Chapter 338 : The Upper Realm
Chapter 338: The Upper Realm
“Hyung, wake up. You told me to wake you up five minutes ago.”
“Huh? Ah...”
Hearing someone waking him, Jang Woo-hyun sat up.
“Were you reading novels again last night? What's so fun about them that you never sleep?”
Jang Woo-hyun blinked several times before looking at the handsome man sitting in front of him.
He was a younger brother who was practically family to him.
'Family... no, not really. We're close, but not that close.'
Dismissing the thought that had suddenly crossed his mind, he called the man's name.
“Ha... Jin-woon.”
“Huh? Why are you suddenly saying my name?”
Jang Woo-hyun tilted his head.
For some reason, the name felt awkward.
It felt as though another similar name suited him better.
“Oppa, stop reading novels and get some sleep. You're going to collapse at this rate.”
The woman with large eyes sitting beside Ha Jin-woon turned toward him.
Jang Woo-hyun hesitated for a moment because he couldn't immediately remember her name.
“Seo-hui... Yeon. Seo Hui-yeon.”
“What's wrong with Oppa?”
“I don't know. I think he's still half asleep.”
Someone poked Jang Woo-hyun from beside him.
“Oppa, wake up.”
A petite woman with a cute appearance was sitting next to him.
Fortunately, this time he remembered her name immediately.
“Oh, Min-ju. I really must still be half asleep. Other names keep coming to mind.”
“That's why I keep telling you to stop reading novels all night and get some sleep. What's so interesting that you stay up reading them? Why are you even mixing up our names? Are there characters with names similar to ours?”
“I think so... but maybe not. Or are they completely different?”
“What are you talking about?”
Seeing Jang Woo-hyun rambling incoherently, Ye Min-ju laughed in disbelief and nudged him again with her elbow.
“At least go wash your face. Are you really going to attend class like this?”
Jang Woo-hyun shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
'What's wrong with me?'
Something felt strange.
Ha Jin-woon, Ye Min-ju, and Seo Hui-yeon, the friends who were always with him, were all sitting nearby.
They were practically together every day, and today seemed no different from usual.
'It feels like... something's missing.'
As that thought crossed his mind—
Someone approached from behind.
“Oh! Class hasn't started yet.”
A chubby man with small eyes hurried over and dramatically plopped down beside Ha Jin-woon.
“What were you all talking about?”
“Talking behind Oppa's back.”
“Again? So what did you say about me this time?”
As though it were an everyday occurrence, the man naturally played along.
“Woo-hyun Oppa's acting strange.”
“What's wrong with Woo-hyun? Did he stay up reading novels again?”
“Huh? Hyung, how did you know?”
“Well, it's not exactly the first or second time.”
Hwang An, who was sitting beside Ha Jin-woon, turned toward Jang Woo-hyun.
“If you're still sleepy, at least go wash your face.”
“No. I was just spacing out for a bit. I'm fine now.”
After enduring a few more rounds of scolding from his friends, Jang Woo-hyun promised he'd start going to bed earlier, finally ending the conversation.
“I keep telling you to always pay attention to your surroundings. Good thing I've got beast-like reflexes. Otherwise, there would've been an accident.”
“Beast-like reflexes? Forget that, Oppa. Lose some weight first.”
“Ahem. Do you know how much money it took to build this body?”
“Did you drive here today?”
“Yeah. I thought I was going to be late.”
Listening to the conversation of the three people sitting in front of him, Jang Woo-hyun unconsciously focused on one sentence.
Always pay attention to your surroundings.
'It feels like I've heard that somewhere before.'
Someone had definitely emphasized those words to him before.
Yet no matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn't remember.
While their casual chatter continued, the professor entered the lecture hall.
The moment Jang Woo-hyun saw the professor's face, his eyes widened.
Then he tightly shut them.
He realized just how ridiculous his earlier thoughts had been.
'Am I an idiot?'
Of course he recognized the face of the professor teaching the class.
Yet somehow he'd been entertaining strange thoughts by himself.
To clear his head, he firmly pressed both temples.
Meanwhile, the professor manipulated a magical artifact to take attendance.
A complicated pattern appeared above the blackboard.
'Huh?'
Jang Woo-hyun frowned as he watched.
Something definitely bothered him.
Yet he couldn't tell exactly what it was.
'The professor is controlling a magical artifact...'
“Oppa.”
Ye Min-ju nudged him with her elbow.
“Huh?”
“Aren't you checking in for attendance?”
A small magical artifact was also in Ye Min-ju's hand.
“Attendance?”
“Seriously... are you still half asleep?”
At her reaction, the other three also turned around.
Meeting their eyes, Jang Woo-hyun repeated the sentence that had surfaced in his mind.
“Don't just watch your opponent. Always pay attention to your surroundings.”
'...And is using a magical artifact supposed to be normal?'
Lowering his gaze, he saw a small rectangular magical artifact in his own hand.
He looked up again and examined everyone around him.
Ye Min-ju.
Seo Hui-yeon.
Ha Jin-woon.
Hwang An.
The friends and younger siblings who were always by his side.
'What is this?'
Something felt wrong.
Those weren't their names.
Jang Woo-hyun's gaze shifted toward the professor standing at the podium.
“Min-ju.”
“Yes?”
“What's the professor's name?”
“The professor? Professor Yang Myung-ho.”
“Yang Myung-ho?”
“Yes.”
Crack.
The moment he confirmed the name—
The world fractured.
Everything that had seemed perfect suddenly felt unnatural.
The names of his friends became blurry.
'Something's wrong.'
He still didn't know exactly what.
But something continued bothering him.
“Ye-ju, hit me again like before.”
“Like this?”
Tap. Tap.
Ye Min-ju nudged him with her elbow.
“A little harder.”
“......”
Thud! Thud!
Frowning, Ye Min-ju elbowed him again.
And then—
“Ah...”
Only then did he finally realize.
Something was completely wrong.
“Ahahahahaha!”
Jang Woo-hyun threw his head back and burst into laughter loud enough to shake the lecture hall.
Had Ma Choong-won not said those words to him...
Had he not remembered Maeng Ye-ju's prank...
He might have remained trapped in this fake world like a fool forever.
“What's wrong with him?”
“What happened?”
“I think Oppa's gone crazy.”
His friends and the surrounding students stared at him in confusion.
Ignoring all of them, Jang Woo-hyun stood up.
“Student, if you have a problem, solve it outside. Please don't disrupt the class.”
Jang Woo-hyun looked at the refined-looking professor.
Still smiling, he spoke the familiar name.
“Yang Hyo-myung.”
Not Professor Yang Myung-ho.
He then turned toward his friends one by one.
“Min-ju, if Senior Maeng had elbowed me, I would've rolled all the way into the wall.”
“Huh? Who's Senior Maeng?”
He looked at the friends sitting in front.
“Yong Seo-hui.”
Not Seo Hui-yeon.
“Jin Ha-un.”
Not Ha Jin-woon.
“You're the worst match of all. Hwang An? Seriously?”
Not the wealthy Hwang An.
The Hwang An from the Beggars' Sect.
After looking at each of them once, Jang Woo-hyun raised his hand.
There was nothing in his white hand, a hand unsuited to weapons.
Yet there had always been one weapon that never left his side.
No matter where he went.
No matter what situation he found himself in.
The sword connected to his soul would always answer his call.
“Baekmu.”
As if by magic, a white sword appeared in Jang Woo-hyun's hand.
Whoosh!
An overwhelming presence erupted outward.
The college student Jang Woo-hyun disappeared.
Standing there now...
Was the Martial God who had ascended to the Upper Realm.
People screamed at the sudden appearance of the sword.
Ignoring them, Jang Woo-hyun swung it.
Slash!
Something was severed.
The lecture hall split cleanly in half.
A white line stretched from the ceiling to the floor.
Cracks spread along that line.
Craaack! Crack! Crash!
The world before his eyes shattered like glass.
The entire world collapsed.
Yang Hyo-myung, pretending to be a professor...
His companions and acquaintances disguised as friends...
Every one of them shattered with expressions of shock.
As the world broke apart into fragments—
A magnificent palace appeared.
Before a colossal palace adorned with golden roof tiles and countless precious jewels—
Hundreds of rabbits with softly glowing fur knelt before Jang Woo-hyun.
“We pay our respects to the new Martial God!”
“We pay our respects to the Martial God!”
Following the rabbit in luxurious robes standing at the front, hundreds of rabbits shouted together.
The classroom world had completely disappeared.
Jang Woo-hyun now stood in a brand-new world.
“It is our greatest honor to welcome the newly Ascended Martial God to the Upper Realm.”
The silver-furred rabbit standing at the front slightly raised its head and met Jang Woo-hyun's eyes.
“Who are you?”
“We are the Jade Rabbit Clan, residents of the Upper Realm entrusted with guiding newly Ascended True Immortals and Martial Gods. Please allow us to escort you.”
As the silver-furred rabbit finished speaking, four rabbits carried over an open sedan chair with neither walls nor a roof.
“You must have exhausted much of your strength ascending to the Upper Realm. Please allow us to attend to you.”
“Forget that. Explain the Upper Realm instead.”
Jang Woo-hyun waved away the four rabbits.
“As you command.”
At the silver rabbit's gesture, several other rabbits carried over an enormous board.
Judging from its appearance, it seemed to be either a magical artifact or a Dharma Treasure used for explanations.
“If I may be so bold... may I stand?”
After Jang Woo-hyun nodded, the silver-furred rabbit stood before the large board.
“What's your name?”
Jang Woo-hyun dismissed Baekmu before asking.
“I am Myo-eun of the Jade Rabbit Clan. My insignificant name is unworthy of the Martial God's attention.”
“I'll decide that myself. Go ahead and explain.”
“Yes.”
Bowing so deeply it seemed excessive, Myo-eun walked over to the board and raised a hand.
As he manipulated something, an image of a palace appeared in the center.
“This place is known as the First Origin Palace. It is the first place where newly Ascended True Immortals and Martial Gods arrive after completing Ascension or Lesser Ascension.”
With another wave of his hand, eight different worlds appeared surrounding the palace.
One consisted entirely of flames.
Another was so dark that nothing could be seen.
One was filled with endless ice.
Another contained nothing but an endless sea.
“The Eight Extreme Worlds. These form the foundation of the Upper Realm. Every world possesses a completely different environment. True Immortals and Martial Gods settle within whichever world best suits them.”
As he listened, Jang Woo-hyun tilted his head.
This differed from what he had seen within Lee Tae-seong's memories.
Myo-eun continued his explanation without stopping.
Jang Woo-hyun silently listened.
Then he slowly walked over until he stood directly in front of Myo-eun.
“W-Why are you approaching me?”
Even though Jang Woo-hyun had merely walked closer, Myo-eun lowered his head and trembled.
Grab.
“Urgh.”
Jang Woo-hyun grabbed one of Myo-eun's large ears.
“You're the only one who's afraid of me.”
“Pardon? I-I don't understand what you mean...”
“The others only keep their heads lowered. I can't sense any emotions from them.”
“Th-That's because the Martial God is simply too pow—”
“Baekmu.”
“KYAAAAAH!”
Jang Woo-hyun summoned Baekmu once more and pierced straight through Myo-eun.
At that same instant—
The hundreds of rabbits bowing nearby all raised their heads.
【This god is insane.】
【This Martial God has lost his mind.】
Every rabbit's eyes glowed with crimson light as they stood up together.
Jang Woo-hyun flung away Myo-eun, whose head had been pierced through.
Baekmu dissolved into white mist before reforming into a sword.
“So these are all fake too?”
Chuckling softly, Jang Woo-hyun performed the True Step.
BOOM!
He had only lightly stomped his foot.
Yet the entire world shook.
A massive earthquake erupted.
The magnificent palace collapsed.
The rabbits, who had revealed their hostility, could do nothing before exploding one after another.
Next—
Jang Woo-hyun slashed through empty space with even greater power than when he had split the lecture hall.
KWAAAAAAANG!
This time it wasn't merely a crack.
The world itself shattered.
Beyond the shattered sky—
A dense jungle filled with unknown beasts came into view.
But that world too crumbled beneath Jang Woo-hyun's power.
After destroying two worlds at once, he advanced into another.
“They really prepared a lot.”
The next world was a burning realm where rivers of lava flowed.
He crossed frozen wastelands.
At times he found himself within worlds filled entirely with corpses.
He destroyed underground caverns inhabited by monsters similar to the Seven Great Saints.
He encountered worlds filled with martial artists.
Sometimes he fought within worlds boasting overwhelmingly advanced technology.
Beginning with the university lecture hall—
Jang Woo-hyun destroyed ninety-nine different worlds.
'Now I understand why they sent them.'
He had wondered why they had sent Great Ascension Stage cultivators who were no match for him.
They had merely been bait.
The True Immortals had used them to cast an illusion upon him.
Everything he had experienced until now had been an illusion.
However, because it had been created using the power of the True Immortals, each illusion had been manifested as a genuine world.
Only after destroying the ninety-ninth world...
Did Jang Woo-hyun finally arrive in the real Upper Realm.
“......”
The Upper Realm.
The world where the beings known as True Immortals and Martial Gods resided.
There was nothing at all.