"B-Buddhist family methods...! Senior may not have heard of it before...uh, what was it...it's a method system based on beings known as the Seven Brilliances Kings, but it's not a very popular cultivation system, so it's almost obsolete now."
"..."
It seems that the existence of Buddhist Family Methods has not completely disappeared.
'Well, there were temples in the Lower Realm too.'
I stare at her for a moment.
"...Fine. Let's stop here."
I sigh, suppressing my killing intent.
It would be impossible for her, Tae Yeol-jeon, to be acting while deceiving even her own heart essence.
Unlike the previous life's Tae Yeol-jeon's heart essence, hers is chaotic and desolate, like the abandoned temple.
"You, what do you think of the Heart Tribe? For example...the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One Jang Ik..."
"Oh, you mean the leader of those spies?"
"..."
No matter how you look at it, she isn't Tae Yeol-jeon.
As I sigh from a headache, I realize I feel a sense of déjà vu from this room.
'Ah, that's right...'
It's too messy and unmaintained for me to recognize at first.
However, this is the room I had come to rest in briefly when I felt dizzy in front of Tae Yeol-jeon in the previous cycle.
Previously, there had been Taenghwa paintings all over this room, but now there are none to be found.
While looking around, I find the fairy tale book I had seen before.
'This fairy tale book is still here...'
It's a children's book based on the theme of "Sincerity Moves the Heaven."
Everything symbolizing Tae Yeol-jeon, like the Taenghwas, have disappeared, but it appears that Buddhist Family Methods and such fairy tales still remain.
Of course, the book itself seems to have been neglected for a long time.
It's worn out in many places and has traces of insects having gnawed at it.
The table of contents is familiar.
A fairy tale that spread from the Head Realm.
There are fairy tales that have spread, slightly changed here and there, throughout the Head Realm and even in the Bright Cold Realm.
Even when I asked Su In and Hong Yeon before, they said it was in the True Devil Realm too, showing that places where people live are all the same.
They are fundamentally fairy tales with the lesson that "Sincerity Moves the Heaven."
'I miss my master.'
These were the fairy tales I found in the library when I sought a way to overcome the Seven Star Ritual with Cheongmun Ryeong.
They are very nostalgic...
'...Wait.'
Looking at this fairy tale and the current situation where Tae Yeol-jeon disappeared, I remember [something similar in the past] that had happened before.
'Wasn't there a similar incident in the past?'
Chaaaaa—
A chill runs down my spine.
But for some reason, I can't clearly remember 'what' it is.
'What is it?'
'Something similar' happened before.
But I can't recall what it is.
Seeing the fairy tale book triggered the memory, so it must be related to this book...
"...Hey."
"Y-Yes, Senior!"
I ask this woman from Grand Nirvana Temple
"Do you know anything about this fairy tale?"
"Ah...well, aren't they common fairy tales? I once learned the common language of the Bright Cold Realm from my master and read them for fun. They should be in the deep libraries of other sects as well, not just our temple. Actually, they might even be found in ordinary households."
"Hmmm..."
I frown, trying to recall the memory that keeps surfacing in my mind.
I feel like I'm about to remember something.
Fairy tale book.
The vanished Tae Yeol-jeon.
This strange sense of incongruity.
"...This fairy tale. Is it supposed to end at [Chapter 7]? Shouldn't there be a [Chapter 8]?"
"Pardon?"
Finally, as I'm flipping through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, I remember the source of this incongruity.
I have definitely seen a fairy tale book before that went up to [Chapter 8], not 7.
The first story was definitely not something about a carp or whatever!
There is a [missing] fairy tale from this list!
That fairy tale is important!
She scratches her head and says,
"Um...I apologize, I'm not really sure. Well, different regions might have their own contents tailored to their own region?"
"...Hmm..."
Come to think of it, that is true.
The environments of the Bright Cold Realm and the Head Realm are fundamentally different so what am I even trying to find?
Yet, I can't shake off this bizarre feeling.
Something is off.
But I don't know what it is.
'I can't remember [it]!'
Thump, thump, thump...
My heart is pounding.
I'm shivering.
Just 'what' exactly did I forget?
Thump, thump, thump...
For some reason, I feel a pain in my heart.
'...This is dangerous.'
I feel chills down my spine.
I feel a strong sense that it will be better for my well-being not to think any further.
It's different from the time I mentioned the titles of Governing Immortals to harm Seo Hweol. An ominous sense of doom coming from deep with my soul dominates me.
If I'm not careful, something terrible will happen.
Let's not dig any deeper.
'Maybe, when I reach a higher realm, I'll remember.'
I decide to bury the unremembered memory for now.
"...Alright. Then, I'll be on my way now."
After bidding her off, I leave Grand Nirvana Temple with a hardened face.
"...I see."
I understand the subtle reaction Hon Won had when he heard that I will be joining the Grand Cultivator Association.
'In this cycle, Tae Yeol-jeon doesn't exist.'
Her joining the Grand Cultivator Association and setting a precedent for the Heart Tribe to join has disappeared.
'...Damn it.'
I understand why Hon Won let me go so easily.
It wasn't just because he lacked the confidence to face me.
'...Although nothing was said in Temporal Fate Island, when I enter Heavenly Human Island, the Grand Cultivators will likely try to capture me.'
I don't know why, but history itself has been twisted.
I have no idea how such a thing is possible.
I'm just bewildered.
I calm my trembling heart.
'There's nothing I can do about it anyway.'
Even if I know that history has been bizarrely twisted, what can I do about it?
'For now, let's just do what I can.'
It becomes even clearer to me that I need to hone the power of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
When history twists like this.
If I forget about such truths, how terrifying would that be?
I need to solidify my own history even more.
'There's no change in the plan.'
I will go to the Grand Cultivator Association and be recognized as a Grand Cultivator.
Even though the existence of Tae Yeol-jeon has disappeared and history has changed, the 'power' I possess hasn't vanished.
I leave the Grand Nirvana Temple, head up the valley, and settle on a spot.
'Let's restore my Heaven Tribe cultivation.'
After reaching the Four-Axis stage, I will reconnect the Axis of Wealth and advance to the mid stage.
Then, when I enter the Grand Cultivator Association with the genuine Three Great Ultimates and declare myself a Grand Cultivator, who will dare to stop me?
The precedent is gone?
I'll just create a new one.
I sit down and gather Heaven and Earth spiritual energy with my attraction force.
Kwarurururung!
As overwhelming celestial energy gathers, to the extent of rumbling thunder, my cultivation that had fallen to the mid Heavenly Being stage begins to rise.
Kurururung―
After facing the Heavenly Tribulation for the late Heavenly Being stage again, I prepare my rise to Grand Perfection Heavenly Being.
It's time to use the Heavenly Circle's formula.
The new Heavenly Circle's formula is as follows:
In Spring, All Things Are Born (春則萬物始生).
In Summer, All Things Are Grown (夏則萬物長養).
In Autumn, All Things Are Matured (秋則萬物成熟).
In Winter, All Things Are Conserved (冬則萬物閉藏).
None Are Beyond The Merits Of The Four Seasons (無非四時之功也).
Spring gives birth to all things.
Summer nurtures all things.
Autumn matures all things.
Winter puts all things to rest again.
This is the merit of the Four Seasons (四時).
The cycle of Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter (春夏秋冬) completes the Heavenly Circle.
It is long yet simple at the same time.
However, I feel that this formula fits the Heavenly Circle better than the original Acceptance at Fate's End.
Wiiing―
The power of the Heavenly Being cycles within me.
Although Acceptance at Fate's End harmonizes well with the power of the Four-Axis, the formula received as a gift of connection (In and Yeon) feels complete in the Heavenly Being stage itself.
Although it might not harmonize well with the Four-Axis stage, within the same level of the Heavenly Being stage, this formula is stronger!
Woooo-woong―
I feel the halo of the Heavenly Circle behind my Nascent Soul becoming more distinct.
'This is...'
Zzt!
While contemplating the halo of the Heavenly Circle, I feel as if thunder has struck my entire body from the top of my head.
"This is...!"
Guguguguk―
A sound like something scratching resonates as the fiercely spinning halo of the Heavenly Circle seems to separate from the world itself.
I knew this feeling.
"An Axis...?"
Wiiiiiing!
At the same time, the attraction force from my Nascent Soul becomes even stronger.
Indeed, it's another Axis.
What is an Axis?
An Axis is a kind of Nascent Soul.
However, unlike the Nascent Soul created during the Nascent Soul stage, which imprints one's very self, an Axis is a Nascent Soul imprinted with a specific attribute.
In other words, it is a Nascent Soul that maximizes an attribute rather than a personality.
The method to obtain an Axis through the Heterodox Axis Foundation is to kill a cultivator of the same realm, crush their Nascent Soul, and compress it into an Axis.
Since the Nascent Soul is spiritual power that's on the Plane of Soul, and not the soul itself, when separated from the soul and compressed within the body, there's no risk of the body being stolen.
One Four-Axis cultivator, a hundred Heavenly Being cultivators, or ten thousand Nascent Soul cultivators can be used to create an Axis, but even a hundred billion Core Formation cultivators can't create an axis for this very reason.
The standard method to obtain an Orthodox Axis Foundation is to gather a large amount of an attribute's energy, perform a ritual at the Plane of Qi, and, just like creating a Nascent Soul, elevate it to the Plane of Soul and then connect it to one's own Nascent Soul.
Hence, an Axis has no definite form.
It can be a surface, a point, or a three-dimensional object. That is the Axis.
If a person's Nascent Soul takes the shape of a person, what shape should the Nascent Soul of the nature of Heaven and Earth take?
The Five Blessings are a given, and since the Five Elements indeed have no fixed form, every race, every method, and every way of thought has a different way of storing an Axis.
The Demon Race might store it in the form of the five viscera and six bowels while the Heaven Tribe might store it in the form of dharma treasures.
Of course, as the name 'Axis' suggests, many store it in the form of a pillar, but it isn't absolute.
The important thing is that while an Axis is a type of Nascent Soul, it is a Nascent Soul imprinted with an attribute rather than a personality, meaning it can be controlled with the main Nascent Soul created during the Nascent Soul stage.
But now, my main Nascent Soul has become an Axis.
It's an exceedingly bizarre occurrence.
But this strange contradiction makes my head ache.
'Why didn't Seo Li notice this?'
He must have cultivated this formula for hundreds of years before me, yet among the insights Seo Li passed down, there's no mention that the main Nascent Soul becomes akin to an Axis through the new Heavenly Circle formula.
In other words, Seo Li was unaware that the main Nascent Soul will transform into an Axis.
While thinking about the differences between myself and Seo Li, something flashes through my mind.
'Heart (心).'
That's right.
Seo Li was considerably less adept at handling heart essence compared to me.
Although I don't know the exact reason, I feel that this new formula of the Heavenly Circle is significantly related to the heart.
'Ah, I see.'
Wiiiing―
The Great Desert to Dead Sea responds so naturally.
'Seo Li didn't know it himself, but he was unconsciously applying this formula to the Great Desert to Dead Sea.'
The spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth is a given, but theoretically, it could also seize the spiritual energy of others. That is the Great Desert to Dead Sea.
Though I would never use it in such a way due to my personality, even excluding that, the technique that ravenously devours Heaven and Earth spiritual energy to the point of desertifying an area is exactly the Great Desert to Dead Sea.
But if such a convenient devilish art is possible, why haven't other races or sects developed such a devilish art sooner?
Seo Li had unconsciously applied this formula to create the Great Desert to Dead Sea.
As a formula that creates an Axis out of the Nascent Soul, it allows for wielding a vast amount of attraction force, even more so than others of the same realm. It unconsciously uses the attraction force to voraciously absorb Heaven and Earth spiritual energy and directly infuse it into the Nascent Soul.
As I observe the Nascent Soul emitting attraction force within me, I fall into thought.
'The reason the Axis has attraction force is because it itself is a kind of 'symbol,' and thus part of nature."
Of course, all objects have attraction force, but the reason an Axis has a stronger attraction force is that creating a Nascent Soul as a 'symbol' maximizes the attraction force within the 'symbol.'
Then there arises a problem here.
What exactly does this new Axis symbolize?
Kuguguguk―
I feel the attraction force emanating from my Nascent Soul.
'A formula that allows wielding the power of the Four-Axis stage within the Heavenly Being stage...'
However, it doesn't harmonize with other Four-Axis stage formulas.
It's an extremely peculiar matter.
'I'll have to investigate this more closely while accumulating more Axes.'
After seven days and nights.
I perform a ritual with the Great Desert to Dead Sea and elevate my Heaven Tribe cultivation to the Four-Axis stage.
Kururung―
Having withstood the Heavenly Tribulation, my entire body radiates an immense attraction force, and my eyes gleam.
The attraction force obtained with the new formula of the Heavenly Circle,
The attraction force gained upon reaching the Four-Axis stage,
And the attraction force acquired through the Axis of Wealth following my regression.
Additionally, the power exuding from the perfectly harmonized Three Great Ultimates.
It's clearly at the late Integration level.
"Now...shall I go reclaim the position of a Grand Cultivator?"
No precedent is needed.
No permission is required.
If there is no Tae Yeol-jeon, then I will become the first Grand Cultivator of the Heart Tribe.
I prepare everything and ascend to Heavenly Human Island.
Tadatt!
Heavenly Human Island is thriving as usual.
The voices of bustling cultivators reverberate everywhere, and the markets are bustling with activity.
It's when I ascend to the outskirts of Heavenly Human Island, to the marketplace.
Zzzt―
A tingling killing intent pierces my whole body.
Step.
I take a step forward and naturally draw my Colorless Glass Sword.
My consciousness accelerates so very naturally.
Heaven and Earth slows down.
'Three in front, two behind, one on the left.'
My consciousness quickly sweeps the surroundings.
Passersby passing by me.
A dharma treasure vendor selling a compass-shaped dharma treasure to customers.
An artist under a canopy, painting and receiving money while avoiding the sunlight.
Hyeon Gwi, walking around with a snack in his mouth, chatting with other members of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect as if on a mission.
Seeing Hyeon Gwi startles me a bit, but it appears like a coincidence, so I set him aside for now.
These people are within a two-zhang radius of me.
Up to five zhang away, there are children running around, a group of cultivators examining flying sword magic artifacts, a body cultivator promoting body refining methods, and a flock of low-level spirit beasts resembling pigeons fluttering their wings as they take flight.
In a fleeting moment, in a brief instant where even calling it feeting is insufficient, I imprint everything within a five-zhang radius into my mind.
But it isn't enough.
The range of a martial artist expands even further.
Ten zhang.
An old man carrying a flower basket, looking around.
A man testing a chariot-shaped dharma treasure, a child reading a method book while holding an apple in one hand, a couple holding hands and laughing happily, an old woman at the Core Formation stage with a resigned expression as if she has little time left.
I calculate even the trajectory of every dust particle they kick up into my sword path.
Twenty zhang.
Thirty zhang, forty zhang, one hundred zhang!
Chwaaaak!
With a speed that seems to match light, I gradually read every movement within my domain while grasping the Starting Form.
A world where time slows down due to acceleration.
The world seems to darken.
Within that, my eyes gleam fiercely.
And then.
Flash!
The leader of the Human Race Grand Alliance, a Grand Perfection Integration stage Grand Cultivator, and head of the Grand Cultivator Association, Jun Jae, using the Flying Escape Technique, dashes towards me like a streak of light in the frozen world.
[Got you, Heart Tribe spy!]
I move my sword with a bitter smile.
All six Grand Cultivators of the Human Race Grand Alliance, excluding Hon Won, come at me.
The Grand Cultivator Battle (太修戰) has begun.
Translator Notes: All 7 fairy tales have roots in Korean/Chinese folk tales. For example, the goblin's hat (in the appearance of a tanggeon) is from a traditional Korean folk tale of a poor man who got a goblin's hat that allowed his body and other objects that would identify him to become invisible. The man would then use the invisibility to steal from others to gain wealth.
***
Paaaatt!
A beam of light engulfs everything.
Jun Jae is renowned.
A genius who reached the Integration stage in just 5,000 years.
A prodigy of Metal (金) attribute methods, and, along with Hon Won and Gol Maek, a monster symbolizing the Human Race's martial prowess.
Kwagijijijik!
Golden scales sprout all over Jun Jae's body as he swings his hand at me.
Thud—
I neutralize the power with the All-Heavens Sword, contain Jun Jae's force within it, and then use that very power to repel Jun Jae.
He makes an irritated expression and reaches out towards me.
Kwagijik!
"...!"
As if space itself twists, I suddenly find myself caught in Jun Jae's grasp.
Simultaneously, Gol Maek, clad in pure white bone armor from head to toe, descends upon me from above.
I twist my body in mid-air, positioning Jun Jae's body in front of Gol Maek, and quickly retreat to escape his grip.
Kwaaaang―
Jun Jae fails to dodge Gol Maek's attack in time, and Gol Maek strikes him.
An enormous shockwave seems to echo, and Jun Jae's body plummets through Heavenly Human Island, crashing into the ground below.
"Aigoo, that must hurt."
The next moment, Gol Maek rushes at me while extending their fist.
'It'll be dangerous if that hits.'
Thud, thud!
In a split second, I slash their elbow with my sword and infuse an energy wave. I then strike their palm to maximize the force of the energy wave through their elbow.
Kwaaang!
Their arm explodes in mid-air before it can even touch me.
Kwaaang!
"Kugh...!"
However, despite not making direct contact, the sheer resulting pressure blasts me out of Heavenly Human Island.
'Gol Maek...'
"Kuaaaaaaah!"
They roar like a beast, infusing energy into the bone armor that envelops their entire body.
A tail made of bone sprouts from the armor.
Claws resembling those of a beast emerge from the bone armor on their arms.
Gol Maek, a late Integration stage loose cultivator, is, like Hon Won and I, a Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation practitioner.
Due to this, they are considered on par with Grand Perfection Integration cultivators like Jun Jae, making them one of the representatives of the Human Race's martial prowess — that is Gol Maek.
Their self-created Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation method, Bone Armor Treasured Origin Art (骨甲寶元功), is notorious for extracting the bones of defeated enemies, storing them within their body, and fusing them with their own body when needed. It's a bizarre technique where until their bone armor is completely shattered, it's almost impossible to inflict any wounds on them.
But perhaps furious over their arm being destroyed by my earlier attack, they gather strength in their entire body and prepare to leap at me.
Just as I'm about to take my stance, an overwhelming force presses down on me.
Kwaadudududuk!
'Jun Jae!'
From below Heavenly Human Island.
Jun Jae, who had been driven into the ground by Gol Maek's strike, reemerges and presses down on me with his strength.
'How sturdy, to be unscathed after taking a strike from a Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation practitioner.'
As I think this, Gol Maek leaps at me again, swinging their bone-armored hand.
Kwaaaang!
A tremendous force strikes my body.
But in the next moment, Gol Maek emits a startled intent.
Wo-woong―
It's because of my hand gripping their arm.
From my forearm which begins to shine with starlight, an immense force erupts.
Simultaneously, ghostly energy surges from my entire body, revealing nineteen heads.
Tuk, Tuk-tuk!
Blood tears fall from each of the 19 heads, blooming into Black Blood Tears Flowers.
Realizing something is wrong, Gol Maek tries to pull away but I grip their arm tightly, nearly crushing it as I speak.
[Where do you think you're going?]
Kiaaaaaaaaah―
Uuhhaaaaah―
Huuaaaaaaaah!
As the Black Blood Tears Flowers bloom, unbearable screams fill Heaven and Earth.
Gol Maek, realizing the danger, cuts off their bone armor like a lizard shedding its tail and barely escapes the range of my curse.
Chwaaah―
The bone armor quickly rots and melts away under the power of the curse.
Chijijijik―
Circuits are engraved all over my body.
Kwagijijik!
Once again, Jun Jae tries to restrain me from afar, pressing me down with his attraction force.
I look at Jun Jae and step into the air.
Paaaang!
In the next moment, I'm right in front of Jun Jae.
With the All-Heavens Sword overlaid on my arm, I swing at him with all my might.
Kugwagwagwang!
The ground trembles.
Below Heavenly Human Island.
In the valley where the Grand Nirvana Temple is located, I see a Nascent Soul stage cultivator screaming and running away with all her might.
The ground cracks in several places, and the mountains and fields are being reshaped.
Chwaaah!
Shockwaves spread throughout the entire Cloud Island Archipelago that's covered in mist and clouds, tearing the clouds into a circular pattern.
'...Sturdy.'
However, I frown as I see Jun Jae standing there unfazed despite taking my full-powered strike.
A golden armor encases Jun Jae's body like scales.
And from that armor emanates a magnetic field.
'Did he use the magnetic field as armor to diffuse the impact...!'
Those who practice Metal attribute methods have a much stronger attraction force than others.
Among the Five Elements, Metal is expressed by Qian (乾) and Dui (兌) in the Eight Trigrams.
Qian is Yang (陽), so in Yin-Yang, Yang energy or light (光) is synonymous with Metal.
In the Five Elements, Earth is expressed by the Kun trigram and the Gen trigram, meaning ground and mountain.
In the Five Elements, Wood is represented by the Zhen trigram and the Xun trigram, meaning lightning and wind.
Ground and mountain, lightning and wind are all recognized attributes.
Then what does the Dui trigram represent?
Dui represents a 'pond'.
In short, it signifies a 'pond attribute'.
So some might wonder.
What on earth does 'pond attribute' mean?
Kwagijijijik!
[Kuuuuurghh!]
Utilizing the immense magnetic force derived from the Metal attribute, Jun Jae directs an overwhelming gravitational force onto me.
Kwadudududuk!
The ground caves in, and in an instant, the place where I stand turns into an enormously deep basin.
Just add water, and it becomes a pond.
The Dui trigram.
In other words, the 'pond attribute' is just an indirect way to describe the magnetic force of the Metal attribute.
[I'll turn you into a meatball, you Heart Tribe spy!]
Wanting to turn me into a Seo Eun-hyun meatball, Jun Jae's gravity concentrates on a single point.
However, I lift my 19 heads and ignite ghost fire.
Flinch!
Jun Jae recoils at my fierce gaze.
Kuguguguk―
From the depths of the enormous gravitational pit, I begin climbing up by digging my hands into the pit walls.
[Crazy..he's moving within that? This monster-like guy..!]
Kwaaang!
Gol Maek lands beside Jun Jae.
Focusing their strength on their bone armor, they transform it.
Crunch!
The shape of their bone armor changes.
Gol Maek, who has transformed their bone armor into a muscular beast-like form, nods at Jun Jae.
[Alright, go ahead. Ah, hold on.]
At that moment, Wi Ryeong-seon and Wi Su arrive at the scene using the Flying Escape Technique.
Wi Su appears to be casting some sort of spell on Gol Maek's bone armor.
Accepting Wi Su's spell, Gol Maek nods and drops down into the basin below.
Kuaaaang!!
They extend both feet towards me trying to climb up, kicking me in the face.
I try to withstand it, but in the end, I fall back down into the basin.
Gol Maek cracks their neck from side to side and says,
[Come at me, you spy.]
[Heh heh, so you're confident in your raw strength too, huh?]
Kiiiiing—
The circuit begins to run fiercely as it begins to glow.
My nineteen heads illuminate as my entire body is covered in starlight.
We each take a step towards each other.
Crunch, crunch, crunch...!
With each step, my foot sinks into the ground due to Jun Jae's gravity.
And finally, when we reach in front of each other.
Huarurururu!
Wi Ryeong-seon swings his fan, turning the basin below into a sea of fire.
Simultaneously, Wi Su blows wind downwards like a bellow, creating an immense inferno in the basin below.
It's a flame that could burn an ordinary Four-Axis stage cultivator's very soul.
But I smirk.
[What's this? Bathwater?]
For someone like me, whose soul is already being roasted by Karmic Fire, this heat is no more than lukewarm tea.
Though my skin is blistering and cooking, it doesn't hurt much, so I just laugh in Gol Maek's direction.
They appear unaffected by the flames, likely protected by Wi Su's spell.
Seeing my nonchalance, they burst into a hollow laugh as if feeling incredulous.
[...Crazy bastard, do you not feel pain?]
[As if.]
Bo-oong!
I swing my fist at Gol Maek.
The bone armor around their head is sliced off.
Gol Maek regenerates their bone armor and swings their fist towards me as well.
Pop!
One of my heads shatters, and I'm left with a wound from Gol Maek's punch.
They squint at the sword wound, looking annoyed through the gaps of their bone armor.
[Damn Heart Tribe brat...]
[You practice Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation, yet you're so fragile.]
Bo-oong!
I swing my hand at them again.
Chwaak!
A sword wound etches itself onto Gol Maek's body.
We exchange blows.
No matter how much we accelerate, the insane gravity slows our movements, making it inevitable that we get hit.
I inflict sword wounds on them, and they shatter my heads.
Crack!
'Ho...'
It seems that Wi Ryeong-seon's flames are not meant to roast me but to deplete the surrounding Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, as no more spiritual energy is flowing in.
On the other hand, Gol Maek in front of me still looks vigorous because they have a lot of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy stored within their body.
Next, Eung Yeon and Gae Jin join the fray from above.
Kugugugugu!
Eung Yeon's dharma treasure, the Heaven-Earth Demon Subduing Pagoda, falls from the sky.
Kuaaang!!
The Heaven-Earth Demon Subduing Pagoda grows enormous, increasing its weight over my head as if trying to crush me to death.
Gae Jin takes out a cauldron-shaped dharma treasure and opens its lid.
Chuarurururuk!
The liquid contained in the cauldron spills into the basin.
Chualalalak!
In an instant, the entire basin is filled with the stench of decay.
'Fungus (菌)!'
Gae Jin's spell, said to be developed by stealing the secret arts of the Fungal Bone Race of the Six Major Heaven Tribe Races, spreads throughout the basin, and purple spores begin to sprout all over my body.
The hyphae extend, sapping my strength while empowering Gol Maek.
I can see Wi Ryeong-seon and Wi Su preparing another spell.
If this continues, I might really be defeated.
'This is the power of the Human Race...'
This is the Human Race. When they combine forces, they can take down even a late Integration stage cultivator in an instant.
If Hon Won was here, I would probably have been captured and turned into something like a Seo Eun-hyun Integration Pill.
No, even now, if they really start using their full power, it will be impossible to resist.
But that's if they use their 'full power'.
[...You're not using your domains.]
I smirk, looking around with my 38 eyes.
Though they appear calm at my words, their intents are greatly shaken.
[All of you are unleashing powerful attacks, trying to end this as soon as possible, isn't that right?]
[Shut up, die!]
Gol Maek strikes at me again.
Kuaaang!
I finally can't hold out any longer and fall to my knees.
The Heaven-Earth Demon Subduing Pagoda presses down on me with even more force, and I am eventually crushed beneath it.
As I lay pinned, I sense the Integration stage Grand Cultivators gathering their strength, each preparing a powerful strike.
The Heaven-Earth Demon Subduing Pagoda becomes semi-transparent, crossing onto a higher plane.
Their attacks will penetrate through the pagoda and strike me.
However, I smirk.
[...Impressive.]
Countless beams of light head towards me.
Wududuk—
Forcing my hands to move, I infuse them with black and white energy.
The barrier of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements wraps around me.
And then, an explosion of light erupts within the basin.
Jun Jae is panting heavily.
"Did we finish him?"
"We should have. No matter what, there's no way he can withstand the full power attacks of Integration stage Grand Cultivators."
Wi Ryeong-seon wipes the sweat from his forehead as he speaks.
"Damn, I only used my strength for a while and I'm already this exhausted..."
"It's because you overexerted yourself trying to find information to avoid the End and ended up staring directly at the True Immortal. You were too greedy."
"But once this injury heals, all the surviving Integration stage Grand Cultivators of the Heaven Tribe will gain powerful lightning divine powers, so it wasn't just greed. The only races where all the Grand Cultivators survived after staring directly at the True Immortal are the Tall Tree Race and our Human Race."
"That is also true."
While they are chatting, Wi Su moves her hand.
Hwiiiiiiiiii—
The wind blows, clearing the dust cloud.
Standing tall in the dust is Gol Maek, still clad in their bone armor.
"Cultivator Gol. Please retrieve the spy's body and soul. We'll interrogate him further at the Grand Cultivator meeting."
"But to think that someone from the Human Race learned both the Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation method and the Heart Path Method...he's quite the genius."
"Even so, given that he learned the Heart Path Method, he must have been influenced by Jang Ik. His ideologies are definitely contaminated, so we must purify his thoughts through suggestion and bring him back as a proper member of the Heaven Tribe."
Jun Jae converses with Wi Ryeong-seon, then glances back at Gol Maek in the basin.
"Fellow cultivator, just what are you..."
Then, Gol Maek's voice is heard.
"R-run aw..."
The next moment.
The bone armor covering Gol Maek shatters, revealing a blood-soaked woman with white hair and red eyes collapsing to the ground.
"Cultivator Gol Maek!"'
Jun Jae is startled and tries to fly to her.
However, a monstrous being of starlight with 19 heads emerges from within the dust cloud, laughing.
[If this were a prolonged battle, I would have surely lost...but it seems everyone's condition is rather poor, seeing that you are all reluctant to even deploy your domains...]
"You bastard...!"
Kuguguguk!
Jun Jae once again emits a magnetic field, pressing down on Seo Eun-hyun.
However, the gravitational force is far weaker than before.
Seo Eun-hyun, crossing his arms, speaks.
[Earlier, I had no choice but to respond since you all attacked me. But continuing this fight is meaningless...I wish to sit in the position of a Human Race Grand Cultivator. Considering that everyone's condition has deteriorated after facing 'that being', wouldn't it be mutually beneficial to accept me, a late Integration level force as a Grand Cultivator?]
At that statement, Wi Ryeong-seon, Wi Su, and Jun Jae simultaneously glare.
"Nonsense! You're asking us to accept a Heart Tribe spy as a Grand Cultivator of the Human Race Grand Alliance!"
[Am I not part of the Human Race...? In theory, the Heaven Tribe can master all three methods of Heaven, Earth, and Heart, so why this discrimination?]
"Ha, the ones who are born amidst unspeakable abuse and torment are the Heart Tribe, and the same goes for the Human Race. In theory, the Heaven Tribe can master all three methods, but any Human who learned the Heart Path Method would be influenced by the Heart Tribe's ideology. They would go around denying slavery and engaging in absurd liberation movements. How can we trust them?"
[Hmm...is that so?]
Clicking his tongue at Jun Jae's attitude, Seo Eun-hyun grabs Gol Maek, who collapsed before him, by the neck and lifts her up.
Though Seo Eun-hyun says nothing, Jun Jae glares at him with rage in his eyes.
"You vile...! Taking a hostage...!"
[No...]
Seeing Gol Maek captured, Wi Ryeong-seon and Wi Su also close their eyes tightly.
"...Leader, we have no choice. For now, we should accept that monster's proposal. Cultivator Gol Maek's life is at stake."
"Kugh...! Vile Heart Tribe bastard...!'
[No, wait...I haven't even said anything...]
In the end, Jun Jae clenches his eyes shut, deciding to protect Gol Maek from the mad Heart Tribe spy monster who walks around with the heads of 18 Four-Axis stage cultivators of the Human Race on his shoulders.
"Fine...! I will allow you to take the position of a Grand Cultivator! However, you may not interfere in the affairs of the Human Race Grand Alliance, holding only the title. No place will be given to you on Heavenly Cauldron Mountain, and all resources allocated to you must be used by you alone. If we find any indication that you are transferring resources of the Human Race to the Heart Tribe territory, you will be arrested and put on trial immediately! If you cannot accept this, we will end you even at the cost of Cultivator Gol Maek's life!"
[...Uh, I accept but...]
"If you accept, then hand over the hostage immediately!!!"
The Human Race Grand Alliance, exchanging Gol Maek who was taken as a hostage, ultimately accepts Seo Eun-hyun as a Grand Cultivator.
***
"Huu..."
I sigh after somehow receiving the title of Grand Cultivator.
'The difficulty has increased so much since the disappearance of Tae Yeol-jeon.'
Moreover, if the title of Grand Cultivator is something that makes the Human Race Grand Alliance so wary, it's almost as if there's no point in even having it.
Nevertheless, had I stayed still, the Integration stage Grand Cultivators who received word from Hon Won would have continued to pursue me. By obtaining the Grand Cultivator qualification, I managed to prevent that from happening, and for now, that is enough to be satisfied with.
I used the voice transmission talisman to contact Hong Fan.
"Hong Fan, come to the area below Heavenly Human Island with Jeon Myeong-hoon."
I wait for Hong Fan while recovering my spiritual power in the basin created by Jun Jae.
Since I've become a Grand Cultivator again, the next steps are simple.
'First, rescue Kim Yeon, and then, either by kidnapping Kang Min-hee or by some other means, prevent her from going berserk as the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother.'
Also, I have some questions for Yeon Wei.
At that moment, lightning flashes.
Kurururung!
As if the red lightning is wriggling, Jeon Myeong-hoon descends with his arms crossed in front of me.
"Looks like you've done something incredible again."
He clicks his tongue while looking around.
"I'm quite the busy person. Anyway..."
I look at Jeon Myeong-hoon's feet.
He has six shadows.
"You've almost fully learned the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body"
"Yeah. I've mastered the Lightning Path part, but the Curse and Ghost Path parts are difficult, so I haven't fully grasped them."
The Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body is a devilish art that combines the Curse Method, Ghost Path Method, and the Lightning Path Method.
It involves infusing ghostly energy into one's Nascent Soul through the six symbols of curses: Violent Death, Disease, Worry, Poverty, Evil, and Weakness. By interpreting the ghostly energy and the life force within oneself as Yin and Yang, Yin Lightning is then formed. This is the essence of the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body.
However, if one has already practiced the Lightning Path Method, it is said that you only need to taint the internal lightning energy with the curse symbols to convert it into Yin Lightning.
Yin Lightning is originally formed through curses and ghostly energy, but Jeon Myeong-hoon is cultivating the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body in a peculiar way by somehow first generating Yin Lightning and then forming curses and ghostly energy based on it.
'How does he even do that...?'
I click my tongue at the absurdity of the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body and speak.
"I'd like to explain our plan going forward."
"What is it?"
"For now, our basic goal is to advance our cultivation. In the process, let's gather our colleagues like Kim Yeon, Kang Min-hee, and Oh Hyun-seok."
"What about Deputy Oh?"
"Oh Hye-seo? Hmm...I have some information on her. She's currently doing well, so there's nothing to worry about."
"Well, if you say so, it should be fine"
I explain to Jeon Myeong-hoon what we need to do.
"I'll rescue Kim Yeon. You go rescue Hyun-seok Hyung-nim...I mean, the Chief. He's in the True Devil Realm right now, and the Grand Cultivators of the True Devil Realm should currently be pushing against the Human Race. He should be retreating so assist Hyung-nim's retreat as quickly as possible."
"How quickly?"
"There's a high probability that the Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum will call upon something to descend into the True Devil Realm. Do it as quickly as possible before he enters. Of course, I can handle the Black Dragon King if he arrives, but...better safe than sorry."
If the Black Dragon King doesn't come, there's no need for Azure Tiger Saint to sacrifice himself.
"Well, got it. I'll do that."
"Good, then I'll rescue Kim Yeon in a little while. Hong Fan, come with me for a moment. There's something I need to confirm with you."
"Hm. Yes, understood."
After asking Jeon Myeong-hoon to rescue Oh Hyun-seok, I take Hong Fan out of the basin.
"Follow me."
Paatt!
Using the ground-shrinking technique, I take Hong Fan towards the place where the woman from the Grand Nirvana Temple had fled earlier.
Paatt, paaattt!
How many dozen li do we cover?
I finally detect her presence.
The woman from the Grand Nirvana Temple had used the Earth Escape Technique to hide about two hundred li away from the battlefield between me and the Grand Cultivators.
Kuguguk―
I use attraction force to pull her out from where she's hiding underground.
"Hiiiieeeeek! Seniors! Please spare me! Even if you turn me into a pill, my cultivation in Buddhist Family Methods won't help in increasing your realm!"
"..."
As soon as she's pulled to the surface and see us emitting attraction force, she collapses and screams in terror.
Her reaction is vastly different from the boldness of the previous life's Tae Yeol-jeon.
I look at Hong Fan and ask.
"Hong Fan, what do you think of this woman?"
Hong Fan strokes his beard as he looks at her, then glances up at me with a puzzled expression.
"Hmm, she's a woman that smells. It seems she doesn't wash."
"..."
"...? Ah, I apologize. Is Master perhaps considering taking her as a concubine?"
Shaaaaaa―
I feel a chill run down my spine for some reason.
Hong Fan's reaction has changed.
"...Hong Fan."
"Yes?"
"Don't you have any other thoughts?"
"Hmm...she seems to have cultivated some kind of Buddhist Family Method, and the spiritual power of that method looks a bit unusual."
"..."
He seems completely uninterested.
Hong Fan is treating her like an inanimate object.
"No, not that...when you look at this woman...do you not feel anything like wanting to marry her or suddenly confessing your love?"
I ask, observing Hong Fan closely.
However, Hong Fan responds with a rather dumbfounded expression.
"M-Master...no matter if it is your will...marriage is a significant event in life, so..."
"...Aren't your views on marriage different from those of humans since you're a centipede demon?"
Upon hearing that Hong Fan is a centipede demon and our conversation about marriage, the woman from the Grand Nirvana Temple turns pale.
"S-Seniors, I don't know which part of me is appealing, but I do not have any confidence in satisfying a centipede demon senior. P-Please, let me go!"
Her reaction is also different.
In the previous life, even though she didn't accept Hong Fan's courtship, she still blushed and felt a flutter in her heart.
However, this life's her is genuinely terrified and repulsed at the thought of marrying a centipede demon.
And Hong Fan, seeing her expression, frowns as if he also finds her displeasing.
"...I apologize, Master. Even though I am a centipede, having spent so much time with you, I have been greatly influenced by the Human Race's concepts. And above all...the smell is too off-putting. Even if you told me to eat her..."
"Hiiee, hiieeeek! Please don't eat me!"
"...Even if you told me to eat her, the smell would make me spit her out. Master, you don't really intend to marry me to her, do you...?"
Hong Fan and the women of the Grand Nirvana Temple look at me with desperate eyes.
"Seniors, I am a committed single, and I have decided not to get married! Besides, as you already know, my body is smelly and I'm very lazy. I can't even do anything!"
"...Master...you may find it funny coming from a centipede, but I really want to make a loving connection and get married...so that one is a bit..."
I nod, holding my head.
"I understand. I wasn't telling you to get married."
"Th-thank you, Senior!"
"Thank you, Master!"
Only then do the two bow to me with joy.
"...Well, since we're here anyway...show me some of your Buddhist Family Methods."
"Buddhist Family Methods?"
"Yes. The ones left in the Grand Nirvana Temple."
"Oh! As it happens, I brought all my possessions with me during the natural disaster, so I have them right here!"
She uses the Earth Escape Technique to pull up a bundle from underground.
'...How poor must you be to not even have a storage scroll?'
I click my tongue as I watch her packing her belongings into a bundle like a mortal from the lower world, without even a common storage magic artifact.
It seems that everything she owns is in that small bundle.
As she rummages through the bundle, she pulls out three jade slips that are worn and frayed from use.
"..."
I examine the jade slips with a stiff face.
'They're different.'
These methods are different from the Buddhist Family Methods I learned in my past life, which could be cultivated up to the Integration stage.
These ones are methods that reach their limits at the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage.
Of course, names like the Seven Brilliances Kings remain the same.
The Golden Body Heavenly King, Red Bead Extinguishing Heavenly King, Lapis Lazuli Protecting Heavenly King, Silver Basket Heavenly King, Tridacna Vast Cold Heavenly King, Obsidian Demon Heavenly King, along with the concept of the Future King.
And the symbols they represent match the explanations given by Tae Yeol-jeon.
But I find something odd.
"Hey, what happens to the Seven Brilliances Kings after they save all sentient beings?"
"Ah...are you referring to the Seven Brilliances Kings? That...what was it...?"
Seemingly unable to recall the content of the Buddhist Family Methods she learned, she scratches her head in thought.
As I frown, Hong Fan threatens her in front of me.
"Do you not see the Master is curious. Speak quickly."
She shrinks and speaks as if she just remembered.
"Hi-Hiieek. I apologize. The Seven Brilliances Kings, after saving all sentient beings, are said to shed their forms within the lotus."
"Shed their forms within the lotus? What happens next?"
"After that...there's no further transmission..."
"...What is the relationship between the Future King and the Seven Brilliances Kings?"
"Um, I'm not sure..."
Crack―
As veins bulge on my forehead, she speaks with a tearful face.
"S-senior! It's not that I can't remember; I really haven't learned it! In the first place, the Future King is merely a symbol personifying future hope and doesn't hold a significant place in Buddhist Family Methods! Well, depending on the region, there are stories passed down that the Future King is the master, disciple, or relative of the Seven Brilliances Kings, or that they have no relation at all...but these are all baseless. There's not much interest in the relationship between the Future King and the Seven Brilliances Kings. We just regard them as Heavenly Kings dedicated to their respective domains."
"...No relationship, you say?"
"Yes, that is what my master taught me..."
"..."
Then why did Tae Yeol-jeon speak to me with such certainty about the Future King?
"Are these all the methods of the Grand Nirvana Temple?"
"Yes."
"Are there any methods that can reach the Integration stage?"
"Pardon? Haha, if there were, wouldn't I have already become a Grand Cultivator? Ah...I apologize. I didn't mean to be sarcastic to you, Senior."
She scratches her head and jokes, but quickly bows her head and shrinks back as Hong Fan sends a cold glare her way.
"These are all the methods passed down in the Grand Nirvana Temple. I've never even seen any methods that reach the Integration stage..."
"...Alright, I understand. I need these Buddhist Family Methods for my study, so may I take them?"
"It would be an honor, Senior! It would be great if a cultivator of your high realm could master them. And...uh...perhaps..."
"And?"
"If possible...could you accept me as your...disciple...?"
At those words, Hong Fan clicks his tongue and waves his hand.
"Master, in my opinion, this woman is smelly, seems to lack talent, and doesn't have the will. You should not accept her."
Receiving Hong Fan's annoyance, she prostrates herself flat on the ground.
"I apologize! I have overstepped my boundaries! Th-then, since you're taking the Buddhist Family Methods...if you could at least mention that you got them from our Grand Nirvana Temple...ah, please forget it. Now that I think of it, it seems presumptuous as well."
Crack—
Hong Fan, seemingly angry, lets out a breath of poisonous energy.
"Master, because you show mercy, this woman keeps trying strange things through you. Despite being lazy, untalented, and smelly, she is cunning and shameless in this manner."
At Hong Fan's continued words, she looks like she is about to faint.
"It might even be better to kill her."
It seems her attempt to use me to promote the Grand Nirvana Temple has seriously offended Hong Fan, who rarely shows such anger.
"...Enough. Don't do that."
I wave my hand.
Though I don't like her trying to use me, I'm not angry because it seems she is trying to revive the Grand Nirvana Temple.
"I will speak well for your Grand Nirvana Temple, so don't worry. And this is payment for the Buddhist Family Methods."
I throw her a storage magic artifact filled with spirit stones, and she prostrates herself in gratitude.
I head towards the Heavenly Human Island with Hong Fan, carrying the Buddhist Family Methods.
I plan to go to Kim Yeon.
'...The eight Grand Cultivators became seven, and the eight fairy tales became seven as well.'
The two events are related.
I grit my teeth.
'Just what is going on..?'
I glance at Hong Fan, who is following me.
Today, I am certain from the way Hong Fan treated her.
Hong Fan didn't love the nun.
He was infatuated with 'the entity that possessed that woman.'
Just who is the entity that impersonated Tae Yeol-jeon, and why did Hong Fan go mad, even defying my orders to confess his love?
And, if I had practiced those Buddhist Family Methods that reach the Integration stage given to me by that being, what would have become of me?
With these complex thoughts, I head towards the Mad Lord.
***
'Now, I'll go to the Mad Lord to rescue Kim Yeon, block the Black Dragon King and save Oh Hyun-seok with Jeon Myeong-hoon, and finally, kidnap Kang Min-hee from the Side Path.'
After formulating my plan, I step onto the teleportation array to move to the area where the Mad Lord is currently located.
Paaaatt!
Arriving at the teleportation array of a foreign race, I head towards the Mad Lord.
Paaaatt!
Using the ground-shrinking technique, I reach the Mad Lord's location far faster than before.
At this rate, I won't need Jeon Myeong-hoon's returning lightning spell to escape.
'...I wonder how long it would take to win in a direct confrontation with the Mad Lord.'
Pondering, I calculate my strength against the Mad Lord's.
'...At this point, the Mad Lord's power is already on par with the Human Race Grand Alliance's Grand Cultivator Association.'
Not the injured and weakened Grand Cultivator Association, but the fully powered one.
'I should avoid a direct confrontation.'
I don't want to be captured and become General Seo for another thousand years.
'Being Emperor Seo is one thing, but being General Seo is a bit much...'
With these idle thoughts, I arrive near the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and gather my spiritual power.
Chuarak, chuarurung!
The Spirit Sealing Bodkin spell wraps around my hands.
Silver chains appear between my hands.
'Can this heal him?'
It had a temporary effect on Kang Min-hee.
But somehow, I feel it would be useless.
'Can the Mad Lord's madness be compared to Kang Min-hee's?'
Of course, the cracks in Kang Min-hee's mind might grow larger and turn her into the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother in the future, but at this point, the cracks aren't significant, so I can suppress them with the Spirit Sealing Bodkin.
But the Mad Lord's madness is already at an advanced level.
It could never be treated with just the Spirit Sealing Bodkin.
Of course, now that I can use heart essence, I have confidence that I can temporarily halt the Mad Lord's madness by striking at his heart essence.
But that's all.
It might have been more effective than the Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace for Kang Min-hee, but for the Mad Lord, it's even less useful than the latter. That is the Spirit Sealing Bodkin.
'Tsk, it's a shame.'
Feeling slightly regretful, I disperse the Spirit Sealing Bodkin spell.
Then.
Revealing my concealed presence, I move to the front of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and shout.
"Greetings, elder. I am the one named Seo. I have something I wish to present to the elder, hence I have come here."
A familiar voice responds.
[Oh~ my, have you come to become General Seo? How admirable!]
I cover my left hand with the White Orchid Blessing Incantation and my right hand with the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation.
[Great Mountain!]
Flash!
[Splitting Emperor!]
Kuaguaguaguagua!
Light explodes brilliantly.
A massive hole is torn in one side of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
The Mad Lord's circuits operate on the outside of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, using spiritual energy to set up multiple defensive formations.
But the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique scatters Qi itself into seven parts.
No matter how the energy is used for defense, it will just be dispersed.
Perhaps it's because the Mad Lord's circuits and the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique are so incompatible.
Thanks to that, I can see the Mad Lord inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, holding [Her] hand and staring at me with a stunned expression.
"...You...you bastard!!!!!! Howdarehowdarehowdarehowdare...!"
The Mad Lord's eyes roll back and he begins to tear at his fingers wildly.
[She] and other Grand Cultivator level puppets start crawling out of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
But I, with a blank expression, grasp the Starting Form with my eyes gleaming.
All-Heavens Sword.
Single strike!
Not even [She] can stop it.
This strike, fully immersed in the Plane of Soul, penetrates the Mad Lord's heart essence, momentarily suppressing his madness.
'This...won't hold for long.'
I sense the sorrow, anger, pain, and love dormant inside the Mad Lord.
The emotions are boiling chaotically, making it impossible to calm his heart essence through any means.
All I can do is temporarily help him regain his sanity.
While feeling this, I notice something strange in the Mad Lord's heart essence.
'Wait, this is...'
It's strange.
Is it because I have reached this realm and entered his heart essence?
I can discern 'something'.
'The Mad Lord...could it be...?'
I grit my teeth as I sense the clue to the Mad Lord's madness.
I also understand why Seo Hweol couldn't cast the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens on the Mad Lord.
"...Have you entered within me?"
The Mad Lord, now rational, sits in the control room and senses my heart essence.
"...Yes. But it won't last long."
"I figured...and if you've entered my heart...you must be feeling it now."
"...Yes."
Until now, I thought the Mad Lord was suffering from madness due to the influence of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Indeed, the Mad Lord was confirmed to be influenced by the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress to some extent.
But today, I found out.
"Elder...isn't suffering from madness...because of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress."
The Mad Lord gives a bitter smile at my words.
"It's merely my karma. You need not concern yourself...anyway, what's the reason for all this commotion you caused to come here?"
"To take your disciple with me."
At my words, the Mad Lord nods.
"I see. She seemed to be meeting someone in her dreams whenever she sleeps. That turned out to be you."
The Mad Lord seems to know I met Kim Yeon in her dreams before, nodding his head.
"Take her. But be careful. I will eventually try to find that child again. Because...my life's goal can only be realized through her."
"I will keep that in mind. And..."
Looking into the Mad Lord's eyes, I speak.
"Until Yeon can achieve your goal with her own strength, I will nurture her."
The Mad Lord's goal was Yeon's Play.
Kim Yeon operating the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon with her vast consciousness to control the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress to activate Yeon's Play is the Mad Lord's purpose.
The Mad Lord nods and says,
"Good, I entrust her to you. And..."
The Mad Lord takes out something resembling a magic artifact from his bosom and swiftly modifies it.
'That is...'
Just like when the past life's Mad Lord imbued [Her] arm with enlightenment, he is engraving enlightenment into that magic artifact.
This is possible now because my higher realm allows the Mad Lord to remain sane for a longer period.
The bee puppets bring Kim Yeon over.
"Eu-Eun-hyun...Oppa?"
"Kim Yeon."
As Kim Yeon looks at me in surprise, the Mad Lord speaks to her.
"This is something I can only say now that my mind is clear, so I will say it now."
She seems bewildered, finding strange the sight of the sane Jo Yeon's appearance.
Jo Yeon hands her the magic artifact imbued with enlightenment and says,
"I'm sorry for everything until now. From now on...be happy."
No more words are needed.
He is already relapsing into madness, and everything necessary is contained in that magic artifact.
I approach Kim Yeon, put my arm around her shoulders, and bow to Jo Yeon.
"Thank you. Now then..."
Before Kim Yeon can fully grasp the situation, I use the ground-shrinking technique to leave the place.
Jo Yeon is reverting to the Mad Lord.
There's no more time to waste.
Paaaatt!
Using the ground-shrinking technique, the Flying Escape Technique, All-Heavens Sword, Gliding Technique, and every other movement technique I know of, I flee from the Mad Lord.
Covering thousands of li in an instant, I feel the heart essence avatar I implanted in the Mad Lord being torn apart by his raging mob-like madness.
The Mad Lord has completely returned.
But the distance is too great for him to continue pursuing.
'Out of all the times I rescued Yeon before, this is the safest rescue.'
Kim Yeon, still slightly bewildered by the sudden turn of events, blinks her large eyes.
"Yeon-ah, are you confused?"
Finding her expression somewhat amusing, I chuckle and ask.
"Ah...is this a dream...?"
I gently pinch the still dazed Kim Yeon's cheek, and together board the teleportation array to Heavenly Human Island.
"This isn't a dream. Now then...shall we go to Black Ghost Valley and take a look at the Side Path?"
Having rescued Kim Yeon, it's time to save Kang Min-hee.
Earth Tribe, True Dragon Alliance, Serving Command Ark.
The hidden layer of the Serving Command Ark.
There, a kindly smiling Sea Dragon cultivator and a woman in white clothes with a smile are playing a game of Go.
"So, what is it that you want me to help with?"
The woman in white, Oh Hye-seo, asks with a smile to the Sea Dragon cultivator, Seo Hweol.
"It's nothing much. I just need you to investigate the past of a person I'm monitoring."
"Oh my, wasn't the only person you've asked for something like that the one called the Mad Lord?"
"Hoho, it's because something beyond my control was born, so I'm curious about what went wrong."
"Ahaha. Well, it figures. From what I've heard of the person called the Mad Lord, there is no one as invincible as him. To the point even our Grand Prince can't handle him."
Oh Hye-seo giggles cheerfully and places a stone.
Seo Hweol blocks her move with a smile.
"So, will you grant my request?"
"Hmm, well, sure. Who is it?"
Seo Hweol smiles gently at her words and forms a hand seal.
Woo-woong―
Someone's face appears before Oh Hye-seo's eyes like an illusion.
"It's a terminal attached to that person. It's in a rather risky location, so it could scatter at any time, but it seems he hasn't noticed it yet. Please look into his past through this."
Oh Hye-seo's eyes widen upon seeing the face.
"Oh my, isn't this someone I know? You want to know about his past?"
"Yes."
"Hmm...Seo Eun-hyun...is someone you fear?"
Oh Hye-seo explains Seo Eun-hyun to Seo Hweol.
She outlines roughly what kind of person he is, his past, his likes and dislikes, his medical history, how many times he visited the dentist, his military service role, the schools he attended, and what was written in his student record.
Seo Hweol inquires about the unfamiliar concepts and learns about Seo Eun-hyun.
"...Well, anyway, that's the kind of person he is. Just an ordinary guy, nothing worth paying much attention to. He's just a mortal who is really serious about eating..."
"Hoho, I see. This has been very helpful."
Seo Hweol concludes after listening to Oh Hye-seo's story from beginning to end.
"Most likely, the 'Seo Eun-hyun' you know is already dead."
"Oh no. How unfortunate."
Oh Hye-seo clicks her tongue and blocks Seo Hweol's path, who then captures Oh Hye-seo's stone and continues speaking.
"His body was most likely taken over by some high-ranking entity. Perhaps his memories, soul, and fate have all been seized. The current 'Seo Eun-hyun' that exists...is not your colleague but an unknown anomaly. Be careful, Miss Hye-seo, as you are not yet aware of the true existence of such mythical beings. Be cautious, and be cautious again."
"Oh, come on. You say that, but you're secretly hoping I mess with the anomaly and get ruined, right? Since that would make it easier to brainwash me, wouldn't it?"
"Hoho, I hold no such thoughts at all."
"Hm, I think I'm starting to understand your way of speech, Grand Prince..."
Oh Hye-seo rolls her eyes at Seo Hweol, and Seo Hweol seizes the opportunity to completely block her path while she's distracted to seize her territory entirely.
"By the way, didn't you say you were colleagues? You seem to know an excessive amount of information about this Seo Eun-hyun. Is Miss Hye-seo's hometown originally a place where information flows so freely?"
"Oh my, you know me, Grand Prince. That I'm quite thorough. I know everything about my colleagues. Especially a younger junior I doted on—I even found out how many wisdom teeth they had pulled, the shape of those teeth, and the exact length of their toenails when they cut them."
"Hoho. As expected, it's one of your personal hobbies."
"Yes, well, something like that. But it's quite sad that it's so hard to get to know you, Grand Prince. Could you share some of your past with me?"
"I told you last time, didn't I? Born as the son of the previous Sea Dragon King, Seo Hwi..."
"Come on, I know all of that is a lie. And you're not even Seo Hwi's son. That body isn't even your original one. Aren't you much older?"
Seo Hweol and Oh Hye-seo continue their chat with friendly smiles, and Oh Hye-seo at some point reaches her hand into the illusion Seo Hweol has shown her.
A Taiji symbol appears in her eyes.
'Hmm?'
Suddenly, Oh Hye-seo smiles inwardly.
'Oh my, you just rescued Yeon! And what's this? Those actions...aren't they exactly the same as before? Every small habit, mannerism, way of speaking, and the way the corners of his mouth lift when he laughs are all the same. And yet, possessed by an anomaly?'
She places another stone in Seo Hweol's territory while cutting off his path, her eyes shining.
'What nonsense. That's definitely Seo Eun-hyun. I don't know why he became something like an anomaly, but since all seven of us gained strange powers, it must be due to that.'
She smiles inwardly.
'Seeing he rescued Kim Yeon, and there's no way that dull guy will know Kim Yeon's thoughts, he must be planning to gather all his colleagues.'
Oh Hye-seo forms a plan.
'I need to look for an opportunity and make contact with Seo Eun-hyun. Seo Eun-hyun also seems to be against Seo Hweol, so if I say I was captured by Seo Hweol, he'll rescue me, right? Should I maybe play a double agent between Seo Eun-hyun and Seo Hweol? Both sides look fun...'
She decides to approach Seo Eun-hyun soon, choosing to align herself with whoever piques her curiosity the most.
And Seo Hweol, observing her, smiles faintly.
"Ah, Grand Prince. I won. You didn't see that move coming, did you?"
"Hoho, indeed, I can't match you, Miss Hye-seo."
After returning to Heavenly Human Island with Kim Yeon, I register her at Temporal Fate Island and head with her to the entrance to the True Devil Realm.
I plan to either wait for the Black Dragon King to arrive or for Oh Hyun-seok to be rescued before heading to Black Ghost Valley to take Kang Min-hee.
Kim Yeon looks at me for a moment and then asks.
"Eun-hyun Oppa."
"Yes, what is it, Yeon?"
"You said...you're going to Black Ghost Valley...right?"
"Mhm."
"Black Ghost Valley...that's where Min-hee Unnie went, isn't it?"
"And?"
Kim Yeon hesitates for a moment as if gathering courage, then asks resolutely.
"Are you going to see Min-hee Unnie?"
I think for a moment about how to respond, then realize what she means.
"You...already know."
"Ah...that's because...when Min-hee Unnie said she supports me..."
Kim Yeon, having been caught immediately, lowers her head slightly in embarrassment.
I shake my head and say,
"I'm not going because I miss Kang Min-hee. I just have something to do there. She's just...an ex-girlfriend."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes."
"...Eun-hyun Oppa."
"Yes?"
"You're rescuing Min-hee Unnie and me for the same reason, aren't you?"
"What do you mean?"
I feel a slight sense of foreboding as I ask.
Kim Yeon gives a bitter smile and says,
"When you said you were going to rescue Min-hee Unnie, you showed the same intent as when you rescued me."
"Ah..."
It seems that I, thinking I already rescued Kim Yeon, relaxed a bit and let my intent show.
"But if you showed the same intent when rescuing Min-hee Unnie as you did when rescuing me, and if you think of Min-hee Unnie as just an ex-girlfriend..."
Her next words hit me like a blow to the back of my head.
"Are you treating me with the same feelings as you would an ex-girlfriend?"
"Uh, uh?"
***