Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 263

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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 263

Bloodflower Serpent (3)

Thud!

In an instant, Lee Hyeon’s steps came to a halt.

His eyes sank deeply.

“As expected….”

His tone showed no surprise.

Sha Wujing raised his head.

「What! A son? You’re saying the Bloodflower Serpent has a child?」

“It seems that way.”

「It sounds like the Chosen One already knew…?」

“I was only making rough guesses.”

「Just who could it be!?」

Behind them, the Snow Queen was also looking on with disbelief.

She had suffered the most from the Bloodflower Serpent frequently awakening from its slumber.

[Mahabali says this is the first time he’s heard that the Bloodflower Serpent has blood relatives.]

“I think it was deliberately hidden. I didn’t live in that era so I don’t know well, but I heard there were many enemies at the time.”

[Mahabali lets out a groan.]

[Mahabali adds that since he’s certainly a demon lacking in narrative, this world once nearly faced a crisis of destruction, so even the Heavens had difficult times.]

If Mahabali was saying that much, it must have truly been a dangerous existence.

It wasn’t for nothing that it had given Mo Jeong-gyeon the nickname Mountain God.

「No, so who is that guy’s son? Is it someone we know?」

“It’s someone I know well.”

「…?」

Lee Hyeon stared directly at the Bloodflower Serpent, which was still glaring at him with eyes much larger than his own.

“I suspect that my hyung, Moon Su-chan, who gave me these ‘eyes,’ might be that guy’s son.”

「If, if it’s the Chosen One’s hyung, then surely…!」

“Yes. He was originally designated as the Great Sage’s apostle.”

「…!!!」

Sha Wujing’s eyes widened dramatically.

* * *

Lee Hyeon had raised two main questions about Moon Su-chan’s identity.

―If hyung is of demonic birth, what kind of demon would his ‘blood relative’ be?

―If he could achieve ‘resurrection,’ just how high-ranking would that blood relative be?

Lee Hyeon had now lived alongside demons long enough to say he understood them quite well.

As a result, those doubts had inevitably grown larger.

High-ranking demons were beings closer to spirits than living creatures.

In that case, they could resurrect like Son Wukong, so he thought Moon Su-chan might be such a case.

‘He doesn’t know it himself, but if his innate birth was so high that resurrection occurred naturally… It makes sense. Both the resurrection and why the Six-Eared Macaque made hyung the Great Sage’s apostle.’

To the Six-Eared Macaque, the young Moon Su-chan would have been truly coveted talent.

Then the problem that arose from this.

―Just how high-ranking would a blood relative need to be?

It would certainly be an existence whose name anyone would recognize.

But no one came easily to mind.

‘No matter how much I think about it, hyung has never shown demonic traits.’

But fortunately, he was able to find a hint not far away.

―The Bloodflower Serpent.

The first time the slumbering creature stirred was precisely when Lee Hyeon learned that Moon Su-chan was a demon.

‘The next time was when I learned that hyung had already been resurrected.’

All times when he realized truths related to Moon Su-chan.

‘After that, when it frequently stirred, it was usually when I used the Golden Eyes of Truth excessively….’

He suspected that its recent increased activity also began when he transformed the Golden Eyes of Truth into Neuan Cheongjeong.

So he reached one conclusion.

‘If Su-chan hyung really is the Bloodflower Serpent’s child… what should I do?’

The Bloodflower Serpent he had only seen in educational videos was the end of the world itself.

In the era when dungeons first opened, it had nearly turned not only the Korean Peninsula but the entire Western Pacific into a land of death….

‘Later, when I asked the Mountain God, the answer was similar.’

Of course, the Bloodflower Serpent that was active then and the one currently sealed in his mindscape were completely different beings.

The latter was merely dregs or traces left by the former.

But it still retained its identity.

So depending on circumstances,

‘It could become a great source of power for me. Resurrection would be possible if necessary.’

So Lee Hyeon planned to try having a conversation with the Bloodflower Serpent first.

‘With the Ruyi Jingu Bang and Golden Headband, restraint would be certain. If the uneasiness doesn’t disappear even after talking, it won’t be too late to deal with it then.’

Since he had decided to undergo the 3rd Awakening anyway, the higher his ability development, the better.

Absorbing a thought-form like the Bloodflower Serpent would greatly help with growth.

The reason he had thrown the Jade Emperor, who had most of his divine power absorbed and only a fragment of thought remaining, to that creature as prey was precisely for this.

It needed to regain consciousness to have a conversation.

[By absorbing large amounts of divine power and talent, all ability coefficients have currently reached 300!]

[Prepare for the 3rd Awakening.]

Lee Hyeon was postponing the 3rd Awakening as much as possible for the sake of completeness.

And now.

「….」

The Bloodflower Serpent was quiet, unlike before.

It was only silently observing Lee Hyeon with those large eyes.

And,

[‘Sacred Relic: Neuan Cheongjeong’ observes the thought-form of the ‘Bloodflower Serpent’!]

Lee Hyeon also examined its movements.

So far, there had been no major changes surrounding the creature.

However,

[Truth]

A single character caught Lee Hyeon’s eye.

「Kah! The Four Heavenly Kings’ apostle was originally a spawn of that serpent that fell from the outer sea…? What does that mean…!」

Meanwhile, Sha Wujing, having heard the shocking news, wore an expression of bewilderment uncharacteristic of him,

[Mahabali is greatly shocked by the truth he has learned for the first time!]

“Impossible! I too have experienced your bloodline!”

Then, the Snow Queen stepped forward irritably, kicking off from the ground.

Her heels dug in, shattering the ice.

“Your bloodline was certainly different from ordinary humans! One could even call it demonic! But from him flowed righteous energy, not evil aura!”

The Snow Queen still vividly remembered those events.

Lee Hyeon, who had faced her without yielding an inch in fierce confrontation. And Moon Su-chan, who had desperately tried to help him from the side.

The two were the greatest adversaries the Snow Queen had encountered in her lifetime.

“He was an honorable and proud warrior! I remember him, and I acknowledge him! So how can you say he is the bloodline of such an evil thing?!”

The Snow Queen seemed unwilling to believe it.

“I’m grateful you acknowledge my brother, but shouldn’t we separate birth from environment?”

“…That is.”

“Just because one is born from an evil being doesn’t mean the child must follow the same path.”

Lee Hyeon’s eyes gleamed mysteriously.

“Moreover, since that father didn’t even care for his child, he wouldn’t have learned those habits.”

「…」

“Rather than that, why don’t you say something? Bloodflower Serpent.”

「What would I say when you’re all busy chattering among yourselves.」

The Bloodflower Serpent, receiving Lee Hyeon’s gaze, snorted.

「Evil, pride, and such things seem futile to me. But one thing I understand.」

The vertical pupils, naturally repulsive to humans, narrowed thinly.

「You know my son very well. Especially you.」

A sight hard to believe from the creature that had been wildly excited just moments before.

But this made it certain.

The creature was acknowledging it.

The fact that Moon Su-chan was truly its son.

Thump thump thump-

Lee Hyeon took a long breath at this new truth surrounding Moon Su-chan.

Still.

This damn brother had far too many things that needed to be uncovered.

「You must have been bound by strong ties with my son?」

“Yes. We were brothers.”

Lee Hyeon nodded confidently while touching his eye.

“This eye was given to me by my brother.”

「Brothers! Ha! I mixed him among humans to survive, and he really acted like a human?」

The Bloodflower Serpent narrowed its eyes.

「Or perhaps…」

“Or perhaps?”

「For us, ‘brothers’ are targets that must be devoured for growth. Prey. I wondered if you were originally that kind of existence too.」

This time Lee Hyeon snorted.

“If you’re trying to shake me, it’s useless,”

「You asked earlier if birth matters, didn’t you? Let me set you straight. It matters. Blood, talent, habits, instincts – these are given from the very beginning.」

The Bloodflower Serpent reflected Lee Hyeon’s hardened expression.

「The evil you speak of. If that is my essence, do you think my child wouldn’t be born with it?」

Lee Hyeon tried to ignore and dismiss those words, but at that moment, things flashed through his mind again.

―Why didn’t my brother return to reality even after being resurrected?

―Why did he go to Tiamat’s Nest, where countless demons and monsters live?

―If he truly thought of me as blood family, shouldn’t he have at least sent word?

―Or perhaps… is there some other ‘conspiracy’?

Thump thump thump thump!

Suddenly his heart raced. His breathing became rapid.

「Something seems to be clicking, doesn’t it?」

On top of that, the Bloodflower Serpent’s suspicious gaze rose cunningly.

Lee Hyeon’s mind snapped to attention in an instant.

[Activating Golden Headband to wash away all evil thoughts trying to infiltrate your mind!]

[Activating Heavenly Dokkaebi Thunder Breath (EX) to maximize anti-magic power. Mental barrier is erected.]

Whiiiiiing!!

Crackle! Crack!

The Golden Headband spun rapidly above his head, clearing the stuffiness in his mind considerably.

Plus blue-white lightning sparking into the air.

“…That was close.”

「Disappointing, human. You had almost completely fallen for it. Hahaha.」

The Bloodflower Serpent opened its eyes thinly.

Instantly, its gaze turned a murky color.

It was the creature’s divine authority, [Eyes of Bewitchment].

Eyes that cause hallucinations and delusions in those who meet its gaze, making them collapse on their own.

At that time, even Korea had hundreds of thousands of victims from mass hallucinations.

「Kah! Be careful, Chosen One!」

[Sha Wujing activates a large quantity of curse incantations!]

[Mahabali says he cannot lose his temporary apostle’s contractor so meaninglessly and pours more of Pātāla’s cold air!]

[The Snow Queen’s narrative pours out numerous rings of ice to try to capture the Bloodflower Serpent!]

Sha Wujing expanded the spell formation formed in the air even larger, and the Snow Queen roughly stamped the ground with her heels, creating a powerful blizzard.

Icicles formed on the Ruyi Jingu Bang that was firmly holding the Bloodflower Serpent, gradually stiffening the creature’s movements, but,

「But the fact that you almost fell for it means you too have some nagging doubts, doesn’t it?」

The Bloodflower Serpent, true to being an evil serpent, wagged its cunning tongue to the very end.

「Don’t you want to know? What thoughts the child you firmly believed to be your brother is having.」

Lee Hyeon’s face hardened coldly.

「You just need to give me one corner of your mindscape. You don’t need to give me everything… I’ll take you to where my child is. We father and son can recognize each other, you see.」

「Kah! Don’t listen, Chosen One! The Bloodflower Serpent is trying to seduce you right now!」

Even though the Golden Headband was spinning diligently above Lee Hyeon’s head, Sha Wujing thought Lee Hyeon was being bewitched by the Bloodflower Serpent.

Gooooo!

Indeed, Sha Wujing and the Snow Queen’s magic power couldn’t easily reach the Bloodflower Serpent.

Sha Wujing considered returning to his divine form to subdue the creature, but refrained as it could harm Lee Hyeon’s mindscape.

Even during this time,

The Bloodflower Serpent continued its chatter.

「But even though I am a serpent, even though I drifted in from the outer sea, even though I was born with evil nature, in one thing I am no different from you.」

“What is that?”

「Fujazijing.」

“…!”

[Killing intent spreads!]

「Let me meet my son. I have things to say to that child. And you seem to have things you need to learn from that child as well… Wouldn’t that be a win-win for both of us?」

“….”

「As I said, all I want is a small corner where I can coil up. It’s rather embarrassing for me, but don’t you think someone of my caliber could be of decent help to you?」

Lee Hyeon examined Neuan Cheongjeong.

[Truth]

Though it gave off a cunning aura, there wasn’t a single lie in its words.

But Lee Hyeon knew.

Even without lies, one could hide their true intentions depending on how they spoke.

“Fine.”

Chwareureureuk!

[Releasing the restraints of Yeo-ui Swae!]

Lee Hyeon released all the Yeo-ui Swae that had been binding the Bloodflower Serpent.

「Chosen One!!」

“What on earth are you thinking…!”

In an instant, Sha Wujing and the Snow Queen, who had barely been holding back the killing intent, panicked considerably,

and the Bloodflower Serpent, pleased with its newfound freedom, began to raise its body while trembling its scales.

Ice fragments scattered about, and its head reached the prison ceiling.

[The Eyes of Bewitchment attempt to corrupt your mental world.]

「That was the right choice. Now then, first let me into your head,」

“However,”

Kureureureung!!

[The roar of the Heavenly Dokkaebi erupts!]

Suddenly, blue-white lightning crashed down roughly from the ceiling, shattering the blood-red killing intent.

The Bloodflower Serpent hastily pulled its head back. The Eyes of Bewitchment were already wavering.

‘My illusions didn’t work!?’

Though it had fallen to the state of a mere thought-form, the Bloodflower Serpent, who had once treated even gods as jokes in its prime, showed signs of panic for the first time.

Within its pupils, the figure of Lee Hyeon gripping Dueokshin’s molar that had been embedded in the Seafloor came into view.

“Before that, I need to establish the hierarchy first. There are more than a few things that make me uneasy about just letting you be.”

[Lie] [Lie] [Lie]

If Neuan Cheongjeong had an advantage over the Golden Eyes of Truth, it was that it could read even the depths beyond.

[Activating the Heavenly Dokkaebi’s Trust!]

“I need to find out what you’re hiding, starting with your true intentions.”

Kwaang!

Swaeaeaeaek-

Lee Hyeon became lightning and rushed toward the Bloodflower Serpent’s head in an instant.

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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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