Chapter 102
**CHAPTER 102: The Hidden Library and the Crimson Redoubt**
I swung my invisible sword wildly, slicing through the stone statues in a desperate attempt to clear them away.
But then my gaze caught on Buk Hyang-hwa in the distance, carefully repairing the circuits with her tools.
*It’s possible to sweep them all aside… yet if I do, word might reach Cheongmun Ryeong or Cheongmun Jung-jin and everything would unravel.*
The words “do-woo” from Cheongmun Jung-jin and “senpai” from Cheongmun Ryeong flashed through my mind.
*No. Absolutely not.*
I stopped reaching for the invisible sword and simply layered pure qi around the floating statues.
**Uuuuuung!**
*Even at the Five Qi Consorting with the Origin stage, these half-revived puppets are more than enough.*
**Kwa-kwak!**
I crashed the statues with the qi I had overlaid on the air, smashing them apart without mercy.
The statues twitched as if trying to resist, but because their restoration was still incomplete, the pure qi tore them to pieces.
**Uuuuuung!**
Yet even after they shattered, the statues once again glowed with that faint, purplish light and began to reform automatically.
*Will Cheongmun Jung-jin and Cheongmun Ryeong be alright…?*
I had seen gold seals that lowered cultivation realms by one stage. Cheongmun Jung-jin, the family head, would still be at least Foundation Establishment even if restricted. No need to worry about him.
But Cheongmun Ryeong had dropped to Qi Condensation.
“Miss Buk, how close are we to releasing the seal?”
“It’s almost finished. Now…”
**Paaaaat!**
“Once this is restored…”
As she brushed the circuits with her delicate tool, the circuits flared bright and the crushing pressure vanished.
At the same moment, the protective stone statues guarding Bongmyeong Castle that had already begun reforming crumbled into dust.
“Phew… we finally did it.”
“You worked hard, miss. As expected of a genius.”
“No, no. This seal was only temporarily triggered, so it would have faded on its own. I merely accelerated the process.”
Buk Hyang-hwa wiped sweat from her brow and began packing away her tools.
“Then, Miss Buk, please wait here a moment. I’ll go check on Cheongmun Ryeong’s safety.”
“Of course.”
She accepted it readily, and I flew straight to the first floor’s woodland garden where Cheongmun Ryeong should be.
In the garden’s center, Cheongmun Ryeong stood within a massive formation, channeling woodland qi and drawing arrays around him.
Around the formation’s outer edge lay the broken remnants of protective stone statues.
“Cheongmun Seonsa, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. The scattered energy around me is woodland qi, and the veins here have already been drained into my array. I can use techniques safely.”
It seemed the seal hadn’t posed much of a threat after all.
“…What on earth was that just now?”
“It’s fortunate you’re safe. What happened was…”
That was when—
**Kugugugu!**
A sonic boom erupted from one side of the garden. Together with the sound of his flight, Cheongmun Jung-jin arrived in a rush.
“What was that just now?!”
“Ah, Lord Family Head!”
Cheongmun Ryeong turned to him.
I quickly explained everything to the family head.
“So the Blood Wood curse from that blood cultivator reached Bongmyeong Castle’s circuit and triggered the anomaly?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
After listening, Cheongmun Jung-jin looked troubled for a moment before speaking.
“Where is she now?”
“She’s currently outside Bongmyeong Castle.”
“Take me there. There’s something I need to confirm.”
I led Cheongmun Jung-jin back to where Buk Hyang-hwa was working.
“Ah, Lord Family Head. Whatever is the matter?”
“I have something to discuss. I learned you triggered the seal and caused the anomaly at Bongmyeong Castle.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
He stroked his chin with a grave expression.
“When I examined the upper levels of Bongmyeong Castle during the anomaly, I discovered something strange.”
“Something strange?”
“Yes. On the very top floor, a hidden array finally revealed itself.”
*Ho-oh…*
It appeared Bongmyeong Castle still held some special seal that could be triggered.
He turned to Buk Hyang-hwa.
“Can you trigger the anomaly once more?”
“I can.”
“Hmm… then I must give the signal at the exact moment. But…”
“If you simply give the order, it will be fine.”
She began explaining her method.
“The seal I activated seems to be one of the core arrays forming Bongmyeong Castle. Judging by its current state, at least three more corresponding seals exist. That means these axes are positioned around the castle, and the floors are built along them. If you and I ascend to the highest floor together, locate the next axis, and trigger the seal again…”
“Hmm, I understand. And…”
He looked at me.
“You will come too. Ryeong needs to plan the internal array, but the external array you handle is less critical. Stay and guard the law artifact while the seal activates. The protective statues will start moving again once the seal fires…”
“I understand.”
I was curious about the array Cheongmun Jung-jin had discovered, so I followed without question.
Together with Cheongmun Jung-jin and Buk Hyang-hwa, I ascended to the uppermost floor of Bongmyeong Castle.
Buk Hyang-hwa headed straight to the core axis of the top floor and began tearing away the walls to dismantle it.
Even on the narrowest uppermost level, I could still see Cheongmun Jung-jin far in the distance.
He stood at the center waiting for something.
*I thought there was nothing here. So there was something I never noticed.*
**Start!**
Cheongmun Jung-jin infused his spiritual energy into his right fist and roared.
Buk Hyang-hwa, hearing the signal, began her work.
**Geeeeing!**
As she manipulated the circuits, a strange pressure returned, squeezing the spiritual energy.
And then—
**Paaaaaat!**
At the center of the top floor where Cheongmun Jung-jin stood, a blinding white light erupted. The hidden array was finally revealed.
*What is this?*
I watched the array with growing alarm. Even with my soul perception, no movement had occurred—until it suddenly burst outward.
I wasn’t sure whether my perception was simply weak or if the artisan who had built Bongmyeong Castle was truly that immense.
Either way, the array before me was unmistakably enormous.
*Dense spatial fluctuations… The space inside the array is also compressed. If I step in, another location must appear…*
That was when—
Cheongmun Jung-jin, still examining the array, drove his fist straight toward its weakest point.
**Kwaaaang!**
The array merely shuddered and vibrated; it refused to yield.
I could see his lips moving from a distance, but the words were too faint to hear. Judging by the lip movements, he was muttering something like “It won’t break with Foundation Establishment-level strength.”
Cheongmun Jung-jin continued testing the array while I slaughtered the incoming protective statues near Buk Hyang-hwa.
After nearly an incense stick’s time, the seal faded on its own.
The array vanished the instant the seal disappeared, and Cheongmun Jung-jin flew back to us.
“Thank you for your cooperation. For now, the three of you should return to the lower floors and continue your work on the arrays and law artifacts.”
He stared at the spot where the array had appeared and muttered.
“I will gather spiritual energy here for the next few days. Foundation Establishment power can’t pierce it, but if I condense enough and strike with a single blow from Cheongmun Clan secret techniques, it could become an Imperial Immortal-level strike in an instant…”
“I understand.”
We nodded and resumed our investigation of Bongmyeong Castle, sketching the structure of the arrays.
At the same time, the three of us held discussions about the arrays for a while.
And then three full days passed.
* * *
“For today, our basic survey of the surrounding area and the planning of the internal array are complete.”
“The external array has also been conceived. I should be able to assist Cheongmun Seonsa’s internal array perfectly.”
“We’ve also conceptualized law artifacts that can maximize the arrays by linking them to Bongmyeong Castle.”
Somehow, in such a short time, we had managed to accomplish everything.
“Now we must return to Cheon-saek Castle, review the arrays again, repair them, and recalibrate the connections between the law artifacts, outer arrays, and inner arrays. And…”
Cheongmun Ryeong looked up toward the upper floor.
“Yes. The family head intends to shatter the array at the very top?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, arrays directly tied to the core seals cannot be broken carelessly—especially in an ancient relic like Bongmyeong Castle…”
He showed a trace of worry.
“If you had left the array analysis to me, I could have finished it quickly. But perhaps you thought the planning of the Longevity Fruit and growth array was more important for me.”
“Given that the Longevity Fruit is already important to the family head…”
I spoke while looking up with Cheongmun Ryeong.
After a while, Cheongmun Ryeong furrowed his brows and said,
“I’m afraid it won’t work. I’ll have to go up. We don’t have much time—one day at most—but I must analyze the array. It’s possible the family head might accidentally trigger something stronger if he touches it carelessly.”
With that said, he ascended, and Buk Hyang-hwa and I followed him to the top floor.
At the uppermost level, Cheongmun Jung-jin waited with spiritual energy surging through his right fist.
His right fist glowed deep blue and vibrated the surrounding space.
*So this is one of the Cheongmun Clan’s secret techniques…*
If the power inside exploded, it could rival a Nascent Soul strike in an instant.
“Lord Family Head, we have completed the basic framework of the arrays. What remains is to refine the details… and I came as soon as you mentioned you would break the array connected to the seal.”
He spoke with a serious expression to Cheongmun Jung-jin.
“But the arrays linked to the seals can be dangerous if touched carelessly.”
“I know, Cheongmun Ryeong. But if we return empty-handed after traveling all this way, how will our faces look? The Heavenly People literally scraped the place clean. Only a few useless talismans, liquor flows, and decorative law artifacts remain. Nothing else.”
*Sigh…*
Cheongmun Ryeong exhaled softly.
“Then may I have time to analyze the array? With time, I can help you choose the safest point to strike.”
“Very well. Let’s do that. Blood cultivator! Trigger the seal again and reveal the array!”
“Yes!”
Buk Hyang-hwa received the order and tore away at the wall once more.
**Kurrrung!**
The seal activated again, and the array reappeared.
Cheongmun Ryeong examined the array closely while Buk Hyang-hwa repeatedly triggered the seal each time the analysis neared completion.
A full day passed.
“Lord Family Head, strike here.”
“Alright. It’s almost time for the Seopmyeong Ship to depart. I’ll quickly check only the inside of the array and leave.”
**Kugugugu!**
The power gathered in Cheongmun Jung-jin’s right fist was already trembling on the verge of detonation.
“Very well! Trigger the seal again!”
Buk Hyang-hwa activated the seal once more.
After tearing apart Bongmyeong Castle for several days and triggering seals at all four axes, she had become skilled enough to freely control the seals.
**Paaaaat!**
The seal fired, and the array appeared.
Cheongmun Ryeong pointed at a corner of the array.
“This is the spot.”
Even though the seal had lowered the power level by one stage, the strength in Cheongmun Jung-jin’s fist still felt immense—enough for a Nascent Soul strike.
**Kugugugugung!**
As Cheongmun Jung-jin swung his fist, the array shook violently and began to crack.
A hopeful light flashed across Cheongmun Jung-jin’s face. Cheongmun Ryeong and I watched the array with eager eyes.
And then Cheongmun Ryeong’s expression changed.
“Wait! Stop for a moment!”
**Geeeing!**
Red light spread from the array.
Soon the crimson glow had flooded the entire Bongmyeong Castle.
**Zaaaeeng!**
The array finally shattered.
But the red light that poured out did not fade.
“What is happening, Cheongmun Ryeong? You said there would be no problem!”
Cheongmun Jung-jin looked at him with confusion.
Cheongmun Ryeong twisted his face and said,
“It should have been fine. But someone must have deliberately twisted the array from inside. I never expected this. Forgive me…”
“Hmm… For now, secure the perimeter.”
Cheongmun Jung-jin retreated from the array and slammed his fist into the outer wall of Bongmyeong Castle.
**Kwaaang!**
The outer wall crumbled, leaving only the outer-wall seals to be broken before we could escape.
But—
“The outer-wall seals have changed.”
I grimaced.
The outer-wall seals were also tinged with red light. The gold-deconstruction talisman I had brought reacted to nothing.
Cheongmun Jung-jin’s face twisted in fury.
“Damn it! We were supposed to depart already! Why won’t the transmission link work?!”
No one answered.
Cheongmun Jung-jin stared at the array he had just destroyed, his face grim.
“First, we need to check what’s inside.”
* * *
Outside Bongmyeong Castle, in the outer space.
Beside the Seopmyeong Ship that had been moored there, Song Jin looked up at the castle.
The entire castle was bathed in crimson light.
*[This reaction… They must have touched the control room of Bongmyeong Castle. Heh heh… The promised time is almost up, but with their skill, breaking this array and leaving is impossible… Should I show mercy and wait a little longer?]*
After a moment of thought, Song Jin grasped the helm without hesitation.
*[Those brats who touched the control room without knowing their place aren’t my concern. I should go check on my disciple. Besides, if they entered the control room, there must be an escape route… no need to worry about getting stuck.]*
**Kugugugu!**
The Seopmyeong Ship slipped through the void, wrapped in its ghostly aura.
Suddenly, Song Jin looked back at Bongmyeong Castle.
*[But… it has been eight hundred years since I last entered Bongmyeong Castle… Is the escape route still intact…?]*
* * *
*This place…*
The space inside the array Cheongmun Jung-jin and I had entered was a vast library.
No, it had once been a library.
“Hah… they really cleaned the place out.”
Cheongmun Jung-jin looked around with a hollow voice.
The shelves were empty, covered in dust.
And—
“This array was the one that twisted the array from inside. My analysis must have been wrong because of it…”
Strange arrays had been drawn across the floor, walls, and ceiling with blood.
“These look like the arrays used by the yao race, but I don’t recognize the script. It’s difficult to analyze.”
Cheongmun Ryeong clicked his tongue while studying the array.
Cheongmun Jung-jin watched the array with grave eyes.
But I read the strange language and symbols etched into the array and felt my body tremble.
*This is the yao race’s pattern…*
I felt certain I knew who had left such an array here.
*You again, Seo Hyoel?*
What exactly was his goal?
That was when—
“What is that pillar?”
Cheongmun Jung-jin pointed at a small pillar at the center of the library.
*That pillar…*
I stared at it and my eyes lit up.
There was a small recess on the pillar, sized exactly for a Bongmyeongin to enter.
*If I drop a Bongmyeongin into that recess, something will activate…*
“Let’s investigate that pillar first.”
With Cheongmun Ryeong leading, Buk Hyang-hwa and I examined the pillar.
Cheongmun Jung-jin watched us with a serious expression.
*Hmm?*
Suddenly, my eyes landed on one of the empty shelves and I found a line of small writing.
*Ancient script?*
I had studied ancient scripts at the royal library of the Seongje Empire. I read the line without trouble.
I roughly understood the meaning.
—Why prepare an extra blessing for the worms? Eat better corpses?
“…?”
*Is “worms” the correct translation?*
“Worms” that devour corpses. The ancient script clearly referred to scavengers that eat the dead.
*Are these scavengers referring to those preparing the yao race? Who, why, and for what purpose…*
I examined the writing for traps or arrays, found nothing, and set it aside.
That was when—
“I found it!”
“I found it!”
Cheongmun Ryeong and Buk Hyang-hwa spoke almost at the same time.
Cheongmun Ryeong pointed at the ceiling while Buk Hyang-hwa tore at the floor beneath the pillar.
**Uuuuuung!**
At the same moment, two pure-white arrays appeared—one from the ceiling and one from the floor.
“This is…”
“A transmission array…?”
Cheongmun Jung-jin and I murmured.
*There’s an escape route!*
Hope bloomed on Cheongmun Jung-jin’s face, but Cheongmun Ryeong remained on guard.
“I don’t know where it leads.”
“But… there’s no other way now, is there?”
“….”
Yet Cheongmun Ryeong stared at the array with a stern face and said,
“Even if we use this transmission array, we must withstand the spatial pressure. Do you know that? There’s no transmission core or transmission token to resist it.”
It was exactly as I had thought.
Crossing space meant enduring the pressure of the outer edges.
That was why only Heavenly Persons could challenge the Ascension Gate.
The pressure inside the Ascension Gate, which connected to the upper realm, was something only Heavenly Persons could endure.
“…If we had mastered the Cheongmun Clan’s body-tempering techniques, we could withstand the pressure.”
Cheongmun Ryeong looked around and said.
“But Foundation Establishment is impossible.”
“That’s right. Still, if I can protect one person with my strength…”
Cheongmun Jung-jin looked at us and said.
“Anyway, my mistake led us here. As the family head, I should take responsibility and escort everyone out. I will use the transmission array to bring one person at a time. Once all are safe, we can leave.”
Cheongmun Ryeong’s expression darkened.
“Lord Family Head, you could get hurt in the process…”
“It’s fine. It was my own fault for entering the array out of greed. I’ll take responsibility. First, bring Cheongmun Ryeong out.”
He pointed to each of us in turn.
“I’ll drop Cheongmun Ryeong and come back for you two in order. Wait for me.”
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
Since we shared the same bloodline, Cheongmun Jung-jin wanted to send Cheongmun Ryeong first. It made sense, and it did not mean he intended to abandon us. We accepted without protest.
“Alright, wherever it leads, let’s go!”
Cheongmun Jung-jin protected Cheongmun Ryeong with Nascent Soul power and leaped into the transmission array below.
**Paaaaat!**
The array glowed and swallowed the two of them.
“The transmission… seems successful.”
“Looks like it. The destination isn’t odd…”
“Ah!”
That was when—
**Pshiit…**
The transmission array Cheongmun Jung-jin had used went dark and extinguished.
Buk Hyang-hwa stared at the array in panic.
“W-what happened?”
“Give me a moment.”
I examined the array and realized the problem.
*Damn it… It’s a recharge-type transmission array!*
It normally drew power from Bongmyeong Castle, but after a single use it required time to recharge. The next transmission would take even longer.
Cheongmun Ryeong had probably been too rushed to notice.
I explained the situation to Buk Hyang-hwa. She looked out toward the red aura seeping through the array’s barrier and asked anxiously,
“How long will it take to recharge?”
The crimson energy outside the barrier was already crawling toward the inside.
I bit my lip and nodded.
Buk Hyang-hwa’s face turned deathly pale.
“Even so, if the red energy fills the entire Bongmyeong Castle, a more powerful seal will form… Ordinary seals like this are usually lethal.”
“….”
“Is there really no other way?”
I gritted my teeth and stared at the transmission array on the ceiling.
Clearly it was in the opposite position from the one Cheongmun Ryeong and Cheongmun Jung-jin had used.
But no other option remained.
“Miss Buk, there is one way.”
“Wh-what is it?”
“Instead, promise me you will not tell the Cheongmun Clan about this method.”
“Eh…? Ah, you have a secret, I see. I understand. I swear I won’t tell.”
“Then…”
**Uuuuuung!**
I gripped my invisible sword.
“Wait a moment. I’m sorry.”
I pulled her close by the shoulder and wrapped both of us in the invisible sword at once.
*Spatial pressure is blocked by the invisible sword!*
The crimson energy outside the barrier continued crawling toward us.
I glanced at the outside and then looked up at the transmission array on the ceiling.
“Hold on tight!”
“Wait! It’s too close…!”
**Paaaaat!**
With the invisible sword wrapped around both of us, I leaped into the light of the transmission array.
--- **Chapter 102: The Hidden Library and the Crimson Redoubt**