Chapter 369: Holding Hands (6)

Kugugugu!

I enter the Black Sea Domain and head towards the home of Seo Ran and Song Jin at its center.

I make my way towards Black Island.

After a while, I can sense a familiar presence.

Kugugu!

In the distance, I see a valley that resembles the valley of Black Ghost Valley.

It seems that just as Song Jin has renamed this domain, the island that once looked different has also been transformed into the appearance of Black Ghost Valley.

'But it doesn't have the same ghostly energy as Black Ghost Valley.'

Of course, this isn't the Nether Ghost Realm and obtaining such ghostly energy in the Ancient Force Realm is no easy feat.

If Seo Ran, who practices the Ghost Path Method, reached the Four-Axis stage and could control the dragon vein, it might have been different, but since Seo Ran's cultivation is lower than even Shi Ho's, it's meaningless.

Kugugung!

Soon after, when the Twilight Domain reaches Black Island.

"Ho?"

Wo-woong!

A strong suction force begins to emerge from Black Island, starting to suck in the ghostly energy of the Twilight Domain.

And from within the Black island that's absorbing ghostly energy, formation made of ghostly energy seems to arise, amplifying the ghostly energy.

Kugugugugugu!

Soon, living up to its name, Black Island turns into a truly eerie island with an environment perfectly suited for the cultivation of ghostly creatures.

Paaaatt!

Seo Ran hurries out of his room, wiping sweat from his excited face as he looks down at Black Island.

"We've arrived at Black Island!"

"Yes. But that formation on Black Island."

"Oh, that's a formation laid down by my master from one of the formations of Black Ghost Valley. Originally, it was meant to amplify the ghostly energy within the island to aid my cultivation and make my master's body more comfortable..."

He has a particularly cheerful expression.

"With this level of ghostly energy...!"

Kwaggagagak!

Suddenly, I sense a massive vortex of ghostly energy at the center of Black Island.

"That ghostly energy..."

It's a familiar wave of ghostly energy.

Soon after, a familiar ghost emerges from the vortex of ghostly energy.

[Hahhh...!]

It's Song Jin.

He inhales the ghostly energy comfortably, looks at Seo Ran, and then notices me beside him, shuddering slightly.

He sighs and speaks.

"...I've heard everything from Seo Ran, Senior. Please come in."

"Haha, calling me senior? Just call me comfortably."

"...Your joke is too much. Someone of Senior's level must have lived for thousands of years. It was rather disrespectful of me to not recognize Senior in the Head Realm."

Having heard about me from Seo Ran since the incident at Wi Jeong Sea Domain, Song Jin apparently thinks I'm some old monster who hid his cultivation, and he respectfully bows.

'Well...if that's what he believes, there's nothing I can do.'

Since he firmly believes it, nothing I say would change his mind.

"...Well, okay. If you want to treat me that way, do as you please. Anyway...is this Black Island a branch of Black Ghost Palace?"

"Yes, that's correct, Senior. But due to the nature of the Ancient Force Realm, we cannot contact the main sect, so we haven't been officially approved yet."

"I see. Then, does it have maintenance functions like the main sect, the Bright Cold Realm's branch, or the Head Realm's Black Ghost Valley?".

Black Ghost Valley created functions to maintain the Nether Crossing Ship even while it's floating in the air, to prepare for the possibility of it being unable to dock at sea.

Even if the Nether Crossing Ship's power source is temporarily halted, the formation of Black Ghost Valley can keep it suspended in the air, recharge its ghostly energy remotely, and perform maintenance.

"Yes, we have certainly installed such functions on our Black Island..."

"Then that's good. I'd like our Twilight Domain to be supported by Black Island for a while."

"Uh..."

Song Jin glances at the Twilight Domain and breaks out in a cold sweat.

"Uh...Senior. With all due respect, that landmass is so large compared to the Nether Crossing Ship...I'm not sure if the function will work."

"It's fine. It will work sufficiently."

Kugugugu!

I move the Twilight Domain above Black Island and signal to Song Jin with my eyes.

Song Jin sighs as he forms hand seals, and Twilight Domain begins to float above Black Island.

"Hong Fan, deactivate Twilight Domain's floating formation."

I send a voice transmission to Hong Fan, and soon he temporarily deactivates the floating formation.

Kuuung!

Then, a formation activates across the entire Black Island, lifting six translucent shadows towards the Twilight Domain.

The shadows become more distinct as they rise into the air, transforming into translucent, massive skeletal hands by the time they reach the Twilight Domain.

The six massive skeletal hands shimmer translucently as they support the Twilight Domain.

Kuguguguk!

Of course, due to the weight of the Twilight Domain, the skeletal hands appear like they are about to crack, but the Twilight Domain is a landmass torn from the mainland of the Nether Ghost Realm.

In other words, it's a land imbued with the pure ghostly energy of the Nether Ghost Realm.

Tsutsutsut!

Nourished by the ghostly energy of the Nether Ghost Realm, the skeletal hands become even more defined, repairing any cracks and fissures on their arms and properly supporting the Twilight Domain.

Song Jin observes this scene for a moment before clearing his throat.

"...Senior. Originally, three of these hands support the Nether Crossing Ship, while the other three are used for its maintenance but...now, they're all being used to support your territory...making maintenance impossible."

"It's fine. We'll handle the maintenance of Twilight Domain ourselves."

The reason I'm specifically using Black Island's formation is because Twilight Domain has been floating for too long, and its floating formation needs a break.

"Well then, come in. It's been a while, and I'm glad to see a familiar face."

Although I hadn't formed a close relationship with Song Jin like with Cheongmun Ryeong, we aren't on bad terms either, so it's a pleasant reunion.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally enters the Twilight Domain.

Reuniting with Song Jin after such a long time is truly delightful.

"That's really fortunate!"

Song Jin, who was almost out of ghostly energy and on the brink of being dragged to the Netherworld, had his lifespan extended by absorbing the pure ghostly energy of the Twilight Domain.

"No, this won't do. If you wish, I can also give you a new body through our order's 'procedure' and 'grace'."

I point to one of the followers doing chores in the Wuji Religious Hall and explain the grace of the Wuji Religious Order.

However, Song Jin laughs heartily and shakes his head.

"Thank you for the offer, but I no longer need a body outside the Nether Crossing Ship. I've raised an excellent disciple and opened a branch of Black Ghost Valley in the Ancient Force Realm. Now, I just want to pass away peacefully when the ship's lifespan ends."

"Hmm...I heard from the Conqueror King that the Nether Crossing Ship can last a long time if you recharge the power source and repair it entirely?"

It's exactly as said.

If Buk Hyang-hwa repairs the Nether Crossing Ship, which was severely damaged by the Mad Lord, and recharges its power source with Twilight Domain's ghostly energy, it would allow Song Jin to live for quite a long time.

However, Song Jin bursts into a hearty laugh and says,

"If we only consider the Nether Crossing Ship, that's true. But...the Nether Crossing Ship. And that history ended in the war with the Mad Lord. The history of the Black Ghost Valley disciples laughing and chatting, being born and raised on the ship, practicing methods, kidnapping and looting, marrying and having children who then entered the main sect...the peaceful history of the Black Ghost Valley that was embedded in the Nether Crossing Ship...is no more."

He smiles faintly.

"I am grateful for the slight extension of my lifespan. Thanks to you, I can live for another hundred years or so. But I...will enjoy this lifespan and close my eyes within the Nether Crossing Ship. By then, my disciple will have become a great cultivator at the Heavenly Being stage, just like I once was, and I will have no regrets."

"...I understand. I will respect your decision."

I nod at Song Jin, who refused the procedure.

One hundred years might seem long, but for cultivators, it's a short time.

Take the path to Penglai Island for example. According to Yuk Rin, it won't open for another 120 years, so Song Jin will close his eyes before then.

However, despite such persuasions from Seo Ran, there is no sign in Song Jin's eyes that he intends to change his decision.

He truly intends to close his eyes after raising Seo Ran.

Suddenly curious about Song Jin's attitude, I ask him a question.

"Let me ask you something."

"Please ask."

"If, for the revival of Black Ghost Valley, you had to abandon your most precious things...for instance, your memories of Black Ghost Valley or your feelings towards your fellow disciples, would you abandon them?"

Song Jin seems to ponder for a moment before responding.

"To abandon Black Ghost Valley for Black Ghost Valley...if I were part of a group, it would be my duty."

"Hmm..."

"However, abandoning is in itself a ridiculous notion. If I were to abandon my emotions for Black Ghost Valley for the sake of Black Ghost Valley, would the Valley abandon me?"

He speaks with a calm smile.

"Even if I abandon my emotions for them, no. Even if I forget everything and become a monster, the Valley would not abandon me and would still remember me. Therefore, I believe that completely 'abandoning' or 'severing' something is very difficult. They say attraction force is a mutual connection. Even if one side severs, if the other side pulls, the connection will still remain, will it not?"

"...Thank you for the good answer."

Heavenly Being stage cultivators are not just simple-minded people with poor talents.

They are those who have condensed their own kind of madness to reach their level, and they have their own beliefs and answers about life.

Thus, even though Song Jin has lived shorter than me, and his cultivation is lower than mine, his answer has its own profound wisdom.

"I am embarrassed. I merely mixed my understanding into the words of an argument I once heard before."

"Oh, from whom did you hear such words?"

The people who would converse with Song Jin, who had been at the Heavenly Being stage when 'alive', are quite limited.

It should probably be the elders of Black Ghost Valley, or Azure Heaven Creation Sect, or Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, or perhaps the Sea Dragon Tribe.

In any case, it would be someone I know, but unexpectedly, someone else comes out of Song Jin's mouth.

"I heard it from Seo Ran's mother. In other words...a child who was a Ghost Soul disciple of our valley."

Song Jin speaks with warm eyes, looking at Seo Ran.

'He's changed a lot.'

Perhaps it's because he has been with Seo Ran for about 200 years.

In the past, even if he cherished Seo Ran, he would grumble a bit because he's from the Sea Dragon Race, but now he openly shows his affection for him.

Seo Ran also smiles warmly at Song Jin's words.

"...Master, you said that whenever my mother came to ask about Immortal Arts, you would have many conversations with her."

"Yes, she was a truly...lovely child. That child, Yu Oh..."

Song Jin, who was talking with me, speaks briefly with Seo Ran about his mother, Yu Oh.

"Haha, the conversation got sidetracked for a moment."

"No, it's alright. It's good to see. I think we've discussed everything needed anyway, so you two should enjoy your conversation after a long time."

I laugh heartily and step aside for the two of them.

The ghostly creatures of the Twilight Domain have gone down to Black Island and are engaging in voluntary activities such as teaching the disciples of the Ancient Force Realm's Black Ghost Valley branch.

Though there are faint cries and screams coming from below, it's nothing to worry about since the ghostly creatures usually make such noises.

I descend to the basement of the Wuji Religious Hall and turn my attention to the Salt Crystal guarded by Hong Fan and Yeon Wei.

"Is this the Salt Crystal obtained from Governing Dragon Palace?"

"Yes, the Governing Dragon Palace Palace Lord willingly handed it over."

Hong Fan has already installed a Flying Immortal Formation with the Salt Crystal from Governing Dragon Palace, allowing me to use it like a Void Spirit Pond.

Yeon Wei grumbles discontentedly.

"In my opinion, didn't I say that guy is definitely hiding something more!? The fact that he's willingly giving up such a precious treasure means there's a 99 plus 1 out of a hundred chance that he's trying to hide an even more valuable treasure! My eyes can never be deceived!!"

She crosses her arms and gives Hong Fan a slight glare.

"Listen here, Eun-hyun. When I suggested to Hong Fan that we should feed Yuk Rin the poison that amplifies pain by 60,000 times and torture, didn't he say no? Don't you think he's going easy on him just because they're both from the Demon Race, or maybe he has other motives?"

"No, Lady Yeon Wei..."

Hong Fan, looking aghast, waves his hands in refusal.

"The poison that amplifies pain by 60,000 times is so severe that even a Demon King in the Integration stage would likely go mad. No matter how much of an enemy Palace Lord Yuk is, what did he do to deserve such torture?"

I shake my head and say,

"Hong Fan is right. The 60,000 times poison is too excessive."

He hasn't betrayed us or driven us into a corner, so there's no need for such harsh torture just to find more hidden treasures.

Yeon Wei turns her head with a pout, not receiving support even from me.

"Hmph. If it's that Yuk Rin guy, he probably swallowed all the inheritance from the Cherry Blossom Dragon Palace Lord by himself...we could have gotten that legacy too...if we lose those treasures just because we couldn't be a little harsher, I think my stomach will hurt..."

"Well, let's search for such great treasures gradually. For now, let's focus on fully building the Health Axis."

"Do as you please. Why ask an old fossil like me?"

She leaves the basement in a sulky manner, and I sigh while letting my consciousness drift.

According to what I heard from Yuk Rin, the path to Penglai Island will open in about 120 years.

Until then, the plan is to build and complete as much of the Health Axis as possible.

Peaceful Cloud Continent.

In Yuhwa, located in the borders of the continent, three Great Masters at the peak Qi Refining stage and one Demi-God of the Qi Building stage dominate the land.

And Yuhwa's only Qi Building Demi-God,

The Qi Building cultivator who settled in the nearby Black Ridge Valley after the collapse of Split Turtle Valley,

Fighting God (鬪神) Ham Jin, that day as well, respectfully places a bowl of water on a small altar inside his cave residence and prays.

Just then.

Rattle, rattle, rattle—

Suddenly, the bowl begins to tremble, and the water turns black.

"Haht...!"

And the moment Ham Jin regains his senses, he finds himself pulled into a pure white mental world.

In that mental world, a giant Ghost King looks down upon him.

Ham Jin bows his head in the presence of the Wuji Ghost King.

"O Great One, did you summon me?"

The Wuji Ghost King looks down at him and speaks.

"I need to borrow your body. Have you kept the jade tablet safe?"

"Yes, I have always kept it within my embrace."

"Good. Let's go to that place immediately."

Ham Jin nods, and as soon as he gives his consent, the Wuji Ghost King instantly takes control of his body.

Chchchut!

After taking control of Ham Jin's body, I try moving it around.

"Hoho, excellent."

How much time has passed? Ham Jin has already reached the second constellation of Qi Building

―Your praise is too much.

Ham Jin responds humbly from within his heart essence, but in my eyes, his talent is truly outstanding.

'No, perhaps his unique talent has continued to blossom because I've often possessed his body.'

Whether his inherent talent is good or it improved because of me, it's great either way.

It's when I'm about to leave Ham Jin's cave residence.

"Hmm, Sir Husband, where are you going?"

A woman from another room calls out to him, rubbing her eyes in a disheveled appearance.

Ham Jin speaks, flustered.

―G-Great One can just wave her off and it will be fine.

Following his words, I wave my hand, and she politely bows and steps back in understanding.

"Have you married?"

―Ah, that...while the previous Core Formation old monsters had Demi-God disciples and followers, the old monsters implanted restrictions that killed their followers and disciples upon their death. Because of this, I am the only Demi-God left in Yuhwa so...the topic of marriage kept coming up from various cultivator clans and...

"Well, that's your decision to..."

"Sir Husband, are you skipping breakfast today?"

However, shortly after, another woman comes out from another room in the cave residence and asks Ham Jin. I wave her off as well and try to leave the cave residence.

But as I try to leave the cave residence, I keep encountering 'more' of Ham Jin's wives emerging from various rooms.

"You...just what kind of life are you living?"

After sending off the 17th wife and stepping outside the cave residence, I can't help but ask in exasperation.

Ham Jin coughs a bit awkwardly, as if embarrassed.

— Uh...I definitely did not force them or anything. They really are daughters sent from cultivator clans. They begged to stay here, saying they would have to marry much older old monsters from other countries...

"..."

I click my tongue as I control attraction force with Ham Jin's body, arriving at that location.

Since Ham Jin has reached the Qi Building stage, there is much more I can do now with his body now.

Kuguguguk!

As I clench the void, attraction force twists.

I take out the jade tablet from Ham Jin's bosom and activate it.

Split Turtle Valley disappears, and over the wide expanse of land, a green formation shines brightly.

After a while, I notice that the surrounding space has transformed into a 'middle zone' just as before.

Wo-woong!

I read the flow of attraction force within the middle zone and calculate the coordinates.

The middle zone not only serves as a relay station connecting the sea domains of the Ancient Force Realm but also makes it easier to leap across vast spaces.

In other words, the location that the Esteemed Ones are heading to, the Lightning Sacred Sea, is so incredibly far that it required the creation of a middle zone.

Wiiiiiing!

Having connected the other side's coordinates with attraction force, and consciousness, I pull the coordinates toward me.

Kugugugugu!

In an instant, Ham Jin's body leaps across an immense space.

Within his mind, Ham Jin looks around through my vision, marveling at the sight.

Around us are countless stars, nebulae, and galaxies, all appearing as clusters of light.

The very act of witnessing this vast world seems to trigger an awakening effect, further enhancing Ham Jin's upper dantian.

'This kid's cultivation will rise even faster now.'

It's a good thing for me.

How much space do we cross?

Finally, I arrive at the next set of coordinates.

'This place is...?'

Kurung, Kurururung!

Lightning is crashing all around.

Toxic gases lethal to humans float in the atmosphere, and sandstorms rage across the arid desert.

It looks like a star (planet/celestial body) where life can't exist.

'Is this the Lightning Sacred Sea? Ah...it's not.'

I realize that another middle zone has been set up at the location I have arrived at.

Uguguguk!

I reactivate the middle zone.

'I see. The place called the Lightning Sacred Sea is so far away that the Esteemed Ones had to create an additional middle zone.'

It means it's a distance so far that a single middle zone is still insufficient to reach it.

Once again, I use attraction force to activate the middle zone and travel to the next coordinates indicated by this middle zone.

Wo-woong!

This time, I find myself on a star without any air.

Like the moon, its gravity isn't very strong, and the land is barren.

A place where life can't exist.

And...

'This is also a middle zone?'

I am slightly taken aback.

How far away is the Lightning Sacred Sea that even the Esteemed Ones had set up multiple middle zones?

Suddenly, I recall that Jang Ik, who was summoned by Sacred Master Baek Woon, sent his clone only a thousand years later.

'Perhaps it's a distance where even the Esteemed Ones, who travel through vast space and time using attraction force, take a thousand years to reach this distant location...'

This implies that there could be many more such middle zones ahead.

'No, what is this? Damn, the coordinates were clearly labeled 'Lightning Sacred Sea'.'

It seems that the Esteemed Ones had lazily omitted 'middle zone' from what should have been labeled 'middle zone to Lightning Sacred Sea.'

'They should've been more precise with their labeling. Well, at this point, I have no choice but to keep going.'

Wo-woong!

I activate the middle zone again and cross space.

How many times do I jump through middle zones like this? I notice that Ham Jin's body is gradually failing to endure.

'Ham Jin, who accepted me into his body, is struggling to endure.'

Even though he has reached the mid Qi Building stage, which allows me to exercise more power than before, he is still only at the mid Qi Building stage.

Despite the grandiose and laughable title of Demi-God, he hasn't yet surpassed the limits of humans.

'What should I do...?'

I frown as I arrive on another planet filled with toxic gases.

Ham Jin's spiritual power and energy are depleting, and all the middle zones are on stars where no life can survive.

If his spiritual power runs out, Ham Jin is doomed to die.

'I could consume Ham Jin's life force to draw on my power and partially modify the environment on the star to make it habitable but...'

I'd feel too guilty towards Ham Jin.

'For now, let's keep going.'

I grit my teeth and continue moving through the middle zones.

How many middle zones do I traverse like this?

Despair begins to set in on my face.

'Damn it, are there no worlds where people can live, except for Ham Jin's?'

Every middle zone designated by the Esteemed Ones are on stars with extreme environments where no life can exist.

'This won't work...damn, I'll have to replenish Ham Jin's life force later with longevity and other methods. For now, I'll modify the area using his life force...'

Just as I'm about to seriously exert my power to modify the area for human habitation,

"Is it you, the one using the Ancient Force Realm's transmission array since earlier?"

"..."

I turn around towards the voice, which appears without a trace.

This is the surface of a planet so hot that even rocks melt.

However, there stands a being unprotected by spiritual power, looking at me from atop a scorching rock.

"This is peculiar. Clearly, you're a First Step Before the Throne, but your soul came from the Ancient Force Realm. Does the Heart Tribe exist in the Ancient Force Realm as well?"

It is none other than the green dwarf with four podaos on his back, the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One Jang Ik.

"Well, it's whatever. The important thing is not that."

Jang Ik smiles at me and draws one of the podaos from his back.

"When you meet an elder, you should greet them properly, right? Come greet me. If I like you, I might consider taking you as my 23rd disciple."