A brief standoff occurs between Seo Hweol and me as we lock eyes.
Seo Hweol seems to gaze at me for a moment before smiling faintly.
"Hoho, you seem to be a fellow Daoist. As expected, is Daoist Seo also someone from 'above'?"
He chuckles and points towards the sky.
"Hmm, 'above,' you say?"
I shrug, pretending not to understand, and Seo Hweol chuckles as if to say not to joke around.
"Hoho. I came here knowing everything, Daoist. Since you've come to the Saha World, it would be wise to accept my help. If you know about Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, you would know that as long as it exists, this world revolves around me."He extends his hand towards me with a gentle expression.
"An immortal art that makes the world move according to my desire...as Daoist should already know, as long as this immortal art exists, it's overwhelmingly advantageous to join forces with me, no matter what your goal is. Hoho, please, tell me. What is your purpose here?"
But I scoff.
"So, you're not even going to attempt brainwashing?"
"Hoho, attempting to use immortal arts recklessly on someone of your standing could lead to serious trouble, would it not?"
"Hmm..."
As I look at Seo Hweol, I roll my eyes.
I feel it.
Having experienced Seo Hweol before, I know.
His 'configuration' is imprinting itself in me.
At this rate, I will be consumed by Seo Hweol at some point, just like in my previous life.
'If it weren't for me falling and escaping Seo Hweol's grasp once, I would never have noticed.'
"So, this thing you're imprinting now, should I think of it as a communication device?"
Seo Hweol flinches slightly at my words, then smirks.
"As expected, you've figured it out right away."
"Stop joking around. If you want to genuinely collaborate, show some sincerity."
I speak coldly, glaring at Seo Hweol.
He laughs as if he can't help it.
"Hoho, I apologize. As you know, I have a bit of a playful nature."
"Who are you?"
"I am...Blood Yin."
"Oh, Blood Yin?"
I squint my eyes.
'Does a guy who calls himself Blood Yin not even sense the Karmic Fire burning in my soul?'
What an absurd statement.
Of course, I know this guy has some kind of relationship with Blood Yin, who is suspected to be a leftover of Yu Hao Te.
He mainly uses devilish arts that originate from Blood Yin.
I reply with a sardonic smile.
"It's the first time I've heard that the Blood Yin originating from the noble Yu Hao Te is playful."
"Hoho, it seems my personality changed a bit after I got a new name."
I glare at Seo Hweol, feeling the 'configuration' still writing and expanding its domain within my mind.
"I have one question, Seo Hweol."
If he takes over my soul, he will immediately be burned by Karmic Fire, and if he doesn't, I can manipulate him accordingly.
I ask without feeling any urgency.
"What do you think about the Cheon Ra (天羅)?"
At my question, Seo Hweol asks back as if confused.
"Hmmm, who are you referring to?"
"You call yourself Blood Yin and don't even know Cheon Ra?"
At my question, Seo Hweol smiles brightly.
"Hoho, of course, I know. But as you know, they are not something I can mention carelessly, no?"
Seo Hweol points 'above' again, as if hinting at some secret, but I find it ridiculous.
'So, he's basically saying, 'I don't know what you're talking about, so let's just skip this part because it's difficult to talk about it here,' huh?'
I smile even more sarcastically and speak.
"Then, you must also not know much about the events related to the Governing Immortals 40,000 years ago."
"Hoho, Governing Immortals..."
"Yes, the Governing Immortals! Those beings higher than the Netherworld's [Chief Judge Nether Devil True Lord Yu Hao Te], [Reincarnation Judge Nether Ghost True Lord Yu Soo Ryeon], and [Deputy Judge Ancient Force True Lord Hae Nyeong]!"
"..."
"The [Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld], who dispatched the Tribunal, including the Lofty Dragon True Person, to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, the Heavenly Venerable who opposes the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, [Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable], and those other great and honorable Seat Holders!"
"..."
Mentioning great beings will inevitably draw their attention.
However, considering that I already encountered the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld when meeting Yang Su-jin's remnant thoughts by this point, he will undoubtedly be watching me already.
And regarding the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable.
Trusting in Yu Hao Te's words of their generous and lenient nature, and knowing that they fear the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, I mentioned them believing that since the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld is already watching me, the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable would not do anything to me.
I feel like my head could explode at any moment, but I can endure it because I had built my resistance to these names in my previous life.
However, Seo Hweol only smiles for a long time in response to my words and remains silent.
"What's the matter, 'self-proclaimed Blood Yin' Daoist?"
I smile sardonically and approach Seo Hweol, placing my hand on his shoulder.
"If you are truly Blood Yin, are they not your dear superiors?"
"..."
"Listening a little more about [Governing Immortals] might..."
At that moment.
Clench!
Seo Hweol suddenly reaches out and grabs my shoulder.
Flinch!
I'm startled, but at the same time, a triumphant smile spreads across my face.
'Have you made up your mind, Seo Hweol?'
"Well, I understand. You truly are a True Immortal."
Chechechechechett—
A serious light flickers in Seo Hweol's eyes.
"I have always regarded you as a subject of vigilance, but now I must elevate you to a target of danger."
'Indeed, he's decided to brainwash me.'
Go ahead, Seo Hweol!
Brainwash me completely and burn in the Karmic Fire!
I smile faintly, having laid a trap for Seo Hweol.
I can feel it.
Through the configuration Seo Hweol imprinted in me, 'Seo Hweol's' personalities begin to infiltrate within me.
Jiiiing—
I first protect my heart essence and hide it deep within the depths of my mind.
Simultaneously, as I become immobilized, Seo Hweol reaches out to my head.
The observing Jeon Myeong-hoon and Hong Fan try to intervene, but Seo Hweol does not stop.
Clench!
He places his hand on my head.
Personalities of the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens rush to infiltrate my body.
Through those personalities, Seo Hweol begins speaking to me.
[Since my goal is to surpass 'them' anyway, I will test it through you.]
Seo Hweol, who grasps my head, starts pouring energy into it.
The energy enters through the Baihui point, piercing the center of my brain where the pituitary gland is, then circles my upper dantian once before erupting through my glabella.
'This is...'
It's a familiar mind-awakening spell.
Originating from the Black Ghost Valley, it was transmitted to the Sea Dragon Tribe, with whom they had fought for many years, and from there to the Makli Clan and Jin Clan influenced by them.
It was associated with talent awakening and fundamentally served as a 'spell that clears the mind' cast in the Sea Dragon Palace.
'Why use a mind-clearing spell during brainwashing...ah, I see.'
I now finally understand why Seo Hweol used such a mind-clearing spell.
Wiiiiiing—
This spell isn't to clear the mind of the brainwashing 'target.'
It's a spell to clear and strengthen the mind of 'Seo Hweol's personality' formed within the target's mind.
'I see...'
Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens is an Immortal Art that replaces the target with oneself.
Depending on the situation, it could implant multiple personalities, two, three, even dozens.
'When brainwashing a powerful target, it aims to clear and strengthen the minds of the multiple implanted personalities to quickly dominate the target's mind.'
The reason such a spell was set up in the Sea Dragon Palace is obvious.
It was to easily implant the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens on anyone entering the Sea Dragon Palace.
And I realize that Seo Hweol is genuinely expending a significant number of personalities from the hundred of millions he possesses.
'This, this bastard...!'
Jjiiiiiiiiiing—
[Grade-1 dangerous entity identified.]
[Commencing brainwashing.]
[Attempting to consume 400 'selves.']
'This is somewhat dangerous...!'
Kuguguguguk!
A tiny fraction of the hundreds of millions of Seo Hweol's.
Merely 400 or so, but these personalities are all being systematically implanted into me, sacrificing themselves to replace me with Seo Hweol, with the replaced 'Seo Hweol's' mind gradually clearing.
Kugugugugu—
Although I haven't collapsed yet, the domain of my heart essence begins to shake, and I realize that if the number of implanted Seo Hweol personalities exceed a thousand, even my heart essence world wouldn't be guaranteed.
'No, no...'
But at the same time, through contact with Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, I realize that there is something even more 'truly frightening.'
Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens is still incomplete.
There is still one condition left for the 'true' Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens to activate, and I can sense that Seo Hweol hasn't triggered that condition yet.
Chills!
'Haha, how spine-chilling. This damned guy.'
Seo Hweol, who at some point already imprinted his configuration into Jeon Myeong-hoon's brain, is using Jeon Myeong-hoon to subdue Hong Fan while slowly brainwashing me.
When the proportion of 'Seo Hweol' within my soul exceeds 70 percent,
Crackle!
I faintly hear the sound of embers sparking.
I smile within my heart essence.
Come on, feel it.
Crack, crackle, crackle!
Huarururururururu!
"...!"
Seo Hweol flinches and shudders.
My Karmic Fire clings to Seo Hweol, who is trying to seize 'me.'
Last time, he severed the connection with Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens while being wary of me, but this time, fully determined to brainwash me, Seo Hweol himself directly connected the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens to me!
Huarurururuk!
My Karmic Fire originally only burns me.
It doesn't particularly transfer to others.
However, Seo Hweol is trying to steal 'me' to make 'me' become him.
Thus, the Karmic Fire begins to transfer directly to Seo Hweol, to his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
"KUAAAAGH!"
Jeon Myeong-hoon screams.
The Karmic Fire nested in his mind ignites.
The one who had subdued Hong Fan is now being supported by Hong Fan, while I laugh as I watch Seo Hweol start to burn fiercely in front of me.
Seo Hweol, with Karmic Fire clinging to his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, can't overcome his own terrible karmic sins and falls away from me.
"Kuuuuugh! Ho, ho...!!!"
"You're still laughing, huh? How disgusting."
I smirk as I regain control of my body with my eyes glowing.
Seo Hweol's configurations, still burning, lingers within my mind.
But Seo Hweol hastily severs the connection between Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens and the personalities imprinted in my mind.
However, I smirk again.
"Have a taste of the vile Heart Tribe."
Surung—
It's interesting. The Heart Tribe's First Step Before the Throne and Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens have similarities.
They are quite similar in the sense that both can imprint 'themselves' onto their opponent.
I forge my heart essence, holding the heart essence avatar of myself imbued with Seo Hweol's configurations in my hand.
All-Heavens Sword.
Single strike!
Bo-oong!
The All-Heavens Sword pierces Seo Hweol at a speed he can't even react to, embedding itself inside him.
And then, I forcibly reconnect the 'burning configurations of Seo Hweol' within it to Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
"Kuuuuurghhh!"
Seo Hweol trembles in pain while starting to retrieve the four Five Blessings Axes of Health, Wealth, Longevity, and Love of Virtue within his body.
It seems he is trying to disconnect this body entirely from the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
However, I laugh again.
"No, you cannot."
Because I won't allow it.
Kuguguguguk!
I use the Wealth Axis within me to emit an attraction force.
My attraction force captures Seo Hweol's attraction force, sealing it within his body.
Finally, the smile disappears from Seo Hweol's face.
Seo Hweol hastily forms hand seals and begins to flee.
Paaaatt!
He who transforms into his original Sea Dragon form hurriedly tries to escape from me.
If he gets far enough from me, he could break the attraction curse I placed on him, reclaim his Five Blessings Axes, and sever the connection with Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens to stop the spread of the Karmic Fire.
However, I smile coldly.
"I told you, Seo Hweol,"
A glint shines from my eyes.
Flash!
In an instant, I become a flash of light.
Seo Hweol tries to escape by even using the ground-shrinking technique, but it's useless.
"Hohuk...ho, ho...!"
"You can't escape."
Clench!
I quickly lunge and grab Seo Hweol's tail.
He seems to try to sever his own tail, but I invoke the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method.
Kuguaguaguaguagua!
My body transforms into a giant of stars.
I grip his tail and start swinging him around.
Wham, wham, wham, wham!
[Kuuugh!]
Seo Hweol seems to attempt using his demon abilities to break free.
Boom!
I slam him to the ground, still holding onto his tail.
Kugugugugugu!
The ground shakes violently, causing earthquakes everywhere.
[Hoho, such an attack...only tickles me.]
[Oh, really? Since you seem to like it, I'll tickle you more.]
[Hoho...!]
Seo Hweol opens his mouth and shoots a beam of light at me.
Kuaguaguaguang!
Indeed, the breath of the Dragon Race is certainly powerful.
I momentarily lose hold of Seo Hweol, and he starts to flee again.
Kuduk, kudududk, kududududuk!
Faces begin to sprout from my shoulders once more.
[Stop right there!]
Kuaguaguaguang!
I chase after him, the Three Great Ultimates glowing behind me.
In an instant, we cross the Heaven-Earth central territory and traverse through the territories of numerous races.
Spirit Scale Race territory.
There, I finally caught Seo Hweol again.
Somehow, it seems he has managed to drive out the Karmic Fire by sacrificing personalities.
The Karmic Fire no longer burns within him.
[That won't do.]
Bo-oong!
Chwak!
I swing the All-Heavens Sword again, forcibly reconnecting the Karmic Fire to his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
[Kuuugh!]
Seo Hweol's eyes are bloodshot.
The Karmic Fire doesn't just cause him personal pain; it truly harms his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
He might really be feeling fear.
[It won't be easy...!]
Flash!
He opens his mouth and shoots a beam of light again.
But I don't back down, and from my 38 eyes, I shoot beams infused with ghostly energy in response.
Kuaguaguaguang!
The beams we emit shake the territory of the Spirit Scale Race.
The Spirit Scale Race members in the area scream and flee in all directions.
"Huaaaaaahh, monsters are fighting!"
"Just what race is that?!"
"Damn it, is that monster hunting the sacred Dragon Race to eat?! Just run, or we'll be eaten too!"
To an onlooker, it might certainly look like a malevolent starry giant with 19 heads hunting a blue dragon. But such trivial matters are none of my concern. I grab Seo Hweol by the neck and bring him close to my face.
[Seo Hweol, do you not wish to learn more about the Governing Immortals?]
[Do you not have any interest in the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord or the Purple Gold Heavenly Lord?]
[If you wish, I can tell you more about the Tribunal of the Netherworld. Yu Hao Te, Yu Soo Ryeon, Hae Nyeong...]
[Are you not curious about the salt pillar in the Head Realm?]
[I have the astronomical data observed from the Head Realm interpreted through the Understanding before Breakthrough insights of the Heaven Tribe methods. Let me tell you about it...]
[I also have knowledge gained from directly facing Heavenly Punishment...]
Whisperwhisperwhisperwhisperwhisperwhisperwhisper...
Grabbing the bastard's head so he can't escape, I endlessly whisper great knowledge with my 19 heads.
Seo Hweol struggles 'like mad' to escape from me, but he can't escape from someone who inherited the teachings of Azure Tiger Saint.
At the same time, with my heart essence burrowing All-Heavens Sword, I begin to dig through the depths of his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
'I'll find it.'
I tear into the depths of his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
To find the 'real' clue that will completely overthrow Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens!
And just then.
'This is...'
I sense it.
At the center of the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
There is something there.
Hidden in the deepest, darkest depths...I can feel what he desires to conceal.
That is...
[I see, Seo Hweol.]
My 38 eyes glow with glint.
[I see...you...have a main body, don't you...?]
'Somewhere'!
'Somewhere' in this world!
Seo Hweol's main body exists!
No, should I even call it his main body?
There exists a 'central point' around which all the personalities of his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens revolve!
I can instinctively feel it.
If I destroy this 'central point,' his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens will scatter.
And then, Seo Hweol's expression, which has been trying to maintain a playful smile, completely changes.
Expressionless.
He looks at me with eyes devoid of any emotion.
[...Very well. I have lost.]
Then.
Kuadudududuk!
His body begins to transform.
A scarlet blood mist envelops him.
Seo Hweol transforms from the appearance of a divine sea dragon into the shape of a devilish monster (魔物) emitting a red-black aura in an instant.
Chuarururuk!
Seo Hweol's body stretches and extends, wrapping around me like a rope.
[Since the Mad Lord Jo Yeon.]
Crack!
Seo Hweol, wrapping around my body, speaks in an emotionless voice.
[No one has ever disrupted my plans as much as you have. From now on, I will devise plans to destroy you along with Jo Yeon. Rejoice.]
[Haha, do as you wish.]
I laugh, staring into his eyes.
[I will find your main body.]
With my eyes blazing with ghost fire, I meet Seo Hweol's gaze, which emanates devilish energy.
[I will find your main body and utterly annihilate you!]
Because of Seo Hweol, because of his schemes, how many lives have been ruined?
Jo Yeon, Gyu-ryeon, Seo Ran...
He even tried to make his own subordinate, Yuan Li, into a puppet.
And because of that Yuan Li, I...lost too much.
[...Grade-1 dangerous entity Seo Eun-hyun. Thanks to you, my plans will be delayed by thousands of years. The Five Blessings Axes...will be abandoned.]
Kugugugugu!
I feel it.
This is certainly dangerous.
The Five Blessings Axes within Seo Hweol are emitting light.
Drawing upon the power of the Three Great Ultimates, I fill my hands with black and white energy.
Flash!
Seo Hweol detonates all of his Five Blessings Axes, and I counter his self-destruction at the cost of my cultivation with the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.
This time, the barrier of Yin-Yang and Five Elements protects me.
'Finally, I've got a clue on how to destroy you, Seo Hweol!'
While self-destructing, and channeling the energy of his self-destruction towards me, I can feel Seo Hweol's will to destroy me.
Just like in the previous cycle, when I felt Seo Hweol's determination to 'unquestionably' destroy the Mad Lord when he went for the confirmation kill on the Mad Lord who suffered at the hands of Jang Ik, I can now see his unwavering resolve to eliminate me by any means necessary.
Yes, I have finally become Seo Hweol's equal adversary.
***
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