Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 263

Nangseon’s Return – Chapter 262

Completion.

A spirit insect resembling a hermit crab but with scorpion pincers.

Unlike hermit crabs, it uniquely spends its entire life with a gourd attached to its back instead of a shell.

It gained notoriety after a famous monk during the Ten Thousand Era used it as a parasitic insect, leading to the downfall of several thriving Seondo [Taoist immortal] sects and causing widespread alarm.

Its ability to traverse space makes it incredibly elusive, and the gourd on its back can even absorb space, making it deadly for even a Taesun [high-level cultivator] to approach carelessly.

Moreover, the path left behind by the Wangong [Space Gourd Insect] is riddled with spatial rifts due to its space-absorbing nature, making it a significant problem for cultivators.

Therefore, cultivators consider it a vile insect, and even mentioning its name is avoided.

After all, since they are creatures that live by traversing space, one never knows where or when they might be listening to your story.

“Kuh-uh-uh…”

Wangyeong, who had unleashed the Four-Division Seal, grimaced and clutched his chest, appearing strained from using excessive force.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I just overdid it a bit.”

Ye-un was more surprised and suspicious than pleased by Wangyeong’s successful sealing of the Baek San Sect Leader.

“I never imagined that the Master could control a Wangong as a parasitic insect.”

There had been no precedent for a cultivator controlling a Wangong since the Ten Thousand Era.

This was because very few could capture a Wangong, and most people never even saw one in their lifetime due to their elusive nature.

Even if one encountered it, they would likely be sucked into its gourd and die, so it was no wonder that no one controlled the Wangong.

“I, Ye-un, feel like I’m having my eyes opened.”

“Opening your eyes? It’s just an insect bond I acquired by chance. It’s no exaggeration to say that I’m still alive because of these guys.”

Wangyeong smiled contentedly and raised his hand, causing space to split open and a Wangong to appear.

The Wangong seemed to regard him as its perfect master, rubbing its face against his hand affectionately, eliciting a soft laugh from Wangyeong.

‘To handle that Wangong like that…’

Ye-un, who had been underestimating him, couldn’t help but feel tense again.

“I read in an ancient text that the Wangong is a spirit insect that humans cannot control, but it seems that was also incorrect. To control it so well…”

Wangyeong’s eyebrows lifted slightly, but he soon wore a gentle smile and chuckled.

“It’s an undeserved blessing.”

“I see. I once saw a passage in an ancient text that only another Wangong could control a Wangong. So, I wondered if perhaps Seonsa [Immortal Master] Wangyeong was a spirit insect that had achieved Transcendent Transformation, hahaha!”

“How could that be? You certainly know how to make amusing jokes, hahaha!”

“Indeed! If Seonsa Wangyeong were truly a Wangong, he might be the famous Myeol Gongaegal (Destroyer of Empty Space Temple) who marked an era in the Ten Thousand Era!

Unlike humans, spirit beasts and spirit insects are said to live for ten thousand years once they reach the Eternal level!”

A strange atmosphere settled between them as they smiled.

Ye-un, with a faint smile, changed the subject.

“By the way, what happened to the Baek San Sect guy? You didn’t just kill him, did you?”

“No. The Four-Division Seal, as the name suggests, only divides and seals into four parts. Of course, if left as is, he will eventually dissolve and die along with space over time, but we still have something to gain from him.”

They had not yet obtained the bracelet with the power to move the Celestial Lantern, so they couldn’t kill him just yet.

They would have to make thorough preparations and summon him again.

“That’s a truly amazing sealing technique. To divide and seal the limbs into four parts.

Since the original power is divided into four, even the most powerful guy wouldn’t be able to break the seal and escape, would he!”

“Of course. I have never seen anyone escape from the Wangong’s gourd in my entire life, so you can rest assured.”

He nodded involuntarily.

Ye-un was well aware of the Wangong’s reputation, so he was relieved and relieved again about that part.

He vaguely remembered hearing that the Wangong’s gourd was so strong that nothing could break it.

Since it was a sealing technique that imprisoned something in the first place, and it was divided into four parts, there was no way the guy could break the seal even if he were to die and be resurrected.

“Then, it seems like it’s time to settle the score.”

“Settle the score?”

Ye-un glanced at Pengjo, who was lying on the floor.

“Even if we take his bracelet, the Master hasn’t accurately determined how many more times the Celestial Lantern can be moved, has he?”

“Well, that’s true. The celestial origin energy contained in the bracelet seemed strong at first glance, but…”

No one knows what will happen.

Thinking this, Wangyeong, noticing Ye-un’s intention, was startled.

“Don’t tell me…”

“It’s better to have fewer heads.”

Pengjo is already half-dead anyway.

As long as they don’t know what will happen to the Celestial Lantern, there’s no need to keep him alive and create unnecessary trouble, is there?

“…Hmm.”

Wangyeong, who seemed like he was going to object, hesitated.

He seemed to be carefully calculating. Wangyeong’s eyes darted between Ye-un and Pengjo for a while.

“I’ll take care of it myself, so you don’t have to worry. The purpose of cultivation is ultimately ascension, not building friendships.”

“Ahem…”

Wangyeong didn’t say anything more.

Thanks to this, Ye-un approached Pengjo with a satisfied expression.

‘A Jiseon’s [Earth Immortal] body, what a windfall.’

For Ye-un, who practiced necromancy, the opportunity to possess a Jiseon’s corpse was nothing short of a stroke of luck.

He glanced over and saw that he was still breathing faintly, and although he had suffered major injuries, he seemed like he could be saved if treated.

But killing him also seemed easy.

Ye-un nodded and raised his hand in a single motion.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly tilting his head, he stared intently at Pengjo’s face and clicked his tongue.

“He’s already escaped.”

As expected, a Jiseon is a Jiseon.

Pengjo’s Hwaryeong [Soul Flame] had long since disappeared. No wonder the Geumjang Jiju [Golden Armor Warriors] who should have been protecting him were nowhere to be seen. It seems he had secretly escaped by transferring his Hwaryeong to the Geumjang Jiju.

A high level of necromancy also requires a Hwaryeong suitable for the body.

Without Pengjo’s Hwaryeong, this body cannot be used until a Hwaryeong suitable for the flesh is found.

It’s a shame, but there’s nothing that can be done.

He didn’t even feel when he escaped, so it must have been an extreme secret technique to escape with only the Hwaryeong. How could he chase after that?

“But I can’t just leave him alone.”

If he were to escape with only his Hwaryeong and inform the other Jiseon, things would become quite troublesome.

Ye-un pondered for a moment and then threw one of his canines.

The canine soon transformed into a frail-looking Jiangshi [Chinese Hopping Vampire].

“Chase him.”

“Yes, Father.”

Shwik.

Ye-un, getting up, looked towards a certain place with Wangyeong, where Guigyul with a pale expression was exuding a murderous atmosphere.

“How strange.”

Generally, Jiangshi rebel. The stronger they are, the more they want to kill their master and seek freedom.

That’s why necromancy is powerful but also avoided.

“But to be so angry, it’s truly bizarre.”

“That’s right. It doesn’t seem like an ordinary Jiangshi. His own divine power is also amazing, but to possess such a powerful Jiangshi… we might have all been defeated if we weren’t careful.”

That’s certainly true.

Not just any Jiangshi, but a Jiangshi wielding the ferocious power of an Incomparable Demon!

Moreover, doesn’t the greatsword he possesses exude the aura of a treasure?

For all they knew, that Jiangshi’s power was at least at the peak of Taesun or, if they were being generous, comparable to a Jiseon.

‘Or maybe not.’

Ye-un, stroking his chin, looked at Guigyul with interest and shouted.

“Anyway, I like him. You’re a fun guy, so I’ll have to take you!”

At Ye-un’s declaration, Guigyul frowned and swung the Guhwan Greatsword, covering the surroundings with a powerful ghostly mist.

* * *

At the same time.

Opening his eyes in the desolate earth, he chuckled as he looked around.

“I never thought a Wangong would come out of there.”

He hadn’t expected it. Moreover, there was nothing he could do. The Wangong was that powerful of a spirit insect, and Wangyeong, who controlled it, had also unleashed the Four-Division Seal, sealing the San-gun, so how could he react?

It all happened in an instant, so there was no way to stop it.

“It seems like I don’t have to worry about dying…”

Their goal is his bracelet.

In other words, to take away Tamhwa.

As long as Tamhwa is with San-gun, it seems there is still time.

“It’s a shame that my power is dispersed.”

He was momentarily frightened when his entire body was divided into four parts, but it wasn’t a physical division but a spatial one, so he wasn’t injured.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

However, San-gun’s expression wasn’t that bad, and the reason was none other than the space he was standing in now.

“Inside the Wangong’s gourd…”

It’s the first time he’s been inside, but it’s not the first time he’s heard stories about it.

“I had forgotten because it’s been so long.”

In the vast space, there are mountains cut in half, broken buildings, and all sorts of things gathered together.

In a way, it looks desolate and chaotic, but if you look closely, none of them are ordinary.

“Wangong are creatures that live by absorbing space, but their tastes are also picky.”

They don’t eat just anything.

Everything they eat is precious.

Even the mountain ranges, trees, buildings, and colorful sand dunes that seem to be cut into pieces exude an extraordinary aura.

They don’t eat ordinary space itself, but rather the high-density space that only Wangong can sense, so they devour spaces that they can’t even digest.

‘It’s similar to the Mokgeop [end of an era] that space undergoes.’

Although it is a vast space, there are clearly parts that are gradually disappearing.

That part is similar to the Mokgeop of the Jinmyeong Tree, creating a very familiar atmosphere.

“An ordinary person wouldn’t know what to do even if they saw these things.”

But he is different.

Even if it’s like a drop in the ocean compared to the existence of nothingness, the celestial origin energy here is moderately adequate, and although the power he can use is reduced because it’s divided into four, there is definitely power that he has gained by entering this place.

Whirr! The dust inside the Wangong began to gather on San-gun’s hand as he spread his grip.

‘Tamhwa and Bong may not be able to awaken, but this much is possible.’

The dust that began to gather like a whirlwind soon began to burn fiercely, and the vortex of flames gradually began to turn from red to blue.

It was San-gun’s Bongak Cheonghwa [Blue Lotus Divine Fire].

The Taicheon Oeyang Divine Art [Grand Celestial Outer Yang Divine Art], which he couldn’t use after descending to the Lower Realm, had been activated!

This was partly because San-gun’s power was dispersed, and also because the celestial origin energy here was more abundant than in the Human Realm.

San-gun, who was naturally excited, operated the Taicheon Oeyang Divine Art to the extreme, and soon the Taicheon Oeyang gradually increased in size.

The blue sun absorbed everything inside the Wangong, creating a violent storm, and cracks began to appear in the air.

Kugugugugugu!!

A deafening roar, as if the sky were collapsing, spread out in an instant.

This was because everything was being absorbed by the Law of Benevolence operated by the Taicheon Oeyang Divine Art, and everything was being decomposed by using the repulsion of cause and effect with the Law of Retribution.

“Keuk…!”

However, he couldn’t help but groan when the sun turned to the size of his palm, because he lacked the celestial origin energy to use any more, and it was difficult for his body to withstand it.

“Is this the limit?”

Just a little more and it would be done!

Just a little more and he could collapse this place, but he was one step short.

However, if he made it any bigger, his body wouldn’t be able to withstand it and he would suffer a great internal injury.

‘A way…’

He had to find a way.

This wouldn’t do.

He stared at the blue sun in his hand and racked his brain.

Benevolence and Retribution.

He repeated the Gyeol [hand seals] of the two laws and the Taicheon Oeyang Divine Art countless times in his head.

Arrange the laws of Benevolence and Retribution in your hand, with Benevolence on the center and outer edges, and Benevolence and Retribution woven together like a chain in between.

The repulsion that comes from it maintains the fire and manifests a powerful decomposition.

However, to maintain it, he needed the celestial origin energy in the atmosphere, and without it, he needed his own great power.

Although there is celestial origin energy inside the Wangong, it is woefully insufficient compared to the existence of nothingness, making it insufficient to unfold the Taicheon Oeyang, and San-gun’s body, which has not become a god and has not formed a Wonyuk [divine core], has not completed the vessel to contain the celestial origin energy and create great power.

Then….

“Cut off Retribution.”

And rearrange it again.

Benevolence on the outside, Retribution on the inside.

The pushing force on the inside and the pulling force on the outside act.

The Taicheon Oeyang is only getting bigger and becoming an empty shell.

But that’s enough.

Even if it’s empty, the sun is still the sun.

“All I have to do is burn it all away.”