Returning Immortal

Chapter 20 : Demon Friend

When the fight ended, Gwi Seongjin turned his gaze and looked at the black-faced young man.

Despite the monster he had raised and tamed dying before his eyes, the black-faced young man showed no change in expression at all.

It seemed he thought Gwi Seongjin's words were more important than the fact that his servant had died.

[You are a being born from the gathering of the wondrous qi of heaven and earth, with a living spirit dwelling within, an incomparably noble existence. But you are not yet complete, so how about going into a remote mountain valley where there are no people and cultivating for a few thousand more years?]

[Are you saying... my awakening is still insufficient?]

[You know better than I whether it is insufficient or not. If you continue to accumulate internal energy in your current incomplete state, you will self-destruct before long.]

Even at Gwi Seongjin's harsh words, the black-faced young man did not retort.

It was because he too had a vague inkling that there was a problem with his cultivation method.

[Are you saying you know a way for me not to self-destruct?]

At the black-faced young man's question, Gwi Seongjin slowly nodded his head.

It was because the answer was in the secret ultimate technique of the Ghost Valley Sect, the Primordial Chaos Art.

[Really?]

Although the black-faced young man asked once more, Gwi Seongjin did not answer.

Instead, he opened his eyes wide and looked straight at the black-faced young man.

At that, the black-faced young man also looked at Gwi Seongjin's eyes.

After a while of doing so...

The black-faced young man raised his hand and then turned it upside down.

At that, soil shot up from the ground and isolated him and Gwi Seongjin from the others.

Swoosh!

The Raging Fire Divine Lord's Sky-Piercing Halberd, which had cut the green monster into dozens of pieces, once again spewed fire.

It was towards the suddenly created earthen wall.

The moment the earthen wall was about to collapse and a hole was about to be revealed by the Sky-Piercing Halberd...

Rumble!

A huge force arose, and the earth shot up again like a tidal wave.

"Hmph! Do you think you can stop me with a mere clod of earth like this?"

Ne Jinja, who was rummaging through the green monster's brain in place of the Ghost Medicine Hall Master who was circulating his qi and regulating his breathing, kicked the earthen wall and jumped into the sky.

Ne Jinja, who had reached the edge of the clod of earth in just two steps, was about to jump over it when he was startled and flipped his body in mid-air.

It was because the earth had risen in layers, making the earthen wall he was trying to jump over even thicker and higher.

Clang!

In the end, giving up on jumping over, he struck the earthen wall with his Yin Talisman Ghost Killing Art, but surprisingly, the sound of scratching stone was heard.

Judging by its hardness, it seemed to be almost comparable to iron.

As even the Raging Fire Divine Lord, who was swinging his Sky-Piercing Halberd from below, moved back with a surprised face, Ne Jinja, who had landed on the ground, could not hide his look of dismay.

Since his birth, he had deployed and dismantled numerous barriers, but he had never heard of or seen a case like this.

The only possible cause was the young man in the purple robe he had seen a little while ago.

He had thought he was just an ordinary scholar...

Well, there was no way an ordinary scholar would be staying in such a dangerous barrier.

"Grand Prince! The one inside is clearly not human. It seems Gwi Seongjin has been captured by a demon, so we must save him by any means necessary. Divine Lord, please lend your strength once more."

In the end, Ne Jinja even requested help from the Grand Prince.

It was because only if Gwi Seongjin was alive could they dismantle the formation of the Heavenly Demon's Tomb.

* * *

Meanwhile, the black-faced young man, who had sent his internal energy under the ground to build a defensive barrier, slowly moved his steps towards Gwi Seongjin, who was about ten zhang away.

Thud, thud.

The black-faced young man's stride was not very large.

Nevertheless, he arrived in front of Gwi Seongjin in just two steps.

It was a strange movement technique that looked as if the ground was folding and moving him, rather than him walking.

The black-faced young man, receiving Gwi Seongjin's surprised gaze head-on, politely bent his waist.

Then, with a cupped fist salute, he requested in a polite voice.

[They say that although the net of heaven is coarse, it misses nothing. Our meeting today is surely not just a coincidence. I hope you, noble sir, will give me teachings so that I can overcome my incompleteness and become a complete being.]

At the black-faced young man's question, Gwi Seongjin's mind snapped to attention.

He had only intended to tell him a way to stabilize his internal energy and not self-destruct, but the demon was requesting a cultivation method to become a complete being like an immortal.

A complete being?

Gwi Seongjin was curious about what the demon was truly dreaming of.

[What is it that you wish to become?]

As Gwi Seongjin thought, the most realistic goal a demon could dream of was a spirit king.

If he could safely endure the future tribulations and continuously increase his demonic power, this was not an impossible dream at all.

However, the demon's ideal was beyond Gwi Seongjin's imagination.

[My dream is to ascend to the celestial realm and become the king who rules over an immortal domain.]

At the words celestial realm, Gwi Seongjin's mouth fell open.

It was because he thought the demon's greed was too excessive.

'Does this one even know what kind of place the celestial realm is? And a king, at that?'

When a human achieves the Dao and ascends, the place they go is the spirit realm.

The celestial realm was a place one could only go after cultivating for tens of thousands of years there and achieving the great Dao, but the demon was dreaming of being its king.

Although it was a goal so high it was absurd, Gwi Seongjin did not laugh at him.

It was because anyone had the freedom to dream.

[Your dream is very grand. But I'm not sure if I can guide you well as my ability is lacking. I know a way for you not to self-destruct, but frankly, I don't have the ability to lead you to the celestial realm.]

At Gwi Seongjin's honest answer, the black-faced young man burst out laughing.

[Hahaha! Although my experience is shallow, my eye for people is not that low. You are young, but you are already emitting a miraculous energy, and your Dao root is so deep that it is difficult to fathom your future achievements. Even if you can't be of great help right now, you will become a great teacher in the future, so how can you say your ability is lacking? I beg you like this, so please do not refuse.]

As the black-faced young man bowed his head once more, Gwi Seongjin had no choice but to think differently.

Having said that he knew a way for him not to self-destruct, he couldn't just turn a blind eye now.

He had already thought of the teachings.

As long as he had confirmed that the demon had already formed a golden core, what he desperately needed was the secret method of refining the spirit and returning to the void.

After that, creating a primordial infant and increasing his cultivation could be taught after his own cultivation deepened in the future.

After that, achieving the complete Dao was solely the demon's share.

[If this is also fate, I will gladly pass on the Daoist methods of humans to you. However, there is something I need to make clear before I give the teachings. According to the customs of the human world, one who wishes to receive teachings must bow nine times to the person giving the teachings and then serve them as a master. What do you think about this?]

When Gwi Seongjin told him to serve him as a master, the demon showed a hesitant look.

Although he had requested teachings from Gwi Seongjin, he thought it was too much to take him as a master.

Gwi Seongjin was young, but the demon was over one thousand three hundred years old.

Also, the content the demon would learn from Gwi Seongjin was limited.

To ascend to the celestial realm, one had to obtain a celestial scripture, but what Gwi Seongjin could teach was only the knowledge of the human realm.

Moreover, he was an existence who dreamed of being the king of the celestial realm.

He couldn't take a mere human as a master for such a matter.

[Although the laws of humans are strict, I am not human, so I will not follow those laws. Instead, let's do this. If you give me teachings, I will grant you one of your requests. What do you think of my proposal?]

For Gwi Seongjin, it was a proposal he couldn't have wished for more.

Although the demon said he had awakened to the Dao on his own, this was nonsense.

There must have been a great fortuitous encounter.

If he suggested sharing that fortuitous encounter, there would be no loss.

Even if it wasn't a fortuitous encounter, since he was a being born and raised deep underground, he would have not a few treasures.

If not that, he could also be of help in taking revenge on the Luminous Cult.

[Alright. I will accept your proposal. But who will be the witness to the promise we just made?]

[A witness!]

The demon muttered as if he was in a difficult situation.

Then, as if he had suddenly realized something, he conveyed his will to Gwi Seongjin with a bright face.

[Since heaven and earth cannot be the witness to our promise, how about we become friends and use that as a token of our faith?]

[Friends! Hahaha! Let's do that. Then from today, are we friends?]

[That's right.]

[My name is Gwi Seongjin. What is my friend's name?]

At Gwi Seongjin's question, the demon hesitated to answer.

It was a look that said something was difficult.

[I have never needed a name until now. But now that I have a friend, it seems I will need a name. If it's alright, you can give me one.]

Perhaps because the formal speech was uncomfortable, the demon suddenly spoke informally.

Thinking it would be better for friends to speak comfortably, Gwi Seongjin also spoke informally.

[Hahaha! A request from the start? Alright. I will give you a name that suits you. However, since naming is not an easy task, I would like you to give me some time.]

[Of course. By the way, friend, what is your purpose for coming here? Are you also aiming for the treasure in the depths of the old prohibition?]

At the demon's question, Gwi Seongjin nodded his head.

And he briefly explained his situation.

The content was that he was not on the same side as the people beyond the wall, and that he was helping them for an unavoidable reason.

At Gwi Seongjin's explanation, the demon's brow furrowed slightly.

It was an expression as if he had encountered a difficult problem to solve.

Then, he slowly shook his head and said to Gwi Seongjin.

[To be honest, at your current level, you won't be able to enter the depths of the prohibition. Let alone the final gate where the treasure is hidden... You don't even know what dangers are lurking inside, do you?]

At the demon's words, Gwi Seongjin felt a strange sense of unease.

The demon friend he had just made today was speaking as if he knew what dangers were lurking inside the final gate of the prohibition.

Although it was just a guess, Gwi Seongjin couldn't help but ask.

[Have you been inside?]

At Gwi Seongjin's telepathic message, the demon shook his head.

His mouth was firmly shut, an expression that said he couldn't say any more.

Even so, Gwi Seongjin could tell that a danger that even the demon was reluctant to face was lurking inside, and that he had not yet obtained the treasure.

Well, if he had obtained the treasure, he wouldn't be here.

He would be staying inside the final gate or would have left this absolute forbidden zone in search of another fortuitous encounter.

[Right now, I'm in a position where I'm being dragged around by them, so I can't decide on my own advance or retreat, but I will keep your advice in mind. That's why I'm saying this, but I would like to postpone passing on the Daoist methods to my friend for a little while. It seems you also need time to heal your wounds and stabilize your internal energy, so how about I give the teachings when I leave this absolute forbidden zone and have some leisure?]

[Do as you please. At that time, have this and then apply spirit energy to it to make it explode. If that explodes, no matter how far my friend and I are apart, we will be able to sense each other right away.]

When the demon handed him a small, blue-glowing sapphire bead, Gwi Seongjin took it and put it in the medicine pouch that Adjutant Cheok had given him.

[When you come to find me, come secretly so that you are not seen by others.]

[I understand.]

The demon, who had finished speaking, flashed and disappeared.

It was a moment that shattered the common sense that a sealed monster could not get out unless the barrier was released.

* * *

When the demon disappeared, the earthen wall that had been blocking Gwi Seongjin and the group also collapsed.

"What is this! It was nothing special."

In front of the earthen wall stood the Ghost Medicine Hall Master, holding his dragon-headed staff, looking blank.

Although he had suffered a major internal injury while fighting the green monster, fortunately, the Ghost Medicine Hall Master had packed a few spiritual pills before coming here.

Among them was a spiritual pill that was particularly effective for internal injuries, so he was able to treat his internal injury with difficulty.

But it wasn't a complete cure, just to the extent that he had no trouble moving his body.

After finishing the emergency treatment and getting up, he saw an unfamiliar earthen wall in front of him.

The others were standing helplessly in front of it, as if exhausted...

It wasn't even a stone wall, but since he couldn't understand it, he had struck it with his dragon-headed staff, and it had collapsed like this.

"Seongjin!"

Ne Jinja, who was looking at the collapsing earthen wall with a dumbfounded expression, made a horrified expression and flew over.

He had discovered that Gwi Seongjin had collapsed.

However, there was someone who had flown over faster than him and had taken Gwi Seongjin's pulse, and that was the Raging Fire Divine Lord.

Fortunately, Gwi Seongjin's pulse was beating strongly and well.

Papapapak!

When the Raging Fire Divine Lord's hand tapped Gwi Seongjin's philtrum and temples a few times, the fainted Gwi Seongjin woke up.

But the Raging Fire Divine Lord's action of waking Gwi Seongjin up was a little strange.

It seemed it was time for him to let go of Gwi Seongjin's hand and stand up, but he was still holding Gwi Seongjin's wrist.

"Divine Lord! What are you doing now?"

Ne Jinja, who couldn't bear to watch, tried to stop him, but the Raging Fire Divine Lord did not back down.

Rather, he sent his internal energy through Gwi Seongjin's wrist and scanned Gwi Seongjin's entire body.

Then, he suddenly began to tremble all over.

It was because the Pure Yang True Qi that Gwi Seongjin had stolen from him had disappeared without a trace.

(End of Chapter)