Dark Heaven Village
The first to act against Bi Gang-jang was Seo Mun-hye. With sharp eyes, she glared at Bi Gang-jang and drew her sword, unleashing a Sword Qi.
Fwoosh fwoosh fwoosh!
Bi Gang-jang stood still for a moment, but upon receiving three streams of Sword Qi, it spewed out blue blood from its transparent body. Startled, it let out a seagull-like squawk and swiftly retreated.
‘Ah, so Sword Qi works well against it.’
I recalled my previous encounters with Bi Gang-jang. Back then, those creatures had circled around me almost invisibly before attacking. Disturbingly, they were impervious to any attacks except pure Qi or natural forces—my swords or spears would simply pass through them.
Fortunately, Seo Mun-hye wasn’t the kind of martial artist who would go mad at the sight of such monsters. Plus, since she could use Sword Qi, she was a considerable help.
She asked, “Little hero, should I take that monster down?”
“Indeed. Just so you know, that creature is called Bi Gang-jang, and it can only be harmed by pure Qi and natural forces.”
“What do you mean? So we can only defeat it with Sword Qi?”
“Exactly. But that’s not the only issue.”
Grrooowl
Grrr…
Bi Gang-jang writhed, emitting strange noises. Instinctively, I felt my body turn cold as I realized it had adopted a second method. I had no choice but to warn Seo Mun-hye.
“It can teleport and has exceptionally high Regeneration Ability!”
Clang clang!!
In the next moment, we both swung our weapons like lightning to deflect an invisible physical attack. The sudden hit came from Bi Gang-jang, who had teleported behind us and swung its tail-like appendage. If we hadn’t defended ourselves, it would have smashed our human bodies to bits.
Seo Mun-hye seemed utterly flabbergasted.
“W-what is going on? What kind of monster is this?”
The wound inflicted by Seo Mun-hye’s Sword Qi had already healed halfway. As I witnessed smoke rising from Bi Gang-jang’s transparent wound, evidence of its Regeneration Ability, I gritted my teeth.
‘Damn it… I saw this coming…’
When I died fighting Bi Gang-jang and its marauding demon companions back then, I managed to deal with most other monsters, but Bi Gang-jang was the one I barely put a dent in.
It made sense—most regular attacks didn’t faze it, and it would teleport and appear in a flash, all the while healing injuries at an alarming rate. It was a powerful beast that was difficult to face, and the claim that confronting Bi Gang-jang head-on was suicidal was absolutely true.
“To defeat it, we need to utilize a technique that consumes a large amount of Qi for a one-shot kill.”
“Well then, I will…”
“But hold on a moment.”
“Why?”
“Because these things…”
Grrrrr
Squawk
“… might act in unison.”
As I spoke, I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. Bi Gang-jang was slowly crawling up the sides of the ship, and three more were emerging! The creeping presence of those transparent, deadly tentacle monsters made me feel utterly unnatural. Seo Mun-hye seemed to grasp the severity of the situation, her face turning pale.
“Little hero… this is…”
I looked at the encircling Bi Gang-jang and muttered,
“On the bright side, it seems these creatures have a craving for human flesh. Otherwise, they could have submerged the ship long ago.”
But I had anticipated this to some degree. I had heard tales from Manggyeong about how Bi Gang-jang enjoyed devouring humans alive. With a monster like that, it would likely use its Fog Confusion Technique to incapacitate humans before picking us off one by one, enjoying its feast.
Whoosh!
I dashed forward, knocking down the Bi Gang-jang that was trying to slink into the cabin. It retreated while spewing its acidic bodily fluid, and I blocked it with a wooden plank. Gasping, I thought,
’Four of them… this is tough, but maybe we can handle it.’
Just then…
Zap
“……”
I felt a surge of pain shooting through my head. It was a severe headache, and everything around me felt disoriented. I realized I was sensing words from the otherworldly beings directly prodding into my mind.
‘Words?’
Bi Gang-jang twitched. Its crimson eyes were fixed on me.
For some reason, I felt a bizarre notion that this Bi Gang-jang was attempting to convey something to me—if that were true, then this creature was more than just a mindless monster; it was a sentient being capable of communication!
‘What the hell… what good does it do for me to understand!’
Gritting my teeth, I gripped my sword tightly. Just then, Seo Mun-hye lunged at one of the Bi Gang-jang, executing her own Ultimate Skill.
“Hah!”
Crack!
Sword Flames!
The finishing move, only achievable by a select few among the pinnacle martial artists, erupted from Seo Mun-hye’s blade. The radiant silver flames rose high, and like a silver blade, they coalesced in the air, allowing her to stab deeply into Bi Gang-jang.
Kaboom!!
Greeeehhh—!!
The body of one Bi Gang-jang was severely sliced and torn apart. Despite its superior Regeneration Ability, it seemed gravely injured and staggered back. I momentarily lost sight of Seo Mun-hye‘s agile movements, stunned by her prowess.
‘Impressive strength!’
If it came to swordsmanship, she could hold her own even against Celestial Beings. Moreover, it looked like she still had plenty more tricks up her sleeve; clearly, she possessed martial arts beyond her years! There was a reason she made it to the fourth round of the Dark Martial Arts Tournament.
Not wanting to remain idle, I executed the Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear. My well-trained basics combined with my inner strength unleashed a flurry of seven jabs in a single breath. With a twist or two, the consecutive thrusts punctured the body of the nearest Bi Gang-jang, creating large gaping holes.
Crackle!
Seemingly refusing to be defeated, one of them charged at me when it saw one of its companions in danger. It approached vigorously, spewing its acidic liquid from its body, making a head-on assault! I had no other option but to evade with my Heavenly Escape Sword Technique.
Bam!
I stood with my back to Seo Mun-hye. She muttered darkly, “It’s regenerating again…”
Yes, indeed. Though Seo Mun-hye dealt a heavy wound to one of them, she hadn’t precisely tracked its movements, which led her to hesitate in pursuing further attacks. This was due to Bi Gang-jang being transparent and capable of deflecting most physical attacks. If even a slight miscalculation occurred, there was a high chance of a counterattack. Thus, it was difficult for even a capable fighter like Seo Mun-hye to finish it off in a single blow.
It was the same for me.
Hush hush!
Even while fending off Bi Gang-jang with my Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear, its movements were extraordinarily agile and unpredictable. Though it didn’t utilize any martial techniques, its primal instincts felt equal to those of a seasoned martial artist. The disparity in our innate physical capabilities was so vast that as humans, we were merely endeavoring to bridge the gap with our martial arts.
‘I can’t let Evil God claim this victory!’
In that moment, I realized once again the significance of the incident wherein I had faced such overwhelming numbers of monster opponents in the past. When I battled Bi Gang-jang and the horde of demons, there had been dozens up to hundreds of them. If I were having so much difficulty with just four, what would happen if I faced several hundred? Furthermore, considering that they could deflect any attacks besides Sword Qi, numbers alone would render even the most skilled soldiers ineffective.
If I were on land, I would have quit holding back, releasing my inner strength recklessly and obliterating them. But here, on the ocean, should the ship break apart, there’d be no way for me to protect the people inside. The geographical disadvantage was overwhelming.
What to do…
I hadn’t sensed Mi-ho defeating the sorcerer yet. Just as I was contemplating my predicament…
‘Trust.’
A curious warmth began to flow into my body. It felt like a path extending from the top of my head down to my lower abdomen, a refreshing sensation rising from my throat. I was taken aback. I had rarely felt a miraculous energy this close before.
The voice of Lu Dongbin, the Sword Spirit, resonated in my mind.
‘Cast aside your distractions and yield your body. And trust.’
To trust –
For the first time, I began to comprehend the meaning behind those words. Although I had often hesitated and found the truth hard to face, this might be the only solution available to me.
‘At this rate, I’m definitely going to die. That feeling grips me.’
Having faced death more than ten times, I was well aware of the signs. If I didn’t make the right choice now, death awaited me.
Moments later, I pushed aside my distractions and surrendered my body to the mysterious energy. My consciousness plunged into an unconscious abyss, and I felt as if I were viewing my body from the outside. Although my bodily sensations lingered, my spirit appeared to have detached.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a white energy swirled around my eyes. A voice that didn’t feel like my own rang out clearly from my throat.
“How dare you, other beings, harm humanity! The forces of darkness shall never be tolerated!”
Cluck!
The Bi Gang-jang recognized that I had become a ‘different being’ and seemed agitated to flee. Meanwhile, I hurled my spear, piercing one Bi Gang-jang right through. Even if I were to charge my energy fully, there was no guarantee I could muster that kind of speed and might.
Boom!
“Keeeeeeeek!!”
It was astonishing. The spear that embedded itself in Bi Gang-jang‘s transparent body erupted, leaving a massive gash that caused it to tumble helplessly backward. The power I had infused into that spear must have disrupted its Regeneration Ability!
Now I slowly grasped Chonjeong, the Famous Blade. I appreciated its sharpness and beauty for a moment before muttering to myself:
“A cursed weapon that sleeps with evil spirits. Though not auspicious, it is my only option.”
Glum!
As I held Chonjeong, a scattering of starlit energy naturally accumulated around it, glowing radiantly. The mesmerizing display caused the remaining Bi Gang-jang to shrink back slightly, retreating in fear. The overwhelming power radiating from the blade was too immense to ignore, particularly for Seo Mun-hye, who stood beside me, wide-eyed and entranced by the celestial lights.
Eventually, the wondrous energy condensed into a single form, shifting into a pure gray hue. The refined shape of the blade matched what I had envisioned.
Strong Qi!
With Chonjeong aimed firmly at the beasts, I yelled with fury,
“The age of the ancients has long ended! In the name of the heavens, I will purge you!”
Indeed.
The being that currently wielded my body was none other than Lu Dongbin, the Sword Immortal, revered as the strongest among the Eight Immortals! He was a divine figure, honored and respected by countless martial artists throughout history. Only Lu Dongbin had achieved such a seat through swordsmanship and the vanquishing of demons.
Suddenly, Lu Dongbin furrowed his brows.
“A progeny of the Evil God approaches. How rampant is the darkness in this era? Have the descendants of the Evil God learned nothing, even after witnessing the great cataclysm of the Silver Age? Truly lamentable!”
Gurgle gargle…
It was as he said. Though the Sea Fog had mostly dissipated, something ominous and gigantic was approaching from beyond the horizon.
It resembled a disaster clad in swirling violet mist—a being so massive and terrifying it could barely be described as anything else. Amidst the purplish fog, enormous tentacles writhed, endlessly spewing foul and terrifying words. The Bi Gang-jang suddenly felt like child’s play compared to the true Evil God arriving before us.
Roaaaar!
A creature that could consume thunderstorms and fill the world with its essence—a being that might not even be on par with the Ocean Guardian, yet as a human, I felt utterly incapable of confronting it.
What is this Evil God?
In my thoughts, Lu Dongbin seemed to read my mind and replied in a monologue:
“Listen well. In this world, there exists a being even more dreadful than the Sea God. These are the guardians of the dark abyss, tasked with watching over the Evil Gods in the depths until they transcend the paths of stars. Such existences are dubbed Evil Gods, and that being of violet hue before us is one of their progeny.”
So there exists such a thing?
As I felt amazement creeping in, Lu Dongbin drew Chonjeong and gazed ahead—
“Yet your capabilities are excellent enough for me to utilize all my strength. So fear not.”
As we closed the distance to the Evil God’s progeny, I could see it was around fifty feet away. At that moment, Lu Dongbin lifted Chonjeong into the air. With this movement, a massively powerful spectrum of colors erupted around me, illuminating the area in dazzling light. The natural essence began to deplete—
Crack!!
“Descend, Flame Dragon Divine Sword!”
From Chonjeong arose a massive flame—its blade losing material form and transforming into flickering flames, as if the fire of a dragon boiled with rage. As the dragon’s energy embraced my body, a fiery vigor burst forth from within me, making me feel like I was transforming into a dragon myself!
Heavenly Escape Sword Technique!
Fire Dragon Divine Sword!
Destroy the Light!
“Return to your source, vile fiend!”
My body transformed into a colossal mass of light embodying the Fire Dragon Divine Sword, charging ahead with Lu Dongbin’s will fueling me. The speed surpassed even my Great Liberation Technique and Lightning Strike combined! Because Lu Dongbin drew on my true potential to its absolute limits, my power surged extraordinarily!
Roaaaaaaaar!
The progeny of the Evil God, spewing its tentacles and unleashing flood-like magic, stood no chance! The Fire Dragon Divine Sword burned away its tentacles, relentlessly advancing until we finally breached its purplish, cloud-like body. As the thick aura of dark magic spilled out from deep within, I felt as if I might suffocate. Yet my Fire Dragon Divine Sword burned just as fiercely, dispelling the dark aura and allowing me to forge ahead with ease.
“Ohhh!!”
I could feel the heart of this Evil God’s offspring—its core! The heart was remarkably animated, possessing eyes and tentacles, and screamed incantations to guard itself using whispered spells. However, Lu Dongbin’s blade was unwavering, sinking deep into the very center of that heart!
“Keeeeeeeek!!”
The heart let out a blood-curdling scream. In the next moment, it exploded, gushing dark blue blood everywhere, the surrounding violet clouds beginning to collapse. Its essence was a connection of spirit and nature—Lu Dongbin quickly escaped this chaotic aura and returned to the ship.
Kaboom!
The sound of the Evil God’s progeny detonating resounded behind me.
Clang!
Lu Dongbin sheathed Chonjeong, then said,
“Young one, I apologize for overextending your body. Your energy has been severely exhausted, so remember to recuperate.”
Whoooosh
Simultaneously, I felt the divine energy flowing out of my body. Gradually, my dormant consciousness came back, reclaiming control over my physical form. The recent events felt like a fantastical dream; however, reality hit me hard as I witnessed the remnants of the purplish Evil God collapsing behind me.
Now, everything dawned on me.
The Heavenly Escape Sword Technique‘s blessing—
It was truly a divine boon Lu Dongbin gifted me! It allowed him to fight on my behalf whenever Evil Gods appeared!
“Cough, cough…?!”
Suddenly, I erupted in a fit of coughs. Checking my hands revealed specks of blood staining them. Simultaneously, I felt weariness wash over me, taking me by surprise. It was as if I hadn’t slept or rested for days, fatigue overtaking every inch of me. I barely managed to keep conscious, but Seo Mun-hye rushed over to sustain me.
“Are you alright?!”
“Cough… cough… Huf…!
I gasped for air, and as I briefly evaluated my state, I realized that I had spent nearly all my inner strength, leaving me with barely one-tenth remaining. The toll of using Lu Dongbin’s powers had taken its weight on me.
This feeling of inner exhaustion was something I hadn’t experienced in a long time, almost comical. Just how much energy had I burned through during such a short fight? As I braced myself to remain upright, something swooped down from above.
Swhoosh!
Flying down on a makeshift glider was Mi-ho. She held aloft the decapitated head of a Merfolk, round-eyed and resembling a shrunken melon. This was likely the sorcerer who conjured the Sea Fog and Dead Calm Zone.
“To have drawn down such a divine being; what on earth are you?”
Mi-ho asked in disbelief, then incinerated the sorcerer’s severed head with foxfire. The flames engulfed the head, releasing an appetizing aroma reminiscent of grilled fish. As I gradually regained consciousness, I turned to look at Mi-ho, who nodded at Seo Mun-hye.
“Take care of him. The Sea Fog and Dead Calm Zone have been dispelled.”
“And you?”
Mi-ho didn’t reply but instead fixed her gaze firmly on Seo Mun-hye. At that moment, Seo Mun-hye’s body trembled, her eyes glazing over. In the blink of an eye, she fell under Mi-ho’s enchanting spell.
“Do you understand? Take care of him.”
“Understood…”
My last memories faded as Seo Mun-hye carried me to the cabin.
I felt myself slip into a deep slumber, as if fainting…
Please refrain from mentioning or comparing to Soul Consuming Apparition. I will do my best to continue writing!
I appreciate your comments and recommendation!
