Chapter 218 Blood Cult (7)
“A workshop created by the First Heavenly Demon.”
Pa Cheon muttered in response to my words.
It was novel, but...
She really did look like a sculpture.
I wonder if I can take the Thousand Changes Face Mask with me. With a face like that, couldn't she conquer the world just on looks alone?
“What are you staring at?”
“You should really keep your mouth—.”
I stopped myself before saying shut.
Didn't I promise not to mess with Pa Cheon?
“My mouth? What?”
“Thought there was something on it. Nope.”
“You're no fun. Anyway.”
Pa Cheon clenched and unclenched his fist.
“Demon. Take off the Thousand Changes Face Mask.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
At Pa Cheon's words, I removed the Thousand Changes Face Mask. Pa Cheon peered at my face and nodded.
“As expected. This confirms it's a space for spiritual bodies. Even after removing the mask, it's not my face—it's your ugly mug.”
“Ah.”
I touched my face with my fingertips.
...The nose angle was subtly lower. Definitely my face. I wasn't ugly, but it felt unfair. Huh, why are there tears?
“What's going on? Why am I separated like this?”
“Perhaps.”
Pa Cheon continued.
“If this inner space is a workshop created by the First Heavenly Demon, there must have been forces trying to interfere. To defend against those with physical forms causing chaos, he might have made it so only spiritual bodies can pass through.”
“Oh, right. The wooden puppets were getting in the way of crafting, too.”
“That's why it's natural I separated from the sword. Same for you. Though it's bizarre that the face is yours and the body is mine.”
Thinking about it, that made sense.
If it were truly spiritual bodies, it should have been my original soul, and none of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art energy or anything should be present.
“It's because you reached Three Flowers Gather at the Summit in my body. Your soul recognizes it as its own. I, too, recognized the image of myself I created while in sword form as my body, hence this form.”
“Isn't that dangerous? If the soul misrecognizes the body... like separation due to dissonance later...”
“It's fine. When we return to our original bodies, there might be a temporary drop in realm, but we'll adapt soon enough. Same for you.”
I had no choice but to nod since Pa Cheon said so.
“So, we can't take these wooden puppets out after all. Since they're spiritual.”
“Maybe. I couldn't because I lack the qualification for the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, but you might be able to interfere.”
“True. It'd be weird if the owner couldn't take his own stuff. Oh, hold on.”
If Pa Cheon came with me, maybe I could take the wooden puppet from the passage I entered through.
A combo of my qualification and Pa Cheon's power.
Pa Cheon nodded at my words and moved with me, but...
For some reason, with Pa Cheon along, the wooden puppet wasn't there. When I went alone just in case, it spoke in a pathetic, why are you back? tone.
Taking it alive(?) seemed impossible.
I'd hoped for a Reinforcement Stone at least, but no luck. Even scavenging the debris from puppets Pa Cheon destroyed yielded no stones or materials.
As Pa Cheon said, lacking qualification made things vanish.
“Hey, Pa Cheon.”
“What.”
“How much time has passed outside?”
“By my perception, a bit less than one shi.”
“Even as spiritual bodies, is there a time limit?”
“Would be nice if not... but yes.”
Pa Cheon said.
“I feel the energy gradually depleting. Once the energy stored in the Pa Cheon Sword is exhausted, we'll probably return.”
“So you're maintaining the spiritual body with the sword's internal energy.”
“That's the gist. Why?”
I said to Pa Cheon.
“Evolve me a bit.”
“...?”
Pa Cheon looked baffled at my words.
“What nonsense is that?”
“I felt it in my bones from what you said this time.”
I'd been utterly helpless against the wooden puppet.
“What if it had used Gang Qi? What if, without the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, it didn't recognize me as owner?”
I probably wouldn't be standing here.
My Murim Returnee possession life would end. Thanks for watching Kim Dong Yun's epic freak show.
“So teach me some martial arts—no, fighting. You said it: if you're dumb, your body suffers. I can't grasp it with my head, so cram it into my body. Like with the swinging fist.”
“Hm. Not bad thinking for you, demon.”
“Why the 'but'?”
Pa Cheon grimaced and said.
“Didn't you claim victory over me?”
“Ah.”
I smiled sheepishly and said with all sincerity.
“Spare me.”
Pa Cheon gazed at Dong Yun, who was panting right before him.
His clothes were tattered, his body covered in bruises. Scratches and cuts everywhere, his neat hair long since disheveled.
Pa Cheon's eyes held no emotion as he observed Dong Yun.
Just cold analysis.
Swoosh—
Pa Cheon swung his hand.
Following the intent of Domination, fragments of shattered rock floated up and shot toward Dong Yun.
Domination was a 'crushing force,' yet Pa Cheon wielded it casually like telekinesis.
“Hup!”
Dong Yun shouted and activated his protective barrier to block the fragments.
But as Pa Cheon twitched an eyebrow, the fragments veered mid-flight, riding the barrier's edge back toward Dong Yun.
To Dong Yun, it looked like an instant path change, but Pa Cheon had used the Time Wheel Jade's power.
Dong Yun deflected a few with his sword, but it wasn't enough.
He urgently used Blink.
“Kuh!”
But his left thigh was already struck by a fragment cluster.
“In real combat, you'd lose the leg.”
“Damn it! Even Do Il Gwang couldn't use Domination like that!”
Instead of replying, Pa Cheon replayed Dong Yun's actions.
A mess.
Footwork, breathing, sword stance—all a mess.
And it's my body.
This was Pa Cheon's own body, no less.
Even without usable internal energy, that wasn't a big issue.
What sword did he hold?
The Pa Cheon Sword.
One that could slice even Gang Qi.
Of course, evade every strike, close in, and land pure sword strikes without qi projection.
Simple, isn't it?
Even Super Peak masters bleed from blades.
Having shed mortal form, he could perform similar feats without projecting energy. A ground kick mimicked footwork, and the Blink Jade enabled even more profound movement.
Yet he's barely utilizing it.
If Pa Cheon had that body...
He was confident.
By cult standards, just below the Mad Demon Six Families' heads.
At current level—
Like Sa Wol.
Pure physical prowess, internal energy sealed.
That body was exceptional, forged for martial arts.
Handling it so poorly was like giving a divine sword to a child.
If he could claim that body—
No more cowering.
Greed and delusion, long vanished, began creeping into Pa Cheon's mind.
That body is mine.
It was originally.
As their eyes met, Pa Cheon couldn't help but chuckle.
Dong Yun's eyes blazed. Spitting blood, yet staring defiantly.
“What're you looking at?”
“You said stare straight even if it looks like I'll die. Or else—.”
“I'll hit you?”
“Yeah.”
Pa Cheon laughed.
Unaware Dong Yun muttered laughing while beating someone, psycho, Pa Cheon sank into thought.
Yes. That's it.
Pa Cheon recalled the distant past.
When his body was first taken, trapped in the cave.
Sword, martial arts—ignorant fool, yet his eyes burned bright.
Yes. Impressive, isn't it?
Relatively, reaching Peak in under a year.
And strictly, it wasn't my power.
All the demon's achievements. Pa Cheon himself wouldn't have grown without Dong Yun.
Realizing this, Pa Cheon understood his sudden greed for the body.
Seeking balance?
Fine in sword form, but as spiritual body...
The spirit craves the body for equilibrium.
Solution was simple.
Deplete energy, vanish the spirit.
He'd told Dong Yun it'd be quick, but at this level, half a month easy.
Pure greed.
Deep down, he didn't want to be trapped in the sword anymore.
However.
Pa Cheon thought.
Not enjoyable.
Staying fueled twisted greed.
So, return.
To the original place.
Pa Cheon said.
“Do you know your problem?”
“What?”
“You know no martial arts.”
“...Saying that now?”
“No, not that.”
Pa Cheon shook his head.
“What do you think of when you hear 'fight'?”
“Uh, punching?”
“Then 'war'?”
“Guns. Missiles. Fighter jets.”
“Exactly.”
Pa Cheon said.
“Your world had no martial arts. So unconsciously, your idea of ultimate 'martial' lacks it. That's the issue.”
“Ah.”
“You always calculate with your head in fights. Even without martial arts knowledge. That's why simple feints fool you.”
Dong Yun vaguely got it.
“Then what do I do?”
“Simple. Repeat until your body knows it.”
“But different opponent arts make it useless, right?”
“That's why I'll help. So no panic against any art.”
Pa Cheon continued.
“While sealed in the sword, no need to eat, rest, or sleep. What do you think I did? How did I reach Three Flowers Gather at the Summit from the sword?”
“...No way. You.”
“Yes. In that darkness, I fought.”
Against everyone met.
Sa Wol, Mo Yong Su, Tak Horak, Un Yeop Ja, Paeng So So, the Little Poison Witch, Cheol So Pyeong, Kwak Ri Yeon, Hyeok Mun, Jin Yeong Ryeong, Dok Ma, Blood Rain Sword Lord, Poison King, Jang Yeong-o, Mo Yong Hak, Namgung Jin, Gwang-yeon, Hwarang, Dao King...
Countless powerhouses observed, recalled, fought.
Behind Pa Cheon, a faint yet massive shadow rose.
The sinisterly flickering shadow had six arms.
“This is my enlightenment. The Path of Asura.”
Dong Yun stared blankly.
“Asura Chancellor...”
“Not sure what happens if you die here. One warning.”
Pa Cheon grinned ferociously.
“Don't die.”