Almighty God of War - Chapter 183

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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183

Neungnam Gwang, who had been running alongside the black horse while stirring up dust, stole a glance at Guyang Cheongang with eyes full of mirth before opening his mouth.

“By the way, shouldn’t we redefine our relationship a bit now?”

“Redefine our relationship? Didn’t we just agree that I would treat you as an honored guest?”

“Not that. I absolutely detest that stiff title of ‘Old Senior’ from you. Just hearing those words makes me feel like I should immediately close a coffin lid and crawl into a grave.”

Neungnam Gwang added with a serious expression.

“Just call me Elder Brother.”

“…Pardon?”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes widened.

Neungnam Gwang had been making his name known in Gangho for over seventy years, and his actual age was close to one hundred.

For such an old monster of Murim to suggest sworn brotherhood with someone who was barely twenty.

Only then did Guyang Cheongang truly understand why Neungnam Gwang was called ‘an insane madman who’s lost his mind’ in Gangho.

“Are you refusing!”

Neungnam Gwang’s eyes blazed as he shouted angrily.

Rather than anger, it was a voice filled with the disappointment of someone anxious about being rejected.

Guyang Cheongang clicked his tongue inwardly.

Though they had only met a day ago, he had already grasped that this old man’s temperament was as simple as a child’s yet as willful as fire.

Guyang Cheongang lightly leaped down from the black horse and respectfully performed a cupped fist salute.

“How could I possibly refuse? Younger brother Guyang Cheongang greets Elder Brother Neung.”

“Wahahahaha!”

Neungnam Gwang burst into hearty laughter toward the heavens and roughly patted Guyang Cheongang’s shoulder.

“Good! Very good! I’m counting on you, Brother Guyang!”

Under the bright morning sunlight, it was the moment when a strange bond was formed between two men who had lightly leaped across a hundred years of age difference.

Guyang Cheongang asked as if something had just occurred to him.

“Elder Brother, when you were fighting earlier, you freely increased your body size. Is it also possible to make it smaller?”

“Of course it’s possible. Bone shrinking is one of the most important fundamental techniques of the Giant Spirit Divine Art. But why do you ask?”

“I want to delay as much as possible the fact that Elder Brother is by my side from becoming known throughout All Under Heaven.”

Neungnam Gwang looked down at his massive frame and smiled broadly.

“My magnificent physique is too conspicuous, is that it?”

“That’s right. Elder Brother’s build is so distinctive that once seen, it’s impossible to forget for a lifetime. There must be quite a few people in Gangho who know Elder Brother’s face as well.”

Neungnam Gwang stroked his bushy beard and fell into thought.

“Hmm, if I reduce my size, I can only display up to ninety percent of my true secret art, the Giant Spirit Divine Art…”

The Giant Spirit Divine Art was a divine technique whose destructive power amplified as one’s body grew larger.

If he compressed his body through bone shrinking, the power of his divine art would inevitably be restricted accordingly.

Guyang Cheongang smiled slightly and continued.

“Don’t worry. There won’t be any situations requiring Elder Brother to personally step in and take action for the time being.”

Neungnam Gwang stared intently at Guyang Cheongang.

This new younger brother of his seemed to have no intention of hiding his confidence that he could handle whatever situation arose by himself.

Neungnam Gwang shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, if it gets urgent, I can just return to my original form. Fine, let’s do that.”

Crack- crack crack-!

Neungnam Gwang’s massive frame, which had easily exceeded eight feet, began to shrink with bizarre bone friction sounds.

The transformation ended in an instant.

The giant who had been like a rocky mountain just moments before was nowhere to be seen, and a sturdy middle-aged man of about six feet stood in his place.

His shoulders were broad but not excessive, his solid muscles didn’t show outwardly, and his face had the ordinary appearance of a common Gangho warrior you could see anywhere.

Neungnam Gwang examined his body here and there while muttering.

“Will this do?”

“Perfect, Elder Brother. No one will notice.”

Neungnam Gwang let out a satisfied cough.

“Ahem, then I’ll travel in this form until we reach the family estate.”

Guyang Cheongang mounted his horse again.

* * *

Deep within Cheonsan, where eternal snow swirled.

At the edge of a sheer cliff that pierced and soared toward the sky, ominous black clouds coiled.

At that height which rejected not only human footsteps but even traces of life, massive towers and pavilions floated in midair like mirages.

The buildings crafted from jet-black obsidian greedily devoured the surrounding light while emanating a sinister aura.

At the center of that silence, the doors of Daejeon opened.

Dozens of obsidian pillars supporting the interior of Daejeon were carved with demon faces drunk on murderous madness, seeming to writhe alive.

And that place, where only flickering blue-green ghostly flames illuminated the darkness, was filled with such dense demonic energy that merely breathing would burn one’s lungs.

In the deepest part, black mist swirled above the Grand Master’s Chair where the one who stood at the pinnacle of Manma sat.

The being lurking within that mist was twisting the very space of Daejeon with presence alone.

Drip- drip-

On the floor of Daejeon, an old man in black robes was trembling like an aspen leaf with his forehead pressed to the ground.

The sound of cold sweat he shed wetting the frigid obsidian floor echoed particularly loudly within Daejeon.

To the being on the Grand Master’s Chair, this old man was nothing more than a bug that would burst if stepped on.

“Su, Supreme One… I congratulate you on… your emergence from seclusion.”

The old man’s voice, like cracking glass, broke the silence.

He struck his head against the floor once more and prostrated himself flat.

But what returned was only silence heavier than death.

The old man’s back was already soaked through with sweat that poured like a waterfall.

Just then.

Flash-!

Blood-red eyes flashed like lightning from beyond the black mist.

A gaze filled with terrifying demonic power pierced through the black-robed old man, the Demon Physician.

“Demon Physician.”

The entire Daejeon vibrated.

It was closer to soul-shaking thunder than a voice.

“Is that truly all you have to offer as your first words?”

The Demon Physician’s entire body stiffened like stone.

His lips, turned pale blue, trembled and knocked together.

The being on the Grand Master’s Chair asked once more in a chilling tone.

“Have you found the Taiyin Nine Nether Demon Essence?”

The Demon Physician’s body shook as if having a seizure.

“Pl, please kill me, Supreme One! I have not yet… grasped any clues!”

Rumble rumble rumble-!

In an instant, Daejeon screamed.

Demonic energy released without a single roar shook the pillars and twisted the ground.

“I spent twenty years in agonizing recovery from the wounds inflicted by that woman’s betrayal! During all those long years, are you telling me you return empty-handed!”

The Demon Physician grotesquely contorted his face under pressure that felt like the swollen blood vessels in his forehead would burst.

“Supreme One… all disciples of Eumyeongjeong are pursuing with full effort! Since those from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains are also chasing the demon essence, we had to move secretly to avoid exposing our sect’s activities… which only caused delays! Please understand!”

“Hmph!”

A single snort of derision.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The obsidian pillars that couldn’t withstand the vibrations screamed and let out explosive sounds.

The Demon Physician added in a voice like screaming, his complexion pale as a corpse.

“Su, Supreme One! The Taiyin Nine Nether Demon Essence shows symptoms similar to Nine Yin Severed Meridians! We are currently combing through all Nine Yin Severed Meridians patients throughout All Under Heaven like hunting lice… we will soon be able to find the vessel containing the demon essence!”

The trembling of the pillars subsided.

The being within the Taesa issued a decree like a death sentence.

“I give you one year. If you fail to bring the Demon Crystal before me within that time, I will burn even your soul to make you pay for your sins.”

“Yes, Your command! I will find it with the resolve of life through death!”

The Demon Physician repeatedly bowed his head, his torn forehead bleeding onto the floor.

The black clouds that had enveloped the Taesa gradually cleared, and the overwhelming presence also vanished without a trace.

However, the absolute dominance that had ruled the great hall remained like an echo, crushing the Demon Physician.

Only after a long while did the Demon Physician finally raise his head.

The seat of the Taesa was already empty.

“Haa… haa…”

The Demon Physician staggered to his feet, his legs drained of strength and on the verge of collapse.

One year.

That was the grace period hanging on his lifeline.

With trembling hands, he wiped the blood from his forehead and stepped out of the darkened great hall.

The night of Cheonsan remained cold and gloomy, and now that coldness had become a blade tightening around his throat.

* * *

Geumneung.

This place called Nanjing was a city where the antiquated elegance of various empires’ ancient capitals strangely coexisted with the greatest prosperity of Jiangnan.

Even though darkness had fallen, the night of Geumneung never slept.

The Jinhoe River that crossed the city revealed its true nature only when night came.

Dozens of pleasure boats floating leisurely on the river each hung red lanterns that reflected on the water’s surface, creating an enchanting scene as if another burning city existed within the river.

Clang- clang- ding-

The clear melody of the gayageum flowing from the pleasure boats drifted through the night air, adding to the atmosphere.

Silhouettes of women dancing with fluttering silk sleeves, men’s hearty laughter and the sound of clinking wine cups. The night of Geumneung was truly the pinnacle of splendid revelry.

The Sewun Guesthouse, which overlooked the night view of Jinhoe River at a glance, was a famous spot frequented by Gangho’s martial artists and great merchants.

Inside a third-floor guest room there.

Baek Muok was sitting in lotus position on one side of the bed, concentrating on his breathing exercises.

Guyang Cheongang, having thrown off his bamboo hat, stood at the window with his hands behind his back, gazing endlessly at the river.

Snore- grumble-

The only thing breaking the silence was the thunderous snoring coming from the bed behind him.

Neungnam Gwang, still disguised as a six-foot middle-aged man, lay in deep sleep with his mouth wide open.

Though a beautiful night scene spread before his eyes, Guyang Cheongang’s gaze was fixed on the void beyond it.

[Doctor.]

Akasha’s familiar voice echoed in his mind.

‘Speak.’

Guyang Cheongang leaned his arm against the window frame and comfortably focused his consciousness.

[Data mining and analysis of the ancient materials acquired from Pungnimgok has made considerable progress.]

‘What about the Cheonmujinggyeol?’

[The interpretation rate of Cheonmujinggyeol is currently at 13%. Converting non-formulaic metaphorical expressions into computational models is taking time. Complete interpretation is predicted to require approximately three more months.]

Akasha’s report was mechanical yet clear.

[About 2% of the structural principles of Gimun Daejin have been interpreted. Due to its extreme complexity, it will take considerable time. Currently building theoretical models for spatial distortion mechanisms.]

‘Is reproduction of teleportation technology possible?’

[Not possible at this point. However, the principle has been identified. It’s presumed to be a ‘folding’ method that uses special energy fields to fold space in a manner similar to quantum entanglement.]

Guyang Cheongang nodded slightly.

The technology of Pungnimgok touched upon unknown realms that were difficult to explain not only by this world’s martial studies common sense, but even by modern science.

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes sharpened.

‘More importantly, what about what I designated as the highest priority task?’

Right after leaving Pungnimgok, he had ordered Akasha to prepare core defensive strategies in preparation for returning to the family estate.

‘Continuously research the formation studies obtained from the Imperial Treasury, Pungnimgok, and all formation-related knowledge acquired so far, and devise measures to perfectly protect the Guyang Family Estate from external threats.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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