The Multifaceted Path
Uwooong!
The dragon veins surged toward me.
And the gathering veins coalesced into a single massive ball of spiritual energy. Blood Spirit.
At the beginning, when I created the original soul fragments on Noeryeong-do, I scattered them across every corner of the island and now pulled them together into the energy ball. Gigoego’s Spirit.
After that, I injected the Gigoego into the ball to form a consciousness.
Uwooong―
My vision split in two.
I stared at the subtle red aura swirling around the original soul that had appeared before my eyes.
From the original soul’s perspective, “I” appeared as well.
It was the second original soul created by combining the Blood Spirit’s arts and the Gigoego’s arts.
As long as this second original soul lived, I could burn it to survive even if the first one exploded.
Sreureuk…
I poured the second original soul into the body of Wonyu.
Kugugugugu!
Spiritual energy erupted from Wonyu’s body. Won Yu, who had reached the Integration Grand Completion, became a Nascent Soul.
Perhaps because Won Yu was like a tool of mine, he showed no Heavenly Tribulation even after becoming a Nascent Soul.
With this, I now had at least two forces at the Nascent Soul level.
Hong Beom and Won Yu.
Zzzt…
I filled Won Yu’s body with my curse banner, remodeling him so he could serve as a curse doll at any time.
If Won Yu used his life force, which was as tough as a cockroach, to assist me as my curse doll, my power would rise another level. “This humble servant greets his lord.”
Hong Beom said while supporting my back with his hunched waist from the side. “No. It’s just a disposable curse doll….”
I looked at Hong Beom and said. “Rather, I expect more from you than this fellow.” “Heh heh, overpraise.” “Overpraise? What—”
I let out a chuckle while looking at the stinging aura that radiated from Hong Beom.
It was a venom so pure it was almost deadly.
Poison might look weak at first glance, but depending on how it is used, it can be more powerful than any weapon.
And if blended correctly, it can even wound those far above the cultivator’s level, regardless of their cultivation stage.
That was why, even if Hong Beom’s own cultivation was only at the early Nascent Soul stage, anyone he could poison with his arts would include several layers above a True Immortal. ‘And Hong Beom’s poison arts…’
There was a huge difference between the poison arts of True Immortals and those of Wulin warriors.
Wulin poison arts typically involved hiding poison in a pouch or blending it into weapons, spreading it as powder, mixing it into food, scattering it with the wind, or dissolving it in water to poison the opponent.
But the True Immortals’ poison arts were different.
They accumulated poison within their bodies, refined poison pills that allowed them to store and mix poisons, and then released the poison from inside.
Those who cultivated poison arts would hunt for highly toxic drugs, consume them to strengthen their cultivation, and then develop their own poison pills.
Most developed a natural immunity to the poisons stored in their own pills, and their specialty was endlessly mixing poisons to create infinite varieties.
In Hong Beom’s case, back when I was still in the Foundation Establishment stage, I had taught him a little about my poison arts.
But after that, he had independently studied and invented completely unknown poisons, further evolving his own poison arts until, when it came to poison, he had already surpassed me years ago. “Even if you try to detoxify mine, you won’t be able to easily. From now on, you will become my greatest weapon. Stay vigilant.” “Heh heh… My poison is nothing special. These material poisons can be detoxified if I just take a little time. The true poison is Master’s curse poison. No matter what poison I develop, I wouldn’t dare face it.” “Well, curses are techniques, so they can’t really be called poison… but anyway.”
I stared at Hong Beom.
Hong Beom had endured the fire, and Won Yu had reached the Nascent Soul level.
Wonyu was, after all, just a backup life and curse doll for emergencies, but in any case, I had recovered all my peak power. “From now on, your role is very important.” “Yes, I will remember.”
I recalled the incident from a few days ago when Jeon Myeong-hoon had been mesmerized by the Heavenly Thunder Banner.
Against beings related to the True Immortals, I could never afford to be careless.
The memory of calling Jeong-ryeo after seeing the heavenly secrets and having Noeryeong-do evaporate.
As someone who had fought Seo Hyul, I understood how sinister and treacherous the schemes of True Immortal-related people could be. ‘I managed to save Jeon Myeong-hoon before he called Jeong-ryeo, but back then Jeong-ryeo had moved the heavenly tribulation lightning to attack him.’
Now that I knew the truth, I could not afford to be careless.
It would be better to prepare as if overreacting. ‘Even if the Heavenly Tribulation Lord suddenly appears above Geumshin Cheonroe Sect right now, there would be nothing strange about it.’
I looked at Hong Beom and Won Yu, then toward the main building of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect behind them.
I was currently in a valley a little distance from the Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, advancing the promotion of Won Yu to Nascent Soul. “It’s about time I go back….”
As I gazed at the sky, a golden light flashed from afar and Heon-wi flew toward me.
Unlike before, she had brought a Nascent Soul cultivator who looked like a servant without hiding anything.
And the gaze of the cultivator who had reached me was now directed at Won Yu and Hong Beom. “Hm. I heard that your pet has already been burned… but what is this one beside him?” “One of my forces. Consider him my subordinate.” “Well, either way is fine… Actually, the more power you have, the better for me.”
Heon-wi smiled wickedly and asked. “So, have you prepared well?” “Yes. I am steadily gathering forces. Thanks to the recent increase in followers within the main sect, it will be easier when the time comes.” “Heh heh, excellent. So, why did you call me today?” “I came to revise the contents of the pact we made before.” “Oh?”
A few years ago, Heon-wi, the Palace Protector of Bongrae Palace, had entered into a pact with Geum Eon-hyeon, the heir apparent of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect.
The pact stated the following.
Bongrae Palace’s Palace Protector Heon-wi and Geum Eon-hyeon of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect made the following pact.
1. If Geumshin Cheonroe Sect should lose its orthodoxy due to some unforeseen accident, Bongrae Palace’s Palace Protector shall aid the successors of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect in rebuilding the sect.
2. During this process, Bongrae Palace’s Palace Protector shall support the orthodoxy of the newly rebuilt Geumshin Cheonroe Sect and unconditionally support any decision made by the leadership of the rebuilt sect to prove its orthodoxy.
3. If the newly rebuilt Geumshin Cheonroe Sect succeeds in restoring at least 20 percent of its original scale, Geumshin Cheonroe Sect shall appoint one of its representatives as the Honorary Elder of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect.
4. The rebuilt Geumshin Cheonroe Sect shall, through the Honorary Elder to be appointed later, promise to form a fraternal alliance with Bongrae Palace and Geumshin Cheonroe Sect.
5. The rebuilt Geumshin Cheonroe Sect shall, in the future, build a memorial hall and allow the members of sects allied with Geumshin Cheonroe Sect to pay respects to the ancestors of the old Geumshin Cheonroe Sect.
This was the content of the pact between Heon-wi and me.
First, the “unforeseen accident” that caused Geumshin Cheonroe Sect to lose its orthodoxy in clause 1.
It was prepared in case I stole the Heavenly Thunder Banner later.
If Jeon Myeong-hoon turned out to be hopeless, I would steal the Heavenly Thunder Banner, seal it in the Water Realm, and rebuild Geumshin Cheonroe Sect anew. ‘If Jeon Myeong-hoon is hopeless, I will steal the Heavenly Thunder Banner, proclaim a new Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, and relocate its main building back to the Water Realm.’
And clause 2’s “support the orthodoxy of the newly rebuilt Geumshin Cheonroe Sect” meant that even if Geum Byeok-ho and the elders opposed, Heon-wi, as Palace Protector of Bongrae Palace, would support it.
Moreover, the Heavenly Thunder Banner, which was the symbol of orthodoxy for Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, would be sealed in the Water Realm.
Clause 1 and 2 meant that I was being aided to seal the Heavenly Thunder Banner through the new Geumshin Cheonroe Sect I would create.
Clauses 3, 4, and 5 were for Heon-wi’s benefit.
Thanks to clauses 3 and 4, Geumshin Cheonroe Sect and Bongrae Palace would form a close relationship, and clause 5 allowed her father, Heon-won, to visit the memorial hall built for the ancestors.
According to her, Heon-won, the Integration Grand Completion Taesu, still missed his true love, so even without marriage, this pact would be sufficient for both sides to feel satisfied.
I could seal the Heavenly Thunder Banner, prevent the fall of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, allow Heon-wi to receive her father’s recognition, and let Heon-won feel his daughter’s presence. It was a one-stone-three-bird pact.
Originally, I had planned to be satisfied at this level.
But after recalling what had happened to Jeon Myeong-hoon a few days ago, my heart grew impatient. “Originally, I had planned to create a large following within the sect, take the Heavenly Thunder Banner, and proclaim a new sect.” “Yes, that would prove orthodoxy.” “But if, in an emergency, I take only the Heavenly Thunder Banner and leave with you, I would like to add a clause that recognizes me as a member of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect.” “…? Do you really think that makes sense?”
Heon-wi frowned. “I made an alliance with you because your father loves Geumshin Cheonroe Sect. If there is only one disciple and it is just the Heavenly Thunder Banner and you personally, your father will never recognize you as a member of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect.” “I have received the surname Geum, which signifies the Sect Master of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, and I have also mastered all the techniques of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect. With the Heavenly Thunder Banner, which symbolizes the orthodoxy of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, it is not a difficult task to receive new disciples as Sect Master and create another Geumshin Cheonroe Sect.” “Hm… I am not very convinced.”
I read Heon-wi’s intentions. ‘The problem is not persuasion, but rather offering conditions she likes.’ “What do you want?”
I asked, sensing that she wanted some benefit.
After all, what she wanted was recognition from her father through the relationship with Geumshin Cheonroe Sect.
So I was prepared to create any honorary title that symbolized the relationship between Geumshin Cheonroe Sect and her.
But the words that followed from Heon-wi far exceeded my expectations. “You said you wouldn’t form a dual cultivation with Dorona, right?” “Yes, that is correct….” “Then come as my adopted son.” “…??” “The sect’s affiliation has no relation to blood relations, so there will be no problem distributing the rebuilt Geumshin Cheonroe Sect among us even if I become your adopted son. Actually, considering my age, it was always more appropriate for me to be the senior, and I have more to say to my father, so wouldn’t it be good for both sides?”
… ‘I’m not even that much older…’
I stared at her, utterly bewildered.
She seemed genuinely sincere.
I pressed my throbbing head with my thumb and forefinger and said. “Adoption… It seems rather difficult.” “Then it will be difficult for me to revise the pact….” “Instead, how about adopting a vice sect master to support me? The Sect Master position is mostly symbolic, so if I become your adopted son, you may have to bestow the Geum surname upon me as well. But a vice sect master doesn’t need the Geum surname, and in terms of real power, I would have even more authority than the Sect Master.” “Hm…”
After all, I had already decided on Won Yu as the vice sect master, so it did not matter. “Fine.”
To my relief, Heon-wi nodded slowly. “But I also have conditions.” “What are they?” “No matter what, I cannot accept just you as a member of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect. So even if you steal the Heavenly Thunder Banner in an emergency and set up a separate sect, there must be at least three people within Geumshin Cheonroe Sect who follow you. Understand?” “Including me, that would be four people, right?” “Yes. Can you match the numbers?”
I thought. ‘If I seal the Heavenly Thunder Banner, Yeon-wi will definitely approve, and I can bring her descendant Yeon-jin to my side.’
One. ‘Geum Byeok-ho, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and others will go crazy if I steal the Heavenly Thunder Banner. Jeon Myeong-hoon… I would have to tell him the truth to persuade him, and if I do, he might lose his mind, so it’s impossible. The same goes for Geum So-hae, who is one with him….’
I recalled the members of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect and the disciples who followed me. ‘The disciples who follow me are following me within the Geumshin Cheonroe Sect system, and they all have high pride in the history of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, so they will never accept what I do. Then….’
I began to select those I could persuade.
And eventually, another candidate appeared. ‘Hong Su-ryeong. If it’s Hong Su-ryeong, I might be able to persuade her in an emergency.’
Two. ‘And the last one… Since Won Yu has mastered the Supreme Ultimate Thunder God Technique, I can claim that Won Yu is also a disciple of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect. That way, the numbers match.’
Three.
Including me, that makes four people. “Yes, I can match the numbers.” “Good. Then revise the pact.”
We added a special clause to the pact.
Roughly, if an unforeseen event occurs and I steal only the Heavenly Thunder Banner and flee, when I receive three disciples from Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, she shall recognize and support us four as a new orthodox Geumshin Cheonroe Sect. ‘Now the conditions are in place.’
If Jeon Myeong-hoon did not grow quickly enough, I would steal the Heavenly Thunder Banner and flee with my followers, claiming it as a new Geumshin Cheonroe Sect.
But in the worst case.
If some incident occurs between Jeon Myeong-hoon and the Heavenly Thunder Banner and I am forced to steal it urgently, even if I immediately steal the Heavenly Thunder Banner and flee, as long as I have three supporters, I can still receive orthodoxy from Heon-wi and Bongrae Palace. ‘Even if I steal the Heavenly Thunder Banner and flee, if only Geumshin Cheonroe Sect pursues me, I can still hold out.’
What worried me was Geumshin Cheonroe Sect reporting me as “Seo Eun-hyun, a 6th-class member of the Inhuman Total Alliance” to the Inhuman Total Alliance.
Geumshin Cheonroe Sect’s single force could be handled, but if powerful experts from the Inhuman Total Alliance came after me, it would be difficult to hold out.
But since I had made this pact with Heon-wi, in an emergency Bongrae Palace, one of the Inhuman Six Great Sects, would support me, and there would be no public wanted poster.
Heon-wi revised the pact and left, and I returned to Geumshin Cheonroe Sect. ‘Then… I need to persuade Hong Su-ryeong before anything happens.’
I went to Hong Su-ryeong’s eastern part. ‘Will she really accept this?’
It was an act to prevent the fall of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, but since it involved the True Immortals, I could not properly explain it, and what I was doing was betrayal. ‘Even if I make this proposal, given her closed personality, she won’t tell the Sect Master….’
Although I was nominally her dual cultivation partner, it was questionable whether she would accept such “betrayal.” ‘I don’t know if she will accept it.’
Given her personality, she would not spread what I said to anyone else, so there was no problem with that.
But the real problem was that she would reject accompanying me.
I entered her eastern part with a trembling heart.
And. “Of course.” “…Yes?”
I stared at her with a blank expression while watching her accept so readily. “Well, as long as you allow me to research and train properly, there’s no problem. Moreover, you have actually mastered all the techniques of the main sect, possess the Geum surname, and if you obtain the Heavenly Thunder Banner as you said, there will be no major issue with orthodoxy.” “No, that’s not the problem…”
I asked her, bewildered, while looking at the woman who had accepted so readily. “Isn’t this basically a betrayal of the current Sect Master and the Former Sect Master? Yet you accept it so easily?” “What’s not possible? Originally, all the past Sect Masters and leaders of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect have given their bodies to Geumshin Cheonroe Sect. I may not say it, but I have always respected them. And…”
Hong Su-ryeong looked into my eyes and said. “You don’t have to avoid my gaze either. That notion of ‘only for Geumshin Cheonroe Sect’ is useless against me. Betrayal or whatever won’t work on me.”
She smiled. “No matter what you do, you are not trying to harm the main sect, right?”
…
I silently nodded slowly.
Hong Su-ryeong looked at my silent self and said. “I only have one promise.” “What is it?” “If the incident you mentioned happens and you obtain the Heavenly Thunder Banner and do something with it, the elders and seniors of the main sect will mobilize to capture you.” “That will be the case.” “I already know you are hiding your true strength. Every time I spar with you, I feel it. Even if I use all my power, I cannot beat you. To be equal for a moment, I would have to unleash my life and all my cultivation… Your true strength is probably equal to or higher than the Former Sect Master.”
I was startled but showed no sign and controlled my intentions well. “If you have to face the seniors and elders, show mercy and spare their lives.” “I promise that no one will die.” “Good. That is enough.”
I looked at Hong Su-ryeong, who had accepted so readily, and after a moment of silence asked. “…But why do you think I have that power as a Nascent Soul elder?”
I had never shown sincerity in our sparring, and I had always done my best to make her unable to gauge my true strength.
But surprisingly, Hong Su-ryeong had already sensed my true strength.
To my question, Hong Su-ryeong smiled. “It’s a woman’s intuition.”
…
At that sight, I let out a bitter laugh. “Thank you.”
It was all I could say.
* * *
Kureung, kurureureung! “Die, Seo Eun-hyun!”
I dodged Jeon Myeong-hoon’s lightning and continued beating the fellow. ‘His strength is gradually improving. No…’
Even after Hong Beom became a Nascent Soul, daily life remained the same.
I was still teaching Jeon Myeong-hoon and focusing on raising his cultivation with the Changcheon Gaekbyeok Gate technique.
And it had been quite effective; recently Jeon Myeong-hoon’s cultivation and strength had been rising rapidly overall.
Kwajijik!
The red lightning moved as if alive and shot toward me from an unexpected angle.
Pit!
The lightning turned into a sharp blade and left a small wound on my cheek. “Amazing.”
I stared at Jeon Myeong-hoon with pure admiration. ‘The Red Thunder Scripture has evolved into a completely different technique.’ “In another hundred years, I can probably give you two more wounds on my cheek.”
I deliberately provoked Jeon Myeong-hoon with words and beat him.
Jeon Myeong-hoon’s intentions flared red in response to my words, and every time, his lightning grew even more intense.
Stimulating Jeon Myeong-hoon’s anger was also part of his training.
Jeon Myeong-hoon had been pampered at Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, so stimulating his anger and raising his cultivation had been quite effective. “Damn it!”
Kwajijijik!
Jeon Myeong-hoon spat out all the lightning at me and fell to the ground after discharging.
I said to the fallen Jeon Myeong-hoon. “You worked hard today. Keep growing like this from now on.”
The fellow panted and soothed his anger, and I returned to my eastern part after today’s training. ‘Grow quickly, Jeon Myeong-hoon.’
I had already made a plan to steal the Heavenly Thunder Banner, but that was just insurance for the worst case.
The best option was for Jeon Myeong-hoon to awaken his own ability and personally seal the Heavenly Thunder Banner.
To prevent the fall of Geumshin Cheonroe Sect, I needed to nurture Jeon Myeong-hoon as quickly as possible.
* * * “…Damn it, damn it!”
Jeon Myeong-hoon spat curses at Seo Eun-hyun who had gone to his eastern part. “Damn it! It’s still not working!”
He rose with a nervous tic and stomped his feet. ‘More… more is needed…’
If there was something Seo Eun-hyun did not know, Jeon Myeong-hoon’s red intentions contained not only anger but also “inferiority complex.”
And recently, Jeon Myeong-hoon’s inferiority complex had been growing worse and worse. ‘More… more…!’
Jeon Myeong-hoon sat down and operated his technique, gathering heavenly tribulation lightning, and focused on the “voice” that could be heard inside the heavenly tribulation lightning.
Uwooong!
Sogonsogonsogons…
The strange voice taught him a gugyeol far more evolved than the Red Thunder Scripture.
It was even more suitable for controlling lightning.
Tzutzut!
Jeon Myeong-hoon felt as if something was leaving his body while listening to the voice, but he paid no attention.
After all, guiding his power according to the voice’s words would give him even stronger strength.
The more he focused on the “voice,” the worse the inferiority complex and anger grew, but he did not care.
He had always had inferiority complex. ‘I must… surpass Seo Eun-hyun by following the guidance of the lightning!’
Driven by the will to surpass Seo Eun-hyun, Jeon Myeong-hoon was steadily growing.