The first Devil Race invasion was successfully carried out, and I received recognition for handing over the mass of tentacles to the upper ranks.
Capturing a Devil Race commander was considered a significant achievement, especially according to the testimonies of my subordinates who said I defeated a Nascent Soul stage devil.
I was awarded the plaque of a 100-Man Captain, enabling me to lead a 100-Man unit.
Wo-woong!
"There's someone in our 1000-Man unit who rashly tried to ascend stages before joining the invasion of the Devil Realm, fell to a Heart Demon, and was decapitated... It seems you had confidence in your skills to ascend stages. I look forward to working with you, 100-Man Captain."
Wi Yeol, a Heavenly Being stage General of the 1000-Man unit I belong to patted my shoulder.
I looked at the spirit plaque, dharma treasure, and Vast Cold Jade that are all issued to every 100-Man Captain.
'Vast Cold Jade...'
From now on, I, too, will have to stand at the forefront of the Devil Race invasion operations, eroding the land of the Devil Realm with Vast Cold Jade.
After expressing my gratitude to the upper echelons, I went to my assigned post.
The area was already filled with dense heaven and earth spiritual energy, making it effortless to breathe and for cultivators below the Qi Building stage to use their spells without any inconvenience.
And that means,
"Hey, use your spells properly!"
"Raise the wall!"
"Build the roof!"
Even with only Qi Building stage cultivators, its possible to build houses in the Devil Realm's land as if we are in the vast Bright Cold Realm.
Already, the vicinity is filled with numerous houses made of mud and wood, palaces, and mansions galore.
The incredible changes are the result of Qi Building stage cultivators earnestly diving into construction work.
"Ah, 100-Man Captain, you've arrived!"
Yeon Jin, who had briefly been my superior, and his 10-Man unit members came out from a manor to greet me.
"As expected, Cultivator Seo... no, 100-Man Captain. I knew you were more skilled than me and would succeed someday, but I didn't expect you to rise so quickly. This mansion has been allocated to you as the 100-Man Captain."
"Ah, thank you, Cultivator Yeon. Everyone, come in for now."
I lead the 10-Man unit members into the manor.
"You've been assigned to my 100-Man unit, and as more reinforcements arrive, our unit will be replenished with more personnel. Let's get along well until then."
"Yes, 100-Man Captain!"
"It's an honor!"
I share a moment of light drinks with Yeon Jin and the 10-Man unit inside the manor.
After laughing and chatting for a while, they returned to their original places, and after sending them off, I looked up at the sky from the silent mansion.
"..."
The land is illuminated by spiritual energy, but the sky of the Devil Realm is still dense with devilish energy.
"Something feels off."
I feel as if theres a hole in my chest.
A feeling of having lost something.
But I can't figure out what it is.
Something seems wrong, but I can't remember what it is exactly.
And so, time passes again as an invader.
Initially, the ranks of the expedition force of the Devil Realm were purely based on cultivation stages.
However, as the invasion progressed, ranks gradually became divided based on contributions.
Even as a Core Formation stage cultivator, I established far more merits than cultivators of the same realm or even Nascent Soul stage cultivators and was eventually awarded the spirit plaque of a Thousand-Man General.
I heard that from the rank of Thousand-Man General, one could be granted the authority of a provisional governor to manage colonies in the True Devil Realm.
'A governor...'
After the 1st invasion of the Devil Realm,
The erosion of the Devil Realm continued steadily, and we had just finished the ninth invasion operation.
Wo-woong!
Spiritual energy fills the Devil Realm
I see the remnants of the Devil Race who had not yet fled and the human cultivators literally 'hunting' these remnants.
I blankly stare at this scene.
Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon approach me, clicking their tongues in disapproval.
They, too, had earned the plaque of a 1000-Man general through their numerous contributions.
Oh Hyun-seok speaks up.
"Honestly, we came here under our masters orders... but Im not sure if this is right."
"...I think the same. I thought the Devil Realm was a place inhabited only by devils..."
What we saw were Human Race members holding dharma treasures, chasing after the Devil Race, separating their flesh from bone, draining their blood, and even absorbing and storing their souls.
"...I can't tell who's the devil and who's the human."
"Exactly. I heard even the simplest devils possess intelligence, especially those above the Core Formation stage..."
Listening to their conversation, I feel a turmoil in my chest.
Emotionally, I found myself empathizing with the Devil Race.
But rationally I understood the actions of the human cultivators hunting the Devil Race.
'Why?'
Its a feeling I have been experiencing lately.
My rationality and emotions are in stark contrast.
'Strange...'
What is right and what is wrong?
I absentmindedly stroke my chest, unable to remember something I might have forgotten, and gaze into the distance with Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon.
"Provincial governor of the occupied territory?"
I ask, not quite understanding.
"Yes, Seo Eun-hyun. You've been appointed as the provincial governor to oversee the territory from the newly occupied Devil Ridge Mountains to the Black Pearl River."
I question Hyeon Woon.
"Although I have achieved many merits I am still at the Core Formation stage... Wouldn't it be better to entrust this to someone at the Heavenly Being stage?"
"On the contrary, that's why Im assigning you as the provincial governor. The other Heavenly Being stage cultivators have crucial roles in the next operation, and it will be problematic if we are missing even one or two in order to manage the occupied territories."
"I see."
"Moreover, recent reports suggest you've been showing signs of mental instability. Soldiers who have been on the battlefield for a long time sometimes experience psychological issues. Taking a break as a provincial governor and reaching Nascent Soul can solidify your mental foundation. Since you've previously attempted to ascend to the Nascent Soul stage on your own, what better opportunity can there be?"
I fall silent for a moment at Hyeon Woon's words.
He has a point.
But what concerns me is...
'Hyeon Woon, the color of his intent...'
Lately, I've been feeling an increasing sense of alienation from the color of his intent.
He had received reports of my mental instability, but it seems he is unaware that his own mind might be deteriorating.
'What should I do...'
After pondering for a moment, I decided to dismiss it as one of the mental illnesses many cultivators experience during war.
'It's not my problem anyway.'
"If you say so, I will accept the position of governor."
"Good, from today, you are the provincial governor of the 8th erosion area."
I receive the spirit plaque from Hyeon Woon and walk out of the manor where he resided.
As reinforcements joined the expedition force, more and more human cultivators moved to the front lines.
After defeating the Devil Race, the occupied territory was quickly transformed into a bustling area by numerous human cultivators.
Many Qi Building stage cultivators gathered, swiftly building cities and fortresses.
I pass through the bustling area and head to the manor assigned to me.
Inside, the 100-Man captains of my 1000-Man unit were gathered, sharing conversations.
"Ah, the 1000-Man General has arrived!"
"1000-Man General, did you receive anything this time?"
Most of the 100-Man Captains are at the Nascent Soul stage, but none of them look down on me.
In fact, none of them can defeat me in a one-on-one fight.
Recently, even General Seo, who has somewhat recovered to the Nascent Soul level, is under my command, so my skills are certainly not lacking.
Among the 100-Man Captains, Yeon Jin, who followed me and made more contributions, is also there.
Hes staggering around, his face flushed from drinking among the Nascent Soul stage cultivators.
"Listen, everyone, I will not participate in the next 10th erosion operation."
"Really...?"
"What, why is that"
I announce that I have been appointed as the provincial governor.
"No! Where else can you find someone as capable as our 1000-Man General! Is this really right?"
"Chief Strategist Hyeon Woon, I've disliked that guy from the start! Let's smash his head in and bring our 1000-Man General back!"
"Oh my~ How many among the other 1000-Man Generals are as capable as Seo 1000-Man General!"
"Everyone Thank you."
Truthfully, the 1000-Man unit I've led has indeed been on a winning streak.
Not because we achieved major contributions every time, but because we managed to secure many minor contributions while ensuring the majority of our forces returned safely, which is a well-regarded aspect within my 1000-Man unit.
It was thanks to my tendency to focus on securing minor contributions while paying attention to the safety of my subordinates rather than chasing after major merits..
"Ah, 1000-Man General. So, you wont be standing on the front lines anymore?"
Yeon Jin asks,blinking his eyes drunkenly.
"Thats the case."
"Ah Then, I will follow you to the 8th occupied territory Please dont forget my loyalty to you, 1000-Man General!"
"Haha! Yeon Jin, its not loyalty to the 1000-Man General, but fear of being assigned to another 1000-Man unit with a lower survival rate if the General is absent, right?"
"You funny guy! Hey, everyone! Lets pour more into Yeon Jins glass and teach this coward a lesson!"
After chuckling at Yeon Jin, who is surrounded by Nascent Soul stage cultivators and sweating profusely from the alcohol, I enter my mansion within the manor.
Inside, a large mass of tentacles is rolling and squirming.
Its the Devil Race commander I first captured as a prisoner, named Gyeon Shin (Seeing the New).
After the interrogation of the prisoner was completed, instead of sending him directly to an alchemist, at my request, he was able to survive as my pet beast.
"Cultivator Gyeon, it seems you are doing well?"
[Ah, Lord Seo. Have you come? As you can see, I am living well thanks to your grace.]
"Theres no need for formalities. Anyway, it seems the time has come to release Cultivator Gyeon."
At my words, the tentacles twitch and turn towards me.
"Ive been appointed as the provincial governor of the 8th occupied territory. They told me to rest there for a while. So, once we arrive near the 8th occupied territory, Ill release you."
[Thank you, Lord Seo. Among all the humans Ive met, you are the one most faithful to your promises.]
"..."
When I first handed over Gyeon Shin, I requested that he be treated well as a prisoner.
However, the prisoner treatment among humans meant turning them into pet beasts by implanting a spike in their head or extracting their core to make elixirs.
Therefore, just before Gyeon Shin was sent to an alchemist, I managed to save him by claiming I would make him my pet beast.
Of course, to control a pet beast, one has to learn a special method or implant a spike in their head.
After taking Gyeon Shin, I removed the spike implanted in his head to free him from control.
I apologized for not being able to promise proper prisoner treatment and promised to release him later.
"Listen here, Cultivator Gyeon."
[Yes, please speak.]
"...Although Im not well-versed in the affairs of the Devil Race, from Cultivator Gyeons perspective... do you think the Devil Race is more benevolent than humans?"
[Benevolent... It depends on what criteria you use for 'benevolence.']
"Hmm?"
Gyeon Shin continues, squirming his tentacles.
[If capturing other races indiscriminately to use them as elixirs is considered evil, then generally, the Devil Race is benevolent. However, my race, the Yuchok tribe, suppresses the minds of other beings to control them, parasitizes their bodies to suck nutrients and spiritual energy, and when the host ages, takes their life and moves to another host. There are also Devil Races that lay eggs in the bodies of other races, exploit other races, and frequently wage wars at the slightest provocation... In some aspects, we are not benevolent either.]
"..."
[My Yuchok Tribe has the talent for suppressing minds, so we can somewhat read the consciousness of others. It may sound presumptuous, but when I read Lord Seos mind... it seems you are pondering the morality of your actions.]
"...Thats correct."
Gyeon Shin continues.
[Had it been any other human asking, I would have said that humans are the filthiest and most evil. While there are numerous races, and the Devil Realm harbors many bizarre races, the truth is that humans are almost unique in taking prisoners directly to be made into elixirs. However, since you are the one asking, and answering without any malice towards humans but with a degree of objectivity...]
Gyeon Shin lifts one of his tentacles to meet my eye level.
[The law of the jungle. That's the undeniable truth of this world, a fate all beings are born into. We, the Devil Race, also feel aggrieved by this invasion and hold great animosity towards humans... But to be honest, if the Devil Race were the stronger force, we too might have invaded human territories at any time, parasitizing human bodies as hosts, laying eggs in them, or exploiting them, just as I mentioned before. It's just that now, humans are stronger than us, so they invade the Devil Realm and turn the Devil Race into mere elixirs.]
"...Thank you for your answer."
After leaving Gyeon Shin behind, I head to my room.
'It's not a matter of good or evil but of strength and weakness...'
Yet, something about that doesn't seem right.
Gyeon Shin's words are clear and easy to accept, sweeping away the guilt blossoming within me.
But I feel there is something more than that.
Something more, forgotten deep within my heart.
Surely...
Three days later.
I set off for the 8th occupied territory with those who had decided to follow me.
8th Occupied Territory, Provincial Governor's Residence.
I was briefed by the administrator assigned to assist me in the 8th occupied territory about the situation there.
"...so, currently, there are seven Devil Tribes within our occupied territory."
"The number of tribes is not as many as in other occupied territories."
"Yes, our territory produces a metal called Devilish Gold from the Devil Ridge Mountains, so the resources we can exploit from the tribes are less significant than what we can extract from the mines. Of course, if the provincial governor wishes, we can make good elixirs from the remaining tribes..."
"That's enough."
I wave my hand to dismiss the topic.
"We don't need elixirs, let's move on to discuss resources and management of the occupied territory. From what I understand, the real importance of this 8th occupied territory isn't just that."
"Yes. As you may know, this 8th occupied territory contains a Void Spirit Pond."
Void Spirit Pond.
A place where the veil between dimensions is thin.
This thin veil, transparent like the water of a pond, hence called Void Spirit Pond, often yields spirit stones used in creating space magic artifacts such as storage bags, storage scrolls, and other storage devices, making it a valuable resource.
However, the true value of the Void Spirit Pond is not just that.
"Once the territory is fully colonized, I'll organize the Void Spirit Pond to thoroughly explore the lower realms heavily populated by humans."
Void Spirit Pond, also referred to as the "Unbound Flying Immortal Platform,"
By organizing the dimensional veil of the Void Spirit Pond and connecting it to a specific lower realm, the Void Spirit Pond can transform into a Flying Immortal Platform that welcomes those ascending.
"Though the Void Spirit Pond is unstable now, and it might take at least 1,000 to 2,000 years, it means, with time, we can develop the Void Spirit Pond into a Flying Immortal Platform. The provincial governor should focus on the Void Spirit Pond going forward."
"Understood. Let's go see this Void Spirit Pond."
"Yes."
I head with the administrator to the location of the Void Spirit Pond.
"Here it is..."
The Void Spirit Pond is beneath the governor's mansion.
Traveling through a bedrock cave underneath, the Void Spirit Pond can be found deep within the underground cave.
Wo-woong!
Upon arrival, I momentarily marvel at the grandeur of the Void Spirit Pond.
An ancient underground cavern.
There, spirit stones are sparkling green in various places, and below them lay a vast underground lake.
But its not a lake.
I point to one side of the Void Spirit Pond and gesture lightly towards the other side with my hand.
"This connects to the outer dimensions of the Devil Realm... the Void Spirit Pond."
"Correct. Unlike a normal lake, there's no movement on its surface at all."
I admire the landscape reflecting on the lake's surface like a mirror.
"Beautiful..."
"However beautiful it may be, please do not touch the surface of the lake. Unless you're a cultivator at the Four-Axis stage capable of withstanding spatial storms, touching the lake will either tear you apart from the spatial storms blowing from outside the lake Or, if lucky enough to survive, you'd fall into a strange dimension unknown to anyone."
"I'll be careful."
"Yes, and we've also set up a formation to prevent most people, except the governor, from approaching this area. While Void Spirit Ponds have been found in other occupied territories as well, we must be cautious to prevent anyone from tampering with it. If anyone tries to approach the Void Spirit Pond, it's only right for you, as the governor, to punish them without mercy."
"Understood."
After giving me a few more precautions about the Void Spirit Pond, the administrator suggested we leave.
Afterward, the administrator offered a few more precautions about the Light Spirit Pond before suggesting we leave.
However, I remained, gazing at the Void Spirit Pond.
"The scenery is too beautiful for me to just leave. Wait for me above."
"...Yes, if that's what the governor wishes..."
Whoosh!
The administrator, being at the Core Formation stage and apparently having many duties, quickly ascends to the surface using a Flying Escape Technique.
I look in the direction the administrator had gone for a while, then turn my gaze back to the Void Spirit Pond.
"Come forth."
Woong!
As soon as I entered the area of the Void Spirit Pond, avoiding the administrator's eyes, I activated the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.
My Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts has already transcended its original limitations, now allowing me to use it on others, not just myself.
Within the range of my Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, small creatures begin to emerge, wriggling.
"Young members of the Devil Race."
A small child with horns on his head and another with bat wings.
Apart from their unique physical attributes, these two Devil Race members look not much different from humans.
[What are you doing here?]
I speak in a manner that the Devil Race children can understand, using consciousness.
At my words, the Devil Race children fidget and then speak.
"This is a secret place we found while exploring."
"Yes, we've been playing here often."
[You shouldn't come here anymore. Haven't you heard this place is now occupied by the Human Race?]
"But we found it first..."
"But we found it..."
The child with bat wings echoes the words of the horned child, making a sad face.
[...First of all, how did you get in here? Are you kids from the nearby tribes?]
"Yes, I come from the Horned Tribe, and this one is from the Batwing Tribe."
"Yes, our tribes are next to each other, so we often play together. While playing, we found a tunnel and explored it until we got here."
I sigh deeply.
[Leave now. If you play here, evil humans might capture and eat you.]
"Huh? Arent you a human?"
"Are you evil?"
[Hmm... Maybe I am. So you better leave right away.]
"Why should we?"
"We found this place, after all."
I pondered how to send these little Devil Race children away without scaring them too much.
After thinking for a moment, I decided to hide them temporarily, then went to the governor's mansion to quickly bring Gyeon Shin back to the Void Spirit Pond.
"Look here, Cultivator Gyeon. Please tell these kids to go home."
[? Ah, you little ones! Why on earth have you come here!]
Upon discovering the two Devil Race children, Gyeon Shin scolded them with his tentacles and quickly chased them out after telling them various educational stories from the Devil Realm.
[Whew, that was surprising. Thank you for safely sending the children back.]
"Well, it's one thing to confront adult devils, but the young ones are innocent and shouldn't be antagonized."
[Right. In the Devil Realm, it's an unspoken rule not to touch each other's offspring, no matter how bizarre the actions of various races might be. Humans capture anything, young or old, but it's truly fortunate that someone like you, Lord Seo, exists.]
"Ha ha..."
Each time I received ethical praise from Gyeon Shin, I felt something stirring in my heart.
'I can't go on like this.'
Sighing, I returned to the governor's mansion with Gyeon Shin and began to hear about the overall situation in the occupied territory from the administrator, issuing a decree to fundamentally prohibit making elixirs from the Devil Race. The reason is to utilize the labor force of the Devil Race for mining resources from the Devil Ridge Mountains.
Then, I instructed the administrator to implement policies for the occupied territory as gently as possible before descending back to the serene Void Spirit Pond.
I plan to release Gyeon Shin when the time is right.
But before that, I seek to quickly regain my memories to overcome the increasingly turbulent darkness in my heart.
'I must recover my memories...'
Wo-woong!
In the tranquil Void Spirit Pond, I inhaled the purified spiritual energy around me, cleansed by the Vast Cold Jade, time and again.
I continuously challenged the Nascent Soul stage.
With the newly created method, I formed artifact spirits within the dharma treasure, storing the concentrated spiritual energy each time I attempted the Nascent Soul stage.
Thus, I spent years in the Void Spirit Pond.
Despite my warnings, the two young members of the Devil Race kept visiting the Void Spirit Pond.
The children kept ignoring my words, and at some point, I gave up and just made sure they didnt enter the pond.
Eventually, I learned the names of the children: Su In (Longevitys Cause) and Hong Yeon (Red Connection).
Occasionally, when something urgent came up at the governor's mansion, I would go up to deal with it and also comforted Yeon Jin, who cried missing his home.
Thus, I spent years in the Devil Realm.
[Read at ]
"...So, what are you saying?"
Sitting cross-legged and infusing leftover spiritual energy into the artifact spirits, I look at the figures before me.
"We've decided to get engaged."
"Yes!"
I stare at Su In and Hong Yeon in front of me.
Su In from the Horned Tribe and Hong Yeon from the Batwing Tribe look back at me with sparkling eyes.
Eighteen years have passed since I became the provincial governor.
These Devil Race children had matured significantly, no longer the gender-indistinct kids they once were.
"...Well, I had a rough idea."
I knew for a while they saw each other as more than just friends.
But, the headache for me lay elsewhere.
"But asking me to witness your engagement, what's that about?"
Indeed.
They started begging me to be their witness.
"I'm a human. Wouldn't it be better for Cultivator Gyeon to do that?"
[Yes, children. It would be much better for me, with my vast knowledge, to witness it!]
Though I had promised to release Gyeon Shin,
Due to his racial characteristics, he couldn't go anywhere alone without subduing a beast to parasitize. However, the Devil Ridge Mountains scarcely have any beasts, leaving Gyeon Shin unable to escape and leaving him waiting to be rescued by his kind.
And now, eighteen years later.
Gyeon Shin has yet to receive a rescue signal from his kin.
Eventually, he seemed to give up, merely playing Go or Chess with me from time to time.
"But... even if youre human, theres no human as good as you, governor."
"Compared to other occupied territories of the Devil Realm, our territory is quite a good place to live, and perhaps because we've been with you, Governor, it really feels comfortable."
"...But, have you gotten permission from your respective tribes?"
The two look at each other, grin and say,
"Yes!"
"Of course!"
"...Don't lie."
"How did you... Ah, never mind, it doesnt matter, does it?"
"Were not asking for a marriage witness, just an engagement witness!"
Eventually, I gave in to their whining and agreed to witness their engagement.
The two Devil Race members stood in the brightest spot near the Void Spirit Pond, surrounded by shining spirit stones, and promised their future to each other.
'Why am I even witnessing this...'
Watching the young couple, I cant help but smile unwittingly.
Apparently, I have a soft spot for people in love.
Memories yet to sink into darkness.
The recollection of planting quince and white magnolias with my first love and the love shared within the castle of puppets surfaced, making me smile involuntarily.
Warmth filled my heart.
'Ah...'
Watching these two, whom I had seen grow up, come together, the darkness that had been tormenting my heart seemed to ease.
'I think I understand something...'
After blessing the two Devil Race members, I returned to the governor's mansion.
Before organizing my enlightenment, I decided to clear up all the piled up work at the governor's office and before preparing myself for seclusion for a long time.
'Im almost there.'
Just a few more steps seem to be needed to release the Heart Demon and recover my memories.
Just when Im dealing with the piled up work at the governor's office with the administrator,
"Go-Governor!!!"
"Hm? Whats the matter?"
The administrator and I, who are handling tasks in the governors office, turn to look at the person who rushed in.
Its the messenger from the Human Race Grand Alliance, dispatched to each occupied territory.
Sensing the emotional state of the messenger, I intuition that something significant had happened.
"Take a breath and tell me slowly. Whats happening?"
"From the mainland of the Bright Cold Realm, a message has come. That is, a True Immortal has appeared in one of the Human Territories, and a Sky Island named Thunder Spirit Island was directly burned to evaporation by Heavenly Lightning! Furthermore, the Integration Stage Grand Cultivators from various races of the Bright Cold Realm who went to investigate, as well as those from the Human Race, have all died or suffered critical injuries."
I rise from my seat abruptly.
Thunder Spirit Island is the name of the Sky Island where the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is located.
'Is it this time already
The messenger continues.
"The problem is that the news of the Integration Stage Grand Cultivators from the Human Race suffering critical injuries have reached the deepest parts of the Devil Realm through spies."
"...That means, the Integration Stage Grand Cultivators in the Devil Realm have also heard this news."
Up until now, major wars had mostly seen Four-Axis stage cultivators as the maximum force deployed.
After all, if Integration Stage cultivators started to move, it would mean irrevocable damage to both sides.
Thus, even though Four-Axis stage cultivators participated in this Human-Devil Great War, Integration Stage cultivators from both sides have been watching each other from the side.
However, the situation has now changed.
The news that Integration Stage cultivators from the Bright Cold Realm being critically injured by a True Immortal has reached the ears of Integration Stage cultivators of the True Devil Realm.
'Integration Stage cultivators from the True Devil Realm will now start to move in this Human-Devil Great War!'
The situation has undergone a drastic change.
-x-X-x-
Damn, the situation is going to change drastically from now on.
If the Devil Race's Integration stage cultivators make a move, it's obvious that the tide of war will turn instantly.
We might have to relinquish all the occupied territories, and in the worst case scenario, the Human Territory might be invaded by the Devil Race.
In that case...
I hold my head, full of complex thoughts, and head outside the Governor's office to look up at the sky.
Although the Devil Realm is different from the Bright Cold Realm, celestial energy exists here as well, and its only natural that celestial energy will play a major role in the upcoming situations.
Just when Im examining the sky,
"Hm? Daoist Yeon, what's the matter?"
Before I know it, Yeon Jin is beside me, looking up at the sky.
He strokes his half-white, half-black hair with a bland expression on his face.
"Daoist Yeon..."
I call out to Yeon Jin once more.
He doesn't respond and keeps on reading the celestial energy beside me.
I ask with a rigid face.
"...Who are you?"
"Huh?"
As I exude killing intent, Yeon Jin finally seems to come to his senses and looks at me.
"Ah, sorry. The celestial energy changed so suddenly. An incredible grand calamity appeared in the celestial energy, sealing our doom. It's funny. I was happy to hear that the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was destroyed, but as soon as I was happy, the day of our death was confirmed. Haha..."
"I asked who you are."
The destruction of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is a matter that had just been reported to me, the governor, by the messenger from the Human Race Grand Alliance.
How could Yeon Jin, a Core Formation cultivator from such a distant place, know about this?
'This person is not Yeon Jin.'
Someone is talking to me, wearing Yeon Jin's body.
However, I feel something strange.
No matter how much I scrutinize Yeon Jin, for some reason, his intent and temperament are no different from what I had known him to be.
"Seems I've teased the young one too much. Sorry, I am Yeon Wei (Profound Brilliance), Yeon Jin's ancestor."
Crack, crack... Crack!
Gradually, Yeon Jin's body twists here and there, and his physique itself begins to change.
"By the way, seeing the Governor reading the celestial energy with such a serious face, something big must have been reported from the mainland of the Bright Cold Realm, right? Could you tell me what happened? What made the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect fall, the Heavenly Lightning Banner's energy disappear, and at the same time, a disaster befall Yeon Jin and my fate."
Crack...
After a while, Yeon Jin completely transformed in physique and skeleton, his face changing to that of a complete woman.
Furthermore, Yeon Jin's hair, which was originally white on the left and black on the right, had its colors reversed, with black on the left and white on the right.
Wo-woong!
"...I see."
I swallow and look around at the immense size of the consciousness that covers more than half of the newly occupied 8th territory.
The being with that massive consciousness reveals their intent without hiding.
Passersby, officials of the governor's office, and cultivators from various places started looking around to find the owner of this consciousness.
Zap, zap...
"Four-Axis stage senior, I don't know why you hid your True Soul in the body of a small Core Formation junior, but to explain..."
A cultivator at the Four-Axis stage.
Not just any ordinary cultivator, but a peak Four-Axis stage cultivator qualified to challenge the domain of Integration stage!
Not like Song Jin, who was just a remnant dead soul lingering in the world, but an actual living Four-Axis stage cultivator who crammed their entire true soul into the body of their descendant at the Core Formation stage!
I explain with heightened tension.
"In the Human Race territory of the Bright Cold Realm's mainland, a True Immortal revealed their power, vaporizing the entire Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and the Thunder Spirit Island, injuring the Grand Cultivators at the Integration stage in the process. I believe, although it's just my guess, that this True Immortal has taken the sect's treasure, the Heavenly Lightning Banner."
"Ah, so that's what happened. Even in my time, there were rumors that the Heavenly Lightning Banner has a bad legend associated with it. To think it was really an object that brings disaster."
The woman, Yeon Wei, crosses her arms and sighs.
I ask her cautiously.
"Excuse me, but may I ask who you are?"
"Didn't I tell you my name?"
"Where you come from, what you are doing, that's what I'm asking."
"Ahaha, even for a Core Formation cultivator acting as a governor, you're quite extraordinary. How can you have such a look in your eyes with a Core Formation body?"
Ssshhh...
The atmosphere around us cools, and my heart pounds like crazy.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth solidifies, making it hard to breathe.
However, as I send out a wave of consciousness, an immense force emerges from my shadow, making it easier for me to breathe.
Kugugugu!
"Hm!?"
Her complexion changes.
"Kid, what are you hiding in your shadow?"
"If you're curious, how about you first explain who you are properly, and then I might tell you."
"Ahaha, trying to trade information with me? Sorry, but I'm not in the best mood right now since my and Jin-ah's fate has been fixed by fate. Honestly, I'm wondering if I should just go around doing things I never got to do in my life..."
"As a friend before a superior, I have to ask what exactly you plan to do with Daoist Yeons body. For the last time, Senior Yuan. Who are you, where are you from, why have you hidden inside Daoist Yeons body, and what is your purpose?"
Koong!
An explosive momentum bursts from my shadow, starting to push back Yeon Wei's pressure.
Simultaneously, a hand appears from the shadow, and General Seo, who is a head taller than me, begins to emerge.
During my stay in the Devil Realm, I had been steadily working on recreating General Seo.
By using special materials from the Devil Realm to reinforce General Seo.
I was finally able to restore General Seo to an early Four-Axis stage level to some extent.
Even though the soul in front of me reached the end of the Four-Axis stage,
Strictly speaking, the current level of this person's cultivation is at the mid Core Formation stage, and only their consciousness is at the peak of the Four-Axis stage.
Of course, as someone who reached the pinnacle of Four-Axis, they would know all sorts of bizarre and profound abilities, but with Four-Axis stage General Seo here, Im not at a disadvantage.
"Hmm, this is boring. A man should tremble with fear. That's why Jin-ah was so cute. Well, anyway, I am Yeon Wei, an elder of the Thundercloud Pavilion."
"Thundercloud Pavilion?"
"Yes, after ascending from the Head Realm, I betrayed the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and spilled all the sect's core methods and major secrets to the Thundercloud Pavilion. Because of that, after the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's mass ascension, I was nearly killed by the Heavenly Lightning Banner before I hid in Jin-ah's body to barely save my life."
"..."
"Thinking it's safest under the enemy's nose, I had Jin-ah join the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. But thinking that the ascended Jin Byuk-ho seemed to have a keen sense, I decided to join the expedition to the Devil Realm to avoid his gaze."
"So, what is your purpose?"
"My purpose? Nothing much. Just living a long life and doing what I want, a simple purpose. That's why I shamelessly entered the body of my descendant to live a bit longer. Ahaha... though, that's coming to an end now."
Regret fills her eyes.
"While reading the celestial energy, I learned about the annihilation of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. It wasn't hard to find out about the rise and fall of a sect I had a lot of connections with... But then, I found out our fates were fixed to [death]."
"Fixed to death, what do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. Jin-ah and my fate will come in at most 20 years from now. We will [definitely] die. For some reason, our fate was drastically shortened."
"..."
She looks up at the sky with a lamenting face.
"I wanted to live a little longer, but it seems the heavens don't allow for that. To die like this..."
"How is Daoist Yeon right now?"
"He's listening to our conversation inside."
"Please let me talk to Daoist Yeon for a moment."
"Well, alright."
Woong!
Shortly after, the immense consciousness seems to twitch, and then the massive consciousness disappears, revealing that of a Core Formation.
Yeon Jin screams out in a strained voice.
"Aack! Senior, my lower half is gone! Senior, please stop changing my body as you like except during cultivation!"
"..."
Yeon Wei seems to say something to Yeon Jin through consciousness, and Yeon Jin is fuming and yelling into the air.
"No, cultivation aside, I was born a man! It's really annoying how every time you take over my body, you turn it into a female! Even the Governor found out! How am I supposed to live now? Will you take responsibility if it becomes known? What? You did it because we don't have much time left anyway? Ugh!"
"...Daoist Yeon."
"Ah! My apologies, Governor. My ancestor, ugh, being a woman, tends to change my body every time she takes possession of it."
"Hmm..."
I observe the flow of Yin and Yang within his body.
"The flow of spiritual power changes quite naturally during the transformation. Is that a special technique?"
"Ah...! That's... ah, my ancestor said she will explain it later. You can ask her about it afterward."
"...Well, alright. For now..."
I ask him with a serious expression.
"The current situation of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is roughly like this. The sect has been annihilated, and currently, there's probably only one survivor, Jeon Myeong-hoon. It's likely that he's not in his right mind right now... I understand that Daoist Yeons lifespan is not more than 20 years left. What do you plan to do?"
"Senior Brother Jeon is still alive?"
"Yes."
"Well, then..."
After a moment of contemplation, he has a firm expression.
"I'll go see him! I need to ask what exactly happened from the senior brother who was there!"
"...Understood. I'll send you off. Since the Integration stage Grand Cultivators from the Devil Realm will start to exert their powers soon, we'll gradually have to hand over the occupied territories anyway. I'll prepare to follow soon."
Once I withdrew from the Devil Realm, I planned to inquire about Jeon Myeong-hoon as well.
"I'll settle the occupied territory as soon as possible, step down from the governor position, and then follow. Ill do my best within 20 years, so I hope you'll still be alive by then."
"Haha, it's unlikely I'll die from external pressure, not with my ancestor around... Oh, by the way, my ancestor keeps nagging that she wants to talk to you, Governor. I'll arrange for you to meet her."
Shortly after, his consciousness once again fluctuates.
"Hmm, reports about the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's sole survivor even reaching a Core Formation stage governor? The Human Race's intelligence network has developed quite a bit, hasn't it?"
...
"Well, if you don't want to talk, then don't. I wasn't that curious anyway. More importantly, do you have a Four-Axis puppet or even a Heavenly Being one? Your puppet seems suitable for the soul to enter.
"Do you intend to use it as your body, Senior?"
"Not to use it as my body, but as a trump card to exert my full power in times of emergency."
"Yes, I'll give you one."
I readily take out a storage scroll and hand it to her.
"Hm? You're giving it to me this easily?"
She scrutinizes the storage scroll with a suspicious look.
"There's no trap. After all, Daoist Yeon and I are friends. I just have a few questions, so please answer them."
"Hmm, alright. Go ahead and ask."
I ask with a hint of curiosity.
"The Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method that I practice, and the flow of Yin and Yang in Daoist Yeons body, seem to share a commonality of coexisting Yin and Yang flows. May I inquire about this?"
"Hmm... Such a mundane question."
Crack!
In an instant, as she runs her fingers through her hair, her body twists and then reverts back to the male Yeon Jin.
The color of the hair is reversed as well.
"Firstly, this gender-reversing method itself is a traditional Thunder Path method developed from the basics of the Thunder Path. Thunder () and Lightning () arise from the exchange of Yin () and Yang () energy. It's the core of all Thunder Path powers. Interpreting the exchange of Yin and Yang as the cycle of Tai Chi, reversing the body's Yin and Yang to cultivate lightning powers within the body is the method of the Tai Chi Thunder Body."
"...Does everyone in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect learn to change their gender like this?"
"Hm? Not necessarily. It's just a technique I learned because it suited my taste. Ahaha!"
Sarang!
Yeon Wei does a twirl.
Within that twirl, Yeon Jin's body switches genders several times.
"And you mentioned similarities between your method and mine in terms of Yin and Yang? Well, at the Nascent Soul stage, one cultivates both the Primordial Spirit and Yin Spirit, so any method passing through the Nascent Soul stage would inherently contain the principles of Yin and Yang."
"I see."
"Yin and Yang, as well as the concept of Tai Chi, are the fundamental principles of this world and all cultivation methods... I've heard that demon beast methods even prioritize the principles of Yin and Yang and Tai Chi more than the methods of the Heaven Tribe. Is that all you're curious about?"
"For now, let's leave it at that."
"Good, then we'll depart from the occupied territory and return to the Bright Cold Realm soon."
Wo-woong!
After finishing her words, she disappears back into Yeon Jin's consciousness.
Yeon Jin regains consciousness and once again screams.
"Ancestor! Please return my body before you go! I still find it hard to control! Ah, really..."
After sighing, Yeon Jin vents his frustrations to me for a while.
He bids farewell and goes to his quarters to pack up, starting his journey back to the Bright Cold Realm.
After seeing him off, I returned to the Governor's office.
'There was a bit of commotion, but I've confirmed it from the celestial energy.'
It won't be long now.
In about 7 months, calamity will strike.
That means, given the Devil Races Grand Cultivators make their move, the frontlines will be pushed back to here in about 7 months.
'From today, we need to start evacuating the people from the occupied territories in coordination with the Human Race Grand Alliance.'
Once the evacuation is complete, the governors should be able to leave their posts.
The Grand Alliance will likely issue such an order as well.
And, the message conveyed through the messengers of the Grand Alliance also didn't deviate much from my expectations.
Except for one thing.
"Are you saying to retreat to the 4th occupied territory?"
"Yes, the Human Race Grand Alliance has decided to retreat to the 4th occupied territory, slightly reducing the front line, and then proceed with a full-force battle from there."
"Is there a reason for that?"
"The Grand Alliance plans to deploy the Realm Invasion Array in the 4th occupied territory, intending to assimilate at least up to the 4th occupied territory into the territory of the Bright Cold Realm."
"Hmm..."
I make sense of the situation.
The Human Race Grand Alliance intends to use an array called the Incursion Array to 'devour' up to the 4th occupied territory of the territories conquered from the Devil Realm into the Bright Cold Realm.
It means literally wrapping the dimensional barrier of the Bright Cold Realm around the Human Territory up to the 4th occupied territory and pulling the land of the Devil Realm into the Bright Cold Realm, aiming to expand the Human Territory by any means.
"Then I'm curious, there's a Void Spirit Pond in the 8th occupied territory. Considering the Void Spirit Pond can potentially be developed into a Flying Immortal Platform, it's a strategic asset of a different dimension. Why then reduce the scope to the 4th occupied territory?"
"Ah, Governor. Weren't three Void Spirit Ponds discovered this time?"
"That's right."
Indeed.
During this invasion of the True Devil Realm, the Human Race discovered three Void Spirit Ponds in the Devil Realm's territory, and each Void Spirit Pond was strictly protected by the governors of those regions.
"That's why it's even more incomprehensible. The value of the Void Spirit Pond is coveted by numerous races within the Bright Cold Realm, something not easily obtained. I heard the Human Race Grand Alliance was in uproar when three Void Spirit Ponds were discovered during this Human-Devil war. And... all the Void Spirit Ponds are beyond the 4th occupied territory.""
Its true.
Void Spirit Ponds are truly coveted by all races within the Bright Cold Realm, and discovering three during this conflict is significant.
The Void Spirit Ponds are respectively located in the 5th, 8th, and 11th occupied territories.
"It would have made sense if they decided to retreat to at least the 5th occupied territory, but to pull back to the 4th...? Why?"
To that, the messenger of the Grand Alliance nods and replies.
"The Human Race Grand Alliance has determined it's impossible to stop the advancing Integration stage devils. Therefore, the Grand Alliance has decided to use the Void Spirit Ponds we cannot utilize as a trap."
"...What?"
"Soon, the Grand Alliance will send formation masters to set up the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation in the Void Spirit Ponds, intending to detonate them along with the Void Spirit Ponds when the Integration stage devils arrive. The Devil Realm's devil veins will be devastated, and the Void Spirit Ponds will be damaged beyond use, while the Integration stage Grand Cultivators will also suffer significant injuries from the spatial storm."
The messenger of the Grand Alliance delivers the will of the Grand Alliance with a bright smile.
"What could be more foolish than allowing the enemy to use resources we cannot utilize ourselves? Haha, the strategists of the Grand Alliance are truly brilliant."
"...I have one question."
"Yes, please go ahead."
"If we detonate the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation in the Void Spirit Pond wont the entirety of the territory we've occupied turn into wastelands?"
"That's not all. The spatial storm unleashed from beyond the Void Spirit Ponds will sweep through all nearby areas, dragging everything into it. If the Grand Cultivators don't stabilize it and leave it in its natural state, this area will become uninhabitable wasteland for a thousand years! It's a highly efficient strategy for weakening the Devil Realm's forces long-term, and if the Grand Cultivators choose to stabilize it, it will delay their advance. Its truly a highly efficient strategy!"
"I see. Thank you for the valuable information. Then, we must start evacuating today."
I press my throbbing head and attempt to stand up.
An official shuffles through papers and says with a cold face.
"Then, we'll proceed with the elixirization of the Devil tribes in the occupied territories that we've been postponing."
"...What?"
"Since we no longer have any business on this land, it will be best to convert the devils into devil pills, which take up less space, for maximum efficiency. While they can be useful as pet beasts, carrying too many bulky items during evacuation can be problematic."
"Hold on, in my opinion wouldnt it be better to just drive the remaining devils far away?"
My statement seems incomprehensible to the messenger of the Grand Alliance and the official.
The messenger asks me.
"Governor, what are you saying exactly? The Grand Alliance has also issued orders for this evacuation operation to evacuate as efficiently as possible while taking Devil Realm resources'.' May I know why youre issuing such an order?"
"Thats"
I think as quickly as I can.
The messenger from the Grand Alliance approaches me.
"Governor, all your actions are periodically reported to the Grand Alliance. Even the most lenient policies you've implemented in the occupied territory have been reported under your name. Thus, there are concerns circulating within the Grand Alliance."
The envoy and I lock eyes.
"Some worry whether you, Governor, have been swayed by the devils of the Devil Realm becoming a spy for the Devil Realm. I trust you, Governor. Please do not betray our Human Race."
The official also approaches, presenting a document.
"Governor, please make the decision quickly. Approve the elixirization process."
"Governor, make the right decision."
"We need to act quickly now. Governor, please"
Amidst the pressure from those around me, I heavily open my mouth.
"I am..."
Caught in the torrent of conflict and dilemma, I reluctantly make my position clear.
-x-X-x-
Unable to do so.
I look at the official and the messenger with a hardened face.
The messenger sighs deeply.
His sigh echoes long in the room.
"...I hope there's a valid reason for this."
The messenger looks at me with icy eyes.
The elixirization decreases volume during evacuation, aids in the cultivation progress and recovery of the Human Race soldiers, weakens the Devil Realm in the long term, and profits the Human Race through the selling of Devil elixirs. Your words, Governer, suggest abandoning all this to save those beasts. I hope there is a valid reason for this.
"Because"
I take a breath, thinking for a reason in my mind.
Why?
Why do I want to save the devils, who are not even my kin?
Why indeed.
Why!
The vision of a young couple getting engaged in front flash through my mind.
The sight of playing a Go and sharing conversations with a tentacled being passes by.
Images of the Devil Race living under the governor's office over the years come to mind.
With all those memories of the years embedded in my mind,
Carrying those connections on my back, I look straight at the human in front of me and say,
"Because it's the right thing to do."
And the messenger's face contorts.
"...Did you just say it's the right thing to do? Countless soldiers who might die in this war, the countless lives. Are you saying abandoning resources that could save them is your definition of good? Wouldn't the true good be to act to save them?"
"That's your good."
"Its the good of the Human Race Grand Alliance."
"Does the Human Race Grand Alliance represent all of humanity?"
"Of course, it does."
"I don't seem to be represented by them."
"It sounds like you're suggesting the betrayal of humanity. Isn't betrayal the very essence of evil?"
"Listen, I'm not talking about who's on our side or theirs, or what's good or evil."
I glare at him.
"Whether it's the Human Race or humanity, they are not me and I am not them. Their good is not my good, and their lives are not my life."
I always feel as if I have lost a lot of important memories.
But
One thing always remains clear.
I want to live a proper life.
A life where time doesn't fly by due to regression, where all my connections and time do not disappear.
And for that life, I will live my best at any given time.
"My good that I'm speaking to you about is the priority of my life."
I won't put forward a feeble argument.
My good, compared to the grand cause of humanity the messenger speaks of, may be insignificant, selfish, and merely personal arrogance.
It might just be a pretense put forward by an individual.
It could be foolish nonsense and flawed logic.
However.
"This is my way of life. I won't impose my way of life on you, so don't impose yours on me."
"Do you not understand that being stubborn in your position itself is a form of coercion?"
"Just leave now."
Wo-woong!
I summon the strength of General Seo hidden in my shadow and speak.,
"The important resource in this occupied territory is the Void Spirit Pond, and there are only seven Devil tribes. Compared to other territories, the number of devils here is significantly less, so even if all these tribes are converted, how many elixir pills can possibly be produced? You should return to the Bright Cold Realm. I will do my utmost to support the remaining Human Race in their evacuation."
"...I will report as such to the Grand Alliance."
The two leave the room.
I sigh deeply and lay down.
Im tired.
[By the order of the esteemed governor, the expulsion of devils living in this area is decreed!]
In the 8th occupied territory of the Devil Realm by the Human Race.
There, numerous puppets are flying around, expelling the devils.
The devils, puzzled yet determined not to be driven from their land, resisted.
However, each puppet possesses the minimum strength of the Core Formation stage, leaving the devils no means to resist.
At the Governor's mansion, I take a deep breath and stare at the ceiling.
Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation, huh
I prevented the complete elixirization of the devils but theres no room for consideration regarding the formation.
If I also refuse the installation of the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation, I would truly become a traitor to the Human Race.
The Azure Heaven Creation Sect would also be marked as a sect that raised a traitor to the Human Race, risking collateral damage.
For me, cowardly as it is, I cannot not stop the installation of the formation.
Thus, theres only one solution.
Relocate the nearby devils. Far, far away
The power of the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation is said to obliterate everything within a radius of five hundred li, and the spatial storms it unleashes would spread in all directions, causing immeasurable damage.
"...Cultivator Gyeon.
I speak to the devil I brought to the Governor's mansion.
[What is it, Lord Seo]
Wriggle, wriggle...
The devil replies to me while clinging to the ceiling.
"All the humans from the Governor's office have been sent back to the Bright Cold Realm. There's no surveillance now, so to speak... I want to entrust you with the leadership of the seven tribes and have you lead them to safety."
[Evacuation?]
"Yes. The Human Race will soon start a massive slaughter."
I can't directly mention the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation.
But I decided to convey my thoughts indirectly.
"So, please take the devils and move as far away from the Human Race's occupied territories as possible. At least ten thousand li, you must move away ten thousand li."
[It seems the Human Race intends to use a powerful weapon. An attack from the peak Integration Stage can barely produce such a range.]
He asks me, his tentacles wriggling.
[May I know this information? If I meet the Devil Realm alliance, I will share what you've told me with them.]
"...Saying that makes it difficult for me to release you, Cultivator Gyeon."
[I am speaking frankly because its Cultivator Seo. I have no desire to betray the Devil Realm, nor do I wish to lie to you.]
"That's admirable. But."
I look at him and say,
"For now, you'll have to focus on fleeing. Again, ten thousand li. That's the minimum, and perhaps, you might need to go three or four times further. So"
Wo-wong!
I unfold a storage scroll and take out several puppets.
Heavenly Being stage puppets I had not given to Yeon Jin are all there.
"I'll command the puppets to help you and the Devil tribes flee as far as possible. You use your mental abilities to soothe the tribes and lead them."
[Understood.]
Pluck!
Cultivator Gyeon attaches himself to the head of a Heavenly Being stage puppet and goes outside shortly after.
Soon, he will overpower the minds of the devils and forcibly drag them all outside.
'I've sent away most of the Human Race left in the occupied territory and the devils who were about to die.'
Soon, I will also be able to leave.
""
'Is this the best I can do?'
I can't tell if what Ive done is the best or not.
Have I done the right thing?
Is there no better solution?
After much deliberation, I finally make a decision.
And then, I write a letter.
I entrust the letter to General Seo, who has been protecting me all this time, and imbue it with an instruction.
"Can you find your way? Deliver this to him."
I decided to send the letter through General Seo.
General Seo turns into a beam of light and flies far away.
Given his speed, he should reach the target and deliver the letter within a few months.
'I've done all I can.'
Now, all that is left is for Cultivator Gyeon to lead the Devil tribes out of this 8th occupied territory.
Through the senses of the Heavenly Being stage puppets attached to Cultivator Gyeon, I can tell where he was now.
'He's almost out of the occupied territory. Then it's time for me to'
Just then.
Wo-woong!
"!"
The entire occupied territory is enveloped in an ominous energy, covering everything!
Startled by this energy, I hurry outside to look up at the sky.
"What is this!?"
Kugugugu!
A barrier!
The sky is covered in a barrier!
The entire 8th occupied territory is enveloped in dazzling rays of light, covered by a barrier emitting a rainbow of colors!
'That is'
I locate the axis of the barrier.
The axis of the barrier is the Vast Cold Jade, embedded in the devil veins of the 8th occupied territory.
The seven devil veins existing in the occupied territory!
Seven Vast Cold Jades embedded in those places weave a heptagonal barrier.
And above the barrier, a face seems to emerge.
'That's the messenger!?'
No, that's not it.
I ponder, thinking.
"You were not a mere messenger."
Kugugugu!
The giant face emerging above the barrier slowly opens its eyes.
[Your head is quite sharp-minded]
"It's obvious you've come to punish me, but a mere Core Formation stage messenger wouldn't have the authority to activate such a tremendous formation..."
[Correct. I am Wi Ryeong-seon, Integration stage Grand Cultivator affiliated with the Human Race Grand Alliance. All messengers dispatched to each occupied territory and the Administrators sent to each Sky Island of the Human Race belonging to the Grand Alliance, all are avatars I've painstakingly created.]
"!"
[Monitoring the movements of the entire Human Race is my duty. But what about you, provincial governor Seo Eun-hyun of the 8th occupied territory? You've abandoned your sacred duty and what are you doing now? All messages conveyed through the messenger were directly from the decisions of the Grand Alliance that I passed on to you. Setting aside wasting precious resources, are you now trying to send them outside? To release enemies who might disclose our occupied territory's secrets and strategies?]
Wo-woong!
Ziiing!
The sound of the face gives me a headache, making it hard to stay conscious.
At the same time, the urge to obey the Grand Cultivator's words and act as he wishes becomes overwhelming.
Isn't what he's saying correct?
Isn't that the truth?
"Puppetsand..."
However, I resist the pressure emitted by the Integration stage Grand Cultivator, gathering all my strength to speak.
"Command, has been given to delay, the devils, meeting the devil army, until after, the formation is activated!"
Crack!
"There will be, no leak of information!"
Koong!
I shake off Wi Ryeong-seon's pressure with my mental strength and look him in the eyes.
"Moreover I have many questions for you. You have the power to kill a weak Core Formation cultivator like me, but didn't you have the power to protect the Thunder Spirit Island from being destroyed by the True Immortal's attack? Claiming to be at the Integration stage, but there are widespread rumors that you suffered fatal injuries or died trying to catch a glimpse of the True Immortal Realm. May I ask, Grand Cultivator, why you were so foolishly defeated?"
The surroundings fall silent for a moment.
Then, Wi Ryeong-seon speaks again.
[Firstly, spreading the barrier with the Vast Cold Jade was to confine you and the devils. Since I cant be sure if what you said is true Moreover, this barrier serves to confine you and also to convey my will to you. Your arrest will happen when the formation masters arrives to install the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation.]
"Ha So it only has a confining function."
I look towards the direction where the Vast Cold Jade is located.
Sensing my intention, Wi Reong-seon spoke in a mocking tone.
[Thinking of destroying or pulling out the Vast Cold Jade serving as the anchor? Unfortunately, once the formation is activated, touching the Vast Cold Jade will only make the formation stronger. The power of the Vast Cold Jade will surge even more, eventually becoming a powerful formation that can temporarily immobilize even an Integration stage Grand Cultivator.]
"Quite an elaborate formation just to capture a mere Core Formation cultivator."
[Not just any Core Formation. Based on observations through the messenger's eyes, your overall strength is judged to be at the Four-Axis stage. Seems like an appropriate level of response.]]
""
I fall silent for a moment.
Then, I raise my head and ask him again.
"Why did the Integration stage Grand Cultivators receive critical injuries from the True Immortal?"
[Thats because the True Immortal attacked the Human Race's Thunder Spirit Island, and we tried to protect it]
"You're lying."
I open my eyes wide and speak.
"I am well aware of the significant distance between the Heavenly Human Island where Integration stage Grand Cultivators are and the True Immortal's descent in Thunder Spirit Island. Moreover, as someone who usually doesn't care much about what happens in each Sky Island, why did you make such a fuss when the True Immortal attacked?"
I glare at him.
"There must have been ulterior motives. Isnt that right?"
It shows.
When I mention the True Immortal, greed intertwined with Wi Ryeong-seon's consciousness writhes.
Greed.
And then, shades of regret, remorse, and shame become evident in his demeanor.
'The Integration stage Grand Cultivators had something they desired from the True Immortal when they exerted their power this time. It wasn't about defending Thunder Spirit Island from the True Immortal. They had something they wanted to obtain from the True Immortal, and when the True Immortal refused to comply with what the Integration stage Grand Cultivators desired, they inflicted critical injuries on them and disappeared.'
Just by observing the colors of emotions, the story is somewhat guessable.
Upon my words, Wi Ryeong-seon silently glares at me after a moment of silence.
[It's not for you to know. You are to merely wait here in this barrier with the devils until the formation masters and the Grand Alliance's inspector arrive This barrier requires permission from the Grand Alliance to exit from inside, while entry from outside is unrestricted. Of course, it's limited to the Human Race, and other races cannot enter I'm not sure if you've truly conspired with the devils, but even if you did, theres no devil coming to rescue you.]
"I havent conspired, so it doesnt matter to me."
[Haha, that will be for the inspector to judge Since an alchemist will be accompanying the inspector, it would be wise to convert all the confined devils into medicinal ingredients.]
"You intend to use the devils as resources?"
[Is there something wrong with that?]
"Let's end this meaningless conversation here."
Thump!
I slump down on the spot.
Now, I am the only Human Race member left in this occupied territory.
Then, there is only one thing left for me to do.
[Have you given up? After all your pointless stubbornness, well done. Ill see you at the Grand Alliances tribunal, former provincial Governor Seo Eun-hyun of the 8th occupied territory]
Swoosh
After delivering his message, the face dissolves into the barrier and disappears.
'I've sent the letter to him.'
Regardless of whether the Integration stage Grand Cultivators of the Devil Realm really arrive, given the situation, the Human Race wont be pushed back.
At the same time, I glow with determination.
'I cannot let those children die.'
From now on, I will do everything in my power to prevent it!
Wo-woong!
Around me, something pale and ethereal flutters, filling the space.
For the past 18 years.
The many connections I made in this life were recorded as artifact spirits in this technique.
And as I recorded these figures, increasing the number of artifact spirits, the proficiency of the technique gradually improved.
Wo-woong!
Now, I can record figures just by thinking of them.
Swish!
Spiritual energy gathers around, recording another figure.
Its Wi Ryeong-seon, who I had just conversed with.
'Wi Ryeong-seon evaluated my overall strength as being at the Four-Axis stage and confined me with such a barrier. That means the inspector coming to arrest me will also be at least at the Four-Axis stage.'
Wo-wong!
'It will take roughly seven days for the Four-Axis stage inspector from the Human Race Grand Alliance to arrive at the 8th occupied territory.'
I clench my teeth, my eyes shining with resolve.
'In the next seven days, I must regain my memories.'
If I fail to regain my memories within that time?
'Then'
I grit my teeth.
'I will advance to the Nascent Soul stage.'
The moment I enter the Nascent Soul stage, I somehow feel that my Formless Sword will undergo a significant change.
And surely, if the Formless Sword changes, I have the feeling it can cut through any barrier, no matter how solid.
Pzzt!
I close my eyes and prepare to create artifact spirits using the nameless technique, challenging the Nascent Soul stage again.
'Here I go!'
Whether I turn to ashes or succeed, I will reach the Nascent Soul stage...
And protect the connections that have come into my life!
-x-X-x-
I open my eyes.
Tskkkstskkkstskk
Numerous landscapes and visions pass by me.
This is the life I have lived.
The memories I once again see as I challenge the realm of Nascent Soul.
Normally, average cultivators cannot challenge the Nascent Soul stage this many times.
Without sufficient enlightenment, no matter how many spiritual elixirs one consumes, one cannot reach the Nascent Soul stage.
However, through the Formless Sword, I have gained a deeper understanding of the metaphysical dimension itself.
Through this, I can cultivate my soul in a clear direction.
With a solid foundation of enlightenment, how many times I challenge the Nascent Soul stage doesn't matter!
'Again and again, I will challenge it...!'
Sssht!
'Until I can...!'
Reflecting on my past lives, I continuously form artifact spirits using the nameless technique.
Kim Yeon, Azure Tiger Saint, Oh Hyun-seok, Yeon Jin, Wi Ryeong-seon, the Administrator, Su In and Hong Yeon, Seo Hweol, Hyeon Woon, the Mad Lord...
I go back through my memories, recording each character from the scenes that emerged in my mind.
Simultaneously, I question the Heart Demon within my heart.
'Why am I trying to find my memories?'
'Why am I so rebellious against the good of the Human Race Grand Alliance?'
'What exactly is the good that I have chosen?'
'Is what I'm doing really the right thing?'
'What have I... lost?'
Countless questions swirl in my mind.
And those questions gather in my heart, nourishing the flesh of the Heart Demon.
The Heart Demon speaks.
'Is it right for you to be doing this to find your memories?'
'Is defying the good, the good you're violating, really true justice and goodness?'
'Where do you see that what you're doing is right?'
The Heart Devil approaches me and grasps my throat.
It's just an illusion.
Yet, I truly feel as if my throat is being crushed.
'Why are you trying to find what you've lost... Is it really worth it?'
Breathing becomes difficult.
Wo-woong!
Behind me, thousands of artifact spirits appear.
And I look at them.
My connections from this cycle, and from the last.
'Finally...'
I've manifested all the characters from the 'last cycle' that lasted 1,000 years as artifact spirits.
Not just those alive, not just those I've directly conversed with.
Those who merely passed through my memories, those I briefly encountered, those I've killed with the body of General Seo, and countless others have all been turned into artifact spirits.
My relationships with them were not significant.
But over the span of 1,000 years, the countless characters accumulated in my memory were really numerous.
They occupied a significant space in my memory, taking away the place of those important in my previous lives.
'Now, I can finally head back.'
Facing the Heart Demon, I speak.
"Whats important I dont know. Whether Im doing well, whether what Im doing is right, what I want to do Ive forgotten it all But thats why"
I look directly into the eyes of the Heart Devil and shout.
"Thats why I must first search...! I am no different from dust...! No different from a bug! Thats why I must know more!"
Whether what I'm doing is right, good, or what I want to do
I know nothing.
I am but a small and insignificant speck of dust in the universe, a mere insect-like existence.
But for that reason, I must carefully preserve what I once knew, to prevent any more memories from leaking away.
In the face of the harsh world, with this small body, should I not cherish what I have gathered so far? Ensuring nothing else slip away?
Flash!
I emerge from the space of my heart essence.
Once again, I failed to attain the Nascent Soul.
However, over the long years, I meticulously nurtured the memories of 'this life' and 'past lives,' firmly anchoring them as artifact spirits.
Simultaneously, by creating countless artifact spirits, the nameless method for creating artifact spirits reached its pinnacle!
'Now, just one step away from perfection.'
The speed of creating artifact spirits has almost matched the speed of perception.
As long as I can 'perceive' it, I can immediately create an artifact spirit and record the memory.
'Shall we start again...!'
Wo-woong!
I close my eyes and once more challenge the Nascent Soul stage.
First day.
I replicated most of the memories of the 12th cycle as artifact spirits.
Second day.
This time, the memories of the 11th cycle.
Since the 11th and 12th cycles were relatively short, it didn't take long.
Third day.
I reached the memories of the 10th cycle.
The 10th cycle was the most tumultuous and emotionally charged of my lives.
'Ah...'
Hyang-hwa.
The person I loved.
The dance we shared at the end.
The last whispers we exchanged.
Those emotions
From that moment, every event that took place before was replicated and recorded as artifact spirits.
From completing my revenge on Yuan Li, to all the moments at the end..
It took a whole day to capture those memories.
Fourth day.
The 200 years I spent in Serving Command Palace grinding my teeth against Yuan Li, the times spent stuffing cursed dolls in the centipede den, and the moments of all the figures of people I met through the cursed doll were recorded as artifact spirits.
Fifth day.
Finally, on the fifth day were the long yet short 10 years with her.
Recording those memories, I successfully completed the documentation of the entire 10th cycle.
Sixth day.
The 9th cycle, the 200 years I spent alone in Serving Command Palace.
I recorded the appearances of Seo Ran and Song Jin, and the figure of Kim Young-hoon, who gave me hope at that time.
And finally.
Seventh day.
The 8th cycle.
All the times I struggled to reach Qi Building and Beyond the Path to Heavens with Kim Young-hoon were contained within the artifact spirits.
Ssshh...
Before I knew it.
Countless, innumerable artifact spirits surrounded me, encapsulating the traces of my lives.
'When the inspector comes, I'll attain the Nascent Soul then.'
In the state of the Nascent Soul, I'll be able to unfold the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts in an entirely different dimension.
'Right after facing the Heavenly Tribulation. I'll disappear in front of the inspector with the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, dismantle the barrier with the Formless Sword, and escape with the trapped Devil Race...!'
Thus, I waited for the inspector.
"..."
And on the eighth day.
The so-called inspector did not come.
"...What."
There is silence.
The barrier is still functioning well, but thats it.
The inspector did not come.
"...Haha..."
I smile.
'Something must have happened on their way here.'
For me, it's a stroke of luck.
Then, there's only one thing to do now.
'To find the rest of my memories!'
I smile and continue to operate the technique.
Challenging the Nascent Soul stage again and again, I constantly reflect on the rapid flashback of my past lives.
Through the technique, I continuously inscribed artifact spirits.
After the 13th cycle, where I recorded 1,000 years' worth of memories as artifact spirits,
The speed of creating artifact spirits with the nameless technique accelerated tremendously, far surpassing the pace it had taken up till then.
Thanks to that, I was able to form artifact spirits much faster while challenging the Nascent Soul.
On the seventh day.
I managed to gather the memories of the 7th cycle.
Starting from dying due to being struck by Heavenly Lightning, climbing up to the Ultimate Pinnacle, breaking through Heavenly Rejection.
Cultivating through Qi Refining basic cultivation methods.
Practicing cultivation methods and learning Daoist techniques during the Qi Refining stage.
Tenth day.
The memories of the 6th cycle.
Starting from the memory of dying after bowing ten times in front of my master, going backwards.
The time my master protected me as a towering, giant tree.
The years I spent learning under him, laying the foundation for my cultivation..
One life a day.
The 5th cycle.
Memories of protecting my disciples and reaching the Five Energies Converging to the Origin.
The 4th cycle.
Memories of my neck being severed as I reached the Three Flowers Gather at the Summit.
The 3rd cycle.
Memories of dedicating my entire life to reaching the pinnacle realm of martial arts.
The 2nd cycle.
Memories of training to enter the world of cultivators.
The 1st cycle.
Memories of living my best life, not thinking there would be another return....
And, at the beginning....
Ah.
Before I knew it.
The number of artifact spirits floating behind me became so numerous that it was impossible to count.
Kim Young-hoon, Buk Hyang-hwa, Kim Yeon, Oh Hyun-seok, Cheongmun Ryeong, Buk Joong-ho, Song Jin, Seo Ran, Azure Tiger Saint, Cheongmun Jung-jin, Mad Lord, Seo Hweol, Jin Byuk-ho, Heo Gwak, Yuan Li, Makli Hwang-cheon, Hyeon Woon, Makli Hyun, Cheongmun Gyu, Jinlu Yeon-cheon, Yeon Jin, Yeon Wei, Jin Yeo-woon, Byuk Mun-seong, Byuk Cheon-gi, Manli Min-rab....
Among the enormous crowd, I finally move towards the memory of my very first life.
With every step I take, countless times are reversed.
Looking back at my many lives, I gradually revive forgotten memories.
Was this my life.
Going back through time.
Moving towards memories of a distant past.
There, after going back and forth, is my first memory.
This is
Memories continue to rush towards me rapidly.
However, the memories of the 1st cycle were already fully recovered as artifact spirits through the nameless technique.
I reached Grand Perfection in the nameless technique so no matter how rapidly the memories rush by, I can record them!
Come at me!
And finally.
The very first memory comes rushing towards me.
This is.
Cough cough!
An old man, miserably muttering 'Earth' as he reaches for the sky with his hand.
The old man's emotions are transmitted to me deeply.
I quickly replicate the old man as an artifact spirit.
A little girl enters the room where the old man is..
I recognize the girl.
Ju familys daughter.
Tsst!
Again, the scene reverses back in time.
The old man's younger days, begging thieves for his life.
The old man, living meagerly by picking herbs.
The old man, trying hard to study and make something of himself.
The old man, trying to break through life by selling homemade soap.
And, in his youth.
Seo Eun-hyun, when he first arrived in this world.
I revisit the moments of when I first fell into Ascension Path.
And tracing back through my memories, I delve even further into my past.
'Even earlier...'
Before I came to this world.
Memories transcend time, heading right after I fell into this world.
The memory crossed through time, to right after I had first arrived in thisworld.wemetsomeonetherewhobroughtushere.thememoryisclear.
Before I came to this world.
Climbing through the waves of memories, I finally reach memories of my homeland.
Tsst!
One of the artifact spirits strangely crumbles and disappears, replaced by memories of being in an SUV.
A landslide occurs.
I don't remember much after that, possibly because I fainted.
Memories of Jeon Myeong-hoon, who tormented me...
Various memories with colleagues at work...
The memory of being hit by a senior in the military for improperly arranging his uniform...
Memories of failing to get into any universities I applied for and going to a local college after retaking the entrance exams...
High school, middle school, elementary school...
Traversing back through all those memories.
I finally reach the 'very first' memory I ever had.
I have never come this far before.
Before reaching here, I always held onto one memory for too long, trying to create an artifact spirit from it.
But now, with the method reaching its peak.
I can create an artifact spirit by merely perceiving, finally reaching this point.
It was me, just born.
I was crying in my mother's arms.
A baby.
Ah.
I never realized until now why the Nascent Soul took the form of a baby.
But now, I understand.
As people are born into this world and cry out beneath fate,
During the most pure period when one first interacts with another,
The era when one's first connections are formed,
The most pure origin.
It is the crystallization of pure energy gathered through such determination, which takes on the form by aligning with the most pure period of a human's life,
Towards that baby.
Reaching out to my very first moment, I can become a Nascent Soul cultivator.
After reflecting on their lives, they would have reached out to their innocent selves.
But I do not reach out right away.
Instead, I look at the woman holding the baby and the man running beside her, clueless about what to do.
"Mother... Father..."
No....
I call them with even more intimate, more deeply ingrained words in my heart.
"Mom... Dad..."
Both are smiling.
Why do we cultivate the Primordial Spirit and Yin and Yang Spirits in the realm of Nascent Soul?
Perhaps its because the purest moment is born from the existence of both Yin and Yang.
The Parents.
I finally understood what I had lost.
Not the memories of Earth.
Not the ethics or moral concepts of a modern person.
Something more fundamental.
"Memories of being loved..."
My memories of loving others were about giving love, not about receiving love.
The love that is intellectually exchanged, after all, involves giving and longing from both sides.
Buk Hyang-hwa, my first love, and Kim Yeon, who did not forget love for a thousand years, were the same.
The love of reason always involves yearning in return.
However, there is one form of love in the world that is absolutely unconditional.
"Ah..."
I burst into tears at the threshold just before entering the Nascent Soul stage.
My cries overlap with the cries of the newborn baby in front of me.
At the same time, I feel the chains around my heart demon unraveling.
Right or wrong, whether its correct or incorrect.
There's no need to judge anything with such discernment.
From the moment of our birth, one receives infinite blessings and grace.
The infinite heart of someone else is given to us directly.
The moment we are born with that heart given to us.
A person will want to give their heart to someone else.
This is the nature of beings with a heart, human or otherwise.
Good or evil, whether I am right or you are right, what does all that even mean!
If there's a being that rightfully deserves blessings, isn't it the minimum duty to ensure they are not left in misery!
I, wiping away my tears, preserve the images of my first connections as artifact spirits.
And then I move forward.
The name I choose for the nameless technique, combining Three Spirits Technique and Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll, is this.
"Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections ()..."
Flash!
In the very center of the Golden Core, the essence of my life's beginnings.
The form of the baby condenses.
Tsst!
The celestial energy shifts, and my lifespan is rewritten.
Simultaneously, dark clouds begin to form in the sky.
Kugugugugu!
Normally, those who attain Nascent Soul face a golden Heavenly Tribulation, proclaiming to all of heaven and earth that they've obtained the Nascent Soul.
However, my Heavenly Tribulation has two colors.
In addition to the usual gold, there is a familiar blue in my Heavenly Tribulation.
"Come."
I look up at the heavens with a serene expression.
The pillar of light descends from the sky.
Piiiiiit!
I have attained the Nascent Soul.
With this.
'I can break through!'
"Treading Heavens!!!"
My body becomes a sword, charging towards the Heavenly Punishment descending towards me.
The lightning splits, the thunder is cleaved.
My body does not stop there, it directly pierces through the Grand Alliance's barrier covering the sky, reaching the dark clouds of Heavenly Punishment and splitting the clouds in two.
Puff!
Finally, I've arrived.
Above the clouds, I laugh, looking at the sky of myriad colors of the Devil Realm.
"Now, I am of the Nascent Soul stage."
Whish
Facing the wind of the Devil Realm, I slowly descend back to the ground.
The inspector still has not arrived.
With my Formless Sword now evolved under the influence of the Nascent Soul, I just need to create a hole in the barrier to escape with the remaining devils.
That's what I thought.
"Huh?"
I freeze as I notice a man with a sinister appearance suddenly in front of me.
In the man's left hand is a severed head, adorned with a small band on the forehead, marked with the character [Inspector].
The expression on the head suggests it suffered immensely at death.
Facing the man scattering terrifying intent, who holds the inspector's head, I take a moment to compose myself before greeting him.
"It's been a while. Jeon Myeong-hoon."