Chapter 113: Azure Heavenly Sword, Namgung Jin (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113: Azure Heavenly Sword, Namgung Jin (1)
-Brzzzzzzt-!
A storm of unrestrained Qi erupted within me, raging wildly through my meridians.
I had no idea where this violent energy originated, but it surged upward, tearing through my middle dantian.
That dantian had been a placid lake until now. I'd expended considerable effort to harmonize the conflicting energies within after reaching the peak realm…
All that work was undone in an instant, as if a boulder had been dropped into still waters.
Damn it.
I couldn't even curse aloud. Opening my mouth risked disrupting the Qi's flow entirely.
-Thud! Slam!
I devoured the flower with a frantic, almost possessed urgency. The impulse felt foreign, as if it weren't my own will at all.
To be fair, eating it was the plan. What I hadn't accounted for was the chaotic energy contained within its petals.
Is this just Qi? Taoist Qi? Or even Demonic Qi?
The flower radiated a bewildering mix of energies. What kind of herb could possibly contain such contradictions?
[You're hardly one to talk, with the jumble of energies you already carry.]
…Not helping. I need to focus.
He wasn't wrong.
If anyone else had eaten this, their insides would have been shredded instantly.
I wasn't exaggerating. This was no ordinary herb.
Demonic Qi was inherently corrosive to martial artists. It could drive one mad, corrupt their own Qi, and weaken the body. Most never understood this, blinded by the Heavenly Demon's so-called "blessings."
Those who received Demonic Qi directly from the Heavenly Demon still went mad, but their bodies grew stronger instead of weaker, allowing them to reach terrifying heights.
How does that even make sense?
It was another reason I questioned whether the Heavenly Demon was truly human. Its power defied all logic, challenging everything we knew.
I knew this from personal experience. Demonic Qi and normal Qi cannot coexist.
Which made this flower all the more bizarre.
Why would they cultivate such a thing?
It contained not just Qi and Demonic Qi, but also pure Taoist Qi. The Taoist Qi was manageable, similar to normal Qi. But the Demonic Qi… that was another matter entirely.
The only reason my body could withstand such a volatile mix was because the Demonic Qi within me had been bestowed by the Heavenly Demon itself.
As I struggled, sweat pouring down my face, Elder Shin observed my condition.
[It seems bearable, for now.]
Yeah, thankfully it's manageable.
The pain was nothing compared to when I'd absorbed Demonic Qi from the Sword Queen. At least I could still form coherent thoughts.
Was this flower even meant to be consumed?
It seemed utterly unconsumable. Perhaps it was created for an entirely different purpose.
To survive ingesting three conflicting energies, one would need an identical mixture already stabilized within their body. Otherwise, the energies would tear the vessel apart.
What a ridiculous requirement.
It would take a miracle for anyone to eat this and live.
Elder Shin voiced the same thought.
[Three conflicting Qis coexisting in a single vessel… It's as if this was crafted specifically for you.]*
The idea had crossed my mind too. Given my unusual circumstances, it wasn't far-fetched. But I doubted that was the case.
If it wasn't meant for consumption, then what? And if it was…
That implied someone within the Black Palace was just like me—someone who could safely consume this flower.
Who could that be?
The Palace Lord?
The Lord of the Black Palace—sometimes called the Dark Pavilion—was one of the top masters of the Unorthodox Faction. I knew little about them, only that they supposedly died after being defeated by the Murim Alliance.
But now I wondered if that death was real. Given the Black Palace's ties to the Demonic Cult, I had to question everything.
What if it's not the Palace Lord?
Was it meant for the Heavenly Demon itself? Is it already moving behind the scenes?
The thought was terrifying. I prayed it wasn't true. If the Heavenly Demon was already active, then all my knowledge from my past life would be useless. The timeline would be completely distorted.
-Ssssss…
The rampaging Qi inside me began to settle. The absorption process was concluding.
As proof, my Gu Flame Wheel Art started purifying the absorbed Demonic Qi, while the Taoist Qi within me swelled significantly.
[Not bad.]
Elder Shin sounded pleased. The vast Taoist Qi now circulating through me carried the faint scent of plum blossoms.
This increased Taoist Qi would help pacify the wilder energies in my body, proving invaluable in the future.
My Qi reserves now surpassed those of martial artists who had trained for sixty years.
It took me so long to reach this level in my past life.
How long was it? I think I achieved this around the time I started making a name for myself as a demonic human.
My growth was absurdly fast. In less than a year, I'd made monumental progress.
But I need to grow even faster.
I couldn't afford to be satisfied. I had to regain at least half of my past life's power by age twenty.
“Whew…”
Steam billowed from my mouth as I exhaled. Thankfully, I'd successfully absorbed most of the flower's energy.
-Chirp! Chirp chirp!
Sunlight streamed through the windows, accompanied by birdsong. So focused had I been, I hadn't noticed dawn had arrived.
The biggest change wasn't the sheer volume of my Qi.
-Blaze-!
I summoned flames in my palm. Their color had shifted slightly, now tinged with Mount Hua's Taoist Qi.
The previously wild flames now moved with a distinct pattern, signifying vastly improved control.
-Clench!
I extinguished the flames by closing my fist. A smile spread across my face despite myself. The difference was profound.
“I can't believe it worked.”
Just months after reaching the peak realm, my clan's Gu Flame Wheel Art had also broken through to the Fifth Star.
* * *
I hadn't slept all night, yet my body felt incredibly refreshed. Breaking through to a higher realm likely contributed to that.
After leaving my room, I headed straight for the training grounds.
Soon, the area was filled with roaring flames. Following Elder Shin's advice, I'd recently focused on condensing my power, so it felt liberating to unleash my flames without restraint.
The control is noticeably better after the breakthrough.
The wild, untamed nature of my flames had diminished. They were now denser, more potent, yet easier to command. Though they appeared ready to incinerate everything, I could precisely control their reach, preventing collateral damage.
The rings of fire orbiting my body also spun faster than ever.
Should I try condensing them further?
I was eager to test my new limits, but I dispersed the flames upon sensing a faint presence. After blowing away the residual heat, I spoke.
“I was planning to visit you. Hello.”
At the entrance to the training grounds stood a giant of a man, eight feet tall, with his white hair tied back. His muscles were so immense they seemed to defy human anatomy.
[What kind of monstrous physique is that?]*
Even Elder Shin, accustomed to the robust martial artists of Mount Hua, was taken aback.
It was the Second Elder, who had sent me off to Mount Hua with a treasure. He stared at me, his expression one of sheer shock.
Did he see me training? His eyes were practically vibrating.
“How did you… end up like this in just a few months?”
“You make it sound like I've been grievously injured.”
'End up like this' was rather dramatic. Anyone would think he was referring to some misfortune.
Ignoring my comment, the Second Elder continued, his voice trembling.
“Dragon… Yangcheon, you were a dragon all along.”
“Why say such embarrassing things to my face…”
“I thought your talent was simply a late bloomer, but this old man never imagined you were this formidable.”
His surprise was understandable. If I'd sent someone away on a trip and they returned as a peak realm master, I'd be shocked too.
“Your Qi… it's increased?”
“Yes, I got lucky.”
I hadn't consumed just one type of Qi, but several. Some were taken willingly, others forced upon me, but all contributed to my strength.
Thanks to that, I've gained a significant head start.
In my view, a martial artist's true journey begins only after reaching the peak realm.
Elder Shin, hearing my thought, couldn't contain his exasperation.
[Aren't your standards absurdly high? The peak realm is a distant dream for countless martial artists.]*
I'm too desperate to share their standards.
It was fine for others to aim lower, but my sights were set on the heavens themselves. The future would be doomed if I paused to look at those around me.
“The Clan Lord truly has a talent for siring exceptional children.”
I'm not so sure about that.
His daughters were certainly talented, but their personalities were… lacking.
I'm the only normal one.
I might have been immature in my youth, but since reforming myself, I was arguably the most well-adjusted member of the family.
[From my perspective, you may have luck with women, but your sense of shame has completely vanished. You sound delirious from lack of sleep.]*
…
Ahem.
I cleared my throat awkwardly and approached the Second Elder. The old man still looked utterly stunned.
“Your jaw will hit the floor if you keep that up.”
His mouth was hanging wide open.
I showed him the bracelet on my wrist. “The Celestial Plum Blossom mentioned you gave this to him for me. What is it?”
“Ah, right. I did send that.”
His reaction suggested he'd forgotten about it entirely. 'You sent this to the Celestial Plum Blossom to give to me? What were you thinking, old man…?'
“It's nothing special.”
“You said the same about Mount Hua's treasure last time…”
“That was a prank. This time, it really is nothing.”
His words held no credibility, coming from the Second Elder himself.
When I stared at him doubtfully, he bonked me on the head with his massive fist.
-Smack!
“Ugh!”
I crumpled to the ground, reeling from the sudden impact.
This crazy old man, I swear…!
Even at the peak realm, I still couldn't dodge the Second Elder's infamous bonks.
“You brat! How dare you doubt me! I came here personally because we haven't seen each other in ages!”
“But must you resort to violence?! What if you crack my skull, Senior?!”
“Crack my ass! That was a gentle tap!”
“A gentle tap…?”
I heard the impact reverberate through my skull, and he calls that a gentle tap…?
[It seems shamelessness is a hereditary trait in your family.]*
My head was already ringing, and Elder Shin's sharp words felt like a dagger to the heart.
As I rubbed my sore head, the Second Elder continued, “Like I said, it's nothing important. Just keep it on your wrist.”
“Why should I wear it if it's nothing?”
“Do you want another taste of my fist?”
I immediately fell silent. 'Just you wait, I'll get you back for this…'
Lately, everyone seemed determined to hang things on me—whether it was the Second Elder or Gu Huibi.
Noticing my averted gaze, the Second Elder smirked.
“Even after reaching such a level, your shitty personality remains unchanged… I don't know whether to be happy or not.”
“Why are you here so early in the morning?”
“I told you, I came to see you.”
“You could have just sent a servant to summon me. I was planning to visit you today anyway.”
“And I was planning to train today anyway.”
He seemed sincere; his already thick muscles looked even more pumped than usual. He must have been training before we met.
“Oh, did you hear? Yeonseo has emerged.”
“Second Sister?”
Gu Yeonseo, whom I last saw on Nine Dragons Day, had finally ended her secluded training. Our last encounter hadn't been exactly cordial, which bothered me somewhat.
I probably don't need to visit her.
If she needed anything, she'd come to me herself.
“I'll-”
“Oh, and some people from the Namgung Clan have arrived as well.”
The old man's interjection made my eyes widen in shock.
“The Namgung Clan?”
“Yes. I believe they're here because of your fiancée.”
Namgung Bi-ah had only arrived in Shanxi yesterday. There was no way they could have gotten here so quickly, unless they were already in the area.
Were they waiting for her to arrive at the Gu Clan?
“It's strange. We've been receiving important guests lately, from the Tang Clan to the Namgung Clan.”
“My apologies, but I need to go.”
“Hmm? Where are you…“
I hurried past the Second Elder. I intended to simply walk briskly, but Qi automatically surged around my body.
Qi responds to intent. Its activation revealed that my emotions had gotten the better of me.
This is urgent.
I recognized my own desperation, but I didn't understand why I felt it so strongly.
It took no time at all to reach the guest quarters where Namgung Bi-ah was staying. My increased Qi reserves allowed for incredible speed.
When I arrived, I saw Namgung Bi-ah already outside. But the situation was wrong.
She looked as if she'd just been roused from sleep. Someone was gripping her slender, pale arm. Given how she was straining against the hold, her captor was undoubtedly strong.
It clearly wasn't a friendly encounter. I moved to intervene, wanting to understand what was happening.
“What's going on h-“
-Slap!
A sharp sound froze me in my tracks.
Namgung Bi-ah's head was snapped to the side. Her cheek flushed red, and a trickle of blood escaped her lips.
-Blaze.
Heat erupted from my core as my body instantly burst into flames.