Chapter: 633
When I first got inspired by this, it was right after the fight with Baekcheon Sword Master, when I was having a brief conversation with my father.
My father clearly told me to figure out what rotation, not compression, meant in the Gu Yeon Hwa Ryun Gong.
What does “wheel” mean?
Going further, what is the meaning contained within Gu Yeon Hwa Ryun Gong itself?
A pyrotechnician who’s purely about creating fireworks. That’s how I had lived my first life. Now, that’s my second life.
Just from that one story my father told me, I was picturing a different world in my head.
Perhaps, Gu Yeon Hwa Ryun Gong doesn’t simply light fireworks. Isn’t the focus more about spinning it quickly?
Instead of forming a ring of flames that emits heat from within, what if spinning the ring quickly brings forth the sparks as a bonus?
As my way of thinking shifted, my attitude towards learning and expressing martial arts changed too.
Rotation. That’s why it’s called a wheel. With that thought as a starting point, I took one step at a time.
Rather than spewing out huge blasts of flame, I struggled to use more rotating flames. No matter which martial art from the Nine Families I employed, I aimed to focus on rotation within it.
Years passed like that, and an idea sparked while I was training to use the flame jade with a bit more intensity.
Holding the compressed flame jade in my hand and watching it spin, I suddenly threw it into the air.
Boom—!
As I watched the flame jade burst in the air, a peculiar feeling washed over me.
The difference between the jade my father threw and the jade I made and tossed.
It’s not just about power; there’s clearly something different about my father’s martial arts.
This might stem from differences in cultivation levels, but I bet there was a variation in the rotation speeds involved as well.
‘Hmm.’ The compression taught by Shin Noya and the rotation of the jade.
As I quietly contemplated this, I found myself wanting to try something.
It’s a fundamental question.
Yeom-ok is a martial art that’s normally employed with explosions in mind, yet wouldn’t spinning it more increase its potency?
Its simple spherical shape makes it easy to throw as well.
At this point, I came up with a hypothesis.
What if I threw a martial art that adds even more rotation?
Sure, that’s easy since it’s spherical, but what if…
“What if the shape is sharper and the rotation is intensified?”
Couldn’t that inherently generate an insane amount of destructive power?
That thought, however, was utterly bonkers.
Yeom-ok is a fully developed martial art and already falls under the category of those with high difficulty.
The conditions for use are strict. It requires compressing heat and keeping it in constant rotation, and maintaining this demands an extremely delicate control of my chi.
To accomplish that, it becomes the simplest form, a sphere.
It’s tiring enough just to hold that shape.
Now, to change its form and add rotation?
There’s absolutely no way Yeom-ok could withstand that. Attempting it would only end in the heat bursting forth from the backlash.
“How do you know all this in detail?”
I didn’t want to know, either.
Kwaaaaaaaaa—!!
“D-Dammit—!!”
“Ahhhhh!!”
Shit.
I barely survived.
That would be the correct assessment.
The reason for my failure was that I tried to forcibly change the shape of the flame jade.
A flame jade packed with tremendous firepower, rotating based on countless revolutions—by forcibly twisting its shape, it exploded uncontrollably.
As a result, the arm I was casting with got engulfed in flames, burning my skin.
The body that directly bore the brunt of the explosion had its insides and bones shattered entirely.
What if I hadn’t been in a dragon’s body?
What if Shin Noya wasn’t in the Gu Clan at that time?
That was an ending I really didn’t want to contemplate.
By relying on my remarkable regenerative abilities, I barely managed to revert my body to normal.
“Crazy bastard.”
That’s how Pajeon described me when he looked at me.
“Are you saying I’m nuts? So you’ve really lost your marbles, huh?”
“…”
Even watching him speak to me with that air of disdain left me speechless.
“Are you recklessly trying to alter your martial art? A peak-level technique, no less? Why didn’t you just say you wanted to die at that point!?”
The unnaturally frigid reprimand left me bowing my head even lower in submission.
“I never expected it would turn out like this…”
“How is it possible that you weren’t aware of that at your level? You’d be better off calling yourself an idiot instead.”
Just when I thought I could wriggle out of my explanation, I got beaten down straight away.
The guy who had already reached the Hwa-gyeong level didn’t realize how hazardous this move was.
That alone was a tad embarrassing.
No, to be fair, I should have known better.
I fully understood it was a risky endeavor and could lead to enormous consequences.
But still, I attempted it anyway.
Maybe that’s why Pajeon was so angry.
“It wasn’t just some mere improvement; you were trying to upend the entire foundation. Did you really not know how big of a deal that was?”
“…Ugh.”
With the flames of Gu Yeom Taeryun engulfing my body.
Though there’s also an advanced version that employs the transformations of Gu Yeom Taeryun Hwa, it merely utilizes a similar framework for a bit more flair.
What I was about to do posed far greater complications than that.
As I intended to reshape the very form itself, the martial arts retaliated and exploded.
It was explosive to the point where I nearly met my end.
“You exceed the level you can manage. Even if you’re willing to gamble your life, that’s crossing the line.”
“…Yes.”
I nodded, feeling like a sinner. Almost dying while training in martial arts—what a ridiculous way to go.
With so much on my plate, a death like that would truly be a pathetic excuse to perish.
Truly, I shouldn’t attempt that again.
But just as I started to think that way—
“However…”
Pajeon spoke while looking at me.
“I don’t think the attempt itself was bad.”
“…Huh?”
I tilted my head at his words, confused.
After all that scolding, he claimed it wasn’t a bad attempt?
“It might be worth exploring, only that you’re way below the threshold needed to handle it.”
“…You mean, once I reach that level, it’s something worth trying?”
“I can’t say for sure. I’m not well-versed in that martial art. Ask your father for reliable information.”
“Ah, my father is… well…”
I was already feeling like a scolded brat, and now I was about to get another earful.
I hadn’t seen my father so furious since my reincarnation.
I was scared to the point of almost soiling myself.
Just as my voice began to rise, Mrs. Mi appeared like a saving grace. It really could’ve gone south.
Upon my words, Pajeon looked at me in complete disappointment.
“I’m not saying don’t do it, but take caution.”
“…So, you won’t stop me even if I might die?”
“Had you been the type to stop simply because I told you not to, you would have never even done such a thing in the first place.”
Well, that certainly held some truth.
“If you’d really been that sort of individual, finding it boring, I wouldn’t want to teach you anything at all. Also…”
As Pajeon continued speaking, he broke into a grin.
“A martial artist should experience moments close to death to achieve growth.”
I wondered if we truly needed that kind of terrifying growth at all.
It was a fleeting thought, but I chose not to voice it.
With an amused smirk, Pajeon grew serious again and told me,
“First, for this particular martial art, don’t attempt it until you reach the realm of imagination.”
I nodded in response to his warning without uttering a sound.
This was a serious warning from a master who doesn’t usually discourage his disciples trying things out.
The implication was clear—unless you’re genuinely at that level, even attempting it would be a mistake.
“If you end up dead, wouldn’t that be a waste of your life?”
I felt unexpectedly moved by those words.
Is he genuinely concerned for my life?
Yeah, he may act tough, yet he remains a teacher at heart!
As I pondered this way, I thought about saying something I rarely express.
“There are still mountains of martial arts to learn!”
[…]
My expression twisted upon hearing Pajeon’s response.
Something about what he expressed had a strange ring to it.
“Uh, Elder.”
“What?”
“I’m just asking out of curiosity.”
I asked Pajeon, attempting to clarify my suspicion.
“Earlier, when you were angry, was it because I got hurt, or was it more about how I wouldn’t learn martial arts if I was injured?”
Rather than scolding me for getting hurt, did he express anger because of how I wouldn’t be able to develop my martial arts if I sustained injuries?
That was the line of questioning I posed.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
His insistence that I wasn’t making any sense filled me with relief.
Yeah, I think even the craziest of individuals would prioritize their disciple’s well-being over mere martial arts…
“Of course I get angry when you get hurt because it affects your training. Do you have any idea how many things I still need to teach you?”
[…]
“Take good care of yourself, you still have a long way to go—”
Damn it.
That day, every shred of respect I had for Pajeon shattered.
Once again, to sum it all up.
Whoosh, whoosh—!
Most of what Pajeon told me then turned out to be right.
If you aim to improve on Yeom-ok, you ought to reach at least the realm of imagination.
Now I think I’ve come to understand what he truly meant.
The moment I entered this new stage, things I had previously failed to see began to come into focus.
Woooh—!
A tremendous amount of heat began to form in my eyes.
There was pain—but joy washed over me first.
I could see it!
Countless lines radiating from the Flame Jade.
The flow of my energy I poured into forming this minute orb.
How the manipulation continually spun to maintain that shape.
I was witnessing martial arts.
Not using it, but seeing it.
Those attempts I had never previously engaged in became possible now that my eyes were opened and my body could feel.
This was a first.
A moment where I’d be taken aback by martial arts.
Surprisingly, I was astonished by my own martial arts that I had used countless times.
“That’s amazing!”
Yeom-ok is a martial art far more complicated than I had previously thought.
And intricate too.
To wield Yeom-ok, one must ascend to the Hwa-gyeong level.
Now, I’ve finally come to comprehend that reason.
Up until now, I’d thought it was merely a prerequisite condition.
Delving deeper proved that the reason was more complex than that.
For Yeom-ok, a vast quantity of energy was necessary.
While a certain level is indeed not unmanageable…
What was with the insistence on using Hwa-gyeong as the standard?
Why is that the benchmark?
It’s because one needs a body that can endure the fiery jade.
Moreover, it requires the control to gather energy and spin it to utilize the jade.
That standard is Hwa-gyeong; only at that level can it be used effectively.
Now, I think I understand the reasoning clearly.
“It’s because I tried to use it without that experience.”
At the peak of my maturity, I attempted to wield the jade, but the backlash repeatedly struck me down.
“…That was quite forced.”
Looking back, I can tell it was indeed forced.
With my past experiences to lean on, I could manage to a degree, but even so, it felt ill-advised.
The more clarity I gained, the more it all clicked.
“Oh, I get it.”
Layer upon layer of realizations began to stack up.
Martial arts is about understanding.
It’s not just spinning your energy and rotating your mind aimlessly; it’s understanding why you can even use it.
How the hell does this power work?
One has to grasp each facet individually.
My heart resonated with this epiphany.
The vibrations from this understanding tore down the faint wall within me.
Clatter!
I could feel the debris tumbling within.
“In the heat of battle, to gain enlightenment? Unbelievable.”
An occurrence I had always yearned for unfolded at the moment I was fighting for my life.
What an amusing scenario!
Additionally,
“Thank goodness!”
A strange sense of gratitude washed over me. It was a humble yet somehow pristine emotion.
I waved my hand.
Whoosh, whoosh—!!
The rotation of Yeom-ok intensified.
However, it wasn’t simply about ramping up the rotation.
I thickened the flow of my energy.
I changed my approach slightly.
This minor alteration brought forth more than I anticipated.
Hwaaaah—!
The ambient air began to be drawn into the jade.
As it seeped into the designated space, my heat mergedwith the flames and burst forth.
The problem was, the flames being pulled in were stronger than I had expected.
My legs almost buckled.
Endure.
If I release it now…
“I’d die.”
I’d truly be one foot in the grave.
The pressure gathering in the jade was immense—not merely amplifying energy.
It spun even faster.
In fact, the flame jade was already complete—stronger than before.
Would throwing it at him right now bring an end?
No way in hell.
“That won’t suffice.”
That’s not how I intended to go about it.
I contemplated the wildly spinning flame jade.
If I were to alter the framework now, the rotational structure would twist and explode.
Thus, I needed to manage all the complexities of this energy while changing it gradually.
Even if I went slow, I had to question whether I could withstand this chaos or not.
Let’s not get lost in the epiphany, but rather view it with clarity.
Am I capable of handling this?
“No.”
Even the thought alone felt like it would induce a headache.
So what’s the plan?
If I’m tied up and can’t move, what shall I do?
Should I just concede or let it blow up?
“Hmm.”
If given a choice, I’d lean towards the latter.
Abandoning ship wasn’t an option.
I vowed not to live a life of surrender. It was time to make that a reality.
Moreover—
“Just let it explode.”
That didn’t seem all that bad as a plan either.
If maintaining the rotation while altering its shape proved too daunting,
let it be and allow it to burst.
Step.
Forge a framework, and place it inside.
With that thought, I gripped the flame jade tightly.
Crack—!
Kwaaaaaaaa—!!
The jade erupted, unleashing an extraordinary wave of heat into the air.
Thank goodness it didn’t manifest any immediate harm.
At least outwardly.
“Ugh.”
Internally, the shock screamed within me.
But I managed to hold back.
The force I felt radiating from my hands was enough to endure the pains inflicted.
“This….”
I exclaimed as I inspected my right hand.
“It’s not as dreadful as I imagined?”
In my grip was a spear, engulfed in flames.
A spear forged by enhancing the flame jade.
The name is… um.
“Let’s say…”
Flame Jade Holy Spear.
I think that’ll suffice.
Simply a long stick with a sharp tip;
Within that shape, a colossal flame spins.
Overwhelming heat fused with an overwhelming energy.
Just a glance reveals the immense explosive strength.
In fact,
“This is still a work in progress.”
It lacks a certain polish due to my skill level falling short.
Since I couldn’t refine it properly due to rotation control, I developed a structure.
“I mean, in my imagination.”
I utilized my essence as a mold to trap the flames within, just like when forming a spiritual vessel.
It’s imperative to maintain control over what’s about to blow.
In a sense, stretching the jade to enhance its rotational speed suffices to attain remarkable power.
As proof of that:
Thud… thud, thud.
While attempting to activate the Flame Jade Holy Spear,
an attack hastily swung by my opponent cut through my chest, causing blood to stain my torso.
Chrrrch—!
Ice formed on the edge of the sword, inflicting secondary damage.
“Ouch, that hurts like hell.”
I had foreseen this and tried my hardest to evade it.
Yet, when attempting a technique, there’s simply no avoiding it.
Nonetheless, I succeeded.
“…This bastard…!”
I could hear the surprised voice of the net.
He stared at me with unadulterated astonishment.
“What on Earth is that? What have you created?”
“This?”
I didn’t act to showcase it.
It was quite hard to manage and move around.
I had to be careful, fearing it might explode if mishandled.
“Can’t you tell? It’s a spear.”
“…Hah.”
Tension flickered across his celestial visage.
Is this really that threatening?
“Isn’t it a bit similar?”
His spear, too,
was ultimately the result of condensed cold air. There was no reason to get that worked up about mine.
But of course,
“I didn’t craft it to swing or stab, though.”
If I attempted that, it would explode, and that would mean my end.
Yet the sole reason I fashioned it into this spear form is to…
Swish.
With a low stance, I lifted the spear hand slightly and pulled it back.
“…!”
Seeing this, he flinched and made to move.
Looks like he figured out my intent.
“Right.”
The form I took on along with the increased rotational energy served one purpose.
To throw it faster. To throw it harder.
Though I dubbed it the Flame Jade Holy Spear,
“its true purpose is to be a thrusting spear.”
Throw it swiftly.
To leave nothing behind.
Whew—!
I centered my weight and channeled every ounce of strength to my right hand.
And declared,
“If you can, avoid this.”
“What—?!”
With that warning,
I hurled the spear I held towards him.
Swish-!
The sound of the spear cutting through the air reverberated briefly.
Then,
Thud-! The vessel that had engulfed the flames returned to my grasp.
At that moment,
Woom—! The atmosphere twisted as the explosion erupted.
Kwaaaaaaa—!!!
An explosion of unimaginable proportions!
That’s absurd to think it was generated from such a petite spear.
Hooahhh—!
The shockwave from the blast sent my body reeling.
It signified an overwhelmingly intense assault.
Crack-!!
Sounds of breaking echoed as debris settled.
As time elapsed, the smoke that had clouded my view dissipated.
“Wow.”
I couldn’t help but marvel at the sight revealed before me.
A massive gaping hole was left in the area that had once been coated in ice crystals.
A colossal spiraling cavity.
Hisssss.
The heat melted the wall, causing it to progressively collapse.
What an eerie scene.
“…This feels stronger than I thought.”
As I observed the wall slowly dissolving, I pondered.
The potency was incomparable to the simple flame jade.
“I guess…”
Even to myself, it felt as though I’d conjured something incomprehensible.
“The trouble is…”
I shifted my focus away from the ramifications of the Flame Jade Holy Spear.
“Where did he go?”
I couldn’t see the net.
It didn’t seem like he’d been hit by the spear.
Given the magnitude of what I unleashed, it wasn’t the sort of area where escape would be easy, so where could he have vanished?
As that question lingered in my mind,
Swish!
I sensed a presence behind me and turned around. Suddenly—
Thump—!!
“…!”
A sharp object pierced my abdomen.
Upon inspection, it was the net!
He had snuck up on me and thrust a knife into my belly.
The sensation coursing through my flesh…
As I registered the impact and grimaced,
“That was quite impressive.”
The net remarked.
“It was enough to catch me off guard, causing me to momentarily hesitate. You even made me run away in such shame.”
I scrutinized the net’s persistent chatter.
Except for the arm that had stabbed me, his left arm was entirely missing.
It appeared he hadn’t managed to dodge properly.
“What sheer strength, but…”
A sardonic smile crept across his face.
“If you can’t hit your target, doesn’t it ultimately become meaningless?”
“…”
In response to his ridicule, I merely nodded.
“True.”
“…What?”
Upon my nonchalant acceptance, he cocked his head, perplexed.
“Indeed.”
If it doesn’t connect, it’s pointless.
That was the crux of this martial art.
The very flaw that plagued it.
Due to its long casting time and the effort required to create it, if it fails, the aftermath is immense.
“However…”
Squeeze!
In the midst of our exchange, I grasped his arm.
The very one that was stabbed into my abdomen.
“…?!”
“In any situation where I can hit my mark, it shouldn’t matter.”
“What are—!?”
His eyes widened with disbelief at my words.
“No way…!”
Finally, the realization of my intent struck him.
Yes, since hitting the mark was bound to result in failure, I needed to engineer a chance to connect.
That was the conclusion I reached.
And it looked like he walked right into my trap.
I couldn’t help but grin at that.
“You should have aimed for the neck. Why stab my gut?”
Dragons are born into arrogance,
which might explain why he felt compelled to mock me in the first place.
So naturally, he’d come closer and stab me in the stomach instead.
Yet of course,
“If you’d aimed for the neck, there’s no chance I’d let you off.”
With my grip securing him to prevent his escape, I declared,
“Caught you.”
“Gah—!”
Clank!
The knife lodged in my gut stirred.
It seemed he was attempting to pry it out.
Pain accompanied the movement, but I could endure it.
What a ridiculous scenario! How many times has a blade pierced me in the past few days alone?
Clank.
A sensation registered from the knife still embedded within my body.
The chill crept beneath my flesh, threatening to freeze me.
Yet, I pressed it down with my heat.
As I observed the creeping cold, my appraisal noted the timelines.
“About seven seconds.”
That’s my limit.
Just that much. A fleeting moment.
Yet…
That was more than enough.
Whaaaah!
Suddenly, I spun heat around my hand.
Having attempted this before, I was quicker this time.
Wuuuum!!
While still holding the knife, I fashioned the Flame Jade Holy Spear.
My hands trembled;
Was attempting consecutively too daunting?
“LET GO! You must let it go at once!”
In a fluster, he raised his voice again and again.
“You! Do you not care what happens to this body?!”
Is he trying to threaten me using Woohyuk’s form? That’s a ludicrous notion.
“It’s on him.”
“…!”
“Moreover,”
I twisted my smiling face into a fierce expression.
“Had he not stabbed this here, he would’ve damned me later for it.”
Had he clumsily gotten close to me and hurt me, I would’ve certainly cursed about it.
If it had been the other way around, I would’ve had twice the grievances.
I took hold of the spear.
Seeing this, the net shouted,
“If you use that at this distance, you’ll suffer as well!”
“Yeah, but what else would you like me to do?”
I had little interest.
If it was manageable on this level, then all’s fair game.
With no words yielding any results, his facade began to crumble.
“Ah—!”
He appeared poised to utter some more.
But I didn’t bother listening to the ceaseless barking.
With the spear I grasped, I plunged it right into his abdomen.
Thump!
And then—
Kuaaah—!
An explosion swept across the region.
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