Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 171

Inside the Cheonho Army encampment, carved into the face of a massive rock, a young man was deep in meditation.

Luminous energy radiated from him, and small lotus flowers bloomed in the air around him. Just looking at him gave the impression of a divine immortal, but what was strange was the presence of another man in front of him.

The two men, identical in appearance, continued their meditation for a while before opening their eyes simultaneously.

“It’s about time I got up,” one said.

“As you wish,” the other replied.

Although they looked the same, the aura each exuded was distinctly different. One possessed a pure and clear energy, while the other reeked of sinister poison.

“Then, please do me a favor.”

“Is there any need for such formality? I only need to guard Mount Baek and assist you, the main body.”

The two were none other than San-gun, the leader of Mount Baek, and his incarnation. San-gun patted his incarnation’s shoulder and turned away.

‘This should be sufficient,’ he thought.

He hadn’t used his own Hwaryeong [spiritual essence] to create the incarnation, so there was no decrease in his cultivation realm.

San-gun’s incarnation possessed the realm of Yeonggeop Chogyeong [Nascent Soul Initial Stage], so Mount Baek would be safe unless faced with an exceptionally powerful expert.

Since they were connected by their souls, he could immediately sense any danger unless they were more than ten thousand miles apart.

Although there was a risk of the incarnation’s ego growing stronger and betraying him if left unattended for too long, he could simply return to Mount Baek from time to time to prevent that.

‘There’s no way I’d be unable to return to Mount Baek for over a thousand years.’

No matter how he considered it, that was impossible.

San-gun looked around inside the Cheonho Army’s storage, carefully examining the various treasures.

Most of the treasures were being refined, entangled in various laws. Many were close to Jibo [Supreme Treasures], and throwing just one of them into the Dogye [mortal realm] would cause a bloodbath.

Most of them were items seized from the Taeseon [Celestial Immortals] during the recent Seondo [Daoist competition].

“Too much is worse than not enough.”

He would only take the most powerful ones and give the rest to his incarnation.

Since the incarnation had to protect Mount Baek in his place, he couldn’t equip him with ordinary treasures.

San-gun pulled out a red cauldron and handed it to his incarnation.

It was the nameless red cauldron used by the Thunder Master. By utilizing the purple energy within, it could steal an opponent’s treasures, making it more valuable to refine and use than anything else.

Then, he stopped in front of a specific room, his expression turning serious.

‘Subongoeoejeong…’

One of the things that troubled San-gun was the secret art of creating an Yeongnaesan [Spiritual Mountain] inside the body.

To achieve Subongoeoejeong [a state of internal harmony], one had to gather five Yeongnaesan first.

It was a difficult task, but he had already gathered five Yeongnaesan during the Seondo competition. However, he was having some difficulty uniting them.

In theory, it was possible.

But when he tried to put it into practice, there was a slight problem: they were ordinary Yeongnaesan, not Ohaeng Yeongsan [Five Elements Spiritual Mountains].

‘Putting them in my body is a bit…’ he hesitated.

The size and nature of a Daoist’s Naedan [Inner Core] were completely different. It possessed the mysteries of Gokgongjigan [Heavenly Craftsmanship] and the power of Naedan, so it was only natural that he didn’t know what kind of harmony would occur if he recklessly put them into his body and united them.

If complete unity wasn’t achieved, his body would explode and he would die, so how could he easily attempt it? Even San-gun, who was known for his bravery, felt fear.

“I went through so much trouble to collect them, but I can’t use them… It’s no different from having a uselessly good-looking dog.”

He wasn’t sure yet.

If he could experiment a few times, he would have done it right away, but the materials were so precious that he couldn’t dare to do so.

‘Even Sawoljehang [a master craftsman] can’t replicate them.’

But he couldn’t just let them rot like this, as his hard work and time would be wasted.

San-gun pondered for a moment before making a decision, forming a hand seal and moving his lips. The various Yeongnaesan, each with its own shape, floated in the air and flowed towards his incarnation, guided by his hand.

“Have you made up your mind?” his incarnation asked.

San-gun nodded and replied, “The treasures I possess and the body that has achieved Gyuncheonbohwa [Heavenly Balance] are already powerful enough. Achieving Subongoeoejeong might allow me to overcome the Cheongeo [Heavenly Tribulation] that I would receive when breaking through to the realm of eternity, but it’s still too early.”

San-gun was still in the Yeonggeop Chogyeong realm.

There was no need to worry about it yet.

Besides, he lacked confidence. It was better to experiment on his incarnation’s body first.

‘It’s going to take time anyway.’

San-gun, who would be wandering around, would find it difficult to achieve Subongoeoejeong, as he would have to stay quiet for hundreds of years while achieving it. It wouldn’t be bad to give it to his incarnation, have him achieve Subongoeoejeong, and then think about how to retrieve the completed version later.

‘It’s good to have an incarnation for things like this.’

He could do several things at once, which saved time. Although there were many restrictions, creating an incarnation was a good choice.

After placing several treasures into Gongjeonggang [a spatial storage artifact], San-gun left the Cheonho Army encampment.

Outside, the dark night sky stretched out in all directions. The bright stars in the sky were particularly sparkling, and the crescent moon hung on the edge of the horizon, creating a sense of tranquility.

“What are you doing there?”

Before he could fully soak in the scenery, he noticed Tanhwa lying sprawled out in front of the Cheonho Army, fast asleep.

“It was hot, so I was sticking to the ground, but then I didn’t want to move… But when I opened my eyes, it was winter? Amazing!”

“Winter?”

As Tanhwa said, snowflakes were falling from the night sky, indicating that it had indeed become winter.

“Were you there since summer?”

“I guess so!”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking about.”

“Hehet.”

Seeing her smiling so happily made him chuckle as well. He stroked Tanhwa’s head for a moment, then looked up to see a middle-aged woman approaching and bowing respectfully.

“Have you been well, Master?”

“Yes. How is your body?”

“I couldn’t be better.”

It was Yeon-ah, San-gun’s disciple. She had ascended to Hwanseon [Illusory Immortal] and was calmly building her realm. Her lifespan had also increased to a thousand years, so she would have no worries for about 500 years.

If there was anything to worry about, it was one thing.

‘Should I get a Hwichundan [Youth Preserving Pill] for her?’

He was in the form of a young boy, but his disciple Yeon-ah had the appearance of a middle-aged woman with graying hair, which bothered him.

Originally, Daoists undergo Hwanggoltaltae [Bone Transformation] when they achieve realm ascension, that is, Seungseon (昇仙) [Ascension to Immortality], but their appearance does not become younger unless they undergo Banrohwandong [Reversal of Aging].

‘But unless I become a Taeseon…’

Banrohwandong was impossible. Men do not undergo Banrohwandong even after becoming Taeseon, but women generally prefer Banrohwandong over Hwanggoltaltae.

Who in this world would like to look old? It was a natural preference.

Of course, Banrohwandong is more restrictive than Hwanggoltaltae because the body itself becomes younger, and it is unsuitable for training because it grows slowly again. Practitioners with limited lifespans cannot waste time. Nevertheless, female immortals prefer Banrohwandong, so it was no wonder that there were fewer women than men.

‘Yeon-ah is also a woman…’

She wouldn’t want to maintain her old appearance.

“Are you about to leave?”

“Yes. As I told you, I made an appointment three years ago, so I have to go for a while.”

Yeon-ah nodded and glanced back, gesturing. It seemed like she was calling someone.

Then, a boy who had grown up enough to be called a man approached.

“Oh, are you in good health? No, are you very healthy! U, Unmo greets Master!”

It was Unmo.

“Yes. You’ve grown up a lot. As expected of a Hona [Descendant of the Bear Clan], your growth is rapid.”

He had already reached the end of Geomseon [Sword Saint]. It seemed like he would ascend to Doseon [Daoist Sage] soon with just a little trigger.

“Keep doing what you’re doing. I’ll also watch over your training after you come to Yongjeon [Dragon Battlefield].”

“Thank you, Master!”

Yeon-ah, San-gun, and Unmo shared various stories they hadn’t been able to tell. They exchanged anecdotes and imparted enlightenment on cultivation, but it seemed too early. It was too profound for Unmo to understand, and his head went blank, and Yeon-ah stood still like a stone statue for several minutes trying to comprehend San-gun’s words.

San-gun laughed heartily and sent them back, putting his hands behind his back. The gentle breeze brushed his cheeks and disappeared, but the voice that followed did not.

-Why did you accept Unmo as a disciple?

It was San-gun’s Geomnyeong [Sword Spirit], Hwaran.

“Unmo is a Hona who inherited the blood of Banung [Bear God]. Their clan doesn’t like to go out, so it’s difficult to form a relationship with them.”

Hwaran seemed to understand at once and revealed herself to ask, “You have something to gain.”

He smiled silently. No matter how much he liked Unmo, would he have taken him as a disciple without any reason?

There was a reason.

Afterwards, San-gun went to the top of Mount Baek, where Hwaun Ban Hong was leisurely flying over the lake called Cheonji [Heavenly Lake]. As he watched the scene for a moment, a red streak of light began to approach like a meteor from the other side of the sky.

“You’ve come,” San-gun said as if he had been waiting, and transformed into a blue streak of light and rose into the sky. Then, the red glow faded and a chariot led by three Gyoryong [Flood Dragons] appeared.

Around the sharp-looking black Gyoryong, Gwisoo [Ghost Soldiers] holding red lanterns were lined up in a row. The number reached hundreds, and the lanterns that adorned the night sky were like a red Milky Way, creating a spectacle.

Moreover, the sight of the Gwisoo stepping on the clouds was suitable for creating a subtle impression, so why wouldn’t it be? Strange and beautiful.

Such a sentence flashed through his mind.

The chariot was engraved with the pattern of Gugwi (九鬼) [Nine Ghosts], so it was easy to see who was riding in it.

“Have you come?”

As soon as he said that, an answer came back.

Bang!

“I’m here, you bastard!”

The door of the chariot opened and Gugwi, wagging her abundant tail, Kkamanghori [Black Fox] greeted him brightly.

“It’s been a while, San-gun.”

Hongyeon, who was driving the chariot, also greeted him happily. San-gun nodded repeatedly and welcomed them.

“You’ve come a long way, so I should treat you.”

“Um! It’s been a while since I’ve been to Mount Baek, so let’s stay for a while! It’s going to be quite a long way to Yongcheon, you know.”

Yongcheon, where the Baekgwi Yahang [Hundred Ghosts Night Parade] takes place, is located west of the Honghae [Red Sea]. It would be quite a long way from Mount Baek, which is located on the east side of the Honghae.

“If that’s the case, why did you come all the way here instead of just waiting? You have to go through the Honghae to get to Yongcheon anyway.”

“Hmph, I came here because I have something to do on this side, so know that.”

Kkamanghori said, crossing her arms, and San-gun nodded. However, when Hongyeon opened her mouth, Hori’s face turned red.

“I came here because you didn’t contact me even though the day was approaching. You couldn’t sleep well at night and kept asking when San-gun would contact you…”

“Wak! Uwak!! Ba, Baek Mountain treats guests like this!! O, it’s been a while since I’ve been here, so I should see how prosperous Baek Mountain has become!”

Suddenly, Hori screamed and grabbed San-gun’s wrist and shook it. It seemed like she wanted to change the subject.

“I heard that you caused another accident and the number of your disciples increased a lot? That’s good. Let’s have a bet to see how many there are compared to my Honghae!”

“A bet?”

“Th, that’s right! A bet! If I win, grant me one wish!”

“No, suddenly what…”

“Eit! What are you being so picky about! Are you going to do it or not!”

“There’s nothing I can’t do.”

Then Hori smiled slyly.

“You promised?”

“What kind of request is it?”

“It’s a secret!”

She was smiling slyly, looking quite confident.

‘I know that there are not even a thousand Gwisoo in the Honghae…’ he thought.

What kind of confidence is this?