Chapter: 511
The sun has risen.
In a way, it’s obvious.
It was normal for the sun to be up during the day.
But that wasn’t the issue right now.
‘It’s midnight, though….’
The sun had already set and the moon should have taken its place by now.
That’s the way of the world.
What on earth is that?
No matter how much I look at it, it’s almost laughable. I tilt my head and stare at the sky.
A sun rising at night.
The sun was stubbornly shining in the sky.
Is that it?
‘It’s even influencing the heavens.’
That sun was affecting the surrounding sky.
The darkness that should have filled the air has vanished, and the area around me is a bright blue.
‘Is it a power similar to the Red Sky?’
A secret technique of the Gu family that dyes the sky red with the heat emanating from their bodies, thus enhancing their power.
‘To be exact, it’s closer to a barrier.’
It might seem like Jeokcheon, as its name suggests, is dyeing the sky, but if we’re being specific it’s more like setting up a territory.
It emits thick, scorching heat, expanding its area around it.
It’s expansive and high enough that it gives off the impression that the sky is almost red.
If that’s the case, what about this?
‘…I have no idea?’
I don’t have a clue.
Oh crap, I don’t get any of it.
‘Is that even martial arts?’
The sun hovering in the sky.
We call it the sun because it looks that way, but it’s probably not the actual sun.
It simply floats there.
It’s just suspended in the air, radiating incredible heat.
Just that alone creates the illusion that the sky is illuminated.
What kind of martial arts is that?
‘It’s a martial art I don’t know about.’
It must be one of the Gu family’s techniques, since my father used it. But I was seeing it for the first time.
A power I hadn’t even witnessed during my previous life, when I fought my father.
Let alone…
‘…I’ve never really seen my father in a battle, anyway.’
My father with his red hair.
A sight I’ve never encountered before.
So that means.
‘Even when he fought me in my previous life, he wasn’t really going all out, was he?’
That’s a bitter fact.
I was aware, yet here we are.
[Hehehe.]
As I gazed up at the little sun, Shin Noya burst into laughter.
[… What a sight.]
‘What are you talking about?’
[What does it look like to you?]
What does it look like?
‘The sun?’
Other than that, nothing else comes to mind.
[… Right, seeing it that way is the norm.]
‘Then what else is it?’
A small, blazing orb.
What else could we possibly call something so bright that it swallows the surrounding darkness, if not the sun?
At least, I couldn’t think of any other words.
So I have no idea what kind of answer Shin Noya was looking for.
[That’s not the sun.]
‘I know that, too.’
Even if I call it a sun, I don’t actually think it is the real deal.
There’s simply no other name for it, that’s all.
‘Noya, then do you know what that is?’
A power of the Gu family I have no clue about. Does that mean Noya understands my father’s abilities?
As I ask with curiosity, Noya cautiously begins to speak.
[That is the manifestation of the mind.]
‘Excuse me?’
The manifestation of the mind.
It sounds a bit out of nowhere, but it’s not a term too far from the martial artists.
The mind.
For a martial artist, the mental landscape is like a mirror.
It grows by honing the body and filling the vessel.
The body that’s repeatedly battered, broken, and reborn gradually becomes stronger.
As that happens, the mental image becomes denser.
The growth of a martial artist is not just in the physical realm but also in the realm of the mind.
Thus, the mental image of a martial artist, which has been steadily growing, eventually takes shape.
I gaze at the sun created by my father and say.
‘What? Is it similar to a Heart Sword? Is that what you’re getting at?’
The peak of swordsmanship.
The ultimate level that a swordsman who has trained to the limits can finally reach.
It’s not a pinnacle or a vista that can be achieved as a martial artist, but a state of existence reachable only through swordsmanship.
They call it the union of body and sword.
It’s the state where body and sword become one.
If I had to distinguish between this and regular swordsmanship…
‘You can use a heart sword or not.’
Whether or not you can give form to your intensely trained mental image.
That’s the differentiation between a swordsman who has achieved the union of the divine sword and one who hasn’t.
Honestly, I’m still not entirely certain.
If I look around for someone who has achieved the union of the divine sword, there’s only the Demon Sword Master.
I’m not so sure about the Sword Demon, but I suspect he probably didn’t reach that level.
If they truly achieved the union of body and sword, they would definitely be more extravagant than they are now.
Anyway, so…
‘Is that a manifestation of the mind?’
Is that ridiculous power floating in the air truly a manifestation of the mind?
For me, it’s on a level I can’t comprehend, no matter how hard I try.
The martial arts principles involving channeling one’s essence into the body.
Isn’t that a power that seems way beyond reason? A manifestation of the mind… it’s absurd.
‘…Ha.’
I have to stifle a laugh at the idea that suddenly crossed my mind.
Because when I think about it, it feels a bit silly.
‘Is this nonsense from someone who hasn’t even reached the peak?’
Not only should I be mastering the family’s martial arts, but my level is being boosted with martial arts, yet I find myself whimsically pondering the principles of martial arts and it makes me snicker.
I know it.
This is just a feeling arising from a thirst that is palpable.
‘…The power of thought.’
The thirst that rises when confronted with such immense power.
Plus, knowing it’s the same martial arts, I entertain a desperate hope that if I put in some effort, I might be able to emit such power myself.
After rolling around and consuming years of my life, have I finally come to a point that resembles martial artistry?
I bite my lip to shake off the thoughts.
‘This isn’t the time to chase after such romantic dreams.’
We’re on different paths.
If I dedicate time and effort, perhaps I might reach it one day.
That’s literally something that can only be achieved when you have the time.
I redirected my gaze back to the front, away from the sun.
I now recognized that this was not the time for admiration of such things.
‘Where the hell is he?’
My father suddenly tossed something bizarre into the air and vanished.
I had been searching around the Tang Gate for a while looking for my father.
I spread my senses abundantly yet felt nothing.
The increased sensitivity that came with reaching Hwagyeong was more than enough to envelop the Tang Gate.
However, its influence isn’t that significant since there are other strong martial artists around.
The bottom line was that finding a person’s location is simple.
But still, I couldn’t feel a hint of anything.
‘Could it be because of that?’
I finally focused on that sun floating in the sky.
Not only is it elevating the heat around, but it also seems to be blocking the spread of feeling.
I don’t understand the principle behind it, but if that’s the case…
‘This is absurd power, right?’
No matter how you slice it, it’s superior to Jeokcheon. It’s not about expanding a territory and raising heat.
It feels as though it is dominating that very territory itself.
‘What should I do?’
If I can’t spread my senses, how do I find him?
‘…Damn it.’
I turned my head, yet nothing came to mind.
Furthermore, I thought I probably didn’t even need to look that hard.
My father isn’t the type to roam off carelessly and he did mention he’d be back soon(?).
If I wanted to avoid getting scolded, I could just stay put in my room.
For some reason, though, it felt like I had to find him.
‘Something’s off.’
What should I say?
I feel like my father’s eyes had a strange glint before he left.
I couldn’t ignore that slight difference; it nagged me.
‘…Ugh.’
Of course, even if I followed him, there was no guarantee I’d know what to do.
The real issue was that I lost track of my father in the first place.
‘I couldn’t follow with my eyes.’
I couldn’t catch my father when he sped away.
Let’s just say it was at a level where he vanished from my sight.
‘This is definitely the same martial arts… How’s the difference so vast…’
Huh?
While I was pondering, an idea suddenly popped up. A way to search for my father right away!
I halted in my tracks.
‘…Same martial arts.’
The Gu family’s bloodline technique, the Gu Flame Wheel Technique.
It’s a martial art that displays overwhelming explosive power by converting one’s essence into flames.
What’s critical here is…
The fact that both my father and I practiced the same martial art.
As soon as I realized that, I unleashed my gas morphing technique.
Crack! My bones twisted sharply, and pain surged through me, yet I disregarded it.
Am I wrong?
‘…Not caring about it really hurts a lot, though?’
Maybe it’s because I grew bigger all of a sudden, but the pain was considerable, yet I had to endure it.
As I let go of the morphing technique, minor discomfort faded and relief washed over me.
Just like that
Whoosh!
I rapidly spun the ring of the Gu Flame Wheel Technique around me.
The essence starting from my heart spread throughout my body.
The essence expelled through my body instantly transformed into heat, which soon morphed into flames that enveloped me.
It’s a clear blue flame.
A flame that can never return to its original red hue.
A feeling of annoyance flickered through my thoughts, but I brushed it aside and focused elsewhere.
When it comes to the difference between these sect leaders and the martial arts schools, it comes down to numbers.
The count of individuals learning that martial art.
If you think about it, it’s only natural that bloodline techniques would be fewer.
Particularly, if you narrow it down to direct descendants, it should be even scarcer.
This is where my method comes in.
Individuals practicing the same martial arts tend to resonate, even if only slightly.
The only ones in the Gu family in Sichuan would be my father and I.
And it’s even more likely in the confines of the Tang Gate.
So.
I wanted to ignite a flame to find my father.
It was an attempt to force resonance.
Then it would be easier to determine his location.
Ah, of course.
‘This… is a method that won’t work if my father isn’t using his martial arts, though.’
I speculated he would be actively using them.
That instinct said so, at least.
Thus, the blue ring gradually picked up speed, growing larger.
One ring stacked atop the other.
Whoosh!
As the heat intensified, it didn’t take long before another ring formed.
A total of three rings.
Just maintaining it is starting to consume a good amount of essence.
How much more should I inflate it?
Maybe, contrary to expectations, he isn’t exerting as much power as he ought to be. If he were, he should have sensed something by now.
‘Is this not it?’
Just as I was about to recede my essence, wondering if I was making a foolish move…
Voom…
“…!”
I felt it.
The essence intertwined, and something felt as though it was colliding.
I turned my head.
Drag the body shrouded in flames and launch myself forward.
The location wasn’t far.
In fact, it felt odd that I hadn’t found it until now.
The body freed from the morphing technique was quick, and only a few seconds passed before I could reach the desired spot.
Thud.
The moment I arrived at a place resonating with energy.
Whooosh!
“What is this?”
Alongside the sense of resonance, other sensations brushed against me.
I quickly realized this was the power of formations.
But.
‘…Something feels torn?’
There were clear signs of disturbance where originally the formation should’ve spread.
Wouldn’t we call it a mark of someone forcibly tearing it apart?
‘…’
I wanted to think otherwise, but I couldn’t deny this was likely left by my father.
The heat was still radiating strongly there.
‘What is he really doing?’
Setting aside why such a formation exists here, the real question was why my father came to this place?
First, I dove inside.
As I took several steps inward.
“Huh?”
Immediately, my eyes widened at the sight unveiled before me.
It was hot.
The heat was something completely incomparable to what I’d sensed just a moment ago.
It filled the space, and at its heart.
“What the heck is this…?”
There was a deeply gouged pit, alongside melted ground and rock.
‘It feels more like it melted its way in rather than being broken.’
It looks like something was swiftly melted through rather than dug out.
The remaining flames around are undoubtedly from the Gu family.
Which means this flame belongs to my father.
“…”
A bad feeling crept over me.
There was no time for hesitation. I gently leaped and threw myself into the pit.
Thud!
As I plunged into the pit, my essence instinctively surged to protect me.
The scars of the flow used to dig this out were so extensive that my essence was autonomously shielding me.
It’s deep.
It’s deep, but descending isn’t tricky.
Thump!
I sped down for several seconds. I passed through a passageway and landed on solid ground.
The moment I landed.
“…Phew….”
Tension coursed throughout my body. Goosebumps crawled up my spine and cold sweat trickled down.
It had to be this way.
‘…What kind of aura is this?’
Within this unknown space, traces of shallow poison mingled with the overwhelming heat surrounding me.
Moreover, speculation was spiraling haphazardly everywhere.
It was a density of aura so thick and sharp it suffocated me.
I slowly shifted my gaze.
I came to observe what sort of place this was.
“…”
I had to swallow hard as soon as I surveyed the surroundings.
Marks of devastation were everywhere, with deep gashes and menacing remnants of furious battles overwhelming my senses.
What in the world had taken place to forge such a space?
I soon learned the answer.
Because as I turned my head, I discovered it.
I discovered—
There in the distance, leaning against a wall and gasping for breath, was the elder of the Tang clan.
One of his legs had disappeared, and the other ankle was on the verge of tearing off.
That injury wasn’t something that could simply be healed.
He hadn’t lost consciousness, but his expression was distorted with terror, and tears were streaming from his eyes and nose.
I frowned at the pitiful sight.
What on earth happened there?
‘I haven’t done anything yet?’
I intended to do something like that. How did it end up in that state without me even noticing?
Wondering about this whole incident, I shifted my gaze again.
There, I spotted him.
Spotted my father standing off in the distance.
He was standing with hands clasped behind his back, gazing at something.
“Lord…?”
Just as I was about to call for my father…
My vision widened and I realized someone was positioned in front of him.
There was an individual half-kneeling before my father, barely holding themselves upright with a sword.
“…Huh?”
I found myself flabbergasted when I recognized who it was.
The person panting heavily and seemingly worn out was, surprisingly, Cheonjon.
Just as I started to wonder why that fellow had suddenly popped up here…
[What a story.]
Suddenly, Shin Noya chimed in.
[That guy is getting hit all over the place. Ha ha ha.]
“…?”
It was a completely incomprehensible statement.
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