Chapter 163: Drastic Change (2)

Chapter 163: Drastic Change (2)

How did it come to this?

"Deputy Seo, do you see that? My goodness, there's a fireball floating through the sky!"

Im sitting on the deck, looking at Kim Yeon, who is chattering away beside me.

After receiving the order from Azure Tiger Saint,

I am currently on a Flying Ship from Azure Cold Island, headed towards the entrance of the Devil Realm with Kim Yeon.

The Devil Realm

I had heard about it.

According to what Ive heard, there was a great war 40,000 years ago called the Bright-Devil Great War, between the Bright Cold Realm and the True Devil Realm.

In the Bright-Devil Great War, the True Devil Realm was defeated by the Bright Cold Realm, and afterwards, it was said that the True Devil Realm had to cede some of its territories as colonies to various races of the Bright Cold Realm.

It was said that these races from the Bright Cold Realm would bring resources from these colonies in the Devil Realm to cultivate devilish arts for their cultivators.

Especially, the Human Race would buy devils from the Devil Realm as slaves and grind them into a pill called Devil Origin Pill, which was sought after by many races not only for reaching the Nascent Soul stage but also for cultivating in the Nascent Soul stage itself.

However, the Human Race, which made the pills, only provided a little rear support during the Bright-Devil Great War and could not get a share of the colonies when they were distributed. As a result, it seemed that the Human Race Grand Alliance decided to use the previous incident as an excuse to invade the Devil Realm and create colonies.

...Is participating the right thing to do?

Even though the reason is to protect Yeon, I feel uneasy.

"Deputy Seo? Deputy Seo?"

While Im contemplating, Kim Yeon came in front of me and asked.

"Ah, what did you say?"

"Oh, I was just saying how astonishing the scenery is, but you were spacing out, so I wondered if you felt sick..."

"I'm not sick, just had something on my mind..."

"I see. Actually, I heard it from Chief Oh."

Kim Yeon brushes her hair back with a bitter expression.

"Youve... lost your memory?"

"...Yeah, I only remember bits and pieces, barely anything concrete."

"Hmm..."

She sits down next to me, and together we look at the majestic landscapes of the Bright Cold Realm passing by.

"Deputy, no, Eun-hyun Oppa."

"Hm?"

"Ive talked about it with Chief Hyun-seok, but how about this?"

Kim Yeon looks at me and begins to speak.

"Well tell you about what happened at the company, the things we remember about you, Eun-hyun Oppa."

"Ah..."

"Not that I know everything about Oppa, but I can tell you about my memories of you."

"...Before that."

I ask her, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"...First, can you explain to me which world we came from?"

"Ah..."

And then, her explanation continued.

Ah, I see.

So, I was born in such a country.

I absorbed the history of our country and the world history that Kim Yeon explained to me into my mind.

Earth. So, I come from such a planet.

"...To us, who come from Earth, this world seems a bit... nonsensical. Something about the world being flat and all that... And that's not to mention the complete lack of proper human rights..."

"It seems our homeland did have something called human rights."

"Ah... well, not the entire Earth, but the country we lived in was more or less like that. At least it wasn't a place where people openly turned humans into puppets or where monsters that eat people existed."

She caresses her arm.

Her arm, which had been modified, reverted back to its original flesh and blood state.

She removed the puppet arm and regrew it.

Though she was dumbfounded by this absurd treatment, her arm regenerated a few days ago.

"Well... that's roughly the history of our world and our country. Do you remember any of it?"

"Um, I don't really remember much, sorry."

"That's okay. Anyway, can I explain about you, Eun-hyun Oppa?"

"Sure."

She begins to slowly describe 'me.'

During my escape from the Mad Lord, I used my cultivation foundation to power the Flying Escape Technique, causing my cultivation to drop a level.

My cultivation had reached the stage of Grand Perfection of Core Formation but had fallen to the late stage, so its a good opportunity to recover it.

As I stand on the formation, supplying a bit of spiritual power and absorbing the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy through my cultivation methods, someone approaches me.

"Ah, are you a disciple of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect?"

"Hm?"

Someone seems to recognize me.

Hes a young boy wearing a golden robe, with his left hair white and his right hair black, a peculiar hairstyle.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Ah, not personally... I am a disciple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. I've volunteered for this Devil Realm expedition. I heard that the Azure Heaven Creation Sect is also from the same Head Realm."

From his words, it seemed he wasn't directly ascended from the Head Realm but rather a newly recruited disciple from where the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is based.

"...I just wanted to say let's get along as fellow Core Formation cultivators...."

"...Well, there's no harm in being friendly. My name is Seo Eun-hyun."

"Ah, so its Cultivator Seo. I am Yeon Jin (Abyssal Quake). You can just call me Yeon whatever you want."

As I start talking to Yeon Jin, I suddenly remember something.

"Does your sect, by any chance, have someone named Jeon Myeong-hoon?"

"Ah! Are you talking about the direct disciple of the Supreme Sect Master? Yes, Senior Brother Jeon is quite famous in our sect. He has mastered all the techniques of our Founding Ancestor and is already looking beyond the Nascent Soul stage.

Ha ha, Senior Brother Jeon is truly amazing. All the elders in our sect are praising him, saying that in another 100 to 200 years, perhaps there will be another Integration stage cultivator in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. He's an unparalleled talent compared to someone like me."

Yeon Jin seems to admire Jeon Myeong-hoon, his eyes sparkling.

"...If I may ask, how old are you, Cultivator Yeon?"

"Ah! I am already ninety this year."

"Ninety... You're young. Reaching the mid-stage of Core Formation at that age means you're quite talented, why are you so disheartened?"

"Ha ha, talented..."

Yeon Jin looks at the ground with a bitter gaze.

"In the Bright Cold Realm, reaching the Qi Building stage is something anyone can achieve with a certain age, and anyone with a bit of enlightenment can reach the Core Formation stage as well. But that's as far as it goes. From the Nascent Soul stage onwards, it's a domain of absolute talent. Those without talent cannot reach it even if they use up all the lifespan gained from the Core Formation stage."

"..."

"I was fortunate to enter the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and reach the mid-stage of Core Formation from the Qi Building stage. But, it seems that might be my limit. No matter how many elixirs I consume or how much I seclude myself for cultivation, the progress of my cultivation is slow, and I doubt whether I can reach the Grand Perfection of Core Formation in this lifetime."

He speaks with a bittersweet smile, looking at me.

"It seems you've achieved a high level of cultivation in the late stage of Core Formation, Cultivator Seo. Reaching the Nascent Soul stage in this lifetime shouldn't be difficult for you. I'm truly envious..."

"...Well, you know..."

It took me more than 2,000 years to reach this point.

But I don't bother to mention that and instead offer Yeon Jin some encouragement.

"I may look younger than I am, but regardless, grinding your teeth and persisting in cultivation will not betray you. Cultivator Yeon Jin, you mentioned you are 90 years old, but reaching the mid-stage of Core Formation before 100 is indeed a sign of blessed talent. Don't be too disheartened, and it will be good to continue your diligent practice."

Touched by my words, Yeon Jin looks at me with moved intent.

"Thank you, Cultivator Seo! Hearing those words, somehow, I feel energized!"

"Haha, I'm glad to be of help."

As we exchanged some encouraging words, I continued to practice my cultivation methods slowly.

As a result, I was able to regain the level of Grand Perfection of Core Formation within a month.

"No, Cultivator Seo... to reach the Grand Perfection of Core Formation in just one month, how on earth..."

"Well, this is..."

Of course, I had a bit of trouble clearing up Yeon Jin's misunderstanding.

Anyway, I've reached the pinnacle of Core Formation and have gained enough enlightenment over 2,000 years.

The Devil Realm expedition force hasn't fully assembled yet, and the formation to breach the dimensional barrier hasn't been completed, so there's still time before we depart.

With plenty of time and being above the formation for breaching the Devil Realm barrier, it's relatively safe with the surroundings being guarded.

I decide to take this opportunity to aim for the Nascent Soul stage.

I've lived for 2,000 years and have gradually grasped an understanding of planes with the Formless Sword.

Enlightenment isn't something to be underestimated.

So... before we depart for the Devil Realm, shall I attain Nascent Soul?

Sitting on the formation, I settle my energy and close my eyes.

Translator Notes: DONATED CHAPTER ARE ALL DONE WAHHHHHHH!

Donated chapter by Mortor. Thanks for the support!

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