Wo-wo-woong—
I feel my mind suddenly snap awake.
How should I put it?
Though I am being chased by Kang Min-hee, I am simultaneously seeing another 'path.'
And I feel as if the knowledge of what I need to do to walk this path is flowing directly into my mind.
I understand.
At this very moment.
I can see how to walk this path.
What needs to be done to walk this path.I understand it all.
This path is made of death and more death.
And a river of blood and life.
'Purple Yang Madness Devilish Art, Expending Soul True Devil Method, Yama Hidden Inheritance Will, Corpse Devouring Secret Ritual Tome, Serene Soul True Secrets…'
I connect to Bi Yul's consciousness with the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and ask for knowledge of the devilish arts.
While receiving complete memories is impossible, I can grasp rough fragments.
The devilish arts like Expending Soul True Devil Method, Yama Hidden Inheritance Will, Corpse Devouring Secret Ritual Tome, and Serene Soul True Secrets that Bi Yul had seen.
These are scenes from Bi Yul's memory where he had only 'seen' these arts.
I integrate these 'scenes' and the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets to consolidate the devilish arts.
The integration is swift.
All the devilish arts, except for Silver Basket Devil Technique and Yama Hidden Inheritance Will, merge into the formulas floating in my mind.
Expending Soul True Devil Method and Corpse Devouring Secret Ritual Tome are absorption-type methods.
Purple Yang Madness Devilish Art is a discharge-type method.
Serene Soul True Secrets is a consciousness-type method.
All these methods, based on the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets and Bi Yul's memory scenes, are realized within me, consolidated, and newly integrated.
I can devour all the Ghost Kings that Kang Min-hee is releasing before me and immediately convert them into power.
If I desire, I can weaken my opponent's strength to elevate my own realm.
However.
'Is this path right?'
Before stepping onto the path, I wonder if this is truly the right path for me.
I don't know why.
'No, it's not this…'
But upon reflection, it's obvious.
'As expected, I…'
I don't want to sacrifice others.
Taking away from Kang Min-hee indiscriminately.
Devouring Ghost Kings that have already died once.
The Dao is something that can only be obtained by growing stronger and rising higher on one's own.
Something only achieved through self-cultivation and self-sacrifice, with the resolve to die in the evening if attained in the morning. That is the Dao.
So how can something obtained by sacrificing others become my power?
What belongs to others remains theirs.
Taking it by force will never make it mine.
'Indeed.'
Zziiiing—
Using the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, I extend my consciousness.
And I send a signal to the living beings within a thousand li radius of Cold Yin Marsh.
Dududududu!
The living beings of Cold Yin Marsh who receive my consciousness signal begin to flee in terror.
In fact, most had already fled when Kang Min-hee began to exert her power, and those remaining are at least at the Core Formation stage, able to withstand the aftermath of her power.
They use the Flying Escape Technique or Gliding Technique to swiftly flee beyond a thousand li, and I use the technique I have just created.
'Then, let's not covet what belongs to others.'
I will not steal from others.
Instead, I will borrow.
And the ones I will borrow from are not others, but Heaven and Earth.
From this ownerless world.
Kugugugugugu!
The land of the Cold Yin Marsh within a thousand li radius.
The land of the Cold Yin Marsh, where plants tenaciously grow even in the cold, begin to wither.
Due to the devilish art I created, the life force of Cold Yin Marsh begins to dry up.
Devilish Art,
Great Desert To Dead Sea (大漠死海成).
Beoseok—
In an instant, the thousand li radius of Cold Yin Marsh dries up and turns into a desert.
At the same time, the life force and energy that flows from Cold Yin Marsh surges within me.
A devilish art that sacrifices no one becomes my power within me.
While I gained power by gazing at the 'path,' I realize that I have not entered the 'path.'
'Main body.'
I cool my head and convey my will to the main body.
'Receive the secret art of the Nether Ghost Realm from Yeon Wei. From now on, I will heal Kang Min-hee.'
The secret art that Yeon Wei used to heal Hon Won.
After a while, the main body receives the secret technique formula from Yeon Wei and transmits it to me.
The secret art of Spirit Sealing Bodkin (封靈觿).
It's the name of a spell that forcibly drives a wedge into the torn spirit of the opponent to suture it.
'Main body, complete the Spirit Sealing Bodkin and transfer it to me. I will receive the technique after challenging the Heavenly Being stage and heal Kang Min-hee.'
After conveying my intentions to the main body, I begin converting the energy gathered by Great Desert to Dead Sea into spiritual power to prepare for the Heavenly Being stage.
Piiing—
Kang Min-hee's line of intent aims at me.
I quickly evade using Mountain Lord's Soaring Flight.
'As expected, her skills are well beyond the first-rate level.'
She has always been like that.
Suddenly, I feel a surge of emotion towards Kang Min-hee.
'First-rate…'
Receiving Seo Li's sentiments, I scoff.
'Is it the influence of becoming a Ghost King? Seo Li has become too sentimental.'
An overreaction.
Kang Min-hee was first-rate?
Absolutely not.
Clang, clang!
While preparing the Spirit Sealing Bodkin received from Yeon Wei, I recall past memories.
A translucent silver chain forms between my palms.
Just like the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner, the Spirit Sealing Bodkin is a spell that is half-completed in the plane of Soul.
Therefore, I can complete it here and transmit it through consciousness to Seo Li.
However, I do not convey my cynicism for Seo Li to Seo Li.
'Sentimental Seo Li is overestimating Kang Min-hee.'
Useless emotions are distorting memories.
A sober evaluation of Kang Min-hee would state that she barely scraped the level of a second-rate martial artist on Earth.
Seo Li is simply raising his evaluation because he can't control his emotions.
'I'll pass the Spirit Sealing Bodkin to you, Seo Li. Get a grip. Don't you think something is wrong with you right now?'
'Something wrong? With me?'
Certainly, the evaluation of Kang Min-hee's skills might have been embellished in my memories.
But I think the main body has become unnecessarily cold.
As if a chunk of ice has lodged in his head.
'...Understood. I will keep it in mind.'
Accepting that there's something suspicious, I receive the Spirit Sealing Bodkin from the main body.
Simultaneously, I half-close my eyes while evading Kang Min-hee's intent.
Tsutsutsutsutsu—
I cover my surroundings with my consciousness domain.
There is a difference between a martial artist's consciousness domain and a cultivator's consciousness domain.
The cultivator's domain is transparent.
Though clear, it can only sense but do nothing more.
However, the martial artist's domain is vividly colorful.
All colors can be seen.
Among them, the areas where the red lines and blues line form.
The 'red domain' and 'blue domain' are important areas in combat.
The red domain is where all the paths from which the opponent can attack intersect and overlap.
The blue domain is where all the paths from which I can attack intersect and overlap.
Red and blue.
And these red and blue are most similar to the two colors of intent that I know of.
The anger and sorrow of the Seven Emotions.
Anger is easy to understand.
The hostility the opponent directs at me is most similar to anger.
Then, in what way are the dark blue color and the blue color of my optimized path similar?
'Protection (護).'
The essence of sorrow is self-protection.
Therefore, the intent extending from oneself is expressed as blue intent, optimized to protect and safeguard oneself.
For some reason, a conversation I had with Tae Yeol-jeon comes to mind.
While discussing the Seven Brilliances Kings with her, she explained the Lapis Lazuli Protecting Heavenly King as follows.
―The Lapis Lazuli Protecting Heavenly King, adorned in armor made of lapis lazuli, is a king who protects and safeguards humans from pain and suffering. Because of his presence, humans may be wounded and fall, but under his protection, they will eventually rise again from their injuries. Thus, he symbolizes protection.
Why is it?
Seeing Kang Min-hee clad in piercing blue ghost fire, she appears fragile as if he sharpened her edges to protect herself.
Just like glass (glass is written and pronounced the same way as lapis lazuli in Korean).
Her consciousness domain is entirely red.
However, from her perspective, that red light is all blue light meant to protect herself.
I have to pierce through that blue armor and drive the Spirit Sealing Bodkin into her soul.
Can I pierce it?
No, is it right to pierce it?
Under this dilemma, I begin to step through the ghost storm towards Kang Min-hee, one step at a time.
At the same time, my cultivation begins to rise.
Kiiiiiiing—
The Blood Soul embedded in Yuan Yu's body begins to integrate internally and externally under my influence.
Heaven and Man Unity!
Spring, Will to Become an Immortal Established.
The formula of the Heavenly Being stage swiftly flashes through my mind.
Simultaneously, my Nascent Soul gradually transforms into a massive Ghost King.
Along with it, Yuan Yu's Blood Body.
I feel Seo Li's body surpassing the plane, gradually becoming ghostly.
As my skin becomes more translucent, blue ghost fire swirls around me.
The immense power of Heaven and Earth, gathered from Great Dessert to Dead Sea, transforms through my enlightenment.
Early Heavenly Being stage.
Summer, Unswayed Amidst the Heavenly Mandate.
Mid Heavenly Being stage.
Autumn-Winter, Heavenly Compliance, Heart's Governance.
Late Heavenly Being stage!
I assimilate every bit of the immense Heaven and Earth spiritual energy within my body without losing a single drop.
The more I absorb, the more I transform into a complete ghostly being, allowing me to approach Kang Min-hee.
As my body grows larger, skulls made of ghostly energy emerge from various places, forming heads like General Seo.
I stand before Kang Min-hee as a Ghost King with eighteen heads.
Bo-wooong!
Her ghostly storm targets me, tearing through the air.
I hold the Spirit Sealing Bodkin with half-closed eyes burning with ghost fire.
[Perhaps, Kang Min-hee.]
Grand Perfection Heavenly Being.
Heavenly Circle, Acceptance at Fate's End.
[When we liked each other, it wasn't just a joke.]
With each step I take.
Her intent.
And my own intent seeps out.
As I contemplate myself, I become increasingly aware of why Kang Min-hee had always been uncomfortable to face.
How long has it been since I faced her so openly?
Perhaps we were more sincere back then than we realize.
Perhaps it's because we were sincere that it's been uncomfortable all this time. Because we were sincere, we treated each other all the more so as if it was just a game.
'I can't fully understand what is causing you pain.'
But, before our awkward relationship.
As evil friends (frenemies), can't I offer at least this much comfort?
With sincerity, I drive the Spirit Sealing Bodkin into her.
A move made fully predicting that her ghostly storm will pierce through me.
However, surprisingly, the Spirit Sealing Bodkin penetrates directly through her blue domain.
Whether it's due to her lack of martial prowess, or her permitting me, I don't know.
But certainly.
It connects.
Kuaduduk!
When there is a significant difference in cultivation, like with Yeon Wei and Hon Won, one side must lower their realm to successfully achieve spiritual suturing.
But between a Grand Perfection Heavenly Being and an early Four-Axis,
It isn't that difficult.
At that moment.
Wiiiiiiing—
Amidst the blue intent, I spot a faint pink hue.
And, with a clear mind, I can finally hear the whispers of the pink intent.
'Ah…'
Previously, I had received a gift from those children.
The children of Cause and Connection whose wedding I had blessed flash before my eyes, and simultaneously, the voice of a dignified being implants a certain formula into my mind.
Jiiiiiing—
It's the formula for the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage.
Not Fate's Fulfillment, but a completely different formula.
'Is this what I received as a reward for blessing them….'
Why hadn't I received it until now?
Why only now, using Seo Li's body, did I receive it?
It makes me incredibly curious.
Chiiiiii—
Before I know it, the Spirit Sealing Bodkin has entered Kang Min-hee, suturing part of her spirit.
Before I know it, we have returned from our ghostly forms to our human bodies.
In the center of Cold Yin Marsh, which has become a desert, we look at each other as morning dawns.
"...You aren't the shadow."
Kang Min-hee looks at me briefly and then gives a bitter smile.
"Then, you must be Seo Eun-hyun."
***
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