Chapter 1185: Scorched World.

“Found.”

“It.”

Ear. Deeper than that.

The sound that burrowed into my very mind sent shivers down my spine. Because it was a voice I’d heard somewhere before.

It was a voice that shouldn’t have been heard. Especially since it was a voice I’d heard very recently.

‘This is.’

Narrowing my eyes completely, I focused my gaze. The direction the sound came from. The owner of this voice is…

‘Was it Taecheon?’

One of the Great Demonic Mirrors opened in the current Zhongyuan.

There existed a place called the Taecheon Realm, one of the Unclosing Demonic Mirror Sects governed by the Murim Alliance.

Another master I encountered in the Myriad Realms.

His name was Taecheon too.

‘This voice. It’s his voice.’

It was identical to the voice of the guy I met in the Myriad Realms. No, rather than identical, it couldn’t really be called a voice, so I should phrase it differently.

This is.

‘The same.’

The presence of the aura contained within the sound.

That’s what would be right to call identical.

This was Taecheon’s presence.

‘Why?’

That bastard Taecheon, here?

His voice shouldn’t have been heard here, at the very least.

And what’s more.

‘From the direction where Gu-seon’s presence is.’

Taecheon’s voice is heard at the location where Gu-seon’s presence is felt. What kind of bullshit is this?

‘Ah. Damn it.’

My blood ran cold.

Because a possibility came to mind.

‘No way.’

The fact that Gu-seon went missing in the first place.

‘Was it to lure me in?’

Was I the objective? Hearing the words ‘found’, it seemed so.

My blood, now cold. Conversely, my head grew hot.

Should I go? I don’t know his intentions. If it’s like this, I should be thinking, but…

Hwaruk-!

My body had already moved.

---

Crossing space wasn’t difficult. My body, having accelerated right after Gu-yeom-hwa-ryun-gong reached Great Accomplishment, could now traverse this much distance in a handful of moments.

Hwarureuk.

The place I arrived at, crossing through the forest, was another forest.

A distance that greatly exceeded the current Zhongyuan.

The energy depleted during travel quickly replenished. The moonlit forest was beautiful, yet filled with an alien atmosphere.

Woo-oong.

My heart reacted, and my upper dantian relaxed its coiled body.

My taut body and energy indicated that this space was alien.

Tuk.

My flying body landed squarely on the ground.

As my feet touched the ground.

Hwaaaaaaaa–!!!

The forest reacted instantly.

Dugeun-!

My heart pounded.

“……”

I calmly walked forward as I was. Without paying attention to the reacting forest, I walked slowly until a large lake welcomed me.

It was Lake Seong-eon, located in the Shanxi region.

It was characterized by its shallowness and clarity, so clear that the bottom was visible. Above the lake, which seemed to shine exceptionally as it reflected the moon.

Someone was standing.

‘Gu-seon.’

The first daughter of the current Gu family. Gu-seon.

It was apparent that she was standing still there.

“……”

Sa-ak.

I stepped onto the lake. My internal energy activated, allowing me to walk on water.

I advanced step by step.

When I reached a certain distance.

“……”

Gu-seon’s gaze turned towards me.

Our eyes met. Seeing her, I let out a smirk.

“This is really not even funny.”

It was cold, considering it came from me. With a surge of irritation, I spoke while looking at Gu-seon.

No, that’s not right.

“What are you doing? Why are you doing this, coming all the way to someone else’s world?”

I said it not to Gu-seon, but to Taecheon.

Hoo-ooooooh-!

As soon as I spoke, the wind blew. The wind swept across the lake, creating ripples on the calm water.

“I found you. So you were here.”

Gu-seon spoke with hazy eyes.

“Did you come looking for me? If so, you could have just come, why did you use someone else’s body so recklessly?”

As I spoke, I narrowed my eyes.

Opening my Mind’s Eye, I examined Gu-seon.

‘The state of the aura.’

The presence remained the same. The aura didn’t seem particularly disturbed either.

“What business do you have?”

I pondered the question. What could that guy be?

Taecheon. I knew it was him. However, the important thing was that this was a created world.

‘Is this Taecheon the same one I know?’

It could be. Or it might not be.

I couldn’t be sure of anything.

As I was contemplating that deeply, facing Taecheon.

“Who are you?”

“What?”

Taecheon spoke.

“I sense the scent of the Myriad Realms, but it is not the Myriad Realms. I feel the trace of the Dragon Emperor, but that is not it either. Who are you?”

“……”

Does he not know me? Or is this also an act? Can this world create masters from other worlds too?

“Did the Dragon Emperor betray me? That’s impossible. He wouldn’t have the leeway for that. Who are you?”

“……”

Here, the Blood Demon was mentioned. Taecheon and the Blood Demon know each other? Moreover.

‘If he mentions betrayal.’

It means they were working together.

‘For what?’

What reason would the Blood Demon and Taecheon have for that?

I couldn’t know.

“Answer me. Unseen Master.”

Hoo-ooooo-!!!

The lake began to swirl more and more. That ripple contained intent.

“Who are you?”

“Well. I’m just some stray mutt passing by?”

“……”

“Enough. Get out, leaving that body behind. If you’re curious, come yourself. Why cause unnecessary damage?”

These guys and those guys. It was damn annoying how they used other people’s bodies as if they were their own.

“Get lost. Because that’s not a body you can dare to use.”

Hwarureureuk-!!!

I summoned the White Flames. An inhuman heat bloomed over the lake.

“……”

Seeing that, Taecheon frowned. Did he realize the power this flame held? Just as I thought that might be the case.

“You haven’t been a master for long, have you.”

Taecheon laughed.

“You haven’t awakened your ‘Gyeok’ not long ago. Ah, I see. That’s why you realized it late.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Good.”

He laughed. His laughter grew deeper.

My brow furrowed at his ominous laughter.

That was when it happened.

“Before the Gatekeeper arrives. I must get rid of you.”

Ku-aaaaaaaaa—!!!

An immense presence erupted from Gu-seon’s body.

“I. Appoint you as my Apostle.”

Taecheon spoke.

At that moment.

The sky enveloped the world.

Hoo-aaaaaa-!!!

The moonlight refracted. The sounds from outside ceased.

The space was severed. I felt a covering membrane. I surveyed my surroundings with my Mind’s Eye.

‘Is it a spell?’

Spatial distortion. The purpose was isolation from the outside.

It was a vast space created by a spell.

What for? There’s no need to even think about it.

“……”

Taecheon remained silent.

However, just because he was silent didn’t mean he wasn’t doing anything.

I could feel it.

Ku-gung.

Ku-gung.

Changes were occurring in Gu-seon’s body. I felt the fluctuating energy not just in the body, but from deeper within.

My feet moved.

I tried to shoot the White Flames directly at the guy.

Tu-ang-!!

I was flung away by the rushing wind pressure.

Kkig-!

I stepped into the water current, slowing my speed. Just as I managed to stop and prepare to charge again.

Hwaaaa…

The transformation had already ended.

‘That is.’

I widened my eyes.

Gu-seon’s body had changed. The hair that had a hint of reddish light had faded to white. The crimson eyes were stained with a murky gray hue.

Furthermore.

Seu-eeeee-!!

Two pairs of wings spread across his back.

Seeing that, I bit my lip.

‘It’s that.’

The appearance of Taecheon I saw in the Myriad Realms. Similar to the form he took when he descended using the raven as a lever back then.

The aura is no different either.

Seu-eeu-!!

The surging aura is the awe I felt from Taecheon back then.

“There’s no time.”

The gray eyes turned towards me.

Shwi-ik-!!

“……!”

I twisted my body.

The lake split in half. Taecheon was holding a sword before I knew it.

I averted my gaze from the split water current.

Hwarureureuk-!!

I wrapped my body entirely in the White Flames. My energy drained in an instant.

Power entered my upper dantian.

Tuk.

The sound of the water current splashing slightly. By the time I heard it, my body was already right in front of Taecheon.

Clenching my fist, I thrust it straight at the guy.

“……”

Seeing that, the guy tried to move, but for some reason, his movement speed was sluggish.

It hit his side directly.

Hwaaaaaaaaa–!!!

Flames erupted, and shockwaves surged.

Chwa-ak-!!

Taecheon, sent flying by the impact, frowned.

It seemed he blocked the flames with his wings in the meantime. Did he move in that brief moment?

However, the state of the wings was a mess. One of the left wings from the pair had burned in the flames and half of it was gone.

“This…”

He seemed to have realized there was something in the flames. Using his slowed reaction, I charged again.

Seeing me charging in, the guy spread his wings.

Hwa-dudududuk-!!

Feathers released from the wings shot out in all directions.

I quickly jumped up to dodge the feathers, and in mid-air, I clenched the White Flames in my hand.

Hwarureuk-!!

An Yeom-ok was formed. It was a pure white Yeom-ok.

I transformed it immediately.

I created a Seong-chang. Just as I was about to create it as usual.

Ku-aang-!

“…Crazy?”

I widened my eyes. The Seong-chang being created was dispelled.

‘Damn it. My energy.’

All my energy was depleted. The small amount of energy left wasn’t enough to generate a Seong-chang. Damn this shitty cost-effectiveness.

Tung-!

‘Tsk!’

The recoil from the martial arts technique hit me. The aftermath of the failed casting invaded my body.

My body trembled slightly from the pain. I tried to quickly regain my balance, but…

Chwa-ak-!

“…Gasp!”

Taecheon, not missing the chance, flew in and cut my body. My flying body plunged straight into the lake.

Pa-aaaaaa-!!

The water current burst, and the impact surged.

“Ptooey.”

I didn’t sink. I spat out the water I had swallowed.

‘It’s not deep.’

I avoided half the attack. I was cut, but it wasn’t deep.

And I realized something.

“You. You’re not able to use your body properly, are you?”

“……”

I could tell from the current attack. That guy. He seems slow to use his body.

For whatever reason, he couldn’t move properly.

Normally, he shouldn’t have been able to dodge that attack just now.

“Your body isn’t obeying you. Is that right?”

Just like me, he wasn’t normal either.

So what should I do?

‘What else?’

I gathered my energy.

‘I need to finish this quickly.’

Finish it as quickly as possible. There’s no time to play around.

Thinking of that.

‘…Should I try it?’

I thought about a way to finish it quickly. Something I had to do, regardless of whether I could.

Something I realized and learned simultaneously upon obtaining the ‘Gyeok’ of a Master myself.

It’s what Gu-seong-yeol told me to try.

‘Master Transformation.’

Fully displaying power as a Master.

Can I do it with this small amount of energy? Such a question arose, but…

‘…….’

Acting was more important than hesitating.

I didn’t recall how to do it.

I already knew the method.

Du-geun-!

My upper dantian reacted to the sound of my heart.

Beneath the sky Taecheon had enveloped.

Hwaruk-!

A small spark serenely enveloped my body.