Whispers from the Void
In Jeungryong Jinin's Pocket Dimension.
Beneath the Bongyang Layer, in the Jeomuldo.
How long had I sat in full lotus on the altar above?
Kugugugu!
The entire Jeomuldo seemed to tremble.
I opened my two eyes wide and smiled.
“You’ve come…”
Now was the time to leave.
***
Into the depths of Jeungryong Jinin’s Pocket Dimension, several forces had already slipped.
The first to catch my eye were the Black Linen Demon Gate’s human cultivators.
Then came the union of the Heavenly Clans—Zhang Mu Clan and Bi Yi Clan’s Four Pillars sages.
Lastly, the Yao horde led by Gyoyeom of the Blood Religion.
And the miscellaneous mountain-river forces.
The Black Linen Demon Gate had arrived first.
Immediately after, the two Four Pillars sages from the Heavenly Clans slipped in behind them.
Last came Gyoyeom and his group.
They slowly circulated the interior of the Jeomuldo as they climbed toward the upper layers.
I watched them from the physical peak, the Bongyang Layer, and laughed bitterly.
“This is quite the interesting mood.”
Watching them scheme was already entertaining enough to keep me from growing bored.
And I saw exactly how each race attacked the Jeomuldo.
The Black Linen Demon Gate operated as always.
Yet behind them, Gyoyeom and the Yao race surged forward, driving lower-realm Yao before them.
“Gyoyeom is advancing like that, while the Heavenly Clans…”
They were moving through the Jeomuldo with surprising speed.
First, the Zhang Mu Clan’s Four Pillars sage planted a wood law on the battlefield, sprouting trees.
Then the two sages climbed onto them, Bi Yi Clan’s sage spread his wings, seized the Zhang Mu sage, and dove downward in a rapid aerial sweep.
‘Even in the Jeomuldo, where flight is forbidden, they just cut through it like this.’
I surveyed them, then turned my gaze back toward the Black Linen Demon Gate.
‘Hyeon-gwi is still commanding the Black Linen Demon Gate.’
Yet this time I saw only the Black Linen Demon Gate cultivators.
The Jeomuldo expedition advanced swiftly.
It had not taken long for the two Heavenly Clans sages, Nok Ju and Baek Wi-ik, to reach here.
The two Heavenly Clansmen laughed happily while plucking Cheon-ryeon fruit from the Mungusul tree, and from below I felt the Black Linen Demon Gate pushing back the Blood Religion.
And at last.
“Please give me just three drops of Cheon-ryeon fruit juice!”
Gyoyeom, the Yao horde, and the two Heavenly Clansmen clashed.
History inside the Jeomuldo had not diverged much from previous lives—except that Seo Lip was absent.
Gyoyeom dropped to his knees before the Heavenly Clansmen just as they mocked him and his wife.
He fought them in fury.
Kugugugug!
Baek Wi-ik unfurled his giant tent and pressed Gyoyeom with Nok Ju.
Unlike before, Gyoyeom was powerless against the two Heavenly Clansmen.
Of course. pGT>‘I’ve hidden every artifact I gathered for Gyoyeom.’ pGT>The Black Linen Demon Gate and Gyoyeom had yet to harvest any real gains from the lower layers. pGT>‘Because I scooped up every treasure inside the Jeomuldo before they arrived.’ pGT>That was why the Black Linen Demon Gate and Gyoyeom reached the Bongyang Layer far faster than before—especially Gyoyeom, who was being crushed by the Heavenly Clansmen. pGT>‘If things keep going this way, Gyoyeom will lose.’ pGT>The Black Linen Demon Gate that had ascended to the Bongyang Layer ignored the Four Pillars sages fighting below and headed toward the Mungusul tree, one by one, to investigate the scrolls. pGT>‘The Black Linen Demon Gate came here to obtain the Sin-jeom scroll or whatever it is from Hyeon-gwi…’ pGT>They had nothing to do with me. pGT>Anyway, my goal was those Four Pillars sages. pGT>If I could just watch the one. pGT>‘I wonder what that guy, Hyeon-gwi, is actually up to.’ pGT>I passed the Black Linen Demon Gate disciples diligently searching the Mungusul tree’s edge and approached the distant Hyeon-gwi. pGT>My physical body was spread across the outer edge of the Myeonggwi Realm. pGT>Without a Ghost King who had cultivated the Ghost Dao Law to perfect soul fusion, he could not even sense me. pGT>‘Hmm, I can’t figure out what this guy is scheming…’ pGT>I drew near Hyeon-gwi and watched what he was doing. pGT>He ignored his surroundings and searched for something. pGT>And then. pGT>“I found it! Seocheon Scroll!”
Kwaak! pGT>Hyeon-gwi’s face lit with joy as he pulled a pitch-black scroll from the stack and clutched it.
I flinched slightly. pGT>‘Seocheon Scroll…’ pGT>That’s what Yuk Yo mentioned? pGT>I glanced at the pitch-black scroll in Hyeon-gwi’s hands. pGT>Oddly enough, it was just another pitch-black scroll. pGT>I still couldn’t tell what was drawn. pGT>Yet somehow Hyeon-gwi stroked the center of the Seocheon Scroll as if he were seeing something sinister. pGT>‘What on earth is this guy hiding?’ pGT>Just as I leaned in to examine him closely. pGT>‘Huh?’ pGT>Hyeon-gwi suddenly lifted his head. pGT>‘…’ pGT>‘…’ pGT>Hyeon-gwi and I flinched at the same time. pGT>‘He looked at me? And he’s startled?’ pGT>I was startled, but in an instant I understood the direction of his gaze and relaxed. pGT>He had not been looking at me. pGT>He had been looking above me. pGT>‘Is there something up there?’ pGT>I turned my head in the direction of his gaze. pGT>A scroll depicting the map of the Gwanghan Realm hung far away. pGT>It was one of the enormous scrolls draped around the Bongyang Layer. pGT>I studied the Gwanghan Realm map for a moment but found nothing special. pGT>‘What the hell is this guy looking at!’ pGT>I decided then and there to uncover Hyeon-gwi’s secret. pGT>After staring down at me for a while, Hyeon-gwi smirked and floated the pitch-black scroll he had pulled into the air.
Uuwuuung! pGT>The Black Linen Demon Gate’s thought soul rose into the air, creating a spatial rift. pGT>He hurled the Seocheon Scroll into the rift and severed his thought soul. pGT>‘Seeing it from another world… how unusual.’ pGT>‘…?’ pGT>Then the fellow suddenly stared into empty air and muttered something incomprehensible. pGT>‘This bastard… is he crazy?’ pGT>I raised my guard. pGT>‘Or is he casting some forbidden technique? Is he trying to draw the power of a higher being?’ pGT>The Black Linen Demon Gate’s thought soul technique specialized in borrowing power. pGT>Perhaps he was trying to borrow the strength of a True Man. pGT>Yet the strange words had barely left Hyeon-gwi’s lips when he performed an action I could not fathom. pGT>‘…’
Puk! pGT>Hyeon-gwi’s thought soul exploded! pGT>Instantly, Hyeon-gwi was dead. pGT>He had committed suicide. pGT>‘What the hell…’ pGT>I approached Hyeon-gwi in confusion. pGT>He was dead. pGT>There was no trace of reluctance on his face. pGT>‘What on earth…’ pGT>Hyeon-gwi had been a Four Pillars sage. pGT>A promising young talent with a bright future. pGT>Yet this promising talent had chosen to end his own life without a moment’s hesitation? pGT>I could not understand it. pGT>I examined Hyeon-gwi’s corpse several times. pGT>‘…Who are you. pGT>Hyeon-gwi.’ pGT>In my previous life I had died at Seo Lip’s hands and responded with the same bored tone. pGT>If Hyeon-gwi had been someone’s split soul or a resurrection method, that might have explained it. pGT>But I had seen it clearly. pGT>Hyeon-gwi’s soul had not shifted through the ranks of the underworld. pGT>It had simply crossed the outer edge of the Myeonggwi Realm and headed to the underworld, just like any ordinary ghost. pGT>In other words, Hyeon-gwi had died. pGT>Perfectly. pGT>After examining Hyeon-gwi’s body, I learned that because he had died so cleanly, I could even possess him. pGT>Yet somehow I felt uneasy. pGT>‘There’s a reason I feel this uneasy.’ pGT>Even a fool would know. pGT>This man was definitely connected to the True Immortal realm. pGT>He would never have chosen death so casually otherwise. pGT>‘And he was staring at the Gwanghan Realm scroll so intently… Could it be related to the Gwanghan Realm itself?’ pGT>It was the only conclusion I could reach. pGT>I glanced at Hyeon-gwi with a troubled expression, then turned and walked toward Gyoyeom. pGT>***
Kugugugug! pGT>Gyoyeom staggered before the vast forest and panted heavily. pGT>[Damn it, you scummy Heavenly Clans bastards!] pGT>Blood tears streamed down his eyes. pGT>[What’s so precious about three drops of fruit juice! Are you Heavenly Clansmen so stingy that you’re shaking just to give three drops of juice!] pGT>Blood sea surged around him as he tried to resist the forest. pGT>Yet together with the forest, a massive beam of light from the heavens struck Gyoyeom.
Bang!
Chiiiiii- pGT>The blood sea he had summoned evaporated in the light alongside his blood tears. pGT>He was gradually being pushed back. pGT>[Those three drops of Cheon-ryeon fruit are nothing! You can’t even give me a speck of it!!!]
Kwaaaang! pGT>Gyoyeom was flung from the forest and light beam, coughing up dry phlegm with dried blood tears. pGT>He had no strength left even to twitch a fin. pGT>‘Is this the end?’ pGT>At that moment. pGT>‘…?’ pGT>Gyoyeom noticed his shadow had changed. pGT>‘W-what is this?’ pGT>His shadow should have been a shark’s. pGT>But now it was a monster with nineteen heads. pGT>A small voice whispered in his ear. pGT>-Lend me your body. pGT>‘…! W-who are you!’ pGT>-If you lend me your body, I will fulfill whatever you want. pGT>‘My wife’s illness…’ pGT>‘…’ pGT>Gyoyeom could not continue. pGT>Yet he clenched his eyes shut. pGT>‘I-I’ll lend you my body! Please, sir, lend me your strength!’ pGT>After all, nothing was left for him now. pGT>There was nowhere to retreat. pGT>Then he had no choice but to grasp the suspicious ghost’s hand! pGT>And the moment Gyoyeom agreed, the shadow clung to his body. pGT>It slowly seeped into him. pGT>Baek Wi-ik, who had been emitting light from his wings, glared in rage and widened his eyes. pGT>‘You bastard! What kind of forbidden technique are you using! You’re leaking ominous energy…’ pGT>But he could not finish his sentence.
Kugugugug! pGT>[Gaaaaah!] pGT>An immense pressure engulfed Baek Wi-ik’s giant tent. pGT>At the same time, Gyoyeom screamed. pGT>Strange patterns were being carved across his entire body. pGT>The current madman receiving the next level of punishment from the Heavenly and Earth Clans. pGT>The circuit of Goe-gun. pGT>[Kuaaah! Kuuuaaah!] pGT>The carving process was so painful that Gyoyeom rolled his eyes and foamed blood from his mouth. pGT>Baek Wi-ik and Nok Ju’s faces tightened. pGT>‘Did you see it, Baek sage?’ pGT>‘I saw it. pGT>‘Something black has entered the body of that Blood Religion.’ pGT>‘Is it a ghost in the Jeomuldo?’ pGT>‘It might be. pGT>‘Be careful. pGT>‘The Earth Clansman is famous for his tough body, yet he’s suffering like this. pGT>‘It’s no ordinary evil ghost.’ pGT>When Baek Wi-ik and Nok Ju had finished preparing to strike.
Kuggrag! pGT>A circuit began to glow on Gyoyeom’s body. pGT>At the same time, the Triple Taiji rose behind his head. pGT>‘W-what kind of forbidden technique!’ pGT>‘Baek sage! Concentrate the power inside the tent first!’ pGT>‘A-all right…’ pGT>But then.
Kugugugug! pGT>Four axes rose around the Triple Taiji behind Gyoyeom. pGT>Baek Wi-ik and Nok Ju’s eyes nearly popped out. pGT>‘H-how! This Blood Religion guy was barely a Four Pillars early-stage!’ pGT>‘Could it be that the ghost’s realm…’ pGT>The axes glowed. pGT>The characters engraved upon them shone auspiciously. pGT>Longevity. pGT>Wealth. pGT>Peace. pGT>And then. pGT>Yu Ho-deok! pGT>‘What is that… not the Five Elements axes either…’ pGT>And the next instant.
Paaaah! pGT>The axes around Gyoyeom created a giant tent. pGT>They began to devour Baek Wi-ik’s territory. pGT>Baek Wi-ik’s face turned deathly pale. pGT>‘T-this is insane! Devouring territory is something only a True Unity Peak can do! pGT>‘How could a Four Pillars early-stage create such a thing!’ pGT>Yet no matter what Baek Wi-ik thought, the genuine orthodox tent centered on Gyoyeom. pGT>The Five Elements Tent devoured his territory in an instant and seized the surroundings. pGT>The scenery of the nearby temple on the mountain changed.
Shwaaah- pGT>It was the same landscape as the Sato Territory they had visited just before entering the Jeomuldo. pGT>Endless desert. pGT>And a gloomy, unpleasant fog covering the sky. pGT>And in the center, Gyoyeom stood. pGT>Yet they all knew. pGT>This was not the Blood Religion they had been fighting moments ago!
Uuuuuuu- pGT>An ominous ghostly energy engulfed Gyoyeom. pGT>Then Gyoyeom’s massive body was wrapped in it and began to change shape. pGT>Baek Wi-ik and Nok Ju’s expressions soured. pGT>A dangerous existence was descending through Gyoyeom’s body. pGT>He possessed a body glittering with starlight. pGT>Nineteen heads. pGT>And around him, white spheres of Heaven-Earth qi boiled wildly.
Kuggrag! pGT>In its hands, purple mist churned and barked like hunting dogs. pGT>‘U-uuuhaaaa!!’ pGT>The moment Nok Ju saw the Ghost King, he fled.
Kuggrag! pGT>He tried to escape the Ghost King’s tent using the axes he possessed. pGT>But it was hopeless.
Kwaaang! pGT>Even when Nok Ju struck his axes, the giant tent did not budge. pGT>Nok Ju screamed.