Chapter 24: Martial World Grade Directory (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 24: Martial World Grade Directory (2)
It was the sixth martial challenge letter.
The handwriting was clearly human.
His heart racing with anticipation, Seok Myeong quickly snatched the Martial World Grade Directory from the goatee-wearing man’s hand and scanned the entry.
Name: Baek Yang-cheon
Age: Thirty-six
Alias: Invincible Divine Sword
Area of Activity: Chengdu and surrounding areas
Location: Entrance of Sichuan Mountain, Wu Town
Personality: Strong-willed
Signature Art: Galaxy Twelve Golden Wheel Technique
Martial Level: Unconfirmed
“Invincible Divine Sword? That’s quite a title.”
Seok Myeong was impressed. The alias carried a staggering amount of pride, as if the man believed he could cut down anything under heaven.
At the same time, however, he felt a flicker of doubt. He looked at the line a few rows down.
‘Unconfirmed?’
Seok Myeong found it strange. Unlike most of the other Top 200 masters, who were listed as being in the Peak Realm, this man’s level was marked as unconfirmed. It made him wonder how someone could be ranked among the Top 200 without even having their skills verified.
‘Well, I’ll find out once I get there.’
Seok Myeong composed himself and offered a polite bow.
“I am in your debt. I shall repay this favor in the future.”
With that, he immediately left the premises.
“Ho ho ho… what a strange turn of events.”
Once Seok Myeong was gone, the Branch Leader let out a hollow laugh of disbelief. He had assumed all the letters were undeliverable, yet one had actually found its mark. It defied common sense. How could information from a third-rate booklet written fifty years ago be accurate?
“Is a martial artist from that era still alive? No, that’s impossible…”
According to the absurd information in that book, this Baek Yang-cheon would be eighty-six years old by now. In this world, it was a simple reality that most martial artists didn't live past seventy unless they reached the Transcendental Realm.
It had to be a highly unlikely coincidence—perhaps just another martial artist named Baek Yang-cheon living there.
“It’s probably just someone with the same name. Regardless… for a Qingcheng brat, he seems to have a decent character.”
He wiped the cold sweat from his palms onto his robes.
*
“Whew. Hmph.”
As he headed toward Sichuan Mountain, Seok Myeong checked his physical condition.
Though he had survived the rampage of demonic qi and successfully obtained a miraculous encounter, his body was in a more complicated state than he had initially expected.
First, the total internal energy he could feel was Six Gapja. However, the amount of pure energy he could actually mobilize at will was only One Gapja.
And even that One Gapja wasn't the whole story.
While he could draw out pure energy, once that One Gapja was exhausted, three different types of energy would surge out simultaneously: violet, white, and blue.
And if he pushed beyond that?
The demonic qi would begin to run wild, and a powerful demonic nature would invade his mind. If not for the Dark Heaven Bracelet, he would have turned into a Crazy Demon instantly.
That was the current state of his body.
“It’s dangerous to stay like this.”
The Azure Origin Heart Method of the Qingcheng Sect had succeeded in suppressing the demonic qi, but it hadn't integrated it. The demonic qi simply wasn't merging with his own energy. It was half a success—or half a failure.
There had to be a way. Something revolutionary that could unify these three energies.
Seok Myeong asked passersby for directions as he made his way toward the entrance of Sichuan Mountain. After walking for about four hours, he saw a large mountain that looked like a bamboo hat resting on a person’s head.
“Excuse me.”
Seeing an old man working hard in a field, Seok Myeong approached him. The old man, wearing a headcloth, looked visibly exhausted.
“What is it?”
“I’d like to ask for directions.”
“To where?”
“Is that mountain over there Sichuan Mountain?”
“Why ask something so obvious?”
“Ah… I see. Thank you.”
Seok Myeong scratched his head and bowed. Having lived his entire life within the Taoist sect, he was still unaccustomed to dealing with strangers.
Passing through several more fields, he eventually reached what appeared to be the mountain entrance.
“The location should be here…”
All he saw was a desolate path that seemed to be the entrance to Sichuan Mountain. Moreover, as evening fell, the atmosphere grew lonely, and there wasn't a single sign of human presence.
Thinking he might have come to the wrong place, Seok Myeong checked the location again. Beside the path stood a stone marker clearly engraved with: Entrance to Sichuan Mountain, Wu Town.
“Huh?”
Just as he was looking around in confusion, he spotted a solitary thatched hut built in a secluded spot. It looked incredibly old, but it was the only house in the vicinity.
‘So this is what they meant by "you'll know when you get there"!’
Recalling the reply to his martial challenge letter, Seok Myeong ran toward the hut without hesitation.
*
“Is anyone there?”
“……”
“Is anyone there?”
Standing before the thatched hut enclosed by a wooden fence, Seok Myeong called out in an awkward voice. But there was no answer.
“Is no one home?”
Seok Myeong looked toward the small wooden porch of the hut. It was in slightly better condition than his own house near Wolseong Lake on Mount Qingcheng, but it was still on the verge of collapsing from age.
“Is anyone there?”
Seok Myeong called out once more. Again, there was no response.
“I guess not…”
Glancing at the martial challenge letter, Seok Myeong peered inside the gate. He couldn't see anyone, nor could he sense any presence.
Just as a disappointed Seok Myeong was about to turn away—
“Who is it?”
Rustle.
An old man’s voice drifted from inside. It sounded frail, as if he were ill. However, glad to find someone there, Seok Myeong spoke up with renewed energy.
“Ah, I am a junior of the martial world who sent out a martial challenge letter fifteen days ago. The person who accepted the challenge told me to come in person, so I have taken the liberty of visiting.”
“……”
The old man paused for a moment before speaking again.
“Come in.”
“No, it seems you are unwell… I shall take my leave and return on another day.”
“I am the one who sent that letter. So, it is fine. Come in.”
“…!”
Seok Myeong’s eyes widened.
According to the Martial World Grade Directory, Baek Yang-cheon was thirty-six years old. No matter how much illness might have sapped his strength, the voice of a man who should still be in his prime couldn't possibly sound like that.
‘Did something go wrong?’
But he had no choice. He had sent the challenge, and the recipient had accepted. Now, the man himself was telling him to enter.
“Then, I shall intrude.”
Seok Myeong stepped over the fence and strode inside.
*
An old man with a haggard face, clearly showing signs of illness, lay inside, but the room was unexpectedly clean.
What stood out most was a sword hanging beneath the ridgepole. Even without seeing the blade, the scabbard was so ornate that it was obviously an exquisite weapon.
“You’ve arrived?”
The old man sat up to greet Seok Myeong. His face was framed by white hair and a long white beard.
“That is a fine sword.”
Seok Myeong offered a polite greeting and looked at the weapon.
“Does it look that way to you?”
“Yes. It doesn't seem like an ordinary blade.”
“You haven't even seen the steel. How can you tell?”
“If you look at the side of the leather wrapping the hilt, the color has faded. That alone shows how much the owner cherished this sword.”
“Heh.”
The old man’s gaze softened. He had been welcoming from the start, but the change was subtle.
“By the way, where might I find Baek Yang-cheon?”
Seok Myeong changed the subject, bringing up the name abruptly.
“That would be me.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, it’s me.”
Seok Myeong was momentarily speechless. However, he soon regained his composure and began to explain.
“Ah… there must be a misunderstanding. I am looking for a man named Baek Yang-cheon. He uses the alias ‘Invincible Divine Sword’ and practices the ‘Galaxy Twelve Golden Wheel Technique.’ Also…”
Seok Myeong pulled the booklet from his robes and checked it. He wanted to make sure he hadn't misremembered anything.
“Let me see that.”
As Seok Myeong stopped flipping through the pages halfway, the old man reached out his hand. Seok Myeong handed the book to him with both hands.
The old man slowly read the open page.
“Hmm… the surname and the location are correct, but nothing else is. First of all, my alias was not ‘Invincible Divine Sword,’ but ‘Flash Divine Sword.’ And the martial art I primarily use is not the ‘Galaxy Twelve Golden Wheel Technique,’ but the ‘Heavenly White Divine Art.’”
“What? Really?”
Seok Myeong looked at the old man with a look of utter absurdity. The opponent he had worked so hard to find was this old man. An old man who looked deathly ill.
“And I wasn't at the Peak Realm…”
The old man closed the book and set it on the floor.
“Though it was only for a time, I nearly reached the Absolute Realm.”
“Pardon?”
Seok Myeong’s eyebrows twitched in confusion. He was caught between shock and bewilderment. He couldn't fathom the intent of an old man who would boldly claim to have reached the Absolute Realm.
“Are you serious?”
“I am.”
“Sigh… this is just…”
Seok Myeong shook his head. For a moment, he wondered if the old man was telling the truth, but he quickly regained his calm. To think this old man was an absolute master? In the Qingcheng Sect, only the Sect Leader had reached such a height.
Logically, it was impossible.
Thinking he was being teased, Seok Myeong tucked the book back into his robes.
“I should be going now.”
As Seok Myeong stood up, the old man asked with a surprised expression, “Where are you going?”
“I have to go back and investigate again.”
“Why investigate?”
“I need to find a master.”
“There is one right in front of you.”
“Haha. Elder, what I mean is…”
Seok Myeong started to explain but stopped. Seeing that the conversation wasn't progressing even after this much talk, he concluded the man was simply impossible to communicate with.
“Young man, will you answer just one thing before you go?”
“Farewell, Elder.”
Seok Myeong stood up and gave a brief, polite bow. The old man called out to him repeatedly, but he paid no further mind. He felt only disappointment, believing the old man had summoned him just to play a prank.
Just as Seok Myeong turned around and reached the door—
The old man shouted in a slightly agitated voice, “Are those three energies you carry in your head all your own?”
“…!”
Seok Myeong’s face froze instantly.
“I thought so. My strength has faded, so I only caught a fleeting glimpse of them. How fascinating. I have never seen such energies in all my life.”
Seok Myeong turned back, his face pale with shock.
How… how could he have sensed his internal energy?
It was then.
Bang!
“Who are you?!”
The door slammed open, and a strange young man burst in, shouting. He immediately drew his sword and took a wary stance.
Seok Myeong took a step back, looking flustered.
“Hyeok-jin, he is a guest.”
“A guest? Since when did Master have guests?”
The young man looked back and forth between Seok Myeong and the old man, his sword still drawn.
“He is here on business. Do not be rude; show him proper respect.”
As the old man’s voice rose, the young man withdrew his killing intent. He then sheathed his sword.
“Fine… if that is what you wish, Master.”
His attitude made it unclear whether he truly understood his master’s words or not. His expression remained incredibly dark.
Slide.
The young man gave Seok Myeong a cursory fist-and-palm salute and entered the room. He then picked up the sword hanging on the wall.
His movements suggested he didn't care at all about the gaze of others.
After a quick glance at the sword, the young man walked back out.
The sword he took was the very same one Seok Myeong had admired moments ago.