Chapter 351: Devilish Cult (4)

Crackling!

Jin Gwi-shi, who has been relentlessly striking the Heavenly Tribulation barrier, grits his teeth.

"Kugh, damn it...!"

By now, his body is in a state where even moving is difficult due to the lightning shot by the Six Extremes Ghost King, Jeon Myeong-hoon.

To make matters worse, the massive Sky Island seems to be stirring again.

Wiiing―

The light of blessings brilliantly bursts forth from the Sky Island and begins to advance forward.

Jeon Myeong-hoon hides his body inside the Heavenly Tribulation Barrier and laughs.

[Haha, well then, farewell for now. We shall be on our way.]

Wiiing―

The Sky Island begins accelerating.

But Jin Gwi-shin, despite being battered and vomiting blood, sneers.

[Hah, it seems like a method that moves a certain distance per day. Every place in a 200,000 li radius of here is within the reach of the Black Ghost Palace! All the Integration stage Ghost Kings stationed at our branches will be contacted! Do you think you can keep running forever!? How long do you think you can maintain that Heavenly Tribulation barrier!?]

However, Jeon Myeong-hoon merely enters deeper within the barrier with a nonchalant expression.

"Hmm, indeed. Moving only 200,000 li at a time can be a bit risky."

Kwa-jijijijik!

He glances at Oh Hyun-seok, who is overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation.

"Hyun-seok Hyung-nim will soon be done with his tribulation, so the Heavenly Tribulation barrier can't last forever either way..."

It doesn't matter.

Wiiing―

The Sky Island accelerates tenfold as it moves forward.

As it accelerates more and more, at some point it uses the ground-shrinking technique to cover hundreds of thousands of li. This is the Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation.

And this Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation has one particular feature.

Flash!

[No matter which direction you flee! You will never! Escape from the grasp of our Black Ghost Palace!]

Every time the ground-shrinking formation is used, up to 7 times, the spatial distortion that it creates intensifies, and the distance of the space folded doubles like the tenfold accelerating Sky Island.

'Earlier it covered 200,000 li, so now it will be 400,000 li.'

Jeon Myeong-hoon inwardly clicks his tongue.

'This world really...has an overwhelming sense of scale.'

Kwagwagwagwa!

The Twilight Domain activates the Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation again towards the second destination.

Flash!

"Second destination, arrived."

[Well done, everyone.]

After commending the formation masters, I extend my consciousness to survey the surroundings of the Twilight Domain.

The first leap covered 200,000 li.

The next was 400,000 li.

'A total of 600,000 li. Not bad.'

The Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation doubles the distance with each movement and can leap seven times in total.

Starting with 200,000 li, the total possible distance is...

'25 million li.'

The number is dizzying, but it's nonetheless possible.

'This is the power of human malice when converted into the ability to move...'

It's an insane distance.

'Though 400,000 li is not a long distance for those at the Integration stage, it will become increasingly difficult to follow as the distance doubles over the next days.

Kwa-jijijik!

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Tribulation falling from the sky gradually thins and finally disappears.

At the spot where Oh Hyun-seok was standing,

There appears a giant of starlight with eight pairs of wings.

Kugugugugu!

The Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method that Oh Hyun-seok reached great completion in is somewhat different from the one mastered by me and Azure Tiger Saint.

While starlight sparkles within my and the Azure Tiger Saint's bodies, mysterious purple clouds billow forth along with the starlight in Oh Hyun-seok's body,

This seems to be a part of his unique abilities.

'Well, good. In any case, with this...'

All four Law Protectors of the Wuji Religious Order have attained at least the Four-Axis stage in combat power.

Jeon Myeong-hoon, Hong Fan, and Oh Hyun-seok have all reached the Four-Axis stage, and the only one who hasn't, Kim Yeon, is practically the second-in-command of the puppets that form the backbone of the Wuji Religious Order.

Since she can mobilize the entire Wuji Religious Order at any time, her own cultivation level is irrelevant.

'In addition to that...'

[It's a bit surprising. To change your decision so quickly.]

"..."

Yu Hye, standing before my seat, blushes slightly.

"...Well, I honestly thought you were undoubtedly a devilish cult. But looking around, I see that you have good welfare and are a religious group that seeks considerable peace."

[Haha, that's why you shouldn't judge a ghost by its appearance.]

"...? Isn't the death within the cult leader showing on the outside?"

[Hmm...]

I have no words and can only smack my lips.

[Well, anyway. Please take care of the relationship between the Black Ghost Palace and this seat.]

"Hm, I can only relay the Cult Leader's words to the main palace. The decision is up to them. Even if I speak well of the Wuji Religious Order, an extermination order might still be issued."

[Well, I understand. That can't be helped.]

Yu Hye, who had initially been terrified of me, looked around the Wuji Religious Order once, meeting Baek Rin, Wei Shi-hon, and Eum Wa again.

Only then did she clear her misunderstandings about us.

Of course, she still flinches every time she sees me because of my death, but that's a natural reaction, so I can't say anything about it.

Moved by my sincere persuasion, Yu Hye eventually promises to convey our intentions to the Black Ghost Palace in the future.

[By the way, wouldn't you like to receive the 'procedure'? You'll really like it.]

"No, thank you. If I undergo the 'procedure,' I would have to modify my current ghost body, wouldn't I?"

[That's right.]

"This ghost body was created by my superior, Cha Jo-gwi, so there's no need for modification."

[Well, do as you wish.]

I have no intention of forcing someone who doesn't want it.

She mentions Cha Jo-gwi and then suddenly seems to remember something.

“By the way, could you at least give me a transmission talisman to contact Cha Jo-gwi-nim? I need to inform him not to worry as I am truly doing well."

But Hong Fan shakes his head.

"It seems you want to use the transmission talisman, but it will be difficult. Over the next few days, we will be leaping over hundreds of thousands, even millions of li. This will distort the space and the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, making it very unlikely for the message to be properly sent."

"Hmm, is it really that difficult? If I send about a hundred transmission talismans, wouldn't at least one of them reach?"

"It's not a matter of probability, but the fact that the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy will distort, causing the content of the transmission talisman to alter during the transmission."

Yu Hye ponders for a moment before speaking.

"I'll take the risk. How much would the message distort anyway? It's better to let Cha Jo-gwi-nim know I am safe as he will be worried."

"Well, if you insist..."

Hong Fan reluctantly takes out a transmission talisman from his storage scroll and hands it to her.

"Thank you, Law Protector."

"No need."

"Then, I'll go to my room and send the message, Cult Leader."

[Sure, and don't worry. I won't eavesdrop on the conversation between lovers.]

Yu Hye blushes slightly at my words and heads to her designated accommodation.

[Ah, youth.]

I chuckle as I watch her retreating figure.

Yu Hye returns to her room and unfolds the transmission talisman she received from Hong Fan.

"Cha Jo-gwi-nim, are you doing well? This is Yu Hye. I'm currently at the headquarters of the Wuji Religious Order. I am sending this message to reassure you not to worry too much."

She clears her throat and records her voice in the talisman.

Then she begins to convey the situation here.

"...I thought it would be like hell, but unexpectedly, the cult leader is a benevolent ghost who understands righteousness."

Starting with the cult leader, the Wuji Ghost King Seo Eun-hyun, she explains the purpose of the Wuji Religious Order.

"Furthermore, their goal is to aspire for a peaceful Nether Ghost Realm. It's truly a grand dream. While I don't know their ultimate aim as I'm an outsider, they say they'll let me go eventually. There's no need to come looking for me; I'll return to the Black Ghost Palace myself."

Worrying that her superior and lover, Cha Jo-gwi, might come after her recklessly, Yu Hye makes a request.

"And it seems it would be better if the Black Ghost Palace doesn't further antagonize the Wuji Religious Order. I'll explain more in detail when I return."

She speaks with consideration for the strained relationship between the Black Ghost Palace and the Wuji Religious Order.

"And your friend named Baek Rin seems to have calmed down after witnessing the true love between the Guardian Ghost King couple, Wei Shi-hon and Eum Wa. Although he appears a bit down, his eyes no longer burn with rage like before. Perhaps we have misunderstood this order too much."

Then there is the direct cause of Cha Jo-gwi's involvement in this battle.

She conveys the situation regarding his friend Baek Rin.

"...I think I won't easily forget what I've seen here."

Yu Hye reflects on her time in the Wuji Religious Order.

At first, it was frightening, but the cult leader turned out to be unexpectedly upright and kind.

And the peaceful and leisurely beings of the Twilight Domain were filled with happiness.

Yu Hye feels she might never easily forget the peaceful scenes of the Twilight Domain.

"And also...I left a message as if it were my last words before being captured but...um, it's a bit embarrassing. Although it was good serving you all this time, please forget my tone as if leaving a last will. I'd appreciate it if you could bury it forever in your memory."

She remembers leaving those last words with a wistful look in her eyes to Cha Jo-gwi just before being dragged away by Jeon Myeong-hoon, making her face turn red.

She feels like jumping into bed and kicking the blankets in embarrassment.

"Well, I think this is enough to let you know I'm safe. I'm truly safe. It's not that I'm brainwashed into saying good things about this place. Ah, and..."

Wo-woong―

She looks out the window at the trembling Twilight Domain.

'Didn't they say we will depart again soon?'

If so, it's about time to send the message.

"They say we will be departing soon. I'll end it here. I hope the contents of this talisman don't get too distorted. Then, goodbye. I'll be back soon."

Yu Hye steps outside the Wuji Religious Order and infuses her Ghost Path spirit power into the transmission talisman.

Hong Fan, approaching Yu Hye, asks again with a slightly worried look.

"I'm repeating this again, but because the spatial waves haven't subsided yet, the contents of the message might be distorted upon arrival. Some parts might be missing or mixed with static noise."

"Hmm, it's fine. My superior will understand everything regardless of how it's conveyed, so he'll understand even if it's somewhat distortion."

"If you say so..."

Paaaatt!

Soon after, the transmission talisman in Yu Hye's hand turns into a ray of light and flies somewhere.

At the place where the White Yin Domain used to be.

There, a Nether Crossing Ship is swiftly flying somewhere.

In the captain's cabin of the Nether Crossing Ship.

The sailors gather around, encouraging Cha Jo-gwi who looks as if he lost his soul.

"Don't worry, Captain. The Lieutenant will surely be safe."

"With her personality, she might even be scolding those devilish cult bastards and giving them a lesson."

"Besides, those guys are fleeing right now. How could they have the leisure to do anything to the Lieutenant? If we catch the devilish cult quickly, the Lieutenant will safely return!"

Cha Jo-gwi faintly smiles at the sailors' encouragement.

"...Yes...thank you, everyone...I've shown you a disgraceful side as your captain..."

At that moment.

Paaaaaat!

A clear light enters Cha Jo-gwi's captain's room.

"That, that's...!?"

"A transmission talisman?"

Cha Jo-gwi flinches in surprise and reaches out to the talisman.

Then, a gentle voice begins to emanate from it.

―Cha Jo-gwi-nim...

It's Yu Hye's voice.

Cha Jo-gwi's eyes widen, and the sailors of the Nether Crossing Ship fall silent.

Chi-jik, chi-ji-jik—

The static is quite loud, but Cha Jo-gwi swallows and trembles as he speaks.

"Yu, Yu Hye...! Are you alright? Please, please answer...!"

Chi-jik, chi-ji-jik—

Despite the static, Yu Hye's voice manages to come through the transmission talisman to Cha Jo-gwi.

—Chi-ji-jik...here...chi-ji-jik...worry...hell...chi-ji-jik...

"...Yu, Yu Hye..."

—Leader...chi-ji-jik...truly grand...do not...come...love...won't forget...

"..."

—Forever...chi-ji-jik...brainwash...soon...goodbye...chi-ji-jik...

Chi-jik, chi-ji-ji-jik...

With that, the transmission talisman goes silent.

And, in the captain's room of the 30th Nether Crossing Ship.

A tremendous wave of ghostly energy begins to surge.

[Those devilish cult bastards!!!]

Kugugugugu!

[I'll kill them all!!!]

With tears of blood streaming from his eyes, Cha Jo-gwi grits his teeth.

[No matter what it takes!!!]

Seven days pass.

Kugugugugu—

Finally, the Wuji Religious Order and the Twilight Domain covers the insane distance of 25 million li, reaching the northern end of the Nether Ghost Realm.

They approach the boundary between the Stable Realm and the Chaos Realm.

"It's almost time."

I sit in the cult leader's seat, smiling.

Jeon Myeong-hoon, to my right, nods.

"Yes, it's almost time."

Soon, we will be able to rescue the remaining disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

Kugugugugu—

The Twilight Domain moves through the sky.

The Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation can no longer be used, but simple movement is still possible using the Twilight Domain's dragon vein.

After a while.

We arrive at the area where the remains of the one who went berserk under the influence of an Entering Nirvana True Person are located.

Swoosh...

I fly above the Wuji Religious Order, taking a deep breath at the distant sight.

"Is that...the end of one who dies under the corruption of a True Person?"