Chapter 345: The Deceased (7)

A dark basement.

"Phew, it's all done now."

"Good, now it will be complete once we engrave that."

A monster with 38 eyes and a woman standing next to it smile at the small doll in front of them.

A small doll in the shape of a little girl.

And sealed within it is the Shadow Yin Gate Leader, Eum Wa, trembling with rage.

"You vile devilish cultist bastards, what do you plan to do after turning me into this!"

"Huhu, don't worry. We won't do anything outrageous. Rest assured."

"Don't worry, as long as you behave quietly, we won't threaten you."

Kim Yeon lightly picks up Eum Wa.

Eum Wa struggles frantically in Kim Yeon's hand, but the sealing spell embedded throughout the puppet binds all her power, rendering her helpless.

"You should be grateful instead. If you kept remaining as a ghost before the Cult Leader, you might have truly gone mad."

Yeon Wei, who has come down to the basement unnoticed, leans against the wall and speaks to Eum Wa.

"Even if a ghostly creature within the puppet feels the true death of the Cult Master, they won't be able to properly perceive it due to interference. The fact that you can maintain a clear mind and not just scream mindlessly is also thanks to the Cult Leader's grace, so you should be thankful."

"Kugh you devilish cultist bastards, what nonsense are you spouting after turning me into this! Release me immediately!"

"Hm. Let me have it for a moment, Yeon-ah."

Yeon Wei takes Eum Wa from Kim Yeon and then throws her somewhere after a brief moment.

"Huaahhh! Where are you throwing me, you devilish cultist bastards! Uaaah, hik!"

And then, someone with thick hands catches the thrown Eum Wa.

"From now on, the enlightenment of the Shadow Yin Gate Leader is entrusted to you, First Guardian Ghost King Wei Shi-hon."

"Thank you, Strategist-nim."

It's Wei Shi-hon, the Death Corpse Sect Leader who has pledged allegiance to the Wuji Religious Order.

"Wei Shi-hon! You traitor! How could you betray me like this!?"

Eum Wa squirm and screams in Wei Shi-hon's hand, but Wei Shi-hon looks at her with pity.

"I joined the Wuji Religious Order for your sake. If you turn your heart to the Wuji Religious Order, you will receive a proper puppet body and the Cult Leader's grace, engraved with the circuits, making you even stronger than before."

"I don't want to hear anything from a traitor who betrayed us for power! Release me at once!"

"Releasing you will come later. For now, let's learn about the Wuji Religious Order together."

Wei Shi-hon takes Eum Wa and leaves.

Wei Shi-hon emerges from the Wuji Religious Hall and carefully holds the struggling Eum Wa in his grip as he tries to move somewhere.

At that moment.

Kwarurung!

Suddenly, the sky turns red, and Jeon Myeong-hoon descends next to Wei Shi-hon.

In Jeon Myeong-hoon's hand is a pure white skull.

Seeing this, Eum Wa wails bitterly.

"Baek Rin!!! Even you!!!"

But unlike the sealed Eum Wa, Wei Shi-hon notices something and asks Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"Wait, Chief Law Protector. That skull..."

"Yeah, I lost him."

Jeon Myeong-hoon nods indifferently and lifts the skull.

At those words, Eum Wa sighs in relief in Wei Shi-hon's grip while Wei Shi-hon frowns.

"I explained in advance about Baek Rin before. In an emergency, he can abandon his body using the life-saving spell 'White Bone Shedding Shell Strategy (白骨脫殼之計)' and escape with only his Nascent Soul."

Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at Wei Shi-hon.

"You did indeed say he would abandon his body and escape with his Nascent Soul."

"Yes! But how did you lose him!"

"But did you mention that the Nascent Soul would split into thousands of pieces, and each would use the ground-shrinking technique to escape?"

"Uh...! That, that's...a divine ability that can only be used at the utmost mastery (極成)of the White Bone Shell Discarding Strategy...?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon clicks his tongue.

"It seems he mastered the life-saving method without your knowledge to great completion. Well, anyway, it was my first time seeing such a technique, so I was momentarily surprised and lost him. Next time, I won't miss."

Despite Jeon Myeong-hoon's words, Wei Shi-hon can only sigh deeply.

"It's become complicated now..."

"What's complicated?"

"Baek Rin once did a favor to an Elder of the Black Ghost Palace when he was at the Heavenly Being stage. With time, that Elder would have become a Black Elder of the Black Ghost Palace. They might support Baek Rin in challenging our sect."

"Hmm..."

After pondering for a moment at those words, Jeon Myeong-hoon smirks.

"Well, it doesn't matter. We have the Cult Leader, don't we?"

Wei Shi-hon sighs, looking at Jeon Myeong-hoon's absolute trust in the Cult Leader, and then recalls Seo Eun-hyun.

A being with 19 heads and 38 eyes.

'Well...it might be alright with the Cult Leader.'

Wei Shi-hon turns to look at Jeon Myeong-hoon entering the Wuji Religious Hall, then turns around and takes Eum Wa to another part of the Wuji Religious Order.

"Hmm, Black Ghost Palace, huh..."

In the basement of the Wuji Religious Hall.

The Wuji Ghost King Seo Eun-hyun is sitting on the cult leader's seat, tapping on its armrest.

"For now, what does Yeon Wei-nim think?"

Yeon Wei shakes her head at Jeon Myeong-hoon's report.

"There's nothing to worry about. This White Yin Domain is a non-aggression zone between Penglai Island and the Underworld Ghost Palace. If the Black Ghost Palace or Flower Painting Western Heaven Palace tries to intervene here, the Underworld Ghost Palace and Penglai Island will block them. They are not kind enough to let a cake they couldn't have go to another big force. On the contrary, if the Black Ghost Palace comes, we might even receive support from the Underworld Ghost Palace or Penglai Island."

"Hmm, I see."

Seo Eun-hyun nods upon receiving the report.

"Then for now, it's best not to act recklessly and to focus on slowly expanding our forces?"

"Yes, that would be best. Slowly but swiftly leveraging the advantage of the Wuji Religious Order's puppet offerings to swallow the White Yin Domain is our top priority. Even if that Baek Rin fellow brings the Black Ghost Palace, if you're in control of the White Yin Domain, they will have no choice but to recognize your dominance and withdraw. Huhu..."

"Understood. Then, for the next 200 years, we'll refrain from rash actions and focus on growing our force and strengthening our position."

Having thwarted the intruders, the brief meeting at the Wuji Religious Hall concludes.

Boo-woong, boong, boong!

After the meeting, Kim Yeon went to the training ground assigned to her and took the Starting Form.

'What can I do to understand what this emotion is?'

She thought she could simply distinguish it by seeing the colors of intent of the Five Energies Converging to the Origin.

But oddly enough, the color of the emotion Kim Yeon feels is 'colorless.'

She can't figure out what her emotion is.

'Joy is golden, anger is red, sorrow is dark blue, pleasure is silver, love is light pink, hatred is dark red, desire is black.'

These are the colors she sees in her vision after mastering the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and reaching Five Energies Converging to the Origin.

Upon reaching Five Energies Converging to the Origin, she confirmed that these colors merged to become colorless, forming the domain of consciousness.

Therefore, this colorless emotion she sees should have been 'all emotions.'

But Kim Yeon knows.

'It's different, it's not 'all emotions'.'

Although it's the same colorlessness she saw when reaching the Five Energies Converging to the Origin, she understands that the colorless emotion her own feelings produce is unique and special.

'What is this emotion?'

She can instinctively sense it.

The day she discovers the 'name' of this emotion,

She will be able to see the true color of this emotion.

"Phew..."

She repeats the Paired Wing Dance.

At the same time, she repeatedly operates the Intertwined Branches Heart Method, becoming accustomed to the internal energy method.

Woo-woong—

The pure spiritual force surges through her meridians at a terrifying speed.

Woo-woong—

Kim Yeon reaches out into the air.

As her hand moves, the pure spiritual force gathers in the air, moving according to her will as she infuses her consciousness into it.

This is the initial stage of controlling Gang Qi.

It is said that by practicing to infuse Gang Qi into the air and inputting intent into the Gang Qi to move it freely, one can reach the Ultimate Pinnacle.

'He said if I reach the Ultimate Pinnacle, I'll become overwhelmingly strong.'

Seo Eun-hyun said so.

Kim Yeon believes that reaching the realm of Ultimate Pinnacle where one can directly utilize the power of consciousness will make her incredibly strong.

Seo Eun-hyun isn't wrong.

If she, with her Integration level of consciousness, begins to use the acceleration of the Ultimate Pinnacle, her direct combat power will be amplified unimaginably.

However, as she practices the Interwined Branches Heart Method, she wonders.

'If I become overwhelmingly strong, will I find the name of this emotion?'

Finding the name of her emotion isn't merely for self-satisfaction.

According to the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, once mastered, there should be no unreadable intent.

But there is one intent that she is unable to read.

Thus, she hasn't truly mastered the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.

'I must master the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.'

The Mad Lord has left her a dharma treasure containing enlightenment.

Kim Yeon obtained the enlightenment to combat the Mad Lord from that dharma treasure, and in order to comprehend the enlightenment, she must master the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.

Yet, she is sometimes confused.

Is she trying to understand this emotion for the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon?

Or is she trying to master the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon to understand the emotion?

'...I don't know.'

She repeats the Paired Wing Dance.

Again, and again, and again.

'If I don't know, let's just do as Eun-hyun Oppa said for now.'

Even if she doesn't know, he will surely be right.

He always has been.

With each step she takes, she recalls old memories.

"Hello, I'm Supervisor Oh Hye-seo, who will be working with you from today onwards. Please call me Supervisor Oh."

Shortly after she became an employee.

A new person transferred from another department.

Her name was Oh Hye-seo, and it was said she was bullied in her previous department.

The main perpetrator, a team leader in the Management Department, had been referred to the disciplinary committee, dismissed, and expelled from the company. Oh Hye-seo, the victim of the bullying, wished to move to another department due to her trauma.

"Gosh. That must have been tough."

"Hm, not really. Everyone else was kind, except for Team Leader Im, so it wasn't that hard."

From the first day of her transfer, Oh Hye-seo started talking to Kim Yeon, and they quickly became close without even realizing it.

"I don't know much about the Sales Development Department, so please teach me well, Miss Kim Yeon."

"Oh no, I'm just a regular employee, and you're a supervisor..."

"Still, those who have been here longer know much better. Right, Miss Min-hee?"

Kang Min-hee, sipping coffee, glanced at her and replied with a blank expression.

"Yes, sure."

"...Hek, your short response makes me sad."

Seeing Kang Min-hee not paying much attention, Oh Hye-seo pretended to cry and joked around. Maybe this seemed quite endearing, as the male employees in the department would often playfully talk to her.

During lunch, Kim Yeon talked about Oh Hye-seo while eating hamburgers with Kang Min-hee.

"Min-hee Unnie, isn't Supervisor Oh amazing? Even though she was bullied, she always stays cheerful..."

"Hmm..."

Kang Min-hee replied indifferently while chewing on fries.

"She...feels really suspicious"

"Hm, pardon? Why?"

"Well, that team leader from the Management Department, Im. I saw him apologize to Oh Hye-seo before he left. He apologized for bullying her, saying he didn't know why he did it and that he was sorry for not being considerate. He was crying and seemed genuinely sorry."

"Huh. Why would someone like that bully then..."

"That's what I'm saying is strange. I know Team Leader Im a bit, and he's a really kind person. He's soft-hearted, loves animals, and volunteers at orphanages, especially the one supported by SJD, the Orandoran House. The higher-ups thought highly of him, and he was even up for a promotion. So, what would make such a person bully Supervisor Oh?"

Kim Yeon stole Kang Min-hee's fries and thought.

"Maybe he just didn't like her at first sight?"

"That's unlikely. Even if you don't like someone at first glance, working together in this company and getting scolded by the boss makes it so you can't help but get close. Anyway, I really don't think there was actual bullying."

"Huh? Then what was it?"

"Well it was...but where did my fries go?"

Although she heard some unsettling things from Kang Min-hee during lunch, Kim Yeon still found herself liking Oh Hye-seo whenever she saw her.

Actually, Oh Hye-seo was a person who was liked by everyone.

Kim Yeon soon forgot all about Kang Min-hee's words and became close to Oh Hye-seo.

Moreover, Oh Hye-seo was very capable. Within three days of her transfer, she surpassed Kang Min-hee to become the top elite in the department.

Before long, Oh Hye-seo and Kim Yeon were calling each other 'Unnie' and 'Dongsaeng' (An affectionate way of calling someone younger than you).

The tasks given by Seo Eun-hyun were always tough, but Oh Hye-seo took on all the difficult ones herself, leaving only the easy ones for Kim Yeon, which naturally made her interact more with Oh Hye-seo than Seo Eun-hyun.

"Ah, Unnie. I've finished this."

"Hmm, thanks. Ah, Yeon-ah. You made a mistake here?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's fine. It's no biggie between us."

Oh Hye-seo would often overlook Kim Yeon's mistakes.

But Seo Eun-hyun was different.

"Colleague Kim, you got the document name wrong."

"I-I'm sorry."

"There are also some small format errors. Did you use the B12 format I gave you last time?"

"Actually...I used a different one. I'm sorry."

"...I told you to use that format. Why did you use a different one?"

"I'm sorry."

'Hye-seo Unnie always asked for this format...'

"Redo it."

Receiving the document back from a stern Seo Eun-hyun, Kim Yeon pouted slightly as she started over.

That's how it was at first.

But as time passed, things started to feel strange.

"Oh my, Yeon-ah. You made a mistake here again."

"Ah, really?"

Oh Hye-seo always found mistakes in her documents.

But at some point, Seo Eun-hyun stopped saying anything.

"Ah, thank you. You can go now."

"Um...Supervisor?"

"Yes?"

"Did I make any mistakes?"

"Hmm, no mistakes."

"But someone else said this was wrong..."

"Really? Who?"

"Supervisor Oh..."

"Ah...Miss Hye-seo said that? Weird. We all use this format..."

After briefly flipping through the documents, Seo Eun-hyun shook his head.

"Kim Yeon, there's nothing wrong here. Maybe Miss Hye-seo pointed out something else?"

"Oh...I guess I remembered wrong. I'm sorry."

"It's nothing. You've been improving a lot lately and have been very helpful."

As her skills improved, Seo Eun-hyun stopped criticizing her.

But Oh Hye-seo continued to insist she made mistakes just like the beginning when she didn't, laughing it off.

'Why?'

Kim Yeon felt something was off, but she let it go for the time being.

However, there was one incident involving Oh Hye-seo.

It happened after a company dinner.

Everyone was slightly drunk.

Kim Yeon, in particular, was a bit tipsy.

Before everyone headed their separate ways, Kim Yeon saw Oh Hye-seo following Seo Eun-hyun.

'Huh? What's this? Hye-seo Unnie...'

She decided to follow Oh Hye-seo.

At first, she just intended to say goodbye.

But at some point, Oh Hye-seo disappeared.

'...?'

As if she had hidden somewhere in the darkness, Oh Hye-seo was nowhere to be seen.

But her distinctive perfume lingered.

Oh Hye-seo was definitely nearby.

This strange situation where Oh Hye-seo disappeared, her perfume remained lingering on the nose, and its source was near Seo Eun-hyun.

At some point, as if entranced, Kim Yeon followed Seo Eun-hyun to find Oh Hye-seo.

But Seo Eun-hyun noticed Kim Yeon awkwardly following him before she could find Oh Hye-seo.

"...Uh..."

"...Kim Yeon?"

Kim Yeon met Seo Eun-hyun's gaze with a blank expression, mouth agape.

'Ah, I was only following Hye-seo Unnie...'

The situation had turned strange.

Seo Eun-hyun, slightly taken aback, asked,

"What are you doing here?"

For a moment, Kim Yeon was at a loss for words.

She always found Seo Eun-hyun a bit intimidating.

And now, it seemed like she had been caught stalking him.

"Um...that's..."

'I saw Hye-se Unnie stalking Supervisor Seo, so I followed her to see just what she was doing.'

Kim Yeon tried to say that, but what came out was different.

"Hye...Hye...Supervisor Seo...stalking..."

Seo Eun-hyun seemed to process her words for a moment, then responded with a thunderous statement.

"You were stalking me?"

"Ah, no, no..."

Fortunately, Seo Eun-hyun smiled.

"Haha, just kidding. It seems you can't speak well right now because of being drunk. Come here for now, I'll help you. So...someone seems to be stalking you so you wanted my help, right?"

"Uh...ah..."

She wanted to say something, but whether it was from nervousness or drunkenness, she couldn't speak properly.

She wanted to explain, but since she couldn't speak, she just let it be.

Thud!

"Uh..."

"Ah, Miss Kim Yeon. Can you walk?"

"...Wuu..."

"Hah...I'll call a taxi for you up ahead. Can you walk that far?"

Kim Yeon felt sick to her stomach.

She nodded, indicating she couldn't walk.

She felt unjustly treated.

She was only following Oh Hye-seo, but now she was collapsing and being carried in front of a boss she didn't even like.

Seo Eun-hyun sighed and managed to lift her onto his back.

"I'll carry you to the bus stop up ahead. I'll call a taxi for you there..."

"...Super...visor...thank...you..."

As Kim Yeon was being carried on Seo Eun-hyun's back to the bus stop, a mix of drunkenness and sadness bubbled up inside her, making her emotions boil over.

And then, she poured that boiling something onto Seo Eun-hyun's back.

"Tha...thank...buweeeegh..."

"Ahhh! Kim Yeon! What are you doing!"

After that, she couldn't remember clearly.

Seo Eun-hyun screamed in fright, then checked on her several times to see if she was okay.

He asked her multiple times where her home was, and when she couldn't answer, he took her to a nearby motel and gently laid her down.

"Hah...I'm going crazy. Will this even wash out?"

Kim Yeon, lying in the motel bed, murmured in a daze.

"I'm sorry..."

"Ah...it's fine. It can happen...when you're...drunk...Get a goodnight's sleep. I've set an alarm on your phone, so make sure to go to work on time tomorrow. If you really can't get up, at least call in. The room key is next to you."

With that, Seo Eun-hyun left the room.

Although she was very nervous when they arrived at the motel, nothing much happened.

'Ah, Supervisor Seo. Really...'

She thought about Seo Eun-hyun as she closed her eyes in bed.

'Thank...you...'

She soon fell deeply asleep.

That night, she had a nightmare.

In the nightmare, she woke up to find someone stroking her hair and measuring her fingernails with a ruler next to her bed.

That something hummed a cheerful tune, but its eyes, visible in the darkness, were eerily emotionless.

A strong scent of roses wafted from the figure.

It was the same scent Oh Hye-seo used.

Kim Yeon wanted to scream, but in the dream, her mouth was sealed shut, preventing her from making any sound.

The black figure pried open her mouth, counted her teeth, and then disappeared.

It was a nightmare she never wanted to have again, but morning came nonetheless. When Kim Yeon recalled what happened last night, she thought she was going to lose her mind.

"...Ah, should I just die?"

'I...what did I do to Supervisor Seo...'

Thinking she wouldn't have any excuse even if she got slapped at work, Kim Yeon went to work with a gloomy expression.

But contrary to her expectations, Seo Eun-hyun didn't say much.

"Are you here, Miss Kim Yeon?"

"Ah, yes...Um, Supervisor. Last night...thank you"

"Ah, well. You seemed to be having a hard time, so I just gave some help. Drink in moderation next time. Also, the Executive Director is coming today, so please organize these charts."

Whatever happened yesterday, Seo Eun-hyun was still Seo Eun-hyun.

Nothing had changed much.

But Kim Yeon's heart changed a bit that day.

Kuaaaang―

Kim Yeon stares at the massive trace of destruction before her.

Surung―

The flying knife at her fingertips hums.

As if it still has plenty of energy.

"Hm..."

Recalling old memories, she smiles bitterly.

'Back then, what did Eun-hyun Oppa think of me?'

Maybe it's because of that incident that he doesn't see her as a romantic partner.

But after that incident, Kim Yeon found herself liking Seo Eun-hyun a bit more.

Previously, Seo Eun-hyun was a cold, work-obsessed labor devil who occasionally smiled, but at some point, she started to appreciate his behavior more.

Was it because he evaluated her as she was, unlike Oh Hye-seo, who subtly created mistakes that didn't exist?

Or maybe it was because she saw him smile more often as her work skills improved.

Her feelings for Seo Eun-hyun.

The first seed was planted on the first day she officially joined the company, but it's clear that the sprout started to grow from that moment.

The sprout grew slowly.

The sprout became a stem, taking root in the heart and gradually thickening.

Reflecting on the past years, Kim Yeon hones her heart and martial arts.

As she retraces the past years, her time at the cult also passes.

Years go by.

Oh Hyun-seok regains the Nascent Soul stage.

Countless years pass.

Oh Hyun-seok reached the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage from the Nascent Soul stage, Jeon Myeong-hoon built all of the Five Elements Axes, reaching Grand Perfection Four-Axis stage, and Hong Fan reached the mid Four-Axis stage, marking the long passage of time.

During that time, Kim Yeon's cultivation realm did not advance.

The only thing that did advance was...

Kwakakakakwang!

"The Mysterious Bizarre Ghost King is exerting their power again!"

"Take cover!!!"

"Left Law Protector's training ground has been destroyed!"

The martial arts she had been honing.

That was all.

Wiiing—

Kim Yeon stands in place, channeling her internal energy.

Within her meridians, the Intertwined Branches Heart Method constantly rotates and connects as one.

Her pure martial arts realm has already reached the extreme of Five Energies Converging to the Origin.

However, the power of Kim Yeon's martial arts is absolutely not just that of Five Energies Converging to the Origin.

Kugugugugu—

For a moment, a pinkish glow seems to scatter throughout the entire White Yin Domain.

Hwarururu—

The internal energy of the Intertwined Branches Heart Method burns through Kim Yeon's entire body.

"Huuuuu...".

As she exhales, the pure spiritual forces that envelop her re-enters her body.

"Ah, no. What is this...?"

Hong Fan, who has run to her training ground, looks at her with a stunned expression.

"Lady Kim Yeon, just now..."

"Ah, Hong Fan, you're here? Ahaha, I went a bit overboard."

"...That, was not the power of a puppet but Lady Kim's own...martial arts?"

"Yes. I don't know exactly, but at some point, the output started to amplify immensely"

"...Incredible, haha. I understand you're still at the realm of Five Energies Converging to the Origin..."

"I'm sorry for worrying you. Aigoo, it's really broken down. But don't worry too much, I'll handle the fixing with the puppets."

Hong Fan stares at Kim Yeon with a bewildered expression for a moment before shaking his head and speaking.

"Ah. While I did run here in surprise, more importantly, the Strategist-nim has called for a meeting."

"Yeon Wei-nim?"

"Yes, she has called everyone to the Wuji Religious Hall. Not just Lady Kim Yeon, but also all the Guardian Ghost Kings and the Law Protectors."

"Hmm, what's going on?"

Kim Yeon follows Hong Fan with a puzzled look.

Shortly after.

The Wuji Religious Hall where the cult leader Wuji Ghost King Seo Eun-hyun resides.

In its basement, several important figures have gathered.

Chief Law Protector Six Extremes Ghost King Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Left Law Protector Mysterious Bizarre Ghost King Kim Yeon.

Right Law Protector Soul Extinguishing Ghost King Oh Hyun-seok.

Guardian Law Protector Hong Fan, and other important figures than the Four Great Law Protectors of the Wuji Religious Order.

The First Guardian Ghost King, Wei Shi-hon.

Starting with the Second Guardian Ghost King Eum Wa, twelve Guardian Ghost Kings also gathered underground.

Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes gleam as he sees Seo Eun-hyun's shadow.

"Seo Eun...no, Cult Leader. You have also mastered the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body. And it has already reached great completion."

[...Because of you, I couldn't not learn it. Damn it. You should have held...huuh, no. It was an insult that couldn't be held back. Well done.]

"You know well. Honestly, if you had experienced something similar, wouldn't you have lost your mind too?"

After some small talk among themselves, they fall silent when Yeon Wei finally enters.

Seo Eun-hyun also stops chatting with Jeon Myeong-hoon, his eyes brightening.

[Now that everyone is here, let's start the meeting.]

At his words, all the Guardian Ghost Kings, except for the Four Great Law Protectors, kneel before Seo Eun-hyun. After a moment, Seo Eun-hyun raises his 19 heads and speaks.

[Enough with the excessive courtesy. Military Strategist, explain the reason for the assembly.]

"Yes, Cult Leader. First of all, everyone. We have some bad news."

Yeon Wei speaks with a hardened expression.

Following Yeon Wei's words, not only the Four Great Law Protectors, except for Jeon Myeong-hoon, but also the twelve Guardian Ghost Kings are startled.

"Penglai Island, Underworld Ghost Palace, and Black Ghost Palace have designated our Wuji Religious Order as a heretical cult, and have declared the Cult Leader as the public enemy of the White Yin Domain."

I hold my throbbing head while sitting on the cult leader's seat.

'I didn't expect it to come to this.'

It has already been 230 years since we came to the Netherworld.

By now, my colleagues have one by one gained combat power fitting of the Four-Axis stage or are on the verge of reaching it.

I have also succeeded in building more than 70% of my Longevity Axis.

Moreover, branches of the Wuji Religious Order have spread all over the Lower Realms, and those borrowing my power are increasing, accelerating the establishment of my Longevity Axis.

However, at some point, the Underworld Ghost Palace and Penglai Island figured out what I was doing through the movements of the Wuji Religious Order.

They discovered that I am building the Five Blessings Axes in the White Yin Domain, and unlike the three major sects—Shadow Yin Gate, White Vein Gate, and Death Corpse Sect—who didn't understand the Five Blessings Axes, they are not pleased that I, who knows about it, am in control.

In the end, they pressured me, almost like a threat, to join either the Underworld Ghost Palace or Penglai Island.

And in that process, Jeon Myeong-hoon killed the envoys from Underworld Ghost Palace and Penglai Island.

The reason is that the two envoys mocked Jeon Myeong-hoon after witnessing him caressing the hand of Jin So-hae.

As a result, the two major forces declared me a public enemy. Additionally, Baek Rin, whom we missed previously, brought the Black Ghost Palace to oppose me, ultimately leading me to be designated as a public enemy by the three major forces.

Upon learning this, Yeon Wei made a proposal, looking as if she had a headache.

―Since it has come to this, let's abandon the Wuji Religious Order.

―What? What do you mean by that?

—You've already built over 70% of the Longevity Axis anyway, and your influence in the Lower Realms has grown enough. Abandon the Wuji Religious Order in the White Yin Domain and establish another in a different Void Spirit Pond. Just change the name slightly, and there won't be any problems.

―What about the followers then?

―What about them? Do you think you're a real cult leader? Don't get too immersed in the role!

―No, but you were the one who enjoyed it the most...

—Nonsense. Anyway, gather the core leadership tomorrow and announce it.

I sigh as I recall Yeon Wei's words.

[Haaa...]

Nineteen mouths exhale a bluish breath.

The Guardian Ghost Kings, who have been trembling with anxiety, stand up and take a listening stance at my reaction.

[From now on, this Cult Leader will set the course of action.]

I glance at Yeon Wei, who is sending me a look from the side, and speak.

[The Wuji Religious Order will not back down. Whether those pig-like three major forces come or not, this seat will not abandon this land.]

I feel sorry for Yeon Wei, but so what if I've become a public enemy?

Crunch—

I clench the void and smile.

[Now, I have enough power to protect those who follow me.]

I am no longer weak enough to waver between good and evil.

[Place your trust in me! I will protect you all. Blessed are those who believe!]

"Cult Leader! Cult Leader! Cult Leader! Cult Leader! Cult Leader! Cult Leader! Cult Leader!"