0095 : Dark Heaven Village
I could not refuse the Twelfth Rat Lord’s proposal. In fact, considering I came here for the martial arts competition, I was even glad that the Twelfth Rat Lord made such a remark. Moreover, he was even willing to inform me of the whereabouts of the Moon Luminary among the Seven Luminaries! I only had to endure for three seconds, so there was a possibility if I gave it my all.
As I stepped onto the martial arts platform holding a spear, I said,
“Could you share the whereabouts of the other Seven Luminaries aside from the Moon Luminary?”
“I would like to, but I don’t know anything beyond that.”
“… May I ask just a little more?”
“Go ahead.”
I cautiously inquired,
“Why were the Seven Luminaries scattered across the world in the first place? The fact that they were blessed by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors implies that the Yin Dynasty possessed all the Seven Luminaries, does it not?”
“The reason the Yin Dynasty fell is because of the Seven Luminaries.”
The Twelfth Rat Lord, draped in the Cosmic Fragment, continued,
“I don’t know the full details, but I’ve heard that the Fengshen War broke out because of the Seven Luminaries. At the end of the Fengshen War, the Grand Minister of the Yin used his sorcery to scatter the Seven Luminaries throughout the world. Thus, they could be tens of thousands of miles away.”
“The Fengshen War.”
“If you want to know more, perhaps you should look into the Dao Vein. However, given how ancient it is, there may not be any records left.”
“I have one more question.”
I swallowed hard and said,
“If we gather all the Seven Luminaries and combine their powers, could we eliminate the entities known as the Sea God or Evil God?”
“……”
Perhaps taken aback by my question, the Twelfth Rat Lord pondered for a moment. Then, he smiled wryly and replied,
“I can’t say for certain. While it’s true that the power of the Seven Luminaries is formidable, the might of the Gods of Death can shake the entire realm of the Immortals. We won’t know until we gather them all.”
“Uh….”
The Twelfth Rat Lord spoke resolutely,
“However, there is a possibility. The blessings bestowed by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors on the Seven Luminaries are not inferior to that of the Sea God. It is entirely plausible that they could achieve such a feat.”
From the Twelfth Rat Lord’s words, I realized one crucial fact: that he, too, was someone who earnestly wished for the gathering of the Seven Luminaries. After all, as he continued to battle against wicked deities across generations, it was only natural for him to yearn for the Seven Luminaries, the only means to defeat his enemies.
“What property does the Sea Luminary possess among the Seven Luminaries?”
The Twelfth Rat Lord let out a sigh.
“Hey, hey… aren’t you asking too many questions? Let’s cap this as the last question. It’s not good for us to chat like this for a thousand years after stepping onto the martial arts stage.”
“Ah, I apologize.”
“The Sea Luminary belongs to the Wood Luminary. It enhances the power of the Divine Altar Tree, strengthening the barrier. Thanks to that, we can shake off the powers of the Sea God and Evil God.”
I felt a sense of relief inside. If the Sea Luminary were actually the Moon Luminary, it would have been a disastrous blunder, so I had secured a guarantee.
“I understand.”
“Then shall we begin?”
Suuuu
The Twelfth Rat Lord’s Cosmic Fragment shimmered. It moved like a living serpent, a phenomenon occurring because the flow of true energy had reached its peak. Its movements, disregarding even gravity and moving of its own accord, were exceedingly threatening.
I, too, gripped my spear and considered:
‘The Twelfth Rat Lord’s prowess… I should at least think of it as being at the level of a Dharma Protector.’
This was something I’d thought of before coming here. The power of the Soul Father Moon lord or the Zhou’s Immortal lord was immensely strong. If the Twelfth Rat Lord was said to be even stronger, then among the beings I had encountered, there was no one else to compare except for a Dharma Protector.
I envisioned the Dharma Protector of the White Lotus Sect, Han Baek-ryeong, standing before me. And I recalled the previous duel circumstances at that time.
Could I endure for three seconds?
‘It might be impossible…’
I sighed inwardly. Han Baek-ryeong hadn’t revealed his real strength back then and had merely toyed with me. Even my unique skill, my true energy, had ultimately fallen short. He was an enormous master of martial arts that one could not fathom as human. That power belonged to the leader of the current White Lotus Sect’s Dharma Protector lineage, the Hwa Clan’s Fire God Sect.
I had no choice but to speak to the Twelfth Rat Lord.
“Twelfth Rat Lord, I will do my best in this battle. So please give me a moment to use my secret techniques.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Just let me know when you’re ready.”
I decided to reveal all the hidden depths I had concealed until now. In truth, over the past decade, I had gained a vast amount while in the land of Goryeo. However, I had held back, fearing that revealing everything could put me in danger. Using only the strength I needed was the deed of a wise man.
But now, the situation was different. The Twelfth Rat Lord was willing to inform me of the whereabouts of the Moon Luminary if I could last for three seconds. The process to return here in my next rebirth would obviously take many years, and if I were not fortunate, there was a high probability that I would not even meet the Twelfth Rat Lord again. This was a trial worth at least a hundred years.
Swoosh
‘Now is not the time to hold back.’
I pulled a needle from my robe. Then, slowly, I controlled the flow of true energy according to the principles of the Hwa Clan’s 108 Needles, piercing the acupoints in the precise order. After piercing about 23 acupoints, I proceeded to pierce between the joints of my fingers in sequence, completing the casting of the great technique.
Hwa Clan’s 108 Needles
Secret Art
Thunder and Wind Interaction
“Haaa…”
At the same time, I assumed the position of Hwa Tao’s Golden Peak and spread my true energy through all the pores of my body. Simultaneously, my suppressed true energy, which I had held back using the Heaven’s Blood Sealing Technique, surged forth like a flood. The Heaven’s Blood Sealing Technique allowed me to draw out only the necessary amount of true energy while reducing unnecessary consumption, but once that restraint broke, the energy burst forth like a golden tide.
Kuwaaaah
The energy flowing from my body took on a distinct and tangible form, radiating a brilliant golden light. This was a phenomenon I had never experienced, even when unleashing my full true energy. Perhaps it was due to the long duration of using the Heaven’s Blood Sealing Technique that this impact occurred.
The Twelfth Rat Lord, observing my state, quietly remarked,
“In the Book of Changes, it is said that to energize with thunder and lightning is indeed to harmonize between thunder and wind. Could it be that the acupuncture techniques of the medical school have manifested that wonderful essence?”
Kuuuuu…
Regaining my senses quickly, I controlled the massive energy surging within me and then thrust my spear forward, saying,
“Your insight is remarkable. You’ve grasped the principles of the Hwa Clan’s 108 Needles at a glance.”
“I’m more surprised. Isn’t that an act of forcibly opening the Eight Gates? Truly impressive medical skills.”
“It was originally created to save patients whose life forces were fading, but it can also be utilized in battle.”
“Today, my horizons are broadening.”
Indeed.
The secret of the Hwa Clan’s 108 Needles and the Thunder and Wind Interaction!
This was a technique I occasionally applied when fighting powerful beings such as the Dragon Lord of the Spear and the Twelfth Rat Lord, forcibly opening the internal Eight Gates to rapidly and robustly boost the flow of true energy. It also activated the involuntary muscles of the body.
But that was merely a similar temporary movement of internal energy; the true essence lay in the use of needles in the great technique. When all the acupoints for the Thunder and Wind Interaction were struck with needles, my body would automatically release the Heaven’s Blood Sealing Technique, allowing me to unleash beyond my original potential.
I felt the massive golden aura enveloping my entire being writhe as if alive. Then, in the next moment, my eyes gleamed as I regained my breath.
“Haaa…!!”
Thunder God Sect
Secret of the Final Battle
Thunder Roar
Kiiiiiing – !!
The latent potential raised by the Thunder and Wind Interaction surged again through the Thunder Roar. I had already tested the overlap of the Thunder and Wind Interaction and Thunder Roar when I was taught under Hwa Seo-myeong. The moment the overlapping effect was realized, I could truly harness physical abilities that surpassed those of a mere human.
The Twelfth Rat Lord’s eyes flickered as if he had sensed the Thunder Roar.
“What is that? An incredible technique.”
I controlled the thunderous energy flowing through my body and replied,
“The promise of three seconds is still in effect, right?”
“Of course. This will be entertaining.”
Bam!
No sooner had the Twelfth Rat Lord finished speaking than I initiated the first attack. There was no mention of holding back, so it was only natural for me to take the offensive. Even if my initial strike were to fail, the Twelfth Rat Lord would use one second to defend himself. Simultaneously, the air shattered as my body lightly exceeded the speed of sound.
Kuwaaah!!
I merely blended a spinning strike of the Lance, mixing the “Lan” and “Na” techniques in just a single thrust. Yet, three distinct destructive marks were etched onto the arena, and piles of rubble surged skyward like a storm. Following that, a colossal force crashed down like a tide, causing the entire arena to collapse. In a state where both Thunder and Wind Interaction and Thunder Roar were activated, I could fully unleash my massive true energy without waste.
Boom!
It was at that moment. I experienced a fraction of time that felt as if both time and space had stopped.
The time of distractions.
A moment that was less than a fraction of a breath, unable to be expressed through human perception.
Yet, the Twelfth Rat Lord clearly existed in that space. He evaded my attack from a distance and coiled the Cosmic Fragment. Within that brief moment, even though he shouldn’t have been able to speak, strangely, I [heard] his thoughts.
[Splendid. Baek Woong, you’ve showcased your precious secret technique; I shall reciprocate.]
Energy pulsed from his entire being. Unlike the golden energy I had raised, a silvery light enveloped the Twelfth Rat Lord. Soon, this silvery aura smoothly enveloped the Cosmic Fragment, which began to condense into something massive.
[The Lethal River and Chaotic Strands Technique.]
Kachang!
In the next instant, a colossal ice dragon suddenly surged forth from the void. It seemed like an illusion, but it was occurring because the Twelfth Rat Lord’s technique was freezing the area around us with tremendous ice. I was taken aback in that single moment.
‘Impossible… a human is…!!’
Controlling nature!
Unable to express the astonishment I felt within that brief moment, the Twelfth Rat Lord’s Cosmic Fragment moved with an unseen velocity, unleashing hundreds of ice dragons. I could barely discern three of the attacks; the rest approached me without any indication of how they would strike. I had no choice but to rely solely on the powers of Thunder and Wind Interaction and Thunder Roar to evade each of them.
Swoosh!
Kaboom!
As my body crackled with lightning, I utilized the Thunder Shadow Technique to maneuver. Even at several dozen times my usual speed, I was only barely managing to evade the ice dragons launched by the Twelfth Rat Lord. If I hadn’t summoned either Thunder and Wind Interaction or Thunder Roar, my entire body would have frozen and shattered during this sequence.
Once again, I sensed a brief moment. I felt the Twelfth Rat Lord’s intentions.
[Impressive! Take this next two moves.]
The Lethal River and Chaotic Strands Technique
The Willow Grasp and Pull Technique
“……!!”
The will of the willow enveloped me, constricting the spatial domain around me, while the pull of the attack dulled my movements, and the grasping and seizing energies seemed to snatch my spear away. The truly terrifying part was that four highly advanced techniques were being executed simultaneously, leaving me no means to resist.
A decisive attack and renowned technique!
It was evidence that he was a supreme master on the level of a legendary figure.
Having restrained me with the Willow Grasp, the Twelfth Rat Lord then pulled me in with the Absorption Technique before extracting my energy with the Pushing Technique. I was overwhelmed with pain as if being beaten by a club, unable to gather my senses.
As I was tossed to the ground like a ball, I hastily attempted to rise, but consecutively, the Pushing and Exploding Techniques struck me at the same time. Everything the Cosmic Fragment brushed past exploded and was sent flying. I managed to keep hold of my spear while soaring backward, but I could not execute a proper landing, crashing to the earth instead.
“Ugh!”
Boom!
I quickly propelled myself upward, utilizing the divine art of the Thunder God Sect. As my body soared several meters into the air, the manifestations of the Twelfth Rat Lord’s martial arts became starkly visible. It was as if the earth had been engulfed in frost and snow, transforming it into a fog-like haze. The realization that I had been targeted from that space sent a chill down my spine.
“Haah!!”
With a final desperate flourish, I swung my spear, unleashing a massive spear flame. Dozens of crescent-shaped energy blasts erupted, each one formidable in its own right. No one could underestimate such an attack. The Twelfth Rat Lord, who had been watching my assault from the ground, suddenly lowered his hand.
And then, the attack vanished from sight.
[Heaven’s Seamless Garment.]
Kaboom!!
I felt my body rise even higher, piercing through the ceiling of the building. I had ascended to a height where the Divine Altar Tree was visible. I couldn’t even fathom how high I had been propelled, but one thing was certain: I was in no condition to continue fighting.
‘What… just happened to me?’
With a thunderous sound, my body soon plummeted from the air. Wanting to avoid death, I executed a last-minute roll to minimize the impact as I fell.
I struggled to my feet, my limbs numb and blood pouring from wounds all over my body.
“Urgh…”
“Impressive. You managed to endure for three seconds.”
“… Are you mocking me?”
I clenched my teeth in frustration. I had thought that by utilizing both Thunder and Wind Interaction alongside Thunder Roar, I could hold my own even against someone like Li Guang, but that notion had been utterly shattered. The Twelfth Rat Lord had toyed with me from the very first offensive to the end, leaving me without any effective blows. He chuckled lightly.
“If it had been anyone else, they wouldn’t have lasted at all. You survived only because you unconsciously activated your self-defense mechanism by using two secret techniques simultaneously. You’ve earned the right to know about the whereabouts of the Moon Luminary among the Seven Luminaries.”
“The self-defense mechanism?”
“Well, it doesn’t seem to reflect a true level of self-defense.”
As the Twelfth Rat Lord retracted the Cosmic Fragment, he continued,
“Thanks to your formidable true energy, acupuncture techniques, and powerful breathing, you have gained a defense that transcends mere self-defense. You have my commendation.”
“……”
I was rendered speechless.
‘He’s too strong…’
While the sect leaders of the Southern Martial Realm and the Eastern Sun Realm were powerful, they were nothing compared to this. The Twelfth Rat Lord was an unparalleled powerhouse who transcended the boundaries of peak experts. The titles of supreme being and protector of the Eastern Martial Realm were far from empty praises.
The Twelfth Rat Lord remarked,
“First, we should attend to your injuries… Ah, perhaps that’s unnecessary?”
As he said, my body’s superficial scratches had noticeably healed, while various cuts, lacerations, and frostbite swiftly recovered. The synergistic effects of Thunder and Wind Interaction and Thunder Roar had drastically boosted my vitality. I staggered as I replied,
“I am a physician myself, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Heh heh, there’s spirit in you. I like that.”
Amused, the Twelfth Rat Lord soon spoke the words I longed to hear.
“The secret of the Moon Luminary is held by the Emperor of the Eastern Sea.”
“The Emperor of the Eastern Sea?”
“Indeed.”
The Twelfth Rat Lord continued,
“The secret of the Moon Luminary is known as the Heavenly Gathering Cloud Sword, one of the Three Sacred Treasures.”
—————————= Author’s Note —————————=
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