The Damned (4)
The atmosphere in the conference room was grave. pGT>“The Wugeuk Cult, with its heretical teachings, has caused us immense losses.” pGT“I heard that that damned cult has already captured countless ghosts, zombies, and skeletal demons to use as disciples. Just what kind of sorcery are they using…” pGT“It’s obvious! They’re using sinister arts to lure and brainwash the good spirits and zombies!” pGT>With a roar of Shiqi, the head of the Sihu Sect, Wishi-hun, slammed his fist onto the table. pGT“We don’t have time for this discussion! We must immediately capture every last disciple of that evil cult, the one who enslaves the good spirits and demons, and deal with them one by one!” pGT>The force of his rage twisted the surrounding space. pGT>Watching this, the head of the Wiumun, Eum-wa, spoke in a calm voice. pGT>Her jet-black gauze fluttered like shadows, and within that veil she revealed a snow-white hand to disperse Wishi-hun’s qi. pGT>“Please calm yourself, Head Sect Master. Even if we charge in right now, there’s no guarantee we’ll defeat that mad ghost. And if we lose, what then? The mad ghost might seek revenge on even our subordinates. Perhaps he’ll use his sinister arts to brainwash us into fanatics.” pGT>“So you want to debate here like cowards?” pGT>“We must prepare for the possibility that we might lose.” pGT>Watching the two men clash, Baek Rin cleared his throat. pGT>“Both of you are right. First, we need to deal with that cult’s lackeys, and we must also prepare for the case where the ghost is too strong and we lose. The most urgent need right now is information. It’s been a full month since that ghost took control of our Gongryeong-ji. Even if it’s a short time, it’s still time we don’t have.” pGT>“This Baek-mo has been gathering information on his own, and I intend to share it here. If the two heads of the Wiumun and Sihu Sect have any information, please share it.” pGT>After speaking, Baek Rin poured out the information on the spot. pGT>“First, information from the Baekmaekmun. When that ghost took control of the Gongryeong-ji, our Baekmaekmun was in charge of it, and according to the testimony of the subordinates who witnessed the scene, that ghost and its subordinates’ martial arts have these characteristics.” pGT>Whoosh! pGT>Baek Rin pulled out a scroll from Jeomuldo and unrolled it above the table. pGT>The scroll showed a video of a monster with nineteen heads rampaging through the Gongryeong-ji. pGT>The three leaders narrowed their eyes at the scene. pGT>“That martial art…” pGT>“I’ve seen something like it somewhere.” pGT>Watching this, Baek Rin clapped his hands. pGT>“In a previous loop, I had contact with a yin ghost from the Black Ghost Valley. And among their arts was the ‘Gwi-seon-gyu-ma-gyeol.’ The martial art this monster uses looks quite similar to that one. Of course, it also contains some strange qi flows and unknown patterns that make it difficult to confirm, but… there’s a high probability that this ghost is related to the Black Ghost Valley.” pGT>“What! It’s related to the Black Ghost Valley!?” pGT>“Damn it! The Black Ghost Valley is trying to seize the barrier between the Myeonggwi Realm and Bongrae-do!” pGT>“That’s a possibility.” pGT>A murmur rose from the three sect masters. pGT>“Especially that one. The subordinate who’s spraying black lightning from behind that ghost!” pGT>Their eyes fell on the strange being who was flinging dark black lightning from his entire body. pGT>The being had six shadows beneath his feet. pGT>Those six shadows danced and sang around the being, endlessly spitting out the dark black lightning. pGT>The black lightning spewed by the being caused the protective formations of the Baekmaek, Wium, and Sihu Sects to melt away like snow in fire. pGT>Hmm… If only the thunder qi that has a bad affinity with spirits. Even if I don’t know how he did it, refining Pa-sa-hyeon-jeong’s lightning into a curse… Impressive. pGT>Wishi-hun frowned, his head aching. pGT>However, Eum-wa noticed something from it and gasped in surprise. pGT>“That… that’s the Yuk-euk Eum-rae Shin!?” pGT“Hm? You know that martial art?” pGT“I know it all too well. In my past life, I fought against it. It wasn’t created by the Black Ghost Valley’s main sect, but by a branch sect on another plane that interpreted the martial arts of competing sects from other planes. The branch sect’s version was so superior that it spread to the main sect as a martial art, and because it can refine Pa-sa-hyeon-jeong’s lightning into a curse, it can even rival the Taedo Gong of the Hwa-do Seocheon Palace. It’s a terrifying martial art that even brushing against spirits causes fatal damage.” pGT>Hmm… Then they must be the Black Ghost Valley faction. pGT>Wishi-hun’s concern made Baek Rin shake his head. pGT“That’s not it. Look at that ghost. Nineteen death forms in one body… If that weren’t a madman who repeatedly got a body only to commit suicide, such a thing couldn’t exist normally. So what’s the reason for this in that ghost’s body? Simple.” pGT>He spoke with absolute certainty. pGT“That guy was probably a subordinate of the Black Ghost Valley before, but he’s an existence who’s been corrupted by the invasion of a Gaeyeol Jin-in!” pGT>Um…! pGT“A monster corrupted by a Jin-in…” pGT>Eum-wa said worriedly. pGT“Then the beings this heretical cult worships might be…” pGT“It’s highly probable it’s a Jin-in. Or perhaps he’s trying to incarnate a fragment of the Jin-in in this world.” pGT“What a wicked man! I don’t think Yu-o Seongsa will allow it!” pGT“We can only hope.” pGT>For a while, the three of them looked serious. pGT>A while later, the video of the ghost’s battle disappeared, and Baek Rin explained the ghost’s combat power and the characteristics of its martial arts. pGT>“These are the information I gathered and analyzed from the Baekmaekmun. Please share your information as well.” pGT>At that, Eum-wa pulled out another scroll from Jeomuldo. pGT>“I investigated the Wium Sect’s Ying ghosts about the Wugeuk Cult itself. There wasn’t much time, so I couldn’t get into details, but I investigated the core members of the current Wugeuk Cult, their appearances, strength, and roles.” pGT>She began her explanation. pGT>“First, the military head of the Wugeuk Cult, estimated to be the yin-yang ghost Yeon-jin. Although her cultivation is only at the Core Formation stage, she’s often seen sticking close to the ghost or to Jeon Myeong-hoon, the ghost’s subordinate, and constantly chatting with them. Even though her cultivation is low, she must have outstanding strategy. If we can’t assassinate the ghost, we should aim for her next.” pGT>Baek Rin and Wishi-hun engraved Eum-wa’s words in their minds and their eyes gleamed. pGT>“Next is the Four Great Guardians of the Wugeuk Cult. The Grand Guardian, the Yuk-euk Ghost King Jeon Myeong-hoon. As seen in the Baekmaekmun records, he uses the Yuk-euk Eum-rae Shin, and also the red blood lightning. Especially the red blood lightning is terrifying in power and has too much affinity against us, so it must never hit us directly. Even brushing against us causes fatal damage, so if we fight him, we must never engage in direct confrontation. Special note: every night he always sits on top of the cult building and strokes ‘someone’s hand.’” pGT>Hmm… Unique. pGT>Indeed, the Grand Guardian of the heretical cult. The position he can’t normally reach. pGT>They murmured while reading the data. pGT>The Grand Guardian of the heretical cult, wielding six shadows, black lightning, and red blood lightning, and at night pulling out and stroking the hand of the dead! pGT>They thought he was a terrifying existence and secretly prayed they would never have to face Jeon Myeong-hoon. pGT>“Next is the Left Guardian of the cult, the Gimyoe Ghost King Kim Yeon. The Right Guardian, the Myeol-hon Ghost King Oh Hyun-seok. For Oh Hyun-seok, the Right Guardian, since he’s dedicated to cultivation, there’s no information, but Kim Yeon is taking on the cruel role of brainwashing the disciples they captured. All the good spirits she’s handled have turned into fanatics of the Wugeuk Cult. She must be a sinister evil ghost who wields consciousness arts.” pGT>What a cruel…! pGT“He must be eliminated!” pGT>“Finally, there’s the Guardian, Hong Beom, but we have no information about him. We barely managed to find his name. My guess is that he’s always sticking close to the ghost, guarding him, and he’s estimated to be a Guarding Cult Position. And here are the information on the martial arts and techniques they use.” pGT>Eum-wa pulled out another scroll and unrolled it. pGT>“We didn’t have much time, so I couldn’t get much.” pGT>“No, this much is sufficient.” pGT>Excellent, Head of the Wiumun! pGT>The eyes of those who read the information turned to Wishi-hun, the head of the Sihu Sect. pGT>“The Baekmaekmun and the Wiumun are both excellent. But as for me, I couldn’t get that much detailed high-quality information. But I did find one important thing.” pGT>Wishi-hun said with a sinister smile. pGT>“That’s right. The leader of the Wugeuk Cult. A suspicious point about his martial art.” pGT>He raised his finger with a lewd expression. pGT>“First, through the informants, I monitored the movements of the Wugeuk Cult, and found one peculiar point. That is, the ghost who is the leader normally walks freely inside the cult during the day and does wicked things with the disciples, but at night he instead locks himself away in his own residence and never comes out. Not only that, he surrounds his residence with dark curses so no one can enter.” pGT>Wishi-hun looked at Baek Rin. pGT>“Isn’t that strange? For our spirits, night is even better for activity than day in the Myeonggwi Realm. And on top of the earlier speculation by Head Baek that the ghost was corrupted by a Gaeyeol Jin-in, doesn’t an interesting speculation arise?” pGT>“Surely not…!” pGT>“That’s exactly it! That ghost is a ghost corrupted by a Jin-in, and the source of that terrifying power all comes from the Jin-ins above in the sky! That’s why, when the view of the above ones is obscured at night, he locks himself in his residence with a curse so no one can enter!” pGT>That’s right…! pGT>Baek Rin’s and Eum-wa’s faces lit up. pGT>“In short, night is the ghost’s weakness. That’s why I think we three should combine our forces for a total assault at night!” pGT>* * * pGT>Wugeuk Cult Inner Camp. pGT>The underground room where the Gongryeong-ji was located. pGT>I was sitting on the cult chair in the underground room and sighed. pGT>‘How did I end up like this?’ pGT>Clack, clack, clack! pGT>The sound of something clacking came, and two ghosts accompanied by Yeon-wi appeared from inside the underground room. pGT>Yeon-wi smiled faintly and greeted me with excessive courtesy. pGT>“Military Advisor Yeon-wi greets the Cult Leader!” pGT>“Disciple Gwang Seung greets the Cult Leader!” pGT>“Disciple Wi-reum greets the Cult Leader!” pGT>Following Yeon-wi, two ghosts knelt and prostrated before me. pGT>I shook my nineteen heads and flashed my eyes. pGT>Then, with utmost dignity, I opened my mouth. pGT>[Are you the supporters this time?] pGT>“Yes, yes! We’ve already received the ‘operation’ from the Left Guardian, the Gimyoe Ghost King!” pGT>[Come closer.] pGT>Their bodies, originally from zombies, had been modified into biological puppets by Kim Yeon. pGT>My original plan was this. pGT>To create a ‘body’ for the spirits of the Myeonggwi Realm who suffered from lack of qi because they had no bodies, by planning a sect that would grant them puppets as bodies. pGT>The puppets of the Ghost Army were originally for raising artificial souls, so with only slight modification they could be used as bodies for ordinary souls. pGT>Of course, it was possible because I, having researched his puppets for a thousand years, and my disciple Kim Yeon existed. pGT>Originally, the puppets of the Ghost Army were in a completely different time period from ordinary puppet masters, so the plan started from the idea that it would provide considerable comfort to the spirits. pGT>However, Yeon-wi’s reaction was even more explosive than I expected, and when she said to grant the puppet bodies, all the spirits rushed to the Wugeuk Cult. pGT>‘But originally I just wanted to create a gentle sect or split it…’ pGT>I never thought I’d become the leader of such a cult. pGT>I only pushed to create the Wugeuk Cult because Yeon-wi said that creating a religion would be more effective for accumulating qi. pGT>‘What is this? It’s not like a divine cult temple. It’s a cult. It’s not even a heretical religion.’ pGT>I complained inwardly while extending my hand to the disciples kneeling before me. pGT>[I will bestow upon you my Grace. Do not refuse.] pGT>“Yes, Cult Leader.” pGT>“We believe.” pGT>Kiiing— pGT>Circuits rose over the bodies of the zombies who had received the puppet operation from Kim Yeon. pGT>At the same time, the zombies’ bodies were completely turned into puppets. pGT>“Hu, huuuh! What is this power…!” pGT“This comfort…! Ah…! The qi of the underworld is weak!” pGT>I added to that, pouring the Eum-hon Gwijumun into the circuits of the puppets. pGT>The region that made them feel ‘pain’ was completely decomposed inside the puppet structure and circuits I and Kim Yeon had operated, and they would only feel the comfort given by the Eum-hon Gwijumun. pGT>“It feels like a living body’s body…! Moreover, unlike living bodies, turning into a ghost is much slower…” pGT>“Ah…! Cult Leader, I will perform my duty with all my heart!” pGT>[…] pGT>I bestowed ‘Grace’ upon the two fanatic disciples and nodded my head. pGT>The two zombies who had originally been Nascent Soul cultivators instantly had their cultivation explode upon receiving the puppet operation and gained the power of the Cheonin stage. pGT>Since it wasn’t just simple circuits, but biological puppets that Kim Yeon had built and carefully modified, the power amplification rate was different. pGT>Perhaps it would reach nearly the level of the Sachuk stage at the Cheonin realm. pGT>[Your precious comrades will be taken care of at this sect. Please perform your duties well and return victorious.] pGT>“Loyalty!” pGT>The two zombie disciples shouted loyalty to me and jumped without hesitation toward the Gongryeong-ji. pGT>Yeon-wi crossed her arms with a satisfied expression. pGT>“Good. The cult’s influence is spreading steadily. I heard that already one place in the lower realm has a Wugeuk Cult established. Hoo, in just half a month such a speed… Truly insane speed.” pGT>I sighed and reverted to human form. pGT>Even so, you don’t look like a heretical cult leader. pGT>What nonsense. You’re already an excellent heretical cult leader. Fulfill your role. pGT>No… pGT>The path necessary to accumulate qi. Stop talking nonsense and follow. pGT>Just as I was about to complain. pGT>Uuuuung! pGT>Suddenly the cult chair I was sitting on began to glow. pGT>The cult chair was connected to the Gongryeong-ji and spewing countless incantation characters. pGT>Watching this, Yeon-wi startled and showed an expression full of joy. pGT>“Good! The bidding has come already! Activate it!” pGT>Uuuuung! pGT>At Yeon-wi’s words, I sighed lightly and activated the formation in the underground room. pGT>Paaat! pGT>The incantation characters danced and rose from the entire wall of the underground room. pGT>I sat on the cult chair and concentrated my consciousness on the Gongryeong-ji. pGT>For the Oh-hyeong-chuk, it was simply gathering materials and offering sacrifices to the qi’s rank in the world. pGT>And those materials were simply normal ‘attributes.’ pGT>For example, for water attribute, extract the inner core of water-attribute monsters living in water or the Nascent Soul of humans who have learned water-attribute martial arts. pGT>Then how do you gather the Oh-bok-chuk. pGT>The method of gathering the Oh-bok-chuk was quite troublesome. pGT>First, it’s advantageous to have a large power base that extends to the lower realm. pGT>And, through that power base, spread ‘sacrifices’ that borrow the power of Sachuk stage diviners to various places in the lower realm, or other planes and regions. pGT>When that ‘sacrifice’ activates in another plane, region, or lower realm, the Sachuk stage diviner who is accumulating the Oh-bok-chuk connects to it by borrowing the power of the middle realm plane. pGT>Wiiing— pGT>I closed my eyes and let my consciousness spread into the Gongryeong-ji. pGT>Paaaaat! pGT>Using the Myeonggwi Realm itself as a relay, it reached places my consciousness, normally unable to reach, could. pGT>Uuuung— pGT>Passing through countless stars and stars, spaces and dimensions, I spread my consciousness onto a certain planet in the Star Realm. pGT>Uuuung— pGT>Upon regaining consciousness, I was facing the soul of a certain human race living on a certain planet. pGT>He was a young man with a bloody face, and suddenly he screamed as if about to faint. pGT>“Hu, huuuuaaaa! Hkuuaaah!!!” pGT>‘His cultivation is at the Core Formation level…’ pGT>It seemed the disciples of my Wugeuk Cult had taken root in the planet this cultivator lived on and had spread the sacrifices connecting to me. pGT>Because only disciples with Cheonin level power were sent down, the sacrifices were spreading quite quickly. pGT>“Kuuuuuuaaaak!” pGT>In the illusory world. pGT>I sighed while looking at this cultivator screaming madly at me. pGT>When you think about it, even from the Sachuk stage diviner, the Core Formation level is a realm where you can’t easily face him directly. pGT>And upon closer look, in this cultivator’s illusory world, ‘I’ seemed to be expressed only as a huge shadowy figure of power. pGT>Well, if I reveal my true body, it won’t end with just screaming. pGT>If a Core Formation cultivator faces my true body, it won’t just be a big ghost, but he might really receive significant injury. pGT>I adjusted my level and asked the cultivator. pGT>[Did you summon me?] pGT>“H, hu… huuuh…” pGT>Inside the illusory world. pGT>The Core Formation cultivator said to me with cold sweat. pGT>“Great one, I have performed the sacrifice to summon you. Can you grant what I desire?” pGT>I looked at him and asked. pGT>[Do you want power?] pGT>“Yes! Please lend me power! Power to avenge my family!” pGT>I spread my consciousness and looked around beyond the illusory world of the Core Formation cultivator in front of me. pGT>He was in the middle of connecting to me while performing the sacrifice and losing consciousness inside a pitch-black cave. pGT>Next to him was a Sacrifice Document containing the sacrifice I was being offered, the ‘Wugeuk Ghost King Sacrifice Document.’ pGT>Strange incantation characters and the Myeonggwi Realm, and incantation characters symbolizing me were scattered everywhere in the cave. pGT>When I spread my consciousness outside the cave, cheers and shouts of ‘Catch the escaped rats!’ came from everywhere. pGT>‘The family has been wiped out by another power faction, and he’s asking for the power to take revenge while escaping this place.’ pGT>I focused my consciousness back into the illusory world and asked the man in front of me. pGT>[Power requires a price.] pGT>“Anything! I’m prepared to offer anything!” pGT>‘Really, gathering the Oh-bok-chuk… isn’t appealing.’ pGT>No matter how necessary it is for our situation, I really thought about whether this method was correct and asked. pGT>[Even something precious to you?] pGT>“Yes, yes! I’ll offer anything! So please give me power!” pGT>I extended my hand to the man in front of me and said. pGT>Using the Myeonggwi Realm as the intermediary, I formed a contract. pGT>[The contract will be established.] pGT>‘Is this really the correct way?’ pGT>This is the method of accumulating the Oh-bok-chuk. pGT>Receiving the other party’s [precious thing] and processing it into the power of the middle realm symbolizing that blessing to obtain the concept. pGT>After forming the contract with the Core Formation cultivator, I took over his body and went outside to solve his primary problems. pGT>Kugugugu! pGT>Outside, it was burning, and dozens of Core Formation cultivators were torching the entire area while looking for something. pGT>“Eh, there’s the escapee!” pGT>“Catch him!” pGT>“Kill him!” pGT>And a few Core Formation cultivators spotted me and came flying over. pGT>“Haha, you sneaky guy, somehow you managed to escape and reach the Core Formation stage?” pGT“That’s just Core Formation 1st stage! This Great One of the Position Realm is famous as one of the Twelve Great Core Formation Experts on the Mengyun Continent! Feel the power of a Core Formation Expert!” pGT>“…”