Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 141

Romance of Nangseon – Episode 140

Ji-chung’s face twisted in frustration.

He was on the verge of cornering the beast. But then, a burst of five-colored light erupted from its body in a dazzling display.

Sensing the strange phenomenon, Ji-chung cautiously backed away.

“Kieeeing!”

With a piercing screech, a phantom emerged from the gray tiger’s body.

The phantom, shimmering with a spectrum of lights, circled the tiger before undergoing a transformation.

It shifted and morphed into swords of various shapes, which then emitted pillars of light.

Five pillars of light shot towards the sky.

Then, an unexpected event occurred.

Ji-chung’s prized Illusion Realm…

The Six Realms Unyielding Illusion was pierced through!

“What?!”

How could his Illusion Realm be breached? What was happening?

But the surprises didn’t stop there.

As the Illusion Realm dissipated, dark clouds began to gather ominously in the sky, accompanied by the rumble of thunder and flashes of lightning.

“Kuururung!” A deafening thunderclap, like the roar of a dragon, echoed through the area.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged, and spirit particles danced in the air.

Ji-chung, aghast, transformed into his true form and retreated to a safe distance.

*Jiiiiing.*

The sword phantoms, now solidified as pillars of light, materialized.

The five swords ascended into the sky, scattering brilliant five-colored light.

Only for a fleeting moment, as the swords then plunged down upon the tiger like shooting stars.

*Kkuung!*

The pressure of spiritual energy radiated outwards in all directions.

Not only were the surrounding bushes flattened, but even the Heaven and Earth Beads [likely a type of magical artifact or terrain feature] crumbled and vanished like sandcastles.

*Kwagagagak!*

Everything was drawn towards the tiger’s center, and a colossal sword image soared high into the sky.

The great sword radiated a brilliant five-colored light.

Surrounding it, a mandala [a symbolic configuration of geometric shapes] of five-colored lotuses floated and spun.

The five mandalas rotated like wheels, gradually settling into a circle behind the great sword.

Then, an even more intense five-colored radiance emanated, bathing the surroundings in an ethereal glow.

“What is this…”

Ji-chung was utterly dumbfounded.

But it was too soon to relax.

The dark clouds continued to gather, growing even denser.

The world was plunged into darkness, and the storm of thunder and lightning intensified.

This was no ordinary occurrence.

“Heavenly Tribulation of Lightning (天時霹劫)!!” [A trial by lightning, often associated with spiritual advancement]

A lightning tribulation, one of the trials on the path to enlightenment.

It could only mean one thing.

“A Spirit Beast Ascending to Divinity…”

For a Spirit Beast to undergo Ascension to Divinity so suddenly… he was speechless.

It was far too abrupt.

Even with meticulously accumulated power, attempting such a feat was risky, yet it was happening in the midst of battle!

It was preposterous.

Ji-chung calmed his racing heart and considered the situation with a cold, calculating mind.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t quite a Spirit Beast Ascending to Divinity in the traditional sense.

Since the beast was a Spirit Beast, it would first need to achieve a breakthrough in its cultivation before the tribulation arrived, allowing it to ascend to the Spirit Realm.

Only by enduring that tribulation could it achieve true transformation and gain a new body.

The beast’s current state was… peculiar.

The heavenly tribulation had arrived before it had even achieved a breakthrough in cultivation.

It was a phenomenon he had never encountered, or even heard of.

The surprise was fleeting.

A sneer crept across Ji-chung’s face.

Even if it managed to endure the heavenly tribulation and achieve true transformation, it would still be no match for him.

Its strength would be severely depleted by the ordeal, making it easy to finish off afterward.

He knew the power of the lightning tribulation all too well.

He had nearly perished because of it himself; how could he not be familiar with its destructive force?

“Endure it, then. Only then will I tear you apart and end your miserable existence!”

*Flash!*

The world was momentarily bleached white.

Immediately following the flash, the deafening roar of thunder reverberated through the air.

*Kwaaaang!!*

The Heavenly Tribulation of Lightning had begun.

Ji-chung, startled, retreated another hundred yards and crossed his arms.

If he were caught in the heavenly tribulation, he couldn’t guarantee his own survival.

Even if he somehow managed to survive, he would likely need hundreds of years to fully recover.

“Eight more to go.”

The image of the great sword that had been shielding the tiger’s body was valiantly withstanding the lightning tribulation.

Whatever its divine power, it was clearly extraordinary, judging by its ability to endure the initial onslaught.

But that was its limit.

The second lightning strike descended.

*Kuururukwang!*

The image of the great sword shattered into countless fragments.

It couldn’t withstand the full force of the lightning.

The tiger opened its maw, and a turtle shell spun into existence, rapidly growing in size.

*Kwaang!!* The lightning struck the shell, and it too shattered into pieces.

Following that, the third lightning strike descended, accompanied by a piercing scream.

Ji-chung watched with undisguised pleasure.

It was a shame that he was the only one witnessing this amusing spectacle.

Then came the fourth and fifth strikes.

And then the sixth lightning strike descended.

But the more the tribulation progressed, the more uneasy Ji-chung’s expression became.

“It’s enduring remarkably well.”

It was holding out far better than he had anticipated.

Most creatures perished by the seventh strike due to the exponentially increasing intensity of the lightning.

But strangely, this beast was enduring the onslaught with surprising resilience. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a faint five-colored light emanating from its entire body.

The mandala behind it was emitting a protective five-colored radiance.

That was what was blocking the lightning.

Soon, the tiger roared defiantly and gathered its remaining energy, unleashing a torrent of azure flame.

The azure flame coalesced into the form of a phoenix, which soared upwards before collapsing onto the tiger’s back.

Almost instantly, azure armor formed on the tiger’s entire body, and flames raged around it.

*Kwaang!!*

It was the seventh lightning strike.

Ji-chung’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

At that precise moment.

The spirit particles floating in the air began to converge in a single location.

The spirit particles, shining brightly beneath the oppressive dark clouds, gathered near the tiger.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was coalescing.

Ji-chung’s eyes flashed with realization.

“Ascending to Divinity at this point…”

It was utterly absurd.

How could it possibly ascend to Divinity while simultaneously being struck by lightning!

Ji-chung, who had been momentarily stunned, narrowed his eyes and cast a meaningful glance.

Then, he muttered to himself.

“No way… is that even possible? There’s absolutely no way.”

Normally, one would only undergo the Heavenly Tribulation of Lightning *after* ascending to the Spirit Realm.

Only then could one achieve true transformation, reflecting the evolved nature of their being.

But this beast was attempting the exact opposite.

It was enduring the heavenly tribulation first, and *then* attempting to ascend to Divinity during the chaos.

That way, it would enter the Spirit Realm and achieve true transformation as soon as the heavenly tribulation concluded.

Normally, it took anywhere from 50 to 100 years to reach the Spirit Realm.

The beast was undoubtedly trying to drastically shorten that timeframe by reversing the natural order.

Only then did Ji-chung’s mouth fall slightly open.

And he couldn’t help but let out a hollow, incredulous laugh.

“Isn’t that completely insane?”

A beast desperate to die.

Otherwise, how could it have even conceived of such a reckless plan?

If one achieved a breakthrough in cultivation first, the inner core within the body would transform into a spirit core, and the amount of spiritual energy contained within would increase dramatically, making the body inherently unstable.

That’s why one would typically spend around 50 to 100 years making thorough preparations to stabilize their form.

The beast’s goal must be to undergo the heavenly tribulation directly from the Spirit Beast stage and achieve the Spirit Realm before achieving true transformation.

Ji-chung’s face darkened.

If that were actually possible, one could potentially reach the Spirit Realm much more quickly.

But it was something that couldn’t be done unless one possessed two or three brains at the same time.

Ji-chung sighed and shook his head in grudging admiration.

“That beast is quite the prodigy.”

His tone was laced with regret.

“If it were a Sea Tribe member, its talent would have been highly valued and would have brought glory to the East Sea.”

But such thoughts were futile.

It was still a beast destined to die by his hand!

*Kwazazazak!!*

It was the eighth lightning strike.

The lightning was thicker and more intense than before, and its destructive power had doubled.

The beast’s entire body transformed into a mass of blades, making it appear round and spiky like a hedgehog.

Then, the final lightning strike descended.

As if a lightning dragon had manifested, it tore through the space with unrestrained fury and plunged downwards.

*Kwaaaaaaaang!!*

The blades covering the beast’s body shattered into fragments.

The tiger coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Its eyes grew dim, and its eyelids drooped heavily.

But it endured.

It was then.

The spirit particles of heaven and earth flew like rays of light, converging towards the beast.

The Spirit Beast’s Ascension to Divinity had begun in earnest.

A strange, oppressive spiritual pressure emanated from all sides.

Soon, spirit cores emerged from the tiger’s head and began to orbit around it.

The young beasts disappeared into the inner core, and the inner core shone brightly and underwent a transformation.

It pulsated as if it were alive and gradually began to take on the shape of a tiger.

At the same time, the twelve inner cores had somehow increased to fifteen.

As the spirit core transformed into a spirit flame, a pillar of spiritual energy soared high into the sky, and a giant tiger phantom appeared, roaring wildly.

With that single roar, a gale arose, causing the Daoists [practitioners of Daoism] who were present to stagger and collapse.

The other Daoists, who had been secretly observing from a distance, were all shocked by the awe-inspiring sight, or sighed softly, unable to conceal their envy.

In the midst of the chaotic waves of spiritual energy, the tiger’s body began to glow with golden light.

Horns fell off, and skin peeled away.

But in an instant, new horns sprouted, and new flesh grew, and wing bones began to emerge with a cracking sound.

It was a bizarre and unsettling sight.

And at the same time, gold and silver light intertwined, and its overall appearance underwent a dramatic transformation.

Overall, it now had a youthful appearance, but it possessed horns on its head and wings on its back, resembling a young boy.

Although it resembled Gung Biho in appearance, Ji-chung clasped his hands together and gathered his energy.

‘The lightning tribulation is over. Now is the perfect time to strike and kill it!’

Since the lightning tribulation had subsided, now was the ideal opportunity to eliminate the beast. As he slowly opened his clasped hands, purple metals coalesced between them, transforming into the form of a spear.

A fierce energy radiated outwards instantly.

Without hesitation, Ji-chung grabbed the spear and hurled it forward in one swift motion, like a javelin.

*Paang!*

It shot out with a deafening sonic boom.

The spear, which had vanished in an instant, was aimed directly at the boy’s head.

But then.

The boy’s eyes flashed with power, and he extended his hand.

Then, suddenly, a sword materialized in the air and split into hundreds and thousands of copies.

The divided swords gathered together, transforming into the shape of a mandala and rotating in a protective circle.

*Kkaaang!!*

The lotus-patterned mandala effortlessly intercepted Ji-chung’s purple spear.

“Ha!”

He let out a sigh of disbelief.

The mandala transformed back into ten thousand swords, hovered around the boy for a moment, and then disappeared as if melting into the air.

“…Now that you’ve reached the Spirit Realm, what can you, a mere beginner, possibly do to me!”

But the boy.

No, San-gun had no response.

He simply looked down at his hands, a slightly melancholic expression on his face.

At the same time, the boy’s figure vanished.

“You…!”

Soon, the figures of the two combatants disappeared from view.

A fierce explosion erupted in the air, and flashes of light flickered in all directions.

*Kwang! Kwang! Kwaang! Kwang!!*

San-gun and Ji-chung, who had revealed their true forms, confronted each other in mid-air. Blood was pooling on Ji-chung’s fist, which was covered in purple scales.

‘How…!’

He hadn’t anticipated that his fist would swell up simply from clashing with the beast’s fist.

“How dare you…!”

Just as he was about to unleash his rage.

He felt a strange, oppressive pressure, as if he were completely surrounded.

The moment Ji-chung attempted to close the distance.

A single sword materialized in the air, then split into thousands, all aimed at the ground.

The worst possible outcome!!

Blood spurted like a fountain, and Ji-chung, who reappeared in the air, clutched at one shoulder, his face contorted with pain.

His arm had been severed by the suddenly appearing Myriad Extremes One Sword.

The ten thousand swords instantly merged back into one and were now held firmly in San-gun’s hand.

“You bastard!!”

Ji-chung opened his mouth and spat out a cauldron.

The giant cauldron spun around, emitting a strange and unsettling energy. As Ji-chung struck the body of the cauldron, the lid flew off, and countless moths swarmed out, covering the area.

“How can you, of all people, possibly withstand the Nine Afflictions Venerable Title (九病尊號), renowned throughout the Hundred Insects Narrative (百蟲敍旁)!” [likely a reference to a famous text or collection of knowledge about insects and their poisons]

These were moths with wings dyed in mysterious and unsettling colors. As the powder falling from their wings touched the nearby leaves, the leaves instantly rotted and decayed.

It was a highly potent poisonous powder.

“Go forth and destroy him!”

The swarm of moths, numbering approximately three thousand, attacked San-gun all at once.

They quickly surrounded him on all sides and flapped their wings, scattering poisonous powder.

But San-gun merely sneered.

“It’s just a bug, after all.”

He slowly extended his hands.

Suddenly, blood rose from his hands and began to transform into dozens of swords.

“Blood Shadow Chaotic Swords (血英亂劒).”

It was the swordsmanship of Senior Sister Wei, no, Hwabong.

A fleeting moment of sadness flickered in San-gun’s eyes as he gazed at the crimson blood swords.

Hundreds of Blood Shadow Chaotic Swords, created in an instant, shot out in all directions.

The Blood Shadow Chaotic Swords were dyed with crimson light and twisted like blooming flowers.

Wherever the crimson light passed, torn and lifeless moths fell from the sky in droves.

Not only that, but as he moved his lips, blue flames erupted from the Blood Shadow Chaotic Swords and began to spread outwards in all directions.

It was San-gun’s Azure Blaze of the Phoenix.

“How can you possibly remain unharmed by the extreme poison that can kill with a single breath!”

San-gun even possessed the Myriad Poison Flame.

The poison of the Nine Afflictions Venerable Title, which was listed in the Hundred Insects Narrative, was simply not potent enough to affect him.

As Ji-chung let out a cry of astonishment and was consumed by resentment, five swords materialized next to the boy and took their designated positions.

Sword of Severed Hope.

Blood Shadow Chaotic Swords.

Myriad Extremes One Sword.

Armor Sword of Carnage.

Bone-Melting Ruler Sword.

As the five swords permeated San-gun’s body, five-colored light filled the air.

Ji-chung, as if his anger had reached its breaking point, transformed into his true form and moved his lips, chanting an incantation.

*Jiiing!*

Suddenly, the beast’s blood shone brightly and floated into the air. The blood coalesced into a bizarre formation and exploded with crimson light.

Soon, a dark blue baby dragon emerged from the beast’s head and opened its mouth wide.

It was the beast’s spirit flame.

Then, San-gun’s eyes narrowed in recognition.

There were some who resorted to using their own vital essence to unleash powerful divine powers.

It was characterized by the ability to temporarily draw out greater power than originally possible, but the side effects were severe and the technique could not be used carelessly.

“Kaaaaaaaak!!”

Ji-chung erupted in a deafening roar.

The crimson magic formation detonated.

From the round, layered magic formations, a dozen giant crimson dragons surged forth like bolts of lightning. It seemed to be an immense power that distorted the very fabric of space.

But San-gun didn’t even flinch and raised one hand high into the sky.

Five lotus mandala phantoms appeared on San-gun’s back and spun rapidly.

“Equal Heaven Precious Bloom (鈞天寶華).”

With those softly murmured words, San-gun threw a punch.

In an instant, the world was consumed by pure white light.