Chapter 380
Chapter 380
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 380
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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Heavenly Spirit Pill, Infinite Internal Energy!
The power I had striven so desperately to obtain was unfolding from the hands of three Water God Clan experts. The only way to describe it was as the Heavenly Spirit Pill, because they were engaging in a pure contest of strength on par with Yun Bicheon.
Back when Lee Gwang and Jin So-cheong had clashed with Yun Bicheon, it had been a different story. They had twisted and suppressed his raw 'power' using the Three Excellences techniques. That had been a case of superior skill shattering compatibility. But now, it was a straightforward clash of power against power. The only explanation was that they possessed the same infinite internal energy—the Heavenly Spirit Pill.
Of course, even with the Heavenly Spirit Pill, the output of internal energy one could unleash at once was finite. As the three owners of the Heavenly Spirit Pill pressed forward, Yun Bicheon immediately showed signs of falling into a defensive position. Perhaps realizing he would lose at this rate, Yun Bicheon bellowed.
[ Dokgo Jun, you coward! Fight me one-on-one! What is this?!]
Dokgo Jun responded with a mocking tone through his Six Harmonies True Voice.
[ I don't mind. But the outcome will be the same. You already know that, don't you?]
[ ......]
[ There's nothing more boring than a predictable fight.]
Wuuuuu—
The moment Dokgo Jun finished speaking, nine water dragons materialized around him. They were the terrifying masses of ethereal astral energy that had bombarded the entire slave market earlier. Their power was so immense it was hard to believe they were formed from qi alone. I could vividly recall how each falling water dragon had struck the ground with destructive force rivaling Yun Bicheon's wind bombs.
The water dragons' maws were aimed at the remaining Wind God Clan experts and the Imperial Guards. Seeing that, I understood what he meant by the outcome being the same.
' Even if Dokgo Jun rampages alone, he could bring the rest—without Yun Bicheon—to the brink of annihilation!'
Only the Heavenly Spirit Pill could contend with the Heavenly Spirit Pill!
Failing that, one would need Jang Sambong's supreme arts or enlightenment bordering on the Transcendent Realm to surpass infinite internal energy. With no such alternatives in the hall, the moment Dokgo Jun unleashed his water dragons with infinite internal energy, the slaughter would begin.
The fact that three Heavenly Spirit Pill owners could gang up on Yun Bicheon and finish him off was another problem. Dokgo Jun could simply watch as the situation resolved itself.
Boom
Perhaps realizing this, Yun Bicheon shook off their pressure with a burst of force, repelling the three Water God Clan members before gasping for breath.
"Hah... Hah..."
He soon gritted his teeth and shouted.
"Dokgo Jun! If I surrender, will you spare the Wind God Clan?"
Murmurs...
The hall stirred. The Wind God Clan experts, in particular, trembled with a sense of powerlessness. Victory and defeat had been decided before they could even fight, enveloping them in profound despair. Yet the Water God Clan side, effectively holding four Guardian Lions, made any charge impossible.
Dokgo Jun replied lightly.
[ I told you from the start. We came because you're traitors...]
"Promise me."
[ Fine. The Cult Leader said to avoid excessive bloodshed.]
As Dokgo Jun snapped his fingers again, the three Heavenly Spirit Pill owners returned behind him. Though the confrontation had been brief, everyone in the hall instinctively knew it was over. Continuing to fight in this situation would be suicide.
That was when the Imperial Guard Commander subtly tried to slip away, signaling his men to withdraw. Dokgo Jun, noticing, warned him.
[ Commander. Do you think you can escape as you please?]
"Urk..."
The Imperial Guard Commander flinched, then smiled obsequiously.
"Water God Clan Guardian Lion. Just let us go this once. You came to root out your traitors, right?"
[ ......]
"Your leader wouldn't want to recklessly make enemies of us..."
Bang!
Those were the Imperial Guard Commander's last words.
Dokgo Jun had extended his index finger toward him, and at the same instant, the man's head exploded from ethereal astral energy. Even though the Commander was a peak-class expert, Dokgo Jun had killed him in one second with a mere point—an incomprehensible feat.
Kwaaaak
As the Commander's human life ended, his inner demon rampaged, tentacles sprouting in all directions. The implanted Two-Foot Clan seed was germinating. But what would have been terrifying germination rampage was shattered dozens of times by the massive aura of the water dragon Dokgo Jun unleashed.
Crackle...
[ You've lost your mind.]
I stared in astonishment as the Commander's remains turned to dust and scattered. At the same time, I realized the vast gap between a Guardian Lion and a Commander. At the White Lotus Cult's number two position, such a figure could crush a Commander like an insect.
Dokgo Jun then issued a ruthless order.
[ Bind the Wind God Clan. Kill all the Imperial Guards.]
"Understood!"
Amid the chaos of their leader's death, the Imperial Guards calmly drew their weapons. Grinding their teeth, they raised their battle cries.
"You think we'll go down easy?!"
But it was mere posturing. Whether they fled or fought, their fate was sealed. Soon, Water God Clan experts charged in, tearing them into chunks with terrifying internal energy, turning the area into a sea of blood. It was like lions pouncing into a flock of sheep.
Boom boom boom!
"Kuaaaah!!"
"S-spare..."
In an instant, dozens were shredded, the surroundings dyed in a mist of blood. The Water God Clan showed no mercy toward the palace they deemed enemies. The power gap between the Water God Clan and the Imperial Guards was like heaven and earth.
Having sealed Yun Bicheon's acupoints and forced him to kneel, Dokgo Jun turned to me and said.
[ Baek Woong, Guardian Lion. Have you recovered all the slave market's goods?]
I surveyed the hall. Yun Bicheon and the Wind God Clan lined up behind him were all bound with ropes and kneeling in resignation. Swallowing hard, I replied.
"Yes, but..."
[ Let me see.]
I showed Dokgo Jun the inside of my wristguard. After inspecting the contents briefly, Dokgo Jun emerged shaking his head.
[ Still short.]
"What? I put everything there was."
[ No slaves.]
"......"
[ Recover them all and store them.]
I stared at Dokgo Jun in a daze. I had only thought of additional treasures and prizes from the slave market, but he wanted even the slaves treated as 'goods' to be recovered. Treating people as objects to store was something I hadn't considered, leaving me speechless.
' Tsk, no choice...'
"Got it."
Reluctantly, I summoned the hunting dogs from my bracelet again, this time ordering them to find the slaves. They scattered once more, locating the slaves exhibited at the market. Riding the Four Non-Beasts to recover them all took about half a shichen.
After confirming the slaves, Dokgo Jun said.
[ This should do. We recovered the ledger, so let's head back.]
"The Wind God Clan prisoners go in the wristguard too?"
[ Naturally.]
Flash
Soon after, having finished up, I returned with Dokgo Jun and the full Water God Clan force. For such a massive battle, it ended anticlimactically, but that was unavoidable. No earthly martial force could stand against four Guardian Lions.
[ We captured Yun Bicheon.]
[ Well done.]
Before the Cult Leader's audience chamber, Yun Bicheon was forced to kneel three paces from him. The Cult Leader gazed silently at Yun Bicheon from behind before speaking.
[ Why did you side with the palace?]
Kneeling, Yun Bicheon glared back at the Cult Leader. Even on the brink of death, his boldness in staring straight ahead showed he was no ordinary man.
"Cult Leader. I could no longer tolerate your solo act!"
[ Ho...]
The White Lotus Cult Leader seemed intrigued. Though I couldn't see his expression from behind, his emotion felt more like curiosity than annoyance or killing intent.
[ Solo act... So all the policies I enacted for the cult looked that way to you, Yun Bicheon?]
"Yes."
[ I don't understand why.]
The White Lotus Cult Leader continued without inflection.
[ You obtained infinite internal energy through the Heavenly Spirit Pill, and with my help, advanced into the Central Plains, gaining vast power, talent, and wealth. I didn't particularly oppress your Wind God Clan. Yet you justify betrayal with a single word—'solo act'?]
Flinch
Yun Bicheon clamped his mouth shut at the Cult Leader's words. Then, with fiercer eyes, he retorted while staring at the Cult Leader.
"As I told Dokgo Jun, at some point, you turned the White Lotus Cult's four great clans, with a thousand years of history, into your personal army. You claimed it was to counter the Ming dynasty's subjugation forces, but that was nonsense. You're already an absolute deterrent to war yourself—what more did you want, endlessly incorporating Buddhist and magical arts to bolster your power?"
[ Is that bad? At least the White Lotus Cult members no longer fear the central subjugation forces. And the cult's overall prestige grew, which shouldn't harm the Wind God Clan.]
"Damn it...!!"
Unable to hold back, Yun Bicheon roared.
"If you had just told us what you wanted, what you were thinking, I might not have considered betrayal! But without explaining what the Heavenly Spirit Pill was or what the Primordial Spirit God is, you toyed with us for decades!!"
[ ......]
"You're the one who planted the anxiety of when we'd be discarded, Cult Leader! You, the tyrannical recluse!"
Yun Bicheon's eyes turned bloodshot.
"As Wind God Clan leader, I had to carve a path to avoid being discarded! I have no regrets about that decision even now!"
[ Is that so...]
The White Lotus Cult Leader murmured. He then turned to me.
[ Baek Woong. What do you think of Yun Bicheon's words?]
"......"
What? Why ask me now?
As I hesitated, Zhuge Sa within me spoke.
[ He's just probing out of boredom. Don't commit—brush it off vaguely.]
I figured Zhuge Sa was right. After thinking briefly, I replied.
"I'm not sure. The Cult Leader's intent matters more..."
[ My intent... Do you know what my intent is?]
The Cult Leader nitpicked unnecessarily. I replied somewhat curtly.
"I think only the Cult Leader himself knows."
[ Hahaha...]
The White Lotus Cult Leader chuckled as if amused, then shifted his gaze back to Yun Bicheon. In a stern voice, he said.
[ Yun Bicheon. Since you surrendered obediently, I'll spare your clan. But you can't escape punishment for your crimes.]
"What do you intend to do?"
[ I'll execute the traitor immediately, and demote the entire Wind God Clan to the lowest rank of cultists. Be grateful—that's leniency.]
"Urgh..."
Step
The Cult Leader stepped forward. He wore a faceless mask, which somehow felt more transparent than last time. No—his emanating aura felt bleached almost to nothingness? He was present before my eyes, yet his presence seemed infinitely faint.
' What is this?'
I sensed the Cult Leader had achieved something. He slowly approached Yun Bicheon, raised one hand, and placed it on his forehead. Yun Bicheon had the eyes of one resigned to death, like a fish on a cutting board.
The Cult Leader said coldly.
[ What I gave, I must take back. Farewell, Yun Bicheon.]
Whoooosh!
The next instant, a massive energy erupted from Yun Bicheon's forehead. In truth, the tremendous power was being absorbed into the Cult Leader's palm, like a volcano belching. The rainbow-hued surge continued for about a quarter shichen before stopping.
Light had vanished from Yun Bicheon's eyes. He appeared intact outwardly, but felt utterly empty, devoid of any qi. He soon collapsed sideways as if falling asleep, motionless. All his qi had been sucked out, killing him.
"......!!"
I swallowed hard at the sight. Its meaning was clear.
Absorption of the Heavenly Spirit Pill!
The Cult Leader could extract its origin and reclaim it for himself! I hadn't imagined such a thing possible, leaving me breathless. Zhuge Sa, observing through my vision, murmured softly.
[ Interesting. He ripped out the entire divine connection and transplanted it into himself. Ignoring side effects?]
[ What do you mean? Side effects?]
[ Obviously. A divine connection means a bond of karma exists. Ripping out and relocating that bond is insanely risky, isn't it? Think of your link with Yeo Dongbin—you'll understand easily.]
Zhuge Sa continued.
[ Otherwise... there must be some secret to the Primordial Spirit God realm he's achieved.]
[ ......]
That was when the Cult Leader, having killed Yun Bicheon and absorbed the Heavenly Spirit Pill, looked at me and said.
[ Now, time for rewards and promotions.]
"What do you mean..."
The Cult Leader casually issued a bombshell order.
[ I'll grant three-tenths of the slaves and treasures from the slave market to Thunder God Clan Guardian Lion Baek Woong. Also, as of today, the entire Wind God Clan—demoted to the lowest cultist rank—is assigned under your command.]
"......!!"
What is this?!
As I tried to hide my shock, the Cult Leader pierced right through with one parting remark before vanishing.
[ I hope the Thunder God Clan swiftly fills the Wind God Clan's vacancy.]
"......"
Dokgo Jun chuckled.
[ Congratulations.]
But I couldn't simply rejoice. In that reward, I had read the Cult Leader's intent all too clearly.
The reason for purging the Wind God Clan—it clearly signified internal cleansing. Until now, with the palace as an enemy, he had left them be, using them as double agents. But now that he had obtained my treasures, the situation changed. He believed he could contend with the palace without the Wind God Clan's power, so he eliminated the traitors.
At the same time, by having the nominal Thunder God Clan fill their vacancy, he clearly aimed to turn the White Lotus Cult fully into his personal army. With the Wind God Clan utterly collapsed, the tradition of the four great clans—maintained at least formally until now—was completely shattered. And I was in no position to defy the Cult Leader's command.
This confirmed it.
The Cult Leader would attack the palace soon.