Chapter 149: The Five Elements Divine Art (2)

Chapter 149: The Five Elements Divine Art (2)

The five paths leading to the corpse of the Five Elements Divine Lord.

One could go in any direction if they wished to ascend.

In that place, where the top and bottom were open like a vertical circular cave, there were five stone bridges leading to the central pillar.

The bridges seemed too weak to even support one person, and the problem was that stepping on the stone bridge instantly put one under the influence of corpse poison.

The poisonous nature of corpse poison, erupting from below following the rising air currents. It was truly horrifyingly strong.

The corpse of the successor of the Pure White Water Sect was already emitting a rotten smell.

Fortunately, the poison didn’t cross the boundary of the vertical cave, but who would dare to enter it?

“If we go in like this, we will definitely die.”

“Isn’t it possible for the Poison Beauty to do it?” Hwa So-so asked.

Tang Eun-seol, who went as far as the Five Poisons Sect to train in order to reach the level of a poison master. She thought it might be possible for her.

However, Tang Eun-seol shook her head.

“There is a limit to everything. We need to find another way.”

The center of the vertical cave, where the Five Elements Divine Lord sat, was roughly 30 meters away from any direction.

The narrow and smooth stone bridges were not a long distance if one used light footwork techniques.

The problem was that it would be a disaster if any hidden weapons were to fly in midway.

It would be fine if there were no poison, but the corpse poison in that place was an extreme poison that even Tang Eun-seol couldn’t withstand.

The expressions of the people darkened.

A few of them moved quietly.

It was Yi-gang, Yu Su-rin, Baek Ha-jun, and Namgung Shin.

“You shouldn’t go up.”

“I know.”

Yi-gang also had no intention of climbing the stone bridge.

Those holding the boxes, including Yi-gang, all felt a tremor.

The box seemed to be guiding them to the exact place they needed to go.UpTodated from nô/v/el/b(i)n.c(o)/m

Yi-gang was holding the Wood box.

The trembling of the box grew stronger and then stopped at the front of one of the five stone bridges.

There was a square hole there.

It was just the right size for the box.

「If it’s said to be a key, then is this the keyhole?」

The guess of the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon was the same as Yi-gang’s.

The four of them, including Yi-gang, each stood in front of the same type of hole.

After a moment of hesitation, they inserted the boxes into the holes.

The hole was so precisely carved that there wasn’t even a sliver of space left, fitting perfectly.

As Yi-gang and the other three took out the boxes they had never seen before, the eyes of the successors lit up.

Click—

Then, the sound of something activating was heard.

The box slid smoothly into the hole as if being sucked in.

It seemed only deep enough for a finger, but now the bottom was not visible.

Where did the box go?

Thrumming—

And then the entire space began to vibrate.

Yi-gang and his group immediately stepped back quickly.

The successors, too, were flustered and drew their weapons.

Thrumming—

But it was as if an earthquake was occurring, shaking the very foundation. What could they possibly do with mere weapons in this situation?

All they could do was hope that whatever was happening wouldn’t be dangerous.

“Wh-what’s this...?”

“It doesn’t seem like anything happened...”

However, no visible change occurred.

After that, the curiosity of the successors turned towards Yi-gang and his group.

“What exactly did you do?”

“It’s a key.”

Yi-gang was the one who answered as their representative.

He said, gazing at the vertical passage, “We inserted a key.”

“There was such a thing?”

“Yes, there was.”

Jeong Myung, who had asked the question, said nothing in response to Yi-gang’s answer.

Someone murmured, “You should have said something beforehand...”

However, no one expressed any complaints.

Even they would have kept silent if they had acquired such an item themselves. Besides, there were four of them, and they had used it publicly. There was no point in making a fuss about it.

“There might be some changes.”

Tang Eun-seol stepped forward one pace.

For some reason, she began to gather sand from the ground.

As fine as rice flour, the gathered sand was then scattered into the vertical passage.

Whoosh—

There was an updraft coming from the depths in the vertical passage.

The dust scattered and soon rose to the ceiling. However, it seemed the force weakened, and most of the sand fell back down.

“It seems the wind carrying the corpse poison has weakened.”

It was undoubtedly good news. The strong updraft had been hindering entry, even if it wasn’t poisonous.

Tang Eun-seol bent over and brought her hand close to her calf.

Then, a long silver needle popped out.

She stretched out her hand and waved the silver needle swiftly.

Then, she rubbed the tip of the needle against the back of her hand.

Almost immediately, the back of her hand turned bright red.

“Hmm, seems like the toxicity has also weakened quite a bit, doesn’t it?”

It was an experiment only possible for a martial artist of the Tang Clan.

“If it’s turning that red so quickly, you’re saying it’s weakened?”

“Yes, it’s still dangerous. But the risk might have reduced to about a quarter of what it was before.”

Tang Eun-seol appeared to be quietly contemplating.

Yi-gang realized the problem.

“We don’t have the Fire box.”

Among the Five Elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, Yi-gang and his group had the boxes of Wood, Water, and Metal.

Namgung Shin must have heard someone shouting that.

Even so, he was not someone who would be caught by such a pathetic throw.

Clang!

The blade was deflected by Namgung Shin’s own sword.

But in that brief moment, an iron arrow flew and embedded itself in Namgung Shin’s back.

“Cough!”

When the body was pierced, the muscles wrapping the intestines contracted.

Breath burst out as the lungs constricted.

He clenched his mouth shut, but the corpse poison had already entered his airway.

Namgung Shin walked a few steps and then collapsed.

“Come back right now!” Tang Eun-seol shouted.

Even if poisoned, he should still be able to move.

Indeed, Namgung Shin lifted his head while supporting himself on the ground with his hands.

“Come back, you crazy fool!” Moyong Jin also shouted.

However, Namgung Shin did not turn back.

Unable to stand, he began to crawl forward.

Towards the Five Elements Divine Art.

“He’s going to die doing that,” Baek Ha-jun said quietly.

Namgung Shin showed an obsession that could only be described as bizarre.

His disregard for his own body was excessive.

This way, he would surely die. What’s the use of obtaining the Five Elements Divine Art if he died from poisoning?

Yi-gang also saw Namgung Shin’s eyes turn bloodshot.

The drops falling were tears of blood.

Yi-gang realized in that moment.

“He intended to die from the beginning.”

It wasn’t about braving death to obtain the Five Elements Divine Art.

It was suicide. A very complex and inefficient method of suicide.

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon was present in the form of a spirit.

She looked at Namgung Shin and muttered something out of the blue, 「Yi-gang, you must live.」

Yi-gang kept silent and watched Namgung Shin.

He crawled bit by bit, approaching the corpse of the Five Elements Divine Lord.

「You shouldn’t die like that.」

‘I don’t plan to die like that.’

「I’m canceling my request.」

Her long-standing wish was to gather the Blue Eye Gem and meet her kin in those Kunlun Mountains.

To be reborn as a yokai again. That was her goal.

‘Canceling it now?’

「There must be other ways to acquire spiritual energy besides me. What’s the point if you die trying to get the Blue Eye Gem?」

‘I don’t have time.’

「...」

Yi-gang glared at Namgung Shin.

The Blue Eye Gem, which he thought would be in the Criminal Repository, was in an unimaginable place.

It probably wasn’t in the Murim Alliance until a few months ago, but must have returned when Yi-gang came to Kaifeng.

He had discovered the answer to that mystery.

The reason why the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon screamed in shock on the day Yi-gang and Namgung Shin had their match.

‘If Namgung Shin falls and dies there, I’ll never be able to recover the Blue Eye Gem.’

The Blue Eye Gem that was in the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon’s eye must be embedded somewhere in Namgung Shin’s body. Yi-gang had figured it out.

The Heavenly Thunder Bell that used the power of lightning.

And the Namgung Clan’s Blue Lightning True Qi that imbued the sword with lightning.

Both were the same power, in the sense that they borrowed the power of yokai.

Namgung Shin’s thunder-like Sword Cry, and his body bleeding, unable to withstand the yokai energy, must be because of the Blue Eye Gem.

“Tch.”

Namgung Shin collapsed right in front of the corpse of the Five Elements Divine Lord.

Yi-gang wasn’t one to volunteer, but this time, it was a moment to save someone.

「If you get poisoned, then I...」

“Young Lady Tang.”

Tang Eun-seol turned to look at Yi-gang.

There was no particular sympathy for Namgung Shin in her slightly drooping eyes.

Indeed, it was that pitiful and reckless.

Yi-gang wasn’t as reckless as Namgung Shin.

“Lend me your Poison Resistance Bead.”

“What?”

“You know.”

“I don’t have it.”

A treasure that prevented poisoning when held in the mouth.

There were different levels of Poison Resistance Beads. The secret Poison Resistance Bead of the Tang Clan was no less than a Treasure never to be taken out of the house.

Yi-gang looked straight into Tang Eun-seol’s eyes.

“If you don’t have it, should I just go in?”

“If you just go in, you’ll die.”

“So please lend it to me.”

“...”

“I’ll pay you back.”

After a moment of silence, Tang Eun-seol took something out of her bosom.

“Just biting the Poison Resistance Bead doesn’t make you invincible. It only buys a little time.”

“Thank you.”

Inside the silk pouch was a bead the size of an acorn.

As Yi-gang was about to bite the Poison Resistance Bead, Tang Eun-seol added, “Wait, wipe it off before you bite. It probably won’t smell.”

Yi-gang made an effort not to frown and wiped the Poison Resistance Bead on his clothes.

Then he bit into it.

“Actually, it’s never been used before. Be careful not to get saliva on it.”

To joke in such a situation, she was indeed a remarkable woman.

Thinking this, Yi-gang started walking.