Chapter 1036: The Divine Tree and the Master.

The Dragon Emperor, no, the Blood Demon, was sealed by the Master of Myriad Realms. The words buried themselves in my ears.

What does that even mean?

‘That happened?’

If so, when did it happen? If he was sealed.

‘Was it before the Blood Demon came to the Central Plains, or after?’

The timing was important. If the Blood Demon was sealed.

‘It means he invaded the Central Plains while sealed.’

I don’t know what kind of seal it was, but whatever it was, it definitely had a negative effect on the Blood Demon.

If he invaded the Central Plains even in that state.

‘…What kind of monster is he?’

It also meant I couldn’t even grasp the Blood Demon’s original strength.

That’s a bit problematic.

‘I’m not there yet.’

I had reached transcendence and far surpassed my previous life’s level, but I was still weak.

I still didn’t have the sense that I could fight and win against Old Man Shin.

Yet, several such individuals gathered to face the Blood Demon.

And even that was when he was sealed?

“That’s ridiculous.”

It really was ridiculous. So much so that it slipped out of my voice involuntarily.

I said, glaring at the leader.

“Sealed? What are you talking about? Explain it in detail.”

I drew upon my demonic energy again. The energy gripped the leader’s neck.

“Keuk!”

The leader let out a groan.

“Kreuu…….”

I could see him struggling against the demonic energy. Seeing that, I put strength into my heart.

Kkuuuuk–!!!

Following my will, the demonic energy intensified the force applied to the leader.

It was amazing that he could withstand even this much. As I kept applying more and more force.

“……The Dragon Emperor broke the rules.”

The leader began to speak again.

“Rules?”

“One must not interfere with other realms without the world’s permission. He broke that law…… That’s why the Master intervened.”

Not interfering with other realms without permission. I nodded at those words.

Who gives permission here? Something came to mind regarding that.

‘The world.’

The world.

Or perhaps, the universe.

An unknown will that arbitrarily carves laws into the world and tries to move as it pleases.

The fact that it implanted the destiny of becoming a master in me through my mother.

And the Blood Demon’s invasion of the Central Plains were all because of that so-called will.

But.

‘It doesn’t even allow that kind of entity to invade other places without its permission?’

Was it my mother who moved to stop that? Did the Dragon Emperor lose and get sealed after clashing with my mother?

So.

‘Is that why he mentioned the destruction of the Dragon Realm?’

The fact that the small folk, who were under the dragons’ rule, were freed and came to Myriad Realms. The fact that the Dragon Realm, led by the Dragon Emperor, perished and there were no more dragons.

And the reason I felt there were many who particularly hated such dragons.

‘Because the Dragon Emperor repeatedly invaded other realms.’

Was it because many worlds were ruined as a result?

If so, another question arises.

‘Then.’

Why send the Dragon Emperor, who broke such laws, to the Central Plains?

I couldn’t understand.

Moreover.

“Then, is the reason you hate dragons also because dragons did something in your world?”

When I asked if that was why the leader particularly disliked dragons, his body swelled momentarily.

Kugugung-!!!

A killing intent mixed with hatred materialized and burst forth.

“Kreuu…….”

“…….”

It seemed my guess was correct.

‘I see.’

That guy isn’t from the Moonlit Clan. The fact that he wasn’t originally a native species of Myriad Realms means he was brought here by Myriad Realms’ generosity from another realm.

For Myriad Realms to show generosity here.

‘His world must have been destroyed.’

A world that vanished as its master died. Do those who die like that head to the abyss?

Some of them come to the surface of Myriad Realms. The leader must have been among them.

I don’t care what he did in his world, nor what his world was like.

What matters anyway is.

‘That his world was destroyed by dragons.’

And that he harbors deep hatred for dragons because of it.

“……Dragons must disappear.”

Chijijijijik—!!!

“Keuk! Dragons……!”

The demonic energy, unable to merely exert force, dug into his skin, causing pain.

Even amidst that, he spewed his hatred at me without reservation.

“Hmm.”

I could feel the suppression loosening. He was resisting with the intent to discard his own body.

Ududuk-!

His joints creaked and his skin tore. Though weakened, his immortality allowed him to regenerate repeatedly.

He was barely holding on like that, but.

‘The sun will rise soon.’

If the sun rises, he won’t be able to use his powers anymore, but.

‘If I leave him like this.’

It was obvious the leader wouldn’t stop. Leaving him be, I didn’t know what he might do.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue and tightened my grip.

I smashed my fist into his jaw.

Kung-!!

The impact exploded, vibrating the rocky terrain. It was a rather strong blow, as I figured ordinary strength wouldn’t harm him.

“Keuk!”

The fellow groaned and his massive frame collapsed onto the ground.

He seemed to have lost consciousness. Seeing that, I immediately placed my hand on his chest.

Ung-!!

My energy burrowed into him. It was demonic energy that I had filtered and filtered thoroughly.

I injected it into his body.

‘Find it.’

I searched for the source of his energy.

‘It’s not the dantian.’

He became human, but it seemed only in appearance. Unlike humans, the center of his energy wasn’t in his dantian.

That means.

‘The heart?’

I redirected the flow of energy towards his heart.

‘That’s it.’

His energy was bound not to his dantian, but to his heart. I injected demonic energy there.

Given his immortal power, he’d regain consciousness soon anyway.

I used demonic energy to buy more time before that happened.

‘Using a domain might have unknown consequences, so just demonic energy for now.’

I didn’t know what would happen if I completely blocked his powers, and the duration effect weakens the farther I get.

So, I forcefully injected demonic energy to prevent his consciousness from awakening.

Additionally.

Seuueu-!!

I focused power into his heart and emitted threads of a spell. I scattered them meticulously around.

This was an application based on the spell spread across the Spirit Beast Cave.

I didn’t know if it would work, and it was my first time trying, but.

‘I can do this.’

I felt certainty. Certainty that I could succeed.

Driven by that certainty, I used the spell.

Ttak!

With a sound like something intertwining, the world changed.

It was shaped as if covered in rock.

The inside was invisible from the outside.

‘It worked.’

I succeeded. The range wasn’t that large, barely enough to cover the leader’s body, but it wasn’t bad.

I removed my hand from him and stood up.

Seuueu.

I emerged from the created space.

The timing was good. The sky was gradually brightening.

‘Hmm.’

It depends on the amount of demonic energy, but probably for two hours. The leader wouldn’t wake up for that long.

Including the time it takes for immortality not to manifest would make it longer, but I didn’t factor that in.

‘Two hours.’

That’s not bad.

Thinking that, I took my leave.

---

I returned to the Spirit Beast Cave. With the jewels absorbed into my body, finding my way was much easier than before.

By this time, the night had completely retreated, and day had arrived.

As I arrived and moved forward, the people within the Spirit Beast Cave came into view. I saw some who weren’t visible when I first arrived.

‘No, that’s not right. It’s more like I can feel them now.’

Normally, unlike at night, I could feel the presence of everyone in the Spirit Beast Cave during the day, but.

‘There were some I couldn’t feel.’

Compared to before, when I couldn’t sense presences if they were inside buildings or hidden from view.

‘Now, I can feel them all.’

Unlike before, I could sense the presence of everyone in the Spirit Beast Cave.

It must mean the spell surrounding the area had completely dissipated.

Sensing this, I took a step forward. The scenery shifted, and I flew right up to the lake.

“Huk!”

“Hwik!”

The people around startled upon seeing me suddenly appear. I moved forward without concern.

The sacred tree by the lake.

It was where the sacred tree stood, now stripped of its black bark and just a tree.

Beneath it, a woman was slumped down.

It was Yeongryeong.

“Ah……”

She reacted upon seeing me. Though she wore a veil, I sensed the lack of strength in her eyes.

“Gwi-in……”

“You look pathetic, don’t you?”

“…….”

“Everything turned out the way you wanted, so why are you acting like this?”

What Yeongryeong had wished for. To escape the leader, to release everything bound in the Spirit Beast Cave.

She wished for it, and yet.

“Now that it’s resolved, does it feel… wrong?”

“…….”

The surrounding spell had dissipated. The jewels she held had seeped into my body.

Even if the leader didn’t die, it’s doubtful he can function as a general anymore.

If this is the case.

“Isn’t it freedom?”

Perhaps freedom had come to the Spirit Beast Cave. I tried saying that, but.

“…….”

Yeongryeong didn’t answer.

Seeing that, I chuckled. Because I could guess why she was acting like that.

“You said you wanted to escape so badly. Now that you’ve truly escaped, you don’t know what to do?”

“…….”

Perhaps the problem was the severed connection with her master.

I knew exactly what that feeling was.

Freed from bondage, now that she was free.

Having lived bound her whole life, she didn’t know what to do next.

That was me.

Just as I was about to say something seeing that.

Chiiiiiiik–!!

“Huh?”

A sound came from beside me. What was that noise? I turned my head.

Uuuuuung-!

“What the……?”

The air was tearing apart. A rift suddenly formed. What is it?

‘A demonic mirror gate……?’

Or perhaps the rift that sent soldiers to the leader?

But it didn’t feel dangerous like that.

Still, just in case, I prepared to be cautious, but.

“Ah.”

“……Huh?”

The one who emerged from the rift was none other than Cheonma.

“You……”

“Hi.”

“Where did you come from…… No, what? You……”

I said, my voice filled with confusion.

“……You could open rifts?”

“Huh?”

At my words, Cheonma tilted his head, then nodded shortly after.

“Yeah.”

You could do that? I said, my eyes trembling.

“Then why didn’t you say anything?”

At my words, Cheonma frowned slightly and said.

“You didn’t ask.”

Ah……

At that, I ran my hand down my face.

It was annoying, but true.