Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 466

Narrative of a Wandering Swordsman – Part 2, Episode 175

Step, step.

“Is it here…”

Sang Suseon, who had seemed to vanish, placed the crystal thorns on the ground and entered a vast underground cave.

Inside, strange stones abounded, many containing crystals of the same color as the Crystal Wyvern.

It was indeed the lair of the Crystal Wyvern; the space leading underground was quite enormous.

The space was large enough for two Crystal Wyverns, like the ones seen outside, to comfortably roam.

Sang Suseon grinned and strode inside without hesitation.

Soon, upon entering a specific area, Sang Suseon’s grin widened. Before him, blue crystals were piled high, filling an entire side of the cavern.

It was an enormous cache of crystal. Sang Suseon immediately retrieved a talisman from his pocket.

He affixed the talisman to the crystal wall, chanted an incantation, and soon the crystal burst open, revealing another chamber within.

“Yes!!”

Peering inside, Sang Suseon was filled with joy and excitement. Within were creatures that appeared to be the young of the Crystal Wyvern.

The saying that even a hedgehog loves its young held true. While the Crystal Wyvern was a formidable insect, difficult for even a High Immortal to face, its young were not. From the start, Sang Suseon’s target had been the young, not the adults.

“If I can raise these little devils [a playful, if somewhat sinister, term of endearment] well…”

He could not only enhance his magical artifacts but also command the powerful Crystal Wyvern insects. Sang Suseon was elated at the mere thought.

The Crystal Wyvern had a rather peculiar trait: whatever it consumed, it converted the nutrients into crystals to create thorns, and even its excrement was crystalline, making it entirely useful from head to toe.

“Even venturing into the chaotic Immortal Slaughter Battle, it will be easier to survive.”

Since there were three young, offering them to a high-ranking demonic immortal of a *gyodan* [a religious order or sect] and becoming his disciple wouldn’t be a bad path either.

“Oh my, how cute. So, Suseon used us as bait to preemptively secure these children?”

Startled!

Turning around in surprise, Ha Seonja, who had accompanied him earlier, was standing there.

“Oh, you’ve come… You’re in luck. I’ve discovered three Crystal Wyvern hatchlings, a most excellent find.”

Sang Suseon relaxed his expression and wore a satisfied smile.

“Where are the other Suseons?”

“Ah, it’s just me. Ja Suseon drew the attention of the Crystal Wyvern and is running interference, and Yu Suseon is probably taking cover for a while too.”

At the mention of being alone, the corners of Sang Suseon’s lips curved into a smile.

“I wouldn’t have been able to obtain these little treasures by myself. It’s only right to share if you’ve suffered together. Would you like to take one?”

“Is that alright?”

“Of course, we’ve come this far together. Anyway, I wouldn’t have been able to get these *guys* alone, so even if it’s a pity, that’s the way it should be.”

“Then…”

Ha Seonja looked at the crouching and wary young Crystal Wyvern.

They were still only the size of a palm, but if they matured, they would become as large as a small hill. If raised well, they would be worth more than ten fortunes.

“I’ll take this one.”

Ha Seonja levitated one into the air with telekinesis and held it in his hand.

And then, it happened.

Sang Suseon suddenly drew a curved greatsword and slashed at Ha Seonja’s back.

Clang!

Swoosh!

Barely managing to block Sang Suseon’s attack, Ha Seonja retreated, a smirk on his face as if he had anticipated it.

“Oh, your defenses are sturdier than I thought. How about blocking this one then?”

Soon, Sang Suseon’s arm twisted grotesquely, and he began to hack away with the curved greatsword.

Bang! Boom, boom, boom!

In an instant, the space erupted, and the greatsword moved like a sinister serpent, scattering tyrannical slashes.

However, Ha Seonja moved his body like a snake, dodging all of his slashes, and still wore a smile, showing his ease.

“Is that all?”

Ha Seonja, who was dodging so fast that afterimages lingered, asked leisurely, and a vein popped out on Sang Suseon’s forehead.

“That can’t be!”

Sang Suseon, as if enraged, bolstered his energy and unleashed Demonic Qi, and Ha Seonja smiled as if he had been waiting for it.

Whoosh.

Ha Seonja, who had vanished, suddenly appeared in front of Sang Suseon and struck his chest with an open palm.

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

As blood splattered, Ha Seonja immediately formed a hand seal, and a small bead escaped from Sang Suseon’s back.

The bead, thick with Demonic Qi, was Sang Suseon’s Core Orb [the source of a cultivator’s power].

“Y-You are…!”

No matter the skill difference, it was impossible to extract the Core Orb of a High Immortal with a single blow.

Ha Seonja snatched Sang Suseon’s Core Orb and swallowed it.

“Hmm, not a bad taste. Giving me the Crystal Wyvern as a gift too, Sang Suseon was a truly generous man.”

With those words, Ha Seonja kicked Sang Suseon away.

A High Immortal who had lost his Core Orb was like a beast without a heart, so there was nothing more to gain.

“How long are you going to keep watching?”

Ha Seonja, sensing something, smiled and spoke, and ripples appeared in the air as Cheonbeom revealed himself.

“I was admiring Ha Seonja’s skill, so please don’t be too angry.”

Cheonbeom gave a good-natured smile and clasped his hands in greeting.

“Was it a coincidence?”

To Cheonbeom’s question, Ha Seonja nodded, confirming it was.

“I also needed the Crystal Wyvern hatchling, but there was a High Immortal who had already explored this place before me. I wasn’t going to interfere, but since he used lethal moves first, I had no choice.”

“I see.”

Cheonbeom nodded in agreement, as if understanding.

She was a *Hyangseon* [a celestial being] who had lowered her cultivation and entered Gonggakchun, just like Cheonbeom.

Cheonbeom had roughly grasped the situation since the Crystal Wyvern had appeared: Sang Suseon had used his companions to satisfy his own selfish desires, and Ha Seonja had understood his intentions and followed him to take advantage.

“I thought it was a bit strange, but I didn’t expect that Yu Suseon, besides me, would also possess the cultivation of a Hyangseon. Most of the Hyangseons from the Demonic Realm are usually drafted into the Immortal Slaughter Battle, so I didn’t even consider it.”

“I don’t usually do anything noticeable. But there’s a slightly puzzling part, so may I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“It’s true that the Crystal Wyvern is a mysterious insect, but I don’t think it’s something that a Hyangseon like me or Seonja would covet.”

Moreover, raising the young has the disadvantage of taking a long time, even though it’s easier to handle.

High Immortals, lacking other resources, might diligently raise the Crystal Wyvern to protect themselves, but it was a bit unusual for a Hyangseon.

Besides, when Cheonbeom observed Ha Seonja, she possessed quite profound power.

She hadn’t revealed her full strength, but she was definitely a skilled person reaching the late stage of Hyangseon.

Therefore, Cheonbeom thought that there must be another reason why she came all the way here to target the Crystal Wyvern hatchling.

“You have a good eye. It’s true that it’s not something we would bother to lower our cultivation to find.”

“Then why…”

“Because there’s someone who wants this hatchling.”

A *guy* who wants the hatchling.

Cheonbeom’s eyes narrowed.

“Ha Seonja, you’re planning to get close to the Great Calamity Tree of Gonggakchun.”

“Yes, the insects living near the Great Calamity Tree are called Great Insects, and there are four Great Insects in Gonggakchun. They are called the Four Great Insects, and to catch one of them, you need this Crystal Wyvern hatchling.”

As Ha Seonja finished speaking, Cheonbeom nodded as if she finally understood.

“The adults of the Crystal Wyvern are not easy to handle, and the Four Great Insects are so cunning that they are no less than demonic immortals, so even if you put out bait, they won’t easily show themselves. But with the Crystal Wyvern hatchling, even the most wary *guy* can’t resist the temptation because of its unique scent.”

If that was the reason, it made sense.

“I need to prepare for that, but it won’t take too long.”

“What should I do?”

“The name of the Great Insect I’m trying to catch is Wolyaseoksu, an insect whose entire body is covered in Wolyaseok stone [moon-cloud stone]. It’s fast and uses strange divine powers. While I draw its attention, I’d like Suseon to strike it from behind.”

Ha Seonja said that Wolyaseoksu was an insect full of Wolun energy [energy of the moon and clouds].

Wolun energy referred to the power of the moon and clouds, and Wolyaseoksu was a mysterious insect made of it, so it emitted a power like moonlight hidden by clouds.

“The moon hidden by clouds…”

It was quite a poetic *guy*.

“It won’t be entirely bad for Suseon either. Even if you only get a little of Wolyaseoksu’s blood, you can gain effective enlightenment.”

Wolyaseoksu’s blood was called Wolyasu, and if you drank it, you could absorb Wolun energy whole, which would greatly help in breaking through barriers, and if you applied it to your skin, you could gain the hardness of Wolyaseoksu.

“You know Gonggakchun quite well. Thanks to you, I’ve been given the opportunity to broaden my horizons, and I couldn’t be happier.”

“Haha, it’s nothing. I’m just a foolish woman who couldn’t let go of her regrets, having survived alone among the Hyangseons who tried to conquer this place in the past and mostly died.”

Ha Seonja gave a refreshing smile.

“I asked something unnecessary.”

“No, it’s just a thing of the past. The transience of life is familiar to those of us who have lived for so long. There’s no need to look apologetic.”

Cheonbeom followed her, sharing many stories about Gonggakchun and enlightenment. Unlike her appearance, she had lived for a long time and possessed much enlightenment and knowledge.

There was much common ground in the stories about cultivation, and there was joy in sharing various knowledge.

“This should be enough.”

Ha Seonja, stating that this was sufficient, looked around and took out various rare items and magical artifacts from her pocket.

In the center, the Crystal Wyvern hatchling was sleeping peacefully as usual.

It seemed she was trying to set up a formation to catch Wolyaseoksu.

‘The Calamity Energy has definitely become thicker.’

Now it’s even visible to the eye.

The Calamity Energy, like purple powder, had become so thick that it was visible to the eye.

If it was this thick here, I wondered how much it would be in the center where the Great Calamity Tree was.

If Hyangseons fainted, how thick would it be?

The desire to explore and analyze what kind of properties and components the Calamity Energy had was raging.

“Please take this.”

Suddenly, Ha Seonja handed over the Crystal Wyvern hatchling, and Cheonbeom was puzzled as to why she was handing it over.

“We’re already in the same boat, aren’t we? I’m going to spread the energy of the hatchling widely with the formation, but just in case, would it be alright if Suseon suffered a little?”

“…What should I do?”

“It’s enough to spread the energy of the Crystal Wyvern hatchling and wander around. That way, Wolyaseoksu will lift its heavy butt, won’t it?”

Ha Seonja said with her usual refreshing smile.

It was only for a moment, but a sweet fragrance permeated the air, and Cheonbeom’s eyes blurred before returning to normal, and she nodded.

“…I will.”