Chapter 59: Fifth Stage: Union

Perhaps, I had a dream.

“You've done well to reach this far.”

The reason I thought it was a dream was that the Healing Sage, with a benevolent expression, was speaking to me.

“Why do you look at me with such unfamiliar eyes?”

“……My apologies.”

The Healing Sage and I were not from the same era. Naturally, I saw him for the first time.

But I knew at a glance that he was the Healing Sage himself.

It was a fact I clearly did not know, yet I knew it, so I thought it must be because it was a dream.

“Hurry up and come to your senses and operate the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art.”

“Pardon?”

“Hurry up. You can't freeze to death or burn to death after coming this far, can you?”

Without even time to question, I subconsciously operated the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art.

How could it be otherwise in the State of Harmony?

For a martial artist who had reached the Three Flowers Realm, the utilization of internal energy was like the speed of thought, so the comforting energy of the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art soon enveloped my body.

“That's right. You haven't learned it in vain.”

I had no time to respond to the Healing Sage's praise.

It was because I could feel the cold energy freezing my heart from within, and the heat melting my bones from without, at the same time.

‘Ah.’

Only then did I remember.

The fact that I had taken the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng and thrown my body into the lava of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Extreme Blood Treasure.

It seemed like a long time ago, but I knew that the scale of time in a dream was naturally chaotic.

Perhaps, time had not flowed.

The fact that my body had not reached death even though I was not fully operating the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art would be the proof.

“Put aside your distracting thoughts for a moment. There is no time now, so you must do it properly.”

The Healing Sage's words were indeed right, so I operated the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art with all my might.

In truth, it could be said that this was the first time I was nervous in unfolding my martial art.

How could I not be nervous, unfolding his martial art in front of the Healing Sage?

Guuuung.

As the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art moved according to my will, it calmed the yin energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng that had coiled in my heart.

It was not as flashy as what the Emperor Breaker had demonstrated, but its subtlety was profound, so it was indeed right to describe the Healing Sage as a Grandmaster.

Dugeun.

The frozen heart revived and began to perform its role.

Dugeun.

As the heart, the source of life, began to beat, the body naturally regained its vitality and found its balance.

To put it differently…….

Kwagwagwa.

It also meant that the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art had naturally started to accept the extreme yang energy possessed by the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Extreme Blood Treasure.

Since the yin energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng was intense, the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Extreme Blood Treasure pouring in was also like a raging wave.

‘Keuk.’

Like blotting paper absorbing water, my body was accepting the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Extreme Blood Treasure without filter.

It would be appropriate to say that a mere human body was containing the vast nature.

The Healing Sage, who was watching me with a pleased expression, spoke again.

“Give up the greed to take everything. To contain all of nature is a misguided greed, so moderation is important in all things.”

Using the Healing Sage's words as a guide, the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art continued to manifest its function.

In the tightrope walk that surpassed the urgency of a life-and-death battle, my senses were sharpened.

A long time passed like that.

Kwagwagwagwa.

The Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng was also a precious object of extreme yin, not unworthy of the name of a supreme elixir, so even after continuously accepting the extreme yang energy of the blood treasure, the yin energy still held the upper hand.

And…….

I could feel the yang energy of the blood treasure, which had been rushing in like a raging wave, falter.

With the suddenly created leeway, my vision opened.

In my eyes was a thumbnail-sized, redly glowing crystal.

I knew instinctively.

That was the essence of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Extreme Blood Treasure.

Just as humans have the so-called original qi and spirit, the innate qi, that tiny crystal was clearly the origin of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Extreme Blood Treasure.

“Heh.”

The Healing Sage, who was still by my side, sighed. No, reading the emotion contained within it, it was more of an admiration than a sigh.

“So it turned out like this because that rascal in front drained the blood treasure's power.”

The rascal in front probably referred to Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha.

“Excellent. This too must be the flow of fate.”

The Healing Sage, who had nodded to himself, said.

“Take it. It is yours.”

As if the origin of the blood treasure was following the Healing Sage's words, it moved on its own and came towards me.

Finally, the origin reached my palm and…….

Seureuk.

It was absorbed without resistance.

“……!”

The origin of the blood treasure was truly worthy of being called the essence of extreme yang.

As if to prove that what I had absorbed from the blood treasure so far was merely a byproduct, the origin of the blood treasure fused with the yin energy of the snow ginseng.

“Ah.”

I realized instinctively.

Finally, the balance of yin and yang was achieved.

The extreme yin of the snow ginseng that had frozen my heart met the extreme yang of the blood treasure and created a universe called Taiji within my body.

Observing my own body with the realm that had already reached the State of Harmony, I couldn't possibly not know that fact.

“Taiji will not be lacking, but you must pursue Wuji.”

The Healing Sage was right.

It was not that Taiji was better than Wuji, but that since the path of the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art was towards Wuji, it was right to go to Wuji.

It was because that was the path to reach the Sixth Stage.

Originally, opposites do not mix.

It is the law of nature that they do not mix and become one, but collide, are offset, and disappear.

If so, what is the method to contain opposites?

It would be to create a vessel that can completely embrace both opposites, and that was the Healing Sage's answer.

I retraced the path the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art had taken.

First Stage: Body Reformation.

The vast foundation laid with the Immaculate Pomegranate embraced the universe.

Second Stage: Golden Body.

Even with the explosive energy from the meeting of yin and yang, the body did not burst and endured.

Third Stage: Impenetrable.

The collision of opposites naturally creates wicked byproducts, but the body that had reached Impenetrable did not allow the wicked things and burned them all.

Fourth Stage: Amplification.

As the qi filling the Qi Center brandished its power and the Spirit began to expand, it finally faced the furiously rampaging energies of the snow ginseng and the blood treasure.

Now I understood.

Up to the Fourth Stage of the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art, everything was a provision for this very moment.

Three flower buds bloomed above my head.

It was the Three Flowers Realm, the proof of the State of Harmony obtained in the Fourth Stage: Amplification.

The Three Flowers I had already achieved and the two energies of yin and yang mixed in chaos powerfully harmonized.

The goal was none other than to weave yin and yang to reach Wuji.

Kwagwang!

With the sensation of an explosion, I fell into a state of No-Self.

The Healing Sage's voice was no longer audible. Nevertheless, I knew that the Healing Sage was watching over me from the side.

No-Self was to forget myself and forget the world, so it would be to forget time as well. Therefore, I did not know how much time had passed.

Nevertheless, the vessel of Essence, Qi, and Spirit I had completed was steadfast.

Seureuk.

The energies that had not moved a single step from Taiji finally began to invade each other's territories.

It was like opening the floodgates of a dam. A small clue soon becomes a huge flow.

Extreme yin and extreme yang harmonized to reach Wuji.

It did not mean that yin and yang had mixed and been neutralized.

Extreme yin existed and extreme yang existed, but they were not opposed like in Taiji; rather, being together was Wuji.

“Now.”

The Healing Sage's voice was heard again. Since I was his successor who had inherited his progress, I followed his words like an instinct.

The Essence, Qi, and Spirit of the Three Flowers Realm embraced the Wuji of yin and yang.

The five mechanisms of Essence, Qi, Spirit, Yin, and Yang achieved harmony.

As the five mechanisms achieved harmony, the five qis naturally began to circulate.

The three flower buds floating above my head began to transform.

Soon, a new shape emerged: five rings holding an auspicious light.

It was the proof that I had reached the supreme realm commonly called the Five Qis Courting the Origin in the Jianghu Murim.

It could be said that a universe was contained within the human body, and that I had finally entered the realm of complete intent.

The Profound Realm.

It also meant that I had reached the highest place a human body could set foot on.

I knew that just as not all peaks are the same, not all Profound Realms could be the same, but the fact that I too had set foot there was important.

Seureuk.

I opened my eyes.

I was still in a dream.

The fact that the Healing Sage was still present was the proof.

“Well done.”

The Healing Sage's expression as he said that blurred.

“And thank you.”

I wanted to see his face properly and strained my eyes, but it did not go as I wished.

This too must be because it was a dream.

“Now that you have risen to the same place as me, I can no longer help you.”

Although I couldn't see his expression, the emotion contained in his voice was closer to emotion than sadness.

“Practitioner, it is now time to descend the mountain.”

The Healing Sage's figure began to blur after he finished speaking.

“……Wait a moment.”

I managed to open my mouth by squeezing out all the power of having reached the Five Qis Courting the Origin.

As I straightened my body, I felt an extreme sense of exhaustion.

But was I not a martial artist who had achieved the Five Qis Courting the Origin? Something like mere exhaustion could not stop my actions.

Although the Healing Sage's expression was not visible, I knew that what was on his face was admiration.

Kneeling down…….

“I have received a great grace.”

I bowed.

The laws of the Dancheon Clan stated that one should perform three bows when accepting a master.

First bow.

Thanks to you, I have embraced hope in a new life.

Second bow.

Thanks to you, I was able to protect myself even after returning.

Third bow.

Thanks to you, I have gained a new future to advance towards.

It was my first opportunity to express the grace I had received from a master, so I did not do it carelessly.

After finishing the three bows, I said with the strength of squeezing out my last bit of true qi.

“Thank you.”

A moment of silence.

“That is enough.”

Those words remained as the Healing Sage's figure faintly disappeared.

I don't know if it's right to express it this way in a dream, but I lost consciousness again.

* * *

In the depths of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

“……I see. Understood.”

The Grand Marshal of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Demonic Divine Communication Wisu, nodded after hearing the report.

“You've worked hard, so go and rest.”

The messenger, who had hastily made a salute, vanished abruptly.

Wisu’s gaze naturally followed the sky.

“Tsk.”

The sky was covered with clouds.

“I will be out for a while, so be aware.”

“I will accompany you.”

A reply was heard from the space where only Wisu had been.

As if it were a normal occurrence, Wisu replied.

“No. I am going to the Demonic Heaven Tower.”

“Understood.”

Leaving those words behind, Wisu diligently unfolded his lightness skill alone.

Demonic Divine Communication Wisu was also a master who had reached the supreme, so the ruggedness of Tomur Peak was no obstacle for him.

Finally, when Demonic Divine Communication Wisu reached the Demonic Heaven Tower, there was a guest already there.

“This is the first time I've seen you in such a hurry.”

It was the supreme one of the Demonic Cult, Heavenly Demon Seol Cheon-sang.

Even though Seol Cheon-sang's figure was strolling through the air, Wisu replied without paying it any mind.

“Please wait a moment.”

Since the height of the Demonic Heaven Tower was higher than the clouds, Wisu was finally able to capture the complete sky in his eyes.

“Tsk.”

Although he had read the heavenly energy just a short while ago, its flow had changed again.

Wisu, who had been observing the heavenly energy for a long time, opened his mouth.

“……This is a big problem.”

That was the conclusion.

An arrangement to weaken the prestige of the evil faction before the Great War of Righteousness and Evil occurred had collapsed.

It meant that the ominous star of the disaster scheduled for Zhejiang Province had disappeared, and that the messenger's message was true.

Since the plan that had arranged the flow of heavenly energy had come to nothing, Demonic Divine Communication Wisu's mind could not help but become complicated.

But the real big problem was not that.

“Cult Leader.”

Wisu called out to Heavenly Demon Seol Cheon-sang.

Although it was a tone that should not be used towards Heavenly Demon Seol Cheon-sang, who reigned over all demons, it was permitted in the Demonic Heaven Tower.

The fact that Wisu, who had always maintained a respectful tone, had abandoned it himself also meant that the matter was very serious.

“Why do you call?”

The absolute one replied languidly, as if not wanting to respond to Wisu’s seriousness.

“The Emperor Breaker's star has revived.”

This was the problem that was giving Wisu the biggest headache.

The Emperor Breaker's star, which had been fading, had overcome that light and was shining brightly again, so it was a bigger problem than the disappearance of the ominous star in Zhejiang Province.

“It has become brighter than before, so it will not be good for our cult's great work.”

It was a problem of a degree that made Wisu abandon the respectful language he had always maintained.

“Whose star shines brighter?”

Heavenly Demon Seol Cheon-sang, his curiosity piqued, asked, but.

“That is a meaningless question.”

Wisu replied.

“I suppose so.”

The Heavenly Demon, who had nodded, replied.

“Should we erase it now?”

The Heavenly Demon's eyes as he said that were not filled with a murderous red light, but resembled the pitch black of a bottomless pit.

“It is not yet time for the Emperor Breaker's star.”

Before the Heavenly Demon's interest could wane, Wisu added.

“But there is something that must be done.”

What Wisu was looking at was the new divine star that had begun to shine.

“You must erase one star.”

Wisu’s voice echoed calmly in the Demonic Heaven Tower.

Curiosity stirred in the Heavenly Demon's expression.

“Is it a gain? Or a loss?”

He asked.

Wisu answered the Heavenly Demon's question without hesitation.

“It is a loss.”

However…….

“In all the affairs of the world, can one live looking only for gains?”

In the Demonic Heaven Tower, a new destiny was stirring.