Arrival, Encounter
"What? Don't tell me..."
"It is not that monster. This one is much smaller and slower... It is likely a human, or perhaps one of the lesser beasts."
The young man let out a sigh of relief at those words, but his tense expression did not soften. While that horrific monster was undoubtedly the most terrifying entity in this place, there were plenty of other threats to worry about. Not only did they have to watch out for the smaller monsters that could leap out at any moment, but they also had to remain vigilant against the humans.
"The news must have spread completely by now, right?"
"Most likely. Even when we arrived, it seemed as though the humans from three or four neighboring counties had already swarmed the area."
The number of humans they had spotted before entering the Secret Realm numbered in the hundreds, and every single one of them was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Of course, the vast majority of them were only in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and it was highly improbable that all of them had ventured inside. Yet, even if only a fraction had entered, they would still number in the dozens. And if the news had spread even further in the meantime...
"The Human Territory is going to be turned completely upside down."
The young man sneered. Hearing this, Bang Yeom nodded once, then shook his head.
"The Human Territory is vast, and the foundation of the human race runs deep. They will suffer losses, but it will not be a crippling blow."
"Oh? Won't nine out of ten who entered this place end up as food for that monster?"
"Undoubtedly. However, the humans have strength in numbers. Furthermore... if the situation truly escalates to a critical level, the Golden Elixir cultivators will make their move."
Having witnessed the monster's terrifying power firsthand, they had no doubt that the human cultivators swarming this place were marching toward an absolute catastrophe. But that was only true when measured against Foundation Establishment cultivators. If Golden Elixir cultivators—the human equivalent of Demon Kings—stepped forward...
"Then we must hope that day comes as late as possible."
As the son of a Demon King, the young man was well aware of the might of a Golden Elixir cultivator. No matter how horrific that monster was, before a Golden Elixir master, it would be nothing more than a slightly troublesome insect.
"Let us hurry."
"Yes, Young Master."
Most of the cultivators who entered the Secret Realm either panicked in sheer terror or lost their minds entirely, consumed by the oppressive darkness. Only a select few managed to shake off their dread and calmly calculate their next moves, much like the young man and Bang Yeom.
Their thoughts ran along similar lines. Whether they chose to flee the Secret Realm or test their fate as originally intended, they instinctively knew that the brief window of time bought by other cultivators distracting the monster was their only chance.
The sudden influx of cultivators caused the darkness of the Secret Realm to ripple continuously. Thanks to this disturbance, it did not take long for quite a few cultivators to discover the existence of the spire situated deep within the realm.
Rumble—
The darkness churned, and the heavens groaned. In the outside world, one might have dismissed it as a mere sign of approaching rain, but here, it was a different story.
It sounds almost like laughter.
It felt as though some entity hiding high up in the pitch-black sky was chuckling softly. If that was indeed the case, what could possibly be making it so pleased and satisfied?
"Another one has passed by."
Jekyeong snapped out of his thoughts at Myeong-ha's low voice. He craned his neck to peer in the direction Myeong-ha was looking, but as expected, he saw nothing.
"Was that the fifth group so far?"
"Indeed. If we count individuals as groups, that is."
Myeong-ha smiled faintly, tapping his fingers as if performing a mental calculation.
"I believe we can start moving now."
"I thought you would suggest waiting a bit longer."
"I would like to, but... I fear the board might be flipped if we delay any further."
"The board flipped?"
Myeong-ha looked toward the direction from which several cultivators had come—the opposite side of the spire—and spoke.
"I do not know exactly how many humans have swarmed in, but it must be a substantial number. And most of them are likely dead, or..."
"Devoured. Though in the end, there is no real difference between the two."
"Precisely. No matter how vast the human population is, if dozens or hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators perish, those at the top will inevitably take notice. A Golden Elixir cultivator might even intervene."
Rising to his feet, Jekyeong swept his gaze up and down Myeong-ha, who looked visibly exhausted.
"Are you going to be alright?"
"Do not worry. I will not drag you down."
To Jekyeong, those words somehow sounded like an implicit request for him to take the lead if any heavy lifting was required. But even if that were the case, he did not mind. After all, it was an undeniable fact that Myeong-ha had been laboring alone for the past few days.
"Let's go."
After draining the last drop of his Spirit Wine, Jekyeong set off with long, purposeful strides.
The darkness permeating this pocket dimension stole not only one's vision but also their very perception of time. Jekyeong had no idea how long it had been since they entered the Secret Realm. He had kept clear track of the first few days, but at some point, the flow of time had slipped from his grasp.
"It has been one month and six days."
Unlike Jekyeong, Myeong-ha still maintained a precise grasp of time. He behaved as though every single day spent in this place held some profound significance. Jekyeong could not comprehend his thoughts, but having a companion who kept his wits so sharp by his side brought him a small measure of comfort.
"Another one."
Myeong-ha bent down to examine several deep, gouged lines in the earth. They looked like claw marks left by a massive beast. Judging by their sheer scale...
"A size comparable to a typical Great Demon Beast."
Myeong-ha muttered in a grave tone, but Jekyeong merely swept his eyes over it indifferently before turning away. This was already the fourth trace of combat—or hunting—they had discovered. He had been tense the first couple of times, but now it failed to evoke any real emotion.
"Is there something unusual about this one?"
"There is."
"Hmm?"
Jekyeong, who had expected the same dismissive reply as before, raised his eyebrows in surprise and turned back. Myeong-ha, just straightening his back, continued with a peculiar expression.
"I can sense demonic energy. And it is incredibly pure and potent."
"To what extent?"
"In terms of demonic energy alone, it is comparable to yours, Fellow Daoist, or perhaps only slightly inferior."
Jekyeong's expression hardened. It was not because his pride was wounded. While he took a certain amount of pride in his own achievements, he was never arrogant. He was simply startled. It was surprising enough that a member of the Beast Race had entered a Secret Realm situated right in the middle of the Human Territory, but it was even more shocking that this beast's demonic energy was on par with his own.
Of course, demonic energy was not an absolute measure of combat strength, but among the Beast Race, those with pure and powerful demonic energy were almost never weak. At least, Jekyeong had never seen or heard of such a case.
"Furthermore, there are two of them, not just one."
"Do you have any idea who they might be?"
Jekyeong also shook off his complacency, his vigilance sharpening once more.
"Well, I cannot say for sure. But really, wouldn't it be one of two possibilities?"
"Most likely."
A powerhouse estimated to be in the late stage of the Great Yao realm, accompanied by a companion. Add to that the sheer audacity required to set foot deep within the Human Territory... and as Myeong-ha suggested, it had to be one of two factions: Gyeongwang Palace or Yojeong.
The probability of it being Gyeongwang Palace is low... but one can never be entirely sure.
If rumors of the Secret Realm had reached them, even the relatively passive Great Yao of Gyeongwang Palace would have plenty of individuals willing to take a gamble. Such was the nature of an opportunity to form a Golden Elixir. Before the prospect of ascending to a higher realm of the immortal path, any cultivator—regardless of race—would inevitably lose their mind to greed.
"Let us move on. There is nothing left around here."
The Secret Realm was filled with nothing but absolute silence. This was because the darkness, which seemed to constitute the very fabric of this world, swallowed not only light but sound as well. Here, even if a violent battle were raging just ahead, splitting the earth and collapsing mountains, one would not hear a single sound until they drew close.
Even Myeong-ha could only rely on his 'minor tricks' to roughly map his immediate surroundings; his senses were just as heavily suppressed as Jekyeong's.
Thud!
Thus, when an unidentified body suddenly plummeted from the sky like a meteor, their reactions were identical, as if reflected in a mirror. First, they leaped backward in a hurry, their hands moving instinctively. Two Lost-Soul Puppets materialized in front of Myeong-ha, while the Flame King Whip appeared in Jekyeong's hand.
They cast a sidelong glance at the Great Demon writhing inside the massive crater, then looked up at the sky.
"Screeech!"
High up in the sky, barely within their line of sight, another Great Yao—unquestionably of the same species as the one that had just fallen—was screeching ferociously as it battled an enemy.
"It is a Heumwon."
As Jekyeong strained his eyes to watch the battle, Myeong-ha's low voice brought him back to reality.
So these are the Heumwon.
He had heard about them so often that his ears had grown calloused, but this was his first time seeing them with his own eyes. Seeing them in person, they shared many similarities with the tales, but there were also stark differences.
The physical appearance was indeed similar. The fierce-looking avian head and wings, combined with the torso and abdomen of a wasp, were exactly as described in the stories. On the other hand, the descriptions of their temperament differed. According to the tales he had heard, the Heumwon clan possessed an innate, unyielding ferocity, often choosing to fight to the death rather than submit, even when facing an overwhelmingly powerful foe.
Yet, the Heumwon currently in sight was visibly terrified. Its ferocious cries were actually desperate shrieks of pure agony, and the only reason it continued to fight was because its opponent refused to let it escape.
What is that...?
Jekyeong narrowed his eyes. The opponent driving the Great Yao-level Heumwon into a corner was a pale, hazy entity. Every time the Heumwon's attacks struck, the figure dispersed like mist before reforming, making it difficult to discern its exact shape.
Is it a Ghost Demon?
It seemed completely unfazed by the Heumwon's desperate onslaught. The Heumwon's strikes passed harmlessly through the black smoke, whereas every time the spreading black smoke brushed against its body, the Heumwon writhed in violent agony.
To Jekyeong's eyes, this was not a battle, but a hunt. The Heumwon was the prey, and the entity suspected to be a Ghost Demon was the hunter. Although the prey was somehow holding on for now, it would not last long. Its fall was only a matter of time.
"Let's go."
At Jekyeong's words, Myeong-ha snapped out of his daze and nodded. Whatever that Ghost Demon-like entity was, it looked exceptionally dangerous. Avoiding it was undoubtedly the wisest course of action.
"Ugh... groan..."
Just as they were about to make a hasty retreat, the Heumwon that had crashed into the crater struggled to flap its wings and rise. However, the moment it spotted Jekyeong and Myeong-ha, its eyes widened in shock. Forgetting to keep its wings beating, it plummeted straight back down.
"Argh... cough!"
Foul-smelling blood seeped from its slightly parted, sharp beak.
"..."
Jekyeong silently summoned the Flame King Whip. The whip of fire, a crystallization of pure flame energy, was already gripped in his hand the instant the thought crossed his mind.
"Wait. Leave it be."
"Hmm?"