Багана (4)

Tududududu―

Kim Young-hoon and I are skimming across the southern sea.

'We're going slowly.'

Given the speed at which Kim Young-hoon and I could move, we should have reached the Sea Dragon Palace in no time. There must be a reason for us traveling this slowly.

Apparently, even Kim Young-hoon isn't feeling good about going to see the state of Cheongmun Ryeong.

As I follow behind Kim Young-hoon, I gradually notice that various parts of the South Sea have changed.

'Originally... there were small islands everywhere....'No islands are in sight.

It seems that all the islands had sunk due to a previous battle.

I slowly ask Kim Young-hoon a question as I trail behind him.

"I have something to ask."

"What is it."

I question him about the strange stone said to have emerged from the innards of Cheongmun Ryeong.

"Was that mysterious stone... safe for Buk Hyang-hwa to keep using?"

"No. Later on, it was found that madness was faintly emanating from the stone, so all the crew of the Buk Hyang Fleet had to be replaced with puppets. However, for some reason, Buk Hyang-hwa alone was not eroded by the madness. Even though she was merely at the late stage of Qi Building."

"Um...?"

'How is that possible?'

I believe in her mental strength, but what exactly had happened?

"I don't know for sure, but she always carries a norigae with her. She firmly believes that the norigae protects her. Whether it's true or not...."

"..."

"Ah, and also, using the method of extracting knowledge from the strange stone that Cheongmun Ryeong taught her, she extracted some of the stone's knowledge and then sealed all the stones together. The interesting thing is… that norigae."

"...Yes?"

I'm surprised by the unexpected information.

"She says that the only material that can seal the mysterious stone in this world is that norigae. Really, I wonder what material it's made from...."

"...?"

I feel something odd about that statement.

'That norigae is made from Gathering Soul Jade found in the Heaven-Treading Desert....'

It's a very common material for making magic artifacts.

But that norigae was the only material that could seal the strange stone?

Yet, what's strange is Kim Young-hoon's following remark.

"After sealing all the stones in the norigae, she placed it in the main ship's power source of the Buk Hyang Fleet, linking the power from the main ship to the rest of the Buk Hyang Fleet to strengthen their control. In my view, her talent is no less than that of Cheongmun Ryeong…"

I feel like I'm plunging into a maze as I listen to him.

'She sealed the mysterious stone in the norigae?'

Sealing implies that there had to be space inside for it to be possible.

But the norigae was a dharma treasure I had refined myself.

I know it best.

There was no such space inside the norigae.

Perhaps due to regression, the properties of the dharma treasures had overlapped causing the norigae to transform, but even when I dismantled the Colorless Glass Sword, there was no sign of material transformation or space creation.

'What on earth is it?'

The function of the norigae was only 'communication.'

It had no other functions.

'What did Buk Hyang-hwa do? I can't get a grip on it.'

For now, that's all I can think of.

'Perhaps the knowledge she extracted from the mysterious stone might have been of some help...'

Thinking this, I continue to follow Kim Young-hoon.

Kim Young-hoon was using purely his own martial skills to perform a water-skimming technique across the sea, without using the abilities or accelerations of the Surpassing Radiant Saber.

Looking up at the sky as I follow him, I ponder.

'In the third stage of Manifestation, lifespan increases by about 300 years.'

Precisely, it's 343 years.

'This isn't even Qi Building.'

Despite reaching a level comparable to the Heavenly Being stage, the increase in lifespan is only at the level of Qi Building, which leaves me somewhat incredulous.

I grew curious.

"Young-hoon Hyung-nim."

"What is it."

"Is your true body beyond Shattering Heavens?"

"That's right, but?"

"In that case, do you perhaps know how much your lifespan has increased?"

But after asking about his lifespan, I immediately realized.

'Kim Young-hoon wouldn't know his own lifespan.'

How could he know if he hasn't even performed the Seven Star Ritual?

However, I'm startled by Kim Young-hoon's next words.

"Um... I suppose it must be at least ten thousand years."

"...What?"

"I'm not exactly sure myself. But that's the feeling I get."

'Ten thousand years? No, more importantly...'

While I am astonished by the immense span of time, it isn't strange considering the Four-Axis stage and Integration stage where lifespans increase by hundreds of thousands of years.

What surprises me more is that Kim Young-hoon 'knows his lifespan.'

The Heaven Tribe, Earth Tribe, and Heart Tribe each have their unique temperaments.

That's why when the Heart Tribe exerts its power, the Heaven and Earth Tribes can detect it, and when the Earth Tribe exerts power, the Heaven Tribe recognizes it as demonic energy.

And such temperaments are even more visible to my eyes now that I have reached the Heavenly Being stage.

'Kim Young-hoon has not learned Heaven Tribe methods.'

It's evident.

He can't see celestial energy.

"How do you... know your lifespan?"

As I ask, he seems to ponder before answering.

"Something... feels different than before, as if I've realized the final destination my soul (魂) will reach. Upon reaching this realm, it feels as though my soul is being pulled by a higher force towards death in the direction it aspires to reach."

"Um...."

Only then do I understand why Kim Young-hoon could 'read' his lifespan.

'Is it a method of lifespan reading similar to that of the Earth Tribe?'

Qi, Soul, and Fate influence each other.

Because they are connected, they impact each other's changes.

Thus, the Demon Race, who cultivate in the plane of Qi, can read the vast flows of spiritual energy between heaven and earth to divine something akin to fate or make educated guesses about their lifespans.

Similarly, it seems that once the Heart Tribe reaches a certain level, even without the vision of the Heaven or Earth Tribes, they can read their own lifespans.

'I've learned something new.'

How long have we been exchanging curiosities and traveling?

We finally arrive at the southern end of the Head Realm.

Above the seas where the Sea Dragon Palace is located.

'It's my first time going to the Astronomical Observatory.'

Although I have been to the Sea Dragon Palace before, I had never entered the space dedicated to observing the heavens.

It wasn't only because Seo Hweol had caused so much trouble, but also because I couldn't find it inside the Sea Dragon Palace.

Thus, I had been unconcerned, assuming it must be somewhere outside the palace.

'Thinking about it, I should have visited the Astronomical Observatory.'

Perhaps I could have learned what terrifying thing Jeon Hyang had discovered.

"Where is the Astronomical Observatory located?"

As I ask Kim Young-hoon, he points to the sky.

"Over there."

"...Yes?"

"Follow me."

Paatt!

Kim Young-hoon steps into the air and soars into the sky.

'Wasn't it supposed to be under the sea?'

I follow him into the air while feeling puzzled.

I thought the observatory was beyond the World Shield Force at the southern end of the world.

But contrary to expectations, it seems that the observatory is located high above.

'Well, logically thinking, it makes sense that a place for observing the heavens would be situated high up.'

After ascending through the air following Kim Young-hoon for a while, something enveloped by a barrier and invisible to the naked eye appears within my consciousness.

'That is….'

It's a building almost as massive as the Sea Dragon Palace.

This building, constructed on a Sky Island, is floating in the air like Ascension Path.

The Sky Island is small, and it clearly looks artificially made.

'And its altitude is a bit lower than Ascension Path.'

Noticing this, I try to enter the observatory.

However.

Kwaaaaang!

I'm repelled in the opposite direction with a strong repulsive force.

"Kugh, what's this?"

"Be careful. There was already a barrier formation here that even the Nether Crossing Ship had trouble penetrating, but after Cheongmun Ryeong strengthened the formation from inside, it became even more powerful."

"...How did you originally get through?"

"We blasted through with the main cannons of the Nether Crossing Ship."

"Hmm...."

Feeling annoyed, I draw out the Colorless Glass Sword.

Wo-woong!

The Three Great Ultimates appear behind my head.

Utilizing the power of the Three Great Ultimates, I swing the sword downward.

Kuaaaang!

With a tremendous boom, the barrier collapses entirely.

Kugugugu―

"…Just like when you crumpled the dimensional barrier, I'm reminded again that you've become a monster."

Kim Young-hoon looks at me with a weary expression.

"How troublesome it was every time we had to break through one of these..."

"Really? It was considerably weaker than the dimensional barrier though..."

"That's true, but if you fail to break it in one go, an even stronger counterforce emerges, making it a very tricky barrier. And now, you smashed it in one go without even exerting much effort...."

Kim Young-hoon clicks his tongue as we both move beyond the collapsed barrier.

Just as I set foot in the Astronomical Observatory.

Wo-woong!

I feel a refreshing clarity come over my mind.

'This is...'

Again.

The 'mind-clearing spell,' characteristic of Seo Hweol, was cast over the entire Astronomical Observatory.

'Why in the world is this guy using such spells in every building he constructs?'

It certainly wasn't for mental health benefits.

Eventually, he would just brainwash everyone, making me curious about the true purpose of laying such spells.

Moreover, the spell cast over the Astronomical Observatory feels much stronger than the one at the Sea Dragon Palace.

'I should visit all the places where Seo Hweol had caused trouble at least once.'

I recall what Seo Hweol had said.

'He said he had built up his Axis Foundation at the Sea Dragon Palace, Serving Command Palace, the Black Castle, and Ascension Path.'

Maybe building up an Axis Foundation has something to do with the mind.

Or maybe it's for some other reason.

In any case, I could learn more about his intentions and the method Seo Hweol used to build up his Orthodox Axis Foundation.

While I was thinking about this.

"...Young-hoon Hyung-nim?"

I suddenly realized that Kim Young-hoon had stopped speaking and was standing still since entering the Sea Dragon Palace.

"Is there something wrong?"

I can tell even without asking.

Kim Young-hoon is uneasy about coming to the place where he had personally cut down Cheongmun Ryeong.

"...No. Let's go."

He hesitates for a moment then takes the lead.

I clench my teeth and follow him.

'Cheongmun Ryeong... What has happened to you?'

How long have we been moving inside the Astronomical Observatory?

I notice characters engraved everywhere inside the observatory.

'What is this...?'

The Astronomical Observatory itself, due to an automatic restoration spell, appears quite intact despite what must have been a fierce confrontation between Kim Young-hoon and Cheongmun Ryeong.

However, oddly, there are parts that haven't been restored and are engraved with 'characters'.

"Young-hoon Hyung-nim, those are..."

"They are words left by Cheongmun Ryeong. We don't exactly know what they mean."

"Is that so..."

I read the characters left by Cheongmun Ryeong one by one.

Mountain (山)...

Summit (頂上)...

Thirty-three (三十三)...

"...?"

Words I know individually but unknown when together.

Soon, Kim Young-hoon and I enter the center of the Astronomical Observatory.

"...That is..."

"Look."

Kim Young-hoon points with his hand at 'something' in the center of the Astronomical Observatory.

"That, is Cheongmun Ryeong sealed by me. He ended up... mutated like that."

"...Ah..."

Stunned, I look at 'Cheongmun Ryeong.'

Cheongmun Ryeong has turned into a giant [Salt Pillar] and is situated at the center of the Astronomical Observatory.

Below the salt pillar, another word is written.

I slowly read the crookedly written words.

"...Audience Chamber (謁見室)."