Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 94

While the women of Baekseok missed him, the Mountain Monarch was already soaring a thousand miles away.

He knew Cho-ah was concerned about her slow progress in cultivation.

That’s why he entrusted her to the Nine-tailed Fox before leaving.

With the eternal Yuksa [a being who has achieved immortality], she was not only safe but could also exchange cultivation insights, making it a perfect arrangement.

He was slightly bothered by the deal he’d made with Yuksa, but decided to ignore it, knowing he’d eventually resolve it.

Anywhere but Baekseok, he wouldn’t worry about Cho-ah.

“Living leisurely, are we? Where are you off to?”

Jangcheon, riding a cloud, trailed him. He’d been absent for a decade, yet appeared on his departure day, chasing after him.

“East, for now.”

“For now?”

“I have a mountain of tasks.”

His final destination was Geomryeongdo [Sword Spirit Island], but he couldn’t go in his current state.

Uran had given him its approximate location, but even now, reaching it would be difficult.

Geomryeongdo, he knew, was an island riddled with countless swords.

The island itself was a wandering spirit beast.

An island embraced by Gwisusan [a powerful protective aura].

Even knowing its location, how could he track a constantly moving island?

Moreover, the area around Geomryeongdo was so dangerous that even eternal beings and Taeseon [Grand Celestial Immortals] could perish if they erred.

Thus, the Mountain Monarch decided to acquire the Cheonnyangjibo [Thousand-Measure Treasure Pouch] hidden by the Three Evils.

Not that he lacked treasures, but there was even less reason *not* to have the Cheonnyangjibo.

‘Not a Bogeo [Treasure Pavilion], but a Jibo [Treasure Pouch].’

Whatever it was, its power would surpass a Bogeo.

Though the Three Evils had set up numerous Geumje [Forbidden Arrays] and Hwanjin [Illusionary Formations], they were useless against his Danryeong Geumjeong [Crimson Spirit Forbidden Mirror].

He simply needed to secure the Cheonnyangjibo and depart for Geomryeongdo.

The Mountain Monarch smiled, soaring through the sky. A month passed.

* * *

A month later.

The Mountain Monarch and Jangcheon secretly landed on an obscure mountain.

“Doesn’t seem like things are going smoothly?”

Jangcheon sneered.

“Frankly, I wouldn’t mind if you disappeared.”

He spoke harshly, but Jangcheon only smiled ambiguously.

As he remained silent, the Mountain Monarch pondered.

‘Why are the Taoists…’

Indeed.

He’d sensed Taoists within his Shinshik [Divine Sense] near the Cheonnyangjibo’s hiding place.

Not just any Taoists.

Hwanseon [Transcendent Immortals].

Taoists on par with the Mountain Monarch.

He had no choice but to hide with Jangcheon and observe.

Not only were they outnumbered, but he was curious about their gathering.

“So, what’s the plan?”

He was asking Jangcheon.

Being with him under the guise of monitoring him was risky.

Given Tal’s reputation, he wouldn’t attack, but uncertainties remained.

“I suppose I should follow you, since your eyes are already bloodshot.”

“Bloodlust? What gruesome talk! I’m a peace-loving person.”

“I know your cruel methods. There’s a reason the Great Dharma Lord ordered you monitored. I won’t disobey that order.”

It was truly annoying.

“Well, do as you please.”

“That’s what I intended from the start. You’re all blinded by treasure, so I won’t take sides. Don’t expect my help.”

Jangcheon cleared his throat, slung his staff over his shoulder, and vanished like smoke.

“Blinded by treasure, huh.”

Typical of Tal’s Deputy Dharma Lord.

It felt odd to be criticized for something natural in the Taoist world.

“That’s normal, though.”

A world where Taoists become blinded by greed and commit slaughter.

Who else could criticize that so confidently?

The Mountain Monarch smiled bitterly, taking a yellow cocoon from his chest.

With a hand seal, it transformed into a small, familiar-looking girl.

The six or seven-year-old girl punched the Mountain Monarch upon opening her eyes. He sighed, dodging the blow.

Hoo-oong!

The fist’s pressure was formidable.

Enough to obliterate a Biseon [Flying Immortal].

“Fussy.”

He clicked his tongue, retrieving a red bottle from his chest.

Blood Collapse Water.

Opening the lid and casting a spell, three drops flew into the girl’s mouth, halting her movements.

“Easier when you were a Ghost Child; now you try to kill me…”

A girl with sharp eyes.

A Magangshi [Corpse Puppet] refined by Samcheok Gwidongma [Three-Foot Ghost Child Demon] and modified by the Mountain Monarch.

He’d applied the Gugyeol [Nine Secret Seals] of Shikma Hapil [Blood Demon Unification] to strengthen the Jiangshi’s [Reanimated Corpse] body.

But something went wrong, merging the three Samcheok Gwidongma into this girl. Her strength rivaled even Hwanseon.

However, she was difficult to control, attacking unless subdued by Blood Collapse Water.

Various Geumje were useless. She’d always turn against him, forcing him to sigh.

The Mountain Monarch stroked the Jiangshi’s head, saying,

“Gwi-yul [Ghost Chill]. Please endure a little.”

He named the Jiangshi Gwi-yul.

Hoping a name would foster closeness.

But Gwi-yul glared at him, clapped her wrist, and transformed into a hawk!

“That bastard…”

Gwi-yul flew towards the Hwanseon, and the Mountain Monarch cursed inwardly.

* * *

Two hundred miles away.

A hawk perched on a tree branch, observing the figures.

Hwanseon, contemplating something with serious faces.

Five in total.

Taoists from a sect thousands of miles east of Banggok.

“Elder Seon, is it wise to proceed solely on his word? I can’t believe Cheonnyangjibo is here.”

An old man with a large dot on his forehead shook his head.

Elder Seon, a middle-aged man in a green robe, smiled gently.

“Of course, I understand, Elder Geon. Suspicion is natural near such a fierce demon’s lair! I wouldn’t believe it without proof.”

Proof.

The others’ eyes changed.

“If it’s proof…”

“Indeed! But before I show it, one thing.

You’ve heard of Lady Nak, surely?”

Lady Nak was a refined woman, accompanied by a seemingly young woman.

Despite her youth, she was a Hwanseon, prompting Elder Seon’s smile.

“Hahumimeong [Summer Marquis Miasma Dragon].”

“…!”

The surrounding Hwanseon exclaimed in astonishment.

“Hahumimeong is said to be large enough to face Mount Tai! You’re not suggesting this small mountain *is* Hahumimeong?”

It was absurd.

Hahumimeong was a Manbo Era [Era of Ten Thousand Treasures] disaster.

Legendary, with anecdotes of thousands of Seonsa [Immortal Scholars] uniting to defeat it.

“They say its body never rotted. The Seonsa covered it with mountains. This small mountain is Hahumimeong’s tail.”

“Nonsense…”

Elder Geon frowned.

The others reacted similarly.

Manbo Era. A fierce beast that hundreds of Jiseon [Earth Immortals] and Taeseon barely managed to kill.

If this was its tail, they could imagine the rest.

“If true, are we entering Hahumimeong’s body?”

A natural question.

Elder Seon implied Cheonnyangjibo was inside Hahumimeong.

“If so…aren’t we dying in vain?”

They were reluctant, despite the beast’s death millennia ago.

Hahumimeong was a giant Imoogi [Serpentine Dragon].

If this was its tail, the end led to its head.

“How can you obtain Cheonnyangjibo without risk! Moreover, Hahumimeong’s body may contain other treasures. It devoured hundreds of Taoists, so what more needs to be said? That’s why you secretly gathered here, greedy for it.”

True or false, his words resonated.

The body of a Manbo Era beast would contain priceless Youngcho [Spiritual Herbs] or Gwimul [Demonic Entities].

“Furthermore, I’ve investigated Hahumimeong’s interior. The strongest Yosu [Aquatic Spirit] is a Samtong Yosu [Three-Headed Water Serpent].”

Samtong Yosu, on par with Biseon.

The gathered Hwanseon’s eyes gleamed with greed.

“The entrance will reveal the evidence. We brought a treasure-sensitive Gwimul from our clan, leaving no room for doubt…”

Elder Seon stopped, turning his head slightly.

“If you’ve heard this far, emerge. Or challenge the Seon family!”

The Mountain Monarch, startled, hesitated, then shook his head.

They were two hundred miles away. Hwanseon’s Shinshik exceeded one hundred miles, but not enough to capture him.

Besides, they weren’t looking at Gwi-yul.

He’d sent a Jiangshi, not a living being, unlike Tamhwa Ogong [Three-Flower Jade Official].

There was no way he’d been caught.

“Haha, Seon Seonsa’s [Immortal Scholar Seon] Shinshik is truly powerful!”

A sturdy figure appeared behind them.

A man with a thick beard.

He possessed the Hwanseon Hukyeong [Transcendent Immortal Dark Realm], and the others seemed to recognize him.

“Isn’t that Chok Mungyeong of Choksan [Jade Mountain]?”

Elder Geon spoke knowingly.

“Choksan!”

A mountain floating in the sky.

Choksan.

No Taoist was unaware of its reputation.

“Since Elder Geon knows me, I’ll be brief. You know Choksan’s reputation, so please take me along. I don’t covet Cheonnyangjibo. I seek my ancestors’ relics within Hahumimeong’s body, so please.”

Things were becoming interesting.

‘Chok Mungyeong of Choksan.’

The Mountain Monarch knew Choksan’s reputation.

A mountain floating in the sky.

How could he not know its mystery?

‘But that’s all it is.’

The current Choksan was weighed down by its past glory.

A moment later.

The Hwanseon, led by Elder Seon, joined Chok Mungyeong.

A natural course, given Choksan’s weight among ordinary Taoists.

They gathered in the mountain’s center, sat cross-legged, and chanted Beopgyeol [Law Seal].

The earth shook, revealing a small hole, and they disappeared one by one.

“Going in?”

Jangcheon appeared.

The Mountain Monarch tried to stroke the hawk, but was pecked.

“Scared?”

“Tal’s Deputy Dharma Lord knows no fear.”

“Really? I wondered if you feared entering Hahumimeong’s butthole. Oh, how old are you, by the way?”

He asked to drop formalities, annoyed by the need for honorifics.

“Seven hundred and ninety this year.”

Seven hundred and ninety.

He’d forgotten, given his youthful appearance. This world wasn’t to be judged by looks.

Hwanseon’s lifespan was a thousand years, making that age average.

“Come to think of it, Yuksa is young. Almost two hundred. If we count by age…”

Ehem!

The Mountain Monarch cleared his throat.

“As Taoists, what does age matter? Time flows like water and wind. Meaningless. Gwi-yul, let’s go.”

The Mountain Monarch ran into Hahumimeong’s hole.

Jangcheon smiled and followed.