Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Celestial Gate
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The Celestial Gate.
It could truly be called the pinnacle of martial arts. Even the Taiji Sword Lord couldn't say with full confidence that he had completely opened the Celestial Gate and stepped beyond it. That was how ultimate a realm the Celestial Gate was.
"The Celestial Gate."
Wi Sung-cheon murmured softly to himself. The words seemed insignificant, yet they felt profoundly distant. Wi Sung-cheon closed his eyes for a moment, organizing the thoughts filling his mind.
The Taiji Sword Lord watched with a gentle smile, patiently waiting for Wi Sung-cheon to gather his enlightenment.
"I've heard my martial arts are dangerous."
After a short while, Wi Sung-cheon opened his eyes and spoke. The Taiji Sword Lord nodded quietly.
"Should I discard them?"
"If you wish to discard them, then do so."
"I don't want to."
"Then don't. I believe the martial arts of the Heavenly Flower Sect you've cultivated hold great potential."
"What about my grandfather?"
"He seemed to wish for his own destruction. But the arts he practiced never sought to ruin him. In fact, it was thanks to those arts that he survived death's door time and again."
"That settles it."
Wi Sung-cheon nodded.
He had never met his grandfather, Wi Seonak Wi Jeong-uk, nor received any teachings from him.
But if his body hadn't been harmed by the martial arts, then the Heavenly Flower Sect's techniques were not flawed. It was simply that Wi Sung-cheon's attainment was still lacking for now.
One day, if he fully comprehended the essence of the Heavenly Flower Sect's martial arts, he could overcome their dangers.
"Many call the Star Absorption Great Law an evil art."
"That makes sense."
"Indeed, the Star Absorption Great Law is not a righteous path art. By plundering an opponent's internal energy, it inevitably leads to the destruction of both the victim and the user."
Not just internal energy, but even innate essence was drained. That was the profound secret of the Star Absorption Great Law. Innate essence was something one was born with, far harder to increase than internal energy.
Yet the Star Absorption Great Law absorbed the opponent's innate essence to bolster one's own.
At first glance, it might seem a ruthless but brilliant art. However, heedlessly accumulating internal energy and innate essence that wasn't one's own inevitably invited destruction, as the Taiji Sword Lord had said.
"Throughout martial history, many warriors cultivated the Star Absorption Great Law and met ruin. But not all."
"The White Blaze Witch and the Bloodsucking Fiend."
"Yes. Those two achieved great success with it. I hesitate to acknowledge the Bloodsucking Fiend, but the White Blaze Witch, I do. Even if she's a demonic witch listed among the unorthodox Ten Heroes."
Dozens of years ago, the Taiji Sword Lord had met the White Blaze Witch. She was one of the unorthodox Ten Heroes, called a witch for her eccentricity, but she was undeniably 'human.'
Distinct from fiends who had abandoned their humanity.
"Are the Heavenly Flower Sect's arts unorthodox?"
"Depending on one's view, they could be called that. But from what I've seen clearly, your Star Absorption Great Law is vastly different from the common version."
Wi Sung-cheon's Star Absorption Great Law didn't even absorb the opponent's innate essence. Nor did it store the plundered internal energy in his dantian to increase his own reserves. It merely inhaled it in that instant and consumed it immediately in an attack.
"A clever art. It focuses your own internal energy solely on controlling your body, supplementing the lacking power with the enemy's energy... Your art is designed to shine brightest in battles against the strong. Ha ha! Do you know who founded the Heavenly Flower Sect?"
"...No."
Wi Sung-cheon blinked in response. It was truly peculiar. Most sects and clans recorded their founders and passed down the tales to later generations.
Even if those records were laced with exaggeration and falsehoods. Take the Taiji Sword Lord's own sect, Wudang—even it had dozens of legendary anecdotes about its founder, Zhang Sanfeng.
"A strange thing."
The Taiji Sword Lord stroked his chin and murmured. It wasn't just the founder. Wi Sung-cheon knew little about his grandfather Wi Jeong-uk or his great-grandfather, the Heavenly Flower Lord Wi Sin-yeop.
'The Heavenly Flower Sect Lord...'
The swordsman Wi Ju-seok.
Even if the founder was unknown, it was Wi Sung-cheon's father, the Heavenly Flower Sect Lord, who hadn't passed down stories of his grandfather or great-grandfather.
Was there some reason? The Taiji Sword Lord ceased his pondering. He had sent a letter; if fate allowed, he could meet him at the Heavenly Mandate Festival.
"Let's end the talk here. The enlightenment you gained earlier rivals years of study, but time must be used efficiently."
With that, the Taiji Sword Lord straightened his posture.
"Training the body is good, but in your case, cultivating mind arts would be better. To use your hard-earned intent body more efficiently, you must cultivate the mind arts to temper your mind."
"Yes."
"Do you remember what I told you last week?"
"Mind as Spirit."
Pleased by Wi Sung-cheon's prompt reply, the Taiji Sword Lord smiled and nodded. Wi Sung-cheon sat cross-legged and immersed himself in the Heavenly Flower Sequential Art.
Mind as Spirit.
The Taiji Sword Lord's words blended seamlessly with the incantations of the Heavenly Flower Sequential Art. Strangely, they meshed perfectly with the incantations Wi Sung-cheon had practiced since childhood, flowing smoothly through his mind.
As if it had always been meant to be. Wi Sung-cheon felt his mind clear and his chest fill with profound fullness.
Without conscious effort, the channels in his body stirred. Internal energy surged from his lower dantian, spreading throughout his body.
No wind blew, yet Wi Sung-cheon's hair swayed. Following the incantations of the Heavenly Flower Sequential Art, the flow of his internal energy shifted continuously, while his muscles alternated between relaxation and contraction.
Seated opposite him, the Taiji Sword Lord watched Wi Sung-cheon's focus with satisfaction. In an instant, Wi Sung-cheon had plunged deep into his own world.
The Taiji Sword Lord slowly drew forth his intent. The sword he always carried in his heart slipped from its sheath. The heart sword, capable of piercing or slashing anything, aimed at Wi Sung-cheon.
'Ho.'
It did not strike.
Merely aiming was enough. Wi Sung-cheon's faintly visible intent body was already responding to the heart sword. A futile response.
The Taiji Sword Lord's heart sword could pierce or slash Wi Sung-cheon's intent body no matter how he reacted. Yet the mere fact that he was responding was astonishing.
For a child who hadn't even opened his middle dantian, let alone upper, to respond to an intent attack—it had been impossible just last week.
'A child blessed with fortune.'
The Taiji Sword Lord thought so sincerely.
Heavenly Flower Sect.
A mysterious and enigmatic sect. The young sect master of this generation was undoubtedly a hidden dragon.
Foolish children might envy him without recognizing it, but soon the world would acknowledge Wi Sung-cheon as a hidden dragon.
'It's fortunate for you too. You won't be entirely... alone.'
The Taiji Sword Lord thought of Mu Yeon-jun and smiled bitterly.
* * *
Evening, after all classes had ended.
Every professor of the Heavenly Academy gathered in the lecture hall of the Heavenly Hall. It was due to a sudden summons from the Academy Lord, Nam Myeong.
Mass summons of professors weren't common, but lately they had increased. Just last week, there had been a summons regarding Demonic Cult spies infiltrating Heavenly Academy Mountain.
"Surely no more spies have infiltrated."
"No way."
Seo Il responded to Seok I-jin's mutter. It wasn't about spies. If it were, the Dark Fame Division Chief would have called the team leaders like Seo Il first, before the Academy Lord summoned everyone.
"What's this about?"
Hwangbo Myeong tilted his head and asked Sang Myeong-jung. Most professors were buzzing about the summons' purpose, but the grade chairs like Sang Myeong-jung remained silent and apart.
The chairs likely already knew the reason.
"It's about the Heavenly Mandate Festival."
Sang Myeong-jung replied, stroking his crooked mustache. Nearby professors' gazes turned to him.
"Isn't the festival still over a month away?"
"No reason for a summons. It'll be the same as last year."
"They won't try to cover a budget shortfall with our salaries, right?"
"Enough nonsense."
Sang Myeong-jung clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Don't be impatient. Wait. The Academy Lord will arrive soon."
Sure enough, shortly after, the Iron-Blood Sovereign and Heavenly Academy Lord, Nam Myeong, appeared. He stood at the podium, looking down at the professors.
"Thank you for responding to the summons amid your busy schedules."
Nam Myeong spoke. The professors ceased their murmurs and stared up at him intently.
"The Heavenly Mandate Festival, starting in 50 days, will proceed for ten days as last year, with events largely unchanged."
If asked what was the highlight of the Heavenly Mandate Festival, anyone would say the martial tournament. But it wasn't just tournaments for ten days. As an annual festival, various events accompanied it.
Nam Myeong skipped those details. Today's summons wasn't about event changes.
"I've called you professors regarding the distinguished guests who will attend the Heavenly Mandate Festival."
Nam Myeong composed his expression. The Heavenly Academy was the righteous martial world's premier educational institution. Normally barring outsiders except students and faculty, its gates flung wide during the festival. Sects, clans, merchant groups from across the martial world entered to enjoy the festivities.
Not everyone, of course. Even during the festival, invitations or prior approval were required for entry.
'Distinguished guests' were those the academy paid special attention to.
"The Black Slaughter Alliance has expressed intent to attend the Heavenly Mandate Festival."
Professors buzzed at his words. Excluding the distant past when the academy was neutral, the Black Slaughter Alliance had never attended.
"Who?"
"Unorthodox scum, do they know where they are...!"
"They surely harbor evil intentions."
Professors voiced their reactions. Nam Myeong let the clamor continue briefly before raising a hand to quiet them.
"The one conveying attendance intent is the Black Slaughter Alliance Lord himself."
Shock beyond surprise turned the buzz to silence.
Black Slaughter Alliance Lord.
The Black Demon King Baek Ri-mu-won, called the unorthodox supreme.
He himself intended to attend the Heavenly Mandate Festival.
"Not just the Alliance Lord. His accompanying Black Slaughter Alliance experts will come too."
"You permitted it?"
"They say our permission is irrelevant. Their stance is this: the current Heavenly Demon is undoubtedly the world's greatest, and the Demonic Cult is stronger than ever. Now is the time to unite black and white for the world's sake, without division."
Professors composed their shock at Nam Myeong's continued words. Who would have thought evil unorthodox rabble would speak of grand righteousness? Hearing it now made their earlier objections feel slightly embarrassing.
"We've already informed the Martial Alliance of their visit. And this afternoon, a reply arrived."
"No way."
"The Alliance Lord himself will lead the Demon-Exterminating Righteous Heavenly Army to visit during the festival."
Professors swallowed hard. The Demon-Exterminating Righteous Heavenly Army was the Martial Alliance's premier force.
'The Demon-Exterminating Righteous Heavenly Army operates beyond the frontlines in the Demonic Realm. Their coming... isn't just to check the Black Slaughter Alliance Lord.'
It was because of the Demonic Cult spies from recently.
"Additionally, sect leaders of the Nine Great Righteous Sects and patriarchs of the Three Great Clans will visit. This Heavenly Mandate Festival will be the grandest since I became Academy Lord."
"We'll need to expand the tournament arenas."
"Budget's the issue..."
Budget-managing professors sighed deeply.
"Convey this to the students without error. Though 50 days remain, more preparation is better than less."
Nam Myeong said this, swallowing a rising sigh.