Chapter 335 : Talent
Chapter 335: Talent
The moment Jang Woo-hyun looked into Muk Geom-young's eyes—
He found himself inside a pitch-black space.
There was not a single trace of light, yet strangely enough, he could still distinguish everything around him.
Having experienced something similar before, he immediately realized where he was.
'A Small Universe.'
Just as when he had met Cheon Heo, the Sect Master of the Three Pure Ones Taiji Sect, his consciousness had been drawn into a Small Universe.
But there was one thing he couldn't understand.
'This is possible without my consent?'
When he had met Cheon Heo before, it had happened because the difference in their strength had been overwhelming.
But now, Jang Woo-hyun was also a martial artist who had reached the Immortal Realm.
There was no way he should have been dragged into someone else's Small Universe this easily.
"It is merely a phenomenon born from my own ability. No one else could do this."
Muk Geom-young appeared, answering Jang Woo-hyun's unspoken question.
His features were so youthful that one could mistake him for a boy.
Yet his eyes completely contradicted that youthful face.
Rather than handsome, he gave off an eerie impression.
Jang Woo-hyun's gaze met those hollow eyes that looked down upon all things.
'Heavenly Demon Lord Muk Geom-young.'
The strongest among the Six Heavenly Lords.
The martial artist known as the strongest in the Middle Realm.
He truly lived up to his reputation.
Muk Geom-young was just like the Bull Demon King.
'I can't read him.'
He was impossible to gauge.
Completely different from every one of the Six Heavenly Lords Jang Woo-hyun had met until now.
Jang Woo-hyun always possessed power far beyond others at the same realm.
Against most martial artists of equal cultivation, he could overwhelm them with ease.
Yet against Muk Geom-young, who also stood at the Immortal Realm—
He could not predict who would win.
It felt as though they existed on entirely different levels.
'Is he really at the Immortal Realm to begin with?'
At this point, it felt more accurate to think of him as someone who had already ascended to the Upper Realm.
Everyone who met Jang Woo-hyun was always astonished because his power was unlike that of anyone else at his realm.
But today—
Jang Woo-hyun was the one left astonished.
Muk Geom-young's power was simply impossible to measure.
"So you're the one the Sword Heavenly Lord spoke of."
Just as Jang Woo-hyun observed Muk Geom-young, Muk Geom-young was also examining Jang Woo-hyun.
When Jang Woo-hyun had newly taken his seat among the Six Heavenly Lords, Muk Geom-young had intended to seek him out.
But Zhang Sanfeng had stopped him, so only now were they finally meeting.
"I am Jang Woo-hyun."
"Introductions are unnecessary. I merely summoned you because I had something to say."
-'The greatest talent I have ever seen belonged to the Heavenly Demon Lord.'
-'But that was before I met Woo-hyun.'
Now that he had seen him in person, Muk Geom-young understood why Zhang Sanfeng had said those words.
Just as Jang Woo-hyun had been surprised by Muk Geom-young...
Muk Geom-young was equally surprised by Jang Woo-hyun.
Since the day he had first begun learning martial arts, he could not remember ever being so astonished by another person.
And it wasn't only his talent.
Even his current state was extraordinary.
"You possess far too much."
"So much that even I cannot fully understand it."
Lee Tae-seong's memories were contained within Jang Woo-hyun.
They held such an unimaginably long span of time and countless experiences that even Muk Geom-young could not completely grasp them.
"What an incomprehensible situation."
Yet because of that...
It was interesting.
"I don't know if you're aware, but there are no longer any True Immortals or Martial Gods remaining in the Upper Realm—"
"Enough."
"You need not say anything further."
Muk Geom-young interrupted him.
"The fact that I have reached this position and still do not know means that it is not my destiny."
"What you have learned belongs to your own destiny."
"It is the path you must overcome yourself."
Having crossed countless worlds and accumulated endless experience, Muk Geom-young could clearly see Jang Woo-hyun's current state.
Jang Woo-hyun now stood at the threshold before advancing to the next world.
And he was entangled with a power that could not be comprehended.
"Perhaps..."
"You have already begun walking toward that next destination."
A faint smile appeared on Muk Geom-young's lips.
He had come to the Demon Spirit Realm only because of Zhang Sanfeng's request.
Yet he had encountered something he had never expected.
"A time will come when you must make a choice."
Muk Geom-young offered advice.
Something he rarely ever did.
As someone who had walked this path first, he wished to leave behind something for his junior.
And...
The current situation fascinated him.
"You will have to choose."
"Whether to remain human..."
"Or become another kind of existence."
The completely unexpected statement caused Jang Woo-hyun's brows to furrow.
"...Pardon?"
"What do you mean?"
"There is no longer enough time to explain."
"That is all I wished to tell you."
"Remember it well."
"You will one day have to choose whether to remain human or become another kind of existence."
"You're only speaking in riddles—"
"Our time is up."
"Those demons are no longer willing to wait."
Before Jang Woo-hyun could ask another question...
The black space split apart.
Before he knew it, light returned to the world, and he found himself back in the Living Spirit Mountain Range.
Because everything had occurred within the realm of consciousness, the conversation between Jang Woo-hyun and Muk Geom-young had lasted only an instant in reality.
Yet during that single instant...
The world had been shattered.
The Living Spirit Mountain Range had disappeared.
Jang Woo-hyun floated in empty space.
Part of the Demon Spirit Realm itself had been annihilated, leaving no land behind.
"At least coming to the Demon Spirit Realm wasn't a wasted trip."
Muk Geom-young, who had vanished from before Jang Woo-hyun, now stood far away, effortlessly blocking the combined attacks of the Roc Demon King and the Lion Camel King.
Even while facing two Great Demons, he looked completely at ease.
"Senior, what in the world is happening?"
Seeing the bewilderment covering Jang Woo-hyun's face, Zhang Sanfeng smiled.
"Continue onward."
"I don't understand what you mean."
"You need only examine what lies within you."
"Leave everything here to us."
"That is what you must do."
Muk Geom-young and Zhang Sanfeng could both see it.
They could see Jang Woo-hyun moving toward the next stage.
"Now that I've seen you in person..."
"I understand why I wanted to meet you."
Jang Woo-hyun's journey would not end here.
'He will advance to the next world...'
'...and accomplish something.'
Smiling once more at Jang Woo-hyun, Zhang Sanfeng drew his sword and stepped forward.
The five energies of the Five Elements began revolving around him.
"It seems those two can see something the rest of us can't."
"Jang Woo-hyun."
"Do something about whatever's inside you."
"Leave the rest to us."
The Macaque King looked at Jang Woo-hyun as he spoke.
"Brother Jang."
"Do what you need to do."
"I think I also came to the Demon Spirit Realm to help."
Jang Woo-hyun couldn't make sense of what was happening.
He had only followed Kim Min-su's traces to uncover Lee Tae-seong's memories.
Yet Zhang Sanfeng and Muk Geom-young had suddenly appeared and begun fighting to help him.
The same was true of Sun Wukong, who had come after answering the Macaque King's call.
'I have no idea what's going on.'
It felt as though he had been swept into an irresistible current of destiny.
After standing frozen for a moment, Jang Woo-hyun quickly regained his senses and stretched out one hand.
'Whether it's destiny or anything else...'
'I'll do what I have to do first.'
At his gesture, Kim Min-su, clad in the Dragon King's Scale Armor, was pulled toward him.
As soon as he arrived beside him, the Dragon King's Scale surrounding his body disassembled and returned to its form as a sword.
"Junior... wh-what in the world is all this...?"
Beings one could hardly hope to meet even once in an entire lifetime...
Were now fighting before his eyes.
Five of the Demon Spirit Realm's greatest Great Demons.
The Heavenly Demon Lord, the strongest of the Six Heavenly Lords.
And even the legendary Zhang Sanfeng and Sun Wukong.
From Kim Min-su's perspective...
Everything unfolding before him was utterly unbelievable.
"Senior Kim."
"You should return now."
"Go back and live your own life."
"...What are you going to do?"
"This still isn't over."
"And the memories you saw probably aren't everything."
"I'll resolve everything."
"I promise I'll come find you afterward."
"Sun Wukong, I have a favor."
"Anything."
"Can you send Senior Kim back to the Middle Realm?"
"It'll take a little time."
"But it's nothing difficult."
Sun Wukong flicked a finger.
A fragment of cloud quickly flew over.
"Human."
"Get on."
"I'll send you there immediately."
Kim Min-su looked at Jang Woo-hyun with anxious eyes.
"Don't worry."
"I'm stronger than I look."
"And honestly..."
"If you stay here, you'll only get in my way."
"I'll settle everything before returning."
"Live your own life."
"Go to the Five Elements Cult."
"And meet Senior Lim."
"Just... who exactly are you...?"
"We're out of time."
"It's time for me to repay everything I've received."
"Sun Wukong."
"Hold on tight!"
Snap!
With a snap of Sun Wukong's fingers, the cloud carried Kim Min-su away at incredible speed.
Its destination—
The Middle Realm Martial World.
"Everything settled now?"
"Yeah."
"But are you sure it's alright if I don't join the fight?"
"Brother Jang."
"Don't worry."
"We have the advantage."
Even though four members of the Seven Great Sages stood against them...
Their side had Sun Wukong, who rivaled the Bull Demon King...
And Muk Geom-young, the strongest martial artist in the Middle Realm.
Even with equal numbers...
They held the overwhelming advantage.
Even now, Muk Geom-young and Zhang Sanfeng were effortlessly holding back the three Great Demons besides the Bull Demon King.
"There are only four of them."
"Four Great Demons aren't enough to stop this Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wuk—"
"Sun Wukooong!!"
Before he could finish—
An overwhelming aura erupted in the distance.
Its power was so immense that even the Seven Great Sages and Muk Geom-young stopped fighting.
Then, from another direction...
A gloomy and sinister aura swept across the sky.
【Sun Wukong!!】
Far away...
A gigantic centipede, large enough to resemble a mountain range, flew through the sky.
Around it swarmed countless centipedes as large as dragons.
It was the Great Demon known as the King of the Flying Heavenly Centipedes.
"Uh..."
From the direction where the first aura had erupted...
Space split apart.
A gigantic serpent with nine heads emerged.
Each of its nine heads bore a different color.
The serpent demon was even larger than the centipede.
It looked as though an entire continent had come alive.
It was another Great Demon that held a deep grudge against Sun Wukong.
"I knew something was wrong the moment you started making such a fuss."
The Macaque King clicked his tongue as he scolded Sun Wukong.
"Well..."
"This really happened out of nowhere."
"Your behavior's always been a disaster."
"So everyone saw this as their chance."
"..."
Realizing more enemies had gathered because of him...
Sun Wukong quietly closed his mouth.
He cautiously glanced toward the Macaque King.
"What?"
"Now you're pretending to reflect on your actions?"
"As if you actually care."
"Hehehe..."
"You noticed?"
"If something like this could discourage you, you never would've spent all these years acting like a menace."
"This is better."
"If more enemies come..."
"Then we'll simply fight more."
"Jang Woo-hyun."
"You do what you need to do."
The Macaque King patted Jang Woo-hyun's left shoulder before stepping forward.
"Brother Jang."
"It was good meeting you."
"I'm off."
"Don't worry too much."
"The ones arriving now are all fellows I beat senseless in the past."
"They're no real threat."
"Go do your job."
Sun Wukong also patted Jang Woo-hyun's shoulder before plucking out another handful of hairs.
Once again, dozens of clones appeared and surrounded Jang Woo-hyun protectively.
"Brother."
"Let's go."
As Sun Wukong kicked off into the sky—
The Bull Demon King, who had been silently watching until now...
Finally moved.
The Roc Demon King's wings covered the heavens.
The Lion Camel King crushed space and dragged it inward.
Thousands of demonic arts activated around the Bull Demon King, filling the sky.
When Muk Geom-young moved...
The entire world was dyed black.
Within that darkness appeared the four seasons...
The heavens...
The earth...
The seas...
And an enormous Taiji.
The Macaque King shattered space as he advanced, throwing a punch.
From the heavens descended the Ruyi Staff, now transformed into an enormous pillar.
The battle of supreme beings...
Was shattering the Demon Spirit Realm itself.
As he moved farther away from the battlefield, Jang Woo-hyun thought,
'Just what exactly is the Bull Demon King?'
Strangely enough...
He had barely moved.
One could almost believe he had deliberately given them time.
Whether it was confidence...
Or arrogance...
He had waited an excessive amount of time for Jang Woo-hyun and his companions to finish their business.
'Or...'
'Is he plotting something?'
He couldn't be certain.
But the feeling of unease remained.
"Brother Jang!"
"Hurry and do what you need to!"
"We'll hold them off somehow!"
The nearby Sun Wukong clones noisily shouted.
'What I need to do.'
He had to organize the memories that had only continued piling up.
For a moment, he wondered if now was really the right time.
But since both Zhang Sanfeng and Muk Geom-young had advised him to do it...
There had to be a reason.
Jang Woo-hyun drew the Dragon King's Scale.
Clink. Clink.
Blade scales separated from the sword.
But unlike before...
It no longer consisted of merely hundreds of scales.
Thousands.
Tens of thousands.
Hundreds of thousands.
Millions.
An unimaginable number of blade scales spread throughout the sky.
Jang Woo-hyun controlled the scales and wrapped them around himself.
A massive sphere made entirely of scales formed around him.
It resembled the Silver Sphere that had once contained the memories of Kim Min-su and Lee Tae-seong.
Standing comfortably within it...
Jang Woo-hyun closed his eyes.
His consciousness gradually sank.
He entered his inner world.
There, he faced the divided fragments of his consciousness.
More than a thousand fragments of consciousness.
Each containing memories.
Every fragment was another Jang Woo-hyun...
And another portion of Lee Tae-seong's endless life.
Thousands of repeated lives.
More than a thousand fragments of consciousness.
He merged them into one.
The martial arts he had witnessed within those memories.
Lee Tae-seong had explained every martial art in meticulous detail as though recording them.
Sometimes...
He had even demonstrated them repeatedly.
As the fragmented consciousness became one...
The memories disappeared.
Only countless martial arts remained.
His body moved instinctively before the martial arts unfolding before his eyes.
For Jang Woo-hyun possessed the talent to master even a martial art after seeing it only once.
The countless martial arts...
Now became one.