Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Soul-Stealing Immortal (3)
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The Soul-Stealing Immortal couldn't hide his astonishment.
Though he didn't say it aloud, his expression seemed to be etched with the words, “Gah! How could you possibly know that!”
Then, the Soul-Stealing Immortal made a last-ditch effort.
“Grand Art of the Ghost Bell Soul-Stealing!”
“Grand Art of the Maitreya Heart and Soul!”
“Soul-Stealing and Spirit-Plundering Technique!”
“Counter Soul-Stealing Spiritual Technique!”
“Grand Art of Myriad Kalpas Reincarnation and Spirit-Plundering!”
“All-Encompassing Illusionary Phantasm Technique!”
His eyes flashed, and the vast inner energy of his upper dantian could be felt, surging like a tidal wave. He began to wield his immense mental power without a single misstep.
This level of power would undoubtedly overwhelm any master who hadn't used mind arts to deepen their spirit to the vastness of the sea. Especially those who had only grown strong quickly through demonic arts—they would be utterly helpless.
However, Mu-heun, wearing the divine weapon Butterfly Dream, was like a continent standing before a tidal wave.
“Heavenly Demon's Spirit-Subduing Eyes.”
As soon as Mu-heun realized the soul-stealing arts were ineffective against him while he wore the Butterfly Dream, he countered with a different dark art.
‘It's an eye technique I learned from Master Heavenly Demon. I never thought the day would come when I'd have to use it.’
The Heavenly Demon's Spirit-Subduing Eyes.
This technique, which utilized the inner energy of the upper dantian, had the power to instantly chip away at an opponent's mental strength and will, forcing them to abandon their own volition.
In truth, for him to challenge the Soul-Stealing Immortal with dark arts should have been an absurd act.
The Soul-Stealing Immortal was a warrior who had cultivated the inner energy of his upper dantian his entire life. When it came to dark arts, eye techniques, or soul-stealing, he was unparalleled, possessing an overwhelming amount of power.
A man who had reached the apex of dark arts using the brain. Normally, even a master in the Transcendent Realm would find it difficult to completely escape his techniques.
He was a troublesome opponent for anyone, a truly fearsome man who could make you dance in the palm of his hand from start to finish the moment you let your guard down, leading you to your death.
However, Mu-heun remained completely unfazed by his powerful techniques. It was because he possessed the prayer beads known as a sacred treasure, the Butterfly Dream.
A mystical object that blurs the lines between dream and reality, making dreams seem real and reality seem like a dream, breaking down the boundaries between self, delusion, and fantasy.
The Butterfly Dream protected its acknowledged master, allowing them to stand firm and guard themselves at the boundary of spirit and reality.
Just as the Soul-Stealing Immortal's upper dantian energy was about to be depleted.
Kiiiiing!
The Heavenly Demon's Spirit-Subduing Eyes pierced through his gaze and into his mind, and he immediately suffered a mental shock, coughing up blood.
“Keoheok!”
As soon as he lost the battle of eye techniques, the Soul-Stealing Immortal fell backward. Mu-heun looked down at him and spat out harsh words.
“You foolish old man, wouldn't it have been better to just talk when I asked you the first time? Do you only understand after getting hurt like this?”
“W-who in the world are you?”
Mu-heun figured the Soul-Stealing Immortal was finally ready to talk. But it wasn't enough. Those who fought only with their minds often forgot the magnitude of physical pain.
This guy was probably the same.
Martial Alliance executive or not, he had to beat him half to death right here. And if the situation seemed to be turning against him, he would bury him in the mountains until his talk with the Alliance Leader was over, then resume negotiations. Or if not that…
He would just kill him.
He had to either make this man completely his ally or kill him. The ability of soul-stealing was that dangerous; if he was likely to become a future threat, the bud had to be nipped.
Since they had met like this, Mu-heun decided.
He would be thorough.
“First, let's have you take a beating.”
“Wha...!?”
“I said, take a beating.”
“W-what about our talk?”
“The talk comes after.”
“Kugh! I've never seen such a shameless bastard!”
“Shut up!”
Mu-heun began to beat the Soul-Stealing Immortal mercilessly.
***
Of course, I had closed the door and formed an aura barrier inside the room to prevent anyone from hearing. And conveniently, this guy had rented the entire top floor where no one else was present, making it even easier to handle him.
Starting with his legs, I gave his entire body a sound thrashing. I even used the Myriad Fragrance Grand Restoration Formation to heal him as I beat him.
After about fifteen minutes, the Soul-Stealing Immortal was on his knees, pledging to serve me as his big brother.
“Big Brother. Just say the word. I will answer anything.”
“Were you planning to kill me?”
“N-no. I only intended to capture you.”
Indeed, the poison the Soul-Stealing Immortal had prepared was potent, but not enough to be lethal. They were all meant to induce paralysis and sleep, and the assassins lying on the floor were holding ropes, so his words were likely not a complete lie.
“Then, why did you try to capture me?”
“Because there was something I needed to find out.”
“What was that?”
“Whether you, Big Brother, were truly the one chosen by the Sacred Fire to change the Demonic Cult, or a threat to the Central Plains.”
“How do you know that the choice of the Sacred Fire could bring about such a change?”
“That is…”
“That is?”
“I cannot tell you that.”
“This bastard…”
‘He just said he’d answer anything if I just said the word.’
Mu-heun raised one hand, and the Soul-Stealing Immortal flinched and squeezed his eyes shut. However, he seemed to have no intention of speaking. A firm resolve could be felt from him.
‘The choice of the Sacred Fire and the change in the Demonic Cult seem to be important to this guy, but why would he, someone who works in secret for the Martial Alliance, care?’
To get information, I must earn trust, and to earn trust, I must also share the information I have.
After a moment of thought, Mu-heun asked a different question.
“Do you happen to know about the Three Books on the Advent of the Chaotic Heavens' Inhuman Beings?”
“...H-how do you know of that!?”
“I knew it. Then do you also know of the disaster to come?”
“A-are you perhaps…”
“I'm asking if you know about Monsters, Ghost Spirits… and the Evil God.”
“…”
The Soul-Stealing Immortal seemed to be deep in thought, but it didn't take long for him to speak again.
“Big Brother, could it be that you were chosen by the Sacred Fire and obtained the Sun and Moon Sword?”
Mu-heun immediately nodded, drew the Sun and Moon Sword from his waist, and showed him the insignia carved on the blade.
“There. Is that enough?”
“...In that case, is there anything you know about the future that is to come?”
“…”
Mu-heun saw that this man, the Soul-Stealing Immortal, was becoming extremely cautious.
‘Well, I’ve told him about the Sacred Fire and the Three Inhuman Books, showed him the Sun and Moon Sword, and even mentioned the Evil God. What more is there to hide? If this man is not who I think he is, I’ll just have to kill him.’
Mu-heun took a breath and spoke.
“Three hundred years ago, the first Heavenly Demon who founded the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and all the powerful masters of the martial world gathered together. From reclusive masters to renowned immortals. They fought a war against beings who transcended humanity and managed to temporarily repel them, but it was not a complete victory.”
“…”
“Furthermore, they will invade the Central Plains again, and that day is not far off. Their power is such that even if the entire current martial world were to unite, they could not be defeated. Well? Is this the answer you were looking for?”
“...Yes. Big Brother. But there is one thing that bothers me.”
“Bothers you?”
“Big Brother, you are so young. How do you know all of these facts? And are you truly on humanity's side?”
“Hah… What I am about to tell you must not be known by anyone else. I'm telling you this because you are far too dangerous. And depending on your answer, you may die here. Are you still okay with that?”
“...Yes.”
“After you hear what I have to say, you must choose one of two paths: stand with me or stand against me.”
“Yes.”
Mu-heun then told the Soul-Stealing Immortal everything that had happened until now. He made this decision because the man's abilities were on a level he couldn't have handled if he didn't possess the Butterfly Dream.
If he was willing to cooperate with Mu-heun, he would be an invaluable ally in the great task ahead. If not, he would become an existence that had to be killed, no matter what it took.
“I failed to recognize a great man. To think you were the Divine Doctor, Baek Jung-hyeok…”
“Do you believe my words?”
“Of course, I believe you. You are the one I have been waiting for. In fact, I would have been disappointed if you were truly just a young brat.”
“...What have you been waiting for?”
“You spoke of the Three Inhuman Books. I was raised by Arhats from a young age.”
“...!?”
“Just as you are guessing, I, too, learned about the inhuman beings. Of course, I also knew about the great war that took place 300 years ago. And that the one who led that war to victory was the first Heavenly Demon.”
“Is that why you asked about the choice of the Sacred Fire?”
“That's right. The Arhat who raised me said that the one chosen by the first Heavenly Demon would receive the choice of the Sacred Fire and once again unite the Central Plains to stand against the beings from beyond the heavens.”
“...So you placed a Soul-Stealing Curse on Seol Ha-ryeong and had her join the Demonic Cult?”
“...Regarding that matter, I too feel sorry for the child. However, it was not a decision I made entirely on my own.”
“You mean someone else was involved?”
“Not someone else, but Seol Ha-ryeong herself. The child said she would do it. Ever since I saved her life when she was young, she was a child who had an uncanny ability to know what I wanted.”
“…”
“I didn't want her to join the Demonic Cult either. However, she said she would do what she could to help and made the choice herself. Moreover, that child had a talent for ice arts.”
“Then why the curse?”
“If she were to join the Demonic Cult, she would inevitably commit cruel acts. She said she wanted to give a perfect performance, if she was going to do it.”
“Was the condition to break the curse her arrival in Hubei province?”
“There were three. First, if someone was chosen by the Sacred Fire, I had a messenger hawk set to fly to me. Second, when she left Xinjiang and reached Qinghai province, another messenger hawk would be sent. The last one was…”
“Hubei province?”
“That's right.”
“From now on, release all the Soul-Stealing Curses on that child and let her choose for herself.”
“Yes. Of course. I will spare no effort in providing all the cooperation I can.”
Once he understood the series of events, the Soul-Stealing Immortal cooperated actively. It was as if he had already forgotten about the beating I had given him earlier.
That must be how sincere he was about the great cause for the world… He even said it was fine to cast a dark art on him to prevent him from betraying me.
“There's no need for that. I can tell whether you're lying or not.”
“You know such a formation as well?”
“No, this is the answer.”
Mu-heun showed him the prayer beads on his wrist, the Butterfly Dream.