Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Hell Path
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Why are the disciples of the Nine Great Sects or the bloodlines of the Five Great Families strong right from the beginning?
Solid bones? Five aptitudes? Strength of character?
Screw all that. There's one fundamental reason.
High-quality martial arts.
That's the biggest difference between minor sects and the major ones.
The starting line is different from the get-go.
With the same talent, a disciple from a minor sect will always lose to one from the Nine Great Sects.
Obvious logic. They're learning different things.
So what about the Ten Thousand Poisons Heavenly King Divine Art that I plan to cultivate?
It might start off trickling like a stream... but once it passes a certain point, an ocean will await me.
"Hoo..."
I took a slow, deep breath. From here on out, I had to pour my heart into it.
No point half-assing it. Why settle for a dantian on the same level as some latecomer fumbling through the basics?
I needed to forge a vessel so sturdy no force could crack it.
I slowly began circulating my energy.
The Ten Thousand Poisons Heavenly King Divine Art is divided into six stages.
Its creator, the Poison Freak, drew inspiration from the Buddhist concept of the Six Paths of Reincarnation to design them.
The Six Paths.
The six roads leading to the Body of Ten Thousand Poisons.
Even the creator himself only vaguely outlined the fifth and final sixth stages—he never fully realized them.
I perfected them.
Only by traversing all six paths can one reach the Body of Ten Thousand Poisons.
Now was the time to make it real.
First up: the Three Years of Poison to enter the Hell Path.
Eat poison steadily for three years straight without your body collapsing.
Normally, you'd need to procure toxins, but not now.
Thanks to some kind souls, my body was already saturated with vicious poison.
If anything, I'd been force-fed more than three years' worth. Overkill, even.
No shortage here.
Hell, after gorging on food lately, I'd probably bloated up again in no time.
Reciting the incantation, I slowly stirred the latent poison scattered throughout my body, spreading it everywhere.
Dong... dong... dong!
The poison rampaged. Veins bulged, screams clawing at my throat.
The Hell Path isn't called that for nothing.
Quit here?
I'd die.
But take one more step, and things change.
I recited the incantation and steadied my mind.
Like gathering loose threads, I coalesced the spreading poison into one mass.
It thrashed wildly, but that was laughable.
My life as the Dark Venerable wasn't so smooth that I'd yield to this.
I forced it under control, ignoring the agony, holding the energy firm.
For a good while... it coiled like a tiny serpent in my dantian.
A nest of sorts.
Once formed, the vessel sucked in the poison like sustenance.
I had entered the Hell Path, the gateway to the Ten Thousand Poisons Heavenly King Divine Art.
A very small snake. I knew this would one day devour everything.
But no rest yet.
I planned to charge through this stage in one go.
The Hell Path only forms the dantian. Next: the Hungry Ghost Path.
For that, stimulate the acupoints with poison energy to open them fully.
Let's go.
I focused my mind again.
The moment I tried spreading the wriggling inner energy from my dantian throughout my body...
Hm?
The poison wouldn't pierce the acupoints.
Wrong method?
No.
Then?
The flesh too frail?
No. Something more fundamental... massive chains binding my entire body.
What the hell...
The strange familiarity of facing that massive door faded as my eyes snapped open.
"Hooo..."
What was that? Clearly, this body had been through more than just poison.
What a troublesome hunk of meat.
Still, no despair. Hit a wall?
Smash through with greater force.
"Hooop..."
Deep breath.
Pure, without a trace of foulness.
Not expelling impurities, but embracing and controlling them. That's the Ten Thousand Poisons Heavenly King Divine Art.
"Feels good."
The bed was soaked in sweat. Should've felt stifling, but it was refreshing instead.
The sweat was clear and pure, not murky.
That's what sets the Ten Thousand Poisons Heavenly King Divine Art apart.
Others expel foul energy; this one harbors it.
"Hm..."
A bit disappointing not reaching the Hungry Ghost Path, but greed is the enemy.
"I've forged the vessel of the mind. Now for the body."
Mind and body must be tempered together, right?
Moonlight draped wearily over the valley like a lounging figure.
Marian and Nellin carried baskets brimming with snacks, following their young master, Deyan Pador.
Their destination: Lactea Mountain.
A Pador-owned peak free of beasts, with beautiful scenery—a favorite stroll for the family.
One mystery: why had Deyan asked them to pack an extra set of clothes?
Deyan smiled faintly at blooming lilacs.
"Still so pretty here. Spent a lot of time in places like this as a kid..."
Sometimes he seemed like such an odd young master.
Talking like an old man reminiscing about youth.
And that hands-behind-back stance.
Did he sense their thoughts?
Deyan halted suddenly and asked Marian and Nellin,
"Ah... How's Mother doing?"
Good, not that.
Marian nodded lightly.
"Yes, Madam is doing well."
"Good... That's a relief."
Deyan gave a bittersweet yet relieved smile, then said to them,
"Sorry to drag you along. Wanted to come alone, but going solo would've caused a fuss."
"No, we're enjoying it too!"
Nellin’s eyes sparkled at fireflies circling her.
"Glad to hear it. We'll stroll every night from now on, got it?"
"Yes!"
Deyan chuckled softly at Nellin's eager reply and quickened his pace.
After a while, he stopped.
A stream running through Lactea Mountain. Not too deep, but enough to submerge someone Deyan's size.
"This spot looks good. Spread out and sit."
Marian and Nellin laid down mats without a second thought.
Just sightseeing the stream?
But the young master didn't sit. He scanned around, picked up a boulder his size, and hurled it into the water.
Splash...!
Deyan checked the depth and dusted his hands.
"This'll do."
Lately, he'd been acting like an eccentric. What stunt today?
Marian approached the bizarrely behaving young master.
"...Young Master, what are you doing?"
"Gonna swim a bit."
"Swim?"
"Yeah, swim."
With that, Deyan suddenly dove into the stream.
Plop...!
Nellin froze mid-sandwich unwrap at the abrupt move; Marian's eyes nearly popped out.
"Young Master?!"
Their young master had plunged in like he was trying to drown...
Splash...!
Deep enough to cover his head.
A shame it wasn't deeper—going further meant leaving the estate.
Have to make do?
Half-lidded eyes surveyed underwater. Decent flow and depth.
Not bad for a first spot.
Start now? But...
"Young Master...!"
"What do we do?!"
"Nellin! Get help!"
"What about you?!"
"Gotta save Young Master!"
"You can't even swim!"
"That's not the point!"
Chaos outside.
Came to train, but better show my face to calm the girls.
Swoosh...!
"Huh?!"
Surfacing, Marian was awkwardly poised to jump in.
That form? She'd drown for sure...
Marian flushed, embarrassed.
"Y-Young Master?"
"Told you I was swimming..."
"Y-You can't just dive in like that! We were scared!"
Nellin bobbed her head like a doll in agreement.
"Right, Young Master!"
"Yeah, yeah, sorry. Don't worry. I swim fine."
"We've never seen you learn to swim...?!"
They don't believe me?
Might look clownish, but gotta demo to reassure them.
Easy with inner energy.
"Wha...?"
Skitter across the surface like a water strider.
"Y-Young Master? When did you learn that?"
Glide like an eel.
Not some kid showing off...
But nothing reassures them more.
"Happy now? No drowning risk. Relax and snack. I'll be diving."
Marian started to protest worriedly, but...
Stuff!
Nellin shoved a sandwich in her mouth. Marian glared.
"Nelliin...!"
Nellin ignored her and waved at me.
"Got it! Young Master."
Her simple adaptability shines here.
Girls settled. Time for the real purpose: training.
Dove back under.
Obviously not here for leisure swimming.
For cultivation.
Mental refinement isn't urgent.
Decades of insight remain intact in this head.
Body's different.
Unlike Dang Cheol-woo's battle-hardened frame, this one's frail as hell.
No insight wields power from a sickbed.
Hence, physical training.
Perfect spot: underwater.
Ever splashed in water?
Moves take more effort than on land, feel unnatural.
Even walking feels heavy against the current.
Breathing too.
Soon gasping like a fish.
Naturally burdens the body—heavenly training ground.
No need for logs or horse-stance torture.
Sichuan Tang Clan hugged a big river; clansmen used this verified method often.
And...
"Plenty of them."
Fish darting about.
They'd be prime training partners.
Hidden weapon practice on still targets? Even slow kids hit quick.
No good.
Real fights: foes don't stand like dummies.
Never.
They move constantly, sizes and speeds varying wildly.
Tang Clan trained with beasts or mechanisms.
Most effective? Fish catching.
Live creatures, unpredictable, speeds and patterns by species. Perfect match.
Bonus rule for me: no inner energy.
Pure physical ability, needles only.
Best for body tempering.
Simple task: shoot needle at fish, retrieve, repeat.
Builds stamina, muscles from maneuvering.
Shh!
Steady breaths.
Even slight bobs from breathing disrupt aim.
This trained that.
Strike unseen, before they notice.
Blend with water, erase presence till fish see me as rock.
Shh shh shh!
Move at intervals underwater, surface for air. Repeat.
For ages...
"Haa..."
Soon bobbing like a buoy, utterly spent.
When'd I last train this exhausting?
Can't recall.
Water kept me from drenching everything in sweat, probably.
Dead fish floating with me? Eerie vibe.
More amazing: this body.
Exhausted, yeah.
But no trash. Overflowing talent. Innate-wise, surpasses even Dang Cheol-woo.
That talent artificially sealed. Don't know the lock, but...
If treated early... would my first life differ?
No.
Might escape as the family's black sheep, but end same.
Oppponent hid depths like an imugi.
Now's the time.
This life fuses murim experience, arts, first-life memories.
Plenty of both.
What to fear?
To that end... first, Jayvolg.
Deal with him.
Marian approached with towels.
"Young Master? You okay?"
Spotted fish, flinched.
Nellin too...
"Younng Master?"
Chew the sandwich first?
"Fine. Cook these fish? Eat together."
"These? We can have meals ready at the manor."
"Why not. This is good too."
Stood. Bones ached, muscles tore-like.
Fine.
Way better than forcing a senile body up.
Grilled fish with the girls, restored energy.
Had to eat well. Endless training ahead till this body withered.