Chapter 175. Just as Water Cannot Be Cut by a Sword

The fallen Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python did not rise again.

Twitch, twitch!

Although its breath had stopped, its nerves seemed alive as it writhed occasionally, but it was certain that it was dead.

There was absolutely no Life Qi, which must be felt from a living creature…

“Huff, huff!”

Jin Cheon lay spread-eagled beside the corpse of the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python, gasping for breath.

Having struck, struck, and struck the head of the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python for nearly a moment (15 minutes), he was on the verge of exhaustion.

Moreover, wasn’t this the middle of the Scorching Hell filled with terrifying heat?

Not only were the martial arts robes worn inside the Nine-headed Dragon Robe soaked due to the sweat pouring like rain, but thanks to the burning thirst, he felt like dying.

Fwoosh!

Jin Cheon burned three Northern Yin Wind Way Talismans as an emergency measure to drive out the heat, then bit the leather pouch tied to his waist and gulped down water.

Because he had sweated severely in the process of dealing with the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python, it was necessary to replenish fluids.

“I’m really going to die.”

Jin Cheon leaned on the corpse of the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python and laid out his grumbling.

“An Imugi breathing fire… if not for Eldest Senior Brother, I would have become roasted meat.”

No matter how much he thought about it, if not for the Dark Heaven Black Tortoise Armor, it seemed he wouldn’t have been able to withstand the terrifying flames spewed by the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python.

The flames were fast, and the range was so wide that ordinary masters would clearly have burned to death while standing.

Didn’t even Jin Cheon panic at the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python’s fire breath and barely manage to block it by lifting the Dark Heaven Black Tortoise Armor without even the spare time to dodge?

“Anyway, what to do with all this…”

Jin Cheon felt his vision go dark looking at the corpse of the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python writhing as if still alive.

Since he had caught a spiritual creature like the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python, he had obtained an immense miraculous encounter, but the problem was that he had no time to process the carcass and didn’t even know the method well.

He couldn’t dare to remove the scales boasting a strength greater than average steel and skin the hide.

Also, he couldn’t even guess how severe the stamina consumption would be to proceed with the dismantling work here in the Scorching Hell of all places.

‘Let’s just take the Inner Core (Neidan) for now. I’ll take things like scales or hide later.’

Thinking that, Jin Cheon searched for the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python’s heart, that is, the Inner Core first.

Clang, claaang!

‘Crazy.’

The scales and hide of the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python were so hard that even the sword wrapped in the sword flux of the Extinction Kalpa Flame wouldn’t cut well.

‘It was good that I beat it to death.’

Jin Cheon thought it was good that he faced the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python with the Dark Heaven Black Tortoise Armor.

If he had tried to face it with a sword while the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python was alive, he felt he would have struggled much more.

With scales and hide this hard, it would be a hundred times better to inflict shock using a blunt weapon like a shield rather than a sword.

“Phew.”

Still, thanks to the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python being dead, Jin Cheon was able to obtain the Inner Core without much difficulty.

Sizzle!

“Ugh!”

The problem was that the Inner Core was so hot that even though he raised Powerful Qi to protect his hand, he couldn’t avoid getting burned.

‘Truly terrible heat. For people training in Yang attributes martial arts, this will be a spiritual medicine several times better than the Great Cycle Pill.’

Jin Cheon put on the Flame God Gauntlet lent by Yeom Bi, picked up the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python’s Inner Core, and put it inside the sleeve of the Nine-headed Dragon Robe.

The Nine-headed Dragon Robe, the number one treasured tool under the heavens, capably stored even the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python’s Inner Core, which held heat greater than a red-hot lump of charcoal.

‘Seems I only did a good deed for Senior Brother Yeom.’

Jin Cheon smirked.

Because no matter how much he thought about it, it seemed there was no one but Yeom Bi to take the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python’s Inner Core.

‘I got to give a good gift to Senior Brother Yeom.’

A smile rose on Jin Cheon’s lips.

From Yeom Bi’s perspective, there couldn’t be a better piece of good news than this, but that would be a story for when Jin Cheon obtained the essence of Fire here in the Scorching Hell and returned safely.

* * *

The Scorching Hell was indeed a hell worthy of being called one of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Five Great Forbidden Lands.

It seemed the existence of spiritual creatures like the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python and the terrifying heat were not particularly dangerous things in the Scorching Hell.

“…What on earth is this.”

Jin Cheon could not gauge the identity of the strange beings blocking his path.

After all, they were Fire People made of burning flames.

Although they took the shape of humans, they were ‘somethings’ made only of hot flames, not flesh and blood like living people.

But Jin Cheon was soon able to infer their identity, at least roughly.

It was thanks to the eyes of the Heavenly Demon’s Physique with developed Qi Sense being able to see what ordinary people could not.

‘They are ghosts.’

The Fire People reflected in Jin Cheon’s eyes were a kind of vengeful spirits.

It was clear that the souls of those who entered the Scorching Hell over the past hundreds of years and lost their lives were trapped inside, wandering, and came to possess human forms by reacting to Sky Mountain’s spiritual energy and the surrounding heat.

“Move.”

Jin Cheon ordered carrying the Heavenly Demon Command in his voice, but the Fire People did not budge.

‘It’s useless because they aren’t devils possessing demonic energy. Indeed, since they are beings closer to ghosts than demons.’

As long as the Heavenly Demon Command didn’t work, there was only one answer.

Grip!

Jin Cheon raised his sword.

“If you won’t move, I have no choice but to cut you down and pass.”

“…”

The Fire People did not react to Jin Cheon’s words.

They just approached slowly and narrowed the distance with Jin Cheon.

‘Can’t be helped.’

Thinking that, Jin Cheon swung his sword.

Slaaaash!

Jin Cheon’s sword carrying the sword flux of the Extinction Kalpa Flame drew a black trajectory and bisected the waist of the Fire Person in front.

However…

Whoosh!

“…!”

Jin Cheon flinched in surprise seeing his sword pass through cutting empty air.

The Fire Person did not fall.

Even the sword carrying the sword flux of the Extinction Kalpa Flame merely split the Fire Demon’s upper body and passed through, failing to give any damage.

“What kind of…!”

While Jin Cheon was slightly flustered.

Roar!

Truly hot, intense flames spewed out from the Fire Demon’s body and covered Jin Cheon.

“Kuegh!”

A groan filled with pain burst out from Jin Cheon’s mouth.

Although not as much as the Blaze Fire Red Scale Divine Python, it was because the flames spewed by the Fire Demon were so powerful.

The problem was that was just the beginning.

Roar!

The Fire Demons spewed fire and rushed at Jin Cheon all at once.

“Ugh!”

Jin Cheon swung his sword truly frantically, almost as if reaching a state of selflessness, but it was useless.

Swish, whoosh!

The sword only passed through the Fire Demons but could not cut them.

‘Ah.’

Jin Cheon realized only then.

Just as water cannot be cut by a sword, fire also cannot be cut…

That meant there was no way for Jin Cheon to do anything about the Fire Demons.

Force, that is, martial arts didn’t work, so what could he do?

“Dammit!”

Jin Cheon urgently unfolded his movement arts and threw his body to dodge the flocking Fire People.

Whoosh!

Deep red fireballs flew in.

The Fire People started attacking Jin Cheon by shooting fireballs as if shooting Powerful Qi.

Boom, ba-boom!

Every time the fireballs that missed Jin Cheon hit the ground, a loud explosion occurred and flames soared.

Seeing the surface of the ground hollowed out deeply and stone fragments flying in all directions, he could know how terrifying the destructive power contained in the fireballs was.

‘Damn it!’

Trembling at this frustrating situation, Jin Cheon lifted the Dark Heaven Black Tortoise Armor and blocked the flying fireballs.

‘Is there no way?’

He couldn’t just be chased forever.

Since Jin Cheon was also human, he would eventually get exhausted and collapse…

‘They are fire. Also ghosts. They are not guys I can face with martial arts. Then…’

One answer.

Jin Cheon took out the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman from his bosom.

It goes without saying that facing ghosts with sorcery is the best method.

In a situation like this, the only thing to trust was the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman Wi Mu-rin had given him.

Fwip!

Jin Cheon threw the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman toward the Fire People.

“…!”

The Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman stuck fast to the Fire People.

Surprisingly, even though the Fire People were made of hot flames, the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman did not burn away.

That meant the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman was sufficiently effective against the Fire People.

‘This is it!’

Jin Cheon dug into the Fire Person with the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman attached and thrust his sword toward it.

The target was the center of the chest, where the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman was attached.

Stab!

Jin Cheon’s sword pierced the Fire Person’s chest starting from the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman.

Ssssss!

Soon, blue Cold Qi leaked out from the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman and seemed to wrap around the Fire Person, and the flames grew gradually weaker.

Eventually, with a poof sound, the Fire Person caused a very small explosion and disappeared.

‘This is it!’

A smile rose on Jin Cheon’s lips.

The plan to face the Fire People using the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman had hit the mark.

‘Thank you, Senior Brother Wi.’

Jin Cheon conveyed his gratitude to Wi Mu-rin, who made the Northern Yin Wind Way Talisman, in his heart and struck down the Fire People one by one.

* * *

‘Almost got in big trouble.’

Jin Cheon, who succeeded in striking down all the Fire People, continued to move his steps and went deeper, much deeper inside the Scorching Hell.

But even for such Jin Cheon, a limit clearly existed…

“…Ugh.”

Jin Cheon could not move his steps any further, unable to overcome the hot heat.

He felt he had reached the central part of the Scorching Hell, but if he went further forward, it seemed he would burn to death as is.

Woom!

Even the Nine-headed Dragon Robe, the number one treasured tool under the heavens, was constantly resisting the heat and protecting Jin Cheon, but it was at the point of sending a warning that it was dangerous if this continued.

‘This really can’t be helped.’

Jin Cheon took out a small box from his bosom, ate the blue pill inside, and sat cross-legged.

He took the Nine Heavens Cold Jade Dew that Blood Qilin had stolen from the Sacred Blood Clan’s treasury, trying to overcome the heat of the Scorching Hell through the Cold Qi inside it.

‘Tremendous Cold Qi!’

As soon as he operated the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi, truly terrifying Cold Qi that seemed like it would freeze even his dantian stretched out from the Nine Heavens Cold Jade Dew and ran through Jin Cheon’s full body acupoints.

At any other time, he might have trembled in fear that he might freeze to death, but not this time.

As the powerful Cold Qi of the Nine Heavens Cold Jade Dew and the heat of the Scorching Hell achieved an exquisite balance, it was no longer painful.

No, it was beyond that.

Sssss!

Pure white cold air constantly flowed out from Jin Cheon’s body.

That was purely a result of Jin Cheon’s choice.

Jin Cheon chose to slowly emit and scatter the energy of the Nine Heavens Cold Jade Dew rather than absorbing it.

Since withstanding the heat of the Scorching Hell was more important than increasing internal energy, he made the extreme move of utilizing the Nine Heavens Cold Jade Dew like a consumable item.

‘Now it’s livable.’

Aided by the energy of the Nine Heavens Cold Jade Dew, Jin Cheon was able to enter deep into the Scorching Hell while emitting cold air.

In the central part of the Scorching Hell arrived at like that, there was a small spring where boiling lava was pooled…

‘W-what on earth is that?’

Jin Cheon discovered something and was startled.

Something with a huge bulk was enjoying a hot spring bath while soaking its body in the lava.

Through the thick fog, the hair on its body was so dense that it couldn’t possibly be seen as a human.

Was it just the body?

Hair, not a beard, grew thick on its face too, its nose was very flat, and the jaw protruding aggressively was, no matter how one looked at it…

“Ape?”

Jin Cheon realized that the existence enjoying the hot spring bath in the lava pool was not a human but an ape, that is, a monkey.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep