Martial arts, after all, is best learned through techniques that suit one’s own level.
If we’re talking about the peak, it’s wise to learn martial arts based on the principles of peak techniques.
I am Ho Cheon-an.
My limits have expanded to the peak stage. I don’t know when it will happen, but to reach the peak, I inevitably need martial arts containing the principles of peak techniques.
My top priority is to reach the Hwa-gyeong level of Jeong Cheol.
Even though both are at the same Hwa-gyeong level, the difference in battle power between my hasty growth through various means and Jeong Cheol’s solid foundation built over a long time will indeed be vast. However, first, I need to reach the same level to have a foundation to work with.
Thus, during my time at the peak level, I decided to focus on mastering two martial arts.
They are the Heart Method and the Movement Method.
Cheonwon Heart Method is a highly stable heart method. With the Seven Thunder Elixirs and the Okryong, I have ingested seven elixirs in less than a year, so how much potential has been properly absorbed? Moreover, I was in a condition where my Qi Meridians were completely blocked by clogged blood.
Any ordinary heart method would have failed miserably, probably sending me into losing control over my Qi, but Cheonwon Heart Method protected my body during that bad situation…
Now, the residual energy from the elixirs is all absorbed, and a lot of impurities from the blocked blood have been filtered out, along with the toxic energy and waste in my body and Qi Meridians thanks to the Barley Lotus Pool…
There was no need to choose Cheonwon Heart Method to enhance my stability anymore.
“My Disciple.”
“Yes.”
Therefore, it became necessary to learn an appropriate new martial art.
“Really, do you think you can gain skills just by climbing a mountain?”
That’s why I’m currently searching the towering mountains of Yunnan.
“Hey, didn’t I tell you that secret texts definitely exist? Focus and search quickly.”
“Ha… what kind of crazy guy would bury his martial arts in this vast mountain?”
“What…”
“From the start, adventures are just illusions! No matter how well we set up mechanisms or formations, there’s hardly any that can last for a hundred or two hundred years without maintenance. And above all, what does it even mean to use a mechanic or a formation master to create such mechanisms? If you have the resources and influence to do that, you should be asking someone to find your descendants instead of being a foolish author.”
Master. There are countless Qi Persons in this world who have expressed their masters as foolish authors.
That’s just [Romance].
The reason why Tang Do-yeon’s venom was extremely high at the tip of his tongue was simple.
Mountain climbing.
The current mountain climbing was very taxing for Tang Do-yeon.
Gasping for breath while staggering, Tang Do-yeon looked like a peak expert in a pitiful state, but anyone who knew the usual Tang Do-yeon would nod with a subtle expression when hearing about his current state.
If Tang Do-yeon hadn’t been born into the Tang Clan martial arts, he’d have lived his life doing nothing but hammering nails.
Tang Do-yeon glared at me with a face as if saying, “Why is this guy fine?” but…
“Hey, this is proof of how much basic training you’ve done.”
“You swindler…”
Tang Do-yeon said in disbelief, but I puffed out my chest. Well, strictly speaking, the difference in stamina between Tang Do-yeon and me can’t just be explained by differences in training.
A lot of it is due to the effects of the eight elixirs and the cleansing from the Barley Lotus Pool.
But who gave me the elixirs and the Barley Lotus Pool for free?
It’s not like I’m a silver spoon born who lounges around in my room receiving them; I got them all through running around and rolling!
Getting elixirs requires effort, damn it!
As soon as Tang Do-yeon found a suitable rock, he sat down.
“Let’s take a break.”
“Master, how can we find anything like this? Huh?”
“Hmph, if you’re that rushed, then go alone. I need to rest.”
Tang Do-yeon laid back on the rock as if to say, “Slice my belly open.” Well… he looked like a wilted bunch of green onions after being out for three days, but even so, he is a peak expert, so resting a bit would restore his stamina.
“It’s easier to find a needle in a sand dune.”
I let Tang Do-yeon’s grumbling go in one ear and out the other.
What we’re doing right now is quite similar.
We were treasure hunting on the mountain. We were looking for a sword and a secret text that are hidden somewhere in this mountain.
To be precise, we are looking for the Chamam Sword used by Mu Jeongpaek and the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique.
“Hey, I’m telling you it will show up if we keep looking.”
The opportunity left by Mu Jeongpaek really is somewhere in this mountain. Its location is random even in the game, so if we keep searching the mountain, it will eventually appear.
It can truly be called treasure hunting.
Everyone in the party was scattered, searching the mountain. The black cat, Miss Yeo Il-ye, and Tang Do-yeon are all peak stage, so they searched individually while Tang Do-yeon and I, being at the regular peak stage, searched together.
The condition to find treasures is being above the peak level. When I played the game, I thought that condition was just a balance element. If you could get peak level secret texts just by searching the mountains from the beginning, the early game balance would be shattered.
But now that I truly am at the peak, I think to find secret texts, I must feel the Qi of the weapon.
To find hidden secret texts without any clues, there should be some kind of landmark. Perhaps the rhythm of the Chamam Sword can be that landmark.
Just like this rock…
“Master, wake up.”
“Hah! I’d die on this spot before my stamina fully returns… ack!”
There’s nothing I can do if he won’t budge.
I pushed Tang Do-yeon aside and grabbed the base of the rock.
After banging metal to death under Tang Do-yeon’s guidance, I’ve become able to feel the Qi of weapons; however, there are still differences in understanding objects. How much do I know about feeling Qi from a rock?
What I sensed was the Qi of the sword.
“This damn disciple dares to treat his master disrespectfully!”
Tang Do-yeon, who bumped his butt, complained, but I ignored him for now and focused my Qi on strengthening my muscles.
“Ugh!”
The large rock that covered the area where I sat began to shake as Tang Do-yeon lay down casually, and soon one side was lifted up.
Boom!
As the rock rolled, there was a hollow space inside, and in that space was a chest.
“…No way?”
Tang Do-yeon quickly understood the situation and helped pull the chest out with me. The chest was carefully sealed with lead.
“Come out.”
Bang! Bang!
I didn’t see what Tang Do-yeon did, but after hitting the sealed chest a couple of times with a stone, it opened. He unhesitatingly opened the lid and ripped out the paper and leather inside.
“Seriously…”
The first thing that caught my eye was a straight sword with a thick blade. Compared to the widely-used Hyeobong Sword in the Martial World, its appearance was rather crude.
Is this the Chamam Sword? It certainly looks heavy enough to slice through rocks. The Qi flowing through the sword was rich enough to be considered a famous sword, but a sword so specialized in power doesn’t fit with the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword which incorporates all the fundamentals.
I set it aside and opened the leather pouch that was with it.
[Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique]
Found it.
[Single Cut Blade Technique] [Seven Thunder Defense Technique] [Enlightened Cloud Heart Method]
Three martial arts are included in the secret text of Mu Jeongpaek.
“I found it!!!!”
I raised my Qi and yelled out loud. It was to call out my team who were searching somewhere in the mountain, filled with joy that I had reaped the results of days of searching.
The treasure hunt on Sang Heo Mountain was over.
* *
We arrived in a village near Sang Heo Mountain.
“Thank you for everything, Instructor.”
“Mm.”
The rental period for Okryong had ended. Since Okryong was still the Commander of the Golden Guards, now that the incident at the bookstore had wrapped up, it was time for Okryong to return to the Golden Guards.
“Yeah, the experience abroad wasn’t bad, right?”
“Yes! It was truly enlightening!”
Okryong’s eyes sparkled as if it wasn’t bad at all. Making it clear that he felt a bit regretful about parting shows that he favors dynamic life over static life as a Golden Guard.
“I hope to see you again next time.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Haha, no. It was enjoyable.”
The party members also said farewell to the departing Okryong.
“Susu.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
“I will be waiting to spread my wings.”
Okryong’s eyes opened wide.
“Ah!”
For a moment, Okryong stood still before bowing his head and running off. Looks like with such a reaction, if I ever need him again, he’ll spring back right away.
“Okay, let’s go relax at the inn now.”
Also, I need to read the new martial arts books. As the team that was sent back to the Central Plains right after the bookstore and was immediately drafted into treasure hunting, they probably had some accumulated fatigue and nodded with eager expressions.
While everyone was sipping tea at the inn,
“I received news about the recent state of the Martial World.”
The black cat revealed information from the members of the Wolbok-dang with a subtle expression. How the situation in Sacheon is, and what movements the Outcast Faction is making.
And when the news came that Podalap Palace and Sokryeong Sect collided, we couldn’t help but be surprised.
“What? The Lord of the Palace is a martial artist?”
“It seems so.”
…No, if that’s the case, why didn’t he just say it! I’ve been working so hard on devising extreme infiltration strategies to minimize the damage to the practitioners!
At the same time, I realized the fact that he revealed his concealed level to help me.
Hmm. Should I be thankful or just feel like I’ve been played?
“Well, considering the initial purpose, isn’t it a good outcome?”
“Well, I guess so.”
When we examine whether Rano Jingbu’s actions helped or not, we can say it helped. Since it’s now known that Podalap Palace possesses a martial artist, the pressure felt by the Yunnan-based Outcast Faction will undoubtedly increase.
The practitioners wouldn’t need to churn up the borders as the operation was completed in one stroke. Plus, owing to Rano Jingbu’s actions, the prestige of the tricky Ak Gyeong-cheol has taken a huge hit.
Although it was a disgraceful situation for having fought the same Central Plain, especially now against a primitive barbarian from the border, right?
Whether a martial artist or not, Ak Gyeong-cheol’s prestige had enough room to crash down.
“Hmmm…”
If Ak Gyeong-cheol is shaken, it means the Sokryeong Sect will also be shaken. And when a neighbor weakens, it’s the nature of the Outcast Faction to prepare to stab in the back.
This… if things go smoothly, I might be able to smash Sadoryeon, huh?
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