Not a Sovereign (1)
How
!?
I was sinking to the bottom of the lake in the Bongyang layer.
I had just arrived at the Chije layer.
And I was now inside the bodies of the Black Forest Spirit Sect disciples after transforming into a Strange Parasite.
All of that within me erupted at once in shock.
“How
!?
How did you get here
Seo Hyul!”
“Ah
I’m curious about that too?”
Seo Hyul answered with a gentle smile.
“Why
isn’t there a transmission array in Black Ghost Valley?”
“I asked the sect master for permission to use the Black Ghost Valley transmission array as the highest-ranking disciple.”
“The Ghost Ship of Black Ghost Valley on the mortal continent transported me here so I could arrive at the right time in the Sap-pung Territory.”
“You
…”
I spoke through the mouth of a Black Forest Spirit Sect disciple.
“You’re asking the wrong question.”
“How did you break my seal after five hundred years?!”
The seal I had placed was no ordinary one.
It had a condition that it would definitely be broken after a thousand years
so it was extremely difficult to break even before that.
Of course
Integration realm cultivators could simply tear it apart
but Seo Hyul was nowhere near that level.
Heaven
Earth
and Strange Parasite
were all capable of combining their powers to reach two realms higher
yet my Invisible Sword was impossible to wield at the level of my Heavenly Tribulation.
“You
… how did you do that?”
Seo Hyul smiled faintly.
“Why are you asking me that
Seo Do-woo?”
“Humans are a race known for deep feelings and compassion toward each other.”
“Completely unfamiliar to me.”
“Hehe
no matter how you look at it
… I only asked for a favor.”
“Decomposing the seal from inside at the current level of power is impossible but if I’m lucky I can pass even a bit of my ‘voice’ to the outside.”
“Voice?”
I stared at the guy in disbelief.
“I sent my clones to all the other sect masters.”
“I told them that if I’m going to spend the next thousand years in seclusion
I’d open it from the inside before then
and that I was probably insane so they shouldn’t respond
and that I’d make the sect master guard the entrance…?”
“Perhaps
if I truly poured my heart into it it got through
hehe.”
“…”
I glared at the guy for a moment
then looked at the corpses of Gyoeom and the Green Lord in his hand.
“Why did you kill them?”
I felt sorry for Gyoeom.
I already knew about the Yao cultivators who had abandoned him like a tool and left him behind.
Thinking about it
he had received his punishment
but even if he had
I wished I could have saved at least his wife and punished him.”
But in the end his grudge was completely blocked by Seo Hyul.
Seo Hyul smiled softly.
“It’s just a trivial prank
Seo Do-woo.”
“What’s the problem with killing a few bugs?”
“…”
I glared at him without arguing.
Argue with someone who has no heart was meaningless anyway.
Instead I mocked him.
“Still
it’s a shame.”
Woo-woong
Far away in the east the morning sun was rising.
I didn’t know how that was possible given the size of the Gwanghan Realm
but the sun and moon rose in the east every day and set in the west
so it was clearly morning now.
The darkness of the waning moon was washed away
and as the darkness faded the entrance to Jeongryong Jinin’s Pocket Dimension gradually closed.
“Why come all the way here
if you can’t do anything when you get here?”
Ki-eeeeing
I surrounded Seo Hyul with the bodies of the Black Forest Spirit Sect disciples using the power of Strange Parasite.
I was going to try to reverse-infiltrate him with Strange Parasite.
But Seo Hyul smiled as warmly as if he were looking at a loved one.
“Didn’t you see something when you entered Jeongryong Jinin’s other realm?”
“Hm?”
“The Strong Health Blessing Bongyang Guardian Jeongryong Map
the place you entered wasn’t a simple Pocket Dimension
Integration realm cultivators can put things in their own domain
so why would a being like Jeongryong Jinin need a Pocket Dimension.”
Woo-woong
While Seo Hyul pulled something out from the corpses of the Green Lord and the Green Lord I activated Strange Parasite.
‘Strange Parasite
reverse infiltration!’
Chi-iiiie
After sealing his Ten Directions with my spirit I dove in with Strange Parasite.
But Seo Hyul only smiled calmly.
“The place you entered
… was the pocket dimension created during the great war tens of thousands of years ago to protect the souls of the Gwanghan Realm from extinction in the clash between Yu Ho-deok and Jeongryong
Jeongryong Jinin designated all the souls of the Gwanghan Realm as protective species
and used this realm to protect them
after teaching the souls the concept of Strong Health
and he granted mercy to anyone who knew that concept so they could enter and become a protective species.”
Kuguguguugu
Seo Hyul’s aura suddenly rose sharply.
‘This
is
!’
He was absorbing the auras of the Green Lord and the Green Lord
and for a moment his pressure burst out like the Four Pillars realm.
His eyes sparkled
and familiar characters appeared around him.
Strong Health.
“Strong Health Axis
solution.”
Booom
The power of Strong Health illuminated the heavens and earth.
At the same time a huge sound shook the Sap-pung Territory.
Kwoong
Clang
The sound of a latch opening or a lock turning.
The moment I heard that sound I felt a chill.
‘This
kid
…’
The Pocket Dimension of Jeongryong Jinin was already closed
but Seo Hyul had opened it again.
He was coming in here.
“I won’t let you pass so easily!”
I poured every ounce of power I had into infiltrating Seo Hyul’s mind with Strange Parasite.
But at some point I felt the connection with the Strange Parasites growing faint.
“Hehe
this technique
I’ve heard of it before
I believe it’s the technique created by the Ji Zu of the Jinma Realm to resist the primitive low-level infiltration of the Heavenly Demons?”
Seo Hyul smiled.
“Sorry but my technique isn’t primitive low-level infiltration or parasitism like the Heavenly Demons’
it’ll be tough
hehe.”
Kwaduk
At the same time my vision went dark and the connection with the Strange Parasites completely severed.
Among the Strange Parasites that had entered Seo Hyul only the ‘eyesight’ and ‘hearing’ of one of them remained
and the control of all the others disappeared.
He had digested them and made them his own.
‘Why did he leave only one eyesight?’
And soon I understood why.
Splish
Seo Hyul leaped into the heavens and earth.
At the same time he fell into a phantom array and skillfully navigated the stars to find the way.
‘This kid
…’
He had deliberately left one eyesight to watch my impatience.
Feeling irritation toward Seo Hyul’s intentions I thought.
‘But it’s not that big a deal
even if Seo Hyul comes up to the Bongyang layer
I’m sealed.
The lake water is probably enough to handle even him
because the lake water suppresses physical force so powerfully and has huge resistance to law power.
‘He can never enter this water.’
If he can’t enter
what is he going to do?”
“Ah
you’ve been sealed inside the Clear Tears?”
‘What?’
I felt a chill run down my entire body for a moment.
Through the eyesight and hearing of the Strange Parasite Seo Hyul had left behind he was speaking to me.
“It’s quite annoying
but the way to nullify the Clear Tears is surprisingly simple
if you drill a hole at the bottom of the Bongyang layer the Clear Tears will naturally flow down to the lower layer
and you can come out too.”
Oss
Oss
I gritted my teeth at the worst possible situation.
‘Seo Hyul
this bastard
right now…’
“Ah
I was wondering how you were reading my thoughts.”
Stomp
Stomp
…
Seo Hyul broke through the phantom array in an instant
and soon reached the front of the gate with the sign ‘Strong Health Blessing Bongyang Guardian Jeongryong Map’ hanging on it.
Kkuduk
Kkududuk
―
When Seo Hyul arrived in front of the gate he began to rub his face.
His face twisted
and at the same time from the face of ‘Pure White Seo Eun-hyun’ it changed into the face of ‘Complete Seo Hyul.’
Except for the lack of horns
the guy was now the complete Seo Hyul.
“Don’t worry
Seo Do-woo.”
“You’ll know soon
hehehehe.”
I felt a chill as if I had fallen into an ice cave.
I had never felt that cold and spine-tingling since I had transformed into a Ghost King.
‘Does he really know everything about my thoughts?’
Ziiit
Ziiit
…
I snapped my thoughts together at the tingling feeling coming from inside my mind.
‘No
I can’t believe everything Seo Hyul says.’
“I always like to tell the truth.”
‘Don’t be shaken by the guy’s deceitful expression.’
I ignored Seo Hyul’s words while focusing on the tingling feeling inside my mind
and first I completely checked the Strange Parasite connection
then in as low a state of consciousness as possible I made my consciousness go into a sleeping state.
After that I accelerated my consciousness with Deungbongjogeuk
used Gimyoseongsimjeon to prevent the waves of consciousness from leaking outside
and organized my thoughts.
‘Is he following my accelerated thoughts?’
‘No
he can’t follow.’
‘He can’t read my thoughts completely
he can only read the parts that are strongly revealed.’
‘Even if it’s because of some special reason he can read my thoughts with Strange Parasite or Blood Body
that special reason isn’t perfect.’
And while walking in the water layer Seo Hyul spoke again to me.
“It’s interesting
Seo Do-woo.”
“Try it
I can read everything.”
It was a spine-tingling statement.
But the closer he got the more I felt panic.
Should I call it vigilance?”
Inside my chest
the tingling feeling in my mind grew gradually stronger.
And because of that tingling feeling I began to doubt Seo Hyul’s words even more.
‘Can he really read everything
if he can read everything why does he need to threaten me with words and create fear
he could just read my thoughts without a word?’
When the lying Seo Hyul said he wouldn’t tell me the truth
was ‘I can read everything’ the truth?”
‘No
somehow
…’
The stronger the tingling feeling became
the more I felt like I could understand Seo Hyul’s speech.
‘My conviction that he can’t read everything is getting stronger.’
Looking at what the guy was doing it was clear he was reading my thoughts with some method.
But it was clear.
‘Not everything’.
‘Then
…’
Using Gimyoseongsimjeon I complicated the waves of my mind
and filled my consciousness with countless trivial thoughts.
‘Try reading it all
…’
Chi-iiiie
I want to eat rice
General Jang is a loser
why was the face of my original body made like that
the rice I ate with Yeon was delicious
why can’t I understand aesthetics
Seo Hyul bastard
looks like shit
I like Gang Min-hee
what’s Seo Hyul’s secret
was my original body really eaten
if I cook and eat Tangsuyuk with Seo Hyul and Goe-gun will they fight or not
come to think of it the Zhongjing Realm has bad food culture
…
After filling my consciousness with countless useless thoughts on the surface level I hid the ‘real’ secret.
***
‘He’s a spine-tingling guy
Seo Hyul
…’
I took a deep breath in the Chije layer and thought.
The Chije layer was dark.
But the darkness of the Chije layer gradually absorbed my dream body
and my field of vision gradually widened
so I was waiting until I could regain my sight.
‘While Seo Lip is blocking Seo Hyul’s thought-reading with his head I need to get some results from the Chije layer.’
After some time.
Seo Hyul arrived at the edge of the water layer
and was preparing to ascend to the Dogeo layer.
At the same time I realized I had completely secured my eyesight.
‘This place is the Chije layer
…’
Ooo-oo-oo-oo-oo
For some reason an eerie yin wind howled in the valley.
I opened my mouth while looking at the ‘huge things’ in front of me.
The Chije layer gave the impression of a ‘warehouse’ rather than the other layers which had been close to ‘small worlds.’
Statues of criminal sins about the size of small hills
and paintings and calligraphy hanging everywhere
large boxes
and similarly wide [jades] like a field.
‘Wait
the ground I’m standing on
…’
I realized that the ground I was standing on was not the floor but above a ‘desk.’
I had climbed onto the top of an enormously huge ‘desk.’
‘The statue of criminal sins in front of me
isn’t a statue
…’
It was a kind of criminal sin-shaped ‘seal.’
‘A seal that fits Jeongryong Jinin’s body size
…’
It didn’t look like a warehouse at all.
Yeah
this is rather
…’
‘An office
…’
It looked like an office where someone handled government affairs.
And I felt this wasn’t a place Jeongryong Jinin used.
‘Jeongryong Jinin is placed on the land that can be snapped by Ji Zu territory
…’
The entire Jinryong Alliance was almost Jeongryong Jinin’s body.
This office was large
but it was still narrow compared to Jeongryong Jinin’s true body.
I flew to the huge jades on the top of the desk without looking.
Fortunately Strange Parasite was usable in the Chije layer
so I could get there quickly.
Using Gimyoseongsimjeon on the top of the jades
I covered the jades with my consciousness and read them.
‘This jade
…’
My eyes sparkled.
The language of the underworld I had learned from Ratio when I acquired the Bu-deok-je-sa-seo book.
A jade inscribed with the language of the deceased.
I read the content of the jade down line by line.
‘This
…’
The jade was none other than a will.
―The Strong Health Seat Master
Vice Judge General
Ancient Power True Lord Hyeon-ning
transmits to the lower seat Great Daluo Immortal Jeongryong
…
Chi-iiiie
“Kuaaaaaak
!!!”
[Name]!”
The moment I heard that [name] I felt an overwhelming pressure that crushed my mind with unbearable pain.
‘I
have to endure
…’
It felt like I was about to be ‘eaten’ right now!”
“K
kweeeek
!”
At the same time I gathered my consciousness and strongly connected the wealth axis on Seo Lip’s body to me.
The attraction of the axis prevented my consciousness from flying off and disappearing.
“H
heeok
…
heuk
…”
When I came to my senses I felt that Seo Hyul had already crossed half of the Dogeo layer.
And around me were blood characters I had scratched with the fingers of my dream body.
They were numerous records of knowledge and sayings
and the moment I saw them I instinctively understood.
‘Ah
… yeah
.’
A Four Pillars realm cultivator living in the protective area of the human race.
During the time he recalled the memory of the ‘technique’ he saw he believed a certain being was resurrecting inside his body.
In reality he had vomited a large chunk of strange stone from his stomach and sealed it too.
And that stone had melted
leaving behind water containing the record that controlled the Clear Scale Armor.
The moment I heard the name of the great being [Hyeon-ning] I understood.
This being was the one who was resurrecting inside that Four Pillars realm cultivator.
At the same time I felt a deep relief and fear.
Hyeon-ning could not be resurrected.
It had been completely and absolutely annihilated.
The moment I ‘accepted’ the knowledge I understood.
It was only possible for someone who had survived by facing countless True Immortals.
At the same time I could guess the state of Cheongmun Ryeong too.
His symptoms looked similar to mine
so I thought he had probably been turned into a salt pillar like me by ‘absorbing information of a dead True Immortal.’
The Lord of Salt Mountain would not resurrect through Cheongmun Ryeong.
He would be a being annihilated like Hyeon-ning.
Of course the difference in reaction between the Lord of Salt Mountain whose whole body had been turned into salt pillars and me was not that great
but it was probably because the Lord of Salt Mountain was a being of higher rank than Hyeon-ning.
‘Then
… in the Water Realm there is a being higher than Vice Judge General that has died and fallen away
and Cheongmun Ryeong has been trying to catch a glimpse of that being’s traces
…’
I felt relief about Cheongmun Ryeong
but the information about the Water Realm was one that made me even more frightened.
I looked at the mysterious records I had scattered.
I couldn’t figure out what they were
but I barely suppressed the desire to devour them and decided to finish reading the [jade] to get the information.
―The Lord of the Underworld ordered the Judge Panel to be selected to assist in the battle against the Heavenly King of Light
the members of the Judge Panel are figures that Jeongryong knows well.
Chief Judge General Mingma Jinjun Yu Ho-deok
Reincarnation Judge General Minggui Jinjun Yu Su-ryeon
Vice Judge General Ancient Power True Lord Hyeon-ning
…
Chi-iiiie
“Kuaaaaaaaaak
!!!!”
[Name]!”
[Name]s!”
Distant beings’ [names] drilled into my brain.
I endured the pain of tearing my hair
drooled while gasping for breath.
It was more painful and terrifying than when I had my testicles pulled out or when I had drunk 60 000 times the pain potion.
The fear that I would be eaten whole by the [names] as the being [me] filled me.
But maybe because I had faced countless True Immortals I had developed tolerance
or because I had reached the Four Pillars realm my resistance had increased a little.
I somehow succeeded in enduring without being annihilated.
‘Crazy
…’
My head had turned completely white as a Four Pillars realm cultivator.
It was proof that the pain and pressure from seeing the [names] was so terrifying.
‘Seo Hyul is approaching.’
I gritted my teeth and continued reading the jade.
―Even against the Heavenly Venerable and the Lord of Light he didn’t fall behind
thanks to the Cold Lunar Heavenly King who pushed the Lord of Light to the brink of annihilation
a gap was created in the surveillance of the Heavenly King realm governed by the Lord of Light
thanks to that we who govern the Five Blessings Axes gathered together
…
―The Chief Judge General was in an important period before he ascended to Emperor
so the Lord of the Underworld sent Great Daluo Immortal in his place
but the noble Chief Judge General said he would witness this historic moment with his own eyes
and because he had been swayed by the character of Gwang-han he threw out a departure notice and crossed the Mingdo Heavenly Gate to descend into the Ilwol Cheonyeok
…
―I also threw out a departure notice by refusing the position of Seon-su Wang
I have the same heart
if I hadn’t come here my seat would have been occupied by Jeongryong
but I won’t bring you
…
―By the time you see this will I have probably already been annihilated
please at least one of you come back victorious
so that you don’t have to see this will
…
―But to prepare for the worst I am trying to convey my will to you
if that being is the one we imagine
it may become impossible to pass my seat to you
in which case the Underworld will lose four seats at once
Strong Health
Yu Ho-deok
…
―A huge power vacuum will be created in the Underworld
I left this will hoping you would become my successor and obtain the seat of Strong Health to prevent that worst situation
…
―Jeongryong
you are my most loyal subordinate
I entrust the law books of the underworld to you
my office
my court
my judge’s brush
my seat
and my will
…
―If we lose this will will naturally be passed to you
come to the Ilwol Cheonyeok
because I have connected the attraction connected to the seat on the will
no matter who you are you cannot stop me from passing the seat to my successor
…
―Jeongryong
my child-like subordinate
if I am annihilated you will assist the Heavenly Lord of the Underworld
…
That was the end of the jade.
“K
heuk
k
heohek
…”
I was vomiting blood like a fountain from my seven openings and lying on the ground.
Because too many immense beings had come out I was on the verge of death.
It was only because I had seen many True Immortals and developed tolerance
and only because I had reached the Four Pillars realm that my vitality and consciousness had become strong
that I had not been annihilated.
‘Besides hearing those immense
… names there was no harvest
…’
With a desperate expression I looked around me.
Far away on an enormous wall paintings and calligraphies as large as mountains were hanging.
Among them a painting titled Blood Yin Great War showed a dragon that looked like Jeongryong Jinin and a being with blood-red eyes covered in darkness.
I gasped while looking at that painting.
My dream body would be annihilated soon.
‘Damn
… Seo Hyul
even if you come up to the Bongyang layer
…’
That was the moment.
‘…Wait a second
.’
I saw Jeongryong Jinin drawn on the painting titled Blood Yin Great War.
Jeongryong Jinin was wearing something like a ‘transparent’ veil on his body.
Chi-iiiie
At the same time I felt the ‘knowledge’ I had gained when I heard the name [Hyeon-ning] being digested in my brain.
“K
uuuug
…”
‘Knowledge’!”
If you don’t die after seeing True Immortals you gain ‘knowledge’!”
I looked at the content of the ‘knowledge’ and gave a smile of satisfaction.
“If it’s like this
…’
I can win
…’
Seo Hyul
…’
***
Stomp
Stomp
…
Above the Bongyang layer.
Seo Hyul was walking toward the lakeside with a faint smile.
“Haha
then Seo Do-woo
I’m taking your ‘real body’.”
The moment he stretched out his hand and concentrated his attraction.
Chrrrrrrrr
The water on the lakeside began to churn.
Swaaah
And the water came crashing down over Seo Hyul like a waterfall.
“Kweuk
…”
Seo Hyul felt danger and dodged the trajectory of the waterfall
then stepped back.
“…How did you escape from the Clear Tears
Seo Do-woo?”
He slithered his snake-like eyes
and looked at the Ghost King that had appeared below.
And the Ghost King opened eighteen mouths and laughed.
“Did you call this the Clear Tears?”
“Yes
the tears of the divine tortoise Hae-tae are the essence of this lake water.”
“I see
so it was one of the legacies left behind by Ancient Power True Lord for his subordinates
…’
The Ghost King burned his ears with his eyes and laughed.
“This isn’t the Clear Tears
it seems to be called Clear Scale Armor
…”
Swaaah
…
“Well then
let’s fight properly
Seo Hyul.”
Chwaaah
…
The lake water gathered in the air and enveloped Seo Hyul.
Without any resistance Seo Hyul was sealed like that.