## Chapter 2108 – 2108. Ascending To The Light
“……”
Silence descended.
Everyone gathered here rolled their eyes, assessing the situation.
On the surface, the most powerful force was the group of monsters led by the Bone Accumulating Evil Ghost, Ban Oh. The great monster Ban Oh was a Third Realm expert, and more than ten of the monsters under his command were Fifth Realm.
Next was the Ghost Soul Black Hand. A legion of 500 Jiang Shi. Even if most of the Jiang Shi were at the Entry Level, the number of 500 could not be ignored. The fact that they were Jiang Shi, not humans, was also something to be wary of. Jiang Shi knew no fear. Moreover, there was a high possibility that the Ghost Soul Black Hand had hidden Jiang Shi. Like a final weapon.
Among these forces, we were the weakest. They were at least dozens, while we were just three. A Third Realm martial artist, a sorcerer, and a Fifth Realm tenth level martial artist. It felt a bit pathetic to even introduce ourselves.
‘I can’t let them underestimate us too much. They might try to eliminate the weakest first and then fight among themselves.’
I needed to appear strong, even if it meant bluffing.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
I scattered demonic energy in all directions. Black demonic energy spread out from me. The Jiang Shi that touched the demonic energy trembled. The enemies’ gazes turned to me.
The Ghost Soul Black Hand’s eyes flashed.
“Kekeke. Demonic energy… and such dense demonic energy at that. You must be from the Demonic Cult!”
The monsters hesitated. They looked at me, as if they were disturbed.
“It’s ominous demonic energy.”
“I don’t want to fight that guy…”
“We should kill him right now…”
Should I use the Heavenly Demon’s Supreme Step once? No. If I acted up any more here, I might provoke both forces at the same time. Facing both of them at once would be insane.
The tension in the space continued to rise. However, the hostility and killing intent were not clear. Who should they target first? Those present here couldn’t make a decision.
“Do we need to fight?”
The great monster Ban Oh opened his mouth. His low voice spread out. I agreed with his words and withdrew my demonic energy. Spreading demonic energy to pressure all sides consumed a lot of internal energy.
“Keke. Are you suggesting we join hands? Do you think that’s possible? Only three can reach the top of Domyung Mountain. I’m alone, so I can make allies, but… you can’t.”
“What I mean is that our competitors aren’t just us. You must have noticed that the peak you see behind us is fake. The space of Domyung Mountain can’t end here. There are competitors who aren’t here. Fighting among ourselves would only benefit them. Therefore, I propose a truce until we move to the next space.”
Ban Oh didn’t want to fight. The most powerful force here was Ban Oh’s monster force. That meant the other two forces. He was wary of us and the Ghost Soul Black Hand temporarily joining forces to attack him. If there were three Third Realm experts, Ban Oh couldn’t help but worry about defeat.
“Kekeke. You’re a talkative young one. What will you do?”
The Ghost Soul Black Hand asked us.
Sung Ji-gon and Sa Ma-ryeong looked at me. It meant they were leaving the decision to me. I didn’t think deeply. In fact, I had made the decision the moment that great monster appeared. I was about to open my mouth when a new presence appeared.
It wasn’t that they had moved through space like us. Three houses. The door of one of them opened, and an old man with a long white beard appeared. The old man, who looked like a Taoist immortal, slowly approached us.
“Hehe. There are many gathered this time as well. Judging by the ominous atmosphere, it seems the world hasn’t changed even after thousands of years.”
“……”
Everyone was silent.
The mysterious energy emanating from the old man. It was the energy of nature. The old man was metal, water, earth, wood, and fire.
“Are you a divine immortal?”
The Ghost Soul Black Hand asked. Her vulgar laughter had disappeared.
“No. I am just the dregs of them. Hmm, yes. You could say I’m closer to a ghost.”
“What is the reason that ghost has appeared before us?”
“Because you’re not fighting. Didn’t you enter Domyung Mountain to get what you want? Fight. Bite each other’s necks, destroy each other’s hearts. Kill your competitors and get what you want. This place is a battlefield for you.”
“……”
As the old man said, a battle didn’t break out. It was human nature to not want to fight when told to fight.
The others were lost in thought for a moment.
In my case, I wanted to kill the old man. Suddenly appearing and telling us to fight? It was annoying to be ordered around. Even if that was a ghost and not real, I could kill him. I had the power to kill him.
“Indeed, I understand.”
Sa Ma-ryeong spoke before I could move.
“Domyung Mountain is not a place of blessing or a place of miracles, but merely a huge ritual.”
“That’s right, sorcerer. You have a good head on your shoulders. What is your name?”
“My name is Sa Ma-ryeong.”
“You are from the Sa Ma clan. Indeed. Even after thousands of years, the Sa Ma clan is still intelligent. I am Hyejin the Immortal. Although I am just a ghost…”
“A ritual? What do you mean?”
Ban Oh interrupted and asked. The Taoist immortal, Hyejin, glared at Ban Oh with contempt.
“The answer is already out there… Is that even a question? As expected, monsters are not to be associated with.”
“Kekeke.”
The Ghost Soul Black Hand laughed vulgarly again.
“This Domyung Mountain itself is a sorcery ritual for human sacrifice. The ritual is held every thousand years… It’s just that the ley lines, the sky, and the stars align every thousand years.”
The old man didn’t refute it. He didn’t give any additional information.
I frowned as much as I could.
“I don’t understand even after hearing that.”
“Great Hero. There’s no need to think so hard. Domyung Mountain is a place where a ritual is performed. In other words, it’s an altar. Those who die on Domyung Mountain are sacrifices. And the battles that take place on Domyung Mountain are in themselves part of the ritual. The more difficult and grand the procedure, the sweeter the reward at the end.”
“Sa Ma’s words are indeed correct. If you want to reach the top and get what you want, kill each other. There is no reward without a price.”
Ban Oh swung his right hand. A bone spear that appeared out of thin air flew at high speed and pierced Hyejin the Immortal’s head. Hyejin the Immortal disappeared as if his body was crumbling. His last voice echoed in the wind.
“You cannot move on to the next stage without death.”
To move on to the next stage, we had to kill each other. There was no peace here. Sung Ji-gon drew his sword, and Sa Ma-ryeong quietly prepared her sorcery.
I called out to the Ghost Soul Black Hand in a loud voice!
“Ghost Soul Black Hand!! How about we postpone our fight and deal with those monster bastards first?!”
“Kekeke! I like the way you think! It’s a temporary alliance only until we kill those monster bastards!”
“These insignificant human bastards…! My patience has already run out! Kill those blasphemous humans!”
Ban Oh’s voice was filled with killing intent.
The monsters screamed and charged towards the Jiang Shi legion. The Jiang Shi responded, and a battle broke out.
Some of the monsters targeted the Ghost Soul Black Hand, who was controlling the Jiang Shi. Sung Ji-gon ran towards the Ghost Soul Black Hand. Was he trying to kill her? No way. He was probably trying to gain her favor by helping her.
The great monster Ban Oh was watching me, not the Ghost Soul Black Hand. It seemed he had judged me to be the most dangerous.
“Kueeeeeek!”
“These Jiang Shi bastards…! They’re using martial arts!”
“There are Jiang Shi with magical artifacts!”
The Jiang Shi overwhelmed the monsters. Some Jiang Shi were using magical artifacts at the right time, gaining the upper hand in the battle.
Ban Oh moved. Bones poured out of his spatial pocket. There were few human bones. Most of them were monster bones filled with demonic energy.
“Ghost Soul Black Hand. Your Jiang Shi can never overcome my bone soldiers.”
Bone soldiers and corpses clashed. I, who was a little further away, let out a hollow laugh. I didn’t know if this was a martial arts world or a fantasy world.
I held the Fiery Lotus Flying Daggers in my hand and clicked my tongue. I wanted to charge in, but Ban Oh was wary of me. Moreover, there were monsters and bone soldiers between him and me. If I charged recklessly, I could be defeated instead.
“Great Hero.”
“Clan Leader Sa Ma. Don’t worry. It’s a bit of a mess, but I will protect Clan Leader Sa Ma.”
“Great Hero. I am not weak. I will open a path for you. Kill Ban Oh. You must kill him now while cooperating with the Ghost Soul Black Hand.”
“…Since you say you will open a path, I will try.”
Her slender hands formed seals with precision. A sorcery was manifested, distorting the laws of the surroundings.
She hadn’t started from the beginning. Sa Ma-ryeong had been laying the groundwork for this sorcery for a few minutes. As the sorcery was manifested, each one filled the surroundings and activated.
“Chaotic Origin Resplendent Light Ordination.”
Light burst out and surrounded the area in a circle. Some of the monsters and bone soldiers that were running towards us couldn’t break through the light barrier and were pushed back. I knew this was a kind of barrier.
Sa Ma-ryeong raised her right hand expressionlessly. Only her index finger was extended straight. Light was gathered at the tip of her index finger. Her index finger pointed at Ban Oh.
The light shot forward. At some point, the light had become a giant sword and flowing water. As the sword pierced through the bone soldiers, creating a path, the water flowing behind it widened the path.
Unfortunately, the sword didn’t do any significant damage to Ban Oh. Ban Oh had knocked the sword away with his fist. However, the flowing water remained. A path to Ban Oh was opened.
“The path is open. Go.”
I got on top of the flowing water. The water flowed at high speed, moving my body. It was like riding an escalator. No, it was like riding a water slide. The distance to Ban Oh closed in an instant.
Thud.
I jumped towards Ban Oh. Dark, powerful energy was gathered on the Fiery Lotus Flying Daggers. Ban Oh created a bone sword from his palm and blocked the attack.
Even though the bone sword didn’t have any powerful energy, it couldn’t be cut. I realized that the bone sword was just bone in appearance, but in reality, it had energy comparable to powerful energy.
“I am in the middle stage of the Third Realm. Do you really think you, who are only in the early stage of the Third Realm, can defeat me?”
I didn’t have the Heavenly Heart and complete recovery right now. But.
“I came because I thought I could, you idiot.”
