The teachings of Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon were simple.
“It’s empty.”
“Cough!”
She pounded on me mercilessly.
But it wasn’t just a simple beating.
She struck at my weaknesses with devastating precision.
Shhhhhh!
Wi Seoryeon’s blows painted the air with dizzying arcs.
Thump! Thump!
I was blocking her with the largest sword in the training hall, instead of my shattered True Rock Sword, but in an instant, my limbs became disoriented, and I couldn’t avoid her strikes.
Although Wi Seoryeon and I were both at the Peak Stage, there was a significant skill gap between us.
Let’s compare martial arts levels to mountain climbing.
The goals of those climbing mountains differ. Some aim for fitness, others seek the view from the summit, and some want to show off their strength by conquering high peaks.
While each person’s goal is different, the general aim is to ascend the mountain.
There’s a sense of achievement, a view to enjoy, and something to brag about.
Like anyone else, I sought ‘height’ in martial arts as well.
I was someone who searched for the quickest route to the peak and trained solely to walk that path.
Thus, levels are generally used as a measure of strength.
Martial artists and sects prioritize ascending their levels through guidance and training.
Those who reach this level generally possess a commensurate level of strength, enabling discussions of strength and weakness.
However, Wi Seoryeon was different.
She had no regard for the height she stood at.
She simply trained her body in the mountains, climbing trees, meditating by waterfalls, strengthening her grip by scaling cliffs, enhancing her muscular power by rolling boulders, and improving her speed by running through the mountains.
She casually trained, rising to a level akin to mine.
But Wi Seoryon’s stamina, or ‘strength,’ was on an entirely different plane.
“What is right or wrong between the conventional martial arts and the Heavenly Demon Sect’s method is a question no one can definitively answer. However, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each is always possible.”
I was using all my strength to fend off Wi Seoryon’s attacks, but she confidently pressed me.
“Simply following the path laid out by martial arts means accepting both its advantages and its flaws.”
With explosive power, the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique obliterates opponents, while the Single Cut Blade Technique delivers decisive blows.
Wi Seoryon didn’t give me the time to create an opening or execute the foundational moves of the Single Cut Blade Technique.
The preparatory time needed to gather the output for great strength and speed became my weakness, which Wi Seoryon exploited, rendering my martial arts useless.
Shhh!
After being thoroughly beaten, a punch slipped through my weakened defense and hit me in the ribs. I twisted my body to avoid the worst of it, but I still couldn’t absorb the power behind her blow, sending me tumbling to the ground.
I rolled on the floor.
Complete defeat.
Having thoroughly dismantled my weaknesses until I was a mess, I could only acknowledge my utter loss.
“Thus, you’ll have to grow and compensate for the weaknesses of your martial arts yourself.”
The Black Cat rushed over and helped me up, looking a mess, unlike the fresh Wi Seoryeon who had only worked up a slight sweat.
It was a stark reminder of the difference between us.
I felt the long road still ahead of me.
The vague goal became clearer.
It was an unrelenting teaching, characteristic of a Demon Sect.
“There’s too much to discuss when standing like this. Let’s eat together and talk.”
With a wave of her hand, a table was set almost instantly in the training hall’s corner.
As I wiped my disheveled body with a damp towel, Wi Seoryeon began to speak.
“I mentioned earlier that peak experts in our sect typically master over a hundred martial arts techniques. Do you know where our sect’s martial artists learn their techniques?”
“I’ve heard there’s a library where martial arts are compiled.”
“Exactly. In the Demon Sect, there’s a place called the Heavenly Demon Library. It’s where all the martial arts practiced by our martial artists are gathered.”
The Heavenly Demon Library.
It’s the foundation of the growth of Demon Sect martial artists, a cradle of martial arts that includes all kinds of techniques from across the world.
It seems I would also be granted access to the Heavenly Demon Library.
Honestly, I had been secretly hoping from the moment Wi Seoryeon invited me to the Heavenly Demon Sect that I’d be allowed into the library.
“I will grant you a Geom (Earth) pass, allowing entry to the Heavenly Demon Library.”
…However, Wi Seoryeon’s generosity was far beyond my expectations.
Geom pass.
A high-level access pass that gives the bearer, even if they are an outsider, the privileges to peruse the higher-level martial arts without needing to achieve great merits in the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Essentially, it was like an all-access pass to the Heavenly Demon Library.
I might be the first outsider in the history of the Heavenly Demon Sect to receive such a pass.
This was likely an unprecedented event.
Such overwhelming kindness felt heavy.
I couldn’t help but wonder just how genuine she was about nurturing a rival.
Seeing something shiny made her want to collect it like a crow, but now, receiving such overwhelming kindness made cold sweat bead on my back.
“For now, I will give you a week. That should be enough time to discover useful techniques within the library.”
…The smile on Wi Seoryeon’s face, with her upturned lips, felt somewhat heavier, and I couldn’t shake the feeling.
“In a week, I will assess what you found in the library and how you’ve grown.”
Excitedly, Wi Seoryeon’s eyes sparkled with anticipation for the week ahead.
“I hope you won’t disappoint my lady.”
…With the library pass, the curtain finally rose on my serious life in the Demon Sect.
*
My first impression of the Heavenly Demon Library was simple.
An enormous collection of books.
Despite its grand name, it appeared to be an ordinary library.
At this very moment, countless martial artists were bustling in and out of the Heavenly Demon Library.
It truly resembled a municipal library.
Among the many martial arts books, I could see martial artists with bright eyes searching for what they needed, others reading the books at desks, and yet others scribbling down notes, inspired by something.
As I observed various martial artists, I passed from the area containing techniques from grades 10 to 5.
To enter the area of grade 4 and above, I had to pass through a security check.
“…Geom pass? An outsider?”
There was some commotion regarding my absurd pass, but the martial artists assigned as my guards and guides quickly resolved it.
From grade 4 and above, each level escalated with stricter security and checks.
By grade 3, human guards were stationed.
Should I consider them both monitors and guides?
Anyway, when I reached grade 1 after passing through grade 2, I halted my steps. The guiding martial artist spoke up.
“To see the techniques of the Celestial, Earth, and Human grades, you need to go further in.”
“I believe what I seek is likely among the grade 1 to 4 areas.”
“…So you intend to search grade 1 to 4 without entering the Celestial area?”
As I nodded, the guide stared at me as if I were a crazy guy.
The techniques of the Celestial, Earth, and Human grades are on a completely different level compared to those from grades 10 to 1. Even the texts classified as Human grade wouldn’t be lacking when referred to as Divine skills from the outside.
The technique I learned, the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique, would likely classify as a Human-grade technique according to the library’s standards.
If Human grades are at this level, then Earth grade is undoubtedly a collection of divine skills.
With unrestricted access to such divine skills, it would be incomprehensible why I would search through the lower grades.
However, what was urgently needed for me wasn’t divine skills.
The Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique is by no means a lacking martial art.
It contains ample elements to lead me to the peak and precisely matches what I seek.
The Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique is undeniably an extreme martial art.
Like when I got thoroughly beaten by Wi Seoryeon today, it’s extremely vulnerable to sudden attacks and rapid strikes.
It also suffers against multiples and possesses endurance issues.
Yet why did I choose to learn the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique?
Because it has a high ceiling.
Despite the many risks, it’s specialized in unleashing all power in a single moment, allowing me to stand on equal ground against even stronger opponents, even if just for a moment.
If I had learned ordinary ascending martial arts, would I have been able to defeat peak experts in Sacheon City or land a wound on Wi Seoryeon’s arm?
It was only possible because I adeptly leveraged the high ceiling of the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique.
While Wi Seoryeon believed I should grow and compensate for the weaknesses of the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique, I think a little differently.
The Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique is inherently a needle-like martial art.
Thus, instead of filling the empty voids, I needed to create an even longer and sharper needle.
The main ingredient of the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique is already present; what I need are supplementary materials.
To reinforce the needle and strengthen the grip, this grade level feels just right.
I turned to the Heavenly Demon Library guide, who looked as though they couldn’t understand me.
There are specific techniques I needed to enhance the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique.
“Do you happen to know where techniques that no one wants to use are gathered?”
At my question, the guide’s expression grew even more bizarre.
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