Chapter 57: Isolation

Killing him would be best.

But that wasn’t possible.

What was the next best option?

Isolation.

The Abyss wielded immense influence over the human faction.

If they used that influence to isolate Gaon?

His reckless rampage could be contained.

Of course, Gaon might ignore it and continue.

Honestly, that would be ideal.

It would weaken the human faction’s strength.

Either way, the Abyss stood to gain.

“I agree.”

“I’m in favor.”

“It’s a good idea.”

One by one, they responded to Syrion’s suggestion.

Not everyone agreed, though.

“What if isolating him proves impossible?” Murin asked in a flat tone.

Some looked at him with puzzled expressions.

Why mention something that wouldn’t happen?

Sensing the mood, Moul spoke.

“Lord, I understand your concern, but no one is impossible to isolate—”

Before Moul could finish, Syrion cut him off.

“You mean like the Gaon from the past?”

“…!”

At the mention of Gaon, everyone flinched.

Even Moul, about to scowl at being interrupted, froze in shock.

The monster Gaon who nearly destroyed the Abyss in the past.

An 8th Circle Master, Emperor of the Barta Empire, and Master of the Gardion Tower.

His power was immense, but his status was equally formidable.

The only being the Abyss failed to isolate.

“It occurred to me that, like back then, we might end up weakening our own forces,” Murin said, nodding slightly.

Syrion didn’t respond immediately.

He fell into thought, and silence followed.

It didn’t last long.

Having finished his thoughts, Syrion spoke.

“If isolating him, like the Gaon of old, is impossible, then as you say, we’d only weaken our influence. Even so, we must proceed. Confirming whether he’s such a being would be a significant gain in itself.”

-Krrng?

Kring let out a curious roar, tilting its head.

Gaon nodded.

-Krr!

Kring understood, opening its mouth wide.

Swish!

A massive number of scrolls floated into the air, sucked into Kring’s mouth.

It wasn’t eating them.

Kring’s body contained a subspace.

Soon, all the scrolls were stored in the subspace, and Kring closed its mouth.

-Krr!

It leapt onto Gaon’s shoulder, nuzzling his neck.

Gaon patted Kring’s head, giving the vault one last glance.

The scrolls were the last of it.

Seeing the empty vault, a satisfied smile spread across his face.

He turned around.

He headed deeper into the vault.

He’d already collected everything inside.

The reason for going further was a secret passage.

Reaching it, Gaon began walking through the passage.

Soon, he arrived before the red veil.

How long can I stall?

He could destroy the veil.

But he had no intention of doing so.

He wanted to buy as much time as possible.

If he removed the veil now, the Abyss would quickly grasp the situation and act.

But if it remained?

They’d know something was wrong via the soul stones but wouldn’t move easily without clarity.

It’ll hold until I reach the 8th Circle, right?

Gaon was about to ascend to the 8th Circle.

He hoped the Abyss would stay quiet until then.

With that thought, he touched the veil.

-Kieeee!

The wail of vengeful spirits echoed in his mind.

With a calm expression, he released Pacheongi, creating a hole.

He stepped outside, sealed it, and kept moving.

Soon, he reached the passage’s end and looked up.

A sturdy iron door was sealed shut.

Creak.

Having confirmed the outside was empty with his senses, Gaon cast Fly, opened the door, and emerged.

As soon as he did, he furrowed his brow slightly.

The stench from the trash-filled abandoned warehouse was overwhelming.

He enveloped himself in energy to block the smell and left the warehouse.

Continuing south, he crossed the city walls and left Deisrin.

Step!

When the city was a mere dot in the distance, Gaon stopped.

He lifted Kring and set it down.

-Krrng?

Kring let out a puzzled sound, and Gaon pulled a 7th-Star mana stone from his pocket.

“I’m going to absorb the mana stone on the way.”

-Krrng!

Understanding, Kring roared softly, releasing its miniaturization to return to its true form.

It crouched, letting Gaon climb onto its back.

Gaon mounted Kring, and it began racing toward the Bretan Kingdom’s capital.

Gaon absorbed the mana stone’s mana, focusing on his cultivation.

About 30% should be absorbed.

Based on the absorption rate and Kring’s speed, he estimated converting 30% of the mana into Pacheongi by the time they reached the Bretan Kingdom.

At the latest, I’ll ascend tomorrow.

Calculating the time to the 8th Circle, Gaon smiled.

But moments later—

…Huh?

He was startled.

It was the fifth wall of the Pacheon Heart Method.

He hadn’t planned to break it before reaching the 8th Circle.

Yet it was melting away.

He stopped cultivating.

The melting slowed but didn’t stop.

Damn.

Frowning at the unexpected situation, Gaon realized he’d need to break the fifth wall first.

“Kring! Stop!” he shouted.

Kring halted, and Gaon dismounted.

He scanned the surroundings.

Breaking through could cause unpredictable events.

He needed a safe place.

But, naturally, none was in sight.

He waved his hand.

Trees and rocks ahead were swept away, creating a clear, weed-free open space.

He began setting up simple magic circles.

-Krrng?

Kring reacted with confusion to Gaon’s sudden actions.

Finishing the circles, Gaon said, “If anyone approaches, keep them away. It won’t take long.”

-Krrng!

Kring responded, flying into the sky.

It turned invisible, though its aura remained detectable.

Gaon shifted his focus from Kring and sat in the center of the clearing.

He observed his inner state.

The fifth wall, slowed by stopping cultivation, was melting faster.

If left alone, it would vanish completely in 10 to 15 minutes.

He hesitated.

Should he let it dissolve naturally or use Pacheongi to speed it up?

It won’t take long anyway.

Deciding to let it be, Gaon watched the melting wall, wondering.

What change will come this time?

After the third wall, Pacheongi began cycling on its own.

After the fourth, he underwent a complete transformation.

The fifth wall likely promised a unique change.

But it was just a guess.

It could be like the first or second walls, merely strengthening his body.

Ten minutes later, as predicted, the wall melted away completely.

But it wasn’t over.

Instinctively, Gaon knew.

This was just the beginning.

At that moment—

“…!”

He shut his eyes tightly.

A burning heat surged in his eyes and their sockets.

Not just warm—hot and painful.

But he didn’t expel it.

Gritting his teeth, he endured.

He suspected this was a special change, like the third wall’s auto-cycling or the fourth’s transformation.

Soon, the heat vanished as if it had never been.

He knew instantly.

The fifth wall’s breakthrough was complete.

And one more thing.

The sixth wall?

As the heat faded, a sixth wall appeared.

He had no intention of breaking it immediately.

He hadn’t even planned to break the fifth.

He checked his remaining Pacheongi.

After every breakthrough except the fourth, over half had vanished.

He worried how much was lost this time.

…Only 10% gone?

Checking, he was slightly surprised.

He’d expected over half to be gone.

Yet 90% remained—only 10% was lost.

Because it melted on its own?

He hadn’t forced it with Pacheongi.

The wall dissolved naturally.

Perhaps that’s why so little was lost.

Good news either way.

If over half had vanished, his 8th Circle ascension would’ve been delayed.

Ten percent wasn’t trivial, but with the mana stone and elixirs, a few more hours would suffice.

After checking his Pacheongi, Gaon opened his eyes.

“…!”

He was stunned.

The world had changed.

Or rather, his vision had.

The flow is this detailed…?

The energy flows he could only sense before were now visible.

Incredibly detailed.

Swish.

He looked up.

He saw Kring floating above.

…Wow.

Kring was invisible.

Normally, he could only sense it.

Not anymore.

It was translucent but clearly visible.

Not just its form—its energy flow, too.

He focused Pacheongi into his eyes.

The view became even sharper, as if he’d injected Pacheongi directly to probe.

Wait, doesn’t this mean…

A thought struck, and his eyes gleamed.

I can spot seals easily?

Until now, he’d had to inject energy to check for Abyss seals.

It was inconvenient.

But now?

He could detect seals without injecting energy.

-Krrng?

Kring tilted its head under his gaze.

Gaon smiled and beckoned.

Kring descended, becoming visible.

Tap, tap.

Gaon patted his shoulder.

Kring miniaturized and settled there.

How much stronger am I?

He’d planned to absorb the mana stone en route.

But the fifth wall changed his plans.

The vision was a special change, but there were others.

His senses sharpened, and his body strengthened.

He wanted to move, test, and adapt to his enhanced physical abilities.

“Hold tight,” he told Kring.

-Krr!

Kring responded, and Gaon sprinted at full speed.

He reached top speed instantly.

“…!”

He was shocked.

Before, even his fastest sprint was slower than Fly.

Not anymore.

It matched Fly’s speed.

It consumed more energy, but he wasn’t running for days, so it didn’t matter.

Soon, he neared the Bretan Kingdom’s capital and slowed.

He entered the palace via a secret passage.

…Huh?

Checking Lamu’s location with his senses, Gaon tilted his head.

Lamu wasn’t alone.

He was with many others.

Or rather, they were together but divided.

Lamu was with Max, the chief steward, while dozens of others were grouped separately.

It looked like a confrontation, though the situation was unclear.

What’s going on?