Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: Heavenly Flower One Path 185
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Among the countless questions swimming through his mind, the one that struck Wi Seongcheon as particularly bizarre was the existence of the "immortals" that these Ten Heroes spoke of so earnestly.
The word itself wasn't unfamiliar. The world—no, the martial realm—was filled with all sorts of legends about immortals. Take Chang Sambong, the founding patriarch of the Wudang Sect among the Nine Great Righteous Sects; he was said to have become an immortal. And the Taoist sects had their own myriad tales of distant ancestors ascending to immortality.
Among those legendary immortals, none were more famous than Chang Sambong except for the Eight Immortals of Taoism. Whether they were truly immortals was unknowable now, but figures like Chang Sambong and the Eight Immortals had earned the title through legendary feats worthy of it.
"Do immortals really exist?"
"They're right in front of your eyes, aren't they?"
The Black Demon King sneered at Wi Seongcheon, who asked with a dazed expression. Wi Seongcheon, still unable to believe it, turned to Ye Myeong-ui.
"Who in the world walks around with an extra eye embedded in their forehead?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"Did you think that grotesque old man was just some ordinary person?"
Wi Seongcheon's words caught in his throat at the mocking chuckle.
Ye Myeong-ui's third eye was undeniably freakish, but Wi Seongcheon hadn't paid it much mind. After all, he was surrounded by Peng Yeonhwa, who had tiger ears and a tail, and Hwangbo Seongu, who could transform into a massive bear.
"...Well... because you're one of the Ten Heroes..."
"What nonsense. You've met most of the Ten Heroes, haven't you? Name one among those you know who has an eye in their forehead."
"...Ahem..."
Wi Seongcheon cleared his throat awkwardly and averted his gaze. The more they picked at it, the less he had to say.
"No... that's not the point. So, do immortals exist in this world or not?"
"They're right in front of your eyes, aren't they?"
Ye Myeong-ui chewed his lips with a look of utter despair. The brutal threat to tear every meridian in his body in two wasn't mere words from the Black Demon King. Where had it all gone wrong? From the moment he came to the Black Forest at Ye Myeong-ryeong's call?
'If only I hadn't touched that bastard's body!'
Ye Myeong-ui glared at Wi Seongcheon with resentful eyes. Receiving that gaze dripping with emotion only made it harder for Wi Seongcheon to believe Ye Myeong-ui was an immortal.
"Strictly speaking, he's not a true immortal. From what I know, Jinchung—that guy's someone who ran away without even completing his training properly."
"...Why bring up useless crap?"
Ye Myeong-ui grumbled, lips pouting. Wi Seongcheon, utterly baffled, pressed further.
"So, if immortals really exist... then ascension to immortality is real too?"
"You're talking nonsense."
The White Flame Witch, who had been listening, snorted derisively.
"Kid. Do you even know what ascension to immortality means?"
"...Becoming an immortal?"
"No, it's just a fancy way to console yourself for dying like a dog."
She spoke with a cynical smile, eliciting opposite reactions. The Black Demon King burst into laughter as if hearing a hilarious joke, while Ye Myeong-ui shot her a furious glare.
"Ascension to immortality. What a fine consolation. It's just dying pathetically, but if you claim they ascended to become immortals and left the mortal world, their legend lives on, revered by descendants, and it saves face elsewhere. Though nowadays, you can't even get away with such lies."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it. If humans could truly become immortals, why don't those mighty immortals watch over the world?"
Ye Myeong-ui continued glaring fiercely, but the White Flame Witch only scoffed.
"And if humans could really become immortals, who sets the criteria? Does the Heavenly Emperor? Demons like demon kings and beasts sow chaos, the Demonic Cult with the Heavenly Demon at its head eyes the end times—this is the world we live in. If the Heavenly Emperor or immortals truly existed, they'd be off playing immortal games in some Peach Blossom Paradise, abandoning this damned world. If that's the case, they're worse than devils."
"Don't spout off about things you don't know."
Ye Myeong-ui finally erupted in a boiling voice. The White Flame Witch snorted and eyed him.
"Getting all worked up just because you've dabbled in the Immortal Path. You know jack about the immortal realm."
"I know more than you, Silver Veil. It's just... just that I can't speak of it."
Ye Myeong-ui shook his head with a long sigh.
"...In this current world, only the Pitch-Black Night can speak freely of all things immortal. As the Black Demon King said, I'm just a half-immortal who abandoned training and fled. No, not even that—I've surely been excommunicated by now..."
"You don't even know if you've been excommunicated or not."
"Please, Silver Veil. Don't torment me."
"It's not wrong, is it?"
The Black Demon King chuckled and tilted his head.
"I don't know about the old days, but there are no proper immortals left in this world now. Ascension is impossible too."
"...That's right."
"That's why I respect you. You're not a true immortal, but you've lived two hundred years as a half-immortal at least. Surely you're not displeased that your much younger junior treats you roughly?"
"...No, not at all. I swear, Black Demon King, I've never felt displeasure toward you."
Ye Myeong-ui waved his hand dismissively and continued.
"Out of respect for your will, I've decided to teach this boy the basics of immortal arts. Not because I'm scared of your threats, but because I feel responsible for the patient under my care."
"Of course. You truly deserve the title of world's best."
With that, the Black Demon King rose.
"Sticking around would just be a nuisance, so shall I take my leave?"
The White Flame Witch glared distastefully at Ye Myeong-ui but clicked her tongue at the Black Demon King's words and stood.
[What's he thinking?]
[It won't be bad for that kid either. And there's something I need to discuss with you.]
[...Something?]
[In a few months, the Martial Alliance Leader and all the Ten Heroes responding to the Alliance's call will come to the Black Forest.]
At the sudden revelation, the White Flame Witch's expression stiffened.
'I haven't gotten a reply yet.'
The letter the Black Demon King had written all night and sent from the Black Forest was less than a week old. Heuk Myeong, the bearer, was the swiftest in lightness skill among the underworld messengers, but it would still take weeks to reach the Martial Alliance in the central capital.
'If they read the letter and still don't come here, the Martial Alliance has no reason to exist.'
Calming his turbulent heart, the Black Demon King left the room with the White Flame Witch.
"Damn bastard."
A little while after the Black Demon King left, Ye Myeong-ui spat out a curse. Wi Seongcheon, lost in thought with his unresolved questions, looked up at him in disbelief.
"That punk who's two hundred years younger than me...!"
"Um..."
"It's all because of you! If it weren't for you!"
"I didn't even ask you to treat me—why blame me?"
"Because you're easier than that ill-mannered Baek Ri Mu Won bastard!"
It was an honest answer. Ye Myeong-ui sighed deeply and clutched his head.
"...Is Chang Sambong an immortal?"
"...What?"
"The founding patriarch of Wudang, Chang Sambong. And the Sword Immortal Yeo Dongbin of the Eight Taoist Immortals... and other famous immortals. Are they truly immortals?"
"They are immortals."
Ye Myeong-ui stated flatly.
"I never met them personally, but they are without doubt immortals. Especially Daoist Chang Sambong—he's the last immortal in the world, as far as I know."
"Aren't you the last immortal, Ye Myeong-ui?"
"I told you I'm not an immortal."
"Then, is it true that Chang Sambong crossed into the Demon Realm, dueled the Heavenly Demon of that era with swords, and won by half a move? And that the Heavenly Demon, acknowledging defeat, promised not to invade the Central Plains while he was Heavenly Demon?"
"...I didn't witness it myself, but it's probably true."
"And that Sword Immortal Yeo Dongbin slew the evil dragon of the Demon Realm with the Heavenly Concealment Sword Technique?"
"What the hell are you talking about from hundreds of years ago? I've only lived two hundred years."
Was two hundred years something to call "only"?
"I get what you're curious about. To put it plainly, most who were called immortals three hundred years ago were genuine. But... being an immortal doesn't mean they're supreme beings of transcendent power."
Ye Myeong-ui's face crumpled.
"Even Daoist Chang Sambong, who founded Wudang three hundred years ago, couldn't truly defeat that great Heavenly Demon—he only claimed victory through a sword duel. And Daoist Yeo Dongbin, famed as the Sword Immortal for eight hundred years, merely slew a dragon in the Demon Realm, not the Heavenly Demon."
"But immortals are still far superior to humans, right?"
"Kid. You're about to ask the same question as Silver Veil, but I can't answer that. What I can tell you is that immortals strive for the world far beyond what lowly mortals like us babble about."
With that, Ye Myeong-ui plopped down into his seat. Clutching his still-throbbing head, he groaned. Wi Seongcheon pondered Ye Myeong-ui's words, recalling Ananna's claim that there were no gods or Buddhas in the world, and the Blood Cult's doctrine of correcting the twisted heavenly principles with human benevolence.
"So immortals do exist, after all. Who is the Pitch-Black Night?"
"...You sure have a lot of questions."
"You were all talking about things I don't know. I held back on asking about 'immortal qi' so as not to irk you, since it was my first time hearing it."
"You should get it without me spelling it out. Immortal qi is the power wielded by immortals."
"Of course. But why is this immortal power bad for my body?"
"How can a mere human, not even an immortal, handle immortal power? I've told you several times— the immortal qi in your body was supposed to dissipate naturally."
"What about Heavenly Person?"
"You little shit. Come here."
Ye Myeong-ui rolled his eyes and lunged at Wi Seongcheon. Wi Seongcheon flinched and tried to flee, but Ye Myeong-ui closed the distance in an instant and grabbed his shoulder.
And so the instruction began. According to Ye Myeong-ui, the Dawn Light Heavenly Spirit Pill was originally a medicine for those born with immortal bones aspiring to become immortals.
'Even becoming an immortal depends on one's bones?'
Not exactly, but those with immortal bones found cultivating the Immortal Path much easier in every way. The Heavenly Person could accept the immortal qi from the Dawn Light Heavenly Spirit Pill because their constitution belonged to the immortal bone category.
"Your body doesn't have immortal bones. Nor is it a Heavenly Murder Star, obviously. I can't say for sure, but examining you, it seems your body mutated into a unique physique over hundreds of years. Like the Peng family's tigers."
"...Is that so?"
"Unlike the Peng family, no crossbreeding with other species, but it must have been quite the ordeal. Especially the flexibility of your qi and blood—it's absurd."
Ye Myeong-ui shook his head and grumbled.
"No, is that even flexibility? Adaptability... I can't figure it out no matter how I think. Your qi and blood divided on their own, creating a new path connected to the upper dantian..."
"You said the human body is like the universe. Even things beyond understanding can happen."
"You're so nonchalant about your own body?"
"What can I do? It's already like this. And I don't feel like my body's in danger right now."
"You're one positive bastard."
Ye Myeong-ui stuck out his tongue in genuine admiration, not sarcasm. Wi Seongcheon could clearly sense his dragon vein and even manipulate it in reverse flow.
In that case.
Through Spirit Ignition, he might draw out the dragon vein's power. That would mean using the power of the not-fully-opened upper dantian via an evil path. Whether it would work was questionable, but worth testing. Especially if excessive innate qi he couldn't handle flowed into the upper dantian via the dragon vein.
'It could be the key to Spirit Ignition.'
If he succeeded in drawing out that innate qi.
"You're really going to teach me immortal arts?"
"If I don't, that Baek Ri Mu Won bastard will kill me."
Ye Myeong-ui spat and glared at Wi Seongcheon.
"Don't get your hopes up. What I'll teach you is the most basic of basics."
"Like riding clouds and flying?"
"That's advanced immortal arts even I can't do, you brat. It's just longevity and health tips—don't expect more!"
"I'm already plenty healthy..."
"Quit yapping, you little shit."
"Will I get to call you master?"
"Shut up! I don't take disciples. Medicine, maybe, but me—a non-immortal—teaching immortal arts is ridiculous enough. A disciple? I'd rather die...!"
Ye Myeong-ui shuddered as he spoke. Wi Seongcheon found his reaction unexpected. Ye Myeong-ui truly revered "immortals" and seemed ashamed of being a half-immortal.
"...First, I need to confirm the reason for your ridiculously abundant innate qi."
"It's not hard to answer, but in return, answer one more question of mine."
"More curiosities?"
"Who is the Pitch-Black Night?"
No sooner had the question ended than Ye Myeong-ui gasped sharply. For a split second, the hair on his head stood on end before settling back down.
"...A monster nesting in the Demon Realm."
"A demon beast? From what I heard earlier..."
"Not some demon beast. The Pitch-Black Night... is a fox immortal. A true immortal incomparable to me, the last remaining immortal in the world. Don't question or feel curious about the Pitch-Black Night. You must never get involved."
Ye Myeong-ui said this while breaking into a cold sweat. Wi Seongcheon saw the fear in his eyes.
'Fox immortal? Never heard of it...?'
If such a being existed in the Demon Realm, there should at least be rumors. Or was it so revered that even rumors didn't circulate? Unclear, but Wi Seongcheon nodded and replied.
"The reason for my innate qi is that I ate a dragon jade."
"...What?"
"I ate a dragon jade."
"Dragon? Jade? A dragon's?"
"Yes."
At that answer, Ye Myeong-ui let out a hollow laugh, then rolled his eyes and lunged at Wi Seongcheon again. In that "hey" moment, Ye Myeong-ui flanked behind him.
"What are you—gah!"
"Spit it out!"
Ye Myeong-ui wrapped his arms around Wi Seongcheon's stomach and bellowed.
"You just ate something that precious?! Spit it out!"
Desperate as his cry was, the dragon jade eaten months ago wasn't coming back up.