Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 132

Swish.

Swish!

The Mountain Lord, standing in the secret chamber, had wings made of hundreds of throwing knives on his back.

It was the Myriad Wings Fan he had received from Chuk Mun-gyeong.

“Hmm…”

However, the Mountain Lord’s expression was not very pleased. The reason being.

“It’s noisy, this thing.”

Since the wings were made of throwing knives, they were noisier than he had expected.

But apart from that, he was satisfied. It would allow him to use his Dull Arts faster.

“I didn’t know Chuk Mun-gyeong was a Pungshintong Taoist [a Taoist skilled in manipulating wind and spirits].”

The Myriad Wings Fan, imbued with Pungshintong, was more suitable for Dull Arts.

The Mountain Lord spread his wings wide.

Swish!

Immediately, blue flames soared from the wings.

It was the Mountain Lord’s Bongak Blue Flame.

Then, the throwing knives trembled and fell, as if lamenting with screams.

The Mountain Lord’s face showed bitterness as he extinguished the flames.

“It’s ambiguous.”

Its strength was not very high.

It was definitely excellent, but it didn’t quite meet the Mountain Lord’s standards.

“Until I obtain a suitable rare item, I’ll have to use it only for boosting speed.”

He had recently used up most of his suitable ore refining the Goryun.

There was nothing to refine again.

The Mountain Lord put away the Myriad Wings Fan and scanned through other scriptures.

It came from Gu Bu-ryeong’s Gongjeonggang.

It seemed to be a branch of Tongsul [a mystical art], but it was strangely torn.

Sufongoeoejeong (秀峯嵬嵬玎).

The beautiful peaks are high and rugged, naturally producing the sound of jade.

Unlike its poetic name, it was an absurd Tongsul.

“Is this even possible?”

He was speechless with disbelief.

Old sacred mountains have inner mountains.

These are called Yeongnaesan [spiritual mountain], and Sufongoeoejeong was a Tongsul that created an inner mountain within oneself to gather the energy of heaven and earth!

“If it’s really possible…”

It would be no different from growing a mountain inside his body. He could grow not only spiritual herbs but also all sorts of miscellaneous things on the inner mountain. Moreover, manipulating the energy of heaven and earth was something only celestial beings of the Immortal Realm could do.

If he could manipulate even a little of the energy of heaven and earth, the Mountain Lord would have no equal in the human realm.

Hoping against hope, he examined the materials, and a hollow laugh escaped him.

“Five Yeongnaesan. Not just any Yeongnaesan, but Five Elements Yeongnaesan (五行靈山)…”

He had never even heard of it.

Five Elements Yeongnaesan.

Even a regular Yeongnaesan was a treasure fiercely guarded by large sects.

Stealing one would be no different from waging a full-scale war with the sect.

Yet, a Yeongnaesan imbued with the Five Elements Divine Power!

Perhaps it was only possible in the Immortal Realm.

“Can’t I make it with just a regular Yeongnaesan?”

The refining method was surprisingly simple.

It said that one should unite five Yeongnaesan and slowly refine them within the body according to the incantation. It seemed that the energy of the five elements was needed during the refining process, but it wouldn’t be necessary if it wasn’t a Five Elements Yeongnaesan.

‘It’s worth a try.’

Even if it wasn’t the energy of heaven and earth, the ability to create a Yeongnaesan in his body was a great advantage.

Without having to create a Yungjeonga Dan [a spiritual core], he could draw out spiritual energy at any time with just one Yeongnaesan.

It was truly an infinite source of power. The Mountain Lord, having put down the scripture, pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

“Even so, I can’t achieve it now.”

First, he needed to reach the 6th Star and rise to the realm of Geomnotaksaeng [a high level of swordsmanship].

He could think about Sufongoeoejeong after that.

Rather, he wondered how Gu Bu-ryeong possessed something that seemed to be a scripture from the Immortal Realm.

That was a bit of a mystery.

“Is there something I don’t know?”

He couldn’t know.

Even he didn’t know everything.

After organizing the items, the Mountain Lord once again spurred himself on to practice.

The path to the 6th Star was long and arduous, and he had no time to delay even for a day.

He was receiving guidance from four Taesun [masters], after all.

The Mountain Lord was not one to miss such an opportunity.

Thus, spending each day diligently, the Mountain Lord entered into training.

100 years later.

In the void of Geongonsambong, 625 swords were pointing their blades at each other.

Soon, as he flicked his finger, the swords shot towards each other.

As they collided, a powerful gust of wind erupted with a deafening boom!

“Hap!”

As he clasped his hands together and formed a hand seal, a strange undulation occurred, and the ripples violently surged.

Soon, the swords emitted a strange aura.

A faint pink light flickered, then suddenly a brilliant blue light shone.

The 625 swords merged into two swords, becoming 312 swords.

But it wasn’t over yet.

As the Mountain Lord sent out a magic seal and moved his lips, the swords trembled.

Soon, a blue light enveloped them, and the 312 Manyeok Ilgeoms [swords] burst into flames.

The sword floating in the void, holding blue flames, began to materialize.

“Congratulations, Junior Brother Beom! You have finally reached the 6th Star!”

It was Senior Brother Kang.

The Mountain Lord gathered his energy and rose from his seat, clasping his fist in salute.

“It’s all thanks to you, Senior Brother. But I don’t know if I’ve reached the realm of Geomnotaksaeng yet. Is it usually like this?”

“You’ve only just completed the 6th Star, so that’s how it is. It will awaken gradually over time.”

Soon, others came and offered their congratulations. They had spent the last 100 years together, sharing joys and sorrows, so they were able to get along without barriers.

The term “Junior Brother” felt awkward, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

Having been together for 100 years, he seemed to have grown fond of them without realizing it.

Although he had never let go of his guard for even a moment, what is eternal in the face of time?

It had been a full 100 years.

Except for Hwaran, these were the first people he had spent such a long time with.

In a way, it was natural.

They had taught him with all their heart, and the Mountain Lord gladly accepted the feeling of having teachers.

And so, he had reached the 6th Star in just 100 years.

Without them, he would have only reached the 3rd or 4th Star even after 100 years of training.

The Manyeok Ilgeom was a truly difficult sword.

He had put the Ssanggakbuo [an item enhancing senses] in his head, which had improved his five senses, but even so, the Manyeok Ilgeom was a difficult swordsmanship.

It had taken him 30 years to reach the 2nd Star for the first time, so there was no need to say more.

Fortunately, once he had achieved it, he was able to reach the 6th Star without any obstacles.

Perhaps if he trained for a few more decades, he would be able to reach the 10th Star without any problems.

The Mountain Lord created a new sword in his own style and caressed it. It now had a tangible form and a fiery aura.

Of course, he could also erase its physical form.

“Now that you’ve reached the 6th Star of Manyeok Ilgeom, I won’t be able to match you, Junior Brother.”

“You flatter me.”

Seonja Wi said with a grumble.

Her first impression wasn’t very good, but she was a surprisingly simple woman.

Her personality was also quite easygoing for a woman, so there was nothing to criticize.

“If Senior Sister had revealed her true skills and fought, how could I have been a match for you?”

She was a sword master who had achieved the 10th Star of the Blood Shadow Sword and a Gogyedo Taoist who had reached the late stages of Taesun, so what more needed to be said?

The Mountain Lord waved his hand and humbly declined her praise.

“Is that so? Still, I can’t help but praise Junior Brother’s talent. You reached the 6th Star in just 100 years and learned the other four swordsmanships of Gyuncheonbohwa.”

“It’s all thanks to the Senior Brothers and Senior Sister.”

Unlike the Manyeok Ilgeom, it wasn’t difficult to reach the 1st Star in the other swordsmanships.

He didn’t know if it was because of the Ssanggakbuo or because he had achieved the Manyeok Ilgeom. Currently, the Mountain Lord had mastered the other four swordsmanships up to the 1st Star.

Frankly, there was no reason not to learn them.

After learning all the other swordsmanships of Gyuncheonbohwa, they made the practitioner’s body as hard as a sword.

That alone was enough reason to learn them.

“Anyway, it’s good. Now, all that’s left is to complete the Sword Formation and leave this place!”

“Junior Brother, take a rest. We’ll take care of the Sword Formation preparations. And you have a prior engagement with that Daegam [a high-ranking official], don’t you?”

“Is it alright?”

“Of course, of course. You have to keep your promises.”

As the Senior Brothers said so, the Mountain Lord didn’t say anything more. After pondering for a moment, he entered his secret chamber to prepare.

The Senior Brothers, watching the Mountain Lord, followed his departing figure with admiring eyes.

“Whose Junior Brother is he? He’s really something.”

It was Senior Brother Yang.

As Senior Brother Yang, with his plump physique, said so, Senior Brother Kang next to him agreed.

“Isn’t he amazing? Reaching the 6th Star in just 100 years. No matter how much we helped, it’s an incredible speed, isn’t it? I heard that it took over 1000 years for a Seonsa [immortal] to achieve the Manyeok Ilgeom up to the 6th Star.”

“That’s right.”

“I want to take him to our sect.”

Everyone chimed in, repeatedly praising the Mountain Lord. They looked as pleased as if he were their own Junior Brother.

As they were chatting, the Gogonggeumje disappeared.

The day of ascension had arrived.

After confirming that the Gogonggeumje had disappeared, they nodded.

“Now, let’s prepare the Sword Formation. It will take about half a year just to prepare, so we need to hurry. It will take quite a bit of time to gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.”

“Do you really think it’s possible?”

It was Senior Brother Hong, who didn’t speak much.

“Oh, has this person been living a lie? And what other suitable method is there now that we’ve come this far?”

“Senior Brother Hong is naturally cautious, isn’t he? He must have said that just in case.”

As Senior Brother Yang kindly reassured him, Senior Brother Kang swallowed his silence.

“I asked just in case, so don’t be too offended.”

“I understand well enough. It would be strange if the Junior Brother who is the center of Gyuncheonbohwa didn’t say anything. But I also don’t know the reason. I can’t help what came into my head along with the swordsmanship. This is the only thing that seems possible…”

Senior Brother Kang relaxed his expression and laughed heartily.

Then, Senior Brother Hong also wore a bitter smile as if he couldn’t help it.

“Alright, let’s do that. You said you were refining some sword, so Junior Brother will be back soon enough.”

“We’re finally leaving this wretched place, so what’s half a year? Let’s go quickly!”

Seonja Wi tried hard to say cheerfully to change the atmosphere. Soon, the men turned into streaks of light and disappeared, and Seonja Wi looked at the secret chamber where the Mountain Lord had entered with deep eyes before disappearing.

* * *

Inside the secret chamber, where a faint light shone.

The Mountain Lord tapped the ground with his hand and chanted a spell.

Then, the Yongyeomsam [fire ginseng] planted in the ground rose up.

The four Yongyeomsam were what the Mountain Lord had cherished and grown for 100 years.

“I’ve only grown them for 100 years, but they’re better than the original Yongyeomsam!”

They emitted a much richer fire energy than the Yongyeomsam imbued with the energy of the Hwagyoryong.

One of these four contained both golden and azure flames at the same time, boasting an especially outstanding energy compared to the others.

The Mountain Lord carefully placed them in a wooden box and attached a talisman.

The four Yongyeomsam had awakened their spirituality using Yongnoe, so their medicinal effects were even stronger.

They didn’t have intelligence, but that was enough. These four Yongyeomsam would be cultivated a little more and then used when ascending to Yeonggeop [a higher realm].

The Manyeok Ilgeom had also reached the 6th Star, and he had reached the peak of Yeongmyeong Hukyeong, so it was time to prepare for the Jinsumyeonghwa to ascend to Yeonggeop.

“Shall we go now?”

The Mountain Lord tidied up the secret chamber and called Tamhwa to wrap around his wrist.

As he went outside, Manho, who was chatting with Jangcheon, tilted his head.

“You stay here, and you come with me.”

“I am not under Yuksa’s command.”

Jangcheon said with a sigh.

“You’re going to follow me anyway to keep an eye on me. Well, if Daegam tries to kill me, you won’t be any different. Well, if I’m going to die, I might as well die alone.”

“You’re saying such hurtful things again. How many years have we been together that you would say such things?”

Then the Mountain Lord smiled.

It had been almost 200 years since he had been with him. They couldn’t be called intimate, but they could be called friends.

He could trust Tal’s Bubeopju [a type of magic].

“I didn’t expect to hear those words from your mouth. Weren’t you saying that I was like a volcano that could erupt at any moment?”

“That was because I didn’t know Yuksa well then. Stop teasing me.”

The Mountain Lord, laughing like a childish old man, then stopped by Gyuyul’s secret chamber.

It was a place where ominous demonic energy and evil spirits flowed thickly.

The Mountain Lord hardened his expression and took out a sweet pastry from his pocket and threw it.

“Follow me just in case. It’s about time we left this place.”

Gyuyul, who received the sweet pastry, glared at the Mountain Lord with all his might before putting the sweet pastry in his mouth and silently rising from his seat.

He seemed to be awakening related secret arts with the Dharma image of the Bulgu Daechunma.

His energy was getting stronger and stronger, and he didn’t know when he would break his restraints.

‘It’ll be alright for now.’

But it’s still okay.

The Mountain Lord nodded and flew to Daegam as promised 100 years ago.

After flying for about an hour, the Geongonju [residence] where Daegam was staying came into view.

As if he had been waiting, Daegam greeted him with a bright face.

“Oh, it seems there has been progress in your training! Congratulations!”

“It’s thanks to the Yongyeomsam that Daegam gave me. Thanks to you, I was able to easily reach the highest peak of Hukyeong.”

“Hahaha! That’s not because of me! It’s because of your outstanding talent! Come on, let’s go inside! Ah, you wait here.”

The figure of Jangcheon, who was using Eunseul [a technique to conceal presence], was revealed. Daegam had forcibly released the Eunseul.

“…Yes.”