Chapter 993
Chapter 993
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 993
Chapter Title: Radiant Ascension Path
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Splash.
Sung Yu-jin's body plummeted into the sea below the cliff. Normally, a corpse would float to the surface, but massive waves swallowed it like a monster gaping its maw.
Hwangbo Gahye tore her gaze away from the ocean. He was definitely dead. She'd pierced his heart and snapped his neck. No warrior at the Five Qi Realm could survive that. And the depths weren't teeming with just ordinary fish, either.
'This is Manmu Tower. No need to pick a fight with the Namgung Family.'
There were witnesses, like O Jimu and the others from the Three Absolutes Sect. But they were all in cahoots. They wouldn't go blabbing. Even if the Namgung Family somehow found out, they wouldn't declare war over some lowly son-in-law.
'...So why does this feel so off?'
Hwangbo Gahye's face was stiff, refusing to relax. Sung Yu-jin had been just like any other man. He acted the great hero, but in the end, he was only hooked by her beauty.
"Haha. Good work, Gahye."
O Jimu approached with a grin. Her fiancé. A betrothal forced by family obligations. Hwangbo Gahye's eyes turned icy. Compared to Sung Yu-jin, what did O Jimu have going for him? Not a single thing.
His martial arts were clearly inferior. Sung Yu-jin had the Namgung Family backing him, and when it came to wealth, Sung Yu-jin seemed even more impressive. He'd casually gifted her spirit elixirs, wielded several artifacts she'd never even seen before, and even had a spatial pouch.
'Whereas O Jimu... Hah. Pathetic.'
The marriage would happen after O Jimu conquered Manmu Tower and gained fame. The Three Absolutes Sect obsessed over appearances in every way.
"That red sword. Quite the fine blade. Gahye, hand it over. You use fist, palm, and foot techniques—no need for a weapon like that, right?"
Greed and lust writhed in O Jimu's eyes. To keep him in check, she handed over the Fire Lotus Sword.
"Yes. I have no use for it. Please take it."
"Thanks, Gahye."
O Jimu flashed a toothy grin. Honey practically dripped from his eyes as he ogled her. She just found it repulsive.
Her mind was filled with plans to use O Jimu and the Three Absolutes Sect. It might be tough now, but decades from now, the Hwangbo Family could absorb their power and influence. And she'd earn recognition to become family head.
Hwangbo Gahye suppressed her killing intent toward O Jimu amid her boiling ambitions.
"Urk?!"
O Jimu, swinging the Fire Lotus Sword through the air, suddenly groaned and dropped it to the ground.
"Young Master O. What's wrong?"
"I sent a bit of internal energy through it, and this damned sword repelled me."
Can't even swing a single sword properly. Swallowing a sigh at his pathetic display, Hwangbo Gahye replied.
"They say fine weapons choose their masters. In other words, it's proof the sword is exceptional."
"...You're right, Gahye. Now that I know it's no ordinary blade... it's even more intriguing. What did you say its name was?"
"Fire Lotus Sword."
"Right, Fire Lotus Sword. Before we head to the next floor, I'll make it acknowledge me."
O Jimu sheathed the sword with a confident smirk.
"By the way, Gahye. That thing in your hand—is that a spatial pouch?"
"This is mine. I can't give it to you, Young Master O."
"Well, you killed that guy, so fair enough. And once we're married anyway... heh heh."
"......"
O Jimu leered openly at her face and body. She kept her expression blank. It annoyed her, but it was familiar. Reacting would only delight him.
"Have you collected all the orbs?"
"Need about thirty more. We've got a big group. You?"
"I've got all mine. Now it's just gathering more spirit elixirs..."
Hwangbo Gahye glanced downward. The blazing Sunflower blazed in her hand. This scorching elixir was surprisingly warm to the touch. But the Sunflower was already starting to weaken. Some elixirs lost potency without proper harvesting and processing. The Sunflower was one such. Unfortunately, Hwangbo Gahye had no idea how to handle it.
"...I'll consume the Sunflower in a safe spot, then gather more elixirs."
"Ah, its spiritual energy is fading. What's this safe spot?"
"I spotted a few places on the way here. And I have a barrier artifact, too."
The barrier artifact was looted from another warrior she'd killed. It would cover any emergencies.
"I respect your choice. But leaving you alone doesn't sit right with me as your fiancé. Yeonju, Jogung. Attend to Gahye. And if anything happens... protect her with your lives."
"Yes, Young Sect Leader."
"Understood."
His two subordinates approached Hwangbo Gahye. She clicked her tongue inwardly. Not bodyguards—watchdogs.
Hwangbo Gahye and O Jimu parted quickly. He went hunting orbs; she entered an underground chamber and set up a barrier. O Jimu's men, Yeonju and Jogung, vanished at the entrance to stand guard.
Hwangbo Gahye pulled the spatial pouch she'd taken from Sung Yu-jin from her pocket.
A rigid rectangular box. Smooth surface, incredibly light. She'd seen top-grade artifacts like this before—most were small boxes, the rest pouch-shaped.
'Boxes just open to retrieve items... How does this one work?'
Pressing what seemed like a button lit up the surface. Hwangbo Gahye didn't panic. She'd secretly watched Sung Yu-jin fiddle with his smartphone a few times. Nine dots appeared on the screen—a pattern lock.
'He'd swipe his finger like this...'
Lines slashed across the glowing screen, fascinating her. Recalling his motions, she unlocked it somehow.
The trouble came next.
Unfamiliar letters and images filled the screen. Touching around got reactions, but she had no clue how to retrieve items.
After over an hour fiddling with the smartphone, Hwangbo Gahye sighed and carefully set it on the ground.
'Can't figure it out here. Have to hand it to an artifact expert later...'
Hwangbo Gahye sat cross-legged at the chamber's center. She took out the Sunflower. Its fiery blaze was mystical and beautiful.
Her current realm was Emerging Will 10th stage. The Five Qi Realm was within reach. Harness its power right, and she'd ascend with room to spare.
"Huuu..."
Exhaling to shake off tension, she stuffed the Sunflower into her mouth. Her mouth burned. Heat surged to her core. Hwangbo Gahye focused on circulating her energy. Hot winds swirled around her, soaking her clothes in sweat.
She concentrated again and again to form her inner core.
???
Splash!
I plunged into the sea. Dead, but sensations lingered faintly. Cold saltwater flooded in, waves tossing my body—it soured my mood.
No, honestly. What really tanked my mood was Hwangbo Gahye's backstab.
'That bitch! I treated her well for years!'
Auto-mode made it shorter for me, but to her, we'd known each other for years. Man and woman spending that time together? Plenty for deep bonds—or more.
'She used me in Manmu Tower so many times... still playing hard to get. Well, she is gorgeous enough to warrant it.'
Credit where due.
But my mood stayed foul. I'd wanted to see her cling to me, professing love... Fat chance now.
'That bitch... You killed Great Hero Sung Yu-jin. From now on, I'm...'
I activated Complete Recovery. My broken arm reset, shattered neck bones mended, pierced heart thumped back to life.
'Demon Lord Sung Yu-jin!'
I steadied myself underwater. About to bolt up, but sea yokai swarmed me—fierce fish with red eyes and razor teeth circling hungrily.
They were cunning. Knew humans couldn't last long underwater, waiting for me to tire. Patience meant free food, no risks.
But they didn't know I had [Water's Blessing]. It let me breathe underwater, freeing me somewhat from the medium's constraints.
'First... I'll kill you lot.'
I moved first. The fish yokai startled, jaws wide, charging me.
Bzzzzt!
Electricity from my body shocked them through the water. Done. Fish yokai were basically fish. Sans the ocean, nothing special.
'Boring. Time to surface, slaughter that O Jimu bastard, and ravage Hwangbo Gahye... Hm?!'
Something surged from below. I dodged sideways. An octopus tentacle speared where I'd been.
I looked down. A colossal octopus glared with red eyes from the depths—over 30 meters long.
'Shit, the waves dragged me right to this monster.'
Its thirty-plus tentacles writhed, intent on no mercy.
'Gotta kill it and snag that inner core.'
Too tough barehanded. I summoned Stormbreaker from inventory. Phone was gone, but item summoning still worked fine.
'Fire Lotus Sword and phone can wait.'
This world's tech was primitive. No one would know what to do with a smartphone. Even if they did, [Playful Life App] stays invisible and inoperable to others.
[Playful Life App] was my ability, not the device. The phone was just a handy controller. I could end Playful Life and return to reality right now if needed.
Moment
Dodge incoming tentacles omnidirectionally
I evaded the tentacles and swam for the octopus's head.
I morphed Stormbreaker into a long harpoon. Bzzt, bzzzzt! Lightning crackled from its tip.
'Die.'
I hurled it with full power. It nailed the head dead-on. But the octopus lived. It swiveled its beak—hundreds of teeth—and spewed ink.
Darkness fell instantly. I activated Heavenly Eye to track it. Tentacles lashed from the gloom. I focused on evasion.
'This ink... not ordinary? Stings all over. Strength fading... Can't conserve now. End it before it worsens.'
I circulated Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Black demonic energy cloaked me. It seized the opening—over ten tentacles coiled around me seamlessly. Rough as sandpaper, they ground my skin, blood mixing with seawater as they tightened.
Heavenly Demon Divine ArtReturn Heaven Demon Dragon
⟨ ⟩
Heavenly demonic energy spun around me. The tentacles shredded in reverse.
Currents swirled into a vortex with me at the center. I was the vortex. I charged the octopus.
It got mulched like in a blender. I snatched the inner core from deep inside. Ink and flesh swirled around me.
I accelerated the spin and shot upward. It didn't take long for the vortex to become a tornado.