Chapter 396: To Discover

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A thick darkness arrived.

That is, Cheol Ryu-heun’s field of vision changed to a pitch-black dark world.

A type of entry phenomenon heading toward the mental realm.

Cheol Ryu-heun pushed forward ceaselessly, parting through that darkness.

Then.

DEOLKEOK.

His movement suddenly stopped.

He had finally encountered the mental wall within the opponent’s upper dantian.

He would need to break through this to peek at various thoughts.

Even though he had recovered his former divine power, it wasn’t an easy task.

It was natural.

Typically, the stronger a martial artist’s martial prowess level, the more solid their mental wall.

After all, when one gains enlightenment, mental power also rises.

Breaking through the mental wall required mental strength greater than it.

It had been the same with Aryun-nan, whom he had battled in the past.

Befitting being called the Sun Moon Demon Saint as the Sun Moon Demonic Cult Master, the defensive wall in his mind was tremendously solid.

The supreme martial path levels of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, Rejuvenation, and Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing were enlightenments that accompanied mental power.

In his lifetime, Aryun-nan had achieved no less than twice.

The supreme martial path level called Rejuvenation…

The mental power strengthened thereby was so outstanding it was beyond comparison.

The achievement of the upper dantian was a core element connected to the mental wall.

In other words, advancement and improvement in mental cultivation made even the unconscious defense mechanism stronger.

The opponent was a superb expert who had achieved the Nature Assimilation Realm.

Therefore, even for Cheol Ryu-heun who had recovered his original divine power, a large expenditure of mental strength was unavoidable.

‘Using the divine power that has finally been fully recovered, I should shorten the breakthrough time but approach carefully.’

If he forcibly smashed through the mental wall, there was a possibility of death.

Because the upper dantian was a vital point extremely sensitive to stimulation.

It would be troublesome if he died before peeking at thoughts.

Someone’s voice suddenly flashed through his mind.

-You’ve opened a small path of light. Regrettably, with your current ability, this is all. There will be another day we meet again.

-Find your name. Before the Constellation of Destruction opens the path first…

It was none other than the Heavenly Demon’s voice.

As Cheol Ryu-heun recalled that and murmured inwardly.

‘He said there would be another day we meet. If the space I saw then was truly the Great Universe, there’s no way to approach it again with existing knowledge. Is mental achievement the only answer?’

He felt that there probably existed a vast secret related to this incident.

Based on the intuition of one who had lived a thousand years.

The Heavenly Demon, who had mentioned the Constellation of Destruction, seemed to be wary of that mysterious existence for some reason.

Who was it?

Could it possibly mean the otherworldly divine being that the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan and Heretic Cult were jointly preparing to summon?

If not… another someone…?

Cheol Ryu-heun soon composed his spirit.

‘Anyway, I’ve remembered my past life… from now on I need to find out who the Constellation of Destruction that the Heavenly Demon mentioned is. Whether that’s the leader of the secret organization or not… also whether that fellow is the same as the wanderer…! Whoever it is, I’ll win in the end. Because I’ve already seen the light of hope!’

That’s exactly right.

He had found it.

The light of hope that would surpass even the wanderer.

It meant the unknown territory presumed to be the Great Universe.

If only he could reach that place again, if he could somehow find a way… he would ascend to a summit no one had ever reached by acquiring a series of knowledge through the Great Universe’s mysterious power.

Furthermore, he would rise to an absolute martial divine rank that transcended even the combined level of the Heavenly Demon, Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, Martial Immortal, and Blood God at their full prime.

‘Now let’s concentrate!’

Brain power of the upper dantian concentrated to a single point, like the samadhi of meditation training.

Mental power rising to the extreme.

Thus, massive mental strength was being expended from the very beginning.

A bit of time passed.

Finally, the spiritual energy power that Cheol Ryu-heun had exerted created a crack in the unconscious defense mechanism.

JJEOK…

Light appeared.

‘Done!’

Having shouted inwardly, Cheol Ryu-heun was drawn into the crack like smoke.

Passing through that gap, countless fragments of memory enveloped him from all sides.

Truly millions of Mo Dok-jae’s thoughts.

It was chaotic.

There were truly too many to count.

His vision was so dizzying he felt nauseous.

Now he had to find important clues here.

HWIK, HWIHWIK, HWIK…

When Cheol Ryu-heun waved both hands, all sorts of scenes passed by like rapidly flipping pages.

Thus he swiftly cleared away parts presumed to be miscellaneous fragments of memory.

In the midst of that, his mental strength was rapidly being expended.

It would be troublesome if he exceeded the expected time.

He might end up unable to find what he sought.

If he wasn’t careful, he might even lose his life.

This current task naturally increased the burden on the opponent’s brain.

‘As quickly and accurately as possible…!’

If he tried to obtain everything he needed, it would be excessive greed.

Securing even one or two pieces of core information would be successful.

As he maintained concentration and examined various scenes of thought.

Flinch.

Cheol Ryu-heun’s expression hardened upon discovering something.

BULKEUN.

His two fists clenched of their own accord.

‘That is…!’

One scene enlarged and approached his pupils.

PAK!

Cheol Ryu-heun kicked the ground and leaped into that scene.

The space that appeared before his eyes was deep within some forest.

A mountain valley.

There, three people stood facing each other.

Cheol Ryu-heun trembled as he watched that sight.

A bamboo-hatted figure with his back against a giant rock.

His attire was exactly that of a wandering Swordsman.

‘It’s you!’

It was him.

The mysterious wanderer who had destroyed him, the Divine Martial Sword…

His appearance was exactly the same as when first seen.

Because of the wide-brimmed bamboo hat pressed down, it was difficult to see his features.

The atmosphere of the forest was the same too.

It was like that time.

It was clearly in the mountains, but the vitality of nature was completely absent.

As if swallowed by the mysterious Aura of the wanderer who stood still.

Only heavy silence pervaded throughout the mountains.

It felt as if this world had been stopped.

In the midst of that, the one standing beside the wanderer spoke.

“The Master wants you. I’ll give you a choice here.”

It was an unidentified middle-aged giant armored in strange plate mail.

As if evoking the strongest warrior of the military.

His face was covered with a silver iron mask.

Perhaps to hide his identity…

At any rate, it was clearly a situation where he was a subordinate of the wanderer.

Because he had just addressed him as Master.

The target of the armored giant’s words was Mo Dok-jae.

SEUREUREUNG.

Mo Dok-jae, having drawn his sword, shot sharp eye-light and emitted killing intent.

“Do you… know who I am and came?”

Killing intent was mixed even in the question he threw.

However, the giant answered with a composed attitude.

“Of course. Name: Mo Dok-jae. Sobriquet: Snake Eye Sword Demon. Former owner of Breaking Snake Forest.”

“You! How did you find the place where I went into seclusion?”

“That’s not a difficult matter for us.”

“Us…?”

“The Heaven Emperor Society.”

“What? Heaven Emperor Society?”

“It’s our unofficial name. But that name will soon cover heaven and earth.”

“What exactly do you mean by wanting me?”

“Join our organization. Don’t waste the rest of your life as such a loser and fugitive.”

“What…!”

“We’re recruiting members for the Special Forces under our organization. One seat has been prepared for you there. So take the hand being offered.”

“Keukuk! Coming suddenly and what you have to say is…”

Mo Dok-jae sneered and injected True Energy into his blade.

UWOONG…

Then he pointed the sword tip forward and spoke.

“Heaven Emperor Society, the name is quite grandiose. So, what’s the ultimate goal? Some kind of Jianghu unification?”

The giant nodded his helmeted head and released a heavy voice.

“Beyond what you imagine.”

“Spare me the nonsense! Who sent you? The pursuit team from Dragon Martial Gate? Investigating whether I’m alive or dead?”

“Being holed up in the mountains, you haven’t heard the outside news. Dragon Martial Gate was destroyed root and branch. Already over ten years ago. The first Gate Master Ba Hun retired and disappeared twenty years ago.”

“…!”

The moment Mo Dok-jae was surprised.

SEUK.

The giant took one step forward.

Simultaneously.

KUNG… KUUNG…!

An Aura/Aura/bearing as if shaking all mountains and trees was explosively released.

It felt like his breathing passage was blocked tight.

As if all sides of the forest were covered by a tsunami of formless Aura/Aura/bearing.

Mo Dok-jae, having flinched and stepped back, finally realized.

That the opponent was an incredibly powerful warrior beyond words.

He was surprised to encounter such an Aura/Aura/bearing.

Just by moving one step, a formidable Aura poured out and bound his body.

It was inexplicable.

No matter how you looked at it, he wasn’t someone who should be subordinate to another.

A magnificent spirit befitting a superb hegemon who could overwhelm tens of thousands with mere formless Aura/Aura/bearing alone.

It was authentically the resolve of the number one of the era.

That was it.

Just intuition, but his martial prowess seemed to surpass even Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon, the hegemon of the Jianghu.

That’s right.

At minimum, several tiers above.

But… earlier he had courteously called the figure in the rear ‘Master.’

Then how much greater would that person’s martial prowess be?

Following that.

CHACHING.

The giant drew a long sword.

Just looking at the gleaming blade, one could easily tell.

That it was a famous sword and a treasured sword.

He didn’t know what name it had, though.

At that time.

The voice of the wanderer, who had been silent, was heard.

“Is my subordinate’s spirit impressive?”

Mo Dok-jae answered with a nod despite himself.

“Th-that is so.”

“He is one of the Four Divine Generals.”

“Four Divine Generals? Then…”

“Under me, there are three more martial artists like him.”

Mo Dok-jae, hearing the wanderer’s words, was seized by great fear.

“Would you like to verify that power?”

When the wanderer asked again, Mo Dok-jae dropped his sword.

JJEOLGEUREONG.

He had lost his Fighting spirit from the start.

That’s how terrifying the giant’s intangible momentum was.

Mo Dok-jae even knelt and threw a cautious question.

“What… should I do?”

His tone immediately changed to respectful speech.

“You must become strong.”

“Pardon?”

“I will make you into a warrior surpassing Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon.”

“S-such…!”

Surprised Mo Dok-jae reflexively looked at the giant.

Had he read that thought?

The giant, meeting his gaze, let out a quiet voice.

“Believe it. I too am a product that the Master created.”

“Ah…!”

Having briefly exclaimed, Mo Dok-jae prostrated himself and cried out.

“I will gladly follow!”

The wanderer, walking forward with slow steps, nodded slightly.

“Division Commander of the Special Forces. That is the seat you will take.”

“Understood! Leave anything to me!”

“Our march has already begun. Recently, our organization destroyed the Namgung Family.”

“What? The Namgung Family…!”

As Mo Dok-jae was shocked, the wanderer’s voice continued.

“It was merely a test of force. If you follow me, you will experience even more surprising things hereafter.”

“I am honored to serve the Heaven Emperor Society Lord! Please guide me well!”

“Of course. From now on, I will seek the Divine Martial Sword. Then… I will cruelly destroy it. So that no one can dream empty dreams.”

Thus, the three people departed together.

At the end of that scene, Cheol Ryu-heun sifted through other thoughts.

Seeking to secure fragments of memory related to the wanderer called Heaven Emperor Society Lord.

But they were jumbled together, making them not easy to find.

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun’s vision shook rapidly.

Following that, the space where countless thoughts coexisted scattered like mist.

It was the effect of strain being applied to Mo Dok-jae’s upper dantian.

Also, it was because the unconscious defense mechanism had strengthened.

It was a reaction to having dug up and peeked at secret parts.

‘Today ends here…’

Cheol Ryu-heun stored away his divine power.

The energy light connecting their pupils disappeared.

SEUSEUSEUSEU…

Cheol Ryu-heun’s left hand struck Mo Dok-jae’s upper body.

KWAKWANG!

He who collapsed on the ground, spewing blood from his mouth.

“You’ll never know in your dreams that I peeked into your mind.”

Cheol Ryu-heun, having murmured briefly, turned his head.

Divine Wind, who had appeared nearby at some point, was visible.

HWIK.

Having mounted the saddle and gripped the reins, he commanded.

“Let’s go over there. Now I need to meet that fellow. Move quietly so we won’t be spotted.”

As soon as the words ended, Divine Wind vanished, deploying Treading Snow Without Trace.