1253——————==

Soul of the Evil God

I arrived near the entrance of Great Thunder Valley. Normally, I would’ve zipped right into the heart of the valley using the “Boom” technique, so tackling it from the entrance felt refreshingly different. I left the cart by a thicket and shot a glance at Kim Cheon-jae and Kim Man-jae.

“Stay close behind me. Got it?”

The more observant one among them, naturally the village chief Kim Cheon-jae, looked horrified as he stuttered.

“T-t-this place seems really dangerous… that golden clothing can’t be….”

His gaze was fixed on the Golden Eagle Guards patrolling in the distance.

“What? You know about the Golden Eagle Guard?”

“Just rumors….”

For a mere village chief, that guy seemed pretty knowledgeable. Must be some life experience he’s got. Plus, the fact that he could spot the Golden Eagle’s danger right away showed he was at least competent for a chief.

‘But I brought you along just to see you squirm.’

I shot a cold look at the chief and said, “I told you to follow closely. If you mess up and die, it’s not my fault.”

“Ugh…”

Thud

I leapt up the hill in one go. Without wasting a moment, I unleashed a Mind Control Technique and attacked five Golden Eagle Guards.

Mind Control Technique

Heavenly Contraction Sword

The instant the Heavenly Contraction Sword hit their bodies, it felt like the air around them was being sucked toward me. Before they could react, I struck their bloodlines with precision.

“Gack.”

Snap

Having dispatched the Golden Eagle Guards effortlessly, I dropped them to the ground and marched ahead, stepping into the entrance of Great Thunder Valley. As Kim Cheon-jae and Kim Man-jae caught up, I thought to myself.

‘I know for sure there’s a complex Qimen Formation set up here, and only masters like Mangnyang could comprehend its changes to get through. Otherwise, I’d need to find a hidden path….’

The problem is, it’s been so long since I found that hidden path that it’s all hazy now. If I just fumble my way through looking for it, I might get caught in a life-and-death swap between living arts and merchant arts, which could end badly.

But that’s only if I lack the strength to navigate this formation.

If I’m strong enough, techniques will follow naturally.

As soon as I stepped into the corridor, I immediately concentrated by touching my eyes with my fingers. Then, activated the Fire Eye Golden Spirit, allowing me to sense the pure energies that formed the formation, honing in on the spot where the energy was most concentrated.

‘Here I go.’

I dashed toward that energy and severed it with a single strike.

Infinite Slash!

Swish

As I sliced through the pulse of the formation with my Mind Control Technique, I saw the flow of the formation tremble violently through the Fire Eye Golden Spirit. After a moment, as it began to stabilize again and the energy converged in one spot, I struck once more.

Swish!

Boom….

It only took two strikes, but I felt the once-wriggling flow of the formation come to a complete standstill. In that moment, I realized what Mangnyang had said when I once learned the secret art of Qimen Dunjia.

[Every formation requires power to function, which is referred to as its pulse. They contain the fundamental powers of principles like the Eight Trigrams and Five Elements, serving to imbue the formation’s channels with mystical strength, much like human blood vessels do.]

[But why can’t countless experts in Jianghu do it?]

[Because it’s pure theory…. Recognizing the pulse of a formation is a whole different ball game from simply observing Qi. The flow of Eight Trigrams and Yin-Yang is a far more metaphysical, high-dimensional force, something beyond mere intent. To see it directly, one would need god-like vision or some kind of supernatural abilities.]

[Right…]

[Even if one could recognize the pulse, to sever it requires at least the destructive force of transcendent spiritual power, and how many people in this world can master both martial and mystical arts to that extent? Only someone like the Celestial Sage could pull that off.]

Mangnyang was right.

Having reached this 30th life and successfully deciphered his theoretical countermeasures, I couldn’t help but grin.

‘The Fire Eye Golden Spirit I just used is an ability of the Celestial Sage, and my martial arts have reached an Absolute Realm, so this is how I can break through.’

I could brute-force my way through with the Thunder Spirit Seal if needed, but recklessly destroying a place that had turned an entire mountain into a prison posed a risk of harming the hostages. This strategy was the best.

‘Well, even if I sever the pulse, a potent formation could later self-repair… I can’t let my guard down.’

I glanced back and said, “The formation has temporarily halted, but in about half a moment, it’ll reactivate. Stay alert and follow me.”

“Yes, sir!”

With the formation paused, I calmly recalled the memories of when I first located the hidden path. After stumbling a couple of times, vague recollections started coming back.

“Oh right…. If I turn right here… Found it!”

After a short walk, I uncovered the hidden path and ducked inside. Venturing further in, just as before, I found the prisoners locked in Great Thunder Valley. Kim Cheon-jae, the village chief, was utterly terrified in the dark, shadowy interior, while Kim Man-jae was oddly expressionless as he followed along.

‘Huh? For a normal person, this eerie atmosphere would be terrifying….’

Surprised by Kim Man-jae’s lack of fear, my curiosity was piqued, and I asked.

“Kim Man-jae. Aren’t you scared?”

Calmly, he replied, “If I’m scared, I won’t survive….”

“……”

“I’ll just follow you.”

Since he was so composed, it seemed he was that kind of guy after all. I guess he’s lived carelessly enough that his character turned out like this….

Chop chop

I tilted my head and sliced through the prison bars. The prisoners inside charged out immediately, and I instructed them.

“Gather those who can move and round up the ones mutated into monsters. I need to go check on something.”

With my order given, I headed deeper into Great Thunder Valley. Upon arriving at the depths, I once again came face to face with the Giant Toad and, as soon as I spotted it, shouted.

“Hey! Hang-a!”

[You…!]

I clenched my fist and said, “Sorry, but you’re going to have to keep dying.”

[What?]

What ‘what’? You have no idea how much hell you’ve put me through; you should die ten times for this, you jerk!

“See you!”

Kaboom

[Ahhhh….]

I easily dispatched the Giant Toad Hang-a and retrieved the treasure inside. Among the loot, I spotted the wooden armor and gazed at it with satisfaction.

‘Alright! This is what I came to find.’

The other treasures were all well and good, but ultimately, I came for this wooden armor. It seemed like the “Boom” had influenced my magical energy directly, causing chaos, but the wooden armor hadn’t shown any sign of backlash. It must have been resistant due to its simple storage capacity. Since my future plans heavily relied on this wooden armor, I left with a beaming smile.

Rumble

Once outside, I could feel the victim’s body, currently possessed by the Evil God’s Blessing, poised to reveal the Dreaming Bard’s form.

“Hey! Stop moving!!”

[Ugh.]

Just as something was about to spew from the mouth of the mutated creature, I shoved my hand in. I crammed my hand all the way down its throat until it choked out a growl.

“I won’t accept any invitations! I’m not going, so back off!”

Then, a chilling voice echoed from nowhere.

[How dare you refuse the invitation of the divine… how arrogant can you be.]

That remark ticked me off, and I shouted, with veins bulging in my neck.

“Is that so? Want me to take you by force if you don’t want to go? I’ll break that divine head of yours one day!!”

[……!!]

“Get lost, you coward! If this thing dies, I’ll turn you into seafood!”

[You will regret this….]

Swish…

As the dark energy faded, I sensed the mutated creature calming down as well. It was a blessing that it wouldn’t survive if the Dreaming Bard revealed itself through this mutated form.

‘That should keep them away from me for a while.’

Having turned down the Evil God’s invitation, I gathered all the humans and said, “I’ll be putting everyone in the wooden armor. Step inside.”

With a whooshing sound, hostages and mutated beings began to enter the wooden armor as Kim Cheon-jae and Kim Man-jae also attempted to join. But I blocked them.

“You two can’t come in.”

“Why not…!! It’s dangerous here….”

“You need to help me manage Soeul Village, so you have to learn a lot. You know that, right?”

“Know what….”

“Quit the excuses and follow me.”

“Ugh.”

Seeing the quivering chief gave me a thrill. It was a lowly pleasure like some retribution for how he used to boss me around in the past, but now it just refreshed my spirit.

Finally, as we exited Great Thunder Valley together, I spotted a swarm of Golden Eagle Guards stationed at the entrance.

Clang!!

The menacing sword energy emitted a subtle blue glow in the shadowy mountains, and there were tons of them.

At the forefront stood the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard and two Vice Commanders, flanked by over a hundred guards ready to encircle us. With enough force to wipe out a typical martial artist faction, the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard, wielding his weapon, addressed me.

“Who are you? Do you think you can survive after intruding into Great Thunder Valley?”

Since I recognized that guy was a villain, I glared back defiantly.

“Hmmm, so you’re the White Tiger of the Four Great Experts of the Imperial Palace and the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard. You used to know the Azure Dragon Lee Kwang, and now you’ve undergone some demon modification to turn into a monster.”

“……!!”

“By the way, your case of corrupt martial arts is known as the Baogongjinchen Divine Art, and you’re proficient in exploiting others’ weaknesses using the Ghost Soldier Eight Steps as Lee Hyeong-hwan. Am I wrong?”

As I casually recited things I knew from my previous life, the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard seemed to tremble and grit his teeth.

“Not a typical individual, huh? I must capture you! Everyone, attack!”

Whoosh

In the next moment, more than a hundred Golden Eagle Guards swarmed to attack. I stared at them with a bored expression before sheathing my sword.

“No need to use a big knife to catch a chicken.”

My Infinite Slash would be a waste on these guys.

Simultaneously, I thrust both hands forward. And then, I cast one of the most powerful area-of-effect techniques I had seen in my life.

Eight Immortals Divine Art

Spider King

Chi-ling –

Numerous horizontal and vertical lines arose in the air as beams of light and intersected. These intersecting lines spread outward like a net, forming a spider web in the air, and the Golden Eagle Guards were thrown into disarray.

“No way?!”

They all tried to avoid or slice through the web using their sword energies or poison techniques, but none could stop the web. The sword energy infused in the Spider King’s net got sliced to bits. As they panicked and tried to escape, it was already too late, and the Golden Eagle Guards turned into meat chunks, spewing blood mist from that very spot.

Slice slice

With a single move, over ninety of the Golden Eagle Guards turned into lonely souls, leaving just a handful remaining. I only spread out lightly, which is why the Spider King didn’t wipe out this entire area instantly.

‘Those who aided in the massacre of innocent civilians under the guise of loyalty deserve to die. Back during the Great Bear Empire, I spared you because you were my subordinates, but not anymore.’

That had been firmly established by my would-be tenth reincarnation.

“Huh… ugh… monster….”

The Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard trembled in shock and started to retreat. The two Vice Commanders were also shaken, seemingly oblivious to the trembling of their blades. I addressed the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard.

“If you don’t surrender, I’ll kill you all. Will you surrender?”

All eyes turned toward the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard. After contemplating briefly, he dropped his weapon and knelt down, bowing his head.

“I surrender!”

“Hmm, alright…. Aren’t you going to ask if I’ll spare your subordinates?”

“If you spare them, I would be grateful….”

“Oh, what a scumbag. You’d gladly sacrifice all your men to save your own skin, huh?”

“…….”

“Ripping apart a filthy traitor like you has long been one of my desires.”

With a glimmer in my eyes, I unleashed my Mind Control Technique while simultaneously exerting an immense amount of internal power, extending both hands forward.

Absolute Realm

Mind Control Technique

Outer Bowing Sky Slash

Inner Heavenly Contraction

With the Mind Control of Bowing Sky Slash in my left hand and that of Heavenly Contraction in my right, I gripped the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard’s half-body in my mighty, overwhelming power that began to manifest in reality.

Thud thud thud….

“Gyaaaah!”

At the same moment, the body of the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard slowly lifted into the air as he began to scream in agony. The power of the Bowing Sky Slash distorted space, while the power of the Heavenly Contraction continuously expanded and contracted in all directions, applying a horrifying pressure onto his body.

“Does it hurt?”

“P-please save me….”

“Keep feeling that pain.”

Having carried over the grudge from my previous life, where I watched Mangnyang die, finally having the chance to take my revenge on this Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard felt gratifying.

Soon, I gritted my teeth and twisted my wrists.

“Revenge for Mangnyang!!”

Boom

The Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard was brutally torn apart, showering blood mist into the air. In the blink of an eye, he was reduced to a pile of flesh, leaving the remaining Golden Eagle Guards utterly losing their composure.

“Ughhh…”

“Please spare us!”

“We were just following orders….”

I gazed coldly at them, then looked at the two Vice Commanders.

“I’m willing to spare you if you abandon all martial arts and live as slaves in Soeul Village.”

In a hurry, the Vice Commanders knelt and declared, “Of course, we’ll do that!”

“Please spare us like that.”

The remaining guards seemed to catch the vibe and knelt in unison, prompting me to nod.

“Good. The rest of you, come here.”

Splat

“Urrg…”

With a strong surge of energy in my fist, I crushed one of their dantians in a single blow. Having disabled the Vice Commanders and remaining Golden Eagle Guards’ internal powers, I infused Qi into their bloodlines to completely seal off their martial arts. I looked down at the writhing survivors and said,

“I haven’t completely forgiven you yet. If you don’t repent for your past sins in Soeul Village and work hard, I’ll crush you.”

“Y-yes understood….”

Swish

I stuffed the Golden Eagle Guards into the wooden armor.

‘Let’s use these guys as the village’s slaves and make them train martial arts.’

Even if their martial arts were sealed, they knew how to train; they’d be useful. After wrapping up the situation, I turned to Kim Cheon-jae, who had been watching at a distance.

“Hey. I have a question.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Can your village accommodate hundreds more people?”

“Gasp… How many do you mean?”

“Thinking about one to three hundred….”

Kim Cheon-jae looked troubled.

“Well… as you know, our village is in a basin with limited land, so we would need help from adjacent villages to do that.”

“I see? Got it.”

I’d need to call for help from the Huashan Sect.

Nodding, I went to retrieve the cart I’d hidden earlier.

“Get on board.”

“Where are we going now…?”

“Pirate Island.”

“…….”

Kim Cheon-jae seemed to have given up trying to understand me. I did my thing and jumped into the void.

“Wait, Seo Mun-hye!”

I couldn’t give up on saving Seo Mun-hye, who’s in danger—there was no way I could let that slide!