Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 261

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

Chapter 261

Mount Tai.

As one of the Five Sacred Mountains, there’s a reason the Hwangbo Clan established their base beneath it.

The place commonly called Dongak has been spiritually blessed since ancient times, with excellent earth energy.

According to Taoist scriptures stored in Wudang Sect’s Taiji Cave, there are stories of frequent Bongseon (heavenly offering) ceremonies being held at its peak.

“Well, there’s no way a mountain like this wouldn’t have an Immortal lurking around.”

Zhuge Munhyeon smiled wryly at the deepening mountain scenery before him.

These so-called Immortals.

Perhaps these bastards all hide in famous mountains or lakes without exception, he thought.

After all, cultivation goes better when spiritual energy is abundant.

Zhuge Munhyeon briefly stopped walking and looked up at the mountain ridge.

He could have mobilized people like he did at Aenoe Mountain.

Perhaps that would be faster for finding the Immortal bastard.

But these are beings who mock even the Gang Qi realm that martial artists call the highest level and yearn for endlessly.

For instance, wasn’t he himself someone who, though not yet having recovered his past martial prowess, handled Hwangbo Yun like a child the moment he used spiritual energy?

While it’s taboo for Immortals to cross into human territory, what if it’s the reverse?

Even a mutt will bare its teeth and bark when someone enters its territory, so would they really let it slide? Especially when they’re bastards who value human life less than flies or mosquitoes?

Impossible.

The damage would be tremendous, and there’s no way he could protect all those areas.

That’s why he climbed the mountain alone while everyone was focused on meetings about the Hwangbo Clan’s aftermath.

“But what if there’s more than one?”

That’s his biggest concern.

He nearly died fighting that inexperienced Aenoe Mountain tiger cub Hwangyo.

Power is relative – he’s not afraid of any number of martial artists at the Gang Qi level, but even one bastard who’s reached the Immortal realm is burdensome.

However.

“I can’t just leave that damn bastard alone.”

There’s no need to be scared before even meeting them.

He’ll search alone.

If there are more than one or two, or if they’re too strong to overcome…

“I’ll think about that when the time comes.”

Strategy requires knowing your opponent first.

You can’t be certain of anything when you know nothing.

Besides, he’s already thought of methods to deal with and find the bastard to some extent.

Of course, preparation is necessary.

The Dongho Lake ascetic had water spiritual power, and the Aenoe Mountain Hwangyo had innate metal spiritual power before absorbing earth spiritual power.

The way to deal with them is to utilize the mystery of opposing elements.

There’s sufficient chance of victory.

Because Eunhangon has the ability to amplify that power.

“It was the Gon trigram, right?”

Zhuge Munhyeon looked at Eunhangon while retracing the previous situation.

When he began fighting Hwangbo Yun at the Taesan Foothills Training Ground, Eunhangon’s Gon trigram had glowed.

Gon is earth.

It’s power originating from earth spiritual energy.

The same power that dead Hwangyo bastard gained by devouring Baekryeongwa.

Fire spiritual energy strengthens earth spiritual energy, and earth spiritual energy strengthens metal spiritual energy. Wood spiritual energy suppresses earth spiritual energy, and earth spiritual energy suppresses water spiritual energy.

Zhuge Munhyeon took out two orbs he’d been carefully keeping in his chest.

Jinryeongju and the water spiritual orb.

If the bastard’s power is earth spiritual energy, then metal spiritual energy becomes stronger.

Water spiritual energy would be suppressed by the bastard’s power, so it’s not good. Also, in case of emergency, it should be saved as backup to amplify wood spiritual energy.

“For now, it’s Jinryeongju.”

Zhuge Munhyeon put Jinryeongju in his mouth.

Soon a refreshing sensation spread deep into his body and his mind became clear.

“Now… I just need to make the bastard come looking for me?”

Zhuge Munhyeon circulated Yang energy and breathed through the Taesik method.

As his heart beat rapidly and transmitted spiritual energy to his limbs, his eyes glowed transparently.

He became detached.

Emotions were restrained and worries and concerns disappeared, making his mind as calm as still water.

Wooooong!

Eunhangon in his hand began screaming excitedly and emitting a subtle light.

The world seen through spiritual sight always feels new.

Zhuge Munhyeon slowly spread his spiritual energy.

Though he couldn’t properly use the barrier techniques Yeongmun taught him yet, he could sufficiently hide his power through formation barriers.

But why bother?

It’s difficult for him to find the bastard in this situation.

So he needs to lure the bastard out.

This is the bastard who used the Hwangbo father and son to kidnap those born with spiritual roots.

He must have devoured them.

He must have increased his spiritual power by feeding on them.

Then he won’t be able to resist coming after him.

Their instinct for gluttony.

That Hwangyo bastard went crazy too.

Regretting letting him escape, he endured for days looking down the cliff.

If it weren’t for the barrier Yeongmun deployed, he might have chased him to the very end of Manjangdan-ae.

“Hm?”

But just as his spiritual energy began spreading out, he spotted a strangely shaped creature in his vision.

A snake?

And one that contained spiritual energy too.

But… it’s following him?

This tiny thing has no fear.

Don’t tell me you’re also coveting my spiritual energy?

“Hah, all sorts of things are clinging to me.”

Since it’s accumulated spiritual energy, it probably has an inner core, but what help could such a worthless creature that barely qualifies as a spiritual being provide?

Carelessly picking up just anything will only bring trouble without gain.

Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled and lightly flicked his finger.

The creature, sensing danger and startled, tried to flee quickly, but there was no way it could escape.

It was so weak that discussing opposing or complementary elements was meaningless.

Thwack!

The creature’s head exploded and it writhed frantically before going limp.

Simultaneously, its weak spiritual energy scattered.

“Well then… shall we go?”

The moment he expelled through his entire body’s pores the breath he’d drawn through Taesik, Zhuge Munhyeon lightly kicked off the ground.

His soaring body flew toward the mountain peak like being carried by a gentle breeze.

Of course, since he didn’t know Immortals’ movement techniques, his movements followed the Zhuge Family’s divine technique, Cheongi Sinhaeng.

There would be no problem.

Form is ultimately just a vessel to contain energy, so he just needed to fill it with spiritual power instead of internal energy.

Whoooosh!

Zhuge Munhyeon’s form transformed like a gust of wind and began traversing Mount Tai by stepping on tree branches.

So that his energy would remain throughout the entire mountain.

Come on, sniff around like a dog and come find me, you bastard.

This damn Immortal bastard.

* * *

The Medical Sage who had returned to his residence was sitting in meditation.

Normally, he would have been lying down, operating the Snake Swallow Refinement Technique to digest the spirit energy he had consumed not long ago.

It was a type of spirit energy digestion method, where instead of immediately absorbing swallowed prey, he would seal it within his body and slowly dissolve it.

This was an innate cultivation technique that allowed him to completely absorb all the spirit energy possessed by his prey.

But after seeing that bastard called Zhuge Munhyeon, he could hardly fall asleep.

The tremendous amount of spirit energy he possessed.

Just thinking about it made his heart race and his mouth water.

Though he had already reached the realm of Half-Immortals, his innate gluttonous instincts could not be controlled.

If I could make it mine…

But he had to be patient and wait.

If he moved rashly and his activities were exposed, he could find himself in an uncomfortable situation in many ways.

So once the commotion at the Hwangbo Clan Estate was completely settled, he would go out into the world to find that bastard.

Fortunately, that bastard was no longer revealing his spirit energy.

‘What method did he use exactly?’

I’m curious.

Not only the spirit energy he possesses, but also the method he uses is tempting.

If I could just learn that, I could go out into the world without worrying about being tracked by those hunter bastards.

I could take the prey scattered everywhere and increase my spiritual power more quickly…

Though he was getting impatient, that bastard was no different from being in the palm of his hand anyway.

He had already attached his spirit servant to that bastard’s side.

It would monitor his every move, so he could track his location wherever he was.

As long as that bastard didn’t reveal his spirit energy, there was no way he’d be caught.

“Let’s see, what is this bastard doing.”

The Medical Sage closed his eyes and concentrated his mind to share consciousness with his spirit servant.

Soon, the scene the spirit servant was seeing appeared in his mind.

‘Huh?’

It was Mount Tai.

The bastard he thought would be at the Hwangbo Clan Estate had entered Mount Tai.

And the moment he reached deep into the mountains, he revealed massive spirit energy.

He could feel that energy.

But then… Crack!

Suddenly, the connection with the spirit servant was severed.

“Ugh!”

Spirit servants are all well and good, but this is the problem.

If they die or get hurt while sharing consciousness, you feel that moment’s pain directly.

His head felt like it would split from the sharp pain.

Displeasure washed over him.

But soon, bewilderment grew even stronger.

Why was he alone in Mount Tai?

Meanwhile, even without going through the spirit servant, that bastard’s spirit energy could be clearly felt.

He was rapidly searching through all of Mount Tai.

Why?

Why wasn’t he hiding his spirit energy?

There was no way to know what his true intentions were.

Just when he was beyond bewildered and feeling absurd, the bastard’s spirit energy felt so close began to stimulate his gluttonous instincts.

Saliva pooled and dripped onto the floor.

How could he endure this?

He was already suppressing the urge to make him his own with extreme patience.

“Hehehe, you’ve come looking for your own death. Fine, I’ll make you part of me this time.”

He could no longer hold back.

The moment he finished his meditation and stood up, his form shot out of his residence like a blue flash.

Like snake movement, traces of rapidly weaving left and right and slithering followed Zhuge Munhyeon’s spiritual power.

* * *

“Huh?”

Zhuge Munhyeon’s movement stopped as he had been traversing Mount Tai in all directions, hoping that bastard would find him.

Where he turned his head to look, chilling spirit energy was approaching at high speed.

It was getting closer and closer.

It was such an intense feeling that it sent shivers through his entire body.

“That Immortal bastard.”

It was definitely him.

The culprit behind the incident at the Hwangbo Clan Estate.

That bastard was undoubtedly approaching while drooling after sensing his energy.

‘He’s incomparably more stable than Hwangyo.’

The difference in power was immediately apparent.

Hwangyo was violent and crude.

He felt like an ordinary mountain beast focused on instinct.

But the Immortal bastard of Mount Tai had not only intensity but also sharpness like a well-forged blade.

If compared to martial artists, the difference in their realms would naturally be like heaven and earth.

Generally, the standard called Chung-Hyeon-Tan-Gang is just a classification based on internal energy.

The degree of power possessed.

But that’s not everything.

People often call Tan Qi the peak realm, but that’s only when you can skillfully use the power you possess.

If you have power but lack the experience and training to use it fully, that’s like putting horseshoes on a dog or a pearl necklace on a pig.

That’s often the case with bastards who claim to be disciples of prestigious families or schools.

They eat good things morning and evening and learn their family’s excellent martial arts, but lack training and experience, so they can’t display martial prowess matching their power.

That’s how Hwangyo was.

Though born with spiritual roots and gained tremendous power, the bastard who had only lived on Aenoe Mountain didn’t know how to properly use that power.

But this bastard has clearly finished his refinement.

Each and every one of his moves will be sharp.

“Damn, this won’t be easy.”

Zhuge Munhyeon gripped the Silver Cold Staff tightly and chewed the Jinryeongju in his mouth, sensing the bastard’s presence approaching nearby.

In case he might attack immediately.

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