Chapter 17: Internal and External Heavenly Circuits (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 17: Internal and External Heavenly Circuits (2)
Whoosh!
The sound of the sword slicing through the air was sharp and crisp.
His forms unfolded like flowing water, his soaring movements so magnificent they would make any observer gasp in admiration.
Thud.
Seok Myeong, who had been spinning in a blur of motion, came to a sudden halt.
He stood still, staring at the tip of his sword held at a diagonal angle. The look in his eyes was far from ordinary.
Zzzzzzt.
At that moment, a faint energy, thin as a silken thread, began to bleed from the tip of the blade. Seok Myeong did not miss the opening and swung.
"Sea Wind Cloud Mist."
When currents quicken, the water temperature shifts and mist is born. It is even more so when the wind blows.
This was the sixteenth form of the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword. Finally, the Sea Wind Cloud Mist revealed itself.
The energy gathered at the tip of the sword erupted like a waterfall, and a massive surge of power pushed back the surroundings like a rising tide. Countless strands of Sword Aura filled the air.
With only thirty percent of his internal energy, Seok Myeong had unleashed the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword at a level of mastery equivalent to the sixth stage.
The result was dazzling.
Boom! Rumble!
The cave shook violently as if it were about to collapse. The destructive power was impressive, but the range was even more significant. As the mist that had spread in all directions vanished, sharp gouges—looking as if a wild beast had clawed them—were visible on every wall of the cave.
In that brief moment, the cave had been filled with a multitude of Sword Auras.
Click.
Seok Myeong sheathed his sword and surveyed the damage.
"This is truly formidable."
He hadn't invested much internal energy into the form. Yet, that small amount had produced enough destructive force to nearly bring the cave down. What if he had used his full strength? Something unimaginable would have happened. In the worst-case scenario, the entire Chaoyang Cave might have collapsed.
"Phew."
Seok Myeong exhaled, recalling the form he had just performed.
The Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword, improved by the Azure Cloud Taoist, consisted of sixteen forms in total—a refinement of the original twenty-two-form technique. Despite the reduction, it was difficult to find a single flaw in the art. The intended postures, the names of the forms, and the flow of qi aligned perfectly.
Furthermore, unlike the Heaven and Earth Sword, he could utilize every single form.
"I wish the Heaven and Earth Sword were like this."
Seok Myeong thought of the Heaven and Earth Sword. The forms he could properly use were still limited to the first through the fifth. From the sixth form to the ninth, the techniques were so jumbled that they were impossible to manifest.
"Well, it's not as if I fully understand the subtleties of the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword either."
He had never seen the original manual of the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword, just as he hadn't seen the one for the Heaven and Earth Sword. He simply hadn't reached a high enough rank. He had heard that such secret manuals were off-limits to everyone except a chosen few.
I'll have an opportunity someday.
Seok Myeong buried his regret and considered which situations called for the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword versus the Heaven and Earth Sword. His master had always told him that every time one gains enlightenment and reaches a higher realm, their movements change and their power doubles.
"In ordinary circumstances, I should use the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword. In dangerous situations, I'll use the Heaven and Earth Sword."
In terms of raw power, the Heaven and Earth Sword was superior. However, the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword allowed him to use a full range of forms, including effective techniques for concealing his true strength. For general use, it was the better choice.
Gurgle.
Suddenly feeling hungry, Seok Myeong looked up at the sky.
"Is it evening already?"
The narrow crack in the cave ceiling was shrouded in darkness. In truth, the crack was so small that the cave remained dim even in the morning. He had no choice but to look up frequently to check the time.
Thud.
Seok Myeong set his sword down. As usual, he prepared to practice his heart method.
His Dantian had advanced to a terrifying degree. By a rough estimate, he now possessed well over one Gapja of internal energy. At this level, he felt he wouldn't tire even if he fought an absolute master of the martial world.
"Master said... it was three Gapja."
Seok Myeong recalled the contents of the book his master had left behind. His master had said that his Demonic Qi went out of control in the year he reached three Gapja. According to those words, the more internal energy he accumulated, the tighter the Demonic Qi would choke him.
"I can't afford to waste time. I must devote myself further for the day of destiny."
Seok Myeong sat in the lotus position and began to circulate his inner qi.
*
A long time passed.
The tally marks he had carved into the cave wall had grown so numerous that there was no space left. Seok Myeong estimated that roughly two years had passed.
In the meantime, he had practiced the Vortex Fist, the Flying Stream Step, and the Illusory Lost Track Step whenever he had a spare moment. The Vortex Fist and Flying Stream Step were techniques he had practiced since childhood, so they were ingrained in his body. However, there were still many parts of footwork like the Illusory Lost Track Step that he didn't fully understand.
For instance, the "Heaven-Leaping Phantom Image."
The text for the technique read: 'Step upon the air and vanish; that is what is called the Illusory Illusion.'
Even though he had reached the seventh stage of the Illusory Lost Track Step, Seok Myeong still couldn't properly grasp its meaning.
Starting about a year and a half in, Seok Myeong set aside his footwork, fist arts, and sword techniques to focus solely on his internal energy heart method. He barely touched the Bigu Pills anymore. He had only started with a year's supply of food, but recently, Seok Myeong had gone long periods without eating. Three or four days was standard; sometimes he wouldn't eat for fifteen days, or even a full month.
Perhaps because of this, his physical condition looked dire. Seok Myeong, who had once been quite fit, now looked like nothing more than skin and bones.
However, he didn't care. His attention was focused entirely on the changes occurring within his body.
Slide.
'It's not a coincidence.'
The Demonic Qi, which had been moving according to the Dual Flow Exchange Technique, began to move of its own accord. It had started three days ago. It was moving independently of his will, manifesting a chilling violet energy.
'The energy that drove Master to his death.'
Demonic Qi beyond control. It had grown so massive that neither the Taiji Empty Heart nor the Dark Heaven Bracelet could restrain it any longer.
'Is the Azure Wind Origin Heart Method still not ready...?'
According to his original plan, he should have finished all preparations to fight the Demonic Qi by now. As the Demonic Qi grew, the power of the Azure Wind should have strengthened as well. Yet, there was still no reaction.
The Azure Wind was clearly a massive force, rotating in the opposite direction of the Demonic Qi, but it showed no sign of moving on its own.
'Why... why won't it move?'
Seok Myeong began to feel anxious. There wasn't much time left before the Demonic Qi exploded. There was no more room in his body to accumulate internal energy.
'Don't tell me my theory was wrong—ugh!'
It happened then.
His hands, resting in the lotus position, began to tremble.
Thump! Thump!
It felt as if something were hammering against his body from the inside. The qi gathering in his lower Dantian began to fluctuate wildly. Seok Myeong hurriedly circulated the Taiji Empty Heart. It was a primary refining method to temporarily halt a rampage.
However, as he manipulated his inner qi, Seok Myeong's eyes flew open at the sensation within his body.
'When did... s-six Gapja?!'
It was a truly staggering amount of internal energy. A massive force he had never imagined was writhing inside him.
'Is it because of the Dual Flow Exchange Technique?'
Two types of energy. It seemed he had absorbed twice the amount of energy. Seok Myeong quickly shook his head.
'N-no. That can't be it. This is just... it absorbed three Gapja of energy in an instant! To kill me!'
The energy writhed like a living creature. This was the true nature of Demonic Qi—a lethal energy that sought to occupy the body by surging internal strength in an instant.
Seok Myeong fell into despair. He was already struggling to handle one Gapja of pure Demonic Qi, but now there were three. There was simply no way to endure this. It was no different from trying to hold back a massive waterfall with his bare hands.
"Damn it! Move! I said move! Curse it all!"
Even though shouting during cultivation could cause internal injuries, Seok Myeong screamed. Even at this moment, as the Demonic Qi bared its teeth, the other energy—the leisurely Azure Wind—remained still. It was enough to drive him mad.
"Urgh! Gah!"
As the Demonic Qi surged backward violently, Seok Myeong vomited blood. But that was not the end; it was only the beginning. The Demonic Qi that had exploded in his lower Dantian moved toward his middle Dantian.
"Ugh, aaaargh!"
Seok Myeong screamed through gritted teeth, holding on with sheer tenacity. If he couldn't stop this, it was over. He had to hold out at least until the Azure Wind energy, derived from the Azure Wind Origin Heart Method, showed the intent to fight back.
Squelch!
A pain like a knife stabbing into his solar plexus continued.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Simultaneously, an excruciating pain, as if his head were being struck with a blunt weapon, followed. The energy was now beyond control. Seok Myeong's face turned beet red, and blood began to stream from his eyes and nose. The Demonic Qi was slowly leaking out through his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears—even through his skin.
Perhaps because the Demonic Qi was too strong, the energy of the Taiji Empty Heart remained huddled in a tiny corner of his lower Dantian. The Demonic Qi moved toward his upper Dantian.
Vroooooom—!
Clang! Clang! Clang—!
The Dark Heaven Bracelet vibrated and wailed violently. It was Seok Myeong's final line of defense. Its neutralizing power stood before the Demonic Qi that approached the upper Dantian to shatter his reason.
Screeeech.
The Demonic Qi surged even more violently, as if delighted. It intended to nullify even the neutralizing power with its overwhelming force.
"Guh...!"
Seok Myeong clutched his head and reached for the Azure Clarity Sword on the ground.
'It's no use. The Azure Wind energy still won't fight the Demonic Qi. I have to choose now. I've lost.'
Once the Demonic Qi erupted, it would be the end. He would become a Crazy Demon and tear the Qingcheng region apart, completely unable to control himself.
Grip.
Seok Myeong picked up the sword. With trembling eyes, he aimed the blade at his own abdomen.
Unfortunately, his situation was different from his master's. Song Hye had used a method to harmonize three types of energy, allowing her to survive for a time at the cost of her lifespan. But Seok Myeong was different. What he had chosen was a battle between the Demonic Qi and the Azure Wind energy. It was impossible to control three Gapja of pure Demonic Qi with mere Innate True Qi.
In the end, there was only one choice. Death. He had to end it here.
Rumble—!
As the Demonic Qi hammered at his mind until he was nearly insane, Seok Myeong gripped his sword and muttered to himself.
"Master, I am sorry. This unworthy disciple has achieved nothing and leaves like this."
Feeling a burning pain in his chest, Seok Myeong tried to put strength into the hand holding the sword. But something was strange.
'It's cool. Why is it cool?'
This was a cave. In a cave sealed on all sides with only a crack in the ceiling, how could a breeze blow in? Yet, it was truly cool. He didn't know where it was coming from, but a wind was definitely blowing. That cool breeze made Seok Myeong stop.
At the same time, one of the mnemonic chants of the Dual Flow Exchange Technique flashed through his mind.
Because the Internal Heavenly Circuit and the External Heavenly Circuit are performed together.
Like a left arm and a right arm. Two completely different energies move through different paths to protect the body.
Just before the Demonic Qi could burst out—just before Seok Myeong could plunge the sword into his own body—the rampaging energy was naturally absorbed back into his system. All because of this breeze that lightly fluttered his clothes.
"Then these things are..."
Only then did Seok Myeong realize why things had turned out this way.
The warm energy that felt like a breeze—the External Heavenly Circuit, which had been dissolved outside his body, had finally merged with the Internal Heavenly Circuit that had been circulating within. In other words, the Demonic Qi had meshed with the Azure Wind energy and returned to the lower Dantian.
The reason Seok Myeong had felt this energy wasn't moving was likely because its path of flow was not in the lower Dantian, but outside his body.
'It's not over yet.'
Seok Myeong gritted his teeth. The energy inside his body was still boiling. Around him, a colorless energy was shimmering.
Bang!
At that moment, Seok Myeong writhed in a pain incomparable to anything before. The pain didn't just strike his head; this time, it enveloped his entire body.
The Azure Wind energy of the Azure Wind Origin Heart Method and the Demonic Qi of the Demonic Energy Absorption Art had begun to fight in earnest.