Chapter 465: A Conclusion
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Another secret history revealed by Cheol Ryu-heun.
It was a truly astonishing fact.
The Heaven Emperor Society Lord had combined the legendary ancient ironmaster Ou Yezi’s Longyuan Sword, Tai’e Sword, and Gongbu Sword to create a divine sword……
But even more surprising words struck the ears of Gun Mu-ak, Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon and others.
“The Heaven Emperor Society Lord had already acquired Ou Yezi’s booklet long ago. Perhaps the contents of that booklet were the essentials of creating a Divine Sword.”
Hearing those words, the retainers’ eyes went wide.
‘My goodness, the essentials of creating a Divine Sword exist?’
In the midst of that, Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent voice continued.
“I believe the new Divine Sword was born after Namgung Family’s Clan extermination.”
Thereupon Namgung Sang-rin’s expression darkened somewhat.
“Hmmm…… Did you get a clue through the scene of thoughts?”
“Yes, that day Wang-ryu said this right after obtaining the Gongbu Sword.”
-At last, I’ve obtained the final piece. The divine weapon surpassing the Divine Martial Sword will finally be completed.
Hearing those words, Gun Mu-ak’s eyes showed a meaningful light as he asked.
“Did the Heaven Emperor Society Lord also mention it directly?”
“Of course. Once I peeked at a scene of thoughts where he conversed with the Four Divine Generals. The exact time is unclear. But I assume it was before the incident that befell Namgung Family. At that time, the Heaven Emperor Society Lord had secured the booklet that Ou Yezi had written in the past and said.”
-The swords ou yezi made in the past…… They are the key materials. To create a divine weapon that surpasses that Divine Martial Sword, we must merge the spiritual energy of each sword.
Thereupon Hae Su-yeon hit upon the key point.
“He knew in advance.”
Cheol Ryu-heun nodded again and picked up her words.
“He knew the booklet existed and searched everywhere to get his hands on it.”
“But how……?”
“Who knows. I can’t give a definite answer for that. Anyway, at that time he said this about the booklet.”
-Hut, so that’s where it was stored. With this, I can finally create an invincible divine weapon surpassing the Divine Martial Sword.
“That place? Hmmm……”
When Hae Su-yeon tilted her head, the others also had questioning expressions.
Gun Mu-ak, who had been thinking about something, soon asked Cheol Ryu-heun.
“What was the purpose of Wang-ryu coming here?”
“To delete the personnel remaining in this Mountain.”
Delete meant extermination.
“All of us as well as the abyss blood tribe and the Betrayer Cult?”
“Correct.”
Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, Cui Lan and others who had been listening recalled the situation when Wang-ryu had appeared earlier.
Indeed, it was so.
At that time, Wang-ryu and his subordinate warriors didn’t distinguish friend from foe as soon as they burst into the battlefield.
They just blindly lashed out attacks.
“One more thing.”
Having said so, Cheol Ryu-heun exchanged glances with his retainers.
Gazes passing in silence.
Though no one spoke, each seemed to quickly realize what it was.
Sure enough.
“The otherworldly Demon God.”
At Namgung Sang-rin’s quiet murmur, Cheol Ryu-heun gave a faint chin gesture.
“Exactly. I confirmed it through that guy’s thoughts.”
And he recalled the scene from the memories he had read.
-Wang-ryu, remember. The shell isn’t important. It doesn’t matter what it’s contained in. You only need to recover that power intact and bring it back.
-Yes, understood. Whether anyone lives or dies, I’ll just complete my job and return. Shall I cleanly dispose of any group that remains after fighting?
-Of course.
-That means not distinguishing friend from foe?
-Naturally. That personnel was fated to be sacrificed from the start. Now go. The time for the opening of the illusory gate leading to the other world is imminent.
Gun Mu-ak, with subdued eyes, briefly recalled the moment he had been possessed by the soul body.
‘The Soul body of the otherworldly Demon God…… Though it was only a fragment…… That alone was tremendous power.’
-Yes…… That body! Your body…… I wanted to have!
He had literally had his mind completely taken over in an instant.
Back then, honestly, he was scared.
No matter how much he struggled while trapped in his mental realm, it was useless.
It was the first time.
That type of fear was.
The moment the soul body caused Ya Baek-ji to suffer a fatal injury, he endlessly blamed himself for the inadequacy of his own ability.
‘If Cheol Ryu-heun hadn’t been by my side at that time, I probably would have……”
If he hadn’t received his help in timely fashion, nine times out of ten he would have crossed an irreversible path.
A feeling of renewed gratitude arose.
Now, that existence called Cheol Ryu-heun had more meaning as a benefactor than as a trusted collaborator.
Such he soon cleared away his thoughts and asked.
“Precisely…… The plan was to transfer the otherworldly Demon God’s power to his own body?”
“Yes, he was confident that the Soul body would attach itself to him. Originally, the ultimate goal was the complete summoning of the otherworldly Demon God. But a variable called me appeared, so the goal changed a bit. To take at least that fragment.”
No sooner had Cheol Ryu-heun’s words ended than Gun Mu-ak asked with a nod.
“Why did he covet the Demon God’s power? Was it perhaps with the intention of reinforcing the Divine Sword’s power?”
“Probably. A kind of spiritual Divine energy to strengthen.”
“Then one precondition must absolutely accompany it.”
“The Soul.”
“Correct.”
“A powerful Soul self capable of exerting Divine energy that can even control the otherworldly Demon God’s spiritual energy…… Of course he has it. Since he already destroyed the Divine Martial Sword. But…… I don’t know what that Soul self is.”
“My guess is that the Divine energy’s subject in the Divine Sword is the creator himself, Ou Yezi’s Soul.”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, Gun Mu-ak was inwardly startled.
‘What……!’
His bored voice immediately continued.
“Anyway, that’s the key point, and other elements probably exist too.”
“You seem to know something deeply?”
“Of course I know.”
“……”
“I also know the essentials that are related to making that Divine Sword.”
Even Gun Mu-ak could no longer hide his inner reaction.
“Huh……!”
An exclamation leaked from his mouth revealed that surprise.
“Was that also included in the knowledge the Divine Martial Sword passed on?”
“Well, something like that.”
“Something…… Like that……?”
“That’s enough. Now that I’ve found out the guy’s secret to some extent, I too must make a Divine Sword.”
Namgung Sang-rin, reading the mood, cautiously posed a question.
“Is that…… Truly possible?”
“Of course I need to study more. There are still things I don’t know or lack. I need to receive some teachings.”
“Pardon? From whom……?”
“Who else? He’s right here.”
Such said, Cheol Ryu-heun waved the Gan Jiang and Mo Ye Sword.
“Ah! Could it be……”
“Yes. Could it be.”
“……!”
“Exactly the creator’s Soul.”
Everyone including Namgung Sang-rin was startled again.
“G-Gan Jiang……!”
“Wow……!”
“My goodness……”
The group recalled what he had said earlier… That the Mo Ye Sword had flown through the sky seeking its pair… And only then understood.
That it was one phenomenon of having communicated spiritually with Gan Jiang, the creator of the Gan Jiang……
Right then, Cheol Ryu-heun headed toward Divine Wind and said.
“At any rate, the talk we have here is a secret. Don’t breathe a word of it to anyone for the time being.”
“Yes.”
After the retainers answered in unison.
“Do you trust me that much?”
At Gun Mu-ak’s meaningful question, Cheol Ryu-heun answered indifferently.
“How is that new.”
Much meaning was contained in the brief words.
Reading that, Gun Mu-ak inwardly let out a laugh.
‘Hut, What a peculiar feeling. To be acknowledged by him……’
A relationship transcending Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic.
When he first set foot on this land, he hadn’t expected to become this meaningful of a relationship.
In the midst of that, Mae Yak-bang suddenly recalled something Cheol Ryu-heun had said.
-Do you think there’ll be an even bigger fight ahead that we’ve never experienced? Is the Shiwan mountains the starting point?
-No need to worry in advance. Even if a turbulent era arrives, if we fight together and pacify it, that’s all.
‘Yes…… If we fight with one heart like this, at the end of that Road, a bright light will be waiting.’
The other retainers thought the same.
Soon Cheol Ryu-heun, having mounted the saddle, again said.
“Now, everyone will be waiting, so let’s go. Once we get there, we’ll discuss what we need to do soon.”
Such he gently stroked Divine Wind’s mane with his hand.
Let’s…… Talk again when it’s quiet.
A heart conveyed through touch.
Though a light gesture, it contained heavy emotion.
Understanding that, Divine Wind, no, Cho-hui, nodded her head.
* * *
The place where the bloody battle had concluded.
All of the martial arts world experts were scattered about, sitting and conversing while on standby.
The various poisonous creatures of the Southern Forest that had greatly helped in the fight were also recovering their tired bodies nearby.
Meanwhile.
Zhuge Bi gazed in the direction Cheol Ryu-heun had disappeared earlier and recalled the events from before.
When he had conversed with his childhood friend Son Ja-ryong before coming here……
It had started with his own question.
-Do you also believe the rumor about that Divine Martial Sword?
-I’m half-believing, half-doubting at the moment.
-Hmmm……
-Anyway, I have to check. My dream is to rise as the greatest martial artist of this era.
-There must be more than a few who dream such dreams.
-I know, countless experts of Jianghu will flood into the Shiwan Mountains. To seize the Divine Martial Sword.
-If the Divine Martial Sword actually exists there……?
-I must put it in these hands. If anyone obstructs me…… I won’t hesitate to clash.
-Regardless of whether they’re orthodox or unorthodox?
-Of course, even if that opponent is the White Peak sword sect master who’s the talk of the town. I’ll cut down everyone who blocks me.
-Hmmm…… How firm.
-I’ve heard news of him. He overwhelmed the Sun Moon Demon Cult leader with martial force. Even using Heavenly Demon divine art……
-I know too. But is that really true?
-Who knows, we’ll find out if we meet him. Whether he’ll come or not, I don’t know.
-Rumor has it he consistently takes an indifferent attitude in all matters. But wouldn’t even that sect master cheol show interest in the Divine Martial Sword, the supreme divine weapon?
-I think similarly. Even I, who already own the dragon sword, have greed arising……
-Truly human greed is endless. Like that sea.
“Hut……”
When Zhuge Bi let out a quiet laugh, Son Ja-ryong beside him turned his head and spoke.
“What’s with that laugh?”
“I was thinking of the words you and I exchanged before. About Sect Master Cheol……”
“Ah…… Hmmm, hearing that makes me newly embarrassed. It was a clear misjudgment. He was absolutely not a person within the category we were thinking.”
“I’m equally embarrassed. If he hadn’t been there…… We would have lost our lives by now too.”
“Bi, I…… Came to intuit through today’s events. No, I should say I became certain.”
“……?”
“That Sect Master Cheol’s outstanding ability is on the same level as the Five who are the strongest rank in martial history……”
“Absolutely…… Ah! He’s coming just in time over there.”
Son Ja-ryong pointed toward the distance with his finger.
There appeared the group led by Cheol Ryu-heun.
Seeing that sight, the gathered crowd immediately flocked together.
Before long, Cheol Ryu-heun who had approached nearby tossed out an indifferent voice.
“As you see, I’m on my way back after eliminating that guy. Today’s fight is completely over.”
At the same time, cheers celebrating victory burst out.
In the midst of that commotion, Cheol Ryu-heun dismounted and stood.
“Everyone must be very hungry after a bout of fighting.”
Meng-wang, who stood nearby, spoke with a beaming smile.
“Yes, I’d love to roast up meat heartily and eat it.”
“What’s difficult about that? Just hunt and eat.”
“Pardon? Setting aside finding prey right away, how can we handle all these people……?”
“That fellow seems like it’d be enough.”
The direction Cheol Ryu-heun indicated with a chin gesture was where the elephant sat.
It was the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant.
‘Aaack!’
The moment the startled Meng-wang’s complexion went deathly pale.
“Can I eat it?”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s nonchalant question, Meng-wang inwardly bristled.
‘Keuk, Shut up! This one without blood or tears……!’
Right then, his youngest daughter Meng-min spoke with a bright smile.
“My, of course you can!”
Kraak! You wench, please keep your mouth shut!