The Arrogant Dantian
"I've never seen a sight like this."
Yeop Pung could not help but marvel.
Lee Sujol's figure slowly materialized in the empty air. He looked at Yeop Pung's face and smiled.
"Yeop Pung. What you are looking at right now is the very heart of our Cheonun Sect's greatest secret — the Seven Peaks Heaven-Locking Sword Array."
The Seven Peaks Heaven-Locking Sword Array?
Yeop Pung was stunned. He knew the history of Cheonun Sect inside and out. He knew this was the mountain-guarding grand formation the Cheonun Sect Founder had created with his own hands, and that its power was said to be inexhaustible. But it had been destroyed a hundred years ago, during the Tianyun Blood Night, by a single stroke from the invincible Emperor Shinmu. And now it had shown itself to the world again?
He said nothing, and quietly listened.
"Back at the plaza just now, I saw resentment in your eyes. If I had been toyed with the way you were, I would not have been able to contain my anger either. For that, I owe you an apology first."
Yeop Pung's brow furrowed, but he still did not speak.
Lee Sujol smiled and gave a casual wave of his hand. One of the seven radiant swords — the red one — stirred as if answering his call. A crimson sword spirit poured out of the blade and flew to his side. He held it out toward Yeop Pung and went on.
"As compensation, I will give you the sword spirit that represents Pyeongun Peak. Fuse it into your body and you will be able to absorb the hundred years of sword intent accumulated within the peak. Add that to your Nine Heavens Cloud-Spirit Scripture, and it will not be long before you break through to the Spirit Realm. Well?"
Terms this generous?
Yeop Pung looked at the crimson sword spirit hovering before his eyes. He knew perfectly well how extraordinary it was. Anyone else would already have been on their knees, pouring out thanks. He only smacked his lips a few times and made no move to reach for it.
"Still angry, are you?"
"I was, a little."
Yeop Pung gave a short laugh and shook his head.
"But now that I've come this far, I understand. Everything that happened back there was a test. If I couldn't endure that kind of pressure, I wouldn't even be qualified to look at the Seven Peaks Heaven-Locking Sword Array. Isn't that right?"
"It is."
Lee Sujol nodded, clearly pleased.
"Yeop Pung, your conduct has made me very glad. Cheonun Sect is fortunate to have you. That is why I am willing to give you one of the seven great sword spirits."
"But I have no intention of remaining at Cheonun Sect for the rest of my life."
Yeop Pung said it plainly.
"I came to Cheonun Sect for one reason — to grow stronger. Once I have enough power, I will leave and go into Great Jin to find my parents…"
"Hah!"
Far from being put off, Lee Sujol only laughed more heartily.
Yeop Pung was not particularly surprised. The more he dealt with Lee Sujol, the clearer it became just how formidable the man's reach was. This was a matter grave enough to hand over a sword spirit. It would have been stranger if he had not investigated Yeop Pung down to the bone.
What he had not expected was what came next.
"Yeop Pung. Why don't we make a deal instead?"
"Pardon?"
"Introduce me to the master standing behind you. Do that, and I will gift you a sword spirit. You will be able to borrow a hundred years of sword intent for your training — and with it, you can forge a Spirit Weapon, roam the continent as you please, and search for your parents."
"Ah… I can't do that!"
Yeop Pung shook his head without a shred of hesitation. It was not that he did not want to. There was simply no master standing behind him. And it was not as if he could take Lee Sujol back a hundred years to Cheonun Sect and tell him to ask in person.
"Then how about this?"
Lee Sujol did not look the least bit disappointed. He made another offer as casually as a grocer haggling over vegetables.
"Draw the Nine Heavens Cloud-Spirit Star Chart you are currently cultivating. I will give you the sword spirit all the same, and Cheonun Sect will never bind your future. Well?"
"Done!"
This time Yeop Pung answered without a flicker of hesitation. The star chart had belonged to Cheonun Sect to begin with, and he had always meant to pass it to Lee Sujol when the chance came. Now he would get a sword spirit on top of it. There was no reason left to refuse.
A hundred years of sword intent… that's far better than a Nakryeong Root! And a Spirit Weapon besides!
His heart had already begun to pound. A Spirit Weapon was a weapon of an entirely different order, one that completely outclassed any Profound Weapon. Every Spirit Weapon possessed its own weapon spirit and could automatically unleash Spirit Divine Arts of boundless power. Across the whole of Fengsang Commandery there was only one — in the governor's hands. Cheonun Sect had possessed them a hundred years ago, but as far as the world could see, it had none now. Receiving even a single sword spirit was, in itself, like being handed a priceless treasure.
"Haha! Good! Yeop Pung — loosen your body. I will fuse Pyeongun Peak's sword spirit into you here and now. There may be a little pain, but endure it."
Why is this so easy?
Something about it felt wrong. The deal had gone too smoothly. Yeop Pung had the distinct sense that he had come out ahead — and yet Lee Sujol looked even happier than he did.
Don't tell me… I'm getting played again?
"Sect Master — wait a moment!"
"What is there to wait for? Yeop Pung, this is a stroke of fortune you will not find twice. Don't tell me you are having second thoughts?"
"That's not it, but…"
"Then let us begin. Do not move!"
For heaven's sake, Sect Master, please don't rush this!
It did not matter how loudly he shouted it in his head. Lee Sujol swept his hand, and two streams of Profound Qi shot into Yeop Pung, locking his body in place in an instant. The crimson sword spirit rang out with a bright, eager cry, collapsed into a thread of light, and streaked toward his dantian.
Something is definitely wrong.
Only then did Yeop Pung realize he had been completely taken in. But Lee Sujol would not harm him. If the Sect Master had truly meant him harm, resistance would have been impossible anyway. Better, then, to simply accept what was happening.
For a heartbeat he felt a searing heat bloom in his dantian. Pure Profound Qi pressed in, trying to seep into the core of him — and in that instant, something unexpected happened.
"Get out!"
Yeop Pung heard it only faintly: a shout thick with contempt. Then came a sharp clang, and the sword spirit that had already driven into his dantian was forcibly dragged back out by a surge of golden Profound Qi. It tumbled through the air in a dazed, lopsided spiral.
The Golden Disc expelled the intruder. The Pyeongun Peak Sword Spirit was hurled from the dantian and left spinning helplessly in midair.
Lee Sujol stood rooted to the spot.
What in the world? The sword spirit was thrown back out?
"Yeop Pung… your dantian…?"
Lee Sujol had lived for more than a hundred years, and he had never seen a dantian this arrogant. Yeop Pung's core had just refused a gift that anyone else would have killed for.
"Uh…"
Cold sweat poured down Yeop Pung's face. He had not expected Geumban to guard its territory this fiercely. He offered Lee Sujol an awkward smile and screamed inwardly with everything he had.
Hey! Geumban! Don't do this to me! At least let me save a little face!
"No."
Geumban answered with two blunt syllables and not a shred of mercy.
Damn it!
"That's Cheonun Sect's mountain-guarding sword spirit! I can forge a Spirit Weapon with it later, and it'll help my cultivation! Just give it a chance!"
He kept trying to argue. Geumban was immovable.
"Not qualified!"
I've got nothing…
Yeop Pung was left completely speechless. He knew that once that stubborn Golden Disc said no, it never took the word back. He had no choice but to keep a smile plastered on his face as if nothing were strange at all.
"S-Sect Master… could you perhaps put the sword spirit somewhere else?"
Lee Sujol wanted to cough blood.
Yeop Pung, do you even hear yourself? This is a precious sword spirit handed down through Cheonun Sect for a thousand years, and you want me to put it somewhere else? Do you think your dantian is a sacred temple? The imperial palace? That not just anyone is allowed inside?
He very nearly gave up. But then he thought of the complete Nine Heavens Cloud-Spirit Star Chart in Yeop Pung's possession, and of the plans that came after, and he clenched his teeth and endured it.
"Very well. Then I will fuse this sword spirit into the sword meridian of your right hand. It will be convenient when you use sword arts, at least. As for how you cultivate with it afterward — you will have to find your own method."
Lee Sujol was angry. When had the Cheonun Sword Spirit ever been treated like this? He swept his hand and forced the crimson spirit into Yeop Pung's sword meridian.
A small crimson void-sword rose within the Profound Meridian of the right hand. The space was cramped and stifling. The sword spirit thrashed for a long while, then at last accepted its miserable new reality.
"Done."
With everything finished, some of the tightness left Lee Sujol's face. He turned to Yeop Pung.
"From today, you may train at the summit of Pyeongun Peak. I have prepared a sealed chamber there for you."
"Thank you, Sect Master! I will draw the Nine Heavens Cloud-Spirit Star Chart and bring it to you at once."
He had just walked away with an enormous gain, and he knew exactly what was expected of him. He dropped to his knees then and there and offered his thanks.
"Rise."
Lee Sujol wanted to smile, but the humiliation of a few moments ago made it impossible. He gave a broad sweep of his hand and tossed an old volume to Yeop Pung.
Secret Manual of the Seven Peaks Heaven-Locking Sword Array
Contains the distilled essence of the mountain-guarding grand formation. To be studied in full upon Pyeongun Peak.
"What you hold is the secret art containing the essence of the Seven Peaks Heaven-Locking Sword Array. Go to Pyeongun Peak and commit it to memory. When the day comes that we face the Cheonbong Army, you will have to draw out the sword qi within Pyeongun Peak and raise the formation with us to crush the enemy."
"I receive your command."
Yeop Pung thought to himself, Get something good, and the responsibility comes right with it. But that had been well within his expectations. He and the Cheonbong Army were already mortal enemies. One way or another, he would have to stand with Cheonun Sect and wipe them out.
"Ah. And one thing more."
Lee Sujol added it as if it were nothing at all.
"To stand against Lee Mujin, Cheonun Sect has already formed a secret alliance with the Makmun Dao Sect in Taehaeng Commandery. In a few days their sect master will come to Cheonun Sect as a guest. You will prepare to receive them alongside Yi Hwawu and Un Cheoncheon. There will likely be a spar among those of your generation. See that you do not disgrace the face of our Cheonun Sect."
"Understood."
Yeop Pung was in too good a mood to care what Lee Sujol piled on.
In the end it's just a fight, isn't it? That's one thing the current me doesn't fear.
He had already put down a monster like Sa Cheonseong — though that only counted against martial artists below the Spirit Realm.
He was simply curious.
Who am I going to be matched against?
"Do not let your guard down. Makmun Dao Sect's Baekri Hyobeom and Cho Unbi — both of those geniuses have already reached the Spirit Realm…"
Yeop Pung's nape went stiff.
Sect Master. Are you joking? You're sending me into a match against Spirit Realm experts? Has this man forgotten I'm still only at Five Meridians?
"Sect Master… isn't my strength a little lacking for that?"
He asked it honestly. Lee Sujol's answer was even more direct.
"Think of it as tempering. A young man suffering a little is hardly a bad thing. That is why I told you to prepare well."
What kind of tempering is this supposed to be?
"Prepare well" just meant don't lose too pathetically, didn't it? Was he nothing but a foil, there to show off Yi Hwawu and Un Cheoncheon's true strength?
Yeop Pung decided Lee Sujol was no better than Maeng Chang-haeng. When it came to walking people into a trap, the man was a complete master of the art.