Chapter 423: Suryonggang.

Back when the Red grade first appeared.

Countless disasters struck the Central Plains.

Unlike the Green or Blue grades, they only unleashed a single monster, but the damage that one monster inflicted was immense.

Most peak masters wouldn’t even die to ordinary monsters, yet…

The emergence of Red grade monsters threw that natural order into question.

Furthermore, the fragile era of peace that had been maintained began to crack.

The reason was simple.

Red grade monsters were impervious to internal energy.

The meaning contained within this short sentence created all the disasters and calamities.

Originally, Sword Masters, who hunt monsters, are those who use the internal energy within their bodies to hunt monsters.

They needed to be able to cut and tear through tough hides.

They needed to be able to shatter hard bones.

Therefore, it was common sense that a hundred out of a hundred monster hunters were martial artists who used internal energy.

Red grade monsters, however, were the ones who shattered that common sense.

Their bodies were surrounded by an unknown barrier, as if protecting them, and this barrier possessed the property of absorbing internal energy.

Any attack infused with internal energy was invariably absorbed, and attacks devoid of it couldn’t pierce the monster’s hide.

They possessed immense size and strength incomparable to the Blue grade, but…

Since even martial artists’ attacks became ineffective, it was only natural that they began to run rampant.

Even if only one appeared, initially, they couldn’t stop that single monster, and the northern lands were thrown into chaos.

That’s what monsters impervious to internal energy were like.

Therefore, in my previous life, martial artists felt helplessness for the first time against Red grade monsters, but as always, people find ways even amidst despair.

While the Red grade monster’s barrier certainly absorbed internal energy, its limit wasn’t endless.

This was a fact discovered by the Heavenly Venerate (天尊) of my previous life while hunting Red grade monsters.

The barrier would shatter upon absorbing a certain amount of internal energy.

After breaking it, it became possible to defeat them like lower-grade monsters using internal energy, but…

The problem was that the amount of ‘certain internal energy’ required was astronomical.

To put it numerically, it was the amount a martial artist who reached the Profound Realm (화경) would expend if they poured all their internal energy.

Only then would the barrier shatter.

In other words, unless one was a Profound Realm martial artist with a vast amount of internal energy, hunting a Red grade monster was impossible.

Although a sliver of hope for hunting monsters was found, the conditions were far too stringent.

Eventually, just as many were succumbing to despair once more.

A piece of news arrived.

News that a peak master had succeeded in hunting a Red grade monster.

This was about a year after Red grade monsters began their activities.

Many asked him how he did it, wondering if perhaps he was a martial artist with exceptionally abundant internal energy for his realm, but…

The youth was a disciple of a sect, not someone with an overwhelming amount of energy.

When asked how he managed to face and hunt that monster,

the youth replied thus:

[They aren’t all the same. Just like the sea, where there are deep parts, there are also shallow parts. You just need to aim for those spots.]

At first, I wondered what he meant.

But it soon became a massive thread of hope.

The barrier isn’t uniform.

Just as the sea has deep parts, there are shallow parts.

This meant that even within the powerful, energy-absorbing barrier, there were areas where its density was weaker.

Attacking those spots could inflict damage on the monster and was more effective in breaking the barrier.

The youth found these spots and exploited them to attack the monster.

Upon confirming this, the martial artists were filled with hope. It was a method discovered after nearly a year.

However.

Another problem arose.

Finding where the weak spots and dense parts were within the transparent barrier was yet another issue.

How could one know what couldn’t be seen?

When asked about this, the youth replied with a somewhat sleepy expression:

[It’s a feeling.]

The most absurd answer in the world.

The peak master who hunted Red grade monsters in my previous life.

That was the answer spat out by Zamlong Woo Hyuk.

Swish-!

The sword strike, imbued with demonic energy, traced an unwavering curve.

Then, it struck briefly along the snake’s dorsal scales.

Kuduk-! Kang-!

Though the sound was somewhat dull for a sword strike.

Kyaaak-!

The impact was evident as the monster shrieked and thrashed its body.

Each time, the waves made it annoying to keep my balance.

I focused my gaze, observing the barrier spread around the monster.

‘It’s starting to crack a little.’

I could see the barrier enveloping the monster developing small cracks.

The strike Woo Hyuk just landed must have deepened them slightly.

Watching that, I couldn’t stop my mouth from moving.

“Slightly to the right from the gills.”

At my words, Namgung Bi-ah immediately unleashed a lightning strike.

Although the location I described wasn’t precise, Namgung Bi-ah didn’t hesitate.

The subsequent lightning strike landed exactly where I had described.

Padadaduk-!

The lightning energy was absorbed and vanished into the barrier, but it didn’t matter.

“Stab it.”

Swish-! No sooner had I spoken than Wi Seol-ah wrapped her sword in golden energy and quickly thrust it forward.

As the sword tip touched, the barrier cracked slightly, opening a gap.

Seeing this, without needing any mention, someone had already flown towards that spot along with Wi Seol-ah.

Woo Hyuk, the rising star of the Wudang sect, channeled demonic energy into his sword and fired.

Paduduk-!

Shaaak-!

A long gash was inflicted upon the snake’s body.

An unusual teal-green blood trickled from the wound.

The snake let out a faint shriek and coiled its body.

Its body was already covered in numerous wounds like this.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

‘They’re getting damn good, damn fast.’

Although I was the one giving orders, the synergy between the three was improving with time.

I wondered how they meshed so well from the start, but now they were practically flawless.

At first, it felt like I just gave them the location and they charged in sequence.

Now, it was more like they figured it out themselves and sought confirmation from my words.

They had identified the spots where the sword should be thrust.

Perhaps they sought confirmation from my words just in case.

It’s scary.

‘It hasn’t even been fifteen minutes yet.’

But how are they adapting already?

I haven’t even properly taught them how to see it yet.

‘This is why talent is terrifying.’

The difference in the barrier that Zamlong discovered in my previous life.

This literally meant there were weak and strong parts.

Finding these spots and focusing attacks there was the key to hunting Red grade monsters.

Otherwise, one had to pour an immense amount of internal energy to break through, making this the easiest method if the former was impossible, but…

There was one major problem.

It wasn’t about seeing the subtle gaps, but about feeling them.

‘Easier said than done. Is that even possible?’

Trying it myself proved it wasn’t as simple as it sounded.

How could one possibly have the time to discern such things while dealing with that rampaging giant monster?

I recalled a conversation I had with Zamlong in my previous life.

[Just try listening. You’ll know.]

[This bastard… Does he think it’s some kind of musical instrument? Listen to what?!]

[Oh! Dodge!]

Thinking of that bastard Zamlong, who explained things so poorly, sent shivers down my spine.

People rave about the current geniuses, calling them the ‘Meteor Generation’, but…

I truly felt the significance of that only after the emergence of the Red grade monsters.

This was where the real battle of talent began.

Perceiving the differences in the barrier was about how delicately one could sense energy.

This, in turn, was the difference in talent for using sensory perception (기감).

The difference was significant.

Even among those of the same realm.

There would be a time difference in how quickly they could find the weak spots in the Red grade monster’s barrier.

This directly relates to how long one confronts the monster.

Meaning, the probability of dying from exhaustion just by confronting it increases.

Even if one managed to endure, being devoured by the monster was a common fate.

While Profound Realm martial artists either fled without defeating the monster or were devoured,

news emerged of peak masters successfully hunting them.

It was the era when the geniuses called the ‘Meteor Generation’ truly shone.

That coincided precisely with the appearance of the Red grade monsters.

And among them, those three were the possessors of talent representing this generation.

Even if I hadn’t guided them like this, they probably would have figured it out eventually.

And the same would likely apply to Poison King or White Lotus Sword, and the others.

Reaching the Profound Realm itself signifies considerable talent.

So then.

“Three steps left from there.”

If you ask what I am, who considered myself neither a genius nor an ordinary person,

“Swing with more energy than before.”

At least in this specific aspect, I could say no one was more of an expert than me.

Following my words, the three moved in perfect order.

Amidst that, I shifted my gaze back and forth, observing the monster’s movements.

I am not a genius.

The reason I always said that lay right there.

In my previous life, I was particularly poor at discerning such differences in energy.

Even during my time as a Sword Master in the Murim Alliance, there were periods where I struggled to hunt Red grade monsters without the help of Zamlong or others.

Effort alone wasn’t enough.

This wasn’t a matter of training.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t grasp the difference in energy.

Even the dullest student could eventually feel the difference.

Even that was beyond me.

I truly felt nothing, and consequently, I was treated as an incorrigible dunce, receiving looks of contempt.

Someone who just picked up the crumbs falling from Zamlong’s side.

Something along those lines, I believe.

I won’t deny it.

Because without that Woo Hyuk fellow, I wouldn’t have survived that period.

Therefore, it was a time when I could only lament my pitifully lacking talent.

“Two of you, draw its attention from the left. The remaining one, circle around to the right.”

But if you ask how this is possible now, it’s due to the influence of the Demonic Absorption technique (마도천흡공) I possess.

The energy a monster possesses is demonic energy (魔氣).

Therefore, demonic energy resides within a monster’s demonic core (마석), and my Demonic Absorption technique absorbs it.

Perhaps due to its influence.

I became unnaturally adept at sensing demonic energy.

Even if others saw the energy surrounding the monster as a transparent barrier,

in my eyes, it appeared as a black, murky membrane.

The shallow and deep parts within it?

Setting aside the need to ‘feel’ it, I could see them clearly.

The reason I became insanely strong immediately after becoming a demon and receiving authority from the Heavenly Demon.

Against monsters with such characteristics, if the level is appropriate, I can be stronger than anyone.

This is what I obsessively practiced in my previous life, so how could I not know?

‘He’s nearing his limit soon.’

Since we only exploited the weak points, the barrier he possessed was already a mess.

As usual, when one spot collapses, another becomes compromised.

Breaking one weak point weakens another, and all we had to do was find and keep breaking them.

Shaaaashak-!

Under the combined assault of the three, the creature merely shrieked as if exhausted.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like a particularly strong one.

The cold sweat was from the mere appearance of a Red grade monster, not from fear of its strength.

‘About this much should do it soon.’

Seeing the barrier crumbling piece by piece, I turned my head.

“Head of the Tang Family.”

“…!”

I called out to Poison King, who was staring at me with a look of shock.

For some reason, the Tang Family Head’s pupils were shaking violently as he looked at me.

‘Hmm.’

It must be because of how I hunted the monster…

It was bothersome that another unnecessary misunderstanding seemed to have arisen, but it couldn’t be helped.

“I believe you may proceed now.”

“…Because that barrier… disappeared?”

Oh…

‘As expected, he noticed.’

It seems Poison King also realized that the monster possessed a barrier that absorbed internal energy.

Is that why he’s so surprised?

“It hasn’t all disappeared. But you should be able to overpower it with force now. It will collapse soon.”

“…Young Master Gu.”

“Yes.”

“Just what exactly are you?”

Hearing Poison King’s question, I tilted my head.

That’s a question I’ve been hearing a lot lately.

I remembered the time Tang Deok asked and I unintentionally answered ‘Heavenly Demon’.

‘Why did I do that?’

It’s still a mystery.

Why did I give such an answer?

Was it because I felt this world was trying to make me into the Heavenly Demon?

I don’t know. It felt like I had to answer that way at the time.

“I don’t know what you mean. I am merely a martial artist of the Gu family.”

“…You know well that’s not what I’m asking.”

“No, I don’t.”

As I vaguely shook my head and gave my answer.

Kwaaang-!

Kyaaaaaa-!! The monster let out a rough shriek.

Wondering why, I checked. It was the aftermath of someone swinging a sword in place of Wi Seol-ah.

It was White Lotus Sword.

…When did that old lady get here?

“Hahaha!”

White Lotus Sword let out a bright laugh as if she had become a god.

‘Hmph.’

Seeing that, I let out a sigh of exhaustion.

The spot White Lotus Sword attacked was the monster’s weak point.

‘Did she realize it just by watching?’

If that wasn’t a coincidence,

it seems White Lotus Sword had figured out the method for hunting Red grade monsters.

Perhaps due to the difference in realms?

The snake’s balance faltered from the sword White Lotus Sword swung.

Pasasasak.

The barrier enveloping the monster shattered and scattered like dust. The barrier had finally collapsed.

Seeing that, I finally moved my feet.

Chap-chap.

It had been a while since I walked on water, so I felt quite awkward.

This was originally a highly advanced skill requiring delicate control of internal energy, but…

‘Those guys are crazier than me.’

Unlike me, who had reached the Profound Realm, it was more absurd that those three, still lingering in the perfected peak, had succeeded.

I explained it briefly, thinking ‘if it doesn’t work, whatever,’ but they just went and did it.

Seriously… Their talent is baffling every time I see it.

Chap-chap.

Taking another step, I ignited flames around my body.

Hwarureureuk-!

The fighting environment being on a river was slightly bothersome, but…

it wasn’t a major issue.

‘About this much should do it soon.’

Tung-!

I leaped with force.

Given the snake’s considerable size, I had to leap high enough to match it.

The reason I hadn’t directly participated while commanding the kids until now was singular.

The first was to give them experience with Red grade monsters.

The second was…

‘To avoid wasting energy on breaking the barrier.’

It wouldn’t have caused major problems, but…

I had to minimize potential risks. After all, I needed to be prepared for unexpected situations.

But the reason I’m joining now is…

‘I need to eat the demonic core.’

After all, I must obtain the demonic core possessed by the Red grade monster.

Even if the situation had taken a strange turn due to the monster’s appearance,

I couldn’t let go of the demonic core it held. Considering the energy contained within, especially in our current urgent situation, I couldn’t afford to miss out.

As the creature staggered, unable to regain its senses from White Lotus Sword’s strike.

I approached it rapidly, bursting into flames.

I gathered flames in my hand.

I couldn’t feel the bothersome barrier.

Fortunately, it seemed to have completely shattered.

Approaching its scales, I thrust my fist, fully charged with demonic energy, sharply forward.

Puwook-!

My arm pierced through its scales.

Compared to its size, my arm was pitifully small, so it seemed unlikely to inflict damage, but…

It didn’t matter. The important thing was that my arm had entered its interior.

I gathered my internal energy to a single point and condensed flames onto my fingertips.

A Flame Orb (炎玉) formed at my fingertips.

And simultaneously, without hesitation, I detonated it inside the snake’s body.

Kwaaaaaaaak-!

Kyaaaaaa-!!

Feeling the heat emanating from its body, the creature thrashed and plunged into the water.

It seemed to be trying to extinguish the flames, but flames created by internal energy don’t extinguish easily.

After detonating the Flame Orb, I further intensified the flames.

‘Tsk.’

Although I couldn’t breathe underwater, my realm allowed me to endure indefinitely.

Right now, I had to focus solely on ending this thing’s life.

Just as I was considering using demonic energy against its persistent thrashing.

[…Wh-why…]

A voice echoed from somewhere.

What was that? Telepathy?

[Oh, great being…. Do you… abandon us…!!!]

It was an ear-splitting scream.

I wondered what this was all about.

‘What the hell?’

Shifting my gaze slightly, I could see.

The monster, engulfed in flames and slowly dying.

It was shedding tears of blood while looking at me.