Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: Mountain of the Cultivators (5)
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Every person possessed their own unique constitution.
The names given to these constitutions varied—whether based on yin and yang, the five elements, or special temperaments.
And only by cultivating martial arts suited to one's inherent nature could true mastery be achieved.
This was the realm of what was commonly called 'talent.'
For instance, those with an Extreme Yin Physique harbored the ultimate chill within their bodies, making them perfectly suited for ice-based arts.
A Yin-Yang Physique balanced yin and yang energies, allowing them to wield both ice and fire with precision.
A Taiji Physique encompassed the five elements, enabling effortless mastery of all martial arts. Thus, limits varied greatly depending on one's constitution.
There were rare cases of individuals overcoming and transcending their innate constitutions, but they were exceedingly few.
Defying the fate one was born with was nearly impossible.
'Everything is perfect. Not a single flaw!'
As First Heavenly King Chui examined Park Chan-woo's body, he inwardly exclaimed in admiration.
It surpassed any physique he had ever seen.
It went beyond mere 'strong bones.'
The density of bones and muscles, the flow of vital energy—everything achieved flawless, perfect balance without the slightest imperfection.
And that was not all.
'The flow of energy is serene yet vast like a grand canal. The harmony of yin and yang is beyond words, and heaven, earth, and man align perfectly.'
It was a body innately sensitive to energy.
This explained how he had withstood Chui's Heart-Stopping Strike.
His extreme sensitivity to energy allowed him to detect and deflect the needle-thin killing intent.
An ordinary person, no matter how trained in handling energy, could never have done so.
It required a body that embodied the Three Powers of heaven, earth, and man.
Not to mention, neither yin nor yang dominated, and it remained impartial to both righteous and demonic paths.
A perfect body without a single flaw, even if one desperately searched for one.
He had encountered countless arhats, yet never seen its like.
First Heavenly King Chui.
The reason he was the foremost among the Twelve Heavenly Kings was not only his martial prowess but also because he served as the 'first gateway' for all arhats ascending to the All Gods Temple.
The All Gods Temple was divided into various districts, each offering different cultivation methods.
Chui meticulously assessed the bodies of those climbing the mountain and guided them to the appropriate districts.
Naturally, he was the one who could 'see' bodies the most clearly.
There was no room for mistake.
'The legendary Heavenly Martial Physique, said to have been possessed by the progenitor Heavenly Demon!'
It was the unique constitution known to have been held by only one person throughout history: the Heavenly Demon.
The sole physique capable of learning all martial arts and reaching their pinnacle!
But what was even more astonishing was...
'Most of it was acquired postnatally.'
It did not seem to be innate from birth.
The constitution had been refined after the fact.
Yet fundamentally altering one's core was no easy feat.
No amount of personal effort alone could achieve it.
'Unless the Heavenly Demon himself refined the constitution...!'
Without intervention from a being as lofty as the heavens.
...Only the Heavenly Demon, who possessed the Heavenly Martial Physique, could create another.
Brrrr!
Realizing this, Chui's entire body trembled like an aspen leaf.
When he had seen Guardian Charpam, he had been half-doubting.
Its appearance differed vastly from what he knew, and its attitude toward the Heavenly Demon had been utterly irreverent.
Yet there could be no other bearer of the Heavenly Martial Physique in the world.
What were the odds of someone with that physique entering Avici Hell, wielding Charpam, and existing through fusion?
Of course, all of this was Chui's misconception.
After his regression, Park Chan-woo had forged himself through countless adversities.
Challenging the inscrutable and triumphing over beings far more powerful had gradually transformed even his fundamental essence.
And meeting the transcendent Lir had allowed further completion through deeper understanding and enlightenment of mana.
The most decisive factor, however, was his mindset.
'I will become an archmage who surpasses Sepiro.'
The resolve to become an archmage eclipsing even the Transcendent Dragon!
This ambition—to surpass even that monstrous entity who could erase humanity with a word—was driving his gradual evolution.
His goal had been lofty from the start.
After all, it was to seize a being in the clouds beyond reach.
"'Divine Arts and Absolute Learnings'... We have imparted all our insights to you."
He had inscribed twelve insights into his body.
Chui had used his own blood to etch them onto various parts of Park Chan-woo's body like tattoos.
Then, as if by magic, the characters vanished.
Because it was not mere blood; it incorporated his origin essence as well.
Each time he gained insight against an arhat, the characters would emerge and awaken.
Achieving this twelve times would complete the 'Divine Arts.'
"This old man has no regrets left."
His face looked even more aged.
All his energy had drained; he could die right then without surprise.
His pupils were a dull gray.
His skin was ashen and flaky, riddled with deep wrinkles.
Yet he appeared refreshed.
It was the face of one who, at life's end, had finally achieved a grand lifelong goal.
"......"
Park Chan-woo was at a loss for words.
He hadn't expected imparting the insights would take this form.
The old man could manipulate origin mana.
He clearly understood the stages of mana.
Furthermore, he had inscribed his own origin mana into Park Chan-woo's body as insights.
"It's fine. I was fated to die soon anyway."
"......Thank you."
"However... there's one thing that nags at me: this 'Avici Hell.' I could never find a way out."
The Twelve Heavenly Kings had scattered from the cave, wandering in search of a path.
Over an interminable time, countless days of circling and aimless drifting, yet they found no path—nor even encountered each other.
They had become eternally lost.
"I know the way out."
"......What?"
"How do you think I entered this place?"
"If not imprisoned by force like us... did you enter of your own accord?"
This had been a lingering question in his mind.
How Park Chan-woo had come to this Avici Hell.
Of course, the will of mana had guided him here, with a bit of embellishment.
"Yes."
"Why......"
"To find survivors."
"......Us?"
Nod!
Park Chan-woo nodded firmly.
In truth, not at all.
He hadn't even known this was Avici Hell.
He had no interest in who might be alive.
However.
First Heavenly King Chui was dying.
He had accepted death.
"......No way. 'That one'...... But that can't be......"
Chui's eyes shook wildly.
Park Chan-woo drove the wedge home.
"You held on well. Come, let's get out together."
In his current state, Chui wouldn't even make it out of the cave before expiring.
He needed the drive to live, a spark of hope, to endure.
"Ahh......!"
Chui covered his face with both hands.
Soon, he wept as if saved.
After a long moment of感動.
"......Thank you. But if I go with you, we'll be discovered before reaching the All Gods Temple. My remaining life won't hold out. Having passed on my final insight, I am content."
Chui did not change his mind.
On the contrary.
"And it's a relief. Truly a relief that you know the way out."
He seemed even more relieved that Park Chan-woo could escape.
He showed no concern for his own death.
It was as if he had transcended detachment into true enlightenment.
...It seemed impossible to take him along.
Yet Park Chan-woo didn't want to end this karmic bond here.
He turned his back.
"Hop on."
"I'll be fine......"
"Don't you want to see your friends?"
"......Pardon?"
"The other Twelve Heavenly Kings trapped here with you."
"......"
Chui was speechless.
The Twelve Heavenly Kings shared an irreplaceable bond.
They had overcome countless brushes with death and life together.
They had vowed to face the end as one, leaning on each other.
Yet they were said to be dead.
Chui hadn't shared their deaths.
Couldn't even find where they were.
And yet.
"......Really...... Do you know where the other Heavenly Kings are?"
"Yes. I was on my way after meeting them all."
More than escaping, he wanted to see the other Heavenly Kings.
Even if they were already dead, he wanted to give them a proper burial.
「It will double the time. And staying long in this labyrinth is unwise. Are you sure?」
Chronos warned.
Avici Hell eroded the senses the longer one stayed.
Even with the Radiant Sage's Stone guiding the way, lost senses meant faltering steps.
The longer they stayed, the greater the risk of sharing the Twelve Heavenly Kings' fate.
But Park Chan-woo shrugged.
"Aren't they closer than family?"
"......"
Chui nodded with difficulty.
Comrades who had stood together against the All Gods Temple's persecution to the end.
Their weight rivaled blood ties.
To say he didn't yearn to see them would be a lie.
"Let's go together. I'll guide you."
They turned onto the path.
Retracing their steps, they encountered the other Twelve Heavenly Kings, reduced to skeletons in death.
One by one, with each meeting, Chui let slip quiet sentiments.
"Second Heavenly King Haewoo... You were always so boisterous, yet here you lie so still."
"Fourth Heavenly King Cheoljin...... You said you'd outlive me, but your remains say you went first, you impatient fool."
"Tenth Heavenly King. You died well. I'll join you soon."
They dug graves and laid them to rest.
Afterward, Chui offered brief prayers for their peace, his gaze distant and wistful.
Sometimes tears fell; he lamented, pouring out all his emotions.
To bid final farewell to friends he would never see again, Chui raged against the end.
Thus, returning to the starting point after sending off all the Heavenly Kings.
"......Thank you. Truly, how can I ever repay this grace......"
"You have to live first, right?"
"But my allotted life has already......"
"Look back at yourself once more. See if you're truly fated to die."
Park Chan-woo said with a smile.
Chui tilted his head, then gazed at his hands.
In that instant.
"......!!!"
Chui began convulsing again.
The hands, once wrinkled and gnarled, were now smooth without a single crease.
He hurriedly touched his face.
"......Wh-what in the world......"
His skin felt taut and firm.
With each friend he buried and grudge he released.
Chui's appearance had gradually changed.
Bit by bit, in moments he hadn't noticed.
And so, after sending them all off.
Chui had achieved complete physical rebirth.