Chapter 3: Replacing the Dantian with a Sword? Is That Even Possible?
The woman continued her explanation of the tower.
[What I want from you is one thing. You must find the Dochik scattered across the heavens and earth and use them to seal the cracks in this tower. Of course, you can also release the beings I mentioned earlier.]
"You mean release them?"
Yeop Hyeon blinked in confusion for a moment before speaking up.
"What happens after that?"
[There are two possibilities. First, they kill you and take the tower. Second, you subdue them and make them serve you. Of course, right now, the first option is about ninety percent likely.]
Yeop Hyeon let out a wry smile. Was this a blessing or a curse?
After pondering deeply for a while, Yeop Hyeon suddenly lifted his head and asked,
"You... no, since you're a divine being, I'll call you Heavenly Maiden. Are you trapped in here too?"
[No!]
Yeop Hyeon pressed on like an interrogator.
"Then why are you here?"
[You talk too much!]
"......"
[You are currently the master of this tower. Every time you bring back a Dochik, your strength and control over the tower will greatly increase. Once you find one, you'll be able to command the first floor. If the enemies you face later aren't far stronger than you, you can even trap them inside the tower.
Right now, there's not a single Dochik left in this tower, so the seals are growing looser by the day. If the seals fully break, the tower will collapse, and the beings inside will flood back into the world. If that happens, the world you live in will be doomed. And you'd be the first sacrifice at their hands.]
Yeop Hyeon asked,
"Are you telling me to save the world?"
[First, you need to save yourself. The first seal will break in at most a year. Fail to stop it, and you'll have to bid farewell to this beautiful world.]
Yeop Hyeon clenched his fists as if making a vow. He slowly bowed toward the mysterious being before him and said,
"Teach me a martial art that doesn't require a dantian."
The Heavenly Maiden paused for a moment before replying.
[My cultivation method is different from the ordinary. Its difficulty is no exception. Once you start, you might even beg for death—so think it over carefully.]
Yeop Hyeon gave a self-mocking smile.
"There's no need to think. With my dantian destroyed, this is the only path left to me."
[Fair enough. Then listen well. As I said before, this method requires no dantian. You will use your sword in its place.]
Yeop Hyeon feigned surprise.
"Make a sword my dantian? Is that even possible?"
[It is. The path you're taking isn't the martial path, but the sword path. A sword serving as your dantian means the better the sword, the stronger your dantian. While others refine their dantians, you refine your sword.
You don't need to sit and absorb spiritual energy like others. Just find a good sword and absorb it. The better the sword, the faster your strength will grow. If you reach the minor accomplishment stage, your body will become a sword body. At that point, no ordinary sword can harm you, and every sword in the world will submit to you.]
Hearing those words, Yeop Hyeon could wait no longer.
[Did you see the three swords embedded at the top of the tower before you entered?]
"I did."
[Those three represent the pinnacles of the three sword paths in heaven and earth. Absorb them into your body to serve as your dantian, and you'll reach an unprecedented realm.]
Yeop Hyeon hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"From what I saw, those three swords seem to be sealing this tower. If I absorb them, won't it cause problems for the tower?"
[Nothing will happen. Trust me. I'll protect you.]
Though slightly dubious, Yeop Hyeon decided to believe the Heavenly Maiden. With his dantian ruined, he had no other choice anyway.
Her voice rang out again.
[Look at the sword before you.]
Yeop Hyeon gazed at the sword lying beside the white skeleton. It was about three cheok in length, a finger's width across, and its entire body gleamed with a crystalline silver light. Two tiny characters were engraved on the blade.
'A sword infused with spirit?'
[This sword has been sealed for twelve hundred years. Over that time, ninety percent of its spiritual power has faded, making it just right for you. I'll give you a manual—follow its instructions to absorb the sword. Succeed, and you'll jump straight from the fifth-grade Unceasing Realm to the sixth-grade Qi Transformation Realm.]
Yeop Hyeon couldn't shake his unease.
"Does that mean I could fail?"
[Yes.]
"Has anyone cultivated this way before?"
The Heavenly Maiden fell silent for a moment before answering.
[You're definitely the first. If you succeed, you'll be the pioneer—congratulations in advance.]
Yeop Hyeon wanted to cry from the shock.
"What happens if I fail?"
[The sword shatters, and so does your body. Simply put, you die.]
"......"
[With your dantian destroyed, aren't you already as good as dead? Why hesitate?]
Her words reignited the fire in Yeop Hyeon's eyes. She was right. His current dantian was useless. To save his sister Yeop Ryeong, he had to master this art!
No matter the cost—even his life!
Finally, Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"I'll do it!"
No sooner had he spoken than a beam of white light shot toward his forehead. Instantly, a flood of information poured into his mind.
Make your body a sword and your sword a dantian. Devour all swords with your dantian; they become your nourishment. Grow endlessly... endlessly...
Moments later, the white light that had illuminated his forehead shifted to the Lingxiao Sword. The blade trembled briefly before transforming into a streak of sword light and being sucked into Yeop Hyeon's body.
"Arghhh!"
In an instant, Yeop Hyeon's pupils dilated. His face twisted in agony.
It was pain worse than death!
At that moment, he felt as if a single sword was slicing him apart piece by piece.
As he screamed, the Heavenly Maiden's voice echoed in his mind.
[The sword is already inside you. Fail to endure now, and you won't make it your dantian—you might even lose your life!]
His entire body shook violently. It was a pain unlike any he'd ever known. Yeop Hyeon gritted his teeth with all his might.
'Fail, and it's death!'
As time dragged on, his face grew ghoul-like, his body quaking from the excruciating torment.
He nearly blacked out countless times. But Yeop Hyeon endured, clenching his jaw. Losing consciousness here might mean never waking again.
'I will endure!'
A full day passed in this life-or-death struggle. Suddenly, a faint sword hum rang out, and Yeop Hyeon collapsed to the floor. At the same time, a surge of vital energy spread through his body.
Where his dantian should have been, a small sword floated faintly.
And the Heavenly Maiden's voice filled the tower.
[I didn't think you'd actually succeed...]
Fortunately, the already unconscious Yeop Hyeon didn't hear her.
A long while passed.
Yeop Hyeon cautiously opened his eyes. Something felt off. He bolted upright and sat cross-legged.
"Have I... reached the Qi Transformation Realm?"
He sensed streams of energy weaving through every inch of his body. No—not energy.
This was sword qi! And from what should be his dantian, he felt the aura of a small sword.
At that moment, the Heavenly Maiden's voice returned.
[Yes, the Qi Transformation Realm.]
'I've truly entered the Qi Transformation Realm!'
Yeop Hyeon clenched his fists. His whole body began to tremble. He couldn't contain his exhilaration.
It was like wandering an endless abyss of darkness and spotting a single ray of light. Hope amid despair—how could he not be thrilled!
This was profoundly meaningful for Yeop Hyeon. Now, the Control Qi Realm was within reach. He could take his sister to Cangmu Academy once more.
[Why so excited?]
The Heavenly Maiden snapped.
[You've only just begun.]
"Hahaha, doesn't a laugh look good on me?"
The Heavenly Maiden spoke.
[Using a sword as your dantian means it will replace your ruined one from now on. But it's not all good. Swords have grades: Mundane Sword, Spirit Sword, Radiant Sword, True Sword, Heavenly Sword, Dao Sword, Immortal Sword. The one inside you was originally a True Sword, but after over a millennium, it's dropped to Spirit Sword grade.]
She paused to catch her breath.
"A sword is like a soul. If it perishes, so will you."
Yeop Hyeon's expression hardened instantly.
[To solve this, there are two ways. First, find a new Spirit Sword and absorb it to replenish the one inside you.
Second, find another sword and replace the one in your body. The better the sword, the stronger your dantian—and your power. But... you look like a broke nobody who can't even afford a Mundane Sword...]
Yeop Hyeon spoke up as if remembering something.
"What about those three swords at the top of the tower? What grade are they?"
[Unknown.]
"......"
[You think too much. Without those swords, your world would look very different now. Don't rush with swords. The one inside you will last about a year. Your top priority is sword refinement.]
'Sword refinement? How do I refine a sword?'
"How do I refine it?"
[Kill with the sword.]
"Pardon?"
[Swords are made for killing. Through slaughter, you'll naturally comprehend the sword's principles. You're just taking your first steps, so focus on speed and power first. Use the sword art I gave you to draw out the sword inside.]
Yeop Hyeon slowly closed his eyes. As he opened his palm, a sword gleam appeared above it, soon solidifying into a full blade resting on his hand.
It was the Lingxiao Sword he had absorbed!
Yeop Hyeon's eyes widened like a rabbit's as he shouted,
"I-it... a sword really appeared!"
[Yes. Handle it with utmost care. If it breaks, you die too. Now, you need an opponent.]
As her words ended, a phantom materialized before Yeop Hyeon.
[It's at the same Qi Transformation Realm as you. Fight it!]
In a flash, the phantom vanished from his sight.
The opponent's sword was too fast to track. Yeop Hyeon dodged on instinct. But as if anticipating it, the phantom twisted its blade toward his escape path.
The moment Yeop Hyeon's feet hit the ground, the sword grazed his chest.
"Arghhh!"