Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 549

Tales of Demons and Gods – Part 2, Chapter 258

The Deep Layers of the Geonwon Sea Abyss.

The Wonseon Grand Masters gathered there, their faces etched with unease. Each had seemingly glimpsed an illusion within the Geonwon Sea, a reflection of their very being as they descended into the abyss.

Unlike the impenetrable darkness they encountered before, this space was a vibrant realm suspended above a clear, watery surface. It was a dreamlike and bizarre place, saturated with immense Cheonji spiritual energy [Cheonji spiritual energy refers to the natural energy of the universe].

Though the sun was absent, the area was bathed in light, and even the dense fog shimmered with iridescent colors.

Water stretched beneath their feet.

The sky above mirrored the scene below, rippling with gentle waves.

Cheonbeom’s gaze swept over the Wonseon Grand Masters at the center and the countless beads suspended in the water.

“What do you make of those?”

“They appear to be jade beads.”

Beautiful beads crafted from jade.

Cheonbeom studied the jade beads, each containing vast energies, and surmised they were more than mere ornaments.

Indeed, jade beads in such a place could not be ordinary.

Thousands upon thousands of them were scattered in every direction.

Geomno Iltaek seemed displeased with Cheonbeom’s simple assessment.

He remained silent, his eyes fixed on Cheonbeom with an indifferent stare.

“If I can’t guess what they are, it seems the story won’t continue.”

With that, he drew one of the jade beads closer.

Cheonbeom examined it for a moment, then swallowed the bead.

Instantly, a torrent of energies and information flooded his mind, revealing the bead’s contents.

He witnessed the genesis of fire, then stone, which evolved into water, blood, and flesh.

Realization dawned on Cheonbeom, and he turned to Geomno, his eyes narrowed.

“Lower Realm.”

“You guessed correctly.”

The jade beads scattered throughout this space…

Each bead, pulsating with unique energies and colors, represented a Lower Realm [A plane of existence below the Upper Realm].

Among them were the Lower Realm of his birth and upbringing, and the one he had crossed over from.

Cheonbeom immediately expanded his divine sense, locating two jade beads radiating familiar energies.

One shone brilliantly, while the other was a faded, lackluster bead.

After careful examination, Cheonbeom returned them to their place and nodded.

“Indeed.”

A Lower Realm that had once dominated an era.

And a Lower Realm that had endured a wretched existence.

Both were, in essence, the same Lower Realm.

“What appear to you as jade beads are what we call Hacheon (Lower Heavens) [Hacheon refers to the Lower Heavens or Lower Realms]. They manifest in various forms depending on the observer. To some, they appear as mirrors, to others as doors, and to still others as swords and spears.”

Appearing differently to each observer.

Hacheon.

“But what does this have to do with anything?”

“I’ll explain that.”

Ubaekja stepped forward.

The burly man with bull horns on his head folded his arms and began to speak.

“It’s only natural to question why we’re showing you the Hacheon when our interest lies in the Daera Cheondo [Daera Cheondo refers to the Great Cycle of Heaven, a higher plane of existence]. Why wouldn’t you ask? We’ve all come this far with great difficulty because of it.”

Ubaekja smirked, extending his index finger.

“This place is the deepest part of the Upper Realm. And here, we find the Hacheon. It’s like a mother cradling her child.”

“Are you suggesting they’re organically connected?”

Cheonoe Yanggun inquired.

Ubaekja nodded.

“Those who know, know. I’ve been severing ties with the mortal world and confining myself to seclusion.”

“You were searching for it.”

“That’s right. I’ve been searching for the Daera Cheondo with Geomno Iltaek. Mangol was no different from me.”

But he met his end.

“It wasn’t easy. In the process, Great Master Mangol passed away. But even so, we found it!”

In essence, Ubaekja was saying:

The Upper Realm and the Lower Realm are connected.

Since tens of thousands of Hacheon are linked to our sky, the Upper Realm must be similar, and so is the Daera Cheondo.

Therefore, the Daera Cheondo is here.

“Where is it?”

“Not far from here.”

Ubaekja pointed behind Cheonbeom.

To the door he had entered through.

An antique gate.

“…I see.”

Unlike the exterior, adorned with dragons and phoenixes, this door was made of iron, not wood, and the engravings were different.

The clouds thickly layered at the bottom were the same, but above them, there was nothing.

“A door for entering and exiting. To us, it’s an exit. However, with a little trickery, it can become a different door.”

“Is that the Daera Cheondo?”

“That’s right.”

“Then what’s the method?”

“Isn’t it here?”

“Indeed.”

The countless Hacheon located here.

And standing at the center….

“Geumcheon.”

He is the very method.

“Are you certain?”

“I am. You know that the door wasn’t created by the will of the Upper Realm, don’t you?”

It was Geomno.

The will of the Upper Realm.

‘It’s a bit suspicious to say it was created spontaneously.’

The possibility that the Daera Cheondo arose on its own could be considered, but it seemed unlikely. Moreover, the energy and structure contained within this door suggested otherwise. The Daera Cheondo’s techniques bore a striking resemblance to those found in the Three Lives and Three Gods [Three Lives and Three Gods refers to a powerful cultivation technique].

The first immortal to ascend from the Upper Realm.

The master of all masters of the Upper Realm.

It must be what Hwangcheon (Imperial Heaven) [Hwangcheon refers to the Imperial Heaven, a revered figure in this world] left behind.

“Is it what that person left behind?”

“That’s right.”

As expected.

And adding to it.

“He sealed the heavens with just that one thing.”

It is said that he sealed the heavens.

‘Can the heavens be sealed with just this one door?’

The fact that it has remained unbroken until now speaks volumes about the profundity of Hwangcheon’s Dao [Dao refers to the path or way of cultivation].

“Geumcheon, of course, you can unlock it too, right?”

Jeolma Daegun asked with a peculiar expression.

Beom stroked the iron door of the Daera Cheondo, then tilted his head and nodded.

‘I don’t know what you’re thinking…’

It seemed best to go with the flow for now.

“That’s great!”

To open the Daera Cheondo, it seemed this door needed to be filled with the Hacheon present here.

Unlike the outside, there were no engravings above the clouds.

That meant…

‘It means we have to fill it in.’

Whoosh.

A windstorm enveloped Cheonbeom.

Soon, golden waves intensified, and the Three Lives and Three Lights sparkled, causing the fierce waves beneath his feet to surge.

Koo-oong.

Long, continuous circular waves.

As they surged once more.

Ssshhh.

The Hacheon jade beads slumbering beneath the water began to rise.

Tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of Hacheon jade beads emerged and converged towards the Daera Cheondo.

Those who witnessed it were awestruck.

Those things that appeared differently to each person gathered and began to be engraved as the Daera Cheondo’s intaglio [Intaglio refers to an engraving or incised design].

Some were carved as phrases, some as swords, some as mirrors, and some as doors. The Wonseon Grand Masters’ Adam’s apples bobbed as they watched the Daera Cheondo being carved in myriad ways.

“Oh….”

“Beautiful.”

The door of the Daera Cheondo, filled with all manner of things, was incomparably beautiful.

How could it not be, filled as it was with the heavens below.

‘But will it open with this?’

He remained skeptical.

Cheonbeom couldn’t shake the suspicion that had taken root in his mind even as he proceeded.

The master of all Soo-seon [Soo-seon refers to a cultivator or immortal].

Why did Hwangcheon create this in the first place?

There must be a reason.

If so, what was it?

Thought after thought followed.

It could be a simple reason.

Perhaps he created it so that only those who had mastered the Three Lives and Three Gods, carrying on his legacy, could traverse the Daera Cheondo.

He was such a great person, nurturing many disciples and ascending to become a Jinseon [Jinseon refers to a True Immortal, a higher level of existence] when the time came.

Perhaps he created it solely for one disciple who would inherit his legacy.

But.

‘Is it that simple?’

Once planted, the question refused to subside, continuing to bloom like a bud welcoming spring.

Blooming and blooming.

Srrrrrr.

The Hacheon jade beads seeped into the Daera Cheondo.

Not much remained now.

It was nearing completion.

‘Daera Cheon.’

That word lingered in Cheonbeom’s mind.

And before he knew it, he turned to face Geomno Iltaek.

Their eyes met.

‘Cheongeom [Cheongeom refers to Pure Sword, a state of sword mastery].’

Past memories resurfaced.

Sword.

Only the sword.

The memories of the one who sought to forge a sword capable of cleaving the sky, who was once Ageom and was now known as Geomno Iltaek.

Flashed through his mind.

And a chilling realization struck like lightning.

‘Is that guy… interested in Daera Cheon?’

In an instant, goosebumps erupted across his skin.

The Soo-seon gathered here all desired to reach Daera Cheon and become Jinseon.

The Soo-seon’s ambition naturally led them there.

If you were a Wonseon Grand Master who had reached the pinnacle of the Upper Realm, it was even more so.

Everyone.

Naturally.

Aimed for the sky.

Even Cheonbeom, a relatively new Wonseon, felt a strong pull towards Daera Cheon.

But what about those who had existed as Wonseon for eons?

Their desire must be more desperate than anyone’s.

‘But he’s different.’

Among those present, all eyes shone with anticipation.

Except for Geomno Iltaek.

Ageom’s eyes remained indifferent.

Even with the Daera Cheondo on the verge of opening, he seemed uninterested.

Abruptly, Cheonbeom withdrew his hand.

“You foresaw it.”

Only then did Geomno’s expression flicker to life.

As if he wanted Cheonbeom to recognize it.

But contrary to that, Cheonbeom’s face twisted in anger.

“It doesn’t stop.”

The Hacheon jade beads continued to seep into the Daera Cheondo, undeterred.

Even though he had removed his hand and ceased infusing the energy of the Three Lives and Three Gods, there was no sign of it stopping.

It was as if they were being sucked in.

“What are you plotting?”

He demanded, his voice laced with fury.

“What do you mean?”

Geomno Iltaek asked, staring blankly, his expression unchanged.

The surrounding Wonseon were dumbfounded.

Naturally, they were unaware of what was transpiring.

“I know you have no intention of going to Daera Cheon. But to gather so many Wonseon and open the Daera Cheondo… I don’t understand it at all.”

Then Ubaekja, standing beside him, exclaimed in disbelief.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s no way anyone who practices Soo-seon has no desire to reach Daera Cheon.”

“Even if it were someone else, Geomno Iltaek could very well be like that.”

Cheonbeom’s words divided the Wonseon’s opinions.

Cheonoe Yanggun and Mangak Byeonwang nodded, acknowledging the possibility, while Jeolma Daegun and Nokmyeon Wiwang remained neutral.

Ubaekja and Jiranwi rebuked Cheonbeom, dismissing it as nonsense.

“Why are you suddenly saying such a thing now!”

“I’ve encountered a similar situation once before.”

Cheonoe Yanggun was startled.

“Is that true?”

“You remember, don’t you? The incident involving the Geomnyeongdo [Geomnyeongdo refers to a Sword Spirit Island] that I experienced in the Lower Realm.”

Geomnyeongdo.

The fact that the senior brothers who had formed a bond there had all transformed into one sword with the Singeom Hab-il formation [Singeom Hab-il formation refers to a sword integration formation] and seeped into Cheonbeom.

When he mentioned that incident, not only Cheonoe Yanggun but also the other Wonseon were aghast.

And immediately after that.

Koo-oong….

The door of the Daera Cheondo began to open.

Saaaaaaa.

“Gasp!! This is the Daera Cheondo’s… Kuh!”

Thud.

The Wonseon Grand Masters collapsed to their knees, overwhelmed by the immense energy emanating from the gap in the Daera Cheondo.

The sheer magnitude of the energy, incomparable to that of the Upper Realm.

It was as if the energy of a higher dimension’s sky was too much for even a Sangseon [Sangseon refers to a High Immortal] to bear.

The Wonseon were kneeling, merely brushed by the aftermath.

‘Damn it.’

And what he was aiming for was happening right now.

Swoosh!

Chwaak.

“W-What are you doing!”

Sharp, thin swords erupted from beneath the water, binding the feet of the Wonseon Grand Masters.

“Kuh.”

At the same time, the sound of reciting Buddhist scriptures echoed from an unknown source.

“What is this!”

“Such a wicked technique!”

The crimson magic circle that rose above the water bathed the surroundings in red, and in this moment when everyone was immobilized.

Only one person walked leisurely on the water.

Geomno Iltaek.

“What that guy wants is….”

Not the Daera Cheon, but a perfect Cheongeom.