Chapter 66: What Are You?
Once Jang Woo-hyun joined the fray, it didn’t take long to subdue the bandits.
Gwak Yu-chan could’ve handled it alone, but with Jang Woo-hyun helping by his side, it was over in no time.
Although damaged, they managed to drag out two still-functional ships from the canyon.
Afterward, the three of them were able to fully release the imprisoned beastkin.
“Thank you. I am Myo-gang of the Beast King Gate.”
One of the former prisoners stepped forward to speak as their representative.
He was a leopard beastkin with a sturdy frame. He cupped his fists respectfully as he addressed them.
Seeing a beastkin perform a martial artist’s salute felt odd to Jang Woo-hyun, but it was something he needed to get used to. After all, this was Middle-Heaven.
“Beast King Gate? Even a warrior from the Beast King Gate was captured?”
“I moved on my own after hearing rumors of beastkin being abducted, but I was caught by Bi-ik-ryeon.”
“So the Beast King Gate is aware of this situation?”
“They haven’t yet realized the gravity of it. But once I return and report this, they will understand.”
Pung So-bong and Myo-gang continued talking, but Jang Woo-hyun paid them no mind and headed deeper into the ship. His true objective wasn’t rescuing beastkin—it was retrieving Dragon King's Scale.
As he stepped inside, the interior of the ship was wider than expected, with clear signs of battle visible in multiple places.
Scorched marks and shattered walls—this was the ship Pung So-bong had attacked, not Gwak Yu-chan.
‘He’s not a martial artist.’
From the aura Pung So-bong gave off, Jang Woo-hyun could tell he wasn’t a martial artist.
He seemed to be a spellcaster, but not the kind typically encountered in the Central Plains.
‘A cultivator, most likely.’
Even without asking, it was obvious.
Pung So-bong was not a martial artist from the Murim, but a cultivator from the cultivation world.
Following the traces of the battle, Jang Woo-hyun moved inward, guided by Dragon King's Scale’s presence.
In the largest cabin, he found Dragon King's Scale lying on a table, bound tightly with chains as thick as fingers.
“So this is where you were?”
With a swift slash of his sword, Jang Woo-hyun cut through the chains and picked up Dragon King's Scale.
Clink.
About fifty blade-like scales that had been detached from one of his arms flew through the air and reattached themselves.
The fully reassembled Dragon King's Scale thrummed softly in Jang Woo-hyun’s hand, almost as if pleased to be reunited.
“Yeah, I’m glad to see you too.”
Murmuring that they should never be apart again, Jang Woo-hyun drew the other sword he hadn't used yet and dropped it to the floor. He then slid Dragon King's Scale into its sheath.
From the beginning, one of the two swords he carried had been a large one, intended as a sheath for Dragon King's Scale.
Having recovered his weapon, Jang Woo-hyun stepped back out of the ship.
“There he is. Guess we’re off now.”
“Have you finished everything?”
“These folks will take care of the rest. There’s no need for us to stay.”
At Pung So-bong’s words, Jang Woo-hyun glanced around.
Apparently, Myo-gang hadn’t been the only one imprisoned.
Several beastkin who appeared to have learned martial arts were tending to the others and cleaning up the area.
“Esteemed seniors, we will surely repay this favor.”
Myo-gang bowed with a martial artist’s salute, and the other warriors followed suit, expressing their gratitude.
Even the ordinary beastkin who had been rescued offered heartfelt thanks to the three of them.
Strangely, the beastkin directed their gratitude particularly toward Jang Woo-hyun. When he followed their sparkling gazes, he quickly understood why.
‘I should really cover my shoulder somehow.’
In the Central Plains, no one recognized the mark of Great Sage of the Flowing Wind, but the beastkin knew it immediately.
Though they weren’t calling him “Immortal” like the children had, their gazes were heavy with reverence.
That included the martial artist beastkin as well.
Under their burdensome stares and amidst their thanks, the trio boarded their flying device and took off toward their next destination.
---
Soaring through the skies at high speed, Jang Woo-hyun finally saw with his own eyes the floating continents and floating islands that Pung So-bong had described.
The place where he had initially arrived was a massive landmass suspended in the sky, worthy of being called a continent.
No one knew what kind of force kept such an enormous landmass floating, but there it was—impossibly large and hanging in the sky.
Flying for about half a shichen from the edge of the floating continent, the trio eventually arrived at a small island.
This time, the island wasn’t very large.
At its center stood a stone building, little more than a frame.
On the floor inside, something was drawn.
Packed with strange letters and symbols, it resembled the spell formation they had seen before when facing the Demon Cult’s Left Messenger, Woo Jeong-hak.
“That’s a spatial teleportation spell formation. We’ll use it to travel a long distance.”
As he steered the flying device closer to the stone building, Pung So-bong explained.
“Where are we going?”
“We’re heading to the domain of martial artists. Middle-Heaven is home to many races and peoples, but we’re going to the area known as the Martial Artists’ Domain—commonly referred to as Middle-Heaven Murim. Technically, this area we’re in now is also part of it, but it’s more on the outskirts. We’ll be heading closer to the core.”
“Is that okay though? Won’t the beastkin be in danger again? Didn’t you stop by that village because you had business there?”
“We had originally planned to do something, but it’s no longer necessary. That beastkin named Myo-gang we met earlier volunteered to take care of it. He’ll be traveling around and relocating the beastkin to safer places. And once the Beast King Gate realizes how serious this is, they’ll help. The three of us can’t protect every beastkin village.”
Jang Woo-hyun had been concerned about the children they met back there, but hearing that reassured him as he stepped toward the spell formation.
“To move around Middle-Heaven, you’ll find yourself using these a lot. Without wood from Geonmok trees and spatial teleportation formations, traveling in this vast realm is incredibly difficult.”
With that explanation, Pung So-bong activated the spell formation, and the three were enveloped in light and vanished.
---
After the teleportation, the trio once again took to the skies aboard their flying craft.
As they flew, the two explained more about Middle-Heaven Murim to Jang Woo-hyun.
They chatted while traveling, and before long, they arrived at their destination and descended to the ground.
An old manor nestled within the forest.
That was where they had been headed.
As they walked across the clearing in front of the manor, Jang Woo-hyun spotted the signboard hanging above the main gate and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Azure Dragon Martial Hall
‘First White Tiger, now Azure Dragon.’
Whether it was fate or coincidence, his first steps in Middle-Heaven Murim had started at the White Tiger Martial Hall—and now continued at the Azure Dragon Martial Hall.
Creeeeak.
The rusted hinges groaned as Jang Woo-hyun stepped through the gates of the Azure Dragon Martial Hall.
“Wait here for a bit. The two of us need to talk.”
“Yes.”
Pung So-bong and Gwak Yu-chan left Jang Woo-hyun behind and entered the inner building.
Left alone, Jang Woo-hyun had nothing else to do, so he began circulating his Qi.
About half a shichen later, the two returned from the building.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got a real knack for teaching, you know.”
“Stop spouting nonsense.”
“Alright, alright. Relax. Just leave everything to me. I’ll make him the next old Great Hero of Middle-Heaven.”
“Old Great Hero, my ass…”
Pung So-bong gave Gwak Yu-chan a look full of exasperation before approaching Jang Woo-hyun.
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
“It’s a communication talisman. It doesn’t work in real time, so just keep it on you and check it from time to time. It could take a while to receive anything.”
“Where are you going?”
In response to the question, he pointed at Jang Woo-hyun’s left shoulder.
“I’m going to look for someone who can release that. I’ve got some connections, so I’d be better suited to find one than you.”
“Pardon? There’s no need to go that far…”
“No more of that. I’ve already decided to help, so don’t say another word. I’ll come back with a spellcaster who can release it, so stay here for a while.”
“Take your time. It’ll take at least ten years to learn what I’ll be teaching you anyway. So go ahead without worrying.”
“He just likes to drink, that’s all. He’s not a bad person, so don’t worry too much. As you saw earlier, he’s got skill too.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Well then, we’ll meet again.”
With those words, Pung So-bong left Jang Woo-hyun behind at the Cheongryong Martial Hall.
“Alright then, now that you’ve arrived at my martial hall, let me formally introduce myself. I’m Gwak Yu-chan, the one who runs Cheongryong Martial Hall.”
Gwak Yu-chan, who had walked over with slow, dragging steps, stood before Jang Woo-hyun and introduced himself.
“I’m Jang Woo-hyun. So from now on, should I call you ‘Hall Master’?”
“Hey now! What ‘Hall Master’? Just call me Senior Gwak. You’ve just recently ascended, so I’m sure you don’t know anything yet, right? Then how about we jump right into the lesson? I may not look it, but I’m actually a pretty good teacher.”
“That sounds great.”
At the mention of training, Jang Woo-hyun beamed with a sparkle in his eyes.
“Follow me.”
With that, Gwak Yu-chan dashed off. Jang Woo-hyun followed behind using his light footwork.
Instead of the front gate, they ran out the back of the martial hall, crossed through the forest, and climbed over two peaks before finally stopping.
“We need to be out this far. If you use your strength back there, it’s going to be a pain.”
Shaking his head with a fed-up expression, Gwak Yu-chan spoke.
“Let’s start by seeing what you’ve got.”
Without hesitation, Jang Woo-hyun dispelled the Secret Flowing Body Technique as naturally as breathing and summoned his energy.
Fwooooom!
A powerful aura burst out from him, spreading in all directions.
The earth beneath him was pushed away, and soon cracks began forming in the ground.
“Hmm, among the ones who’ve just ascended, you’re…”
Just as he was about to evaluate him, Gwak Yu-chan stopped mid-sentence. Jang Woo-hyun’s strength wasn’t just that.
The surging energy quieted again as Jang Woo-hyun wrapped his body in the Sacred Heavenly Flowing Armor. A soft radiance surrounded him.
“…”
Staring at that sight, Gwak Yu-chan fell silent and opened his eyes wide.
“You… what the… is this even possible?”
His skills were far more impressive than expected. But more importantly, Jang Woo-hyun had managed to deceive even Gwak Yu-chan’s eyes. Despite being stronger than Jang Woo-hyun, he hadn’t been able to gauge his strength properly.
‘What is this?’
Once the softly glowing armor enveloped his body, his power suddenly rose. While he hadn’t stepped into the next realm beyond transcendence, he was far stronger than others of similar level.
Gwak Yu-chan stared at Jang Woo-hyun silently for a long while before stepping forward and reaching out.
Crackle! Zzzzzz—
A minor shockwave exploded as his hand clashed with the Sacred Heavenly Flowing Armor.
“Amazing… that this can be used this way.”
He had never imagined using protective Qi like this. Rather than just a defensive technique, it felt like it turned the user into an entirely different person.
And it reminded him of something.
‘Is it different from that one?’
After silently examining the Sacred Heavenly Flowing Armor for a while, Gwak Yu-chan came to a conclusion.
‘They start the same, but the direction is different.’
It was similar to a martial art he had seen before. He needed to confirm something.
“Woo-hyun.”
“Yes?”
“Do you by any chance know a… what was the name again… something with Cheol…”
“Cheol? Are you referring to a person?”
“Cheol… Cheol-ee? Cheol-jin? Argh, what was it?”
Gwak Yu-chan scratched his head, trying hard to recall. Then suddenly, as if it hit him, he snapped his fingers.
“Cheol Geuk-jin! Do you know someone named Cheol Geuk-jin?”
“What?!”
The completely unexpected name made Jang Woo-hyun freeze in shock.
“You don’t? He used a martial art similar to this. Looked like it had the same origin… maybe not?”
“No, I do. Lord Cheol. So… you met Senior Cheol?”
“Yeah, by Lower Realm time, it was about ten years ago? We crossed paths once.”
The peerless master who had entrusted him with the secret manual of the Tyrant God Armor—Paecheonmunju, Tyrant King Cheol Geuk-jin.
From Gwak Yu-chan’s words, Jang Woo-hyun could tell. He had ascended too.
He had assumed the reason Cheol Geuk-jin had gone into seclusion was that he was near death. But now it was clear—Cheol Geuk-jin had been on the verge of ascension.
‘So that’s what it was…’
There had been a moment when Cheol Geuk-jin’s presence suddenly felt faint during their meeting.
Now he understood why.
After giving Jang Woo-hyun the Tyrant God Armor, having let go of his earthly attachments, he had broken through and ascended.
For Jang Woo-hyun, the number of people he needed to meet in Middle-Heaven had just grown beyond Kim Min-soo, the Demon God Cultivator.
But there was one strange thing.
‘Why ten years ago?’
It had only been about a year since Jang Woo-hyun had met Cheol Geuk-jin and then ascended. But according to Gwak Yu-chan, he had met him about ten years ago in Lower Realm time.
‘The time…’
Something was off.
Time itself was twisted.