Chapter 105: Muscle Training (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 105: Muscle Training (1)
The Life-Death Barrier.
Its very name served as a glaring warning, screaming that one must tread the razor's edge between life and death.
The stage known as the Super Peak Realm was, quite literally, a realm of superhumans—surpassing the absolute limits of human achievement. To reach it, one needed not only the skill to transcend humanity but also a fair share of luck.
Of course, overwhelming skill could render luck irrelevant, but such cases were so rare they could generally be ignored.
Regardless, to step into the Super Peak Realm, a martial artist had to break through the Life-Death Barrier and fuse the Governing and Conception vessels into one. As a prerequisite, they had to perfectly balance their Essence-Qi-Spirit and possess enough internal energy to force the barrier open.
In this context, the internal energy required was Qi.
Thus, one had to elevate their Essence and Spirit to match that Qi. There were no shortcuts.
To put this to the test, Seo-jun headed to the martial arts arena with Chun-bong and Namgung Su-ah.
“Man, it really feels like I’m home.”
He strolled into the Family Head’s private arena as casually as if it were his own bedroom. As Seo-jun stood in the center and began stretching, Namgung Su-ah slipped up behind him, wrapping her arms around him and resting her chin on his shoulder.
“I know, right? It felt so lonely trying to train by myself while you were gone, you know?”
“That won’t happen anymore. Now that Chun-bong is out, we can all hang out together.”
Of course, that was assuming Namgung Su-ah reached the Super Peak Realm first. In times of war, sending a direct descendant of the Namgung Clan anywhere near the front lines without sufficient strength was nothing short of madness.
“Hey! What do you two think you’re doing?!”
Naturally, none of that mattered to Chun-bong right now.
“Since when—since when did you two get so close?! Get off him!”
Chun-bong wedged herself between Namgung Su-ah and Seo-jun, forcefully prying them apart.
“Ah.”
Seo-jun felt a pang of regret at the loss of that plush, soft pressure against his back.
Chun-bong’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“You, watch closely.”
Chun-bong walked confidently to the center of the arena. Shring. Her sword slid from its scabbard. The descendant of the Divine Sword Geum Family, her severed meridians now fully healed, let a sharp, piercing light gleam in her eyes.
“I couldn’t show you before, but I can now.”
The essence of the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword. What Chun-bong had originally learned was the Azure Cloud Divine Sword, but it ultimately shared the exact same roots as the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword.
It was the very technique Namgung Jin-cheon had claimed he couldn’t master properly.
However, that was only because his standards were sky-high, and he had only managed to learn a few forms of the technique on his own. Chun-bong, having been personally tutored by the Sword God himself, began to unleash that lofty martial art through the tip of her blade.
It began with the clouds. Illusory platinum clouds drifted leisurely through the air, soon spreading endlessly to cover the heavens. The thickening clouds transformed into dark storm clouds, obscuring the sun and scattering into a torrential rain of sword qi.
Then, a massive silhouette revealed itself amidst the dark tempest.
An Azure Dragon draped in brilliant platinum energy.
Chun-bong’s sword became the dragon, commanding the clouds and the rain. The majestic beast, soaring through the heavens between the clouds, finally opened its massive maw to swallow the world—the grand finale of the Azure Cloud Divine Sword.
Drenched in sweat, Chun-bong lowered her blade, her eyes flashing with a lingering platinum light.
“Did you see that?”
“Uh… yeah.”
Seo-jun was reminded once again that Chun-bong was the true successor of the Divine Sword Geum Family. She was a monstrous genius who had reached the Peak Realm at the tender age of fifteen, the legitimate heir of the Geum family, and the sole disciple of the Sword God.
As Seo-jun stared at her in awe, Chun-bong scratched her soft cheek and stole a sidelong glance at Namgung Su-ah.
“So, uh, you know? The Emperor Sword Form is a great martial art and all, but… you get it, right? The Yellow Cloud Divine Sword is, well, yeah!”
“Waaah!” Chun-bong suddenly shouted, pointing an accusing finger. It was directed at Namgung Su-ah, who had already latched right back onto Seo-jun’s arm.
“So get off him, Unni! Stop clinging to him already!”
“Hehe, but Seo-jun likes it.”
“Have you no shame?!”
Chun-bong hopped up and down in sheer frustration. Seo-jun watched the scene with an amused chuckle. He had heard they’d talked quite a bit while he was away in secluded training, and they seemed much closer than before.
According to what Namgung Su-ah had whispered to him, Chun-bong spent her lunch hours loitering at the inn, but outside of that, she spent most of her free time hanging out with Su-ah, chatting about this and that.
Their common topics were, naturally, either swords or Seo-jun himself.
Watching Chun-bong yapping away and Namgung Su-ah accepting it all with a gentle smile made them look like real sisters.
And honestly, it made him feel quite left out.
“I’m hurt!”
“W-what?”
“Our Chun-bong is my little sister!”
Seo-jun rushed forward and pulled Chun-bong into a tight hug. The sweat-drenched girl freaked out, flailing as she struggled to get away.
“Agyaaak…! Get off me!”
“Boohoo, Chun-bongie…”
“Ugh…!”
“Aka!”
“Let go… oh, for fuck’s sake! Seriously!”
Yeah, this was more like it.
With a refreshed smile, Seo-jun finally let go and straightened his back.
“Anyway, look at this. Our Chun-bong will hit the Super Peak Realm in no time!”
“Bwahaha! Is that so? This is truly a blessing for the Righteous Faction!”
Seo-jun frowned at the sudden, booming voice.
“Seriously, old man. You can’t just barge in here.”
“He came with me, so it’s fine!”
Pae Jin-gwang strode in, dragging a trudging Namgung Jin-cheon forward.
“Haha…”
“The Family Head says it’s fine, so who are you to say no!”
“The son-in-law.”
“The Family Head ranks higher than a son-in-law!”
“In this clan, don’t I rank higher than you?”
“Oho! You want to talk seniority?”
“Seniority?”
No matter how great the Fist King was, his martial seniority would likely be lower than Chun-bong’s, given she was the Sword God’s direct disciple. However, Chun-bong’s true identity couldn’t be revealed so easily.
“Grrr…!”
As Seo-jun gnashed his teeth, Pae Jin-gwang let out a boisterous laugh.
“Haha! You arrogant brat! I finally won!”
“Yeah, yeah. If winning a petty argument against a kid at your age makes you happy, then good for you.”
“Why, you little…!”
Pae Jin-gwang shouted, though he was still grinning from ear to ear. Seo-jun sighed and waved his hand dismissively.
“No, but seriously, you shouldn’t be here. We can’t just show off Noona’s training to outsiders.”
“We can’t?”
“Does that make any sense to you?”
“Hmm. I suppose not.”
Pae Jin-gwang scratched his head.
“But why are you training the moment you get home? You should rest. Muscles only grow when they get proper rest, you know.”
“I’m not the one training, Noona is.”
“I see.”
Pae Jin-gwang nodded.
Seo-jun looked at the muscle-brained old man with pity before turning to Namgung Jin-cheon, who looked somewhat exhausted. He had a feeling he knew exactly why.
“By the way, Father-in-law.”
“Yes… go on… son-in-law…”
“I’ve created a martial art that makes breaking through the Life-Death Barrier a bit easier.”
“I see… the Life-Death Barrier… Hmm? What?”
Namgung Jin-cheon’s head snapped up. Pae Jin-gwang had a similar reaction.
“Has this brat not recovered from his madness yet?”
“Old man, quiet.”
“No! You have to make sense! Do you think the Life-Death Barrier is some neighborhood tavern door you can just stroll through?!”
“You’re just a second-rate martial artist, old man. What do you know?”
“I know plenty, you brat!”
“It’s not even that big of a deal. It’s a technique that can only be used by someone already capable of reaching the Super Peak Realm anyway.”
“He’s talking nonsense again!”
Instead of answering, Seo-jun raised his middle finger at the old man and looked at Namgung Jin-cheon.
“Could you check it for me, just in case? And if possible, it’d be great if you could see if Noona is at a level where she can safely attempt to reach the Super Peak Realm.”
“Hmm… Mmm… Very well…”
Seo-jun recited the oral chant to Namgung Jin-cheon via Voice Transmission.
Namgung Jin-cheon closed his eyes, deep in thought for a long moment, before finally nodding.
“This… it seems possible…”
“Right?”
“However, it might be too early for Su-ah… Her Essence-Qi-Spirit hasn’t matured enough yet. It would be dangerous…”
“Ah, man.”
As Seo-jun scratched his head in disappointment, Pae Jin-gwang, who had been listening intently, poked his head in.
“Wait, Namgung Jin-cheon. Are you serious? He really created a martial art like that?”
“It is hard for even me to believe… but yes… It is a martial art structured with marvelous precision…”
“This brat is actually that good?”
Pae Jin-gwang stared at Seo-jun, recalling his previous memories. The battle with the Giryeon Sect Leader. The boy's appearance back then.
Come to think of it, the kid was far from ordinary.
“Well, I guess it’s less surprising than his head getting cut off and then reattaching itself.”
“You want a demonstration, old man?”
“Don’t you dare. If mine comes off, I stay dead.”
“What a shame…”
Seo-jun clicked his tongue, then suddenly realized something and smirked.
“By the way, doesn’t this prove that internal energy is superior to muscles?”
“What?”
“What’s the point of building muscles? You still die if your head comes off.”
Pae Jin-gwang let out a hollow laugh.
“You lunatic. Normally, people die when their heads come off.”
“I don’t, though?”
“Then I guess you aren’t human.”
“Hey, that’s a bit harsh.”
“Harsh? Even the Demonic Cult would probably bow their heads to you, thinking you’re some Great Arch-Demon.”
Before Seo-jun could raise his middle finger at that, Chun-bong, feeling deeply offended on his behalf, scowled.
“What? Arch-Demon? Who are you calling an Arch-Demon?”
Watching Chun-bong growl, Pae Jin-gwang chuckled heartily. It was the warm laugh of an old man watching his grandchild’s antics. In fact, he was playing along quite well with the feisty girl.
Our Chun-bong is pretty cute.
Seo-jun smiled warmly and sidled up to Namgung Jin-cheon.
“I just got curious about something.”
“Hmm…? What is it, son-in-law…?”
“You said you met the Giryeon Sect Leader this time. He was actually really strong.”
Namgung Jin-cheon nodded.
“I heard he is a difficult opponent, as he uses both martial arts and sorcery… I am glad above all else that you are safe, son-in-law…”
“Eh, he was manageable.”
Seo-jun chuckled and whispered.
“So, just wondering, how strong is he compared to you, Father-in-law?”
“Hmm… I have never fought him, but… based on what I have heard, about ten moves…”
“Pardon?”
“I should be able to take his head within ten exchanges…”
He didn’t sound boastful in the slightest. His tone was casual, as if he were simply stating what he’d had for lunch yesterday.
Seo-jun blinked at the nonchalant attitude that suggested he was merely stating an obvious fact.
“Wow…”
My father-in-law is seriously strong. It seemed that even within the Transcendent Realm, the gap in power was wider than he’d thought.
Not that he ever planned to, but he really shouldn’t mess with him. He felt that conviction deep in his bones.
* * *
“Anyway, that’s the conclusion.”
Pae Jin-gwang puffed out his chest proudly. His bulging pectorals were clearly visible even through his thick clothes.
“Ugh, Chun-bong, don’t look. It’s gross.”
Seo-jun covered Chun-bong’s eyes and grimaced.
“What kind of nonsense are you spouting now?”
“It’s simple, isn’t it? Try training with my method! I guarantee you’ll become twice as—well, maybe not twice, but definitely stronger than you are now.”
“I get stronger just by lying around and scratching my belly for a few days, though?”
Pae Jin-gwang’s eyebrow twitched.
Additionally, Chun-bong and Namgung Su-ah, who were standing nearby, also seemed slightly offended by that remark, their expressions twisting subtly.
But Pae Jin-gwang did not back down.
“Look at your scrawny body! I bet you’ve barely done any external martial arts training!”
“I told you, I don’t need to!”
“Think of the muscles that could fill out that frame! If your internal energy and muscles were combined, wouldn’t it be natural for you to get stronger?”
“Wouldn’t I get even stronger if I just spent that time on other training?”
His face contorting, Pae Jin-gwang whipped his head around to look at Namgung Jin-cheon.
“Am I right or wrong?!”
“You aren’t entirely wrong…”
“See?!”
Pae Jin-gwang’s smug expression was incredibly irritating. Seo-jun tilted his head.
“First of all, I don’t want to get too bulky. Don’t you know lean muscle is the trend these days?”
“Hah! Even if you worked yourself to death, muscles don’t grow that easily!”
“You think so too, right, Chun-bong? A muscle-bound Seo-jun is a bit much…”
At Seo-jun’s words, Chun-bong scanned his body up and down.
“Well, it might not be bad…?”
Seo-jun’s jaw dropped as Chun-bong slightly averted her gaze, a faint blush on her cheeks.
“W-wait. Seriously?”
“I don’t like it when it’s too much, but a toned body isn’t bad… No! Why are you asking me anyway?!”
A shocked Seo-jun turned to Namgung Su-ah this time.
“Hehe.”
She wore a somewhat devious expression. Just by looking at the blue eyes peeking through her narrowed lids, he could tell exactly what she was thinking.
“No way…”
Seo-jun fell into deep thought with a serious expression. Then, Pae Jin-gwang’s massive hand landed heavily on his shoulder.
“Then special training starts tomorrow. I’ll make sure that scrawny body of yours is reborn!”
“Wait, for real…?”
He couldn’t accept this. He would prove that internal energy was superior to muscles.
Coincidentally, seeing the Giryeon Sect Leader’s domain had given him a new idea, so he figured it wouldn’t be bad to balance it out with some sparring.
“Fine, whatever. But before that, let’s do one experiment.”
Is your fist stronger, or is my sword stronger?
This was a matter of pride.