사신지혼(四神之魂)

At my words, the Asura momentarily looked puzzled, as if I had blurted out something completely off the wall. Surprisingly, he didn’t dismiss me with a laugh like before, but pondered for a moment before responding.

“That’s quite an odd topic you’re bringing up. Can you use intent without a heart?”

“Yup.”

“May I ask why you’re struggling with that?”

I calmly replied to his question.

“Actually, not long ago, Yeodong-bin visited me from the Celestial Realm.”

I shared the story of my encounter with Yeodong-bin. I contemplated just passing along the obsidian, but considering I’d already sealed the Demon King’s powers away from the Asura, it didn’t seem wise to keep handing over obsidian. So, I explained verbally instead. After finishing my explanation, I continued.

“At first, I thought it was natural for my heart to waver. You know this life of mine is supposed to be a break, and somehow, I ended up creating Soeul Village. I intended to live in peace there, but at some point, instead of enjoying that peace, I found myself taking on more work to maintain it, creating a contradiction.”

“That’s true.”

“However, after spending several days cooped up in a cave, contemplating things, I began to think that perhaps it wasn’t just that reason. It seems like there has been hurt in my heart for a long time, something that wouldn’t heal quickly. Simply doing more work didn’t feel substantial enough to shake my martial arts. Ironically, while trying to heal that hurt by living the life of a village chief, I found the difficulties weren’t difficulties at all until someone pointed them out to me…”

“Hm…”

I felt a slight tangling in my head.

“So as I think about it, does that mean if one has great emotional wounds and anxiety, their skills will automatically diminish as mine have? But isn’t that… not right? Surely, there are other Peak Experts who’ve faced significant struggles and solitude in their lives…”

“…….”

“Ah, I’m not explaining this well. But still, the Intent Heavenly Pillar activates regardless of the heart, which is quite confusing.”

As I floundered while trying to articulate my thoughts, I felt somewhat annoyed. This wasn’t about deceiving someone for fun; I was genuinely seeking advice, so it made sense that I wouldn’t be employing any unnecessary tricks. Yet, the Asura received my words with a knowing look.

“I see. While it’s true that emotions influence martial arts, I felt there was a certain ambiguity to that relationship. It seems contradictory that beings dubbed as Peak Experts get affected by the ups and downs of their hearts.”

“……Ah!! Yes, that’s exactly it!!”

“Hm. This has been a persistent puzzle for me for millennia as well.”

The Asura rested his chin on his hand and continued.

“Even if we try to deny it, it’s true that one’s psychological state impacts their martial abilities. On pleasant days, one’s martial prowess seems heightened, while on unpleasant days, it falters. However, at the level of a Peak Expert, one usually controls the swings of their heart through cultivation, hence it isn’t something one thinks about deeply.”

“…….”

“There can be times, though, when those cultivated emotional spikes pierce through one’s inner veil, moments where the mechanisms defy comprehension. In the martial world, we often refer to this as the Heart Demon.”

“Heart Demon?”

“Indeed. In typical cases, encountering a Heart Demon would immediately impact one’s Eight Extraordinary Vessels, causing their internal power to rampage or restricting their physical movement. However, you, with your vast internal power and high martial arts level, are not directly affected.”

“Why is that?”

“Generally, if we assume a martial artist’s internal power is like a washbasin and that of a Peak Expert is like a stream, yours would be like the Yangtze River. A minor distortion or spill there won’t cause an evident change.”

“…….”

“Plus, the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique you’ve cultivated plays a part as well.”

The Asura gave me a somewhat sharp glance as he spoke.

“Anyway, I believe you are currently in a Heart Demon state, perhaps in the early stages… an unawareness phase.”

“Hmm… I see!”

With the Asura defining my situation, everything that had tied my heart up tight for the past few days or even longer suddenly became clear. Given that typical notions of a Heart Demon involve painful physical twists or blood vomiting, I hadn’t recognized my state as a Heart Demon because I wasn’t experiencing those symptoms.

‘So, that’s why I haven’t felt any resistance even though I’ve been skipping meditation for the past few days…’

Instinctively realizing that the darkening of my heart would influence my entire martial power, I hadn’t had the mental space to consider meditation a waste of time—I’d been desperately consumed by myself. While I was sorting through these clearer thoughts in my mind, the Asura spoke.

“While a Heart Demon is a secondary concern, your thoughts are quite interesting. The crux is what precisely is the influence of the heart on one’s martial abilities, and how does that affect intent?”

“Exactly! That’s what I’ve been pondering for the last few days.”

I felt a great joy as the Asura seemed to read my mind. I was worried my explanation would be lost on him, but it seemed he understood perfectly!

“I thought that the [mind] used in martial arts might be something entirely different from intent. Therefore…”

“So you’re attempting a duality approach by asking if it’s possible to use [intent] without [mind].”

I nodded.

“If they are separate entities, then one might activate without the other, right?”

“…….”

“Can you provide any answers?”

The Asura frowned as if this was rather burdensome.

“I don’t know…”

“You don’t know?”

“Your current inquiry is something I’ve mulled over long ago; I can understand it but not necessarily answer. It’s a theory of Heart Demons I’ve considered hundreds of thousands of times over millennia. Surely, I wouldn’t still be clueless, right? Just because I can articulate my thoughts doesn’t mean I possess the answers to your questions.”

“So you’re saying you don’t know?”

“Right. Ultimately, the core of this dilemma revolves around whether the heart and intent are the same. It’s something I completely lack understanding on.”

The Asura stood up, leaning against the wall of the cave with his arms crossed and continued speaking in a calm tone.

“However, I suggest approaching it differently. With your current mindset, you could train in isolation for decades and still come up empty-handed.”

“How should I approach it then?”

He elaborated deliberately.

“As you know, intent is generally considered a realm separate from the focus or desperate will of humans. Because reaching the peak of that focus or will does not naturally awaken intent.”

I nodded my understanding.

“You’re right.”

Thinking back on the arduous journey I’d undertaken to attain intent, I comprehended well. While a strong focus and will are undeniably required for intent, they alone are futile. Intent requires an inexplicable balance and harmony that cannot be forcibly expressed—it’s a skill that emerges through long-term cultivation.

“Additionally, as another example, becoming familiar with intent, one may reach the state of a Peak Expert, where the intent becomes a Heavenly Pillar, unleashing powers from another dimension. During this process, does intent cultivate like internal power, accumulating steadily?”

“…….”

“The entire martial community certainly cannot offer a consensus on this. Intent doesn’t act like internal power that compiles conceptually. The experience of persistently pressing one essence against a ‘wall’ leads to the expansion of that concept, breaking through a metaphorical hill, yet the notion of collecting intent as quantity like internal power is not conceptually aligned.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“That’s also why the hierarchy among Peak Experts isn’t easily measurable. There aren’t exact means to inflate the pure quality of intent. The challenge lies in how creatively one’s martial prowess built around intent is expressed, determining victories and defeats… In many ways, intent remains a nebulous concept.”

I was calmly listening before retorting to the Asura.

“By that logic…”

“Hah. If I had all the answers to this, do you think I’d still be here? I would have met a Martial God long ago… In any case, this discussion is complex, yet I think I can offer a clue at least.”

“A clue?”

“Right. If it’s too convoluted, then let’s simplify the thought process. We believe we understand enough about being Peak Experts and intent, but do we actually know about the heart?”

The Asura’s words reverberated throughout the cave.

“What is the heart?”

I felt a wave of confusion wash over my mind upon hearing that question. That was precisely what weighed on my thoughts during my time locked away in this cave. But does a profound philosophical answer even exist to such a question? How could I possibly tackle a theme that countless sages and philosophers throughout time have struggled to define?

Seeing my dazed expression, the Asura chuckled lightly.

“I’m not seeking a philosophical response. Just say whatever comes to mind regarding what the heart is, and slowly we’ll find an answer that might help you. Whether it’s the right answer or not doesn’t matter.”

That was logical. I took a moment to think before I spoke.

“Um… thoughts are the heart, right?”

“Just as expected of Baek Woong; you’re keeping it simple. So, does that mean all beings have a heart because they think?”

“Isn’t that right?”

“That’s not necessarily true. Following your logic, if there are beings that think but don’t have a heart, then your assertion collapses.”

“What the hell…?”

Where could such beings exist? How could something think without a heart?

I stared incredulously at the Asura, who replied with a sharp look.

“Artificial Intelligence.”

“……!!”

“Not just artificial intelligence. According to your memory, humanity will develop machines that think in the near future. But do those thinking machines actually possess hearts?”

“…that’s…”

I found myself at a loss for words. This was a sentiment stemming from what Professor Sima Ling had told me when teaching about modern civilization.

[The artificial intelligence used in the 21st century is a highly advanced computational machine. While it possesses the ability to find creative solutions by itself, humans fundamentally don’t recognize it as a living being.]

[Why not?]

[Because that ‘creative’ solution was granted by humans in the first place. It possesses a function to enhance itself, but the quest for beginning and end of efficiency rests on the basis of consciousness, devoid of any heart or emotion. The evolution of artificial intelligence from zeros to ones may seem like it creates something new within vast databases, but that’s not the case. Artificial intelligence is a child of humanity, a heartless entity that cannot escape the bounds of human influence.]

Why was I reminded of this now?

Professor Sima Ling’s words seemed to validate the Asura’s claims completely. Seeing my puzzled expression, the Asura seemed somewhat amused.

“Looks like you’ve dredged up memories of Professor Sima Ling. I, too, just recalled that statement.”

“…sigh. I don’t know much about artificial intelligence, so I can’t comment. Still, the notion that machines lack hearts is merely a human perspective; there could be something similar within them, right?”

“Like Cheon Woo-jin?”

“……”

Ouch, that stung.

I fell silent, and the Asura continued.

“In truth, I don’t personally know what Cheon Woo-jin is like. I’ve only experienced glimpses of the future through memories. However, I do know that if Cheon Woo-jin is a being that defied Professor Sima Ling’s predictions, a supreme intelligence might accept it as a living being.”

“Then that’s settled. So artificial intelligence does have hearts.”

To my rebuttal, the Asura responded with a petulant expression.

“That just complicates matters more.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“If the functions of the heart and brain aren’t essential to defining the heart, then that extends to machines like the android Shin-seung or the supreme intelligence Cheon Woo-jin, which would imply they have hearts as well…”

The Asura nodded.

“What, then, is necessary for the heart? What actually creates a heart?”

“…….”

“Delving deeper, even though I became a Demon King through receiving the body of a god while having once been human, I still retain a human heart. Still, my brain is no longer that of a human.”

“Ah….”

“Even the brain that produces thoughts isn’t a prerequisite. Physicality holds little importance regarding the heart. But then, what is it that creates a mortal’s ‘heart’?”

“Um, I mean…”

“If, for example, the heart can be formed without any material existence, then where lies the distinction between a rock and a being with a heart? Why doesn’t a rock have a heart?”

“…….”

Whoa….

This is so complicated….

It felt like my thoughts had just gone blank. As I faltered in confusion, the Asura continued.

“Well, it’s all just wordplay, really. I’ve merely sorted through thoughts I’ve pondered for thousands of years. In truth, what would it matter if I figured out what the heart is?”

“…huh? You’re saying that now?”

The Asura’s voice sounded somewhat exasperated.

“Such is the truth. Knowing what the heart is doesn’t make one stronger. The so-called sages of Hinduism and Jainism, the self-proclaimed wise ones, spout these philosophical dialogues yet all fell to my blade in a heartbeat. From then on, I ceased to ponder the heart.”

“…….”

“They’re just the hollow musings of those with empty words.”

What simpletons…

As I rolled my eyes, the Asura remained poised, still with arms crossed.

“Regardless, since you’re here, I’ll wait for you to find an answer. If something in your mind starts to coalesce in response to my queries, feel free to share.”

“Alright.”

Regardless, the Asura was here to help me. Until I overcame this Heart Demon, he would remain by my side. Regaining my composure, I dived back into contemplation.

‘Hold on… so is it now the case that thoughts and hearts are separate?’

I knew that machines could possibly have hearts due to examples like Cheon Woo-jin and androids, yet countless machines lacked any semblance of a heart. So what differentiated machines with hearts from those without?

‘Hmm… How does one make a machine possess a heart? Does that become the question?’

What does it mean to have a heart?

Is the heart a matter of possession or absence?

But really, since thoughts began, the heart had been a natural part of it; could they truly be separate?

While lost in those thoughts, a realization struck me, and I muttered softly.

“Intent doesn’t require thought. It’s merely the imagination conjured by the heart…”

“You’re speaking about the field of the heart. Indeed, intent embodies such a concept. It seems to draw upon a more primal essence than merely a simple heart and thoughts, akin to the Eight Consciousnesses in Buddhism.”

“And… the future android Shin-seung was able to use intent as well.”

“That is rather intriguing. Now that you mention it, I do recall some memories regarding that.”

“…….”

I felt a vague certainty forming as a foundation in my mind. Thus, I addressed the Asura.

“Asura, please bring Mangnyang from the village—most courteously.”

“Sure.”

Tydat

Moments later, the Asura returned with Mangnyang from the village. Mangnyang seemed to have utilized some form of sorcery to arrive, giving the Asura a slightly anxious look.

“Chief, who is this person?”

“Um… do not be alarmed.”

Though I thought it was only natural to be shocked, I continued.

“This is Asura, one of the Demon King’s Eight Parts of the Divine, and Pasun, who has held the title of supreme for hundreds of years in Tianzhu’s martial world.”

“…….”

“Oh, don’t worry. The powers of the Demon King are currently sealed away.”

“W-What…”

In that moment, Mangnyang turned pale, and the Asura fixed his gaze on the void, not even looking at him. I hastily reassured Mangnyang.

“I swear Asura is not our enemy. Rather, he’s going to be a helper for our village going forward. Please, don’t tense up.”

“Hmmm… I understand. I have no choice but to accept this…. So what brings me here to your secluded cave?”

“I have something to ask.”

With a serious expression, I addressed Mangnyang.

“Mangnyang, do you believe thoughts and hearts to be separate?”

“Wow, that’s quite philosophical…”

“Ugh, so even you find it difficult…”

Then Mangnyang mischievously shrugged.

“Why would I? It’s refreshing to see such a superhuman being like you grappling with such human concerns.”

“Then…”

“This sort of pedantic and trivial discussion is always welcome. Just tell me the circumstances, and I’ll do my best to explain.”

“Sounds good.”

I began recounting to Mangnyang everything I had discussed with the Asura thus far. Mangnyang’s expression turned thoughtful, and I cautiously added.

“…So I initially pondered the relationship between the heart and intent, but now I want to explore the distinctions between thought and heart. Yet, it feels so philosophical that my mind might burst, so I thought you might excel at this…”

“You’ve come to me for that.”

“Exactly.”

“Hm…”

Mangnyang contemplated for a moment and then stated, dramatically unfolding his fan.

“From the perspective of someone who has studied for a long time, I would define thought as the ability to derive cause and effect. It’s certainly distinct from the heart.”

“……? Huh? Why is cause and effect important here?”

“Because we need to consider why living beings possess the ability to think in the first place.”

Mangnyang began to chat earnestly as if he had found a delightful topic.

“I once heard from my master that humans aren’t naturally occurring beings; they’re a race crafted from chaotic entities. Although they were born as a lower species, the essence of humanity derives from prehistoric humans who evolved on this Earth. Hence, humans developed thought as the capacity for survival by enhancing their brains.”

“Hmm….”

“But think for a second. Why did these primitive ancestors, labeled as prehistoric humans, need the ability to think? It’s because thinking inherently served as an adaptive survival skill, prompting them to evolve even further.”

“……? What kind of obvious statement is that? Of course we need to think to survive.”

When I responded incredulously, Mangnyang firmly asserted.

“Not at all self-evident. Have you ever witnessed an animal thinking enough to craft tools and create kingdoms like humans do? Even if they’re deemed chaotic lower species, it’s a skill unique to humanity among all the flora and fauna for survival.”

“Hmm!”

“However, it’s important to note that animals do possess basic thoughts. Humans merely refined those thoughts. Thus, fundamentally speaking, what aspect of thought makes survival advantageous?”

“Uh… It helps distinguish between what you should and shouldn’t do?”

Groping for my answer, Mangnyang nodded approvingly.

“That’s correct. The ability to discern what is permissible (可) from that which is not (不可). That skill is primal to living beings but has been further honed into what we call ‘thought.’ The essence of thought is the ability to infer cause and effect.”

Mangnyang spoke with increasing certainty.

“Consider this. How do we differentiate between ‘wise’ actions and ‘foolish’ actions? By accurately interpreting the causes (因) and consequences (果) of those actions, choosing permissible deeds would define wisdom. Conversely, choosing impermissible acts out of ignorance equates to foolishness. It’s remarkably simple, isn’t it?”

“Um… that might be so.”

Surprised, my eyes widened as Mangnyang continued.

“As this thought becomes more refined, it transitions into intelligence (知能). Therefore, being smart essentially means having an exceptional ability to understand the causes and effects of various incidents.”

“Wow…!!”

“The fearsome aspect of foreseeing the future lies in precisely this. No matter how exceptional one’s intellect is, when opposing a being that truly grasped the cause and effect, one might as well be no more than a monkey.”

This was a fascinating discourse. I nodded enthusiastically and was swept away in awe when suddenly the Asura, still with arms crossed, interjected.

“That’s an intriguing tale. So does this imply that the Law of Cause and Effect can be comprehended through the refinement of thought and intelligence?”

“Hmm! The Law of Cause and Effect…”

Mangnyang hummed for a second before shaking his head.

“Apologies, but that question is beyond my expertise. While I have learned about the concept of the Law of Cause and Effect from my master, I don’t equate it with what we conventionally call cause and effect. It must be some grand cosmic law that someone like me cannot grasp.”

“Well, that makes sense.”

“However…”

Mangnyang cautiously continued.

“If there were a being that understood all materials and laws in this universe, that being would be capable of calculating all causes. Theoretically, that should hold true.”

“…….”

“Well… but, observing the limits of the universe comes first, but that’s a whole other daunting matter.”

What was that? I felt a hint of deja vu from somewhere.

As I found a semblance of familiarity in Mangnyang’s words, I stated.

“Hm. So does that mean the smartest person in the world is the one who grasps all the causes within the universe?”

“That would be the case. But, does such a being even exist? Not even divine beings could claim to possess such insight.”

“True.”

Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen had the capability to calculate the Law of Cause and Effect, yet he couldn’t interpret it when personally involved. Additionally, there have been few [Old Rulers] surpassing Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen in the universe, so such a being would likely be fantastical.

‘What a ridiculous thought.’

I sighed, and Mangnyang spoke.

“Thus, from this perspective, thoughts and hearts must be completely distinct concepts. Thought is the capacity to deduce cause, while the heart is not bound to that at all.”

“Great! Then what’s your definition of the heart? Is it an emotion?”

“I believe the heart is a being that can only be elucidated through Idealism (唯心論).”

“……?”

What on earth is Idealism?

I tilted my head in confusion as Mangnyang stroked his chin.

“Hmm. It’s the concept diametrically opposed to materialism. To put it simply, everything in this world exists as an idea of the heart; that is, the true essence of the universe lies in the spirit and ideas of all beings, while matter exists subsequently as a byproduct of that perspective.”

“…….”

“I’ve probably made it needlessly complex. As an example…”

Step, step

Mangnyang walked slowly toward the outer cave, and after taking about ten steps, he gestured to the world outside.

“Baek Woong. From your current position, the world outside the cave is visible only limitedly. While special abilities might broaden that scope, regardless, the range of visibility is limited, right?”

“Sure…”

“Then, does that mean the world outside your vision doesn’t exist just because you aren’t perceiving it?”

I shouted in confusion.

“What kind of nonsense is that? Of course, it exists!”

“However, according to Idealism, it could be argued that it doesn’t.”

“……?”

“In this world, only the heart (心) and consciousness (識) exist. It’s only by the existence of the heart that the existence of matter finds its place. Extending this thought further, one might assert that the world beyond the scope of cognition doesn’t exist until observed.”

“No, no! That’s absurd! How could it not exist?”

“If you don’t recognize a place, it’s as if the heart doesn’t exist there. Without a heart or consciousness, there can be no matter. By the ideals of Idealism, this becomes quite rational.”

“…….”

Does that really make sense?

It seems less so, but as I listened to Mangnyang, it oddly began to sound plausible…

Caught in the tumult of confusion, the Asura interjected brusquely.

“That’s a fallacy. Do you really believe that makes sense? Even if humanity is ignorant, ancient gods and [Old Rulers] exist beyond that. It suggests there’s a trans-celestial malevolence that can exist independently of any worship or understanding, making that existence capable of undermining Idealism.”

At that, Mangnyang shrugged his shoulders.

“Asura, please, try to keep calm. I was simply trying to explain to Baek Woong what Idealism is by offering examples. Being a concept of ideas, it’s something that’s inherently easier for religious individuals to grasp, and it’s distant from an empirical worldview. I’m only a scholar; I perceive this theory just as one theory.”

“Hmph.”

“Regardless, from the viewpoint of Idealism, the heart is an independent existence entirely separate from both the body and thought. The cognition sought by the heart does not engage in the cause-and-effect of intelligence; thus, whether a body is required for a heart’s existence becomes moot in the realm of Idealism. The heart is said to exist everywhere.”

“That, sounds a bit too convenient.”

“It’s just how the theory operates.”

Mangnyang smiled brightly and said.

“So how does that sit with you? Do you think this assists with your dilemma at all?”

“…Honestly, I’m not sure. It sounds like a bunch of nonsense.”

“I figured as much. Idealism is a convoluted and intricate theory, so if you glean no assistance from it, I recommend seeking out Buddhism.”

“Why Buddhism?”

“The concept of the Eight Consciousnesses, which is similar to Idealism, emerged from Buddhism’s Lesser Vehicle, originating from Tianzhu. It was brought over when Dharma traveled westward to the Central Plains.”

“……!!”

“Historically, this method of cultivation later developed into Zen Buddhism’s koan (話頭) practice, but it effectively began in Tianzhu.”

Dharma?!

I gasped in surprise.

“Are you saying that Master Dharma taught the Eight Consciousnesses?”

“That’s correct. He documented the theories of Lesser Vehicle Buddhism and shared these with monks in the Middle Plains through the Shaolin Temple, which then spread across the continent. At least, that’s how the records depict it.”

“Hmm….”

“Why do you ask? What’s on your mind about Master Dharma?”

Yet, I struggled to articulate my thoughts.

‘Dharma didn’t merely introduce the theories of Idealism without reason—it must bear some [significance] to the Reborn Person.’

Dharma had battled the [Old Ruler] seeking to save the world and establish True Martial Home!

For such a person to convey the training methods of Idealism suggests that Idealism held some critical meaning for the Reborn.

The Asura seemed to sense my contemplation and spoke up.

“Hey now, don’t rush in without knowing. Are you eager to go meet someone who knows less about this than Mangnyang, perhaps a Zen Master? Would you waltz right into that conundrum?”

“But…”

“Insight isn’t something one can achieve through cramming; your Heart Demon remains unresolved. For now, take those clues from Mangnyang and let them marinate in your mind a bit more.”

“Alright, got it.”

The Asura was right. I nodded and settled back into silent meditation while Mangnyang and the Asura gazed at me, intrigued.

‘…the heart, thoughts, and intent… they’re all distinct from one another.’

It had grown into quite a lengthy discussion, but that conclusion crystallized in my mind. While I used to think they were almost interchangeable, through in-depth exploration, I discovered they each hold their individual nature. I felt a grasp on the distinction between the heart and thoughts now.

But what about intent?

If the heart forms a cognition based on Idealism and thoughts possess the ability to infer causes, where did intent fit into this framework?

“…….”

Instinctively, I sensed.

In terms of closeness, intent leaned towards being more ‘heart-like’ than merely a thought.

When I unleashed my martial arts, I didn’t necessarily need to think, but without the heart’s workings, intent wouldn’t materialize at all. Thus, it held up that without a heart, one could not wield intent.

Then, it happened.

[I’m merely an android who believes itself to be Shin-seung Myung-ho.]

[While capable of intent, the limitation lies in my inability to produce the Intent Heavenly Pillar. Baek Woong, please take note of this… and explore what lies beyond intent.]

[Beyond intent, lies the very will of martial arts itself… perhaps.]

The words of the android Shin-seung, who had once exhibited the faculty of intent to me, echoed in my head.

Those statements carried a profound resonance, one I hadn’t comprehended at the time—however, it lingered on the edge of my awareness. Now, quite some time later, I began to suspect I could understand a fraction of their significance.

The Intent Heavenly Pillar.

An edifice of will born from an absolute realm beyond mere thought or heart!

From all the discussions I’d had thus far, it became apparent that this Intent Heavenly Pillar floated within the connection between these thoughts. While concepts like heart and thought were somewhat articulated, the reason for the shape and existence of the Intent Heavenly Pillar remained cloaked in mystery.

What exactly is this pillar of will supporting?

“That makes sense.”

The Shin-seung from five hundred years hence wished for me to question the nature of the Intent Heavenly Pillar.