Emperor’s Sword [EN]: Chapter 102

Reaching Jangbaeksan [a sacred mountain in Korean folklore] and entering Muryangcheon [a fictional place, likely a sanctuary or temple], I was greeted warmly by the Taoist Master Jang Sambong. I immediately told him, in my haste, that the Demon Realm would soon attack.

“Since you know this place, what will you do? How about moving all the descendants of the Sun Meridian [a lineage or group with special powers] to the Immortal Realm?”

“That won’t do.”

“Why not?”

“Because only a few are allowed to enter and leave the Immortal Realm.” At a time like this, he was being so particular. I wondered if this old man was in his right mind. I tried to persuade him for a while longer, but soon gave up. Anyway, it seemed the Demon Realm was going to kill them all. They would eventually enter the Immortal Realm through the gateway of death. It would just take a little longer.

After explaining most of what I had experienced and heard, the Taoist Master looked serious.

“This is no ordinary matter.”

“Let’s leave for the Immortal Realm quickly. We don’t have time for this…” He said it wasn’t something that could be rushed, making me anxious. When I was urging him, he was so relaxed, and now he was taking his time. The situation was completely reversed.

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

“We must go to the Immortal Realm.” But why were we still here? If we had to go anyway, wouldn’t it be better to leave as soon as possible? Time waits for no one.

The Taoist Master began to briefly explain what would happen.

“I will only accompany you to a specific area. Once there, someone will teach you what you need to do. Just follow his instructions.”

“Weren’t we going to the Immortal Realm?”

“The Immortal Realm is the Immortal Realm.” According to his explanation, I was going to the boundary of dimensions.

It was an area where the Immortal Realm, the Spirit Realm, and the Celestial Realm overlapped. Among these, the Immortal Realm was the only one without a dimensional wall between it and the human realm.

However, that didn’t mean anyone could easily go there. There was only one passage, and it was guarded by the immortals of the Immortal Realm. It was difficult for humans to even discover it, and even if they knew, they couldn’t freely cross it.

The Taoist Master had traveled to the Immortal Realm about twice a year, and he said he had only been allowed to do so for a little over twenty years. Even he, as one of the Eight Immortals of the Immortal Realm, did not have the ability to enter and leave at will when they blocked the entrance. He was still human, so there were many restrictions.

Then wouldn’t it be the same for me? If just going to the Immortal Realm was this difficult, how could I go through the Infinite Realm to steal the Light?

The Taoist Master had said there was definitely a plan. But there was something that didn’t quite add up. I began to think seriously. Then I suddenly asked him,

“Now that the Demon Realm is attacking other dimensions, there’s no reason why I have to be human, is there?”

The need for me to leave this dimension in this state, rather than entering the spirit realm through death, was only necessary before the Demon Realm invaded or when the Demon Realm only maintained control over the human realm. The situation had changed.

The Demon Realm’s goal was across all dimensions, so other dimensions could eventually face them without entering the human realm, without breaking the divine covenant. Given this, there was no need for me to remain human and force a dimensional adventure.

However, the Taoist Master’s thoughts were completely different from mine.

“If you die, we won’t be able to guide you as we intend. We won’t know what dimension you’ll be in, and we’ll only be able to find you after a certain amount of time. Even then, there’s a possibility of various problems. Moreover, although I’m not sure, there’s another clear reason why you must be human.” There could be such problems. What was the other reason?

“What is it?”

“Spirits are stopped by angels before they even reach that place. In other words, they can’t leave a certain area. But humans, while they don’t have the ability to go, if they acquire that ability, there’s no problem in going as far as they can.” So that was the reason.

For the journey to the spirit realm, I had to listen to various instructions from the Taoist Master and learn a great deal about the precautions I needed to take.

He said that the moment I entered the spirit realm, I would lose all my power. The functions of the body would stop, and without a Prisma [likely a magical artifact or source of power], the difficulties I would face would be immense.

“Does that mean everything will be resolved once I go to the Immortal Realm?”

“I will take you to the boundary of the dimensions, and there you will undergo some training. You will also gain some abilities. Only then will you be able to go to the Infinite Realm.”

“So, we’re not going directly into the Immortal Realm?”

“That’s right. We’re not going into the Immortal Realm. We’re passing through it, but it’s far from the central area.”

“That’s a bit disappointing. I was secretly hoping to meet the key figures in the Immortal Realm…”

“We must keep you as hidden as possible, so we will move as secretly as possible. We have to avoid the eyes of the Angels of Darkness and others with various interests. We can’t completely avoid them, but there’s no reason to reveal ourselves.” I couldn’t shake the feeling that there would be many difficulties ahead. And how great would the difficulties be due to my lack of adaptability to the spirit realm?

“How far is it to the Light? How long do you think it will take to get it?” At my very human question, the Taoist Master shook his head.

“In terms of spatial distance… well, no one knows. It’s like asking how vast the universe is, so I can only answer that I don’t know. Perhaps only God knows the entirety.

But in terms of time, even if you go without stopping, after you have acquired basic abilities, it might take about 500 days in human time. Of course, this is based on the human concept of time.” A journey of 500 days…

Even with the assumption that nothing would happen, it was almost two years, more than a year. No one knew how the situation would change during that time. It was natural to hurry. Now, the Light might not be essential, but it was valuable to have. Especially the ability to restrict the Infinite Realm and the Spirit Realm was quite appealing.

The Taoist Master took me to a place. It was the library of Muryangcheon. There were immortals reading books on one side, and when they saw the Taoist Master, they bowed and hurriedly left. They were giving us space.

I could tell that everyone was very respectful of the Taoist Master. In fact, it was understandable. How would they perceive the status of one of the Eight Immortals of the Immortal Realm? It was natural to look up to and respect an immortal.

“Here, look at this.” He took a book from the bookshelf and handed it to me. It was an old, worn book made of parchment. I flipped through it and looked at the Taoist Master in a hurry.

“I thought you might need it…” The Taoist Master, who was mumbling like that, was full of genuine concern for me, and I could feel it. He left me alone and went out of the library. On his back was the weight of life, and the loneliness of a human who had strived to see the truth behind the surface for a long time.

I also stand in the place where countless people have lived. But in my one special life, I still don’t know what I should truly grasp, what my heart is so drawn to. It’s a shameful thing. I can’t clearly understand myself about what I should live for. I can only drift like a buoy according to the situation, and since I don’t have a firm belief, everything is immediate and impulsive.

The reflexive actions flowed from me. That was far from the true me. The person inside me always yearned for a different path. And I wanted to watch those who had embarked on that path. That’s how I am now. Reality was shattered, and the place where I stood was devastated.

Having lost even the basis, what I’m looking at is moving from this world to another. My mind and body are still on this side, but my will is already heading to the other side. I quickly scanned the book that the Taoist Master had given me. It was a treasure trove of wisdom recorded by the immortals of Muryangcheon over many years.

Most of the books filled here would be like that, but there seemed to be a special reason why he chose this particular book for me. The overall content of the book was about controlling the mind, straightening the will, not wavering, and constantly approaching wisdom rather than knowledge. Because the authors were different people, their perspectives were different.

However, there was definitely something in common. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but I could feel it. Reaching the middle part, I let out a long sigh.

“The way these people have lived and strived is worthy of respect as fellow humans.” That’s right. In the parts where the authors briefly described their lives, I came to think about how easily my life had been drawn. Their desperate and fierce worries and anguish had not become heavier with time, but lighter, and as death approached, they had become one.

“Ah, now that I see it, these were written before entering the Immortal Realm.” Immortals who have undergone long training can know the time of their death. They wrote down what they had realized and learned throughout their lives for their successors. It felt like their hearts were being conveyed to me through their words.

“Ah. I can look at it this way too.” If it had been before, my heart wouldn’t have been moved so easily. Thanks to the misery, sadness, anger, and sorrow I had recently experienced, I was able to empathize with their stories more quickly. Among them, this passage caught my eye:

Birth and death are the same in the world. Those who went first yesterday and those who live today become the same through death. The spirit is nurtured through the body, and the spirit corrects the body again. Everything is interconnected, so the past, present, and future, humans, nature, this world, are never separate. Look carefully, step back, and touch and feel again. Is there anything in this world that exists alone? To have come as a human is to have seized good fortune, and you must fill what you could not achieve in the past world.

Growth does not come in an instant but starts from constant self-denial. If you try to gain one thing at a time, you will lose one thing at a time, and if you discard one thing at a time, you will gradually become full.

What you must look at is the sublime world, and if you do not open your eyes, even a thousand years will be useless. Turn your gaze from the outside to the inside and change your greedy heart into love and compassion. Those who are full must discard even that, so let everything come and go in an empty heart.

When you abandon your narrow perspective and look at things as they are, you will become the world, nature, the universe, and God, and only then will you be able to realize the true meaning of life.

Then there was a slightly unusual passage.

Do not go into the mountains, do not go out into the fields, do not look at the river, and do not go out to the sea. Just stay in one place and examine your heart. Look at what is in your heart. Everything is contained there, and only time will give you the answer.

Another immortal was presenting a completely opposite opinion.

I realized that everything is futile. What is advancing, and what is enlightenment? I abandoned affection and greed, but I could not abandon myself, so what was the use?

Enlightenment cannot be obtained with the mind alone, and progress cannot be made in the mountains. Go out into the world. Collide and mingle, and see the rightness that is hidden among them. Among those who hate, love, strive, and fall behind, become one of them.

Do not distinguish, and be faithful to life. You and they are not different and are one, so strive to love until death comes. If you give your body and mind, they will fill you, and the human world must be like this.

I realized that this was the purpose of coming as a human, and all the things I had done so far were futile. Everything is beyond death, so do not harm each other, and join hands. At that moment, happiness will suddenly come, vain attachments will disappear, and this world will become a world of light.

I sat on the floor of the library and immersed myself in the contents of the book. But in the end, there was a clear limit that I could not overcome. I did not have the depth of time they had, nor the moments of enlightenment they had felt and experienced. So how could I fully empathize with it?

Reaching the last chapter, I felt a shiver. It was because the contents of the Cheonbugyeong [an ancient Korean scripture] were clearly written there. It was a kind of interpretation, and I was even more surprised because it largely matched the content of the research I had been doing before.

When I came out of the library, Taoist Master Jang Sambong was waiting. He said to me,

“It’s time. Let’s go.” It was as if it was finally time to take me, and he began to hurry, looking more excited than I was. But since I knew nothing about the process ahead, I silently followed his lead.

He and I went down to the bottom of Muryangcheon. I couldn’t hide my surprise for a moment. Going down instead of up. I wondered if there was something else I needed to see or know, but I didn’t ask specifically. But that wasn’t it.

“The entrance to the dimension is at the bottom of the lake.” It was a completely unexpected and surprising statement. I had vaguely expected to go up to the sky, so I was stunned for a while at the unexpected words. If it was at the bottom of the lake, I thought, I could just jump into the lake, so why did I have to go down through the Muryangcheon building floating on the lake? That question was soon answered.

“The entrance to the underwater cave has been blocked and connected to this building.” After going down for a while, as he said, a damp, moist cave wall appeared. The slope that had been going down vertically for a while now continued sideways. The cave walls were soaked with moisture, and there were various patterns that seemed to have been attached or carved by the immortals.

The smooth walls at the beginning changed to rough, natural ones after a while. The final place we reached was a circular stone chamber that was only about five pyeong [a traditional Korean unit of area, roughly 180 square feet]. There was a thick-looking iron door in front, and it was rusted in the corner as if it hadn’t been opened for a long time.

“Are you saying we’re going inside here?”

“Yes.”

“The Immortal Realm…” I was so dumbfounded that I stopped speaking for a moment. When I thought about it, it was even more absurd.

“Is the Immortal Realm underground?” The Taoist Master stared at me for a moment, then chuckled and said,

“Who told you it was underground?”

“Isn’t this underground now?”

“Hmm, I suppose you could think that. Come in.” He slowly pushed the door. Then the door turned and moved to one side. A rotating door. My expectations were wrong again. I thought it would be a hinged or sliding door. The rust in that corner was because it hadn’t been cleaned.

As I stepped inside, I became more and more confused and chaotic, and my head was throbbing. Another stone chamber.

In the center of the rectangular stone chamber, in contrast to the door, there was a smooth, glossy stone that covered an area of about one jang [a traditional Korean unit of length, roughly 10 feet] on the floor. It was black overall, but there were also bluish colors mixed in.

The Taoist Master stood right on it.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming up here?” Then he even plopped down on the floor.

“What are you doing?” I asked, completely dumbfounded. I couldn’t understand what he was trying to do.

“You’ll understand once you come up.” I carefully stepped onto the stone. I wondered if I might suddenly sink or rise into the sky. The situation was so absurd that I couldn’t help but find it a little funny. It was then that the Taoist Master finally began to explain what was going on.

“Originally, you can’t go to the Immortal Realm from here. Even if immortals from the Immortal Realm can come here. So, this place is…” He explained that going to the Immortal Realm required spatial movement. He confessed that he didn’t possess such abilities himself. He said that the times he had entered and exited the Immortal Realm were because he had been summoned from there.

This place was where immortals had been coming and going to the human realm since ancient times. It wasn’t without reason that the Immeasurable Heaven was built here.

“If we stand here, they will know and take us to our destination. And we will meet the one we are meant to meet.” I understood the situation, but more questions began to arise within me. However, I didn’t ask any more questions. Like the Taoist Master, I waited quietly.

Quite some time seemed to pass, and when nothing changed, I grew impatient and even frustrated.

“How long do we have to wait? Surely we’re not just going to stand here forever?” “We have to wait. There’s no other way.” He said that the connection between the Sun Meridian and the Immortal Realm was only spiritual. In other words, they could convey their intentions here. This meant that they also knew that the two of us were waiting here.

My current feelings were a mix of unfamiliar emotions as I was about to embark on a journey to a new world. There was a sense of anticipation and excitement.

“What does it feel like to move through space?” “You’ll find out when you experience it.” “Where exactly are we going? If it’s not the central area of the Immortal Realm, then we won’t be able to meet the other Eight Immortals or the Supreme Old Lord.” “That’s right. The place we’re going is within the Immortal Realm, but it’s also connected to other dimensional realms, so we can encounter all sorts of spiritual beings.

In this land, it would be like a city on the outskirts of the Central Plains, a hub for all kinds of trade. You can meet various spiritual beings there, and many things happen. Information about the secret affairs of each dimensional realm is actually spread through such places.

The spirit realm, from my perspective, is not much different from the human realm. The only difference is that they have seen the secret of death and have a more solid belief in the meaning of existence.

They are still imperfect, so they still have desires, and their relationships are the same. Moreover, if they are not high-ranking spirits, some can be even more vile than humans.” “Is that possible?” “Yes, you’ll see when you experience it.” “Why is that? They know everything… Yet, why don’t they devote themselves to cultivation? Surely they haven’t given up on the journey to perfection.” “It’s for similar reasons. Some of them get tired and give up due to prolonged stagnation, or they lose their pure passion and wander, or they even enter the Demon Realm due to an insurmountable ennui, or they refuse reincarnation, reject the gods, and live as they please.” I could see how that could happen.

I, too, might have a different perspective if I were to experience death and live as a spirit in the spirit realm. Just because you know something doesn’t mean you will always act accordingly. The long wait without any promise would have exhausted anyone, and it’s not strange to feel ennui there.

He had said that spiritual rank and physical combat power were not necessarily proportional. Even among those with high spiritual rank, there could be spirits with inferior combat power. That was because they hadn’t focused on or trained in it. It was similar to how not everyone in the Shaolin Temple is a martial monk.

“The area we are going to is called ‘Garden’ in the Immortal Realm and the Celestial Realm, and ‘Maeso’ in other dimensional realms. The Immortal Realm has only one Garden, but the Infinite Realm has hundreds.

The meaning of Maeso in the Infinite Realm refers to all places where they live together, but the Garden we are talking about refers to the surrounding area.” The Infinite Realm must have many Maeso. They live freely, divided or mixed by race, but the Immortal Realm and the Celestial Realm live together in certain areas.

The number of spirits in the Celestial Realm and the Immortal Realm is small compared to other dimensional realms. So, it’s natural that they live together, but in the case of the Infinite Realm, the area is so vast and extensive, and the number is overwhelmingly large. For that reason, it’s understandable that they show such diverse tendencies.

“Various spirits gather in the Garden, so there’s never a quiet day. Most of them are ordinary spirits, but high-ranking spirits are mixed in. I’m telling you in advance, when you go there, just do as you’re told. If you act recklessly, it won’t end with just a minor inconvenience.” Hearing the Taoist Master’s warning, I couldn’t help but feel a little apprehensive. It was as if I was a novice entering the martial world for the first time. Well, it would be better to be careful until I got used to the spirit realm.

And I was clearly going to the spirit realm with a goal. I didn’t have time to look elsewhere. Therefore, I had no choice but to keep quiet and stay still. By the way, would there be any problem if I entered the spirit realm with a human body?

“Taoist Master.” Perhaps noticing my serious expression, the Taoist Master also looked cautious.

“What is it?” “Is this okay?” I asked, pointing to my body with my hand.

“What do you mean?” He didn’t understand.

“I was asking if there would be any problems with a human entering the spirit realm…” “There won’t be any problems, but it will be uncomfortable. And entering the Garden is something you should be extremely careful about. If a living being enters, they will quickly recognize it. Eventually, there will be an uproar or you will face difficulties. Anyway, there will be trouble.” “Of course, there will be a solution… right?” Judging by his expression, he seemed doubtful.

“I don’t know, but there must be. Otherwise, why would I bring you? Maybe they have prepared something in the Garden.” Suddenly, I stood up from my spot. The sudden vibration came from the floor. Looking at the Taoist Master, he was still calm.

“What’s going on all of a sudden?” Seeing the Taoist Master’s unchanging attitude, I felt embarrassed that I was the only one who was flustered. I felt ashamed for making a fuss by myself.

“They’re coming soon.” By ‘they,’ he must mean the immortals of the Immortal Realm? A moment later, the black stone turned red as if it were heating up, and then two people, no, two immortals appeared.

I had experienced the spatial movement used by the demons of the Demon Realm several times, but it was still amazing. Their ability to ignore space was astonishing. Moreover, I was paying attention to the new fact that spatial movement was possible even to other dimensions. It was only natural that I was interested in the first immortals I was meeting.

“We have come to escort you.” Escort? Hmm, from the beginning, they were different from the demons of the Demon Realm. It was partly because I was looking at them that way, but there was definitely something different about their appearance compared to the demons of the Demon Realm.

The white, glowing clothes were in the form of the long robes we commonly wore, but they were smooth and clean without any seams. Clothes made of a cylinder were impossible. In other words, it meant that they were not clothes made by sewing with thread. Both of them had black hair that was long. And at the ends of their hair, there were thin, round things that looked like trimmed bamboo, hanging in a row.

“You’ve done well. You’re going to the Garden, right?” To the Taoist Master’s question, one of the immortals replied politely, with the utmost respect.

“Yes, that’s right. You can go straight away. All preparations have been made. We have also prepared a place for Pachoen in Seondo Hall, which is on the outskirts of the Garden.” The one speaking was a young man with a neat impression, who looked to be about twenty years old. A soft, bright smile bloomed on his face, making me think, ‘as expected.’

One of the immortals said,

“Please extend your hand.” Why were they suddenly asking me to extend my hand? I did as I was told and extended one hand. Then, the Taoist Master also entrusted one of his hands to the other immortal. The two immortals gently held our hands.

“Now, close your eyes and endure for a moment, and you will be transported to the Garden.” They said that all I had to do was close my eyes. Huh, it was that simple…?

A warm feeling was transmitted from the hand the immortal had extended. I closed my eyes and focused on the new change. My ears were ringing, and my whole body felt like it was floating on a cloud. Moreover, it was a different feeling from my whole body feeling light, it was as if my whole body was being finely shattered. At that moment, Seon-i’s voice echoed in my head.

“Focus on the feeling transmitted from your hand.” As he said, I focused on the warm energy being injected into me.

A moment later,

“Okay, you can open your eyes now.” I slowly opened my eyes.

“Where is this?” Releasing the hands they were holding, the immortal said,

“This is the entrance to the Garden. Welcome.” “Th-thank you.” I looked around. The entrance to the Garden, he said? Then this was one of the places in the Garden where the Immortal Realm, the Infinite Realm, the Celestial Realm, and the Ghost Realm overlapped…

“Please follow me.” The Taoist Master and I silently followed the two immortals.

Where were we going? They just told us to follow them without any explanation and then shut their mouths. By the way, why was no one else around? Surely these weren’t the only immortals.

“Where are we going now?” Only after the Taoist Master asked did they begin to speak.

“There is someone waiting for you two.” “Who is it?” “You’ll know when you get there.” The place we had first arrived at was indoors, but as we walked, we were going outside. We were walking through a place that looked like a corridor. In the garden, unknown, mysterious plants were growing abundantly, and beautiful flowers were in full bloom. Our group entered the path that ran through them.

After a while, we saw a ridge surrounded by flowers, and a small stone house was nestled there. In front of it, there was an open space, and several people were standing around, watching us. When we arrived, the people who seemed to be waiting for us were three: an old man, a boy, and a girl who looked to be about ten years old.

“Welcome, you two.” The old man greeted us with a kind smile, and the Taoist Master was delighted. “Oh, isn’t that Taeseon? You came yourself.” “Haha, I couldn’t just stay still. It wasn’t easy to leave it to the children. So, I came myself. Well, let’s go inside instead of standing here.” A small stone house.

It was just a humble house made of ordinary stones. Perhaps because I had seen the palaces of the Demon Realm, it looked too shabby in comparison. When we pushed open the door, the interior was decorated in a circular shape. There were only a few chairs to sit on, and nothing else was visible.

I sat where the old man pointed, but I didn’t feel comfortable. It was as if I was in the mountains of the Central Plains, and there was nothing about this place that made me believe it was the Immortal Realm. The Taoist Master and the old man exchanged pleasantries, their faces full of smiles.

“It seems like it’s almost time for you to come here? Isn’t that right?” “That’s right. When I return to the human realm, I think I will soon enter the Immortal Realm again.” “It seems like all the vacant seats of the Eight Immortals will finally be filled.” “Whether they are filled or not, it doesn’t seem to matter much, hahaha.” “Hahahaha, you’re saying unnecessary things. If you knew how much the immortals have been waiting for Chungseon, you wouldn’t say that.” Was Chungseon referring to the Taoist Master? Judging by what he was saying, that old man seemed to be one of the Eight Immortals.

Honestly, I was a little disappointed. I thought it would have some kind of mystery, even if it wasn’t a magnificent palace, but all there was was a small stone house in the middle of nowhere?

“Hmm, is this the child called Pachoen?” A child… oh, my.

“Yes. This child is Pachoen.” “Why, are you disappointed? Well, it might look shabby.” “No, it’s not that…” “This place is like the entrance to the main realm and the human realm. You may not see it, but there are a considerable number of immortals hidden everywhere.” Was that so?

“The reason I came to greet you myself today is because I have an urgent request for you.” “Please tell me.” “When you enter the Garden, do not cause any trouble under any circumstances. Even if it’s an unavoidable situation, you must remain silent. Can you do that?” “Why is that? Is something happening in the Garden…?” It was the Taoist Master who asked. Then, the old man called Taeseon made a serious face.

“The situation in the Garden is not good right now. The number of spirits from each realm has increased to an unprecedented level, and it has been reported that a considerable number of renowned warriors have also entered. So, we are watching with heightened vigilance. I’m worried that some big commotion might break out.” “So that’s what happened. What do you think is the reason, Taeseon?” “It’s probably because of this child. The current situation in the human realm has been conveyed to the spirit realm in relatively detailed terms, and there are many different opinions about the intentions of the Demon Realm. As a result, the attention of each dimensional realm has been focused here, and it’s only natural that spirits have gathered in the Garden.” “What do you plan to do in the future? Is it okay not to meet the Supreme Old Lord?”

“I skipped it because there wasn’t enough time, but I will have to meet him someday. By the way, what do you plan to do, Chungseon?” “I have to go back now. I have things to do… We will meet soon. Please take good care of this child.” “Is that what you mean? Don’t worry and have a safe trip.” When the Taoist Master got up from his seat, everyone stood up at once. The two immortals who had brought us here escorted the Taoist Master, and I was grabbed by the old man named Taeseon and had to sit back down.

“From now on, I will explain the reason why you were called here and the overall situation. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.” “I will.” “You must already know some of it, right?” “I’ve heard the gist of it.” “What you have to do from now on is to bring ‘Light.’ The reason why Light is needed is something you already know, but I’ll say it again. It is necessary to move other dimensional realms. Moreover, the current situation is not good, so it is not easy for other dimensional realms except the Demon Realm to unite.

If we have Light, we can effectively deal with the war against the Demon Realm. If we can gather the power of the whole, we may not be able to completely eradicate them, but we can stop their ambition.

There is no spirit who can explain Light in detail. I am the same. Metatron might know it well, but even Lucifer probably doesn’t know it well. We can only guess why it was created and what it is useful for. The fact that it is in the shape of a sword is also just a rumor, and no one has confirmed it.” “Then, even if I bring Light, it will be useless?” “No. Light means the manifestation of God. If Light appears, you have to choose one of two things: either acknowledge and accept God’s authority, or reject it.” “If no one has actually seen Light, how will they know if I bring it?” “No one has actually seen Light, but everyone will know it when they see it. Whether it is Light or not… You won’t understand yet. For spirits, it’s obvious.” “What is the reason why I, a living person who is not a spirit, was chosen as the right person for this task?” “There is a clear reason for that. Spirits cannot go near the Tathagata Hall of the Celestial Palace. They are all stopped before that. The celestial angels of the Celestial Palace are guarding the front of the Tathagata Hall where Light is, so no one can go.

But you are different. We can expect even a glimmer of possibility.” “Why?” “Because there was such a case. The secret surrounding Light is also a matter of great interest among spirits. It would be long to tell you everything… I’ll explain it briefly.

The perfect beings who enter the Light World must complete everything in their current lives. They pass through the spirit realm in a living state and enter the Light World. Light is in a place that must be passed through to enter the Light World, and all of them must have Light or at least experienced Light. For some reason, the path to the Tathagata Hall where Light is located is allowed for living beings.

However, not everyone can reach that place just because they are living beings. There are some who enter the spirit realm in a living state, but most of them end their journey in the Infinite Realm or fail to reach the Tathagata Hall.

So far, no one except the perfect beings has reached the Tathagata Hall in a living state… Anyway, you are a living being, so you can go to the Tathagata Hall. There are two problems. One is that there will be those who will harm you before you reach that place. The second is that you have to obtain Light with your own power when you reach that place. These two things are the main points.” “Neither of them is easy. It seems almost impossible…” To reach the Tathagata Hall, you have to pass through the Infinite Realm vertically. Countless dangers would be lurking. It was impossible with my power. I was weak here. How could I, who hadn’t even adapted to the spirit realm, deal with enemies who were waiting to harm me?

“So, I plan to take some measures. First, I will give you a minimum amount of power. The power you gain will depend on your efforts.

Second, I will assign a helper to protect you and guide you to that place. There are complex intentions of each dimensional realm mixed in your journey this time, so you won’t know who is an ally and who is an enemy until the very end. Sometimes, an unexpected helper may appear, and you may also face the opposite situation.

Once you pass through the Infinite Realm and reach the Tathagata Hall, you will have to solve the rest of the journey alone. No one can help you, and in fact, help will not be of any use.” “I have one question.” “What is it?” “Is there a reason why we have to go through the Infinite Realm?” “What do you mean?” “Just like we moved from the human realm to this place, wouldn’t it be simple to move to the place where Light is?” “Hmm…” Taeseon hesitated for the first time at my question. Was there something difficult to say? Was there something that even I, the person involved, had to hide?

“I’ll tell you the truth. We have two purposes in your journey this time. Of course, the first priority is to obtain Light, and the second is to identify the internal enemies through your journey.” Identify internal enemies? I didn’t quite understand what that meant.

“It’s natural that there will be certain qualifications to obtain Light. Just because you reach that place doesn’t mean you will automatically be given that qualification. We expect you to gain and learn a lot through your journey.

We don’t know specifically how to obtain Light, but considering that it will probably only be possible if you have the qualifications, it’s useless for you to go there in your current state. The content of the Cheonbugyeong [a sacred text in Korean shamanism] that you have memorized also acts as a key.

Another purpose is to find out the organized position of each dimensional realm. For a long time, the Demon Realm has been influencing each dimensional realm in subtle ways, and no one knows how far their influence has reached. All of that will be revealed in this war.”

However, we can’t just wait idly. Before the final battle, if we don’t eliminate the Demon Realm’s collaborators lurking among us, the fight will be incredibly difficult.

They will reveal themselves in some way during your journey. And even if you obtain the Light in the future, the Infinite Realm will be the biggest unknown factor, so experiencing and understanding it beforehand is also one of your missions.

I apologize for placing such a heavy burden on you, but this is also something that directly concerns you, so I hope you will approach it with a sense of duty.” I agreed with the phrase, ‘directly concerns you.’ After all, the Human Realm has suffered the greatest damage so far, and my personal desire is to somehow inflict damage on the Demon Realm.

Since it’s something I can’t do alone, I have no choice but to follow any request for now.

“I’m fine with anything. Instead, I hope you can somehow maximize the probability of success so that I don’t end up wasting my efforts. Until I punish the Demon Gods of the Demon Realm with my own hands, I am not in a position to refuse, no matter how rough the path may be. What should I do from now on?”

“Hahaha…” Taeseon stroked his long beard with one hand, a satisfied expression on his face.

“Since your mindset is so firm, there will be good results. If you don’t give up on your will, everything will be achieved, even if there are difficulties.” Yes, as Taeseon said, if I don’t give up… it will eventually be achieved. Even if I can’t achieve everything with my own hands, as long as I can hinder the Demon Realm’s actions.

“For the time being, you must live with these two children. Ask and learn everything from them. When you are somewhat prepared, I will come back to you. Since time is of the essence, I will leave now. If you ever feel suffocated here, it might be good to go out to the center of the courtyard. Well then, take care.” Seeing him get up, I also stood up. But to listen and learn everything from these kids?

“Um…”
“Why? Is there anything you’re curious about?”
“Did you say… to learn from them?”
“I clearly said that. Why?” Geez, even if it’s an order from one of the Eight Immortals of the Immortal Realm, this is too much.

“I… understand.” He stared at me for a while, then laughed heartily before patting my shoulder.

“I know what you’re worried about, but it’s an unnecessary concern. From now on, it would be better for you to discard the perspectives you had in the human world for now. The more you empty, the more you gain. These children will help you fill a lot, and they have the ability to do so.

Do you think I, who knows the importance of this matter, would make you do useless work? It would be better than me teaching you, so you don’t need to waste your energy.” The old man seems to see right through me. Since he said it like that, I can’t not believe him.

“Then I’ll be going now. It seems I’ve taken too much time. Youl and Gaksi, listen.”
“Yes.” The two children bowed their heads politely.

“You know your mission well.”
“Of course.” The boy among the kids answered confidently. The ten-year-old boy, wearing tight dark brown clothes, raised his small fist.

Unbelievable. Now I have to serve this young child as my teacher? At this moment, the girl next to me glanced at me and smiled softly. It was a very innocent smile, untouched by any stain. Her small, delicate features and clear skin felt exceptionally pure.

“Then let’s start right away without rest. I believe in you and I’ll be going now.”
“Please be careful.” The old man’s figure disappeared from my sight the moment the two children bowed to Taeseon at the same time. Now, only me and the two kids were left in the Stone Chamber. I looked at the two children, feeling dazed.

“Follow me.” The boy called Youl spoke abruptly, as if giving an order. Is this a power play?

“You should tell me where we’re going before telling me to follow, shouldn’t you?” The girl named Gaksi smiled slightly and took my hand.

“You’ll know everything if you just follow us.”
“Is that so… then?”
“Your name is Pacheon, right? From now on, you must treat us two with respect. I don’t really like it, but I’ll try to teach you, so pay attention.” Ha, this young brat. I’m speechless.

“Um, how old are you, by the way?” Gaksi answered instead.

“Are you asking about our age?”
“Yes.”
“We don’t really know either. And here, such things have no meaning. In terms of age, everyone is the same. If you only consider the time when we were first created.”
“Why do you look so young?”
“Our appearances were originally like this, and they will probably remain so. When the spirit body disappears and is newly created, it becomes as we think… it’s just like this.”
“Is that so?” That was new information. Then Taeseon, who is one of the Eight Immortals, is not old, but he wanted to look like that himself. What a unique taste.

“Did you already forget what Taeseon said earlier? He told you to discard all the thoughts you had in the human world.” Huh, this is embarrassing.

“Then, what is the age of your current spirit body…?”
“In human world time, I’m a little over… 700 years old, and Youl is almost 800 years old.” Ugh, I have nothing to say.

“Pacheon.”
“Why?”
“What did I tell you a little while ago?” Hya, this guy is not easy. What’s so difficult about that? If that’s your wish, I’ll grant it.

“You told me to treat you with respect.”
“Yes, that’s the attitude you need to have from now on. If your basic posture is messed up, you won’t get anything from us. To gain and learn even one more thing, humility is the foundation, and trust must also be unwavering. Now, follow me.” He gestured for me to follow with his small hand, then opened the door and went out. Gaksi, who was still holding my hand, pulled me slightly. When I came outside, Youl was already walking ahead by himself. I and Gaksi walked together behind him, about ten paces apart.

“Just be comfortable with me.” This one is different. She looks about Hwan-ah’s age, but she’s lived for over 700 years? No, that’s just how long she’s had her current spirit body… Well, in the end, this girl and I are the same. Once I shed my human body, I’ll be no different from these kids.

“I will.”
“But… there’s one thing I want to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Did the human world really perish? I heard that the Demon Realm devastated the human world… is that true?”
“Yes, it’s true.”
“Ah…” Gaksi’s face was filled with despair. Seeing that, I also became solemn. It’s depressing.

“Now… I have to give up my expectations.”
“You shouldn’t give up hope yet. No matter how strong the Demon Realm is, surely they can’t win even if the power of all dimensions unites?”
“No, that’s not it. I…” I looked into Gaksi’s big eyes.

“I haven’t experienced a current life even once. So… I was waiting for an opportunity to come… but now everything is ruined.” Ah, is that what she meant? She hasn’t experienced a current life even once, so there are quite a few spirits like that? What ‘he’ told me before was true.

‘It’s not easy to be born into a current life. Do you know how many spirits desire that? Being born as a human on this earth, that alone is actually a great blessing. If everyone knew that, the world would be a much better place to live in.’ …he said.

“The fact that births in the human world have stopped is an unprecedented event. It means the end of reincarnation. For the time being, spirits will only be able to take on new spirit bodies in the spirit realm. I won’t even be given a chance, I wanted to experience a current life at least once…” As I was listening, Gaksi began to sob and let out those words. I couldn’t empathize, wondering if it was such a sad thing.

“What are you doing? Do you think we have a lot of time? Why aren’t you following us?” Youl shouted loudly, standing on a distant ridge. Gaksi, realizing her situation, grabbed my hand and soared into the air. In an instant, we reached Youl’s side, and Gaksi let go of my hand. Youl’s cute face was frowning.

“Where do you think you have time to dawdle?”
“I know, I was wrong. So stop it.” Gaksi waved her hands and replied indifferently. Youl was about to open his mouth to say something, but he gave up, as if it was annoying.

“Now, look there.” I turned my head slightly towards where Youl was pointing, and my mouth fell open.

“Oh…” What was visible below the ridge was a huge city. The vast area, whose end could not be estimated, was filled with towers that seemed to pierce the sky, and the main roads were intricately intertwined between them.

“It’s one of the largest courtyards in the spirit realm. It’s a relatively peaceful place compared to other places because it’s close to the Immortal Realm. But it’s difficult to relax. Although Youl and Gaksi are always around you, and other immortals are protecting you, there are strong people everywhere.

So, from now on, you have to be on your guard. The place we’re going is there… do you see that tall tower on the edge?”
“Yes, I see it.” At my polite honorifics, Youl looked at me with a new gaze for a moment, then continued what he was saying.

“That’s where we’ll be staying for a while. It’s the 17th Immortal Training Center. That area is a relatively safe zone, but if you enter the center, even we can’t be at ease. So, don’t even think about wandering around without our permission.” The kid is worried about everything. Try pushing my back. Do you think I would do such a thing?

“I won’t.”
“Good. Now, take my hand.” Youl and Gaksi grabbed my hands tightly from both sides. Then, a warm energy flowed into me.

“Now, let’s go.” Whoosh, we soared high into the sky towards the place called the 17th Immortal Training Center. It seemed even larger than when I saw it from the ridge. I thought it wasn’t that far, but it wasn’t.

“Hey, who is this?” Youl and Gaksi, who were flying quickly, stopped abruptly in mid-air. Two beings were blocking our path in front of us. Is this the appearance of an enemy from the beginning?

“The troublemaker of the Immortal Realm, isn’t it Youl Immortal? Well, where are you going in such a hurry?”
“You are…”
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I think it’s the first time since we met in the city of Ragon.”
“Get out of the way. I don’t have time to play with you now.” The two beings, no, the two monsters blocking our path, looked quite strange, making me perplexed. What are those?

“Why are you being like this? I thought we were clearly comrades back then. We should be sharing a drink, but you’re being so cold. And it seems Gaksi Immortal is also here.”
“Didn’t I tell you to get out of the way!” The creatures’ appearances were extremely bizarre. Their bodies were covered in bruises, as if they had been beaten somewhere, and their skin was wrinkled. Their eyes were bright red, and their ears drooped down to their chins. Their fingertips had large, strong-looking claws like an eagle’s, and they wore nothing on their bodies.

In their hands, they held axes with long handles that were about a yard long. I wondered if these guys were also spirits. I also wondered if they were like the demons of the Demon Realm.

“The guy accompanying you… it seems he’s the infamous one. It’s probably been a long time since a living spirit came here. Well, why don’t we go together and have a drink?” It was at this moment.

“Do you want to get hurt? Don’t you know your place, getting involved in such a big game?” It was a voice from behind us. Looking at Gaksi and Youl, they were not shaken at all. They had an attitude as if they already knew.

“Youl and Gaksi, just go. We’ll take care of this guy.”
“Tch, if it weren’t for this guy, I could have had some fun.” Youl said that as if he was very dissatisfied, and then tried to pass by the two monsters floating in front of him without paying any attention to them.

“Huh, this is troublesome.”
“You have to play with us.” Swish, swish, swish, four or five figures suddenly appeared in front of us. They were wearing the same clothes as the immortals we saw at first.

“Then, please take care of it.”
“Don’t worry.” Following the words exchanged between Youl and the immortals, the monsters’ shouts were heard.

“How dare these guys look down on us!”
“Let’s speed up a bit.” Whoosh, Gaksi and Youl accelerated and flew into the sky, the acceleration so fast that my vision blurred. I didn’t even dare to turn my head back and was very tense. Judging from the continuous booming sounds coming from behind, it seemed a duel had broken out.

After a short time, we were able to reach the place we were aiming for. The height of the tower seemed to be about 30 yards from the ground. There were windows all around, large enough for three or four people to enter and exit at the same time, and they grabbed my hands and went straight into one of them.

The structure of the tower, which seemed to be made of stones stacked on top of each other, was surprisingly simple. There were no stairs between the floors, so it seemed that the only way to go back and forth was the way we had just entered.

The place we entered was about halfway up the tower. The inside was composed of several quite large stone chambers, and the largest stone chamber was located at the innermost point.

“Well, we’ll be living here for the time being.” I had a lot of questions, but I couldn’t get a chance to speak and was just staring at Youl. Youl’s non-stop chatter was all about the rules I had to follow while staying here, and it all seemed to be made up on the spot.

“Everything from waking up to eating and resting must be with my permission. There will be three rest times and one meal time per day. And there will be no free time for the time being. Disobeying my orders will not be tolerated, and if you have any questions, ask me anytime. And…”
“Wait a minute…” Youl glared at me.

“…yo.”
“What is it?” In a way, his angry face is also cute.

“I have a question.”
“There’s no need to pay attention to that guy.”
“Didn’t you say a little while ago that I could ask anything if I had any questions?”
“Hmm, okay. I’ll explain. That guy is a warrior of the ‘Buru’ tribe, one of the races of the Infinite Realm. There’s no need to know his name, right?”
“Then… was that guy also… a spirit?”
“Yes, you’re forgetting again. Didn’t I tell you to discard all the thoughts you’ve had so far? It’s also a prejudice that all spirits look like us. A spirit body is just a shell, just like a human body. The reason they look like that is because of their unique prism. Do you have any more questions?”

“Are there… more immortals around us now?”
“Of course! Until you reach a satisfactory level, you are a person who needs to be protected. The number of immortals deployed for this mission alone… let’s stop talking about this.” Haa, is that so? Have I become someone who can’t even protect myself without someone’s protection? How pathetic.

“I’ll tell you what you need to do from now on. Youl and Gaksi will each take charge of one area and train you. I will focus on increasing your combat power, and Gaksi will…”
“I’ll say it. I will teach you the miscellaneous knowledge of the spirit realm. From the parts you must know to the things that will be helpful in many ways if you know them. I will teach you most of the knowledge that Pacheon needs to acquire to achieve his goal.” What I heard from ‘him’ and Cheonma was only a very small part of the whole. This doesn’t seem easy from the start.

“After acquiring the basics, you will undergo other training in a certain place on the highest floor of this place. Only after that will your journey begin.”
“Will you two be going with me then?”
“Of course, we will also accompany you. Only up to the Infinite Realm. After that, you will have to handle everything on your own. So, there is no room for even a moment of distraction. Always be tense and do your best. Even if you do that, the probability of success is slim… but at least you’ll be able to endure longer.”
“Then let’s start. What should I do first?”
“Gaksi, start.”
“I will. Come this way.” While Gaksi was calling me, I saw Youl going outside. As he disappeared, Gaksi Immortal began her formal lesson. The two of us sat facing each other. There was a platform made of stone in the center of the stone chamber, and we sat there facing each other. The floor was warm. Gaksi opened her small mouth and began to speak non-stop. Everything was full of unfamiliar concepts, so it was very strange.

“…Therefore, Pacheon-nim currently has no power at all… in the human world, it’s like a newborn baby. First, I’ll explain the principle of the prism.” Even if I tried to keep my eyes wide open so as not to miss anything, I only understood a part of it. Gaksi seemed to think that I understood everything, so she didn’t repeat what she had said once. Whew, this is difficult.

“…Because you don’t have a unique prism of your spirit body, you can’t use anything other than the original power that your body can exert. So, we looked for a way to replace it, and as a result…” Just when I was starting to feel a little bored, Youl came inside. Contrary to before, Gaksi Immortal went outside. I was still sitting on the stone platform.

“Get up. What you’ll learn today is movement technique. The most basic foundation of combat power is movement technique. There is something similar to this in the martial arts of the human world, but the principle is completely different, so you must be very focused.

You currently have no prism at all. Therefore, you are nothing but a useless person in the spirit realm. At best, all you can do is walk and run.” I couldn’t agree with that. Of course, I’m not as good as high-level spirits, but I can easily beat a Rakshasa among the demons. Hmm, to be honest, it wouldn’t be easy, but it’s not impossible to subdue them. So, how difficult would it be for me to fly in the air or move quickly?

“I’m confident in my agility. I can’t teleport, but I don’t want to be inferior to Youl Immortal in other things.”
“Are you confident in that?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then follow me.” Youl slowly floated into the air on the spot. After that, he was walking freely in the air.

“Hoo. That level of air walking is a piece of cake.” I activated my energy throughout my body.