Chapter 354
'If Pythia hadn't pinpointed it, I would have completely missed it.'
The life force felt under the North Sea was extremely faint.
Had Pythia not specified its location, it was subtle enough to go unnoticed.
However, once detected, the life force emanating from there began to intensify gradually.
"We need to look below."
"Yes, I'll apply a barrier."
As Pythia moved her hand, a large protective barrier enveloped her and Seong Jihan.
Venturing beneath the sea.
'The deeper we go, the stronger the life force feels.'
Seong Jihan surveyed his surroundings as he descended to the seabed.
And moving towards the area with the strongest life force, what he found was.
'Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods....'
A representation of the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods, no larger than the palm of a hand.
Though it was the smallest rendition of the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods Seong Jihan had encountered, its completeness was beyond anything he could dare replicate.
'The degree of perfection is overwhelming just from looking at this formation.'
Merely observing the formation had Seong Jihan feeling overwhelmed.
What exactly was sealed within such a flawless sealing formation?
And even with such a powerful seal, how could life force still seep through it?
He quietly observed the symbol of the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods before speaking to Pythia.
"You mentioned earlier about visiting the place where the Martial God and Dongbang Sak met, right?"
"That was mentioned, yes..."
"Is this really the place?"
"That's...."
Swoosh.
Pythia scanned around.
The world beyond the barrier was in the middle of the seabed.
Fish were visible above them.
Could the Martial God and Dongbang Sak have met in such a place?
"Well, it seems unlikely their first meeting was here...."
"Still, seeing the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods drawn on the seafloor, it suggests there's definitely something significant here."
"I mentioned earlier that the souls of the giants had regenerated, right?"
"Yes. You mentioned Dongbang Sak ventured around to seal them."
"Yes. The souls of the giants scattered around the world... Perhaps this sealing formation is related to that?"
The Red tribe and the Great golems, who had fused with the World Tree and acquired the ability to regenerate even in soul form.
The intricate Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods drawn on the ocean floor possibly sealing them was a plausible theory.
However.
"The souls of giants... It seems there's more than just that here."
"Is that so?"
"This Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods is a perfect seal. If life force can escape through it, it implies there's a potent essence of life inside. But, would the souls of giants, even partially merged with the World Tree, emit such precise life force?"
The power of life felt even above the sea, breaking through the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods.
It seemed improbable for the souls of giants to exhibit such presence, even having merged with the World Tree.
"Yeah... Unless it was the World Tree itself."
"...The World Tree?"
"The World Tree Alliance mentioned planting one on Earth. Where is this tree located?"
"That's...."
Swoosh.
Pythia's gaze inadvertently shifted to the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods on the ground.
'If not only the souls of giants but even the World Tree itself is within....'
Then it would explain the refined life force emanating despite the perfect sealing formation.
"We should take a closer look."
"Be, be careful."
Swoosh.
Seong Jihan knelt to inspect the formation more closely.
Then,
[The Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams.]
As Dongbang Sak's voice echoed, a new sealing formation began to form over the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods.
At first glance similar to the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods, yet entirely different, the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams was drawn.
[Open the formation.]
Upon opening the formation.
Whooooosh!
"Ah...!"
Seong Jihan and Pythia were sucked in without a chance to resist.
* * *
"Ah, be more careful, will you...!"
"I didn't do anything. Just now."
"True, we got sucked in before touching anything. But this place..."
Swoosh.
Pythia looked around.
A single massive tree extended high into the sky, with the ground around enveloped in greenery.
"Behind the tree... there's a large lake. The interior of a sealing formation is unexpectedly peaceful."
"Yes. But this tree..."
Thud. Thud.
Seong Jihan slowly walked towards the towering tree.
An exceptionally large tree.
Identifying the essence of this tree, brimming with life force, became apparent through.
[Your 'Eternity' stat increases by 1.]
A system message quickly shed light on the situation.
"Is this the World Tree planted on Earth?"
Just being close to the tree saw life force gravitating towards Seong Jihan.
His Eternity stat, which had been stationary at 2, increased by 1 simply by nearing the tree.
"Is this the World Tree? Hmm... If it is, I'm not feeling the World Tree's unique vitality that strongly."
"Not feeling the vitality? I've already gained 1 stat."
"Eh? Really? Maybe because this isn't my original body... I'm not sure."
Pythia tilted her head, tapping Sophia's body lightly.
Then,
"We have a visitor."
Swoosh...
By the lakeside, a person started walking slowly towards them.
Holding a bamboo fishing rod over his shoulder, an old man with a white beard hanging long.
His face was familiar to the two of them.
"Dongbang Sak?"
"Dongbang Sak? Who's that?"
"What do you mean? That's your name."
"What nonsense. I am Kang Sang."
"Kang Sang?"
"Dongbang Sak's original name. Grand Duke Kang Sang."
[PR/N: Dongbang Sak's og name has been inspired from Jiang Ziya.]
Hearing that, Seong Jihan blinked.
Grand Duke Kang Sang.
He didn't know much about him but had some superficial knowledge.
"Isn't that person... a military strategist for the state of Zhou? Not a martial artist."
"Yes. Also the protagonist of the Fēngshén Yǎnyì."
[PR/N: The Investiture of the Gods/ Fengshen Yanyi/ Fengshen Bang is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major vernacular Chinese works in the gods and demons genre written during the Ming dynasty.]
Whisper whisper.
As Pythia whispered this in his ear, having Dongbang Sak right in front of them,
Dongbang Sak stroked his beard, his eyes twinkling.
"That colored-eyed woman gave me a strange name. What kind of colored-eye person is so fluent in our language? ...Are you related to that monster?"
"The monstrous entity?"
"That tree."
Swoosh.
Dongbang Sak pointed at the World Tree with his fishing rod.
"The root of all trouble, incessantly emitting vitality, causing the head ghosts to resurrect."
"Are you speaking of the giants' heads?"
"Giants... indeed. You too are here for that monstrosity, aren't you?"
"No, we had no business with it until...."
[Your 'Eternity' stat increases by 1.]
Seong Jihan noticed the system message and slightly curved his lips.
"Perhaps now we do."
Being near the World Tree had already increased his Eternity stat by 2.
Seeing the void within him rapidly expand, he attempted to control it.
'This level of control is manageable. Up to about 10 for Eternity now should be fine.'
Having grown much since acquiring Eternity for the first time, Seong Jihan was able to somewhat suppress the collision between the two.
He hadn't figured out how to grow the stat until now.
Might as well increase it while he had the chance.
As Seong Jihan stood there, absorbing the energy of the World Tree, Dongbang Sak observed him with half-closed eyes.
"Ho, absorbing the monstrosity's vitality... And even taking its essence. The tree's emitting vitality has weakened. If this continues, the head ghosts won't resurrect attached to the monstrosity."
"Is that so? Then I'll take all the tree's vitality, and you can continue fishing, elder."
"No, that can't be allowed."
Whirlik!
The fishing line wrapped around the rod, transforming it suddenly into a bamboo staff.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
As Dongbang Sak twirled it lightly with a finger, he thrust it towards Seong Jihan.
"If you take its vitality, it will surely cause another conflict elsewhere. This monstrosity needs to be sealed in its original form."
"Are you intending to use force?"
"Yes. Until you've expelled all that vitality you're holding."
Had he sensed the Eternity within him as well?
Seong Jihan furrowed his brow.
He had heard from Pythia about Dongbang Sak's strength, but not to the extent that he could instantly discern this power.
'Truly a monster.'
That was what Seong Jihan thought as he ignited his Eclipse.
Seeing this, Dongbang Sak's complexion brightened.
"Oh! Good, resist me! This will be fun!"
Woosh!
A staff strike coming in a straight line.
Although it seemed straightforward, the nuisances I contained were not simple.
'Is this... the Crimson Divinity technique?'
The Crimson Divinity Technique demonstrated by Dongbang Sak when he had descended in the body of the Taiwanese player, a fierce technique that had annihilated Seong Jihan's body countless times.
The ferocity of the martial art now exhibited by him was far more formidable than when used by the mere player Heo Wook.
The staff, slicing through the void, was now seemingly oppressing the entire world.
Yet,
'The proficiency of the martial art, on the contrary, was more refined when executed through Heo Wook's body.'
Woosh!
The confident movement of Eclipse.
Boom! Boom!
Though the staff and sword never directly clashed, they caused countless explosions in the void.
"Ho..."
Dongbang Sak's face was painted with intrigue.
And his figure vanished from in front of Seong Jihan.
"Then take this!"
An onslaught enveloping Seong Jihan from all sides with the staff.
It seemed the space was entirely dominated, but,
Creeeak...!
The staff couldn't penetrate the domain commanded by Seong Jihan's Martial Soul to the end.
'This Dongbang Sak... Significantly weaker than the original Dongbang Sak.'
After just two clashes, Seong Jihan realized it.
The Dongbang Sak before him,
Or Kang Sang, was vastly different from the original Constellation.
Merely by the possessed power alone, Seong Jihan's martial prowess was superior.
'I should try to subdue him here, then.'
Starting with the easier opponent, Kang Sang, would prepare him to later face the Constellation himself.
Seong Jihan thus decided and began to press him earnestly.
The battle that ensued was,
"Oh, unexpected..."
Seemingly, a clear advantage was on Seong Jihan's side.
Whirlwhirl...
The bamboo staff burning in flames.
Beard singed, Kang Sang's body was covered in injuries.
In contrast, Seong Jihan's body remained unblemished.
Even a child could easily discern who had the upper hand.
However,
'No effective strikes.'
Seong Jihan frowned.
The disparity in strength turned out to be even more overwhelming than expected.
The combat environment was extremely favorable to him.
Nevertheless, Dongbang Sak, solely relying on martial arts, was enduring against him thoroughly.
And the initially incomplete Crimson Divinity Technique,
"Good. Good! I've learned more today than from ten years of fishing!"
Started to dazzanlingly progress after dueling with Seong Jihan.
In just about ten minutes,
Kang Sang was closely nearing the proficiency of the Crimson Divinity Technique displayed when he used Heo Wook's body.
[Your 'Eternity' stat increases by 1.]
'I've gained 3 in Eternity since coming here...'
The situation of a hard-to-increase stat naturally rising just by being near the World Tree was, according to the system window, fantastic, but Seong Jihan tasted bitterness.
No matter how strongly he pressed, he couldn't deal effective damage to Kang Sang.
If things continued this way,
He might even be overtaken by Kang Sang, who was rapidly advancing, and eventually subdued.
'Could this not be the Martial God...?'
Why Dongbang Sak received such monstrous acclaim became achingly clear as Seong Jihan battled Kang Sang.
Even with the advantage in power on his side, the situation was like this; how would it be when facing the Constellation Dongbang Sak?
Within the strokes of the bamboo staff,
He eerily recalled Seong Jihans, trapped within the Taiji's Lost Soul.
It seemed like that future might befall him too.
Unable to determine the outcome after a prolonged 10-minute duel,
"Pity. Is this the end now?"
Swoosh.
Kang Sang, who had been engrossed in battle, retreated.
Then,
"As much as I'd like to duel more, pursuing my pleasure would let the giants resurrect... Now, be properly sealed."
Whirlik!
The bamboo staff softened, transforming into a whip.
"Final Limit."
Tap!
As the whip, now squirming oddly, moved,
The world encasing Seong Jihan cracked.
"Farewell."
Crack!
Like breaking glass, the world started vanishing.
And as the world disintegrated,
[You are being sealed by the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams....]
[Seal attempt on an unsealable entity.]
[Expelled from the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams.]
Seong Jihan found himself, once more, outside,
His body returned to the outer seabed.