Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Song Emperor Great King
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Ever since the "Tower" took root in the Central Plains.
Spirit veins opened, spirit roots were born, drawing the mortal world closer to the underworld, blending the realm of the known with the divine mysteries.
Thus, sorceries and spells that had lurked in the shadows emerged into the light, and the voices of the gods, severed by the absolute barrier between heaven and earth, reached the mortal realm once more.
Myths and legends that had vanished resurfaced upon this land.
Song Emperor Great King was precisely such a being.
The underworld, accessible only to the dead.
Among its depths, the king of the hell where sinners plummeted.
Even for me, who had long immersed myself in the ways of sorcery, the manifestation of Song Emperor Great King came as an overwhelming shock.
"How dare a mere mortal block the Great King's procession and stand there dumbfounded! Kneel at once and show your respect!!"
The judge leading the palanquin at the forefront stepped forward with a thunderous shout.
Only then did I snap back to my senses.
But I did not offer the courtesy he demanded.
I simply stared straight at Song Emperor Great King in silence.
The immense divine power radiating from him weighed down my shoulders involuntarily, yet I gritted my teeth and endured.
I activated the Heavenly Demon Black Heart Art.
Paaaaah...!
The pure demonic ferocity awakening in my dantian instantly repelled the oppressive divine force, allowing me to finally catch my breath.
In that moment, a flicker of interest crossed Song Emperor Great King's eyes.
Of course, I did not draw any closer.
To withstand even greater divine power at this range could crush my soul under the crushing spiritual pressure.
Song Emperor Great King seemed aware of this as well, for he did not approach beyond a certain distance.
After steadying my breath once more, I slowly opened my mouth.
"I am no priest serving Song Emperor Great King. I may show respect, but I have no reason to kneel."
"What did you say-?"
The judge's voice sharpened like a blade.
His eyes blazed as if flames might erupt from them at any second.
"You dare to slight His Excellency-"
"Enough, Judge."
Just as the judge seemed ready to unleash divine arts, a low chuckle echoed from atop the palanquin.
It was the same voice that had shaken the canyon when repelling the wraiths.
The judge startled and looked up.
"B-But-"
"That man's words hold no fault. From the start, he pursues 'that one' slumbering in the deep abyss, not me, and harbors enemies in the mortal world. He has no reason to heed this Great King's command."
The judge paled and prostrated himself flat on the ground.
"Your Excellency rules and punishes the souls of all beings!! How can you say such-"
"This Great King has commanded you to stop. Must I repeat myself until my mouth aches?"
"......"
The judge's head bowed even lower.
He resembled a minister awaiting punishment for offering unwise counsel to his king.
I watched the scene silently, pondering Song Emperor Great King's words.
That one slumbering in the deep abyss?
It was the first time a divine being had referred to the Great Demon God with such an elaborate title, stirring my curiosity.
Why did Song Emperor Great King describe the Great Demon God with such a roundabout, grandiose epithet?
"Mortal. From the distant hells, this Great King has watched how you dealt with my subordinate."
I offered silent respect.
But inwardly, I burned with tension.
For Song Emperor Great King to manifest directly in the mortal world consumed vast divine power.
If he harbored anger over my slaying of the North Sea Sect Leader and sought to harm me, escape would prove difficult.
Yet surrender was out of the question.
While inwardly searching for a way to flee, I kept my ears wide open.
"I regret any disturbance to Your Excellency's sight."
"You caused no disturbance. Quite the opposite—it was intriguing."
Intriguing?
This was an unexpected response.
"Among the priests who honored this Great King for over a millennium, that child ranked among the top few. Even stripped of his blessings and body, his prowess was genuine. However."
His words paused.
In that instant, I felt an excruciating chill.
A cold that could freeze the soul.
A single errant breath might ice over my lungs solid.
It stemmed from Song Emperor Great King's pure fury.
This icy hell was Song Emperor Great King himself.
"That child twisted and perverted my teachings at whim. Worse, he plotted to plunge the saha world into chaos. As I pondered his punishment, you stepped in and chastised him in my stead. How could that not be intriguing?"
"......"
"Thus, this Great King has strained somewhat to manifest upon this earth. To you, for whom I am grateful, I offer one decree."
"A decree, Your Excellency?"
"Become my subordinate."
"!"
I jerked my head up.
Song Emperor Great King, resting his chin in his hand, curved his languid eyes into arches.
"Did you not proclaim to my followers with your own mouth that you would become the new leader of the North Sea Sect?"
"......"
"Does that not mean you intend to serve this Great King?"
A hollow laugh escaped me unwittingly.
He was tying it together like this?
"Naturally, since you would abandon your former god for another, commensurate compensation shall be provided separately. This Great King's vessel is as vast as the River Naha piercing the hells—I neglect no loyal subordinate."
Song Emperor Great King spread his palm wide. An ice shard floated up, emanating a piercing glow.
The sheer magnitude of its energy was staggering.
It mesmerized my mind.
"!"
"You recognize it, I see."
"...Could this be a spirit root?"
"Indeed."
"!!"
"To be precise, it is the Nine Springs Yin God Root—immensely beneficial for the sorceries and martial arts you wield. With your aptitude, sprouting this 'seed' alone could elevate you to immortality within a decade."
"......"
"And this is not all. Should you wish, I am willing to open the Treasury of the Eight Frozen Hells, granting you three or four treasures of your choosing."
"......"
"Well? What say you to serving this Great King? Does it not tempt you greatly?"
I let out another hollow laugh.
I thought he merely came to recruit talent, but he's offering all this?
The Nine Springs Yin God Root was a spirit root of the utmost grade in the yin-cold lineage.
In terms of rank, it rivaled even the Sun-Moon Star God Root of Mount Iron Blood.
In my past life, the one shortfall after ascending as Ghost King was lacking the superior talent to sprout such a root.
Without a dantian or spirit root, pursuing divine entry or soul exodus demanded extraordinary effort.
Thus, obtaining the Nine Springs Yin God Root could restore all my Ghost King powers in mere years—and perhaps even aim for divine meridian... or sacred threshold.
On top of that, opening the Treasury of the Eight Frozen Hells.
That vault held treasures amassed over millennia from sinners cast into the icy hells.
Arming oneself with its spoils could maximally unleash the Nine Springs Yin God Root's potential.
Especially the dharma treasures—coveted even by half-immortals.
In short, Song Emperor Great King offered treatment rivaling his own incarnations.
No—perhaps even his incarnations received less.
It spoke volumes of his high regard for me.
'No. This is a poisoned chalice.'
I saw the trap hidden in the gift.
Accepting it would accelerate my vengeance.
But it would cap my growth.
The Nine Springs Yin God Root aided sorcery above all.
For one now pursuing martial prowess, it would hinder more than help.
Worse, its yin-cold nature could critically undermine my yang-hot arts like the Crimson Dragon Qi or Heavenly Demon Black Heart Art.
Tempting, yes.
But my gaze extended beyond mere revenge to farther horizons.
The ashes and the Tower were mere waypoints, not destinations.
Thus, I had to refuse.
However.
"Oh, and one more thing: when angered, this Great King rivals the asuras of Surado. Should you reject my gracious offer and persist in chasing the abyss, my lightning wrath shall follow."
Song Emperor Great King grinned ferociously, baring his fangs, and lightly wagged his index finger.
The canyon walls encircling me constricted, larger serpents baring venomous fangs in threat.
Kyaaaaah!
Nor was that all.
Kikikikik!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Within the ice walls, countless demons and monstrosities prowled, relentlessly pounding the barriers.
At the Great King's command, they would burst forth to tear me apart.
Or drag me inside to corrupt me as one of their own.
"......"
Another hollow laugh escaped.
Was this blackmail or a proposal? Hard to tell.
Could a god treat a mortal life this way?
"Have you made your choice?"
Song Emperor Great King's lips curled high.
The judge and attendants tensed their eyes fiercely.
Ready to strike should I utter folly.
My answer remained the same.
But in that instant, another thought flashed through my mind.
'Wait. If I play this right...?'
Suppressing my twitching lips, I raised my head.
Had the wraiths seen, they might have wailed, 'The Young Leader smiles again!' or 'What brilliant scheme unfolds now?!'
"Your Excellency's offer is profoundly grateful, yet I must regretfully decline. I beseech your understanding."
"The reason?"
The briefly warming air chilled anew.
Song Emperor Great King still smiled, but his eyes were icy.
"My heart still blazes with divine fire."
"Divine fire-"
Song Emperor Great King stroked his chin, murmuring.
"True, if divine fire burns, embracing my North Sea would prove difficult. One must melt or extinguish. Regrettable, but unavoidable."
His tone, betrayed by expectation, now held only indifference.
The judge and attendants' gazes sharpened mercilessly.
The ice walls seemed poised to shatter.
"But uttering such words means you are prepared to accept whatever punishment this Great King metes out. Shall we test that resolve-"
"Before that."
Foolhardy as it was, I cut off Song Emperor Great King mid-sentence.
"The greatest reason I must refuse your decree is that the task you would command as your subordinate is one I am already bound to perform."
The light gathering at Song Emperor Great King's fingertips stilled.
Interest gleamed in his eyes.
"How do you presume to know what this Great King would command?"
"Did Your Excellency not state it? That the former priest Gu Rakseong twisted and perverted your teachings. You sought to have me punish those sinners in his place, did you not?"
"You've grasped that much already? Correct. Such was this Great King's will."
"Then that task is mine as well."
"Why?"
"Because the Demonic Blade North Sea Sect is part of the Divine Cult."
"Hah?"
Song Emperor Great King's eyebrow arched.
I straightened my back and declared confidently.
"I am the Young Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Thus, should external forces corrupt the Demonic Blade North Sea Sect, I am duty-bound to punish them on the Cult's behalf—regardless of your will."
Song Emperor Great King's lips twisted.
As if to say, 'Well, now?'
His original proposal had been to fill the vacant priest seat.
But I cleverly twisted it: since it was my duty anyway, no offer was needed.
A fine line between yes and no.
Refusal under a plausible pretext turned a gracious offer into an 'unfortunate necessity.'
It preserved his face.
Ultimately, Song Emperor Great King's dignity mattered.
If I could decline without bruising it, despite being a mere mortal.
"Hahaha."
Laughter finally spread across Song Emperor Great King's face.
"As rumored, a sly and cunning one. Kin indeed. Yes, my little lambs were once such kin. This Great King momentarily forgot."
Hearing a god call me sly felt off, but undeterred, I drove home the final point.
With his icy heart thawed, now was the moment to win favor outright.
"Frank! Ly! As kin! I won't refuse further support from Your Excellency!!"
Song Emperor Great King's eyes shifted once more.
This time, with incredulity.
But I plastered on the thickest face I could muster.
Not asking much—just crack open the Treasury of the Eight Frozen Hells once, Brother Song.
Ending like this feels too wasteful.
It'll haunt my dreams later.
What if no?
Then no harm done.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?