Mujeong Soma (3)

Inside the Grand Yao Bat Ship.

There, the Night Rat Crowd—followers of the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat Jang Si-u—were bustling about in a frenzy.

Enemies had appeared out of nowhere, punched straight through the defensive perimeter, and invaded the ship's interior.

"Who in the world are they?"

"They wiped out the Vice Hall formation and forced their way inside... how is that even possible?"

Though officially classed as a flying Dharma treasure, the Grand Yao Bat Ship was, in practice, a fortress that soared through the skies.

It possessed formidable defenses, and with that power it had repelled every manner of dangerous monster from the open seas beyond the continent.

And that defensive system had been breached in an instant.

By just two people, no less.

"Could they both be Nascent Soul cultivators?"

"Even if they were Nascent Soul, punching through the Grand Yao Bat Ship's defenses is..."

"D-don't tell me—Soul Formation? Is a Soul Formation existence after us?"

"No, if it were Soul Formation, they'd have simply shot the whole ship down with one strike."

Just as everyone was thrown into confusion by a crisis they had never experienced before, a weighty voice rang out.

"Their aerial mobility was on a different level from ordinary flying Dharma treasures."

A man wearing lamellar armor in the shape of a Dharma artifact guarding his torso.

It was Dan U-seong, the Core Formation cultivator who commanded the entire Night Rat Crowd.

"Search the whole continent, and you could count on one hand the flying Dharma treasures with capabilities like that."

"Ah, then that means..."

Everyone's minds turned to the famous flying Dharma treasures of the continent and their owners.

"Besides, the white sword qi that rained down on the Vice Hall was the Hundred Flowers Hundred Blades Art."

"Th-the Hundred Flowers Hundred Blades Art? Then..."

"It's certainly Mujeong Soma of the Blood World Mara Sect. He possesses the White Pillar Divine Ship, one of the five finest flying Dharma treasures on the continent."

"...!"

Mujeong Soma!

At the news that the feared master of the White Face Pavilion of the Blood World Mara Sect had appeared, a collective shudder ran through them.

"And the other one... is probably Mujeong Soma's right-hand man."

"Mujeong Soma's subordinate possesses a flying Dharma treasure that remarkable?"

"I can't say for certain. But he must be very close to Mujeong Soma, to be risking something this dangerous alongside him."

Mujeong Soma ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and his trusted subordinate.

That was Dan U-seong's guess as to the identity of the attackers.

"B-boss, why would Mujeong Soma attack us?"

"We haven't had any conflict with the Blood World Mara Sect lately..."

"He must have learned we were returning from our expedition to the Northern Outer Sea and come to plunder us."

The Grand Yao Bat Ship was loaded to the brim with spoils taken from the northern open sea.

Everyone nodded along to that explanation.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"For now, hold them off as long as you can."

"Boss, with our strength..."

"I'm not telling you to defeat Mujeong Soma. Buy time."

With those words, Dan U-seong turned his back on them.

"The ritual will be finished soon. Hold out until then, and we will have Mujeong Soma in our grasp."

"Ah...!"

Having left the task of blocking Mujeong Soma to his underlings,

Dan U-seong headed toward the heart of the Grand Yao Bat Ship.

There lay a chamber inscribed with intricate patterns, where a sinister energy churned and swirled.

"Boss..."

A man covered from head to toe in jet-black fur sat cross-legged in the center of it.

This was Jang Si-u, the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat—one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the Thirteen Venerables of the Moonlit Thirteen League.

Jang Si-u had originally been a bat-type yao beast known as a Celestial Mouse.

One day, he had abruptly grasped the principles of heaven and earth, set foot upon the path of cultivation, and risen all the way to the Nascent Soul realm.

Dan U-seong and the rest of the Night Rat Crowd were those who, captivated by his power, had chosen to follow him.

"Mujeong Soma has appeared, boss. It has been fifty years."

"..."

"We should have wrung his neck for certain fifty years ago. A regrettable failure."

Among the Night Rat Crowd, Dan U-seong was the only one who knew of the bitter history between Jang Si-u and Mujeong Soma.

In front of the underlings, he had spun the story that Mujeong Soma had invaded to plunder their spoils, but he knew the truth: it was because of an old grudge against Jang Si-u.

"Still, Mujeong Soma is an unlucky man, boss. Had he attacked just a few days earlier, he might have seen his long-cherished revenge fulfilled."

"..."

No answer came from Jang Si-u.

He was in the midst of the ritual to reach the Great Completion stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

He was attempting to use the Nascent Soul spiritual materials acquired from the Northern Outer Sea to reach a new stage.

"The final phase begins now. You will open your eyes before long."

"..."

"Once you reach the Great Completion stage of Nascent Soul, you will surely possess the power to suppress the likes of Mujeong Soma in the blink of an eye."

Those words were also Dan U-seong's own hope.

He could not yet be certain that Jang Si-u would truly reach the Great Completion stage.

When ascending to a higher stage, the risk of failure grows in equal measure.

Simple failure would be a blessing—at times the backlash strips away one's strength or inflicts grievous injury.

And within the Nascent Soul realm, that could prove fatal.

Each stage transition in the Nascent Soul realm demanded the ordeal known as a Heavenly Tribulation.

It was the backlash born of attempting to break through the limits of the material world, and it took countless forms.

Overcome it, and one could rise to the next stage; fail, and both body and soul suffered devastating harm.

Nine in ten died on the spot, and even the fortunate survivors were left with severe aftereffects.

Jang Si-u had already failed to break through a Heavenly Tribulation once before.

He had barely saved his own life, but he had been forced into decades of seclusion to recover his strength.

This time, he had prepared extensively to ensure no such failure would occur.

The long expedition into the open seas had been part of those preparations.

So this time, he would overcome the tribulation and reach the Great Completion stage of Nascent Soul.

And once that happened... even challenging Soul Formation would not be a dream.

"So we will buy you that time, boss."

"..."

Before the silent, focused figure of Jang Si-u,

Dan U-seong pressed his hands together and spoke with resolute voice.

"Please reach the Great Completion stage of Nascent Soul, and sweep away those wretched curs."

Cheon Woo-jin walked down the corridor, lost in thought.

The Illusion Wing Immortal Bat Jang Si-u must be attempting his breakthrough to the Great Completion stage of Nascent Soul about now.

A Great Completion Nascent Soul cultivator.

Even the thought of it raised gooseflesh.

Someone even the Instant Killing Heavenly Eye would struggle to kill—an opponent he absolutely had to avoid.

But he won't have finished the ritual yet.

Had he already reached the Great Completion stage, Cheon Woo-jin would never have set foot near the Grand Yao Bat Ship in the first place.

But his knowledge of the game told him that was not the case.

That was precisely why he had drawn Mujeong Soma in and plunged into the ship alongside him.

"Taoist Cheon."

At that moment, Mujeong Soma, walking ahead, spoke up.

"It seems the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat is inside the Grand Yao Bat Ship as we speak."

"Can you sense him?"

"Of course."

Crack.

The sound of teeth grinding came from beneath the mask.

"This scent... no matter how hard I try, I cannot forget it."

"..."

Cheon Woo-jin, who could sense nothing at all, simply kept silent.

"Taoist Cheon, when the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat appears, I will face him alone. Please keep your distance so you are not drawn into it."

"You intend to fight him by yourself?"

"The Illusion Wing Immortal Bat is in the same Late Nascent Soul stage as I am. Even for you, Taoist Cheon, inserting yourself into a battle between two Late Nascent Soul ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cultivators would be far too dangerous."

It was not an unreasonable argument.

But Cheon Woo-jin raised an objection.

"Your strength alone may not be enough."

Cheon Woo-jin spoke in a cool, level voice.

"The Illusion Wing Immortal Bat may have reached a stage beyond Late Nascent Soul. Or he may have gained some new power out in the open seas."

"That is possible."

Mujeong Soma nodded.

"But I wish to kill the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat with these hands of mine. So I ask you, Taoist Cheon—do not interfere."

Mujeong Soma's attitude was unyielding.

He showed no sign of bending his will.

Just like Mujeong Soma from the game.

Confirming that his personality was identical to his in-game counterpart, Cheon Woo-jin nodded.

"Understood. Then I will simply help deal with the small fry."

"I'll leave it to you."

Before that exchange had even ended,

a presence made itself known up ahead.

Some twenty cultivators stood blocking the way forward.

Unlike the Orthodox faction cultivators they had seen so often in the Hwangryeol Flying Archipelago, their garments were an utter mismatch.

Their formation was a shambles, and anyone could see at a glance that they were Dark Gate cultivators with no systematic training.

"A wh-white mask...!"

"It really is Mujeong Soma!"

At the sight of Mujeong Soma, fear twisted their faces.

And yet they did not turn tail and run.

There was nowhere to flee aboard the Grand Yao Bat Ship, drifting high in the sky.

And if they fell back... they would face ruthless punishment at the hands of Jang Si-u's right-hand man.

He's not visible now, but he's waiting somewhere inside.

The game had featured a character named Dan U-seong, who offered unwavering loyalty to Jang Si-u.

A powerhouse at the Great Completion stage of Core Formation, tasked with commanding the Night Rat Crowd.

Is he planning to sacrifice the Night Rat Crowd just to buy time for Jang Si-u?

Even Cheon Woo-jin could not know what stage Jang Si-u was currently in.

He might still have a long way to go, or he might be moments from finishing.

But Cheon Woo-jin was not particularly worried.

Even if Jang Si-u was in the final phase now... Cheon Woo-jin knew that he would never reach the Great Completion stage of Nascent Soul.

"St-stop them!"

The oblivious Night Rat Crowd unleashed their techniques in a chaotic barrage to hold Mujeong Soma back.

A storm of varied offensive arts came pouring down, but Mujeong Soma showed no reaction whatsoever.

He simply stood still, not so much as twitching a single finger.

And that alone was enough—every offensive technique scattered and dissolved into nothing.

"Huh?"

"What's happening...?"

The very next instant.

A single white sword rose up from behind Mujeong Soma.

The blade traced intricate arcs through the air and shot toward the Night Rat Crowd.

They frantically threw up defensive techniques, but the white blade tore through them all as it danced.

"Kuhak!"

"Guaaagh!"

When the ultra-fast dance of the blade finally subsided,

all that remained in its wake were mangled corpses, their bodies carved into countless pieces.

"Shall we?"

Mujeong Soma advanced across the pool of blood, his voice utterly indifferent.

A wide chamber opened up beyond, and this time Night Rat Crowd members came swarming from every direction.

"Taoist Cheon, please take the left."

"Understood."

While Mujeong Soma handled the enemies surging in from the right and front, Cheon Woo-jin turned his head to the left.

Some twenty cultivators were charging in from that side—three of them Core Formation, the rest Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation.

"Kill Mujeong Soma's lackey...!"

They had apparently mistaken Cheon Woo-jin for Mujeong Soma's subordinate.

He could have corrected that misunderstanding, but explaining with words seemed like too much trouble.

Instead, Cheon Woo-jin stretched his shadow out toward them.

Papapapat!

Black spikes of qi erupted from the floor and skewered them through.

It did not stop there—countless thorns spread outward inside their bodies, granting them the extreme of agony.

"Ughk!"

"Kuhak...!"

The Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators died on the spot.

Still, the three Core Formation cultivators forced their wounded bodies to move and lunged at Cheon Woo-jin.

But he had already deployed his next technique.

Kwarurung!

The whip of lightning qi crashed down upon them.

Strands of lightning coiled around the area like a whirlwind, sweeping the space clean.

Under that ferocious force, all three were torn apart from head to toe.

Cheon Woo-jin's power, grown far stronger since reaching the Late stage of Core Formation, ravaged his enemies without mercy.

"..."

Though he had swept away every enemy on the left flank, Cheon Woo-jin did not rush over to reinforce Mujeong Soma.

Because he had sensed a presence lurking in the darkness, watching Mujeong Soma's side.

"Taoist Cheon, you've finished already? Then..."

Just as Mujeong Soma turned toward Cheon Woo-jin to say something more,

Cheon Woo-jin hurled lightning qi toward where Mujeong Soma stood.

Kwarurung!

A lance of lightning flew with fearsome momentum.

It streaked past Mujeong Soma's side and buried itself in the figure hiding within the darkness.

"Ugh...!"

Drip, drip.

Blood began to fall from what had seemed to be empty black space.

"You saw through the Night Rat Shadow Concealment Art..."

The figure of the man who had been preparing an ambush was revealed.

A man clad in lamellar armor guarding his torso.

It was Dan U-seong, the right hand of Jang Si-u.

Because he could see the status window through the darkness, Cheon Woo-jin had realized the man was in the midst of attempting a sneak attack with the Night Rat Shadow Concealment Art.

"My thanks, Taoist Cheon."

In truth, Mujeong Soma could have responded the moment Dan U-seong moved to ambush him.

And yet he still expressed his gratitude to Cheon Woo-jin.

"I will repay this debt in due time."

According to the status window, Mujeong Soma's Destiny was Faith.

A man of trust and loyalty.

"Dan U-seong. It has been fifty years."

Mujeong Soma's gaze shifted to Dan U-seong.

"Is the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat inside?"

"What need have I to tell you that, Mujeong Soma?"

Even before a Nascent Soul cultivator like Mujeong Soma, Dan U-seong showed no trace of fear.

As if determined to hold this line at all costs, he formed a hand seal with a resolute expression.

"There is only one thing you need to know."

"And what would that be?"

Papapat!

The corpses of the Night Rat Crowd scattered around them suddenly burst apart.

Each and every fragment transformed into jet-black bats and took wing into the air.

"That you will not take a single step further!"

Shaaaaaa!

The moment hundreds of bats engulfed their surroundings,

Mujeong Soma spat out a few short words.

"Taoist Cheon—put on the mask I gave you."

Cheon Woo-jin did as he was told and donned the mask.

The very next moment, Mujeong Soma revealed his true power.