NOVEL NEXT Chapter 601
Chapter 601 – Dark Heaven Village
Just as Zhuge Sa was about to explain his strategy to me, the news came.
“She has awakened.”
Gang Jeon-gil rushed in to inform us. I exchanged a glance with Zhuge Sa and followed Gang Jeon-gil without delay to the place where she lay. When we reached the bedside, I saw Seo Mun-hye sitting there with a bewildered expression.
Unlike before, Seo Mun-hye was not silver-haired. Instead, her hair was a lustrous black, and her figure seemed perfectly balanced as if she had undergone a rebirth of flesh. Despite the color change in her hair, her beauty had not diminished in the slightest; in fact, she looked even more stunning than before. Even though fifty years had passed, she appeared unchanged.
However, her expression was far from good. She sat there in shock, devoid of any response, while Hwa Seong-myeong wore a somewhat anxious look before her, likely because Seo Mun-hye wasn’t answering his questions as he tried to assess her condition.
“Seo Mun-hye.”
As I called her name, she finally turned her gaze toward me, tears streaming down her face.
“Baek Woong…”
Before she could continue, she broke down into sobs. Sensing the atmosphere, Zhuge Sa subtly gestured for the Five Great Physicians and the Sibi to step outside, leaving only me and Seo Mun-hye in the room.
“Calm down.”
“Sniff…”
I embraced the crying Seo Mun-hye and gently patted her back. After a while, she seemed to regain her composure, wiping her tears away as she spoke.
“I remember everything… Something other than me controlled my body, and I watched helplessly from the corner of my consciousness…”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
I already knew that the heir of the evil spirit had taken control of her body and caused havoc. I understood her feelings of helplessness from my past experiences, so I continued to comfort her. Once she was fully calm, Seo Mun-hye began to recount her past.
“Fifty years ago, after you disappeared and the base moved to the Kingdom of Duke Du, I began my training in the Seven Great Techniques under my father. One day, an entity called the ‘Bishop’ appeared from the mainland, and my father fought against him fiercely but ended up dying together with him.”
“I’ve heard that story.”
Everyone regarded that incident as momentous. Until that time, the bishop was considered an immortal monster that was impossible to defeat, yet the Sword Demon managed to take him down in their last moments together.
“I was trying to help my father and received such severe injuries that I lost consciousness. I remember that the enemies kidnapped me. When I woke up, I was at the headquarters of the Nine Lotus Sect. The bishops surrounded me, preparing for some kind of ritual… It seems they kept me imprisoned for decades before finally bringing me out.”
“A ritual?”
Seo Mun-hye nodded.
“During that ritual, I felt a higher being surpassing humanity taking my body. But I had no way to resist. I became the ‘Nine Lotus Bishop,’ and I remember every atrocious act committed by the Nine Lotus Bishop from start to finish…”
She lowered her head.
“I want to commit suicide right now. Those wicked acts cannot be forgiven. They’re so terrible and cruel that I can’t even articulate them… the work of a demon… How could this happen?”
I could easily imagine it. The Nine Lotus Bishop’s “mind” was indeed the highest of the otherworldly races and an incredibly cruel being, viewing humans as mere insects. It’s clear that he would relish in human sacrifice, murder, and brutal acts.
“… I told you it wasn’t you. You were simply robbed of your body and trapped within your mind.”
“Can I atone for this?”
As Seo Mun-hye’s voice quivered, I sighed and replied.
“Anyone in your situation would have acted the same way. You were a victim too.”
“……”
“However, I have a question. That otherworldly being who possessed you as the Nine Lotus Bishop must have wanted to erase your consciousness. Yet your mind remained intact. Normally, that shouldn’t even be possible…”
The mental capabilities of a high-ranking otherworldly being should have been immense. When she was possessed, Seo Mun-hye should have been killed completely. But she had regained her original body as soon as that being was critically wounded and sealed by the Celestial Sage. Seo Mun-hye responded to my question.
“Now that you mention it, the Nine Lotus Bishop kept speaking to me continuously. It was more like asking one-sided questions.”
“He spoke to you?”
“Where is Chi You? Do you feel Chi You’s presence? Have you seen someone like you before? These three questions were repeated hundreds of times, torturing me.”
“……?”
“What does that even mean? When I kept saying I didn’t know, he eventually stopped.”
Chi You?
Why did that name come up here?
Chi You refers to the king of the divine race who was defeated in a war against the emperor. However, before his defeat, he had knocked the emperor down several times, putting him in peril. I had heard that currently, the Zhuyong Tribe was imprisoning and sealing Chi You—so why was this name coming up now?
‘What is this? What connection could there be between Chi You and Seo Mun-hye?’
I was in a state of confusion. However, one thing was clear: the information Seo Mun-hye had provided was immensely precious. Perhaps if coincidence didn’t align, it was certain that I would never acquire such knowledge, even if I were to die multiple times.
I cautiously asked her, “So now, it seems that being has completely withdrawn?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think you can use martial arts again?”
“I’m not sure, but unlike before, I feel a surge of strength in my body. My martial arts seem to have improved as well.”
“That’s a relief.”
After discussing our experiences for about a meal’s time, I readied myself to leave the room. As I stepped outside, Zhuge Sa stood there, pushing me back into the room.
“Where do you think you’re going, you fool?”
“Eh?”
“Stop wasting time and take Seo Mun-hye outside. I have something to test.”
Following Zhuge Sa’s words, Seo Mun-hye and I headed toward a nearby secret realm filled with waterfalls and grotesque rock formations. Zhuge Sa glanced at Seo Mun-hye and asked,
“Seo Mun-hye, what do you think your inner power is at right now?”
After a moment’s thought, Seo Mun-hye replied, “I’m not sure.”
“You’re an expert, so why wouldn’t you know?”
“I just employed the Qi Regulation Technique and worked on my Qi, but the boundaries have dissolved…”
Startled!
I looked at her in surprise.
‘The boundaries have dissolved?’
Yet Zhuge Sa grinned, as if he had expected this response.
“I knew it. You, too, seem unsure of your own strength. The limitations of human meridians and qi have vanished. The Eight Extraordinary Vessels have disappeared too, haven’t they?”
“Yes…”
“Then it’s time to test.”
Zhuge Sa pointed to the cliff.
“Pour all your strength into a single blow against that cliff.”
“… Understood.”
A moment later, Seo Mun-hye began invoking the Light Body Technique and lifted herself off the ground, swiftly charging toward the cliff using her martial arts. The moment Seo Mun-hye’s arm and sword swung—
Kuwa-kwang!
Dozens of sections of the cliff crumbled as if they were dust in a single strike, and the shockwave emanating from her slash tore through the earth ahead. The colossal slash seemed to extend indefinitely as it obliterated hundreds of units of terrain, eventually halting near the horizon.
Rumble…
A light tremor resonated across the area.
“……!!”
What kind of nonsensical destructive power is that?!
That wasn’t an ability permitted to mere humans!
I never imagined I’d witness such force from Seo Mun-hye—a feat usually seen when the Great Immortal was using all their strength.
As I stood dumbfounded, Zhuge Sa remarked, “Just as expected. Jin So-cheong sacrificed himself and left behind so much. If he had lost in the battle against the Nine Lotus Bishop, we would never have learned any of this.”
“What do you mean?”
“Seo Mun-hye is not just a peculiar constitution. She might even be a tremendous clue to uncovering the secrets of divine mythology. Naturally, she would be connected with the Divine Portrait, too.”
As Zhuge Sa muttered to himself, he said to me, “After your reincarnation, the tasks you must undertake have increased. I’ll tell you more later.”
A moment later, when Seo Mun-hye returned, she appeared dazed, seemingly unable to believe what had just happened.
“What happened…? What is this power?”
Zhuge Sa responded to her.
“To put it simply, with your physical abilities now, you could match the Dharma Guardian of the Wind Spirit Lineage. Even without any inner power, you could shatter the Dharma Guardian’s strong Qi barrier just with punches and kicks. This body resembles a human, yet it is hundreds or thousands of times more powerful. Perhaps having the Nine Lotus Bishop possess you enabled him to draw out the potential that existed within you.”
“……!!”
“There might still be more strength beyond this. You have just begun to tap into your power, so with more familiarity, you will only grow stronger.”
That’s not even her full power?
As I stood there incredulously, Zhuge Sa continued, “Earlier, you mentioned wanting to atone?”
Seo Mun-hye gazed at Zhuge Sa, who said, “There’s going to be a big battle soon, so help Baek Woong and fight. That way, all will be forgiven.”
“Understood.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Seo Mun-hye responded. She seemed pleased rather than troubled, which left me feeling baffled. It was quite absurd to demand someone who had just recovered from the brink of death to join another battle, yet she accepted it so readily.
Zhuge Sa proclaimed, “Shall we move now? There’s no time to waste.”
“Where to?”
“To Divine City.”
His expression turned serious.
“The Twelve Joules have kept a low profile for nearly 50 years, merely defending their territory without news. Up until now, we’ve been too busy surviving to pay attention, but at this critical juncture in your life, things have changed. We should investigate their base directly and find out the state of the Twelve Joules.”
“Got it.”
Pa-at!
We used the Golden Lamp Technique to move closer to Divine City. I could still feel that the barrier around Divine City was intact, but something about the surrounding atmosphere felt odd.
Kreeek!
Kiaaaak!!
“Are those monsters?”
Just then, from the bushes all around, monsters emerged, shrieking as they charged at us. I checked them out and concluded that they weren’t particularly strong. Seo Mun-hye, however, dashed forward and began her assault against the surrounding creatures.
Bam!
Crackle!
“……”
Seo Mun-hye moved with incredible speed, swiftly dispatching the monsters. The creatures, not wanting to be slaughtered, quickly fled, leaving behind a scene of blood and silence. Though they weren’t formidable foes, I shuddered at Seo Mun-hye’s power as she had killed hundreds of monsters in a matter of moments.
‘Is her superhuman ability completely unbranded…?’
When facing monsters, their unique powers often prove more troublesome than their physical strength. But Seo Mun-hye, moments ago, had wiped them all out without being hindered by any abilities. Once the area was cleared, Zhuge Sa remarked, “Despite the barrier existing here, something feels off. Normally, monsters wouldn’t appear near Divine City.”
“Should we go in?”
“It’s worth the risk. Let’s proceed.”
Tydaht!
Moments later, we arrived at the barrier near Divine City, and using the Palace Examination Technique, we twisted the essence of the barrier, creating an opening. As we entered, a bridge leading to Divine City came into view. However, an unexpectedly shocking sight greeted us beyond that bridge.
“… The Sacred Altar Tree is withered!!”
Indeed.
The World Tree, which once soared as if to pierce the heavens, had shrunk to less than half its original size and lost its former glory. Though large enough to surpass typical mountain ranges, its branches appeared weak and drooped lifelessly. Zhuge Sa remarked, as if he had anticipated this.
“Even the World Tree couldn’t avoid wilting after the evil spirit obtained the Law of Cause and Effect and went on a rampage.”
“What do we do now?”
“What do you mean, what to do? Why do you think we came here?”
Zhuge Sa laughed heartily.
“The Twelve Joules died long ago, and the World Tree has been withering steadily for fifty years. With the Twelve Joules weakened to this extent, there’s no need for stealth. We’ll find the Wood Essence they possessed and get out of here.”
Tydaht!
As we crossed the bridge and entered, a feeling of emptiness pervaded. It was as if the village had transformed into a ghost town. Recalling past memories, I made my way to the house where the Twelve Joules used to reside, but no one came to challenge us.
‘Why is there no one around?’
Although suspicion gnawed at me, no signs of monsters or demons were sensed. Divine City felt utterly vacant at this moment. I turned to Zhuge Sa.
“Did you predict it would be like this?”
“Of course. How long do you think the Twelve Joules kept their guard against evil? But now that the evil spirit has begun its rampage, these nosy ones have gone silent. Naturally, their base in Divine City wouldn’t be safe.”
“Hmm.”
Eventually, we arrived at the home of the Twelve Joules, and stepping inside, it was indeed empty. The void felt so profound that I almost wished some enemies like the Three Masters or the Clan of Dan would jump out instead.
“Did they all run away?”
“……”
After a moment of contemplation, Zhuge Sa ordered me, “Baek Woong. Since we’ve come this far, we have no choice. Use the Palace Examination Technique to locate the Wood Essence.”
“Understood.”
“It would be impossible to find the Wood Essence from outside the barrier, but inside, it should be feasible.”
Vroom!
As I focused on the Palace Examination Technique to pinpoint the Wood Essence’s location, it quickly revealed the position to me.
[Location of the Wood Essence found.]
“Where is it? Could it be at the Sacred Altar Tree?”
Excited, I asked, but moments later, bewilderment flooded over me.
[The Wood Essence is currently in the Underworld.]