The Chaotic Immortal Wood Sect: Immortal Cultivation War - Chapter 36
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
36. Avatar Stage Monk Man Song
“Reveal your identity. What are you so afraid of that you hide it?”
The Chief Elder of the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect, realizing that the Blue Wood Academy monk’s cultivation level was high, asked about his identity with a stern expression.
At this, the monks from Cheon Gwang Moon and Mujin Sound Temple also glared at that monk with interrogating eyes.
“So my not revealing my identity is shameful, but you acting shamelessly is acceptable? Withdraw while I’m giving you a chance. I’m only giving you this opportunity because you belong to the Five Great Sects representing Nok Province. However, the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect stays since our business isn’t finished.”
But rather than reveal his identity, the Blue Wood Academy monk instead rebuked the monks from the other three sects.
Then the monks from Cheon Gwang Moon and Mujin Sound Temple hesitated for a moment, exchanged glances with each other, and began to turn around and leave.
“Th-this!”
“How could…”
With that, the situation became dire for the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect monks who were now confronting the Blue Wood Academy monks alone.
The Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect’s representative was Chief Elder Yang Ji Seong, and below him was training instructor Dam Yeol, who were at late Spirit Body stage and mid Spirit Body stage respectively.
Besides them, they had brought five Foundation Establishment monks, but they wouldn’t be much help in terms of combat power.
Blue Wood Academy had Elder Eung Ryeong who was between early and mid Spirit Body stage, a monk he called senior brother, and an unidentified monk presumed to be at Avatar Stage.
So for the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect, this was a crisis where they could be annihilated on the spot.
“You!”
At that moment, the Blue Wood Academy’s Avatar Stage monk who had hidden his identity pointed his index finger at Dam Yeol.
“…”
Dam Yeol, who had been singled out, was at a loss and couldn’t say anything.
“You persecuted our academy’s Elder Eung Ryeong, ultimately forcing him to flee in spirit form, didn’t you? As a result, Elder Eung Ryeong suffered great losses in many ways. What do you think about this?”
The Avatar Stage monk asked Dam Yeol like a cat toying with a mouse.
To this, Dam Yeol bit his lower lip and answered.
“We each simply did our best from our respective positions. I deeply regret that my insufficient skills allowed Elder Eung Ryeong’s spirit to escape.”
“Dam Yeol!”
At Dam Yeol’s answer, Yang Ji Seong beside him was startled and grabbed his sleeve.
“Kahahaha. You’re a bold one. Yes, you’re right. You did your best with what you could do.”
“That’s correct.”
To the Avatar Stage monk’s question, Dam Yeol replied calmly.
“Good. You worked hard.”
Swooooosh!
Crunch crunch crunch! Crack crack crack crack!
“Aaaahhh! Aaaahhh!”
“E-Elder, please show mercy! This could lead to an all-out war between our sect and Blue Wood Academy!”
The moment the Avatar Stage monk said “you worked hard,” red vines with green leaves grew from thin air and wrapped around Dam Yeol, squeezing him.
The force was so strong that Dam Yeol’s body instantly began turning into minced meat, and his agonizing screams echoed pitifully from the pain.
It was then that Yang Ji Seong, the Chief Elder of the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect, stepped forward.
He tried to save Dam Yeol’s life, saying that the Avatar Stage monk’s actions could escalate into an all-out war between the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect and Blue Wood Academy.
“That fellow did his best in his own way, so shouldn’t I also do my duty as an elder of the sect? Are you saying my actions are wrong?”
At this, the Avatar Stage monk asked Yang Ji Seong as if questioning him.
“…”
When asked if his actions were wrong, Yang Ji Seong couldn’t respond.
Dam Yeol had already harmed Elder Eung Ryeong, so how could he defend what Dam Yeol was experiencing now?
“If this matter can be settled with just this one fellow, wouldn’t that be beneficial for your sect too? Or perhaps you want me to kill all of you?”
“Th-that’s not it. It’s just that since Elder Eung Ryeong is fortunately safe, I’m asking if you could open a path for Instructor Dam Yeol as well.”
“Can the grudges of the cultivation world be settled with such simple exchanges? Do you think that would be proper accounting?”
“No. I absolutely don’t think that way. However, if you spare Instructor Dam Yeol’s life, we will offer appropriate gifts.”
“Gifts?”
“Since someone who has newly reached Avatar Stage has appeared in Blue Wood Academy, shouldn’t we properly offer congratulations?”
“It seems you’ve figured out who I am?”
“Just looking at the clothes you’re wearing, I could guess. In Blue Wood Academy, who else besides Elder Man Song could carry such a deep pine fragrance?”
“Hmm? You really figured out who I am?”
At Yang Ji Seong’s words, Blue Wood Academy’s Avatar Stage monk Man Song showed a gesture of stopping his movements as if surprised.
Then after a moment.
“Hahahaha. Yes, yes. I am indeed Blue Wood Academy’s troublemaker Man Song. Haha.”
Slither slither. Slither slither!
“I thank Elder Man Song for his mercy.”
Monk Man Song laughed heartily as if pleased that his identity had been recognized, and acknowledged that he was indeed Man Song.
At the same time, he made the vines that had been wrapped around Dam Yeol’s body disappear, and from within emerged Dam Yeol’s spirit form.
Dam Yeol’s physical body inside the vines had already become useless with blood and flesh mixed with bone, and only his spirit form had survived and endured to the end.
When the vines disappeared, his spirit gained freedom, and Dam Yeol immediately expressed gratitude for Man Song’s mercy.
“You all withdraw now. And you, don’t forget the gifts you mentioned.”
Monk Man Song waved his hand dismissively toward the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect monks, and also reminded Yang Ji Seong about the gifts.
At this, Yang Ji Seong politely bowed to show he would comply, then led the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect monks away.
“Now then, shall I take a look at you two?”
Right after that, Monk Man Song’s gaze turned toward Kang Hyeon and Hwang In Deok standing side by side in the manor courtyard.
***
“How strange. I heard for certain that he was a Heavenly Spirit Root holder, but now it’s Triple Spirit Root? No, is it Dual Spirit Root?”
Monk Man Song muttered while casting his gaze toward Kang Hyeon and In Deok.
Even while listening to his words, Kang Hyeon and In Deok didn’t dare raise their heads to look at him.
This was because the aura they felt from Monk Man Song was so intense that they couldn’t act carelessly.
“By some means, they created identity tokens showing they possessed triple spiritual roots here in Cheongmyeongbangsi. That’s why I had quite a hard time finding those bastards.”
Monk Eung Ryeong said this to Monk Man Song, explaining why it took time for him to find Kang Hyeon and In Deok.
And his words also contained the meaning of confirming once again that Kang Hyeon and In Deok were originally talents with Heavenly Spirit Roots.
“Let me see.”
At Elder Eung Ryeong’s words, Monk Man Song projected intense spiritual consciousness toward Kang Hyeon and Hwang In Deok.
“Mmm.”
At that moment, Kang Hyeon felt his spiritual consciousness lightly crumble and let out a short groan.
“That fellow, quite impressive indeed.”
At Kang Hyeon’s appearance, Monk Man Song exclaimed softly with an amused voice.
Though Kang Hyeon’s spiritual consciousness crumbled like an eggshell against the Avatar Stage monk’s spiritual consciousness, if this was an achievement made at the Early Qi Accumulation realm, how could one disparage it?
So Monk Man Song examined Kang Hyeon’s spiritual root even more carefully.
“Mmgh.”
Kang Hyeon groaned, feeling instinctive rejection toward Monk Man Song’s spiritual consciousness sweeping through his Mental Space.
But fortunately, that time wasn’t very long.
“How strange. Wood-Metal-Water and Wood-Metal-Lightning. But this Metal-Lightning side has them bound as one, with a Lightning-Metal attribute spiritual root and a Wood spiritual root. And this side has a Wood spiritual root at the center with Metal and Water spiritual roots, so this must be fake?”
Monk Man Song discovered that among Hwang In Deok’s spiritual roots, Metal and Lightning were one, and saw it as dual spiritual roots with an added Wood attribute spiritual root.
And he assessed that Kang Hyeon had Metal and Water spiritual roots along with a Wood attribute spiritual root.
But according to Elder Eung Ryeong’s words, both were originally single spiritual root Heavenly Spirit Root possessors, so the other spiritual roots must have been artificially created in between.
“Interesting. If I had looked casually, I would have certainly seen both as having triple spiritual root qualifications. And even looking closely, I would have seen one as triple spiritual roots and one as dual spiritual roots.”
Man Song said this while stroking his chin.
“Are you saying even the Third Grand Elder finds it difficult to distinguish clearly?”
The monk whom Elder Eung Ryeong had called senior brother asked Monk Man Song.
This was because Monk Man Song had risen to Avatar Stage and ascended to the position of Blue Wood Academy’s third Grand Elder.
“Indeed. I don’t know what method they used, but to deceive even my eyes to this extent is remarkable.”
Monk Man Song nodded.
“My, what skillful fellows they are. With such skills, they would be quite useful to our Blue Wood Academy as well.”
Elder Eung Ryeong’s senior brother, Elder Bang Su, looked down at Kang Hyeon and In Deok with a satisfied expression as if pleased.
“Right. Since Eung Ryeong has already decided to accept those two as disciples, I might as well oversee a simple initiation ceremony while we’re at it.”
Then Monk Man Song also spoke as if he would finish the matter while they were at it, leading the group down to the manor’s courtyard in front of Kang Hyeon and In Deok.
At this, Kang Hyeon and In Deok’s waists bent a little more than before.
“Normally it would be proper to choose an auspicious day to offer ceremonies to the Heaven and Earth Laws and announce to the sect that new disciples are being accepted, but circumstances don’t permit that now, so we’ll substitute the initiation ceremony by asking your intentions and performing soul engraving. Each of you state your names and declare your intention to join to the Heaven and Earth Laws.”
Man Song stood a few steps away in front of Kang Hyeon and In Deok, speaking in a solemn tone like giving a command.
At this, Kang Hyeon realized there was no way to avoid immediately becoming disciples of Blue Wood Academy and his mind became confused.
It wasn’t that he disliked becoming a disciple of Blue Wood Academy, but since the current situation felt somewhat forced, there was also an aspect of rebellious feelings arising.
“Kang Hyeon…”
In Deok grabbed Kang Hyeon’s sleeve and looked at him with eyes asking what they should do.
At this, Kang Hyeon, thinking there was no other option for now, sent In Deok a look saying they should accept the situation.
And as if to set an example first, he made a gesture of brushing his clothes with his hands, then clasped his hands together respectfully and spoke.
“I am originally Kang Hyeon, born in Hyeop Province. Now, according to the mysterious fate of the Heaven and Earth Laws, I have come to Nok Province and received the glorious opportunity to become a disciple of Blue Wood Academy, so how could this not be an auspicious matter? I, Kang Hyeon of Hyeop Province, consider it an honor to become a disciple of Blue Wood Academy. I dare petition the Heaven and Earth Laws to permit my becoming a disciple of Blue Wood Academy…”
Flash! Flash!
Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble! Rumble rumble!
“What!”
“This is!?”
“Cheon Gwang Moon?!”
But just before Kang Hyeon finished speaking, tremendous white light flashed in the sky and the atmospheric energy fluctuated terrifyingly.
At this, Elder Eung Ryeong, his senior brother, and Monk Man Song all flew up into the air again and confronted each other with imposing auras.
“Hyeon!”
“Ugh. What a complicated day this is.”
In Deok clung to Kang Hyeon again, and Kang Hyeon made a groaning sound and let his shoulders droop as if deflated.
Meanwhile, above the manor’s sky, three monks who appeared to be high-ranking monks of Cheon Gwang Moon appeared and were confronting the Blue Wood Academy monks.
***
“I didn’t expect Peak Master Ha to come out personally.”
“Man Song, you’ve advanced to Avatar Stage.”
“I barely overcame the Heavenly Tribulation.”
“You rose to Avatar Stage because you were qualified. Is Avatar Stage a realm one reaches through luck? In any case, the emergence of a new Avatar Stage monk is cause for celebration.”
“Thank you.”
“But aren’t you getting too excited about becoming Avatar Stage? Oppressing disciples of Cheon Gwang Moon in Cheongmyeongbangsi was excessive.”
“Hahaha. Oppression, you say? I merely gave some advice seeing behavior unbefitting disciples of Cheon Gwang Moon.”
“Advice…”
“Cheon Gwang Moon has traditionally been the leader among the Five Great Sects of Nok Province, and therefore should be in a position to set an example. So when I saw such disciples of Cheon Gwang Moon going astray, how could I just stand by and watch?”
“You’re saying they went astray?”
“I think Peak Master Ha is not unaware of the circumstances.”
“What circumstances make you say such things?”
“Do you truly not know?”
“I don’t know.”
“I see. Then let me tell you. Here, Eung Ryeong was lucky enough to get his hands on a Spirit Treasure. But there was also a fellow named Dam Yeol from the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect at that place. So what do you think happened? Our Eung Ryeong and that Dam Yeol fellow ended up fighting over that Spirit Treasure.”
“And then?”
“Actually, Eung Ryeong here was alone and his cultivation level was slightly inferior to Dam Yeol’s, while Dam Yeol had higher cultivation, commanded powerful spirit beasts, and even had subordinates, so he was driven into a corner.”
“Driven into a corner?”
“He barely escaped with just his spirit body.”
“Then what about that Spirit Treasure?”
“Fortunately, Eung Ryeong entrusted it to those children he met along the way, and those children managed to hide and stay here in Cheong Myeong Bang Si. In that situation, rumors spread that there was treasure in Cheong Myeong Bang Si…”
“Are you saying our Cheon Gwang Moon disciples coveted it?”
“Even though they weren’t unaware of Dam Yeol from the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect’s despicable acts, not only the monks from Mujin Sound Temple but also Cheon Gwang Moon joined together to covet the treasure that had come back into our Blue Wood Academy’s hands. What choice did we have but to enlighten them of their wrongdoing?”
“Hmm.”
At Man Song’s words, Ha So Woon of Cheon Gwang Moon let out a groan as if pondering.
But Monk Man Song was tensing up and gathering his energy at Ha So Woon’s appearance.
Because he was certain that Ha So Woon already knew the entire situation, even while pretending not to.
The fact that he pretended not to know while knowing could only mean he had ill intentions.
“How troublesome. How did our Cheon Gwang Moon disciples end up…”
“We, we’re sorry.”
“We beg for forgiveness.”
When Ha So Woon muttered as if sighing, the Cheon Gwang Moon disciples who had followed him all knelt down and prostrated themselves, begging for forgiveness.
Then Ha So Woon clicked his tongue and said.
“Not only have you greatly damaged my reputation, but you’ve also tarnished Cheon Gwang Moon’s name, so you must prepare for severe punishment when we return to the Main Mountain.”
“We will gladly accept the punishment.”
“We will follow the Sect Leader’s will.”
“We are grateful for your mercy.”
At Ha So Woon’s words, the three Cheon Gwang Moon disciples instead showed bright expressions and thanked him for his mercy.
They seemed to consider it fortunate that he would punish them rather than kill them.
“Hmm. The misfortune will be greater than the fortune.”
But at Ha So Woon’s behavior, Man Song’s expression was growing very dark.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————