Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 176

Tales of the Spirit Lancer – 175

Three days ago.

The selection of a Ghost King candidate is called the Hundred Ghost Night Parade.

And the test given to the Ghost Spirits is called the Ghost Tribulation.

“I haven’t experienced the Ghost Tribulation myself, but I’ve seen it. They say you have to enter the Curved Space [a pocket dimension or alternate reality] at the top of Iron Peak Mountain, using the Curved Space Treasure, and bring back something called a Karma Neighbor.”

“Karma Neighbor?”

“There are three Karma Neighbors there, and you only need to bring one back. It should be easy for you, Great Tiger, shouldn’t it?”

The Mountain Monarch, who had been listening to Hori with a sulky face, clicked his tongue.

“I understand. But why do I have to go through the Ghost Tribulation? I’ve received the mark of the Six Ghosts and recommendations from you and the Seven Ghosts, yet I still have to go through the Ghost Tribulation?”

As soon as Hori returned from the Ghost King Assembly, he told him about Yang Pae-yoon’s matter, but the response he received was that he already knew.

He was amazed by the Ghost Kings’ skills, but now he had to go through the Ghost Tribulation.

“How would I know? The First Ghost insists on it, and there’s nothing I can do…”

Seeing her looking a bit dejected, the Mountain Monarch had no choice but to swallow his sigh.

However, it was natural for the Mountain Monarch to feel uncomfortable.

Because it was a waste of time.

“It’s meaningless.”

The Hundred Ghost Night Parade gathers countless Ghost Spirits who enter the Curved Space and fight over the Karma Neighbor, which is called the Ghost Tribulation.

The number of Karma Neighbors is limited, and only those who safely bring one back become Ghost King candidates and receive the Hundred Ghost Thunder Tribulation.

However, that also requires a certain level of competence.

“The Ghost Spirits are at the level of Spirit Convergence or Spirit Manifestation [lower cultivation stages]. Do you think I can’t handle them?”

The Mountain Monarch is at the Spirit Calamity realm [a higher cultivation stage].

They are at the level of Spirit Convergence and Spirit Manifestation, which he could kill with a flick of his finger, so why should he go through the Ghost Tribulation?

As he complained, Hori looked around as if she had committed some sin.

It was then.

“Mountain Monarch. I suspect it might be because of the Taoists.”

Suddenly, Hongyeon stepped forward and said.

“Then I want to go even less….”

He had no desire to fight to the death with the Taoists of Bangok within the Curved Space. Who knows?

‘If Yoojung is there….’

A good ending didn’t come to mind.

This part needed to be weighed carefully.

His reasons for becoming a Ghost King were to deal with the Five Ghosts and to have a strong backing when Yoojung tried to take over Mount Baek.

Additionally, there was the Hundred Ghost Thunder Tribulation.

However.

‘If there’s danger in going through the Ghost Tribulation itself, it’s better not to do it.’

Even ignoring the advantages, it seemed better not to go through the Ghost Tribulation.

“You don’t have to worry about that. The Ghost Kings won’t just stand by and do nothing.”

“What do you mean?”

“This time, the Ghost Kings will also enter the Curved Space to monitor.”

If that was the case, then things were different.

“It’s a trap.”

“Yes.”

It seemed to be a scheme to wipe out the hidden Taoists.

At any other time, he would have nodded, but this time the opponent was Yoojung.

Even if a trap was laid, whether it was a trap for them or a trap for himself was something he wouldn’t know until it happened.

More than ever, he had to be extremely careful.

“Stay close to me!”

Hori, as if she finally understood the story, thumped her chest and said.

The Mountain Monarch, lightly ignoring her, sat on a chair and pondered.

‘I need a backing.’

If he became a Ghost King and it became widely known, various problems would arise, but those were problems that would arise when his life wasn’t threatened.

Mount Baek was in danger now.

Becoming a Ghost King was the right thing to do.

The identity of the Ghost King could be hidden.

At least, Mount Baek wouldn’t collapse overnight.

The Mountain Monarch pondered.

He pondered and pondered.

Then, he suddenly let out a hollow laugh.

“In the end, my worries are because of Yoojung.”

Whether it was because of the memory of almost being killed by him before, or because of the records he knew about Yoojung, he didn’t know.

But one thing was certain.

‘I was scared from the start.’

The Mountain Monarch closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them wide.

“Let’s give it a try.”

It was the moment he made his decision.

* * *

The top of Iron Peak Mountain.

“This is strange.”

He thought Iron Peak Mountain was a sacred mountain, but strangely, there was no spiritual energy at all.

It was like a mountain without spiritual veins.

He wondered why Siphaemancheok had built the Ghost King Pavilion in such a place.

The summit of Iron Peak Mountain was shrouded in thick mist.

Strict prohibitions and high-level illusion formations were set up, and as he entered as guided, there were huge stone pillars and bizarre magical characters densely written.

‘What is this?’

The huge stone pillars were placed separately, and all of them were inscribed with magical characters.

Rarely, they were blue, and even the Mountain Monarch couldn’t understand them.

It was ambiguous whether they were letters or drawings.

“Step back.”

Then, a man with long eyebrows appeared and said to the Mountain Monarch and the Ghost Spirits.

“That guy is the Second Ghost. He’s a man of few words and bad luck.”

Hori whispered from the side.

If you want to find fault, you should use telepathy.

The Second Ghost glanced at Hori as if he had heard him, and approached the stone pillar.

Soon, he moved his lips and chanted a spell, and blue and green lights flickered in the air, and the space opened up.

Screech!

The Ghost Spirits frowned at the sound of the space tearing. The blue letters on the stone pillars floated up in various colors and illuminated the night sky in blue.

At that moment, the other Ghost Kings revealed themselves one by one, making hand seals and chanting spells.

From the First Ghost to the Ninth Ghost.

The Sixth Ghost, Eighth Ghost, and Tenth Ghost were absent, but seven seemed enough.

A powerful wave of spiritual energy swept through, and the Ghost Spirits shut their mouths.

Soon, blue spirits floated up as if blue fireflies had appeared.

Then, the size of the spatial rift grew larger and the shape solidified into an oval.

At that moment, the Ghost Kings one by one withdrew their hand seals and calmly exhaled.

‘This doesn’t seem like an ordinary Curved Space.’

He had never seen this kind of Curved Space except when entering the Sword Spirit Island.

Thinking of Sword Spirit Island, a sense of unease suddenly arose, but he shook it off.

That place and this place were clearly different.

It was a place he could easily escape from, and the Ghost Kings would be entering with him, so there was no need to be afraid.

“Enter.”

A man with long hair.

The First Ghost spoke in a solemn voice.

His face was unreadable.

The Ghost Spirits looked at each other, and as one entered, they rushed in.

Tens of thousands of Ghost Spirits had gathered at the Hundred Ghost Night Parade, but only about four thousand were going through the Ghost Tribulation.

Most were at the Spirit Convergence and Spirit Manifestation realms.

Rarely, there were also those at the Spirit Illumination realm, but they didn’t seem to be aiming to become Ghost Kings.

“Let’s go in too.”

Hori grabbed the Mountain Monarch’s hand and said.

The Mountain Monarch nodded and jumped into the blue spatial rift in one go.

Thud.

He felt a slight resistance as if he had jumped into water, but it soon disappeared.

He felt like his body was stretched out, but it disappeared and he was standing on the ground.

* * *

The summit of Iron Peak Mountain, where all the Ghost Spirits had entered.

The Fifth Ghost stood still in front of the spatial rift.

After waiting for a while, a woman’s figure popped out from the ground.

“Mayu. I’ve been waiting.”

The woman was Mayu, the Fifth Ghost’s confidante, who had been ordered to monitor the Mountain Monarch’s every move.

Her stealth skills were so extreme that even those at the Spirit Calamity realm couldn’t easily notice her.

The Fifth Ghost looked at her with satisfaction and asked a few questions.

“Did you find his weakness?”

“Yes. I found it.”

It was welcome news.

The Fifth Ghost asked with a joyful expression.

“What is it!”

“His weakness is… affection.”

“Affection? That means….”

“Broadly, it’s Mount Baek, and narrowly, it’s relationships. All the people he has a connection with are weaknesses and painful vital spots.”

The Fifth Ghost understood at once and asked.

“Who is it! Who does he cherish the most!”

“That is….”

Soon, the Fifth Ghost’s wild laughter echoed through Iron Peak Mountain before slowly disappearing.

* * *

“Don’t let go of my hand. As you know, this is a dangerous place, so we don’t know when and where we’ll be separated.”

“I don’t think so.”

“That’s right! If you’re not careful, you can get lost for decades in the Iron Peak Labyrinth, so it’s only natural!”

As Hori said, this place was a labyrinth.

A labyrinth surrounded by forests.

“My Lord is right. It is said that this forest itself is a living treasure [a place teeming with rare and powerful natural resources] at the same time as being a Curved Space.”

“Do you mean a living treasure?”

“I’m not sure.”

Thinking of a living treasure reminded him of the crazy woman he had encountered before.

‘The Ghostly Yin Rakshasa was also such a body.’

The Mountain Monarch thought of her and shuddered, then erased her from his mind.

“But is it okay for me to be with you? It’s still a test and a Ghost Tribulation.”

“Uh….”

“It doesn’t matter. There’s no intention to test the Mountain Monarch, who is at the Spirit Calamity realm, anyway.”

As Hori hesitated, Hongyeon chimed in from the side.

“Is it the First Ghost’s arrangement?”

“I guess so.”

After exchanging a few skipped conversations with Hongyeon, Hori puffed up her cheeks.

“You guys only say things I can’t understand when you meet! You used to be like that, and this time you’re perfectly in sync!”

She suddenly shouted, and the Mountain Monarch and Hongyeon looked at each other.

“Now that I think about it, Hongyeon and I seem to have a lot in common.”

“That’s right. I have to exchange a dozen questions and answers with my Lord, but I don’t have to with the Mountain Monarch, so it’s comfortable.”

As she nodded and spoke, Hori frowned as if she was getting angry.

“Why don’t you serve me as your master instead? I’m confident I’ll treat you twice as well as that blackie [a derogatory nickname].”

“If I serve the Mountain Monarch as my master, will my chest, which feels as stuffy as if I’ve eaten sweet potatoes, feel a little relieved?”

Hongyeon glared at Hori and said.

Then, Hori bit her lower lip and tears welled up in her eyes.

Hongyeon and the Mountain Monarch were flustered.

“You don’t have to cry over that.”

“It was a joke. How could I leave my master and serve someone else?”

“Let go, you idiots! I didn’t cry, and I wasn’t upset!”

She shook off Hongyeon’s arm and shouted, looking like a sulky child.

She was saying it with tears in her eyes, so it wasn’t convincing at all.

“I didn’t ask if you were upset.”

Then, Hori’s face turned red as if it would explode, and she screamed.

“It’s noisy!”

“You’re the noisy one, blackie. Calm down.”

“It’s noisy! It’s noisy! It’s noisy!!”

Thump, thump, thump!

As she stomped on the ground, cracks spread across the floor like a spider web.

He glanced at Hongyeon, and she shrugged as if she couldn’t do anything about it either.

The corners of her lips were slightly raised.

She seemed to be enjoying it a bit.

“Sigh… ?”

Just as he was about to sigh and try to appease her.

Suddenly, he felt a presence in the air.

He raised his head and saw a huge object falling rapidly.

“Tamhwa.”

As he murmured, a black centipede popped out from his sleeve and instantly grew to hundreds of feet, blocking the Mountain Monarch’s path.

Koo-oong!!

A heavy noise erupted, and Hori, who had been acting neurotic, also widened her eyes.

“Wh-what is it!”

“It’s nothing much.”

He ordered Tamhwa to bring it, and what fell was a huge carapace [protective shell].

“It’s the carapace of the Master Turtle of Spring’s Pass.”

It seemed to be a carapace at the Spirit Convergence level.

He didn’t need to think about why this had flown in.

“The fighting has already started here and there… or the bastards have appeared.”

It meant that the Iron Peak Labyrinth, also known as the Ghost Tribulation, was not without reason.

As expected.

Kugugugugung!!

The forest moved on its own and began to undulate as if it were alive.

“Ah, Great Tiger!”