Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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Heavenly Realm
I asked the Sword Demon how to shape the Ultimate Intent Technique into its strongest form. He gave a wry smile.
"That's not something anyone can tell you. It's a conclusion you reach by reflecting on your own life."
"Hmm..."
"It's the hardest stage. If you rashly set your own limits, you'll weaken. But if you aim for imagination that's too vast, your intent will backflow and burst your qi and blood."
"I-Isn't that dangerous?"
Bursting qi and blood!
As a physician, I knew there was no way to save someone in that state. And cases of qi and blood bursting were extremely rare. The Sword Demon scratched his head and said.
"Intent isn't that convenient a tool. If you desire power beyond your station, the backlash destroys both your qi and body."
"Hmm!"
"Who wouldn't want the world's greatest martial art? But there's no helping it. You have no choice but to find the most appropriate benchmark between ideals and reality's limits and maximize your capabilities."
"I see."
The Ultimate Intent Technique manifests the strongest form of one's intent, but it must align perfectly with one's own capabilities.
It must also be true to one's heart.
Achieving an outstanding Ultimate Intent Technique while meeting those preconditions was a grueling practice in itself.
As I pondered, the Sword Demon offered advice.
"For now, keep meditating and reflect on your life. Think about what you love most, what you want to do, what you must do, your dreams, and so on. The path will reveal itself."
"Yes, I understand."
Just as the Sword Demon advised.
Obtaining the Ultimate Intent Technique was proving one's life. It couldn't be decided hastily in a day or two. I had to approach it with utmost caution, refining it delicately like carving a sculpture.
'It will be the process of establishing my own martial art.'
I immersed myself even deeper into meditation practice. Until now, it had just been tedious training to handle threads of intent, but thinking about myself proved surprisingly headache-inducing.
'What am I? Who am I?'
In Zen practice, these were obvious questions, but for me, they were urgent.
I must know myself!
I had to answer what the life of the man called Baek Woong was!
"......"
But after days of racking my brains, all I could do was regurgitate past memories. I'd been blindly racing through 16 regressions without a moment to ponder lofty questions like who I was.
'What am I? Why am I doing this?'
It was truly difficult. Better to move my body, sweat buckets, and train physically. Probing who I was felt like summoning heart demons.
Another seven weeks passed like that. Days of meditation practice followed by passing on Wudang Sect techniques to the Sword Demon continued. The Sword Demon's skills seemed to advance daily, while I remained trapped in my own head.
In the end, I reached a cranky conclusion.
'Aw, screw it, I don't know! Let's store my memories in obsidian!'
That's right.
No one else, but I could view my memories the most objectively in the world, couldn't I?
The moment the idea struck, that night before bed, I pulled a large chunk of obsidian from my neck pouch. It was from the obsidian mine I'd visited with Miho and Dongyoung when I had time. This size could record not just my regressions but even detailed emotions.
"Good."
I placed both hands on the obsidian and took a deep breath.
Store all my past life memories and review them!
I figured that after doing so, I'd see Baek Woong as a third party and understand what kind of man he was.
Wooooong!!
After the memories were stored, I began reviewing them again.
From dying to an arrow in the first regression, to the pathetic end in the fifteenth at the hands of that White Xie, and up to my recent diligent martial training—they flashed by rapidly.
Watching my own memories wasn't pleasant.
'I... really lived a hard life.'
I could see why Mangnyang, receiving the obsidian's energy, had become unusually friendly. It wasn't bias; after getting the Heavenly Dark Secret Book, 'Baek Woong' had truly rolled like mad to survive. Seeing all that hardship made my throat ache and eyes well up.
And after reviewing the memories, I noticed two odd points.
"Huh? Come to think of it, why doesn't this guy show up anymore?"
In the tenth regression, when I first met Miho.
There was a Dongyoung warrior guarding the first floor of the building where Miho was. He wore a helmet, so his face was hidden.
His skill was nothing special; he was brutally defeated by Jarun, a peak expert of the Twelve Laws, and opened the way. But when he saw me, he suddenly went berserk, charged, and got his throat slit.
He clearly knew me.
It was memorable enough that I vaguely remembered it.
But if he was someone who sought 'power' from Miho, why didn't he appear later when Miho became my companion? I thought it was due to changing causal links per regression, but something felt off.
I debated letting it slide.
'Hmm... With that level of skill, it's probably not important.'
But this was a crucial time to focus on myself for the intent, so I soon dismissed it. Barely scraping first-class back then, he was no match for me now. Just some hanger-on around Miho anyway.
And another thing that bothered me.
'Why does no one notice the Heavenly Dark Secret Book's regression ability?'
It was good for me, but none of the beings I'd met so far noticed I was regressing via the Heavenly Dark Secret Book. Not even the Great Rara Immortal, or even the [Ancient Ruler].
...Why not?
For divine beings to miss a mere demonic book's sorcery was odd. I'd been too busy chasing goals to notice, but now pondering, I concluded.
'Right. It's a demonic book... Probably made by some heretic with bizarre sorcery.'
With my shallow sorcery knowledge, that's all I could think.
Truthfully, I wanted to show the Heavenly Dark Secret Book to Astana's prophet, but flashing it rashly might make him flee or escape through space-time. The Imperial Grand Sorcerer's reaction to seeing it and escaping space-time was unnatural.
Reflecting on my life calmed my heart.
A solution to the current issue came naturally.
"Alright. I'll visit Wudang Sect later."
First, fully teach the Sword Demon Wudang techniques and get my share. Then, coax the confident Sword Demon to meet Wudang's Famous Dragon Child. I felt I'd gain something from that encounter.
About a year passed like that.
Time flies like clouds? I was so absorbed in training and mad sparring with the Sword Demon that I lost track. He insisted sparring was the best practice, dragging me into wooden sword bouts whenever possible. I took beatings but learned the Shadowless Soul-Severing Sword and sword insights from him.
That day, after ending sparring early, he spoke gravely.
"Big trouble, White Protector."
"What is it?"
Gazing at the sky with gloomy eyes, the Sword Demon said.
"The Protector Lion notified this morning he'll visit Shadowless Sect tomorrow."
"......!!"
I'd expected it, but hearing it stunned me. I said cautiously.
"Is it because we skipped the last Eight Demonic Gathering?"
"Probably."
"If the Protector Lion attacks Shadowless Sect, we can't hold."
My opinion was sincere.
Among the current Three Great Protector Lions, all possessed terrifying martial arts beyond peak level with Heavenly Spirit Dan. The Sword Demon was renowned, but not Protector Lion tier. Heavenly Spirit Dan's infinite internal energy meant even a slightly prolonged fight gave them overwhelming advantage over those without.
The Sword Demon nodded.
"I agree. My options aren't resistance, but flight or negotiation."
"What do you plan?"
"I already held a dawn meeting with my close aides to exchange views. I'll decide my course after hearing White Protector's words."
My position in Shadowless Sect was ambiguously nominal. Officially a protector, but Shadowless Sect never had such a rank originally. Elite warriors following the sect leader's bloodline trained Shadowless arts and were called Sword Lord or Sword Wolf.
As an elite few, their number totaled under twenty, around thirteen or fourteen. Yet they claimed the unorthodox skies because each was at least late first-class or peak expert. Shadowless Sect disciples' pride pierced the heavens.
Even those Shadowless Sect disciples treated me deferentially, bowing awkwardly. They all knew I was Sect Leader Dowager Seomun Hye's lifesaver, and Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong treated me like a direct disciple, instructing martial arts all day. So they felt a wall and we'd never properly talked.
I had no choice but to ponder.
'What would Mangnyang say in this situation?'
For big, important matters, I always sought Mangnyang's opinion first. It was usually wiser. But this life, our bond wasn't mended, so I had to judge and decide alone. Recalling my solo adventuring days, I took a deep breath.
A moment later, I said.
"Don't worry. Just talk to the Protector Lion first."
"Why do you think so?"
I grinned and showed him the neck pouch and golden nose ring.
"Because no matter what happens, we can evacuate."
"......?"
"This is the neck pouch, and this is the golden nose ring."
Soon after, I demonstrated and explained their powers to the Sword Demon. Witnessing the golden nose ring's teleportation and neck pouch's storage firsthand, he looked shocked. In a trembling voice, he said.
"G-Good heavens. I've never seen such treasures in my life."
He seemed aware of the neck pouch from Seomun Hye's mention. But the nose ring was new.
I'd never mentioned such treasures since joining Shadowless Sect. I feared the Sword Demon coveting them might cause non-training incidents. But now, with training time at risk, I had no choice.
"If worst comes to worst, everyone can escape safely."
"I see! Excellent."
The Sword Demon nodded and continued.
"Then tomorrow, when meeting the Protector Lion, only you and I will greet him. Put all other disciples in the neck pouch."
"That should work."
"I'll trust you."
I thought the Sword Demon bold. His method best secured Shadowless Sect's safety, sure. But pawning disciples' lives in the neck pouch—and he trusted me, even including Seomun Hye's!
'He really trusts me.'
This life, I'd never betray the Sword Demon. Even if disappointing him, I'd say it openly and accept the price. I vowed to myself once more.
Next day, per plan, all Shadowless Sect disciples went into the neck pouch. The Sword Demon and I loitered at the empty sect's main gate, waiting for the Protector Lion. With no one, we had to guard the gate ourselves to meet him quickly.
Shortly past noon, massive rain clouds approached Shadowless Sect.
Rumble
Sudden rain and wind whipped from the clouds, then vision blurred with raindrops and mist. Like a dragon spewing clouds, it was total fog. When rain stopped, leaving only heavy mist, a voice echoed with Six Harmonies Sword Energy.
[Long time no see, Sword Demon.]
Shururuk
In the next instant, a figure appeared before us.
He wore the Protector Lion's signature golden dragon mask. Build like a man in his twenties, slender. Seeing him, I let out a groan, and the Sword Demon wore a heavy expression.
Facing him, the Sword Demon politely cupped his fists.
"You've had a long journey, Dugu Jun."
That's right.
Emerging with mysterious mist was White Lotus Church's Water God Style Protector Lion, Dugu Jun! The Protector Lion of the church leader's strongest faction among the Four Great Martial Styles had come to speak with the Sword Demon.