Chapter 161: Master's Grace (7)

“Oh-Ho”

The Mad Lord's eyes sparkle with curiosity.

He meticulously examines General Seo, evaluating it.

"Remarkable. You've perfectly reproduced the circuit. However, the materials are a bit lacking. It's a Four-Axis stage puppet, but it's absolutely impossible for it to exhibit the full strength of the Four-Axis stage."

He grins, pointing out various parts of General Seo.

"Firstly, the joints and connecting parts haven't been made properly. With such a design, excessive movement will cause the joints to collapse. And…"

The Mad Lord pinpoints General Seo's biggest weakness accurately.

"Most importantly, the power circuit is too weak. It seems you've tried to maximize the power circuit with Light Spirit Sacred Water... but with that, it can't produce the power of a true Four-Axis. At best, it might replicate the strike of a Four-Axis cultivator three or four times? Of course, that in itself is unmatched from the Heavenly Being stage and below, but honestly... it's not a properly made puppet."

I look at the Mad Lord and reply.

"That's not correct."

"Hmm?"

"It's not designed to perform three or four strikes of a Four-Axis cultivator, but rather, it's made to execute only one attack. And…"

Kugugugu!

A tremendous force gathers in the right half of General Seo.

Simultaneously, eight azure wings sprout from the back of General Seo's right half.

Wo-woong!

Starlight embeds in General Seo's right arm, and the quintessence of five-colored light envelops him.

Seeing this, Oh Hyun-seok's face is filled with astonishment.

"The, the Eighth Wing!"

Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter, Eighth Wing.

This Four-Axis stage General Seo is designed to unleash a single, ultimate attack reaching the pinnacle of the Four-Axis stage by exhausting all its power.

A puppet that can be made only by someone like me, who has mastered both body refining and puppetry techniques.

That, is True Origin General Seo, the culmination of this lifetime.

Seeing this, the Mad Lord chuckles.

"Amazing. Isn't that the secret technique of Azure Tiger Saint? Hahaha… After studying under Azure Tiger Saint, you've managed to create something quite splendid."

I take a moment to look at the Mad Lord.

"Yes, as you can see, I have achieved dazzling growth under Azure Tiger Saint. Currently, I am virtually without equal below the Heavenly Being stage."

"Indeed, if that's the case, you should be able to keep your promise, right?"

"Correct. However, can the same be said for Kim Yeon?"

"Hmm?"

"From what I've seen, although the Mad Lord has also taught Yeon well, there are a few things lacking from my perspective."

Since I've come to meet the Mad Lord.

Let's settle this today.

Right here, right now.

"Huuuuuuuuuuum…"

The Mad Lord rolls his eyes and brings his face close to mine.

After scanning my entire body with his gazing eyes for a while, he smiles, showing his teeth.

"What's lacking, you say?"

I swallow.

The Mad Lord's lunacy is on the verge of bursting out.

From now on.

A single wrong word, and I will be modified on the spot.

"She hasn't fully mastered the Great One's methods. As far as I know, the 'Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon' of the Great One is an analysis of human intent from a cultivator's perspective. Am I correct?"

"Yes."

"I studied under Azure Tiger Saint, who reached the stage of 'Three Flowers Gather at the Summit' and is able to see the color of intent."

"Yes, I know that too."

"Then, if Yeon is also taught martial arts, could Yeon not also reach the stage of Three Flowers Gather at the Summit to see the color of intent and further perfect the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon based on that?"

"Martial arts?"

The madness in the Mad Lord's eyes intensifies.

"My disciple practicing martial arts? Why?"

I used the state of Treading Heavens Beyond the Path to control my heart essence so as not to reveal my inner thoughts to the Mad Lord and then took a step back from him.

Then, without a word, I use earth manipulation spells to disturb the ground beside me, creating two clay spears.

A pair of single spears.

Holding the spears, I begin to dance, spinning around.

The dance I initially perform is identical to the posture of the Twin Immortals Dance.

However, the dance that started with the festival dance gradually becomes a martial art as it reveals itself through the path of the single spear.

The Mad Lord's eyes widen as he watches.

The initial stance of the spear technique consists of a total of eight forms.

Holding the two spears, I execute the spear technique from start to finish, pursuing stability, harmony, and integrity.

Crash!

In the final form, the two single spears merge into one, enhancing the final thrust that has continued from the first form.

The final thrust concentrates the power that has been built up from the start of the dance.

That is the last move of this nameless spear technique.

After finishing the spear technique in front of the Mad Lord, I look at him.

And I’m startled.

'The look in his eyes...'

Clear!

The Mad Lord's eyes are as clear as the last time I saw them in my previous life.

"...You've shown me something good. Go now."

"Excuse me...?"

"I said go. The memories of that time made my madness recede for a moment. Leave before it returns."

"...Ah..."

I didn't expect it to be this effective.

Oh Hyun-seok, who has been watching from the side, asks curiously.

"Mad Lord… elder. If Seo Eun-hyun keeps dancing in front of elder, won't there be no problem?"

"Hehe... That's an interesting point. But all medicine develops resistance if used continuously. It's the same with human consciousness."

The Mad Lord speaks with a bitter expression.

"It might have worked the first time, but after seeing it continuously, it might not work again. It’s already miraculous that your dance momentarily awakened my mind just now. That's why I told you to leave."

"...Thank you. Just one thing..."

I ask him seriously.

"I will take Yeon with me. May I?"

At my words, the Mad Lord suddenly clutches his head.

"...That child has... things to do..."

"...Someday, when Yeon has grown enough not to be swayed by you, I will send her back to do what you most desire."

"Ugh... You..."

Madness seems to be rising again.

The Mad Lord asks me with a pained look.

"You... do you know... what I desire?"

I nod calmly.

At my answer, the Mad Lord's pupils contract.

"...Then, let's see... do it..."

As he answers, I grab the arms of Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon through General Seo and quickly fly towards our camp using the Flying Escape Technique.

Whoosh!

Simultaneously, a vast wave of consciousness pulses from the direction of the Mad Lord.

[Whereareyougoingwhereareyougoingwhereareyougoingwhereareyougoing...]

Kugugugugugugugu!

From afar, the bright white radiance emitted by [Her] shines towards us.

Simultaneously, the Mad Lord and [Her] begin to pursue us.

[Keeprunningkeeprunningkeeprunning...]

"Deputy! Just leave me behind and go!"

"It's decided. Hyun-seok Hyung, since the Mad Lord will chase after us, I will throw you towards the campsite. Hyun-seok Hyung, please inform the senior brothers of the current situation and wait at the teleportation array near the Light Spirit Pond."

"O-okay!"

I lift General Seo's arm and throw Oh Hyun-seok towards the camp.

Then, riding on General Seo, we fly crazily through the dense forest to shake off the Mad Lord following us.

'We must not head towards the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress. The area around there will definitely be swarming with his minions. Heading near the Light Spirit Pond is also out of the question. Then, the only way is...'

After pondering the escape route, I determine the optimal path.

"General Seo, activate the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture!"

I activate the method through the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture circuitry flowing within General Seo.

A quintessence of five-colored light bursts from General Seo's body.

Pfft!

At the same time, General Seo approaches the ground.

Whoosh!

We melt into the ground below with General Seo using earth manipulation.

'Can you follow us underground, Mad Lord?'

Boom!

But before I can even finish my thought.

The ground we just hid under is exposed, and above us appears [Her].

[Did you think you could hide and I couldn't find you, daring to take my disciple...]

Swoosh

Through General Seo, I dive even deeper into the earth with earth escape.

You thought you caught me by digging up the ground instantly?

What will you do if we go deeper?

Boom, boom, boom!

Thus, a strange pursuit continues, with [Her] digging through the ground and [General Seo] using earth escape to hide deeper underground.

Wo-woong!

In the midst of this, I feel the communication device in my bosom vibrating madly.

It’s a message from Cheongmun Gyu.

I activate the communication device and reply as if shouting.

"I know you must have many questions, but please, head to the teleportation array near the teleportation site immediately and wait there! We'll be there soon!"

Snap!

I turn off the communication device without listening to his reply and frown upon seeing [Her] and the Mad Lord descending from above.

'Only one chance. I can't miss it.'

A martial art developed by the Greatest under the Heavens for several lifetimes to escape from a cultivator.

Vroom!

The energy of the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts begins to swirl around my formless sword.

'Just this once. Squeeze out all your concentration!'

Boom, boom, boom!

[She] gradually starts to close in.

Boom!

Finally, before General Seo can use earth escape, [She] digs through the dirt and follows right behind General Seo.

And then.

"General Seo! Launch it!"

The precharged attack of Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter through General Seo is activated!

Eight Wings!

Kugugugugu!

An enormous whirl of light is unleashed from General Seo's fist!

[She] tries to avoid it but with her martial prowess at best reaching Five Energies Converging to the Origin, she can't dodge the attack controlled by me, who has reached Beyond the Path to Heavens.

I predict [Her] direction of evasion and extend General Seo's arm towards it.

Kwaang!

An azure brilliance crushes [Her] upper left body and pushes it back towards the Mad Lord behind her!

Kwaang!

The Mad Lord barely dodges, but his consciousness is momentarily shaken.

'Now!'

"General Seo, self-destruct!"

Boom!

I climb on top of General Seo, hug Yeon, and nod.

Upon receiving the signal, General Seo's body swells and finally explodes.

Boom!

Using the blast, I swiftly escape the pit we dug so far.

At the end of the pit, I lock eyes with the Mad Lord, who has just dodged General Seo's attack.

"You..."

Before he can continue,, I utter a sentence towards the Mad Lord.

"Returning in the future, I will ensure Yeon completes Yeon’s Play. Please bear with it a little longer until then."

"...What?"

At my mention of "Yeon’s Play," the Mad Lord's pupils shake violently.

Simultaneously, his consciousness is thrown into turmoil.

I seize this opportunity to activate the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.

Through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, I resonate momentarily with the Mad Lord's own Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, finding the weakest point in his current consciousness.

Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.

The ultimate.

Endless Path Within the Void!

Boom!

My consciousness focuses to a point.

But this time, the form of concentration is not just a point.

The figure manifested takes the form of a sword.

My Formless Sword, having reached Treading Heavens Beyond the Path!

Compressing this Formless Sword, I aim for the weakest point in the Mad Lord's consciousness as identified through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon!

Swoosh!

For an instant, a flash of light seems to blaze, and the Mad Lord clutches his head.

[Aaaaah!!!]

It isn't merely due to Endless Path Within the Void.

After concentrating consciousness, I also secretly packed it full of curses.

"Curse, activate!"

Snap!

[Aaaargh!!!]

The difference between the Mad Lord and me is like that between humans and bugs.

But, I am a poisonous bug.

A brief sting might not be fatal but it will cause significant pain.

He clutches his head in pain and screams.

[Chase them, chase them...]

Boom!

Simultaneously, the Four-Axis puppets that the Mad Lord brought with him charge towards me.

I take out the communication device and shout.

"Senior Brother Cheongmun! Is the teleportation array ready..."

[It's ready! Seo Eun-hyun, you rascal, just get here already!]

"Right!"

At the same time, I combine the strength of my body tempered with body cultivation, the speed of Treading Heavens overlaid with Formless Sword, and the power of the Flying Escape Technique, flying crazily towards the teleportation array near the Light Spirit Pond.

Kugugugugu!

A Four-Axis stage puppet, created by the Mad Lord on the first day of ascension and remodeled into a green-armored wooden puppet, flies towards my location.

Kugugugugu!

'It's a critical moment.'

I had been a puppet under the Mad Lord for a thousand years.

I know exactly how a Four-Axis puppet perceives things.

Snap!

Holding my Formless Sword, I adjust its inner workings and lay the Mad Lord's circuits inside it.

Then, I use the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts towards the void.

Swoosh!

For a moment, the Four-Axis puppet fails to find me and looks around confusedly.

"Yuan Yu!"

I seize the opportunity to take out a piece of flesh I previously stored in my bag.

Swish!

The flesh unfolds, revealing a beautiful figure with a strange mix of masculine and feminine characteristics next to me.

"Blood Body Skin Armor!"

Swish!

Yuan Yu's body opens up, covering mine.

Kim Yeon is startled by the sight, but there’s no time for explanations.

"Let's go!"

Boom!

Over my Flying Escape Technique, Yuan Yu's Flying Escape Technique is also layered, increasing the speed even further.

It felt for a moment we were getting away from the Four-Axis puppet, but it quickly adjusted its vision and found me again.

'Damn, is this the end?.'

The Mad Lord's puppets contain a semi-autonomous soul, capable of making somewhat independent decisions and are much smarter than typical mechanisms.

Thus, the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, which slices through consciousness to evade detection, could work.

But even so, a puppet is still a puppet.

Once it starts adjusting on its own, the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts becomes ineffective.

Boom!

A dull green light flickers from behind, trying to catch me.

But, I clench my teeth.

'There, the teleportation array is in sight!'

A city of another race near the Light Spirit Pond.

And beside that city.

A small temple.

Within, there is a teleportation array connecting to the Human Race.

The race had installed the teleportation array outside their city as a precaution against humans appearing directly inside through the array.

'I’m rather grateful.. At times like this, unnecessary checkpoints are the last thing I need!'

Flash!

A green light flickers, and the Four-Axis puppet grabs my ankle!!

"Damn it!"

Without hesitation, I cut off my leg, fill it with curses, and fly off again.

Boom!

The curses explode behind, but the Four-Axis puppet, undeterred by such curses, pursues me again.

"Circuit, freeze!"

Boom!

As I form a hand seal, commands used in the Mad Lord's circuits, which I had embedded within the curse, pours out and momentarily halts the Four-Axis puppet's movement.

'I can keep it stopped for about 10 seconds.'

Woong!

I burn through my cultivation achievements within my Golden Core, increasing the speed of my Flying Escape Technique.

'5 seconds left!'

Kwaang!

I plummet towards the front of the temple and enter inside.

Inside the temple, the teleportation array is brightly lit, and Cheongmun Gyu is preparing to activate it.

"Senior brother! Activate it!"

'4 seconds.'

Tatat!

I arrive inside the teleportation array, holding Yeon.

'3 seconds.'

Boom!

The teleportation array activates, and a barrier that separates the inside and outside of the array is formed.

'2 seconds.'

Woong!

The formation diagram beneath the teleportation array begins to rotate, connecting to another teleportation array on the opposite side.

'1 second...!'

Wo-woong!

"Teleportation array, activate!"

We are engulfed in light.

Pa-aatt!

And then.

Green light flashes before my eyes, and the arm of the Four-Axis green-armored wooden puppet breaks through the teleportation array's barrier, firmly grasping my head!

Translator Notes: Yeon’s Banquet was changed to Yeon’s Play because it makes more thematic sense.