Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 477

Tales of Nangsungan – Part 2, Episode 186

“A Celestial Tribulation?! For a parasite?! Is this… possible?!”

“Why wouldn’t it be? Originally, the cultivators of the Water Realm were nothing more than mere insects and beasts.”

Yeja was dumbfounded, as if witnessing something impossible.

It was only natural, considering that a dying creature had suddenly absorbed the energy of the Great Calamity Wood and triggered a Celestial Tribulation [a trial of lightning and divine judgment marking a being’s ascent to a higher plane of existence].

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a pure Celestial Tribulation.”

He had been sick of tribulations for a while, but it didn’t matter as long as it wasn’t directed at him.

Cheonbeom was also a little excited because Hwadam was unexpectedly undergoing a Celestial Tribulation.

Undergoing a Celestial Tribulation meant achieving transformation and heading towards the path of cultivation.

Perhaps he should now be called a cultivator instead of a parasite.

“Hmm?”

But a moment later.

Cheonbeom realized that his thoughts were wrong.

“What is it? Why is the Celestial Tribulation….”

The Celestial Tribulation, which was about to strike down, subsided.

This was the first time such a thing had happened, so not only Cheonbeom but also Yeja and Donlang were bewildered, not knowing what was going on.

Soon, Hwadam, who had been floating in the air, descended and spread gray energy in all directions, taking away the vitality of the plants.

Then, he slowly opened his mouth and spat out white spores.

The spores floated like dandelion seeds towards the Bireong.

The Bireong was startled and tried to burn the spores by emitting blue lightning from its entire body.

Pajijijik!

However, the floating spores did not disappear and soon attached to the Bireong’s body and took root.

The spores quickly took root in the Bireong’s body, increasing in size, sprouting, and spreading branches. The Bireong was horrified by the sight of the plant taking root in its body in the blink of an eye.

Instinctively, it struggled and shook its body to shake it off, and used lightning, but it would not fall off.

Gradually, the Bireong’s body began to dry up, and its eyes lost their vitality.

The sprouts that bloomed on the Bireong’s body now grew into trees, forming vegetation and bearing fruit.

And when the fruit ripened and fell to the ground. The Bireong’s head also fell off.

“…The match is over.”

Yeja stared at the dead Bireong with a hollow look, as if at a loss for words.

Donlang also looked at it as if he didn’t expect this result, then laughed heartily.

“In all my years, I never thought I would witness such an amazing bet! Celestial Cultivator Cheon! Thank you for showing me such good energy! Although we met as enemies, I am deeply grateful for the spectacle you showed me today!”

Donlang was in a good mood and even clasped his hands to Cheonbeom.

“Are you leaving?”

“I lost the bet, so I must accept the result. Besides, I want to calmly heal Ulang and hone his power.”

“When we meet again, Ulang will also be a more powerful parasite. I will be looking forward to that time.”

“He may only become as big as Celestial Cultivator Cheon’s deer, but you can look forward to it. I will raise him like my own child!”

Donlang left with Ulang, fluttering his robe with a pleasant laugh.

“Celestial Cultivator Cheon, you have won the bet. As promised, I will postpone taking your head until next time. I will also repay the debt of Bireong’s life at that time.”

Swish! Yeja also disappeared.

The hundred-year bet was over.

The winners were Cheonbeom and Hwadam.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in person. I’ve been watching you all along.”

Cheonbeom approached Hwadam and stroked his fur.

The burnt fur and broken horns had returned to their original state.

No, they were shinier than before, and stronger horns were attached.

“Do you know what happened to you?”

He shook his head when asked.

He didn’t seem to know either.

Cheonbeom slowly nodded his head.

‘He absorbed the energy of the Great Calamity Wood and was about to undergo a Celestial Tribulation….’

The Celestial Tribulation avoided Hwadam.

In other words.

‘So the Great Calamity Wood contained the energy of the Celestial Water.’

Otherwise, the bizarre Celestial Tribulation just now would be impossible.

Cheonbeom couldn’t understand it otherwise, so he thought that must be the case.

“I want to observe your divine power for a while. It’s similar to what I have, but it’s also different, which is interesting. Unlike me, who is proficient in Fire Divine Power, you are proficient in Wood Divine Power, so you can do that.”

With this much power, he might be comparable to a Hyangseon [a type of celestial being].

Of course, it was just barely, but most Sangseons [another type of celestial being, often lower in rank than Hyangseons] would no longer be able to harm Hwadam.

“Is there anything you want? Thanks to you, I won the bet with the Hyangseons and avoided the life-and-death battle, so I will grant you one wish within my means.”

Hwadam whispered, and Cheonbeom listened to him and nodded.

“Will that be enough?”

Hwadam affirms when asked.

His wish was not difficult.

It was a simple wish.

“Tamhwa, come out for a moment.”

Tamhwa, who was wrapped around Cheonbeom’s arm, transformed and turned into a girl.

Then Hwadam opened his mouth and spat out a small spore.

The spore floated in the air and sprouted in front of Tamhwa.

The sprout came up, dyed green, and leaves sprouted and flowers bloomed.

It was like a gift.

Tamhwa stared at it for a long time, then put it in her mouth.

And said one word.

“Delicious.”

Hwadam seemed satisfied with that and collapsed on the spot.

“Father. Can I eat that?”

“Hold on.”

However, it seemed that a lot of effort would be needed to win Tamhwa’s heart.

* * *

“It seems that your power becomes stronger and the amount of energy you can store increases as you take away the vitality of living things. Depending on how you use it, it may be quite easy to deal with someone stronger than you.”

Cheonbeom affirmed that only after observing Hwadam’s divine power for a while and conducting several experiments.

It was similar to the divine power created and handed over by the souls of Eungmyeong Heavenly Parasites, but it was a slightly different form.

It was also a bit similar to the Demonic Art called Absorption of the Great Method, but the size of the power was too different.

Cheonbeom thought that it was probably because he had absorbed the Heavenly Water energy of the Great Calamity Wood.

Of course, it was still just a guess, but there was no other way to explain it.

“Anyway, you can do a lot with your power.”

It is also possible to absorb vitality and sprout plants.

Perhaps because he was proficient in Wood Divine Power, or perhaps because Hwadam was originally interested in herbal medicine, he gained excellent divine power.

“With this, I can entrust you with the management of my Immortal Herbs.”

Even Immortal Herbs and medicinal herbs that are difficult to manage can be easily managed with Hwadam’s power.

Hwadam was very happy with Cheonbeom’s words and nodded as if asking to be entrusted with it.

“But isn’t that form uncomfortable? I taught you the Transformation Technique, but you’re still like that.”

Then, silver energy swirled around Hwadam’s body and emitted a small light.

From a large gray deer, the size decreased and the shape changed, turning into a boy of similar age to Tamhwa.

“Now this form is more uncomfortable. I have lived for nearly ten thousand years in the body of a parasite, so now the human form is more uncomfortable for me.”

“I didn’t think of that. Come to think of it, Tamhwa, who you are interested in, doesn’t transform often either, so you wouldn’t have any affection for that form.”

Hwadam nodded as if that was the case and transformed back into a deer.

‘Come to think of it, if I count properly, he’s lived longer than me.’

Cheonbeom’s age now….

‘How old am I?’

He hadn’t counted properly since he passed three thousand, so he couldn’t even remember.

But he wasn’t over ten thousand yet, so he could be said to be younger than Hwadam.

[What is it?]

“It’s nothing. But are you okay with this? If you follow me, you will only experience hardship and adversity.”

[I’m fine.]

Hwadam wanted to accompany Cheonbeom, even putting Tamhwa aside.

When asked why, he said that he had endured the long years with Cheonbeom’s voice that he sometimes heard while living in Gongjeonggang.

[You are also my benefactor, and I still do not know the providence of this sky, so I would like to be with you until the right time comes.]

“You’ve become an old man without me noticing. You had a cute side a hundred years ago….”

[It’s been a hundred years for you, Great One, but ten thousand years for me, so it can’t be helped.]

Cheonbeom sat down on the spot as if he was bored. As always, it was on top of Tamhwa’s head.

He is sitting on top of Tamhwa’s head, who has transformed into Oryong [a mythical five-clawed dragon, often associated with royalty], and is returning.

To where the Water Realm’s camp is located.

The time was approaching, and he had finished all his work, so he had to return.

Hwadam lay down behind Cheonbeom.

Then Ran appeared and laid down, using Hwadam as a pillow, and tapped next to her, so Beom gently lay down.

A pleasant breeze passed by them, and just as Beom was about to fall asleep in Ran’s arms.

Hwadam’s head was lifted.

And then he stared intently at one place, but Cheonbeom didn’t seem to know or care and went to sleep.

[Madam, I am still ignorant of the world, so I ask, why are there ruthless immortals pointing swords at Heavenly Great One?]

“What’s different about immortals? If their lineage is different, they fight, if their faction is different, they kill, and if they don’t like something, they get rid of it. The reasons are always simple. Whether they are humans or immortals, they have no choice but to kill something to live.”

More than that.

“Many are coming.”

Hundreds of soldiers.

[I will take care of them.]

Hwadam had killed many immortals while crossing the road.

There was no reason to refuse because he was confident that he would become stronger as he took their power.

“Hwadam-ah. It’s good that you’re confident in your skills, but you should put that confidence away for now.”

[Why is that?]

“Because it’s ambiguous whether they are enemies or not.”

[Does Heavenly Great One have allies?]

“Our old man has many enemies, but he does have allies. He’s a little pitiful, so don’t make him feel too lonely. He has some followers, so he might be sad if he hears what you said.”

Ran smiled as she looked at Beom lying next to her.

“He’s a true adult who pretends not to know even after hearing everything, so he won’t sulk.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Oh, were you really awake? I was just joking.”

[Great One, what should I do?]

Ignoring Ran’s teasing, he slightly opened his eyes and looked ahead, and hundreds of immortals equipped with armor were in place.

However, the style of the armor was neither from the Water Realm nor from the Bung Realm, and it was certainly not from the Four Realms, so the only thing left was one, so Beom didn’t care much.

“It’s the Celestial Realm’s army. They belong to the Human Realm, so it seems you don’t need to step up.”

The Celestial Realm’s army has met, so there must be the Water Realm’s army nearby.

It seems that he didn’t come the wrong way.

[Great One]

“Why?”

[But they are not letting their guard down even after seeing us.]

“Because we are at war… They might think we are disguised enemies.”

It is understandable since they are very sensitive.

Soon, a general-like figure who commanded the Celestial Realm’s army appeared and approached.

He saw Cheonbeom sitting on the Oryong’s head and shouted in surprise.

“Ya, Yamyeolsalseon!!”

Yamyeolsalseon.

Cheonbeom didn’t know who that meant or what it meant.

‘I think I’ve heard of it.’

As he scratched his head, Hwaran answered from the side.

“It’s a nickname that San-gun was called by the immortals in the Celestial Realm… when he was receiving the Salgeop [a period of tribulation or karmic retribution].”

“Ah… I see.”

Unlike Beom, who answered indifferently, the general of the Celestial Realm made a fuss and shouted.

“Attack, attack!! The number of Celestial Realm generals and soldiers who died at his hands will reach the standard!! The Heavenly Palace will reward the one who brings that guy’s head!!”