The Master's Grace (7)
Ohoho…
Goe-gun’s eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity as he scrutinized the General thoroughly.
“I must commend you,” he said, beginning his appraisal. “You have perfectly recreated the circuits. But the materials are vague. The puppet is at the Four Pillars level—capable enough, yet it is impossible to unleash the full strength of a complete Four Pillars. Look here.”
He grinned and pointed to various parts of the General.
“The joints between the segments have not been properly connected. Any excessive movement will cause the entire frame to collapse. And…”
Goe-gun singled out the General’s greatest weakness with pinpoint accuracy.
“Most critically, the energy core is insufficient. You managed to create a maximum energy core inside with the Bright Spirit Water, but that is far from enough. At best, you might recreate a few strikes of a Four Pillars realm cultivator. That would be enough to make enemies of lesser Heavenly Person stage, but to be honest… it is not a properly made puppet.”
I met Goe-gun’s gaze and replied calmly.
“No.”
“Hm?”
“Designed for one strike only—not four strikes of a Four Pillars realm cultivator. And…”
**Whoosh!**
A massive surge of power concentrated in the General’s left arm.
At the same time, eight azure wings unfolded behind the General’s left shoulder.
**Whoosh!**
Starlight filled the General’s right arm, and a rainbow of colors enveloped the entire frame.
Oh Hyun-seok’s face twisted with shock.
“The Eight Wings! Changhoja’s Heavenly Severing, the eighth wing!”
This Four Pillars General had squeezed every ounce of power from its body to unleash a single strike—pushed to the absolute limit of Four Pillars.
It was a puppet I had created using the combined mastery of body manipulation and puppet art from this life.
Goe-gun’s grin widened.
“Impressive. This is not Changhoza’s pure technique, is it? Hoo hoo… it seems you learned under him and created something quite splendid.”
I looked at Goe-gun for a moment.
“As you see, I have grown dazzlingly under Changhoza’s guidance. At the Heavenly Person realm and below, I am practically without equal.”
“Indeed. That level should suffice for you to keep your promise.”
“Exactly. However, will Kim Yeon do the same?”
“Hm?”
“In my judgment, while Goe-gun has taught her well, there are several deficiencies I observed.”
Since we were already here with Goe-gun…
Let’s settle everything right now.
**Huuu…**
Goe-gun leaned his face close, eyes swirling with madness.
After scanning my entire body with those swirling pupils, he bared his teeth in a smile.
“What is lacking?”
I swallowed hard.
Goe-gun’s madness was on the verge of erupting.
From now on…
One wrong word and I would be remodeled.
“You have not yet attained the Great Man’s Gongfa to perfection. As I understand it, the Strange Star-Mind Scroll is an analysis of human will from the cultivator’s perspective. Is that correct?”
“Correct.”
“You studied under Changhoza as well, who reached the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown stage and could perceive the color of will.”
“Indeed. That is also known to me.”
“Then, when teaching Yeon, she too would reach the Three Flowers stage, perceive the color of will, and thus the Strange Star-Mind Scroll could be perfected even further.”
“…Teach her martial arts?”
Goe-gun’s madness intensified inside his eyes.
“My disciples teaching martial arts? Why?”
I retreated a step, controlling my inner self to hide my thoughts as I reached the realm of Moon-Dao Over Heaven.
Without a word, I dug with the Earth-Burrowing Technique beside me and created two soil spears.
A pair of soil spears.
I gripped both spears and began dancing in circles.
At first, the dance mirrored the Double Fan Dance.
But as the Double Fan Dance flowed, it gradually revealed the path of the soil spears, transforming into a single martial art.
Goe-gun’s eyes widened.
It was an eight-form spear technique.
I held both spears, unfolding the full path—stability, harmony, and perfection—from start to finish.
**Boom!**
The pair of spears merged into one at the final form, reinforcing the final strike as the dance continued seamlessly from the first form.
At the same time, the concentrated force of the power that had flowed from the first form struck with one final thrust.
That was the ultimate move of this nameless spear technique.
After completing the spear art, I looked at Goe-gun.
And I was startled.
*That gaze…*
It was clear!
Goe-gun’s eyes were clearer than the clear gaze I had seen in my last life.
“…You have shown something good. Leave.”
“Excuse…?”
“Leave at once. Revive the memories of that time and the madness will recede for a moment. Leave before the madness returns.”
“…Hah…”
I had not expected such an effect.
Oh Hyun-seok, watching from the side, asked curiously.
“Sir, Goe-gun-nim. If this Seo Eun-hyun keeps dancing in front of you, will it be fine?”
“Ku ku… That is an interesting remark. But you know the rule—everything becomes less effective with continued use. The same applies to human consciousness.”
Goe-gun said with a bitter smile.
“At first it may work, but once you see it again, it may or may not work the next time. The fact that I was able to regain my senses after seeing your dance just now is already a miracle. So go.”
“…Thank you. However, there is one thing…”
I asked him with a serious expression.
“I will take Yeon with me. Will you grant me this?”
At my words, Goe-gun clutched his head.
“…That child has matters to do….”
“…When she grows strong enough that Yeon will not be swayed by you again, I will return her. Allow Yeon to do what you most desire.”
“Ku… ugh… you…”
The madness was about to erupt.
Goe-gun looked at me with pained eyes.
“You… do you know what I want…?”
I nodded calmly.
At my answer, Goe-gun’s pupils shrank.
“…Very well. Then… go ahead…”
And with my reply, I grabbed Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon’s arms through the General and used the Earth-Burrowing Technique to fly toward our camp at lightning speed.
**Whoosh!**
At the same moment, a vast wave of consciousness erupted from Goe-gun’s direction.
[Where is where is where is…]
Far away, the pure white radiance of [She] illuminated the horizon.
Simultaneously, Goe-gun and [She] began to chase us.
[Come here come here come here…]
“Master! Please leave me behind!”
“It’s fine. Hyunseok hyung, Goe-gun will chase us, so I’ll drop you at the camp. Inform the seniors about the current situation and wait at the Transmission Array near the Bright Spirit Lake.”
“Y-yes!”
I lifted the General’s arm and hurled Oh Hyun-seok toward the camp.
Then, to evade the pursuing Goe-gun, I flew wildly through the Dae Su Lim on the General.
*I cannot head toward the Strange Castle. There are far too many mad puppets there. The Bright Spirit Lake area is also dangerous. Then the route is…*
I pondered while calculating an escape path.
I found the optimal route.
“General, activate the Five Elements Long-Distance Movement Formation!”
I activated the Gongfa through the Five Elements Long-Distance circuits flowing inside the General.
Rainbow light erupted from the General’s body.
**Crack!**
The General lowered itself closer to the ground.
**Whoosh!**
I used the Earth-Burrowing Technique with the General and sank beneath the earth.
*Can you follow me all the way underground, Goe-gun?*
**Kwaaak!**
Before I could even think, the very ground I and the General had hidden in rose up, and [She] appeared above.
[You thought I couldn’t find you just because you hid? Taking my disciple…]
**Crack!**
But I dug even deeper beneath the ground through the General and sank further with the Earth-Burrowing Technique.
I dug through the ground and found a spot in a single breath?
What now if I go deeper?
**Boom! Boom! Boom!**
Thus, the strange pursuit continued—[She] digging through the earth while [the General] used the Earth-Burrowing Technique to hide deeper and deeper underground.
**Whoosh!**
Suddenly, I felt the voice transmission device in my arms vibrating madly.
It was a voice from Cheong Mun-ryeong.
I activated the voice transmission device and answered like a scream.
“There are many things I’d like to ask, but first—open a Transmission Array nearby and wait! I will come there soon!”
**Whoosh!**
I cut off his words and looked at [She] and Goe-gun chasing us from above with furrowed brows.
*One chance. I cannot miss it.*
Martial arts I had exchanged several lives to create in order to escape a cultivator.
**Whoosh!**
The aura of the Moon-Dao Over Heaven stealth technique swirled around my Invisible Sword.
*This is it. Squeeze out every bit of concentration!*
**Whoosh!**
[She] gradually approached.
**Whoosh!**
Finally, just before the General used the Earth-Burrowing Technique, [She] dug out the earth and followed right behind the General.
And—
“General! Throw!”
The strike of Changhoja’s Heavenly Severing through the General activated!
Eight wings!
**Kwaaak!**
A monstrous vortex of light erupted from the General’s fist!
[She] tried to dodge, but as a pure martial artist at most Five Qi Consorting with the Origin, she could not avoid an attack from the General manipulated by me, who had reached Moon-Dao Over Heaven.
I predicted the direction [She] would dodge and extended the General’s arm there.
**Kwaaak!**
A blue flash crushed her left upper body, flying onward toward Goe-gun!
**Kwaaak!**
Goe-gun barely dodged, but an instant of his consciousness wavered through the General.
*Now!*
“General, self-destruct!”
**Whoosh!**
I climbed onto the General, hugged Yeon, and nodded.
The General’s body swelled upon receiving the signal and finally exploded.
**Boom!**
I used the explosion’s force to escape the pit I had dug so far in an instant.
And from the edge of the pit, I faced the Goe-gun who had barely dodged the General’s attack.
“You…”
And I spoke to Goe-gun.
“I will return you. Allow Yeon to finish the Yeon-ui Yeon. Hold on just a little longer.”
“…What?”
At my mention of the Yeon-ui Yeon, Goe-gun’s pupils shook violently.
At the same time, his consciousness wavered.
I seized the gap and activated the Strange Star-Mind Scroll.
Through the Strange Star-Mind Scroll, I resonated with Goe-gun’s own Strange Star-Mind Scroll for an instant and located the weakest point in his current consciousness.
**Moon-Dao Over Heaven.**
The ultimate.
**Path Within Path is Infinite!**
**Whoosh!**
My consciousness focused to a single point.
But my consciousness was no longer shaped like a dot as before.
This time, the Path Within Path is Infinite manifested in the form of a single sword.
The Invisible Sword I had reached Moon-Dao Over Heaven with!
I compressed that Invisible Sword and, using the Strange Star-Mind Scroll to perceive it, pierced the weakest point of Goe-gun’s current consciousness!
**Piit!**
For an instant, it was like a flash of light, and Goe-gun clutched his head.
**Kyaaak!!!**
It was not merely the Path Within Path is Infinite technique.
I had first focused my consciousness and then hidden a curse within it.
*Cursed Activation!*
**Crack!**
**Kyaaaak!!!**
The current difference between Goe-gun and me was no more than human versus bug.
But I was a poisonous bug.
A mere sting might not be fatal, yet it would be excruciatingly painful.
He clutched his head in pain and screamed.
[Chase them chase them chase them…]
**Kwaaak!**
At the same time, the Four Pillars puppets that had followed Goe-gun began flying toward me.
I pulled out the voice transmission device from my arms and shouted.
“Cheong Mun-ryeong hyung! The Transmission Array nearby is… ready?”
[It’s ready! You idiot Seo Eun-hyun, hurry up and come!]
“Understood!”
At the same time, I combined the strength of my body tempered by body manipulation, the speed of Moon-Dao Over Heaven with the Invisible Sword overlaid, and the power of the Earth-Burrowing Technique to fly madly toward the Transmission Array near the Bright Spirit Lake.
**Kwaaak!**
On the first day of the battle, a green-lacquered wooden puppet created by Goe-gun as a puppet was flying toward this place.
**Whoosh!**
*One moment.*
I had lived for a thousand years inside Goe-gun’s puppet.
I knew how a Four Pillars puppet recognized objects.
**Tch tch tch!**
I adjusted the inner circuits of the Invisible Sword while holding it, laying Goe-gun’s circuits inside.
Then I used the Moon-Dao Over Heaven technique toward the empty air.
**Piit!**
For an instant, the Four Pillars puppet searched around because it could not find me.
*Now!*
I used the gap to pull out the flesh I had stored in my pocket.
**Swoosh!**
The flesh unfolded, and a beautiful woman with a mixed man-and-woman appearance appeared beside me.
“Blood Body Steel Armor!”
**Swoosh!**
Yuan Yu’s body opened, enveloping me.
Kim Yeon looked startled at the sight, but there was no time to explain.
“Let’s go!”
**Boom!**
The Earth-Burrowing Technique of Yuan Yu overlapped with mine, and the speed of the cavern increased even further.
It seemed we were instantly pulling away from the Four Pillars puppet, but soon the puppet adjusted its vision and found me again.
*Damn it, it’s already over.*
Goe-gun’s puppets had artificial souls and could make semi-autonomous judgments, far smarter than ordinary mechanical devices.
Thus the Moon-Dao Over Heaven that evaded recognition by cutting consciousness was also ineffective.
But puppets were still puppets.
The longer they adjusted on their own, the less effective the Moon-Dao Over Heaven became.
**Whoosh!**
A green light flashed behind me, trying to grab my ankle.
But I gritted my teeth.
*I see the Transmission Array far away!*
A small clan city near the Bright Spirit Lake.
And beside that city—
A tiny shrine.
Inside it was the Transmission Array connecting to the human race.
The clan had placed the Transmission Array outside their city to prevent the human race from appearing directly inside.
*I should be grateful. At a time like this, even an unnecessary inspection is unnecessary!*
**Flash!**
Green light flashed, and the Four Pillars wooden puppet grabbed my ankle!
“Damn!”
Without hesitation, I severed my own leg, filled it with a curse, and flew again.
**Swoosh!**
The curse exploded behind, but the Four Pillars puppet ignored it and continued chasing.
“Circuits, freeze!”
**Whoosh!**
But the moment I completed the seal, commands for Goe-gun’s circuits inside the curse flew out chaotically, momentarily halting the puppet’s body.
*The time I can hold it is only about ten seconds.*
**Whoosh!**
I burned even the cultivation level inside my golden core while increasing the speed of the Earth-Burrowing Technique.
*Five seconds left!*
**Kwaaak!**
I dropped like a bomb toward the front of the shrine and entered its interior.
The Transmission Array inside the shrine glowed brightly, and Cheong Mun-ryeong was preparing to activate it.
“Hyung! Activate it!”
*Four seconds.*
**Tap!**
I pulled Yeon close and arrived at the center of the Transmission Array.
*Three seconds.*
**Whoosh!**
The Transmission Array activated, and the barrier blocking the inside and outside of the array activated.
*Two seconds.*
**Whoosh!**
The formation beneath the Transmission Array spun and connected with the Transmission Array on the opposite side.
*One second…!*
**Whoosh!**
“Transmission Array, activate!”
We were enveloped in light.
**Whoosh!**
And—
From the front, green light flashed, piercing the barrier of the Transmission Array, and the arm of the Four Pillars green-lacquered wooden puppet reached in and firmly grabbed my head!