Namgung Clan’s Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal

Chapter 59

59. Is It Calling Out to Me?

"As expected, this is the final trial, huh."

Peng Zhihun muttered under his breath.

His voice was quiet, but everyone heard it clearly.

Partly because the later-generation successors had sharp hearing, but mostly because there was no other sound at all.

"I can't see an inch ahead," Jegal Seo-seo said, his voice low.

"But this... it doesn't quite feel like fog..."

"I have a bad feeling about this," Namgung Mu-yeong said, his words resonating quietly.

He raised his hand. "Let's observe the situation from here for now."

At Namgung Mu-yeong's words, the successors halted.

It was surprising.

Even though they were participating in the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage, it didn't mean they were obliged to follow Namgung Mu-yeong's every command.

'Well, that's before they've seen the true face of Young Master Namgung.'

Jegal Seo-seo glanced around with a wry smile.

The Azure Dragon Rite of Passage truly lived up to its reputation.

Nine stages in total, and each one was daunting beyond belief.

Jegal Seo-seo wondered if he could have escaped if he had come here alone.

There were all sorts of mechanical traps, and the Namgung Clan elders who appeared as examiners at each stage were overwhelming even for successors of this generation.

The trials proceeded in order, starting from the first gate, and the difficulty spiked sharply as they advanced.

'But following Young Master Namgung's lead made things a bit easier.'

At first, everyone was out of sync and things were chaotic, making it even harder.

But at some point, Namgung Mu-yeong began to stand out, and as they unconsciously started following his instructions, the middle stages actually became easier than the beginning.

'Of course, Hwangbo Yong grumbled that it was only natural since the Namgung Clan created all this.'

That might be true for the traps and mechanisms.

But what about the elders who appeared as examiners?

Their martial prowess was genuine.

They tested the successors thoroughly, regardless of whether Namgung Mu-yeong or Namgung Seo-wol were fellow clan members.

Namgung Mu-yeong truly showed why he was the heir.

'Of course, I figured he was still hiding something up his sleeve...'

Jegal Seo-seo clicked his tongue.

'As they say, a dragon's child is a dragon.'

Even Hwangbo Yong, who had been grumbling, and Peng Zhihun, who had quietly observed, ended up acknowledging Namgung Mu-yeong.

Even the usually silent Tang Clan siblings were impressed by the skills of Mu-yeong and Seo-wol.

'Still, I didn't expect this much... Can someone really improve this much in such a short time?'

After it was decided that they would participate in the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage, the successors all threw themselves into training. Even Hwangbo Yong, who usually enjoyed drinking, gritted his teeth and swung his sword.

'The Namgung Clan elders or the clan head wouldn't have had time to teach them martial arts. They were busy preparing for the rite, and it wouldn't have been fair. Besides, they know the meaning and importance of the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage.'

So then...

'Could it be that teacher Sun is behind this?'

The only Martial Master among the retainers who was actively involved.

'Whether Young Master Namgung improved so quickly because of him, or if he was always hiding this level of skill, I can't say for sure...'

But one thing was certain.

'It's no wonder the Namgung Clan remains at the top of the Five Great Families. Just like the legend of the dragon's descendants, they're not to be taken lightly.'

Just that fact alone made Jegal Seo-seo feel his participation in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly was worthwhile.

"Miss Jegal."

At that moment, Namgung Mu-yeong, who had been carefully surveying the surroundings, called out.

"Yes, Young Master Namgung?"

"Do you see anything that looks like an illusion formation?"

"Hmm, not yet."

Jegal Seo-seo answered honestly.

"I can't even tell if this is a Qi Gate Formation Technique."

"Indeed..."

"If I force my Internal Qi, there should be some kind of reaction, but there's nothing."

"And I don't see any formation patterns, either..."

"Right. Whether it's a tower, a pile of stones, a beast's carcass—there should be something to mark the gate, but there's nothing."

"But our field of vision keeps shrinking, and the fog is getting thicker. That's the problem."

Namgung Seo-wol, who had been moving around busily, chimed in.

"We're walking in circles."

At her words, the successors' faces stiffened.

"It's hard to see because of the fog..."

"My sense of direction is off, too."

"This is... even for the final trial of the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage, it's worse than I expected."

"..."

"It's as if this place is telling us that no one who enters will ever leave."

Everyone nodded slightly at Peng Zhihun's quiet murmur.

"The previous trials were hard, but there were always small clues."

Clues that were hard to find unless you focused were hidden everywhere.

But now, there was nothing. It was as if there had never been any clues at all.

"Is it because this is the final trial?"

"The difficulty has kept rising with each stage, but this is the real hurdle."

"..."

Watching the successors talk, Namgung Mu-yeong swallowed hard.

'The final trial...'

This isn't how it's supposed to be.

'Father is supposed to come out and hold a Wheel Turn match for a full half-hour.'

That's the one thing that has never changed throughout history.

The final trial is to face the Namgung Clan's greatest master in a Wheel Turn duel.

So then...

'What is happening right now...?'

Namgung Mu-yeong felt a surge of intense danger.

* * *

The atmosphere in the Namgung Clan was tense.

Wujing hurried over.

"I think we have a problem!"

"You don't need to say it for me to see that," Sun Wukong replied gruffly, but Wujing shook his head.

"No, this isn't just any problem."

"What happened?"

"It looks like something went wrong at the final trial of the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage."

"Something went wrong?"

"Yes. It seems a strange Qi Formation has activated."

Sun Wukong didn't bother to ask further.

The Namgung Clan had prepared everything for the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage.

As a retainer, Sun Wukong had no place to interfere.

"So, a Qi Formation that the Namgung Clan didn't prepare has activated?"

"Yes, that's right. But it seems... stranger than we thought."

"Stranger?"

"I saw the clan head's face earlier, and I've never seen him look that serious before."

"Hmm."

Sun Wukong stroked his chin.

Namgung Jin-Baek was a true martial artist, someone even Sun Wukong acknowledged.

A real master who could handle even a Great Demon.

For even Namgung Jin-Baek to look so grave...

"Any signs of an intruder?"

"The Namgung Clan warriors are searching everywhere, but it doesn't look like it."

Sun Wukong headed toward where the Namgung Clan's martial artists were gathered.

As he arrived, Namgung Cheon-Young, the Master of Myeong'i Hall, approached with a serious expression.

"Teacher Sun..."

"What happened?"

"A strange Qi Formation has activated at the final trial of the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage."

"Any attempts to resolve it?"

"We're searching through all the archives to see if there's any mechanism we missed or that has been forgotten."

"Where's the clan head?"

"He went inside with the Law Enforcement Hall Leader after much deliberation."

Sun Wukong frowned.

'That's where the Owl Demon's lair is, isn't it?'

Waryong Mountain.

The Owl Demon's territory.

Sun Wukong glanced at the Owl Demon perched on his shoulder.

The creature, who had been trembling as they approached the Namgung Clan, now hung limp and powerless.

'That's odd.'

An Earth God should grow stronger the closer they get to their home ground.

But the Owl Demon couldn't even open his eyes properly.

"An entire mountain shrouded in fog..."

Sun Wukong clicked his tongue.

It felt as if they were in a completely different space.

He looked at the Owl Demon.

"You alright?"

Sun Wukong's eyes darkened.

Spiritual Power.

A force different from Demonic Power or Internal Qi derived from it.

It was the power of the Heavenly Realm.

Sun Wukong let out a sigh.

Normally, with enough Spiritual Power in his hands, he could stand tall as the Victorious Fighting Buddha.

'Times like this, it's a shame my Heavenly Realm powers are sealed.'

He felt a wave of irritation.

'Buddha, you old man.'

Did you really have to draw such a hard line between the Heavenly Realm and the Mortal World?

He sighed again.

Namgung Cheon-Young came up beside him.

"The final trial is over there, at the Flying Cave, where the Namgung Clan's founder attained enlightenment and completed the Emperor Sword Form. That's where the problem is."

"Have you found anything?"

Namgung Cheon-Young shook his head, his face dark.

"No. No matter what records we check, there's no mention of any hidden mechanisms there."

"Was there any problem when you checked the place before the preparations?"

"None. It's a sacred place, so it's rarely visited, but it's always well maintained. Even though the structure of the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage changes, the final trial has always been there, and nothing like this has ever happened before."

"So this is the first time something like this has occurred."

What was different now compared to before?

Sun Wukong glanced at the limp Owl Demon on his shoulder and gave a bitter smile.

'The only difference is that I'm here.'

Just then, a commotion broke out.

"It's the clan head!"

"The clan head and the Law Enforcement Hall Leader are coming down the mountain!"

Voices rang out from all around. Sun Wukong and Namgung Cheon-Young dashed over without a word.

As Namgung Jin-Baek descended, the Namgung Clan warriors, who had been gathering with excited faces, fell silent.

"..."

Namgung Jin-Baek and Muhwa came down with grave expressions.

Just the two of them.

Everyone understood what that meant.

Even Namgung Jin-Baek, the mighty, let out a deep sigh.

"I have no idea what that thing is."

"...!"

Namgung Jin-Baek might not be the smartest man in the world, but he's one of the ten strongest masters in the Central Plains.

At his level, he could break through any Qi Gate Formation Technique with sheer force.

But Namgung Jin-Baek shook his head.

"That thing has no form. It's as if it's something natural."

"...Are you saying that's a natural phenomenon?" Namgung Cheon-Young asked, but it was Muhwa who answered.

"I can't see any of the elements that make up a Qi Formation. It's hard to even call it a formation."

"But..."

"If not for the clan head, I would've been lost in there myself. It's hard enough just to get out. Even I find it hard to believe it's not a Qi Formation. But..."

Even Muhwa couldn't finish his sentence.

Suddenly, the area fell silent, as if time had stopped.

"It feels primal. Before you can even use your Internal Qi, it's like something that's existed since the dawn of time."

Namgung Jin-Baek spoke his mind.

After a long pause, he turned to Namgung Cheon-Young.

"When is the Murim Alliance delegation supposed to arrive?"

"Three days ago, we received a letter saying they had departed from Hubei."

"Hmm."

Namgung Jin-Baek let out a low hum. Namgung Cheon-Young's face grew even more serious.

The Murim Alliance delegation was led by Taoists from the Wudang Sect.

The relationship between the Wudang Sect and the Namgung Clan was not good.

If not for the banner of the righteous sects, they would have drawn swords long ago.

Yet here was Namgung Jin-Baek, asking for the Murim Alliance's help. The famously proud Namgung Jin-Baek.

"This is something only renowned Taoists should see. It's not something martial artists can handle. Master of Myeong'i Hall, send your fastest warriors to urge the Wudang Sect's delegation to hurry."

"...Yes."

Namgung Cheon-Young saluted with a Tiger Fist. It was a blow to his pride, but there was no choice. Namgung Mu-yeong and Seo-wol were inside, along with the heirs of the Five Great Families.

Sometimes, pride must be set aside.

Just then, a voice cut through the silence.

"Before you ask for help from those far away, shouldn't you try asking someone close by first?"

All eyes turned at once. Sun Wukong shrugged and pushed his way through the crowd.

"I'll go."

"Teacher Sun... This isn't a matter for martial artists," Namgung Jin-Baek said seriously. Sun Wukong nodded slowly.

"You're right about that."

This wasn't something the martial world could handle. No, it wasn't something humans could handle at all.

Sun Wukong gave a bitter smile.

"This is calling out to me."

To Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.