Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 210

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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 210

How many times?

Or perhaps dozens, hundreds of times?

He beat it to a pulp.

Like a farmer threshing grain, sweat beaded on his forehead.

Of course, unlike the heart rejoicing in abundance, he wore the expression of a vicious demon.

Damn beast!

If not for Yeongmun, he would have been trapped on Aenoe Mountain for a hundred years.

But then.

Saaaaa…

Hwangyo’s body, beaten to a pulp, began to scatter like golden sand grains, or even smaller dust particles.

“Huh?”

As he stared in surprise, Yeongmun spoke.

“It’s dissolving and returning to nature.”

“Pardon?”

“Such is the natural way. Spiritual energy originates from nature’s essence, so upon death it returns to nature. Amitabha Buddha.”

Yeongmun calmly recited a prayer toward Hwangyo, whose heaven-given lifespan ended a bit early as he scattered.

From nature to nature…

I understand that much.

But what about my hide?

With a body the size of a house, it would take days just to skin it, and in winter it could make enough blankets for several houses – where’s my hide!?

Damn it!

They say a tiger leaves its hide when it dies!

Agh! Really, a creature that’s utterly useless both alive and dead…

Regrettable, but what can I do?

If that’s the natural order…

Though I’ve gained Half-Immortal level power, I still lack the strength to defy heaven.

After Hwangyo’s flesh scattered completely without a trace.

“A Golden Spirit Orb.”

Yeongmun spoke upon discovering the orb left behind all alone.

“A Golden Spirit Orb?”

“You must have heard the folk tale about fox orbs?”

“I’ve heard of them.”

“It’s similar to that.”

“What? Then fox orbs that supposedly cast Taoist arts really exist?”

“I said similar, not that they actually exist.”

“…”

That’s the same thing.

Zhuge Munhyeon wore a somewhat disgruntled expression, then suddenly remembered something and rummaged in his robes to pull out another orb.

“Ho? Isn’t that a Water Spirit Orb? Did you perhaps obtain it from that ascetic you met at Dongho Lake?”

“Yes.”

“Hehe, this is no ordinary connection. Already two spirit orbs for the Eight Trigrams Heaven Wheel… This is strange indeed. For you, who wasn’t born with spiritual roots, to enter the immortal path through acquired means, and for so many connections to overlap. It’s regrettable that my level is too low to divine your future.”

“…”

“Munhyeon, keep them well. When you someday reach enlightenment and awaken the power of Primordial Fire, they will surely be of great help.”

I understand roughly.

Though I don’t know what power the Golden Spirit Orb might have, I’ve roughly confirmed the Water Spirit Orb’s power.

Even if I can’t absorb it into my body right away, holding it in my mouth allows me to amplify that power through the Silver Cold Staff.

Since he says I can make it mine when my cultivation level rises, I’ll treasure it carefully.

“By the way, didn’t you see the warriors from Beast Palace on your way here?”

“Beast Palace?”

“Yes.”

“I saw them, but they won’t be able to come here.”

“Pardon?”

“Since the Baekryeong-gwa hasn’t fully ripened yet, there’s a barrier around here that separates the boundary between immortal and mortal.”

“Ah…”

It’s a type of formation technique.

No wonder the atmosphere around the waterfall felt strange.

“They’re probably wandering around the vicinity.”

“I see.”

“Let’s head back now. Though the Baekryeong-gwa seems to have a connection with you… it’s not suitable for you who hasn’t yet severed ties with the world.”

“Hmm…”

His words are right.

Baekryeong-gwa.

It requires a hundred years from consumption until it bears fruit again, and whoever consumes it is inevitably trapped within the barrier’s curse.

If life were infinite, it would be worth attempting.

It would mean having a space to cultivate for a hundred years without interference from others.

But for now, there’s more to lose.

I wouldn’t be able to attend my parents’ deathbeds, nor witness the glory of the Zhuge Family I worked so hard to rebuild.

Not yet.

Though ascension to immortality was my goal, I still have many attachments to this world.

At least I should see my parents’ faces once more.

“Uncle.”

“Yes?”

“What about you, Uncle?”

“What do you mean?”

“A hundred years… would that be alright for you?”

“You…?”

At those words, Yeongmun’s eyes widened.

Because he realized what Zhuge Munhyeon was trying to ask.

“This connection isn’t right for me. Also, perhaps the connection has reached you, Uncle. After all, you came looking for me at just the right time. Doesn’t Buddhism say so? That it’s all about timing and connection, that even where a leaf falls is determined by fate.”

“Hehe, you rascal…”

“What if you took the Baekryeong-gwa, Uncle? Since you’re already practicing asceticism, a hundred years should be fine for you, right? Seeing that even Hwangyo managed it.”

“It’s possible, but…”

“Then that settles it. It seems like you should take it, Uncle. You’re going to cultivate anyway.”

“…”

Yeongmun stared at Zhuge Munhyeon as if speechless.

How could he not be tempted?

A hundred years?

For ascetics, the length of time is meaningless.

Though they stand at the boundary between immortal and mortal, by taking the Baekryeong-gwa their lifespan would be different from before.

Moreover, he could raise his cultivation level in one stroke.

It was a moment of great opportunity.

However.

“You’re saying you’d give me a connection that came to you?”

I keep telling you it’s not a connection that came to me.”

“But…”

“Please don’t refuse. You didn’t teach me this and that expecting something in return.”

“…”

“Who knows? Perhaps when I someday cast off worldly connections and reach the immortal realm, we’ll meet again?”

At his playful smile with even a wink, Yeongmun burst into a hollow laugh.

“Hehe, well now. Was our meeting actually fate that came to me instead?”

“How could that be? How could worldly affairs be concentrated in one place? It must be fate that came to both Uncle and me. Amitabha.”

When Zhuge Munhyeon even chanted like a Taoist, Yeongmun couldn’t stop his broad smile.

“Oh, please teach me how to create barriers. I don’t know what kind of fellow I might encounter elsewhere.”

“Yes, yes. I shall do so.”

Yeongmun, nodding repeatedly, taught him the method of forming barriers.

It wasn’t as difficult as expected.

Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Eight Trigrams.

The basics weren’t different from formation techniques.

Perhaps formation techniques originally began by imitating the barriers of Immortals.

They probably changed so people could use them.

Wait, then wasn’t that fellow Kongming actually an Immortal too? He supposedly summoned the southeast wind…

“It will be difficult to get used to right away, so take this. It’s a talisman that activates barriers.”

Yeongmun took out a talisman from his bosom, explained how to activate it, and handed it to Zhuge Munhyeon.

“However, remember this. Good must never violate the taboo of harming people.”

“I understand. I have no such intention anyway. I’m the type whose pride gets hurt if it’s not done the same way.”

“Hehehe.”

Zhuge Munhyeon, who received the talisman and tucked it into his bosom, immediately turned around.

“I’ll be going now. I don’t want to get trapped together when Uncle takes the Baekryeong-gwa for no reason.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Take care of yourself. And I hope you gain much through cultivation.”

“I shall do so.”

“It was good to meet you, Uncle.”

“Hehe, Amitabha…”

After exchanging brief farewells with Yeongmun, Zhuge Munhyeon quickly left the waterfall.

There was no need to stay long.

Since the thread of fate wasn’t severed, it would connect again someday.

‘Hmm, is this the extent of the barrier?’

After walking for a while, Zhuge Munhyeon realized the nature of the energy flowing through the air was changing.

To his eyes it was the same continuous scenery, but to people outside the barrier it would be like having a curtain drawn. They probably wouldn’t even dream of what existed in the world within the barrier.

With that one step.

Zhuge Munhyeon crossed the boundary between immortal and mortal realms.

And through the Yang method he received from Yeongmun, he sealed his spirit energy and operated the Small Heaven Star Heart Method.

The world he always saw felt like something new after blinking his eyes.

It seemed he had grown accustomed to the world seen through spiritual sight.

And soon various sounds reached his ears.

The sound of wind brushing through leaves, rustling, and…

“It seems to be that way.”

He heard the conversation of those who couldn’t enter the barrier spread around the waterfall, and Zhuge Munhyeon quickly flew toward that place.

* * *

“Step aside!”

“I cannot do that.”

“Are you saying you’ll break your promise now?”

“Promise?”

“Didn’t the Palace Master clearly say so! That you had no interest in spirit beasts!”

“Th-that was…”

At the words of Monstrous Poison Gate Elder Ju Okmon, Dan Chuyeong’s face contorted.

-I have no interest in spirit beasts.

Those were words that came from his own mouth.

“Surely you won’t deny it?”

“Hmm…”

“We trusted the Palace Master’s words and opened the path for you. Isn’t that right? We also joined forces to catch the spirit beast.”

“…”

Ju Okmon pressed forward aggressively as if he had caught something to use against him.

Half was right and half was wrong.

It was true they opened the path, but if Dan Chuyeong had wanted to, he would have killed them all and broken through.

And joined forces?

Though they formed an encirclement, when he struggled against the spirit beast, far from helping, they immediately fled.

Only after seeing the spirit beast being chased away did they become greedy again and follow…

“Palace Master, if you act like this… we’ll have no choice but to use force.”

“What did you say?”

When Ju Okmon pressed with a fierce expression, Dan Chuyeong’s face twisted menacingly.

He couldn’t help but be angry.

No matter how different their affiliations, for a mere elder to oppose a Palace Master.

But the situation wasn’t good.

Having suffered internal injuries from the fight with the spirit beast, he couldn’t properly exert his strength.

Though the palace’s full power was deployed and they faced off in tense confrontation, if battle began, the damage would be severe.

What should he do?

Zhuge Munhyeon’s life or death hadn’t been confirmed yet.

Though he immediately gave chase, he couldn’t find where he had gone.

He wanted to blow off Ju Okmon’s head right away, but he couldn’t overdo it when he needed to prepare for what came after…

“Palace Master!”

With his urging, the aura of the Monstrous Poison Gate warriors extended outward.

It seemed a battle was unavoidable.

That’s when it happened.

“What are you all doing here?”

A welcome voice interjected between the boundary of the two confronting forces.

Both sides quickly turned their heads to look at the owner of the voice.

“Munhyeon!”

Zhuge Munhyeon.

He had returned alive again.

His clothes were no different from rags and his disheveled hair hung down messily, but his body seemed fine.

“Are you alright?”

“As you can see. But what are you doing? Standing face to face as if you’re about to fight.”

“Well, that’s…”

Perhaps because he couldn’t drive away the Monstrous Poison Gate, Dan Chuyeong frowned, and then.

“What happened to the spirit beast!”

Ju Okmon interjected into the conversation.

“Spirit beast?”

“That’s right! The spirit beast belongs to our Monstrous Poison Gate…”

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words with a heavily frowning face, Ju Okmon stopped talking abruptly like someone whose back of the neck was grabbed while walking well.

Bu-bullshit?

“Spirit beast or whatever, what business is it of yours?”

“…”

“I’m really hearing all kinds of nonsense.”

It’s simply absurd.

Who do these bastards think they are, talking about spirit beasts and whatnot?

The absurdity makes him shake his head involuntarily.

And at that sight, Ju Okmon gritted his teeth.

The young man who had fought the spirit beast.

He was the one who had brutally beaten and even chased away that spirit beast which had displayed such tremendous power.

He even looked perfectly fine, not injured anywhere.

Though he had acted tough knowing that Dan Chuyeong had suffered internal injuries, his body couldn’t help but shrink when facing this man.

He had already noticed that this man was much stronger than a Gang Qi martial artist.

But even so, he couldn’t back down.

“The Palace Master promised to hand over the spirit beast to us. So…”

“So what does that have to do with me? The Palace Master made that promise, not me.”

“…What?”

“I am Zhuge Munhyeon.”

“…”

“Why should I, who’s not even affiliated with Beast Palace, care about the Palace Master’s promise? Damn, I’m hearing all kinds of dog-like nonsense. If you’re greedy, go catch it yourself. You bastards who didn’t even show your noses during the fight… Tsk tsk.”

As Zhuge Munhyeon openly clicked his tongue in displeasure, Ju Okmon frowned and said.

“Young brother, your words are too harsh.”

“So what if they’re harsh? Want to fight once? Then go ahead and do it.”

“…”

What’s there to discuss with words between martial artists?

If you’re annoyed, come at me.

You bastards aren’t worth the grace of the Silver Cold Staff, so I’ll deal with you with my fists.

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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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