Chapter 52: Finally Realizing the First Form (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 52: Finally Realizing the First Form (2)
Ah! Could it be?
I realized the secret lay within my Upper Dantian.
My Upper Dantian had transformed into a Circulating Dantian, allowing for the boundless emission of internal energy and a continuous cycle of flow.
To put it simply, internal energy intended for accumulation is difficult to release because of its tendency to condense. However, a Circulating Dantian possesses a strong disposition toward radiation and diffusion. I realized that even when I channeled energy into the sword, the release—the Energy Emission—occurred naturally.
Connecting this situation with the manual the Phoenix King had given me, only one thought came to mind.
Is that why they say the surrounding area is decimated whenever the Phoenix King swings his staff?
In short, this sword technique was a perfect match for my internal energy.
I wasn't sure about the other forms of the Nine-Section Soul-Severing Sword, but I could feel it clearly with the first form alone.
Originally, this sword technique could only be executed by a first-rate or peak-level swordsman with at least two jiazi of internal power. However, thanks to the peculiar energy of my Upper Dantian, I could clumsily mimic this Scattering Light Red Sun Flash even with my meager half a jiazi of energy.
The important thing was that the Phoenix King’s manual stated that simple Energy Emission or Sword Glare couldn't punch holes through surrounding leaves. A hole in a leaf meant something had shot out and pierced it—a feat impossible with mere Sword Glare.
As I pondered, a word I had glimpsed in the Phoenix King’s manual burned into my mind.
"Elastic Path! Yes! This is the Elastic Path!"
It was undoubtedly the Elastic Path mentioned in the manual.
The Elastic Path referred to releasing energy from the sword as if firing a projectile. Originally, it meant the energy itself was shot out, but the manual interpreted it differently.
So this is why they say making the Upper Dantian a Circulating Dantian is so important. This is a whole new realm of martial arts, isn't it?
And I was standing at the threshold of that new realm.
Excitement and fear surged through me simultaneously.
Once my thoughts reached this point, I finally understood the final motion of the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash—the act of throwing the sword.
Looking at it now, it wasn't thrown for style or to use the sword like a hidden weapon. It was the culmination of the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash.
The manual described this release as utilizing the Rotating Elastic Path. Only now did I feel I understood the phrase "Rotating Elastic Path."
Anyone who has handled a sword even a little knows that throwing your weapon during combat is a suicidal act.
However, when a sword is thrown using the Rotating Elastic Path, it spins violently while emitting the Elastic Path. Even if the enemy blocks the blade, the Rotating Elastic Path generated by the sword would pierce straight through the target.
It was a one-hit-kill technique that brought death even if blocked.
Yet, as I tried to execute the form, I found it difficult to isolate the Rotating Elastic Path. I couldn't manifest the Rotating Elastic Path itself.
It was only after performing the form two or three more times that I understood why. I realized that the "Flash" in the first form, Scattering Light Red Sun Flash, originated from the final act of throwing the sword. All the other movements were actually preparations to create the Rotating Elastic Path.
This was why the movements of the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash were executed in smooth, circular motions. By doing so, the Energy Emission created by the rotating internal energy would gather heavily at the wrist. When the sword was then fired along with that energy, it would spin and generate the Rotating Elastic Path.
But that wasn't all.
When I saw the mention of the Overlapping Rotating Elastic Path—creating the Rotating Elastic Path multiple times in succession—I couldn't help but cry out internally.
Now I see... this is a truly vicious and terrifying sword technique.
The words "Overlapping Rotating Elastic Path" sent shivers down my spine.
The manual explained that if the form was executed two or three more times, the Rotating Elastic Path would overlap and accumulate at the wrist, doubling its power.
However, it also warned that the Overlapping Rotating Elastic Path placed such an immense strain on the wrist that one's ligaments could snap if handled incorrectly.
Just because the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash was a series of movements to create the Rotating Elastic Path didn't mean the rest of the form lacked power. With every swing, the Elastic Path sprayed from the sword and radiated outward. Anyone approaching the vicinity of the technique would be pierced, wounded, or killed by the Elastic Path.
In short, this single form alone was enough for me to live as a respected master anywhere I went.
If even one element had been missing—the manual from the Phoenix King or the Upper Dantian becoming a Circulating Dantian—I would never have comprehended the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash.
Elder Third Rate used to say that even if I didn't understand the ultimate truths right away, I should read the manuals and memorize the formulas. He said that as I lived my life and accumulated experience and knowledge, the day would come when I would realize them naturally.
He always told me to read whatever books I could while I had the chance, and only now did I realize how right he was. I understood the fact that no matter how much of a genius one might be, they cannot produce thoughts that transcend generations of wisdom on their own.
"To think it took me nearly five years of swinging this sword to finally understand the true meaning of the form."
No matter how inaccessible the level of this sword technique was, I must have swung this form tens of thousands of times just to warm up. To only now understand the very edge of its ultimate truth... how dull-witted could I be?
And that was just for the first form.
A sigh escaped me at my own patheticness.
Because I had learned lightness skills so easily, I had wondered if I possessed some martial talent, but that was a complete delusion. Lightness skills were basic martial arts that anyone could perform as long as they had internal energy.
Most of the members of our Demon Subjugation Group could hardly be considered masters, yet they all executed lightness skills proficiently. Of course, they tired easily and lacked stamina due to the difference in internal power, but everyone knew how to operate the techniques.
"As I thought, my learning was simply insufficient. The reason I remained a third-rate hack wasn't because I lacked talent or internal energy. It was because I lacked the passion to become a true martial artist."
I thought of So Gu-chi and Sim Geol, who had gained enlightenment from my hollow words. Thanks to their passion, they had surpassed their own limits. It wasn't thanks to me; it was entirely their own doing.
Well, it's not like I became a Murim person to become a master anyway.
And just like that, I easily forgave myself again.
For a moment, after executing a sword technique that even a master couldn't easily mimic, I had briefly forgotten my own identity. Learning this sword technique now was merely a shield and a means to protect myself in this treacherous situation.
Once I set my mind that way, I felt much more at ease.
My internal energy was depleted from performing the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash a few times, so I began to circulate my energy.
As I sat in meditation and moved my energy, a warm sensation flowed from the bracelet and joined my internal power. My energy grew stronger and flowed rapidly through my blood paths.
After completing a Small Heavenly Cycle, the energy that had been scattered in small amounts across my various acupoints gathered together, giving me a sense of fullness.
I stood up and roused my internal power. Then, I shook my wrist to ring the bell.
The sword I had set down floated into the air and flew into my hand.
"Hah!"
Simultaneously, I erupted my internal energy through my palm centers and Gushing Spring points, executing the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash.
Whir! Zip! Hiss! Shhh!
The sword I swung cut through the air, creating strange sounds. I moved forward, backward, left, and right, following the lead of the form.
When the resulting Energy Emission gathered heavily at my wrist, I slashed the sword horizontally along with my internal power and let go.
Whirrr! Thud!
The sword spun violently and embedded itself into a tree trunk ahead. Then, I shook my wrist hard to ring the bell. The sword slowly pulled itself out of the trunk and returned to my grasp.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
Doing all of this in a single breath left me gasping. I wasn't yet used to executing the form in one go.
I could perform the movements with my eyes closed by now, but the breathing wasn't yet ingrained in my body, making it burdensome. It was only after I began injecting the energy from my Upper Dantian into my lungs that I could manage the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash in a single breath.
I had only just realized that internal energy could regulate one's breathing.
I approached the tree trunk. I had expected something grand from the Rotating Elastic Path, but seeing it merely embedded deep in the wood left me disappointed.
"Huh?"
However, light was shining through the small crack where the sword had struck. When I pressed my eye to the mark, I could see the scenery on the other side of the tree.
"This..."
My heart began to race as a realization dawned on me. I slowly walked around to the back of the tree.
"Is this the true power of the Rotating Elastic Path?"
On the back of the trunk where the sword had struck, there was a hole the size of a fist. Sap was leaking from it. Because the Elastic Path was rotating, even if the entry wound was small, the exit wound created by the Rotating Elastic Path was massive.
"Just who created this technique?"
I was gradually overcome by a sense of dread at the power of the sword technique. This was on a different dimension from ordinary sword arts that simply cut and thrust.
If the Rotating Elastic Path hit a person's head, it meant the back of their skull would simply vanish. The thought alone was gruesome. I couldn't even imagine what would happen if I performed the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash several more times to create the Overlapping Rotating Elastic Path.
Shaking myself out of it, I briefly regulated my breathing to gather my energy again. This time, I simply practiced throwing the Ghost Sword and retrieving it with the bell.
After practicing the throwing and retrieving method a few more times, I returned to my spot. Perhaps because of the sudden, intense training, I felt parched.
As I was gulping down water, Hwang Chu approached and asked, "Did you make any progress?"
"Yes, it was better than expected. I was able to stabilize my incomplete sword technique somewhat."
"That's a relief then."
Hwang Chu nodded and held out the scabbard for the Ghost Sword.
"This scabbard has talismans drawn inside, so the Ghost Sword won't react normally. You must always keep it in the scabbard when you're not using it."
I took the scabbard and sheathed the Ghost Sword. A small vibration ran through the scabbard.
"It feels like the sword dislikes this."
When I mentioned the sensation to Hwang Chu, he replied, "If you don't keep it in that scabbard, the Ghost Sword's ghostly energy will grow stronger and become difficult to control. That's because of the talismans inside that suppress the ghostly energy."
As I finished my conversation with Hwang Chu and walked over to where the Twin Heroes of Guiyang were, they looked closely at my sword and spoke.
"Lord, it seems your sword has changed."
I gave a vague excuse. "Ah, my old sword seemed to have a crack, so I borrowed Young Hero Hwang's sword."
The Twin Heroes of Guiyang tended to believe whatever I said.
"Ah, is that so? You must be used to the weight and length of your previous sword; will you be alright with that one?"
At Po Zhongyin's words, Xing Youzheng nudged his shoulder.
"You're asking a foolish question. For people like us, such things might cause a difference in skill, but our Lord has already transcended such realms. You worry over nothing. Isn't that right, Lord?"
If I didn't agree with Xing Youzheng, Po Zhongyin would surely try to find me another sword, so I expressed my agreement.
"Don't worry. To me, all swords are the same."
"As expected."
Xing Youzheng nodded in admiration, while Po Zhongyin flushed with embarrassment.
"Squad Leader, the members seem to have rested enough. Let's head out."
Smiling Face Sword came over and spoke to me. The Demon Subjugation Group was practically led by Poison Wolf Ibu and Smiling Face Sword. These two had a natural talent for handling underlings.
Doyeon and I only made the critical decisions; Poison Wolf Ibu and Smiling Face Sword handled most of the rest. Even now, they were the ones stepping up to reorganize the group's ranks.
The Twin Heroes of Guiyang and the Seven Heroes had become much quieter, perhaps due to insights gained from recent battles or simply the shock of them. Even so, the Twin Heroes remained vigilant in their duty to guard me.
"Shall we?"
I didn't want to go, but having no suitable excuse or reason to stay, I brushed myself off and stood up.