Chapter 206: Shattered Heart (5)

Chapter 206: Shattered Heart (5)

For 50 years,

Gyu-baek underwent hellish training ad nauseum.

At first, I guided her by myself. But as time passed, Jang Ik also began to guide her, and her skills started to improve dramatically.

Somehow, she managed to reach the extreme of Ultimate Pinnacle with guidance from both me and Jang Ik.

In the meantime, there was a minor incident where Jang Ik took the secret of Ultimate Pinnacle from me, but anyway, she reached Ultimate Pinnacle and was now on the verge of Beyond the Path to Heavens.

However, she ultimately failed to properly enter Beyond the Path to Heavens.

Boom!

Gyu-baek's Gang Spheres overlap with her consciousness domain, causing it to change.

Gurgling, gurgling...

Gyu-baek's unstable consciousness domain suddenly transforms into something resembling ropes or chains before collapsing.

"What is this? Are you joking?"

The owner of the territory, the monkey demon, frustratedly beats its chest watching Gyu-baek's actions.

Gyu-baek sighs for a moment before bending her fingers.

Crack!

Bright yellow Gang Qi forms at the tip of her fingers.

Shortly after, Gang Qi resembling a yellow dragon surges from Gyu-baek's entire body.

"What, what is this, Pure Spiritual Force? Were you a Qi Building stage demon? But to this body that has reached Core Formation..."

The next moment,

Gyu-baek, accelerating her consciousness with Gang Spheres, charges at the monkey demon like a bolt of lightning and attacks.

She resembles a wild beast.

The Dragon Form Soaring Claw is originally based on the movements of the Dragon Race, a divine lineage among the demon races.

Since the Dragon Form Soaring Claw was created based on Gyu-ryeon's combat style, it naturally includes her inherently wild fighting style when she fought in her true form.

Kugugugu!

Gyu-baek's Dragon Form Soaring Claw grazes the monkey demon.

It attacks like a fierce dragon, but since it is also a martial art, it applies pressure while adjusting its intensity, revealing the subtlety of martial arts and achieving great effects with little effort.

After 50 years, the Dragon Form Soaring Claw performed by her hands has significantly evolved from the original version I had created.

Gyu-baek adapted it to her style and several adjustments were made based on Jang Ik's advice.

Anyway, befitting a fragment of a quasi-Integration stage dragon, Gyu-baek quickly subdues the monkey demon.

"Kuh, keuhuk! Sp, spare me..."

The monkey demon, losing its initial ferocity, begs Gyu-baek for its life.

Gyu-baek finally retracts her Gang Qi and descends from above the monkey demon.

"How about that?"

"You've greatly improved."

To my compliment, Gyu-baek crosses her arms and snorts.

"I've told you many times, it's just rehabilitation."

"Yes, yes."

While watching her, Jang Ik approaches.

[When you charge at an opponent, widen the gap between your feet a bit more. And pay more attention to the synchronization of your intent while using Pure Spiritual Force.]

"Yes."

While Gyu-baek is receiving a lecture from Jang Ik, I approach the monkey demon and hand it a formation flag I had created.

"Look here, fellow Daoist. I heard you're the chief of the monkeys around here."

"That's... true, but?"

"Could you ask the monkeys to plant this formation flag right in the center of the swamp, where the spiritual energy is most abundant?"

The monkey demon, glancing cautiously at Gyu-baek who had beaten it, nods.

"I understand...yes."

"Good, then I'm counting on you. And, just so you know, don't try any funny business."

Kugugugu!

After exerting the pressure of my Nascent Soul spiritual energy on the monkey demon, its complexion turns pale and it nods frantically.

"Yes, how could there be any issues, senior. I will follow your orders without question!"

After entrusting the friendly monkeys with the installation of the formation, I approach Gyu-baek, who is listening to Jang Ik's nagging, and Yu Hwa.

"With today's setup, the last formation is in place. It's really time to prepare."

"Alright, I understand."

"Good."

Together with Jang Ik, we arrive at the wasteland where we first landed.

We reach the location of Gyu-ryeon's corpse.

Wo-woong!

Gyu-ryeon's corpse is as large as a mountain range, still covering the entire wasteland with its enormous size.

Gyu-baek looks at Gyu-ryeon's corpse with a complicated expression.

Even 50 years later, Gyu-ryeon's corpse still boasts its former dignity despite being dried up from being drained of blood.

The golden scales that Gyu-ryeon was proud of have not faded at all, and her claws are still as sharp as if she were alive.

However, her two horns are missing, having been torn off by Seo Hweol.

"...Why such obsession with Yang Su-jin's traces?"

[...Yang Su-jin, during his lifetime, took items of enormous value from each Middle Realm... no, borrowed them and did not return them. Those items are of immense importance to each Middle Realm, so they are trying to retrieve them from him.]

It seems he is deliberately not mentioning what those items are.

[Yang Su-jin had inserted the core treasures of the Middle Realms into his immortal treasure, and finding his remains would pave the way to reaching that immortal treasure.]

"Yang Su-jin's immortal treasure... are you referring to that?"

I suddenly think of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.

"Could it be the Heavenly Lightning Banner?"

But Jang Ik just chuckles and shakes his head.

[The Heavenly Lightning Banner is not Yang Su-jin's immortal treasure. While it's true he used it, legend has it that he forcefully took it from a distinguished entity in the True Immortal Realm.]

"..."

[I'm just thinking out loud here, but the being from whom Yang Su-jin stole the immortal treasure must be waiting with tears for the day they can reclaim it. Hahaha...]

It's a story that can't be ignored.

If what he said is true, then the True Immortal that will descend upon the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect soon might be the distinguished entity from the True Immortal Realm with a deep grudge against Yang Su-jin.

'I thought just taking the Heavenly Lightning Banner and plugging it into Hyeon Eum's mouth would solve the problem...'

Perhaps, the moment the True Immortal descends, all factions inheriting Yang Su-jin's legacy might be doomed.

I ask Jang Ik several more questions I am curious about.

Finally, time passes, and a day goes by.

Next to Gyu-ryeon's corpse, I feel the formation I had set up all over the planet begin to activate.

Wo-woong!

Gyu-baek and Yu Hwa gather towards me as well.

The sparse spiritual energy of the entire planet, flowing through the planet's dragon veins, are drawn towards us.

Though originally sparse, the concentration of spiritual energy momentarily becomes even denser than in the mainlands of the Bright Cold Realm once gathered in one place.

Kiiiiing!

I form a seal at the center of the spiritual veins and begin to open a spatial rift.

Kugugugugu!

For 50 years, a formation was created for the sole purpose of ascending to the Bright Cold Realm.

The Return to Bright Cold Realm Formation.

I control the Return to Bright Cold Realm Formation and greet Jang Ik's avatar, who is watching us from the side.

"Thank you for everything during this time."

[Yes, everyone has worked hard. Seo Eun-hyun, there's nothing particular I need to say to you. If you continue to cultivate diligently, you will reach the third step of Fighting Spirit, the third stage of Manifestation.]

Jang Ik looks over at us one by one.

[Yu Hwa, you've reached the last stage of Last Quarter, but your realm is still not stable. Right after ascending, you will be under the control of the Heaven and Earth Tribes at the Flying Immortal Platform, so be on your guard. Even if you're capable in many against one, and Seo Eun-hyun has taught you the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, be cautious in a place bustling with Four-Axis stage cultivators. There will also be an Integration stage Grand Cultivator at the Heaven-Earth Palace Anyway, if you use the method I taught you, even the Grand Cultivator of the Heaven-Earth Palace can't easily mess with you.]

After giving advice to Yu Hwa, he turns his gaze to Gyu-baek.

[Gyu-baek, to be honest, you were the worst of those I've taught. It's not a problem of talent, but rather your state of mind.]

"."

[You always think of yourself as trash, but in some sense, you are indeed Honored Master Gyu-ryeon herself.]

"That can't be."

[Hmph. Contemplating the essence of existence to reach the realm is what the Heart Tribe does. Are you saying you can't believe the words of a Star Shattering Esteemed One from the Heart Tribe?]

"."

[You've always thought of yourself as trash, entangled in love and hatred for that guy Seo Hweol, and your mind is a mess. But]

Jang Ik places his hand on her shoulder and smiles.

[Leaving the Heaven, Earth, and Heart Tribes aside. As a senior, I hope you find happiness.]

Wo-woong!

Jang Ik infuses something into her heart essence.

[Now, off you all go! It was a short but enjoyable meeting!]

Wo-woong!

After activating the Return to Bright Cold Realm Formation, I bow to Jang Ik.

Yu Hwa and Gyu-baek also pay their respects in their own ways.

After paying respects to Jang Ik, I look at Gyu-ryeon's corpse.

Gyu-baek also looks at Gyu-ryeon's corpse.

Gyu-baek claimed herself to be a piece, a shattered fragment of Gyu-ryeon.

Therefore, according to her, the real Gyu-ryeon is dead. The corpse of Gyu-ryeon we see today will be the last image of Gyu-ryeon I will remember in this life.

'Rest in peace, Senior Gyu.'

Thank you for everything.

I also bow in my heart towards Gyu-ryeon.

At the same time, the Return to Bright Cold Realm Formation shines brightly, propelling us beyond space.

Paaat!

Yu Hwa, having reached the stage corresponding to Heavenly Being, begins to ascend. Gyu-baek and I stick close to her, starting to resist the spatial pressure.

Thus, 60 years after being betrayed by Seo Hweol, we begin our ascension to return.

***

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