A Regret’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 315
I quickly scanned the moving dragon painted on the scroll once more, then emerged from the highest floor.
The palace was filled mostly with water-attribute methods, and among them, the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade method shook my heart with its sheer power.
But I couldn’t learn it right away. It required either drinking seawater or having both water and salt present. So I simply placed it in Jeomuldo for now.
A few other water methods caught my eye, but nothing stood out.
I left the palace, retrieved the stored location of Haeran, and rushed toward the territory where we were supposed to meet Black Forest Ghost Sect.
The heat around me was scorching, so I had to use my Heavenly King blood to cool my flesh and keep flying.
The territory of Inje Dan was just as vast as Haeseong Dan, and the spiritual energy waves surging from the pavilions and stone buildings everywhere showed that something of value was still here.
When we reached the meeting point with Black Forest Ghost Sect, they were already gathered quietly, having gathered everything worth carrying.
[I see spiritual energy waves coming from all directions. It looks like not everyone brought everything. What do you think?]
“Haha, with all the Jeomuldo we carried earlier already full, that’s why we have to leave spots open on the third floor to get what we want.”
[Hmmm, I see. Understood. Shall we go then?]
“Perfect.”
Hyeon-gwi smiled faintly and led us onward.
The moment we reached a narrow path shrouded in crimson flames, Hyeon-gwi narrowed her eyes.
I could tell immediately why. I had tracked people before.
‘Someone passed by here recently. The tracks are fresh.’
Hyeon-gwi frowned slightly.
“Everyone, it seems the guests have already gone ahead. Let’s hurry. With these footprints, it must be…”
[Yao beasts.]
I pointed at the irregular prints.
Hyeon-gwi nodded.
“The Yao beasts are led by Gyoyeom. He comes from the Blood Yao clan and knows how to temporarily satisfy Re-yan with blood offerings. Let’s move quickly.”
We gradually picked up our pace.
Not long after, dense blood mist began to appear ahead.
‘Blood Sea…?’
I frowned. After everything Won Lip had done, I hated seeing people offered as sacrifices more than anything.
A bit farther in, I saw Gyoyeom and his Yao beasts.
‘Hmmm… Their numbers are the same… Then…?’
Upon closer inspection, Gyoyeom was dividing his own blood and offering drops to create Blood Seas.
Hyeon-gwi gasped in shock.
“You damned fools! Senior, everyone! These Yao beasts are trying to tame Re-yan! If they succeed, we’ll be in trouble—strike now!”
At the same moment, she gathered black dragon aura and shot it into the blood mist.
Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
A thunderous boom rang out and Gyoyeom’s voice echoed from inside.
[You filthy human insects… I heard everything. Fine, being ambushed by humans isn’t new to me. But I’m not trying to tame Re-yan—I just want to reach the third floor safely and come back down. So let’s stop this pointless fight, shall we?]
‘As long as he doesn’t threaten us, no need to fight…’
“Shut your mouth, you filthy ghost bastard! We don’t listen to your empty words!”
“What nonsense are you spewing to this old man?! Die, you trash ghost scum!”
“How dare you block the path of great humans! We’ll finally taste ghost meat after so long!”
The Black Forest Ghost Sect disciples roared with laughter and unleashed killing intent toward Gyoyeom.
From inside the blood mist, Gyoyeom raged.
[You arrogant, narrow-minded human insects. Then I’ll show you Re-yan’s true power…! No matter how much you enjoy killing, you are still insignificant!]
[Hm?]
Gyoyeom had been mocking them as pleasure-killing maniacs.
‘Is there really a pleasure-killing maniac among the Black Forest Ghost Sect disciples?’
These were dangerous fools. If one was truly a pleasure-killing maniac, it might be wise to eliminate him here.
Hwa rururuk!
A blood-red black flame burst forth from the blood mist.
The massive black flame rushed toward us like a living creature, waves of fire enveloping everything.
[Is that Re-yan?]
I felt the pain and resentment deep inside the black flame and spat out my Heavenly King aura.
“Correct. That cursed flame… is the true terror of the beast. Neither pure curse nor pure fire, so you need a curse master, a fire master, and heavy yin energy to suppress it.”
Kugugugu!
The Black Forest Ghost Sect disciples stepped forward and erected a yin-energy wall.
I watched Re-yan with admiration.
And at the same time, I noticed the Yao beasts behind it controlling the flame with blood.
‘Interesting. They’re feeding Re-yan blood to control it. The spiritual energy inside the blood must be the key.’
Something about their method reminded me of how I once lost my Blood Body to Oh Hye-seo. I watched closely.
He controlled blood with the Taiji and seized the flesh.
While observing their technique, I extended my left hand.
[I see it clearly.]
Hwa rururuk!
Thirty-six eyes spewed Heavenly King aura.
[Then I must pay respects myself.]
I raised my left hand and murmured.
[Yin Soul.]
Kugugugu!
A curse flowed from my seven orifices.
Although it was seven, the faces had no nose bones, so the nose merged into six holes.
In total, 108 holes poured out the curse.
At the Foundation Establishment stage, I already had 108. Thousands or tens of thousands was nothing now.
From that point on, I judged curses by density and range rather than number.
At Foundation Establishment, they filled three zhang in radius.
At Core Formation, three hundred zhang.
At Nascent Soul, thirty li.
At Heavenly Person stage, three thousand li.
Now, at Four Pillars… I exhaled deeply.
Everyone except the enemy Yao beasts showed shock on their faces.
Even Hyeon-gwi, who usually looked down on me, now looked genuinely intrigued.
[Ghost Curse.]
Shuaaaaa—
The entire Dogeo floor of Jeungryong Jinin’s pocket dimension turned pitch black.
* * *
Humans, Yao beasts, and the remaining tribes besides the Yujok and Biyik—only a few Heavenly race groups were left at the edge of the Suryu floor.
They had reached the entrance to the Dogeo floor.
“Huu, there’s nothing left except the marrow broth inside the creatures.”
“We don’t have any demons among us, so selling to a disciple who has learned demon methods would be best.”
“Well, marrow broth isn’t bad… but it’s not much of a reward for fighting to the death with the creatures.”
“Sigh, if we kill the creatures, the rest will be taken by humans, Yao beasts, and Four Pillars seniors. Nothing left on the first floor…”
Everyone sighed at once.
“Still, it’s the Suryu floor of Jeon-won Do-in, so it’s fine. Everyone, gather your strength. The real Jeomuldo is the Dogeo floor. Even if we don’t go to the third floor, getting a decent method manual, scripture, or spiritual medicine from the second floor will be worth it.”
“Indeed… The first floor isn’t for storing items. Then let’s head to the second floor!”
The dozen or so Heavenly race disciples happily climbed toward the Dogeo floor.
At that moment.
Chiiiii—
“…?”
“Haa, haaak! W-what the hell is that…!”
Terror, fear, and despair filled the faces of the dozen disciples.
“W-what the hell is happening on the second floor?!”
2nd floor Dogeo floor.
An enormous amount of curses was flooding down like a waterfall from above.
They fled without looking back, panic-stricken.
* * *
The world had turned pitch black.
Even Re-yan, which had been showing its might earlier, froze in place.
I identified Re-yan.
Considering the creator’s level, it must have been far stronger when first made.
No matter how strong I was, I couldn’t have fought it back then.
‘But time has weakened the poison.’
After hundreds of thousands of years, Re-yan was now much weaker.
I reached out toward Re-yan.
Re-yan whimpered like a dog needing to relieve itself, then trembled the instant my hand touched it.
Chiiiii—
I began condensing the curses I had scattered across the heavens and earth into a single point.
Kwa rururuk!
The curse created this way exuded a poison level similar to the ones made by other curse masters in Black Forest Ghost Sect.
At Nascent Soul stage, we combined our strength. Now at Four Pillars, I could do it alone.
Re-yan shrank completely under my curse’s pressure, its previously ocean-like size now smaller than a fist.
It could neither run nor act, frozen solid after eating the Yao beasts’ blood.
Hyeon-gwi shouted.
“Now! Put it down!”
Only then did the Black Forest Ghost Sect disciples snap to attention and blast their spells, destroying Re-yan.
Chii iiik—
But Re-yan had already shrunk too much; a simple stomp would have sufficed. Their water methods were unnecessary.
Hyeon-gwi glanced at them.
“Didn’t I tell you? You did well.”
Relief washed over the disciples.
“As expected of Hyeon-gwi.”
“I knew it. Hahaha…”
They seemed to be praising my recruitment, but I sensed their unease. I didn’t relax.
My gaze turned to the Yao beasts.
[Oh? They fled quickly.]
Surprisingly, Gyoyeom had already reached the third floor in an instant.
Obviously, he would have fled if he hadn’t seen the curse. He was either a brave warrior or a madman.
The other Yao beasts only now realized Gyoyeom was gone.
The Heavenly race Yao beasts turned pale upon hearing the news and met my eyes.
I released lingering Heavenly King aura from my thirty-six eyes.
[Come here. There’s something we need to discuss for a moment. Solve your curiosity and I’ll let you rest comfortably. No need to worry.]
Since I wasn’t a pleasure-killing maniac who would kill them outright, I spoke with the utmost courtesy.
I simply wanted them to rest comfortably on the second floor as long as they didn’t hinder our goal of reaching the third floor.
But for some reason, the Yao beasts began screaming in terror.
“Haaaaaaa!”
“Senior, please save us!”
“Damn it, I have to get out of here!”
“Run! If we get caught by that madman, we’re dead!!!”
They scattered in every direction, screaming.
Watching them transform into beasts and flee madly, I felt speechless.
[…I wasn’t going to kill you…]
They must have misunderstood that I would kill them. After all, given human nature, that was understandable.
Or perhaps they feared the pleasure-killing maniac called out in Black Forest Ghost Sect.
‘This is one time the help doesn’t come. Those Black Forest Ghost Sect bastards…’
Why would I bring such notorious figures to the Jeomuldo just to draw attention?
However, I couldn’t release them yet. I still needed to ask about the control technique they used on Re-yan.
‘Finding a way to completely free myself from Seo Hyoel’s influence on my body would be useful.’
[Bugs, stand still…!]
Ooooooo—
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
I began operating my method.
The surrounding desert began to turn into a wasteland under my death aura.
Sand and dust swirled in all directions.
Great Desert Dead Sea Formation.
Single Section Opening Dispersion.
Kugugugu!
The ‘Death Forms’ attached to my shoulders began detaching from my body.
The eighteen deaths I had lived through.
Those forms… As soon as they emerged, each formed a body with its own Heavenly King aura.
Eighteen clones of Ghost King level beings, fully mastering Ghost Immortal Star Demon Art, appeared.
I lost my upper neck as a result, but I didn’t care. I had lost my head before.
[Catch them.]
Ooo—
Ooo—
Oooooo—
Each Death Form, at Heavenly Person level Ghost King strength, scattered and flew toward the Yao beasts.
Each could use Ghost Immortal Star Demon Art, Great Desert Dead Sea Formation, Six Yin Thunder God, Yin Soul Ghost Curse, and basic martial arts. Catching them would be easy.
A chilling ghost valley scream echoed in all directions.
* * *
Two thousand years ago—Juma, a Yao beast of the Horse clan branch, the Haema tribe.
Juma transformed into his true form and galloped madly on four legs.
‘Please don’t chase me! Please! Heavenly God, please protect me!’
All he could think about was whether the mad Four Pillars senior would chase him.
He knew from a glance that the guy was insane.
From the first time he saw Won Rip with his shoulders proudly displaying “achievements,” he had vowed never to cross paths with that cruel bastard.
‘Gyoyeom, that damned shark-headed bastard. Because of his stupid eyes, this is what I get!’
But everything had gone wrong.
Now Won Rip would start catching and slaughtering them to satisfy his desires.
Perhaps even the madman had held back too much.
But Juma had lived two thousand years and seen such maniacs before.
They never controlled their lust; they would release it once a day, dirty as it was.
When the repressed lust finally exploded, its power was far stronger than usual.
Juma had been obedient until now.
But since there was no need to hold back anymore, anyone caught by Won Rip would become his twisted hobby.
Juma ran while cursing Gyoyeom.
Fortunately, Juma was fast.
In a world where gliding arts and pigeon arts were forbidden, Juma’s speed was unmatched.
He might escape if Won Rip wasn’t seriously chasing him.
At that moment.
Boom, boom, boom!
Juma noticed strange sounds behind him.
Chills ran down his spine.
He calmed his racing heart and looked back.
And Juma’s eyes widened.
“W-what!?”
The prey clinging to the shoulder of the mad Won Rip.
A ghost beast estimated to be summoned by Won Rip was walking in mid-air and chasing him.
“Even gliding and pigeon arts, even flight using spiritual power, are forbidden! How the hell is it flying?!”
[Oooooooooo—]
The ghost beast of Won Rip let out a soul-shaking scream as it flew toward Juma.
Juma reinforced his entire body and ran even faster.
At some point the distance opened, but he turned back and doubted his eyes.
Uuuuuu—
The ghost beast was floating a round orb above its hand.
Once the ghost beast absorbed the orb, its speed exploded more than tenfold and it began closing the distance.
‘If caught, I die! If caught, I die, if caught I die, if caught I die, if caught…!’
Juma’s breathing grew ragged.
But circuits appeared on the ghost beast’s body and the gap with it narrowed.
“H-heeik…! D-don’t come! Don’t come!”
‘No…!’
He screamed in panic.
Juma’s pupils shook wildly.
‘I’m scared… my strength is leaving…!’
Juma realized his legs were giving out.
But that couldn’t happen! He had to run faster!
‘Even if I burn my life!’
But he clearly heard it.
From behind, a ghost beast’s voice speaking a spell while joining hands.
“Ah, aaaah…”
The ghost beast was trying to use a curse.
The same thing I saw earlier…!
[Yin Soul.]
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
And Juma, the Yao beast who had run the farthest, fastest, and longest, was caught.
* * *
Splash splash—
Swimming up the chains from the second floor to the third, Gyoyeom gritted his teeth.
Probably the Yao beasts he had abandoned were already being slaughtered by the cruel and vicious Won Rip.
Perhaps their heads were being removed alive and preserved as trophies for his twisted hobby.
The Blood Yao clan was known to be cold-blooded and cruel, on par with humans.
But they were still people.
Gyoyeom had his own conscience and morality.
‘I’m sorry.’
Deep inside his heart, guilt rose for the Yao beasts he had sacrificed in his place.
“…But there’s no choice…”
Gyoyeom’s eyes were bloodshot as he clenched his teeth.
“I have to save my wife…! For her, I would sacrifice anyone…! I swear it!”
He had already thrown away his conscience, morality, and righteousness.
As long as I can save her, I’ll do anything!
Splash—
He reached the third floor, Bongyang floor, and looked around.
The distance between first and second floor was long, but between second and third it was barely half.
According to legend, Jeungryong Jinin’s pocket dimension originally had only three floors: Suryu, Dogeo, and Cheje.
At some point, Jeungryong Jinin added a fourth floor between Dogeo and Cheje.
So Cheje floor became the fourth, and the new floor between Dogeo and Cheje, Bongyang, became the third.
If the first floor was Jeon-won Do and the second was Jeomuldo…
The third floor was a kind of ‘altar’.
This other realm was called Jeungryong Jinin’s ‘Jeomuldo’, but Jeungryong Jinin also used it for various purposes, including offering sacrifices to the ‘being’ he served.
Churururung—
Burning water chains connected the first and second floors, and the second and third.
The ends of these chains led to the Bongyang floor.
The fourth floor, Cheje, could only be entered in special ways or by Integration realm cultivators.
But since Integration realm disciples weren’t allowed inside the pocket dimension, there was no fourth floor.
Gyoyeom rushed to the center of Bongyang floor, fearing the mad Won Rip would chase him from behind.
Bongyang floor wasn’t as vast as the first and second.
And unlike the others, it wasn’t hot.
Instead, it was filled with water qi, making the sea Yao beast Gyoyeom feel even more alive.
‘But the mad Won Rip who learned ghost methods is probably the same.’
The most famous ghost method in the human world was Black Ghost Valley’s Black Robe.
Won Rip wore the Black Robe of Black Ghost Valley, which wandered the world on the Seopmyeong Ship and caused trouble in the seas of Gwanghan Realm and abyssal depths.
It gained power by absorbing abyssal yin, so nothing favorable for him.
‘It’s best to quickly get the Heavenly Lotus Fruit and leave through the altar!’
The structure of the third floor Bongyang was as follows.
In the center was the altar, surrounded by four scroll paintings symbolizing the Myeonggwi Realm, Purple Gold Realm, Jinma Realm, and Gwanghan Realm.
Below each scroll was a chain connecting to the lower floor.
Gyoyeom had entered from the scroll facing Myeonggwi Realm.
The scroll facing Myeonggwi Realm was to the west.
Jinma Realm to the north, Purple Gold Realm to the south, Gwanghan Realm to the east.
He ran east.
During Jeungryong Jinin’s lifetime, this place was the altar.
When he fought a being from Jinma Realm, he stole the power called Yeokhwa from the being and sealed it under the Mulgeul tree he raised in Bongyang floor.
Tatak tatak—
Gyoyeom, running toward the scroll facing Gwanghan Realm, finally saw a huge tree in the distance.
A Mulgeul tree.
The Mulgeul tree grew on a small island in the center of a large pond, with a scroll of almost cliff size behind it.
The scroll symbolizing Gwanghan Realm.
But Gyoyeom had no interest in the scroll.
He couldn’t see the picture inside it anyway.
The same was true for the other four scrolls.
‘I heard the scroll was sealed… Anyway, it was.’
‘It’s not my business.’
Approaching the pond, he saw scarecrows surrounding it.
Countless scrolls were painted on the scarecrows’ bodies.
Gyoyeom could see the scrolls on the scarecrows, but he had no interest in them.
He only wanted the Heavenly Lotus Fruit on the Mulgeul tree.
The Heavenly Lotus Fruit!
“Hah… haa…”
Gyoyeom breathed through his gills and finally reached the pond.
And Gyoyeom’s pupils shook.
“…You…”
The mid-Four Pillars stage of the Yujok race, Nogyu.
The late-Four Pillars stage of the Biyik race, Baekwi-yik.
Two Heavenly race cultivators had arrived and were holding the Heavenly Lotus Fruit, the fruit of the Mulgeul tree.
The Mulgeul tree was one of the species seen in Gwanghan Realm.
The fruit, Heavenly Lotus Fruit, was also commonly seen and used as medicine.
But what Gyoyeom sought was not a normal Mulgeul tree.
‘The real’ Mulgeul tree.
Only the ‘real’ Mulgeul tree, cultivated by True Immortals, was his goal.
According to him, the ‘real’ Mulgeul tree famous as food of ‘true’ True Immortals existed only in Jeungryong Jinin’s pocket dimension.
What he wanted was the Heavenly Lotus Fruit of the ‘real’ Mulgeul tree.
And for the ‘true’ Heavenly Lotus Fruit, unlike normal Mulgeul trees, it bore only one fruit every thousand years.
“…Haha, Nogyu, Baegui-yik.”
Gyoyeom forced a smile.
He had to have it.
It was the spiritual medicine his wife needed to wake up again.
“Excuse me, but the Heavenly Lotus Fruit is essential for me. If you have any methods, scriptures, or pills you want to sell, tell me. I have collected everything from the first and second floors. Or if you have spiritual stones, I can buy them. Would you like to trade with me?”
But Nogyu shook his head.
“Um, I’m sorry, Senior Gyoyeom. It seems difficult. It’s embarrassing, but a fanatic of the Yujok clan once entered the Heavenly Lotus Mountain area pretending to worship Saintess Baek-woon. The saintess was angry. Thanks to that, the Yujok clan is suffering from Re-yan, so we must offer Heavenly Lotus Fruit to appease Re-yan. Please understand.”
Gyoyeom said in a trembling voice.
“Uhm… Then there’s no choice. But… could you at least give me a drop of juice when you drink the offering to the saintess? Just a few drops of juice would be a huge repayment. Just three drops…!”
But Baekwi-yik shook his head at that.
“I’m sorry, Senior Gyoyeom, you’re one step late. The juice of the Heavenly Lotus Fruit has also been requested by the Integration realm grand elder of our Biyik clan, the grand elder Baekmyeong. He found the spiritual liquid needed when challenging the Star Shattering realm in a thousand years, and the Heavenly Lotus Fruit juice is the most suitable for him. The remaining juice after offering to Saintess Baek-woon in the Yujok clan has already been agreed to be handed over to us Biyik clan.”
Gyoyeom’s voice trembled at those words.
“I have heard the reputation of Grand Elder Baekmyeong. Hahaha, what a great man. I congratulate you in advance. But has he clearly stated that the spiritual liquid he asked for is ‘Heavenly Lotus Fruit juice’?”
“It’s not exactly, but honestly, among spiritual medicines effective for him, the Heavenly Lotus Fruit juice is the most outstanding.”
“Hahaha, among them, the honey of Hwanhonghwa is especially good for the grand elder, isn’t it? I know the location and acquisition method of Hwanhonghwa’s honey. I’ll tell you the location, so just give me three drops of juice and I’ll be grateful.”
Gyoyeom sweated profusely and his voice trembled more.
“Uhm… At least a rough location…?”
“It’s in the Saryeongho of Hwalmae region. I’ll also explain the acquisition method. Please, just the juice…”
But Baekwi-yik frowned at Gyoyeom’s words.
“Hwalmae region? Right next to the Yeok tribe’s territory? You want me to send you to your death? The slave race that Biyik clan used to have is abundant there. When you go, those filthy burrowing bastards will swarm in!”
“…?”
“That’s not information. I’m sorry, but I can’t hand over the juice. It’s important for us too.”
Gyoyeom glanced back and looked at Nogyu with trembling voice.
“Senior Nogyu, how can this be?”
“Uhm, I’m sorry, but I already made an agreement with Senior Baek. What can I do?”
“You didn’t swear an oath to the Integration realm! I can pay any price!”
“It’s not an oath to the Integration realm, but Senior Baek and I have formed an alliance by coming this far. We Heavenly race people don’t betray others’ backs!”
“Three drops! Just three drops! It’s not asking for much! I will offer all the spiritual medicines and artifacts I obtained in this Jeomuldo exploration!”
“Where will I use the ghost race’s spiritual medicines and methods?”
“We have gathered many things effective for the Heavenly race!”
“Hmph…”
But Nogyu said with a cold expression.
“I’m sorry, but I really can’t. This is for the sake of our Yujok clan and to appease the wrath of Saintess Baek-woon. It’s the greater good, after all. It would be better even for the entire Gwanghan Realm. I don’t know the reason, but stop your greed and leave.”
“Even Senior Nogyu, I’m acting for the greater good too. If Grand Elder Baekmyeong becomes a Star Shattering realm senior thanks to the juice of the Heavenly Lotus Fruit, the power of the Heavenly race will increase and we can exterminate the Yeok tribe and even become stronger in other middle realms, right? Isn’t that the greater good of Gwanghan Realm?”
Baekwi-yik sneered.
“Why do you want the Heavenly Lotus Fruit so badly? If it’s more important than what we’re saying, I’ll give you a few drops.”
At those words, Gyoyeom knelt on the ground.
“…Please. My wife… is on the verge of death. Her illness can only be cured with the Heavenly Lotus Fruit. I have nothing to replace it…! If I just have three drops of juice, I can try to make medicine to treat my wife’s illness. This Gyoyeom is begging you. Please have mercy.”
At Gyoyeom’s words, both Nogyu and Baekwi-yik shook their heads.
“Unbelievable. Right now, Senior Gyoyeom’s wife is more important than the Re-yan that has hit our entire Yujok clan?”
“Correct. Not only our Biyik clan’s fortune, but perhaps we can suppress the Yeok tribe’s power and recover our slaves through the grand elder’s birth, or even eliminate our worries about the Blood Underworld. This is a greater good far greater than putting one’s private matters first! You should be ashamed!”
Gyoyeom began kowtowing and begging on the ground.
“Three drops. Just three drops! Please, I beg you. This lowly ghost race crawling on the ground is pleading to the esteemed Heavenly race people… Please…”
Nogyu and Baekwi-yik laughed coldly.
Especially Baekwi-yik mocked Gyoyeom openly.
“What nonsense. It seems you’re trying to disrupt the greater good that benefits the entire Gwanghan Realm and the Heavenly race. If you give us the juice, and the grand elder fails to become a senior because the juice ran out, will you take responsibility?”
“…?”
“From the beginning, you couldn’t understand the greater good with selfish intentions. Are you perhaps a Yeok tribe spy?”
“Hahaha! It’s strange that your wife didn’t eat the Heavenly Lotus Fruit that we Heavenly race are aiming for, so she dies. Ah, perhaps… that’s it. Listen, Senior Gyoyeom. Perhaps your wife approached you as a Yeok tribe spy, so you should be careful.”
The two Heavenly race cultivators laughed and mocked Gyoyeom and his wife as Yeok tribe spies.
Nogyu, mid-Four Pillars stage.
Baekwi-yik, late-Four Pillars stage.
Gyoyeom, early-Four Pillars stage.
Numerically and in realm, they had overwhelming superiority, so they could mock him so easily.
And Gyoyeom understood it perfectly.
He had always understood his own situation.
That’s why he thought he could navigate this situation rationally.
But for some reason, Gyoyeom felt as if his own mouth was moving on its own.
“…You trash bastards…”
He had never experienced this.
He was a member of the Blood Yao clan, known for being cold-blooded, and always a cold, cruel disciple.
But somehow, Gyoyeom couldn’t control his own mouth.
“It says I have nothing to replace it… There’s no choice…! Three drops! Three drops is enough! The offering to the saintess doesn’t have to be the Heavenly Lotus Fruit, and you don’t have to offer it yourself. You came looking for the Heavenly Lotus Fruit for your own Yujok clan’s merit… How many times have your Yujok clan idiots entered Heavenly Lotus Mountain without permission and suffered Re-yan? How many times have I seen you looking for offerings to block Re-yan? The entire Gwanghan Realm knows. You don’t need the Heavenly Lotus Fruit at all…!”
Gyoyeom’s eyes turned to Baekwi-yik.
His eyes were bloodshot.
“You too… The Heavenly race’s gain…? Or is it the gain of your Biyik clan? And what, the grand elder couldn’t become a senior because the juice ran out? If he was going to become a senior by chugging the juice, he would have become a senior long ago and gone on the expedition with honor. Why are you still here? Even the Yeok tribe senior, who looks like a green worm a thousand years younger than you, became a grand elder much faster and became stronger than anyone…! What kind of senior is someone who blames the juice? If you’re worried about not reaching the realm with three drops of juice, and you really have loyalty to your race, shouldn’t you have gone to the Yeok tribe’s front yard and brought the honey of Hwanhonghwa with your life on the line…?”
The faces of Baekwi-yik and Nogyu twisted into monstrous expressions.
“This burrowing bastard who has a pierced mouth…!”
“It seems he needs some education. Ghost races are said to be born as beasts and don’t know who their mother and father are. The saying was right.”
Nogyu’s body began to turn into a tree.
Three pairs of wings grew on Baekwi-yik’s back.
Blood light began to burst from Gyoyeom’s eyes.
“As soon as you get scratched, you want to kill me. Instead of you, you should have blocked my pierced mouth. Fine, you called it a pierced mouth? Go ahead and keep insulting. Your Yujok clan says they entered Heavenly Lotus Mountain pretending to be a fanatic of Saintess Baek-woon, but who in Gwanghan Realm doesn’t know the truth? Who doesn’t know that a few crazy Yujok clan members sneaked into Heavenly Lotus Mountain to ‘pollinate’ Saintess Baek-woon? Why would a merciful saintess send Re-yan down just for entering the mountain? Because you always overstep the line, you get Re-yan. And the grand elder Baekmyeong who couldn’t reach the senior stage with three drops of juice. That guy was beaten half to death by the Yeok tribe dwarf senior during his Integration four-stage phase and became half-plant before recently waking up from a coma. Who doesn’t know that? Bringing Heavenly Lotus Fruit juice to reach the senior stage? Don’t laugh, who doesn’t know that the old man who had a stroke whispering ‘Seopmyeong Ship Annihilation’ in his ear went to the nursing home and brought juice to relieve himself!”
The faces of Nogyu and Baekwi-yik swelled red at Gyoyeom’s rant.
The eyes of the two Heavenly race were on the verge of rolling back.
A crimson aura shot up from Gyoyeom, green aura from Nogyu, and dazzling white light from Baekwi-yik.
And it was the moment of explosion.
Stomp, stomp…
Swaaaa—
The temperature around them dropped as someone walked over.
Seo Lip, the Ghost King with eighteen heads.
Gyoyeom felt it.
The lingering Heavenly King aura from Seo Lip.
And the scent of blood.
Probably the Yao beasts he had left behind had been cruelly killed.
‘It took time to climb up, so he probably enjoyed it.’
Perhaps there was a hellish scene on the second floor.
The Yao beasts he had gathered had their heads ripped off and skins peeled before their souls were extracted and became trophies for the mad Won Rip.
‘…I’m sorry.’
Usually he didn’t care, but this time even Gyoyeom felt guilt toward them.
But there was no time for guilt.
‘Perhaps… I can use this madman too…!’
Right now.
Use everything available.
Gyoyeom shouted at Won Rip, the madman who had beheaded seventeen same-realm disciples and placed their heads on his shoulders.
“Won Rip! What do you want?!”
Seo Lip said calmly.
[As long as we have the Heavenly Lotus Fruit and Sinjeon Scroll Painting, we’re good…]
“Good, perfect. You want the Heavenly Lotus Fruit too? I only need three drops of Heavenly Lotus Fruit juice!! Let’s team up. Those two Heavenly race guys are obsessed with the Heavenly Lotus Fruit itself, so we can’t negotiate with them.”
[Hmmm…]
Seeing Seo Lip hesitate, the two Heavenly race cultivators flinched.
Gyoyeom screamed with blood light exploding from his eyes.
“Once this is over, if you give me a little time, I’ll offer my head and become one with you! Free your desire! The Heavenly race people in front of you would be perfect for your taste…! You killed seventeen same-realm disciples and placed their heads on your shoulders—do you want our heads too? Especially the heads of Yujok and Biyik clans aren’t easy to obtain! Special products only in their territories! Free your vicious strength here!!”
Gyoyeom shouted with resolve.
The mad Won Rip in front of him was completely stimulated.
All that was left was to rip off the heads of the cunning Heavenly race people in a frenzy of lust.
Even if it meant sacrificing his own life, he would get the Heavenly Lotus Fruit and the medicine.
That was Gyoyeom’s resolve.
[…]
And Seo Lip’s silence continued.