Chapter 181
"Beiming Island, isn't that where they bury the dead?" asked Spindle Sect's Patriarch, Spindle Divine Demon Wi Geuk-Sang, with surprise.
Beiming Island essentially served as a cemetery in Beihai. It was strange that Beigong Xue chose to visit Beiming Island first upon arriving in Beihai, especially after bringing a martial artist from the Central Plains.
"That's correct," confirmed the Spindle Flying Monarch Bi Ryun-Hae while reporting Baek Mu-Gun and Beigong Xue's location.
Geuk-Sang mused to himself, "Did they go there because there was something they could gain?"
"Is there something there that we don't know about?"
What do you mean by that?
Ryun-Hae elaborated, "That place is where the former patriarchs of the Beihai Ice Palace are buried. There may be something they left behind there."
"Whatever it is, given that Beigong Xue and that young bastard went to Beiming Island, we must give chase to them," the Spindle Fist Monarch Yuk Jeon-Chu insisted.
"It's not something we should think so simply of. Considering the annihilation of the Spindle Ape Monarch and one squad from the Spindle Demonic Battalion, the man accompanying Beigong Xue is by no means an ordinary person. He may even be the Thunder God's successor," the Spindle Sword Monarch Oh Kyung-Rei cautioned.
"But is there even a possibility for that man to really be the Thunder God's successor? In the face of the threat of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, it doesn't seem plausible for the Thunder God's successor to leave the Central Plains' murim alone and come all the way to Beihai, which is so far away," the Spindle Saber Monarch Lee Chul-Sung argued.
"However, considering that he singlehandedly wiped out the Spindle Demonic Battalion and the Spindle Ape Monarch as well as the Higher Demons who follow him, it is highly likely that he is the Thunder God's successor," Oh Kyung-Rei countered.
"At this point in time, as Kyung-Rei said, it would be wiser for us to assume that he is the Thunder God's successor and form a plan based on that," the Spindle Palm Monarch Wang Wook supported.
"If he really is the Thunder God's successor, the esteemed Divine Demon, as well as all of us, will have to step up," Bi Ryun-Hae stated.
"What nonsense are you saying? Even if that young man is the Thunder God's successor, he definitely won't be able to come out unscathed if the esteemed Divine Demon comes forward," said Yuk Jeon-Chu, baffled.
"With all due respect, even the Asura Divine Demon, who had reached the Supreme Demonic Realm, also lost his life at the hands of the Thunder God's successor. As such, the esteemed Divine Demon should also practice caution," Bi Ryun-Hae cautioned.
"What Ryun-Hae said is correct. If that man is indeed the Thunder God's successor, deploying all the forces of the Spindle Sect might not be enough," Wi Geuk-Sang stated.
The former Thunder God's successor had singlehandedly defeated the former Nine Divine Demons, all of whom had reached the Supreme Demonic Realm. Facing the possibility that the young man with Beigong Xue was the Thunder God's successor, victory was far from guaranteed even with the entire might of the Spindle Sect.
"What if we mobilize the forces of the Beihai Ice Palace? If we exhaust the young man's stamina with the Beihai Ice Palace's forces before confronting him, he won't be able to overpower us, even if he is the Thunder God's successor," suggested the Spindle Burst Monarch Myo Cheong-Bang.
"Mobilizing the Beihai Ice Palace's forces could pose problems for our plan to conquer the Central Plains."
"We have no choice but to sacrifice the Beihai Ice Palace's forces. The key is to make the most of them. Although conquering the Central Plains is crucial, eliminating the Thunder God's successor is paramount. If we can achieve that, even at the cost of all the Beihai Ice Palace's forces, it would be several times more beneficial than using them to wipe out the Hebei Peng Family," explained Yuk Jeon-Chu.
"What the Cheong-Bang said is right. Even if we lose all the Beihai Ice Palace's forces, it would be more beneficial for us to eliminate the Thunder God's successor. With him gone, overthrowing murim will become much easier," Wi Geuk-Sang agreed.
"But don't we need justification to mobilize the Beihai Ice Palace's forces? We used the pretext of invading the Central Plains to quell dissatisfaction about the rebellion. If they discover we're attempting to kill Beigong Xue, their Young Matriarch, members of the Beihai Ice Palace may feel guilty. If things go wrong, they might even fall for her persuasion," said the concerned Lee Chul-Sung.
"What if we claim that Beigong Xue has joined hands with the Central Plains murim, attempting to hand over the Beihai Ice Palace to them?" Myo Cheong-Bang suggested.
"Will the Beihai Ice Palace's members believe that?"
"Then, how about we use the fact that Beigong Xue and that man are going to Beiming Island to our advantage? What if we say there are treasures left by the former patriarchs of the Beihai Ice Palace on Beiming Island, and Beigong Xue is trying to desecrate the tombs to offer the treasures to the Central Plains people? The Beihai Ice Palace's members would be furious hearing that," Bi Ryun-Hae proposed.
"I think that's a good plan," Wi Geuk-Sang nodded in agreement.
The other Demonic Monarchs expressed no particular disagreement. The tombs at Beiming Island held special significance for the people of Beihai. If they were to claim that Beigong Xue intended to desecrate the tombs, extracting treasures to offer to the Central Plains people, the members of the Beihai Ice Palace would unquestionably harbor resentment towards Beigong Xue.
"Gather all the forces of the Beihai Ice Palace immediately. Pursue Beigong Xue and the man who went to Beiming Island. Also, as soon as the Spindle Demonic Battalion completes its preparations, deploy them to Beiming Island," ordered the Spindle Divine Demon.
Understood.
The eight Demonic Monarchs of the Spindle Sect swiftly took action. They rallied all the elite martial artists under their command, spreading the narrative that Beigong Xue and the Central Plains man were attempting to desecrate the tombs on Beiming Island, taking treasures buried within.
Furthermore, they insisted that Beigong Xue and her companions must be punished according to Beihai's law. Simultaneously, in the clan infiltrated by the Spindle Ape Monarch under a disguised identity, they claimed that the Central Plains man accompanying Beigong Xue had killed their leader, urging them to seek revenge.
Fueled by anger at the perceived sacrilege on Beiming Island, the Beihai Ice Palace's members were convinced that Beigong Xue and the Central Plains man deserved death.
In response, the Beihai Ice Palace's elite forces, the Beihai Divine Ice Corps, were fully mobilized and set out for Beiming Island to eliminate Beigong Xue and Mu-Gun. The Spindle Demon Battalion also followed, tailing the Beihai Ice Palace's elite forces.
Although the Beihai Ice Palace's elite forces were aware of the presence of the Spindle Demonic Battalion trailing behind, they were under the impression that these forces were external allies, unaware that they belonged to the Spindle Sect, one of the factions of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.
The Eight Spindle Monarchs, disguised as heads of various Beihai clans, convincingly claimed that these external forces were a group they had secretly nurtured to aid in invading the Central Plains. The Beihai Divine Ice Corps accepted this explanation without a hint of skepticism.
* * *
Mu-Gun and Beigong Xue's group reached Beiming Island, situated at the edge of Beihai. The island comprised towering glaciers that entombed bodies deep within their frozen masses. A shiver ran down Mu-Gun's spine as he beheld the chilling sight of glaciers laden with frozen corpses.
The body will not rot and will be preserved as is in the glacier.
"Yes. The living find solace in gazing at the bodies of those who have passed, frozen in the same state as when they were alive. Of course, the souls of the deceased must have already departed to their final resting places," Beigong Xue explained.
"Do the living even come to this place?" Mu-Gun inquired with curiosity.
"That's a given. There's a designated day, the Day of the Dead, where they pay homage to the departed. On that day, you wouldn't find an inch of space to set foot here," Beigong Xue clarified.
I see.
Then, shall we go to the secret cave?
Mu-Gun followed Beigong Xue toward the inner side of the glacier mountain on Beiming Island. The interior of the glacier mountain, with densely packed, massive blades, resembled a labyrinth. Beigong Xue navigated the intricate paths with skill, leading them to a halt in front of the Ice Sword Peak, nestled at the innermost part of the glacial mountain.
Is this the place? Mu-Gun asked.
Yes, our former patriarchs rest at the top of this Sword Peak.
At Beigong Xue's words, Mu-Gun looked up, inspecting the Sword Peak. The peak, with its sharp slope, appeared to be at least over one thousand feet tall. Ascending a thousand-foot ice peak without specialized equipment presented a formidable challenge even for a martial arts master. Yet, Mu-Gun possessed the Thunder God's Aerial Steps.
While he hadn't mastered it to reach the peak, he could manage to ascend a height of one thousand feet somehow. The challenge, however, lay in Beigong Xue.
It is quite high. Can you climb it?
In order to climb the Sword Peak, I would have to at least be at the Absolute Realm. With my current martial realm, I am not able to climb it.
Dont we need you to be there too in order to awaken the former patriarchs of the Beihai Ice Palace? Mu-Gun asked.
That is correct.
That means it is meaningless for me to go up alone.
Yes. I have to go up with you.
Then, I have no choice but to carry you on my back and climb up, Mu-Gun said.
You are going to climb this Sword Peak with me on your back? Beigong Xue asked in surprise.
Then, is there any other way?
"I was considering that if you created a stepping path for me on the Sword Peak's ice walls, I could attempt to climb by using it," Beigong Xue suggested.
"A stepping path?"
"Couldn't you make it possible by thrusting your sword into the ice wall at regular intervals?" Beigong Xue elaborated.
To do that, I have to stab at least thirty swords in the ice walls. I think that would be too tedious, and it would be more convenient to just carry you on my back.
I know your martial arts are amazing, but it is already hard to climb alone, so can you really carry me on your back?
"How hard would it be to carry you, as light as a feather, on my back? So, don't worry and get on. That is, unless you mind riding on another man's back," Mu-Gun grinned.
"If you find out that carrying me feels more like a rock than a feather, don't blame me."
"You're making me nervous all of a sudden."
At Mu-Gun's joke, Beigong Xue chuckled.
"Then, get on my back," Mu-Gun said.
"Four Shadows, please wait here," Beigong Xue ordered.
"Understood. Be careful."
"Please take good care of our Young Matriarch."
The Beihai Four Shadows requested a favor from Mu-Gun.
"Don't worry. I will bring Young Matriarch Beigong back safely," Mu-Gun reassured them. Then, he glanced at Beigong Xue. Beigong Xue nodded and got on Mu-Guns back.
"Ugh," Mu-Gun groaned and staggered.
"What is it?" Beigong Xue blushed and glared at Mu-Gun.
"I was just playing a joke to keep you from getting too nervous," Mu-Gun said.
"I wasn't nervous at all."
"Then, make sure you hold on tight."
"What do you plan to do?"
"You'll know once you see it." Along with his response, Mu-Gun stamped the floor.
Mu-Gun, carrying Beigong Xue on his back, soared straight up. As they rapidly ascended fifty feet high, they began to visibly waver. At that moment, golden lightning condensed from Mu-Guns feet and discharged in a long wave. They slowed down, then resumed soaring as if bouncing upwards.
This pattern continued, with Mu-Gun emitting a wave of golden lightning whenever his speed decreased. Beigong Xue watched in astonishment at Mu-Gun's remarkable movement art.
Nevertheless, climbing the Ice Sword Peak, over one thousand feet high, proved challenging even with the Thunder God's Aerial Steps. While it might have been possible for Mu-Gun alone, carrying Beigong Xue on his back made it an insurmountable task.
When the lightning energy of the Thunder God's Aerial Steps no longer propelled him upward, Mu-Gun tossed the Flying Golden Shield toward the Ice Sword Peaks ice walls. About halfway embedded, Mu-Gun then climbed onto the shield with Beigong Xue still on his back.
Lets take a break before continuing.
You are really incredible. I never thought you would climb the Ice Sword Peak like this. Beigong Xue said in astonishment.
Now then, shall we continue?
Mu-Gun infused Thunder God Qi into the Flying Golden Shield beneath him. Responding to this, the shield spun fiercely against the ice wall. With a powerful kick, Mu-Gun launched himself upward, the Flying Golden Shield rebounding and rising again.
Mu-Gun, skillfully manipulating the shield, released consecutive waves of Thunder God Qi, propelling himself to the summit of the Ice Sword Peak just before the Thunder God's Aerial Steps energy waned. The pinnacle formed a basin shaped like a hemisphere.
Mu-Gun gently lowered Beigong Xue from his back and inquired, "What's our next step?"
"We need to locate the entrance leading into the Ice Sword Peak," Beigong Xue replied.
"How do we find it?"
"At the peak, there's a spot where we can insert the Beihai Divine Ice Sword, the holy treasure of the Beihai Ice Palace. That's our first target."
Beigong Xue, reaching the summit for the first time, lacked precise knowledge of the entrance to the place where the Beihai Glacier Zombie was enshrined.
"Are you carrying the Beihai Divine Ice Sword?" Mu-Gun asked curiously.
"Indeed. The sword around my waist is the Beihai Divine Ice Sword," Beigong Xue pointed to the sword hanging at her side.
"Let's locate the spot to insert the Beihai Divine Ice Sword," Mu-Gun suggested.
"Agreed."
Mu-Gun and Beigong Xue began scouring the top of the Ice Sword Peak.
"I found it!" Beigong Xue, after a while, joyfully announced her discovery at the basin's edge.
Mu-Gun swiftly joined her.
"Here it is.
Pointing to a spot on the ice wall, Beigong Xue indicated a small crack between the snow-covered walls.
"What are you waiting for? If you've found it, insert the Beihai Divine Ice Sword quickly," Mu-Gun urged.
Beigong Xue nodded and smoothly slid the Beihai Divine Ice Sword into the ice wall's crack. The blade seamlessly reached the end, producing a sound like interlocking mechanisms.
Then, the basin's surface around a particular point split in half, unveiling a descending staircase.
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