Ophidian of the Immortal World - Chapter 76

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: WeTried Translations

◈ Ophidian of the Immortal World ◈

Chapter 76: Exchange

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After obtaining a Dharma-Restraining Artifact from Gwak Jeongsin, Jegyeong released the two Foundation Establishment cultivators' twin children as promised.

“Thank you.”

Watching their children leave safely, Seomuso and Yang Yuwan no longer seemed to have any lingering attachments.

They appeared to have some idea of what awaited them.

They had likely imagined every possible outcome from the moment they were defeated and captured, and had eventually resigned themselves to it.

Neither asked any questions.

Like candles with their wicks burned down, they did nothing but breathe.

Jegyeong had Cheongo watch over them.

Injured and with their Dharma Power sealed, even a single early Qi Refining cultivator could have kept them completely under control. Cheongo might have been somewhat weaker in battle than Demon Race cultivators of the same realm, but Cheongo was still a Demon Beast. That was more than enough to guard them.

‘Still, I should be prepared for anything.’

It was not that he distrusted Cheongo.

Those two Foundation Establishment cultivators were the most valuable treasures he currently possessed, so he had to keep them as securely as possible. It would be troublesome if they tried to bite their tongues in despair.

“Leave it to me.”

Han Cheongyu spoke stiffly, his tone full of genuine resolve. He would have looked more convincing if a large crow had not been perched on his head, preening its feathers.

“...All right. Guard them well.”

Before leaving, Jegyeong went to see Muk-su.

Muk-su had been forced to flee the island when Seomuso and Yang Yuwan attacked, and the Wood Demon was still in a foul mood. Jegyeong wondered whether taking a brief dip in the water was really worth getting so angry over, but it might have been different for a Wood Demon, so he did his best to placate Muk-su.

Muk-su was a goose that laid golden eggs, after all. As the island's owner, Jegyeong needed to treat Muk-su properly.

“I'll catch you a few Water Demons, so cheer up.”

Jegyeong tried to reason with Muk-su, but Muk-su was not satisfied.

Muk-su was deeply dissatisfied that Jegyeong had released the two Humans yesterday, as though they should naturally have gone to Muk-su instead.

“Don't be so greedy.”

Jegyeong was not Muk-su's caretaker, so he did not indulge every complaint. When Jegyeong spoke firmly, Muk-su seemed dejected and let its branches droop.

* * *

Black Shark Island stood on the border between Yangseo Lake's Demon Region and the Human Territories.

Even so, it lay at the very edge of that border, in an overlooked corner where no one paid attention. Human Race forces were hard to find nearby, as were Great Demon Beasts.

To find Great Demon Beasts, Jegyeong had to travel without rest for several days.

Fortunately, Hyeon-gwi had previously told him the rough locations of the nearby Spiritual Lands, so he was able to head straight there without getting lost.

“Who goes there?”

Not long after entering an unfamiliar Spiritual Land, a powerful Aura rapidly approached.

Jegyeong had expected this, so he waited where he was and assessed the other party's realm.

‘Mid Great Demon Realm, or the peak of the early stage.’

Once he had roughly judged the other party's realm, Jegyeong relaxed.

A moment later, a Great Demon Beast appeared before him.

It was an enormous fish, with a head so huge it made up nearly half its body. Most of that head was mouth, and even with its jaws closed, its grotesque teeth remained fully visible.

Jegyeong had seen all kinds of things during his second life in this world, but even he could not help thinking this creature was hideous.

“Y-you are...”

The grotesque Great Demon Beast had arrived with great momentum, but the instant it saw Jegyeong, it came to an abrupt halt as though braking sharply. Its mouth opened and closed, while its eyes, small compared to its head, darted about uneasily.

Certain that the creature had fallen into a pleasing misunderstanding, Jegyeong began his usual calm performance.

“Greetings. I am Jegyeong, a guest elder of the Dragon King Palace who resides in the Black Jiao Waters. Forgive my sudden visit.”

“Ah, well...”

He was confident and arrogant.

Even his apology sounded arrogant, carrying the clear implication that he had apologized, so the other party should understand and let it go.

“I am Daeyeong.”

“A pleasure, Daeyeong. I came to propose a trade.”

“A-a trade?”

Daeyeong's eyes began rolling about in earnest.

It seemed the giant fish head was starting to become overloaded.

“I have two Human Race Foundation Establishment cultivators who cultivated water-aspect methods. If you have anything useful, I would like to exchange them. What do you think?”

“H-Human Race Foundation Establishment cultivators?”

Clear emotions appeared on Daeyeong's large face. Greed, longing, confusion, and more.

Jegyeong leisurely watched the ever-changing expressions and waited for an answer.

“W-what sort of useful item...?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Of course, I will be the one deciding whether it is useful, not you.”

“Hmm.”

The conflict on Daeyeong's large face deepened further.

Those wandering eyes occasionally examined Jegyeong, but he met those cautious glances with a blunt stare. The big-headed Great Demon Beast flinched as if burned and became even more cautious.

“I think I've given you enough time to think. If you have no intention of trading, say so. I need to seek out others.”

“I'll trade. I will.”

When Jegyeong impatiently pressed them, Daeyeong hastily agreed.

“B-but I don't know whether I have anything useful. You can... look for yourself.”

“Of course I will.”

Daeyeong led Jegyeong to its nest.

Its body remained stiff throughout the journey, as though it feared Jegyeong might suddenly attack.

‘It's this nervous, yet it still agreed to trade. It hasn't set a trap, has it?’

That thought made Jegyeong, who had been relaxed until then, suddenly wary.

What if this seemingly foolish fish head had actually concealed some cunning scheme?

Uneasy, Jegyeong spread his Divine Sense wide and tensed himself just enough to respond to anything.

“Here it is.”

Yet when Daeyeong led him to a massive underwater cave, Jegyeong had no choice but to admit that he had been overly cautious.

There was no scheme or trick.

No other presence registered in his Divine Sense, and his Spirit Awareness detected nothing unusual.

This fish head was truly innocent and harmless.

“Please wait a moment.”

Daeyeong entered the cave, then soon returned with several objects held in its mouth.

“This is everything I have.”

Daeyeong carefully spat out what it had been holding.

Jegyeong examined the items one by one.

A pearl at least a meter across, an unidentified lump that twitched faintly as if alive, and a clump of grass resembling seaweed.

Some looked impressive but were nothing special, while others contained faint traces of Spiritual Energy. The only thing these distinctive objects had in common was that none caught his interest in the slightest.

‘So this is the level we're dealing with.’

To think it had brought out such things as though they were precious treasures.

Jegyeong sighed inwardly.

“I don't like any of them. A Foundation Establishment cultivator is not extraordinary, but I still cannot exchange one for things like these.”

“Is that so...”

Daeyeong did not seem terribly disappointed, perhaps because it had already expected this.

No matter how ignorant it was of the world, it could probably distinguish gold from dung. It must have known that the items it presented were far too inadequate to trade for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Still, it had tried its luck because it hoped for a stroke of fortune.

“If you have nothing to trade, I should be going. I hope we can have dealings from time to time in the future.”

Although the trade had failed, the trip had not been pointless.

Getting acquainted with a Great Demon Beast was a small gain in itself.

Daeyeong remained stiff until Jegyeong turned and left.

Seeing that, Jegyeong thought that if he stayed a few more hours, Daeyeong might turn into a statue.

‘I'm really benefiting from this appearance in this life.’

Jegyeong was beginning to enjoy pretending to be a Jiao Dragon.

Before, the act had felt somewhat awkward and even unpleasant, but now it came naturally. Was this what method acting felt like?

‘Still, the others around here aren't all paupers like this one, are they?’

Jegyeong did not hold high expectations for Rogue Cultivators of the Demon Race.

The Demon Race, especially Demon Beasts, tended to be foolish and strongly driven by instinct. Water Demons were particularly prone to this, and even Great Demon Beasts were not much different.

They were stronger and smarter than when they had been Demon Beasts, but compared to other Great Demon Beasts, they still lacked intelligence.

The overwhelming majority of Great Demon Beasts in Yangseo Lake had risen from Water Demons like this.

That was why Jegyeong had not expected them to possess any great treasures. He was willing to compromise even if it meant suffering some loss.

‘But that doesn't mean I can be a sucker or a philanthropist.’

Even a loss had to remain within reason.

He was conducting business, not giving charity.

‘If it comes to that, I can only go to the Dragon King Palace.’

Jegyeong intended to meet several Great Demon Beasts, and if none of them could trade with him, he would visit the Dragon King Palace.

It was, after all, the force of a Demon King. Its Demon Race subordinates were all outstanding, so there would surely be some interested in Human Race Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Still, visiting the Dragon King Palace was an option he would consider only as a last resort.

For one thing, it was far away. Jegyeong also held a vague fear of the Remnant Water Whale King.

The greatest problem was his identity.

His false identity as a Jiao Dragon was useful in this backwater, but it might not work against a Demon King.

The Remnant Water Whale King might see through him. Even if the Demon King did not, Jegyeong would still be uneasy.

What if the Demon King suddenly became curious about the taste of dragon blood and smacked their lips?

These worries might have been paranoid, but a Demon King was that great and terrifying an existence.

The Dragon King Palace was said to be unable to suppress the Demon Race of Yangseo Lake, but Jegyeong believed that if the Remnant Water Whale King truly wished to, the Demon King could unite Yangseo Lake's Demon Race Cultivation World.

Of course, the number of Great Demon Beasts would then fall to one-tenth of its current number, or even fewer.

‘I hope there is at least one creature worth trading with.’

Jegyeong diligently traveled about for over a month, searching for trade partners.

He met six Great Demon Beasts during that time, but fortunately, no mishaps occurred thanks to his Jiao Dragon-like appearance.

His efforts were not wasted, either. He found one suitable trading partner.

“Good. This will do. How about exchanging this for one Human Race cultivator?”

“Only one?”

The other party was greedy, but Jegyeong firmly shook his head.

“Do not be greedy. A trade must be fair.”

The other party eventually accepted Jegyeong's terms.

That item had been a burden to them anyway, so exchanging it for one Foundation Establishment cultivator was a profit.

“Good. Follow me.”