Chuarararara!
With Kim Yeon and my abilities, we connect to the Mad Lord's consciousness and, using Oh Hye-seo's power, call forth his past memories from within.
Seo Hweol seems to know exactly which memory is the most painful for the Mad Lord, as he quickly flies through his memories to that point.
After a while,
We find ourselves confronted with a certain 'scene.'
—Yes, there is a next time. Let's wait until then.
A dark secret room.
Yes, it seems to be deep within a cave residence.
This isn't the first time I've seen someone's memories.
Occasionally, while placing a Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion single strike into others, I've glimpsed fragments of their memories.For instance, even when I implanted the All-Heavens Sword into the Mad Lord's heart essence during the 19th cycle, I caught a very brief glimpse of his memories.
It was also then that Seo Hweol slyly hinted at some information about his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.
In any case,
When peeking into someone's memories, in the case of mortals, the memory perspective is mostly in 'first-person.'
However, in the case of 'cultivators,' due to their consciousness domains, their memories are composed of everything perceived within it.
Thus, the memories of cultivators are predominantly in the 'observer perspective.'
To be precise, the memories of cultivators are a mixture of first-person and third-person perspectives.
Therefore, in the Mad Lord's memories, I am able to observe what he was doing as I peek into his recollections.
—Definitely. Next time, I will definitely be with her.
In his youth, the Mad Lord, bearing a six-colored pattern on his face, makes such a vow, swallowing an unidentified pill and closing his eyes to focus on his cultivation.
As he practices for a while after taking the pill, two patterns on his face, which were partially merged, completely unite into one.
Now, only five colored patterns remain on the Mad Lord's face.
He mutters with shining eyes.
—Wait for me, dear...I will definitely come for you. To grow old together, to be with each other for a hundred years. Because that is what we promised...
The heart of the Mad Lord, who made this vow, is so beautiful and dreamlike.
And as I observe this scene within the Mad Lord's memories, Seo Hweol's consciousness appears beside me.
[Hoho...Though I guided it with my own hands, the Jo clan, including Jo Yeon, always exceeded my expectations.]
[...?]
[Now then, I shall cover up the memory that Mad Lord Jo Yeon despises the most.]
Splash, gurgle-
As he says this, Seo Hweol's consciousness transforms into something resembling black liquid, beginning to fill the scene within Jo Yeon's consciousness.
Chuararararara!
The black darkness of his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens engulfs Jo Yeon's memories.
I realize that the surroundings have turned pitch black, so I protect my and Kim Yeon's consciousness.
Just then,
Flash!
Seo Hweol, Kim Yeon, Oh Hye-seo, and I are all violently ejected from the Mad Lord's mind by a powerful resistance.
'Th-This...!'
I flinch in surprise as I identify the formula that is pushing us away.
This is definitely the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
Paaatt!
When I regain my composure, I find myself standing in front of the Mad Lord, fully conscious.
And the moment I see the look in his eyes, I immediately know.
'The Mad Lord has regained his senses.'
But at the same time, I know something is wrong.
"Remove this hand."
Though the madness has clearly subsided, his eyes are heavily bloodshot, and a thick murderous intent is seeping from his entire body.
I release my grip on the Mad Lord and take a step back.
He glances at me briefly before glaring at Seo Hweol's projection behind me.
"Elder Jo Yeon. The Bright Cold Realm is currently..."
The next moment.
Without even listening to us, the Mad Lord immediately manipulates the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and detonates Seo Hweol's body.
Whoosh!
He turns his head to glare at me and speaks.
"Did you join hands with Seo Hweol?"
"...It's a temporary alliance for now..."
"Then die."
In the next instant, the Mad Lord's [Her] and Puppet Hyeon Eum lunge at me.
Kuadudududuk!
'Damn it...'
Though he's regained his senses, it seems he's become even more ferocious and filled with killing intent.
I glance at the Mad Lord.
His consciousness, previously a chaotic mix of colors, is now solely aflame with blood-red and dark crimson.
The current Mad Lord is overflowing with hatred and animosity towards the world.
'This is the first time I've seen the Mad Lord like this.'
Whenever I brought the Mad Lord back to his senses in the past, he was always a calm and benevolent elder.
I vaguely assumed that the same Mad Lord would return this time as well, but what emerged is a completely different being.
"When you kidnapped my disciple last time, didn't you hint at Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens with that Heart Tribe single strike or whatever? But now you've come here after joining hands with Seo Hweol. Have you already been eroded by that bastard?"
"That would never be the case, Old Man Jo Yeon."
"Then just why...!?"
Kuuung—
Blocking the attacks from Puppet Hyeon Eum and [Her], I take a heavy step towards the Mad Lord.
"Look."
I lay bare my heart essence to the Mad Lord without holding back.
"..."
Upon seeing it, the Mad Lord seems to flinch in surprise.
With the Entering Heavens sight granted by the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, my heart essence must appear like a hellish inferno to him.
"The Elder's pain and suffering."
Drip, drip...
As I recall that moment again, black tears naturally flow from my eyes.
"I don't entirely fail to understand it. No matter how powerful Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens may be, it cannot erode someone who is already broken like us. Isn't that right, Elder Jo Yeon?"
At my words and the sight of my heart essence, the Mad Lord stares at my eyes for a moment, then rubs his head and flicks his fingers.
His Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon trembles causing [Her] and [Black Lord] to be detached from my body.
"...It seems Seo Hweol temporarily broke one of the memories I hold most dear. Thanks to the absence of that information, I've regained some clarity...but that doesn't mean the emotions tied to those memories have vanished. I...I still can't control this raging anger. I'll listen to what you have to say out of respect for your sincerity and my disciple, but don't provoke me. Right now, I'm like a bomb ready to explode at any moment."
I begin to explain as I look at Jo Yeon, who has intent as red as Jeon Myeong-hoon.
"...First of all, a disaster has descended upon the Bright Cold Realm. Because of that...the Human Race had to be driven out of their own territory."
I briefly explain the situation, starting with how the Human Race lost their homeland.
The Mad Lord listens to my story, then stares at me with bloodshot eyes and asks,
"So, you want to expel a Star Shattering stage monster outside the world. The one pulling from outside will be Seo Hweol, the one pushing will be you, and I'll be keeping it busy for a while, is that it?"
"That's correct."
"..."
The Mad Lord glares at me with a displeased look and asks,
"Why should I do that?"
"That's because..."
And then, it happens.
Tstststststs—
Beside me, Kim Yeon, who is connected to me through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, appears.
She created a Gang Sphere clone and overlaid it with an illusion to send a projection next to me.
She was originally struggling at the Five Energies Converging to the Origin stage, but after obtaining a Demon Core of the Earth Tribe, she linked it with her Inner Core, formed a Gang Sphere, and quickly reached Ultimate Pinnacle.
[The reason is, you owe me something.]
Kim Yeon's projection speaks confidently as she looks at the Mad Lord.
At her words, the Mad Lord smirks and says,
"Oho, it seems you've done well the homework I assigned you."
[Yes. I have fully deciphered everything. So please help out the disciple who has inherited your teachings.]
However, the Mad Lord snorts.
"You're saying something laughable, my disciple. If you had fully deciphered the magic artifact I made for you, you should have already mastered the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon. But it seems you haven't. The reason is obvious. You must have received help from someone, right?"
At his words, Kim Yeon nods.
[That's right. I received help from someone with the same Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent as you.]
The Mad Lord's eyes widen.
"Received help from someone with the Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent... Could it be that the filthy bloodline of the Jo Clan still continues to this day?"
Baduduk—
He grinds his teeth and mutters,
"It makes my skin crawl...Truly disgusting. The grudge with that clan..."
I slightly furrow my brows as I look at the Mad Lord.
Judging by the intense emotions boiling within him, it seems he's about to go after Buk Hyang-hwa to kill her.
But in the next moment,
[So what are you going to do?]
Kim Yeon turns the question back to the Mad Lord.
[Do you really think you can do anything to the person I'm protecting?]
"..."
The Mad Lord glares at Kim Yeon for a moment.
Then he closes his eyes.
"...Fine. Whether or not you received help from someone with the Extraordinary Pattern Law Talent, you must have heard my message, so you should know what I want."
[Yes. And I know that I am the only one who can fulfill your wish.]
"Yes, that's correct. But...for you to fulfill my wish, that level of mastery in the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon won't do. It's regrettable that you used a shortcut to decipher my task and failed to properly advance your realm."
The Mad Lord's bloodshot eyes are fixed on Kim Yeon.
"...This time, I will help you. But the next time you appear, you must have grown enough to fulfill my wish!"
[...Understood.]
Kim Yeon nods, and the Mad Lord's killing intent eases slightly at her response.
"Alright, I understand. Now, take me to that so-called Ghost Guiding Holy Mother or whatever. However, make sure to not bring that Seo Hweol bastard in front of me. I'll definitely lose my mind if I see him."
Thud—
The Mad Lord sends a lump of energy condensed with the formula of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon towards Kim Yeon's projection.
It seems to be a formula containing insights into the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
Kim Yeon absorbs the mass of formula, and I send a voice transmission to Seo Hweol, who is observing the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress from a distance.
—You follow from a distance. The Mad Lord doesn't want to see you.
When I send him this heart message he nods.
[Understood. In that case, Daoist Seo, please bring the Mad Lord. I will prepare to pull with my madam from the Astral Realm.]
Tstststststs!
After finishing his words, Seo Hweol completely vanishes from the spot, leaving no trace behind.
Kugugugu!
The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress takes to the sky.
"Where do we need to go?"
"Please head towards Heaven-Earth Palace for now. The place where the Flying Immortal Platform was when we first ascended."
"Got it."
Despite being engulfed in anger and pain, the Mad Lord has regained his senses to some extent and follows my lead as I guide him.
"Kim Yeon. Since the Mad Lord has regained his senses now, withdraw your consciousness."
However, Kim Yeon looks at me with a troubled expression and sends me a heart message through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
As I listen to her, I get a headache and frown.
"...Just ignore it for now. This isn't the time for an argument..."
Just then,
Pa-jik, Pa-jijijik!
[W-Wait, Grandmother Yeon. You shouldn't...ugh!]
Kwa-jijijik!
A bolt of lightning shoots through Kim Yeon's consciousness, causing her projection to transform into something familiar to me.
It's the projection of Yeon Wei.
As expected of an old monster who has lived for 40,000 years, she seems to have mastered a secret art that interferes with another's consciousness and alters their projection.
[Seo Eun-hyun!]
Clench!
Yeon Wei's projection grabs me by the collar the moment she appears.
[You...just what...just what have you done!? The four disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, just where did they go? Just, just how much more must you take from me to be satisfied! Huh!?]
She clings to me, her voice trembling with anger and sorrow, and grinds her teeth as if on the verge of tears.
[How much longer!? Will you only take from us!?]