Heavens Beyond the Path

Eun-hyun attempts to convince Sir Byuk-ho, White Bone Ghost Devil and Azure Tiger Saint to accept him into their sects, but they refuse, citing their coming ascension. They also warn him to stay away from Mad Lord, as he may lose his sanity at any time. He manages to convince the Sea Dragon King to take Kim Yeon with him. The Dragon King creates a rift for Eun-hyun and Young-hoon to exit Ascension path, but Eun-hyun chooses to stay. Eun-hyun notices a stele floating above the ascension gate, with an incomplete warning for future generations. He wonders what it means, before settling down to cultivate. It took him ten years to reach Qi Refining 7th Star. Eun-hyun attemps the 7th Star Ritual. Due to isolation and desperation, he went crazy, hallucinating all the people he had met over his regressions, controlling numerous weapons through Sword Contol. He investigates the stele and realises the original structure has flown off north. He eventually creates a Gang Sphere, reaching Ultimate Pinnacle. He uses the Gang Sphere to break through the clouds of Heavenly Rejection, and succefully completes the Seven Star Ritual. He also forms an Inner Core to efficiently store his internal energy.

Upon reaching the 9th star, Eun-hyun decides to leave Ascension Path. He heads north, to find the remains of the stele and is stunned to discover the words "Golden Divine Heaven Thunder" on it. He sees a mysterious black castle, but decides against exploring it. He then goes to the Cheongmun Clan again to meet Cheongmun Ryeong. He rejects Cheonmun Ryeong's offer of joining the clan after learning the foundations of the 8th to the 14th Star from him. Eun-hyun then reaches out to Kim Young-hoon. Young-hoon has reached Ultimate Pinnacle and killed the Makli Clan. He was then protected by the Jin Clan. Eun-hyun cultivates for the rest of his lifespan, reaching Qi Refining 14th Star. Towards the end, he goes to Shengzi and attempts to defy his lifespan. However, he is struck by blue lightning, and dies.

Eun-hyun is acknowledged by the White Fox of Ascension Path and The Immortals that take his colleagues, who mistake his Inner Core for a Demon Core. Azure Tiger Saint gives him a recommendation for the Cheongmun Clan. Jin Byuk-ho tells him about Shattered Heaven Peak, where Eun-hyun could learn about the history of Yang Su-jin and the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. The Sea Dragon King gives him a demon beast method, and tells Eun-hyun to go to Black Wind Sea's Utmost Chaos Island, where Eun-hyun could learn Demon Script from Seo Hweol's descendant, Seo Ran.

For the next 11 years, Eun-hyun stays in Ascension Path and recovers his cultivation to the 14th Star Of Qi Refining. He goes to Cheongmun Ryeong once more to obtain his teachings. As he leaves, the entire attemps Cheongmun Clan to chase Eun-hyun down to recruit him forcibly, but he escapes.

After seeing his disciples, Eun-hyun tracks Young-hoon down. In the time Eun-hyun had reached the 14th Star of Refining, Kim Young-hoon had reached Five Energies Converging To The Origin. After a spar, Eun-hyun leaves to go find Seo Ran. Young-hoon promises his realm will be above Eun-hyun's next time they meet. Eun-hyun then went to the Black Wind Sea's Utmost Chaos Island where he met Seo Ran. Seo Ran tells Eun-hyun he feels like a complete demon. Eun-hyun then proceeds to awaken his demon senses. Seo Ran proceeds to teach Eun-hyun the demon language and script. After Eun-hyun learns the language, he promises Seo Ran he will help him destroy a particular barrier and obtain the treasure inside in three years. Eun-hyun discovers the manual given to him by Seo Hweol is titled Summoning Wind, Dragon Transformation. He practices the technique for a year and realises his consciousness can turn into that of a Dragon. He then travels to Shattered Heaven Peak in Shengzi, where he spends months attempting the advancement to Qi Building. He travels to meet Young-hoon in hopes of furthering his enlightenment in Ultimate Pinnacle. He realises both of them had different elightenments; while Eun-hyun achieved through the principle of Three Talents, Young-hoon seemed to used "family". Eun-hyun then shares the awakening of demon senses with Young-hoon. They spend time discussing demon methods.

Eun-hyun then leaves to keep his promise with Seo Ran. Seo Ran reveals he needed three years to prepare a dharma treasure. They go to the shipwreck of a Nether Crossing Ship, All the ghosts around the ship scream at Eun-hyun, calling him a big ghost. At the bottom layer of the Nether Crossing Ship, they find the remenant of a Heavenly Being cultivator, now at the Core Formation stage. Overwhelmed, Seo Ran and Eun-hyun flee from the remenant soul. Seo Ran tells Eun-hyun to return in ten years, so he has enough energy in his dharma treasure to combat the ghost.

Seo Eun-hyun then leaves for the mountains near Yanguo and begins practising the Water Surpassing Path. He realises practising multiple path with the Surpassing Path to Cultivation increases his rate of recovery. Kim Young-hoon visits and rants about being unable to see the next realm. Young-hoon also warns Eun-hyun from practising Summoning Wind, Dragon Transformation, as a dragon-shaped consciousness does not suit humans. After that, Young-hoon would visit more frequently, and the two would discuss and share their learnings. A few years later, a Jin Clan cultivator tracks down Eun-hyun's dwelling. They have a short duel, which Eun-hyun wins. He then leaves for the Black Sea.

Seo Ran and Eun-hyun challenge the Nether Crossing Ship again. The ghost reveals he has found Seo Ran's treasure; it is a jade slip. This time they severely weaken the remnant ghost. The ghost gives up resisting the pull of the Netherworld and instead enters a berserk state. Eun-hyun tells Seo Ran they must escape, but Seo Ran refuse to leave without the jade slip. Eun-hyun attempts to seize the jade slip. He succeeds, but is nearly killed by the ghost. Seo Ran steps in and blocks the attack sustaining a fatal wound. Seo Ran transforms into his true form, revealing himself as a dragon-human hybrid. He states he was bullied and discriminated against within the Sea Dragon race. Eun-hyun attempts to drag Seo Ran away, but is stunned when he can't move his body. Seo Ran reveals the true name of Summoning Wind, Dragon Transformation, is Summoning Wind, Coagulating Core Transformation. It turns the practitioner's demon core into a elixir and forces the practitioner to obey the Sea Dragon race's commands. The ancestors of the Makli Clan used this art. Consuming Eun-hyun's core would let Seo Ran escape, but he cannot do that to friend. Seo Ran tells Eun-hyun Seo Hweol is not to be trusted as he wears his smiles as masks. He apologises for deceiving Eun-hyun all this time. Eun-hyun attemps to free himself in order to save Seo Ran, but Seo Ran stops him and reveals the space-breaking bead given to him by Seo Hweol, which would destroy the Nether Crossing Ship and kill him. Seo Ran forces Eun-hyun outside, and detonates the space-breaking bead.

Eun-hyun mourns the death of Seo Ran. He takes the demon beast manuals previously possessed by Seo Ran and gives them to Young-hoon. He leaves for Shattered Heaven Peak to master the Fire Surpassing Path. Kim Young-hoon contacts him, give him Entering Heavens Beyond the Path Martial Arts, and burns his life in an attempt to reach the next realm. Eun-hyun mourns the death of both of his friends and continues cultivating. As blue lightening strikes him, he realises Heaven, Earth and Man influence each other, forming nine Gang Spheres.

Eun-hyun realises his head is about to explode as his body cannot support his large consciousness. He quickly undergoes rejuvenation and forms an inner core. This attracts the white fox, who attacks him. The fox chases him for three days. On the third day, the White Bone Devil and Sir Byuk-ho kill the fox for its demon core. Eun-hyun attempts to convince them to take Kim Yeon and Oh Hye-seo along with the other three, but the Mad Lord senses Kim Yeon’s consciousness and confronts them. During their exchange, Oh Hye-seo awakens her abilities, calling the Sea Dragon King. Seo Hweol mediates between them, leading to the original master-disciple distribution as fated. He then gives Eun-hyun the manual for Summoning Wind, Dragon Transformation and the space-breaking bead, which he was unable to give to Seo Ran this cycle. All the cultivators except Mad Lord leave. Eun-hyun asks Mad Lord about fate. Mad Lord shows him how ‘fate’ resembles ‘constellations’ and how events exert ‘attraction force’ just like celestial objects. He says it is necessary to have power (strength) to escape the force of fate. He then goes mad and pushes Eun-hyun and Kim Young-hoon into a spatial rift.

Eun-hyun leaves after settling Young-hoon in Yanguo. He throws the space-breaking bead into the sea, and decides to meet Seo Ran after he reaches Qi Building, and settles down at Shattered Heaven Peak. Thirteen years after the regression, Young-hoon tracks down Eun-hyun. Eun-hyun is stunned to see him at the peak of Ultimate Pinnacle. Young-hoon says he does not want to walk the path to Entering Heavens Beyond the Path alone, so has come to train with Eun-hyun. After a spar, Young-hoon tells Eun-hyun he has realised the enlightenment for Entering Heavens is different for each person.

One day, Young-hoon comes across Eun-hyun’s unconscious body training. He resolves to practise with no fear of death. Soon after, Young-hoon reaches Entering Heavens, grasping the Surpassing Radiant Saber, the manifestation of his desire to “return’. He tells Eun-hyun he has realised life is joy, and collapses. Upon awakening, he is shocked to see Eun-hyun has already condensed his heart. However, he refuses to say anything and simply seats himself on a mountain peak, waiting for Eun-hyun to advance while nudging his heart essence. Eun-hyun is unaware of this and is instead frustrated by Young-hoon’s silence. He continues his attempts to reach Qi Building and Entering Heavens, but keeps failing. At the end of his lifespan, through Young-hoon’s hints, he finally realises he is already perfect and advances to both, grasping the Formless Sword, the manifestation of his desire to “break free from fate”. He also extends his lifespan by three hundred years. As he nearly utters "Shattered Heaven Peak," he sees a message left by Yang Su-jin, informing Eun-hyun he and his colleagues are Enders and that they should never reveal their fates.[1] They are attacked by a cultivator patrol but fend it off easily. The then spar together, which Young-hoon barely wins, at the cost of his health.

After Young-hoon recovers, they leave to go to Seo Ran, and help him challenge the Nether Crossing Ship. Eun-hyun and Young-hoon batter the ghost. The ghost attempts to possess Eun-hyun but is severely damaged by his heart essence. He introduces himself as Song Jin and promises to fulfil any wish the others have, in exchange for allowing him to pass on where he wishes. Seo ran finds the jade slip, and Song Jin teaches Eun-hyun the method of steering the Nether Crossing Ship. He also provides a Qi Building cultivation method, Yin Soul Ghost Incantation.

Seo Ran, Eun-hyun and Young-hoon visit the Serving Command Palace, where they hope to find the Longevity Fruit to extend Young-hoon’s lifespan. They discover they cannot enter the Palace as there is a barrier. Eun-hyun is disappointed. On Young-hoon’s last day, Young-hoon cuts down the blue lightning, denying fate. The next day, he is wrinkled and with white hair. He survives for another 49 days before cutting a rift using his Saber and vanishing, leaving some advice for Eun-hyun.

Seo Ran and Eun-hyun enter the Serving Command Palace. They find the place in ruins and a budding Longevity Fruit. Eun-hyun decides to stay in the Palace and attempts to ripen the Longevity Fruit. He also cultivates alongside the tree, practicing Yin Soul Ghost Incantation and Cheongmun Ryeong’s Thousand Lusters to Forest Sea.

250 years later, the Serving Command Palace opens above the Heaven-Treading desert. A set of Core Formation cultivators fleeing from the Nascent Soul, Bloodwood practitioner Yuan Li. Yuan Li collects the Serving Command Seal from the Palace. He offers to take Eun-hyun as a disciple, and implants the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner. Eun-hyun refuses and attempts to run, cutting apart space the same way Young-hoon did, but Yuan Li still captures him. He offers to take Eun-hyun as a disciple again, but refuses. Eun-hyun destroys the Longevity Tree to prevent Yuan Li from taking it and explodes from Yuan Li's attack. (Yuan Li mysteriously turns into a flower and perishes.)