Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
Following Mangnyang’s advice, I decided to temporarily put off my trip to the Arctic and delve into the martial arts of the Wind Spirit Sect. Sure, if I hopped on the boiling currents right this second and fed them blood, I could stick a spear in the ground of the Second Seal, but the thought of sudden death was far too daunting. I figured it was best to be fully prepared before making such a risky move.
“My direct master is the Dharma Protector of the Wind Spirit Sect, Han Baek-ryeong.”
“She must be a Grand Master of the Wind Spirit Sect. To gain her favor so quickly is something else…”
As far as I knew, the Wind Spirit Sect boasted quite a few Peak Experts. Some of them might even match the prowess of Lee Kwang or Jin So-cheong. Standing at the apex of those illustrious masters was Han Baek-ryeong, and becoming her direct disciple was truly a Fortuitous Encounter.
“It means the Sect Leader highly valued my contributions to curing the diseases of the sub-sect leaders. Because of that, I was able to easily master the martial arts of the Wind Spirit Sect.”
Whoosh!
With that, Mangnyang emitted the Fire Spirit Energy from his hands. It wasn’t material flames, but his internal energy had vaporized, radiating a splendid glow. I could tell from its size and shape that it was pretty formidable, eliciting a soft gasp from me.
“Impressive. After just one year, you’ve reached this realm!”
Having also learned the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique and acquired Thunder Spirit, I understood how difficult and intricate mastering Natural Energy was. Unlike typical internal energy, Natural Energy is incredibly pure and dense, requiring significant practice to refine properly.
Mangnyang continued with his explanation,
“The internal energy of the Wind Spirit Sect has various forms, but the mainstream one is the Flame Spirit Divine Art. It’s likely the counterpart to the Thunder Dragon technique, and the unique characteristic of the Flame Spirit Divine Art is its momentary acceleration ability.”
“Momentary acceleration ability?”
“Watch closely. I’ll demonstrate the Flame Spirit Divine Art now.”
Mangnyang assumed a stance, preparing to unleash his martial technique while calmly focusing ahead. I realized that even though he hadn’t practiced martial arts for long, his posture was tight with minimal gaps—something beginner martial artists usually struggle to perfect. This hinted at his exceptional aptitude for martial arts.
Swish!
In an instant, Mangnyang darted forward, extending a powerful One Fist straight ahead. I observed the shift and speed and jotted down a quick impression.
“That’s incredibly fast… and you’ve layered some transformations into that One Fist.”
“Phew… indeed.”
Wiping away the sweat from his brow, Mangnyang said,
“This technique is called the Ultimate Technique of Flame Spirit Divine Art, Dragon Fang. It launches the inner Fire Spirit, momentarily boosting your speed.”
Dragon Fang of the Flame Spirit Divine Art!
Of course, compared to those called Peak Experts, Mangnyang’s momentary speed still fell short. Nevertheless, given his current martial arts level, the acceleration he displayed was visibly astonishing. Even a basic One Fist could now incorporate three transformations, meaning a martial artist of similar skill to Mangnyang was likely to suffer severe injuries without cause.
This was undeniably a highly practical technique.
I pondered before saying,
“It’s similar to Thunder Roar.”
“That’s probably true.”
“But in many ways, it feels different. It seems to consume much less internal energy than Thunder Roar, but that means its acceleration is lacking.”
This observation wasn’t because I viewed my Thunder God lineage as superior. Simply put, the Dragon Fang and Thunder Roar fundamentally aimed for very different outcomes. Thunder Roar could break through level disparities to hit a lethal blow, while Dragon Fang seemed to represent a more limited technique.
Mangnyang nodded in agreement.
“Thunder Roar could be considered a lethal technique in its own right. In comparison, Dragon Fang is a weaker technique, but the beauty of it lies in its ability to blend seamlessly with other techniques.”
After a brief pause, he drew out the sword he had set aside, saying,
“This is the Ultimate Dragon King’s Sword from the Secret Sword Technique of the Wind Spirit Sect. Watch closely.”
Zing zing zing!
At that moment, the flow of the Ultimate Dragon King Sword technique sprang into motion from Mangnyang’s hands. He appeared to have comprehended the form of the technique entirely, as he seamlessly linked movements as if there were an imaginary enemy in the air. I couldn’t help but recall the fight with Han Baek-ryeong and shuddered slightly.
‘Ah, so she’s also learned this!’
Though our skill levels differed, the similarity was undeniable. Each move that Mangnyang executed transformed into a brutal lethal strike capable of killing even a Peak Expert in one go as his skill level rose. I watched carefully as I noticed something peculiar about Mangnyang’s Ultimate Dragon King Sword technique.
“Hm…”
Eventually, after twenty-four seconds, Mangnyang concluded the Ultimate Dragon King Sword demonstration. He looked at me intently and asked,
“Did you feel the power of Dragon Fang?”
“Indeed. By momentarily accelerating, you’ve created additional options between basic techniques, which means the ultimate transformations are practically infinite.”
“Good observation! The pure Ultimate Dragon King Sword has its limits, but since Dragon Fang triggers the Fire Spirit, it can be applied alongside any martial arts.”
“Hmm…!!”
I grasped the essence of what Mangnyang was saying.
Triggering the Natural Energy of the Fire Spirit!
This meant that from a technique that could typically only be executed once, I could suddenly expand my options to two or three, and when needing to strike from a predetermined angle, I could gain a wide angle of attack. If I could skillfully employ Dragon Fang, it theoretically allowed for a completely different operational dimension—even when using the same martial arts.
‘This must rank among the ultimate techniques alongside Thunder Roar.’
As I pondered, Mangnyang suggested,
“Why don’t we compare the secrets of Thunder Roar and Dragon Fang? Something better may emerge from merging the two.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I spent the next three months learning everything Mangnyang knew about the Wind Spirit Sect’s techniques and internal secrets whenever he was present. During times Mangnyang was absent, I took it upon myself to study the Wind Spirit Sect. Over time, I began to grasp how their martial arts worked.
Mangnyang asked,
“Have you made any progress?”
I shook my head at his inquiry.
“Everything is brilliant, but trying to analyze and combine Thunder Roar with Dragon Fang to create something superior seems unrealistic. Both techniques are unrivaled martial arts, and my understanding is insufficient to extract both their strengths.”
Could even a genius achieve this? Thunder Roar aimed for extreme speed as a decisive move, while Dragon Fang enhanced the effect and versatility of basic techniques through momentary acceleration. Both made sacrifices in what they’d give up to achieve their advantages. Merging the two into the ultimate technique felt, at present, a vain ambition.
After pondering for a moment, Mangnyang proposed,
“How about incorporating the Ultimate Dragon King’s Sword into your Ten Thousand Victories’ Sword Technique?”
“That won’t be easy either. Simply appending the basics wouldn’t dominate the martial arts’ strength. Even if I grasped both techniques deep down, I’d still have difficulty.”
“Hm… So, it seems you’ve only discovered the weaknesses of the Wind Spirit Sect.”
“Indeed.”
I sighed as I said,
“I’ve confirmed their weakness—namely, their lack of defense.”
The martial arts of the Wind Spirit Sect packed a powerful punch. So much so that they could rival or even surpass my Thunder God lineage in destructive capacity. I had sparred with Mangnyang frequently, and whenever he used Dragon Fang, I found it incredibly hard to block or evade his relentless series of attacks. Against a Peak Expert of the Wind Spirit Sect, I had no doubt the fight would end in a short brawl, with one of us dead by the end.
However, while they obtained this level of attack power, their defensive capabilities were indeed lacking. Using Dragon Fang could enhance their defense, but then they’d lose their advantages; immediately landing a counter after unleashing a powerful strike would leave a gap in their defense.
In essence, defeating a member of the Wind Spirit Sect easily required formidable defense and excellent counterattack capabilities!
Mangnyang cautioned,
“Don’t jump to conclusions too quickly. I’ve only learned a fraction of what Han Baek-ryeong knows about the Wind Spirit Sect. The deeper you delve into it, there may be secrets hidden inside. Didn’t you feel that way after training in the Thunder God lineage for many years?”
“That’s truly the case.”
I nodded. Mangnyang had a point.
The White Lotus Sect’s Four Great Schools had been forged over a millennia, completed by geniuses and masters, resulting in a formidable martial arts system. There must be countless techniques and realms, and delving into them yielded infinite learning opportunities. I had learned this firsthand while training under Lee Kwang.
Mangnyang, feeling the heat, settled on the courtyard steps and remarked,
“Speaking of which, I wonder when Miho will finally stop being shy.”
I silently gazed at the nearby hillside facing Jinrang Valley. The bright, round moon illuminated the mountaintop, and I could see Miho standing there, her tail swaying gently. With my strength, I could discern her figure clearly, even from three li away.
After revealing my memories to her, Miho had been lingering around the vicinity of Jinrang Valley, hesitating to approach. Whenever she cautiously stepped closer, she would typically panic and bolt away at any attempt to engage her. Having never witnessed such a side of Miho, I felt utterly baffled on how to respond to her now.
I turned to Mangnyang, seeking clarity,
“Is this really that embarrassing for her? Why is Miho acting this way?”
“Haha… you need to understand what feelings are mixed with the emotion of embarrassment.”
“What do you mean…?”
“She’s probably calmed down a little by now, so it might be a good idea for you to talk to her directly. Right now, she is likely to be receptive.”
“Got it.”
Whoosh!
In the next moment, I utilized the boiling current to reach the mountaintop where Miho was.
“Ah!”
Upon spotting me, Miho seemed startled and attempted to run away again using her transformation technique, but I wasn’t about to let her slip away. I hurriedly tapped into Thunder Roar and Spell of Obliteration to sprint and catch up to Miho. As my hands wrapped around her waist, she froze in surprise.
I guided Miho down from the tree and asked,
“Miho, what’s going on?”
“……”
Miho avoided my gaze, merely staring at the ground. I held her hand earnestly and said,
“This isn’t the time for that. I desperately need your strength. Come back to me.”
“… White Woong.”
After hesitating for a while, Miho suddenly wrapped her arms around the back of my neck, pulling me into a tight embrace. She had hugged me first before, but there was something distinctly different about this embrace. Holding onto me, Miho said,
“Do you know what kind of feeling arose after seeing those memories?”
“……”
“That Obsidian transmitted every emotion I felt from your perspective. It also carried everything you had come to feel regarding the ‘Miho’ you’ve known until now.”
Then, her voice trembling, Miho continued,
“You stupid fool. How many decades have you suffered alone? How long have you lived while keeping everything to yourself?”
“Miho…”
“Now that I realize you’ve always been genuine to me, I couldn’t bear it anymore…”
I clenched my lips tightly.
Although Miho had treated me kindly in each of my past lives, I knew she had never truly held romantic feelings for me. Most of the time, she approached me as a human being she needed to protect under the order of Queen Mother of the West. Aside from that, she maintained an air of noble detachment.
And yet, regardless of all that, I still liked Miho.
I have cherished her until now and will continue to do so in the future.
It mattered not if my feelings went unreciprocated. For my feelings of affection would remain until the day I die. I thought that, as long as I could merely watch her, it could even be a blessing for someone like me, who has lived multiple lives.
Once Miho released the hug, she moved slightly away, sitting down where she was. I joined her, and we locked eyes. After gazing at me for a moment, Miho said,
“White Woong, let’s go to Heaven’s Realm together.”
“To Heaven’s Realm…?”
“Yes. After the contract to protect you ends in ten years, this Maiden will be able to return to Heaven’s Realm. Let’s go there together then.”
Staring blankly at Miho, I noticed a hint of sadness in her smile.
“If you stay in this human world, you’ll drift about aimlessly like a wisp of grass, won’t you? Rather than that, wait until everything is over and head to Heaven’s Realm with me…”
“……”
I wrapped my arms around Miho again without speaking. I could feel her warmth.
“Yeah.”
The thought of going to Heaven’s Realm with Miho felt quite appealing.
A new goal had emerged within me.
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