Газрын аймаг (3)

Crack...

I clench my teeth tightly, pulling my senses even higher in case I saw it wrong.

The vision of Beyond the Path, added to that of the demon race.

Using enlightenment that transcends planes, I look at the identity plaque.

I wonder how clearly I observe the identity plaque.

Shhhh….

'It's visible.'

This time, I can clearly see it.

The flow of spiritual energy connected to the identity plaque, emanating an aura like that of consciousness waves, leads somewhere.

And the end of that connection is unmistakably Seo Hweol.'Damn it.'

Only after observing for a while do I grasp the principle of this location-tracking plaque.

The Earth Tribe methods have its flow recorded on their bodies.

Thus, even if a part of the body that has been imprinted with the method falls off, it is still affected by the demon beast method.

Utilizing this principle, it's possible to continuously monitor an identity plaque that's far from oneself.

I investigate the identity plaque further, teeth still clenched.

Fortunately, from the flow of spiritual energy, it seems that only my location is being monitored.

But I can't be at ease.

'Especially not within this Sea Dragon Palace.'

Within the room of the Sea Dragon Palace, decorated similarly to human lodgings.

Even though it wasn't directly built by Seo Hweol but through the Sea Dragon Race elders, I can't trust it.

'There's a high probability that this room I entered has been tampered with to monitor me in real-time.'

Holding the identity plaque, I lie down on the bed comfortably, forcing my expression to relax to avoid detection.

'The first priority is to regain my cultivation.'

I organize my thoughts with a calm expression.

Even if I decide to confront Seo Hweol in a life-or-death struggle, it will be impossible without intending to burn all my True Origin Energy right now.

'Regaining my cultivation as soon as possible and gaining some strength seems necessary for ensuring safety while living with Seo Hweol.'

Closing my eyes, I gently operate the intricacies of the Wonderfully Mysterious Heart Canon, extending my consciousness like threads to secretly survey the surroundings.

After investigating every corner of the room with my consciousness threads, I realize.

Faint spiritual veins are detectable in various places.

These spiritual veins are recording changes occurring within the room and transmitting them somewhere.

'As suspected, I am being monitored.'

In this state, it's impossible to recover my cultivation.

All the methods I have learned would be performed under the watchful eyes of Seo Hweol or the Sea Dragon Race elders.

'Then, I must act now.'

It seems I have to be prepared to burn at least some of my True Origin Energy to escape this situation.

Whir...

Pure life force travels through the threads of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon throughout the room.

Since each thread of consciousness is applied with the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, this act will not be detected.

The life force-enriched Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon begins to adhere to the spiritual veins observing my room, starting to [engrave] circuits according to my will.

'Infiltrate them in reverse.'

Whir...

The circuits engrave themselves throughout the spiritual veins, controlled by my will.

These circuits then alter the recording of the room's situation, transmitting a 'different' narrative.

Someone receiving the information through spiritual energy will likely see a scene of me peacefully sleeping in the room.

After engraving the circuits to gain freedom of action and once more searching the room with the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, I finally feel at ease and stand up from my place.

'Honestly, I want to engrave the Mad Lord's circuits into this identity plaque right away...'

This identity plaque, made from Seo Hweol's scales, is highly likely to be directly connected to Seo Hweol.

The materials of this room are unrelated to the Dragon Race, so it was fine, but tampering with the scales is still dangerous.

'The good news is that the scales only have a location tracking feature attached to them, making it impossible to monitor what I'm doing in real-time.'

I place the identity plaque in a suitable place within the room.

Then, sitting down, I begin to inhale spiritual energy.

'Although I burned some life force, I've gained freedom within the Sea Dragon Palace so it’s worth it. Now, shall I start cultivating?"

Tsstss…

I open my mouth and take out the Colorless Glass Swords that are within me.

Clalak!

My room assigned in the Dragon Palace is quite spacious, so having three thousand glass swords floating around is no problem.

While keeping the swords afloat with sword control,

I focus my consciousness and open my mouth.

"Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections."

Paaaat!

Simultaneously, the glass swords emit light and exude artifact spirits.

In an instant, the room is filled with hazy artifact spirits.

But due to not enough space, the artifact spirits begin to overlap and shine within the room.

But from my perspective, it’s rather convenient.

Until now, I only stored my cultivation in the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.

From that standpoint, it was convenient for the artifact spirits to be divided into minute details.

On the other hand, if I want to retrieve the cultivation stored in the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections...

"Merge."

Sssss...

The artifact spirits, one by one, become luminous clusters and overlap.

In front of me, countless artifact spirits gather to form 'one' silhouette.

The face of the silhouette changes constantly.

Everyone I had encountered, good connections, bad connections, loved ones, hated ones, trusted ones, respected ones...

The faces of those tremendous connections swirl on the face of the silhouette until, at one moment, when all the artifact spirits are merged, the silhouette finally takes on a proper form.

It’s me.

Sssss...

A man wearing pure white robes.

The artifact spirit looking exactly like me opens its eyes.

I lock eyes with my artifact spirit.

The vision split.

The artifact spirit's vision and my vision.

Since the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections was created by merging the Three Spirits Technique and the Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll, creating another clone like in the case of the Three Spirits Technique is possible.

'I' stretch my arms towards me.

As the two 'me's reach out and touch hands,

The vision of the artifact spirit 'me' is absorbed back into 'my' view.

When I come to my senses, the artifact spirit has been absorbed into my body.

No, to be precise, it 'overlapped.'

Wo-woong!

'Indeed...'

In the overlapped state with the artifact spirit, I feel the power stored within the artifact spirit.

It’s an immense power.

With time, by carefully transferring the power residing in the artifact spirit to my body, I will recover all the realms of the Nascent Soul within ten years.

Sssss...

I close my eyes and continue the process of recovering my cultivation through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections throughout the night.

The next day, I was called by Seo Hweol.

Inside his room, Seo Hweol was observing the duties of the Dragon Race from his room, where a strange flow of spiritual energy was present.

'What's this flow of spiritual energy?'

Observing the flow of spiritual energy, my head feels clearer, giving me a refreshing feeling.

It seems to be some kind of technique that awakens the mind.

While I am basking in the spiritual energy, Seo Hweol, with a smiling face, asks me.

"Was your night in the Sea Dragon Palace peaceful?"

"Ah, thanks to Sir Seo Hweol's care, I spent a peaceful night."

"That's good to hear. I'll keep looking out for you."

However, contrary to his words, his mind is quite sensitive due to the doubts that had grown since yesterday.

His eyes appear to be smiling, but upon closer inspection, I can feel him observing me closely.

"By the way, I heard that the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is opening in 6 months. Most of the participants in the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion are Nascent Soul stage demon race members, so it might be too much for you to participate in just 6 months, right?"

'6 months later...'

I heard that the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is held once every 100 years.

If I miss this chance, the next opportunity won't come until 100 years later.

But I decide to be cautious.

‘Do I really need this Immortal Beast Blood Fusion?'

Having Immortal Beast True Blood makes it incredibly convenient to enter the demon race society.

But the problem is why Seo Hweol will send me to the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion without any reason.

'There's a ninety percent chance he has ulterior motives.'

Participating in a competition with Nascent Soul stage demon beasts without any cultivation in just 6 months?

It’s highly suspicious.

However, there is a problem.

'A True Immortal will descend in 100 years and sweep away the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.'

My goal is to steal the Heavenly Lightning Banner from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and place it in the storage scroll of Seo Hweol or Hyeon Eum, or other dragons with schemes, within 100 years.

But to do that, I need to deeply infiltrate the Dragon Race society within 100 years.

After much consideration, I respond.

"May I know how the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion competition is conducted?"

"It's simple. In the lowest layer of the Serving Command Ark's testing area, selected demon beasts will compete for survival. The last 100 survivors will each have a chance to receive Immortal Beast True Blood."

"Sounds simple."

"It won't be that simple. The testing area of the Serving Command Ark is quite harsh."

After a moment of thought, I told Seo Hweol.

"I will participate."

"Oh...?"

A hint of doubt appears in Seo Hweol's eyes.

But I decide to endure this much.

'After all, Seo Hweol will continue to doubt me even if I just breathe and eat. In fact, if I consider my actions from a third-party perspective, they are quite suspicious.'

Since I've already been marked as a suspicious person,

I decided to push forward with that suspicious image.

"Haha, good. After all, you're part of our Sea Dragon Race, so it would be an honor for a talent from our race to be granted Immortal Beast True Blood."

He smiles warmly and amiably.

"But do you have a way to reach the Nascent Soul stage in 6 months?"

"Um, can those who are not at the Nascent Soul stage not participate?"

"It's not exactly like that. It's just that those who are not at the Nascent Soul stage tend to die before the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion ends due to the harshness of the test ground."

"Then it's fine. I am confident I can survive."

"Hmm, well, if that's the case."

Seo Hweol smiles slightly, takes out a piece of silk, writes a recommendation letter in demon script, folds the silk, and sends it somewhere with a spell.

"I've sent the recommendation letter to the organizers of the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion. You'll be able to participate in the future."

"Thank you."

"No need for thanks. Is there anything you find inconvenient or need...?"

I ponder for a moment, thinking.

'Maybe it wouldn't be bad to directly ask about Deputy Oh Hye-seo. Well, considering Seo Hweol's character, he’s probably treating her well...'

Although I don't have high hopes, there is still a possibility he might easily talk about it, so I clung to the sliver of hope and was about to ask him.

Just then.

'...Wait a moment.'

I feel chills running down my back, but quickly suppress any physical reaction through my control.

Since entering Seo Hweol's room, I felt a peculiar flow of spiritual energy that seemed to clear the mind.

I casually thought it was some kind of spell that 'clears the mind' and let it be.

However, as I internally operate the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and utilize the heart essence in the realm of Treading Heavens, observing my consciousness, I immediately realize something is wrong when my consciousness starts to feel odd.

'This bastard, he's brainwashing me!'

Indeed.

From the moment I entered the room, the peculiar effect of mental awakening I felt is not actually an awakening effect at all.

Nor is it simply clearing my mind.

It’s a brainwashing operation centered around Seo Hweol, designed to make one feel an endless affection towards him!

I have been under brainwashing since I entered the room.

'He is the core and caster of this spell.'

Every word Seo Hweol utters, every gentle expression he makes, is part of the brainwashing.

Despite feeling chills all over my body, I suppress my physical reactions.

'If it were anyone else, they would have been brainwashed by Seo Hweol without even realizing it.'

Only now did I realize I was being brainwashed, despite having a consciousness at the Nascent Soul stage, enlightenment in the Treading-Heaven realm, and specialized in the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon focused on consciousness.

Even cultivators at the Heavenly Being stage would fail to suspect and investigate Seo Hweol from the start, not realizing they had been brainwashed.

"Hmm, is there anything else you need?"

Seo Hweol asks me again.

I compose my emotions and smile brightly, nodding.

"Your grace is as vast as the sea, Sir Seo Hweol. However, I'm curious about what has become of Oh Hye-seo, who was originally my colleague?"

The purpose of this brainwashing is 'to harbor affection for Seo Hweol and not to doubt him.'

It's not strange for me to inquire about the welfare of a colleague.

And to my question, Seo Hweol warmly smiles and answers.

"Of course, she is doing very well. However, as I mentioned before, she has accepted my true blood, becoming part of our Sea Dragon Race, and is currently practicing a great method to accept my true blood within the inner sanctum of the Sea Dragon Palace. Since it's a method that requires stabilization, even if you wish to see her, I'd ask you to wait a bit longer."

"Ah, I see. Thank you for your answer."

'He's lying.'

Yuan Li was also someone who had assimilated Seo Hweol's blood, and I had forced him to reveal the method of assimilating Seo Hweol's blood through torture.

From his confession, there was no such process as needing to stabilize.

"If I participate in the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion and receive the Immortal Beast True Blood, will I also need to stabilize like Oh Hye-seo?"

"Haha, of course. If you are entrusted with the honorable mission of receiving the Immortal Beast True Blood in the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, I will personally bring you and assist you in assimilating the Immortal Beast True Blood. I will also lend you the assimilation chamber she is using to assimilate the True Blood this time."

"Thank you for your gracious words."

Listening to Seo Hweol, I’m certain.

'Seo Hweol is spouting nonsense, and I have no idea what's happening to Oh Hye-seo right now.'

"Is there anything else you're curious about?"

"..."

If I were to say I want to see Oh Hye-seo now, Seo Hweol will certainly refuse, using her need for stability as an excuse.

'He's probably continuously observing whether the brainwashing is taking effect on me.'

It's best not to ask any more questions that can provoke him.

"There's nothing more I'm curious about. If you may permit, I'll go and continue my cultivation to prepare for the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion."

"Understood. Go ahead. Oh, and do you have any human cultivation methods you're practicing?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then, if you wish to conduct a ritual later, go see the Sea Dragon Race Elder Jeon Rul. He has a lot of interest in human rituals and will kindly set one up for you."

"Thank you."

After bidding farewell to Seo Hweol, I leave his room.

Even as I exit his room, I don't sigh or relax until I return straight to my own room.

I could see the flow of spiritual energy leading to Seo Hweol's room throughout the Sea Dragon Palace.

The same flow that is set up in my room.

Seo Hweol is monitoring everything within the Dragon Palace in real-time.

‘Unless it’s someone like me who has the vision of intent and vision of spiritual energy, along with the enlightenment of planes, the Dragon Race members wouldn’t have noticed.’

Upon entering my room, which had been pre-equipped with circuits, I finally relax and sit down.

‘Really, it's hard to even breathe in this Sea Dragon Palace.’

Given that Seo Hweol's eyes are everywhere, I have to assume I am being monitored at all times.

'I'll be living here in the future. Can I just endure being subjected to this?'

Wo-woong!

Last night, through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, I regained the cultivation of Qi Refining 7th Star.

The reason I couldn't surpass the 7th Star is that the 7th Star requires a ritual, so I was stopped merely due to procedural reasons.

'My spiritual power is sufficient.'

Wo-woong!

I touch the surveillance spiritual veins Seo Hweol laid in my room and infuse my own spiritual power into the spiritual veins.

'You must have thought everything in the Dragon Palace dances to your tune, you snake bastard.'

Tssts, tsstssts!

I reverse the flow in Seo Hweol's spiritual veins, installing the Mad Lord's circuits.

Beyond the spiritual veins, the circuits of madness spreads, and the circuits that were only in my room begin to invade other areas.

Since I blocked the information with the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, no information should reach Seo Hweol.

'From today, the Sea Dragon Palace falls to my grasp.'

Seo Hweol must have thought he could control me by accepting me.

However, that is a mistake.

I am poison.

A poison that had been fermented, aged, and completely rotted over for more than two thousand years.

Now that this poison has entered the heart of the Dragon Race, it will poison everything.

Tsstsstssts!

'If you have no intention of showing me what's happening to Oh Hye-seo and are full of plans to brainwash me...'

I think as I cover the entire Sea Dragon Palace with the Mad Lord's circuits.

'I'll take control of the Dragon Palace myself and find out directly.'

Thanks for laying down such a technique throughout your palace, making it easy for me.

Now, I'll make good use of it.

6 months pass quickly.

I regained my late-stage Qi Building cultivation, and in a year or two, I will be able to recover to the Core Formation stage.

During that time, by exerting power, I was able to seize control of Seo Hweol's eyes spread throughout the Dragon Palace.

As a result of monitoring the Dragon Palace using Seo Hweol's eyes,

I still haven't found Oh Hye-seo.

The claim that Oh Hye-seo was inside the Dragon Palace was a lie from the start.

'Damn it.'

I grit my teeth as I open my eyes in the room.

The time for the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is here.

I finish preparing and leave the Sea Dragon Palace.

Emerging from the Sea Dragon Palace located at the bottom of Cloud Heart Lake, I see the barrier enveloping the Sea Dragon Palace and the waters of Cloud Heart Lake beyond it.

Both within and outside, Sea Dragons are walking or swimming.

However, as I pass by, the Sea Dragons murmur and show signs of avoiding me.

From what I can gather, it seems they generally don't like me, a human.

"That human, he's participating in the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion this time?"

"Sir Seo Hweol wrote him a recommendation letter."

"Why would Sir do that for someone like him...?"

"Even if he has exceptional consciousness, isn't that too much of a privilege?"

I calmly ignore their words and wait at the edge of the barrier. After a while, Seo Hweol swims down in his true form..

"Have you been waiting long?"

"Not at all."

"First, climb onto my neck... Let everyone hear. All participants in the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion will fly following me!"

Following Seo Hweol's words, young Nascent Soul and Core Formation stage Sea Dragons fly after him.

I cling to Seo Hweol's neck and we fly across the lake towards the Serving Command Ark.

While I am clinging to him,

Seo Hweol begins comforting me with a warm voice.

"Recently, there's been a lot of gossip among our Sea Dragon Race about you. It seems many are displeased with the privileges given to you, not being of the Dragon Race."

"...It seems so."

"First, as a representative of the Sea Dragon Race, I apologize. It was me who accepted you into the Sea Dragon Race, and I'm sorry for not taking better care of you. Regardless of what they say, don't mind them. I've become a major figure in the True Dragon Alliance recently, and even before ascending, I was a king trusted by the Sea Dragon Race. Since I personally noticed your qualities and brought you here, you just need to walk your own path."

"...Thank you for your kind words."

Had Azure Tiger Saint said this, I would have been moved enough to bow in respect.

However, the heart essence behind Seo Hweol's eloquent words are filled with dark malice.

'It's a refreshing feeling, contrary to that time with Hyang-hwa.'

Her, who harshly told me to forget her while secretly harboring love for me, and Seo Hweol, who outwardly speaks kindly and trustingly while inwardly schemes on how to use me and doubts me.

It’s extremely polarizing, but so extreme that it feels refreshingly new.

'Considering Seo Ran’s case, those murmuring of the Sea Dragons must be instigated by him.'

Even though I seized control of Seo Hweol's eyes within the Sea Dragon Palace,

From the day I joined Seo Hweol, I never let my guard down for a moment.

Though constraints on my actions have loosened a bit, Seo Hweol knows all too well how to restrict a person's actions without using spells or sorcery.

Even without being brainwashed or monitored, Seo Hweol's significant words kept me immobilized in the Dragon Palace all this time.

'He's adept at rendering people utterly immobile with psychological manipulation.'

The more I stay with Seo Hweol.

The more I feel suffocated, as if my throat is being constricted.

It feels like I am surrounded, with only the path Seo Hweol offers seeming somewhat open. This isn’t just once or twice, but always.

However, what Seo Hweol offers is always a trap.

For someone like me, who has lived for over 2,000 years, there’s room to breathe, at least.

'Then... where exactly is Oh Hye-seo?'

While concerned for Oh Hye-seo, I enter the depths of Serving Command Ark with Seo Hweol.

Where could she be, captured and brainwashed by Seo Hweol?

Feeling that the goals I set in this life are not going to be easy,

I follow Seo Hweol to the lowest level of Serving Command Ark.

We reach the battleground where the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is to be held.

It’s time for the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion to begin.