LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 32 - Episode 7: Demonic Cultivator (6)
Chapter 32 – Episode 7: Demonic Cultivator (6)
Zhuge Hyeonmong named the formation before him the Illusionary Dream Formation (幻夢陣).
In truth, from the moment the formation displayed its illusions, Zhuge Hyeonmong had been analyzing and dismantling its structure even as he observed the phantasms.
Strictly speaking, the Illusionary Dream Formation wasn’t showing nonexistent scenery.
Rather, it was closer to selectively combining scenery from the Formation’s domain and displaying it in an altered form.
The seemingly sheer cliff was actually the valley’s real precipice, and the bottomless abyss was merely a reflection of the sky.
However, these elements were combined with such exquisite precision that viewers couldn’t help but be overwhelmed.
‘Impressive.’
Compared to its scale, the amount of mana used to construct the formation was trivial.
That’s why he was impressed. To operate such a Formation effectively with minimal mana spoke volumes about the meticulous refinement of the underlying calculations.
His admiration grew with each step he took deeper into the Illusionary Dream Formation.
Meanwhile, Gal Sa-ryang was also filled with admiration, though for a different reason. The object of his admiration was not the formation, but Zhuge Hyeonmong.
‘Impressive.’
Setting aside his hostility, the Demonic Cultivator couldn’t help but admit it.
The very formation that had stumped him for half a year was now being unravelled before his eyes in less than half an hour.
‘With this level of skill, it should be possible.’
Since Zhuge Hyeonmong only opened the path, not fully dismantling the Formation, it means the pursuit team wouldn’t be able to follow their steps. Especially not with him trailing behind Zhuge Hyeonmong to prevent him from pulling any tricks.
Even if their pursuers anticipated their escape route and doubled back, they would have to traverse the mountains, making it impossible for them to catch up to Gal Sa-ryang and Zhuge Hyeonmong, who were travelling in a straight line.
Feeling slightly at ease, Gal Sa-ryang bared his teeth in a sly grin.
‘Hmm, come to think of it.’
Isn’t he more useful than I thought?
Gal Sa-ryang hadn’t chosen Ghost Well Valley as a hideout on a whim.
Under normal circumstances, concealing himself within the Formation allowed him to evade most pursuers.
Even if someone managed to pinpoint his location, the Formation would confuse them long enough for him to escape.
He had tried to understand the Formation while using this place as his hideout. But he couldn’t comprehend its structure.
‘But if I take this fellow with me…’
Couldn’t he set up Formations elsewhere, not just in Ghost Well Valley?
He could establish similar formations in other locations, and if he reached the Peak Realm…
No, perhaps he could aim even higher.
‘I won’t be taking his life, so he should be satisfied too.’
“By the way, I’m curious about something.”
“What is it?”
“You use a form of sorcery. Where and how did you learn it?”
“Sorcery? Ah.”
Gal Sa-ryang realized what Zhuge Hyeonmong was asking and was about to respond gruffly, but changed his mind.
He had no intention of flattering him, but pushing too hard would only provoke resistance.
“It’s a Demonic Art bestowed by the Demon God (魔神).”
“What exactly is this Demonic Art?”
“Who knows?”
Gal Sa-ryang shrugged.
“I only know what I was given. Pledged myself to the Demonic Path—and enlightenment came.”
Personally, Gal Sa-ryang viewed it as similar to a Heart Demon (心魔).
It was said that even Buddha, during his quest for enlightenment, faced a Heart Demon conjured by Mara.
Buddha attained Nirvana by overcoming it.
But what if he hadn’t? What would Buddha have become?
“The moment I gained enlightenment, all the martial arts I had mastered collapsed and were rebuilt as Demonic Arts befitting my path. That’s the origin of the Demonic Arts as I know them.”
“Even your poison techniques?”
“Yes. My root, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, specialized in various poison techniques and toxic creatures.”
At least until they were annihilated by the Sichuan Tang Family.
Gal Sa-ryang unconsciously muttered these words and slightly ground his teeth.
Before its destruction, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, while not as formidable as the Tang Family, had been a prominent force in the Unorthodox Faction of the Jianghu, renowned for its mastery of poisons.
“How did you end up crossing paths with the Sichuan Tang Family?”
“They caught us experimenting with Gu (蠱).”
“Gu?”
“Yes. There’s a creature in the southern wilderness called the Male-Female Love Bug (雌雄相戀蟲). The fascinating thing about these insects is that even when separated, if one experiences pain, the other secretes poison. I was researching them.”
“…”
Zhuge Hyeonmong frowned.
He immediately realized the purpose of such poisonous creatures.
“But it didn’t work as I expected. Most Gu simply dissolved in human gastric acid. So I was trying to modify them to bore through the stomach lining and enter the bloodstream before dissolving… but then those bastards from the Tang Family attacked.”
“How did they find out?”
“They came while investigating disappearances.”
“…”
Shouldn’t he be the last person to hold a grudge?
Zhuge Hyeonmong couldn’t help but think.
To be honest, weren’t they annihilated because they deserved it?
What followed was predictable.
Gal Sa-ryang, the only one who managed to escape, used the martial arts and knowledge of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect to cultivate his skills.
Then he met a wall. Achieving the Peak Realm without guidance or proper support is nearly impossible unless you meet with some extraordinary fortuitous encounter.
I would gladly sell my soul if it could achieve his desire.
When such a thought came to his mind, that’s when the Heart Demon bloomed within him.
By yielding to the Heart Demon instead of resisting it, Gal Sa-ryang had become a Demonic Cultivator (魔人).
“It’s laughable, isn’t it? The martial arts that eluded me despite how much blood and tears I poured into it came effortlessly by slaughtering insignificant bandits and devouring their entrails. Don’t you find it laughable?”
“I don’t. How can the results of walking an inhuman path be considered legitimate?”
“Throw that Orthodox Faction’s bullshit away. If that were true, how could I have survived until now?”
Gal Sa-ryang snorted.
“I’m almost there. Just a few more kills, and I can break through to the Peak Realm. It means I won’t have to bow my head to anyone. With the right conditions, I could aim even higher.”
After saying this, Gal Sa-ryang glanced towards the other side.
Their conversation had brought them to the valley’s exit.
A viscous killing intent seeped from him.
“You’re smart. You’ve probably guessed I don’t plan to let you go.”
“I guess so.”
“Got some trick up your sleeve? You’re eerily calm.”
Zhuge Hyeonmong smiled faintly.
“I was taught that a gentleman must remain composed. What good would panicking do when my life’s at stake?”
“Then it seems you’re content to die calmly.”
Demonic qi oozed from the corners of his eyes.
“I’ll give you a chance. Become my subordinate, and I’ll spare you as promised. You’ll even get decent treatment. It’s not a bad deal.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll live. Even if you hate the idea now, staying alive means another chance later, doesn’t it?”
Zhuge Hyeonmong turned around.
Gal Sa-ryang had already gathered his qi to its limit.
Unlike before, any further defiance would undoubtedly result in his immediate demise.
Zhuge Hyeonmong took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“A gentleman values righteousness; a petty man values profit. You have no righteousness. Why should I follow you?”
“Is that so? Then, die.”
Gal Sa-ryang said no more.
He launched himself forward, aiming to Zhuge Hyeonmong in half.
“…!?”
And then—
Zhuge Hyeonmong’s form wavered and scattered like mist.
There was no sensation of contact. It felt like cutting through empty air.
‘What? I felt his presence clearly— Below!’
Zhuge Hyeonmong hadn’t disappeared. He was still there.
He had simply crouched down and manipulated the Illusionary Dream Formation to make it appear as if he were still standing.
‘That’s why his presence didn’t change!’
It was a feat possible only because he had grasped the structure of the spell while dismantling the Illusionary Dream Formation.
‘Now!’
Thwack!
Zhuge Hyeonmong slammed his cane into the ground, propelling himself upright.
Gal Sa-ryang snorted.
“What difference will your futile resistance make!? You would have been better off running away!”
Zhuge Hyeonmong knew no martial arts. Moreover, all his dangerous tools and hidden weapons had been confiscated.
This was why Gal Sa-ryang hadn’t placed any restrictions on Zhuge Hyeonmong.
He was confident he could subdue him regardless of what tricks he might pull.
Whatever the scholar did, it was nothing more than a last-ditch effort before death.
Zhuge Hyeonmong himself knew this well.
His mana was insignificant, and he only possessed one Ring. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t inflict more damage than a simple punch.
But—
‘No one controls it better than me.’
Mana, like an extension of his limbs, snaked from Zhuge Hyeonmong’s fingertips.
And that mana slithered into Gal Sa-ryang’s clothes like a snake.
It triggered a certain hidden weapon inside.
“Ghk—?!”
A sharp pain suddenly erupted in his chest, and a burning sensation spread rapidly throughout his body.
“What is…!”
Staggering backward, Gal Sa-ryang wore an expression of disbelief.
How could the hidden weapon he confiscated have activated on its own?
It was an incomprehensible situation.
But Gal Sa-ryang instinctively realized that the scholar before him was the cause of this predicament.
“You bastard! You were aiming for this from the beginning…!”
Zhuge Hyeonmong didn’t answer.
He simply slammed his cane—no, his makeshift magic wand—into the ground.
At that moment, the Illusionary Dream Formation shifted.
Zhuge Hyeonmong’s form split as if reflected in countless mirrors.
Gritting his teeth, Gal Sa-ryang again unleashed his Black Beast Demon Spirit Claw, slashing in all directions, but they were all illusions.
Zhuge Hyeonmong had already escaped.
“You, youuu! Ack!”
Coughing blood, Gal Sa-ryang forced the poison out.
The poison from the hidden weapon was quite potent, but not fatal to Gal Sa-ryang, who was well-versed in poison arts.
“I’ll kill you! No matter how well you hide in illusions, you couldn’t have gone far!”
Flicking his fingers, a swarm of venomous mosquitoes burst from his sleeves like a black cloud.
Even if Zhuge Hyeonmong was invisible, spreading the poisonous mosquitoes would eventually reach him.
It was enough, or so Gal Sa-ryang thought.
“I’ve seen that trick before.”
And now, I knew how to counter it.
What Gal Sa-ryang felt next was the unpleasant sensation of the mental link connecting him to the venomous mosquitoes being severed.
Zhuge Hyeonmong hijacked the sorcery as easily as an adult stealing a candy from a child.
He lightly tapped his magic wand.
The mosquitoes turned and swarmed Gal Sa-ryang instead.