before this immense force.

Half my body, including my main body, is flung away, breaking my balance, and the circle I was drawing shatters.

At the same time, my mind returns to the realm of mortal beings.

'...Damn it.'

As I feel my consciousness fading, I stretch out my hand toward Hong Fan and Jeon Myeong-hoon.

My attraction force surges toward them, pushing them far away.

The next moment, an immense Star Tribulation swallows me, and I lose consciousness.

That is my 986th return.

986th cycle.

Once again, I unleash the move of Sumeru and charge at Blood Yin.

Blood Yin repeats the same situation as before.

Everything is the same.

But one thing is different.

Kugugugugugu!

Blood Yin's power of immense force becomes a wave that engulfs me.

But I do not stop drawing the circle.

Even as half of my body is destroyed, even as my main body is shattered, I don't stop.

In the final moment!

Paaatt!

At the end of drawing, drawing, and drawing the circle again, I finally feel my power reach a certain realm.

The circle I have been drawing now surrounds me like a ring of light.

I feel the endlessly drawn circle solidify, and I compress it.

The compressed circle enters my body.

At the center of my shattered star body.

At the very core, the circle I had been drawing becomes a single point.

I let out a bitter smile.

'Is this the limit?'

Jjeeeooong!

The moment right after I complete the point, I am hit and killed by Blood Yin's single strike.

Before my star is completely destroyed, I must complete this point.

But...it's too late.

'It's fine, though.'

Next time, I will make sure I succeed.

That is my 987th return.

987th cycle.

Paaatt!

I draw the circle, push my mind into the realm of True Immortals, and successfully compress the circle into a point.

'Now it really begins.'

Fortunately, I completed the point before my body was completely destroyed.

What remains is to split the point!

The formula for creating the Gang Sphere!

Using that formula, I duplicate the point into three.

'With this...'

Paaatt!

Three points split again into nine.

Then, the nine points split into 27, and the 27 into 81.

With each split, the speed of the process grows faster.

But the next moment.

Waduk!

I die again.

'Faster...'

988th cycle.

The points created through rotation could be counted in the hundreds.

But once again, I failed to reach the target.

'More...!'

989th cycle.

990th cycle.

991st cycle...

At some point,

I started to feel as though the 'circle' I am madly drawing is being internalized within my mind.

'This is...'

Finally, I understand.

This act of 'drawing a circle' has, at some point, become completely one with me, just like the Sub-Heart Sword's Transcending Mountain Ridge Embedment.

Flash!

The moment I realize this, I draw a circle at the start of the cycle and immediately condense it into a point.

Paaaatt!

Then, the point generated within my body instantly splits into dozens, hundreds, and begins to scatter in all directions.

Soon after, I realize that three thousand lights have appeared around me.

'Now it's enough.'

: : What petty trick is this? : :

I can sense Blood Yin mocking me.

Silently, I raise my sword.

In the next moment, the 'original point' inside me emits light.

Simultaneously, the light erupting from the original point begins to connect with the other three thousand 'points.'

It looks like a constellation formed of three thousand stars.

: : Hoh, is that what it is? : :

As expected of a True Immortal. Despite being rotten, Blood Yin quickly realizes what I am trying to do.

The constellation that starts from me continues to spread out, even though the 'points' have all disappeared.

The lines of the constellation reach the far side of the Interdimensional Void.

They connect to the Vestiges there.

Chijijik!

The constellation continues to connect.

Once the constellation connects with one Vestige, it extends further, linking with more and more Vestiges.

In an instant, the entire Interdimensional Void begins to shine because of the constellation connected to me.

: : You momentarily push your mind into the Immortal Domain (仙域), replicate that mind, and connect those replicated minds to the Vestiges... Do you intend to grant those Vestiges the mind of an Immortal Being? You intend to flail about before me with that? Even if you temporarily grant the mind of an Immortal to those waste materials, what do you think will change? : :

They chuckle, seemingly amused.

: : You're better than most Quasi-Immortals. It's not a true Immortal Art, but it can be considered a Sub-Immortal Art. : :

: : ...Wrong. : :

I speak as I look up at Blood Yin.

: : I didn't connect the minds to the Vestiges. : :

I can sense Blood Yin flinch in surprise as They look down at me.

Speaking in the domain of True Immortals consumes an immense amount of mental power, so without saying more, I continue to activate the move of Sumeru.

The lines of the constellation created from Sumeru finally extend beyond the Interdimensional Void and reach the Astral Realm.

The Vestiges are merely a medium.

What I truly aim to reach is...the universe itself.

Through the constellations, I connect directly to the universe and feel a sudden tremor in my being for an instant.

'This is the universe...'

It is so grand that even trying to express it in words feels blasphemous.

An infinite space of a divine level!

That is what the Astral Realm, the universe, truly is.

Hwiiing—

Starting from Transcending Peaks, I begin to unfold every move in Severing Mountain Swordsmanship up to Transcending Mountain Ridge Embedment.

My Severing Mountain Swordsmanship had already begun to merge into one when I created Accumulating Dust Forms a Mountain.

But today, I have made up my mind to meld Severing Mountain Swordsmanship even further.

Moves connect to moves.

Simultaneously, the 'star ring' within my body rotates fiercely, starting to absorb the world itself.

The moves connecting to moves of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship draw a circle, and as the circle overlaps with the star ring within me, it happens.

Chwaaaack!

At last, through the constellation connected to the entire universe, the power of the entire world begins to be drawn into me.

It's as if the universe itself is being sucked into my sword form.

Blood Yin had said this.

How dare someone reach Their level of power through a mere mortal's mind?

They are right.

Even if I momentarily connect my mind to the domain that transcends all speed and spacetime, they are beings who exist so comfortably in this realm.

I, alone, cannot defeat them.

'That's why I won't rely on just my mind.'

I connected the Vestiges to me.

Then, I connected to the 'worlds' inside those Vestiges and imbued my mind into them.

Using those Vestiges as mediums, I imbued my mind into the universe.

The dust in the far reaches of the universe.

The starlight, the cold, the heat, the workings of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.

In this brief moment, 'my mind, which has reached the Immortal Realm,' is briefly embedded in them all.

Of course, I'm not truly borrowing the power of the entire universe.

But...

I earnestly pray to this whole world as I swing my sword.

'Please, lend me your power.'

After countless rotations, I thrust my sword towards Blood Yin's single strike.

The power of the entire world stretches out to meet the force of another world that is charging at me.

The next moment.

———!

I explode along with the red wave rushing towards me.

'Ah...'

Finally.

On the 991st cycle, I successfully achieve mutual destruction with a True Immortal's single strike.

That is my 992nd return.

992nd cycle.

"Once more!"

Mutual destruction is not enough.

I must block this single strike, survive, and...!

After blocking the Heavenly Tribulation that Hong Fan and Jeon Myeong-hoon gathered for me!

After fully entering the Star Shattering stage, until I can completely defy Blood Yin, continue to advance this sword!

I perform a sword dance.

It is a sword dance composed of endless circles.

I draw a circle, create a point, and scatter that point to form a constellation.

After borrowing the power of the universe through that constellation, I perform a sword dance that integrates the entirety of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship and unleash the final strike.

That is...

'Severing Mountain Swordsmanship. Thirty-Third Move.'

"Sumeru (須彌)!"

Jjeong!

Once again, my sword shatters.

This time, however, there is no mutual destruction.

The sword merely crumbles to pieces, and all the energy in my body is drained.

"Ha...ha..."

I laugh as I watch the Star Tribulation descending upon me.

Now...

I am almost there.

That is my 993rd return.

993rd cycle.

I perform a sword dance and thrust my sword forward.

Puhwak!

The red wave descending from the Plane of Fate splits in half.

"Haha..."

At first, I couldn't even perceive it, but now I can see.

The process of the red torrent, bursting from Blood Yin's body like a sea of blood, surging towards Hong Fan is now vividly clear to me.

'The sword didn't shatter.'

I smile slightly.

I take another step forward.

Though I used up all my energy, I managed to block Blood Yin's single strike without shattering the sword!

Kwarururung!

Once again, I close my eyes as I take the Star Tribulation head-on.

That is my 994th return.

994th cycle!

995th cycle!

996th cycle!!

997th cycle!!

"Ah..."

Suddenly, I realize that I've entered a kind of trance (恍惚京).

The red torrent flies towards Hong Fan in front of me.

It's a torrent descending from the Plane of Fate.

It's too weak to be considered a true Immortal Art, and it's merely an attack sent by Blood Yin in a jest, but even so, it's the strike of a True Immortal.

After several deaths, I now feel certain that I can split that attack without breaking my sword, and without exhausting all my energy.

Only then do I fully realize.

'I've finally reached great completion in a new technique.'

Just learning a technique doesn't mean one can use it perfectly.

Even the creator of the technique must practice it, refine it, and find ways to improve it until they internalize the optimal form that suits them best.

Only by reaching that stage can one truly say they have reached great completion in it.

Wiiiing!

At the same time, I experience something strange.

Everything in the world appears as a sword.

Blood Yin is a sword.

Every Vestige in the Interdimensional Void is a sword.

Every Star Tribulation flashing in the universe is a sword.

Every starlight casting down Star Tribulation is also a sword.

'Ah...'

I discover a new facet of the technique I've just created.

The thirty-third move of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship is not only a sword dance that 'borrows the power of the world,' but also a spell that 'draws power from the world' like Great Desert to Dead Sea.

And, the phrase 'borrows power from the world' implies...

If there's an entity that is akin to a world itself, they can 'lend me their power' through the sword dance I perform.

Divine Descent (降神)

I can sense a divine being descending within my sword dance.

: : Do you seek the Dao through the sword? : :

For some reason, I find myself answering the divine being's question as if entranced.

"Yes. I do."

: : You have reached the Dao-Seeking (求道) realm of the sword. As you have caught this seat's eye, there exists the intent to make you a devotee. Yet, to offer assistance is a different matter. Should you desire my aid, you must prove your skills. Combine Sword and Immortal as one and reveal your mastery. : :

I understand what it means.

Until now, I've only wielded the sword from the perspective of Martial Arts.

And this unknown True Immortal is telling me to merge swordsmanship from both the perspective of martial arts and the perspective of spells.

Paaatt!

I unfold my sword dance within the radiance.

It feels as if [someone] is helping me from the side.

My swordsmanship, spells, divine powers, and attraction force all combine so naturally.

I hear what seems to be a satisfied laugh in my ear.

The [someone] who is helping me is admiring my swordsmanship.

Hearing that laughter, my mind wavers, and I feel a deep urge to submit to that [someone] right then and there.

Instinctively, I can sense it.

This being has reached the utmost pinnacle of the sword.

Although not of the Heart Tribe, it feels like this being is akin to a god as a sword cultivator like Hong Su-ryeong.

Ah, I want to return to thee.

How wonderful would it be to return to this being and become their sword.

The exhausting life of a mortal with flesh and blood tires me.

I want to live as nothing more than a sword, as iron.

Yes, I will retu—

: : How dare you!!!: :

Blood Yin's enraged voice snaps me back to my senses.

: : Once again, you summon a wicked thing! Sinister beings, I beseech you to leave the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain! : :

The next moment.

Under the power of Blood Yin's Immortal Art, activated with Their full effort, my body is crushed, and I die.

That is my 998th return.

'Is it already the 998th cycle...?'

It's been long.

So incredibly, endlessly long.

In the last cycle, I was entranced by [someone] and nearly returned to them, but this time is different.

'With just my pure strength alone, I can block up to Blood Yin's general single strike!'

Once again, I slip into a trance, but this time, I do not lose my mind. Rather, I perform the sword dance with just my mind.

As a world nests in my sword, a burst of radiance explodes outward.

Simultaneously, I once again see the vision where the entire world appears as swords.

Once more, [someone] tempts me with their voice.

: : You, Dao-Seeker of the sword. Follow this seat. Then you shall see the ultimate truth of the sword. : :

I refuse.

"No thank you."

: : What did you say? : :

"I will see the ultimate truth of the sword with my own hands."

Tssssaaaaaa!

A brilliant white radiance erupts from within the sword dance.

Within that radiance, I push back the mind of the being speaking to me and shout.

"What meaning is there in attaining the ultimate truth of the sword by borrowing another's hands!"

I have failed, failed, and failed again.

This is my sword, built upon the mountain of failure.

"My sword is mine. The ultimate truth of the sword I seek is also mine alone. I appreciate your goodwill, but I will achieve it with my own hands!"

As I shake off the will of the transcendent being that descended into the sword dance, I thrust my sword towards the single strike of Blood Yin.

Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.

Thirty-Third Move.

Sumeru!

The sword dance that borrows the power of the world flies towards the single strike unleashed by another world.

'At last!'

In the 998th cycle, for the first time, I have perfectly blocked Blood Yin's strike!

[Hong Fan!!!]

I shout in mental speech to Hong Fan.

As Hong Fan's Entering Heavens bursts forth, memories of the 16th cycle flash by.

—What will you name your Entering Heavens Beyond the Path?

—Mm, I haven't thought of a good name, but...does a name really matter? I'll just call it whatever comes to mind.

—Hmm, what are you saying? Only by having a name will it make it more satisfying when you use it, no? If you can't come up with one...how about I name it for you?

—Mm... Do as Master pleases.

—Alright. Do you have something you strive for? Some meaning you'd like to have in the name?

—Nothing specific comes to mind but...if we must name it, please include the word sword.

—Sword?

—Yes. Since Master's Entering Heavens is the Formless Sword, and since I'm receiving it from Master, I'd like it to have 'sword' in it.

—Got it. In that case...

A black darkness is caught in Hong Fan's hand.

The darkness expands, becoming a massive maw that devours the light.

—Let's go with...the sword that cuts through the void (虛空) of nothingness.

In the 16th cycle, I had given his Entering Heavens a name like that.

Because Hong Fan's sword, which united countless martial flows, was extraordinary enough to cut even the completely nothing and void sky.

—If you don't like it or if you come up with a better name later, feel free to change it. If another name comes to mind, you can use that instead.

—No, I quite like it. The Sword of the Void... If I come up with a name I like more, I will return this name to Master. Of course...

[Hong Fan. The name of your Entering Heavens will henceforth be...]

I burst out in mental speech, and Hong Fan swings the sword of the void towards the falling Star Tribulation.

—If I can't think of a better name until the end, I will continue to use this name even in the next life.

[Void Sword.]

Entering Heavens Beyond the Path.

"Void Sword (虛空劍)!"

Hong Fan's sword extends towards the sky, connecting with the Heavenly Tribulation, and Jeon Myeong-hoon's authority activates, drawing in millions of Heavenly Tribulations.

As Jeon Myeong-hoon's power merges with Hong Fan's, their combined strength multiplies.

In an instant, hundreds of billions, trillions, of Star Tribulations converge.

And I, once again, begin to descend (降神/Divine Descent) the power of the universe through the sword dance of Sumeru.

The first Star Tribulation is unavoidable.

However...

The unavoidable Heavenly Tribulation can definitely be blocked!

The Sumeru Sword Dance, which can even cleave the single strike of a True Immortal in half, cuts through the first Star Tribulation formed by the union of billions of Star Tribulations.

My single sword strike pierces through the Star Tribulation, breaks through the boundary between the Interdimensional Void and the Astral Realm, and enters the domain of the universe.

[Haa...]

I close my eyes.

Within the almost thousand cycles of regression, I can finally give a 'genuine smile' that I couldn't do before.

Woo-woong!

The shattered Star Tribulation above me begins to flow directly into my body.

At the same time, I feel myself truly 'connected' with the stars that had just launched the Star Tribulations at me.

I know what this is.

It is a Star Vein.

Through the Star Tribulation, I have become connected to the stars, and by receiving a Star Vein, I am being officially recognized as a true 'star' by the universe itself.

That is the true nature of the Star Tribulation.

Through the star vein, the power of all the stars in the universe flows into me.

My consciousness domain expands like crazy.

I feel like I could explore the entire Heaven Tribe territory with just my consciousness domain alone if I willed it.

I feel the power of the stars as I draw forth attraction force, quickly bringing my comrades into the star within my body.

After quickly retrieving the exhausted Hong Fan and Jeon Myeong-hoon, I take a single step forward.

Paaatt!

The surroundings shift instantly.

This is the Astral Realm.

The sea of stars, also known as the universe, the domain of infinity.

[At last...I have truly become an Esteemed One.]

The realm where I can, through the ground-shrinking technique, move through space as if it were a dimensional leap.

The realm where I can cross from the Interdimensional Void directly into the Astral Realm without any help from the Middle Realms.

That is the Star Shattering stage.

Jjeoong!

It feels like a corner of the universe is collapsing.

In the distance, a part of the universe crumbles with an immense ripple. From there, a red sea begins to stretch its hand towards me.

: : You! : :

I grin.

[This is just the beginning.]

Feeling the endless power of the star vein flowing into me, I take another step forward.

Paatt!

Blood Yin's figure quickly recedes into the distance.

Feeling the power of having truly reached the Star Shattering stage, I leap across tens of light-years and escape.

Kugugugugu!

However, I see that what appears to be Blood Yin's hand continuing to chase after me, undeterred.

'Now that I've completely reached the Star Shattering stage, I'll retain this realm even if I regress.'

Since I've solidified my realm after withstanding the Heavenly Tribulation, it won't only be the nebula that follows me.

'Now, I just need to find something in this Astral Realm that can defy the fate Blood Yin has prophesied.'

And I've already decided on a candidate.

However...

Just then.

"...!"

While leaping through the Astral Realm, I am forced to stop in one sector.

[...Hah.]

Roughly fifty starlights are blocking my path.

They aren't the main bodies, just incarnations... Even so, each one feels like they are at the Sacred Vessel stage.

I immediately know who they are.

[We shot Star Tribulations to kill you, but what kind of being are you, absorbing it all and advancing instead?]

The fifty Entering Nirvana beings I clashed with in the Nether Ghost Realm!

They are the ones blocking my path.

Kugugugugu!

Behind me, Blood Yin's arm continues to follow, while in front of me, the fifty incarnations of the Entering Nirvana True Persons block my way.

A situation of being trapped from both sides.

'Can I use the Sumeru Sword Dance one more time?'

I am quite lacking in energy. 

[...Not knowing whether I may be a True Immortal's clone, incarnation, or Immortal Treasure, do you dare block my path?]

I decide to bluff.

But the fifty Entering Nirvana True Persons laugh mockingly.

[The former Chief Judge of the Netherworld guaranteed that you are nothing of the sort. We will kill you here, you insignificant thing.]

'Damn it...'

There's no other choice.

My entire body trembles as if it's about to fall apart, and I have almost no strength left.

But...

It seems my fortune is to keep swinging my sword until the very end of ends.

I prepare my Sumeru Sword Dance, raising my sword will.

It's then,

: : Will you truly not return to this seat? : :

[Someone] speaks to me again from within the Sumeru Sword Dance.

[...I don't need it.]

: : ...Is that so. But this seat is beginning to covet you. Will you not become this seat's Immortal Treasure? : :

[I said I don't need it.]

: : ...It cannot be helped. Then this seat shall make a grand gesture. : :

[...Huh?]

Woo-woong!

From beyond the farthest starry sky, I sense that [something] is heading to this place.

'That's...'

Through the Sumeru Sword Dance I've unfolded, [someone] is descending and calling their power here.

[That, that, that's...!]

[Why, why, why i-is that falling here!]

[You! Were you their devotee all along?!]

[Everyone, flee! Flee as far as possible...!]

It is a sword.

A massive sword of radiant silver light is descending through the universe towards this place.

I feel Blood Yin's arm flinch in shock and retreat.

The size of the sword of light is so immense that even the sun looks like a firefly in comparison.

And, the moment the sword falls into this space—

Sword-Guided Star Rai

Deeeeng!

The entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain trembles.

As the sword of light shatters, all fifty incarnations sent by the Entering Nirvana True Persons are obliterated.

I can feel that even their main bodies beyond the incarnations have suffered tremendous damage.

However, more than anything,

: : ———————!

I can feel that Blood Yin has been struck with a catastrophic blow and has been thrown down.

A corner of the universe collapses under the impact of the sword of light.

I ask the [someone] who has shown me such overwhelming goodwill.

[Who are you?]

The [someone] responds.

I can't help but be shocked by Their answer.

: : This seat is the Fifth of the Radiance Eight Immortals. Sword Spear Heavenly Lord. : :

[...!!!]

: : You, Dao-Seeker of the sword. One day, you shall become this seat's Immortal Treasure. : :