The Soul-Harvesting Puppeteer - Chapter 68

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 68
Midland and Highland are connected only through mysterious passages.
In Midland Seoul, it’s the Blue Mist.
In Midland Chiang Mai, it’s the Blue Mirror.
These are the very passages that link the two worlds.
However, from the perspective of Highland’s Demon Race and Demon Beasts, these passages are neither visible nor usable.
This was a fact humanity had confirmed through repeated testing.
Yet there were exceptions.
Highland’s new materials, herbs, relics, and even the corpses of Demon Beasts could be brought through these passages to Midland freely.
It was precisely this point that caught the attention of Liu Sao-chi, the patriarch of the Liu Clan.
‘New materials, relics, Mana Stones, Demon Spirit Stones—none of these are living beings. Even a Demon Beast’s corpse, having lost its life, falls into a similar category. But herbs are clearly not living beings either. If we can bring living things to Midland, why couldn’t we bring in Demon Beasts or the Demon Race?’
Liu Sao-chi became fixated on this proposition at the very moment humanity was undergoing the Great Cataclysm.
And Liu Sao-chi had already begun to reap the fruits of his efforts several years prior.
Chapter 9
Originally, the knowledge of Immortal Path had been passed down through the Chinese Sphere.
Clans like the Liu Clan and Saja Rim had discovered methods of combining this Immortal Path knowledge with their abilities to construct a Soul-Core within the mind.
Of course, the Soul-Core itself did not wield direct power.
But the crucial point was that just as the Demon Beasts and Demon Race of Highland did, humans too needed to protect their spirits with a Soul-Core in order to finally become capable of channeling Highland’s true authority—namely, Demon-Force.
Taking it one step further, the Liu Clan of Beijing and Saja Rim of Shanghai discovered that ‘the more robustly an Ability User constructs their Soul-Core, the greater the volume of Demon-Force they can command.’
They also learned that if one built a Soul-Tower even within the Soul-Core itself, the spirit remained safe even when amplifying Demon-Force usage several times over.
It must have been from this point onward that the military might of Beijing and Shanghai began to dominate other major cities.
Save for New York and London, which harbored the mysteries of Shinseong, there was no rival anywhere in the world capable of standing against Beijing and Shanghai.
Yet Liu Sao-chi was not satisfied there.
‘The Liu Clan must become supreme. Not only New York and London, but even Saja Rim of Shanghai must be brought under our dominion. Only then will the flower of the Chinese Sphere bloom in full.’
Intense ambition burned in Liu Sao-chi’s chest.
By then, Liu Sao-chi was already a supreme master who had constructed a Soul-Core within his mind and built a Soul-Tower to command Demon-Force freely.
‘Yet I still cannot completely overwhelm that bastard Lin Bao.’
Lin Bao was Liu Sao-chi’s longtime friend and rival.
Liu Sao-chi conceived of ‘Demon-Fusion’ as the method to transcend Lin Bao in one leap.
Frankly, the Demon Beasts and Demon Race of Highland’s 7th, 6th, and 5th Continents were far more powerful than humans.
Liu Sao-chi, the patriarch of the Liu Clan, had inherited the Immortal Path knowledge from his forebears and discovered a way to absorb and command Demon-Force, finally establishing a foundation upon which to compete with Highland’s Demon Beasts and Demon Race.
‘But why limit ourselves solely to Demon-Force? If the Soul-Core is firm enough, why couldn’t we use the Demon Race’s very abilities directly, beyond Demon-Force itself?’
There was only one way for humans to wield the powers of the Demon Race.
To merge with the Demon Race.
‘Of course, Demon-Fusion is dangerous. One misstep and a human could cease to be human, becoming a Demon Beast or one of the Demon Race instead.’
Just as a novice who fails to maintain their humanity when first Awakening their ability falls into becoming a Demon Beast, a faulty merger with the Demon Race could easily spawn disaster.
But Liu Sao-chi had a solution.
‘If the Soul-Core and Soul-Tower are strong enough, we can easily prevent such things. The Soul-Core and Soul-Tower will shield the spirit firmly enough.’
This was the conclusion Liu Sao-chi had reached.
From that point on, the Liu Clan established a secret laboratory within Highland. There, they conducted abominable experiments merging humans with Demon Beasts and humans with the Demon Race.
As a result, countless descendants of the Liu Clan were disposed of.
Failure, failure, endless failure.
The merging of a human with the Demon Race was never easy.
Even merging with Demon Beasts proved difficult.
Yet Liu Sao-chi continued the experiments without hesitation, trampling over the sacrifices of his kinfolk, and at last achieved success.
Insects scurrying about within Liu Sao-chi’s dark pupils.
This was the mark of successful fusion.
Thereafter, Liu Sao-chi, having succeeded in merging with the Demon Race based on the Immortal Path knowledge of his ancestors, called himself ‘Neo-Humanity.’
Liu Jen-ying asked in surprise.
“Patriarch, are you saying that the Shinseong Group in Seoul has also succeeded in merging with the Demon Race of Highland, just as our Liu Clan has?”
“There was a woman named Lee Hyun in that place long ago, wasn’t there?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Hmm. Doesn’t it seem suspicious? Demon-Force is a power not granted to humans. Yet humans can wield Demon-Force freely, and even reverse the Demon-Force of Demon Beasts? Do you truly believe such a thing is possible?”
“If you would elaborate…”
“Asia was once under the rule of us Chinese.”
Liu Sao-chi spoke with an obstinate expression.
“Your words are correct, Patriarch.”
Liu Jen-ying nodded in agreement.
“It’s possible that our ancestors’ Immortal Path knowledge flowed into places like Tokyo, Seoul, and even Chiang Mai. And as a result, a woman like Lee Hyun, who could wield Demon-Force, could be born even in a small city of a minor nation.”
“But there is no Lee Hyun in Seoul now.”
Liu Jen-ying’s words drew a scoff from Liu Sao-chi.
“Hmph. Who guarantees there isn’t one?”
“Ah!”
Liu Jen-ying’s eyes widened as though he’d grasped something crucial.
Liu Sao-chi clenched his liver-spotted fist, its skin creased and weathered.
“I myself stepped back into the shadows after formally transferring power to you. And from that point on, I devoted myself entirely to Highland’s experiments. Am I wrong?”
“Not at all, sir.”
“Then what guarantee is there that Lee Hyun in Seoul hasn’t done the same?”
“Ah… ah…”
You yourself keep a close eye on a small city like Seoul for precisely that reason, don’t you? Continuously sending spies into Seoul to gather intelligence, and when that wasn’t enough, you even reached out to Saja Rim.”
“Yes, that’s… that’s true.”
“Hmm, my suspicion is almost certainly correct. Lee Hyun still stands behind Shinseong Group. And that woman has undoubtedly achieved results similar to mine.”
“Similar results, you say?”
“What else? A new breed of humanity—those who freely wield Demon-Force and have merged with the Demon Race—was born in Lee Hyun’s hands. And Lee Hyun has begun placing such beings throughout Seoul. Lin Bao’s direct disciple from Saja Rim was unfortunate enough to be surrounded by such creatures and met his end.”
Liu Sao-chi recited the scenario he’d constructed in his mind without hesitation.
Liu Jen-ying found himself convinced by the words.
“Indeed, you see through a thousand miles with such keen insight.”
Liu Jen-ying lavished praise on Liu Sao-chi. In doing so, he actually felt relieved that Lee Hyun was behind this crisis.
It meant he had a scenario to pacify that savage Lin Bao.
‘No matter how strong this woman Lee Hyun is, she can’t possibly handle Lin Bao of Saja Rim. So I’ll leave this matter to him. That old lion will overturn Seoul on his own and deal with Lee Hyun besides.’
Liu Jen-ying contemplated a way to accomplish this without lifting a finger.
Liu Sao-chi, watching him, harbored different thoughts.
‘The new humanity merged with the Demon Race rightfully ought to rule all of humankind. Yet to lose that throne to a mere woman from a small nation? That Liu Sao-chi cannot abide.’
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
Grotesque insects churned within Liu Sao-chi’s eyes as he stared into empty space, their sounds unsettling and strange.
Sixth Highland Expedition I—The Sinister
Chapter 1
November 14th.
Five days had already passed since Han Eol received his assignment to Red Team.
True to Lee Myung-woo’s boast, Han Eol’s life as a Red Team operative was nothing short of a breeze.
No fixed working hours.
No real need to report for duty.
Operating funds flowed generously.
In fact, Han Eol had already fulfilled his entire monthly quota simply by being dragged through a Summoning Scroll and rescuing Johan-088.
The operation supervisor had told him this directly, so it had to be true.
‘Since I’ve got time to spare, maybe I should take a trip to Highland. I’ve been meaning to go for ages anyway.’
The thought made Han Eol burst into quiet laughter.
‘Hah. Look how much I’ve grown. Here I am, that timid coward who once fretted over every little thing for the sake of safety, and now I’m actually considering walking into that dangerous Highland of my own accord.’
Yet honestly, Han Eol had grown safer precisely because of his Highland expeditions. Looking at the results so far, that much was undeniable.
‘Could Highland be a land of opportunity for me?’
With such optimistic thoughts, Han Eol stopped by Ju Hyung-sun’s Mansion and packed his backpack.
He also grabbed one of Ju Hyung-sun’s watches from his collection.
Han Eol didn’t strictly need a watch to visit the 5th Continent Ruins.
The watch hand—the Child Metal—had dissolved at the atomic level and seeped into the cells of his wrist, allowing for Guided Transmission there.
Yet Han Eol deliberately selected a watch and fastened it around his right wrist.
Most people wear watches on their left wrist, so wearing one on the opposite side felt strange.
But Han Eol had his reasons for doing this.
‘Now’s the time to experiment with how Guided Transmission actually works. Once I figure out the trick, I’ll be able to choose my destination freely and go exactly where I want.’
After finishing his Highland expedition preparations, Han Eol boarded the tube connected to the basement of Ju Hyung-sun’s Mansion and moved to the secret platform beneath the Han River.
Before long, the rippling Blue Mist spread out before his eyes.
‘This is my sixth expedition.’
This would be Han Eol’s seventh time entering Highland.
Though his last trip to Highland had been less an expedition than a recovery mission for Elder Ju Hyung-sun’s body.
So counting correctly, this was indeed his sixth.
‘What kind of adventure will unfold on this expedition? And what results will I achieve?’
Han Eol threw himself into the Blue Mist with hope and apprehension mingling in his heart.
Whoom!
As always, a violent dizziness struck Han Eol hard.
‘Ugh.’
Even so, Han Eol fought to keep his consciousness intact.
Fortunately, Han Eol’s body—reinforced beyond measure by the Spirit Clan Twelve Zodiac Constellation Technique—proved invaluable. He opened his eyes wide, imprinting the currents pulling at his form onto his retina.
At first, he’d drifted aimlessly, caught in turbulent cross-currents.
But as seconds elapsed, three distinct flows began to draw him in consistent directions.
The first current tugged primarily at his left hand.
Currently, Child Metal was bonded to his left wrist—and that Child Metal was resonating with the Mother Metal he’d buried in the Highland 5th Continent Ruins.
‘So if I follow this current, I’ll reach the 5th Continent site.’
Indeed, at the fringe of one strand within this flow, the image of the cliff face above the 5th Continent seemed to shimmer into view.
Han Eol noted this current, then examined the second flow.
The second current pulled at Ju Hyung-sun’s watch—the one he’d deliberately fastened to his right wrist.
‘Ju Hyung-sun settled in the Highland 6th Continent. So following this current would likely drop me near his residence.’
Han Eol dismissed this second flow from consideration.
He had no reason to journey to the 6th Continent.
Finally, Han Eol traced the third current.
‘Where does this one lead?’
Strangely, this third current wasn’t pulling at his wrist at all—it drew at his entire body.
‘I’ve had so many failed Guided Transmissions. Now I think I understand why.’
Other Ability Users typically succeeded with Guided Transmission through the current tied to the watch hand—the Child Metal current. But Han Eol possessed something else entirely: a third current dragging at his entire frame.
This third current, separate from the Guided Transmission flow, was uniquely his.
The Puppet Master Who Harvests Souls
Author |
Junon
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Samyang C&C Corp.
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Editorial Department
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Samyang C&C Corp. – Dream Books
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No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without written permission from Samyang C&C Corp. – Dream Books.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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