Chapter 252
Chapter 252
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: Qi Breath Return
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A place severed from the world, where not even a sliver of light could penetrate.
In the cramped stone chamber, a solitary human silhouette sat in utter stillness.
Hyeok Mulin, eyes closed as he contemplated the flow of his qi, had remained motionless in this spot for over a month now.
Moreover, if anyone were to stumble upon him, they might easily mistake him for a corpse.
His breaths had dwindled to just once a day for the past fortnight, and the faint throbbing of his heartbeat was no louder than the distant drip of dew from a stalactite.
In the midst of it all, Hyeok Mulin sat cross-legged, pouring his mental energy into manipulating his extreme demonic qi.
Ruuuumble—
From his entire body emanated a darkness so profound it eclipsed the chamber's own gloom.
The extreme demonic qi coursed through his flesh, encroaching upon the stone chamber like a rising tide, freely surging and rippling through the space before returning to Hyeok Mulin.
Thud.
The inner energy spilling from his grasp collided with the surrounding rock walls and scattered.
The dispersed energy then split into dozens of strands, seeping into the crevices of the stone.
Thus, Hyeok Mulin repeatedly circulated, severed, and reconnected his extreme demonic qi.
And he gradually shortened the intervals and scope of these transitions.
Time flowed on relentlessly, until finally, on the night of the fiftieth day, a change arrived.
Darkness.
An endless world of darkness unfolded there.
With it, Hyeok Mulin's breath ceased.
The faint heartbeat no longer sounded.
In a state as if time itself had frozen, Hyeok Mulin's consciousness dipped into the abyss.
It was then.
"…!"
In an instant, enlightenment struck his mind like lightning.
A deep breath escaped Hyeok Mulin's lips.
Along with it, extreme demonic qi erupted explosively from his entire body, infiltrating every crack in the rock walls.
Yet this movement was utterly different from before.
Previously, the energy would advance to positions beyond control.
Once it left him, it was as good as gone. But now, with a mere flick of his hand, the scattered qi returned to him in unison.
As if dozens, hundreds of tangled threads reversed their flow and retraced their paths.
It was an utterly bizarre sight, like raindrops falling upward into the sky.
Having reclaimed all that energy, Hyeok Mulin slowly opened his eyes.
And with his newfound insight, a faint smile curved his lips.
"Qi Breath Return."
The core of what Hyeok Mulin had comprehended this time was simple yet profoundly complex.
It enabled control over extreme demonic qi even after it had left his body.
The connection between his internal energy and the emitted qi remained unbroken.
'To think this was possible.'
In typical martial arts, once qi was projected, it escaped the warrior's dominion.
But Hyeok Mulin, having reached the realm of Qi Breath Return, could now dominate his projected qi as if tethered by invisible threads.
This demanded exquisite sensitivity in qi control and a mental link simultaneously—making it exceedingly difficult. Yet Hyeok Mulin had succeeded in synchronizing the two.
'Pure Soul Divine Demon Art... now at the Seventh Star.'
In truth, Hyeok Mulin hadn't expected to ascend to the Seventh Star of the Pure Soul Divine Demon Art on this journey.
He had grown through many trials since reaching the Sixth Star, yet enlightenment for the Seventh had eluded him.
While researching divine arts in the Blood Heaven Divine Palace, he had uncovered clues to the Seventh Star. Upon returning to the Heavenly Demon Palace, he had planned a long seclusion to confront it head-on.
The Seventh Star of the Pure Soul Divine Demon Art demanded such dedication.
And yet.
"To gain that insight here, of all places."
Most warriors believed enlightenment came from breaking limits in battles against strong foes or worthy rivals.
Hyeok Mulin didn't think that entirely wrong.
But it wasn't the only path.
He had gleaned a clear fragment of insight from his clash with the Flowing Sword Saint—a foe he ranked weaker than himself.
It stemmed from his final bid to reclaim the Sword Extremity that had left his hand to save the man's life.
It mattered not who the opponent was or where they stood.
Insight and profundity arose from within oneself.
Having shattered the wall, Hyeok Mulin rose with a satisfied smile.
Emerging from the cave, Hyeok Mulin headed straight back to Sacheon.
There was no longer any reason to linger at the Righteous Alliance outpost after clashing with the Flowing Sword Saint.
When Hyeok Mulin set foot in the Golden Pavilion Manor, Geum Hyeon-mong spotted him and came rushing over, eyes wide in shock.
"M-My lord! You've returned!"
Geum Hyeon-mong usually minded appearances around outsiders, so he wouldn't react this dramatically even upon seeing Hyeok Mulin.
He was the cautious sort, ever wary of exposing his lord's presence to guests.
That was why he summoned chefs from inside the manor rather than dining at external inns or restaurants.
But now, he was a completely different man.
The moment he saw Hyeok Mulin, his face flushed with excitement as he welcomed him, raising his voice amid the guests.
Of course, at a distance, it likely didn't carry well to their ears.
"We've been waiting! This way, please…!"
As Geum Hyeon-mong fussed in a most uncharacteristic manner, Hyeok Mulin spoke in a calm, steady tone.
"Calm yourself."
The brief words carried such weight that Geum Hyeon-mong instantly regained his composure.
Realizing his blunder, he bowed his head in self-reproach.
"What a disgrace before my lord… My apologies."
"Let's go inside first."
"Yes, sir!"
Geum Hyeon-mong hurriedly cleared a path, leading Hyeok Mulin to the office.
Glancing around to ensure no one was near, he shut the door tightly behind them.
Hyeok Mulin, seated at the head seat and waiting, posed the first question at his subordinate's wary demeanor.
"What has you so on edge, glancing about like that?"
Geum Hyeon-mong, who had taken his seat belatedly, swallowed hard.
Then, slowly, he turned to Hyeok Mulin and spoke.
"My lord, after heading to the Righteous Alliance outpost, did you cross paths with the Flowing Sword Saint?"
Geum Hyeon-mong had surmised that Hyeok Mulin went to the outpost.
He had previously used the Golden Pavilion Manor's intelligence to probe it, only to hit a wall—which led to handing it off to the Secret Affairs Hall.
Hyeok Mulin confirmed it.
"Indeed. We had a brief exchange of martial arts."
"Just as I thought! And so…!"
At the response, Geum Hyeon-mong clapped his palms together as if a knot had unraveled.
He promptly added an explanation, facing Hyeok Mulin.
"A few days ago, a rumor began circulating among the famed collectors of Hubei."
"A rumor?"
"Yes. And the content of that rumor is…"
Geum Hyeon-mong rubbed his arms as if chilled by goosebumps and continued.
"That you defeated the Flowing Sword Saint."
"…!"
From Geum Hyeon-mong's words, Hyeok Mulin instantly grasped the truth.
'Song Dowan spread it himself.'
No human presence had been detectable nearby during their clash.
Thus, only the participants knew of the fight.
And Hyeok Mulin had been in secluded training since.
That left only Song Dowan to reveal it.
He had publicly proclaimed his own defeat.
"It's true. We sparred lightly, and I emerged victorious."
"As expected."
Geum Hyeon-mong nodded as if he had believed in Hyeok Mulin all along, then relayed what followed.
"Once the rumor spread, the world erupted in chaos. The Murim Alliance had named three peak masters as candidates for the vacant Orthodox Supreme seat, and one of them abruptly fell to you."
Song Dowan's self-admission of defeat sent shockwaves.
Especially since it shattered the script the Murim Alliance—fellow orthodox faction—had scripted.
One vertex of the Three Stars United as One had withdrawn voluntarily.
"Now, they're calling it Two Stars United as One."
It carried more weight than merely one fewer name; Hyeok Mulin at the controversy's heart posed an even greater threat to them.
He had hoped for that outcome but hadn't planned to publicize it himself.
'Yet he spoke first.'
Hyeok Mulin had already reaped the greatest reward from that fight: the Seventh Star of the Pure Soul Divine Demon Art.
Thus, he had no intention of broadcasting it.
Dealing with the remaining Two Stars would suffice.
But for the man to reveal it himself and step down preemptively.
'My thanks.'
The Murim Alliance and the Four Black Alliances would now scramble in disarray.
Recalling Song Dowan's final moments, a light smile touched Hyeok Mulin's lips.
Meanwhile, Geum Hyeon-mong gazed at him with shining eyes, overcome with awe.
'As expected of my lord.'
Who could have foreseen he would eliminate one of the Three Stars United as One the moment it was mentioned?
Geum Hyeon-mong could only marvel anew at Hyeok Mulin's literary and martial prowess, his divine might.
No matter the crisis, his lord would navigate it masterfully.
Beaming radiantly at Hyeok Mulin, Geum Hyeon-mong reaffirmed his conviction.
His lord knew no such thing as peril.
Shinkang Province, a remote and barren deep mountain.
Midway up its slope stood a small log cabin.
Inside, a man thick with a bushy chin beard carved a slanted stroke into the wall.
He had just added one more line, yet the wall was already densely packed with others.
Stepping back to survey it, the man worked his rigid jaw and muttered.
"Must be over a thousand by now."
In truth, he had lost count long ago.
He marked a line daily, but reports to him had grown sparse.
'At this rate, the main family might forget me.'
His name was Cheon Busik.
A warrior from the Cheon Clan tasked with reconnaissance.
Now, he had stepped back from that role for a special mission.
And that mission entailed.
"By the time the Supreme Clan Patriarch emerges, I'll have forgotten the scent of people."
Years ago, when signs appeared that the Cheon Clan's Supreme Clan Patriarch—who had entered seclusion—might stir, he was to report it faster than anyone.
Thus, he sustained himself on stored rations and hunts, living alone in the mountain where the Supreme Patriarch secluded himself.
Scratching his head, he voiced his disappointment at the situation.
"No real need to stick around here anymore."
Much time had passed, yet he had detected not the slightest movement from the Supreme Clan Patriarch.
Was there any point in holding position?
Not even a hint—he felt every moment wasted.
But what could the lowest rung complain about to those above?
He simply waited in place, as ordered, yet another day.
It was then.
Ruuuumble—
"…Huh?"
The pillar beside him shook, and soon the entire cabin trembled.
And it didn't end there.
Upon closer look, the whole earth quaked violently.
"E-Earthquake?!"
Staggering, he rushed outside to evacuate.
And he beheld a sight that beggared belief.
The mountain summit had split in two.
Aloft above it, a figure stood tall, backlit by the sun.
Stunned by the majestic scene, he soon realized the truth.
"…He's returned."
The Cheon Clan's colossal mountain.
The Supreme Clan Patriarch.