The Qi Condensation Realm (1)
The Qi Condensation realm consisted of a total of fourteen layers.
In the past, it was considered fifteen because the Elixir stage was still included, but even then the foundation remained the same: one had to have already formed the Fa Hua Dan Tian before truly entering the Qi Condensation realm.
I read through the [Ohwol Ipdokyeong] and devoured every scrap of information it offered about the realm.
Qi Condensation was spoken of as simply the first to fourteenth layers, yet the boundaries between each of those layers were staggeringly complex.
Qi Condensation layer one required full comprehension of the seventy-two Geji Zhenyan’s seventy-two verse collections and the activation of spiritual meridians in the body that corresponded to each of those seventy-two Geji.
Qi Condensation layer two demanded complete understanding of the thirty-six Tiengang Fabeol and the condensation of spiritual nature into thirty-six celestial energies keyed to the seventy-two meridians.
Qi Condensation layer three was the stage at which the seventy-two meridians and thirty-six spiritual natures were evolved to accept the twelve categories of spiritual forces corresponding to the Twelve Di Lye.
Qi Condensation layer four required acceptance of all ten variations of spiritual power listed in the Ten Tiengan Do.
Qi Condensation layer five meant that the one hundred and eight meridians and spiritual natures, along with sixty variations of spiritual power, had to be distilled into nine supreme points according to the principles of the Nine Palaces.
Qi Condensation layer six completed the full path of spiritual power in accordance with the workings of the Eight Trigrams.
Qi Condensation layer seven was the point where one performed sacrifices to the Seven Stars and received permission to walk the path of cultivation before the Heavenly and Earthly spiritual natures, accepting ever more spiritual power.
Qi Condensation layer eight completed the spiritual energy of the Six Harmonies and the Four Directions of Heaven and Earth, channeling it along the perfected path of spiritual power and filling every meridian in the body.
Qi Condensation layer nine was the realm where the five elements’ properties and symbols were assisted by the primary attribute of the cultivation manual one had already mastered, thereby fully awakening the manual’s attribute.
Qi Condensation layer ten turned the principles of the Four Symbols into a perfect unification, connecting the already perfected spiritual meridians of the Eight Trigrams into a dual set of yin and yang meridians.
Qi Condensation layer eleven was the stage at which the upper, middle, and lower dantian corresponding to the Three Talents were fully penetrated by spiritual energy, achieving union with Heaven, Earth, and Man.
Qi Condensation layer twelve endlessly cycled the yin and yang meridians of the Dual Polarity until they were fully integrated and perfected without flaw.
Qi Condensation layer thirteen accelerated spiritual energy through the single yuan meridian and condensed it into a single point within the dantian.
Qi Condensation layer fourteen exploded the spiritual energy mass that had become Wuji into a single point, evolving the inner space of the dantian.
When one succeeded in fully evolving the dantian, spiritual clouds appeared inside it and spiritual stars were born within those clouds, one reached the peak of Qi Condensation.
That was the beginning and the end of the Qi Condensation realm.
“…Can I actually reach the end within this life?”
From the first realm of martial arts to the absolute peak, from the absolute peak to Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, and from there to Five Qi Consorting with the Origin, there had at least been a lifetime of effort that produced some measure of achievement.
But within the Qi Condensation realm itself there were enormous differences in stages and realms.
‘Only now do I understand why so many Qi Condensation cultivators showed such vast strength gaps despite only a single layer difference.’
Wulin people’s gaps within a given realm were not that severe.
A Peak Realm early-stage cultivator could defeat a Peak Realm mid-stage one.
A Peak Realm mid-stage cultivator could defeat someone on the early edge of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.
But a Qi Condensation cultivator whose single layer was higher than another’s was already difficult to challenge.
I could finally see why countless Qi Condensation cultivators never left the first layer in their entire lifetimes.
If one’s aptitude for law arts was not extraordinary, no matter how hard one trained, the seventy-two Geji Zhenyan’s verse collections would remain incomprehensible.
‘It is truly not easy…’
I stared at the fourteen layers of the Qi Condensation realm and clicked my tongue. First, I located the cultivation manuals listed in the [Ohwol Ipdokyeong].
[Jiwol Ipdogyeol], [Suwol Ipdogyeol], [Mokwol Ipdogyeol], [Geumwol Ipdogyeol], and [Hwawol Ipdogyeol].
Five manuals in total.
I chose [Jiwol Ipdogyeol] among them.
The reason was simple.
The internal energy core technique I had originally mastered, [Yongmaek Gigong], fell under the soil attribute according to the cultivators’ classification system for Heavenly and Earthly spiritual energy.
‘Training something I already know well is obviously the better choice.’
I recited the verses of [Jiwol Ipdogyeol] and began chanting the seventy-two Geji Zhenyan.
The seventy-two Geji Zhenyan was both a spell that activated seventy-two spiritual meridians and, simultaneously, a foundational law art in its own right.
For example, the verse for [Jigak] would send qi flowing from the meridian corresponding to [Jigakseong], causing a soil-filled spear to erupt from the ground.
‘And I have to form hand seals as well.’
Of course, as one advanced into higher Qi Condensation stages, hand seals and verses could be omitted, but for now I had to chant both to unleash the art.
‘First… I must activate the meridian corresponding to [Jigoe].
No matter what, as soon as one meridian was awakened, I would enter the first layer of Qi Condensation.
I let out a small sigh and chanted the verse for [Jigoe] to activate the meridian.
***
Two months passed.
I stepped out of the stone chamber and took a breath of the outside air.
Somehow I had managed to activate the first meridian, [Jigoe].
However, to activate the [Jigoe] meridian I had consumed a hundred spiritual stones.
‘Terribly inefficient.’
If I used up all the remaining spiritual stones, who knew when I would finish activating all seventy-two meridians.
‘…Well, I suppose this was why I came to the Cheongmun Clan in the first place.’
In truth, there was another way: becoming a lone cultivator in the mountains and rivers without joining the Cheongmun Clan.
It was not difficult to kill a few rogue cultivators, steal their manual, and continue one’s path.
But why had I come to the Cheongmun Clan estate at all?
Precisely to receive help in these bleak moments.
I first went to find Cheongmun Mok and informed him that I had become a Qi Condensation cultivator.
The Foundation Establishment elder Cheongmun Mok’s eyes widened as he examined my meridians and confirmed they were active. Only then did he believe me.
“Huh… What in the world did you do? A bastard with trash aptitude who reached spiritual energy unification and entered the Qi Condensation realm in just three months from the Elixir stage? This is insane… Well, I see now why the clan elder recommended you. Hehe…”
He looked at me with astonished eyes and asked which manual I had used to enter the Qi Condensation realm.
“What manual did you use to enter the Qi Condensation realm?”
“The [Ohwol Ipdokyeong]. I used the [Jiwol Ipdogyeol] among them.”
“Ah, the [Ohwol Ipdokyeong]. So that’s it.”
It seemed Cheongmun Mok recognized the street-cultivation manual even though it was not supposed to be common knowledge.
“That manual is indeed the very foundation of foundations. It contains exactly the basics needed for the Qi Condensation realm. But since it only has the basics, aside from the foundational law arts that are cast with the corresponding verses for the meridians, you won’t be able to use any special attribute law arts.”
“I already know that.”
“Wait a moment… Hmmm…”
He fiddled with his waist pouch and took out a scroll.
“This is a soil-attribute manual called the [Jiju Wonbeop]. It is one of the Cheongmun Clan’s basic manuals and specializes in extremely solid defense. You may use it instead of the [Jiwol Ipdogyeol], or you may cultivate both together. Since you will be training the same attribute in parallel, your progress will not slow down by much.”
“Thank you.”
“And you said your cultivation of the manual is slow? That is unavoidable because of your trash aptitude… Still, there is a way to accelerate the manual’s progress.”
I watched him intently with bright eyes.
“Fundamentally, it is called [Seontong Huego]. Once you pierce the meridians, raise your comprehension, raise your realm, the realizations below will come to you instinctively.
You already activated the meridian corresponding to the [Jigoe] star, so you understand. Don’t you feel that the meaning of the [Jigoe Zhenyan] is already becoming clearer?”
“Yes, it is.”
“When you advance from the first to the second layer of Qi Condensation, from the lower to the higher tiers within the Qi Condensation realm, and finally to the peak of Qi Condensation, the verses and Fabeol you have already learned will be understood far more naturally and instinctively.
That is why those with Celestial or Divine roots advance quickly, piercing meridians and breaking through realms to grasp the realizations below. But for people like you with trash aptitude, if you want to break through quickly, you must do the opposite.”
“If it is the opposite…”
“[Seonkak Hugong]! First you must fully comprehend and internalize what the verses and Fabeol mean, engraving them into your soul. If you truly understand the verses, even without extraordinary spiritual roots or good aptitude, the meridians will awaken according to the verses and you will be able to break through the realm on your own.”
‘[Seonkak Hugong]…’
I could more or less understand what he meant.
Those with Celestial and Divine roots could break through realms and understand the verses simply by sitting in meditation.
But cultivators with trash aptitude who wanted to break through quickly had to first truly understand the verses before the meridians would awaken and the realms would be crossed.
And I had experienced exactly that kind of situation before.
‘Cultivators are fundamentally seeking the consciousness and aptitude that mortal warriors must reach at the Five Qi Consorting with the Origin realm.’
To reach the world where consciousness is used as naturally as breathing, a mortal warrior must awaken the will of heaven and earth, realize life within that will, and finally awaken all the will of life to reach consciousness.
A genius understands and unfolds techniques in a single flash.
A mediocre talent reaches the same level only after countless efforts and trials.
I had already experienced that countless times.
“I thank you for the advice.”
So there was no need to fear or despair.
I would simply keep doing exactly what I had always done.
If I continued to work hard, that was all I needed to do.
“Mm. And within the estate there is a discussion session held once every ten days where internal and external members gather to discuss verses and Fabeol and share realizations. You should participate; it will help you greatly.
As for the manual scroll I just gave you, it is my gift for your entry into the Qi Condensation realm. If you wish to hear my advice in the future, you will have to accumulate merit and offer it to me. Now go.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed to Cheongmun Mok, who was staying in the stone chamber, and left.
Several days later.
I attended the discussion session held within the Cheongmun Clan estate.
It was a session where Qi Condensation cultivators of the first, second, and third layers gathered to discuss realizations.
Besides the internal members, many external members like me and low-level cultivators who had accumulated much merit were present.
The session where the third layer was the maximum realm was divided among the first, second, and third layer cultivators.
I naturally joined the group of first-layer Qi Condensation cultivators.
“First, I will explain the wall I have recently encountered.”
The session proceeded with each cultivator sitting cross-legged and discussing their recent realizations and the walls they felt blocked by.
I spoke briefly about the meridian of the [Jigoe] star and, through that, was able to interact with the other cultivators of the Cheongmun Clan.
After a month of discussion at the Cheongmun Clan session and performing tasks, I overheard an extremely shocking fact while talking with the Cheongmun Clan cultivators.
“So… you mean this is invisible?”
“That is correct. Have you discovered any special consciousness technique?”
“Ah… I suppose that is what it means.”
I smiled awkwardly and tried to return the smile to the other external member of the Cheongmun Clan with whom I had been speaking.
Today I had learned an extremely shocking fact.
Cultivators could not see the color of consciousness.
They could recognize its shape, but that was all; beyond that, they could only see transparent consciousness and will.
‘That is a truly shocking fact. All the cultivators thought I was like them and could see the color of consciousness… Well, that made sense; there had been no comparison subjects. The fact that mortal warriors who reach Five Qi Consorting with the Origin are rare to begin with…’
I thought about the size of the consciousness wielded by a Five Qi Consorting with the Origin cultivator.
Roughly the size of a Qi Condensation third or fourth layer cultivator.
I had lowered the size of my consciousness to first-layer Qi Condensation level using the [Eonsiksul], but fundamentally my consciousness area was far larger.
Moreover, I had heard that even among Qi Condensation cultivators, and certainly among Foundation Establishment cultivators, none could perceive the color of consciousness unless they had a special consciousness technique.
‘Mortals who awaken naturally possess consciousness areas that are fundamentally superior to those of cultivators.’
In a way, it was the only field where a mortal warrior could defeat a cultivator.
And through the interactions at the discussion session, I learned another interesting fact about the Cheongmun Clan.
‘The clan that worships the Path of Combat… Could it be the influence of Changhoja? And because of that influence they hold an annual Combat Immortal Tournament…’
The Combat Immortal Tournament was said to be a life-and-death martial competition that the direct and collateral bloodlines of the Cheongmun Clan attended once a year.
All those bearing the surname Cheongmun—direct and collateral lines—were forced to participate, and rankings among the Cheongmun surname bearers were determined by performance in the tournament.
Because of that, the Cheongmuns fought with deadly intensity every time the tournament was held and worked relentlessly throughout the year to prepare for it.
‘Now I understand why the Cheongmuns have a reputation for bad tempers.’
Having a tournament within the clan had made their personalities rough.
‘Too bad; if outsiders could participate, they could climb the rankings and receive vast spiritual resources.’
I clicked my tongue quietly.
At that moment.
“Urgent news! Urgent news!”
A collateral branch member of the Cheongmun Clan rushed into the stone chamber where the discussion was held and shouted.
“The Jin Clan finally stole the throne of the Yeon Kingdom’s imperial family and installed a Jin Clan imperial family instead of the Makri imperial family! The Jin Clan has seized control of the situation in the Yeon Kingdom.
The main branch has decided to send a congratulatory delegation to the Jin Clan to celebrate their victory, and the delegation can include not only Cheongmun Clan members but also all external members. Moreover, the delegation can receive instruction from a Foundation Establishment-level figure who distinguished himself by leading the charge in the Makri imperial family’s downfall.”
“Huh? Receive instruction from a Jin Clan elder? Which elder?”
“That… I am hearing this for the first time. His name was… Young-hoon, I think…”
I felt a smile tug at the corner of my mouth.
Kim Young-hoon had succeeded again in this life.
“…What should I do if I want to apply to join the delegation?”
“The Cheongmun Clan’s rules are simple. Strongest person! There was precedent before; the delegation has about twenty seats and applicants are all pitted against each other in combat until only the final twenty remain.”
“You can just give up. You look like you are only around the first layer of Qi Condensation. Don’t force yourself.”
However, I replied with a faint smile.
“Does one simply apply to the elder Cheongmun Mok in the same way as with other things?”
“That is correct, but this delegation will include many strong second-stage cultivators who were preparing for the Combat Immortal Tournament. Don’t get your hopes up. It is not as if encountering a Foundation Establishment-level figure will turn your life around.”
I walked past him and headed to the stone chamber where Cheongmun Mok was staying.
‘My life won’t turn around. I am merely… going to meet an old hometown comrade.’
If he had aided the Jin Clan in stealing the imperial throne, his martial prowess must have at least reached Five Qi Consorting with the Origin.
How far had he truly reached in this life?
How far could his martial path grow?
It had been a long time since I had wanted to cross blades with a peer-level martial artist.
***
Participating in the delegation was surprisingly simple.
While the others gathered and fought, I hid my presence with the [Wansuigungmurok] and, at the end, ambushed the most exhausted among the remaining twenty and knocked them out.
Some pointed at me and called me cowardly, but in truth I could have slaughtered every Qi Condensation fifth- or sixth-layer cultivator who had been present that day.
‘I should be grateful that I didn’t fight and just stayed quiet.’
I had simply stayed calm because I didn’t feel like standing out.
No matter what the outcome, I had become a member of the delegation.
I set off with one of the Cheongmun Clan’s Foundation Establishment elders as an envoy to the Jin Clan.
“All aboard!”
The day the delegation departed.
The Foundation Establishment elder climbed onto the large law-device ship shaped like a vessel and shouted to us.
I boarded the ship together with the other delegation members from a place within the Cheongmun Clan estate that I considered to be a strategic location, and the ship soon rose into the sky.
‘How wondrous to see.’
I could walk the sky as well, but the [Heogongdabbo] technique that pushed off Heavenly and Earthly spiritual energy and air was entirely different in principle from this law device.
The Heavenly and Earthly spiritual energy itself was absorbed into the ship and produced strange buoyancy.
The ship rose and floated within that buoyancy before accelerating forward at great speed.
Whoosh—
The ship pierced the clouds in an instant and shot into the sky; the keel of the vessel grazed the sea of clouds.
At the speed of the law device, it would take about a day to reach the Yeon Kingdom.
‘So flying law devices are popular; now I understand why.’
It was not merely the feeling of using the [Heogongdabbo].
It felt like riding a comfortable flying device.
I stood at the bow gazing at the lower part of the ship slicing through the clouds and fell into thought.
‘How far can a martial artist ascend?’
And, in this life, had Kim Young-hoon truly evolved the [Wusu Wolmurok]?
The realms of martial artists were the third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, and the absolute peak.
The extreme peak realm called the Deepening Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.
And the Five Qi Consorting with the Origin beyond that.
That was the end.
Five Qi Consorting with the Origin was still a legendary realm where only one person might appear every few hundred years, but no one had ever seen beyond it.
‘Except for Kim Young-hoon.’
The realm of the Astral Qi Compression Orb created by Kim Young-hoon.
That realm was a miracle that had never existed in the history of the Wulin before.
‘Well, the martial path of the present is being continuously explored.’
There is no higher realm for a martial artist.
That is why the existence known as a martial artist must forge that ‘higher realm’ for themselves.
I slowly stroked the sword at my waist.
Even after entering the path of cultivation, even while cultivating, I had never once let go of this sword.
I had cultivated it in tandem with chanting the verses and worked tirelessly to grasp the clues for the next stage.
Of course, even that was still early in the Five Qi Consorting with the Origin.
‘But while I have not yet ascended upward… Kim Young-hoon will show me the way beyond.’
And he will tell me.
That the time spent training martial arts was never wasted time.
I was now a cultivator.
But at the same time, I was still a martial artist.
A martial artist and a cultivator.
I would not give up and I would run without end.
That was the life I wished for.
‘I will climb and climb. I will definitely end this regression and live a proper life.’
I stared at the sky while making that firm resolution.
The sky seen from above the clouds was
high and distant yet utterly clear and bright.
***
The next day.
We arrived at the main branch of the Jin Clan.
‘This place… the main branch of the Jin Clan!’
It was a volcano.
And it was still active; lava bubbled and gurgled beneath our feet.
At the center of that volcano stood the main branch of the Jin Clan.
‘Were there volcanoes in the Yeon Kingdom?’
But I was surprised for a different reason.
Because after several lifetimes, I was seeing volcanic terrain for the first time in this life.
“Excuse me, do you happen to know where the main location of the Jin Clan is in terms of the geography of the Yeon Kingdom?”
I asked one of the colleagues who had come with me as an envoy.
He swallowed hard at the grandeur of the Jin Clan main branch visible below us but answered my question without hesitation.
“It is near the Yeon Kingdom’s Gyun-gangseong. I am not very familiar with it either.”
‘Gyun-gangseong? I had been there before, and there were no volcanoes. No way…’
I thought of one possibility.
‘They must have covered the entire volcano with a welcome formation that hid it until now!’
I gazed in awe at the vast scale of the formation guarding the main branch of the Jin Clan.
“Descending!”
The Foundation Establishment elder of the Cheongmun Clan lowered the law-device ship, and we entered the Jin Clan.
We entered the Jin Clan and, at the head of the Foundation Establishment elder, delivered the letter of the Cheongmun Clan clan leader’s personal envoy to the Jin Clan clan leader at the main branch.
Thanks to that, I was able to see a Core Formation cultivator at the closest position in the life I had lived so far.
‘That is… a Core Formation…’
Sizzle, sizzle.
It was almost like a fox.
A vast consciousness area spanning over thirty zhangs covered the surroundings, and at its center sat a middle-aged man in red robes reading the Cheongmun Clan clan leader’s personal letter at the clan leader’s seat.
Sizzle, sizzle.
The spiritual energy emitted by the Core Formation cultivator without concealment pressed down on us. All the Qi Condensation cultivators from the Cheongmun Clan delegation except me looked as if they were on the verge of dying from the pressure.
My skin prickled from the spiritual energy of the Core Formation cultivator, but that was all.
‘If it were a Five Qi Consorting with the Origin realm, I could easily release that much pressure.’
I used my consciousness to slice away the invisible pressure pressing on me and released it.
After some ceremonial greetings, the moment I had been waiting for finally came.
“I will now introduce the highest-ranking external member of the Jin Clan who distinguished himself in this imperial family succession war!”
Kim Young-hoon climbed onto a small platform and greeted us.
“I greet all distinguished guests who have come from other clans. My name is Young-hoon, a martial artist.”
He had already reached Five Qi Consorting with the Origin; his will had evolved into the form of consciousness and his appearance had become younger.
“A martial artist??”
“What nonsense, he is a cultivator!”
“Are they mocking us?”
At that moment, the corner of one of the Jin Clan elders’ mouths lifted.
“He is undoubtedly a martial artist who has reached the extreme peak. And he certainly achieved great merit in this succession war. As I notified the envoys before, how about using this opportunity to compare the levels of martial artists like him and the talents of each clan for the sake of friendly relations between the clans?”
I roughly understood the situation.
The Jin Clan had seized the throne and, on this occasion, wanted to flaunt their strength to the surrounding cultivation clans.
And the martial artist raised by the clan provided the perfect opportunity to raise their nose by defeating cultivators of other clans.
“Even so, how can a martial artist like that…”
“The Jin Clan is truly arrogant…”
The envoys from the Cheongmun Clan and those from other clans wore slightly displeased expressions.
And the Jin Clan clan leader opened his mouth.
“I cannot guarantee his strength. Those who do not wish to fight may return to their rooms first.”
“….”
“….”
No one protested.
If they disregarded the clan leader’s guarantee, they would now be disregarding the clan leader himself.
“Before the banquet begins, I would like to hold a brief friendly sparring match in the form of entertainment. Is there anyone whose opponent you dislike?”
No one answered the clan leader’s question.
“Since there are no objections, it seems everyone approves. Then let us begin the friendly sparring.”
The first challenger was one of the Qi Condensation collateral branches of the Byeokra Kingdom’s Gongmyo Clan.
As I watched Kim Young-hoon clash with the Gongmyo Clan cultivator, dissatisfied voices erupted from various places.
“Participated in the delegation thinking we would receive instruction from a Foundation Establishment-level figure…”
“How can we spar with a martial artist…”
“Is a martial artist really a Foundation Establishment-level figure? His consciousness area is only as large as the lower tiers of the Qi Condensation realm… It would be more believable to say that a praying mantis on the roadside is a high official of the Yeon Kingdom.”
“Everyone be quiet! What kind of nonsense is this in front of the clan leader!”
The Cheongmun Clan elder spoke that way, but his face also showed displeasure.
And the sparring began.
Whoosh!
Kim Young-hoon’s figure flashed, and the Gongmyo Clan cultivator who had been about to unleash a law art was sent flying and crashed to the ground.
“…!”
“What…?”
“Th-that…”
Kim Young-hoon dusted his hands casually and said,
“The spar is over.”
And astonishment spread across the faces of the envoys seated around me.
“Ho-how…”
“Was anyone watching properly just now?”
The surroundings instantly became noisy, and soon a challenger from another clan appeared.
It was a Qi Condensation tenth-layer cultivator from the Byeok Clan.
It seemed he had sent a strong second-stage cultivator as well.
All eyes were on us, and the sparring resumed.
Clang!
Kim Young-hoon charged at the Byeok Clan cultivator, who moved his hands and shot out a law art.
The blue law art seemed to fly toward Kim Young-hoon, but he dodged the entire technique with fluid movement, closed in on the Byeok Clan cultivator, shattered his defensive law art with a single strike, and hurled him away.
“It is over.”
The cultivators once again exclaimed in admiration, and the audience became lively.
“How…?”
“It was clearly a martial art from the Wulin.”
“How…?”
No one doubted the clan leader’s words anymore.
And the atmosphere began to heat up.
Every clan, regardless of their affiliation, sent challengers at Kim Young-hoon.
It had become a battle of pride among the clans to defeat Kim Young-hoon.
Even the Cheongmun Clan sent several strong second-stage cultivators, but all of them lost to Kim Young-hoon in five seconds.
Because the Jin Clan’s martial artist had won against the clan’s own second-stage cultivators one after another, the atmosphere that had grown hot began to cool, while the Jin Clan cultivators grew more arrogant.
And again the Byeok Clan cultivator lost to Kim Young-hoon, and it was the Cheongmun Clan’s turn.
“…Who will go?”
No one answered.
Now they knew that whoever went would only sully the Cheongmun Clan’s honor.
“…Sigh. If no one goes…”
“I will go.”
I rose from my seat.
Had I not come here for exactly this reason?
The Cheongmun Clan elder who had been watching me sighed and said,
“…Very well. Even if you lose with only the first layer of Qi Condensation, everyone will understand.”
I descended to the sparring stage and met Kim Young-hoon’s eyes.
Startled.
Kim Young-hoon’s body jerked when he saw me.
As if he had not expected to see me here.
Screeeech—
I drew my sword.
“Come, let us play as hard as we can.”
How far had Kim Young-hoon truly opened the path in this life?
Which martial path had he reached!
Kim Young-hoon looked surprised but grinned and drew his blade for the first time.
“Well, let us play.”
Whoosh!
Our wills split the air.
---