"GUUAAAGHHHH!"

Seo Hweol suddenly starts screaming.

It's a terrible scream, unlike anything I've ever heard before.

Crumble!

At the same time, part of Seo Hweol's head turns into salt and begins to pour down to the ground.

Seo Hweol appears to try to catch his crumbling head with his trembling hands, but even his hands begin to turn into salt and fall apart.

"..."

"..."

Seo Li and I stand there, speechless, watching the scene unfold.

'What in the world did he mess with?'

Anyway, this is a good thing.

My eyes brighten as I grasp the Starting Form.

"It's now."

Seo Li uses a spell, taking out a curse banner and the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.

Now that Seo Hweol has shown an opening.

I will drive him out and reclaim my body.

Before the Throne ().

The First Step ().

By enduring and enduring, and compressing and compressing myself, I reached beyond Tribulating Heavens.

'I didn't need to seek it from the outside.'

The essence of martial arts was already within me.

Everything I had learned was already inside.

Why did Jang Ik name this state 'Before the Throne ()'?

Because reflecting on oneself allows one to reach the front () of a great being.

Kiiiiiiing

One Sword compressed with my entirety.

Even my heart essence is contained in this sword.

"Here I go."

Paaatt!

I become the sword.

A sword of light flies toward Seo Hweol.

Just as Jang Ik had embedded his podao into my heart essence, I shoot into Seo Hweol's filthy heart essence.

I overlay the existence of 'me' on top of the existence of 'Seo Hweol.'

Although it's theoretically possible with the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, I'm not just relying on history but the 'me of this very moment' driving him out.

This is the 'real' plan I had hidden from Seo Hweol and conveyed to Seo Li.

By simultaneously utilizing the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections and the First Step Before the Throne, I take my place inside Seo Hweol.

Chwarururuk!

As soon as Seo Eun-hyun enters Seo Hweol, Seo Li dyes the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.

Chiiiii

The dark Black Ghost Curse Banners are created, forming a field of black flags around Seo Li.

"Go."

Chwararararak!

Countless Black Ghost Curse Banners swarm together like bees, merge in the sky, and then plunge toward Seo Hweol.

If Seo Eun-hyun's aim is to enter Seo Hweol's body, reassert his heart essence with the First Step Before the Throne, and 'digest' Seo Hweol using the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, Seo Li's role is to imprint the 'pain' Seo Eun-hyun had experienced onto Seo Hweol from the outside.

The fear and suffering felt when looking at True Immortals.

The castration of his testicles.

The pain of the 60,000-fold toxic poison.

The pain of losing Azure Tiger Saint before his eyes.

The loneliness, sorrow, and suffering of being a puppet for a thousand years.

The situation when he first awakened the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation...

The loneliness of having to explore beyond the limits of martial arts alone, leaving behind Kim Young-hoon each time.

The pain of having to leave his master after bowing to him, leaving his master alone.

The pain of losing his disciples.

The pain of letting all those countless cherished connections go.

The immense pain experienced by the individual 'Seo Eun-hyun' are all implanted into Seo Hweol's brain.

If Seo Hweol had brainwashed Seo Eun-hyun to turn him into Seo Hweol, they are doing the opposite.

Brainwashing Seo Hweol to revert him back into Seo Eun-hyun.

Now that Seo Hweol is suddenly turning into salt and crumbling, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Just when I think that.

Crumble!

"Kkuuuugh...!"

Suddenly, Seo Li also grabs his head.

Part of Seo Li's head turns into salt and begins to fall apart.

Although his entire head didn't completely melt away like Seo Hweol's, part of him has suddenly turned into salt.

"What, what is this?"

Seo Li is baffled, but he soon understands by looking around.

Seo Hweol has assimilated the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect, the Spirit Scale Race, the Cold Spirit Race, the Leaf Race, and many others.

Many of them are experiencing the same phenomenon, their heads turning into salt and melting away.

And this is happening throughout the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Bright Cold Realm.

The Grand Cultivator who previously shared a conversation with Seo Hweol and let him out, Wi Ryeong-seon, suddenly grabs his head and collapses to the floor.

"KKEEEUUGH!"

Part of his head starts turning into salt and begins to melt away.

It isn't just him.

Others whom Seo Hweol had spoken with in the Black Ghost Valley also have their heads turning into salt and melting away.

In the case of the Black Grand Elder Heo Gwak, it's particularly severe.

"KKUUAAAAGHh! AAAARGGH! AAAAAAgh!"

Three-quarters of his face has turned into salt and is melting away.

The same is true for Azure Tiger Saint.

"KUUAAAAAGH!"

In the case of the Azure Tiger Saint, half of his face has turned into salt and is melting away.

All the Heaven Tribe members who had met and conversed with Seo Hweol are spewing salt from their faces, or part of their heads are turning into salt and pouring down.

The True Dragon Alliance of the Earth Tribe is no different.

"KYAAAAGH! Unnie!"

"GUAAAAAHHH!"

Seeing Gyu-ryeon spewing salt from her mouth, her sister Gyu-hwa turns pale and infuses her with life force.

However, even Gyu-hwa, who had come and gone conversing with Seo Hweol, has parts of her face turning into salt and falling off.

"KYAAAAAGH!"

The True Dragon Alliance of the Earth Tribe.

The hidden layer within the Serving Command Ark.

Inside a vast estate.

Cough, cough!

A woman in there coughs and spits out some salt, then half-opens her eyes with a meaningful smile.

"Oh my, has our Grand Prince finally shown a crack?"

Her eyes curve into a smile.

"Maybe now I can see the past of yours covered in darkness..."

Her hand reaches out into the void..

"Shall we find Seo Hweol's [Pillar]."

Above the land of the Malryu Domain, which leads to the Swiftwind Domain.

Within a rapidly gliding Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

The Mad Lord suddenly scratches his chin with a surprised expression.

Buck buck.

Toodook

A piece of salt, about the size of a pinky nail, falls from his chin.

Considering how long he has known Seo Hweol, it's an unbelievably small amount.

"...? What is this."

The Mad Lord pays it no mind and continues focusing on maneuvering the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

Ancient Force Realm.

Above the lake where a large fleet is anchored.

Inside the command ship of the fleet.

A woman dressed in white, holding a norigae, suddenly grabs her head while meditating.

"Ugh..."

Her face turns into salt and crumbles away.

Chiiiiiii

She quickly regenerates her face before long, but she opens her eyes with a puzzled expression.

"Why me...?"

Ancient Force Realm.

A large mountain range beside the fleet.

Inside a cave residence on the mountain.

"Ma-master!"

[Ugh! Do not come near! Damn it, what's happening?!]

Part of Song Jin's skull suddenly turns into salt and begins to melt.

Seo Ran, seeing this, is flustered.

And then, at some point, Seo Ran also grabs his head.

"Urgh...my head..."

Regardless of whether it's the Bright Cold Realm, the Ancient Force Realm, or the Head Realm, anyone who had met and conversed with 'Seo Hweol' even once are having salt drip from their heads.

Inside Seo Hweol, as I am 'digesting' his heart essence and his existence, I feel it.

'Truly, there's an unbelievable amount.'

It isn't just those Seo Hweol had conversed with and imprinted configurations on.

There are countless others who have already been completely transformed into 'Seo Hweol.'

Seo Hweols are already overflowing in this world.

Within Seo Hweol, I observe how he constantly communicates with the 'other Seo Hweols' outside.

It's like looking at brain cells.

Each of the countless Seo Hweols act as a single nerve, exchanging opinions and information with the many other Seo Hweols, collectively thinking and deciding as a single 'brain'.

I realize the terror of Seo Hweol as I face the endlessly unfolding darkness.

[Is that your secret?]

Anyone who converses with Seo Hweol, unless they are overwhelmingly superior in cultivation, would have a lingering impression of Seo Hweol etched in their mind.

This impression itself becomes a configuration that forms Seo Hweol's persona within them.

Consequently, anyone who forms Seo Hweol's persona would instantly develop a 'fondness for Seo Hweol,' no matter who they are.

This is why everyone Seo Hweol met thinks highly of him.

It's the reason why everyone from the Head Realm placed absolute trust in Seo Hweol's words.

In the darkness, I murmur the name of Seo Hweol's spell that inadvertently flows out in my bewilderment.

"Immortal Art (), Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens (). So that's the name of your spell."

As Seo Hweol meets more people.

As he appears before the masses and imprints 'himself' on them.

Seo Hweol is formed within their inner selves, and they would act 'for Seo Hweol' within the realm of their unconsciousness.

Seo Hweol's plans seldom failed.

His predictions rarely missed the mark.

The reason this was possible is simple.

Every person who has ever met him inevitably acts in ways that benefit him.

[What I saw then wasn't just your talent.]

When I was assimilated with Seo Hweol, I saw a network of countless human relationships.

The confidence that he could twist these relationships to his advantage.

It wasn't just confidence or talent, but simply 'a fact'.

A chilling ability.

As time passes, more Seo Hweols grow.

As these Seo Hweols meet more people, they, too, will eventually become Seo Hweol.

If these Seo Hweols fill the world, the world itself will essentially become Seo Hweol.

'The one saving grace is that every Seo Hweol shares the memory of the True Immortal he saw in the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.'

The darkness is quite noisy.

I slowly push Seo Hweol out of my body, observing the joyfully and noisily discussing Seo Hweols.

Jjiiing

Countless Seo Hweols communicate in their unique language.

Normally, it's a language I wouldn't be able to understand, but because I am in a state of being assimilated by Seo Hweol, I can understand to some extent.

It's dangerous.

We need to protect . As long as I have that, I'm safe.

No, we don't even need to go as far as .

Yeah, let's push it all to one place.

Where should we push it to?

It's best to put it in the most useless me.

How do we judge what's useless?

By the success or failure of plans.

Then...

Ssss

Somehow, I feel hundreds of millions of unpleasant gazes from the darkness focus on me.

I, who failed to parasitize the Grade-2 dangerous entity, must take responsibility.

'So that's how it is...'

I feel like I understand the system of 'Seo Hweol' to some extent.

Just when I think that.

Beyond the deep darkness.

'Hm?'

I see the Taiji.

The circulation of Yin and Yang, an eternal rotation.

A compendium of History ().

For some reason I sense the presence of countless immortal beasts' true blood within the Taiji.

And, as the Taiji rotates, it shatters the 'darkness'.

Kwaching

At the same time, I see something unbelievable beyond the darkness.

A 'pure light' I thought could never exist within Seo Hweol bursts forth momentarily from beyond the darkness.

[What!?]

I'm bewildered, but at the same time, my eyes shine.

'This is my chance to uncover Seo Hweol's true identity!'

Paatt!

Using the power of the First Step Before the Throne, I shoot towards the crack of light.

Kwadududuk!

I transform into a sword and embedd myself in the gap of light.

My spirit widens the gap, and the Taiji flows into it.

And then,

Zziiiiiiiing

[Kughh!]

Both I and the mysterious Taiji are blown away by the concentrated mental attack from the hundred of millions of 'Seo Hweol's, unable to see the inside of the light.

"Ha, hahahaha, ahahahahaha...!!!"

'I' laugh out loud.

Basically, my original body.

I am referring to the body of 'Seo Eun-hyun.'

Though the body is turning to salt, I am able to regain considerable control over the body that had been seized by Seo Hweol.

I laugh maniacally.

"Seo Hweol! Seo Hweol! Seo Hweol!!!"

Until now, I had thought of Seo Hweol's identity as being tied to a judge of the Netherworld.

Figures such as Nether Devil True Lord Yu Hao Te (Love of Virtue)

Or those I learned of today such as Nether Ghost True Lord Yu Soo Ryeon, Ancient Force True Lord Hae Nyeong, or the Purple Gold True Lord, and so on.

However, just moments ago, while catching a glimpse of his light, I realized one thing.

"You...are not a Lord ()."

Neither a True Lord nor a Heavenly Lord.

"No, you were never..."

My eyes are bloodshot.

The true identity of Seo Hweol is laughable and absurd.

"You were never a True Immortal...! Right?"

Neither of us were True Immortals.

Even though we weren't True Immortals, we both recognized each other as beings of that caliber and performed a ludicrous farce, pretending to be True Immortals.

I'm a fellow True Immortal Daoist?

How ridiculously laughable.

He never saw me as a fellow Daoist; he was just a pitiable creature desperately pretending to be a True Immortal in front of me.

Earth Tribe, True Dragon Alliance, Serving Command Ark.

The hidden layer.

Clench

One of the jiangshi inside is gripping the neck of a woman in white, Oh Hye-seo.

The face of the jiangshi changes.

His attire changes.

A handsome man with blue hair and blue robes.

The jiangshi, now transformed into Seo Hweol, glares coldly at Oh Hye-seo, a look he had never shown before.

"What was the meaning of this just now, Miss Hye-seo?"

"Haha, why are you doing this, Grand Prince? Are you upset because this girl peeked at your secret?"

"...I suppose I should thank you. Thanks to you, I remembered the feeling of such discomfort after a long time."

"That's great! Your face looks much more human now, doesn't it? Ohohoho..."

At that, Seo Hweol coldly throws Oh Hye-seo aside.

"Yet, you are inhuman while being human, Miss Hye-seo."

"Hmm, it's sad to hear that from you, Grand Prince. Aren't you and I both beasts in human skin?"

Seo Hweol, looking at Oh Hye-seo for a moment, regains his usual smile.

"Hoho, while I've purposely discarded mine, it's just fascinating that you seem to have never had one from the beginning, Miss Hye-seo."

"Ahaha, how could that be? In this vast world, there's no way there's no one like me."

"Hoho..."

The man wearing a mask and the woman with nothing but a mask look at each other with smiling faces.

"Anyway, this won't do. What just happened was a bit dangerous for me, so I'll have to give you a little education this time."

"Thank you for kindly showing me that this method was effective."

"Hoho..."

Seo Hweol reaches out to Oh Hye-seo with a smiling face.

"Hoho..."

That laugh is still unpleasant.

The Seo Hweol, looking at me through the bodies of different races.

It's truly an unpleasant sight.

However, seeing this appearance, I pity him.

In the past, I had seen a light in Seo Hweol's heart essence.

At that time, I thought it was an illusion.

But from what happened just now, I can tell.

His heart essence might have truly been like an idyllic peach garden at one time.

"Pitiful. Grand Prince of the Sea Dragon Race, Seo Hweol. How miserable must your experiences have been, to shove your original heart into the depths of a bottomless abyss and torment yourself."

"..."

"Open your heart. If the wounds of the past are the problem, I have a method that can heal your heart."

"...Hoho."

Seo Hweol smiles faintly.

"You say amusing things, Daoist Seo. What I showed you was merely a joke. There is no such thing as a heart in this world."

"...Is that so?"

I look directly into Seo Hweol's eyes as I speak.

Tuk, tududuk...

As Seo Hweol is gradually overpowered within me, the influence of whatever he saw weakens, and the body that had turned into salt begins to regenerate.

"You're always smiling."

"Hoho..."

He is a liar.

His words, actions, face, even his heart, everything is turned into lies by this pitiful monster.

Then, what kind of lie is the smile this monster always wears?

Author's Note: Seo Hweol might have just needed someone to talk to...

Breaking the character of Seo Hweol so that he stops smiling will be the goal for Seo Eun-hyun and me as we progress through the Middle Realm episodes.

I truly want to see Seo Hweol in despair.