Chapter 629: He Became Handsomer and More Terrifying
Chapter 629: He Became Handsomer and More Terrifying
Geom Mu-geuk stood in the center of an open field, engrossed in a book.
With the New Eye Technique mastered, his eyes never grew tired, no matter how many volumes he devoured. However, for a man accustomed to flying, leaping, and roaming the Jianghu, sitting still was a unique brand of torture.
That was why he had decided to read while standing. But even that eventually became tedious.
Mu-geuk began to move. He didn't walk forward; he walked upward. Utilizing Stepping on the Void, he paced slowly through the air as he read. Then, he threw himself backward as if reclining on an invisible bed.
He rolled through the air, reading while lying on his back before flipping over to read on his stomach. It was as if an invisible cloud supported his weight.
While maintaining the Time Heaven Secret Technique within the Space-Time Displacement Technique, he manifested such divine power for the sole purpose of reading. Since he wasn't currently focused on physical training, it was a form of play—a way to vent his restless, overflowing internal energy.
By now, Mu-geuk had read over several hundred books. A third were unrelated to martial arts, while the remaining two-thirds were martial manuals.
No matter how profound the material, one could only enjoy such a sedentary task for so long. He had hit several walls. In many ways, reading was more grueling than martial training. It was boring, exhausting, and stifling. Every time he felt like quitting, a powerful temptation would whisper to him.
Will reading a few books really help? Do you truly have the luxury to be doing this?
But Mu-geuk did not give up.
He was the man who had walked a long, lonely path in his life before the regression. He was a man who did not know the meaning of surrender. He figured if he kept reading like this, a certain future awaited him.
If his father ever asked where a specific book was, he could answer: “It is on the eighth bookshelf, fourth row, Father.”
Of course, reading every single book in the library was realistically impossible. He couldn't stay here forever just to study; he would have to leave some for others.
“Elder Blade Demon, once I become the Cult Leader, I’ll grant you permission to enter the Heavenly Demon Library whenever you wish. You can read to your heart’s content then. Read them all!”
If it hadn't been for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Mu-geuk wouldn't have cared about reading, nor would he have even thought about entering this place. This period of study was only possible thanks to him.
Furthermore, every book here was of verified, peerless quality.
Some of the manuals Mu-geuk had read contained techniques so powerful they would cause a bloodbath if released into the Murim today. For instance, the Severing Moon Sword Technique he was currently studying was a style that had swept through the central plains three hundred years ago.
Mu-geuk, who had been reading the manual in midair, drifted down to the ground.
He stared straight ahead for a moment, then drew the Black Demonic Sword with the speed of a lightning bolt.
In a flash, a single line of sword light cleaved through space vertically.
Swaaaaaaa.
The grass in the field flattened in a single direction all at once.
Crrraaaaack.
Simultaneously, the ground split open in a straight line, extending far into the distance.
Mu-geuk examined the severed edge of the earth. Shaking his head in dissatisfaction, he lunged with his sword once more.
Crrraaaaack!
This time, a new fissure opened beside the first. Comparing the second cut to the first, Mu-geuk sat down between the two lines and fell into thought.
After a moment of reflection, he made a third strike.
Upon checking the third fissure, Mu-geuk finally wore a satisfied expression. It was the moment the Severing Moon Sword truly lived up to its name.
Snap.
With a flick of his fingers, the split earth returned to its original state.
Mu-geuk placed the Severing Moon Sword Technique manual on the desk and opened the next book.
It was another martial manual. Lately, he had become quite engrossed in the joy of reading them. When inspiration struck, he would physically manifest the techniques, just as he had with the Severing Moon Sword.
One might think that since it was his first time reading these manuals, he would only be able to perform the basic opening forms, but that wasn't the case. In fact, it was easier for him to execute the profound and complex forms. Because Mu-geuk’s realm was so high, the more difficult a technique was, the more easily he could grasp its essence.
Conversely, simple forms made him overthink. This, too, was a result of his high realm. Instead of just performing the move, he would find himself thinking, 'It would be stronger if I changed it like this,' or 'It would be faster if I adjusted it like that.' Thoughts like these followed one after another.
This was his first time experiencing such a phenomenon. Since most of what he encountered after entering the library was a first-time experience, these lessons had a profound impact on him. He compared techniques, researched them, and even discovered flaws.
As he continued to read, Mu-geuk’s understanding of the very source of martial arts deepened.
How is a martial art created?
And going further:
How is a martial art passed down and developed?
Eventually, he began to contemplate the differences between those techniques and the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.
What makes the Nine Calamities Demonic Art special?
He had begun to harbor a question that had never occurred to him during all his time practicing the art. If he hadn't read other manuals, his only answer would have been: 'Because it’s naturally a strong martial art.'
But now, he was experiencing the process of discovering the specific reasons why.
He thought and researched. He read and reread. And then he thought some more.
Then, at a certain point, a hypothesis formed—a guess that was only possible because he had read so many different manuals.
Is this why the Nine Calamities Demonic Art is so powerful?
It wasn't a definitive conclusion, merely a hypothesis, but in that moment, Mu-geuk felt that the time had come. A surge of passion rose from deep within his heart, urging him to draw his sword immediately.
Mu-geuk set the book down and manifested the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.
First Form: Annihilation Form.
The four evil ghosts appeared.
The terrifying one, the handsome one, the enigmatic one, and the shrewd one. They had become so familiar to him now that they felt like family.
‘It’s been a while, East, West, South, and North!’
Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!
After cleaving the target from four directions, the ghosts vanished.
Whenever his martial realm was about to ascend, there was always a change in these entities. And today was no different. Just before they disappeared, the way they looked at Mu-geuk was different than before.
It was a gaze that wanted something.
That look tickled Mu-geuk’s heart. He knew exactly what this tingling sensation meant. It was the signal that his martial realm was ready to rise! The moment had finally arrived.
‘I can’t let this chance slip away.’
Martial progress didn't happen like a gradual climb up a slope; it happened in a single moment, like stepping up onto a higher stair.
Mu-geuk fell into a trance and practiced the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. He manifested it again and again. He met the evil ghosts tens, hundreds, thousands of times.
“Ah, I’m exhausted!”
Mu-geuk slumped to the ground.
“You’ve got it easy, just watching like that, don’t you?”
The entity Mu-geuk was speaking to was the Secret Casket sitting on the desk. Whenever he grew tired during training, he would talk to it.
“What’s that? You’re asking if I can really achieve a breakthrough in the Nine Calamities Demonic Art just by reading some books? You’re telling me I should have met a Demon Lord instead? You’re saying it’s been so long that the Drunken Demon must have drowned himself in a wine vat out of loneliness?”
If those were the devilish whispers he spoke on behalf of the casket... then the will within Mu-geuk whispered back.
“You’re telling me to think of my father? To think of how blood-soaked his training must be while he’s in seclusion? And yet I’m playing around? Am I going to tell him when he comes out, ‘Father, I’m so young and fresh, but I was too tired so I took a break’?”
No, absolutely not.
Mu-geuk sprang to his feet. From the day he first regressed until now, the most powerful driving force that kept him standing was his father. Especially now, while his father was also in the middle of closed-door training.
‘Father, I will definitely succeed as well.’
Mu-geuk swung his sword once more.
The four evil ghosts cleaved through space with a single will, and the terrifying spirits charged in a line, sweeping through the world. When the strongest wall in the world was erected, a single line of sword light cut through the thick darkness, and a lightning storm of sword qi fell like rain.
He swung his sword even when it felt like his arms would fall off. When his internal energy ran low, he performed Qi Circulation and then repeated the process.
He felt that if he gave up now, the four ghosts—East, West, South, and North—would never look at him with that expectant gaze again. He didn't want to see disappointment on their faces.
He didn't know how many days and nights passed after that. He wasn't tired. He didn't allow himself to think he was tired.
Effort does not belong in the category of hardship. Real hardship is being in a situation where you don't even have the opportunity to try.
Mu-geuk poured out all the training he had neglected while reading. It was like gathering qi and letting it explode all at once. Only the Secret Casket bore witness to that blood-soaked effort.
And then, the fated moment arrived!
Mu-geuk stared blankly at a single spot, his pupils trembling. He had performed the same form as always, but the Annihilation Form had changed.
The four evil ghosts had grown larger in stature.
He closed his eyes and opened them again to see if he was hallucinating, but the sight remained. Furthermore, they looked handsomer, more terrifying, more mysterious, and more intelligent.
Shwaaaak! Shwaaaak! Shwaak! Shwaaaak!
The power of the swords they brought down was also incomparably stronger. The moment he saw it, Mu-geuk let out a gasp.
“...I’ve reached the Nine-Star Stage.”
Indeed, the eyes of the ghosts that had been searching for something were now calm once more. And just before the four ghosts vanished, they smiled with satisfaction, as if acknowledging his hard work. Had he seen a phantom because he was too tired?
Thud.
The tension left Mu-geuk’s body, and he collapsed where he stood. An extreme sense of fatigue washed over him.
But he quickly scrambled back up. He couldn't spend this precious moment sleeping. He was so happy that sleep wouldn't come anyway. Hoping it wasn't a dream, he manifested the Nine Calamities Demonic Art again.
Second Form: Great Annihilation Form.
Chwaaaaak!
The ghosts that appeared before his eyes had also grown in size. And their number was now a staggering twenty-six.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
They swept through the area ahead with terrifying momentum. The ground where they passed was gouged deep, leaving not a single blade of grass behind. The power was incomparable to before.
“I really reached the Nine-Star Stage!”
Mu-geuk cheered. He was truly happy. He had shown what kind of result could be achieved when a heaven-sent Heavenly Martial Physique put in blood-soaked effort.
The Secret Casket had watched his effort, and now it seemed to be smiling with him.
Of course, this achievement wasn't earned solely by reading books. Nor was it solely due to his grueling effort. It was the lifelong experience and learning from his life before the regression. It was the human relationships he had shared with his father and others in this life, and the life-and-death combat experience he had gained while facing the Twelve Zodiac Kings.
All of these factors had combined to achieve this miraculous breakthrough.
‘This is just the beginning.’
Going from the Nine-Star Stage to Great Achievement was far more difficult than what he had just accomplished. Furthermore, Mu-geuk’s goal wasn't Ten-Star Great Achievement. It was Twelve-Star Great Achievement. There was no telling how arduous the remaining path would be.
At this point, a single expectation made Mu-geuk’s heart flutter. If he rose just one more level, he would encounter the Heavenly Demon Soul.
What kind of Heavenly Demon Soul will mine be?
There were many people he wanted to share this joy with, but the first person who came to mind was his father. If his father asked how he reached the Nine-Star Stage...
“It was thanks to reading books diligently, Father.”
How would his father react? And what kind of wall was his father currently overcoming?
‘Father, I’ve cleared one hurdle!’
Just then, the report of Jeok-yeon, the escort captain, was heard from outside.
“The Tongcheon Pavilion is searching for you urgently.”
*
When Mu-geuk arrived at the Tongcheon Pavilion, a new flag had been placed on the strategic map. It was a new flag pinned right next to his brother’s.
Annihilate (滅).
It was the flag of Jin Ha-gun, the Demon Extermination Squad Leader.
“The two of them have met!”
Mu-geuk had sincerely hoped his brother would meet Jin Ha-gun. In the land of Wuhan, where everyone was an enemy, Jin Ha-gun was the one person who might show his brother some consideration.
“The two most boring, blunt men in the world have finally met.”
At those words, Sama Myeong smiled. He, too, was well aware of their personalities.
“How did they meet?”
An unexpected answer followed.
“The First Young Master sent word first.”
“My brother did? That doesn't sound like him.”
Given his brother’s personality, he wouldn't have sought out Jin Ha-gun first without a reason. There must have been a compelling cause.
Just then, a new missive arrived from Wuhan. As Sama Myeong confirmed the contents, his expression stiffened. His face alone was enough to signal that something grave had occurred.
“A new figure has appeared.”
A subordinate strategist walked toward the strategic map of Wuhan.
The Murim Alliance Headquarters.
There were over a dozen flags pinned there. These were the experts of the Murim Alliance who were entitled to their own banners. In the center, at the Alliance Leader’s Palace, stood a magnificent flag emblazoned with a dragon. In the center of the dragon was the character for Orthodox (正).
It was the banner of the Murim Alliance Leader, Jin Pae-cheon.
The subordinate strategist placed another flag beside the Alliance Leader’s banner. It was a new flag, one that had never been seen in the Murim Alliance before. And it was placed right next to the Alliance Leader’s own.
Splendor (華).