Kugugugugung!
A massive sword light shines as it intercepts Governing Dragon Island.
From the opposite side, a golden saber light glows and slices through the Governing Dragon Island.
It's a joint attack by Kim Young-hoon and I.
'That took a while.'
There is a reason it took so long for Kim Young-hoon and me to strike Governing Dragon Island.
First of all, it's betrayal.
Both Kim Young-hoon and I are aware of Jin Ma-yeol's true nature and know he is someone who would stab us in the back given the chance, so we had to find a way to restrain him.
To prevent Jin Ma-yeol from betraying us, I had to procure the Black Ancient Paper that originally mediated the contract between Yuk Rin and us, and slowly send it up from Penglai Island.
It was an incredibly difficult task because it required using the All-Heavens Sword to elevate the material to the Plane of Soul, hence it took quite a bit of time.
Secondly, even if we managed to rescue Baek Rin, we had to plan how to bring him to Penglai Island.
Even if we managed to save Baek Rin, there was no answer if Yuk Rin tried to capture him again, so we needed a way to quickly bring him back to Penglai Island before Yuk Rin could take action.
In that regard, both Jin Ma-yeol, who has extensive experience in the Ancient Force Realm, and Buk Hyang-hwa provided assistance.
"Should we use the Salt Bones Ship as a middle zone to leap across the sea domain?"
Even though the Salt Bones Ship can dive into the depths of the Deep Sea, it's impossible to dive deeply enough to Penglai Island.
Therefore, the suggestion was to submerge the Salt Bones Ship as far as it could dive, and then create a 'middle zone' that jumps between sea domains to bring Baek Rin back.
With her advice and Jin Ma-yeol's cooperation, more time was spent modifying the Salt Bones Ship to be used as a middle zone.
During that process, there was some friction with the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang, and the modification time was extended as Jin Ma-yeol occasionally felt displeasure. It was due to these reasons that it took almost 80 years to finally come to rescue Baek Rin.
"It's going well. The plan must not have any mistakes. It's already been nearly 100 years since Yuk Rin acquired enough Salt Crystals to master Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade to great completion, so his power must be beyond imagination."
Woong!
Jin Ma-yeol's projection appears beside me, arms crossed as he speaks.
I glare at him.
"If your pirate gang had cooperated earlier, we could have come faster."
"You're the weird one for spending so much time to save one subordinate. And with you modifying my ship like that, of course there would be resistance, would there not?"
"You agreed because it's beneficial to you as well. Thanks to Conqueror King Buk Hyang-hwa's modifications, your ship's performance has improved nearly tenfold."
"Regardless, It's still just a lower-tier version of your Buk Hyang Fleet."
"Enough with the small talk. It's about to begin. You better do your part properly."
"You're one to talk."
Jin Ma-yeol retorts sharply before releasing the projection.
Kugugugugug!
At the center of the Governing Dragon Palace.
There, Yuk Rin, who seems to have completely adapted to the body of Yuk Ung, reveals his enormous form.
Around him, several of his Four-Axis stage vassals appear.
Jiiiiing—
As soon as he reveals himself, the entire sea of the Ancient Force Realm hums.
Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade truly seems to resonate well with the sea of the Ancient Force Realm.
Zzzzt—
'This is insane...'
From the other side, Kim Young-hoon sends a heart message asking if it's okay, sensing something unusual.
Facing Yuk Rin's main body, I realize.
'One sea domain in the Ancient Force Realm is practically no different from his domain.'
The Heaven Tribe unfolds an Integrated Dao Domain, while the Earth Tribe assimilates it into their bodies.
Then, what about those who practice Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation?
It's simple.
They can do 'both' unfold and assimilate.
Moreover, they can do so simultaneously.
[Have you forgotten that last time when you couldn't oppose me with those feeble avatars? Now, over a hundred years later, you've come to find me after my divine method has reached new heights...you must be asking for your insignificant avatar to be erased, right?]
Woong!
Yuk Rin's body gradually transforms as if embodying the blue sea.
His mane becomes the storm.
His scales become the waves.
Jiiiiing—
In addition, the entire Wi Jeong Sea Domain resonates with Yuk Rin at its center.
I break out in a cold sweat.
In truth, right now he can treat the entire Wi Jeong Sea Domain as his domain in addition to the domain he's assimilated with his body.
Therefore, he is essentially at the Grand Perfection Integration stage of Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation.
'Almost rivaling my main body...!'
It isn't just at the level of the Three Great Ultimates; I would have to unleash all of Heaven, Earth, Heart, and Puppet.
But I smile slightly.
"How frightening."
Booong!!
Ignoring whatever he is babbling about, I once again unleash a single strike of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion.
Kwaduduk!
A transparent scar seems to appear on Yuk Rin's body, but it heals instantly.
He laughs with his moon-like eyes shining and his voice resonating powerfully.
[How foolish. Even though this Palace Lord gave you a chance to flee, you persist? Admittedly, you are difficult to catch, but as the entire sea domain is akin to my domain, from the moment you used the Wi Jeong Sea Domain as the battlefield, you have essentially entered my belly.]
"Indeed, mastering Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade to this extent is slightly intimidating with an avatar. But isn't there one thing you've misunderstood?"
I speak with a sly grin.
"At the Integration level, one doesn't engage in battles they cannot win."
[Ahahaha. You lot must have something hidden...]
"Let's stop babbling with our mouths."
I take a stance and, with the All-Heavens Sword, once again deliver a single strike of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion at Yuk Rin.
He is wounded once more, but he snorts.
To him, this level of injury seems as trivial as a Core Formation stage head being cut off. He appears perfectly fine.
[Is this the power of the strongest in the Wuji Religious Order, the Cult Leader? Truly nothing has changed in over a hundred years. Ahahaha!]
"Ah...that is true."
I grin as I move erratically around Yuk Rin, drawing his attention.
It's an amusing sight.
Even just 80 years ago, I was the one facing Yuk Rin head-on while Kim Young-hoon was the one using speed to draw his attention.
But now, it is me focusing on distracting him and scattering his attention.
The reason is simple.
Kugugugugu!
The eyes of Kim Young-hoon who is concentrating behind me brightens.
To Kim Young-hoon, who was communing with the enlightenment of Jang Ik, an opportunity to commune in the confines of a narrow space for 80 years was granted.
Eighty years of embedding Jang Ik's podao into Kim Young-hoon.
Can you imagine it?
Dududududu!
[Wh-What?]
The sea domain trembles.
Jang Ik's enlightenment, and the enlightenment of Great Desert to Dead Sea through communing with me.
And through sharing enlightenment with Heavenly Being and Four-Axis cultivators, there is a man who obtained the enlightenment of Celestial Energy Guidance and attraction force, integrating it into his weapon.
The light of the entire Wi Jeong Sea Domain seems to focus momentarily on a small saber.
It isn't an illusion.
In that brief moment, the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of the entire Wi Jeong Sea Domain was indeed sucked into that small saber.
The saber called Surpassing Radiant.
That saber is united with the man's hand as one.
He is Surpassing Radiant, and Surpassing Radiant is him.
For a moment, I see the vision of a golden Peng Bird roaring out from behind Yuk Rin.
[You, you bastard!]
Around Yuk Rin, white salt crystal-like grains of spiritual energy emerge.
He appears to transform from a blue dragon into a pure white dragon in an instant.
White Dragon Yuk Rin glares at Kim Young-hoon and opens his mouth.
From his mouth, a compressed Dragon Wave capable of encompassing the entire sea domain within its range shoots out.
A Dragon Wave clearly stronger than it was a hundred years ago!
This is the power of a Dragon.
But do you know?
There is a bird known as Garuda (金翅鳥).
This bird is said to cause thunder with a flap of its wings, break the world's cycle,
And devour dragons.
Surpassing Radiant Genesis Form (凌光開闢形).
First Style (第一式).
A martial art created by Kim Young-hoon upon witnessing the enlightenment of the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One.
Surpassing Radiant Genesis Painting (凌光開闢圖).
Its first form.
"Golden Wing Defiles the Light (金翅衊光)."
[Editor: Garuda (金翅鳥) literally means 'Gold Winged Bird.']
The saber, concentrated with the light of Heaven and Earth, is swung.
The next moment.
All the light between Heaven and Earth is severed.
That is the only way to describe it.
It's as if the entire world has been enveloped by the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts for an instant, making it impossible to perceive anything.
And when that fleeting 'unperceivable world' finally vanishes and perception returns.
I feel the illusion of a golden flash descending upon the entire world.
It's as if a golden wing momentarily obscures the light and then gently lets the light shine again.
'Yuk Rin is...'
I look at the spot where Yuk Rin had been.
Yuk Rin is no longer there.
I turn to look at the horizon opposite from where Kim Young-hoon stands after swinging his saber.
'There he is.'
After being hit by Kim Young-hoon's single strike, Yuk Rin had been flung to the edge of the sea domain's horizon.
As if he can't believe he was so wretchedly blown away in a place that is essentially his own domain, an immense sense of humiliation and disgrace emanates from the distant Yuk Rin.
'Not just humiliation. He's taken a significant hit.'
If I were to compare it to the Core Formation stage, it isn't merely a cut to the torso, but a considerable strain on his Golden Core.
"Do you understand now, Yuk Rin?"
I speak with a sly smile.
"Our power is already equal to yours."
Whether he heard my words or not, I can see his eyes turning white with rage.
Even if there are some endurance issues due to the small amount of energy,
The power of a Heart Tribe's avatar is identical to the main body.
Originally, I intended to join forces with Kim Young-hoon if Yuk Rin's power, enhanced by learning the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade, turned out to be unexpectedly strong.
But after witnessing the recent exchange, my thoughts change.
Tadat!
As Kim Young-hoon passes by me, we exchange glances.
Now, Kim Young-hoon will face Yuk Rin alone.
Turning my attention to the stunned officials of Governing Dragon Palace, who are in disbelief at the recent strike and are staring in shock in the direction where their palace lord had been flung, I brandish the All-Heavens Sword.
"I will count to ten. If you surrender within that time, you won't meet a harsh fate."
At my words, several cultivators at the Four-Axis stage affiliated with the Governing Dragon Palace flinch and exude killing intent.
It seems they are not inclined to surrender.
Perhaps it's because they judged my avatar to be only at an ordinary early Integration level compared to Kim Young-hoon.
"One, two, ten."
Using the counting method I learned from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, I count to ten and swing the All-Heavens Sword.
'Wait for us, Baek Rin.'
We have come to rescue you.
Step, step...
Yuk Yo succeeds in reaching the depths of Governing Dragon Palace while holding Baek Rin's head.
Already, her body is adorned with glittering ornaments.
"...What's this? Given Father's personality, if I had come this far, he would have at least sent a split soul as a warning."
Yet, even after reaching the area she is concerned about, there is no sign of Yuk Rin stopping her.
A sly smile appears on Yuk Yo's face.
"It seems they are fighting well outside. Seeing as Father can't pay attention even though I've entered this far..."
Wo-woong—
Baek Rin's skull vibrates.
"'Still, there must be a prohibition or something guarding in place'? Don't worry. Given Father's nature, he would guard it himself rather than entrust it to someone else."
Creeeak—
With a confident expression, Yuk Yo opens a door to a secret chamber within Governing Dragon Palace.
Her eyes catch sight of a large altar, and on top of it, some basic prohibitions are placed on a spirit plaque.
"Father is confident in his skills and doesn't trust others, so he guards most treasures personally and rarely relies on prohibitions or subordinates. Isn't it clear from the fact that he's only left prohibitions that even a Qi Refining stage cultivator could undo?'
Woong—
Wo-woong—
"What's that, you ask?"
Yuk Yo approaches the spirit plaque with a sly smile.
"It's my father's paternal uncle. My great-uncle inscribed his 'name' onto this Black Ancient Plaque. It's an artifact created for breaking through to the Star Shattering stage, but unfortunately, he passed away after contracting some disease before achieving it."
On the spirit plaque, the words 'Yuk Ung' are engraved in the language of the Demon Race.
"This is a name plaque proving my great-uncle's existence, and simultaneously...a symbol recognizing my great-uncle as the owner of the Purple Soul Jade Seal and thereby proving his royal authority. This name plaque is an identity plaque and, at the same time, a contract proving that my great-uncle was acknowledged as the Sea Dragon King of the Ancient Force Realm! My father is trying to change the name on this plaque to inherit the royal authority of the Purple Soul Jade Seal and become the true Sea Dragon King himself."
A thrilling sense of exhilaration passes through Yuk Yo's eyes.
"If I have this...I can finally escape my father's grasp!"
Woong—
Wo-woong—
She slowly approaches the spirit plaque known as the Black Ancient Plauque.
Baek Rin's skull vibrates wildly, but somehow, the closer she gets to the Black Ancient Plaque, the more her eyes become dazed.
It's as if she is being enchanted.
And at that moment.
Wooo-woooong!
With an exceedingly strong vibration trying to convey a message, Yuk Yo regains awareness with a flinch and hurriedly ducks her head.
Kuaaang!
She breaks into a cold sweat, turning to see what had just grazed above her head.
A long claw mark is etched onto the chamber wall.
Dense devilish energy is spewing from the claw mark.
Step, step...
Someone emerges from the shadows of the secret chamber.
It's Wi Yun, eyes half-rolled back and exuding dark devilish energy.
[Master's...possession...cannot...be touched...]
Yuk Yo inhales sharply, looking quite flustered.
"F-Father used someone else to guard the Black Ancient Plaque, which he cherishes as much as his life?"
Wi Yun screams incoherently, as if out of her mind.
To that ghastly howl, akin to a wailing ghost, Yuk Yo spews blood from her seven orifices and starts to activate the artifacts she had stolen on her way to the chamber.
-x-X-x-
Yuk Yo, with her eyes rolled back, scatters the many dharma treasures she has stolen and swallows elixir pills.
"Heok, heok..."
Kugugugu!
A dark crimson devilish fire tries to engulf Yuk Yo, and she clenches her teeth while avoiding the fire.
'Fortunately, her accuracy is low since she's not in her right mind.'
Although Wi Yun possesses the power of the early Heavenly Being stage, she is merely a puppet moving without a sane mind.
Luckily, this is what's keeping Yuk Yo alive until now, but she senses something strange.
'Would Father really leave someone so mentally unstable right next to the Black Ancient Plaque?'
No matter how much she thinks about it, it's odd.
The Yuk Rin she knows would never do such a thing.
'It's strange. No matter how much I think about it, it's strange.'
If the Yuk Rin she knows wouldn't do such a thing, there is only one explanation.
'There's a high chance something happened to Father.'
Perhaps he has entered the initial stages of Qi Deviation.
If not, he might have fractured his mind while trying to possess Yuk Ung's body.
Whatever it is, this is not the behavior of the Yuk Rin she knows.
'Come to think of it, he's been more lenient with me ever since he returned from Penglai Island.'
In the past, if she was caught attempting to run away, she would be punished by having her spiritual power sealed and hanging off the cliff of Governing Dragon Island for half a year.
He had an attitude that didn't care if she died, but this time, he simply locked her in prison for a mere hundred years, which is considerably more lenient.
Of course, an ordinary person would die if they were locked in an underground prison without food for over a hundred years. But even if rotten, she is still a Nascent Soul stage of the Demon Race, so she could survive.
She can tell.
'It started right after returning from Penglai Island. What's the reason? Because he went to Penglai Island? Or because he started cultivating in the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade in earnest? Or maybe just because the biggest obstacles, the Conqueror King and the devilish cult, were trapped in Penglai Island?'
Kugugugu!
A giant skeletal-shaped dharma form is forming above Wi Yun's head.
'Crazy...what kind of devilish art is that now?'
Yuk Yo breaks out in a cold sweat and raises the magic artifacts she had stolen from Governing Dragon Palace.
It's then,
Woo-woong—
"What? Are you crazy?"
Yuk Yo glares fiercely at Baek Rin, who is buzzing at her waist.
Mumble, mumble, mumble...
Wi Yun gathers the power of her devilish art and recites a dharma formula. Seeing this, Baek Rin buzzes his skull even louder.
"It's not that I don't believe you..."
With anxious eyes, Yuk Yo looks back and forth between Baek Rin and Wi Yun's skeletal dharma form, then squeezes her eyes shut and grabs Baek Rin's skull.
"Fine, I get it!"
Bo-oong!
Wi Yun begins to move the skeletal dharma form.
At the same time, Yuk Yo throws Baek Rin's skull at the dharma form!
Baek Rin's skull strikes the hand of Wi Yun's skeletal dharma form and shatters into dust.
"Ah..."
Yuk Yo stands there, her mouth agape in disbelief.
So very absurdly, Baek Rin has died.
"No..."
Is it because Baek Rin died so abruptly?
She can't even feel sadness at the current situation.
[Kiyaaaaaaaaah!]
Wi Yun's skeletal dharma form screams, engulfed by her devilish fire.
Seemingly trying to attack her, the dark crimson skeletal dharma form gathers devilish fire in both hands and emits ghost fire from its eye sockets.
And just as realization hits Yuk Yo and despair and sorrow registers on her face,
Tsutsutsutsu—
Wi Yun's skeletal dharma form.
The fingertips of its hands start turning pure white.
[Uh...huh?]
Wi Yun looks up at the skeletal dharma form with eyes that have turned pitch black, seemingly confused.
For some reason, the dharma form seems to be gradually defying her command.
[Uhh...gughhh!]
Wi Yun infuses even more devilish energy into the dharma form, but although the dharma form grows larger, the speed at which it turns white does not change.
And then, finally,
Chuaaak!
The skeletal dharma form's form turns completely white,
And the now white skeletal dharma form's body appears to burn with blue.
In an instant.
Flash!
The dharma form shines with a white brilliance, and from within, twenty-eight translucent black spikes are ejected.
Yuk Yo realizes what they are and her eyes widen.
The twenty-eight restrictions that blocked Baek Rin's Heavenly Circle and sealed his spiritual power!
'Those being ejected means...'
Kugugugu!
Moments later, an overwhelming pressure descends upon the chamber.
Yuk Yo and Wi Yun simultaneously fall to their knees, but Yuk Yo's eyes brighten.
Within the white brilliance, bone dust seems to coalesce, giving birth to a person's silhouette.
Tsutsutsu—
As the white light fades, the silhouette inside opens its mouth.
It's a ghost cultivator with a body made entirely of white bones, wearing a long white robe.
[Thirteenth Guardian Ghost King of the Wuji Religious Order, Baek Rin. I have been resurrected to protect Sacred Orchid Princess Yuk Yo.]
"You're...really late."
Baek Rin withdraws the pressure directed at Yuk Yo and points his finger at Wi Yun.
Wi Yun, still seemingly unable to grasp the situation, explodes and dies when Baek Rin points at her with his fingertip.
Baek Rin extends his hand towards where Wi Yun had been.
Shortly after, Wi Yun's bones and a strand of her soul rises to rest on Baek Rin's palm.
"What will you do with that?"
[Refine it to a ghostly creature...]
"Ah, are you going to use it as your dharma treasure?"
[No...I plan to grant her citizenship in the Twilight Domain and let her live a new life.]
Baek Rin chuckles as he speaks.
[I didn't kill her out of hatred. Her body was completely saturated with blood devilish energy, so I had no choice. I also heard that a girl fell and died due to a subordinate's mistake during the early conquest of Governing Dragon Island, and it seems to have been this child. I intend to return her to her parents.]
"Ah...if it's a soul soaked in devilish energy, refining it would make quite the powerful dharma treasure. It's a shame."
Baek Rin looks at Yuk Yo and asks her in response to her comment.
[Didn't Princess say it's nothing but an illusion anyway? Why covet an illusion?]
"That's because it's just an illusion anyway. What does it matter if a non-human in an illusion is refined into a dharma treasure?"
[Please do not say such things.]
At Baek Rin's gaze, Yuk Yo lowers her eyes and speaks.
"...If you swear to follow me, I won't say it again."
Baek Rin looks at Yuk Yo for a moment, then without answering her, silently releases Yuk Yo's restrictions.
Clink, clink, clink!
Three spikes, similar to the ones embedded in Baek Rin's Heavenly Circle, are pulled out from Yuk Yo's body.
Yuk Yo regains her cultivation and immediately flicks her hand to scatter the prohibitions on the Black Ancient Plaque before taking it from the altar.
"It's done! Finally!"
A sense of joy wells up in her eyes.
The name 'Yuk Ung' on the Black Ancient Plaque appears to be shining auspiciously for some reason.
With trembling hands, she picks up the Black Ancient Plaque and places it in her bosom.
Watching this scene, Baek Rin sends a mental speech, asking curiously.
"Why not just put it in the storage scroll? If it's the Governing Dragon Palace Lord, he must have surely placed a tracking spell without us knowing. No, since he possesses Yuk Ung's body, he would be able to detect the name plaque even without a tracking spell."
"No, items like the Black Ancient Plaque or the Black Ancient Paper are quite fragile and easy to crumble. They are, after all, replicas of the 'real Black Ancient Plaque'."
"Hmm...even as a replica, for a material that presides over the contracts of Integration stage cultivators to be this fragile..."
Baek Rin looks at the black plaque with an interested expression and then turns his head.
"Well then. Let's get out of here."
Then, just as she and Baek Rin are about to exit the secret chamber,
Kugugugu!
From above the altar where the Black Ancient Plaque was placed,
A loud noise erupts and a teleportation array appears.
Simultaneously, the attraction force of the entire secret chamber they are in seems to distort, and the chamber itself transforms into the shape of a water droplet, isolated from the surrounding dimension.
Yuk Yo lets out a hollow laugh as if she has realized something.
"Hah...removing the Black Ancient Plaque from the altar causes the nearby area to transform into a 'middle zone'...my father didn't just have someone else guard the Black Ancient Plaque for no reason."
"Hmm..."
Baek Rin attempts to distort the void through attraction force to create an opening in the droplet.
However, beyond the void, only the dark scenery of the Deep Sea is visible.
"It's useless. This middle zone itself has detached from Governing Dragon Island and fallen right into the depths of the Deep Sea...if we leave here, we'll immediately become lost in the sea."
Looking at her. Baek Rin asks.
"Did Princess Yuk Yo not say she could find her way in the Deep Sea?"
Yuk Yo lowers her head, looking embarrassed.
"...That...back then, I lied to shift Jin Ma-yeol's pursuit onto Sir Baek Rin. It's impossible with my Sea Dragon True Blood. Maybe if it were someone on Sir Seo Ran's level..."
Baek Rin nods and says,
"In that case...the only options left are to return the Black Ancient Plaque or..."
Their gazes turn towards the teleportation array above the altar.
"We have no choice but to board that teleportation array and reach the opposite end connected to this middle zone."
"..."
"Princess?"
However, Baek Rin is puzzled to see Yuk Yo's dark expression.
"The place connected to that teleportation array...I have a feeling I know where it leads."
"Where is it?"
"It's probably to Cherry Blossom Dragon Island...but Cherry Blossom Dragon Island is a Deep Sea Island. It's impossible to get out anyway."
"This..."
Yuk Yo, with a gloomy expression, places the Black Ancient Plaque back onto the altar.
Then, the space within the chamber, which had turned droplet-shaped, returns inside Governing Dragon Island.
"There's no other choice. Let's reunite with the Cult Leader and the others first, and then maybe we can try retrieving it again."
After saying this to Yuk Yo, he walks towards the chamber door.
Yuk Yo, looking regretful, can't bring herself to let go of the Black Ancient Plaque.
And as Baek Rin opens the chamber door,
Creeeeak—
Yuk Yo and Baek Rin are met by Yuk Rin's main body outside the chamber door, wearing an expression as fierce as an evil spirit.
Kung!
Baek Rin hastily closes the door, and Yuk Yo, sweating coldly, retrieves the Black Ancient Plaque from the altar again.
Immediately, the chamber they are in reverts to the middle zone settled in the depths of the Deep Sea.
Baek Rin speaks in a low voice.
"That person just now..."
"Yes, that was Father's main body."
What they saw was Yuk Rin's main body.
More precisely, it was Yuk Rin's main body at the mid Integration stage before possessing the physical body of Yuk Ung.
Of course, to Yuk Rin, who has taken over the body of Yuk Ung at the Grand Perfection Integration stage, it is no different from a clone, but even that clone is at the mid Integration stage.
Baek Rin can't possibly contend against it.
Baek Rin lets out a low groan and looks at the teleportation array.
"...In the end, it seems we have no other choice."
"...It seems so."
Shortly after, Baek Rin and Yuk Yo tightly shut their eyes and step onto the teleportation array.
The light from the teleportation array engulfs them, and they disappear from atop the formation.
The Deep Sea Island beneath Governing Dragon Island.
They have gone to Cherry Blossom Dragon Island.
"Damn, damn, damn, damn...!"
In front of the secret chamber.
There, Yuk Rin's clone, with bloodshot eyes, is drawing a formation in front of him with his own blood.
It's a teleportation array.
"No, no! How dare they try to escape? I cannot allow this! Yuk Yo must be in my hands. Yuk Yo must be in my hands. Yuk Yo must be in my hands!!!"
Yuk Rin, who seems mentally unstable for some reason, shouts Yuk Yo's name as he infuses spiritual power into the teleportation array.
Pasaak!
The blood of the teleportation array seems to ignite, and the formation activates.
It's the teleportation array leading to the middle zone where Yuk Yo and Baek Rin had just been.
And just as Yuk Rin, with blood-red eyes, is about to step onto the teleportation array,
"Where do you think you're going, Governing Dragon Palace Lord?"
A man dressed in white, holding emptiness in his hand, asks Yuk Rin from behind with a sly smile.
Yuk Rin grits his teeth and glares at him with eyes congested with blood.
"This devilish cult leader bastard...! Do not interfere with me...! I must regain Yuk Yo, I must regain Yuk Yo!!!"
Yuk Rin has gone mad.
I can only think of it that way.
'Is it because he learned Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade? Or is there some other reason?'
In any case, his heart essence is bizarrely twisted, and his intent, filled with obsession and possessiveness, is being emitted madly.
Evidently, that obsession is directed towards Yuk Yo.
'This is not a typical mental illness. Nor is it a normal Heart Demon.'
I know well because I've experienced mental illness and Qi Deviation myself.
If a mental illness is manifesting in him, it should be an obsession with salt related to the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade he learned or schizotypal personality disorder due to Purple Soul Filling the Heavens
Previously indifferent, yet suddenly having such possessiveness over a daughter he was willing to kill if disobedient is strange.
'Did some external entity intervene?'
I can't think of it in any other way.
But why Yuk Yo?
That, too, I can't understand.
"What's with that teleportation array? It looks like it's related to a middle zone."
"Sh-Shut up! If you interfere, I'll kill you, devilish cult leader bastard!"
"Foolish, this is just an avatar. How pitiful. To think that the once dignified Dragon King who trapped the entire Wuji Religious Order a hundred years ago has become such a deranged old man."
I click my tongue as I watch Yuk Rin, who has bloodshot eyes, gradually transform into his dragon form.
"And, it seems you're mistaken. The one I found difficult to deal with using my avatar was your main body, not someone like you."
"This bastard. You dare, to me..."
Kuang!
I land a single strike of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion directly into his jaws, and as he hesitates, I strike him several more times.
Kwagwagwagwang!
Yuk Rin's body is torn into several pieces and flung outside of Governing Dragon Palace.
'What a pity.'
I click my tongue as I step onto the teleportation array Yuk Rin created and activate it.
Paaatt!
Crossing over the middle zone, I finally reach the other side and frown.
"...Is this also Deep Sea Island?"
Honestly, being stuck on Penglai Island, I am getting a little sick of Deep Sea Islands.
"This must be Cherry Blossom Dragon Island. In any case, that means..."
Jin Ma-yeol will probably soon enter this place.
Initially, Yuk Rin was Kim Young-hoon's responsibility.
Governing Dragon Island was mine.
And Cherry Blossom Dragon Island was meant to be attacked by Jin Ma-yeol's Salt Bones Ship.
It's entirely possible for Jin Ma-yeol's Salt Bones Ship, which can roam the Deep Sea, to enter here.
'Tsk, it would've been nice if the Salt Bones Ship could have descended to Penglai Island as well.'
Unfortunately, the depths into which Penglai Island was plunged is too deep for the Salt Bones Ship to enter recklessly.
Clearing my mind of unnecessary thoughts, I look around and quickly find Yuk Yo.
And alongside her, Baek Rin.
"Baek Rin, Yuk Yo!"
"Ah...Cult Leader."
Baek Rin turns to me and expresses an intent of relief.
However, despite hearing that I have arrived, Yuk Yo just stares blankly somewhere.
"...? Baek Rin, what is Yuk Yo looking at?"
With an avatar, I can't exert consciousness on the level of my main body, so I can't immediately discern what they are looking at.
I approach Yuk Yo and look at what she is observing.
It's a mural.
And when I see the drawing on the mural, my eyes contract sharply.
Because at the bottom of the mural, there are letters written in a very familiar handwriting, in very familiar characters.
—I've thought about it deeply. The reason that being gave such excessive gifts to the maggots. It wasn't to assist such maggots in achieving ascension. It was, without a doubt, to liberate Ancient Force.
The hidden library on the top floor of Serving Command Palace.
The letters are written in exactly the same handwriting as the ones written on the corner of that library.
-x-X-x-
'This is...'
No doubt about it.
—Why even bother preparing the ascension blessing for maggots? So they can feast harder on high-quality corpses?
The highest floor of Serving Command Palace.
The script written in the corner of the hidden floor's library, which appears when controlling the formation of Serving Command Palace, is the same ancient language as this text, and in the same handwriting.
It means the same person wrote it.
'It's the answer to the self-question from back then.'
—I've thought about it deeply. The reason that being gave such excessive gifts to the maggots. It wasn't to assist such maggots in achieving ascension. It was, without a doubt, to liberate Ancient Force.
After reading the phrases once more, I extract several pieces of information.
First,
The author of this text harbors great resentment and malice towards cultivators.
'The sentence treats all cultivators as maggots and simultaneously seems to deny the ascension of cultivators.'
It's as if they are denying the existence of those ranked lower than themselves.
'Though, they themselves were probably just a low-ranking cultivator in the past.'
It makes me wonder if they were born with an excellent Immortal Beast True Blood, or perhaps had high-ranking parents.
Second,
The Serving Command Seal is a 'gift' someone deliberately placed in the Head Realm.
"The Heavenly Craftsman who created the Serving Command Seal...who exactly is that person?"
What the text refers to is nine times out of ten the 'Serving Command Seal,' and the fact that it's placed in the Head Realm strongly suggests it was made by the 'Heavenly Craftsman' who created the 'original' of the 'immortal treasure replica' Nether Crossing Ship.
'But it's strange. I feel an odd sense of familiarity for some reason towards this being called the Heavenly Craftsman.'
Did I perhaps meet them at some point?
'Maybe it's because of Buk Hyang-hwa.'
I don't know why, but I have a baseless delusion that the Heavenly Craftsman would somehow be favorable towards me.
Anyway, third,
The writer of this text mentioned that the purpose of the Serving Command Seal is to liberate something called 'Ancient Force (古力).'
'Indeed, the Serving Command Palace is also called the Liberation Palace.'
There was much debate in the Head Realm about why the Serving Command Palace is called the Liberation Palace and why it holds the 'power of liberation.'
Some said it's to liberate ancient souls in the Head Realm, others said it's to unleash forgotten treasures, and some believed it's to dissolve a certain formation.
Of course, no one knows which of these is true.
'When the battle with Yuan Li began, Serving Command Palace certainly liberated him with the power of liberation.'
Serving Command Palace definitely possesses the power of liberation and is itself an [immortal treasure] that can move fate.
'Thinking back, it is a bit terrifying.'
Is it because I already met her, the immortal treasure Heavenly Lightning Banner?
Thinking about it again, one can say the Serving Command Seal is also considered a type of immortal treasure.
Could it have also been a 'living thing'?
Moreover, unlike Zhengli, the Serving Command Seal is an immortal treasure with [no seal whatsoever].
Recalling this, I feel a sudden chill run down my spine.
It was truly a frightening matter when reflected on.
'...Indeed, I must be cautious when descending to the Head Realm.'
If the Serving Command Seal is truly alive,
It would mean that in the Head Realm, where even Zhengli was so terrified of and sealed in, the Serving Command Seal remained [of its own will].
I shake my head and shift my thoughts.
Thinking too long about [those things] is detrimental to my health.
'Anyway, the Serving Command Palace was created to liberate Ancient Force...or so the writer of this text believes.'
Then, what exactly is this Ancient Force being referred to here?
If I think simply, it would be related to the Ancient Force Realm.
However, I believe there is something more hidden in this word called Ancient Force.
Ancient Force.
What exactly does it symbolize?
'The Ancient Force Realm resonated with the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.'
This world is related to Salt Mountain.
'And Cheongmun Ryeong definitely turned into a salt pillar from observing the heavens from the Lower Realm.'
The Head Realm is also related to Salt Mountain.
Then, could this Ancient Force also be related to the Owner of Salt Mountain?
I ponder as I rack my brain.
Of course, since I know too little at this point, I can't say anything with certainty.
For now, these are the three pieces of information I managed to deduce while reading the text.
'I'll have an opportunity to learn more about this later.'
After examining the text, I turn my gaze to the mural.
'This mural is...'
It closely matches the characters inscribed on the Purple Soul Jade Seal.
'Blood Yin, Lofty Dragon, Ancient Force, Myriad Realms Beneath. Ah...I see.'
I understand as I look at the shadowy mass fighting a dragon in the mural.
That is the same mass I saw in the painting in the Xiezhi Worship Layer of Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll.
I feel a certain 'sensation' from that drawing, and it's evident that the drawing itself is slowly converting the surrounding Heaven and Earth spiritual energy into devilish energy.
Now, I finally understand why Blood Yin is engraved on the top of the Purple Soul Jade Seal.
'Blood Yin Realm!'
The space unfolded by Seo Hweol and formed from twisting the outskirts of the Netherworld, called the Blood Yin Ghost Valley Labyrinth.
Inside that space, Seo Hweol had opened the entrance to the Blood Yin Realm.
The aura felt at the entrance of the Blood Yin Realm is the same as the aura I'm feeling from the drawing.
'Hundreds of thousands of years ago, there was a great war shortly after the creation of the Vast Cold Realm.'
In that great war, Lofty Dragon True Person fought 'a certain entity from the Devil Realm,' and at the end of the battle against that being, the Serving Command Axe was lodged in their neck, resulting in death.
The body of Lofty Dragon True Person, which still remains to this day, became the territory of the True Dragon Alliance.
In any case, after that incident, the name of the Vast Cold Realm changed from Vast Cold to Bright Cold, and as far as I know, it was around that time the Blood Yin Realm separated from the True Devil Realm.
Furthermore, the 'dark red mass' separated from the 'certain entity from the Devil Realm' that fought against Lofty Dragon True Person, depicted in this mural, emits a 'similar aura to the Blood Yin Realm.'
'And to build the Love of Virtue Axis, one must go to the Blood Yin Realm, not the True Devil Realm.'
Considering all these points.
I come to one conclusion.
'The Blood Yin Realm itself is alive.'
Not just alive, but practically no different from the belly of [some entity].
It is a much more sinister and ominous place than the Nether Ghost Realm, where True Persons engage in observations, or the Ancient Force Realm, which is no different from a corpse disposal site.
'...It's truly fortunate that I managed to obtain the Love of Virtue Axis in advance.'
I sigh with a small sense of relief as I organize the contents of the mural.
The Blood Yin Realm, as a certain living entity, reached out to the remains of Lofty Dragon True Person and created the [black mass].
Immediately, I think of Hyeon Eum, the Black Dragon King.
'After all, the term 'Black Yin's Strategy' is blatantly revealed on the Purple Soul Jade Seal.'
Moreover, Hyeon Eum united with the body of a Blood Yin Realm's Esteemed One very naturally and freely wielded the power known as Vice.
'Thus, this mural, considered to record the history of the Sea Dragon Race...'
Explains the origin of the Sea Dragon Race, starting from the Blood Yin Realm.
The first Sea Dragon King, Ja Eum (Purple Yin), is undoubtedly a being derived from the Black Dragon King Hyeon Eum.
The reason Seo Hweol has been using devilish arts related to the Blood Yin Realm until now,
The preparations he made to ascend Yuan Li, whom he infected with Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, to the Blood Yin Realm,
And the relationship between the Black Dragon King and Seo Hweol.
The relationship between the Black Dragon King and Blood Yin.
'The Sea Dragon Race is a race born from Blood Yin.'
I recall the term 'Seed Dispersion' that is on the Purple Soul Jade Seal.
On the mural, from the world that seems to represent the Ancient Force Realm, I see small seeds seemingly falling into worlds that resemble stars: thigh, ring finger, and [head].
'Head...'
I stroke the mural.
Why is the name of the Head Realm, 'Head' Realm?
I had a rough idea.
That the Head Realm is a Decaying Corpse Realm made from someone's head.
In that case, the illustration on this mural must surely be the Head Realm.
And the seeds scattered on this Head Realm.
"...Is it you?"
I ask as I glare at the drawing in the mural.
For some reason, it feels like I hear a whispering 'hoho' coming from that tiny dot-like picture.
"Are you the bastard?"
Of course, it's just my imagination; the mural makes no sound.
After staring at the mural for a while, I record it with a recording spell, then turn to Yuk Yo.
She seems to have finally collected herself and clears her throat.
"...I greet the Cult Leader."
"Why were you so absorbed in the mural?"
"Ah...I was just surprised because it resembles a painting I saw in the library when I was young."
"If it's a picture you saw in a library as a child..."
"In the library within Penglai Kingdom."
At her words, I look at the mural.
"This mural was in the library?"
"Not exactly the mural, but that part."
"...?"
Yuk Yo points to the [black something fighting with Lofty Dragon] at the start of the mural.
The [black thing] at the start of the mural is just beginning the fight with Lofty Dragon True Person.
I look at it for a moment, then ask, unable to understand.
"...Honestly, isn't it just a rough ink smudge on the wall? I can sense some devilish energy leaking out, but there's no Qi in Penglai Kingdom, so you probably wouldn't have felt it...how did you recognize it?"
However, Yuk Yo looks at me with a puzzled expression and says,
"...Ink smudge? Does Cult Leader not see that grand appearance (相)?"
"...?"
I widen my eyes, even drawing a bit of the power of the Three Great Ultimates from my main body to observe, but no matter how I look at it, it's just an ink smudge.
"...I don't see it. Are you seeing something?"
I wonder if there is something only visible to Yuk Yo, who was born in Penglai Island.
She nods.
"...Since the Cult Leader can't see it, I will explain. That drawing is one of the dharma forms depicted in the Western Heaven Taenghwa, a painting located in the palace library of Penglai Kingdom."
"Hmm, is that so?"
"Yes. To explain the Western Heaven Taenghwa, it's a type of mandala (曼茶羅) that depicts an entity called the Wheel Imperial Venerable (車輪帝尊) at the center, protected by 14 Dharma Kings (法王). Just as there are 13 Guardian Ghost Kings in the order, the Wheel Imperial Venerable also has 14 Dharma Kings protecting them. The dharma form depicted in that mural is very similar to the appearance of the Accumulating Virtue Dharma King (積德法王), who is the right seat of the Wheel Imperial Venerable. Although it looks a bit more...menacing."
"What is this Wheel Imperial Venerable?"
"In the Penglai Kingdom's state religion, Axis Wheel Path (軸輪道), they are one of the two Great Buddha Venerables (大佛尊) who are worshiped. The Great Buddha Venerables are referred to as the Axle Imperial Venerable (車軸帝尊) and the Wheel Imperial Venerable (車輪帝尊), and in Penglai Kingdom, the Axle Imperial Venerable is revered as the highest, and is worshiped as the Guardian Imperial Venerable. The Wheel Imperial Venerable is also a splendid Great Buddha Venerable, but they aren't particularly popular. However, there are a few temples within Penglai Kingdom that solely worship the Wheel Imperial Venerable."
Yuk Yo finishes her explanation while gazing nostalgically at the ink-smeared mural depicting the [black thing].
"Hmm..."
To my eyes and to Baek Rin's eyes, it merely appears as ink smeared on a wall, but it seems like something is visible to her.
Just in case, I point at the [black-red thing] that breaks away from the [black thing].
I suspect it to be the Blood Yin Realm.
Yuk Yo looks at it for a moment and then tilts her head.
"Hmm...well. It just looks like black-red mist to me. I can't tell."
"Is that so...? I understand."
Anyway, it seems important and possibly connects to the secrets of the Sea Dragon Race, so I plan to show it to Seo Ran.
After carefully recording the mural, I walk along the path where the mural is drawn.
At the end of the path is something that appears to be a statue of a Sea Dragon Race.
'This is...'
As soon as I see the Sea Dragon statue, I furrow my brows deeply.
Thick devilish energy clings to the statue, and a foul stench of blood emanates from it.
The most disturbing thing is,
'It has a similar spell flow to what Seo Hweol used.'
The statue exudes a flow of devilish energy strikingly similar to the devilish art Seo Hweol used, known as Blood Sacrifice Ritual: Blood Yin Returning Home.
Recalling what I know about Blood Sacrifice Ritual: Blood Yin Returning Home used by Seo Hweol, I try to infer the nature of this spell.
'There's a high chance that Blood Sacrifice Ritual: Blood Yin Returning Home is a devilish art that creates an attraction force with the Blood Yin Realm.'
It seems likely that this Sea Dragon statue was also created by Yuk Rin to harness the power of the Blood Yin Realm.
Kuaduduk!
I immediately shatter the statue.
Ururururu—
And when the statue is destroyed, the wall behind it crumbles.
It seems there was a hidden secret passage.
"Baek Rin, does it look like there's something behind?"
"I apologize, Cult Leader. My consciousness gets bounced back when I try to peer inside. If I force it...it feels like the devilish energy invades my mind so..."
"That's fine. Just protect your consciousness."
That information is enough.
'It's a place important enough for Yuk Rin to have set up a careful barrier.'
In that case, there's a high probability that the royal palace of Penglai Island, which Yuk Rin stole, is inside there.
In other words, the area ahead is Yuk Rin's treasure vault.
"Well then...shall we take a look at Yuk Rin's treasure vault?"
I smile faintly and step forward to go inside.
Or so I intended.
Piiiing!
Wuduk.
I stop in my tracks.
A very thin sword energy brushed past my cheek from behind.
"...Ah, right. You were here, now that I think about it..."
There stands Jin Ma-yeol, smirking with one hand transformed into a grotesque sword.
"What situation is this, Devilish Cult Leader? Surely, we agreed that the Deep Sea Island was to be explored by my Fighting Demon Pirate Gang?"
"I just found a teleportation array connecting from Governing Dragon Island to the Deep Sea Island and came in."
"Ah, I see. Wonderful. Now that you've rescued your subordinate and Princess Yuk Yo, go back and return to the sea domain."
"Sorry, but there's something inside that I need to check."
"My Fighting Demon Pirate Gang will investigate thoroughly and let you know what's inside. Go back up."
"Wasn't your purpose to get Princess Yuk Yo this time? Why don't you go back up instead?"
"Surely we agreed beforehand that the Deep Sea Island would be investigated by us. Keep your promise, Devilish Cult Leader."
I glare at Jin Ma-yeol, and he glares back at me.
"...So, your goal from the start wasn't Yuk Yo but the treasure inside the Deep Sea Island?"
"Both. Is that a problem?"
"Rather than a problem..."
I glance at the mural depicting the secret history of the Sea Dragon Race and speak.
"There's something inside I need to investigate."
"I told you I'll investigate and inform you. Leave."
"Sorry, but it's something I absolutely need to do, you see."
Jin Ma-yeol and I glare at each other.
And in the next moment.
Paatt!
In a fleeting instant, Jin Ma-yeol swings his grotesque sword.
The grotesque sword is aimed directly at Baek Rin's head, and the sword is enveloped in his domain, capable of cutting through Baek Rin's Heavenly Circle and Earthly Bearings.
Kwaang!
I kick Yuk Yo and Baek Rin, sending them flying toward the teleportation array.
"Get out, Baek Rin! Yuk Rin's body was cut like sashimi by me so he won't be able to move for a while!"
In the blink of an eye, the grotesque sword moves again, targeting me.
I deflect his grotesque sword with the All-Heavens Sword and glare at Jin Ma-yeol.
"Are you planning to take me on? Your Fighting Dance is beneath mine."
Jin Ma-yeol smirks at my words.
"Your main body is truly fearsome, but I can easily handle a mere avatar of yours that can only use Fighting Dance. And..."
Dudududu!
"Huhehehe!"
"Huhahaha!"
The pirates of the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang surround Yuk Yo and Baek Rin as they try to use the teleportation array.
I glare at them as I speak.
"If you kill my subordinates, the contract written on the Black Ancient Paper will punish you."
Jin Ma-yeol grins.
"That's true. But isn't it strange?"
"What?"
"According to the contract terms, when I attacked you, the 'retribution' from the Black Ancient Paper should have descended upon me immediately. But here I am, unharmed. Do you know what this means?"
"..."
"It's the power of Penglai Island! Because Yuk Rin brought the palace of Penglai Island here, some of Penglai Island's rules are now applied even to this Deep Sea Island! In other words, within here, contracts are partially nullified,if not completely. Shall we test how far it applies?"
At his words, the pirates at the Four-Axis stage laugh as they press Baek Rin with attraction force.
"...Fine. I'll leave."
I grit my teeth slightly and step back.
However, Jin Ma-yeol bursts into laughter and says,
"Why be like that? Aren't you curious about what's inside?"
"..."
"Hmm, this isn't fun. This won't do."
He looks at me with a lustful gaze as he licks his lips.
"Let's make a bet."
"What?"
"It's beneficial for you as well. If you win the bet against me, I'll give you the position of captain of the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang. Furthermore, all the treasures inside will be yours. You can investigate whatever you want inside. But if you lose, your subordinate's life is forfeit. Yuk Yo will also be mine. I will take the treasure inside, and you devilish cultists will be forever stuck in Penglai Island within the deep reaches of the Deep Sea. How does that sound? Tempting, isn't it?"
As he gives a signal with his eyes, the cultivators of the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang threaten Baek Rin with menacing spells.
He calls it a bet, but it's practically a threat.
I close my eyes.
"What kind of bet?"
"It's simple. Inside, there will likely be the Salt Crystal Palace that Yuk Rin took. Whoever takes hold of that palace first is the winner! Any method is allowed!"
His eyes are filled with lust.
I can tell,
Having caught an opportunity, he reveals an intent to want to fight me to fulfill his lustful desires.
He has no chance against my main body, but for the Fighting Ghost Race, battling a strong opponent is the greatest pleasure. He intends to feel that pleasure by fighting my avatar.
It's unbearably unpleasant.
However, after glancing at Baek Rin, I look at him again.
"...Fine."
"Hahaha! As expected, how bold!"
He licks his lips again with his tongue.
I remain silent, quietly gazing at the entrance to Yuk Rin's treasure vault, and meet Jin Ma-yeol's eyes again.
"Let's start."
"Good, Cult Leader!"
For a moment, we lock eyes.
And in the next moment.
Tadatt!
Unable to say who went first, Jin Ma-yeol and I fly straight behind the statue.
We race into Yuk Rin's treasure vault.
Thus begins the treasure hunt with Jin Ma-yeol, with the life of my subordinate at stake.
-x-X-x-
Shwaaah!
As I pierce through the barrier formed by the sticky devilish energy, the surroundings brighten.
For a moment, I find myself gaping at the overwhelming scene before me.
Ancient Stones!
Golden ancient stones are shining everywhere!
'Crazy...did they grind up a few islands to create a field of ancient stones?'
It's truly a treasure trove!
In various places, not only ancient stones but also the rare Supervisory Jade and even a couple of Salt Crystals can be seen.
Besides the ancient stones, there are dharma treasures made of coral.
There are also precious stones known as the Seven Treasures, such as tridacna, red beads, glass (玻瓈), lapis lazuli, and agate scattered around, overflowing with spiritual energy.
Above all, the most incredible thing is the pure white palace in the center of this mountain of countless treasures.
It's a palace made of Salt Crystals that Yuk Rin has taken from Penglai Island.
Even I am overwhelmed by this colossal mountain of treasures. Jin Ma-yeol is completely entranced, unable to regulate his breathing, inhaling and exhaling repeatedly.
Seizing the opportunity, I quickly dash toward the Salt Crystal Palace.
Just then.
Flash!
Snow white sword energy scatters a chilling sword light from behind me.
I hurriedly turn and block Jin Ma-yeol's sword light.
'This is...!'
My arm tingles.
There's no way that Jin Ma-yeol could have produced such sword light.
When I turn to look at him, Jin Ma-yeol has already drawn a pure white sword from the pile of treasures and is pointing it at me.
'Crazy, just what is that...'
It's a sword made of pure white Salt Crystals.
Around the sword, the space is subtly trembling, and the engraved characters 'Reforming Calendar (改曆)' on the sword glows softly, exuding a formidable presence.
"Do you know the myth about the God of Artisans, 'the Heavenly Craftsman'? The artisan who created countless immortal treasures was said to have crafted a treasure to contain the power of the God of Calendar. Long ago, a Quasi-Immortal at the Entering Nirvana stage witnessed a shadow of that treasure and was so moved that they attempted to create a replica with Salt Crystals, producing three pieces...but in the end, failed, leaving only three failures."
"...What's your point?"
"This is a replica of the Immortal Treasure Reforming Calendar!!!"
Bo-oong!
Once again, Jin Ma-yeol swings Reforming Calendar, and a sword light that matches Kim Young-hoon's Surpassing Radiant Saber is produced from his hand.
Bo-oong!
I swing the All-Heavens Sword to shatter that sword light, then narrow my eyes.
'I was pushed back...!'
After deflecting the sword light, my foot was pushed back a full chi (1.1 feet; 33 cm).
With Jin Ma-yeol's original skill, such a thing would have been impossible.
Bo-oong!
I too look around, trying to find a useful dharma artifact, but there isn't a single weapon-type dharma artifact in sight.
And I quickly realized why that is.
Clang, clang, clang!
Dozens of swords, sabers, spears, and divine weapons are suddenly embedded around Jin Ma-yeol.
'That bastard...'
That pirate bastard had swiftly unfolded his Integrated Dao Domain the moment he entered to gather the treasures.
'Seeing it now, that bastard's Integrated Dao Domain is specialized not in concealment, but in thievery.'
I confirm that his greed and his Integrated Dao Domain are closely connected.
"I see. Your Integrated Dao Domain..."
"Did you figure it out?"
"...It's unbelievably vulgar."
Realizing how he has quickly swept away the surrounding treasures without me noticing, I let out a dry laugh.
The ability of his Integrated Dao Domain.
It isn't mere stealth, but rather, 'the ability to enhance thievery in proportion to his greed.'
"This is truly making my heart beat. I've never seen a place with so many treasures in my life! Hahaha! To think Yuk Rin, that son of a pig, had so many treasures stashed away! Technically, it's the legacy of Sea Dragon King Yuk Ung, but...hehe. So these are the treasures of the king of the Sea Dragon Race that is said to be capable of finding paths in the Deep Sea! Hahaha!"
Jin Ma-yeol's eyes glisten.
"Come at me, Devilish Cult Leader! Here, my greed is at its peak! Here, I am the strongest!"
He rushes at me, surrounded by dozens, even hundreds, of divine weapons just like Kim Young-hoon did before.
Kugwagwagwang!
His Reforming Calendar and my All-Heavens Sword clash.
I feel my entire body tremble at the overwhelming power of Reforming Calendar.
Though his realm is shallow, he compensates for it with the power of the treasured sword and his early Integration stage cultivation.
Moreover, to make matters worse, the surroundings begin to shake.
'This is...!'
Kugugugugu!
The mountain of treasures starts to tremble.
At the same time, light bursts from the Salt Crystal Palace at the mountain's peak.
Paaaatt!
It seems as though an ethereal force is enveloping the area.
Simultaneously, our eyes shrink tightly.
'Has the Qi thinned? No...this is...!'
An illusion!
The Salt Crystal Palace begins to exude a faint illusion, synchronizing the area into a world akin to Penglai Kingdom, where spells and methods cannot be used.
Of course, the power is so faint it's pitiful compared to when it was atop Salt Mountain.
Nevertheless, the power of both Jin Ma-yeol and myself diminish rapidly, and since I am only a Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar with limited energy, my body becomes semi-transparent, on the verge of disappearing.
'This is insane!'
Cursing internally, I retreat.
Suddenly, the mountain of treasures ripples once more, and a massive dragon emerges from within.
'Shed skin!?'
It appears to be the discarded husks of Yuk Rin.
With Yuk Rin's faint consciousness seemingly embedded within it, the husk wails as it spots us intruding on the mountain of treasures and twists its body violently, attempting to swallow us whole.
The husk's own power doesn't seem to even reach the Core Formation stage, yet unreasonably, it seems unaffected by the illusion, using its energy freely.
Sploosh!
As the husk squirms, the treasure mountain ripples wildly like seawater.
"Good, this is getting more and more fun!"
Kaaang—
My All-Heavens Sword collides with his Reforming Calendar.
With my energy already weakened by the palace's illusion, I am almost annihilated entirely from the impact.
Kugugugu!
'This...useless illusion formation.'
Though my energy is reduced to the verge of extinction, Jin Ma-yeol's energy, being of the Integration stage, is at the Qi Building level.
We dodge the attacks of Yuk Rin's husk, clashing our swords against each other.
Kaang, kang!
Lacking the energy to freely transform the All-Heavens Sword, I keep it in the shape of a sword as I engage him.
Feigning a horizontal slash, I immediately follow by sweeping his leg to disrupt his lower body and stab his eyes seven times in quick succession.
Pukwak!
Though Jin Ma-yeol's head splits open, his body at the Qi Building level continues to recover endlessly as long as the head isn't severed, relentlessly pressing me.
Kugwagwagwang!
When he swings Reforming Calendar, a corner of the treasure mountain which is akin to a small hill collapses.
We are engulfed by a tidal wave of ancient stones, battling atop the undulating sea of ancient stones.
Spinning from a low stance as if dancing, I slash upwards towards him.
Jin Ma-yeol's chin splits open.
He steps forward, attempting a downward slash from the upper left to lower right.
I hook his foot and after breaking his balance, use Transcending Peaks to cut towards his side.
He almost falls but regains his balance, launching three consecutive strikes with Reforming Calendar.
The first is countered with Echoing Valley, also offsetting the second, while the third is deflected using Deep Mountain. I then close in and cut with Secluded Valley, following up with Bouldered Cliff and Strange Stone consecutively, grinding away at his chest.
"Kuuuurgh! Ah, ah! Good, good, good!"
With a flushed expression, he regenerates his body and holds Reforming Calendar in his right hand and an unknown divine spear in his left. In the air, he has a demon saber, a ghost bow, and countless weapons arranged like a cavalry and charges at me.
Kugugugu!
His attacks rain down on me like beams of light.
But they are shallow.
They aren't properly coordinated.
Unfolding Landscape Painting as if dancing, I deflect, redirect, and evade.
Splash!
The terrain changes once again due to the movement of Yuk Rin's shed skin.
I find myself above Jin Ma-yeol.
Bo-oong!
The slashes focus on one spot, biting into one of Jin Ma-yeol's weapons like a mountain tiger.
Kwang!
The sword energy intensifies, and weakened with us, Jin Ma-yeol's ghost bow shatters.
Spoosh—
The terrain changes again.
Jin Ma-yeol, a pirate accustomed to fighting at sea, is hardly affected by the changing terrain and immediately regains posture and strikes down at me.
I use Nine Mountains, Eight Seas, rotating ninety times on the spot, and adding the rotational force to launch eight slashes upward.
Jin Ma-yeol seems to stagger but regains his stance.
Splash—
The terrain shifts once more.
Our sword moves change as well.
Due to the constant transformation of the terrain caused by Yuk Rin's husk, I have to manipulate the surroundings using Mountain and Valley Transformation to create a terrain favorable to me.
Kang, kagang, kagagagak!
Despite everything, he is still at Treading Heavens.
He pressures me with attacks that are seamlessly integrated with martial arts.
In a fleeting moment, dozens, hundreds, thousands of exchanges occur.
Toong—
An ancient stone is launched into the air, and Jin Ma-yeol swings his divine spear at me in sync with it.
The stone shatters, scattering in all directions.
Some of those fragments rush toward me.
I scatter sword energy with Joy of Mountains and Peaks, deflecting all incoming stone fragments back towards Jin Ma-yeol's eyes.
Immediately switching moves, I use the now Six Thousand Lights Emerging Peak of the 12th move of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, concentrating a massive amount of sword energy onto his spear.
Pasak!
His spear breaks.
Splash—
With three shifts in the terrain, we exchange an uncountable number of blows, and seventy-seven of Jin Ma-yeol's divine weapons are destroyed.
Each time I shatter one of his divine weapons, his expression twists like that of a ferocious evil spirit. It's a rather thrilling feeling, a reaction I hadn't seen when breaking Kim Young-hoon's weapon.
We exchange swords.
His demon saber grazes past my eyes, and I twist the trajectory of my sword, striking his demon saber upwards. I then strike his saber again with Dragon Vein, breaking it completely.
We exchanged moves.
His devil sword pricks my earlobe and he attempts to slice my neck with a change of technique, but the trajectory of the All-Heavens Sword bizarrely shifts, deflecting the attack. Then, using Layered Mountains, I create a thicket of sword energy to restrict his movements.
Seizing the gap when Jin Ma-yeol pauses momentarily, I use Mountain and Valley Transformation, concentrating it on his devil sword and reducing it to powder with vibrations.
We exchange intent.
Receiving his now bright red intent, I dodge his dual strike aimed simultaneously at my groin and face.
A strand of hair is sliced off.
Immediately, I thrust my sword into Jin Ma-yeol's mouth with Flowing Ridge, and with Mountain Echoes Valley Responds, I channel my sword cry (劍鳴) into his internal organs, causing his entire body to tremble.
As he spews blood from his seven orifices, I shred the mace in his left hand to pieces.
Kwgwang!
And once more, we exchange moves, shattering three more of his weapons.
How many times have I exchanged blows with him?
Now, all that remains in his possession is the first divine sword he held, the weapon called Reforming Calendar.
Jin Ma-yeol's eyes are half-rolled back as he grinds his teeth.
"You damn bastard...my children...!"
"When were they ever your children? They were Yuk Rin's."
"Shut up! I'll kill you!"
He rages furiously, gripping Reforming Calendar in his right hand and transforming his left into the grotesque sword, unleashing a flurry of sword moves.
"I'll show you the power of an immortal treasure!"
Paatt!
Once again, a terrifying snow-white sword light grazes past me.
Indeed, it's a fierce strike.
Despite having destroyed all of Yuk Rin's weapons, the reason I haven't managed to break Reforming Calendar in his hand is simple.
It's because the power of Reforming Calendar is far beyond expectations.
'This is troublesome.'
Toong, Toong—
I try provoking Reforming Calendar several times, but it's unyielding.
It's solid.
Booong—
He swings Reforming Calendar again.
Salt Crystal itself is the core of the Flying Immortal Formation and allows access to the Lower Realms.
In other words, it's a mineral that interferes with dimensions.
Because it interferes with dimensions, the Salt Bones Ship of the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang, which uses Salt Crystal as its keel, can dive and navigate freely in the Deep Sea.
And the power of Reforming Calendar, made from such Salt Crystal, has a Surpassing Radiant Saber-like ability to slice through space even though the energy is thin.
Chuak!
Sploosh—
Simultaneously as I dodge Reforming Calendar, Yuk Rin's husk moves, and the slash from Reforming Calendar directly strikes the waist of Yuk Rin's husk in an unfavorable position.
Slice—
Just like that, the waist of Yuk Rin's shed skin is cut through.
Yuk Rin's husk thrashes like mad, emitting light.
'I can't break that.'
I know instinctively.
A replica of an immortal treasure crafted by the Heavenly Craftsman.
No, to be precise, it's not even a replica, but a failed product. However, I can feel it.
This Reforming Calendar sword is one with an insane level of completion, a divine sword of the world.
Could one believe it if I said this single sword has a pressure equivalent to one of the Mad Lord's Integration stage puppets?
This single sword alone is on par with the Buk Hyang Fleet.
It's to the point where even someone like me, who has no greed for dharma treasures, feels my heart shake.
And such an insane artifact is being wielded by a Treading Heavens warrior.
If Kim Young-hoon were to wield it, I can't guarantee victory even with my main body. If Jang Ik were to wield it, there would be no one to stop him from conquering the Bright Cold Realm.
However,
"...How pitiful."
Instead of swinging my sword, I look coldly at Jin Ma-yeol, who is consumed by the potential of the Reforming Calendar Sword and wielded by the sword instead.
"Is this the Fighting Dance of your Fighting Ghost Race?"
The attacks of Jim Ma-yeol that initially took the form of the Fighting Ghost Race's Fighting Dance, are increasingly distorting as he swings Reforming Calendar, turning into a disorderly mess of garbage.
"Shut that mouth!!!"
"How foolish..."
I click my tongue and concentrate my mind.
Since the start of the battle, Jin Ma-yeol has not landed a single effective blow on me.
While there is the difference in our realms, it's laughable considering when I fought with Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion Kim Young-hoon on equal footing after just reaching Tribulation Heavens.
At that time, I pushed Kim Young-hoon back with sheer force.
But what about this guy?
He doesn't have something like the Three Great Ultimates.
Yet, despite still having a higher cultivation than I do, possessing an overwhelmingly superior weapon, and being older than me, he has been relentlessly toyed with, with his treasured possessions being shattered apart.
"Your greed has rotted your martial arts."
I mock his sword, deflecting the grotesque sword aiming for my side, then thrust my All-Heavens Sword towards the Reforming Calendar Sword that tries to pierce my eyes.
Pukwak!
The next moment, blood spatters.
My All-Heavens Sword accurately pierces Jin Ma-yeol's grip, halting his sword's advance.
Bo-oong—
Boom, boom, boom!
In the next moment, my All-Heavens Sword unleashes thousands of stabs in an instant, causing Jin Ma-yeol's grip to explode.
'Tsk.'
Yet, his body clings stubbornly to his sword.
'Even if it's rotten, he's still at Tribulating Heavens, huh?'
I make up my mind.
'Even if I take some losses, I'll have to use it.'
Swoosh—
Once again, the terrain shifts.
Unfortunately, the change results in him being slightly above me, and me slightly below him.
Without the opportunity to adjust the terrain using Mountain and Valley Transformation, he charges at me.
'It doesn't matter.'
I move my sword.
Tsuaaaa—
The All-Heavens Sword begins to cry.
Due to the Salt Crystal Palace, the energy is thin.
Both my body and the All-Heavens Sword are in a weakened state.
However, even in that situation, the All-Heavens Sword becomes distinct again.
The sword moves.
A faint mist follows in the wake of the sword's trajectory.
A martial technique I began creating upon coming to the Ancient Force Realm, integrating everything I have.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, the 31st Profound Move.
This, is my History.
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