When Jaekyung first came to the Garden of Remembrance, strictly speaking, he had only lingered at the entrance before turning back. The only person he had been unexpectedly invited to see was the kind guide Yoo Jung-gyeom, so although he had heard many things, they were ultimately just stories told in words.
That was why now, having entered the Garden of Remembrance for the first time after earning the right himself, Jaekyung could only stare blankly at the scene unfolding before his eyes. A minor world, a small world of its own.
He hadn't thought much of it when he'd heard about it before, but seeing it with his own eyes now, he felt he finally understood what that expression meant. He saw an endlessly unfolding blue sky and, beneath it, a land that also stretched on without end.
Countless mountains so high they seemed to touch the sky were visible, and flowing even higher than them was a vast river. A river in the sky? After adapting to his second life, he had thought he was confident he wouldn't be surprised no matter what happened, but even so, such a sight was quite shocking.
“Ten years from today. I will hold a sermon in the Vast Leisure Forest. Any interested fellow cultivators are welcome to come.”
As Jaekyung stood there, lost in the spectacle, a single phrase suddenly echoed as if to shake the entire world. That one phrase, its origin unknown, completely captivated Jaekyung's mind in an instant. There was no intentional pressure, but as soon as he heard it, Jaekyung's heart trembled uncontrollably.
‘A powerful one.’
The owner of the voice did not even reveal who he was, but Jaekyung was certain that he was a powerful being beyond his wildest imagination. He had merely spoken a single phrase, yet a great and gentle wind rose in the once-clear blue sky. It was as if this entire world was paying attention to him.
“Who is that?”
“The Vast Leisure Forest? Then it must be Senior Bu-un.”
“A sermon! But in ten years!”
“He is different from us. For a great being like Senior Bu-un, ten years is like ten days.”
Suddenly, pillars of light shot up from here and there. No, looking closer, they weren't pillars of light, but clusters of light soaring rapidly upwards. Even the closest light appeared from at least dozens of kilometers away, and Jaekyung could barely recognize them as spirits.
‘Just as I thought, I can't recognize them.’
In the Garden of Remembrance, all cultivators can exist only as spirits. This spirit is literally the cultivator's mind given form, and that form is the image the cultivator perceives of themself. This was precisely why Yoo Jung-gyeom had been able to recognize that Jaekyung’s true form was a snake the moment he saw him.
Because Jaekyung himself perceived himself as a snake, his spirit also took on the form of a snake. However, recognizing another's spirit was not as easy as it sounded. To the eyes of a cultivator of a lower realm, the spirit of someone in a higher realm of Cultivation simply looked like a blur of light.
In fact, if the difference in realms was beyond a certain level, the very act of trying to look into the spirit could cause one's own spirit to waver or even collapse. Conversely, one with higher Cultivation could easily look into the spirit of one with lower Cultivation.
But even then, it was only a faint glimpse; it was not easy to scrutinize them as if they were laid bare. However, Jaekyung held some doubts about this part. This was because Yoo Jung-gyeom had added this remark as if to console him.
Jaekyung couldn't guess just how far Yoo Jung-gyeom had seen into him.
‘Back then, I was just a snake whose spiritual awareness had happened to open.’
At that time, Yoo Jung-gyeom had asked half-doubtingly, as if unsure whether he was a snake, but thinking back now, it was likely his own form of considerate lie.
‘Every single one of them… is at a level I can't even fathom.’
Though dozens of pillars of light had appeared, Jaekyung couldn't look directly at any of them. Just looking for a few seconds made him feel uneasy and want to run away; this feeling was similar to what he had felt from the two monstrous birds before, yet different.
It was probably because this was a world where only the spirit existed, not the body. If he were to face them in the Azure Abyss Realm…
‘Horrifying.’
Although he knew they were not enemies, he still felt uneasy. Was this how an ant felt when looking at an elephant? Jaekyung couldn't think of them as the same kind of being as himself.
This was the pressure of a higher realm, making him shrink back automatically no matter how he tried not to be conscious of it. Jaekyung reminded himself that they were not enemies and would not harm him, then slowly flew up.
That's right.
He could fly in this Garden of Remembrance. This was, of course, because he existed as a spirit here. Though no one taught him, he was able to master the method naturally.
"Hm?"
As Jaekyung flew to a certain height, the cluster of light closest to him showed a reaction.
“You feel unfamiliar. I don't think I've seen you before. Are you a cultivator of the demon races?”
“That is correct.”
As Jaekyung answered calmly, the other being approached him at a speed neither fast nor slow. As the distance closed, Jaekyung was finally able to slowly observe the other. He felt uncomfortable, but it was somewhat bearable, which seemed to mean that the other's realm was higher than his, but not so different that he couldn't even look.
“A cultivator of the demon races. That is a rare thing. And what's more…”
The other being trailed off, then let out a low exclamation of admiration.
“Forgive my rudeness on our first meeting. My name is Woo Do-baek.”
“I greet you, Senior. My name is Jaekyung.”
Jaekyung guessed that this person named Woo Do-baek was a cultivator who had at least reached the Foundation Establishment stage, or the realm of a Great Spirit Beast in spirit beast terms.
‘He is probably not in the late stage. Perhaps early or mid Foundation Establishment.’
The human cultivators, who liked to classify everything in detail, divided their Cultivation system into several stages. While major realms like the Qi Refining Stage, Foundation Establishment stage, and Golden Core stage were naturally distinct, they also classified each realm into three stages. For example, the Foundation Establishment stage alone was divided into early, mid, and late stages.
According to their classification, those at the mature late Foundation Establishment stage were essentially facing the wall of the Golden Core stage, individuals who could form their core at any moment if given the chance. Naturally, such individuals were incomparable to those still in the early and mid stages, even if they were in the same Foundation Establishment stage.
If the Woo Do-baek before him was a late stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Jaekyung would have had to expend a considerable amount of mental energy just to exchange a few words with him. Since he didn't feel that, Jaekyung guessed he was a cultivator in the early or mid Foundation Establishment stage.
Could it be that Woo Do-baek was intentionally suppressing his energy? Jaekyung recalled when he had met Yoo Jung-gyeom. Thinking back now, his spirit had been stably maintained, like a fierce flame blocked by an invisible glass wall.
Perhaps that was the feeling of intentionally suppressed energy. But right now, he felt none of that from Woo Do-baek. It was a feeling of not particularly showing off his energy, but not forcibly suppressing it either.
“That name?”
“It is my name from my past life.”
"I see."
Woo Do-baek did not hide his surprise. He exchanged a few more words with Jaekyung with an interested look, and learned that this was effectively Jaekyung's first time coming to the Garden of Remembrance.
“Forgive my impertinence, but your realm doesn't seem very high. Could it be…”
“It is embarrassing, but I have not yet become a Great Spirit Beast.”
A Great Spirit Beast. The second realm for a spirit beast, corresponding to the Foundation Establishment stage of the humans. Jaekyung had only just become a spirit beast, but he spoke as if he was not yet a Great Spirit Beast.
It was a bluff, guessing that Woo Do-baek wouldn't be able to see through it, meant to avoid looking too weak. He knew that conflict was forbidden in the Garden of Remembrance, but he still couldn't be completely at ease.
“And yet, you are here. A talented junior, indeed.”
“You are too kind.”
"Hoh."
A low exclamation was followed by an observant gaze.
“You said you were guided. May I ask which senior it was?”
“Senior Yoo Jung-gyeom guided me.”
"Hm... I see."
“Do you know each other?”
"Well.
I know of him, but he would not know me.” It seemed Yoo Jung-gyeom was a rather well-known figure even in the Garden of Remembrance.
“Then you must have heard all about this place from Senior Yoo Jung-gyeom.”
“No. I had urgent matters to attend to at the time, so I couldn't hear everything.”
"I see."
“I would be grateful if Senior would be so kind as to bestow some teachings upon this junior.”
“Hmm. There's not much to teach. You will naturally learn most of it before long anyway.”
Though he said that, Woo Do-baek began to speak simply as if he had been waiting.
“You know that the Garden of Remembrance is an independent minor world, right? But do you also know about the origin of this minor world?”
“I do not know the details.”
“In the distant past, a senior created this place. I cannot even dare to imagine what kind of divine power could create a single world.”
Jaekyung fully agreed with Woo Do-baek's words. Creating a world? Not in a metaphorical sense, but literally creating heaven and earth?
Then what kind of being could accomplish such a thing?
“And that senior?”
“I do not know either. As I said, it was in the distant past. At least tens of thousands of years ago.”
“Tens of thousands of years…”
It was a fact he had heard from Yoo Jung-gyeom, but he felt a sense of dread once again. At least tens of thousands of years? In his past world, the entire history of human civilization didn't even reach 10,000 years.
But at least tens of thousands of years? Then how long could it be if one were to estimate it generously? It was an absurd story, but in this world, it was entirely possible.
Based on human cultivators, the life expectancy of a Qi Refining Stage cultivator is said to be about 120 years. This is just an average, and upon reaching the late Qi Refining Stage, it should be considered a few decades longer than that.
And upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, the lifespan is fundamentally at least 300 years, and from this point on, the limit of one's lifespan is said to be of little meaning. This is because it is rare for those whose realm is around the Foundation Establishment stage to die due to their lifespan.
Most cases involve dying in an unfortunate accident or failing while challenging a higher realm, so cases of accepting the limits of their lifespan and dying a natural death were said to be almost non-existent. He didn't know about the Golden Core stage and beyond because Yoo Jung-gyeom hadn't told him.
But thinking about it now, perhaps Yoo Jung-gyeom didn't know either? Or perhaps he thought it was meaningless to talk about such things? In any case, if the lifespan of the Foundation Establishment stage is at least 300 years, the Golden Core stage would probably be at least double that.
It's meaningless to use things from his past life as a comparison, but if he had to, a single person's lifespan is longer than that of a nation.
‘Honestly, at that point, it's hard to call them human.’
If the Foundation Establishment stage is like this, what about the Golden Core stage, and even beyond? What about a level of Cultivation that can create a world? At least tens of thousands of years would no longer be a joke.
Moreover, this was based on humans, who had short lifespans. Among the cultivating races of the Azure Abyss Realm, humans were among those with the shortest lifespans. Among some of the races called long-lived races, there were monsters whose individual lives could be said to be the history of the cultivation world itself.
Of course, such monsters were beings of legend, but Yoo Jung-gyeom had said that the legends of this world were mostly history, not fiction.
Well.
The story has strayed a bit, but speaking of this lifespan thing, Jaekyung also had some expectations. He was a snake, and now he had become a spirit beast. Although he was likely a spirit beast without a pedigree, a spirit beast was still a spirit beast.
And spirit beasts were generally long-lived. At least, their lifespans were much longer than human cultivators of a similar realm.
‘A long life means many opportunities.’
It wasn't a second life he had asked for, but now that things had turned out this way, Jaekyung didn't want to live it wastefully. Moreover, this world held opportunity. It was an opportunity so great and precious that it couldn't be compared to anything he could have dreamed of in his past world.
In his past world, whether king or slave, rich or poor, all were merely human. They had to live a limited time of less than 100 years before turning to dust. But this Azure Abyss Realm is different.
One can break all shackles and reach higher. Even the limit of lifespan, that is, death itself, is no exception. Yoo Jung-gyeom had said that when a cultivator's Cultivation reaches its peak, they can pass through the Heavenly Gate and ascend, attaining true long life.
It sounded like a legend, but as he had said repeatedly, the legends of this world were not fiction, but history. He had said there was actually a cultivator who had ascended 6,000 or 7,000 years ago.
To be honest, he was slightly suspicious if it wasn't a historical distortion, but Yoo Jung-gyeom didn't seem like the type of person to lie about such things, so he was going to try and believe it for now. In truth, it didn't matter to Jaekyung whether the legend of ascension was fiction or history.
Dreams provide motivation, but delusions paralyze one's sense of reality. Jaekyung, who had just become a spirit beast, was like a human Qi Refining Stage cultivator who had just embarked on Cultivation. Wasn't it absurd for someone at the starting line to try and see the finish line that was tens of thousands of miles away?
However, if the opportunity to have such a dream ever came, Jaekyung had no intention of refusing. * “The greatest function of the Garden of Remembrance is interaction. However, this interaction is different in meaning from what outsiders think.”
Woo Do-baek said, his smile gone.
“They think we hold secret meetings here for some purpose. They are not wrong. It is just that the purpose is not as sinister as they imagine.”
Those who can enter the Garden of Remembrance are all those who could not forget their past lives. What could they not forget? Their past lives.
Because they could not forget what they should have forgotten upon starting a new life, they are not normal from birth. And in Cultivation, such an abnormal element can cause many problems. Therefore, they had to choose.
To discard it, or to accept it. But the choice to discard it is the same as giving up on moving forward. It's like a person with six fingers cutting one off to become 'normal.'
Even if one becomes 'normal' that way, it's only a normal shell; a flaw has already formed inside. If one is going to live and die as an ordinary person, a commoner, then it doesn't matter. But for a cultivator walking the path of Cultivation, such a flaw, no matter how small, is fatal.
It might be fine when the realm is low. But as one ascends to higher realms, this flaw grows like a rolling snowball and eventually brings about catastrophe. Therefore, those who look to the distance must overcome this flaw.
The Garden of Remembrance exists precisely for the purpose of such overcoming. Here in the Garden of Remembrance, they don't have to be outsiders. Here, they can see their kin and interact with them.
They can recognize that they are not special and achieve a coexistence of their past and present lives. All the cultivators here become each other's anchors and supports. Therefore, they consider each other kin and are not hostile.
Considering that when cultivators meet, their eyes first go to each other's storage pouch, and that they can temporarily forget even blood ties in front of a treasure depending on its value, one can see how astonishing this is.
"I may have exaggerated a little, but you will come to know it someday. What a blessing it is to have people with whom you can interact at ease. Besides, here you can sometimes receive the teachings of great beings.
You heard it just a moment ago, didn't you?”
"Yes."
“Senior Bu-un has been stuck at the bottleneck of the late Golden Core stage for over 100 years. It seems he has decided to break through this time. He is bestowing some final good karma so as to leave no path of retreat.”
Either die or break through. “We cultivators often say we fight against the heavens, but how many can truly do so? Especially us, who have already experienced death once and know well how frightening it is.”
Isn't there a saying that ignorance makes one brave? Words like being prepared for death or not fearing death are things that can only be said because one doesn't know how terrible death is. Becoming detached from death because one has lived a long time?
What kind of joke is that? One fears death more because one has lived a long time. “Senior Bu-un's resolve is that firm.
In the sermon ten years from now, he will impart many things, if only to not leave any regrets. It is a great opportunity for us juniors.” A great opportunity.
Jaekyung didn't know how great that sermon was, but he pretended to empathize appropriately. Woo Do-baek was as kind as Yoo Jung-gyeom. In addition to various explanations, he rambled on with trivial stories, and Jaekyung felt that Woo Do-baek seemed to enjoy this kind of conversation itself.
The casual conversation continued steadily, as if chatting with a friend. “Most interactions take place within the Garden of Remembrance, but sometimes we get acquainted in the Azure Abyss Realm. In such cases, I would advise you to be careful.
The hearts of people in the cultivation world are inherently unpredictable, and moreover, you are of the demon races.” “Is it because of the conflict between races?” “That is part of it, but the demon races, especially spirit beasts, are useful in many ways.
The body of a spirit beast is treated as a treasure in itself. Hmm… and there is a saying that no cultivator dislikes spiritual beasts. Do you know what the difference is between a spiritual beast and a spirit beast?”
“I do not.” "A tamed spirit beast is called a spiritual beast.” "..."
“So do not let your guard down anywhere. Unless you want to end up with a collar on, guarding someone else's house as a spiritual beast.”