Chapter 339 : The Shattered World
Chapter 339: The Shattered World
A night sky without a moon or stars.
A universe where no celestial bodies existed.
The Upper Realm before Jang Woo-hyun's eyes was exactly such a place.
Behind him, the world created by the illusion was slowly disappearing.
Other than that, nothing could be seen.
There was only endless black space.
After briefly surveying his surroundings, he moved forward.
The instant he willed himself to travel, his figure appeared in a place far away.
Simply by thinking and exerting his will, he transcended space itself.
Its speed of movement was incomparable to Shrinking the Earth.
After traveling for a long while, Jang Woo-hyun spotted a region different from the surrounding space.
It carried a faint bluish hue, like the sky just before dawn.
He fixed his direction and continued onward.
Yet when he finally arrived, it was no different from the rest of the surroundings.
It wasn't a different color because of some light.
The space itself simply possessed a bluish tint instead of being pitch black.
Jang Woo-hyun resumed moving.
One shichen.
Two shichen.
A day.
Two days.
Ten days.
Half a month.
A month.
He no longer knew how much time had passed.
The Upper Realm was unimaginably vast.
Its end could not be seen.
The Middle Heaven Realm had also been so immense that its true size was unknowable.
Yet the two were beyond comparison.
An endlessly expanding world with no visible boundary.
And an empty void where nothing existed.
The Upper Realm was a world of nothingness.
Within that space where neither direction nor time could be distinguished, Jang Woo-hyun noticed a tiny light far away.
The moment he wished to close the distance, he vanished from where he stood.
In less time than it took to blink a few times, he was already standing near the light.
'A fragment?'
The source of the light resembled a broken mirror or a shard of glass.
Its size, however, was absurdly enormous.
At a glance, it stretched hundreds of li.
Within its surface appeared the image of a dense forest, as though it reflected another world.
Jang Woo-hyun concentrated and carefully examined the strange object resembling a shattered mirror.
Now that he had reached the realm of a Martial God, the way he perceived things was completely different from before.
A moment later—
He realized what it was.
'A shattered world.'
It had originally been a complete world.
Now it had broken apart, appearing like fragments of a shattered mirror.
Jang Woo-hyun examined the gigantic fragment before leaping into it.
His body passed through the mirror as though diving into a lake.
After breaking through more than a dozen barriers separating worlds, he arrived within a forest overflowing with grass and trees.
Feeling an ominous aura from above, Jang Woo-hyun casually waved his hand.
With that single gesture, every tree blocking the sky vanished.
What appeared before him was a sky riddled with cracks, as though struck by an immense earthquake.
Crimson and violet energy flowed through those fractures.
Jang Woo-hyun floated into the air and expanded his senses.
He examined the world using not only his sight but every power at his disposal.
He had already surpassed the Immortal Realm and reached the Primordial Unity Realm.
As befitted someone worthy of the title Martial God, his perception and senses were entirely different from before.
Countless streams of information poured into his mind.
Though he gazed in only one direction, it felt as though he were observing everything from the highest heavens.
He read the world's records.
He perceived the will of its creator.
'This world itself is the power of a True Immortal.'
Every True Immortal was capable of creating a world of their own.
This was not an Inner World like a Microcosm.
It was a genuine world.
A place where multiple races could live and ecosystems could flourish.
It was a power of creation that even a Martial God could not wield.
Having grasped the nature of the world, Jang Woo-hyun moved toward one side.
After taking a single step, he arrived in a clearing where unfamiliar races had gathered.
More than a hundred cat beastfolk were assembled there.
The instant they saw Jang Woo-hyun suddenly appear—
They collapsed.
“Ah.”
Realizing the cause, Jang Woo-hyun quickly concealed every trace of his presence and aura.
Only then did the cat beastfolk survive.
Had he reacted even a little slower, their internal organs would have ruptured or their heads exploded.
After completely suppressing his power, Jang Woo-hyun moved again.
Those who had already collapsed would not be getting back up anytime soon.
This time he slowed down.
Rather than appearing abruptly, he landed near what looked like a village and began walking toward it.
A cat beastfolk standing atop the wooden palisade spotted him.
Its ears perked up before it cried out.
“Kyaaah! Kia!”
An unfamiliar language rang out.
The entire village became chaotic.
Apparently judging Jang Woo-hyun to be an enemy, warning bells echoed noisily throughout the settlement.
After walking roughly twenty paces—
The massive wooden gate swung open.
Cat beastfolk clad in crude leather armor rushed out.
They charged on all fours.
Once they drew close enough, they stood upright.
Extending long claws, they openly revealed their hostility.
“......”
Feeling the killing intent directed toward him, Jang Woo-hyun's expression changed.
The approaching cat beastfolk became annoying.
Pathetic.
He wanted to erase them immediately.
He was just about to stretch out his hand and crush the entire village—
Hummm!
The Dragon King's Scale vibrated.
Expression returned to his previously blank face.
Jang Woo-hyun regained his senses.
'I almost went back to how I used to be.'
He had deliberately erased every trace of his aura before coming here.
Yet because of a moment's boredom, he had nearly slaughtered everything without hesitation.
Without realizing it, he had been changing little by little.
“Thanks.”
Fortunately, he still had a companion by his side that could pull him back.
Jang Woo-hyun lightly tapped the Dragon King's Scale before lowering his stance and looking toward the approaching cat beastfolk.
“I should at least tidy things up.”
He revealed only the faintest trace of his aura.
BOOM!
That alone made the earth tremble.
The heavens shook.
The towering trees nearby collapsed.
Small boulders exploded.
Bushes withered before crumbling into dust.
Every cat beastfolk surrounding Jang Woo-hyun suffered devastating internal injuries and collapsed where they stood.
Fortunately, none of them died immediately.
Even so, the entire village fell into complete chaos.
Just as he was wondering,
'Should I suppress it even more than this?'
A being with considerable power approached from behind.
【A worthy one has finally appeared!】
Turning around, he saw a woman with black hair reaching her ankles and a semi-transparent body.
【Offer your body to me! I shall graciously make use of it!】
As she spoke, the earth shook.
A giant made entirely of soil rose from the ground.
The village behind her had already descended into complete pandemonium.
【Assist your god!】
The cat beastfolk preparing to flee all collapsed.
Thousands of souls gathered around the woman.
Her body rapidly expanded before transforming into a gigantic tiger.
Compared to martial artists—
The earth giant possessed strength on the level of the Boundless Realm.
The woman transformed into the tiger possessed power equivalent to the Wish Realm.
“Good.”
Jang Woo-hyun felt pleased that an opponent capable of conversation had finally appeared.
The woman transformed into a tiger would likely withstand him using at least a little strength.
Jang Woo-hyun gently lifted one foot before placing it back on the ground.
KWAAAAAAANG!!
He had merely stomped lightly.
Yet a gigantic fissure split the earth apart.
Like a living serpent, the crack raced forward before swallowing the earth giant whole.
Even then it did not stop.
Before long—
Half of the vast forest had sunk beneath the earth.
【W-What...?】
This was beyond an earthquake.
An entire continent had split apart.
Perhaps even the planet itself had been cleaved in two.
Looking leisurely toward the bewildered woman, Jang Woo-hyun extended his hand.
【W-Wait! Senior! Sto—】
KWAAANG!
His slow, casual punch sent the woman flying hundreds of li.
“Name.”
【Lei Yunli!】
Subdued with a single blow, Lei Yunli respectfully knelt and answered.
“You're a leftover fragment, aren't you?”
【...Calling me a leftover fragment is a little...】
“Aren't you?”
【Y-Yes! That's correct!】
The moment Jang Woo-hyun frowned slightly, Lei Yunli hurriedly nodded.
The being known as Lei Yunli had long since died.
The woman before him was not even an Avatar.
She was nothing more than a lingering thought—
Or, as Jang Woo-hyun called it—
A leftover fragment.
“Explain why things are like this.”
【In my current state, my memories aren't complete. Even so, I'll explain as best I can. Long ago, a madman fought against the entirety of the Upper Realm.】
“You mean the True Martial God.”
【Ah! As expected, Senior already knows. The True Martial God... also known as the Immortal-Slaying Mad Demon—】
“The Immortal-Slaying Mad Demon?”
【Yes. Because he slaughtered every True Immortal he came across, that title naturally spread.】
Coincidentally, it resembled the nickname Jang Woo-hyun himself had earned while rampaging through the cultivators' domain of the Middle Heaven Realm.
Jang Woo-hyun—
The Immortal-Slaying Sword Demon.
Lee Tae-seong—
The Immortal-Slaying Mad Demon.
Jang Woo-hyun gave a slight nod, signaling her to continue.
【Because of the Immortal-Slaying Mad Demon, the entire Upper Realm collapsed, regardless of whether one was a True Immortal or a Martial God. That's why I ended up like this as well.】
“Did you create this world? So every True Immortal can create a world of their own?”
【Not immediately after arriving in the Upper Realm. Only True Immortals who reach the realm known as Golden Immortals gain the power to create worlds.】
“So Golden Immortal is the next stage after True Immortal? Like how the Great Ascension Stage comes after the Fusion Stage?”
【That's a simple way to put it... but not entirely accurate. Becoming a Golden Immortal isn't something achieved merely by accumulating power. One must comprehend the Law of Creation.】
As he listened further, he learned that creating a world did not mean producing something from absolute nothingness.
It was closer to copying an existing world one already understood.
The souls of living beings could be obtained from the Upper Realm itself, allowing life to inhabit those newly created worlds.
“You tried to steal my body earlier, didn't you? You're already dead, so why?”
【......】
Lei Yunli remained silent.
The instant Jang Woo-hyun slightly raised his fist—
She hurriedly answered.
【...The original me is gone, but I'm still another version of myself! If I obtain new power—or a new body—I can continue living a new life!】
It would not truly be the original Lei Yunli.
Rather, the leftover fragment would simply become a new Lei Yunli.
“Are there many like you?”
【I don't know. My memories are incomplete, and I'd rather not remember them. But... the war against the True Martial God probably killed every True Immortal and Martial God in the Upper Realm. Unless someone Ascended again like you, no one should remain.】
'Then only the Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable is left.'
That matched exactly what Jang Woo-hyun had seen in Lee Tae-seong's memories.
After asking Lei Yunli several more questions, he fell into thought.
'How am I supposed to find him?'
There was no obvious way to locate him within the immeasurable Upper Realm.
After thinking for a long while, Jang Woo-hyun remembered the time when only his consciousness had confronted the True Immortal.
A palace bathed entirely in white.
Mysterious.
Magnificent.
There, the bastard had remained beside a grotesque, multicolored heart that looked as though it had been stitched together from chunks of flesh.
“Forget explaining everything you know about the Palace of Myriad Immortals. Just tell me where it is.”
【Even if I tell you, you won't be able to reach it.】
Jang Woo-hyun's expression hardened.
Lei Yunli quickly continued.
【It is a gathering place exclusively for the True Immortals. As someone from the Martial World, you cannot enter it in the first place.】
Jang Woo-hyun silently stared at Lei Yunli.
His gaze clearly said,
'Find me a way.'
【T-There... is a method. If I accompany you. I cannot leave this world, so I shall become your Dharma Treasure. If I become your Dharma Treasure, I can guide you.】
“You'll become my Dharma Treasure?”
【If I enter the sword you're carrying, I'll be able to guide you.】
Hearing that, Jang Woo-hyun lowered his head and looked at the Dragon King's Scale.
For the briefest instant—
Greed flashed across Lei Yunli's eyes.
It lasted only a moment.
“What do you think?”
Jang Woo-hyun asked the Dragon King's Scale.
As though granting permission, it gave a faint vibration.
Jang Woo-hyun drew it.
“Go ahead.”
【Thank you! I'll assist you with everything I have!】
Smiling brightly, Lei Yunli cast a spell.
Her semi-transparent body transformed into light before disappearing into the Dragon King's Scale.
“Hehehe... what a fool.”
Lei Yunli found Jang Woo-hyun unbelievably naive.
Something like this could never happen in the cultivation world.
Anyone there would have killed her on sight and exploited her immediately.
Yet that foolish martial artist had hesitated long enough to hand her an opportunity.
“I'll reward your kindness by making your death painless.”
Lei Yunli had been unable to leave this shattered world because she lacked sufficient power.
Now she could escape through Jang Woo-hyun.
Throughout the Upper Realm, countless shattered worlds like this one must still remain.
She planned to absorb the power of those worlds and resurrect herself.
She only needed to gradually manipulate Jang Woo-hyun under the pretext of searching for the Palace of Myriad Immortals.
“I'll deal with that idiot later. First, I'll seize control of this Dharma Treas—”
“Not sure who's the real idiot here.”
“Huh?”
Hearing the sudden voice, Lei Yunli turned around.
Or rather—
She tried to.
A massive hand gripped both her head and shoulder so tightly she couldn't move.
Crunch!
“Urgh!”
Her head twisted halfway around.
Normally, the interior of a Dharma Treasure resembled a Mental World.
She shouldn't have been able to feel pain.
Yet unbearable agony flooded through her.
“H-How...?”
Her eyes filled with panic and horror.
Standing before her was a gigantic man covered in silver scales.
No matter how powerful a sentient Dharma Treasure might be—
Lei Yunli had once reached the realm of a Golden Immortal.
The difference in their ranks should have made it impossible for a Dharma Treasure's consciousness to overpower her.
Yet...
It was happening.
“N-No way...”
Impossible.
If she could be subdued this easily...
It meant the Dharma Treasure itself possessed a rank higher than that of Golden Immortal Lei Yunli.
“Why is it that every last one of you always tries to stab people in the back the moment you get a chance?”
As the words ended—
A mouth filled with countless spike-like teeth opened wide before clamping down on Lei Yunli's head.
“KYAAAAAAAH!!”
All Lei Yunli could do was scream as loudly as she could.
The Dharma Treasure she had tried to deceive Jang Woo-hyun into occupying was the Dragon King's Scale.
The other name of the Sighing Heavenly Treasure Dragon—
The being that had devoured the fragments of countless True Immortals alongside Lee Tae-seong.