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0257 ———————————————-

Heavenly Realm

Just as the journal hinted, we defeated the giant earthworm, allowing us entry into the cave behind it. The cave was wide enough for two adult men to walk side by side, and there wasn’t a torch in sight. So, we broke off branches from nearby trees to fashion torches and began our trek down the long tunnel.

As I walked, I muttered, “How did Cheongwol Ho-bok pass through the Living Sea?”

The size of that giant earthworm was nothing to scoff at. No, in the realm of ordinary folk or even typical warriors, it could very well be termed a disaster. If an army were to mobilize against it, it would require thousands, if not tens of thousands, as it was a legendary monster. The chief of the Thunder God lineage, Dokgo Seong, had barely managed to sever its lifeline with all his power, raising my curiosity about how Cheongwol Ho-bok managed to pass the guardian of the Living Sea.

He couldn’t have possibly taken it down in a one-on-one fight.

Dokgo Seong, who was ahead of me, responded to my musing, “Perhaps he deceived the worm’s senses and snuck in.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Well, that creature had sharp senses, so basic light body techniques wouldn’t work. But Cheongwol’s divine skills are quite exceptional even in the Thunder God lineage, so he must have found a way.”

I was intrigued and inquired, “Cheongwol Ho-bok’s specialty is divine skills? Does that mean he mastered the Soul Removal Technique…?”

“You seem to have picked up the Soul Removal Technique too. Cheongwol is indeed a successor of the Soul Removal Technique. If he is still alive, he’d likely be considered one of the greatest divine masters.”

“Uh-huh.”

The mention of the Soul Removal Technique made sense. It was a technique that often amazed me with its unbelievable speed, sometimes to the point where I couldn’t control my own movements. If there was an expert who had mastered the Soul Removal Technique for over half a century, it was completely plausible they could dodge the giant earthworm and get in.

Suddenly, we halted. The narrow path within the cave had come to an end. It was about twenty paces to the cliff opposite us. Dokgo Seong took a glance around and asked, “Can we leap across with divine skills?”

Then Nobutsuna glanced down into the darkness below and replied, “It could be possible with the Mind Control Technique, but I’m worried about what’s down there.”

When I translated that for Dokgo Seong, he nodded in understanding, “That makes sense.”

Everyone present was a top-notch expert, so crossing a span of about twenty paces was certainly doable. The issue was the unsettling killing intent seeping from the abyss below, which suggested a menacing presence was lurking there, making us hesitate.

Dokgo Seong handed me his torch. As I accepted it, he suddenly leaped to the opposite side.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Dokgo Seong cleared the gap between the cliffs and landed safely on the other side. He used a secret transmission technique to tell us, [Leap across without worry. If we are attacked, I’ll handle it.]

[Understood.]

Next, Tsukahara Boku Ten used divine skills to leap across as well, but unlike before, a massive tentacle shot up from below and attacked him at high speed.

“What the!”

Tsukahara Boku Ten swung his sword in a hurry, severing the tentacle, but in the process of leaping a long distance and using that technique, he ended up hanging in mid-air. Then Dokgo Seong unleashed the Thunder Sword against the giant tentacle rising from the depths.

Crack!

[Aaaaaaah!]

A loud, horrid scream echoed, and Dokgo Seong didn’t miss the chance to yank Tsukahara Boku Ten back using his strength. I hastily grabbed Nobutsuna’s hand and jumped across the cliff.

As the four of us landed safely, Boku Ten stuck out his tongue. “I can’t possibly feel safe. What in the world was that monster?”

“Probably a demon beast,” Nobutsuna replied, his face pale.

“Ha… I have no confidence in surviving the Death Sea…”

Boku Ten’s bitter murmurs were sincere, not just a jest. Even the Great Swordsman was worried about the overwhelming demonic landscape that lay before us in the Aokigahara Life Sea.

After walking for a while, we finally noticed a bright light ahead. It was significant enough to discern that it was an artificial source, so we moved forward cautiously. Stepping into the brightly lit staircase that didn’t require torches, a sense of tension filled the air—everyone was alert, unsure of when an ambush might occur.

Eventually, we reached a spiral staircase and began ascending. As I walked, I pondered, ‘Is this perhaps a relic of the otherworldly race?’

The feeling was strangely familiar.

At the top of the staircase, we encountered a wide chamber with an altar, reminiscent of the human sacrifice altars I’d seen in various ruins. Dokgo Seong looked around and remarked, “The path is blocked.”

“Should we go back and search for another way?” I asked.

“No. It’s just a dead end. It’s been a straight path all along, so it’s definitely a blockage.”

With firm conviction, Dokgo Seong fixed his gaze on the altar and called out, “Whoever is hiding there, come out!”

Ssksksk…

Just as the mist dissipated, a figure appeared where nothing had been moments before. It slowly materialized into a fully formed human shape atop the altar.

This figure was clad in pure white robes and donned specially crafted attire. Recognizing the outfit, I whispered, “Yin-Yang Master.”

This was the attire worn by the Yin-Yang masters of Dongyoung, known for their sorcery. The clothing was an ancient style that had been passed down for ages. The figure’s gender was ambiguous, possessing an exceedingly charming and androgynous appearance.

The Yin-Yang Master revealed himself to us and bowed to Dokgo Seong, saying, “I commend you for arriving here. I am Abe no Yoshihira, the administrator of the Living Sea.”

I translated Yoshihira’s words for Dokgo Seong, who then stared intently at him and inquired, “I am Dokgo Seong of the Thunder God lineage. Are you familiar with our Cheongwol Ho-bok?”

I was about to relay this to Yoshihira when, unexpectedly, he seemed to understand the Central Plains dialect without hesitation and responded in the same tongue, “You mean the one who entered here decades ago? He has, of course, passed beyond the Death Sea and entered the Sea of Immersion.”

“Are you sure?”

“Hoho…”

Abe no Yoshihira gave a cryptic smile and then spoke, “Are you all searching for Cheongwol to come into this hell?”

“Indeed.”

“If that is the case, I recommend turning back. I have come here as the administrator to say just that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Take a look at this.”

Woosh!

Moments later, lights flickered around the altar, and bizarre figures began to rise in the eight directions of the vast chamber. We instinctively braced ourselves, thinking it was Yoshihira’s sorcerous attack, but soon realized these figures projected divination symbols.

Yoshihira began to explain slowly. “This place is sealed with the power of the Eight Trigrams. It’s one of the powerful barriers we have constructed to suppress the formidable demonic entities residing within the Living Sea. We take pride in our ability to create perfect seals both physically and magically through the power of the Eight Trigrams.”

Dokgo Seong gave him a sidelong glance and said, “You speak strangely. It doesn’t seem very perfect at all.”

Hearing this from Dokgo Seong, Yoshihira responded bitterly, “Haha, that’s true… a certain person known as Cheongwol breezed through our barriers using nothing but divine skills. We reinforced the seals greatly after that encounter, but against the experts of your Thunder God lineage, I have no confidence.”

“Are you here to recommend we retreat for fear of the barrier breaking?”

“Yes. If someone reaches the pinnacle of martial arts, they might tear our barrier apart like paper.”

“Why do you keep referring to us as ‘we’ and ‘you’? What is this role of administrator that you speak of?”

Yoshihira answered gradually, “Our administrator family has been responsible for gathering the demons rampaging in Dongyoung and sealing them within the Living Sea since the days of Abe no Seimei. Without possessing miraculous treasures like the clan’s divine items, we cannot allow human civilization to establish itself. Since then, we have devoted ourselves tirelessly to maintain this seal.”

“And what happens if the seal breaks?”

“The demons sealed in the Living Sea would burst forth and destroy this land within three days.”

“……”

This wasn’t an exaggeration. Even the demon beasts that were barely the first level of threat in the Living Sea could overpower ordinary humans. If the demon beasts in the Death Sea, the Sea of Immersion, and the Sea of Annihilation were any stronger, human civilization would be obliterated in an instant.

Dokgo Seong seemed to grasp the situation. Yet, he crossed his arms and replied nonchalantly, “I don’t care what you’re doing. What’s important to us is to meet Cheongwol Ho-bok. If you interfere, I’ll have no choice but to take you down.”

“You might indeed…” Yoshihira looked troubled. He seemed to think that if any of the Thunder God experts were to disrupt them, their barrier could be destroyed.

After contemplating for some time, Yoshihira finally said, “If that’s the case, please gather eight individuals. In that case, I will gladly open the doors to the Death Sea for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s no longer sufficient to rely solely on martial skills as formidable demons emerge beyond the Death Sea. If you can gather eight members, including yourself, Dokgo Seong, our administration family can bestow a blessing using the power of the Eight Trigrams. This will greatly improve your chances of survival.”

Dokgo Seong frowned. “You’re talking nonsense. Why should we accept your blessing?”

“Because otherwise, you would die. After you die, your corpses and spirits would become possessions of the demon god, augmenting their power.”

“……”

Dokgo Seong silently drew his sword. It seemed he regarded Yoshihira’s words as absurd, ready to draw his sword right then and there. Nobutsuna and Boku Ten, who were beside him, looked horrified and signaled me urgently, prompting me to stop Dokgo Seong.

“Wait! Just a moment!”

“I don’t have time to listen to this nonsense. I can take down all the demons myself.”

“His words are not nonsensical. We need to pay attention.”

“What? On what basis do you say that?”

I replied firmly, “His words are true. If there’s a demonic entity capable of mental assault, we won’t be able to withstand it. I know this from experience in fighting such entities.”

“Illusions can be countered by utilizing the Thunder God lineage’s vision.”

“This isn’t just about that. A powerful mental attacker could potentially ensnare even a top-tier expert. I barely managed to endure it using the power of the sacred text.”

Dokgo Seong appeared surprised by my statement. “Is that true?”

“Yes. I would stake my life on it.”

I was confident. If there were enemies with mental assault capabilities or illusion domination, it would pose serious danger. This was because during the battle against the Moon Beast in the depths of the Great Thunder Valley, even top experts like Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong nearly fell victim to its cursed spell.

Given the strength of the guardian in the Living Sea, there was no guarantee that similar entities wouldn’t exist ahead. In fact, I would assert that they almost certainly would.

Dokgo Seong seemed to catch something in my tone and murmured to himself, then after pondering, he asked, “How do we gather eight people? Just filling the headcount would suffice?”

“Please include those who wouldn’t be a hindrance as allies. It’s also fine to include a sorcerer.”

“How terribly picky.”

“There’s no helping it. This is the most perilous demonic landscape for humanity.”

“You mentioned Cheongwol is in the Sea of Immersion. Is he alive?”

“Yes, he is. Though he hasn’t advanced further.”

Dokgo Seong looked back at us. “Let’s head back. We should regroup and prepare.”

Yoshihira sighed in relief. “Phew… thank you. I’ll escort you to the exit.”

Whoosh!

Moments later, we returned to the forward base building at the entrance of the Living Sea, accompanied by Yoshihira. Nobutsuna, having witnessed Yoshihira’s sorcery, asked him, “With such a convenient transmission technique, why not take us directly to the Sea of Immersion instead of gathering eight of us?”

“This technique can only be used from the rear gate to the front gate. Individuals can teleport anywhere, but there’s a restriction on group movement.”

“Understood…”

“I’ll be awaiting your return.”

As soon as Yoshihira finished speaking, he vanished like smoke.

Dokgo Seong stared vacantly at the spot Yoshihira had occupied before stating, “A mysterious existence indeed. There’s no aura of substance.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean he was a phantom. However, it seems he transformed his own body using some peculiar sorcery.”

With that, Dokgo Seong continued, “Now that we know where Cheongwol is, let’s get moving.”

Suddenly, another thought crossed my mind. ‘Wait a minute. Isn’t this the best training ground to recharge the power of the Divine Sword?’

According to Nobutsuna and Boku Ten, the demon beasts of the Living Sea were said to infinitely generate from the demon energy itself. It was almost as if they were fulfilling a predetermined quota. Since the Divine Sword could absorb the power of these beasts, it would be like leveling up in training, wouldn’t it?

So, I turned to Dokgo Seong and said, “I’d like to train by fighting against the demon beasts.”

“Fight against the demon beasts?”

Surprised, Dokgo Seong shook his head. “That’s enough. I won’t waste time here just to meet the Sword Demon.”

“Hmm…”

I felt troubled. There was still plenty of time until my promised month with the Sword Demon, yet Dokgo Seong seemed eager to head there right away. It was only natural that, in his position, fighting against demons non-stop in a dangerous place wouldn’t appeal to him.

“Actually…”

I had no choice but to explain my entire situation. I was suspicious of Zhuge Sa, intending to keep my eyes on him while also wishing to absorb power for the Divine Sword.

After hearing my story, Dokgo Seong furrowed his brow. “Are you saying Zhuge Sa is suspicious? Why not just eliminate him?”

“His knowledge and talent regarding the otherworldly race could prove invaluable.”

“Hmm. What a troublesome situation.”

“I want to gather strength for the Divine Sword in case something unfavorable occurs.”

Dokgo Seong bluntly replied, “You’re a martial artist relying too much on otherworldly items.”

“That’s…”

“Fine. You can stay here to grow the Divine Sword until the month’s end. Make sure to grow it to its utmost potential during that time.”

“Thank you.”

And so, I remained at the entrance of the Living Sea, beginning my training by fighting against the demon beasts to enhance the Divine Sword’s power.

And after the promised month with Dokgo Seong came to an end, we prepared to return to Goryeo. After breakfast, Dokgo Seong asked, “Have you achieved your goals?”

“Honestly, I’m still unsure.”

During that time, I had absorbed the power of several hundred demon beasts into the Divine Sword. With four peak experts on my side fighting against the demon beasts, our chances of encountering danger were practically zero. But even with all this, there hadn’t been any noticeable changes in the Divine Sword.

‘Sure, I can feel it has grown stronger…’

But what truly brings the Divine Sword to its full potential?

While I contemplated, Dokgo Seong commented, “Didn’t you say that the Divine Sword is a treasure created by the gods? Just think simply.”

“Simply?”

“Are you not lacking both quantity and quality in your offerings?”

“……”

The demon beasts and monsters living in this Living Sea were powerful enough to be considered great demons in the outside world. If even the absorbed demon energy from such beings wasn’t enough, what level of offerings were required?

“Then let’s go. I’m quite tired of the demon beasts now.”

“Yes.”

Whoosh!

As soon as we concluded our conversation, we said our farewells and returned to the Shadowless Gate in Goryeo. Upon returning, there appeared to be no anomalies, and everyone in the sect looked safe and sound.

We went to seek out the Sword Demon. When he spotted us, he smiled brightly, “Oh! You’ve come, Baek Woong.”

“Yes, Your Honor…”

Just then, the moment he was grinning ear to ear,

Swish!

Dokgo Seong lunged forward without a word and severed the Sword Demon’s neck.

 

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