Chapter 794
Having finally arrived at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin scoured the area meticulously.
The Wind God Tower, said to reveal the location of the Wind God Palace, did not appear fixed in one place.
Moreover, its appearances were separated by distances of dozens of li or more.
Thus, even knowing where the tower had been seen in the past was of no use.
"Are we even in the right area?"
Hyeok So-jin, who had climbed a peak to survey the surroundings, shivered violently.
The cold was so extreme that his snot froze solid, and the thin mountain air made breathing difficult.
"I'm starting to worry those old men might've been spouting nonsense."
"It can't be nonsense. They described the appearance of the Wind God Tower floating in the sky in precise detail."
Bu Eun-seol had discussed the Wind God Tower with the demonkin of Peach Blossom Paradise.
According to them, long ago, when the Nine Nether Madman was being pursued by the Tibetan master Blood Maitreya near Jade Dragon Snow Mountain,
he had hidden here for three days to shake off his pursuers—and during that time, he claimed to have seen the Wind God Tower, which led to the Wind God Palace.
Bu Eun-seol had deemed the account credible enough to come here.
"Though they do occasionally speak sense..."
Hyeok So-jin wore a troubled expression as he spoke.
"But given how their minds tend to wander, they also spout plenty of nonsense. That's what worries me."
"Besides the Nine Nether Madman, many other elders have claimed to have seen the Wind and Cloud Tower here. The probability is fairly high."
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin had no choice but to huddle in the snow-covered mountain range.
Truthfully, Hyeok So-jin had mastered the Divine-Rending Demonic Qi to the level of Ten Stars, and his internal energy surpassed three hundred years of cultivation.
He could have easily conjured a Protective Astral Energy to resist the cold—yet he remained crouched beside Bu Eun-seol without doing so.
Because Bu Eun-seol's internal energy had drastically declined, leaving him unable to even muster such a defense.
"Why aren't you circulating your energy to resist it?"
Hyeok So-jin sniffled, his nose running, yet his expression remained solemn.
"How could I stay comfortable while you endure this hardship, Brother Bu?"
With his current reserves, Hyeok So-jin couldn't manifest a Protective Astral Energy large enough to cover Bu Eun-seol's body.
"I still have about two sixty-year cycle of internal energy left. Even without deploying a Protective Astral Energy, warding off the cold isn't an issue."
"Still..."
"We don't know what might happen next. At the very least, you should stay in good condition."
"Ah, right."
Hyeok So-jin smacked his forehead and shook his head before activating his internal energy.
His precise cultivation level was around three hundred and forty years.
Among young grandmasters, this placed him at the very peak—a feat made possible by the Crown-Opening Great Method and all manner of spirit medicines he'd consumed since childhood.
"Aren't you cold, Brother Bu?"
"I've trained in the Ice Art. Ordinary cold energy can't penetrate my body."
It was a lie.
Not only was his internal energy diminished, but the collision between his Two Spirit Energies and the Hardening Force had sealed away all his power—including the heightened senses of the Beast Path.
Yet he clasped his hands behind his back as though it were nothing.
"I'll keep watch. You should rest."
"Understood."
Bu Eun-seol could perform Qi Circulation whether standing, lying down, or even walking.
Knowing this, Hyeok So-jin nodded and closed his eyes to begin his training.
Crunch, crunch.
As Bu Eun-seol tread through the snow, his sharp eyes narrowed.
'Enduring a little cold is nothing.'
Unconsciously, he let out a sigh.
'But waiting for the Wind God Tower—which might appear at any moment or never at all—is no easy task.'
Whether deploying a Protective Astral Energy or continuously circulating energy to resist the cold,
it was no different from running without rest.
There was no telling how long they could last.
'We'll need to pace ourselves.'
After watching Hyeok So-jin in seated meditation, Bu Eun-seol began gathering snow.
He piled it into an enormous mound, shaped it into a dome,
waited for it to freeze solid, then carefully hollowed out the interior.
He had crafted a large cave out of snow.
"So-jin. Meditate inside here."
Hyeok So-jin stared at the grotto Bu Eun-seol had made and let out an impressed sound.
"Perfect for blocking the cold wind. I'll make a bigger one."
In no time, Hyeok So-jin followed Bu Eun-seol's example and constructed a massive snow cave.
With his deeper internal energy and ability to wield Extreme Yang True Qi, his structure was sturdier and more spacious.
Once inside, the temperature was noticeably warmer than outside.
Hyeok So-jin resumed his Qi Circulation, while Bu Eun-seol stood calmly, gazing outward.
The cold persisted, but Bu Eun-seol remained rigidly upright, as though he felt nothing at all.
How much time had passed?
The sun rose and set, and a new day dawned.
By the third day, not even a single rat could be seen—let alone the tower.
"Brother Bu. It really doesn't seem like it's going to appear."
Hyeok So-jin surveyed their surroundings with a gloomy expression before speaking.
"That old man must have been spouting nonsense after all."
"Of course he was."
"Huh?"
Bu Eun-seol replied indifferently.
"Expecting to find Wind God Palace in such a short time, based on nothing more than a rumor, was never realistic. Countless martial artists have long dreamed of visiting it."
Hyeok So-jin nodded.
"Judging by how confidently you say that, you must have prepared a backup plan."
Come to think of it, Bu Eun-seol was the type to prepare multiple contingencies for even a single task.
Naturally, he must have devised an alternative in case they failed to locate the Wind and Cloud Tower.
But the answer he received was unexpected.
"There isn't one."
"What?"
"My battle with Fist Adept was unforeseen. Given the severity of my injuries, finding the Wind God Palace seemed the fastest solution—that's all."
"So you came here solely on the word of the Nine Nether Madman?"
"Not exactly."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Even before arriving, I pondered why the Wind God Tower had been consistently sighted near Jade Dragon Snow Mountain."
Pausing briefly, he continued.
"The rumors of sightings always followed a fixed pattern—every fifteen years."
"Then that means—"
"Exactly thirty years have passed since the Nine Nether Madman last saw it."
A profound light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"The only question is when it will open. I'm certain we'll witness the Wind God Tower here."
Had anyone else made such a claim, Hyeok So-jin would have scoffed.
Relying on a single clue to wait for the tower's appearance seemed like a futile hope.
But because it was Bu Eun-seol who said it, he couldn't help but believe—no, needed to believe.
If they failed to find the Wind God Tower, there might be no other way to heal Bu Eun-seol's wounds.
"I understand."
Hyeok So-jin nodded solemnly.
"Then we'll wait a little longer."
Two more days passed.
Yet there was still no sign of the Wind God Tower.
With each passing day, Hyeok So-jin's complexion darkened, his gaze growing heavier.
If they couldn't find the tower, there might truly be no way to restore Bu Eun-seol's body.
In contrast, Bu Eun-seol's expression grew calmer with time.
He wasn't merely waiting—he resembled an ascetic enduring penance.
At times, he would trace something on the ground with a branch or murmur softly to himself.
"Because the mind is empty, it can be filled... Because it has been held within, it can be poured out..."
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had fought countless strong opponents and suffered grave injuries.
Each time, the profound functions of the Sinew Reforging Classic and Reverse Extreme Inner Method had allowed his body to recover swiftly.
But when confronted with a power like Fist Adept's Hardening Force—a martial principle that transcended conventional limits—his body had been ravaged beyond what mere Circulation Healing could mend.
Even so, Bu Eun-seol refused to despair.
Instead, he immersed himself in studying the Reverse Extreme Inner Method, the Tendon Transformation Sutra, and the Taoist Cultivation Secret passed down by Gongson Dan-a, probing deeply for a solution.
'This is...'
Hyeok So-jin realized that the phrases Bu Eun-seol muttered were esoteric mantras—fragments of internal energy methods from the Demonic Path, the Righteous Faction, and even Taoist teachings.
Holding his breath, he committed them to memory, unraveling their underlying principles.
Unbeknownst to him, these very words would one day become the foundation of the supreme internal energy method of the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sanctuary—but for now, he remained unaware of that fact.
Whoosh—
Hyeok So-jin, eyes closed, silently recited the mantras Bu Eun-seol chanted, turning them over in his mind for a long while before finally opening his eyes again.
"Eh?"
But then—far in the distance—an astonishing sight unfolded.
Above the vast, boundless sky, wasn't there a small tower floating in midair?
The Wind God Tower.
The mystical tower said to reveal the location of the Wind God Palace—one of the four divine beings—had finally appeared.
"Brother Bu! It's here!"
Hyeok So-jin shouted excitedly.
Only then did Bu Eun-seol open his eyes, spotting the tower hovering in the sky where Hyeok So-jin pointed.
"The Wind God Tower!"
"So it is."
"Let's hurry!"
Nodding, Bu Eun-seol matched Hyeok So-jin's pace as they swiftly unleashed their Lightness Skill.
After running for some time, they arrived beneath the tower—only to realize it hovered not over Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, but near Haba Snow Mountain on the opposite side.
"Huh?"
When they finally reached Haba Snow Mountain, Hyeok So-jin's eyes widened in shock.
From below, the Wind God Tower loomed at the very edge of the heavens.
Given that the colossal structure appeared as a mere black speck, its height had to be at least three to four thousand feet.
Unless they sprouted wings, ascending was impossible.
"Brother Bu... How... How do we get up there?"
Hyeok So-jin's expression turned bleak.
"We must reach that tower to learn the location of the Wind God Palace."
Bu Eun-seol gazed at the floating Wind God Tower, lost in thought.
"A tower of that size cannot possibly hover in midair. Most likely, they've employed a special boundary formation or some form of spellcraft to create the illusion of it floating in the heavens."
No matter how boundless human capability might be, suspending such a massive tower in the void was impossible.
It had to be an elaborate boundary formation or esoteric ritual art creating the illusion.
"But whether it's ritual arts or a boundary formation, wouldn't we still need to ascend to dismantle it?"
"Indeed."
Bu Eun-seol nodded at Hyeok So-jin's observation.
"Then we'll use the Land-Flying Technique to reach it."
"But my internal energy is only around three hundred and forty years..."
The Land-Flying Technique required seven sixty-year cycle—roughly four hundred years of cultivation.
The truth was, Bu Eun-seol's own reserves were abnormally vast.
Three hundred years of internal energy was already a level that wouldn't pale even against the greatest masters of the martial world.
"Then we'll employ the Absolute-Pattern Across-Air Power Combination."
"The Remote Power-Gathering Technique?"
Hyeok So-jin's mouth fell open.
The Absolute-Pattern Across-Air Power Combination was a secret method that allowed two masters, each possessing at least a hundred and twenty years of internal energy, to momentarily transfer and merge their power.
Unlike the Body-Striking Transmission Art, the recipient could wield the transferred energy for at least a quarter hour.
Beyond the combined power, they could also unleash an additional a hundred and twenty years of energy.
The problem was that if the energies failed to synchronize perfectly, the user would be left unable to wield their internal energy for a full quarter hour—plunging them into a state of vulnerability.
Because of this, it was said only twins whose spirits resonated perfectly could execute it.
"Brother Bu. If we fail, we'll fall from the sky and die."
If their energies didn't merge flawlessly?
They would lose control midair, unable to wield their power for even a quarter hour—and plummet to their deaths from that dizzying height.
"It's fine."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was calm.
"We can do it."
They were comrades who could entrust their lives to one another. Merging their energies was nothing.
"I see."
Understanding Bu Eun-seol's resolve, Hyeok So-jin smiled.
"Very well. Let's begin immediately."
Bu Eun-seol's current internal power was just over one hundred and fifty years.
Since their energies had to match perfectly, Hyeok So-jin rapidly suppressed his own.
"Ready."
At Hyeok So-jin's signal, Bu Eun-seol nodded—then unleashed the Qi-Piercing Ascent in a single motion.
Whoosh!
Bu Eun-seol shot into the sky in an instant.
With a hundred and twenty years of internal energy, leaping two hundred feet would already be impressive.
But Bu Eun-seol, who had mastered the Ultimate Speed Shadowless to its extreme, soared four times that height—eight hundred feet.
Whoosh—
Yet after a brief pause in midair, he began to descend.
"Hahp!"
At that moment, Hyeok So-jin, still below, let out a sharp cry and immediately executed the Qi-Piercing Ascent.
He stretched both hands toward Bu Eun-seol's descending soles.
Thwak!
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol's feet met Hyeok So-jin's palms.
Zzzing—
Simultaneously, Hyeok So-jin unleashed the Remote Power-Gathering Technique, channeling energy into Bu Eun-seol with not even a hair's breadth of deviation.
Fwooosh!
Bu Eun-seol rocketed upward with speed several times greater than his initial ascent.
The explosive amplification from the power combination allowed him to instantly deploy the Land-Flying Technique.
'Please.'
Back on the ground, Hyeok So-jin clasped his hands together as he watched Bu Eun-seol shrink into the distance.
If the Absolute-Pattern Across-Air Power Combination failed?
Bu Eun-seol would lose control entirely—and plummet to the earth below.
Kwawooo!
Trailing white streams of energy, Bu Eun-seol soared until he finally reached the Wind God Tower above the clouds.
'This is—'
As he drew closer to the distant tower, Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
It wasn't a real tower at all—but an enormous kite.
Mystical spellcraft had been used to make it appear as a massive pagoda.
And the string anchoring it led to none other than one of Haba Snow Mountain's peaks.
'They were summoning a superlative martial expert.'
If the Wind God Palace truly wished to conceal its location, why bother suspending a kite connected to their base?
The very act of raising it suggested they sought to invite warriors capable of leaping three to four thousand feet.
Zzzing—
Just then, scorching heat surged through Bu Eun-seol's body.
Though Hyeok So-jin had infused him with energy, their synchronization hadn't been perfect.
In an instant, his internal power vanished completely.
Shooo—
His body tilted—and he began to plummet.
Wind shrieked past his ears as the ground rushed toward him.
Yet Bu Eun-seol remained expressionless, gazing downward without a trace of fear.
Whoosh.
There, standing tall, was a figure bathed in violet light.
It was Hyeok So-jin, who had pushed his Divine-Rending Demonic Qi to its absolute limit, just in case.
'He was waiting.'
Bu Eun-seol had known the Remote Power-Gathering Technique had a high chance of failure.
His internal energy was too chaotic, and his injuries were severe.
No matter how perfectly Hyeok So-jin matched and transmitted his internal energy, Bu Eun-seol wouldn't be able to fully absorb it.
Yet, he had still attempted the technique—because he trusted Hyeok So-jin.
Even if he failed, he knew the man would catch him with Divine-Rending Demonic Qi.
KWAOOO—!
As Bu Eun-seol plummeted at high speed, a surge of violet energy erupted from Hyeok So-jin's hands.
"Ugh—!"
Thick veins bulged on Hyeok So-jin's face as he struggled to neutralize the crushing force with his Divine-Rending Demonic Qi.
Given the height of the fall, even the most formidable Divine-Rending Demonic Qi couldn't fully absorb the impact.
'I have to.'
But with sheer willpower—the determination to save Bu Eun-seol—Hyeok So-jin pushed his technique beyond its limits.
"Huuu—! HAAAP!"
Finally, after slowing Bu Eun-seol's descent from a height of roughly a hundred feet, Hyeok So-jin shouted:
"Now!"
Swish!
Bu Eun-seol twisted midair in a rapid flip.
Even with Divine-Rending Demonic Qi, completely neutralizing the force of a fall from four thousand feet was impossible.
From this point on, Bu Eun-seol—with no internal energy left—would have to rely on the Principles of Martial Arts to disperse the remaining force.
Swish-swish!
Activating Ultimate Speed Shadowless, Bu Eun-seol began weaving hundreds of phantom steps in midair.
Though he couldn't muster a single strand of internal energy, he had long since mastered techniques that could manifest the might of martial arts through pure Principles of Martial Arts alone.
Flick! Whish-whish!
But even that wasn't flawless—
THUD! CRASH!
Bu Eun-seol curled into a ball as he hit the ground, rolling uncontrollably for a long moment before finally skidding to a stop.
Huff...
At last, having dispersed all the force, Bu Eun-seol rose to his feet.
When he walked over to the landing site—
He found Hyeok So-jin collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat.
No matter how supreme Divine-Rending Demonic Qi was among the Ultimate Arts—
Catching a roughly 160-pound boulder falling from four thousand feet at terrifying speed...
Had pushed his body to the brink of shattering.
"You worked hard."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Hyeok So-jin wiped away the sweat pouring like a waterfall and grinned weakly.
"It was nothing."
When he tried to stand, Bu Eun-seol stopped him.
"Your muscles and tendons took more strain than your internal energy depletion. Stay down and rest for a while."
"Understood."
After a quarter of an hour, Bu Eun-seol channeled his internal energy and performed the Energy Channeling Technique on Hyeok So-jin's body.
"That should do it."
With a grunt, Hyeok So-jin sat up, taking a deep breath.
"You've got nerves of steel, Brother Bu. Had my mastery of Divine-Rending Demonic Qi been even slightly weaker, your body would've been smashed to pieces."
"Mastery doesn't matter. You would've done it anyway."
Bu Eun-seol replied calmly.
"Your potential is limitless."
"You've traveled the martial world so much, you've even learned how to flatter people."
Hyeok So-jin sniffed, laughing sheepishly.
"But wasn't it the Principles of Martial Arts you displayed that did more than half the work?"
Even if he had poured out Divine-Rending Demonic Qi several times stronger than his current level—
Had Bu Eun-seol not used Ultimate Speed Shadowless to disperse the remaining force, they would never have landed safely.
"But what if I hadn't held out with Divine-Rending Demonic Qi and switched to the Following-the-Heart Force Control?"
Most martial artists, unable to endure the agony of their bodies tearing apart, would have used the Following-the-Heart Force Control to steadily neutralize the pressure.
But doing so—
Would have restricted their ability to move freely, making it impossible to fully disperse the remaining force before impact.
Yet Hyeok So-jin had trusted Bu Eun-seol to handle the rest, choosing Divine-Rending Demonic Qi over the safer alternative.
"Because you wouldn't give up, no matter the situation."
Bu Eun-seol answered plainly.
Just as Hyeok So-jin had trusted him—
Bu Eun-seol had known Hyeok So-jin would keep using Divine-Rending Demonic Qi, even if it meant his body would tear apart from the pain. That was why he had attempted the Remote Power-Gathering Technique without hesitation.
"I see."
Hyeok So-jin slumped his shoulders.
"I appreciate the trust, but next time, give me a heads-up. I aged ten years in one go."
"Understood."
"By the way—what's the deal with that tower? Was the Wind God Tower really up there?"
"It wasn't the real one. Just an illusion made from a kite. The true Wind God Tower is connected to the summit of Haba Snow Mountain."
"Then—"
Hyeok So-jin's eyes narrowed.
Only now did he realize why the Wind God Tower had been crafted in midair—
And why legends claimed it could move freely.
The Wind God Palace had flown kites into the sky, creating illusions that could be shifted at will.
"They're deliberately luring people in..."
A foreboding premonition flickered through Hyeok So-jin's mind.
The fact that they had flown a kite shaped like a mystical tower—exposing its location—
Could only mean one thing: they were intentionally drawing in masters who had seen the Wind God Tower.