Chương 291: Avenger (1)

Kurung, Kurrurung!

"Damn it, how can the Earth Tribe have such a force?!"

"You, do you think you can get away with this!? Aren't you afraid of the Heaven Tribe's bounty!?"

"A bounty from the Heaven Tribe... Sorry, but this was authorized by the Black Dragon King."

I say with a smirk.

"As the Black Dragon King has entered the True Devil Realm, the entrance to the True Devil Realm must first be cleared for the true plan our Dragon Race has been preparing to begin."

Kwaang!

The dragon claw swings around.

At the same time, the cultivators at the Four-Axis stage guarding the entrance to the True Devil Realm rush at me, spitting blood yet fiercely charging towards me.

'This guy is using poison alone.'

I smile as I scatter my own poison and let the Four-Axis stage cultivator who is trying to inject me with his poison rush toward me.

Kwaang!

Our fists collide, and I intentionally create an opening for his poison to seep into me.

Even though the poison weakens my strength, I am still capable enough to handle two of them.

I quickly press them, bursting one of their bodies.

Kwaang!

He dies on the spot, and I make sure his soul can't be resurrected by seizing it as it tries to pass through the soul's pathway.

Then, as I am about to deliver the final blow to the one skilled in poison arts.

"Kugk! Argh..."

I pretend to have a poison attack, faking a mistake and letting their souls escape.

I killed both bodies, but I allowed resurrection.

I act desperate and shout.

"Damn it! No! If I let a witness escape...!"

Paaaatt!

The souls of the cultivators fly away through the Soul plane somewhere, and I stop and grin.

'With this, even the Heaven Tribe will be confused, right?'

Not all members of the Heaven Tribe are fools. They wouldn't just believe someone who openly shows their face and plots something.

It's more likely they would think someone is framing Seo Hweol by impersonating him.

But by removing the witnesses and destroying the evidence, the Heaven Tribe can't completely dismiss the possibility that it was really Seo Hweol.

'The Human Race side will probably strongly protest against the Earth Tribe soon, and put out a bounty on Seo Hweol.'

Then, Gyu Ryeon would notice.

That Seo Hweol isn't just dead.

If she learns that I spoke today about a relationship with the Black Dragon King using Seo Hweol's face, there's a good chance she will hold onto hope.

'Considering Seo Hweol's cunning, there's a real chance he isn't dead, so it's not entirely a lie.'

Recalling the fifteenth cycle when Seo Hweol had Yuan Yu monitor me from start to finish, I suddenly get goosebumps.

After the cultivators at the Four-Axis stage died, those who had been guarding the entrance of the True Devil Realm at or below the stage of Heavenly Being had already fled.

I swing the dragon claw comfortably, collapsing the entrance to the True Devil Realm as much as possible with the power of both immortal beasts and demon beasts.

It isn't completely closed. If the Human Race inside the True Devil Realm keeps banging on the dimensional gate without paying attention to the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation, it will be enough to open it.

The Grand Cultivators of the True Devil Realm won't recklessly destroy the Human Race just because their retreat is blocked.

'The Devil Race thinks of the Human Race as a group of madmen...'

Having once sided with the Devil Race, I know how the Devil Race views the Human Race, so I can guess what the True Devil Realm would do.

'Rather than provoking them while they're cornered, they'll just blockade them and gradually tighten the encirclement.'

I grin and turn back towards the direction of Heavenly Cauldron Mountain.

'I'll ask Hong Fan to detoxify the poison and further stabilize my state at the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage...'

Just as I am pondering my next moves.

Bo-oong!

My transmission talisman sounds.

Jeon Myeong-hoon is contacting me.

"What's the matter, Jeon Myeong-hoon."

―While rummaging through the ruins of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, I found something.

"What is it?"

―It's a record made by the Supreme Sect Master after fighting Jin Wei.

'A record after Jin Byuk-ho fought Yeon Wei?'

"What about that record?"

―The record mentions that... after Jin Wei was defeated, she spoke to the Supreme Sect master about the 'True Orthodox Axis', and to uncover it, the Supreme Sect Master dispatched some disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect to the Nether Ghost Realm.

Jeon Myeong-hoon's subsequent words inevitably startle me.

―And, I found out that the Supreme Sect Master had created a transmission dharma treasure to communicate with the disciples he sent to the Nether Ghost Realm. Upon checking the dharma treasure... there was a signal just three days ago!

"That means...!"

―Some of the disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect who were presumed lost in the Nether Ghost Realm... they are still alive!

He exclaims with exhilaration in his voice.

There weren't many disciples sent to the Nether Ghost Realm.

Maybe four or five at most?

But it seems that to Jeon Myeong-hoon, these disciples represent more than just numbers.

'Such a strong reaction for just four or five disciples.'

I'm more interested in the information about the True Orthodox Axis the disciples discovered than them themselves.

'With that, I can get closer to Seo Hweol's secrets and surpass him...!'

Furthermore, the True Orthodox Axis will undoubtedly be much stronger than the usual Orthodox or Heterodox Axes, potentially raising my power significantly.

'Hmm, wait... What's this? Something feels off.'

While I'm pondering this, I suddenly feel a sense of unease.

"Hmm..."

'I,' having applied for a mission to support the Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect from the Duty Hall, entered my cave residence and frowned.

'Something feels off about the main body.'

In Earth terms, it feels somewhat psychopathic.

The actions like unhesitatingly taking on Seo Hweol's appearance, trying to control Gyu Ryeon's actions from afar, or strangely failing to empathize with Jeon Myeong-hoon's words.

It feels like something is suddenly missing.

'Did Seo Hweol, that snake, do something?'

Whenever something happens, the suspects are always Seo Hweol or a True Immortal.

'A strange feeling.'

Currently, the main body and I share thoughts.

So if 'I' feel something odd, the main body is aware of it.

However, strangely, when turning my consciousness back to the original body, no anomaly is felt.

'On the contrary, the main body thinks that worrying about this in Seo Li's body is unnecessary.'

I remember the time Seo Hweol brainwashed me as soon as we met.

'Perhaps, the brainwashing I noticed then was just a diversion, and the 'real' brainwashing was successfully done without me knowing?'

Yet, when I shift my consciousness to the original, it dismisses it as too far-fetched a speculation.

'... It's unsettling.'

I decide to practice the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets, collecting merits in Black Ghost Valley to obtain the valley's consciousness methods.

Maybe by gathering and learning these consciousness methods, I can determine whether there's something wrong with the main body or if I'm just being paranoid.

"Huuu..."

After repeatedly exhaling and inhaling spiritual energy, I gradually feel black energy enveloping my body.

After a while.

Black energy gathers around me, forming six swords.

The training method of the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets is as follows: First, accumulate Yin energy, then indirectly manipulate ghostly energy with Yin energy to form swords made of ghostly energy.

Pukkak, Pukkak, Pukkak!

The swords begin to embed themselves throughout my body.

Second, embed the swords made of ghostly energy into the spiritual veins throughout the body, severing the spiritual veins piece by piece.

During this process, the severed spiritual veins must not be regenerated even partially.

Third, as the spiritual veins gradually sever, the body enters a near-death state, and in this death-like state, it becomes aware of 'death.'

Fourth, repeat this process until familiar with the 'sense of death,' and once accustomed, use invocations (呪言) to draw 'power' while in the near-death state.

Fifth, after accumulating some 'power,' use that 'power' to absorb 'power' from the souls of other spiritual entities to practice the method...

'The fifth step isn't really necessary.'

In the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets, the 'power' spoken of is essentially 'death.'

And for me, there is no need to extract death from other spirits. Simply drawing it from the main body is sufficient.

Wo-woong!

Puk, puk, puk, puk!

Having driven the swords of ghostly energy into Yuan Yu's body, I sever the flow of life force.

Then, I sink into that familiar feeling.

The endlessly familiar death.

The darkness, it's so naturally grasped in my hand.

'What's this?'

How many people are consciously aware that they are 'breathing' while they are breathing?

Probably not many.

At most, people might become aware of their breath when they breathe in the air in a very clear area or gasp for breath after strenuous exercise.

To that extent, 'breathing' is a natural thing.

And like 'breathing,' I realize I am naturally enveloped in 'death.'

Rendering the physical body inanimate, submerging the consciousness, and then, through invocations, separate the death wrapped around the soul and merge it with the Nascent Soul.

'Is this... the end?'

I'm perplexed by the overly simple process.

"What's this? Wasn't it supposed to be extremely difficult?"

I ask Bi Yul, feeling doubtful.

Bi Yul, who had described becoming a purple, lust-crazed, bald monster as 'a very, very minor side effect,' had mentioned that the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets had 'a bit of difficulty.'

Naturally, the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets should have been more than just 'a bit' difficult.

'Maybe the latter half of the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets suddenly becomes more difficult?'

I examine the latter stages of the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets.

I look for something more challenging, but nothing of the sort appears.

Each step seems as ordinary and peaceful as breathing.

'Could there be some hidden secrets I'm not aware of?'

"Bi Yul, are there any hidden secrets that appear once one has mastered the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets?"

[Hm? If there was such a thing, it would have been discovered long ago. Hehe, there was a past figure who achieved great success with the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets and even rose to the rank of Black Grand Elder.]

"Wasn't it supposed to be extremely difficult? I'm asking because it seems to all be ordinary cultivation methods."

Bi Yul responds with a puzzled tone.

[What? Which part seems like ordinary cultivation methods? Every step involves skewering the body with swords, sustaining it with ghost fire, and rotting the entire body. It's incredibly difficult. Ordinary disciples go mad from the pain when they start learning the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets. That's why mental cultivation must also be practiced alongside it.]

"Hmm..."

'That's considered incredible difficulty? We do this every day in the Azure Heaven Creation Sect.'

Although there is a slight difference in perspective between myself and the main body, even the main body finds it incomprehensible this time.

'So weak.'

[The first, second, and third steps are problematic, but the real issue starts from the fourth step. The fifth step is comparatively easier. It's not easy for someone who has lived a lifetime as a living being to suddenly feel the 'power' of death. No matter how close one comes to a near-death state, it's nearly impossible to handle 'death' because they've never truly experienced 'death.'] Bi Yul continues to explain.

[That's why, even if one repeats steps one, two, and three numerous times, those without talent cannot advance to the fourth step. To move on to the fourth step, one must go through the process of dying and resurrecting several times, getting infinitely closer to death. Many spend their entire lives unable to surpass the fourth step of the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets. Instead, more people properly train in the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets only after they've died and become a Ghost King.]

"Hmm..."

I furrow my brow, momentarily failing to understand his explanation.

"Isn't the fourth stage about handling the power of death and merging the Nascent Soul with death to become a Ghost King?"

[Yes.]

"And that's difficult?"

[Yes.]

"..."

I'm bewildered, not realizing the steps I breezed through are considered so challenging.

'Is this right?'

Literally, it felt like moving something that was always by my side.

'Rather, it felt refreshing, and others find this difficult?'

I can't believe I had passed through the difficult stages of the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets so easily.

'Could this also be Seo Hweol's trickery?'

In fact, given my talent akin to that of a slow-moving grub, it seems more credible that Seo Hweol secretly helped me learn the method quickly, rather than my own swift mastery.

Somewhat confused for a while, I continue to manipulate death according to the intricacies of the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets, gradually transforming my Nascent Soul.

Tssssst― As my Nascent Soul begins to turn pitch black, my eyes slowly start to slit and my whole body becomes enveloped in black smoke and ghost fire.

After a while, I open my eyes and realize that my Nascent Soul within my Golden Core had transformed into something resembling a small Ghost King.

"Hey, Bi Yul."

[Yes, my Lord.] Could it be... have I fully mastered the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets?"

[Congratulations, my Lord. Indeed, it was a method far too insufficient for a great being like yourself to master. Please forgive me for offering such an inadequate method...]

"..."

'How long has it been since I received the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets?'

Even if I add up all the time since I received the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets, took on a mission at the Duty Hall, and returned to the cave residence to begin learning the method, it's only been about an hour.

'Have I mastered a method I just received within an hour? Me?'

Although the time I spent learning the method was short and I still feel significantly lacking in power and have much to fill in, I can tell.

I realized the essence of the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets, and I can feel that practicing it in this state will allow me to accumulate spiritual power at an incredibly fast rate.

About a day after I realized I mastered the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets, I receive a notification that the mission I applied for at the Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect has been accepted, and I am informed of the location where I should gather for the mission.

Shortly thereafter, I board a teleportation array head to the location of the Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect outside of the Black Ghost Valley.

Paaaatt!

Upon opening my eyes, what appears is a gigantic black palace, as large as a mountain range and resembling a dragon.

The layout of the palace is constructed as if a dragon is writhing, and the words 'Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect' are written on the main gate.

Outside the gate, there are hundreds of cultivators already present, each of them seemingly harboring a curse.

[Be cautious, my Lord.]

"Hm? What is it?"

[Over there, remnants of the Yin Soul Ghost Sect can be seen. They will likely attempt to curse my Lord in some way once they know you're affiliated with the Black Ghost Valley.] I look in the direction Bi Yul indicated.

There, I see individuals emitting a unique energy mixed with ghostly and corpse energy.

"But should these 'remnants' be roaming around so openly?"

[It's likely because the Yin Soul Ghost Sect specializes in puppetry, including curse dolls and corpse dolls. Those you see are probably not their real bodies but curse dolls or corpse dolls.] I look at them with interest.

"These guys are practicing the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation."

[... Yes, indeed.] Bi Yul continues.

[I'm ashamed to admit, but in fact, the curse lineage of Black Ghost Valley is heavily involved in the Yin Soul Ghost Sect. The methods for creating jiangshi and curse dolls complement each other.]

"I see... I think I understand the feeling."

I am familiar with using curse dolls as I often used Yuan Yu as one myself.

Curse dolls that 'regenerate and do not die' are incredibly durable and boast immense utility because they never break down no matter how often used.

It seems likely that they too are using jiangshi in a similar manner, utilizing them as curse dolls.

"By the way, Bi Yul. Do you know anything about the Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect? For instance, why they would suddenly need curse methods..."

[I apologize, my Lord. This is also new to me... Originally, the Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect had nothing to do with curse techniques. However...]

"However?"

[The Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect occasionally issues missions or puts out bounties that seem unrelated to them. Usually, these are highly likely related to the Earth Tribe. The Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect conducts missions on behalf of the Earth Tribe's orders.]

"The Earth Tribe..."

I ponder deeply on why the Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect would gather curse sorcerers.

In a dark secret room.

Within the room, a water mirror made of black liquid floats in the air.

In front of the water mirror, two figures sit cross-legged.

Wo-woong― One figure touches the water mirror and murmurs something.

Shortly after, the water mirror ripples, and a man dressed in black clothes emerges above it.

[Greetings, Ark Controlling Envoy. As you have instructed, I have gathered curse sorcerers. However, poison cultivators are not easily found. Please understand.]

"Alright. I understand. There are a lot of poison cultivators in our Earth Tribe..."

Gyu Ryeon, the Earth Tribe's True Dragon Alliance's Ark Controlling Envoy, nods.

"Since we were unable to secure any poison cultivators, we must make sure to gather more curse sorcerers."

[I will keep that in mind. Now, I kindly ask you to start the transmission.]

"Here it is."

Gyu Ryeon takes out a piece of paper from her clothing and throws it into the water mirror.

The paper depicts a man dressed in white.

"The new Grand Cultivator of the Human Race... Use as many curse sorcerers as possible to cast curses on him."

Her eyes slit vertically.

"I, too, will secure outstanding poison cultivators to prepare a lethal poison..."

Grinding her teeth, she glares fiercely at the figure inside the paper.

Seo Eun-hyun is her target.

'Gathering information, this Seo Eun-hyun bastard is someone I absolutely cannot defeat with my power alone.'

But there are countless ways for the weak to challenge the strong, among which curses and poison are the most notorious.

'As for poison, there are none who can match the Insect Race, so I should also make contact with them. Use the curse sorcerers to cast a curse on him, hire poison cultivators to manufacture extreme lethal poison, then lure him into a trap and deploy it. If all goes as planned... I might have a chance at my revenge!'

Gyu Ryeon terminates the communication with the Black Scaled Fish Commanding Sect and steps out of the dark secret room, muttering with a venomous expression.

"Wait for me, my enemy...! I will definitely repay this grudge! Whatever it takes!"