Chapter 245
Chapter 245
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 245
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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The day came to visit Dragon King's Valley again with the Sword Demon. Upon arriving at Dragon King's Valley, I could feel a powerful aura, just like before, lying in wait for us in formation. Soon after, the owner of that aura, Dokgo Seong, appeared before us.
Dokgo Seong twitched his eyebrows as he spoke.
"I'll give you my answer."
A moment later, Dokgo Seong said,
"I'll accept your request. I'll teach that Baek Woong fellow the ultimate technique of the Thunder God Style that I know."
"We are grateful for your kindness."
"But."
Dokgo Seong slowly descended from the sky using the Heavenly Emperor's technique. As his final step touched the ground, the additional condition he spoke reached our ears.
"There's something I'm curious about. You must share your information honestly, without holding anything back."
"Of course. We'll tell you everything we know."
The Sword Demon answered forthrightly, and Dokgo Seong glanced at us before saying,
"How much do you know about the White Lotus Cult and the Thunder God Style? And if you know anything about the other inheritors, tell me."
I looked at the Sword Demon, and he sent me a transmission.
[ Tell him everything you can. Just exclude anything too closely tied to our situation. ]
[ Understood. ]
With the Sword Demon's instructions, I began my explanation. It covered everything I knew about the Thunder God Style and the Four Great Martial Styles, the White Lotus Cult's current situation and structure, the martial prowess of the Cult Leader and the Dharma Protectors, and how the White Lotus Cult was tirelessly searching for a cure for the Young Cult Leader.
"Uh..."
As the story continued, Dokgo Seong's expression grew increasingly strange. It wasn't bewilderment at an absurd tale, but rather eyes questioning why I knew such details. Then I began recounting the inheritors of the Thunder God Style.
"As far as I know, the inheritors of the Thunder God Style are Lee Gwang and the Thunderclap Triad. Of course, there's also Jin So-cheong, Lee Gwang's disciple, and though unconfirmed, Lee Gwang has additional inheritors under him."
"Hmm... That makes sense... Lee Gwang has the duty to carry on his sect's lineage. And the Thunderclap Triad are the type to fend for themselves just fine."
Muttering to himself like that, Dokgo Seong said,
"I want to hear more details about Lee Gwang. Where is he now, and what is he doing?"
"Lee Gwang is the hall master of the Guanzhong Azure Dragon Martial Hall and is called Triple Excellence. He isn't widely renowned in the martial world, but in truth, he served as the Azure Dragon among the Four Imperial Assassins, who were peak experts from the previous imperial palace."
"... Imperial palace? Azure Dragon?"
"Yes."
"......"
Dokgo Seong's expression shifted to one of sheer absurdity, as if he'd heard a ridiculous story. Then he said,
"Fine, I'll let that slide for him. But what about this Jin So-cheong whom Lee Gwang took as a disciple? What kind of guy is he?"
"The greatest prodigy under heaven."
"......!!"
"Why else would Lee Gwang accept him as a disciple?"
"Hmm... True enough..."
Dokgo Seong, responding to my laced mutter, now turned to the Sword Demon and said,
"Sword Demon. You know the inner workings of the Thunder God Style this well, so why haven't you handed this child over to them?"
"I don't quite follow your meaning."
"The Thunder God Style is currently in a position where its very survival is threatened day by day. You must know that placing him under a master of the same sect would benefit both sides. Why take on unnecessary risks?"
The Sword Demon's eyes gleamed as he replied,
"Survival threatened? Is that truly the case?"
"... What do you mean?"
"From what I see, the Thunder God Style has received considerable leniency from the White Lotus Cult."
"What!"
"Isn't that right?"
The Sword Demon continued calmly.
"As I understand it, the Thunder God Style's greatest current inheritor, Triple Excellence Lee Gwang, is under constant surveillance by the Wind God Style. If the Wind God Style's Dharma Protector had sent out his subordinates long ago, or mobilized the White Lotus Cult's experts, the Thunder God Style would have been wiped out by now. Yet for some reason, the White Lotus Cult has only tracked their locations without taking any direct action."
"Urgh!"
"The same goes for the Thunderclap Triad. They hide in the shadows, secretly running the Crimson Dragon Sect and Black Moon Group in the martial world, but if the White Lotus Cult truly mobilized its intelligence network, their tails would be caught easily. The only reason they've survived this long is because the White Lotus Cult couldn't be bothered to even think about it."
Each of the Sword Demon's words coldly and objectively assessed the Thunder God Style's current state. It was because, as the supreme figure of the unorthodox sects, he could judge the martial world's situation from a perspective different from the blind fool. Dokgo Seong couldn't even muster a proper rebuttal and stood there like a mute who had eaten honey.
"There must have been orders from the White Lotus Cult Leader behind it all. The Wind God Style's Dharma Protector, Yong Bi-cheon, probably wants to crush the Thunder God Style at any moment, but the Cult Leader has issued a strict command to hold back, leaving him with no choice. In other words, you could say you've been safely extending your lifelines for over fifty years thanks to the Cult Leader's mercy."
"......"
"Don't you think sending my disciple under Lee Gwang's wing and provoking the Wind God Style would be far more dangerous for the Thunder God Style? Do you even know the Cult Leader's intentions? The true meaning behind the White Lotus Cult's actions? You have no plans for survival, yet you think handing him over to the Thunder God Style's master would be beneficial?"
"Keuk!"
The Sword Demon's words were so logically sound that Dokgo Seong groaned. After standing there dazed for a while, he said,
"You... you know so much."
"In any case, since you've promised with your own mouth, you must teach Baek, the White Protector, the Thunder God Style's ultimate techniques. But before that, I have something I want to know."
"What is it?"
"You've revealed yourself as a Thunder God Style expert, but you haven't said anything about your own seniority or why you're secluded in this Dragon King's Valley. I'd like you to clarify that."
"Fair enough. It might be better to tell you."
Our information seemed to have swayed him, as Dokgo Seong decided to reveal his background. He looked at us for a moment before saying,
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Dokgo Seong, senior brother to Lee Cheong-un, the former Thunder God Style Dharma Protector. To the Lee Gwang you mentioned, I am of the senior generation."
"......!!"
Senior brother to the previous Thunder God Style Dharma Protector, Lee Cheong-un!
That made him effectively on par with—or above—the Thunderclap Triad. Even across the entire current White Lotus Cult, there were likely few with greater age or seniority than Dokgo Seong. That meant his youthful appearance belied well over a hundred years. Hearing this, the Sword Demon asked,
"Then were you there the day the Thunder God Style was destroyed?"
"No. I wasn't."
Dokgo Seong shook his head firmly before saying,
"I had already left the White Lotus Cult before that. I wanted time for my personal martial arts training and had received permission from the Dharma Protector. Only later did I learn that the Thunder God Style had been expelled by the Cult Leader."
"So you've been secluded in Dragon King's Valley continuously since fifty years prior?"
"That's right."
Only then did I understand Dokgo Seong's strangely detached attitude.
He was of the Thunder God Style's highest seniority, but he was the type obsessed with martial arts to the point of leaving the White Lotus Cult for training. In that situation, even hearing of the Thunder God Style's fall, he couldn't go to the White Lotus Cult to verify it personally, so all he could do was train in Dragon King's Valley while biding his time for the future. For such a man, talk of reviving the Thunder God Style would naturally be bewildering.
The Sword Demon said,
"Even so, you should have emerged into the Central Plains to gather the remnants of the Thunder God Style."
"... That was when Juni came to me directly and explained."
"Juni? You mean Dokgo Jun, the Water God Style Dharma Protector?"
Dokgo Seong nodded.
"I left the Dokgo clan to join the Thunder God Style out of admiration for its martial arts, but originally, he and I are cousins. He knew I was in Dragon King's Valley and soon came to me, saying the Cult Leader had decided not to pursue the Thunder God Style further, so I shouldn't act rashly, and that their lives were guaranteed."
"So you were of the Water God Style's clan after all."
"I've cut ties with the clan now."
The full picture came into view. The Sword Demon seemed convinced of Dokgo Seong's words and pondered deeply before saying,
"But that's not the only reason you didn't emerge into the Central Plains. Were you perhaps in the midst of completing your own martial arts?"
"Yes."
Dokgo Seong crossed his arms as he spoke.
"To venture into the martial world before perfecting my own martial arts would be the height of folly. Training here was the best choice for me. I needed strength capable of opposing the Dharma Protector."
"You mean the Thunder God Style's swordsmanship?"
"Yes."
"Perfect. Then I have one more question."
"What is it?"
The Sword Demon glanced at me. Understanding his gaze, I stepped forward and said,
"I have mastered the Myriad Victory Sword Formula among the Thunder God Style's sword arts and am on the verge of initiating the Thunder Dragon Divine Sword. However, I've heard that upon mastering the Thunder Dragon Divine Sword, one can access the Thunder God Style swordsmanship's ultimate technique."
Dokgo Seong stared at me blankly before answering.
"It exists."
"I want to know what that technique is."
"Didn't your master teach you?"
"I was too busy mastering the Myriad Victory Sword Formula as a child."
"That makes sense..."
Muttering, Dokgo Seong said,
"The Thunder God Style swordsmanship's ultimate technique is the Thunder God Sword Dance."
"Thunder God Sword Dance? A dance of the Thunder God?"
"Exactly."
Dokgo Seong looked up at the sky before saying,
"Unlike the extremely practical spear arts, the Thunder God Style's swordsmanship developed as part of sacrificial rites. The Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship was the priests' self-defense martial art, the Myriad Victory Sword Formula a dance encompassing myriad changes used in the rites. The Thunder Dragon Divine Sword was used during the rites to receive heavenly thunder qi and facilitate the ceremony, culminating in the Thunder God Sword Dance to pay the utmost reverence to the god."
"......!!"
"Mastering the Thunder God Sword Dance means one possesses the qualities of a priest. It also means gaining the qualifications to become the White Lotus Cult Leader."
Dokgo Seong's answer was utterly unexpected.
'No way it was something like that?'
While teaching me, Lee Gwang had repeatedly said my 'swordsmanship was weak.' I thought it was because of his strong pride in the spear. But in truth, it was because the Thunder God Style's swordsmanship and its origins were for rites rather than actual combat. I'd heard bits about its origins, but I never imagined it was linked to the White Lotus Cult Leader position.
The Sword Demon, listening gravely, said,
"Then the Thunder God Sword Dance must also be an Intent Stage martial art. It probably requires complete mastery of the Myriad Victory Sword Formula and Thunder Dragon Divine Sword's paths."
"Yes."
"In your opinion, what would happen if the Thunder God Sword Dance clashed with the Thunder God Style spear arts' strongest technique? Assuming equal proficiency."
Hearing the Sword Demon's question, Dokgo Seong made a face like a sore spot had been prodded. Gritting his teeth for a moment, he answered,
"The spear arts would win nine times out of ten."
"As expected."
Dokgo Seong added, as if making excuses,
"The Thunder God Sword Dance isn't without combat applicability. Its master would undoubtedly become one of the martial world's top experts. However, the Thunder God Style spear arts, refined through countless battles over a thousand years, are the martial world's strongest techniques in their own right. At equal proficiency, the spear master would always hold the advantage."
While listening, I realized what the Sword Demon was worried about.
'The sword is weaker than the black spear...'
In Intent Stage martial arts, masters can fill each other's boundaries with Intent Cuts. But that doesn't erase the spear's inherent advantages. In fact, if the sword doesn't use Intent Cuts, it would continually be pushed back by the spear arts.
The Sword Demon's concern was precisely if I mastered the Thunder Dragon Divine Sword and entered the final technique, Thunder God Sword Dance, only for the results to be underwhelming!
With equal effort, the spear arts would be far stronger than the Thunder God Sword Dance. Lee Gwang had no qualms teaching me the sword's ultimate technique probably because he already knew its limits.
But this wasn't something to blame Lee Gwang for. He'd repeatedly said the spear was strongest from the start, but I'd chosen this path because the sword suited me better. This was a limitation inherent to the Thunder God Style's martial arts.
At a loss for words, I heard the Sword Demon say,
"Dokgo Seong. Did you seclude yourself in Dragon King's Valley to overcome that limitation of the Thunder God Style swordsmanship?"
"... You're a terrifying one. To deduce that far."
Dokgo Seong sighed.
"Yes. As the Thunder God Style swordsmanship's master, seventy years ago I keenly felt its limitations. From then on, I pondered how to improve it, and a few years before the Thunder God Style's fall, I secluded myself to research swordsmanship alone. I believed the Thunder God Style swordsmanship could surpass the Thunder God Sword Dance."
"And were there results?"
"......"
Dokgo Seong fell silent. Then he said,
"Sword Demon. Do you know why I'm sharing these secrets so freely?"
"What is it?"
"Entrust your disciple to me. If you do, I'm willing to pass on the essence of the Thunder God Style swordsmanship to him. Otherwise, I can't accept him as a disciple."
"That was my intention from the start."
"No. You must agree to one more thing."
A mad glint flashed in Dokgo Seong's eyes. It was the madness only a master who had devoted his life to martial arts could harbor.
"Don't resent me if he dies midway."
Just how grueling a training did he plan?
As I stood there, chills running down my spine at the sincerity of his words, the Sword Demon paused before saying,
"Of course. It might even be better that way."
"A man's word is heavier than a mountain of gold."
"We'll return soon. We can begin the transmission then."
"I'll be waiting."
Flash!
The Sword Demon and I exited Dragon King's Valley. Anxious, I said to him,
"Clan Lord. I haven't fully mastered the Coiling Dragon Sword or the Heavenly Pivot Sword yet. Learning the profundities of the Thunder God Style swordsmanship in this state..."
"What are you talking about? You think you'll fully master them?"
The Sword Demon shook his head in disbelief.
"That would take far too long. You've known for years that your realm has stagnated."
"... Yes."
Indeed. Under the Sword Demon's steady guidance, I'd inherited his sword insights and trained in the Coiling Dragon Sword, Heavenly Pivot Sword, and Jang Sam-bong's ultimate arts, but for the past few years, progress had stalled. The Sword Demon continued,
"Even a born genius struggles to master the Wudang Seven Ultimate Arts over a lifetime. If you persist with the Coiling Dragon Sword and Heavenly Pivot Sword's profundities as is, it would take at least a hundred years or more."
"Huh..."
"That's why you need another catalyst. By learning the essence of the Thunder God Style swordsmanship that Dokgo Seong researched his whole life, raise your own comprehension and martial experience. I believe that will stimulate you and elevate your stagnated sword realm."
"... Is that possible?"
Easy to say, but I knew executing it would be exceedingly difficult. How grueling had it been to brute-force my lacking comprehension to attain Sword Aura? If my comprehension proved insufficient and things went awry, I might suffer even more than before.
The Sword Demon fell silent before saying,
"We have to believe so. Otherwise, even after a hundred years, you won't surpass Lee Gwang."
"......"
The Sword Demon and I used Returning Flight to return to the Shadowless Sect. Then he said,
"To proceed with the next plan, we need to stabilize the sect. Spend the next few days loosening up and inspecting your own martial arts."
"What is the next plan?"
The Sword Demon stretched out on a chair and said,
"I'll tell you after you spar with Lee Gwang."
I swallowed hard.
The day to fight Lee Gwang as the third disciple was finally drawing near.