‘Is this the difference in rank?’
At the sight of the pale white hands retreating back into the water after a single warning, a strange light flashed in Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes. Having reached the rank of a Blue Spirit, she could overwhelm ordinary vengeful spirits with her intimidating presence alone.
“As expected, you are incredible.”
In response to Mok Gyeong-un’s praise, Blue Spirit, who had driven away the water spirits, spoke in an annoyed tone. -Do you think I warned you of danger because of these low-rank beings?
“That’s probably not it.”
Mok Gyeong-un shrugged. Of course, if they were merely Red Spirit or Vermilion Spirit-rank, she wouldn’t have warned him. Her warning was about that thing over there, which was transforming into the worst kind of Gu poison by devouring its own kind. -Gooooooooo!
A spot about forty paces away was shrouded in a dense fog. It was so dark that nothing could be seen inside. It would have been better if it were just fog, but the pitch-black fog was swirling like a massive torrent, looking incredibly ominous just by sight. -That’s not the only problem.
“... Are you talking about those as well?”
Besides the thing that had swallowed the entire space, there were smaller ones too. They too formed small fogs, chaotically tangled together, and something about them felt wrong. Blue Spirit looked at them and said. -Most low-rank vengeful spirits feel fear towards this master and are busy fleeing, just like those from before.
But those things are different.
“What do you mean, different?” -The vengeful spirits that have coveted and devoured each other see nothing.
“What does that mean?” -They are devouring each other to survive and become stronger.
Right now, they see nothing. They are driven by the single-minded purpose of devouring. That was why Blue Spirit advised against getting close to them.
No matter how much lower in rank and weaker they were than her, if those things, having gone mad and turned into hungry ghosts, decided to rush her all at once, it would be difficult to protect him. -Hey, mortal. Do you really think you can break through those things and absorb that?
“I have to try.” -You reckless fool.
That thing was too dangerous. It was a situation where he could be devoured instead, so she wanted to drag him up by force right now. As she thought this, Mok Gyeong-un looked around.
The area was filled with nothing but ominousness, not a single trace of a human could be felt. At this, Mok Gyeong-un muttered.
“It should be fine here.” -What do you mean?
At Blue Spirit’s question, Mok Gyeong-un suddenly fumbled around his lower spine and placed his palm there. Then, he pressed down hard on one spot with his finger.
“Hoo.” -...
What are you trying to do now?
“Should I say I’m half in doubt, since I’ve been wondering whether to do it or not?” -What?
As she asked, Mok Gyeong-un’s back arched, and he slightly furrowed his brow. He was someone who wouldn’t even blink an eye at most pain, so how much must it hurt for him to react like this? -Just what...!? A strange light flashed in Blue Spirit’s eyes.
It was because of a needle, about the length of a finger joint, dangling from Mok Gyeong-un’s fingers. -Ha! This needle, with its hooked tip, was none other than a Forbidden Gate Lock. It was used to block Qi gates and suppress internal energy.
Normally, these Forbidden Gate Locks could only be removed using a special tool with a strong magnetic force, but Mok Gyeong-un had pulled it out using a Binding technique.
‘To use the Binding technique in such a way.’
The Qi gates in the spine where the Forbidden Gate Locks were embedded were extremely dangerous. It could have been perilous, yet he pulled it out without any hesitation by controlling the Binding technique. One could call it audacious. -You mortal, you truly are...
“Just a moment. I need to take out the other two first.” -...
Just as he had done before, Mok Gyeong-un pulled out the remaining two Forbidden Gate Locks. The Forbidden Gate Locks embedded in the vital points of the spine were painful when inserted, but removing them should be even more agonizing, yet his expression didn’t change the second time. It was an incredible display of endurance. -Pak!
The moment Mok Gyeong-un pulled out all the embedded Forbidden Gate Locks, -Swaaaaaaah! The blocked Qi gates opened, and the suppression was released. The death energy he had accumulated until now circulated throughout his body, filling him with power.
‘Look at this.’
Blue Spirit’s eyes narrowed. When the Qi gates were closed, his energy wasn't expressed, so she couldn’t guess how much death energy he had gathered, but this was beyond her expectations. It had already surpassed twice the amount of death energy he originally possessed.
If he could just assimilate that, he would reach the initial Peak Realm with his internal energy alone.
‘It’s astonishing.’
Death energy is on a different level from ordinary energy. It could be said to be its very opposite, and the only human who possessed that much of the death energy was likely Mok Gyeong-un. No, was that boy really human?
In the first place, it was strange that he was fine despite possessing so much death energy. -Flinch! Blue Spirit glanced around and smirked. The surrounding low-rank vengeful spirits were feeling fear from the immense death energy emanating from Mok Gyeong-un.
Mok Gyeong-un stretched and said.
“I feel refreshed. It was frustrating having these things stuck in me all this time.” -Did you endure it on purpose?
“Yes. Just in case.”
He had heard that masters with a keen spiritual sense could detect the energy of their inferiors. That was why Mok Gyeong-un had thought of this method from the moment the Forbidden Gate Locks were first embedded, but he had been holding back. Blue Spirit clicked her tongue and said. -So you didn’t just come down here recklessly.
At this level, aside from that large one, there were only a few beings here that could directly threaten Mok Gyeong-un. Of course, the ones eating each other would attack indiscriminately.
“There’s a difference between risking your life and committing suicide.” -You talk a good game.
But it’s still just as dangerous. Even if it’s not yet complete, in some ways, that thing could be more dangerous than this master. That thing’s purpose was not possession.
It was to indiscriminately swallow everything and complete its transformation. It would try to devour him one way or another. -Will you start with the ones around us first? Blue Spirit gestured towards the small whirlpools with her head and asked.
Mok Gyeong-un shook his head. Then he looked at the giant vortex and said.
“As they say, the head is the tastiest part. I’ll start with that.” -You crazy bastard.
Is that a fish? To describe that thing by saying the head is the tastiest part. It was a saying that a fish’s head is the most delicious part.
If he was indirectly saying he would strike the strongest one first, it was very much like him. -Excessive greed is avarice. But, if you can make that thing yours as you say, you could shorten your training by ten years.
“Can you help me?” -Before being a Spirit Guardian, do you think I would let my disciple die?
At those words, Mok Gyeong-un smiled brightly and said.
“Because if that disciple dies, his master, Blue Spirit, dies too.” -...
Cut the ominous talk.
“Yes, yes.” -Hoo.
Blue Spirit took a long drag from her long pipe, exhaled smoke, and pointed at the massive vortex of fog. -I will draw their attention this way. You just look forward and run.
“I’m counting on you.” -Devour it with all your skill.
As soon as she finished speaking, Blue Spirit slammed her long pipe onto the ground. Then, her eyes flashing with a blood-red light, she opened her mouth. -Blood Realm. -Goooooooooooooh! At that moment, drops of blood began to form on the ground, centered on her palm. -Drip, drip!
Droplets of blood floated up as if they were falling in reverse. The blood droplets shot up into the sky, dyeing the surroundings red. Watching this, Mok Gyeong-un thought to himself.
‘Ghost domain.’
A barrier created by the strong will of a high-ranking vengeful spirit. That could be called a ghost domain. Unlike the barriers set up by Occultists, this ghost domain is constructed from the vengeful spirit’s accumulated resentment and madness, creating a space.
‘Was it this powerful?’
The surrounding area, for dozens of paces, was stained blood-red. In this ghost domain created by the spread of her resentment, the surrounding low-rank vengeful spirits trembled in their spiritual forms. There were even some that couldn’t withstand it and dissipated. -Pssssss! -Pak!
Pak!
Just then, the small whirlpools that had been busy devouring the surrounding vengeful spirits suddenly moved. -Woooooooo! Their target was Blue Spirit. Because she had intentionally revealed her power by opening her domain, the corrupted vengeful spirits, which had been focused on devouring, suddenly showed interest. -Go. -Pat!
At Blue Spirit’s words, Mok Gyeong-un veered to the side. Even if the corrupted vengeful spirits’ attention was focused on Blue Spirit, they might change their target if he passed right in front of them. That’s why he had no choice but to go around them. -Tatatak!
When he used his light body technique, his speed was incredible. The surroundings blurred past, and in no time, he reached the front of the giant vortex. The blood-red domain, with exquisite precision, did not reach this place.
If it had, this thing would also have turned its attention to Blue Spirit.
‘This is amazing.’ -Swaaaaaaaaaah!
Mok Gyeong-un marveled inwardly at the sight of the black fog swirling like a rough current. It evoked a fear that if one were swept into it, one would never be able to return. Most people, no, even decent Occultists would never dare to enter it.
But Mok Gyeong-un had one other thing. He had no sense of fear. -Pat! Mok Gyeong-un stepped into the torrent of raging vengeful spirits.
The moment he entered, a scream so loud it felt like his eardrums would tear rang out. -Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak! And the foul stench of rotting corpses vibrated from all directions, as if to paralyze his nose. His entire skin felt like it was being sliced, making even the slightest movement painful.
“Hoo.”
Was this why Blue Spirit had warned him? He felt like he was about to be swept away by a vicious, evil energy that far surpassed his expectations. However, to avoid being swept away, Mok Gyeong-un performed a reverse energy circulation throughout his entire body, circulating his death energy.
It was at that very moment. -Chakang! Suddenly, a chain shot out from somewhere and wrapped around Mok Gyeong-un’s waist. In response, Mok Gyeong-un focused death energy into his hand blade and struck down. -Chwaeng!
The chain snapped.
‘Hm?’
But that wasn't the end. -Chwaaaaaaaaaaah! Countless chains flew in and instantly bound Mok Gyeong-un’s limbs. It happened in an instant, leaving no time to even think of dodging. -Grip!
‘This... power...’
The chains wrapped around his entire body, except for his head. The binding force of these chains was so strong that no matter how much strength he used or how much death energy he raised, they wouldn't budge. -Charrrrrrr! The chains that had bound Mok Gyeong-un began to drag him toward the center of the black fog vortex.
It wasn't something he could resist with strength. As he was being dragged, another scream came from somewhere. -Aaaaaaaack! -Save me! -Please!
Please!
It was a scream close to a plea. But as the sound grew closer, something began to appear in his blurry vision. -Ugeujeok!
Ugeujeok!
The sound of something being eaten could be heard from there. He wondered what it could be eating, when, ‘!?’ He saw the lower half of a human-shaped vengeful spirit struggling upside down.
But its upper body was inside the gaping mouth of a bizarre creature covered in chains. It was a horrifying sight to behold. -Eogeok!
Eogeok!
The sounds of the vengeful spirit being eaten came from within the mouth, but they didn't last long. Because in an instant, the rest of its lower body was sucked into the mouth. The word ‘devour’ was not a metaphor.
It was meant literally. -Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah! The bizarre, chain-covered creature that had devoured a vengeful spirit whole let out a roar. The surroundings shook as if an earthquake had occurred. -Save me! -Please!
The vengeful spirits caught in the chains screamed even louder, pleading. They were terrified out of their minds. It was then. -Parrrrrr!
Mok Gyeong-un’s entire body trembled. Was he feeling the emotion of fear for the first time in his life? At this, the bizarre, chain-covered creature that had been roaring slowly turned its gaze. -Wooooong!
Through the gaps in the chains, two beams of light that looked like eyes shone out. -I will eat.
You.
An eerie voice echoed all around. Then, Mok Gyeong-un, who had been trembling, lifted his head. But his face did not show an expression of fear.
As if all of this was exciting, his lips twitched, and soon the corners of his mouth stretched to his ears. -!? A strange light flashed in the pale white eyes. Mok Gyeong-un spoke to the bizarre, chain-covered creature.
“Our opinions match.”