Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 314

Tales of the Spirit Blade – Part 2, Episode 23

That was the story of the previous Sangseo [a high-ranking official in ancient China, often involved in administration and record-keeping].

The Sa Clan were descendants of the Hwagirin [likely a clan or group with fire-based spiritual practices or lineage], so the place they chose as their base always had to be filled with fire energy.

What they found was the Geukyang Sangsan [Extreme Yang Sacred Mountain].

This very mountain.

“Hmm…”

Cheonbeom stroked his chin.

Originally, it was such a fiery active volcano that it emitted heat dozens of times a day.

“It’s even a bit chilly now.”

Cheonbeom and Hwaran.

And Wanhyeong entered Geukyang Sangsan.

To be precise, they entered the cave where the child Wanhyeong lived.

“I didn’t know you lived in Geukyang Sangsan.”

“I didn’t know the Divine Immortal would come here either.”

Wanhyeong fidgeted, seemingly embarrassed.

“Do you live here alone?”

“Yes.”

“Since when?”

“About 10 years.”

“Hwaran.”

“Yes. Just a moment.”

Hwaran took out the registry from her bosom and examined it.

It was a bit strange that a young child had been living here alone for 10 years.

“That’s right.”

Hwaran’s expression turned strange.

-He was almost killed in an attack with his parents, but only that child survived.

-Really?

Upon receiving and examining the registry, it was as she said.

Wanhyeong’s parents were originally alchemists who worked in Geukyang Sangsan, but they were severely injured in a Seonchung [likely a type of monster or calamity] attack and died of their illness a few years ago.

According to the registry, Wanhyeong also suffered severe injuries that should have been fatal.

‘He looks perfectly fine on the outside.’

Earlier, when he grabbed his wrist and channeled his energy into his body to observe, he didn’t feel anything particularly wrong.

He was even healthier than other children.

“Alright, Wanhyeong. We came to look around Geukyang Sangsan. Since you happen to live here, I’d like to ask you to guide us. Would that be alright?”

“Ah, yes! That’s not difficult at all!”

They followed Wanhyeong, who cheerfully told them to follow him.

The cave where Wanhyeong lived seemed narrow, but as they walked, it gradually widened, revealing a space that looked like a cavern.

Perhaps this was where they used to produce and refine magical artifacts using the fire energy of Geukyang Sangsan.

‘A place where blacksmiths would have worked.’

It didn’t seem that different.

There were signs of formulas and related items here and there, but the overall structure wasn’t that different.

The space was larger than expected, and there were glimpses of facilities that seemed to have required a large number of people.

Like a huge cauldron that could fit about ten adults, or tools like supports that would have held it up.

‘It can’t be used now.’

Covered in dust and rust, it looked like it would crumble if touched.

“It’s colder here.”

“Indeed.”

It was hard to believe that this was once a place where fire energy overflowed; there wasn’t a trace of warmth here.

Rather, the further they went inside, the more they felt a chill.

Only the remnants of this place hinted at Sangsan’s glorious past.

“I understand the Seonchung attack… but how did the volcano’s fire go out?”

“Who knows?”

If Cheonbeom knew, he would have already reignited it and restored it.

Cheonbeom’s guess was that, based on various records, Geukyang Sangsan was one of the Five Elements Spirit Mountains with the essential energy for creating Subongwaeoijeong [likely a powerful artifact or technique].

As such, the disappointment was great. He didn’t come here with time to spare.

“How is it, Mountain Lord?”

“I’ll need to look around a bit more to know for sure… but from what I’ve seen so far, there’s no hope.”

He had hoped that he could somehow restore it to its original active volcano state, but with not a trace of fire energy left, it seemed a bit difficult.

‘Could the Seonchung attack alone have caused all the fire energy to disappear without a trace?’

He couldn’t help but feel doubtful.

“Is there a Yeongnaesan [Sacred Inner Mountain]?”

“Yeongnaesan?”

“What they call Naesandan [Inner Core Mountain]… something that could be called the core of this mountain.”

“I don’t know about that. However… there is a place that was quite important to protect in the past. I’ve never been inside because the adults told me not to, but I know the location.”

“If you don’t mind, would you guide us?”

If Geukyang Sangsan, which appeared to be a Five Elements Spirit Mountain, had declined to this extent, there was a high probability that the Naedansan did not exist.

Still, he had come all the way here, and he couldn’t be sure without checking.

“The path is a bit rough, so be careful.”

“Don’t worry.”

As Wanhyeong said, the space gradually narrowed, and there were many bizarre rocks.

“Mountain Lord, look at this.”

“What is it? Is this a rock?”

“It’s a bit strange to just call it a bizarre rock, isn’t it?”

The outer surface is stone when you touch it… but its appearance is a bit strange.

‘It looks like a person.’

Literally, it was a rock in the shape of a person.

Such rocks stood or lay scattered among the narrow paths.

At first glance, you might think they were just rocks, but if you looked closely, they all had such shapes.

“Is this a Seonchung?”

There were also several stones in the shape of insects. At this point, it seemed that when Geukyang Sangsan possessed its original spiritual energy, it might have turned all those who approached it into stone as a protective measure.

‘Did they pour lava on them?’

He couldn’t know for sure, but he roughly guessed that was the case.

“Were these here from the beginning?”

“Well, I don’t know. Some were here from the beginning, and some appeared recently.”

He heard that they were attacked by Seonchung, so it seemed that some stones were created at that time.

Cheonbeom gave Wanhyeong, who spoke as if he was familiar with the place, a strange look.

“Ah, it’s here.”

The direction Wanhyeong pointed to was a dead end. He wondered what it was and examined it closely, and there was a small gap in the wall along with several letters.

“I’ve only come this far. I’ve never been beyond this wall.”

Toc toc [sound of knocking].

Hwaran knocked on the wall.

The sound spread without interruption, indicating that there was space beyond the wall.

“Shall we break it down?”

“Just a moment.”

On the left and right sides of the wall, unrecognizable letters were arranged symmetrically.

Cheonbeom immediately recognized them as Seonchuk letters [likely an ancient script or language] and his eyes widened.

Then, his golden eyes opened.

“What do you see?”

Cheonbeom became a Sangseon [a high-level immortal] and achieved the Trinity, forming a complete Wonyuok [likely a state of spiritual perfection or enlightenment].

As a result, his eyes had long since changed to gold.

However, the foundation of those eyes was the golden soul of Geumbakjiju [Golden Branch and Jade Tree], Geumgin [Golden Essence].

It seemed that what was contained in his eyes had bloomed and turned gold.

The pupils of the golden eyes originally had the shape of Geumbakjiju, and up to eight pupils could open, but Cheonbeom could currently only open a maximum of four.

This was also because there was no need to use more than that.

‘Shall I try it today?’

Huuuung!!

A powerful energy spread around Cheonbeom.

To open this stone gate sealed with Seonchuk letters, two methods were needed.

One was to break the seal itself with strong force, and the other was to use the art of unlocking to gently release it.

However, the former seemed to take some time even for Cheonbeom.

At first glance, it seemed like a simple seal, but it looked quite old.

Seals that are simple to make are often more difficult to break than complex ones.

Therefore, Cheonbeom decided to use the eyes of Danryeonggeumjeong [likely a special ability or technique].

One pupil.

As soon as he opened the first gate, the sealing formula existing around the gate was reflected in his eyes.

Soon, Cheonbeom’s eyes opened again.

When the second pupil opened, another Dharma gate [a spiritual barrier or gateway] surrounding the formula was visible.

But this was not enough yet.

The third pupil opened.

Jureureuk [sound of liquid flowing].

Blood tears flowed from his eyes.

Soon, the fourth pupil took its place and began to expand again.

And soon, his fifth pupil.

When the Five Gates (五門) opened.

The world changes.

The Seonchuk letters located on the stone gate were unraveled. The Seonchuk letters themselves, which contained several letters, changed into something else.

The letters gathered together like butterflies and transformed into the shape of a beast.

It bared its teeth at Cheonbeom and was wary, as if it had a will.

Looking at its appearance, it was like a horse, and looking at its horns, it was like a deer.

But its brave face was like a dragon, so Cheonbeom could immediately recognize what it was.

‘Girin [Qilin, a mythical hooved chimerical creature in East Asian cultures].’

Cheonbeom, with blood tears flowing, reached out to the Girin that had been sealed.

The Girin, made up of several letters, seemed to shrink back as if fearing his hand.

“It’s okay.”

Sararararak [sound of rustling]!

At the same time, the Girin turned into several letters again and disappeared, and a huge rumbling sound was heard from all directions.

“Oh! T, the door is opening!”

Wanhyeong shouted.

The stone gate, which had been tightly closed, began to open as if the seal had been released.

“What did you do?”

“It’s nothing. I just slightly adjusted the sealing formula and exploited a loophole.”

Cheonbeom covered his forehead and closed his eyes as if he was dizzy.

Hwaran took out a handkerchief and wiped away his blood tears. He could tell at once that it was not as easy as he said.

“What’s inside?”

Hwaran explains instead for Cheonbeom, who cannot open his eyes because they hurt.

“There’s a lake. And in the middle, there’s a gaunt tree.”

The space inside the stone gate was quite large.

A very clear lake was located, and in the middle, a parched tree stood tall.

Cheonbeom narrowed his eyes as he looked at the tree towering over the lake.

It’s not an ordinary tree.

In the first place, you can tell by the fact that a tree is rising inside the mountain.

That is probably something related to the Yeongnaesan of Geukyang Sangsan.

“Shall we go?”

Cheonbeom stepped onto the shore of the lake.

Seueueueuk [sound of freezing]. With an eerie energy, the shore of the lake froze instantly.

“Mountain Lord?”

“I didn’t do it.”

Before he knew it, the nameless tree was shining blue and gathering round energy around it.

“It seems they don’t like us approaching.”

The tree was completely covered in ice, just like the frozen lake.

“Mountain Lord, it’s dangerous.”

“No, it’s okay. Hwaran.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Come closer.”

“Yes? Now?”

“Quickly.”

Hwaran, who was puzzled, turned into flower petals and permeated Cheonbeom’s body.

As Hwaran disappeared, Cheonbeom slowly turned around and looked at Wanhyeong.

“Wanhyeong. How old are you?”

“Fifteen.”

“You’re mature for fifteen.”

“I often hear that.”

“Yes, but who are you?”

“Yes? I’m Wanhyeong?”

He didn’t know what he was suddenly talking about.

That was the face he made. But contrary to that, Cheonbeom raised the corners of his lips.

“I didn’t ask if you were Wanhyeong. All the way here, you didn’t seem to care even when you saw things that even adults would be afraid of.”

He wondered if it was because he was young and fearless, but it didn’t seem like it.

He thought he was used to it, but even when he came to this place that he said he was visiting for the first time, he didn’t bat an eye.

“Even until the moment when the lake and the tree were completely covered in ice.”

As if he was used to it.

As if it was natural.

Cheonbeom did not miss Wanhyeong’s demeanor for a moment.

“It was written that the wound you suffered was one that even a minor immortal could not have survived. Well, I guess so. Who would have thought anyone could survive with a hole in their chest and dantian [energy center in the body] caused by Seonchung? It’s difficult for even a divine immortal to survive if their heart is torn and their dantian is destroyed.”

Yet Wanhyeong survived.

Cheonbeom, who had observed his body, couldn’t believe it for a while even after hearing the story.

Wanhyeong had healthier and stronger Seongeun [spiritual roots or foundation] than other minor immortals.

He absolutely did not think he was a child whose heart and Danseon [Dantian Line] had been destroyed.

“Yet you are alive.”

Wanhyeong’s face turned cold.

Like the lake that froze in an instant.

“…I was just lucky.”

“In the affairs of the world, old and young are uncertain (老少不定) [idiom meaning age is no guarantee of anything], so you don’t know when an old man or a young man will die or how they will live.”

That’s why they say it’s incomprehensible (不可知解) [idiom meaning impossible to understand].

But.

“There must be a reason why you are alive.”

There must be a reason why he survived even with an injury that should have killed him.

Whether he survived or became something else is unknown.

“I’m just an insignificant minor immortal.”

“Are you really a minor immortal?”

“What do you mean….”

“A truly insignificant minor immortal would have already been suppressed by the energy I emit and knelt on this cold floor. But you, who are only a minor immortal who says you are fifteen, are talking to me without even changing your face.”

Wanhyeong’s face contorted.

“I’ll ask you again.”

Cheonbeom’s eyes flashed with a different color.

“Who are you?”