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Chapter 383: Salt (1)Yuk Yo starts speaking.

"This world is a real world. It is not simply an illusion within a formation."

"...A real world? But...the inhabitants here lack intent."

"Well...honestly, I'm not sure how the Cult Leader perceives it. However, from my perspective, the Ancient Force Realm my father took us to felt like the real illusionary world. When my father took my siblings and I to the Ancient Force Realm, my mother advised us to never forget our identities as it's a 'dream world'."

"What...?"

"From my perspective, that world is the illusion, a falsehood. The Cult Leader knows well about how I behaved in the Ancient Force Realm...Considering it a false world and a place of 'non-humans'..."

"No, wait...don't use terms like 'non-humans.' It's very unpleasant."

"Ah...my apologies. In any case, even though my memories were sealed, I unconsciously viewed that place as such and lived somewhat recklessly."

I feel a headache coming on.

It's as if I just heard an absurd truth out of nowhere.

'Our world is a dream?'

"...But it's strange. If our world is a dream...then what are 'we' in this world? Are some of this world's folktales and legends created according to our memories, and do characters corresponding to us come into being?"

"Characters corresponding to us...from my perspective, it's quite the opposite. Ordinary people who were living well suddenly have strange dreams and their personalities change. Even royals occasionally experience such things."

"...Then why did you follow Yuk Rin if you knew the Ancient Force Realm is an illusory world? And if so, who is the current king of Penglai Kingdom?"

"First...my father said that if we go to the illusory world, we could enjoy immense pleasure and delight, and live for hundreds or thousands of years. He also said we could return whenever we wanted. He described it as a Land of Immortal or the Idyllic Peach Blossom Garden, so we followed, thinking we'd just enjoy it for a while and return. At that time, my father had the body of the Dragon Race, so we thought he was guiding us to a divine place."

"...."

A look of misery spreads on Yuk Yo's face.

"But as soon as we arrived in the illusory world, the Ancient Force Realm, father sealed our memories and extracted the true blood of the Sea Dragon Race from my siblings who inherited his bloodline. Just as I viewed that world an illusion, he saw this world as an illusion and felt no guilt as he believed that we, born in this illusion, were nothing more than illusions.

I listen in silence to her shocking words.

"Fortunately or unfortunately, I, being the youngest, did not inherit much of the Sea Dragon True Blood. Due to this, my father treated me as worthless, not extracting the true blood from me. Anyhow...he roughly proclaimed me a princess and let me go. I did everything I could to escape from his terrifying hands. Eventually, I stole the secret art from Jin Ma-yeol and somehow managed to escape. After that, I lived recklessly in the illusory world, indulging in pleasure and fraud."

"...Why did you steal the secret art from Jin Ma-yeol?"

"At that time, I just thought it looked 'tempting.' But unconsciously, it seems I did it 'to return to this world'."

"To return to this world?"

"Yes. Although my bloodline is of a worthless level, I still have the true blood of the Sea Dragon Race, and the Sea Dragon Race is the only race that can read the sea routes in the Ancient Force Realm. I think I intended to transform into a Sea Dragon and find a way to return to Penglai Island. Of course, since I didn't have any memories, I suppose I didn't know what I wanted either."

I am stunned by these shocking truths.

Seo Ran, who has been listening beside me, is also gaping.

"Now, I will explain the conditions for regaining awareness in this world."

"Y-Yes, quickly tell us."

I examine Yuk Yo's intent.

'She's not lying.'

Not only her intent but also her heartbeat and other reactions indicate she is telling the truth.

'And considering the situation, she has no reason to come all the way here to lie to us.'

"The quickest way to regain awareness in this world is to 'have someone who cherishes you'."

"Someone who cherishes you...?"

"Yes. The more people in the Ancient Force Realm or other worlds who think of you, the deeper their feelings, and the higher their level, the quicker you'll regain awareness. In other words, the time it takes to regain your awareness in this world is determined by the 'connections you have built."

"...."

"...."

Seo Ran and I look at each other.

I have a lot of connections to consider.

Starting with the followers of the Wuji Religious Order, Kang Min-hee of the Bright Cold Realm, the disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect in the Head Realm, and even though I'm not sure if they cherish me, the Entering Nirvana True Persons...

Not to mention the [Existences That Can Only Bring Misfortune] who showed immense interest in me during the regression process of this cycle...

Then, what about Seo Ran?

Seo Ran, looking puzzled, speaks.

"...Does Master...think of me that deeply in the Netherworld...?"

"Not necessarily...There are also disciples with masters outside who haven't regained their awareness yet..."

"Then what could it be...?"

Yuk Yo shrugs as if nothing.

"Couldn't it be that Sir Seo Ran is...receiving the affection of a higher existence?"

"Who would bestow such affection on me...?"

"Is there no one who comes to mind? Perhaps your parents, an acquaintance, a friend, or an ancestor?"

"My parents aren't exactly...ordinary, but to say they are a higher existence...all my acquaintances and friends came here with me...ancestors...hmm, I don't really like to think about my Grandfather Sea Dragon King."

He grabs his head in frustration, as if he can't figure it out.

Yuk Yo shrugs her shoulders.

"Well, it seems you're receiving the affection of a higher existence without even knowing it. Congratulations."

Seo Ran's face turns pale.

"I-Is that a good thing.?"

Seo Ran falls into confusion, and I sink into deep thought.

'This is strange.'

Yuk Yo is telling the truth, but it's so bizarre.

There is a sense of incongruity.

To say this world is real, there are too many bizarre points and it differs too much from reality.

And while Yuk Yo herself seems unaware, it's strange how this world seems to adjust to us.

I'm confused whether Yuk Rin had lied to me or if Yuk Yo is simply mistaken.

A world filled with strange contradictions and a sense of incongruity.

That is Penglai Island.

'And what exactly is going on with Seo Ran?'

According to Yuk Yo, there are three factors for quickly regaining awareness in this world:

Having many people who cherish the entrant of this world.

The feelings of those who cherish the entrant are deep.

The level of those who value the entrant is high.

'Could it be that Seo Ran is also under the gaze of some True Immortal?'

I look at Seo Ran with suspicious eyes.

I can't be sure.

At the beginning of this life, hadn't I got entangled with a higher existence from the Netherworld and ended up falling into the Nether Ghost Realm?

Seo Ran is also practicing Ghost Path Methods, so he might be attracting the attention of a Reaper from the Netherworld.

I press down on my swirling head and ponder.

'In that case, the ones who will find their memories the fastest are the leaders of the Wuji Religious Order, especially Yeon Wei and Jeon Myeong-hoon.'

Yeon Wei and Jeon Myeong-hoon are not just prominent figures in the Wuji Religious Order but also extremely famous personalities in the Lower Realm's Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. They should regain awareness the quickest.

Since Yuk Yo claims to be a native of this world, it makes sense that she and Seo Ran regained their awareness almost simultaneously with me.

I organize my complex thoughts and ask.

"Then, what is Yuk Rin aiming for, and what is his ultimate goal? He seems to have some relationship with Jin Ma-yeol. What relationship is it? Why did Jin Ma-yeol want you?"

"I will start with Jin Ma-yeol. He not only desired the stolen Dragon Form Disguise Method, but also 'my status.' Not as Princess Sacred Orchid of Governing Dragon Palace, but as the Princess of Penglai Kingdom. By marrying me, he could quickly gain benefits in Penglai Kingdom and potentially become its king or a high-ranking minister. That's why Jin Ma-yeol wanted me and allied with my father."

"...Wait."

Noticing something strange in Yuk Yo's words, I glare at her.

"If this world is your homeland, why are you just standing by while we lead the demon spirits to overthrow Penglai Kingdom?"

"Well...Cult Leader isn't going to rule Penglai Kingdom forever, right? And I know Cult Leader's character well. While Cult Leader made a reputation as the King of Demon Spirits, he hardly ever caused any human casualties despite a bit of plundering, right? Once Cult Leader returns to your original world, I can use the power of the guardian dragons protecting the royal family to disperse the demon spirits and restore the royal family."

"..."

"...Um...are you planning to kill my mother, the current queen?"

"...I won't kill her."

"Thank you!"

Yuk Yo smiles brightly and bows, as if she expected that.

I feel a headache coming on.

I have heard too many shocking truths.

But surprisingly, there are still more things I need to hear.

"...What is Yuk Rin's goal?"

When Yuk Rin was mentioned, Yuk Yo's expression darkens.

"...Father...didn't inherit much of the Sea Dragon True Blood when he was born. But after immense effort, he succeeded in transforming into a dragon. However...it seems he wasn't satisfied with that."

Yuk Yo begins revealing the truth about Yuk Rin.

"Among my father's acquaintances...there was a person named Yuk Ung, the master of Cherry Blossom Sea Domain, where Penglai Island was originally located."

"Yes, I know roughly."

"That Yuk Ung...unlike my father, was born with an almost perfect Sea Dragon body and bloodline. My father always envied him. However, for some reason, Yuk Ung suffered from a disease where his blood would boil and eventually died from it, unable to overcome the illness. Even his blood evaporated entirely, leaving behind an intact Sea Dragon body but no blood, dying like a dried-up corpse."

From her continued words, I can guess Yuk Rin's plan.

"Could it be...did he do that disgusting thing I am thinking of?"

"He probably did so. My father decided to take Cherry Blossom Dragon Palace Lord Yuk Ung's body. And to gather the lacking Sea Dragon True Blood, he came to this world, gave birth to us, and extracted the Sea Dragon True Blood to infuse it into Palace Lord Yuk Ung's body. Then, he uprooted Cherry Blossom Dragon Island that Palace Lord Yuk Ung governed and transformed it into a Deep Sea Island under Governing Dragon Palace, hiding Palace Lord Yuk Ung's body there."

"...."

"And with a very peculiar secret art, he split his soul and hid it within Palace Lord Yuk Ung's body in Cherry Blossom Dragon Island."

Baduduk...

I finally realize why Yuk Rin cooperated so readily when we captured him.

"It wasn't his main body...!"

The main body is hidden in the Deep Sea Island beneath Governing Dragon Palace!

"...But something is strange."

Seo Ran expresses his doubt.

"Sir Kim Young-hoon and Cult Leader both have eyes that can see the essence of the soul. How could they not distinguish between the main body and the clone..."

"There is one secret art that makes it impossible to distinguish between the main body and the clone."

At my cold voice, Seo Ran's eyes widen.

"And among the Sea Dragon Race, who has learned that technique, is there not one...no, more than one we know of?"

"...Could it be."

"That's right."

I recall the detestable face of that one person.

A 'hoho' echoes in my ears, and somehow my shoulders feel stiff.

"Seo Hweol. And Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens."

Chapter 384: Salt (2)Chapter 384: Salt (2)

Ancient Force Realm, Wi Jeong Sea Domain.

Governing Dragon Palace.

The Deep Sea Island beneath it, known as Cherry Blossom Dragon Island.

There, the half-human, half-fish Nascent Soul demon beast, Wi Yun, takes a deep breath.

"Huu...damn."

Having reached the Nascent Soul stage, the transformed her eventually gained the ability to take on a fully human form for both her upper and lower body.

She shivers as she looks up at the Sea Dragon statue before her.

Her head is spinning.

She has lost count of how many times she has done this.

'But I must do it.'

Wi Yun bites her lips as she remembers her village burning at the hands of ghosts on Governing Dragon Island.

Splurt!

She draws her own blood and offers it to the Sea Dragon statue before her.

The Sea Dragon statue absorbs her blood and her life force.

A light flickers in the eyes of the Sea Dragon statue.

[State your desire.]

"More power...! Please grant me power!"

[Understood.]

Immediately, a dark crimson energy emanates from the statue and is infused into Wi Yun's body.

She absorbs the crimson blood devilish energy.

Her eyes turn black, her pupils glowing a vivid red.

Her cultivation, which had been at the early Nascent Soul stage, surges to the mid Nascent Soul stage.

[Offer more blood sacrifices. In return, I will grant you more power.]

"I...cannot do that."

[Understood.]

Wi Yun closes her eyes tightly.

To save her parents, she has been cultivating devilish arts on Cherry Blossom Dragon Island for over a hundred years.

By offering her blood and lifespan to the Sea Dragon statue, it granted her immense power and advancement in her cultivation.

Of course, the Sea Dragon statue desires more than just that.

"Do not ask for blood sacrifices. I will carry out your commands. Give me your orders."

Occasionally, the Sea Dragon statue gave Wi Yun tasks.

Most of these tasks involved eliminating followers of the Wuji Religious Order or ambushing key figures of the order.

Performing these tasks was treated the same as offering blood, and the Sea Dragon statue would bestow her with power.

Since these missions were what Wi Yun always desired, she happily carried them out, achieving rapid progress in her cultivation over the past century.

'If I can just advance a little more, I can break through the ghostly creatures guarding Governing Dragon Island and rescue my parents, who are forced to work at the center!'

"Give me my mission!"

At that moment.

The Sea Dragon statue, which had been silent for a moment, emits a red light, and a massive amount of devilish energy flows into Wi Yun's body.

"H-Huh?"

While she is in a daze, her cultivation level forcibly rises.

Kuguguguk!

Her initial mid Nascent Soul stage cultivation skyrockets to the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage.

Despite feeling her Nascent Soul being shaken and her lifespan being reduced by the forced advancement, she laughs instead.

'With this level of cultivation...'

The day to rescue her parents is not far off!

Just as she rejoices, a voice addressing her comes from the Sea Dragon statue.

[Power has been granted in advance. Go immediately to Cherry Blossom Dragon Sea Domain and perform the spell I will teach you. In return, I will bestow upon you a Heavenly Being Pill.]

"Th-thank you!"

Wi Yun bows deeply to the statue and, intoxicated by the devilish energy, stumbles out of Cherry Blossom Dragon Island.

Stumble, stumble...

Spurt!

Wi Yun coughs.

Her cough is mixed with blood.

'I probably...won't live long.'

She feels her lifespan has been drastically shortened as a result of the rapid increase in her cultivation in such a short period.

'But it's okay...as long as I can...save my parents...'

Her long-sought goal is now within reach.

Staggering, she walks through a massive cave, heading towards the entrance that leads to the sea surface from Cherry Blossom Dragon Island.

The walls of the cave she passes through are adorned with murals.

They depict a gigantic, dark crimson something battling a dragon.

In the subsequent mural, the dark crimson something's head is cut off by an axe-like weapon hurled by the dragon, but for some reason, the dragon's head is also severed simultaneously.

It's an implausible sequence.

Clearly, the dragon had beheaded the dark crimson something's head with the axe, yet inexplicably, the axe was embedded in the dragon's neck, and the dragon lay dead on the ground with the axe lodged in its body with its neck severed.

Despite having part of its body severed by the axe, the dark crimson something did not die and reached out to the dragon, obtaining something from it.

The dark crimson figure then created a small worm-like creature.

It was a black worm.

The black worm created another worm identical to itself and threw it somewhere.

The identical worm, thrown into a place depicted with countless ocean waves, settled there, scattering tiny egg-like things beneath the sea.

Beneath the sea, there were stars, moons, and suns, human fingers and thighs, some beast's horns, livers, body parts, and even someone's head lined up.

The mural ends there.

Wi Yun passes through the cave adorned with murals and rises to the sea surface.

"...In any case, Father will soon regain his senses."

Yuk Yo continues.

"That person values himself very highly. Moreover, since there is a perfectly aware version of himself outside, he will quickly regain his identity if he synchronizes with the mind outside with the mind here."

I wear a cold expression.

"...So should I just cut off his head?"

Whether he regains his awareness or not, as long as he sticks close to the ground, I am confident I can cut off his head.

"I don't know if that will work..."

"...Well, I understand. You're saying he might have something more hidden up his sleeve?"

"...Yes. I apologize, but that's all I know and I can't provide any more information."

"It's fine. I intend to do what I can for now. By the way, are you alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"I will kill your father."

At those words, Yuk Yo's expression turns bitter but soon becomes resolute.

"Please kill him."

"...."

"That person...betrayed my siblings...my mother...this world. Not killing him would be a disservice to everyone who has died or been deceived by him."

"...Understood. In that case, I will use some harsh methods starting today to take over Penglai Kingdom and ascend to the throne. I have to seize the throne to resist him. Is that acceptable?"

"As long as you don't kill the royal family, it's fine."

"Understood."

I nod and speak to Seo Ran.

"Let Yuk Yo rest."

"Yes, follow me for now."

Seo Ran takes Yuk Yo to the best house in Taiyi Village, which is Nolbu's house.

I fall into deep thought.

'Yuk Rin...does that mean he is also learning Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens?'

It doesn't feel that way.

I don't feel the same ominous and endless malice that I felt when I was infected by Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.

From the beginning, it doesn't seem like Yuk Rin could perform the torturous acts of dismantling one's mind like Seo Hweol.

Just when I am pondering the connection between Yuk Rin and Seo Hweol.

"...Kyaaaaah!!!"

I hear a scream.

"...?"

Surprised, I run towards Nolbu's house and see a shocking scene.

A sea of blood!

Old Gentleman Nolbu's house has become a sea of blood.

And inside Nolbu's house, Yeon Wei is sitting in the hall with a kitchen knife and vacant eyes.

Blood is dripping from her kitchen knife.

I look at Yeon Wei and ask.

"...What is the meaning of this?"

"...Seo Eun-hyun, is it you?"

She speaks with empty eyes.

"...You've regained your memory."

"That's right."

I look around Nolbu's house.

There is a particularly strong smell of blood coming from the master bedroom.

In one corner, Yeon Jin is sitting with hollow eyes, too shocked to speak.

"So I asked what is the meaning of this?"

"Ah...I thought if I stayed here any longer, I might go mad in reality too, so I adjusted the situation to be similar to reality."

She looks at me with gloomy eyes and gives a bitter smile.

Gone is Yeon Wei, who used to giggle and act cute at Old Gentleman Nolbu's apologetic words.

What remains is an old monster who had gouged out the eyes of her betrothed and harbors a 40,000-year-old grudge.

"It was such a sweet dream. But humans cannot live in dreams. They shouldn't. If they get drunk on dreams, they'll go mad."

"...But did you really have to go this far? Yeon Jin is now..."

"What's the problem? Yeon Jin will wake up soon. And you, right now..."

Hearing Yeon Wei's next words, I feel a heavy weight on my chest.

"Are you hoping I'd wake from this dream and commit suicide in reality?"

"...."

I can't say anything as I look into Yeon Wei's vacant eyes.

But Yuk Yo, who is behind me, cries out with tears streaming down.

"What, what is the meaning of this!? These...these people are my subjects!"

Yeon Wei looks at Yuk Yo as if she is spewing nonsense, and I relay the truth I have heard from Yuk Yo in a heavy voice.

Then, Yeon Wei spits out her words as if she is chewing them.

"Don't talk nonsense. She's gone mad, this carp girl...this world is just a world within an illusion formation. You've been brainwashed by your father."

"No, it's not...these people are my subjects. It's not just an illusion! It's you...it's you people who are illusions!"

"Don't be ridiculous. Are you saying this is real? And we're fake? That's insane! My 40,000 years! Are you saying it's fake!? Say one more word. I'll rip out your tongue."

Yeon Wei stands up, holding the kitchen knife.

Even without any spiritual power or qi, her 40,000 years of combat experience are enough to certainly carry out her threat.

Though she usually plays around and jokes with us, this is her true nature.

I draw my sword and cut through Yeon Wei's kitchen knife.

Ting—

The kitchen knife is cut in half and embedded into the wall.

"Stop!"

My killing intent neutralizes Yeon Wei's.

However, at Seo Ran's words, Yeon Wei's eyes flip.

"P-Please calm down. Can't you consider that both might be real? For example...like different possibilities of oneself..."

"...You, right now..."

Bududuk...

Blood vessels pop in Yeon Wei's eyes.

"Are you saying...that this is my other possibility...?"

She clenches her hand.

Blood flows from her hand as her nails dig into her flesh.

"Living intimately with Hon Won...raising children in a normal way...waking up early in the morning to prepare his breakfast, managing the servants, helping with his work, having lunch together, feeding our son, handing our son to Hon Won, welcoming relatives who visit occasionally, following Hon Won's words and sometimes getting scolded and feeling down, laughing like a courtesan when receiving praise or an apology, having a full dinner at night, lightning a warm fire, putting our son to sleep, and then being intimate with Hon Won again. That life...You're saying that's my other possibility...?

"...."

Baduduk...

Yeon Wei clenches her teeth. Blood flows from her gums.

"Fine, if this world is such a possibility, then what is with the entity that created this world and brought us here? For what reason did that existence bring us here and show us such possibilities? Why to me? Particularly? To make me more miserable? Huh? Don't make me laugh...if this world is real...then it's an Evil (惡) that mocks me completely! Say it again! Is this world an illusion, or is it the Malice (惡意) that is endlessly pushing us?"

Yuk Yo tries to say something, and Yeon Wei rushes at her, as if trying to gouge out her eyes.

"I said stop!!!"

I shout loudly and swing my sword.

Bo-oong!

In one stroke, Yeon Wei's neck is cut.

Exuding murderous intent, I speak.

"As the cult leader of the Wuji Religious Order and the successor of the Secret Immortal Art of Yang Su-jin, founder of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, I command Yeon Wei, the military strategist of the Wuji Religious Order and disciple of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, to take Yeon Jin outside and meditate against the wall!"

Under my killing intent, Yeon Wei calms her own killing intent and wears a dazed expression, taking the seemingly mute Yeon Jin outside.

I also speak to Yuk Yo.

"Princess Yuk Yo of Penglai Kingdom! As the King of Demon Spirits who has taken you hostage, I ask you not to provoke Yeon Wei. Do not impose your thoughts on her."

"...Understood."

I resolve the situation with a stern expression and ask Seo Ran to ensure that Yeon Wei and Yuk Yo do not encounter each other. Then, I hurriedly run to Jeon Myeong-hoon's house.

'If Yeon Wei has regained awareness...perhaps Jeon Myeong-hoon has regained awareness as well.'

I quicken my pace, worried if Jeon Myeong-hoon is doing the same as Yeon Wei.

I can see Jeon Myeong-hoon's house in the distance.

A sense of foreboding washes over me.

"Jeon Myeong-hoon!"

From inside the house, the smell of blood drifts.