Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 262

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Broken Ranker

Devours Myths

Chapter 262

Bloodflower Serpent (2)

A few hours ago.

The Jade Emperor had regained consciousness at some point.

‘What… how did this happen? Wasn’t I definitely dead?’

He clearly had his last memory.

Being killed by the monkey demon Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and finally being offered to some unknown existence from the Outer Sea…

So he couldn’t even dream of falling from heaven or decline,

‘If I’m truly alive, then revival is somehow possible!!’

The Jade Emperor saw hope.

Didn’t even that monkey, after falling from heaven, come back to life and turn the Heavens upside down?

Then there was no reason he couldn’t do the same.

No, he would definitely do it better.

‘This time, let me properly build from the foundation. Make the entire Lower Realm my domain… create a farm to regularly supply faith, properly select apostles, and subordinates who will never betray me again…’

Plans began forming systematically in the Jade Emperor’s mind.

When examined closely, they were all nonsensical ideas, but he already lacked the cognitive ability to judge such things properly.

[The Jade Emperor’s obsessive thoughts have gained partial self-awareness. They bear the Jade Emperor’s identity.]

[Status is precarious.]

[Divine Power is insufficient.]

[Insufficient cognitive ability is filled with madness. Infected with demonic nature.]

In truth, he was nothing more than remnants of obsessive thoughts, or fragments of a soul that couldn’t even become part of the Jade Emperor.

Of course, even that alone possessed tremendous status enough to look down upon ordinary superhumans,

and with the enormously abundant Divine Power that came with it, his autonomy was quite strong.

‘But… where exactly is this place?’

Then such a thought suddenly occurred to the Jade Emperor’s obsessive thoughts.

‘If there was a problem with the offering and I’m here because of it, then surely the souls of General Irang or Leijinzi should be somewhere nearby?’

Seeking subordinates who would remain loyal to him even in death, he wandered the ‘Nine Heavens’ for quite some time.

More precisely, it was some realm he thought was the Nine Heavens.

Ding!

[The Jade Emperor’s obsessive thoughts have entered ‘Imaginary World: Ice Palace’!]

At that moment, the Jade Emperor’s obsessive thoughts suddenly came to their senses.

‘This isn’t the Nine Heavens! Jang Lee Hyeon! This was that impudent human’s mental world! I see! He was trying to devour me! That bastaaard!!’

The Jade Emperor was able to realize the truth right after seeping into Lee Hyeon’s mindscape where his will could be strongly felt.

It was because the resentment left by other subordinates’ obsessive thoughts could be intensely felt everywhere.

[General Irang’s obsessive thoughts have been forcibly absorbed into the mindscape!

[Strong resentment toward the Jade Emperor remains.]

[Leijinzi’s obsessive thoughts have been forcibly merged into the mindscape!]

[Deep grudges against Jang Lee Hyeon and the Jade Emperor who made him into such a ridiculous state are deeply carved.]

…

Lee Hyeon had absorbed fragments of that being’s Divine Power bit by bit using Yeo-ui Swae just before the Outer Sea existence was driven back to the Outer Sea.

Naturally, the obsessive thoughts of offerings including the Jade Emperor remained within,

and Lee Hyeon dismantled such beings one by one while absorbing them completely into his mana circuits.

[‘Sacred Relic: Golden Headband’ purifies General Irang’s Divine Power to acquire necessary ability scores!]

[Magic Power increased by 2.]

[Intuition for combat has improved.]

[Weapon techniques have become natural, achieving the expert’s mastery ‘Peak’. Aura becomes more solid.]

…

[Purified Leijinzi’s Divine Power to comprehend a new type of lightning. ‘Event: Lightning Collector’ activates.]

[Lightning power is enhanced. Proficiency of Heavenly Dokkaebi Thunder Breath (EX) greatly increases.]

[Proficiency of Electrocution Assimilation (SSS) has reached maximum. Preparing to advance to Domination.]

…

[Absorbed multiple divine generals that 【Heavenly Court】 was proud of, acquiring massive Divine Power!]

[Mana circuit pathways are newly expanded on a large scale.]

…

[Expansion count has reached maximum. Unable to expand mana circuits further, so new layers are added above existing layers for efficiency.]

[Congratulations! You have acquired ‘Magic Power Accumulation Circuit’.]

[Status has increased.]

‘At this rate… even I will be devoured. Damn it! To be defeated by a mere human in a place like this!? A mortal who hasn’t even become a god! How dare he!!’

The Jade Emperor’s obsessive thoughts felt a chill down his spine while being enraged at the fact that he had been reduced to mere prey.

He seemed to understand why he was left until the end.

‘If he tried to devour me right away, he’d probably get indigestion, so he was planning to fatten up my status as much as possible before devouring me… Your thoughts are as clear as day, you bastard. Do you think I’ll let you have your way?’

The Jade Emperor thought this might actually work out well.

The place he had flowed into was Lee Hyeon’s mindscape.

While it might be a means to devour him from that guy’s perspective, conversely, it was also a place where he could devour that guy.

After all, the mindscape was the most vulnerable spot for humans.

‘But my current power seems insufficient… isn’t there some other good prey?’

The Jade Emperor looked irritably at Lee Hyeon’s mindscape filled with nothing but blizzards, then soon discovered something interesting.

‘That fortress. I can feel tremendous demonic energy.’

He felt a very appetizing energy from underground in the ice fortress.

Demonic power that he wouldn’t have even glanced at when he was in the Heavens.

But here, it was an incomparably good feast.

‘I suppose he inherited demonic power when he became the Great Sage Equal to Heaven’s apostle? Foolish human. Does he really think demonic energy suits a human?’

The Jade Emperor’s obsessive thoughts sneered as they moved toward the deep underground prison of the ice fortress.

Spirits in the form of knights and soldiers were guarding it, but deceiving their eyes wasn’t difficult.

And when he reached the deepest part of the underground.

‘Hahahaha! Have you ever seen such a crazy human…! How can a human possess so many monsters! And this is even the Bloodflower Serpent!!’

He burst into mad laughter seeing various boss monsters trapped in ice.

The Bloodflower Serpent in particular was a creature the Jade Emperor knew well from long ago.

A mysterious monster with almost nothing known about it except that it originated from the Outer Sea.

Though it was considered alien even in the world of demons for lacking proper narrative or mythology,

it was still a great demon that once threatened the safety of the Lower Realm and even made the Heavens tense.

A fragment of such a creature, yet existing as such a massive mass?

For the Jade Emperor’s obsessive thoughts, it was a situation that made his mouth water.

‘This much… will be sufficient! More than enough to make a fresh start!!’

If he absorbed the Bloodflower Serpent to supplement his status and even stole Lee Hyeon’s body.

With the talent of that fellow who is the successor of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, he would quickly gain enough power to challenge the Heavens again.

‘Come to me, Bloodflower Serpent!!’

Just as the Jade Emperor’s spirit was drooling and approaching the Bloodflower Serpent,

Flash!!

‘…!?’

The Bloodflower Serpent, which had been motionless while trapped in ice, suddenly opened its eyes.

And before the Jade Emperor’s spirit could do anything,

the Bloodflower Serpent swallowed him up like lightning.

‘Could it be, this was all a trap…!!’

He was even more wicked than Son Wukong.

Gulp!

* * *

“Contractor, when you first told me that plan, I truly thought you had gone completely mad.”

The Snow Queen let out a deep sigh while watching the Ice Fortress shake from the earthquake.

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“…Does this look like a compliment to you?”

“Wasn’t it?”

“You really are….”

The Snow Queen pressed her throbbing temples with her index finger and sighed.

When they first met, she didn’t think he had this kind of personality….

“Anyway, what will you do now? I did as you asked, but at this rate, I won’t be able to use that fortress anymore.”

The reason Lee Hyeon suggested throwing the Jade Emperor’s spirit as ‘food’ to the Bloodflower Serpent was simple.

“You were already gradually regaining consciousness from before, weren’t you? You said you had to leave your position every time because you were afraid of being swept away by the demonic energy.”

Recently, the cycle of the Bloodflower Serpent awakening from hibernation had been getting faster.

Naturally, the demonic power raging in the underground prison was also getting stronger day by day.

[The ‘Bloodflower Serpent’s’ spirit is gradually preparing to awaken from hibernation!]

[The cold air of Pātāla is added, attempting a stronger hibernation.]

[The Bloodflower Serpent begins to develop strong immunity to cold air. The release of the hibernation state is accelerating.]

…

[The Bloodflower Serpent has almost digested the Jade Emperor’s spirit and begins to emit strong demonic power.]

[Other demonic spirit entities in the vicinity are also receiving strong stimulation.]

[Mahabali warns that if you leave the Bloodflower Serpent as it is, there is a high risk that your mental world will be destroyed.]

[Mahabali advises that if other spirit entities also awaken and fall prey to the Bloodflower Serpent, there will be no way to handle it anymore.]

The Snow Queen glanced at Mahabali’s message and nodded.

“You are right, but there was still time. It wasn’t to the point of awakening it like this.”

“No. There wasn’t much time left either. By then, it would have been even harder to handle.”

“….”

“So I thought it was better to take action first before that happened.”

「Kak kak! It’s about striking first to win, isn’t it, Chosen One? Rather than just taking it, it’s better to flip the situation first. Master used to do this often too.」

Sha Wujing nodded on top of Lee Hyeon’s head.

The Snow Queen’s expression suddenly changed strangely.

“That means… you’ve already prepared some measure?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to see it in person rather than explaining?”

Lee Hyeon was still floating Neuan Cheongjeong mysteriously, then nodded.

“It seems to be ready. Follow me.”

“…?”

The Snow Queen still didn’t know Lee Hyeon’s scheme and frowned as she followed behind him.

Previously, Lee Hyeon had only said he seemed to have found a way to subdue the Bloodflower Serpent, but hadn’t explained the detailed follow-up.

So she passed through the Ice Fortress quickly, half-believing and half-doubting, thinking there must be some reason.

Whooooo-

“…Ugh.”

The Snow Queen couldn’t help but grimace throughout the passage through the corridor.

[The demonic power of bloodflower has taken control of the Ice Fortress!]

[Various curses are pouring down. Cognitive abilities are rapidly declining. Stamina and magic power are rapidly wearing away.]

[Warning! Moving to a dangerous area. Demonic power continues to intensify. Please leave this area.]

[Warning! There is a high risk of mental world contamination. It is recommended to quickly remove the cause or deal with it using the Golden Headband.]

…

[Mahabali clicks his tongue, saying this is truly a vicious and evil energy.]

[Mahabali clicks his tongue, saying such wickedness is hard to find even among demons, or can only be seen in 【Le Infernal】.]

The interior of the Ice Fortress was completely stained red and black.

Evil energy beyond demonic power.

If demonic energy was intense, evil energy was sticky.

Just breathing was enough to automatically feel unpleasant.

At that moment,

「Kak kak! Such curses should naturally be broken with other curses!」

Sha Wujing was the only one laughing cheerfully as he quickly formed hand seals.

Whoosh!

[Sha Wujing has activated ‘Curse Incantations: Reverse Reflection Barrier’ on a large scale!]

[All curses are reflected back to the caster.]

A spell formation was drawn above Lee Hyeon and the Snow Queen’s heads, making breathing much more comfortable.

The Snow Queen gave a light nod of acknowledgment.

“Thank you, Master Sha.”

「Kak kak! If you’re the Chosen One’s friend, you’re my friend too, so no need for thanks. But I had something I wanted to ask when I met you,」

“…?”

「Do you happen to know about a child named Kai?」

“…How do you know that name!”

Just as the Snow Queen turned to look at Sha Wujing in surprise,

[You have entered the ‘Bloodflower Serpent’s’ domain!]

The group had arrived at the underground prison before they knew it, and the conversation was cut off midway.

[Dungeonification is in progress.]

[The demonic power is too intense. Mental contamination has begun.]

[The Golden Headband is preventing the expansion of mental contamination!]

Along with a terrible stench like rotting corpses, black sewage was dripping from the floor and ceiling.

Drip.

Drip.

Originally, it should have been solidly frozen due to the terrible curse of ice, but now the entire underground prison was contaminated, making it not only difficult to approach but utterly disgusting.

But Lee Hyeon entered inside without any hesitation.

The Snow Queen also followed behind, covering her nose and mouth with her sleeve. She didn’t forget to send a meaningful glance to Sha Wujing. They would talk in detail later.

While Sha Wujing nodded calmly, the interior of the underground prison was soon fully revealed.

[Mahabali swallows his saliva as he stares at the traces of the incomplete demon originating from the Outer Sea.]

There sat a Bloodflower Serpent of enormous size, coiled up.

Firmly bound by dozens of Ruyi Jingu Bangs.

「Im…pri…! How dare a mere human…!!」

[The Bloodflower Serpent’s movement has been stopped, restrained by ‘Sacred Relic: Ruyi Jingu Bang’ and ‘Golden Headband’!]

Kriririk, krik!

Gagagagak!!

As soon as the Bloodflower Serpent saw Lee Hyeon, it became furious and tried to force its body to move,

but each time it did, the sound of pulleys turning echoed as the Ruyi Jingu Bangs tightened further, holding the creature fast.

There was even a white disc symbolizing the Golden Headband attached to its head…

The Snow Queen looked back at Lee Hyeon with surprised eyes.

Her face asking how on earth he had managed this.

Lee Hyeon smiled coldly.

“I hid the Ruyi Jingu Bang and Golden Headband in the Jade Emperor’s thought-form. That fool didn’t even know and just swallowed it all up eagerly.”

“…!!!”

“It’s the same sealing technique that gave even the Great Sage Equal to Heaven such trouble. You think something like that could resist it?”

The Snow Queen couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at this completely unimaginable method of subjugation.

First the Jade Emperor, and now the Bloodflower Serpent.

Two beings who had dominated the Heavens and Hell were both being toyed with by Lee Hyeon.

「Release this… immediately… Can’t you…!! Human-!」

The Bloodflower Serpent struggled desperately to shake off the Ruyi Jingu Bang and Golden Headband, but it wasn’t easy.

Its slow speech suggested it hadn’t fully awakened from hibernation yet.

“Then why…!”

“Haven’t I finished it off yet?”

The Snow Queen nodded.

Lee Hyeon’s soul had grown considerably by now.

However,

“I have something to ask.”

“Something to ask?”

Lee Hyeon didn’t answer and slowly approached the Bloodflower Serpent.

Anger filled the creature’s vertical pupils as it glared at him.

Lee Hyeon barely suppressed the chilling sensation and asked.

“You, by any chance…”

「You!」

But the Bloodflower Serpent cut off Lee Hyeon’s words first and shouted.

「Why… do I smell my son on you…!!」

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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