My Name Is Seo Hyul
Tzztztztzt!
I accelerated my consciousness and used the Strange Star-Mind Scroll to link Bi-ryul’s ratio and mind, pulling him into my accelerated mental world.
“Explain the techniques.”
Bi-ryul began describing each one in turn.
[Eunram Demon Art is an ancient demonic technique whose origins are lost to the Upper Antiquity. If mastered, it can manifest Integration-stage power even at the Heavenly Person level. However, its source is unknown, and rumor claims it was created by some ancient being…]
“Rejected.”
I cut Bi-ryul off and erased Eunram Demon Art from my mind.
Connected to an ancient existence whose origins could not be traced?
One glance was enough to tell it was likely tied to a True Immortal, just like Mountain-Cleaving Emperor Art or Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation Art.
I had only wanted Mountain-Cleaving Emperor Art to interpret the formula I obtained after descending to the Water Realm; I had no desire to be directly linked to some suspicious existence. I had never planned to cultivate it.
[Understood. Then, Purple Sun Radiant Demon Art is a technique whose offensive power is especially outstanding. Its cultivation speed is dozens of times faster than other demonic arts, allowing rapid advancement. It possesses extreme yang force, making it the natural enemy of yin-cold techniques while halving the power of yang-force techniques.]
“Oh…?”
This one seemed quite attractive.
There was no mention of sacrificing anyone, and the cultivation speed being dozens of times faster would be a massive advantage for someone as ordinary as me.
[However, there is one very minor side effect.]
“What is it?”
[First, because the extreme yang force erupts so violently, the skin turns a deep purple.]
“Hmm… So that’s why ‘Purple Sun’ is in the name…?”
[Correct. And second—]
“There’s another side effect?”
Changing skin color was hardly a problem.
Purple skin might look grotesque, but there were plenty of ways to deal with it.
[Because Purple Sun Radiant Demon Art stimulates the upper dantian, it causes hair loss. The founder added a spell-like restriction, so the presence of hair actually weakens the technique. In other words, you become bald.]
“…”
Purple skin and a bald head…
After thinking it over, I decided I could endure even that.
[And third…]
“There’s still more?”
[Since it is a technique that cultivates yang energy, the extreme yang nature boils inside the body and drives lust to maddening heights.]
“…”
I let out a low groan at those words.
If lust boiled over, dealing with beings like Jeong-ryeo would become troublesome…
My willpower could suppress ordinary desire.
But if an enemy of Jeong-ryeo’s caliber deliberately amplified it, holding on would be difficult.
“It can’t be helped. Even if I have to rip out my own testicles to endure it…”
[Fourth side effect.]
I glared at Bi-ryul as the list of drawbacks continued.
Why recommend a technique with so many side effects?
[Purple Sun Radiant Demon Art is a virgin-boy art.]
“…”
[If you ever release essence in any form, you will lose all your power and become a cripple.]
In short:
Purple skin, hair that would fall out no matter what, lust boiling over, yet because it was a virgin-boy art, releasing essence would turn you into a cripple.
[That is why those who cultivate Purple Sun Radiant Demon Art gradually lose their minds from the unrelieved lust and become mad demons—hence the name Purple Sun Radiant Demon Art.]
“…Why would you recommend something like this to me?”
[Because you are the great existence of the Underworld, my lord! A trivial thing like lust could never dominate you!]
I sighed inwardly so Bi-ryul would not notice.
If I truly were the descent of the Underworld’s envoy, there would be nothing to worry about.
But I still could not keep my wits around Jeong-ryeo without ripping out my testicles.
Even if I did remove them, Purple Sun Radiant Demon Art tied lust and power together, so casually removing them might cause severe damage to my spiritual power.
“Rejected.”
[Understood. Next is Corpse-Eating True Scripture.]
I already felt my brows furrowing at the word “corpse-eating.”
“Is this the kind of technique that involves eating corpses?”
[Yes, it is.]
“Rejected.”
[B-but it truly is a powerful demonic art…]
“Enough. Next.”
[Understood. Then, Peaceful Soul True Art is…]
I listened as Bi-ryul explained each technique, rejecting them one after another.
Finally, with his confidence visibly shaken, he offered the last one.
[The final option is Ghost Immortal Star Demon Art. It gathers ghost energy to transform one’s Nascent Soul into a Ghost King, slowly refining the self into a ghost artifact.]
I frowned as I listened to the formula for Ghost Immortal Star Demon Art.
“Doesn’t this technique also involve devouring vengeful spirits to grow stronger?”
[There is that method, but while Non-Soul True Demon Art consumes the soul itself, Ghost Immortal Star Demon Art mainly absorbs the death energy accumulated within the soul, though it does absorb a small portion of the soul as well.]
“Hmm…?”
[In other words, since you are already surrounded by the energy of death, my lord, there is no need to consume the soul! There is one minor drawback—the difficulty is rather high—but for someone who has come from the Underworld, it should be of no concern.]
“Oh…?”
In that case, it could hardly be called a demonic art at all—simply a cultivation method.
I realized that among the techniques Bi-ryul had recommended, Ghost Immortal Star Demon Art appealed to me the most.
“And it’s a manual that can even reach the Four Pillars stage…”
I released the acceleration of my consciousness, picked up the manual for Ghost Immortal Star Demon Art that Bi-ryul had recommended, and headed for Song Gil, the keeper of the archives.
Afterward, I presented the manual to him.
“I will take this one.”
“Hmm, Ghost Immortal Star Demon Art?”
Song Gil’s expression turned strange.
“Is there a problem?”
“Ghost Immortal Star Demon Art is a technique shunned because of its extreme difficulty. It boasts tremendous power if mastered, but… I cannot recommend it.”
“It’s fine. Please give me this one.”
“Well… do as you wish. Once you choose Ghost Immortal Star Demon Art, you cannot change it. To enter the archives again, you must accumulate at least one hundred contribution points for Black Ghost Valley. Understood?”
“I will keep that in mind.”
After selecting our techniques, we left the archives.
Eum-yeon had been waiting for us. Once everyone had emerged, he spoke.
“Since you have all finished, I will now explain our sect’s contribution point system.”
His explanation followed.
“The contribution point system is used by many cultivation sects. Performing sect missions grants contribution points, which can be used to access the sect’s archives, the convenience functions of the Seopmyeong Ship, or the teachings of the Ghost Kings. In addition, you must perform a mandatory sect mission once every ten years. You may receive a mission of your choice at the Administration Pavilion, so I recommend visiting there.”
After giving us a few more explanations, Eum-yeon bowed and took his leave.
[This concludes my guidance regarding Black Ghost Valley. I hope you will all become great talents of our sect. Farewell.]
With those words, he turned into a wisp of black smoke and flew back into the Seopmyeong Ship.
The five of us scattered to explore the eastern district or other parts of the ship. I asked Bi-ryul for directions and headed for the Administration Pavilion.
“Contribution points, huh…”
Thinking back, Geumsin Cheonroe Gate had something similar.
However, Jeon Myeong-hoon and I had been exempt as the sect’s future.
Changcheon Gaebyeokmun judged everything by strength alone, so there was no contribution system; one simply wrestled the archive keeper or defeated senior brothers in duels to use the facilities.
At Sea Dragon Palace I had simply raided Seo Hyul’s vault, so I had never felt any inconvenience in my training. While living as Goe-gun’s puppet, I had possessed a puppet body and thus needed nothing.
In other words, this was the first time I had ever experienced such a system.
When I arrived at the Administration Pavilion, ghost wails echoed from every direction.
Lesser spirits flew about muttering things. Listening closely, I realized they were all reciting missions.
The spirits sensed the aura of Bi-ryul residing within me and trembled as I entered.
Yet, whether due to some spell-like brainwashing, none of them fled in panic.
[My lord, do you wish to accept a mission?]
“I want to see what missions are available.”
[Understood. I will assist you so that it is easier for you to browse.]
Bi-ryul revealed his head from my shoulder and shouted loudly inside the pavilion.
[Come here!!!]
At the thunderous spirit voice of a Heavenly Person-stage Ghost King, all the lesser spirits that had been flying about reciting missions gathered toward us.
The gazes of the Black Ghost Valley disciples who had been choosing missions throughout the pavilion all turned our way.
“What’s with that guy?”
“That ghost wail just now… a Heavenly Person-stage Ghost King?”
“He’s commanding a Heavenly Person-stage Ghost King? Is he one of the Black Elders?”
“That can’t be. He must be a new Yin Soul disciple. New Yin Soul disciples nurture a Ghost King for about half a year before obtaining their own Ghost King or Ghost Servant, so that one’s probably temporary.”
“Still, the Ghost King he’s nurturing must be quite kind. To personally expend effort just to gather lesser spirits for his junior…”
They had noticed Bi-ryul’s presence but said nothing further. I, however, could sense the thoughts hidden within their gazes.
Every single one of them was looking down on me.
“Hmm. They all carry at least a Nascent Soul-stage Ghost King inside them.”
Each of them had a tight connection with their Ghost King. These were not spirits they had simply requested from a shrine like mine; they had raised their Ghost Kings themselves.
“So that’s what they call a Ghost Path Companion… a Gwiryeo.”
The main spirit that Black Ghost Valley disciples primarily command.
The ghost that aids in the cultivation of Ghost Path techniques while growing alongside the disciple inside their body is called a Ghost Path Companion—Gwiryeo.
I observed them for a moment through the black demon mask before losing interest and turning my attention back to the lesser spirits.
[Deliver a letter to a Heavenly Person-stage investigator in Cheonin-do… 5 contribution points…]
[Hunt at Jabu Island and harvest inner cores… 15 contribution points.]
[Establish a Black Ghost Valley branch among the Cheonik Clan. Exemption from mandatory missions for a thousand years, 60,000 contribution points…]
I scanned the missions.
“The higher the difficulty, the greater the reward.”
The mission with the highest contribution points was to go to the Cheonik Clan, one of the Heavenly Clans, accept them, and establish a Black Ghost Valley branch composed of Cheonik Clan members.
It offered exemption from the mandatory mission for a thousand years and 60,000 contribution points.
“In other words, it’s a mission that requires at least a thousand years of hardship.”
I had no intention of struggling against the native forces in Cheonik Clan territory, so I immediately lost interest and looked at the other missions.
Then, hearing one of the lesser spirits muttering, I turned my gaze toward it.
[The Black Scale Fish Spirit Gate is seeking a curse sorcerer to assist with their missions… 400 contribution points…]
“Oh…?”
The contribution points were considerable, and it was a field I was confident in. I reached out toward the lesser spirit repeating that mission.
* * *
“Seo Lip seems to be adapting well to Black Ghost Valley.”
Once he grew a little more accustomed, I planned to use him to search for Kang Min-hee.
“Then it’s about time I started moving as well.”
Shrrrk…
I activated Wansuigungmurok and slipped out of Heavenly Mountain without any of the other Grand Protectors noticing.
A few days later.
I arrived at the entrance to the Demon Realm.
“In the Human-Demon Great War, the Human Race is currently being pushed back by the Demon Realm’s Grand Protectors.”
Yet the humans were preparing an absurd plan called the World-Destroying Heavenly Void Formation.
A final move meant to inflict maximum damage on the Demon Realm before retreating.
“I can’t let that happen.”
There was only one reason such a wretched plan as the World-Destroying Heavenly Void Formation was being prepared.
“They believe they have a way out.”
Because they thought that even if they inflicted enormous damage on the Demon Realm, they could simply return to the Gwanghan Realm, they were preparing such a plan.
In that case, there was only one solution.
“I’ll make sure they can’t return.”
I took Seo Hyul’s face out of Jeomuldo, covered my own with it, released Wansuigungmurok, and revealed myself before the entrance to the Demon Realm.
“I will close the entrance to the Demon Realm.”
I would not seal it completely.
I planned to make it so that if they exerted enough force from the other side, they could open it again.
If I closed the entrance to the Demon Realm, they would no longer have a retreat and thus could not activate something like the World-Destroying Heavenly Void Formation.
Furthermore, Black Dragon King Hyeon-eum would no longer be able to cross through this entrance to threaten Oh Hyun-seok, and Changhoza would likewise be unable to cross.
By causing trouble while wearing Seo Hyul’s face, I could also instill tremendous hostility toward Seo Hyul from the Human Race side.
Lastly… if news of Seo Hyul’s survival reached Gyu-ryeon’s ears, her anger toward me would diminish considerably.
A move that killed five birds with one stone.
Take this, Seo Hyul.
“Who goes there!”
The Four Pillars-stage investigators guarding the Demon Realm entrance looked at me with wary expressions as I suddenly appeared.
I covered myself with the aura of a celestial beast, disguising myself as a member of the Demonic Race.
In that state, I spoke in a gentle, leisurely voice that imitated Seo Hyul.
“My name is Seo Hyul.”
Kuguguguguk!
A white mist-like power overlaid my hand along with demonic energy, manifesting in the shape of a dragon claw.
“Crown Prince of the Sea Dragon Clan.”
Kwaaaang!
The entrance to the Demon Realm shook as though it might shatter.