Chapter 542
Chapter 542
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 542
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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From that day onward, I engaged in repeated training, executing the forms of the Thunder Dragon Divine Sword while assimilating Heavenly Thunder Qi. At the same time, I worked to refine the sword techniques I possessed even more precisely. Though I had learned many sword arts, I had never fully mastered any to their utmost essence. As a result, the deeper I delved into the subtleties of swordsmanship, the more I felt like an empty shell. My immense inner energy, the power of the Coiling Dragon Heaven Axis Sword, and my accumulated know-how ensured I wouldn't lose to lesser opponents. But against transcendent masters, I was utterly defeated.
On the first month mark of my training, Dokgo Seong said in astonishment,
"Truly absurd inner energy and stamina."
"Is that so?"
"Your rest time hasn't even reached ten hours total. You're converting inner energy to stamina, yet there's no visible limit..."
Dokgo Seong, full of admiration, continued,
"But traces of other schools linger in your swordsmanship. What is that?"
"......"
"You need to tell me if you want me to accelerate your progress."
I used a secret transmission to consult Yi Cheong-un discreetly. He replied,
[It's fine to pass the Coiling Dragon Heaven Axis Sword to my martial brother. Even the Seven Great Ultimate Arts or Eight Immortal Divine Skills are okay.]
[Won't Dokgo Seong become a major variable later?]
[My martial brother won't emerge into the world until he reaches the supreme realm on his own. And even if he does, he'll absolutely be on my side.]
[Hmm... I see. Then why not the Black Obsidian?]
[The reason... I'll tell you once you finish training there. Anyway, everything else is fine, but not the Black Obsidian yet.]
"Understood."
Following Yi Cheong-un's advice, I taught Dokgo Seong everything I knew about the Coiling Dragon Heaven Axis Sword. He was greatly shocked.
"In the world! Such a sword art..."
He memorized the forms, seemingly reflecting on their profundity. Then, in a suspicious tone, he said,
"You've mastered such a peerless sword art, so why bother studying the Thunder God Style's swordsmanship anew?"
"Because the broader the foundation from diverse sword arts, the better. And no matter how excellent, this is an outer school ultimate art. I am of the Thunder God Style."
Pleased with my answer, Dokgo Seong nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Then I'll oversee your training more diligently. And teach me the Coiling Dragon Heaven Axis Sword bit by bit as well."
"Yes."
*Whoooong*
*Whoooong*
After that, I truly trained for nearly three months straight. More relentlessly than ever, I immersed myself in repetitive drills, hoping for even a spark of inspiration to emerge. Then, another month passed, and Dokgo Seong said,
"Your accumulation of Thunder Qi seems sufficient now. But your visualization is lacking, preventing that final step."
"Visualization?"
"Didn't you say Heavenly Thunder is lightning of thought? It's a form of intent technique requiring immense mental fortitude. The only special aspect is that mere intent isn't enough; you need Thunder Spirit Qi as a base to convert into Heavenly Thunder."
Dokgo Seong explained lightly, then continued.
"What is lightning? What is the world's mightiest Thunder Spirit and Thunder Method? You must concretize your idea of the strongest lightning. But you lack sufficient contemplation on it."
"The strongest lightning..."
I pondered deeply, then said,
"Does that mean I need to build confidence?"
"...It could be similar. But think carefully about what intent truly is."
Dokgo Seong clenched his fist tightly and said,
"Enhance your intent, and you can do things like this. Almost like sorcery."
*Crack!*
In that instant, three or four large branches behind Dokgo Seong lost form and shattered simultaneously. He had formed an immense intangible fist with his intent and applied pressure to space. Dusting his hands, he said,
"You can do this too. But in actual combat with martial arts, we rarely use such indirect attacks, instead blending intent to empower forms. Why do you think that is?"
I knew the answer, so I replied calmly.
"Because intent consumes too much mental energy. Relying solely on mental power isn't efficient."
"Right. That's correct. So why the high consumption?"
"Because interfering with the world using only mental power is exceedingly difficult. Intangible fists don't naturally exist."
Dokgo Seong nodded.
"Then... is manifesting lightning—a natural phenomenon—with intent also difficult?"
"......"
"The reason for accumulating Heavenly Thunder Qi through Thunder Dragon Divine Sword training was to lower that difficulty. In other words, visualizing [lightning] has become easy because the Thunder Qi in your body serves as the medium."
His eyes gleamed.
"That is the Thunder God Style's ultimate realm: the Heavenly Thunder Realm! Long-term Heavenly Thunder Qi training has already reduced the difficulty. Unlike other intent techniques, you needn't timidly restrain its power. Envision the strongest Thunder Method you can imagine!"
Hearing Dokgo Seong's advice, I realized the issue.
'Right! I've been mistaking it for having the same difficulty as other intent techniques.'
Unlike other martial branches, the Four Great Styles—including the Thunder God Style—are based on natural energies like thunder, water, fire, and wind, trained from the outset. Thus, long-time practitioners of the Four Great Styles have extreme affinity for their element. This makes intent techniques using real natural energy inherently more powerful.
Like a warrior channeling intent through a sword, natural energy is like a weapon to Four Great Styles masters!
Grasping the sense from Dokgo Seong's words, from that day I halved Heavenly Thunder Qi training and spent the rest in meditation. As he said, I needed to cultivate mental power internally to visualize the strongest lightning.
But even after two more months, I couldn't grasp it, growing frustrated. Finally, I asked Dokgo Seong,
"It's not working."
"No helping it. The Heavenly Thunder Realm doesn't come overnight. Even at the Thunder God Style's peak, only a tiny few attained it."
So saying, Dokgo Seong added,
"If it's truly impossible, try recalling spars with the strong. Experience against Four Great Styles masters would be ideal."
"......!!"
"They wield natural energy too."
His words sparked something, and I slapped my knee.
"Thank you!"
Experience sparring Four Great Styles masters?
I had plenty—rotting away!
I'd fought Wind God Style's grandmaster Yong Bi-cheon and Fire God Style's Han Baek-ryeong countless times. I'd also clashed with Water God Style a few times. Even within the Thunder God Style, I'd fought Jin So-cheong and Lee Gwang. Plus, while training the Seven Great Ultimate Arts under the Leader, I'd seen their applications and killing moves repeatedly. I began recalling those battle experiences.
Visualizing their form usage and natural energy manifestations, I thought,
'The strongest lightning... must at least crush the other Four Great Styles' natural energies.'
Lightning began growing in my mind. It felt like it had always been there, now finally taking form and expanding. Simultaneously, I thought of the strongest masters I'd seen, pondering if even they could withstand my lightning.
"......"
Difficult.
I could imagine lightning overpowering Wind God or Fire God Style ultimates, but piercing the Leader's Heart Heaven Infinite, Musashi's Divine Killing Strike, or the Twelve Laws' Heaven's Unbound Wings was hard to envision. Merely imagining it made my pores contract and sweat pour out.
The Absolute Realm—the final human pinnacle.
Those who reach it are so powerful they needn't mingle with inferiors.
Half-immortals.
If only I hadn't known; having witnessed it multiple times, I could only sigh. Could Thunder God Style arts truly defeat them?
What kept me from demonic obsession was Yi Cheong-un's Thunder God Spirit Soul. The supreme Thunder God Style realm, unyielding to prior Absolutes, gave me hope I'd reach it someday.
'Wait. But what lightning surpasses the Thunder God Spirit Soul?'
Unimaginable.
A thunder-embodied form attacking internally, near-immortal—stronger than that? Yi Cheong-un could probably pierce even Heart Heaven Infinite's mandala, which ached my head.
I halted rumination and trained Heavenly Thunder Qi. Moving my body eased the headaches somewhat.
Another three months passed. Dokgo Seong said,
"Thanks."
"Pardon?"
"Thanks to you, I mastered Coiling Dragon and Heaven Axis Sword, advancing my own realm a step."
"......"
I needed Heavenly Thunder, yet Dokgo Seong grew first?
Jealousy welled toward him, shocking me. I hadn't expected my talent to lag so far, even if Heavenly Thunder Realm was tough. But I steadied myself and refocused.
Right—I'd known from the start.
My talent is rock bottom. Even at transcendent heights, lacking insight to support it, tricks alone won't elevate me easily. Thus, I gritted my teeth and trained harder.
'Take that one step.'
I must grow stronger. To prevent comrades' unjust deaths. To reduce regressions and shatter this world's despairing fate.
"......"
Swinging my sword stirred stray thoughts.
Maybe saving the world was never my lot. Someone more fitting exists. My desperate efforts might just be selfishness. Perhaps abandon my regressed soul, live comfortably, and die.
But yielding my karma to another—what meaning? It'd render comrades' sacrifices vain. Talentless, I'm not that pathetic.
I can't whine. Whining ends it. Talentless, ugly, dim—but with grassroots tenacity alone, I've navigated this turbulent world.
Sweat-drenched, I collapsed in the mountain field, gazing skyward.
"This, I cannot abandon."
Proof of me.
Tenacity and effort.
Worldly affairs aren't solved by them alone—but I must try. Talentless without tenacity—how to survive this harsh world?!
As long as I breathe, moment by moment, I won't quit. No matter how paltry my tenacity and effort against talent, I won't kneel.
I rose again, accumulating Thunder Spirit Qi and immersing in visualization.
Lightning.
Awaken.
Grant me courage.
So I trained another two or three months?
Dokgo Seong said irritably,
"Strange. By now, you'd usually attain Heavenly Thunder Realm... Still condensing lightning internally?"
"......"
"I don't know. Seems you've surpassed what I can teach. But if you don't give up, I'll keep helping."
His words meant he'd nearly given up inwardly. As a grandmaster's disciple, he'd expected Heavenly Thunder—perhaps disappointed. Normals would crumble mentally here.
Yet I shut my mouth and trained silently.
Whining changes nothing.
"...Awaken."
Lightning.
Awaken.
Grant me courage.
Daily mantra, envisioning lightning. Gigantic bolts incinerating world and mountains, diamond-shattering strikes—all faded unwittingly, failing visualization.
While piling Heavenly Thunder Qi repetitively, I finally grasped it.
'Because I feel I can't win.'
No matter how mighty the lightning from feeble imagination, sensing Absolute walls constantly barred true surpassing visualization. Thus, imperfect, it couldn't culminate as Heavenly Thunder within me.
Intent energy is imagination, but also heart's power.
If my heart can't shatter the wall, no form manifests.
Try Thunder God Spirit Soul?
But thunder embodiment far exceeded my intent capacity. Supreme realm demands dozens of advanced insights—overreach bursts the brain, self-destructing.
No method, so like asceticism, endless daily training and sleep.
One day, Yeo Dongbin appeared in my dream.
[Lotus Child.]
Yeo Dongbin held a sword hugged to his chest, gazing at me.
[Do you train the sword to exterminate demons?]
Curious why Yeo Dongbin suddenly questioned, I answered sincerely.
[No.]
[Then?]
[To eradicate gods and overcome this world's fate.]
[......]
[To survive. In this world where even souls find no salvation.]
Self-mockingly, I added. Yeo Dongbin said,
[Great ambitions for scant ability.]
[I hear that often.]
[I've watched you, but your ineptitude frustrates.]
So saying, Yeo Dongbin continued slowly.
[Lotus Child. Your sword speaks.]
[Pardon?]
[I'll give you a chance to hear the sword's voice.]
*Shhh*
Yeo Dongbin's form began fading. Realizing he transmitted memories via dream, but uncomprehending, I shouted.
[Wait! Don't you abhor interfering with Lotus Child or world? Why suddenly...]
[......]
No reply. I awoke.
"Ugh!"
Awakening, 96 seconds of sword dance flashed illusion-like before my eyes.
*Grip*
Clenching my fist, I recalled the illusion. Simultaneously, my hand tingled, insight awakening.
*Crack!*
Something burst in my mind. Like a scorching sacred sword piercing my crown, immense shock struck my inner self. Madly, I chained Thunder God Style sword arts fluidly, forsaking Dull Heaven Sword Method.
[Do you desire lightning?]
Yeo Dongbin's voice echoed hallucinatorily.
[Can that vaunted lightning handle this sword!!]
*Pa-ba-ba-bat*
Oddly, no single form from the 96-second dance appealed. Potent surely, but obsession urged Thunder God Style sword instead. Linking forms in trance, time seemed to slow.
Sword halberds danced.
Sang.
"......!!"
Indescribable—my heart pounded. Naturally, I swung my sword from my chest, becoming one. Otherwise, impossible to overcome Yeo Dongbin's 96-second sword dance illusion.
Such a sword exists?
Felt like countering absolute sword form with Thunder God Style dance.
Impossible reality, yet like Yeo Dongbin sparring openly.
Clouds and mists melted, sea and sky fused, sun and moon crossed. No known form could prevail. Arms near-necrotic, I poured all to endure that horrifying sword method.
The fierce sword dance ended; I flopped backward. Gazing at starry sky, I muttered,
"Start from the beginning."
Then, half a year of deathly training. But not visualizing lightning—just honing basics. Nor executed one of 96 forms. Couldn't.
Sweat flowed endlessly.
Daily recalling wondrous arts, refining Ten Victories Sword Principles, Thunder Dragon Divine Sword, Thunder God Sword Dance meticulously. Researching deficiencies ceaselessly. Meanwhile, inner lightning grew naturally.
Lightning.
Subside.
"You are within me."
Muttering, I neatly concluded Thunder God Sword Dance form. Thousands of repetitions felt fresh each time. Realizing ignorance in presumed knowledge—ongoing process.
One day, I approached Dokgo Seong, requesting a spar.
*Craaang!!*
"Huh!!"
Dokgo Seong startled, retreating. Misjudged my attack range—upper body nearly severed, dodged with Thunder Shadow Step Heaven's Execution. Dropping his sword, he said,
"You've achieved it."
"Yes."
I nodded. As he said, my sword rippled with Thunder Power-infused energy—that was Sword Thunder, naturally attained mid-training. Dokgo Seong, moved, said,
"Has your inner lightning grown?"
"No. That wasn't key."
"What?"
Dokgo Seong bewildered, I answered firmly.
"I merely heard the sword's voice."
I'd been mistaken.
Thought spewing lightning from sword meant fixating natural Thunder Power. But receiving 96 seconds, comparing to my Thunder God Style swordsmanship, indescribable powerlessness engulfed me.
That sword dance—utterly perfect.
Rivaling or surpassing Jang Sambong's pinnacle Coiling Dragon Heaven Axis Sword!
Infinitely free, mighty, heaven-subjugating Heaven-Earth Annihilation Sword!
Fit only for a hegemon.
Perfection despaired me, fearing forgetting all Thunder God Style sword arts. To confirm their inadequacy, I'd diligently reviewed, solidifying basics half a year.
Result: not so. Thunder God Style sword held potential to reach that dance. My unpolished basics squandered it. Crudely visualizing lightning deviated from the royal path.
Realizing my folly, Sword Thunder became mine naturally. No need for mighty lightning conception—sword and Thunder God Style intent unified.
Conviction that swordsmanship itself reaches celestial heights without shattering-all lightning—that drove Sword Thunder attainment.
"......"
"That's how."
"Overcoming Sword Thunder via sword's cry enlightenment... Unimaginable notion. Ascending via comparative deficiency... But that requires heaven-above-heavens-beyond..."
Dokgo Seong, stunned, mouth agape, said,
"That 96 seconds... can you demonstrate?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Forgot. After first transmission, none remained."
I said bitterly. Likely Yeo Dongbin's intent.
Dokgo Seong sighed.
"Hah! As you say, that's assuredly Sword Immortal Yeo Dongbin's Heavenly Escape Sword Method."
"Pardon?"
"Saw it in Thunder God Style records."
Dokgo Seong's lips and voice trembled.
"Tang Dynasty—proclaimed strongest in Central Plains martial history, invincible swordsmanship. Compared to it, bound to feel lacking."
"......!!"
"Hahaha! Sword Immortal blatantly compared Heavenly Escape Sword Method to Thunder God Style, granting breakthrough insight. Arrogant, yet no resentment. Heavenly Escape Sword Method—must acknowledge..."
Dokgo Seong laughed heartily, brushing it off.
But doubt lingered.
'Then why?'
Per Dokgo Seong, Heavenly Escape Sword Method—Tang era Central Plains strongest. I advanced stimulated by its incomplete form.
Yeo Dongbin mastered it to pinnacle. Why then transmit to me as formless?
Forms' presence—what difference?
Why discard forms advancing Heavenly Escape Sword Method?
'Yi Cheong-un said something similar.'
Absolute masters know the distinction?
As I pondered, Dokgo Seong called,
"Long time since training began. Rest fully today; return tomorrow."
Unfatigued, I could return to Zhangling Valley now.
But sensing he had words for a fellow Thunder God Style junior, I nodded.
"Yes."