Chapter 708

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

The Fifth Emperor Jeon Wook spoke.

[Go back. This is a sealed place. It's not somewhere you can run wild.]

At those words, the Vortex King coughed and laughed before replying.

[I'm a traveler. I don't want to waste my long journey through the universe idly.]

[What are you trying to say?]

[Tell me what's sealed here.]

Jeon Wook seemed greatly displeased by the Vortex King's request and unleashed his presence. Then, from Seo Mun-hye's possessed body, endless yin energy surged alongside darkness, silently filling the world and transforming it into pitch-black void.

Sususu.

It was a wordless pressure implying he might resort to force if needed, but the Vortex King didn't flinch and continued speaking.

[You Three Emperors and Five Emperors manage this world... But your fates after the apocalypse haven't been decided yet.]

[......]

[No one knows if this world will even remain after the apocalypse.]

Jeon Wook didn't show much reaction to those words. However, he seemed intrigued and ceased exerting his influence. Meanwhile, Seo Mun-hye desperately resisted being dragged away inside Jeon Wook, listening to the deities' conversation. She felt she needed to hear more of this exchange.

Jeon Wook spoke.

[Don't worry needlessly. We're not so desperate as to serve under your otherworldly overlords.]

[But a new territorial struggle would be a hassle. When that time comes, I'll ally with you.]

[...You really want to know what's sealed here that badly?]

The Vortex King's eyes curved strangely.

[I responded to the summon thinking I could seize Changhil, but the summoner died. Still, the tribute from the summoner was decent, so I decided to travel this world. I have quite a long time before my stay expires.]

In the decisive battle of the Divine Era, the White Lotus Leader had unexpectedly died, but the Vortex King didn't return immediately. This was because, thanks to the human sacrifices from the White Lotus Cult, he had accumulated abundant karma. Thus, while lingering in this world, he decided to toy with his 'playthings.'

[You've gathered karma needlessly.]

[Everything's just to relieve boredom. Ruler of this world, do you lack the magnanimity to indulge a traveler's whims?]

[Hmm.]

Jeon Wook seemed to ponder the Vortex King's words for a moment. Then he said.

[This is the grave of the rebel who ignited the Great War. And since I ruled the North, I extracted and sealed his heart separately in my territory.]

[Why go that far?]

[He was too powerful; we couldn't properly seal his main body without tearing off his limbs. I had to use five spears I cherished for the seals.]

[Ho... I see... So that's the one I've only heard about.]

The Vortex King seemed to realize who was sealed. With his curiosity satisfied, he glanced at Berus, who had been listening from a distance, and said.

[The one who can turn the wheel. Did your master send you here?]

Suuu.

Jeon Wook also looked at Berus, and the gazes of two [Old Rulers] fixed on him simultaneously. The immense pressure and magic distorted space-time itself, but Berus didn't budge. With utterly unshaken eyes, he met their stares and replied.

[Great Vortex King, my master is not wicked and does not challenge the domain of rulers. Nor is he hostile. You know this well.]

[Why did you turn the wheel?]

[The karma of the request belonged to me.]

[Kuk... Get lost. You don't belong here.]

[I humbly heed your stern words.]

Shuuk.

Berus immediately used teleportation magic and vanished. Jeon Wook said nothing about it, merely watching. To them, Berus wasn't even worth considering as an insect. Moreover, the rulers subtly seemed wary of the being behind Berus.

Jeon Wook said irritably.

[Now you go too.]

[If you say go, I'll go...]

[What else do you need?]

The Vortex King said.

[This one received baptism from a ruler. Do you know who owns the magic terminal engraved in this flesh?]

[Ah, that.]

Jeon Wook replied curtly, as if it were trivial.

[It's the guardian at the entrance to a distant world.]

[Interesting... This place...]

The Vortex King chuckled before saying.

[Well then, time to stop playing with the toys. Farewell.]

Seureuk.

Moments later, the black presence began departing from Musashi's body. The [Old Ruler] Vortex King seemed intent on wandering this world and lost interest in Musashi. As the Vortex King's soul left, Musashi's monstrous body lost its vitality and collapsed like a ragdoll.

Jeon Wook eyed the scene with displeasure for a moment before saying.

[I'll let it slide this time, but if you turn the wheel again and damage my seal, I won't forgive you.]

Jeon Wook also departed from Seo Mun-hye's body. He too apparently had no desire to expend effort on such an unexpected triviality.

An eerie silence then blanketed the chamber. It was a desolate quiet, with Musashi and Seo Mun-hye collapsed as if dead. A long while later, Berus reappeared using teleportation magic.

Berus placed his hand on the fallen Seo Mun-hye's back, summoned a fish spirit, and breathed it into her. She twitched briefly, regained her vitality, and awoke.

"Ah..."

[Your soul was moments from being dragged to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Hall. You're fine now.]

[Thank you so much.]

[More importantly.]

Berus sighed.

[Jeon Wook warned me. Reversing it has become tricky.]

Seo Mun-hye said puzzled.

[No need to reverse anything, right? Everyone survived, and the pursuer Musashi is dead like that.]

Berus countered.

[Does that look dead to you?]

[Pardon?]

[Until now, that one was puppeted like a marionette by the [Old Ruler]. Even with the soul gone, the immense magic still swirls within the body. It's not dead—it's adapting to the magic.]

[...No way.]

Berus nodded.

[It will soon revive as an unprecedented demon. And its combat power won't differ much from before...]

[Will Musashi's will remain after revival?]

[Unclear, but I think so. Even when the [Old Ruler] dominated his mind through the magic terminal, Musashi's mental strength endured. He'll likely live a second life as a demon.]

[Then we all flee from here...]

[True, without the [Old Ruler]'s control, it can't use magic anymore, so that could work. But how far can we run from it? We'd be eternally pursued by a relentless, murderous monster.]

From Seo Mun-hye's expression, Berus could tell she was troubled.

Fleeing like this might preserve their lives for now. But being endlessly chased by a monster that neither ate, slept, nor tired was another terror. As she fell silent, Berus said.

[The Sword Demon asked to reverse the wheel, but it's a dilemma. It's about accepting this situation or not. Reversing time doesn't guarantee a better outcome.]

[......]

[What can we do? Despite Jeon Wook's warning, if you wish, I'll turn the wheel one last time. Of course, without the [Old Ruler] attached, but it'd still be a demon. We'd still face it suddenly.]

The [Old Rulers] already sensed the small wheel turning. They overlooked it coincidentally before, but they wouldn't this time.

Berus also speculated that if Musashi became a monster, he'd reappear here. The residual magic concentration was so high it might ignore the [Small Wheel]'s influence.

Seo Mun-hye pondered. As Berus said, gambling again when this might be the best outcome was hard. But she knew the Sword Demon's plan and couldn't dismiss its potential.

[Father would... choose this way.]

After a moment, she decided and spoke.

[Reverse it, please.]

[Confident it'll yield better results?]

[Yes.]

Seo Mun-hye's eyes shone.

[Father will succeed.]

The Sword Demon sat in lotus position, pouring his utmost concentration into this moment.

Could I really do this?

The Sword Demon Seo Moon Daeryong, who had never despaired amid life's great trials, faced something different now. With his daughter's life on the line, he was attempting an absurd gamble based solely on unproven theory.

Memories flashed in the Sword Demon's mind from his training days in the southern continent with Jin So-cheong.

[Sword Demon Elder, I believe that theory is sound.]

[It's just a theory I pondered. You take it seriously?]

[Yes. I think it's correct.]

[Zhuge or Mangnyang would call it nonsense...]

Jin So-cheong shook his head at the Sword Demon's wry smile.

[No. I see value in trying it.]

[Planning to try it yourself?]

[Yes. If the chance comes.]

[Success or failure, if it works... it'd be a giant leap.]

[Exactly.]

Jin So-cheong's eyes gleamed.

[The chance can't be captured by time. It requires peak concentration and insight into a singularity whose existence is uncertain.]

[I realize now how fanciful my dream was.]

[I wish you success.]

Indeed—

A single chance, but reflexes could never seize it. Even experts' nerves and senses caught speeds hundreds of times sound, but time's movement itself evaded even the swiftest reflexes. By the moment of perception, it had already changed.

Yet this implied humans could never oppose gods. If gods manipulated space-time or the [Wheel], even anti-god swordsmanship became useless.

So, could martial arts truly not counter gods?

The Sword Demon believed otherwise. From Baek Woong's memories, he had seen the War God and his followers. If no way existed to oppose gods, they wouldn't crave the War God's path so. Jin So-cheong felling the Nine Yin Cult Leader on Galaxy Isle supported this.

Goooong.

The Sword Demon's hair whipped wildly, turning white from the tips. His robust body withered gradually, his qi contracting.

Unlike Seo Mun-hye's hereditary white hair, this was backlash from channeling lifetime power through total focus. His concentration affected his body. He honed his mind to exclude all other thoughts.

But it had to be this way.

What he attempted was theoretical madness, impossible without life-risking obsession.

He must surpass not just Musashi.

Surpass himself, surpass his realm, and reach enlightenment.

If mind gives rise to vision (若心起見)

There are further realms to discern and seek (有餘境可分別求)

He recalled a sutra passage. Originally, it meant true law confuses when mind evokes perception and awareness, explaining enlightenment. Unrelated to martial realms, yet it strangely guided him. Perhaps its author was enlightened.

True enlightenment piercing countless eons!

The momentary tainted mind, akin to ignorance and karma, was a different enlightenment from Buddhist doctrine—a severance of thought itself. As alaya consciousness deepened, his mental prowess ascended to another dimension.

Creeeak.

The Sword Demon's skin cracked, light flowing from his forehead center. At peak focus, boundaries vanished; his qi mingled with the void, flowing. His body resembled a flickering candle flame.

[In the ultimate realm, time is distance. Grasping the flow amid trillions of combinations by sense is nearly impossible. So I realized there's an axis above and below the flow, and consecutive circles. Knowing circles flow from high to low makes it simple. Swim against the downward flow. I realized this pursuing ultimate martial arts for fifty years.]

[Watch closely. Void births qi.]

[Baek Woong, as you near martial limits, alaya consciousness manifests in infinite time, revealing the Great Void. Ultimately, martial arts is the essence opposing chaos—the Great Void. Pursuing martial arts ultimately grasps the Great Void, ultimate thread, breaking karma... The Dao's Taiji depicts this divine realm comprehensibly.]

Great Void (太虛)

That's key.

This world's most fundamental property was chaos. Dualities like light-dark, good-evil arose post-chaos; nothing was more primal. Even [Old Rulers], gods, cosmic chaos stemmed from it.

Yet Baek Woong's past-life memories revealed chaos fusing with Great Void to perish, leaving Great Void at chaos's end. A paradox, meaning only Great Void counters chaos universally.

Then what of time?

To the Sword Demon, time belonged to chaos. Past, present, future yielded to karma and divinities. Gods manipulating time was natural, like fish in water.

Musashi had once slashed space-time's plane against gods. Meaning thought could slash even chaos, reversing time. Evidence formed a theory.

Enlighten to Great Void, reverse time!

Of course, lacking power and human limits, he couldn't willfully move the [Small Wheel]. But theoretically, an absolute realm warrior could resist time's regression with total focus.

Kugugugu.

The Sword Demon's eyes flashed transparently; his lotus body slowly rose. Channeling life's peak focus, he cared not if this moment ended all. Even familial bonds vanished from his mind.

'When'?

...Meaningless. The word binds to time's concept.

Perhaps his language's notions blocked imagination and possibility.

As his mental power surged, the Sword Demon realized he perceived the wheel's singularity.

Dao births, Virtue nurtures (道生之德畜之)

Matter forms, force completes (物形之勢成之)

There, metaphysical change occurred directly. He gazed at the singularity as if enraptured.

Paat.

Next instant, the Sword Demon knew the landscape around him had utterly reversed; he stood on earth. Beside him were Berus and his daughter Seo Mun-hye. Berus glanced at him and said.

[Why is your hair white?]

The Sword Demon smiled silently, not answering.

He had resisted the wheel-turning chaos. Quietly, he gazed ahead.

[Sword... Demon...]

In his line of sight, Musashi staggered to his feet. Immense magic flowed from his body; the monstrous form writhed further. The [Old Ruler] was gone, but he remained under magic's sway, awakening anew within.

The Sword Demon began walking toward Musashi.

When the distance between them was exactly one jang, their eyes met.

In that instant, they slashed simultaneously, needing no cue.

The only difference: the Sword Demon's sword was formless, residual light vanished; Musashi's brimmed with magic, a monstrous blade.

Silence.

Moments later, with cracking sounds, Musashi's monstrous skin split. His upper body distorted grotesquely with a massive wound. Like piled leaves, slashes veered, plunging repeatedly; in an instant, hundreds of wounds shredded his torso.

Simultaneously, the Sword Demon's strike cleared Musashi's mind. Ame no Habakiri's divinity severed the demonic taint, weakening magic's hold.

[......]

Musashi, bleeding blue, didn't kneel. He didn't doubt the Sword Demon's skill that surpassed his momentary Demon King realm. As a fellow swordsman, seeing him revealed the realization.

That speed, like light.

Absolute invincible might slicing monstrous armor like paper.

Not Ame no Habakiri's power—pure Sword Demon force.

Musashi used his bipedal voice slowly.

[Formless... Sword.... True... Heart Sword realm...]

"......"

[Thank you... And... sorry...]

Why sorry?

As a warrior, he recognized reviving via magic to assault again as cowardly, despite [Old Ruler] influence eroding sanity. He felt shame toward himself. Also, pity that his slayer would soon follow.

[Father!!]

[Stay back, Hye-ah.]

The Sword Demon had slashed the demonized Musashi in one strike, but wasn't unscathed. Momentarily enlightening to Great Void elevated him to absolute realm, reaching formless sword, subduing Musashi—but not enough to fully evade the monstrous blade. A long gash from Musashi's sword pierced his chest.

The Sword Demon smiled, blood trickling from his mouth.

[In that state, you couldn't slay a god.]

[......]

Musashi gaped in shock, then chuckled bitterly.

[Peerless under heaven... A dream of an instant.]

Pasus.

Musashi crumbled to dust. Even near-Demon King magic couldn't withstand formless sword intact. Confirming Musashi's dissipation, Sword Demon Seo Moon Daeryong knew his own end neared.

A sudden emptiness washed over him.

Would Baek Woong inherit these memories and experiences?

If Zhuge lived, he'd extract knowledge via familiars, but the vivid eighth consciousness experience couldn't be passed. Zhuge couldn't convey absolute realm insights.

[But... my will endures.]

As he tried to speak.

[I will convey it instead.]

Someone spoke in his mind.

[......!! You—! You lived...]

The Sword Demon's eyes widened, recognizing the voice. After mental exchange, he finally relaxed. Much later, he smiled faintly at Seo Mun-hye.

[Hye-ah... No need to worry.]

[Father...]

[This death is mere momentary parting. Won't we meet again?]

Tears burst from Seo Mun-hye as she said.

[No. You can't go...]

[Don't you think we'll meet again?]

[How can I accept this death easily, consoled by future reunion?]

[True...]

The Sword Demon slowly collapsed, eyes closing.

[I'll... rest a bit.]

Closed-eyed Sword Demon Seo Moon Daeryong moved no more.

Musashi's wounds were too severe, and resisting the [Small Wheel] via Great Void drained his vitality.

Life ended, but protecting kin left no regrets.