Chapter 313 : Land of Giants (2)
Chapter 313: Land of Giants (2)
After their battle against the Great Ascension Stage cultivator—
Jang Woo-hyun and Gyeong Myeong-un returned to Heavenly Thunder Fortress without exchanging a single word.
Since Gyeong Myeong-un hadn't fully trusted Jang Woo-hyun from the beginning, only now did he ask why he had come to the Land of Giants.
"I heard that the Land of Giants possesses a ship capable of traveling to places far beyond this realm. Po-uk told me to seek him out if I ever needed help, so I've come to borrow your strength."
"A ship capable of traveling that far... Let's see. What did your people call it again?"
Gyeong Myeong-un muttered to himself as he searched for the appropriate term.
"Radiant Wings (光翼). That's what you'd probably call it in your language. You've seen the ships made from Geonmok, haven't you? Radiant Wings is completely different from those little ships in both size and performance. You could even call it one of our people's sacred treasures. So that's why you've come?"
"Yes. There's somewhere I need to go."
"I doubt you're planning to simply travel around the Central Heavens Realm. You're trying to reach another Middle Realm."
"If I use Radiant Wings, can I cross into another Middle Realm?"
Gyeong Myeong-un nodded.
The vessel known as Radiant Wings was the fastest ship in the Land of Giants and could travel farther than any other.
"If it's Radiant Wings, reaching another Middle Realm isn't difficult. However, it can't be operated whenever we please. Once it's used, it requires at least several decades—and sometimes up to a hundred years—to recharge its power."
Listening to him, Jang Woo-hyun unconsciously let out a quiet sigh.
Using Radiant Wings didn't seem as simple as he'd hoped.
"You don't have to worry. You saved my people, and you helped me as well. Do you think letting you ride the ship would be difficult? Po-uk also made you a promise, so I'll make sure you get on it somehow. But where exactly are you trying to go?"
"I'm heading to the Demonic Spirit Realm."
"...The Demonic Spirit Realm?"
The smile that had remained on Gyeong Myeong-un's face disappeared.
"What's wrong?"
"That's simply unexpected. A martial artist from the Central Heavens Realm wanting to go to the Demonic Spirit Realm instead of the Buddha Realm. With your strength, even the Blood World wouldn't pose much danger. I wouldn't worry too much if you were headed to the Ghost King Realm either. But the Demonic Spirit Realm is different."
Jang Woo-hyun frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Instead of answering immediately, Gyeong Myeong-un looked around as though searching for something before turning toward Cho-su.
"Would you mind if I tore up a bit of the floor?"
"There are already places that've been smashed apart. We were going to repair everything at once anyway."
"Then I'll break a little."
The giant's massive hand reached toward the training ground.
The newly reinforced floor had been built from extremely durable materials because the members of the Immortal-Slaying Brigade sparred constantly.
On top of that, Seon Tae-gyeong had cast protective spells over it.
Yet Gyeong Myeong-un effortlessly tore up part of the floor.
It looked as easy as scooping a bucket of water from a well.
Crunch.
He casually crushed the chunk of flooring in his hand before shaping it into a small sphere and a flat disc.
"The Central Heavens Realm and the Blood World have forms like these."
Crack.
He tore up another section of the floor.
This time, he crushed it completely between both hands until it became powder.
Then he scattered the dust into the air and stirred it with his hand.
Each movement caused the stone dust to swirl about chaotically.
"The Demonic Spirit Realm is like this. An unstable world. Chaotic. Disorderly. A realm that even contains countless other worlds within itself. Have you ever heard of the gods of the Demonic Spirit Realm?"
"Yes."
Jang Woo-hyun nodded.
The Insect God Gyochung, who ruled over the stinging insects.
The Eight-Armed God, whose eight arms were all connected together.
During the battle against the Radiant Light Sect, Wind-Passing Great Sage and Seon Tae-gyeong had told him about them.
"I've heard those beings possess power comparable to the Martial Gods or True Immortals of the Upper Realm while inside their own domains. I've never been there myself, only read the records, so I can't say whether it's true. Regardless, there isn't just one or two of them. On top of that, there are Great Monsters and Demon Kings whose names alone inspire fear. The Demonic Spirit Realm is an unstable world filled with every kind of danger imaginable."
Gyeong Myeong-un paused before looking around at the members of the Immortal-Slaying Brigade.
"Are all of you planning to go? I know you're strong, but that's impossible. I guarantee half of you would be dead within a month."
"I'll be going to the Demonic Spirit Realm alone."
"That's at least some relief. Why are you going there?"
"I'm searching for someone."
"How long has he been there? And how strong is he?"
"It's been at least several decades. In terms of martial artists... he'd be at the Boundless Realm."
"A Boundless Realm martial artist..."
Gyeong Myeong-un nodded before swallowing the words he had been about to say.
'He's probably already dead.'
He wasn't so inconsiderate as to say that aloud.
"He isn't dead."
Reading the thoughts in Gyeong Myeong-un's eyes, Jang Woo-hyun spoke first.
"I didn't say anything."
"I can tell exactly what you're thinking."
"Really? Then I'll just be honest. I know a Boundless Realm martial artist is strong. But that level of strength isn't enough to survive in the Demonic Spirit Realm for decades. Maybe for a few years..."
"Even if he's dead, I'll recover his body. But he's alive."
Compared to Jang Woo-hyun, Kim Min-soo's talent as a martial artist was far inferior.
However, he possessed countless other abilities.
Formations.
Sorcery.
And many more.
He had prepared countless contingencies even while being hunted by a True Immortal.
Jang Woo-hyun believed he had certainly used every one of those abilities to survive in the Demonic Spirit Realm.
"He's definitely alive."
There was boundless trust in his voice.
For a martial artist like Jang Woo-hyun to speak with such certainty, there was no point asking further.
Instead, Gyeong Myeong-un became curious.
"What kind of martial artist—no, what kind of person is he?"
"Putting martial arts aside... he's the finest person I've ever known. He's also someone to whom I owe a debt I can never repay."
Kim Min-soo of the Gyoma Divine Alliance.
A cheerful man who loved playing pranks.
If the conversation was about strength, the current Jang Woo-hyun had already surpassed him by a considerable margin.
Their talents weren't even comparable.
But when it came to the measure of a person's character—
There was no comparison.
'There's no one like Senior Kim.'
Even while being hunted by a True Immortal, Kim Min-soo had prepared countless things for those who would one day come from Earth.
He had left behind the relationships he'd built in the Central Heavens.
He had abandoned the chance to live a normal life.
He had even disregarded his own life.
Kim Min-soo wasn't the strongest martial artist.
Nor was he the greatest genius.
But to Jang Woo-hyun—
There was no one stronger.
No one greater.
The Sword Heaven Lord, Jang Sambong.
The Sword Immortal, Yeo Dong-bin.
Both were legendary heroes whose names everyone knew.
Kim Min-soo of the Gyoma Divine Alliance could never compare to them in fame.
Yet to Jang Woo-hyun—
He was a true hero.
"I see. If that's the kind of man you believe him to be, then you have to go. A debt to your benefactor must be repaid. I won't ask any more questions. Let's head to the Land of Giants. I'll send you to the Demonic Spirit Realm aboard Radiant Wings."
Smiling, Gyeong Myeong-un turned toward Cho-su.
"Do you know where the Land of Giants is?"
"I know its approximate location."
"That won't be enough. I'll guide the way. Let's depart."
"We can't leave just yet."
When Gyeong Myeong-un looked confused, Cho-su mimed kicking through empty air.
"What are you— Ah, right. There's still that fellow I sent flying. Then we'll wait for him before leaving."
Because Mak Ya-wol had been launched far away, their departure was delayed.
---
About two gak later—
Seo Ryeom returned with Mak Ya-wol.
White steam rose from various parts of Mak Ya-wol's body as his injuries healed.
"Let's have another match sometime."
Despite being knocked unconscious with a single blow, he still hadn't given up.
Gyeong Myeong-un laughed and happily agreed.
Once the two returned, Heavenly Thunder Fortress immediately set off.
To keep watch over the route, Gyeong Myeong-un climbed onto the rooftop.
Heavenly Thunder Fortress pierced through the clouds, flying swiftly above countless unnamed Floating Continents.
"Do cultivators attack often?"
Jang Woo-hyun approached Gyeong Myeong-un, who sat with his legs crossed on the rooftop.
"They invade every now and then, even without any particular reason. You know how those lunatics are."
Whether it was grinding giants into pills or using their enormous bodies as materials for Dharma Treasures—
Giants were valuable resources to cultivators.
Moreover, cultivators regarded weaker races as nothing more than beasts, so they frequently attacked as though going on hunting expeditions.
"However, Great Ascension Stage cultivators rarely come. We also have Great Warriors capable of standing against them. Besides, coming all the way out here isn't worth the effort."
"So the one we fought had a special purpose?"
Gyeong Myeong-un nodded.
"He was forcing his way into the Land of Giants. If I hadn't stopped him, the damage would've been enormous. He was after one of the Record Keepers. Since they preserve countless records, he probably believed one of them contained something he wanted. Ah, do you know what a Record Keeper is?"
"Yes. I heard about them at the Divine Dragon Family."
Jang Woo-hyun briefly explained how he had met Baekan at the Divine Dragon Family.
"That's surprising. They usually consider everyone except those carrying dragon blood to be inferior beings."
Gyeong Myeong-un looked at Jang Woo-hyun for a moment before nodding.
"Then again... someone at your level probably doesn't leave them much choice. You really are absurdly strong."
"Lord Myeong-un, may I ask you a favor?"
"Stop worrying so much and just ask. Why are you being so cautious?"
Despite Gyeong Myeong-un's easygoing attitude, Jang Woo-hyun spoke carefully.
"Would it be possible for me to meet these Record Keepers?"
"Why are you acting so hesitant over something like that? Before we use Radiant Wings, we'll simply stop by and meet them. You saved my people and helped me. That's hardly a difficult request."
"Thank you."
"Save your thanks for later. I haven't done anything yet."
Gyeong Myeong-un readily agreed.
His personality was every bit as straightforward as his enormous frame.
"Are you sure it's alright that we let the cultivator escape? If he needs something, he'll eventually come back."
At the question, Gyeong Myeong-un chuckled.
They had only just met, yet this young man was already worrying about something that barely concerned him.
There was guilt in Jang Woo-hyun's voice for failing to finish the cultivator off.
"You regret letting him escape, but someone at that level isn't easy to kill."
Jang Woo-hyun had realized that himself.
He'd known from the beginning that simply severing the cultivator's head wouldn't kill him.
Yet even attacks that damaged the soul and the very source of one's existence hadn't seemed to wound the cultivator critically.
Great Ascension Stage cultivators truly were different from every cultivator he had fought before.
"Still, he won't be coming back anytime soon. You saw him grow younger every time he shed his skin, didn't you? That's because he's consuming the time he's accumulated throughout his life. It'll probably take him at least a century to recover his strength before he dares show himself again."
Recovering what he had lost would require no less than a hundred years.
That was how severe his injuries had been.
Although Gyeong Myeong-un had shouted about killing him during the battle, the truth was that completely destroying a Great Ascension Stage cultivator was no simple task.
Even though they hadn't killed him—
The damage they inflicted was a tremendous victory.
---
After flying for quite some time—
A wall of clouds stretching across the entire sky appeared before Heavenly Thunder Fortress.
"Straight through there."
At Gyeong Myeong-un's gesture, Cho-su guided Heavenly Thunder Fortress forward.
As they entered the endless sea of clouds, everything vanished from sight.
Inside the dense mist, where even an inch ahead couldn't be seen, Gyeong Myeong-un directed the route.
'It's a type of formation.'
While controlling the Flying Apparatus and observing the surroundings, Cho-su quickly understood the nature of the clouds.
Just as reaching the Nation of Mechanical Marvels required passing through a specific entrance—
The giants concealed the Land of Giants using methods unique to them.
As Gyeong Myeong-un had said, knowing only the approximate location would never be enough.
Only after nearly one shijin of flight did Heavenly Thunder Fortress finally emerge from the sea of clouds.
What lay before them—
Was an ocean.
"...!"
Every member of the Immortal-Slaying Brigade widened their eyes.
The Central Heavens Realm was a world where countless landmasses floated endlessly through the sky.
Yet an ocean now stretched before them.
No one had ever imagined such a thing could exist in the Central Heavens Realm.
Their shock didn't stop Heavenly Thunder Fortress.
It continued flying steadily forward.
About one gak later—
The Immortal-Slaying Brigade, still captivated by the sudden appearance of the sea, let out quiet gasps.
"Ugh..."
One after another, confusion spread across their faces.
"Brother... my body's getting heavier."
"Captain... me too."
"Me too."
"Same here."
Whether it was the air itself becoming heavier—
Or an invisible pressure pressing down on them—
Their bodies felt weighed down as though burdened by enormous loads.
"That's normal in our territory. You'll get used to it after a while. Just keep moving forward."
At Gyeong Myeong-un's words, Heavenly Thunder Fortress continued racing across the sea.