Chapter 627: Royal Authority (3)
The Immortal Cultivation system is pushed back.
However, it seems Black Dragon has not spent their years as an Immortal Beast in vain—they begin to rise, revealing their true form.
Kururururung!
A massive dragon of darkness, seemingly capable of coiling around an entire galaxy, reveals their body above the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea.
At a size like this, the sheer scale alone becomes a weapon.
Jjeoeooouk!
Black Dragon opens their mouth in the sky.
At the same time, I kick off the Blood Sea and soar into the sky.Landing atop the scales of Black Dragon, which now cover the entire sky, I press my hand against their body to begin activating an Immortal Art.
Perhaps because Immortal Arts predate the Immortal Cultivation system, it activates without issue.
Kurururung!
The Jade of Yin-Yang and Five Elements begins gathering inside Black Dragon's body.
[You...!]
The beam of light that's about to burst from Black Dragon's mouth extinguishes, and Black Dragon starts writhing in agony.
Originally, the writhing alone would have been enough to annihilate a star cluster due to their size, but as the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra begins activating, Black Dragon's body starts to compress.
Black Dragon tries to force 'explosions' within their body to break out of the compression.
But as soon as the power of the Flawless Mantra is added, Black Dragon begins to be compressed without resistance.
Finally, compressed down to the size of a single planet, Black Dragon bares their fury and howls.
[You dare!?]
It seems they are unleashing the full power of explosion that they've gained upon becoming a True Lord.
'In this world where the Immortal Cultivation system has vanished, only five things remain possible.'
Immortal Arts unfolded not through attraction force, but through pure heart.
The fundamental power of explosion Black Dragon gained as an Immortal Beast.
The power of the physical body obtained as an Immortal Beast.
The authority of the Origin Essence gained as a True Lord.
And the unique energy system Black Dragon obtained during their time as a Vestige Liberation Immortal.
'I've already embedded the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra inside their body to seal away both the power of explosion and the energy system, and even halved the power of their physical body with the mantra.'
What remains is Black Dragon's Immortal Art, the power of the Origin Essence, and about half of their physical strength.
'And...'
I glance toward Oh Hye-seo.
She wears an angry expression and appears to be manipulating the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea against me.
But it's just an act.
I notice that she's using this opportunity to pour Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens into Black Dragon with force.
'As expected from a disciple of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity. She's now able to unfold Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens through her heart alone.'
Since Oh Hye-seo is only pretending to attack me while actually locking a shackle around Black Dragon's neck, I don't interfere with her and fly toward Black Dragon.
Shwiririk!
Gripping the Impermanence Sword, I fly at Black Dragon and slice directly into their massive body.
Black Dragon's divine blood splatters.
But as soon as they are struck, Black Dragon shifts their posture in the void and lashes their long body toward me like a whip.
Tukwang!
Black Dragon spins instantly in the void and strikes me with their tail.
Jjeoeooong!
Oh Hye-seo's Corpse Mountain Blood Sea space distorts and tears apart from the single strike.
'This place is...'
Realizing where I've been flung, I click my tongue.
Outside the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain.
It's the Inner Sea.
Without any prophecy, Immortal Art, or the help of Qi, Black Dragon tore through spacetime using only the power of their physical body and hurled me all the way outside the Heavenly Domain.
Immediately after, Black Dragon rides the chaotic currents of the Inner Sea and flies toward me, mouth agape.
Jjeoeok!
Kwachiijijik!
In an instant, with their mouth wide open, they snap their jaws shut, attempting to chew and devour my spirit. I wedge the Impermanence Sword between their teeth, barely managing to create a gap and resist.
'Even rotten, an Immortal Lord is still an Immortal Lord...'
Without prophecy, revision, authority, or Immortal Art, they are still able to match me blow for blow through pure close combat alone.
Compared to ordinary True Immortals, they seem to have overwhelmingly more combat experience.
Kadudududuk!
Black Dragon's biting force grows stronger, and as I feel the pressure on the Impermanence Sword increasing, I smile.
'This is an Immortal Lord...'
At that moment, Black Dragon's voice resounds.
[You say I am not a King?]
Kwaduduk!
[You dare judge me?]
Tukwang!
I slightly twist the power at the tip of the Impermanence Sword to deflect Black Dragon's biting force.
In an instant, I slip free from Black Dragon's jaws, but they charge again, striking me with their front paw.
I, who instantly crash into the dimensional barrier of the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, arrive at Oh Hye-seo's space within it.
[What's wrong with a little sacrifice?]
Black Dragon thrusts their horn forward and charges at me.
Tuung!
I swing the Impermanence Sword and redirect their charge, but even the shockwave alone shakes my spirit.
[Every being in this Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds lives by sacrificing others. They don't want to be sacrificed, and they live to survive.]
Black Dragon spins their body and whips at me with their massive frame.
I swing my sword upward again, repelling their body.
[Among all the countless lives and beings, only the ones who trample the weak and stand at the peak reign and rule over all. What is wrong with that? Why is that not considered a King?]
Black Dragon flies rapidly around me, looking for an opening.
Wherever they move, space fails to endure the impact, causing spacetime to distort.
Tukwang, tukwang, tukwang!
Black Dragon continues circling me, attacking with their tail, front paws, hind legs, teeth, and horns.
But not a single blow lands.
I perfectly read the heart of Black Dragon expressed through Triple Divinity, and counter and deflect every intention they carry.
[To reign and rule. To reach safely without risking oneself. Where is the fault in that that you dare speak such nonsense? Even if you have cultivated the Flawless Mantra and gained power, that does not make you right. Do not delude yourself!]
Kurururung!
Darkness begins to gather around Black Dragon.
Murmurmurmurmur...
A strange whisper echoes from somewhere.
It's Black Dragon.
'That's...!'
A mantra.
Black Dragon has begun reciting their own mantra.
At the same time, the Origin Essence of Great Yin that the Great Yin True Lord Black Dragon has seized, exerts its power upon the world.
Black Dragon is completely engulfed in darkness, and the world of the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea begins to be shrouded in a dark sky.
Along with it, Black Dragon becomes even faster.
Kiiiiiing!
'This is...!'
Black Dragon's Great Yin is beginning to freeze time!
Time gradually slows, and Black Dragon only becomes faster.
[Born as a snake, I cultivated with all my being to become a member of the Demon Race, gained recognition among the Snake Race, and...to shed my skin and become a Black Snake revered by the Snake Race, I strived my entire life. I lacked talent and could not turn completely black. Still, I strived, strived, and strived again. In the end, though I failed to become a Black Snake, I became an Imoogi, then a True Dragon, and succeeded in ascending!!]
Black Dragon's body, upon close inspection, is not pure black but a faint dark blue hue.
[In that long passage of time that a mere young Upper Immortal like you could not possibly imagine...I clawed and crawled my way up and finally seized the Seat of Great Yin to become the Great Yin True Lord!! Life is but a continuation of struggle! To not have my life taken away, I have given it my all, and to not wager my life, to avoid risking it all, I have strived endlessly! And yet, for me to become King without sacrificing myself...what is so wrong about that!?]
Kwaaaaang!
Black Dragon's front paw slams into the flat of my Impermanence Sword.
Their paw is severed, and from the shockwave, the sea within the space of the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea splits apart, and the mountains of corpses are cleaved.
Considering that these aren't ordinary corpses, but rather a type of mantra made up of True Immortals and equivalent beings, the power is overwhelming.
[I am King! I will become King!! Even if I sacrifice others, even if I grind everything down, I will become King, reach the pinnacle, and reign!! Someone like you...has no right!! None!! To judge my failure!!]
Jjeoooooong!
The energy of Great Yin freezes Heaven, Earth, and Heavens above.
[Just what are you!? To dare judge a King!!??]
My spirit freezes.
Even the Impermanence Sword slows in its movements.
Darkness begins to bind me.
'This is...the power of the Origin Essence.'
This is the true power of an Immortal Lord.
Black Dragon breathes in spirit energy and suppresses me with a glare.
[Can you truly answer? If those who struggle and strive do not become King, then who should be King?]
"...."
Black Dragon looks down at me.
And as I look back at them, I smile.
Uduk—
[...!]
The Flawless Mantra draws a resplendent circle behind me.
The Flawless Mantra that expelled only the power of Immortal Cultivation at first, now begins to push away even the power of Great Yin.
Ududek—
[You!]
Black Dragon charges at me immediately, slamming me with their front paw, but having regained some freedom, I raise the Impermanence Sword and deflect them.
"...I know...your kind."
Black Dragon is greatly shocked, but I ignore their reaction and begin to unleash my power.
Triple Divinity begins to properly emerge.
Tukwang!
I charge in an instant and strike down on Black Dragon from above.
Black Dragon's upright head instantly slams into the frozen Blood Sea.
"In the Ancient Force Realm of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, there was a one called Jin Ma-yeol."
Unlike before, when I wrapped the Impermanence Sword around my body and recklessly swung my sword to test Black Dragon, I now begin to properly display martial arts.
"The guy was also someone who didn't hesitate to sacrifice others for the sake of reaching the peak."
Kwaang! Kwaaaang!
Black Dragon tries to retaliate while taking my attacks, but it's no use.
I properly read their heart, either letting the attacks flow or avoiding them entirely as I unleash a barrage of strikes.
"But what that guy longed for at the very end, despite always chasing the greatest strength...was strength that did not require sacrifice, the power of his own."
Kwarururung!
With both legs, I stomp down onto Black Dragon's spine and continue speaking.
"And the power he longed for and finally obtained in his last moments...was stronger than any power he had ever pursued until then!"
Kwaaaaang!
With their body completely suppressed by me, Black Dragon is pinned beneath me and is embedded into one of the mountains of corpses.
"The royal authority you speak of, earned by sacrificing others and so-called effort, is nothing more than a sandcastle bound to be swept away before the strength attained through refining the self. So abandon your empty schemes."
[...How...can you be certain...!?]
"Because...right now, you are crushed beneath my feet."
[...]
Black Dragon falls silent for a moment, then starts laughing.
[How laughable... You dress it up nicely, but in the end, you can only speak this way because you are strong...]
Kigigik—
"...!?"
I realize that my spirit is being pushed out from the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea.
I am returning to the White Magnolia Realm once more.
Looking back, it seems Oh Hye-seo has anticipated Black Dragon's defeat and has long prepared a spell to release me.
[I...cannot accept it. You, who walk the Dao of Great Mountain and yet pretend to be clean...I cannot acknowledge you... You may be stepping on me now...but can you say the same before the Great Mountain Supreme Deity...!? This world! It is built upon sacrifice! The only difference is whether I am the one being sacrificed or not! Look at the Great Mountain Supreme Deity! In the end, only those who risk nothing and sacrifice others—only they! Can reach the peak!]
Wooo-woooong!
As I am expelled from the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea and return to my original place, I hear Black Dragon's final cry.
[This royal authority you argue for—then what exactly does it mean!? Answer me! You monster who defies the absolute truth of the world!]
"...."
[You will regret not joining hands with me today! Whether you are the God of Gods or the King of Kings, no matter what power you have gained, I will make sure you regret it!!]
Paaaatt!
With that final cry, I return to the White Magnolia Realm.
My spirit returns again to my reincarnation at the Integration stage, and within that body, I mull over Black Dragon's words. Thus, in my 666th reincarnation, I endlessly reflect on their words.
It is not simply that Black Dragon's words left a deep impression.
This is, yes...
Because this is the foundation for understanding the power of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.
If sacrificing everything outside of oneself is stronger than refining the self, then what truly is a strong king?
To find the answer, I begin throwing endless questions at myself.