Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Ascension Tower 2nd Floor (2)
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"Ah. I'll get out of your way."
I hurriedly tried to climb down from the rock, but Hyeol Jung-hyeok refused to let go of my hand and laughed.
"It's fine. It's fine. As long as you're not making a racket and disturbing me, you can train right alongside. I'm not the owner of this mountain or anything. Can't chase you off."
In that case, much obliged. Training in a crowded spot full of people sounded far worse anyway. Plus, I had some curiosity about this guy Hyeol Jung-hyeok.
Only then did he release my hand and settle onto a rock across from me. I watched him for a moment before crossing my legs again and sitting back down.
'I'm curious.'
The real deal. True martial arts. I wondered what that power I'd never laid eyes on before was truly like. Before my regression, when Earth's rankers broke through the 80th stage, a system update rolled out, and finally, a couple of gates connecting to other dimensions appeared.
Gates leading to dimensions where those who entered the Abyss around the same time as Earth—folks called a single generation—lived and conquered the Abyss.
Among them was definitely a gate linked to the Martial World. I think it was the third one that popped up, something called the Human Martial Realm. From there, people who trained in martial arts bloomed talents they hadn't found before and rocketed straight to high-rank hunter status.
'Even Dangun Cheonje said that mastering SSS-grade owed a ton to martial arts.'
Martial arts. Aura cultivation methods. Mana circles, and so on. There are tons of skills for cultivating energies like mana, internal energy, aura. The problem? Two hundred years wasn't nearly enough to develop those techniques from scratch.
They'd possessed internal energy, mana, and aura long before the Abyss connected— all honed through their history.
Hyeol Jung-hyeok looked at me with an amused grin, then put on a playful face as he earnestly began his cultivation.
And then, it started flowing from his body.
Gurgle. Gurgle. Gurgle.
It was internal energy. It was blood. It was killing intent. It was demonic.
The internal energy I sensed from Hyeol Jung-hyeok was like the very symbol of ominous malice. Just looking at it churned my stomach. Of course, that was purely a sensation.
My mental defenses far outstripped hunters of the same grade. Especially with Supreme Soul and Unyielding steadily growing, I could now resist even without my authorities' help.
Sure, messages popped up nonstop like it was prodding something, but nothing major.
I just watched. Part of me itched to use Solar Eye to dissect every flow of his internal energy, but even I—a non-martial artist—knew that was rude.
No different from declaring you'd steal their heart method. Of course, peeking at internal energy circulation wouldn't let you copy a heart method. Still, you'd pick up plenty of know-how and insights.
'Definitely different from my Solar Divine Art.'
If asked which was more effective, obviously this kind of martial art. A heart method like mine—Crimson Flame—weapons uniqueness for massive efficiency. But if I perfected a systematic, efficient one like his, it'd surpass Crimson Flame for sure.
No wonder martial arts evolved that way. A wild, formless realm like that? You master it perfectly first before unleashing.
"This is surprising. A 9th-grade cultivator who stays unfazed watching my martial arts? Even martial artists couldn't endure my internal energy. You're getting more and more interesting."
As I mulled it over, Hyeol Jung-hyeok finished his cultivation, stood, and eyed me with even greater interest than before.
At his casual words, I dropped the formalities and approached amiably.
"Is that a heart method?"
"Huh? Yeah, this is a heart method. What else would it be?"
I pondered briefly before making a small request.
"Could you maybe teach me any heart method? There's something I want to check."
His eyes widened at my words, then he nodded eagerly, like it'd be fun.
"Sure. Normally I wouldn't offer this kinda favor. But I like you, so why not. You kinda remind me of a cute little brother."
He leaped straight to my rock. Guessing what I was mulling, he spoke up.
"You've never seen a heart method before, right? Yet you made your own new martial art. Yours lacks proper form and structure, so you're thinking of learning one from me to fill the gaps?"
Was this guy really just a 9th-grade cultivator? Or did he have mind-reading powers?
As I looked shocked, he smirked like it was nothing and sat behind me.
"Fun. Our distant ancestors probably started just like this. You're one of the origin points in your world. In our terms, a Grandmaster. The title given to the most revered."
He gently placed his hand on my back and said,
"Accept it. This is the true Martial World heart method you've been curious about."
His internal energy flowed in. Unlike before, it lacked that ominous edge—just a faint sticky residue.
The internal energy entered through my dantian, coursed through my meridians, circulating my whole body. From crown to toes. Centered on the dantian, it looped. Steady rhythm, steady volume, steady paths—circulating, circulating.
"Got it memorized?"
I nodded. Infinite's talent for the formless made it effortless. Less memorizing, more imprinting—but whatever worked.
"Then try it yourself."
I closed my eyes and stirred Pride's power. Strangely, the arrogant force offered no usual resistance, smoothly circulating and transforming.
True to its supreme concept encompassing all, shifting to a subordinate stat-based internal energy was simple. Already confirmed with solar internal energy.
How much time passed? One minute? Five? Ten? An hour?
No clue, but exactly after ten great circulations, a system message rang out—and I felt Hyeol Jung-hyeok's sticky internal energy.
I was stunned. A heart method this high-grade? Just handing it over like candy?
He caught my look and burst into laughter, slapping my shoulder.
"Shocked over a basic martial art like that? Didn't peg you for small-minded, little bro. You and I both wield incomprehensible arts that eclipse this by miles. Can't freak over something this minor. Not like you'd use it properly anyway."
I nodded. No plans to actually use what he taught. Just reference material.
'Learning it for real would give me a headache.'
Researching Solar Divine Art was workload enough. Anything more was greed.
'And I've already got the demonic art lined up for me.'
Couldn't grab it yet.
About three months from now, timing-wise. A martial art with mythic potential.
'Gotta snag the class first, though.'
Clear the 2nd floor, then straight back to the Abyss.
Time to kick off the real mythic quest. The difficulty was so daunting I'd been putting it off, but worries aside.
'At least Misfortune's quiet now.'
With that brief note about shedding a shell, Misfortune had gone fully dormant since then.
Till it woke again would take time, and even then, things would differ from before.
"Alright, shall we continue the martial arts rundown? This is Blood Demon Art, taught only to direct and branch disciples of our Blood Cult. It lets you wield blood energy in earnest. But why teach it to you?"
Hmm~~! He just giggled mischievously as I stared. Finally, he spoke.
"No real reason. If a Grandmaster prospect like you is referencing our arts, better start with our strongest basics, right? If you succeed, I might even benefit. Seeing as you came here, that unheard-of planet Earth must've linked to the Abyss too. Break enough stages, and you might connect to our world?"
"Thanks. I'll repay the favor."
"Heh heh heh. Yeah, show me that talent sometime."
Hyeol Jung-hyeok said that, hopped back to his rock, and began cultivating again while glancing my way.
I turned from him and started running the Demonic Blood Heart Method. Not complex or hard, yet not simplistic or straightforward either.
True to its demonic nature, controlling this thing called blood energy was tricky—but for me, taming Pride, it was tame as a lamb.
By will, blood energy moved. Controlled, obedient. Vivid crimson internal energy pooled atop my palm. I nodded.
'Like this?'
Easier than expected. Arrogant to say? Maybe Pride's influence. Didn't seem tough.
I halted the Demonic Blood Heart Method.
Leveling Solar Divine Art. Maybe it meant crafting a new technique?
Even if not, making a new heart method would suffice. Heart methods were the massive pillar at a divine art's core.
'Focus on this. Ignore the rest.'
Blood energy shifted back to solar internal energy. Under Crimson Flame's will, it thrashed wildly, blazing.
I quietly observed, sketching images in my mind. How to wield the sun's power more efficiently, effectively, perfectly?
The sun is arrogant. The sun is great. The sun is mighty. The sun is hot.
I pulled those visions straight in. Borrowed Demonic Blood's rules and efficiency to forge a new heart method.
No confining internal energy to the puny dantian. My whole body as one vast sun—its core.
Solar flames erupted from my body, slowly orbiting. Exploding, blazing.
'The sun reigns highest.'
Circulation origin: not abdomen, but head. Flames surged there instantly.
'And the sun scatters its light upon all creation.'
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa!
Solar flames rained down. From my head, like a torrent of fire.
'Also, the sun is calamity incarnate.'
Like its changes rippling across Earth, it held vast, destructive might.
Immense influence swaying countless planets and lives!
Flames expanded. Beyond flesh, seizing air, space.
This was a domain. The sun's power absorbing all, transmuting to flame.