Heavenly Horse Church.
It was a massive sect devoted to the Heavenly Horse, famous enough that even I, who doesn’t know much about martial arts or swordsman tales, had heard of it.
It’s one of those groups that pop up with a very high probability in any martial arts-related creations.
Moreover, there was a so-called “Heavenly Horse” among the users who underwent a crazed training, which oddly filled me with a sense of relief.
[What even is the Heavenly Horse Church? LOL]
[Huh?]
[Is Lily becoming the Heavenly Horse?]
[The building is huge!]
[Let’s learn the Heavenly Horse Divine Art!]
[Wait, is that the Heavenly Horse chick over there?]
[Is there a user Heavenly Horse here?]
[Is the Heavenly Horse here?]
“Hmm. I don’t think the Heavenly Horse is over there…”
No matter how much she mimicked the Heavenly Horse, I didn’t believe she could create such a massive building and power in such a short time.
She had become fairly strong after her class change, but not enough to manipulate multi-dimensions yet.
‘The timing is just too fast.’
“Well, we’ll find out when we go.”
[Okay okay okay]
[Let’s gooooooo]
[I heard Lily got some skill]
[What’s Spirit Root?]
Above the buildings of the Heavenly Horse Church hung a massive black magic array.
It was similar to a shield that blocked the intrusion of outsiders.
I briefly thought about breaking through it, but decided it would be better to enter through the formal route instead.
‘Besides, my power is partially sealed anyway.’
I glided down stealthily and headed towards the main gate, where warrior guards in black robes stood.
They were strong individuals with considerable power.
About twenty guard soldiers were stationed at the main gate, each possessing strength within the top 100 ranks.
If it were in Teshiniria, they’d be at the level of upper-ranked disciples.
‘To think mere guard soldiers are upper-ranked disciples…’
I hadn’t realized it when in the separated main temple, but perhaps the highest average power in the multi-dimensional realm is indeed within the main temple.
“Who goes there?”
“You look quite extraordinary.”
“Reveal your identity, Young Master.”
The guard warriors spoke to me one by one, keeping their guard up.
Though my knowledge of martial arts was limited, I knew that the Heavenly Horse Church was a dark sect, not a righteous one.
If I were an ordinary human or just a mediocre strong person, they would’ve subdued me on the spot, but they merely kept their distance instead.
‘They must have the ability to gauge strength…’
Above all, these warriors.
“Their rank is quite high. In an unusual way.”
[?]
[Let’s just kill them all!]
[Rank?]
“Yes, rank.”
Rank signifies the stake of an entity’s existence and its relation to the world.
The higher the rank, the greater the understanding of power, amplification of techniques, and resistance to external forces increases.
The more one understands power, the amplification of techniques and resistance to external forces increases.
Moreover, if that rank reaches its limit, one can challenge the state of ‘Upper’.
Simply put, as the rank increases, the stronger one becomes, but the ‘World’ starts to recognize that existence.
Of course, there are countless ways to become strong even without a high rank.
Most of the residents of Deoen, for instance, didn’t have such high ranks compared to their power.
The Reverse of Tesinira, despite possessing Intermediate Angel and Demon-level power, had absolutely no rank at all.
“There were many among the Ancient Beasts who didn’t have a high rank compared to their power.”
If there’s any unique case where rank and power are proportional, it’d be Lasty and Pharaoh, right?
“Cases where rank and power are equated are quite rare. If it’s 1 cost to increase power of the same rank, raising the rank itself costs around 100.”
Moreover, unlike the power that increases just by training, rank has specific rules or laws that govern it.
It’s indeed a notoriously high difficulty.
Only two races are free from this difficulty.
The Celestial Race and the Demon Race.
“But… these people are almost similar. The difference between rank and power.”
[Oh?]
[???]
[Just as expected, Heavenly Horse Church]
[Whoa whoa whoa]
[Amazing~]
[What does that even mean?]
[So, it’s saying it’s impressive, right?]
The Guard Warrior’s considerable power was largely due to his high rank.
When comparing just the power held while limiting the rank, it wouldn’t be particularly high among the Multi-Dimension.
As I was chattering away with the viewers, a man who seemed to be the highest-ranking among the Guard Warriors approached while putting away his sword.
Among them, he possessed a strength comparable to Yena before meeting Myeosin.
“Although that’s impossible now.”
Yena would undoubtedly split him in two in just one or two exchanges.
“I felt an unusual spiritual power, so I thought it might be you… It seems you are indeed my senior. May I ask which rank of Ascetic you are?”
“Ascetic?”
“Oh. Mountain Master, you see. An Ascetic is someone who cultivates their ‘World’ through cultivation. Such individuals challenge the sky using the world they’ve built. There are many such people in Heavenly Horse Church.”
“Oh.”
So, a world that raises ranks?
This makes it understandable why the people in the Main Temple have such abnormally high ranks.
If it’s a place that specializes in raising ranks, they’d obviously be that strong.
‘Though it takes an incredible amount of time and effort.’
It was a place that a user like Heavenly Horse would love.
[Hmm]
[This is really a world of sword masters, haha!]
[Oh sky!!]
[With someone like Lily, she should at least be at the Avatar Phase, right?]
[Decision Phase?]
[If it’s Lily, it’s definitely Junseon, haha!]
[What the heck is that, you nerds?]
[Why are there so many daughters in Lily’s room?]
[I have no idea what you’re talking about, haha!]
[I will stand in the sky!]
[By the way, the Demon Church is incredibly friendly, haha!]
[For real, lol.]
“Well, I’m not too familiar with realms like that…”
“Oh, I see. May I ask what brings you to the Heavenly Horse Church?”
“I just thought the Heavenly Horse Church building was impressive, so I came to take a look. Can I go inside for a tour?”
“Of course. Do you wish to join us?”
“Well, not really… just browsing for now.”
“Understood.”
Let the path be opened!
At the Guard Captain’s command, the Guard Warriors jumped and hurriedly opened the door.
Of course, if they had rushed in and fumbled to open the door, they wouldn’t be any different from the culprits, but the warriors clasped their hands together and shouted loudly.
“Open!”
Boom…!
As the warriors recited the incantation, their Spiritual Power flowed out and activated the spell.
The heavily reinforced door, enchanted with various protective magic arrays, creaked loudly as it opened, revealing numerous buildings within.
“Please, step inside, Senior. I will guide you.”
“Sounds great.”
I feel excited somehow.
■
“What’s that?”
“The Spiritual Power is incredible…”
“Not an ordinary person, that’s for sure. They look special…”
“It must be one of the other races! Stop babbling nonsense and just memorize the technique!”
“She’s so pretty, though? If only I could talk to her once…”
“Do you want to die at the hands of a senior?”
Murmurs filled the air.
As I walked through the streets of the Heavenly Horse Church, people stared at me and the Guard Captain while whispering.
It seems that I’m the curious one here, but I didn’t look like the typical Heavenly Horse Church follower.
The Heavenly Horse Church was known to symbolize ‘evil’ to many.
“It’s more peaceful than I expected.”
“Are you referring to the public opinion on the Heavenly Horse Church?”
“Yes.”
“It’s understandable. When the Great War between Justice and Evil unfolded in the past, the Martial Alliance labeled the Heavenly Horse Church as ‘evil.’ However, the Heavenly Horse Church is not evil.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s just foolish people who lost both in battles and in cultivation, who scream such things. The Heavenly Horse Church only venerates the Lord Heavenly Horse and challenges the sky. They don’t oppress anyone.”
Only the sky suppresses the cultivators.
It’s just the sky that’s straight.
[Oh…]
[As expected, the mastermind is the Martial Arts Alliance, haha!]
[Heavenly Horse Church]
[Lost again!!]
[The Martial Arts Alliance always loses.]
[As expected, the style is the Heavenly Horse Church, hahahahaha!]
[I want to see the Heavenly Horse.]
“How strong are the people in this place?”
“I can’t dare to mention the secrets of the church, but… Let me tell you what is generally known. First, you said you didn’t know about the state of Qi Cultivation…”
“Yes.”
As I mentioned earlier, I know nothing about martial arts or mystical stories.
All I really know is about the Heavenly Horse and the martial world, and something about internal energy? That’s about it.
Especially in terms of mystical stories, I knew nothing at all.
The Guard Captain frowned a bit, saying, “No matter how much of a Mountain Master you are… Ah. Do you know about the Mountain Master?”
“I don’t.”
“…A Mountain Master refers to those who cultivate in isolation without engaging in any external activities. The preliminary states are classified into five categories.”
“Five categories.”
“Refinement (煉氣), Foundation (築氣), Elixir (結丹), Origin Spirit (元靈), Human Realm (人界). There are a total of five. Apart from that, in the ‘Mid World,’ there are other minor states, but I will explain just this much for now.”
[What? That sounds similar.]
[Continuous Qi, haha!]
[What about Lily?]
[What’s the Human Realm? I’ve never heard of that.]
[Lily is in the Human Realm, the beauty scheme, haha!]
[Hahahahahaha!]
[What state is Lily in?]
“Hmm…”
“Most of the Heavenly Horse Church has reached the refinement to foundation level. Elite warriors have reached the elixir stage. The Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Church hold the origin spirit state.”
“So what about Lord Heavenly Horse?”
“That person can be said to have long since entered the Human Realm state.”
Hmm! The Guard Captain said that with pride, as if it were his own accomplishment.
Saying that he has long entered the Human Realm means that he has surpassed that state now.
‘Did he move on to the Mid World? Then what am I?’
In my original country, I would have passed the preliminary state and moved on to the Mid World long ago, but right now, my power is sealed.
Still many questions remain…
‘It’s better to meet him directly.’
“Where is Lord Heavenly Horse?”
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