Crack!
The fingers of the green-armored wooden puppet gouge into my skull.
Inside the skull, within my upper dantian, my soul is felt being grasped by the puppet's hand.
Ugh...!
Flash!
At the same time, the teleportation array activates, and we begin to cross through space.
Whizz!
A beam of light flows, and we are transported towards the Human Territory.
However, I can't help but be horrified.
It's still following...!
Crunch!
The puppet holding my soul is using its Four-Axis stage cultivation to cross through space, following the teleportation itself!
Wo-woong!
My soul, it's being pulled out!
The problem isn't that my head is being grabbed.
Even if my head is cut off, it will grow back, but the puppet at the Four-Axis stage burrowed its circuits into my soul.
If this continues, my soul will be pulled out, leaving only my body to be transported, and without a doubt, I will wake up in the next life.
No, it's not the next life, but I could also end up captured by the Mad Lord....
That's the real worst-case scenario!
Damn whether it's Prince Seo or Crown Prince....
Crack, crackle!
While being enveloped in the light of teleportation and crossing through space, I grab both hands of the Four-Axis stage puppet that is still clinging on.
"I dislike both options...."
Zing!
Using my soul, I begin to take control of the puppet's circuit in reverse.
So just get lost...!"
Wo-woong!
Crack!
Gradually, my power pushes the puppet's hands away, and the puppet's body begins to be pushed out beyond the light of teleportation.
However, the puppet, with all its might, screams trying to push its body back into the light of teleportation.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
And when I push the puppet away with my own scream.
Boom!
From behind me, a thick hand and a thin hand.
Two hands grab the puppet respectively.
Its Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon.
"Get lost!"
"Return to the Mad Lord!"
Oh Hyun-seok, with his brute strength obtained from body refining methods.
Kim Yeon, by connecting to the puppet through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, to gradually push the puppet away
In both ways, the two come to my aid.
Thump, thump, thump!
That isn't all.
"A mere plaything of the Mad Lord, you will not take my juniors...!"
Cheongmun Gyu, along with the senior brothers and senior sisters of Azure Heaven Creation Sect who are being teleported in the light with us, lend their strength.
Their thick forearms push the puppet away.
Finally.
Bang!
The puppet's hand falls from my head, and I squeeze out my spiritual power.
"Azure Wing!"
Kugugugu!
Three wings sprout from my back.
A blue vortex swirls around my right hand.
"Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter!"
Boom!
A vast light flings the puppet outward.
The puppet, created from the wooden man of the Four-Axis stage with green armor, finally falls out of the light of teleportation and flies off into the void.
Whizz!
And finally.
Flash!
We return to the main headquarters of the Human Race Grand Alliance, at the teleportation array in the Heavenly Human Island.
The short yet long mission against the Mad Lord has ended.
Swoosh
The night wind blows across the land
In the wasteland near the Light Spirit Pond, the Mad Lord, supported by [Her], stands up.
Within his eyes, the glow of madness and rationality alternate, and he grimaces in pain, clutching his head.
"...He, knew about Yeons Play..."
"Catch and remodel, tear apart the skull to see..."
"No, there's no need for that..."
"That he took my disciple, now trying to complete the Yeons Play, how is he planning to fulfill those absurd goals, only if..."
"Stop! Stop! Quiet! Ugh! Anyway, if he knows about the Yeons Play... it's actually a good thing. Rather than activating Yeons Play under the training of an insane old man like me, if she properly cultivates and elevates her realm to activate Yeons Play..."
Ssshhh....
As the Mad Lord's soliloquy continues, the madness in his eyes subsides each time he convinces himself.
"...Ah. Yes, I can see it again. That moment..."
The Mad Lord gazes endlessly at the moon floating in the sky, fiddling with [Her] hand that is supporting him.
"...Please hold on a little longer, everyone... Yeons Play is not far off. The day when all of our long, strange, and beautiful connections will be resolved..."
Caressing [Her] hand, the Mad Lord closes his eyes and smiles.
"...To see the Matching Wings Spear in the hands of such a person. Im grateful for bringing back memories after such a long time..."
Muttering a word of thanks to the already fled Seo Eun-hyun, the Mad Lord once again comfortably sinks into madness.
Human Territory, Temporal Fate Island.
We arrived at Temporal Fate Island, where ascended humans come to verify and obtain their identity plaques, and verified Kim Yeon's identity.
However, due to the reputation of being 'the disciple of the Mad Lord,' Kim Yeon had to be called to the Grand Alliance on Heavenly Human Island for a detailed investigation.
I thought everything would end after the investigation.
"...Excuse me, Master, what do you mean?"
Not just me, but Oh Hyun-seok also frowned and asked back at the words of Azure Tiger Saint.
That's how unwelcome Azure Tiger Saint's words to us, who brought Kim Yeon, were.
Azure Tiger Saint who delivered the message also seemed quite displeased.
"...I'm not exactly thrilled either, but what can we do? Honestly, moving her elsewhere might indeed be better for her."
The situation is as so.
'The disciple of the Mad Lord' Kim Yeon's return to the Human Race is known throughout the Human Race.
Theres no problem up to that point, but now the Black Ghost Valley and Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, who know about Kim Yeon's talent through previous investigation, are demanding she be handed over to them.
"Our people from the Azure Heaven Creation Sect took on the mission and saved her with the power of our sect, but what have they done to demand Kim Yeon?"
"...Sigh, they said they will offer considerable compensation, and tried to explain it with all sorts of flattery, but their real intention must be this."
Azure Tiger Saint crumples the letters from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and Black Ghost Valley, clearly displeased.
"Having Oh Hyun-seok, who possesses the Unique Holy Body, and you, Seo Eun-hyun, who ascended alone despite not even being in the Qi Refining stage, under the Azure Heaven Creation Sect is enough to make them green with envy. Now that Kim Yeon, who was a disciple of the Mad Lord, has also joined our side, it's enough to make them die with jealousy. So, they want us to share with them fairly."
"..."
Crunch....
I felt irritated by their behavior of treating people like objects.
"I don't like it either. But if we don't send Kim Yeon to one of those two sects to maintain fairness, they threaten to spread the talents of Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon, and the secret of Seo Eun-hyun, who ascended alone with a body not even in the Qi Refining stage, everywhere."
"...Putting pettiness aside..."
I continue, holding back my anger.
We cannot send her to those two sects.
One sect is doomed to be annihilated soon, and the other will be destroyed within 500 years due to Kang Min-hee's rampage.
"What's stopping us from revealing that they possess the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body and the Ghostly Yin Transformation Immortal Root among their talents?"
"...That would lead to mutual destruction. Especially now, when Integration stage old monsters are swarming in the Human Territory, revealing such talents would turn the entire Human Territory into a battlefield."
Azure Tiger Saint sighs.
"Well, I don't like it, but to be honest, our sect doesn't have many methods suitable for Kim Yeon to learn. Honestly, if we try to train her in the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture, I guarantee she will try to escape from the Azure Heaven Creation Sect in less than ten days."
"..."
"Until now, we could catch those who ran away because they were in the early stages of Qi Gathering and Qi Refining, but it won't be easy to catch someone with the consciousness of a Four-Axis stage cultivator if they run away."
I sigh.
After all, Kim Yeon had just barely escaped the Mad Lord's threat of modification.
Given that her Red Spirit Body is of Earth and Wood attributes, she is likely to undergo brutal training and live burials, and nine out of ten times, she will flee from the Azure Heaven Creation Sect in terror.
'If she can't stand Azure Heaven Creation Sect anyway, itd be best to hand her over to Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and Black Ghost Valley...'
Handing her over to another sect is also an option, but none of those sects are on par with Black Ghost Valley or Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
Kim Yeon choosing one of the two sects is her best chance for growth.
Of course, its unpleasant that a person saved by the Azure Heaven Creation Sect is being taken as a disciple by another sect, but they promised compensation, and Azure Tiger Saint said he knew the two sects well enough that they wouldn't mistreat their disciples.
But I can't let her go to those two sects.
A True Immortal is expected to attack the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect in about 20 to 30 years.
Actually, Im not sure about the accuracy of this.
In my past life, I was merely confined into General Seo, only hearing what Kim Yeon passed on.
Kim Yeon wasn't in a position to obtain accurate information either.
For all I know, Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect might disappear next year.
But I can't say that.
'If only I could keep her with me until the True Immortal strikes...'
Then, Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect will be gone and Black Ghost Valley will be too busy investigating the safety of their Nether Crossing Ship after the disappearance of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect due to the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
"...Master might not be aware, but actually, Kim Yeon is..."
"I know. Didn't you say you liked her on the first day of ascension?"
"Ah, yes..."
"You want to stay with Kim Yeon, don't you?"
"...Yes."
I don't want to send her to those dangerous sects.
"Hmm, but if those two sects make a fuss..."
"Then."
I look at Azure Tiger Saint and ask.
"Could you allow us to stay together for just 50 more years?"
"50 years..."
Hearing my words, Oh Hyun-seok, who is listening, looks shocked.
"What do you mean by 50 years? Would those two sects even agree to..."
"Well, fine. After all, she's someone rescued by people from the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, so keeping her for another 50 years, if they have any conscience, shouldn't be too objectionable."
"Master...?"
Oh Hyun-seok looks bewildered, not understanding Azure Tiger Saint's decision.
'It seems he still doesn't grasp the sense of time among cultivators.'
Azure Tiger Saint is over a thousand years old.
To an entity who has lived for more than a millennium, a mere 50 years isn't considered a long time.
"Ah... It seems I still don't quite understand the sense of time..."
"Hahaha, you'll get used to it soon. Anyway, if you're going to spend another 50 years with that child, Kim Yeon, we'd better have a good reason."
Azure Tiger Saint continues with a smile.
"Didn't I assign you two missions before, to chase after the devil and to spy on the Mad Lord?"
"Yes, that's right."
The devil was caught within five years. However, there was evidence that the devil attempted to summon a Blood Yin Realm's Star Shattering stage Heavenly Fiend, leading the Human Race Grand Alliance to hold the True Devil Realm accountable. The fear was that the devil could have inadvertently summoned a terrifying entity from the Blood Yin Realm.
The True Devil Realm is currently being targeted for invasion by the Human Race Grand Alliance using this incident as a pretext. You, along with Kim Yeon, will serve as the vanguard in the invasion of the True Devil Realm for the next 50 years.
"Invasion of the True Devil Realm..?"
Thus, I, Oh Hyun-seok, and Kim Yeon, following Azure Tiger Saint's proposal, became part of the expeditionary force invading the True Devil Realm.
True Devil Realm.
Secluded River Domain, a meeting place for high-ranking devils.
A place where a dark river of shadows flows.
A conference was being held in the Secluded River Castle, located beneath that river of shadows.
"One of your Horned Devils foolishly crossed over to the Bright Cold Realm, attempting to summon a Shattering Star existence from the Blood Yin Realm into the Human Territory!"
"Damn it! How was I supposed to know that the bastard was a spy for the Heavenly Fiends of the Blood Yin Realm! How am I supposed to counter the Blood Yin Realm's Fiends creating spies with all kinds of their bizarre and sinister devilish arts!"
"You must take responsibility! Now the despicable humans are using this as an excuse to declare war on the Devil Realm!"
"Those filthy humans. During the Bright-Devil Great War, other races from the Bright Cold Realm made countless colonies in the True Devil Realm, but they're the only ones who failed to do so, and now they're throwing a tantrum!"
Inside the meeting hall of Secluded River City, sinister devils exuding dark devilish energy are holding a worried discussion.
"This is not the time for us to be fighting amongst ourselves. Although it's said that the humans couldn't fight us directly during the last Bright-Devil Great War because they were supporting from the rear, thus failing to make colonies in the True Devil Realm... I've heard that humans are as vicious and cunning as the fiends from the Blood Yin Realm, a terrifying race."
"Right. Despite being able to speak and possessing intelligence, just because of being a different race, humans are known to grind up numerous races to make their elixirs."
"Such abominable beings!"
"The Devil Realm must unite to fend off these abominable humans. Otherwise, countless devils will be captured by human cultivators and turned into mere handfuls of elixirs!"
A horned devil from the Horned Tribe, leading the meeting, rallied the devils to unite.
After the meeting concluded, the devils left Secluded River City, each returning to their own territories.
Among them, a representative of the Horned Tribe, a mysterious devil clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk, the current state of the True Devil Realm is misguided. Its not even the Bright Cold Realm, but the Human Race of the Heaven Tribe that are invading, yet theyre all trembling like fools.
His appearance is somewhat human, but where humans would have ears and eyes, horns protruded instead.
Wo-woong!
The horned devil flew back to his territory, pulling out a storage scroll.
Inserting his hand into the scroll, he pulled out a heart-like object and crushed it in the air.
Wo-woong!
Darkness enveloped him, blocking the view from outside.
Then, a red chamber appeared before the mysterious horned devil.
"Halu (Governing Skull) of the Horned Tribe pays respects to Shattered Bell Esteemed One."
Whispers seem to emanate from beyond the red chamber.
The horned devil, Halu, inclines the horns on his ears to listen to the whispers.
Soon, the whispers translated into various pieces of information in his mind.
"Earth Tribe... Dragon King... Cooperation... Blood Yin Realm... Descent... Bright Cold Realm... True Immortal... Revival... True Immortal Realm Secrets... Infinite... Glory..."
Halu recited the information conveyed by the whispers and bowed to the red chamber.
After a while, the scene within the red chamber disappeared.
"I will not disappoint the Esteemed Ones expectations...!"
The veil of darkness that enveloped Halu lifted, and he looked in the direction of the Bright Cold Realm.
'If what the Esteemed One has said truly comes to pass, our Horned Tribe will enjoy infinite glory by following the Blood Yin Realm's lead and obtaining the coordinates to the True Immortal Realm. Then, we can overhaul this pitiful True Devil Realm that strains to appease the Bright Cold Realm under the name of our Horned Tribe...!'
The mysterious devil Halu smiles as he gazes at the purple sun rising over the True Devil Realm.
-x-X-x-
How did it come to this?
"Deputy Seo, do you see that? My goodness, there's a fireball floating through the sky!"
Im sitting on the deck, looking at Kim Yeon, who is chattering away beside me.
After receiving the order from Azure Tiger Saint,
I am currently on a Flying Ship from Azure Cold Island, headed towards the entrance of the Devil Realm with Kim Yeon.
The Devil Realm
I had heard about it.
According to what Ive heard, there was a great war 40,000 years ago called the Bright-Devil Great War, between the Bright Cold Realm and the True Devil Realm.
In the Bright-Devil Great War, the True Devil Realm was defeated by the Bright Cold Realm, and afterwards, it was said that the True Devil Realm had to cede some of its territories as colonies to various races of the Bright Cold Realm.
It was said that these races from the Bright Cold Realm would bring resources from these colonies in the Devil Realm to cultivate devilish arts for their cultivators.
Especially, the Human Race would buy devils from the Devil Realm as slaves and grind them into a pill called Devil Origin Pill, which was sought after by many races not only for reaching the Nascent Soul stage but also for cultivating in the Nascent Soul stage itself.
However, the Human Race, which made the pills, only provided a little rear support during the Bright-Devil Great War and could not get a share of the colonies when they were distributed. As a result, it seemed that the Human Race Grand Alliance decided to use the previous incident as an excuse to invade the Devil Realm and create colonies.
...Is participating the right thing to do?
Even though the reason is to protect Yeon, I feel uneasy.
"Deputy Seo? Deputy Seo?"
While Im contemplating, Kim Yeon came in front of me and asked.
"Ah, what did you say?"
"Oh, I was just saying how astonishing the scenery is, but you were spacing out, so I wondered if you felt sick..."
"I'm not sick, just had something on my mind..."
"I see. Actually, I heard it from Chief Oh."
Kim Yeon brushes her hair back with a bitter expression.
"Youve... lost your memory?"
"...Yeah, I only remember bits and pieces, barely anything concrete."
"Hmm..."
She sits down next to me, and together we look at the majestic landscapes of the Bright Cold Realm passing by.
"Deputy, no, Eun-hyun Oppa."
"Hm?"
"Ive talked about it with Chief Hyun-seok, but how about this?"
Kim Yeon looks at me and begins to speak.
"Well tell you about what happened at the company, the things we remember about you, Eun-hyun Oppa."
"Ah..."
"Not that I know everything about Oppa, but I can tell you about my memories of you."
"...Before that."
I ask her, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"...First, can you explain to me which world we came from?"
"Ah..."
And then, her explanation continued.
Ah, I see.
So, I was born in such a country.
I absorbed the history of our country and the world history that Kim Yeon explained to me into my mind.
Earth. So, I come from such a planet.
"...To us, who come from Earth, this world seems a bit... nonsensical. Something about the world being flat and all that... And that's not to mention the complete lack of proper human rights..."
"It seems our homeland did have something called human rights."
"Ah... well, not the entire Earth, but the country we lived in was more or less like that. At least it wasn't a place where people openly turned humans into puppets or where monsters that eat people existed."
She caresses her arm.
Her arm, which had been modified, reverted back to its original flesh and blood state.
She removed the puppet arm and regrew it.
Though she was dumbfounded by this absurd treatment, her arm regenerated a few days ago.
"Well... that's roughly the history of our world and our country. Do you remember any of it?"
"Um, I don't really remember much, sorry."
"That's okay. Anyway, can I explain about you, Eun-hyun Oppa?"
"Sure."
She begins to slowly describe 'me.'
A person who supported her as a senior, who almost unconditionally helped with difficult tasks, who would patiently revise all the documents she messed up without showing a hint of annoyance.
A person who, despite occasionally being scolded by superiors, never passed that frustration onto his subordinates.
Someone who might seem foolish at times, but nonetheless stubbornly and reliably completed his assigned tasks.
A person who liked quince flowers among flowers, and kimbap among foods.
This person, that person, such a person....
'That was me?'
Her descriptions leaned heavily towards positive aspects.
It seemed that her fondness for me had somehow made all the negative impressions fly away.
In any case, thanks to her, I was able to get a rough idea of what kind of person 'I' was.
'So, the Seo Eun-hyun before regression was that kind of person.'
Sadly, nothing more comes to mind.
No memories surfaced.
As if the pieces of memory themselves had been torn away.
For several days, she stayed by my side, telling me about the times before we came to this world, and Oh Hyun-seok also joined in to share his memories of 'me'.
Thus, as we flew on the ship, we spent days talking about what kind of person 'I' had been.
[The Flying Ship from Azure Cold Island has arrived at the entrance to the Devil Realm. Everyone, please disembark.]
The voice of the Flying Ship's captain echoed throughout the ship.
"Wow... it feels like it's been almost a month since we last touched land."
"Indeed."
Oh Hyeun-seok and Kim Yeon spoke as they stepped onto land.
I too savor the feel of the earth under my feet for the first time in a while as I look around.
"This is... the entrance to the Devil Realm."
Whooooosh....
A black fog-like substance is swirling in the wind, coming towards us.
Wriggle, wriggle....
Reddish tendrils are creating a massive crack in the air, maintaining a gap in space.
It looks like the tendrils themselves are interfering with the space to create a hole.
The hole created by the tendrils is wide enough to be about five li in radius, with thick black fog-like substances densely packed beyond it.
"It's called the Devouring Space Grass, lent to us by the Blood Shark Race. It's one of the Blood Shark Race's treasures capable of creating holes in the void to pierce through dimensions."
As we are gazing dumbfoundedly at the gigantic tendrils, a man in a black robe approaches us.
"I thank you for sending reinforcements from Azure Cold Island to the Devil Realm expedition force.
The man in the black robe looks around at us and the people who just disembarked behind.
From Azure Heaven Creation Sect, 202 disciples besides me, Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon.
From other sects on Azure Cold Island, a total of 1024 disciples were sent, making a total of 1229 people sent by Azure Cold Island to the Devil Realm expedition force.
"The representative sect of Azure Cold Island was... West Spirit Gate, was it?"
"It has changed to Azure Heaven Creation Sect."
"Ah, when I visited 200 years ago, it was West Spirit Gate. It seems it has changed since then. Well, anyway, glad you could come. I am Hyeon Woon, the Chief Advisor of the expedition force. I come from the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect of Black Scale Island. I'm looking forward to working with you."
"Pleased to meet you. I am Oh Hyun-seok, direct disciple of the founder of Azure Heaven Creation Sect, the representative sect of Azure Cold Island.
"Likewise. I am Seo Eun-hyun, also a direct disciple."
We each greet Hyeon Woon, who then informs us of where we will be going.
"First, inside that spatial rift you see in front of you. That pitch-black fog is protecting the dimensional barrier of the True Devil Realm. Our mission is to break through the barrier protecting the True Devil Realm, enter the interior of the True Devil Realm, and erode its inner regions with the spiritual energy of the Bright Cold Realm."
Wo-woong!
Hyeon Woon shows us a brightly shining golden jade orb.
"With this Vast Cold Jade, go to the Devil Realm, find the devil veins, plant the Vast Cold Jade, and deploy the formation. Gradually, the Vast Cold Jade will contaminate the devil veins with spiritual energy, converting them. The places where the Vast Cold Jade is buried will soon be transformed into areas where the spiritual energy of the Bright Cold Realm flows, just like our realm. Our main mission is to gradually erode the True Devil Realm, creating regions for the follow-up teams to operate."
"I see..."
Wo-woong!
I nod as I look at the brightly shining golden jade orb.
The golden jade orb illuminates brilliantly, stabilizing the surrounding spiritual energy and slowly enhances cultivation just by looking at it.
Such a tremendous treasure.
Of course, the cultivation enhancement effect seems to only work on someone at the Core Formation stage like me, and not much on those Nascent Soul stage and above..
"For now, until all the other expedition teams arrive, everyone should stand on the formation in front of the dimensional barrier and work on breaking through the dimensional barrier. There's nothing special to it, just stand on the formation, supply it with spiritual power, and the formation will do the rest."
"Yes, thank you for the explanation."
We listen to Hyeon Woon's explanation and climb onto the respective parts of the formation in front of the dimensional rift.
Well, since it'll be several months before the dimensional barrier is breached and the expedition starts, I should recover the cultivation that fell to the late stage of Core Formation.
During my escape from the Mad Lord, I used my cultivation foundation to power the Flying Escape Technique, causing my cultivation to drop a level.
My cultivation had reached the stage of Grand Perfection of Core Formation but had fallen to the late stage, so its a good opportunity to recover it.
As I stand on the formation, supplying a bit of spiritual power and absorbing the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy through my cultivation methods, someone approaches me.
"Ah, are you a disciple of the Azure Heaven Creation Sect?"
"Hm?"
Someone seems to recognize me.
Hes a young boy wearing a golden robe, with his left hair white and his right hair black, a peculiar hairstyle.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Ah, not personally... I am a disciple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. I've volunteered for this Devil Realm expedition. I heard that the Azure Heaven Creation Sect is also from the same Head Realm."
From his words, it seemed he wasn't directly ascended from the Head Realm but rather a newly recruited disciple from where the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is based.
"...I just wanted to say let's get along as fellow Core Formation cultivators...."
"...Well, there's no harm in being friendly. My name is Seo Eun-hyun."
"Ah, so its Cultivator Seo. I am Yeon Jin (Abyssal Quake). You can just call me Yeon whatever you want."
As I start talking to Yeon Jin, I suddenly remember something.
"Does your sect, by any chance, have someone named Jeon Myeong-hoon?"
"Ah! Are you talking about the direct disciple of the Supreme Sect Master? Yes, Senior Brother Jeon is quite famous in our sect. He has mastered all the techniques of our Founding Ancestor and is already looking beyond the Nascent Soul stage.
Ha ha, Senior Brother Jeon is truly amazing. All the elders in our sect are praising him, saying that in another 100 to 200 years, perhaps there will be another Integration stage cultivator in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. He's an unparalleled talent compared to someone like me."
Yeon Jin seems to admire Jeon Myeong-hoon, his eyes sparkling.
"...If I may ask, how old are you, Cultivator Yeon?"
"Ah! I am already ninety this year."
"Ninety... You're young. Reaching the mid-stage of Core Formation at that age means you're quite talented, why are you so disheartened?"
"Ha ha, talented..."
Yeon Jin looks at the ground with a bitter gaze.
"In the Bright Cold Realm, reaching the Qi Building stage is something anyone can achieve with a certain age, and anyone with a bit of enlightenment can reach the Core Formation stage as well. But that's as far as it goes. From the Nascent Soul stage onwards, it's a domain of absolute talent. Those without talent cannot reach it even if they use up all the lifespan gained from the Core Formation stage."
"..."
"I was fortunate to enter the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and reach the mid-stage of Core Formation from the Qi Building stage. But, it seems that might be my limit. No matter how many elixirs I consume or how much I seclude myself for cultivation, the progress of my cultivation is slow, and I doubt whether I can reach the Grand Perfection of Core Formation in this lifetime."
He speaks with a bittersweet smile, looking at me.
"It seems you've achieved a high level of cultivation in the late stage of Core Formation, Cultivator Seo. Reaching the Nascent Soul stage in this lifetime shouldn't be difficult for you. I'm truly envious..."
"...Well, you know..."
It took me more than 2,000 years to reach this point.
But I don't bother to mention that and instead offer Yeon Jin some encouragement.
"I may look younger than I am, but regardless, grinding your teeth and persisting in cultivation will not betray you. Cultivator Yeon Jin, you mentioned you are 90 years old, but reaching the mid-stage of Core Formation before 100 is indeed a sign of blessed talent. Don't be too disheartened, and it will be good to continue your diligent practice."
Touched by my words, Yeon Jin looks at me with moved intent.
"Thank you, Cultivator Seo! Hearing those words, somehow, I feel energized!"
"Haha, I'm glad to be of help."
As we exchanged some encouraging words, I continued to practice my cultivation methods slowly.
As a result, I was able to regain the level of Grand Perfection of Core Formation within a month.
"No, Cultivator Seo... to reach the Grand Perfection of Core Formation in just one month, how on earth..."
"Well, this is..."
Of course, I had a bit of trouble clearing up Yeon Jin's misunderstanding.
Anyway, I've reached the pinnacle of Core Formation and have gained enough enlightenment over 2,000 years.
The Devil Realm expedition force hasn't fully assembled yet, and the formation to breach the dimensional barrier hasn't been completed, so there's still time before we depart.
With plenty of time and being above the formation for breaching the Devil Realm barrier, it's relatively safe with the surroundings being guarded.
I decide to take this opportunity to aim for the Nascent Soul stage.
I've lived for 2,000 years and have gradually grasped an understanding of planes with the Formless Sword.
Enlightenment isn't something to be underestimated.
So... before we depart for the Devil Realm, shall I attain Nascent Soul?
Sitting on the formation, I settle my energy and close my eyes.
-x-X-x-
The height of water is called the water level.
Then, if there is also a height to dimensions, what should it be called?
The term created from such contemplation is precisely plane.
There is indeed a hierarchy within dimensions.
If one recalls the sensation of handling the Formless Sword, our material world belongs to a lower plane, and as one ascends to higher planes, one can encounter metaphysical essences.
Those who have reached the stage of Nascent Soul can distinguish the planes based on the height of dimensions.
When I fought against Yuan Li, and when I fought against other Nascent Soul cultivators.
Sometimes, they launch attacks that Core Formation cultivators cannot even perceive with their consciousness, and the principle that allows them to split space and teleport, originates from the sense of distinguishing planes.
If one from a higher plane splits the space of a lower plane to attack, or attacks from a higher to a lower plane, then cultivators of lower planes cannot possibly oppose them.
Of course, like Oh Hyun-seok, if one simply concentrates power brutishly, it can be effective even against higher planes, but fundamentally, the reason Nascent Soul cultivators overwhelm Core Formation cultivators is because of such planes.
Tstststs!
For 1,000 years, I have handled the circuits of the Mad Lord.
The Mad Lords circuit itself contains the principle of condensing power to ascend to higher planes.
Moreover, by using the Formless Sword that transcends planes, I have somewhat grasped the essence of higher planes.
So now,
Gather Qi (vital force), and cultivate the soul towards the higher plane!
Paaatt!
Focusing my consciousness and soul essence at the center of my Golden Core, I begin to connect to a higher plane using the Formless Sword.
Im not revealing the Formless Sword for attack, but harboring it within to reach a higher plane, so theres no worry of being discovered.
I continue to concentrate my consciousness at the center of the Golden Core, compressing power.
Inside the Golden Core, the spiritual energy converges to its apex, striving to leap towards an even higher plane.
And, that moment came.
Ah
Suddenly, while contemplating in the center of the Golden Core, I feel as if my will and Qi are intertwining.
Is this, Nascent Soul
As consciousness and spiritual energy mix, I suddenly feel a great Yin and Yang circulating within me.
Tststs....
"Tai Chi..."
Tai Chi, in turn, history.
Beyond the spiral drawn by Tai Chi, I see a certain scene.
Its the history of a person named Seo Eun-hyun.
Ah, this is it.
The thing Oh Hyun-seok talked about, the passing flashback.
Starting from my memories of this moment, like descending into the abyss of forgotten time, I contemplate the history of me.
Spiritual power flows backward, illuminating the past.
Tstststs!
The time a few months ago, before riding the Flying Ship, when I was told by Azure Tiger Saint to visit the Devil Realm.
The time before that, when I arrived in the Human Territory with Kim Yeon. The moment before that, when I was being chased by the Mad Lord.
Even before that, when my head exploded because of Oh Hyun-seok.
The time before, when I was sparring with Oh Hyun-seok.
The moment when I just returned and chose the Azure Heaven Creation Sect.
Facing the Mad Lords Play, kissing Yeon, and dying from the strike sent by Seo Hweol.
The time trapped as a puppet...
The memories I clearly remember are slow and vivid, whereas those I vaguely recall pass by very quickly.
And finally, traversing through my memories, I reach the domain where my memories have sunk.
These are the memories I have lost
And, the memories I have forgotten about 'Earth' are...
Paatttt!
Ah, no, too fast!
The memories of the era I have forgotten fly past me too swiftly to even recognize.
No! I need to see this memory!
I struggle within my heart essence to see the memories Ive forgotten.
And then, at that moment!
"Cough!"
I spit out blood with my mouth open.
"Cough! Cough!"
Heart Demon!
Its the price for paying too much attention to something else in the process of rising to the Nascent Soul stage.
"Cough, cough... Ack..."
I bleed profusely from my mouth.
Fssss....
Suddenly, the Nascent Soul that is about to form within me disperses, and the past scenes roaming in my mind disappear into the distance.
"Kugh, Damn it!"
Boom!
I punch my head hard enough for it to explode.
"Hu, huh! Cultivator Seo?"
Yeon Jin, who is beside me, is shocked, but I think to myself as I slowly regenerate my head.
By exploding my head, I prevented the Heart Demon from spreading further. But, the breakthrough to reach the Nascent Soul stage
Ended.
"What's going on there!"
From afar, Hyeon Woon flies over and asks me, who is regenerating my head.
I regenerate my mouth first and respond.
"...While challenging the Nascent Soul stage, a Heart Demon suddenly appeared, and I exploded my head to block it."
"What?"
Hyeon Woon's expression twists at my words.
"Even if the invasion hasn't started yet, you proceeded with such a critical matter without reporting it to higher-ups, and you injured yourself, reducing our strength due to such a mistake!"
Shwoosh!
Sssss!
"...!"
Hyeon Woon launches an attack at me while Im still regenerating my head.
His attack cuts off my regenerating head and he burns my neck to prevent it from regenerating further.
"...!"
[Everyone, listen!]
Hyeon Woon's angry voice echoes in all directions.
[This person here attempted breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage recklessly before the Devil Realm's expedition force even set out, failed, and got injured by a Heart Demon! He proceeded without reporting this crucial fact to his superiors!
Listen, everyone! For the army to move properly, for the war to proceed smoothly, communication between superiors and subordinates is vital! From now on, anyone who doesn't report and injures themselves by encountering a Heart Demon while attempting to cross a significant realm will be disciplined by military law! Here, Seo Eun-hyun is ordered to go without a head until the expedition force conquers one region beyond the Devil Realm's barrier!]
"..."
Suddenly, Im punished by military law and have to remain headless for a while.
Cu-cultivator Seo... Are you okay?"
[Well, it's a bit inconvenient to only perceive my surroundings with consciousness since I don't have eyes, but it's not unbearable.]
Yeon Jin, seeing me with the upper part of my neck gone, trembles and asks.
"That, that... Doesn't it hurt?"
[It seems you, Cultivator Yeon, have never experienced losing your head.]
"No! How many Core Formation cultivators typically have such an experience!"
[Ah....]
'I see. In the lower realms, it's common for Core Formation cultivators to lose their heads in fights, but it seems in the Bright Cold realm, such incidents are rare.'
Perhaps due to abundant resources, there were fewer reasons to fight.
While Im conversing with Yeon Jin,
Kim Yeon and Oh Hyun-seok hurriedly fly over and are startled to see me without a head.
"Uh, Eun-hyun Oppa?"
"Seo Eun-hyun! What on earth happened!"
[Ah, it's nothing serious. Just...]
I explained the incident that just occurred.
"No, but that's too harsh. No matter what, how can they just take away the ability to..."
Oh Hyun-seok coughs awkwardly and pats Kim Yeon's shoulder.
"Well... usually, those at the Core Formation stage and above can live even if their necks are severed, so this method is commonly used when giving out ordinary punishments."
"But still, it means you can't regenerate, right?"
[It seems fitting to receive a punishment for disrupting military discipline.]
Oh Hyun-seok clicks his tongue as if he doesn't understand my point.
"Still, it's a bit strange. Why weaken the strength of our own side before the war?"
[After all, there are many others besides me at Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages. It's more important to use me as an example to straighten military discipline. Besides, it's not like they killed me, just severed one neck.]
I slowly sooth Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon, then change the subject.
[Anyway, I saw it while challenging the Nascent Soul stage.]
"Wow, you saw it?"
Oh Hyun-seok smiles.
"How was it, did you find your memories through that flashback experience?"
[No.]
I attempted to shake my head, then realized I had no head to shake and waved my hand instead.
[As Hyung-nim knows, experiencing the flashback, blurry memories pass by too quickly to properly see. Not to mention memories I can't remember at all. In short...]
"Hmm, so you have to keep trying."
[Yes.]
The myriad of my memories visible before obtaining the Nascent Soul.
Perhaps if I just ignored them and continued, I might have been able to reach the Nascent Soul stage.
But I can't ignore them.
That's probably why the Heart Demon acted.
'But still.'
I smile inwardly.
'Maybe, I've found a way.'
Even if the Heart Demon acts, so what?
I have found a glimmer of hope to retrieve my lost memories.
What to do when the Heart Demon strikes?
'From now on, I'll challenge the Nascent Soul stage whenever there's an opportunity.'
I steadied my breath and thought.
And, I will review that flow of memories again and again.
Thus, I will surely regain my memories!
I resolved myself in this way.
After several more months, the expeditionary forces personnel finally gathered.
The energy of the formation has been raised to its peak.
Kugugugugu!
The formation shines with a golden light, and the energy of the formation bares its teeth towards the dark mist at the entrance to the Devil Realm.
'It won't be long now.'
I think to myself and look around through my consciousness.
Everywhere in the formation, talents from various cultivation sects and human clans are sitting, supplying spiritual power to complete the formation.
The personnel are of a different level compared to the sparse formation we encountered upon arrival.
'Perhaps after one or two groups arrive, the formation will be complete, and the expeditionary force will set out.'
The organization of the expeditionary force is almost finalized.
Nascent Soul cultivators will lead teams of a hundred and Core Formation cultivators will lead teams of ten, commanding ten Qi Building cultivators to advance into the Devil Realm.
Of course, as a punished criminal before the expedition, according to Hyeon Woon's orders, I have to act within another Core Formation cultivator's team like a Qi Building cultivator until my punishment is lifted or I achieve some merit.
And, the leader of the ten-person team I joined is Yeon Jin, seated beside me.
"Whew, it's nerve-wracking, Cultivator Seo."
[There's no need to be too nervous. Cultivator Yeon will surely do well.]
"Uh, I don't know why I'm the Ten-Man Leader. Moreover, Cultivator Seo has a higher realm than me. It would be better if you were in command..."
[Steady your heart. As I am a punished cultivator, I cannot hold command, so Cultivator Yeon must take the burden. If needed, I'll help from the side, so don't worry.]
"Cultivator Seo! Thank you so much!"
[It's nothing.]
After comforting Yeon Jin, who is trembling before the war with the Devil Realm.
I prepare an incantation silently.
Since entering Azure Heaven Creation Sect and arriving here, decades have passed.
Throughout these years, I tirelessly researched combining the Three Spirits Technique and the Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll, analyzing and finally succeeding in merging the two methods.
There are still some things left to improve, but it's almost complete. Now, it's just a matter of testing it.
This unnamed method, when used, forms an artifact spirit within one's dharma treasure, making that artifact spirit an avatar capable of sharing a part of the cultivation. Later, if cultivation falls behind, one can quickly regain their progress with the help of the artifact spirit.
Unfortunately, storing the entire cultivation itself within the dharma treasure to retrieve it all at once proved too difficult due to its complexity
Of course, if the dharma treasure is cultivated for a long time, and its quality grows along with its owner, it might be possible.
However, the extent of the current Colorless Glass Sword is limited.
But such things aren't of great importance.
Wo-woong!
As I practice the method, I ponder.
What's important is that, in completing this method, I can freely form the artifact spirits of entities that left an impression on me.
That means,
From now on, within the flashback experience that appears when reaching the Nascent Soul stage, I can store all characters that appear as artifact spirits.
Although it might be difficult to store complete memories,
If I record those memories, those reminiscences, those past figures as artifact spirits within the dharma treasure,
Perhaps, I can record all the rapidly fleeting memories of the lost flashbacks, allowing me to recall them by looking at those recorded figures.
Wo-woong!!
I raise my energy.
For the past few months, I have been continuously challenging the Nascent Soul stage.
Of course, being marked by Hyeon Woon, Id be punished again if caught challenging the Nascent Soul stage, but its only a problem if caught.
Normally, achieving the Nascent Soul would be impossible to hide due to the Heavenly Tribulation that follows.
However.
My current goal isn't reaching the Nascent Soul stage.
Its to retrieve memories through the process of reaching the Nascent Soul stage.
If I stop without obtaining the Nascent Soul and repeat this process, I can avoid detection indefinitely.
Tstststs!
I challenge the Nascent Soul stage again, traversing through past memories.
Activating the unnamed method, I begin recording the characters from those memories as artifact spirits in my dharma treasure.
Tstststs!
Ethereal figures form around me, transforming into the resemblances of Kim Yeon, Azure Tiger Saint, and Oh Hyun-seok.
Connections from this life.
But, before I can form more artifact spirits,
The flashback experience quickly passes by and disappears again.
Wo-woong!
I disperse the forming Nascent Soul again, and infuse the scattering energy into the newly formed artifact spirits, storing a part of my cultivation within them.
The speed of forming artifact spirits is too slow.
Of course, it will get faster with practice.
From now on, I'll form artifact spirits like this, watching the flashbacks and recording my memories as artifact spirits.
I smile inwardly, looking at the translucent figures of the three people I formed around me.
I will definitely regain my memories!
"Ah, Cultivator Seo. What are those ethereal things around you?"
[Oh, they're manifestations from the method I'm practicing.]
"It seems you're practicing a unique method. But about those misty things..."
Yeon Jin starts rambling about the ethereal things he'd seen in his life upon seeing the artifact spirits I formed.
To others, artifact spirits are not visible, appearing only as misty fog, which makes sense.
However, I notice that Yeon Jin is unusually talkative today.
Ah, I see. Are you nervous?
Soon, the formation will activate, and the entrance to the Devil Realm will open.
The invasion of the Devil Realm will truly begin.
I engage in conversation with Yeon Jin, trying to ease his nerves.
A few days later.
Wo-woong!
The formation changes into a brilliant golden light.
Ahead,
The commander of the expeditionary force, representative of the Human Race Grand Alliance.
A cultivator of the Four-Axis stage, Societal Tomb Child, Gyu Seok (Silica Stone), takes out his dharma treasure.
[Activate the Annihilation Formation!]
With those words, the formation we have been energizing with spiritual power for months activates.
Flash!
Golden light gathers and rushes towards the dimensional barrier of the True Devil Realm ahead.
The dark mist is torn apart and scattered by the golden light!
Kugugugugu!
[From now on, we begin the invasion of the True Devil Realm, all troops, advance!]
The Heavenly Being 1000-Man generals, Nascent Soul 100-Man captains, and Core Formation 10-Man leaders begin to arrange their formations as ordered.
"Hahaha! I'm going to taste some tender devil meat!"
"Cute little devils, this old man will take care of you!"
"They say that elixirs made from grinding down devils are very effective for devilish arts?"
Numerous cultivators draw their dharma treasures and magic artifacts, licking their lips as they charge towards the Devil Realm.
Whooosh!
I follow Yeon Jin, who holds the 10-Man leader's badge, and soon,
The scenery of the True Devil Realm comes into view.
Beyond the boundary, devils have built fortresses and spread out defensive formations to meet us.
"The evil Human Race has invaded!"
"Spread the defensive formations!"
"For the Devil Realm, let's block all these greedy humans! Unite!"
Thus, the Great War between Humans and Devils began.
***
Devil Army, form the Devil Origin Heaven Refining Formation!
Ha!
The Devil Race lines up, each beginning to emit devilish energy.
In an instant, the frontline is covered with dark devilish energy, blocking our path.
However, the Human Race expedition force, instead of charging towards the barrier of devilish energy, began to change formation.
[All devil path cultivators, forward!]
Seven hundred-strong units composed of devilish art cultivators stepped forward.
Song Jin once said, among the people of the lower realm, even those who have mastered devilish arts prefer to ascend to the Bright Cold Realm rather than the True Devil Realm..
Kugugugu!
I feel like I understand why.
Kiieeeee!
Kyaaaah!
Kooooo!
Darkish monsters exude devilish energy.
The entire bodies of the devilish cultivators, who have mastered devilish arts, began to emit dark devilish energy, piercing through the barrier of devilish energy right before us.
[Breakthrough!]
Kugugugung!
With the devilish art cultivators each launching a strike, the barrier is pierced in an instant, and a path opens up.
At the end of the path, the Devil Race is seen panicking.
[Righteous path cultivators, forward!]
This time, cultivators of the righteous faction, who have mastered pure righteous cultivation methods, step forward, unleashing attacks that emit bright white light.
At this light, the Devil Race across from us are seen fleeing in terror.
Next, its our turn, the cultivators who have learned the cultivation methods between righteousness and evil.
[Charge! Finding the Devil Veins of the Devil Realm and planting the Vast Cold Jade entrusted to the 100-Man Captains is the top priority!]
The cultivators disperse, following the commands of their respective 100-Man captains, and begin to break through the encircling Devil Race.
"Block the despicable Human Race!"
"The Human Race is trying to contaminate the Devil Realm!"
Koooooo!
Dark devilish energy gathers in the air, transforming into the shape of a black skull, and rushes towards our 100-Man unit.
"Hmph, begone!"
Kugugugu!
The skull disperses under the strike of a cultivator from our 100-Man unit, who practices the wind attribute methods at the Nascent Soul stage.
However, the shattered skull gathers into pieces and then splits into hundreds of smaller skulls, flying towards us again.
Kyaaaaaaa!
"Haaaaaa!"
Yeon Jin quickly forms a hand seal as he faces the flying skulls.
"Light-Lightning Blade Lotus!"
Pachijik!
Yellow lightning in the shape of blades form in the air, and dozens of them gather to create a lotus.
The lightning lotus surrounding Yeon Jin soon disperses in all directions, hitting the skulls.
Pachijik!
As the bright yellow lightning strikes, the skulls evaporate.
[It has been said since ancient times that the lightning attribute has the power to destroy evil and exterminate devils. It seems the saying is true.]
"Ahaha, of course. It's particularly effective against the Yin attribute or the Ghost and Devil attributes... but honestly, I was so scared just now that I almost failed casting the spell. I dont think I will be of much help."
[Perhaps you should make more use of your 10-Man subordinates. I can help, or you can borrow the power of the Qi Building cultivators part of the unit.]
"Thank you for the advice..."
Just then.
Kuuuuung!
A section of the Devil Race's wall crumbles due to a spell cast by a 100-Man Captain.
The 100-Man Captain's booming voice echoes all around.
"I can feel the Devil Veins of the Devil Realm in that direction! We will head there first!"
Whizzing!
He wraps himself in Dragon Fist Wind and quickly flies to said location, and we cross the wall to follow him.
After crossing the wall and looking back with my consciousness, I see that the spatial rift we had crossed is covered with a large wall and barrier.
It is said that the spatial rifts leading to the Devil Realm are scattered throughout the Bright Cold Realm.
The Devil Race, wary of this invasion by the Human Race, seem to have built castles around these spatial rifts.
Whoooosh!
How long have we flown following the 100-Man captain?
The 100-Man Captain soon arrives at something resembling a large mountain in the Devil Realm.
"This is the Devil Veins of the Devil Realm. Devilish energy flows heavily here. From now on, as the 100-Man Captain, I will begin to erode the Devil Realm using Vast Cold Jade. You all must protect the surroundings to ensure I am not disturbed!"
Upon his command, a total of ten 10-Man Leaders and their respective 10-Man teams form a circle around the 100-Man Captain, standing guard in the surroundings.
Woowoowoong!
Behind us, where the 100-Man Captain is, a dense spiritual energy surges, pushing away the thick devilish energy filling the surroundings and beginning to erode the space.
The atmosphere of the Devil Realm is changing, turning into that of a Spiritual Realm
Woowoowoong!
As spiritual energy begins to bloom around, the other Qi Building practitioners within the 10-Man teams seem to look more alive.
Those who reached Core Formation are at the pinnacle of vitality, able to survive for years without eating or drinking and able to live on the spiritual energy within their bodies without breathing.
But Qi Building cultivators, though their bodies flow with pure spiritual force and have high vitality, are not beyond human limitations, struggling in the Devil Realm's environment filled with devilish energy, unlike the Spiritual Realm.
While we are guarding the surroundings.
Kugugugu!
From afar, hundreds of members of the Devil Race are flying towards us with raging intent.
"Over there! The Human Race is contaminating the Devil Realm!"
"You bastards, stop the erosion immediately!"
Devils with horns instead of eyes on their faces, devils with two heads, and those entirely made of stone surround us in a bizarre formation.
"All devils, engage! We are equal in the erosion area!"
"Protect the Devil Realm from erosion!"
The masses of the Human Race and Devil Race collide.
Yeon Jin quickly forms a seal and casts a spell.
"Lightning Blade Lotus!"
Pachiziziz!
Once again, a lotus made of yellow lightning surrounds him.
Kwaaaang!
When a large Devil Race member throws a punch, Yeon Jin's lotus trembles severely, and he seems engulfed in fear, desperately infusing spiritual power into the lotus.
'Damn it, hes completely lost it.'
I click my tongue inwardly as I see Yeon Jin frozen in fear and stiffening.
"Te-, Ten-Man Leader! Please give us an order!"
"Ten-Man Leader!"
Excluding me, the members of Yeon Jin's 10-Man team are also in turmoil, distressed seeing Yeon Jin only protecting himself and looking out of his senses.
I take the initiative to issue commands in place of Yeon Jin, blocking the attacks of the Devil Race while also commanding the other 10-Man teams.
["All members, the 10-Man Leader is preparing a major spell, so for now, follow my command. First, excluding me, nine Qi Building cultivators, starting with you, go behind the 10-Man Leader and intercept the enemies with magic artifacts. The Devil Race is not compatible with the 10-Man Leader's lightning, so it will be safe to be behind him."]
As I reveal the aura of Core Formation and give orders, the Qi Building cultivators of the 10-Man units follow my command as if they have been waiting.
I send five of the nine 10-Man members behind Yeon Jin, and the remaining four behind me.
"So, do we just stay behind you, senior?"
[Right. Follow me.]
"Eh? Follow you?"
[Do you see something wriggling behind the Devil Race force?]
Squelch, squelch-squelch!
Behind the Devil Race force, several large tentacles are blowing flutes, stuck in place.
Reading the Devil Race's intent, my eyes shine.
[That mass of tentacles is the Devil Race's commander. It's commanding the Devil Race surrounding us, so we'll break through the Devil Race force to engage the commander and harass it. That way, their command structure will be paralyzed in one fell swoop, making it easier for our fellow cultivators.]
"Ah, are we really going to break through those Devil Race members just by ourselves!?"
[It's entirely possible. Don't be paralyzed by fear, form up. We'll charge in a wedge formation. You and you will take the left wing, and you two will handle the right wing.]
After placing four people on both flanks, I pull out a chunk of flesh from within my clothes.
[Come out, Yuan Yu.]
Splorch! Squelch, squelch!
The chunk of flesh bursts from my hand upon my command and transforms into a human figure after a while of wriggling.
A being wearing a blood-colored robe, with a mix of male and feminine characteristics, appears with ebony-like hair cascading down.
Seeing Yuan Yu, the Qi Building 10-Man team members open their mouths wide in awe.
[Dont gape. As a Blood Body that I control, Yuan Yu is merely a puppet. It will lead the way to break through, and I will support from the rear, dealing with those who attack from above and below the ground.]
Woowoong!
As Yuan Yu opens its mouth, a bloody light flashes from its Golden Core, and through its mouth emerges a crystal skull staff, seventeen bone daggers, four crimson pagodas, and a blood-colored spear.
The ghost king that had been attached to the blood-colored spear had been consumed by the Nether Crossing Ship before, so Yuan Yu takes the spear directly and assumes a stance.
Of course, since I am the one controlling the Blood Body Yuan Yu, its posture is perfect.
"Everyone"
I issue the command through Yuan Yu's mouth.
"Charge."
Fwoosh!
With that word, Yuan Yu shoots forward, matching the speed of the Qi Building cultivators.
The Qi Building team members follow on Yuan Yu's flanks, and I follow directly behind Yuan Yu, forming seals.
[White Orchid Blessing Incantation.]
Woowoong!
Bright light arises from my entire body, and several white orchids begin to bloom around us.
Then, the white orchids fly into the bodies of the 10-Man team members.
"Uh, uh?"
"What in the world?"
The expressions of the 10-Man team members changes.
In an instant, their power surges to match that of the Grand Perfection Qi Building.
In addition to this, I begin to lay circuits in their bodies through the power of the White Orchid Blessing Incantation I bestowed upon them.
[Yin Soul Ghost Incantation.]
Tstssts!
Of course, laying circuits in the body of a living human would bring immense pain and significantly damage the body.
I funnel the pain and harmful effects of the circuits through the curse spells of Yin Soul Ghost Incantation into Yuan Yu's body.
As the circuits are laid into their bodies, now matching Grand Perfection Qi Building cultivators, they all begin to exhibit the power of Core Formation cultivators.
"Uh, senior?"
"What kind of power is this?"
[It's my blessing. No need for many words, just pick up the pace. Now that you're at the level of Core Formation, you can keep up with the speed, right?]
"Of course!"
Fwoosh!
Yuan Yu and I start using the Flying Escape Technique, and the other Qi Building members follow at a comparable speed.
Kwaang!
The enemies in front of us are cleaved apart by the blood-colored spear in Yuan Yu's hand.
The crystal skull staff floating above Yuan Yus head opens its mouth, drawing the essence blood of the attacking Devil Race members into Yuan Yu, continuously bolstering its vigor.
Ting, ting, ting!
Moreover, with the four crimson defensive pagodas surrounding us, its nearly impossible for the Devil Race members to successfully attack us, and we can continuously charge, scattering attacks in all directions.
Finally.
Kooong!
We stop in front of the mass of tentacles commanding the Devil Race force.
'Ho, Nascent Soul stage Devil, I see..'
Among the shadow-like Devil Race members, three are at Core Formation, and one is a Nascent Soul stage powerhouse.
[Everyone, engage the Core Formation Devils. Yuan Yu and I will take on this one.]
"Yes, sir!"
Whoom!
No words are needed.
The shadow devils hand reaches out towards Yuan Yu and me.
Kooong!
Yuan Yu summons the crimson pagodas to spread a barrier, but the barrier begins to shake violently and crack almost immediately.
[Such evil human scum, truly living up to their reputation with their eerie appearance. One is neither male nor female, and another wanders headless]
The shadow devil at the Nascent Soul stage looks at us and sneers before reaching out again.
...It's not entirely wrong.
[Hold him for a bit Yuan Yu.]
"...Blood Demon Suppressing Sea"
Swoosh!
From Yuan Yu's body, blood-red seawater explodes everywhere, overwhelming the Nascent Soul stage shadow devil.
"Blood Chain Binding Forest."
As Yuan Yu forms a hand seal, a blood-red forest sprouts from the blood-red seawater, beginning to press down on the Nascent Soul shadow devil.
Kugugugu!
Countless branches intertwine, attempting to skewer the Devil Race like a kebab.
However, the body of the shadow devil appear to be made of shadows, as the branches pass right through it.
[Ahaha, how cute. Core Formation stage humans daring to harm me, without even properly sensing planes...]
[Azure Wing!]
Kugugugu!
Behind me, three wings sprout.
[Heavenly Shatter!]
Kugugugu!
A secret technique of the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, performed by a Core Formation cultivator exerting all their strength.
Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter is executed.
[What...!]
A whirl of blue light overwhelms the Nascent Soul devil, wrapping around its entire body.
Within it, the Nascent Soul devil cries out.
[You, you... You're from the Heart Tribe...]
[Shsh.]
Whish!
And within the whirlwind of blue, the storm of the Formless Sword shreds the devil.
Before the devil can continue babbling, I rush at them, grabbing their head with my hand covered in the Formless Sword.
[If you're defeated, quietly surrender your life. Stop babbling annoyingly.]
Puk!
The Formless Sword dices through its entire body, and the shadowy flesh of the devil, which was impervious to attacks below the Core Formation stage, is sliced open by the Formless Sword, ultimately scattering.
Ssshhh...
After watching its Nascent Soul disperse and its soul ascend,
I look at a mass of tentacles scurrying away beside me.
The tentacle mass seems to be the one commanding the surrounding Devil force but it appears to have poor physical abilities, managing to move only three steps despite its efforts.
[...Listen here, Daoist.]
Chak!
I grab the tentacles sprouting from its body and say,
[Disperse your forces, don't pretend you can't understand. Hurry.]
Wriggle, wriggle...
The tentacle devil trembles and conveys its consciousness through its tentacles.
[...I've heard that the Human Race grinds prisoners into elixirs. I, as commander, wish for proper treatment instead of such a dreadful fate.]
[Hmm... I'll take responsibility for your life.]
[Ah, understood.]
Chalak!
Shortly after.
A strange intent spreads in all directions from the tips of the tentacle mass.
Soon after, the Devil Race surrounding our 100-Man unit flees.
I pull on the tentacles and ask.
[Hmm, you could have just made your forces surrender, but you ordered them to run away.]
[I had no choice. You may have promised proper treatment for prisoners, but how will my subordinates know you won't eat them?]
'It feels like we're being treated as a cannibal army.'
Still, it seems like the commander is quite kind to its subordinates despite its appearance.
[Alright, I understand. Capturing you alone has earned me merit, so I won't say more.]
I pick up the tentacle mass and return to the 100-Man unit.
Shortly after.
Kuuuuu!
From the Devil Veins controlled by the 100-Man Captain, refreshing spiritual energy spreads, eroding all surrounding Devil Veins into spiritual veins.
"We've succeeded in the assimilation"
Shaaaa!
The surrounding devilish energy is washed away, and spiritual energy illuminates all around.
It isn't just our side that succeeded in the operation. From afar, beams of spiritual energy can also be seen.
Wo-woong!
The beams of spiritual energy erode the Devil Veins into spiritual veins, meeting one another and emitting even stronger light.
Before long, the land where we first set foot is completely infused with majestic spiritual energy.
[To the expeditionary force, the 1st Devil Realm assimilation operation has been successful! Congratulations on the operation's success, and all criminals who received sentences before joining the battle will have their crimes pardoned! I repeat, the 1st Devil Realm assimilation operation has....]
Hyeon Woon's telepathic message resonates throughout the units, and I begin to slowly regenerate the upper part of my neck, organizing my thoughts.
'Is this right?'
Although I should celebrate the victory,
I find myself caught between pitying the tentacle devil squirming beside me and the invading Human Race eagerly waiting to feast on the Devil Race.
I ponder whether what I am doing is right.
Wo-woong!
As I dwell on these thoughts for a while,
I suddenly feel something vibrating within me.
'This is'
A Heart Demon.
As these doubts arose, the Heart Demon that had formed as I rose to the Nascent Soul stage began to react.
Feeling the vibrations of the Heart Demon, I realize.
'The day I find the answer to whether my actions are correct, perhaps I can rid myself of the Heart Demon and regain my memories.'
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