Chapter 233: What Is A Human (1)

Chapter 233: What Is A Human (1)

"Be cautious of the light."

Surely, it was a story I had also heard from [Him] whose name escapes me.

"[The Light]... what exactly is it?"

"One of the Governing Immortals."

"Governing Immortals?"

"Those who have transcended the limits and boundaries of True Immortals are called Governing Immortals. They are the Supreme Deities and the Heavenly Venerables, and across all Three Thousand Worlds, there are only ten such beings. The Six Supreme Deities and the Four Heavenly Venerables are among them."

Gulguk

I swallow hard.

Just hearing about the six Supreme Deities and the four Heavenly Venerables, my strength drains away.

At the same time, my head begins to feel foggy.

Drip, dripping

Somehow, I feel as if I am floating.

For some reason, I think my body is melting away.

'No, no.'

It isn't.

It isn't a delusion or thought.

My body is, in fact, melting like candle wax in front of Yang Su-jin!

"Snap out of it."

"Heugh, Heuk!"

'What, what's happening to me!?'

I'm on the verge of screaming in terror.

But then,

Ddak!

Yang Su-jin snaps his finger in the darkness.

At the same time, my body returns to its original form.

"It seems even knowing of their existence is too overwhelming for you."

"???"

I can't help but feel baffled, unable to understand.

"Wh, what was that just now?"

"Having accepted the knowledge of beings at the peak of the world, your body at the genetic level tried to disintegrate out of fear. But it's strange.... Even considering they are Governing Immortals, merely knowing of their existence usually doesn't trigger such a severe reaction unless one of the Governing Immortals is observing you..."

Yang Su-jin mutters to himself for a moment, then snaps his fingers again.

Jijik, jijijijik!

Simultaneously, sparks of static electricity begins to erupt all around.

"Aha, I see. The Master of the Netherworld has noticed an Ender has entered their domain. They are descending here."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't worry too much. Because of the pact I made during my lifetime, even the Master of the Netherworld will take some time to enter our place of conversation, despite it being land provided by him.... So, we have plenty of time to talk."

I am speechless, overwhelmed by the sudden flood of information.

'The Master of the Netherworld? Supreme Deity? Heavenly Venerable?'

I am utterly confused.

But, even in the midst of this, I cling to a shred of sanity.

"Is the Master of the Netherworld, whom you mentioned, also a Governing Immortal?"

"Yes. One of the Heavenly Venerables. The 'Owner of Light,' obsessed with monitoring the Enders, is also one of the Supreme Deities. Ah, if you met me through the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, you'd know already, but the original owner of the Heavenly Lightning Banner is also one of the Supreme Deities, the 'Owner of Heavenly Punishment'."

"!"

I'm startled by the information I have suddenly come to know.

'So much information in such a short time...'

I take a breath.

"Excuse me?"

My fate is vile?

I'm puzzled when I hear this.

"First I should explain why I established the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect."

Yang Su-jin began his explanation.

"My core method is the Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation Method (), a technique that can only be learned by those who possess the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body or someone with the same fate as me. This technique allows one to draw out the utmost power of the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body. Even if one does not possess the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body, an Ender who is bestowed with the same fate as me can master this technique and obtain the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body."

"!"

"And you have mastered all the techniques of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, found the hidden formula among them, and came here after mentioning the last of what is famous in our homeland, right?"

"That's correct."

"The method that emerges from combining all methods of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique (). As you've probably realized from practicing it, it's not really a method. It's a kind of blessing prayer, a sacrificial ritual."

"Why did you create something like this?"

I ask Yang Su-jin.

I remember Hong Su-ryeong's reaction when I told her about the method Yang Su-jin calls Extinguishing Divine Tribulation Heaven Technique.

A kind of ritual that loses the attributes of the Lightning Path Method?

What are you saying... The ultimate form of the techniques created by the founder of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is a ritual that loses the identity of the sect?

Exactly what was the 120,000 years of history for To rush endlessly just to lose its identity

"To reach the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Decree ()."

"The Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Decree?"

"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration that guarantees the rights of beings. Though it, I spent my life trying to change my fate, to gain the rights and freedom of 'humans.' Changing my fate was my lifelong wish and deepest desire..."

I can't see through the darkness, but I feel Yang Su-jin clenching his fist.

"Most of us Enders are miserable. However, while there are Enders who are bestowed with 'good fates,' there are also those like you and me who are bestowed with 'vile fates.' Kukuk I wished to exchange my vile fate with the fate of another Ender. The Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation Method symbolizes 'my current fate.' The Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique symbolizes 'the will to twist my fate.' And finally 'my future after successfully changing my fate' would have been the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Decree. If I had truly succeeded in changing my fate and achieving happiness, then the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Decree would have been born. However"

Yang Su-jin's voice loses its strength.

"As you see, I failed. I tried until right before I confronted [that entity], but in the end, changing fate was nothing but an illusion."

"Then, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was"

I tremble, vaguely catching on to the existence and meaning of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect from Yang Su-jin's words.

"Was it an 'object of ritual' to change your fate?"

"Yes. Specifically, it was the preparatory material for a ritual to change fate. Ultimately, it was a failed creation."

I can't help but retort at Yang Su-jin's tone.

"To call your descendants a failure Isn't that a bit too harsh? How can you say such things when you've incorporated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into your methods?"

"Hmm?"

However, Yang Su-jin seems puzzled by my words.

"You're speaking strangely."

"Excuse me?"

"What's the problem with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? It's a declaration that guarantees human rights and freedoms."

"Yes, but why"

"Let me ask you. What is a [Human]?"

"Excuse me?"

I ask back, incredulous.

"Dignified and free, endowed with reason"

"Right. You know well. The essence is 'freedom'. Only beings that possess 'freedom' or have the potential to acquire 'freedom' are [Human], and thus have the right to enjoy the privileges of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Yang Su-jin shouts, clenching his fist in the darkness.

"Therefore, only we Enders are [Humans], and all other beings in this world, including True Immortals, are [Non-Humans]!"

"Excuse me?"

Stunned by his radical and absurd claim, I'm left speechless, my mouth agape.

***

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