NOVEL NEXT Chapter 691
Dark Heaven Village
“Well, we’ve finally arrived…”
Guk-ho let out a sigh. After battling relentlessly since the middle slopes, his breath was nearly shattered, but at last, the peak came into view. He shuddered at the thought of having climbed hundreds of enormous Sacred Altar Trees and felt a wave of relief wash over him as the mission was almost at hand.
Behind Guk-ho, Cheong-wol panted heavily.
“Gah… gah… I need to circulate my qi for a bit. I can’t hold on any longer.”
“…You’re right.”
The moment the words finished, Guk-ho also sat down cross-legged to circulate his energy. It wasn’t just because they were at a high altitude with sparse air. The three of them had fought off the possessed crowds three times and traversed a mysterious formation, battling strange spirit beasts repeatedly. They hadn’t had a moment to rest or breathe, so they were utterly exhausted.
‘This is the first time I’ve experienced such a density of relentless battles.’ If just one or two of them had come here, they surely wouldn’t have made it this far so quickly. For a moment, they all focused silently on their recovery, and soon the first one to fully recover, Bright Dragon, stood up and spoke.
“What did that guy say to do after we reach the peak?”
Guk-ho was too focused on restoring his internal energy to respond. Instead, he grumbled inwardly.
‘Damn it. The old man’s recovery is insane.’
The recovery ability of Bright Dragon, who had cultivated deep Inner Power for decades, was beyond that of the young Guk-ho. While Guk-ho still couldn’t fully recover his inner strength, Bright Dragon was already fit to fight. No matter how much elixirs he took or how quickly he obtained his power, the difference in their foundational training levels was unavoidable. Cheong-wol had to acknowledge that the Wudang Sect’s techniques were indeed more profound than the Thunder God Lineage’s.
After a while, he stood up and said,
“I didn’t catch the details, but I was told to search for any unusual structures or seals as best as we could.”
“Hmph… In a suspicious place like this, it should be there. The energy is highly distorted.”
Bright Dragon glared at the peak with dissatisfaction.
“Let’s recover a bit more before we continue. I have a feeling something awaits us there.”
“But if we delay too long…”
Boom!
At that moment, a sound like something crashing down came from the sky, and it felt like a dark hole opened in the celestial sphere. The three instantly guessed that the barrier had been broken, and their expressions hardened. Guk-ho gritted his teeth and said,
“Let’s go.”
“This is the worst…”
Bright Dragon was clearly irritated. Pressing forward into a perilous battleground with less than half their power left was not something a Jianghu person would typically do. Though they couldn’t always fight at their best, setting up favorable conditions was the foundation of combat. Yet, the urgency of the situation led them to silently ascend the Sacred Altar Tree.
Step by step….
As they set foot atop the Sacred Altar Tree, Guk-ho recognized the scenery before him, resembling what he had once viewed in Baek Woong’s memories.
Ohhhh!
The entire expanse around him was pitch black. The stars looked as if they could be grasped by hand, their numbers countless. And beneath their feet, an unreasonably large trunk stretched out, appearing almost like solid ground.
Guk-ho muttered,
“Breathing here is surprisingly easier…”
Just a moment ago, ascending from the middle slopes, any regular person would have fainted from the thin air. It was nearly impossible to breathe but, since they were all Peak Masters, they endured with deep, steady breaths. Yet once at the peak, the air felt full and vibrant, making it easier to breathe.
Moreover, there was no chill; instead, a warm atmosphere seemed to envelop them. Though the darkness was a drawback, Guk-ho felt he could live here year-round. He looked around and said,
“We don’t have time; let’s split up and search for anything suspicious.”
“Isn’t this high plateau a perfect place to get ambushed by enemies?”
“What other choice do we have? If we’re not ready to die, we can’t afford to approach this calmly. We can’t do anything but finish this quickly.”
“Damn, if that guy doesn’t explain himself later, I won’t let him off easy.”
“Let’s regroup here shortly.”
Pa-at!
Cheong-wol and Bright Dragon reluctantly deployed their Divine Techniques and scattered. The peak of the Sacred Altar Tree was vast enough that it didn’t take long for their figures to become mere dots. Guk-ho dashed forward, sharpening his vision.
Moments later, Guk-ho halted, having spotted something strange.
“What’s that?”
A massive vine root encircled a round object as if protecting it. Hidden in a corner, it was hard to see, but Guk-ho instinctively felt it was something important and approached. Swinging his spear, he cut through the vine root to investigate what the round object was.
Clang! Clang!
‘Hard.’
Guk-ho realized the round object inside was made of metal. The odd sphere had a translucent glass-like surface which obscured the view inside. It was large enough for several people to fit inside.
‘Should I break it?’
He thought to open it, but with no clear method, Guk-ho struck the metallic sphere with his powerful qi as a test.
“Ha…?!”
In an instant, Guk-ho was taken aback. Although exhausted, he’d generated solid qi to strike, yet the sphere remained completely undamaged! If any earthly metal encountered such a force, it would either be significantly damaged or destroyed; this was remarkable. He’d heard some rare metals could withstand qi, but this was his first time seeing it with his own eyes. Guk-ho was momentarily bewildered and scanned the area, but found nothing else of interest.
After about half a jesa, he returned and met again with Bright Dragon and Cheong-wol. Bright Dragon seemed to have found nothing, but Cheong-wol spoke with excited energy.
“I found something truly bizarre!”
“Where is it?”
“We have to walk quite a bit.”
Tydaht!
They followed Cheong-wol, using their techniques to speed along. As Cheong-wol had mentioned, it took them a significant time to traverse, so it must indeed be far off. They arrived at a location housing an oversized object, twenty times larger than a human body.
“What is this?”
“I’m not sure either, but it’s quite elongated…”
“Hmmm. What sort of object could this be?”
Guk-ho curiously examined the cylindrical structure. Near the ground, he spotted some intricate machinery installed at the top, with dozens of buttons. It was clear to him that this wasn’t his area of expertise. He scratched his head and said,
“I don’t quite understand. Why is something like this on top of the Sacred Altar Tree?”
“You said you struck that round steel mass earlier, right? Should we try smashing this? Maybe it will yield something.”
“I think that would be unwise. What if it’s important?”
“Should we keep searching?”
“…I guess that’s wise, but I suddenly feel overwhelmed. I’m sure Mangnyang or Zhuge Sa would know more about this; what do we know about it?”
“That’s true.”
They fell into silence. Though they had devoted their lives to martial arts training and were seasoned fighters, they lacked the ability to analyze such bizarre otherworldly structures. Just as the awkward silence settled, a melodic voice rang out.
“I must commend you for not recklessly damaging the items here. Now, might I have a word with you, uninvited guests?”
Pa-at!
As they turned to the source of the voice, an odd figure appeared, wearing a white hood and a curious hat. Naturally, Guk-ho’s crew had spent three months in Divine City, so they immediately recognized his face and name.
“Of the Dan Clan, Hong Gil-dong!”
The figure that had appeared was known as the right-hand man of the Master of the Twelve Joules and a formidable warrior in his own right. Despite being in front of three Peak Masters, Hong Gil-dong was remarkably unfazed and continued speaking with composure.
“The Master told me to bring you in respectfully. Your intrusion into the vital grounds of our Divine City is an unpardonable crime, but you are merely executors, so I might be able to forgive you.”
Guk-ho pointed his spear at him and retorted casually,
“I have no intention of seeking your forgiveness. Are you here alone to take a beating from us?”
They stepped forward with eyes filled with killing intent. Until they had climbed up, their stamina and qi were almost depleted, but the abundant energy around the Sacred Altar Tree had restored them to over seventy percent. Thus, they had no thought of losing to Hong Gil-dong alone.
Hong Gil-dong grinned.
“Do you really think I’ve come alone?”
Guk-ho felt a wave of tension wash over him.
“You’ve brought others with you, haven’t you?”
“No, I came alone.”
What the hell was this guy talking about?
As Guk-ho stared at Hong Gil-dong in disbelief, he replied,
“Well, only someone like me, the King of Guo Island and the Grand Elder of Manha Spiritual Gate, has the right to be here. Everyone else is too busy fighting to fend off the Eight Parts of the Divine.”
“What are you trying to imply?”
“It’s best to come along quietly. As I mentioned, the Twelve Joules hold little animosity toward you.”
“Ha…”
Guk-ho scoffed and suddenly launched into a lightning-fast keening thunder strike towards Hong Gil-dong’s head.
Boom!
It was an astonishingly rapid thrust packed with tremendous force. Guk-ho, a mastery-level martial artist aiming for the Absolute Realm, knew that this assault couldn’t possibly be dodged or blocked easily. However, Guk-ho quickly realized that what he had attacked was merely an illusionary clone of Hong Gil-dong when he sensed incoming assaults around him.
Swoosh!
In the next moment, Guk-ho deflected eight incoming attacks and swiftly returned to his original position. In the blink of an eye, he felt sweat streaming down his entire body.
He’s strong.
In fact, incredibly strong!
A sense of dread slipped down his spine, signaling to Guk-ho’s instincts that Hong Gil-dong was a higher-level expert than he was. Bright Dragon and Cheong-wol also recognized this fact; their expressions became strangely serious, especially Bright Dragon, who internally gasped.
‘Just now… I didn’t notice the clones dispersing and converging. And it was too fast.’
Could he possibly utilize the legendary “that technique”?
A fantasy realm only spoken of in the legends of the martial arts world!
Bright Dragon felt a wave of anxiety surge within him. If Hong Gil-dong’s level was indeed what he suspected, they could face annihilation right here. Hong Gil-dong smiled,
“Wow. Among the Masters of the Twelve Joules, only two or three are as strong as you… it’s been a while since I flexed my skills.”
“What exactly are you? And what’s this Dan Clan? Why are there beings stronger than the Master of the Twelve Joules?”
As Guk-ho questioned with a wary tone, Hong Gil-dong answered,
“I simply live in a good place, breathe in pure air, and receive excellent teachings.”
“Well, while I’d prefer to come peacefully, it looks like that’s not going to happen… shall we have ourselves a fight?”
Swish!
In the next instant, Hong Gil-dong’s figure split into five. The five clones then simultaneously charged at Guk-ho and his companions, and he recalled the characteristics of the Illusory Clones.
‘They couldn’t be easily vanquished with mere surface damage. The real one must be hiding and planning to attack!’
Determined not to fall into their traps, Guk-ho decided to go on the offensive. He unleashed his qi and executed a sweeping attack.
Boom!
A resounding blast echoed. Amid the rising dust, the sight that appeared next was astonishing.
Gak…
“Prejudices can be quite terrifying. I suppose my techniques are decidedly unique.”
Guk-ho’s failure stemmed from a simple reason. He had generated his qi, yet each clone possessed formidable strength, allowing them to dodge or fend off his attacks while hitting his openings in return. Caught off guard, Guk-ho could do nothing against clones that moved as swiftly as him. Additionally, they had pierced through him at crucial moments!
If Guk-ho had stood in a defensive stance, this encounter wouldn’t have ended as poorly for him. His misjudgment of the opponent’s abilities had led to his downfall.
“Ugh… how…”
“Just rest for a moment.”
As Hong Gil-dong placed a needle on him, Guk-ho fainted. In the meantime, Bright Dragon and Cheong-wol had moved defensively, attempting to avoid actual confrontation with Hong Gil-dong, their eyes fixed on the unfolding scene. Bright Dragon trembled and mumbled to himself in disbelief.
“Truth and falsehood intertwining to mock reality… the extreme of true clone techniques… the legendary Void Spirit One Hundred and Eight Clones!”
A glint flashed in Hong Gil-dong’s eyes as he remarked,
“Ah, you must be knowledgeable being the Wudang Sect’s leader. Indeed, my technique reaches the plateau of One Hundred and Eight Endless Spirits. One of the former kings of Guo Island once stepped onto the Central Plains Martial World.”
“But what good does that knowledge do for you? Unless you ascend to the Absolute Realm, there’s no way you can grasp or counter my technique.”
Bright Dragon clenched his teeth.
The One Hundred and Eight Clones!!
It was a legendary martial art used by the famed Void Spirit Master who dominated the martial arts world in the same era as the Wudang Sect’s leader, Jang Sam-bong. Normally, any illusory clone would vanish with a significant blow, but this clone technique harmonized truth and falsehood to such an extent that even Peak Masters couldn’t differentiate between them. Many were swiftly dispatched who had underestimated this skill.
However, the Void Spirit Master, brimming with arrogance, challenged Jang Sam-bong—then vanished after defeat.
Bright Dragon, as the leader of the Wudang Sect, had been familiar with this technique but had never envisioned meeting its wielder. He had devoted his life to unraveling the absolute potentials hidden within the Seven Great Techniques, remaining oblivious to anything outside. Should Hong Gil-dong truly have reached the heights of the Void Spirit One Hundred and Eight, he would pose a severe dilemma for them.
Bright Dragon confirmed yet another fact.
The Hong Gil-dong before them was also a master of the Absolute Realm!
According to the legacy of Jang Sam-bong, the Void Spirit One Hundred and Eight Clones could be used only upon reaching the Absolute Realm, and the One Hundred and Eight Endless Spirits signified the ultimate achievement. While it was hard to tell if Hong Gil-dong were a novice or a master in this realm, it was certain he was a previously unseen master from another world.
‘An elder of the Manha Spiritual Gate, a key figure of the Twelve Joules… even such a monster can emerge?’
Bright Dragon had a sudden realization of the skill disparities between the Central Plains Martial World and the Eastern Martial World.
But giving up here was not an option. Bright Dragon sent a secret message to Cheong-wol standing beside him.
[Support me. We have no choice but to endure with the ultimate technique.]
[Is there really a way to handle such a ridiculous technique?]
[If we fully utilize our ancestor’s teachings, it might be possible.]
[Alright. I’ll match my breathing with yours.]
Seemingly intent on ending it with this attack, Hong Gil-dong grinned wider, multiplying the number of clones.
Bam-bam-bam-bam!
The number surged to a stunning one hundred and eight!
When identical figures converge on them with such indistinguishability, there’s no way anyone could withstand it. Hong Gil-dong declared,
“I’m short on time, so I’ll end this quickly.”
Pa-at!
It was the moment when Hong Gil-dong’s clones descended upon them all at once.
Endless Boundless Creation!
Mind Blade!
Bowing Sky Slash!
Suddenly, dozens of Hong Gil-dong’s clones were torn apart, and even he quickly retreated. His Void Spirit One Hundred and Eight Clones boasted power and speed indistinguishable from the real thing; yet Bright Dragon and Cheong-wol managed to land a blow using the ultimate technique they had synchronized. With nothing likened to ordinary techniques, their united effort surged past that of Hong Gil-dong’s, showcasing exceptional strength.
That counterattack was formidable enough that even Hong Gil-dong couldn’t easily break through.
‘Though an enemy, they’re incredible.’
Yet he knew they couldn’t maintain that united front indefinitely. Even now, the two were pouring all their concentration into sustaining the link of their techniques, caught in a moment of prestigious focus that couldn’t be endlessly sustained. Anticipating his victory, Hong Gil-dong muttered,
“I want to meet the person capable of leading those like you…”
He couldn’t spare them.
The High Elder of the Manha Spiritual Gate, Hong Gil-dong, launched himself again.
Cheon Woo-jin was in troubled thought.
‘Is this really alright?’
The operation and request assigned to him by Zhuge Sa.
But it was truly the very madness that disregarded tangible victory, focusing solely on the victory of the Reborn. Standing for Baek Woong was a strategy quite rational from that viewpoint, but living this life felt like a mad dash toward ruin. Thus, even though Cheon Woo-jin had already successfully infiltrated, he still wrestled immensely.
Once again, he could assure himself.
This was madness.
But—
Even so, Cheon Woo-jin couldn’t abandon this mission. If Zhuge Sa had to take it on, the casualty count among their allies would soar. With things having developed this way, prioritizing maximum efficiency was the only way to keep even some alive.
Cheon Woo-jin’s resolve was propelled by the thunderous explosion from the Eight Parts of the Divine breaking their barrier.
Kugugugung…
“…If there’s a hell, I’ll be the first to arrive.”
With a short sigh, Cheon Woo-jin outstretched his hand. A thought of Jin So-cheong, who had cast away her own beliefs to assassinate the Master of the White Lotus Sect for Baek Woong—why did it come to mind?
“Quickly, give me my order.”
A small explosion resonated before him.
What had been protected by the barrier was now shattered by Cheon Woo-jin’s techniques.
And with that explosive sound—the great conflict atop the Sacred Altar Tree was truly entering the realm of madness.