Chapter 2121 – 2121. The Ascent To Brightness
We walked towards the summit with swelling anticipation.
Just before reaching the top of Mount Domyung, an old man appeared, blocking our path. He was an ordinary-looking old man. There was nothing mystical or divine about him. He looked like any neighborhood grandpa you might see around.
Why are there so many guys suddenly appearing and blocking our way, just like the Great Monk Myunghon? As I felt a surge of murderous intent, the old man waved his hand.
“Calm down. I have no intention of fighting you. I have only appeared to congratulate you on reaching the summit of Mount Domyung.”
“We’ll gladly accept the congratulations. Now, would you please get lost?”
“You’re quite impatient. I can understand why. Great Monk Myunghon attacked you, after all. I apologize on behalf of my old friend for his rudeness.”
“Instead of apologizing, why didn’t you stop him?”
“Myunghon was stubborn and righteous, even among us. In his life, he never let the wicked live. If he saw a criminal, he killed them; if he saw a heretical martial artist, he killed them; if he saw a demonic leader, he killed them. Myunghon truly believed that was for the good of the world.”
“And he died by my hand. Are you here to avenge that monk?”
“No. Myunghon broke the rules first. I have no justification to retaliate against you. Myunghon said you would bring a bloodbath to the world… but that’s something the mortal world must resolve. We, the dead, can only fulfill our destinies.”
“So, what’s your real purpose?”
“I told you, to congratulate you. It’s not just about you reaching the summit. I congratulate you on your good fortune.”
“Good fortune?”
“Mount Domyung appears once every thousand years. Unfortunately, no one reached the summit in the last cycle. I think you understand what I mean by now?”
I didn’t understand. Was he trying to mess with me? Should I just beat him up first?
While I was pondering, Sima Ryung spoke up.
“…The energy from the last cycle has accumulated and carried over to this ritual.”
“That’s right. In other words, you can gain more than you normally would. So, how could I not personally congratulate such fortunate people! You are enjoying luck that even we, who designed and conducted the ritual of Mount Domyung, could not! Congratulations! It seems the heavens are on your side! Now, go up and claim your sweet reward!”
Clap, clap, clap.
The old man clapped and moved aside, clearing the path.
He really just stepped aside without doing anything. I was still suspicious of him. What if he suddenly attacked from behind like Great Monk Myunghon? There weren’t many people in this world you could trust.
‘Should I just kill him first?’
The old man gave me a wry smile.
“I cannot defeat you. Also, we are merely the dead and cannot receive the rewards of Mount Domyung. Go on. I will keep an eye on the Guigwon Black Water.”
The old man did nothing.
However, just before reaching the summit, his voice faintly echoed.
“When the Heavenly Gang meets the Heavenly Qi… is this also fate?”
• • •
The legend of Mount Domyung says that the one who reaches the highest point receives the blessings of the sky and stars.
The sky, fine, but the stars? Which star would give a blessing?
Having reached the summit of Mount Domyung, I felt the wind and looked around. Sima Ryung and Sung Ji-gon, who had been beside me, were nowhere to be seen. Instead, I saw a hazy cloud. Below me was a huge mountain.
I was standing on the peak of that mountain. Looking up, I could see the sky. The higher it went, the darker the sky became. Countless stars twinkled there. From the brightest star at the center, light fell.
The starlight slowly descended and enveloped my body.
‘It gives you what you want? Then what is it that I want?’
To save Mireyong from her coma? I already know how to save her. Sima Ryung said she would cooperate, so after this is over, I’ll go straight to Mireyong and solve her problem.
Peerless martial arts and an increase in my cultivation level? I already have peerless martial arts in my hands. An increase in my cultivation level? I can do that myself. I have the Heavenly Gang System.
‘I have the Hwaryun Flying Daggers as weapons. I have the Stormbreaker as armor. What I want is….’
Suddenly, my vision changed. I realized that Mount Domyung was showing me something else.
There was a handsome man and an old man who looked like he was dying. The old man’s eyes were lifeless, and his emaciated body was undergoing cellular necrosis from his toes up.
The man asked the old man.
“Immortal Hae-young, why have you returned to the human realm after leaving the beautiful Immortal Realm? I cannot forget the sight of you ascending to the heavens, having let go of everything. Is it even possible to descend from the Immortal Realm to the mortal realm? If so, why don’t the immortals intervene in the human realm?”
“The Immortal Realm is an illusion. There was no Shangri-La. Ascension is just a trap. Immortals are not benevolent, and gods are not omnipotent. The Immortal Realm I saw was no different from the human realm. It has its own laws and power.”
“……Is that so.”
“You don’t seem surprised. Did you know?”
“I knew that immortals were not benevolent. There’s no way a world filled with such beings could be a utopia. What do you mean by ascension being a trap?”
“Ascension is going to the Immortal Realm through a path opened by the immortals. In exchange for using that path, you lose your power and become an immortal. Then, you become a slave to the immortals. Even if you are lucky enough to gain power, you have to train for hundreds of years to become a god.”
“…So, that’s why ascension is a trap.”
“No. Losing power and living as a slave to the immortals? We can do that. We have already gained power and crossed worlds. What’s the problem with training? Rather, we are more advantageous than the immortals born in the Immortal Realm. Ascension is just bait to hide the true ascent. They don’t want ascenders to appear.”
“What is the true ascent?”
“The true ascent is breaking all limits and becoming a primordial god. The Immortal Realm, the Underworld, and other worlds do not want the birth of a god.”
“Can’t you ascend in other worlds?”
“You can. But it’s almost impossible.”
“Is it possible in the human realm?”
“The human realm. It’s also called the middle realm. Do you know why it’s called the middle realm? Because it’s at the center of all worlds. Therefore, the human realm has a higher probability of success in ascending than other worlds.”
“I understand that ascension is a trap. Then, how can one achieve the true ascent?”
“I don’t know. They’ve hidden it thoroughly… What’s certain is that they will try to stop the true ascent by any means. So, if you attempt the true ascent, do it as quietly as possible. Just seeking information about the true ascent can draw the attention of the Immortal Realm.”
“The Underworld is like that… and the Immortal Realm is not trustworthy either.”
“The middle realm is the same. Don’t trust the Four Guardian Gods. They can communicate with the Immortal Realm separately.”
“Are they the ones hiding information about the true ascent?”
“That’s what I speculate. Jin-hyun, don’t obsess over the true ascent. The Jin-hyun I saw is a genius beyond compare. You will eventually ascend. Quietly wait for that time.”
“I’m not interested in the true ascent itself, but if the true ascent is necessary for the order of this world, I will do it.”
With the young man’s words, my vision returned to normal.
I knew what the true ascent was. I was curious, but there was no need to show me this. I could just ask Sima Ryung, and she would tell me.
‘More importantly, Jin-hyun.’
Jin-hyun.
There is only one person in this world who uses that name.
The Emperor.
The absolute ruler of this world. People don’t dare to use his name.
‘Surely, this isn’t the end of the reward, is it?’
『The light of the Heavenly Star envelops you.』
I looked up. I knew that the brightest star in the sky was the Heavenly Star.
At the same time, I also knew the abilities of the Heavenly Star.
The Heavenly Star had two abilities.
One was the ability to know the past, present, and future by paying a price.
The other was the ability to get an answer by paying a price.
The price was troublesome. I could offer myself as a price… but the value wasn’t great. It was because of the full recovery. In other words, it didn’t allow for any tricks.
‘The Heavenly Star isn’t something I gained. It’s something I learned. Give me the real reward.’
I glared at the sky as if I would kill it.
The energy of heaven and earth began to gather before me.
It soon became a dodecagonal metal pendant. It was smaller than the palm of my hand, and its color was indigo. It looked quite nice. It was good enough to be used as an ornament. If it weren’t for the mysterious energy emanating from this small trinket, I might have really thought of it as an ornament.
I grabbed the metal pendant floating in the air.
At that moment, the world changed.
I appeared at the top of the mountain.
Sima Ryung was standing quietly beside me, and Sung Ji-gon was sitting in a lotus position on the other side. Golden energy poured out of his body. Sung Ji-gon’s body began to float in the air.
The golden energy spread in all directions. It was a strangely comforting energy. Mount Domyung, no, the entire mountain, which had become ordinary after the ritual, turned golden.
The golden energy that swept through the surroundings soared towards the sky. It was as if a pillar had formed between the earth and the sky.
The pillar of light collapsed as if melting, and three flowers bloomed above Sung Ji-gon’s head.
The brilliantly shining flowers then turned into smoke and seeped into the top of Sung Ji-gon’s head, disappearing.
Sung Ji-gon had reached the realm of the Three Peaks as a reward from Mount Domyung.
Sung Ji-gon soon opened his eyes. His eyes were full of vitality.
“You’ve reached the Three Peaks. Congratulations.”
“Congratulations, Great Hero.”
“Ah, thank you. Thank you, Sima Clan Head. But where’s the Guigwon Black Water?”
Sung Ji-gon immediately looked for the Guigwon Black Water. I pointed below. The Guigwon Black Water was tied up to a rock. Sung Ji-gon smiled brightly and approached the Guigwon Black Water. Had the Guigwon Black Water regained her senses for a moment? The old woman trembled madly as she looked at Sung Ji-gon.
“G-get away, you filthy thing! Don’t come near me!”
“Guigwon Black Water. I swore to take responsibility for you.”
Sung Ji-gon released the Guigwon Black Water and carried her on his back. I saw him subtly fondling the Guigwon Black Water’s chest. Sima Ryung and I turned our heads, pretending not to see.
