Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 45

Nangseon’s Spirited Journey – 44

“I have a few questions. If you answer truthfully, there’s no reason not to spare you. I am a spiritual being, after all.”

“What? You’re saying you’re a spiritual being?”

“Yes. You attacked so suddenly; there was no time to explain.”

The reason for revealing himself as a spiritual being was simple.

First, it was to establish a sense of familiarity and prevent any unnecessary tricks. Second, it was to ensure he would get honest answers.

The world is vast, and divine powers are like the sea.

It never hurts to be cautious.

“Ask me anything! My divine powers are too weak to recognize you as a spiritual being. It’s entirely my fault.”

San-gun smirked inwardly and began to ask questions.

From how he entered this place, to who he came with, what he was doing here, and what he had done so far.

He found it a bit odd that Hwaran nodded in satisfaction after consulting with him.

“H-Have I answered all your questions?”

“Yes.”

San-gun said, raising the Nine Ring Blade.

“Y-You said you’d spare me! We’re both spiritual beings; there’s no reason to fight!”

As the monster’s face turned pale with fear, San-gun smiled wryly.

“There’s no reason *not* to kill you either.”

*Swoosh!*

The severed head of the monster trembled before it died.

However, San-gun narrowed his eyes and infused the Nine Ring Blade with spiritual power. Immediately, a dark, ghostly mist erupted.

At that moment, a white light shot out from the monster’s head, a spirit form that looked exactly like the dead monster.

With a smirk, he manipulated the ghostly mist, and the ghosts within pounced on the spirit form, tearing it apart before vanishing.

“Hoo- good.”

Unlike before, the Nine Ring Blade, now a complete treasure, could not only generate ghostly mist but also perfectly control the ghosts within.

The poisons contained within the ghostly mist no longer harmed him.

‘The ferocity of the ghosts has also intensified…’

The more ghosts contained within the Nine Ring Blade’s ghostly mist, the more powerful the blade would become. There was no reason to spare the monster.

“Very good.”

San-gun stroked the Nine Ring Blade once and extracted the monster’s core from its body, storing it away.

Then, he approached the Divine Tree.

-San-gun, our predictions were correct.

-Yes… As expected, a spiritual being who has reached the level of spiritual enlightenment is here.

As they had predicted, among the spiritual beings who had fled here, there was one who had reached spiritual enlightenment [a state of profound spiritual understanding and wisdom].

‘Nothing can be done.’

Having already entered this place, all he could do was hope not to encounter them.

He had been hoping that Hongyeon would help him, but even for her, finding San-gun within this illusionary formation would be difficult.

Therefore, San-gun had no choice but to escape this place with his own power.

-Still, the information we got from him is a consolation.

There were a total of five of them, one at the level of spiritual enlightenment and the others all at the level of spiritual convergence [a stage where spiritual energies begin to harmonize].

They had been fleeing from the Taoists when they stumbled upon this place and became trapped in the illusionary formation.

After that, they had somehow become separated and, after wandering around, discovered the Guardian Divine Tree and tried to take it.

That was the story the monster had revealed.

-Since he possessed divine powers of the wood element, he must have had a secret technique to move the Divine Tree intact.

The Divine Tree could be severely damaged or die immediately if carelessly uprooted or cut down. That was why even High Priest Gye could not handle it carelessly.

But this monster was well-versed in wood element techniques and knew the method.

It was a stroke of luck.

“Thanks to you, I’ve obtained the Divine Tree.”

Smiling, San-gun clasped his hands in front of the Divine Tree and recited the incantation the monster had taught him.

Then, he floated a small bead he had found in the monster’s possession into the air.

After a moment.

He placed the jade-colored bead into his possession and walked into the illusionary formation.

* * *

The faces of the Geumeun sisters were as pale as could be, as white as if they were about to die.

Their lips had also lost their color, cracked, and were stained with blood.

Drawing blood two or three more times would certainly lead to their deaths.

“Why aren’t you spitting out blood!” Han-soo frowned and roared as they gasped for breath.

Their situation was not good, especially since Han-soo and his group had also encountered monsters and fought fiercely, just like San-gun.

One monster at the level of Three Harmonies [a high level of spiritual attainment] and eight Taoist Immortals.

They had barely managed to kill it.

However, three of the Taoist Immortals who had been acting together had died at the hands of the monster, making the atmosphere the worst it could be.

Since it was a monster at the level of Three Harmonies, casualties were unavoidable.

But the problem was that a monster had suddenly appeared in the Cheon-yo Cave.

The other Taoist Immortals were greatly dismayed that a monster at the level of Three Harmonies had appeared in the Cheon-yo Cave, which was supposed to be managed by the Sumoon.

Who would have imagined that a monster was hiding in the Cheon-yo Cave?

Of course, this was a fact that Han-soo had hidden, and they had subtly realized it.

Naturally, the atmosphere became cold. Han-soo, on the other hand, blamed the innocent Geumeun sisters.

“Or are you waiting for another monster to appear like before? Perhaps you’re even colluding with the monsters!”

He was spouting nonsense.

But strangely enough, the anger of losing their comrades was directed at the Geumeun sisters, who possessed the blood of monsters.

It was ironic.

Even though they were Taoists who cultivated the Way, they were still people with emotions.

They needed someone to blame.

But how could they blame Han-soo, who had the backing of the Sumoon?

Naturally, their anger was directed at the Geumeun sisters.

Geum-mae and Eun-mae were frustrated, but there was nothing they could do.

Thus, they endured the resentment and sarcasm of the Taoist Immortals as they navigated the illusionary formation.

One hour after the group of five, with three dead, set out again.

“W-Wait a moment! Look at this!”

“What is it?”

“Ha! I’ve found it! I’ve found it!”

Suddenly, Han-soo saw a piece of grass sticking out of the wall and shouted with joy.

The Taoist Immortals tilted their heads, wondering what it was that made him so excited.

“I know you’re quite disappointed in me for not telling you in advance. The fact that a monster had infiltrated the Cheon-yo Cave and that I hid it… Honestly, I had no choice. I didn’t think you would have come here if I had told you there was a monster at the level of Three Harmonies.”

That was obvious.

A monster at the level of Three Harmonies was difficult for the Taoist Immortals to handle, so they would not have come if they had known in advance.

“I sincerely apologize for this. I’m sorry.”

Han-soo bowed to them in apology.

The Taoist Immortals accepted the apology with flushed faces. There must be a reason why he was suddenly revealing the truth and apologizing at this point.

“There were a total of five monsters who entered, but there’s no need to worry now. Because I’ve found this!”

Han-soo said again, looking at the grass on the wall.

“When I decided to risk coming here, my master told me to look for the Mangrang Grass if I had the chance. This is it! The Mangrang Grass is a mark left as part of a technique my master mainly uses!”

“Then that place is…”

“That’s right! This is where my master, due to some incident in the past, had a close friend die and created a resting place here, hiding them. He said he had also left the treasures that his friend used to use. He said he would give them to me if I could find them… I never thought I would really find them!”

Han-soo trembled and began to search the surroundings thoroughly. The other Taoist Immortals, unable to hide their joy, also began to search with him.

And after a while.

“Isn’t this what you’re looking for?”

“That’s right!”

Digging through the pile of stones, they found a small hole carved into the wall in the shape of a pentagon.

Han-soo was overjoyed and took out a spirit tablet from his possession. It fit perfectly into the hole, and *Kugugung!* The cave began to vibrate.

“Ooh.”

Light in geometric patterns appeared on the wall, and incomprehensible letters spread across it.

After that, the wall cracked in half.

There was a large coffin inside, with three medicine bottles, a red rosary, a purple gourd, and a luxurious brush placed on top of it.

“These medicine bottles are…”

Han-soo opened one of the medicine bottles, and a pungent odor filled the air.

He paused for a moment, thinking, and then, as if something had occurred to him, he frowned and explained, causing everyone to exclaim in admiration.

“Is that really the Ugly Lead Brocade Elixir [a legendary elixir with potent medicinal properties]?”

“That’s right! If you refine and consume it well, it’s a treasure among treasures that makes you immune to all poisons!”

“W-What about the others? Are they all Ugly Lead Brocade Elixirs?”

Han-soo opened the next medicine bottle and brought it to his nose. After smelling the last medicine bottle as well, he nodded.

“There’s only one Ugly Lead Brocade Elixir, and the other two seem to be elixirs I don’t recognize. I don’t know what they are, but judging from the similar smell, I think they might be immortal elixirs.”

The Taoist Immortals all nodded and began to look at each other.

There were a total of six treasures.

Excluding the Geumeun sisters, there were five of them, so even if they divided them one by one, there would be one left over.

“Ahem, I’ll take this medicine bottle containing the Ugly Lead Brocade Elixir and the brush. Surely no one objects to one Han taking two items?”

At Han-soo’s words, spoken with a smile, the other Taoist Immortals swallowed their groans.

It was clear that Han-soo had led everyone here, and it was also Han-soo who had brought the Geumeun sisters and received word of this secret chamber. How could they object?

He had hidden the fact that there were monsters, causing three Taoist Immortals to die, but the treasures and medicine bottles here were treasures that more than made up for it. He had weighed his fellow disciples and the treasures, and the treasures had tipped the scales.

When everyone remained silent, Han-soo took the Ugly Lead Brocade Elixir and the brush and retreated.

Now it was time for the four Taoist Immortals to look at each other and choose one each.

* * *

While the Taoists were engaging in a battle of wits over the treasures.

San-gun was feeling cold sweat running down his spine and was on edge.

-It seems like this is the karma for living peacefully all this time.

-…I don’t think this is the time to joke around.

In front of San-gun stood an old man with eight eyes, a smirk on his face.

Overall, he had the appearance of a human, but the monster’s eyeballs, which encroached on his temples, were something that could not be seen in a human.

“I thought the one had finally come, but it wasn’t him.”

San-gun’s eyes narrowed.

San-gun pondered for a moment, then smiled faintly and clasped his hands.

“Yes, I am called Yoo-jeong.”

“Yoo-jeong? Hehe, a human-like name. But how did you come to be here?”

San-gun’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

To recognize that he was not human at a glance meant that he had reached the realm of spiritual enlightenment, as he had guessed.

San-gun calmly explained that he had been gathering spiritual herbs when he was drawn into this place by the influence of the illusionary formation.

“Hmm… So you got caught up in it.”

The old monster narrowed his brow as if pondering for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“This is also fate. Follow this old one. And put down what you’re holding in your hand.”

Wince.

San-gun smiled bitterly and put the Willow Leaf Dagger he was holding into his possession.

He wondered what to do, but there was no way he had a choice.

After a while.

Ironically, the two began to walk through the Cheon-yo Cave together.

The monster moved strangely, as if seeing through the illusionary formation, and San-gun followed in the old monster’s footsteps.

“…May I ask something?”

“What is it?”

“I heard that spiritual beings are gathering in Seo-ak… What is the reason for that?”

In the future he knew, it was the Ten Thousand Feet Demons who were supposed to gather near Pal-gwi in Dong-ak, not Seo-ak.

So he was curious as to why they were gathering in Seo-ak.

“Hmm, one of the Three Fiends in the Ten Fiends has passed away, so what do you think they’re doing? Of course, they’re holding a Hundred Ghost Night Parade to choose a new Three Fiends!”

‘Hundred Ghost Night Parade!’

Why hadn’t he thought of that?

Since one of the Three Fiends had died, it was natural to hold a Hundred Ghost Night Parade to choose a new Three Fiends.

‘I understand now.’

One of the Ten Fiends, who should have died in the later part of the story due to Yoo-jeong.

Since the Three Fiends had died at San-gun’s hands, it was only natural that things would change like this.

After that, San-gun had various conversations with the old monster.

The old monster was affiliated with the Ten Thousand Feet Demons and was one of the subordinates of the Five Fiends.

He was one of the descendants of the Spirit Worm called the Captivating Spider in the Manbo era, and he was said to be a hybrid of the Spirit Worm and a spiritual being.

His name was Geum-gin.

“Geum-gin Yuksa. Does simply participating in the Hundred Ghost Night Parade and drinking the Night Parade Wine help with cultivation?”

“Of course. Drinking the Night Parade Wine not only increases your cultivation but also purifies the spiritual power within your body, so it’s only natural.”

San-gun couldn’t help but be amazed.

Just participating in it would allow one to accumulate a considerable amount of cultivation.

But.

What would happen if it became known that San-gun was the one who killed the Three Fiends? All the ghost leaders would probably be after San-gun’s head.

But why would he covet the Night Parade Wine?

As he smacked his lips in regret, Geum-gin chuckled.

“Do you want to participate in the Hundred Ghost Night Parade? If you want, I can’t say I wouldn’t let you in. Your spiritual power is purer than other spiritual beings of the same level, so I can even recommend you to Pal-gwi.”

Geum-gin spoke as if doing him a favor, but it was like a bolt out of the blue. To be under Pal-gwi, who was supposed to be in the middle of a war, was something he absolutely did not want.

“Haha, it’s alright. How could someone like me dare to put my name on the Ten Thousand Feet Demons? Your kindness is enough.”

“No. My eyes, which have mastered the Deceptive Vision, are never wrong. Your divine powers will surely overwhelm spiritual beings of the same level. If not, then…”

Geum-gin coughed for a moment.

“Ahem, anyway, someone like you can definitely become a Ten Thousand Feet Demon, so there’s no need to be so modest.”

“Yes, thank you.”

San-gun bowed and expressed his gratitude, but beneath his lowered head, his eyes were as cold as ice.