Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Heirs of the Muyoung Kingdom
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As the self-proclaimed father departed, Byok Noe and his group set off.
After walking for some time, they stopped in front of a staircase leading upward, with a passage to the outside at the top.
Beyond the passage, a round object hung in the sky.
“My God, it’s the moon!”
Hwa-geuk cried out, his face filled with excitement.
He wasn’t the only one. The others gazed at the moon with expressions of awe.
In the past, whenever they stood here, they saw only pitch-black storm clouds and nonstop lightning instead of the sky. The relentless bolts had made it impossible to even think of venturing outside.
It was due to the formation constructed using the energy of the Heavenly Divine Five Pools. The formation served two purposes: preventing intruders and ensuring the lakes never dried up.
No one had imagined the formation could malfunction. For fifty years, nothing happened. The kingdom prospered in peace—a true golden age.
Strange signs began appearing after a hundred years. The Heavenly Divine Five Pools released their innate energy for four hours each day, enveloping the entire kingdom. The formation’s masters stepped forward to study the disaster-like natural phenomena. They discovered that the formation, installed a hundred years prior, was amplifying the energy of the Heavenly Divine Five Pools.
They immediately attempted to dismantle it.
But they failed. The formation had already evolved into something entirely different from when it was first set up.
The energy from the Heavenly Divine Five Pools grew stronger, and despite countless efforts, the formation only intensified.
When the Fire Spirit Extreme Pool released its energy, the kingdom became a fiery inferno. When the Ice Extreme Cold Pool did, it turned into an icy wasteland. Countless people died.
They had no choice but to abandon the kingdom.
Some left, while others went underground.
That was how they survived.
But now, the moon was visible.
“Let’s go.”
The group hurried up the stairs.
The staircase was about twenty zhang long. By the time they reached the top, their breathing had grown slightly ragged—not from the effort of climbing, but from anticipation. Moments later, they stood at the summit.
“Ohhh!”
Exclamations burst from all five mouths at once. They were atop a low hill, from which the view below unfolded like a painting: countless buildings and a massive lake.
“Oh! Lake Muyoung!”
The five knelt on the spot and bowed in reverence. Then they leaped downward.
Due to the centuries, some buildings were dilapidated, others collapsed.
As the group walked, they turned to look back. The Wall of Lightning Hell, with its strikes and thunderbolts, remained unchanged.
They quickened their pace, then unleashed lightness skills to soar forward. Soon, they arrived at the lake.
Due to the formation’s influence, the area around the lake was barren wasteland.
“Soon, trees will grow here and flowers will bloom! This place will become paradise!”
Byok Noe shouted.
“Let’s hurry and inform His Highness.”
“Indeed.”
The five leaped forward again.
At that moment.
A man in his late fifties sat before Ak Muyoo. Like the others, he had white hair and pale skin—he was Ma Dunjirang, king of the fallen Muyoung Kingdom.
Ak Muyoo lay utterly still, as if dead.
“Those of us who chose the underground devoted ourselves to dismantling the formation. In the process, we discovered that only a Chaos Body could stop it. A Chaos Body is a minor chaos. Just as primordial chaos encompassed all, a Chaos Body could contain all the energy of the Heavenly Divine Five Pools. But there was no Chaos Body. We sent people to the Central Plains repeatedly to search for one. Centuries passed, and then you came to us.”
Ma Dunjirang was so overjoyed he could barely speak.
“The formation has likely been dismantled by now. All thanks to you. Once I reabsorb the five energies you’ve taken in, I’ll become the supreme under heaven—no, the supreme through the ages. What fortune allows me this luxury?”
Ma Dunjirang grinned broadly.
“Wait…… To obtain the Heavenly Divine Five Qi, do I need to…… merge palaces?”
He muttered while staring into space. The Heavenly Divine Five Qi was the term for combining the five energies.
“You bastard!”
“Hm? Was that you?”
Ma Dunjirang looked at Ak Muyoo. But Ak Muyoo remained in the same state as before.
“No need for merging palaces. I have my own method.”
Ma Dunjirang climbed atop Ak Muyoo and locked his fingers into a hook. In that position, he planned to absorb the Heavenly Divine Five Qi through his palms. Slowly, he circulated his energy absorption art.
‘It’s coming!’
Ma Dunjirang’s face lit up with joy.
An immense energy poured in through both palms. He waited patiently. No need to push the absorption art to its limits.
‘Now I am the supreme through the ages. First, convert the Heavenly Divine Five Qi into my own internal energy……’
Unknowingly, Ma Dunjirang lost himself in fantasy.
‘After fully absorbing the Heavenly Divine Five Qi and refining it into internal energy through meditation…… How long will it take? Six months? A year? Maybe longer. But eventually, it’ll all become mine. Then I’ll refine my martial arts, head to the Central Plains, and deal with those Absolute Five Heavens fools one by one……’
Once started, the imaginings snowballed. He closed his eyes, immersing himself.
‘I’ll have to dethrone that emperor too. Sitting in the Forbidden City…… Hm?’
Ma Dunjirang’s eyes snapped open.
“Gasp!”
He let out a groan.
He met cold eyes. At first, he didn’t realize whose they were. Then he remembered he was in the midst of absorbing the Heavenly Divine Five Qi.
“You’re not unconscious?”
Regaining his composure, he asked.
“You bastard.”
Killing intent emanated from Ak Muyoo’s glaring form.
“So you were the one who said ‘you bastard’ earlier.”
“That’s right, bastard.”
“Pfft!”
Ma Dunjirang chuckled.
“It makes me want to puke, but you’re laughing?”
“Why do you feel like puking?”
“We’re holding hands like lovers, asshole. And this position is ridiculous.”
“I don’t mind……”
“You’re not…… clenching down there, are you?”
“I don’t particularly indulge in male lovers.”
“Not particularly means you do sometimes.”
“I was obsessed in my youth.”
“You filthy bastard……”
“I’m the type who needs to experience everything to be satisfied.”
“What a clown. So, what’ll you do once you get all the Heavenly Divine Five Qi?”
“Become the supreme through the ages.”
“Big dreams, bastard. If every dog and pig becomes the supreme through the ages, the Central Plains martial world will overflow with them.”
“You don’t fully understand the Heavenly Divine Five Qi yet…… Gasp!”
Ma Dunjirang’s eyes widened in shock.
He had thought he was absorbing the Heavenly Divine Five Qi. But no—the opposite was true. His own internal energy was being sucked into Ak Muyoo.
“How can someone without a dantian use energy absorption……”
Ma Dunjirang couldn’t believe it. He had let his guard down because Ak Muyoo had no dantian. Without one, circulating energy or using martial arts was impossible. Energy absorption was no exception.
Yet his energy was being drained.
“I don’t have a dantian, but I have the Myriad Phenomena Great Heaven Force.”
Ak Muyoo intensified the Myriad Phenomena Great Heaven Force. The reason he could absorb Ma Dunjirang’s energy was by combining it with the energy absorption great law. He didn’t know why he thought to mix them.
When Ara’s voice transmission urged him to circulate and refine, the energy absorption great law learned from Manju Jeokhwa came to mind, and he executed it alongside the Myriad Phenomena Great Heaven Force. Manju Jeokhwa had taught him the reverse energy absorption great law, saying a few changes would turn it into the true absorption version.
He had been skeptical at first.
But the absorption speed increased.
Incredibly, despite lacking a dantian, he absorbed energy like a true martial artist.
He couldn’t describe his shock.
It opened new possibilities and hope.
If done right, he might invent a martial art functioning like a dantian.
He needed more data. So he continued using the Myriad Phenomena Great Heaven Force and energy absorption great law together.
Eventually, he discovered how to merge them into one.
“I have the energy absorption great law too.”
Ak Muyoo smirked.
“Let go! Let go!”
Ma Dunjirang yelled, trying to shake free. But with fingers hooked, they wouldn’t release.
“Exactly. Not even lovers, and you hook fingers like that.”
Ak Muyoo gripped Ma Dunjirang’s hands tighter. More energy flowed in. Soon, Ma Dunjirang’s dantian was empty. As strength left his body, Ak Muyoo shoved him away and stood.
He looked around.
Fortunately, his clothes were nearby.
He dressed, donned the Mad Demon Armor and Solar Heaven Sword Bracers, equipped the Secret Heaven Ruyi Ink and Demon Hook, and slung the Heavenly Divine Solar Bow on his back.
“No need for this.”
One of the Seventy-Four Chains popped out of thin air. It was Ara.
“You know I almost got raped by this bastard?”
“No?”
“This guy was thinking of merging palaces to extract the Heavenly Divine Five Qi.”
“Pfft! If he’d done it, we’d have had a much funnier show. Shame.”
“You really……”
“Urk!”
“What?”
“I imagined it.”
“Ugh! Why are you hiding, anyway?”
He asked while buckling the Seventy-Four Chain.
“I’m naked right now.”
“……You’re not into some pervert stuff, right?”
“It’s the best attire for deploying Chaos Veil.”
“You’ve mastered it perfectly?”
“Yeah.”
“Still cold. Put on some clothes.”
“I’m going to get dressed. Wanna stay here?”
“Let’s go together.”
Ak Muyoo hoisted Ma Dunjirang over his shoulder.
“Let go, you bastard!”
Ma Dunjirang shouted.
“One more word, and I’ll cut your throat. Got it?”
As soon as Ak Muyoo spoke, Ma Dunjirang clamped his mouth shut like a clam.
The two exited.
“Eek!”
Byoksa startled upon seeing Ak Muyoo. She immediately drew her sword.
“Put that away, or this bastard dies.”
Clang!
Ak Muyoo flicked his arm, and the Fear Demon shot out. He grabbed its hilt and pressed it to Ma Dunjirang’s crown.
“Got it. I’ll put it away.”
“Not away—drop it.”
“Understood.”
Byoksa unbelted her sword and scabbard, letting them fall.
“Now seal your pressure points.”
“Do we…… have to? We saved your life.”
“You saved the ‘vessel,’ not me.”
“The vessel?”
“The vessel to hold the Heavenly Divine Five Qi.”
“……”
“Now seal them.”
“What if we don’t?”
“He’ll kill you.”
The reply came from beside Byoksa’s ear.
“Gasp!”
Byoksa paled in terror.
She hadn’t dreamed anyone was right there.
“Y-You’re……”
“That’s right. Me.”
“How did you unseal the points?”
“Pressure points release under stronger force.”
“So you’re stronger than me……”
“Better seal them now.”
“Fine.”
No choice. Byoksa pressed her own pressure points.
“How many live here?”
“We number five hundred in total.”
“Are the others all as strong as you?”
“I’m the weakest.”
“Lady Byoksa’s power is three jia, and you’re the weakest?”
What shocked Ara most was their internal energy levels. She’d seen a few, and their power was beyond imagination.
“We cultivated using the Heavenly Divine Five Pools. At death’s door, we passed it to the next generation.”
“The elders’ energy seemed over five jia. That explains it.”
Ak Muyoo nodded.
“How do you know that, Muyoo?”
“Hm?”
“Their internal energy levels.”
“I sense it naturally.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. That’s why I could only lie still while this bastard muttered about merging palaces—his energy was overwhelming. Stronger than Byok Noe and those monsters.”
“You’re turning into more of a monster yourself.”
“Seems so.”
“But where’d all that six-jia-plus energy go?”
“Hidden somewhere in my body, I guess.”
“Like a rich man who lost the key to his treasure vault.”
“Perfect analogy. Shall we go?”
Ak Muyoo glanced at Byoksa.
“Me too?”
Byoksa asked.
“You’re hostages with him.”
Ak Muyoo tapped Ma Dunjirang’s head with the Fear Demon’s tip.
“Aaagh!”
Ma Dunjirang screamed. A light tap drew blood trickling down.
“O-Okay.”
Byoksa led the way.
First, Ara entered the room where she’d bathed and dressed. Then she rescued Mok U’s group from another room and recovered their lost belongings.
“Now I want to go outside.”
“Not sure that’ll happen.”
Byoksa opened the stone door.
Beyond was a vast plaza, where hundreds held drawn weapons, glaring at them.
“Quite the welcome party.”
Ak Muyoo smirked.