Chapter 66
Chapter 66
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Subduing Demon Hall
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My ninth life had begun.
"Huff... Hah..."
I endured the agony, drenched in sweat from head to toe. The pain and despair of being mangled by weapons all over my body, waiting only for death, were etched into my mind. It was phantom pain so intense I could barely breathe until it passed. Above all, the sheer absurdity of dying in such a random place and manner had drained my mental strength.
It took a while lying in the stable before I could catch my breath. My whole body was soaked in sweat. Propping myself up, I muttered,
"... This is going to be tough."
Getting ambushed by the Eight Demonic Sects was understandable. They must have targeted me because I was wandering far from the Azure Dragon Martial Hall alone. If I had just handled my business quickly, I would only have had to deal with the Black Night Sect, and I wouldn't have died. But because I unnecessarily alerted Mangnyang and wasted time, it gave the Demonic Sects a chance to band together and gang up on me.
The problem was dying at such an awkward time. My head ached at the fact that I had to start over from the Azure Dragon Martial Hall again.
How on earth was I supposed to get in?
It wasn't just that I'd learned the basics of the Thunder God Style. I'd gone and mastered the Heavenly Pillar Kill and Heavenly Thunder Blade, which might even be Triple Excellence Lee Gwang's unique techniques. On top of that, I'd learned the secret movements and the advanced applications of the Thunder Cloud Hard Fist. There was no hiding my achievements, so I would have to persuade Lee Gwang all over again from the beginning.
If Triple Excellence Lee Gwang suspected me, I was dead on the spot. No matter my internal energy, he possessed such overwhelming martial prowess that I wasn't even sure I could escape him.
'If only I'd died after learning the advanced techniques of the Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship!'
The techniques I hadn't fully mastered especially felt like a waste. Lee Gwang had always talked as if there were still four or five things left to teach me, so I deeply felt that my Thunder God Style skills were only half-complete as a successor. If I'd fully mastered the Heavenly Pillar Kill as he said, I wouldn't have died.
After agonizing over it, I let out a deep sigh.
"... Haa, damn it. No helping it. First, I'll grab everything I can and figure it out from there."
Time would keep flowing even as I pondered. Surprisingly, I'd gathered a lot of information in my eighth life, so if I moved quickly from now on, I knew I'd have time to spare.
Swoosh!
Leaping out of the stable and tucking the Heavenly Dark Secret Book into my bosom was no longer worth mentioning. After mastering the Thunder God Style, contraptions like arrow traps felt like child's play. It was proof that my martial arts had advanced tremendously from the early days.
After obtaining the Heavenly Dark Secret Book, I headed toward Yellow Mountain. But this time, there was no need to rush so desperately, so I took it easy instead of pushing myself to the bone. That was because the 'Taegyeong Village Massacre' was sealed for now, so I didn't need to hurry until the Golden Guards attempted another disaster.
On the way to Yellow Mountain, I realized my lightness skill had become incredibly efficient. Unlike before, it consumed far less energy and stamina, so I could travel leisurely for long periods without wasting internal energy unnecessarily.
Even though I wasn't rushing, I arrived at Yellow Mountain just four or five days shy of my previous best time. The fact that my body barely smelled musty was proof of how much leeway I'd had.
Tap.
"Here we are."
Upon reaching the village at the foot of Yellow Mountain, I decided to stock up properly. The pot for boiling Black and White Lotus together was now a given, and this time I stopped by a smithy to buy a high-quality sword as well. I had plenty of money from killing a few bandits on the way.
I proceeded straight to the secret realm inside Yellow Mountain and consumed the Millennium Snow Ginseng.
Rumble—!!
"... Something feels off."
Even amid the massive surge of internal energy shaking like a torrent, I grumbled slightly dissatisfied. It was because the increase felt less pronounced than last time. Of course, there was the sensation of vast qi pouring into the vessel of my body, but the vessel had grown so enormous that it felt less fulfilling. Still, it was better than nothing, so I decided to be roughly satisfied.
Then I dove straight into the pond.
Splash—!!
As expected, the Seven Luminaries ruins were hidden there. I extracted the bead and entered the ruins. Upon reaching the altar inside, I retrieved the gold ingot armor hidden out of sight and brought it out of the pond beforehand. It was a hassle to go back and forth, but better than leaving it behind like last time.
I knew there was a guardian giant spider beyond the altar's stone wall, protecting the Seven Luminaries treasure, the divine sword Moye of the Water Luminary. Before pouring blood into the altar, I glared piercingly at that direction, but there was nothing I could do. Without dealing with the guardian, getting Moye would be difficult.
' Hmm... Even using gold ingots and torches like last time probably won't work by sheer luck again.'
That had been a one-in-a-hundred fluke. Hitting the eye of a giant spider lurking beyond pitch-black darkness—whose presence I couldn't even detect—with pinpoint accuracy was impossible with my current skill. I pondered for a long time but saw no alternative, so I gripped the longsword I'd brought tightly.
"No choice. I'll have to test my strength once."
I decided to trust myself from the eighth life, who had trained martial arts to the death. If that time hadn't been wasted, I might at least survive a confrontation with the guardian giant spider. With resolve firm, I let blood flow into the altar.
Rumble...
The stone wall opened. I eyed the log bridge beyond it and tensed my legs.
I had to go all out.
One chance.
Failure meant certain death.
"Thunder Shadow Step secret technique: Heavenly Pillar Kill."
Thunder qi surged through my Heavenly Pillar blood, scattering across my body with a flash. For that brief moment, my reflexes and movements sharpened dramatically. My body, crackling with thunder qi, held its breath as terrifying elasticity coiled within—like a cat crouching before a pounce.
"Maximum deployment!"
Boom.
My body shot out like lightning. In just two steps, I'd covered over twenty paces. Gaining such immense speed in an instant cost enormous internal energy per step. By the third step, I'd nearly crossed the log bridge, wind whistling past my ears.
Bang!
My body skidded across the floor, etching a spark mark. Stabilizing swiftly, I centered myself, and before my eyes gleamed the Water Luminary divine sword, Moye. Gripping it, I gritted my teeth and deployed Thunder Shadow Step Heavenly Pillar Kill once more.
Thud—
Mid-leap through the air, the guardian giant spider finally sprang up, revealing its black, massive demonic form from the abyss. I nearly squeezed my eyes shut at the sudden colossal shape looming before me, but steeling my mind, I swung the sword in my hand.
The Heavenly Thunder Blade extended a zhang in size, striking one of the spider's legs. A resounding clang echoed, like striking metal.
Clang!
"Ugh..."
I was stunned. Even the Zhongnan Sect elder had turned pale and died trying to block it head-on—this was my Heavenly Thunder Blade, infused with overwhelming internal energy as thunder sword strike. Yet my arm tingled numbly instead. Though bluish blood spurted from the leg, given the creature's size, it was like a mere nick on a finger.
Chills erupted across my skin.
'Th-this thing is a real monster...!!'
For a brief moment, I realized how foolish it was to think of facing it head-on. If I had time to fully charge a maximum Heavenly Thunder Blade, maybe—but its reactions were swifter and sharper than most Peak Experts. Even now, a direct fight would turn me into dinner in under a hundred breaths.
But I'd caught it off guard, too. Seizing the moment its leg faltered, I rebounded through the air and landed stably at the exit. Without looking back, I began escaping the ruins.
Tadadak.
A massive silk ball flew from behind, but I could handle it now. My internal energy reserves and sword qi precision had both improved. Fearing the giant spider might pursue, I climbed the stairs nonstop and collapsed once out of the pond.
Thud.
"Uwaaaah... I survived."
Same as last time. The difference was I'd secured Moye with my own power, not luck. Sure, some fortune was involved, but it was fair to say I'd earned it with skill. Plus, retrieving the gold ingot armor beforehand gave me substantial side gains.
Lying there recovering stamina, I thought.
What now?
I'd gotten everything worth getting, so it was time to decide my next moves. After pondering a while on my back, my gaze fell on the pond. Then a good idea struck.
"... Right! Let's harvest the Black and White Lotus roots and go!"
Why hadn't I thought of that until now?
The roots were scarcely known due to the Millennium Snow Ginseng overshadowing them, but they too were spirit medicines possessing extreme yang power. In potency, they rivaled the Millennium Snow Ginseng. The issue was enduring the intense yang qi while consuming them, but if prepared in advance, countermeasures were possible.
I harvested about three roots each and carefully stowed them in my bundle. Until now, I'd had no reason to save spirit medicines, but things were different going forward. Packing the Black and White Lotus, I thought.
'I need comrades.'
I'd realized it upon dying this time. I had no information on the Eight Demonic Sects ganging up, no time to prepare, and not even anyone to fight alongside. Thinking back to how long I'd survived crises with Mangnyang as a comrade was a stark contrast. I'd learned that surviving alone had its limits.
These Black and White Lotus roots would greatly aid in making comrades when the time came. Shouldering the bundle again, I left Yellow Mountain's secret realm.
"Let's go!"
Once out of Yellow Mountain, I couldn't delay a moment. With the Water Luminary's qi surging massively, disaster-class storm clouds would soon ravage the area. Better to move fast before the floods hit.
Running like mad without sleep, my speed rivaled a thousand-li steed. I'd rarely pushed full throttle before, but now I cleared a mountain in less than half a shichen. I even thought there might be scarcely any human with better lightness skill than mine.
Swoosh.
Tadadak.
I ran and ran and ran some more. Previously, the storm clouds had gathered about seven weeks after extracting Moye. My goal was to go as far as possible by then, but unexpectedly, I reached Taegyeong Village in just three days.
"Huff huff... Ugh, gonna die."
Catching my breath by the Taegyeong Village stele, I could hardly believe it.
"Wow... I've really gotten fast..."
My internal energy hadn't changed much. But as the Thunder God Style successor, learning its secret techniques and methods to wield my energy—reaching the stage of applying Heavenly Pillar Kill—had multiplied my lightness skill several times over. Proof that my previous training wasn't in vain.
I realized that with my speed now, a half-day's diligent run from Taegyeong Village would get me to Jinrang Valley with time to spare. To handle what needed doing in Taegyeong Village, I quickly headed to the stable behind the village.
Creak.
Through the well's secret passage, I infiltrated the Hwa family without delay. Confirming no one in the kitchen, I sneaked into the room of Hwa Jong-taek, the family head. Being nighttime with few people about the estate, it was easy.
Hwa Jong-taek lay asleep, naked and embracing a concubine other than Hwa Ryeon. They'd likely consummated before I arrived and dozed off. To ensure they stayed asleep, I sealed their sleep acupoints again and calmly searched the room.
'There it is.'
In the study nook, a silver phoenix figurine gleamed. I'd found it in the kitchen my first infiltration and thought it odd; so it was here. Not particularly hidden, likely for showing off to guests. Sloppy security for a treasure, but probably due to Hwa Jong-taek's personality, unconcerned with petty thieves.
"Sorry, but I'll take it. Time to unravel this Bohai figurine's secret."
It was useless to Hwa Jong-taek, who didn't know its value. Having received it as a gift in a past life anyway, I tossed the silver phoenix figurine into my bundle and slipped out tracelessly via the secret passage.
Tadadadak.
Tadak.
Run!
Without pause, I dashed toward Jinrang Valley. I swear, this was the first time in any reincarnation I'd reached it so fast. Arriving at Jinrang Valley in the dead of night, I pierced the Mangun Formation and climbed to Mangnyang's house, forcibly waking him from sleep inside.
"Mangnyang! Wake up!"
"Eeeeeek!! Somebody help!!"
Mangnyang shrieked weirdly, bolting upright. Like being clubbed in the night, he wore a thunderstruck expression from deep slumber. Ignoring it, I got straight to business.
Bang.
I set the Water Luminary divine sword Moye before him and infused internal energy to manifest the oracle bone script. Even flustered, Mangnyang showed great curiosity. At my following words, his face twisted in shock near death.
"This is the divine artifact Moye, symbolizing the Water Luminary among the Seven Luminaries treasures."
"......?!?!"
"Extracting it from the seal site will likely bring floods across heaven and earth. If you know a way to avert the disaster, teach me."
"W-W-Wait... This is the Seven Luminaries treasure Moye?! A divine weapon rivaling treasures, how..."
"No time. Hurry!"
Urged, Mangnyang forcibly calmed his pounding heart. Retrieving the Ox Gallstone Calming Pill hidden behind his study shelves, he swallowed it and spoke with a drained expression.
"I... don't know who, but Moye's hidden water script movement has indeed disrupted the heavens. To stop it, we must build an altar for Moye and perform the celestial rite."
He had a way! Beaming, I said,
"Can you do it?"
"... I lack the shamanic powers, so no. But hmm, my junior brother could..."
"Let's go! Half a day to Luoyang is plenty!"
"Eek?! How the hell do you know where my junior brother is?!"
Half-forced, Mangnyang hastily dressed. Grinning, I replied.
"I've suffered plenty at that bastard's hands!"
"......?"
Mangnyang's junior brother, Cheon Woo-jin.
That guy could probably avert Moye's heaven-and-earth calamity.