Chapter 419: Broken Ones (1)

Chapter 419: Broken Ones (1)

Wo-woong—

The technique that has evolved to the point of being able to raze an entire territory is the current Severing Mountain.

Despite the immense power of this terrifying technique exploding at a single point, Seo Hweol reappears behind me, flashing that obnoxious smile.

"What is it now?"

I ask as I look at him.

In the past, I would have been nervous, afraid of falling prey to his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens. But now, it no longer scares me as much as it once did.

Seo Hweol seems to have realized this too, as I can feel him openly using Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens to brainwash me.

"It won't work anymore. Stop your pointless efforts and state your purpose."

[Hoho, this is quite...you used to be such a nice person, but how you've changed...it's truly lamentable.]

His words make my eyes twitch.

This too is just another attempt to test my resolve.

But he isn't wrong.

My heart is just a pile of ashes, my soul the charred remains.

Why am I no longer afraid of Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens?

Is it because I obtained the Purple Soul Filling the Heavens? Because I have the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra? Or because I gained the possibility of the Second Step Before the Throne?

All those things are merely external factors.

The truth is simple.

Now, I too have become a broken human being, one that would never fall behind the likes of the Mad Lord and Seo Hweol.

"Shut up and just tell me why you're here, you blind leech."

Bo-woong!

I swing my hand, slicing through the Seo Hweol before me.

But even though he's cut down in one strike, his form seems to scatter in the air before reappearing elsewhere.

'A projection? No, it feels too real to be just a projection...'

The place where Seo Hweol has fallen still holds his corpse.

However, I suddenly realize that something is off about the state of the body and understand the principle behind how he is appearing around me like a ghost.

'The corpse is only anchored in the Plane of Qi.'

Everything in this world exists across the three planes of Qi, Soul, and Fate.

Even inanimate objects are no exception.

The soil has its own spirit, mountains have their souls, and even stars have their essence.

Even lifeless objects exist in the Plane of Soul, and as seen through the Star Vein Eye, all things are also anchored in the Plane of Fate.

However, I see in front of me the corpse of Seo Hweol composed solely of the flow of Yin and Yang in the Plane of Qi.

"Oh Hye-seo, I see. Did she lend you her abilities to send this projection using her power?"

It's undoubtedly Oh Hye-seo's power.

Seo Hweol smiles faintly and says,

[As expected of Daoist Seo. That's right. She helped me.]

"If you were going to come, you should have brought Oh Hye-seo along. With her personality, she wouldn't have missed the chance to witness something as entertaining as this."

Recalling the first time I was betrayed by Oh Hye-seo, she appears to be someone who chases after stimulation and excitement.

Given that, in a situation like this where the territory of the Heaven Tribe is being destroyed by Kang Min-hee, it wouldn't be surprising for her to come just to watch. Yet, I can't sense her presence anywhere within hundreds of thousands of li.

[Hoho, it seems that after our last encounter, she's learned a bit about what fear is.]

"..."

Indeed. At this point, Oh Hye-seo witnessed the terrifying existence known as the Chief Judge.

Even someone whose emotions are as unreadable as her must have found it difficult to bear the sight of such a transcendent being's power.

[Thanks to that, she's become quite dependent on me lately. We've become quite essential to each other.]

At Seo Hweol's words, I recall the events a thousand years in.

'She was called his madam.'

It seems she married Seo Hweol after all.

Back then, I thought she was brainwashed, but it appears that somehow fate has always intended for the two to be bound together.

"So, what do you want?"

But such things are none of my concern.

[I will pull together with my wife in the Astral Realm. Daoist Seo will push from this side.]

'Is Oh Hye-seo currently in the Astral Realm?'

I ask with a serious expression.

"She won't just quietly be expelled into the Astral Realm. You must have a plan, right?"

[Yes...well. It wasn't what I desired, but a being capable of holding that being down when it struggles has somehow come into existence.]

"...No way."

I look at Seo Hweol and let out a hollow laugh.

[I think I know what you're thinking. Yes, it's exactly that.]

"You want to join forces with the Mad Lord Jo Yeon?"

I ask in disbelief.

Indeed, at this point, the Mad Lord has two puppets beyond the Integration level.

[She] and the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress are exactly that.

And through the connection between [Her] and the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, the Mad Lord can currently exert power at the Quasi-Star Shattering level.

Moreover, a thousand years in, both [She] and the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress would individually rise to the Quasi-Star Shattering level, meaning the Mad Lord would have two puppets at the Quasi-Star Shattering stage by then.

In terms of raw power, if I, Seo Hweol, and the Mad Lord join forces, expelling Kang Min-hee from the Bright Cold Realm wouldn't be an empty boast.

But the Mad Lord is not sane.

How could anyone persuade such a person?

Seo Hweol continues speaking.

[First, Daoist Seo. You know the name and ability of the secret art I use, don't you?]

"...Yes."

[My Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens cannot brainwash you or the Mad Lord. Both of you are madmen, so even if I infuse my configurations, it won't take root because your consciousnesses don't follow a normal flow.]

"..."

[However, the inability to brainwash doesn't mean that 'my Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens cannot enter.']

"What are you trying to say?"

[Daoist Seo, you are a member of the Heart Tribe, correct? And your comrade is a disciple who has learned the Mad Lord's consciousness method. If you, I, my wife, and your comrade join forces, we can temporarily return the Mad Lord's consciousness to normal.]

'If I, Kim Yeon, Oh Hye-seo, and Seo Hweol combine our strengths, we can temporarily restore the Mad Lord's consciousness to normal...huh?'

It sounds suspicious.

"There's no guarantee that you won't brainwash the Mad Lord while his consciousness is temporarily restored, is there?"

[Hoho...you don't need to worry about that. I won't brainwash the Mad Lord.]

—I can't do it anyway.

I feel slightly reassured as I read the hidden meaning behind Seo Hweol's words.

'The Mad Lord's madness will likely recur thanks to the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, even if it is temporarily reversed, so brainwashing him would be pointless for Seo Hweol.'

But then again, who knows?

Seo Hweol is someone who might always be hiding something.

"How can I trust you?"

[...It's something I figured by analyzing the curse placed on me with my wife. The curse that the great being cast on my eyes extends its duration in real-time according to my 'evil deeds.' Initially, it was a mere thousand years, but now...it has increased to roughly 2 billion years.]

"..."

[And I realized there's only one way to break this curse. The curse isn't on my main body but on my 'mask'. In other words, if I erase all personalities other than my main body and start anew, I can break the curse.]

"You're telling me this because...it's related to that curse?"

[That's right, Daoist Seo. Because of this curse, it's impossible for me to find my main body. The curse placed by that great being doesn't merely block my sight; it prevents me from ever finding my main body.]

I instinctively know that Seo Hweol is telling the truth.

It isn't just because his actions and heart essence align.

It's because he has never lied about matters related to his essence.

As he continues speaking, my eyes glint.

[Therefore, I propose this, Daoist Seo. After we expel that being from the Bright Cold Realm, help me find my main body.]

This is a chance to find Seo Hweol's main body.

He returns his expressionless face to its usual self and gives a faint smile.

[Until we find my main body, I promise I will never betray you, Daoist Seo.]