Chapter 994 – 994. The Ascent To Radiance
“……”
Floating.
I, who was floating powerlessly on the sea, raised my hand to shield my eyes from the scorching sunlight. The waves were so violent that it was hard to even rest. If it weren’t for the Water Blessing skill, resting in the sea would have been a pipe dream.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art’s Dragon series was powerful, but its drawback was the extreme consumption of stamina and inner energy. If I used it properly, I wouldn’t want to move for a while.
‘It wasn’t this bad in the God’s Atlantis world.’
Me in the [God’s Atlantis] world and me in the [Ascent to Radiance] world. Who is stronger? I am stronger in [Ascent to Radiance]. The Heavenly Strength System helps, but the level of my stubbornness is decisive.
However, putting aside strength, if I only consider the efficiency of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, I am better in the [God’s Atlantis] world. In the [God’s Atlantis] world, I receive buffs to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art through traits and skills.
After resting for a long time, I got up. I walked on the towering waves towards the beach.
‘Hwangbo Gahye and Oh Jimo wouldn’t have passed the 17th floor trial. They’ll stay on this island as long as possible, collecting elixirs, and then pass at the last possible moment.’
That’s the best way to maximize their gains. Especially Hwangbo Gahye, who is obsessed with elixirs.
Leaving the high waves behind, I walked onto the beach and headed into the island without a plan. I wouldn’t use a drone. I didn’t want Hwangbo Gahye to know I was alive.
‘If she sees the drone, she might run to the next floor. That’s absolutely not going to happen. I have to finish it here.’
Wandering around the island, I would eventually run into Hwangbo Gahye and Oh Jimo.
‘…But when did Hwangbo Gahye join hands with Oh Jimo? Before going up to the next floor? The fact that Oh Jimo came to her at that timing and threw a sword means they met once on this island too….’
There were gaps.
When Hwangbo Gahye was on night watch, and when she briefly left to relieve herself. She must have used those gaps to meet Oh Jimo.
“Krrr…”
As I entered the forest, a beast growled at me.
‘I don’t know why there are so many things trying to bother me, like that octopus earlier.’
***
Splash!
The waterfall cascaded down coolly. I walked on the flowing stream towards the waterfall. Jeongbin, who was meditating under the waterfall, opened his eyes wide.
“Amitabha! Young Hero Seong Yujin! It’s good to see you here! Did you accomplish your goal?!”
“No, I got backstabbed.”
“Backstabbed?”
I told Jeongbin what had happened two days ago. Jeongbin’s eyes widened when he heard that I almost died.
“Oh, my! If that’s really true… Miss Hwangbo… no, Hwangbo Gahye is truly a wicked woman! To try to eliminate the treasures of this world…!”
“…The treasures of this world?”
“If Young Hero Seong dies, all sorts of new foods will disappear! And we won’t be able to drink cola or cider either…! Amitabha!”
“Ah, well, I figured as much.”
“It seems the Buddha has protected Young Hero Seong, so it’s a relief. Hwangbo Gahye and Oh Jimo… I shall punish those wicked scoundrels.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I’ll take my own revenge. Just so you know… the moment you lay a finger on Hwangbo Gahye… there will be no more food for you.”
“Gasp!”
Jeongbin, shocked, gasped and quickly shook his head.
“Ah, I won’t touch her! I absolutely won’t touch her!”
He was as easy to handle as Seong Jigong.
“What about Seong Jigong? Weren’t you supposed to be working together?”
“Amitabha. Young Hero Seong Jigong is behind me. I was protecting Young Hero Seong Jigong while meditating under the waterfall.”
I looked where Jeongbin was pointing. There was a small space behind the waterfall. Seong Jigong was sitting cross-legged, his eyes closed, circulating his energy. His energy was moving in an orderly fashion around him.
“How long has he been like that?”
“Three days ago, he ate a lot of elixirs and inner cores and entered a state of energy circulation. He is gathering his energy. If he succeeds in forming an inner core this time… Young Hero Seong Jigong will also reach the Five Qi Realm.”
“Do you think he’ll succeed?”
“Young Hero Seong Jigong’s spiritual nature is very outstanding. He has worked hard, and he chose the Five-Inducing Pill as his reward on the 16th floor. He will succeed.”
The Five-Inducing Pill was an elixir that helped when transitioning to the Five Qi Realm. Seong Jigong would reach the Five Qi Realm unless something unusual happened.
“But why did you settle here? You know that drinkable water is scarce on this island. Won’t the martial artists come and bother you?”
“It couldn’t be helped. Most of the elixirs and inner cores that Young Hero Seong Jigong had were of the fire element. We chose this place to more easily control the fire element. If they were pure elixirs, there would have been no need… but what Young Hero Seong Jigong ate was a bit mixed.”
I nodded. He had already entered training, so it was too late for me to say anything. And since Jeongbin was directly protecting him, nothing would happen unless something extraordinary occurred.
“Young Hero Seong. Are you leaving right away?”
“I need to move quickly to get my revenge.”
“…Young Hero Seong. I haven’t eaten anything except water for the past three days….”
“Why didn’t you catch a fish or something? There are some greens nearby too.”
“You know I can’t eat anything that doesn’t taste good.”
Jeongbin’s body was emaciated. He loved food so much that he was nicknamed the Gourmet Monk, yet he was thin. That’s because Jeongbin couldn’t eat anything that didn’t taste good. Jeongbin didn’t eat tasteless food unless it was necessary.
“You’re saying you want food. What do you want to eat?”
A smile spread across Jeongbin’s face.
“I want to be a Jajangmyeon chef today.”
“Okay. Make it amazing.”
***
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The volcano erupted. Volcanic ash filled the sky, and hot lava fell everywhere. I clicked my tongue and looked around.
Today was the fifth day since I was backstabbed. I hadn’t found any trace of Hwangbo Gahye or Oh Jimo.
‘The Fire Lotus Flying Daggers… Oh Jimo must have them, right? Hwangbo Gahye fights with her fists. Damn it, just thinking about that bastard wielding my Fire Lotus Flying Daggers makes me furious.’
I could summon and unsummon items in my inventory. But the Fire Lotus Flying Daggers were an exception right now. The Fire Lotus Flying Daggers were an item I had taken out of my inventory, not summoned. I was trying to save the mana and vitality consumed when summoning, and now I was about to lose the Fire Lotus Flying Daggers.
‘I do have the Stormbreaker as a weapon, but… it doesn’t feel as good as the Fire Lotus Flying Daggers.’
I activated the Heavenly Eye and slowly looked around. Oh Jimo and Hwangbo Gahye were nowhere to be seen. Instead, I found a man approaching me. He was a beggar with shabby clothes and dirt all over his skin.
‘He’s coming straight towards me. He’s not even hiding his presence.’
Soon, I would meet the beggar. The beggar grinned at me.
“Greetings, Great Hero Seong Yujin. This is our second time, isn’t it?”
The man greeted me. His hand was holding a Green Bamboo Staff.
I racked my brain. Where had I seen him? I couldn’t remember.
“Don’t you remember? We exchanged glances on the 5th floor.”
“The 5th floor? That was years ago. It’s strange to remember that. And even if it’s the second time we’ve seen each other, this is the first time we’ve talked.”
“Oh, come on. I’ve been suffering because I couldn’t forget you since you’re so amazing…. It was unrequited love.”
“Are you a homosexual?”
“Why are you so serious about a joke?”
“There are three things I hate. Homosexuals, beggars, and guys who act cocky when they’re weaker than me.”
“Hey, hey, stop, stop. I didn’t come to fight you. I am a beggar, but I’m not a homosexual, and I have no intention of being cocky.”
The beggar waved his hand, indicating that he had no intention of fighting. He wasn’t lying. I couldn’t feel any fighting spirit from him.
“Then what’s your purpose? I’m telling you in advance, I’m in a very bad mood right now.”
“The main reason is that I came to find you because I want to make a deal with you.”
I drew my sword. There was no reason for me to make a deal with this beggar. The beggar’s face turned urgent when I suddenly drew my sword.
“Hey! Put down your sword! I am Jang Chunmong of the Beggar Clan, and everyone else calls me the Wandering Beggar. My affiliation is obviously the Beggar Clan. The Wandering Beggar.”
I was surprised.
“The Wandering Beggar of the Beggar Clan?”
“That’s right. Have you perhaps heard my name?”
“No. It’s the first time I’ve heard it.”
“…Then why were you surprised?”
“Wandering Beggar sounds like a woman. A wandering girl.”
“What?”
Jang Chunmong looked like he was wondering what the hell I was talking about. I had nothing to say. It was nonsense to him.
Anyway, I lowered my sword. I was willing to make a deal with him.
“The only thing a beggar from the Beggar Clan can trade is information. You seem to know what information I want.”
“I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t know. The information you want is the location of Hwangbo Gahye and Oh Jimo… right?”
“…Do you perhaps know what happened that day?”
“Are you talking about how you were backstabbed by Hwangbo Gahye, had your heart pierced, and were thrown into the sea? I was surprised at the time. I didn’t think you would be defeated like that. Well, I was even more surprised to see you alive and well a few days later. May I ask how you are still alive?”
“I have no intention of telling you.”
“I figured. It must be your trump card.”
I was puzzled. I had been using the Heavenly Eye frequently since coming to this island. But I hadn’t noticed him following me at all.
‘Did he use some special magical artifact?’
I was curious, but I put it aside. That wasn’t the urgent matter right now.
“Is the information accurate?”
“It’s accurate. I had a hard time getting this information. By the way, Oh Jimo and his group are still moving.”
“What’s the price? It doesn’t seem like you want money or elixirs….”
“After seeing you come back alive this time, I made a firm decision. I shouldn’t be your enemy if I want to conquer the Manmu Tower. I want to cooperate with you until we conquer the Manmu Tower.”
“We might have to fight in the next floor’s trial.”
“I think that’s unavoidable. But there’s also a possibility that it won’t happen. Let’s join hands. I promise it won’t be a loss for you either.”
“Okay. I accept the deal.”
It wasn’t a loss for me. If I didn’t like it, I could just kill him and forget about the deal.
“That’s refreshing.”
“The information?”
“Oh Jimo is about 30 li east of here.”
“That’s quite far away.”
“Ah, that guy was wearing the red sword you used to use.”
My face crumpled. The Fire Lotus Flying Daggers. Oh Jimo had them after all.
“Don’t make that face. That guy doesn’t even know how to use that sword properly.”
“He can’t use the sword? Why?”
“I don’t know. Don’t you know more about that sword than I do?”
I couldn’t think of anything. Was he just not using it?
Anyway, it was good news that Oh Jimo couldn’t use the Fire Lotus Flying Daggers properly.
“What about Hwangbo Gahye?”
“That woman is holed up about 55 li from here. The entrance is blocked by a barrier, and two of Oh Jimo’s subordinates are guarding it tightly. It took me more than three days to find that location.”
“Holed up? Why?”
“Why else? For the same reason as your friend.”
Friend. The only people who could be called friends here were Seong Jigong and Jeongbin.
“Is Hwangbo Gahye aiming for the Five Qi Realm? That’s unexpected. I thought Hwangbo Gahye would focus on obtaining elixirs.”
“The elixir that woman obtained was the Solar Flower. The spiritual energy of the Solar Flower weakens over time if it’s not treated specially. To perfectly absorb the spiritual energy of the Solar Flower, you need to take it quickly.”
Was that so? I didn’t know.
‘Anyway, Hwangbo Gahye and Oh Jimo are separated.’
That was good news for me.
“Where is Hwangbo Gahye? Tell me the exact location.”
“Follow me. I’ll guide you nearby.”
I followed Jang Chunmong.
‘Hwangbo Gahye, you bitch! I’ll make you my personal sex slave!’
