Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: A Shortcut Down
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I decided to forget everything about my current situation.
The progress of my descent, the remaining time, even the schedule I had painstakingly created—I erased it all from my mind.
It was because I felt that considering everything from one to ten just didn't suit me.
Prioritizing and then tackling the obstacles before me, one by one.
That was the method that suited me best.
The first thing I chose was the task of modifying the arts.
This wasn't about using my spare time like before.
I planned to focus solely on this until I saw it through to the end.
If I ran out of time... well, what could I do?
After all, no matter how much I trained my body, reaching the ground at my current pace was impossible.
‘Perhaps I was arrogant.’
Pushing my body to its absolute limit, then using the recovery time to work on the modifications...
It might have been an excellent strategy in terms of efficiency, but I'm not so sure.
Thinking about it now, modifying the martial art of the great Baek Rogwang—there was no way I could succeed with such a paltry resolve.
“Hoo...”
Back to basics.
I'm going back to the beginning.
Before I began, I first completely forgot the arts I had worked so hard to modify...
And started circulating my energy according to the original arts.
As if I were learning the Flame Arts of the Greatest for the very first time.
“...”
Just because I forgot all the modifications didn't mean that time was wasted.
By immersing myself in the Flame Arts of the Greatest for a considerable time, I had come to understand this internal art on a deeper level.
Thanks to that, just by memorizing the original arts again, I could more clearly grasp how incredible this martial art was.
The paths I had taken for granted, the branching points, the total amount of circulating internal energy and its distribution, even the faint routes that spread out like branches—they all had their own reasons.
‘I see.’
So until now, I had only understood this martial art through rote memorization.
Fascination preceded admiration or surprise.
I also realized that because the path was like this, such an effect was possible.
“Hooooo...”
When I finally finished circulating my energy,
I felt as though I had completed a full cycle of the Flame Arts of the Greatest for the first time in my life.
At the same time, another thought occurred to me.
‘Is it right for me to tamper with such a magnificent martial art?’
If it was already a perfect work, adding or subtracting anything would be a flaw.
But...
“...”
I boldly began to modify the arts once more.
Not to descend the mountain.
I wanted to prove that my initial choice was not wrong.
I wanted to praise myself, to tell myself that the direction of my modifications was not mistaken, that my choice was correct.
“...One step at a time.”
Those far away wouldn't realize I was walking. Perhaps they couldn't even see me.
But I, at least, could see it clearly. I knew it.
That I was moving forward, one step at a time, slowly but surely.
For now, isn't that enough?
* * *
Perhaps not all enlightenment comes instantly.
Screeeech-
When the cry of some unknown monstrous bird suddenly reached my ears, I stood there blankly.
“...”
Then, I suddenly became aware of the presence of the thing that had been by my side all this time.
“...FAD.”
[Yes.]
“What day is it today?”
[90 days have passed since you began your descent.]
I felt that less time had passed than I thought.
I had expected it to be well over 100 days by now.
[Current progress: 33.2%.]
The progress was still displayed on FAD's screen, but my heart was calm.
Not a shred of impatience arose within me.
I felt a laugh about to escape, but I held it back for now.
This was a critical matter, so I felt a final confirmation was necessary.
I plopped down on the spot and immediately sat in a cross-legged position.
I began to circulate my energy.
Fwoosh...
Controlling the true energy that felt like a flame erupting from my dantian, I dictated the path of that flame.
I allowed no deviation, not even the slightest flicker of flame spreading into the twelve main meridians or the eight extraordinary vessels.
The core of the new arts I created was not about passing through the Baihui point.
To maximize the restorative power of the Flame Arts of the Greatest, the most important thing was to evenly spread this heat throughout the entire body.
Among the many organs of the body, only one could fully perform that role.
The heart, and only the heart.
Thump!
My heartbeat felt like a small explosion.
This explosion immediately became a flame, spreading seamlessly throughout my body.
Rather than spreading... it felt more like an expansion.
The human body inevitably has parts with duller senses.
For example, the buttocks are less sensitive to pain, and it is naturally harder to move your toes than your fingers.
No matter how sharp a person's senses are, there are undoubtedly muscles that cannot be controlled by will alone.
Through this energy circulation, I was freed from such limitations.
As I am now, I could tear a muscle without even lifting a finger.
I could probably make my heart beat faster intentionally, or even stop it.
Rumble...
In that moment, I realized that some great dam within my body had collapsed.
“Haaaaah...”
The moment the dam broke, I exhaled a hot breath.
Breathing was easy.
It felt as if my airway had been half-blocked my entire life, only to finally clear at this very moment.
When I opened my eyes, the fog looked much clearer than usual, and I could even taste the air.
My sense of energy had expanded by at least three times.
The internal energy in my body was still minuscule, but I was confident that I could now wield it better than anyone.
“...I see.”
I realized that my realm had advanced,
And that the Flame Arts of the Greatest had finally reached the second stage.
Like all internal arts, the Flame Arts of the Greatest was divided into stages, but the boundaries were not as distinct as in other arts.
My master had said it had a total of five stages...
And he had told me that if I wasn't impatient, I would be able to advance one stage at a time when the moment was right.
“So it wasn't just a matter of increasing my internal energy.”
...To think I had to modify the existing arts to advance to the next stage.
I wondered if there could be another martial art this insane in the world, but if its creator was the World's Greatest, Baek Rogwang, it was understandable.
‘He might have been aiming for this from the very beginning.’
I was suddenly reminded of my first meeting with Keian.
Back then, I struggled simply because my body was weak and I had no internal energy.
Things would be a little different now.
The situation would still be unfavorable, but I realized there was no need to obsess over internal and external arts more than necessary.
A healthy body with all its limbs is a blessing in itself.
Thud.
I walked along the misty path.
It felt as if the restrictions imposed by Spirit Mountain had vanished, but that wasn't the case.
The pressure was still there.
If it's like this at this point, what level would my physical abilities be when I leave Spirit Mountain and can use my full power?
‘Hmm. Let's not get ahead of myself.’
I shook my head.
[First... I suppose I should say congratulations.]
Just then, my Eldest Martial Brother's voice came from the FAD.
[I expected you to make progress, but I never imagined you would enter the second stage of the Arts of the Greatest of All Time. The probability must have been extremely low.]
“Is that so?”
My Eldest Martial Brother wasn't one for empty words, so I felt good hearing that.
[You should be able to descend much faster than before now, but...]
“Will it still be difficult?”
[Yes.]
Feeling a sense of unease from my Eldest Martial Brother's words and his attitude so far, I asked.
“Eldest Martial Brother, did you perhaps expect me to fail from the very beginning?”
It was phrased as a question, but I asked with half-certainty.
[Yes.]
My Eldest Martial Brother readily agreed.
[It's not that I was looking down on you, or anything of the sort. The true trial of Spirit Mountain hasn't even begun.]
So there's something more after this, as I thought.
[Altering the past is certainly tempting... but I would advise you to give up at this point.]
“Hmm.”
With an ambiguous attitude, I trudged toward the edge of the cliff path.
[Are you thinking of using another shortcut? Unfortunately, my calculations already took that method into account.]
A shortcut...
He might not be wrong.
“Actually, there's a method I've been thinking about ever since I first jumped. I never thought of putting it into action, but it might be possible now.”
[What is it?]
Instead of answering my Eldest Martial Brother, I showed him with my actions.
I took a step into the empty air.
Of course, my realm hadn't reached the level of Sky Walking.
My body immediately began to fall due to gravity.
I couldn't walk on air,
But I thought I could surely run down the sheer cliff—that slope.
Kwagagagagak!
‘This is... more thrilling than I thought...!’
I couldn't tell if I was running or simply tumbling down.
My legs, propelling me forward, felt as if they were half out of my control.
Even so, I kept my gaze fixed firmly ahead.
‘The damn fog makes it hard to see, though.’
In any case, I had no intention of running all the way to the bottom of the mountain like this. How could I do something so crazy without knowing how much farther I had to go?
[Ruan, it's dangerous.]
My Eldest Martial Brother shouted in an unusually urgent voice.
I shouted back while still running.
“Why! Can't I make it in time even if I run like this?!”
[No. The shortest path between any two points is a straight line, so theoretically, you're correct. But... this path is dangerous.]
“Spirit Mountain is always dangerous!”
[That's not what I mean. In the first place, no matter how much your physical abilities have improved, it's impossible to run all the way to the ground without a single break. You'll definitely run out of energy before then.]
That's probably true.
But I had already thought of a way to rest in the middle.
I ran for a while, and when I felt my stamina starting to drop, I forcefully stomped my feet.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
After about ten such steps, my legs were embedded in the mountain's surface like the roots of a tree.
It was as if my legs from the shins down had dug into the ground.
“Hooooo...”
In that state, I awkwardly sat down and leaned my back against the cliff.
It was a ridiculous posture, but who cares?
It was a decent enough way to rest, so I was satisfied.
“This way, I can rest whenever I want. I think I'm a genius.”
Seeing my state, my Eldest Martial Brother sighed and said.
[...You truly are our master's disciple.]
For some reason, it didn't sound like a compliment.