Toward Seo for Seo (2)
I sensed the Invisible Sword.
Although Yu-wu’s bloodline had not yet been integrated, I could only extract about eighty percent of the sword’s full power from the Invisible Sword.
In other words, my own body had already integrated the “Path.”
And yet…
Surprisingly, the one who had absorbed me—Seo Hyul—had even demonstrated the Invisible Sword of the Path of Heaven.
But he still could not communicate with the Invisible Sword.
My realization from the Great Tribulation still refused to show itself.
Nonetheless, he had used a technique tied directly to my inner thoughts—the Invisible Sword.
The realization sent a chill down my spine.
How had he managed to achieve such parasitism?
To prevent any unknown risk of further intrusion, I severed even the last thread of connection to my original body.
After that, I used the Transmission Charm to summon Hong Beom.
Hong Beom arrived in moments, kneeling before me.
“Was I summoned, Master?”
“Summon Kim Yeon and Jeon Myeong-hun. Also… tell the Heaven’s Pride Association that I am closed-door cultivation. I will remain in seclusion for approximately one thousand years. Anyone with an opinion should come directly to this clone.”
“Understood. By the way, Master…”
“Hm?”
“You are a clone?”
“Correct. Does something trouble you?”
“No… no trouble.”
Hong Beom stared at me for a long moment, then shook his head.
“It is simple. Go on.”
He bowed once more and vanished from my sight.
A short while later, Kim Yeon and Jeon Myeong-hun appeared before me.
Kim Yeon had only just returned from the Han-eum Swamp.
She tilted her head at me with an odd expression.
Could she already suspect the two bodies were the same?
I broke into a cold sweat and asked her to relay what Kang Min-hee had told her.
Kim Yeon passed the message to Jeon Myeong-hun.
“What does it matter? Just do whatever you’re told.”
Jeon Myeong-hun nodded and accepted without hesitation.
I turned to Kim Yeon.
“Yeon-ah, Vice-Headmaster Oh Hyun-seok should return soon as well.”
“Huh? Vice-Headmaster too?”
“Yes.”
As a True Venerable, I had shared considerable information with the Heaven’s Pride Association.
Among those shares was news that Oh Hyun-seok was currently on the other side of the Veil, knocking on the door of the Gwanghan Realm.
In a matter of days, I would be able to meet him.
The goal of gathering companions has been achieved.
The remaining objectives were reaching the Four Pillars realm, mastering the Taesan Yeolje Art, exploring Jeungryong Jinin’s Pocket Dimension, enduring more than one thousand years of life, and completely killing Seo Hyul.
It seems Seo Hyul accepted my closed-door cultivation out of pure respect for this body pretending to reach the Four Pillars…
I swear that after three hundred years, no matter how cunning Seo Hyul may be, he will realize something is wrong and scream to the heavens inside the Eastern Boundary.
As for the talent of my original flesh, I know it best of all.
Several days later.
We reached the entrance of the Demon Realm and met a familiar face.
“Oh Vice-Headmaster!”
…Oh Hyun-seok.
He raised his dazed eyes to Kim Yeon, then swept a glance over me and Jeon Myeong-hun.
“I hope you have been well, Hyun-seok hyung.”
“I… have been… well?”
I greeted him casually, while Jeon Myeong-hun gave a stiff smile that looked ready to shatter.
Oh Hyun-seok stared at us for a moment, then collapsed to the ground.
“Was I dreaming…? It truly is me who survived that battlefield.”
He sighed and steadied his breath.
Having reached the Nascent Soul Integration stage, Oh Hyun-seok panted with a wry laugh.
I watched him exhale in relief and smiled.
“Congratulations.”
In this life, he had not been driven mad by the Black Dragon King or Blood Sound Venerable.
Changhoja had not died either, and only growth awaited him.
I looked at him with a bitter smile in my heart.
The will of the Geumsincheonroemun sect, tied to True Immortals, is at an end…
One person like Oh Hyun-seok could change the course of events.
If I had been a little stronger, could I have saved the entire Geumsincheonroemun?
Perhaps. Perhaps I could have.
Hurry and grow stronger.
With the Great Desert Dead Sea Formation I had created, I was certain I could reach the Four Pillars.
After venting my feelings with Oh Hyun-seok, I sent him back to the Changcheon Gaebyeokmun.
“So, you want me to reach the Four Pillars first?”
“Yes… please, thank you.”
“Haha, fine. I understand. I have gained much insight from this Human-Demon War.”
He climbed onto the massive flying mechanism heading toward Changcheon Gaebyeokmun and gazed at the Demon Realm entrance with a sorrowful expression.
The entrance was now completely sealed by the Demon Realm True Venerables.
Humans would no longer be able to invade the Demon Realm at will.
“We humans… are we good or evil?”
Oh Hyun-seok muttered while staring at the Demon Realm with troubled eyes.
“I have thought long and hard about this. If I go to my master in the Changcheon Gaebyeokmun, he will surely give a clear answer. He is that kind of person… but what do you think?”
He asked, eyes full of confusion.
“Are humans good or evil? It has been nearly one hundred years since I came here. Each of you must have experienced something—tell me your thoughts.”
Kim Yeon answered without hesitation.
Her eyes held absolute conviction.
“In my opinion… the ‘human evil theory’ seems more correct. Pure humans will ultimately become great evil.”
Only someone who had experienced the pure human—Goe-gun—could say such a thing.
Surprisingly, Jeon Myeong-hun offered the opposite view.
He stroked the wooden box in his arms.
“I believe the ‘human goodness theory’ is more convincing. If humans are not good, when facing death, how can they not show their true nature to protect others?”
Only someone who had heard Geum So-hae’s deathbed will could say such a thing.
“How interesting. When working at the company, the two of you would have given opposite answers…”
“There were simply too many events.”
“…That is true. Too many… things happened.”
Both wore bitter expressions at Oh Hyun-seok’s words.
Indeed, we had experienced far too many events.
“Then, Eun-hyun-ah, what do you think?”
…I could not answer immediately.
“…I do not know.”
“Do not know?”
“Yes. You may think me foolish, but I truly do not know. No matter how much I think, this remains an unknowable question.”
“…I see. Very well. All of your answers have been helpful. I will remember them.”
In the Human-Demon War, he had witnessed the ugliness of humanity.
Oh Hyun-seok seemed troubled by the very nature of human existence.
After embracing each of us, he departed for the Changcheon Gaebyeokmun.
I had a feeling we would meet again soon.
After seeing him off, I instructed Kim Yeon to take Jeon Myeong-hun to Black Ghost Valley.
“Unnie isn’t coming? Don’t you want to meet Min-hee noona?”
“…Kang Min-hee… I will meet her later.”
To face her with my original face required far more courage.
My original body had sealed Kang Min-hee’s memories at will, yet now I felt it was a small mercy.
Kim Yeon nodded and left with Jeon Myeong-hun for Black Ghost Valley.
After they disappeared, I changed into Seo Lip’s face once more and rushed toward Black Ghost Valley.
The time to be Seo Lip, standing together with Kang Min-hee, had not yet passed.
* * *
Black Ghost Valley.
Inside the Seopmyeong Ship, within the Ghost Soul Palace.
“Hey, long time no see. How’s my little rascal?”
Kang Min-hee shook out her clay pipe and lit it, welcoming Kim Yeon and Jeon Myeong-hun.
I stood beside her as Seo Lip, greeting them as well.
Jeon Myeong-hun’s eyes met mine for a split second and his expression turned grotesque.
Thinking back, he had known about Yu-wu’s bloodline.
Fortunately, he seemed to realize something and closed his mouth.
Kang Min-hee looked at Jeon Myeong-hun with bright eyes.
“Ho, I didn’t expect much, but you’ve changed so much? My little rascal?”
In response, Jeon Myeong-hun regarded her with a blank face.
“You keep trying to needle me. About the events on Earth, I have no apology. I’m sorry.”
“…”
“That aside, how do we use the shortcut?”
Kang Min-hee’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…You’ve really grown. Fine, the shortcut was a mistake. For now… I can allow the shortcut. In exchange, you will pay a cost to Black Ghost Valley. All those who used the shortcut before—students of the Geumsincheonroemun—paid that cost.”
Jeon Myeong-hun nodded.
“Leave it with me. As a Demon Realm True Venerable, I can receive support.”
Jeon Myeong-hun’s casual words sent me and Kang Min-hee into stunned laughter at the same time.
She outwardly. I inwardly.
“He still likes to ask for favors…”
This kid… too naturally piling it on me.
Kang Min-hee clicked her tongue and nodded.
“Fine. First, extract the fee from Seo Eun-hyun. You have proof, don’t you?”
Jeon Myeong-hun handed her the recorded note containing my voice.
A talisman containing the voice that had promised to help anyone entering the Ghost Realm.
Kang Min-hee nodded.
“Good. Then I will allow the shortcut. But remember that you must obey my commands unconditionally. Refuse and you cannot enter.”
“I will obey.”
Kang Min-hee nodded and led us out of the Seopmyeong Ship.
As someone who had received the Ghost Soul Palace Palace Master title after reaching the Heavenly Person realm, I followed them as the Palace Master.
Outside the Seopmyeong Ship.
A section of the Black Ghost Valley canyon.
A valley containing a yin-filled pond-like formation.
At the bottom lay a red diagram resembling blood.
At each of the diagram’s eight directions stood tall stone statues facing the center.
“There are several ways to enter the Ghost Realm. The simplest is to reach the Integration stage, wrap the realm around your body, shatter the Veil, and enter. It is the most stable. Because the realm is wrapped, your body will not be damaged by the Ghost Realm’s qi, and returning will be safest.”
She continued.
“The next method is to die, become a ghost, and be pulled into the Underworld before the Ghost Realm pulls you. The Ghost Realm is also connected to the Underworld. Another method connected to this one is to cultivate the Ghost Dao Art and become a ghost. Or animate your body into a corpse puppet. Using this shortcut is overwhelmingly easier, and you can go to the Ghost Realm and not only not suffer harm but grow even stronger. However, those without the Ghost Dao Art like you must choose one of these two methods to enter.”
Uwooong!
As she completed her oath, the red diagram began to glow.
“First, enter the realms of those above Integration and travel together under their protection. Second, use such a shortcut. And for a living body like yours who is not a ghost, one more condition is required.”
Kang Min-hee pointed at the center of the diagram.
“Go stand there. No matter what happens, do not leave this spot. If you step out in the middle, the law will twist and you may lose your flesh.”
“Understood.”
Jeon Myeong-hun stood calmly in the diagram’s center.
Kang Min-hee continued weaving her oath.
“I will temporarily turn your body into a ‘dead body.’ Then I will separate flesh and soul so that the soul does not face tribulation. The soul that survives will gain the body of the Dream Flesh called Hwanmong. With that body, you can go to the Ghost Realm.”
“What… it doesn’t really matter… but can I return to normal?”
“Of course. How many shortcut users are there and I’m lying?”
Uwooong!
After completing the oath, she focused her consciousness.
“The consciousness is ready. Shall we begin?”
“Begin.”
At the same moment, black bandages shot out from the mouths of the eight stone statues.
The bandages shot toward Jeon Myeong-hun and wrapped around his limbs.
“…!”
Jeon Myeong-hun gritted his teeth.
His body gradually withered as the bandages drained his life force, turning him into something resembling a mummy.
“This technique stores your life force in the bandages. You will return to normal later, so endure. Do not leave this spot and do not make a sound!”
Jeon Myeong-hun clenched his teeth and endured the pain of life force being forcibly extracted without a single sound.
It seemed the beating I had given him earlier had been of help.
After a while, Jeon Myeong-hun’s body became completely mummified.
The bandages were then severed and wrapped around him completely.
“Now I will extract the soul. Endure this as well.”
Kuduk!
Kang Min-hee stretched out her hand. It transformed into a massive Ghost Hand.
The Ghost Hand slithered through the air and seized the mummified head.
When she exerted force, the soul of the person emerged from the head.
Jeon Myeong-hun screamed in agony.
[Kuaaak!]
Kang Min-hee snatched the soul and quickly placed it inside the red diagram.
After a while, the soul of Jeon Myeong-hun, now inside the diagram like a maze, followed the path and began moving toward the outside.
After a while.
Finally, the soul emerged from the maze and stood atop the diagram as a translucent figure.
This must be the Dream Flesh Kang Min-hee had mentioned.
“Then go on, Jeon Myeong-hun. Upon arrival, a Guide Ghost will attach itself. Never reveal that you are a living body. Understand? Even if I recommend you, anyone who discovers a living body will attract all sorts of pests, so remember my words. Got it?”
[Got it.]
“Any other precautions will be given by the Guide Ghost. Then go well.”
Paaaah!
The soul on the diagram fell into the red light and plunged below.
I sensed the diagram was connected to the shortcut.
“It’s done. Jeon Myeong-hun has entered the shortcut. He will reach the Ghost Realm after crossing it.”
“I see…”
I had one question and asked Kang Min-hee.
“Venerable One, may I ask one more thing?”
“What is it?”
“Can anyone else enter the shortcut? For example, someone who has cultivated the Ghost Dao Art and aims to become a Ghost King…”
“For now, it is impossible. At least fifty years must pass. Jeon Myeong-hun’s consciousness was too large, so the shortcut was strained.”
“I see. Thank you.”
I clicked my tongue.
If I could have entered within one year, I could have accompanied Jeon Myeong-hun until the Pocket Dimension opened.
But fifty years.
Returning would also require fifty years.
Besides, there was no law preventing others from using the shortcut, so it might take even longer.
No choice then.
Oh Hyun-seok had been saved.
Jeon Myeong-hun had entered the Ghost Realm.
Then what remained was…
Jeungryong Jinin’s Pocket Dimension. And…
Reaching the Four Pillars realm.
I gazed at my body and the surging qi of the Great Desert Dead Sea Formation inside me, and made my resolve.
Until the Pocket Dimension opens. Reach the Four Pillars.
With this body and the compatibility of the Great Desert Dead Sea Formation, it was certainly possible.
Of course, my heart wanted to go investigate ways to kill Seo Hyul immediately.
But I am still weak.
The stronger I became, the more people I could save.
When I was weak, I could do nothing.
I must grow stronger.
I must become higher.
Until I know and can do more.
So, before entering the Pocket Dimension, I resolved to exert all my power to reach the Four Pillars.
* * *
Humans are foolish creatures.
They only regret after losing.
I was no different.
I opened my mouth in the thick darkness.
“You are disgusting. Seo Hyul.”
And once again, “my” mouth opened.
“What do you mean, Seo Doo?”
…
Seo Lip had sealed me and quite some time had passed.
Seo Lip had severed our connection, and I endured loneliness alone in the darkness.
And at some point, I realized that “my” control had been taken by “someone.”
It was Seo Hyul.
Only after more than eighty percent of the control had passed to him could I sense him.
I sat in seiza position and focused my strength to escape his erosion, operating the Ten Thousand Phenomena Affinity Diagram.
“…If I kill you, that is how you were parasitizing me?”
“Haha, I don’t know.”
…
He answered vaguely and never gave proper information.
Damn it…
In the end, my judgment had been foolish and Seo Lip’s had been correct. If I had walked around openly, I would have been replaced by Seo Hyul at some point and driven my companions to ruin.
A thousand years… is there time?
“Yes. Your clone’s judgment was excellent.”
…Now I can somewhat understand his speech.
Yes, it can be said in less than a thousand years. Seo Lip’s judgment was foolish. Roughly.
Unexpectedly, there is no time.
My body could no longer move.
The only thing that could still move was the Ten Thousand Phenomena Affinity Diagram, linked to my soul.
And even that felt increasingly out of control.
The techniques were gradually leaving me, and I sensed the Colorless Glass Sword was passing into his ownership.
The “human” named me was gradually being replaced by Seo Hyul.
What I could still move was one thing.
Booong!
A transparent sword blade moved through the air and slashed at my body.
Puk!
The one occupying my body smiled faintly and healed itself.
“As expected, the power of the Heart Demon cannot be dealt with.”
The Invisible Sword.
The remaining two percent of “me” that Seo Hyul had not yet taken.
That alone was the only barrier protecting “me.”
“But let me tell you an interesting fact. Having the power of the Heart Demon is neither here nor there. Sealing it is easy.”
Uwooong!
With those words, I felt the dirty thoughts of Seo Hyul rising inside me.
His thoughts were blocking the thoughts of “me” from which the Invisible Sword’s power emanated.
I was completely trapped inside my inner world.
Seo Hyul stood outside my inner world, smiling faintly.
“Sit here. If you remain obedient inside the inner world, I will maintain you.”
“…How is this even possible?”
I asked him, staring at Seo Hyul outside my inner world with a stern face.
“What do you mean?”
“How can you use the ‘inner world’ like a tool like this?”
I asked while watching the thoughts of Seo Hyul, who had covered my inner world like a formation, as though treating his own thoughts like a puppet.
“Of course. The mind is simply the movement of material in the upper dantian and a little electrical signal. Of course, once the principle is understood, ‘using’ it is possible.”
He smiled faintly and turned away.
“It seems Seo Doo still does not understand. Do not worry. As long as Seo Doo remains obedient, I will leave you a portion of your realm.”
After speaking, Seo Hyul smiled faintly and vanished from the edge of my inner world.
I sat comfortably on the top of the Glass Sword Mountain and looked at the sky.
“Wrong. Seo Hyul.”
My inner gaze shone brightly.
“I now understand your speech… it is not ‘leaving’ your realm. This place, you cannot even enter?”
Screech…
I felt it.
He could subdue human thoughts, but he could not easily invade the mind.
I lay down on the Glass Sword Mountain and the swords stabbing at me, and focused my mind.
I do not know what he will do.
But…
Seo Hyul.
He will not get away so easily.
Kiiiing—
I operated the Invisible Sword and practiced pulling the power of the Great Tribulation.
Compress.
I remembered the sparring with Tae Yeol-jeon.
What she had shown was clearly the Sword of the Heaven.
The power the Heavens Rejects called the Four Steps of Implementation.
Beyond the Great Tribulation!
I recalled Kim Young-hoon’s divine artifact.
Kiiiing—
Compress.
Compress and compress. Put the essence of the mind entirely into this sword.
I connected the “essence” of the Invisible Sword from inside my inner world and concentrated all my consciousness.
No matter how many hundreds of years, no matter how many thousands of years.
Seo Hyul…
I will definitely leave you!