Chapter 57

A short while later, they had entered the depths of the cave.

'It was a groundless worry after all.'

Yushinyun thought this as he saw the calm expressions of the Jeongwongak members illuminated by the torchlight. They showed no particular mental disturbance even after seeing the words inscribed on the stone that provoked instinctive fear.

It seemed they had already resolved to endure such a level of danger when they decided to climb Cheonmok Mountain.

Of course, this did not apply to everyone.

'Except for that guy.'

At the front of the formation, Zhuge Jun, holding a torch, had a face that looked like he was about to cry.

Before entering the cave, he had almost begged Yushinyun.

"Your Majesty, entering the cave is an extremely dangerous decision. You might not know much about martial arts history, but from the stories passed down, Mansang was truly a madman, mad to the core."

Indeed, Zhuge Jun had good reason to dissuade them. As the stories go, Mansang's life was that of a madman. He had single-handedly confronted the powerful factions of the time, who had disputes with him, using bizarre mechanisms and mystical formations, utterly destroying them.

However, Yushinyun was not swayed by Zhuge Jun's words.

"Don't worry. As I said, I only brought those with the talent to break through the cave."

He merely repeated the cryptic words he had said when they set out.

If anyone else had said it, it would have been dismissed as nonsense.

Strangely, however, Ma Re and Huang Nuo felt that Yushinyun's seemingly absurd words made them believe they could really accomplish it.

Chu chu.

Just then, something caught Zhuge Jun's attention, and he stopped in his tracks.

"Your Majesty."

He shone the torch on the cave wall.

There, the word 'First Pavilion' was written in large letters.

The faces of the Jeongwongak members, who had just noticed it, gradually tensed.

'Good, it's starting now.'

Yushinyun's face was filled with anticipation as he stepped forward, pushing past the tense members.

Hwa!

Hwa!

Suddenly, a gentle light began to spread through the cave. The phosphorescent stones on the walls started to glow, illuminating the previously dark surroundings.

"…!"

"What is this?"

The Jeongwongak members were all equally perplexed. In front of them was a vast chamber.

And a wide expanse of water spread out, almost like a lake.

Dang Halin, who recovered first, began to look around sharply.

"…Since it says 'First Pavilion,' there should be a gateway inside."

But no matter how much he looked, there was nothing else. Only the deep, bottomless water was visible.

"Ma Re can only see water. The surroundings are blocked."

"There's no exit anywhere. It seems the structure has changed due to natural disasters over time. Your Majesty, let's turn back and find another way."

Seeing no exit in the revealed area, Zhuge Jun regained his composure and requested a retreat from Yushinyun.

But Yushinyun shook his head and spoke.

"There's no need. We have already entered the gateway."

"…What?"

"This lake itself is the first gateway."

"…!"

The lake itself is a gateway?

Everyone's eyes widened at Yushinyun's words.

He continued.

"Look closely at both ends."

The Jeongwongak members, with their eyes half-open, examined both ends of the chamber.

"Ah!"

Soon, someone let out an exclamation.

Upon closer inspection, there were small patches of land, just large enough for a person to stand on, protruding from both ends.

There was no reason for such terrain to form naturally.

Dang Halin, who had figured out the method to pass through the gateway, spoke softly.

"…Two people must enter the water and move to those spots."

Yushinyun nodded.

Finding a simpler solution than expected, Zhuge Jun let out a sigh of relief.

"Phew, at least Mansang has some conscience, making the first mechanism relatively easy."

"Yes, all we need to do is avoid the Jia Gui Fish in the Thousand Layers of Ice Water and move to those spots."

"Is that so? Just the Thousand Layers of Ice Water and the Jia Gui Fish… What?"

Realizing the implications of Yushinyun's words, Zhuge Jun was so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth.

The Thousand Layers of Ice Water was a mystical water from the depths of the Northern Ice Palace, containing extreme cold.

The Jia Gui Fish were monstrous creatures with iron-like scales and needle-like teeth, known to inhabit the dense forests of the Southern Barbarian region.

Zhuge Jun's face turned pale as he looked at the lake.

"Madness, madness! Pouring enough Thousand Layers of Ice Water to flood the chamber and releasing the Jia Gui Fish inside…"

The room fell silent at his words.

At that moment, Dang Halin concluded that Yushinyun's previous confident statements were lies.

'The Thousand Layers of Ice Water will freeze anyone who hasn't mastered Yin-Yang Qi Gong to death. And the Jia Gui Fish are known to devour even the most skilled masters when they attack in groups. This is absolutely impossible.'

As she thought, only a superlative expert capable of using the technique of walking on water (Deng Ping Du Shui) could pass through this gateway.

"Alright, I think that's enough explanation. Time is short, so let's start. Ma Re, come forward."

"Understood, Master."

As Yushinyun finished speaking, Ma Re walked forward with a calm expression.

Watching this, a look of anger began to form in Dang Halin's eyes.

'Now I understand why he chose such people. He picked those who could be sacrificed without consequences.'

Swoosh.

She subtly placed her hand on the sword hilt at her waist.

If Yushinyun made any reckless moves, she planned to quickly subdue him to prevent any sacrifices.

However, Yushinyun's subsequent actions were completely different from what she expected.

"Alright, sit cross-legged in front of me."

Ma Re immediately sat down on the ground.

Yushinyun walked over and gently placed his hands on Ma Re's shoulders.

'What is he trying to do?'

Dang Halin and Zhuge Jun were completely baffled.

At that moment,

Shuaa! Shuaa!

The surrounding air suddenly changed.

"…!"

A powerful aura was overflowing from Yushinyun's entire body.

It was a pure and transcendent force that even calmed the inner qi of those around him.

Dang Halin and Zhuge Jun's minds went blank.

'…This is unbelievable! He's already at the peak of the transcendent realm!'

However, Yushinyun had no time to pay attention to them.

He was focused on guiding Ma Re's qi.

But this was different from what he had done for Do Jin-woo.

'Amazing. Despite never learning martial arts, his eight qi meridians are so clean. Fortunately, there is no resistance to accepting my qi.'

This time, he was performing a technique called Ge Ti Chuan Gong (Transmitting Qi Through the Body), transferring a part of his own qi.

He did this because Ma Re was necessary to pass through the gateway.

In front of Yushinyun, a small status window for Ma Re appeared.

[Ma Re]

Bone Structure: Cold-Resistant Body (A+)

Trait: Cold-Resistant (A+)

Indeed, Ma Re, though untrained in martial arts, had a unique innate bone structure called 'Cold-Resistant Body.'

He was the ideal candidate to pass through this gateway.

This new ability of Yushinyun's was a result of his bone structure evolving from 'Xian Bone' to 'Yi Tian Bone,' granting him the 'Bai Hun Eye.'

[Bone Structure, 'Yi Tian Bone' (SS+)]

A bone structure that only 'Yao Immortals' can possess, which humans cannot.

-All cultivation rates of dark arts +200%.

-Probability of being affected by dark arts -80%.

-Sensitivity to natural forces +150%.

-Affinity with natural forces +200%.

-Always active 'Bai Hun Eye'.

[Bai Hun Eye (S+)]

Can glimpse the 'Bone Structure' and 'Trait' of opponents with a lower level.

-As the proficiency of the trait increases, the number of traits that can be glimpsed increases.

Due to the lack of time to increase proficiency, he could only glimpse one bone structure and one trait during interviews.

But even this was enough to select outstanding talents who would be valuable in the future.

Swoosh.

At that moment, Yushinyun's aura began to fade, indicating the completion of the Ge Ti Chuan Gong.

After examining the qi circulating calmly within Ma Re's body, Yushinyun finally removed his hands.

His face was filled with satisfaction.

'Good, with the resistance of the Cold-Resistant Body and the Donghua Xian Qi and Leiyun Shen Qi, he should be able to withstand the Thousand Layers of Ice Water.'

In the next moment, Ma Re slowly opened his eyes.

At first, he was confused, but soon his eyes filled with gratitude and emotion.

Though he knew nothing about martial arts, he could feel an unknown power surging within him.

He also realized that his master had given him something precious.

"…Thank you, Master."

Ma Re spoke with a trembling voice.

Chu chu.

Then, he knelt on one knee and continued.

"Ma Re has met his master for life. Ma Re will stay by your side until the day he dies."

Seeing Ma Re's sincere loyalty, Yushinyun smiled and nodded.

Dang Halin, witnessing this touching pledge of loyalty, was speechless.

'…What is happening here?'

She had to admit that her predictions were completely wrong once again.

Just then, another unexpected event occurred.

Swoosh.

"…!"

Dang Halin's face turned red.

Yushinyun had suddenly taken off his upper garment.

As his hand moved down to his waist,

"What are you doing!"

Dang Halin quickly turned her head and raised her voice.

Yushinyun, however, looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"Did you not hear the explanation properly? Two people need to enter the lake."

"…What?"

When Dang Halin asked in confusion, Yushinyun sighed and concluded.

"Did you think I would send my subordinate alone into danger? Of course, I will go in as well."

Contrary to her expectations, the second person to enter the lake, where the Jia Gui Fish were rampant, was Yushinyun himself.

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