Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Chiron, Teacher of Heroes
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-Shwaaaaaak!!!
The pitch-black dark orb unfurled in my left hand greedily devoured the brilliantly shining spear of divine power.
Strand by strand, as the silver threads seeped into my body through the dark orb, every meridian and qi channel sucked them in like parched earth desperately drinking rain.
Under the power of the Ghostless Heart Art, they were carefully stored away, circulating layer by layer through my dantian and qi channels, invigorating my vitality.
Podalab.
The pilgrim who confronted Buddha's teachings head-on from the Buddhist path, reaching its pinnacle and even daring to surpass the Paradise of Rebirth.
Her studies pierced through all phenomena, awakening their true essence, and that awakening was fully embodied in her teachings, allowing her to dominate heaven and earth.
In the martial world of swords and fists, she rode forth like a knight wielding true magic. Shaolin dubbed her Mara, proclaiming her the enemy of Buddhism, while the masses called her the Ghost Buddha for her god-like majesty and authority.
The bizarre demon that shattered hypocrisy became the Buddha of demons who attained enlightenment as Buddha's foe.
Thus, she was feared and revered as the Mara Ghost Buddha.
And the reverse Buddhist qi art she created was the Five Aggregates Plague Art.
A monstrous technique that even Buddha dreaded, embracing the five aggregates to achieve enlightenment.
Among them, the Form Aggregate Node was the sole absorption art to ascend to the realm of divine arts.
Five Aggregates Plague Art
Form Aggregate Node - Devours all energies of phenomena
"Phew... like this..."
Yet, as expected of divine energy, the silver divine power that entered me refused to easily fuse with my internal energy.
It merely circulated through my meridians alongside my qi like water and oil refusing to mix, suppressing my internal energy as it followed the heart art's path.
The bizarre situation where this alien energy suddenly displaced my flowing internal energy mid-flow was something even the creator of the Ghostless Heart Art couldn't have anticipated.
For now, it circulated as per the heart art's formula, but the divine power's rejecting nature could clash with my qi at any moment, risking qi deviation.
Thus, I poured all my effort into maintaining the Ghostless Heart Art and the Form Aggregate Node.
"Wh-what? What sorcery is this!?"
"Sorcery..."
In a way, defying a goddess could indeed be called sorcery.
Stunned at the sight of me devouring and absorbing the energy she had unleashed, Artemis stood frozen, too shocked to launch another attack.
'To think a goddess has such fragile nerves...'
Honestly, I was just grateful.
I was barely managing this alien, intense energy that refused absorption; any external shock would have made me spit blood and collapse.
And that momentary hesitation gave me just enough time to stabilize the divine power.
"Huuuu... ha!"
The clashing internal energy and divine power gradually calmed in my meridians, and the absorbed divine power came fully under my control through the Form Aggregate Node and the Ghostless Heart Art's circulation.
However, its profoundly alien and exclusive nature made complete absorption far too risky still.
"Wow... damn, I should've trained harder."
Such pure, crystalline energy.
Despite consuming all sorts of elixirs and spirit herbs as supplements,
even all of them combined couldn't match this ditz's gift.
Though its nature was terribly incompatible, with a properly matured body and higher attainment, I could've slurped it right up.
What a shame.
"Urgh... still poking aches. Women are women, huh?"
Men and women possess inherently different yang and yin energies.
No matter how refined the divine power, accepting a powerful virgin goddess's feminine divine essence into a man's body caused disharmony, slowly accumulating yin in my meridians and making my muscles throb.
But such minor muscle pain and cumulative meridian damage were negligible.
With my dantian and meridians brimming with potent divine power, my fighting spirit was at its post-reincarnation peak.
"Let's see..."
-Whoooong!
Raising my hand to draw up the energy, it wasn't the Ghostless Heart Art's haze or demonic black qi.
A slightly murky silver shimmered like moonlight in my palm, rippling with divine energy.
"H-how... my power? You're wielding it?"
"No need to know. Anyway, let's get started. With this much, I can finally cut loose after so long."
A thrilling shiver ran up my spine, and my churning dantian and meridians—sensations I'd longed for—drew a smile from me.
This powerful, reassuring feeling I could never resist.
Truly, the poisoned chalice one can't refuse.
"..."
"What's wrong? Earlier you were all 'I'll kill you.'"
If she won't come, I'll go to her?
-Boom!
With a light kick, the ground shattered beneath me, and I launched at the beautiful huntress using the explosive propulsion as my weapon.
Though the youthful me was slightly shorter than the sturdy huntress Artemis,
in this situation where I'd seized the initiative with speed, my smaller stature was an advantage.
Affliction Hard to Dry
Silver divine blades manifest on fingertips
The silver divine power—now my own vital energy—manifested in my hand, transforming into sharp blades along my fingers.
Ten blazing silver claws encircled the dazed Artemis from all sides.
"Th-this...!!"
Yet, as expected of a goddess, Artemis swiftly summoned silver energy that rose like a barrier, blocking my claws in mid-air.
"You bastard!!"
"Too early to rage, don't you think?"
-Pzzt!
My Affliction Claws slashed like a bear aiming for the prey's throat.
Against them, Artemis raised both arms, pouring power into her barrier.
We'd barely exchanged opening moves before entering a test of strength light-years apart.
"You insolent, worthless, rude scum...!!"
"My shame, worth, and courtesy are for the cultured—mortal or divine—who understand them.
For a crazy bitch lunging to decapitate me out of nowhere, all I've got is a face full of blood."
In an instant, the ten claws on my fingers shifted form, condensing at my fingertips. Sensing ominous intent, Artemis paled and tried to retreat.
"What sorcery now...!"
Sorcery? Nah, just hurts like hell.
Four Demon Finger Flicking Art - Affliction Heart Explosion
Ten orbs resonate and detonate on impact
-Whoooong!
The ten orbs at my fingertips vibrated fiercely, resonating.
It was obvious something massive was about to happen.
Unable to retract her barrier or flee, Artemis could only glare at me, grinding her teeth.
Endure—that was her only option.
"What good is a strong body and abundant qi if you fall for basic mind games and walk into a trap yourself?"
"You wench!!"
Scream all you want—what can you do?
I leaped back, widening the distance, leaving Artemis to stare blankly.
"She won't die from this, right?"
Flashing a grin, I flicked my fingers. The resonating points shuddered violently, emitting light.
And then.
-Kwaaaaaboom!!!
A beautiful silver explosion surged like an aurora, illuminating the midnight forest.
"Oh... pretty cool."
As I admired my own night show, about to applaud,
a sharp pain stabbed my chest and dantian.
"Ugh?!"
The sudden agony made me curl up instinctively.
Cold chilled my spine, and ice shard-like pain pierced my lungs.
My face twisted at the long-forgotten pain of internal injury.
"Grraaah... kuhuhu, damn. Should've gone easier."
Frankly, I had no one to blame for how I'd wielded the divine power.
Though I'd circulated it like my own qi via the Ghostless Heart Art and Form Aggregate Node, it wasn't truly mine and wouldn't blend, so I'd forced it.
I could use it, but each cycle clashed with my meridians, accumulating damage—which I'd deliberately amplified into an explosion.
The backlash was predictably immense.
"To think there's energy even the Form Aggregate Node can't fully digest."
As expected of divine power. Impressed inwardly, I forced myself upright.
No matter how tempting the meat, holding on longer might shatter my teeth from the cold.
Propping against the ground, I channeled the pervasive silver divine energy through my body per the Form Aggregate Node's formula.
Five Aggregates Plague Art - Form Aggregate Myriad Transformations
Transforms energy properties into physical matter
-Shaaaa!!
Expelled from my body, the silver divine power seeped into the ground, scattering as tiny grains.
As I wondered if it'd turned to frost-like chill,
picking up a silver granule at my feet left me stunned.
"...Silver?"
Among the five aggregates Buddha warned of, Form represents materiality itself.
The Form Aggregate Scripture of the Plague Art altered qi's inherent properties.
But changes were limited—like turning demonic qi to fire qi, or fire to ice.
Manifesting actual matter? Impossible.
"I just meant to casually shift it to intangible cold qi..."
This was beyond martial arts or magic—creating something from nothing. A miracle?
[Raaargh! You blasphemer!!]
As I pondered this unprecedented phenomenon, a roar hammered my mind.
Beyond the settling silver glow, blazing eyes glared ferociously.
[You dare, you dare!! Toy with Artemis's divine power and defile a goddess?! Filthy man!!]
Oh... crap.
Did I push too far in the heat?
Artemis was utterly enraged, like a demon on the verge of rampage.
Her beautiful face twisted monstrously, and the erupting divine power evoked a tsunami.
"Tch, brings back old memories."
Yeah, that day.
When half the Great Snow Mountains froze and half collapsed.
Facing the all-engulfing white tsunami, burning with the grudge of wasted paperwork yet inwardly admiring its beauty.
"Well then, round two?"
Abundant qi favors battle, but doesn't guarantee victory.
Her opponent was just an old brat born to divine beasts.
Time to show her what for.
As I stepped forward with resolve,
"Halt!"
A strange figure wedged between us.
"...?"
His face resembled a middle-aged man.
He wore simple traveler's garb on his upper body, carrying a massive bow nearly as big as Dianes,
yet his build made it seem unremarkable.
His thick brown beard gleamed like ancient tree roots, and his deep, wisdom-filled eyes shone like morning stars.
The very image of a professor at some academy.
But what stood out was his lower half.
Instead of human legs, a massive horse's body attached below, hooves clopping to a stop.
A Centaur.
Legends abound, but in Greek myth, they're staples—half-human, half-horse.
Typically impulsive, wild as untamed stallions.
Yet this one blocked the furious Artemis, seemingly protecting me, preventing her shot.
[Chiron! Move aside!]
"Lady Artemis, please calm yourself."
Chiron.
I'd heard of him.
The immortal half-horse who mentored countless heroes.
But why burst in now, interrupting the fun?
"This time, Lady Artemis, you acted rashly first."
"Chiron, I—!"
Shh.
Placing a finger to his lips, Chiron smiled at Artemis, silencing her before continuing.
"Had you designated this forest as your hunting ground from the start and warned the nymphs, this child wouldn't have entered so carelessly today.
But he received no such warning and nearly suffered while merely wandering the woods where he was raised."
"But Chiron, my divinity has been insulted. You say this knowing that?"
"If you want more, I'm game. You gonna run after getting a man this fired up?"
"You worm, who do you think you're talking to like that!"
"Who? The bitch who tried to blow my head off."
As Artemis growled and I grinned aggressively, ready for round two,
the old centaur intervened again, restraining her.
"Lady Artemis, a moment..."
"What?"
He leaned in, whispering inaudibly to her. The huntress's eyes widened as she snapped her head up.
"I-is that true?"
"Of course. Would I dare lie to the Goddess of the Moon?"
Glancing anew at the human boy behind Chiron—arms crossed, glaring at her—Artemis sighed and lowered her bow.
"In that case... no helping it. Even for me..."
"A wise choice."
Tch. Buzzkill.
Disappointed, I withdrew my battle aura and shifted my gaze from the moonstruck goddess to the old centaur.
Not only had she quieted instantly, but an majestic aura rivaling—no, matching—Artemis's emanated from him.
His powerful warrior's torso atop equine haunches was heterogeneous yet perfectly balanced.
In a real fight, he'd be even tougher than...
"...?"
Crap.
Noticing my stare, Chiron turned to meet my eyes.