Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 161

Tales of Nangseon – Episode 160

At the heart of Taean lies Mount Tai, a renowned mountain of Dongak [an ancient kingdom in Korea, often used in martial arts settings].

Mount Tai of the Taishan School, boasting a long history stretching back to the Manbo era [a historical period, implying the school’s deep roots]!

However, ominous rumors about Mount Tai began to spread in Taean.

“Is it true? Did ‘Mount Tai’ really disappear?”

“It’s true! I saw it with my own two eyes!”

It was a bizarre rumor that Mount Tai, a famous landmark of the east, had vanished overnight.

“No, listen. Suddenly, Mount Tai was filled with brilliant five-colored light, and then, as if struck by divine punishment, it collapsed with a tremendous roar!”

The man tilting his cup at the tavern spoke, and the others were half in doubt.

How could it be possible that Mount Tai, which had stood for thousands of years, had disappeared overnight?

“It’s not just Mount Tai, you know? There’s also Chukgi Mountain, one of the famous ‘Dosan’ [mountains known for Taoist cultivation] mountains in Taean! That mountain too….”

“Chukgi Mountain as well? Heavens… what is the world coming to, that mountains renowned for their spiritual power are disappearing overnight!”

In Taean, ominous rumors of disappearing mountains were spreading like wildfire.

And at the center of those rumors.

“Congratulations, Lord Mountain Spirit.”

Inevitably, the Mountain Spirit was involved.

Above the former site of Chukgi Mountain.

The Mountain Spirit sat in serene meditation, eyes closed.

Floating on a lotus pedestal made of five-colored light, he looked every bit the immortal.

“What is there to congratulate?”

The Mountain Spirit said calmly, gathering his energy. He showed no surprise.

“No one has ever taken an Inner Mountain [the spiritual core of a mountain, a source of power] before. Moreover, shattering a sacred mountain is unheard of, and you’re going to do it three more times, so congratulations are in order.”

He thought it was just a congratulatory remark, but listening to it, it sounded sarcastic.

Perhaps one must listen to the end to grasp the true meaning of words.

Even if it’s not a person speaking.

“Why are you like this again? The Chukgi School is the weakest among the Six Caves [a coalition of Taoist schools], so it was inevitable to act in advance, wasn’t it?”

He wasn’t fighting just one school, but a coalition of six.

So, it was a natural course of action to cut off the weakest school first.

The Chukgi School only had Grandmaster Taeseon [a high-ranking Taoist master], so they couldn’t stop him.

The Grandmaster was poisoned by the Poison Flame and wasn’t even on Chukgi Mountain, so why wouldn’t he do it?

He simply made a threat, sent the disciples to Mount Baek, and took the Inner Mountain, so it wasn’t difficult at all.

“I’m worried that Mount Baek might burst if you do that a few more times.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. We can provide them with more abundant resources and supplies than other schools, so it’s not bad for them either.”

The principle of the Taoist world is that demand exceeds supply.

But the Mountain Spirit can accommodate it.

So, it’s better for them to return to Mount Baek and become disciples of Mount Baek.

What Taoists ultimately desire is immortality, and to become an immortal, the right cultivation methods, practice, and elixirs are essential.

“In that regard, Mount Baek is superior.”

Aside from the high density of spiritual energy due to the divine tree’s aura, the growth rate of precious spiritual herbs is also very rapid due to its beneficial effects.

So, no matter how many disciples there are, it can be managed.

Even though the disciples of the Taishan and Chukgi Schools combined number four hundred, that much is easily manageable.

“I’m worried about what might happen if they harbor ill intentions someday.”

“There’s no end to settling grudges; everyone is the same, so I’m just going to embrace them. And you don’t have to worry too much. I have a way.”

If one were to unravel the tangled web of grudges, who wouldn’t feel wronged?

Even the Mountain Spirit wouldn’t have taken the Inner Mountain of the sacred mountain if the Six Caves hadn’t threatened him first.

“And they were the ones who coveted what was mine first. So, shouldn’t I take everything they have as well?”

It’s a virtue to return what you’ve received in this world, so it’s right for the Mountain Spirit to treat them as they’ve been treated.

Good for good, evil for evil.

“By the way, I didn’t expect the mountain to collapse when I took the Inner Mountain. They say that mountains with Inner Mountains have a will, and that wasn’t wrong.”

He didn’t expect the mountain to attack first when he tried to take the Inner Mountain.

It was when he tried to extract the Inner Mountain using the secret technique written in Subongwaeojeong [likely a fictional or obscure Taoist text].

As if knowing, the rock walls crumbled or slowly compressed to kill the intruders.

Even the Mountain Spirit felt a chill down his spine when he had to withstand the weight of an entire mountain.

“It’s a bit concerning that I have to do this three more times, but it’s a good thing after all. I have to fight the Six Caves anyway.”

After saying that, the Mountain Spirit put his hands behind his back and looked towards the distant sky.

Shortly after.

Several lights flashed in the sky, and colorful beams descended.

Flash!

When the dozen or so beams faded, familiar old masters revealed themselves.

“You villain!!”

The old man in the center, Thunder Master, roared.

“You… you dare to… Mount Tai…!!”

“Chu, Chukgi Mountain…!!”

The old master next to him must be Grandmaster Song of the Chukgi School.

His trembling pupils searched for Chukgi Mountain, which had soared high into the sky, but all he saw were collapsed piles of stones.

His aimless eyes could only glare at the Mountain Spirit with rage.

“Baekshan School, you villain!!”

“You’ve come out already? I was wondering where you were hiding like a stash of money, so I was thinking of going to the Chamjeong School next.”

Unlike the enraged Thunder Master and Grandmaster Song, the Mountain Spirit’s voice was calm.

He even seemed relaxed.

“Are you angry that your precious sacred mountain disappeared at the hands of someone you ignored?”

At that, the Thunder Master and the Taeseon old masters were speechless with disbelief.

To have such an attitude despite facing ten Taeseon-level Taoists!

They were almost intimidated by his imposing figure, but they raised the corners of their mouths, knowing what he was relying on.

“Are you so stiff-necked because you believe in that petty poison art? As expected of a monster beast, you’re as dull as a carp!”

At the scathing criticism, the old masters lifted their lips and smirked.

“Poison art? Are you talking about Poison Flame? Ah—so you were hiding because of the poison, like rats? Haha… it was just a greeting…. Come to think of it, you still haven’t completely gotten rid of the poison, have you?”

The Mountain Spirit grasped their condition at a glance and spread his hand, creating a flame.

At that, the old masters all flinched and stepped back.

Why wouldn’t they, when it was the red Poison Flame that they had suffered so much to deal with?

It was just a remnant of the chronic Poison Flame that the Mountain Spirit possessed, but it was a suitable flame to threaten them.

“Why are you so scared?”

“Who’s scared!”

“You! Your manners are terrible!”

He shouted loudly, but he couldn’t hide the fear that flashed in his eyes.

The Mountain Spirit twisted the corner of his mouth as if he knew everything, and his face turned red as he huffed and puffed.

“You! What kind of trick did you use to collapse an entire mountain!!”

“There’s no reason to tell you.”

The Mountain Spirit smiled and said to the gathered Taeseons.

“If you come under me now, a sacred mountain like Mount Tai and Chukgi Mountain won’t disappear.”

“Nonsense! What are you all doing! If we leave that guy alone, all the sacred mountains in Taean might collapse, so let’s execute that demonic bastard right now!”

Everyone nodded.

The Mountain Spirit clicked his tongue as if he was a little disappointed and released the aura of eternal life.

Soon, two large pairs of wings sprouted from his back, and a whirlwind raged.

One was a normal feathered wing, but the other was made of iron.

“Mane Wing…?”

“If it’s Mane Wing, isn’t that the blunt treasure [a powerful magical artifact] called the treasure of Mount Song?”

How could he have that!

Not only were the rare materials difficult to obtain, but the success rate was so low that even in Mount Song, there were few who possessed it!

“I heard that Mount Song uses Mane Wing as the basis for their immortal magic, so they place a restriction to prevent it from falling into the hands of others, but I wonder how that guy has it….”

“What does it matter? If we kill him, Mane Wing will also fall into our hands, so just think about that!”

“Ah, I understand!”

Before they knew it, the Mountain Spirit’s appearance had also changed to that of a boy, and two horns had sprouted on his head.

It was the appearance of Transformation [a powerful ability to change form].

“Die, you demonic bastard!!”

Thunder Master took out a golden vajra [a ritual weapon symbolizing power] from his chest and threw it.

The vajra left Thunder Master’s hand and immediately caused golden lightning, striking in all directions.

Kwajajajajak!! Kururung!

True to his name, he was a Thunder God Taoist, wielding powerful lightning.

However, the Mountain Spirit raised the corner of his mouth and flapped his wings once.

Swish!

With a blue flame, the Mountain Spirit’s figure appeared 100 yards away.

Kwaaaang!

The ground where the Mountain Spirit had been exploded due to the powerful lightning, and rocks scattered in all directions.

“Did you think I would just stand still and face you when you’re ganging up on me like that!”

“You’re not the only one who can use Contraction [a technique for rapid movement]! Your arrogance is piercing the sky!”

The Mountain Spirit flapped his wings once more, and this time he appeared 200 yards away, and when he flapped again, he appeared 300 yards away.

“What…!”

The faces of Thunder Master and his group wrinkled as he instantly contracted to a point they couldn’t sense.

The divine sense [spiritual awareness] of the early stage of Eternal Life is 100 yards.

And the middle stage is 200 yards, and the later stage can sense 300 yards.

Of course, the distance one can contract is also affected by the divine sense!

Moreover, contracting over a long distance requires a lot of concentration, so even Taeseons take time.

“But how can that guy…!!”

To contract 300 yards at once!

Thunder Master also contracted 300 yards away, but he couldn’t sense where the guy had run off to with his divine sense. His elusive movements were ghostly.

“It seems that the wings that guy had were a blunt treasure. Otherwise, there’s no way he could use such divine power!”

It wasn’t certain, but there was no way a guy who was only in the early stage of Eternal Life could contract like that without being affected by the blunt treasure.

“What can we do? It seems that the blunt treasure is no ordinary item, so we can’t know where he is!”

“We have no choice but to split up and search!”

That was the only way.

If they didn’t find him quickly and stop him, all the sacred mountains in Taean might collapse.

If they weren’t careful, the Taoists based in Taean might scatter because of that guy.

If there are no sacred mountains, there are no Taoists.

They couldn’t help but be anxious.

“That guy’s divine power is no ordinary thing, so I’ll search for him alone. You two split up and search for him!”

After saying that, Thunder Master disappeared, creating golden lightning.

“There’s no choice. Good luck!”

Soon, the Taeseon group split into two, and all of them parted the sky with grim faces, scattering beams of light.

And the next day.