Chapter 316: Not A Lord (2)

Gururuk, guruk...

Seo Hweol gurgles something inside the Clear Scale Armor.

But I just grin widely.

"What are you saying? I can't hear you."

The lake water nullifies most physical forces.

That is the true nature of the Clear Scale Armor.

Seo Hweol tries to break free by exerting his spiritual power.

But as I pour more strength into the Clear Scale Armor, Seo Hweol's entire body is crushed, rendering him unable to resist any further.

'That's my body...'

The thought annoys me, but there's no other choice if I want to seal him.

Splat!

I realize that every time I use the Clear Scale Armor, my body begins to deteriorate, so I undo my Ghost King Transformation.

'It seems that without a flesh-and-blood body, using the Clear Scale Armor is impossible...'

Chiiiiee―

Each time I control the Clear Scale Armor, I grow increasingly thirsty.

I guess that this is some side effect from using the Clear Scale Armor as a mortal.

'If the side effects of the Clear Scale Armor get worse, who knows what might happen. I need to seal Seo Hweol as soon as possible.'

At that moment.

"E-excuse me, elder. Did you capture that beast?"

"Hm?"

I glance over at those cautiously observing me from the edge of the Care Layer.

They are members of the Cold Spirit Race, Leaf Race, and Spirit Scale Race from the Heaven Tribe that I had seen at the entrance.

"Yes, but what do you need?"

"That beast killed our comrades and stole their belongings!"

"Please, allow us to retrieve our comrades' keepsakes."

'Hmm, if it's Seo Hweol, that's entirely possible.'

I nod and say,

"Tell me what keepsakes were taken."

"Yes. First, if you search the beast's inner chest pocket, there should be a red jade slip."

"Alright, hm..."

I try to control the Clear Scale Armor to extract the jade slip, but I find Seo Hweol's inner chest pocket to be tightly sealed.

'Did he steal some important dharma treasure?'

Otherwise, there's no reason for Seo Hweol to guard it so closely.

"E-Elder, I have seen the sealing spell that beast used. If I explain, you might be able to reverse it and retrieve the item."

"Alright, explain."

A member of the Leaf Race approaches and draws the flow of spiritual energy in the air.

"First, gather the yin cold energy like this, then extract the Taiji from the yin cold based on the power of the Eight Trigrams..."

Wooong―

"Next, rotate the energy counterclockwise to form a circle. Compress the circle like this..."

Wiiiiiiing―

Above the Leaf Race member's hand, a violently rotating flow of spiritual energy emerges.

"Like this..."

Bo-woong―

Without mercy, I accelerate my thoughts with Gang Sphere and strike the Leaf Race cultivator's head with all my might.

Kuaaang―

The Leaf Race cultivator is sent flying into the distance, but the wheel of yin energy he left created flies towards me.

As I reach out to deflect the wheel of yin energy, my body suddenly freezes.

Kiiiiiiiiing―

Four Spirit Scale Race cultivators simultaneously use their spirit eye technique to bind me.

'These bastards...'

In the end, I can't avoid the wheel created by the Leaf Race cultivator and am hit.

Kwaduduk!

An overwhelming chill engulfs me.

Having released my Ghost King Transformation, the cold freezes my body.

However, if I transform into my Ghost King which is strong against yin energy, it will hinder my control over the Clear Scale Armor.

Gnashing my teeth amidst the swirling cold yin energy, I accelerate my consciousness using the Mad Lord's circuits and Ultimate Pinnacle.

At that moment.

Splat!

"...Huh?"

I let out a hollow laugh as I see the one who suddenly appeared and stabbed me in the back amidst the cold mist.

"Why are you here...?"

They’re the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being cultivator from the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect.

The ones who had sealed me just moments ago have appeared.

All of them had taken the spells from the Cold Spirit Race cultivators head-on, perfectly hiding their presence, intent, and spiritual energy fluctuations within the cold energy to ambush me.

I laugh hollowly as I look at them.

"Ah, I see. I understand now..."

Bulge, bulge!

The Heavenly Being cultivator of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect gives a 'kind' smile as his body swells and then explodes while still stabbing me in the back.

Flash!

Kurururung!

Walkak!

"Kugh...!"

I stagger back, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

It's the self-destruction of a Grand Perfection Heavenly Being cultivator, possessing early Four-Axis stage strength through the Four Symbols Nascent Soul at that.

Using Great Desert to Dead Sea will heal me, but it will take some time.

Wiping the blood from my mouth, I glance at the Leaf Race, Cold Spirit Race, Spirit Scale Race, and the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect cultivators in front of me, letting out a bitter laugh.

They all wear the same unnervingly gentle and soft expressions.

"What is it, Daoist Seo? Didn't you want to have a proper fight?"

"...You guys, no...you."

I glare at 'Seo Hweol' and growl.

"Which one of you is the main body?"

They all speak simultaneously, with sickeningly kind smiles.

"I am."

"I am."

"I am."

"I am the main body."

"I am the main body."

"I am indeed the main body."

Then, the combined attack of the 'Seo Hweol's begins.

The Seo Hweols possessing the Cold Spirit Race cultivators release cold energy with a smile.

Simultaneously, the Seo Hweols possessing the Leaf Race cultivators receive and precisely manipulate this cold energy, amplifying its power before launching it.

The Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect cultivators, supported by the Cold Spirit Race cultivators, hide within the cold energy. They enhance their immortal beast true blood and target me in close combat.

The Spirit Scale Race cultivators in the rear use their unique spiritual eye abilities to either constrain my movements, cast illusions, or predict my actions and techniques.

"The Four Symbols Nascent Soul of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect is truly convenient. Storing external power separately and calling upon it whenever needed - how attractive. In itself, it maximizes the harmony of the Heaven and Earth Tribes' powers, allowing one to surpass a whole realm."

Seo Hweol laughs as he unleashes attacks on me.

"And thanks to you, Daoist Seo, I can also use the power of the Mad Lord. Truly..."

Wo-woong!

The Mad Lord's circuits are engraved on the body of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect cultivator, who is at the early Four-Axis stage. Despite the immense pain, the cultivator under Seo Hweol's control doesn't flinch.

In an instant, his power surges to the late Four-Axis stage.

"I must express my gratitude."

"Kugh..."

I grimace, releasing curses from my entire body.

Yet, I am gradually being pushed back.

'The Clear Scale Armor! The Clear Scale Armor is draining my mental strength...!'

Crack―

Every time I focus on preventing the seal on my main body inside the Clear Scale Armor from breaking, my thirst grows more intense.

And at the same time, the group of Seo Hweols are frantically freezing me to death like mad with their cold energy, driving me insane from the cold.

'If I don't transform into a Ghost King, my body will freeze solid from the cold...!'

But using the Ghost King Transformation will make controlling the Clear Scale Armor even more difficult.

It's a catch-22.

At that moment,

Puhak!

Piercing through the blue cold energy, Seo Hweol, in the body of a Cold Spirit Race cultivator, grabs my shoulder from behind.

"Huhu, Daoist Seo. I've finally caught you."

Squirm, wriggle...!

The body of the Cold Spirit Race cultivator bulges.

I can feel an immense cold energy amplifying within it.

'Ah, no...!'

Unable to endure any longer, I transform into my Ghost King form while being held by the shoulder.

Kuaduduk!

Eighteen heads rise majestically.

At the same time, my Ghost King transformed body begins to absorb the cold energy comfortably.

With ghost fire blazing in my eyes, I grit my teeth.

[Damn it...]

Sshuuaaarururu―

I ultimately fail to control the Clear Scale Armor.

Freed from within the Clear Scale Armor, the Seo Hweol possessing the main body smiles faintly.

"Well then. Shall we start again properly from now on?"

[You bastard...]

I have no idea how he even did it.

'Did he parasitize me with something like the Mysterious Bizarre Gu?'

[Isn't it something that is attached when you're killed?]

I gather ghostly energy, surveying the cultivators possessed by Seo Hweol.

With the Ghost King Transformation, I no longer fear being overwhelmed by them.

"Well, you can say it's somewhat similar."

[...]

For some reason, I sense that statement is a lie.

It might be best to interpret everything he says in reverse.

'I see. So killing Seo Hweol doesn't make it attach.'

He must be using some other method to attempt parasitism.

"Now then, shall we properly use the clone that Daoist Seo has nurtured so carefully?"

Wo-woong―

The circuits of the Mad Lord glows on the main body and eight pairs of wings sprout from his back.

The fusion of Heaven, Earth, and Puppet generates the power of the Four-Axis stage.

The energy that had been amplified after killing and absorbing Gyo Yeom and Nok Ju seems to be completely exhausted.

However, I feel my heart tighten.

[You...!]

I hastily check my waist.

My storage scroll that had been at my waist is now in Seo Hweol's hand.

'Did the Cold Spirit Race guy take it when he self-destructed? How? Could he move that stealthily? Wait, could it be...'

Fearing the worst, I shout at him.

[You! How can you use the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts?]

"Ah, so the name of this method that cuts off consciousness is Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts? It's not difficult. Since I became able to use the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, is it not just a matter of honing and cutting the consciousness?"

I feel my insides churn.

It isn't just because the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts have fallen into Seo Hweol's hands.

It's because it feels as though the domain of martial arts I have learned, developed, and strived for is being violated by that filthy bastard.

"Let's see, it was put around here..."

He nonchalantly rummages through my storage scroll and pulls out the Sea Orchid Fruit.

"Ah, found it. Well then, bon appétit."

Crunch, crunch...

He begins to devour the Sea Orchid Fruit with my main body.

At the same time, his energy starts to surge rapidly.

Kugugugu!

"Evolving Azure Tiger Saint's method into a demon beast method. Daoist Seo, you're truly impressive. A demon beast method perfectly suited for the Human Race... Apologies, but I will make some modifications."

Flash!

At that moment, a surge of energy explodes from my main body, and his cultivation increases.

From the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage, he rises to the Four-Axis stage!

Kugugugugu!

Dark clouds begin to gather over the Care Layer.

The Heavenly Tribulation is beginning.

'Why is he attempting to break through in front of me?'

I can't comprehend Seo Hweol's actions at all.

Why in the world would he do such a thing in front of me?

If I ambush him, the likelihood of him dying or falling into Qi Deviation during the tribulation would be high.

'Is he really that confident?'

Wo-woong―

Drawing a ghost sword crafted with the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, I invoke curses.

[Die for real, Seo Hweol...!]

As I am about to throw the cursed ghost sword imbued with the agony of castration, the pain amplifying elixir, and the pain from seeing a True Immortal's [Name],

Thwack!

Suddenly, my left hand grips my right hand, stopping the throw.

[...Huh?]

Then, the faces on my shoulders start creaking, and six out of the eighteen faces speak in eerie voices.

[Huhu, Daoist Seo. Please calm down.]

[Wouldn't it be beneficial for you if your clone reaches the Four-Axis stage?]

[We'll rise through the Earth Tribe method first and then take our time with the Heaven Tribe method, so there's no need to worry.]

I remain silent, listening to their voices.

[...]

Kurung, Kururung!

Twin-colored Heavenly Tribulations strike Seo Eun-hyun's main body, and I silently glare with ghost fire.

[...You. What's your deal?]

[What do you mean?]

[Even if you don't parasitize by getting killed, how can you parasitize so easily like this?]

In fact, if it's not 'parasitizing through getting killed', it should be even harder to parasitize.

I had to push the cultivators of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect to their limits to attach the Mysterious Bizarre Gu onto them, and even after doing so, I couldn't immediately take over their minds.

Moreover, I used the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts to attach the Mysterious Bizarre Gu, and recognizing each other is easy among users of the same technique.

In short, even if Seo Hweol used a similar method to the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts to attempt parasitization on me, it doesn't make sense that I failed to detect it.

Shuarururuk!

After releasing my Ghost King Transformation, I see signs of them attacking me again, so I summon the Clear Scale Armor to wrap around my body.

The Clear Scale Armor compresses to fit my body size, turning into a transparent water that envelops me.

Seo Hweol's attacks don't affect me at all, but I still have to remain still, fighting against Seo Hweol's attempts to take control of my body from within.

[Hoho, please just calmly entrust your body to me. You've lived a long life anyway, so just think of it as having a short dream.]

"Giving my body to a bastard like you would be worse than going to the Mad Lord and becoming General Seo."

[Really?]

"Hmm...no, on second thought, it doesn't seem quite right. But still, I won't let you take it."

[Hoho, so you're just going to remain helplessly sealed inside the Clear Tears?]

Kuajijijik...

Before I know it, the tribulation of the main body has ended.

Simultaneously, the main body transforms into Seo Hweol, who is now clad in the power of a demon beast method with more of a more pronounced aura of the Sea Dragon Race.

He has completely risen to the Four-Axis stage.

Wo-woong―

And the cultivators of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect around him start using the secret arts of the Four Symbols Nascent Soul to connect the outer space to the Care Layer.

"Longevity (壽), Wealth (富), Love of Virtue (攸好德)."

Paaaatt!

The three axes that had constrained Health (강녕) earlier come flying from the outer space.

He must have hidden them somewhere and is now retrieving them.

Wo-oong, Bo-oong, Zo-oong!

The three axes naturally enter Seo Hweol's body.

He instantly exudes the aura of a Grand Perfection Four-Axis.

As the aura of the Four-Axis General Seo overlays with his body, there is an enormous amplification of power.

'Integration stage...!'

Now, he clearly has the power of an Integration stage Demon King.

Seo Hweol smiles faintly and walks toward me, wrapped in the Clear Scale Armor.

"Daoist Seo. May I borrow your body for a moment?"

Keeping a distance of five zhang, he spreads his arms in a seemingly friendly gesture and proposes to me.

"I won't keep your body forever. Just for a moment, a very brief moment in your long, long life. Can you lend it to me for that short period of time?"

"I can't trust your words."

"I see...That's unfortunate."

Without changing his expression, Seo Hweol turns his back.

"In that case, I'll have to take it by force."

Ziiing―

At that moment, an overwhelming force of consciousness strikes my mind.

'This, this is...?'

Brainwashing (洗腦).

It's a powerful brainwashing

The brainwashing is so painful and terrifying that I doubt my ability to withstand the hints and suggestions.

'What in the world is this...!'

It isn't merely the concept of breaking the opponent's will.

It's more about dismantling the very concept of 'me.'

'Ah...damn it...'

My consciousness begins to blur.

My vision goes dark, ending it all.

Or so I thought.

―If you were born from me, show a little will.

Ziiiing―

Flash!

"Gahhhhhhh!"

I open my eyes wide with a splitting headache.

At the same time, I see Seo Hweol, who has been turning his back to me, kneeling while clutching his head.

Bo-ooong―

For a moment, I see an illusion of a white slash (斬擊) swiftly passing through Seo Hweol's head.

For the first time, Seo Hweol screams.

"Kuuurghh...! Daoist Seo...!"

Even as he screams, he doesn't lose his smile and looks ahead.

I follow his gaze.

There, dressed in white, is 'me.'

'Ah...'

I can feel it.

The presence before me is...

"Have you been well, Seo Li?"

Seo Eun-hyun.

My main body.

Bo-oong―

He raises one hand.

In his hand is a sword that shines in all of heavens’ natural colors.

It's so bright it hurts the eyes to look at.

The sword seems to embody all the lights of Heaven and Earth.

"Hoho, Daoist Seo. How did you do it? I can't comprehend. As expected of Daoist Seo."

He laughs as he looks at the main body.

The main body swings the sword with an expressionless face.

The sword of light is indeed very conspicuous.

Yet, oddly enough, Seo Hweol can't perceive the sword of light.

Bo-oong!

Shu-kwang!

The sword of light slashes through Seo Hweol's shoulder.

"Hoho, an attack that cannot be perceived or felt...I think I understand what it is."

At those words, the main body smiles and looks at me.

"Listen carefully, Seo Li. What he means by those words is 'How did you do that!'"

"..."

Step, step...

The main body approaches me, placing the sword of light against my head and swings it.

The sword of light passes through my head, and at the same time, I feel Seo Hweol's whispering voice inside me being completely swept away.

"He can't see this light. It's visible only to us."

"Main body...you..."

"Seo Li."

He looks at me and says.

"I am not the main body."

"What?"

"I am Seo Eun-hyun."

I laugh as I look at the bewildered Seo Li.

Holding the newly born Formless Sword, I turn my back on him and look at Seo Hweol.

"Let's fight together, Seo Li. We need to drive that monster out of here and reclaim the Colorless Glass Sword."

While Seo Hweol was stealing my techniques like the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, I uncovered his true identity.

He's a terrifying and unbelievable monster.

So, to reclaim my body, I definitely need Seo Li's help.

Seo Li stands by my side.

"I don't understand, but anyway..."

He smiles and gathers ghostly energy.

Clad in black and white, we simultaneously charge at Seo Hweol.

Translator Notes: Sea Lotus Fruit -> Sea Orchid Fruit