Seol-Hwi followed the Earth Demon.
They left the sect and moved south. Gradually the terrain turned steeper, and after moving for several days using footwork, they came across a snowy mountain.
Later they found out that this was the Great Snow Mountain Range, where people say that gods had descended.
They were referred to as the mountains connected to the south near the Qinghai Sea. If one followed the line that extended to Sichuan, one would find the tallest mountain, the Ice White Mountain.
The Ice White Mountain was called that because the ice on the mountain had not melted for a long while. Most of the tall mountains were covered in ice.
“Here….”
Seol-Hwi was lost in thought when the Earth Demon spoke.
“We didn’t directly find her. The members said there were traces of dead monsters with the technique marks of White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts.”
“Ah…”
The Great Snow Mountain Range had these long sharp ridges which would stretch from north to south, forming a wall in the form of a vertical elevation for a thousand li from east to west.
“And, one more thing. Similar traces of ice scratches were found at the northern end of the Kunlun Mountains. It is said that they were also found on the Muztang Peak which is known as the tallest… If you don’t find anyone, then you can look there.”
In time, he came to know of two places which held the same traces of ice arts but not of Cheon Miryo.
In particular, not just here but also in the northern end of Kunlun which was famous for its tough terrain.
“Thank you.”
Seol-Hwi thanked him properly. Actually, it felt like he knew how much the Earth Demon cared.
In just one month, he had people search such tough places for traces of Cheon Miryo.
This was a sign that he did not stop at using just his warriors but reached out to the locals too.
If not, he would not have figured out so much in such a short time.
“Now, take this.”
The Earth Demon handed him two pieces of parchment paper. Seol-Hwi took it and felt moved. It was not because of the map drawn on the pieces of paper but because of the look in the eyes of the Earth Demon.
He could feel the extent of the worries in his heart.
Is he this desperate?
An absolute warrior—
Unlike the other disciples, the Earth Demon did not have anyone else on his side who could be called as such. In the meantime, if someone like Cheon Miryo joined, then the situation will change.
It was no different from getting a thousand troops and ten thousand horses.
“I will… definitely find Master.”
Seol-Hwi promised to make sure he would achieve results.
She was a person who he had to find for both himself and for the Earth Demon.
In this rugged land, the blizzard in the wind which was freezing his body constantly blurred Seol-Hwi’s vision.
Even after walking while following the directions of the map, it was not easy to know if he was in the right place.
“Phew.”
Seol-Hwi focused on protecting his body and circulated his energy.
One month of training—
In this short time, Seol-Hwi had grown exponentially. It was because the first thing he used was the Taiji technique which was chosen of the four.
Choosing Taiji was expected.
The second was excluded because he took it before, and the third and fourth seemed difficult to get results within a month.
After wandering for half a day he arrived at the point marked on the map.
“This…”
After passing through the valley and stopping in front of this unknown mountain, Seol-Hwi opened his mouth. The sight which unfolded before his eyes was truly spectacular.
“Eternal World of Ice…”
Seeing the words written on the wall of ice, Seol-Hwi mumbled. There were ice crystals all over the place. This was not some simple White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts but it was one similar to ice arts.
In addition, judging from the power, it was estimated that this was two times more powerful.
Surely she came here.
Seol-Hwi confirmed a large cave beneath the place and moved in without delay.
Inside, there was this large space filled with light.
To just say it was a cave would be an understatement. This space was so large that even a village would fit in easily, and even further, the biting cold simply vanished as he entered the place.
It was as if he stepped into a new world.
“Excuse me… is someone here?”
Seol-Hwi started talking and gradually moved in.
Within the forest of ice there was this warm sunlight shining down.
One side of the place was lined with flowers of ice, and when he went further in, he found beads which looked like they were made out of jade put in the wall.
“Elder! Are you here?”
Seol-Hwi continued to shout, moved further in, and saw grass.
Uh?
He felt something right then. It was similar to the Purple Spirit Grass in the past. So he tried to put it in the toolbox.
<Would you like to put the Heaven’s Spirit Yin Grass in the toolbox?>
Even if this was not the Purple Spirit Grass, it was still something useful.
“I will keep it for now.”
<You have obtained 30 bunches of Heaven’s Spirit Yin Grass.>
Seol-Hwi moved further in, and this time a huge body of water could be seen.
Seol-Hwi went into the water which looked cool and noticed a great number of fish within.
“Phew… nice.”
The water was cold, but he could handle it. On the contrary, protecting the dantian for too long made his body heat up and cool down.
After warming his body, he sat cross legged.
It was to restore his internal energy.
…!
Seol-Hwi opened his eyes which were closed and raised his head. He did not know how, but there was a presence of another person.
“Someone of the justice faction?”
“No. Demonic would be right. No matter how hard he tries to hide it, he cannot hide the smell of demonic energy from…”
The voice echoed, and the people were talking to each other.
“Who?”
Seol-Hwi asked in a nervous manner, but the voices did not seem to care.
“Is he used to ice arts? Seeing how he is absorbing the cold while warming up… right?”
“Because he is a guy of the justice faction. The energy of the five attributes is spread out strongly… it must be Wudang.”
They kept talking to each other, and not long after,
“Should we make a bet?”
“Sure.”
“But what if he dies during the test?”
“That cannot happen right? It would be an accident if it did.”
“Well, no one is watching.”
It was then—
Swish!
A gush of water moved around them, and the two figures fell down from the ceiling. But Seol-Hwi did not even have the time to see the movements of the ones who spoke.
Kwakw! Ching!
Ice arts were pouring in from one side, and the demonic hand in the form of land arts was coming from the other. The direction of the attack could not be read, so dodging was impossible.
“Hah!”
Seol-Hwi concentrated Yin energy on the tips of his toes and let the energy of ice surge through his hand.
Divine Water Ice Barrier—
The glacier-like form soared high, protecting the body of Seol-Hwi.
Ching!
However, it was shattered by the opponent’s ice arts which changed into a huge block. Moreover, the powerful energy shot in the open space was about to hit him on the head.
Wheik!
But with the fingertips of Seol-Hwi moving, the flow changed. The internal energy was restored by the weightlessness.
Wwoong!
The rocks in the cave fell down with a roaring sound, and he was able to identify two people as a man and a woman.
“See, I’m right. He used demonic arts.”
“What nonsense is that? I am right. It is the trick of Wudang!”
Seol-Hwi was dumbfounded.
One looked like a woman. Except for the voice being manly, the appearance was the same. And the other was a mature man. They seemed to be discussing with each other about something and had this unknown cloth over them.
Who?
Seol-Hwi came out and began to think.
They were amazing warriors.
The energy of ice was the same, but one person had an energy which was similar to enhanced energy.
If he was not mistaken it seemed more like Blood Demon Hand.
The weirdly sticky feeling of the energy when it would touch his body, but it was an energy which would eat the body away. Just like the flames.
I need to check who… ah!
That was when he thought—
If he changed to the combat method to turn based, would he not find out their identities?
Ah, it is a bit unnecessary, but…
The troubles stopped there.
Even for the second test, he borrowed the system’s power, and it was funny to think so much about it now. The use of the system to get a higher level… it was right to reject when the system wanted to intervene.
“Look here.”
It was when Seol-Hwi was trying to change the combat style. The man spoke.
“Yes. Elder.”
“Where did you learn the ice arts? Looking at it, it seems like White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts…”
In the desperate situation a second back, he did use it. The resulting martial arts was one of the few martial arts of the person he came to search for.
“Ah… that…”
The girl said,
“You, you’re part of the justice faction, right? The trick too, you learned it in Wudang right?”
Seol-Hwi was silent. It was because he thought if he answered incorrectly he might be killed.
“That…”
When he hesitated on answering, the girl shouted at the man.
“I am telling you he is from the justice faction! We need to tear him limb from limb!”
“He used the Demonic Sect’s martial arts, he is on our side.”
“Ah, for real.”
They continued to speak back and forth. And sneakily Seol-Hwi changed the combat method.
<[State Summary]> <Cho Ah-ran [Cold Blood Witch, Demonic Sect reclusive warrior]> Supreme Demon Health: 200 million/200 million Internal energy: 300 million/300 million Combat power: 300 million <[State Summary]> <Ack Bi [Ice Moon Divine Demon, Demonic Sect reclusive warrior]> Supreme Demon Health: 500 million/500 million Internal energy: 200 million/200 million Combat power: 200 million
Cho Ah-ran, Ack Bi…!
Seol-Hwi felt an alarm ring in his head. It was the first time he had heard of them, but their titles were something he heard of before too.
But the woman looked younger than he thought and the other one was more gentle than angry.
“Look here. Are you acquainted with Cheon Miryo?”
“…!”
Seol-Hwi widened his eyes at the question of Ack Bi, and the person he was looking for was being mentioned.
“Huh, you know her?”
“…Uh? Am I right?”
“N-No. It isn’t…”
Seol-Hwi hurriedly spoke. He knew that he should not rush into anything ,so he lied.
“I was lucky enough to learn the martial arts but I do not have a personal relationship with her.”
“Then how did you learn it?”
“From what I see…”
“Such a strange guy. No, wonderful actually. After all, the demonic arts are best with ice.”
“What about ice arts? The blood arts are 100 times stronger. There is no comparison at all.”
The air changed as they suddenly began to bicker, and their voices rose like a fight was about to break out.
This is bad…
Seol-Hwi’s eyes moved.
It seemed like intervening would mean forfeiting a life. And what can he do in a fight between such warriors?
I cannot let them fight. I need to find her…
He was looking for a way to get their attention, and soon after he could sense this intense demonic energy from inside the cave.
Seol-Hwi shouted to them.
“There!”
The two of them looked at them. Seol-Hwi had a good thought.
Whether this works or not, he had to get something out of them, and so he chose to say it.
As he picked something out from the toolbox,
“Would you like a drink? This… is known as Shaoxing alcohol, and it is supposed to be very good.”
The heirloom of the Jong family he got in the past—
He took it out.