Chapter 881: I missed you.

There were a few things I wanted to confirm.

The first was the efficacy of this thing called the Yeouiju. Specifically, whether people consumed it solely hoping for Talgak.

Or if it had other effects besides that, I was curious.

‘My body did undergo changes, after all.’

First off, my skill level increased considerably.

My internal energy increased, and I could see that my physical aspects had also grown significantly.

If I had to put it in numbers….

‘About one to two percent.’

It’s an overwhelming amount considering I just ate a single internal pill.

Right now, my internal energy cultivation barely increases even if I take Great Restoration Pills or Poison Sky Pills, but this thing was different.

Its efficiency couldn’t possibly be this good.

So, I tried eating another one.

‘After the second one, there was no effect.’

It did increase, but the efficiency was far lower than even the Poison Sky Pill.

Does that mean it’s only good the first time?

‘But I’m not sure about that either.’

There was a problem.

Namely, that I had already undergone Talgak in the first place. And it was hard to say I only got stronger by consuming the Yeouiju, as there was also the anomaly of my Nine Flame Wheel Technique reaching Great Accomplishment.

Therefore, it was difficult to attribute it solely to the Yeouiju’s merit.

Since there were several other questions as well, I thought resolving this was the priority.

That’s why.

“Kuaaaaaa…!”

It’s why I went out of my way to pilfer all the pearls.

And why I specifically made Seongyul eat them first.

‘If I can use it, wouldn’t that be great?’

If it’s a spiritual pill with special powers, isn’t it better to use it beneficially?

‘What’s “beneficial”? If it’s good for me, then it’s beneficial.’

To do that, I needed to confirm a few things.

The very first of which was.

‘What phenomenon occurs when someone whose body isn’t ready swallows a Yeouiju.’

A body that hasn’t reached metamorphosis or Talgak.

What would happen when swallowing a Yeouiju in that state?

I had to confirm that.

“Kkeueu… Heueu…!”

I was confirming this through Seongyul.

Seongyul writhed in pain continuously. I perched atop the wooden pipe, observing him carefully.

‘His energy is fluctuating wildly.’

Whether he swallowed the Yeouiju properly, the energy was rampaging explosively, centered around his dantian.

It looked like it would explode any second.

It was amazing he was somehow holding on without exploding.

‘Is it Seongyul holding it back… or the energy itself?’

Is he regulating it to prevent an explosion?

Or is the energy just fluctuating enough not to explode? I couldn’t tell.

And that fluctuating energy…

‘Isn’t actually permeating his body.’

It was just circulating around his meridians, not affecting his body separately.

That’s precisely the problem.

‘The fluctuations are getting stronger.’

It gains momentum as it circulates through the meridians.

It was like it was accelerating.

If left like this…

‘It’s really going to explode.’

Forget holding on; soon, his entire body will explode.

I guess the reason is that it can’t permeate his body.

‘Tsk.’

Is this what happens when you consume it without undergoing Hwalgotaltae?

If so, it’s a bit inconvenient to utilize.

“Kkeue… Heu….”

“What a shame.”

If I watched any longer, Seongyul would die. So, I got up and approached him.

Hwaruruuk–!!

I conjured the White Flames from my hand.

I wondered if the White Flames would work, but I was confident.

‘I can burn it.’

I could tell just by looking.

It was a fact I’d confirmed by using my abilities multiple times over the past few days.

I knew it instinctively.

Whether I could burn that or not.

Judging by it, the energy currently covering Seongyul’s body was something I could burn.

I’ll get rid of it.

With that thought, I approached Seongyul and reached out.

Just then.

“…Wait… just a moment….”

Kkwaak-!

Seongyul suddenly grabbed my pant leg.

“What the?”

“Wait… wait… please…”

“What?”

I frowned at Seongyul’s words.

What is this crazy bastard saying now?

“Wait for what? You’ll die like that.”

“I… I can still… I can still do it…”

“Is he insane?”

I couldn’t say much since I forced him to eat it, but…

I let out a hollow laugh at Seongyul’s words.

‘He wants to endure?’

What guts does he have to pull this crap?

The energy isn’t permeating his body at all, yet he wants to try something.

“Hey. I feel bad since I’m the one who made you eat it, but…

…you need to know when to be gutsy. You’ll die like that.”

“…I can do it…”

“This is driving me crazy.”

He wasn’t the type to listen.

Where on earth did he get such stubbornness?

Maybe he’s doing this just to spite me because I forced him to eat it?

‘He’s not the type for that.’

Given Seongyul’s personality, he wasn’t the sort to act like that just to spite me; it seemed he genuinely wanted to endure it.

I found it absurd.

What does he think he’s enduring?

‘Should I just ignore him and burn it?’

I could just ignore his stubbornness and deal with it.

Thinking that, I reached out again.

“I… I can…! do…! it…!”

Seeming to sense my intention, Seongyul grabbed me even tighter.

Veins bulged on his body, and his eyes were bloodshot.

“Ha. You…”

“…Just a little more… just a little…”

I didn’t know what he was trying to do.

I should have stopped him immediately, but looking into Seongyul’s eyes made me nod.

“You, who usually have no strength.

Why are you showing grit in such a weird place?”

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue and placed my hand on his body.

However, I didn’t ignite the flames.

I carefully placed my hand on his back and pushed my energy into his body.

Fuook-!!

My energy burrowed in instantaneously.

Then.

Kkuuk-!!

‘Whoa, fuck.’

It got swept up by the fluctuating energy inside and started spinning together.

I almost lost control.

Meaning, I almost fucked up.

“Kkueuk!”

“Shut up. Don’t even breathe.”

At my warning, Seongyul immediately clamped his mouth shut.

If I messed up, the energy could have been expelled outwards.

‘…I shouldn’t have made him eat it if I knew it would be like this.’

I had intended to just observe the situation briefly and then clean it up, but I didn’t expect this stubbornness from him.

‘Then I have to take responsibility.’

I was the one who forced him to eat it.

If this guy made a choice, I have to bear the responsibility.

“I haven’t tried this myself, so I don’t know if we’ll die?”

“Kkeueup… Eueup.”

It seemed like a rough affirmation.

Fuuuuk—!!!

I delved into the storm of energy.

The speed gradually increased.

I had to do something about this first.

‘If I forcibly slow it down, how will I handle the backlash?’

Seongyul could instantly die from the severe backlash.

So, what should I do?

My deliberation was short.

Kuuuuuuu—!!!

I applied pressure with my energy to slow the flow.

The backlash that came from that was…

Kuaaaaaa—!!!

‘Gulp.’

I endured it.

Veins popped out on my arm.

But I couldn’t just raise my energy to endure it.

So, enduring it with my bare body was the best option.

One of my eyes involuntarily scrunched up.

It was violent pain I hadn’t felt in a long time.

‘This hurts a bit?’

Thanks to the Two-Phase Heavenly Demonic Art, I usually don’t feel pain, but this felt quite severe.

Still, I could maintain my sanity, which was fortunate.

‘I managed to slow the speed somehow, now what should I do?’

I could endure the pain, but I couldn’t keep holding on like this indefinitely.

I had only slowed it down; the energy’s rampage hadn’t stopped.

‘Can’t I force it to permeate his body?’

If the problem is that the energy isn’t permeating, couldn’t I make it permeate somehow?

Deciding that, I tried, but…

Kkigigig-!

“Keup.”

‘This won’t work. Confirmed.’

It was impossible.

Even at the slowed speed, it was too fast and too rough to force in.

Separate from Seongyul’s outstanding talent, his body didn’t seem suited for absorbing energy well.

‘So that’s why they force Hwalgotaltae.’

The Yeouiju’s energy is strong and rough.

It meant one needed a vessel that was equally outstanding to contain this energy within the body.

Now I clearly understood why they kept him stuck in that pond for five years.

‘Hmm…’

So this is what happens when you’re unprepared.

I felt sorry for Seongyul all over again.

‘Though I could have just burned it.’

It’s a slightly more difficult process than I thought.

Drip. Cold sweat started flowing from my forehead and back.

The pain was one thing, but controlling the energy was taxing.

It wasn’t easy to mix my energy with someone else’s and then control it.

What this means is.

‘I don’t have much time.’

It meant there was a limit to how long I could endure.

‘Hmm….’

What should I do? Just as I was pondering that.

Kkigigig.

‘What is it?’

I felt something stirring inside him.

I frowned at the sudden sensation.

Kwaaaaaa.

‘Oh, shit.’

Something chillingly pierced through and swept away the energy in an instant.

It sent a shiver down my spine; it was killing intent.

‘What the hell is this thing now?’

Although surprised, I maintained my focus.

I had already touched the energy; if I faltered, it would be the end.

Kkigiiiiii–!!

Watching it, this thing seemed to be attacking the energy that had invaded Seongyul’s body.

Only then did I realize.

‘It’s the Heavenly Scourge Star.’

Another instinct lying dormant within him.

It seems the Heavenly Scourge Star has emerged.

‘Bastard.’

Not realizing it’s trying to save its master.

Grinding my teeth fiercely, I put more power into my energy.

I pushed more energy in, coiling around the Heavenly Scourge Star.

Kkigig–!!

Perhaps startled by the counter-attack, it began to twist its body.

As I coiled around it to subdue it, the sensation felt rough.

‘Cold.’

Could energy be this cold?

And could it be this pure?

I hadn’t realized it when I witnessed the past Sword Demon and Seongyul being consumed by the Heavenly Scourge Star.

The energy was purer than I expected.

Perhaps it was pure precisely because it only contained killing intent?

Regardless, this kind of feeling was preferable.

‘It means it’s easier to grab and play with.’

I awakened my presence and pressed down harder on it.

Krrrrrrng—!!

Kkigig…!

The Heavenly Scourge Star gradually shrank back from my presence.

Compared to its grit, it was quite cowardly.

Or perhaps it was because the Dragon’s power held the upper hand.

It doesn’t matter.

What’s important is that I need to handle this bastard and the Yeouiju’s energy.

‘I can’t put it into the body, nor can I circulate it like this. Then…’

There’s only one method left.

“Hey.”

“…!”

Seongyul flinched slightly at my call.

“Don’t answer, just listen.”

“…”

“From now on, I’m going to grab all this energy, compress it, and put it into your dantian.”

“…!”

Seongyul trembled as if surprised.

He seemed to understand the meaning of my words.

Compressing and forcing this vast amount of energy was akin to cramming a storm into his dantian.

“Can you endure it? If not, even now, tell me… Ah, you can’t say it, can you?

“If you can’t, at least move a little.”

If things go south, I could just absorb all the energy and release it.

My body would bear a heavy burden, and Seongyul would get injured to some extent, but it would heal if left alone.

It’s better than dying.

However.

“If you endure it, you’ll become much stronger.

“Though enduring it seems impossible.”

“…!”

“What do you say?”

“…”

In response to my words, Seongyul showed no movement.

I told him to do something if he refused… staying still like this means…

“…Tsk.”

It must be his way of saying he’ll do it even if it kills him.

Seeing that, I immediately seized the energy.

Hwaaaaaaaak—!!!

“Keup…!”

Following my touch, the energy converged.

The rapidly rotating energy began to condense.

‘..Hmph.’

The energy was so potent that compressing it was difficult, but possible.

‘Exclude the impurities. Just the usable amount.’

Adjusting and compressing it like that.

I inserted it directly into Seongyul’s dantian.

Then, I removed my hand from Seongyul’s body.

At that moment.

Kuuuuung—!!!

“Keuhheup…!”

Kung-! Kung-kung-!

Sounds of something exploding came successively from Seongyul’s body.

“Endure it. If you can’t, you’ll die.”

Kung-! Kung-kung-kung–!!!

“…!”

“Don’t open your mouth. Hold it so the energy doesn’t leak out. If even a little spills, it’ll explode?”

Drip.

Blood flowed from Seongyul’s mouth.

The backlash seemed quite intense.

“Hoo.”

Watching that, I crossed my arms.

But, something felt damp, so I checked my palm.

My palm was covered in sweat.

Not just my palm.

My entire body was drenched in sweat now.

“…Damn it.”

I thought it was a bit tough, but was it this much?

I roughly wiped the sweat on my martial uniform and looked at Seongyul.

Kung-! Kung-kung-!

“Indeed.”

Could that guy really endure that level of pressure?

The doubt arose, but I immediately dismissed it.

‘I have to do it.’

I had to, and I would.

If that guy is being this stubborn, he must want it.

An ordinary human would have exploded long ago, but he endured this much.

Setting aside why he’s suddenly being so stubborn.

‘If you can show me, then show me.’

I could tell Seongyul was trying to show me something.

Whether it was stubbornness.

Or his own grit.

‘If he’s going to do this, he shouldn’t die uselessly.’

He was too valuable a piece to discard here like this.

Remembering that, I watched Seongyul for a long time.

Kung-! Kung… Kung-kung….

The vibrations gradually lessened until they finally became inaudible.

Then.

Teolseok-!

Seongyul’s body collapsed onto the floor with a thud.

Seeing that, I narrowed my eyes.

Did he fail?

Filled with anxiety, I approached him.

But.

“Fuck, you scared me.”

After checking him, I immediately cursed.

“Get up already, why aren’t you?”

A smile was plastered on my face as I cursed.

“…”

Hearing me, Seongyul reacted.

The one lying down pushed himself up from the floor.

Tududuk-!!

Something crumbled and fell off his body.

It looked like dead skin, or perhaps the remnants after a snake sheds its skin.

Metamorphosis.

Fueled by the overwhelming energy, he had expanded his body’s vessel.

“Ah…”

Seongyul, now upright, let out a soft cry.

As soon as he opened his mouth, energy flowed out with his breath.

His murky yellow eyes were strangely luminous.

He too seemed to feel something, his gaze filled with emotion.

The energy was dense and radiant.

Confirming that, I was certain.

“You crossed the wall.”

Seongyul had reached the Profound Realm.

“Ah…”

“Feels good?”

He couldn’t answer my question and just stared at me.

His emotions were unusually clear.

Awe and emotion.

Such feelings were evident in his eyes.

“…Thank you… Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Is breaking through the wall that great?

Seongyul kept expressing his gratitude to me.

“…Uh, yeah.”

For me, it was awkward to fully accept the gratitude.

‘…If you think about it, it happened because I forced him to eat it, right?’

He could have died if things went wrong.

I was just trying to clean up a situation that almost went south while checking for side effects.

This wasn’t my intention.

‘No, well. If the result is good, then everything is good.’

Then it’s fine.

Besides.

‘If it turns out like this….’

Now that I’ve confirmed Seongyul benefited from the Yeouiju…

‘Doesn’t that mean I can feed it to the others too…?’

I got a sense of how I could utilize this.