Chapter 497

Chapter 497 – In This World and Beyond, Only Moving Forward (1)

Torn black robes and black hair fluttered roughly in the fierce wind. Between the scattering hair, deeply sunken black pupils showed. At that perfectly stilled gaze reflecting not even a fragment of emotion, everyone held their breath.

Among all martial artists existing under heaven, there was only one with such intense characteristics.

Dam Ho.

He had appeared on Mount Zhongnan.

The wind that had been blowing so fiercely until just now suddenly calmed as if by magic.

As if even the wind was cowering in fear and holding its breath before Dam Ho.

At his too-intense entrance, Jong Ri-yeon couldn't even speak to him.

Dam Ho's gaze swept over Zhongnan Sect.

He saw his master Taoist Hyeon-so stuck pathetically in a wall. He saw Bang Jin-bo barely enduring pain having become a blood person.

Cho Yeon-woon, Geom Yul-cheon, and Eum Yu-kyung were all bleeding with wounds. The blood they shed was dyeing Mount Zhongnan even redder.

"Lord… !"

Gi San-wol, who'd been unconscious with head dropped for a while, barely came to his senses at Dam Ho's appearance.

He said with difficulty.

"He… is trying to open the Six Paths, my lord."

"…"

Instantly Dam Ho's gaze sank even deeper.

Gi San-wol squeezed out his energy and shouted.

"You must stop it. If the Six Paths open, this world will turn into hell."

With those words, Gi San-wol fainted again.

Dam Ho's gaze turned toward Cheok Gwan-hyeol spouting blood mist on the altar. The resonance sound grew louder, and cracks were gradually forming in midair.

Dam Ho knew well what phenomenon that was. Because he'd already experienced it once.

'Avici Hell.'

Dam Ho's dark gaze turned toward Ho Cheon-myeong.

The moment their gazes met, a bright smile rose on Ho Cheon-myeong's face.

"You've come, Fist Demon!"

"Ho Cheon-myeong!"

"Finally I see you. I've been waiting."

"You'll regret it."

"What do you mean?"

"Waiting for me."

"Hehe! As arrogant as ever. You have qualification enough for that, so it's fine. Because you're different from them."

Ho Cheon-myeong's gaze turned toward Cho Yeon-woon and Geom Yul-cheon sprawled on the ground. Receiving his gaze, Cho Yeon-woon and Geom Yul-cheon made humiliated expressions. But they couldn't make excuses. Because what Ho Cheon-myeong said was true.

Both were absolute masters representing Orthodox and Demon, but had been mercilessly defeated by Ho Cheon-myeong. The difference in level was too great from the start. Ho Cheon-myeong was never someone they could oppose.

'Friend! I'm counting on you.'

'Can he really handle it? That one…'

Now the only one they believed in was Dam Ho alone. The martial world's fate rested on his shoulders.

At that moment, Dam Ho spoke.

"You're trying to open the Six Paths?"

"That's right."

"…"

"You'll understand me. Won't you?"

"…"

Dam Ho said nothing, but his intent was conveyed to Ho Cheon-myeong.

"I knew it. I knew you'd understand me. You're the same kind as me after all."

Ho Cheon-myeong smiled bitterly.

At that moment, the same question arose in everyone's minds.

'What exactly are the Six Paths?'

Those who hadn't experienced Avici Hell like Dam Ho couldn't know the Six Paths' true meaning.

People commonly call it the Six Paths of Transmigration. It was Buddhist thought that humans endlessly transmigrate through six worlds, heaven realm, human realm, asura, animal, hungry ghost, and hell, according to karma accumulated in life. But it didn't seem Ho Cheon-myeong would mention the Six Paths in such simple meaning.

Ho Cheon-myeong continued as if resolving everyone's doubt.

"During the First Orthodox-Demon War, I faced a huge wall. Though I'd bravely advanced forward and smashed countless walls blocking my way, the wall blocking me then was too large and thick to do anything about."

People at the time grouped Ho Cheon-myeong with the Four Divine Emperors and treated them as equals. But Ho Cheon-myeong's martial arts then far surpassed the other Four Divine Emperors. He just didn't reveal that fact outwardly.

Ho Cheon-myeong valued personal achievement more than worldly fame. Even when other Four Divine Emperors were raising fame through martial world journeys, he alone immersed only in martial arts.

Though he smashed countless walls, he always had unresolved thirst. Unable to overcome thirst, he coveted other schools' martial arts. Hoping to obtain a clue to surpass the wall.

He mastered not only Heavenly Evil Cult's techniques but countless martial arts. He gained enlightenment countless times and broadened his vessel. But his vessel had reached its limit. Others said he'd already transcended human realm, but Ho Cheon-myeong couldn't be satisfied.

Then the Orthodox-Demon War broke out, and Ho Cheon-myeong had no choice but temporarily bury personal achievement desire and participate.

Looking back now, he was in extremely precarious situation like a vessel about to break. In such situation, he led a suicide squad to raid the Demon Cult's main base and fought a decisive battle with the Demon Cult's Cult Leader.

It was an evenly matched fight.

Even for Ho Cheon-myeong who inwardly claimed to be the world's best, it wasn't an easy fight. Cheok Gwan-hyeol's father was that strong.

Opportunity came unexpectedly. Fierce bloody battle with an opponent equal to himself collapsed the wall blocking him until then and expanded his soul's vessel.

Thus enlightenment came suddenly, and Ho Cheon-myeong realized the Time-Space Sword.

He embraced a mind sword that could cut time and space.

He brought down Cheok Gwan-hyeol's father with the Time-Space Sword. The Demon Cult Leader who seemed like he'd never fall collapsed with chest split.

Ho Cheon-myeong's Time-Space Sword didn't just split Cheok Gwan-hyeol's chest. It wounded time-space itself.

Then Ho Cheon-myeong saw it.

That another world existed beyond the wall of time-space.

Another world clearly existed, like the Six Paths only dead people could go to.

People were there too. And beings that weren't people also existed.

What mattered was that a world beyond this one existed, and living things were there too. Ho Cheon-myeong called that place the Six Paths. Because he saw six different worlds.

Unfortunately, the wound in space opened by Time-Space Sword healed quickly.

Then Ho Cheon-myeong realized.

That his sword could split space and let him see the world beyond. But unfortunately, he himself couldn't cross over.

The law of causality comprising the world was too solid and dense, refusing passage for beings with great power like himself to another world.

Even Ho Cheon-myeong who'd reached Time-Space Sword realm couldn't freely cross to another world.

Disparity existed in human souls. The larger one's status like Ho Cheon-myeong, the more they'd be caught in Heaven's sparse net and couldn't pass through. Conversely, those whose soul status wasn't large like Gi San-wol could pass through the small mesh between the net.

So Ho Cheon-myeong envied Gi San-wol. Because Gi San-wol had fragmentarily experienced that place Ho Cheon-myeong could only see but ultimately couldn't pass through.

The fragmentary information about that world heard from Gi San-wol further stimulated his desire to cross the wall of causality.

The moment after killing Cheok Gwan-hyeol's father and learning through Time-Space Sword that a world different from the martial world existed, he gained inspiration.

He found a way to pierce Heaven's net.

"When the world falls into chaos, Heaven's energy also shakes. When Heaven's energy shakes, the law maintaining this world also shakes, and eventually even the solid net-like wall of time-space weakens. So I let the Demon Cult Leader's son live. Because I knew his rage would ultimately burn this world."

Everything flowed as he expected.

Cheok Gwan-hyeol became the new Demon Cult Leader and grew steadily, rebuilt the Demon Cult. And plunged the world into chaos. What Ho Cheon-myeong did was merely instigate their collision between Demon Cult and Central Plains and fan conflicts.

That alone was enough.

Incomparably more people sacrificed than in the First Orthodox-Demon War, and consequently the law and walls dominating this world weakened. Especially performing rites after destroying Shaolin Temple and Murim Alliance was decisive.

"But that alone is insufficient. Just like during the First Orthodox-Demon War. To open the wall crossing to that world requires a great sacrifice. A soul bearing karma great enough to collapse all causality at once."

"Is that Cheok Gwan-hyeol?"

"That's right. That's why I let him live. For today. Becoming Demon Cult Leader, he accumulated heavy karma that can never be forgiven. Using his blood as medium, the door to the Six Paths will open, and I'll cross over there."

Joy's light already rose on Ho Cheon-myeong's face. He'd become self-inspired by revealing the secret he'd hidden so tightly until now.

Having heard all explanation, Taoist Hyeon-so asked.

"What exactly exists in that place, the Six Paths, that you'd bring the martial world to destruction?"

"That's what I'm curious about too. What I saw was only an extremely small part."

"I'll pray it's a place worth that much."

"Thank you."

Though Taoist Hyeon-so spoke sarcastically, Ho Cheon-myeong accepted it casually.

Woooong!

Even at that moment, the crack above the altar was growing larger. The moment the crack reached its peak, he'd cross to the Six Paths he'd dreamed of so much.

"Consider it an honor. Being invited to the historic moment when a new world opens."

"You're thoroughly insane. Dyeing all of Central Plains in blood for such a reason. Just to go to the Six Paths. Don't you feel sorry for the countless people who died because of you?"

"I go because I can. There's no reason for guilt to intrude."

Ho Cheon-myeong's gaze turned toward Dam Ho.

"Isn't that right? I think you can understand me. You too glimpsed the Six Paths briefly, didn't you? A world different from here."

"…"

Dam Ho's eyebrows twitched. Then Ho Cheon-myeong smiled.

"That's why I've let you live until now. Because I thought you who glimpsed the Six Paths could understand me."

"Are you done talking?"

"What?"

"I can't listen to an old dog barking any longer."

Instantly Ho Cheon-myeong's face hardened for the first time.

The relaxed expression until now completely disappeared, replaced by a face frightening enough to give goosebumps just looking.

Dam Ho stared at such Ho Cheon-myeong's face.

That was Ho Cheon-myeong's real face. The face smiling pleasantly until just now was only a mask.

"You clearly saw the Six Paths yet say such things. Were you also only a common person? How disappointing, Fist Demon!"

"What about the Six Paths?"

"What?"

"What does it matter that another world exists?"

Dam Ho's voice sank deeply.

Certainly in Avici Hell, he saw the Six Paths. The doors leading to six different worlds. No one could know whether that place would lead to hell, or truly lead to worlds like hungry ghosts and animal realm.

Certainly it was an interesting world. It was true curiosity arose. But that didn't mean he wanted to cross there while driving countless people into war.

Heaven deliberately made such solid net of causality so powerful beings like Ho Cheon-myeong couldn't freely cross, surely for good reason. He didn't want to forcibly break such law of causality.

He was born with fate carrying blood. Even crossing to that world, that fact would never change.

Fighting to the point of nausea was enough in this world.

That's what Dam Ho thought.

His final opponent was precisely Ho Cheon-myeong.

"Ha!"

Ho Cheon-myeong breathed out softly. Because the moment he saw Dam Ho's dark two eyes, he instinctively knew no words would work.

"In the end, even you don't understand me."

He looked at Dam Ho with truly disappointed eyes.

He suddenly felt lonely.

The fact that no one existed at the same height as where he stood made him desolate and lonely. But feeling loneliness was also only momentary. Because the emotion of rage immediately replaced it.

It was rage toward Dam Ho, and rage toward this world that made him desolate.

At that moment, Dam Ho started walking toward him.

Stamping right foot, dragging left foot.

It was Dam Ho's characteristic off-beat walk that unsettled people's hearts. Until now, countless martial artists had been overwhelmed by such Dam Ho's walk and couldn't display their ability.

But Ho Cheon-myeong was different. Rather than cowering in fear, he now looked at Dam Ho with contemptuous eyes.

"You're certainly strong. You reached the limit martial artists can climb. But you couldn't cross the final wall. With those legs, it would be impossible. How unfortunate. If you'd crossed the wall and gained vision to see from the same height as me, you'd surely have understood me."

Pat!

Instantly Dam Ho kicked the earth. Deploying Charging Step.

Like a ramming device breaking castles, Dam Ho surged at fearsome speed. But Ho Cheon-myeong avoided such Dam Ho's attack easily. He retreated back as much as Dam Ho advanced.

Retreating backward speed had to be slower than advancing forward speed. Because it was an absolute limit that couldn't be overcome by human body structure. But Ho Cheon-myeong was smashing such people's common sense to pieces.

The distance between Ho Cheon-myeong and Dam Ho didn't narrow and stayed the same.

"You who haven't transcended human limits can't be my opponent."

Ho Cheon-myeong spoke calmly without even breathing growing rough.

Dam Ho no longer answered.

Pat!

Once again Charging Step unfolded.

Breaking through the wall of air blocking the front, he received fierce resistance. Hair shook crazily in wind pressure, and fierce two pupils glowed ominously.

It seemed like a beast rather than human charging while exploding madness. But even such Dam Ho's appearance couldn't shake Ho Cheon-myeong's heart.

"Tsk!"

Ho Cheon-myeong clicked his tongue and tried retreating back again.

That's when it happened.

Suddenly powerful attraction arose and grabbed his ankle. It was the phenomenon occurring before deploying Shattering Star Lunch.

For the first time, unusual light rose in Ho Cheon-myeong's eyes.

Though he'd heard information that attraction occurred when Dam Ho deployed Shattering Star Punch, experiencing it directly was another matter.

Grgrgr!

His feet were dragged toward Dam Ho leaving deep furrows in the earth. At that moment, Ho Cheon-myeong gave up resisting. Then Ho Cheon-myeong was helplessly drawn to Dam Ho like a fallen leaf scattering in wind.

Kwaang!

At that moment, Shattering Star Punch exploded.

Tremendous force concentrated at one point, and as aftermath fierce whirlwind swept all around.

"Kruk!"

"Mm!"

Not only Bang Jin-bo but even masters like Cho Yeon-woon staggered unable to properly open their eyes.

Only after the fierce wind scratched past could people barely open their eyes.

"Ah!"

Jong Ri-yeon watching the battlefield unconsciously let out a lament.

Because Dam Ho who'd deployed Shattering Star Punch was instead stuck in a large boulder. Ho Cheon-myeong stood aloof before Dam Ho in intact form with hands clasped behind his back.

"Aah! What is this…"

"Fist Demon fell?"

Disbelief's light rose on people's faces.

To them, Dam Ho was an impregnable fortress that would never collapse. That fortress collapsed, and their faith shattered to pieces.

Ho Cheon-myeong smiled looking at Dam Ho stuck in the boulder while bleeding.