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"Hmm..."

Rustling…

I extract my upper body from the shattered drum and dust myself off.

"Indeed, quite a formidable force."

It wasn't the crimson river that had repelled me.

As soon as I touched the crimson river, it was not my body, but rather the Pure Spiritual Force flowing within me that automatically reacted and repelled me.

In other words, the crimson river merely touched my body.

The fact that I was flung and crashed was entirely thanks to the power flowing within me.

"Hmm, it seems you're in the same situation."

The spider woman.Yu Hwa, as she is called, raises her arm while keeping her eyes closed.

There is a sword scar left by my Formless Sword on her arm, from which blood is flowing.

"I didn't expect you to penetrate my defense just like that."

"I didn't know my internal spiritual power could move according to someone else's will... How did you do it?"

"Do you really think I'd willingly teach you my technique? Try to figure it out on your own. I'll do my best to understand the ability of that sword as well."

"Oh, you recognized it as a sword?"

How did she recognize the Formless Sword, which has no shape?

"Even if it has no form, the intent is so clear, how could I not know what you're wielding?"

"It was a foolish question I see."

I attack her with the Formless Sword again.

But every time the crimson river touches my body, I am repelled this way and that.

It’s as if my body is not my own.

Wo-woong!

Feeling as if I am floating, I try to approach her, but the problem is the crimson river.

Wo-woong, bang, bang, bang, bang!

As the Formless Sword whirls around, the dressing room turns into a mess, but I focus solely on getting closer to her.

After exchanging blows with her for who knows how long.

"Wait..."

Suddenly, she smiles and says.

"Perhaps this is a good time to stop?"

"Hm?"

She detaches her hands from the zither and raises them.

"There's no need for us to continue fighting."

"What are you talking about? When martial artists meet..."

Suddenly, it dawns on me that I’m unsure whether Yu Hwa is a martial artist or not.

"I understand what you want. There are many like you within the Heart Tribe Territory. Those who wish to prove themselves by comparing their Manifestations with others, or simply those who genuinely enjoy sparring. Our Esteemed One also has such tastes."

"...Then why refuse to fight?"

"Because I am not of that kind of Heart Tribe. While I am interested in your sword, I am more suited for infiltration, espionage, and inciting rebellion."

"Hmm..."

"Instead of this meaningless act, how about we exchange information more constructively?"

I look at her and smile.

"Is 'fabrication' also one of your specialties?"

"Excuse me?"

Wo-woong!

Holding the Formless Sword in a reverse grip, I swing it towards my head.

The Formless Sword grazes my skull, cutting out strange sound waves affecting my mind from the plane of Soul.

Shuk!

I feel something break, bringing my consciousness back to 'reality.'

The situation is not much different from before.

I am confronting her.

But from the moment I was repelled into the drum, shattering it, to the traces of our exchange of blows, all have disappeared.

"Quite an impressive illusion technique."

The feeling that my body is not my own, the sensation of floating.

It’s all because it wasn't real, happening in my dream.

"Fighting in an illusion was interesting... but since you openly tried to extract information without wanting to fight me, I came out."

She suggested exchanging information, but there’s no guarantee that the information exchanged in the illusion is real.

She still speaks calmly, with her eyes closed, turning her head towards me.

"Strictly speaking, what I showed you was not an illusion. I put you to sleep and made you dream, guiding the dream in the direction you desired."

I retort.

"In the process, you meddled a bit, asking questions you were curious about."

"I won't deny it."

"Your way of speaking has changed quite a bit since we last met."

"As a Heart Tribe intelligence agent, would I use a manner of speech that easily identifies me? I've practiced changing both my voice and manner of speech as needed."

"Changing the tone at will, is that your Treading Heavens... no, your second stage of Manifestation?"

Wo-woong!

Shuk!

I swiftly launch a Formless Sword attack at her hand as she subtly reaches for the zither, causing a wound. It seems she was attempting to engage me in conversation while stealthily using the zither to put me to sleep with her scheming.

She looks at the wound on her arm and laughs.

"It's not easy to share, especially when I can't quite tell if you're from the Heaven Tribe or the Earth Tribe, or one of ours."

"Figures... Well, forget that. Are you really not going to fight me? It’d be advantageous for your side to obtain my information, wouldn't it?"

"That's true."

However, she smiles subtly.

"But, do you suggest we go all out when there are two Four-Axis stage Earth Tribe members just a few floors above us? We'd surely get caught. There's no benefit in sparring right now."

I catch her drift.

"If there's a benefit for you, you'd spar with me?"

"If that's the case, I see no reason why not."

"Alright, tell me what you want."

"You're currently staying at the palace of the Sea Dragon Race, correct?"

"Yes."

"In the palace of the Sea Dragon Race, I'm aware that a member of the White Goat Race, Baek Nyeong, whom I had previously rescued and attempted to escape to the Heart Tribe Territory, is being imprisoned. If you promise to help me rescue him, I see no reason why I can't spar with you."

"...Hmm..."

Imprisoned...

Should that be described as imprisoned?

Noticing my serious expression while I conceal my heart essence with the Treading Heavens realm, she misunderstands it for something else and clicks her tongue.

"Perhaps I've asked too much of you. If you truly feel a sense of belonging to the Sea Dragon Race..."

"No, that's not it."

I think of the White Goat Race who have become the ruling class near the Cloud Heart Lake and their leader, Baek Nyeong, feeling a mix of emotions.

"...Seo Hweol will be leaving the True Dragon Alliance in a day or two for his Axis Foundation Practice. I'll arrange a time for you and Baek Nyeong to meet after that."

"Ah...!"

"However... Hmm. I'm not sure about helping with the rescue. I'll ensure you can enter and exit the dwelling of the White Goat Race near Cloud Heart Lake by holding off the Sea Dragon Race patrol, but escaping with him will be up to you."

"Thank you. That will be a great help."

I smile brightly at her enthusiastic response and then ask out of curiosity,

"What if I’m lying? We’re both at the Treading Heavens... no, the second stage of Manifestation, so I should be able to lie too, right?"

"Hehe... Have you never sparred with someone of the same realm from the Heart Tribe?"

"...No."

"Well, that's even better. I can teach you."

"...?"

As she touches the zither, she says,

"Let's control our power while sparring. As I mentioned, with two Four-Axis stage Earth Tribe members above us... and a barrier set up in the dressing room, not to mention the Immortal Demon Tower's restrictions suppressing our consciousness, we can easily get caught if we're not careful. Let's keep our power at the early stage of Qi Refining and compete using only our Manifestations."

"Fine."

A pure competition of capabilities and enlightenment is something I welcome.

The next moment.

Thwoong!

Her zither sounds, and my sword surge through the air.

However, just as I’m about to adopt a stance and employ a technique, I struggle to keep my body from collapsing.

‘Sleepy!’

A drowsiness demon attacks me.

‘With this level of sleepiness even when restricting our power to the Qi Refining stage…’

If we were to fight without restraining our power, fully employing Treading Heavens, I would have fallen into a dream without even realizing it, just like before.

Thump, thwoong, thump!

But her performance is just beginning.

As her zither plays and melodies emerge, my entire body's strength disperses, and my eyelids feel unbearably heavy.

"Ugh!"

Thump!

I force myself up and glare at her.

Wo-woong!

Gradually, a faint light of the crimson river begins to swirl around her.

"This is my Last Quarter (Moon phase), Illusory Play under the Rosy Afterglow. Please enjoy."

It isn't the crimson river.

It’s the evening glow.

The time when those who have finished their day start to prepare for bed, the sunset!

Teeing!

I exert all my strength, barely managing to fend off the sleepiness using Mountain Echoes Valley Responds.

The Formless Sword transforms into vibrations, striking my soul across planes, bringing me back to my senses.

But the clarity is fleeting.

As her performance continues, I realize I am succumbing to sleepiness again.

"A fearsome technique."

Even using only Qi Refining stage power, she brought me to the brink of unconsciousness with sleepiness.

Even a Heavenly Being stage cultivator, if caught off guard by her determined performance, would end up sprawled on the floor, asleep.

Moving even a single finger became difficult.

'This is especially lethal for me.'

I'm sleepy.

I want to rest right now.

If I were to lay down and sleep right now, it feels like I can finally sleep peacefully for the first time in ages.

'After joining Seo Hweol 7 years ago... I haven’t slept properly even once.'

Not just that.

In my previous life, when I was a governor in the Devil Realm.

Before that, when I was beaten all over at the Azure Heaven Creation Sect.

Even before that, when I was captured by the Mad Lord and underwent modification, enduring for a thousand years.

I never really rested.

'No, was there ever a time I properly rested before that?'

Excluding the times when I relaxed my heart with Hyang-hwa, it’s hard to remember when I last truly rested.

I want to rest.

I really want to sleep deeply.

The Heavenly Treading realm manifested by Yuhwa is stirring up an intrinsic desire I've had all this time.

'Maybe it's okay to rest a bit.'

But then.

Smirk...

"Resting is something..."

Crack!

I drive the Formless Sword into my shoulder.

A jolt of pain snaps my eyes open.

"I can do after death."

I hold the Formless Sword with a grin.

"If I gain enlightenment in the morning, I’m content with death in the evening. Endure, Seo Eun-hyun! Are you going to miss this great opportunity? I'll let you rest in death, so open your eyes!

I scream, twisting the Formless Sword embedded in my shoulder.

Ssh, ssh!

Tremendous pain radiates from my shoulder.

But with bloodshot eyes, I twist and pulled out the Formless Sword, aiming it at Yu Hwa.

"Good. Shall we continue?"

"...Let's do so."

In the next moment, I dart towards her, slashing down with the Formless Sword.

For a moment, the sword takes on a shape similar to an axe and strikes her.

Yet, her crimson afterglow river effectively blocks my Formless Sword again.

But.

'She can't block it.'

Swoosh!

My Formless Sword pierces through the afterglow, charging towards her.

Wo-woong!

She, holding the zither, leaps back like a grasshopper, and I change stance right after swinging down.

Along with my stance, the Formless Sword elongates, transforming into a spear-like form.

'Shoot!'

In the next moment.

The colorless spear in my hand fires off like a cannonball, embedding three gusts of wind around her.

Thwoong, thud, thwoong!

Yet, she continues to strum the zither.

The afterglow swirl around her, dissipating the Formless Sword strikes.

'That's...'

I am astonished to realize the principle behind her defense.

'She's treating my Formless Sword as a living entity and [putting it to sleep]?'

It isn't merely dispersing.

My Formless Sword is falling asleep as it touches her afterglow.

Gradually, the energy of the Formless Sword I hold is dropping below the Qi Refining stage.

If this continues, it will become less effective than simple sword energy.

'Interesting.'

Memories of a long time ago surface.

When I had not yet reached the pinnacle realm and followed Kim Young-hoon around.

Kim Young-hoon wandered through various factions in Yanguo, challenging their banners.

The result was naturally a hundred victories in a hundred battles.

Among the factions he challenged, there was one that specialized in Sound Arts.

Back then, Kim Young-hoon definitely said that defeating the leader of that Sound Arts faction was the most challenging, describing them as the trickiest opponent.

Those memories vividly came back.

[Phew, it was the most not easy opponent.]

[So even the words ‘not easy’ come out of your mouth, Hyung-nim.]

[Well, it's because Sound Art masters are hard to come by. Those who are mediocre in Sound Arts are as good as useless, but when someone who has mastered Sound Arts to the level of Three Flowers Gather at the Summit and has our vision uses it, it becomes incredibly formidable.]

[I don't understand what you mean by 'our vision.']

[Ah, right. I was meaning to tell you about this.]

I remember the advice Kim Young-hoon had given me.

[Sound Arts, after all, are about sound. But how does mere sound harm the opponent? It's like the poison you study.]

[Poison, you say?]

[Yes, poison. From the moment you first hear the opponent's melody, their Qi begins to mix with the sound entering your body. When the opponent's sound waves resonate with the ones inside you, your body starts to break down according to the resonance frequency.]

[Terrifying.]

[Yes, so ultimately, if you meet a master who uses sound-based martial arts, you should suppress and kill them before they can shoot their sound waves. If you fail and allow the opponent to shoot their sound waves...]

[You'll need to find a way to detoxify.]

[A physician-like approach, indeed. Well, since I compared it to poison... But my solution is a bit different.]

Waves of sunset rush towards me.

What Yu Hwa is using is no different from sound-based martial arts.

No, it could be said to be an evolved version of sound-based martial arts, evolved by several stages.

Perhaps from the moment I first heard her sound at the Immortan Demon Tower today,

I was under the influence of her poison.

The poison of her 'wanting to sleep' heart essence.

'Preemptive strike is no longer possible, and what she has infused into me is her heart essence itself, so detoxification won't work.'

Then, there's only one method left.

[Make the poison your own. If you perfectly control the Qi throughout your body, you can also control the vibrations within. While sparring with the opponent, continuously circulate and move the Qi, altering the vibration itself to be different from what the opponent has infused!]

I begin to accelerate my thoughts through the Formless Sword connected to my body.

Time slows down, while I accelerate.

Kwang, kwang, kwang!

Cutting horizontally with Transcending Peaks.

Then, accelerating again to thrust into her side with Flowing Ridge.

All blocked.

But then, accelerating once more, I cut down from above with Dragon Vein

Kugugugu!

As I cut down, my Formless Sword is blocked again by her sunset-colored river.

Touching that river, the force itself will "dissolve," making permeation impossible.

But the next moment.

Pssht!

A small wound appears on her cheek.

Even though it was "dissolved," my Formless Sword that permeated her river caused a wound on Yu Hwa's face.

Chalak!

The next moment, a crimson wave rushes towards me, forcing me to retreat.

I'm sleepy.

I feel like I will fall asleep at any moment.

This is both my heart essence and the poison she subtly infused into me through her Treading Heavens.

Then, make this poison my own!

'It's not sleepiness, but facing a limit.'

And if you face a limit.

You can also surpass it!

Boong, boong, boong boong boong!

Gradually, the speed at which I swing my Formless Sword begins to increase.

'Every time I endure sleepiness, a limit comes.'

Yu Hwa also plays her instrument, continuously attacking me with her river.

'Every time I face a limit and overcome sleepiness, I break through the limit.'

My inner heart essence transforms, changing from sleepiness to a leap in spirit.

'Therefore, every time I overcome sleepiness, I become stronger!'

It doesn't literally increase my spiritual power or teach me unknown sword techniques.

But isn't martial arts about defining oneself?

Then.

'I am indeed growing!'

Although I am restraining my power to Qi Refining, my speed gradually increases.

I find ways to more perfectly control and maximize the application of force.

Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Joy of Mountains and Peaks!

The Formless Sword Energy shoots out, crisscrossing like a Go board toward the opponent.

Yu Hwa plucks her instrument again, and the sunset-colored waves surge, blocking my Formless Sword.

My move seems to dissolve, but that's not the end.

Pssht, pssht!

Streaks of blood appear on Yu Hwa's body.

Gradually, the 'sleepiness' heart essence she plays is no longer consumed by my Formless Ssword.

For I am transforming her sleepiness into an 'opportunity for growth' within me, fighting against her.

'If this continues, I will win!'

When I think so.

Ssss....

"It's been a while since I've fought a fellow from the same realm... It seems it won't work."

A deep smile leaks from Yu Hwa's lips.

It’s pleasure.

The emotion of finding it too enjoyable to exchange moves with me!

"Perhaps I can be a bit rougher?"

The next moment.

Countless white spider webs spew out from her rear.

Her spider legs attached to her lower body moves, weaving and throwing spider webs in all directions.

Soon, the entire waiting room is engulfed in spider webs.

And then.

Twung!

When she plucks one of the spider webs with her spider legs.

Ziiing!

"…!!!"

The spider webs she had spread around the waiting room vibrate all at once.

The entire space around starts to fill with a sunset glow.

'Ugh...!'

Even as I try to distort her heart essence within my own, new poison continually seeps in from outside.

'Damn...!'

I'm sleepy.

Insanely sleepy.

'Everything before me is becoming blurry.'

Before I know it, I'm drifting in and out of consciousness, teetering on the boundary between dreams and reality.

Yet, even so, my body faithfully swings the Formless Sword as it has always done.

At the same time, I see the waiting room before me disappear, transforming into a mystically eerie mountainous ravine.

'At the boundary between dreams and reality, is it trying to suppress my mind through dreams?'

Swoosh!

The fog in the mystical mountainous ravine seems alive as it envelops me.

Simultaneously, in reality, the river engulfs me.

Though I am in a dazed state, I manage to split my focus, cutting through the fog in the mountainous ravine, then use my half-conscious body to dodge the sunset glow.

Her massive counterattack follows.

Before me, the profound ravine suddenly becomes a sea surrounding me, and waves crash over me.

Then, before I know it, I am swallowed by a sandstorm above the scorching desert.

However, in reality, my body constantly moves around, and contrary to myself in the heart essence, I keep landing different attacks on her.

Forced to fight in different environments, with my mind split between them.

'How formidable.'

With the right compatibility, it’s a technique capable of assassinating a Heavenly Being stage cultivator in a one-on-one fight.

Of course, with a surprise attack, compatibility wouldn't matter, and a fatal blow could be dealt regardless.

Juggling my view between reality and the illusory I continue to exchange blows with her, enduring the sleepiness.

'The crimson river is the physical manifestation of her melody.'

Touching that river puts my 'power' to sleep, and the heart essence of sleepiness is infused into my body, eventually putting me to sleep.

Although I barely managed to distort the heart essence to the parallel state of dream and reality, a direct hit would undoubtedly knock me out.

'The river itself possesses physical force, and while not strong in force, the terrifying part is falling asleep upon contact... By laying down her strings like spider webs everywhere, she ensures her tune can be played from any location...'

The entire waiting room was filled with a sunset glow

I have to find a crack within the sunset glow to sneak through and exploit her openings, while she bombards me from all directions.

'This is fun.'

However, each of the crimson rays she fires is optimized to read each other's intent and heart essence, shooting in the best path possible.

My Formless Sword is no different, and exchanging moves with her, I gradually feel exhilarated.

Our exchange of blows intensify.

And then, I can feel a golden intent emanating from her.

Joy

Fun

And at some point.

In the world of dreams, I find myself in a world filled with crimson rivers.

'This place is...'

Swoosh...

Every time I dip my foot into the river, overwhelming fatigue assaults my mind.

―I'm tired.

―I want to rest....

―Please, just a little...

'This is...'

When cultivators of the same Treading Heavens clash, it seems they not only exchange intents but also share each other's heart essence.

Navigating through Yu Hwa's heart essence, I feel her fatigue.

Fatigue.

That is the essence of the enlightenment she has reached.

'This is...'

Not just the vision of Treading Heavens but also with the vision of the Earth Tribe, the flow of Yin and Yang within this heart essence shows me fleeting scenes.

It’s Yu Hwa's life.

She was born into a species known as half-human half-spider.

Her race was famous for producing webs and creating pleasant sounds by plucking their webs.

Of course, they had no other abilities and, congenitally unable to withstand the violent flow of spiritual power, couldn't learn demon beast methods.

Thus, her race was treated as slaves and sold across the Bright Cold Realm.

Yu Hwa was sold from place to place, learning to play the instrument, forced to play without a moment's rest.

Her skill at playing was indeed excellent, and for her owners, having her perform was directly equivalent to wealth.

They never allowed her to rest.

If she was tired, they gave her spirit fluids to eliminate fatigue, and if she showed any laziness, they threatened to grind her up into medicine, forcing her to perform incessantly for five years.

Yu Hwa began to go mad.

Who could endlessly draw upon their talent, playing without rest, and not grow tired?

―I want to sleep.

Not just dozing off while being transported to another venue but to properly, deeply sleep.

She hoped, and hoped, and hoped again.

The rest she longed for did not come easily.

If she were to fall asleep during a performance, her owner would immediately grind her up into medicine.

Since they forced spirit fluids on her to eliminate fatigue, excuses of being tired were not accepted.

But having not slept for years, she felt like she would lose her mind if she did not sleep, and thus, she found a solution.

The solution she found was to immerse herself in something else.

She immersed herself in her music, pouring all her madness about wanting to sleep into playing her instrument.

Her playing skills eventually grew to be unparalleled among her half-spider peers.

She craved more perfect performances, more perfect tones.

Then, one day, she discovered how to imbue her music with Qi.

And then, another day.

She realized while playing music that she could see the colors of emotion in the sound. From that day, she could see the intent of the guests who came to listen to her play.

Again, one day, she saw countless colors of emotions merge into one, forming a single field of consciousness.

From then, she realized her music had a direction.

And to reach that direction, she continued to practice, even if it meant her hands and feet bled.

Finally.

On the day when her playing reached perfection, adding perfection to perfection and ultimately reaching the pinnacle of understanding.

She succeeded in combining the basic Qi she had with the intent flowing from her playing, achieving what she had longed for years.

She wanted to sleep.

Her performance, which actualized the 'rest' she had never properly obtained in her lifetime, put all the guests who came that day, her owner, and even herself to sleep.

While asleep, she continued to play and killed the malicious brothel owner who never gave her a moment's rest.

Thus, she awakened as a member of the Heart Tribe.

Later, she fled to the territory of the Heart Tribe and joined them.

That is her story.

Boom!

In a flash!

I open my eyes.

My Formless Sword is already at Yu Hwa's throat, and her instrument is split into two.

"You've lived a tumultuous life."

Only now can I understand why she had agreed to spar with me.

When members of the same Heart Tribe spar with others of the same realm, it's possible to see the opponent's heart essence and the essence embedded within that heart essence.

After receiving a promise from me to meet Baek Nyeong, she sparred with me to see if I am trustworthy.

Whether I was lying or not.

'It wasn't about whether to accept the spar or not. From the moment she saw me, the spar was inevitable.'

Quite an audacious woman.

As I look down at her, she chuckles.

"It seems you, too, have lived a life no less eventful than mine. Really... I thought I was going to die entering your heart essence."

"My heart essence is indeed not easy."

Certainly.

The reason I was able to emerge from her dream and heart essence and defeat her is because she had entered my heart essence as well.

Entering my transparent hell of agony and feeling like her entire body is being pierced must have distracted her.

"How curious."

I say, looking at her with her eyes closed.

I had thought she was just closing her eyes, but having briefly read her heart essence and memories, I became certain.

"Have you been sleeping all this time, not just closing your eyes?"

Yes.

She wasn't just closing her eyes; she has been sleeping all along.

From the day she became a Heart Tribe, she has never woken up from her sleep.

Continuously sleeping, she controls her body through her dreams, a remarkable yet peculiar being.

"Oh, deep sleep is really important. If you never slept properly in your childhood, it's only natural to keep sleeping to make up for it, right?"

"No, that's not the issue... Never mind."

How is it possible to control one's body in a dream while sleeping?

"By the way... You've read my memories, haven't you? I felt the sticky gaze of the Earth Tribe scanning through my head..."

"Sorry about that. The vision isn't something I can control."

"Well, it's okay. Although your heart essence is that of a madman, I clearly felt that you are not a wicked person. Just your transparent Last Quarter alone."

"Last Quarter... what's that?"

"It means Manifestation. Heart Tribe members, when meeting each other, try to maintain some uniformity by calling it Manifestation 1, 2, 3 stages, etc. But honestly, every Heart Tribe member calls 'Manifestation' by a different term. I prefer to call it Last Quarter"

'I see...'

It's similar to my Treading Heavens.

Then she asks me with her eyes still closed.

"So, what do you think of me as a being?"

"Ah..."

That's right.

I look at her, organizing my thoughts.

This time, using both the vision of the Heart Tribe and the Earth Tribe simultaneously, I discovered something new.

The Treading Heavens vision that reads the opponent's heart essence.

And the Earth Tribe's vision that reads the trajectory of spiritual energy.

When these two visions combine, it was like seeing the flashbacks of my life through the trajectory of Yin and Yang when I reached the Nascent Soul stage.

I realized that I could briefly see another's life.

"It was a life full of hardships."

I continue, looking at Yu Hwa.

"After all the hardships, you obtained what you wished for, so it's also a life to be celebrated."

At my words, she beams.

"Thank you for the compliment."

And what she says next takes me by surprise.

"After my current mission ends,

If you wish, I will formally invite you to the Heart Tribe Territory and make you a member of the Heart Tribe."