Chapter 329
Chapter 329
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 329
Chapter Title: The Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace
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Swoosh.
Dan-pa stepped forward and respectfully brought his palms together.
The Vajrayana monks of Esoteric Buddhism seek enlightenment through asceticism, and unlike the Buddhism of the Central Plains, their teachings are not rooted in compassion.
As if to prove this, the monks of the Potala Palace in Tibet are renowned for their ruthless and brutal methods.
However, the lamas of Gwang-yang Temple were the opposite—quite moderate and followers of the Mahayana path.
Therefore, Dan-pa bowed his head with great courtesy and spoke.
"Then this humble monk must regrettably…"
Whoooosh!
In that instant, a tidal wave of fist energy, accompanied by a gale-force wind, crashed toward his face.
So Ok-rim had suddenly thrown a powerful punch.
"Urk."
Dan-pa, not expecting her to unleash such immense power without any warning, had not yet channeled his Dae-seung-beop-yu-gong.
Thwack!
With the sound of leather bursting, Dan-pa was struck in the face and fell like a log.
Thud.
As Dan-pa collapsed in a spread-eagle fashion, the other lamas rushed to carry him and hurried back inside the temple.
Da-gil, who had been staring blankly at the scene, spoke with a dumbfounded expression.
"What kind of fight starts before it's even begun?"
"He clasped his hands. That's the starting stance."
"Starting stance? What starting stance? He was showing you courtesy!"
So Ok-rim averted her gaze from Da-gil's protest and pouted.
"There's no such thing in a real fight."
It was a quiet mumble, but Da-gil, with his profound internal energy, could not have missed it.
He was so angry steam was practically coming out of his ears, but he was not in a position or of a status to argue with the young laywoman.
Suppressing his anger, he spoke in a loud voice.
"Dan-jeung! You're next."
This time, a very tall and skinny Vajrayana monk stepped forward.
He was a monk who had mastered the Yeon-jo-do-il-gong, a technique similar to the Ni-chu-gong that allowed one to move like a loach.
Knowing that So Ok-rim primarily used fist techniques, Da-gil had sent out Dan-jeung, who could lightly deflect any attack.
Swoosh.
Dan-jeung, having seen Dan-pa get struck down while showing courtesy, simply stepped forward impassively.
But So Ok-rim looked past him, her face a mask of horror.
"…!"
Her eyes trembled, filled with shock.
Dan-jeung, looking puzzled, instinctively glanced behind him.
Whoooosh!
In that instant, So Ok-rim's punch once again rained down on Dan-jeung.
*‘Hmph, a cheap trick.’*
The ruse So Ok-rim had used was a simple trick that children might play.
Dan-jeung's Yeon-jo-do-il-gong was designed to lightly deflect any external force, no matter the situation.
That was why he had turned around with confidence.
Whoooosh!
But this time, the fist energy came in two streams.
The first stream drew a wide arc, pouring down behind his back.
Just as Dan-jeung’s body naturally moved to deflect the energy, another stream struck him in the lower abdomen.
"Urk."
A cry just like Dan-pa's escaped Dan-jeung's lips.
This was a subtle principle of the Baek-hwa-je-bang, which sealed the enemy's movements before landing a direct hit.
Thwack!
Falling to his knees, the whites of Dan-jeung's eyes showed. At the same time, a thick groan escaped him.
"Guuuh."
So Ok-rim's punch contained a powerful Reeling Silk Energy.
It created an agonizing sensation, as if his internal organs were twisting and tangling.
Rumble.
In the end, Dan-jeung was also carried inside with the help of several lamas.
"To use such petty tricks!"
Da-gil shouted, greatly angered.
"Is this the way of the Central Plains' martial arts?"
"It's his fault for looking behind him in a fight…"
"What?"
Hearing So Ok-rim's mumble, Da-gil roared in fury.
"How can you say such a thing after using such a petty trick!"
So Ok-rim casually fiddled with her nose, then mumbled quietly again.
"Then you shouldn't fall for such petty tricks."
Da-gil's face turned beet red.
So Ok-rim had an extraordinary talent for getting under people's skin.
With just a few words, she had made steam rise from the head of a high monk who had spent years cultivating his mind.
"Fine!"
His composure finally broken, Da-gil stepped forward with his gaunt body.
"Then this old monk shall step up for this round!"
His surrounding disciples desperately tried to stop him.
"You mustn't!"
"Do not stop me."
When Da-gil remained adamant, even his martial brother and the head of discipline, Da-won, tried to dissuade him.
"Absolutely not."
"It is fine. That laywoman is merely skilled in trickery."
Da-gil stepped forward confidently.
"Our temple's disciples were too pure of heart to counter her, so I must step forward myself."
"Still, you mustn't. Martial Senior's safety is the safety of our temple, is it not?"
"What if she uses another trick and we lose? Above all else, must we not retrieve our sacred treasure?"
"...I understand."
At Da-gil's firm words, Da-won had no choice but to step aside.
"This old monk will take the final round. Try all the tricks you like."
As Da-gil stepped forward, So Ok-rim licked her lips with an awkward expression.
"Why don't you send another disciple? How can I possibly throw a punch at an old man?"
"Though this old monk's body may be bent, I still have the strength to avoid your tricks."
Da-gil stressed the word "tricks."
At that, one of So Ok-rim's eyebrows twitched.
"It's not trickery, it's strategy. If I used my real strength, the monks would get hurt, wouldn't they?"
"Hahaha. You use such strategies because your well of skill is shallow."
"Haaah."
So Ok-rim rubbed her fists together and said.
"What if something goes wrong? All the monks here will jump me, won't they?"
It was only small compared to the Potala Palace.
Gwang-yang Temple had at least three thousand lamas. If they all decided to attack, even she would not be able to escape unscathed.
"Hahaha. Do not worry."
Da-gil said in a confident voice.
"Even if this body is shattered to pieces, we will never hold a laywoman like you responsible."
"You promise?"
"Of course."
"Hmm."
So Ok-rim turned away for a moment to think, then nodded.
"Alright."
Turning back, So Ok-rim raised her right hand toward the sky and lowered her left hand toward the ground.
Vwoooom!
A fierce current of air began to swirl between her hands, and waves of true energy started to vortex.
Gwoooooo!
The vortex became a massive point of light that seemed to suck in all the air in the world.
The point of light at its center seemed to hold the power of annihilation, capable of destroying the entire world and reducing heaven and earth to nothingness.
"Th-that is…"
Seeing that terrifying stance, Great Monk Da-gil's eyes widened.
He had suddenly recalled the last words of Great Monk Cho-hyo, the abbot of Gwang-yang Temple four hundred years ago, who was brutally defeated and killed by the Saintly Emperor.
—If you ever see a fist art that divides the hands between heaven and earth and creates a powerful current of air, you must flee immediately.
For that is the Saintly Emperor's Fist of Annihilation, the Galaxy-Sundering Style.
"The Saintly Emperor's… Galaxy-Sundering Style?"
Da-gil had always wondered.
Just how powerful must a technique be to be named not for splitting the sky, but for sundering the galaxy in two?
And now, he finally had his answer.
Fwoooosh!
As the massive point of light poured out, Da-gil's vision turned white.
And soon, the entire world was dyed in white.
***
Three figures were hastily running, almost fleeing, away from Sera Oza Mountain where Gwang-yang Temple was located, heading toward the Namok Forest.
They were Bu Eun-seol, Seo Jin-ha, and So Ok-rim.
Tucked inside Bu Eun-seol's robes was a small, silver-colored mirror.
It was the treasure of Gwang-yang Temple, the Dae-won-gyeong.
Gwang-yang Temple was, after all, the place that had produced the Panchen Lama, known as the Living Buddha of Tibet.
With even Da-gil defeated, Gwang-yang Temple had kept its promise.
—This temple will never forget this humiliation!
But recalling Da-won's desperate cry as he handed over the Dae-won-gyeong, and the glaring eyes of the three thousand disciples, made his heart heavy.
Da-gil, struck by So Ok-rim's punch, had not died, thanks to his mastery of the Dae-seung-beop-yu-gong.
However, his clothes had been reduced to dust, and he had fainted. Perhaps due to the shock to his head, he had begun to spout nonsense.
—I'm dead! I must be dead!
With a single punch, the abbot of Gwang-yang Temple had been rendered naked and was now babbling nonsense in front of his disciples.
It was truly a humiliation that Gwang-yang Temple would not be able to wash away for generations.
*‘She really has learned the Saintly Emperor's martial arts.’*
At the last moment, Da-gil had cried out, "The Saintly Emperor's Galaxy-Sundering Style?"
From that, it was clear that So Ok-rim was a descendant of the Saintly Emperor.
*‘And that fist technique…'*
Bu Eun-seol glanced at So Ok-rim, who was running closely beside Seo Jin-ha.
The fist art she used could not only freely redirect fist energy like the Fist Demon Seven Styles, but it was also three to four times more powerful.
*‘If I obtain the lost latter three styles, would I be able to stand against her?’*
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
None of the fist or palm arts he knew could match So Ok-rim's technique.
To block her fist art, he would have no choice but to use a supreme martial art like the Yeo-ui-jin-gyeol or the Sip-sam-ya-gi.
*‘She's truly strong.’*
Among all the rising talents Bu Eun-seol had seen so far, Cheon-geom possessed the most outstanding martial arts.
But So Ok-rim's martial realm was at a level where even Cheon-geom would be no match.
*‘Is she my true rival?’*
Bu Eun-seol could feel it.
So Ok-rim's martial arts had reached a level equal to his own… and she had more than enough skill to be his rival.
The fated partner the Sin-san-ja had spoken of.
Perhaps it didn't mean a lover, but a fated rival?
Thud.
Just then, So Ok-rim, who was ahead, stopped.
"This is Go-rap Mountain."
Bu Eun-seol looked up at the mountain, which soared so high its peak was invisible.
They had finally arrived at Go-rap Mountain, where the Un-hae-byeok-ryeong-gung was located.
"I'll take the lead now."
Bu Eun-seol immediately used his movement technique.
Whoosh.
As they continued upward, the surroundings became so thick with fog that they could no longer see ahead.
The temperature also dropped sharply, and patches of accumulated snow came into view.
How much farther did they climb?
At some point, they reached a flat area, and numerous branching paths appeared before them.
"I think we should use it here."
At Seo Jin-ha's words, Bu Eun-seol stopped and took the Dae-won-gyeong from his robes.
And when he infused it with his internal energy,
Flash!
it emitted a brilliant light that began to drive away the fog.
*‘This way.’*
Unleashing his Gong-sim-tong-ryeong, Bu Eun-seol accurately identified the one path among the many forks that showed signs of human passage.
After walking along the path for some time, they finally saw a small, white castle.
The white castle, perched high on the mountainside, looked like a single, massive crane standing tall.
"This is the Un-hae-byeok-ryeong-gung."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
At the end of a long journey, they had reached their destination—the place where Seo Jin-ha could recover her internal energy.
*‘It was quite an arduous journey.’*
If Bu Eun-seol had wanted to take the easy path, he would have asked the Lord of the Hell Blood Fortress to help restore her energy.
After all, following the inspection of the Hell Blood Fortress, Gong Ya-geuk had offered him his nominal support.
But Bu Eun-seol did not want Seo Jin-ha to learn any more demonic arts.
No matter how harmless it seemed, a demonic art was still a demonic art, and unlike ordinary internal energy techniques, it came with many obstacles.
—I suppose I can cast it off without any lingering attachments.
That was what Bu Eun-seol had said to Gyo Jung-hak, the master of the Medicine King Hall, upon hearing that it would be difficult to recover her energy.
If her Hell Blood Fortress demonic art could not be restored in the first place, he wanted to pass on an even more superior internal energy technique to her.
And he intended to help Seo Jin-ha regain her internal energy without taking a long time.
Creeeak.
As they stood before the gate, the closed doors opened on their own.
Then, a small girl dressed in clothes as white as a snowflake walked out.
She stared intently at the Dae-won-gyeong in Bu Eun-seol's hand, then nodded.
"Follow me."
The girl spoke without moving her lips.
Bu Eun-seol gave a slight nod.
*‘She has opened her upper Dantian.’*
For such a young girl to have opened her upper Dantian and be able to freely control her body's organs.
Just as the Blood Vajra had said, the Un-hae-byeok-ryeong-gung was clearly the most outstanding of the foreign sects that cultivated internal energy by opening the upper Dantian.
"Aren't places like this usually forbidden to outsiders? How strange."
Even the reckless So Ok-rim walked with a look of amazement.
The beautiful Byeok-ryeong-gung, built on a snow-capped mountain of dizzying height, was reminiscent of a palace from a fairy tale.
It felt as though its inhabitants were not people, but spirits sculpted from ice.
What was strange was that even after entering the heart of the palace, the chill was no different from outside.
Inside the main hall, a high staircase was visible, with two grand chairs set upon it. Behind them was a small door.
This seemed to be the place where the palace lord received guests when outsiders visited.
Bu Eun-seol and So Ok-rim stood unaffected, but Seo Jin-ha, who had lost her internal energy, shivered, unable to withstand the cold.
Just as Bu Eun-seol noticed and was about to transfer some internal energy to her,
"You're cold, aren't you? Take my hand."
So Ok-rim suddenly grabbed Seo Jin-ha's wrist.
"No, I'm fine."
Seo Jin-ha tried to pull her hand away, but a warm current of energy was already flowing into her body.
*‘Her internal energy is incredible.’*
To send such powerful internal energy in an instant just by holding her wrist.
Only then could Seo Jin-ha understand why Bu Eun-seol had said she was strong.
*‘Hmm?’*
But as she transferred her energy, So Ok-rim's expression became strange.
*‘He said I would feel something when I held his hand.’*
—Is there no way to identify my fated partner other than by appearance?
To So Ok-rim's question, the Sin-san-ja had replied thus.
—You should know when you make physical contact with him.
So Ok-rim tilted her head in confusion.
She was still holding Seo Jin-ha's wrist, but she felt nothing at all.
*‘Did he mean a more… intimate form of physical contact?’*
As she was having this outlandish thought,
Creeak.
The door behind the dais opened, and a young boy and girl appeared.
With solemn expressions, they looked down at Bu Eun-seol and the others, then slowly sat in the grand chairs.
"It has been a while since this palace has had guests."
The one who had just spoken was the girl, who opened her mouth to speak.
Both the boy and the girl had very distinct features, and their eyes were a deep blue.
Their gazes were clear, but they lacked the childishness one would expect from their age.
Instead, they exuded a calm and dignity that could only be seen in those of high status.
*‘Returning to youth?’*
When one's internal energy reaches its peak, one can achieve a state of returning to youth.
However, that was just an expression of one's realm.
It meant regaining the appearance of one's youth, not literally becoming a child.
"The wanderer, Seol-so, greets you both."
While Seo Jin-ha and So Ok-rim hesitated, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward respectfully and clasped his hands.
"Are you the lords of this palace?"
At his polite question, the girl who was seated let out a small laugh.
"You truly are without prejudice."
Then she spoke in a gentle voice.
"No matter how much dignity we try to project sitting here, no one ever thinks we are the palace lords."
The girl smiled slightly, revealing her white teeth, and continued.
"I am the Palace Mistress, Hwa-mi, and this is my husband and the Grand Palace Lord, A-min."
The surname 'A' did not exist in this world.
But Bu Eun-seol once again clasped his hands.
"I see. Seol-so pays his respects to the Palace Mistress and the Grand Palace Lord."
At that, Seo Jin-ha, who had been standing blankly, took the cue and also clasped her hands.
"I am Seo Jin-ha."
"So Ok-rim…"
So Ok-rim answered reluctantly, as if she still didn't believe they were the palace lords.
"Hmm."
However, the gazes of Palace Mistress Hwa-mi and A-min were fixed on Bu Eun-seol.
They seemed to have taken a slight liking to him, as he was not greatly surprised by their appearance and had maintained a respectful attitude throughout.
"This palace does not involve itself with the secular world. How did you find your way here?"
Bu Eun-seol answered Palace Mistress Hwa-mi's question.
"I wish to receive teachings on the Man-hwa-beop-ryun."
"The Man-hwa-beop-ryun?"
Palace Mistress Hwa-mi looked dumbfounded.
To come to a sect unknown to the world and suddenly ask to be taught the fundamental internal energy secret that sustained the entire sect?