A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

Chapter 362: Is It Not A Joy To Have Friends Come From Afar? (6)

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Chapter 362: Is It Not A Joy To Have Friends Come From Afar? (6)

Jin Ma-yeol frowns as he faces the man stroking a hand, the Chief Law Protector of the Wuji Religious Order, Jeon Myeong-hoon.

He feels a subtle attraction force emanating from the man before him.

'Integration stage, huh?'

However, Jin Ma-yeol is not worried.

'Judging by how poorly he controls his domain, he must be a rookie who only recently reached the Integration stage. There's nothing to worry about.'

Surung—

He draws out his natal dharma treasure, Tearing Fissure Chain Sickle (裂罅鎖鎌), and envelops his entire body in his domain.

He grips the black chain sickle inscribed with jade-colored spell characters, and as he recites an invocation, his form becomes semi-transparent.

Overlaying his domain with space, he can become invisible at any time and redirect his opponent's attacks elsewhere - this is his unique technique.

Jin Ma-yeol hurls his Tearing Fissure Chain Sickle at Jeon Myeong-hoon.

'Rookies in the early Integration stage lose their minds if their domain is cracked!'

Just as the Tearing Fissure Chain Sickle, moving at the speed of light, is about to reach Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"...!"

Kwa-jijijik!

Jin Ma-yeol realizes something is wrong.

'This is...the sky? Why am I flying? And...'

Before he can finish his thoughts, a Six-Armed Giant, coursing with red lightning, appears above him.

In the Six-Armed Giant's hand is a seven-colored lightning bolt.

"Wait..."

Kwaaa-jijijik!

Jin Ma-yeol is slammed into the ground, vomiting blood.

'S-Something is wrong!'

Booong!

"Kugh...!"

As soon as he regains his senses, he hastily rolls away to avoid Jeon Myeong-hoon, who is falling from above.

Kwaaang!

Jeon Myeong-hoon slams his six arms into the ground, and Jin Ma-yeol moves back before wielding his chain sickle.

But then it happens.

Kugugugugu!

"What...!?"

Suddenly, the ground tilts.

Through his consciousness domain, Jin Ma-yeol realizes what's happening.

'The Sky Island of the ghostly creatures. It's splitting in half!'

Kugugugugu!

From behind, he senses 'some things' colliding at speeds too fast for the eye to see.

And amidst the gap, he glimpses a flash of golden radiance and grits his teeth.

'It's that thief! The one who stole my natal dharma treasure last time!'

Crack—

He can never forget that astonishing speed.

The comrade of the Conqueror King who stole his cherished Nurturing Saber (毓刀) Blood Fruit (血果)!

He glances at the 'something' fighting on par with the 'thief,' thinking.

'Seeing that thief fighting on equal terms, he must have drawn my beloved saber that he stole from me. I should seize the opportunity to take back my natal dharma treasure.'

Just as he concludes his thoughts, crimson red lightning streaks towards him.

Kwaaaang!

However, an explosion erupts instantly.

Jeon Myeong-hoon flinches, glaring at Jin Ma-yeol who has blocked his lightning.

In Jin Ma-yeol's right hand is his dharma treasure, Tearing Fissure Chain Sickle, and in his left hand, his bones, flesh, and muscles have formed a grotesque sword.

"I apologize. I underestimated you, thinking you were just a rookie at the early Integration stage. But it seems you've mastered quite a unique method, your strength likely reaching mid or late stage..."

Grinning, Jin Ma-yeol speaks.

"I'll take you seriously."

Kugugugugu!

An overwhelming aura emanates from his entire body.

And while it's only for a brief, fleeting moment, Jeon Myeong-hoon feels the same chilling sensation he had once felt from Seo Eun-hyun.

"Fighting Steps (鬪步), Second Realm (第二界)."

His grotesque sword is overlaid by his domain.

The next instant, Jin Ma-yeol folds space and rushes to Jeon Myeong-hoon's face.

Kwa-jijik!

Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning spear collides with Jin Ma-yeol's grotesque sword, causing an explosion.

Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at his tingling hand.

[You bastard...that move...]

"It's a type of fighting dance learned in the traditional rituals of the Fighting Ghost Race. Once you reach a certain level, you can..."

Bo-oong!

Once again, Jin Ma-yeol charges at Jeon Myeong-hoon, swinging his grotesque sword.

Jeon Myeong-hoon blocks with his lightning spear, but the grotesque sword bends grotesquely like Seo Eun-hyun's Formless Sword, scratching his body.

Jeon Myeong-hoon frowns.

He can see the trajectory of Jin Ma-yeol's sword with his lightning-sharp vision.

The sword moves as if alive, connected to Jin Ma-yeol's body and changes its path 'every instant' in the air.

Reading each and every air current in the empty space, it makes the optimal choice every moment.

Jeon Myeong-hoon looks at Jin Ma-yeol with annoyance and grits his teeth.

[...You remind me of an annoying person.]

"Haha, so what...?"

[I thought of frying you for fun, but I've changed my mind.]

Kwa-jik, Kwa-jijijik!

The seven-colored lightning swirling around Jeon Myeong-hoon's six arms begin to merge into a single color.

Pure red lightning!

Jin Ma-yeol senses something is amiss.

[I will crush you with all my might...!]

Kwa-jijijijik!

Jeon Myeong-hoon extends his six arms, launching lightning spears in all directions.

Kwarururung!

The red lightning writhes and pursues Jin Ma-yeol.

Kwa-jijijik!

One of the lightning spears eventually pierces Jin Ma-yeol's torso, causing him to froth at the mouth in excruciating pain.

'Damn it, I need to escape his attack range!'

Taatt!

Jin Ma-yeol hurriedly exits the Twilight Domain.

Having faced the Conqueror King's fleet several times before, Jin Ma-yeol judges it best to confront Jeon Myeong-hoon near the Sea Circle of the Buk Hyang Fleet.

However, he soon realizes his judgment is wrong.

[You fool. To leave the Twilight Domain on your own...]

Kwa-jijijik!

Jeon Myeong-hoon's body swells even more.

An overwhelming amount of lightning surges within him.

Jin Ma-yeol's face turns pale.

'This lunatic! That wasn't his full power!?'

And then, Jeon Myeong-hoon begins to press Jin Ma-yeol hard.

Jin Ma-yeol tries to resist Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning.

In terms of overall combat ability, skills, and combat experience at the Integration stage, Jin Ma-yeol is superior, and having reached the Second Realm of Fighting Steps, his 'instantaneous reaction speed' is also above Jeon Myeong-hoon.

But he grits his teeth.

'Even though I'm superior in experience, skill, and reaction speed, I'm losing purely by raw power!?'

Kwa-jijijik!

Feeling his domain getting torn apart by the waterfall of lightning spewed by Jeon Myeong-hoon, his eyes tremble.

[It ends with this...!]

Pa-jijik!

After unleashing the lightning waterfall, Jeon Myeong-hoon gathers his six arms and begins to form a single red lightning spear.

Jin Ma-yeol's face turns pale.

And in the next moment,

Kwaaang!

A golden light flickers, and suddenly, the Ghost King who is considered the leader of the ghostly creatures, flies in and bursts Jeon Myeong-hoon's upper body apart.

[Kuaaaaaghk! Seo Eun-hyun!]

Jeon Myeong-hoon roars, his voice filled with rage.

In Jeon Myeong-hoon's vision, Seo Eun-hyun's 19-headed figure appears for 0.01 seconds.

Seo Eun-hyun's silhouette seems to be saying something to him, but it's too brief for Jeon Myeong-hoon to understand.

Then, using Jeon Myeong-hoon's body as a springboard, Seo Eun-hyun flies toward the Sea Circle formed by the Buk Hyang Fleet.

Kwaaang!

One corner of the Sea Circle, unfolded through the dimensional canopy, is blown open.

Jeon Myeong-hoon cries out for Seo Eun-hyun with resentment, while Jin Ma-yeol stares blankly at the breach Seo Eun-hyun created in the Sea Circle.

'The notorious Conqueror Fleet's deep-sea barrier...was it so easily broken?'

He shakes his head in disbelief.

'Indeed, what a monstrous being. I'm fortunate to not have faced it directly.'

With his thoughts concluded, Jin Ma-yeol swings his Tearing Fissure Chain Sickle and grotesque sword at Jeon Myeong-hoon, who is hastily regenerating his body.

The battle, which seemed to favor Jeon Myeong-hoon momentarily, is once again evenly matched due to Seo Eun-hyun's intervention.

Kim Yeon's first thought when she sees Buk Hyang-hwa is simple.

'For some reason, I don’t like the look of her.'

However, despite this thought, her judgment is swift.

'I can't let them complete the barrier. I need to capture that commander right now!'

Surung, sururung—

Eight throwing knives flow down from Kim Yeon's hand.

As a faint pink radiance glimmers on the throwing knives connected to her consciousness threads, they are swung towards Buk Hyang-hwa.

The pink slash flies towards Buk Hyang-hwa.

But then,

Kwaaang!

Two Second Hyang Ships, escorting the First Hyang Ship that Buk Hyang-hwa is aboard, fires their cannons and shatters Kim Yeon's slash.

Kim Yeon's eyes glint.

'What? How could they block my attack with just those meager dharma treasures...?'

Feeling something strange, Kim Yeon launches another slash and then uses the Flying Escape Technique to attempt a body slam towards Buk Hyang-hwa.

But once again, cannon fire rains down on Kim Yeon, and she finally realizes.

Kwaaang!

As she is pushed back by the fleet's bombardment, Kim Yeon glares at the barrier formed by the [Deep Sea] that's unfolded in the sky.

'This barrier is weakening everyone facing these ships while enhancing the fleet's attacks.'

Kim Yeon's eyes glow with pink brilliance as she glares at Buk Hyang-hwa.

'If I fight within this barrier, the damage will be great. I need to get outside and fight...'

And just as she thinks this.

Kwaaang!

An enormous explosion resounds, and a large hole is blown in the Sea Circle formed by the Buk Hyang Fleet.

It's been five seconds since the battle began.

"Oh my, the path has opened."

A smile spreads across Kim Yeon's face, while Buk Hyang-hwa's face is filled with shock.

"No, my Sea Circle...!"

Kim Yeon smirks as she swiftly uses the Flying Escape Technique, brushing past Jin Ma-yeol and Jeon Myeong-hoon to exit beyond the Sea Circle.

She then turns her gaze towards the Fourth Hyang Ships maintaining the barrier from the north, south, east, west, and above, and charges straight at them.

As she is about to strike the Fourth Hyang Ships, the First Hyang Ship and the Buk Hyang Fleet, which had previously entered the Sea Circle, come out and aim their cannons at Kim Yeon.

But Kim Yeon laughs.

Kwaaang!

The cannons fire directly at Kim Yeon, but she laughs.

"What, is that all? Ahahahaha!"

It doesn't hurt!

There's absolutely no damage at all!

Outside the Sea Circle, Kim Yeon has no reason to be pushed back by the Buk Hyang Fleet!

Buk Hyang-hwa's face hardens, while Kim Yeon's face brightens with joy.

The next moment.

Kwaaang!

Seven seconds after the battle began.

Seo Eun-hyun and Kim Young-hoon clash in a battle far off in the sea, causing the entire sea domain to tremble.

Using the shockwave as a signal, Kim Yeon charges towards the Buk Hyang Fleet.

With a hardened face, Buk Hyang-hwa forms hand seals.

In response to her seals, the puppets aboard the First Hyang Ship move busily, waving white flags.

"Second Fleet, Sixth and Tenth Squadrons, all ships switch to Plan Eul (乙). Position three Second Hyang Ships each to the port and starboard sides of the First Hyang Ship, and to the stern, with the bodies of Third Hyang Ships! Fourth Hyang Ships are to support the Sea Master (海主) from sea!"

Chwarararak!

The Buk Hyang Fleet moves in perfect unison, bombarding Kim Yeon as they form a formation.

The Second Hyang Ships flank to the left and right of the First Hyang Ship, and the Third Hyang Ships line up behind, forming a snake-like shape.

The Buk Hyang Fleet float in the air like a gigantic serpent in the shape of the character Eul (乙), confronting Kim Yeon.

Clank, clank, clank!

Numerous ships connect, beginning to interlock with each other.

Simultaneously, the Buk Hyang Fleet, which individually was only at the Heavenly Being level, transforms into a colossal serpent-shaped puppet, with its aura rising to the early Four-Axis stage.

Chwarararak!

The serpent of ships moves in the air, encircling Kim Yeon.

The cannons all aim at Kim Yeon and begin coordinated bombardment.

Kim Yeon endures the bombardment head-on with her bare body and flies towards the body of the serpent that surrounds her.

Despite the concentrated fire, it's insufficient to penetrate the protective Gang Qi enveloping her entire body.

Finally, Kim Yeon succeeds in attaching herself to one of the Third Hyang Ships that forms part of the serpent's body.

Witnessing this, Buk Hyang-hwa makes a swift decision without hesitation.

"437th Third Hyang Ship, detach from body. Self-destruct!"

Clank, clank!

The part of the serpent's body connected to the designated Third Hyang Ship is severed, and the few crew members on the ship evacuate.

Kim Yeon senses explosive energy surging inside the Third Hyang Ship.

However, her expression remains calm.

Tsutsutsutsu!

The Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon activates.

Kim Yeon recalls the voice of the Mad Lord echoing in her ears.

Although he is a madman, he would regain his sanity with remarkable clarity whenever he taught about puppetry.

—Listen carefully, my disciple. My Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, as well as this circuit and all my creations, are fundamentally superior to any mechanical device that exists in this world. Unless they are a puppeteer at True Immortality, Sacred Vessel, or Entering Nirvana, no one can create a puppet superior to mine. Hehe...

Words that seem arrogant at first.

But Kim Yeon, who has witnessed the Mad Lord's techniques closer than anyone else, understands.

―All puppets that exist in this world, created by mortals, are fundamentally inferior to my puppets. They are nothing more than primitive mechanical toys equipped with crude puppet techniques. Yes, the vast majority of mortal techniques in this world are inferior versions of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress. Do you understand what this means?

The Mad Lord's arrogance is not overconfidence but genuine confidence.

—With the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and my circuits I taught you, you can easily suppress and seize control of the inferior puppets of other lowly puppeteers. Today, I have captured a Four-Axis stage puppeteer for you to practice on.

Kim Yeon's Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon penetrates the various parts of the Third Hyang Ship, forming the same configuration as the Mad Lord's circuits.

Kim Yeon sighs.

'Well, it's not as incompetent as he claimed.'

Though it is indeed inferior compared to the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, it's still a significant technological marvel.

No, rather than being a mere inferior version, it feels like it has evolved in a different direction.

Nonetheless, she isn't worried at all.

After all, her circuits have already seized control of the Third Hyang Ship.

Kiiiiing!

The self-destruct command for the Third Hyang Ship is halted.

Kim Yeon, having taken control of the Third Hyang Ship, locks eyes with the bewildered Buk Hyang-hwa.

"Well then, here I come."

Kugugugu!

Using her own spiritual power as the energy source, the Third Hyang Ship flies in as if it's on a rampage, ramming its bow into the nearby members of the Buk Hyang Fleet.

Kwaaang!

Simultaneously, the interlocking components between the Third Hyang Ship and the rest of the Buk Hyang Fleet snaps into place, connecting it to the other ships.

Kim Yeon's eyes gleam as she begins taking control of the Buk Hyang Fleet through the Third Hyang Ship.

Watching this from the command room of the First Hyang Ship, Buk Hyang-hwa's expression twists slightly.

"M-My creations...What are you doing to them!?"

Chijijijik!

As her emotions intensify, three-colored patterns emerge on her face.

Unlike when she was in the Head Realm, her patterns have evolved, with two of the three colors now partially blended.

Grinding her teeth, Buk Hyang-hwa manipulates several devices in the command center.

Simultaneously, the command room detaches from the First Hyang Ship, transforming into a spider-shaped puppet.

—Commander! What are you doing!?

—Commander, please calm down!

The frantic shouts of the Buk Hyang Fleet's crew pour towards the command room, but the crazed Buk Hyang-hwa ignores them.

Dududududu!

The spider puppet she is riding quickly descends the serpent's body created by the Buk Hyang Fleet, reaching the Buk Hyang Fleet Kim Yeon has taken over.

Buk Hyang-hwa's hands begin to move.

Clank, clank, clank!

The patterns on her face glow intensely.

Her hands move faster and faster.

Kugugugugu!

Countless devices spring from the legs of the spider puppet, dismantling and modifying the Buk Hyang Fleet in real-time at Buk Hyang-hwa's command.

In an instant, the command system of one ship is altered, and the ship controlled by Kim Yeon has its command authority reset.

Buk Hyang-hwa swiftly inputs herself as the new command authority, quickly reclaiming the ships seized by Kim Yeon.

Finally, Buk Hyang-hwa's spider puppet lands on the Third Hyang Ship where Kim Yeon is.

Kim Yeon smirks.

"Oh my, what confidence do you have to come all the way down here? I think I can take control of that puppet too?"

"You should not insult my creations. More than that, please get off my ship now!"

"I don't want to? We're in the middle of a battle, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"Ugh, as fellow puppeteers, should we not fight fairly with puppets?"

Kim Yeon scoffs at her words.

"Well, my master might have responded to your words, but not me. Truthfully, I have no pride in being a puppeteer, and I hate my puppeteer master."

"...I thought this since I first saw you, but you're really rude."

The two glare at each other.

"What's your name? When I capture and modify you later, I'll make sure to specially call the magic artifact your living name."

"Mysterious Bizarre Ghost King, Kim Yeon. And yours?"

"Conqueror King, Buk Hyang-hwa. Kim Yeon, huh. You have an unnecessarily good name, don't you?"

"Ahaha, you better pray I don't catch you as well. If I do, I'll turn you into something like 'General Buk.' Anyway, I learned well from my master how to make living puppets, so I can probably make something good."

"I'd rather self-destruct than be captured and modified by you, who has no pride as a puppeteer and no personal puppets. But if you get captured by me, I'll turn you into a far superior magic artifact or ship, so no need to worry."

The two puppeteers stare at each other for a moment, then quickly move their hands.

Booong!

Kim Yeon slashes, and Buk Hyang-hwa urgently inputs commands.

"Sea Pillar (海柱), activate!"

Kgwagwagwagwa!

Kururung!

The slash splits Buk Hyang-hwa's spider puppet in half. In the next moment, the Fourth Hyang Ships preparing a formation on the deep-sea surface manipulates the sea to create a massive pillar.

The dimensional pillar, resembling a water column, shoots up into the sky and strikes the Third Hyang Ship where Buk Hyang-hwa and Kim Yeon are.

Kim Yeon squints and looks around.

In an instant, her surroundings warped, and she realizes she has entered a strange alternate dimension.

Countless scenes shatter like glass and scatter around her.

'Is this the depths of the Deep Sea?'

In front of her is Buk Hyang-hwa, riding the broken spider puppet.

Kim Yeon smirks.

"You've used some tricks, but so what? You and I are in the same situation."

Kim Yeon takes a step forward.

But at the same time, the space distorts, and the distance between her and Buk Hyang-hwa widens.

Buk Hyang-hwa's voice echoes from afar.

[It seems you're not accustomed to the Ancient Force Realm. Huhu...in the Deep Sea of the Ancient Force Realm, you can't move properly unless you're at a cultivation realm that can control attraction force.]

"Hah, you cheeky thing...don't worry, I remember your position. I can follow you anywhere."

However, Buk Hyang-hwa, who is listening to Kim Yeon's words, merely laughs as she dismounts from the spider puppet.

[Try to follow me then.]

Woo-woong!

She pulls out a shining ore from her storage scroll.

Holding ten ancient stones in her hand, Buk Hyang-hwa crushes them all.

Paaaatt!

Simultaneously, Buk Hyang-hwa's figure vanishes, leaving Kim Yeon looking bewildered.

Chuaaaa!

Buk Hyang-hwa catches her breath on a nearby Third Hyang Ship.

Kugugugugu!

The technique of moving the Deep Sea of the Ancient Force Realm to create a water pillar and trap the opponent in the depths.

Sea Pillar.

The giant water pillar sinks back into the Deep Sea.

Kim Yeon, who was sucked into it, disappears without a trace.

'Since it's probably her first time in the Ancient Force Realm, she most likely wouldn't have ancient stones.'

Buk Hyang-hwa understands the terror of the Deep Sea.

In the shallow depths of the Deep Sea, one can escape even without ancient stones if they can control attraction force and have coordinates on the surface.

But her opponent is at most at the Heavenly Being stage, has no ancient stones, and is new to the Deep Sea of the Ancient Force Realm, so she wouldn't have coordinates.

Buk Hyang-hwa uses the Flying Escape Technique to return to the First Hyang Ship.

Messages are pouring in from all directions.

—Commander, we thought something terrible happened!

—Please, Commander, don't do such reckless things!

Buk Hyang-hwa waves her hand as if to reassure them with a slight smile.

"Sorry, everyone. But for some reason, I really didn’t like the look of that woman. I just felt like I had to get rid of her somehow. Now, let's continue with the Rescue Seo Ran Operation..."

Having lost the spider puppet-shaped command room, she heads to the temporary command room of the First Hyang Ship.

And it's when she arrives at the temporary command room.

Zzzzt—

—Commander, there's a strange spell on your body. Please check it.

"Hmm?"

The artifacts in the temporary command room activate, emitting light towards her body.

Simultaneously, Buk Hyang-hwa notices a white thread-like object attached to her arm.

'This is, a consciousness thread?'

Just as she is about to identify 'whose consciousness' thread it is.

Kua-jijijijijil!

Space tears open, and delicate jade-like hands grab Buk Hyang-hwa's arm.

"...!"

And from its depths, Kim Yeon's face emerges with her eyes burning with ferocious pink flames.

Chijijijik!

"You, you weren't at the Heavenly Being stage...!"

"Abandon the prejudice that Heavenly Beings can't handle attraction force."

Kim Yeon grins and covers Buk Hyang-hwa's mouth.

'As expected of Eun-hyun Oppa.'

Using the power of the Vast Cold Heavenly Circle rotating fiercely in her dantian, Kim Yeon emits attraction force and laughs.

"Now then, Hyang-hwa. I'll give you one last chance. Dispel the barrier you've set up in the Twilight Domain immediately."

Kim Yeon points at the Sea Circle that still surrounds the Twilight Domain, even regenerating the part that Seo Eun-hyun had broken through.

When Kim Yeon momentarily releases her hold on Buk Hyang-hwa's mouth,

Buk Hyang-hwa's eyes gleam as she shouts.

"Sea Turmoil, activate! First Hyang Ship, self-destruct!"

Kugugugugu!

The First Hyang Ship the two women are on begins to shake wildly, and at the same time, the water level of the Deep Sea beneath the Twilight Domain begins to rise.

The Deep Sea starts rising towards the Twilight Domain surrounded by the Sea Circle, and Kim Yeon glares fiercely at Buk Hyang-hwa.

"You...!"

"Sea Pillar, reactivate! Target is the First Hyang Ship!"

From the Deep Sea below, signs of another water pillar forming becomes evident.

Kim Yeon covers Buk Hyang-hwa's mouth again and begins infusing her consciousness into her.

Buk Hyang-hwa's pupils start to shake.

Kim Yeon speaks as she invades Buk Hyang-hwa's mind with the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.

"Even if I have to control your body, I will stop it...!"

Buk Hyang-hwa's pupils roll back, and her entire body begins to tremble.

And then, at that moment.

Tak!

Someone grabs Kim Yeon's wrist.

"Ah...!"

Her face lights up with joy.

A man dressed in white robes appears between them.

"Eun-hyun Oppa...!"

Seo Eun-hyun looks at both of them with tired eyes.

"That's enough, Yeon-ah. Let's just keep her as a captive for now."

"Yes...!"

Kim Yeon stops infusing her consciousness into Buk Hyang-hwa and restrains her solely with a spell.

I let out a sigh, swiftly using the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon to seize control of the ship and prevent it from self-destructing. I then maneuver the ship to avoid the water column rising from below.

'If I was just a bit late, it could've been a disaster.'

I told Hong Fan to stop them if they looked like they were about to kill each other, but Hong Fan seems preoccupied with rejoining the Twilight Domain that I split in half.

'At least my body recovered quickly.'

I almost had to witness Kim Yeon presenting Buk Hyang-hwa transformed into a General Buk.

I send a voice transmission to the entire Buk Hyang Fleet, which has transformed into a snake-like puppet.

[Your commander has been captured. Cease raising the water level of the Deep Sea and deactivate the sea barrier.]

However, despite my transmission, the Buk Hyang fleet does not deactivate the barrier, and the water level inside continues to rise.

And as soon as my voice transmission echoes, the Buk Hyang Fleet begins bombarding the First Hyang Ship instead.

Boom, thud, thud!

I deflect all the bombardments with my attraction force and sigh.

Examining Buk Hyang-hwa's soul, there's a passageway connected to a distant space.

'Come to think of it, Song Jin must have prepared a separate means for her to resurrect.'

Considering the revival methods of the Black Ghost Valley, it seems the Buk Hyang Fleet decided it's better to kill the captured Buk Hyang-hwa and revive her in a safe place separately.

Or perhaps Buk Hyang-hwa herself had given such instructions in case she was captured.

"These bastards...!"

Kim Yeon is furious, but I calm her down and take a big sigh as I head to the bow of the ship.

Chwarararararak!

White grain-like spiritual energy floats around me.

I send another voice transmission to Hong Fan.

[Hong Fan, activate the Dividing World Barrier.]

[Yes, Master.]

Woo-woooong!

Soon, a seven-colored barrier envelops the entire Twilight Domain.

By my will, the barrier of Yin-Yang Five Elements encases the sea barrier created by the Buk Hyang Fleet.

[Great Mountain.]

Kugugugugugu!

Clashing the energies of Yin and Yang from my hands, I quickly charge toward the Yin-Yang Five Elements barrier and spread my arms.

[Splitting Emperor!]

Kugugugugu!

It feels like everything in front of me is boiling white.

Simultaneously, the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique tears through the deep-sea barrier.

Thanks to the activation of the World Dividing Barrier by Hong Fan, the Twilight Domain, along with pre-designated figures like Oh Hyun-seok, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and the 13 Ghost Kings, are not torn apart.

However, everything except for them is visibly shredded all at once.

Kugwagwagwagwa!

The Four-Axis cultivators, the Heavenly Being cultivators, and the deep-sea barrier created by the Buk Hyang Fleet, along with the rising Deep Sea level inside it —all of it vanishes.

For a while, blinding white light envelops all four directions and Heaven and Earth.

I squint my eyes.

'What's this?'

The power is far stronger than I anticipated.

Rather than it being due to my power, it seems the Deep Sea of the Ancient Force Realm itself is reacting to the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.

Kugugugu!

'What, just why?'

I'm taken aback as the power of the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique shows no sign of diminishing.

Woo-woong!

The entire nearby Deep Sea is reacting to the power of the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.

Yes, the Ancient Force Realm itself is resonating with the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.

I squint my eyes, looking at the pillar of light filling my view.

'It's not just because I possess remnants of a destroyed world that brought me to the Ancient Force Realm.'

Perhaps, this world itself has some connection with the Owner of Salt Mountain.

Ancient Force Realm, Xiezhi Worship Region.

At the center of the Xiezhi Worship Region, in the deepest depths of the Sea King Hall.

A man with blue scales half-opens his eyes.

His eyes brighten as he looks in a certain direction.

"...Is it that being's true successor? The Mountain God will have a fit."

Hae Lin, the Sacred Master of the Ancient Force Realm, chuckles and closes his eyes again.

"Try to obtain as much Ancient Force as you can, descendant of the Owner of Salt Mountain. That way, you might have hope against the Mountain God…”

Wi Jeong Sea Domain.

Governing Dragon Palace.

The audience chamber of the Governing Dragon Palace Lord.

There, the Governing Dragon Palace Lord Yuk Rin sits on his throne, his eyes wide open.

As he looks at the map displaying the real-time situation across the Wi Jeong Sea Domain that floats on the floor of the audience chamber, his hands tremble violently.

His eyes are filled with greed.

"The one who possesses the power of Penglai...! Ah, ahaha! Yuk Yo! That worthless insect finally did something useful for once! To catch such a big fish, ahahahaha!!!"

Laughing maniacally, Yuk Rin stands up.

"This is very good...! There's no need to keep my promise with that Jin Ma-yeol. A better alternative has appeared...!"

Yuk Rin bursts into a loud proclamation, sending his voice throughout the Governing Dragon Palace.

[Hear me, prepare a celebration immediately! We will be hosting an honored guest, and if necessary, we will hold Princess Yuk Yo's wedding as well!! What are you waiting for!? Move now!!!]

Thus, the entire Governing Dragon Palace becomes busy under Yuk Rin's command.

The Four-Axis and Heavenly Being stage mercenaries who invaded the Twilight Domain all flee with only their Nascent Soul left intact.

'Quite resilient, huh.'

By the time one reaches the Heavenly Being stage, most usually have at least one or two methods of revival, so none of them died.

Of course, I could have prevented even their souls from escaping with my ability, but I don't feel it worth the effort, so I let them go.

After subduing the Buk Hyang Fleet, I enter the Twilight Domain.

Buk Hyang-hwa, unconscious and tightly bound by Kim Yeon's spell, is carried inside by Kim Yeon, who slings her over one shoulder.

I glance at Buk Hyang-hwa for a moment and sigh.

'I don't know what expression to make.'

At least, the fortunate thing is that since it's been thousands of years, my heart doesn't stir as it did when I met her before.

"Eun-hyun...no, Cult Leader. Are you going to imprison this impudent thing in the underground prison, or will you kill her? If you leave it to me, I will turn her into a fine puppet..."

"Ah...Yeon-ah."

Feeling a headache coming on, I interrupt Kim Yeon.

"That person is...a comrade of Seo Ran and Shi Ho. For now, place her in the honored guest chambers."

At those words, Kim Yeon looks dazed for a moment and then asks again.

"...Isn't she...a captive...?"

"...There seems to be a misunderstanding. She's the comrade of not only Seo Ran and Shi Ho but...over there. Of Director Kim Young-hoon as well."

Only then does Kim Yeon notice Kim Young-hoon, who has been brought to the Twilight Domain by the cursed dolls, and flinches in surprise.

Kim Young-hoon is still unconscious.

Kim Yeon, slightly dejected at my words, looks down at Buk Hyang-hwa.

I too look at the unconscious Buk Hyang-hwa with blinking eyes.

Although I don't feel the same turmoil as before, she is still a very complex presence for me.

Flinch!

Thinking about the past, I inadvertently lose control of my intent and direct a complicated intent towards her.

Shaking my head, I return to the Wuji Religious Hall.

'When she wakes up, I need to sort out my feelings.'

After all, I know.

The Her of this cycle is not the Her of that time.

So, it might not be a bad idea to take this opportunity to sort out my feelings.

'I'll probably hear an earful from Hong Fan.'

During my battle with Kim Young-hoon, I tried to minimize the damage to the order, but the aftermath alone caused significant harm.

Thanks to my careful control of power, there were almost no casualties, but the Twilight Domain was split, and buildings were uprooted, so Hong Fan must have had a hard time protecting it.

'Still, it's nice to see the faces I missed all together after a long time.'

When those who fainted wake up, it seems it will be quite enjoyable.

Seo Eun-hyun enters the Wuji Religious Hall.

Meanwhile, Kim Yeon looks intently at the captured Buk Hyang-hwa.

"...Just now, what was that?"

Kim Yeon glares at Buk Hyang-hwa, recalling the intent Seo Eun-hyun had just shown towards her.

"...Kids."

With wide eyes, Kim Yeon calls out to the expressionless cursed dolls repairing the surroundings.

They immediately rush over and kneel before her at her command.

"Have you called, Left Law Protector-nim?"

"...Prepare a room in the honored guest chambers And bring medicine suitable for humans. I will personally nurse this child."

***

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