Chapter 358: Is It Not A Joy To Have Friends Come From Afar? (2)

Chapter 358: Is It Not A Joy To Have Friends Come From Afar? (2)

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Chapter 358: Is It Not A Joy To Have Friends Come From Afar? (2)

Thud!

Seo Ran leaps down from above Hong Fan's head.

His face is a mixture of joy and astonishment.

"No, Senior. What is this...are you really the same Senior from 300 years ago?"

"Haha, yes. Some minor things have been added, but there hasn't been much change, has there?"

"Ah...hmm...well, let's just say so. Haha, it's truly astonishing, Senior. The last time I saw you, you were at the Nascent Soul stage, but now you're already in the late Four-Axis stage...indeed, Senior is a genius like no other."

"Haha..."

Seo Ran burst into admiration as if assessing my cultivation.

Well, considering that I appear to have progressed from the Nascent Soul stage to the late Four-Axis stage in 300 years, it's indeed an enormous growth.

Of course, there were far more events involved in my cultivation progress than it appears on the surface.

"Well, let's leave it at that. Anyway, it's been a while since we met. Let's go inside and talk instead of standing outside."

I stand up and intend to guide Seo Ran inside the Wuji Religious Hall.

"Oh, I almost forgot, there's one more person."

I look at another figure who has returned with Hong Fan.

It's a beautiful fox-eared woman dressed in a pure white robe with long white hair flowing down.

"Is she your wife?"

As soon as I see her, I can recognize who she is.

'It's been a really long time for her as well.'

Indeed, her identity is that fox who had chewed my arm like a snack when I fell to Ascension Path during my early cycles.

Of course, after reaching Entering Heavens, she was always beaten up by me.

I don't know her name, and honestly, I don't even care about her gender, but it seems she was female.

She descends from Hong Fan's head, gracefully holding the bottom of her robe and bows to me.

"Hello, Senior. It has been a long time. I am Shi Ho (始狐), the beloved of Older Brother Seo, and my art name (號) is Gi (棋)."

[TL/N: 'Older Brother' is 가가 (Gaga) in the raws. It's basically what a younger woman would use to address her older beloved. Gi means the board game Go, and Kim Young-hoon used to call the fox baduk, which is the board game Go in Korean.]

[Editor: Also, amusingly, her name, Shi Ho (始狐), literally means 'start/beginning fox.']

"Hoh, impressive."

I exclaim, gauging the cultivation level of the fox, now named Shi Ho.

'Grand Perfection Heavenly Being...she might step into the Four-Axis stage soon.'

Thinking about it, she's the fox who reached the Core Formation stage by merely absorbing Heaven and Earth spiritual energy on Ascension Path.

It seems her inherent talent is truly extraordinary.

'Seo Ran is now on the verge of crossing from the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage to the Heavenly Being stage...he must be under her thumb a lot.'

Regardless of what happened with Seo Ran and the fox.

Though there were some unfortunate incidents in the past, looking back now, they are both those I consider good friends.

"You come in too. Since it's been a while since we've met, let's hear how you've been. Haha, tell me how you two got married."

"Thank you for your consideration, Senior. Huhu, but this girl has yet to marry Older Brother Seo. We are just getting to know each other."

Shi Ho blushes and seems shy, and I laugh heartily.

They seem to be in the early stages of their relationship, still embarrassed around each other.

"Sorry about that. You two looked so much like a newlywed couple that I didn't real...ize..."

However, during the conversation, I'm startled as I notice Seo Ran's face growing increasingly pale.

'What's this?'

His intent is filled with terror, shock, and confusion.

And right then, Shi Ho suddenly sniffs the air.

In the next moment, her face contorts like a malicious evil spirit.

"Senior, please pardon my rudeness, but did a koi with a changing face sneak into your territory?"

"Ah, you mean Yuk Yo? I found it interesting since she had Seo Ran's face, so I brought her over. I used her to gather information about the Ancient Force Realm, and now she's temporarily kept in the guest chambers of that building..."

"...I see, she still has Older Brother Seo's face. That mongrel dares..."

Crack―

Shi Ho grinds her teeth and, exuding killing intent, flips in the air.

Chuaruruuru!

In an instant, Shi Ho transforms into a fox with five tails and rushes towards the building I pointed at.

'She grew two more tails...'

I watch in fascination and, at the same time, speak to Hong Fan since Yuk Yo is still my guest.

"Go and calm her down a bit."

"Yes."

Paaatt!

Hong Fan transforms into his human form, quickly splitting the space and heading to the guest room.

I pat Seo Ran's shoulder and guide him inside the Wuji Religious Hall.

"Haha, come to think of it, you didn't look very happy when I mentioned your marriage earlier. What's the matter? You seem to be quite under her thumb?"

As I say this, Seo Ran looks around.

A loud commotion is unfolding from inside the building Shi Ho has rushed into. Seo Ran, having entered the Wuji Religious Hall, is now inside the hall's protective barrier.

"D-Does this barrier have soundproofing as well?"

"Yes, it does have a soundproofing function."

Wiiiiing—

When I snap my fingers, the formation activates, blocking the sound from inside and outside.

"Do you have something you want to say?"

I ask curiously, and Seo Ran, pale-faced, grabs my arm as if clinging for his life.

"Senior! Please save me! I can't live like this! My master, who is of lower cultivation than that fox demon and is very open-minded, doesn't seem to understand me. Even when I asked Lady Buk to intervene, she only told me to 'have a beautiful love.' which isn't helpful at all! I absolutely can't endure this. Even though it's said that different species of the Earth Tribe can have children after the Transformation stage, I really think this too much! Senior, please separate Shi Ho away from me!"

His face is pale with fear.

His intent is filled with terror and astonishment.

'No, wait, this is...'

Within Seo Ran's terrified intent, I realize what he is scared of.

'Amidst his fear, he's afraid of something changing within himself...'

Seo Ran feels that something is changing within him as he interacts with Shi Ho, and that is what he fears most.

I ask seriously.

"Seo Ran, what's the matter? Does Shi Ho torture you every night? Or, does she drain your essence for her cultivation with something like the Star-Absorbing Great Technique...?"

[TL/N: Star-Absorbing Great Technique is a reference to Jin Yong's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, where it's one of the iconic techniques of the main character Linghu Chong.]

"No. Shi Ho is always good to me. Shi Ho never uses any techniques like the Star-Absorbing Great Technique. In fact, Shi Ho's cultivation was even delayed to find spiritual elixirs that would aid mine. As a companion, Shi Ho is ideal."

"Hmm...then what's the problem? I heard from the koi demon who deceived you that the koi demon drugged you and did something. Perhaps, did Shi Ho get extremely jealous thinking you cheated because of that?

"Yes, that's part of it. Since the night I spent with that koi demon, Shi Ho became extremely jealous towards any female demon beasts that come near me, to the point of even trying to kill them if they get too close."

"So she's extremely possessive. But how bad is it for you to be like this?"

"No, the reason I'm acting this way is not because of possessiveness. Although Shi Ho is very jealous, most fox demon beasts are said to be highly jealous when they fall in love, so it's a racial trait that I can understand."

"Then what exactly is the problem?"

I frown, unable to understand.

She doesn't torture her husband using her higher cultivation, nor does she use any essence draining techniques, and her possessiveness can be understood as a racial trait. Then just what is the issue?

But seeing my confusion, Seo Ran looks at me with eyes that seem to say he can't understand me either.

"Senior, do you perhaps not possess the vision of demon beasts?"

"Hmm, no. Of course, I do."

"Then you can see the Taiji, right? How can you pretend not to know?"

"Huh? Taiji? What are you talking about?"

As I'm still puzzled, Seo Ran finally explains directly, sounding frustrated.

Upon hearing his words, I stop dead in my tracks.

"That fox is male."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

We share a moment of silence in the dark atmosphere.

"...Did you really not know?"

"...No, I just...thought it was a racial characteristic. Why would I use the Taij-seeing vision to check something like gender? Normally, people don't observe such things in detail."

"...Ah, yes. That is true, I apologize..."

"...So how did you two end up together?"

"In my opinion...I think his mind became a bit strange after being beaten up so much by Sir Kim Young-hoon. I felt sorry for him getting beaten up like a local dog, so I treated him once, and he's been like this ever since."

"...Oh...hmm. Is that so...?"

Just as I'm about to say something to Seo Ran.

"Older Brother~ I'm back."

Shi Ho, dressed in a pure white long robe, runs towards us.

'He' jumps into Seo Ran's chest, acting affectionately.

"You know, I felt so sad being apart for so long. But don't worry. I never forgot about Older Brother. It wasn't too painful because it was a meaningful task, so don't worry too much."

Seo Ran and I notice the blood on Shi Ho's fingers.

When I reach out with my consciousness to check, I find that fortunately, Hong Fan is treating Yuk Yo who has been injured to the point of death but is not dead yet.

'If Hong Fan is treating her, her life should be fine. And...'

I meet the desperate gaze of Seo Ran, who is silently pleading for my help.

Shi Ho, meanwhile, is overflowing with intense, pale pink emotions towards Seo Ran.

I'm at a loss for words, my mouth opening and closing. Finally, I manage to speak something.

"Um...have a beautiful love."

Seo Ran's intent decays, while Shi Ho, overjoyed, wipes tears with his bloodstained hands.

"Thank you, Senior!"

"...Ha, ha... Thank...you."

I avoid Seo Ran's gaze.

'Well...they'll handle it somehow.'

It isn't as if someone had died or a close friend was lost, so minor matters like are none of my concern.

It isn't my business, and I can only hope that Seo Ran will handle it himself.

Besides, there are many techniques to change one's gender. If he can't endure it, one of them will learn one eventually.

'As long as it's not me, there's no need to interfere.'

Unless it's something as serious as selling Seo Ran's flesh as Qi Building Pills every night, I decide not to meddle in the affairs of these lovers (?), and I sit them down in the guest room to ask about what has happened.

Seo Ran seems extremely uncomfortable regarding their relationship, so I mainly ask about Song Jin and Kim Young-hoon.

As well as her matters and the Ancient Force Realm.

"There really have been many events."

"...Yes, many indeed. I never expected we'd have to go to Salt Sea Island to collect salt crystals for Cheongmun Ryeong-nim."

"Salt crystals, huh..."

Hearing about it, it seems Seo Ran and Shi Ho are currently searching for clues related to Cheongmun Ryeong, who has turned into a salt pillar.

"Speaking of which..."

I spread my hands and demonstrate a simplified version of the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.

Chuarararak.

Salt grain-like energy appears in my palms.

Seo Ran is startled at the sight.

"I too have obtained a similar power. Though I haven't yet thought of a way to save Sir Cheongmun Ryeong, combining my power with your research might yield some results."

"...! I see. Thank you."

"And while we're on the subject...I heard that Kim Young-hoon and Buk Hyang-hwa are primarily focused on Cheongmun Ryeong, but you and Song Jin have a different goal related to Seo Hweol."

"Yes, that's correct...to properly understand the King's intentions, identify the nature of the spells he placed on the Sea Dragon Palace, Serving Command Palace, and the Black Castle, and find a way to counter him, we thought it would be best to ascend to a different realm than the Bright Cold Realm where he resides. Hence, for various reasons, we ascended to the Ancient Force realm."

I nod and share the information I have gathered about Seo Hweol with Seo Ran.

Seo Hweol and the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.

And that within him exists a trace of pure light, along with the fact that he has a separate 'main body.'

Seo Ran, seemingly overwhelmed by the continuous revelations, listens with wide, open eyes.

"...In that case, the incident 300 years ago when our group suddenly vomited salt was also..."

"Yes, when I used the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique on Seo Hweol, showing him the power of this salt, it must have dissolved the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens within you all."

"Such..."

"But don't worry. The remaining Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens within you has been turned into salt, so it's no longer a threat."

"...Understood. Thank you, Senior. Truly, thank you."

He appears to be in such a state of shock that he seems to have forgotten even the presence of Shi Ho clinging to him, contemplating something with a serious expression.

Shi Ho wipes the sweat from Seo Ran's forehead and says,

"Older Brother, we can't just keep receiving such incredible information from Senior without giving anything in return. Let's give him what we've gathered."

"Oh, we should."

Following Shi Ho's suggestion, Seo Ran takes out a storage scroll and spreads it before me.

"Well, we've cleared the path and captured Black Tomb so..."

"Now, let's get rid of the witness."

Chill!

Ham Jin feels a shiver down his spine.

The two Sage Gods are targeting him.

"Apologies for this, disciple of Black Tomb."

"May you live a better life in your next one."

The attack of Heavenly God Blissful Sage, radiating the light of Vanquishing Evil and Upholding Righteousness.

The fiery attack of Merchant Hwa Yeol, casting fire attribute spells, shoot towards Ham Jin.

No matter how injured and tattered their bodies are, they are in the Core Formation stage, while Ham Jin is only at the early Qi Building stage.

Under normal circumstances, their combined attacks would have exploded Ham Jin instantly.

Kwaaaang!

However, Ham Jin envelops his entire body in a green light and blocks the attacks of the two Sage Gods.

"What!?"

"No, how is that possible!?"

Sweating profusely, Ham Jin activates the Silica Earth Great Wall Secrets.

Simultaneously, he feels a surge of power throughout his body and stomps his foot.

Kwaaaang!

His foot strikes Split Turtle Valley.

A memory of learning the Silica Earth Great Wall Secrets from Infinite Fighting Ghost flashes through Ham Jin's mind.

―This Silica Earth Great Wall Secrets is a method with clear strengths and weaknesses. It requires an understanding of the dragon vein and is difficult to master. However, if you succeed and connect the dragon vein with your spiritual vein, you can exert immense power within the area of the dragon vein you control.

Kugugugugu!

Enveloped in green light, Ham Jin looks like a Ghost King with green will-o'-the-wisp burning all over his body.

―The dragon vein you control is essentially your formation diagram. Of course, if you go outside the area dominated by the dragon vein, this method has the drawback of making you weaker than those of the same realm...

'The Black Tomb Old Devil is dead, and the Sage Gods are in tatters from the Black Tomb Old Devil's betrayal.'

―However, if you control the dragon vein of Split Turtle Valley, you can wield power surpassing the Grand Perfection Qi Building stage within the valley.

'True freedom is right before my eyes!'

Kwarururururu!

The will-o'-the-wisps emanating from Ham Jin's body spreads in the four directions, fully activating the dragon vein within Split Turtle Valley.

The dragon vein of Split Turtle Valley converges centered around him. turning the entire vicinity into his formation diagram.

[Come at me! I won't die easily!]

Ham Jin's shout makes the two Sage Gods grind their teeth.

"This brat, are you challenging a Sage God as a mere demi-god?"

"Know your place, you insolent thing!"

Radiant light bursts from Heavenly God's body, and crimson flames erupt from Fire God's body.

Soon, the tattered Core Formation duo and the Qi Building stage Ham Jin, who has gained transcendental power within Split Turtle Valley, clash.

A battle that shakes Heaven and Earth ensues.

The disciples of Black Tomb within Split Turtle Valley look up at the sky with desperate faces.

And soon, the battle between the Sage Gods and the demi-god, appearing like a scene from a myth, comes to an end.

The battle ends with Ham Jin's defeat.

Splurt!

Ham Jin collapses, coughing up blood.

The dragon vein still holds immense power, but Ham Jin's stamina fails to sustain it.

'Damn it, just a little more and it would've been fine...'

He coughs up blood, looking at the two panting Core Formation Sage Gods before him.

"Amazing, kid."

"If you weren't Black Tomb Old Devil's disciple, I'd want to take you as my own..."

The two Sage Gods, though panting, look at Ham Jin with gazes filled with wonder.

Ham Jin closes his eyes.

And then.

Fire God Merchant Hwa Yeol reaches out to Ham Jin.

"I can't stand it any longer. This won't do. Ham Jin. You, become my disciple. I can't kill someone as ridiculously talented as you here."

"Wha, what?"

"I'm saying I'll spare you."

"Th-that..."

Ham Jin's eyes tremble.

He is afraid of serving under someone.

But the connection with the Wuji Ghost King is severed, and his master who seeked to steal his body, Black Tomb, is dead.

As a result, there's nothing more to fear.

That look in his eyes...it's genuine. Maybe Fire God Merchant Hwa Yeol is really...'

And as Ham Jin reaches out his hand towards Hwa Yeol with a dazed look in his eyes.

Splat!

From behind Merchant Hwa Yeol, a black devilish fire bursts forth, and a dark hand emerges from around his heart.

[Ah...kuku. That won't do. Ham Jin is my disciple.]

The voice of Black Tomb Old Devil echoes.u0026nbsp;

Fire God Merchant Hwa Yeol turns around, bleeding, with an expression of disbelief.

There stands Black Tomb Old Devil, in the form of a Ghost King with his body made of black devilish fire.

[Sorry, but I once obtained a devilish art left by a Nascent Soul True God. Even if I lose my physical body, I can resurrect as a demon ghost. Well, if you had thoroughly examined my soul after capturing it and added more restraints, I wouldn't have been able to obtain a demon ghost body, but my disciple's efforts bought me time. Just like this.]

"Kurgh...Black Tomb, you bastard!"

Huarurururu.

Purple devilish fire envelops Fire God Merchant Hwa Yeol's entire body.

When the devilish fire subsides, Ham Jin opens his eyes wide.

The eyes of Fire God Merchant Hwa Yeol have changed.

Heavenly God Blissful Sage grits his teeth, realizing something.

"You...this bastard. You never intended to take over your disciple's body from the beginning! Were you aiming for our bodies all along!?"

[If one is going to backstab, one needs to plan three steps ahead. Kukuk...Now then, farewell, Heavenly God Blissful Sage.]

Black Tomb Old Devil, now possessing Fire God's body, reaches his hand out towards Heavenly God.

Huarurururu!

Heavenly God Blissful Sage, having nearly exhausted his spiritual power, fails to resist and is incinerated by the devilish fire emanating from the hand.

The gaze of the devil who has killed the two Sage Gods, Black Tomb Old Devil, turns to Ham Jin.

"Hmm, hmm..."

Woo-woong—

His voice returns to a more human tone.

"How astonishing, my disciple. I didn't expect you to hide such power. Though I knew you had something, I didn't have high expectations. But not only did you bring time against two Sage Gods, you also exhausted their spiritual power..."

Thud!

Black Tomb turns around and picks up the Returning Falling Star he used earlier.

Then, with his other hand, he lifts the Black Tomb Seal, his natal dharma treasure.

"If it weren't for your help, I would've had to exhaust the innate energy of both the Falling Returning Star and the Black Tomb Seal to backstab them. Thanks to you, the treasures remain intact. Haha, I am very satisfied."

Seeing Black Tomb's satisfied expression as he gazes upon the hammer, Ham Jin grinds his teeth.

"What do you plan to do with me?"

Black Tomb looks at him.

"What do you mean? You are still my disciple."

'Lies!'

Ham Jin grits his teeth.

The Heaven and Earth spiritual energy warns him of impending doom.

'He still plans to take over my body. I must not let my guard down!'

Whether aware of Ham Jin's worries or not, Black Tomb beckons to him.

"Come with me, my disciple."

Ham Jin wants to refuse, but he can't escape.

He has no choice but to reluctantly drag his exhausted body and follow Black Tomb.

Black Tomb and Ham Jin descend together to the bottom of the pit that the three Sage Gods had dug together.

As Ham Jin descends deeper into the pit on a flying magic artifact with him, he gasps.

'What is this power?'

It's an overwhelming power.

The further down they go, the more palpable it becomes.

"Since the day I discovered that ancient power is buried beneath Split Turtle Valley, I've been desperately striving to obtain it. However, upon investigation, I realized that there's a grand restriction below this valley. To break the restriction, one has to 'simultaneously' destroy parts of both the restriction and the valley itself. To achieve this, the three of us joined forces. Finally, with the help of the Returning Falling Star and the Black Tomb Seal, we were able to approach this power."

'Why is he telling me all this?'

Ham Jin looks at Black Tomb with tension-filled eyes.

Finally,

The flying magic artifact carrying Ham Jin and Black Tom arrives at the bottom of the pit.

There,

Ham Jin sees a green spirit tablet.

'This is...'

It's the object protected by the dragon veins of Split Turtle Valley, which he sensed through the Silica Earth Great Wall Secrets.

The source of this tremendous power.

Black Tomb's eyes gleam with greed and tension.

"But at the same time, I thought. Even if it is an overwhelming power, it would be disastrous if I can't control it or if there are side effects. So, I came up with a plan."

He reaches out towards the spirit tablet.

Woo-woong!

The spirit tablet buzzes as if rejecting Black Tomb's touch, but he ignores it and lifts the tablet.

"First, I'll transplant this power into someone else's body to observe any side effects before properly examining it."

The body of Fire God Merchant Hwa Yeol possessed by Black Tomb Old Monster.

His chest has a hole where his heart should have been, caused by Black Tomb crushing it during his initial attack.

Black Tomb places the spirit tablet into the hole in his chest.

After forming hand seals, the flesh around the hole begins to heal.

Ham Jin, watching from behind, breaks out in a cold sweat.

As the immense power from the spirit tablet melds with Black Tomb's spell, a heart grows over the tablet.

The spirit tablet is becoming the Old Monster's heart.

'This is insane! If it's this power...'

He is drenched in cold sweat.

If it's this power, he is certain that even if the Wuji Ghost King comes in their main body, they would not be able to rival this power.

Even if he is in the Qi Building stage, a demi-god is a demi-god!

He is sure that the crystallization of this power is not inferior to the Wuji Ghost King.

"Ohoho, it truly is such tremendous power! Ah, it surges through me!"

Chiiii—

Possessing Merchant Hwa Yeol's body with the spirit tablet as his heart, Black Tomb morphs into his own form.

"Hahaha! It's the best! The best! Now I shall rule the Peaceful Cloud Continent!"

His maniacal laughter echoes through the pit. The green radiance and power emanating from his body makes Ham Jin look up at him in despair.

Just then.

'Huh?'

Ham Jin notices something strange about his shadow.

It's clearly his own shadow, but.

It has 19 heads.

'What...!?'

And then.

He hears a familiar voice.

[Formation. Activate.]

In the next moment.

Kugugugugu!

The formation that Ham Jin has laid out entwining the dragon veins in Split Turtle Valley activates.

===

Author's Note: Though fights with minor characters are the most fun, it would be troublesome if the main story gets delayed, so I crammed everything into one chapter.

Translator Notes: Some of you may have noticed the salt thing Seo Ran talked about that happened 300 years ago is actually a continuity error because it happened in the previous cycle. Think of it as if something similar happened when Seo Eun-hyun fought against Seo Hweol at the start of this cycle lol.

***

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