Chapter 303: Qi Deviation-3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 303: Qi Deviation-3
Sun-woo quickly turned his head, scanning his surroundings.
Now that he had found a solution, he intended to put it into practice immediately. To do that, he needed the Ice Essence that had been sent flying by the explosion.
‘Damn it.’
Sun-woo cursed inwardly. No matter where he looked, there was nothing but ice. It was impossible to find the Ice Essence easily in a place like this.
While the Ice Essence was undoubtedly a precious treasure, its appearance was no different from a common chunk of ice. Finding such a thing in a landscape buried under frozen blocks was a fool's errand. He couldn't help but swear.
Sun-woo felt a headache coming on. There was simply too much to do. To cure her Qi Deviation, he had to subdue her, and to subdue her, he had to make her consume the Ice Essence. And to make her consume it, he had to find it first.
The tasks were piled up like a chain.
‘Let’s find the Ice Essence first.’
Sun-woo decided to tackle the prerequisite first. Ultimately, the Ice Essence was the key. Without it, everything else was a waste of time.
He began to accelerate his thoughts again, trying to figure out how to locate the treasure on this vast, frozen peak. To find something, one first had to identify its distinguishing characteristics.
So, what set the Ice Essence apart from ordinary ice?
Visually, there was no difference. The Ice Essence itself was merely a block of ice imbued with Extreme Yin energy. He had to find another point of divergence.
The Ice Essence contained Extreme Yin energy, unlike regular ice. What were the characteristics of that energy?
It was cold. It emitted a chill that froze everything around it. Furthermore, it did not melt easily even when exposed to sunlight. The Yin energy, condensed over decades, was not something even the sun's rays could easily dissolve.
‘Ah!’
A flash of inspiration struck Sun-woo’s mind.
That was it. He could use its resistance to melting. The Ice Essence was a crystal formed through decades of constant exposure to frigid cold and Yin energy. Therefore, it possessed the unique trait of not melting easily, even under the scorching sun.
Sun-woo realized that if he utilized that characteristic, he could definitely find it.
He slowly raised his head and looked at Neung So-hwa.
"Have you finished your deliberations?" Neung So-hwa asked, watching him.
"Did you wait for me?"
"Of course. This lady fond of you, after all. I can afford to grant you a brief moment of waiting."
"I'm honored."
"So, what were you agonizing over? Have you finally decided to become mine?"
"No."
Sun-woo’s reply was firm.
"…How disappointing."
Neung So-hwa pouted at his blunt answer. Sun-woo slowly raised his sword.
"Do you intend to continue?"
"Haven't you heard the saying? If a man draws his sword, he should at least slice a radish."
"That is a story I am hearing for the first time in my life."
"I'm not surprised. It's a saying from my hometown."
Sun-woo let out a small smirk as he spoke.
"Your hometown's words?"
"Yeah, my home."
Sun-woo nodded in response.
"Come to think of it, it seems this lady does not know much about you."
"I'll tell you everything later. Every single detail."
"And when exactly is 'later'?" she asked curiously.
"After I knock you out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Sun-woo thrust the Dragon Tail Soft Sword forward.
Sshhhhk!
The Dragon Tail Soft Sword extended relentlessly, lunging toward Neung So-hwa.
Boom!
The sword collided with Neung So-hwa’s Flame Emperor's Demonic Qi, erupting in a massive roar.
"It is a promise, then!"
The Demonic Qi that blocked the sword began to flow back along the blade toward Sun-woo.
Whoosh!
Sun-woo quickly swung the sword, scattering the encroaching energy. Then, he lunged at her again.
Whoosh!
"You are a slow learner!"
Boom!
Once again, the Demonic Qi and the sword collided, creating another thunderous explosion.
"Did I not tell you? It is useless!"
With those words, Neung So-hwa exhaled a massive torrent of flames at Sun-woo. Feeling the heat rushing toward him, Sun-woo quickly channeled internal energy into his Yongcheon points.
Bang!
He triggered an explosive burst of energy to propel himself backward. The flames she spat out instantly incinerated the spot where he had just been standing.
"Moving so nimbly… you remind me of a cute squirrel."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Sun-woo felt his pride sting. He realized that no matter how hard he struggled, she only saw his efforts as 'cute.' At the same time, a sense of competitive spirit began to bloom within him.
Shake, shake.
Sun-woo quickly shook his head. Now was not the time to be swayed by leisurely emotions like pride or competition. Qi Deviation only grew more severe as time passed. If it worsened further, Neung So-hwa’s original personality might be erased entirely.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
Sun-woo looked at her and spoke. "Neung So-hwa."
"What is it? And why do you not call me 'Sohwa' affectionately?"
"You're weaker than I thought."
Sun-woo began to provoke her with a blatant lie.
"What!?"
Neung So-hwa snapped, her eyes widening at his words.
"I was all tensed up because I thought the Ice Palace would burn down or people would get caught in the crossfire, but I'm surprised. Your power is much weaker than I expected."
Sun-woo wore a look of disappointment. It was, of course, a complete fabrication. With the firepower she had shown so far, she could easily create a fire demon capable of swallowing the entire Ice Palace.
However, Sun-woo lied to force her to unleash her full power and melt the entire icy mountain.
"Th-that is… because I was worried you would be caught in it!"
"No need for excuses. You said you'd show me great power, but it doesn't seem all that great to me."
"How dare you!"
With a flushed face, Neung So-hwa glared at him. "If this lady truly uses her power, I can melt a mountain of ice like this in an instant!"
"I only believe what I see," Sun-woo replied flatly.
Hearing that, Neung So-hwa felt her stubbornness flare up. Who was she? Was she not a transcendent who had reached the realm of a Half-Immortal? How could she endure such an insult?
She was angry. Beyond angry.
Fwoosh! Roar!
Neung So-hwa began to push her rampaging Extreme Yang Flame Emperor Demonic Art to its absolute limit. A colossal pillar of fire, incomparable to anything seen before, began to soar into the sky.
"Do not regret those words!"
Fury had completely consumed her reason. Even the lingering consideration she had shown by restraining her strength for Sun-woo vanished. All that remained in her mind was the urge to prove her might.
An impossibly large flame burned around her, eventually beginning to take a specific shape. A massive maw opened.
Roar!
Jagged teeth sprouted.
Fwoosh!
A long, serpentine body formed. Soon, a terrifying entity was born—a monster massive and ferocious enough to overturn the world.
A Fire Dragon.
Gulp.
Seeing this, Sun-woo swallowed hard. He was the one who had planned to provoke her into melting the mountain. He was the one who had mocked and belittled her with lies.
But now, Sun-woo was regretting his choice. He realized his provocation had awakened something truly monstrous.
His first impression of the Fire Dragon was one of pure awe. The overwhelming majesty and the sheer density of the powerful energy forced a sense of reverence out of him.
‘I’m screwed.’
Sun-woo realized he had awakened something that should have remained dormant. Neung So-hwa had said that although she lacked the enlightenment to reach the Profound Realm, her raw power was second to none who had.
Now, Sun-woo could confirm the truth of those words. How could anyone deny her power after seeing this Fire Dragon?
"Die!"
Neung So-hwa’s sharp cry pierced Sun-woo’s ears.
ROOOOOOAR!
With her scream, the Fire Dragon let out a draconic roar and slammed directly into the icy mountain.
Fwoosh! Craaaack!
Incredible heat enveloped the entire peak, and the ice began to melt instantly.
Vroooooom!
Seeing this, Sun-woo quickly activated the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth to block the encroaching heat and flames.
Sssssss!
Sun-woo watched as the massive mountain of ice turned directly into gas.
Whoosh!
He could feel the height of the mountain rapidly decreasing. After some time had passed…
Thud. Thud.
Sun-woo felt an unfamiliar sensation beneath his feet. It wasn't slippery or cold. It was the touch of solid earth.
Sun-woo’s jaw dropped. He had just witnessed a power great enough to erase a mountain of ice from existence.
Clink!
In that moment of dazed silence, a clear, ringing sound echoed in his ears. Sun-woo slowly turned his head toward the source of the sound.
There, he saw it. A tiny, perfectly transparent fragment of ice.
The Ice Essence.
Sun-woo walked toward it and quickly scooped it up. Miraculously, it had not melted even within the heat unleashed by that transcendent being. As he held it, he felt a chill trying to seep into his body.
‘Not a chance!’
Sun-woo quickly circulated his Yin-Yang Harmony Qi to suppress the Ice Essence. The freezing chill emanating from it immediately settled down.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
He heard heavy, ragged breathing. Sun-woo slowly looked up toward the sound. He saw Neung So-hwa, gasping for air.
"Did… you see? …This lady’s… great power…"
Sensing his gaze, Neung So-hwa spoke even before she could catch her breath.
"Yeah, I definitely saw it," Sun-woo replied, nodding.
"Then… that is enough…"
A satisfied smile spread across her face.
"But Sohwa…" Sun-woo called out, staring intently at the exhausted woman.
"What is it?"
"You seem to have gotten pretty weak, haven't you?" Sun-woo said with a bright smile.
"Wh-what!?"
Boom!
Before she could even finish her sentence, Sun-woo lunged at her. Stepping into the Wind-Dust Step at full power, he reached her in an instant and swung the Dragon Tail Soft Sword.
Clang!
Neung So-hwa quickly summoned her Flame Emperor's Demonic Qi to counter his blade.
Slide!
"Urgh!"
However, she couldn't withstand the pressure of his strike and was pushed back. Having expended more than half of her internal fire energy to create the Fire Dragon, she was in no state to easily deflect Sun-woo’s attack.
‘Now’s my chance!’
Sun-woo saw his opening as she recoiled. His body moved faster than his thoughts. He quickly retracted his sword and swung it again toward her head.
Whoosh!
The Dragon Tail Soft Sword flew at her once more. Neung So-hwa pushed her remaining Demonic Qi to its limit to defend.
Boom!
Another explosion rang out, and she was forced back again.
Boom! Bang! Crash!
Sun-woo swung his sword with increasing speed, and Neung So-hwa found it difficult just to parry. She lacked the fire energy necessary to match his physical pressure.
She scowled deeply, finally realizing why Sun-woo had provoked her.
Clang!
"So this was your goal!" she screamed in rage as she parried his blade.
Whoosh!
"What was?" Sun-woo asked, continuing his assault.
Clang!
"I asked if your intention was to exhaust all of this lady’s internal energy!" she shouted, knocking his sword aside once more. "I intended to let you appreciate true power out of the goodness of my heart, yet you repay my grace with enmity!?"
Neung So-hwa yelled with a look of pure betrayal.
"It's not really enmity, is it?" Sun-woo replied with a playful expression. "I told you. I'm just doing what I set out to do."
His eyes gleamed.
"I'm going to make you eat this Ice Essence."
Sun-woo’s sword began to move even faster.