Chapter 132: Mad Lords Grasp (2)

Chapter 132: Mad Lords Grasp (2)/translatingnovice

I bite my lip.

'First, the Mad Lord ascends in a few days.'

That means, if I can escape his grasp for just a few days, I can survive.

Boooom!

Kuaaang!

As the wasp-winged puppet opens its mouth, a massive explosion occurs, creating a mushroom cloud in the desert.

'Im not sure if I can last even a few days'

In fact, in the case of the Mad Lords puppets, they can be quickly neutralized by severing their circuits with the Formless Sword.

However, I refrain from rashly doing so, wary of arousing further interest from the Mad Lord.

'Even if he isn't interested, if he gets enraged about his creation being damaged and starts chasing me personally'

That alone is a terrifying prospect.

Buzz Buzz Buzz!

I dodge the puppets' attacks, flying over the Heaven-Treading Desert day and night for three days.

The puppets are indeed troublesome.

They don't tire.

Although I have some confidence in my stamina,

Its not enough right now.

'It hasnt been long since I underwent complete transformation. I didnt have time to train, nor have I reached the Qi Building stage to fortify my endurance.'

I grit my teeth.

'I hope the Mad Lord leaves as soon as possible'

And then, seven more days pass.

Boom!

The number of Mad Lords puppets chasing me has doubled.

I grit my teeth even harder.

The Mad Lord is still pursuing me, even past the original time hed ascend.

'Damn, this wont work.'

I need a way to completely shake him off.

Flash!

Before I knew it, I had left the Heaven-Treading Desert, passed small tribes beneath the desert, and finally arrived at the Black Wind Sea.

And then, I begin to see puppets in the shape of fish chasing me from the sea.

'Right, I feel sorry for Song Jin but...'

I think to myself as I face the wind of the Black Wind Sea.

'I need to borrow the Nether Crossing Ship for a while.'

If its the Mad Lord, Song Jin will understand given the circumstances, right?

I fly towards the sea area where the Nether Crossing Ship is hidden.

Just like that, another three days pass.

Boom!

Dodging the bombardment from the swarm of puppets behind me, I twist my body and force my way through with the Formless Sword, heading towards the location where the Nether Crossing Ship is sealed.

Just then.

The puppets, that have been silently chasing me for days, suddenly echo the Mad Lords voice.

[Hmm. Unfortunately in twenty days, the Ascension Gate will completely close. It's about time for me to pursue other matters, so I shall leave.]

'Finally!'

Finally, it seems the Mad Lord is giving up on me and preparing for ascension.

But his next words are beyond my imagination.

[However, she said your story is too touching, and she really wants you to join us. Therefore]

Kiiik Kikikiik Kiiiiiik

Suddenly, far away.

The sky is tearing open.

[She and I have decided to work together to capture you. We will definitely, definitely invite you!]

Click!

And what appears through the crack.

Is a white, human-like finger.

Just a finger!

Kuuuuung!

As the finger moves, the sea splits, and the earth seems to flip upside down.

!

The clouds in the sky split, and the winds of the sea stills.

'What is this'

[She is wanting for you. Come here at once.]

I realize the identity of that finger.

The Mad Lord's [Her]!

Zap Zap.

'The main energy source of the Nether Crossing Ship, implanted inside a puppet, the Mad Lord's greatest creation!'

Whirrrr!

Starting with [Her] finger, a slender white hand gradually crosses over through the crack.

Shiver!

'This is madness, this wont do.'

From that one hand.

From just the palm, am I feeling the same pressure as I did from Song Jin?

I realize now.

The Mad Lord's [Her] is no ordinary Heavenly Being puppet.

Even though Im just a beginner in the Core Formation Realm with limited insight,

Even with my ignorance, the intuition developed over 900 years of life is not to be underestimated.

[She] is probably

'A Four-Axis puppet!'

The prowess of the Mad Lord sends chills down my spine.

Can this monster, from whose palm I feel the same pressure as Song Jin, be anything but a Four-Axis puppet?

I made up my mind.

'Fleeing this insane genius for up to 20 days?'

Impossible.

Boom!

Through the spatial rift, not just [Her] slender hand but hordes of puppets begin to cross over.

Before I know it, the sky over the sea is filled with the Mad Lords puppets, creating an illusion that the spatial rift is pouring them out.

I grit my teeth.

I made a mistake.

I shouldn't have told the Mad Lord and Her my story, trying to gain their sympathy.

What should I do now?

I ponder for a moment, then open my eyes.

'This life will probably be the shortest.'

I imagine being captured by the Mad Lord, trapped in a body unable to die or decay for thousands of years, turned into a living puppet.

Even with an extraordinary mental state, I can't bear such madness.

'I should commit suicide.'

The thought of abandoning this precious life is excruciating, but the conversation with Yuan Li helped me solidify my understanding of life.

Life is not a blessing in itself. It becomes a blessing when hearts are given and received within it.

Following this belief, since I havent formed significant connections or shared hearts with anyone yet, I can forsake this life.

'I found it!'

Kuang! Kuang!

Using the Formless Sword, I cut all the main circuits inside the barrier and furiously hammer it.

And then.

Crackle!

One side of Serving Command Palace begins to crumble.

Shiver!

What appears, as the wall of Serving Command Palace crumbles, is [Her] slender hand, which has already emerged up to the wrists!

I feel a chill from the explosive force emanating from [Her] slender hand.

'Quickly, quickly!'

Snap!

[She] spreads her hand.

And then.

Kuang!

My Formless Sword finally breaks the barrier.

I already know which jar contains White-Red Wine.

Pop!

I hastily open the lid of the White-Red Wine and gulp it down directly from the jar.

Whirr!

Once again, the dharma treasures placed inside my body buzz, deepening their connection with me.

Certainly

I distinctly feel the connection between my soul and the dharma treasures.

Its then.

Whirr!

A tremendous gravitational force is felt from [Her] hand.

It feels like Im being directly sucked in!

Ugh!

Indeed, my body is being drawn towards [Her] hand.

Resistance is impossible!

Damn, no, this won't do!

I need another method!

Rumble!

In the distance, Song Jin-ho holds the helm of the Nether Crossing Ship and crosses into the mortal realm.

I clench my teeth and take the Starting Form.

In the life before last, I followed Kim Young-hoon's footsteps, discovering Treading Heaven Beyond the Path.

And in my last life, I finally killed Yuan Li, fully reaching Treading Heaven Beyond the Path.

Certainly, I have entered a different path than Kim Young-hoon.

That's why, instead of his space-transcending Surpassing Radiant Saber, my Formless Sword evolved to cut only what I want.

But.

Im certain, my Formless Sword cut through space that one time.

For a moment, it became Kim Young-hoon's Surpassing Radiant Saber!

That means.

Perhaps.

Can those who have reached Treading Heaven Beyond the Path mimic others Treading Heaven Beyond the Path?

Think it through!

Find a way in your mind!

Whirr!

I ignite the upper dantian with Gang Qi, awakening it.

The flow starts from my Baihui point, heading towards the Yin Tang point, igniting the upper dantian with Gang Qi.

Uoooooh!

I recall that sensation.

The Formless Sword originates from Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, and the Surpassing Radiant Saber from Severing Vein Saber Method.

And the root of both martial arts are actually one.

Then, tracing back the Formless Sword, is it truly impossible to temporarily reach the space-cutting Surpassing Radiant Saber?

Of course, its impossible to completely obtain the Surpassing Radiant Saber.

However, if its just mimicking the ability for a brief moment

Flash!

Simultaneously with my focused diligence, [She] suddenly looms before my eyes, her hand gripping something.

I, with all my strength in the empty void, slash down with what is held in my hand.

Swoosh!

The Formless Sword, for an instant, shines with a brilliant golden radiance.

At the same time.

Flash!

I escape the void and reach the mortal realm.

Wo-woong!

Far off, Song Jin, who had just escaped the void like me, is seen grasping the helm of the Nether Crossing Ship.

Thump!

I fly towards the Nether Crossing Ship and catch my breath.

[What is this, didn't you say you were going to commit suicide? If you're going to kill yourself, do it after getting off the Nether Crossing Ship!]

Song Jin shouts, seemingly afraid of [Her] pursuing us again.

Gasping for air, I suddenly become curious about something.

"Perhaps, do you know any techniques that can attach a ghost to the depths of the soul?"

[Hmm? I do know something like that.]

"Can you perform it on me?"

[Why should I do that for you?]

'Damn it'

I forgot that to Song Jin, Im a stranger who briefly hijacked his Nether Crossing Ship.

Just then..

Wo-woong!

A spatial rift tears open, and [Her] slender jade hand emerges once again.

This time, as if determined not to let go, her arm extends up to the elbow.

[Damn it! Get off the Nether Crossing Ship now! Hurry! Alright, fine! I'll perform that spell for you!]

Wo-woong!

Song Jin takes out a ghost from the Nether Crossing Ship and injects it directly into my upper dantian.

Kiyaaaaa!

With an unpleasant foreign sensation, I feel the ghost's soul attach to me, guided by Song Jin's power.

For a moment, the ghost and I are connected.

[Get off now!]

And, as if obeying Song Jin's command, the ghost, now linked with my soul, forcibly controls my body and makes me jump off the Nether Crossing Ship.

Kugugugugu!

[Her] hand reaches out towards me, and at the very last moment, I concentrate the energy of the Formless Sword towards my head.

Boom!

That is my twelfth return.

***

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