Chapter 420
Chapter 420
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 420
Chapter Title: Facing Directly (1)
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The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons began as pitch-black darkness fell alongside the ink-black clouds blooming in the midday sky.
As goblin fires blazed blue amid the gathered yin energy from all directions,
Yeonghwan's pupils glowed as he reached out, entranced.
"...A spell that fills the surroundings with yin energy and turns broad daylight into night."
It was at that moment that the disciples of Mosan Sect, who had been holed up in their labs, came streaming out one after another.
"Did you feel it? The yin energy suddenly filled the heavens and earth."
"That's why I came out. It seems related to how it suddenly got so dark?"
"There were no signs of an eclipse—what in the world is this?"
Among them, Hyung-un, the senior disciple in charge of the lab, spotted me and Yeonghwan and widened his eyes in surprise.
"Senior Uncle Yeonghwan and Chairman Eon? So this phenomenon... does that mean the research succeeded?"
I nodded in response.
"Yes. It's a spell called the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons. It boosts the capabilities of sorcerers and their familiars within a designated area."
Perhaps having spent quite some time rolling around in the lab,
Hyung-un immediately turned to the other Mosan Sect disciples and issued orders.
"You lot, head to the ice storage right now and bring out the jiangshi!"
As the Mosan Sect disciples moved with perfect coordination,
Hyung-un drew the Seven Stars Sword from his waist.
Shing—
The sword, engraved with the Big Dipper constellation on its blade, symbolized the Mosan Sect's pinnacle force, the Azure Exorcist Swordmaster in its own right.
But beyond mere symbolism, it was also a ritual tool that aided in exorcism and sorcery.
Hyung-un began muttering an incantation to wrap the sword in yin energy.
"Haste, spirit of the rapids. Haste..."
However, nothing happened to Hyung-un's sword.
My master questioned this.
- Wasn't that young nosy Mosan pup the former Ghost Dragon? Aside from you, he was the only one in the White Path with any real knack for sorcery, right?
'Yes.'
- Then it's not a lack of ability, so how can he fail to draw in this abundant yin energy? Didn't you say it boosts sorcerers' capabilities?
Hyung-un and Yeonghwan looked equally puzzled and turned to me with questions.
"With yin energy filling the air, why won't it coat the Seven Stars Sword?"
"Hm. Chairman Eon mentioned there were parts to refine before starting the spell... It seems it failed. Still, artificially hiding the sun sealed the jiangshi's weakness, so half-success?"
I chuckled and replied,
"What's the point if every mutt and mongrel benefits from this spell?"
The Mosan Sect disciples flinched in unison.
"...Mutt and mongrel."
Since I hadn't likened them to dogs and oxen, I continued immediately.
"I meant the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's sorcerers, not you seniors. If it benefits enemies and allies alike, how can you call it a proper spell? Might as well not cast it."
"...Ah, so it was aimed at the enemy."
"Don't tell me that stung?"
"......"
"That's why you need to work harder as usual. Slacking makes you vulnerable. Professor Yeonghwan shows the most proper research attitude, whether by seniority or position. You can tell just from your attire."
My master clicked his tongue.
- Eyes like a raccoon's that hasn't slept a proper hour a day... and clothes that look like they've been worn to rags, and you call that proper. You're really something...
Hyung-un protested.
"We're working hard too. Do you think Senior Uncle organized that paper you're holding all by himself? We were just inhaling dust from ancient texts and oracle bones... Talent has its limits from the start. Compared to you, most sorcerers are mutts and mongrels—we misspoke out of absentmindedness."
Strictly speaking, Hyung-un wasn't wrong.
"Capacity for spellcasting via the upper dantian is indeed a matter of talent. But this spell will narrow that gap."
With those words, I nicked a small wound on my left index finger.
Then I beckoned Hyung-un closer
and pressed a drop of blood to his forehead.
"It'll be completely different from before."
This measure made the spell formation recognize Hyung-un as my familiar.
Plip.
As my blood touched Hyung-un's forehead, the blue glow in his pupils surged wildly, turning into fierce, blazing eyes,
and yin energy began gathering into the Seven Stars Sword he held as if being sucked in.
Shwoooo!
Hyung-un immediately gripped his sword stance.
And thrust the Seven Stars Sword toward the coffins the other Mosan Sect disciples were just bringing out.
"Arise, corpse! Haste, spirit of the rapids!"
Boom! Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The jiangshi burst out of their coffins in unison.
"It, it worked!"
Overcome with emotion at having raised jiangshi without talismans or formation stones, Hyung-un cried out in exhilaration.
"It worked! Senior Uncle! It worked!"
"Yes! Success!"p> As Yeonghwan, thrilled that his research had succeeded, embraced Hyung-un and they spun around in joy,
I gave a dry laugh and said,
"You'll need some practice."
Hyung-un halted his spinning and spoke.
"Didn't the jiangshi move properly?"
"Think about real combat. No need for those long-winded chants, for starters."
"...Ah."
"Keep it concise. And plenty of other practice needed. The formation needs refining too."
As I responded, people from the academy—attending post-graduation party events everywhere—noticed the blackened sky and came rushing over.
My Eon siblings wore "just as I thought" expressions.
"See? I told you it was Eon Yong-un!"
"Even I didn't expect Yong-un-nim to show at the flower-viewing party on a day like this."
Kyung Hye, the superintendent, pointed at the sky.
"You vanished somewhere briefly—I wondered where—and here you are. But what's all this?"
I opened my mouth to answer.
"Ah, we were researching necromancy like we do at the merchant group, and it seemed promising, so I came to check..."
But among the gathering crowd, I spotted people with goblin fire in their pupils.
'Hold on...'
Not everyone, of course.
Only some showed the phenomenon.
Through them, I realized one fact.
'...This can distinguish those with naturally open upper dantians?'
Using this, we could easily screen later-generation talents with necromancy aptitude.
'That means dealing with the Ghost King Manor and refining necromancy will be much smoother.'
I reached that conclusion in my head and turned to Kyung Hye.
"Superintendent. Using this spell formation, we can easily identify later-generation students with open upper dantians."
"And the reason you're saying that now is..."
"Could you add a screening gate for it to the entrance exam?"
"...Not difficult. Create special admissions slots beyond the quota, announce it at the ranking gate. But won't prep time be tight?"
To Kyung Hye's follow-up, I grinned and replied,
"We'll make it happen. I'll prepare it perfectly."
Kyung Hye smiled faintly,
and the Mosan Sect disciples gulped.
"......"
"......"
"......"
I turned to Yeonghwan among them.
"Ah, Professor Yeonghwan."
"...Y-yes? Speak."
"Those seniors and juniors with glowing eyes over there—have any taken your classes?"
"Doesn't seem so?"
"Got it. I'll encourage the undergrads to sign up next semester. Professor, take the graduates as grad students."
"...Hm. Graduates have set career paths?"
"From what I recall, half aim for the Murim Alliance, the rest for Wuchang's naval arrays or our newsletter."
This is what authority and connections are for.
"In other words, as long as they want it, we can redirect most paths."
At my words,
as Yin Ha-yeon and Jeong-hyeon shivered,
"...Chairman Eon is a real devil."
"...Primeval Celestial Venerable."
Cracks like crackle spread across the pitch-black sky.
As the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons neared its end, I gave a dry laugh.
"This is the limit for now. Plenty of work needed all around."
* * * Among those drawn by the manifested Night Parade of a Hundred Demons were Gong Son Mu-gyeol and Jeon Gal-cheok.
After sending everyone else back, I said to the two,
"Chairman, Alliance Leader. Spare me a moment."
In the new spot we moved to, I cut straight to world affairs.
"I requested time to ask about movements in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains and the White Bone Society."
Gong Son Mu-gyeol spoke first.
"I planned to discuss it after the graduation ceremony anyway—great minds. Hm. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult used the young cult leader selection to tighten internal control. But with candidates narrowed to two, they seem to be catching their breath."
Jeon Gal-cheok followed.
"Thanks to subjugating the Blood Cult, the White Bone Society's foxes are mute as clamped clams. But charging the Great Mountains now is impossible. The fight with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult requires firm resolve."
"Yes. I think the same."
"Good. We must grasp the enemy thoroughly and muster our full strength. Otherwise, we'll repeat the Righteous-Demonic War's mistakes."
He was right.
Defeat aside, even mutual destruction or inconclusive end would restart a decades-long grueling war. No rushing blindly.
'Time isn't abundant.'
But not lacking either.
'The original plot changed greatly, so Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's current leader, Hyeok Ryeon-gang, has less time and resources too.'
We needed to grow my Eon siblings and recruit all potential forces in that window.
'If Hyeok Ryeon-gang suffers qi deviation like in the original, that'll be the perfect moment.'
As that thought flashed, I rubbed my chin briefly.
Gong Son Mu-gyeol spoke again.
"Preparations inside and out needed. Chairman, what do you see as most urgent?"
Jeon Gal-cheok held out his palm.
"Speaking first might sway you. Better collect all three views—mine, Leader, Ghost Dragon. Write your top urgent issue on your palm."
We each wrote a character on our palms,
"Stroke count differs for mine. Anyway, all done—let's see."
and revealed them simultaneously.
Mine and Gong Son Mu-gyeol's palms matched perfectly.
Black
Black
Evil
Jeon Gal-cheok's differed.
But black path and evil path meant the same, so intents aligned.
Gong Son Mu-gyeol sighed at Jeon Gal-cheok.
"...Chairman. We don't call them evil path anymore. The blood we shed together on Mount Mangap still stains the south."
"Tch, intent matches. That's what we called 'em back then."
"Senior."
At Gong Son Mu-gyeol's firm tone, Jeon Gal-cheok awkwardly continued.
"...Fine. Got it. Habit from old days. I'll watch it. Anyway, intents align?"
I nodded.
"Yes. White Bone Society isn't urgent yet. Brain Sound Temple or Solar Palace—tamper wrong now, it'll backfire. If touching evil path, it'd be Evil Path Young Lord Baek Gwang-ho."
* * * Meanwhile, on Changnok Island—one of the lake islands dotting Dongting Lake.
This lair of Evil Path Young Lord Baek Gwang-ho featured
hundreds of ships anchored like a maze on the waters around the island.
Swish— swish
Ssswish—
A small rowboat threaded through layer upon layer of ship walls,
finally arriving before a massive warship and disgorging two people.
Baek Gwang-ho, watching from the warship's prow, greeted those stepping off the rowboat.
"Are you the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's eldest young master?"