Chapter 288: You Won't Be Able To Catch Up (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 288: You Won't Be Able To Catch Up (3)
Divine Arts.
These were martial arts with an exceptionally high threshold, possessing power that surpassed the Peak Realm and brushed against the realm of Transcendence. That was the common understanding.
For instance, the Sword Emperor—one of the Heavenly Venerables—employed the Moonlight Dance, a sword art founded upon Mind Art. The martial art created by the Dishonored Venerable was a Mind Art that did not originate from the Bi Clan. The great art of the Namgung Clan, which had served as a pillar for centuries and was used by a Heavenly Venerable, were all worthy of the title Divine Art.
They were martial arts that allowed one to transcend human limits, to vault over their walls and shatter their shells. Thus, they were called Divine Arts.
So, was the Gu Clan’s Gu Flame Wheel Art also a Divine Art?
Indeed.
I answered my own question. The Gu Flame Wheel Art was a Divine Art. Merely observing its power—whether from my father, Gu Huibi, or, ironically, even from a bastard like me—was enough to confirm that fact.
In other words, a Divine Art represented an opportunity: an opportunity to surpass human limitations. Those who were taught a Divine Art were given this chance; whether they succeeded depended on their talent and effort. To seize the opportunity, ascend to a higher plane, and advance in the desired direction—that, at least, was my interpretation. To guide a martial artist step by step was the secret purpose shared by both Divine Arts and martial arts in general.
The Gu Clan possessed five Secret Arts.
The first enhanced one’s self by using qi to contain immense heat within the body. This was the art I had half-forced into use after my regression, once my Gu Flame Wheel Art reached the Second Star.
The second was the ability to control the flame itself. The Gu Clan’s flame arts were fundamentally different from those of other clans. Our flame was not merely for burning.
It sounds nonsensical to say a flame isn’t for burning.
It had taken me a while to grasp the meaning behind that explanation. Regardless of what profound intent the ancestors had imbued, to me, flame was still flame. It was almost funny.
They tried to create their own sun.
Just as every Divine Art had a purpose, so too did the Gu Flame Wheel Art. Despite the sun hanging in the sky, our ancestors had attempted to forge their own. There was likely some deeper meaning, but it was beyond my comprehension.
Is that why I never reached the maximum rank?
In my past life, I had struggled to reach the 9th rank, let alone touch the 10th. Was it because I failed to understand that deeper meaning? No, that probably wasn’t the sole reason. I had failed because I couldn't overcome the wall. Making excuses was the most pathetic thing one could do.
The third Secret Art used the martial artist’s qi to dye the sky red. It was an extremely well-trained Divine Art capable of painting the heavens with the martial artist’s color. The sky had turned red when Father came to the Black Palace and shattered its formations. Could he even be called human at that point? What human could command the sky? He must have reached a certain realm, broken through his limits, to achieve such a feat.
And the fourth… I was currently using the fourth art.
“Flaming Sphere.”
The Secret Art, Flaming Sphere.
I channeled my qi, amplified the heat within my body, and compressed all the released flames into a sphere in my palm, allowing none to escape.
Swoosh!
The qi surged, expanding my blood vessels as it flowed. I could hear the violent pounding of my own heart.
Blaaaze!
The night sky began to change. The star-studded darkness used the heat radiating from my body as kindling, gradually brightening. Soon, the area around me was illuminated. The range was short, and the light wasn't blinding, but where I stood, it was as if the sun had risen prematurely.
Craaaack-!
The violent flames roared as they were forced into the confined space, raging with a desire to kill. My veins bulged, my forehead dripped with sweat, and my forearm grew stiff from the tension, a testament to the immense effort required to maintain control.
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have been able to use this Secret Art. Like the art of painting the sky red, it demanded extreme training to master properly…
But I’m just brute-forcing my way through.
I managed it only due to my abnormally vast reserves of qi. All my training in compressing and amplifying qi, the experiences and enlightenments from my past life, and everything I had consumed in this life made it possible. Reaching the Sixth Star in the Gu Flame Wheel Art also played its part.
Woong–
After enduring the tremendous pressure and concentrating all my strength into a single point, a radiant red marble with a refined light floated above my palm.
Observing it, I thought,
Just a few more seconds.
About five to seven seconds. While a mere instant to others, that span of time could decide life or death in a battle between martial artists surpassing the Peak Realm. It was a clear sign that I still lacked the strength to use this in a real fight.
Well, at least not in a one-on-one duel.
I was immobilized while using this technique. It required absolute control over one's qi; the slightest disruption could cause a deviation and damage one's blood vessels. For those few seconds, the user was completely vulnerable.
In other words…
At least one person will die.
Sigh.
It was truly problematic to use a technique for which I was not yet qualified. In my past life, I could at least talk, mock, and step on others while maintaining it. I was once again reminded of how far I had fallen.
Though of course…
When I asked myself if I really needed to go this far and endure such humiliation…
…I have to.
I would nod without hesitation. This was one of the few offensive arts usable in actual combat precisely because its destructive power was as horrifying as the qi it consumed. The ‘Fifth’ Secret Art was somewhat similar, but I couldn’t use it yet.
Woong…
“Whew…”
Once the sphere stabilized, I released the breath I’d been holding. As I said, I was vulnerable during its formation, but that was acceptable now because…
The Sword Queen didn’t do anything.
Then again, I had been certain she wouldn’t. She was the one who had pushed me to this point, after all.
I stared at the Sword Queen, doing my best to hide my trembling hand.
“Thank you for your patience.”
I also masked the exhaustion in my voice, but the Sword Queen didn’t respond. She was staring at me, eyes wide with shock.
Sigh, I knew she would react like this. I really didn’t want to go this far.
Ultimately, Secret Arts were the culmination of one’s hard-won enlightenments. They revealed the depth of a martial artist’s understanding. And within this small marble…
Breathe…
…was condensed all the enlightenment I had attained in this life and my last. Someone of the Sword Queen’s caliber would perceive that instantly, hence her reaction. To her eyes, it must seem as though I possessed an impossible depth of understanding for my age. She knew nothing of my past life’s struggles. She probably thought I was a prodigy of unbelievable talent.
“…This.”
After a long silence, still shocked, the Sword Queen finally spoke, her gaze fixed on my hand.
“…It seems you are at a much higher level than I imagined.”
“It’s not that high. Can’t you see me trembling?”
That wasn’t a lie. Maintaining this tiny marble, barely thicker than my finger, had consumed over half my qi and all my strength. If it exploded prematurely, everything in sight would be engulfed. Controlling such a thing was a tremendous strain.
But in spite of that, I still used it because…
The Sword Queen had promised to handle the aftermath, ensuring no harm would come to anyone.
As I stared at her, sweat streaming down my face, the Sword Queen finally recovered her composure.
“Do you know what they call young prodigies like you these days?”
A random question. What was she getting at? I answered anyway.
“What was it again…? The Meteor Generation, or something like that?”
“That’s right. The Meteor Generation. How fitting.”
They shone brightly. The prodigies from the Sword Queen’s generation had been brilliant, but the current generation was especially dazzling. They were called the Meteor Generation because their talent pool was so vast, like a shower of shooting stars, and the name carried the hope that their light would protect the future of the Central Plains.
Though, of course…
None of that mattered to me.
During this…
The Sword Queen simply observed the red marble in my palm. I could see the light radiating from it. Even in the depths of winter, the marble's appearance had brightened and warmed the immediate surroundings.
Almost as if…
“You have a sun in your hand.”
“…How could I hold something that terrifying?”
I frowned at her words. What nonsense was she spouting? How could I hold a sun? I wouldn't even be able to touch it.
After my denial, the Sword Queen spoke again with a gentle smile.
“Or perhaps, you are the sun.”
“How can you turn me into something like that without my permission? I’m a human, you know?”
Tsk.
I had intended to take this lightly…
But it seemed she wouldn’t let me pass unless I went all out.
We were familiar enough by now; she could have just let it go. Besides, I’d saved her life!
Although, I did absorb that power from her.
Still, couldn’t she have gone easier on me?
I really hadn’t planned on using this.
I didn’t want to reveal this technique publicly yet, but I was forced to use it just to pass this damned exam. The Sword Queen seemed satisfied, but that was its own problem.
Why does she have such high expectations of me?
She should just focus on her own disciple.
Sigh, what a hassle.
Even so, it seemed I had finally satisfied her. Noticing my gaze…
“I’m sorry. This was just a personal test of mine, so I apologize,” the Sword Queen said.
“Yes. Thanks to that, everyone is watching.”
I obviously wasn’t going to accept her apology graciously. After all, she wasn't the only one watching. Thanks to this impromptu display, the young prodigies who had evacuated were now observing us from a distance, and the instructors also wore expressions of shock.
“I don’t get why they’re watching this so intently.”
“How could they not?” The Sword Queen chuckled at my blunt words. “It’s like witnessing the birth of a comet right before their eyes.”
“Stop putting me on a pedestal; I’m starting to feel sick.”
It was deeply uncomfortable. Was this what the Sword Queen had wanted? To make me the center of attention? If so, it was a problem. I had no intention of drawing such scrutiny.
“…What do you want from me?”
“I don’t want anything. It’s just—” The Sword Queen sheathed her sword. “—I want your light to shine even brighter as you reach greater heights. That’s all.”
“I might be mistaken for a disciple of Mount Hua if you put it like that.”
“You are an honorary disciple; is it not similar?”
“Oh.”
Right. I’d forgotten about that. I’d requested the title from the Celestial Plum Blossom precisely to explain the Mount Hua qi within me, should anyone ask. Of course, it was merely honorary, and not the reason for the Sword Queen’s interest.
As I snorted…
“Thank you for complying with my stubbornness,” the Sword Queen said, concluding the conversation as if the exam was over.
“…Did I pass?”
“Of course you did. It would make no sense if you failed.”
Hearing that I’d passed made me feel slightly better. I would have been furious if this hadn't been enough for her.
A moment of silence fell between us. She moved to retrieve her sword and return it, but I remained still, making no move to disperse the qi in my palm.
Noticing my strange behavior, the Sword Queen asked, “What’s the matter?”
I didn’t reply immediately. She must have found it odd that I still held the flaming sphere.
Then, I spoke.
“Didn’t I tell you earlier?”
“Hmm?”
“That I would trust you to take responsibility.”
“Y-You… what do you mean by that?”
Hearing my words, the Sword Queen tilted her head in confusion. Then, her eyes widened as realization dawned. She looked more shocked than when I had first manifested the technique. She was probably unaware of my nasty personality and my tendency to hold a grudge.
The situation had annoyed me, making me feel like a source of entertainment. I would die of frustration if I simply let it go. Therefore, it wasn’t time for me to stand down yet.
“Surely not… child.”
“You may have forced me to show this technique, but I’m not capable of retrieving it yet.”
That was an obvious lie. I could disperse it if I wished, but I had no intention of doing so.
“Wait…!”
“Please take responsibility.”
As I watched the Sword Queen hastily channel her qi…
Clench.
I clenched my fist.
And then…
Swooosh!
Extreme heat erupted from my body.
Whoooosh–!
The next day.
If the first day had been allocated for the blood relatives of the great clans, the second was for the young prodigies from the various sects, as they had all gathered to arrive together.
“What do you mean?” Yung Pung asked as he and his seniors climbed the mountain, having received strange news.
“What do you mean the exam is delayed?”
The exam for the blood relatives, which should have concluded the day before, had been postponed by a day. How was that possible? The Murim Alliance couldn’t afford delays for such an important event. Yet, he was told it would now be held either the next day or the day after.
“…It can’t be helped. Something big happened last night.”
The Sword Queen, who delivered the message, seemed unusually tired, almost completely exhausted.
Just what happened?
Yung Pung couldn’t understand. Her insistence on becoming an instructor was one thing, but this made no sense.
The entrance exam left her this exhausted?
The powerful Sword Queen, whose level was still far beyond his reach, was worn out after a single day. Moreover, she seemed not just mentally, but physically drained, which was even harder to believe.
However…
“…Huh…?”
“What is this?”
“What happened here?”
Only when Yung Pung arrived at the exam grounds did he understand the reason for her exhaustion.
This was the problem.
“…Wow.”
Seeing the sight before him, Yung Pung exclaimed unconsciously.
“Did a meteor fall here or something…?”
Where the exam grounds should have been, there was now a giant crater at least thirty meters in radius, as if something had exploded with catastrophic force.