'Hmm, what's that?'

It's definitely Oh Hye-seo.

But there's an odd sense of incongruity about her.

I walk towards the entrance, keeping my face expressionless.

It's definitely Oh Hye-seo.

However, there are no basic signs of life one would expect from a human such as heartbeats or life waves.

And there's no sensation of consciousness waves either.

'I see. It's a projection.'

I focus my consciousness on my surrounding colleagues.

Strangely, none of my colleagues react to seeing Oh Hye-seo.

Considering how popular she was at the company, they should all be greeting her with delight for meeting after a long time.

But this lack of reaction means...

'Only I can see her. Ah, I get it.'

I finally realize the source of the strange incongruity.

The same sense as Kim Young-hoon!

I can see her because I possess that perception.

While Oh Hye-seo originally has no intention of revealing herself to us, that very 'intention' to do something is making her projection visible.

'How creepy...'

If I didn't have this sense, I too would have passed by without seeing her.

For now, I control my entire body's reaction and walk towards the Black Ghost Valley, pretending not to notice her.

Wo-woong—

Clap—

Oh Hye-seo claps her hands with a smile.

[Immortal Beast. Lustrous Glaze Peacock.]

Flash!

A clear radiance bursts forth, causing a momentary dazed look in my colleagues' eyes.

I draw upon the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections from within.

Perhaps because I faced the Governing Immortals and recognized the [vanished] entities in this cycle, by slightly operating the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, I am able to resist the light of the Lustrous Glaze Peacock.

However, I pretend to be dazed to see what Oh Hye-seo is trying to do.

[Immortal Beast, Yin Ghost Black Turtle.]

Simultaneously, with the Nether Perception I acquired through the Great Desert to Dead Sea, I see the outskirts of the Netherworld.

The outskirts of the Netherworld begin to ripple and 'transform' in various places.

'Oh Hye-seo...'

I sense what she is trying to do and consider whether to strike with the All-Heavens Sword.

She is currently distorting the outskirts of the Netherworld with the power of the Yin Ghost Black Turtle.

The outskirts of the Netherworld are located in a special plane that overlaps with this world.

While they overlap, they are not completely the same, and they mutually influence each other.

As the outskirts of the Netherworld twist, reality distorts along with it.

Through the senses of the Great Desert to Dead Sea, I can feel numerous ghosts screaming at the sudden calamity.

Most ghosts have their main bodies in the outskirts of the Netherworld, and what appears in reality is just a kind of projection.

Of course, foolish ghosts below the level of Ghost Kings are mostly unaware that their main bodies are in the outskirts of the Netherworld. In any case, the principle behind ghosts displaying supernatural phenomena like passing through objects is all due to their main bodies existing in another plane.

Therefore, unless it's a power that can dispel the outskirts of the Netherworld itself, like the force of Vanquishing Evil and Upholding Righteousness, or a power that can transcend planes, it's originally difficult to harm ghosts.

But Oh Hye-seo is laying down some kind of formation across the entire Black Ghost Valley by manipulating the outskirts of the Netherworld itself.

At the same time, the light from the Lustrous Glaze Peacock emitted by her is making a fool of not just us, but all the ghosts in the Black Ghost Valley. The terrified ghostly wails gradually subside, and only the stupid 'woo-woo' sounds of ghosts echo.

'Probably all the humans in the Black Ghost Valley have become fools too.'

But I inwardly sneer.

'How crude.'

It's merely a supernatural power borrowed from an immortal beast, not deriving from the true Ghost Path Method.

In my eyes, it's just crude.

Numerous thoughts arise on how to dismantle the formation she is laying, how to restore the outskirts of the Netherworld she has twisted back to their original state, and how to use this to capture Oh Hye-seo instead.

My mind is bursting like fireworks.

'It would be very easy to twist the outskirts of the Netherworld by using the attraction force of Great Desert to Dead Sea.'

A feeling I never had while learning martial arts or orthodox cultivation methods.

It feels as if a bright path is visible before my eyes.

Could it be because the root of Seo Li's talent in devilish arts came from me?

'It's ridiculous. It seems so easy...'

I suppress a wry smile internally and maintain my neutral expression.

Oh Hye-seo lets us enter the Black Ghost Valley, and I decide to leave her alone for now.

She appears to be plotting something, but I'm confident I can reverse her scheme and punish her properly when she takes action.

"Hmm, what's this? Something feels strange..."

The first to sense the incongruity is the one with the vast consciousness, Kim Yeon.

She tilts her head, seemingly aware that her mind had momentarily become dazed.

However, Jeon Myeong-hoon and Oh Hyun-seok look puzzled, not noticing at all, and I deliberately don't inform them.

After a while.

We encounter a gatekeeper on our way to the dock of the Nether Crossing Ship.

"Grand Cultivator Seo Eun-hyun is here to meet Kang Min-hee, a disciple of Black Ghost Valley."

The gatekeeper jiangshi is startled by my words, and they summon a ghost from their sleeve to send towards the Nether Crossing Ship.

Oh Hyun-seok and Jeon Myeong-hoon slightly frown at the sight of the jiangshi, but Kim Yeon, who has seen countless puppets, appears unfazed.

"Yes, elder. I have sent a messenger ghost to the inner valley so a response will arrive shortly!"

Shortly after, two figures fly over from the direction of the Nether Crossing Ship.

It's the familiar Heo Gwak and Heo Ryeong.

Heo Ryeong greets me with a slightly tense face, while Heo Gwak stares at me with an expression of incomprehension.

"Is there something on my face?"

"Oh, no! My apologies."

While he still has the look of incomprehension, he bites his lip and lowers his head.

"Now that I think about it, Senior must have been hiding your true cultivation back then. I was inexperienced and dared to be rude to you, Senior."

Heo Gwak, seemingly thinking that I'm a monster who had hidden their cultivation, bows his head and apologizes for what happened at the Flying Immortal Platform.

'He wouldn't believe me if I said I was really just at the Nascent Soul stage back then, would he?'

Rather, he would probably think I'm mocking him, so I just nod slightly.

"Alright, that's that. As you know, I've come to meet Kang Min-hee, the disciple of the Black Ghost Valley."

Heo Ryeong awkwardly smiles and speaks.

"Ahaha, Senior. I greatly apologize, but disciple Kang Min-hee is currently in secluded cultivation at the Black Ghost Valley's secret grounds. May I ask the reason you wish to meet her...?"

"It's nothing special. I just want to meet her because she's from my hometown. By the way, what's her current realm?"

"Currently, that child has entered the Heavenly Being stage."

"Hmm..."

I look at Heo Ryeong and Heo Gwak.

'They're lying.'

Are they worried that I might take her away if I know her current cultivation realm?

"For now, just bring her here. If she's at the Heavenly Being stage, she should at least be able to send a clone, no? Even if she can't move due to her seclusion, she should be able to send a clone."

"Yes, of course! I will bring her in person, not just her clone!"

Heo Ryeong signals to Heo Gwak with his eyes, who then quickly runs off to fetch Kang Min-hee.

In the meantime, Heo Ryeong leads us outside of the Nether Crossing Ship to a flower garden at the highest peak of the Black Ghost Valley.

Chechecheche—

When we arrive, various beautiful flowers and plants are in full bloom, and there are no traces of ghostly energy or yin energy to be found.

'This is the perfect place to entertain guests.'

Following Heo Ryeong's lead, we enter and sit in the pavilion at the center of the garden.

Clap clap—

At Heo Ryeong's clap, beautifully adorned jiangshi served us tea.

"First of all, welcome to the Black Ghost Valley, Sir Grand Cultivator Seo. I heard you recently became a Grand Cultivator."

"That's right."

"That's very impressive. The future of our Human Race has become even brighter."

Heo Ryeong flatters me, engaging in small talk for a while.

Then, after a while, he subtly shifts the conversation to the main topic.

"By any chance...has sir Grand Cultivator come to the Black Ghost Valley with regards to the matter acquiring your subordinate force?"

It really isn't for such a reason. I just came to meet Kang Min-hee, but it somehow seems like my actions are being explained that way.

"Let's talk more in detail after seeing Kang Min-hee."

"Ah, yes, yes. Of course!"

A little while later.

Heo Gwak is flying over with a disciple at the Heavenly Being stage from afar.

It's Kang Min-hee.

I slightly frown at the sight.

'A clone.'

It appears they brought over the clone at the Heavenly Being stage instead of the main body as promised.

'Well, showing a disciple who reached the Four-Axis stage in a hundred years to a suspicious Grand Cultivator has no benefits.'

Soon, Kang Min-hee enters the pavilion.

She seems to slightly bite her lips at the sight of me, then formally greets me from the opposite side.

"Greetings, sir Grand Cultivator Seo Eun-hyun. It's been a long time since we last met."

I feel a slight bitterness at her formality and shake my head.

"Drop the formalities. And..."

I look at her and ask,

"If it's you, you must have noticed, right? It seems a loach has entered your sect. What are you going to do about it?"

Flinch!

Kang Min-hee gives a sly smirk at my words.

"Rather than a loach...it's best a fly. And when it comes to flies, it's best to swat them down..."

As expected, she has also noticed Oh Hye-seo's disruptions, her eyes gleaming.

Even if Oh Hye-seo spread the light of the Lustrous Glaze Peacock, the Kang Min-hee in front of me is just a clone controlled by the main body and hence wouldn't be affected.

Heo Gwak and Heo Ryeong look puzzled as if they can't follow our conversation, and I ask Kang Min-hee another question.

"The fly is quite big...how do you plan to catch it at the Heavenly Being stage? You'd need at least the qualifications to handle attraction force."

Kang Min-hee's eyes glint at my words.

And Heo Gwak and Heo Ryeong, catching the hidden thorn in my words, flinch and shudder.

"...I apologize, Senior!"

"...We were too presumptuous. Please punish us!"

As expected of old monsters who have lived for at least thousands of years, they immediately kneel before me.

But at the same time, they cleverly avoid mentioning Kang Min-hee's main body being hidden, showing their cunning by seeking forgiveness first.

'Truly old monsters that can't be underestimated.'

Clicking my tongue, I ask,

"It seems something is wrong with your sect...and it appears only Cultivator Kang and I have noticed. As an outsider, I might cause reluctance if I interfere, so I will give you a chance. What will you do?"

At my words, the two exchange glances before looking at Kang Min-hee.

Kang Min-hee seems to transmit a message, and after a while, their faces turn to shock.

"Th-that happened?"

"Why didn't we notice anything..."

Sweat starts dripping from their faces as they speak.

"...If only you and sir Grand Cultivator can sense it, we have no choice...We will open the gate for a moment so come out, Min-hee."

Kang Min-hee nods, and the two bow deeply to me in apology.

"We have overstepped. We confess our sin of daring to hide our disciple's realm from you, Senior."

"Did I not say she was from the same hometown? I am well aware of Cultivator Kang's talent. She has always been someone exceptional."

"..."

Kang Min-hee seems to want to say something at my words, but glances at Heo Gwak and Heo Ryeong before clamping her mouth shut again.

"Then I will open the gate!"

Kuguguguk!

Heo Ryeong and Heo Gwak draw something like a formation on the spot, and attraction force begins to emanate.

Kuguguguguk!

'I thought she could only come out on days with strong yin energy, but it seems she can come out regardless with the combined strengths of two Four-Axis Grand Elders.

Soon, a rift in space opens in the middle of the pavilion, and an overwhelming chill spills out.

Chuaaa—

The cold spreads out in a circle, and from the pitch-black darkness, a woman appears.

Suruk—

Clad in a black robe formed from the surrounding darkness, she turns her eyes burning faintly with blue ghost fire towards me.

It's Kang Min-hee.

Chechechechecheche—

Her clone at the Heavenly Being stage is absorbed by her main body as soon as she enters the Bright Cold Realm, and I feel the outskirts of the Netherworld quiver nearby.

I smile slightly as I look at Kang Min-hee's main body.

"It's been a while, Colleague Kang."

"Ah...it really has been a while, sir Grand Cultivator Seo. But since this is an official setting, I'd appreciate it if you could separate public and private matters."

Kang Min-hee openly shows her discomfort with a forced smile, while Jeon Myeong-hoon and Oh Hyun-seok have expressions that say, 'As expected.'

Kim Yeon appears slightly restless.

"Well, for now, would it be fine if we start by swatting the fly?"

I smile and raise my attraction force.

"That is our first priority."

Kang Min-hee looks down towards the vicinity of the Nether Crossing Ship, exuding ghostly energy.

"Then, since we need to untangle the distorted outskirts first, the two Grand Elders should..."

It's when Kang Min-hee reaches towards the twisted outskirts of the Netherworld,

[Oh my, is our Sales Development Department having a fun party without me?]

A clear and resonant voice suddenly springs out from somewhere.

The voice startles Kim Yeon, Kang Min-hee, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and Oh Hyun-seok, turning their faces into shock.

Even I am so caught off guard that I flinch in surprise.

[Ahaha, let me join in too~]

Wriggle, wriggle!

"...!"

My 'shadow' suddenly squirms, and a woman dressed in white appears from within, smiling brightly with her arms outstretched.

'How!? I didn't sense anything!'

Something is wrong.

This feeling isn't coming from Oh Hye-seo.

I immediately realize something.

'This isn't Oh Hye-seo's power. This is...Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens!?'

Instantly, I piece together past experiences and truths to weave together a certain inference.

'Seo Hweol! That bastard must have placed Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens on my shadow, and Oh Hye-seo used her power through Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens to appear here.'

Chills run down my spine!

The fact that Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens can affect such an abstract concept like a shadow is absurd, but combined with Oh Hye-seo's power, it makes my neck tingle.

Doesn't that mean Seo Hweol can snipe me from a remote distance whenever he desires?

Oh Hye-seo's projection that appeared through the power of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens smiles brightly and recites.

[Immortal beasts Lustrous Glaze Peacock, Yin Ghost Black Turtle, Mountain-Destroying Demon Ape, Black Dragon, Supreme Tiger, Azure Peng, White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus.]

Wiiiing―

A Taiji pattern forms beneath her feet, and from below it, the figures of divine immortal beasts emerge.

"Wait, you...!"

Kang Min-hee, enraged, reaches out to Oh Hye-seo, and I too brandish my All-Heavens Sword towards the sudden intruder.

But the next moment,

"Hoho, hohoho..."

"Hohohoho..."

Heo Ryeong and Heo Gwak start laughing eerily like something straight out of a nightmare, forming hand seals simultaneously.

Oh Hye-seo and Seo Hweol exert their powers at the same time.

"Blood Yin Ghost Valley Labyrinth (血陰鬼谷迷宮)."

[Myriad Spirits Earth Immortal Apparition (萬靈地仙狀).]

Space distorts.

In an instant, our surroundings turn into a pure white space.

When I look around, my colleagues are nowhere to be seen.

We have fallen into the trap set by the collaboration of Oh Hye-seo and Seo Hweol.

"Hohoho, thank you, Miss Hye-seo. Thanks to you, we were able to capture that anomaly."

The pure white space.

Inside, the projection of Seo Hweol dressed in blue robes, and the projection of Oh Hye-seo dressed in white, are conversing.

"By the way, was it necessary to reveal the technique I had hidden? It was a secret that I could hide it in shadows."

"Oh my, was it necessary? It's fun, isn't it?"

"Fun...hoho."

Seo Hweol looks at Oh Hye-seo with a bright smile.

A look that seems to say he understands whatever Oh Hye-seo is thinking.

As expected, Oh Hye-seo is also smiling. However, she is fiercely thinking as she looks at Seo Hweol.

'What is this guy thinking?'

'Does he know my plan?'

'That can't be. But Seo Hweol's techniques might be able to read thoughts, so I have to be careful.'

'I should keep trivial thoughts on the surface while contemplating important ones deeper inside.'

'Well, fine. Regardless, Seo Hweol will be leaving this otherworld created by distorting the outskirts of the Netherworld, so I'll use that gap to secretly contact Seo Eun-hyun.'

Oh Hye-seo's mind races furiously.

Then, Seo Hweol stands up from his seat.

"I can't stay in this space for too long, so I'll step outside and prepare to capture them completely. Miss Hye-seo, please maintain this space for a while."

"Leave it to me."

Oh Hye-seo stands up to see Seo Hweol off, and he turns his back to leave the white space.

At that moment,

Kuuuung―

A heavy rumbling roar is heard from somewhere.

Seo Hweol turns around and laughs softly.

"Oh dear. Well, I expected as much."

"What?"

Oh Hye-seo looks towards the origin of the sound, momentarily unable to grasp the situation.

"What in the...?"

And then,

Kwajangchang!

Cracks spread across the white space, and a hand reaches out from within, grabbing Oh Hye-seo's ankle.

"No, what is this!!!"

Oh Hye-seo's eyes widen in shock, and Seo Hweol hurriedly uses attraction force to open the door of the white space.

"No, wait! Grand Prince, Seo Hweol! Take me with you!"

Oh Hye-seo hastily calls out to Seo Hweol, but he simply laughs with a 'hoho,' stepping through the door and closing it without hesitation.

Kwaaang!

Tststst―

The white door shines brightly before dissipating into the white space.

Oh Hye-seo gasps for breath, her lips pressed tightly together as she feels the 38 eyes staring at her from behind and hears Seo Hweol's voice from ahead.

[Hoho, Miss Hye-seo. I wish you a safe return to reality. I will take good care of your body.]

"Seo Hweol...! You...!"

Kiyaaaaaaaaaa―

Kyaaaaayaa―

Huaaaaaaaaa―

The white space becomes contaminated, transforming into a garden of filthy flowers.

Clench!

A terrifying arm straight from a nightmare grasps Oh Hye-seo's shoulder.

[It's been a while, Colleague Oh.]