An Alliance of Ambition
The three cultivators were valuable enough, but the flying boat was also of immense worth. To toss such a thing away so casually as a first-meeting gift spoke volumes of the mysterious stranger's sheer audacity and wealth.
Upon returning to Heukgyodo, Jekyeong tossed the three free meals to Muk-su and shut himself inside the Black Cult Palace. There, he began to consume the spiritual items he had acquired from the auction one by one. Perhaps because he had already reached the mid-stage of the Great Yao realm, his progress felt sluggish; even after ingesting treasures of similar quality to his previous haul, the advancement in his cultivation was barely perceptible.
Jekyeong felt a brief pang of frustration, but he quickly calmed his mind. The amount of water you can pour at once is always limited, but my vessel has grown vastly larger. It is only natural that it feels empty.
Crunch! Jekyeong chewed on Spirit Stones like crackers to soothe his impatience. As the pure spiritual energy dissolved into his body, a comforting, burning warmth spread through his flesh.
With his daily cultivation and nutritional intake complete, it was time to study. The alchemy he had once poured all his focus into had now become second nature, a routine part of his day. Lately, the field he was dedicating his spare efforts to was the study of formations.
The Dao of Formations was every bit as profound as alchemy. Indeed, the more he learned, the more complex it became. Jekyeong had no grand ambitions of becoming a master formationist; he merely wished to acquire enough basic knowledge and discernment to avoid being swindled when purchasing high-grade formation flags and plates in the future. Yet, even that modest goal proved incredibly difficult.
"Ugh..." Jekyeong groaned aloud as he reached a passage detailing the alignment of worldly Qi and the flow of natural topography. Deciding to cool his brain and perhaps find a practical reference, he stepped out of the Black Cult Palace to inspect the Island Protecting Grand Array currently shielding Heukgyodo.
He had recently upgraded Heukgyodo's defensive array to a far more expensive model. It was a formation heavily specialized in pure defense, purchased for a staggering one hundred and sixty mid-grade spirit stones. Considering that his original Box-Gathering Island Protecting Grand Formation had cost a mere twenty-five mid-grade spirit stones, this new array was over six times more expensive.
The sheer cost was enough to make his teeth ache, but once the array was fully deployed, a deep sense of satisfaction washed over him. You get what you pay for, he mused. Knowing that Heukgyodo was now an impregnable fortress brought him immense peace of mind. And that peace of mind was paramount. With his heart at ease, even his daily cultivation felt smoother and more efficient.
The more wealth one accumulated, the greater the target on one's back. To protect what was yours, you had to spare no expense. The encounter from a few days ago was proof enough. A sinister, mysterious stranger had approached him. What if that man suddenly turned hostile and launched an invasion? If the worst should happen, his investment of one hundred and sixty mid-grade spirit stones would undoubtedly prove its worth.
It really is profound, Jekyeong thought, holding his formation plate as he walked along the boundaries, marveling at the intricate flows of energy. When he had been completely ignorant of the craft, it had looked like nothing more than thin air. But now, with a rudimentary understanding, he could appreciate the subtle, overlapping layers of defensive Qi. Of course, he couldn't actually modify or fully comprehend it; he was merely standing there like an amateur admiring a masterpiece that cost one hundred and sixty mid-grade spirit stones.
After strolling around the island's perimeter while sipping Spirit Wine, Jekyeong returned to the depths of the Black Cult Palace to resume his quiet cultivation.
A few days later, a solitary wooden skiff drifted toward the shores of Heukgyodo. Standing at the bow with his hands clasped behind his back was a young man, a faint, leisurely smile playing on his lips.
"Fellow Daoist Heukgyo. As promised during our previous encounter, I have come to visit you in person." His quiet voice effortlessly bypassed the grand defensive array, echoing with perfect clarity in the ears of Jekyeong, who was deep in meditation within the Black Cult Palace.
"Allow me to introduce myself formally. I am Myeong-ha."
"I am Jekyeong."
When Myeong-ha had first arrived at the island's edge and called out, Jekyeong had hesitated to let him in. The reason was simple: until the man was practically at his doorstep, Jekyeong had not sensed even a whisper of his presence.
Though momentarily startled, Jekyeong quickly realized what was happening. The Presence-Concealing Technique. He was usually the one using this technique to catch others off guard, so experiencing it from the receiving end left a bizarre taste in his mouth. Try as he might, he could not pierce through Myeong-ha's concealment.
An instinctive wariness flared within Jekyeong toward this unreadable, unpredictable visitor. But his hesitation lasted only a moment. Myeong-ha had shown no hostility, and more importantly, Jekyeong was the one who had invited him to visit. Playing the role of the fierce Black Flood Dragon, he could not afford to show a shred of weakness to someone who had shown such courtesy. Thus, Jekyeong welcomed him into the Black Cult Palace, where they formally exchanged names.
"You possess an exceptional mastery of the Presence-Concealing Technique," Myeong-ha remarked with a thin smile.
"As do you. You are quite adept."
"It is a highly convenient tool. At least, it is for me."
"And for me as well."
"Naturally. Carrying the bloodline of a Gyo-ryong, your natural presence must be colossal. If you were to unleash it carelessly, you would draw far too much unwanted attention."
Jekyeong didn't quite grasp the deeper implication of Myeong-ha's words, but he kept his expression perfectly blank, maintaining a heavy silence. Misinterpreting this quietude, Myeong-ha let out a soft chuckle.
"I suppose my words sound rather amusing to a creature of your stature. I can understand that. However..." As Myeong-ha's voice trailed off, an explosive aura erupted from his body. It was a colossal, suffocating pressure, far more intense than anything Jekyeong had ever experienced. For a fleeting second, Jekyeong felt as though the very air had been sucked from his lungs.
For once, Jekyeong's carefully cultivated poker face shattered. His eyes went wide, his pupils instantly narrowing into sharp, vertical slits. "What... are you?" Caught completely off guard, the bewildered question slipped past his lips before he could stop it.
Myeong-ha smiled with deep satisfaction at Jekyeong's shock, smoothly reeling his overwhelming aura back in. "As I said, I am Myeong-ha. A half-human, half-demon. And as you have just witnessed, I am far from ordinary. Just like you."
Jekyeong realized that Myeong-ha was laboring under a massive misunderstanding, but he kept his composure. In this critical moment, his long-honed acting skills saved him. He tilted his head slightly, his expression returning to one of cool indifference. "I see you are a rare breed, but what of it? An aura is merely an aura."
An aura is merely an aura. It was a piece of advice he had once overheard from the seniors in Bul-mang-won. When Jekyeong had mentioned that he estimated an opponent's strength based on their spiritual pressure, the veterans had warned him that an aura was just an aura—useful as a reference, but never to be blindly trusted. He had dismissed the advice back then, but facing Myeong-ha's terrifying display, the wisdom of those words finally struck home.
"Quite true. An aura is indeed just an aura. If it is snuffed out before it can be wielded, it amounts to nothing." Myeong-ha's smile vanished, replaced by a solemn nod. "But does that not apply to you as well? From what I gather, the Jansu Whale King is not a particularly magnanimous ruler. How long do you think he will tolerate your growing presence in his waters?"
"..."
"Of course, I am sure you have your own calculations. But surely, there is no harm in acquiring more strength, is there?"
"What is it you want?"
"It is quite simple." Myeong-ha straightened his posture, his casual demeanor sharpening. "I wish to lease a suitable island from you."
"Lease an island?"
"Indeed. There are plenty of uninhabited islands scattered across your territory. You only need to grant me one of them. Surely, that is not too grand a request?"
"I suggest you refrain from playing word games with me," Jekyeong growled, his gaze turning predatory. Myeong-ha merely chuckled. Neither of them was a fool; they both understood the true weight of leasing an island. For Jekyeong to hand over an island within his territory meant extending his personal protection over Myeong-ha. The man was likely a notorious Bandit Cultivator, or at the very least, someone with a long list of powerful enemies. He was looking for a safe haven within the demon-controlled waters.
"What do you intend to do there?"
"I plan to start a business."
"A business? What kind of business?"
"A trading venture of sorts. We will bridge the divide between our races, supplying each side with what they desperately need, and pocketing a handsome commission in the process."
"An auction house, you mean?"
"Something very similar. Once we establish a firm foothold, I even plan to open a full-scale black market."
"The risks will be immense."
"Great wealth always blooms amidst great danger. Besides, the risks involved in this venture are far lower than you might think. I have a guaranteed, stable method of sourcing our inventory."
Jekyeong had a fair idea of what those "goods" might be. Recalling how Myeong-ha had completely erased the souls of those three cultivators to turn them into mindless puppets, he could see why the man claimed the risk was manageable.
"And what do I stand to gain?"
"This venture will be a joint partnership. I shall manage the Human Race side of operations, while you, Fellow Daoist, will oversee the Beast Race."
"I have no interest in titles. What matters is not who holds the reins, but how much profit we can squeeze out of it."
"Ah, you speak like a true pragmatist. Of course, that is indeed the most important detail." The smile on Myeong-ha's face lost its artificial edge. The fact that the negotiation had progressed this far meant Jekyeong was genuinely considering the offer. Naturally, the tense atmosphere in the hall began to thaw.
"I cannot give you an exact figure. Who could possibly predict such a thing? However, my expectations are incredibly high. The prospects of this venture are exceptionally bright."
"In what way?"
"It is simple: demand. You likely have no idea how many human cultivators in this region are suffocating under the tyrannical oppression of the great orthodox sects."
Jekyeong was, of course, completely ignorant of the inner workings of the Human Territory. His only contact there was the Yeongbu Merchant Alliance, and specifically, Gwak Jeong-sin's faction. While he had human subordinates under his command, he only used them for simple errands and had never bothered to order them to gather intelligence on human politics.
"I have traveled far and wide," Myeong-ha continued, a mocking sneer touching his lips. "The atmosphere in most borderlands is generally the same, but this region is exceptionally brutal. Normally, the ruling powers leave their subjects a bit of breathing room. But the high and mighty lords of this place act as if they want to choke them to death. It is foolish on their part, but highly advantageous for us. Desperate, starving cultivators will flock to our market like moths to a flame."
"The clientele you speak of... they are Bandit Cultivators, are they not?"
"Bandit cultivators, unorthodox practitioners, demonic path followers... at the end of the day, they are all just cultivators. What difference does a label make?"
"It makes a significant difference. Such desperate rogues are usually too busy surviving to accumulate any real wealth. Their pockets are notoriously shallow."
"Ah." The mockery faded from Myeong-ha's face, replaced by genuine amusement and a touch of admiration. He looked at the Great Yao before him, thoroughly impressed by the beast's surprisingly sharp, capitalistic mindset.
"You need not worry about that. Just as the so-called righteous cultivators are not all wealthy, those driven to the fringes are not all destitute. Of course, we will attract plenty of penniless rabble as well, but is that not also a benefit? They, too, can serve as a bountiful harvest in other ways."
Jekyeong snorted. "A fine pitch. Though, for now, it is nothing but words."
"Haha! We are here to negotiate, so what else should I offer but words? Unless..." Myeong-ha trailed off, and once again, a strange, potent energy began to seep from his form. It was too wild and chaotic to be called Dharma Power, yet far too refined and smooth to be classified as Monster Power. Jekyeong observed this peculiar energy with a detached, analytical gaze as he slowly rose to his feet.
By the time Jekyeong straightened his knees, his pupils had already narrowed into razor-thin vertical slits. As he fully stood, his physical form rapidly expanded, shedding his human guise to reveal his true, monstrous shape. A colossal black serpent unfurled—one hundred meters, two hundred meters, and still growing. The vast, empty halls of the Black Cult Palace were instantly crowded by his overwhelming, suffocating presence.
Myeong-ha had instinctively leaped backward, his face devoid of its usual smirk as he stared up at the towering beast. Jekyeong looked down from his immense height, silently observing Myeong-ha, who now appeared no larger than an ant.
Unleashing his true form to exert psychological pressure was a risky move, but Jekyeong deemed it absolutely necessary. Myeong-ha was a different breed entirely from Gwak Jeong-sin. This man possessed an extraordinary background, a ruthless temperament, and methods that seemed completely unconstrained by morality. Jekyeong knew that if he wanted to deal with a dangerous character like this on equal terms, he had to establish dominance early on. Whether through a direct clash of arms or a silent war of nerves, a display of absolute power was required.
Fortunately, his colossal size was the perfect asset for maintaining his cover as a legendary Black Flood Dragon. Looking down on his guest with cold, reptilian arrogance gave him an immediate psychological edge.
"Magnificent," Myeong-ha murmured, his voice echoing in the cavernous hall. "Now I truly understand why they call you the Dragon Lord. However, Fellow Daoist, I must ask you to dial back that predatory gaze. As I have repeatedly stated, I harbor no ill will toward you. I am merely here to propose a venture that will bring immense prosperity to us both."