Chapter 313: Have You Been Well? (3)
I glance once more at the movement of the dragon depicted in the Taenghwa Painting, then step out from the top floor.
The ancient palace mainly houses water attribute methods, among which the method called Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade (鹽海歸露玉) is so powerful that it even stirred my heart.
However, to practice it requires either drinking seawater or having water and salt available, so there's no way to practice it at the moment. I simply stored it in my storage scroll.
Besides that, a few other water attribute methods caught my eye, but none of them stood out.
After exiting the ancient palace, I harvest the Sea Orchid Fruit I had noted earlier and store it before dashing off to the Human Offering Altar area where I'm supposed to meet up with the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect.
The surrounding heat is intense, so I transform into a Ghost King to cool my body as I fly.
The Human Offering Altar area is also vast, similar to the Sea Offering Altar, with spiritual energy waves emanating from various houses and stone buildings, indicating that there are still many things left.
When I arrive at the rendezvous point with the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect, they are already waiting quietly, having gathered what they could..[There seem to be spiritual energy waves emanating from all over the place, but it looks like you didn't gather everything?]
"Haha, it seems that everyone's storage scrolls are quite full. To get what we want on the third floor, we need to leave some space."
[Hmm, I see. Then shall we get going?]
"Sounds good."
Hyeon Gwi smiles and leads us onward.
We arrive at a narrow path covered with crimson flames.
"Hmm..."
Hyeon Gwi frowns as he peers into the path.
Having experience in tracking people before, I understand why.
'Someone has already passed through. The tracks are recent.'
Hyeon Gwi's nose wrinkles slightly.
"Everyone, it seems that a prior traveler has passed through. We should hurry. These footprints likely belong to..."
[The Demon Race.]
I remark, looking at the various footprints.
Hyeon Gwi nods.
"Gyo Yeom, who leads the Demon Race, is from the Blood Shark Race, and they know how to temporarily satisfy the Calamity Flame by offering blood. We must hurry."
We quicken our pace.
Soon, we see thick blood mist ahead.
'Blood Sacrifice?'
I frown.
Due to Yuan Li, I loathe and utterly detest human sacrifice rituals like Blood Sacrifice.
As we move further towards the blood mist, we see Gyo Yeom and the group of Demon Race members I encountered earlier.
'Hmm...the number of Demon Race cultivators hasn't changed...so...'
Upon closer inspection, Gyo Yeom is drawing blood from his followers and offering it as a blood sacrifice.
Seeing this, Hyeon Gwi is startled and speaks urgently.
"Damn it, senior, everyone! It looks like these Demon Race bastards are trying to tame the Calamity Flame! If they manage to control the Calamity Flame, it will be a huge problem. We need to hit them from behind now!"
Hyeon Gwi gathers energy in the form of a black dragon and sends it flying into the blood mist.
Boom!
An explosion resounds, and Gyo Yeom's voice echoes from within.
[You damn Human Race bastards...I heard everything. Yes, it's not the first time we've been ambushed by you Human Race so I'll let that pass. But it seems there's a misunderstanding. I'm not taming the Calamity Flame to attack you but to ensure our safety when we rise to the third floor and back. So why don't we avoid this unnecessary fight?]
'Hmm, if he's not trying to harm us, there's no need to fight...'
"Shut up, filthy Earth Tribe scum. We humans don't listen to the nonsense of your kind!"
"What nonsense are you spouting to this elder!? Die, you Earth Tribe trash!"
"How dare you speak to this elder like that! Die, garbage Earth Tribe!"
"Daring to block the way of the mighty Human Race, it's been a while since I've tasted Earth Tribe flesh!"
Despite Gyo Yeom's words, the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect cultivators taunt him and exude fierce fighting spirit. Gyo Yeom, appearing enraged within the blood mist, shouts back.
[Arrogant and self-righteous Human Race scum. Then I will show you the power of the Calamity Flame...! Even if you are a hedonistic murderer, you can't ignore it!]
[Hmm?]
Gyo Yeom mocks someone as a hedonistic murderer.
'Is there such a person among the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect?'
They are people one really can't let down their guards around.
If there's someone with a strong tendency towards hedonistic murder, it wouldn't be bad to eliminate them here.
Huarururuk
A black flame tinged with blood bursts out from the blood mist towards us.
The massive black flame, like a living wave of fire, surges to engulf us.
[Is that the Calamity Flame?]
Sensing the pain and resentment within the black flames, I unleash ghost fire.
"Yes, it's a flame born of curses...that's what makes it terrifying. It's neither purely a curse nor purely a flame, so to suppress it, you need a curse sorcerer, a fire cultivator, and yin energy."
Kugugugugu!
The Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect cultivators step forward and erect a wall of yin energy.
I observe the Calamity Flame and let out a sigh of admiration.
At the same time, I notice the Demon Race manipulating the Calamity Flame with blood from behind.
'Interesting. They control the Calamity Flame by feeding it blood. The spiritual energy in the blood must be the key.'
I notice a similarity in their manipulation to how Yuan Yu had his Blood Body taken over by Oh Hye-seo.
Controlling the blood with Taiji to manipulate the body.
After observing their techniques for a while, I extend my left hand.
[I've seen it well.]
Huaruruk!
Ghost fire spouts from my 36 eyes.
[Then I should repay the favor.]
I raise my left hand and mutter.
[Yin Soul (陰魂).]
Kuguguguhu!
Curses pour out from my seven orifices.
Though I say seven orifices, since my skulls lack nasal bones, all merging together, it's actually only six orifices.
In total, 108 holes spew forth curses.
My curses had already surpassed the limits of numbers like 108 or even thousands at the time of Qi Building.
Since then, my curses have essentially needed to be judged more by their [density] and [range] rather than by their count.
During the Qi Building stage, my curses filled a radius of 30 zhang.
During the Core Formation stage, my curses filled a radius of 300 zhang.
At the Nascent Soul stage, my curses filled a radius of 30 li.
And at the Heavenly Being stage, my curses filled a radius of 3000 li.
Then, what about now that I have reached the Four-Axis stage?
[Huuu—]
I exhale.
Even the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect cultivators, excluding the enemy Demon Race members, have looks of astonishment on their faces, their eyes bulging.
Even Hyeon Gwi, who always subtly looks down on and ignores me, can't help but show a look of interest at this moment.
[Ghost Curse (鬼呪).]
Chuaaaaaa―
The entire Dao Departure Layer of the second floor of Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll turns pitch black.
The few other Heaven Tribe groups except the Human Race, Demon Race, Tall Tree Race, and Paired Wings Race,
The Cold Spirit Race, Spirit Scale Race, and Leaf Race cultivators have just reached the end of the Water Flow Layer and are at the entrance to the Dao Departure Layer.
"Huu, there's nothing of value aside from the Turbid Devil Liquid inside the Fire Corpses."
"Since none of us are devilish cultivators, it's best to sell it to a cultivator who practices devilish arts later."
"Well, Turbid Devil Liquid isn't bad, but it's quite disappointing considering we risked our lives fighting the Fire Corpses."
"Haah, aside from the Fire Corpses, everything on the first floor was taken by the Human Race, Demon Race, and Four-Axis stage seniors, making it hard to find anything worth taking..."
They all sigh in unison.
"Well, it's to be expected from the Peach Garden Painting-like Water Flow Layer. Let's keep our spirits up. The real treasures are in the Dao Departure Layer. We don't need to go to the third floor; just grabbing some dharma treasures, method scriptures, or spiritual elixirs from the second floor will be worthwhile."
"That is true...the first floor was never meant for storing items. Then, let's head to the second floor!"
The group of ten Heaven Tribe cultivators, now cheerful, prepare to ascend to the Dao Departure Layer.
At that moment.
Chiiiiiie—
"...?"
"Hu-Huaah! What, what is that...!"
The faces of the 10 cultivators twist in shock, fear, and despair.
"W-What in the world is happening on the second floor!!!"
The second floor, the Dao Departure Layer.
From the upper floor, a massive amount of curses cascade down like a waterfall.
They flee in terror without even looking back.
The world turned into a land of darkness.
Even the Calamity Flame, which had been displaying its might before me, froze in place.
I scrutinize the Calamity Flame.
Considering the level of the entity that created it, it must have been much stronger when it was first made.
If it had been at its full strength, not even I could have dealt with it.
'But its venom has weakened over time.'
Over tens of thousands of years, the Calamity Flame has significantly weakened.
I reach out towards the Calamity Flame.
It whimpers like a puppy needing to relieve itself, and as soon as my hand touches it, it begins to tremble violently.
Chiiiie—
I start converging the curses scattered across Heaven and Earth into a single point.
Kuarururuk!
The curse formed this way exudes a venom comparable to the curse previously created by me and other curse sorcerers at the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect.
While it took combined efforts to create such a curse during the Nascent Soul stage, I can now do so alone at the Four-Axis stage.
The Calamity Flame, overwhelmed by the venom of my curse, shrinks completely, its enormous size reduced to smaller than a fist.
Having consumed the blood of the Demon Race, it can neither escape nor take any other action, freezing in place.
Watching this, Hyeon Gwi shouts.
"It's now! Extinguish it!"
The Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect cultivators, snapping out of their daze, unleash their spells to extinguish the Calamity Flame.
Chiiiie—
In truth, the Calamity Flame had shrunk so much from the venom of my curse that spells weren't even necessary; a simple stomp would have sufficed, rendering their water-attribute spells meaningless.
Hyeon Gwi gestures to them with a meaningful gaze.
"How is it? Wasn't it worth following my suggestion?"
The Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect cultivators breathe a sigh of relief.
"As expected of Daoist Hyeon Gwi."
"I believed in you. Hehe..."
On the surface, it seems like they are celebrating my recruitment, but I remain vigilant, sensing their uneasy intent.
I turn my gaze to the Demon Race.
[Ho, fast indeed.]
To my surprise, Gyo Yeom has already escaped to the third floor.
If he hadn't fled after witnessing the curse, he'd either be a bold hero or a madman.
The other Demon Race members begin to notice Gyo Yeom's escape belatedly.
The faces of the Heavenly Being demon beasts turn pale as they meet my eyes.
I, exuding the lingering venom of the curse from my 36 eyes, speak.
[Come here. I have a few questions. Once I've satisfied my curiosity, I'll let you rest peacefully, so don't worry.]
I'm not a hedonistic killer with a pleasure for slaughter, nor do I have a reason to kill those who have lost their will to fight, so I speak to them as kindly as possible.
I intend to let them rest peacefully on the second floor as long as they don't interfere with our objectives on the third floor.
However, for some reason the Demon Race cultivators start screaming in terror.
"Haaah!"
"Elder, please spare us!"
"Damn it, I need to get out of here!"
"Run! If we get caught by the old monster, we're dead!"
They all scream and scatter in all directions in a frenzy.
Seeing them transform into their true forms and flee frantically, I feel a sense of absurdity.
[...I won't kill you...]
It seems they misunderstood that I was going to kill them, probably due to their harsh lives.
Considering the nature of the Human Race, it's a reasonable misunderstanding.
Or they might have been scared because of the infamous hedonistic killer among the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect.
'In times like this, they're no help. These Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect guys...'
Bringing someone with such a bad reputation along on this storage scroll journey just draws unwanted attention.
However, letting the Demon Race go here isn't an option. I need to ask them about the control technique they used on the Calamity Flame.
'I might find a way to completely free Yuan Yu's body from Seo Hweol's influence, so it's crucial.'
[All of you, stop right there...!]
Oooooooh―
Duk Duduk Dukdududuk!
I operate my spell.
Under the influence of my death aura, the surroundings start to turn into a desert.
Dust and sand flies everywhere.
Great Desert to Dead Sea.
Cross-sectional Divergence (断面開散)
Kugugugugu!
The 'manifestations of death' attached to my shoulders begin to pull away from my body.
The deaths of my 18 lives.
Those manifestations...
As soon as they are drawn from my body, they each form a physical body with their ghostly energy.
Eighteen clones, each as powerful as a Ghost King who has mastered the Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets to the extreme, appear.
In return, I lose everything above my neck, but it doesn't matter.
Losing my head isn't something new to me anyway.
[Capture them.]
Ooooooh―
Oooooh―
Oooooooh―
The manifestations of death, each a Heavenly Being Ghost King, scatter in all directions and fly toward the Demon Race.
Each one could use Ghost Immortal Kui Devilish Secrets, Great Desert to Dead Sea, Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body, Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, and even some martial arts, so capturing them won't be difficult.
Bone-chilling ghostly wails echo in all directions.
Dudududududu
A Swift Horse Race demon beast of the Horse Race, Ju Ma.
Ju Ma transformed into his true form and ran on all fours like mad.
'Please don't chase me! Please! Heaven and Earth Divine Spirits, please protect me!'
His mind is filled with the fear that the mad Four-Axis old monster would chase him.
He knew at a glance that this being is insane.
From the first moment he saw that wicked old monster who proudly wore 'achievements' on his shoulders like trophies, he vowed never to cross paths with him.
'Gyo Yeom, that damned shark head. It's all because of his stupidity!'
But everything went wrong.
That old monster is now going to capture and slaughter them to satisfy his desires.
Perhaps it's remarkable that the mad old monster had restrained himself for so long.
However, Ju Ma has seen a few such maniacs in his 2000 years of life.
They were all unable to easily suppress their lust and would vent their dirty desires once every few days.
And when they happened to hold back their lust, the intensity was much stronger when it finally exploded.
The old monster has been quiet until now.
But now that he has no reason to hold back, anyone caught by the old monster will become a part of his grotesque 'hobbies.'
Ju Ma curses Gyo Yeom madly as he runs.
Fortunately, Ju Ma is quite the fast runner.
In the interior of the storage scroll, where flying through the air techniques like the Gliding Technique and the Flying Escape Technique are restricted, Ju Ma's speed is probably the fastest.
As long as the Four-Axis old monster doesn't deliberately chase after him, he can likely escape.
Then it happens.
Bang-pabang-bang!
Ju Ma notices strange noises coming from behind him.
Shivers run down his spine.
He turns around, trying to calm his pounding heart.
And Ju Ma's eyes bulge in shock.
"H-How...!?"
One of the old monster's victims, attached to his shoulders.
What is presumed to be a ghost creature controlled by the old monster is flying through the air, chasing after him.
"F-Flying Escape Technique and the Gliding Technique, and even flight using attraction force are 'forbidden' here, so how are you flying!!!"
[Oooooooh―]
The old monster's ghost creature emits a spine-chilling ghostly wail as they fly towards Ju Ma.
Ju Ma strengthens his entire body and runs even faster.
For a moment, it seems as if he's gaining distance, but when he looks back again, he can't believe his eyes.
Woowooong―
The ghost creature appears to be creating a spherical orb above its hand.
And as it absorbs the orb, the ghost creature's speed suddenly increases more than tenfold, closing the distance.
'If I get caught, I'm dead! If I get caught, I'm dead, IfIgetcaughtI'mdeadIfIgetcaughtI'mdeadIfIgetcaughtI'mdeadIfIgetcaughtI'mdead!'
Ju Ma's breathing becomes ragged.
But the ghost creature behind him, inscribed with circuit-like patterns all over its body, is steadily closing the gap.
"H-Heeek...! Don't come! Don't coooooommme!!"
'N-No...!'
He cries out in fear.
Ju Ma's pupils shake wildly.
'I'm so scared...that I'm losing strength...!'
He realizes his legs are giving out.
But he can't let that happen!
He has to run faster!
'Even if it means burning my life force...!'
However, Ju Ma clearly hears it.
The voice of the ghost creature forming hand seals and reciting an incantation.
"Ah, ahh..."
The ghost creature is preparing to cast a curse.
The same one he had seen earlier...!
[Yin Soul (陰魂).]
"Haaaaaaaaah!!!"
And so, Ju Ma, who had managed to run the furthest, the fastest, and for the longest, is finally caught.
Chuaaaaaa—
Swimming up the chains from the second to the third floor, Gyo Yeom grits his teeth.
The demon beasts he had cast aside are probably being slaughtered by the cruel and wicked old monster.
Perhaps their heads are kept alive and plucked to satisfy his repulsive hobby.
The Blood Shark Race is known to be as cold-blooded and cruel as the Human Race.
But they are people too.
Even Gyo Yeom has his own conscience, his own morals.
'I'm sorry.'
From the depths of his heart, guilt arises for the Demon Race who were sacrificed so cruelly in his stead.
"...But I have no choice...!"
Gyo Yeom clenches his teeth, his eyes bloodshot.
"I must save my wife...! For her sake, I will sacrifice anyone...! No matter what!"
He had already sworn to abandon his conscience, morals, and loyalty.
If it's to protect what is precious to him, he will do absolutely anything!
As long as he can save her!
Chuaaaak!
Reaching the third floor, the Care Layer, he looks around.
The distance between the first and second floor is quite long, but the distance between the second and third floor is barely half of that.
It is said that originally, there were only three floors in the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person.
The first floor, Water Flow Layer; the second floor, Dao Departure Layer; and the third floor, Xiezhi Worship Layer.
But at some point, Lofty Dragon True Person stopped going to the third floor and created an additional layer between the second and third floors.
Thus, the previous third floor, the Xiezhi Worship Layer, became the fourth floor, and the newly created layer between the Dao Departure Layer and the Xiezhi Worship Layer became the third floor, the Care Layer.
If the first floor is a Peach Garden Painting and the second floor is a storage scroll.
The third floor is a kind of 'altar.'
This otherworld, also known as Lofty Dragon True Person's 'storage scroll', was said to have been used by him for various purposes, including offering rituals to a 'certain entity' he revered.
Clang, clang, clang!
'Burning Water Chains' that connect the first and second floors, and the second and third floors, are hanging everywhere.
The final destination of these chains are the Care Layer.
The fourth floor, the Xiezhi Worship Layer, can only be entered through special means or by those at the Integration stage.
However, since entry to the storage scroll is forbidden for Integration stage cultivators, it's as if the fourth floor doesn't exist.
Fearing that the mad old monster is chasing him from behind, Gyo Yeom hurries to the center of the Care Layer.
Compared to the first and second floors below, the Care Layer is not very large.
And unlike the other two floors, the Car Layer is not that hot either.
Instead, it's filled with water energy, which invigorates Gyo Yeom, a sea demon beast.
'But the fact that I'm invigorated means that the old monster who has practiced the Ghost Path Method will feel the same.'
In the Human Race, the Ghost Path Method is famously associated with the Black Ghost Valley.
The old monster is wearing the black robes of Black Ghost Valley, and Black Ghost Valley is notorious for causing havoc in the seas and deep waters of the Bright Cold Realm.
Black Ghost Valley strengthens their power by absorbing the yin energy of the deep sea, giving him no advantage at all.
'I must quickly obtain the Heavenly Lotus Fruit and escape through the altar!'
The structure of the third floor, the Care Layer, is as follows.
There is an altar in the center, surrounded by Taenghwas symbolizing the Nether Ghost Realm, Purple Gold Realm, True Devil Realm, and Bright Cold Realm.
Chains connecting to the lower floors hang beneath each Taenghwa.
Gyo Yeom has come up through the direction of the Nether Ghost Realm Taenghwa.
The Taenghwa of the Nether Ghost Realm is to the west.
The True Devil Realm is to the north, the Purple Gold Realm to the south, and the Bright Cold Realm to the east.
He runs towards the east.
During Lofty Dragon True Person's lifetime, this place served as an altar, but during his battle with a certain entity from the True Devil Realm,
"It is said that that in order to seal the power of the entity from the True Devil Realm, he took away another power called Karmic Fire (業火) that the being wielded and sealed it under the Melia tree he had nurtured in the Care Layer."
Taktaktaktaktak―
Running toward the Taenghwa symbolizing the Bright Cold Realm, Gyo Yeom finally notices a huge tree in the distance.
It's a Melia tree.
The Melia tree is rooted and growing on a small island in the center of a large pond, with a Taenghwa the size of a cliff behind it.
It's the Taenghwa symbolizing the Bright Cold Realm.
However, Gyo Yeom has no interest in the Taenghwa.
After all, besides the aura of the Taenghwa, he can't see the drawings inside the Taenghwa.
The same applies to the Taenghwa in the other directions.
'Did they say the Taenghwa were sealed? Anyway, I think that was the case. Well, they're none of my concern.'
As he approaches the pond, he sees totems surrounding it.
The bodies of the totems are covered with numerous Taenghwa.
Although Gyo Yeom can see the drawings within the Taenghwa on the totems, he has no interest in them either.
He only needs the fruit of the Melia tree, the Heavenly Lotus Fruit.
Just the Heavenly Lotus Fruit!
"Huk...heok..."
Gyo Yeom breathes through his gills as he finally reaches the pond.
And then, his pupils shake.
"...You people..."
The mid Four-Axis stage Nok Ju of the Tall Tree Race.
The late Four-Axis stage Baek Wi-ik of the Paired Wings Race.
The two Heaven Tribe cultivators have already arrived and are holding the Heavenly Lotus Fruit from the Melia tree.
The Melia tree is one of the tree species found in the Bright Cold Realm.
The Heavenly Lotus Fruit is also a common fruit and is often used as a medicinal ingredient.
However, what Gyo Yeom seeks is not an ordinary Melia tree.
The 'true' Melia tree.
His goal is the 'true' Melia tree cultivated by True Immortals, and as far as he knows, the 'true' Melia tree famous for being part of the diet of True Immortals can only be found in the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person.
What he wants is the Heavenly Lotus Fruit of the 'true' Melia tree.
And in the case of the 'true' Heavenly Lotus Fruit, unlike other Melia trees, only a single fruit is grown once every several thousand years.
"...Haha, Daoist Nok, Daoist Baek."
Gyo Yeom laughs awkwardly.
He has to obtain it.
It's an essential elixir for his wife to rise again.
"It's rude of me, but the Heavenly Lotus Fruit is a fruit I desperately need. If you wish for any dharma treasures or elixirs, please let me know. I have swept them all from the first and second floors. If not, I also have a lot of spirit stones, so I'd like to purchase it. Would you perhaps consider exchanging it with me?"
However, Nok Ju shakes his head.
"Hmm, I'm sorry, Cultivator Gyo. That seems difficult. It's embarrassing to admit, but a while ago, a fanatic from the Tall Tree Race trespassed Sacred Master Baek Woon's Heavenly Lotus Mountain without permission under the pretense of worshiping her. The Sacred Master became furious. As a result, the Tall Tree Race is currently facing a calamity, so we must offer the Heavenly Lotus Fruit to avoid further disasters. Please understand."
Gyo Yeom speaks with a trembling voice.
"Umm...! If that's the case, then it can't be helped. However...would it be possible to share just a few drops of the juice during the Drinking Good Fortune (飮福) ceremony after offering it to the Sacred Master? If you could spare just three drops, I would be extremely grateful. Just three drops...!"
However, Baek Wi-ik shakes his head at those words.
"I'm sorry, Cultivator Gyo, but you're a step too late. The juice of the Heavenly Lotus Fruit has already been requested by the Grand Perfection Integration stage Grand Cultivator Baek Myeong from our Paired Wings Race. He seeks a spiritual liquid for his upcoming challenge to the Star Shattering stage in a thousand years, and the juice of the Heavenly Lotus Fruit is most suitable for him. The remaining juice after offering it to the Sacred Master by the Tall Tree Race has already been agreed to be given to our Paired Wings Race."
At those words, Gyo Yeom's voice trembles.
"I've heard of Grand Cultivator Baek Myeong's reputation. Haha, he is indeed a remarkable person. Congratulations in advance. But just to clarify, the exact spiritual liquid the Grand Cultivator requested is the 'Heavenly Lotus Fruit Juice'?"
"Not exactly, but honestly, there aren't many spiritual liquids as effective as the Heavenly Lotus Fruit juice."
"Haha, isn't the honey of the Illusory Red Flower actually the best for the Grand Cultivator? I know of its location and how to obtain it. If you give me just three drops of the juice, I will gladly give you the information."
Gyo Yeom's voice grows increasingly tremulous as he sweats profusely.
"Hmm...could you at least give me a rough idea of the location?"
"It's in the Dead Spirit Lake of Desolate Oblivion Pass within the Chaos Realm. I can tell you the method to obtain it as well, so please, just the juice..."
However, Baek Wi-ik furrows his brows instead.
"Desolate Oblivion Pass? That's right next to the Heart Tribe territory! Are you asking me to go to my death? That place is full of slaves once driven by our Paired Wings Race, and those infuriated wretches will swarm me in no time if I go there!"
"..."
"You can't call that useful information. I'm sorry, but the juice is important to us too, so we can't give it away."
Gyo Yeom glances nervously behind him and looks at Nok Ju with a trembling voice.
"Cultivator Nok, is there really no other way?"
"Hmm, I'm sorry, but I've already made a promise with Cultivator Baek so there's really nothing I can do.”
"You didn't swear on your Nascent Soul, did you? I can pay any price!"
"It's not an oath on the Nascent Soul, but Cultivator Baek and I formed an alliance while climbing up here. Our Heaven Tribe does not shamelessly backstab others in the back!"
"Three drops! Just three drops! I'm not asking for much! I'll offer all the artifacts and elixirs I obtained from this exploration of the storage scroll!"
"What use would I have for the elixirs and dharma treasures of the Earth Tribe?"
"I've also collected many things that are effective for the Heaven Tribe!"
"Hm..."
However, Nok Ju speaks with an indifferent expression.
"I'm sorry, but it's really not possible. This is a matter for our Tall Tree Race and to appease the wrath of Sacred Master Baek Woon. A matter for the greater good. It's also better for the entire Bright Cold Realm. Whatever the reason may be, put aside your greed and step back."
Baek Wi-ik adds.
"Like Cultivator Nok, I am also doing this for the greater good. If Grand Cultivator Baek Myeong becomes a Star Shattering Esteemed One with the help of the Heavenly Lotus Fruit juice, the power of the Heaven and Earth Tribes will increase, allowing us to exterminate the Heart Tribe and act more dominantly in the Middle Realms. Isn't this also for the greater good of the Bright Cold Realm?"
Sneering, he asks.
"Why are you so desperate for the Heavenly Lotus Fruit? If your reason is more important than the greater good we're discussing, we can give you the three drops."
At those words, Gyo Yeom falls to his knees.
"...Please. My wife...is on the verge of death. Her illness can only be cured with the Heavenly Lotus Fruit. There's no substitute...! If I just have three drops of the juice, I can at least attempt to make an elixir to save her. I, Gyo Yeom, am begging you. Please show mercy."
Both Nok Ju and Baek Wi-ik shake their heads at Gyo Yeom's plea.
"Ridiculous. Are you saying your wife's life is more important than the calamity facing our entire Tall Tree Race?"
"That's right. The rise of our Paired Wings Race depending on this goes without saying, but with the birth of an Esteemed One, we can crush the Heart Tribe's forces and reclaim our slaves, and perhaps even eliminate our worries about the Blood Yin Realm. Yet you prioritize your personal affairs over such a significant cause! You should be ashamed!"
Gyo Yeom bows his head to the ground, begging.
"Three drops. Just three drops are enough. I beg you. This lowly Earth Tribe pleads with the noble Heaven Tribe...please..."
Nok Ju and Baek Wi-ik sneers.
Baek Wi-ik especially laughs openly, mocking Gyo Yeom.
"Ridiculous. Are you trying to undermine the greater good of the entire Bright Cold Realm and the Heaven and Earth Tribes for three drops of juice? What if the Grand Cultivator fails to become an Esteemed One due to those three missing drops? Will you take responsibility?"
"..."
"From the start, you've failed to understand the greater good due to your selfishness. Are you perhaps a Heart Tribe spy?"
"Haha! Indeed, isn't it already suspicious that your wife desperately needs the Heavenly Lotus Fruit, which the Heaven Tribe's Two Heads have their eyes on? Ah perhaps...I see. Cultivator Gyo, your so-called wife might be a Heart Tribe spy who approached you. Be careful."
The two cultivators of the Heaven Tribe laugh and jeer at Gyo Yeom and his wife, calling them Heart Tribe spies.
Nok Ju, in the mid Four-Axis stage, Baek Wi-ik, in the late Four-Axis stage.
And Gyo Yeom, in the early Four-Axis stage.
Their numerical and cultivation superiority allows them to belittle him in this manner.
And Gyo Yeom fully understands this.
He has always been aware of his situation.
Therefore, he thought he could rationally navigate through the current predicament.
However, for some reason, he feels as if his mouth is moving on its own.
"...You trash..."
Never before has he acted this way.
He is a member of the Blood Shark Race known for their cold-blooded nature, always calm and ruthless.
Yet, for some reason, Gyo Yeom can't control his mouth.
"I'm telling you...that there's no substitute...Three drops...just three drops will do! The offering to the Sacred Master doesn't have to be the Heavenly Lotus Fruit, and it doesn't have to be you who offers it either. You're just looking for it to boost your own achievements...Was it just once or twice that you bastards from the Tall Tree Race barged into the Heavenly Lotus Mountain like imbeciles all willy dilly and courted disaster? How many times have we seen you seeking offerings to ward off calamities? Everyone in the Bright Cold Realm knows of it. You don't really need the Heavenly Lotus Fruit...!"
Gyo Yeom's eyes turn to Baek Wi-ik.
His eyes are bloodshot.
"You're the same...Benefit for the Heaven and Earth Tribes...? It's not the Heaven and Earth Tribes that benefit but your Paired Wings Race. And what, your Grand Cultivator can't become an Esteemed One due to three missing drops of juice...? If he was someone who could become an Esteemed One by sucking down juice, he would have become one long ago and gloriously embarked on the expeditions with the others. Why would he still be like this...? Even the Heart Tribe member who's a lot younger than your Grand Cultivator and looks like a green-skinned beggar became one much faster and became stronger than anyone...what kind of person who complains about the lack of juice becomes an Esteemed One? And if they really can't successfully rise in cultivation due to three lacking drops of juice, and you're truly loyal to your race, shouldn't you be risking your life to go to the Heart Tribe's front yard to pick the Illusory Red Flower?"
Baek Wi-ik and Nok Ju's faces contort with rage.
"This filthy scum, talking nonsense...!"
"It seems this one needs some discipline. They say those from the Earth Tribe are born from beasts and don't even know who their parents are. Looks like the saying is true."
Nok Ju's body begins to transform into wood, and three pairs of wings sprout from Baek Wi-ik's back.
Blood-red light begins to emanate from Gyo Yeom's eyes.
"As soon as you get scratched, you're ready to kill. You're the ones who talk nonsense, yet you criticize me? Fine, you call it nonsense? Let's go all out with this nonsense then. Your Tall Tree Race claims to worship the Sacred Master Baek Woon like fanatics and sneak into the Heavenly Lotus Mountain, but who in the Bright Cold Realm doesn't know the truth? Who doesn't know that some of your rutting Tall Tree Race members secretly enter Heavenly Lotus Mountain just to pollinate with Sacred Master Baek Woon? Why would the merciful Sacred Master bring down calamity just for entering the mountain? It's because you always cross the line that calamity befalls you. And Grand Cultivator Baek Myeong, who worries about not reaching the next realm without three drops of juice. Who doesn't know he was beaten nearly to death by the Heart Tribe dwarf Esteemed One at the fourth stage of Manifestation and was in a vegetative state until recently? You say he needs the Heavenly Lotus Fruit juice to become an Esteemed One? Don't make me laugh. Everyone knows you want the juice for that old man who pisses himself and has seizures if you whisper 'Collapsing Immortals Annihilating Heavens' into his ear while he sleeps."
Nok Ju and Baek Wi-ik's faces turn crimson with anger.
The eyes of the two Heaven Tribe cultivators are about to flip in rage.
Blood-red energy surges from Gyo Yeom, while green energy emanates from Nok Ju and dazzling white light from Baek Wi-ik.
And at that explosive moment.
Step, step...
Shuaaaaa―
The surrounding temperature drops as someone approaches.
It's Seo Li, the Ghost King with eighteen heads.
Gyo Yeom can sense it.
The lingering curse from Seo Li.
And the smell of blood.
He had likely brutally killed the Demon Race Gyo Yeom left behind.
'Judging by the time it took to come up, he probably 'enjoyed' himself.'
Perhaps a hellscape has unfolded on the second floor.
The Demon Race he had gathered must have already had their heads ripped off, skins flayed, and souls extracted as part of the mad old monster's collection.
'I'm sorry.'
Normally, he wouldn't care, but this time even Gyo Yeom feels guilty towards them.
But there's no time to be caught up in guilt.
'Maybe...I can use this crazy old monster...!'
At this moment.
He has to use everything at his disposal.
Gyo Yeom shouts at the mad old monster Seo Li, who carries the heads of 17 fellow cultivators who he killed on his shoulders.
"Old monster, what do you want!?"
Seo Li responds calmly.
[We only need the Heavenly Lotus Fruit and the Recognizing Sin Taenghwa...]
"Great, that's good. So you also want the Heavenly Lotus Fruit as well? I only need three drops of the juice!! Let's join forces. Those two Heaven Tribe members need the entire fruit, so they won't negotiate."
[Hmm...]
Seeing Seo Li appear to contemplate, the two Heaven Tribe cultivators flinch.
Gyo Yeom, his eyes glowing with blood-red light, speaks.
"After this is over, if you give me a bit of time, I'll even offer my neck to you and become one with you! Release your desires! The Heaven Tribe members in front of you should suit your taste as well...! Considering you killed seventeen cultivators of the same rank and displayed their heads on your shoulders, you'd surely want our heads too? Especially the heads of the Tall Tree Race and the Paired Wings Race, which are hard to come by! These are unique specialties found only in their respective territories! Release your dreadful strength here!!!"
Gyo Yeom shouts with determination.
He has completely provoked the old monster before him.
Now all that remains is for this lunatic to be fully aroused and lose himself in desire, ripping off the heads of these vile Heaven Tribe members.
Even if it costs his life, he will obtain the medicine, Heavenly Lotus Fruit!
That is Gyo Yeom's resolve.
[...]
And Seo Li remains silent.
***
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