Chapter 215
Chapter 215
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
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I received a large piece of obsidian from Miho and returned to the Central Plains. The obsidian was about two feet across, big enough that it took both arms to carry.
'With obsidian this size, I might even be able to store the fine details.'
The obsidian I used to pass memories to Mangryang and Miho had been no bigger than the palm of my hand, which only allowed me to convey the broad strokes of my fourteen past lives. Mangryang and Miho had absorbed my memories like reading a book, using the lingering emotions as signposts.
That was why, though they had read my memories, they hadn't gained the techniques, spells, or martial arts I had mastered.
But the larger the obsidian, the more memories I could compress into it. With a piece this size, I might even be able to transmit techniques and martial arts directly. For now, I stored the obsidian in my spatial pouch and headed to Mangryang.
After hearing my explanation of the obsidian, Mangryang said,
"In my view, the spell on that obsidian is ridiculously overpowered."
"Is it?"
"Daoist spells for transmitting memories do exist among conventional arts. But they require immense innate talent and acquired mastery of sorcery. You need to be a top-tier sorcerer at minimum, and even then, such people are rare across the entire Central Plains.
Simply using ore as a medium to store memories without any real restrictions? That's insanely efficient."
Mangryang continued after that explanation.
"Baek Woong, I think you'll need to gather as many demonic tomes as possible. The more spells you acquire from Astana's prophet, the easier your path forward will be."
"You're right."
I could trade demonic tomes with Astana's prophet for compensation. This time, I'd gotten the obsidian spell, so in my next life, I could get another. Keeping Mangryang's words in mind, a sudden thought struck me, and I asked,
"By the way, Mangryang, hasn't it been a while since White Lotus Cult announced their attack on the imperial palace?"
"I was just about to bring that up."
Mangryang sighed before speaking.
"It's strange, but White Lotus Cult suddenly started dragging their feet. They seemed ready to strike the palace at any moment, with the cult leader leading the guardian warriors, but then they just stopped all action. Instead, it looks like they're using funds from the Hwasin Ryu Han Clan to extend their influence across the Central Plains first."
"......!!"
What was this?
I'd been counting on White Lotus Cult to sweep through the palace, and all our plans hinged on that premise! If they failed to take the palace early, everything ahead would fall apart. After some thought, I said,
"Is the White Lotus Cult Leader hesitant about attacking the palace?"
"...I'm not sure. But the last time I saw him, he didn't seem to care about that at all. My guess is, if he's hesitating on the palace assault, it's due to some factor beyond raw power."
"Some other factor..."
Mangryang replied with a confident expression.
"Baek Woong, don't worry. I'll talk to the White Lotus Cult Leader again and get a clear read on his intentions."
"Don't push yourself..."
"Haha! Go visit Shadowless Sect without worry."
I was anxious deep down. Considering what lay ahead, Mangryang was right that I shouldn't reveal my identity to White Lotus Cult, but was letting things play out like this really okay? Shouldn't I drop everything and help Mangryang ensure White Lotus Cult dominated the martial world day and night? But no matter how I agonized, Mangryang's strategies outshone my own, so I had no choice but to follow.
Paat!
I flew via flight technique back to Shadowless Sect in Henan. Upon arrival, the gatekeepers recognized my face and showed little suspicion. Cupping my hands, I said,
"Please inform them that I've returned to receive further instruction."
"Young hero, just a moment..."
Suddenly, the guard captain stepped forward stealthily. He approached and whispered,
"Before seeing the sect leader, the young sect leader wishes to see you."
"......?"
"Come with me."
Bemused, I followed him.
'The young sect leader of Shadowless Sect is Seomun Hye, but why does she want to see me? I've altered my appearance with transformation arts, so I shouldn't look like Baek Woong...'
When I reached Seomun Hye's quarters, she was seated inside, waiting, and greeted me courteously.
"Young hero So Woong, I hope you've been well."
"It's good to see you again."
We had crossed paths several times during my month of martial training as So Woong, exchanging greetings, so we were acquaintances by this setup. Seomun Hye blinked at me for a moment, then took my hand delicately.
"Aren't you Baek Woong, young hero?!"
She had suspected after all!
It felt like a sudden frontal assault. Controlling my emotions, I replied with a calm expression.
"I'm not my brother."
"If that's true, may I touch your face as So Woong, young hero?"
"Do as you like."
After a while, Seomun Hye meticulously examined every contour of my face, then infused qi as she touched it. She was likely probing for unnatural aspects in my appearance, skin formation, or skeletal inconsistencies using her qi.
But after nearly half a shichen of persistent inspection, Seomun Hye sighed.
"Haa... You're not."
"I told you so."
Even as I answered, I inwardly marveled at Huaserming Physician's incredible skill. I'd trusted his transformation arts completely against Seomun Hye, and he'd succeeded perfectly, without the slightest discord detectable. Even qi penetration revealed no flaws—it was truly divine medicine. Not using implants helped, but Huaserming was a figure worthy of the title divine physician.
'If even a peak expert like Seomun Hye can't tell after this scrutiny, no one will.'
Seomun Hye fiddled with my cheek as she said,
"You're truly beautiful, young hero. If you grow up like this, you'll become one of the world's peerless beauties."
"Are you teasing me?"
"Uhu hu... Half of it is sincere."
Seomun Hye giggled brightly. It was a radiant, refined laugh that made it impossible to get angry. Gazing wistfully into space, she continued,
"Your brother may have rough looks, but he carried the bearing of a great hero. I admire him..."
"......"
"I'm sorry for prying so boldly. As recompense, I'll grant one request."
Recompense, huh.
Without hesitation, I said upon hearing her words,
"I'm curious why you were captured in a place like Pirate Isle. Tell me the reason."
Seomun Hye startled at my question.
"Ah!"
Then she said,
"Since it's a promise, I must tell you... I entered the Dark Classic Martial Tournament, an underground fighting event, lost, and had my body and mind subjugated. I vaguely recall being sold off to Pirate Isle after that."
"Why did you enter the Dark Classic Martial Tournament? You're the young sect leader of Shadowless Sect, the foremost evil sect, a sheltered flower, and a peak expert of the martial world—what could you possibly lack?"
"......"
Seomun Hye hesitated.
I'd rescued her from Pirate Isle multiple times as Baek Woong, but she never wanted to talk this far. I hadn't pressed her before, not wanting to burden her. But since things had come to this, I figured I'd learn it as a 'trade'.
"...I wanted to obtain the Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade."
"Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade?"
Come to think of it, I'd heard something like that. When Black Society Lord had explained the Dark Classic Martial Tournament before, he'd said the previous winner received prizes like the Wheel Blade Arts, Silver Rhythm Fruit, and Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade.
"Your main art is the sword, isn't it? Why go after a crescent blade?"
"I'd learned the secret that it concealed the world's supreme martial art."
"......!!"
"It was a secret even the organizer, Fighting Demon Gang, didn't know. If they'd known, they never would've offered it as a prize. They probably just saw it as an ordinary weapon."
"How did you find out?"
"That, I can't say."
Seomun Hye sighed.
"I'm Shadowless Sect's young sect leader, but my martial talent pales compared to Father's. To inherit Shadowless Sect, I needed greater power. So I aimed to uncover the Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade's secret and grow stronger."
By her words alone, Seomun Hye might seem like a dullard of the world, but nothing could be further from the truth. Reaching peak expert in her twenties made her a prodigy overflowing with talent, likely to dominate the world one day. It was just that her father, Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong, was such an unparalleled genius that she felt inferior.
Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade!
The supreme martial art of the world!
Tempting just to hear it. After a moment's thought, I said,
"That's odd. My brother said he never heard that story from you."
"I lacked the face to tell him. And I didn't want to put him in danger."
"What do you mean?"
Seomun Hye wore a sad expression.
"Anyone hearing my story would rush to challenge the current owner of the Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade. But he's a terrifying master—how could I endanger my lifesaver?"
Her words rang true.
Hearing that, my eyes gleamed.
"You know who the current owner of the Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade is."
"I have no duty to tell you that far."
"Why?"
"Didn't I say only the reason? And I can't put my benefactor's brother in danger."
"......"
From her current attitude, she wouldn't say no matter what. Even offering gold or treasures from my spatial pouch wouldn't work. But this was unexpectedly valuable information, so I wanted to extract it quickly if possible. After racking my brain, I said,
"Having heard this much, I'll find out the owner one way or another. It's simple: coax the info from Black Society Lord, Fighting Demon Gang's underling, or go straight to Fighting Demon Gang's leader."
"Don't do anything reckless. They're not to be trifled with."
"Then just tell me. Whether I challenge the owner is my decision, isn't it?"
"Um..."
"Think of it as repaying the life debt you owe my brother to me."
At my words, Seomun Hye looked exasperated.
"You're shameless!"
"I'm doing my best."
"Fine, your life is yours to risk."
Seomun Hye said, half-resigned.
"The current owner of the Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade is the prior Dark Classic Martial Tournament champion, known as the foremost expert beyond the borderlands."
"No way..."
Her following words made my eyes widen.
"The Twelve Laws Lord. He has the Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade."
The Twelve Laws, embodiment of Eastern martial arts itself, and its supreme ruler, the Twelve Laws Lord, as owner of the Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade!
Dumbfounded, I asked her,
"Twelve Laws Lord? The one supposedly sealed in the Divine Altar, unable to move—why would he appear in the Central Plains' Luoyang for the Dark Classic Martial Tournament and take the Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade?"
"I don't know the details. I only heard the winner was determined to be the Twelve Laws Lord."
"......!!"
"So I could let go of my desire for it in my heart."
"I see..."
I understood what Seomun Hye meant.
Who in the world could wrest the Purple Spirit Crescent Moon Blade from the Twelve Laws Lord's grasp?!
Not even Sword Demon might manage it. I thought to myself,
'Headache. Even if it holds the world's supreme martial art, it's meaningless in the Twelve Laws Lord's hands.'
At this point, the info was useless.
"Thanks anyway."
"Yes."
I parted from Seomun Hye and headed to where Sword Demon waited. He sat in a chair, calmly awaiting me, and spoke nonchalantly, as if already informed of my detour.
"You had quite the talk with my daughter."
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No matter. I've always wanted you to have a deep conversation with her someday."
Sword Demon fell silent briefly, then said,
"I don't care if you're Baek Woong or So Woong. What matters is you're a true martial artist, so I'll teach you with all I have."
"Thank you."
"But there's a condition."
"Yes?"
"No matter how much I like you, I'm the leader of a sect. Teaching an outsider advanced arts beyond a certain level violates sect rules. Do you understand?"
Scratching my temple, I said,
"You're saying I should formally join Shadowless Sect?"
Sword Demon nodded.
"Exactly. Do that, and I'm willing to teach you even our secret techniques. I'll immediately elevate your status to Guardian, equal to the young sect leader."
"......!!"
Sword Demon's offer was unprecedented.
Join Shadowless Sect, and he'd not only impart the secret manuals but grant the rank of Guardian, right below the sect leader? For a split second, loyalty to Thunder God Style gave me pause, but I cast it aside and replied.
"I accept."
In this life, I'd resolved to learn Shadowless Sect's arts.