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Chapter 386: Salt (4)
Chapter 386: Salt (4)
"What...!?"
Without even a moment to realize the familiar name of the technique, something unpleasant starts to invade my body.
Gurgle, gurgle!
Soon, I feel all the colors before my eyes change to a purple hue.
[I definitely told you, Cult Leader. All I need are two things from Penglai Island...]
Kekekeke...
A sinister laugh echoes in my ears.
[One of them is your body!]
Wriggle, wriggle...
An illusionary fragrance that feels as if it can pierce my nose assaults me.
In front of me, I see a constantly flickering Primordial Chaos (混元) that I have seen somewhere before.
An endlessly mixing, transforming, and evolving double helix of Taiji turns purple and enters my mental world.
The figure of Yuk Rin appears.
He is smiling viciously, showing a triumphant expression.
[Now, hand over your body! Give me your cultivation, your memories, and your enlightenment! You are already mine!!!]
'...This...'
I frown as I observed the secret art called Purple Soul Filling the Heavens trying to take over my body and mind.
Even at first glance, it's a terrifying secret art.
Even I, who had been trained by Cheongmun Ryeong to learn any method, find it difficult to follow the changes of this technique with my eyes.
I can barely guess the nature of this method.
'A secret art that seizes the opponent's body, disassembles their memories, soul, abilities, and bloodline, absorbing only the advantageous parts, and automatically expelling what cannot be handled...? In theory, as long as one's soul endures, they can evolve endlessly into a perfect being...'
But,
That is all.
'Compared to Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens which bears the name of an Immortal Art...'
It's laughably lukewarm.
Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens infects stealthily and swiftly, so much so that the opponent might not even realize they are being contaminated.
In contrast, Purple Soul Filling the Heavens is slow to the point of making one yawn at its rate of corruption.
It's such a vast disparity in completion that just comparing it to Seo Hweol's Immortal Art is an insult to Seo Hweol.
However, I smile.
One thing is certain.
[It shares the same root...as Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.]
It's clear.
I rather grin widely, looking at Yuk Rin who is laughing without knowing anything in my heart essence.
[Finally...! I have found a clue to Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens!]
Yuk Rin seems pleased, thinking he is about to seize my body, but he's mistaken.
Instead, I have grasped a clue to Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens from Yuk Rin.
I move within my mental world.
On Penglai Island, I can't use qi or other mystical powers.
I can't even use my consciousness, but my heart essence is my own heart so it's not affected.
[You said you want my body? If you want it, come and take it.]
[What...?]
The next moment, I invite Yuk Rin's mind into my heart essence.
Since reaching the realm of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion, it became possible not only to read an opponent's heart essence, but also to invite someone with whom I had a close exchange of intent.
In the following moment.
[Kuaaaaaaaargh...!!]
I can feel Yuk Rin's entire body writhing and screaming in pain as he is torn apart in my Sword Mountain.
However, it seems he didn't obtain the position of an Integration stage Dragon King through sheer luck, as he grits his teeth and glares at me.
With my hands clasped behind my back, I turn away and slowly climb up the mountain.
Pukwak, pukwak!
The swords pierce through my entire body as well, but I pay no heed and calmly and leisurely climb the mountain.
[If you want to take over my body, try to catch up. Then I'll face you.]
Yuk Rin's pupils tremble uncontrollably.
At first, he thought it was just a Sword Mountain made of glass.
But he can feel it.
The more he draws forth Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, the more he climbs the Sword Mountain, the closer the essence of this heart essence world flows into his mind.
Due to Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, the surface of this world is peeled away, and the 'true nature' of Seo Eun-hyun's heart essence is imprinted in Yuk Rin's brain.
Huarururu—
Sparks flares up everywhere.
The smell of sulfur fills the air, and the sky is covered in dark smoke.
[Heok...hahk...!]
He gasps for breath in the acrid-smelling atmosphere, gritting his teeth.
[Befitting...of a cult leader from the Nether Ghost Realm...I thought you were a madman or a monster corrupted by a True Person...]
Drip...drip...
Blood drips from his entire body.
He trembles as he takes a step forward.
Pukwak!
His entire body is impaled by swords.
Yuk Rin grits his teeth and looks up at the existence climbing the mountain.
[Isn't this...more insane than I had expected?]
Drip...splat, splat...
Blood flows from that existence.
And that blood flows down the mountain, soaking the sword-filled ground that Yuk Rin is standing on.
With his whole body shivering, he looks down.
There are countless corpses lined up.
They are all the corpses of one person.
Devilish Cult Leader Seo Eun-hyun.
Each of Seo Eun-hyun's corpses died with a pained and resentful expression.
Yuk Rin shivers in fear.
[Just what...are you?]
Beneath his feet lies what are undoubtedly Seo Eun-hyuns.
He feels it.
Since Purple Soul Filling the Heavens is a secret art capable of disassembling the opponent's memories and history, it's excellent at revealing the opponent's essence.
He definitely feels it.
These numerous 'Seo Eun-hyuns' lying on the ground are the 'real' Seo Eun-hyun.
But if that is the case, why are the 'real' ones dead and scattered on the ground, and what is 'that thing' climbing up the mountain?
'That thing' emits a faint light, making it look like a small cluster of light climbing the gloomy Sword Mountain world.
[...I cannot give up...!]
Yuk Rin's eyes burn with determination.
[Monster who has cultivated the power of Penglai...the power of Penglai is mine...!]
Enduring the agony of being impaled by countless swords, he chases after 'that thing' ahead of him.
At a certain moment, the shape of 'that thing' becomes clear in Yuk Rin's sight.
What he had thought was enveloped in light,
Is a charcoal lump in the shape of a human.
Chiiiiiiiii—
Burning in smoldering flames,
Shedding ash and charcoal dust from its body,
And yet, with a bizarre smile, its face seems at peace.
Yes, it's a ghost.
Yuk Rin gasps for breath.
Through interactions with Jin Ma-yeol of the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang, he has learned about the concept of the heart essence world.
And he knows that the heart essence world reveals the essence of its master without any filter.
So then, with a body reduced to charcoal, climbing up the mountain while being pierced by countless swords, what exactly is 'that thing'?
That thing is a deceased.
At the same time, a monster.
An insane madman even more deranged than Yuk Rin, who considers himself a greed-driven monster.
Yuk Rin thinks,
'That Devilish Cult Leader...must be killed. No, I must at least seal it.'
Instinctively, he can tell.
Though outwardly pretending to be a human quite well, Yuk Rin feels that this charcoal monster is the most dangerous being in the Ancient Force Realm at present.
With each step on the Sword Mountain, even an Integration stage Demon King like Yuk Rin feels a pain as if his mind is being torn apart.
However, Yuk Rin continues to follow the charcoal monster while gritting his teeth.
'I must eliminate that thing. I must eliminate it!'
From his intuition, an overwhelming terror he has never felt before surges up.
That thing must be stopped.
If not, only death awaits!
Finally, half-crazed from his pursuit of the charcoal lump, Yuk Rin reaches out to the charcoal monster.
And then, he realizes he was wrong.
[KUAAAAAAAH!!!]
It happens the moment his fingertips brushes the charcoal figure.
Yuk Rin screams in agony as if his entire body is burning.
The pain is unending!
The embers emanating from the charcoal does not cling to him.
It's a flame meant solely for burning the charcoal lump.
However, Yuk Rin also realizes.
If he were to dismantle Seo Eun-hyun and absorb him with Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, that flame will transfer to him as well.
Having entered this world to devour Seo Eun-hyun and finally touching that scorching charcoal figure, he is now sharing the pain with it.
At last, he understands.
[What are you...?]
The charcoal lump turns to look at him.
Instinctively, he knows.
[What are you...? You monster...! How can any living being endure such pain? Even Esteemed Ones would not easily overcome your suffering, I'm asking what is that flame!? How is it possible to endure within that hellfire!]
This lump of charcoal is not of the Human Race.
No, it doesn't seem to be any ordinary mortal being.
It isn't even a devotee of a True Person!
If it had been given the fate of a mortal being, there is no way it could endure such pain with a clear mind!
The charcoal figure looks at Yuk Rin, and Yuk Rin, who had initially intended to dismantle and absorb the charcoal figure into the Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, steps back.
[Go, go away. Go away, you monster...! Kuaaaaahhh!]
Yuk Rin, forgetting the swords impaling his entire body, begins to run away from the charcoal figure.
It's excruciating.
The problem isn't being pierced by swords, but the burning pain obtained from touching the charcoal figure once seems to scorch his very soul.
No, it is more painful than any fire-based demon ability he has ever experienced in his life!
He needs to get away!
He needs to get away from that monster for the pain to disappear!
He runs down the mountain.
[I, I must escape...! I must get out of here!]
Half-crazed with pain, Yuk Rin descends to the base of the mountain.
As he reaches the base, he seems to see the edge of the heart essence.
With flipped eyes, he throws himself in order to exit the heart essence world.
And then,
Thud!
[...!]
At the bottom of the mountain, amidst the swords, are the corpses of Seo Eun-hyun.
Those corpses rise in unison and grab Yuk Rin.
Yuk Rin screams as he sees the corpses weeping bloody tears.
[Let, let go...let go of meeeee!!! I said let go! Hu-huaaaaaahhhh! Right now!! Let go!!!]
Yuk Rin looks back.
It's coming down.
The charcoal monster is descending the mountain of swords and approaching him.
Even though he tries to use Purple Soul Filling the Heavens to shake off the corpses' hands, they do not let go.
-Justjustthethegripgripstrength...
-IsisStarStarShatteringShatteringstagestage...
-Heldheldaaswordswordallallmymylifelife...
-Neverneverletletgogo...
A literal Hellscape!
Yuk Rin struggles in agony, gritting his teeth, and explodes his mental body.
To escape, this is the only way!
Kuaang!
His mental body bursts apart, and Seo Eun-hyuns' grip has no choice but to let go.
The charcoal monster just stares silently at the scene.
I open my eyes.
Back in reality, before my eyes.
Yuk Rin has returned to his own body, clutching his head and gasping for breath.
"Purple Soul Filling the Heavens...thank you. Thanks to you, I've acquired an interesting secret art."
Due to him self-destructing his mental body within my heart essence and escaping, I was able to obtain the formula for Purple Soul Filling the Heavens from the fragments of the explosion.
I can examine it slowly later.
He looks up at me and grits his teeth.
"You...just what are you?"
"Hmm?"
"How can...charcoal...charc...that, that burning...kuaaagh!"
Yuk Rin seems to have seen something within my heart essence, grimacing and groaning in pain.
'Did he briefly touch the Karmic Fire?'
I don't know why he is talking about charcoal all of a sudden.
It seems he is in so much pain that he's hallucinating.
"You're overexaggerating."
I smile faintly, get up from the throne, and kick Yuk Rin.
Recently, the Karmic Fire has been losing its vigor and is about to die out.
Only a few embers remain, but is he really making such a fuss over touching those few embers?
'In any case, it's a fire that only burns me. Unless someone completely devours me, they won't spread.'
However, perhaps this guy is still unable to escape the shock from the pain of the Karmic Fire. He is unable to control his body properly and is trembling violently.
Wearing the jade seal and crown, I approach Yuk Rin and stomp on his neck.
"Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, huh...it was quite an impressive trick, but having seen its superior counterpart, it felt insignificant."
I question Yuk Rin, who is trembling in pain.
"So, what is your real purpose? Tell me your true objective."
Yuk Rin, shuddering in pain and coughing, begins to laugh.
"Ha, hahaha...ahahaha...! Purpose...?"
"..."
As I peer into his heart essence, trying to guess his objective, I flinch.
Wo-woong—
Strength is returning to my body.
To be precise, my body is being connected to my 'main body' that is sleeping 'outside' this formation!
Tsutsutsutsu—
As I rose to the throne and fulfilled the formation's objective, those who have lost their memories are starting to recover them one by one, and like me, are beginning to regain their powers.
I stomp harder on Yuk Rin's neck.
He's trying to do something!
"You...what are you plotting?"
"Wrong...question...you monster."
He looks up at me, enduring the pain with a sneering smile.
"It has already begun!"
Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain.
Directly beneath the Dome Sky of the sea domain where all light has vanished, Wi Yun is emanating dark red devilish energy and is forming hand seals in the air.
She joins her hands together and reach towards the sky.
At that moment.
Kururururung!
A gigantic formation seems to unfold in the air, and above the center of Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain, a mirage of Cherry Blossom Dragon Island appears.
The Deep Sea Island, hidden beneath Governing Dragon Island.
From the center of that mirage, the figure of a gigantic Sea Dragon arises.
From the actual Cherry Blossom Dragon Island, using Wi Yun and the Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain itself as a medium, the Sea Dragon's mirage transmits power and projects its body there.
Kugugugugu!
As the Sea Dragon swiftly flies past the half-insane Wi Yun, intoxicated by devilish energy, it stops at a spot in Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain.
A corner of the sea domain where the sea has split apart.
The projected form of the Sea Dragon rises above it.
The Governing Dragon Palace Lord, who has taken over the body of the former Cherry Blossom Dragon Palace Lord Yuk Ung.
Yuk Rin's main body begins to exert its power.
Kugugugugu!
As he clenches his hand, the split sea of the Ancient Force Realm begins to 'close' very slowly.
Yuk Rin, at the bottom of the split sea.
Communicating with his clone on Penglai Island, his eyes brighten.
[Is that so...? It's fine. It would have been best to also obtain the devilish cult leader who cultivated Penglai's power, but there's no need to be greedy. Just obtaining what I truly desire is enough...]
Yuk Rin's eyes slit vertically as he looks down at Penglai Island below.
As morning approaches, light gradually returns to the world.
Penglai Island shines brightly as the formation takes effect, and the palace made of Salt Crystals at the summit of Salt Mountain at the center of Penglai Island shines brightly as well.
[The divine method that even the Grand Perfection Integration stage Cherry Blossom Dragon Palace Lord Yuk Ung in his prime could only achieve minor achievement in, Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade (鹽海歸露玉)! The authority to control the hegemony of Ancient Force will finally be perfected today!]
Yuk Rin's main body projects its attraction force towards the palace made of Salt Crystals.
Kududududuk!
The palace connected to Salt Mountain starts to be uprooted.
Chapter 387: Salt (5)
Dududududududu!
The entire world begins to shake.
Yuk Rin smiles.
"It was a mistake from the start to accept the throne! Haha, if you hadn't inherited the throne, the barrier of Penglai Island would have remained firm, preventing any external forces from entering. But thanks to you taking the throne, my main body can interfere and take away the core of the barrier!"
He bursts into wild laughter, and I glare at him, trying to quickly connect with my main body.
However, my main body is still in a comatose state, and all I can confirm is that we can't fully escape this world of illusions to exert our full strength.
"I advise you to go and quickly gather the ritual worship scriptures you wanted. Once the barrier breaks, the scriptures will remain in this illusory world forever, never to be obtained again...!"
"Shut up."
I wonder why this bastard is babbling so much. It seems he's trying to confuse me with false information.
'The first thing he said is true, but everything about the ritual worship scriptures is a lie...'
But unfortunately for him, it doesn't affect me at all.
With Yuk Rin's neck under my foot, I look for anyone among my comrades who can help immediately.
Then my eyes meet Kim Young-hoon's.
"Hyung-nim, can you come over?"
Kim Young-hoon, having just regained his senses, seems displeased with something he experienced in the illusion, indicated by his dark expression.
Nevertheless, he nods.
I glare at Yuk Rin.
It seems that after we achieved the formation's objective, this guy planned to drag his main body over while we were trapped and escape with the core of the formation.
"I'll show you that your calculations are wrong."
After exchanging glances with Kim Young-hoon, we reach out our hands into the air.
As our strength gradually returns, we begin to connect with our main bodies.
Connecting with the main body means we can use our qi.
If we can use qi, we can use consciousness, and if we can use consciousness...
"All-Heaven!"
"Surpassing Radiant!"
Executing the single strike of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion strike is nothing!
Flash!
The world shakes, and Kim Young-hoon and I shoot our respective strikes towards the sky.
With a blinding ray of light, we break free from the formation of Penglai Island and soar upward, meeting the gaze of Yuk Rin's main body under the morning sun of Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain who is exuding attraction force towards Penglai island.
Yuk Rin's main body.
More precisely, the direct projection of his main body looks at us and sneers.
[Foolish. Do you intend to oppose me? If it were your main bodies, I might have backed down...but with just these avatars?]
"Aren't you also just a projection?"
[Haha, do you think I would bring an ordinary projection on such an important day? Don't do anything foolish and quietly slumber in the depths of the Deep Sea, O Wuji Charcoal King (無極炭王).]
He laughs and calls me by the nickname 'Charcoal King,' as if mocking me for being cast as a charcoal seller.
Kim Young-hoon and I take our stances without a word.
Yuk Rin bursts into wild laughter again.
Kim Young-hoon sends me a heart message.
—Be careful, Eun-hyun. This Yuk Rin is different from last time.
Kim Young-hoon, who had faced Yuk Rin before with the Buk Hyang Fleet, warns me.
Tension is etched on his face.
I swallow hard as well.
[Do you really intend to oppose me!? It is I, who has resurrected the body of Cherry Blossom Dragon Palace Lord and seized the body for myself! I have not only inherited his divine method, but also my own demon abilities I have cultivated. I have fully supplemented my true blood, and now I am no different from a completely pure Sea Dragon!]
"Dear me...I didn't know the Sea Dragon Race was such a terrifying race."
[You should be afraid from now on. At least in the Ancient Force Realm!]
Kugugugugu!
I can feel it.
Even though it's just a projection, it seems to be in a state almost indistinguishable from the main body due to some secret arts. The power of Yuk Rin, who has taken Yuk Ung's body is...
'The same...as Hyeon Eum...!'
Grand Perfection Integration stage.
He is on par with the Black Dragon King, Hyeon Eum.
And so, the battle begins.
[Demon Ability, Grand Ocean Thousand Li Pearl.]
"...!"
In an instant, Kim Young-hoon and I are trapped inside an ocean sphere with a diameter of a thousand li.
[Demon Ability, Three Hundred Million Jin Sweet Water Peach.]
'This is!'
The pressure rises to a horrifying level, and Kim Young-hoon and I feel our bodies starting to be crushed.
I warn Kim Young-hoon of the next incoming attack and move while exchanging heart language with him.
Paaatt!
Before the demon ability Three Hundred Million Jin Sweet Water Peach can swell us like soaked peaches and kill us, Kim Young-hoon and I quickly escape from the inside of the Grand Ocean Thousand Li Pearl.
"He's coming!"
"Got it!"
Kim Young-hoon prepares for the follow-up attack of the Great Ocean Thousand Li Pearl as I had informed him through heart language.
[Demon Ability, Extinguishing Masoulem Raining Heavens!]
Chwaaahhh!
The Grand Ocean Thousand Li Pearl explodes, and each drop of water rains down in all directions.
I deflect every droplet and fly towards Yuk Rin, while Kim Young-hoon evades the rain and raises his saber behind Yuk Rin's head.
In a split second, Yuk Rin locks eyes with me and asks.
[It seems you've fought the Sea Dragon Race before. This is the innate demon ability engraved in the Sea Dragon True Blood.]
"Enough to be sick of it."
I feel him smirking at my response.
[It seems all the Sea Dragons you've met until now were half-wits.]
"What?"
[Is that the only impression you have when thinking of the Sea Dragon Race? From now on, when you think of the Sea Dragon Race, you will be overcome with fear and humiliation...!]
Woo-oong!
A familiar light bursts from his body.
'Damn...'
Kim Young-hoon and I quickly retreat after leaving wounds on his neck and back.
He is about to unleash his domain.
[I am the one...who has reached the apex of Sea Dragons...!]
Yuk Rin's blue scales appear to glow even bluer, and in an instant, his body swells greatly.
Soon, from within Yuk Rin's scales, tides surge like the sea, his eyes turn into an enormous sun and moon, and his mane becomes a storm.
Heaven Tribe cultivators from the Four-Axis stage deploy a canopy around them, and when they reach the Integration stage, they unfold their domain around themselves.
Earth Tribe cultivators, starting from the Four-Axis stage, unfold the canopy inside their bodies to enlarge their physique, and upon reaching the Integration stage, they assimilate their bodies with their domains.
In other words, an Earth Tribe Integration stage Demon King is practically a 'living small dimension.'
On the contrary, Hyeon Eum, who unfolds his domain around himself despite having an Earth Tribe body, is an oddity.
Yuk Rin, who has become a dragon of dimensions, begins to move.
Hwooong—
His first target is Kim Young-hoon.
His tail aims at Kim Young-hoon.
Of course, Kim Young-hoon is not hit at all, but Yuk Rin's strike causes a quarter of the Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain to shake violently.
Kugugugu!
A storm arises in the direction Yuk Rin's tail swung, shaking the Deep Sea and submerging and collapsing the islands in that direction.
Cheouk!
He opens his jaws towards Kim Young-hoon and I.
Bo-oong!
Flash!
My All-Heavens Sword and his Surpassing Radiant Saber emit light, and simultaneously, the Dragon Race's breath, Dragon Wave (龍波), bursts forth from Yuk Rin's mouth.
Jiiiiiiiiiiing—————
For a moment, sound disappears from the world.
We can feel everything behind us in the Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain being swept away by his Dragon Wave.
The only intact place is directly behind where Kim Young-hoon and I had launched our strikes.
Kim Young-hoon is fast, and I am free.
Therefore, under normal terrain, his attacks could never reach us.
However, given the nature of the Ancient Force Realm where a sea domain is trapped in a water droplet, if Yuk Rin launches a ranged attack that encompasses the entire sea domain, there is no place to avoid even if we want to.
As the light subsides, Yuk Rin immediately charges at us, bringing down his front claw.
Kim Young-hoon dodges and lands 108 slashes across Yuk Rin's entire body, but the slashes fail to penetrate his body, which has become akin to a small dimension in itself.
It's shallow.
Kwaaaang!
His claw collides with my All-Heavens Sword.
Kwaduk!
I redirect his force, grab his front paw, and throw Yuk Rin over my shoulder.
Yuk Rin's massive body topples and crashes straight into the Deep Sea.
Under normal circumstances, he would've become lost in another dimension the moment he enters the Deep Sea. But Yuk Rin's body, which has become a small dimension itself, does not sink despite being thrown down. Instead, he stands up on the surface of the Deep Sea by utilizing the characteristic of his body being made of the same dimensional attribute.
Once again, he prepares another Dragon Wave.
Kim Young-hoon and I exchange quick glances.
With just our Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatars, we can only hinder him. Winning would be impossible.
He'd become a puppet in less than a day of meeting Seo Hweol, but purely as a single entity Sea Dragon, Yuk Rin is on par with Hyeon Eum, or perhaps even superior due to the synergy between the Sea Dragon Race and Ancient Force Realm's dimensions.
Flash!
Light is about to burst from his mouth, and in the next moment, Kim Young-hoon and I simultaneously rush under his jaw and strike it upwards.
Yuk Rin is strong.
With just avatars, we cannot deliver a decisive blow.
Moreover, because the main body is partially trapped by the energy of Penglai Island, I can't summon the Three Great Ultimates like I did against Jang Ik.
So then how can we deliver a shock to this creature?
Kwaaaaang!
The Dragon Wave he was about to unleash explodes inside his mouth.
'Indeed. For martial artists, defeating cultivators in this manner is the usual.'
We have to make him injure himself with his own power.
'Thinking back, the Three Great Ultimates were always too powerful, so I never lacked brute force against other cultivators.'
It's been quite a while since I had such a unique experience.
Chiiiiii—
Without taking my eyes off Yuk Rin who is now emitting smoke from his mouth, I step back to prepare a major strike.
Although his Dragon Wave exploded in his mouth, it seems that half of the explosion's power is being recirculated and absorbed back into his dimensional body.
However, in that brief moment.
In the instant Yuk Rin is recovering from his injury, we each take our Starting Form and compose our energies.
Kiiiing!
The All-Heavens Sword hums.
The Surpassing Radiant Saber shines.
The next moment, Kim Young-hoon becomes a Peng Bird that splits seas.
My All-Heavens Sword becomes a storm that cleaves mountains.
And then.
Jeeoooong!
The Peng Bird severs his left arm, and my All-Heavens Sword pierces a gaping hole in his chest dimension.
[...!]
Yuk Rin trembles as if in shock.
[...Is it over?]
However, at the Integration stage, one won't die until their entire domain is destroyed.
Of course, since he's a projection, dispersing his energy beyond a certain level would usually be sufficient. But he's using the power of his main body through some secret art.
In short, Yuk Rin is injured but still intact, while our energy is completely exhausted from the recent strike.
Nevertheless, neither Kim Young-hoon nor I look discouraged.
"An avatar can only do so much."
"So...shall we face you with our main bodies now, Yuk Rin?"
We have bought enough time.
Our dormant main bodies have awoken.
I transfer my consciousness to my main body and open my eyes in my true physical body above Penglai Island.
Kim Young-hoon does the same.
No, it isn't just me and Kim Young-hoon.
Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, Buk Hyang-hwa, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and the entire Wuji Religious Order have awakened as well.
From directly above Penglai Island, within the Twilight Domain,
I reveal my 19 heads and look at Yuk Rin, facing my Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar.
[Now then, if I defeat you...after returning to the Bright Cold Realm, I can personally teach Hyeon Eum a lesson, right?]
Behind my heads, the Three Great Ultimates rise.
Kwa-jijijik!
Yuk Rin tries to suppress us using attraction force.
But it's futile.
Yet, the next moment,
"...What?"
I feel the attraction force of misfortune in the sky.
Kugugugugugu!
At some point.
The Salt Crystal Palace that had certainly been on top of Salt Mountain has been pulled up beside Yuk Rin.
Upon closer inspection, Jin Ma-yeol and the clone of Yuk Rin are each using their respective concealment technique and Purple Soul Filling the Heavens next to the palace.
A part of the Purple Soul Filling the Heavens' formula that I obtained from Yuk Rin's mental body surfaces in my mind.
—Purple is the most suitable color to hide in the darkness.
While Jin Ma-yeol's concealment technique is of little use against the eyes of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion that Kim Young-hoon and I have, the Purple Soul Filling the Heavens complements the concealment technique, allowing it to hide even in the Plane of Soul.
Jeon Myeong-hoon shouts with a sneer.
[What's the use of grabbing treasure right before you die? You will die here.]
I urgently shout.
It's calamity.
Right now, the great calamity of the heavens is madly sweeping down upon us!
[Jeon Myeong-hoon! Defend, not attack! We must protect the order!]
[What?]
Kwajik!!
Yuk Rin's colossal body grabs the Salt Crystal Palace with both hands.
An ominous premonition peaks.
I see joy rising in Yuk Rin's eyes.
[Behold...the legendary divine method of the Ancient Force Realm, created by the Immortal Beast Xiezhi itself...]
Wooo-woooong!
The Salt Crystal Palace begins to shine.
[Salt Sea (鹽海).]
From the palace, an endless flow of pure white light streams out, creating a white sea in the sky.
[Returning Dew (歸露).]
The white sea in the sky coalesces into a sphere.
Time seems to stand still.
Even though his movements are not particularly fast, the pressure emanating from that sphere makes my entire body tremble.
It isn't just me; everyone in the Wuji Religious Order is visibly shaken and unable to compose themselves.
The only ones who can still move are myself, who has frequently encountered transcendents, and Jeon Myeong-hoon, who faced Heavenly Punishment.
[Jade Heaven (玉天)!]
Tzzzz!
Yuk Rin compresses the sphere he created and swallows it.
Right after, a flash of light capable of reshaping Heaven and Earth bursts forth from his mouth.
[Kuaaaaaah!]
Overcoming the pressure, I leap into the sky and unleash the power of the Three Great Ultimates.
Instinctively, I can tell.
'I can't perfectly block it by just cutting.'
The Severing Mountain Swordsmanship and the All-Heavens Sword, which specialize in 'cutting,' are not suitable to block that.
Then, what should I use to block it?
'Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter lacks firepower.'
Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique has sufficient firepower, but it's a method designed to 'trap and disassemble' the target.
In this situation, it is hard to use effectively.
In that case...
'I have only one option.'
Chuaaaa!
Yin-Yang and Five Elements, the energy of seven forces converge into one.
A variant of the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique that I have yet to name properly.
An inverted cone, incomprehensible to Yuk Rin, materializes in my hand and collides with his Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade.
Kuadudududududuk!
Drawing infinite power from the Three Great Ultimates, my inverted cone meets his Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade head-on.