Chapter 113: What You Trampled On / The Path You Have Tread (1)
Three days before Yuan Li's arrival.
"I will kill him."
Cheongmun Jung-jin sighed softly as he looked at me.
As the Core Formation cultivator who first discovered the Yuan Li massacre, Cheongmun Jung-jin was given temporary command of this Yuan Li hunting group.
He looked at me with a dark expression and said,
"I too want to tear that person to shreds. But we need a plan. Right now, although about 150 Core Formation cultivators have gathered, we've had little time to meet and discuss. To face that old monster... we need more time."
"...."
"I fully understand that some of the Core Formation cultivators, including you, are blinded by rage. However, now is the time to unite our strength. Being uncooperative will only hinder us."
"...My goal is to kill him."
"...If the plan devised by the formation masters succeeds, we can be free from the terror caused by Yuan Li for a considerable amount of time. It would be even better if Yuan Li reaches the end of his lifespan during this period."
Clench...
I ground my teeth and tears of black curses stream down.
"Are you saying... I can't kill him with my own hands...."
Cheongmun Jung-jin sighed deeply.
"Why wouldn't I want to tear him into thousands of pieces... But if this plan fails, that devil will unhesitatingly unleash a massacre across the entire continent, just like we experienced. Right now, with not a single Nascent Soul cultivator among us, there will be no one to stop him."
"...."
"Please... for the peace of the entire continent... help us. Everyone gathered here... must unite and participate in the plan..."
I looked at Cheongmun Jung-jin.
His intent was also tainted with pain.
"Please lend your strength. The head of the Gongmyo clan has even brought out the secret techniques of his clan..."
At his request, I clenched my teeth.
"...Then, I will set a condition."
"What is it?"
"I will cooperate with the plan and follow the lead of the clan head, but if an opportunity arises, I will do my utmost to kill Yuan Li. That's my condition."
"Understood. That's only natural. Not just you... practically everyone here intends to do the same."
Cheongmun Jung-jin nodded, confirmed my participation in the plan, and then went to persuade the elderly man in mourning clothes, who had been shouting loudly about killing Yuan Li.
I watched Cheongmun Jung-jin for a moment, then looked again at the plan devised by the numerous Core Formation cultivators and formation masters.
'Will it succeed?'
The chances of success are high.
If their plan works, the world will be peaceful for hundreds of years.
I felt peace for hundreds of years even in my previous life after the Heaven-Treading Desert massacre.
'If it succeeds... does my revenge get pushed back?'
Is that the right thing to do?
At this moment, can I endure not tearing his flesh apart?
'...I'll do my best.'
At an opportune moment, without the need for such a complex plan by the Core Formation cultivators, I will kill Yuan Li...!
And so, three days later.
Yuan Li began to appear beyond the horizon.
I tightly grasp the Formless Sword, recalling the conversation I had with Cheongmun Jung-jin a few days ago.
'I will kill him right here, leaving no reason for the plan.'
I exert all my strength from the start.
Maintaining the stance of Endless Mountains Beyond Mountains, I directly connect the meridians made of energy to the Formless Sword.
I am putting my life on the line.
Kuang!
The Formless Sword, faster than anyone else's attack, shoots out and collides with Yuan Li.
However, my Formless Sword is blocked by just the blood clouds surrounding Yuan Li.
Cheok Cheok Cheok Cheok Cheok
Other Core Formation cultivators line up behind me, each casting their spells and dharma treasures.
Dharma treasures corresponding to water, fire, wind, and lightning pierce through Yuan Li's blood clouds.
"Die, you evil ghost!"
The old man in mourning clothes, who had lost his grandson to Yuan Li, spews a purple wheel-shaped dharma treasure from his mouth.
Through the openings in the blood clouds created by the other cultivators, the old man and other Core Formation cultivators launch their dharma treasures.
Kuang Kuang Kuang!
Bright explosions flash, and Yuan Li grins eerily.
Screech!
Beyond the explosions, a curtain of red light flares.
Suddenly, he takes out four red pagodas and spreads a barrier around himself.
'It's become tougher.'
When I last fought with Yuan Li, who was then only at Core Formation, the barrier would have wavered after a few strikes probably due to absorbing only Core Formation spiritual power.
But now, even after the bombardment of dharma treasures by me and other Core Formation cultivators, the barrier, imbued with Nascent Soul spiritual power, remains unshaken.
[Tsk, tsk, all this noise is quite bothersome.]
Yuan Li sneers and raises his hand.
"Block it!"
"The old monster is using his power!"
"Attack with all you've got!"
Almost 100 Core Formation cultivators simultaneously pour out their strongest dharma treasures and spells.
The heaven and earth tremble, and the nearby desert melts into glass, while sandstorms spread in all directions.
Kuaaang!
Due to the combined attacks of the Core Formation cultivators, a pit about 5 Li (2.5 km) in diameter and 1 Li (500 m) deep formed.
Whoosh!
The landscape changes, and the earth rumbles.
Kugugugugu!
Beyond the explosion, blood clouds surge within.
"Ugh, insane…!"
"He's still not dead after that…!?"
Fear appears on the faces of the Core Formation cultivators.
Yuan Li clicks his tongue, and the sound echoes in all directions.
[If I were just an ordinary early Nascent Soul, I might have been in danger. But alas... I am not just any ordinary early Nascent Soul, and moreover, you lot are lowly beings who couldn't even participate in the recent ascension, are you not?]
Shiiing!
Inside the blood cloud, a bloody radiance begins to burst forth.
"Everyone, form up and prepare the formation. The old monster is about to use his spell!"
I shout in all directions, glaring at Yuan Li.
For several days, thanks to the testimony of two survivors who barely survived Yuan Li in the Northern Grasslands, and including myself, the characteristics of Yuan Li's spells spread among all Core Formation cultivators.
Thus, the Core Formation cultivators who heard our testimony knew somewhat about Yuan Li's spells and its power.
"Everyone, this way!!"
Cheongmun Jung-jin and Gongmyo Ryeong shout loudly, standing side by side.
Numerous Core Formation cultivators join them, and they quickly arrange a protective formation they had practiced for the past days.
It's a simple protective formation that lower-level cultivators learn.
However, when Core Formation cultivators deploy it, their combined spiritual power forms an immense defensive force.
Flash!
Yuan Li's spell explodes.
Bloody radiance swirls in all directions, and the four corners of the world seem to be engulfed in blood.
Crackle, sizzle!
The protective formation looks like it will break at any moment, but the formation constructed by over 100 Core Formation cultivators did not easily shatter.
Shhhh!
After a while, the blood light subsides.
Beyond the diminishing blood radiance, we can see Yuan Li preparing a spell of similar magnitude again.
"Attack again!"
"Don't give him any openings!"
Around 140 Core Formation cultivators divided into five groups, attacking Yuan Li from all sides and the sky.
I swing my Formless Sword wildly, never taking my eyes off Yuan Li's face.
Multicolored dharma treasures and spells bombard the barrier around Yuan Li.
And then.
Yuan Li completes his spell again.
"Blood, Tree, Sea!"
Charrarararack!
Yuan Li absorbs the blood clouds around him.
Then, Yuan Li takes out a staff.
The wooden staff with the red crystal skull embedded in it.
Small branches, like baby fingers, densely grow on the staff and emit a deep red glow.
Charrarararack!
The small branches on the staff grow wildly in all directions.
Boom!
"Evade! Don't touch it!"
"No, don't go there!"
The branches engulf the surroundings, forming a bloody forest around Yuan Li in the desert.
Some Core Formation cultivators fail to evade Yuan Li's attack and are trapped in his 'Tree Sea,' quickly turning into shriveled husks as all their vital force (Qi) and blood are drained.
Yuan Li, at the center of the Tree Sea, looks to have recovered the energy he had just spent after devouring several Core Formation cultivators.
"Damn, such a monster...! But you can't take us all down...."
Charrack, charrack, charrack!
Seven scrolls float around Yuan Li.
"Release!"
As he forms a spell, the demon souls painted in blood on the scrolls are released.
However, unlike when they fought me before, the demon souls do not split to face different opponents but start to merge in the air.
Kugugugugu!
As one demon soul overlaps with another, their power increases dramatically.
Keeng Keeng Keeng!
The demon souls, initially at the Core Formation level, gradually surpass the peak of Core Formation mid-stage, reaching late-stage and even the level of Core Formation Grand Perfection.
And then.
Keeng Keeng Keeeeeng!
When the seven demon souls completely merge, they form a shape that is neither beast nor human, but a bizarre aberration.
The power emanating from the bizarre soul reaches the level of the Nascent Soul.
"Ah, aah..."
"Haha..."
Although the energy felt from the demon soul indicated it is not a true Nascent Soul, and using more than seven or eight spells would exhaust its energy, the important thing is that another Nascent Soul-level force has appeared right beside Yuan Li.
Kiiaaaah!
But that isn't the end.
When Yuan Li opens his storage device, ghostly wails resound and the blood water I had seen before surges out, transforming into two ghost kings wielding scythes.
Then, the ghost kings enter the blood clouds surrounding Yuan Li, merging with it completely.
Kugugugugu!
Yuan Li's blood clouds conglomerate, forming the shapes of the two ghost kings.
"Insane..."
"Not even a normal Nascent Soul cultivator..."
The newly strengthened ghost kings, each slightly less powerful than an early Nascent Soul, combine to have enough strength to match the early Nascent Soul stage.
[So, will you continue to try, you bugs?]
Just then.
"Don't give up, everyone!"
It's Gongmyo Ryeong, the head of the Gongmyo clan.
Despite her pale complexion, Gongmyo Ryeong, a beautiful woman in a brown robe, takes out numerous dharma treasures and shouts.
"We all knew we couldn't face a Nascent Soul cultivator anyway! Stick to the original plan and push him back!"
"Yes, that's right…! If we just follow the plan…!"
"Right! We can definitely handle this!"
[Hoh...?]
The Core Formation cultivators, valuing their own lives, were cautious and did not directly confront Yuan Li.
During the days leading up to Yuan Li's arrival, they had already prepared a strategy to face him, and they are all moving according to that plan.
Of course, a few of us, including me, are trying to seize any opportunity to kill Yuan Li, regardless of the plan.
'I'll kill him.'
No need for the plan.
Isn't it just a compromise offered by those afraid to confront Yuan Li directly?
He can be killed.
If only a chance appears!
Kuang Kuaaaang!
"Aaargh!"
"Monster...!"
Pushed back by the combined forces of the bizarre soul and the ghost kings, the Core Formation cultivators are being overwhelmed.
Yet, even in the midst of this, they madly charge at Yuan Li, pushing him back.
"Die, you old monster!"
Alongside the old man wearing mourning clothes, I furiously attack Yuan Li.
Fssht Fssssht!
Our attacks gradually crack the protective pagoda barrier surrounding Yuan Li.
"Die! Perish! Vanish!!!"
The old man in mourning clothes weeps tears of blood as he pours out spells, and I too, shedding tears of black, mix curses with my Formless Sword, striking down the barrier.
Including me and the old man, one or two other Core Formation cultivators who have lost relatives to Yuan Li and crazed with the intent to kill joined the attack on the barrier.
And then.
Boooom!
With our combined attacks, the pagoda barrier finally breaks.
"Push forward!!"
Cheongmun Jung-jin roars from the back.
Elders from the Cheongmun Clan, seeing the breach in Yuan Li's barrier, charge towards him.
Kuaang!
Three elders from the Cheongmun Clan cling to Yuan Li, pushing him to one spot.
[You insects, how dare you touch me.]
Shwack!
Above Yuan Li, three translucent blood-red banners appear.
Boom!
However, my Formless Sword sweeps away the Five Elements Blood Curse Banners. Along with the Cheongmun elders, some Core Formation cultivators charge at Yuan Li while others press him with dharma treasures and spells.
[These bugs…?]
Realizing the direction he's being pushed towards, Yuan Li looks at us and speaks.
[What scheme is this?]
"Die!!!"
"I'll rip your head off."
The old man in mourning clothes and I hurl our Formless Sword and wheel-shaped dharma treasure at Yuan Li.
Then, Yuan Li opens his mouth.
Shwaaaak!
Seventeen bone dagger dharma treasures sprung from his mouth.
Chirring Chirrring!
The daggers emit a strange sound, scattering blood-red energy in all directions.
"Wait! Everyone, scatter!"
Cheongmun Jung-jin's voice echoes, and the elders of the Cheongmun clan hastily retreat.
However some Core Formation cultivators who are too slow to react fail to dodge Yuan Li's dharma treasures.
Shwaaack!
A blood-red cleaving force extends in all directions.
Those who are close to Yuan Li are instantly torn to shreds, and their vital force (Qi) and blood are devoured by the blood clouds surrounding him.
For a moment, screams resound from within the blood clouds, but they quickly fade away.
Yuan Li, who then absorbs the surrounding blood clouds, begins to regain his energy.
[It's tiresome dealing with such a large swarm of insects. Had I reached the mid-stage of Nascent Soul, none of you would have stood a chance and would have become mere fodder for me.]
"He's recovering!"
"Stop him!"
The first to rush towards Yuan Li are the old man in mourning clothes and I.
"Die!"
"Die!"
We shout in unison, pouring our attacks onto Yuan Li.
Shwaaack!
The dagger dharma treasures slash widely, targeting us.
However, the old man in mourning robes uses a mysterious technique to block the slashes, and I cover my whole body with the Formless Sword to fend them off.
Kuaang!
The old man and I charge at Yuan Li, pushing him back with almost body-slamming force.
Cheongmun Jung-jin's voice grows louder from behind.
"We're almost there! Formation masters, get ready!"
Boom!
In the space between the old man and me, Cheongmun Jung-jin crashes in with his heavy body, emanating a blue dull glow.
[You… insects…!]
And finally, the plan devised by the Core Formation cultivators to confront Yuan Li activates.
Boom!
Cheongmun Jung-jin, exerting his strength, strikes Yuan Li. Yuan Li's body is sucked into the inner barrier of the black castle in the eastern region.
"Indeed, the master is not hindered by its barriers."
Cheongmun Jung-jin sneers at Yuan Li.
I bite my lip, glaring at him, then gather my spiritual power and form a seal.
Together with other formation masters, we channel our spiritual power into the barrier.
'I couldn't kill him.'
Crack...
A fever radiates from the top of my head.
But Cheongmun Jung-jin's words echo in my mind.
"Why wouldn't I want to tear him into thousands of pieces... But if this plan fails, that devil will unhesitatingly unleash a massacre across the entire continent, just like we experienced. Right now, with not a single Nascent Soul cultivator among us, there will be no one to stop him."
"Please... for the peace of the entire continent... help us. Everyone gathered here... must unite and participate in the plan..."
Crack...
I grit my teeth and, together with other formation masters, contribute my spiritual power to the barrier above the formation.
'No choice this time.'
But...
"I will...!"
Next time.
"I will pluck your head and take it away!"
To avenge their souls...!
Tears mixed with curses stream down as I, along with other formation masters, deploy the sealing formation using the barrier of the black castle.
"Seal!"
Kugugugugu!
Above Yuan Li's location, multi-colored rays of light swirl, turning into a prison that traps him.
Kugugugugu!
As the formation masters deploy the sealing formation, other cultivators move the dragon veins around with their unique techniques.
"Yang Heaven."
The head of the Jin clan, Jin Ye-woon, and his elders channel the Yang attribute dragon veins into the formation.
"Yin Deity!"
The head of the Makli clan, Makli Hwang-cheon, and his elders bring in the Yin attribute dragon veins..
Yin and Yang are attached to the formation, and the heads of each clan add the dragon veins corresponding to Dui (☱), Li (☲), Zhen (☳), Xun (☴), Kan (☵), and Gen (☶), completing the Eight Trigrams.
The head of the Gongmyo Clan, Gongmyo Ryeong, and three Core Formation lords from the Eastern States form seals above the sealing formation, completing it.
"Eight Trigrams Spirit Absorbing Sealing Formation! Seal!"
Flash!
Kugugugugu!
The dragon veins flowing through the Heaven-Treading Desert connect to the formation, completing it.
And then.
Kuang Kuaaaang!
Inside the formation, blood-red flashes appear as the formation trembles violently.
"It's useless! The Eight Trigrams Spirit Absorbing Sealing Formation, passed down in the Gongmyo clan, can imprison even a Nascent Soul cultivator if properly deployed. Moreover, the formation masters spent days researching the peculiar barrier in your castle, enhancing the formation with its characteristics. Unless you reach the Heavenly Being stage, no, even before the mid-stage of Heavenly Being, you absolutely cannot escape this formation!"
Boom...
With Gongmyo Ryeong's words, the echoing reverberations from within ceases.
Then, Yuan Li's voice resounds.
[A splendid sealing formation. It seems I won't be able to easily escape.]
"You old monster, I don't know how much life you have left, but you'll probably spend the rest of it trapped in there until you die of old age!"
Gongmyo Ryeong's confident words are met with silence from inside the formation, which is soon followed by booming laughter.
[Ha ha ha! How amusing. Remember this, you will regret it when I break free from this seal.]
Gongmyo Ryeong seems flustered by his confident words but chuckles and looks down at the formation.
"Old monster, you brag too much! Do you think this formation is so easy to break? Have you lived all these years in vain?"
[Tsk tsk, I'm not so unwise, young one. Think about it. If you are Core Formation cultivators, read the celestial energy! Read the constellations and see what kind of place this is...!]
"What?"
Confused, Gongmyo Ryeong looks down at the sealing formation.
[Kekeke… Do you not understand? Here's a hint. Where did the last Liberation Palace appear?]
"What...?"
At his words, one of the lords of the Eastern States looks up at the sky with wide eyes.
Although it's broad daylight, Core Formation cultivators have enhanced abilities to read celestial energy, allowing them to interpret constellations even during the day.
"Wait...! Considering these coordinates... and the location of the last Liberation Palace... calculating the next position..."
Suddenly, fear flashes in the lord's eyes.
"It's here! The Liberation Palace will appear near this place!"
At these words, one of the chiefs from the Northern Grasslands widen their eyes in shock.
"The Serving Command Palace!? This place is where the next Serving Command Palace will appear...!?"
"What...! The Serving Command Palace will appear...?"
"Yes, it will! If you consider the pattern of the Liberation Palace and its previous appearance, it will appear near here! In 200 years, this seal will be useless!"
Hearing this, the Core Formation cultivators all stare at the sealing formation with fear-stricken eyes.
[Ha ha ha, foolish insects. Did you not consider Serving Command Palace...? I will be freed in 200 years. Until then, I will collect my Blood Spirits and use my stored resources, raising my cultivation to the late stage of Nascent Soul. Prepare yourselves to fight a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator in 200 years...!]
"This is madness!"
"How stupid! Why didn't we think of the Serving Command Palace!"
"Who could have calculated such a thing! The last appearance of the Serving Command Palace was 200 years ago, and its appearance here was thousands of years ago!"
"What fools we are! Now, because of the Liberation Palace, this devil will be released!!!"
The Core Formation cultivators from various factions raise their voices in anger, and I, along with two other hermit cultivators, look around stupidly.
It seems we, who don't belong to any faction, lacked information.
The old man in mourning clothes, who tried to kill Yuan Li with me, shouts.
"What are you saying! What is this Liberation Palace, and what's with the Serving Command Palace? I know roughly what the Serving Command Palace is, but why would the seal be broken if the Serving Command Palace appears near here!"
At the old man's question, Gongmyo Ryeong bites her lip and explains.
"You probably didn't have the opportunity to access such information, being a loose cultivator. Serving Command Palace is also known as Liberation Palace. It symbolizes liberation, and when the Serving Command Palace appears, the heaven and earth energy in that area resonates with the symbol of liberation, releasing what is trapped."
"What...? The Serving Command Palace has such power?"
I also pah close attention to her words.
'Is this the reason Yuan Li caused a massacre and appeared 200 years later?'
Gongmyo Ryeong continues her explanation.
"Among high-level cultivators, there's a rumor that Serving Command Palace was originally created to liberate something sleeping somewhere in this world. Whether it's an immortal treasure, a mythological lineage, or the soul of an ancient being, no one knows."
"Whatever the purpose of Serving Command Palace might be, I don't care. What are you trying to say? It's not what I'm thinking, is it?"
"Fellow cultivator, your thoughts are probably correct. Simply put, if there's a seal where the Serving Command Palace appears, that seal will resonate with the energy of liberation from the Serving Command Palace, completely breaking down or significantly weakening."
"That means…"
Cheongmun Jung-jin, finishing the old man, speaks seriously.
"It means that this old monster will be released again when Serving Command Palace descends in 200 years."
Color drains from the faces of numerous Core Formation cultivators.
Amidst their fear, Cheongmun Jung-jin shouts.
"Listen, everyone!"
All eyes turn to him.
"There's no need to tremble in fear! This might be a blessing in disguise!"
"What do you mean, Cheongmun Clan head?"
"When the old monster started his massacre, Core Formation cultivators from all over the continent urgently gathered to confront Yuan Li. Surely, not everyone was in their best condition, right?"
"Yes, that's right!"
"Indeed. I had to rush out of my alchemy session when I heard a Nascent Soul old monster is on a killing spree. I couldn't show my true strength!"
Cheongmun Jung-jin continues.
"200 years might not be a long time for us, but it's certainly not short either.
Even if all the geniuses of the continent ascended with the Heavenly Being seniors, only those with the potential to reach Nascent Soul did so. There are still plenty of talents with the potential to reach Core Formation! Over the next 200 years, we can cultivate more talents, increase the number of Core Formation cultivators, and prepare thoroughly.
Just as we trapped this old monster with just a few days of preparation, with 200 years of preparation, we can capture even a late-stage Nascent Soul old monster, or even a Nascent Soul at Grand Perfection!"
His words gradually brighten the expressions of the Core Formation cultivators scattered around.
"In 200 years! We will prepare for that time to capture this Nascent Soul old monster! Of course, if the old monster dies of old age within 200 years, all the better... but if not, we have talents to nurture and a future to look forward to! We can prepare even more!"
As he speaks, I finally begin to grasp the full extent of what I had been wondering about through my repeated returns.
"Remembering the massacre in the Heaven-Treading Desert that occurred this time, let's prepare for the great war with the old monster in 200 years!"
10th year of regression.
Due to a small butterfly effect caused by the actions of the Mad Lord,
The Heaven-Treading Desert massacre was brought forward by decades.
As a result, the entire continent began to prepare for the war against Yuan Li, the Bloodwood Practitioner, which would take place in 200 years.