Газрын аймаг (4)

"It's dark."

Seo Hweol and I arrived at the lowest level of Serving Command Ark, a place so cold and dark it chills to the bone.

'This is the last of the seven floors of Serving Command Ark.'

Similar to Serving Command Palace, Serving Command Ark itself also comprises a total of seven floors.

The topmost 7th floor, the Life Floor, is where Seo Hweol conducts administrative tasks, meetings of the True Dragon Alliance take place, and where the demon race's market and social gatherings mainly occur.

The 6th floor, the Cultivation Floor, is rich in spiritual veins and spiritual energy, provided for the later-stage Earth Tribe cultivators and elders.

The 5th floor, the Harvest Floor, is the most appropriate and safest refuge for Earth Tribe members to face Heavenly Tribulation before crossing the cultivation threshold.

The 4th floor, the Death Floor, is where the corpses of deceased Earth Tribe members gather.

The 3rd floor, the Earth Floor, is the power room of Serving Command Ark and the source of spiritual energy flowing throughout the ark.

The 2nd floor, the Storage Floor, serves as a storage space below the power room, currently used as a treasure vault by the Earth Tribe.And the lowest level of Serving Command Ark, where the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion takes place.

The 1st floor, the Emptiness Floor.

As I reached the Emptiness Floor, I felt as if all the spiritual energy in my body was freezing over.

'Is this the coldness of the Emptiness Floor?'

There is literally nothing.

No light, no heat, no air, no sound.

Even the spiritual energy is so scarce that once it leaks, it disperses into the pitch-black void.

Facing the profound darkness, not just me, but the other Earth Tribe members seem startled, showing signs of surprise.

The Nascent Soul stage Sea Dragons who followed Seo Hweol are also huddling and looking around.

Not just the Sea Dragons, but other demon beasts who arrived are in the same state.

"Is this where the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is held?"

"We're to undergo a survival test here? It won't be easy."

"Even just breathing scatters spiritual energy."

Just when they are all muttering.

Flash!

Suddenly, the darkest lowest floor is brightly illuminated.

A golden flash of light shines in all directions.

All demon beasts who arrived at the lowest floor look up in surprise.

There, a familiar face is present.

It’s Gyu-ryeon, an elder of the True Dragon Alliance who came to fetch us before.

"It seems everyone has arrived. I am Gyu-ryeon, an elder of the True Dragon Alliance, overseeing this Immortal Beast Blood Fusion. First, if there are any Four-Axis stage cultivators from major races, stop protecting your own race and come this way."

At that command, Seo Hweol from the Sea Dragon Race and several other demon beasts from various races fly up to stand by Gyu-ryeon's side.

"Ugh..."

"Uh, uhuhu... so, so cold..."

As Seo Hweol disappears, the surrounding Sea Dragons start to shiver uncontrollably.

"Is this the cold of the Emptiness Floor now that Sir Seo Hweol stopped his protection...?"

"Harsh..."

"...?"

I am momentarily puzzled as I watch the Sea Dragons around me shivering.

'What's going on? Nothing changed.'

The temperature of the Emptiness Floor, terribly cold from the beginning, hadn't changed at all.

Yet, suddenly, the later-stage cultivators of the Sea Dragon Race started to shiver.

I realize something from this situation.

'Ah, that guy Seo Hweol. He hasn't been protecting me from the start.'

It’s a really simple fact.

Wo-woong!

As the Four-Axis stage Earth Tribe members stand next to Gyu-ryeon, the light emanating from her becomes even brighter.

'This is...'

I’m startled, realizing the nature of the light emanating from Gyu-ryeon.

'Life force, itself?'

In the void of Emptiness where nothing exists,

Gyu-ryeon is 'producing' the most pure and original spiritual energy, the power of life.

'That's a Four-Axis stage cultivator....'

Those who awakened the power of life.

It seems true that reaching Four-Axis grants an incomparably longer lifespan, as she illuminates the darkness with life force itself.

'No, it’s not just by herself.'

She is emitting an even brighter light with the help of the energy from the surrounding Four-Axis stage cultivators.

Regardless, the golden light emitted by the Four-Axis cultivators color the surroundings, dispelling the darkness and revealing the scenery around us to some extent.

We are in a desert of sand.

Across this sand desert, numerous unique demon races are densely packed.

Including the Sea Dragons, demon beasts I have never seen in my life, and even those who look like rocks, making one doubt if they are alive.

Countless demon race beasts are scattered as far as the eye can see.

'Ten thousand? Fifteen thousand? Roughly around twelve thousand I estimate.'

Moreover, the majority of them are at the Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages.

I am the only one at the Qi Building stage.

Then, Gyuryeon begins to speak amidst the golden light.

"First, I express my respect to all the later-stage Earth Tribe members who have come here. All of you have bravely participated in the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, knowing well that you might lose your lives in the battle, choosing to compete for merely 100 spots. However, as a senior, I am also worried. This Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, as I say again, is an extreme survival test that takes place in the void of Emptiness. Let me say this one last time: The Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is a test accompanied by death, and those who wish to give up are advised to do so now. Is there anyone who wants to give up? Come forward now."

However, no demon beast steps forward.

Gyu-ryeon seems to nod indifferently at this, but I could read a feeling of pity in her intent.

"Good. Since there are no quitters, we will now commence the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion. The rules are simple. Just survive until the last 100 remain!"

Flash!

As she waves her hand, golden life force spreads around, etching strange patterns on the arms and legs of each demon beast.

It’s a number in demon script, Thirteen Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-Two.

"The number etched on your bodies represents the number of other Immortal Beast Blood Fusion participants currently in the battle grounds. As each participant is eliminated, the number will change accordingly. You just need to endure until that number reaches one hundred. However, as you know, there is no withdrawal from the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion midway. Therefore, for your given numbers to drop below one hundred, a significant number of you must either die or become incapacitated. Now, that's roughly it for the explanation, is there anything you're curious about?"

"Excuse me, Examiner. What does 'incapacitated' mean?"

A demon beast asks Gyu-ryeon, who replies with a cold gaze but internally with a hint of pity, speaking loudly.

"Being on the verge of death, reaching a comatose state is recognized as an incapacitated state for the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, and you'll be transported to the second floor of Serving Command Ark. However, usually, if you reach such a state, expect your cultivation to drop by several levels."

"...I understand."

"Any more questions?"

"Yes. I have something I want to make sure of... If the goal of this competition is to survive until fewer than 100 Earth Tribe members remain, does that mean the main objective of the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is essentially to reduce the number of competitors quickly?"

A demon beast resembling a praying mantis asks with a murderous intent, directing the question at Gyu-ryeon.

Gyuryeon smirks.

"Well... most would think so, but it's a bit different. This Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is ultimately a competition to select those demon beasts strong enough in 'life force' to accept the true blood of Immortal Beasts and as such, 'survivability' is the main focus of the competition. You'll understand once the competition properly begins."

"Yes, well... I take it as a confirmation that it's okay to reduce the number of other competitors."

"Do as you will."

The mantis demon beast cackles, not hiding its murderous intent.

The demon beasts around it show discomfort, stepping back a few paces from it.

However, Gyu-ryeon seems to send a pitiful intent towards that demon beast.

'Whatever it is, the real Immortal Beast Blood Fusion will demand tremendous survivability.'

It isn't going to be difficult for me.

Over the past six months, not just me but also Yuan Yu regained its cultivation.

Unlike me, who had no foundation in cultivation right after returning, Yuan Yu had a foundation in Core Formation stage cultivation, so he could quickly regain his Core Formation stage cultivation.

Since I wore Yuan Yu for this Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, I’m not particularly worried about my survivability.

More questions follow.

"Does the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion not end until there are fewer than 100 members left?"

"That's right. I know what you're worried about. You’re concerned that the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion will drag on for years, aren’t you? That won't happen. It will conclude within four months at most."

After a few more questions, Gyu-ryeon looks around the assembly and says,

"Are there no more questions? Then, let's start the real Immortal Beast Blood Fusion!"

"Yes!"

Numerous demon beasts respond loudly.

Gyu-ryeon raises her hand to the sky and slams it down.

"From this moment, the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion begins!"

Boom!

Simultaneously, the desert crumbles into pieces, starting to collapse downward.

'This is...!'

It wasn't split by mere physical force.

Observing the flow of spiritual energy between Gyu-ryeon and the desert, I realize the true identity of the ‘desert.’

‘Was the desert itself a manifestation of Gyu-ryeon's spell?’

Rustle!

As the desert splits, a dark space below is revealed.

An absolute darkness, akin to the void, is exposed.

However, unlike the void, it’s impossible to read the plane and return to the current realm because this realm is not the void but a space within the realm itself.

Ssshhh!

'Gasp!'

I nearly lost consciousness momentarily due to the insane cold enveloping me.

'What on earth is this...'

Cold.

I knew the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion wouldn't be easy, but I didn't expect it to be this chilling.

Nothingness. Absolute darkness!

Perhaps this is what outer space is like.

'Life force itself is being drawn away.'

In this pitch-black void, merely existing led to your life force naturally escaping into the void and disperse.

Enduring this mind-numbing cold, I understand why Gyu-ryeon sneered at those demon beasts trying to eliminate competitors while also pitying them.

'Reduce competitors? Ridiculous.'

That's impossible.

Just being here feels like the soul itself might freeze over.

No, it's not even cold.

This is more akin to death itself.

‘The fourth floor is called the Death Floor, but isn't that a title more fitting for the first floor?'

Before long, the desert that had become our ground scatters into the darkness.

The light provided by Gyu-ryeon and the Four-Axis Masters also vanishes somewhere.

Without attempting to locate other demons around me, I immediately begin to circulate my spiritual power.

Woong!

My Pure Spiritual Force flows vigorously within me, reviving my dying body.

Woong Woong Woong!

A faint light emanates from my body, finally making me feel slightly alive.

'This won't do.'

But as I see even the faintest glimmer of light gradually scatter into the darkness, I clench my teeth.

'I need another way. At this rate, all life force will disperse and I'll die. A test of life force, life force...'

Tick, tick-tick, tick-tick-tick!

For the first time, my body, which had never moved uncontrollably, chatters its teeth on its own.

It isn't a matter of will. The very presence of [Death] itself caused my body to react instinctively.

I will certainly die if it continues this way.

‘It can't end like this. If it's a test of life force, then activating life force is the key.'

And there's nothing better than cultivation to activate life force.

'The space may be scarce in spiritual energy, but that's actually for the better.'

In such a space, Seo Hweol's gaze cannot reach me.

Meaning, I can take as much time as needed for proper cultivation.

The lack of spiritual energy isn't a problem either.

Wo-woong!

'Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.'

Tst-tst-tst!

The ethereal form of an artifact spirit appears before me.

The countless figures of artifact spirits, containing my myriad connections, transformed back into 'my' form according to my will.

And 'I' soon overlap with my figure.

Zuuuung!

A massive amount of spiritual energy stored within the artifact spirit transfers into my body.

From the moment I heard that the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is a competition for survival, I believed I could easily make it into the last 100.

Using the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts to hide my presence and absorbing only the spiritual energy from the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections is enough to endure.

But seeing the harsh environment of emptiness, most demon races would exhaust all their life force and vitality just trying to survive in this space.

There's no need to use the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.

With the spiritual energy of Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, I can calmly cultivate and wait out the time!

Wo-woong!

I transfer the cultivation of Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method into my body, which I have been cautious about practicing fully due to Seo Hweol's suspicion.

Since Seo Hweol is acquainted with Azure Tiger Saint, practicing Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method could have been problematic if discovered, as changes in the body in the initial stages are easily noticeable.

‘During the six months, Seo Hweol called me out every three days to check my cultivation progress. Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, which causes significant bodily changes in the early stages, had to be approached with caution.’

According to Gyu-ryeon, it seems I can buy about four months of time within this area.

‘With four months, I can summon the Qi and blood stored from the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method in my past life.’

Qi is the Soul.

Thus, the dharma treasure attached to my soul and the cultivation stored in the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections could transcend time to join me.

Qi is Life.

Extremely pure spiritual energy is, in essence, life force itself.

Therefore, cultivating the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, which maximizes life force by condensing spiritual energy to its extreme, is also possible after regression.

Crack, creak!

A tremendous life force circulates throughout my body.

"Argh!"

The pains I experienced while cultivating the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method in my past life, compressed into a short time, strikes my mind.

"...!"

It’s brain-numbingly painful.

Yet, I clench my teeth, enduring the pain and accepting the life force surging throughout my body.

The immense life force circulates through my body, elevating my qi and blood, and begins to recreate the indestructible body I had forged in my past life.

Creak, creak!

I continue my cultivation amidst the pain that feels as if my entire body is being crushed.

Although it feels like my body is shattering, that very agony drives away the cold and darkness of the empty void.

'I can endure this.'

In the lowest floor of Serving Command Ark, I smile as I continue my cultivation fueled by life force.

‘With this, I can endure to the end!’

Wrapped in pain as if my body is being crushed, the heat generated from the pain drives the cold away.

Confident I can endure till the end of the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, I spend my time in deep cultivation.

Before long, the number recorded on my arm rapidly decreased.

In just a few days, the number of demon beasts that had reached thirteen thousand had dropped to five thousand.

And then, I understood why Gyu-ryeon said a conclusion could be reached within four months.

'Ah, as the numbers dwindle, the darkness intensifies.'

It became colder and more desolate than before.

In the Emptiness Floor, nothingness itself seems to materialize, attempting to devour me.

‘I can endure it for now. But... as the numbers further decrease, the darkness will intensify.’

When that happens, the life force being generated from practicing the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method will be surpassed by the life force escaping from my body.

‘Can I truly endure it?’

I clench my teeth and resist against the cold, against this death, and endure.

Time passed exceedingly slowly.

For months on end, floating aimlessly in the darkness without any light or warmth.

‘Now... there are only 200 left.’

The cold and darkness became even more intense.

It felt as though the darkness was creeping into my eyes, nose, and mouth.

It was as if darkness, not blood, flowed through my veins.

‘Just a bit more, just endure a bit longer.’

Fortunately, I had access to vastly more resources than others through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.

Enduring wouldn’t be difficult.

And finally, on the fourth month as Gyu-ryeon had mentioned.

"Huuuh..."

Just exhaling caused a burst of light to escape my mouth and scatter into the darkness.

'I'll die, enduring any longer means death.'

I truly feel death creeping up to my throat.

As the number of surviving demon beasts decreased, the darkness and cold intensified, leaving only 103 remaining.

Just three more to go.

But within this soul-chilling cold, all I want is to leave, Immortal Beast Blood Fusion be damned.

The cold is beyond what mere willpower can overcome.

Crack, crack-crack!

I ground my teeth, focusing on the number displayed on my arm.

The number, which had been 103, had now reduced to 102.

Just a little longer, and this unbearable cold will pass.

I will be able to leave.

One hundred and one.

Only one more person needs to fall into a comatose state for the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion to end.

However, seeing that number, I can’t help but laugh at myself.

‘My life force is surprisingly tenacious.’

No, it’s more due to the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections than my own life force.

I’ve been enduring by cultivating the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.

But now, even the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method is struggling against the cold, which is not merely the yin attribute, but rather the absolute nothingness of this empty space, making it all the more difficult to endure.

It’s like my mind is drying up.

‘It feels like four years, not four months.’

But it will all be over soon.

Looking at the number one hundred and one,  I desperately wish for the one to disappear quickly.

How much time has passed?

Finally, the moment I have been waiting for arrived.

One hundred.

‘Finally!’

The Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is over!

Or so I thought when...

"...?"

Nothing changes.

‘What’s going on?’

After the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion ends, we are supposed to be transported to the second floor.

But why hasn't anything happened yet?

Gyu-ryeon said it herself.

When the number reaches one hundred, the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is supposed to end.

‘Right, maybe it just takes a little time.’

There couldn't be any problems.

I calmly wait to be transported in the cold.

Ten more days passed.

‘Something's wrong.’

This shouldn’t be happening.

Why am I still here even though the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion has ended?

'Is this Seo Hweol’s trick?’

Did Seo Hweol manipulate this to send all participants of the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion to their doom?

But no matter how much I think about it, there’s no reason for Seo Hweol to do such a thing.

‘Or has the cold made me lose my sense of time?’

But that doesn’t make sense either. My mind is too clear.

‘I'm not insane, and considering everything with a clear head, there’s no reason for Seo Hweol to do this. Moreover, from what I gathered in the six months before participating in the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, it has always been conducted fairly. There’s no room for Seo Hweol’s interference…’

It can't be that this was done deliberately to kill me.

Even if I am suspicious, Seo Hweol's character would suggest he'd use me to the fullest before letting me die, not kill me off for no reason.

‘Something’s wrong.’

I decided to wait a little longer, trembling in the cold.

Another month passed.

‘Perhaps... by some terrible stroke of luck, something went wrong with the Emptiness Floor just when I participated?’

I'm not insane.

And unless Seo Hweol decided on a whim to kill me just for fun, I can't think of any other explanation.

‘No... more than that, I've been sustaining myself by cultivating the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method with the life force accumulated in the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, but how are the other demon beasts still alive?’

Two more months passed since the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion was supposed to end.

Yet, the number still points to one hundred.

‘Indeed, something must've gone wrong with the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion. Damn it, I can't just die here frozen like some Seo Eun-hyeon frozen popsicle."’

Determined to not die here, I decide to somehow escape this place.

Crack, crack-crack!

I drew out my Formless Sword and swing it around me.

But in this area devoid of spiritual energy, it’s difficult to cut through anything.

Floating in the void, I gather spiritual energy and spray it around, trying to navigate the dark space.

But I find nothing.

It's vast.

And cold.

‘If only I can find something that activates the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, something that triggers the darkness of this Emptiness Floor…’

Clenching my teeth, I fight through the darkness, searching for a way out.

A year passes.

‘…’

Crack, crack-crack...

Even trying to move a finger causes my whole body to crackle.

‘It can’t...go on like this.’

Something must have gone seriously wrong.

Have all the demon beasts participating in the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion been sealed in the lowest layer?

A year passed without finding any hope.

I had no choice but to float aimlessly in the void space.

‘I must find a way…’

If things continue this way, finding an exit or getting out will be secondary.

I fear I might die consumed by the darkness, dying from the soul-chilling cold, from the utter nothingness.

What should I do?

As I float in the void space, pondering my next move...

Whoosh!

The moment I try to cross my arms, something in my bosom brushes against my hand.

‘This is…’

A small spirit stone.

I remember the identity of the spirit stone and observe it.

It’s the Vast Cold Formula I bought from the demon beast merchant last time.

‘The most basic among the basics, the foundational beast methods, was it?’

Suddenly, I decide to cultivate the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method along with the Vast Cold Formula.

‘If I can't find a way out of this Emptiness Floor, I might as well endure until I'm rescued.’

Instead of seeking a way out, I choose to endure as long as possible.

‘Let's endure, somehow. Whether Seo Hweol played tricks, or something's gone wrong with the Serving Command Ark, let's just endure!’

Wo-woong!

Clenching my teeth, I read the demon script embedded in the spirit stone and manipulated spiritual energy according to the Vast Cold Formula’s instructions.

Wo-woong!

At first, it was a bit unfamiliar.

But after another year in the void space...

I could feel what ‘demon beast methods’ are about.

‘Demon beast methods are essentially explosions.’

I felt this when cultivating the Summoning Wind, Dragon Transformation.

Inner Cores of demon beasts concentrate spiritual energy within their Demon Cores before causing an explosion.

By repeating these explosions, they gradually expand their Demon Core's capacity, absorbing more Qi as their "vessel" grows.

This is the foundation of all demon beast methods.

But as I continued reading the Vast Cold Formula, I realized how absurd the Summoning Wind, Dragon Transformation method is.

‘Did Seo Hweol really throw me a bomb like the Summoning Wind, Dragon Transformation to cultivate?’

All demon beast methods are based on the following principle:

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth rotates as Yin and Yang, forming Taiji.

Thus, to vision of the demon race who can see the essence of spiritual energy, all things in the universe appear as Taiji.

The core of the demon beast method is to rotate this Taiji strongly within the Demon Core, crashing it together to cause an explosion.

While Yin and Yang explode upon collision, they also achieve harmony and stabilize instantly, ensuring the safety of practicing demon beast methods, though it may be painful.

However, the Summoning Wind, Dragon Transformation Seo Hweol gave me contains no details on the circulation of Taiji, only methods to recklessly explode the Demon Core.

‘Damned dragon.’

I curse Seo Hweol inwardly and continue to repeat the steps of the Vast Cold Formula.

Three more years pass.

Now I have spent five years in the darkness.

Demon beast methods are truly simple.

At the Qi Refining stage, weak Qi is circulated and exploded.

At the Qi Building stage, one's life force is linked with the Demon Core to circulate the Taiji more intensely before colliding and exploding it.

At the Core Formation stage, the now strengthened Demon Core, as resilient as a human's Golden Core, is exploded and reformed multiple times to refine Qi.

Circulating the Taiji to cause an explosion results in refined pure spiritual energy.

In other words, life force that continuously fills into the body.

This is the essence of all demon beast methods.

Unlike humans who create a Law-Transforming Dantian with the flow of Yin and Yang and reach the Nascent Soul stage to cultivate the Yin and Yang spirit,

Demon beasts stubbornly focus solely on the flow of Yin and Yang from the beginning, and upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, they circulate the Nascent Soul with the flow of Yin and Yang again.

‘Compared to the Heaven Tribe's method, which are maddeningly complex and involve memorizing intricate incantations, performing sacrifical rituals, and reading the celestial trends... it's almost as simple as leaving it to instinct."

Perhaps, it is correct for demon beasts to learn demon beast methods by instinct.

Originally, wild animals without intelligence, after gaining spiritual awareness and the ability to see spiritual energy,

Circulate the Yin and Yang within their bodies according to their vision and then explode it.

Its simplicity allows even those demon beasts without intellect to learn such methods.

Boom!

I frown as I feel the Qi explode in my dantian.

‘It's not easy.’

Although it’s not as complex as the methods of the Human Race, including those of the Heaven Tribe, and is simple, that doesn't mean it’s easy to learn.

Demon beast methods, like body refining methods, or in some ways, even more so, accompany terrible pain.

Every time spiritual energy is exploded in the dantian as part of their cultivation, they have to endure the pain of their dantian being shattered at every moment. This is even worse for Core Formation stage demons as they have to explode their Demon Core itself, enduring horrible pain.

Another five years pass.

Ten years in the Emptiness Floor!

‘It's hard to gauge how much time I've wasted.’

By all rights, I should have regained my Nascent Soul cultivation with abundant spiritual energy outside by now!

But here I am, barely surviving in the void, only increasing my understanding of demon beast methods.

Boom!

I suffer unbearable pain as if my dantian is shattering as I practice both the Vast Cold Formula and the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method.

Gradually, the cold of the Emptiness Floor recedes before the heat of pain.

Thump, thump, thump!

"It's like a heart."

Practicing demon beast methods feels as if there is another heart in my dantian.

Every time the heart beats, blood is pumped through the arteries to the entire body, then returns to the heart through the veins.

Every time the Yin and Yang in the dantian explode, that explosive force sweeps through the body, refining it, then condenses back inside the dantian, becoming pure life force that heals the body.

‘Life is, in essence, an explosion…’

Thump, thump, thump!

The Vast Cold Formula and the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method elevate my life through explosions.

And at some point.

Flash!

I feel a peculiar sensation as if the Vast Cold Formula and the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method are emerging around my Inner Core.

‘This is…’

The Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method is evolving.

No, that's not it.

Originally, body refining methods are a degraded version of demon beast methods.

Now, the foundational demon beast method, the Vast Cold Formula operates within my Inner Core, making the degraded body refining method reach an equivalent condition as demon beast methods, revealing its essence.

‘This is… the true power of the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method!’

Boom!

Creak, creak!

It's cold.

So very cold.

But at the same time, I realize fundamental changes occurring throughout my body.

Crack, crack!

A complete transformation!

Just as the Five Energies Converging to the Origin led me to understand how the spiritual energy of heaven and earth can guide my body on the correct path,

Now, once again, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth begins to show me how my body can evolve even more correctly.

Crack!

"This is..."

Spiritual energy rotates before my eyes.

Yin and Yang collapse, entering my body to form a double helix.

‘Ahh…’

Yin and Yang ascend the double helix, unraveling the secrets of the flesh accumulated from the past and providing the correct direction for evolution.

Crack!

I adjust my body according to that direction and finally complete the metamorphosis.

Simultaneously, I feel my consciousness naturally taking on a specific form.

‘So it is.’

The area of consciousness that enveloped me in a circle transformed into a complete human form, covering me.

‘Could it be that humans, before discovering the rituals to become part of the Heaven Tribe, were a kind of demon beast?’

Gurgle...

As my consciousness transforms into human form and I move my fist, I feel an immense power in my fist, unlike anything I had felt before.

"Haaah..."

Finally, I have reached a new realm of demon beast methods.

At the same time, I am engulfed in a sense of awe towards Kim Young-hoon.

‘Without even touching body refining methods, did a martial artist with a mortal body trace back the origins of martial arts to find the path to human demon beast methods?’

The 'other path' that Kim Young-hoon struggled to find beyond the Ultimate Pinnacle, in his quest for a way forward.

That was precisely demon beast methods.

Found in the library of Seo Ran, not the real demon beast methods for beasts, but for humans!

That was the other path Kim Young-hoon discovered while evolving martial arts.

‘Huh, it turns out I reached that path in the end.’

I recall Kim Young-hoon from that cycle and smile wryly.

Shiii…

‘Is this the end...?’

After undergoing complete transformation and witnessing the life force escaping from my entire body, I laugh with self-deprecation.

It’s good to have realized the true meaning of demon beast methods through complete transformation.

But in doing so, I have almost used up all the spiritual energy inside my body.

There is hardly any life force left in the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.

If this had been a place abundant with spiritual energy, I could have replenished it immediately, but in this absolute realm of death, it’s impossible.

‘Am I going to die in such a futile manner?’

I feel my eyes closing and laugh.

‘Well, at least... I confirmed what the other path that Kim Young-hoon discovered was…’

Maybe such a death isn't entirely in vain.

Thinking this, I close my eyes.

I thought it was my sixteenth return.

[You've endured ten years.]

"...?"

Crackle, crackle...

I open my eyes in front of a campfire.

‘Where… is this?’

It's dark.

It isn't cold, but it is still dark.

Yet, I can see clearly.

But there is no ‘light’!

Strange.

Everything around me is so clearly ‘perceived,’ yet the actual existence of ‘light’ is distinctly absent.

‘What is this?’

Bizarre.

Living beings perceive objects through ‘light.’

But for some reason, even without ‘light,’ I feel everything around me is perceivable.

In front of me is a bonfire.

But the bonfire has no ‘light,’ only ‘heat.’

Around the bonfire are numerous statues, each an exquisite work of art.

As I’m puzzled by the sudden situation,

[Take a seat. You've endured ten years, so you only have ten seconds to converse with this seat. Of course, if we really talked for just ten seconds, we wouldn't get anywhere, so this seat has warped time to make one second last a day.]

"What..."

Someone is sitting in front of me.

I try to look up at [them].

That moment.

"...! Arggghhhh!"

My eyes!

My eyes suddenly vaporized!

Without any warning, trying to ‘perceive’ the other made my eyeballs evaporate and fly into the air.

Not just the eyes!

My entire body, my whole body is vaporizing!

"I'm, dying..."

[Sit.]

The next moment.

As soon as [They] tell me to sit, my vaporizing body resettles.

And somehow, I find myself sitting properly on one of the surrounding statues.

[Do not look directly at this seat. If it were this seat's main body, we might converse properly adjusting to your level. However, as I am but a remnant thought, a fragment left by the main body, this seat might accidentally kill you if I fail to adjust properly.]

"Ha, ha...!"

My heart is racing.

[This seat is the master of Liberation. If you look directly at me, the essence that constitutes you will be liberated from the framework of 'you' and vaporize into extinction.]

"You are…"

My head is spinning.

As soon as I guessed the identity of the being before me, my consciousness shook as if it was about to collapse, and my sense of direction vanished, making me feel as though I would fall to the ground at any moment.

The pain of being trapped in the void for ten years is instantly forgotten, and a new sense of fear, awe, and reverence painted over my mind.

[This seat’s name is Bong Myeong (Serving Command). I am the creator of the Serving Command Ark you entered.]

The being before me is, at the very least, a True Immortal.

[I distorted ten years of time to summon you here for a conversation. Now, shall we talk, Ender (End Fate Person)?]