Episode 327
I wasn't too surprised by Senior Sister Tian's answer. Still, I had some questions. Since when has Spirit Mountain been Hell?
"From the beginning," Senior Sister Tian answered as if reading my inner thoughts.
Instead of responding, I looked around. She had said that if the place where I stood changed, the scenery I would see would also change. Now I thought I understood the meaning of those words to some extent.
The place I had always considered my home in my heart now appeared in a completely different way. I was able to see the world from a completely different perspective than I had ninety-one days ago; I felt like I had fully understood a part of the wide world now. If the world was a huge forest, it felt like finally seeing a huge, towering tree.
I said, "There is a place called Spirit Mountain in the world I live in. Have I told you this?"
Senior Sister Tian smiled and shook her head.
I continued, "It is a completely different place from here. Actually, I haven't gone there myself. However, looking at the photos and literature, it has a pretty similar atmosphere overall."
"The world that Luan lives in is special. It is directly connected to Hell," Senior Sister Tian commented.
"Directly? Ah..." I trailed off as I belatedly realized the meaning of those words.
Most of the continent was a dark zone untouched by humans. The seven races had once lived across this land, but their grasp on it had been eroded by famine, pestilence, heretics, and demons. Now, only a single nation, the Nameless Empire, remained.
Dark Qi had deeply permeated the lands where countless kingdoms and people had once existed, making it difficult for those without anti-demon power to survive even briefly outside the empire. The whole world was full of Dark Qi, leading to the saying that the world was turning into Hell.
After accepting this uncomfortable fact, I understood many elements that had never made sense to me before.
"Hah," I exclaimed. That didn't make the revelation any less absurd, after all.
I was tired, so I scratched my head and lay on the ground on my stomach, stretching out. It was a bold move to do so in front of Senior Sister Tian, but I was extremely tired. She would surely understand.
The cold touch of the rocky mountain was comfortable to me. It was completely different from the shaky and unstable staircase in the sky. I felt the sensation of being firmly rooted on the ground spread throughout my body. I somehow felt that the senses of my entire body had become much sharper due to the training I'd just undergone.
Senior Sister Tian didn't scold me. Instead, I heard a rustling sound. Before I knew it, she lay down next to me. We quietly watched the gray sky and gazed at the stars.
***
Thinking about it, this was probably the first time in my life that I had gone stargazing in earnest. I lay still and counted the stars, but I found it hard to fully concentrate on stargazing. Other thoughts naturally appeared. Still, I decided that the real pleasure of stargazing was to think random thoughts while staring at the sky.
One constellation looked like mountains, which made me think of Spirit Mountain where I now lay. Somehow, I now seemed to understand the reason why Senior Brother He Lou had named the region he inhabited Spirit Mountain.
For me, Spirit Mountain was a place filled with memories of my master and seniors, but for Senior Brother He Lou, it was just a name for hell. It wasn't strange to call a place with a similar environment and characteristics Spirit Mountain. That meant the unknown monsters that appeared on Spirit Mountain could very well be called demons.
I spotted a constellation that looked like a tongue, causing me to reflexively close my eyes. Then I said, "There are some demons who are particularly powerful."
Senior Sister Tian listened silently as I continued, "They are referred to as gods of disaster, and some of them are monstrous beings on the same level as Eldest Senior Brother. But for some reason, they are very obsessed with me."
I opened my eyes again. Strangely, I found it difficult to find the tongue constellation this time. I continued hoarsely, "Maybe the reason is related to the fact that Spirit Mountain is Hell?"
"The demons I have seen are particularly sensitive to territory. They are obsessed with their own territory, and also try to expand it by attacking other demons. This land is no different. It has faced countless invasions from such demons. Of course, they have never once been successful." Senior Sister Tian's voice was gentle, so it felt like a trivial story. However, that wasn't the case at all.
I propped myself up and looked at her. Senior Sister Tian, who had been lying beside me, suddenly got up and stood on the edge of the cliff again.
I wondered, "Does that mean that Spirit Mountain is an inviolable land?"
"It was in the past."
"What do you mean by that?."
"Luan, Master is currently missing."
I blinked in surprise. I began, "Missing? What does that mean—"
"It means that his whereabouts are unknown."
"No, I understand that, but what do you mean Master is missing?"
Bai Luguang was sometimes absent, whether it was for a few hours to a few months. Nevertheless, I didn't think Bai Luguang was missing just because he hadn't been seen for months. He was a person whose path was the way. If he got lost in a forest, he would tear the forest apart. If he was stranded in the sea, he would overturn the sea. Senior Sister Tian had to know that better than me.
"Right now, Third Brother is looking for Master, but I've heard there is no progress," Senior Sister Tian replied.
The reason why Third Senior Brother was busy had suddenly been revealed.
Senior Sister Tian continued, "Didn't I say it before? There are countless absolutes in the world. However, the one who conquers the Rocky Mountains is called the true greatest under heaven, the Martial God. In other words, the Martial God is the only ruler of this endless mountain range."
I said nothing, and she asked me, "Do you understand now? What do they want to have, Luan?"
"I don't know," I answered. I wasn't stupid, but Senior Sister Tian's words were so shocking that I felt my brain freeze.
Senior Sister Tian didn't pay any heed to my reaction and smiled slightly, answering, "It is a simple matter. Luan, you carry the blood of the only master of the Rocky Mountains."
"Huh?"
"Yes. That's right. Luan, you are actually Master's direct blood relative. In other words, his own son."
I couldn't stand it any longer and jumped up. Every hair on my body stood up.
Senior Sister Tian saw this and said, "I'm just kidding. No, really."
I was so caught up in the seriousness of the conversation that I forgot Senior Sister Tian's playful side.
She saw my expression and let out a low laugh before continuing, "However, it isn't completely a joke. It is true that Luan is the current owner of this land."
"Why me? Setting aside Eldest Senior Brother, aren't you or Senior Brother Arang more suitable?" I asked.
"You didn't even mention Third Brother out of politeness?"
"I think I can do better than Third Senior Brother."
Senior Sister Tian sighed and nodded. She was normally carefree and playful, but even she seemed at a loss when talking about Third Senior Brother.
Perhaps it was a matter of compatibility. In my opinion, it was a problem that arose when trying to talk logically to someone who was armed with sophistry and nonsense.
Senior Sister Tian got back on topic. "I don't know the reason myself. Still, I think Master's choice is the right one."
"Why?"
"Out of the five of us, only Luan has the potential to become the Martial God."
"That is a lot of pressure."
"A moderate amount of pressure is a good catalyst."
Then Senior Sister Tian looked at me and took a formal stance. It meant that no more conversation was needed.
I also smiled and took a stance. For a while, I sparred with Senior Sister Tian atop Spirit Mountain.
If sparring with Senior Brother Arang sharpened my senses so that I could respond to various methods of attack, sparring with Senior Sister Tian threw a new challenge at me every time.
The spars always ended quickly, mostly concluding with the first move or within one breath. The longest never lasted beyond a few exchanges. However, the insights gained from these brief fights was so great that I often spent hours, sometimes more than a day, reviewing a single match.
At such times, Senior Sister Tian didn't disturb my thoughts; instead, she would get food or prepare tea. We weren't hungry or thirsty, but we enjoyed the meals and tea, talking about small things.
It was initially like that, at least. Still, both of us were martial artists by nature. As we talked, we naturally drifted toward martial arts.
"The Dark Sky Moonward Peak is a mind method modeled after the constellations, but the level of my proficiency is still lacking. I have improved a lot since the beginning, but my energy control isn't natural yet.
"When I fought against the Blood Moon Demon King, I had never felt so helpless in my life. It was shaped like a black sphere. Even from a distance, it somehow managed to strike me before I knew it. Senior Sister, how would you have responded?
"The short range of my fist techniques sometimes feels like a major weakness. I try to improvise on the spot, but it can be frustrating."
At such times, Senior Sister Tian smiled calmly and responded to all the questions.
"In order to improve your proficiency with martial arts modeled after nature, you need to see and listen to many things. It would be better to take your eyes off the structure and efficiency of the human body for a while. Instead, observe the night sky when there is no progress. You might realize something if you look at the cluster of stars that fill the sky.
"It is the naked eye that perceives distance. If that sense is flawed, it is because you haven't been able to get rid of the habit of relying on vision. Next time a similar situation occurs, it would be better to close your eyes.
"The short range of your fist techniques is more of a unique feature than a disadvantage. Even a master who has reached the pinnacle of the sword will encounter awkward distances when fighting against other martial artists. Luan, you are already aware of this through your senses. If you are able to change the situation with improvisation, that is your ability and talent. I want to tell you that you are doing well."
There was wisdom in Senior Sister Tian's casual responses. Every time, I felt the difference in our level as martial artists. They were infinitely close to the correct answer and were something I couldn't arrive at even after thinking for three days and nights. They sometimes shook my mind in a profound manner.
If someone else had spoken such words to me, maybe I would have despaired or even been jealous of the difference in talent. However, I didn't feel that way now. I just felt proud that such a martial artist was my Senior Sister.
In this way, time passed in an instant. It was enough time to fully absorb and make the refined martial art my own.
"Senior Sister, aren't you going to give me anything?" I asked with a smile on the last day. I remembered the coin I'd received from Senior Brother Arang. I was able to thwart the demon king's plan thanks to that coin.
"I don't have anything to give you, but I want to show you something," Senior Sister Tian replied.
"Really?"
"Yes. Luan should see it at least once," she said calmly, and we started descending the mountain.
For me, descending was no longer difficult. We were able to reach the ground in the blink of an eye. After that, we walked for a while.
I wondered where we were headed. Maybe I would be guided to another mountain peak. I suppressed my curiosity and looked around, but all I saw were crude rocks.
We walked for a long time before coming to a canyon. At the end of it was a steep cliff. The moment we reached the end, I suddenly felt skull-crushing pain coming from a vibration that seemed to turn the heavens and earth upside down. It was as if a major earthquake that brought disaster to a continent had occurred. The seemingly solid mountain, rocks, and ground started to crack and collapse. It was as if the world had come to an end.
I might've been able to endure it if it was only that, but my body also shook like an aspen tree in a strong wind. The barely stabilized Dark Qi inside me started to run wild again.
I forcibly swallowed down blood with a groan and concentrated my energy. It was only then that the Dark Qi calmed down and the trembling of my body subsided. Still, I felt at a loss. Having to mobilize concentrated energy to respond to this intimidation was like hiding behind a castle wall out of fear of the opponent's killing intent.
I wondered, What the hell is under this cliff?
"Luan, take a good look."
Then, I saw wriggling darkness within a bottomless pit with no end in sight.
Kuaaaaaaaah—!
"It might sound daring, but it was the emergence of a huge mountain."
Something so massive that it darkened my field of view was slowly rising up. It left me completely at a loss for words.
The being floating in the air had feathers swirling in all directions and emanated an evil aura. The ominous halo on top of its head felt very out of place. Its shocking scale was akin to a mountain being uprooted. Even Frost Giant Ymir would feel like a child standing before it. Its sheer size was overwhelming, and the presence it exuded was so great that I almost forgot all thoughts.
For a moment, I had the urge to close my eyes.
"Luan."
The voice of Senior Sister Tian woke me up, and the pressure eased a bit. I finally realized that I had forgotten to breathe. Then I once again looked at the being. My heart pounded wildly and the Dark Qi inside me wriggled.
This was my first time seeing the being, but I knew its identity immediately. I recognized the Dark Qi deeply rooted in the Iron-Blooded Lord's body, which I had reclaimed and turned into my own power.
That Dark Qi didn't belong to Senior Brother He Lou. It belonged to the last god of disaster I had never confronted, either directly or indirectly: Great Disaster Behemoth.
All I could do was watch the ego of the embodiment of destruction. Then I suddenly heard Senior Sister Tian saying, "Face him. Someday, you will have to take him down."
Then my consciousness gradually drifted away. I realized my time on Spirit Mountain was over.