Chapter 73: Eve (6)

Chapter 73: Eve (6)/translatingnovice Boom! A black miasma of yin energy surge, and the compressed space within the Nether Crossing Ship bursts open. Rumble! I retreat as far as possible to avoid being swept away. The inner decks of the Nether Crossing Ship expand endlessly, shattering the barriers. The Sea Fog Barrier is destroyed, and the Illusionary Barrier shatters. Countless ghosts trapped in the Sea Fog Barrier ascend into the sky, and the mass of yin energy that had accumulated begins to dissipate. As the source of the yin energy vanishes, the nearby dark clouds and storms start to disappear as if melting away. Swoosh! Waves cover the debris. I watch the debris, equivalent to the size of the mountain range where the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect once stood, and silently mourn for my friend. Seo Ran's body was nowhere to be found, likely swept away by the spatial storm. For days, I searched for his remains, but to no avail. Eventually, I held a small ritual to honor his spirit and then headed to his abode. Swoosh! Gliding over the water, my thoughts were heavy with not only Seo Ran's death but also the truths he had revealed. 'Have I, in my ignorance, handed over two comrades to a dragon who bred humans like livestock for elixirs?' Seo Hweol, outwardly, seemed incapable of such acts. He didn't have a bad reputation like the Mad Lord and was known for his dignified demeanor. 'I thought he was the second most likable person after Sir Chang-ho and entrusted my colleagues to him...' But it turned out to be the worst decision. 'Damn...' Had I, with my own hands, committed the most dreadful sin? I clench my teeth, lost in complicated thoughts. 'In my ignorance, I handed my colleagues over to the worst being possible...' I can't afford to be ignorant anymore. I must gather as much information as possible! With that resolve, I head to Seo Ran's underwater cave. Upon reaching his place, the blue bead Seo Ran gave me emitted light, revealing hidden cave entrances. I cautiously enter the hidden entrances. There are three in total. One was Seo Ran's living space, likely used when he was in his demi-human form, with a sturdy bed and human-level living facilities. Another is a space filled with numerous materials bones and skins of demon beasts, unique woods, and stones. The last is a library. Inside are numerous, extensive volumes of demon beast methods and books, real techniques of the Sea Dragon race, not slave or livestock methods like the Summoning Wind, Coagulating Core Transformation I had learned. I carefully examine the demon beast methods, sending a silent thanks to Seo Ran. 'Thank you, Seo Ran...' I take out the demon beast method books. Not only those but also other books, which I began to read. Seo Ran, being a demi-human hybrid, had a collection covering not only Yanguo, Byeokra, and Shengzi but also other human nations. I pick out the most worn books and read them. Among them are demon beast methods, histories of the Sea Dragon Tribe, and books about human nations. [Culture of Yanguo] I read one book and then another. [Culture of Shengzi] 'Shengzi's mountainous region culture involves festivals held once a year...' 'The types of festivals include the centuries-old Great Stone Ceremony, Recounting Celebration Ceremony, and Twin Immortals Dance...' I move on to the next book. [Culture of Byeokra] 'Byeokra, bordering the desert, is known for its glass crafts, and there's even a culture of offering glass crafts to the deceased...' There are also books about the culture of the Upper Realms. [Life of the Upper Realm People] This book, especially, seemed to have been read by Seo Ran with great interest. 'Before marrying in the Upper Realms, couples share two cups of wine with each other...' 'Among the wines of the Upper Realms are Mo-ryeong Wine, Gye-ryeong Elixir, Twin Immortals Wine... and White-Red Wine, a symbolic wine for couples made from white lotus and red pear flowers...' I read on about the various aspects of the Upper Realms' culture. In a particularly worn page, I read, 'In the Upper Realms, families wear purple ribbons during family gatherings...' Family. This section is particularly well-thumbed, as if the reader had lingered on it often. Seo ran's image of reading the book came to mind. He might have been reading books here for years. I imagine him wandering around the library. The books about the Sea Dragon Tribe are also heavily worn by his hands. Especially, the records about the mixed blood of the Sea Dragon Tribe and the human race are immensely worn. Right behind that record, there is a sentence that seemed to have been written by Seo Ran. "Typical mixed blood possesses the advantages of both the human race and the demon race, but I have such strong demon blood that I can't even utilize the human advantages. I'm not entirely wild as a demon. Maybe that's why other members of the Sea Dragon Tribe dislike me." "Still, the King patted my head, saying there must be something I can do for the Sea Dragon Tribe." "I will remain loyal to the King and Grandfather Seo Hweol." "......" It seems the reason Seo Ran couldn't pass through the barrier of the Nether Crossing Ship was because of his stronger demon blood. "Kim Hyung." "First, let's talk somewhere secluded." "Yes, if you wish." I follow Kim Young-hoon to a secluded valley deep within the Great Mountains. "What brings you here?" He had been busy researching demon beast methods and hadn't contacted me even once. I am happy to see him, but his complexion seems a bit off today. I know that face too well. The face I had seen on many others, and the color of their intent. It is the face of someone nearing death. "Kim... Hyung?" "...Eun-hyun." Kim Young-hoon smiles bitterly. "How long do I have left to live.." "What...?" "Maybe, 10 years. Maybe 20 more years. But I'm just a mortal, not a cultivator. I can't live long..." He draws a saber from his waist. "Even with the demon beast methods you gave me, I had to go through many trials and errors. Through those trials, though time-consuming... I have succeeded in finding 'the real path.' Something beyond simply transforming human consciousness into human form..." "....!" "But it's too late." Drip, drip... Tears fall from Kim Young-hoon's eyes. "If I knew there was such a realm from the start and focused precisely on it through numerous hardships... Now, just 10 or 20 years is too little time to reach it! Even I... need time.." "Kim Hyung.." Kim Young-hoon's lifespan is a bit longer than mine. But even he has a limit due to being a mortal. "I'm confident I can reach it, but I don't have enough time.." He grits his teeth and raises his head. "I dreamt of mastering martial arts to return to my family... but it seems like a vain dream now. But as much as that, I've decided to see the completion of this martial art with my own eyes before I die, even if I can't return to my family...!" There is a strange madness in his eyes. "Eun-hyun, I came here today to die! I will burn my life, all my talent, even if just for a moment I can reach the next realm before I die!" He takes out a book from his bosom. Unlike the Record of Surpassing Path and Martial Arts filled with his trials, this book is thin. There is no title on the book yet. 'Is everyone leaving me...' Seo Ran, and now Kim Young-hoon. I close and open my eyes with a heavy heart. I can't stop him. All I can do is watch. Watch and pass it on in the next life. Whisk! He throws the book to me, and I catch it. "...What is this called?" Record of Transcending Cultivation and Martial Arts. Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts. Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Martial Arts... And the Record of Surpassing Path and Martial Arts. A new history of martial arts built up by the determination and blood of numerous Kim Young-hoons. "What does this record contain?" Kim Young-hoon smiles. Somehow, his smile feels laced with bitterness. "It's not a record." "Yes..?" "Martial...it's a martial philosophy ()!" Chaek! Kim Young-hoon takes his stance with his saber in hand. "What I've poured my entire being, breaking down the old and forging it anew into..." His aura begins to change. Nine Gang Spheres appear around Kim Young-hoon, and I open my eyes wide. "Let's call it the Beyond the Path to Heaven Martial Arts ()!" The next moment. A bright golden light, too intense to keep my eyes open, illuminates the surroundings. Kim Young-hoon, burning his life to leap towards the next realm, begins his ascent. Translator Notes: IT GONNA BE EPIC Early chapter today as I wont have time to upload later. Enjoy! *** Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried Link to donations in the discord!