Han Cheong-yu and the other workers were granted permission to enter Black Flood Dragon Island, but the area they could access was restricted to the spirit rice fields.
Even with this restriction, the fields were far too vast for fewer than ten people to manage, so they had no time to spare any attention for the areas beyond the restricted zone.
For several days now, they had been casting the Spiritual Rain Technique until their minds and bodies were completely exhausted, yet a large portion of the ashen land remained.
"Hoo."
Han Cheong-yu cast the Spiritual Rain Technique one last time, sprinkling rain over the scorched earth. Squeezing out his spiritual energy to its very limit, he felt as if his soul was shriveling. It was distinctly different from simple exhaustion.
No matter how many times he repeated this unpleasant experience, he could never get used to it.
"Tired?"
"Of course, I am."
What kind of question was that? Just today, how many times had he used the Spiritual Rain Technique...
'Huh?'
But whose voice was that? His companions should all be in their own sections, diligently making it rain. Besides, this voice sounded unfamiliar.
"Huh?"
When the bewildered Han Cheong-yu raised his head, he saw a large crow. The creature was staring at him blankly, and its appearance was quite... human-like.
"Hmm... you don't look that tired."
The crow tilted its head from side to side as if contemplating something.
"You're weak."
* After letting Han Cheong-yu and the others onto Black Flood Dragon Island, Jaekyung had kept his divine sense unfurled, monitoring them the entire time. That was how he noticed Cheong-o, who had been loitering around the spirit rice fields, finally approach Han Cheong-yu. 'He held back for quite a while.'
Cheong-o had shown curiosity from the moment Han Cheong-yu and the other workers first set foot on the island. To have waited this long was a considerable display of patience.
Crunch!
After confirming that Cheong-o had not harmed Han Cheong-yu, Jaekyung withdrew his divine sense and once again popped two spirit stones into his mouth and chewed. With a slight exertion of force, the two lowest-grade spirit stones turned to dust and went down his throat.
'Hmm.'
A single stream of spiritual energy, neither large nor dense, seeped into his spirit and flesh. Jaekyung focused and contemplated the subtle flow. This was a hobby and a form of Cultivation he had started recently.
He was observing how the spiritual energy from spirit stones influenced his molting. 'Was it too little?' The flow of spiritual energy seeping into his spirit and flesh was cut off.
No, it would be more accurate to say it had faded. It had become so faint that his senses could no longer observe its flow. Jaekyung clicked his tongue and put more spirit stones in his mouth.
This time, there were four.
'Not easy.'
Even though he had doubled the number of spirit stones, the result was similar. He could observe the flow of spiritual energy for a little longer, but it didn't make much of a difference. 'The efficiency seems to be a bit low.'
Observing the minuscule flow of spiritual energy required immense concentration. His head would throb after just one observation session. For this reason, this training was limited to twice, at most three times a day.
Even then, his concentration would drop significantly from the second time onward, making it necessary to consume double the spirit stones, just like now, to be able to observe anything. 'Still, it's much better than when I first started.' Looking at the results so far, this was more like training to strengthen his concentration and contemplation abilities.
Jaekyung himself could feel that his observational skills were improving, albeit slightly.
Crunch!
After chewing and eating eight spirit stones for the last time, Jaekyung scowled and got up a moment later. His insides felt stuffy, and his head felt like it would split. He wanted to go outside and catch his breath.
Thump!
Jaekyung left the island immediately. He wasn't worried about the errand boys left on the island. Even if he was away, Cheong-o and Mook-soo were there.
What could a few early Qi Refining Stage cultivators possibly do? * While he was out, Jaekyung patrolled the water territory for a few days. His rough handling of a few Great Spirit Beasts before seemed to have been effective, as there were almost no creatures snooping around lately.
On very rare occasions, some obviously foolish ones would wander over, but a moderate threat was enough to make them turn tail and flee.
'Huh?'
On the fifth day after leaving the island. Just as he was thinking of heading back, Jaekyung sensed an energy rapidly approaching from a distance and tensed up. It was a Great Spirit Beast.
However, its speed and the size of its energy were on a completely different level from the ones he had seen before. 'Mid-stage Great Spirit stage?
Or late-stage?'
For a moment, Jaekyung debated whether to flee, but he soon realized such a thought was meaningless. The approaching Great Spirit Beast was faster than him, and it was heading straight for him. Even if he turned to flee right now, it would surely catch up to him in no time.
'How did it find me?' He was clearly using the Aura Concealment Art.
'Damn it.'
Jaekyung desperately racked his brain. Should he fight? If there was no other way, he would have to, but for now, he needed to remain calm.
The opponent seemed to have sought him out intentionally, so it must have a purpose. 'Is it after the spiritual wisdom? No. If that were the case, the Black Shark Gang would have been gone long ago.
Then did it come specifically for me?' His thoughts didn't last long. The opponent approached in an instant, and soon Jaekyung could see its form with his naked eyes.
The opponent was a seahorse-like aquatic spirit beast. It had four eyes, and its tail extended long, split into three prongs. Befitting a Great Spirit Beast, its body was abnormally large, but compared to Jaekyung, it was of a rather ordinary size.
Overall, its appearance wasn't particularly special. However, contrary to its appearance, the energy it exuded was extremely powerful. The moment Jaekyung first saw it, he was reminded of the Old Mountain-Picking Demon.
That overwhelming presence that had made his spirit feel crushed just from a brief glance back then... 'It doesn't seem to be quite on that level, but...' Jaekyung couldn't tell whether this seahorse's realm was similar to the Old Mountain-Picking Demon's or not.
Because back then, he was a mere spirit beast, but now, he was a Great Spirit Beast. When one's position changes, one is bound to see the same thing differently. But even taking that into account, this seahorse was truly extraordinary.
Just as he was observing the seahorse, the seahorse was also observing him as it slowly approached, its movements so natural it seemed to be one with the water.
'That fellow.'
Jaekyung thought the seahorse's attitude was quite cautious. Its approach and its watchful gaze were laced with prudence and caution. This demeanor seemed quite familiar to Jaekyung.
'Did this one also mistake me for a flood dragon?' At that moment, Jaekyung relaxed his tense body and mustered his confidence. He narrowed his eyes and slightly bared his teeth.
His flood dragon act, which had become as natural as breathing, unfolded. The effect of his soul-infused performance was immediate. The seahorse's attitude became even more cautious, and hesitation flickered in its four eyes.
The two faced each other, maintaining a slight distance. Jaekyung displayed a bit of ferocity and arrogance as he scanned the seahorse's entire body up and down. The seahorse, perhaps uncomfortable with his gaze, shifted its body back slightly.
"Ahem. I am Mak-gye of the Whale King Palace. You are..."
"Whale King Palace?"
When Jaekyung reacted to the words 'Whale King Palace', strength entered Mak-gye's voice.
"That is correct. Since you have settled in the Western Twin Lake, you must have surely heard of the Shattered Waters Whale King's esteemed name?"
"Shattered Waters Whale King..."
He almost nodded his head vigorously for a moment, but Jaekyung calmly composed his heart and continued his act. He muttered the name softly, as if searching a deeply buried memory, then answered nonchalantly as if he had just recalled it.
"I've heard of it."
"Hmph! The Shattered Waters Whale King is the master of the Whale King Palace and the king of all demon races in the Western Twin Lake."
Perhaps displeased by Jaekyung's lukewarm response, Mak-gye began to speak about the Shattered Waters Whale King with more force in his voice. His extraordinary bloodline, power, and great deeds, and so on. As if to say 'You should respect the Shattered Waters Whale King more,' Mak-gye's long-winded praise for the Shattered Waters Whale King went on for quite some time.
However, while rambling on, Mak-gye was secretly observing Jaekyung's reaction. Although Jaekyung didn't feel that furtive gaze, he never stopped his performance. Thus, all Mak-gye could see was a Great Spirit Beast that maintained a somewhat cold and sullen attitude even while hearing stories of a Demon King.
'This fellow...'
Mak-gye's mind grew complicated. When he first heard about the appearance of the Black Flood Dragon, he dismissed it as a baseless rumor. Even as the story continued to circulate, he had scorned it as nonsense spread by the ignorant.
So, even when he was directly ordered to come and confirm it this time, he had inwardly grumbled about being assigned a pointlessly troublesome task... 'Is it really a flood dragon?' He knew a fair amount about flood dragons but had never seen one in person.
Perhaps that was why he couldn't be certain, even with the creature right in front of him. Its realm was too low for a flood dragon, and the pressure he felt was too faint. It was large, but how many creatures were there who were all show and no substance?
Looking at it from every angle, this fellow was too lacking to be called a flood dragon. But to say it wasn't a flood dragon... at a glance, it had a rather extraordinary quality. Not just its appearance, but something different from ordinary Great Spirit Beasts... something hard to explain.
Whether to call it an atmosphere or a disposition, something was different. 'And that insolent attitude.' How dare it show such a defiant attitude upon hearing the Whale King's name.
If anyone else had shown such behavior, he would have taught them a lesson right away, but with this fellow, he didn't feel like it. In fact, he even felt a little hesitant. 'It definitely seems weaker than me.'
Mak-gye had an innate ability. It was the ability to sense an opponent's power, which he could utilize in various ways. Wide-range detection, gauging an opponent's strength, and so on.
Mak-gye's combat ability wasn't particularly outstanding for his realm, but thanks to this ability, he had lived a safe life until now. He avoided strong opponents and fought weak ones, so he never found himself in danger. But now, for the first time in his life, Mak-gye was doubting his innate ability.
He couldn't tell if the Great Spirit Beast before him was a flood dragon or not, and he couldn't even determine if it was stronger or weaker than himself. Having never had such an experience before, his bewilderment was all the greater.
"How... should I address you?"
"You can call me Jaekyung... um, you may."
He answered condescendingly, looking down, but slightly changed his tone at the end. Mak-gye realized that this change was directed at the Shattered Waters Whale King, not at himself. In other words, the opponent didn't consider him of much importance.
Despite being ignored to his face, Mak-gye did not feel angry. His attitude became even more cautious.
"Are you... by any chance, a member of the Holy Race?"
At Mak-gye's careful question, this time it was Jaekyung's mind that grew complicated.
'Holy Race? What's that?'
Jaekyung was flustered but didn't show it. After a brief moment of thought, he nonchalantly continued his act.
"I do not know."
"Pardon?"
"I have been alone since I was born. Therefore, I do not know what this Holy Race you speak of is, nor whether I am one of them."
This was an act, but at the same time, it was the truth. One who speaks the truth is confident. Jaekyung was no different.