Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 292
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Episode 292. Would You Offer Your Soul?
The Incomparable Among Ten, Namgung Yeon, tilted her head while deep in thought. Suddenly, she remembered that the star ‘Chun Chuseong,’ the ‘central axis of the heavens,’ had lost its brightness.
The hexagram ‘Sanpoonggo’ predicted something ill would happen to the Yoomyung Cult, but the result was the opposite. This means that the change in celestial energy and the ‘Sanpoonggo’ hexagram might be related to different events.
“Everything will become clear once we reach Five Peaks Mountain.”
Suddenly, Namgung Yeon felt a strong pull toward her destiny. Jegal Seun’s plan might have been to lure her into a trap, but Five Peaks Mountain was a place that would decide the fate of the world. To protect the Murim, her Namgung Clan, and Yeon Jeokha, it was her duty to go there.
“Sister?”
“Yes?”
“What have you been thinking about for so long?”
“About Five Peaks Mountain.”
“Don’t worry too much. I’m here.”
Yeon Jeokha’s boastful remark made Namgung Yeon smile and nod.
“Yes, I’ll leave it to you.”
“Leave it to me!”
Yeon Jeokha responded enthusiastically, but he felt a bit uneasy when the others glanced at him sideways.
Zhengzhou City. Chilriha Village. Uicheon Pavilion.
Around nine in the evening, Namgung Cheon, known as the Blue Cloud Swordsman, was called by his father, Namgung Byeok, the Sword Emperor, while he was meditating.
“Did you call for me?”
“I heard you had a fight with the Peng Clan youths today.”
“It wasn’t a fight. I just taught them a lesson because they were being rude.”
“I heard you faced Paeng Gakmyeong, Paeng Mando, Paeng Iljin, and Paeng Miryeo. Is that true?”
Namgung Byeok looked at his son with a complicated expression. It was hard to believe that he had faced four of the future leaders of the Peng Clan, especially since Peng Gakmyeong’s skill was said to be comparable to his son’s. Moreover, those four youths were powerful in their own right.
However, rumors had it that the fight was one-sided. Only someone of a sect leader’s level could handle those youths in such a manner.
Namgung Byeok realized that something was different about his son’s face—a subtle yet palpable energy.
“With the skill I know you possess, that would have been difficult. Did you have some kind of revelation?”
“More than a revelation, my internal flow was suddenly released.”
“Suddenly?”
Namgung Byeok couldn’t fully understand. He knew how difficult it was to release the internal flow. To become a true master, both internal and external skills had to reach a high level. Someone with advanced external skills should be free in movements and techniques, while someone with internal skill should achieve ‘Yi Dao Qi Dao’ (the intention guides the qi), ‘Qi Dao Xue Dao’ (the qi guides the blood), and ‘Xue Dao Jin Dao’ (the blood guides the strength).
“Yes.”
Namgung Byeok nodded as he observed his son’s brightened face.
“I’m proud of you. No matter how advanced an internal technique is, its essence lies in breathing. What helps you overcome the wall is not advanced technique, but self-control. I’m glad you’ve understood this truth.”
“I still have much to learn.”
“Achieving ‘Xue Dao Jin Dao’ at your age is something to be proud of. Did you have any catalyst?”
“Well, actually…”
Namgung Cheon hesitated and recounted the story related to Jin Seolha, as she was the key to his revelation.
Namgung Byeok felt pleased and, at the same time, perplexed by his son’s confession. Despite the tragedy that befell the Namgung Clan, his son hadn’t awakened before.
“I was worried that your gentle nature might prevent you from becoming a true master. However, that same nature has guided you. You said Jin Seolha is a disciple of the Changin Sect, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll make sure the Changin Sect doesn’t suffer any harm because of this.”
“Thank you.”
“You should thank Jin Seolha.”
“I will, every time I see her.”
“How reckless! You should behave with more dignity.”
Namgung Byeok frowned.
Jiaocheng County, also known as Gyoguhyeon,
Shanxi Province.
Five Peaks Mountain.
Around noon, the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors was heading to the valley with great anticipation. Meeting the Demon Son of Heaven had been surprising to her.
King Yama only offered guidance in the process of unification, but nothing beyond that. Her union with King Yama required death to achieve fullness, which wasn’t exactly what she desired. Despite founding the Yoomyung Cult with the purpose of uniting with King Yama, her ultimate goal was to live eternally in her current form.
Shortly after, she arrived at the valley, the place where she had turned Cheong Ryushin into a spirit. By the river, a black goat was peacefully grazing.
The Holy Mother approached the goat and gently stroked its small, firm head. The goat barely moved, already accustomed to her presence. In an instant, she snapped its neck. Then, using the goat’s warm blood, she drew an inverted pentagram in a clearing by the river.
After writing the name of the Demon Son of Heaven at the center of the pentagram, she threw the goat backward and invoked him according to Cheong Ryushin’s instructions.
“King of the Desire World, Demon Son of Heaven, I fervently invoke you. Descend upon me!”
Instantly, a cloud of black smoke began to rise from the center of the pentagram. The Holy Mother took a step back, frightened by the malignant energy emanating from it. The darkness she felt was incomparably more intense than any previous sacrifice. It was pure evil, as if all the world’s malevolence had concentrated in that cloud.
Just looking at it made breathing difficult. For a moment, she thought Cheong Ryushin had betrayed her and that the black smoke was a deadly poison from the underworld. The black cloud began to dissipate, returning to the center of the pentagram. Finally, the Holy Mother relaxed a little.
When the smoke cleared completely, a ten-foot-tall man with an arrogant face stood at the center of the pentagram, holding a massive spear adorned with a banner inscribed with strange characters.
“Demon Son of Heaven?” the Holy Mother involuntarily murmured.
The man said something, but she didn’t understand. Frowning, he pointed a finger at her. Surprised, the Holy Mother raised her palm to her chest, ready to defend herself. Instantly, a gust of wind enveloped her.
“Are you the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors?” The Demon Son of Heaven’s voice became clear, and she quickly nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. Are you the Demon Son of Heaven-nim, Demon Son of Heaven-nim, that Cheong Ryushin spoke of?”
“Correct. I didn’t expect you to summon me. What do you desire from me?”
“I want immortality. Can you grant it to me?”
“Immortality? Do you know what that means?”
“To live eternally without aging, isn’t that it?”
“You are mistaken. Nothing is eternal in this universe.”
“Is immortality nonexistent?”
“It depends on how you see it. For example, a thousand years in your world is a day in the Desire World. I have lived in that world for 100,000 years. Am I then immortal?”
The Holy Mother stared at the Demon Son of Heaven, stunned. She had never considered such a thing. A thousand years as a day, and he had lived for one hundred thousand years. It was an astonishing concept to her.
“In the ‘Heaven of the Kings,’ immortality is meaningless. Some even desire death. So I ask you again, what do you desire from me?”
“Can I live as long as you?”
“Is that what you wish?”
“Yes.”
“It is possible, but there is a condition.”
“What is it?”
“You must become my servant.”
“If I can live as you do, I’m willing.”
“Becoming my servant means giving your soul to me. Are you willing to do that?”
“Yes.”
Without hesitation, the Holy Mother replied. She had already given her soul to King Yama, so she wasn’t concerned about what would happen after death.
“Come closer.”
The Holy Mother entered the pentagram without hesitation. The Demon Son of Heaven leaned down to look into her eyes, and she suddenly felt dizzy. His eyes were deep and dark like the night sky, far beyond what King Yama could reach.
‘What am I doing here?’
For a moment, she wondered why she had come so close to the Demon Son of Heaven. Just as she tried to step back, he grabbed her head with one enormous hand.
“Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors, would you offer your soul to me?”
Unable to retreat, she answered with resignation.
“Yes.”
“Do you voluntarily offer your soul to me, the Demon Son of Heaven, according to the ancient pact?”
“Yes.”
The Demon Son of Heaven tightened his grip, and she felt a sharp pain as if his nails were digging into her skull. The pain was unbearable, and she began to scream.
“Aaah!”
Though she writhed in pain, she couldn’t break free from his grip. Blood dripped from her head as he stared at her intently.
“Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors, do you willingly accept to offer your soul to me?”
“Yes, yes, I accept everything!”
She screamed and writhed, but she couldn’t escape. The Demon Son of Heaven smiled as he watched her suffer.
“Now you will be… What?”
Suddenly, the Demon Son of Heaven’s face contorted. The possession ceremony had been interrupted.
With blazing eyes, he asked:
“Does your body belong to another king?”
“Yes, to King Yama.”
The Demon Son of Heaven released his grip, and the pain ceased. The Holy Mother breathed a sigh of relief as he said:
“I cannot make you my servant if you already belong to King Yama. What a pity. This could have been beneficial for both of us.”
With those words, the Demon Son of Heaven disappeared. The Holy Mother cried out desperately:
“Demon Son of Heaven! What must I do to become your servant?”
But he was already gone. She stared blankly at the inverted pentagram. Everything seemed like a dream, and the immortality she had almost grasped had vanished like smoke.
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