The moment my consciousness faintly returned, a thunderbolt of pain struck through me, forcing my mind awake.

Ghhhhh—!

That alone told me how severe my condition was.

For one, I couldn’t see a thing, and judging by how nothing reached my ears, my eardrums must have melted away.

Ssszzzt—

I tried to scream from the pain, but in that instant, the skin near my mouth tore apart as if peeling off.

Every nerve in my body was screaming, as though I had fallen straight into a pit of hellfire.

It felt as if my entire skin had vanished—every inch of my body stabbed by needles, my whole being set ablaze.

Judging by the insane pain coming from my fingers and toes, it was probably phantom pain from the parts that had already melted and disappeared.

When a limb or fingertip is severed, it seems natural that pain would come from the stump—but in truth, that’s not what happens.

The pain comes from the part that no longer exists.

Because of the severed nerves that used to carry sensation, it feels like pain is coming from the body part that’s already gone.

That’s what’s called phantom pain—and right now, it was exploding from every missing piece of me: fingertips, toes, ears, nose.

My entire body trembled from the agony, so I hurriedly tried to call Moji and Soji in the group link.

『“Ghhhk. Moji, So—Soji! Agh, it’s not sending?”』

But maybe because my injuries were too severe—or for some other reason—the group link still hadn’t normalized.

It was like my voice couldn’t pass through some kind of blockage.

Since I’d already learned the Naega-yosang Art, I tried to recall Moji and Soji’s power just like when I used poison arts.

If I could at least heal the area around my mouth, I could call for help out loud.

I began to gather energy, focusing on the area near my lips.

But my body was shaking too much from the pain, making the healing unstable—when suddenly, I felt the poisonous energy around me start to fade rapidly.

I could tell because I was now linked with Zimjo, able to sense her venom directly.

Come to think of it, her venom still lingered in the air.

The poisonous energy slowly gathered and began being sucked toward one point.

It seemed Zimjo was absorbing her venom back in.

Well, she was my fourth wife now, wasn’t she? Of course she should try to save me.

Then, something seemed to descend nearby; a faint breeze brushed against my exposed muscles—and in that instant, a sharp wave of pain struck again.

Ghhhkk!

And then I felt Moji and Soji’s energy.

Zimjo must have removed the venom, letting the two finally fly in to reach me.

Warmth touched my body.

The unbearable pain vanished, and I felt as though I’d been submerged in warm water. Healing began.

I too summoned the Naega-yosang Art I’d learned from Elders Yakseon and Uiseon, and as I poured energy into it, my body started recovering rapidly.

My hearing was the first to return, letting me sense the situation around me.

“He—he’s recovering!”

“He’s alive!”

“The hero of Murim lives!”

Those must have been the voices of the Murim Alliance and the martial artists of the Central Plains. Then, my wives’ voices followed.

“So-ryong!”

“Master! Are you alright!?”

“Husband!”

Rather than answering, I waited for my body to fully heal. Soon my eyes began recovering—light appeared in the dark world, and shapes started forming.

But my eyes burned like hell.

Probably because I didn’t have eyelids yet.

Then darkness came again.

When I opened my eyes once more, shapes focused clearly in my pupils.

My body must have completely regenerated—then suddenly, something draped over my shoulders.

My wives must have covered me, since my clothes had all dissolved in the venom.

I was just about to open my mouth.

That’s when a vision appeared before me.

One by one, the Ten Great Venoms lit up and floated into view, and I began to feel the presence of each of my spirit children like never before.

The Flying Centipede, Cho.

Her slim, light movements were as fluid as a bird slicing through wind.

Her hardened shell reminded me of a mountain fortress, and her sharp senses captured the world itself. All of it was harmoniously rooted within Cho’s body.

At the same time, her unique energy seeped into my mind.

Heaven, Water, Wood.

The purity of a clear spring, the majesty of the endless sky, and the free gale born from Wood—all blended together.

Like clouds gliding over the sea, like a typhoon bringing rain, like fog embracing mountains—the breath of nature itself pulsed within her.

It was an energy of divine dignity and boundless mercy—Heaven’s gaze and the sea’s embrace intertwined.

Next, the spider Yo-hwa, once mistaken for a Human-Faced Spider but in truth the Golden-Faced Spider Queen.

A strong body, versatile pedipalps, threads tougher than steel.

Water, Wood, Earth.

Within Yo-hwa mixed the vitality of soil, the sprouting potential of wood, and the smooth flow of water.

It was the warmth of a mother’s arms—a healing, nurturing essence that wrapped the wounded ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) child of the world.

Then the Azure Fire Magma Toad, Hwayang.

His burning blue flame was both cold and searing, carrying the dual nature of devouring internal energy.

Earth, Fire, Yin. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

It was a blaze born from the abyss, like magma surging from the depths, pulsing with molten fury.

Next, Cheong-yu Sojeo, the Golden-Crowned Serpent Queen.

A sovereign presence—an emperor gazing down upon all serpents.

Earth, Yin, Water.

Within her blood coiled the darkness of the abyss and the chill of deep waters. Her very veins flowed with the still breath of a monster sleeping beneath a bottomless lake.

Jeokwol, the Blood-Blossom Dream Illusion Butterfly.

Her crimson scales distorted air itself, weaving illusions through their dance like petals drenched in blood.

Water, Fire, Wood.

Through the mirage of heat and the flutter of wind, she blurred the boundary between reality and dream.

Then Moji and Soji, the Silver Silkworm Moths.

Their bodies weren’t strong, yet the energy hidden within their soft fur held both light and darkness—Yang and Yin.

The mercy of light and the despair of darkness intertwined like day and night, life and death coexisting in their gentle warmth.

Then Cheongwol, the Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Armored Scorpion.

Each passing century hardened her shell even more. Her presence pressed upon me with the weight of ages.

Earth, Metal.

Unchanging like stone, unshakable as time itself.

Only two elements—but their strength matched any creature holding three.

Then Hongbi, the World-Destroying Golden Toad.

Though his body seemed unimpressive compared to Moji and Soji, his energy carried Metal, Water, and Yin.

Corroding metal dissolved into water, deepened by darkness, transforming into his venom.

The abyss of water, the void of darkness, and the sharpness of rusted steel swirled in equilibrium—an essence holding the potential to erase the world itself.

Then Mama Hoja, the Crying Tiger Hornet.

Hard shell, fierce body—the untouchable vigor of a wasp ran through her.

Within Mama Hoja blended the endless sky of Heaven, the deep abyss of darkness, and the fierce roar of wind, evoking the vast darkness of the night sky.

Wood, Heaven, Yin.

The sky darkened by immense shadow radiated presence even without stars—so too did Mama Hoja’s energy spread quietly, yet overwhelmingly, across existence.

And finally, Zimjo.

Her violet feathers carried nobility, her venom radiated majesty.

Every strand of her plumage held condensed regal energy.

Wood, Fire, Heaven, Yin.

Darkness, sky, wind, and flame coexisted within her—four forces intertwined.

When Zimjo’s wings flapped, it was as if the world itself trembled in answer to a monarch’s call.

As I felt each energy in turn, I came to understand completely what Heaven and Earth, Light and Darkness truly were.

Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water.

The five elemental roots of the world—and beyond them, the higher four: Heaven, Earth, Yang, Yin.

When that brief enlightenment ended, the natural qi around me gathered as if recognizing me.

In that moment, I realized I had stepped into the Life-and-Death Realm.

I could feel the balance and law of Heaven and Earth itself.

I had become something detached from the boundary between life and death.

Then, a colossal energy gathered above me.

That vast power carried a single will.

'How dare you!'

A mere insignificant being—

I looked up, and lightning crashed down from above.

Five-colored bolts struck over and over.

Then Zimjo’s voice pierced my mind.

"[Focus your mind! You must endure it entirely on your own! Withstand it! There will be one—no, up to three strikes of lightning!]"

—Rumble!

I closed my eyes and drew up the Yin and Yang energy of the Silver Silkworm Moths, Moji and Soji.

Crack!

A flash exploded through me, my vision going white, yet the energy didn’t stop.

The lightning burned and severed nerves, but Moji and Soji’s power swiftly restored them. Steam rose from my hair, only for it to regrow instantly.

Rumble!

The second—then the third strike.

The lightning scorched my muscles and nerves, made my mind go blank for moments—but it couldn’t sever my life itself.

When my eardrums and eyes finally healed again, my wives rushed in.

“Husband!?”

“So-ryong, are you alright!?”

“Master, are you unharmed!?”

Their hands brushed my face and body—love and worry overflowing from their touch.

I slowly opened my eyes, looked at them, and said,

“I’m fine.”

At that moment, a voice filled with ecstasy echoed.

Between my wives, something feathered burst in and shouted:

"[Ahhh! I couldn’t sense your energy earlier, but so this is the realm you’ve reached!? You! Fill me quickly with that white thing and make me conceive at once!]"

At Zimjo’s words, my wives’ eyes went wide as they all turned to stare at me.

I had to explain.

But how... where was I even supposed to start?

My mind went blank all over again.

***

Autor's Note: For those waiting for the next episode...

See you on Tuesday.