Chapter 165: Drastic Change (4)

“Devil Army, form the Devil Origin Heaven Refining Formation!”

Ha!

The Devil Race lines up, each beginning to emit devilish energy.

In an instant, the frontline is covered with dark devilish energy, blocking our path.

However, the Human Race expedition force, instead of charging towards the barrier of devilish energy, began to change formation.

[All devil path cultivators, forward!]

Seven hundred-strong units composed of devilish art cultivators stepped forward.

‘Song Jin once said, among the people of the lower realm, even those who have mastered devilish arts prefer to ascend to the Bright Cold Realm rather than the True Devil Realm..’

Kugugugu!

I feel like I understand why.

Kiieeeee!

Kyaaaah!

Kooooo!

Darkish monsters exude devilish energy.

The entire bodies of the devilish cultivators, who have mastered devilish arts, began to emit dark devilish energy, piercing through the barrier of devilish energy right before us.

[Breakthrough!]

Kugugugung!

With the devilish art cultivators each launching a strike, the barrier is pierced in an instant, and a path opens up.

At the end of the path, the Devil Race is seen panicking.

[Righteous path cultivators, forward!]

This time, cultivators of the righteous faction, who have mastered pure righteous cultivation methods, step forward, unleashing attacks that emit bright white light.

At this light, the Devil Race across from us are seen fleeing in terror.

Next, it’s our turn, the cultivators who have learned the cultivation methods between righteousness and evil.

[Charge! Finding the Devil Veins of the Devil Realm and planting the Bright Cold Jade entrusted to the 100-Man Captains is the top priority!]

The cultivators disperse, following the commands of their respective 100-Man captains, and begin to break through the encircling Devil Race.

"Block the despicable Human Race!"

"The Human Race is trying to contaminate the Devil Realm!"

Koooooo!

Dark devilish energy gathers in the air, transforming into the shape of a black skull, and rushes towards our 100-Man unit.

"Hmph, begone!"

Kugugugu!

The skull disperses under the strike of a cultivator from our 100-Man unit, who practices the wind attribute methods at the Nascent Soul stage.

However, the shattered skull gathers into pieces and then splits into hundreds of smaller skulls, flying towards us again.

Kyaaaaaaa!

"Haaaaaa!"

Yeon Jin quickly forms a hand seal as he faces the flying skulls.

"Light-Lightning Blade Lotus!"

Pachijik!

Yellow lightning in the shape of blades form in the air, and dozens of them gather to create a lotus.

The lightning lotus surrounding Yeon Jin soon disperses in all directions, hitting the skulls.

Pachijik!

As the bright yellow lightning strikes, the skulls evaporate.

[It has been said since ancient times that the lightning attribute has the power to destroy evil and exterminate devils. It seems the saying is true.]

"Ahaha, of course. It's particularly effective against the Yin attribute or the Ghost and Devil attributes... but honestly, I was so scared just now that I almost failed casting the spell. I don’t think I will be of much help."

[Perhaps you should make more use of your 10-Man subordinates. I can help, or you can borrow the power of the Qi Building cultivators part of the unit.]

"Thank you for the advice..."

Just then.

Kuuuuung!

A section of the Devil Race's wall crumbles due to a spell cast by a 100-Man Captain.

The 100-Man Captain's booming voice echoes all around.

"I can feel the Devil Veins of the Devil Realm in that direction! We will head there first!"

Whizzing!

He wraps himself in Dragon Fist Wind and quickly flies to said location, and we cross the wall to follow him.

After crossing the wall and looking back with my consciousness, I see that the spatial rift we had crossed is covered with a large wall and barrier.

It is said that the spatial rifts leading to the Devil Realm are scattered throughout the Bright Cold Realm.

The Devil Race, wary of this invasion by the Human Race, seem to have built castles around these spatial rifts.

Whoooosh!

How long have we flown following the 100-Man captain?

The 100-Man Captain soon arrives at something resembling a large mountain in the Devil Realm.

"This is the Devil Veins of the Devil Realm. Devilish energy flows heavily here. From now on, as the 100-Man Captain, I will begin to erode the Devil Realm using Bright Cold Jade. You all must protect the surroundings to ensure I am not disturbed!"

Upon his command, a total of ten 10-Man Leaders and their respective 10-Man teams form a circle around the 100-Man Captain, standing guard in the surroundings.

Woowoowoong!

Behind us, where the 100-Man Captain is, a dense spiritual energy surges, pushing away the thick devilish energy filling the surroundings and beginning to erode the space.

‘The atmosphere of the Devil Realm is changing, turning into that of a Spiritual Realm…’

Woowoowoong!

As spiritual energy begins to bloom around, the other Qi Building practitioners within the 10-Man teams seem to look more alive.

Those who reached Core Formation are at the pinnacle of vitality, able to survive for years without eating or drinking and able to live on the spiritual energy within their bodies without breathing.

But Qi Building cultivators, though their bodies flow with pure spiritual force and have high vitality, are not beyond human limitations, struggling in the Devil Realm's environment filled with devilish energy, unlike the Spiritual Realm.

While we are guarding the surroundings.

Kugugugu!

From afar, hundreds of members of the Devil Race are flying towards us with raging intent.

"Over there! The Human Race is contaminating the Devil Realm!"

"You bastards, stop the erosion immediately!"

Devils with horns instead of eyes on their faces, devils with two heads, and those entirely made of stone surround us in a bizarre formation.

"All devils, engage! We are equal in the erosion area!"

"Protect the Devil Realm from erosion!"

The masses of the Human Race and Devil Race collide.

Yeon Jin quickly forms a seal and casts a spell.

"Lightning Blade Lotus!"

Pachiziziz!

Once again, a lotus made of yellow lightning surrounds him.

Kwaaaang!

When a large Devil Race member throws a punch, Yeon Jin's lotus trembles severely, and he seems engulfed in fear, desperately infusing spiritual power into the lotus.

'Damn it, he’s completely lost it.’'

I click my tongue inwardly as I see Yeon Jin frozen in fear and stiffening.

"Te-, Ten-Man Leader! Please give us an order!"

"Ten-Man Leader!"

Excluding me, the members of Yeon Jin's 10-Man team are also in turmoil, distressed seeing Yeon Jin only protecting himself and looking out of his senses.

I take the initiative to issue commands in place of Yeon Jin, blocking the attacks of the Devil Race while also commanding the other 10-Man teams.

["All members, the 10-Man Leader is preparing a major spell, so for now, follow my command. First, excluding me, nine Qi Building cultivators, starting with you, go behind the 10-Man Leader and intercept the enemies with magic artifacts. The Devil Race is not compatible with the 10-Man Leader's lightning, so it will be safe to be behind him."]

As I reveal the aura of Core Formation and give orders, the Qi Building cultivators of the 10-Man units follow my command as if they have been waiting.

I send five of the nine 10-Man members behind Yeon Jin, and the remaining four behind me.

"So, do we just stay behind you, senior?"

[Right. Follow me.]

"Eh? Follow you?"

[Do you see something wriggling behind the Devil Race force?]

Squelch, squelch-squelch!

Behind the Devil Race force, several large tentacles are blowing flutes, stuck in place.

Reading the Devil Race's intent, my eyes shine.

[That mass of tentacles is the Devil Race's commander. It's commanding the Devil Race surrounding us, so we'll break through the Devil Race force to engage the commander and harass it. That way, their command structure will be paralyzed in one fell swoop, making it easier for our fellow cultivators.]

"Ah, are we really going to break through those Devil Race members just by ourselves!?"

[It's entirely possible. Don't be paralyzed by fear, form up. We'll charge in a wedge formation. You and you will take the left wing, and you two will handle the right wing.]

After placing four people on both flanks, I pull out a chunk of flesh from within my clothes.

[Come out, Yuan Yu.]

Splorch! Squelch, squelch!

The chunk of flesh bursts from my hand upon my command and transforms into a human figure after a while of wriggling.

A being wearing a blood-colored robe, with a mix of male and feminine characteristics, appears with ebony-like hair cascading down.

Seeing Yuan Yu, the Qi Building 10-Man team members open their mouths wide in awe.

[Don’t gape. As a Blood Body that I control, Yuan Yu is merely a puppet. It will lead the way to break through, and I will support from the rear, dealing with those who attack from above and below the ground.]

Woowoong!

As Yuan Yu opens its mouth, a bloody light flashes from its Golden Core, and through its mouth emerges a crystal skull staff, seventeen bone daggers, four crimson pagodas, and a blood-colored spear.

The ghost king that had been attached to the blood-colored spear had been consumed by the Nether Crossing Ship before, so Yuan Yu takes the spear directly and assumes a stance.

Of course, since I am the one controlling the Blood Body Yuan Yu, its posture is perfect.

"Everyone…"

I issue the command through Yuan Yu's mouth.

"Charge."

Fwoosh!

With that word, Yuan Yu shoots forward, matching the speed of the Qi Building cultivators.

The Qi Building team members follow on Yuan Yu's flanks, and I follow directly behind Yuan Yu, forming seals.

[White Orchid Blessing Incantation.]

Woowoong!

Bright light arises from my entire body, and several white orchids begin to bloom around us.

Then, the white orchids fly into the bodies of the 10-Man team members.

"Uh, uh…?"

"What in the world…?"

The expressions of the 10-Man team members changes.

In an instant, their power surges to match that of the Grand Perfection Qi Building.

In addition to this, I begin to lay circuits in their bodies through the power of the White Orchid Blessing Incantation I bestowed upon them.

[Yin Soul Ghost Incantation.]

Tstssts!

Of course, laying circuits in the body of a living human would bring immense pain and significantly damage the body.

I funnel the pain and harmful effects of the circuits through the curse spells of Yin Soul Ghost Incantation into Yuan Yu's body.

As the circuits are laid into their bodies, now matching Grand Perfection Qi Building cultivators, they all begin to exhibit the power of Core Formation cultivators.

"Uh, senior?"

"What kind of power is this…?"

[It's my blessing. No need for many words, just pick up the pace. Now that you're at the level of Core Formation, you can keep up with the speed, right?]

"Of course!"

Fwoosh!

Yuan Yu and I start using the Flying Escape Technique, and the other Qi Building members follow at a comparable speed.

Kwaang!

The enemies in front of us are cleaved apart by the blood-colored spear in Yuan Yu's hand.

The crystal skull staff floating above Yuan Yu’s head opens its mouth, drawing the essence blood of the attacking Devil Race members into Yuan Yu, continuously bolstering its vigor.

Ting, ting, ting!

Moreover, with the four crimson defensive pagodas surrounding us, it’s nearly impossible for the Devil Race members to successfully attack us, and we can continuously charge, scattering attacks in all directions.

Finally.

Kooong!

We stop in front of the mass of tentacles commanding the Devil Race force.

'Ho, Nascent Soul stage Devil, I see..'

Among the shadow-like Devil Race members, three are at Core Formation, and one is a Nascent Soul stage powerhouse.

[Everyone, engage the Core Formation Devils. Yuan Yu and I will take on this one.]

"Yes, sir!"

Whoom!

No words are needed.

The shadow devil’s hand reaches out towards Yuan Yu and me.

Kooong!

Yuan Yu summons the crimson pagodas to spread a barrier, but the barrier begins to shake violently and crack almost immediately.

[Such evil human scum, truly living up to their reputation with their eerie appearance. One is neither male nor female, and another wanders headless…]

The shadow devil at the Nascent Soul stage looks at us and sneers before reaching out again.

‘...It's not entirely wrong.’

[Hold him for a bit Yuan Yu.]

"...Blood Demon Suppressing Sea"

Swoosh!

From Yuan Yu's body, blood-red seawater explodes everywhere, overwhelming the Nascent Soul stage shadow devil.

"Blood Chain Binding Forest."

As Yuan Yu forms a hand seal, a blood-red forest sprouts from the blood-red seawater, beginning to press down on the Nascent Soul shadow devil.

Kugugugu!

Countless branches intertwine, attempting to skewer the Devil Race like a kebab.

However, the body of the shadow devil appear to be made of shadows, as the branches pass right through it.

[Ahaha, how cute. Core Formation stage humans daring to harm me, without even properly sensing planes...]

[Azure Wing!]

Kugugugu!

Behind me, three wings sprout.

[Heavenly Shatter!]

Kugugugu!

A secret technique of the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, performed by a Core Formation cultivator exerting all their strength.

Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter is executed.

[What...!]

A whirl of blue light overwhelms the Nascent Soul devil, wrapping around its entire body.

Within it, the Nascent Soul devil cries out.

[You, you... You're from the Heart Tribe...]

[Shsh.]

Whish!

And within the whirlwind of blue, the storm of the Formless Sword shreds the devil.

Before the devil can continue babbling, I rush at them, grabbing their head with my hand covered in the Formless Sword.

[If you're defeated, quietly surrender your life. Stop babbling annoyingly.]

Puk!

The Formless Sword dices through its entire body, and the shadowy flesh of the devil, which was impervious to attacks below the Core Formation stage, is sliced open by the Formless Sword, ultimately scattering.

Ssshhh...

After watching its Nascent Soul disperse and its soul ascend,

I look at a mass of tentacles scurrying away beside me.

The tentacle mass seems to be the one commanding the surrounding Devil force but it appears to have poor physical abilities, managing to move only three steps despite its efforts.

[...Listen here, Daoist.]

Chak!

I grab the tentacles sprouting from its body and say,

[Disperse your forces, don't pretend you can't understand. Hurry.]

Wriggle, wriggle...

The tentacle devil trembles and conveys its consciousness through its tentacles.

[...I've heard that the Human Race grinds prisoners into elixirs. I, as commander, wish for proper treatment instead of such a dreadful fate.]

[Hmm... I'll take responsibility for your life.]

[Ah, understood.]

Chalak!

Shortly after.

A strange intent spreads in all directions from the tips of the tentacle mass.

Soon after, the Devil Race surrounding our 100-Man unit flees.

I pull on the tentacles and ask.

[Hmm, you could have just made your forces surrender, but you ordered them to run away.]

[I had no choice. You may have promised proper treatment for prisoners, but how will my subordinates know you won't eat them?]

'It feels like we're being treated as a cannibal army.'

Still, it seems like the commander is quite kind to its subordinates despite its appearance.

[Alright, I understand. Capturing you alone has earned me merit, so I won't say more.]

I pick up the tentacle mass and return to the 100-Man unit.

Shortly after.

Kuuuuu!

From the Devil Veins controlled by the 100-Man Captain, refreshing spiritual energy spreads, eroding all surrounding Devil Veins into spiritual veins.

"We've succeeded in the assimilation"

Shaaaa!

The surrounding devilish energy is washed away, and spiritual energy illuminates all around.

It isn't just our side that succeeded in the operation. From afar, beams of spiritual energy can also be seen.

Wo-woong!

The beams of spiritual energy erode the Devil Veins into spiritual veins, meeting one another and emitting even stronger light.

Before long, the land where we first set foot is completely infused with majestic spiritual energy.

[To the expeditionary force, the 1st Devil Realm assimilation operation has been successful! Congratulations on the operation's success, and all criminals who received sentences before joining the battle will have their crimes pardoned! I repeat, the 1st Devil Realm assimilation operation has....]

Hyeon Woon's telepathic message resonates throughout the units, and I begin to slowly regenerate the upper part of my neck, organizing my thoughts.

'Is this right?'

Although I should celebrate the victory,

I find myself caught between pitying the tentacle devil squirming beside me and the invading Human Race eagerly waiting to feast on the Devil Race.

I ponder whether what I am doing is right.

Wo-woong!

As I dwell on these thoughts for a while,

I suddenly feel something vibrating within me.

'This is…'

A Heart Demon.

As these doubts arose, the Heart Demon that had formed as I rose to the Nascent Soul stage began to react.

Feeling the vibrations of the Heart Demon, I realize.

'The day I find the answer to whether my actions are correct, perhaps I can rid myself of the Heart Demon and regain my memories.'