Chapter 388: Salt (6)
'Is he insane?'
Yuk Rin thinks.
He can feel it.
Down below, what Seo Eun-hyun is emanating is undoubtedly the power of Penglai.
The power of Penglai is of unknown origin, a legendary strength even within the Ancient Force Realm.
When the power of Penglai rages, the sea of the Ancient Force Realm would resonate and amplify the power of Penglai.
But that's all.
'Foolish!'[The Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade is the pinnacle of the Ancient Force Realm! No matter how powerful the power of Penglai is, it cannot prevail!]
It isn't mere overconfidence.
Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade is a divine method that exerts stronger power the purer the salt one obtains and gathers.
And what brings the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade's power to its peak is precisely the Salt Crystal.
This precious Salt Crystal in his hand is not just a chunk or two but an entire palace.
'At this moment, I am supreme!'
An almost infinite power surges from the Salt Crystal Palace, adding to Yuk Rin's Dragon Wave.
However,
'...What?'
The Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade.
It starts to be pushed back.
[What!!!!!?]
Yuk Rin's eyes widen in disbelief.
A voice comes from below.
[Like tiny grains of salt gathering to form the sea...]
It's the charcoal monster.
The voice comes from Seo Eun-hyun's mouth.
It's almost like a whisper.
No, it is indeed a whisper.
It's merely a whisper Seo Eun-hyun unconsciously utters while activating his method.
However, the Ancient Force Realm is resonating and amplifying that whisper itself.
Seo Eun-hyun's whisper seems to spread throughout the entire sea domain they are in.
[Build mountains through repentant enlightenment.]
Kugugugugu!
[Impossible! Don't spout nonsense! Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade, how can the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade be pushed back!!??]
[Building a mountain of salt is perhaps the fastest way to reach the heavens...]
He's being pushed back.
Yuk Rin's Dragon Wave is being repelled.
Of course, Yuk Rin sending out the Dragon Wave of Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade is for purposes other than defeating them, and his intention has been faithfully reflected thus far.
Penglai Island, the Deep Sea Island anchored in the depths of the Deep Sea, is gradually sinking even further below.
And as daylight approaches, the path to Penglai Island is gradually closing.
Regardless, the victor is Yuk Rin.
However, Yuk Rin can't accept this.
'The Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade that I devoted my entire life to obtaining...even with the pure body of a Sea Dragon, the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade, and a massive chunk of Salt Crystals, am I being pushed back solely by the power of Penglai? A peculiar power, not renowned for its strength, and yet the pinnacle of the Ancient Force Realm is being pushed back by such power!?'
Chiiii—
Dark-red devilish energy begins to emanate from his body.
Yuk Rin's life force begins to rampage.
[Absolutely unacceptable! I will win! My Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade must possess invincible power!!!]
'Even if I have to sacrifice my lifespan, I will definitely win!'
Burning the life of the Sea Dragon's bloodline he has painstakingly acquired, he lets out a Dragon Wave with a scream.
The Dragon Wave imbued with the power of Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade grows even thicker.
And then...
[What...?]
Seo Eun-hyun's light begins to shine even brighter.
Kugugugugu!
For a moment, the entire Ancient Force Realm vibrates.
The center of the Ancient Force Realm.
The highest mountain in the Xiezhi Worship Region, Sea King Mountain.
A pained groan echoes from the Sea King Hall at the mountain's peak, resonating throughout the entire Xiezhi Worship Region and Dao Departure Region.
"Sacred Master!!!"
"O Sacred Master! What is the problem!!!"
"Sacred Master Hae Lin!"
The Integration stage Demon Kings who serve Sacred Master Hae Lin of the Ancient Force Realm rush to the front of the Sea King Hall, crying out to Hae Lin.
The center of the Sea King Hall.
Above the dragon throne adorned with coral.
There, Hae Lin is trembling all over, blood pouring from his eyes.
“Phe…..E..Man…tra...!"
Splut!
He vomits a mouthful of blood and pants heavily.
"He obtained that...! I see, the reason those beings of the Nether Ghost Realm all fainted at once was because of that! That's why they desperately threw that into the Ancient Force Realm...!"
Bududuk...
He bites his lip tightly.
Hae Lin, trembling all over, shows a terrified expression.
"It wasn't merely...obtaining the legacy of that being...? To unfold it means...haha...that means..."
Hae Lin, with empty eyes, leans against the dragon throne and lets out a bitter laugh.
"...This life is now soon to end...how futile it is..."
The light grows brighter.
I discover a new aspect of this divine power that reverses the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.
"Combine!!!"
"We will also add our strength!"
"Hold on, Seo Eun-hyun!"
Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kim Yeon, Buk Hyang-hwa...
And the entire Wuji Religious Order.
All of them add their strength.
And that power enters within the Inverted Cone Mountain, naturally merging and further enlarging the size of the inverted cone.
As the inverted cone grows larger, it pushes back the Dragon Wave of the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade.
If this continues, we can push back Yuk Rin and achieve victory!
'Everyone is together!'
We absolutely cannot lose!!!
"HAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The Dragon Wave of the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade, opposing all our combined strength, gradually thins, and finally!
The Dragon Wave disappears!
"HAAAA! HAA...ah...?"
I see a [hand] emerging from behind Yuk Rin.
It's a hand covered in scales.
Kuguguguguk!
And just like that.
Our power, which was about to soar into the sky after crushing the remnants of the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade, is completely suppressed by the hand.
Kwadududuk!
When Twilight Domain entered Penglai Island, it remained floating inside the barrier of Penglai Island.
This is because even if we all fall asleep, the floating formation remains activated.
However, rendering the floating formation meaningless, the Twilight Domain plummets, crashing onto the land of Penglai Island.
Under the merciless attraction force, we all kneel, and the divine power that reverses the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique shatters and vanishes.
At the same time, Penglai Island sinks deeper into the Deep Sea due to the attraction force of the hand.
I look at the sky with a dumbfounded face.
The path through the Deep Sea that we used to enter is completely closed.
All that is visible around is the endless Deep Sea and the countless dimensional fragments within it.
No...there is one more thing.
It's a massive flow of misfortune that envelops me to the point of despair.
Kwang!
I strike Penglai Island as if to crush the ground.
"...Heavens above..."
Due to the sudden appearance of a hand, the entire Wuji Religious Order and Penglai Island are trapped within the depths of the Deep Sea.
Yuk Rin stares blankly at the sea.
[...Was that Sacred Master Hae Lin?]
It was a close call.
If it hadn't been for the sudden strike by Sacred Master Hae Lin, he couldn't have predicted what would have happened with the power of Penglai rising from below.
Though they don't seem to be dead, the entire Wuji Religious Order is trapped in the Deep Sea.
There is no way to escape.
[Thank you for your help, Sacred Master...]
Yuk Rin bows deeply in the direction where the Sacred Master's hand had appeared.
There is no reply from Hae Lin. The hand vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.
"Hahaha...! Congratulations, Governing Dragon Palace Lord. Not only have you regained your position, you have also achieved your long-held wish. As promised, please share a part of the Salt Crystal with us."
Jin Ma-yeol, who helped Yuk Rin raise the Salt Crystal Palace, appears and speaks to him.
Yuk Rin looks at Jin Ma-yeol for a moment and then opens his mouth.
[Activate. Purple Soul Filling the Heavens...!]
Chuaaakk!
It happens in an instant.
Jin Ma-yeol's pupils seem to be dyed purple.
However, even as Jin Ma-yeol is being eroded by Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, he swings his arm.
Booong—
Shikwang!
A huge wound appears on Yuk Rin's body, exhausted from using Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade.
With a face full of ecstasy, Jin Ma-yeol grabs a handful of Yuk Rin's blood and throws it somewhere, while Yuk Rin smacks Jin Ma-yeol with his forepaw.
Kwaaaang!
Jin Ma-yeol's entire body explodes.
Yuk Rin's attack continues.
No matter how exhausted he is, the attacks are from a Grand Perfection Integration stage to an early Integration stage opponent.
Before long, Jin Ma-yeol's domain explodes, and all his body parts are torn apart, leaving only his head intact.
Yet, Jin Ma-yeol laughs.
"Heh, hehehahaha! Hahahaha! As expected, you were hiding Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, Governing Dragon Palace Lord! But I must thank you. Thanks to you, I've learned how to use Purple Soul Filling the Heavens! I've obtained your blood...so all that remains is...only..."
Jin Ma-yeol's head speaks as it loses its vitality.
"Unaging and Undying..."
Yuk Rin looks at the spot where Jin Ma-yeol disappeared with an expressionless face, then with an irritated expression, exerts attraction force on the Salt Crystal Palace.
Kuguguk...
Yuk Yo is dragged out.
The Purple Soul Filling the Heavens that Yuk Rin cast on Jin Ma-yeol transferred to Yuk Yo.
[Is it a curse? That damn Jin Ma-yeol...he succeeded in kidnapping Yuk Yo last time and turned her into a cursed doll in that short period.]
Yuk Rin clicks his tongue and withdraws the secret art embedded in Yuk Yo's mind.
From his perspective, devouring Yuk Yo will only be a loss.
After roughly throwing Yuk Yo inside the Salt Crystal Palace, he sneers slyly.
[Stupid fool...What good is it to obtain Purple Soul Filling the Heavens? What good is it to take my blood and learn the Dragon Form Disguise Method? You'll never be able to learn it anyway...hehahaha.]
Yuk Rin's gaze turns towards the end of Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain.
There, the Salt Bones Ship is submerging beneath the sea surface.
Jin Ma-yeol, who has likely revived, is probably inside.
[Bothersome fellow. But with this, he has likely lost his last chance at revival. He thought he could achieve Unaging and Undying with Purple Soul Filling the Heavens and bet his life on it, but what expression will he make when he realizes it's all just an illusion...I'm curious.]
Yuk Rin chuckles.
From the Betrayal King Jin Wei to the terrifying Wuji Religious Order and the devilish cult leader.
And Jin Ma-yeol, who always intended to backstab from the start.
Having defeated all of them, Yuk Rin is the ultimate victor.
Yet, even though Yuk Rin defeated the rivals who threatened him.
Even though he obtained the long-desired Salt Crystal Palace.
His laughter diminishes.
The sound of chuckling soon turns to silence, and the Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain, where the majority of living beings have perished as the battle's aftermath, is enveloped in silence.
Although victorious, Yuk Rin cannot find joy.
'Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade...was pushed back.'
This realization scratches the pride of Yuk Rin, who has always believed the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade to be invincible.
Bududuk...
After grinding his teeth for a while, Yuk Rin takes the Salt Crystal Palace and heads towards Governing Dragon Island.
While giving the return order to Wi Yun and organizing various plans for the future, Yuk Rin decides on the first task to undertake.
'Refine the palace of Penglai Kingdom and completely turn it into my natal dharma treasure. Then integrate it with my domain to make it a Refining Void Dharma Treasure (煉虛法寶). Based on that, if I can achieve great completion in Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade...I will truly reach the pinnacle.'
However, despite comforting himself, the darkness does not leave Yuk Rin's face.
Sea King Hall.
At its center, Hae Lin trembles with blood dripping from his eyes.
"...Though it was a rather rough method...I assisted that being's successor according to your will. This is the best I can do. Now, I will strive to seek a way to survive. Please protect your descendant, Grandfather Hae Nyeong..."
Translator Notes: Mantras also mean True Words. Subscriptions for RToC are now available.