Chapter 522
Chapter 522
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 522
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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The enemy entrenched on Mount Tai is Kinnara of the Eight Legions!
That means our task is to eliminate him before the Heavenly Emperor descends while also uncovering whatever scheme Changhil is plotting. Up until now, we had no idea who was on Mount Tai, so we left it alone without knowing if we should risk the losses to attack. But if the enemy is Kinnara, that's a different story. Taking him out would achieve two goals with one stroke, fulfilling Jeonuk's command as well.
"The problem is whether we can beat the Eight Legions..."
Mangnyang spoke calmly at the meeting where everyone had gathered.
"The caliber of the Eight Legions is no less than the Demon King of the Blaze Fire Cult. They were worshipped as gods in ancient Tianzhu and even destroyed an entire kingdom. We have to assume they're on par or stronger."
"But Kinnara's combat prowess ranks second from the bottom. Among the Eight Legions, he's relatively low-tier, right?"
"Even that low-tier could be stronger than the Demon King."
"......"
Mangnyang was right. The Thunder Sound Temple's records described Kinnara as the weakest, but that was from the perspective of divine beings. No mortal could know just how overwhelming Kinnara's power truly was.
Miho crossed her arms.
"Another moment of choice has arrived. Baek Woong, are we fighting, or are we sitting this one out?"
I stated firmly.
"There's no way we're sitting it out. Changhil's incarnation occupying Mount Tai is clearly part of some plot. We've let it slide until now, but now that we know what it is, we have no choice but to strike. If we leave him be, we'll suffer massive losses for sure."
"Heh heh. Your head's finally spinning right."
The Sword Demon, standing beside the chuckling Zhuge Sa, spoke up.
"Baek Woong, I agree on hitting Mount Tai. Even if some of us die, we have to do it. But there's something nagging at me..."
"What is it?"
"Couldn't we just erase him with the power of reversal?"
"You're right."
It would be easier to use the power of reversal to wipe out this troublesome foe on par with the Demon King than to fight him head-on. No matter that he's Changhil's incarnation, he couldn't possibly withstand the Ruler of the Forest. But Zhuge Sa interjected.
"No, we can't use that method."
"Why not?"
"The Ruler of the Forest devours souls completely, making them its own. That means we'd lose any chance of extracting Changhil's information as Jeonuk desires. And with his movements now clear, will we get another easy opportunity in future lives to confront that cunning Kinnara's true form?"
"......!!"
"Whether he lives or dies, we have to take him down first. That's the only way to get the intel. We need to learn everything—his appearance, thoughts, speech patterns, all of it."
Mangnyang sighed.
"It's frustrating not knowing the relationship between the Heavenly Realm and Changhil. If it were certain that Changhil was the Heavenly Realm's enemy, I'd force a report to them to get Queen Mihu to act..."
"It's also likely Changhil is hiding among the Heavenly Realm's upper echelons. If so, the Heavenly Realm becomes our enemy too."
Either way, only one conclusion remained. Jin So-cheong said.
"Let's go. If we're killing him, we do it right."
He was spot on.
We prepared just as we had for the Demon King and headed straight for Mount Tai. Rather than charging directly to the Heavenly Emperor Altar, we carefully probed the mountain's base for any barriers. Cheon Woo-jin said.
"I've scanned Mount Tai with my far-sight all this time, and nothing ever showed up."
"Can you tell what traps he's set?"
"With the Amber Pearl, yes. We're close enough for its full effect."
Wooong
As Cheon Woo-jin activated the Amber Pearl relic, pure white light leaked from the orb like mist. The light soon coalesced into droplets, scattering into thousands that flew toward various spots on Mount Tai.
Kiiiiiik—
After a while, a scream-like sound echoed. It resembled a demon beast's wail, laced with unmistakable demonic energy. We instantly sensed a trap had triggered, and we asked Cheon Woo-jin.
"What is it?"
"...He hid demon beasts to evade detection spells. Roughly a few hundred."
"Strong ones?"
"Seems so. Even under the Amber Pearl's spells, their numbers aren't dropping much."
Cheon Woo-jin said this while slightly raising the Amber Pearl over his shoulder.
"Amber Pearl, unleash your power!!"
Puuubam!
Rainbow rays cascaded like a waterfall. As the incantation rang out, explosions erupted across Mount Tai, chunks of demon beast corpses spraying into the air. Mangnyang watched with newfound awe and remarked.
"Truly the ancient relic that shone in the God-Sealing War. Such wide-area beam attacks..."
Shushushushung
Soon, the Amber Pearl blazed intensely, recalling the scattered beams. Cheon Woo-jin frowned.
"Someone nullified the Amber Pearl's spells and sent them back at us... The demon beasts' encirclement array on Mount Tai is intact."
Mangnyang was startled.
"Junior Brother, is that possible? That's a superior relic. Not sorcery—how do you nullify a relic's offensive power?"
"That's what I thought too. Whoever's inside is definitely Demon King-class."
Tension rippled through the group. Cheon Woo-jin's probe had confirmed Kinnara's power inside was no joke.
Moments later, a massive roar shook Mount Tai.
[I've been waiting. You've finally come to Mount Tai, overconfident in your own power.]
I roared back in kind.
"Kinnara! Why hide so much? Show yourself properly."
[You're a hindrance to our plans. And gathering the Seven Luminaries makes you far too dangerous.]
Kinnara's voice carried a hint of fury.
[Come! Behold the might of the Eight Legions.]
"Think we won't?"
We began ascending Mount Tai, fully prepared. We could have gone straight to the Heavenly Emperor Altar, but with obvious traps ahead, we decided to dismantle them from the outside as we advanced slowly. Midway up, Mangnyang froze.
"...We're in trouble. We've entered the Death Gate."
"Huh?"
"Hoo, this is ridiculous..."
Mangnyang's face darkened.
"Th-this is... the Eight Array Diagram."
"......!!"
"Baek Woong, use your power to escape. It can't be broken from inside."
"Got it."
Paat!
I instantly fled outside Mount Tai with my comrades. The Sword Demon, baffled, asked.
"Why run? Can't we just smash through?"
"No."
"Even the Vermilion Bird's formations could be breached or destroyed by Cheon Woo-jin alone. Our current force is several times stronger than back then—yet this can't be?"
Mangnyang nodded.
"The caster is practically a demigod. If such a being deploys a perfect Eight Array Diagram, its power multiplies dozens of times... Without Baek Woong's power just now, we'd have been annihilated helplessly."
Zhuge Sa's face twisted in frustration.
"...And its perfection is the problem. Damn it... Only one person in this world can deploy a perfect Eight Array Diagram."
"Zhuge Yuryong!"
"What the hell's going on? Is that bastard Zhuge Yuryong actually Kinnara, Changhil's incarnation among the Eight Legions?"
Even Zhuge Sa was bewildered.
But the situation left no other explanation. We'd assumed Zhuge Yuryong had lost all forces and bases to Queen Mihu and was recuperating somewhere. For him to suddenly appear on Kinnara's Mount Tai, claiming to be Kinnara himself? Unthinkable. If Zhuge Yuryong had been Kinnara with demigod-level power from the start, he wouldn't have been so utterly crushed by Queen Mihu.
Kuooh!
At that moment, a few demon beasts burst from the formation, attacking us. Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon sliced them down effortlessly, but this spot wasn't safe either. Zhuge Sa turned to Mangnyang.
"Hyeon-ah. What do you think? Can we teleport straight to the Heavenly Emperor Altar and find the Life Gate?"
"...Impossible. It's so cleverly disguised we only realized it was the Eight Array Diagram after entering, and the formation's flow shifts endlessly. No human could create this."
"If you can't break the formation, neither can I. If you can't, no formation master on the continent could. Cheon Woo-jin, what about the Amber Pearl's power?"
Cheon Woo-jin grumbled.
"You think a relic master can do anything? My formation knowledge is inferior to Senior Brother's. And if brute force worked, I'd have done it earlier."
"Damn it."
Irritated, Zhuge Sa turned to me.
"Baek Woong! Borrow Sword Dragon Immortal's firepower. That's our only option."
"Won't using full power to break the Eight Array Diagram leave us short against Changhil?"
"We'll manage somehow."
"Alright."
Wooong
Sword Dragon Immortal and Jang Sambong descended upon my body. I unleashed the full might of the Flame Dragon Heavenly Inferno toward Mount Tai.
Kwaaakwang
Vast flames coiled like a dragon, seeming to engulf the entire mountain. But it was mere show—the invisible barrier repelled it, the inferno swirling harmlessly around the perimeter without penetrating. Growing anxious, I asked Sword Dragon Immortal.
[Can't break through?]
[No. It'll take time, but it will breach. No formation, however strong, can withstand the Flame Dragon Heavenly Inferno. But...]
Sword Dragon Immortal peered into the barrier.
[The one inside... he's strong. At least Demon King-class. And that aura feels familiar somehow...]
[What?]
She shook her head.
[Must be my imagination. Even as an incarnation, I wouldn't have met an Eight Legions member—unless it was Response Dragon.]
Kugugugu...
As Sword Dragon Immortal said, the Flame Dragon Heavenly Inferno steadily eroded the Eight Array Diagram from outside, albeit slowly. As the intangible barrier crumbled, demon beasts burned to death in spots, their melting demonic essence staining the earth black with curses. And the moment the inferno pierced a corner of the barrier—
Kwaang!
A humanoid figure appeared, smashing the inferno's dragon head. The blow carried immense force, staggering the head.
[That's him. Let's go!]
Sword Dragon Immortal retracted the inferno's power and shifted near the Heavenly Emperor Altar. I used my power to relocate my comrades alongside her.
[You've come, Apostle and your lackeys...]
Before the Heavenly Emperor Altar stood who I assumed was Kinnara. He bore the exact appearance of Zhuge Yuryong, the Vermilion Bird I'd encountered before. But suspecting transformation arts, we all tensed, glaring piercingly at him.
Kinnara, in Zhuge Yuryong's form, spoke in spirit tongue.
[Overconfident fools. This is your grave.]
I shouted at Kinnara.
"Are you the Vermilion Bird, Zhuge Yuryong?"
[Ah, you mean this body's original owner...]
Kinnara smirked.
[Yes. Quite fortunate for me. His Eight Trigrams arts pair perfectly with my power... Now witness their might.]
Wooong
As Kinnara finished, the Eight Array Diagram redeployed around us, separating our forces entirely. Sword Dragon Immortal, descended upon me, lunged at Kinnara.
Hwaak
Her Flame Dragon slashed mercilessly at Kinnara's neck, but it dispersed like an illusion. As Sword Dragon Immortal sought his presence again, Jang Sambong noted.
[Something feels off...]
Soon, thick fog rolled in, followed by mad laughter.
[Hahaha! At last, I avenge my comrade, Sword Dragon Immortal!]
Sword Dragon Immortal retorted curtly.
[Do I know you? I don't recognize you.]
[I know you well... your disciple...]
The fog and darkness intensified wildly. Sword Dragon Immortal unleashed Flame Dragon Heavenly Inferno to dispel it, but the fog grew uncontrollably stronger.
[Haap!]
The inferno surged massively, clashing head-on with the fog. Opposite stood Kinnara, arms crossed, smirking smugly.
[Heh heh... As expected, troublesome with the Great Law Immortal holding the Seven Luminaries.]
[You... prepare yourself.]
[If only your comrades were as strong as you.]
No way?!
But the ominous premonition came true.
[Here. Take them.]
My comrades' corpses began flying toward me one by one.
Everyone except Miho appeared dead.
Their faces were uniformly pale, as if peacefully asleep.
"U... Aaaah!!"
My mind reeled in chaos. I couldn't accept this outcome. Sword Dragon Immortal and Jang Sambong exclaimed in panic.
[Young one!]
[Calm down! It's an illusion!]
Illusion?
I snapped to my senses, but it was too late. The corpses vanished, and a hand blade flashed like lightning.
Puk
"Ughaaak..."
Kinnara's hand blade had pierced my solar plexus. My momentary mental lapse severed the link with Great Law Immortal—just a split second, but Kinnara exploited it, inflicting a fatal wound.
[You bastard!]
Sword Dragon Immortal summoned Flame Dragon aura to attack, but Kinnara dissolved into fog, reappearing three paces away. He licked my blood from his hand.
[Haha. What next? Your parents' corpses?]
"Ugh..."
Overwhelming agony kept me from focusing. This was instant-death level; every breath felt like my pores exploding. But I forcibly regained composure, healing with my power.
Yet even as I recovered, Kinnara showed no tension. He spoke leisurely.
[Excellent. Let me teach you what a true Apostle battle is like.]
Enraged, I bellowed.
"Shut your crap!!"
[Hm?]
"I'm not letting you get away with this."
Daring to show me my comrades' corpses?
Shiiik!
I appeared atop the Heavenly Emperor Altar. Kinnara stared blankly, then realized my intent as I raised my sword toward it, his face twisting in shock.
[Y-you madman! Are you insane?!]
"Die with me!!"
We were losing anyway.
Might as well go all-in and screw him over!
As my sword swung to shatter the altar—
Deulkeong!
[Ooooo.]
[Could it be you...]
My body halted. Primarily because Great Law Immortals froze in surprise, restraining me. Irritated by the interference, I tried Absolute Severance Command to expel them. But even that was blocked as something immense descended upon me.
The vast presence spoke lowly.
[Jang Sambong. Sword Dragon Immortal. Return to the Heavenly Realm.]
Sseu...
At the command, I felt Jang Sambong and Sword Dragon Immortal's spirits departing me. I knew exactly who could command those two at will, regardless of their intent. The immense power in the words had banished the Great Law Immortals.
The vast presence said.
[Baek Woong, you're a real handful. You move as desired, yet you end up moving me.]
"......"
I couldn't even respond.
The colossal power crushed me.
Kinnara before me was stunned.
[D-damn it... Impossible. How could you... The laws of causality wouldn't allow it...]
[Why not? This one is my Apostle.]
[Doomsday! It's doomsday. You wouldn't descend to the mortal world before the prophecy! The Rulers' pact wouldn't permit this...]
Savoring Kinnara's panic, the vast presence stared him down.
Then spoke coldly.
[Arrogant worm. Dare not question a Ruler's will.]
It extended a hand.
Hooooung
Endless primordial darkness swept away Kinnara's Eight Trigrams formation and fog in one go. Kinnara desperately conjured a protective fog barrier, but the vast presence sneered and flicked a finger.
A long dark spear manifested. It glided smoothly through the air, piercing Kinnara's throat in a straight line.
Kwajik
Strange. I saw it launch, but not strike— as if time itself was erased.
[Huaaak.]
Kinnara's scream reverberated. Dangling midair from the spear through his throat, he writhed in obvious agony. Strangely, he couldn't mist-form upon impalement.
The vast presence admired the sight briefly, then flicked again.
Puk!
[Ughooo...]
Grotesquely, it pierced from his lower body to crown, skewering him like meat. More terrifyingly, though he should be dead, the 'vast presence' said amusedly.
[Changhil's incarnation. You cannot go to the afterlife. I forbid your death.]
Subduing Kinnara with two dark spears, the 'vast presence' gazed at him delightedly.
[Now... call Changhil. Unless you want endless hellish torment.]
[Kuaaa...!! Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns...!!]
[I'll grant you mercy.]
As Kinnara's wails echoed across Mount Tai, the 'vast presence' quietly declared.
[I, Jeonuk, so promise.]