Rebirth of the Thunder God

Thump, thump, thump!! Thump, thump, thump!!

As if the earth were screaming, a deafening roar that seemed to tear the eardrums echoed throughout the mountain.

"Keuk! What is this sound?"

"Kyaak! I think my eardrums are going to burst!"

Dancheong and Jeok Hwarin covered their ears and let out groans.

Jang Hwang, since Namgung Hui had already blocked his hearing, did not suffer much.

However, since it was difficult to balance himself on the shaking ground, he grabbed Namgung Hui's arm and continued.

"Brother. For some reason, this sounds like the sound we heard when we first came to Qinghai Province. Am I right?"

"That's right. The epicenter also seems to be the same location. As expected, it's an artificial sound. It seems someone is causing a disturbance on the rocky mountain."

Could Namgung Hui also create such a sound if he poured all his power into it?

Well, if he squeezed out all his strength with all his might, he might be able to imitate the sound, but it seemed impossible to affect the entire Qinghai Province like this.

That would be impossible even if the Heavenly Demon and the Martial God of the Azure Sky, Namgung Cheonhu, were to come back to life.

Soon, as the roar and vibration stopped, Namgung Hui looked at the top of the rocky mountain and opened his mouth.

"I think I'll have to go up there and come back."

"Up there? Why?"

"Well, I'm curious about the cause of this phenomenon, and because I don't know what kind of effect it will have on us if I leave it alone."

In Namgung Hui's speculation, this might be the reason why bandits did not appear around the Yarlung Zangbo Mountain.

On top of that, the investigation of the monster that the Fist King had requested of him might also be related.

'If that is really the work of a monster, I can't let my guard down either.'

If it was a monster that could play with even a supreme master, it meant that it was at least at a similar level to a master of the Transformation Realm.

It might even surpass the Transformation Realm.

If so, the risk factor was great to lead the party up there.

Because he wouldn't be able to fight with all his might while protecting them.

"Um... Can't we not go...?"

"I didn't plan to take you anyway. What more would you be than baggage? So what I'm saying is, wait here with my brother."

Although Namgung Hui wanted to guide them to a village, there was no guarantee that a village would be safe.

The villages in such remote areas were often in collusion with bandit groups.

And sometimes, they were even composed of the bandits' families.

Rather, it would be a better choice for Namgung Hui to set up a concealment formation here and climb the mountain path.

As if Jang Hwang also agreed with that, he distanced himself from Namgung Hui and said.

"Brother. Have a safe trip. I'm sorry I can't be of help."

"Just protecting the disciples of the Sun God Palace here is a great help."

"Yes. I will do my best to watch over them."

Although Jang Hwang had many shortcomings in terms of martial arts, in terms of sorcery, he could be called the best sorcerer of his time.

He would probably not fall behind compared to the Blood Cult's Phantom Demon.

Namgung Hui thought that looking at his extensive knowledge, he might even surpass the Phantom Demon in sorcery.

Anyway, since Namgung Hui had decided to go, he quickly opened his travel pouch and set up a formation.

Jeok Hwarin, who was watching that, stood close to Namgung Hui's side and asked.

"Are you really a ronin? What kind of ronin knows how to set up a formation?"

"That sounds like you're ignoring all the ronin in the country right now. I'm also acquainted with the Wolf King, so I'll be sure to tell him."

"Seeing as you hold a grudge, you do seem to be a ronin. So are you leaving right away?"

"That way, I can finish my work quickly and come back. I'll leave a few days' worth of food, so there won't be a big problem until I come back."

"It will take a few days...?"

She had been scared of Namgung Hui before.

But now that Namgung Hui was leaving for a while, she was rather scared.

Although it was a situation where she had no choice but to rely on him, it seemed that Namgung Hui had captured the hearts of the Sun God disciples more than he had thought.

As Namgung Hui said he would be away for a few days, Dancheong also seemed worried and stealthily approached and spoke.

"Great Hero. Can't you do it in one day? Isn't it that dangerous to camp out in Qinghai Province?"

"Because of that roar just now, no bandits are even coming near. Besides, my brother is not an ordinary person either."

"Ahem. Since he is the Great Hero's brother, he must be a great person. Still, his martial arts are not outstanding, are they?"

"Martial arts don't solve everything. How much did I use martial arts on my way here?"

When he thought about it, he hadn't particularly performed any martial arts except when dealing with the bandit group.

The way he traveled the mountain paths was that of a seasoned hunter, not a martial artist.

And selecting a campsite and procuring food was that of an experienced ronin.

That meant that except for his lightness skill, he had led the party without any connection to martial arts.

That was a talent that even Jang Hwang could sufficiently perform.

Besides, although they didn't know, Jang Hwang's sorcery could by no means be ignored.

'He can read the memories of objects and even talk to ghosts. It's a similar ability to the Saintess of the Demonic Cult.'

Since it was a sorcery that utilized the upper Dantian, it was not strange at all that the context was similar.

As it was similar to a Saintess, it was right to see it as a divine talent.

Namgung Hui finished his preparations to leave and looked back at the party and said.

"For that reason, I will be away for a few days. Although I say a few days, as Dancheong said, I might be back in a day. So don't worry too much."

"Alright. You be careful too, Great Hero."

Namgung Hui nodded to Jeok Hwarin and then said to Jang Hwang.

"Brother. Then I'll be counting on you."

"Alright. Just trust this older brother. Haha!"

Although Jang Hwang spoke with a joke, his words were not particularly untrustworthy.

Rather, his friendly attitude of trying to relieve the tension even stabilized Namgung Hui's mind and body.

'Good. At this location, it's a point that won't be particularly exposed even without a formation. I can go without worry.'

Namgung Hui, who had finished his final check, immediately bounced his body towards the mountain top.

Now, there was no Jang Hwang on his back.

The need to limit his lightness skill had disappeared.

"Wow~! Is that a person? A hawk? No. It looks like a dragon ascending to heaven. Right, Dancheong?"

And for good reason, the internal energy swirling in Namgung Hui's Yongcheon acupoint was discharged outwards and sublimated into a strong heat, so a heat haze was rising from his tail.

"Yes. Even from my perspective, it doesn't look like a person. I rather think a phoenix is flying, not a dragon. Isn't the heat haze faintly lingering behind the image of a phoenix?"

"No, it's not. It looks like I'm seeing a dragon's tail."

"Ahem. Why are you like this? A phoenix is also a kind of bird, so it's right that he's flying like a phoenix."

"Dancheong. The phoenix is the symbol of our Sun God Palace. Do you want to attach that to a stranger? I'm disappointed."

"Ah, no. Young lady. That's not what I meant. Are you being childish like this?"

Jang Hwang watched the Sun God disciples bickering and stared in the direction where Namgung Hui had disappeared.

'It doesn't seem to be a simple fate. I hope you return safely.'

* * *

Namgung Hui, who had jumped to the mountain top in one go, landed lightly on the ground and looked around.

As expected, since it was the epicenter of the roar, it was a scene of carnage.

A hazy white dust was still scattering.

And the rocks were not just broken, but crushed.

Perhaps the noise was caused by someone breaking these rocks.

'But I don't feel any presence.'

Namgung Hui, thinking that the opponent had a talent for hiding their presence, closed his eyes and carefully spread his electric net.

-Chiririk.

Through the white dust, an electric current spread proudly.

His Ki sense, which had become even more sensitive due to the Heavenly King Pill, was so keen that it could detect each and every rock powder.

The moment he had taken control of a certain radius.

Suddenly, something flew from Namgung Hui's right.

-Hwiiik! Kwang!

Namgung Hui, at the suddenly felt presence, hurriedly extended his fist and blocked it.

'What! Such monstrous strength...!'

As his fist collided with the unidentified something, Namgung Hui's body was instantly sent flying.

As befitting the being that had created such a roar.

But Namgung Hui was not one to be beaten like this.

He quickly twisted his body in the air and spread the Great Hand Seal.

-Huuung! Pang!

The unidentified something was hit head-on by Namgung Hui's Great Hand Seal.

However, even though it was a clear hit, its momentum did not break.

Rather, as if enraged, it even snorted and rushed towards Namgung Hui.

When its shadow was cast through the dust and reached Namgung Hui's vicinity, he was able to identify it.

'A monkey spirit beast? It's a Ape!'

Its size was so large that its shadow alone could create a cool shade.

As if it wasn't just its shadow that made it cool, murderous attacks flew towards Namgung Hui in succession.

-Swaeaek! Pang, pang, pang!

A volley of fist strikes pouring down in succession.

Unlike its large size, it was terribly fast and fierce.

Each and every punch was not without being fatal.

And even a considerable amount of energy was contained in the punches.

An energy comparable to Fist Ki relentlessly pushed Namgung Hui.

And Namgung Hui, having no choice, widened the distance and looked for an opportunity.

'I'll have to fight with all my might without even going into a probing battle.'

Electrode Opening. Mad Extreme.

Esoteric Sect's Great Hand Seal. Rakshasa's Palm. Heavenly Wheel.

Thirteen Flashes of Thunder. 10th Stance. Mad Heaven.

Simultaneously with the Electrode Opening, he used two martial arts with the Two Principles Heart Art.

Since there was no need to be mindful of others now, he showed his ultimate techniques without holding back.

-Ureureung!! Kwagwagwang!!

As befitting Namgung Hui's ultimate stance, its power was as strong as the Ape's.

The Ape, which was performing its punches, safely blocked the Great Hand Seal, but it could not block the energy of the Thirteen Flashes of Thunder.

-Chiririk! Peong!!

The Ape, which offered its chest.

Its massive body could not withstand the immense purple thunder Ki and was sent flying back, rolling on the ground.

For a moment, silence swirled on the mountain top.

Through the dust that had become thicker than before.

The Ape stood up again.

But the Ape, perhaps because its fighting spirit had been broken, no longer approached Namgung Hui.

Although Namgung Hui had performed his ultimate stance, he thought that its power was somewhat lacking to subdue the Ape yet.

'There was no feel to the hit. In the first place, if it's a spirit beast of that level, its durability must also be immense.'

The thick leather and the spirit Ki that filled it were more than enough to withstand Namgung Hui's purple thunder Ki.

Since Namgung Hui also knew that, he was predicting a long battle.

But it seemed that the Ape had lost its fighting spirit more easily than he had thought.

But he couldn't let his guard down.

The potential that the Ape had shown until now was more than that of a master of the Transformation Realm.

That was why Namgung Hui did not let go of the thread of tension, waiting for the dust to gradually settle.

A moment later. The white rock powder that had filled the mountain top settled.

And now, the massive body of the Ape was visible to the naked eye.

It felt as if its height was well over 3 zhang.

Namgung Hui was not short either, but it felt as if it were six times his size.

Namgung Hui looked up at the Ape and spoke.

"If it's a spirit beast of this level, it should be able to understand human words. Why did you ambush me? And why are you just standing there now?"

[...Human. By any chance, what is your relationship with the Thunder God?]

(End of Chapter)