Chapter 476 - 476 (1/2)
Su-hyeun's energy reserve that was running nearly empty only a second ago was rapidly being refilled.
No, wait—it went beyond simply filling up back at this point. Not only was it overflowing, but even the container itself was threatening to burst at the seams.
He was still unable to control the energy he had sucked up through Predation fully. The Bull Demon King's Dao energy was far too strong to do that, but there was also Su-hyeun's low proficiency with the Predation skill to consider.
As such, there was only one way left at this stage.
”All this Dao energy I have absorbed, I must—!”
Wuuuuong—!
The interior of the boulder began vibrating viciously.
The two streams of the same energy flowed in opposing directions. As the two streams collided, Su-hyeun sent in a small amount of flame into the collision spot.
When he did that...
Rumble—!
The powerful energy circulating within the boulder became fuel for the necessary ignition.
And then...
BOOM, Ka-boooooom—!
A massive explosion went off inside the boulder.
* * *
The explosion swept across the surroundings and even reached the Bull Demon King not too far away.
The Bull Demon King spread a barrier of winds before him to contain the explosion. He then slammed his Mixed Iron Rod on the ground to overturn the earth, using it as a secondary layer of protection for himself. However, all of those barriers were still swept aside by the explosion, in the end, crumbling to nothingness in an instant.
He had no choice but to endure the remaining ripples of the explosion with his own body. His brows shot up high at this spectacular level of heat he had never experienced before in his entire life, and he muttered helplessly, ”Little brother...”
The inside of his head blanked out at that moment.
While he was briefly stuck in hesitation, that one thing he was most worried about ended up happening for real.
He might not have willed it to happen, but even so, the compacted rocks and the Dao energy circulating within became the necessary fuel for the explosion.
That boulder was something he created by spending around half of all of his Dao energy reserve. Such an amount was used to cause an explosion, so it wouldn't have been strange to see at least half of the forest disappear from the face of the planet.
No, wait—if the Bull Demon King hadn't used the Palm Leaf to contain the explosion, then this could have become an even bigger catastrophe.
Cough, wheeze—!
As he became worried about his little brother's fate, he heard someone cough their lungs out within the smoldering ruins and billowing flames.
Only one person was strong enough to survive such an explosion despite being stuck in the middle of it. The Bull Demon King's eyes, which had no focus to speak of until then, quickly regained their composure.
”First Brother, I... really thought I was going to die just now,” Su-hyeun complained as he stepped out of the burning flames, a set of crimson ”blood” armor protecting him.
It was Kali's Blood armor, the armor set created by Hephaestus from the blood of the Predator Kali, one of the Ten Great Evils. It offered protection against heat to such a degree that the wearer could ignore most high-temperature situations.
Not only that, but the flames were created through the Dao energy Su-hyeun had absorbed in the first place, so they did not significantly affect him. The only damage he had incurred was some charring from the remaining heat that couldn't be fully kept away.
”In that case, why did you do something that reckless?” the Bull Demon King asked.
”Were you worried about me, First Brother?”
”Of course.”
”I think we should stop here.”
The Bull Demon King didn't make a reply.
Clack—
Su-hyeun sheathed his sword. Even the blood armor covering his figure seeped back under his regular armor.
In other words, he was in a completely defenseless state.
And shortly afterward...
”You're right. It is time for us to stop,” the Bull Demon King finally said, also putting away his Mixed Iron Rod. He then raised his head.
His whole body was soaked in sweat. Compared to Su-hyeun, who was charred black from top to bottom, he certainly looked to be in a much better state, but even so, the Bull Demon King had to acknowledge the truth.
There was no point in continuing this fight. He was too exhausted now; he was no longer in a state good enough to continue fighting.
”You have gotten stronger, little brother.”
Su-hyeun had finally reached the Bull Demon King's level where he could protect his siblings. On this level, he could ably take on his First Brother's role in his absence.
”Were you planning to do this from the beginning, First Brother?”
The Bull Demon King froze for a moment at Su-hyeun's question.
Su-hyeun continued before a reply could come his way, ”Surely, you could have ended it just now, couldn't you? Normally, there's no reason for you to try and contain the explosion itself, either.”
”...”
”From the very beginning, winning or losing didn't matter to you. Am I wrong?”
The Bull Demon King didn't reply to Su-hyeun's questions for a long time.
He simply kept his eyes closed and opened them after some time to take in the skies peeking through the black smoke plumes. ”I have been delaying it until now,” he said.
”Delaying it, you say?”
”I could have ascended at any time I wanted, but I did not, all because I have made a choice.”
The Bull Demon King had already reached that state of ascension to the realm of the divine eons ago. He could've become a god at any time he wished. He could even get rid of his lingering attachment, too, if that were what he willed.
”I was planning to ascend after today. Even so, I wanted to see it for myself first.”
”I'm guessing that you meant me?”
”Well, uncle did a wonderful job of confirming Wukong's level, after all. As for the Roc Demon King, he has been living in harmony with the villagers for a while now. The remaining matter that worried me the most was you, little brother,” the Bull Demon King's eyes now shifted over to Su-hyeun. The Yogoe, who seemed to be smiling faintly, began walking away, ”Still, now I can rest easy.”
Shu-ruru...
Whitish smoke suddenly wafted around just as the Bull Demon King's figure began growing fainter.
He had finally let go of all his lingering attachments and regrets.
Su-hyeun once heard about this. The moment one ascended to the realm of a Taoist God, for a brief moment, one's physical self would ”vanish” and become wisps of smoke.
It was the process of shedding one's mortal coil and reconstructing one's physical body and mind.
Finally, the Bull Demon King's ascension had begun for real.
”What are you doing, not coming along already?” the Bull Demon King urged Su-hyeun, who had been standing there in a daze, to follow. ”It is time to say goodbye, after all.”
Step, step...
The Bull Demon King then began walking forward alone, perhaps believing that Su-hyeun would start following very soon. However, the latter found it rather challenging to do that right away. He was scared of going with his First Brother only to deal with their farewell.
[You have passed the 202nd floor's trial.]
[You have acquired 1,000,000,000 achievement points.]
[Strength has risen by one.]
[Magic Energy has risen by o...]
[...]
A trial had been cleared—it was a message that always managed to perk up his mood.
But for some reason, the significance behind the message rather than its contents bothered him much more today.
The fact that the trial was now over, it could only mean...
”It means he's made up his mind.”
Step—
Su-hyeun quietly began following behind his First Brother. Even though he wanted to delay their parting, he couldn't let his brothers wait for him forever.
* * *
By the time they reached the hut, the Bull Demon King's figure had become about half-transparent.
The Roc Demon King sitting on Sun Wukong hurriedly got up. The Monkey King loosened his numb, aching body and welcomed their First Brother, ”You guys are back!”
Tap, tap...
Sun Wukong quickly dusted himself off and then said, ”Please hurry and come inside. I don't think there is much time left, anyway.”
The Bull Demon King replied, ”Alright.”
Neither Sun Wukong nor the Roc Demon King looked too saddened by what was about to happen.
Su-hyeun and the Bull Demon King heeded Sun Wukong's recommendation and stepped inside the cramped house once more.
Since Sun Wukong was relatively poor at brewing tea, as usual, the Roc Demon King was tasked with bringing out four cups of tea.
It was the same tea that the Bull Demon King usually enjoyed.
Driiip...
The Bull Demon King accepted the teacup the Roc Demon King had handed over.
Su-hyeun always found occasions like this uncomfortable. He thought that the brothers would at least start shedding some tears, but for some reason, both Sun Wukong and the Roc Demon King didn't act any differently from their usual selves.
Since they weren't crying, Su-hyeun certainly could not start shedding tears, either.
Unable to say anything, he simply had to keep his mouth shut. And as this silence continued...
”You know, I have also lived for a long time,” the Roc Demon King was the first to break the silence, ”but even now, I'm still too immature, I guess. I thought I'd be used to it by now, but even so, I find it extremely difficult to say goodbye this time.”
After saying that, he brought the teacup to his lips.
Sun Wukong silently nodded in agreement. And their actions reminded Su-hyeun of something somewhat belatedly. He remembered just how old this trio of Yogoes was.
He couldn't even imagine just how many goodbyes they must've said during their long lives and all those events and experiences they must've lived through.
”Hey, Fourth Brother, are you alright?” Right now, it seemed that Sun Wukong was more worried about Su-hyeun.
Su-hyeun felt his tears well up, but he held back. Just like the other two, he nodded with the most composed, unmoved expression he could pull off, ”Yes, I'm fine.”