Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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Abbot Seosan said.
"I cannot agree to awakening the guardian. As you said, its power has reached a level no mere human can oppose. How could the four of us here possibly subdue it? Moreover, the Dharma Guardian Lion will soon break through the barrier."
Abbot Seosan's words were perfectly logical. But Miho, listening with arms crossed, spat out bluntly.
"Hmph... So you're saying we should just sit here and wait to die? You don't seriously think that Dharma Guardian Lion will quietly leave if it can't find the ruins from the surface, do you?"
"That's..."
"If it gets pissed, it'll smash the mountain itself. We're not safe at all. Instead of giving up and saying it's impossible, we need to figure out how to survive."
"You're right."
It was exactly as she said.
Common sense dictated that no human could demolish a wild mountain spanning over 150 li alone, but if the Dharma Guardian Lion wielded natural qi, it wasn't impossible. Given the nature of Mani Mountain, with its interior turned into ruins, a massive impact from above could cause the whole site to collapse. One wrong move, and we could end up buried alive without accomplishing a thing.
The young monk Yu Jeong, who had been listening silently until then, spoke up.
"What if we do this?"
"You have a plan?"
"Use barbarian against barbarian."
Miho furrowed her brow.
"That's the only option, but there's no guarantee it'll go our way. We can't proceed without a solid plan."
Listening, I asked Yu Jeong.
"You mean pit the Dharma Guardian Lion against the ruin guardian?"
"Yes. We aim for mutual destruction. Whichever survives will be weakened, and we strike then."
"As Miho said. It won't be easy."
I let out a groan.
Make the Dharma Guardian Lion fight the ruin guardian!
It was the ideal scenario for us, but getting to that point was the problem. We could lure it here and spill blood on the altar to summon the guardian, but the lion might not fight—instead, leisurely returning to the surface. Or it could ignore the guardian and just slaughter us. No guarantee it would obediently clash as we hoped.
Abbot Seosan, who had been silently chanting, spoke.
"...I have one thing I'd like to confirm, fox spirit."
"What?"
"If you obtain the Moon Yao, what do you plan to do?"
"Hmph, what business is that of yours?"
"It's important. Please answer."
Abbot Seosan wasn't asking idly. Sensing this, Miho pondered before replying.
"I originally served Queen Mother of the West. I plan to use the Moon Yao's power to ascend to the heavenly realm. I have no other ambitions."
"I see... In that case, there's a way."
"What?"
"Let's do this."
And so the plan began.
I sat in meditation in the darkness, needles inserted into my acupoints. The space was comfortable enough for sitting, so I focused solely on gathering strength. My gaze pierced straight ahead.
Silence flowed.
Thud. Thud.
Footsteps echoed into the ruins. But they were deliberate, meant to instill fear in listeners. In truth, its lightness skill could cover a hundred li without a single feather falling.
After a long approach, the footsteps' owner seemed to survey the surroundings. Then a mutter reached us.
"Hiding? Pathetic worms."
It had already detected us. But confident it could withstand an ambush, it now examined the altar with interest. Even to it, the ruins seemed extraordinary, as it inspected meticulously.
"Hoh... Interesting."
Fwoosh.
"Interesting? Take your time and enjoy."
Miho's illusion appeared from the darkness. The Dharma Guardian Lion recognized it instantly and didn't attack, merely glaring.
"Think hiding helps? You're trapped."
"Ufufu. Maybe. But first, something I'd like to ask."
"What?"
"Do you know the legend of the Seven Yao?"
At Miho's words, the lion fell silent. Then, grasping something, its face showed surprise. Glancing at the altar, it said.
"I see. So that's it. The Seven Yao is here."
"Yes. A supreme treasure sealed since the divine era."
"I'll slaughter you all and claim the Seven Yao."
"Whether it goes that way is doubtful, ahaha."
Giggling, Miho said.
"Have fun."
Splash.
That instant, a vat Miho teleported poured from midair. Moments later, with a clang, viscous blood flowed over the altar. The lion, standing right before it, felt a massive vibration at its feet and panicked.
Rumble rumble rumble.
"No..."
Boom boom boom boom BOOM!!
Darkness surged from below. Vast and endless, it erupted, spewing hundreds, thousands of spirits that swirled and dove at the nearby lion. It repelled them easily with martial arts, but seemed to sense what colossal being was being summoned here.
BOOM!!
The darkness, nearly swallowing the underground ruins, pierced the ceiling. Bursting through the ruins into the sky, the living fog of shadow twisted, forming a shape.
The noble darkness writhed alive under moonlight. The lion leaped skyward to escape, but the darkness had already marked it as foe. Shadowy tendrils lashed out.
Bang.
"Urgh... You bastard!!"
Realizing the darkness attacked it, the lion raged. But regaining calm, it bellowed, shaking Mani Mountain.
"I see through your pathetic ploy, fools!! Think I'll fight this thing? I'll kill you first and leave this island!"
No reply came. Dodging the darkness, the lion boosted its lightness skill, soaring with sky-walking steps. But suddenly, it flipped midair and landed.
It showed extreme confusion.
"What...? Who are you, speaking to me?"
Then it shrieked madly.
"Shut up! Don't try to control me! I won't be devoured by the likes of you!!"
Boom rumble rumble boom.
Next instant, a massive vortex and whirlwind erupted from the lion, forming a dragon coil wind. It assaulted the darkness ahead—the guardian, spanning hundreds of li.
The clash resembled monsters colliding; even watching from afar, I held my breath.
With a heaven-shaking roar, the darkness withdrew its fog, slowly taking form. It was an otherworldly beast I'd never seen— the most alien monster of my life. The demonic beast summoned by the Golden Guards seemed tame by comparison; its grotesque, hideous form chilled the soul.
Grooooar.
Black as a tree rooted in earth, yet its trunk and leaves bristled with eyes. The massive central eye was spine-tingling, and ominous whispers drifted with shadowy tendrils.
Moonlight devoured by darkness flashed.
Ooooh—
Reacting to the lion's assault, the guardian countered.
Aum—
Space warped. Demons poured into heaven and earth.
Unknown mystic divine power gathered in the sky, unleashing beams to the ground. Explosions and ruptures raged, shockwaves unending. The lion seemed locked in frontal combat.
Miho, observing that far, recalled her tail. Trembling in terror, she said.
"Wh-what kind of existence is that?"
"The lion's incredible. Manipulating natural qi like that..."
As I assessed, Miho paled.
"What are you talking about?! Not the lion—Izanagi no Mikoto!! How can such a demon exist...? Can't you feel its demonic power?!"
"......?"
I looked around. Miho wasn't alone; Abbot Seosan and Yu Jeong were ghastly pale too. They seemed awed more by Izanagi no Mikoto than the lion's might. Apparently, a power only sorcerers could sense.
Our plan was this:
Deliberately open the ruin entrance to lure the lion, confirm it entered fully, then the three sorcerers combine for a teleport out. Miho creates a tail clone to drop my blood-filled vat on the altar.
The crux was whether the lion would fight, but even if not, we hid in Abbot Seosan's nearby abode under a concealment barrier. Even the lion couldn't find us quickly.
Now, linked by far-sight sorcery, we watched the thrilling duel.
So it puzzled me. I enjoyed it, but Miho and others were gripped by terror just watching.
'Why?'
I'd seen such otherworldly demons before, but to them, it could be nightmare fuel. Yet Yu Jeong, pale-faced, said to me.
"You're truly strange, layman. Feeling such intense demonic power without flinching..."
"Hmm..."
Something was off.
Their reactions suggested any ordinary person would go mad or die here. I felt no fear, just pondering how to fell that [one from the moon], Izanagi no Mikoto. I even chuckled inwardly at the lion's misfortune. But with the fox spirit and mighty monks terrified, my calm was abnormal.
I was the most rational here. So I spoke.
"Calm down. We just watch till the end here, right?"
"No other way. Can't even dream of leaving this barrier."
"Hmm... Can the lion win against that monster?"
Eyes turned skyward. Izanagi no Mikoto was so vast, no far-sight needed. Beside it, the lion spewed wind spirit qi in a fearsome battle, visible to all. Watching, Miho said.
"No idea. Both monsters. But we might need to help the lion."
"What? Serious?"
"...Leaving the Moon Yao guardian alone feels like everything ends in ruin. That thing... can't be left unchecked."
Abbot Seosan nodded at Miho's words.
"Let's observe."
I felt troubled. Was Izanagi no Mikoto truly that terrifying? It wasn't about my courage. The demonic power and pressure others felt seemed immense.
Boom rumble boom.
Fireworks and massive destructive shockwaves burst repeatedly in the sky. The lion unleashed everything, colliding dozens of vortexes mid-flight into Izanagi no Mikoto. The sky-piercing shadow tree roared, spewing black blood from its trunk.
Grooooar.
The lion's roar echoed.
[Graaaaaar!! Wind God Style: Wind King Heavenly Blade!!]
Slaaaash.
That instant, the lion roared, summoning a massive blade in the sky. Extreme wind qi condensed into a gleaming edge—symbolizing a realm I knew well. I cried in shock.
"Gang Qi Realm!"
The supreme achievement attainable only by ultimate martial artists! And not pure gang qi, but fused with wind to form it—unthinkable. Gripping the Wind King Heavenly Blade, the lion slashed at Izanagi no Mikoto with immense force.
Boom rumble boom.
"Urgh..."
"Gasp..."
The explosion dwarfed all before; the ground shook, a light quake felt below. The blade struck the giant eye dead-on. It burst, splattering crimson-black blood on earth. Enraged, Izanagi no Mikoto gathered tendrils, forming a sphere in midair.
Gurgle.
Gurrrrgle.
Moments later, fruits burst, spawning swarms from the darkness. Bizarre dog-bee hybrids I'd never seen rushed the lion, which erupted qi in frenzy.
Boom.
"......"
Watching, even I was awed. Was that human? And instinct told me ordinary means wouldn't fell Izanagi no Mikoto next reincarnation. Even the lion strained against this divine demon; another way was needed.
Half a shichen passed. The sky clash intensified; Izanagi no Mikoto weakened, bleeding black onto earth. The tireless lion hammered with Wind God Style secrets. Empowered by Heaven Spirit Pill for near-perpetual qi, it sustained sky-walking.
The end neared.
[Wind God Style Ultimate Secret: Divine Wind!!]
Aiming to finish, the lion unleashed its ultimate. Unlike Thunder God Style, it summoned solid clones, multiplying power manyfold. The real-yet-illusory Divine Wind struck with Gang Qi Realm force.
[Take this, Final Secret: Heavenly Arrival Wind God!]
Craaaack.
Darkness exploded. A fatal blow, clearly.
[Graa... ah... aah...!!]
Izanagi no Mikoto wailed in agony. White radiance bubbled around it; soon, the [one from the moon]'s body burst with the foam. Onlookers averted eyes from the flash.
Boom boom boom BOOM.
White explosion swept hundreds of li. We'd moved far, yet nearly caught; I yanked Yu Jeong, Abbot Seosan, and Miho away. The blast behind was terrifying.
Rumble rumble...
Plop plop.
As echoes faded, I said to Miho in my arms.
"You okay?"
"Urgh... Never dreamed that human would solo Izanagi no Mikoto."
Miho fixated more on that than Mani Mountain's ruin. Same for Yu Jeong and Abbot Seosan. The abbot sighed.
"Hoo... To think a human could be that strong—eye-opening."
"Dead in the blast?"
"Unknown. We must check."
Soon, Miho and Abbot Seosan sent spirit servants and familiars to scout. After half a shichen, it vanished from the area. No choice but to return to the ruins.
In the ruined site, we found Izanagi no Mikoto's breach. Demonic qi still swirled menacingly. Crossing debris deeper, oddly, the altar chamber was intact.
'Did Izanagi no Mikoto spare the altar room?'
The wall was open—not broken, but unlocked by the guardian's fall. We approached the bridge beyond. Another single-log bridge.
An ominous feeling stopped me short.
"Wait!"
"Why?"
"Hold on."
Boom boom BOOM.
From the abyss, a giant spider surged. Familiar, I felt absurd.
'What? That's just the surprise miniboss at the trial's end?'
If so, the Water Yao ruins originally had a [guardian] too. For some reason, it didn't appear; I'd brawled the surprise spider instead.
As I deflated, Miho declared confidently.
"I can handle that."
"Let's dispatch it quickly."
I could've soloed it alone; with us, no issue. Miho cast sorcery, Abbot Seosan and Yu Jeong bound it with staff arts. Finally, I charged, unleashing Thunder Command to cleave it.
Screeeee.
"Wait."
The spider left web strands, plummeting to death. Miho teleported across, returning. In one hand, an ancient sword gleaming; the other, a mirror and jade.
Puzzled, I said.
"What's that? Isn't it just the Heavenly Mass Cloud Sword?"
"Seems all three are the Moon Yao set."
"Hmm."
The ancient Dongyoung Three Divine Artifacts collectively called Moon Yao. Heavenly Mass Cloud Sword was the mightiest. Miho pocketed the treasures, beaming.
"Ahaha, let's go."
Gruffly, I said.
"Lucky you. Off to the heavens."
"Hehe, wouldn't that be nice?"
Exiting, Miho said.
"Back in the heavens, I'll serve Queen Mother without vice. Reflect on my deeds, live virtuously..."
Then.
Boom.
A sudden wind bullet pierced Miho's chest. Incredulous, she stared down, collapsing sideways. Abbot Seosan and Yu Jeong blocked with sorcery, but I stared blankly.
"No!!"
I rushed, cradling her. A gaping hole in her chest—no immortal could save her. Vomiting blood, Miho said.
"Haa, haa... D-don't worry... I have nine lives... Won't die from this..."
"Damn it...!!"
Gritting teeth, I glared at the ruins.
There stood the Wind God Style Dharma Guardian Lion. Burned everywhere but face, one arm gone, black tiger mask lost—revealing a cross-scarred handsome middle-aged face etched in my memory.
Grimacing, it said.
"Thanks for handling the nuisance. Now die, all of you."
Flames shot from my eyes. Clearly unhinged.
"Don't make me laugh. You're half-dead. I'll kill you!"
"Kuhuhu... Half-dead... Maybe, but."
Rumble rumble.
"......!!"
"You'll all be corpses soon."
A ten-li-wide wind bullet hovered over its hand; I gasped. Still that power left?! Preparing Abbot Seosan and Yu Jeong blanched. No surviving that natural qi.
Even Thunder Command too slow.
The wind bullet hurtled. No options left; all shut eyes.
Flash.
[Ah... aah...!!]
I couldn't believe my eyes. Miho's silver fox true form appeared, blocking head-on. But spells and barriers shredded miserably. Finally, bloodied, she collapsed.
"No!!!"
Please.
Please no!!
Miho blocked but was dying. Using all eight remaining lives to preserve her form, death inevitable. Cradling her hastily, Miho whispered fadingly.
[Baek Woong...]
"Miho!!"
Miho seemed to smile.
[It was... fun...]
The silver nine-tailed fox moved no more. Moon Yao lay beside, silent.
"......"
I didn't know.
Why did Miho save us?
She could've teleported alone, survived with Moon Yao power—why?
'No...'
Not because of me. I couldn't think that, mustn't. I already bore too much unpaid debt; no more.
No.
No way.
"Ahh..."
Tears streamed from empty eyes. Tears unbidden even by hundreds dying before me trickled down cheeks. Kneeling blankly, holding her corpse, the lion scowled.
"A mere yokai obstructs me to the end. Low on qi, I'll slaughter you myself."
"Slaughter...?"
Its words drove me mad.
Head throbbed to burst.
That bastard.
Staggering up, wiping tears, I said.
"Kill me? Fine... go ahead. What does it matter for trash like me..."
Self-mocking laugh escaped.
"Uhihihi... hahaha...."
This was the problem.
If only I died—respawn and restart. But some wagered lives to protect trash like me, worthless yet did. Mangnyang's neck flashed, Miho's corpse.
I alone might suffer eternally in memory. But these emotions defied words.
Surviving's good.
I'd live long this life.
Build power, achieve goals.
But... what use now?
One who died protecting me lay before me.
Not reason—her heart killed her for me.
"So from now, I'll die."
Unless I repay this blood debt with my life...
I'm no man.
I plucked a needle.
Placed a special needle into the prepped grand technique.
Hwaseo Command's Hwasi 108 Needles ultimate secret needle, passed only to house lord and direct kin—Hwasi school's vilest secret.
"Executing Great Luo Total Annihilation."
Thunder Command consumed more fiercely than ever.
First Gate opened.
My body became a beam of light.
Craaack.
My fist, exceeding sound manifold, smashed the lion's chest. Blood sprayed arrow-like; no clone—this shattered its protective gang qi, blood gushing from all orifices instantly.
No weapons.
Wanted to beat it like a dog.
Since dying anyway, humiliate it.
Boom BOOM.
"Cough...!! You...!!"
Great Luo Total Annihilation's secret, also called Inevitable Flash. Trading life for one brief half-ke strike.
Second and Third Gates opened simultaneously.
Qi surged, true qi flow sped manifold.
Whoooosh.
Dozens of its clones swarmed, unleashing Nine Extremes Blood Wind God Fist again. But all seemed slow to me. Qi transcended; I saw subtlest feints with human eyes.
'I see it.'
No feints fooled. Rooted, I snapped clone necks with Thunder Cloud Soft Fist. Serpent punches shattered air instantly.
"No!"
Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Gates burst open.
Nose bled.
Mouth filled with blood.
No thought of survival; qi soared unprecedented. Golden aura crackled electric, gathering in right hand. Dragon-like thrust dyed heaven in light.
Rumble!!
"Grk..."
The lion charred black, fainted briefly. Expected from sky thunder. Seventh Gate open, resonating heaven-earth qi. Blood-tears streamed; fist clenched.
Must endure more.
Qi drained ceaselessly; vast reserves bottomed. Great Luo and Thunder Command granted peerless might but devoured qi ravenously.
Nails and toenails shed.
Body failed as life-vessel, shattering under gates' force. Yet amid worm-gnawing agony, relief came. Felt slight atonement to Miho.
I spat blood.
"Uwaaaah..."
Lion awoke, retreated; I closed faster, delivering final blow.
Eighth Gate.
Open.
Thunder God Style True Fist.
......
Flesh exploded. Too fast for sound, utterly erasing the lion. Its body scattered in hundreds of chunks, blood droplets airborne. Even dying, mouth agape in disbelief.
Boom rumble boom.
Delayed roar shook. Rear hill pulverized wholesale. Fixed in true fist stance, I couldn't move.
"......"
Bathed in blood rain, I thought.
'Am I truly a fool...'
No need for this. Better combine prior needle grand art and Thunder Command, fight protracted, probe Wind God Style. But Miho's death snapped my mind; used inevitably fatal Great Luo Total Annihilation.
But unavoidable.
Soul dying; had to kill body first.
Perhaps how reincarnators like me live.
Faintly opening eyes, I gazed at Abbot Seosan and Yu Jeong. Said.
"Next time... better fate..."
They watched my blood battle stone-faced, then clasped hands together at my words, chanting.
"Amitabha."
I closed eyes.
Life ebbed.
My tenth death.