Chapter 1197: Scorched World.

“…….”

Suddenly, I found myself imprisoned, and some time passed. Scratching my cheek, I surveyed my surroundings. The space I’d entered with Do-cheol remained unchanged. He had simply disappeared; nothing else had really changed.

“Hmm.”

I casually touched the bars in front of me.

There was no particular sensation. As usual, only the cold touch of iron registered on my fingertips.

“What is this?”

Are they just ordinary bars? I wrapped my hand completely around one. Still no difference this time. In that case…

‘Shall I try tearing them apart?’

Let’s try tearing them apart with force. With that intention, I tried channeling strength into my body.

Kkuiik-!

At first, it felt like it was working. My muscles tensed sharply as I attempted to rip the bars right out. No matter how drained I was, there was a level I had achieved. My body, infused and grown within, far surpassed that of ordinary people.

So, bars like these should be nothing…

Woowoong-!

“Huh?”

Just as I was about to put my full strength into it, a strange sensation suddenly emanated from the bars.

The moment I felt it, the strength drained from my gripping hand.

“……Ah…”

Only then did I understand. What these bars were made of.

“……It’s Naegeumseok (Naegeumseok – Stone that Endures Prohibition), isn’t it?”

Naegeumseok.

It’s a substance known to have been invented by the Mu-dang.

It’s not a type of actual stone or iron. If I had to classify it…

‘An improved version of Hancheol.’

A product created through the improvement and research of Hancheol, and…

‘An artificial Gwimul.’

It was called an artificial Gwimul, not one that existed naturally in the world.

Its effect is precisely to prohibit the ‘Naegi’ possessed by martial artists.

It’s an item that can prevent the manifestation of Naegi just by making contact with the body.

‘…This is Naegeumseok.’

The bars in front of me were made from that Naegeumseok.

The problem is.

‘Why is this here now?’

Naegeumseok shouldn’t exist in this era. As far as I know…

‘It’s something that appeared in response to the Jeongma Great War, isn’t it?’

It must have been prepared to suppress the ‘Main’ during the Jeongma Great War. But it was strange for Naegeumseok to be present decades before that war, in this current era.

‘Am I mistaken?’

I thought maybe I’d misseen it, but no.

‘…No matter how I look at it, it’s Naegeumseok?’

The bars were extremely hard due to the improved Hancheol. The effect of losing strength upon touching them was definitely Naegeumseok’s effect.

Using Hancheol so it couldn’t be broken even by a martial artist’s body, and preventing the application of Naegi.

That was the efficacy of Naegeumseok; this had to be genuine Naegeumseok.

“Why is this here?”

I couldn’t understand it no matter how I looked at it.

“Sssup…”

Even if my ‘Geureut’ wasn’t infused with energy, my body itself contained it, and that’s where the problem arose.

‘Normally…’

‘I’d use sorcery or ‘Siman’ to find a way through.’

‘But I can’t do that either…’

I couldn’t touch the bars.

This has become problematic.

“What should I do?”

I chuckled awkwardly. I had known from the start that the Clan Head had some objective concerning me.

I had been curious about what that might be.

‘I wasn’t the objective.’

It seemed that person had no intention of urging me towards revenge from the outset. The real objective was probably…

‘The Gu Clan’s lineage itself?’

Judging by the feel of it, yes. Do-cheol. That person, while aware of my existence, seemed to know I was of the Gu Clan’s lineage and intended to use me.

“Hmm.”

What reason could there be to imprison the Gu Clan’s lineage here? And…

‘What is this?’

My gaze shifted to the bars beside me, then to the purple egg within them.

It was the seed of a colossal sacred tree. Moreover, it radiated an aura that felt like the demonic energy of the Heavenly Demon.

“…Is this the curse the Gu Clan handed over to the ‘Doga’?”

Could Do-cheol’s words really be true?

According to him, it was something the Gu Clan entrusted to Do-cheol centuries ago, along with a sealing ritual.

‘…Hmm.’

I couldn’t entirely trust his words.

There was no discernible reason why the Gu Clan would do such a thing.

‘…A seed that will become a disaster.’

I gazed at the egg.

‘So, what am I supposed to do here?’

Why did Do-cheol imprison me here?

I pondered this deeply.

Would thinking about it even help?

“Hmm…”

I stayed put, expecting something to happen, but time passed, and nothing did.

What the…?

I thought they’d do something since they locked me up, but there’s nothing.

What should I do here?

‘Escaping seems rather difficult.’

Tuk tuk.

I tapped the bars.

Because of this thing, escape is impossible.

As I recalled that,

Thud.

I slumped onto the floor.

‘Should I just rest for a bit?’

I was nonchalant, even after being imprisoned.

After all, nothing was happening anyway.

There was no need to fidget right now.

More importantly,

‘Anyway.’

I had made the necessary arrangements.

So, it’s fine.

However…

‘If there’s one thing that bothers me…’

Will those arrangements work properly?

That was slightly worrying.

---

Kkiiik.

The mechanism closed, sealing the open space. Do-cheol, the Clan Head of the Sanseo Do Clan, returned from the space and bowed his head slightly.

“Hooook…”

It was a groan mixed with a hint of pain. As he let it out, he wiped away the cold sweat.

Just then.

“Father…”

Do-yun, who had been waiting outside, entered and checked on him.

“I’m fine.”

I gave the ‘Mok-i’ more than necessary. If things had gone slightly differently, I might have touched his ‘Seoncheon Jigi’. It felt like a significant amount of energy had been drained.

“…Where is Baek Yangcheon?”

Seeing that he had returned alone, Do-yun asked the question. Hearing this, Do-cheol looked at him with cold eyes and said,

“I left him behind for the ‘Eop’.”

“…!”

Do-yun’s eyes widened upon hearing this.

“Father…! That…”

“It’s a necessary act. The best method.”

“But…”

“Do you intend to live like this forever? I have no intention of passing this Eop onto you.”

“…”

Do-cheol read the emotions reflected in Do-yun’s eyes. Watching him, Do-cheol clicked his tongue inwardly.

He was a son with exceptional talent according to the family’s Eop, but soft-hearted. That must be why he’s reacting this way.

“This is fortunate for us. It’s also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

It is literally an opportunity.

Now that Tae-cheon, who was supposed to help, has disappeared, and we missed the Gu Clan’s ‘Gongnyeo’, leaving us with no other options, this is an unrepeatable chance.

‘Although it was somewhat reckless.’

It couldn’t be helped.

A late-blooming illegitimate child whom the Gu Clan wouldn’t pay much attention to.

Furthermore, I heard he possessed considerable energy.

He would surely have sufficient value as prey.

‘Please.’

May their hell end with this undertaking.

That was all Do-cheol wished for.

“There’s no time. The ritual has been performed, so you must return quickly and carry out your duties.”

“Okay… Yes, I understand.”

Do-yun, without smoothing his crumpled expression at Do-cheol’s words, got up to obey.

Do-cheol felt a slight irritation at his actions, but this too couldn’t be helped.

‘Gu Seong-yeol.’

The Gu Clan Head.

And the Gu Clan’s lineage.

This was the only method he could choose to escape from them.

The problem is.

‘…If there’s one thing that’s bothering me…’

Baek Yangcheon.

That guy, thrown in as prey for the disaster.

He’s the issue.

‘What could it be?’

He was said to be strong.

That’s why his value as prey was assessed.

‘Why can I feel nothing from him?’

I felt nothing from Baek Yangcheon.

Meaning, not even a trace of energy could be sensed.

How could that be?

‘Is he that strong?’

That possibility is almost nonexistent.

There’s a limit to the age of a late-stage disciple.

The Gu Clan’s Young Clan Head, who was called a monster.

Even looking at him, I could perceive something, yet…

‘To see absolutely nothing…’

It’s as if he possesses no energy at all, isn’t it?

Do-cheol did not believe this fact.

He couldn’t, and he shouldn’t have.

‘If he has no energy.’

Then the condition of being prey isn’t met.

It would simply mean he’s been imprisoned for nothing, and there’s no telling how things might go wrong.

‘…It can’t be.’

Listening to Do-yun, he said he couldn’t even gauge how strong he was.

Such a person couldn’t possibly lack energy.

‘He must be hiding it.’

He must be hiding it in a way I don’t even understand.

That’s how I concluded.

No, it absolutely had to be that way.

There was no other explanation.

Unless his vessel was somehow broken.

“Hoo…”

He wiped his sweat.

Around the time night ends and morning arrives, everything should be over.

If only that happens…

‘Even if the future of the Central Plains is unknown.’

Their Eop will end.

That was enough for Do-cheol.

After wiping the remaining cold sweat, he sat down in the Clan Head’s chair.

He intended to rest for a moment.

Then, he would finish the task he had planned.

As he was thinking this,

Hwa-reuk.

“…?”

A small spark was felt from somewhere.

The moment he felt it, Do-cheol straightened up.

It was a fleeting sensation, but he definitely felt something.

He kicked off his chair and went outside the building.

Beol-keok!

The door opened, revealing the space outside.

The first thing he saw was his son.

Do-yun was standing with his back to Do-cheol.

He looked extremely tense.

“…Huh.”

Seeing this, Do-cheol’s eyes widened.

More accurately, he wasn’t looking at Do-yun.

He was looking at the person standing directly in front of Do-yun.

“You are…”

The youth standing before Do-yun.

“Excuse me.”

He was a formidable presence, possessing black hair tinged with red and fiery crimson eyes. In contrast, he was a youth with fierce eyes and a sculpted appearance.

Currently known as the ‘Divine Dragon’ in the Central Plains, hailed as the strongest among late-stage disciples.

“I am Gu Cheol-un of the Gu Clan.”

The Gu Clan’s Young Clan Head.

“I’ve come to see the Clan Head briefly.”

“…”

He faced Do-cheol.

As Gu Yangcheon’s arrangement.