Chapter 127: Lower Realm

Dragon-Slaying Blade Neungjo.

It was the alias he earned after beheading a gigantic serpent-like creature, large enough to be called a dragon, at a branch of the White Tiger Mountain Range over ten years ago.

The northern region of the Dawn Continent was ruled by a massive sect called the Xuanwu Alliance. Except for that sect, Neungjo's name was fairly well known among the medium and small sects. Though he may not have been the tail of a dragon, he was at least the head of a snake.

One of Neungjo’s favorite pastimes was hunting ethnic minorities in the White Forest. The number of minority people killed by his hands exceeded the triple digits, and thus he earned the alias Butcher of Humans.

But that was by the standards of the Dawn Continent, not Jang Woo-hyun's standards.

If one was just entering the realm of Supreme Peak, it was a level one could easily reach in the Central Plains before Ascension. If he put his mind to it, he could probably rip off someone’s head with his bare hands.

By Jang Woo-hyun’s standards, Neungjo was weak, but there was still something noteworthy about him. Unlike Wonho, he used the Middle Dantian.

Typically, martial arts utilized the Lower Dantian, sorcery the Middle Dantian, and supernatural abilities the Upper Dantian. But that didn’t mean Neungjo was a spellcaster.

‘Did he train in martial arts like those of the Five Elements Cult, which use the Middle Dantian?’

This might be a world of unique martial artists who, like those from the Five Elements Cult, used the Middle Dantian.

While Neungjo exchanged meaningless words with the White Horn Tribe’s traitor, Wonho, members of the White Horn Tribe surged out from deeper within the village, armed. At the same time, martial artists who appeared to be Neungjo’s subordinates rushed in from the opposite direction and took positions.

“This is as far as our talk goes. Let’s take care of business first.”

Wonho politely bowed and stepped back.

“People of the White Horn Tribe, greetings. I am Neungjo…”

“Hey.”

Jang Woo-hyun abruptly cut off Neungjo’s words.

“Stop rambling. If you’re going to fight, get over here already.”

“Ah, Master Jang.”

Moon Cheol, startled, quickly moved to Jang Woo-hyun’s side.

Though he had called Jang Woo-hyun a Daoist Immortal for falling from the sky, he had yet to witness his actual skills. Moreover, Jang Woo-hyun had only recently gotten out of bed. Even for a skilled man, lying down for nearly a month like a corpse was a cause for concern from Moon Cheol’s perspective.

Furthermore, the opponent was Butcher Neungjo, known for slaughtering countless minorities in the White Forest, and who was said to have slain a dragon.

“Who are you? You don’t look like someone from the White Horn Tribe.”

When Neungjo looked at Wonho, he shook his head to indicate he didn’t know.

“Does it matter who I am? Just come quickly.”

Jang Woo-hyun was starting to get annoyed. He had finally found a trace of Kim Min-soo, only to be interrupted by some nuisance.

‘Dragon-Slaying Blade, my ass.’

At that level, there was no way he could face a real dragon.

“Looks like the White Horn Tribe brought in some madman.”

With a hollow chuckle, Neungjo drew his blade.

“You talk way too much.”

Jang Woo-hyun wanted to rush in and beat him immediately, but he didn’t move. From behind, Moon Yeong-yeong, frightened, was clinging tightly to his clothes.

And at this level, he could deal with him perfectly fine from where he stood.

“Let’s see what your cocky skills look like. Come on in—”

“Ah, just get over here already. It’s annoying. If you’re going to fight, come. If not, leave. So what’s it going to be?”

Even while receiving Neungjo’s murderous glare, Jang Woo-hyun frowned, as if truly bothered.

“You’re rushing to your death.”

As Neungjo gathered his energy, his Middle Dantian responded and released the energy explosively. Unlike martial artists who used the Lower Dantian, his internal energy operation was different. Jang Woo-hyun’s wrinkled expression relaxed. He had become interested in this unfamiliar martial art.

The energy extending from Neungjo’s Middle Dantian traveled through his arm, down to his hand, and gathered on his sword.

It wasn’t perfect, but sword flux had formed on his blade. It was a black sword flux that radiated cold energy.

‘Does it carry an elemental attribute?’

It was said the Five Elements Cult used a unique qi called Five Elements Qi. If he was like them, then what Neungjo was showing now was likely Water Qi among the Five Elements.

“Die.”

Muttering his rage, Neungjo stomped the ground. He moved with such speed that no one present could react. Of course, Jang Woo-hyun was not included in that “everyone.”

Tap.

“…!”

Neungjo’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear. His face filled with shock. An incomprehensible scene unfolded before him.

Jang Woo-hyun’s hand gripping his sword—around that hand was a qi projection far clearer and more radiant than the energy enveloping Neungjo’s blade.

“…Wa, wait!”

Seeing the qi projection surrounding Jang Woo-hyun’s hand, Neungjo quickly grasped the situation.

“I don’t know who you are, but I—”

Boom!

There were no more words. While holding Neungjo’s sword, Jang Woo-hyun stretched out his other hand and burst his head open.

His face wasn’t just smashed, nor his neck broken—his head literally exploded.

Thud.

As Jang Woo-hyun lowered his hand, Neungjo’s headless body collapsed. Everyone present, stunned by the incomprehensible situation, stared blankly at Jang Woo-hyun.

No matter how they thought about it, it made no sense. The so-called Butcher Neungjo lost his life without being able to put up a proper resistance.

“Ah…”

Did I hit him too hard? Jang Woo-hyun murmured, and Moon Yeong-yeong loosened her grip on his clothes.

He had only intended to subdue him with a punch to the face, but Neungjo had been far too weak. After living in the Central Heavens Realm, he had struck with strength suited to its standards, and the blow meant just to subdue ended up destroying Neungjo’s face.

‘I misjudged my strength.’

Jang Woo-hyun didn’t know who was at fault. Though the White Horn Tribe had taken care of him, he hadn’t planned on killing Neungjo unconditionally. He held no grudge against him, nor had there been any conflict.

‘He did swing his sword at me, so technically it was self-defense…’

Still, blowing off someone’s head felt excessive, even to him.

“Well… I didn’t mean to kill you. Sorry.”

When he said this to Neungjo’s group, including Wonho, their faces turned pale. Even the members of the White Horn Tribe nearby began to retreat. Even Moon Yeong-yeong, who had been hiding behind Jang Woo-hyun holding onto his clothes.

People’s thoughts were aligned.

‘What the hell is this lunatic?’

‘He’s insane.’

‘Truly insane.’

‘Now what to do with these guys.’

Jang Woo-hyun looked at the martial artists who had arrived late. Every time his gaze touched them, they flinched or looked away.

“Chieftain.”

“…”

“Chieftain.”

“Huh? Y-yes! Please speak, Master Jang.”

Moon Cheol, who had been spaced out, snapped back to his senses and responded.

“Are these guys bad people?”

"Yes? Y-yes. Yes, that’s right. They are the Butcher’s subordinates who murder and violate innocent minorities. Sometimes they even take them away as slaves."

As he spoke, the previously intimidated expression on Moon Cheol’s face began to change. What Jang Woo-hyun had shown just moments ago had been terrifying, but the anger over the atrocities committed by Neungjo and his subordinates helped him momentarily forget that fear. That fierce anger devoured his fear.

"I don’t know much about this, so… is that true?"

"N-no, it’s not…"

"Ah, people who lie end up like that."

Jang Woo-hyun tilted his head, pointing at Neungjo, who lay collapsed before them.

"…"

Those about to make excuses stopped speaking and turned their heads away.

‘Confirmed.’

This was an unfamiliar world, and he couldn’t just deal with people indiscriminately without knowing who was good or evil. So Jang Woo-hyun had given them a chance. But it turned out Moon Cheol’s story was true.

"That’s enough then."

Having reached a conclusion, Jang Woo-hyun tightened his grip on Neungjo’s sword.

Crack! Snap!

The sword blade shattered into dozens of pieces, and he immediately used Qi Threads to launch them at Neungjo’s subordinates.

Splat! Thud! Crack!

"Argh!"

"Aaagh!"

"Block it! Block it!"

"Kill him! Kill that bastard!"

Desperately trying to survive, they scrambled, but the fragments of the sword thrown by Jang Woo-hyun left them injured and writhing on the ground. Though not dead, most were rendered incapable of fighting.

"You, come here."

Wonho, who had been sneakily rolling his eyes to the side, was pulled over by Jang Woo-hyun’s gesture. Jang Woo-hyun tapped his body.

"Guh!"

Jang Woo-hyun used the Internal Cultivation Technique to destroy Wonho’s Dantian. Wonho spat blood and collapsed to the ground.

"I’ve more or less cleaned things up. Now the White Horn Tribe can handle the rest. For now, please guide me to the place we were headed."

"Ah, understood."

Even when Jang Woo-hyun spoke to him, Moon Cheol couldn't recover from the scene he had just witnessed. Smashing a sword and subduing dozens at once—anyone would have believed him to be a Daoist Immortal.

"Dad, I’ll escort him. I know the place too. There’s nothing dangerous now, right?"

As Moon Cheol failed to come to his senses, Moon Yeong-yeong stepped forward.

"W-would you really? Daoist Immortal… no, Master Jang, would that be alright?"

"I don’t mind. Then I’ll take her with me."

With that, Jang Woo-hyun bent down.

"Get on. Let’s make it quick."

Moon Yeong-yeong carefully climbed onto Jang Woo-hyun’s back. The two swiftly dashed through the White Forest.

The remaining members of the White Horn Tribe stared blankly at their departing figures for a while.

"Come on, snap out of it! We’ve got to take care of these guys!"

At Moon Cheol’s words, the members of the White Horn Tribe came to their senses.

As they approached Neungjo’s subordinates, their dazed expressions gradually twisted into ones of fury.

"Wow, Daoist Immortal, you’re amazing!"

Despite the distance, Jang Woo-hyun arrived swiftly at the place Moon Yeong-yeong guided him to by using movement arts. At first, she had been a little scared, but once he began racing through the forest, she became thrilled.

"This is the cave?"

Still carrying Moon Yeong-yeong, Jang Woo-hyun surveyed the cave she had pointed out. There were no special markings or writings.

"Yes. Our clan calls this the Divine Lord’s dwelling. It’s a place we were told to guide the Daoist Immortal to, should he descend someday."

"Got it. Let me take you back now."

"Huh? Why?"

"It might be dangerous. We don’t know what could happen."

"Ah…"

Even without seeing her face, Jang Woo-hyun could tell Moon Yeong-yeong, clinging to his back, had become downcast.

"This time, I’ll run even faster. Hold on tight."

"Huh! Really?"

Suddenly, her energy returned.

"Of course. I came slowly the first time in case it was dangerous. Here we go."

"Kyaaah!"

Jang Woo-hyun raced through the forest even faster than before. After dropping Moon Yeong-yeong near the village, he returned and stood in front of the cave.

"Hooo."

He took a deep breath to shake off the tension, then entered the cave.

The cave wasn’t very deep. What stood out was its interior: the ceiling was full of small and large holes that let in natural light. Unsurprisingly, the inside wasn’t dark.

At the end of the cave.

On one wall were words left by Kim Min-soo.

[Infuse internal energy into the palm imprint.]

For the first time, the writing wasn’t distorted—it was in clean Hangul.

Below the writing were countless unfamiliar lines and patterns, and one part had a palm-shaped depression.

Jang Woo-hyun approached it and placed his palm there, drawing internal energy from his Dantian.

He worried the wall might break, but instead, his internal energy was smoothly drawn in.

‘How much do I need to infuse?’

Even after infusing a large amount of internal energy, nothing visibly changed. Jang Woo-hyun continued without stopping, injecting nearly all the internal energy he had.

Just when he started wondering if the mechanism or the formation on the wall was broken, the wall began to emit a soft light.

Rumble.

At the same time, the light flowing along the wall extended to the floor, and a small pillar rose from a corner of the cave. As he poured in even more internal energy until his Dantian felt empty, the pillar emitted light and formed a shape in front of it.

A human figure formed from light gradually lost its glow until it resembled a normal person.

Where the light had vanished, a person stood.

‘Projection.’

It wasn’t a real person transcending space, nor did it hold strong power.

Looking around thirty years old, of average build, with neatly trimmed short hair. He wasn’t particularly handsome, but his face radiated composure and maturity. Especially striking were his subtly glowing eyes.

As he looked at Jang Woo-hyun, the corners of his mouth lifted.

"Nice to meet you."

Approaching, he introduced himself.

"I am Kim Min-soo. One from Earth."

Demonic Martial Divine Lord Kim Min-soo.

An old connection from the Central Plains. Jang Woo-hyun finally met him here, in the Lower Realm.

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