Chapter 213: The Clown and the Performance (2)

Chapter 213: The Clown and the Performance (2)

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Whoosh!

Cutting through the vast mountain ranges and forests of the True Dragon Alliance, a figure is flying through the air, stepping on the void.

It's Gyu-baek.

'Flying through the air is not as difficult as I thought.'

It's just a matter of adding a bit more skill to the Gliding Technique that is in Gyu-ryeon's memories.

Seo Eun-hyun was surprised that Gyu-baek had an unexpected talent, but from Gyu-baek's perspective, it was nothing more than a rehabilitation exercise.

Gyu-ryeon, who was supposed to become a Dragon King of the Integration stage, died, and the remnant that is Gyu-baek isn't even at the level of a Core Formation stage of the Heart Tribe, which honestly did not please her.

'If there is such a thing as talent, why can't I even enter the realm of Beyond the Path?'

From Gyu-baek's standpoint, it's shameful that she, with her experience nearing the Integration stage, can not even reach the realm corresponding to the Core Formation stage of the Heart Tribe.

Just as the saying goes, 'At the extremes, enlightenment is shared,' she thought that to some extent, her experiences would resonate with the realm of the Heart Tribe.

Indeed, up to the Ultimate Pinnacle that Seo Eun-hyun mentioned, Gyu-ryeon's experiences were applicable.

However, from the realm of Beyond the Path to Heavens onwards, it was infuriatingly incomprehensible.

She couldn't understand what was being said.

Somehow, by using the Vast Cold Oath, she managed to half step into Beyond the Path to Heavens, but that was applicable only when facing Seo Hweol.

She realized she could not reach the realm of Beyond the Path.

'Do I have to yearn and yearn again?'

She is indeed yearning.

But whether Gyu-baek is yearning out of hatred for Seo Hweol or out of love for him, she can not tell.

She is yearning, but she doesn't know for what.

That's why she can't reach the realm of Beyond the Path.

'The Manifestation of the Heart Tribe is just too alien.'

While there are aspects that resonate with the enlightenment of the Heaven and Earth Tribes, the Manifestation of the Heart Tribe is far too irregular compared to the specific rules of the Heaven and Earth Tribes' methods.

Even Yu Hwa and Seo Eun-hyun, masters of the Heart Tribe, said they had never seen someone create a Treading Heavens that only worked for one person using the Vast Cold Oath.

The Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One had seen it once or twice, but when she asked for an explanation, he said the situation was too different for Gyu-baek and refused to explain.

There are no rules to it and it's too alien.

Indeed, even when she was Gyu-ryeon, she thought of the "Heart Tribe" as such alien beings.

Just too alien.

Gyu-baek, when she was a prospective Dragon King in the times of Gyu-ryeon, knew one fact about the Heaven, Earth, and Heart Tribes, and True Immortals.

There are Heaven Immortals corresponding to the Heaven Tribe and Earth Immortals, that is, immortal beasts corresponding to the Earth Tribe.

However, there was nothing like that for the Heart Tribe.

She had never heard of any existence at the level of True Immortals corresponding to the Heart Tribe.

Even more astonishing was that, when she was young, she met a Sacred Master of the Sacred Vessel stage.

Even Sacred Master Baek Woon did not know what True Immortals corresponding to the Heart Tribe are called, or whether they exist or not.

'It's as if they didn't originally exist, but then someone forcibly inserted them into the flow of history'

Too bizarre.

Thinking this, Gyu-baek continued to air step, heading towards the resource warehouse of Seo Eun-hyun's pet demon beast.

Swoosh

A while later, Gyu-baek arrived in front of a large waterfall near the Serving Command Ark.

The waterfall was neatly divided into white and black streams falling down, with a dark cave faintly visible behind it.

'This place holds the stored resources'

Since the other members of the Golden Dragon Race had come and collected the resources and her belongings after Gyu-ryeon died, she had no choice but to search for this resource warehouse for Seo Eun-hyun's pet demon beast.

'Of course, if I go to the Golden Dragon Race I could be recognized as Gyu-ryeon and treated as a member of the Dragon Race.'The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

A Four-Axis stage cultivator can be resurrected once, or in a few special cases, more than twice.

This does not refer to those who have some remnants of their Nascent Soul or Golden Core left but to those who have truly died, their Nascent Souls collapsed.

Of course, resurrection after the Nascent Soul had collapsed meant reviving at a stage lower than Nascent Soul. Still, being able to resurrect and accumulate cultivation again is enough for those at the Four-Axis stage and above to be treated as formidable beings.

Some demon races do not resurrect after death because they missed the proper time for resurrection or do not wish to be resurrected.

Yet, there are exceptions.

Despite not wanting to resurrect, those with a desire for life or unresolved resentment sometimes had parts of their spirit resurrected, thanks to the immense life force of a Four-Axis stage cultivator.

They were commonly referred to as 'fragments,' or by the derogatory term 'leftovers.'

This is because they are beings born not from an official resurrection but from the obsession of a Four-Axis cultivator, and thus often resurrected in a body incapable of proper cultivation.

The centipede wriggles its many legs, and after a while, pulls out a long pipe from between its carapaces.

"It's a magic artifact called the Immortal Demon Bamboo. Just one inhale enhances spirituality and improves the qualities of a demon race. Master gave me this magic artifact."

"Immortal Demon Bamboo!?"

Gyu-baek is startled as she watches Hong Fan sucking on the Immortal Demon Bamboo.

It is an item she recognizes.

"As far as I know, that magic artifact helps demon beasts condense their spirituality, but continuous use can lead to toxicity and death by poisoning, which is why its production was banned a long time ago."

"I guess I have a strong resistance to poison because it doesn't affect me at all."

Whoooosh

Hong Fan sucks on the bamboo pipe, inhales the smoke, then exhales it again while laughing heartily.

Gyu-baek, watching Hong Fan, is puzzled.

"With your capabilities, you could have easily escaped any restrictions Seo Eun-hyun might have placed and find your freedom. What kind of loyalty keeps you serving Seo Eun-hyun?"

Whooosh

Laughing, Hong Fan smokes from the pipe again.

"You misunderstand. Master hasn't placed any restrictions on me. It's my choice to call and serve him as my master."

"...?"

"My earliest memory is of naturally climbing onto Master's body, and he accepted me. The exhilarating memories of ascension with Master are still deeply engraved in my mind."

"Is it simply because Seo Eun-hyun took care of you since you were young?"

"No. Around the time I gained spirituality and intelligence, I realized my fate."

"...?"

"I was born to assist and protect Master. I felt that was my fate."

"The Earth Tribe felt fate? Even during the Qi Refining stage?"

"It might be hard to believe, but it's true."

"That's unique Does Seo Eun-hyun know about this?"

"How could he? Master suddenly went missing during my Qi Refining stage. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Master for decades Where is Master, and what has he been doing?"

"..."

Faced with Hong Fan's peculiar stream of thought, Gyu-baek feels a sense of oddity.

'I can't understand this Earth Tribe demon beast talking about fate during the Qi Refining stage... And he still follows Seo Hweol, whom he hasn't seen in decades, and calls him master?'

Gyu-baek finds the centipede demon beast, Hong Fan, quite extraordinary.

"When Seo Eun-hyun returns to the Earth Tribe Territory, I'll make sure he explains where he's been. Anyway"

Gyu-baek points to the cave and asks.

"Seo Eun-hyun mentioned that this cave was originally filled with Core Formation stage spirit fruits and herbs. Did you eat them?"

"Yes, that's correct. Thanks to Master, I've never lacked cultivation resources."

"That Seo Eun-hyun, did he tell you how to disable the barrier before he left?"

"No. I observed the flow of the barrier and figured out how to dismantle the formation myself."

"You figured out how to dismantle the formation yourself?"

As Gyu-baek converses with Hong Fan, she is convinced.

'This guy has tremendous talent.'

Hong Fan is a genius.

Gyu-baek can't help but be certain of this as she talks with him.

Two months passes.

After meeting Hong Fan, Gyu-baek consumed the spirit medicines prepared by Seo Eun-hyun for Hong Fan and recovered her pure spiritual force.

Meanwhile, Ma Won was preparing to open the pavilion, and Yu Hwa had been investigating Seo Hweol's movements and the overall situation of the Earth Tribe.

During this time,

Seo Eun-hyun finally returned.

"It's been a while."

"Yes, did you manage to accomplish what you intended to do in the Human Race territory?"

"...Not very well, but there were some achievements. Oh, and I'd like to introduce someone."

Behind Seo Eun-hyun, a small, winged figure follows.

***

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