The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 96
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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 96: Muganjok (2)
Demonic arts are usually absorption-type martial techniques.
Not all of them, but typically they work by absorbing the opponent’s vital essence to cultivate one’s own internal energy.
They’re easy to learn and quick to achieve results.
Stealing what others have accomplished – how convenient is that?
They’re incomparable to the slow-progressing martial arts of the Righteous Faction.
However, the nature of demonic arts.
While easy to learn initially, once you reach a certain level, you stagnate and can’t progress further.
Though internal energy accumulates quickly, it’s unstable like a sandcastle and causes rampage at critical moments.
The slightest deviation leads to qi deviation.
You get consumed by demonic energy and become a madman.
In contrast, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art that only the Demonic Cult leader could learn compensated for the weaknesses of absorption-type demonic arts, making it comparable to the supreme techniques of the Righteous Faction.
But the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was still essentially a demonic art.
And so Cheonma went berserk.
At Sipmandaesan, where the final battle between the Righteous Faction and Demonic Cult took place.
Woooooooooooooo…
A massive gray translucent barrier enveloped the entire Demonic Cult Headquarters.
Inside it, a storm of demonic energy raged.
All the martial artists within the barrier withered like mummies.
The barrier moved along with Cheonma’s footsteps.
Righteous Faction warriors, Cult Members – there was no distinction.
They were all having their internal energy stolen by Cheonma.
Danggumak was also inside that absorption barrier.
He too had almost all his Toxic Spirit’s poison energy sucked away by Cheonma.
His poison arts perfected to the 10th level were of no help whatsoever.
“Gunak, Danggumak! I can’t tell you how grateful I am. Thanks to you leading all this prey to me, I’ve mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”
“You damn bastard…”
“I should have devoured them all from the start. Kahahaha! Good! So very good.”
Among those Cheonma had devoured were his own wife and children.
A monster that ate even his own offspring.
And that wasn’t all?
Even the loyal retainers who had served him closely and devoted their complete loyalty.
He had gone completely insane.
His entire body swelled with the absorbed internal energy, then deflated, then swelled again and returned to normal.
Already several transformations.
He was no longer human.
He was a demon.
A fiend.
Something had to be done.
But it was hopeless.
His hidden weapons crumbled before even getting close to Cheonma, and the poison Danggumak was so confident in didn’t work either.
The mastery of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Though he had become a madman, his body remained intact.
Even after absorbing so many different types of internal energy.
“I will become a demon god!”
“Stop spouting nonsense! Who’s going to let that happen?”
“Kekeke, go ahead and struggle, pitiful venomous insect!”
It was hopeless.
The Demonic Cult Headquarters was packed with corpses, leaving no room to step.
If he hadn’t evacuated the retainers and acquaintances he’d brought, they would have met the same fate.
Danggumak’s body withered like a mummy.
He wanted to escape the absorption barrier but couldn’t move at all.
“Haaaa…”
His vision grew dim.
He had come this far determined to avenge the Dang Clan family members killed by Cheonma, but now he was exhausted.
‘…Yes, this is as far as I go.’
Was he afraid of death?
He only regretted the unfinished revenge.
‘I did what I could. Let me rest a bit.’
That’s when it happened.
Twitch!
The Toxic Spirit moved.
‘…Huh?’
The Toxic Spirit had shriveled to its limit.
But it was moving?
‘Am I seeing things?’
Twitch, twitch!
‘Ah!’
It wasn’t an illusion.
Ziiiiiiing!
The Toxic Spirit kept reacting.
And then.
Pababababababat!
It exploded massively.
“Urgh!”
The shock of the Toxic Spirit’s explosion felt in his danjeon.
Why in this dying situation?
Could the Heavenly Deities be giving him a chance?
The Toxic Spirit shattered.
At the same time, it merged together.
Twitch! Twitch! Twitch! Twitch…
It writhed again.
Pababababat!
Another massive explosion.
Each time, abundant poison energy surged through his entire body.
When the Toxic Spirit exploded, his crown also burst open with a pop!
Danggumak, who had been lying collapsed, suddenly stood up.
The circulation of energy.
Heavenly energy flowed in through his crown and out through his soles into the Underground.
The Toxic Spirit was alive and breathing.
It moved actively as if it had its own consciousness.
Moreover, he could feel a divine energy.
‘The Toxic Spirit has changed.’
What should he call it?
‘…Toxic Spirit?’
The demonic energy still raged.
The demonic energy seeped into the Toxic Spirit.
At the same time, it was broken down and analyzed.
Danggumak slowly raised his hand.
Sssssssss!
The main base of the Demonic Cult, Sipmandaesan.
All kinds of weapons scattered together with corpses.
Following Danggumak’s gesture, the metal blades quickly rose into the air.
Swish swish swish! Swish swish swish swish swish!
“Hmm? You….”
Cheonma looked at Danggumak with surprised eyes, then as if sensing something, raised his head to look at the sky.
‘What is that? Dark clouds?’
But they weren’t clouds.
They were all weapons.
Swords, spears, blades, axes, daggers, throwing stars, needles, hidden blades….
So many they looked like clouds.
“What the?”
In an instant!
Crash crash crash crash crash crash crash!
Those weapons poured down toward Cheonma like a waterfall.
The metal pieces struck Cheonma’s protective energy.
Clang clang clang clang clang clang!
They shattered to pieces upon contact.
“Hehehe, not even close. Do you think you can wound my body?”
However, the falling metal pieces were endless.
Even the metal fragments of broken weapons rose back into the sky.
They fell, broke, the broken pieces rose again and fell, then broke again.
Whether broken or fragmented, whether turned to powder, they rose like a waterspout.
After continuing this way, what remained were tiny metal fragments.
Metal dust infused with extreme poison.
Rain began to fall.
Patter patter patter patter!
Each tiny metal dust particle was coated with energy.
Coated with energy, they bloomed like silver flowers.
A rain of flowers filling the sky.
Only then did Cheonma’s expression change.
“Th, this!”
A storm of energy.
This was no ordinary matter.
Pierce pierce pierce pierce pierce pierce!
The barrier of absorption that Cheonma had deployed shattered.
His protective energy also cracked.
Crack! Crack crack!
Through those gaps, countless metal dust energy flower rain fell.
Pierce pierce pierce pierce pierce pierce!
The moment the energy rain touched Cheonma’s body.
Sizzle! Sizzzzzzle!
It burrowed into his skin and began melting it.
“Aaaaaargh!”
Finally, a scream burst from Cheonma’s mouth.
He tried to raise his hands to block it, but how could that be blocked?
His forearms began melting first.
The poison of Toxic Spirit, against which even immunity to all poisons was powerless.
It flowed down like melting ice.
His arms melted away, his torso melted, and finally his head melted too.
That was the last moment of Cheonma that Dok-seon Danggumak remembered.
* * *
Among the hells of Hwangcheon-gye, the most heinous place was Muganjok.
Once trapped here, escape was absolutely impossible.
That’s why it was also called Mujeogeong, the bottomless pit.
Though it was a physical space, it wasn’t a place one could easily enter or exit.
Like Infinite Space, it was a place where dimensions were separated.
Therefore, one could only enter and exit through a ‘door’, that is, a gate.
Whirrrr!
Gangrim Chasa used the authority granted to him to open the gate to Muganjok.
“You can enter through here.”
Handing a lit candle to Danggumak.
“Take this candle. You must come out before this candle burns completely. Otherwise, even an Immortal will be trapped there.”
“Understood.”
Danggumak was about to enter through the gate but stopped and asked.
“Cheonma… does he have a physical form? Is he the same as before?”
“He has a form, since a body is needed to inflict pain. But it won’t be the appearance of Cheonma that you knew. He’s trapped in a manufactured body.”
“Then how should I find him?”
“Once you enter, the candle will guide you, so don’t worry.”
“Next time we meet, let’s have some chicken and beer.”
“Chicken and beer? What’s that?”
“It’s something that exists.”
Danggumak entered Muganjok.
Swoosh!
Pitch-black darkness.
The only thing emitting light was the single candle Danggumak held.
The candlelight was protecting him from Muganjok’s influence.
A path was visible ahead.
Three branching paths extending in different directions.
The candlelight tilted to the left.
‘It’s telling me to go left.’
If he moved right, it would point right.
If he stayed still, it would point center.
After walking for a long time, he discovered a bizarrely moving life form at a dead end.
A naked, emaciated body with not a single hair on it.
“Hiiiek!”
When he brought the candle closer, the strange figure was startled and shrank back.
“…Cheonma?”
Stop!
The strange figure stopped moving and looked at Danggumak.
“Danggumak….”
“Yes, it’s me.”
It was indeed Cheonma.
Though he was trapped in a manufactured body.
He silently observed Danggumak’s appearance for a while.
“…Don’t tell me you, you’ve ascended to immortality?”
“That’s right. I ascended to the Immortal Realm and received the immortal name Dok-seon.”
“Hehe, hehehehehe, hihihihihik!”
Cheonma let out a bizarre sound.
“Hehehe, an Immortal, this is maddening. So unfair.”
“What?”
“Seeing you become an Immortal is more painful than Muganjok itself.”
Danggumak tilted his head and said.
“Unfair? Where could you find anything more fair than this? You filthy crazy murderer bastard!”
“What about you then? You killed more than I did. So why are you an Immortal while I’m in Muganjok?”
“Well, there must be some kind of rule to it.”
“….”
A moment of flowing silence.
“What’s your reason for coming here? Did you come to mock me?”
“Just, I heard you were in Muganjok and came to see how you were doing.”
“Your impression?”
“You seem to be doing very well, which makes me feel good. So much so that I want to keep coming to check on you.”
His face twisted mercilessly.
What a thrilling moment this was.
I should have come earlier.
“For an Immortal, you sure get around well.”
“That’s what Immortals do originally, it’s a job of leisure and eating.”
“So it seems. But what time is it now?”
“Time? Is there such a thing as time in Muganjok?”
“I mean the time displayed on your wristwatch.”
“…What?”
What is he talking about?
Did I hear that correctly?
Danggumak was startled.
“A Rolex, I see. I heard they’re expensive, never thought I’d actually see one.”
“Ah….”
What the hell?
How does Cheonma know about Rolex?
‘Did news from the Immortal Realm reach Muganjok?’
Since even the Hwangcheon-gye messenger knew about it, it wasn’t impossible but….
“Danggumak, you also met the same soul from another world. Earth, I mean.”
“….”
Words that came from Cheonma’s mouth.
I almost screamed.
The same soul from another world.
And Earth.
“…You too?”
“Yes, me too. And you too.”
What happened to him also happened to Cheonma.
“Wh, when?”
“It’s been quite a while.”
“…Why you?”
“How would I know? You experienced it too, so you know well. Souls connect with each other without being able to stop it.”
“….”
“Moreover, we encountered each other twice. It was truly shitty.”
Does this even make sense?
Cheonma also met a soul like his own.
“It was a fascinating world though. Airplanes and trains, guns and missiles, nuclear weapons that destroy the world, and even a system. Kekeke.”
It was certain.
He knew everything.
“You know what’s even funnier? My God! Who would have known that magi would exist too? There were even Mages, though they absorbed essence through primitive methods.”
He knew about every situation on Earth.
It meant souls had achieved unity.
Then?
“Did he also take everything of yours?”
“The Cheonma Divine Art? Of course he took it. Along with all the martial arts of the Demonic Cult.”
This is serious.
Someone like Cheonma was born on Earth too.
No, they would already be existing.
Was it just Cheonma and himself?
There might be more similar cases.
“But you know what I’m really curious about? I understand that you’re in the same situation as me, but how exactly did that watch on your wrist happen? Can you bring items from that side?”
Should I tell him this?
Not a chance.
“I made it with magic.”
“Kekeke, don’t make me laugh. Stop with the clumsy lies.”
Should I have left the watch behind?
Anyway, I need to prepare to warn Tae-ju.
That there’s a soul like Cheonma on Earth.
“Tell me. How does it work? How do items cross over?”
“Shut up! I’ve seen enough, so I’m leaving now. I hope you rot and decay in here forever. I’ll be enjoying myself in the Immortal Realm, and when I get bored, I’ll visit again.”
Though there was still much time left before the candle would burn out completely, Danggumak turned around without hesitation.
“Wait! Danggumak! Give me just a little more time.”
“…Why?”
“I have a request.”
“I don’t think we’re in a relationship to grant each other favors.”
“It’s not a request for you, but for the other world’s you.”
“What?”
What scheme is this bastard trying to pull now?
“Tell him. Tell him to definitely kill Earth’s Cheonma.”
“…Why?”
“Hehehe, two Cheonmas, absolutely unacceptable.”
Cheonma gritted his teeth and continued speaking.
“Do you know how disgusting it feels to face the same soul? It’s like a nightmare. More terrible than Muganjok. Don’t you feel the same?”
“….”
How should I take this?
“That bastard is exactly like me. He mocked me. Asking if Cheonma died to mere poison and toxins, then saying he’s the true Cheonma?”
They’re exactly the same bastards.
The same souls criticizing and mocking each other.
“Two soul connections occurred in this Mujeogeong. Each time, he laughed at me.”
Cheonma crawling on all fours like a beast, approaching Danggumak.
“I’ll tell you everything about him. Tell them to definitely kill him. One Cheonma is enough!”
Truly an unexpected attitude from Cheonma.
Danggumak recalled when his soul first connected with Tae-ju.
Having the same soul exist in another world was a very fascinating experience, incredibly welcoming, and heartwarming.
So he wanted to give something.
Just a heart wishing for their well-being.
Tae-ju felt the same way.
“Weren’t you happy when you met the other world’s you?”
“Kekeke, happy my ass. I got goosebumps and chills. If he had been in front of me, I would have devoured him. I’m furious that bastard took everything in my head.”
I can imagine it.
The situation that unfolded when those two bastards became aware of each other’s existence.
Intense self-loathing.
Spitting while lying down.
The same souls hating each other.
They’re really ridiculous bastards.
“Then tell me. Who is the soul from Earth that’s the same as you, and where do they live?”
“Kekekek, you’ll need to hurry. If another soul connection occurs, the other side will also notice today’s meeting.”
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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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