Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 503

Nangseon Gi Hwandam – Part 2, Chapter 212

As the Azure Heaven Gold Flower and the Spear of Divine Might collided, an indescribable shockwave erupted, spreading outwards.

Though called a Gold Flower, the Azure Heaven Gold Flower, a manifestation of Cheonbeom’s Hwasin Arts, was essentially a miniature sun. It embodied the perfected Taecheon Oe Yang Divine Art and the creation principles of the Three Lives and Three Gods [a complex cosmological concept].

Therefore, the resulting cataclysm was not something easily contained.

The very space created by Shinwi collapsed instantly, shattered by the force of the explosion. The concept of space shattering might seem bizarre, but it was precisely what happened.

Space itself was pulverized, broken into fragments.

“Did she escape?”

Cheonbeom scanned his surroundings, detecting no trace of her presence. He then withdrew his power.

The space created by Shinwi had been utterly destroyed, and she had vanished along with it. He felt a twinge of disappointment but didn’t dwell on it.

From the outset, he hadn’t expected to resolve matters with Shinwi in this encounter.

After all, this was the space where Shinwi had been concealing herself from her adversaries. He assumed she would have an escape route prepared.

Therefore, Cheonbeom had merely stated he had a question for her; he hadn’t intended to settle accounts then and there.

“Byeokgong Bu Chukmyeol… the laws of time are indeed elusive.”

The laws and techniques she had mastered were so peculiar that even Cheonbeom struggled to fully comprehend them.

She lacked overwhelming raw power, but she was remarkably difficult to capture.

“No matter. This was merely a preliminary visit anyway.”

Though it turned out to be quite a boisterous greeting.

“That aside… where exactly am I?”

After Shinwi’s divination space collapsed, Cheonbeom found himself alone in a dark, unfamiliar void.

Even using his divine sense, he couldn’t detect anything of significance; it was an odd place, devoid of any discernible energy.

It was too confined to be a space between existence and non-existence, and too barren to be any recognizable location.

It was perplexing.

If the space where she had been hiding was destroyed, shouldn’t he have reappeared somewhere within the Upper World?

Yet, there was no indication of that. Instead, he was met with this unknown, bizarre space, filling him with an unsettling feeling.

Since becoming a Wonsun [a being of immense power], Cheonbeom’s divine sense had expanded dramatically.

Consequently, he had no difficulty sensing the immense energies throughout the Upper World, allowing him to perceive the presence of all Wonsun Taesas [powerful celestial beings].

Cheonbeom’s infiltration into Shinwi’s space from Jamo Wol [a specific location] was also facilitated by his enhanced divine sense.

Having mastered her techniques, Cheonbeom recognized that the space Shinwi created was based on the Simgyeong of Ilsim Mancheon Okgyeong [a powerful mental technique], making his entry relatively straightforward.

‘When Ilsim Mancheon Okgyeong reaches its zenith, the Simgyeong, the mirror of the mind, transforms into a Daechon Okgyeong [an even more advanced state].’

Reaching the level where one could create a Daechon Okgyeong allowed one to deflect even the most devastating attacks and even redirect them back at the attacker.

Cheonbeom hadn’t delved deeply enough into Ilsim Mancheon Okgyeong to manifest a Daechon Okgyeong, but he had attained a level close enough to grasp its essence.

‘But I’m uncertain what transpires when a space constructed with Daechon Okgyeong is shattered.’

Thus, this unusual situation seemed to have arisen.

“It’s as if she deliberately trapped me here. Am I correct, Shinwi?”

He addressed the void, but no response came.

Cheonbeom surmised that this space was another independent realm, artificially created by Shinwi.

Naturally, the technique that sprang to mind was Eoryeong Taehaenggyeol [a sealing technique].

A sealing technique used to create and seal one’s body or Eoryeong [spiritual essence] came to mind.

Cheonbeom had imparted Eoryeong Taehaenggyeol to Tamhwa, so he couldn’t be entirely certain, but since it occurred to him, he couldn’t dismiss the possibility.

She must have confined him here while making her escape.

“Am I right?”

Then, the small centipede coiled around Cheonbeom’s wrist unfurled in the air and transformed into a beautiful girl.

It was Cheonbeom’s daughter.

Tamhwa.

“Yes, you’re right. It seems we’re inside someone’s Eoryeong, Father.”

Tamhwa nodded eagerly, looking around with curiosity.

Then, she fixed her gaze intently on a particular spot and opened her mouth wide.

Wagjak!

As the sound of chewing echoed, Wajangchang!! The seal shattered.

“Oh, delicious!”

Tamhwa seemed delighted and began to devour something. Cheonbeom, recognizing it was an Eoryeong, allowed her to continue.

Ordinarily, breaking a sealing technique crafted by a Wonsun Taesa was no easy feat, even for another Wonsun.

However, perhaps because they shared the same lineage of techniques and she inherited the bloodline of Tam, which consumed everything, she made it possible.

If it weren’t for Tamhwa, even Cheonbeom, who had become a Wonsun Taesa, would have been trapped here for a considerable time.

After a while.

The sky of the Upper World became visible through the space where Tamhwa was chewing, and a familiar architectural style caught Cheonbeom’s attention.

“This place is…”

Golden and silver clouds filled the air, and a towering building stood above them.

It was Mangakjeong, the pavilion of Mangak Byeonwang [a celestial ruler], located near the Four Seasons Realm.

“I didn’t anticipate other guests, especially someone who is the talk of the Wonsun world.”

Cheonbeom narrowed his eyes, observing the soldiers surrounding him and the two Wonsuns exuding formidable energy.

One was Mangak Byeonwang, the owner of Mangakjeong and father of Princess Hwayang, whom he knew well.

And next to him was an old man wearing tattered clothes, emitting a repulsive aura. Cheonbeom frowned at the stench of decaying corpses emanating from him.

“Hehe… I didn’t expect to see such a welcome face here!”

Welcome was written on Mangak Byeonwang’s face, but there was also an undercurrent of unease about him.

Cheonbeom knew it stemmed from the presence of the person beside him.

Because the one wearing rags and emitting the stench of rotting corpses was none other than Okbyeol Cheonwang, one of the Wonsun Taesas of the Four Seasons Realm.

Cheonbeom had already made an enemy of him.

‘This isn’t a coincidence…’

This must be another arrangement orchestrated by Shinwi.

She had created quite a troublesome predicament.

Cheonbeom sighed softly and clasped his hands in greeting to Mangak Byeonwang and Okbyeol Cheonwang.

“It’s been a while, Mangak Byeonwang. And it’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Okbyeol Cheonwang.”

“Hoho, you already know this humble one?”

“Of course. I am Hwayang’s husband, so how could I not know?”

Then, Okbyeol Cheonwang’s gaze sharpened.

“You’re the one who took Hwayang?”

Intense celestial energy pressed down on the area, laced with a fierce challenge.

The soldiers of Mangakjeong, overwhelmed by the celestial energy, fainted or collapsed.

Most of them couldn’t regain their senses, but Mangak Byeonwang and Okbyeol Cheonwang remained unaffected.

And.

“I am called Cheonbeom.”

Only Cheonbeom was unaffected.

* * *

Meanwhile.

In a space secretly hidden somewhere in the Chunggye [a celestial realm], between dimensions, a woman with a pale white complexion materialized in a space known as the Void.

Her hair was a deep, verdant green, and one of her arms was missing.

Her whole body was in a dire state; her clothes were scorched, and she appeared to have sustained severe internal injuries, making her look incredibly vulnerable.

Tuk, tuk tuk.

She used her remaining arm to stimulate her blood points, then moved her lips, letting out a groan of pain.

Then, her clothes and wounds began to heal, and her damaged body recovered.

However, her complexion remained pale, as if she couldn’t fully mend her internal injuries.

Her lips turned purple, and she trembled all over, curling up.

“I had forgotten. Even though you were so kind, you were so ruthless when you fought.”

She was Shinwi, wounded and fleeing after her clash with Cheonbeom.

She hadn’t been able to react adequately to his sudden appearance.

That’s why she had been caught off guard.

“I couldn’t bring out the Principle of Original Name [a fundamental power]. If I had been prepared, I wouldn’t have been caught like this.”

It was a perfectly executed surprise attack.

She never imagined that he would regain his memories so soon after becoming a Wonsun and then immediately come to confront her.

She had vaguely considered it a possibility, but she never truly believed it would happen.

The San in Shinwi’s memory was not a man of such impulsive action. He was cautious and deliberate, not someone who would act so rashly.

“This must be right. After all, this was the fate we were destined for….”

Shinwi calmly closed her eyes, filled with regret, and began to organize her thoughts.

Then, she cut her wrist, drew blood, and began to draw a magic circle on the ground.

Her blood droplets moved as if alive, tracing the intricate patterns of the magic circle, and soon, a verdant geomungo [a traditional Korean zither] appeared within the circle.

The name of this geomungo was Chukmyeol Geum.

It was the treasure imbued with Shinwi’s Principle of Original Name.

“Chukmyeol Geum (Shu Extinction Geomungo)…”

Hmm.

Startled, Shinwi turned her head, and the owner of the voice that had suddenly interrupted revealed his presence as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Shinwi, it’s been a long time since I’ve witnessed your Principle of Original Name. Or faced you like this.”

“…Yedong.”

He was Ilsin Hongseong Yedong.

The man who had always been eager to kill her and Ahgeom.

“There have been many unusual occurrences lately. Suddenly, the lunar halo vanished, and a new Wonsun emerged. Then your Void disappeared, and you, whom I couldn’t locate, revealed yourself under the Upper Heaven. As a fellow disciple with the same master and a longtime friend, I felt compelled to come.”

Considering the words, his twisted mouth and eyes seemed to betray his true feelings.

Like someone gazing upon prey they had marked long ago.

“When else would I have such an opportunity? I don’t relish the fact that you’re injured, but for the sake of avenging my respected friend, I can tolerate this much dishonor.”

Ilsin Hongseong Yedong seemed willing to cast aside his honor, seizing an arrow and placing it on the bowstring.

“The time has come to settle old grudges. Ogyeong Gyeju Shinwi. If you had even slightly atoned for your past deeds!! You would not be able to evade my arrow!”

Huuuuung!!

The celestial insects of Chunggye were startled and fled from the powerful energy emanating from Ilsin Hongseong Yedong, and Kwagagang!! A storm raged through the area.

But even in the face of such overwhelming force, Shinwi chuckled.

“What’s so amusing?”

“…It’s just a little ironic. You, who stood by like a wooden statue, incapable of action when San was transformed, are now seeking to avenge him? You also benefited from San’s demise. As a result, you were able to ascend to the realm of Wonsun thanks to us!”

Yedong simply looked at Shinwi with pity at her words.

“How could you have fallen so low? You were the one with the strongest ambition!”

“It’s because I was strong. Because I desired it so intensely and despaired so deeply!! You know I had no choice but to do what I did!!”

“Don’t impose your justifications on me.”

“The same applies to you, Yedong.”

Yedong and Shinwi’s mouths were tightly shut.

They both sensed that further conversation was futile.

There was nothing to be gained from arguing.

It had been that way for a long time.

The lingering scent of nostalgia had only led them to engage in a pointless exchange.

Soon, Yedong’s arrow left his hand, and Shinwi’s geomungo’s strings were plucked.