Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 196

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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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Chapter 196

 

Clang, clang, clang!

 

The sound of iron drums has been echoing through Aenoe Mountain for quite some time.

 

“Hmm….”

 

This doesn’t feel right.

 

What the hell are we even doing here?

 

His purpose was to find traces of the person with spirit energy who was supposedly seen on Aenoe Mountain.

 

Three months have already passed, so they might not even be here anymore, and even if they are, all this commotion would alert anyone.

 

What if some cultivator who was living in hiding, disliking unnecessary disturbances, decides to disappear because of this?

 

Though this search had the underlying purpose of the Wild Spirit Festival, he found it quite distasteful.

 

‘Damn it, I should have just searched alone from the beginning like I originally planned….’

 

Zhuge Munhyeon, following behind the beaters and search teams along with the warriors, kept letting out irritated sighs.

 

“Please have some of this. I made it as a snack.”

 

“….”

 

Even though he felt frustrated, the sweet confection Yeon Yanggyeong offered went down easily.

 

If only it didn’t taste good.

 

How does he make it so incredibly sweet?

 

This palate of his, accustomed to sweetness since childhood, was truly his enemy.

 

His face showed displeasure, but he was sucking on the sweet confection with relish, quite unbecoming of his age, when.

 

‘Why is he acting like that again?’

 

He saw Elder Jeong Haeryong, who had been moving together due to Dan Yeonhwa, quietly conversing with the leader of the search team.

 

Their expressions were serious.

 

What could it be?

 

Being serious when there was nothing particularly serious happening naturally meant something special had occurred.

 

He quietly approached to listen.

 

“This is strange.”

 

“Hmm….”

 

“It’s as if the mountain is dead.”

 

He couldn’t help but tilt his head in confusion.

 

The mountain is dead?

 

What kind of poetic expression is this?

 

But where exactly?

 

Untouched by human hands, the trees were all massive, and the grass had grown shoulder-high.

 

The branches extending in all directions were so intertwined and dense they nearly blocked out the sky.

 

With such flourishing growth, he couldn’t understand why they would use such an expression.

 

“Elder.”

 

“Ah! Young Master Zhuge, how do you find the sweet confection?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

At Jeong Haeryong’s smiling response, Zhuge Munhyeon popped the remaining sweet confection into his mouth and chewed it down.

 

Thinking he might have looked childish.

 

“What do you mean the mountain is dead?”

 

“Well, the truth is we haven’t seen a single beast from the entrance until now.”

 

“That’s because….”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon nodded slowly.

 

Now that he thought about it, that was true.

 

They’d been beating iron drums continuously and searching the mountain with beaters and trackers alike, yet not a single person had reported seeing any beasts.

 

“It’s strange indeed. Even if they hid due to human presence, there should be traces left….”

 

“Mm.”

 

He nodded again.

 

That was also true.

 

If startled beasts had hidden themselves, they wouldn’t be visible to human eyes.

 

But the beasts that the Beast Palace warriors kept with them should have shown some reaction.

 

With hearing and smell tens to hundreds of times more sensitive than humans, having entered another’s territory, there should definitely be some reaction….

 

“It’s as if nothing lives here at all.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Meanwhile, look at that fellow.”

 

“…?”

 

What Jeong Haeryong pointed to was a gray wolf he had raised for a long time.

 

“It’s the one the Young Lady took a liking to. Though I wouldn’t call it exceptional, it has developed an inner core, so it could be considered spirit beast level.”

 

“I see.”

 

A beast with an inner core.

 

People commonly called such creatures spirit beasts.

 

As Chiljangjja had mentioned, beasts born with spiritual aptitude would achieve enlightenment at some point.

 

Their lifespan would extend dozens of times, and their strength and senses would develop dramatically. Their combat abilities would naturally be superior to ordinary beasts. Sometimes they even possessed the mystical ability to understand human speech.

 

Moreover, such creatures would gain increasingly greater power as they lived for hundreds of years, eventually evolving into true spirit beasts.

 

“It’s a fellow that rarely shows fear even in front of Baek-a. But now it’s frightened.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I thought something was strange from the entrance…. Look, its ears that should be standing alert are pulled back as far as they can go. It seems anxious and can’t keep its gaze in one place. It’s being vigilant of its surroundings.”

 

“Ah….”

 

Beast behavior.

 

These were reactions any Beast Palace warrior would recognize.

 

But why?

 

“It’s not just that fellow alone.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Though to varying degrees, the deeper we go into the mountain, the more the beasts have begun showing signs of fear. The closer we get to something, the more their senses must be picking it up.”

 

This was why his expression had grown serious.

 

The beasts’ instincts were uniformly predicting some unknown danger….

 

“There’s only one case like this.”

 

“…?”

 

“It’s just speculation, but something is living on Aenoe Mountain. An existence that would make those fellows feel fear. And an aura we can’t perceive is enveloping the vicinity.”

 

“Then perhaps?”

 

“A spirit beast. One with tremendously powerful strength at that.”

 

“…!”

 

“Usually such creatures claim part of a mountain as their territory and rule over it. No other beasts set foot within that area. They know the fear instilled in their instincts.”

 

“Ah….”

 

“I don’t know about other places, but it seems we may have entered a spirit beast’s territory.”

 

A, a spirit beast’s territory?

 

So there’s a creature with an inner core nearby?

 

‘Wait, but is this really such a serious matter?’

 

Spirit beasts meant opportunity.

 

If you properly refined their inner core, you could turn it into a spiritual medicine with tremendous efficacy, and even the byproducts from bones, flesh, and hide could be used for completely different purposes than those of ordinary beasts.

 

He didn’t know about Yunnan, but in the Central Plains, when a spirit beast was discovered, it caused quite a commotion.

 

Everyone wanting to capture it.

 

Sometimes this even led to fights, or rather wars.

 

Of course, in the case of the Demonic Path where the Sect Leader owned everything, it was a bit different….

 

“Why are your eyes suddenly like that?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“No, they’ve been strangely sparkling since earlier…. For some reason, they’re overflowing with greed?”

 

“You must be seeing things.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon grinned and wiped his lips with his sleeve.

 

Just in case he had been drooling.

 

“So? Are you going to switch to a spirit beast capture operation from now on?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Well, capture would be difficult, wouldn’t it? It’s probably no ordinary creature. By any chance, does the Beast Palace have regulations? Like who has ownership rights when a spirit beast is discovered…”

 

“What?”

 

“Since it’s something sent from heaven, would it belong to whoever catches it first?”

 

“L-look here. What on earth are you talking about?”

 

“…Ah, it’s because of the Monstrous Poison Gate. You saw earlier, didn’t you? They’re standing around everywhere for surveillance.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon, trying hard to hide his greed, used the Monstrous Poison Gate as an excuse.

 

He had already seen them several times.

 

Those who were secretly watching with sinister eyes.

 

“Hmm, the Beast Palace doesn’t have any particular rules like that.”

 

“Ah, there aren’t any?”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes sparkled with delight.

 

Then there was nothing to worry about.

 

It meant whoever caught it would be the owner.

 

In this damn life, he had achieved everything through diligent and sincere effort, never having taken a spirit beast’s inner core… but after living virtuously(?) in this life, heaven was bestowing such a blessing.

 

“It seems we should…”

 

“Catch it, right?”

 

“…What?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

Jeong Haeryong, who had been speaking with a serious expression, blinked his eyes.

 

What? Why?

 

Why are you making that expression?

 

“Ahem, look here, Young Master Zhuge.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“It’s not such a simple matter.”

 

“…”

 

“Catching a spirit beast, that’s taking the joke too far.”

 

It wasn’t a joke.

 

If you knew there was a spirit beast, wasn’t it perfectly natural to think you should catch it?

 

“For now, we need to withdraw.”

 

“What? Why?”

 

“Why, you ask? You’re stating the obvious.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s just speculation, but it’s no ordinary creature. If we try to face it without any preparation, we could suffer great damage.”

 

“Well…”

 

“First, the main forces from Bongung need to come and conduct a thorough search. We need to know exactly what kind of creature is on Aenoe Mountain.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

He understood.

 

The Wild Spirit Festival could also be called the Beast Palace’s coming-of-age ceremony.

 

Although many people were mobilized, in terms of actual strength, it had to be considered somewhat weak.

 

Currently, the only ones who could be called main forces were the guards protecting Dan Yeonhwa. If the spirit beast’s power was excessively strong, they could be swept away and suffer numerous casualties.

 

‘Well, it is the right judgment as an elder.’

 

But even so, he felt impatient.

 

It was a spirit beast that belonged to whoever caught it.

 

If only the Beast Palace were on Aenoe Mountain, it wouldn’t be a big problem, but those Monstrous Poison Gate bastards had also come in droves…

 

‘Damn, it would be troublesome if they snatch it first.’

 

An opportunity that had come into his hands.

 

In a situation where it was a matter of who would claim it first, he couldn’t help but be concerned.

 

“Come, let’s withdraw for now. We need to go down the mountain and contact the Palace Master first.”

 

“B-but…”

 

He didn’t want to go.

 

When a spirit beast might be nearby.

 

When it was sure to be magnificent.

 

Couldn’t you all go and let me search alone?

 

It was when his heart was full of such thoughts.

 

Bang!

 

A rough explosion sound came from the sky.

 

Instinctively looking up at the sky, he saw sparks scattering through the gaps in the dense tree branches.

 

Not far away.

 

Before climbing Aenoe Mountain, Jeong Haeryong had given orders to everyone.

 

If they found traces of human presence, someone living there, or a long-abandoned hut, they should immediately fire a signal flare.

 

But Jeong Haeryong’s serious face hardened stiffly.

 

“That… red?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“Why is it red?”

 

His expression was very flustered.

 

Did the meaning differ according to the color?

 

Though he hadn’t heard the details about that part, Jeong Haeryong’s expression said everything.

 

An emergency situation.

 

It wasn’t that they had discovered traces, but something bad had definitely happened to the warriors.

 

Perhaps… the spirit beast?

 

“Elder, I’ll go ahead first.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon, his eyes flashing with greed, immediately turned and ran toward the direction where the signal flare had exploded.

 

Even if it wasn’t the spirit beast, if those who had stepped forward for his sake were in danger, nothing was more important than that.

 

Really.

 

“Young Master Munhyeon! Let’s go together!”

 

Mujin hurriedly chased after him.

 

Dang Ihwa, who had been examining various plants around the area and recording them, and Chiljangjja, who had been examining rocks to find minerals, also moved hastily.

 

“Elder, please take care of the rear!”

 

Dan Yeonhwa was the same.

 

The palanquin she quickly mounted began moving at tremendous speed. And the guards protecting her immediately followed.

 

It was when Jeong Haeryong was blankly watching them rapidly disappearing into the distance.

 

“Um… Elder?”

 

At the call urging his decision, he snapped to attention and quickly gave orders.

 

“Issue a mountain descent order to all participants in the Wild Spirit Festival to wait at the encampment below the mountain. I will chase after Young Master Zhuge and head toward where the Third Group is.”

 

“Yes!”

 

* * *

 

Crash crash crash crash!

 

A waterfall pouring down magnificently.

 

A place where white foam spread and turned into mist that filled below the knees.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes sharpened as he arrived first at the place where the signal flare had exploded and confirmed the situation.

 

Broken trees.

 

‘This is…’

 

The cross-section was rough.

 

It wasn’t caused by a weapon.

 

A massive tree lay fallen as if torn apart by something.

 

No human presence could be felt.

 

Thick water mist had settled densely, making it impossible to see anything on the ground.

 

Taking careful steps one by one, Zhuge Munhyeon suddenly detected a fishy scent and wrinkled his nose.

 

He could identify the smell immediately.

 

The scent of blood.

 

How could he not know?

 

He was more familiar with that smell than anyone.

 

The moment he recognized the scent, Zhuge Munhyeon frowned as he looked at the mist and swept his open hand horizontally.

 

Whoooosh!

 

The gust created by his gesture instantly pushed away the mist, soon revealing the hidden landscape of the forest.

 

Blood mixed with the mist’s moisture flows down everywhere in diluted streams. Torn flesh scattered about… and limbs of what used to be people are also visible.

 

And.

 

‘…Wh, what is this?!’

 

Feeling a chilling presence, Zhuge Munhyeon whipped his head around and met fierce golden eyes glinting within the thick spray mist created by the waterfall.

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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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