Chapter 181: New Chun-bong (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 181: New Chun-bong (2)
A few days had passed since Namgung Jin-cheon shared those chilling tales about the Demonic Cult.
While he had unloaded a massive amount of information, the most memorable part was the discussion on the true nature of 'Ma'—the demonic.
Seo-jun had assumed the cultists wouldn't appreciate being called 'demons' or 'monsters.' Surprisingly, they took great pride in the label.
Apparently, the character for 'Ma' (魔) was originally created as a phonetic transcription of the true name of the Demonic Immortal they worshiped: Mara Papiyas.
When Seo-jun asked if there had been no Demonic Immortals before that, Namgung Jin-cheon admitted he wasn't sure. He speculated that they probably existed but were likely referred to as 'Evil Immortals' or something similar.
In truth, none of that mattered right now.
Today, there was something far more critical to attend to.
"Alright, everyone, eyes on me."
Seo-jun spoke with a serious expression. They were gathered in a quiet, secluded training room he had requested from Namgung Jin-cheon. Namgung Su-ah stood before him.
"Chun-bong, dear, shall we get off my back now?"
"…Tsk."
Chun-bong, who had been clinging to him like a koala, wiggled her way down. When their eyes met, she let out a silly giggle. Seo-jun fought the urge to smile, maintaining his grave demeanor.
"This is actually dangerous, so no more laughing."
"Okay."
Chun-bong nodded. Seo-jun turned to Namgung Su-ah.
"Are there any parts you don't understand?"
"None. I asked about everything I was curious about last time."
With the final checks complete, there shouldn't be any disasters caused by a lack of knowledge. Seo-jun had Chun-bong sit down first.
"We'll start with Chun-bong."
"Why me first?"
"Because there's almost no chance of anything going wrong with you."
Seo-jun knew Chun-bong’s body better than she did herself. If necessary, he could seize control of her internal energy and force the breakthrough of her Life-Death Barrier himself.
"Hmph."
For some reason, Chun-bong shot a boastful smirk at Namgung Su-ah before settling into a cross-legged position.
"Let's go, Oppa."
"Ready, Chun?"
"Okay, Seo."
Chun-bong, who had closed her eyes, peeked one open slightly.
"I think I could do even better if you gave me a kiss."
"Ahem. You shouldn't do this with such impure thoughts. Focus."
"Tsk."
Chun-bong closed her eyes again. Namgung Su-ah watched her with a peculiar look in her eyes.
Seo-jun gave an awkward smile and placed his hand flat against Chun-bong’s back.
"Let's go."
* * *
The essence of the Life and Death Breakthrough Art was simple.
It involved breaking through the Life-Death Barrier located near the Baihui point to connect the Governing and Conception vessels.
Once these vessels were linked, internal energy would form a massive circuit within the body, allowing the martial artist to naturally absorb the energy of heaven and earth.
In the process, the Middle Dantian would be fully activated, and the Upper Dantian would begin to open slightly—leading into the deeper mysteries of Qi and Spirit.
In short, the result was reaching the Super Peak Realm.
With her eyes closed, Chun-bong gulped down the golden inner core she had received from Seo-jun.
Whoosh!
The Azure Cloud Qi of the Azure Cloud Divine Art—which was nearly identical to Chun-bong’s own internal energy—erupted, flooding her insides.
Simultaneously, she activated the Life and Death Breakthrough Art. The flow of internal energy through her meridians grew increasingly violent, eventually transforming into a wildly surging torrent.
Focus…!
Chun-bong concentrated on that flow with all her might.
This wasn't just a simple advancement. It was an opportunity created by her Oppa, a grand step taken to stand just a little closer to him.
If she could reach the Super Peak Realm, undergo Bone-cleansing and Body-changing, and become a curvy, well-endowed Geum Chun-bong, absolutely nothing could be better.
Sharpened by her earnest desire for a larger chest, Chun-bong’s concentration clamped down, seizing control of the rampaging internal energy.
Rumble!
The vanguard of her internal energy took on a specific shape. It resembled a battering ram meant to shatter castle gates, or a massive harpoon.
How such a thing was possible remained a mystery, but this was the very function of the Life and Death Breakthrough Art. It was a completely nonsensical martial art where things just worked as long as you followed the instructions.
Ugh…!
Chun-bong focused even harder. Sharper. Just a little more.
Flash!
In an instant, her Qi fell under perfect control. Chun-bong felt it. The mental imagery contained within Seo-jun’s inner core was guiding her.
Her heart swelled. Beads of sweat formed on her brow.
How long am I going to just keep receiving everything?
The moment her resolve burst forth, the spear of internal energy aimed at the Baihui point slammed into the Life-Death Barrier.
BOOOOOOOOM!!
It felt as if heaven and earth were being created anew. Her mind flashed white. Through the small hole that had been pierced, her internal energy began to circulate.
One more time…!
Rumble!
From the Baihui to the Yintang, Tiantu, Shanzhong, Zhongwan, Qihai, and finally the Huiyin.
The internal energy that had descended along the Conception vessel now surged upward along the Governing vessel.
From the Huiyin to the Changqiang, Mingmen, Lingtai, Dazhui, Yuzhen, and finally back to the Baihui.
Fwaaaaaaaah!
The Life-Death Barrier was completely obliterated. Chun-bong’s internal energy began to circulate rapidly through the Governing and Conception vessels.
"Ah…!"
Chun-bong’s eyes snapped open. A platinum light erupted from her gaze.
She trembled, feeling the overwhelmingly powerful flow of internal energy.
Is this… the world as seen by the Super Peak Realm…!
Her body drifted upward, hovering about an inch off the ground. Chun-bong reined in her concentration, which had nearly slipped away in her euphoria, and focused on her body once more.
Crack, snap!
Her body was breaking down and being recreated. Bone-cleansing and Body-changing. The ultimate, mysterious miracle of martial arts.
Ngh…!
Chun-bong endured the sheer agony of her entire body being crushed and rebuilt.
Just a little more.
Now, the era of the New Chun-bong was beginning.
* * *
Seo-jun stared intently at Chun-bong as she underwent Bone-cleansing and Body-changing.
Three faint flowers bloomed behind her head. Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown. She had successfully achieved the realm.
Maintaining his silence so as not to disturb her concentration, Seo-jun gestured to Namgung Su-ah. She nodded, and the two of them stepped out of the secluded room.
"Oof, my aching bones…"
Crack! Seo-jun stretched his stiff body.
"Good job."
"I didn't do anything. Chun-bong did it all."
It was just exhausting watching her so anxiously.
Namgung Su-ah chuckled and grabbed Seo-jun’s arm, pulling it snugly against her chest. In technical terms, this was called linking arms.
"By the way, did something happen with Geum Mae? Her atmosphere is completely different."
"Um… well, something did happen."
"Hmm…"
Namgung Su-ah’s eyes narrowed slightly, highlighting her blue pupils.
"You haven't forgotten about my wish, have you?"
"Nope."
"Hehe, let's go."
Namgung Su-ah took the lead, pulling Seo-jun along.
There was plenty of space in the estate, so there was no need for her to attempt her breakthrough in the same room as Chun-bong. It would be a disaster if their energies interfered with each other.
For that reason, Namgung Su-ah planned to tackle her Life-Death Barrier in a different secluded room a short distance away.
As he was being pulled along, a sudden thought struck Seo-jun.
A flower in each hand… if I’m not careful, I might end up with a knife in each side…
A chilling sensation ran down his spine.
…He was genuinely afraid.
* * *
Having consumed a Small Restoration Pill, Namgung Su-ah also successfully broke through her Life-Death Barrier without much trouble.
Seo-jun quietly left the secluded room to avoid disturbing her and finally caught his breath.
"Phew."
Crack!
As he was stretching, Pae Jin-gwang approached him with long strides, looking as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.
"Is it over?"
"Yes, pretty much."
"Good grief. Does this even make sense?"
"What now?"
"I'm talking about that Life and Death Breakthrough Art. If word of this gets out into the Murim, the average level of martial artists will skyrocket overnight."
"Hmm, is it really that big of a deal?"
Pae Jin-gwang let out a hearty laugh.
"Right, I've got you now, you rascal. You said you couldn't maintain that realm from before, right?"
"So?"
"Let's see you take a beating today."
Pae Jin-gwang grinned fiercely. Seo-jun looked at him with a sour expression.
Come to think of it…
He actually had a grudge against Pae Jin-gwang. The man was guilty of receiving baby talk from Geum Chun-bong, even if it had only happened in Seo-jun's imagination…
Completely ignorant of his impending doom, Pae Jin-gwang grabbed Seo-jun by the scruff of his neck and hoisted him up.
"Let's go!"
A brutal bout of entirely unprovoked violence promptly descended upon Pae Jin-gwang.
* * *
A full day had passed.
"You crazy bastard…"
Pae Jin-gwang let out a hollow laugh, staring cross-eyed at the blade pointed directly at his throat.
"You said you couldn't maintain it, you brat!"
Seo-jun’s sword was currently floating in mid-air, the cold steel resting gently against Pae Jin-gwang’s neck.
If it were just an ordinary sword, he could have ignored it. But a blade completely enveloped in Heaven-Defying Sun-Moon Astral Qi was something even Pae Jin-gwang couldn't disregard.
Moreover, for some inexplicable reason, the kid’s punches today had felt particularly spiteful. Pae Jin-gwang wasn't seriously injured, but the beating had certainly left a bad taste in his mouth.
As Pae Jin-gwang grumbled, Seo-jun—who was sprawled on the ground from sheer exhaustion—replied.
"I can't maintain it."
"Then what the hell is this?"
"I just grew stronger."
"Is the Sword Control Art something you 'just' grow into?"
"I guess? I haven't even reached the Transcendent Realm yet."
"No… I, sigh… I just can't accept this. What a blasted world."
Pae Jin-gwang spat on the ground. How could such absurd talent even exist?
Any ordinary martial artist would have suffered a direct bout of Qi Deviation just from comparing themselves to this kid.
Seo-jun retrieved his sword and smoothly sheathed it.
"It wasn't a life-and-death duel, so what's the big deal? It's not like your neck would be easily sliced through by my Astral Qi anyway, old man."
It wasn't a joke; the man was incredibly sturdy. Had he called it the Heaven-Containing Realm? From what Seo-jun could see, regardless of legendary arts like the Diamond Indestructible Body, a human body simply couldn't get any tougher than this.
"What are you talking about? I still have a long way to go. My muscles haven't even reached their peak yet."
"Yeah, sure. Good luck with that."
Seo-jun let out a wide yawn and stood up.
It should be about time now, right?
* * *
When he returned to the secluded rooms, he saw Namgung Su-ah stepping outside.
"Oh, Noo— wait, what."
Seo-jun’s eyes trembled. Namgung Su-ah, who had washed up and changed her clothes, looked a bit… different than before.
…I’ll admit it. I was prejudiced.
So, it was actually possible for a chest to get even bigger?
The clothes she usually wore now looked exceptionally tight. Yes, he was referring to a very specific area.
Furthermore, since Bone-cleansing and Body-changing essentially reshaped the body to be perfectly optimized for one's martial arts, her physical proportions were now flawless.
It wasn't just a crudely large, unsightly chest.
"Um… I didn't expect this either."
Namgung Su-ah smiled awkwardly.
"It's not uncomfortable, is it?"
"No. My body feels lighter than ever."
"Then it's fine."
In fact, it was much better than fine.
As Seo-jun nodded with satisfaction, Namgung Su-ah finally gave a bright smile.
"By the way, where is Geum Mae?"
"Huh? Chun-bong hasn't come out yet?"
He had assumed she would have finished first, but that wasn't the case?
Seo-jun’s expression stiffened.
Don't tell me.
There was something that had been bothering him.
When the Sword God had inhabited Chun-bong’s body, her Spirit—or more accurately, the vessel containing her Spirit—had expanded.
It would be a serious problem if it expanded any further during her breakthrough. He had assumed it wouldn't go to that extent, that it would be fine…
Seo-jun kicked off the ground.
Thump!
His figure launched forward like a coiled spring, blurring out of sight. It was the Shadowless Under the Moon.
Moving with extreme stealth, Seo-jun cautiously opened the door to Chun-bong's secluded room…
"What."
The moment his Shadow Hiding Technique deactivated, his eyes met Chun-bong’s.
"Oh, you're here?"
Seo-jun covered his mouth at the sight of Chun-bong casually waving her hand.
"You, that's…"
Wait!? Geum Chun-bong’s appearance…!