Spirit God Gu Poison Art. It was a magic art known as a forbidden secret art. Over sixty percent of all existing occult arts were derived from the Daoist school, and there was once a Daoist sect that brought these arts to prominence and ushered in a golden age.
That was the Mount Mao Sect. The Mount Mao Sect was a renowned faction within the Daoist school, but it was annihilated in the distant past. Now, not even a trace of it remains.
There were many theories about its destruction, but the most prominent one was that it had bowed to and joined hands with the government during the sixth Yan Emperor's persecution of the martial world.
Most of the magic arts that remained with the annihilated Mount Mao Sect were lost with their lineage, but occasionally, some of these past legacies were discovered. One of them was, ‘Ah, ah, ah. I thought the Spirit God Gu Poison Art had come to nothing.’
The Spirit God Gu Poison Art discovered by In Seo-ok, the Pavilion Master of the Grudge Killing Pavilion. The successive pavilion masters of the Grudge Killing Pavilion, which was based in Shaanxi Province, would often explore a collapsed valley that was once called the Sealed Forest in ancient times. The Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, was no different.
When he reached the age of a full cycle, he discovered several secret arts carved inside a cave in a deep valley. One of them was this Spirit God Gu Poison Art.
[The gods of heaven and earth have helped this Pavilion Master.]
Upon discovering this, the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master could not hide his joy. But that joy did not last long. It was because over eighty percent of the secret arts he had discovered were forbidden by the Occultist’s Council of Sixty-Four Divisions.
And for good reason, as the price for most of the magic arts was a living being.
‘This cannot be.’
The Grudge Killing Pavilion Master pondered this for a long time. The world of forbidden arts, which had been barren for so long, was on the verge of opening up, but as an Occultist pursuing the pinnacle of occult arts, he could not allow it to be buried due to rules.
That was why he left the Occultist’s Council of Sixty-Four Divisions and entered the Heaven and Earth Society. It was a decision made with the conviction that only the Heaven and Earth Society could fulfill his desires.
Sizzle!
“Guuuh!”
Ling Hwa-yang, the undercover agent, staggered on the cart. No, it was Gyu So-ha, possessing Ling Hwa-yang’s body, who could not endure the pain. It was understandable, as the immense spiritual pressure made it difficult to maintain the state of possession.
‘Damn it......’
Moreover, the time of day was not favorable. Thanks to the dense foliage, the sunlight was somewhat blocked, but during the day, filled with the energy of life-nurturing, a vengeful spirit was bound to weaken. This was true even for one of a high rank.
Bulge, bulge!
The black veins popping out were a sign that the possession was weakening.
‘I must escape.’
Gyu So-ha instinctively reached a conclusion. The two humans before her were completely different from ordinary people. Especially the old man holding the staff; he was a monster.
The curse power emanating from his entire body was overwhelming the vicinity.
Phat!
Enduring the pain, Gyu So-ha leaped from the cart and threw herself backward. But here, there was another problem. The tendons in both legs of this body had been severed, and its dantian had been destroyed.
“Damn it!”
If she weren’t in a weakened state or if it wasn’t daytime, she could have manipulated the body to recover to some extent, but she couldn’t do that now. Thus, after a moment’s hesitation, Gyu So-ha decided to abandon the body. In this situation, the body was nothing more than a hindrance to her escape.
Swoosh! Thud!
Ling Hwa-yang’s body fell to the ground. At the same time, Gyu So-ha emerged from the body and tried to soar into the sky.
However, Gooooooooo!
‘!’
A gray membrane covered the sky for a radius of fifteen zhang. Seeing this, she was at a loss for words.
‘What kind of human...’
Could create something like a ghost domain, which only a high-rank vengeful spirit could form? The spiritual pressure created by the curse power was just as absurd. Having been trapped inside a cliff as a Gu poison, she did not know much, but that thing was a monster she couldn't handle, even at night.
‘Keuk!’
But she couldn’t just stand still.
Swish!
Gyu So-ha stretched her hand towards the empty air. Then, countless iron chains shot up from the ground, converging on a single point. She had to break through that barrier somehow to escape, so she was concentrating her power.
However, “Hahaha.
Who said they would let you be?”
Pak! Pak! Pak!
The Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, formed a hand seal with his left hand. He swept the Vajra Finger, the blade-finger hand seal, and then the sword seal with his staff and swung it wide. Then, strangely, Chwaaaaaaaah!
The tree trunks in the forest elongated and flew like whips, instead catching the iron chains Gyu So-ha had created.
‘Ah!’
Gyu So-ha hastily waved her hand downward. Some of the chains then changed direction toward the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok. At that moment, someone blocked the way.
It was Occultist Jo Ui-gong.
Pak! Pak! Pak!
Pak! Approach! Battle!
All! Jae!
It was the hand seal of the Nine Syllable Vitality Art. As he overlapped the index fingers and thumbs of both hands and aimed at the rushing chains, Parrrrrr!
Paaang!
The chains were deflected and instead flew toward Gyu So-ha. It was the Art of Reversal from the Nine Syllable Vitality Art. The instantly reversed chains pierced the thigh of Gyu So-ha, who was trying to twist her body to dodge.
Aaaack!
When it struck her weakened spiritual body, it was naturally painful. But if she made the chains disappear, not only would they be crushed by the tree trunks, but her effort to gather them at one point to break the barrier would be in vain.
‘I must endure.’
Charrrrrrr!
The chains collided with the gray barrier, and blue and red flames simultaneously sparked like lightning. It was a phenomenon caused by the clash of curse power and spiritual power.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Occultist Jo Ui-gong took out a talisman from his sleeve and was about to chant an incantation. But before he could, the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, took out a talisman first and threw it at the Green Spirit Gyu So-ha.
“By form and foe, sever and descend! By my command, act with haste!”
As soon as the incantation ended, Fwoosh! The flame took the form of a bird and flew toward Gyu So-ha. Unable to move because of the chain stuck in her thigh, Gyu So-ha was hit directly.
Paaaaaaang! Aaaaaaack!
With a scream, the chains that had been formed by spiritual power disappeared. Then, Gyu So-ha fell to the ground. Gyu So-ha’s entire body was charred black by the flame created from curse power.
Her condition was not good.
“Damn Occultists!”
“Hahaha. Such a foul mouth. This Valley Master is like a parent to you.”
Swish!
When the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, shook his staff, the sound of silver coins jingled, and the red letters engraved on the staff’s surface glowed with a golden light. With that, hands made of earth shot up from the ground and simultaneously grabbed Gyu So-ha’s arms and legs.
Clench! Clench!
“Let go!”
“Did you think you could escape?”
Eek!
Gyu So-ha tried to generate spiritual power to create chains. But with her arms and legs caught, she strangely couldn’t muster any strength.
“It is useless. No matter how high your rank, if you are caught by the Spirit Trapping Hands, your spiritual power will scatter, and you won't be able to exert any force.”
Ugh.
To deny it, her strength was gradually fading. She could feel her spiritual body going limp. Just then, the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, approached Gyu So-ha, leaning on his staff.
Then he lifted her chin with the tip of his staff.
Swish!
“Hoh. You’ve ripened better than I expected.”
Kuaaaah!
Gyu So-ha opened her mouth like a beast, trying to appear threatening towards In Seo-ok. But it had no effect. Instead, the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, clicked his tongue and said, “You bare your fangs like a wild animal because you haven’t been tamed yet.
But do not worry. This Valley Master will refine you into something very useful.”
“Don’t make me laugh, human!”
“Hahaha. You’ve completely forgotten the fact that you were human. Well, it is proof that your rank has risen, so it is not a bad phenomenon.”
The Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, was rather pleased. His disciple, Occultist Jo Ui-gong, approached him and said, “Master, is this it?”
“Indeed. If it had ripened a little more, I could have created a Blue Spirit in a short period. It is truly a pity.”
“Heo. Even so, it is truly amazing.”
Jo Ui-gong said with a genuinely surprised expression. It was understandable. In just fifteen years, a vengeful spirit of this rank had been artificially created.
It was a feat no other Occultist had achieved. Of course, there would be few who would welcome such a feat.
“Will you mature it further with Gu poison?”
“No. It’s impossible.”
“Impossible, you say?”
“Once the Art is broken, it is difficult to continue the Gu poison art. It's a shame the rank is somewhat lower than expected, but this is enough to make use of. I will have to make a new jar.”
Grit!
At the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master’s words, Gyu So-ha ground her teeth. She didn't know what they were talking about before, but hearing it now, were they the ones who created that hellish cliff? Knowing the truth, anger surged within her.
“You damn old man! You were the one who—!”
Gooooooooo!
“Hahaha. Just like a vengeful spirit, trying to recover spiritual power just by letting your anger rise. But...”
Jingle jangle! Aaaaaaack!
As he shook the silver coins on his staff, Gyu So-ha covered her ears and cried out in pain. The sound produced by the silver coins inscribed with an incantation creates a pain that stimulates the spiritual body of vengeful spirits.
“If you don’t want to be exorcised, you’d better stay still.”
Ugh...
At the word ‘exorcise’, Gyu So-ha flinched in fear. Even as a vengeful spirit, the thought of being exorcised was naturally terrifying. Looking at Gyu So-ha, the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, stroked his beard and said, “But I am truly curious.”
“About what, Master?”
“This Pavilion Master’s Spirit God Gu Poison Art was perfect. But I cannot understand how you could have escaped.”
There was no flaw in the magic art. Yet it was broken. It would have made sense if the Green Spirit before him had fully matured into a Blue Spirit.
But since that wasn't the case, he couldn't understand.
“Then could it be that disciple Yoon was negligent in managing the cliff?”
“That cannot be. It is a matter this Pavilion Master has also checked periodically.”
At his master's firm words, Occultist Jo Ui-gong scratched his head, looking sheepish. The Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, shook his head and took out a talisman from his sleeve.
“Well, it does not matter how it happened. As long as it wasn't caused by an evil spirit monster, it is a problem that can be investigated and figured out over time.”
With that, he brought the talisman to Gyu So-ha’s forehead. Feeling a sense of foreboding, Gyu So-ha turned her head, trying to avoid it.
“I believe I told you it was useless.”
Pak!
In Seo-ok forcibly stuck the talisman to her forehead. Written on the talisman in red ink were these words: [Fateful Bond] The Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, spoke as if for his disciple, Occultist Jo Ui-gong, to hear.
“Watch closely. I will show you how to make a vengeful spirit born from the Spirit God Gu Poison Art into a Spirit Guardian.”
Expectation filled In Seo-ok’s face. It was understandable, as normally, commanding a vengeful spirit as a Spirit Guardian was nearly impossible. But this magic art, connected to the Spirit God Gu Poison Art, could make possible what was impossible with all existing systems of occult arts.
“Art of the Fated Spirit General's Bond.”
With those words, In Seo-ok began to chant.
“Beneath the yin and yang of heaven and earth, I report to thee this day! To the spirits of the ancient shrine, at this very hour, do not refuse my plea. The rite is consecrated! Today the master enters the shrine; communicate and obey my will, follow my command. With wine and fruit I make this offering, may the spirits accept. By my command, act with haste!”
Fwoosh!
As soon as the incantation ended, the talisman burst into blue flames. Then, the ashes, emitting a faint light, sprinkled over Gyu So-ha’s entire body. A corner of the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok’s mouth lifted.
It was finally the long-awaited moment.
‘If I can command a high-rank vengeful spirit as a Spirit Guardian...’
It might even be possible to command ‘that thing,’ which was called a disaster, as a Spirit Guardian. In Seo-ok smiled and said to the Green Spirit Gyu So-ha, “Who is this Pavilion Master?” Soon, the word ‘Master’ would come from Gyu So-ha’s lips.
He was watching with expectant eyes when, “You damn old man.”
‘!?’
The Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, frowned.
What?
The Gu poison should have become his Spirit Guardian through the Art of the Fated Spirit General's Bond. Then why wasn’t she calling him master? Was it because her ego was strong due to her high rank?
Then, “Call this Pavilion Master, master.”
“Get lost!”
“.........”
The Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok’s eyes narrowed. Something had gone wrong. There was certainly no problem with the magic art, so why was she not accepting him as her master?
In Seo-ok spoke in a voice laced with anger.
“This Pavilion Master is your master. Obey this Pavilion Master’s command at once.”
“Who said you’re my master? You damn old man. If you want to play master, bark like a dog in front of me.”
“You little...!”
Finally angered, In Seo-ok struck Gyu So-ha’s head with his staff.
Thwack!
Struck by the staff inscribed with an incantation, Gyu So-ha screamed in pain.
Aack!
“I told you this Pavilion Master is your master...”
Just then, someone’s voice was heard.
“Old man. Why are you beating someone else’s dog like that?”
“What?”
Hearing the voice, the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, scowled and looked over. There, a boy of incredible beauty stood, having approached without notice. It was Mok Gyeong-un.
“I am its master.”
At this voice, the Green Spirit Gyu So-ha cried out with a face full of joy.
“Master!”
‘Master?’
The Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok’s expression twisted fearsomely.