Tap tap...
I dust off my clothes and look back.
Whoosh...
From the ground I emerged, dust rose up.
Crack!
I move my Formless Sword, covering the dirt a bit more.
Although I had extensively destroyed the palace I didn't touch the main barriers, so it wouldn't cause the fall of Seokyung City abruptly.
The Makli Clan is now over.
Having eliminated most of the Qi Building cultivators and the Core Formation elders, including the clan head, the remaining members of the Makli Clan in the territory will slowly wither away under the pressure of the Jin Clan.
I look at the bundles of goods I have taken from the Makli Clan.
I have gathered every single spirit stone from the Makli Clan, except for the elixirs.
With this.
I resolved all the issues in Yanguo.
'Now then...'
I turn my gaze southward.
'I should go meet Song Jin and Seo Ran.'
Swoosh!
The blue sea.
Flying over the sea, I arrive at Seo Ran's residence from Yanguo in a day.
Swish!
I part the waters with my Formless Sword and descend directly to Seo Ran's dwelling.
When I arrive at his underwater cave,
Splash!
From inside the underwater abode, Seo Ran hastily lifts his head.
I speak to Seo Ran in the language of the demon race.
"Are you Seo Ran?"
Feeling the presence of my Formless Sword, he looks at me cautiously and asks.
"Yes, that's me. But may I ask... are you also a demon beast?"
"Just an unusual human. And..."
I have come to Seo Ran without any major incidents in this life, so he must have received the space-breaking bead from Seo Hweol as planned.
'How should I explain...'
After a moment of contemplation, I tell him.
"I'm here on behalf of an elder of the Sea Dragon Tribe, named Jeon Hyang. He asked me to find you."
"You, know Elder Jeon?"
Seo Ran asks, his eyes widening.
I nod.
"You received the space-breaking bead from Seo Hweol, and were instructed to blow up the Nether Crossing Ship, correct? Isn't that so?"
"...Yes, that's correct."
"First, give me the space-breaking bead."
"Yes? Oh, here it is."
Seo Ran, though suspicious, hands me the space-breaking bead.
After receiving the dharma treasure, I say to him,
"You couldn't break through the barrier of Black Ghost Valley to enter the Nether Crossing Ship, could you? Let's go together, I'll break the barrier for you."
"Th-thank you."
Seo Ran bows to me in gratitude, and I continue.
"You can transform into your true form since I know you're a demi-human.
"...Elder Jeon told you about that as well?"
"Let's say he did. Now follow me. We're going to the Nether Crossing Ship."
"...Yes."
Seo Ran, while still suspicious, follows me towards the Nether Crossing Ship.
We arrive at the sea area where the Nether Crossing Ship is located.
An invisible barrier is positioned ahead.
Beyond this barrier lies the domain of ghosts.
"Senior, first of all, this barrier..."
"Never mind, just stay there."
I step back and raise my hand.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Entering Mountain!
A slicing upward motion.
Thats all it took.
And then.
Swoosh!
The air splits open, and the barrier is cut through.
Beyond the barrier, the army of tens of thousands of ghosts that form the Black Ghost Legion are also split in half, clearing the path.
Gasp...
Seo Ran's mouth hangs open, and I, pulling along the stunned Seo Ran, quickly head towards the center of the formation where the Nether Crossing Ship is located.
In the center of the well shaped formation,
A solid final barrier remains.
Boom
Kuang!
My thrown Formless Sword shatters the barrier in one strike.
"Huh, gasp...! Even a Core Formation cultivator would struggle to break such a barrier..."
Seo Ran, who had been staring blankly, now looks at me with eyes full of fear.
Its understandable. An already suspicious person showing Nascent Soul capabilities is indeed terrifying.
"Hurry up. There's someone we need to meet."
"To meet... who?"
"Did you think, even though Black Ghost Valley became a wasteland, that they would leave the Nether Crossing Ship, their pride and joy, completely unguarded?"
I lead Seo Ran straight down to the lowest level of the Nether Crossing Ship.
There, in the deepest part of the ship, we meet Song Jin, who glares at me nervously.
[Who are you?]
Song Jin seems aware that I had broken the barrier in one go, sizing me up intensely.
I turn to Seo Ran.
"Introduce yourself, Daoist Seo. This person is Senior Song Jin, a Heavenly Being remnant soul, guarding this Nether Crossing Ship after being killed by the Mad Lord Jo Yeon."
"Uh, hello...?"
[You... could it be? Why have you come here?]
Seo Ran looks to not understand the situation and just greets Song Jin as instructed.
[...Are you her child? Why have you come here?]
At this, Seo Ran clamps his lips shut.
"I came to search for my mother's relic."
[You came to search for your mother's relic?]
Flames blaze in Song Jin's eyes.
Yet, he seems to restrain his anger, speaking more softly.
[Whatever is remaining in this place, everything, is a part of the Valley. I cannot give anything to an outsider like you.]
I raise my Formless Sword and ask.
"Why don't you give us a chance to find it, senior?"
Song Jin's eyes blaze even more fiercely at the sight of my Formless Sword.
Though angry, realizing he has no way to resist against my Nascent Soul prowess, he seems to accept his situation.
[...How did you manage to not get dragged into ascension? And what is that ominous thing that freely enters and leaves planes? Damn it]
He grits his teeth, clenching his fists tightly.
[I'll give you half a day. Find your mother's room within that time and search for the relic. If you don't leave within that time, I will burn my soul to show you the wrath of a Heavenly Being cultivator...!]
"Understood. Thank you."
Seo Ran bows to Song Jin, and I nod.
Later, guided by me, Seo Ran reaches his mother's room.
[You...!]
Song Jin looks furious but closes his mouth and watches us silently.
Soon, Seo Ran finds the jade slip his mother left and begins to read it.
Song Jin also sneaks in and starts reading the jade slip with him.
I step outside for a while.
After some time, I hear Song Jin and Seo Ran talking inside the room.
I head outside the Nether Crossing Ship and slowly look up at the sky.
Three days passed.
[...You. What are your intentions?]
Song Jin came to find me, who had been quietly waiting on the deck.
[Why did you bring that boy to me? And why did you support him without asking for anything in return?]
I pause before making an excuse.
"I was asked by an elder of the Sea Dragon Tribe, Jeon Hyang."
[Jeon Hyang...? The chief astrologer of the Sea Dragon Tribe, I see. Hm...]
"Why do you ask?"
[That boy... I've decided to take him as my disciple.]
Once again, the master-disciple bond between Song Jin and Seo Ran is established.
Seo Ran and Song Jin came to the deck to thank me.
[I don't like it, but I need to thank you anyway.]
"I'm also very grateful. If there's anything you need in the future, senior, I will fulfill up to three requests."
[My disciple is doing so, so I cant just stand by only opening my mouth. I will do the same.]
"In that case..."
I look at Song Jin and say,
"First, let me use the Nether Crossing Ship."
[What...?]
Boom!
I present the pile of spirit stones I have brought from the main house of the Makli Clan in front of him.
"With this, it should be enough to operate the Nether Crossing Ship, right?"
It should be more than enough since I had taken all the spirit stones from the Makli Clan.
[Hm...!]
Song Jin's eyes gleam at the sight of the spirit stones.
[It's more than enough. Alright, where do you want to go?]
"First, let's go to the Sea Dragon Palace of the Sea Dragon Tribe."
Together, we move towards the Sea Dragon Palace.
Rumble!
Together with ghostly energy, the Nether Crossing Ship moved through space.
We immediately reached the location of the Sea Dragon Palace.
"Is it possible to break the barrier of the Sea Dragon Palace using the main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship?"
[Impossible. All the main cannons on the Nether Crossing Ship are broken.]
"I see..."
I recall the power of the cannon fired by Manli Min-lap and lick my lips.
'Then I have no choice but to use my own strength.'
I descend from the Nether Crossing Ship, braving the water pressure, and swing my Formless Sword.
The area in my past life where Seo Ran had set up the formation.
It should be enough to break through the weakest part of Seo Hweol's barrier.
Woong!
The Formless Sword penetrates the inside of the formation.
Starting with the most fragile parts, it begins to permeate and erode them.
As the layers thin, soon after.
Boom!
A small hole appears on one side of the barrier.
"Daoist Seo, follow me. And if possible, Senior Song Jin, please come along."
[...How can I trust that you haven't set a trap here?]
Song Jin looks at me suspiciously, and I sigh and say,
"I swear on the Nether Crossing Ship. I assure you, I haven't set any traps here."
[Hmm... Alright.]
Song Jin forms a hand seal and draws the ghostly energy from the Nether Crossing Ship to himself.
Swoosh!
Song Jin jumps down with the ghostly energy attached, followed by Seo Ran and me, and we enter the Sea Dragon Palace.
[The Sea Dragon Palace... The last time I was here was when I was invited by Dragon King Seo. Its been a long time.]
"It's been a while for me too."
We head towards the inner palace of the Sea Dragon Palace.
[But why have you called us here?]
"Please follow me. There's something I need to show you."
I lead them to the hall where Jeon Hyang had died.
Swoosh!
And when we enter the hall.
"Ah!"
A sticky curse flies towards Seo Ran and sticks to him.
Just as Song Jin is startled and tries to remove the curse attached to Seo Ran.
Hiss...
The curse attached to Seo Ran melts away.
It seems like Seo Ran has heard Jeon Hyang's voice, as his eyes tremble.
"Elder Jeon...? I, I need to read that book...!"
I calmly picked up a jade slab.
Below, I find a familiar book.
I pull the book towards me with my Formless Sword and then place the jade slab down.
Then, I hand the book to Song Jin.
"Please check if there are any problems with it."
[What problem could there be... it's just...]
Then.
[What...! Damn it, our eyes met!]
Startled, Song Jin glares at the book.
Wriggle, wriggle...
Even though the book left by Seo Hweol hasn't been fully read or closed yet, it begins to wriggle wildly.
Swoosh!
A ghostly energy emanates from Song Jin's hand, enveloping the book, and he urgently speaks.
[Damn, I've temporarily sealed it. Let's quickly go back to the Nether Crossing Ship!]
Snap!
I grab Song Jin's shoulder, and together we return to the Nether Crossing Ship using the Formless Sword.
When we finally arrive at the Nether Crossing Ship,
Boom!
The ghostly energy fails to withstand anymore and finally breaks apart.
From inside the book, a blue light bursts forth.
The consciousness of Sea Dragon King Seo Hweol!
The consciousness of Seo Hweol begins to spill out the same words I had heard in my past life.
As Seo Ran's eyes widen in shock, Song Jin forms a seal and shouts.
[Devour it, Nether Crossing Ship!]
Simultaneously.
Screech!
Ghostly figures emerge from the deck of the Nether Crossing Ship, ightly binding Seo Hweol's remnant.
And so, Seo Hweol's remnant is sucked into the Nether Crossing Ship.
Swoosh...
Just like that, Seo Hweol's remnant vanishes.
[Its the remnant consciousness left by Dragon King Seo. Why did he leave such a thing?]
Song Jin wonders, and Seo Ran, shocked by Seo Hweol's words, trembles.
I pick up the book and hand it to Seo Ran.
"Inside, you'll find Elder Jeon Hyang's diary. There's no more trickery from Seo Hweol, so take your time and read it."
"...Alright."
Seo Ran looks fearful of facing the truth, hesitating briefly. But soon, he tremblingly begins to read the book.
After a while.
Drip, drip...
Tears begin to flow from Seo Ran's eyes.
"Everything the King showed me... was it all a lie...?"
He looks deeply shocked.
Seo Ran weeps for a long time while looking at the book.
After several hours,
"Have you calmed down a bit, Daoist Seo?"
"..."
"I was entrusted by Elder Jeon Hyang before he wrote the last part of his diary. He asked me to guide you well. I have led you here in accordance with his will, so I hope you make wise decisions going forward."
Seo Ran grits his teeth and nods.
"...Understood. Thank you."
He has a resolved expression on his face.
Song Jin, who has been watching us, speaks to me.
[I won't count activating the Nether Crossing Ship as a favor. Thanks to this, my disciple has learned about the deceitfulness of Dragon King Seo and will also gain the numerous treasures left in the Sea Dragon Palace.]
"Thank you. Then, can we make a few more stops using the Nether Crossing Ship?"
[Hmm...?]
Late evening.
The heat of the desert cooled as night approached.
Kugugugu!
The Nether Crossing Ship appeared in the middle of the desert.
In the distance, a black castle is visible.
"Senior Song Jin, do you feel the enormous resentful souls sleeping beneath that castle?"
[Indeed... They are immense.]
"Can you use them to break the barrier covering that black castle?"
Hearing my words, Song Jin nods
[Wellalright.]
Kugugugu!
Shortly after.
The Nether Crossing Ship lands in the desert.
Song Jin begins to form seals.
Its the dead of night with no sunrise, so the yin energy of the resentful souls are boiling more fiercely.
Kyaaaaaaaaa!
Kyaaaaaaa!
Kyaaaa!
Bubble, bubble, bubble...
Millions of resentful souls beneath the black castle scream wildly.
And feeling the anomaly, a bloody fog starts to flow out from inside the black castle.
[What? Who are you! Who dares...?]
And a familiar face appears.
Its Yuan Li.
I smirk.
"Should have stayed hidden, why come out and risk your life?"
[What...? W-Wait! Nether Crossing Ship? Black Ghost Valley?]
Just then, Song Jin completes his spell.
Kyaaaaaaaaa!
A horde of ghosts wail and rush towards Song Jin.
[This is madness! What! Why are you doing this to me all of a sudden!]
Yuan Li, sensing Song Jins growing power, cries out in terror.
But Song Jin, indifferent to his pleas, completes his ghostly spell.
[Damn it!]
Shoosh!
Kiing!
Yuan Li curses and retreats back into the black castle.
Soon, the ancient barrier covering the black castle reveals itself.
Swoosh!
Simultaneously, a crimson river of blood flows from inside the castle, strengthening the barrier.
Long Source True Power.
Yuan Li's backup life.
Kiing!
Crack, Crackkkk!
The barrier, strengthened, emits sparks.
And then.
Kugugugu!
The sky fills with yin energy.
In an instant, Song Jin, regaining his Heavenly Being power, stands with his hands behind his back, floating in the air, looking down at the black castle.
[It seems to be an immortal treasure with the power to attract fate.]
"So they say."
The Mad Lord had mentioned it before.
I had heard about this castle before as well.
Song Jin looks at me.
[It seems you want to capture that guy. Though the castle itself is not much, the core supplying the castle with the power of fate is troublesome, and he's hiding right below it. I can shatter the castle with one blow, but I might not be able to capture him and the core.]
"Ah, it's alright. Just do that much, and I'll handle the rest."
[Very well then....]
Kugugugu!
Blue ghostly flames rise in Song Jin's eyes.
[I'll show you the power of an Elder of the Great Azure Ghost Valley....]
Kyaaaaaaa!
Kurun, Kurururung!
Dark clouds gather in the sky.
Soon, the clouds merge, forming a giant ghostly head.
[Thousand Ghost Bone Formation! Open!]
[Kyaaaaa!]
A ghostly wail echoes between heaven and earth.
Then, the ghostly head formed by the dark clouds contort wildly and plummet towards the black castle.
A force that rivals the statue thrown by the Mad Lord!
Jjeoong!
The black castle's barrier, saturated with Long Source True Power, seems to resist for a moment but then turns red and explodes.
Kwaang!
The black castle beneath the barrier also crumbles.
Kwagwagwang!
A storm of yin wind sweeps across heaven and earth.
Shortly after.
[Hmm... Surprising indeed. I did hold back a bit... Still, I didn't expect the castle to retain its shape.]
Song Jin looks at the black castle in astonishment.
Its just as he said.
Despite the immense strike it had just endured, the black castle hasn't turned entirely to dust. Only the upper layers and the roof had been blown off, maintaining its general structure.
Of course.
[Aaaaaargh! Arghhh, ack!]
Yuan Li is inside, half turned to meat, vomiting blood.
Shururuk, shuruk!
Hes using the Long Source True Power to regenerate his body.
And then...
Above him, the apparition of Seo Hweol flickers and disappears.
Song Jin looks at Seo Hweol's apparition, his ghostly energy distorting for a moment before turning his head away.
[Seo Hweol's remnants and the core of this castle shielded it from my strike.]
"That is..."
I remember something from my distant past life.
After the Mad Lord dealt with Yuan Li.
When he tore apart the black castle, there was a stone fragment.
Back then, I was more concerned with escaping the Mad Lord secretly and didn't pay much attention to the fragment.
But at this moment...
Seeing the stone fragment clearly, my eyes widened in astonishment.
Crackle, crackle!
The stone fragment is continuously emitting golden lightning.
Its the upper part of the stele that had floated right in front of Ascension Gate, in the center of Ascension Path!
-x-X-x-
"...leave it behind for future generations, relinquish your desires and ascend. Those who do not adhere will face calamity."
I recall the contents of the stele I had seen on Ascension Path.
The upper part that was torn off and couldn't be seen.
'Clearly, given the edges on this stele, this must be the upper part of that stele!'
I havent made the connection before as it seemed unrelated to Yuan Li.
Thinking about it.
Back then, I saw the stone tablet inscribed with Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder near the black castle.
'I never imagined.'
This guy is related to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
Of course, the details will have to wait...
'I'll have to subdue him first and see.'
As Yuan Li vomits blood, I charge right in front of him.
Kugugugung!
My Formless Sword, swung at tremendous speed, clashes against his defenses.
As long as the castle isnt completely turned to dust, it seems he can still exert the power of the Nascent Soul within it.
'But the situation is different from my last life.'
Thud!
I kick Yuan Li squarely.
He looks to erect a shield, but my Formless Sword permeates right through, kicking him in the stomach.
Puhak!
He spits out a mouthful of blood.
And then, having been kicked by my Formless Sword, he is blown away, flying out of the punctured black castle.
Kwaang!
Once outside the castle's domain, his cultivation falls to the level of a mere Core Formation Great Perfection.
[You, you bastard...!]
Grinding his teeth, Yuan Li pulls out seven scrolls from his storage artifact.
He opens the scrolls, while summoning two blood cloud ghost kings.
Seven demon souls also emerge.
But
"In the name of Prince Seo Ran."
Seo Ran's voice echoes across the desert.
"Children of the sea, kneel before the bloodline of the Sea Dragon King."
Ziiing!
Seo Ran's command becomes an order, binding the demon souls.
The dragon demon soul immediately prostrates itself.
The other demon souls, initially resisting Seo Ran's command, also reluctantly knelt down.
"I can't hold demon souls above Core Formation for long!"
Seo Ran urgently shouts, and I nod.
-Kyaaaaaaaa!
-Guaaaaaa!!
Ahead, two ghost kings scream, each wielding a scythe.
But, from behind, another booming voice is heard.
[Under the name of the Nether Crossing Ship.]
Then.
[All ghosts shall bow before the boat that crosses the River of the Netherworld.]
Kugugugugu!
From the Nether Crossing Ship behind me, a strong suction force targeting ghosts manifests.
-Guaaaaaa!
-Kyaaaaaa!
The two ghost kings scream, trying their best to resist being sucked into the Nether Crossing Ship and planting their scythes into the desert to hold their ground.
In an instant, three of Yuan Lis major forces are neutralized.
'Seo Ran and Song Jin are a perfect match against Yuan Li.'
I realized this in my past life when I saw Seo Ran subdue Yuan Li using the Summoning Wind, True Blood Transformation, but in this life, their compatibility is even more apparent.
Of course, if Yuan Li could properly recall his ghost kings and supply the energy of a Nascent Soul to his demon souls and ghost kings, even Seo Ran and Song Jin would find it hard to neutralize Yuan Li so easily.
But once driven out of the black castle, he became much easier to handle.
Step, step...
I draw my Formless Sword and walk towards him.
[Krgh, You! Damn you! You think you can defeat me so easily?]
Boong Boong Boong!
Around him, bone dagger dharma treasures, a spear dharma treasure, and a crystal skull staff float up.
Above him, the Five Elements Blood Curse Banners emerge.
Charararak!
The Five Elements Blood Curse Banners fly towards my head.
But I let the banners hit me.
Puk!
With a slight sting, the Five Elements Blood Curse Banners are absorbed into the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner located in my upper dantian.
[What...!]
Yuan Li trembles in dismay.
Step, step...
I walk slowly towards Yuan Li.
[That reaction, you also have the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner... alrightthen...!]
Seventeen bone dagger dharma treasures spin.
I swing my Formless Sword.
The link that connects the dharma treasures to Yuan Li severs.
The dharma treasures fall to the ground.
[Eh, eek]
A ghost king emerges from the blood-colored spear, grabbing it.
Immediately upon emerging, the ghost king, resisting the suction of the Nether Crossing Ship, desperately plants the spear into the ground.
Eventually, all Yuan Li has left is the crystal skull staff.
[Krrrgh...!]
Yuan Li begins casting a spell with a murmuring voice.
Chwajwajwajwaj!
From the staff, blood trees sprout in the desert, and a sea of blood covers the surroundings.
Clouds of blood erupt from the blood sea, enveloping him.
Instantly, the area transforms into his domain.
Blood-red ghosts rush towards me.
From the blood clouds, numerous skulls fall like rain on top of me.
Blood from the sea surges, turning into arrows of blood shooting at me.
The whole area is dyed in blood.
And then, I swing my sword.
Kwaang!
With a single slash.
That slash sweeps away all the miscellaneous spells.
Even after that, the slash does not lose momentum, changing its trajectory and extending in all directions like thorny vines.
Yuan Li resists with numerous spells, but the slash permeates through the stronger parts and cuts through the weaker ones, nullifying them all.
Finally.
Chwak!
Yuan Li's body is swept up by the storm of colorless trajectories and turns into a bloody mess.
Of course.
Churuk, chururuk!
As he absorbs the blood fog, his flesh begins to wriggle and regenerate.
But the regeneration takes too long.
It takes two full breaths.
In two breaths, I can swing my Formless Sword hundreds of times.
Kwaang!
Kwang, kwang!
All the miscellaneous things in front of me are swept away, and I quickly approach Yuan Li, who is regenerating, and kick him.
Jjeoong!
As hes regenerating, he is again blown far away into the desert.
Chururururuk!
Like a cockroach boasting its vitality, he regenerates even while being blown away.
But in no time, I am already above him.
I bend my legs, then extend them, stomping down on Yuan Li with both feet.
Puukkk!
Yuan Li's body, struck by my feet, splits in two and falls below.
Chalak Charalak!
From his severed body, fish made of blood appear and fly at me.
Boong Boong, Boong, Boong!
My Formless Sword rotates around me.
In a state of unified offense and defense, I ground all the approaching fish and again plummet down towards him.
Cheulpuk!
His upper body, split in two, explodes into a bloody mess.
He again regenerates his upper body from his lower half.
Woong!
I feel the air burst behind me.
Having turned Yuan Li's upper body into a blood mist, I approach his regenerating lower half and raise my hand.
Kwaang!
I slam my hand down.
Kugugugugu!
As Yuan Li's body tries to regenerate, a chasm forms beneath him, and he is split in half.
"Keep regenerating, you cockroach."
Churuk Churururuk!
The halved body begins to reattach itself.
Hwaruruk!
His blood turns into Blood Fire and envelops me.
But with my Formless Sword flowing through my entire body, I break through the Blood Fire and reach out.
Kwak!
My hand grasps Yuan Li's head.
"I'll kill you until you die."
With that, I grab his head and slam it into the desert floor.
Toogwaang!
His upper body again vanishes along with sword scars.
By now, Yuan Li's regeneration has visibly slowed.
Shik Shiririk!
I watch Yuan Li, wriggling and regenerating his upper body, and raise my foot.
[Wa-wait a moment]
Kwaang!
In my past life, I killed him too easily, watching out for the Mad Lord and Seo Hweol.
It was fortunate that I killed him quickly.
The Mad Lord was slightly outmatched among the many Heavenly Being cultivators.
If I dragged it out like this back then, Seo Hweol might have come in person.
[Wai-]
Peong!
After blowing up his face again.
Whenever he tries to regenerate properly, I relentlessly attack him.
Intermittent spells flying towards me are so weak that I can fend them off with my Formless Sword-imbued body, and even those are getting weaker.
And then.
Kwaang!
When I blew up his face once more.
Seeing that it takes him so long to even regenerate somewhat, I step on his stomach and finally stop attacking.
"Its a little refreshing."
[Krgghh krghaaaargh...!]
I feel a little sorry about this. But you see, I had quite a bit pent up.
[Cough, cough!]
"Now that your regeneration seems to have slowed down quite a bit If I crush your Golden Core now, you'll die, won't you?"
[Krrgh]
Gasping for breath, Yuan Li looks up at me and asks.
[Why, just why are you doing this to me? Are, are you... a Nascent Soul cultivator?]
"Think of it that way. In fact, I could have crushed your Golden Core and severed your soul right away, but I wanted to hit you a bit."
[Ah, thank, thank you... for sparing me.]
I look down at him with a slight smile.
"I never said I'd spare you, though..."
[P-please spare me... I won't make you regret it...!]
"How so?"
[There is a lot of wealth in my castle...!]
"If I kill you, all of that becomes mine anyway, doesn't it?"
[I, I can also teach you the devilish arts I have mastered!]
"I'm not interested in devilish arts."
[Wh-what do you want then! I know a lot! If you have any questions, please just ask!]
I grab his hair.
"Now you seem ready to talk."
Step by step...
I drag him toward the Nether Crossing Ship.
Thump!
I place Yuan Li on the deck of the Nether Crossing Ship.
"You are now my slave. You cannot defy my orders, and if I choose to kill you, you must submit without resistance. Understand?"
[Yes, yes! If you sp-spare my life right now...]
"Swear it on the Nether Crossing Ship."
[...!]
I can feel Yuan Li's intent flare up in anger and fear.
"You didn't swear sincerely. I guess I should kill you right now..."
[I swear! I swear! I swear on the Nether Crossing Ship! I will follow your commands!]
Eventually, Yuan Li swears a ghostly oath on the Nether Crossing Ship.
Now, if he breaks his oath, his soul will be instantly sucked into the Nether Crossing Ship.
I command him.
"Wait here for now."
Its time to check the contents of the stele.
Ta-att
I jump down and read the upper part of the stele thats been intriguing me.
"What exactly does it say..."
The upper part of the stele is a bit longer and contains much more content than the lower part.
The content of the stele is as follows:
A warning to future generations: all immortal treasures in the world are ultimately connected to True Immortals and the force of attraction.
For those who are not yet prepared and are connected to True Immortals, calamity will inevitably come.
One of the few advantages of this grotesque and bizarre world is that due to its ominous nature, most True Immortals find it difficult to read and locate heavenly fate.
Therefore, descendants. If you happen to obtain an immortal treasure, or something of the Immortal Realm, leave it in this world.
Do not underestimate the desires and powers of those who have reached the Great Boundary.
Those who possess an immortal treasure and ascend will inevitably be noticed by True Immortals, no matter where they ascend to.
Especially my descendants.
Growing up in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, if you happen to possess the Heavenly Lightning Banner, heed my warning, and ...
The content ends there.
I connect this content of the stele in Ascension Path.
...Leave it behind for future generations, relinquish your desires, and ascend. Those who do not adhere will face calamity.
"...It's not just encouragement to let go of desires."
Its a much more specific warning than I expected.
I think of the three Heavenly Beings, each hoarding their sect's treasures, and the Sea Dragon King who left considerable treasures in the Sea Dragon Palace.
'The Sea Dragon King knew this warning.'
And
"...Ah."
The warning was intended for the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
But the current generation of the sect...
"Didnt they take the Heavenly Lightning Banner as is?"
The Nether Crossing Ship of Black Ghost Valley is a 'counterfeit' of an immortal treasure.
The Blue Sky Armor of Azure Tiger Saint is an 'exceptional' dharma treasure beyond ordinary ones.
But the Heavenly Lightning Banner is a rumored 'immortal treasure' of Yang Su-jin.
'Jeon Myeong-hoon, this guy...'
I cant help but worry for him.
I have been most worried about Deputy Oh and Team Leader Kim, who were captured by Seo Hweol and Mad Lord.
But unexpectedly, the most concerning might be Jeon Myeong-hoon, who could be entangled with a Great Boundary existence right now.
Crackle, crackle...
I look at the stele floating in front of me, sparking with lightning.
Yuan Li quietly came to stand beside me.
"What's your relationship with the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect? What is this black castle?"
[This castle, 40,000 years ago, was in Ascension Path. It was originally a shrine dedicated to Golden Deity Yang Su-jin. I am a descendant of the clan that managed the shrine.]
The torn-off parts of the castle.
I remember the remnants of the stone structure in Ascension Path, which seemed to have something ripped off from it. That was another part of this castle.
"So, you have no connection with the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect?"
[After the shrine was torn from Ascension Path and flown to the desert during the war 40,000 years ago, my clan was forgotten in the memories of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.]
"I see..."
I continue to question him.
"What was your original purpose?"
[...After all the Heavenly Being cultivators ascended, my goal was to rule the entire continent, harnessing the resources to master devilish arts to an extreme degree. Then, with the blessing of the Serving Command Seal, I planned to ascend to an upper realm called the Blood Yin Realm (), not the one connected to the Ascension Gate.]
"The Blood Yin Realm?"
[Yes. Nowadays, thanks to Yang Su-jin's Ascension Gate, everyone ascends through the gate. However, 120,000 years ago, depending on the cultivation method practiced, the upper realm one ascended to differed. The upper ream connected to the Ascension Gate isn't suitable for practicing devilish arts. Though it's hundreds of times better than this world, it's still not optimized for devilish arts. Hence, I was planning a more traditional ascension through the Serving Command Seal.]
"Knowing about the Blood Yin Realm, it seems you have information about the upper realms. Tell me about it."
Yuan Li cautiously begins his story.
[There are currently six known upper realms: Blood Yin, True Devil, Ancient Force, Nether Ghost, Purple Gold, and Bright Cold. I don't have information about Ancient Force, Nether Ghost, and Purple Gold, but the Bright Cold and True Devil realms are well-known. The Bright Cold Realm is currently connected to the Ascension Gate. The True Devil Realm is adjacent to the Bright Cold Realm and is at war with it.]
His explanation continues.
Seo Ran also joins in, listening carefully, and Song Jin evaluates Yuan Li's story from above the Nether Crossing Ship.
[In the times before the Ascension Gate, if one practiced ordinary immortal or righteous cultivation methods, they would ascend to the Bright Cold Realm. Practicing devilish arts led to the True Devil Realm. Ascending to the True Devil Realm allows one to receive the True Devil Qi, enabling a transformation into the devil race.]
"What about the Blood Yin Realm then?"
[The Blood Yin Realm was originally part of the True Devil Realm but separated due to the overwhelming evil, yin, and turbid energy. Ascending there instead of the True Devil Realm allows absorption of the realms power, potentially becoming a far more exalted being than the devils of the True Devil Realm.]
"Hmm..."
In essence, Yuan Li's plan was to commit a massacre across the entire continent, gather extreme devilish energy, and ascend to a more exceptional realm suited for him.
Then...
'What is Seo Hweol planning to achieve through such a person?'
Did he also desire to go to the Blood Yin Realm?
'No, he has too many schemes laid out in this world.'
Seo Hweol's objective isn't an upper realm, but specifically this world.
I can't deduce Seo Hweol's purpose from just listening to Yuan Li's explanation.
"Did you hear anything from Seo Hweol?"
[From the Sea Dragon King? No, but... not from him directly, but I did steal one of his cultivation methods and a drop of his blood. If you want it, I can give it to you.]
"No need."
This guy doesn't even realize he is being used by the Sea Dragon King.
So, this guys goal and the Sea Dragon Kings goal coincides. Is the massacre he was planning to commit for the Blood Yin Realm somehow what the Sea Dragon King wants?
"Hmm... right."
I remember theres one more thing to obtain from this bastard.
If you wanted the Serving Command Seals blessing for your ascension, you must have wanted the seal, correct?
[Yes, that is correct.]
Then, you must also have the method to break down all the floors of Serving Command Palace?
[Yes, I have analyzed the energy flowing through the layers of Serving Command Palace and prepared a formation to break down all of its floors. If you want it, I'll give it to you!]
Yuan Li takes out red flag dharma treasures from his storage artifact, hands them to me, and explains how to use them.
Similar to the formation Cheongmun Ryeong and I created, its a formation specifically for Serving Command Palace.
"Alright, and..."
I asked Yuan Li a few more questions.
Then, I learned the location of his treasure vault and even where he hid his Blood Spirits.
After following him around the inside of the black castle, I came across what he had been hiding, just as I expected.
"This is..."
I gaze at a large blood-red jar.
The jar is sealed with a pristine white cloth, and although its color is red, it doesn't emit the foul stench of blood like Yuan Li's other items. Instead, a fragrant scent wafts from within.
"What's inside this?"
[Inside is... my Blood Body.]
"...What is this Blood Body made of?"
[Among Blood Bodies, the basic Blood Body itself is cultivated from my blood in a spiritual fluid. Later, if I wish to add special functions, I dissolve collected materials into the jar, slowly synthesizing them with the Blood Body.]
"Collected materials?"
[Yes, solutions made of impressive enemies' corpses dissolved in blood.]
"...How many 'materials' have you dissolved in this Blood Body?"
Yuan Li's subsequent revelation surprises me.
[Currently, the Blood Body is purely accumulating spiritual power and practicing devilish arts with unadulterated devilish energy, so nothing has been synthesized yet. Originally, I planned to find my Blood Spirits, regain cultivation, and slowly synthesize it over the next 200 years.]
"Understood... Hand over everything you know about the Blood Body."
Yuan Li writes down everything about creating, manipulating, and synthesizing the Blood Body, and hands it to me.
Thus, I successfully gathered everything I needed from Yuan Li.
"It seems I've heard everything worthwhile now."
[Yes, I have told you everything truthfully, without omission. Of course, my usefulness doesn't end here. There are also those whom I've made slaves by implanting the Five Elements Blood Curse Banners in advance...]
Just then, Song Jin, who has been listening to Yuan Li's story, speaks up.
[Let me sift through his mind a bit.]
[What...!]
[He appears to have told the truth, but why take the words of a devilish cultivator at face value? Surely the secrets he's been hiding are far greater than what he's blurted out so far. If I just delve a little into his upper dantian, I can make him spill everything, even the secrets he's unaware of.]
"Hmm, that sounds reasonable."
I nod.
"Go ahead."
[Wait a moment!]
"Stay still, Yuan Li. If you resist, I'll kill you. Are you planning to break your oath to the Nether Crossing Ship?"
[Ju-just wait, Master!]
But Song Jin's hand reaches Yuan Li's head faster.
Soon after.
[Aaaaaaagh!]
Yuan Li trembles violently and screams.
Then, Song Jin speaks.
[He told most of it, but he had sealed some information in his mind. Roughly tearing through those seals revealed the following]
The information Song Jin reveals includes methods for offering sacrifices to high-ranking entities in the Blood Yin Realm and efficient rituals for blood sacrifices.
Of course, it also includes Yuan Li's personal history and more.
"Not particularly useful information."
[Regardless, the fact that he dared to hide things from you is significant. Especially the method of making sacrifices to entities in the Blood Yin Realm can be threatening, as it might allow one to break free from the Nether Crossing Ship's oath.]
"Hmm, is that so?"
It didn't really concern me.
[And...]
After rummaging through Yuan Li's mind for a while, Song Jin says,
[As for information about the Sea Dragon King, it seems he was lying about being unaware.]
"...! Is there any information?"
Song Jin's eyes flare with ghostly fire.
[...No.]
Song Jin clicks his tongue.
[The remnant of Seo Hweol that appeared when I struck with my full power during my prime... It seems a seal was placed in this one's mind to automatically erase any information about Seo Hweol upon activation. The seal was embedded in his upper dantian. He didn't even realize the information in his mind was being erased.]
"..."
It means there's no way to obtain information about Seo Hweol.
"So that's it then?"
[That's all.]
Shiiik!
Song Jin releases Yuan Li, who collapses, clutching his head.
I look down at him.
"Alright, now that we've obtained all the useful information, die."
[Wait! I, I still have uses!]
"Even after extracting all the information you've hidden?"
[No! My influence, obtained through covert operations around the world, isn't just this!]
"Is that so?"
[The three clans of the West, the four tribes of the North, the five lords of the East are all under my control....]
"Interesting."
I raise my Formless Sword.
"Farewell."
[Why, why, why! Ah, no! Please dont! I dont want to die! Master, master, master! You son of a bitch!!!!]
Slice.
My Formless Sword gleams as it cleanly severs Yuan Li's soul.
Thus, Yuan Li, having spilled everything, perished.
"Don't worry..."
'Next time, I won't torture you with false hope and will grant you a swift death.'
I gaze coldly at Yuan Li's lifeless body, murmuring to myself.
Song Jin chuckles.
[Not caring about betrayal, I see. You never intended to spare him from the start.]
"It's not betrayal. We were never on the same side to begin with. I simply cut down an enemy."
I look at the jar said to contain Yuan Li's Blood Body.
Whoosh!
Opening the cloth that sealed the jar, I see a familiar beauty inside, neither male nor female.
Using the devilish method I acquired from Yuan Li, I separate my consciousness and insert it into the Blood Body.
Flash!
The Blood Body accepts my consciousness, opening its eyes.
It rises to its feet.
The Blood Body is a naked, pale-white figure, with jet-black hair cascading down, covering its vital parts.
'Yuan Li was cultivating his original devilish arts in it...'
Apparently, not having grown as much as it would in 200 years, the Blood Body's cultivation is only at the later stages of Core Formation.
"It will be quite useful when investigating the Ascension Gate."
After all, having a puppet that can go ahead and face death first is very useful.
Moreover...
Thump, thump...
I manipulate the Blood Body, dressing it in Yuan Li's blood robes and equipping it with his dharma treasures.
Yuan Li's dharma treasures are still functional, making it a truly useful puppet.
"The spirit stones and elixirs beneath the castle can be taken by Senior Song Jin. I don't particularly need such resources.
[Oh, really?]
Song Jin, delighted, plunders Yuan Li's treasure vault, loading up the Nether Crossing Ship with spirit stones for recharging.
While rummaging through Yuan Li's castle...
"This is..."
I found something familiar among the items scattered in Yuan Li's vault.
A jade norigae.
"..."
It belonged to Wolryang's great-grandson.
'He said he was devoured long ago...'
I decide to bring the norigae to Wolryang.
Shortly after.
Song Jin and Seo Ran began to move the Nether Crossing Ship again at my request.
Kugugugugu!
The Nether Crossing Ship roamed the vast Northern Plains.
We fed Yuan Li's Blood Spirits, hidden across the Northern Plains, one by one to the Nether Crossing Ship, eradicating any chances of Yuan Li's resurrection.
During this process...
I spotted a familiar face among the bewildered mortals and cultivators watching the Nether Crossing Ship.
It was Wolryang.
I descended from the Nether Crossing Ship and approached him.
"Who, who are you?"
Wolryang looked at me with a wary expression. I walked up to him and handed him the norigae.
"...This is..."
I briefly told Wolryang about his great-grandson's story.
Yuan Li, who lived in the Heaven-Treading Dessert.
The many he had devoured.
And among them, the relic of Wolryang's great-grandson...
"...Thank you..."
Wolryang exuded an indescribable mix of pain and slight relief.
"Really, thank you...!"
I listened to Wolryang's words of gratitude for a while and joined him in a moment of silence for those sacrificed by Yuan Li.
The Nether Crossing Ship continued to move, visiting the areas near the Heaven-Treading Dessert, the North, the East, the Southern Seas, and the vicinity of the Western countries.
Then, from the prow of the Nether Crossing Ship, I spot a familiar city.
Kugugugugu!
The Nether Crossing Ship hovers above Cheon-saek City, targeting Yuan Li's last Blood Spirit hidden in its center.
Kiiiiing!
Yuan Li's Blood Spirit, concealed in the heart of Cheon-saek City, emits monstrous screams as it is devoured by the Nether Crossing Ship.
[Phew, it's all over now. The chances of resurrection was less than a penny the moment his soul was severed, but to go this far... You're quite ruthless.]
"...It's not so much about guarding against Yuan Li's resurrection..."
I smile bitterly.
"I just wanted to completely erase his existence from this world."
I gaze down at Cheon-saek City and the countless people living there.
I hope for Yuan Lis traces to not linger in their daily lives.
Squeeze...
I hold not the norigae given to Wolryang, but the jade norigage that has become my dharma treasure.
"Senior, I have someone to meet briefly. Could you please wait for me?"
[Alright.]
Holding the jade norigae, I land in front of a familiar workshop located in the center of Cheon-saek City.
Thump, thump...
My heart is racing.
What should I say first?
I...
Creak...
I open the door to the magic artifact store and step inside.
-x-X-x-
The magic artifact shop is just as I remember it.
Its still the same scene from that time.
Clang, clang, clang!
From inside the workshop, the sound of her crafting something can still be heard.
I look around the magic artifact shop for a while, waiting for her.
After a bit, the door of the workshop opens, and a person walks out.
She is wearing the same pure white robe as in my memory.
Its her.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. What brings you here?"
"I am..."
Before I can even say anything.
Woosh!
Suddenly, the jade-colored norigae hanging at my waist starts to tremble violently.
At the same time, the norigae at her waist also starts to shake.
A perfectly identical pair of magic artifacts.
Of course, now there were not two, but three, thanks to the item that transcended time.
But their function still seems to resonate.
"That is..."
Her eyes widened.
"Are you... that person?"
She looks at me with wide eyes, holding her norigae.
I can't speak.
What should I say?
What can I say?
Just then.
Flash!
The norigae in her hand shines brightly and suddenly turns into a bright brilliance.
"...!!"
And then, the light flows into the norigae I am holding and merges into it.
The one I brought is the norigae of Buk Hyang-hwa, transcending time.
In other words, its hers from the future.
As if the world does not allow two completely identical things to exist,
Her norigae from the past is sucked into the one I am holding and absorbed.
Fzzzzt...
Soon after, the norigae in my hand, having absorbed Buk Hyang-hwa's, shines even brighter.
It appears to have become firmer and more mysterious than before.
'By overlapping the same artifacts... has the grade of the dharma treasure risen?'
Lost in thought at the mysterious phenomenon, Hyang-hwa too looks astonished.
"So, when the same artifacts meet, this happens. I've learned something new. Hmm, but... that norigae was also my mother's heirloom..."
She seems somewhat sad.
Her expression, gestures, actions, habits, breathing, heartbeat...
All of it, is her.
She is alive.
"By the way, since you've come all this way with the norigae, why don't you come in and have some tea?"
Then.
I realize from her tone of voice.
She is not.
The person I loved.
Drip, drip...
She is not the her who shared the same time with me, the same feelings, the same pain.
"You... don't know me."
"Yes...?"
I absentmindedly wipe away my tears and speak.
"No, its nothing"
I have anticipated this.
My disciples, my master, countless Kim Young-hoons.
I have been preparing for this moment since the time I couldn't meet them.
But now that it's actually happening, I can't help but feel bitterly cold.
Seeing her stirred a tempest in my heart.
Perhaps that's why.
I hand her the norigae.
"Your mother's heirloom was absorbed, so I can't keep it. Please take it."
"Really? It's fine for me, but are you sure you can just give away the token of fate?"
Token of fate, huh.
Do you know?
The person your mother intended to connect you with is already married and dead.
The 'real' token is probably buried with him by Wolryang's hand in his grave.
"...I heard you were to marry the person who brought the norigae."
Feeling an indescribably complex emotion, I place the norigae in her hand.
"I'm sorry, but I will give you this norigae and leave."
"Yes...?"
"I..."
I look at her face and feel relieved.
At the same time, sad looking into her eyes.
My Her is alive, but she doesn't know me.
If only we had died at the same time that day, we could have been together in the afterlife.
"I already have someone I love."
Holding back tears is easy.
But holding back emotions is difficult.
If someone else reads my intent, they might have cried with me.
"Thank you for keeping the token while waiting for fate. But I no longer need that token. Please take it and live freely. You don't have to live waiting anymore."
"Wait a moment..."
Barely suppressing my boiling emotions, I turn my back and leave the magic artifact shop.
A brief but intense encounter.
But I force myself to step away and turn my back.
If I don't turn my back now,
I might fall there and cling to her, weeping madly.
I would never leave this place again.
Swoosh!
I leave the magic artifact shop and board the Nether Crossing Ship.
"Quickly, go anywhere."
[Alright.]
Whirring!
Ghostly mist envelops the Nether Crossing Ship, and we immediately move to another place.
'Who was that man?'
Buk Hyang-hwa recalls the man who suddenly came to give her his token and left.
She was bewildered.
For years, the signal from the connected magic artifacts had not been detected, then suddenly signals started appearing from two places.
She thought the magic artifact was broken, but when she checked it was fine, leaving her confused.
And a few days ago, one of the two signals disappeared.
Unbeknownst to her, that was when Wolryang had placed the norigae in a shrine to honor his great-grandson's spirit.
Seeing the signal return to one, she felt a subtle trembling and tension.
It seemed like he might come to find her at any time.
Of course, the pair her mother had made for her could have died long ago, and a third person could have found the magic artifact.
But she had been unable to sleep for several days.
And today.
The 'him' she had been fantasizing about had come.
Surprisingly, he spoke the story of the token related to her norigae.
She was shocked.
Doesnt that mean he is the match her mother had mentioned?
Realizing this, she felt a strange fluttering and trembling feeling.
But contrary to her various expectations.
'He' simply gave her his norigae and ran away.
Saying he already had someone he liked.
"...."
In truth, she had somewhat anticipated this outcome.
Her mother had wished for her to form a bond or marry the person with the norigae.
But in reality, there was no guarantee the other party would honor the promise.
Even if he didn't keep the promise.
The fact that he crossed the desert to deliver the norigae to inform her of this means his character is respectable enough.
'He seemed like a good person...'
She sighed, thinking of the late-stage Qi Refiners who had been following her around lately.
'If only there were someone with even half the character of that man, I would have considered it...'
They were just immature late-stage Qi Refiners.
Buk Hyang-hwa looked outside for a moment and then at the norigae.
Her norigae and his had merged, emitting a more mysterious aura.
Her mother, lacking a spiritual root, had some skill in crafting magic artifacts.
Perhaps due to her lineage from the Gongmyo Cheon-saeks bloodline, her mother, who had the talent for making magic artifacts, did produce quite good-quality ones. However, Buk Hyang-hwa was well aware of her mother's skills.
It has been a long time since she surpassed her mother with her own talents
And she thought about the norigae her mother had made.
'Two magic artifacts merging into one? And this strange, sacred aura... Did my mother really make this? It seems more like a dharma treasure than a magic artifact?'
As she curiously examined the norigae.
Drip...
"...Huh?"
Hyang-hwa suddenly wiped her eyes.
"Did something get in my eye...?"
Thump, thump...
Somehow, she felt a pain in her heart.
And, looking at the norigae, she suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotion.
"Wait a moment."
Drip, dripping...
The tears wouldn't stop.
Somehow, emotions she didn't even know she had surged up.
Hyang-hwa felt her heart trembling wildly as she thought of the man who had just left.
"Ah, no..."
She had to catch him.
Somehow, she strongly felt this urge.
Bang!
With trembling legs, she stumbled and rushed towards the entrance of the magic artifact shop.
But he was nowhere to be seen in the vicinity.
Whooosh...
In the clear desert sky, strangely, a black ghostly mist dispersed into the air.
As if possessed, she boarded a flying magic artifact and rose into the sky to look around.
He was nowhere to be found.
With trembling hands holding the norigae, feeling the tears falling from her chin, she thought.
'Why?'
Her heart ached so much.
'What is this feeling?'
She bit her lip.
'I must find him.'
She had to ask him.
What is this feeling?
What has he done to her?
Buk Hyang-hwa wiped away the sudden tears and resolved.
'I will find him.'
No matter where he is, no matter where he goes.
She will find him and ask.
That was her decision.
[Who did you meet?]
"...Just an acquaintance."
[Is that so.]
Song Jin speaks to me.
[Why don't you try learning the Ghostly Arts of the Black Ghost Valley? The death energy accumulated in various parts of your soul... and the intense emotional fluctuations you just displayed... They seem highly compatible with the sect's techniques.]
"...I'll decline learning devilish arts. Oh, and..."
I decided to receive something else from Song Jin.
"Do you have a method called 'Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll' in the Black Ghost Valley?"
[Yes, it exists. It's a cultivation method that no one practices, always sitting in the corner of our archives. How do you know about it?]
"I heard about it before. Could you give me that manual? I would like to learn it."
Its only at the level of Qi Building methods.
A method that can resonate with my dharma treasure.
Now that I have given the norigae to Hyang-hwa,
I want to resonate more deeply with the Colorless Glass Sword.
Song Jin readily hands over the Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll, and after I memorize its essence, I speak to him.
"Thank you. And I have a few more requests..."
I moved to another place with Song Jin's Nether Crossing Ship.
My emotions are boiling too fiercely.
I wanted to do something quickly to calm them down.
In the southeast of Byeokra.
The Byeok Clan resides here.
I arrive at the top of the Byeok Clan's main house with the Nether Crossing Ship.
'Maybe I should use the Blood Body here...'
I raise the Blood Body controlled by my consciousness, resembling Yuan Li.
Woosh!
Through the Blood Body, I create a mask of devilish energy on its face, making it look exactly like Yuan Li.
Woosh!
Yuan Lis Blood Body flies into the sky and lands above the Byeok Clan's estate.
Soon after,
Feeling the commotion of the Nether Crossing Ship and the presence of Yuan Li,
Byeok Cheon-gi and the elders of the Byeok Clan hurry out.
"Lo-Lord Bloodwood, what brings you here?"
Byeok Cheon-gi quickly sets up a soundproof barrier around us and asks.
I speak through the Blood Body's mouth.
[Bring all the spirit stones of your clan here.]
"Yes, yes?"
[Did you not hear me? I command you to bring all the spirit stones of your clan.]
"But, how..."
[Enough talk.]
Woosh!
Through the Blood Body, I sense the Five Elements Blood Curse Banners embedded in the heads of Byeok Cheon-gi and clan elders.
'So hes been operating in secret for hundreds of years, embedding them all in their heads.'
Zzzt!
"!"
"Aaaghhhh!"
"Agaaaaghh!"
Perhaps due to extracting only about one-twentieth of the power of the Five Elements Blood Curse Banners,
The Core Formation cultivators of the Byeok Clan are in agonizing pain, but they somehow manage to endure.
[Too much talk. This is for a greater plan, so stop complaining and bring all the spirit stones.]
"Gh... Alright...!"
Soon after,
Under Byeok Cheon-gi's command, the cultivators of the Byeok Clan bring millions of spirit stones and place them in front of the Blood Body.
"These are all the spirit stones in our main house. There are about ten percent as many stones scattered across our territories, but it will take too long to gather them..."
[That's enough. This will do. And one more thing...]
I speak through the Blood Body.
[You mentioned discovering relics of the Jo Clan and researching them, right?]
"...Yes."
[Bring all relics of the Jo Clan, especially those related to the devilish path that sacrifices human lives, whether they are cultivators or mortals, as well as poisonous manuals or techniques, here. It's better not to replicate them recklessly.]
"...Yes."
As I menacingly move the Five Elements Blood Curse Banners, Byeok Cheon-gi replies with trembling lips.
Soon, they bring the requested items to the Blood Body.
Woosh!
I open the Blood Body's storage device and receive everything, loading the spirit stones onto the Nether Crossing Ship..
[That's enough. Stay quiet for now. I will contact you again.]
"Understood. Please take care, Lord Bloodwood!"
The Core Formation cultivators of the Byeok Clan bow to the Blood Body, and I control it to board the Nether Crossing Ship, asking Song Jin to take me to the Cheongmun Clan.
'This should make up for the betrayal in the past life.'
Thinking of the moment when Byeok Cheon-gi chose to throw the Heaven-Sealing Talisman instead of the Heaven-Striking Talisman to kill Yuan Li.
Frankly, it was infuriating.
But...
'Be grateful for having a son like Byeok Mun-seong.'
I decided to let the Byeok Clan off this lightly because of Byeok Mun-seong's presence.
'They're not a completely depraved devilish clan like the Makli Clan, after all...'
And since I have also recovered all the devilish arts and refining methods discovered in the Jo Clan's ruins, they wouldn't develop like the Makli Clan.
Kugugugu!
As Im sorting through these thoughts,
The Nether Crossing Ship already arrives at the Cheongmun Clan.
I once again move Yuan Li's Blood Body and reveal myself to the Cheongmun Clan.
Kugugugu!
Behind Yuan Li, I unleashed the aura of Treading Heaven Beyond the Path, pressing down on the Cheongmun Clan.
Soon after, Cheongmun Jung-jin, the head of the Cheongmun Clan, and the clan's elders appear.
"Are, are you a Nascent Soul senior?"
[Yes.]
"What graces us with your presence to the Cheongmun Clan?"
Cheongmun Jung-jin asks with a serious expression, looking at the Blood Body.
I move the Blood Body's mouth to speak.
[I have noticed someone of interest. A cultivator named Cheongmun Ryeong from the Cheongmun Clan is quite knowledgeable in the way of Understanding before Breakthrough. He is known as one of the three great experts in Qi Building, and his fame is widespread. I have read his books and Im impressed. He truly is a master of Understanding before Breakthrough knowledge. Therefore, I have come to support him and his clan, the Cheongmun Clan.]
Kugugugugu!
I unload the several million spirit stones from the Byeok Clan in front of the Cheongmun Clan's courtyard.
Cheongmun Jung-jin's eyes widened in shock at the sudden influx of enough spirit stones for the entire clan.
"Th-thank you"
[And.]
I continue.
[I will ask the owner of this Nether Crossing Ship, Senior Song Jin of Black Ghost Valley, to make an arrangement.
From now on, if you provide spirit stones, you will be granted the right to ride this Nether Crossing Ship. Take the cultivators of the Cheongmun Clan who mainly practice Wood attribute methods to the Serving Command Palace frequently to accumulate spiritual power.]
I pass on my insights of Wood attribute methods and a scroll that can break through the prohibitions of Serving Command Palace.
Hearing my words through the Blood Body, Cheongmun Jung-jin, the Core Formation elders, and even the Qi Building elders of the Cheongmun Clan who had come out to listen to our conversation bow deeply to me.
"Thank you, Seni"
[Enough!]
I shout, cutting off the council of elders.
Especially Cheongmun Ryeong, who was slowly bowing his head.
'As expected...'
This is why I had the Blood Body deliver it instead of myself.
If I had to hear 'Senior' and receive thanks from Cheongmun Ryeong
It would be too painful.
But still, hearing it through the Blood Body is heart-wrenching.
[That's enough. No need for thanks. It's an order. Now... take care. Do your best to support Cheongmun Ryeong, so he can reach the Core Formation stage.]
After quickly conveying my wishes,
I board the Nether Crossing Ship and ask Song Jin to take me to Shengzi.
Whoosh!
The ghostly mist envelops the Nether Crossing Ship once more, and we sail through space.
"Huh"
Cheongmun Jung-jin chuckles, looking at the pile of spirit stones before him and Cheongmun Ryeong, who looks bewildered.
"Hehehe"
He approaches Cheongmun Ryeong and pats his shoulder.
"Ryeong, your efforts have not been in vain. These gifts from the respected senior are because they were impressed by your writings and theories"
"Is that so."
"Stand tall, Ryeong! Everyone listen up! The spirit stones that have been gifted are under Ryeong's name. One-third of them will be used for Ryeong. Any objections?"
The elders and late-stage Qi Refining cultivators of the Cheongmun Clan answer loudly.
"None!"
Cheongmun Jung-jin laughs heartily.
"First, organize these spirit stones! And Ryeong, I'll help you as best as I can, so let's focus on advancing to the Core Formation stage from today onwards. That senior hopes for your advancement to Core Formation and gave us so many gifts. We can't disappoint him!"
Cheongmun Ryeong, after a moment of silence, speaks with a trembling voice.
"Thank you."
Kugugugu!
The Nether Crossing Ship arrives above the Jinlu Clan in Shengzi.
The Jinlu Clan is the last of the traitor clans of the Western Three Kingdoms.'
I have crushed the Makli Clan and extracted spirit stones from the Byeok Clan.
'But what about the Jinlu Clan?'
The Byeok Clan was spared to some extent because of Byeok Mun-seong, despite my resentment against them.
The Makli Clan was destroyed not only due to my resentment but also because of their usual cruel deeds.
But the Jinlu Clan...
There is neither the usual resentment nor the cruel actions.
At the same time, there are no good memories like with Byeok Mun-seong.
'So then...'
After some contemplation, I descend upon the Jinlu Clan with Yuan Li's Blood Body.
Shortly after.
Jinlu Yeon-cheon, the head of the Jinlu Clan, and Core Formation elders appear.
"Oh my, what brings Lord Bloodwood to this far western end?"
Jinlu Yeon-cheon approaches the blood puppet with a captivating voice.
I activate the Blood Curse Banners embedded in her and the other elders through the Blood Body.
Zzzt!
"Ugghhh...!"
"Agrhhhh!"
In an instant, their entire Core Formation force is incapacitated.
[From now on.]
I speak through the Blood Bodys mouth.
[I will inform you of the forces in the Northern Grasslands and the Eastern States with the Five Elements Blood Curse Banners embedded in them. Go around the North and East, and collect two million spirit stones, or equivalent value, from each of them.]
Woosh!
I summon a Blood Curse Banner through the Blood Bodys hand.
Woosh!
The Blood Curse Banner becomes a red flag tattoo that lands on Jinlu Yeon-cheon's hand.
[Using this, you can activate the Five Elements Blood Curse Banners embedded in individuals three times. Find them, collect the spirit stones under my name, and deliver all of them to the Cheongmun Clan under my name.]
"To the Cheongmun Clan, you say?"
[Yes, and this is for when everything is over. Open it after you've completed your task. Inside the letter are instructions for your next steps. If you open this letter before completing the task, a curse written in the letter will activate, alerting me, so do not open it recklessly.]
"...Yes, I will heed your command."
I hand her the letter with the curse attached.
Jinlu Yeon-cheon carefully places the letter in her storage artifact.
[Carry out my command.]
Inside the letter.
'Once everything is over, dedicate everything of the Jinlu Clan to the Cheongmun Clan and become a subordinate force to them.'
That is the command I wrote.
Its also a punishment for the Jinlu Clan.
'She will probably like it.'
A command that would make Jinlu Yeon-cheon happy.
A command that would make everyone happy.
'And now, the last part...'
I fly to a village with the Nether Crossing Ship.
Its a familiar village.
'A village that suffered from the tyranny of a centipede demon..'
This time, I land in the village with my actual body.
The villagers are wide-eyed seeing me descend from the sky.
I ask the village head.
"Beyond that peak, there lives a centipede demon, correct?"
"Yes, that demon has been taking our young men and women..."
"I'll take care of it. In return, do me a favor."
"Wh-what is the favor?"
"In this village..."
Using internal energy, I sketch the face of a child to whom I read the book of fairy tales in my past life.
"Is there a child who looks like this?"
"Oh, that would be the bookshop owner's daughter. Yes, she's here."
"I have a request for her. Please guide me to her."
I followed the village head's guidance to find the child.
'That book, it certainly wasn't ordinary.'
There must be some hidden secret in it.
In my previous life, consumed with anger, I hadn't thought to delve further into its secrets.
But in this life, it seems worth investigating.
The owner of the village bookshop is an elderly scholar, and the child, known as his daughter, is playing with dolls nearby.
I approach them and ask.
"Do you, by chance, have a book of fairy tales?"
The scholar's response makes me jolt.
"...A book of fairy tales? We don't deal with such childish books here."
"...What?"
I explain the contents of the fairy tales, asking if they have a book of such stories.
Upon hearing my description, the scholar, looking annoyed, goes inside and rummages through his books for a while.
"There's nothing like that here. And stories about the Ender? I have lived and studied in this region for twenty years but have never heard of such traditional fairy tales. Although I often read books with similar tales and sayings to children, I have never come across a book mentioning a Supreme Deity or the Ender."