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Dark Heaven Village

The first to break the silence of battle was none other than Lee Cheong-un. He activated the Thunder Spirit and darted around at a mind-boggling speed, launching thunderous strikes.

Boom boom boom!

I could tell that each of his attacks was far superior and more powerful than anything from the Dragon’s Dance. Even in raw firepower, he was leagues ahead, probably because of his superior control over Qi and intent. But alas, despite the incredible might of Lee Cheong-un’s strikes, they only managed to chip away at a mere fragment of the Moon Sovereign’s defenses without dealing a true blow.

Amidst it all, rays of light poured down, and the island’s shape looked like it might vanish completely. The Great Monk Seo San, who was sheltering nearby, sighed.

“Ah, how can such a terrifying demon…”

“Master.”

You Jeong glanced at Great Monk Seo San with concern before turning to me.

“I’ll help as much as I can.”

Crash!

Just then, Lee Cheong-un’s lightning spear struck the giant eyeball of the creature, causing it to scream and shut its eye, halting the torrent of gray rays temporarily.

Bang!

As Lee Cheong-un retreated momentarily, he said, “It should be possible to enter now.”

“That eyeball didn’t burst from the lightning spear?”

I mumbled, astounded. Just a moment ago, the lightning spear shot from Lee Cheong-un, which held catastrophic destructive power, merely made the eyeball turn bloodshot as if saying “Ouch,” instead of obliterating it. Truly surprising durability!

“There’s a defensive barrier.”

“A defensive barrier… you say?”

I grimaced, recalling the barrier of Daji, but Lee Cheong-un continued.

“It’s not as powerful as the one Daji had, but it seems to be diminishing our attacks while enhancing the creature’s regeneration.”

“What a nuisance.”

“The kind you faced before didn’t have such a thing. It must be stronger due to the conversion of Yin and Yang.”

Nodding, I said, “Then it’s time to get serious.”

Thunderclap!!

I summoned all the strength in my body and unleashed a thunderous sound. At the same time, the martial artists behind me, including Cheon Woo-jin and Jeon Woo-chi, began casting techniques.

“Odoil Iguanji!!”

Zoom!

In an instant, we teleported from the roots of the ground to the upper branch of the Moon Sovereign. I noticed a blue veil surrounding my body.

‘A technique that prevents mental corruption.’

Fighting amidst this massive dark force naturally leads to mental chaos and erosion. Thus, the techniques were cast to enhance the mental resistance of the martial artists so they could fight properly. While Lee Cheong-un kept the eyeball light subdued, we needed to push inward.

‘That Cheon Woo-jin…’

I glanced at Cheon Woo-jin. He seemed downcast, quite unlike his usual self, likely due to the direct impact of the demonic energy’s essence. His will and confidence had faded, making it unlikely for him to engage in frontline combat for a while lest he perish foolishly against such formidable foes.

Meanwhile, Miho would follow behind to support us from the back, yet she still seemed incapable of controlling the immense power bestowed upon her.

“Let’s go.”

We advanced by slicing through the upper branch with our sword strength, only to find ourselves in a forest filled with fruit the size of human bodies hanging in clusters.

Shake!

Splatter!

With an unsettling mucus-like substance pouring forth, the demonic beasts emerged from within. They recognized us the moment they were born and screamed.

[Kreeeek!!]

Boom!

Clang Clang!

A fierce battle ensued. The Sword Demon, Extreme Tiger, and Jin So-cheong began slicing through the horde of beasts, and I joined in as well. Lee Cheong-un used the Heavenly Spirit Pill to sweep away the demons in one go before charging upward.

Shake!

Once again, the fruits of the beasts were forming. I realized with a frown: ‘Are they absorbing the earth’s power to produce an endless supply of monsters?’

Just like a tree, once this fortified island drained the earth’s essence, it would grow larger and eventually expand its roots out to the sea. It could perhaps become a powerful demon that could reach Goryeo or even the Central Plains. We had to deal with it while we still had the chance!

Lee Cheong-un suddenly transformed into the form of Thunder Spirit and shouted, “[Let’s cut the main branch!]”

Whoosh whoosh whoosh…

Concentrating his lightning power in the air, Lee Cheong-un conjured a massive lightning spear, measuring an astounding five meters in length, yet it still seemed insufficient to chop down this gargantuan tree. Drawing the Natural Spirit Energy, he activated his five-element technique.

“Exploding Lightning!”

Bang!

The entire trunk shuddered with an explosion. Lee Cheong-un managed to slice through a surprising 30% of the trunk with a single fatal strike! Yet, it must not have been cut deeply enough, for the trunk still stood firm, maintaining its integrity.

Extreme Tiger, watching the scene, spoke incredulously, “Dammit! With that strike from the Grand Master, we could’ve blown the wall to pieces, yet this crazy monster is just too massive?!”

“It’s a monster from the Mythological Age.”

Extreme Tiger chuckled wryly, “It feels like the end of the world is truly upon us with beasts like Daji roaming around.”

We managed to cut down all the ‘fruits’ born in that place and pressed on. According to Mangnyang, the heart of this colossal monster would be hidden somewhere, and the clue would be at the very top of the branch. If we could uncover the Moon Sovereign’s weak point, a concentrated attack there would either defeat it or severely weaken it.

“……”

We were still fighting decently, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of anxiety creeping into my heart.

‘Why hasn’t Yeodong-bin spoken to me even once…?’

Faced with the colossal demon, the Moon Sovereign, characterized by the chaos of Yin and Yang, Yeodong-bin remained eerily silent. Normally, in the presence of a creature that could potentially bring disaster to the world, he would have offered to fight in my stead or at least said something. Yet, it felt like he hadn’t completely abandoned his terminal but had chosen to leave for the Celestial Realm altogether.

So – Yeodong-bin was currently refusing to fight for me of his own accord.

Why?

What did I do wrong?

[Do you intend to become a monster to capture the monster?]

[… Whatever the means, if it saves humanity, what does it matter…]

[However, I shall withhold my judgment of you, Yeodong-bin…]

I sensed something but couldn’t grasp the meaning behind Yeodong-bin’s words. One thing was clear: he exhibited strong resistance to the fusion of Chaos and Primordial Void, and he disapproved of my interest in that path.

I shook my head while using Light Body Technique to climb the branch. “Tch. This isn’t the time to pine for Yeodong-bin’s help.”

After all, the foes I would have to face in the future would all be divine-level threats. If I couldn’t handle anything without Yeodong-bin’s assistance, that would just be ludicrous. It was imperative that I cultivate the strength and courage to fight without relying on him from this point on.

Moments later, we stood atop a serene pile of the giant trunk that appeared to be the final layer. The creature was so colossal that we had to surpass two layers of clouds just to arrive. And just as Mangnyang said, I spotted the writhing black vortex of chaos, with bizarre beasts emerging from it.

Among these beasts, a grotesque giant resembling a mass of blood vessels spoke to us in a strange tongue.

[… You… why… are you… interfering… Our seal of… thousands of years… will soon be… broken by the Moon King… do not obstruct… our unity with the source… it is just beginning… to release the restriction of the Three Sovereigns…]

Their words came through only occasionally, yet somehow, I was able to piece together their meaning.

“Monster!”

“Let’s take it down immediately.”

Of course, my fellow humans couldn’t decipher it; they merely interpreted the creature’s cries as roars. After a moment of contemplation, I replied to it. “Who is the Moon King? What happens if he descends?”

Suddenly, the blood vessel giant flinched at my words and responded.

[The body and… mind will… merge… and return to… the primordial perfect existence… can never be… obstructed… our mission…]

“The merging of body and mind…?”

[You… are a being of… great significance… please retreat… we will return home… alongside the king…]

“……”

It seemed those creatures had never anticipated our attack on this colossal tree. It appeared they intended to step out from the restrictions of the Three Sovereigns and to revert to primordial terrifying beings.

Extreme Tiger, who had been watching my exchange with the creature, marveled, “Baek Woong. You can actually understand what that thing is saying?”

“Pretty much.”

“What will you do?”

I thought deeply for a moment before gripping my sword tightly and replying, “We must kill them all!”

The merging of body and mind referred to the idea that this monstrous tree was the body. Therefore, we were effectively battling a vessel devoid of ‘mind’. However, if the ‘mind’ were to come and merge with this powerful body, it could very well become dozens of times stronger than before!

‘At first, I thought about just getting the Moon Sovereign and fleeing, but I’ve decided that I must capture it!’

If left unchecked, it was bound to become a calamity yet again!

This creature had to be eliminated on the spot.

Swift!

I pushed my physical abilities to the limit and dove into battle, targeting the neck of the blood vessel giant. The giant stretched out its wriggling tentacles to block my attack, but in the next moment, I sheared off its tentacles and cleaved its body into eight pieces.

[Kraaah…]

Blood gushed forth in a spray, creating a ghastly sight. It was horrific, but dodging each spurt of blood using the Three Treasure Technique, I commenced my assault on the slowly materializing beasts beside me.

“Haah!”

“Yaaah!”

Clang!

Shiiing!

With explosive sword power and sword qi dancing all around, we began to chop down the beasts hiding atop the trunk. One of the monsters howled,

[Humans… how dare you against our higher race!!]

“What are you babbling about?”

“……”

It felt strangely comical to see Extreme Tiger angrily behead the creature. Those beasts, dormant atop the tree, likely prided themselves on being a higher species than humans, yet they were being ruthlessly slaughtered by well-trained warriors.

Once the massacre concluded, Jin So-cheong proposed, “We should probably strike at the core from the top.”

“From the top?”

Jin So-cheong nodded, stating, “This place, which they are desperately trying to protect, is the monster’s weak point—the core. We can combine the Thunder Spirit’s and our Mind Control Techniques, and sever it in half.”

“Sounds good. Then…”

As I prepared to thunderously call out to summon Lee Cheong-un assaulting from the outside, a sudden heavy pressure hit us.

“Ugh.”

Unexpectedly, my body felt like it was being pinned to the ground with a weight that’d crush any ordinary person into dust immediately! Clearly, this pressure was a result of sorcery or magic. As I looked around, a portal opened up in the air.

Whir!

[Kah hahaha… how dare you puny creatures!]

Spotting the floating figure of a monstrous entity reclining in the air, I instantly recognized it.

“Myo Cheong!!”

A skeleton clad in monk robes!! This creature had been lurking inside the powerful barrier in the Dongning Prefecture. Seeing the familiar visage of Yo Cheong shocked me, but it also sent chills down my spine.

‘Could it be that he has grown powerful enough to open a portal and leave the confines of the Dongning Prefecture?’

Moreover, the sorcery exerting pressure on the striking grandmasters was overwhelmingly strong. Everyone was merely gathering their internal power to resist it and couldn’t even think about mounting an attack on Myo Cheong. I felt that if I moved recklessly, I might lose a limb or two, so as I steadied my breath, Myo Cheong rattled his skull and said,

[The great Moon Ruler will soon reclaim its physical form. Do not interfere!]

“……!!”

A shiver ran down my spine in that moment. One certain possibility ignited in my mind.

‘What? Could it be…’

From the distant horizon of the fortified island, ominous dark energy began creeping towards us, visible even to the naked eye. While it resembled clouds at a glance, I realized it was more akin to thick fog. As I comprehended that this fog would reach the monstrous tree in no time, my heart raced.

“Damn it. This much…”

Given that Cheon Woo-jin had recognized the demonic energy and was presently devoid of any combat will, this was definitely a moment where Myo Cheong’s sorcery needed to be dispelled through the Mind Control Technique. However, as an ancient malevolent spirit backed by the power of the Sovereign, he wouldn’t be an easy issue to resolve. Just as I focused my will to rise, Myo Cheong snickered.

[Hah ha… Do you think you can easily overcome my sorcery…]

Whack!

A sharp piercing sound echoed as Myo Cheong emitted a frenzied scream.

[Kaaah… Impossible…]

It was Jin So-cheong! Before anyone realized, he had broken free from the pressure and swiftly destroyed the core of Myo Cheong with a fatal blow. Though Myo Cheong was a dark creature, he stood no chance against a master skilled in the Absolute Realm’s lethal strikes. As expected, the pressure of the sorcery dissipated, and Myo Cheong’s body turned to dust.

“……”

It was astonishing that Myo Cheong, a powerful demon that could not be handled by an ordinary sorcerer, was taken down so effortlessly in a single blow. What sent chills down my spine was that Jin So-cheong’s move was so quick that I couldn’t even monitor the progress of the technique.

I thought it was unbelievable, yet one hypothesis flashed through my mind, and I gulped.

‘Could it be… he has grown again after the battle with Daji?’

Is it possible to elevate one’s skills in such a short time frame?

‘Tch! Focus!’

Yet now was not the time for such thoughts. Though we had defeated Myo Cheong, we still needed to eliminate the giant tree, and we had to strike quickly. If we didn’t, the ‘mind’ across the horizon would merge with this ‘body’, unleashing unimaginable horrors.

“Hah!”

With a deep breath, Jin So-cheong addressed the horizon, saying, “How about revealing yourself slowly?”

“Huh? Jin So-cheong. What…?”

“The Grand Master and I knew you were watching us. If you have something to say, now’s your chance.”

Just as Jin So-cheong finished speaking, a gust of wind rushed in, accompanied by an imposing roar.

“Wow, are you guys really humans? I was hiding seriously, and you caught on?”

A bewildered voice echoed.

Bam!

Suddenly, a monkey-like demon-human appeared out of nowhere. Yet, as I caught sight of the long staff in its hand, the gold crown on its forehead, and the clouds at its feet, I lost my words.

‘That… that guy is…’

The monkey demon scratched its hairy head as it walked toward us, wearing an air of annoyance.

“Well, it seems I’ve past my prime…”

The greatest trickster of the Celestial Realm, the Celestial Sage, was none other than Sun Wukong, revealing himself before us.

 

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