Chương 322: Farewell (4)

Kugugugu― Dead Earth Domain.

In front of the celestial pond leading to Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll.

An earthquake is occurring at the center of that place.

It's thanks to a small beam of light shot from the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

Chiiiii― The Mad Lord strokes his chin as he looks down.

"Hmm, that snake-scorpion bastard. Did I finally get rid of him?"

The Mad Lord mumbles as he observes the situation below through the crystal screen inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

Only ashes remain where Seo Hweol had stood.

The Mad Lord squints.

"Hmm..."

He wipes his face with his hand as he sits in the control chair of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

"I killed... him..."

One way or another, the Mad Lord and Seo Hweol considered each other as arch-enemies.

For the Mad Lord, Seo Hweol was the only one who could rival him, and for Seo Hweol, the match-up was exceedingly unfavorable.

Perhaps because of this.

Having killed Seo Hweol, the Mad Lord feels such a huge surge of emotions that he momentarily regains his senses.

"... Are you watching from the Underworld, Darling? I killed the real wicked monster behind the incident back then."

At that moment.

Chwaaaaak!

A hand emerges from the celestial pond.

Seo Eun-hyun, with 19 heads, including his own and the 18 skulls, appears from within.

Seo Eun-hyun appears to be looking for Seo Hweol, but freezes upon seeing the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

Jo Yeon smirks at the sight.

"Why is that one coming out from there... I'm going to be reverting to the Mad Lord soon... ah, I see. Did that guy drive Seo Hweol to the brink of death? That King of Schemes? Impressive indeed."

Jo Yeon sends a grateful look at the frozen Seo Eun-hyun.

"Since it's come to this and I'll be going berserk soon, I might as well scare him away. When I go into a frenzied state, I'll definitely try to catch him..."

I look up at the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress with great tension.

'Damn it.'

Seo Hweol is definitely dead.

I can tell just by looking at the ashes beside me.

The Mad Lord must have incinerated him with a beam blast, not even wanting to turn the snake-scorpion Seo Hweol into a puppet.

'It's about 500 years after my ascension...'

At this point, the Mad Lord's power is equivalent to over 70 Integration stage cultivators.

Even if I'm at the Grand Perfection instead of the late Integration stage, I can't stop that.

Of course, if I infiltrate as General Seo, I might be able to subvert things from within, but even that is impossible without Kim Yeon.

However...

'Escaping is possible.'

Below, towards the celestial pond.

I signal Hong Fan, who hasn't yet emerged from the storage scroll, to come out once the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress disappears.

While leaving from the inside is fine, as the entrance only opens once a month, the Mad Lord cannot enter.

'The puppet controlling Mad Lord and Hong Fan...'

The Mad Lord and Hong Fan have the worst compatibility.

Puppets are immune to poison.

If the Mad Lord's main body could somehow be poisoned, there might be a chance of victory. But since the Mad Lord installed purification devices and other mechanisms to completely block out poison inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress under the pretense of 'providing a better quality of life to the puppets', it's meaningless.

I roll my eyes, looking for a way out.

At that moment.

Clank!

One of the cannons of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress aimed at me.

'Damn it. Think later.'

The priority is to escape.

Paaaatt!

Using the ground-shrinking technique, Flying Escape Technique, Gliding Technique, and the Formless Sword Flight, I begin to flee from the domain of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

'I need to get away quickly!'

My current condition isn't very good to begin with.

How fast can I cross the Dead Earth Domain?

I suddenly have a strange feeling.

'What is it? Why isn't the Mad Lord chasing me?'

Considering the Mad Lord's personality, he should be crazily chasing me, even sending [Her] and others after me.

'Could it be...'

Come to think of it, he only threatened me with the cannon, without shouting his usual insane words in his characteristic mad manner.

Recalling him, one possibility crosses my mind.

'Perhaps, the Mad Lord...'

He might have temporarily regained his sanity.

After some deliberation, I take out my storage scroll and create a mass-produced General Seo, sending it flying towards the Mad Lord.

'If the Mad Lord is sane, I need to inform him about Seo Hweol.'

Since only Mad Lord can be considered Seo Hweol's arch-enemy, it will be most efficient for him to have the information to deal with Seo Hweol.

Booooooong― After flying for some time.

My mass-produced General Seo finally reaches the front of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

[Elder Mad Lord, I have something to tell you.] Then, the gate of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress opens.

Sharing my vision with the puppet, I enter the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

After some time.

I am guided by the puppets into Mad Lord's reception room.

And I am startled.

The Mad Lord Jo Yeon is sipping tea poured by [Her] in a rather rational state in the reception room.

"Is this the puppet made by that guy earlier? Seems like you have something to say."

Though glimpses of madness are apparent, the Mad Lord is certainly in a state of sanity.

I nod at him and convey the information about Seo Hweol.

"... So, the one known as Seo Hweol is a kind of hive mind that survives by spreading its cluster?"

[Yes.]

"... I see. So, he hasn't been completely killed yet."

The Mad Lord sighs briefly and speaks.

"I got it. Thanks. I'll find a way to deal with him eventually."

[...] I feel a strange sensation watching the Mad Lord.

'From start to finish during our conversation... he didn't have any seizures...?'

It's an impossible occurrence.

How could that Mad Lord manage such a thing?

Seeing my puzzled expression, the Mad Lord also seems puzzled, sipping his tea with a bitter smile.

"You must find it strange as well. That I'm not having outbursts..."

[Have you regained your sanity?]

"No. Seeing you also handle puppets, you must have some knowledge in puppet arts... but you wouldn't know about this Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress. Regaining sanity while controlling it is impossible. The reason I'm so clear-minded is..."

A serious light appears in Jo Yeon's eyes.

"Just now, the Integration stage puppets of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress reacted. Shortly after you came out from the celestial pond, a strange wave spread throughout the entire Bright Cold Realm."

[A strange... wave?]

"Yes. It seems only those at the Integration stage can sense it with their unique senses. I couldn't feel the wave itself, but I barely realized it through the reactions of the Integration stage puppets... at any rate, because of that wave, I regained my sanity. Of course... I'll eventually be swallowed by madness again, but it feels like that 'time' has been greatly extended."

[Hoh...] If so, the Mad Lord before me can be maintained for a significantly long period.

'But, what kind of wave was it that made Mad Lord regain his sanity?'

I wonder, puzzled.

Bright Cold Realm.

Summit of Heavenly Lotus Mountain.

Above a pavilion made of white jade.

A gigantic dimensional gate has been opened, and a being shrouded in pure white light holding a white branch walks towards it.

The being of pure white light is Sacred Master Baek Woon.

Sacred Master Baek Woon speaks to the immense, black-red entity in the boundless space beyond the dimensional gate.

[Why does the Great Blood Yin continue to covet the Bright Cold Realm? Please return. Although that rogue Golden Divine caused trouble, did he not set up a barrier that prevents your approach?] As she said, when the black-red being attempts to approach the Bright Cold Realm, a massive Heavenly Tribulation strikes directly at it.

Kwarurururr!

A colossal Heavenly Tribulation that seems capable of burning the world.

As the Heavenly Lightning descends upon the black-red being, it creates a canopy of Heavenly Tribulation to prevent its advance.

Kwajijijijik!

However, the black-red something pierces through the Heavenly Tribulation canopy, advancing toward Sacred Master Baek Woon.

The Sacred Master Baek Woon shrouded in light raises the white branch in her hand.

[Do you truly intend to come in despite the damage you will suffer?] Then, a 'response' comes from the black-red.

[TheBaekseedWoonofTruemyPersonKarmicletFiremehasinrevealedwithitsthetracespowerasofIKarmicseekFiretoIreclaimwillmyhealauthoritythedoinjurynotinflictedtrybytothestopGoldenmeDivine.] Ziiiiiing― A message transmits from the black-red entity.

Sacred Master Baek Woon seems to interpret the message briefly before giving a bitter smile.

[Impossible. It absolutely cannot happen. If you reclaim your power, the Bright Cold Realm will burn, and your proposal is essentially no different from telling me to become your thrall or Immortal Treasure.] The black-red entity once again attempts to establish communication at her words.

[IOnceamItheFindJudgetheofKarmictheFireNetherworldIDoshallyoubedarerestoredtoandrefusereclaimmymyproposalpositionByasdoingthesoRightyouHandareofkickingtheawayHeavenlyallVenerableyourofownthegloryNetherworld!!!!!!!] Interpreting the message, Sacred Master Baek Woon clicks her tongue in pity.

[Oh, pitiful one, is your name not Blood Yin (血陰)? You are not the grand and noble Nether Devil True Lord. If you were truly the reincarnation of Nether Devil True Lord, wouldn't other Judges have descended to take you away?] At these words, the red-black entity's form trembles.

Sacred Master Baek Woon squints through the light.

[HowIamdareYuyouHaoimpudentTeone!!!!!!] Anger.

The entity before her is visibly enraged by Sacred Master Baek Woon's words.

Sacred Master Baek Woon's eyes shine as she swings the branch.

Shuaaaaaa— Numerous white trees begin to grow around Sacred Master Baek Woon, creating a massive white forest in the Interdimensional Void beyond the dimensional barrier.

[If I had faced you before my realm fell at the hands of the Golden Divine, I would have been powerless. However, as the Sacred Master (星使) of the Bright Cold Realm, I am confident in defending it.] Woo-woong!

The dimensional surface of the Bright Cold Realm is covered with white trees made of immaterial substance.

[I have placed mental stabilization over the entire Bright Cold Realm. You will not be able to incite madness across the entire realm as you did 40, 000 years ago.] Paaaatt!

White light and red-black light clash outside the dimension.

Wo-oong, wo-oong, wo-ooong...

I frown as I observe the peculiar movement of the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.

'It seems something is happening...'

I feel strange.

For some reason, I have a sense that someone is targeting me.

'By the way, why has the Mad Lord's mind stabilized?'

I can't figure out the reason.

Although he is gradually slipping back into madness, it appears he will remain in a stable state for a few more days.

'Well, I suppose I should stick with the Mad Lord for the time being.'

For now, I have Seo Li possess me, and listen to the stories of the time I was absent from him.

I hadn't always been watching him, so it's necessary to learn about his experiences and realizations.

Zzzziiiiing— It's then.

I suddenly feel a chilling sensation sweep past me from behind.

'This, this is...?'

I can sense it.

A sensation only I, who learned the Ghost Path Method, passed through the side path of the Netherworld, and have met the Nether Devil True Lord Yu Hao Te, could perceive.

Just now, the power of the Netherworld swiftly swept across the Bright Cold Realm.

'What in the world is this? What's going on?'

At the same time, I feel an unusually strong wood (木) attribute energy among the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.

It's to the point that it's perhaps an opportunity for those who practice wood attribute methods to advance their realms.

Just then.

Kugugugugu!

In a distant place.

Swiftwind Domain.

I feel a chill from the energy emanating from there.

And the Mad Lord, who has been exchanging puppet techniques with General Seo, also sharply turns his head towards the direction of the Swiftwind Domain.

Jjjeojeojeojeok!

'J-just what is this...'

It's cold.

Even though it isn't the Swiftwind Domain but the Dead Earth Domain, the cold emanating from the Swiftwind Domain is enough to make me lose my composure.

Zzzt, zzzt...

Seo Li screams in my head.

[Kang Min-hee! Seo Eun-hyun! Kang Min-hee is...!] I clench my teeth.

Seo Li screams that the Mysterious Bizarre Gu he had given to Kang Min-hee has disappeared.

I grab the Colorless Glass Sword while gritting my teeth.

"... You probably don't remember because you don't have access to the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections."

Thinking back, now that 500 years have passed, This is the point in time when Kang Min-hee would metamorphosize into the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother at the Swiftwind Domain.

Kugugugugu!

Is it because of the power of the Netherworld that had suddenly swept through the Bright Cold Realm?

Or is it because of something else?

Perhaps it's the attraction of fate forcefully pulling Kang Min-hee into becoming the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother.

Kang Min-hee has awakened as the Ghost Mother (鬼母).

Decoded 1: [The seed of my Karmic Fire has revealed its traces. As I seek to reclaim my authority, do not try to stop me. Baek Woon True Person, let me in. With the power of Karmic Fire, I will heal the injury inflicted by the Golden Divine.] Decoded 2: [I am the Judge of the Netherworld. Do you dare to refuse my proposal? By doing so, you are kicking away all your own glory. Once I find the Karmic Fire, I shall be restored and reclaim my position as the Right Hand of the Heavenly Venerable of the Netherworld!!!!!] Decoded 3: [How dare you, impudent one! I am Yu Hao Te!!!!!!!]