Chapter 175: Even If This Place Is Hell (4)

Chapter 175: Even If This Place Is Hell (4) The hand is enormous. The size of one hand is literally enough to cover an entire mountain range. Centered around that gigantic hand, a ceaseless red radiance spreads, dyeing the sky, the earth, and everything between the heavens and earth red. The battle begins swiftly "Uooooooh!" As Hyeon Woon forms hand seals, four Nascent Souls manifest behind him like spirits, and the shadow of a black dragon clings to him as well. His cultivation surges, and based on this surging cultivation, he executes his spells. Tsststsstsst! It seems as though a mist has spread everywhere, and Hyeon Woon's voice can be heard in detail as if he is right by one's ear. The mist makes his voice and intentions clearer. Under Hyeon Woon's command, the tens of thousands of remaining Human Race cultivators exert their strength and launch attacks on the Left Hand approaching from beyond the mountain range, where barriers are set. Kugung, Kugugugugung! The attacks by Nascent Soul and Heavenly Being cultivators, including me and Oh Hyun-seok at the Four-Axis level, as well as several Four-Axis stage commanders putting forth all their might results in, Shiiii. The Esteemed One's Left Hand, emitting smoke from its entire body, momentarily stopping in its tracks. 'Is it effective?' The Left Hand of the Esteemed One. Its difficult to read its heart essence. The structure of its heart essence is entirely different from that of ordinary beings, making it hard to grasp. However, visible wounds can be seen on the Esteemed One's Left Hand, which are somewhat visible to the naked eye. "It's effective! Since it's not the Esteemed One's main body, it sustains injuries when attacked! If we all proceed with the determination of a decisive battle, we cannot lose!" Hyeon Woon desperately shouts, boosting the morale of our allies, and once again begins to press on the Esteemed One's Left Hand under his command. "The Vast Cold Jade barrier can even block strikes from a Grand Cultivator. Even if it is the Esteemed One, with just one hand present, its power must have fallen to about the Integration stage! Endure and attack!" Flap, flap! Water puppets summoned by Hyeon Woon behind us wave large black flags. Then, simultaneously, the command reaches all of our allies' ears, and we reorganize our formation according to Hyeon Woon's orders "Righteous path cultivators, forward!" Cultivators who practice righteous path methods step forward, casting spells imbued with the power of destroying evil onto the Esteemed One's Left Hand. Kugugugugu! The Esteemed One's Left Hand gathers devilish energy from outside the barrier for a counterattack. "The Esteemed One is attacking! Devilish cultivators, step forward!" Devilish cultivators who practice devil path methods step forward to form a defensive line. Flash! Blood erupts. At the same time, a tremendous shock hits the top of the barrier formation. Kurung, Kurururung! The barrier trembles wildly as if it will collapse instantly, and the devilish cultivators inside are busy fending off the shockwave. Ssssk, Sssssssk! What is most despairing is...Updated from "No, it's regenerating!" "Don't give it a chance!" The corals covering its surface wriggle, and the area we had attacked begins to regrow. Wriggle, wriggle.... Simultaneously, the eyeballs sprouting all over its hand writhe and begin to look towards us. Oh Hyun-seok screams in horror. "Don't make eye contact with it!" At his urgent words, Hyeon Woon also raises his voice. "It's using the Soul Extinguishing Yin Curse!" Kugugugu! Blood gathers in the Esteemed One's eyeballs before shooting towards us. "Gughaahhhhhh...." "Aaaaah...." A few unfortunate cultivators make eye contact with the Esteemed One's eyeballs for a moment, and I see the souls of cultivators fighting next to me scatter on the spot. 'Is that the same technique that Kim Yeon suffered from?' The recently killed cultivators are at the Heavenly Being stage. Even Heavenly Being stage cultivators die without exception if they're directly hit by the spell! Woooooong! Gradually, the red light emanating from the Left Hand subsides. Only then do we look back at the Left Hand again. Shiiiiii. In that brief moment when we had looked away, the Left Hand regenerated any injuries it sustained and is again gathering devilish power. Wooooong! The sky burns ominously. The crimson sky feels eerily undulating. "Everyone, form a defensive formation!" Hyeon Woon commands as he waves a flag, and numerous cultivators begin to form a defensive formation together. 'Wait, that...!' That's when I notice something suspicious. "Be careful! That's not just one spell! They've cunningly hidden another spell behind that one!" Chrararararak! The power of White Orchid Blessing Incantation spreads in all directions, overlaying the surrounding area with the clear power of blessings. "A curse! It's attempting to use a curse!" I can feel it! Only I, who have reached the pinnacle of understanding curses, can feel the thick malice emanating from beyond. Ooooooh! Flames gather from the undulating sky and soon, a rain of fire befalls. Astonishingly, the rain of flames transforms devilish power into spiritual energy in the air! The transformation of devilish energy into spiritual energy is miraculous! These raindrops of fire, now made of spiritual energy, strike the barrier more effectively than attacks made of devilish energy, shaking the barrier even more. Under Hyeon Woon's command, the devilish cultivators step forward to block the shockwave. After calmly blocking the shockwave, they also easily block the following curse, following my warning. Just then. Ziiiiing! Including me, Oh Hyun-seok, Hyeon Woon, and others. All cultivators stagger at once. 'What's this...' Through the strange devilish energy enveloping my body, I realize. 'What... It wasn't two but three?' After mixing a curse behind a physical attack, another spell was hidden inside the curse. This attack cleverly breached the barriers of the defensive formation, reaching the cultivators without being caught by anyone. I understand the nature of this attack. 'It's a mental attack...!' Ziiiiing! With immense agony, I feel my consciousness sink down below. 'Damnit...' It's not a matter of mental strength. By the nature of the spell, it's a technique that inevitably makes one lose their consciousness at least once. I immediately recognize the essence of the ability used by the Star Shattering stage Esteemed One. It triggers the Heart Demon, and through that gap, it injects malice, completely turning a human into a monster filled with desire and evil. Since it's a technique that ultimately makes one confront themselves, it affects any being at least once, no matter who they are. Kuwoong! I steady my footing, trying to hold onto my collapsing body. 'No, not quite.' I thought I managed to hold myself, but suddenly, Im in a completely different place. This is... within my heart essence. A transparent Sword Hell. Drip, drizzle.... My body bleeds from being pierced by the countless swords of Sword Hell. The bleeding blood gradually flows and eventually becomes a shadow in front of me. The shadow opens its mouth. "Do you think what you're doing has meaning? Do you truly believe you're right? What value does what you've done have" I interrupt the shadow's words. "Hey, look here." A smirk. A laugh escapes me. A Heart Demon? "Haven't we just talked about this topic recently? Even if I'm caught by the Star Shattering stage Esteemed One's ability, couldn't you come up with a slightly more original topic?" "..." That's right. Invoking a Heart Demon I've already overcome only serves as a laughing matter. An ability that affects any being at least once. In other words. Being caught just 'once' is enough. Boom! I stomp on the Heart Demon that appeared in my heart, bursting it. "Ending you is all it takes. It was pleasant to meet you again after a long time. Farewell." Splatter, splatter.... The pieces of the Heart Demon I stomp on explodes, scattering and wriggling around. Then it begins to struggle wildly trying to dominate my heart essence. Squelch, squelch.... The Heart Demon, or rather what used to be the Heart Demon, taints and pollutes my entire heart essence. In an instant, the surroundings are enveloped in filthy, sticky darkness. [Goodness is meaningless!] [This world is hell!] [Look at your heart essence! Isn't it that of someone living in hell?] [It's only right that everything falls apart!] [Let's heed the Esteemed One's command! The Esteemed One will show you a new path suited for hell!] "Oh ho, what a persuasive brainwashing attempt. Truly terrifying." I simply turn my back and begin to climb up Sword Hell. Plop, plop! With each step up, my entire body is pierced by swords, accompanied by pain. Wo-wooong! And every time I feel pain, I hear the sticky whispers of evil spirits following me from behind. [Let's be loyal to the Esteemed One!] [If this world is hell, then surely the laws of hell are the most useful, aren't they?] [The survival of the fittest! The strong can do whatever they want to the weak!] [Haven't you too been abused by the strong?] [The Esteemed One will make you stronger than those strong ones.] Step, step. This isn't my Heart Demon. Through my Heart Demon, the Esteemed One infused my heart essence with the malice of others. Yes, it is Vice. The Esteemed One artificially introduced into my heart essence all the Vice that the Human Race committed in the Devil Realm. However, without facing these Vices, and despite feeling pain, I silently continue to climb towards the peak of Sword Hell. Behind me, I can feel the sticky screams and gradually feel the Esteemed One's sorcery trying to press down on me fearfully. But, stepping on the swords of Sword Hell, I realize. 'The swords I step on are all life itself.' Yes, each of these transparent swords is a memory of mine. And Qi is Intent. Having gained enlightenment about planes, I know that the external Qi and the internal heart can influence each other. 'Maybe' As I step on the swords and climb higher, I ponder. 'The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections might ultimately be a reflection of my heart essence.' These swords represent both pain and wounds. But at the same time, they are a history that proves the traces of my life. Therefore, the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections that records my history Wo-wooong! The swords hide within the very seams of space. And from those gaps, they slice through the very flow of the world targeting me! Only I, possessing the sight of Nascent Soul and wielding the Formless Sword, can perform this extreme limit of extremes! The Four-Axis stage cultivators can somewhat sense where I am and launch attacks towards me, but since they discover me a breath or two too late, their attacks never reach. Of course, if they used a wide-area attack, they would somehow hit me, but such powerful spells are not usable in their current state of being manipulated by the Esteemed One. 'If I can only hold on!' Just then. Twitch. "!" The Esteemed One's Left Hand. The eyeballs on its body precisely stares directly at 'me,' executing the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts. Then, numerous people being manipulated by the Esteemed One launch a barrage of attacks towards my location! 'Damn, does this mean even the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts is of no use against someone like the Esteemed One.' Numerous human race cultivators pressure me. Losing the advantage of sight means I can only be pushed back. Boong! Boong! Boong! Kung! Kung! Kung! The depth of my footsteps deepen. I perform Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains, clenching my teeth. Though I am getting stronger, its still not enough. Silica Earth Great Wall Practice, Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea, Yin Soul Ghost Incantation. None of these can help in the current situation. If there had been more puppets made, things might have been different, but there was simply not enough time. Facing such an overwhelming one against many situation is proving to be too much. What can I do! Kwaaaaang! A blue light flies towards me. Oh Hyun-seok, with the Azure Spirit Striking Origin Technique wrapped around both hands, charges at me. He is, as expected, the most troublesome of them all. Every time I take a hit from him, it feels as though my entire body is melting away. Kwaaaang! 'Even though I'm getting stronger with Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains...' It's not enough. At this rate, Ill dry up and die before my attacks can be sufficiently strengthened! What to do... Suddenly. The illusion of Kim Young-hoon passes in front of me. What would he have done? 'He probably would have created a martial art suited for the situation.' Can I do the same? 'I cannot.' Creating martial arts isn't difficult with the years of training I have. But mastering a newly created martial art to its peak in the midst of battle and using it freely is nonsensical. Kim Young-hoon, with his absurd talent, could instantly master and utilize a newly created martial art on the spot, but while I can create a martial art, doing something like that is beyond me. Then, how should I overcome this situation? Kwaaaaang! After repelling Oh Hyun-seok's attack with Echoing Valley, I take a stance and lift the Formless Sword. The Colorless Glass Swords transform along with the Formless Sword, complementing the trajectory of the Formless Sword. Numerous techniques unfold through the three thousand Colorless Glass Swords, devastating the surroundings. But more attacks are coming from all directions, and Oh Hyun-seok is charging at me from the front. 'If only there was one move that could turn the tide, then I could get a breather!' The power of the White Orchid Blessing Incantation is gradually expelling the Esteemed Ones sorcery. Just a little longer and I will win! But now, I don't even have the strength to hold on a little longer. I'm headed for certain defeat! A strategy! A strategy! If it were Kim Young-hoon, if it were Oh Hyun-seok, if it were Kim Yeon, if it were Buk Hyang-hwa. What would others have done in this situation! Just some way! Suddenly. During this moment, I fall into a trance and recall something. '...When I ascended to the realm of Treading Heavens...' I had entered a 'different' path than Kim Young-hoon. It was clear. I entered Treading Heavens not by following his silhouette but my own. So why am I still looking for Kim Young-hoon, or anyone else? '...I see.' Because I've lived leeching on others until now. I advanced in martial arts leeching on Kim Young-hoon's talent, entered cultivation leeching on the enlightenment of Cheongmun Ryeong, acquired dharma treasures leeching on Buk Hyang-hwa's achievements. Leeching on the Mad Lord through a thousand years, I obtained circuits. A life of only taking from others, living off others. Perhaps that is the talentless life of mine. Ha. Somehow, realizing this fact, I find it quite amusing. The enlightenment I gain with the resolve to die is about how well I leech off others. 'A life of leeching off others...' But I smile, looking at the countless artifact spirits watching me from behind. 'It isn't bad.' My entire being is indebted to the kindness of many. If my talent lies in receiving kindness, imitating, leeching on others, and receiving from others. 'Let's do just that.' Lets imitate. Follow, chase, and even leech off. 'Even so, let's protect!' I recall the most powerful strike Ive ever seen. The strike of the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One I dreamt of last time! Let's reproduce that. Tstssts! That overwhelming destruction! That absurd power! Wo-woong! The Formless Sword resonates. Instinctively, I can feel it. With my own skills, I can never even follow in the footsteps of that power. 'Then, even if I have to pour everything into it!' Paaaat! The three thousand Colorless Glass Swords scattered in all directions combine into one. Colorless Glass Sword, All Heavens. Overlay it with the circuit of the Mad Lord. Inject the power of Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter. The White Orchid Blessing Incantation, the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, the Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea, all the methods I've learned, and all my history! "Severing Mountain Swordsmanship." If it were Kim Young-hoon, he could probably pursue pure Martial Arts without any unnecessary techniques. But not me. To pursue pure martial arts, the grace I've received from life is too great and too numerous. "The Twenty-Fifth Move." Beyond the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship composed of 24 moves, I dedicate everything I've accomplished to blossom anew. "Sea of Righteousness ()!" In an instant. I feel my sword entering a different realm. 'Is this beyond the realm of Treading Heavens?' I can feel it. The fact that I have no talent. Therefore, the realm I'm seeing now is only temporarily reached by imitating the strike of the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One and squeezing out all my strength to achieve that strike. But this is enough. "Mountain of Grace ()!" This strike, imitating everything I've seen and received from life, flies towards Oh Hyun-seok in front of me. Paat! My sword pierces through Oh Hyun-seok. I can feel it. 'Ah...' My sword, in the plane of Soul, precisely digs deep into Oh Hyun-seok's soul. The sword that penetrates his soul becomes a Heart Sword (), cleansing the sorcery of the Esteemed One entrenched within Oh Hyun-seok's heart essence, bearing the properties of the White Orchid Blessing Incantation! Paang! Strange. I feel all strength leaving my body as I cough up blood. The backlash of Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains comes. Why, when I imitate the strike of the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed Ones ultimate destruction, Does the resulting technique turn out to be completely different from a technique of destruction? Though I only imitated it.... 'Ah...' I realize, looking at the artifact spirits supporting me from behind. 'That's right.' My history grew through imitation. Initially, I had nothing, so I was busy imitating, mimicking, and following. But now, haven't numerous footsteps formed behind me? Even if I say I'm imitating now, the imitation might be imbued with my own color. Wo-woong! The Heart Sword spreads in all directions, scanning the heart essence of the numerous human cultivators infected by the Esteemed One's sorcery, and finally succeeds in liberating everyone's consciousness. 'I glimpsed [Beyond].' Although I didn't reach [Beyond], having reproduced the strike of [Beyond] once, someday, I will be able to reach that place beyond Treading Heavens with my own strength!!! I watch as the Esteemed One's Left Hand, furious to the extreme, gathers devilish power. Seeing the many people regaining their consciousness, I sit down on the spot. Kwaang! The barrier is finally shattered by their move. "Damn! The Esteemed One's Left Hand breached the barrier!" "Seo Eun-hyun! Ar-are you okay...?" Oh Hyun-seok rushes to me, supporting me, and I close my eyes with a faint smile. "I'm okay..." "Let's evacuate! They broke the barrier!" "It's... okay..." "Still, thanks to you, everyone came to their senses! Seo Eun-hyun! Are you okay!? Open your eyes!!" Cough, cough! I vomit blood. But even then, I smile. "It's okay... Everything is..." Its late. But just in time. Clink, clink, clink... From afar, a mysterious fortress flying through the air comes towards us. Every struggle I've made is manifesting, one by one. *** Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried Link to donations in the discord!