Chapter 1825 – 1825. The Ascension To Light
The thirteen Heavenly Demons entered my mind, and I was sucked in along with them. It was only natural. You can’t have guests without a host.
Even as my consciousness was being pulled into my mindscape, my body was still circulating the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
『Assisting the user’s Qi circulation.』
If I stopped circulating my Qi, the energy of the elixir and the aftermath of the Yin energy would surely tear my body to shreds, so the Heavenly Star System was assisting. It was as if my body had been forced into a state of trance.
Swoooooosh.
With the sensation of my consciousness stretching out, I found myself standing on a sports field.
I glanced around and saw Gukcheon University over there.
‘Was this my original mindscape? It didn’t look like this when I came here before.’
Right. I had a similar experience before. It must have been when I absorbed the Heavenly Demon Divine Art of the [Otherworld Heavenly Demon].
‘Back then, it wasn’t my mindscape.’
A black sky and a white ground. That was all there was to that mindscape. It was too barren to be a person’s mindscape. In a way, this place was more like my mindscape. A mind etched with the memories of my life.
“What a fascinating place.”
I turned my head sharply. A young man with long black hair was standing there. He looked like a nobleman, holding a fan in one hand. A sword hung at his waist.
It was someone I had never seen before.
Could there be someone I didn’t know in this mindscape?
‘It’s strange if there’s someone I don’t know in my mindscape.’
So, his identity was obvious. One of the thirteen Heavenly Demons from the coffin. He certainly wasn’t the First Heavenly Demon. The First Heavenly Demon’s form and presence were clearer than the other Heavenly Demons. An old man with long white hair and a long white beard. No, he couldn’t be called an old man, as there wasn’t a single wrinkle on his face.
“Who are you?”
I asked cautiously. There wasn’t a single one of the thirteen past Heavenly Demons who was weaker than me. I had to be on guard if I didn’t want to be devoured.
“How rude. Should I say you’re acting like a Heavenly Demon, or that you’re a newborn pup who doesn’t know the fear of a tiger? I am Cheon Hyeon-sak. Show some respect and greet me again.”
Cheon Hyeon-sak said, waving his fan. His effeminate behavior irritated me.
“Cheon Hyeon-sak, huh? Which generation Heavenly Demon are you?”
“…You don’t know even after hearing my name?”
“You’re a dead man anyway. Do I need to know? The only one I know is the First Heavenly Demon. The First Heavenly Demon is the strongest of all the Heavenly Demons.”
The First Heavenly Demon is said to have given up ascension and chosen to die and enter the coffin for the sake of future generations. The First Heavenly Demon’s strength is said to be comparable to the current Emperor. That’s the evaluation of the Heavenly Demon Cult. Whether he was actually stronger than the Emperor is unknown. There was no Emperor when the First Heavenly Demon was active.
“It cannot be denied that the First Heavenly Demon is the greatest among us… but your tone is extremely grating.”
“Are you going to fight?”
Even if he was stronger than me, this was my mindscape. There’s a saying that even a stray dog gets half an advantage in its own home. I felt like I could win somehow.
“I refuse. Although you are not of the Cheon clan and have no manners, your talent is the greatest of all time. Those born with the energy of the stars are always special. The most important power for a Heavenly Demon. You have the talent to obtain it.”
“You overestimate the energy of the stars.”
“In my time, there were many who were born with the energy of the stars. Seven of them were active, and the world was divided into seven. Unfortunately, the Heavenly Demon Cult was not among them. I was not born with the energy of the stars, so I had to live as a weakling. But you are different. You, who were born with the energy of the stars, are qualified to become the strongest in the world.”
Cheon Hyeon-sak was spouting nonsense. I had no interest in his story, so I let it go in one ear and out the other.
The important thing was to obtain the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
‘If I kill this guy, can I obtain the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?’
It didn’t matter if I failed. There were still twelve Heavenly Demons somewhere in my mindscape besides this guy.
The moment I thought that I needed the Fire Lotus Throwing Knives, they appeared in my hand. It was probably possible because this was my mindscape. I pointed the Fire Lotus Throwing Knives, which were in perfect condition without any cracks, at Cheon Hyeon-sak’s neck.
“Hand over the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”
“Unfortunately, I cannot. The First Heavenly Demon decides who inherits the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. I cannot pass it on until the First Heavenly Demon makes a decision.”
“In other words, you’re useless.”
“Don’t be so hasty. Aren’t you curious about the mindscape? I can answer what you don’t know.”
I lowered the Fire Lotus Throwing Knives. It was true that I didn’t know about the mindscape.
“What is a mindscape?”
“It is your mind, your experiences, and your desires.”
Cheon Hyeon-sak raised his fan and pointed at the university building. A structure built in a style not seen in the [Ascension to Light] world.
“This building is excessively detailed. If this building is not your desire, then this building must actually exist in reality. Has the world changed while I was dead?”
He looked around the world. High-rise buildings taller than the university building were lined up around him. Cars were moving, and people were walking around.
“Strange attire. Even riding strange carriages…. No matter how I think about it, this is beyond common sense. But there is order. I see. Is this another world? How interesting and intriguing.”
“Tell me more about the mindscape. If possible, I’d like to know what I can do in this mindscape.”
“A mindscape is also your spirit. If you set your mind to it, you can completely manipulate the mindscape. Just like how you created the knife just now.”
“If I set my mind to it, I can also eliminate you in my mindscape.”
“Does everything in this world happen just because you set your mind to it? The same goes for the mindscape. The mindscape is not made up of only you. There is a saying. ‘Samjeong’ is the realm of perceiving the mindscape, ‘Johwa’ is the realm of unfolding the mindscape, and ‘Mansang’ is the realm of projecting the mindscape. If you want to use the power of the mindscape in earnest… reach the realm of Johwa.”
“…I have perceived the mindscape. Does that mean I have reached the realm of Samjeong?”
“You know the answer to that question better than I do. You, who have reached the edge of stubbornness, will see the wall of the realm.”
“……”
I couldn’t argue with that.
In fact, even with just a little observation, I could see a huge wall blocking my path. I could see this wall even now, in the mindscape.
“People often say that enlightenment is needed to overcome the wall. What is that enlightenment? Is it a sudden inspiration? No one can explain it for sure. The enlightenment to overcome the wall is different for everyone.”
“Shut up. Don’t talk as if you’re my teacher. You talk about the mindscape.”
He shrugged his shoulders once and then said,
“It’s your mindscape. Find out for yourself. Let me give you one piece of advice… don’t break. The moment your spirit breaks, your mindscape will collapse.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t break. Where are the other Heavenly Demons?”
“They must be somewhere in this mindscape. They’re all so unruly… there will be those who will wreak havoc in this mindscape to break your spirit.”
“Is the First Heavenly Demon wreaking havoc?”
“No, he probably wants to see what’s in your deepest place. Just like he did with Cheon Yu-un.”
“What’s in the deepest place of Cheon Yu-un’s mindscape?”
“Only he has seen it. According to him, there is a snake that will swallow the sky, and he was very pleased.”
“What’s at the bottom of my mindscape?”
“You should know that better than I do.”
“I’m asking because I don’t know. Are you a little slow?”
“How insolent…. If you don’t know, go and see for yourself.”
Right.
This was my mindscape. It wouldn’t be bad to move around and see for myself. After that, I’ll kill Cheon Hyeon-sak.
It was then.
Something with a huge presence fell from the sky. It was a huge man covered in black energy, demonic energy.
“Hahahaha!”
The man, who had created a crater in the sports field, swung a greatsword that was over 2m long and walked towards me. He was using the Sky-Walking Technique. His feet didn’t touch the ground.
“You arrogant bastard! So you were here!”
“The Fourth Heavenly Demon, Cheon Bae-bok.”
Cheon Hyeon-sak said.
The Fourth Heavenly Demon, Cheon Bae-bok, had a red face and a beard. Because of that, he reminded me of Zhang Fei from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
“Step aside, Eleventh! I will not tolerate interference.”
Cheon Hyeon-sak stepped aside as if it were natural. He went under a suitable tree and fanned himself.
Cheon Bae-bok strode towards me.
“Young one! I admit that your talent is outstanding. But you are not qualified! I will never acknowledge a Heavenly Demon who is not of the Cheon bloodline! Before he decides to pass it on, I will break your spirit. Then he will make the right decision! Eleventh! I’ll say it again! Don’t interfere!”
“Don’t worry, I have no intention of interfering. If you break at this level, it’s the same as not being qualified to be a Heavenly Demon. I must have misjudged you.”
I was dumbfounded. I didn’t like either of these bastards. I decided to kill Cheon Bae-bok first, and then kill Cheon Hyeon-sak.
It was the moment I raised the Fire Lotus Throwing Knives.
『Absorbed the essence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.』
『More essence is needed to master the complete Heavenly Demon Divine Art.』
『Absorb the essence.』
The Heavenly Star System’s notification window popped up. At the same time, information about the Heavenly Demon Divine Art entered my mind. It wasn’t the Heavenly Demon Divine Art that I had learned, but information about a new Heavenly Demon Divine Art. However, the information about this Heavenly Demon Divine Art was incomplete in places.
‘The essence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, huh.’
I knew instinctively what it meant.
The Heavenly Demons in front of me.
What else could they be but the essence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?
The answer to what I had to do came to me. I smiled and swung my sword at Cheon Bae-bok. A huge slash flew towards Cheon Bae-bok.
Cheon Bae-bok was startled and hurriedly stepped aside to dodge.
‘It’s as I thought. This is my mindscape. There’s a buff on my attacks.’
I didn’t feel like I could lose in this world.
I used the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and began to fight in earnest.
