Chapter 104 to 106

 Chapter 104 – Lord of the Western Sea (1)

“Human. Open the wooden box. If you do so, I, the ruler of the seas, shall grant your wish.”

‘!?’

At the voice coming from the wooden box, Mok Gyeong-un scoffed and muttered,

“You’re really blatantly peddling the bait.”

“…”

This was an enticement.

It was no different from openly asking him to open the wooden box.

Cheong-ryeong spoke in an astonished tone,

-How can someone who can’t even take care of their own body grant wishes?

“I agree with those words. But what could it be?”

-It seems they sealed away an evil creature. However, to think its voice can be heard even while sealed. This is the first time I’ve seen such a case.

She had lived as a vengeful spirit for a hundred years.

And she had also been sealed away like the wicked thing in this wooden box.

But this was the first time she encountered such a case.

Usually, once sealed, all energy and everything else is blocked, so the inside and outside are meant to be isolated.

Yet the fact that this thing’s voice could be heard meant…

“Ah. There’s a crack.”

-A crack?

There was a partial crack on the upper part of the wooden box that Mok Gyeong-un pointed to.

-I see. But this wooden box…

“It’s strange that there’s no talisman or anything.”

-You noticed it too.

It was a peculiar situation.

As Cheong-ryeong said, there was no talisman or anything to seal the demonic energy on the wooden box.

Then by what means was this ominous being trapped in this wooden box?

It was incomprehensible.

While he was perplexed, a voice was heard.

“Damn it. I thought it was some luck that you could hear my voice, but judging from your mention of talismans, you must be a Taoist who has mastered sorcery.”

“A Taoist? What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t pretend otherwise. Do you think you can deceive me?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you can think of me as a diviner who is learning sorcery.”

“A diviner? Ah. You must be the same kind as that human wearing diviner’s robes who came last time.”

‘The same kind?’

Based on the way it spoke, it seemed someone had come before.

Indeed, there was no way a diviner who had mastered sorcery would fail to detect such ominous demonic energy.

In the first place, the red line was a technique that only a diviner could create.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un asked,

“Who came before?”

“Someone did come. It was an ominous fellow with three eyes. It was the first time I saw someone with those eyes that were said to have disappeared after the ancient times.”

“Three eyes? What is that? Cheong-ryeong, do you know?”

-Do you think I know all the principles of the world?

At Cheong-ryeong’s words, Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head.

If you literally interpret “three eyes,” it means having three eyes.

Such a deformed being had come here before?

While he was puzzled, a voice came from the wooden box.

“How would the likes of you evil spirits and lowly humans know about matters from the ancient times?”

-..You’ve been calling us evil spirits, you evil creature.

“Wait a moment.”

-What?

Mok Gyeong-un stopped her anger and said,

“So what exactly are these ‘three eyes’?”

-It’s literally a three-eyed being. It is a deformed creature born from a human womb. There is a saying that misfortune arrives when it is born.=

“Misfortune?”

-But it’s quite interesting. Even in ancient times, a three-eyed being would barely survive a day after birth before being killed.

It was difficult to understand what it was talking about.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un summarized,

“I don’t quite understand what you mean, but are you saying that diviner wearing robes who had three eyes put you here?”

“That’s right. I don’t know what that person did, but after he came, no one could perceive me.”

“Not being able to perceive means…”

“From the beginning, they treat it as if it doesn’t exist.”

“As if it doesn’t exist?”

At the words that flowed from the wooden box, Cheong-ryeong strongly denied,

-That can’t be. No matter how much human sorcery has advanced over time, erasing perception goes against the principles of the world.

“Oh-ho. For an evil spirit, you seem to know quite a bit.”

-Evil spirit? You damned evil creature!

Cracks appeared on the wooden puppet that sealed Cheong-ryeong.

She seemed ready to break out and smash the wooden box at any moment.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un dissuaded her.

“Cheong-ryeong. Endure it.”

-If I were you…

“Rather than continuing like this, wouldn’t everything work out if we make it mine first?”

-Yours? Hmm.

At Mok Gyeong-un’s whisper, Cheong-ryeong muttered as if tempted.

The expression of making it his own ultimately meant turning it into a servant spirit.

Mok Gyeong-un had the ability to turn even high-ranking vengeful spirits into servant spirit.

If it was a weakened malevolent spirit trapped in a wooden box, he might be able to turn it into a servant spirit.

He had already confirmed this being’s potential through absorbing resentment.

-Still, be careful. It’s best to reduce the demonic energy without disturbing the seal as much as possible.

“That’s what I was thinking.”

Mok Gyeong-un had the same thought as her.

In the case of demonic energy, it was condensed evil energy, so absorbing it would be helpful.

While doing so, a voice came from the wooden box.

“Hey. Human.”

“Yes.”

“Being trapped here, do I seem insignificant in your eyes? I am the lord who rules over the Western Sea.”

“And?”

“If you just free me from here, I will grant any wish you desire. Did you mention a grandfather earlier?”

“…”

“Don’t you miss that grandfather?”

At this voice, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes sharpened, unlike before.

He disliked pranks in general, but he really disliked anyone bringing up his grandfather.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un approached the wooden box without answering.

And he picked it up and placed it on the floor.

“That’s right. Break the wooden box.”

“That’s what I intend to do. Ah. Of course, before that…”

Mok Gyeong-un placed his palm on the cracked part of the wooden box.

And he inwardly recited the Ritual of Binding incantation.

Then, the ominous demonic energy that had been flowing out from the crack began to flow into Mok Gyeong-un’s palm.

“Shuuu!”

‘!?’

Sensing this, the voice didn’t hide its bewilderment.

“Human… What are you doing…”

“Despite being trapped for a long time, your energy is quite substantial. Share some with me.”

“Stop!”

“Too late.”

With those words, Mok Gyeong-un absorbed the flowing demonic energy as it was.

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes flickered with interest at the considerably vast amount.

‘So much.’

There was far more energy than he expected.

He didn’t anticipate the energy flowing out through the cracks to be this much.

By absorbing just a little, he had already absorbed the equivalent of twenty people’s worth of evil energy.

Just what level of malevolent spirit was it to possess such strong demonic energy even while trapped?

“S… Stop it. You lowly human dares to absorb my energy…”

“It’s almost done, so wait just a bit longer.”

The energy flowing out through the cracks was almost completely absorbed.

It was demonic energy amounting to nearly fifty people’s worth of evil energy.

There was already a certain amount of evil energy consumed and needed from creating undead using the Six Yin Strengthening Technique, so it seemed his luck was good.

The demonic energy stopped flowing out.

Based on this, it seemed he had absorbed most of the energy of the being trapped inside.

“You… bast… ard…”

Hearing the being’s voice, its strength had significantly diminished.

It seemed to lack the energy to even get angry.

“It seems weakened. Now, make it your servant spirit.”

“Yes.”

Mok Gyeong-un brought his blade finger toward the cracked part of the wooden box.

The air around his blade finger trembled.

He had invoked aura.

As it didn’t seem like an ordinary wooden box, he intended to cut it with aura.

Mok Gyeong-un placed his blade finger, imbued with aura, against the wooden box.

Right at that moment,

“Paang!”

“Ugh!”

Along with a strong repulsive force, Mok Gyeong-un’s body was pushed back nearly five steps.

‘What is this?’

-What happened?

Cheong-ryeong also asked in surprise.

Mok Gyeong-un looked at his blade finger.

Fortunately, his finger was unharmed, but the moment he tried to pierce the wooden box with aura, he was pushed back by an unknown force.

‘What?’

He was certain that he had absorbed all the demonic energy flowing out from the crack in the wooden box.

But what was going on?

While he was puzzled, a voice was heard.

“Did you think the wood made from sacred spirit trees would break so easily?”

“Sacred spirit trees?”

“Seeing that you don’t even know that, it seems the Immortals no longer remain in the afterlife.”

“Immortals? What are you talking about?”

“If you don’t know, forget it. Rather, the method to break the sacred spirit wood…”

At that very moment,

The area around the crack in the wooden box split apart before the voice could finish speaking.

“What?”

Then, starting from the split area, the wooden box began to rot and crumble like ashes.

It was a strange occurrence, as it had been perfectly fine until just a moment ago.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un looked at his blade finger.

‘Is it because of the evil energy?’

His aura wasn’t formed from ordinary inner energy but from the evil energy of death itself.

Evil energy was the opposite of the energy of life, so it caused it to scatter.

It was difficult to accurately predict whether it was due to that or if the crack had already existed and the force added to it caused it to break.

However, regardless of the reason, the wooden box was shattered.

“Isn’t that a scroll?”

-It seems so.

Something buried in the ashes of the shattered wooden box caught his eye.

It was a rolled-up scroll.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un approached and picked it up.

It was a considerably old scroll, and based on its length, it seemed to have poems or paintings drawn inside.

“The scroll… Open the scroll.”

The voice was heard then.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un smirked and tried to put the scroll into his mouth while reciting the Ritual of Binding incantation with the hand holding the scroll.

-…What are you trying to do now?

“I’m going to eat it.”

-What?

He had no intention of playing along with the evil creature’s tune.

If this scroll was the main body related to the malevolent spirit, he intended to eat it and make it his servant spirit.

Just as he was about to put the end of the scroll into his mouth,

“You fool!”

Blue flames erupted from the scroll like lightning.

Along with that, the scroll bounced out of Mok Gyeong-un’s hand, rolled on the floor, and began to unfold on its own.

“Catch it!”

Mok Gyeong-un reached out with his burned hand toward the scroll and unleashed the Ritual of Binding incantation.

He thought it would be pulled over, but it resisted in midair.

Then, the fully unfolded scroll floated in the air.

‘Ah!’

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes flickered with interest as he looked at it.

That was because a landscape painting was drawn on the scroll, and it was so beautiful that it seemed like looking at a paradise.

Mist shrouded the majestic mountain peaks, and flower-bearing trees were scattered there.

‘Beautiful.’

However, there was one uniquely disturbing part.

It was because a white-haired middle-aged man was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed on top of the peak in the center of the landscape painting.

‘Why did they have to draw a person here…’

At that moment,

The white-haired middle-aged man in the painting opened his closed eyes.

Then,

He stepped on the mist and walked out from within the painting.

‘!?’

The moment it came out, Mok Gyeong-un felt a chill down his spine for the first time in his life.

As the white-haired middle-aged man passed through the painting, an immense demonic energy emanated, which seemed like countless death energies gathered into one.

-Impossible.

Cheong-ryeong muttered in a perplexed tone.

She had never shown any fear or unease no matter what kind of malevolent spirit or vengeful ghost appeared.

But why was she reacting like this? While he was puzzled, she spoke with difficulty.

-…How can there be a malevolent spirit at the level of a Spirit Beast?

‘Spirit Beast?’

The Classic of Mountains and Seas describes it like this:

In the world, there are countless malevolent spirits that humans cannot see.

Among such malevolent spirits, there are those that reside in a higher realm that not only humans but even those spirits cannot dare to approach.

They are the Spirit Beasts that have lived for an incredibly long time.Chapter 105 – Lord of the Western Sea (2)

The Classic of Mountains and Seas states:

In heaven and earth, there are countless malevolent spirits that humans cannot see.

Among such malevolent spirits, there are those that reside in a higher realm that not only humans but even those spirits cannot dare to approach.

They are the Spirit Beasts that have lived for an incredibly long time.

‘Spirit Beasts?’

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes flickered with interest as he looked at the white-haired middle-aged man.

That was because if it was a Spirit Beast, excluding the divine beasts in myths, they were beings called legends in the hierarchy of malevolent spirits.

But what was this appearance?

On the surface, it didn’t look like a Spirit Beast but no different from a human.

-Mortal, it’s not an opponent you can fight against.

Cheong-ryeong spoke in a whisper.

Unlike usual, her tone was tense to the point of being stiff.

She, who always showed an arrogant and domineering demeanor, was feeling fear toward the being before her eyes.

‘…Wasn’t all the energy absorbed?’

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.

He thought it had weakened since he had absorbed all the ominous demonic energy flowing out from the cracks in the wooden box.

But to emit such immense demonic energy to this extent…

At that moment, the white-haired middle-aged man spoke while arrogantly brushing his hair back.

“Are you trembling? Human.”

“Well.”

He wasn’t trembling.

In the first place, Mok Gyeong-un was someone who didn’t place great significance on or fear death.

However, the tension due to the clear difference in power was inevitable.

“For something that was sealed, your power is overflowing.”

“Power overflowing? Hah.”

The white-haired middle-aged man scoffed.

Then, he raised his hand, clenched and unclenched his fist, and said,

“Although I’ve weakened to the utmost after being sealed in this scroll for thousands of years, do you think lowly insects like you can dare to approach me?”

‘Insects?’

Mok Gyeong-un slightly furrowed his brows.

But rather than feeling offended, he simply grasped the reality that the being before him judged him as nothing more than an insect.

‘To this being, I am merely at the level of an insect.’

It was hard to deny.

The demonic energy emanating from this being was at an immeasurable level.

Was there another sky above the sky?

If this was its weakened state, he couldn’t even imagine how strong this monster would be if it regained all its power.

No, this could be close to a disaster.

Right at that moment,

The white-haired middle-aged man extended his hand.

In that instant,

Two wooden puppets tore through Mok Gyeong-un’s chest clothing and flew out.

‘Ah?’

At this, Mok Gyeong-un urgently reached out and unleashed the Ritual of Binding incantation.

However, there was no way to withstand the force pulling them with overwhelming demonic energy.

Despite unleashing the Ritual of Binding incantation, the two wooden puppets that flew away without stopping landed in the white-haired middle-aged man’s hand.

“M-Master!”

Inside were Green Spirit Gyu Soha and Cheong-ryeong.

Even while inside the wooden puppets, the demonic energy was so strong that even the Green Spirit showed evident fear.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un calmly said,

“You’re making things difficult. Can you give them back?”

“Hmm. You’re a peculiar human. Seeing that a living being is accompanied by these evil spirits.”

“…”

“…”

Normally, Cheong-ryeong would have reacted angrily, but she didn’t open her mouth.

Perhaps she became cautious, not wanting to provoke the being and cause an unforeseen calamity.

Cheong-ryeong found this situation extremely troubling.

‘This is the worst.’

Unlike vengeful spirits, who have a somewhat different concept of consuming energy after becoming spirit bodies, malevolent spirits rapidly weaken when they consume demonic energy.

In that regard, if it had been sealed for a long time, she thought it would have significantly weakened.

But who would have imagined that the being sealed in this wooden box would be a Spirit Beast?

‘What should I do?’

If it was a Spirit Beast that had reached a higher realm to the point of being able to transform into a human form, it could be said to have reached a realm similar to an almost enlightened Immortal.

No matter how much it had weakened, it far surpassed the realm that even she could handle.

‘Is this the end…’

She felt a sense of despair.

Could misfortune manifest in such a way?

Just when she thought she had finally grasped an opportunity to appease her resentment, she encountered a being akin to a disaster in such a place.

‘Mok Gyeong-un…’

Normally, she would have placed her hopes on the brat’s cunning mind.

But the opponent was too unfavorable.

It was a non-human existence and had lived for such an incredibly long time that it would be difficult to overcome this situation with some eloquence.

Perhaps even he might be feeling fear for the first time in his life.

Facing an absolute being he encountered for the first time.

Right at that moment,

“I was just getting hungry, so thank you for bringing me a meal.”

“What?”

“Ah.”

With those words, the white-haired middle-aged man put the wooden puppets sealing Cheong-ryeong and Gyu Soha into his mouth.

Right at that instant,

The wooden puppet that was entering his mouth shattered, and Cheong-ryeong flew out from inside at a tremendous speed, grasping Gyu Soha’s wooden puppet and flying forward.

However,

The white-haired middle-aged man grabbed Cheong-ryeong’s leg and threw her onto the ground.

Although she couldn’t feel physical pain, for some reason, when she was slammed onto the ground, she let out a groan of agony.

“Ugh!”

“I am the Lord of the Western Sea. A being born from the gathering of delusions. Offer your spiritual power for the sake of your master. Hahaha.”

As soon as those words ended, a red haze rose from Cheong-ryeong’s body, which had collapsed on the ground, and was sucked into the white-haired middle-aged man’s mouth.

Then, as if in pain, she screamed.

“Aaaaagh!”

Right at that moment,

Mok Gyeong-un flew his body and thrust his blade finger, imbued with aura, towards the white-haired middle-aged man’s brow.

He was trying to take advantage of a moment of carelessness, but…

At that instant, the white-haired middle-aged man lightly caught Mok Gyeong-un’s right wrist.

Then, he made a gesture as if lightly lifting him up,

Mok Gyeong-un’s body dug into the cave ceiling by nearly half a zhang before falling to the ground.

“Kuhaak!”

Blood coughs poured out from Mok Gyeong-un’s mouth as he fell to the ground.

Although he had instantly protected his body with evil energy, he had suffered some fractures and internal injuries from the previous blow.

-Mortal!

“Cough… Cough… This is really… Cough… bad luck.”

Mok Gyeong-un shook his head as if in disbelief.

Looking down at him, interest flickered in the white-haired middle-aged man’s eyes.

“You’re a peculiar human.”

He felt puzzled by the face that held a smile despite feeling pain.

If an ordinary human were to be in this situation, they would likely be terrified with fear, but looking at this fellow’s face, he didn’t seem particularly so.

At this, the white-haired middle-aged man made a lifting gesture with his chin.

Then,

Mok Gyeong-un’s body, which had been lying face down on the ground, floated into the air.

“Ah?”

It was clearly visible to Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes.

The immense demonic energy flowing out from the white-haired middle-aged man was enveloping and lifting him up.

“Human. I want to see fear spreading across your face.”

The white-haired middle-aged man raised the corners of his mouth sardonically and tried to bring his hand to Mok Gyeong-un’s shoulder.

Right at that moment,

Iron chains created from spiritual power erupted from the ground and instantly restrained the white-haired middle-aged man’s arms, legs, and body.

The iron chains moved like snakes and wrapped around the middle-aged man’s neck.

‘Gyu Soha?’

This was the power of Green Spirit Gyu Soha.

Gyu Soha shouted,

-Let go of our master! Otherwise…

The iron chains wrapping around the white-haired middle-aged man’s body shattered in an instant and scattered like ashes.

It was too easy to the point of being futile, the iron chains of a spirit body being shattered.

Gyu Soha’s eyes shook wildly.

“You’re an evil spirit with some tricks. But you’ll have to pay the price for touching my sacred body.”

The white-haired middle-aged man flicked his finger towards Gyu Soha.

At that moment,

Gyu Soha’s arms exploded and disappeared.

As the arms composed of a spirit body burst from the demonic energy, a scream erupted from Gyu Soha’s mouth.

-Aaaaaaaah!

She seemed to be engulfed in immense pain.

‘This is…’

Cheong-ryeong, who was lying face down on the ground after having her spiritual energy absorbed, was astounded.

No matter how much of a Spirit Beast it was, it was so overwhelmingly strong that it was doubtful whether it had just been unsealed.

As the being said, no matter how much they struggled, it might be at the level of an insect flapping its wings.

‘…Even if we use that, is there any hope?’

But at this rate, they were all going to die.

In that case, it would be better to try everything possible…

At that moment,

“No. What is happening here?”

At the voice coming from somewhere, everyone’s gazes turned in that direction.

It was outside this small cavity.

Elder Yang Mu-won, the keeper of the treasure vault, was standing outside the red line with a surprised expression.

He doubted his eyes at the strange sight unfolding inside the cave.

‘Who is that white-haired middle-aged man?’

He had already been startled by the loud noise and rushed up.

The source of the sound was none other than that place.

He had repeatedly warned not to enter, but they had caused an accident after all, so he ran over in a single breath, but what on earth was happening?

‘Who is that person?’

Judging from the fact that Mok Gyeong-un was floating in the air with internal injuries, it was undoubtedly a void creature.

Within the Heaven and Earth Society, only those at the level of the Five Kings or above could display such high-level techniques.

At this, Yang Mu-won became perplexed about what to do.

How could such a supreme master infiltrate this place and cause such a commotion?

While he was thinking,

“Right. I need to eat you too.”

The white-haired middle-aged man gestured with his chin towards Elder Yang Mu-won.

Instantly, the startled Elder Yang Mu-won drew upon his true energy and took a defensive stance.

But nothing happened.

‘What?’

While he was wondering, the white-haired middle-aged man raised an eyebrow, looked at the red line drawn on the floor, and muttered,

“Is this the doing of that Three-Eyed fellow?”

With those words, leaving Mok Gyeong-un suspended in the air, he walked towards the red line.

“S-Stop.”

Elder Yang Mu-won shouted as he saw the being approaching him.

Of course, the white-haired middle-aged man had no intention of stopping.

The white-haired middle-aged man continued walking and tried to pass through the red line drawn on the floor.

At that moment,

With a strong pressure, the space distorted, and the white-haired middle-aged man’s body was repelled backward, smashing the bookshelves inside.

Then, Mok Gyeong-un’s body, which had been restrained in the air, fell to the ground.

‘What?’

He didn’t know what was going on, but the white-haired middle-aged man, whom Cheong-ryeong called a Spirit Beast, was unable to pass through the red line and was repelled back.

In that case,

“Let’s go!”

This was the opportunity.

At that cry, as if they had been waiting, Cheong-ryeong and Gyu Soha, whose arms had exploded, threw their bodies outside.

The movements of the spirit bodies were much faster than Mok Gyeong-un’s.

He thought they might get caught by the red line, but…

The two vengeful spirits passed the line without difficulty.

Right at the moment when Mok Gyeong-un also tried to pass through the line while using lightness skill,

Right in front of him, Mok Gyeong-un’s body stopped.

-Mortal!

Cheong-ryeong shouted with a perplexed expression.

‘Ugh.’

Mok Gyeong-un struggled to turn his head.

There, through the shattered bookshelves, the white-haired middle-aged man was raising his body with his hand extended.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Haa… Haa… You’re really a troublesome person.”

“The one troubled is me. To think a herald of misfortune, not even an Immortal, would possess this much power.”

The white-haired middle-aged man clicked his tongue while looking at the red line.

He was feeling displeased that he, who had been freed from the seal, was unable to pass through it and was repelled back.

“Mortal!”

At that moment, Cheong-ryeong, who was outside the red line, hesitated before trying to reach her hand inside, which was visible.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un hurriedly shook his head.

In the current situation, if she were to come inside, she would be caught like him.

While they were doing so, the white-haired middle-aged man spoke as if regretful, licking his lips.

“Your situational judgment is good. If you had been a bit later, I would have devoured that evil spirit.”

At those words, Cheong-ryeong, who had stopped reaching out her hand, flinched.

Mok Gyeong-un’s judgment was correct.

The moment she reached out her hand, the being would have pulled her inside.

However, they couldn’t leave Mok Gyeong-un inside like this either.

If Mok Gyeong-un were to lose his life, they would also perish due to the servant spirit bond.

‘Damn it!’

It was truly the worst situation.

While they were doing so, Mok Gyeong-un glanced at the red line on the floor.

From the outside, he didn’t know, but the red line on the floor was drawn throughout the entire small cavity.

As if to prevent the being from escaping.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un looked at the white-haired middle-aged man and opened his mouth.

“By any chance, is the proposal you made earlier still valid?”Chapter 106 – Lord of the Western Sea (3)

The red line drawn on the floor throughout the entire cavity.

Glancing at it, Mok Gyeong-un said to the white-haired middle-aged man,

“By any chance, is the proposal you made earlier still valid?”

“Proposal?”

“Yes. In a way, it’s thanks to me that you came out of there, isn’t it?”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the white-haired middle-aged man twitched his lips and soon let out a vicious laugh.

“Hahaha! You think it’s thanks to you that I’m out?”

“Ultimately, yes.”

“What a funny kid. How can your intention to satisfy your human greed be considered a favor?”

“After being trapped for thousands of years and finally being released, for someone who has lived that long, can’t you let it slide in a good mood?”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the white-haired middle-aged man scoffed.

To him, Mok Gyeong-un was at best an insect crawling on the ground.

Just as humans don’t have emotions towards insects or pay special attention to them, the white-haired middle-aged man had no particular feelings about what Mok Gyeong-un said.

However, there was something intriguing.

“You’re a truly peculiar kid.”

“What?”

“Why do you have no fear?”

“Fear?”

That was the white-haired middle-aged man’s question.

Even before and now in this isolated situation, Mok Gyeong-un didn’t fear him at all.

Despite being in a situation where fear should well up as he could die at any moment.

The white-haired middle-aged man approached with narrowed eyes and said,

“Do you not fear death? Or are you under the delusion that you won’t die even in this situation?”

“Well. I can tell you it’s not the latter.”

“Not the latter?”

“Yes.”

“So you’re saying you don’t fear death?”

“Everything that lives is bound to decline anyway, so what’s the point of fearing it?”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the white-haired middle-aged man found him peculiar.

Even beings who live eternally like himself fear extinction.

Yet a mortal says he doesn’t fear death.

At this, the white-haired middle-aged man extended his hand and said,

“Is that so? Then we can test whether you truly don’t fear death.”

The white-haired middle-aged man lightly waved his hand.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un’s left arm, which was floating in the air in a running posture, bent backward.

His arm was completely bent beyond its range of motion.

Just looking at it was horrifying.

-M-Master!

Gyu Soha shouted at the sight of Mok Gyeong-un’s bent left arm.

However, the person in question, Mok Gyeong-un, only let out a slightly rough breath without showing any particular change in expression.

At this, one of the white-haired middle-aged man’s eyebrows raised.

‘He’s enduring this?’

No matter how strong his patience was, he thought he would at least let out a groan.

But it was completely unexpected.

While they were doing so, Elder Yang Mu-won, the keeper of the treasure vault who had been watching this sight, hurriedly tried to run somewhere.

“The mechanism… The mechanism…”

Yang Mu-won muttered.

He was trying to activate the mechanism installed in the treasure vault.

‘I need to activate the mechanism and quickly send a signal requesting help from the main sect.’

He couldn’t handle a supreme master of that level with his own strength.

However, the mechanism installed in this treasure vault was designed to handle hundreds of intruders and even Transcendent Realm supreme masters.

As he was about to go to the activation device of the mechanism,

“Ugh!”

A chill ran down his spine, and he felt something cold seeping into his body.

As a master close to the pinnacle-stage of the Peak Realm, he had felt a cold and invisible presence around him for a while.

But what was this unpleasant sensation?

“Gah!”

Elder Yang Mu-won’s body trembled violently as if having a seizure.

Then his eyes rolled back.

The blood vessels on his face bulged black as Yang Mu-won.

A reddish blood color seeped into his rolled-back eyes, and soon his face returned to normal.

‘That was close.’

The one who had taken over his body was none other than Cheong-ryeong.

Upon hearing Yang Mu-won’s muttering, she realized the situation and possessed his body.

She was aware of the mechanism installed in the main sect’s treasure vault.

So if the mechanism here was the same or superior to the one she knew and was activated carelessly, Mok Gyeong-un, who was currently captured, would be in danger.

“Haa… Haa…”

As Mok Gyeong-un was catching his breath, the white-haired middle-aged man said,

“Seeing that you can easily endure this much, it seems better to tear it off rather than break it. This time, one of your legs…”

“Tearing it off is up to you, but how will you get out once I’m dead?”

“Out?”

“Yes. From what I see, even someone as powerful as you seems unable to cross that red line.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the white-haired middle-aged man silently stared at the red line drawn on the floor.

Then he opened his mouth again.

“You’re talking as if you’ll open that for me.”

“…If we can come to a mutual agreement.”

“Agreement? It sounds as if you’re saying you’ll make that disappear if I spare your life.”

“Let’s say that’s the case.”

If he had the upper hand, he would have tried to gain some benefit from the deal, but the opponent was a Spirit Beast-level malevolent spirit who could kill him at any time.

Knowing that provoking it would do no good, Mok Gyeong-un intended to receive the minimum price to save his life.

Then the white-haired middle-aged man smirked and said,

“Why would someone who claims not to fear death want to save his life as a price?”

“…I have something I must do.”

“Something you must do?”

“There’s someone I need to kill.”

“Revenge, is it?”

“…”

There was no answer, but it was clearly an affirmation.

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the white-haired middle-aged man approached him, grabbed his chin, and lightly lifted it up.

“In other words, you want to prolong your life even a little for the sake of revenge.”

“Of course, everything depends on your choice. If you want to kill me, I’ll die, and if you accept my deal, I’ll be able to get out of this cavity.”

“Get out of here…”

The white-haired middle-aged man stared intently at Mok Gyeong-un.

In fact, his mood was close to its peak.

That was because he had been sealed inside that scroll for a staggeringly long time of thousands of years.

But now he had come out of it.

He had gained freedom.

If he could break even that red prohibition…

“It’s tempting. Is saving your life the only thing you want?”

“…Yes. It doesn’t seem like a situation where I can ask for anything else.”

“You’re quick to understand your place. Good.”

The white-haired middle-aged man lightly nodded his head.

Then Mok Gyeong-un’s body, which had been floating in the air, fell to the ground.

“Huu… Huu…”

Mok Gyeong-un, who had fallen to the ground, grabbed his left elbow that had been bent backward.

No matter how strong his endurance against pain was, it was impossible not to feel pain when a perfectly fine arm was bent in the opposite direction.

‘For now…’

He bent his arm, which had been bent backward, back to its original direction.

His face turned slightly red, but he still didn’t show any signs of pain.

‘It’ll take time to recover.’

As the arm was bent, the bones near the elbow cartilage had cracked and shattered, making it impossible to move properly.

Mok Gyeong-un looked at the line drawn on the floor.

‘One chance.’

There was only one chance.

Although he had proposed a deal, he had no intention of actually releasing the being.

If the red line, which seemed to be a barrier, were to be lifted, there was no telling how this vicious Spirit Beast would come out.

Therefore, Mok Gyeong-un inwardly recited the first incantation of the Eight Shattered Techniques.

If he could create even a momentary gap…

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un’s arm rose upward on its own.

‘!?’

Then his body started moving on its own.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un frowned and said,

“What are you doing?”

“By the way, human. Is there any need for me to make such a deal with you?”

“…”

“I can just move your body like this.”

The white-haired middle-aged man waved his hand, and Mok Gyeong-un’s body moved on its own as if it had become a puppet.

‘This is troublesome.’

Mok Gyeong-un let out a soft sigh.

He himself wasn’t the type to trust others easily, but it seemed this Spirit Beast was the same.

Moreover, it didn’t give him the slightest opening, as if it hadn’t simply lived for thousands of years.

Perhaps this time, he might have to prepare himself.

‘Grandfather.’

Perhaps he wouldn’t be able to take revenge…

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un saw Cheong-ryeong coming out of Yang Mu-won’s body.

Seeing that,

At that instant, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes turned cold.

Why did he think for a moment that he might not be able to take revenge for his grandfather?

Does dying mean he can’t take revenge?

There were Cheong-ryeong and Green Spirit Gyu Soha, who would become vengeful spirits to take revenge even after death.

Was his resentment towards the one who killed his grandfather only this much?

“Ha…”

Self-anger and self-mockery.

As it grew, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes came alive as if they were burning.

“Huu.”

Mok Gyeong-un drew upon the death energy within his body.

Compared to the vast demonic energy of the white-haired middle-aged man, it was just a drop in the bucket, but what if he concentrated it all in one place?

Like the death energy concentrated in the danjeon.

The energy from the lower danjeon and middle danjeon was concentrated solely in his right hand.

As all the death energy was concentrated in one place,

‘What is this kid doing now?’

The white-haired middle-aged man frowned while looking at Mok Gyeong-un’s right hand.

That was because Mok Gyeong-un’s right hand had somehow turned pitch black.

‘More… More…’

The death energy concentrated and materialized into one.

It took on a completely different form and color from aura.

Seeing this, Cheong-ryeong’s eyes widened.

‘Energy more condensed and concentrated in one place than aura.’

It was none other than true energy.

She couldn’t hide her astonishment upon seeing this.

Although he had gained enlightenment about energy in the treasure vault, Mok Gyeong-un was still at the Peak Realm.

But true energy, which was only possible at the supreme Transcendent Realm, had been formed.

What on earth was going on?

‘What is that color?’

The peculiar thing was that ordinary true energy had a blue color like the stars of the Big Dipper.

But the energy concentrated in Mok Gyeong-un’s hand had a black color as if everything would be sucked into it.

Was it a phenomenon that occurred as the death energy was concentrated?

At that moment, the hand that had been bound by demonic energy was freed.

At the same time, as Mok Gyeong-un struck his blackened hand towards the floor, fragments flew in all directions with a loud noise.

However, those fragments didn’t reach the white-haired middle-aged man.

As if an invisible barrier had been created, the fragments were blocked and oxidized on the spot.

Then, in an instant, the white-haired middle-aged man disappeared and appeared at the entrance of the cavity where the red line was drawn.

The white-haired middle-aged man extended his hand forward.

Then, Mok Gyeong-un’s body, which had been charging forward like a spear with his black hand extended through the fragment dust, was repelled backward.

“Ugh!”

Mok Gyeong-un, who had been repelled, collided with a bookshelf and knelt on one knee on the floor.

Black blood flowed from the mouth of Mok Gyeong-un, who had suffered internal injuries.

He had concentrated all the death energy in his body into one hand to increase destructive power, but that also meant there was less energy to protect his body.

‘I can’t close the gap at all.’

Mok Gyeong-un clicked his tongue while looking at the white-haired middle-aged man blocking the entrance.

He thought it might be possible for a moment, but it didn’t work.

While they were doing so, the white-haired middle-aged man looked at Mok Gyeong-un with interest and said,

“How truly strange. I didn’t realize it before, but how does a living being possess the energy of the dead like that?”

The white-haired middle-aged man hadn’t been able to detect this when Mok Gyeong-un was circulating energy only within his body.

However, when the energy was concentrated in his hand and materialized, he realized that it had little to do with the true energy that Taoists and Immortals cultivated through life-nurturing techniques.

“Strange. Strange indeed. I’ll have to examine your body.”

The white-haired middle-aged man made a pulling gesture towards Mok Gyeong-un.

Then, in Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes, he saw the vast demonic energy trying to grasp him in the form of a giant hand.

Right at that moment,

In an instant, the entire room was covered in blood.

Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes trembled.

‘The realm of ghostly intent?’

A space made of blood.

This was Cheong-ryeong’s realm of ghostly intent, the Blood Realm.

The blood surged up like a geyser and instantly trapped the white-haired middle-aged man.

Behind that whirlpool of blood, Cheong-ryeong was visible.

‘Why?’

Mok Gyeong-un looked at her with an uncomprehending expression.

Why did she come in here?

No matter how much she had reached the level of Cheong-ryeong, she absolutely couldn’t compare to a malevolent spirit at the level of a Spirit Beast.

But why did she come in?

Then she shouted at Mok Gyeong-un,

“Run!”

Upon hearing this, Mok Gyeong-un threw his body towards the entrance without a moment to think.

He couldn’t miss the opportunity she had created for him.

Right at that instant,

The whirlpool of blood scattered in all directions and disappeared as if oxidized.

The white-haired middle-aged man had a contemptuous expression.

“What a foolish act. Catch…”

-Don’t underestimate me. Spirit Beast.

At that moment, Cheong-ryeong’s entire body was covered in blood, and she transformed into a human form seemingly made of blood.

Then, the spiritual energy emanating from her became incomparably stronger than when she had unfolded the Blood Realm.

It far surpassed Cheong-ryeong’s level.

Seeing this, Gyu Soha muttered in a surprised voice,

-Re…sentment?

The blood droplets floating around simultaneously rushed towards the white-haired middle-aged man.

Along with that, Cheong-ryeong, who had transformed into a blood incarnation, hugged the white-haired middle-aged man from behind, holding him in place.

However,

The white-haired middle-aged man lightly moved his hand while still bound by her,

The blood droplets flying in from all directions stopped midway.

Then they lost strength and fell to the ground.

‘To this extent…’

Cheong-ryeong’s eyes, which were like blood, trembled.

By detonating all her spiritual energy, she was able to exert a power close to the Blue Spirit level for a moment, but even that didn’t work against this Spirit Beast.

Then the white-haired middle-aged man spoke as if impressed,

“I thought you were an ordinary evil spirit, but your strength is far greater than most high-ranking malevolent spirits. If I take your energy, it will quench my hunger a bit.”

With those words, he took a deep breath.

Then Cheong-ryeong, who had been hugging him, writhed as if in pain.

-Aaagh!

The spiritual energy was being absorbed at a tremendous speed.

Despite the pain, Cheong-ryeong mumbled with her lips,

-G…o…a…way…

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed as he looked at this sight.

‘Why?’

No matter how much of a servant spirit she was, why was she trying to sacrifice herself for him?

What was the reason for trying to save him to this extent, even though he didn’t move according to her will?

Once she herself was extinguished, everything would be meaningless, so he couldn’t understand it.

Did she believe that if he survived, he would take revenge on her behalf until the end?

That couldn’t be.

But why was she going this far?

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes met hers as she lost strength and returned to her human form.

Her eyes held complex emotions.

Why did the gaze of someone sacrificing themselves for another make him feel so concerned?

‘…How annoying.’

Mok Gyeong-un, who had been smirking with his lips, shouted,

“It seems it would be better for you to remain trapped in here.”

With that cry, in an instant, Mok Gyeong-un thrust his hand towards his own chest.

The white-haired middle-aged man couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the sight of this.

“You bastard!”

He had never expected Mok Gyeong-un to suddenly perform an act of self-destruction by thrusting his hand into his own chest.

At this,

The white-haired middle-aged man pushed aside Cheong-ryeong, whose spiritual energy had weakened, and ran towards Mok Gyeong-un.

“Kuhk!”

Mok Gyeong-un coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed backward.

“This crazy human bastard!”

This fellow had to stay alive to remove that red line and go outside.

There was no way for the vengeful spirits to remove it.

Therefore, the white-haired middle-aged man couldn’t help but become desperate.

He bent his knees, lowered his posture, approached Mok Gyeong-un, and grabbed his right hand to pull out the hand thrust into his chest.

Right at that moment,

“Huh?”

At that instant, the palm he grabbed seemed to stick like suction, and the demonic energy was escaping at a tremendous speed.

Mok Gyeong-un, whose mouth was covered in blood, smiled sardonically and muttered,

“Cough, cough… It’s really hard to grab a hand.”