Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
If we’re talking about a timeframe of about a month, then time wasn’t on my side. So, the faster I could train, the better. As soon as our conversation concluded, I maximized my internal energy.
Gugugugugu…
The moment my internal energy reached its limit, a Thunder Light flickered in my eyes, and the ground trembled. I hadn’t consciously used any techniques, but the power of my internal energy lifted nearby stones into the air. The Sword Demon, watching from about three lengths away, seemed astonished as he remarked,
“I didn’t expect it, but that’s impressive. Your internal energy is truly at least ten times greater than mine…”
“It’s the only thing I can brag about.”
“Haha, how humble.”
Chuckling, the Sword Demon continued,
“In terms of the difference in our internal energy, I shouldn’t even be able to stand here properly. That’s the law of the Martial Arts World as you know it. Yet, here I am, right as rain, talking with you. What do you think allows for that?”
After pondering his words, I replied,
“It’s the power of Will.”
“Exactly.”
The Sword Demon crossed his arms while gazing intently at me.
“My will now forms the Heavenly Pillar that withstands the dominance of your internal energy, dispersing it naturally. Do you grasp what that means?”
“I’m not sure.”
“It means that someone who has mastered and can freely apply Will cannot be pressured merely by sheer internal energy. There are perhaps only three people in the entire world who possess more internal energy than you.”
“Ah…!!”
That’s it!
It suddenly clicked. I finally understood why Lee Kwang, Jin So-cheong, and even the Dharma Protector weren’t fazed by my overwhelming internal energy. It wasn’t just a matter of different levels; they could effortlessly shake off the power of my internal energy thanks to their Will. Thus, all that remained was a pure martial contest, and as Peerless Masters, they had no reason to feel intimidated by me.
The Sword Demon continued,
“But don’t think your internal energy is useless. Will is an advanced application that’s highly consumptive. Without foundational capabilities, destructive power, and endurance backed by internal energy, it’s impossible to showcase strong prowess just relying on Will. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I understand.”
What the Sword Demon said rang true. If internal energy was useless, there would be no reason for the White Lotus Sect to cultivate the Holy Lotus and produce Peak Experts. Regardless, internal energy is a precious means of enhancing a warrior’s basic abilities. Furthermore, the fact that the Dharma Protector with infinite internal energy, the Heavenly Spirit Pill, stood at such an overwhelming advantage over Thunder God Lineage experts proves that.
The Sword Demon instructed,
“Now, deplete that internal energy to your heart’s content.”
“Hmm… Should I try to deplete it quickly?”
“Of course. If you just hold back, a whole day could pass before you fully deplete it.”
After hearing the Sword Demon’s advice, I felt a sense of inevitability.
‘Ugh… Even if I dump all my internal energy, it regenerates too quickly to deplete easily. In that case, should I use Thunder Roar?’
The Thunder Roar technique consumes a massive amount of internal energy, making it ideal given the current circumstances. If I unleashed it and went all out, I could probably drain everything within a single meal!
‘What to do…?’
The hesitation stemmed from one fact.
Thunder Roar is, after all, the top technique of the Thunder God Lineage!
Among the myriad secret techniques of Thunder God Lineage, very few individuals, including Lee Kwang, inherited this ultimate technique. Its sheer power makes it dangerous to expose to outsiders. What’s more, if the martial genius Sword Demon sees it multiple times, there’s always a chance he might figure out its weaknesses or create a similar technique. That’s precisely why I’d avoided showing it to him carelessly in my previous lives.
But I eventually made up my mind.
“Damn it, who cares! I’ve abandoned the Thunder God Lineage!”
Even if I planned to cultivate Thunder God Lineage into a counterforce against the White Lotus Sect, my current awful mood wouldn’t change. Just moments ago, I realized how much I had been deceived by Lee Kwang, and in this life, I wasn’t even affiliated with Thunder God Lineage and had no acquaintance with Lee Kwang. I didn’t owe any loyalty if I revealed my Thunder Roar technique!
With that thought, I immediately executed Thunder Roar.
“Ha!”
Kwa-ching!!
In an instant, Thunder Essence surged forth, enveloping my entire body in lightning. I must’ve looked like a monster made of thunder, and I could see the Sword Demon was taken aback.
“No way?”
Kiiiiiing—
The moment he was surprised, I unleashed every ultimate technique I had learned in a flash. It began with the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, transitioning seamlessly into the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, and then flowed into the fluid movements of Change Technique with a lance style.
That alone took approximately one hundred fifty seconds, and then came the Sword Qi and Sword Flame, swirling with the thunder until Hollow Sword and Heavenly Stake Sword emerged. Even while demonstrating the Wudang Sect’s legendary techniques, I realized I’d developed a much deeper understanding than before. I had intensely trained with Thunder God Lineage practitioners, which surely contributed to this enhancement.
The flow quickened, and the Sword Speed fluctuated wildly. I effortlessly sliced nearby petals into sixteen pieces, connecting it all with my most confident sword technique, Thousand Cuts and Ten Thousand Slaughters. It was the flashiest flourish from the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique.
Ki-ki-ki—
After the Thousand Cuts concluded, like some unspoken promise, I sent a massive Thunder Blade shooting into the sky. For me, it was the technique entwined with love and hate—Sky Thunder Blade. Giant bolts of lightning soared through the air, cleaving the clouds in half.
‘…I still have a bit of internal energy left.’
I contemplated before ultimately firing a Thunder Spirit Seal into the void. The Thunder Spirit Seal, passed down from Jin So-cheong to his Thunder God Lineage disciples, was a powerful skill ranking among the top three in the lineage. Especially because of its vast area of effect, it was perfect for dealing with countless opponents.
Kwa-gwa-gwang
Only after I unleashed dozens of Thunder Spirit Seals did my internal energy drastically plummet, leaving me with only a sliver of mysterious energy. At that point, my stamina was depleted, and I was gasping for breath. The Sword Demon looked at me, astonished.
“Wha… what astonishing skills you’ve mastered. What sort of master do you have? Truly a remarkable figure of this world.”
“…Just a hot-headed guy.”
I sat down, catching my breath. Just as I began to cross my legs, the Sword Demon suddenly struck my calf with his wooden sword, making me stand back up.
“Whoa! Don’t even think about recovering your energy. Continue to unleash sword techniques in that state.”
“Wha…? You want me to continue in this state?”
“Of course. Will isn’t just about having a strong mind. To acquire transcendent abilities, you need to repeatedly push your mental strength to the limit. Typically, this enlightenment comes from life-and-death battles or great epiphanies, but your excessive internal energy creates a formidable barrier.”
“Understood.”
I gritted my teeth and forced myself into position. As I grasped the basics of swordsmanship, the Sword Demon commanded,
“Move! No matter what, keep moving! Until your heart bursts!”
“……!!”
It felt like an overwhelming sensation I hadn’t experienced in a long time. Up to this point, I had been so concerned about preserving my internal energy for survival that I hadn’t pushed myself to the brink of death. Now, as the excruciating pain coursed through my body, I felt like I was ready to die.
‘Cough… cough…’
Only those who have never felt this can truly understand. Every part of my body felt as though it was crumbling, and my mental state threatened to fall apart. My impulse was to collapse right on the spot and strangle the person who told me to keep going. At the mere thought of the next movement, I felt like blood would burst from all seven openings in my body, threatening to send me into oblivion.
Yet, I pushed through.
‘I’ve already wasted decades! Even if it’s tough right now, I can’t just keep going around in circles!!’
I screamed internally. I had to grow stronger before my humanity eroded further! Otherwise, achieving both a ‘happy life’ and a ‘goal’ would be impossible. I vowed to retain my sanity even at the depths of hell, forcing my body to start moving.
Bright flashes danced before my eyes. This was a phenomenon occurring as I reached my physical limits. This flash clouded my vision, and if I didn’t get my act together quickly, I’d collapse without warning. I kept repeating in my mind that I had to concentrate, and I stood up again.
“AAAAH!!”
I screamed while moving,
All just to grasp Will!
If I could attain that Will, I wouldn’t mind if my body exploded right here!
The next moment, I found myself looking at the ceiling of the Shadowless Gate. I snapped out of my trance and noticed my clothes had been changed. As I sat up on the bed, a familiar voice greeted me.
“Are you awake?”
The Sword Demon stepped into the bedroom, having probably sensed my aura the moment I regained consciousness. He pulled up a chair beside him and sat down.
“It’s been exactly half a day since you fainted.”
“I see…”
“Do you feel as if you’ve grasped Will?”
I sat there blankly and shook my head.
“No…”
“Then what do you think you’ve been training for?”
I expressed my honest feelings.
“I just… thought it was hellish training.”
“Indeed. It’s pure hellish training with zero efficiency. Repeatedly pushing your limits and then recovering your stamina. Those who undergo such training are mere beginners in the martial arts.”
“……”
“Don’t assume you’ll grasp it overnight. The crucial factor is whether you can hold on through the extremes of your will.”
In other words, the hellish training was merely a means to an end. The key was whether I could elicit the ultimate Will, known as Will, from the brink of collapsing at the end of this rigorous training. As I understood that, I nodded slightly, and the Sword Demon added,
“By the way, I’m curious about one technique you used.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“The sword technique that freely pulls and pushes space… It closely resembles the technique of Dark Dragon (名龍子). Do you happen to have a connection to the Wudang Sect?”
“……!!”
I gasped, looking at him in surprise.
Dark Dragon is the most powerful figure of the Wudang Sect who has undergone Rebirth! A true figure of the Orthodox Sect and a friend of the Three Mighty Sects! Why is he bringing up Dark Dragon here?
But soon after, I logically connected the dots in my head.
‘Right… Dark Dragon already knew the Hollow Sword and Heavenly Stake Sword! And according to the Wudang Sect Sect Leader, he was nearly the only martial artist currently studying that swordsmanship. So it’s entirely plausible…’
I pondered for a moment before replying,
“My master isn’t someone from the Wudang Sect. And the sword technique I learned isn’t something I was taught by my master.”
“What do you mean?”
“I had a chance by chance and received the insights of a past Wudang Sect master. It wasn’t in the form of secret writings, but rather his enlightenment flowed into my mind, so in a way, I picked it up haphazardly. Hence, I’m not entirely sure what to call that technique.”
As I vaguely explained, the Sword Demon looked impressed.
“Indeed… So that’s how it is.”
“But does Dark Dragon employ a similar sword technique as mine? How do you know?”
“Hmm… Well, that’s because Dark Dragon and I are rivals.”
“Pardon?”
“The fame of Dark Dragon isn’t widely known in public, but he is truly among the top-tier experts of the Orthodox Sect. Having attained Rebirth and mastered the realm of Heavenly Sword, it’s no surprise. His strength ranks above the Three Mighty Sects, and I have to remain cautious not to clash with the Orthodox Sect too recklessly.”
“……!!”
I could only be astonished by the Sword Demon’s words.
‘Does this mean that the Dark Dragon of the Wudang Sect is an equivalent match to the Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong, a true peerless master?!’
When top-tier experts like the Sword Demon pass judgments, they thoroughly downplay their own subjectivity and maintain strict objectivity. Both exaggerating their own abilities or underestimating others are futile, so they tend to give cold, hard evaluations. For him to admit Dark Dragon as a rival likely implies they share equal levels of martial prowess amidst the strongest in the world.
The Sword Demon continued,
“Of course, I’m not making this judgment without having met him. Around twenty years ago, Dark Dragon and I engaged in a fierce battle, and his incredible sword technique remains etched in my memory. His method wielded the power to bend and pull space freely, just like your sword techniques.”
“I see.”
A thought struck me, prompting me to ask,
“So how do the two of your techniques compare with the Dharma Protector of the White Lotus Sect?”
“Hmm… That’s indeed a question that hits my pride hard.”
Have I made another blunder?
“I… I’m sorry.”
The Sword Demon waved his hand while forcing a smile.
“It’s alright. Though many dare not ask, they likely wonder about it. You’re the first to ask so directly, but still…”
“Apologies for the breach of etiquette.”
“Ahem. As for that question, I’ll answer with a firm ‘absolutely not.’”
“Is the Dharma Protector that strong?”
In response, the Sword Demon nodded.
“Indeed. I can say this since I’ve fought against the Dharma Protector myself.”
“……!!”
“When was it… Ah, yes, about ten years ago. He was a Water Spirit Lineage Dharma Protector. Once he revealed himself as the Dharma Protector of the Water Spirit Lineage, he sought to discern my skills in the central plains and visited the Shadowless Gate secretly.”
With a grin, the Sword Demon took a sip from the slightly cooled tea.
“It was a total rout. I couldn’t even last a hundred seconds against him.”
Is that so?
As I compared the strength of the Water Spirit Lineage Dharma Protector Yong Bi-cheon with that of the Sword Demon, I replied,
“Hmm, but that was ten years ago, right? I believe the current Shadowless Gate leader could defeat him.”
The Sword Demon gazed at me intently and said,
“Why do you talk as if you’ve seen the Dharma Protector in person?”
“Just… I figured that after ten years, the sect leader must have made impressive developments.”
As I stumbled through my words, the Sword Demon chuckled lightly.
“Well, that’s plausible. However, the strength of the Water Spirit Lineage Dharma Protector Duk Go-jun I faced back then was genuinely overwhelming. Even if Dark Dragon and I teamed up, I don’t think we’d be able to win against him.”
“T-that’s hardly possible.”
I muttered softly.
With countless encounters with Dharma Protectors, I had ample opportunities to gauge their abilities. Plus, I had witnessed Thunder God Lineage experts clash with them frequently. In this world, the only individuals with better knowledge of the Dharma Protectors than I might be the ultimate experts of Fire Spirit Lineage or Wind Spirit Lineage.
And the strength of the Wind Spirit Lineage Dharma Protector Yong Bi-cheon, which I had internalized in my mind, was by no means thoroughly overwhelming compared to Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong. He would likely pressure him using the overwhelming power of the Heavenly Spirit Pill only to end up winning by a narrow margin in a drawn-out fight.
‘Could it really be that the Water Spirit Lineage Dharma Protector is exceptionally strong?’
It seemed like the only viable explanation.
Now that I thought about it, the Water Spirit Lineage was said to be the strongest among the current White Lotus Sect Dharma Protectors. If that were true, then Duk Go-jun, being the direct descendant of the White Lotus Sect leader and head of the Water Spirit Lineage, likely possessed the edge over the other Dharma Protectors.
This was crucial information. As I reflected on this, the Sword Demon said,
“It seems you have some unspoken connection with the White Lotus Sect. Therefore, I must give you a clear warning.”
“Yes…”
“Never engage with the White Lotus Sect. And even if you do, never provoke the Water Spirit Lineage. Their martial arts are beyond human limits.”
“……”
A chill ran down my spine.
Even the Sword Demon could wield the Sword of the Ascendant at will, making it difficult to distinguish his skills from Lee Kwang. That means he’s genuinely a top-tier expert traversing the Martial Arts World! For such a master to warn me against clashing with the Water Spirit Lineage was hard to believe.
Just what kind of martial arts do they possess?
While I was inwardly worrying, the Sword Demon urged,
“Then it’s time to rise. A month doesn’t leave us much time, so from now on, as soon as you awaken, dive headfirst into training.”
“Understood.”
I resolved myself. No matter how determined I was, pushing my body to the brink of collapse until I fainted repeated times was an enormous challenge. My head felt like it was going to explode at the thought of the hellish training ahead, and I trudged off towards the training ground, forcing myself to endure.
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