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◈ Ophidian of the Immortal World ◈

Chapter 55: Black Sect Hall

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“Actually, there is nothing particularly remarkable about the Black Sect Hall. Anyone on the Human Race’s side who knows anything already knows this story.”

Gwak Jeongsin seemed to ponder for a moment, then readily began explaining the Black Sect Hall.

“To understand the Black Sect Hall, you must first know about Black Shark Island, which they occupy.”

Black Shark Island was a spiritual land and an island situated on the boundary between the Human Race’s territory and the Demon Race’s territory.

Depending on how one drew the line on a map of Yangseo Lake, it could be considered part of either the Demon Race’s territory or the Human Race’s territory.

“Originally, it was an ownerless island that no one cared about.”

If Yangseo Lake was a smaller Azure Basket Realm, Black Shark Island was the borderland of the Two Regions.

No force on Yangseo Lake had taken an interest in such a place. Carelessly planting a flag there could provoke the Demon Race, and aside from being a spiritual land, the island had little else to offer.

“Everyone thought it would remain that way forever. Then, around seventy years ago, a Foundation Establishment Stage Rogue Cultivator named Gong Byeok-un settled there, and things changed.”

Gong Byeok-un was the current Hall Master of the Black Sect Hall.

He named the previously nameless island Black Shark Island and founded the Black Sect Hall.

At first, everyone assumed that a Rogue Cultivator tired of wandering had decided to retire, planting a flag on ownerless land without considering what came next.

They viewed the founding of the Black Sect Hall in the same light. A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator living alone did not look proper, so they thought Gong Byeok-un had gathered a few Rogue Cultivators with nowhere else to go under the pretext of taking disciples.

Yet only a few months later, the Human Race cultivators of Yangseo Lake realized Gong Byeok-un had not claimed Black Shark Island for such a simple reason.

The Black Sect Hall began selling large quantities of Fleshscale Fish.

“What are Fleshscale Fish?”

“They are fish that replenish Qi and Blood. They are popular not only among Body Cultivators, but also among cultivators whose vitality has declined with age. They are so scarce that people cannot get enough of them.”

Gwak Jeongsin added that Fleshscale Fish were not Spirit Fish, but their special effects and the difficulty of finding their schools made them more expensive than most Spirit Fish.

“Gong Byeok-un must have learned that a school of Fleshscale Fish lived not far from Black Shark Island. That is why he settled there and even founded the Black Sect Hall.”

Water banditry was merely a side business meant to establish the Black Sect Hall’s authority over the waters near Black Shark Island. Its main source of income was catching Fleshscale Fish.

‘Fleshscale Fish.’

When Jegyeong first decided to deal with the Black Sect Hall, he had considered its Foundation Establishment Stage Hall Master the most important factor.

Now, though, these Fleshscale Fish might be even more important than the Hall Master.

“Fellow Daoist Jegyeong, are you planning to attack the Black Sect Hall?”

Though it was phrased as a question, Gwak Jeongsin seemed to already know the answer.

“Yes.”

“It is dangerous. The Black Sect Hall has held an almost complete monopoly over the Fleshscale Fish supply for more than sixty years. They have accumulated great wealth, and they have built countless connections to maintain that business. If you attack them, at least three or four people will openly step forward.”

Jegyeong looked calmly at Gwak Jeongsin.

At a glance, he saw the concern in Gwak Jeongsin’s eyes, as well as the greed rising behind it.

Flinch.

Gwak Jeongsin seemed to sense it as well, giving a small shudder and straightening his posture.

“Fellow Daoist, I…”

“The supply of Fleshscale Fish will continue without interruption.”

“Pardon?”

When Jegyeong heard about the Fleshscale Fish, concern had first risen in his heart. Soon afterward, laughter burst out of him.

“I am a Water Demon.”

In truth, Jegyeong did not know whether he was truly a Water Demon, but he went ahead and claimed it anyway.

“If I want to learn where the schools are, it will not be difficult.”

Jegyeong had no way of knowing the location of a school of fish, but he did know a wise turtle that listened well.

“Even without the Black Sect Hall, I can supply Fleshscale Fish.”

“Uh…”

Gwak Jeongsin could only blink in surprise.

Then, like the experienced merchant he was, his eyes lit up.

“In that case, one major obstacle is gone. But it is still dangerous. The Black Sect Hall has spent decades building its connections.”

“Do you think those people will honor their loyalty once the Black Sect Hall is gone?”

“Of course they will not. But they will still intervene. Not for the Black Sect Hall, but for Black Shark Island.”

Jegyeong and Gwak Jeongsin met each other’s gaze.

Each had something they wanted to say, but neither intended to speak first.

After a brief silence, Jegyeong finally opened his mouth.

What he said, though, had nothing to do with what he wanted to say or what Gwak Jeongsin wanted to hear.

“You may not know this, but the ways Demon Race members like me can advance in cultivation are extremely limited.”

Jegyeong watched Gwak Jeongsin’s reaction as he continued slowly.

“If one is born with a good Bloodline, there is no need to worry about cultivation. All they have to do is accept their Bloodline inheritance. But it is different for Demon Race members whose Bloodline inheritance has run dry, or who never possessed a Bloodline to begin with. They must either find a spiritual treasure suited to them and rise in a single leap, or seek out a good environment and slowly absorb Spiritual Energy.”

“Hm.”

Gwak Jeongsin nodded gravely.

Though they belonged to different races, Gwak Jeongsin could not help becoming solemn as a cultivator when listening to such a serious discussion about the path of cultivation.

“I am telling Fellow Daoist Gwak this because I want you to know that my decision to claim this spiritual land was not made lightly. I absolutely need a spiritual land for my future path of cultivation.”

“I understand.”

Jegyeong shifted his body slightly.

After reaching the Great Demon Realm, his body had continued to grow. It had already surpassed ninety meters in length and was nearing a hundred.

Even the slightest movement from such an enormous body carried overwhelming force. With the natural presence of a Great Demon Beast added to it, even a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator nearby could not help feeling instinctively intimidated.

“I will not speak indirectly. If Fellow Daoist is willing to help me, I will naturally reward you.”

“…Very well.”

Gwak Jeongsin nodded heavily.

Seeing satisfaction in snake eyes as large as his head, Gwak Jeongsin swallowed dryly.

‘This one… is no ordinary Great Demon Beast. He must have inherited an exceptional Bloodline.’

Naturally, Gwak Jeongsin did not believe a word of Jegyeong’s complaint about the hardships faced by Demon Beasts without Bloodlines.

Even lies needed to be convincing. How was anyone supposed to react when someone held up a deer and insisted it was a horse?

That was not what mattered now.

‘If this one can supply Fleshscale Fish as the Black Sect Hall did…’

Calculations ran through Gwak Jeongsin’s mind.

With each answer he reached, his resolve grew firmer.

Once the final calculation was complete, Gwak Jeongsin spoke again.

“Could you entrust the sale of the Fleshscale Fish entirely to me?”

“If I do, what help will Fellow Daoist give me?”

“When you remove the Black Sect Hall, I will make sure not even a ripple stirs nearby.”

Jegyeong’s chilling snake eyes fixed on Gwak Jeongsin, as though weighing whether those words were true.

“I want to believe Fellow Daoist, but is that truly possible?”

“Your concern is only natural. It is not something a mere early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator can say lightly. But I am a member of the Spirit Talisman Merchant Association, as well as a member of the Gwak Family.”

“The Gwak Family?”

Caught off guard, Gwak Jeongsin could only blink.

“Um… Fellow Daoist, do you not know of the Gwak Family?”

“…Is it a famous family?”

“…”

Gwak Jeongsin had never imagined a day when he would be surprised so many times, and for entirely different reasons.

Having gained a new life experience, Gwak Jeongsin smiled.

“The Gwak Family’s ancestor is True Lord Yingfu himself.”

This time, it was Jegyeong’s turn to be surprised.

“Do not misunderstand. I said I am a member of the family, but I am from a branch of a branch family. My name barely has a place in the corner of the family register.”

Gwak Jeongsin gave a bitter smile, but his status was not as insignificant as he claimed.

Even if it was only a corner, having one’s name entered in the Gwak Family register placed enough pressure on outsiders.

“Among those who know the circumstances, I will be fortunate if I am not ridiculed. But outside the family, my name still carries some weight. My standing in the merchant association is not bad either, so you do not need to worry that I am making empty promises.”

“I was not worried. I was only curious.”

The Spirit Talisman Merchant Association held a rather unusual position on Yangseo Lake.

As a merchant association backed by a Nascent Soul True Lord, its reputation throughout the Human Race’s Cultivation World was immense. Yet it remained focused on business and rarely displayed its power.

Still, no one had the nerve to provoke the force of a Nascent Soul True Lord simply because it kept quiet, and Yangseo Lake was no different.

The Golden Sun Sect and Myeongseo Sect, Golden Core Sects that represented the Human Race on Yangseo Lake, could not treat the Spirit Talisman Merchant Association carelessly either.

Gwak Jeongsin was one of the young pillars of that association.

Therefore, if Gwak Jeongsin claimed that nothing would happen, then nothing truly would.

“This time, I will ask you. Are you confident? Gong Byeok-un, the Black Sect Hall Master, is a mid Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator. And he is not alone.”

“But he is old. I do not know whether he still has the strength to fight properly.”

Seventy years ago, Gong Byeok-un had already been old enough that people assumed he was planning to retire.

What would he be like now? Breaking through a minor realm extended one’s lifespan somewhat, but Gong Byeok-un had already been at the mid Foundation Establishment Stage seventy years ago.

“You seem confident.”

Jegyeong answered Gwak Jeongsin’s question with silence.

Confident? Of course he was. If he had not been, would he have said all this?

Still, he understood Gwak Jeongsin’s concerns.

Judging only by cultivation realm, it was like an early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator claiming confidence in facing a mid Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.

But Jegyeong was of the Demon Race.

When only combat ability was considered, Demon Race cultivators generally held the advantage over Human Race cultivators of the same realm.

Even the Human Race acknowledged this. Setting aside Innate Divine Abilities, the difference in their innate physiques was simply too great.

Of course, Human Race cultivators possessed many inheritances, such as cultivation methods and Dharma Artifacts. By using them well, they could narrow that innate gap or even surpass it.

‘But the Black Sect Hall Master is old. He may have plenty of experience, but he cannot have much real combat strength left.’

It was only an assumption based on Gong Byeok-un’s age and the fact that he had not appeared in public for a long time.

Even if his guess was wrong, it did not matter.

“I will contact you again soon.”

He had never intended to fight the Black Sect Hall Master fairly in the first place.

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