Kugugugugu!
Kang Min-hee is chasing from behind, while a snake is flickering its tongue beside me, making a suspicious proposal.
I look at Seo Hweol.
I know this bastard well.
No matter what the situation, a liar who only utters empty words.
That is the nature of the person known as Seo Hweol.
'But...'
I simply can't refuse.
Information about Seo Hweol's main body.
And the grace period I can gain by sending Kang Min-hee outside the Bright Cold Realm.
These are things that can't be ignored.
They are too valuable to dismiss as mere scams.
'So that's why. The reason the Mad Lord always attacked Seo Hweol whenever he opened his mouth might be because even that Mad Lord could be swayed by Seo Hweol's intentions if he listens to Seo Hweol's proposals.'
I let out a groan, glaring at him.
But since he is blind, there is no sort of battle of wills between us.
After a moment of hesitation, I nod.
"Fine. I'll accept it for now."
[Thank you, Daoist.]
"But there are conditions."
I glare at Seo Hweol as I speak.
"According to your words, we need to work together to snap the Mad Lord back to his senses, right? During that process, you will stay out of my sight and act only remotely."
If that bastard were to meet my comrades and brainwash them with his filthy Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, I would be extremely furious.
What if my comrades turn into copies of Seo Hweol?
Grit—
Just imagining it makes my teeth grind.
I can't afford to lose any more comrades carelessly.
If such a thing happens, I might lose control of my anger and lose my reason, leading me to do something even I can't predict.
'Maybe I might even lose my mind and start chanting the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra until the Owner of Great Mountain descends.'
Seo Hweol smiles faintly and nods at my words.
[If it's necessary, I will comply. Don't worry. Until I find my main body, I have no choice but to rely on my madam and Daoist Seo.]
"..."
The fact that there are only two options from the beginning means that there's no trust between us.
A highly suspicious and dubious alliance.
But in the current situation, it's necessary.
"Fine. In that case...I will form a temporary alliance with you."
[Hoho. Thank you for your kindness, Daoist Seo...]
He smiles widely and bows as if he is genuinely pleased.
"...In any case..."
[Aaaaaahhh—]
I frown as I watch Kang Min-hee, who is relentlessly chasing us.
"It seems we'll need to deal with the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother first before we can reach the Mad Lord. Any ideas?"
To expel Kang Min-hee from the realm, we need the Mad Lord's help.
But to meet and persuade the Mad Lord, I, Seo Hweol, Kim Yeon, and Oh Hye-seo will first have to separate from Kang Min-hee before combining our strengths.
However, Kang Min-hee is chasing me like crazy.
If this continues, we won't even be able to start the alliance, let alone anything else.
'It's highly likely that she senses the death aura emanating from my body and my Quasi-Star Shattering level power, and is trying to capture me to turn me into a Ghost King.'
Especially for a powerful ghostly being like her, my death aura would be extremely conspicuous.
'Unless I escape from the Star Shattering stage sight in one go, she will endlessly chase after me.'
Since things have come to this, I decide to test Seo Hweol's cunning and ask him for a strategy.
He seems to smile faintly and then says,
[There is a plan that will buy you enough time to meet up with your comrades. Would you like to hear it?]
"Speak quickly."
[Head to Heaven-Earth Palace.]
"...You bastard."
Understanding why he's implying, I glare at him.
He continues with a faint smile.
[Go to Heaven-Earth Palace and lure that thing to the Flying Immortal Platform—in other words, drop it under the Void Spirit Pond. Since it seems to lack intelligence, it won't be too difficult. The Vestiges of the Interdimensional Void react more strongly to beings with great auras, so at least one or two Star Shattering level Vestiges will pounce on that thing. Of course, the Void Spirit Pond is an open door, a gaping hole, so it will quickly escape again, but the Vestiges of the Interdimensional Void will buy you some time.]
"...Are you suggesting that I send everyone in Heaven-Earth Palace into the belly of the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother?"
[Hmm...]
Seo Hweol makes a contemplative expression before asking back.
[Isn't that rather a good thing? I understand you don't have a good relationship with the Heaven-Earth Palace Lord Hon Won.]
"..."
Instead of getting swayed by Seo Hweol's words, I shoot him a sharp glance.
"Stop wagging your sly tongue and help me out. With your skills and ambition, it's hard to believe you haven't already placed Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens on the living beings residing in the Heaven-Earth central region. Use your ability to evacuate everyone there right now."
[Hoho...]
Seo Hweol chuckles at my words, raising one finger as he speaks.
[As expected, I can't outmatch Daoist Seo. But evacuating 'everyone' is impossible.]
"What nonsense is that now?"
[Heaven-Earth Palace Lord Hon Won. That person...that person has something dangerous lurking within his consciousness, so I only let Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens flow into him but did not brainwash him. Hence, Daoist will need to convince him yourself.]
"..."
I recall Hon Won.
The [name] buried within Hon Won, Cheon Ra!
'Damn it...'
A sense of dread is already creeping in.
I don't know exactly what that name means, but given my situation, even a child can understand that it's related to the Owner of Great Mountain.
It's possible that perhaps the Immortal Treasure of the Mountain God is called Cheon Ra.
I hoped to shove such a dangerous task to Seo Hweol, but it seems I will have to face it myself.
"...Fine."
Cursing inwardly, I fly towards Heaven-Earth Palace with Seo Hweol.
Hon Won makes me uneasy.
From the character 監 (supervision) in his eye, to the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique he has learned.
Perhaps through him, the Owner of Great Mountain is able to monitor me in real time.
But that's all the more reason I need to know more about him.
To find out about Hon Won's current state,
And to tie down Kang Min-hee according to Seo Hweol's plan, I head towards Heaven-Earth Palace.
Kugugugugu!
After flying for about half a day,
The Heaven-Earth central region comes into view in the distance.
'It's noticeably faster now.'
In the past, it would have taken several days at the speed of a Grand Cultivator to travel from the Human Race territory to the Heaven-Earth central region.
But now that I have reached the Quasi-Star Shattering level,
Combining the ground-shrinking technique, Flying Escape Technique, Gliding Technique, and Sword Flight, I reached the Heaven-Earth central region from the Human Race territory in just half a day.
Of course...
'The same goes for Kang Min-hee.'
Kang Min-hee has been chasing me in a straight line, absorbing all the vengeful spirits from every race along the path, empowering herself, and making them her subordinates.
Though she hasn't yet absorbed as many vengeful spirits as she did when she was in the Human Race territory, Kang Min-hee continued to steadily grow in size.
Kugugugugu!
Is it just her size?
Her speed is also increasing, albeit gradually.
Glancing back at the dark storm chasing after me, I hurry even faster towards Heaven-Earth Palace.
As a result of pushing myself like mad for half a day, aiming to reach Heaven-Earth Palace even a bit faster than Kang Min-hee,
I manage to arrive at Heaven-Earth Palace slightly ahead of her.
'Now, in about 15 minutes, Kang Min-hee will arrive.'
The confrontation with Hon Won has to be finished within this time.
Swooooosh—
Perhaps because Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens made everyone evacuate, Heaven-Earth Palace is quiet.
However, at the center of Heaven-Earth Palace,
I frown, feeling a powerful presence.
Despite Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens persuading him, Hon Won remained in place.
Bo-oong!
Jeeooong!
At my gesture, a vast sword energy surges forth, tearing through the palace walls and rushing towards the area where Hon Won resides.
Kugugugugu!
As Heaven-Earth Palace crumbles, I look down at the place where Hon Won's cultivation chamber is located.
He is dressed the same as when I last met him.
The same purple dragon robe, with hair sticking out messily from beneath his manggeon, and his disheveled topknot—a worn and haggard appearance.
But there is one difference from before.
Suuuk—
He looks up at me.
Clicking my tongue, I gaze down at him.
"...How did you end up in such a state, Heaven-Earth Palace Lord?"
Hon Won's eyes have lost their former brightness.
The once brightly shining 監 (supervision) has completely lost its light, leaving only darkness.
It likely has something to do with the Owner of Great Mountain being captured by the Light.
It seems as though he lost his sight entirely, as his eyes fail to focus on me.
However, even if beings at the Integration stage lose their sight, they have a consciousness domain. While he appears to be looking at me with vacant eyes, he is aware of my presence.
"...I don't know. My eyes suddenly lost their light not long ago. I don't know why."
"Haven't your subordinates told you? A terrifying ghostly entity will soon arrive at Heaven-Earth Palace."
However, Hon Won chuckles and says,
"What do you want me to do? If it's stronger than me, I'll die. If I'm stronger, then I'll capture it."
"They are someone you absolutely cannot capture. Quickly retreat."
"...I don't want to."
He sneers with gloomy eyes.
"In any case, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect that you and that Jin Myeong-hoon one failed to properly protect...Ever since that sect vanished from the Human Race territory, to be honest, I haven't felt any reason to continue living. Yes...I've lived long enough. The Grand Cultivators at the Grand Perfection Integration stage know this secretly. That in ten thousand years, this world will meet its end...there's no reason to keep living anyway, and since everything will end in ten thousand years, what's the point of living longer?"
He turns his head and says,
"I will sit here and recuperate, in case a miracle happens and the disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect manage to ascend. If all you came to say is to retreat, then get lost. I have no desire to face you..."
"..."
I look down at him for a moment.
And then,
"Huuu."
I descend in front of Hon Won.
"Listening to you is unbearable."
I growl as I grab Hon Won by the collar.
"Saying the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was annihilated, saying that it's because of me and Jeon Myeong-hoon, saying you feel there's no reason to live...you really know how to say the most irritating things."
"Will you not let go?"
"We only have 15 minutes, but that should be enough. For the next 15 minutes, I will fix that completely rotten mentality of yours...once you feel pain close to death, perhaps your will to survive will awaken."
"Puhuhu...a brat not even ten thousand years old...Do you even know what the pain of loss truly is...?"
He sneers as he looks down at me.
"Born with good talent due to luck and reaching the Integration stage within 500 years, it seems you're under a delusion. Do you think you're the protagonist of the world? Do you think you understand all the misfortunes of misfortunes and all the pains of pains in the world and dare to lecture me? Don't delude yourself! You're nothing more than a brat who hasn't even lived a tenth of what I've lived! The pain you've gone through isn't even worth a fingernail compared to what I've experienced!"
"..."
Kuguk, kuguguguguk!
Gradually, Hon Won's weight begins to increase.
The momentum of the one I am holding begins to rise.
"Let go of me and get lost. Whether I live or die is my own concern."
"...You should have lost your tongue, not your eyes."
I glare at Hon Won with a piercing gaze and let go of his collar.
"I've slightly changed my mind. You will truly experience a pain so severe that even death will seem merciful."
"You brat, thinking my power from back then when my body was in poor condition is my true power..."'
Hon Won draws forth the Great Mountain's Splitting Emperor Technique and reaches out to me.
The next moment, I literally shatter his Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique and grab his face, slamming him down.
The entire Heaven-Earth Palace turns into rubble in a single blow.
-x-X-x-
Kugugugugu!
The entire Heaven-Earth Palace shatters, and the surrounding Flying Immortal Platforms simultaneously crumble.
Beneath the Flying Immortal Platforms, the Void Spirit Ponds begin to reveal their subtle forms.
It's a scene reminiscent of when Hon Won used the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique nearby.
However, there is one key difference. Hon Won used the divine power of the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique, while I simply grabbed Hon Won by the face and slammed him down.
[You...bastard!]
He growls, beginning to gather power.
Spatial waves reverberate from within his body, and gradually, his size starts to swell.
Hon Won reveals his true form.
Due to the mass, I'm momentarily pushed back, rising into the sky.
Kugugugugu!
In the next instant, he becomes a mountain.
Rocks, soil, and trees sprout from his body.
Streams and creeks emerge from his form, with veins of minerals buried in its depths. Deeper within, lava bubbles up as a colossal mountain soars.
The mountain imbued with the Five Elements transforms into a giant, glaring at me.
This Mountain Giant is Hon Won's true form.
[Integrated Dao Domain. Great Mountain Great Dust Chariot Tearing Wind Bird (太山大塵車裂風鳥)!]
[TL/N: Chariot Tearing/Chariot Dismemberment is also known as dismemberment by five horses, an ancient Chinese death penalty where a person's four limbs and neck are tied to chariots/horses and pulled apart.]
Kugugugugu!
His body transforms into a domain, and at the same time, his domain begins to engulf the surroundings.
Hon Won's domain is a desolate island.
Within his domain, countless islands float in the void.
In that void, countless dust storms rage, turning into sharp blade winds that shred everything excluding Hon Won.
Rising from the center of these dust-bladed gales, the Mountain Giant exudes a fierce momentum towards me.
[Let's settle the score that we couldn't before, Seo Eun-hyun! If you want to deal with me, you'll have to step over my corpse...]
And in the next moment.
Kwakakakwang!
With a single strike, Hon Won's upper body explodes and is sent flying, while the shockwave from my punch obliterates his entire domain in an instant.
"You seem to be under some kind of delusion."
I glare at Hon Won, my eyes blazing, as I move at an extremely high speed.
"You won't last even ten moves against me now, Hon Won!"
Without revealing my true form or drawing the Colorless Glass Sword or my domain, I simply let the Three Great Ultimates float behind me.
[That was the first move.]
Bo-oong!
I move above Hon Won's head, bend my legs, and then forcefully stomp down, smashing into his regenerating stomach.
Rumble!
[Second move.]
Hon Won's body is completely pierced through, and the shockwave from the impact slices through various parts of the domain.
He uses the Flying Escape Technique and unleashes the full power of Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation within the light to counter me.
Our bodies collide.
[Third, fourth.]
After two clashes, both of Hon Won's fists are severed, and his upper body is once again greatly slashed.
The way to subdue those in the Integration stage is to smash their domain to pieces.
For the Heaven Tribe, you destroy the domain. For the Earth Tribe, you destroy the domain and the body that is fused with it, and the Grand Cultivator dies.
But what about Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation?
'How troublesome.'
In the case of these guys, even if you slice through their domain, their domain regenerates as long as their body remains. If you cut through their body, as long as the domain is intact, they resurrect.
Both the domain fused with the body and the manifested domain have to be eliminated simultaneously.
Quite a hassle.
But that's all there is to it.
[Fifth, sixth, seventh.]
With the first strike, his domain. With the second, his body. With the third, I attack his soul and subdue him completely.
[You bastard...!]
However, perhaps not a complete waste even if rotten, the bastard quickly covers the entire surrounding area with the barrier of Yin-Yang and Five Elements.
His will is to blast the area around him with the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique
But it's useless.
I grip a black banner in my hand.
Wriggle, gurgle!
This isn't just any banner.
From the shadows of the banner's reverse side, pitch-black, eye-like things squirm, and terrifying entities within seem desperate to escape.
Wriggle, wriggle—
The object in my hand continuously squirms, trying to grow.
'If I plant this, he'll probably die.'
The Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, which instinctively expresses my rotting, decayed insides, has long since surpassed its limits.
Pain and agony so condensed that even my Heart Demons wail for escape—that is the current Yin Soul Ghost Incantation.
If I stab Hon Won with this, no matter how strong an Integration Grand Cultivator he is, it's certain he will fall into madness with his soul evaporating.
I dare say, even Sacred Master Baek Woon wouldn't remain sane if hit directly by this.
'Let's tone it down a bit.'
Tstststst—
After draining a significant amount of venom from the banner, I plunge the now hollowed Black Ghost Curse Banner straight into Hon Won's chest.
Pook!
And that's the end of it.
[...!!!!!]
Hon Won, who intended to detonate the area with the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique, starts trembling violently, unable to even scream.
As his focus scatters, his domain disintegrates, and he returns to his human form.
Shuuu—
Fearing that leaving the Black Ghost Curse Banner in him any longer would drive Hon Won mad, I disperse it.
However, the phantom pain seems to linger, tormenting him as he foams at the mouth, tears of blood streaming from his eyes.
Pak, pak!
I slap Hon Won's cheek.
"Eighth, ninth."
Paaak!
"Tenth move."
"Keheok! Gu-gugheoh. eoghh...!"
Only then does Hon Won come to his senses and groan in pain.
I look down at him and chuckle softly.
"Ten moves. Do you understand? That's already...the difference between you and me."
"..."
I look down at him.
He clenches his teeth and speaks.
"...What's with...this bullshit...you bastard? You don't even like me. Whether I live or die, what does that have to do with you...? Did my provocation irritate you? Are you acting like this because something scratched your nerves?! Just why won't you leave me alone! Why!!!"
"..."
I quietly look down at his outburst.
After raging for five seconds, he exhales and begins to speak.
"...Do you think I didn't want to live with hopes and dreams like everyone else? I wanted to have something called hope in my life too. But...after witnessing my lover being devoured alive, I had no idea what to do anymore. Even if I live, I'm not truly alive. So why are you doing this to me...?"
"...I don't intend to argue with someone like you either. Whether you live or die isn't my concern, and I'd be glad if you did die. I'm well aware it's pointless to keep telling people who want to die to 'live' thousands of times over."
"Then why...?"
"The part that enrages me...is your irresponsibility."
I gaze down at him with eyes as cold as ice and spit out my words as if I'm chewing them.
"Aren't you a father? Even if they were born from concubines, how many children do you have? How many people follow you...a man burdened with the weight of a group on his shoulders shouldn't irresponsibly and meaninglessly abandon everything just because he's in pain...!"
Bang!
I stomp on Hon Won's chest.
He coughs up blood.
Knowing he would regenerate anyway, I mercilessly stomp on him again and again, grinding my teeth.
And as I speak those words, I begin to understand why I am suddenly so angry with Hon Won.
No matter how much he said things that deserved my anger, and no matter how much he provoked me, the reason why my rage surged and driven me to torture him so suddenly...
Perhaps it's because I see myself reflected in this bastard.
When he mentioned the 'Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect,' what came to my mind was Yeon Wei.
Yeon Wei and Hon Won.
And the inner emotions of Yeon Wei that I saw in Penglai Island.
She claims to hate Hon Won with her words, but deep inside, there is still a longing for him.
And when I remembered that, someone else came to mind.
Hon Wei, who spent her entire life desperately seeking Hon Won's attention, and her siblings.
Hon Won's children.
The disciples of Penglai Palace who follow him.
Even if Hon Won himself doesn't realize it, he is someone who is loved.
He is someone who is noticed, revered, and respected.
And in him, I see a reflection of myself.
The one I am trampling on is not just Hon Won.
Perhaps, I am taking out my anger on him because I am reminded of my past self—someone who was loved and revered by countless people but failed to protect that.
"Move. For the sake of those who care about you. Even if the End is inevitable, don't give up..."
I direct my anger towards both Hon Won and myself.
He remains silent, and I, seeing that he still seems listless, toss him a suggestion.
"It's not perfect, but if you really want it, there's a way for you to see the face of the person you loved. Get up and at least just help."
"...!!!"
At my words, his eyes change, and he suddenly grabs my shoulder.
"...W-Wh-What...do you mean...?"
"There's something called the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress that can be used...get your hand off my shoulder. I'll explain later."
I push Hon Won away and look at Kang Min-hee, who is now almost within reach.
"Seo Hweol."
[Hoho, to what do I owe the pleasure, Daoist Seo?]
"Take this guy and fly to the skies above the Bright Cold Realm."
[Ahah, I understand what you mean.]
He approaches Hon Won, coaxing and calming him as they both fly up into the sky above the Bright Cold Realm according to my request.
And I wait for Kang Min-hee on the now completely ruined Flying Immortal Platform, where the original form of the Void Spirit Pond is fully exposed.
Kugugugugugugu—
Ghostly wails fill Heaven and Earth as she finally arrives at this place.
Deep darkness.
Crackle, crackle...
Within that deep darkness, I immediately identify Kang Min-hee's location.
'Compared to the darkness I saw when [The Oldest One] was chasing me during that regression process...'
The darkness surrounding her is quite distinguishable.
Kiiiiing—
After charging up a single strike in the All-Heavens Sword, I launch it directly at Kang Min-hee.
Flash!
The All-Heavens Sword, transformed into a thin line, shoots towards Kang Min-hee at the speed of light, and just before reaching her,
It strikes something like a barrier.
'As expected, I can't penetrate it in one go.'
She stops and stares at me intently.
I meet her gaze and smile faintly.
Paaaatt!
The All-Heavens Sword, lodged in front of her, begins to shine and transforms into a Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar.
Through the Standing Oblivion avatar, I launch another single strike at her once again right in front of her face.
The avatar, lacking energy, morphs into a Gang Sphere.
Kuagwangwangwang!
Her upper body explodes, and in that brief moment when she can't regain her senses, Hon Won, who rose up with Seo Hweol, covers the entire area with the barrier of Yin-Yang and Five Elements at Seo Hweol's command.
'Is this how it was done?'
I clasp my hands together and focus my consciousness.
Silently reciting the formula of the 'twisted' mantra without connecting with [Them] through attraction force, I simultaneously start to use the mantra that [They] 'taught' me.
The location where the Standing Oblivion avatar struck Kang Min-hee.
The Gang sphere clone that remains there.
Centered around that Gang Sphere clone, the barrier of Yin-Yang and Five Elements begins to close in.
Though it's far from being a true Immortal Art, its form is close enough!
[Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra!]
Kugugugugugu!
The barrier of Yin-Yang and Five Elements that covers the area begins to constrict around the Gang Sphere before Kang Min-hee.
Though the mantra is twisted, its effectiveness is undeniable.
The density of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy within the barrier begins to increase, filling the surroundings with light.
[Aaaaaah!]
Kang Min-hee lets out a ghostly wail, attempting to shatter this prison that has now turned into a prison of light, but it's futile.
No matter how powerful she is, even she can't break the barrier that was created by enduring my disgust to combine strengths with Hon Won.
Before long, the barrier gradually shrinks smaller and smaller until it's narrower than the range I occupy, finally forming a sphere that imprisons only Kang Min-hee.
Of course, that's the limit.
I can't make it as smaller than dust, like what I saw back then.
This is my own limitation.
Wiiing!
Before the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra sphere can dissolve, I immediately summon the Three Great Ultimates and charge in, forcefully smashing the sphere containing Kang Min-hee down towards the Void Spirit Pond.
Kugwagwagwagwang!
A tremendous resistance is felt from within.
It feels like she's about to burst out in an instant, but she's an instant too late.
She has already been expelled through the Void Spirit Pond.
Of course, it's impossible to block the Void Spirit Pond, so she will eventually return.
But for at least a month, she shouldn't be able to climb back up, dealing with the Vestiges of the Interdimensional Void.
"...See you later, Kang Min-hee."
I look down, trying to calm the goosebumps that have risen from my disgust.
I really didn't want to use it.
Even though the twisted Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra doesn't form an attraction force with the Owner of Great Mountain, it still touches upon my most painful memories.
But there was no other choice.
Just as I shouted at Hon Won just moments ago, with Penglai Palace weighing on his shoulders.
Now, I have my remaining comrades weighing on mine.
I had to stop Kang Min-hee, no matter what.
'If it's just my own disgust that's the problem, I'll ignore it as many times as necessary.'
No matter how agonizing and painful the memory is, I will bring it out and use it.
If that is the means to protect the deceased followers of the Wuji Religious Order.
And to protect the comrades who are still alive.
[Splendid, Daoist Seo.]
"Shut up."
I glare at Seo Hweol and Hon Won as they descend from the sky.
"From now on, we're going to regroup with my comrades and head to the Mad Lord. In the meantime, explain in detail the method you mentioned to bring the Mad Lord back to his senses."
[Understood. I'll explain as we go. First...]
And so, after temporarily driving away Kang Min-hee, we set off toward the Mad Lord Jo Yeon.
-x-X-x-
Whiooo-
Moving quickly across the Bright Cold Realm, I connect my consciousness with Kim Yeon.
Since Kim Yeon and I are linked through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, it's possible to communicate in the case of an emergency.
'What's the current situation?'
Through her consciousness, I receive an explanation that the Nether Crossing Ship is gathering power to perform a dimensional leap into the Heart Tribe territory.
To safely perform a dimensional leap to the Chaos Realm region, even the power source of the Nether Crossing Ship, which possesses near-limitless power, needs some time to accumulate energy.
Though it's called the Chaos Realm, it's essentially a different dimension, completely distinct from the Stable Realm within the Bright Cold Realm.
Beyond being desolate, the further one moves away from the Stable Realm, the more constant the spatial storms become, and terrifying celestial phenomena start to occur frequently. That is the Chaos Realm.
The Heart Tribe territory lies deep within this Chaos Realm region, which is why their main stronghold has not yet been eradicated.
It's no wonder that the two cultivators from the Heaven Tribe were angered when Gyo Yeom mentioned that there was something they desired within the Heart Tribe territory.
It isn't just the issue of encountering a master from the Heart Tribe. It's also the fact that it takes an enormous amount of time just to reach that location.
'Since it's come to this, I might as well use the power of the Nether Crossing Ship and push Kang Min-hee into the Astral Realm with the Mad Lord.'
The Mad Lord will surely know how to draw out even more of the Nether Crossing Ship's power.
"Where is Mad Lord currently?"
I ask Seo Hweol.
Through Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, he would know Mad Lord's location more accurately than I would.
[Hmm, it seems he's currently waiting in the eastern part of the Earth Tribe territory, gathering materials.]
"The eastern part of the Earth Tribe territory..."
The Earth Tribe territory is largely divided into east and west.
In the west is the main headquarters of the True Dragon Alliance, where the corpse of Lofty Dragon True Person lies. In the east is an endless wilderness, largely undeveloped, where all sorts of demon beasts live freely.
'It's my first time going to the wilderness region...even if I ask Seo Hweol to guide me, the guy's blind right now, so while he can pinpoint the Mad Lord's location, proper guidance is impossible...'
I glance backwards.
There, Hon Won is following me with eyes wide open.
"Look here, Hon Won. Have you ever been to the wilderness in the eastern part of Earth Tribe territory?"
"I have."
"Then lead the way. We're heading there soon."
"Why do you want to go there?"
"There's someone we need to persuade there."
"Hmm..."
He furrows his brows and says,
"If you need me to guide you, it's probably better not to go."
"What do you mean by that now?"
"That'll...kurlugk!"
Hon Won tries to speak but instead coughs up a handful of blood.
"Damn...now that I've left Heaven-Earth Palace, the seizures have begun."
"That's..."
"It's the Yin Seizing, Yang Suppressing (陰奪陽伏) secret art of the Taiji Quaking Lightning Body. It's a curse that forces the yin energy to deviate from its path and forcibly suppresses the yang energy to cause an explosion. Jin Wei, that evil thing, cast that curse on me 40,000 years ago using the divine artifact, Calendar Calculations, from the Yin Soul Ghost Sect. As a result, I've been suffering from this curse for 40,000 long years, while Jin Wei's advancement to the Integration stage was blocked, and the divine artifact was sent flying into a distant alternate dimension."
"..."
As I watch Hon Won speak, I suddenly ask him a question.
"Hon Won, do you...to Yeon Wei. I mean, do you have any thoughts about Jin Wei?"
He furrows his brows and responds.
"What thoughts should I have? It was just a political marriage from the start. I had no feelings for it. The only one I gave my heart to was her..."
His eyes become distant, as if recalling something.
"Do you not have any memories of receiving something from Jin Wei?"
He snorts at my question.
"Ha! From that thing? I remember the venomous words like saying Cheon Ra is not real, to not cling to illusions like a fool, and having my eyes gouged out."
He grinds his teeth, his eyes a sharp piercing glare.
"That thing has always taken something from me. My Cheon Ra, my cultivation, my eyes! You ask if I got anything? I received nothing but pain!"
"..."
I observe Hon Won for a moment.
His emotions aren't lying.
He genuinely only has bad memories of Yeon Wei.
However, I find it strange.
'No matter what, before the entity called Cheon Ra appeared, Yeon Wei was incredibly devoted to Hon Won.'
Even when she caused so much chaos in the Ancient Force Realm, at least half of it was for Hon Won's sake when I asked her later.
And yet, he only has bad memories of Yeon Wei.
What does that imply?
'His memories have been completely distorted.'
That's right.
Currently, due to the influence of [Cheon Ra], his memories have become significantly warped and twisted.
I have already seen people from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect being brainwashed for years by Zhengli, obsessing over banners, and I even have memories of myself being brainwashed by Yeong Seung. Hence, the possibility that Hon Won has been entangled with a being of at least True Immortal rank and brainwashed is entirely plausible.
'At the beginning of the 19th cycle, the power and aura I felt from the name [Cheon Ra] within Hon Won were chillingly similar to that of the Owner of Great Mountain. There are some differences, but...Hon Won might have been living his entire life as a puppet under the control of the Owner of Great Mountain.'
I wonder if Hon Won's mind will ever be healed.
Will he ever be able to escape from the clutches of that tyrannical and arrogant being?
I silently hope that, at least for Yeon Wei's sake, Hon Won can be cured someday. With that, I end the conversation and quickly fly on.
Woo-wooong!
Kugugugugu!
In just half a day, I arrive at the wilderness region within the Earth Tribe territory.
"Now that all my comrades have gathered, let's go to the Mad Lord."
I tell Hon Won to guide us, and he leads us toward the wilderness region.
Seo Hweol, seemingly puzzled, asks me a question.
"...By the way, Daoist Seo. Didn't you say we would be joining up with your comrades?"
He looks around.
"I don't detect any of your comrades in my consciousness."
"We've met up. You don't need to know the details, so just explain in more detail how we're going to awaken the Mad Lord's mind."
As we move, I take the time to link my consciousness even more closely with Kim Yeon.
Through her Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, Kim Yeon connected her consciousness with the other comrades. As a result, although our bodies are apart, it's as if we are all moving together in the Plane of Soul.
If necessary, I can even use the power of the All-Heavens Sword to summon the strength of my comrades here.
"Hoho, well, if Daoist says so...then let me explain in more detail. First, we will enter the Mad Lord's mind through his Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon. Afterwards, using my madam's ability, we'll retrieve the Mad Lord's past memories. Finally, with my Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, I'll paint over a specific scene from the Mad Lord's past memories, which will temporarily bring him back to his senses. Of course, it will only be for a short while."
"What do I need to do?"
"All you need to do, Daoist Seo, is hold onto the Mad Lord while we enter his mind."
"Hmm...got it."
I nod and accept his suggestion.
Shortly after, in the distance, a familiar fortress begins to appear.
"Hoho. Now then, as planned, Daoist Hon will deal with the puppets of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress. Daoist Seo will handle [Her] and the Mad Lord, and my madam and I, along with your comrade, will infiltrate the Mad Lord's mind..."
But before Seo Hweol can finish his sentence,
A massive beam of light shoots towards us from the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
"...!"
I open my eyes wide as I see the beam and reach out my hand to deflect it.
Kugwagwagwagwang!
"..."
I furrow my brow as I look at my hand.
It's tingling.
This power is definitely something I have experienced before.
A power similar to that of Yuk Rin, the Dragon Race's breath.
Dragon Wave!
With a hardened expression, I gaze at the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Kug-gugugu!
Countless puppets begin to emerge from the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Among them, I notice two particularly powerful presences that make me tense up.
[Hu, huhi! Huhihihihihihi!!! Who do we have here! Isn't this our Scorpion-Snake King? For what reason has the great Scorpion-Snake King descended before me? And who's this beside you? Isn't this the kidnapper who took our cute little disciple!!!]
Behind the two puppets, the Mad Lord emerges.
Seo Hweol, standing next to [Her], has a slightly dumbfounded expression as he sees another puppet emitting an aura similar to [Her].
"...What the...? Ho...hoho. Old Man, for now..."
[Alright, you Seo fellows! I'll make both of you into General Seo. I'm thinking of making a puppet with two heads. One with a Seo fellow on the left, and another with a Seo fellow embedded on the right. Wouldn't that be something!]
He laughs maniacally as he returns to the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, and the two puppets with exceptionally powerful auras begin to move.
One is the [Her] that we all know well,
And the other is the Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum.
This is clearly the same monster that once fused with the extremities of an Esteemed One's body, demonstrating abilities close to those of Immortal Arts. There is a high probability that he is also connected in some way to the Blood Yin Realm.
The human form Hyeon Eum, upon receiving a command from the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, instantly releases its compressed body and transforms into a dragon form puppet.
The Mad Lord's excited voice echos.
[Yes, yes, I've decided! Once I capture the Seo fellows, I'll combine them with the 'Black Lord' and create a 'Great Three-Headed General Seo' with the ability to transform into a giant dragon!]
Clink!
Puppet Hyeon Eum's mouth opens, unleashing an overwhelming amount of yin energy from within.
Flash!
Once again, its Dragon Wave flies towards me, and I grit my teeth as I deflect it once more.
Tingle, tingle...
'The power...has gotten stronger.'
"Hey, Seo Hweol. Was this Hyeon Eum fellow always so weak that he could be captured by the Mad Lord?"
Recalling the time when Hyeon Eum fused with an Esteemed One of the Blood Yin Realm, I ask Seo Hweol.
He shakes his head and replies.
"It seems he abandoned his shell and escaped. Anyway, being able to revive in the body of another Dragon Race with even superior attributes as long as his information is intact—that is the one known as Hyeon Eum."
"..."
Something about that statement clicks in my mind.
'Revive with even better attributes...?'
As time passes, the secret art that gradually grows stronger and more superior as it progresses from cultivator to cultivator.
Purple Soul Filling the Heavens.
'As expected...could Hyeon Eum also be practicing it?'
It seems likely he escaped using Purple Soul Filling the Heavens after failing to fight off the Mad Lord.
'But Seo Hweol, this guy...'
I glance at Seo Hweol and ponder.
He's smiling, but his expression is unusually shaky.
I sense wariness from the trembling he displayed.
'Is he wary of the Mad Lord? No. It's different. This is more like...'
Then suddenly, as I strike down the approaching Puppet Hyeon Eum, I realize what Seo Hweol is wary of.
'I see. The formula for Purple Soul Filling the Heavens is still there inside Puppet Hyeon Eum!'
I don't know if it was left by the Mad Lord or left by Hyeon Eum, but it's clear that Seo Hweol is wary of Purple Soul Filling the Heavens.
Only now do I understand why the Mad Lord suddenly decided to capture and modify Hyeon Eum in this life.
'It's because of the information I gave the Mad Lord. The information about Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens!'
The Mad Lord, likely in his search for a way to counter Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, encountered Hyeon Eum, sensed the Purple Soul Filling the Heavens within him, and believed it's the method to oppose Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul FIlling the Heavens.
As a result, he modified Hyeon Eum into his puppet and confidently brought him out in front of Seo Hweol, with the intention of merging Seo Hweol with Hyeon Eum.
'No. His plan to modify Seo Hweol and I into a Great Three-Headed General Seo might just be a matter of personal taste...'
In any case,
I examine Puppet Hyeon Eum with bright eyes.
'Against Seo Hweol, Purple Soul Filling the Heavens might unexpectedly prove effective!'
On the day the alliance is broken,
That will be the day when I force Purple Soul Filling the Heavens under Seo Hweol's throat.
As I face off against the Puppet Hyeon Eum, I suppress the All-Heavens Sword's sharp energy and strike its head with a heavy blow.
Kwagwagwawwang!!
Under the power of the Three Great Ultimates, Puppet Hyeon Eum is driven straight into the ground.
'Fortunately, the level of the controller is low.'
I look at Hyeon Eum and [Her].
The liquid flowing inside him.
It's the [black water] that resided in Hyeon Eum's domain, and in her heart is the power source of the Nether Crossing Ship.
The black seawater and the power source resonate with each other, gradually increasing in power. If the fight would stall for longer, or if the Mad Lord's cultivation realm were higher, making him more adept at controlling the two puppets, I might have faced a much tougher battle.
Paaatt!
In the blink of an eye.
I leap over [Her] and infiltrate the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, grabbing the Mad Lord by the head.
The Mad Lord's expression twists in rage, but I swiftly use the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon to link my consciousness with Kim Yeon's, and combining our strengths, Kim Yeon and I infiltrate the Mad Lord's consciousness.
[Your turn, Seo Hweol.]
I take measures to prevent Seo Hweol from invading Kim Yeon's consciousness and connect his consciousness with mine using the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
[Hoho, well then. Let's temporarily erase the most terrifying memory that serves as the cause of the Mad Lord's madness.]
Tsstssts—
He connects to the Mad Lord's consciousness through mine.
Beyond Seo Hweol, I can sense the aura of Oh Hye-seo through the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
Sarak, sarak—
The sound of pages flipping in reverse.
Finally, Seo Hweol, Kim Yeon, Oh Hye-seo, and I enter the memories of the Mad Lord.
-x-X-x-
Chuarararara!
With Kim Yeon and my abilities, we connect to the Mad Lord's consciousness and, using Oh Hye-seo's power, call forth his past memories from within.
Seo Hweol seems to know exactly which memory is the most painful for the Mad Lord, as he quickly flies through his memories to that point.
After a while,
We find ourselves confronted with a certain 'scene.'
—Yes, there is a next time. Let's wait until then.
A dark secret room.
Yes, it seems to be deep within a cave residence.
This isn't the first time I've seen someone's memories.
Occasionally, while placing a Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion single strike into others, I've glimpsed fragments of their memories.
For instance, even when I implanted the All-Heavens Sword into the Mad Lord's heart essence during the 19th cycle, I caught a very brief glimpse of his memories.
It was also then that Seo Hweol slyly hinted at some information about his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
In any case,
When peeking into someone's memories, in the case of mortals, the memory perspective is mostly in 'first-person.'
However, in the case of 'cultivators,' due to their consciousness domains, their memories are composed of everything perceived within it.
Thus, the memories of cultivators are predominantly in the 'observer perspective.'
To be precise, the memories of cultivators are a mixture of first-person and third-person perspectives.
Therefore, in the Mad Lord's memories, I am able to observe what he was doing as I peek into his recollections.
—Definitely. Next time, I will definitely be with her.
In his youth, the Mad Lord, bearing a six-colored pattern on his face, makes such a vow, swallowing an unidentified pill and closing his eyes to focus on his cultivation.
As he practices for a while after taking the pill, two patterns on his face, which were partially merged, completely unite into one.
Now, only five colored patterns remain on the Mad Lord's face.
He mutters with shining eyes.
—Wait for me, dear...I will definitely come for you. To grow old together, to be with each other for a hundred years. Because that is what we promised...
The heart of the Mad Lord, who made this vow, is so beautiful and dreamlike.
And as I observe this scene within the Mad Lord's memories, Seo Hweol's consciousness appears beside me.
[Hoho...Though I guided it with my own hands, the Jo clan, including Jo Yeon, always exceeded my expectations.]
[...?]
[Now then, I shall cover up the memory that Mad Lord Jo Yeon despises the most.]
Splash, gurgle-
As he says this, Seo Hweol's consciousness transforms into something resembling black liquid, beginning to fill the scene within Jo Yeon's consciousness.
Chuararararara!
The black darkness of his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens engulfs Jo Yeon's memories.
I realize that the surroundings have turned pitch black, so I protect my and Kim Yeon's consciousness.
Just then,
Flash!
Seo Hweol, Kim Yeon, Oh Hye-seo, and I are all violently ejected from the Mad Lord's mind by a powerful resistance.
'Th-This...!'
I flinch in surprise as I identify the formula that is pushing us away.
This is definitely the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
Paaatt!
When I regain my composure, I find myself standing in front of the Mad Lord, fully conscious.
And the moment I see the look in his eyes, I immediately know.
'The Mad Lord has regained his senses.'
But at the same time, I know something is wrong.
"Remove this hand."
Though the madness has clearly subsided, his eyes are heavily bloodshot, and a thick murderous intent is seeping from his entire body.
I release my grip on the Mad Lord and take a step back.
He glances at me briefly before glaring at Seo Hweol's projection behind me.
"Elder Jo Yeon. The Bright Cold Realm is currently..."
The next moment.
Without even listening to us, the Mad Lord immediately manipulates the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and detonates Seo Hweol's body.
Whoosh!
He turns his head to glare at me and speaks.
"Did you join hands with Seo Hweol?"
"...It's a temporary alliance for now..."
"Then die."
In the next instant, the Mad Lord's [Her] and Puppet Hyeon Eum lunge at me.
Kuadudududuk!
'Damn it...'
Though he's regained his senses, it seems he's become even more ferocious and filled with killing intent.
I glance at the Mad Lord.
His consciousness, previously a chaotic mix of colors, is now solely aflame with blood-red and dark crimson.
The current Mad Lord is overflowing with hatred and animosity towards the world.
'This is the first time I've seen the Mad Lord like this.'
Whenever I brought the Mad Lord back to his senses in the past, he was always a calm and benevolent elder.
I vaguely assumed that the same Mad Lord would return this time as well, but what emerged is a completely different being.
"When you kidnapped my disciple last time, didn't you hint at Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens with that Heart Tribe single strike or whatever? But now you've come here after joining hands with Seo Hweol. Have you already been eroded by that bastard?"
"That would never be the case, Old Man Jo Yeon."
"Then just why...!?"
Kuuung—
Blocking the attacks from Puppet Hyeon Eum and [Her], I take a heavy step towards the Mad Lord.
"Look."
I lay bare my heart essence to the Mad Lord without holding back.
"..."
Upon seeing it, the Mad Lord seems to flinch in surprise.
With the Entering Heavens sight granted by the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, my heart essence must appear like a hellish inferno to him.
"The Elder's pain and suffering."
Drip, drip...
As I recall that moment again, black tears naturally flow from my eyes.
"I don't entirely fail to understand it. No matter how powerful Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens may be, it cannot erode someone who is already broken like us. Isn't that right, Elder Jo Yeon?"
At my words and the sight of my heart essence, the Mad Lord stares at my eyes for a moment, then rubs his head and flicks his fingers.
His Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon trembles causing [Her] and [Black Lord] to be detached from my body.
"...It seems Seo Hweol temporarily broke one of the memories I hold most dear. Thanks to the absence of that information, I've regained some clarity...but that doesn't mean the emotions tied to those memories have vanished. I...I still can't control this raging anger. I'll listen to what you have to say out of respect for your sincerity and my disciple, but don't provoke me. Right now, I'm like a bomb ready to explode at any moment."
I begin to explain as I look at Jo Yeon, who has intent as red as Jeon Myeong-hoon.
"...First of all, a disaster has descended upon the Bright Cold Realm. Because of that...the Human Race had to be driven out of their own territory."
I briefly explain the situation, starting with how the Human Race lost their homeland.
The Mad Lord listens to my story, then stares at me with bloodshot eyes and asks,
"So, you want to expel a Star Shattering stage monster outside the world. The one pulling from outside will be Seo Hweol, the one pushing will be you, and I'll be keeping it busy for a while, is that it?"
"That's correct."
"..."
The Mad Lord glares at me with a displeased look and asks,
"Why should I do that?"
"That's because..."
And then, it happens.
Tstststststs—
Beside me, Kim Yeon, who is connected to me through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, appears.
She created a Gang Sphere clone and overlaid it with an illusion to send a projection next to me.
She was originally struggling at the Five Energies Converging to the Origin stage, but after obtaining a Demon Core of the Earth Tribe, she linked it with her Inner Core, formed a Gang Sphere, and quickly reached Ultimate Pinnacle.
[The reason is, you owe me something.]
Kim Yeon's projection speaks confidently as she looks at the Mad Lord.
At her words, the Mad Lord smirks and says,
"Oho, it seems you've done well the homework I assigned you."
[Yes. I have fully deciphered everything. So please help out the disciple who has inherited your teachings.]
However, the Mad Lord snorts.
"You're saying something laughable, my disciple. If you had fully deciphered the magic artifact I made for you, you should have already mastered the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon. But it seems you haven't. The reason is obvious. You must have received help from someone, right?"
At his words, Kim Yeon nods.
[That's right. I received help from someone with the same Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent as you.]
The Mad Lord's eyes widen.
"Received help from someone with the Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent... Could it be that the filthy bloodline of the Jo Clan still continues to this day?"
Baduduk—
He grinds his teeth and mutters,
"It makes my skin crawl...Truly disgusting. The grudge with that clan..."
I slightly furrow my brows as I look at the Mad Lord.
Judging by the intense emotions boiling within him, it seems he's about to go after Buk Hyang-hwa to kill her.
But in the next moment,
[So what are you going to do?]
Kim Yeon turns the question back to the Mad Lord.
[Do you really think you can do anything to the person I'm protecting?]
"..."
The Mad Lord glares at Kim Yeon for a moment.
Then he closes his eyes.
"...Fine. Whether or not you received help from someone with the Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent, you must have heard my message, so you should know what I want."
[Yes. And I know that I am the only one who can fulfill your wish.]
"Yes, that's correct. But...for you to fulfill my wish, that level of mastery in the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon won't do. It's regrettable that you used a shortcut to decipher my task and failed to properly advance your realm."
The Mad Lord's bloodshot eyes are fixed on Kim Yeon.
"...This time, I will help you. But the next time you appear, you must have grown enough to fulfill my wish!"
[...Understood.]
Kim Yeon nods, and the Mad Lord's killing intent eases slightly at her response.
"Alright, I understand. Now, take me to that so-called Ghost Guiding Holy Mother or whatever. However, make sure to not bring that Seo Hweol bastard in front of me. I'll definitely lose my mind if I see him."
Thud—
The Mad Lord sends a lump of energy condensed with the formula of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon towards Kim Yeon's projection.
It seems to be a formula containing insights into the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
Kim Yeon absorbs the mass of formula, and I send a voice transmission to Seo Hweol, who is observing the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress from a distance.
—You follow from a distance. The Mad Lord doesn't want to see you.
When I send him this heart message he nods.
[Understood. In that case, Daoist Seo, please bring the Mad Lord. I will prepare to pull with my madam from the Astral Realm.]
Tstststststs!
After finishing his words, Seo Hweol completely vanishes from the spot, leaving no trace behind.
Kugugugu!
The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress takes to the sky.
"Where do we need to go?"
"Please head towards Heaven-Earth Palace for now. The place where the Flying Immortal Platform was when we first ascended."
"Got it."
Despite being engulfed in anger and pain, the Mad Lord has regained his senses to some extent and follows my lead as I guide him.
"Kim Yeon. Since the Mad Lord has regained his senses now, withdraw your consciousness."
However, Kim Yeon looks at me with a troubled expression and sends me a heart message through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
As I listen to her, I get a headache and frown.
"...Just ignore it for now. This isn't the time for an argument..."
Just then,
Pa-jik, Pa-jijijik!
[W-Wait, Grandmother Yeon. You shouldn't...ugh!]
Kwa-jijijik!
A bolt of lightning shoots through Kim Yeon's consciousness, causing her projection to transform into something familiar to me.
It's the projection of Yeon Wei.
As expected of an old monster who has lived for 40,000 years, she seems to have mastered a secret art that interferes with another's consciousness and alters their projection.
[Seo Eun-hyun!]
Clench!
Yeon Wei's projection grabs me by the collar the moment she appears.
[You...just what...just what have you done!? The four disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, just where did they go? Just, just how much more must you take from me to be satisfied! Huh!?]
She clings to me, her voice trembling with anger and sorrow, and grinds her teeth as if on the verge of tears.
[How much longer!? Will you only take from us!?]
-x-X-x-
Gazes focus on me.
I can feel the eyes of the Mad Lord and Hon Won, and even the sticky stare of Seo Hweol from afar is directed this way.
'Are they mistaking me for a True Immortal?'
"...It seems there's some misunderstanding, Ancestor. I am not some True Immortal entity."
However, she doesn't listen to my words and instead bows her head at my feet.
[O Great One. Please, I beg thee to now spare our sect. We are nothing more than a small sect in the Head Realm. There are not many of us who even truly believe and follow the legend of the Founder. We are those who have nothing to do with the Founder's deeds, so please. Even if you have a grievance against the Founder, please, I implore thee, let your anger be appeased with just me...!]
Just as I'm about to say something in response to her desperate demeanor, as if she would lick my feet,
Flash!
The dull light of the Flying Escape Technique flickers, and in that instant, Hon Won swiftly charges in and kicks Yeon Wei's projection away.
Kwaaang!
Yeon Wei, kicked in the stomach by Hon Won, is sent flying and crashes into a pillar of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Hon Won glares at Yeon Wei and growls.
"What do you think you're doing right now, Jin Wei...!"
[...Hon Won.]
She trembles as she looks at Hon Won.
[You've become blind. Those once-shining eyes have completely lost their focus...]
Yeon Wei lets out a short 'hah' and bites her lip as if in despair.
[I expected this from the start. When I was trying to pluck out your eyes and extract the contamination of the great being embedded in your soul, I could feel that the contamination was regenerating your eyes and giving you strength. I've always thought that the spiritual eye divine power you later gained was certainly something bestowed upon you by someone.]
She looks at Hon Won with bitter eyes and then looks up at me.
[If it was bestowed by someone, then that someone could retrieve it whenever they wish, is that not right? O God...]
She staggers as she gets up from the ground.
[The power I felt when I stitched that fool's mind. The presence I sensed while chasing that being called Cheon Ra. And...the aura I started to feel from you at some point. They were all the same.]
Yeon Wei, stumbling, walks forward and kneels before me again.
[O God. I've been aware of it. I've suspected it from the very day you took me, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and your followers to that familiar-feeling Salt Mountain.]
Thud!
She bangs her head on the ground before me.
[Even so, I trusted you deep down in my heart. Ah, Great One. Just as you protected us from the Owner of that wicked Heavenly Lightning Banner, I believed you wouldn't bring us misfortune this time. However, what we mere mortals dared to and yet, cannot comprehend is your purpose. Yes, you must have had a need, hence you used us. Our Founder was such a person as well. But please, I beg of you, this insignificant thing has a request.]
Bang! Bang!
She bangs her head on the ground, even materializing her projection to do so.
I can feel it.
Though it's just a projection, it's connected to the soul enshrined within the Head Realm, bearing all of the same pain.
[Please, take me as the last, and spare the descendants!]
Bang!
At her words, I try to say something, but I find myself at a loss for words and close my mouth.
She felt that the presence of Cheon Ra, which she sensed while suturing Hon Won's mind in the past, the presence of Penglai Island's Salt Mountain when I brought her there, and the presence of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra that I had internalized, were all identical. This led her to fully believe that I am the incarnation of the Owner of Great Mountain.
In other words, from her perspective, I am now the very being who drove Hon Won to madness 40,000 years ago, shattering her heart, and the source of the misfortune that has plagued her life.
I close my eyes.
In truth, perhaps this is how most people see me.
Unless they are my comrades who also quickly accumulated power after arriving from Earth, this is probably the normal way people see me.
There is a method to clear up this misunderstanding to prove that I am not a True Immortal.
That's by revealing my regression.
But I can't do that.
So what should I do?
I find myself at a loss, unable to think of a solution, and can only open and close my mouth.
And the one who saves me from this predicament is none other than Hon Won.
Clench!
He grabs Yeon Wei by the collar and lifts her up, growling with an even more furious expression than before.
"Answer my question, Jin Wei. I asked what do you think you're doing?"
[...What does it matter to you what I do? It's none of your concern, is it?]
"Why wouldn't it matter? Right now, are you not offering yourself to that person without repaying the debt you owe me?"
[Debt? What debt? Ah, you mean plucking out your eyes? Ha! Those eyes that couldn't even properly distinguish people were too good for you, so I removed them. In fact, the eyes that have lost their light suit you much better!]
She laughs scornfully at Hon Won and shouts.
[How many times do I have to tell you, you blind fool. There's no such person called [Cheon Ra], and I've only ever killed one disciple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect with my own hands. That wasn't even the Cheon Ra you knew, but my own senior brother. Got it?]
"Stop spouting nonsense! You are clearly the monster who devoured all your fellow disciples! You took everything from me! I will never allow you to become someone else's possession before you repay that debt!"
[...Foolish man.]
Yeon Wei looks down at Hon Won while still being held by the collar.
For some reason, her eyes hold a faint trace of longing and deep despair.
[You can't even remember the promise of that day, and now you're blocking me with this nonsensical logic driven by leftover emotions...how pathetic. Pathetic, pathetic, and even more pathetic, my old lover...If you want to stop me, first recall the promise of that day.]
She's currently a projection made of lightning, so it doesn't show.
But I suspect that if she had a physical body, she would be in tears right now.
That's how heart-wrenching Yeon Wei's intent is at this moment.
"Nonsense. Aside from the formal pact we made through political marriage, I've never made any promises with you...!"
[...]
She no longer responds to his words and, in her projected form, slips through Hon Won's grasp and approaches me. Yeon Wei glances at Hon Won briefly and then bends forward slightly without kneeling.
[Will the Great One please grant my request?]
With great difficulty, I force myself to speak.
"...I am not a True Immortal. I am just...one person of many. Just like you..."
[...]
Yeon Wei doesn't respond.
But I can't help but hear her inner thoughts echoing within her heart essence.
—Are you trying to mock us until the very end...?
And as that thought crosses her mind, as if something saps her strength, Yeon Wei's projection slumps to the ground.
Seeing this, Hon Won's face twists in anger, as if something doesn't sit well with him.
Bududuk—
[I told you not to kneel. Wei...!]
Kugugugu!
The power of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements begins to surge around Hon Won, and just as I prepare to subdue him,
Kwoooong!
The body of Hon Won, who was about to launch an attack, is suddenly crushed under a puppet.
It's [Her].
Kuguguguk!
[She] synchronizes with the black energy emanating from the [Black Lord] and unleashes a tremendous force, and Hon Won is completely subdued beneath her.
"You're really putting on quite the show in my world. If you don't want to be modified, keep your mouth shut until we arrive!"
Though the words come from the Mad Lord, who is only at the mid Four-Axis stage, no one present can oppose his words.
Hon Won glares at Yeon Wei with an unreadable emotion overflowing in his eyes before being dragged away by [Her]. Yeon Wei, after briefly glancing at me, lowers her eyes and dissipates her projection, vanishing.
"You too, stop causing trouble. Don't test my patience. Remember that I'm holding back my anger with superhuman restraint."
The Mad Lord also gives me a warning before hastening his control over the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
I stand there, recalling Yeon Wei's words for a moment.
Up until now, I've done everything I could for the sake of saving my people.
I've always been careful with my words and cautious of the future.
I knew long ago that the heavens are not on our side, so I've done everything I could to ensure we could overcome any misfortune that befalls us.
But even so, there are those who saw my actions and formed such sentiments.
'Have I been too arrogant?'
When I think about it, I realize that I have.
I've always cared about those I wanted to protect, but I never considered their own perspective.
Even when I recently drove the Human Race out of their territory.
There may have been those who valued their homeland more than their own lives...
I thought that with strong power, I could lead everyone.
But I never considered the perspective of those being led.
I ask the Mad Lord without thinking.
"May I ask you a question?"
"What is it?"
"There must have been someone you wanted to protect, right?"
"...Of course."
"If the thoughts of the person you want to protect differ from yours...in other words, if the one you want to protect doesn't actually want to be protected by you, what would you do?"
"...Are you talking about that woman from a moment ago?"
He glances at me briefly, then seems to be deep in thought, letting out a faint hum.
"...That's a problem I've never considered."
He seems to have found some sort of insight from my question, and his expression becomes one of deep contemplation, even forgetting his anger.
Suddenly, he asks me a question.
"I heard you taught my disciple the martial arts of mortals?"
"Yes."
"I was told that the level of that martial art...far surpasses that of my old friend, of even my lover."
It was only for a brief moment, but it seems that he and Kim Yeon had quite the conversation through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
"There's one thing I'm curious about. I completed the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon by researching martial arts and the intent of martial artists with the goal of perfecting my lover's martial art. Then...you, who taught my disciple such a high-level martial art, you must know."
He asks.
"Could you defeat cultivators with that martial art alone? And if you could, what is the name of that martial art, and what is the name of that realm?"
I look into the Mad Lord's eyes, recalling the past.
'There was a time like that.'
The days when I was obsessed with whether one could challenge cultivators with martial arts or not.
The name that was given in those days.
"'Entering Heavens Beyond the Path Martial Arts.' It's the name of the method where mortals can become the heavens. And the realm is called 'Entering Heavens Beyond the Path.'"
"Entering Heavens..."
The Mad Lord seems to roll the name around in his mouth for a moment before asking again.
"In the eyes of someone who has reached that realm, how do I appear? Have I reached what you call Entering Heavens Beyond the Path? On behalf of the ones who entrusted their hearts to me, I've dedicated my entire life to reaching that realm with cultivation methods but... I've only managed to slightly glimpse heart essence. In your eyes, how do I seem?"
I look at him for a moment before answering.
"Half-step. You've only just reached that point."
"...Is that so?"
The Mad Lord lets out a bitter smile.
Then, he gives an answer to my earlier question.
"You asked what I would do if the hearts of those I wanted to protect differed from mine. Look at me. I devoted my entire life, but I couldn't reach the Entering Heavens you spoke of. I couldn't protect the ones I wanted to protect, nor have I gained a single thing I sought. Isn't that life? Isn't that fate?"
He continues speaking while glaring at a certain place.
The place he is glaring at is where Seo Hweol is looking over in this direction.
"Even that scorpion-snake bastard glaring at us from afar tried so hard but couldn't obtain what he wanted. In the end, nothing in this world goes exactly as we want it to. So just do what you can. How others think, that isn't something you can control. For things you can't control, just let it go and for things you can...just give it your all."
Suruk—
The Mad Lord speaks while stroking [Her] hand.
"That...is the only reason I'm still alive in this strange and bizarre world, even while harboring this pain..."
As if recalling something.
His voice somehow lacks strength.
With those words, the conversation between the Mad Lord and me comes to an end.
Three days later.
The Mad Lord's Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress arrives at Heaven-Earth Palace.
—Are you ready, Seo Hweol?
I ask Seo Hweol through heart language, and he responds.
[The preparations for pulling are almost complete. However...]
—However?
[It seems that being will climb up to the Bright Cold Realm sooner than expected.]
—What! Around when?
[...It will arrive in about half a day.]
I let out a low groan at those words.
—Understood. Get ready to pull when I give the signal. The Mad Lord will hold, and I will push.
[Yes, got...]
And then, it happens.
Kwagwagwagwang!
The entire Bright Cold Realm shakes, and celestial energy begins to flow erratically.
I flinch in surprise and look up at the sky, and a hurried message comes from Seo Hweol's side.
Upon receiving Seo Hweol's message, I roar in anger.
"Seo Hweol! Just what...!?"
[...I apologize, Daoist Seo. I wasn't aware of the correlation between them and the Ghostly Yin Transformation Immortal Root, so I couldn't foresee this.]
"Damn...fine!"
I explain the situation to the Mad Lord.
The Mad Lord listens to my explanation and lets out a hollow laugh.
"...Look at that. In the end, nothing in this world goes the way you want it to."
"Damn it, damn it, damn it...!"
I'm on the verge of losing my mind, grinding my teeth.
Contrary to Seo Hweol's prediction, the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother isn't emerging from the Void Spirit Pond.
Instead, Kang Min-hee is being summoned near my comrades who are with the Nether Crossing Ship.
It's clear that the Nether Crossing Ship has summoned Kang Min-hee.
Right now, I must immediately go to my comrades, who are preparing to leap from the edge of the Stable Realm to the Heart Tribe territory!
'But how?'
There's no way.
Just as my mind is about to go blank.
Tstststst!
Kim Yeon, who is connected to me through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, sends me a voice transmission.
[Can you come right away?]
"...No. I'm at the Heaven-Earth Palace. It's impossible to get there right now..."
[Hyang-hwa says she has a way.]
"What!"
Startled by her words, I ask back.
"What's the method?"
[For now...I'll send Hyang-hwa's consciousness over there.]
Woo-woong!
Kim Yeon's consciousness links with Buk Hyang-hwa, and through Kim Yeon, Buk Hyang-hwa's projection appears here.
Paaaatt!
Buk Hyang-hwa encounters Jo Yeon inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
"Hello, Elder Jo Yeon. I, this lowly junior Buk, am honored to meet the idol of all artisans in the Head Realm."
At her words, Jo Yeon frowns and asks.
"And who are you?"
"...She's the artisan with the Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent who was mentioned to have helped Yeon previously. She's currently close with us."
However, upon my explanation, the expression on the Mad Lord's face becomes somewhat strange.
"...Are you saying you're a bloodline of the Jo clan?"
[Pardon?]
"That's strange...there's no way you could be a bloodline of the Jo clan...absolutely not..."
[What do you...?]
"Well, never mind. I'll hear the details later. So why are you here?"
At the Mad Lord's question, Buk Hyang-hwa regains her composure and forms hand seals.
Simultaneously, a certain design appears before us.
[Though it may be inadequate to present to the pinnacle of the Head Realm's artisans, with this, it should be sufficient to travel from the Heaven-Earth Palace to here.]
"That is..."
The Mad Lord gazes at the design she has shown with interest.
It's the blueprint of the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation.
However, I ask, feeling frustrated,
"Time is of the essence right now, where do we have the time to create that! Why not join forces with me and fly the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress instead!"
But to my words, the Mad Lord simply sneers.
"Where do you think time is needed? How much time do you think it even takes?"
"Pardon? What does that...?"
Kiiiing!
At the Mad Lord's gesture, a humanoid puppet flies in from somewhere and lands in front of Buk Hyang-hwa.
"No more words are needed. I'll show you, so just watch. Since you don't seem to be of the Jo clan bloodline, I'll temporarily use you as my assistant. I don't know how you acquired the Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent without being from my clan, but if it's the Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent, you should be able to at least assist well enough!"
At the Mad Lord's words, Buk Hyang-hwa possesses the puppet called by him and responds with an enthusiastic voice.
"It is an honor! Elder Mad Lord Jo Yeon!"
"Now, let's show them! The power of artisans!"
Clangclangclangclangclangclang!
The mechanisms of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress begin to move.
At the same time, the Mad Lord and Buk Hyang-hwa combine their abilities, tearing the Void Spirit Pond from the land of the Heaven-Earth central region, and rapidly start implanting the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation into the interior of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
'Insane...'
Even though I've seen Mad Lord several times, to be honest, even after nearly 200,000 years, I'm still not used to it.
Clangclangclangclang...kong!
With a grand sound resounding, the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation, smaller in size but more intricate than the one installed in the Twilight Domain, is quickly established at the center of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
"It was made in a makeshift way, but it should be usable! Now, let's get going!"
The Mad Lord wipes his sweat and activates the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation, causing the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress to begin leaping through space.
Chwararararak!
Traversing thousands upon tens of thousands of li in an instant, we soon find ourselves facing a Ghost Mother Heaven.