Chapter 217 - The Clown and the Performance (6)

Swoooosh—

Above a vast canyon.

A bizarre fortress flies in.

Inside the fortress, gears endlessly turn and the sound of something continuously clicking can be heard, evoking a sense of strangeness in those who listen.

Click, click, click, click….

However, the fortress that’s been floating in the air and moving forward suddenly comes to a halt at one point.

Kugugugu—

Far away, a faint barrier is spread out over a region with white mountain ranges.

It's the territory of the Earth Tribe True Dragon Alliance.

Wo-woong—

Moreover, three Integration stage Grand Cultivators exit the barrier after seeing the bizarre fortress, their faces tense as they begin to gather demonic power.

[So you're the notorious Mad Lord who's been infamous in all 4 directions recently!]

The Demon King of the Supreme Tiger Race growls, bristling with demonic energy, and shouts towards the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

[I don't know what business you have in the True Dragon Alliance’s territory, but even if it's you, if you intend to enter our domain you must be prepared to risk your life! I strongly advise you to turn back….]

And then.

Click, click, click!

From inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, countless cannon barrels protrude, aiming their muzzles towards the barrier.

Weeeing!

Accompanied by a buzzing sound, countless bee puppets fly out from inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, starting to load cannonballs into the cannons.

The cannonballs are Four-Axis stage General puppets.

Flap, flap!

As the flag puppets flutter their flags to signal, the cannon operator puppets fire the cannons.

Boom, boom, boom!

Ignoring the persuasions of the Supreme Tiger King, the Mad Lord's Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress fires the General puppets towards the barrier.

Zeeerrrrng!

The General puppets are launched towards the barrier and crash headfirst into it, creating cracks throughout.

However, the Demon Kings merely smirk, infusing more power into the barrier.

[Ha, no matter how infamous you, the Mad Lord, might be, the barrier of the True Dragon Alliance, which borrows power from the body of the Entering Nirvana stage Ancestor….]

Simultaneously, beams of light shoot out in all directions from the bodies of the General puppets, beginning to carve countless circuits on one side of the barrier.

And then.

Flash!

Screeeech!

As if spreading like an infection, circuits spread to one corner of the barrier. After a brief moment, the barrier splendidly opens.

[…]

Seeing this, the Integration stage Demon Kings are speechless for a moment, floating in the air before hastily transforming back into their true forms.

[Damn it! Stop that human madman!]

[No matter how formidable he is, it's barely been 100 years since he ascended; there's no way he can pass through a gate guarded by three Integration stage Demon Kings!]

However, the gates of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress opened.

Screeeech!

Click!

Along with that, terrifying puppets begin to pour out from inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

Booooom!

Billions, no, perhaps hundreds of billions of puppets burst out crazily, turning the heavens and earth black with their numbers.

Among them, there are also a frighteningly large number of Four-Axis stage puppets.

The Demon Kings feel the momentum of the Four-Axis stage General puppets and are tense, but they do not lose their confidence.

[It's, it's okay. No matter how many Four-Axis puppets there are, with three Integration stage Demon Kings gathered here….]

Then, at some point, Integration stage puppets begin to appear from the fortress.

Koooom!

With an enormous momentum, 28 Integration stage presences emerge from within.

Overwhelmed by this force, the three Integration stage Demon Kings don’t hesitate to scatter and flee, not even looking back as they do so.

Integration stage puppets, nine per each Demon King, begin to chase after them, leaving the strongest puppet remaining on the scene, the last Integration stage puppet.

[She] returns inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

[She] enters the control room at the heart of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, walking towards a hunchbacked old man sucking on his fingers beneath a throne inside.

Walking towards the hunchback, [She] picks up the hunchbacked old man in a princess carry and sits herself on the throne.

The hunchback, cradled gently in [Her] embrace, continues sucking on his fingers.

Mad Lord Jo Yeon manipulates [Her] to command the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress from atop the throne, advancing it forward.

Ah… Finally, in my lifetime, I get to attend Seo Hweol's wedding ceremony. That guy Seo Hweol, despite having married several women, has never invited me!? That can't be right, it must have been a mistake. I will correct it. I will make it right. Seo Hweol is just an imperfect being after all. Along with the wedding, I will evolve him into a new being at his most beautiful moment!"

Excited at the thought of embalming Seo Hweol at the moment of his marriage to create a masterpiece that will last forever, the Mad Lord mobilized all his talents to assault and capture Integration stage Grand Cultivators wherever he found them, turning them into puppets.

This resulted in the creation of the 27 Integration stage puppets made during this time.

Thrilled by the thought of embalming Seo Hweol at the moment of love, the Mad Lord's madness reached its peak, and his demonic talent also reached its zenith.

This is the result.

Although these hastily made Integration stage puppets are not as durable or strong as real Integration stage Grand Cultivators,

With as many as 27 of them, well-arranged formations can even take on 10 Grand Cultivators.

The Mad Lord, filled with hope and joy of evolving Seo Hweol, sheds tears of excitement and emotion as he orders the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

"Advance! Advance! To Seo Hweol! To Seo Hweol! We can't be late for Seo Hweol's wedding ceremony! Bring Seo Hweol before me! Seo Hweol! Seo Hweol! I will capture Seo Hweol and evolve him! Seo Hweol! SeoHweolSeoHweolSeoHweolSeoHweolSeoHweolSeoEunHyunSeoHweolSeoHweolSeoHweolSeoHweolSeoHweolIwilldefinitelycapturehimandevolvehimintohismostbeautifulmomentthatlastsforever...!!!"

With eyes spinning in madness.

The Mad Lord and the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress begins heading towards the True Dragon Alliance headquarters, the Serving Command Ark.

I can feel it.

The Mad Lord's Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress has entered the True Dragon Alliance's territory.

Its speed is clearly that of an Integration stage Grand Cultivator.

'The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress has evolved to the Integration stage.'

This isn't merely a single-minded intention to modify Seo Hweol.

The obsession to attend Seo Hweol's wedding ceremony and to personally embalm the moment of Seo Hweol's marriage created this result.

'At this speed, it will probably arrive at the Serving Command Ark in two hours.'

That news has already arrived here before, alerting everyone in the True Dragon Alliance.

It’s almost time for the plan to be set in motion.

However, I am inexplicably unable to move, caught in a strange feeling.

'It's been since meeting Oh Hye-seo.'

Since meeting Oh Hye-seo, I've felt something strange dominating my mind.

For some reason, a bizarre disharmony is controlling my thoughts.

But I can't quite figure out what this disharmony is.

'What on earth is this...'

I grit my teeth and press down on my throbbing head.

'Could it be that Seo Hweol planted a trap in her without Oh Hye-seo knowing?'

The most rational suspicion is that Seo Hweol had somehow activated a trap in me through Oh Hye-seo without her knowing.

I ponder the source of the pain.

'At least the flow of spiritual energy isn't communicating with anywhere. Seo Hweol isn't trying something in real-time against me. Is it more like a curse? A curse that triggers if Oh Hye-seo meets someone other than him?'

However, as a first-class curse sorcerer myself, I don't feel the presence of a curse.

'It's not a curse. Then, there must be something...'

What exactly is this disharmony?

I suppress the throbbing in my brain and think.

'But there's no time left. Soon, the Mad Lord will storm towards the Serving Command Palace. Then...'

Click!

For now, I seal the part of my consciousness that suffers from the disharmony using the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.

I also cram in the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation to modify the seal so even if Seo Hweol tries something through the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner, it will be futile.

'Good, now it's useless even if he tries anything.'

Judging by the lack of perceived spiritual energy flow, it's impossible for Seo Hweol to be watching me or to know that I've returned.

So, all I have to do now is execute the plan.

Tssk tssk!

I use the Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace on Kim Yeon for the final time.

Flash!

Until the last moment, her consciousness does not return.

But her condition has improved significantly compared to the beginning.

"Uh, um…"

Compared to her initially dull gaze, her eyes are now significantly clearer.

If left as is, she will naturally regain consciousness over time.

I informed Hong Fan, so even if I die, Hong Fan will take care of her.

"Then, take care."

I stroke the still somewhat dazed Kim Yeon's cheek and turn around.

"Ah, ah..."

That's when.

"...?"

Tssk tssk...

From Kim Yeon, the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon bursts forth and a strand of her consciousness clings to me.

Somehow, as if knowing I am about to go far away, it seems to not want to let go.

It feels like it’s holding on to me.

I look back at her.

Her consciousness has not yet returned.

However, seeing that strand of Kim Yeon's consciousness clinging to me pitifully, I choose not to detach it and soar into the sky.

Wo-woong!

The heaven and earth spiritual energy vibrates.

The energies of Integration stage Grand Cultivators swirl around from all directions.

[Emergency! Emergency! The Mad Lord has invaded!]

[The Mad Lord is coming to the Serving Command Ark!]

[Stop that madman! Stop him!]

Now, the fact that the Mad Lord has invaded is widely known throughout the Earth Tribe.

Using a sound transmission talisman, I send a message to Yu-hwa and fly towards the Serving Command Ark using the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.

Up in the sky.

Kugugugu!

There, a blue dragon can be seen swiftly flying towards the Serving Command Ark.

It’s Seo Hweol, evacuating to the Serving Command Ark upon hearing that the Mad Lord is coming.

Around Seo Hweol, numerous Four-Axis stage demon beasts are following him to the Serving Command Ark.

'As expected, evacuating with his numerous supporters.'

The Serving Command Ark, in case of an emergency, can descend to the lower realm from its lowest floor, making it the ultimate evacuation and escape route.

'Of course, I have no intention of letting him escape to the lower realm.'

Seo Hweol cannot escape from us.

I take Gyu-baek, who was waiting near the Serving Command Ark, and fly up towards it.

Inside the Serving Command Ark, Seo Eun-hyun had previously laid out thousands of ultra-small General Seos.

These General Seos observe where Seo Hweol enters and where he is headed, communicating in real-time with Seo Eun-hyun and reporting Seo Hweol's location.

Seo Hweol is currently at one of the evacuation spaces on the fourth floor of the Serving Command Ark.

Among those in that evacuation space, numerous demon beasts are tightly gathered around Seo Hweol.

"Sir Seo Hweol, I heard you ascended from the lower realm alongside the Mad Lord Jo Yeon. Just how powerful is he that you had to flee here?"

"Is he really as dangerous as his infamy suggests?"

"Aren't you being too worried…?"

However, Seo Hweol shakes his head with a reassuring smile in response to their words.

"The Mad Lord is indeed a dangerous individual. We must not underestimate him. However, this place is the Serving Command Ark, where the highest cultivators of the Earth Tribe True Dragon Alliance gather. There is no need to be too tense. The Integration stage Demon Kings will all gather to deal with the Mad Lord, so don't worry too much. Just think of this as one of the few opportunities for all of us to gather together."

"To see such a crisis as an opportunity, Sir Seo Hweol truly has exceptional thoughts."

"You flatter me."

As they’re having a pleasant conversation, they suddenly look in one direction, startled.

Seo Hweol too suddenly narrows his eyes, glaring somewhere with vertically slit pupils.

"This, this is…"

"Isn't this the aura of Blood Yin devilish arts!?"

The faces of the demon beasts are filled with shock.

"It's certain! The Blood Yin Heavenly Fiends have invaded the Serving Command Ark!"

"I'll show them who they’re dealing with right now!"

The demon beasts grit their teeth, feeling the dense miasma of the Blood Yin Realm.

One of the demon beasts stands up and shouts.

"First of all, it's dangerous for all of us to go there together. How about only a few of us form a group and go?"

"Hmm, that's a good idea. The energy we're feeling is only around the Heavenly Being stage anyway…"

Most of those gathered here are Four-Axis cultivators with Seo Hweol at the forefront.

Even if it is the power of a Blood Yin Realm Heavenly Fiend, there is no real need to fear.

However, Seo Hweol suddenly smiles and shouts to the assembly.

"That won't do, everyone."

At his words, numerous Four-Axis demon beasts look at Seo Hweol with puzzled eyes.

"Yes?"

“What do you mean, Sir Seo Hweol?”

Then Seo Hweol starts explaining with a kind face.

"'A true predator uses all its strength in the hunt, no matter how big or small the prey.' Most of you must know this saying. We must not be complacent, even if it's just a Heavenly Being stage Heavenly Fiend."

Hearing Seo Hweol’s words, numerous Four-Axis demon beasts nod.

“Especially if a Blood Yin Heavenly Fiend has come here, it might have opened a portal connected to the Blood Yin Realm within the Serving Command Ark. If so, the Heavenly Fiend can summon Esteemed Ones from the Blood Yin Realm, so caution is the best policy.”

“Indeed, we were too rash.”

“No, I might be overreacting. Even if it's just a Heavenly Being stage fiend, let's all go together for a walk.”

Seo Hweol smiles faintly, leading the numerous demon beasts towards the place where the turbidity is felt.

And then.

Suddenly, Seo Hweol stops in his tracks.

“…? Sir Seo Hweol, what's the matter?”

As Seo Hweol stops, the demon beasts ask him in confusion.

Seo Hweol, as if it’s nothing, smiles and replies.

“Ah, I just remembered I left something around here last time. I'll quickly grab it and join you, so please go ahead without me.”

“Is there anything we can help with?”

“I appreciate the thought, but it's fine. Please go ahead.”

“Yes, well. Understood.”

Thus, numerous members of the demon race disappear towards the location where Seo Eun-hyun is spreading devilish energy through Yuan Yu, leaving Seo Hweol alone.

Seo Hweol does not move from his spot.

After a while.

Ssssshhhh—

Black curse spells burst from Seo Hweol’s entire body, revealing Seo Hweol being bound by them.

Seo Hweol, smiling faintly, looks in one direction and speaks.

“It’s been a while, Daoist Seo. Seeing you well eases my mind.”

The blood that Seo Hweol gave me to consume and transform, accepting Seo Hweol's Sea Dragon True Blood, wasn't just absorbed with the thought of covering it with the Black Dragon’s True Blood.

Giving blood to a curse sorcerer means giving the most fundamental medium for a curse.

From the day I received Seo Hweol's blood, I was in a state where I could curse Seo Hweol at any time.

Using Seo Hweol's blood as a medium, I could transfer curses to Seo Hweol whenever and as much as I wanted.

Originally, I intended to use a curse to briefly bind Seo Hweol's feet.

When Yu Hwa arrives shortly after, I planned to remove the few demon beasts who were helping Seo Hweol from his side with her help.

But, why?

“Why?”

Feeling uneasy, I glare at Seo Hweol.

“Why did you send away all the demon beasts that could protect you?”

I didn't expect him to send away everyone who could aid him.

Rather, Seo Hweol's actions make me anxious, not knowing what schemes he has.

Seo Hweol does not answer but just gives an ambiguous smile.

“To ascend from the lower realm so quickly, especially considering the spiritual energy is much weaker there, making it take longer to recover your cultivation… To raise your cultivation so quickly, you must have indeed been a high being who fell.”

“You're not going to talk?”

Right now, when Yu Hwa is rescuing Bai Nong.

I have to face Seo Hweol purely with my wit and ability.

But I’m not particularly worried.

No matter how close to an Integration stage Demon King Seo Hweol is, he's already cursed.

“If you don’t want to talk, then don’t.”

I take out the poison that Hong Fan made for me from the storage bag.

This poison amplifies the sensation of pain by 60,000 times for a certain period.

Compared to that, its lethality is almost nonexistent, a drug made solely for the purpose of pain.

Without hesitation, I open the jade bottle and swallow the poison.

Then, I take out the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner, feed it with plenty of curse spells to create a Black Ghost Curse Banner, and thrust it into my chest.

Pffft!

“…!!!”

The pain feels like it’s ripping my mind apart.

No, it definitely is.

My brain feels incandescent with whiteness.

A mortal would have died from the pain long ago, but cultivators, with their robust bodies and expansive consciousness, do not easily faint or die from pain.

That means, I have to fully experience the sensation of pain amplified 60,000 times.

“…!!!”

I am unable to speak.

However, even in pain that feels like my spirit is vaporizing and my consciousness disintegrating, I smile faintly.

Ssssshhhh—

The curses I had placed on Seo Hweol glow, and Seo Hweol also experiencing the pain, amplified by the curse!

“…!!!”

Seo Hweol, with trembling hands, clutches his head and kneels on one knee.

‘Even for an Integration stage Demon King, this must be quite hard to endure…!’

My tolerance for pain has already become much stronger.

Yet, the pain is enough to vaporize my mind.

Such a level of pain should somewhat affect even the pinnacle of Integration stage cultivators!

Ziiing!

Bleeding from my seven orifices, I look at Seo Hweol through my blurry vision.

‘Seo Hweol, that guy…’

And as I watch Seo Hweol writhing in pain, I feel a profound sense of strangeness.

Seo Hweol, even while kneeling and clutching his head, is smiling.

His eyes and pupils are trembling, and his heart essence is indeed shaken by the pain.

But somehow, his face is still!

Still smiling kindly and warmly.

It’s as if that expression of kindness and that gentle moment is forever embalmed on his face, a truly eerie sight.

At that moment, I truly feel as if Seo Hweol had put on a mask of benevolence.

'Is that, gentle smile fixed onto his face?'

Or is it that he can only smile like that?

Watching Seo Hweol, unable to let go of his kind expression even as he clearly feels pain, I feel a sense of eeriness.

‘Seo Hweol, what on earth are you…’

Creaking….

I grit my teeth and slowly begin to rise from my spot.

Noticing my movement, Seo Hweol, still clutching his head, also slowly rises.

However, we can only get up from our spots, overwhelmed by pain and unable to do anything else.

Wo-woong!

Then, the curse spells shining on Seo Hweol’s body begin to vibrate.

Zzzzt!

Sparks fly from the curse spells.

I realize that Seo Hweol is pushing the curse away.

Wo-woong!

The curse spells embedded in Seo Hweol’s body begin to rise above him, sparking flames.

‘That won’t do.’

Wheeeing!

In the midst of pain, I infuse even more pain from the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation into the curse, trying to embed the curse that is trying to detach even deeper into Seo Hweol’s body.

Zzzzt!

A tense standoff continues as sparks fly from the curse spells.

There are various ways to cast a curse,

But most curses require some ‘condition’.

The curse sorcerer must possess a part of the target’s body.

The sorcerer must know the target well.

The sorcerer’s curse spell must have touched the target.

The target must have harmed the sorcerer.

The sorcerer must harbor resentment towards the target.

If these conditions are not met and one simply tries to cast a curse, its power is significantly reduced, making it easier to shake off or dispel.

However, if the conditions are met, the curse becomes much harder to dispel.

And I have met most of these conditions.

The situation would be different before the curse was activated, but having launched the curse by surprise, the balance of this confrontation is clearly in my favor.

Kugugugu!

Thousands, tens of thousands of curse spells flow into Seo Hweol.

Seo Hweol, shedding tears of blood, exerts his energy.

Zzzzt!

Clearly, I have the advantage.

But despite that, the power of Seo Hweol, comparable to the Integration stage, is tremendous.

It’s as if I have Seo Hweol's heart in my grasp, yet Seo Hweol, little by little,

Is indeed pushing my curse back.

‘Is the difference in cultivation insurmountable?’

It can’t be helped.

Even though I have mastered the powers of Heaven, Earth, and Heart Tribes, amplifying my strength tremendously, my cultivation is merely at the Nascent Soul stage.

If this continues, the curse will surely be dispelled.

So...

About 1 Shichen (about 2 hours) later?

Sssk.

Trembling with pain, I smile.

Seo Hweol’s power is indeed great, but in 1 Shichen, there is too much I can do.

‘The pain is slowly becoming familiar. Just get a bit more used to it, and in the remaining 1 Shichen, I can push Seo Hweol to the limit.’

Just when I think so.

Seo Hweol begins to form hand seals.

‘That is…!’

Thick turbidity flows from around Seo Hweol.

Terrible screams and wails spread around as Seo Hweol forms the hand seals.

It’s neither a spell nor a demon ability.

Rather, it’s devilish arts.

Clearly one of the techniques from the Blood Yin Realm.

I closely observe the flow of devilish energy in the technique Seo Hweol is using.

‘I can feel it.’

It’s similar to the Mysterious Bizarre Gu techniques I use.

A devilish art that stealthily parasitizes someone in advance, lying dormant and detonating when needed.

Additionally, the technique of Blood Sacrifice used by Yuan Li is also mixed in.

I quickly deduce the identity of the technique Seo Hweol is using.

A technique that detonates a parasitic spell previously hidden in a target, kills them, and then uses the victim in a Blood Sacrifice!'

Ssssshhhh—

As Seo Hweol forms the final seal, he speaks.

“Tainted Soul Devouring Life Curse (濁魂食命)."

Ssssshhhh—

Suddenly, from afar, the stench of blood wafts through the air.

It’s the direction towards which the Four-Axis demon beasts, following Yuan Yu, had headed.

‘Did he place that technique on all those who follow him?’

He must have arranged for the possibility to kill them at any moment and offer them as a blood sacrifice to serve as his spare lives.

Kugugugu!

Is it because he turned about twenty Four-Axis cultivators entirely into blood sacrifices?

The energy of the blood sacrifice felt from afar is tremendous.

'If that energy is supplied to Seo Hweol now...'

He might shake off my curse instantly.

Crack….

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Even amidst the pain that muddles my consciousness, I reach into my storage bag.

Originally, I planned to do this after getting more accustomed to the pain, but now that it's come to this, I'll finish the job now.

Chalak!

I pull out an item from within the storage bag.

It’s a puppet.

A puppet used for communicating with the Mad Lord!

As soon as the puppet emerges from the storage bag, it starts rolling its eyes to check the surroundings, fixing its gaze on Seo Hweol.

“Mad, Lord… Senior. Can you hear me?”

Sssk….

I smirk and shout to the Mad Lord beyond the puppet.

“I’ll give you the coordinates of Seo Hweol’s location.”

Wheeeing!

Earth Tribe’s True Dragon Alliance.

The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is currently engaging in battle with 12 Integration stage Demon Kings near the Serving Command Ark.

The bee puppets fluttering around the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress suddenly stop their activity and land in various places on the fortress.

Wheeeing!

Along with the sound of a swarm buzzing, the bee puppets that had landed on the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress begin to flutter, preparing for something.

Wo-woong!

Simultaneously, the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress begins to move rapidly in one direction.

To the Integration stage Demon Kings, this seems as if the Mad Lord is retreating from the battlefield, bringing smiles to their faces.

“Is, is the Mad Lord trying to retreat?”

However, in the next moment, their expressions twist.

The billions of bee puppets attached to the Mad Lord’s Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress tear through space.

The Integration stage Demon Kings realize.

“Is that, spatial teleportation?”

“It should be impossible to go too far, but where is it going…”

“Wait…! The direction of that spatial teleportation…”

“No!”

“Stop it!”

The Demon Kings, pale with shock, charge towards the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

“The Mad Lord is attempting a spatial leap to the Serving Command Ark…!!!”

Receiving the signal from Seo Eun-hyun, the Mad Lord began attempting a spatial leap to the fourth floor of the Serving Command Ark.