Step, step...
I slowly walk toward the palace and touch one of its pillars.
Unlike what I have seen before, one of the pillars of the palace is missing.
'It seems Yuk Rin used it when cultivating the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade.'
The fact that such precious Salt Crystal is required to this extent for the progress of Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade is honestly ridiculous cost-performance wise.
While its power seems exceptional, seeing the issues it caused in Yuk Rin's mind makes me less inclined to desire it, even if its power is outstanding.
Whether the mental illness was triggered by the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade or due to external intervention, it doesn't matter.
In any case, it means the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade offers no assistance in comprehending one's heart, unlike the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique or its variations.
I enter the interior of the palace.
The structure is exactly the same as when I entered from Penglai Kingdom before.However, the palace in Penglai Country was filled with specialties of its country, decorations, and artifacts obtained from there, while the current palace is desolate with only a few documents seemingly written by Yuk Rin lying around.
I head to the library where I saw the Ritual Worship Scripture of Love of Virtue, but it's empty.
It's as if everything I saw in Penglai Nation was an illusion.
After looking at the palace for a while, I am able to figure something out.
'This palace...it's connected to Penglai Island's Salt Mountain and attraction force.'
It's a fact I can recognize, having communed with Salt Mountain with my main body for over eighty years.
The attraction force is so weak that it's hard to discern this fact.
'And if it's connected to the Salt Mountain...'
I sit cross-legged, close my eyes at the center of the palace where the throne of Penglai Kingdom's queen used to be, and recite the formula of the reversed Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.
Wo-woong!
The Salt Crystal Palace glows white.
And at some moment.
Wooooo-woong!
The Salt Crystal Palace appears to shine dazzlingly white and incandescently, and I feel my mind being pulled somewhere.
And in the next moment.
Chatter, chatter, chatter.
I slowly open my eyes.
"...This place..."
The surroundings are noisy.
I am sure I was definitely alone inside the palace.
Before I know it, numerous high and low-ranking officials before the throne in the royal court are looking at me with bewildered expressions, and their piercing gazes are stabbing.
"You crazy King of Demon Spirits! What are you doing! Get down at once!"
"This, this, this insolent one!!!"
They are all clamoring at me in unison.
My senses are dizzy at first so I can't understand what they are saying, but I soon grasp the meaning of their words.
Squirm, squirm...
Something is squirming beneath me.
I quickly stand up and look at the throne.
On the throne sits the Queen of Penglai Kingdom, glaring at me with a slightly flushed face.
"...For two people to suddenly appear and sit on me, I almost suffocated to death. Why have you appeared again unexpectedly!? What do you want now?"
"Um, please wait a moment."
I feel a headache coming on.
The headache soon intensifies, and abruptly the illusion in front of my eyes blurs, and I find myself back in the empty palace.
"...I see."
Just a moment ago, I was startled and temporarily stopped reciting the mantra of the revered Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.
'Reciting the mantra of the reversed Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique crosses me into that world, and when I stop, I return. Is that it?'
It seems to be a peculiar situation caused by the separation between the Salt Crystal Palace and the Salt Mountain of Penglai Island.
I smile at the amusing situation and step outside the palace.
Just then.
Zing!
"...!"
I suddenly feel an intense headache coming on.
"Kugh...what is this?"
It isn't a pain just affecting my Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar, but even my main body on Penglai Island is in agony.
I shift my main consciousness to my main body to find out what is happening.
And then, I immediately understand the situation.
"...Three days?"
Coming to my senses above the Salt Mountain, I am so dumbfounded I open my mouth blankly.
In the short span I entered Penglai Kingdom and opened my eyes, three days have quickly passed.
And this phenomenon is not unfamiliar.
'...When I met [That].'
I can't remember the name, but the encounter with [a certain being] I met at the lowest floor of the Serving Command Ark.
At that time, I endured for over ten years inside, only to find that it was an incredibly short period in reality upon regaining my senses.
A phenomenon of space-time distortion.
This is...
'Related to a True Immortal!'
I can tell at a glance.
'It must be an intervention by the Owner of Salt Mountain or something related to them.'
I feel fear.
But this isn't a situation where I can flee just because I am afraid.
I grit my teeth and transfer my main consciousness back to my Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar and explore Yuk Rin's treasure vault.
'...Jin Ma-yeol's corpse is gone.'
I frown as I exit the vault.
Outside the treasure vault, only Baek Rin and Yuk Yo remain.
The entire Fighting Demon Pirate Gang has disappeared.
"...What happened?"
"Well...the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang took the body of Jin Ma-yeol and immediately fled. They must have thought Cult Leader would annihilate them upon your return."
"So they ran away."
I feel another headache coming on.
'Damn it, I need their Salt Bones Ship to transport Baek Rin...'
Since they ran away, there's nothing I can do.
Of course, since the Salt Bones Ship is modified under Buk Hyang-hwa's instructions, I can track it once it surfaces.
However, I notice something strange and ask them.
"...What about Yuk Rin? What happened to him?"
The fight between Kim Young-hoon and Yuk Rin seemed evenly matched, but in a long-term battle, it would be Kim Young-hoon's defeat.
It's only natural, because Kim Young-hoon is just an avatar.
There's no way the Yuk Rin who defeated Kim Young-hoon's avatar would simply stay put.
Shouldn't he have entered this Deep Sea Island right away using the teleportation array?
However, to my question, Beak Rin and Yuk Yo exchange glances before speaking in a bewildered tone.
"Well...Cult Leader. We know you can channel the power of your main body through your avatar. Would you consider drawing the main body's senses for a moment?"
Following Beak Rin's suggestion, I use the All-Heavens Sword to draw the power and consciousness of my main body.
And when I sweep the Deep Sea Island with my consciousness...
"...!!!!!"
I freeze as if struck by lightning.
The Deep Sea Island, which should have been fixed in place, is 'moving.'
No, although it is gradually slowing down, it is indeed still moving.
"H-How did this happen!?"
"We're not sure either. The distance between the middle zone of Governing Dragon Island and this Deep Sea Island has increased, making it impossible to use the teleportation array, so we're trapped here."
"Just what...?"
While taken aback, I spread my consciousness even further to find out how the Deep Sea Island is moving.
And during that process, I realize something.
Woo-woong—
Penglai Island.
Above the Salt Mountain.
I shift my main consciousness back to my main body and, along with the avatar on Deep Sea Island, begin chanting the mantra of the reversed Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.
Wo-woong!
The Salt Mountain I am sitting on starts to emit light.
Simultaneously, in the Deep Sea Island where my avatar is located, the Salt Crystal Palace also begins to glow.
This time, since I am not inside the Salt Crystal Palace, my consciousness is not pulled into that world.
However, I can clearly feel it.
'They are pulling each other.'
And that force is unexpectedly immense.
I chuckle wryly and say,
"...Seems we won't need the help of the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang."
The attraction force between Penglai Island's Salt Mountain and Yuk Rin's Deep Sea Island's palace is pulling towards each other with tremendous power. Baek Rin and Yuk Yo.
And the entire Deep Sea Island where my avatar is situated is being drawn toward this side.
I send a voice transmission throughout the Twilight Domain and Penglai Island.
[Rejoice, everyone. The operation to rescue the Guardian Ghost King, Baek Rin, has finally concluded.]
Now, all that remains is to wait for Gyo Yeom and escape from Penglai Island.
Upon hearing my explanation, Baek Rin and Yuk Yo's eyes widen in astonishment as they aske.
"A-Are we really returning to the order, Cult Leader!?"
"Are you saying you really returned to Penglai Kingdom?"
I nod in response to both of their questions.
The two seem momentarily satisfied with my answer, but then they look at each other again.
I sigh, sensing the subtle emotions between them.
It appears that for these two, the question of 'where' they will return to has become more important than simply going back.
"...Thus, for the moment, the issues facing our order have been resolved."
In the Wuji Religious Hall's conference room, I brief everyone with my main body about everything that has happened.
"That's a relief. Although I fought that Yuk Rin guy for a day and night and inflicted a fatal injury, it still drained my avatar's energy. I was a bit worried..."
"Thankfully, it seems to have worked out well."
Kim Young-hoon sighs in relief, and Oh Hyun-seok agrees with him.
Jeon Myeong-hoon nods stoically, and both Kim Yeon and Buk Hyang-hwa smile faintly at the same time.
Seo Ran shows a disappointed expression after hearing about the relationship between Yuk Yo and Baek Rin but gets a glare from Shi Ho.
"It's really fortunate that things worked out. However, there's still one issue we need to discuss."
I look at Kim Young-hoon, Seo Ran, Shi Ho, and Buk Hyang-hwa as I speak.
"Conqueror King. You said there haven't been any results from researching Penglai Island yet, right?"
"Yes. We have examined the axes of Penglai Island's formations, but...we couldn't find any clues to rescue Sir Cheongmun Ryeong."
Buk Hyang-hwa reports the fact with regretful eyes.
For the past 80 years, Buk Hyang-hwa, along with Seo Ran, Shi Ho, and others have been exploring and researching Penglai Island to save Cheongmun Ryeong.
However, they couldn't find any clues here.
In that case, to obtain a proper clue, we must reunite the Salt Crystal Palace and the Salt Mountain of Penglai Island.
Or, we must enter the illusion formation to gather information from the people of that world.
Particularly, the Queen of the Penglai Kingdom seems to know something, so asking her would be most appropriate.
However, there is a problem with this.
First, regarding the first method.
"That Deep Sea Island...was it called Cherry Blossom Dragon Island? Even though Cherry Blossom Dragon Island is quickly coming here, the interdimensional distance in the Deep Sea is too vast."
I can't figure out where exactly that unidentifiable hand has thrown us.
Considering the attraction force between the Salt Mountain and the palace, the speed at which they are getting closer, and the current gap between Cherry Blossom Dragon Island and Penglai Island in the Deep Sea, it will take a long time for Cherry Blossom Dragon Island to reach here.
Approximately...
"About 7 years?"
This is entirely because the depths of the Ancient Force Realm's Deep Sea are much more unstable than the Chaos Realm domain in each Middle Realm.
I've heard that in the Chaos Realm domains, space frequently gets distorted, and distances lengthen or decrease randomly.
The entrance to Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll I went to last time is a place close to the Stable Realm and is very stable, so it can't be compared to a true Chaos Realm domain.
However, the depths of the Ancient Force's Deep Sea are even more severely distorted.
It isn't for nothing that even Integration stage cultivators have a fifty percent chance of getting lost if they fall into the Deep Sea.
Still, Penglai Island and Cherry Blossom Dragon Island are linked by attraction force, allowing them to approach each other rapidly, hence the estimation of seven years.
But seven years means that the time is now drawing near.
Buk Hyang-hwa asks worriedly.
"If it's seven years, isn't the grand event just around the corner?"
"That's right. So, even if the palace merges with the Salt Mountain again, there won't be enough time to investigate properly. Therefore..."
Kim Yeon's face turns pale.
"It's too dangerous, Eun-hyun oppa!"
At her words, the others also look at me with worried expressions.
"That's right, Seo Eun-hyun. Aren't you saying you'll enter Penglai Kingdom alone to investigate? It's dangerous. Moreover, didn't you say the time ratio is different in that world?"
"Yeah, Eun-hyun. If you're asleep when you exit to the Bright Cold Realm, wouldn't that just be over?"
After listening to everyone, I look at Kim Yeon.
"It's okay. She will wake me up."
I slowly explain my plan.
I don't intend to spend time investigating without knowing how much time is passing inside.
Using the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, I will partially connect mine and Kim Yeon's minds.
Afterwards, I will enter Penglai Kingdom, gather information there, and when the time approaches, Kim Yeon will send me a signal through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.
I will then exit from Penglai Kingdom.
That should work.
Kim Yeon bites her lip with a worried look in her eyes.
I don't want to take such a risk on purpose either.
There's a chance that some suspicious mechanism might activate while I'm inside and swallow my memories.
Of course, according to the conditions for regaining awareness mentioned by Yuk Yo, it doesn't seem likely.
In any case, there is some risk involved.
But I shake my head with a determined expression.
"...I'm sorry, everyone. But..."
I must find a way to release Cheongmun Ryeong from the salt pillar.
We can't delay any longer.
Cheongmun Ryeong is still asleep as a salt pillar in that world.
I can't leave him like that indefinitely.
The Ancient Force is a world that reacts particularly well to the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique and the power of salt.
'I must discover the reason while I remain in this world.'
If not in the Ancient Force Realm, there might not be another chance.
Realizing my firm will, they sigh.
Kim Yeon, knowing she can't stop my will, bites her lip and lowers her head.
"...Alright. If you insist...go and come back safely."
"...Thank you."
I express my gratitude to her and everyone in the Wuji Religious Order.
Wo-woong—
With Kim Yeon's Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon attached to my heart essence, I stand in front of the Salt Crystal Palace.
I am curious about Yuk Rin's documents inside, but for now, this is more urgent.
"By the way, are you also coming along?"
I ask Yuk Yo, who stands beside me.
"Of course. It's my homeland, after all."
"..."
As expected, Yuk Yo decides to accompany me inside.
Her reason is to return to Penglai Kingdom.
However, I look at her and then at Baek Rin.
"What will you do, Baek Rin?"
"I...don't know."
Baek Rin seems to hope that Yuk Yo will drag him inside.
Yet, Yuk Yo does not plead with Baek Rin to come along.
She seems to understand as well.
Baek Rin already has too many precious people in this world.
"...Can't you stay in this world with us, Princess?"
But Yuk Yo shakes her head at Baek Rin's words.
"I'm sorry, Sir Baek Rin. To me, that world...is truly my home."
"..."
Baek Rin hesitates to follow her, and Yuk Yo approaches him and gently touches his hand.
They stay like that for a moment, then the two part.
'...Is this how it ends?'
I feel an inexplicable regret as I walk toward the palace.
Yuk Yo walks toward the palace with me.
While reciting the mantra of the reversed Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique, I place my hand on Yuk Yo's shoulder.
Booong—
And, as we step into the entrance of the palace.
Paaatt!
I feel my consciousness shifting again and arrive in another world.
The scene before my eyes change, and I am able to see a new landscape.
A corridor lined with numerous soldiers.
In front of me stands the Queen of Penglai Kingdom, and Yuk Yo, whose shoulder I have been holding, has somehow transformed from a carp demon of the Nascent Soul stage into a human princess wearing beautiful ancient ceremonial robes.
The Queen of Penglai Kingdom wipes her tears upon seeing Yuk Yo.
"Welcome back, my daughter."
"Mother!"
Yuk Yo hurriedly runs to the Queen, and I watch the reunion of mother and daughter for a moment.
After a while, the Queen of Penglai Kingdom looks at me and says,
"There was a bit of a commotion earlier, but considering the circumstances, I will overlook it. After all, you have brought my daughter back to me, and not welcoming guests properly would be disgraceful. I will hold a banquet, so please enjoy"
However, I shake my head and reply.
"I did not bring the Princess to be entertained at a banquet. I have something I wish to know."
I look at the Queen of Penglai Kingdom.
"Please tell me everything you know."