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.
âHereâŠ.â
Seol-Hwi was lost in thought when the Earth Demon spoke.
âWe didnât directly find her. The members said there were traces of dead monsters with the technique marks of White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts.â
âAhâŠâ
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.
âAnd, 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 donât find anyone, then you can look there.â
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.
âThank you.â
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.
âNow, take this.â
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 warriorâ
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.
âI will⊠definitely find Master.â
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-Hwiâs vision.
Even after walking while following the directions of the map, it was not easy to know if he was in the right place.
âPhew.â
Seol-Hwi focused on protecting his body and circulated his energy.
One month of trainingâ
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.
âThisâŠâ
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.
âEternal World of IceâŠâ
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.
âExcuse me⊠is someone here?â
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.
âElder! Are you here?â
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 Heavenâs Spirit Yin Grass in the toolbox?>
Even if this was not the Purple Spirit Grass, it was still something useful.
âI will keep it for now.â
<You have obtained 30 bunches of Heavenâs 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.
âPhew⊠nice.â
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.
âŠ!
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.
âSomeone of the justice faction?â
âNo. Demonic would be right. No matter how hard he tries to hide it, he cannot hide the smell of demonic energy fromâŠâ
The voice echoed, and the people were talking to each other.
âWho?â
Seol-Hwi asked in a nervous manner, but the voices did not seem to care.
âIs he used to ice arts? Seeing how he is absorbing the cold while warming up⊠right?â
âBecause he is a guy of the justice faction. The energy of the five attributes is spread out strongly⊠it must be Wudang.â
They kept talking to each other, and not long after,
âShould we make a bet?â
âSure.â
âBut what if he dies during the test?â
âThat cannot happen right? It would be an accident if it did.â
âWell, no one is watching.â
It was thenâ
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.
âHah!â
Seol-Hwi concentrated Yin energy on the tips of his toes and let the energy of ice surge through his hand.
Divine Water Ice Barrierâ
The glacier-like form soared high, protecting the body of Seol-Hwi.
Ching!
However, it was shattered by the opponentâs 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.
âSee, Iâm right. He used demonic arts.â
âWhat nonsense is that? I am right. It is the trick of Wudang!â
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 thoughtâ
If he changed to the combat method to turn based, would he not find out their identities?
Ah, it is a bit unnecessary, butâŠ
The troubles stopped there.
Even for the second test, he borrowed the systemâs 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.
âLook here.â
It was when Seol-Hwi was trying to change the combat style. The man spoke.
âYes. Elder.â
âWhere did you learn the ice arts? Looking at it, it seems like White Light Body Demonic Martial ArtsâŠâ
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.
âAh⊠thatâŠâ
The girl said,
âYou, youâre part of the justice faction, right? The trick too, you learned it in Wudang right?â
Seol-Hwi was silent. It was because he thought if he answered incorrectly he might be killed.
âThatâŠâ
When he hesitated on answering, the girl shouted at the man.
âI am telling you he is from the justice faction! We need to tear him limb from limb!â
âHe used the Demonic Sectâs martial arts, he is on our side.â
âAh, for real.â
They continued to speak back and forth. And sneakily Seol-Hwi changed the combat method.