Dududududu!
The world starts to change.
The sky turns blood red.
The shadows across the entire Middle Realm begin to ripple as if alive.
Ooooooo—
Negative forces temporarily project personalities, and Heart Heavenly Demons begin to appear en masse.
Of course, they all flee from my vicinity, but for the ordinary living beings of the Bright Cold Realm, it will be fatal.
I look up with cold sweat dropping.
I can feel it.
[Light] has been severed.It feels like the Ancient Force Realm. No celestial energy can be read from the sky.
At the same time, I feel the Flower Soul Filling the Heavens squirming wildly inside my body.
'This is...'
I can tell.
There is no longer celestial energy flowing in the sky.
Instead, what flows is the formula of Purple Soul Filling the Heavens Formula!
[...I see now.]
I recall Yuk Rin.
The secret art used to establish an attraction force with Blood Yin on Cherry Blossom Dragon Island.
That secret art, without a doubt, was a method for forming an attraction with Purple Soul Filling the Heavens.
'So, the Purple Soul Filling the Heavens found in the Purple Soul Jade Seal must have originally belonged to Blood Yin.'
Purple Soul Filling the Heavens is completed through inheritance.
And the Purple Soul Filling the Heavens that resided within the Purple Soul Jade Seal was inherited 'from the Blood Yin.'
I sigh in relief knowing that the formula of Flower Soul Filling the Heavens does not assimilate with Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, even though it reacts to it in the sky.
From the moment it became Flower Soul Filling the Heavens, this secret art must have fully escaped Blood Yin's influence.
'Thank you, Ryeo Hwa.'
Thanks to Ryeo Hwa, my soul is safe.
But now is not the time for relief.
'The world is changing...'
Kugugugugu!
Thick blood devilish energy.
Woo-wooong!
Yuan Yu, buried in a corner of my domain, suddenly starts to react wildly.
I had long deemed it nearly useless, so I kept only a shard of Yuan Yu for safekeeping.
That Yuan Yu reacts to the power of the Blood Yin Realm.
When I release Yuan Yu outside, it starts absorbing the blood devilish energy like crazy, starting to regenerate itself.
Gurgle, gurgle!
In an instant, the regenerated Yuan Yu's cultivation begins to rise.
Surpassing the Nascent Soul stage, it skyrockets past the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage, reaching the Quasi-Four-Axis stage!
Saaaaa—
Simultaneously, a sinister glint appears in the Yuan Yu's eyes.
[...What are you?]
I realize something has taken over Yuan Yu's body and ask.
And Yuan Yu smirks with an eerie smile and opens its mouth.
"Have you been well, Dao..."
Clench!
It's Seo Hweol.
Without needing to ask, I pull out the Colorless Glass Sword and thrust it into his mouth.
Twitch, twitch...
But Seo Hweol, through Yuan Yu's body, forms another mouth near the back of the throat and continues to speak.
"You're quite violent, Daoist...hoho..."
"Why have you come?"
I press the Sub-Heart Sword against its soul, asking threateningly.
He smiles faintly.
"I am here under the orders of my master, Elder Blood Yin, to possess Daoist. A Star Shattering-level Heart Tribe requires special attention for possession, after all."
"..."
I look into Seo Hweol's eyes.
He smiles as he looks back into mine.
"..."
Surung—
I pull the sword back out from his mouth.
Perhaps madmen understand each other in some twisted way.
However, reading Seo Hweol's true intent from within his darkness, I begin to crush his body with my attraction force.
Seo Hweol extends both his hands, clinging to me as if trying to possess me.
And then, I ask through heart language.
—I understand your words well.
Interpreting it in Seo Hweol's language, the meaning would be something like this:
'Blood Yin is neither my master nor someone I wish to follow. Let's kill them together. If it's a Star Shattering stage Heart Tribe, there is a way.'
It's laughable.
It feels like just yesterday when Seo Hweol referred to himself as Blood Yin.
—But how can I trust you? You were the one who stabbed me in the back that time with Kang Min-hee.
Seo Hweol responds with a faint smile.
"I'll take good care of your body, Daoist Seo...hoho..."
—I've brought a replica Black Ancient Paper. If we form a contract with you, Daoist Seo, as the contract overseer, the contract will overwhelmingly favor you, and there will be no concern of betrayal.
I glare at him.
"Do you think things will go your way?"
—You won't betray me?
"Just accept it. This is fate. The Bright Cold Realm is now over, and this world will become the Blood Yin Realm."
—Then, let's make the contract under the assumption of betrayal. Don't trust me—use me. Right now, I need Daoist Seo, and Daoist Seo needs my knowledge.
"The Bright Cold Realm will become the Blood Yin Realm...?"
—I have a way to blow everything up if things go wrong. Give me a solid reason why I should trust you. You swore an oath on your main body yet you evaded it with nonsense saying we were never on the same side from the beginning.
"I suppose I'll have to tell you my elder's purpose. Do you know why the Blood Yin Realm's Heavenly Fiends have been targeting the Bright Cold Realm so persistently? They left behind more suitable realms like the True Devil Realm and the Nether Ghost Realm. Even the Ancient Force Realm or the Purple Gold Realm could've been good options. But why do you think they're after the Bright Cold Realm?"
—Hmm, very well. Given my current difficult situation, I will take a step back. I will show you a way to trust me. Try dropping Daoist Seo's 'Immortal Beast True Blood' onto the replica Black Ancient Paper. That will sprout the trust between us.
I look at Seo Hweol with suspicion.
As we remain cautious of the 'red sky' that has overtaken above, we continue the charade of one acting like a Heavenly Fiend to possess the other and the other resisting. At the same time, we engage in a proper conversation through heart language.
However, from my perspective, I can't tell if this is really a 'proper conversation.'
'This bastard that only spits lies...what trick is he pulling now?'
Even though I doubt him, I prepare to drop my Immortal Beast True Blood onto one of the replica Black Ancient Papers in my domain.
At least for now, nothing seems too out of place.
His Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens isn't in play, and there are no suspicious signs.
'But you can never know with this guy.'
Pukwak!
I connect my Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon to Seo Hweol's consciousness.
"Tell me...why Blood Yin...is targeting the Bright Cold Realm...!"
—I've linked our consciousnesses. Even if you try to sever the connection and escape, it's useless. My Sub-Heart Sword will pursue you to the very ends and reconnect us. If this Black Ancient Paper connects my mind to some True Immortal's domain or draws their attention, you'll suffer the consequences with me."
"...Isn't it obvious? Surely, you must already know. [Chief Judge of the Netherworld, Nether Devil True Lord Yu Hao Te], [Vast Cold Heavenly Lord], [Deputy Judge Hae Nyeong], [Reincarnation Judge Yu Soo Ryeon], and [Purple Gold Heavenly Lord]! That these five Lords waged war against [something] at the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain and perished..."
"Kuaaaaaghk!"
'This snake bastard...'
Black blood flows from my entire body, and Seo Hweol, too, seems to have taken a serious shock as parts of Yuan Yu's body start melting away.
But as blood devilish energy pours into him, he begins to recover quickly.
—I will bear it. So please drop the Immortal Beast True Blood onto the Black Ancient Paper.
In preparation for the possibility of my mind being overtaken the moment I place my Immortal Beast True Blood onto the Black Ancient Paper, I split my consciousness and drop the true blood onto the paper.
Chwaaaak!
At the same time, I feel part of my mind being transported somewhere.
'This is...?'
Clank!
As I come to my senses, my consciousness finds itself on top of one of the weights of a scale.
And on the opposite weight of the scale, Seo Hweol is sitting in a cross-legged position.
I growl as I look at him.
"You...where is this place now...!?"
"There's no need to worry, Daoist. Here, we don't need to have such a bothersome conversation. First, please take a look at the [one holding the scale]."
At those words, I unconsciously turn my gaze toward the top of the scale.
It's not because I followed Seo Hweol's suggestion, but because I unconsciously thought, 'Of course, that's what I should do.'
"...!"
And what I see is a giant (巨人).
No, this isn't a being that can be called a mere giant.
A Giant God (巨神)!
This is a colossal God (神) formed from the vapor of chaos.
Its size is so immense that all I can comprehend is that it's 'huge', without any clear sense of how large it truly is.
Seo Hweol smiles from the opposite weight of the scale and speaks.
"Please show your respect, Daoist Seo. This is the Immortal Beast of the Human Race, the [God of Names]. The Master of all Contracts and Oaths...the Immortal Beast, Hyeon Go (玄古)...the High Spirit Grand Dao Nine Heavens Overseeing Fate Preserving Life Celestial Great Emperor (上靈高道九天司命保生天上大帝)."
[TL/N: So, this title is taken from Zhao Xuanlang, a Daoist God from the Song Dynasty. Emperor Zhenzhong of Song basically honored the Yellow Emperor as the ancestor of the Zhao Family and gave them the title High Spirit Grand Dao Nine Heavens Overseeing Fate Preserving Life Heavenly Venerable Great Emperor (上靈高道九天司命保生天尊大帝). Tremendous just swapped Heavenly Venerable (天尊) to Celestial (天上).]
From the opposite weight, Seo Hweol bows towards [Hyeon Go], and I, startled, hurriedly offer my respect as well.
However, [Hyeon Go] doesn't react in any particular way.
It seems that what stands before us is not the main body but some kind of principle or law.
As I look up at the giant god of vapor I notice something odd.
'This is clearly an existence above the rank of a True Immortal...but why does nothing happen even while seeing it?'
Just as I am pondering this, Seo Hweol smiles and provides the answer.
"How does it feel to stand before the Ancestor God (祖神), seed of the Human Race's Immortal Beast?"
The Immortal Beast of the Human Race, Hyeon Go.
Which means, in some sense, this colossal god and I are of the same race.
"...So, is this the method you spoke of?"
"You could say so. How fortunate it is that Daoist possesses the true blood of Go (Ancient/古). When the power of Go and the Black Ancient Paper meets, the subjects are brought to the sanctuary of contracts and oaths that Hyeon Go governs. Here, there's no need to worry about the gaze of Blood Yin."
Kugugugugu!
I nod, feeling the overwhelming presence of Hyeon Go.
Indeed, the divine and sacred aura gently emanating from this giant god is no trivial matter.
Even an existence like Blood Yin would be unable to easily spy on us. I can sense this certainty on a genetic level.
I ask Seo Hweol a question.
"If we make a contract here, can I trust you?"
"Yes. As long as I'm a mortal being, any contract made here is something I can [never] break. No, even if I were to attain the realm of True Immortals and become an immortal being, unless I transcend Hyeon Go's rank, it's impossible to violate it. As Fate supports the contract, even if one wishes to break it, the heavenly fortune will adjust to ensure that it [cannot be broken]."
I nod in agreement.
'If it's to this extent...even a snake-scorpion bastard should be able to be trusted"
But after nodding, my expression hardens.
"...Tell me. What's the reason that someone like you, who doesn't do trust, is going this far to form a contract with me? What's the reason behind Blood Yin's objectives? How serious is it that you're willing to go this far just to cooperate with me?"
Seo Hweol's smile fades.
It doesn't disappear entirely, but knowing that his smile only fades when he's touching on something deeply connected to his essence, I realize how gravely serious this matter is.
"I mentioned before, didn't I? While avoiding Blood Yin's gaze, I told you about the five great beings who fought [something], and how all five died afterwards."
"You did."
"The five great being did indeed perish. But the second strongest among them, Yu Hao Te, managed to leave behind a 'leftover'."
It seems that here, there's no problem casually mentioning the names of True Immortals.
The truth about Blood Yin begins to spill from Seo Hweol's lips.
"Seat Holder of Good and Evil, Judge of Morality Yu Hao Te. His leftover only managed to cling to one part of his vast authority, the Seat of Evil (Vice), and was reborn anew."
The vague suspicions I've had are confirmed by Seo Hweol's words. Since I already suspected as much, I'm not particularly surprised.
But what Seo Hweol says next leaves me in utter shock.
"But...if the second strongest left behind a leftover, do you know what the strongest, Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, left behind?"
"What did they leave?"
"Their life."
"...?"
"The Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, who was known as the strongest god (神) 500,000 years ago, after fighting [something]...is [still alive]."
Flinch!
I stare at Seo Hweol with confused eyes, and he continues.
"Vast Cold Heavenly Lord's soul disappeared somewhere, leaving them in a state akin to brain death. Their body, however, even in a vegetative state, remains [alive]. Even now."