Chapter 370
Chapter 370
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 370
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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Paat!
Following Zhuge Sa's instructions, I headed to Seven Killings Village. The operation to rescue them from the Blood Path Group was already underway, so I had the black plaque I'd received from the one-eyed elder. Before entering the village, I hesitated while gazing at the peak of Mount Tai.
'That must be where the Vermilion Bird is dwelling right now, huh?'
The Vermilion Bird. The worst enemy I had to take down for real at this moment. Toppling the Vermilion Bird would be as good as destroying the Imperial Palace itself. The Emperor was nothing more than a puppet, and the remaining Black Tortoise and White Tiger weren't all that powerful, so defeating the Vermilion Bird was equivalent to bringing down the palace. As I stared endlessly at the summit of Mount Tai, Zhuge Sa spoke.
[I'm curious too about what Zhuge Yuryong was thinking when he joined forces with those two-legged creatures. It could be said to be one of the reasons he's helping you now.]
"Your brother, right? And they exiled you just because you dabbled in apostate sorcery..."
[......]
Zhuge Sa fell silent before speaking.
[Don't stop at just defeating Zhuge Yuryong. If you don't understand why he made that choice, you won't be able to move forward.]
"That seems even harder, though."
Grumbling, I entered Seven Killings Village. As before, the village chief and the villagers welcomed me, then directed me to the [Former Ruler] of Dark Heaven Fragrance via Baek Mok. Since celestial spirits couldn't enter Dark Heaven Fragrance, I left them in spirit form waiting in the village.
Paat!
I went to the [Former Ruler] in the jungle. He observed me with the hundreds of eyes embedded in his body and spoke.
[Speak... With the authority of reversal granted to me... I shall grant you one right to turn life into death... and death into life... No one... can escape this authority...]
After hearing him out fully, I said in my mind.
[Please revive Thunder God Style Dharma Protector Lion Yi Cheong-un!]
[I shall.]
Tendrils writhed out from the Former Ruler's body, touching a spot in the empty air. Something like smoke then flowed out from the void. The Former Ruler blew the smoke away somewhere.
[Revived...]
[Thank you.]
I bowed politely and turned to leave. That's when the [Former Ruler]'s voice reached me.
[Speak to the servant of the Black Goat... Many transcendents are watching you... Calamity is near.]
I tilted my head. But I soon grasped the meaning and nodded.
[I understand.]
Paat!
Returning to Seven Killings Village, I left immediately. As I rode on the Four Divine Beasts Statue's back, Zhuge Sa's voice came.
[See, you can't just act on your own whim, heh heh.]
His tone somehow sounded smug.
[The warning to Wall Gazer, right?]
[Indeed. The Changed Wasteland is now corrupted by demonic qi and has become the Black Goat's territory. But that's something none of the [Former Rulers] desire. At least three or four of them must view him unfavorably.]
[Does the Black Goat refer to an Outer God?]
Zhuge Sa replied irritably.
[How is it you know next to nothing about Outer Gods or Former Rulers? If you'd collected that many grimoires, it'd be normal to study their contents.]
[I can't decipher them.]
[...The Black Goat is one of the Outer Gods, among the highest in rank. Even the [Former Rulers] revere her as a god, so she's not interested in this tiny world originally. She's the goddess of fertility and abundance.]
I was dumbfounded.
[Fertility and abundance? I didn't get that vibe from that sinister aura at all...]
[Don't think in human terms. She's too transcendent to comprehend in the first place.]
Zhuge Sa continued firmly.
[Anyway, she'll be checked by Former Rulers of equal or higher standing, so you don't need to worry about that side anymore. Go find Yi Cheong-un.]
"I was planning to anyway."
Paat!
Riding the Four Divine Beasts Statue, I headed to Yi Cheong-un's grave, which Lee Gwang had once shown me. The grave wasn't even weeded—it was a treacherous forest thick with all sorts of vegetation. I drew my sword and hacked through the undergrowth as I approached the tomb.
'Where is it?'
If Yi Cheong-un had come back to life, he had to be somewhere around here. As I scanned the surroundings, it happened.
"Boy. Where is this place?"
An unexpected voice rang out. I hadn't sensed any presence at all, so I jumped in surprise and looked toward the voice. A human figure stood atop a tree branch. What was astonishing was that the branch was so thin and small it couldn't possibly support a person's weight, yet the man's body didn't budge in the slightest.
The man who spoke to me appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties. With thick sword eyebrows and sharp, handsome features, he had refined looks and an average build. There was no aura unique to those who trained in martial arts. Anyone else would surely take him for an ordinary scholar.
But the moment I laid eyes on him, I realized he was an incredible master. His presence had reached the state of returning to pure essence, his formless intent already enveloping my surroundings, and even my mind felt suppressed.
Cold sweat poured down in an instant. In my current life, the only superior I'd faced was the Shadowless Sword Emperor Namgung Cho, but even when he unleashed his shadowless sword qi, it hadn't tensed me this much. Every fiber of my senses screamed defeat if I fought, choking the breath from me. If my level were lower, I might not have noticed, but being middlingly high made it pure agony.
This sensation was similar to when I'd faced the White Lotus Cult Leader. Swallowing hard, I looked at the man, who said softly.
"You've attained Thunder Spirit. And to such a high realm. You are of the Thunder God Style, correct?"
I nodded hastily.
"Yes. And you are..."
"Strange. I thought I'd met my end for sure, so why am I alive and well? Back then, my dantian was shattered—there was no way to survive..."
Muttering with his chin propped, the man suddenly looked at me.
"Why are you here? Could you have something to do with my recovery?"
"Uh, well..."
His gaze made my whole body shrink.
'Why am I like this?'
It was just a normal look. No formless intent pressed in it. Yet an inexplicable pressure made it hard even to stand properly. I didn't know why, but instinct told me I couldn't defy the man before me.
An absurdly monstrous master for sure! My hands trembled as I finally managed a fist salute.
"...Greetings. I am Baek Woong, inheritor of the Thunder God Style."
"Baek Woong... Not a name among the inheritors I know."
"As you said, I came here for a reason. But before I explain, there's something I must confirm."
The man stared at me wordlessly, and with a trembling voice, I said.
"Could you be Yi Cheong-un, Dharma Protector Lion of the Thunder God Style?"
At my question, the man nodded.
"Yes. I am Yi Cheong-un."
"......!!"
Even though I'd expected it, I let out a groan upon confirmation.
The strongest Dharma Protector Lion in Thunder God Style history, hailed as its greatest genius—an absolute master! And as Lee Gwang's master, he was my grandmaster. Now facing Yi Cheong-un in person, I was at a loss for words.
Perhaps because his first impression differed from what I'd imagined. I'd pictured Yi Cheong-un as a stern middle-aged man, but the youth before me was almost scholarly. Only the overwhelming realm he exuded confirmed his identity.
Composing myself after a moment, I said.
"Yi Cheong-un. I revived you using my secret art."
Yi Cheong-un's eyebrow twitched.
"That means..."
"Yes. You passed away in the past. But I brought you back."
"Hmm... Hard to believe."
Yi Cheong-un tilted his head skeptically. Fair enough—only a fool would buy such a story outright. Treating it as nonsense but humoring me once, he continued.
"Fine. Suppose you did revive me. How long has it been since my death?"
"About fifty years."
"Puhahaha!"
Yi Cheong-un burst into disbelieving laughter. Waving his hand, he said.
"Ridiculous. Enough nonsense—step aside. I need to return to the cult."
"Wait..."
Hwiririk!
It happened in an instant.
'Huh!'
Something flashed before my eyes, and I realized my whole body was acupoint-sealed, unable to move. Fortunately, I could still speak, but I'd been subdued in the blink of an eye. Then I sensed Yi Cheong-un strolling leisurely behind me.
'H-How...'
I'd trained in martial arts for over a hundred years. I'd thought I'd surpassed Lee Gwang and reached a level half a step ahead of even the top experts in the Central Plains. But that notion was shattered—Yi Cheong-un had subdued me like child's play. I'd heard much of his prowess, but I'd never imagined this was possible.
I couldn't let him go like this.
If Yi Cheong-un returned to the White Lotus Cult, it would be disastrous!
I tried to shout urgently.
"Thund—"
That's when Zhuge Sa bellowed in my head.
[You idiot! Don't fall for it!]
[What?!]
[Does it make sense for Yi Cheong-un to leave you be in this situation and just head back to the cult? Ignoring the efficient Thunder God Style interrogation array and Eight Trigrams Seal? And if he can seal your vital points, why leave your speech acupoint open?]
My mind cleared in a flash.
[Ah!]
[He's confirming the info you have and planning to torture you after, moron!]
[......!!]
[Summon the Four Divine Beasts Statue and escape to unseal yourself now! Once the torture starts, you're done!]
In that split second, Yi Cheong-un had waged psychological warfare on me. He could have tortured me right away but was waiting for me to blurt something to halt him, then use that as a basis to interrogate. Otherwise, the situation made no sense.
A chill ran down my spine.
'As expected of Lee Gwang's master...!!'
No ordinary mind games could handle the role of Dharma Protector Lion. Especially for one called a genius.
'Urgh!'
I urgently summoned the Four Divine Beasts Statue with my will and fled to the White Lotus Cult lodging atop it. No time to hesitate. Though my acupoints were sealed, time would sort it out somehow.
Paat!
As I caught my breath seeing the White Lotus Cult surroundings, it came.
"Hmm. And where is this?"
"......!!"
That ghostly voice! Before I knew it, Yi Cheong-un's hand was on my shoulder. He'd touched my body on the Four Divine Beasts Statue in that instant and followed its spatial shift. Overwhelming terror surged, nearly making me faint.
To the immobile me, Yi Cheong-un said.
"...No, I think I get it. This is a Thunder God Style building... But it's changed a lot inside. So this must be the White Lotus Cult."
"......"
"I left your speech acupoint open, so say something. I don't want to torture a fellow sect member."
Torture—he said it outright!
Yi Cheong-un spoke politely, but I knew the Thunder God Style's nature well. He likely had the destructive demon temperament to raze everything before him, unflinchingly wielding violence. I was in real danger of facing authentic Thunder God Style torture, sweat pouring.
'S-Suicide?'
I knew how excruciating the Thunder God Style torture Eight Trigrams Seal was. I could endure up to stage two, but beyond that? No confidence. I might even shatter mentally here, never recovering.
But I knew to stay calm in such moments. Gritting my teeth, I regained composure and said.
"Please unseal my acupoints. I'll tell you everything."
"Hmm. Can I trust you?"
"Yes. If there's any lie, I'll take my own life."
Hearing that, Yi Cheong-un's eyes gleamed.
"You truly are a Thunder God Style disciple. To say such a thing."
"......"
In the next instant, my acupoints unlocked as if they'd never been sealed. I hadn't seen Yi Cheong-un move again, sending chills down my spine. Among all the masters I'd met, none had subdued me in such an eerie way.
Sighing, I said.
"It might be hard to believe. If you're ready to hear me out, would you ride the Four Divine Beasts Statue with me?"
"Since I've agreed to trust you, keep your word."
"Then..."
Paat!
I went straight to the obsidian mine in Dongyeong. I broke off a suitable piece to fist-size and infused it with obsidian sorcery containing memories. They briefly covered my past lives' events up to reviving Yi Cheong-un.
'This is the only way.'
I knew Yi Cheong-un, despite his polite words, would start torturing if I slipped even slightly. He'd waged that psychological war moments ago—rather than fall for nonsense, he'd surely torture for solid info, plain as day. And I lacked the eloquence to fool him while hiding bits, so I'd show the obsidian memories to convince him.
Suicide was an option, but not ideal. I'd revived Yi Cheong-un with effort; I'd risk a bit to get info from him. My gamble.
Offering the obsidian, Yi Cheong-un's eyes gleamed.
"What's this? Bringing me to a mine out of nowhere and handing me obsidian..."
"This is my obsidian sorcery. It lets me transmit memories to another."
Yi Cheong-un smiled faintly.
"Why should I trust such suspicious sorcery? What's to say it doesn't mind-control or delude me?"
Yi Cheong-un wasn't just a narrow-minded warrior; he had knowledge of sorcery and mechanisms too. Given the White Lotus Cult's sorcery focus, it was natural for a Dharma Protector Lion. Cautiously, I replied.
"Because you followed me here."
"Hmm?"
"You have the confidence to kill me in one strike even if I try anything funny."
"......"
Yi Cheong-un affirmed silently with his gaze. His terrifying speed transcended normal martial logic. Otherwise, he couldn't move without me noticing in that instant. One mistake, and he'd sever my head like the White Lotus Cult Leader.
Boldly, I said.
"I stake my name—there's no falsehood in this obsidian. You'll see."
"Whether true or not, your attitude befits a Thunder God Style disciple. I like it."
Yi Cheong-un took the obsidian.
Paaat!!
"Urgh!"
Yi Cheong-un's face showed shock as he absorbed the memories. After about half an incense stick's time, he said incredulously.
"What an absurd fellow... Die and start life over from boyhood?"
"Yes."
I'd deliberately omitted Heavenly Dark Secret Book details from the obsidian, so he didn't know. That was standard when sharing with others.
"And... haha... it's true. Fifty years passed, and my disciple has a disciple..."
Yi Cheong-un looked deflated. No wonder—fifty years since his death, plus most of what I'd endured in the Thunder God Style, would shock him. He was likely organizing the Thunder God Style-related memories in his head.
After a moment, Yi Cheong-un said.
"So, your goal is to obtain the Thunder God Style's ultimate secret art, Thunder God Spirit Soul. Right now, you're the White Lotus Cult Leader's disciple and a Thunder God Style Dharma Protector Lion..."
"......"
"Hmm, what to say."
Yi Cheong-un gave a wry smile.
"For now... Baek Woong. Won't you just give up on the Thunder God Spirit Soul?"