Ranker Who Lives Twice

"Uhahaha! Long time no see, kiddo! I did hear you got pretty famous, but you really did get amazing! I wouldn't recognize you if I walked past you on the street." The Lion King chuckled at Yeon-woo. There was so much holy power in his voice that those who were listening felt their eardrums throb.

Rumble! However, the gods of Olympus and Chan Sect could only frown at the shaking world. There was nothing in particular they could do about it.

Although the demon kings had come for a short while in the middle of the battle, it was clear how strong they were. Heaven Ruling Sage Bull Demon King, Sea Engulfing Flood Demon King, Heaven Disarraying Macaque King, Mountain Moving Sage Lion King, Wind Piercing Sage Peng Demon King, Exorcism Sage King Yu Tamarin, and the sage who was absent, Heaven's Equal Monkey King Sun Wukong—it was difficult to find someone who didn't know this group of beings commonly called the Seven Sages.

Out of all the societies in the heavenly world, their number was the smallest, but they were among the strongest. It was rare for them to step up themselves, since most of the time, they lived in a secluded place of their own they called a "magic region." However, on the occasions they did step into the world, things would change. Much was swept away when they appeared. Many societies despised having to associate with them, and they were especially wary when the leader of the Seven Demon Kings, the Bull Demon King, stepped out.

Perhaps that was why all the gods of Olympus and Chan Sect were standing on guard against the Bull Demon King, who was standing behind the rest of the demon kings. He didn't exude any special aura now, and he merely seemed like an elderly man dependent on his cane.

However, Yeon-woo, with his Eye of the Heavens and Ear of the Heavens, could see that wasn't the case. Thump. His heart dropped. This was a sensation similar to when he first met his teacher the Martial King. Not because of the difference in their strength, but because Yeon-woo wondered how such a being existed. He knew that the Bull Demon King was the first beast and emperor.

Even though it seemed like the disorderly holy power of Night flowed in his body, the Bull Demon King was organized like a being of Day. Yeon-woo couldn't figure out how he was constituted, then he thought, 'I guess that's understandable…since he's the one who taught the Heavenly Demon the first version of Reigning Step, Bull Step.'

[A message from Hermes has arrived.]

[Message: It's the Bull Demon King. He's…the one who rendered all battle futile.]

According to Hermes' explanation, the Seven Demon Kings appeared in the middle of the battle. After they arrived, the balance that was tilted in the Chan Sect's favor became equal again, and when the Bull Demon King stepped up, they were defeated.

[A message from Hermes has arrived.]

[Message: It was just one step.]

[A message from Hermes has arrived.]

[Message: That…was all that was needed to lead to our complete defeat.]

'Were all those traces left by the Bull Demon King?' Yeon-woo guessed that the Bull Demon King had used Bull Step. Reigning Step alone had been enough for Allforone to immobilize the heavenly world. Since the original skill-owner had used it, it made sense that everything was destroyed.

'Can I win?' Yeon-woo attempted to measure the Bull Demon King's strength. The Tongtian Jiaozhu had said Yvlke's group was the Bull Demon King's visitors. Yeon-woo didn't know how they were related, but he needed to catch the Bull Demon King first if he was going to catch Yvlke. However…

[Eye of the Heavens closely scans the designated being.]

[Ear of the Heavens perceives the qualities of the designated being.]

[Analysis failed.]

[A second analysis is attempted.]

[Analysis failed.]

[The cause cannot be found.]

…

[The designated being is someone you cannot sense.]

[The cause cannot be found.]

'I don't see it.' No matter how much Yeon-woo observed the Bull Demon King's soul, it was hard to measure it. He didn't know if the Bull Demon King was above him or below him or what his weaknesses and traits were. It wasn't that Yeon-woo was forbidden from approaching it, but the results simply didn't yield any data. Yeon-woo should've been able to read any being in this dream since he was the system.

Just then, a faint smile appeared on the Bull Demon King's mouth, as if he could read Yeon-woo's thoughts. Looking into his clear cow-like eyes, Yeon-woo felt like he was the one being read, so he stepped back.

"Huh? Are you ignoring me?" The Lion King snorted as Yeon-woo only paid attention to the Bull Demon King. He spoke up because he was glad to see Yeon-woo again and curious about his strength, but he was blatantly ignored. He attempted to rush for Yeon-woo with an angry face, but the third sage and only female grabbed the Lion King's shoulders. "What?"

"Can't you see? You're just gonna be beaten up if you go."

"How do you know that without trying?"

"I know."

"Still…!"

"So stay still. Our oldest brother is staying still, but why are you acting up?"

"…" The Lion King paused to glance at the Bull Demon King. Although he was reckless, he was weak in front of the Bull Demon King.

Despite the fuss, the Bull Demon King was silently smiling. The Lion King was about to say something when Yeon-woo's shadow rippled and the Monkey King's exuviae slowly appeared. Swish! The Seven Demon Kings instantly turned toward the shadow.

"That's…"

"Our youngest's shedding, isn't it?" The Macaque King narrowed his eyes.

The Monkey King's exuviae crossed his arms with a frown.『Hey! You all should've stayed inside your magic region. What in the world could you possibly get from here?』He didn't understand why the Seven Demon Kings, especially the Bull Demon King, were working with the Jie Sect.

The Seven Demon Kings had been enemies with the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect throughout history. However, most of the conflict was between them and the Jie Sect. It was because back when the Monkey King was most active—when he was with Xuanzang and the others—their main enemies had been the Jie Sect.

Then, when the war between the Chan Sect and Jie Sect reached its climax, the Seven Demon Kings took the Chan Sect's side, crossing a river of no return for their relationship with the Jie Sect. But they were working together now, so the Monkey King's exuviae couldn't help but be flabbergasted. He wondered if it had to do with his real body. He didn't sense it anywhere, so his real body was involved with this.

But the Seven Demon Kings didn't respond to the Monkey King's exuviae. A few of them flinched, but they just peeked at the Bull Demon King.

The Monkey King's exuviae was about to shout something in frustration when the Bull Demon King finally spoke up. "I told them to." It was a low, quiet voice, but it was heard clearly by everyone.

The Monkey King's exuviae wrinkled his face.『You? Why?』

"There's something I need."

『What is it?!』

"Huhu. I don't want to tell you without anything in return."

『Argh, please!』

"It's just something I need."

『Ugh…!』The Monkey King's exuviae knew that although the Bull Demon King's exuviae was speaking lightheartedly, he would never tell him. He knew how stubborn the Bull Demon King was. The phrase "stubborn like a bull" hadn't been created from nowhere.

The Bull Demon King watched their angry youngest brother with a smile, then turned to Yeon-woo, who was still narrowing his eyes at him. "You must have gone through a lot coming this far. Why don't you retreat from here?"

Yeon-woo observed the Bull Demon King for a short while longer and stepped back. He couldn't guarantee his victory even if he watched the Bull Demon King, and the losses on his side were great, so some recovery was necessary. The Monkey King's exuviae seemed to want to say something to him as well. "…Alright, sir."

"Thanks for understanding. I won't forget this. I'll doubly return the favor in future."

Yeon-woo's eyes flashed. Saying you would "return a favor" could simply be a way of saying thanks, but the Bull Demon King was one to truly carry it out. He also expressed they weren't enemies, so Yeon-woo took it that the Bull Demon King wouldn't take Yvlke's side.

'Since I learned where they are, that's good enough. But I'll have to change how I approach them. The Jie Sect, Seven Demon Kings, and Yvlke's group… I should look into what they're scheming.' Plans for what to do after this were already being made in Yeon-woo's mind.

"Then I won't see you out too far. See you next time." The Bull Demon King smiled and tapped his cane on the ground.

Click! It was a small movement, but its results were anything but small. Ding. Just as when Allforone/Vivasvat activated Reigning Step, the sound of a clear temple bell rang out, and cracks appeared along the ground.

['Bull Step' is activated!]

[A location has been designated.]

['Palm Leaf Fan' reveals its true appearance!]

[The designated location is transported.]

Whoosh. With the sensation of wind blowing through the air, the entire space including Yeon-woo, Olympus, and the Chan Sect quaked, and they were all moved. ]

[You have entered the headquarters of <Chan Sect> the Kunlun Mountains!]

"Huh…!"

"…He moved all of us at once."

"That's the Bull Demon King for you."

The gods of the Chan Sect sighed as they returned to their headquarters in the blink of an eye. The expressions of the Three Leaders were especially dark. Sweat dripped down their backs. If the Bull Demon King knew their exact coordinates, it meant he could enter easily anytime. The fact that he had transported them here was a warning that the Chan Sect shouldn't think about waging war against the Jie Sect while he was there.

"First, let's discuss our measures for the future."

The Three Leaders nodded at Yeon-woo's words.

* * *

"Do you remember our exchange from a long while ago? It's the deal we made when we became allies." Erlang Shen ordered his subordinates to rest, and he led Yeon-woo and the others to the center of their headquarters, Xuantu.

Yeon-woo recalled a long-ago memory and nodded. "You wanted my help to find the Stone of Avaritia, correct?"

Back when he enhanced the Ghost Giants and hunted the Crawling Chaos, Yeon-woo and Erlang Shen had become allies on certain conditions. The Chan Sect would help Yeon-woo with anything he needed to develop his forces, and Yeon-woo would help them with their search. In the end, they'd trade the Stone of Casitas and Stone of Avaritia, which were of little use to them if they didn't trade.

However, their promise had been continually postponed as Yeon-woo prepared for war against Allforone, and the promise came to nothing when the Jade Emperor was swallowed by Zeus. Then, when Yeon-woo faded inside the Black King, it was forgotten.

But Erlang Shen was bringing this up again. "Correct. Our Chan Sect, the Jie Sect, and the Seven Demon Kings… We all fought to try and find it. However, a problem arose. With the destruction of the Tower, the location of the stone was lost."

"…Is that so?"

"Of course, we don't resent you. We also helped you back then too. Anyway, the problem comes after that. The location of the buried stone, which we thought was lost, has appeared."

Yeon-woo's eyes twinkled. "Did the Jie Sect and Seven Demon Kings join sides?"

Erlang Shen nodded. "It seems so. It's something we learned while fighting the Jie Sect. But we don't know how long they've been working together."

'This must be Yvlke's work.' Unlike the sighing Erlang Shen, Yeon-woo didn't think the two groups had been working together for that long. He guessed that ten years was the longest possibility. It was probably from when the Tower collapsed and Yvlke's group began to carry out their scheme in full swing. He didn't have any proof, but from the Yvlke he saw so far, he knew Yvlke enjoyed scheming things from behind.

'He said he was making a safe haven or whatever. Is that related to finding the Stone of Avaritia? Or is there something else?' Whatever it was, it was information Yeon-woo needed to have. He then thought of something else. 'The problem is how we're going to deal with the Bull Demon King and the others.'

The Jie Sect, with their Tongtian Jiaozhu back, the Seven Demon Kings led by the Bull Demon King, and Yvlke, who had multiple beasts in his hands… Dealing with all three at the same time wouldn't be easy. Yeon-woo needed to find a way to get in between them. 'Currently, it seems taking the Stone of Avaritia would be the best plan.'

Yeon-woo's eyes narrowed. "Where is the stone?"

"Li's grave."

"Li? Hyo Ma Qiu?"

"Indeed."

"…!"

Li, also known as Hyo Ma Qiu, was one of the Heavenly Demon's faces, and also a being who appeared at the beginning of time. He was the owner of the fragment that allowed Yeon-woo to go to the Changgong Library.

"He had a grave?" Yeon-woo widened his eyes in surprise.

Erlang Shen was about to reply when the Monkey King's exuviae suddenly popped out of the shadows with a surprised expression.『Wait. Isn't that where my real body is?』