Chapter 1169: Scorched World.

The moment I sensed something foreign, I moved immediately.

The location was near a ruin even within the entire frontline, deeper than the forest where the Fire Alchemist resided.

I had to feel quite perplexed seeing this.

‘This is Gu Clan’s territory.’

Because it was a place I knew better than expected. I could concede that the forest was handled by other orthodox sects. However, Gu Clan usually handles the ruined sections. As an example of that, the presence of Gu Clan’s sword brigade could be felt from all directions.

‘A Viggo is here?’

A Viggo in Gu Clan’s territory. It’s strange. I’ve never heard of such a thing, and…

‘If there’s a Viggo, could we not have known about it?’

If the Peng family head, or perhaps the Fire Alchemist, pinpointed a Viggo at this location, shouldn’t Gu Clan have known first? I wonder if it’s possible to sneak in here and access the Viggo.

Ah, of course.

‘Both the Fire Alchemist and the Peng family head. They are masters, like the other Four Demonic Emperors, so it might be possible.’

It’s probably because my cultivation level has become too high; they are, after all, martial artists at the Hua Jing level. They are humans who could certainly hide their presence and loot the Viggo.

Considering that, the possibility is certainly there, but…

‘Hmm.’

Even taking that into account, I remained somewhat skeptical.

‘No matter what, could Gu Clan really not have known?’

It might have been different in the past, but not now.

‘My family isn’t exactly the most upright place, you see.’

A family that’s strange, way too strange.

Did my family not know about people coming and going in their own territory? I didn’t think so.

‘They knew, but they let it slide.’

There’s a sliver. A tiny sliver of a possibility that they really went undetected. However, in my view, my own thought was correct.

‘The problem is, if that’s the case, it’s not just one or two things that get tangled up.’

If Gu Clan let it slide, then why? If there’s a Viggo, then why does it exist? I have to consider each of those things.

‘Ugh, damn it all.’

Anyway, when one thing gets tangled, everything else follows suit. That’s just how my life goes.

‘……Where is it?’

Pretending not to know, I surveyed the surroundings. Since it came to this, I had to at least see the Viggo.

‘It’s around here.’

The anomaly I confirmed with my Clairvoyance and Ki Sense was nearby. Can’t I see it now?

‘It’s tangled.’

The threads of magic visible through my Clairvoyance. I can see that the threads are particularly twisted around this area. Besides that, the sensation felt through my Ki Sense is abnormal. This place felt unpleasantly strange.

‘Let’s see.’

I reach out towards the tangled spot. The area is quite vast, so it would take time to see where the focal point is, but…

Sssseuuuu-!

‘I’ll figure it out once I start unraveling it all.’

If I could just find the beginning of the thread, the rest would be simple. Thinking this, I waved my hands a few times inside.

Tuk.

My fingertips brushed against something.

‘Found it.’

I found the start of the thread. Finding it wasn’t that difficult. The problem, if any, would be unraveling the tangled mess.

Seureureureuk-!!

‘That doesn’t seem too difficult either.’

The difficulty of disabling it wasn’t high. If there’s a catch here, it’s…

‘Why is it magic?’

It’s not a formation, it’s magic. The fact that what was cast here was magic was the most concerning point for me. It was fortunate that I could undo it because it was magic, though.

‘Tsk.’

To embed so much magic into a Viggo. What on earth did they do?

‘And how did the Peng family head undo this?’

How did they squeeze into a space sealed with magic? Does the Peng family head have the ability to undo magic?

‘No, probably not.’

Then there are two possibilities.

‘Either they gave up and didn’t enter the Viggo.’

Or.

‘Someone opened it from the inside.’

They didn’t undo it; they opened it. That would make sense.

Seureureuk.

As the threads unraveled and all the tangled parts were finally released.

Tuk-!

Along with a feeling of something snapping.

Hwaaaaa-!

A change occurred. The view before me warped and began to distort. Soon after, the space twisted.

Sseuu.

A door appeared in the air.

“…Hoho.”

I wasn’t surprised anymore. From the moment I saw the magic cast upon it, I figured it wasn’t a typical Viggo.

‘……It really exists.’

It would be quite something if a Viggo actually existed. Though I don’t know how that Fire Alchemist fellow discovered it.

‘I should have interrogated him instead of killing him.’

I should have corrupted him into a mind-slave like the Peng family head and questioned him. That was the biggest mistake.

I wore a sheepish expression for a moment before letting it go. As my expression changed, I moved my hand.

Hwaaaaa-!

My Ki spread out, enveloping the surroundings. Since I don’t know how to use formations, nor magic to cover this, I simply used my Ki to erase my presence. I used a considerable amount of energy, so it should last for a decent while. This way, humans shouldn’t be able to find me for a while.

‘Alright then.’

Now that everything is ready, shall I go in?

I slowly stepped into the space.

---

Stepping through the dark entrance, the first thing I saw was a staircase. A descending staircase. A staircase that seemed to go down endlessly.

‘Hmm.’

The moment I confirmed it, I immediately activated my Clairvoyance.

‘This is magic too.’

I can see the threads. Judging by its state, it was magic. Then again, the very existence of such a descending staircase is strange in itself.

I placed my hand on the wall.

Woowooong.

I could feel the energy directly. A pulsating sensation came from my heart.

I search for the path. Just going down would lead nowhere. It wasn’t the first or second time I’d experienced this.

‘Let’s find it.’

The correct path. I had to find the proper entrance.

‘That’s right.’

Fortunately, this didn’t take long either. Because the ridiculously tangled part was so easy to sense. I focused my energy there.

Saaaaa-!!

I slowly untangled the knotted section. I can’t completely undo it. Last time, I completely unraveled threads like these and ended up releasing all the magic sealing the space itself.

‘Actually, that would be more convenient, but…’

Since I didn’t know what anomalies might occur if I did that, I had to be as careful as possible. Because I needed to confirm what was inside.

Dalkkak.

With another small sensation, the view ahead changed. The staircase that had been leading down moved on its own.

Cheolgeok-! Deureureuk-!!!

The stairs rose up, changing into a straight path.

‘Whoa.’

Much more convenient. Good move.

Hwareuk-!

Light appeared in the dark passage. As I tried to walk forward, the torches attached to the wall lit up on their own. I proceeded forward, looking at the now-brightened view. The path wasn’t that long. The entrance was already visible in the distance. I walked cautiously, wondering if there might be traps, but there were none.

I simply approached the entrance.

I reached for the doorknob I saw ahead.

Kkiiik.

Pulling it with force, it opened easily.

After pulling open the iron door, I checked inside. It was dark. An darkness where nothing could be seen. As I cautiously stepped into that space.

Osak.

“…!”

The moment I touched the space, goosebumps rose on my spine. An unpleasant feeling washed over me, sickeningly so.

‘What is this now?’

My eyes sharpened. Not only the goosebumps standing on my skin, but a hostility flowing from my heart enveloped my entire body.

‘What could be in here?’

What could possibly be inside to give me this feeling? First, I had one certainty.

‘This doesn’t seem like something that should be called a Viggo.’

It’s not a warehouse for elixirs or precious artifacts. This definitely doesn’t seem like that kind of space.

‘Tsk.’

This feels really bad, doesn’t it? Do I really have to go in? I pondered, but I couldn’t turn back now. It would be utterly foolish to come this far and just turn back. I had to see what was inside.

‘Let’s see….’

First, let’s illuminate the area. With that thought, I gathered strength in my hand.

Woowooong-!!

My energy gathered, forming a blue sphere. It wasn’t the Flame Prison.

Hwarunseong (Fire Wheel Star).

I created Gu Clan’s secret technique that erases or maximizes presence. Though that’s its purpose, it actually holds immense light, making it useful as a torch. I casually tossed the secret technique into the air. The Hwarunseong rose up and emitted light. The darkness instantly brightened. The entire space became visible.

‘Hmm.’

The space was vast. It was a huge space, large enough to make one wonder why. I felt it before, but…

‘Places sealed with magic are strangely oversized.’

Like the Viggo I saw in Sichuan, spaces influenced by magic were unnaturally enormous. To the point where I wondered if they really needed to make it this big.

‘As if.’

As if something that large needed to fit inside.

I shifted my gaze.

So, what remained? If even a space like this exists, something must be here. As I recalled that and surveyed the surroundings.

‘……Hm?’

Something caught my eye. No, it couldn’t not catch my eye.

‘What is that now?’

Because in this vast space, it was the only thing there.

“……What is that?”

I widened my eyes.

It was a tree.

A single tree.

A normal tree, neither too big nor too small, stood there. Excluding that, nothing else was visible. The tree was small, but the roots spreading from it were thick and vast. If you looked closely, they had spread roots throughout the entire space.

If there was any other difference.

‘It’s red.’

The leaves were so very red. They were a complete crimson, too much to be called merely autumn foliage. How could they be so red? Just by looking, I could tell it wasn’t an ordinary tree.

That’s the place.

The thing making me feel discomfort and a distant hostility.

I could feel it emanating from that tree.