Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 202

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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 202

He couldn’t tell how much time had passed.

When he struggled to open his eyes, a strange sight greeted him.

Blink…

How peculiar.

Bright light was flowing within a space that appeared completely black.

Subtle currents formed leaf-like shapes, then flowed again to create stems before extending deep to form roots.

Of course, not everything he saw was clearly defined.

Some emitted intense light, while others gave off such faint illumination they seemed ready to disappear at any moment.

Blink.

When he slowly closed and opened his eyes, the scenery changed completely.

He could see the rock wall, and grass that had taken root and grown with difficulty upon it. He could see talismans attached to the wall. Beyond the cave, he could see a sky so bright it hurt his eyes.

Blink.

When he closed and opened his eyes again, the world darkened once more, and those same luminous flows appeared.

Turning his head while lying down, he saw the flows forming a human shape.

It must be Yeongmun.

As if he were observing all the blood vessels within that body, he could clearly see the shape formed by the flowing energy.

Blink.

When he closed and opened his eyes once more, Yeongmun’s appearance became visible.

As this blinking repeated and quickened, two different scenes were continuously perceived in alternation.

Flow and form.

Then, Yeongmun spoke.

“Congratulations on awakening your Spirit Eyes.”

“Spirit Eyes?”

“Yes. Since you’ve achieved Transcendence and spirit energy has completely settled within your body.”

He had experienced this before.

The eyes that could see the hidden world—Spirit Eyes.

It was what he had experienced long ago when he achieved Energy Purification and contained spirit energy within his body, and it was the world Dan Yeonhwa had been seeing until recently.

However, there was a distinctly different aspect from the past.

“I see both forms alternately. Regardless of my will.”

“That’s inevitable.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s probably because the dual nature hasn’t completely adapted to your body yet.”

“Dual nature… Ah!”

He immediately recalled.

Before learning Embryonic Breathing to dissolve the spirit energy within his body, he had learned dual nature from Yeongmun.

Human things, non-human things.

It seemed that each time he blinked, uncontrolled energy was being used alternately.

“You won’t be able to see both simultaneously. When using the Zhuge clan’s Small Heavenly Star Technique through dual nature, you’ll face the world with human eyes as before, and when using spirit energy, you’ll face the world with Spirit Eyes.”

“I see.”

“How is your body? Since you’ve achieved Transcendence, your senses should be different from before…”

Transcendence, molting, shedding.

Well, they’re all roughly similar terms.

Like Bone Transformation, he had discarded the old and gained something new.

The important thing was that it hurt terribly.

A throbbing pain still remained in his body, as if he had been rolled up in a mat and beaten for an entire month.

“Can you move?”

“…”

I said it hurts, didn’t I?

Though his heart felt that way, Zhuge Munhyeon nodded slightly and tried to slowly raise his body.

Huh?

It moves.

How is that possible?

Surely all the bones in his body were broken and he was wrapped up in kudzu vines that held splints in place…

“While your body was completely reconstructed through achieving Transcendence, it’s also because of the spirit energy that has settled in your body. It possesses healing effects as well.”

“Ah…”

So it’s like self-healing ability?

To think that broken bones could actually mend.

Somehow it seemed far more effective than Bone Transformation.

Zhuge Munhyeon could finally observe his surroundings.

Broken tree branches and severed kudzu vines.

“You thrashed about severely, so there was no way they could hold.”

“Ah…”

That must have been the case.

The pain had been quite severe.

It seemed that in his writhing, both the splints and kudzu vines had all broken and snapped.

In that case!

Whoosh! Thud!

“Ugh!”

He had intended to support himself with his hands and sit up, but in an instant his body shot up and his head crashed into the ceiling.

Thud!

When you crash, falling is natural, and when you fall, crashing again is also natural.

Younger Brother, that must hurt.

“Haha! Adaptation isn’t easy, is it?”

“Indeed.”

“Slowly get your body accustomed to it. After achieving Transcendence, all bodily senses open completely and you become unable to control your strength, so people commonly have such experiences.”

If you knew, you should have told me earlier.

Something like warning me to be careful since this could happen.

“But that was remarkable.”

“…Pardon?”

At Yeongmun’s words, Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been rubbing his throbbing crown, asked with a grimace.

“The energy of the Death Thread you absorbed must have been considerable. I never expected you to achieve Transcendence so quickly. To leap straight past the Condensing Energy stage and reach the Accumulating Energy stage.”

“Accumulating Energy?”

“Yes.”

“Then… have I become a Half-Immortal?”

“What?”

“Ah, since you mentioned Accumulating Energy…”

“Hahaha! Do you think the path to becoming a Half-Immortal would be that easy? Condensing Energy and Accumulating Energy are merely terms that distinguish spiritual power and divide the size of one’s vessel.”

“…”

“However, your spiritual power should be similar. You’ve surpassed this uncle in a single moment. Enough to make me somewhat envious. That fellow called Geumri whom we met before must have done truly many unspeakable things. How many lives must he have driven to death to ripen a Death Thread with such spirit energy. Immeasurable Buddha.”

At those words filled with sorrow, Zhuge Munhyeon also wore a bitter expression.

The infant remains he had seen then.

Those who had to become fertilizer for the Death Thread before they could even speak, simultaneously with their birth…

‘I’ve gained this power through your lives.’

A sense of guilt brushed over him.

It felt as if he had used someone’s life to gain new power.

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

Yeongmun had said that immortals have no distinction between good and evil.

But then why did he, despite being an ascetic who had entered the path of immortality, speak of sorrow and wear expressions of pity?

“Uncle.”

“What is it?”

“If I someday reach the realm of immortals, will good and evil become meaningless?”

“Well. I haven’t walked that path yet either, so I can’t be certain, but I don’t think so. However, wouldn’t it be a matter of will?”

“Will?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t quite understand.”

“In Taoism, guiding evil toward good is called enlightenment .”

“I know.”

“If what one is born with never changes and continues for life, do you think enlightenment would be possible?”

“….”

“The environment one is placed in and the years one has lived are important, but what kind of heart one lives with is most important.”

“Heart?”

“Yes. A child raised under a beating father won’t necessarily grow up to be only a beating father. Depending on what they decide in their heart, they can live completely different lives.”

“Ah….”

“If one isn’t born with spiritual roots and living by instinct, but achieves through effort according to their own will, even if they become an immortal, couldn’t they distinguish between good and evil and live upholding righteousness?”

“…I see.”

“But I’m not sure about the results afterward either. People change according to the environment they’re in. When one reaches the supreme heights of immortality, if everyone around them is like that, they too have no choice but to change that way. Those in the immortal sect I belong to are also like that.”

“But… Uncle, you haven’t changed.”

“At least not now. Amitabha Buddha.”

Yeongmun wore a faint smile and recited the Buddhist invocation.

I understand.

The saying that it changes depending on what you decide in your heart.

Myself when I received demonic path education and believed it was right, and myself who was born in Zhuge and changed while feeling and learning new things.

Perhaps in the end, it’s a difference in how one accepts the environment they’re placed in.

Just look at Mujin.

Though I helped him, he’s making efforts not to be swayed by the Mad Soul Art and overcome it. Even Zhuge Munho, who was full of shortcomings in his childhood, is now properly fulfilling his duties as Young Family Head.

Even if immortals are in a world that humans can’t even imagine, it can change according to effort.

‘He’s someone with much to learn from. Even though he’s lived a much shorter life.’

Zhuge Munhyeon couldn’t help but smile as he looked at Yeongmun.

What’s so great about the time one has lived?

Even if someone is younger than you, if they have points to learn from, they’re no different from a teacher.

Then a worry suddenly came to mind.

“Uncle.”

“…?”

“How long have I been staying here?”

“About three days.”

“Three whole days….”

More time had passed than expected.

Time might be meaningless to immortals, but it’s different for humans.

I don’t know why that bastard has stayed only on Aenoe Mountain until now, but how can I know what that Half-Immortal bastard is doing?

I told them to evacuate down the mountain, but since he’s a creature that devours to gather spirit energy, I don’t know if that disaster will reach Dan Yeonhwa or the beasts of Beast Palace.

As the worry that arose grew bigger, I couldn’t just waste time indefinitely.

I’m also worried about injured Mujin’s condition….

‘Surely that guy hasn’t fallen into demonic nature?’

I did ask Dan Yeonhwa and Chiljangjja to take care of it, but worldly affairs are unpredictable.

“Hehe, you seem ready to leave.”

“Ah, well….”

As I smiled awkwardly, Yeongmun spoke in a gentle voice.

“Munhyeon.”

“Yes.”

“I taught you positive energy not only for the connections you have, but also for you to be cautious.”

“Cautious?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“As I said, I came to Yunnan following the immortal sect’s orders to find the Golden Bell Strange Immortal for persuasion and judgment.”

“….”

“The immortal realm is more complex than you think. Like human affairs, they enjoy taking sides between factions. Therefore, they often become very cruel toward those who don’t belong.”

“Why?”

“Because they become threats.”

“Threats?”

“The immortal realm ultimately follows the logic of power too, so if you’re not on my side, you must be eliminated to prevent future threats.”

“Ah….”

“Fights exist even in the hidden world you don’t know about, so I taught you positive energy hoping you could protect yourself. So until the choice between human and non-human is finished, hide it and don’t carelessly reveal it. Someday enemies you can’t handle might come looking for you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Zhuge Munhyeon finally understood Yeongmun’s intention.

Perhaps just as Yeongmun found the Golden Bell Strange Immortal in Yunnan, someone might come looking for me.

If I don’t become stronger, I’ll surely be destroyed by their mighty power.

Yeongmun is worried about that.

So he’s telling me to hide my spiritual power with positive energy until I become strong enough.

Really… how can I ever repay all this consideration?

“If someday your will is decided… go find Mount Putuo in the Zhouzhou Archipelago.”

“Mount Putuo?”

“My immortal sect Bosanjeong is there, so if you light a spiritual fire in the brazier at the mountain peak, there will be someone looking for you. Not Yeongmun, but Yeongbuhwa . If you reveal my true name, they will guide you to the immortal sect.”

“….”

Bosanjeong and Yeongbuhwa.

It was a name that seemed to explain why Yeongmun used talismans.

One who makes the flowers of the immortal path bloom through divine talismans.

But why is he speaking as if we’re parting immediately?

“Uncle.”

“Speak.”

“Won’t you come with me?”

When I asked with a puzzled expression, Yeongmun shook his head.

“I plan to cultivate here for a while.”

“Cultivate?”

“Yes.”

“Is it because of that Golden Bell Strange Immortal bastard?”

“That’s one reason, but because I keenly felt my own shortcomings.”

“Ah….”

“Since you want to go, don’t hesitate and go now.”

It seems this place really was ‘cultivation grounds’ as he had said.

At Yeongmun’s dismissal, Zhuge Munhyeon didn’t linger long.

Time was flowing even while I was contemplating.

“Will I be able to see you again?”

“How can fate be predictable? It connects briefly then separates, and if it connects again, we’ll meet somewhere. Amitabha Buddha.”

A Taoist remains a Taoist even while cultivating immortality.

Even his farewell is like that.

Since I’d made up my mind, I didn’t hesitate in contemplation.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Yes. However, avoid the Golden Bell Strange Immortal. He’s not yet at a level you can handle.”

“….”

Despite the final warning, Zhuge Munhyeon tucked the Silver Cold Staff behind his waist and turned around with a grin, saying nothing.

Golden Spirit Immortal.

I appreciate your words, but I can’t avoid that tiger bastard. It’s my nature to pay back what I’ve received.

Look forward to it, you tiger bastard.

I’ll show you—the completely changed me!

I’ll show you—the much stronger me!

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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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