Chapter 343 - The Deceased (5)

'There's no need to kill them.'

I slowly draw the attraction force of my main body through this physical body.

I'm merely lending this guy power, and whatever he does with it is his own business.

There's no reason for me to directly intervene in his personal grudge.

Wiiiiing―

Through attraction force, I gather energy to form a barrier.

Although it's hastily made and crude, it's enough to prevent the Qi Building master guy from breaking through.

Kuarururue―

"Kugh, you! What kind of sorcery is this!"

Scarlet flames pound against the barrier.

'What spiritual root does this guy have? Ah, water and metal. But he hasn't mastered both, only reaching Qi Building with basic water-attribute methods.'

Ignoring the old man who's waving a fire staff and spewing flames above my barrier, I vibrate the spiritual energy within his body.

Wo-woong―

The Celestial Energy Guidance of the Heavenly Being stage is ultimately an inferior version of the Four-Axis stage's attraction force.

Using water attribute spiritual power as a medium, attraction force manifests on the Plane of Qi.

Kugugugugu!

In an instant, the sky begins to darken.

Noticing something unusual, the nearby Qi Building stage cultivators look up at the sky.

[Rain.]

And as I stretch my hand toward the sky,

Shwaaaaa—

Rain begins to fall.

Torrential rain starts pouring over the area that has been blazing all around.

[Fix.]

I fix the phenomenon of celestial energy in the sky.

For seven days and nights, rain will probably fall over this land.

Only then does the 12th Great Qi Building Master seem to notice something strange, his eyes widening.

"W-Wait...you, your eyes...are flipped...? Yes, Welcoming Deity (接神)! You're borrowing power from a higher entity!"

I move the man's body to look around at the Qi Building cultivators.

They flinch and avoid making eye contact with me by looking down, but then they all suddenly get startled

"Th-that shadow..."

"It's turning into a monster with nineteen heads..."

"Shh! Everyone, stay quiet!"

The 12th Great Qi Building Master, indeed seeming more perceptive, doesn't act rashly. He forms hand seals and speaks.

"Yu Hui! In the end, did you offer your body to such a malicious entity? Get a hold of yourself!"

Wo-woong―

Perhaps it's part of a technique. As the Qi Building Master's voice echoes, I feel a stimulation in my consciousness.

'A type of consciousness method, is it? He's trying to reach the person I've possessed.'

With my consciousness, I could have prevented the voice from being conveyed, but I let it pass through.

Soon after, I feel the consciousness of the man whose body I have taken slightly awakening.

"Ke, kehe..."

Yu Hui moves his lips and laughs.

"What's the matter, old man? Keep attacking. I have successfully connected with a great being and am borrowing their power!"

"Kugh, you fool! This is merely a matter between your clan and ours! How could you borrow the power of such an evil otherworldly entity?"

The old man furiously rebukes Yu Hui with anger that reaches the sky.

"Come to your senses! Are you really going to bring otherworldly power into this land?"

"What does it matter...! If it's land I can't have anyway, it doesn't matter!"

"Kugh, did you bring that otherworldly entity here without even knowing what it might do!"

'... I won't do anything extreme.'

I inwardly clear my throat and speak.

[Let's end the chatter. Leave now.]

Wo-woong―

I reverse the attraction force, converting it to repulsion.

Koooong―

"Kuugh Yu Hui! Think carefully! That being is an evil entity from another world!!!"

Most of the Qi Building stage cultivators are flung hundreds of li away, but the Qi Building stage Master endures to the end, shouting.

Judging by his intent, he seems to be genuinely afraid and worried about the presence of 'me.'

"Do not trust otherworldly beings! I'm saying this not just as your enemy but as a cultivator of the Mengyun Continent! Those entities are evil, vicious, and have no tears or mercy...!"

'... I'm not that bad, though...'

"They are beings that must never be dealt with carelessly!"

I apply a bit more repulsion force, and eventually, the Qi Building Master can no longer hold on and is sent flying.

Hwiiiiiii―

Not only the Qi Building cultivators but even the Qi Refining cultivators causing trouble in the area all flee.

I observe Yu Hui's physical body.

'If it's me, I could immediately elevate him to the Nascent Soul stage but... Just by forcefully infusing Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, that much is possible.

But I click my tongue while looking at Yu Hui's soul.

'If I do that, his soul will shatter instantly. It's already on the verge of breaking just from coming into contact with a strand of my consciousness.'

Elevating him to even the Core Formation stage will be difficult.

Wo-woong―

The best I can do is give him a blessing by activating his energy pathways, making it easier for him to achieve the 28 stars of Qi Building.

[I shall take my leave now. And I will take my payment for lending you my power.]

When it comes to the Integration stage or Star Shattering stage, they say you can receive much more diverse compensations after lending power.

However, for ordinary Four-Axis stage cultivators, the compensation one can receive is limited.

The Five Blessings are Longevity, Wealth, Health, Love of Virtue, and Acceptance at Fate's End.

Why does Longevity come first among the Five Blessings?

The reason is simple.

'Longevity is the most basic resource for building the Five Blessings Axis.'

To accumulate the Axis of Longevity, one must receive something precious related to lifespan.

So, I take their lifespan directly.

The Axis of Wealth requires something precious related to wealth.

And since the longer the lifespan, the more opportunities there are to accumulate wealth, lifespan is also related to wealth.

The same goes for the Axis of Health.

Health is life force, which is related to lifespan.

Although Love of Virtue is a bit different, it can also be obtained through lifespan.

Therefore, those who build the Five Blessings Axes usually take just the lifespan from the majority of people.

Of course, the vast majority would take all the remaining lifespan at once after lending their power, but I can't bring myself to do that and only take ten years of lifespan.

Wo-woong―

When I open my eyes, the Void Spirit Pond glows brightly with auspicious energy shining within.

It's Yu Hui's lifespan.

Following Yeon Wei's instructions, I place Yu Hui's lifespan into the formation and offer a simple ritual.

[O Realm (界) of Nether Ghost (冥鬼), I offer the cherished lifespan of a being. Please bestow upon me the Blessing of Longevity (壽).]

Wo-woong—

The Nether Ghost Realm responds, accepting Yu Hui's lifespan.

Simultaneously, ghostly energy moves and lodges itself as a ray of light in one corner of my dantian.

Paaatt!

'This is...'

Should I call it a very small tower?

Or rather a toothpick?

Such a small stick-like object settles next to the Axis of Wealth in a corner of my dantian.

'This is the foundation of the Axis of Longevity...'

It seems like I'll need to repeat this process about a thousand times to complete the Longevity Axis.

'A thousand times...'

One will need to receive a lifespan totaling ten thousand years to establish the Axis of Longevity.

I contemplate deeply while sitting.

Taking ten thousand years of lifespan from someone.

Even if it's little by little, is this really the right thing to do?

As I ponder, Yeon Wei clicks her tongue in displeasure.

"I see you only took about ten years of lifespan. What realm was the person who borrowed your power?"

"He was in the Qi Building stage."

"What! If you took all the remaining lifespan, it would be three hundred years! Where did you squander three hundred years' worth of lifespan to only bring back ten years!"

Yeon Wei grumbles, as if feeling wronged.

"Well...is there really a need to go that far?"

"What do you mean 'is there a need!' It's a fair trade they agreed to!"

"Fair..."

Indeed, it might seem fair at first glance if they agreed.

But I still don't like this method, and I had decided to take the minimum lifespan needed to accumulate the axes.

I nod, letting Yeon Wei's nagging go in one ear and out the other.

"Understood. I'll think about it next time."

"You rascal, you're not really listening to me, are you!"

"Aigoo..."

She mutters angrily and starts to leave the basement.

At that moment,

Kugugugung!

"Hmm...?"

Suddenly, the entire Wuji Religious Order shakes.

I quickly transform into my Ghost King form and sharpen my senses.

Yeon Wei glares upward from the basement.

"Hoho, it seems intruders have arrived."

"Hmm..."

I'm about to go out and deal with them immediately, but then I remember it's almost 'night' and sit back on the chair.

"Stay seated. I'll go take a look at which great fools have intruded. The Law Protectors will handle them well, so don't worry."

At her words, I create a Gang Sphere clone to assess the situation while I wait.

'I hope they don't reach this room...'

________________________________________

Kugugugugu―

Wuji Religious Order.

Within the training grounds of the cult's followers.

Three figures appear.

Baek Rin, the White Vein Gate Leader, with a body made of white bones.

Eum Wa, the Shadow Yin Gate Leader, wearing a veil of shadows.

Wei Shi-hon, the Death Corpse Sect Leader, emitting green corpse energy from his entire body.

The three cultivators at the Four-Axis stage step into the training grounds, shuddering.

"Such wickedness! What have they done to the kidnapped ghostly creatures!?"

Before their eyes, a few ghostly creatures trapped inside puppets are visible.

Each ghostly creature has their own specially crafted puppet or curse doll, making them all have somewhat eerie, grotesque appearances.

"Stuffing ghostly creatures into those narrow, suffocating curse dolls! One can clearly guess the insane cult leader's hobbies!"

Eum Wa shouts in a voice filled with rage.

"They look hideous and terrifying! What kind of twisted mind thought of making such horrid monsters!"

Wei Shi-hon screams as he looks at a puppet resembling General Seo.

Then, the ghostly creature inside the puppet resembling General Seo shouts back in fury.

[You bastard! How dare you insult the puppet with the form that our cult leader treasures the most!]

"Wait, you are surely...the Bone Sanctuary Sect Leader under our White Vein Gate, are you not?"

Baek Rin recognizes the ghostly creature's voice and is startled.

The puppet resembling General Seo, the Bone Sanctuary Sect Leader, nods.

[That's right. I was the Bone Sanctuary Sect Leader.]

"Have you no pride in your sect!? How could the leader of a sect betray their superior sect and become the pawn of a devilish cult!"

[Hah. Pride in the sect? I used to have something like that, but my thoughts changed after joining the Wuji Religious Order. Pride or whatever the such, even the Bone Sanctuary Secrets we teach our disciples is nothing but trash. To truly provide a satisfying life to the sect's disciples who desire a peaceful life, it is most important to join a force that provides good welfare benefits! What kind of welfare did you provide to the sects under your control? Did you not give any benefits! You only took our tribute without offering anything in return, only exchanging promises of protection in times of crisis. Instead of being loyal to you exploitative scoundrels, I have chosen to be loyal to the Wuji Religious Order, which provides the best welfare, benefits, and a satisfying quality of life.]

"What is this nonsense! You've completely lost your mind under the Wuji Religious Order's brainwashing sorcery!"

Baek Rin can only lament the vile acts of the cult as he looks at his former subordinate who has become a fanatic.

"Step aside! Even though you've become a brainwashed fanatic, I can't kill my former subordinate. I'll give you a chance!"

[Former subordinate my foot! Now that the slave you used to exploit is seeking welfare benefits, you call them a brainwashed fanatic! You filthy exploiters, let's settle this here and now!]

The Bone Sanctuary Sect Leader roars in anger at Baek Rin's words.

[Come―here―now!!!]

Kugugugu!

Kagagak. kagak, kagak, kagak―

At the same time, the ghostly creatures given puppet bodies by Seo Eun-hyun gather at the command of the Bone Sanctuary Sect Lord.

In an instant, the western training grounds of the Wuji Religious Order is filled with countless curse dolls.

The three Four-Axis cultivators look at the myriad cursed dolls blocking their path with tense expressions.

With pale skin and white bones, not the sturdy bodies of jiangshi, but the stiff, lifeless bodies of puppets.

Moreover, they can't control their expressions at will and always wear the same face, making them appear eerily bizarre.

As they look at the pitiable ghostly creatures that have turned into puppets, their eyes burn even more intensely.

But then, Wei Shi-hon looks up at the sky.

"Look here, Baek Rin, Eum Wa!"

"What is it?"

"We don't have much time. If we dawdle here with these creatures, it will eventually become daylight, and the cult leader will descend upon this place."

"Hmm..."

"Then..."

Wei Shi-hon's eyes shine as he looks at Baek Rin and Eum Wa.

"I'll hold them off. You two go to the cult leader and cut off the root of this evil cult!"

"Hmm...!"

"Wei Shi-hon...!"

"Go on ahead!"

As Wei Shi-hon steps forward, his body begins to enlarge.

Kugugugu!

The corpse energy emanating from his body turns into fur.

Wei Shi-hon transforms into a monstrous beast and roars.

[Guaaaaaaah!]

Wei Shi-hon, now in his beastly form, blocks the cursed doll army, and Baek Rin and Eum Wa steel their resolve, their voices trembling.

"Wei Shi-hon!"

"Hurry, let's go! This is a precious opportunity created by Sect Leader Wei's sacrifice!"

Baek Rin leads Eum Wa quickly through the training ground, entering the interior of the cult.

Though Eum Wa seems listless at first, she soon regains her energy and runs alongside Baek Rin.

How far have they run within the cult?

The two ghostly creatures suddenly notice something odd.

"Wait a minute, Sect Leader Baek. The surroundings..."

"I see. It's a formation."

Paaatt!

Before they knew it, they were running through a fog-covered grassland.

"I'll break the formation. You keep watch."

"Understood."

Just as Baek Rin forms hand seals to break the formation.

Step, step...

Someone enters through the mist.

"Who goes there!"

Eum Wa shouts, eyes wide at the figure emerging from the mist.

And, the figure who appeared from the mist.

A woman dressed in light pink palace attire, Kim Yeon, greets them demurely.

"Hello. I am Kim Yeon, the Left Law Protector of the Wuji Religious Order."

"Kugh, the Mysterious Bizarre Ghost King!"

"To think we'd run into the most wicked, vile, and cunning being!"

Baek Rin and Eum Wa are taken aback, and Kim Yeon smiles faintly at them.

"You two cannot pass through here."

Baek Rin and Eum Wa look at each other and nod.

"We know you are the one responsible for the brainwashing in the Wuji Religious Order. But that means if we subdue you, we can find a way to break the brainwashing of the innocent ghosts."

Baek Rin says, looking at Kim Yeon with a solemn voice.

"We will defeat you and free everyone from their brainwashing!"