'It's strange. It's definitely strange.'

No matter how many times I see it, the main body is not normal.

Describing the disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect as 'mere'?

Why?

This is a completely different sentiment from when I used to shout for the lives of the disciples.

However, to say that the heart itself is somehow twisted, the feelings towards Kang Min-hee and Kim Yeon remain unchanged.

I wondered if it might have been influenced by Yang Su-jin's non-human theory, but even when I concentrated my consciousness in the main body and recalled Buk Hyang-hwa, those feelings remained the same.

'...Is this really just an overreaction?'

However, I can't ignore this sense of dissonance.

'Well, there's nothing I can do about it. I need to quickly elevate my own cultivation and attain a high realm so I can observe my consciousness with higher-level consciousness methods.'

After making that decision,

I close my eyes and continue to train in the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets.

The main body, along with Jeon Myeong-hoon, are discussing joining the Grand Cultivator meeting and are looking for a teleportation array to visit the Mad Lord, while I close my eyes and concentrate my consciousness on the Nascent Soul that was transformed into a Ghost King through the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets.

Kwarurururu!

Bi Yul, next to my Ghost King-transformed Nascent Soul, trembles as it helps me condense the aura of death.

Death begins to densely cluster beneath like the silt at the bottom of a river, pressing into the interior of my Nascent Soul.

Shortly after, an intense blue ghost fire ignites from the eyes of the Nascent Soul, similar to that of Song Jin.

And then, suddenly.

Wo-woong!

I feel a strange 'sensation' as if I am breaking through my upper dantian.

'This is...'

Maintaining the 'sensation,' I open my eyes, and the surrounding world appears different.

The lodging suddenly took on a gray hue.

The more I focus my mind, the more I see black 'lines' appearing among the gray hues.

'Hmm'

When I focus on a piece of pottery in the lodging, the 'lines' on it gradually increase, forming what looks like 'cracks'.

As I continue to concentrate on this sensation, the 'cracks' eventually spread its territory, completely darkening the vase.

At that moment, I'm startled and turn off the 'sensation'.

'What was that...?'

It seemed like I saw something terrifying beyond the pitch-black cracks.

"Bi Yul, explain what sensations one gains when becoming a Ghost King."

[Yes. There is only one. It has long been known historically in the Ghost Path Method that the Ghost King perceives the Netherworld. You would surely know, my Lord, but let me recite my humble knowledge. The gray world visible only to the dead is the outer boundary of the Netherworld.]

"The outer boundary of the Netherworld?"

[Yes. The black lines you see there represent 'rest,' or 'death.' If you look closely, these black lines float above objects and spread in the form of cracks. That is the 'form of death' that the object takes.]

"Hoo, I see."

I recall how the lines had spread in the form of cracks on the vase.

Surely, when the vase breaks, it will break along those cracks.

That is the fate of the vase, its imminent form of death.

"As the form of death covers an object more and more, does the object approach death, and die when completely covered?"

[Exactly. It's a unique vision of ghosts, completely different from the visions that the Heaven, Earth, and Heart Tribe possesses. We call it Nether Perception ().]

I don't ask further but I understand immediately.

'When viewed through Nether Perception, if an object is completely covered by the form of death, it turns completely black. And beyond that blackness is surely...'

That terrifying feeling.

[When one completely traces the form of death through Nether Perception, the black area that appears...that black area is precisely the Netherworld.]

"Is that so..."

I ponder for a moment then close my eyes before activating Nether Perception.

With enhanced consciousness, I observe my own body.

And I can't help but be startled.

Even without focusing the Nether Perception, my body is already completely black!

'...I see. Am I already deceased ()?'

Having said that, my Ghost King-turned Nascent Soul still carries a faint gray hue.

I fully understand the principle of the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets.

It involves absorbing the 'form of death' present in all beings, turning the Nascent Soul into a Ghost King residing on the outer boundary of the Netherworld.

If the deceased practice this, they will remain in the outer boundary of the Netherworld and not be pulled directly into its depths. If the living practice this, they can enter the outer boundary of the Netherworld.

'No wonder Ghost Kings are feared as great ghosts'

An existence completely covered by the form of death becomes an entrance to the Netherworld itself, leading directly there.

And the form of death emanating from me.

It's immensely vast and deep.

I am essentially a 'moving gateway to the Netherworld'.

It suddenly occurs to me that ghosts might be dragged directly into the Netherworld if they come into contact with me.

'Even though this is just a part of my soul attached with the Mysterious Bizarre Gu, it's already this powerful. If it were the death of the main body...'

The enormity is unthinkable.

'This is rather...not so much the living becoming deceased through death, but the darkness of the dead having crawled up from the Netherworld.'

No wonder they fled from me, claiming I'd devour them.

And then I realize one more thing.

'So, Bi Yul has already'

I thought Bi Yul was merely residing peacefully within me, perfectly sane and conversing.

But that isn't the case.

Bi Yul had gone mad.

The essence of most cultivation sects is 'longevity.'

Although immortality is unattainable, many in cultivation sects aspire to reach to higher realms to extend their lifespan.

Black Ghost Valley is no exception.

They too desire longevity, even if it means becoming a Ghost King to stay in the Ninth Heaven.

These are the ones who didn't wish to die even if they became Ghost Kings.

Yet, looking at myself, it's as if I am wrapped in a death so terrifying that I might well be a Death God of the Netherworld myself.

This is despite being a mere shadow compared to the main body.

Bi Yul, in a state of madness, only responds when stimulated.

'Most ghosts are noisy. I wondered why Bi Yul is so quiet inside me'

I feel a bit sorry for him.

'But still, according to the rules of Black Ghost Valley, he needs to stay inside a new disciple for a certain period, so please just bear with it a little longer.'

After that period, he can come out of me, lose the memories of this time, and be peacefully enshrined back at the Nether Crossing Ship shrine.

I comfort Bi Yul in my heart while practicing the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets.

Soon, spiritual power begins to accumulate rapidly inside my transformed Nascent Soul.

As I am extracting my form of my death and converting it into spiritual power, I soon realize something is changing.

'What, what is this?'

Wo-woong!

I focus my mind and take out the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.

It's a type of consciousness method, and as the name suggests, it also possesses the properties of the Five Elements.

Tstsstsst!

The Five Elements Blood Curse Banner quickly merges and dissolves into my Nascent Soul.

As constant as the Moon.

As the rising of the Sun.

Long-lived as the Five Great Mountains.

'Late Nascent Soul stage!'

I head outside my quarters and, guided, briefly venture outside the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect to find a secluded area.

Soon, the Heavenly Tribulation begins to strike, and I regain the level of the late Nascent Soul stage as I endure it.

I return back to my residence with a somewhat dazed feeling and observe the interior of my body.

'What's this speed?'

My rapid rise to the Nascent Soul stage at the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was clearly due to the cultivation stored in the Colorless Glass Sword from previous cycles.

Without the cultivation from the previous cycle, it would have taken me decades just to gather enough Qi to ascend to the Nascent Soul stage.

But now, the Colorless Glass Sword is with the main body, and I have none of the cultivation stored from previous cycles.

Yet, I was still able to amass enough spiritual power to enter the late Nascent Soul stage so quickly.

I feel dumbfounded by this insane cultivation speed as I continue to practice the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets in the lodge.

The next day arrives.

Geub En and Wi Hon.

The two Heavenly Being stage Elders look at me with a spark in their eyes.

"It seems you were hiding your cultivation yesterday. To think you're at the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage."

"A quite high-level disciple has entered Black Ghost Valley. Haha! Judging by the spiritual energy, it seems this one might soon become an Elder."

"Let's greet him in advance. I look forward to working with you, Elder Seo. Haha!"

"Haha... it's nothing, seniors."

I laugh awkwardly.

'...Even if I say I went from mid Nascent Soul to Grand Perfection overnight... they wouldn't believe it, right?'

Moreover, if I gather just a little more energy, I can reach the Heavenly Being stage.

I laugh awkwardly and, from that day on, follow the duties of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect, enhancing, complementing, and amplifying the curses they manufactured.

'I see why Black Ghost Valley also researched curses.'

When I cast Nether Perception on a curse spell, it appears as an infinitely transparent shape, the exact opposite of the form of death.

'Gray represents the outer boundary of the Netherworld, black signifies the Netherworld itself, and the colorless, transparent light symbolizes the living realm?'

I recall Bi Yul's words as I look at the curse spell.

A curse is essentially pain.

Pain, being an aspect of 'life,' is imperceptible from the outer boundary of the Netherworld.

Similarly, blessings also appear transparent.

Although blessings and curses seem contrasting, from the standpoint of death, they are essentially the same.

'It seems Ghost Kings, whose days are numbered before being pulled into the Netherworld, really need curse techniques.'

These are like wedges, a method belonging to the realm of life, that can hold them back from being dragged into the Netherworld.

Of course, it will only bring a slight delay for the Ghost Kings, as they are already deceased and inevitably fated to be pulled into the Netherworld someday.

After death, as the attractive pull of the Netherworld gradually grows stronger, no matter how much they master curse methods or other consciousness methods belonging to the realm of life, they will inevitably be sucked into the Netherworld.

'And this curse...'

Chiieeee

I click my tongue as I look at the curse spell created in conjunction with nine other curse sorcerers.

It's a quite malevolent curse.

While delving into the essence of this curse, I realized it's based on someone's deep resentment.

'I can't exactly tell whose it is, but...it's created by overlaying a curse on a powerful grudge.'

Anyone afflicted by this curse will surely be in devastating trouble.

For those below the Heavenly Being stage, merely touching the curse will not just weaken them, it will completely rot them away.

Even the curse sorcerers found it difficult to handle and gradually, at some point, control had converged upon me, the most skilled among them.

I heavily infused my Yin Soul Ghost Incantation into the curse spell to train it not to act up without my permission.

"Ah, have you already stabilized it?"

The boy who had given us the mission.

The boy named Hyeon Gwi (Black or Profound or Mysterious Turtle/) laughs heartily as he watches us perfectly control the curse spell.

"I hadn't expected such good results even from gathering skilled curse sorcerers... Truly remarkable. Especially Sir Seo..."

He lets out a small exclamation of admiration as he looks at me skilfully handling the curse.

He seems particularly interested in me for some reason.

I don't know why, but I feel it'd be better to make a good impression on Hyeon Gwi, so I manipulate the curse spell even more dazzlingly in front of him.

The task of strengthening and amplifying the curse spell took several days.

After we sufficiently strengthened the curse formula, we were able to take breaks.

It felt like we could rest for a day or two after about ten days of strengthening the curse spell.

And every so often, one out of the ten of us could leave the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect for external activities without any issue.

Of course, only one person can go out at a time, and we were under strict orders to keep silent about the curse production within the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect, but it wasn't a big problem.

And as time passed, it came time for me to go out.

"Sir Seo, if you leave, it won't be easy to stabilize the curse, so I hope you return quickly."

Hyeon Gwi laughs heartily as he sees me off to the main gate of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect.

"Understood. I'm just going out to check something at Black Ghost Valley, so don't worry."

"All right."

"Then, if you'll excuse me..."

Just as I am about to borrow a teleportation array to head to Black Ghost Valley, Hyeon Gwi calls out to me.

"Wait a moment, Sir Seo. I have something to tell you."

"Yes? What is it?"

Hyeon Gwi smiles slyly and speaks in a low voice.

"There's something I wish to share only with you, Sir Seo. I'm impressed by your skills with curses and would like to ask for a favor."

Step, step...

He crosses the main gate of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect and flicks his fingers.

Snap!

Chaaaaa!

A surge of Yin energy bursts from his body, coloring the surroundings.

I realize that a special barrier is blocking the inside from the outside.

"What is it that you need to speak so secretly about?"

"...It's because there are many things to be cautious about. The Black Dragon King has cast spells throughout the entire interior of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect to always monitor us. He wants to see if we are trying to escape his grasp."

"!"

"In fact, this information itself is confidential, and I can't openly share it. It's only after stepping outside the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect and casting a barrier that I can speak freely."

Hyeon Gwi continues with a bitter expression.

"...It is said that our Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect is backed by the Black Dragon King. You might think that he would treat us well since it's a sect led by his descendants. However, the reality is different. Every year, we must offer cultivators of at least Core Formation stage as sacrifices to the Black Dragon King."

"!"

"If the number of sacrifices is insufficient, the Black Dragon King sometimes consumes one of our disciples. We are not his favored ones; we are his sacrifices and slaves. That's why some of us in the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect have thought of this."

His eyes glow intensely.

"Even if it means being degraded from the Five Great Sects of the Human Race we wish to escape from Hyeon Eum's grasp. Our entire sect is bound by a prohibition. We cannot escape it... but there is a possibility."

I swallow as I listen to Hyeon Gwi.

'Talking about such confidential matters... he means to kill me if I don't cooperate.'

Of course, I'm not particularly afraid of Hyeon Gwi in front of me.

Although he is a practitioner of Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation, I am confident I can beat him.

However, the fact that he is discussing this just beyond the main gate of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect means that there are other sect members nearby who share his purpose..

Since Seo Li is a clone, dying isn't a big issue. But, it's a bit of a waste since this clone has infiltrated the Black Ghost Valley.

"What possibility are you talking about?"

I decide to listen to his thoughts.

"In 500 years, the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person () will appear in the Chaos Realm ()"

"Lofty Dragon True Person!!??"

I exclaim in surprise.

"Is this true?"

"Yes, those who know are already aware. It appears periodically every two thousand years."

I gasp in astonishment.

The title 'True Person' () can only be used during the Entering Nirvana stage.

And I am very familiar with the title 'Lofty Dragon' ().

A legend I learned while living in the Earth Tribe.

Long ago, during the war involving the Bright Cold Realm, the ancestor and leader of the True Dragon Alliance from the Earth Tribe who led the Bright Cold Realm to victory.

The very territory where the current True Dragon Alliance is established.

That, is Lofty Dragon True Person.

"Are you saying a relic left by the progenitor of the Earth Tribe will appear?"

"Yes. The storage scroll he left is not only a dharma treasure itself but also an alternate world. And we have found an artifact within this storage scroll that can free us from Hyeon Eum. It's an artifact that can lift the prohibition the Black Dragon King has placed on us. However, lifting this prohibition will require an exceptional curse sorcerer."

"So, you want to recruit me?"

"Yes. If you help us, we will give you one of the artifacts obtained from that realm, and ten times the reward we offered for this mission."

"Hoo"

The compensation this time is already significant.

Ten times that amount?

It's a tempting offer.

"There's a special prohibition in that realm that prevents even Integration stage cultivators from entering, so there's not much risk. You just need to cast the curse for us."

"Hmm"

I ponder for a moment and then ask him.

"What kind of artifacts are you talking about?"

"I'll show you the list right now."

Snap!

As Hyeon Gwi snaps his fingers, numerous illusions of items appear before me.

As I reach out to the nearest illusion, I feel information about it flowing into my mind.

'Wow... each and every one of them are incredible.'

I'm greatly impressed.

But having been betrayed by Seo Hweol before, I remain skeptical.

'Such favorable terms?'

Could there be a trick?

'The intent seems suspicious.'

Hyeon Gwi still hasn't told me everything.

However, it doesn't seem to be anything too significant, an intent that is just slightly unsettling.

That's when.

'Hm?'

Among the illusions that Hyeon Gwi conjured, I notice a tome bound in the hide of a strange beast, titled in a language I have never seen before.

At that moment, Bi Yul inside me speaks up.

[My Lord, choose that book as your reward.]

'Hm? Is there something special about it?'

[The script written on that book is the language of Ghost Souls, commonly used in the Netherworld, especially by high-ranking Death Gods. Were you unaware of it?]

'No, of course, I knew that. But why insist on acquiring it?'

[Ah, I see. Perhaps to the noble one, even such an item may seem insignificant. However, that book is a legendary secret manual. The fools of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect do not know its worth, so we should take it.]

'Explain what it is.'

Bi Yul's following words almost make me jump.

[As the noble being knows, there is such a thing as the True Orthodox Axis, not the erroneous method built through the Five Elements. And that Ritual Scripture of the Wealth Virtue () is one of the secret manuals known to offer access to the Wealth Axis among the True Orthodox Axes. It's practically more of a spiritual elixir in the form of a book! The noble one can already rise with your knowledge of Understanding before Breakthrough, but gracing the book to the disciples of Black Ghost Valley can lead them to tremendous growth!]

"!"

I receive an equally enthusiastic response from the main body, and without further ado, I choose the Ritual Scripture of the Wealth Virtue.

"Hmm, this book? Well, it's just a book with undecipherable text to us in the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect, so if Sir Seo likes it, feel free to take it."

Hyeon Gwi nods.

"It's of no value to us, so I'll give it to you right away as an advance."

Wo-woong!

Hyeon Gwi seems to communicate with someone outside, then splits space and reaches into it to retrieve the book from somewhere.

And then I receive the 'Ritual Scripture of the Wealth Virtue.'

'Good. With the Ritual Scripture of the Wealth Virtue, I can build the Wealth Axis'

I had once sighed at the thought of having to travel through the Middle Realms to achieve the True Orthodox Axes.

Fortunately, it seems I will only need to visit three.

'I won't need to go to the Purple Gold Realm.'

True Devil, Ancient Force, Nether Ghost.

It seems like visiting just these three later will suffice.

"You seem in a good mood, Seo Eun-hyun."

Jeon Myeong-hoon asks with a smirk.

"Is it because you're going to meet Kim Yeon?"

"Well, that's part of it."

"How curious. You were so dense at the company no matter how much you were approached that it was weird, but you've noticed it here?"

"..."

It seems Yeon had shown interest enough for even Jeon Myeong-hoon to know.

"I honestly thought you were just gritting your teeth and ignoring it. That's why there were rumors at the company that you're either celibate or gay."

"What kind of nonsense is that? Where did you hear it?"

"Deputy Oh Hye-seo told me. She said she heard it too, and that it's a widespread rumor at the office. Well, I just thought you were too clueless and incapable of dating."

"..."

Thinking I need to pay even less attention to Oh Hye-seo in the future, I jokingly smack Jeon Myeong-hoon on the head, bursting it.

Boom!

"Arghhh!"

"Quiet. And...we're almost there."

Soon, a bizarre fortress comes into view.

Ziiing!

At the same time, I smile at the familiar pulse of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.

"Yeon-ah, it's been a"

Crack!

Just then.

Space tears open, and [Her] arms suddenly spring out.

"Peekaboo. Why have you come to our house?"

And suddenly, the Mad Lord appears out of nowhere.