The Footprints You Stepped Here (4)
“This…?”
Seo Ran accepted the Wave-Breaking Pearl from me.
And shortly after, his pupils trembled.
“This… From where did you obtain it?”
“That is…”
I hesitated for a moment before speaking honestly.
“The Dragon King ordered me to assist you and deliver that Law Treasure. And, I greedily kept it for myself…”
I did not pass on the self-destruct Law Treasure to Seo Ran.
However, the Wave-Breaking Pearl proved useless even after I infused it with law power, and it seemed to function as a Law Treasure that only activated under special conditions.
“For now, I apologize. But…”
“Just a moment…”
Seo Ran, clutching the Law Treasure, declared in a stiff voice.
“Just a moment… please wait for me.”
He slipped the Wave-Breaking Pearl into his sleeve and flew toward the control room of the Seopmyeong Ship, heading to Song Jin.
Complex and intricate thoughts flowed from the control room as if he were conversing with Song Jin.
After a while, the Seopmyeong Ship arrived at Bongmyeong Castle in the outer space.
Even then, Seo Ran continued talking with Song Jin while holding the Wave-Breaking Pearl.
I watched them for a moment before deciding to return to Bongmyeong Castle and resume our conversation, then entered with the Core Formation cultivators of the Cheongmun Clan.
* * *
“First, before installing the formation, please wait.”
I gave notice to Cheongmun Jung-jin and the Cheongmun Clan elders, then headed toward the periphery of Bongmyeong Castle to touch the exact spot Buk Hyang-hwa had touched, in the exact same manner she had done.
And.
Kugugugug!
Pressure began to rise across Bongmyeong Castle, and the law power of me and the Cheongmun Clan elders was sealed one stage.
Kuguguk!
‘My cultivation…’
Had dropped one stage.
I appeared to be at Qi Condensation, but the other Core Formation cultivators felt their cultivation fall to Foundation Establishment.
“Then, shall I show you? That even in this state, the Water Sage can unleash the power of the Core Formation realm?”
One elder of the Cheongmun Clan asked me while looking at me.
I nodded and, gripping the Invisible Sword, swung it toward one of the structures inside Bongmyeong Castle.
The structure that had been half-destroyed when Buk Hyang-hwa and I were here last time was sliced in one strike by my Invisible Sword and disintegrated into dust.
“Now you should believe me a little, right?”
At my words, the Cheongmun Clan elders looked at me with wide-eyed expressions and nodded.
After a while the formation of Bongmyeong Castle was released, and I told them.
“The duration this formation will maintain is about one-tenth. Even if they try to extend it by touching the circuits of Bongmyeong Castle, the maximum would probably be half a shijin.”
The elders of the Cheongmun Clan seemed to be deep in thought as they listened to my words.
“Anyway, I believe my ability has been confirmed.”
The elders and Cheongmun Jung-jin all nodded.
“I understand. When we catch Won Rip later, we will build the plan based on the Water Sage’s abilities.”
“Heum, that aside…”
One of the elders said to Cheongmun Jung-jin.
Cheongmun Jung-jin replied while receiving his gaze.
“Then, can the Water Sage unfold the formation now?”
“I will.”
The formation we had to unfold again in the next life.
Unfolding it in advance was not bad either.
I received the formation device Buk Hyang-hwa had made from them and installed it in various places on the first floor of Bongmyeong Castle.
And after a while.
I approached the longevity tree in the central orchard of Bongmyeong Castle, where the Jangsaengwa was about to ripen.
I stared at the flowers blooming on the longevity tree for a moment and fell into thought.
The one who was supposed to eat that fruit had already vanished,
yet I had only just learned how to harvest the fruit.
‘What meaning does this life have now that I have no reason to live…?’
I looked at the longevity tree with hollow eyes and activated the formation in a flat tone.
Kugugugug!
The spiritual energy across Bongmyeong Castle gathered near us.
It was nothing compared to the formation I had unfolded with the weak spiritual veins near the Dabcheon Desert and Cheon-saek Castle.
A massive wave of spiritual energy surged toward us, filling the surroundings.
Cheongmun Jung-jin and the elders stared with open mouths at the magnificent sight, but I simply stared blankly into the void with hollow eyes.
Kugugug!
“…The formation has now activated. In five years, the formation will pour the accumulated wood-attribute spiritual energy of this area into the longevity tree, causing the Jangsaengwa to grow rapidly.”
“Indeed. Thank you.”
I paid no heed to the elders’ words of gratitude and stood there blankly.
We adjusted the formation slightly and left Bongmyeong Castle.
“First, I thank you, Water Sage. We will return in five years to harvest the Jangsaengwa.”
I parted ways with Cheongmun Jung-jin and the elders of the Cheongmun Clan, promising to return in five years.
And as the Cheongmun Clan people disappeared, Song Jin and Seo Ran approached me.
Kuuuuw!
Following Song Jin’s will, the Seopmyeong Ship landed far away on the ocean surface.
“What is it?”
Seo Ran asked with a trembling voice, his complex thoughts flowing.
“This Law Treasure… Did the Dragon King really give it to me?”
“…Yes.”
“Did he truly order it to be delivered to me?”
I nodded.
Seo Ran’s face stiffened as he said.
“Perhaps… could you prove the authenticity in front of the Seopmyeong Ship with a Ghost Dao oath…?”
He spoke with a face as white as paper.
It was said that a Ghost Dao oath sworn before the Seopmyeong Ship would cause the soul to be sucked into the ship afterward if the oath or words were broken.
I said calmly.
“I will not swear an oath before the Seopmyeong Ship. What Buk Hyul asked me to do was to deliver the Wave-Breaking Pearl to Seo Ran.”
“…Ha, haha…”
Seo Ran looked dazed as he put his hand to his head.
Song Jin, watching him for a moment, opened his mouth with a bitter voice.
[I never imagined the Dragon King had such a side… I never thought he would be so heartless.]
Song Jin pulled out the Wave-Breaking Pearl and said.
[After investigation by Seo Ran and me, this Law Treasure can only be activated by the person ‘designated’ by one who possesses the Dragon King’s Essence-Blood. It cannot be interfered with unless one has the Essence-Blood, and it cannot activate unless it is the person designated by a Dragon King with the Essence-Blood. And…]
He looked at the Wave-Breaking Pearl and said.
[The one designated in this Wave-Breaking Pearl was Seo Ran himself.]
“…Master… unworthy disciple…”
[Rest well.]
“Thank you.”
Seo Ran clutched his head in pain and said he would be alone for a moment before entering the inside of the Seopmyeong Ship.
Song Jin sighed and said.
[Do you know what kind of Law Treasure this is, you brat?]
“I do.”
I told him the truth, and Song Jin looked at me.
Flames of reincarnation were burning in his two eye sockets.
[You knew it was a self-destruct Law Treasure… yet you received the order from Buk Hyul?]
“That’s why I haven’t delivered it until now. And I asked for the activation method because I planned to use that Law Treasure.”
[…]
“I never expected you to figure it out so quickly.”
Seo Ran from the previous life only realized the purpose of the Wave-Breaking Pearl when the time came to activate it directly.
I never imagined he would figure it out the moment he saw it.
‘It seems Song Jin taught you well.’
I looked at Song Jin.
He let out a faint sigh when our eyes met for a moment.
[…Thank you. For delivering that Law Treasure to my disciple. If that Law Treasure had activated, the Seopmyeong Ship would have collapsed, and I would not have been able to try to pass on the legacy of Black Ghost Valley to my disciple.]
Song Jin looked at the Wave-Breaking Pearl with a bitter tone.
“It’s nothing. By the way… I still had one Wish Token left from the time I gave you.”
[Ah, that’s right. Definitely.]
I told Song Jin.
“I will use the final Wish Token. Please…”
Thud, thud…
The moment I thought, curses surged from the surroundings.
“Help me…”
Song Jin flinched and looked at me.
“I… I want you to help me take revenge.”
[…]
He seemed to be thinking for a moment before saying.
[As for that… ask Seo Ran. My disciple will probably be able to help you more.]
“What do you mean?”
Song Jin continued.
[I recently sent my disciple into the depths of the sea to gather the yin energy from there. But actually, I gave him one more order.]
“Hm?”
He pointed toward the south of the Black Wind Sea above the Seopmyeong Ship.
[At the very end of that far sea, near the [End of the World] in the south, there is the homeland of the Dragon Clan. The Sea Dragon Palace where the Dragon King once resided. And for some reason, when Buk Hyul left Seo Ran here, he prevented the kid from training in the Sea Dragon Palace and covered the Sea Dragon Palace with a massive seal.]
I listened silently to Song Jin’s explanation.
[According to Seo Ran, when the Seopmyeong Ship self-destructed and released the souls of the Dragon Clan that the Seopmyeong Ship had swallowed, those souls would teach Seo Ran how to break the seal. But since I became his master, I will never allow the Seopmyeong Ship to be destroyed like that, and as a Heavenly Being I ordered my disciple to enter the Seopmyeong Ship directly to find the souls. Heavenly Being cultivators can extract the souls that the Seopmyeong Ship has swallowed. And to do that, he first needs to enter the Sea Dragon Palace where there are still plenty of spiritual medicines left for the Dragon Clan. After teaching him corrosive-type techniques, go and pierce the seal left by Buk Hyul.]
Song Jin laughed.
[Rescuing the souls of the Dragon Clan and entering the Sea Dragon Palace, or entering the Sea Dragon Palace to increase your strength and then rescue the souls of the Dragon Clan. The only difference is the order. Seo Ran probably did the same, thinking it didn’t matter… And I also taught him the grand formation of Black Ghost Valley, so he would be able to break the seal of the Sea Dragon Palace. And now it seems the corners of the seal have almost been broken, and with a powerful one-strike, it can be broken.]
“So you want me to help break the seal and assist Seo Ran?”
[Yes. Your bizarre technique is boasting of amazing attack power, so it should definitely be able to break the seal. I was gathering strong one-strikes for my disciple until now, but with your help, there would be no need to do so.]
It seemed he wanted to use my power to help Seo Ran.
But it didn’t matter.
What mattered to me now.
“If I help Seo Ran break the seal, Won Rip will have a way to deal with him, right?”
Won Rip.
It was to create a way to confront that guy as much as possible.
Song Jin nodded.
[Even though Buk Hyul’s ability is great, the kid who has no Seopmyeong Ship can’t have carried all the treasures accumulated by the Dragon Clan throughout their long history and won. There must be quite a few treasures left inside the Sea Dragon Palace. And most of the treasures of the Dragon Clan are items that can gain superiority over Won Rip’s two main techniques, Blood Demon True Sea Light. It’s highly likely that there are many items that are the nemesis of that guy…!]
At those words, I widened my eyes.
“I will help Seo Ran…”
It didn’t matter.
As long as I could gain even a little advantage over that guy.
I would do anything.
At my words, Song Jin nodded in satisfaction and entered the Seopmyeong Ship.
After a while, Seo Ran came out with a gloomy face.
“…I heard you said you would help, senior.”
“That’s right.”
“I was a little shocked… but I understand. Thank you.”
Seo Ran looked at Song Jin and said.
“Master… please take us to the southern end.”
[Haha, I understand.]
Thus we flew toward the Sea Dragon Palace, the homeland of the Dragon Clan, by controlling the Seopmyeong Ship.
* * *
Shing―
[Hmmm, this sea area doesn’t match well with the Seopmyeong Ship.]
The southern sea was calm, the sky clear, and the sun was blazing down.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was stable, and there seemed to be no storms.
Compared to the Black Wind Sea, where clouds often gathered, the southern sea looked extremely peaceful.
‘Above all else…’
The spiritual energy itself drifting between heaven and earth was extremely clean and warm.
It even felt like a trace of sanctity.
[Disciple, then guide.]
“Yes, master. The Sea Dragon Palace is at the bottom of this deep sea.”
Seo Ran pointed below the sea.
No matter how clear the weather was, the deep blue sea was pitch black, and it looked incredibly deep.
But Song Jin paid no heed and only held the steering wheel.
[Good. Then everyone hold your breath.]
Kugugug!
Soon the Seopmyeong Ship began to be wrapped in spiritual energy and began to dive into the sea.
‘It has all kinds of functions.’
I thought so while watching the spiritual energy of the Seopmyeong Ship blocking the water.
The spiritual energy of the Seopmyeong Ship seemed to gradually consume in the sunlight above the surface, but as it went deeper, it absorbed the yin energy of the deep sea and replenished its power on its own.
‘All this is just the function of a broken old ship…’
I looked at the Seopmyeong Ship for a moment before losing interest.
Buk Hyang-hwa, Kim Young-hoon, Cheongmun Ryeong, Buk Jung-ho, and the neighbors of Cheon-saek Castle.
Since they died, there was no particular emotion no matter what happened.
Seeing something strange only made me feel a little curious and that was all.
Kugugugug!
After going down to a certain depth, the Seopmyeong Ship finally reached the bottom of the sea.
Kugugung!
[We have arrived. Follow Seo Ran and break the seal hanging on the Sea Dragon Palace.]
I nodded and, holding my breath, left the spiritual energy barrier of the Seopmyeong Ship with Seo Ran.
Shuaaa!
The enormous pressure pressed me down, but with strong qi flowing in my blood vessels, it was not a great threat to me.
Not being able to breathe was also not a problem since I could hold it for three or four more days compared to the culprits.
Seo Ran changed into his dragon form and swam ahead through the deep sea.
‘The surface was extremely warm with a lot of comfortable spiritual energy…’
But the deep sea beneath…
‘It was dried up.’
Dark and lifeless.
Life existed even in the deep sea.
But strangely, there was not a single living creature in this area.
Not even microorganisms were caught in the consciousness area.
It was as if it were a Dead Sea.
After a while, as I followed Seo Ran, I understood why.
Kugugugug!
A massive dark barrier.
A pitch-black hemispherical object covered the ground below the sea ahead.
And I could see that this dark barrier was endlessly absorbing the vitality of the surroundings.
“Is this the seal of the Sea Dragon Palace?”
The Dragon Clan spoke by vibrating spiritual energy rather than air, so there was no need to open his mouth if capable.
I asked while holding my breath and looking at Seo Ran, and Seo Ran nodded.
“That’s right. Follow me. In that corner, I placed corrosive techniques to weaken the seal by attacking the weakest point of the seal’s flow.”
I followed Seo Ran and swam a little longer to the corner of the seal.
There, I could see thick black mist surrounding it.
Kugugug!
Yin energy and spiritual energy were densely gathered by the formation and clung firmly toward one corner of the seal.
“It is the Black Ghost Valley’s Ghost Cry Rotting Array. It was said to be a war formation famous for creating holes in seals, arrays, and defensive formations.”
It seemed to be the grand formation of Black Ghost Valley taught by Song Jin.
I followed Seo Ran into the inside of the Ghost Cry Rotting Array.
The inside was enveloped in pitch-black mist, and those mists traced circles and burned blue spiritual energy toward one corner of the seal.
I, who also had some knowledge of formations, could tell which part of the seal the Ghost Cry Rotting Array had weakened.
“So I just need to attack the center?”
“That’s right. Please do.”
I gripped the Invisible Sword calmly and took a stance.
Kugugugug!
And I thrust the Invisible Sword toward the Ghost Cry Rotting Array.
Kuuuuw!
The ground of the deep sea shook.
Although there was no huge explosion underwater, I could see massive waves spreading to the surroundings.
But the formation that Buk Hyul had set up still didn’t move an inch.
‘It’s not enough with this.’
I picked up the Invisible Sword again.
Danak Sword Art, the fifth stance, Danak!
Kwooooo!
Dust clouds rose again beneath the sea.
‘The weakening was only this much…’
This time there was vibration, but the seal was still thick.
After unfolding Danak, I immediately returned to the pose of Wolak.
I maintained Mountain Beyond Mountain is Endless.
While maintaining Mountain Beyond Mountain is Endless, I repeatedly struck Danak against Buk Hyul’s seal.
When the fifth stance of Danak unfolded with the Invisible Sword struck the seal continuously about sixteen times.
Crack, chiziz!
The seal split.
And.
Shuaaaa!
A hole was opened there, and the surrounding water was sucked inside.
“Puhup!”
I entered inside with the water.
“Puha!”
Shuaaaa!
The inside space had enough air to breathe.
After a while, Seo Ran changed into human form and entered inside.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I haven’t been here except when I was very young…”
Seo Ran looked around with a nostalgic expression.
‘Amazing vitality.’
I absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy while looking at the enormous spiritual power filled in the surroundings.
The spiritual energy inside the seal was incredibly higher than outside the seal.
The seal was probably not only blocking outsiders’ access but also absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy and vitality to concentrate it inside.
That was when.
‘Hm?’
I looked at the Sea Dragon Palace spread out before me.
Like a human palace, ancient pavilions and palaces stood in a row.
The pavilions with jade-tiled roofs, which looked vaguely divine, lined up and gave a grand feeling.
But as I looked at the standing pavilions, I felt a strange feeling.
‘Something… familiar…?’
Kuduk!
I unfolded the Earth Wall Law Technique to block the water pouring out from the crack behind me.
After that I kicked off into the air and flew into the sky.
“Senior?”
Seo Ran asked me with a bewildered look, but I flew into the air and took in the appearance of this ancient Sea Dragon Palace at a glance.
‘This structure of the Sea Dragon Palace…?’
I had seen the Sea Dragon Palace with this structure once before.