Chapter 867: Execution.

I had a few things I wanted to confirm with the Gyecheonmun Master.

Firstly, whether upon reaching Great Accomplishment, I could still use demonic energy despite possessing an aura similar to Pama.

If my flames became able to burn other foreign energies, what would happen to the demonic energy within my body?

The experiment for that had no major issues.

Whether I should call this fortunate, I don’t know. The power that called itself Pama did not erase my demonic energy, and as always, there was no problem turning [someone] into a demonized person.

The demonic energy was still coexisting separately, and using that, I demonized the Gyecheonmun Master.

In that process, the Nine Flame Wheel Technique did not react in any way.

Completely different energy. And yet, a sensation like it didn’t judge it as an enemy.

‘How strange.’

Does it mean it purifies everything that needs purifying while leaving alone what it should leave alone?

Since I haven’t grasped the flames’ changed effectiveness yet, I don’t know the specifics, but.

Regardless, I could continue using demonic energy.

So then, now that I had made the Gyecheonmun Master into a demonized person, I had to ask the guy things I was curious about from now on.

The first one is.

-What is the Ilcheon Cult?

What on earth is the Ilcheon Cult? And why is Gyecheonmun involved with the Ilcheon Cult?

To the question regarding this, the Gyecheonmun Master replied:

-…The Ilcheon Cult… is true justice.

-True justice?

-Y-yes. The Ilcheon Cult… in this rotten world… is true justice. We… merely follow that will.

True justice. It was a laughable story.

Where is there true justice in the current world?

It was a world of fools wearing the masks of righteousness and cooperation.

-Explain in more detail. So why is the Ilcheon Cult true justice?

-Because it’s different from the root. The current Alliance… is fake.

-That’s not a detailed explanation. Speak properly.

I frowned while conversing. This guy was acting strangely.

‘His words kept getting shorter.’

It’s not just that I’m annoyed by the informal speech. When demonized, they become obedient to me due to demonic energy, meaning they are forced to be polite.

‘It didn’t take properly.’

Even though he was clearly demonized, he wasn’t obeying me perfectly.

Should I say something is resisting?

-The Ilcheon Cult… the Il…cheon Cult. It follows His will… and carries on His will…

It’s still like this. With me right in front of him, he’s calling someone ‘Him’. It was proof that something was wrong.

With a calm gaze, I asked the guy a question.

-Who is ‘Him’?

-It’s God. The God who will save this world…

-Did that guy who calls himself God create the Ilcheon Cult?

-…Ugh…

Stopping mid-sentence, he moved his body as if in pain.

-Answer me.

I asked again.

-Hngh… He… doesn’t intervene in matters like this… because He left His will… We just follow.

-If it’s a will, what kind of will?

-It’s a noble will… to return this defiled world… to its original state.

-Ah…

I’m fucking pissed off. Am I asking the questions wrong?

If the answers are like this, there was nothing I could learn.

So I asked differently.

-Is that guy you refer to as ‘Him’ still alive?

-…He cannot be judged by mortal standards.

-You fucking bastard. Have you met him directly within the last ten years or not? Just answer that.

-Yes.

Hearing the answer, I nodded. This is it.

By squeezing out expected answers, I confirm with yes or no. This seemed like the best approach.

Although thinking was bothersome, I had no choice.

-Then, did that guy create this current situation all and leave?

The unknown corpses in the pond, and the core-like objects floating inside them.

Looking at the state, it wasn’t something an ordinary human could create.

In the first place, this space itself is also a problem.

‘Not to mention perception reduction, there’s also something resembling a formation array set up, along with soundproofing.’

There wasn’t just one or two things installed around.

I could tell as soon as I saw it.

‘This isn’t just a formation array.’

There were more than one or two strange aspects to call it a formation array.

Even if I’m an ignoramus when it comes to formation arrays, I couldn’t miss this.

It means it’s that bizarre.

To the question I asked, the Gyecheonmun Master replied:

-…This is His blessing…

To that dog-like statement, I roughly took it as affirmation. So that unknown guy created this situation, right?

-Then, what’s the purpose of those corpses and cores?

It’s a part that’s awkward to ask with a yes/no. I decided to get information first.

Just as I was worrying if another crappy answer would come this time.

-Those are for making vessels, left behind by Him.

-Making vessels? What kind of vessels, and how?

-That…

Hearing the explanation, I frowned. Several outstanding individuals chosen from Gyecheonmun are submerged in that pond. If they are submerged for at least two sijin a day and emerge for five years, it is said that changes begin to occur in their bodies.

‘Can just submerging cause that?’

It’s not like some medicinal bath. Or rather, should I call it snake soup if I’m being precise?

Anyway.

‘Perhaps, that’s why the guys from Gyecheonmun had better complexions and higher cultivation levels than expected.’

The fact that the Gyecheonmun Master’s hair was black, and that his cultivation level, unlike the information suggested, had reached the Hwagyeong realm.

Was it all thanks to this pond?

‘A pond that artificially raises cultivation levels.’

Aside from the white-robed corpses and the yellow water, there was nothing particularly special to see. If it had such an incredible effect…

‘In my past life, it was said to be a fortuitous encounter obtained from the Bigo.’

A question arises.

Actually, the Gyecheonmun Master had said in my past life that he saw a tree with white leaves.

It’s possible it was a sapling underground, but.

‘What if.’

‘What if, indeed.’

‘If it’s a future altered by the disappearance of the Bigo?’

If something changed because I sought out the Bigo first, unlike in my past life?

‘It’s a possible occurrence.’

Since I’ve experienced it several times already, it was enough to be suspicious.

It’s a known fact that the Gyecheonmun Master grew stronger through a fortuitous encounter by obtaining the Bigo, but if I twisted that future, and the current Gyecheonmun Master still ended up in this situation…

‘It’s one of two things.’

Either this itself was something from the past life, rather than obtaining the Bigo in the first place.

‘Or a problem arose with the Bigo matter, and this situation was created to handle it.’

There are two situations I can think of. The common point between these two is precisely:

‘That someone intervened, whichever of the two it may be.’

It wasn’t something the Gyecheonmun Master did alone; it means someone is behind it.

And that someone…

‘The ‘Him’ whom the Gyecheonmun Master praises so much.’

While I was rolling my eyes, the Gyecheonmun Master added:

-Once we finish the process of refining the vessels like that… only then can we embrace the Dragon Pearl.

-If you mean the Dragon Pearl. Are you talking about those cores?

-Comparing them to mere cores… Ggggrrrreaaak–!!

The Gyecheonmun Master clutches his head and writhes.

His condition seems bad. I had to quickly ask everything I needed to ask.

-Answer me.

-The Dragon Pearl is… the only way for an inferior human to become a great… being.

-If by ‘great being’…

Recalling the appearance of those guys, I furrowed my brow.

-Are you talking about dragons?

-…!

At my words, the Gyecheonmun Master’s eyes widen.

It seemed likely I was right.

They change their bodies in that water, and when the time comes, consume the Dragon Pearl to fully bloom.

‘So that’s why that guy gave off a feeling similar to Amwang.’

Half-Dragon Person. The reason he smelled similar to Amwang, who became a Dragon Person through a curse.

To be precise.

‘Rather than Amwang.’

A Baekgeup monster.

That feeling was stronger.

Moreover.

‘The reason for not eating them until now and only now consuming the cores.’

must mean that the five years were only recently completed.

‘Five years ago… it wasn’t long after I raided the Bigo.’

At most, maybe a year has passed. The timing is also suspicious.

-As expected… You… you too…

I almost called him ‘you bastard’ just now but changed my mind.

It felt like demonic energy and something else were clashing inside me.

-Fine. Everything’s fine, it’s all good, but…

Putting aside everything I just mentioned.

-Then, what were you guys trying to do using this?

What was Gyecheonmun plotting under the name Ilcheon Cult? That’s what I needed to be curious about.

-Hngh… We…. We….

-We are.

-…A new… justice… We will establish… according to His will…

I quickly interpreted it.

-I’ll ask again.

Making eye contact with the guy, I asked again.

-Establishing a new justice. Does that mean eliminating the Martial Alliance and taking its place?

-…Grrrk…

The Gyecheonmun Master starts trembling uncontrollably.

-Tell me.

-Y-yes.

After barely getting the answer, I gritted my teeth.

‘So, in the end, their goal was reform?’

He had an unusually negative view of the Alliance.

And the reason he was plotting this behind the scenes, as if possessed, was this.

The reason is, if you call it rebellion, it’s rebellion; if you call it reform, it’s reform.

However, the problem is.

‘This also didn’t happen in my past life.’

If they really intended to form a faction and wage war, something should have happened in my past life.

‘There was nothing like that.’

The only war that occurred in my past life was the Jeongma Great War. That means:

‘It either collapsed before it began… or the incident occurred only after I died.’

That’s the right way to see it.

‘It’s not easy.’

Although I confirmed the reason and purpose, the outcome in my past life wasn’t clear, making it ambiguous.

‘Especially that guy called ‘Him’. He’s the sticking point.’

What kind of guy is he anyway? Not content with creating this environment, he even artificially made them shed their skin to become dragons.

He definitely can’t be considered human. If so.

‘Could it be Hyeolm-a?’

The thought crossed my mind involuntarily.

Hyeolm-a. The one I’m most wary of reaching this point.

Isn’t this place where that guy was plotting something?

Thinking that, I unintentionally blurted out.

-If that’s the case… they named it way too crappily. What is the Ilcheon Cult, what is the Ilcheon Cult?

Why Ilcheon of all things? I said it out of sheer absurdity.

-Watch… your words… It was named after His great… name…

-What?

At the Gyecheonmun Master’s words, I chuckled incredulously and said.

-Named after it? What nonsense is that? Is Ilcheon even a name?

-Y-yes.

At the Gyecheonmun Master’s reaction, I frowned.

I felt a chill.

As soon as I felt this, I asked.

-That guy’s name. Could it possibly be Yeon Ilcheon?

-…

There was no answer. That bothered me even more.

-Tell me. Is Yeon Ilcheon even alive? Speak clearly.

Grabbing the guy by the collar, I asked again. At the same time, I drew upon my demonic energy. I had to get an answer somehow.

At that moment.

-…Yes…

The Gyecheonmun Master answered me.

-He… Yeon Ilcheon… is alive…

After saying those words, the Gyecheonmun Master lost consciousness. The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

---

Yeon Ilcheon is alive.

That statement held multiple meanings for me.

The center of the hero who stopped the Blood Calamity.

Geumcheon Gwonwang Yeon Ilcheon, the number one under heaven and the greatest of all time.

He still leaves his name in history and was the existence who played the biggest role in forming the current Martial Alliance.

Also.

‘Someone who experienced the same thing as me.’

A returnee who came back through time like me.

And.

‘The one who evaluated me as a disaster.’

A disaster that would swallow the world. That was Yeon Ilcheon, who evaluated me as such.

But.

‘He’s alive?’

That guy is alive? How is that possible?

The Ilcheon Cult. I didn’t like the name from the start, and to think it was actually named after Yeon Ilcheon.

‘I knew something was strange.’

Talking about roots, true justice. I thought, what kind of crap are they talking?

Is that why they were saying that?

My head was spinning.

Yeon Ilcheon appeared and orchestrated all of this?

I can’t understand. Hundreds of years have passed already. But how can Yeon Ilcheon be alive?

‘Could this be what Noecheon Ilgeom meant?’

He, who borrowed Uhyeok’s body in the Northern Sea, said something to me.

-Don’t trust Yeon Ilcheon.

Why would a comrade I relied on say something like that, I didn’t know.

‘Could it be because of this?’

He might know something.

‘If this is the case, I really need to go.’

The more problems erupt, the clearer my destination becomes. The direction most of the incidents that have occurred points towards.

‘Singang….’

The location where the Cheonma Divine Cult was in my past life.

It seemed I had to head there. My instincts tell me.

No, even if it wasn’t instinct.

Whenever strange things happened, everyone said.

Come to Singang quickly.

“Haa…”

Sighing, I moved my body.

Fine. I know I have to go, and I had to go anyway.

To do that, I had to quickly deal with the task at hand.

Thump-thump.

After emerging from underground and returning to the Alliance, the place I headed to was none other than the residence of the Azure Dragon Unit.

When I reached the location, the numerous personnel inside stared at me.

Gauging their attention, I shouted.

[Listen up.]

Whoooooosh—!!!

My voice, imbued with energy, amplified and echoed around.

Has he woken up? Hopefully, but it didn’t matter if he hadn’t.

[This leader has confirmed that the Gyecheonmun, which the current Martial Alliance is watching, are plotting with the Demonic Cult, just as the Alliance suspected.]

–!!

Everyone who heard my words widened their eyes.

Because it’s information that suddenly dropped overnight, they reacted even more.

This wasn’t the end of it.

[Furthermore.]

I gradually raised my killing intent and continued speaking.

[The Gyecheonmun Master, who led the rebellion with the Demonic Cult, and one of the Alliance’s Taesan.]

Grrrk. Compressed energy spreads around my body.

[I have secured evidence linking the Azure Dragon Unit Leader, Ilcheonggeom.]

Shiiiing–!!

The Seongnyongdae members who appeared behind me raised their killing intent, preparing for battle.

[In the name of the Seongnyongdae. I will summarily execute the sinner.]

I walk forward, uttering it calmly.

Before doing important work, it was time to clean up first.