Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Chakra Awakening
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Thanks to relentlessly pushing his body from the very first day, the sense of disconnection from his body had lessened.
So, starting on the second day, he trained in the Chakra Cultivation Method at the Black Tortoise Hall's private underground training ground.
And the result...
Flash!
A burst of red light erupted from Shin Yu-hyun's body in that instant.
"Mm."
Along with it, Shin Yu-hyun closed his eyes and let out a low groan.
A scorching energy was surging up from within him.
On top of that, the heat spreading through his entire body made him sweat just enough to feel good.
"Hoo."
A moment later, Shin Yu-hyun opened his eyes, savoring the lingering warmth, and clenched his fist tightly.
'It's done!'
He had achieved chakra opening—no, vital energy opening—three whole years earlier than in his previous life.
Mental fortitude had played a big part, but this time, it was even more thanks to the Immortal King's legacy and the mana control techniques he'd learned from Maria in his past life.
And it wasn't over yet.
'I've finally reached 2-Star.'
The moment he saw the congratulatory message for opening his chakra and becoming a 2-Star Superhuman, Shin Yu-hyun's chest swelled with emotion.
In his previous life, how desperately had he longed to achieve vital energy opening and reach 2-Star by this day?
But he'd never managed it.
It wasn't until three years after being expelled from the clan, when he met the European witch Maria and learned mana control techniques, that he finally succeeded.
Yet in this life, he'd opened his chakra and achieved the 2-Star rank he'd so desperately wanted.
'This is just the beginning.'
Shin Yu-hyun let a small smile play on his lips.
He had just become the lowest rank of 2-Star Superhuman.
Each Superhuman rank was further divided into sub-ranks based on vital energy—chakra—points.
At 41 points, it was lowest grade; 43 was low grade; 45 mid-grade; 47 high-grade; and 49 top-grade.
'But the mana I feel inside me seems much greater than when I just opened my vital energy before... Is this the effect of chakra too?'
Shin Yu-hyun savored the energy of the chakra flowing through his body.
He had only opened the 1st Gate Chakra, but he could already sense far more mana than he had after his vital energy opening.
'If I have this much mana already at just 2-Star...'
In his previous life, even after opening his vital energy, mana had always been scarce.
Because of that, he couldn't properly execute Body Strengthening Technique or mana-based sword arts to their full potential, and in the end, he'd been helpless against the Getia bastards.
But now, he had filled the gap that had held him back: mana.
'More than enough.'
With this amount of mana from chakra, he could wield not just the clan's sword techniques and Body Strengthening Technique, but even the Immortal King's skills without any shortfall.
Shin Yu-hyun smiled in satisfaction at the thought.
At that moment, a new system message appeared.
'What?'
Shin Yu-hyun's face showed surprise.
He could use the skills recorded in the Phnacoic Bible!
'Are these the skills the Immortal King possessed?'
The Phnacoic Bible contained records of the Immortal King's undead skills.
Some were unusable due to his low rank, but the core skill, Undead Creation, was available right now.
'I'll try summoning undead later.'
But Shin Yu-hyun decided to hold off on using the undead summoning skill. It was too conspicuous, and its unique aura might leak out.
'A trump card should stay hidden.'
Until he grew strong enough.
For now, he planned to keep the Immortal King's powers under wraps.
Another system message appeared before Shin Yu-hyun's eyes.
'Immortal King's Blessing?'
He looked intrigued.
He'd been wondering how to activate Immortal King's Blessing and Dominance Enhancement.
And here it was, activating the moment he hit 2-Star.
'This is...'
Checking the unique skills tied to Immortal King's Blessing, Shin Yu-hyun clicked his tongue inwardly in admiration.
Immortal King's Blessing allowed him to use three affiliated skills through black mana called Dark Soul.
Especially standout was Dark Soul Eater.
With it, he could grow stronger not just through training or experience, but through another method entirely.
'It's like a game.'
Who would've thought he could boost stats with points?
Didn't that mean he could raise his chakra even faster?
'Time to revise the plan.'
Shin Yu-hyun's lips curved upward.
Played right, he could catch up to—and surpass—the frontrunner successors quickly.
'The Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan will be mine.'
With his uncle Shin Sung-hyun as guardian and himself stronger than the other successors, it wasn't impossible.
So, rather than nibbling away at the clan bit by bit, he decided to devour it whole.
'Just get stronger.'
How to consume the clan?
Among the direct lineage, the closest to successor was Shin Cheol-min, Hall Leader of the Azure Dragon Sword Division and eldest son, known as Storm Sword.
His current realm was around 5-Star high-grade.
Impressively high for someone in his late twenties.
In other words, he needed to surpass that at minimum.
But achievements were needed too.
'First things first: take down a 2-Star boss.'
If he failed to hunt a 2-Star boss in a week, he'd be expelled before he could even dream of taking the clan.
But soloing one would be a massive achievement.
Plus, he could wrest a Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill from his second brother, Shin Cheol-jin.
'Next, bring Black Tortoise Hall under my control.'
Before devouring the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, securing authority over Black Tortoise Hall was key.
Thanks to his direct lineage privilege, Shin Yu-hyun sat as Hall Leader of Black Tortoise Hall, but it was an empty title.
The swordsmen there shunned him since he hadn't even opened his vital energy.
But by growing stronger and racking up achievements, he could win them over.
Superhumans who revered martial prowess yearned for strength and admired the strong.
'Let's check my abilities first.'
Organizing his thoughts, Shin Yu-hyun drew up the chakra within him.
Pure, high-grade mana from the chakra coursed thrillingly through his body.
Then, he drew his longsword and infused it with mana.
Vmmm.
Black aura began to coat the longsword.
The signature color of Heaven-Splitting Heart Method aura.
"Black aura, huh? Good."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled in relief.
The Chakra Cultivation Method was born from merging Heaven-Splitting Heart Method and the Immortal King's mana cultivation.
He'd worried the aura color might change, but it hadn't.
A different color would've raised suspicions from the clan.
"Next up, then..."
Having confirmed chakra opening and proper aura manifestation, Shin Yu-hyun activated Dark Soul Blaze.
Roar!
"So this is Dark Soul Blaze?"
Activating Dark Soul Blaze—black flames—in the Black Tortoise Hall's private underground training arena, Shin Yu-hyun's face lit up with awe.
Black flames blazed fiercely from his longsword, cloaked in black aura.
And he realized.
These black flames were the power of the man he'd seen before regressing—the Immortal King—who had reduced hundreds of magic beasts to ash.
'It looks just like an aura attribute.'
Typically, 3-Star Superhumans could manifest aura attributes.
Flame, lightning, ice, poison, explosion, and so on.
Dark Soul Blaze, one of the Immortal King's powers, resembled an aura attribute.
'Let's move a bit.'
With Dark Soul Blaze active, Shin Yu-hyun began executing forms of Shadowless Swordsmanship.
Roar!
Trails of black flame beautifully embroidered the air.
Without the flames, the forms were merely smooth, fluid motions like water.
But now, it looked like a graceful sword dance.
'Feels good.'
Each form sent mana from the 1st Gate Chakra circulating through his body, filling him with euphoria.
Gazing at the beautiful trails of black flame scattering in the air, Shin Yu-hyun sank into a trance.
Starting with Shadowless Swordsmanship, forms from various sword arts flowed from his blade.
How much time passed?
Completing the final motion, Shin Yu-hyun exhaled deeply and lowered his stance.
Before him stood a large, sturdy rock prepared for sword training.
Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship.
First Form: Ignorance.
Shuuuaaaak!
In an instant, a sharp whoosh cut the air as his longsword traced a black arc through the void toward the sturdy rock.
Slither.
The black flames seemed to burrow into the rock, only to burst out the other side in the blink of an eye.
The flames blazing gorgeously along the longsword, which had sliced diagonally upward through the rock to the right, flickered out.
Immediately after, Shin Yu-hyun spun around and slowly sheathed his sword.
Clank!
Crack! Roar!
Suddenly, a diagonal crack split across the sturdy rock, which then shattered into two pieces and was engulfed in black flames, crumbling to ash and vanishing.
"Not bad."
Gazing at where the rock had been, Shin Yu-hyun smiled in satisfaction.
Dark Soul Blaze could burn anything at his will.
'With this, I can take down a 2-Star boss solo.'
The affiliated skills from Immortal King's Blessing seemed plenty useful in combat.
Clank.
Suddenly, the hilt from the scabbard at his waist dropped to the floor.
"What the...?"
Startled, Shin Yu-hyun checked the longsword at his waist.
Shockingly, the blade inside the scabbard had shattered into pieces.
The hilt had fallen because it could no longer bear the weight.
Apparently, an ordinary longsword couldn't withstand Dark Soul Blaze.
"Good thing I found out early."
It was fortunate before heading to the dungeon for the named request.
If it had broken there, it would've been a huge problem.
Now, he could switch to something better.
"Guess I need to hit the armory."
The Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's armory.
One of the core facilities, storing secret manuals, elixirs, treasures, and artifact gear.
There should be a weapon that could endure Dark Soul Blaze.
"Problem is, I'll have to see Second Sister."
The Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's second daughter, guardian of the armory: Shin Ji-ah.