## Chapter 2105 – 2105. Gwangmyeong Ascension Chart
I entered Mount Domyeong.
From the outside, the entire mountain was shining, so I thought my eyes would hurt when I entered, but that wasn’t the case. The inside of the mountain looked ordinary. I sensed that the space outside and inside Mount Domyeong seemed to be blocked off.
As I continued to focus on my ki sense, I frowned.
‘My ki sense is a mess.’
Something was interfering with my ki sense. Within about 30 meters of me, it was fine, but if I tried to extend it further, my ki sense would collapse. It became nonsense.
I had no choice but to rely on my eyesight and walk into the mountain. In my head, I was thinking about how to get past the guys who went in first.
“Was that the Heavenly Demon’s Imperial Step just now?”
Sama Ryung asked. She was wearing a veil that covered her face. The veil was so thin that I could see the outline of her face if I looked closely. I think the reason she wore the veil was to avoid curses? Anyway, covering her face with the veil gave her a mysterious charm.
The question was unexpected. Usually, people don’t ask such things outright. It’s considered rude. Especially her?
“Did you recognize it? It is the Heavenly Demon’s Imperial Step.”
“…I know I was rude. But I can’t contain my curiosity. It was different from the Heavenly Demon’s Imperial Step I know.”
The Heavenly Demon’s Imperial Step was famous. The Heavenly Demon Sect alone had a history of thousands of years, and the Heavenly Demon’s Imperial Step was the signature technique of the Heavenly Demon, the supreme leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
“My Heavenly Demon’s Imperial Step has my own enlightenment infused into it. As for why it’s transformed like this… well, I’m not sure either.”
I told the truth.
The Heavenly Demon’s Imperial Step I used when those monster bastards blocked my way earlier? I just used it with all my power without thinking. I didn’t know that the result would be the monster bastards’ bodies exploding and dying.
‘Sama Ryung was next to me, so I also had the thought of showing off.’
Thanks to that, I used more than 40% of my power. The Heavenly Demon’s Imperial Step, when unleashed with full power, looks overwhelming, but in reality, it wasn’t very efficient. It wouldn’t be of much help when fighting against an equal master.
‘It’s the Imperial Step, after all. There’s nothing better for subduing trash.’
Sama Ryung didn’t ask deeply about the Heavenly Demon’s Imperial Step. She just seemed to be watching me more closely than before.
“Ugh… ugh…”
“Ugh, ugh… K, kill me…”
Groans filled with pain could be heard. We stopped walking forward. There were humans caught on the trees in front of us.
They were half-merged with the trees. Blood and intestines were spilling onto the ground, and some of the tree branches were stabbing into their bodies, sucking their life force.
They had suffered injuries that would have been fatal, but they were at least at the level of Chulji (出志). Their life force was quite tenacious compared to ordinary people.
“I don’t know which great one you are… but please, kill us! Ugh…”
“It’s too painful… I’d rather die even a little faster…! Please! Ugh!”
They reached out to us, begging.
Sama Ryung and I remained silent. They were strangers. Was there any reason to do what they wanted? Even if we saved them, would we get any reward?
I glanced at Sama Ryung. If Sama Ryung told me to show mercy to them, I would gladly do so.
Sama Ryung’s eyes were cold. She watched the people being drained of their life force by the trees as if she were observing them. I knew she had a cold personality, but… this was worthy of being called a villainess.
‘She’s even more alluring.’
Seong Ji-gon stepped forward. He drew his sword.
“…My abilities are insufficient to save you, but I will at least grant you a minimum of mercy.”
“T, thank you, great hero…!”
Seong Ji-gon swung his sword and beheaded the suffering people. Their severed heads had smiles on them.
Creak.
The quiet tree moved. It was natural for it to be angry since it had its food taken away.
Seong Ji-gon braced himself, putting strength into his lower body. Golden sword energy appeared around him, filling the space. According to Seong Ji-gon, that golden energy was the energy of twilight.
Seong Ji-gon swung his sword. Countless golden sword energies swept through the surroundings, turning everything to ashes. The tree monster that had been sucking human life force couldn’t withstand it and was cut to pieces.
Was it called the Ninth Month Spirit Sword Technique (九月靈劍法), First Form (一式), Moonlight Shadow Dance (月光舞影)? I focused on the sword energies dancing in the air. At first glance, they seemed to be flying around randomly, but I could feel the essence of the sword. It was right to see each of those sword energies as a sword. It was like a simplified version of controlling swords with one’s mind.
“You have the skills worthy of a disciple of the Ninth Month Immortal. The Ninth Month Immortal must be proud.”
“Is Sama Clan Head close to the Ninth Month Immortal?”
“I only met her a few times when I worked at the Imperial Palace. The Ninth Month Immortal avoided me.”
Why would she avoid her?
I had met the Ninth Month Immortal a few times. Despite her great power, she seemed like an ordinary old woman. She had a sense of justice to some extent, like Seong Ji-gon.
‘Is it because Sama Ryung looks like a villainess? Hmm. It’s possible.’
We moved again. Even though we entered Mount Domyeong late, our pace was leisurely. Sama Ryung, who should have been the most urgent, was calm. It was as if I was feeling more impatient than her.
“Sama Clan Head. Is it okay to act so leisurely? We might be late if we keep this up.”
“According to the records, there are conditions to climb Mount Domyeong. It means that you can’t reach the summit just by running up the mountain.”
“What are those conditions?”
“The first is to find the path. It was written that you could find the path by following a red bird… but the rules of Mount Domyeong might have changed, so we can’t blindly trust the records.”
“Yujin, there isn’t a red bird, but there’s a yellow cat.”
Seong Ji-gon raised his hand and pointed to one side.
A yellow-furred cat was sitting seductively on a small rock. What was more amazing than its fur color was the cat’s eyes. Its eyes were shining with rainbow colors.
I approached to catch the cat. The cat jumped behind the rock, creating distance. Then, it turned its head back to check on us.
“Perhaps this cat is our guide. Let’s follow that cat.”
We decided to follow Sama Ryung’s suggestion.
We followed the cat. Monsters attacked us from time to time. They weren’t monsters. I couldn’t feel any demonic energy, which was the biggest characteristic of monsters.
“I didn’t realize it at first, but after seeing it a few times, I understand. They are artificial creatures made using sorcery and curses.”
“Can you make artificial creatures with sorcery?”
I asked back, dumbfounded. I knew that the technology of this world was strange, but I didn’t expect it to be strange in the bio field as well. It really felt like sorcery was omnipotent.
“The creatures of this world are made of soul and spirit. It’s not that difficult to create the spirit. What’s difficult is the soul. The trees are creatures made only of spirit without a soul. It’s similar to a Jiangshi.”
“I see.”
I didn’t understand at all, but I nodded vaguely.
“Is it possible to create humans as well?”
“…If the conditions are sufficient, it is possible. But there is no reason to do so. Humans are weak when viewed as creatures.”
“I see.”
The cat, which had been leading the way, stopped. The cat raised its front paw and pointed straight ahead. As if telling us to go that way.
It was as if it was pushing us away, telling us to get lost quickly.
Suddenly, I had the thought that the appearance of this cat might not be a coincidence. If so, what was the reason for this cat to try to send us away so quickly? I pondered for a while, but no answer came to mind.
We moved forward as the cat indicated.
The space rippled.
I looked around. The scenery was the same. Seong Ji-gon and Sama Ryung were also nearby. The cat was nowhere to be seen.
I was about to open my mouth when I noticed an abnormality in my body. The movement of my internal energy was restricted. I tried to use the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. It moved. Only inside my body. The internal energy didn’t escape outside my body. It was forcibly blocked by an unknown force.
‘My internal energy is trapped in my body.’
Seong Ji-gon also looked like something was wrong, frowning. He was moving his mouth, but no sound came out. Seong Ji-gon seemed frustrated and wrote letters on the ground.
-I can’t speak.
“I can’t get my internal energy out of my body. I’m restricted like this… Sama Clan Head. Are you alright?”
Sama Ryung was blinking her eyes. Her eyes were unfocused.
“I can’t see. I’ve gone blind. It seems to be a forced restriction imposed by Mount Domyeong.”
This was an opportunity.
I nonchalantly reached out my hand to her.
“Take my hand. It will be helpful.”
“…It’s okay if I don’t hold your hand. Just because I don’t have my sight doesn’t mean I can’t walk.”
“Hasn’t your sense been strange since entering Mount Domyeong? More than that, other restrictions might appear. Besides, not being able to see is too fatal.”
“It’s reasonable that other restrictions might appear. I understand.”
Sama Ryung’s permission was granted. I took her hand. A woman’s hand is always soft and warm. I didn’t miss the opportunity and used Sensual Stimulation.
[Using Sensual Stimulation. Consuming vitality.]
Twitch.
Sama Ryung’s body trembled. That was all. Nothing changed.
The effect of Sensual Stimulation varies depending on the area of the body that is touched and the area of contact. The more intimate the area, the better the effect. A hand? The effect was minimal. At best, it only made her feel slightly better. Of course, I was satisfied with that. At least she wouldn’t feel unpleasant.
We moved again.
And less than an hour later, we encountered 30 warriors wearing blue uniforms. Judging by the fact that they were wearing unified uniforms, they were definitely from a sect.
“It’s a pleasure to meet seniors here.”
“Your tone doesn’t show any respect for your seniors.”
I quietly assessed the level of the warriors. The weakest was at the early stage of Chulji. The leader in front of me seemed to be at least at the mid-stage of Ogi. There were also about four other masters at the Ogi realm.
They were not enough to kill on the day I reached the Three Perfections. Normally.
“Is there any reason to show respect to those who are about to die?”
