Chapter 180. You Have Met a Death Worthy of a Martial Artist

Sssss!

The Cold Qi of the Eternal Island was truly terrible.

‘An ordinary person’s lungs would freeze just by breathing.’

The reason Jin Cheon thought so was that he felt a cool refreshing sensation deep in his lungs every time he inhaled.

For Jin Cheon, since the essence of Fire was settled in his qi center and he was in the Scorching Fire Demonic God state, it ended at a refreshing sensation.

It was to the point where deep red flames were constantly spewing out from Jin Cheon even in this cold Eternal Island, melting the frost and snow piled up around him.

And such an expectation of Jin Cheon was correct.

‘I don’t know how many froze to death here.’

Corpses frozen while standing were often seen whenever he was about to forget.

‘Is this the price of desire.’

Looking at those who froze to death, Jin Cheon realized again how strong martial artists’ desire for strength was.

Indeed, a martial artist is an existence that goes through fire and water to become stronger.

They are bound not to hesitate to use their own lives as collateral.

Didn’t Jin Cheon himself gain enlightenment and become stronger through countless life-and-death crises?

Coming to this Eternal Island after the Scorching Hell risking his life was to save Cheol Yu-ra, but on the other hand, wasn’t it to promote his own growth?

‘If I don’t survive, I will also become like them. If I survive and obtain the essence of Water, I will become stronger. Is this the life of a martial artist.’

Thinking this, Jin Cheon continued to advance toward the center of the Eternal Island.

And…

— To think a living person came this far.

— You are… hot flames.

The dead, to be precise, those who froze to death, revealed themselves one by one and blocked Jin Cheon’s path.

Frozen Death Ghosts.

They were existences where vengeful spirits dwelt in the corpses of those who froze to death.

‘Damn monkey bastard.’

Jin Cheon clenched his two fists recalling the dead Flame Monkey Great Sage inwardly.

Because the Flame Monkey Great Sage broke his sword, he couldn’t use the Heavenly Demon Sword Art nor the Flying Heaven Sword Art, so he had no choice but to continue fighting with bare hands.

Sizzle!

Jin Cheon’s two fists shone red like lumps of metal heated to the limit.

The spewing flames even formed the shape of a Demonic King behind his back.

Since Jin Cheon in the Scorching Fire Demonic God state was literally a Fire Demon, he had the spirit to burn everything away.

The Frozen Death Ghosts dared not approach Jin Cheon rashly.

Also, they did not reveal hostility.

— Fire Demon.

The one who looked the most powerful among the Frozen Death Ghosts approached Jin Cheon and opened his mouth.

— We have no intention of fighting you. So you may withdraw your attack.

“No intention of fighting?”

— Our purpose is not fighting you.

“Mmm.”

Jin Cheon stepped back slightly but did not lower his guard.

Because he didn’t know what tricks frozen ghosts might pull.

— I am the one who was called the Extreme Cold Ice Venerable during my lifetime.

“…!”

Jin Cheon was startled upon hearing the Frozen Death Ghost’s alias.

If it was the Extreme Cold Ice Venerable, he was a figure whose fame was truly great as the Palace Master of the North Sea Ice Palace about 200 years ago.

Wasn’t it to the point where Jin Cheon knew that alias even now, 200 years later?

Although he couldn’t take the position of Number One Under the Heavens since it was the era when the First Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong was healthy.

“No, how did Senior Extreme Cold Ice Venerable…”

— Isn’t it eventually because of desire.

“Ah…”

— I entered the Eternal Island with the single determination to transcend the Extreme Yin, but I ended up in this state.

“It is a regrettable thing.”

Jin Cheon comforted the Extreme Cold Ice Venerable.

To think a great master like him met a lonely and futile end here in the Eternal Island…

— Regrettable, you say. I just didn’t know my place. I was stupid and foolish.

“No.”

Jin Cheon shook his head.

“Not only Senior Extreme Cold Ice Venerable, but didn’t all the seniors here offer your lives as collateral with the single determination to exceed your own limits?”

— Mmm…

“You became like this trying to continuously develop without settling for the present as martial artists, so how can you say you were stupid and foolish? It is just that luck did not follow. Seniors, you lived like martial artists and met a death worthy of a martial artist.”

Jin Cheon did not say lip service.

He just stated the emotions and thoughts he felt since entering the Eternal Island as they were.

Didn’t he think just a moment ago that he would become in the same state as them if he didn’t obtain the essence of Water?

— I am just grateful that you say so.

The Extreme Cold Ice Venerable smiled gently.

That was the same for other Frozen Death Ghosts as well.

Although they couldn’t speak like the Extreme Cold Ice Venerable, they sent goodwill to Jin Cheon with just their expressions and movements.

— I gained comfort thanks to you. Those words of yours became a consolation to us who have many regrets.

“You’re welcome…”

— Martial artist, a martial artist. Right, we all lived as martial artists and died like martial artists. It is funny to hope to die comfortably when having learned martial arts, so I don’t know why I was so aggrieved.

“Isn’t it just lingering regret?”

— Lingering regret…

“You just hoped to meet a heroic end after dominating an era, but since you went futilely, it is understandable that lingering regret remains.”

— There is no wrong corner in your words. Young friend, your attitude as a martial artist is very excellent. That is probably why you could become such a furiously burning Fire Demon.

“I am just embarrassed in front of great seniors.”

Jin Cheon was thoroughly humble and also polite in front of the Frozen Death Ghosts.

That was ingrained etiquette.

No matter if he was the Seventh Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and evaluated as a rare villain called the Unrivaled New Demon, that was limited only to enemies.

Jin Cheon was an infinitely polite and kind person to those without hostility or malice.

Especially, wasn’t Jin Cheon polite to seniors of the Murim regardless of whether they were Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic?

In fact, Jin Cheon’s connections often did not distinguish between origin and component.

— Then, may these unworthy seniors ask you one favor?

“If it is something I can grant, I will grant it.”

— Please obtain the essence of Water.

“Pardon…?”

— If you obtain the essence of Water, we too will no longer be tied to this world. Now… we want to rest.

“Ah.”

— Junior who achieved the Fire Demon, please give peace to these unworthy seniors. That is the request of the frozen ghosts.

“Of course.”

Jin Cheon smiled.

“I came in to obtain the essence of Water, so I intend to obtain it and leave.”

— Then, may we ask one more favor?

“Please speak as much as you want. As I said earlier, if it is something I can grant, I will grant anything.”

— If you achieve the accomplishment, please take us outside. Although we are lonely souls who died a long time ago, we miss a sunny place after being trapped in this cold place for a long time. Could you please do so?

“Yes, I will do so.”

— Truly thank you. We hope you obtain the essence of Water and achieve great accomplishment. In that sense… there is something we want to tell you.

“If you speak, I will take it to heart.”

— Do not fight the Demon Empress.

“Pardon…?”

— We are trying to tell you the method to obtain the essence of Water.

Soon, the answer regarding the method to obtain the essence of Water flowed from the Extreme Cold Ice Venerable’s mouth.

* * *

Did they say a debt of a thousand taels can be repaid with a single word?

Jin Cheon was exactly that case.

He could have fought without asking about right and wrong.

However, Jin Cheon did not do so, treated the dead as seniors and listened to their stories, and also promised peace along with words of consolation.

The price was the method to obtain the essence of Water, so it was a situation where Jin Cheon should rather bow flat.

“Then, I will be back. Seniors.”

Jin Cheon took a pose of clasped hands toward the dead including the Extreme Cold Ice Venerable, then turned and moved his steps.

‘I should leave Senior Extreme Cold Ice Venerable’s words as a last resort.’

Jin Cheon did not completely trust the Extreme Cold Ice Venerable.

Current Jin Cheon was in a situation where it wouldn’t be enough even if he tapped a stone bridge several times before crossing.

No matter if he was a great senior, trusting a Frozen Death Ghost completely was a foolish act.

Because there were few people one could truly trust in the vast world.

Of course, if the goal of the Extreme Cold Ice Venerable and the Frozen Death Ghosts was truly peace, it would not be an exaggeration to say the possibility of it being a lie was extremely low.

‘It’s getting cooler and cooler.’

The more he reached the center of the Eternal Island, the more powerful the Cold Qi became.

If Jin Cheon, who achieved the Scorching Fire Demonic God, felt it was cool, it was clear that any living creature would not be able to endure it.

Of course, in Jin Cheon’s case, it just stopped at the level of cool thanks to the boiling heat…

‘Almost there.’

Jin Cheon looked at the structure visible in the distance and realized he had finally reached the destination.

That place was a huge shrine made of glacier.

And ‘She’ was there.

A woman sleeping soundly inside a coffin made of ice.

‘White Hand Demon Empress.’

Jin Cheon knew too well who she was.

If one had to compare, the Extreme Cold Ice Venerable was merely a third-rate martial artist who was nothing compared to her.

Why?

Because that woman called the White Hand Demon Empress was a demonic practitioner who was a match for the First Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong in the past.

The Divine Cult Historical Records described the White Hand Demon Empress as an existence who completed the martial arts of Extreme Yin and became an Ice Soul.

Also, it was said she was sealed here in the Eternal Island after achieving mutual destruction at the end of a battle with the First Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong.

At that time, Dokgo Seong passed away not long after due to aftereffects after sealing the White Hand Demon Empress in the Eternal Island, and it was said he resurrected through reincarnation later.

In other words, it meant the White Hand Demon Empress was a powerful demonic practitioner enough to be a match for the First Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong.

Would the First Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong be called the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons for nothing?

Wasn’t he called so because he could rule and control demonic practitioners through the authority of the Heavenly Demon Command?

That she produced a match with a difference of a single sheet of paper against such Dokgo Seong despite being a demonic practitioner was beyond amazing to the point of being marvelous.

Even, it was said Dokgo Seong failed to kill her in the end and barely sealed her, and even died from the aftereffects…

Perhaps the White Hand Demon Empress was a figure who could have become the new Heavenly Demon and ruled the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Didn’t even the Iron-Blooded Demonic God say she wouldn’t have been able to execute Dokgo Seong without the help of Jin Cheon’s Master, the Azure Heaven Divine Warrior?

Such a woman was in front of Jin Cheon’s eyes.

While sleeping soundly as if dead…

‘Incredible.’

Jin Cheon clicked his tongue at the wicked demonic qi spewing from the White Hand Demon Empress’ coffin.

The nature itself was different.

It was clearly demonic qi, but a heterogeneity essentially different from the demonic qi Jin Cheon knew was felt.

It seemed there was a worthy reason why Dokgo Seong’s Heavenly Demon Command didn’t work in the past.

‘The woman who achieved mutual destruction with Dokgo Seong… To think I have to fight such a monster… The seniors didn’t become Frozen Death Ghosts for nothing.’

The more he thought about it, the more reckless the action seemed.

Of course, they probably made their steps to this Eternal Island because they were confident in their martial arts in their own way…

Sssss!

Suddenly, chilling Cold Qi spewed out along with wicked demonic qi from the coffin made of ice.

And…

Flash!

The White Hand Demon Empress opened her eyes.

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