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“Go back. This place is sealed. It’s not a place for you to mess around.”

At those words, the Beast King laughed a bit, then replied, “I’m a traveler! I don’t want to let my long journey through the universe go to waste.”

“What do you mean?”

“Please tell me what is sealed here.”

The Beast King’s request seemed to annoy Jeon Wook. As if on cue, endless dark energy shot up from Seo Mun-hye’s possessed body, filling the space and transforming the world into a pitch-black abyss.

There was an unspoken pressure suggesting he could demonstrate some real power if needed, yet the Beast King refused to back down.

“You Three Sovereigns aren’t managing this world… However, its fate post-revelation hasn’t been sealed yet.”

“…”

“No one knows whether this world will still exist after the revelation.”

Jeon Wook showed no particular reaction to that statement but seemed intrigued, choosing not to exert further influence and pausing. Meanwhile, Seo Mun-hye struggled internally, desperately holding onto her soul as she listened in on the divine beings’ conversation, convinced she needed to overhear as much as possible.

Jeon Wook said, “Don’t worry unnecessarily. We aren’t so desperate as to fall under the rule of your outer dimensional overlords.”

“But a new territory dispute would be a hassle. When that time comes, I’ll be your ally.”

“… So you really want to know what this seal is about?”

The Beast King’s eyes narrowed intriguingly.

“I accepted the summoning thinking I could catch Chi You, but the summoner died. Yet, the offering he made was quite decent, so I decided to explore this world, with ample time to do so.”

Although the Master of the White Lotus Sect unexpectedly died during the decisive battle in the Divine City, the Beast King didn’t turn back immediately. This was because the countless human sacrifices he received from the White Lotus Sect had enriched him with a wealth of the Law of Cause and Effect. Thus, while staying in this world, he thought of manipulating his ‘toy.’

“You’ve gained an unnecessarily large amount of the Law of Cause and Effect.”

“Everything is merely a distraction. Oh Great Governor of this world, do you not have the generosity to satisfy a traveler’s amusement?”

Jeon Wook pondered for a moment at the Beast King’s words, then replied, “This is the tomb of a traitor who started a grand war. And since I ruled the North, I separated and sealed his heart in my territory.”

“Why did you have to do that?”

“He was so powerful that I couldn’t properly seal his true body without tearing apart his limbs. I had to use five cherished spears as seals.”

“Oh… so it was that guy I only heard about.”

The Beast King seemed to have an inkling of who was sealed. His curiosity piqued, he turned to the observing figure Berus and said, “A person capable of manipulating cycles. Did your master send you here?”

Jeon Wook also glanced at Berus, the gaze of the [Old Ruler] and his counterpart landing simultaneously on him. The immense pressure and magical energy distorted time and space, yet Berus stood unmoved, responding without the slightest hint of disturbance.

“Oh mighty Beast King, my master isn’t an evil person challenging the ruler’s domain, nor is he hostile. You should know that.”

“Why manipulate the cycle?”

“Because I possessed the Law of Cause and Effect concerning the request.”

“Tch… shut up. You don’t belong here.”

“I shall humbly accept your dangerous words.”

Wisp.

Immediately, Berus activated his Transmission Technique and left. Jeon Wook uttered no further words, simply observing. Berus was not regarded as vermin by them. Furthermore, the rulers subtly displayed concern for whatever entity lay behind Berus.

Jeon Wook, seemingly annoyed, said, “Now you can leave too.”

“If you say leave, I will, but…”

“What more do you need?”

The Beast King chimed in, “This guy has been baptized by rulers. Do you know who the owner of this strange token imprinted on his body is?”

“That one, huh?”

Jeon Wook replied nonchalantly as if he had heard something trivial.

“He is the Guardian of the entrance to a distant world.”

“Interesting… this place…”

The Beast King chuckled before saying, “Well then, shall we put aside the toys? Farewell for now.”

Whoosh.

Shortly thereafter, a dark presence began to seep out from Musashi’s body. The [Old Ruler] seemed to have lost interest in Musashi, appearing to contemplate wandering this world. As the Beast King’s soul departed, the life force within Musashi’s monstrous form vanished, causing him to collapse like a lifeless doll.

Jeon Wook stared at this scene for a moment with dissatisfaction and then said, “I’ll let this slide this time, but if you mess with my seal again by manipulating the cycle, I won’t remain idle.”

Jeon Wook similarly withdrew from Seo Mun-hye’s body, as he didn’t seem keen on expending too much energy on such unexpected trivial matters.

With that, a chilling silence enveloped the venue. It was a desolate stillness with both Musashi and Seo Mun-hye fainting as if dead. After a while, Berus reappeared using his Transmission Technique.

He placed his hand on the back of the collapsed Seo Mun-hye and summoned fish to infuse vital energy into her, causing her to twitch momentarily before regaining consciousness.

“Ah…”

“Your soul was about to be pulled into the Palace of Ten Thousand Ghosts. You’re alright now.”

“Thank you so much.”

But more than that, Berus sighed and said, “Jeon Wook warned me. Things have gotten sticky.”

Seo Mun-hye looked puzzled and asked, “Isn’t there no need to turn back? Everyone is back alive, and the pursuer Musashi is in that dead state.”

Berus countered, “Do you really think that looks dead?”

“What?”

“That guy has been manipulated like a puppet by the [Old Ruler] up until now. Even if the [Old Ruler]’s soul has departed, that immense magical power is still swirling within. Right now, he isn’t dead but his body is adapting to the magic.”

“… No way.”

Berus nodded in agreement.

“He will soon revive as an unparalleled Demon Beast. And his combat power won’t differ much from just before…”

“Will Musashi’s will still be alive after he revives?”

“I can’t say for sure, but I believe so. Even when the [Old Ruler] manipulated him through magical tokens, Musashi’s mental strength remained intact. He will likely live a second life as a Demon.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to flee from here…”

“Of course, if it’s not manipulated by the [Old Ruler], then there’s no need for further magic, so that wouldn’t be a bad plan. But how far can you truly flee from that monster? You’d end up constantly being chased by a relentless beast soaked in murderous intent for life.”

Seo Mun-hye could sense Berus’ words were putting her in a tough spot. If they managed to flee for now, they might save their lives, but being pursued by a monster that neither eats nor sleeps was a completely different horror. As she was lost for words, Berus said, “The Sword Demon asked for the cycle to be reset, but we’re in a dilemma, you see. The issue is whether you can comprehend this situation or not. Just because we reset time doesn’t guarantee a better outcome.”

“…”

“What shall we do now? Even with Jeon Wook’s warning, if you want, I’ll reset the last cycle. Of course, if we reset it, Musashi will no longer have the [Old Ruler] attached to him, but he’ll still be in the state of a Demon Beast. Getting suddenly forced into a fight will still happen.”

The [Old Rulers] were already aware of the smaller cycle beginning to spin. They had accidentally let it slip moments ago, but they wouldn’t be swayed by it again this time.

Moreover, Berus suspected that if Musashi turned into a Demon Beast, he would definitely be back here again. This was because the remaining magical power of the [Old Ruler] was so dense that it would likely nullify the influence of the [Small Cycle].

Seo Mun-hye pondered deeply. Given Berus’ words, it might indeed be the best state to remain as is, yet choosing to take another risk felt incredibly tough. However, she was aware of what the Sword Demon’s plan was and couldn’t dismiss its potential for success.

‘If it were my father… he would have chosen like this.’

After a moment, she made up her mind and spoke, “Please reset it.”

“Are you confident there will be a better outcome?”

“Yes.”

Seo Mun-hye’s eyes sparkled.

“My father will succeed.”

The Sword Demon, sitting cross-legged, poured all of his concentration into this moment of his life.

Could I really do it?

Though he faced great tribulations in life, the Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong had never been defeated, but this time felt different. He found himself about to take a ridiculous gamble, putting not just his life but also the fate of his daughter on the line. And he was going to do it based solely on a theory without anyone guaranteeing the outcome.

The Sword Demon recalled memories from the past, when he trained martial arts with Jin So-cheong on the southern continent.

“Oh, Sword Demon Elder. I believe that theory is sound.”

“Is that so? Did you take it seriously?”

“Yes. I see that idea as valid.”

“If Zhuge Sha or Mangnyang hears this, they might dismiss it as nonsense…”

The Sword Demon, who smiled bitterly, saw Jin So-cheong shake his head.

“Not at all. I believe it’s worth trying.”

“So, you’re willing to try too?”

“Yes. If the opportunity arises in the future.”

“No matter which side succeeds or fails… no, if it does succeed, it would indeed be a monumental step forward.”

“That’s precisely why.”

The light in Jin So-cheong’s eyes sparkled vividly.

“That opportunity cannot be captured through time. You must elevate all your focus to the highest level and at the same time, gain insight into a singularity that may not even be real.”

“I’m realizing just how foolish I’ve been to talk about dreams.”

“I wish you success.”

Indeed –

It was only one opportunity, and that opportunity couldn’t be caught with mere reflexes. The ability to perceive even hundreds of times the speed of sound was the prowess of a true expert, yet time itself would move in a way that even the fastest reflexes couldn’t comprehend. For by the moment it was recognized, it would have already changed.

This also insinuated, at the same time, the limit that humans could never overcome against the gods. If a god controlled time and space or manipulated the [Cycles], then even martial arts to contend against a god would be rendered useless.

Could martial prowess truly not confront a god?

The Sword Demon didn’t believe so. This was because he had seen the existence of the Martial God and his followers within Baek Woong’s memories. If they had no means to contend against the gods, they wouldn’t be so obsessed with the path of martial arts. Furthermore, the incident where Jin So-cheong had defeated the Bishop of the Nine Lotuses in the Galactic Islands supported that thought.

Goooooo

The Sword Demon’s hair began to flutter and transform from the tips into pristine white. His robust physique gradually grew weaker, and the energy within him diminished.

Unlike Seo Mun-hye’s white hair from her bloodline, he was drawing forth his lifetime’s worth of power due to his intense concentration. The pressure of such a force was affecting his physical body. He was at the point where he couldn’t think of anything else as he honed his mental power.

But it couldn’t be helped.

What he attempted now was something he couldn’t undertake with a rational mind, a literal domain of theory.

He had to dive into madness, not just steeling himself for the ordeal but being prepared to risk his very life.

It wasn’t just Musashi he needed to surpass.

To transcend himself, transcend the condition of the world, and finally reach a state of awareness.

When the mind rises to vision (若心起見)

There exists another boundary that can be discerned (有餘境可分別求)

He recalled a passage from the sutras he had read in the past. Originally, that passage described how when the mind conjures perception and knowledge, the correct method becomes tangled, illustrating the nature of awareness. However, it strangely illuminated the path he needed to take, even though it didn’t pertain directly to the martial arts realm. Perhaps this enlightenment he had received was that of an enlightened one.

To penetrate the moment of the True Awakening (三無數劫)!

The moment’s defilement (無明業相), also called the moment of afflicted mind, wasn’t the same awakening discussed in the Buddhist texts; it was a direct manifestation of the Mind Control Technique. As the stage of awareness known as Alaya-vijnana (阿賴耶識) deepened, his mental powers began to elevate to a different realm.

Crack!

His skin began to split apart, and light flowed from the center of his forehead. Reaching peak concentration, the boundaries of his body seemed to dissolve, the energy mixing and flowing into the void. It felt as if the Sword Demon himself became a flickering candle flame.

“In the ultimate realm, time (時間) becomes distance (距離). Understanding the ultimate distance through which to read the flow among these billions of combinations was nearly impossible. Thus, I realized that beneath and above the flow lies an axis, continually moving in circles. If you understand that the circle flows from high to low, it becomes simple. Just move against the direction of the flow flowing downward from above. In my quest for the ultimate martial prowess over the past fifty years, I’ve come to understand this principle.”

“Pay attention. The Void (虛) gives birth to Qi (氣).”

“Baek Woong, as you reach the limit of martial arts, the Alaya-vijnana will manifest amid endless time, and the Primordial Void (太虛) will reveal itself. In the end, martial arts can be described as the essence of the Primordial Void, countering chaos (混沌). The pursuit of martial arts ultimately means grasping the Primordial Void, the ultimate string, to transcend the Law of Cause and Effect… That state which the gods collectively understand in a form humans can comprehend is the Daoist Tai Chi (太極).”

Primordial Void (太虛)

That’s the crux of it.

The most magnificent and fundamental attribute in this world is chaos. The dualities of light and darkness, good and evil emerged only after chaos, and nothing could be more fundamental than that. Even the [Old Rulers], various gods, and universe’s grand order were based on chaos.

However, Baek Woong’s memories of his past life told him that chaos fused with the Primordial Void and annihilated, leaving the Primordial Void behind after chaos. It was an impossible contradiction, but reframed, it suggested that the only entity capable of opposing the attributes of chaos in the entire universe is the Primordial Void.

So, what is time?

From the Sword Demon’s perspective, time was also part of chaos. The past, present, and future of time all belonged to the Law of Cause and Effect and divine status. It would be natural for gods to swim through time just as fish would swim through water, given they stem from chaos.

And Miyamoto Musashi once cut through a slice of time and space while fighting against a god. To put it differently, using intent meant one could also cut through chaos, implying that time could be reversed. All the various evidence pointed toward a single theory.

Suppose one comprehends the Primordial Void (太虛); in that case, crossing time becomes possible!

Of course, at present, he lacked the necessary power, and the limitations of humanity meant he couldn’t move the [Small Cycle] at will. However, the Sword Demon theorized that theoretically, if he were an unrivaled martial artist in the Absolute Realm, he could resist at the moment time reverts by mobilizing all his focus.

Ku-uuuuu!

The Sword Demon’s eyes sparkled brilliantly, and the body that had been seated in meditation slowly began to rise. Utilizing the concentration of a lifetime, he felt fine with everything ending in this moment. Even in this moment, thoughts about his blood relation vanished from his mind.

When was it?

No, such a thing was meaningless. That word itself was bound by the concept of time.

Perhaps the concepts imposed by the language he used limited his imagination and possibility.

The Sword Demon, raising his mental acuity higher and higher, finally realized he had begun perceiving the unique nature of the cycle.

The Dao generates virtue (道生之德畜之)

Material forms (物形之勢成之)

In the singularity, those metaphysical transformations were indeed taking place. The Sword Demon stared into that singularity as if entranced.

Snap!

Then in the next moment, the Sword Demon found himself completely in a different landscape, standing on solid ground. To his side stood Berus and his daughter, Seo Mun-hye. Berus glanced at the Sword Demon and said, “How did your hair turn white?”

The Sword Demon didn’t answer but smiled quietly.

He had attained the ability to resist against the chaos of the [Cycle]. The Sword Demon silently gazed ahead.

[Sword… Demon…]

Before him was Musashi, staggering as he began to rise. Tremendous magical energy flowed from him, and his monstrous body twisted in movement. The [Old Ruler] had left, yet he was still under the influence of magic, which was rousing within him anew.

The Sword Demon started to walk towards Musashi.

And when the distance between them reached exactly one palm (일 장), they locked eyes.

At that moment, without any prior signals, both swung their swords.

The distinction lay merely in that the Sword Demon’s sword had transformed into a formless state, leaving no lingering light, while Musashi’s sword was a cursed blade infused with magic.

A tense silence surrounded them.

Moments later, the sounds of cracking echoed as Musashi’s monstrous skin began to rupture. His entire upper body was marred by massive wounds, like leaves piling up as the slashes deviated in direction and rained down on him, creating hundreds of scars in an instant.

Simultaneously, the Sword Demon’s strike cleared Musashi’s mind. The sacred might of Amenohabakiri severed the magic, lessening the hold it had over him.

“……”

Even as Musashi bled blue, he did not kneel. He didn’t question the strength of the Sword Demon, who had just surpassed him by reaching the realm of the Demon King. This was due to them both being swordsmen; just from seeing the figure of the Sword Demon, he could tell what realization he had come to.

Speed like light.

The sheer power that could slice through the armor of a beast like paper.

That was not the might of Amenohabakiri; it was pure martial power exclusive to the Sword Demon.

Musashi slowly spoke, moving his otherworldly vocal cords, “Formless… sword…. true… the realm of the Heart Sword…”

“……”

“Thank you… and… I am sorry…”

Why did Musashi say he was sorry?

This was because he recognized his actions of attacking the Sword Demon after being resurrected by magic were cowardly, having failed as a martial artist. Musashi felt ashamed, even if he was being controlled by the magic of the [Old Ruler]. At the same time, there was also a tinge of sorrow that the one who had just slain him would soon reach his end.

“Father!!”

“Stay back, Hyea.”

The Sword Demon cut through the transformed Musashi, yet he himself was not safe either. This one moment, where he comprehended the Primordial Void, elevated him to the Absolute Realm and led him to formless swordsmanship, allowed him to subdue Musashi; however, it didn’t enable him to evade Musashi’s cursed sword. Thus, a long scar was left on the Sword Demon’s chest from Musashi’s cursed blade.

The Sword Demon laughed as blood dripped from his lips.

“In that state, you won’t be able to kill a god.”

“……”

Musashi seemed taken aback by those words, his mouth agape in shock. Then he glanced over with a hollow smile and replied, “Unmatched Under Heaven… was just a fleeting dream.”

With a flash, Musashi disintegrated into dust. Even the magic that had brought him close to the level of a Demon King could not withstand the formless sword. As Musashi’s presence faded away, the Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong realized his own end was approaching.

He suddenly felt a void.

Would Baek Woong truly inherit these memories and experiences?

If Zhuge Sa were alive, he might have learned this knowledge through the servitor demons, but he couldn’t pass on the vivid experience of the Eighth Consciousness. This was because Zhuge Sa himself wasn’t a martial artist capable of transmitting that to the realm of the Absolute.

“However… the will must continue.”

Just as he meant to say something, someone spoke within his mind.

“I will convey it on your behalf.”

At that moment, the Sword Demon’s eyes widened, realizing who the voice belonged to. They exchanged thoughts, and only then could he find some peace. After a while, he managed a faint smile and looked at Seo Mun-hye.

“Hyea… There’s no need to worry.”

“Father…”

“This death is merely a momentary farewell. Don’t you think we will reunite again?”

At that, Seo Mun-hye burst into tears.

“No, you can’t go back…”

“Don’t you think you will meet again?”

“How can I simply get over my current death when I depend on that reunion for comfort?”

“That’s true…”

The Sword Demon began to slowly topple over, closing his eyes.

“I… I’ll take a little rest.”

The Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong, with his eyes closed, ceased to move further.

Having been gravely wounded by Musashi and drained of vitality by using the Primordial Void to resist against the [Small Cycle], he encountered the end of life.

Yet, he had no regrets, as he had protected his blood relation.

 

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