A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

Discord:dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 687: Imperial King (2)

Kururung!

Jeon Myeong-hoon feels the lightning rampaging inside his body and quickly begins to learn the Sword Extreme Heart Method, informing his comrades of the situation.

“…Yeah, Kang Min-hee. The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is currently telling me to learn something called the Sword Extreme Heart Method. Could you perhaps petition the Underworld to verify if this is real?”

“Hmm, they are responding right away. Surprisingly, it’s genuine, and they say I should learn it too.”

Kang Min-hee nods slightly in surprise as she communicates with the Underworld.

“And I’ll let Oh Hyun-seok Orabeoni know myself. Seeing how they say that we, as Enders, must absolutely learn it, it really seems like the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord realized something and decided to side with us.”

“Hmm, got it. If even you and the Underworld say so… Then, is it possible to request support from the Underworld for three days?”

“Well, the Underworld says that they won’t stop me from going, but they won’t go out of their way to exert power against the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, who might end up as an ally.”

“As expected… So in the end, we really have to handle this with our own hands.”

“Seems like it. I’ll go ask Hyun-seok Orabeoni and his master, the Naming Supreme Deity. You just focus on learning that heart method as fast as possible.”

“Got it.”

With those words, Kang Min-hee departs for the Elephant Nose Heavenly Domain where Oh Hyun-seok resides, while Jeon Myeong-hoon begins slowly learning the Sword Extreme Heart Method with Golden Shaking Bird.

“Mm! At least the beginning part isn’t difficult.”

The Sword Extreme Heart Method consists of three stages in total.

In the first stage, through the consciousness domain of a True Immortal, one must measure the movements of mortals as well as the particles within their inner world.

One must track the flows within one’s own history to find the movement that fits them best.

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, the Sword Extreme Heart Method itself seems as though someone had followed Jeon Myeong-hoon’s entire life like Seo Eun-hyun and written down the formula best suited to him, making it extremely easy for him to learn.

Tststststststs!

Seated in lotus position at a spot within the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, Jeon Myeong-hoon breathes fate and lightning through his Immortal Body.

Kurururung!

With each breath, he recalls movements from his own history that suit him best.

—Jeon Myeong-hoon, I may be beating the hell out of you right now, but you’re more than capable of standing against me.

—Kuaaaagh! Seo Eun-hyun! I said stop hitting me already! There’s already a big difference in realm between us, so how am I supposed to stand against you!?

It’s an old memory from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

—You’re more than capable of standing against me. What I’m teaching you while beating you right now aren’t movements from cultivation methods or demon beast methods, but movements that follow the principles of martial doctrine. No matter how big the difference in realm, embodying enlightenment from a completely different path can become a variable that surpasses the gap in realm.

—O-Oho… So I get to become some kind of martial arts master too?

—No. Sorry, but you’re less talented than I am. It’s terrible.

—…What the hell, fuck.

—But…even you have exactly one talent that lets you show movement aligned with the principles of martial doctrine.

The Seo Eun-hyun of that time spoke those words while handing Jeon Myeong-hoon a spear.

—Oho… So I have talent with the spear? Then again, the king of all weapons is the spear. If it’s lightning and spear…alright, shall I try the Lightning *** Flow Spearmanship…?

[TL/N: Reference to a spear technique in Reincarnated Swordmaster that is from the main character’s sect.]

—Don’t spout bullshit. A spear isn’t an easy weapon, and you’ve got no talent with it. Instead…

Seo Eun-hyun pulls out an identical spear in front of Jeon Myeong-hoon and takes a stance with it.

—Turning the spear and deflecting outward, Lan (攔). Pulling the spear inward while pressing and rotating, Na (拿). Lastly, thrusting the spear to counter, Zha (扎). The basics of spear techniques: Lan, Na, Zha.

—Wh-Why are you suddenly talking about basics…?

—Out of these basics, you at least have some talent in the technique of Zha, that is thrusting. So from now on…just practice thrusting to death.

—What? What about the other moves?

—Learning them occasionally is fine too. But with your explosive personality, your dumb brain, and your martial arts talent that’s miserable to the point of being comparable to mine…if you try practicing the other forms, you’ll probably find it boring and quit. So just keep repeating the only thing that will let you make real progress—thrusting.

—This, this son of a bitch…

—If you just keep repeating this thrust, and fully embody it into your body…then one day, you’ll be able to land at least one hit on me.

With those words, Seo Eun-hyun continued to drill the basic spear thrust, Zha, into Jeon Myeong-hoon.

With a spear, he repeated the thrusting motion.

At first, it felt dull, and he wanted to try the other forms too, but it was just as Seo Eun-hyun said.

The other forms made no progress.

Only the simple act of ‘thrusting’ showed improvement each time he practiced. His stance stabilized, his body moved more smoothly, and he could feel the spear tip becoming sharper.

He lost interest in the other forms naturally, finding them dull, but thrusting alone managed to become Jeon Myeong-hoon’s main technique.

Thanks to that experience, he now primarily summons and controls lightning in the form of a spear, using lightning-thrusts as his main method of attack.

Thrusting.

That one simple movement.

That is the movement the Sword Extreme Heart Method reveals to be the most appropriate for Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Woo-woooong!

The moment the Sword Extreme Heart Method recognizes that thrusting motion, it begins to move as if alive, forming a martial art perfectly optimized for Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Tsuaaaaat!

The formulas of the Sword Extreme Heart Method move and flow through his body.

In Jeon Myeong-hoon’s Middle Realm, where red lightning pours down like rain.

There, the streaks of lightning begin to flow with a distinct pattern.

And that structured flow itself begins to supplement Jeon Myeong-hoon’s ‘thrust’.

The heart method itself enhances the form.

“Hmm, not bad.”

Jeon Myeong-hoon rises to his feet, summons a spear of lightning, and assumes a stance.

In a space within the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, he holds the spear of lightning and thrusts forward.

Paaang!

The lightning spear surges forward with him, condensing Jeon Myeong-hoon’s power into a single point and detonating it.

Kwaaaaang!

Jeon Myeong-hoon watches in amazement as a star in front of him bursts apart.

“I didn’t infuse any energy into it or use any Immortal Arts or spells… Using just the ‘strength’ I possess…I got this result?”

A stance and movement that draws out the full potential of strength he possessed but never used.

The Sword Extreme Heart Method, optimized for Jeon Myeong-hoon, supplemented his technique and awakened his potential.

[Congratulations. You have reached the Peak.]

At that moment, Jeon Myeong-hoon hears a message from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

‘I finished the first part…and now I hear the voice of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord. Does this mean I’ve officially entered the Sword Extreme Heart Method?’

[…By the way, what do you mean I’ve reached the Peak? I’m not into reaching any sort of peak like Seo Eun-hyun holding a sword…]

[TL/N: Peak = climax, sword = ___]

[I have no interest in lewd jokes. In any case, through the Sword Extreme Heart Method, you have reached the Peak Realm spoken of by the Heart Tribe Human Race.]

[The realm is literally called the Peak…? Ah, no, more importantly…I’ve heard about this from Seo Eun-hyun before. The Heart Tribe…wasn’t it known to be more difficult to become one the higher you advance in Heaven Path and Earth Path Methods? Especially once you become a True Immortal, I thought learning Heart Path Methods was pretty much impossible…]

[That’s how it used to be. But things have changed. Seo Eun-hyun has become a new law, and that phenomenon has been corrected. Now anyone, as long as they train through proper methods, can unfold power through Martial Arts.]

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord continues, explaining various truths to Jeon Myeong-hoon.

[In any case, since you’ve completed the beginning stage of the Sword Extreme Heart Method…you’ll need to learn the middle and later stages as well. Fortunately, those two can be practiced simultaneously, so don’t worry.]

[Hmm…! That’s a relief! So how should I cultivate?]

[It’s in the formula I sent to you…but to explain it once more, it goes like this.]

Jeon Myeong-hoon receives the cultivation method for the middle and late stages of the Sword Extreme Heart Method from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

The Sword Extreme Heart Method is, at its core, a cultivation method—yet also an ‘invocation ritual’ to call Seo Eun-hyun into this world.

Therefore, the most vital aspect of the Sword Extreme Heart Method is thought (念).

In the beginning stage, one gathers thought directed at Seo Eun-hyun using the Martial Art they learned as a medium.

In the middle stage, one amplifies that thought.

In the late stage, one awakens the [flower] within themselves through thought and invokes Seo Eun-hyun into their own body using that [flower].

[Currently, the Sword Extreme Heart Method has been fragmented and scattered across martial artists and Heart Tribe members across countless Decaying Corpse Realm and Astral Realms. Each time they awaken a [flower] through the Sword Extreme Heart Method…Seo Eun-hyun will find it easier and easier to return to this world. But the role of you and your fellow Enders is even more important. Your thought is stronger, in compatibility, than that of any other martial artist, of any other True Immortal. Unless it is a Heavenly Venerable or a Supreme Deity, most beings cannot surpass the thought you possess. This isn’t about the realm, it’s about the uniqueness you all possess.]

[Well…I get the method, but…]

Jeon Myeong-hoon breaks into a cold sweat.

[The condition for entering the middle stage…is either to reach ‘Entering Heavens’…or possess a ‘powerful heart toward Seo Eun-hyun’…or have an ‘extreme level of mastery over a martial art’. But…how am I supposed to meet any of that?]

[Just one of the three is enough to allow entry into the middle stage. And…I created the Sword Extreme Heart Method because I believed you’d be able to make it in. So stop whining and master the whole thing within three days.]

With those final words, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord cuts off contact.

Jeon Myeong-hoon tries to send another message to the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, but the only replies he receives are dry reports concerning the ‘Do Gon Sealing Plan’ of Radiance Hall. No proper answers come through.

“Kuugh… Damn it…”

Jeon Myeong-hoon grits his teeth, grabs Golden Shaking Bird in his hand, and screams.

“What in the world am I supposed to do!? Golden Shaking Bird! Do they think I can enter Entering Heavens? Or that I’ve reached some extreme level of proficiency in a weapon? Or what, do they think my chest is bursting with a heart toward Seo Eun-hyun like some man-lover?”

Golden Shaking Bird, in the form of a hummingbird, simply blinks in Jeon Myeong-hoon’s grasp.

‘Uuu… Master’s hand…so big and warm…’

Truthfully, Golden Shaking Bird doesn’t care much about what happens in the future as long as she can stay with Jeon Myeong-hoon.

“Damn it! Three days!? There’s only three days left, so what the hell am I supposed to do!?”

While communicating back and forth with Kang Min-hee and the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord and exchanging plans, Jeon Myeong-hoon hurriedly summons a lightning spear and begins practicing thrusts, while cultivating the Sword Extreme Heart Method.

“Kuaaaaagh! Sword Spear! Seo Eun-hyun! Why do all of you keep dumping this damned homework on me and leaving!? Why the hell does everyone just leave me behind!? What the hell am I even supposed to…supposed to do all by myself!!??”

Three days remain until the seal on the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity is released.

Jeon Myeong-hoon spends the first of those three days screaming and convulsing like that.

The second day arrives.

Paaang!

Jeon Myeong-hoon repeats his thrusts with the lightning spear, gritting his teeth with a face full of frustration.

“I’m getting angry.”

Kwaaaang!

“Master! You’re doing great! All hail Master!”

Golden Shaking Bird, as per Jeon Myeong-hoon’s request from the first day, cheers him on fervently while holding two sparkling bushes in both her hands.

At first, Jeon Myeong-hoon found strength in Golden Shaking Bird’s support, but the longer it goes on, the more irritation and anger swells within him.

He feels anger toward Seo Eun-hyun, who left him behind and hasn’t returned, even as the time of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity’s resurrection draws near.

He feels anger toward the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, who threw a heart method he can’t even learn and refuses to even respond to his protests.

He feels anger toward the Underworld, who claims to protect the Enders but refuses to lend power for vengeance.

He feels anger toward Kang Min-hee and Oh Hyun-seok, who don’t seem sincere, as they didn’t lose family directly to the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity.

He even feels anger toward Kim Yeon and Kim Young-hoon, who are not here right now, and also toward Oh Hye-seo, who betrayed them multiple times.

And especially, he feels anger toward Yang Su-jin, who just had to oppose the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity and ended up creating this entire mess in the first place.

However, the one he is most furious at right now, the one who fills him with the most seething rage, is someone else.

More than the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity or Zhengli, it is someone who makes his anger boil even more.

It is Jeon Myeong-hoon himself.

He hates his own weakness.

His weak self, who without Seo Eun-hyun, without his comrades, without the help of the Underworld and the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, can’t even think of standing up to face the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity, feels retarded.

That weakness makes him feel like a fool.

‘I couldn’t protect So-hae because I’m weak.’

Paaang!

With each thrust he practices, he accumulates self-blame.

‘Because I’m weak, I couldn’t protect a single thing. I always had to be protected instead.’

Paaang!

‘Because I’m weak, I keep trying to rely and lean on others.’

Paaaang!

‘Because I’m weak and stupid, the only spear technique I can use is still the move of Zha. I can just barely unfold Lan and Na. I haven’t even learned any other spear techniques! Even after wielding a lightning spear and practicing nothing but thrusts for tens of thousands of years, just like Seo Eun-hyun said! Even now! I—!’

“Never once obtained anything with my own hands!”

Kwarurururung!

Anger toward his own weak and foolish self.

Jeon Myeong-hoon cannot bear it any longer, and red lightning erupts across his entire body as he grits his teeth.

If the first day, after being informed by the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord about the resurrection of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity and receiving the Sword Extreme Heart Method, is panic—

Then the second day, spent communicating with the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord and his comrades, planning strategy and cultivating the Sword Extreme Heart Method, is anger.

Jeon Myeong-hoon rages at everything and continues thrusting without pause.

With every single thrust, the flame remaining in his chest grows stronger and hotter.

He fuels the fire of anger inside his chest, pouring all his strength into infusing that flame to the tip of his spear.

“Until when!? Until when do I have to keep doing this!!??”

It is not a resolution.

It is rage and lamentation.

Jeon Myeong-hoon knows the reality well.

Even if he trains for a hundred days, he cannot reach Entering Heaven in such a short time.

Aside from exceptional cases like the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, the Radiance Supreme Deity, and the Emptiness Supreme Deity, even among the countless Supreme Deities who have been enthroned since the formation of Mount Sumeru, the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity holds the highest level of power. There is no way Jeon Myeong-hoon can win with his strength alone.

The most he can probably do is land a pitiful, toothpick-like strike in the middle of a bombardment from the Radiance Eight Immortals.

Even that, if successful, would be a miracle.

He still absolutely lacks the power to confront the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity head-on.

And to Jeon Myeong-hoon, that truth is—

Heartbreakingly infuriating.

‘So-hae…what am I supposed to do? Just what must I do to honor your spirits…!? What must I do…!? To take revenge!!??’

Kwarururung!

Jeon Myeong-hoon’s thrust pierces through the Heavenly Domain and tears a hole in the dimension.

He now stands as a giant enveloped in lightning, and no sign of joy appears on his face.

Jeon Myeong-hoon knows.

If it was someone like Seo Eun-hyun, he would have pierced through space with nothing but the pure principle of martial doctrine, but in his own case—

Only by perfectly unleashing the power that has reached True Immortality without waste can he barely accomplish such a feat.

‘I want to scream.’

Jeon Myeong-hoon, now transformed into lightning, twists his face like an evil spirit.

“I’m just…so angry at myself… I want to scream, to yell, to smash everything around me…and vent this rage…’

But he knows.

He is no longer a child.

‘…But this anger can’t be vented that way. Only by succeeding in revenge, only then will it be released. Only that alone…’

He tightly shuts his eyes.

‘…can resolve the knot in my heart.’

And so, refining his fury, he gradually increases his concentration.

Now only one day remains until the liberation of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity.

Jeon Myeong-hoon no longer thinks about anything else.

He splits his consciousness. One part discusses strategy with Kang Min-hee and the others, another receives, conveys, and analyzes information from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

And the rest, he pours into the tip of the spear.

Using all his rage as fuel, the lightning spear formed of wrath grows ever brighter.

The third day.

Hwoong!

Jeon Myeong-hoon withdraws his spear.

Then, together with Golden Shaking Bird, he heads to the Bright Cold Realm.

Kururung!

Thunder Spirit Island.

The site of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, abandoned for a time long enough for mountains and rivers to change hundreds of millions of times, has now become just an ordinary forest.

Jeon Myeong-hoon arrives at the site and takes out a bottle of liquor, pouring it out.

Jjororo…

“This is the Immortal Wine made from the Heavenly Lotus Fruit consumed by Immortals, the Heavenly Lotus Wine. A mortal who smells a single drop could advance to the Heavenly Being stage, and a cultivator at the Heavenly Being stage who drinks a single drop could reach the Integration stage. A cultivator at the Star Shattering stage who takes a sip could see their cultivation advance by a stage, and for a cultivator at the Sacred Vessel stage drinking a cup, their odds of reaching the Entering Nirvana stage is said to increase by ten percent. It is said that if those at Entering Nirvana drink an entire bottle, their authorities swell, becoming able to stand against a True Immortal for a brief time.”

Hweeeee—

A wind blows.

The scent of the Heavenly Lotus Wine spreads throughout the Bright Cold Realm. From its fragrance alone, the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy in the Bright Cold Realm becomes over ten thousand times denser, and the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of the Chaos Region rises to match that of the Stable Realm.

From the entirety of Thunder Spirit Island, where Jeon Myeong-hoon pours the Heavenly Lotus Wine, light bursts forth, and a waterfall formed of spirit liquid begins cascading wildly from Thunder Spirit Island.

Due to this sudden amplification of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, a storm of spiritual energy swirls around Thunder Spirit Island, and strange celestial phenomena begin appearing all across the Bright Cold Realm like mushrooms after the rain.

However, Jeon Myeong-hoon keeps only the area around the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect relatively calm, and continues pouring the Heavenly Lotus Wine.

The trees within the sect grounds instantly transform into spirit trees, sprouting intelligence. The spirit herbs and spirit trees themselves become cultivators of the Demon Race, gaining awareness—but each and every one of them, sensing Jeon Myeong-hoon’s presence, remains calmly rooted in place.

Tok, took…

When the Heavenly Lotus Wine finally empties from the bottle, Jeon Myeong-hoon takes out a wooden box from within his embrace.

Inside the wooden box lies a thoroughly withered, shriveled hand.

Staring at the hand for a while, Jeon Myeong-hoon kisses it once, gently strokes it, then looks up at the sky.

The memory of that time remains vivid.

Twitch, twitch…

No, it is still vivid even now.

Because the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity Do Gon is about to resurrect soon, the lightning stirs within him, recreating the sensations of that moment.

“…Are you all there?”

Of course, they wouldn’t be there.

They would have already been reincarnated by the Underworld and gone to good places.

Jeon Myeong-hoon once pleaded with the Underworld through Kang Min-hee to help find the reincarnations of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, but the Underworld refused.

They said that since those people have already reincarnated and are living well, there is no reason to burden them with the anguish of past lives.

Jeon Myeong-hoon recalls the worlds of the Underworld, that ‘if there is a connection, one day they will become True Immortals, recall their past lives, and come to you—so do not worry.’

It is a statement that makes sense to the mind—but not to the heart.

“I…have come here.”

He speaks as he gazes at the sky.

“Today, the ones who caused your deaths—the bastards Zhengli and the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity—are said to be returning to the world.”

His lament begins.

“To be honest…if viewed purely from a factional standpoint, there’s no real reason to kill them. That’s why I’m not receiving any significant support. And they aren’t some heinous Devil God like the Great Mountain Supreme Deity who is Seo Eun-hyun’s sworn enemy, so there’s no absolute need to eliminate them. In fact, in terms of good and evil, those two likely fall under the side of good. After all, our Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect only faced retribution for the havoc caused by our founder Yang Su-jin. Yes, I know.”

He slowly lowers his head.

“If I had found So-hae’s reincarnation and that reincarnation had been caught by some bugs and imprisoned in a hellish place for 120,000 years, suffering torment, I would have wiped out their entire race. In a way, the fact that Do Gon didn’t wipe out humanity makes them quite merciful.”

Jeon Myeong-hoon sets down the bottle.

“But…I am not only foolish and stupid, I am also narrow-minded…so even their mercy feels unbearably heavy and painful to me. So much so that I cannot possibly contain it within my chest.”

On the first day, Jeon Myeong-hoon was consumed by panic.

On the second day, by rage.

But now, on the third and final day—

His eyes are colder than ever before.

“So…even if this revenge isn’t righteous. Even if it serves no logical benefit factionally. Even if they are, in truth, good beings. I…I must offer the life of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity to your spirits. So please…if what this disciple is doing is foolish…then meet me again someday, even if it is in another life, and scold me severely.”

Jeon Myeong-hoon rises from his place and begins to bow.

Once, twice, three times…

After offering a total of nine bows and then adding one more to make ten, Jeon Myeong-hoon turns around with a face more serious than ever before.

In his embrace is no longer the hand of Jin So-hae, which had always been with him since the fall of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

He places her hand at a spot within the sect grounds, then slowly begins to walk.

With each and every step he takes, attraction force distorts, space warps, and before long, Jeon Myeong-hoon arrives before the Horse Ear Heavenly Domain.

Kururururung!

“You’re late, Jeon Myeong-hoon.”

Kang Min-hee glances back at him, waiting, while Oh Hyun-seok’s eyes gleam as he looks at Jeon Myeong-hoon.

For the glint in Jeon Myeong-hoon’s eyes is one he has never shown before.

“…I’m rooting for you, Myeong-hoon.”

Nod—

Jeon Myeong-hoon gives a brief nod and stares at the Horse Ear Heavenly Domain before him.

Jjit—

Jjit—

A tingling sensation rises through his entire body, paralyzing him.

It is rank.

The rank of the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity and other colossal beings presses down upon Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Kang Min-hee, who has reached True Lord.

Oh Hyun-seok, who has reached the pinnacle of Heaven-Earth Great Net.

Before them, boiling up in liberation, are the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity and Zhengli.

And,

From afar, countless Heavenly Lords descend.

The main forces of Radiance Hall, known as the Envoys of the Final Age of Dharma,

And the true rulers of this world who command them.

The presence and rank of the Radiance Eight Immortals are completely filling the surroundings of the Horse Ear Heavenly Domain.

Among them, Jeon Myeong-hoon, who is still at best only at the peak of Heaven Dao Great Net, is no different from a mortal.

Yet though he stands here as a common man, he has not lost the wrath of the common man.

He holds within his chest an anger that has been compressed and compressed again, to the point that heat no longer escapes, but only grows cold.

With cold eyes, Jeon Myeong-hoon raises his hand.

Kwarung, kwarururung!

A single streak of lightning gathers in his grasp.

He is one who devours all lighting and is loved by lighting. 

He is one who can use lighting as both a spiritual elixir and dharma treasure. 

And now, the lightning held in his hand—

Is none other than the lightning from the day the Heavenly Punishment Supreme Deity Do Gon destroyed the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

Kwarurururung!

At last, after a long and longer time, the dimension of the Horse Ear Heavenly Domain completely shatters.

From within, a giant Lightning God begins to rise.

Jeon Myeong-hoon raises his spear as he looks at them.

“Though you are not here right now.”

Kang Min-hee and Oh Hyun-seok, seeing Jeon Myeong-hoon like that, calmly begin supporting him from behind.

“Still…”

Jeon Myeong-hoon briefly closes and opens his eyes, then stares directly at the Owner of Heavenly Punishment.

“Let’s go together.”

Whether these words are meant for the hand of Jin So-hae he cherished so deeply, or for Seo Eun-hyun, or for the already deceased members of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect—

No one can say for sure.

Thus, Jeon Myeong-hoon’s vengeance, awaited for tens of thousands of years, begins with that single quiet phrase.

The Heavenly Punishment War raises its curtains.