Chapter 1184 (1/2)
[You have suffered catastrophic damage!]
[The body that has become a living dead has been severely damaged.]
[The blood of the victims trapped in your body is flowing backward, causing your body to collapse.]
There were three penalties that a player who changed race to an undead type would experience—their agility was significantly reduced, some skills were sealed, and the effects of recovery magic were reversed. However, the black horse jiangshi didn’t have the reduced agility and skills sealing penalties.
This was why the combat power of the black horse jiangshi was overwhelming. The flying horse jiangshi were regarded as legends but the black horse jiangshi was actually the strongest. However, it wasn’t universal. The black horse jiangshi had frightening side effects.
“Uh... Uwaaaaack!”
The cost of death was huge. This was because he lost a considerable amount of the blood of 300 people he was injected with during the 33 day ceremony. The amount of experience lost when a black horse jiangshi died was nearly double that of a typical player and it took as long as two days to revive. It was rare for him to die but this time, he met a bad opponent.
“Grid! Gridddd!” Veradin roared. He gave up his human dignity in the spirit of revenge on Grid but he suffered a great loss in reverse, rather than getting revenge. He was so furious that he felt like crying.
“...”
Grid didn’t even look at him. The sense of alienation that Veradin felt was indescribable.
‘To him, I’m nothing.’
There was a rush of futility. In the world that turned grey, Veradin pressed the log out button. It was his final logout—Veradin didn’t want to return to Satisfy again.
“Hey.”
Grid broke through Veradin and the jiangshi and met the daoist. The daoist’s name was Sabaek. He wore a black robe and hat and his face was painted white. He looked like a messenger of the underworld.
“Are you the daoist who turned that trash into a jiangshi?”
“That’s right. I’m also the one who created the mark you have.”
“...?”
What was the mark he had? Grid cocked his head to the side in a puzzled manner before recalling an item. He only had one mark.
[Mark of Evolution]
[Rating: Unique
A functional marker developed by the alchemy facility.
If this mark is attached to your body, one of your strength, agility, stamina, or intelligence stats will increase by 200.
User Restriction: Level 200 or higher.
Weight: 0]
The Mark of Evolution was one of the reasons why Grid became obsessed with the alchemy facility. If he hadn’t encountered this mark then Grid might’ve stopped investing in Reidan’s alchemy facility.
“Did you make this?” Grid felt a strong distrust. It was puzzling that the daoist, who was associated with Veradin, would suddenly talk about the Mark of Evolution.
“I know that the mark was made by an alchemy facility in the Hwan Kingdom.”
The Hwan Kingdom was a kingdom of the Five Seniors and the yangbans. Humans weren’t permitted to visit. The Cho king had clearly said so.
Sabaek questioned the suspicious Grid, “Do you see the yangbans as great men who will study and hone alchemy?”
“...!” Grid noticed his mistake. He was reminded of the scene where Garam mocked Pagma’s sword dances and blacksmithing.
‘That’s right. It is clear that the yangbans would think of alchemy as insignificant.’
However, they had high-quality technology. This meant they borrowed the power of humans. There was a high possibility that the daoist’s argument was correct.
Grid pointed a blade at Sabaek’s neck. “Last time, Blue Tiger told me that the wicked daoists are the minions of the Hwan Kingdom.”
Jiangshi were undead that could only be manufactured at the expense of people. It meant the daoists who made them were wicked daoists. Blue Tiger said that 10 years ago, a wicked daoist scattered garlic and mugwort around the area of Bukdu Mountain to deceive the spiritual creatures.
“I was told that spirits who ascend will become subordinates to the society of gods and are forced to become minions of the Five Seniors. The reason you sprinkled mugwort and garlic around Bukdu Mountain is to eventually turn all spirits into the minions of the Five Seniors.”
“Hrmm...”
“The reason you create confusion is for the yangbans. Every time they calm down the confusion you have created, their faith will build up.”
Grid was certain and cornered Sabaek. Grid recognized Sabaek as an assassin sent from the Hwan Kingdom. However, Sabaek responded in an unexpected manner, “Your reasoning is very simplistic. I was looking forward to meeting you since you revived an old god but I’m disappointed.”
“...?”
“It is true that those who belong to the society of the gods can’t disobey the will of a god. It is just that the concept of a god doesn’t only mean the Five Seniors. The red phoenix you have resurrected this time is also a god.”
“...!”
“The resurrection of the red phoenix gave a choice to those who ascended. I’m sure the daoist immortals of the Peach Blossom Spring are currently considering if they should stand on the side of the Five Seniors or the red phoenix. In addition, most of the spirits who become daoist immortals will be on the side of the red phoenix. It makes sense for sacred creatures to follow the Four Gods.”
“Are you trying to make the intelligent creatures ascend to empower the Four Gods who will be resurrected one day?” Braham stepped up on behalf of Grid who didn’t understand. As he approached, he stood by Grid and observed Sabaek with an interested gaze. “There are transcendents in the east.”
“Transcendents...?”
A chill went down Grid’s spine. If Sabaek was a transcendent then the problem was serious. Grid couldn’t detect Sabaek’s status. This meant that Sabaek’s status was above Grid’s. A smile spread on Sabaek’s face. He seemed pleased that there was someone he could converse with. “My name is Sabaek. To the world, I am known as the boss of the evil daoists.”
“Braham. I am a magician who serves Grid here.”
“...Overgeared King Grid.”
Grid was discontent as he was forced to introduce himself. It was because there were many parts that were unconvincing. “There is still something I need to ask. Why sacrifice people to make the jiangshi?”
“Human power alone can’t stand against the Hwan Kingdom so I am gathering an army of immortals. It is for the peace of the world.”
“Can you seriously consider the peace of the world when damage is being done to civilians?”