Chapter 57
My master was at the main estate of the Cheongmun Clan.
Being counted among the main family in a clan that pursued the way of combat meant one had to rank within the top fifty of the Combat Assembly. It signified that my master had once held one of the clan’s most vital positions.
For an outsider like me, whose origins were unknown, meeting an elder of such rank in an ordinary clan would have been nearly impossible.
Of course, the Cheongmun Clan was no ordinary clan.
“Those wishing to participate in the Martial Tournament hosted by the Cheongmun Clan, come this way!”
The Cheongmun Clan revered the way of combat, following the example of their founder, Changhoza.
Besides the internal Combat Assembly held for their own members, they occasionally gathered wandering cultivators under the pretext of the Martial Tournament to recruit external members.
The champion, runner-up, and third place would all become external members of the clan, while the other finalists earned the right to serve as subordinate cultivators.
Most importantly, the champion could make one small wish using the authority granted by the Cheongmun Clan.
For example, they could request a single hour of guidance from a Foundation Establishment elder they wished to meet.
“Registration complete. Next!”
I approached the registration desk and spoke to the official.
“Name: Seo Eun-hyun. Origin: Cheon-saek Castle in the Byeokra Kingdom. Realm: Qi Condensation ninth star, Five Elements Formation. I cultivate earth-attribute techniques.”
“Hmm? Qi Condensation ninth star?”
The registrar looked at me with surprise.
He was an external member of the Cheongmun Clan at the sixth star of Qi Condensation.
“Senior… if you are at that level, there is no need to enter the Martial Tournament. You could simply apply for external membership and pass the character interview to join immediately.”
Most subordinate cultivators were at the second or third star of Qi Condensation.
External members were usually between the fourth and ninth stars.
Anyone above that received treatment akin to a collateral bloodline.
If a cultivator at the eleventh star or higher was young, they were often married into the clan as a son-in-law.
Before the Ascension Gate opened, when Qi Condensation cultivators were common across the continent, the ninth star had been considered ordinary.
But now that the great sects had ascended, cultivators themselves had become rare. Even a ninth-star Qi Condensation cultivator received considerable respect from the great clans.
Typical champions of the Martial Tournament were usually fifth- or sixth-star cultivators. Suddenly, someone like me had appeared.
When I glanced around, the other participants cleared their throats and deliberately looked away.
“Haha, newcomers to the Cheongmun Clan registration desk often get confused. This junior will guide you to the proper place…”
“No need. I have long admired the Martial Tournament hosted by the Cheongmun Clan. Please allow me to participate.”
“Ah… well…”
“As far as I know, anyone who is not a Foundation Establishment cultivator may enter the tournament hosted by the Cheongmun Clan.”
“That is…”
The registrar wore a troubled expression and tried to dissuade me, but when I refuted him point by point using the clan’s own rules, he sighed and wrote my name on the registration list.
The colors of the other cultivators’ divine senses shifted in various ways.
Once I stepped outside the registration building and withdrew my consciousness, I heard faint sighs from within.
“What a disagreeable senior.”
“Does he really intend to crush the juniors in the tournament just to enter the Cheongmun Clan…?”
“Damn it, how are we supposed to beat a ninth-star Qi Condensation cultivator? Can’t we just give him a bye all the way to the top?”
They were badmouthing me outside my divine sense range, but unfortunately, my hearing—refined after bone reconstruction and forming a core—caught every word.
‘Sorry about that.’
Still, ordinary external members could not meet a Cheongmun Clan elder without earning merit.
But the champion of the Martial Tournament was different.
‘Besides, I have no intention of joining the Cheongmun Clan in this life anyway.’
Winning the tournament did not automatically make one an external member.
If I declined the position, it would naturally pass to someone else.
Holding my tournament token, I entered the Cheongmun Clan’s territory and rested.
One month later.
The Martial Tournament began.
“…Champion, Seo Eun-hyun!”
As expected, I won.
There was no real battle.
The second- and third-star participants who had come hoping for even a subordinate cultivator position forfeited the moment they faced me.
None of the fourth- or fifth-star cultivators could withstand a single strike from me.
Only the sixth-star cultivators who had reached the Eight Trigrams Complete Path could somewhat engage me in a spell duel, but they were still defeated by my overwhelming spiritual power.
Even I could now suppress lower-stage Qi Condensation cultivators through sheer realm difference.
‘Still, if those second- and third-star cultivators had shown some spirit and challenged me, the Cheongmun Clan might have offered them subordinate positions after the tournament…’
I looked at the low-stage cultivators who had forfeited immediately and felt a twinge of regret.
Knowing the Cheongmun Clan’s ways from my previous time there, I understood that a clan that revered combat would have taken interest in anyone who displayed fighting spirit.
“The champion receives official recommendation as an external member of the Cheongmun Clan, along with one wish. As long as the wish is appropriate for a Qi Condensation cultivator, the clan will grant it. Do you have any requests?”
The cultivator overseeing the tournament was Cheongmun Byeok, whom I had met before.
I told him I wished to meet Cheongmun Ryeong and receive his guidance.
“Hmm, Cheongmun Ryeong? He is my cousin. Indeed, when it comes to foundational spells and formations, few can match him…”
“Also, I will return the external member recommendation.”
“The three great masters of the Cheongmun Clan are Makri Unryeon of pill refinement, Gongmyo Cheonsaek of artifacts, and Cheongmun Ryeong of formations… Wait, what did you say?”
Cheongmun Byeok’s eyes widened.
He clearly had not expected this.
“I entered this tournament solely to meet the pioneer of the Preceding Enlightenment and Subsequent Comprehension, the great formation master and foundational spell expert, Elder Cheongmun Ryeong. I need nothing else.”
“You brat… Do you not understand what it means to become an external member of a cultivation clan?”
“I understand perfectly. However, there are people I must meet without being bound by a cultivation clan’s rules.”
I still had to check on my disciples in the Jin Clan.
That would be impossible if I joined the Cheongmun Clan.
“Even if you are the champion, the time you may spend with Elder Ryeong is normally limited to one hour… If you become an external member, I can extend that meeting to three hours through my request. Are you still refusing?”
“…I apologize for declining your generous offer.”
“Tsk! Fine. Do as you wish.”
Cheongmun Byeok glared at me in displeasure before announcing the runner-up and third place.
He declared that a smaller tournament would be held in two days to award the recommendation I had declined.
A few days later.
I entered the Cheongmun Clan’s territory with Cheongmun Byeok.
Since I was not even an external member, I could not be taken to the main estate, so we arranged to meet at a less important territory.
Following Cheongmun Byeok, I arrived at an old thatched house within the territory.
Simple yet tidy, it suited my master well.
“Ryeong, the one who requested an audience with you is here. I will leave him in your care. I am busy, so I cannot greet you properly.”
“Take care, elder brother.”
A familiar voice came from inside the thatched house.
Cheongmun Byeok mounted his flying artifact and soared away.
I steadied my breathing and knelt before the house.
Then I bowed deeply.
“…What are you doing?”
The door did not open, but Cheongmun Ryeong, sensing my actions through his divine sense, asked in a puzzled voice.
I smiled and answered.
“I greet the great formation master, pioneer of the Preceding Enlightenment and Subsequent Comprehension, and foundational spell expert—Elder Cheongmun Ryeong of the great Cheongmun Clan.”
“A smooth-tongued fellow. I do not like slick people like you. Stop the nonsense and come inside. Let me hear what someone like you has to say to me.”
The sliding door burst open.
I carefully stepped inside.
He did not even look at me, continuing to annotate the books before him with focused attention.
Even on the day of our meeting, he remained absorbed in his work.
Truly…
‘You have not changed at all.’
“…What is it? Stop making that unpleasant face. If you have questions, ask them. I am busy, so ask quickly and leave.”
“…Yes. Understood.”
I sat down and asked him about the parts of the tenth star of Qi Condensation—the Four Symbols Righteousness—that I had not understood.
I also inquired about the eleventh star, Three Talents Unification, the twelfth star, Yin-Yang Unity, and the thirteenth star, One Origin One Response.
My questions were built upon the logic and doubts of the Preceding Enlightenment and Subsequent Comprehension method.
Upon hearing my precise questions, Cheongmun Ryeong paused his annotations and looked at me, his brow twitching.
“…Hmph. Despite your slick appearance, you have a solid foundation. Very well, let me answer your questions…”
For one hour, we exchanged questions and answers with great enthusiasm.
After one hour.
Cheongmun Ryeong had the authority to dismiss me once the allotted time ended.
Yet when he realized the hour had passed, he frowned and spoke.
“I will grant you one more hour. It seems there is still much I can teach a fool with such strong thirst for knowledge.”
Another hour passed.
“…Has another hour already gone by? I will give you one more hour. Listen carefully. Yin-Yang Unity refers to dividing the yin and yang meridians…”
After a total of three hours.
He stroked his beard.
“What use is teaching in such small increments? This will not do. I will grant you three more hours! If you fail to understand properly within that time, I will punish you!”
Thus, I spent the entire night with Cheongmun Ryeong.
The next morning.
“Now I feel somewhat refreshed. Have you understood the theories to some extent?”
“Thanks to you, Grandmaster, I have understood them sufficiently.”
“…I heard you refused to become an external member of the Cheongmun Clan. With your level of understanding, you could advance your realm through the Preceding Enlightenment and Subsequent Comprehension method and receive treatment as a quasi-bloodline member of the main family.
Even if you have learned some theory today, there is a vast difference between theory and actually raising your realm. If you become an external member, I can formally teach you. What do you say?”
“…”
Cheongmun Ryeong was once again asking me to take him as my master.
I looked at him and smiled faintly.
“I am grateful for your words, Grandmaster. However… there are people I cannot meet if I am bound by the Cheongmun Clan’s rules.”
“…Well, fine. It was a suggestion for your sake, but there is no helping someone who refuses a meal even when it is served.”
He clicked his tongue and opened a book.
“…Now leave. After studying for a day, your theory should at least be solid. It will help you in the future.”
I rose and bowed respectfully to him once more.
“As the saying goes, ‘One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father.’ Though it was only one day of guidance, I will never forget you as my master for the rest of my life.”
“…Foolish boy. If you truly mean that, you should have joined the main family. Enough. I have no interest in you beyond the single day I have seen you. Leave at once!”
I left Cheongmun Ryeong’s residence.
Once again, I bowed toward the room where he remained, then departed the Cheongmun Clan’s territory.
Even if it was only one day as a teacher.
I would regard him as a father for the rest of my life.
‘Master, I will not forget you.’
No matter how many times I regress.
I left the Cheongmun Clan’s domain, crossed the border of the Yeon Kingdom, and headed toward the Jin Clan’s territory.
I planned to check on Kim Young-hoon and my disciples.
News of Kim Young-hoon was easier to obtain than expected.
The Heaven-Slayer.
That was Kim Young-hoon’s title.
He was the one who had beheaded Makri Jeong, the last emperor of the Makri Hwang Dynasty, the predecessor of the Yeon Kingdom.
He was also a founding contributor who had helped establish the current Jin Clan’s imperial dynasty.
Kim Young-hoon had received various teachings from me and, just like in his previous life, had reached the Deungbongjogeuk realm.
Armed with the information I had given him about the Makri Clan’s atrocities and the fact that killing Emperor Makri Jeong would reduce those atrocities, he had marched straight into the imperial palace and beheaded the emperor.
The Makri Clan had raged and sent cultivators to capture him, but each one was slain by Kim Young-hoon.
When even Foundation Establishment cultivators began to fall, the Jin Clan apparently recognized his potential and chose to protect him.
This was the information I received from one of the Jin Clan’s subordinate cultivators.
“Senior. Does the tea suit your taste?”
“Mm, it is excellent.”
In the Byeokra Kingdom, I had struggled to find the Cheongmun Clan’s territory at first.
But in the Yeon Kingdom, during my time in the martial world, I had traveled everywhere.
I knew the locations of every subordinate cultivator territory belonging to the Makri Clan and the Jin Clan.
I even knew the location of the Jin Clan’s main estate. The only place I did not know was the Makri Clan’s main base.
This subordinate cultivator was someone I had briefly connected with during my time as the strategist of the Martial Alliance.
Back then, he had been full of arrogance toward Kim Young-hoon and me, debating whether to kneel or not.
A second-star Qi Condensation cultivator who had barely reached the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang.
The moment he confirmed my realm at the Five Elements Formation, he immediately prostrated himself, calling me senior and serving tea.
I asked him several questions I was curious about and learned what had happened in the Yeon Kingdom during my absence.
“By the way, where have you reached in the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang technique?”
“Ah, I am currently condensing the spirit of the Heavenly Fierce Star…”
“Is there any part you do not understand?”
I gave the Jin Clan subordinate cultivator who had answered my questions a detailed explanation of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang technique and guidance on the parts where he was stuck.
At first, he listened with great interest, but as time passed, although his expression remained the same, a bored intent appeared in the color of his divine sense.
‘Hmm. I explained the Preceding Enlightenment and Subsequent Comprehension method in great detail…’
As my explanation continued, the cultivator’s face gradually showed clear signs of incomprehension.
I ended the lecture there.
“I will stay here for a few days. Also, regarding the Heaven-Slayer you mentioned earlier, I am an acquaintance of his. Please send word to the Jin Clan. I will remain until I receive a reply, and if you have any questions about the technique, I will answer them.”
The subordinate cultivator nodded as if his life had been spared and went to contact the Jin Clan.
I felt I now understood why my master had favored me.
‘Geniuses do not actually need his teachings, while the dullards who truly need them lack the patience.’
I felt strangely bitter.
A few days later.
Kim Young-hoon arrived.
“…It has been a long time.”
“It has been a long time.”
After forty years, we stood awkwardly for a moment.
“…It seems you have become a cultivator. That divine sense and spiritual power…”
“Yes. Somehow, I have reached the middle stages of Qi Condensation.”
“I see. This world favors cultivators, so you made a good choice. …How have you been?”
“Many things happened. By the way, Young-hoon hyung— no, Director Kim Young-hoon.”
I raised my hand.
Starlight gathered in my palm.
“…!”
Shock filled his eyes.
“Let us spar once.”
What kind of battle would unfold between two practitioners who had reached the Deungbongjogeuk realm?