"Damn, the weather is annoyingly good."
The head of the Gongmyo Clan, Gongmyo Ryeong, frowns as she looks at the sky.
The sky is so clear that celestial energy is distinctly visible just by looking up.
And the celestial energy she sees is a great omen of misfortune.
"Damn it, even if they are green and inexperienced, over 200 Core Formation cultivators have gathered, bringing all the power accumulated by the numerous clans and factions... Despite our meticulous plan and prepared traps, the celestial energy still shows great misfortune."
"It can't be helped. Isnt that just how fearsome Nascent Soul cultivators are?"
Byeok Cheon-gi clicks his tongue as he speaks.
In the middle of the Heaven-Treading Desert, at the sealing site of Yuan Li.
Around the black castle, hundreds of Core Formation cultivators are positioned.
On the outskirts, Qi Building cultivators carefully selected from each clan surround the area.
Above them are warships, massive dharma treasures requiring multiple operators, cannons, and battering rams prepared by each force.
War dharma treasures are also abundantly set up.
"Prepare the Yin Guiding Summoning Wind formation for the Qi Building cultivators!"
At the command of Makli Clan head Makli Hwang-cheon, the Qi Building cultivators of the Makli Clan began to gather energy at the back with formation flags.
Rumble, rumble!
Within their formation, terrifying yin energy began to gather, creating a ferocious wind.
"We of the Jin Clan can't be inferior! Prepare the White Dragon Spreading Wings Formation and the Yang Blazing Red Flame Formation. Show whos superior to those Makli brats!"
Qi Building cultivators of the Jin Clan gathered to form their formation.
And within, blood-red, fiery flames began to emerge.
The flames of the Jin Clan, fed by the heat of the scorching Heaven-Treading Desert, grow even larger than the yin wind collected by the Makli Clan.
Seeing this, Makli Hwang-cheon's eyes twitch, and an elder of the Makli Clan notices it.
The elder of Makli Clan gestures to a lower-ranked elder, who, with a flushed face, turns and shouts.
"Expand the yin wind larger than the Jin brats! If you properly increase the yin wind, each of you will receive three Life Spirit Pills! But if you fall behind them, expect something very interesting to happen!"
Rumble, rumble!
As soon as he finished speaking, the yin wind of Makli Clan shook off the desert's heat and grew even larger.
In response, the Jin Clan also increased their flames, and both clans competitively enlarged their unique formation methods.
Seeing this, Cheongmun Jung-jin chuckles.
"Those two clans, when put together, are never boring."
"Oh my, Cheongmun Orabeoni speaks the truth. If our two clans join forces, there would indeed never be a dull moment"
"Jinlu Clan head, please choose your words carefully."
"Hmph, there's still time before Serving Command Palace appears, can't we relax and chat a bit?"
Jinlu Clan head, Jinlu Yeon-cheon, a voluptuous beauty dressed in a black robe with blue eye makeup, retorts.
"And how is the union of clans a personal matter? Isnt it a matter of public interest? Orabeoni?"
"Hmm, Yeon-cheon. The heads of the six clans of Shengzi are glaring at us. What will you do if internal strife breaks out before the war?"
"Hmph, Ha Clan, Geo Clan, Jun Clan, Yeoljeon Clan, Ori Clan, Jeon Clan. Even combined, they cant match the Jinlu Clan, so what do they know? Let's not talk about such trivial matters, Orabeoni. Can't you treat me as you used to?"
Cheongmun Jung-jin rubs his forehead as if in pain, then hardens his face and speaks.
"Jinliu Clan head, please return to your position."
"Think about it, Orabeoni. The bloodline of the great Cheongmun Clan, descended from Azure Tiger Saint Cheongmun Sunwoo, combined with Jinlu Clan, the founding ancestors of Shengzi"
"Enough! I will not permit further idle talk. As the Alliance Leader, I order the Jinlu Clan head to return to her position. Any further and it will be dealt with as a military matter!"
"Hmph. Very well, Alliance Leader. I hope you think it over."
Jinlu Yeon-cheon winks at Cheongmun Jung-jin and returns to her position with a broad smile.
Cheongmun Jung-jin presses his head as if in pain.
"Anyway, why isnt Cultivator Seo here yet"
He asks Byeok Cheon-gi, who had been subtly sticking close to Gongmyo Ryeong.
"Byeok Clan head, didnt a Core Formation cultivator of the Byeok Clan go to fetch Cultivator Seo?"
"Ah... About that."
Just then.
Kugugugugu!
From the east of the Heaven-Treading Desert, a shadow enveloped in a mass of darkness flies towards the sealing site of Yuan Li.
Wo-woong!
Dark curse spells burst out in all directions.
Within the center of those curse spells, the shadow looks around.
[It seems I'm not too late.]
Poof!
Following the shadow, Byeok Mun-seong promptly approaches Byeok Cheon-gi and greets him respectfully.
"I greet you, Clan head. The mission has been accomplished."
"Oh, is that so? Well done. Haha, Alliance Leader. It looks like everyone we were waiting for has arrived."
"That's right..."
The shadow wrapped in dark curses, Seo Eun-hyun.
The Eastern Lord, wrapped in white bandages, Manli Min-lap.
The confident head of the Byeok Clan in a blue and white robe, Byeok Cheon-gi.
The three stepped forward in front of Cheongmun Jung-jin.
"You all must be familiar with the plan, so I have nothing specific to tell you. However, I would advise all three of you to keep visualizing the situation in your minds."
"Understood."
Byeok Cheon-gi replies, but Seo Eun-hyun and Manli Min-lap just nod their heads.
"And also as Serving Command Palace will appear soon, accept this in advance."
Cheongmun Jung-jin hands over storage artifacts to Byeok Cheon-gi and Manli Min-lap.
"I have put the liquor in the storage artifacts."
"Ha, truly immortal liquor. Just drinking it temporarily enhances all sorts of abilities."
Byeok Cheon-gi admires the liquor inside the storage artifact, and Manli Min-lap, without a word, immediately takes out the liquor and drinks it on the spot.
Kooong!
After drinking all the renowned immortal liquors, Manli Min-lap's momentum transforms.
Koong!
His cultivation seems to surge momentarily, and he takes a deep breath.
"Good, it's only for a short time, but"
"Then, Byeok Clan head"
"Ah, I'll drink mine before activating the Heaven-Striking Talisman."
"Do as you wish."
Cheongmun Jung-jin's gaze turns to Seo Eun-hyun.
"Cultivator Seo, are you drinking it now?"
Seo Eun-hyun, within the curse spells, nods his head.
[I've been drinking while waiting.]
"Lets hope the plan proceeds well"
Cheongmun Jung-jin finishes speaking and gathers his energy with a solemn expression.
Then he looks up at the sky.
All the Core Formation and Qi Building cultivators present are looking up at the sky.
Seo Eun-hyun gazes not at the sky but at Yuan Li's castle.
Manli Min-lap takes out a large cannon from his storage artifact and begins inserting spirit stones into the back of it.
Byeok Cheon-gi infuses his energy into the Heaven-Striking Talisman.
While everyone is calculating the celestial energy and timing while looking up at the sky,
"It's time!"
Gongmyo Ryeong shouts loudly.
"Liberation Palace"
One of the Eastern Lords mutters in a low voice.
"Serving Command Palace appears."
One of the tribal chiefs from the Northern Grasslands hardens their face.
Kugugugugu!
The void distorts, and a cylindrical palace, drifting through another dimension, enters the physical realm.
Kugugugugu!
Simultaneously, numerous cultivators present feel the surrounding heaven and earth energy shift.
The energy of Liberation.
What is blocked opens up.
What is sealed is released.
The being confined is set free.
The one sleeping awakens.
Creak, creak, creak!
Gongmyo Clan's secret formation.
The Eight Trigrams Spirit Absorbing Sealing Formation that connected and sealed the nearby dragon veins.
Within the formation, streams of red energy begin to burst forth.
Rumble!
Simultaneously, numerous cultivators feel the pressure of spiritual energy and stiffen their faces.
The entity within is striving to break free from its confinement
Liberation Palace fully enters the physical world, anchoring itself.
And with it, the nearby heaven and earth energy begins to assimilate more of the energy of Liberation.
Crack, crack!
Blood-red light begins to crack and break through the formation.
The entire arid desert starts to resonate with the scent of blood.
Ssshh...
Blood mist flows through the cracks.
Crack, crack, crack!
Gradually, the sealing formation begins to crumble.
A Core Formation cultivator swallows hard.
Kugugugugu!
The formation breaks into pieces, and the heaven and earth spiritual energy that formed it visibly scatters in all directions.
And finally.
Wo-woong!
The sealing formation is completely broken.
A blood-red hue spreads across the world, and the entire desert becomes soaked in the smell of blood.
Swoosh!
The black castle is shrouded in a chilling bloodmist.
From within its depth, a figure emerges step by step.
A blood-red robe.
Grayish-white hair.
Hands with deep, wrinkled skin.
And a face still hidden behind a bizarre, translucent black mask.
Its Yuan Li, the Bloodwood Practitioner.
[Have you been well?]
Kugugugugugu!
The 400 Core Formation and Qi Building cultivators gathered in the area felt suffocated from just that one sentence.
"Nascent Soul"
Cheongmun Jung-jin trembles as he tries to gauge his cultivation level.
"Middle stage"
Byeok Cheon-gi's face darkens.
"Did he form both the Yin Spirit and Yang Spirit? Has he managed to freely merge and separate Yin and Yang Spirits in the middle stage of Nascent Soul?"
[No need to fear.]
Seo Eun-hyun interrupts Byeok Cheon-gi.
Ssssh...
Dark curse spells spread around him.
The blood mist could not penetrate the world formed by the black curses.
[He boasted he would reach the late stage of Nascent Soul, but he only managed to reach the middle stage. Isnt he ashamed to not keep his word as a Nascent Soul cultivator?]
Kugugugugu
The dark curse spells bubble and, upon touching the blood mist, causes it to rot and fall to the desert.
[Come at me, Yuan Li. Today you die.]
[What's this? It doesn't feel like devilish arts, but it certainly looks like it. Has he mastered a method derived from devilish arts?]
Yuan Li paid no attention to Seo Eun-hyun's words and just observed him.
[Interesting, an impudent fellow. But there seems to be a misunderstanding]
I speak to Manli Min-lap.
[Begin the attack.]
Manli Min-lap nods and aims his cannon at Yuan Li, who is in the midst of his speech.
The hundreds of spirit stones he had inserted into the cannon glow at once.
And then.
Flash!!!
A blue beam shoots towards Yuan Li.
For a moment, the world turns into night as the beam draws in all the rays of the sun.
Boom!
Sound follows belatedly, shaking everything around.
Ssssh...
A cloud of dust rises.
Manli Min-lap speaks as if hopeful.
"We got him"
[Thats unlikely. Makli Clan and Jin Clan, and all other clans, unleash your attacks!]
Cheongmun Jung-jin conveys my words all around.
Then, the Qi Building cultivators of Makli Clan release their prepared Yin Guiding Summoning Wind Formation towards Yuan Li.
Jin Clan also simultaneously launches their Yang Blazing Red Flame Formation at him.
Several Qi Building cultivators use the power of their formations to launch a wide-area attack at the lone entity.
"We hit
[No, we didnt. The real battle starts now, so everyone, be ready.]
I pour out more curse spells while looking into the dust cloud.
And then, blood-red pierces through the dust.
Cheongmun Jung-jin's voice echoes from behind.
"Disperse!!!"
Boom!
A bloody red beam shoots towards our location.
And as the dust settles.
Kugugugug!
Above the black castle.
There stood Yuan Li, unharmed, with thousands of black and red jiangshi lined up beneath him.
All his dharma treasures and artifacts are naturally on display, exhibiting their might.
Standing there,
Yuan Li holds an unfamiliar blood-colored leaf fan in one hand.
[200 years was not a short time for me or for you. Let's have some fun]
Whir!
He raises the blood-colored leaf fan.
And then.
Boom!
As he waves the leaf fan, a bloody wind mixed with the blood mist spreads in all directions, pushing back the entire alliance of Core Formation cultivators.
-x-X-x-
"Deploy the Wall and Mountain Formation!"
At the roar of Cheongmun Jung-jin, Core Formation cultivators, holding the formation flags they had received earlier, formed in rank.
As the formation flags are arranged in a specific array, they emit a blue light and radiate a rainbow of colors.
Rumble!
The rainbow-colored light forms a mountainous barrier, acting as a giant wall to block the blood storm.
A level of precision incomparable to the hasty defensive formation used 200 years ago to block Yuan Li's attack.
[Quite sturdy.]
Yuan Li's blood storm could not penetrate the mountain wall and dissipated.
Cheongmun Jung-jin's voice spreads in all directions.
"Everyone! Take out the weapons you've prepared!"
Then, war dharma treasures brought by numerous clans began to glow.
Qi Building cultivators aboard giant warships form handed seals simultaneously.
Dozens of cannons on the warships aim at Yuan Li and emit bright light.
The cannon-shaped dharma treasures and gun-shaped dharma treasures also emit brilliance simultaneously.
The Core Formation cultivators in front also take out their dharma treasures.
Compared to 200 years ago, 200 more Core Formation cultivators, painstakingly nurtured by each clan to prepare for the final battle with Yuan Li, brought the total to about 400.
Dharma treasures and spells of all these Core Formation cultivators rush towards one being.
And then.
Boom!
Within the numerous explosions and clouds of dust, a blood light arises.
Crackle!
Inside the blood light.
Thousands of black and red jiangshi, summoned by Yuan Li, start to move.
"It's the old monster's jiangshi legion!"
Kiiiyeeeeee!
Several powerful jiangshi gather to face the dharma treasure of a single Core Formation cultivator.
Kieeeek!
As the jiangshi scream, their shockwave pushes back the Core Formation cultivators' spells.
"Four together are equal to one Core Formation!"
A cultivator screams, his face turning pale.
Just then.
From the back of the military camp, sixteen Easter Lords step forward.
Below them are strange individuals wrapped in black bandages, emitting a peculiar poisonous energy.
From the Northern Grasslands, three tribal chiefs step forward.
As they open their storage artifacts, grotesque monsters with layers of flesh pour out.
From the Western three countries, heads of Makli Clan, Ori Clan, and Jun Clan step forward.
Makli Clan calls forth a jiangshi legion like Yuan Li from their storage artifact.
Ori Clan unleashes a skeleton army, and Jun Clan releases ghosts refined from wandering souls.
Devilish Arts against Devilish Arts!
Greenish-black jiangshi of Makli Clan cling to Yuan Li's black and red jiangshi.
Although individual jiangshi are far behind Yuan Li's jiangshi, Makli Clan unleashes an overwhelming superior number, using the countless lives they massacred.
Wo-woong!
Then, a Makli Clan elder opens his storage device, releasing water with the stench of decaying corpses, flowing like a river.
Makli Clan's jiangshi, upon touching the greenish water, gain even more vitality and strength, charging at Yuan Li's jiangshi.
In an instant, the momentum of Yuan Li's jiangshi legion is crushed.
"Fire Soul Infusing Joy."
Huaaaaa!
Three Core Formation elders of the Jin Clan step forward and form seals.
A spirit of fire floats in the air.
The Fire Spirit trembles with pleasure each time the Jin Clan elders form a seal.
And with each indulgence in pleasure, the color of the primordial spirit changes.
From red to orange, orange to gold, gold to blue and white.
And then the Fire Spirit becomes a complete blue flame.
"Go!"
Kugugugu!
With the hand seals of the Jin Clan elders, the Fire Spirit trembles and falls upon Yuan Li's summoned jiangshi.
As a clan specialized in combating devilish arts, Jin Clan, which had been competing against the Makli Clan for hundreds of years, excelled in this area.
Their blue flames quickly spread among the jiangshi, burning Yuan Li's jiangshi legion.
The flames, particularly effective against corpses, spread in all directions.
Moreover, the flames seem to have a will of their own, chasing after fleeing jiangshi and clinging to them.
Makli Clan's jiangshi clung and dragged Yuan Li's jiangshi that were trying to shake off Jin Clan's flames.
Hwarurururu!
In an instant, a sea of fire erupted in the desert.
With the combined attack of the Western, Northern, Eastern devilish cultivator clans, and the Jin Clan, Yuan Li's jiangshi legion is annihilated.
Or so it seemed.
Boom!
A blood-colored glow shoots towards the Wall and Mountain Formation.
Yuan Li breaks through the rainbow-colored mountain and, crossing over, swings his blood-colored leaf fan.
Wo-woong!
A bloody storm blows, instantly killing seven Core Formation and about 400 Qi Building cultivators nearby.
[Blood Cloud, Crimson Sea.]
Yuan Li forms a seal.
Simultaneously, the life force and blood from the corpses of the Core Formation and Qi Building cultivators rose as a Blood Cloud into the sky.
The massive blood cloud moved, converging on Yuan Li's jiangshi that had turned into charred remains.
Immediately after, the blood cloud is absorbed by the charred jiangshi of Yuan Li.
Wriggle, wriggle...
The charred remains writhe as they absorb the blood cloud.
Soon after, the charred corpses regenerate flesh.
Kugugugu
The charred remains then rise from their places, fully regenerated.
The annihilated jiangshi legion is completely resurrected.
[Is that all?]
Yuan Li scoffs and begins to form another seal.
Kugugugugu!
The protective formation that Yuan Li breached crumbles, and a new formation surrounds him once again.
Outside, the cultivators launch another assault on Yuan Li.
The elders of the Jin Clan and Makli Clan snicker.
"What a joke from the old monster. 'Is this the end?' If he resurrects them once, we'll just kill them twice."
Again, Makli Clan's jiangshi rush towards Yuan Li's jiangshi, and Jin Clan elders create a blue fire spirit, throwing it towards Yuan Li's jiangshi legion.
However.
Huarararara
The black and red jiangshi are no longer affected by the fire.
"Wh-what...!?"
The elders of the Jin Clan are shocked, their eyes wide open.
The black and red jiangshi are unaffected by the Fire Spirit, absorbing it instead and becoming more vigorous, starting to kill off Makli Clan's jiangshi.
Astonishingly, when Yuan Li's jiangshi touches those of the Makli Clan, Makli Clan's jiangshi are absorbed into Yuan Li's.
This sight causes the Makli Clan elders to shudder.
Chiiiiek!
The cultivators of the Eastern and Northern devil path, as well as their devilish creatures, scatter their attacks on the black and red jiangshi legion, but the jiangshi absorb their techniques and grow even stronger.
[Isn't it marvelous? Bloodwood Ghost Corpses develop strong resistance once hit by a technique and can absorb the said techniques to recharge their energy...]
Rumble!
Yuan Li opens his mouth, and a blood cloud spews out, wrapping around him.
Simultaneously, the blood cloud spreads in all directions, shattering the protective formation of the Core Formation cultivators.
"The old monster is using his power!"
"Disperse!"
[Do you really think you can defeat me just because you've gathered in numbers?]
Wo-woong!
The blood cloud swirls.
Crash!
Simultaneously, from Yuan Li's storage artifact emerges blood water, transforming into the shape of scythe-wielding ghost kings.
The ghost kings merge with the blood cloud, forming two giant ghost kings enveloped in blood clouds.
Chuaaang!
The two blood cloud ghost kings swing their scythes on both sides.
Boom!
Dual strikes of Nascent Soul level!
Their attacks shatter the protective formation assembled by the Core Formation cultivators.
[Foolish beings. All of you....]
Just then.
Paaang!
A blue beam of light, turning the sky dark, shoots again towards Yuan Li.
[...!]
Yuan Li flinches and forms a hand seal, and the two blood cloud ghost kings cross their scythes in front of him.
Boom!
The blue flash explodes and after the light subsides.
The ghost kings are torn in half, and Yuan Li is seen protecting himself with his pagoda dharma treasures.
Even the pagoda dharma treasures dimmed significantly, indicating the attack had a substantial impact.
Yuan Li frowns behind his translucent black mask.
[...It wasn't this powerful before...]
Yuan Li's gaze turns to the far distance, where Manli Min-lap, wrapped in white bandages, is aiming the cannon at him.
Whirring!
Manli Min-lap holds the cannon with one hand and forms a seal with the other.
The cannon glows once more, and a blue flash begins to form, even more powerful than before.
[Ho... So it's like that. The deceased souls of the fallen Core Formation and Qi Building cultivators are being absorbed, enhancing its power... A cannon that grows stronger with more casualties...]
Yuan Li's eyes emit a bloody shine.
[I've heard of it. The main cannon of the Black Ghost Valleys Nether Crossing Ship. One of the cannons destroyed in the battle with the Mad Lord, rumored to have drifted to the Eastern shores...]
Whiiiing!
Manli Min-lap silently infuses spiritual power into the cannon, holding it with one hand.
Hiss...
A faint ghostly wail seems to emanate from inside the cannon.
And then.
Boom!
Another blue beam shoots at Yuan Li.
More ferocious than before!
Boom!
The beam explodes.
The blue flash of light causes a storm that sweeps around, and Qi Building cultivators positioned behind struggle not to be swept away by the storm.
The brilliance subsides.
But the next moment.
Wo-woong!
A dull blood-colored glow pierces through the blue explosion and rushes towards Manli Min-lap.
Yuan Li, wielding a crystal skull staff, flies towards him.
[If it's the remnants of the Nether Crossing Ship, I'm quite interested. Hand it over...!]
Manli Min-lap furrows his brows and attempts to reactivate the cannon, but Yuan Li is faster.
Wo-woong!
In an instant, Yuan Li reaches Manli Min-lap and raises his hand.
Wo-woong!
A massive blood light gathers above his hand.
[Farewell.]
...
The next moment.
Crackle!
Black tendrils of darkness, not of a living creature but of dark mist, entwines around Yuan Li.
[...!]
The tendrils are made up of thousands of tiny curse spells.
Crackle, crackle!
The black fog of curses envelop Yuan Li.
At that moment, Manli Min-lap quickly retreats, and an elderly man dressed in hemp clothes, Wolryang, descends to Manli Min-lap's position, taking out a brown wheel dharma treasure.
"Die, monster!"
Whirr!
The brown wheel begins to spin.
As Wolryang forms a hand seal, the wheel madly charges towards Yuan Li.
[Annoying pests...]
The wheel is completely stopped by the blood cloud summoned by Yuan Li with a wave of his hand.
Annoyed, Yuan Li spits out a bloody glow as he speaks.
[A surprisingly skilled curse sorcerer, but still far from enough. It is, however, quite troublesome....]
Wo-woong!
The blood light pushes away the curse spells.
[You have my acknowledgement....]
And then.
Boom!
Manli Min-lap's main cannon, along with another blue beam, shoots at Yuan Li, who is still talking to himself.
Engulfed in blue light, Yuan Li faces the concentrated attacks of Core Formation cultivators and Qi Building cultivators' siege weapons.
!
The ground shakes, and a glassy crater forms in the desert.
The flash of brilliance that suddenly bloomed colored the desert, and, as if absorbing the desert's light, turned into darkness.
At the center of the explosion, Yuan Li formed a hand seal and curled the blood light around himself, defending against attacks from all directions.
[You've prepared quite a bit in 200 years. It would have been dangerous if I was still in the early stages of Nascent Soul....]
His shield trembles precariously but shows no sign of breaking.
[If I can just endure....]
Just then.
[Hmm...?]
Yuan Li notices a dharma treasure.
The wheel-shaped dharma treasure Wolryang had thrown.
Spinning madly in front of him, the wheel began to spin faster.
At first, it was negligible, but its rotational force and power gradually increased.
Yuan Li's eyes widen in shock.
[What is this...! That bastard is...]
Rumble!
The brown wheel, gradually turning blood-red, emits a crimson steam, pressing against his shield with immense force.
[This bastard, he's pouring his vital true origin into it...!]
Wolryang, with blood falling from his eyes and mouth, continues to infuse his life force into his dharma treasure.
"Die, old monster...! Even if I have to burn all my life force, I'll leave a mark on you!"
Whirrrrr!
The wheel spins even faster.
Rumble, rumble!
Yuan Li sees the wheel slowly penetrating his trembling shield.
[You think I'll be injured by the likes of you! Ridiculous!]
Yuan Li emits a bloody glow from his eyes, gathering energy.
And then, small characters in the air behind Yuan Li begin to float up.
Seo Eun-hyun's curse spells.
Yuan Li thought he had completely shaken off the sticky evil, but it hadn't entirely disappeared.
Wriggle, wriggle....
Seo Eun-hyun's curse spells climb up Yuan Li's body, settling near his heart.
Outside Yuan Li's bombardment.
Seo Eun-hyun, standing under Serving Command Palace, speaks to a Qi Building cultivator of the Cheongmun Clan assisting him.
[Create it.]
"Understood."
The Cheongmun Clan's Qi Building cultivator scatters seeds into the desert and forms a seal.
Rumble!
The cultivator's wood spiritual energy flows into the seeds, quickly growing them into a tree.
As the cultivator forms a hand seal, the tree grows into a peculiar shape.
It resembled a human.
A person with arms outstretched.
With a shadow submerged in dark curse spells.
As Seo Eun-hyun extends his hand towards the Wooden Man, a strand of curses flows into its heart.
[In this vessel, let agony reside.]
Whirrrr!
The curse spells in the Wooden Man's heart glows.
[Hmm?]
Yuan Li twitched as he felt the dark evil in his heart.
But before he can react, the evil explodes.
The Qi Building cultivator from the Cheongmun Clan next to Seo Eun-hyun strikes the Wooden Man's heart with his fist, creating a hole.
The curse is activated.
[Aaaagh!]
Throb!
Yuan Li clutches his chest in agony as a sudden pain erupts in his heart.
And in that brief moment.
Boom!
Wolryang's dharma treasure, emitting steaming red mist, tears through Yuan Li's protective shield and charges at him.
Chualalala!
One side of Yuan Li's upper body is torn away.
Wolryang's wheel doesn't return to him but instead flies behind Yuan Li.
Countless dharma treasures and attacks assault Yuan Lis torn half.
Yuan Li, extracting Pure Spiritual Force, temporarily creates an arm and forms a seal.
[Dissolve.]
Then, an explosion engulfs Yuan Li.
Kugugugugu!
Numerous Core Formation cultivators hold their breath, watching the area where the brilliance is slowly fading.
Cough, cough!
Wolryang, dropping his usual cane, spits blood and glares at the area of explosion.
An all-out attack by numerous Core Formation and Qi Building cultivators!
Everyone looks with anticipation in their eyes.
And from within the dust cloud, something bizarre with a bloody luster appears.
"What is that..."
Cheongmun Jung-jin frowns.
Around Yuan Li, seven blank scrolls have appeared, with a bizarre blood-colored beast emanating the energy of seven demon souls.
The beast was guarding Yuan Li.
[Haha, thrilling indeed.]
The faces of the cultivator alliance darken.
[But is this really all you have?]
Yuan Li was regenerating half of his upper body that was torn away.
In one hand he holds the crystal skull staff, and in the other, the blood-colored leaf fan.
[Try a bit harder. Im not even excited yet...!]
Rumble!
The Bloodwood Ghost Corpses that Yuan Li summoned began to extract energy from the spells, jiangshi, and devilish creatures they had absorbed.
The energy emitted by the Bloodwood Ghost Corpses coalesced into blood light and flew towards Yuan Li.
Chualalala!
As Yuan Li lifts the crystal skull staff, the skull opens its mouth, absorbing the blood energy.
Simultaneously, Yuan Li's depleted energy begins to replenish.
Chiiiiiiiiii
Soon, Yuan Li returns to the same state as when he first emerged from the seal.
[Tsk tsk, how dull. My excitement's dying down. Dont you have anything more to show?]
Chualalalala!
A mass of black curses rise from under Yuan Li, engulfing him.
[Tsk...]
Boom!
However, this round of curses fail to reach Yuan Li, bouncing off his shield.
Yuan Li looks at the shadow manipulating the curse spells from afar.
[I wondered who kept sneakily mixing curses in. So, it was you. Hahaha, now I see its not even a Core Formation cultivator but a Qi Building one.]
He lifts the blood-colored leaf fan.
[I acknowledge your skill in sending troublesome Core Formation level curses as a Qi Building cultivator. Very impressive. And...]
Yuan Li turns back to see Wolryang gasping for breath.
[You risked your life to hit me hard. It's impressive, but it seems you've run out of energy to retrieve your dharma treasure.]
Yuan Li mockingly taunts Wolryang.
Wolryang, gasping for air, smiles.
"The dharma treasure... I dont lack energy to retrieve it, you monster."
[Hmm?]
"It's been... delivered."
[What nonsense... Well then. You've all worked hard, so die.]
Yuan Li swings his leaf fan, launching a huge attack on all the cultivators who exhausted their strength.
Wo-woong!
The blood storm engulfs the alliance.
"Hold on...!"
"Nows the time!"
"Just a little longer..."
Cheongmun Jung-jin and numerous Core Formation cultivators spit blood as they once again deploy protective formations.
However, unlike the first formation, this one is considerably weaker, and cracks soon appear, allowing the blood storm to surge through.
"Aaaagh!"
"Clan head, save us!"
While Core Formation cultivators endure, many Qi Building cultivators are swept away by the blood storm, turning into mere droplets of blood.
The faces of numerous Core Formation cultivators contort in horror.
However, the seemingly endless blood storm soon subsides.
Manli Min-lap, who had been withstanding at the back of the protective formation, once again lifts the main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship.
Whirr!
Absorbing the souls of the dead Qi Building cultivators, the cannon flickers with an even more powerful blue light.
But Yuan Li laughs at Manli Min-lap.
[Its laughable. I have already grasped the time it takes for the main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship to charge. Even when it consumes numerous resentful souls, it actually takes quite some time to fire, doesn't it?]
He slowly approaches the Manli Min-rap.
[Well then, obediently hand over the remnant of the Nether Crossing Ship.]
Chwa Chwa Chwa Chwak!
Curse spells resembling earthworms fly towards Yuan Li, binding his feet.
Yuan Li snorts with derison, looking at the shadow casting curses at him.
[Aren't you ashamed of yourself? A curse that won't even work...]
[It's time.]
The shadow interrupts Yuan Li's words and speaks to Cheongmun Jung-jin.
[It's time.]
"Everyone! Get ready!"
Cheongmun Jung-jin shouted, and the cultivator alliance began to move in unison.
[Hmm?]
Then, several Qi Building cultivators rush towards the shadow wrapped in curse spells..
As they take their positions in the four directions around the shadow and form a seal, an altar rises from the ground.
Altars each offering sacrifices to the heavens.
Yuan Li looks at them with incomprehension.
[A Core Formation altar...? Have they all gone mad together?]
But Yuan Li soon turns his gaze to something else.
Creeeeak...
The gate of the Serving Command Palace is opening.
[Alright, that's it. Why should I deal with you vermin any longer? I have business to attend to, so just die.]
From Yuan Li's body, bloody brilliance begins to scatter.
And then, a formless trajectory flies towards Yuan Li.
Kuguanguanguang!
[...!]
Yuan Li shudders and shoots the blood light he was preparing towards the formless trajectory.
Kugugugugu!
The surroundings quake.
[Ho, what's this now....]
Yuan Li's gaze turns towards the gate of Serving Command Palace.
From within the wide-open gate of Serving Command Palace, a mass of black curses pour out like a river.
At the center of the black river stands a man in white clothes, shedding black tears.
[Two curse sorcerers...?]
Yuan Li takes a look at the shadow standing on the other side.
And then, Yuan Li shudders.
Shhhhuuuuuk!
The curses obscuring the shadow's entire body are sucked into the shadow, and its true body is revealed.
Its a glass sculpture the size of a human.
A glass doll (human form) that moves just like a human, filled with thousands of curse spells!
The intricately made glass doll resembles Yuan Li.
As the glass doll that just absorbed thousands of curses raises its arm, a brown wheel flies into its hand.
The dharma treasure... I dont lack energy to retrieve it, you monster.
Its been delivered.
The glass doll, looking just like Yuan Li, absorbs the blood and flesh that had burst from Yuan Li's upper body and stuck to the brown wheel.
[Cursed Doll!]
Suaaaak!
Without hesitation, Yuan Li lifts his fan.
'It's dangerous. If a Qi Building-level cursed doll contains my blood and a first-class curse sorcerer casts a curse...'
Kwaaaaang!
However, a formless trajectory flies towards him, interrupting his actions.
The curse sorcerer who emerged from Serving Command Palace, shedding black tears,
Seo Eun-hyun raises one hand above the river of curse spells.
"Yin Soul Ghost Incantation."
Black curses flutter around him.
"Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea."
From the river of curses, a forest made of black and green curse spells arise.
"Silica Earth Great Wall Practice."
The dragon veins that flow through the Serving Command Palace weave in and out of the black and green forest, gathering around Seo Eun-hyun according to his will.
Kugugugugu!
And around Seo Eun-hyun, the energy that had gathered began to rush into his dantian.
Pure Spiritual Force bubbles up throughout Seo Eun-hyun's body.
Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, Winnowing Basket.
Ladle, Ox, Girl, Emptiness, Rooftop, Chamber, Wall.
Legs, Bond, Stomach, Hairy Head, Net, Beak, Triple Stars.
Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Extended Net, Wing, Chariot.
Twenty-Eight Stars, Qi Building completion!
Chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk!
Then, four more figures appear around Seo Eun-hyun.
They too are shadows wrapped in black curses, Seo Eun-hyun's cursed dolls.
The cursed dolls each have the cultivation of Qi Building Grand Perfection.
"I reached the stage to advance to Core Formation 200 years ago through pain. But just for today, I refrained from Core Formation, continuously storing the growing spiritual power from the suffering into five cursed dolls, all advancing to Qi Building Grand Perfection...."
Drip, drip....
Seo Eun-hyun, shedding black tears, seperated from Serving Command Palace.
Ssssss....
The ground where his black tears fell rotted away.
"I've come to return this pain, Yuan Li."
Chwaaaaaaak!
The four Qi Building cursed dolls that lined up beside Seo Eun-hyun run to the four prepared altars, taking positions in all four directions, and climb onto them.
[Keke, coming here with such a show.... Are you really performing a mere Core Formation advancement ceremony in front of me?]
Kiiiiing!
The leaf fan in Yuan Li's hand begins to glow.
[What on earth.... Have they all collectively lost their minds....]
"Go, Seo Eun-hyun!"
Kwaaak!
Wolryang, shedding bloody tears, charged towards Yuan Li, who was about to swing his leaf fan.
"I'll hold him back! Kill him!"
[Tsk, this insect....]
Yuan Li clicks his tongue, trying to shake him off.
But Wolryang's body blazes red.
Chwaaaaaa!
His blood evaporates, and Wolryang's entire body bursts into flames.
The ghost fire that had been burning in a brownish hue now shines as bright as the golden sands of the desert.
[Even if! I burn my life! I will kill you!]
Kwaaak!
Wolryang's body, burning his Golden Core, breaks through Yuan Li's barrier and enters his embrace.
Kuaaak!
[You... trash!]
[Go, Seo Eun-hyun! I'll stall for time! Curse him!]
Taaatt!
Seo Eun-hyun, leading the curse spells, nods as he enters the interior of the altar spread in all four directions.
[What...!]
The glass cursed doll in Yuan Li's appearance lays down obediently before Seo Eun-hyun.
[You, this...!]
Seo Eun-hyun looks at Wolryang's brown wheel dharma treasure with eyes streaming black tears.
He lifts the wheel dharma treasure.
The glass doll hands the storage artifact it held to Seo Eun-hyun, who then exchanges glances with Wolryang after receiving the bag.
The two avengers nod to each other.
[This bastard...!]
Kwaaang!
The wheel raised by Seo Eun-hyun smashes down onto the Qi Building Grand Perfection cursed doll containing Yuan Li's blood.
Kwajangchangchang!
The glass cursed doll shatters into thousands pieces, scattering in all directions, and the curse, having used up one Qi Building cursed doll, strikes Yuan Li directly.
[Kugheeagh!]
Blood pours from Yuan Li's seven orifices.
From his mouth, which had only produced snorts and tsk sounds, now came a genuine scream of agony.
[You... damn trash...!]
Yuan Li roars in a furious voice.
However, Seo Eun-hyun turns his gaze away from Yuan Li.
"The advancement to Core Formation begins."
Chukchukchukchuk!
The altars placed in all four directions and the four Qi Building Grand Perfection cursed dolls who climbed onto the altars.
The cursed dolls each form a seal.
At the 7th Star of Qi Refining, the Seven Stars Ritual is performed to receive blessings from Seven Stars among the Four Constellations, thereby opening the eyes that see celestial energy and determine fate.
And in each Constellation of Qi Building, one ascends based on the blessings received during the ritual.
To reach Core Formation, a cultivator who has reached the Grand Perfection of Qi Building must perform rituals for each of the Twenty-Eight Stars corresponding to the Spiritual Energy Stars within their body.
The ritual involves embedding celestial energy in each of these Spiritual Energy Stars.
While this ritual ceremony is common among many cultivators, the detailed practices vary slightly depending on the methods they cultivate.
The method of the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, which Seo Eun-hyun has mastered, involves placing cursed dolls at the altars in each direction, cursing oneself through these dolls to embed celestial energy in the stars.
Wo-woong!
Seo Eun-hyun's ritual began.
[In the East, the stars of Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, and Winnowing Basket. To the Spirit of the Azure Dragon, I, Seo Eun-hyun, perform this ritual to seek guidance on the Human path. Please accept it!]
The cursed doll at the eastern altar, after weaving a curse spell into a string of curses, strangles itself with it.
Crack!
The neck of the cursed doll at the eastern altar snaps, and it collapses on the altar.
[In the North, the stars of Ladle, Ox, Girl, Emptiness, Rooftop, Chamber, Wall. To the Spirit of the Black Turtle, I, Seo Eun-hyun, perform this ritual to seek guidance on the Human path. Please accept it!]
The cursed doll at the northern altar, using curse spells, creates a black sword and beheads itself.
The head of the northern altar's cursed doll rolls, and it collapses on the altar.
[In the West, the stars of Legs, Bond, Stomach, Hairy Head, Net, Beak, Triple Star. To the Spirit of the White Tiger, I, Seo Eun-hyun, perform this ritual to seek guidance on the Human path. Please accept it!]
The cursed doll at the western altar, using curse spells, creates a black dagger and cuts its own stomach.
Black curses pour out of the stomach of the western altar's cursed doll, and it collapses on the altar.
[In the South, the stars of Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Extended Net, Wing, Chariot. To the Spirit of the Red Vermillion, I, Seo Eun-hyun, perform this ritual to seek guidance on the Human path. Please accept it!]
As the cursed doll at the southern altar forms a curse spell, the curse turns into Yin Fire, engulfing the doll.
The southern altar's cursed doll burns in the Yin Fire and collapses onto the altar.
In the center of the altars, Seo Eun-hyun gathered the curse spells coming from all directions.
There is no need to match the time for the Core Formation ritual.
One simply has to attract celestial energy with their cultivated method and embed it into the twenty-eight corresponding Spiritual Energy Stars.
Paaah!
The black curses swarming from all directions burrow into Seo Eun-hyun's entire body.
Seo Eun-hyun, shedding black tears, closes his eyes.
Celestial energy begins embedding and connecting the twenty-eight stars in his dantian.
At the same time, the stars begin to rotate.
Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, Winnowing Basket represents the East,
Ladle, Ox, Girl, Emptiness, Rooftop, Chamber, Wall represents the North,
Legs, Bond, Stomach, Hairy Head, Net, Beak, Triple Star represents the West,
Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Extended Net, Wing, Chariot represents the South.
The Spiritual Energy Stars symbolizing the four directions start rotating in Seo Eun-hyun's dantian, beginning to create a [Domain] within it.
This domain, also known as the Heavenly Domain or Heavenly Sphere Diagram, is engraved in his dantian.
The space within the Heavenly Sphere Diagram in the dantian begins to condense.
Crack, crackle
The domain in the dantian gathers the Pure Spiritual Force flowing within the body, confining it within the domain.
The Pure Spiritual Force condenses more and more, starting to take a solid form.
Kuuuuuuuu!
Celestial energy from all directions pours into Seo Eun-hyun's body furiously.
[Kugh, Keughh]
Yuan Li vomits blood from his injuries.
Kuaaang!
He burns his vital true origin and throws Wolryang who bound him far away. Then, he looks at Seo Eun-hyun.
He hasn't fully recovered from the curse inflicted by sacrificing the cursed doll at the Grand Perfection of Qi Building.
Yet, even so, a smile never left his face.
[Like lunatics Everyone seems ridiculously laughable. There wont even be a need to reveal what Ive been hiding. Do you truly believe anything will change in the grand scheme just because another Core Formation will emerge?]
He bursts into laughter.
[Hahaha, that's right. Ascend to Core Formation and make me die with you with your curse. Go ahead! Aren't you underestimating a Nascent Soul cultivator too much? Even if you curse me at that level, I can quickly recover just by devouring a few more bugs]
Yuan Li points at the sky.
[If you have eyes, try to read the celestial energy! Do you really think you can win? Hasn't a great misfortune been cast upon you? Even the heavens know!]
Yuan Li's voice echoes throughout the desert.
[Today, I will be the victor. The heavens will witness it]
And then.
Rumble, rumble
In the once clear desert sky.
Dark clouds begin to gather.
Boom!
As Seo Eun-hyun ascends to Core Formation, he flies towards Yuan Li, breaking through his defenses with the Formless Sword and charging into his embrace.
"Enjoy this beautiful sky to your heart's content."
Rumble, rumble
The suddenly appearing dark clouds severe the connection between heaven and earth.
The Phenomenon of Heavenly Rejection.
The heavens begin to gather strength to prevent the lifespan of an Ender from being rewritten.
Seo Eun-hyun entered Yuan Li's embrace, hugging to the point of crushing him.
Kuuung! Kuuuung!
Within the dark clouds, jagged blue flickers.
The streaks of blue are even more enormous than when Seo Eun-hyun reached Qi Building.
Seo Eun-hyun smiles brightly.
"It'll be a bit thrilling."
Then.
The Heavens drop a pillar of Heavenly Lightning towards the Heavenly Rejected.
-x-X-x-
Piiiiiit!
All sound fades.
Only the blue pillar that descended from the heavens illuminates the desert.
The immense beam of lightning is the only light, overshadowing even the rays of the sun.
Not even the main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship fired by Manli Min-lap, nor the combined attack launched simultaneously by numerous Core Formation cultivators, could compare to that brilliance.
The light created by the crude hands of mere humans in the form of spells and formations is of no match for the pure brilliance directly forged by the heavens.
All members of the alliance, standing there, swallowed their saliva and gazed inside the pillar.
Byeok Cheon-gi bit his lips fiercely, his hands trembling.
Makli Hwang-cheon looked at the blue pillar with shocked eyes, inhaling deeply.
Jinlu Yeon-cheon's face was blank as she opened her mouth wide.
Makli Hwang-cheon spoke to Cheongmun Jung-jin.
"Look here, Cheongmun Clan head. I've heard of Cultivator Seos curse strategy, but... I wasnt informed of anything like this."
"Oh... This strategy was individually proposed by Cultivator Seo to me."
Cheongmun Jung-jin continues.
"Honestly, when I first heard of it, I couldnt believe it either... Heavenly Tribulation isn't a phenomenon for Core Formation, but a celestial phenomenon that starts striking from at least the Nascent Soul stage..."
Its just as he said.
Heavenly Tribulation isnt for originally striking Qi Building cultivators as they become Core Formation cultivators.
It begins at the Nascent Soul stage, where mortals start to behold the world's origin.
That's when the heavens punish those fated to die.
That is Heavenly Tribulation.
"Heavenly Rejection phenomenon. Who would believe it?"
But, such laws didn't apply to everyone.
Historical records show that among ancient cultivators, there were those struck by heavenly lightning not during Core Formation, but while advancing from Qi Refining to Qi Building.
These individuals also carried the bizarre phenomenon of Heavenly Rejection, blocking the Seven Stars Ritual right from Qi Refining 7th Star.
Weak yet rejected by the heavens.
And Seo Eun-hyun is one of those Heavenly Rejected, afflicted with the Heavenly Rejection phenomenon.
"I too was skeptical and only agreed because Cultivator Seo earnestly requested it. We made it an individual operation because I had no confidence to apply such an exaggerated legend as the strategy for the entire alliance."
Makli Hwang-cheon looks inside the blue lightning, his expression hardening.
Byeok Cheon-gi comes over and speaks.
"Ha ha, still, you should have at least given a hint to me, one of the three critical factors of the strategy... It's so sudden my heart is racing."
"Ah, I'm sorry I didn't inform you, Byeok Clan head."
Cheongmun Jung-jin apologizes.
Jinlu Yeon-cheon approaches him.
"As expected of Orabeoni, such an impressive strategy. It's truly awe-inspiring."
"Its not my strategy, Jinlu Clan head. Its Cultivator Seos strategy. More importantly, why is everyone here chatting? Return to your positions!"
"Oh, don't be so strict. Its a Heavenly Tribulation, after all. Everyone's just gathered here, shocked because they've never witnessed such a fearsome celestial phenomenon."
Jinluu Yeon-cheon gently brushes Cheongmun Jung-jins chest with her fingertips, winking.
Cheongmun Jung-jin sighs and shouts.
"Everyone, return to your positions and maintain formation! I don't know the extent of the old monster's vitality, but if he's still alive, we must launch another total assault and completely evaporate him to his Nascent Soul!"
At his words, the alliance resumed their stance.
!
In the world of silent blue light,
Only two beings exist.
Yuan Li and me.
Kiiiiing!
To prevent Yuan Li from escaping, I raised numerous curse spells on my arms, connecting my cursed hands to Yuan Li's body.
He gnashed his teeth, unable to get away, and unfolded a red shield to bear the heavenly lighting with me with all his might.
No, it might not be right to say he bore it with me.
He is simply blocking it all.
The baptism of blue light that seemed endless, eventually ceases.
Chiiiiii
The blue lightning dissipates, and Yuan Li gasps for air, glaring at me with eyes emitting a bloody glow.
[You trash!]
But.
Kurung, Kururung!
The heavens begin to rage again.
As if to question my audacity to bypass heavenly lightning with another's help.
The heavens unleash their fury on me once more through the blue brilliance.
The streak of blue is even thicker and larger than before.
Kugugugugu!
Yuan Li and I are once again trapped inside the blue pillar.
Without a moment to glare at me, Yuan Li grits his teeth again and expands the barrier.
This phenomenon, called Heavenly Lightning, or Heavenly Tribulation, or Heavenly Punishment, is said to strike once one reaches the Nascent Soul stage, according to legends.
And according to the records in the texts, such Heavenly Tribulations are something that the individual undergoing must overcome alone. If one receives help from others, the heavens become even more furious and send down even stronger heavenly lightning.
Regardless of the current situation.
I am indeed receiving Yuan Li's help.
Kugugugugu!
Kiying!
The four dharma treasures, Yuan Lis pagodas, surround us.
The pagodas emit red light, forming a barrier around us.
However.
Pajik, pajijjik.
The barrier that seemed to withstand the Heavenly Tribulation for a while began to crack.
I can see Yuan Li clenching his teeth tightly.
Kiying!
The red pagodas then emit brighter light.
The cracks seem to disappear, but the pagodas, perhaps overexerted, appear to be in a dangerous state.
And, just when the pagodas condition seems to reach its limit.
Kiying!
Pah!
Once again, the Heavenly Tribulation ceases.
Yuan Li, bleeding from his nose, glares at me.
[IWillKill]
And then, the heavens prepare the third Heavenly Tribulation.
Flash!
Before he can say anything, the third strike descends upon us.
KwangJangChangChang!
The barrier formed by Yuan Lis pagoda dharma treasures shatter like fragile glass, and the dharma treasures explode in the middle, unable to withstand any longer.
Kwagwang!
Boom!
The pagoda dharma treasures, which had been defending Yuan Li, lose their light forever and are torn apart in the heavenly lightning.
Kiying!
Yuan Li fires a bloody light towards the heavens.
He summons the two ghost kings and the blood cloud from his storage artifact.
He draws seventeen bone daggers slashing towards the sky.
But.
The bloody light is swallowed by the blue streak.
The two ghost kings flee in terror at the sight of the heavenly lightning.
The dagger dharma treasures seemed to hold for a while but soon collapsed.
[Aaaaagh!!!]
Yuan Li screams and gathers all his strength to spread a defensive barrier.
A spherical barrier envelops us.
The bloody barrier of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator blocks the heavenly lightning.
However.
Pssit, psisit!
His barrier too starts to show hair-thin cracks, and the heavenly lightning begins to leak inside.
Paching!
Yuan Li's barrier completely shatters.
The heavenly lightning strikes us directly.
Both Yuan Li and I are directly exposed to the Heavenly Tribulation.
We both silently scream in terrible agony.
But having been struck several times before and accustomed to the pain, I regain consciousness in this state.
And in that state, I endure while gripping hard on to Yuan Li.
Chalak!!
I overpower the unconscious Yuan Li, lifting him above me to use as a shield.
Indeed, the flesh of a Nascent Soul cultivator blocks the heavenly lightning quite well.
Occasionally, some streaks flowed through his flesh, but they were manageable with the Formless Sword.
Chajak, chajajak!
Holes begin to appear in Yuan Li's body by the lightning.
The Heavenly Tribulation leaks through the holes.
More and more holes are created.
I grit my teeth and fend off the lightningwith the Formless Sword.
And after some time.
Paaaaat!
The seemingly eternal storm of lightning finally subsides.
And.
Perhaps due to my use of Yuan Li as a shield against the heavenly lightning or bouncing off the lightning with the Formless Sword,
The heavens seem to judge that I have blocked the tribulation and do not form another one, just rumbling within the dark clouds.
Thus, the dark clouds slowly begin to disperse.
[Now's the time!]
I shout to the allies, bursting out a command.
Piiing!
The main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship, charged by Manli Min-lap, fires.
Flash!
A blue beam shoots towards Yuan Li and me.
I place the still half-conscious Yuan Li in the path of the beam, and we are both swept away, thrown inside Serving Command Palace.
Just as planned...!
I kick Yuan Li into Serving Command Palace.
Kugugugugu!
Entering Serving Command Palace again, a familiar energy welcomes me.
"Silica Earth Great Wall Practice."
Kugugugugu!
The dragon veins of Serving Command Palace are drawn to me, naturally beginning to fill my dantian.
I immediately sit down in a lotus position, rushing towards the final stage of Core Formation.
Kiying!
Having overcome Heavenly Tribulation, a complete set of 28 stars, infused with celestial energy, begin to solidify in their places.
And then.
Flash!
My dantian.
Within, a Golden Core is formed.
The size of the Golden Core is slightly larger than two fists combined, and the surface of the Golden Core is engraved with 28 stars, forming the Heavenly Sphere Diagram.
The Inner Core, originally the size of two finger segments in the center of my dantian, is now located in the very center of the two-fist-sized Golden Core.
Its appearance resembles an armillary sphere that represents the Earth and the celestial sphere surrounding it.
The luminous spirit emitting from the Golden Core instantly colors the area of Serving Command Palace, and I half-open my eyes within the light.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
Core Formation cultivators outside Serving Command Palace begin to enter one by one.
They launch another attack at Yuan Li, who had been burned to a charcoal-like state.
Taking advantage of the time they bought for me, I take out the storage artifact given to me by the cursed doll.
The cursed doll and I were linked in real time.
From the centipedes cave, I watched over the village Buk Hyang-hwa and I saved, for 200 years through the cursed doll.
It was this cursed doll who also forged the glass swords, which I offered as tributes in Cheon-saek City, by engraving spiritual circuits and refining them into the Colorless Glass Swords.
And now, I finally received them through the cursed doll's storage artifact.
Charrurruk!
I open the storage artifact, summoning three thousand glass swords into the air through sword control.
Hwaruruk!
Qi Refining 14th Star.
From the stage of Infinite Spiritual Cloud in the Qi Refining stage, cultivators can spit out spiritual clouds from within their bodies to cast spells.
But upon forming a Golden Core, the nature of the spiritual clouds that cultivators had been using undergo a qualitative change.
Hwarurururu....
The spiritual clouds become more active and heat up fiercely.
They transform into flames.
Core Formation cultivators call this flame emitted from the Golden Core as Dan Fire.
I spit out the fire of spiritual power blooming from my dantian through my mouth.
The Dan Fire spreads around me, covering the three thousand glass swords.
Every glass sword has a spiritual circuit engraved on them, and my Dan Fire flows through these circuits, firmly marking me as the owner of the swords.
Through the process of refining magic artifacts with Dan Fire, they are reborn as dharma treasures of Core Formation cultivators.
These dharma treasures, evolved from magical artifacts, reside within the cultivator's Golden Core and develop gradually as the cultivator advances in their cultivation, nourished by the Dan Fire that blazes within the Golden Core.
Over time, as they are cultivated in the dantian by Dan Fire, they become stronger, tougher, and more powerful.
Dharma treasures that have accompanied a cultivator for an extended period are known as the cultivator's natal dharma treasures.
'Of course, a recently refined dharma treasure can't be called a natal dharma treasure yet.'
Still, its power cannot be underestimated.
The Colorless Glass Swords, made simply from desert sand, did not take long to be refined by Dan Fire.
Shururuk...
I absorb the three thousand glass swords refined with Dan Fire.
The three thousand glass swords settle inside my Golden Core.
I close my eyes, feeling the traces left by Buk Hyang-hwa for me.
'Please give me strength.'
Not just Buk Hyang-hwa.
The tributes of my many neighbors of Cheon-saek City used to refine the Colorless Glass Swords.
I pray silently to my connections who had been massacred by Yuan Li.
Kugugugugu!
From afar, I see the piece of charcoal gradually emitting crimson light, being hammered by the attacks of the Core Formation cultivators.
Charrururu!
Outside Serving Command Palace.
From the black castle, a crimson radiance akin to a river, surges towards us.
The color isn't a muted shade of blood but appears significantly more vivid and intense than any previously accumulated life force by Yuan Li.
Charrurruk!
The river of blood sweeps the charcoal-turned Yuan Lil.
Kugugugug!
And then, Yuan Li's body regenerates as he rises.
Still hidden behind that black mask, his true expression is unknown.
However, everyone present knows that Yuan Li is extremely furious.
[I've spent hundreds of years covertly accumulating Long Source True Power in the castle for my ascension to Heavenly Being...!!! These insect-like creatures... These trash-like creatures...!]
Cough, cough!
Even though his body fully regenerated, he still spat out blood.
The aftermath of the curse and the Heavenly Tribulation seem to linger.
The Heavenly Tribulation barely touched me, yet the lightning energy is wreaking havoc within me. It's impossible for him, who bore the full force, to remain unscathed.
Cough, cough...
I too cough up blood-stained phlegm and stand up.
The Heavenly Tribulation is definitely causing me some problems.
However.
Swoosh!
There are 65 cursed dolls prepared in advance in Serving Command Palace.
Of these, four were used for the Core Formation ceremony, and the remaining 61 are low-grade cursed dolls imbued with the strength of Qi Refining 1st or 2nd Star.
And.
'Curse. Reversal.'
Kiying!
As I form a hand seal and use the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, the injuries and lightning energy remaining in my body disperse into the 60 cursed dolls.
Cursed dolls can be used to curse others, but transferring all my injuries to the pre-prepared cursed dolls is also possible.
Crackle, crackle, crack...
Of course, the 60 cursed dolls, unable to withstand the lightning energy, instantly turn to ash and scatter.
'But still, I've transferred almost all my injuries and the lightning energy.'
I then take out the immortal wine previously stored in the storage artifact.
The Spirit Nectar, which briefly enhances bodily regeneration, and the Mysterious Flame Jade, which briefly enhances the ability to handle dharma treasures.
I drink both liquors in one go.
Kugugugu!
The minor injuries and lightning energy left after distributing to the cursed dolls are swept away by the regenerative power and disappear.
After drinking the liquors, the healing speed of injuries is remarkably fast.
'Is this the power of Core Formation?'
It might be difficult now, having just ascended to Core Formation, but after 50 to 100 years of cultivation, I should be able to recover in a few months even if my head is severed. Such is the robustness of life force of Core Formation cultivators.
[These... bastards, I will kill them all...!]
While vomiting blood from his mouth, Yuan Li exudes a threatening aura, and everyone in Serving Command Palace nod in agreement.
Cheongmun Jung-jin shouts.
Everyone, as per the plan!
Close the gate!
To prevent Yuan Li from escaping or receiving further support from the black castle, the Core Formation cultivators form hand seals, closing the gates of Serving Command Palace.
Creak, thud!
The chiefs of the Northern Grasslands step forward.
Click, click, click, click!
Four chiefs take positions around Yuan Li, one in each direction.
Behind each chief, three Core Formation cultivators take their places.
Behind these three, seven more Core Formation cultivators position themselves.
The Northern Grasslands Secret Art.
'Blue Sky Heavenly Net. Open!'
Kugugugu!
The spiritual power of the cultivators in the formation connect.
A blue light traps Yuan Li.
The main pillars of the formation turn into white clouds, and Yuan Li in the center is trapped in the blue sky.
[This is]
And Yuan Li, who is in the middle stage of Nascent Soul, falls to the early stage..
Of course, the chiefs who spread the Blue Sky Heavenly Net turn red-faced and are utterly immobilized but they manage to tie down Yuan Li's cultivation by one level.
And then, I flick my finger.
The last remaining cursed doll.
The doll, following my will, touches the golden order of Serving Command Palace.
Kiying!
Kugugugu!
A strange pressure suppresses the cultivation of everyone.
Core Formation cultivators are reduced to Qi Building, and Yuan Li, a Nascent Soul, falls to the early stage of Core Formation.
Then, I, Manli Min-lap, and Byeok Cheon-gi enter the Blue Sky Heavenly Net.
Manli Min-lap pulls out the cannon aiming at Yuan Li, and Byeok Cheon-gi begins chanting and takes out a talisman from his pocket, starting to activate it with a chant.
And I grin so broadly it's as if my cheeks are about to split.
Charrurruk!
Though my Core Formation cultivation fell to Qi Building, it is still possible to freely store and summon dharma treasures, a unique ability of the Golden Core.
Three thousand glass swords rise around me, guided by my sword control.
Woo-woong!
The fragile flying swords made of glass overlay with the Formless Sword.
The duration of the Serving Command Palace's restraint is the result of 200 years of dedicated research by formation masters.
It can be extended from half a gak to half a shichen.
Within half a shichen (60 minutes), a conclusion must be reached.
Gazing at Yuan Li with unwavering resolve, I declare.
Here lies your grave.
And thus, our final battle began.
***