Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Beyond the Iron Gate
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Half a day later, the group led by the Tathagata Divine Fist and the Bright Moon Saber finally arrived at the iron gate.
"At last..."
"We've made it."
Having passed through the traps in the Shadowless Divine Throw's secret chamber, they spoke in weary voices.
Their appearances were far from pristine.
Clothes torn here and there.
Wounds scattered across their bodies.
All souvenirs from navigating the traps.
"Hah. This isn't another trap, right?"
One of the ronin muttered softly.
And who could blame him? The traps weren't just one or two.
Iron bars shooting up from the floor.
Sudden iron maces thrusting out.
Gigantic axes swinging from left and right.
Hidden projectiles raining from all directions.
Everyone, who had been rushing excitedly toward the iron gate, froze at the ronin's words.
They scanned the area around the gate.
Already, dozens of corpses lay dead.
No matter that the Tathagata Divine Fist and Bright Moon Saber were with them, they weren't tomb raiders.
Of course, they had smashed through some traps with brute force, but it hadn't been easy.
Especially the fourth trap!
Even with the Tathagata Divine Fist clearing the path ahead, failing to dodge the projectiles meant certain death.
"...Doesn't look like a trap."
"Better safe than sorry."
They eyed it suspiciously, over and over.
After barely making it this far, dying now would be the height of injustice.
At that moment.
"Go check it out."
The Bright Moon Saber ordered his subordinates.
Whoosh—
One of the Yellow One Squad members darted forward.
He approached the iron gate, fiddled with something, and signaled that all was clear.
"No traps, then."
The Bright Moon Saber immediately strode up to the gate.
With arrival so close, there was no need to mind the Tathagata Divine Fist or the Arhat monks.
Now, speed was essential.
"Hup!"
But no matter how hard he pushed to open it, the iron gate didn't budge an inch.
Squad Leader."
"Let us try..."
The Yellow One Squad members rushed to help, but.
"No use."
He withdrew his hands and stepped back.
"Allow this little monk to give it a try."
Taking his turn, the Tathagata Divine Fist approached and shoved the gate with all his might.
Veins bulged on his forehead from the effort.
Yet.
"..."
The iron gate remained utterly still.
"There must be a special way to open it."
"Do you know it?"
"No idea."
The two furrowed their brows.
The long-sought destination, finally reached.
Yet they couldn't enter.
"We can't just keep waiting."
The Bright Moon Saber drew the massive saber from his back.
Schling!
In that instant, everyone understood why he bore the moniker Bright Moon Saber.
As he channeled his internal energy, the greatly curved giant blade gleamed like a new moon in the dead of night.
"Have to smash it."
He raised the saber high and brought it down.
Whoosh!
A fierce sword wind howled, and the sharp saber light clashed against the iron gate.
Kiiiiiing!
Sparks flew amid a chilling screech.
After a prolonged struggle of brute force.
Bang!
The Bright Moon Saber was flung backward.
"...Not ordinary iron, huh."
His brows knitted in frustration.
Even unleashing the Bright Moon Saber Art infused with internal energy hadn't left a single scratch.
Then, a gust of wind whipped from the side.
Boom!
Something struck the gate hard and vanished in an instant.
Turning, they saw the Tathagata Divine Fist's grim expression after throwing his fist.
"Amitabha."
Cold sweat beaded on his brow.
He had executed the Hundred-Pace Divine Fist to its limit, yet the gate bore not the slightest mark.
"...We need to figure out the method."
"Complicated business."
Meanwhile, the Muyoung Sect Leader's eyes gleamed.
'This is the door my master once mentioned!'
He glanced around cautiously.
'They're not the type to leave without it.'
Shaolin and the Sun Moon Sect departing empty-handed? Unthinkable.
That left only one option.
The Muyoung Sect Leader approached the two.
"I know the way."
The Bright Moon Saber's eyes lit up.
"You do?"
"Yes."
"How?"
As the Bright Moon Saber stared suspiciously, the Muyoung Sect Leader spoke lowly.
"Our sect's founding ancestor was a disciple of the Shadowless Divine Throw."
The Tathagata Divine Fist's eyes widened.
"Haha, so you're the Muyoung Sect Leader."
"You know of us?"
"Hahaha. I've heard the Muyoung Sect's Shadowless Body Art is peerless."
The Muyoung Sect Leader's lips twitched, surprised by the recognition from the Tathagata Divine Fist.
"Ahem."
"I worried after a century without activity in the jianghu, but it's good to see the lineage endures."
The Muyoung Sect Leader's face darkened.
"...There were circumstances."
Curious as the Tathagata Divine Fist was, he prioritized the urgent matter.
"More importantly, your willingness to step forward means you'll open the gate yourself?"
"If you make one promise..."
"Trying to bargain now?"
The Bright Moon Saber erupted with killing intent.
"I, I just seek fair compensation."
Under the intense pressure, the Muyoung Sect Leader broke out in sweat and forced out the words.
"A... And if not, I won't open it."
"Even in death, you'd babble..."
"Only I in the world can open this."
As he spoke firmly, the Tathagata Divine Fist dispersed the Muyoung Sect Leader's killing intent and interposed.
"They say the Muyoung Sect Leader never yields, and it rings true."
"You're too kind."
The Tathagata Divine Fist asked quietly.
"What promise?"
"Hand over the Shadowless Divine Throw manual to me."
"Very well."
Surprised by the Tathagata Divine Fist's ready acceptance, the Muyoung Sect Leader's eyes bulged.
"...Really?"
"Why would one who embodies the Buddha's will speak falsehoods?"
The Tathagata Divine Fist glanced at the Bright Moon Saber.
"And you?"
Though displeased with the Muyoung Sect Leader's haggling, the Bright Moon Saber.
"Fine."
His top priority was the bizarre moon wheel his liege sought, name unknown.
'Even if they take the manual, they won't let us leave freely.'
But the Muyoung Sect Leader, reading his thoughts, eyed the Tathagata Divine Fist.
'Just get protection from the Tathagata Divine Fist and slip out.'
With the Shadowless Body Art, even the Bright Moon Saber couldn't catch him.
The Muyoung Sect Leader approached the iron gate.
"Then I'll open it."
After a few deft touches.
Clank!
The iron gate began to open.
"All that effort... for that."
"A mechanism, then."
After all their straining, a mere flick opened it—the Bright Moon Saber stared in dismay.
But only briefly.
As the interior came into view, his expression hardened.
Not just him.
All gazes turned icy cold.
The air inside was chillingly frigid.
Several statues within the secret chamber were utterly shattered, and sharp sword marks scarred the walls.
Worse, the wooden chest lay toppled on the floor, its mouth agape.
"...What happened here?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thud.
Cheonhwi closed the last martial arts manual and rolled his stiff neck side to side.
"Hm. Not bad."
He was quite satisfied.
The manuals organized by Bima were all worthy of being called supreme techniques of the world.
'Indeed, fit for the rankings.'
If there was a regret.
"Fewer manuals than expected."
There were exactly twelve in the wooden chest, most of which he already knew.
"Without these three, it'd be under twenty..."
Cheonhwi looked down at the three manuals.
Heavenly Net Soul-Locking Scripture.
Black Sword Linked Rings Ten Forms.
Heavenly Demon Scripture from Beyond.
'The Heavenly Net Soul-Locking Scripture seems the original of the silver yarn technique the Black Temple used, and the Black Sword Linked Rings Ten Forms is practical for combat.'
The two were imperial martial arts.
And the last one.
'This is what Demon Brain coveted.'
Cheonhwi gazed at the Heavenly Demon Scripture from Beyond.
The book itself was ominous.
Bound in human skin, rather than demonic arts, it contained several vicious demonic secrets.
'Left deliberately for Demon Brain?'
Cheonhwi chuckled.
Bima and Demon Brain had bad blood, yet acknowledged each other's skill.
"Still, it's tricky."
Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
The manuals were all exceptional.
"But I can't use them."
Most belonged to sects still active today.
In his previous life, maybe, but as a Mount Hua Sect Daoist now? Impossible.
Of course, there were decent ones.
Like the Severed Prison Annihilation Art from the now-extinct Orthodox Sect, or the Unmoving Heart Formula without an owner.
But they didn't appeal.
"Better to train something else."
Having mastered countless arts, Cheonhwi knew superior ones.
'The only one worth learning is this.'
His eyes fixed on one spot.
The sole manual not classified into five categories.
Bima's own martial arts manual.
'Flying Heaven Steps...'
A smirk escaped.
"Fitting for Bima."
Never neglecting training, Bima had created this movement technique.
One maximizing efficiency with minimal internal energy.
Perfect for Cheonhwi, whose energy was less than in his past life.
"And it's not demonic."
Was it because Bima was Flying Dragon Sect Leader before pledging to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
This Flying Heaven Steps felt devoid of demonic taint.
Rather, it exuded the pure elegance of his sect, Flying Dragon.
'Not intentional, but perfect for me now.'
"Tch."
Cheonhwi scratched his head.
'Quite some time has passed.'
Lost in the manuals, he had no sense of time.
"Seen everything now."
He surveyed the room.
Great for study and rest with the manuals, but one flaw.
No food.
Precisely, Bima's old provisions—rice cakes in the wall—had rotted away over centuries.
'Bima couldn't have foreseen three hundred years.'
Glancing at the stone chest that held them, Cheonhwi stood.
"Time to head out and grab a bite."
He calmly adjusted his robes.
Then buckled the two swords at his waist, ready to leave.
"Before I go..."
His eyes gleamed as he reached toward the wooden chest with the manuals replaced.
And ignited Samadhi True Fire.
Roar!
The books and chest blazed, thick smoke billowing and obscuring vision.
"Now, let's go."
No meaning remained here.
Manuals memorized, Bima's prepared demonic sword secured at his waist.
Sching—
Cheonhwi drew the demonic sword without hesitation.
Fwaaah!
The blade, freed from its sheath, spewed demonic energy as if long awaited.
Consumed by the demonic aura, Cheonhwi grinned fiercely.
"End it with flair?"
His eyes narrowed.
Infusing the Absolute Dominion Art's aura into the demonic sword.
—Vrrr!
The sword quivered in ecstasy.
This intense energy!
Absolute presence!
As the sword intoxicated by the indescribable wave of power.
"Watch closely, Bima."
Cheonhwi slowly raised the sword.
His gaze emitted chilling menace, and soon an incomprehensible aura erupted from the demonic sword.
"The sword that led you to the Divine Cult."
In that instant, the world split in two.
Crack!
Those staring blankly at the empty Shadowless Divine Throw secret chamber panicked as the wall suddenly cracked.
"E-earthquake?"
The wall, etched with intricate patterns, split cleanly down the middle.
Step— step—
A figure emerged from within.
A sharp-featured young man in his mid-twenties, uniquely bearing two swords at his side.
"A person?"
"Why's there someone in there?"
Everyone burst in bewilderment.
A man appearing from the split wall was only natural.
Meanwhile, the young man scratched his head, looked around, and spoke.
"Anyone got something to eat?"