Chapter 198

Between the rift in the night sky.

An ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍old man, his back lit by a dazzling halo, descended slowly through the air, his feet stepping on nothing.

An ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍immortal style, taoist bones.

Snow-white ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍beard and robe fluttered in the wind, and beneath his feet, a single ancient sword supported him like a cloud.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the Sword Immortal, Lü Dongbin.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍moment he set foot on the ground, the churning atmosphere fell still in an instant.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was as if the tumult of the world had held its breath before his majesty.

—It's been a while, executor of Heaven's Mandate.

Lü Dongbin's voice resounded directly in Jaseong's mind.

—It feels like just yesterday when I first chose you to be the executor of Heaven's Mandate... Now, you have reached a realm where you can maintain your composure even upon hearing your true voice.

With a benevolent smile, Lü Dongbin spoke.

True to his transcended form, the energy he radiated was so vast that even Jaseong, who had reached the transformation realm, felt cold sweat trickling down his spine.

It was a difference not just of martial prowess, but of existential level.

Jaseong offered a cupped fist salute and greeted him.

"I pay my respects to the Sword Immortal."

"You have endured much hardship. Slaying Little Evil, eradicating Middle Evil, and even causing turmoil in the jianghu... You have fulfilled the mandates one by one and reached this point admirably."

There was pride in Lü Dongbin's gaze.

From the bottom of the Red Light District to becoming the Evil Path Association Leader, he knew better than anyone else the path of blood and sweat Jaseong had walked.

"But..."

Lü Dongbin's expression gradually grew solemn.

The air around them grew heavy.

"Now, the true trial begins."

"... The true trial?"

"This is your final Heaven's Mandate. You must kill the new Heavenly Demon, the incarnation of ascended Heavenly Demons. That is your final task."

"......!"

Jaseong's gaze sharpened.

The new Heavenly Demon.

A monster raised by the Demonic Cult in the Ten-Thousand-Mountain Range.

Only by defeating him could all evil ties be severed once and for all.

"But, he is extremely powerful."

"How powerful?"

"Even as you are, I cannot guarantee your victory."

... Even I, who have reached the transformation realm and earned the title of World's Greatest, cannot be assured of victory?

Has such an expert appeared within the Demonic Cult?

"Do not grow arrogant just because you have reached the transformation realm. With your current strength, you cannot defeat the new Heavenly Demon. The Heavenly Demon who has reached the profound realm... is far stronger than you imagine."

"Profound realm...?"

A realm beyond the transformation realm.

A domain said to exist only in legends, the realm of the divine.

"Yes. If the transformation realm is when one sheds their human shell, then the profound realm is becoming one with all of creation, defying the laws of nature. If you do not reach that realm, you will lose to the new Heavenly Demon. And then, the Central Plains will fall into eternal darkness."

"......."

"He was able to gain such power because the Heavenly Demons of previous generations offered up their own lifespans to grant him opportunity. Therefore... We immortals also wish to bestow upon you our final gift."

Lü Dongbin raised his hand and pointed to the air.

Wuuuuung!

Space distorted as a strange wave arose.

A crack appeared in midair, and through that fissure shone a blinding white light—a tiny door emerged.

From beyond that portal flowed an alien energy, as if even the flow of time itself had stopped.

"What is that?"

Jaseong asked.

"A treasure of the Celestial Realm, the Room of Time."

Lü Dongbin explained.

"When a day passes inside, only a single instant passes outside. In other words, a year inside is like a day outside. Here, you can train without the limitation of time and rapidly grow stronger."

"The Room of Time...."

Jaseong's eyes sparkled.

In fact, what he needed most right now was time.

If time were limitless, he could continuously accumulate enormous stores of energy with the Heaven Evading Celestial Formula, attaining enlightenment and reaching the realm beyond transformation, even the profound realm.

It would grant him the level to stand equal to the new Heavenly Demon, the incarnation of the ascended demons.

Yet with the war against the Demonic Cult right at the doorstep, there was no time for such things.

But with this room....

"If a day equals a year... then 100 days would be...."

"Correct. That would be a hundred years."

Lü Dongbin nodded.

But his expression was not bright.

If anything, his gaze was filled with warning.

"But heed my words: this is both a blessing and a curse."

"A curse?"

"The human mind is finite. To endure a hundred years, alone in solitude with nothing for company... If you cannot bear the weight, your spirit may collapse."

Lü Dongbin's voice was low.

"Most who have entered the Room of Time went mad. Some have ended their own lives. To devote a hundred years solely to training, enduring it... It is impossible for ordinary mental strength."

Jaseong fell silent.

A hundred years of solitude.

Even imagining it was hard.

But the determination in his eyes did not waver.

"Yes, perhaps you alone could manage it. With your stubborn killing intent."

Lü Dongbin placed a hand on Jaseong's shoulder.

A warm energy flowed from his touch.

"Hurry with your preparations. The door will only remain open for a short time. At most, three days. You must enter by then."

With those words, Lü Dongbin's form gradually faded.

The glimmer receded, leaving only the entrance to the Room of Time, shining with white light, behind in the air.

"......."

With eyes burning with resolve, Jaseong silently gazed at the entrance.

* * *

After Lü Dongbin disappeared.

Jaseong acted immediately.

He returned to the chief's office and summoned Hyang-I.

"Hyang."

"Yes, Sect Leader. You called for me?"

Hyang-I entered, still visibly startled by the strange light shining outside the window, but she steadied herself upon seeing Jaseong's calm countenance.

"Gather all the elixirs in the Central Plains within three days. As many as possible."

Startled by Jaseong's sudden order, Hyang-I's eyes widened round.

"Elixirs? But Sect Leader, you can already make whatever medicine you need using Heaven Evading Alchemy. Besides, your internal energy already overflows...."

"I've consumed all the elixirs I can make with Heaven Evading Alchemy. I've developed a resistance and they're no longer effective."

"Are you...?"

"?"

"Are you planning to enter another closed-door training?"

At Hyang-I's question, Jaseong silently nodded.

"I will re-enter the world precisely one hundred days later."

"... You must have heard how the Heavenly Demon's martial arts are beyond imagination. Understood, I'll do everything I can to sweep up every elixir in the Central Plains within three days."

Jaseong approached and placed a hand firmly on Hyang-I's shoulder.

His touch was solid and warm.

"And one more thing. Until I return, watch over the Evil Path Association and the Hao Sect. Trust in Lee Rin and Gu Janghu, and keep everyone steady in my absence."

"... Yes, Sect Leader. I will remember."

Three days later.

Hyang-I returned with carts laden with elixirs collected from all corners of the Central Plains.

"Sect Leader, preparations are complete."

The carts overflowed with elixirs.

Millennia-old wild ginseng, ten-thousand-year ganoderma, tianshan Snow Lotus, vermilion...

The finest elixirs obtainable in the Central Plains, priceless by any measure.

Even the spiritual ki emitted by these alone was enough to freshen the air in the room.

"Well done. This should be enough."

As he packed the elixirs into his leather pouch, Jaseong answered just so.

That was when—

"Kkiruruk!"

From somewhere, a bundle of white fur dashed out and blocked Jaseong's way.

It was Mansul.

The fellow bit Jaseong's trouser leg and wagged her tail energetically.

"You want to come too?"

Jaseong asked.

Mansul responded with a sharp "Kkiing!" and leapt into Jaseong's arms.

Indeed, it was only natural for Mansul to want to accompany Jaseong.

A gumiho is a spirit beast.

She grows with age, growing more powerful the older she gets.

If she spent a hundred years in the Room of Time, Mansul, too, could grow nearly as mighty as a legendary Celestial Fox.

"You know this is dangerous, right? One hundred years. We'll have to endure that long period in closed-door cultivation."

Jaseong asked.

But Mansul licked Jaseong's cheek without a hint of fear.

It was clear she was willing to go anywhere, so long as it was together.

After a moment's deliberation, Jaseong smiled and nodded slightly.

"... Very well. Let's go together. Better the two of us than going alone."

Mansul, in delight, danced atop Jaseong's shoulder.

Having prepared his bundle of elixirs, Jaseong now called for Lee Rin and Gu Janghu.

"Great hero, what's with that outfit? Are you leaving on a journey?"

"Lee Rin. Gu Janghu. Starting now, I will enter one hundred days of closed-door training."

Hearing that, Lee Rin and Gu Janghu were left in disbelief.

"Sect Leader, with war against the Demonic Cult imminent, you're going to shut yourself away...?"

"I trust you both to hold back the Demonic Cult's advances in my absence. Besides, we have the Right Protector of the Hao Sect, and the sect leaders and heads of the Four Great Clans and Seven Sects."

At Jaseong's words, Lee Rin and Gu Janghu were momentarily stunned, but soon nodded in silent understanding.

"Alright, great hero. Go with peace of mind."

"We may not be able to defeat the Heavenly Demon ourselves, but at least we can hold and defend our territory against the Demonic Cult's onslaught. Go, Sect Leader."

"We'll see you again in 100 days. Promise."

Hearing this from Lee Rin and Gu Janghu, Jaseong just nodded quietly and slowly turned away.

"Then, I'll be off."

Leaving only a short parting, Jaseong strode toward the shining door atop the Black Union City's main hall.

A white door visible only to the executor of Heaven's Mandate.

Upon his shoulders sat Mansul; upon his back, a bundle of elixirs; and within his heart, an unbreakable promise to return.

Sssss—

Jaseong's body vanished into the white light.

The door closed, the light faded away.

Tranquility returned once more to Black Union City after Jaseong's departure.

* * *

Room of Time

Jaseong and Mansul crossed the shining threshold.

The moment the door closed behind them, all noise from the world was cut off.

Sssss—

Spread before them was a limitless white expanse.

No sky, no ground, no horizon.

Only an endless white space stretched out like eternity.

An absolute silence and emptiness that distorted even one's sense of direction.

That was the true nature of the Room of Time.

"This is... the Room of Time...."

Jaseong gazed around him.

He couldn't even feel the flow of air.

Yet the sensation on his skin was strange.

As if submerged underwater, he could feel time flowing thickly and slowly.

A single instant outside felt like eternity here—a peculiar sensation.

"Time... flows so slowly here...."

Jaseong muttered quietly.

At that moment, an unfamiliar voice was heard from within his arms.

"We're just moving very quickly. From outside, it would look as if we're standing perfectly still, that's how swiftly we're living."

Startled, Jaseong looked down at his chest.

It was Mansul.

She slipped from his arms and stood lightly atop the air.

Her three tails waved gracefully behind her.

"You... You could talk all this time?"

Jaseong's eyes widened a bit.

Up to now, the creature who had only chirped and shown cuteness was suddenly speaking fluent human language.

Mansul twitched her whiskers and replied.

"Impossible outside. But here, it's filled with the energy of the Celestial Realm. That's why I can use some of my original power."

Mansul's amber eyes glinted deeply.

They were no longer the eyes of a mere pet.

They held the wisdom of a spirit beast who had lived centuries.

"Jaseong. Prepare yourself. A hundred years here will be much longer and more agonizing than you can imagine."

Jaseong gave a bitter smile and gripped the Wicked Flame Sword anew.

"I know. I entered here fully resolved."

And so began the endless training.