Chapter 189
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: North Heaven Hall's Underground Training Chamber
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North Heaven Hall's underground training chamber.
Though newly constructed not long ago, its condition was indescribable.
The floor was shattered in places, and the walls were riddled with countless holes, leaving no intact spots.
All traces left by Seol Hwa-un during his closed-door training.
And now, in the center of that training chamber, Seol Hwa-un sat cross-legged, his figure floating lightly in the air.
Wuuuuuum!
A brilliant white light poured from his body more intensely than ever before.
This was the moment when Seol Hwa-un's Ice White Divine Art was evolving once more, ascending to yet another level.
Kukukuku!
Suddenly, his figure trembled violently. Veins bulged visibly across his body, and his skin flushed red-hot.
The precursor to qi deviation. An unforeseen crisis.
Seol Hwa-un's face twisted involuntarily.
'Ugh!'
Just as the Ice White Divine Art sought to advance, a portion of his inner energy suddenly transformed into Pure Yang Infinite Art and began to stir.
It resisted fiercely, as if refusing to tolerate any yin-cold energy stronger than itself.
'How could this happen...'
This was a situation Seol Hwa-un had never anticipated.
And rightly so—for in his previous life, the Pure Yang Infinite Art had always taken precedence, with the Nine Yin Immortal Art serving merely as a supplement. Conflicts like this never arose.
But in this life, things were different. He had strived to cultivate yin and yang energies in harmony.
At first, the Ice White Divine Art held superiority, but after absorbing the Jade Soothing Pill, he achieved instant mastery in the Pure Yang Infinite Art.
The Pure Yang Infinite Art—his primary art from his past life—continued its steep ascent thereafter, soon surpassing the Ice White Divine Art.
Yet now, as his journey to Mount Hua deepened his understanding of yin-cold arts and the Ice White Divine Art threatened to pull ahead once more, the Pure Yang Infinite Art was acting up.
'Had I known, I would have elevated the Pure Yang Infinite Art's realm first...'
But regrets were useless now. He needed to somehow pacify the Pure Yang Infinite Art immediately.
He poured all his effort into regulating his qi.
'Accept it already. This won't end well!'
Yet the Pure Yang Infinite Art rampaged on like a mad bull. Seol Hwa-un felt a tearing pain as if his meridians were ripping apart.
'Ugh!'
Thus, the tug-of-war between the Pure Yang Infinite Art and Seol Hwa-un dragged on.
How much time passed?
Seol Hwa-un began to feel his strength waning.
'No. At this rate, my meridians will burst.'
He gritted his teeth without realizing it.
'Fine. Let's see who wins.'
Seol Hwa-un summoned every last strand of his inner energy, enveloping the Pure Yang Infinite Art's qi entirely.
'I'll crush it completely with the Ice White Divine Art!'
The Pure Yang Infinite Art, trapped within the Ice White Divine Art's qi, rebelled fiercely.
'Urk!'
Intense pain surged from the internal backlash, but Seol Hwa-un forced himself to ignore it.
Yet at this rate, one of two things would happen: a massive explosion from the clashing energies within, or a forced unification.
'I won't give up. Never.'
The struggle between the two energies persisted for quite some time.
In the meantime, Seol Hwa-un's internals were turning into a complete mess.
“…….”
Even his consciousness began to blur. At this rate, even if he survived by some miracle, he would end up a cripple.
'Seol Hwa-un, pull yourself together.'
In that instant, his mind cleared coldly.
'You plan to crumble from something like this?'
The pride of the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor from his past life, the sense of responsibility as North Heaven Hall's leader in this one.
They roused his fading consciousness.
As if by magic, his awareness sharpened once more.
'There's always a way. Find it, Seol Hwa-un.'
Deep in contemplation upon contemplation, a certain verse suddenly came to mind.
'When yin reaches its extreme, it becomes yang undivided (達到極致的陰氣和陽氣不分). Yin at its peak is indistinguishable from yang.'
The ultimate essence of the Cold Heaven Cold Moon Art, taught by Mount Hua Sect's Grand Elder, Respond to Heaven Plum.
'Ah!'
In that moment, Seol Hwa-un fully comprehended the verse.
'……Yes. Yin and yang were never truly separate to begin with.'
Back when he first consumed the Jade Soothing Pill, Seol Hwa-un had already unified the Pure Yang Infinite Art and Ice White Divine Art.
That unification allowed him to freely convert yin-yang energies during his battle with the Blood Shadow Four Generals, securing his victory.
Yet at some point, he had begun treating yin and yang as distinct.
It must have started when he devised a harmony formula to blend the North Sea Ice Palace's yin-cold arts with the One Yang Art.
'While researching the harmony formula, I unconsciously began separating the Ice White Divine Art and Pure Yang Infinite Art.'
He had immersed himself so deeply in creating the harmony formula that it happened without him realizing.
'I see. My mind thought of them as one, but in practice, they weren't.'
Come to think of it, his art's progress had stagnated from that point onward.
Of course, he had grown through insights gained from battles against powerhouses like the Blood Sword General, but beyond those, even with substantial time invested, he remained at a standstill.
'I chalked it up to a lack of understanding in yin-cold arts.'
Even he found it absurd in hindsight.
'I had veered onto the wrong path without knowing.'
Truthfully, this stemmed from cultivating alone without a proper master.
While training initially at the North Sea Ice Palace, he had teachers like Seol Wi-myeong and the Ice Family Head, but after reaching the Martial Solitude Realm, he had trained mostly solo.
Of course, with his experience up to the Martial God Realm, he hadn't needed much outside help.
However, harmonizing yin and yang was uncharted territory for him, leading him to fall into self-righteousness unwittingly.
'I was too arrogant.'
Had he merely sought advice from the experts around him, he would have spotted the issue immediately.
While Seol Hwa-un attained this realization, the Pure Yang Infinite Art had already calmed.
'It was as if it waited for me to understand.'
The Pure Yang Infinite Art's qi merged seamlessly with his inner energy, as if it had never rampaged.
'In the end, they are not different.'
As Seol Hwa-un resumed his qi circulation, a faint golden glow—unlike before—emanated from his body.
Paaaa!
This time, Seol Hwa-un's inner energy truly advanced toward perfect harmony.
* * *
Red Wolf Sword once again paced near Seol Hwa-un's office today.
This had been his routine for the past ten days. After noon, he would come here, linger for about an hour, then leave.
Anxiety was plain on his face.
“…….”
Just then, someone approached him. It was Sa In-gyeol.
"Little Brother Sa, here again?"
"Ah, Brother Sa."
Sa In-gyeol had been staying at North Heaven Hall for nearly half a year now. In that time, Hong Seong-chil had secured lodgings as a retainer and moved out, leaving Sa In-gyeol still in the guest quarters.
He was practically a retainer already, yet for some reason, neither he nor North Heaven Hall's leadership said a word about it.
In the interim, Sa In-gyeol had grown close with many of North Heaven Hall's warriors, especially Red Wolf Sword, who was around the same age.
One a ronin, the other from the orthodox sects—an unlikely pair under normal circumstances—but North Heaven Hall made it possible.
It was a place where orthodox-unorthodox distinctions held no meaning, free of any discrimination.
"Waiting for the Hall Leader?"
Red Wolf Sword shook his head at Sa In-gyeol's question.
"Not exactly. He's a brilliant man; surely he'll emerge from closed-door training just fine before the duel."
"Then why come here every day with that anxious look?"
Red Wolf Sword's expression grew grave.
"......Until a month ago, immense aura and vibrations poured from the underground training chamber daily."
“…….”
"But now? No vibrations, not even a faint aura."
"Isn't that because he's deep in inner art cultivation?"
"For a whole month? It worries me sick. It couldn't be... something happened to the Hall Leader, could it?"
"Hmm."
"I want to burst in and check right now. But if it's nothing and I disturb his training...?"
Red Wolf Sword's concerns were certainly valid.
"Let's wait a few more days. With only five days left until the duel with the Fist Demon, he'll emerge soon if all's well, right?"
"Urgh, true, but I can't shake this unease..."
Just then, a voice rang out.
"I never knew the North Heaven Hall Leader thought of me so much."
The two whipped their heads toward the sudden voice.
"Ah!"
There stood Seol Hwa-un, looking haggard.
"Hall Leader!"
Red Wolf Sword rushed over, eyes glistening with tears.
"You're safe!"
"Everything's fine, but aren't you underestimating me a bit? Worried something might happen during mere closed-door training?"
"My apologies. I'm just overly worrisome..."
Seol Hwa-un chuckled.
"I'm kidding. I fully appreciate the North Heaven Hall Leader's sentiments. Quite touching, really."
Red Wolf Sword scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Hahaha..."
Seol Hwa-un's gaze shifted to Sa In-gyeol.
“…….”
Sa In-gyeol stared at Seol Hwa-un, considerably flustered.
'Something's changed.'
No overwhelming pressure or grand aura emanated from him.
Yet he couldn't pinpoint it exactly—clearly, some change had occurred within Seol Hwa-un.
'He must have achieved a major breakthrough in closed-door training!'
Red Wolf Sword, still at a lower realm, sensed nothing, but Sa In-gyeol faintly detected the shift.
Regaining his composure, he clasped his hands in a formal salute.
"Hall Leader."
"Long time no see, Hero Sa. What brings you here?"
Red Wolf Sword looked puzzled too.
"Come to think of it, we chatted about me without asking why Brother Sa came."
Sa In-gyeol spoke with a serious expression.
"Hall Leader Seol, take me as your retainer."
It was expected, so no surprise.
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
"Your conduct these past months more than qualifies you as my retainer. But why now, of all times?"
"I want to cheer for this duel as a member of North Heaven Hall."
“…….”
"It's against the Fist Demon, no less. Anxious as anyone might be, North Heaven Hall's people tense up but truly believe you'll win."
Sa In-gyeol's eyes sparkled.
"I want to join them in that."
Seol Hwa-un smiled.
"Welcome to North Heaven Hall, Hero Sa."
Sa In-gyeol saluted, bowing his head.
"Greetings from Retainer Sa. I look forward to working with you."
Watching this, a bright smile lit Red Wolf Sword's face.
'Wonderful! Just wonderful! The Hall Leader's safe, and now Brother Sa's officially one of us!'
Afterward, Seol Hwa-un bathed in warm water and changed into fresh martial robes.
Starved after surviving on fasting pills during training, he headed straight to the dining hall.
As he ate the soft porridge requested from the head chef, the leadership arrived upon hearing the news.
"Hall Leader!"
"Hall Leader!"
North Wind Brigade Leader, Defense Brigade Leader, Yu Gong-seon, Bing Cho-pung, One Sword Brigade Leader—all appeared at once.
Seol Hwa-un smiled at them.
"Everyone, long time no see. Any issues?"
Yu Gong-seon replied on their behalf.
"Yes. Hall Leader, you must have suffered."
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un met each of their eyes one by one. Gazes filled with joy, worry, anticipation, and steadfast trust.
'I see. So many people believe in me like this.'
A feeling different from his days as Martial Alliance Leader in his past life.
Seol Hwa-un asked them.
"How go the duel preparations?"