Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 328

Tales of the Divine Swordsman – Part 2, Episode 37

Under the Sky.

The Heavenly Water Palace, nestled high above.

A sacred ground, a source of pride and self-esteem for the Water Realm.

Moreover, the Under Sky where the Water Palace was situated was also a place of considerable beauty.

“Have you ever been here before?”

“No. It’s my first time too.”

She looked around with curiosity, examining her surroundings.

The sheer size was immense, with countless towering pavilions and buildings.

Rather than sprouting haphazardly, they were arranged in a balanced manner, pleasing to the eye, and the streets were clean.

The defenses at the north, south, east, and west gates were impenetrable, and strangely, all those guarding this place were Upper Immortals [cultivators who have transcended the mortal realm].

They were said to be Water Immortals belonging to the Heavenly Water Palace.

Apparently, they were a rank below Celestial Warriors.

“First… the martial arts competition registration has already been sent, so I think we just need to find a place to stay for a while.”

“Right, is there a suitable place?”

“We’ll have to look for one now.”

Only three days remained until the start of the martial arts competition.

Until then, they just needed to rest and recover from their journey.

And half a day later.

“Why are there no vacant rooms!”

All they needed to do was find a place to stay, but there was no suitable accommodation.

To be precise, there were no vacant rooms.

“I guess so….”

The Under Sky was a larger and grander fortress than any place Cheonbeom had ever seen.

However, even more cultivators flocked here, creating a scene akin to a sea of people.

The Upper Immortal Martial Arts Competition.

As one of the few major events in the Water Realm, it was natural for cultivators to gather, and since they came in family units, it was very difficult to find vacant rooms.

Some others set up tents or camped outside the Under Sky.

‘Because the inside is disgustingly expensive.’

The capital of the Water Realm was indeed a capital.

The room rates were disgustingly high.

It seemed to be worth the price, but….

“Don’t you think one *nyang* [a unit of currency] is too much when it’s not even one *don* [another unit of currency, typically of gold]! ?”

“I think so too.”

Suitable places had long been pre-emptively rented out by other families.

While other families had connections or established networks in the Under Sky, the Sa Clan had none of that, which seemed to be why this situation had arisen.

Saha huffed and puffed, but also glanced at Cheonbeom, feeling upset.

At this rate, they might have to camp outside the Under Sky.

Since they couldn’t enter the Heavenly Water Palace before the martial arts competition, not finding accommodation meant camping was certain.

“Let’s look a little more.”

Saha suggested looking a little more, but it seemed like a waste of time.

“Forget it. I heard the food in the Under Sky is excellent, so let’s look around there and then go.”

“…Are you sure?”

“It doesn’t matter. What’s the point of a cultivator worrying about such things? Don’t worry about it and let’s just buy some food to take with us.”

“Then, shall we?”

There were no vacant rooms, so what could they do?

Saha seemed to want to provide a comfortable place to rest, even if it wasn’t luxurious, but Cheonbeom wasn’t the type to fuss over such things.

If he wanted, he could just take out a pavilion or a thatched house from the Gongjeong River [likely a magical or spatial storage area], so it didn’t really matter.

“Ah, it’s this way. Let’s go.”

Saha had already forgotten about it and, excited, grabbed Cheonbeom’s sleeve and pulled him along.

The delicious smells were already drawing them in.

As they entered the restaurant district, there was an abundance of large meats and dishes.

“What kind of meats are those?”

“They must be spirit beasts.”

“Spirit beasts?”

“Beasts influenced by the spiritual energy of the Upper Realm are called spirit beasts. Some are raised as livestock, and some are so powerful that you can’t even touch them.”

Spirit beasts.

It seemed to be a different concept from divine beasts.

Cheonbeom looked at the flower-shaped dumplings in the steamer and naturally thought of Tamhwa.

“Shall we try one?”

After buying one and taking a bite, the burst of juicy meat was superb.

The savory taste of the meat and the intense smoky flavor that enveloped the tongue were excellent.

He didn’t expect much from a dumpling sold on the street, but Cheonbeom was surprised by the unexpectedly superior taste.

“How is it? Delicious?”

“More than I expected.”

“That much?”

Saha also picked one up, put it in her mouth, and chewed, savoring the juicy meat that burst in her mouth, cupping her cheeks.

“Wow….”

Saha seemed surprised too.

If they bought a few and froze them, they wouldn’t spoil, so she should keep an eye on the ones that looked delicious and buy them when they left.

There was also spirit beast meat as big as a house, so if they took it, she would definitely like it.

‘Good.’

Having decided, he began to gather various foods by the armful.

He could afford the cost of buying this much food, and it was a necessary expense considering Tamhwa, who was waiting quietly at the Sangseo [likely a residence or sect headquarters].

“Please give me this too.”

It was then.

What Cheonbeom pointed to was spirit beast meat that was over ten feet long.

It was top quality at a glance, but another person also wanted to buy it at the same time.

Naturally, heads turned.

“Oh, who is this? If it isn’t Celestial Immortal Cheon.”

“It’s Immortal Ho. I didn’t expect to meet you again in the Under Sky.”

It was Ho Junseong, who had previously trained with the Thunder God.

After arriving via the teleportation formation, they had been separated by their respective families, but he didn’t expect to run into him again in the Under Sky.

Ho Junseong was upright and had a similar affinity to the Thunder God, so Cheonbeom had built a good relationship with him, and he was happy to see him again here.

“I’ll yield.”

Ho Junseong stepped back, saying he would yield the spirit beast meat.

“Are you sure?”

“What is this that I can’t yield? I received a lot of help while training together, so you don’t need to worry about this much.”

“Then, thank you.”

Cheonbeom paid the price and used magic to freeze the meat solid, putting it in the Gongjeong River.

“Were you looking around the Under Sky?”

“Well… something like that.”

As he smiled ambiguously, Ho Junseong tilted his head and examined the Sa Clan’s lesser immortals beside him.

There were still traces of soot on their clothes from the Thunder God’s teleportation formation.

That was the same for Cheonbeom.

If they had settled in their accommodation, they wouldn’t have come out in this state.

He pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.

“I was inwardly grateful for the help I received from Celestial Immortal Cheon, and if you don’t mind, would you accept my invitation?”

“Invitation?”

“Yes. This can also be seen as a divine connection, so how about spending time with me, exchanging insights until the martial arts competition?”

He knew why he was making such a proposal.

Cheonbeom felt a little awkward, wondering if he had caused unnecessary concern.

“Are you sure? I’m worried this might be a burden to Immortal Ho.”

“A burden? Exchanging insights with an Upper Immortal who possesses the same Thunder God is a great blessing for a cultivator.”

You never know what might happen.

He didn’t expect things to turn out this way.

It was an unexpected turn that he didn’t dislike.

Cheonbeom decided to accept his kindness. Ho Junseong, whom he had seen so far, was a true cultivator with a good character, kindness, and an appreciation for consideration and gratitude.

He couldn’t say for sure that he wouldn’t plot anything, but at least he wasn’t someone Cheonbeom feared.

“Let’s go. I’ve rented a fairly famous pavilion in the Under Sky, so there are many rooms left, and there will be no shortage of anything.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Immortal Ho.”

“Haha, gratitude? There is no such thing as kindness without a reason in this world, Celestial Immortal Cheon.”

That meant he wanted something.

But looking at his playful expression, he knew what he wanted.

“Would it be enough to help you with the previous Thunder God training?”

“Hahaha, you see right through my thoughts. If you would, I couldn’t ask for more.”

“It’s a training that is also very helpful to me, so I don’t know if that will be enough.”

“It’s enough since Celestial Immortal Cheon, whose divine power is not Thunder God, is helping me. This is all my grand plan to prevent Celestial Immortal from training his divine power in preparation for the martial arts competition.”

“Haha, I guess I have no choice but to fall for it even knowing it. Alright! Since we’ve decided to do that, I’ll help Immortal Ho’s training until the Thunder God wears out.”

Cheonbeom took the Sa Clan’s lesser immortals and headed to Ho Junseong’s residence.

It was a high-rise pavilion that was worth the boast.

It was one of the most expensive pavilions in the Under Sky, and a high-class tavern that most families couldn’t even dream of.

After roughly washing up in the assigned room and changing clothes, he met Ho Junseong and had a meal together.

The conversation with him had a simple taste.

The conversation, which contained courtesy that comfortably considered the listener, continued in a good atmosphere for Cheonbeom as well.

“Oh, right, since this is also a connection, I’ve invited one of the cultivators in charge of the Pyeong Clan for this martial arts competition. Would that be alright?”

“If it’s someone in charge….”

“It’s a member of the Pyeong Clan.”

He was indebted to Ho Junseong, but where he belonged was still the Pyeong Clan.

In a larger sense, he was indebted to the Pyeong Clan, so it was natural to have a meeting to greet them.

That was etiquette and duty.

“I should have greeted you first, but I didn’t think of it.”

It was then.

Creak.

A woman with neatly tied red hair appeared as the door opened.

Her first impression was sharp, but her confident eyes were quite impressive.

‘Somewhere….’

It was a face he had seen before.

He had never seen her before, but somehow there was a familiarity as if he had seen her somewhere.

“Hello. I am Pyeong Gayeon, the eldest daughter of the Pyeong Clan.”

Red hair that seemed to burn.

A sharp appearance.

It was a black palace bow that made her stand out.

Cheonbeom blankly looked at her, then realized and stood up from his seat.

“Celestial Immortal Cheonbeom of the Sangseo’s Sa Clan.”

Pyeong Gayeon smiled and sat down between Ho Junseong and Cheonbeom.

“I was very curious to know who the person Immortal Ho praised so much was.”

“Hey, you don’t have to say things you don’t need to say.”

Ho Junseong was embarrassed as if he was ashamed.

“I just meant that I was also curious, so don’t take it too much to heart. Even from the outside, you are so outstanding that I am looking forward to your future endeavors.”

“You flatter me.”

“Flatter you? That’s not true.”

Pyeong Gayeon said so and picked up a bottle of alcohol, pouring it into his glass.

Pour, pour.

The scent of a woman wafted strongly.

Her slender neckline and elegant figure entered Cheonbeom’s eyes without hesitation.

“Immortal Ho is a cautious person. I’ve seen him that way for the past years, so there’s no need to say it twice. But such a person has almost never praised someone so much in seven hundred years.”

But he especially praised Cheonbeom.

That’s why Pyeong Gayeon was curious about him.

From what she heard.

“Your divine power is Fire God, but you handle a more powerful Thunder God than a Thunder God cultivator, and the enlightenment that comes with it is also extraordinary, so I would even like to ask for your teachings.”

“Ah, Miss Pyeong’s divine power is also Thunder God.”

“Yes, that’s right. Since we have this opportunity, shall we have a match?”

She didn’t even listen to his words of acceptance and gently gestured to take out lightning.

Pyeong Gayeon’s lightning was quiet and instantaneous.

The lightning that stretched out from her hand became black and red butterflies, flying above her head.

Cheonbeom couldn’t hide his surprise as he looked at her lightning.

“The Pyeong Clan’s Scarlet Lightning is always beautiful to see.”

That’s because.

The lightning she showed was Scarlet Lightning.

It was that of the Scarlet Lightning Lord.