CHAPTER 488: THE END POINT (7)

Even in the precarious situation where the qi was chaotically surging from his entire body, Seol-Hwi desperately tried to find an answer.

He believed that uncovering the cause of his Qi Deviation would allow him to escape this crisis.

‘Is it an issue with enlightenment? Or is it due to an incomplete understanding of the Purple Cloud Divine Arts?’

It could have been an overload of the body and mind due to sudden enlightenment.

Or it might have been a disharmony in his cultivation technique caused by not fully comprehending the martial art of the Purple Cloud Divine Arts.

He also had to consider the intervention of the system, the nature of his internal qi, and even the current state of his cultivation level.

“Is it Qi Deviation?”

At that moment, Goo Jong-myung’s sharp voice pierced the silence.

He had recognized the state Seol-Hwi was in.

Seol-Hwi couldn’t respond. Even breathing was a struggle for him right now.

‘Of all times…….’

Seol-Hwi’s gaze fixated on Goo Jong-myung.

If that man, harboring hostility, swung his sword… in his current state, even resisting would be difficult.

“…….”

For some reason, Goo Jong-myung just stared silently.

Even amidst the chaos, Seol-Hwi gathered a trace of qi into a corner of his body.

He judged that immediately countering would lead to Qi Deviation, but it was better than dying helplessly by the man’s hand.

At that moment.

“Half of the martial art is understood, but the side effects come from not comprehending the other half…….”

Goo Jong-myung, who seemed about to attack, instead showed a serene reaction.

It was starkly different from the hostile behavior he had shown so far.

“If Purple Cloud Divine Arts is internal qi that manipulates Qi, then the Plum Blossom Sword Technique is external qi that deals with form. The reason for the symptoms of Qi Deviation is due to the lack of unity. In other words, the side effects come from not properly understanding the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.”

At those words, Seol-Hwi’s expression subtly changed.

The Plum Blossom Sword Technique is a martial arts that primarily focuses on external skills.

Sword techniques, stances, movements. And the skill of handling the sword.

This sword technique, modeled after the plum blossom, primarily involves physical movements, and when combined with internal energy, it becomes a martial art that further amplifies its power.

‘I hadn’t considered the influence of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique on the Purple Cloud Divine Arts.’

Seol-Hwi recalled the Plum Blossom Sword Technique that Goo Jong-myung had demonstrated in the past.

At that time, he merely watched with his eyes, unable to grasp its true meaning.

If what he says is true, the lack of understanding of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique is what led to the Qi Deviation.

“Open your eyes wide and see. What is contained in the form of the plum blossom. If you can understand that… you might be able to escape from the Qi Deviations.” ṝ𝘢Ŋ𝖔BÈṦ

Seol-Hwi questioned Goo Jong-myung’s words.

Is it generosity before killing?

Or is there a deeper intention?

Step, step.

While Seol-Hwi was confused, Goo Jong-myung finished speaking and slowly walked away. Then he raised his sword diagonally.

‘No way, that movement is…’

Goo Jong-myung’s body came to a calm halt.

A posture of perfect restraint. Like the calm before the storm.

He was trying to show him something.

Swoosh.

Goo Jong-myung’s slowly moving sword suddenly picked up speed.

Swish!

The sword drew a point of light in the air.

In that restrained movement, spinning in place and wielding the sword as if drawing a circle, Seol-Hwi sensed something.

‘The plum blossom bud?!’

This was undoubtedly the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

Its distinctive, dazzling movement was something that even those witnessing the Plum Blossom Sword Technique for the first time could easily recognize.

Whirl!

Goo Jong-myung’s sword continued to move without pause.

As the height of the rotating trajectory changed, light once again shone from his eyes.

Soon, a gentle light spread along the path traced by the sword.

Swoosh—Boom!

The sword, which had been flowing so elegantly, suddenly soared up, slicing through the sky.

Seol-Hwi held his breath as he watched the scene unfold.

‘No, this is different from the usual Plum Blossom Sword Technique.’

The moment he witnessed Goo Jong-myung’s second move, he realized it was on a different level from the Plum Blossom Sword Technique he knew.

As it continued to the third move, the brilliant spirit of the plum blossom filled the entire space.

‘That is… the 24 Movements Plum Blossom Sword Technique!’

Indeed.

What Goo Jong-myung was demonstrating was the advanced martial arts of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

It was the 24 Movements Plum Blossom Sword Technique, said to represent the very Mount Hua Sect.

Like the first plum blossom blooming at the end of winter, it was a graceful yet powerful beginning.

The second move was a scattering concealed within magnificence.

Those movements were far more intense and fiery than the existing Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

‘This is the martial art that elevates the Plum Blossom Sword Technique to another level…’

Whoosh.

Goo Jong-myung’s body soared into the sky.

His sword painted a radiant plum blossom in the air, blooming with light.

The sight was breathtakingly beautiful.

‘Why is he showing me this…’

Seol-Hwi couldn’t precisely understand his intention, but he opened his eyes wide, not wanting to miss a single moment.

He sensed that the key to escaping the Qi Deviation or falling into qi deviation was right here.

‘Huh, what is this?’

At that moment, Seol-Hwi’s expression turned to confusion once again.

Following the dazzlingly dancing sword spirit, the shape of a dragon faintly appeared and then vanished.

‘All of a sudden here?!’

It was the reaction of the Blood Dragon Sword held by Goo Jong-myung.

At first, it was a faint red aura, but at some point, it began to blatantly dance along with the sword’s movements.

Swoosh—

The qi of the Blood Dragon surged explosively, enveloping Goo Jong-myung’s body.

It seemed as if it was trying to hinder the strength of the plum blossom.

‘If I continue this technique, my life will be in danger…….’

Contrary to Seol-Hwi’s concerns, Goo Jong-myung remained completely unperturbed.

His sword sliced through the air in succession, continuing the technique, and with each attack, a bluish-green sword qi erupted.

At the same time, a red blood qi shot out from the Blood Dragon Sword like lightning.

‘Oh, no!’

At the peak of tension, the two opposing qi’s collided, unleashing a terrifying force.

Seol-Hwi watched this astonishing spectacle with bated breath.

“This is the final technique.”

Goo Jong-myung’s voice resonated deeply.

Even in the face of the encroaching blood-red qi, he stood on one foot, maintaining perfect balance.

To remain calm in such a fiery place was truly an incredible sight.

‘This is the essence of the plum blossom…….’

Seol-Hwi’s gaze was fixed on Goo Jong-myung.

It was the moment when the final technique of the 24 Movement Plum Blossom Sword Art, the Plum Blossom Heart Burial, unfolded.

Suddenly, a silvery-white aura erupted explosively.

In front of Seol-Hwi’s eyes, an illusion of the entire world covered in plum blossom petals unfolded.

Boom!

However, soon that beautiful sight began to be tinged with blood.

The qi emanating from the Blood Dragon Sword tangled and swirled with the silvery-white plum blossom qi.

At the center of that chaos was Goo Jong-myung.

Boom!

With an explosion that seemed to pierce the sky, an immense force swept the surroundings.

Even Seol-Hwi, who was in the midst of qi circulation, was pushed back.

“Ugh!”

As the heat subsided, Goo Jong-myung’s figure became visible.

Blood was flowing from his mouth, and the aura of the blood dragon enveloping his body had not yet dissipated.

“As expected… it worked.”

Goo Jong-myung spoke with difficulty, his gaze turning to Seol-Hwi.

“Why did you help?”

Seol-Hwi, who had already escaped from the state of Qi Deviation, asked.

The realization he gained amidst the chaos was surprisingly simple.

Even with his entire body burning, he maintained his composure, and inner calm amidst the enormous threat of the Blood Dragon Sword.

Having found the answer, Seol-Hwi was able to control himself without wavering, even as his qi raged wildly.

“Well…”

Goo Jong Myung hesitated for a moment.

Then he looked up at the sky and said.

“I just wanted to be true to myself.”

“……”

“I had a dream. At some point, my goal became envying and fighting others, but there was something noble that I couldn’t exchange for that.”

His voice was filled with deep emotion.

“The spirit of the Mount Hua left behind by the ancestors… I didn’t want to lose that. If someone is advancing with the spirit of the Mount Hua, I thought I should accompany them. Just like the great footsteps left by the ancestors.”

Seol-Hwi was at a loss for words.

Goo Jong-myung’s life. It was not simply about helping someone, but a sense of responsibility as a successor of the Mount Hua.

To accompany.

This was the spirit of the Mount Hua he spoke of.

‘To walk together, even to the moment of losing one’s life…’

Seol-Hwi felt deeply moved by him.

A spirit different from Wudang, a resolve to sacrifice one’s life for the philosophy they pursued.

Leaving a mark like the ancestors.

This was the true spirit of the volcano that Goo Jong-myung had shown.

“You must survive.”

Goo Jong-myung’s voice trembled weakly.

Seol-Hwi couldn’t continue speaking and just looked at him.

“Survive till the end, and keep moving forward. Leave behind the spirit of Mount Hua. That’s all I ask.”

Sssaaa—

Before Goo Jong-myung could finish his last words, his body was enveloped by the qi of the Blood Dragon Sword.

And in an instant, Goo Jong-myung’s body vanished as if evaporating into smoke.

‘Mount Hua Sect…’

Seol-Hwi stood alone in the place where he disappeared. Goo Jong-myung’s final image was deeply etched in his mind.

Even at the threshold of death, the spirit to leave a mark as a disciple.

Seol-Hwi finally understood the true meaning of the Mount Hua Sect.

‘Jang Dal, that bastard…’

A murderous intent flashed in Seol-Hwi’s eyes.

In the face of Goo Jong-myung’s death, he couldn’t help but think of him.

‘Now I have more reasons to kill you.’

He could have lived comfortably.

Rising to the rank of a demon, he could have lived enjoying himself adequately.

Yet he threw himself into this dangerous situation.

To kill the one who mocked and trampled on life.

‘Soon, you will die by my hand.’

Just as the flames of vengeance burned more fiercely in Seol-Hwi’s heart.

[You have passed the fifth gate.]

Finally, he was able to stand before the final gate.

[This is the last gate.]

It was time to see the last figure.

----------------------------------------

“So, it’s you at the end, after all.”

Seol-Hwi greeted him warmly, as if he had already sensed it.

Earth Demon.

He was here.

“……”

Earth Demon in front of him just looked at Seol-Hwi without a word.

As if he was a person mixed with various emotions, or someone devoid of emotions altogether.

‘This one is just Earth Demon in appearance.’

A Soulless figure directly created by Jang Dal, who never existed in this world.

Like Goo Jong-myung, there stood Earth Demon without any memory of the murim world down in Kangho.

‘There’s no point in evaluating his abilities.’

[State Summary]

Earth Demon [Fourth Disciple of the Heavenly Demon]

Health 950,000/950,000

Internal qi 880,000/880,000

Combat Power 1,050,000(+∞)

These were the same as Earth Demon’s past ability figures.

Yet, the reason he was sent in this test was because of the strange symbol attached at the end of that combat power.

It must be because of that.

“Seol-Hwi.”

Earth Demon. When he spoke for the first time, Seol-Hwi quietly listened.

“The one who made me this way. The seed of my misfortune and the great evil that must disappear from this world.”

He began to speak more and more incomprehensibly. Likely because he learned as Jang Dal instructed him.

“I will eliminate you to set the world right.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Earth Demon infused internal qi into his fingertips.

When the faint power of ice began to gather at his fingertips, Seol-Hwi was astonished.

‘That is!’

The ice power he experienced only once in the past.

For Earth Demon, ice power was the gateway to opening the dimension’s force.

It was the power Earth Demon displayed when facing Jang Dal in the past.