Chapter 315: Not A Lord (君) (1)

Chapter 315: Not A Lord (君) (1)

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Chapter 315: Not A Lord (君) (1)

[How!?]

I, who sank to the bottom of the lake in the Care Layer.

I, who just arrived at the Xiezhi Worship Layer.

And I, who transformed into the Mysterious Bizarre Gu and entered the bodies of the cultivators of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect.

All of me cry out in shock at the same time.

"How are you here! Seo Hweol!"

"Ah, is that what you're curious about?"

'Seo Hweol' says with a kind smile.

"Why, isn't there a teleportation array in Black Ghost Valley? As a Grand Cultivator, I formally requested to use the Black Ghost Valley's teleportation array. By using the Nether Crossing Ship at the Black Ghost Valley in the Human Race, I was able to teleport to the Nether Crossing Ship in the Swiftwind Domain and arrive just in time."

"You bastard..."

I speak through the mouth of a disciple of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect.

"That's not what I'm asking! How did you break out of the barrier in just 500 years...!"

The barrier I set up was no ordinary barrier.

It was designed to be extremely difficult to break before a thousand years had passed, with the condition that it would automatically release after a thousand years.

Of course, someone at the Integration stage could simply tear it apart and escape, but Seo Hweol is certainly not at the Integration stage.

It's possible to glimpse two stages above his own by combining the powers of Heaven, Earth, Heart, and Puppet.

However, even though Seo Hweol might be able to use Heaven, Earth, and Puppet, it's absolutely impossible for him to use my Formless Sword at the level of Tribulating Heavens.

"How...did you do it?"

At my question, Seo Hweol smiles faintly.

"Why are you so concerned, Daoist Seo? The Human Race is famously known for being a race full of camaraderie and affection, isn't it?"

"That's news to me."

"Hoho, whatever you may think...I simply made a 'request'. It's impossible to break the barrier with my current power from the inside, but I could manage to at least send my 'voice' outside."

"Voice...?"

I glare at him in disbelief.

"I told all the other Grand Cultivators through my avatar that I would be in seclusion for a thousand years and that if I requested from inside to open the barrier, it meant I had likely fallen into demonic possession by my Heart Demon, so they should absolutely refuse. I also created General Seo to guard the entrance..."

"Who knows...perhaps it worked because I conveyed my true feelings? Hoho..."

"..."

I stare at him for a moment, then look at the throats of Gyo Yeom and Nok Ju held in his hands.

"Why did you kill them?"

I feel a pang of regret for Gyo Yeom.

I heard from the Demon Race that Gyo Yeom abandoned his kind like discarded trash.

While he deserved punishment considering this, I hoped he could at least cure his wife before being punished.

But ultimately, Gyo Yeom's wish was completely thwarted by Seo Hweol.

Seo Hweol smiles brightly.

"It's just a trivial joke, Daoist Seo. What difference does it make if a few bugs live or die?""

"..."

I don't bother to argue and just glare at him.

There's no point in arguing with a heartless being.

Instead, I mock Seo Hweol.

"How unfortunate for you."

Wo-woong!

Far away in the distance, the morning sun is rising from the east.

Given the size of the Bright Cold Realm, I don't understand how this is possible.

But the sun and moon rise in the east and set in the west every day, and it is clearly 'morning' now.

As the darkness of the waning moon washes away, and with no shadow to conceal, the entrance to the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person closes.

"Why did you come all the way here? You won't be able to do anything even if you have come."

Kiiing!

I surround Seo Hweol's body using the bodies of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect disciples.

I intend to reverse-corrupt him using the Mysterious Bizarre Gu.

However, Seo Hweol smiles warmly.

"Didn't you see something when you entered Lofty Dragon True Person's Otherworld, Daoist Seo?"

"Hmm?"

"The Storage Scroll of the Envoy of Health and Care. The place you entered isn't just an ordinary storage scroll. From the Integration stage onwards, it's common to carry items in one's own domain, so why would someone like Lofty Dragon True Person need a storage scroll?"

Wo-woong!

As I watch Seo Hweol extract something from the corpses of Nok Ju and Gyo Yeom, I activate the Mysterious Bizarre Gu while he rambles on.

'Mysterious Bizarre Gu, reverse assimilation!'

Chiiiii—

After sealing his Ten Directions with the Mysterious Bizarre Gu, I invade him.

However, Seo Hweol just smiles calmly.

"The place you entered was...during the great war that occurred hundreds of thousands of years ago, used as an alternate dimension by Lofty Dragon True Person to designate all living beings of the Bright Cold Realm as protected species and prevent their extinction from the battle between Love of Virtue and Lofty Dragon. After teaching the concept of 'Health' (康寧) to the beings of the Bright Cold Realm, Lofty Dragon True Person allowed anyone who understood this concept to enter and become protected."

Kugugugugugu!

Seo Hweol's energy starts rising sharply.

'This, this is...!'

He absorbs the energies of Gyo Yeom and Nok Ju, temporarily exuding the aura of the Four-Axis stage.

His eyes gleam, and familiar characters begin to float around him.

Health (康寧).

"Health Axis (康寧軸), Release (解)."

Flash!

The power of Health illuminates Heaven and Earth.

At the same time, something massive echoes through the Dead Earth Domain.

Ko-woong, clack!

The sound of a latch opening, or perhaps a lock being undone.

The moment I hear that sound, I notice goosebumps rising all over me.

'This, this bastard...'

The entrance to Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll had already closed, but Seo Hweol has reopened it.

He's coming in here.

"You won't pass easily!"

I use all my strength to erode his mind with the Mysterious Bizarre Gu.

But at some point, I feel my connection with the Mysterious Bizarre Gu fading.

"Hoho, this spell...I've heard of it before. Wasn't it created by the Earth Tribe of the True Devil Realm to resist the assimilation of the Heavenly Fiends from the Blood Yin Realm?"

I see Seo Hweol's smirk.

"Apologies, but mine is not some primitive low-grade assimilation or parasitism like the Heavenly Fiends'...It will be difficult for you. Hoho..."

At the same time, my vision goes black and I feel the connection with the Mysterious Bizarre Gu completely severed.

Among the Mysterious Bizarre Gu that have entered Seo Hweol, control over all of them is lost, leaving only the 'sight' and 'sound' of one Gu.

He has absorbed my Gu and made them his own.

'Why did he leave the sight of just one Gu?'

And soon, I understand why.

Splash!

Seo Hweol plunges into the celestial pond.

Simultaneously, he skillfully navigates the illusionary formation by reading the constellations.

'This bastard...'

He left the sight to make me anxious on purpose.

I ponder, feeling a surge of irritation at Seo Hweol's intention.

'But it's not that big of a deal. Even if Seo Hweol reaches the Care Layer, I am sealed.'

Presumably, even Seo Hweol can't do anything about this lake water.

The lake water nullifies physical force tremendously and also has significant resistance to spiritual power.

'He absolutely can't enter this water.'

He can't come in, so what can he do?

"Ah ha, so you were sealed within the Clear Tears (淸淚)?"

'What?'

I feel goosebumps all over my body.

The Four-Axis stage cultivator living in the Human Race's protected area.

While recalling memories of the 'Immortal Art' he saw, he believed some 'entity' was resurrecting within him.

Indeed, he even spewed out a handful of strange stones from his belly and sealed them.

Those stones melted, leaving 'water' containing the formula to control the Clear Scale Armor.

The moment I heard the name [Hae Nyeong], I understood.

That was the entity believed to be resurrecting within the Four-Axis stage cultivator.

And simultaneously, I feel a deep sense of relief and fear.

Hae Nyeong cannot resurrect.

He was entirely, utterly obliterated, making resurrection impossible.

The moment I accepted this 'knowledge,' I understood.

It's a truth only I could understand having faced numerous True Immortals and survived.

And simultaneously, I can also deduce the state of Cheongmun Ryeong.

Judging by how his symptoms resemble mine, his transformation into a salt pillar must have also been due to accepting information about a 'dead True Immortal,' just like me.

The existence known as the Owner of Salt Mountain will not revive through Cheongmun Ryeong.

He too is an existence utterly annihilated like Hae Nyeong.

Of course, the difference in reaction to the Owner of Salt Mountain turning his entire body into a salt pillar upon sight and mine is not only due to the difference in cultivation between me and Cheongmun Ryeong, but also because the entity known as the Owner of Salt Mountain holds a higher rank than Hae Nyeong.

'In that case...the Head Realm harbors an existence higher than the Deputy Judge, and Cheongmun Ryeong glimpsed the traces of that existence...'

While I feel relief regarding Cheongmun Ryeong, the information makes me even more fearful about the Head Realm.

I stare at the formula I have scattered.

Although I can't figure out what it is, I barely suppress the desire to devour the formula, deciding instead to finish reading the [jade slip] to gain more information.

―The God of the Underworld has commanded the selection of a Tribunal to assist in the battle of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord.

The members of the Tribunal are familiar faces, even to you, Lofty Dragon.

Chief Judge (首席判官將) Nether Devil True Lord (冥魔眞君) Yu Hao Te (Love of Virtue).

Reincarnation Judge (還生判官將) Nether Ghost True Lord (冥鬼眞君) Yu Soo Ryeon.

Deputy Judge Ancient Force True Lord Hae Nyeong.

These are the seats that are part of the Tribunal, and Purple Gold Heavenly Lord, under the orders of the God of the Underworld, has struck the Owner of Light from behind and escaped to join us.

"Graaaaah!!!!!"

[Names]!

The [Names]!

The [Names] of distant entities pierce my mind.

Enduring the pain that feels like my head is being torn apart, I gasp for breath while drooling uncontrollably.

The agony is far worse and terrifying than when I had my testicles removed or when I consumed poison that caused pain to amplify sixty thousand times.

A terror envelops me, as if the very essence of 'me' will be devoured by the [Names].

However, perhaps due to the resilience built from meeting numerous True Immortals, or maybe due to the slight resistance developed after reaching the Four-Axis stage, I barely manage to avoid disintegration.

'Madness...'

My hair has turned white from the ordeal.

It's proof of how terrifying the pain and pressure from the [Names] were.

'Seo Hweol is approaching.'

Gritting my teeth, I continue reading the jade slip.

―Thanks to the efforts of the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, who held their ground against all the Heavenly Venerables and the Owner of Light, even pushing the Owner of Light to the brink of annihilation, there was a lapse in the surveillance over the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain governed by the Owner of Light. As a result, we, who preside over the Five Blessings, were able to all gather.

―The Chief Judge, being at a critical juncture of promotion to Supreme Deity, was asked by the God of the Underworld to send you in their place. However, the noble Chief Judge, determined to witness this historic moment with their own eyes and captivated by Vast Cold's character, submitted their declaration of participation and descended to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain through the Nether Crossing River.

―This seat, too, relinquished the position of King of Immortal Beasts and submitted my declaration of participation out of the same sentiment. Originally, you, lower seat Great Net Immortal Lofty Dragon, would have been here in my place, but I chose not to bring you along.

― By the time you read this will, I will likely have been annihilated. I hope that at least one of us will return victorious, so you never have to read this will.

― However, to prepare for the worst, I must convey my will to you. If that entity is indeed what we imagine, it may be impossible to pass on my seat to you. If that happens, the Netherworld will lose the four seats of Longevity, Wealth, Health, and Love of Virtue all at once.

―Such a power vacuum in the Netherworld will be catastrophic. To prevent this worst-case scenario, I leave this will hoping for you to become my successor and inherit the seat of Health.

―Lofty Dragon, you were my most faithful subordinate. I entrust you with the Netherworld's law book, my office, my crown, my judicial pen, my seat, and my will.

―If we fail, this will naturally be passed on to you. Come to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain. The attraction force connected to my seat is linked to this will, so not even they can prevent you, my successor, from inheriting my seat.

―Lofty Dragon, my subordinate as dear as my child. If I perish, you must assist the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.

That is the end of the jade slip.

"Kkeuhk, keoheok..."

I am lying on the ground, spewing blood like a fountain from my seven apertures.

Having encountered so many formidable entities, I am on the brink of death.

Fortunately, thanks to meeting many True Immortals before, I have developed some resistance, and thanks to reaching the Four-Axis stage, my life force and consciousness have strengthened, preventing my disintegration.

'Besides hearing those terrifying...names, there's no other harvest...?'

With a desperate expression, I look around.

On the distant, massive wall, there are Taenghwas and scrolls larger than mountain ranges.

Among them is a Taenghwa that depicts a dragon, assumed to be Lofty Dragon True Person and a being with blood-red eyes shrouded in darkness.

As I gaze upon the Taenghwa titled Blood Yin Great War (血陰大戰),I take a deep breath.

My Dream Body is about to disintegrate.

'Damn...Seo Hweol is...about to enter the Care Layer...'

At that moment.

'...Wait.'

I look at the depiction of Lofty Dragon True Person on the Taenghwa.

Lofty Dragon True Person appears to be draped in a 'transparent' canopy.

Zziiiiiing—

At the same time, I feel the 'knowledge' I gained when I heard the [Name] [Hae Nyeong] being digested in my mind.

"Kkuuuuurgh...!"

'Knowledge!'

If one doesn't die upon seeing a True Immortal, they gain 'knowledge'!

Seeing the content of the 'knowledge,' I grin.

"With this..."

I can win.

Against that bastard Seo Hweol!

Step, step...

Above the Care Layer.

Seo Hweol walks towards the lakeside with a grin.

"Haha, then Daoist Seo. I shall take your true 'main body'."

It's when he reaches out and focuses his attraction force.

Shuararararara!

The lake water begins to surge.

Swoosh―

And then, the water crashes down on Seo Hweol like a waterfall.

"Kugh...!"

Sensing the danger, Seo Hweol quickly steps back from the waterfall's trajectory.

"...How did you escape from the Clear Tears, Daoist Seo?"

He glares with reptilian eyes at the Ghost King emerging from below.

The Ghost King opens his 18 mouths and laughs.

"Did you call this Clear Tears (淸淚)...?"

"Yes. Since this lake water is the tears of the Immortal Beast Xiezhi."

"I see...so it was one of the legacies left by the Ancient Force True Lord for his subordinate..."

The Ghost King laughs, his eyes burning with ghost fire.

"This is not only called Clear Tears, but is also known as Clear Scale Armor (淸鱗甲)."

Chuaaaaa―

"Now then. Let's have a proper fight, Seo Hweol."

Swoosh―

The lake water gathers in the void, encasing Seo Hweol.

Without any resistance, Seo Hweol is sealed.

Translator Notes: Seo Li’s thoughts:

[I want to eat. General Seo looks like an idiot. Why does the main body's face look like that? The soup I had with Kim Yeon was delicious. Why can’t they understand my aesthetics? Seo Hweol, that beggar's foot rag. I like Kang Min-hee. What's Seo Hweol's secret? Did the main body really get eaten? If Seo Hweol and the Mad Lord ordered sweet and sour pork together, would they fight or not fight? Speaking of which, the Middle Realm's food culture hasn't really developed much.]

***

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