Chapter 177
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: The Mount Hua Elder
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Seol Hwa-un asked.
“Who is that?”
“It’s one of our sect’s elders.”
“An elder of the Mount Hua Sect?”
“Yes.”
So Hye-ran added.
“He’s one of our sect’s Three Great Elders.”
A glint appeared in Seol Hwa-un’s eyes.
‘Three Great Elders?’
He asked calmly.
“Is there a reason I must meet him?”
“I figured you’d say that. The Grand Elder asked me to relay this message: ‘When yin qi reaches its pinnacle, it becomes indistinguishable from yang qi.’”
“……!”
Seol Hwa-un’s face subtly stiffened at the profound incantation. He couldn’t help but ask.
“Who is this elder?”
So Hye-ran chuckled softly.
“You’re finally showing interest. He’s Elder Eungcheon-ri. I doubt you’ve heard of him before. He rarely ever descends from the main peak.”
It was indeed an unfamiliar name.
“Could it be that this elder has cultivated a yin cold technique?”
So Hye-ran averted her gaze as if it were hard to answer.
“Well, you’ll find out when you meet him, won’t you?”
“……Suddenly, I’m intrigued. Lead the way. I’ll meet him.”
Seol Hwa-un immediately followed her to the South Peak Pavilion, the quarters of the Vermilion Bird Unit.
* * *
“Pleased to meet you. I am Eungcheon-ri.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Seol Hwa-un.”
Elder Eungcheon-ri, who exuded an otherworldly elegance, had a rather peculiar appearance in many ways.
His skin was as pale as if he had never seen the sun, yet taut like that of a young man.
In contrast, his hair and beard were completely white, making it hard to guess his age.
‘The Grand Elder must be well over seventy, at least.’
Seol Hwa-un examined Eungcheon-ri more closely.
His frame was so slight that he hardly seemed like a martial arts master.
‘But his aura…….’
It was extraordinary.
Far superior to the elders of other sects.
‘As expected of the Grand Elder? He outshines even the other Mount Hua elders I saw in the VIP seats.’
Eungcheon-ri spoke with a faint smile.
“I apologize for the inconvenience. After seeing your martial arts today, I simply couldn’t hold back and asked Hye-ran to arrange this.”
“…….”
“I wanted to speak with you alone like this.”
Currently, in So Hye-ran’s office, Seol Hwa-un and Eungcheon-ri sat facing each other alone.
So Hye-ran had escorted him only to the door and let Seol Hwa-un enter by himself.
Seol Hwa-un asked.
“What did the Vermilion Bird Unit Leader’s message mean?”
“Haha, it seems I tossed out a proper koan.”
“…….”
“It means exactly what it says. ‘When yin qi reaches its pinnacle, it becomes indistinguishable from yang qi.’”
Extending the meaning connected it to the principle that all things return to the one. However, no one in the martial world phrased it in terms of yin and yang qi like that.
“It’s the final profundity of the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art that I cultivate. Truth be told, even I haven’t fully comprehended it.”
A glint appeared in Seol Hwa-un’s eyes.
“Cold Sky Frost Moon Art?”
“It’s the only yin cold technique remaining in our sect. It’s also the main divine art I’ve practiced.”
“The Mount Hua Sect has a yin cold technique?”
“Hahaha. Why? Is there a rule that yin cold techniques can only exist in the North Sea Ice Palace?”
Judging by Eungcheon-ri’s level, the technique he cultivated was exceptionally profound.
‘I thought all pure yin arts had vanished…….’
In truth, the Central Plains’ climate was too warm to cultivate yin cold techniques effectively.
Moreover, one-sided divine arts lacked power and naturally fell out of use.
‘But not in the Mount Hua Sect?’
Eungcheon-ri said.
“I’ve devoted my life to the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art. I’m confident it rivals any divine art of our sect.”
Seol Hwa-un guessed what he was getting at.
“But lately, few in the Mount Hua Sect are cultivating the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art.”
“That’s exactly it! If mastered properly, it doesn’t fall short of our sect’s supreme divine art, the Purple Twilight Divine Skill!”
Eungcheon-ri’s face flushed with excitement.
“Perhaps it’s just too difficult to cultivate?”
“Well…….”
Unlike the North Sea, the Central Plains offered few ways to cultivate yin arts.
“You’d probably need to train at dawn when yin qi is abundant, in a natural frost cave. Why take the hard path when an easier one exists?”
Eungcheon-ri let out a deep sigh.
“Sigh. You’re right. Still, I think the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art is better than the Purple Twilight Divine Skill, which has such stringent requirements to even qualify for learning…….”
After venting his grievances, he fixed Seol Hwa-un with clear eyes.
“I dare to claim that the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art is the world’s foremost yin art. That’s why I’ve always been curious about the North Sea Ice Palace’s Ice White Divine Art.”
“Is that why you wanted to meet me? To confirm it?”
Eungcheon-ri smiled faintly.
“At first, I just wanted to observe your martial arts. And fortunately, I got to see them this afternoon.”
He was referring to the bout with Hwangbo Young at the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.
“Indeed, the Ice White Divine Art was astonishing. Your technique, which channels it fully into your fists, was even more so.”
“…….”
“As I said earlier, after seeing it, I simply had to meet you face-to-face.”
“Is there something specific you want?”
Eungcheon-ri gave a meaningful smile.
“How about a match with me?”
Seol Hwa-un nodded readily.
“Very well.”
He had been curious about the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art himself.
As Seol Hwa-un rose to head to the training ground, Eungcheon-ri stopped him.
“No. That’s not what I have in mind.”
He simply raised his palm.
“I propose a contest of internal energy.”
“……!”
A contest of internal energy.
Two masters press their palms together and push their internal energy into each other, deciding the victor by pure internal strength.
Seol Hwa-un frowned.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
The outcome of such a contest was brutal. The side that yielded even slightly not only lost but could end up crippled or dead.
It was no different from a battle to the death, which was why it had all but vanished in modern times.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not seeking a fight to the death with you.”
“…….”
“Here’s the deal. We’ll use only ten percent of our internal energy. And we stop immediately if either feels pushed back even a little.”
It would be safe, as Eungcheon-ri described. But it required mutual trust.
If even one harbored ill intent, killing the opponent would be all too easy.
“I trust you, Palace Lord. Do you trust me?”
“How amusing. How can I trust a man I’ve just met today?”
“So, you don’t trust me?”
“I trust myself.”
It was the pride of the North Sea Ice Palace’s Young Palace Lord.
‘No yin cold technique in the world surpasses mine.’
It was also his confidence in the Ice White Divine Art.
“Let’s do it.”
Seol Hwa-un pressed his palm against Eungcheon-ri’s. Using only one hand signified they wouldn’t go all out.
‘I trust my internal energy.’
Even if Eungcheon-ri broke the agreement, Seol Hwa-un was confident his profound internal strength could overcome it.
Whether sensing his resolve or not, Eungcheon-ri smiled gently.
“Then, begin.”
Wooong!
The internal energies rising from their dantians clashed at their joined palms.
Paaa!
The energy of Seol Hwa-un’s Ice White Divine Art surged forward like a raging bull.
“…….”
Yet Eungcheon-ri’s yin qi withstood the onslaught. It didn’t feel like a solid wall either.
Surprise crossed Seol Hwa-un’s face.
‘The yin qi…… is this soft?’
When his energy pushed, Eungcheon-ri’s yin qi seemed to yield.
But the scattered energy soon enveloped Seol Hwa-un’s like an embrace, softly reclaiming its place and maintaining balance.
‘Incredible.’
Even more astonishingly, for yin qi, it wasn’t particularly cold.
‘Less cold and more refreshingly cool, perhaps?’
It was truly hard to believe from Seol Hwa-un’s perspective.
‘To think such yin qi exists…….’
He now understood why Eungcheon-ri had so casually proposed the contest.
‘A clash between yin cold techniques poses no danger at all.’
It could block any yin qi, and even if it penetrated the body, it wouldn’t cause significant harm.
“…….”
As if by prior agreement, they withdrew their hands simultaneously.
“As expected, the North Sea Ice Palace’s divine art is intense and pure. Experiencing it firsthand confirms it.”
“I’m the one amazed. I’ve never encountered a yin cold technique like this.”
“Hahaha, the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art has that quality.”
Seated once more, the two delved deeply into each other’s divine arts.
Through the conversation, Seol Hwa-un couldn’t help but marvel.
‘I see. I was too fixated on the nature of yin qi itself.’
It was true that yin cold techniques were inherently cold and fierce. But that wasn’t the whole story.
The principles of softness conquering hardness and extremes connecting applied to yin cold techniques as well.
Seol Hwa-un had to admit it.
‘The Cold Sky Frost Moon Art has much to learn from.’
Moreover, during the contest, he had realized one more thing.
‘Elder Eungcheon-ri…… his internal strength is no less than mine.’
For a brief moment, he had clearly sensed the immense power slumbering in the elder’s dantian.
In sheer quantity, it even surpassed his own.
‘He said he’d devoted his life to the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art…… and it wasn’t just talk.’
Curiosity struck Seol Hwa-un.
“How many in Mount Hua currently cultivate the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art?”
At his question, Eungcheon-ri’s expression turned bitter.
“Sigh. Well…….”
Hesitating, he slowly spoke.
“Two. Myself and my master.”
It was shocking that there were only two, but something even more surprising came next.
“Elder Eung’s master must be quite advanced in age, yet still alive?”
Eungcheon-ri nodded.
“She’s hale and hearty. Spending her days happily with her fellow martial uncles and such.”
Something clicked in Seol Hwa-un’s mind.
“Surely they aren’t…….”
“You’re right on the mark. They’re our sect’s supreme elders.”
Seol Hwa-un knew what they were called.
“The Mount Hua Five Immortals.”
Eungcheon-ri smiled faintly.
“You knew of them after all. Among them, the White Flower Immortal is my master.”
Little was known about the Mount Hua Five Immortals, so White Flower Immortal was a new name to Seol Hwa-un.
‘I do know the most famous one, though…….’
“I came to meet you not just out of personal curiosity, but for another reason.”
“What is it?”
Instead of answering, he pulled a small letter from his robe and offered it.
“It’s from my master.”
The envelope read, “Personal delivery to the North Heaven Palace Lord.”
“I don’t know the contents myself. Though I can guess.”
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un slowly unfolded the letter. The script was forceful yet elegant.
The message itself was simple.
“……It’s a formal invitation to Mount Hua.”
“As I thought. They were thrilled to hear you’d entered the martial world.”
Seol Hwa-un asked.
“Is there some restriction keeping the Mount Hua Five Immortals from leaving the mountain?”
Eungcheon-ri’s eyes widened slightly.
“Sharp as ever. It’s a sect secret, so I can’t say for sure, but something like that.”
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un’s gaze returned to the letter.
At the end, it read:
[I wish to debate which yin cold technique reigns supreme.]
It was an arrogant yet confident declaration.
“How does the White Flower Immortal’s attainment in the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art compare to yours, Elder Eung?”
“How could I presume to compare myself to my master?”
“Be honest. I know your own attainment is remarkable.”
“Hmm.”
After a moment’s thought, Eungcheon-ri said.
“It wouldn’t be wrong to say she stands on the verge of great completion.”
“…….”
“She seems to have just one final hurdle left. I suspect that’s why she invited you.”
From his indirect experience through Eungcheon-ri, the Cold Sky Frost Moon Art was an ultimate art whose depths rivaled the Ice White Divine Art.
‘Great completion.’
Even his father, the Ice Emperor, hadn’t yet glimpsed the end of the Ice White Divine Art. What realm had the White Flower Immortal reached?
“I’ll accept the invitation.”