Chapter 834: Ilcheonkyo.

A coldness piercing through my entire body.

If my body, which has mastered fire arts, feels this cold, just how cold is it really?

“Sss.”

Breathing out short breaths, my breath emerged. Seeing this, I immediately slapped my cheek.

Jjaak-!

I hit it hard enough to make it sting.

“Ouch.”

It hurt. Meaning I could definitely feel the sensation.

Grasping things one by one, I surveyed my surroundings.

“Hmm.”

I raised my senses and concentrated, but there was nothing specific to see. Only pitch-black darkness.

This is like…

‘It looks like somewhere I’ve seen before.’

It was a familiar sight. If I’d seen it, where could it have been? Thinking about it for a moment, it came to me quickly.

‘It’s similar to where I saw it back then.’

Around the time I fought Yeongpung during the Martial Arts Festival.

The space where I encountered the other god, Noyah, inside him. It bore a striking resemblance to that place.

If there was one difference.

‘The floor.’

Tuk tuk.

I tapped the ground with my toes. The floor felt hard. That was the biggest difference.

‘It was water back then.’

The dark-colored water that filled the floor. It was still a black world, but it was different from back then.

‘It’s hard.’

The floor was solid. It was complete ground. Feeling the texture, I let out a sigh.

“What the hell is this place now?”

What kind of bullshit is this now? My expression naturally scrunched up.

Why the hell am I suddenly here?

“All I did was pop an energy pill.”

The newly made Poison Heaven Pill. Just by eating that one, I ended up like this.

“Hmm.”

I shifted my thoughts.

‘What is it?’

Why did it become like this?

This is an immediate manifestation. It’s right to assume it activated the moment I swallowed the energy pill.

‘My five senses are working properly, but it’s hard to call this reality.’

Thinking simply wasn’t an option, given how much had happened, so I couldn’t view this casually.

‘…Usually, there was always a reason in these situations.’

This situation occurred for a reason.

The important thing was the mechanism that could trigger such a situation.

‘Is it because of the Poison Heaven Pill?’

The Poison Heaven Pill mixed with my energy. Is it a problem that occurred upon consuming it… or perhaps.

‘Something else.’

Could there be another reason?

I pondered, but nothing came to mind right now. There was too little information to know.

If there was anything fortunate about it.

‘It’s that it’s not completely empty.’

Black sky and black ground. An environment where not even a trace of presence could be felt.

I wondered what could possibly be in a place like this, but.

‘What is it?’

Strangely, I was sensing something.

And it was.

‘Unpleasant.’

A very unpleasant and shitty feeling.

It was a disgusting sensation that was hard to describe.

It felt like insects were crawling all over my body, and I felt like vomiting up to my throat.

What kind of sensation could this possibly be?

Wrinkling my face entirely, I stared at one spot. Beyond the seemingly dark scenery.

‘Is it over there?’

The source of this inexplicable unpleasantness felt like it was coming from over there.

I immediately moved my feet.

I really didn’t want to go, even if I were to die, but I had to go anyway. Didn’t I know that enough from everything I’d experienced so far?

That going there was the only way anything would progress.

‘What is it this time?’

Having lived through seeing all sorts of things, I don’t think anything could surprise me anymore. Reaching this point, curiosity preceded anxiety.

Stepping on the ground, I continued to walk.

As if my thoughts were correct, walking in that direction, the feeling grew stronger.

What could possibly be at the end of this? What is there that evokes such resistance?

Just as questions were piling up one after another.

“Hmm?”

Something revealed its outline ahead.

I couldn’t see it properly, so I narrowed my eyes. It was still the same.

Still, I knew I was getting closer to my destination.

Enduring my increasingly sluggish steps, I forced myself to walk. After walking a little further, the source of my unpleasantness finally appeared clearly.

The problem was.

“…What the hell is that.”

What on earth is that? I couldn’t tell even after looking.

What I saw ahead was a door.

And a very large door at that.

It was a door made of black iron, whose material I couldn’t identify.

I approached and examined it more closely.

But no matter how much I looked, I couldn’t figure out what it was.

Just that it was a thick, black iron door. And that it was inexplicably wrapped tightly with thick chains.

That was all I could see for now.

‘This feels unsettling.’

Just looking at it made me annoyed. I felt like I was about to get angry over this too.

Was there something on the door? I gently reached out my hand.

The sensation touching my palm was only the characteristic cold feel of iron.

Just when I thought there was no other difference.

Kugugugugugu—!!!

“…!?”

Suddenly, rough vibrations and noise came from the door.

The vibrations were so intense that they even shook the ground.

Seeing the situation, I quickly distanced myself.

“Shit.”

What the hell is trying to pop out now?

Raising my tension, I stared at the door.

It looked strange just by looking at it. Should I just bolt right now?

‘If I bolt, where to?’

There’s no way there’s anywhere to run.

I don’t even know how I got here, so what run?

Hooook-! Instinctively, I raised my energy.

Steadying my stance, I took a breath.

“Sssseeeeuuu.”

Exhaling short breaths, I activated my body. I prepared for any unforeseen situation.

Kugugugugugung—!!!!

The iron door, which had continued to roar for a long time.

Kugugugu…

As time passed, it gradually stopped vibrating.

It seemed like it would shatter everything around it, so I wondered if it might explode. Fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.

However, stopping doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.

It was a situation where no one knew what might suddenly happen.

Because of that, while keeping my senses heightened and warily watching the door.

Cheolgureok-.

The chains bound to the door moved briefly.

Chareureureuk–!! Kung-! Kung kung-!!

They came undone in an instant and fell to the floor. Since they weren’t small, a tremendous sound erupted as they fell.

This too happened suddenly. While looking at the chains with slightly flustered eyes.

Kkiyiik.

This time, a sound came from the door.

The door, which seemed like an impenetrable fortress that wouldn’t move even if it died, reacted.

‘It’s opening.’

Slowly. It was parting with great difficulty.

Seeing this, I strained my eyes and felt my arm. Goosebumps had already risen on my skin.

Cold sweat flowed down my spine and onto my forehead.

It had been like this since the moment the door began to open.

‘Crazy.’

I wiped the sweat beading on my chin. My pounding heart was beyond control.

‘I’m going crazy.’

Through the slightly opened gap in the door, something absurd wafted out. Something incredibly deep and vast…

‘Killing Intent (Salgi).’

The fundamental emotion of needing to kill something.

A phenomenon where that emotion accumulated in energy and took form.

Killing Intent is energy that varies in level depending on the depth of the emotion.

Just as a warrior’s years are stored in their dantian.

Killing Intent reveals how much malice existed within those years.

The energy I felt now was exceedingly violent and ferocious.

Enough to make me tense up with caution.

Just what kind of rough killing intent is this?

What kind of twisted bastard is inside to emanate such killing intent?

‘At any rate, it won’t be a normal guy.’

Whatever is inside, it’s definitely not someone alright.

It was so bad that even I thought about running away.

“Hoo.”

Taking a deep breath. I moved forward.

My reluctance was clear, but anyway, there was only one way.

Why would that door suddenly open?

‘It’s telling me to look, obviously.’

Knowing the answer, I couldn’t turn away.

I approached. Peeking through the opened gap, I realized something.

‘It wouldn’t open with ordinary strength.’

I didn’t try to apply force, but I could tell it would require all my strength to open.

What’s important here is.

‘That it can be opened.’

Learning that it could be opened with force made it feel worse.

Isn’t it like someone pushing my back to open the door?

Feeling this, I directed my gaze through the door gap.

It was too narrow to squeeze through, but just right to check inside.

‘Indeed.’

What could be inside? What is emitting such a potent aura?

Curiosity mingled with tension.

What crazy monster is looking for me again?

Catching my breath, I peered through the door gap.

‘Hmm?’

Looking inside the door like that, it was the same darkness as before.

It didn’t seem like anything was there. That was my initial impression, certainly.

‘There is.’

That thought faded in just a few seconds. Something could be felt beyond the darkness.

In the center of the background covered in black mist, there was something.

‘A chair?’

It was a chair boasting considerable size. Why was such a chair suddenly there? Moreover.

‘…Who is it?’

Someone was sitting on that chair. The moment I saw him, I understood.

‘It’s him.’

The one who made every nerve in my body stand on end. The owner of this absurd killing intent. It was definitely him.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to see more accurately.

As time passed, it gradually became clearer.

The unseen outline was revealing itself.

The first thing I could tell. The guy sitting on the chair was human.

I couldn’t properly gauge his height, but he didn’t seem very tall.

He seemed to be wearing black martial attire.

His posture was resting his chin… His face was…

“…”

Seeing up to that point, my body froze.

The goosebumps on my body felt like they were penetrating my soul.

Only after seeing his face did I realize the strangeness I had felt until now.

The killing intent and unpleasantness that were enough to make me recoil.

It made me want to run away immediately, but within it, there was an inexplicable familiarity.

Without that, I wouldn’t have walked this far.

What exactly was so familiar amidst such a potent aura?

The unknown question was finally resolved.

“Hah.”

A sigh escaped involuntarily.

A large, thick chair. The guy sitting on it looked at me.

Purple eyes and black-dyed whites were directed at me.

Kkiik.

The guy showed presence and opened his mouth.

[I will ask.]

Every time he spoke, the killing intent deepened.

I wondered what kind of twisted bastard he was to emit such killing intent… Well, I guess.

[Why.]

That idiot looking at me was none other than.

[You are still alive?]

It was my past self.

---

Now…! Young Master…!

“…Gu Gongja!”

“…!”

With the sound piercing my ears, I snapped my eyes open and regained consciousness.

“…Hoo…”

I supported my body, which was about to collapse.

Stumbling, I looked around.

The first thing I saw was Dokwang’s face.

He was looking at me, seemingly quite surprised.

Judging by his reaction, not much time seemed to have passed.

My body also seemed to be standing fine.

“Gu Gongja…! Are you alright? Hey!”

“Ah, yes, I’m fine…”

Responding to Dokwang’s words, I waved my hand. Even as I spoke, my mind was reeling.

Just organizing the situation I had just experienced was overwhelming.

‘What was that just now?’

What was the situation I experienced? Why did I go there, and in that place…

‘Was I there?’

Me. Or rather, was my past self there?

Could this really be the effect of the Poison Heaven Pill I just made?

‘If so, why…’

The moment I kept repeating the questions, seeking the answer.

“Gu Gongja. Are you really alright? Gu Gongja…!”

At Dokwang’s voice, I had to bite my lip slightly.

Even though I said I was fine, he kept asking, which bothered me.

“No, Tang Gaju-nim. I told you I’m fine…”

So, trying to say it again while waving my hand.

“Aren’… huh?”

Mid-sentence, I froze completely.

It was because my hand, caught in my gaze, looked quite strange.

“…Wha-huh?”

My hand isn’t my hand. It certainly looks like a hand, but…

Hwaleureuk-.

My hand was burning.

No, I’d wielded fire arts and wrapped my hands in flames many times before. This was different.

‘It’s the flame itself.’

The sensation of my body becoming flame. It was a strange feeling I couldn’t describe.

‘It feels like I’d blow away if the wind blew.’

I have no idea how I’m even holding onto this phenomenon.

I felt anxious and rushed, as if floating.

“…Are you really alright?”

“…No. I don’t think I am?”

“…”

My hand is like this, and you ask if I’m okay? Bullshit.

Moreover, it’s not just my hand.

‘It feels like my body is mixed in too.’

It seems like not just my hand, but about thirty percent of my body is flame.

It burns. It was such a vivid flame.

The feeling of not being myself, it was my first time experiencing it, so I had no way to explain it.

What’s important is.

‘I feel like I can do anything.’

Leaving anxiety behind, I felt exhilaration (Goyanggam). It was an inexplicable sense of superiority.

‘This.’

This feeling.

I’d seen it. I definitely knew it.

Even if it was a sensation I felt for the first time, I had seen this before.

Fortunately, it didn’t take long to realize what it was.

Because there was already a scene seared into my mind.

‘Father?’

And it was relatively recently. The moment I encountered the Baekgeup monster when I left for the Northern Sea.

At that time, Father told me to watch carefully and then pulverized the Baekgeup monster.

And this flame.

-Nine Flames Extreme Mountain Five Forms

It felt exactly the same as the flame Father showed me back then.

That means…

‘Could this flame be?’

The power that one could obtain only by mastering the Gu Yeom Hwa Ryun Gong…

Paak.

“Oh.”

As soon as I thought that, the flames vanished in an instant.

My hands returned to normal, and so did my body.

The exhilaration disappeared.

It felt like being lifted into the sky and then falling back to the ground.