Chapter 278: An Encounter
Read more at Nineheavens.org
JEOBEOJEOBEO…
When Gun Mu-ak entered the path’s opening, Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji quickly followed behind him.
Right at that moment.
UUUNG-
A sound similar to a strong vibration rang out.
SASASASA, SASASASASA…
The primeval forest around the cliff where the path lay instantly vanished from sight.
Instead.
Large and small black clouds filled the space.
That wasn’t all.
Strong whirlwinds arose in all directions, as if forbidding approach into the path.
The mysterious transformation of all the surrounding scenery.
However.
It was a completely different phenomenon compared to before.
When Cheol Ryu-heun had found this path and entered, the forest had changed into large and small rocks.
Thus, the primeval forest that had been replaced by a rocky region was now a space of black smoke and gusts.
Why?
The reason was simple.
Because the supernatural barrier formation’s attributes had changed due to the Buddhist energy being extinguished earlier by the formidable demonic energy.
Of course, the central essence and wondrous function remained the same as before – to protect and block the entrance while one went beyond the path.
With this, Gun Mu-ak had proven it.
His supreme ability to newly transform the formation that Cheol Ryu-heun had strengthened.
That could be called a kind of challenge letter.
Toward Cheol Ryu-heun, who would become a great obstacle to the Heavenly Demon Cult in the future…
Gun Mu-ak quietly walked along the path while thinking.
About his conversation with Cheol Ryu-heun.
-At the end of that hidden path, there’s a pool.
-Demon Buddha Secret Pool… by the way, I’m somewhat curious. Is it only the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?
-You’re asking if I realized something else besides that?
-I’m just asking. If you don’t want to say…
-It doesn’t matter. My second Feathered Ascension To Immortality, albeit it was stopped, and a third Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing.
-Indeed…
-Well, summarizing roughly, that’s it. There’s more, but. You said you’d only ask one last thing – why do your words keep getting longer?
-Hoo, I can’t help it. The more I learn about you, the greater my curiosity becomes.
-And wariness proportional to that.
-You strike at the heart again.
Gun Mu-ak’s two eyes, fixed forward, emitted a faint gleam.
‘I acknowledge it. Even without needing to exchange blows, I can tell. That you are our cult’s greatest nemesis… but from the martial world’s perspective, this body must be the same.’
That’s right.
To Orthodox and Unorthodox alike, his very existence would be a calamity.
It wasn’t arrogance but pride. Pride in his overwhelming demonic power.
Even if it were called conceit, he was fully qualified.
‘Anyway, I look forward to the day we meet again.’
Eventually, upon reaching the end of the long narrow path.
“Ah…”
“Such a place…”
Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji admired the vast valley’s scenery.
From the rock walls encircling all sides in a round shape, there wasbclear, blue waterfall water was pouring down, and before the stone ground where the three stood was a huge pond, positioned like a painting.
The surface of the water, filled with the flowing red light of sunset, couldn’t be more beautiful.
What drew the most attention was the enormous flower in the center of the pond.
The two women admired repeatedly.
They had never seen such a large lotus.
Moreover, it was even emitting a mysterious radiance, evoking some kind of mystical giant lantern.
At that moment, Gun Mu-ak spoke.
“Over there.”
Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji’s gazes were drawn by his voice and chin gesture toward the ground to the right.
On that not-so-distant spot, something resembling explosion marks could be seen.
Gun Mu-ak’s soft voice continued.
“That is it. The marks of death of those under the one who secretly helped Aryun-nan.”
Simultaneously with those words, Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji nodded.
While recalling Gun Mu-ak’s words while they were leaving Mount Zhongnan…
-The person who secretly helped Aryun-nan. He says personnel under that person appeared at the Demon Buddha Secret Pool.
Gun Mu-ak soon headed forward.
It was the boundary point between the water surface and the stone ground.
Having stopped there, he bent his waist and extended his hand.
CHALBANG.
A wrist gently submerged.
Immediately after, Gun Mu-ak spoke in a meaningful voice.
“Indeed… it’s holy water.”
According to records in ancient texts, Bodhidharma had continuously drank the water of the Demon Buddha Secret Pool while practicing mental imagery and physical training in parallel.
As a result, he completed the essence of the Heavenly Vajra Buddhist Energy, which harmonized transcendentally powerful Buddhist energy with the vital energy of all things between heaven and earth, and also created the essence of the supreme martial art Vajra Immovable Divine Art.
‘A power that seems to reject demonic energy is inflicting pain on my wrist. In the old days, the Founder… was wary of this holy water’s power.’
Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji, who had approached his side, spoke in unison.
“Grand Prelate, now that we’ve actually reached Demon Buddha Secret Pool, my feelings are strange.”
“Yes. Somehow it feels like making a pilgrimage to the Founder’s holy ground.”
“Is that so?”
Gun Mu-ak quietly rose to his feet along with those brief words, then gazed at the lotus floating yonder.
“Now I must feel it more. Here, I intend to find out how much my power has increased.”
“Pardon?”
“What do you mean…?”
To the two women’s questions, Gun Mu-ak let out a faint smile.
“Hoot. As you know, when the Founder visited this place, it was before he reached his prime. But the current me is clearly different. I came here with martial prowess stronger than the Founder at that time.”
He then made a gesture for them to go back while continuing.
“I wish to definitively test that through this opportunity.”
The two women grasped something and retreated to the rear.
“I must experience it firsthand. The mysterious power of this secret location.”
Soon, when Gun Mu-ak operated his supreme internal power.
DEUDEUDEU, DEUDEUDEU…
The ground within a five-zhang radius trembled.
In an instant, Gun Mu-ak spoke in a heavy tone as if cautioning.
“No matter what happens, do not intervene and wait quietly.”
At that, Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji answered in unison while nodding.
“Yes! Grand Prelate.”
HWAAAAAAAAAAK-!
Massive demonic energy shooting up above Gun Mu-ak’s form.
Dark haze clumped together like a large mass, moving fiercely as if writhing.
It soon changed into the form of a giant.
Like a demon god of darkness descending.
It was the manifested demonic energy unique to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
JJEOK, JJEOJJEOK…!
The ground where Gun Mu-ak stood with both feet instantly cracked and burst apart wildly, making sounds.
Following that, the surrounding air sank heavily.
Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji flinched in surprise and headed far to the rear.
Because it seemed they might be swept away by that tremendous power if they weren’t careful.
Thus, as the Heavenly Demon Divine Art’s sinister and tyrannical energy spread into the space within a five-zhang radius.
Suddenly.
FLASH!
The enormous lotus at the center of the round pond emitted light in all directions.
The mysterious natural power constituting this place had been activated.
As if it would not tolerate any existence in this world threatening this place.
Instantly, the black demonic energy that Gun Mu-ak was explosively releasing began to be absorbed toward the lotus direction.
And part of the water surface around it turned black.
At that moment, the expressions of Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji hardened.
Because the waterfall water from the rock walls positioned in a circle had suddenly stopped.
It was a wondrous phenomenon.
But the amazement didn’t end there.
CHWACHWACHWACHWA, CHWACHWACHWACHWACHA-!
Countless streams of water sprayed out from the waterfalls and surrounded Gun Mu-ak.
It was a spherical form.
A figure imprisoned within a transparent water barrier like that.
Gun Mu-ak, feeling the tremendous pressure, let his eye light grow cold.
‘I see. You don’t acknowledge me. However… when anything reaches its extreme, it is bound to be acknowledged!’
Thus Gun Mu-ak further accelerated his internal power operation and fiercely released his massive energy.
URUREUREUREUNG, URUREUREUREUREUNG…!
* * *
The same time, the forest of Shiwan Mountains.
A middle-aged man with a splendid beard spoke in a solemn voice.
“We will definitely find them and return.”
At that, over thirty blade wielders positioned behind him flashed their eyes and spoke in unison.
“Yes! Sect Leader!”
The identity of the party was the elite masters of Iron Shadow Blade Gate, an orthodox martial sect within the Guangdong region.
Also, the middle-aged man who gave the order was its Sect Leader.
Vast Wilderness Iron Blade Hoon-sol.
There was only one reason for coming here.
Because the personnel who had been investigating the whereabouts of his second disciple Iron Courage Lady Ok-aeng not long ago had also gone missing.
Hoon-sol thought while advancing through the shaded forest.
‘There must certainly be some connection to Aeng. I just hope everyone is safe.’
At that moment, presences were heard and a group appeared.
Hoon-sol, having stopped walking, had surprised eyes.
“What…?”
Swordsmen who pushed through the bushes to the side and approached closely.
It was the party from Crow Pattern Sword Hall, one of the leading unorthodox factions in the Guangdong region.
Among them, the sharp-featured figure at the front spoke.
“What brings you here? Sect Leader Hoon.”
It was Do Woo-pung the Flash Blade Tyrant, one of the Four Pillars of Guangdong representing the Guangdong region’s top masters of both Orthodox and Unorthodox, and the current Hall Master of Crow Pattern Sword Hall.
“Then why is Hall Master Do here…?”
Hoon-sol trailed off, then immediately spoke of what he intuited.
“Could someone have gone missing?”
At that, Crow Pattern Sword Hall Master Do Woo-pung asked back with a flustered expression.
“Huh, then Sect Leader Hoon is also the same as us…”
Hoon-sol nodded with heavy eyes and replied.
“Indeed. I came to find my second disciple and the subordinate personnel…”
“Mm.”
A shadow cast over Do Woo-pung’s face as he swallowed a murmur.
“I am the same. My son who was in the middle of a mission and his party suddenly went missing. It’s already been several days since contact was cut off, so I hurriedly assembled a team and came. I somehow have an unsettling feeling…”
“From what I hear, Sect Leader Danli of the Righteous Sea Martial Gate, who headed to the Shiwan Mountains before, and both his direct disciple siblings have also disappeared. What mishap might they have suffered…”
At those words, Do Woo-pung was greatly startled.
“Such a thing happened?!”
It was a natural reaction.
Because Brilliant Sea Sword Lion Danli-yeol, the Sect Leader of the Righteous Sea Martial Gate, was actually a strongman in the upper ranks of the Four Pillars of Guangdong tier.
“Hm… I somehow cannot shake this ominous premonition.”
“Hall Master Do, how about temporarily setting aside camp logic and cooperatively searching for their whereabouts? Soon… night will fall.”
To those words, Do Woo-pung didn’t deliberate for even a moment.
“I agree. Come, let’s move quickly.”
* * *
How much time had passed?
Before long, the sky was growing dusky and dusk was gradually descending around the Demon Buddha Secret Pool.
Amid that, Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji let out voices as if in admiration.
“Ah…!”
The series of phenomena had vanished as cleanly as if it had been a lie, and Demon Buddha Secret Pool had returned to its original appearance.
“Huuu…”
Gun Mu-ak briefly regulated his breathing, retracted his demonic energy, then turned around.
“It acknowledged my existence, which has reached the extreme of demonic nature. Meaning it accepted me as part of the natural order. With this, I have learned how much stronger my power has become. The Demon Extreme Sacred Body… has been completed.”
At that, Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji smiled.
Gun Mu-ak, having looked at the sky, soon moved his steps.
“Night is falling. Now, let us take our leave.”
Thus the three turned their backs on the pond and exited the long path.
Immediately after, Gun Mu-ak moved the barrier formation through the same tree, and the path completely vanished.
However, when the three had advanced about twenty zhang.
PEOLLEOKPEOLLEOK-
Four men wearing black capes appeared in front.
As if blocking the way.
The wanderer’s subordinates.
The four men said nothing.
Because they were all mutes who couldn’t speak.
Gun Mu-ak, having stopped, cast an indifferent gaze.
“Interesting.”
He had immediately seen through their identity.
The conversation he had with Cheol Ryu-heun suddenly came to mind.
-Aryun-nan had a secretive helper group. I peeked into his mind a bit today.
-I heard the story. Through our spy within Sun Moon Demon Cult. Though I don’t know their exact identity.
-They are no ordinary matter.
-Did you discover anything separately?
-Only fragmentary parts. In any case, those bastards weren’t from the demonic path.
-Hm… but why are you suddenly bringing that up?
-I had a premonition.
-Premonition?
-Yes, that perhaps we might end up joining hands.
-…!
Something like a smile flickered past Gun Mu-ak’s lips.
He was certain.
That they were members of the force that had supposedly given Aryun-nan secret help.
He had thought he might encounter that group here, and it had really happened.
Soon, Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji stepped forward while radiating spine-chilling killing intent and fighting spirit.
Gun Mu-ak behind them let out a quiet voice.
“Not Orthodox nor Unorthodox.”
Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji, who understood the meaning of those words, circulated their internal power and their sleeves fluttered lightly.
Gun Mu-ak’s cold command followed.
“Dispose of them. As flashily as possible.”