Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Back to the Starting Point (5)
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The Doll Four Sisters and the Three-Eyed Cat finally arrived at the stone slab storage room.
The lively doll, Yiho, pushed open the large door on both sides.
Inside, stone slabs lay lined up in rows.
There were all sorts of patterns.
Fortunately, the pattern Seoran was looking for was there too.
The Doll Four Sisters first sent a signal to their master.
Then, they each lifted one corner of the stone slab before retracing their steps exactly the way they had come.
Having achieved a good result, the Three-Eyed Cat was satisfied.
Gaining favor from a powerhouse with just a small favor was truly a rare opportunity.
Yokai society was a jungle of the law of the jungle.
Such minor connections could sometimes save one's life.
The Three-Eyed Cat grinned slyly to itself.
I need to flatter even harder whenever there's a chance.
You Four Evils who tormented me, watch your backs.
Someday, I'll beg that lord to take you all out.
They soon reached the top floor where Seoran was waiting.
The Three-Eyed Cat had faithfully carried out its superior's request.
Now was the perfect chance to cozy up.
The Three-Eyed Cat put on a sycophantic expression and shouted.
“Investigator, take a look at this! The stone slab you were looking f...”
The Three-Eyed Cat, about to boast of its achievement, shut its mouth.
It hadn't expected a reunion like this.
Seoran was dancing a wild, trance-like dance.
She seemed extremely excited about something.
She hadn't even noticed anyone had arrived.
Watching Seoran start twirling her long hair like a shaman's top, the Three-Eyed Cat inwardly marveled.
Indeed, she's truly amazing!
You have to be that crazy to get that strong!
I've had another great epiphany today!
The Three-Eyed Cat gauged the mood and joined the dance.
A rabbit yokai's sprightly tap dance.
It tapped the floor rapidly with quick footwork, adding rhythm.
Seoran glanced at the Three-Eyed Cat.
The brief eye contact was enough for their minds to connect.
The atmosphere heated up, and Seoran's movements quickened.
Seoran, shaking her hair and arms with wild abandon, ordered the Doll Four Sisters, who had been standing around blankly watching.
“Fast music, now!”
The dolls played the same tune.
They spread out, creating a surround sound effect.
Seoran expressed her emotions with her entire body.
She danced like a human sacrifice shaman for quite some time.
Once the frenzied festival ended, the Three-Eyed Cat asked.
“But why the sudden dance?”
Still lost in self-absorption, Seoran spread her arms wide and declared in a theatrical tone.
“Who is it that finally uncovered the secret of the Great Rift? It is I! A true explorer, one might say! Oh, how frightening! The intellect my brain possesses! How tragic for the mortals overshadowed by my immortal fame!”
Despite the nonsense, the Three-Eyed Cat did its part.
“Truly impressive! Anyway, take a look over there. It's the stone slab you wanted.”
Seoran nodded in approval.
“Yes, you did very well.”
“Shall we head somewhere else now?”
“No, there's something I must do.”
Seoran began rummaging through the underground facility.
*****
In the end, she found the control room on the third underground level.
A large lever attached to the floor.
Walls filled with large and small gears.
It closely resembled the scene from the illustration.
Just as Seoran had predicted.
The Heavenly Diagram Painting was indeed a kind of manual.
Thanks to it, she didn't have to go far to find the control device.
Seoran closely examined the control device.
Now she saw the lever wasn't fully pulled.
It was a relief it wasn't broken.
Seoran grabbed the lever with a smile lighting up her face.
“Mountains and rivers of the Eastern Continent, Minor Sects, and Five Elements Treefolk, lend me your strength, please.”
Seoran pulled the lever with all her might.
The thick metal pillar moved ever so slightly.
Even with a Decision Cutter Investigator's strength, it was no light weight.
Seoran shouted toward the heavens.
“Die, Ten Great Sects!”
In the end, Seoran's revenge succeeded.
The superhuman strength born from Black Bamboo Sect's elixir was truly astonishing.
Finally, the lever was pulled all the way.
She had moved a structure the size of a mountain all by herself.
With a heaven-shaking roar, the Great Rift closed.
Exhausted, Seoran collapsed spread-eagled on the floor.
But her face brimmed only with ecstasy.
Her brain felt like it would melt from the excess dopamine.
Having landed an anti-monopoly punch right on the nose of the Ten Great Sects cartel, her mouth refused to stop grinning.
Of course, the Ten Great Sects, who had enjoyed privileges for thousands of years, wouldn't collapse overnight just because the Great Rift closed.
Seoran didn't expect that much.
But as time passed, things would change.
Even ordinary mortals who live and die in decades face revenge.
Even a lottery with astronomically low odds will eventually be won if the draws continue forever.
The Ten Great Sects would live in eternal fear.
This is why you shouldn't mess with others.
Those who dream of immortality, beware of karmic ties.
A famous precept of the Immortal World.
It fit the Ten Great Sects' downfall perfectly.
Seoran had saved the world at the end of her long adventure.
The Netherworld erosion had completely stopped.
Of course, the already eroded areas couldn't be helped.
But the Five Elements Treefolk's habitats were safely protected.
The spiritual energy distribution skewed by the Great Rift would resolve too.
Then, naturally, the fringe Minor Sects would revive.
The major sects' influence would shrink dramatically.
The Eastern Continent was finally saved.
The Five Elements Treefolk, mountains and rivers, and Minor Sects too.
It was the best ending where everyone was happy.
Of course, the Ten Great Sects were unhappy.
But that was none of her concern.
The major sects weren't on Seoran's salvation list anyway.
Seoran got up from her spot.
She removed a few structurally vital gears and stuffed them into her backpack.
Now no one could reopen the Great Rift.
The adventurer who saved the world asked her guide.
“Anything else you want to ask of me?”
The Three-Eyed Cat grinned happily, showing its front teeth.
*****
The Three-Eyed Cat's wish was simple.
Please eliminate the Four Evils tormenting me.
Seoran gladly nodded.
Disaster struck the Four Evils.
The Western Evil, Hungry Ghost, who controlled the western sector from the Great Rift, had already been killed by Seoran years ago.
Seoran had started from the southern sector where the underground facility was and moved counterclockwise.
The first was the southern sector's ruler.
The Southern Evil was a shriveled monkey yokai like a mummy.
To be precise, the demonic sword controlling the monkey was the true body.
One earthquake spell shattered the monkey yokai's corpse the demonic sword controlled.
There wasn't even a chance to swing the sword up close.
But it wasn't over yet.
The Southern Evil quietly bided its time.
Such a powerful body—truly tempting.
Come a little closer.
I'll possess you right now!
The demonic sword was a sword of legend.
A temptation no swordmaster could resist.
It had taken over countless swordmasters this way.
But Seoran was a kickboxing master.
She had no eye for swords whatsoever.
It was a fight she could never win from the start.
Seoran ordered.
“Ugly thing, go smash it.”
Three dolls charged straight at the demonic sword.
Two grabbed the hilt and tip with firm grips.
The remaining one took a kicking stance.
The demonic sword sensed something and urgently shouted.
“W-wait! If you take me, the entire world...!”
The demonic sword snapped from a subsonic front kick.
The next victim was the eastern ruler.
The Eastern Evil was a rock beetle that rolled at high speed.
Countless lives had been crushed by its unstoppable charge.
The rock beetle laughed at Seoran and the dolls.
Weak and light toys right here.
What sounds will you make as you die?
I'll crush you all together!
Facing the ferocious charge, Seoran clenched her fist.
Her body sank into the ground up to her ankles.
The earth resonated with the Giant Mountain Secret Art and held Seoran fast.
It was a secret martial art from her deep-sea giant father.
Giants struggled with weapons due to their size.
Thus, giant clan martial arts were mostly kickboxing.
Called Giant Flesh Technique.
The user's weight converted entirely to destructive power.
That was why Seoran had become one with the earth.
A straight punch at the rock beetle right before her.
The weight of the earth shot through her small fist.
Overwhelming destructive power concentrated on one point.
The rock beetle vanished as dust mites.
The last was the Northern Evil.
A flightless freak bird, fast as lightning.
But slower than the inaudible invisible thorn destruction beams fired from the dolls' eyes.
The terror of the Great Forest Depths, the Four Evils, vanished like that.
Having gained a safer home, the Three-Eyed Cat bowed.
“Farewell! If you ever need anything, call me anytime!”
Seoran smiled back.
“Yeah, next time I'll bring fresh fruit!”
“Thank you, Investigator Ryu!”
After the farewell, the two set off on their way home.
For Seoran, it was the Western Continent.
*****
An ancient palace built entirely of stone.
Seoran and the Doll Four Sisters entered through the secret passage.
The passage was so wide on both sides—likely for teleportation stone slabs or corpse carts to pass.
Upon reaching the teleportation room, Seoran directed the dolls.
The dolls gently placed the stone slab back in position.
It fit perfectly, which felt good.
Seoran said.
“Yiho, get in and try.”
Doll Yiho stood on the teleportation array.
But nothing happened.
Seoran smacked her forehead.
“Oh right!”
She flipped up the lever on the wall.
Unlike before, it didn't go back down.
This seemed to be the switch.
“Yiho, go up again.”
This time, Yiho vanished the moment she stepped on the array.
Seoran beamed and called Samho.
“Samho, go in, wait a bit, and come back out.”
Scout Samho entered the teleportation array.
Finally using it for its original purpose.
Samho vanished in an instant and reappeared shortly after.
Now safety was fully confirmed.
At last, she could go home.
Seoran reminisced for a moment.
Her years in the Eastern Continent flashed by.
Thank you, nameless river assistant.
Thank you, countless students.
Thank you, puppet masters.
Thank you, upright stalk of the Sacred Tree Wood.
Thank you, Soso and deep-sea giant family.
Thank you, Three-Eyed Cat.
Thank you, Eastern Continent.
Thank you, everyone.
Thank you, all except the Ten Great Sects.
We'll settle scores with you cartel bastards later.
Closing the Great Rift would remain secret for a while.
The major sects would try to kill her if they found out.
This was smart revenge without making enemies.
“Everyone, see you again! Farewell until then!”
Seoran jumped onto the teleportation array.
Her tumultuous Eastern Continent journey came to an end.