Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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I couldn't refuse the Twelve Rhythms Lord's proposal. No, since I'd come here for a martial duel in the first place, I was even grateful that he was making such an offer. On top of that, he was promising to reveal the whereabouts of Moon Luminary among the Seven Luminaries! All I had to do was endure for three seconds, so if I gave it my all, it was possible.
I ascended to the duel platform spear in hand and said,
"Aside from Moon Luminary, could you tell me the whereabouts of the other Seven Luminaries?"
"Even if I wanted to, I don't know anything else."
"...May I ask just one more question?"
"Do as you like."
I asked cautiously.
"Why were the Seven Luminaries scattered across the world in the first place? Doesn't receiving the blessings of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors mean the ancient Yin Dynasty once possessed all of them?"
"The reason the Yin Dynasty fell was the Seven Luminaries."
The Twelve Rhythms Lord, draped in his Milky Way Thread Whip, continued.
"I don't know the details, but I know a War of Enfeoffment of the Gods broke out because of the Seven Luminaries. Toward the end of that war, the Grand Tutor of Yin used his sorcery to scatter them across the world. That's why one could be tens of thousands of li away."
"War of Enfeoffment of the Gods."
"If you want to learn more, why not ask the Dao Lineage? Though it's so ancient, they might not have records."
"I have one more question."
I swallowed hard and said,
"If we gather all the Seven Luminaries and combine their powers, could we eliminate beings called Sea Gods or Ominous Gods?"
"......"
This question seemed unexpected, as the Twelve Rhythms Lord pondered for a moment. Then, with a wry smile, he replied.
"I don't know. It's true their power is immense, but the Four Sages' power is strong enough to shake the entire Realm of Immortals. We won't know until we gather them all."
"Hmm..."
The Twelve Rhythms Lord stated firmly.
"But it's possible. The stature of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors who bestowed the Seven Luminaries rivals the Sea Gods. As divine treasures that ushered in the human era, they should be sufficient."
From his words, I realized one fact. The Twelve Rhythms Lord before me desperately wished for the Seven Luminaries to be gathered as well. It made sense—fighting malevolent gods generation after generation, he would naturally crave the Seven Luminaries, the only potential means to defeat that enemy.
"What attribute is Haein among the Seven Luminaries?"
At that, the Twelve Rhythms Lord sighed.
"Hey, hey... aren't you asking too many questions? Let's make this the last one. It's not good to chatter on forever after climbing onto the duel platform."
"Ah, sorry."
"Haein belongs to Wood Luminary. It bolsters the power of the Divine Altar Tree, strengthening the barrier. That's how we repel the Sea Gods' and Ominous Gods' authority."
I inwardly sighed in relief. If Haein had turned out to be Moon Luminary, I'd have made a huge blunder. This was one assurance.
"Understood."
"Shall we begin then?"
Ssssh.
The Twelve Rhythms Lord's Milky Way Thread Whip unfurled. It moved like a living serpent, a phenomenon born from his true qi reaching its zenith. Its movements, defying even gravity, were utterly menacing.
I gripped my spear and thought.
'The Twelve Rhythms Lord's skill... at minimum, he's on the level of a Dharma Protector Lion.'
I'd thought this before coming here. The Saula Temple Lord and Jo Immortal Sage Temple Lord wielded tremendous power. If the Twelve Rhythms Lord surpassed even them, among those I'd seen, only the Dharma Protector Lion compared.
I imagined the White Lotus Cult's Dharma Protector Lion, Han Baekryeong, standing before me. I recalled our duel then.
Could I endure three seconds?
'It might be impossible...'
I groaned inwardly. Han Baekryeong hadn't even shown his full power—he'd toyed with me. Even my sole advantage, internal energy, had fallen behind. He was a monstrous martial artist beyond human limits. That was the power of the leader of the Fire God Style, the White Lotus Cult's Dharma Protectors.
With no choice, I said to the Twelve Rhythms Lord.
"Twelve Rhythms Lord. I'll give my all in this fight. So please grant me a moment to use a secret art."
"Intriguing. Tell me when you're ready."
I decided to reveal every hidden card I'd kept secret until now. In truth, over these dozen years in Goryeo lands, I'd gained much. But revealing it all could invite future danger, so I'd only used what was necessary. Showing everything was the mark of an amateur.
But now was different. The Twelve Rhythms Lord would reveal Moon Luminary's location if I endured three seconds. Repeating the journey here in my next reincarnation would take over a decade, and even then, luck might keep him from meeting me. This trial was worth at least a century.
Swish.
'This isn't the time to hold back.'
I drew needles from my bosom. Slowly, following the incantation of Hua Tuo's 108 Needles, I controlled my true qi flow and pierced the acupoints in precise order. After all twenty-three blood points, I pierced between the finger joints sequentially, completing the great art.
Hua Tuo's 108 Needles
Secret Ultimate Art
Thunder Wind Mutual Striking
"Haaaaa..."
Simultaneously, I assumed the Hua Tuo Golden Healer stance, spreading true qi through every pore. At the same time, the internal energy I'd suppressed with the Heavenly Seal Blood Sealing Method surged forth. The method allowed only necessary inner force to be used, minimizing waste—but now unleashed, it overflowed like a golden flood.
Kukukukuku.
The qi flowing from my body took vivid tangible form, radiating intense golden light. Even at full power before, I'd never seen this. Likely the long-term Heavenly Seal Blood Sealing had influenced it.
Watching my state, the Twelve Rhythms Lord murmured lowly.
"The Book of Changes states: 'Pulsing with thunder and lightning (鼓之以雷霆) is thunder and wind pulsing together (雷風相薄).' Could the medical school's acupuncture great art manifest that wondrous realm?"
Kuuu...
I quickly regained composure, controlling the massive qi. Thrusting my spear forward, I said,
"Impressive insight. You saw through the principle of Hua Tuo's 108 Needles at a glance."
"I'm more shocked. Isn't that forcibly opening the Eight Gates? Remarkable medicine."
"It was originally for saving patients whose life force was fading, but it can be used in combat like this."
"Eye-opening today."
Indeed.
Hua Tuo's 108 Needles Secret Ultimate Art: Thunder Wind Mutual Striking!
This was a technique I'd occasionally adapted against the Spear Dragon Sect Lord and Twelve Rhythms experts—forcibly opening the internal Eight Gates to temporarily surge true qi fiercely and swiftly. It also activated the body's involuntary muscles.
But that was merely mimicking internally. The true essence was the great art with needles. Piercing the acupoints for Thunder Wind Mutual Striking triggered it, automatically releasing the Heavenly Seal Blood Sealing and unleashing potential beyond original limits.
I felt the massive golden qi enveloping me writhing like a living thing. The next instant, my eyes flashed as I steadied my breath.
"Haaaaa...!!"
Thunder God Style
Ultimate Battle Art
Thunder Roar
Kiiiing—!!
The potential raised by Thunder Wind Mutual Striking boiled once more under Thunder Roar. I'd tested stacking them under Mount Huashen. At the moment the overlapped effect manifested, I could truly surpass human physical limits.
Noticing Thunder Roar, the Twelve Rhythms Lord's eyes twitched.
"What is that? An incredible technique."
Controlling the thunder flow through my body, I said,
"The three-second promise still holds, right?"
"Of course. This'll be fun."
Paaang.
The instant he finished speaking, I launched the first strike. No rule against it, so it was obvious. Even if it failed, he'd waste a second defending. Simultaneously, the air shattered as my body lightly exceeded the speed of sound.
Kukukwang!!
A simple spear strike blending lan and na into a spinning blow. Yet it carved three zhang of destruction into the platform, hurling stone debris like a storm. A massive wave of energy swept the floor, collapsing the entire arena. With both arts active, I could wield my vast internal energy without waste.
Bwoong.
That moment, I experienced an instant as if time and space froze.
The moment of enlightenment.
Shorter than a breath's fraction—beyond human perception.
Yet the Twelve Rhythms Lord was there, having dodged a zhang away, coiling his Milky Way Thread Whip. Impossible to speak in that instant, yet miraculously, I [heard] his mind.
[Excellent. Baek Woong, since you've shown a precious secret art, I'll respond in kind.]
Qi pulsed from his entire body. Unlike my golden qi, a pure silver qi enveloped him. It softly wrapped the Milky Way Thread Whip, then massively coalesced.
[Fierce River Chaotic Silk Whip Method.]
Kwachung!
The next instant, a colossal ice dragon surged into the air. Seeming illusory, it was his technique freezing the surroundings with tremendous ice qi. I was stunned in that split second.
'No way... a human commanding nature...!!'
Mastering it!
Unable to express my shock in that fleeting moment, his Milky Way Thread Whip moved at invisible speed, unleashing hundreds of ice dragons. I barely discerned three attacks; the rest, I couldn't even sense. With no choice, I relied solely on Thunder Wind Mutual Striking and Thunder Roar to dodge each one.
Paat.
Kwakwang.
My body sparking lightning, I moved with Thunder Shadow Step: Heaven Piercer. Dozens of times faster than usual, yet dodging the Twelve Rhythms Lord's ice dragons was all I could manage. Without one of the arts, my body would've frozen and burst in that exchange.
Another fleeting instant. I felt his intent.
[Well done! Take this second move.]
Fierce River Chaotic Silk Whip Method
Willow Burst Capture Pull Draw弹 Explode
"......!!"
Willow qi sealed my space, Burst attack slowed my movements, Capture and Na qi seemed to seize my spear. Terrifyingly, four supreme techniques unfolded simultaneously—I had no resistance.
Brilliant offense, exquisite method!
Proof he was a grandmaster supreme expert.
Having halted me with Willow Burst Capture Na, the Twelve Rhythms Lord used Suction Seal to pull me in, then Push Seal to drain my qi. The pain of my body hammered like with a club left me dazed.
Flung to the ground like a ball, as I hastily rose,弹 Seal and Explode Seal assaulted simultaneously. Everything the Milky Way Thread Whip grazed exploded and repelled. I clung to my spear, flying backward, but couldn't land properly and crashed.
'Kuhk!'
Kwang!
Using Thunder God Style's movement, I bounced upward. Soaring six zhang into the air, the traces of his martial art were stark: the ground shrouded in ice and snow like mist. Realizing I'd been attacked there sent chills down my spine.
"Haah!!"
In a final desperate swing, I unleashed massive spear flames. Ten crescent qi blasts, each dozens of zhang wide—no one could scorn them. Watching my assault from the ground to the end, the Twelve Rhythms Lord suddenly dropped his hand.
And my attack vanished from sight.
[Seamless Heavenly Robe.]
Kukwang...!!
My body rose higher, piercing the building's ceiling. I'd floated to where the Divine Altar Tree was visible. No idea how high I'd been flung, but clearly, I was defeated beyond continuing the fight.
'What... did I even get hit by...?'
Kuung—with that sound, my body fell from the air moments later. Not wanting to die, I minimized impact with a final landing technique.
Limbs numb, blood pouring from my body, I forcibly stood.
"Ugh..."
"Excellent. You endured three moves."
"...Are you mocking me?"
I ground my teeth. I'd thought stacking Thunder Wind Mutual Striking and Thunder Roar would let me match even Lee Gwang, but that notion shattered miserably. From first strike to the third, the Twelve Rhythms Lord hadn't landed a solid hit—he'd toyed with me throughout. He chuckled and said.
"Anyone else absolutely couldn't have endured. By unconsciously activating protective qi with two secret arts, you survived. You qualify to hear Moon Luminary's location."
"Protective qi?"
"Not true Protective Battle Qi realm, though."
Sheathing his Milky Way Thread Whip, the Twelve Rhythms Lord continued.
"Your terrifying internal energy, acupuncture secret, and potent breathing formed a trinity, yielding defense beyond mere protective qi. Worthy of praise."
"......"
I was speechless.
'Too strong...'
Saula Temple Lord and Jo Immortal Sage Temple Lord were strong, but not like this. The Twelve Rhythms Lord transcended Peak or Transcendent realms—an unparalleled powerhouse. The title of Eastern Martial World's Sovereign and Guardian was no empty words.
The Twelve Rhythms Lord said.
"First, you need treatment... ah, no need?"
Ssssh.
As he said, my body was already visibly healing minor scratches, lacerations, burns, and frostbite vanishing in seconds. Thunder Wind Mutual Striking and Thunder Roar synergized, maximally boosting my vitality. Staggering, I said.
"I'm a physician myself, so no need to worry."
"Kekeke, spirited. Very good."
Grinning for some reason, he soon said what I most wanted to hear.
"Moon Luminary's treasure is held by the Emperor of the Eastern Seas."
"Emperor of the Eastern Seas?"
"Yes."
The Twelve Rhythms Lord said.
"Moon Luminary's treasure is called the Heavenly Congealed Cloud Sword, one of the Three Divine Implements."
============================ Author's Note ============================
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