Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 178

Thud!

Dust billowed out in thick clouds.

Clotted blood and the headless corpse of the Guisu crashed to the ground.

The dense scales were torn apart, long devoid of their luster, and the once massive body was now fragmented and mangled.

Once, it had lorded over an entire mountain range, but now it was just a husk waiting to crumble.

“Is this enough?”

Beside the ruined Guisu stood a man, his surroundings completely covered in the Guisu’s flesh and blood.

Yet, the man himself remained untouched by a single drop.

A hundred-li [approximately 31 miles or 50 kilometers] radius around him was a sea of blood, with countless Guisu corpses strewn about.

A quick glance revealed that their numbers were quite substantial, easily exceeding a hundred.

“This is truly a peculiar place. I’ve heard many tales of the Ironworks Labyrinth, but to think that the very ground supporting this space is a living treasure… I can’t help but be amazed.”

Beside him, a girl with an indifferent expression silently nodded.

Her face seemed vaguely familiar; she was the very girl Sanguan had glimpsed during the Hundred Ghost Night Parade.

“Could you at least offer a response?

Even though I am the Great Elder of the Ilwol Sect, I don’t wish to look down on you like those others.

Throughout the entire world, there isn’t a Taoist like Miss So who will ascend to the Immortal Realm, save for the illusion of Goseon [a legendary immortal]. How could I possibly look down on you?”

Then, the girl glared at Yoo-jeong with sharp eyes and said,

“If you truly think so, then release the Geumje [a type of magical restriction or seal] you’ve placed on my body.”

“I cannot do that. You possess the Geumdan [a powerful elixir or core of spiritual energy], which can be called a true Cheongeun (Heavenly Root), and you are a descendant of an immortal.

You are someone who will become an immortal, and I have put in the effort to make it so. The enlightenment I can gain just by watching your state reaches the heavens. How could I possibly do that?

I may not be able to give up anything else, but I cannot give up on you, haha.”

Then, the girl let out a hearty, mocking laugh.

“When did you start looking down on me, saying I was neither human nor demon?”

“That wasn’t me, but the Taoists of the Ilwol Sect.”

“You are also the Great Elder of the Ilwol Sect, so you are not much different to me.”

The girl glared at Yoo-jeong as if filled with deep resentment before abruptly turning her head away.

She seemed to want to say no more.

“Haha… this is….”

Yoo-jeong smiled bitterly before suddenly turning his head and flicking his sleeve.

Whoosh! A short sword flew out from his sleeve like lightning.

In an instant, it flew and severed the head of an eagle perched on a tree.

Thud!

The eagle’s head fell, but soon turned into a piece of paper and burned away.

“Hmm….”

Yoo-jeong’s brow furrowed.

It wasn’t a conversation he wanted anyone to overhear.

But soon, he relaxed his face.

There seemed to be no need to worry.

He would kill them all anyway.

“Miss So. I don’t intend to criticize your attitude towards me, but I also believe I am accommodating you to some extent. I brought you here at your request, so please faithfully participate in the upcoming event.”

After saying that, Yoo-jeong rummaged through his sleeve and handed over a palm-sized scale.

“This is the Eoprin [a scale from a mythical or powerful creature] you desired. It is a unique treasure that can only be found in this Ironworks Labyrinth, wouldn’t you agree?”

Yoo-jeong smiled kindly as he handed it over, and Miss So couldn’t bring herself to lash out further.

“Isn’t it strange? How can such a treasure only be found in the recesses of the Guisu?

Such a precious thing couldn’t possibly arise here on its own.”

Miss So’s eyes subtly gleamed as she spoke, seemingly having a rough idea of what the Eoprin was.

“Do you know what this is?”

“I have a rough idea. Isn’t that why you wanted the Eoprin in the first place?”

Then, Miss So hesitated, her lips moving slightly. She seemed unwilling to reveal something.

However, Yoo-jeong didn’t ask further and quietly closed his mouth.

“I can’t say for sure what the Eoprin’s scale is from. Roughly….”

Soon, Miss So moved her lips and sent a telepathic message, and Yoo-jeong’s eyes widened.

“Is that really true?”

“I’m just speculating.”

“Isn’t it the scale of something akin to a divine beast?”

“It’s not certain. Besides, it’s like the difference between heaven and earth compared to the scale of a complete divine beast. A long time has passed, and its energy must have become tainted.”

Even so, a divine beast is still a divine beast.

The energy it contains must be more mysterious than anything else found in the Human Realm.

“Why is the Eoprin here?”

“Well, perhaps this place was where the divine beast ascended in the past….”

Or where it was sealed.

* * *

At the same time.

Sanguan’s face furrowed.

He pressed his temples as if his head was throbbing and revealed himself.

“You’re quick to notice.”

He clicked his tongue and manipulated the Hangbosain Sword within his body.

Soon regaining his senses, he organized the information he had obtained through the puppet technique.

“A giant sword of five colors, and Cheongeun… it’s all so confusing.”

Sanguan had achieved Gyuncheonbohwa [a state of enlightenment or power] and could wield the energy of Gyuncheono Gwang [a specific type of energy].

He couldn’t help but be concerned about the words ‘giant sword of five colors’.

It might just be paranoia, but….

‘I have a bad feeling.’

But this wasn’t the time to worry about that. The immediate problem was the Taoists of Bangok in the Ironworks Labyrinth.

And Yoo-jeong, who led them.

‘Miss So, huh.’

He was also curious about her identity.

Wasn’t she the one who had achieved Banbakgwijin [a high level of skill in disguise or illusion] to the point of deceiving his eyes?

Moreover, she possessed Cheongeun, which was said to be close to an immortal, so he became even more interested.

Sanguan paused to organize his thoughts before getting up.

First, he needed to join Hori, now that he knew her location.

It was about half a shijin [approximately 15 minutes of travel] away, so it would be quick if he flew slowly.

-It felt familiar….

‘!’

Sanguan’s eyes widened at the sudden voice.

He scanned with Shinshik [a form of spiritual or mental perception], but there were no traces within three hundred jang [approximately 900 meters] around him.

His Shinshik was comparable to Yeonggeop Hukyeong [a high level of sensory ability], yet he couldn’t find the source of the telepathic message at all.

That meant the person was at least of a higher realm than him.

Flap!

Sanguan immediately took out his wings.

Soon, blue flames ignited on his wings, and Bongak Cheonghwa [a specific type of divine fire] bloomed on his body.

He didn’t know who it was, but he wasn’t foolish enough to sit still and listen to a voice that he didn’t even know where it was coming from.

Even if they were a Jiseon [an earth immortal], they wouldn’t be able to keep up with the speed of Hwadun Sul [a fire-based escape technique] he unleashed with Manikpyeon [a specific artifact or technique].

‘Even if it’s a Jiseon!’

Swoosh! He flapped his wings at full speed to unleash Dunsul [an escape technique], and the speed was so fast that the trees were uprooted and the area was devastated by the wind pressure alone.

But strangely, the voice was becoming clearer.

-Keep running like that for the rest of your life. Let’s see if you can escape from me.

It was a calm tone, but he couldn’t miss the anger contained within.

After reaching Yeonggeop [a high level of cultivation], had there ever been a time when he felt so helpless?

He tried escaping into the bushes and burrowing into the stone walls to hide.

But no matter where he hid, the mysterious voice didn’t leave his ears.

-Have you run away enough?

Haa, haa.

Sanguan, dripping with cold sweat, stopped in his tracks, breathing heavily.

Soon, he formed a hand seal and moved his lips, and twelve silver swords sprang from his body, forming a sword formation.

The silver energy emanated intensely, creating a semi-circular barrier, and the mysterious voice exclaimed in admiration.

-Hangbosainmok [a sacred wood]? To think you made swords out of that precious thing, you’re quite something. But it will be difficult to block my voice with Hangmashinryeok [a divine power]? Give up!

Sanguan’s will began to waver at the voice’s relaxed attitude.

He had made twelve Hangbosain Swords from the Hangbosinmok in Baeksan.

They should be able to block most Shintong [supernatural powers] or evil energies in an instant, but he couldn’t block the mysterious telepathic message, which was absurd.

“Who are you!”

-That’s what I want to ask. I’m more curious about what kind of bastard you are to possess such a familiar energy.

Familiar energy?

Sanguan was also puzzled, but he didn’t let his guard down.

He secretly formed a hand seal with one hand and continued the conversation.

“Familiar energy? I don’t understand what you mean.”

-The fire energy you possess resembles the Bongak Cheonghwa of someone I cherish! Are you still going to deny it?

Bongak Cheonghwa!

Who had ever recognized it so quickly!

“Bongak Cheonghwa? Perhaps you are mistaken. I do handle Hwashintong [fire-based supernatural power], but it’s just a little insignificant fire play, not to that extent.”

He tried to play dumb, but it seemed that it wouldn’t work on this person.

-If you’re going to make excuses, make them more plausible! I can’t possibly fail to sense Bongak Cheonghwa! It’s an energy I had long forgotten, and I was going to show you some kindness, but a terribly wicked fellow has inherited that person’s legacy!

That person?

Could it be referring to Bongak Cheonsujo [the originator or master of Bongak Cheonghwa]?

There was no one else who could wield Bongak Cheonghwa except for Bongak Cheonsujo.

It was such a dangerous flame, and wasn’t it a flame that could no longer be obtained?

He knew the history of Bongak Cheonghwa better than anyone.

‘One can know Bongak Cheonghwa. But to say it’s a familiar energy….’

At least they had seen or felt Bongak Cheonghwa before.

If so, the person talking to him could be a fossil who had lived through the Manbo Era [an ancient era in the story’s world].

Sanguan’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

‘No… that’s impossible.’

The Manbo Era was hundreds of thousands of years ago.

There was no way those belonging to the Human Realm would still be alive.

-I can hear your brain working all the way over here. Anyway, you’re going to die soon if I leave you alone, so you should live your short life to the fullest.

Tsk, the sound of tongue-clicking struck his eardrums, and Sanguan’s head went blank.

“What do you mean by dying soon?”

It was an undeniable statement.

-You don’t even recognize the Geumje [a magical restriction or seal] in your body, so you don’t know when you’re going to die.

“Geumje? What is that….”

He couldn’t find anything like that even if he looked with a magnifying glass.

In the first place, Geumje? Who would have planted such a thing?

Sanguan had always lived by cleanly eliminating his enemies.

Among those who had opposed him, if there were any survivors, it would be Yoo-jeong and….

‘Hwanmong?’

But it was ambiguous.

If it was a realm that could kill him with just Geumje, it would only be Hwanmong, but there was no need to do so.

Hwanmong was the Great Dharma Lord of Talui.

He was not one to break promises.

-You wouldn’t know. It’s a Geumje placed by a figure from the Immortal Realm, so how would a mere Yuksa [a low-ranking cultivator] from the Human Realm know? Only someone like me would recognize it!

Figure from the Immortal Realm!!

That made him think of something.

‘Gyuncheonbohwa?’

What else could it be?

The only time he had a connection with a figure from the Immortal Realm was when he achieved Shingeom Habile [a state of sword mastery] and attained Gyuncheonbohwa in Geomryeongdo.

-It’s just a simple Geumje that’s nothing more than a tracking technique, but since the one who placed it is a figure from the Immortal Realm, you not only can’t sense it, but you also can’t easily erase it! Moreover, if an immortal placed it on a Yuksa from the Human Realm, it’s either to take your life or to capture you! Either way, you won’t be in good shape, so aren’t you as good as dead?

Sanguan’s strength drained away.

Everything seemed to fit now.

The strange man who wielded the Shintong [supernatural power] of the five-colored sword and was looking for someone.

He had felt a strange unease at the words ‘five colors’, but wasn’t that person an immortal who had descended from the Immortal Realm to capture him?

He was suddenly afraid, but he calmly began to organize his thoughts.

‘Nothing is certain yet.’

There was no proof that he was a figure from the Immortal Realm just because he wielded the Shintong of five colors.

There was still a lack of information, and he couldn’t say anything for sure.

More important than that was the voice that was talking to him.

He was curious about the owner of this voice.

Who was he, and what kind of person was he to say such things that shook him so much?

And what realm did he possess to be able to recognize the Geumje of the Immortal Realm at a glance!

After reaching Yeonggeop and folding space, he had even become arrogant, thinking that he was nearing the end of being a god.

But if he couldn’t even grasp a voice that was ringing in his ears, what could be called a god and what could be called a divine beast?

Sanguan felt a deep sense of helplessness.

It was as if he was being watched by someone while naked.

‘Haa….’

The sky was always vast and deep.

He thought he knew everything, but it was just the tip of the iceberg, a cloud.

Sanguan shook his head.

This was not the time to be doing this.

Too much information had suddenly come in, and his head was spinning.

But he couldn’t give up thinking just because he was dizzy. The first priority was to organize and gather information to distinguish between the false and the true.

First of all.

“Who are you…?”

From who he was.

He felt he needed to know.