Finally, I reached the foothills of Kunlun Mountain.
Of course, this is not an area where Taoists live, but a place where people live.
If I keep moving through the area where people live, I’ll reach a place where creatures exist that are a hybrid between Taoists and immortals, and deeper within lies the area where the immortals live.
And the further I go up, the more difficult it becomes for a single person to enter.
Even now, I have no idea how to get in, so I’ll think about it once I get there.
I’d like to do that.
If there weren’t soldiers standing in front of me right now, I could have thought about it freely.
Dozens of them. All on horseback, pointing their spears at me. Among them, the one with the most distinctive armor and helmet stepped forward.
“The Emperor wishes to see you. Come with us.”
He didn’t introduce himself; his tone implied that it was natural for me to obey his orders.
“No, thank you.”
So, I stated my thoughts. If I had met them earlier, I would have followed right away. If I were to create automatic Harvesters among those in high positions, I’d need to go now, just as I planned.
I would turn them into Harvesters and create a system that automatically collects warmth. That plan is still in progress.
But that’s if there’s no natural enemy. If I turn the Emperor into a Harvester, immortals would come, expel the Emperor, and create a new one.
If I were an immortal, that’s what I’d do.
Based on the memories I’ve gathered so far, immortals from the Kunlun side are mostly righteous individuals. They don’t stand by and let monsters make people’s lives miserable; they actively intervene.
The Murim Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Church.
Comparing the two, from a human perspective, the Heavenly Demon Church is definitely a wicked villain. First, they kill every living person from the Heavenly Demon Church, then regret it, realizing it was wrong.
They already live in a society that is excessively alien and is an affront to human dignity, making it impossible to reconcile.
Obeying power is something most societies do, so that’s understandable.
However, there are things that should never be tolerated when it comes to humans.
They implant parasites in people.
If they don’t obey those above them, they suffer from the parasites.
This is a society where that’s considered normal.
It’s extremely twisted.
If they had just killed the leader and spared the others, the culture of the Heavenly Demon Church would have been altered, and they would have returned to their old ways.
Because the ones who learned that culture would still be in position, and simply changing the exterior doesn’t change what’s inside.
Once a culture is born, it doesn’t disappear easily.
So, the right choice is to eliminate them all and later regret it. That’s what they did.
The reason I’m heading to Kunlun isn’t because the Heavenly Demon Church fell.
It’s because I have a goal.
The Primordial Heaven Lord.
Daegon was a massive source of valuable information.
However, the foundation of his special techniques relies on using numerous sacrifices, so it’s based on the assumption that he uses them.
Yes.
He’s well-versed in the techniques he uses. If I were to give this knowledge to the Harvesters, I wonder if they could even reach the stage where they can use it.
To put it in perspective, the useful technique requires a level 100,000 character to use it, and the level-up process is almost impossible.
Or, would someone like Daegon have to become a Harvester, and would that giant mass of light bow its head to me as an opportunity?
Of course, I can’t use these techniques.
But the Primordial Heaven Lord and his side are different.
They are closer to technological civilization. They handle strange tools and use them, and what I like the most is that they are based on knowledge.
Once I obtain it, I can copy and paste it, right?
And if there’s a technology that moves the world...
“So, this is your final warning, monster. If you don’t follow, you’ll be dragged off in a ruined state.”
“I said no.”
Since earlier, I’ve been ignoring the noise about the Emperor’s authority, his power granted by him, and his greatness, while thinking about something else, but now he’s using the word “final.”
“Then, be dragged.”
Before his words even finished, they pulled out a strangely shaped wooden board from their saddles and aimed it at me.
The wooden board glowed, and white metal chains shot out from the air, binding me.
From the color, it didn’t seem like steel.
It seems like it would be difficult for Choseol’s strength to cut through this.
Hmm.
When I first met the Heavenly Demon, I felt it too—simply binding or sealing is not an attack.
Normally, when attacked, I’d feel the impact of their strike on my body, but there’s nothing like that now.
Thud.
I kicked the board as if asking what they were looking at.
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The lantern glowed pale blue.
Several people on horseback staggered and fell from their horses. The ones who fell to the ground had blank expressions as they crawled toward the lantern.
Then, those still conscious got off their horses and staggered over to the ones crawling, sticking needles like acupuncture needles into their bodies.
“Ugh!”
Immediately, they snapped back to consciousness.
“A mesmerizing object. Could it be used even during the day?”
“To break the mental protection barrier so quickly... It’s a strange anomaly above the lowest grade...”
“Use the Hunwon Heartbreaking Skill!”
Their disorganized state recovered very quickly. The confusion faded, and they quickly got back in formation.
And those who had done nothing up to now stepped forward, pulling out bizarre-looking spears from their saddles. When they pointed them at the lantern, there was no ray of light, but the lantern shattered and broke apart.
They all responded calmly.
It’s clear they’ve dealt with such situations before.
After all, in a world with monsters, it’s strange that there isn’t an organization in the human world prepared to deal with them. Especially in places ruled by humans, there must be such an organization.
If there isn’t?
Then the ruler is not human, or something is controlling the human ruler.
“No use resisting.”
The man, boasting of his human status, spoke.
So, I need to get to Kunlun and meet the Primordial Heaven Lord...
Then, I’ll resist until the end.
I grabbed the white chains and pressed down on reality.
Ka-ching.
A long, narrow crack appeared in the air.
The chains turned to dust.
“Those chains should be holding me, and now you use such supernatural abilities?”
“General, that’s... that crack... isn’t it? The monster that appeared from outside...”
“A shadowy beast. Could this be another monster from another world? Now I know why we couldn’t bring it to the Emperor.”
The crack seemed to stimulate them, and they drew other weapons from their saddles.
They took out weapons resembling crescent blades, aiming them at me.
Yes.
They’re aiming to kill me.
Then, I just need to push once.
“Humanity. Do you really think you can kill me with such a thing?”
Taunting.
The man hardened his expression and got off his horse. Others also dismounted and aimed their weapons at me.
Then, when he made a hand signal, three of his subordinates immediately charged at me.
I could see the man observing me closely.
He’s sharp.
Whether he’s learning martial arts or not, he closed the distance very quickly. The three soldiers who approached me slashed at me with their weapons.
With a crackling sound like a broken TV, my body was slashed into pieces. Instead of blood, black powder scattered from the wounds.
Is it me?
No, it’s not.
I thought they might have hit my real body, but they simply re-treated the wounds in another way, like when a hero cuts a multi-headed snake monster’s head and sears the wounds.
I suspect it’s a function to make regeneration difficult.
And I gained the warmth of three people.
In an instant, the three people inflated like bubbles, with parts of their bodies and organs that shouldn’t exist in a human body emerging.
Hmm.
I’m starting to feel the sensation. This, too.
The light turned black and shriveled, but its form remained. Like a crumpled plastic bottle.
Daegon was so large that I was able to enter and move inside.
It’s like moving inside a doll’s clothing.
Contracting me into a contract would be like filling the cotton inside the doll’s clothing with me as liquid. This, however, is moving outside the doll’s clothing.
I controlled the three of them to launch the spear at the leader of the group.
One move.
With that, the blackened light burst like a plastic bottle forcefully filled with water. The body, once light had faded, slammed into the ground and shriveled.
Crack, snap, crackling.
No. It didn’t shrink.
Where their bodies had been, a small hole floated in the air. Like in an old sci-fi movie where an alien is sucked into space through a crack in a spaceship, they were sucked into it.
Ah.
Now that I think of it, Daegon died in the same way. A giant crack appeared, and he was slowly sucked into it. Since the crack was connected to me, I know.
“Low-grade anomaly?”
“Raise it by two levels. It’s at least mid-level.”
“General, even though we’ve already subdued it, do we need to raise the level by two more?”
The general, who had deflected the three spears, glared at me. Yes. My body is still in pieces, and only black powder is leaking from my wounds.
“If you wore human skin, the real body would emerge, and the human form would remain. If you had transformed into a human, your real body would have shown. But you remain as you are, without any injuries. Doesn’t that mean it hasn’t been hurt at all? Isn’t that right, monster?”
Crack.
The crack opened, and I regenerated. I carefully inspected the connection point, wary that the cut might reopen or something unusual might happen, but there was no issue.
This time, there was no resistance, so I suspected that it might collapse after regenerating, but surprisingly, it’s weak in forcing reality.
Anyway.
“Yes. I’m fine.”
I walked forward.
Since time is being delayed, it seems better to let them attack. I can change everything each time.
With heavy steps, the humans who were frightened aimed their weapons at me. But the man, who seemed to be the general, raised his hand, stopping his subordinates.
“Step back. We’re using it.”
“General! If you use that, the area will disappear!”
“It’s better to step back and let Kunlun clash. If the non-aggression pact with the Heavenly Church is broken, it’ll be unfavorable for us.”
“We won’t punish you for failing to capture the high-grade anomaly! We need to step back here!”
Then the subordinates grabbed him and pushed him away. During that time, I noticed a few disturbing words. The area will disappear. This means there’s a powerful weapon, like a bomb, here.
And the non-aggression pact with the Heavenly Church. Kunlun is so close, but there’s an agreement like that. That means I can’t act recklessly once I step into Kunlun’s land.
I made a complicated expression at those words. When I finally arrived between them, they merely pointed their weapons without stabbing.
I bowed before the man who seemed to be the general.
“Thank you for stepping aside.”
This is sincere. We lost some time fighting, but it’s better than continuing to fight here. And most importantly, the durability of the glass bottle is becoming unstable.
Until I reach Kunlun and obtain the techniques, the glass bottle must not break. Among the many worlds, how many places have beings capable of crossing over to other worlds?
And what’s the probability that such an opportunity will be so close to my hands?
Now is the opportunity.
After a few steps, the sound of hooves receded behind me.
They must have fled.
Still, if the Emperor wants me, this isn’t bad. If things go well, I’ll be able to go to the Emperor later.
Recalling the spy from the Murim Alliance who was inside the Heavenly Demon Church, it’s highly likely that spies from the government are also inside. They must have heard the rumors that I can heal people.
I regenerate severed limbs and cure diseases.
And among those diseases, aging is included.
It’s quite a useful ability.
It’s the kind of ability a ruler would want. Seeing how much they want it, I’m convinced that later, I’ll be able to create the automatic harvest system I’ve been thinking about.
But there’s something I need to do before that.
So, I really want to meet the Primordial Heaven Lord.
As I was thinking this, a sharp sound split the sky, and then whoosh.
A black spear shot out, piercing my abdomen.
At that moment, I gained his memory and learned what had just happened. He said that something terrible would happen if I entered Kunlun like this.
Having seen many monsters who cause absurd things once certain conditions are met, he said that he had a feeling I shouldn’t be sent to Kunlun.
I turned my gaze back.
In the distance, I saw a man with a satisfied expression, smiling as he watched the grotesque flesh and bones bulging, mutating in a strange way.
This spear was from the memories of three people, and the one who just licked the light knows what it is.
The Extreme Sun Spear. A spear known as the son of Hyehwa, and when its power is maximized, intense heatwaves cover everything.
After gaining that memory, the spear instantly turned blue...
I pulled the spear out from my stomach.
Yes. What’s a bomb?
Crack!
The cracks spread everywhere, but I just thought of a way to make it more fun. I walked toward the man who was already mad, with my arms now stretched into nine, and eyes sprouting all over my body.
Then, I shoved the bomb into his chest.
Do you know? The monster I made by stealing warmth is similar to a Harvester. People are difficult, but since it just started to change, who knows?
I just learned this, but I have the opportunity to control a monster once.
Hoping to combine it into one, I shattered the light.
Nine arms wrapped around something like a flower bud.
Hmm.
I learned something.
Monsters born from concepts turn into items once warmth is stolen.
People become items when warmth is stolen and fused with appropriate objects.
Wait. This way of using humans... somewhere...
Ah! The process of the Tongcheon Sect Leader!
It seems that Daegon’s memory allows it! He truly gives everything without reservation. Then how lavish will the Primordial Heaven Lord be?
Hehe.
I walked into Kunlun, holding a single flower.