Chapter 71: The Great Art (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 71: The Great Art (3)
Crack, crackle!
Blue Thunder Qi spread out from Namgung Jun in every direction, like roots digging deep into the earth.
Terrified, the physicians scrambled backward. Only after retreating more than five paces from the tub could they finally catch their breath.
"Aaargh!"
"What on earth is happening?!"
"Young Master Namgung!"
A violent wave of qi raged from Namgung Jun's entire body, tearing through the room. Furniture rattled and overturned as soot from the Thunder Qi stained the walls and ceiling black.
Ordinary physicians who knew only medicine would have fainted on the spot. Fortunately, the physicians of the Azure Medicine Pavilion had all trained in martial arts, which allowed them to hold their ground.
Whoosh!
The Azure Medicine Pavilion Master swept his sleeves, dispersing the waves of qi from the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula. His beard fluttered wildly in the gale.
'This doesn't look like Qi Deviation.'
The violent qi had begun to explode outward right after he received Namgung Jun's last voice transmission. This meant the chaotic circulation was intentional, guided by Namgung Jun's own will.
'What in the world is he trying to do?'
As the Azure Medicine Pavilion Master stared intently at Namgung Jun's cross-legged back, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Finally, one realization took hold. It was absurd, yet it was the only plausible explanation.
"Meridian opening!"
Hearing the Pavilion Master's low, groaning exclamation, the physicians' expressions changed in unison. They finally understood what was happening.
"This is madness!"
"How reckless!"
"Is that even possible?"
The physicians stared at Namgung Jun with worried eyes. Such an attempt would be risky even under the most stable conditions. Yet, with his Nine Yin Severed Meridian running wild due to the Essence-Steeling Great Art, he was attempting a meridian opening? It was no different from jumping into a fire while carrying a bale of straw.
While the physicians stood frozen in shock at Namgung Jun's choice, the Azure Medicine Pavilion Master quickly finished his calculations.
"We continue the Essence-Steeling Great Art! Bring every single herb and spirit elixir with yang properties!" the Pavilion Master’s roar thundered in their ears.
Snapping out of their daze, the physicians began to move with frantic speed.
"Gather all the Morinda Root, Cistanche, Golden Thread Herb, and Deer Antler!"
"Use the Flame Cicada Ginseng, too! Leave only the bare minimum required for other treatments!"
"You lot, focus on boiling the medicinal liquids and decoctions! There can be no interruption in the supply!"
Under the Pavilion Master's command, every physician on standby was mobilized. In that moment, the entire strength of the Azure Medicine Pavilion was focused solely on Namgung Jun.
"I've brought the medicinal liquid for the Great Art!"
"Look how fast it's draining! This is nowhere near enough! Move faster!"
"This is insane!"
Medicinal liquids and pouches of herbs were endlessly dumped into the tub where Namgung Jun sat.
Wuuuung!
Following the profound principles of the Essence-Steeling Great Art, the energy of the herbs and liquids was entirely absorbed by Namgung Jun. The medicinal ingredients were consumed endlessly, like pouring water into a cracked, bottomless jar.
Yet, the physicians did not stop. If anything, they worked with even greater fervor as time passed. They knew that supporting Namgung Jun in this way was directly aiding his fight to overcome the Nine Yin Severed Meridian.
Just how many herbs had they poured in? It was at the very moment the Azure Medicine Pavilion's warehouse—usually kept fully stocked through meticulous inventory management—was about to hit rock bottom.
"Huh?"
"Wait..."
The blue Thunder Qi, which had been fluctuating violently, gradually began to subside.
Shuaaaa!
The immense heat radiating from Namgung Jun’s body rapidly evaporated the liquid in the tub. A massive cloud of steam billowed up, completely shrouding him from view.
The Azure Medicine Pavilion Master lightly unleashed his Palm Force.
Whoosh!
As the steam parted, Namgung Jun's bare body was revealed.
"Hmm?"
The Pavilion Master’s sharp eyes did not miss the phenomenon occurring on Namgung Jun's body. Black sweat began to bead and pour from every inch of his skin, accompanied by a terrible stench that filled the air. The sheer volume was extraordinary; it practically gushed out of him.
'The impurities and waste within his body are being expelled.'
It was undoubtedly a positive sign, but the Essence-Steeling Great Art possessed no such effect. This was clearly unfolding beyond their expectations.
The Pavilion Master observed Namgung Jun with tense eyes.
The black sweat was only the beginning. After expelling enough to form a pool at the bottom of the tub, Namgung Jun's body began to tremble.
Ting!
With a sharp vibration, the countless acupuncture needles embedded in his body slowly popped out, clattering to the floor. As more needles fell, the spasms grew stronger, but the Pavilion Master did not miss a single change.
'His muscles?'
It wasn't that Namgung Jun had lacked muscle before, but it had been far from what was expected of a martial artist. Now, however, his body seemed to compress and shrink slightly, carving out sharp, defined lines. The last of his baby fat was stripped away, highlighting the musculature that had grown under the influence of the Essence-Steeling Great Art.
"Huh?"
"His body is changing!"
"But surely the Essence-Steeling Great Art alone can't cause such a distinct transformation?"
The other physicians, finally noticing the anomaly, widened their eyes in surprise.
The spasms continued for a long time as Namgung Jun's body transformed at a glacial pace. It was like watching a master craftsman carve a rough, blunt stone into a smooth, polished statue.
A whole day flew by.
Though it was a considerable amount of time, the physicians of the Azure Medicine Pavilion could not afford to let their guard down for a single second.
"Fuuu."
With a long exhale, Namgung Jun opened his eyes.
Realizing that Namgung Jun had regained consciousness, the Azure Medicine Pavilion Master immediately rushed to his side.
"Are you alright?"
As he drew closer, the stench grew even more foul, but he paid it no mind. The Pavilion Master was utterly astonished by the physical transformation visible to his naked eye.
'Unbelievable.'
According to the original plan, simply raising Namgung Jun's frail body to the level of an ordinary person would have been a massive achievement. But now? His body had been completely remodeled into that of a martial artist who had undergone systematic training in a prestigious clan since childhood.
'He's like an entirely different person.'
Having examined the bodies of countless experts, the Pavilion Master could tell. Namgung Jun's body now surpassed the external arts of an average martial artist. In fact, it seemed comparable to the physiques of the Iron Tower Hall martial artists, who were hailed as having the greatest external arts within the Azure Heaven Association.
This was a truly astounding achievement. Though his body was as lean and dry as if he had been starved for a long time, that was a minor issue that could be resolved with proper nourishment.
"Truly remarkable. How did you achieve such a result?"
Namgung Jun slowly raised his head to look at the Pavilion Master. The first thing that stood out was the new depth in his eyes.
Although the Pavilion Master was only at the entry stage of the Peak Realm, he could clearly sense it: Namgung Jun had achieved something far greater than a mere physical transformation.
"Did you succeed in the meridian opening?"
"Yes. I have cleared the second acupoint."
Letting out a sigh mixed with relief and awe, the Pavilion Master nodded. "Let me take your pulse."
Namgung Jun confidently extended his hand.
Placing his fingers gently on the wrist, the Pavilion Master marveled once more.
"You really have changed."
He could tell just by the touch. Where there once was the slender wrist of a thin boy, it now felt as though he were resting his hand on a flat boulder.
'Has his mastery of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula deepened? His yang qi has grown incredibly robust.'
That wasn't all. He could feel a faint yang qi flowing throughout Namgung Jun's entire body, indicating that the intended physical transformation to bolster his yang qi had also succeeded.
'This is a success—no, a grand success.'
To surpass the original goal and achieve an even greater result was indeed worthy of being called a grand success. The standard Essence-Steeling Great Art could never have brought about such a distinct transformation. The reason for this dramatic change was likely the various variables introduced when Namgung Jun attempted the meridian opening. His body was remarkably stable.
Of course, he had not completely rid himself of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian, so the symptoms and seizures would persist. Nevertheless, the Pavilion Master's expression was bright.
'What matters is that he has built the foundation to endure and overcome the Nine Yin Severed Meridian.'
The Pavilion Master stopped taking the pulse and withdrew his hand.
"You have truly suffered."
"Thanks to you, I have achieved a great result. Thank you."
"There are no abnormalities at present, but it would be best for you to drop by the Azure Medicine Pavilion every day for the time being so we can monitor your condition."
"I will."
"Then, I shall see you tomorrow."
The Pavilion Master sent Namgung Jun back to the Heavenly Sword Hall with a new batch of decoctions. Only after Namgung Jun had crossed the threshold of the Azure Medicine Pavilion did the Pavilion Master finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"It feels as though a massive typhoon just swept through."
Only after Namgung Jun’s departure did the Pavilion Master take stock of the pavilion's state.
"I see. So that much medicine was consumed in the end."
"Yes. Young Master Namgung alone devoured half a year's worth of the Azure Medicine Pavilion's entire medicinal stock."
The Pavilion Master merely let out a brief sigh, not particularly surprised. In a way, it was a natural outcome. Even if it was only the second acupoint of the notorious Nine Yin Severed Meridian, it wouldn't have been strange to consume far more than half a year's worth of herbs to clear it.
"Normally, it would be uncertain if even pouring in all our herbs would work. We should be glad it ended with just this much."
The other physicians nodded in agreement.
"We must restock our herbs as quickly as possible."
The Pavilion Master and the physicians began to move busily.
*
Upon returning to the Heavenly Sword Hall, Namgung Jun headed straight for the Hall Master's office.
Lee Se-ha was not inside; instead, she was pacing back and forth outside. Her steps lacked their usual light, cheerful bounce, instead tracing heavy paths as if her feet were glued to the ground.
Sensing the worry radiating from his master's footsteps, a slight smile touched Namgung Jun's lips.
"Master."
At the familiar voice echoing from the shadows, Lee Se-ha's hair fluttered as she spun around.
Although Namgung Jun's outward appearance hadn't changed drastically as he walked slowly toward her, she noticed the difference immediately. Though obscured by his uniform, his posture and build were distinctly altered. At first glance, he seemed leaner, but his frame had clearly become broader and more solid.
"Jun! You succeeded!"
It wasn't just his physical appearance. Lee Se-ha clearly felt the shift in his aura.
'It's become much sharper and deeper.'
Lee Se-ha recognized her disciple's achievement. Namgung Jun had surpassed the maturity of the Peak Realm and was now on the verge of its absolute limit.
The peak of the Peak Realm was a state where one's Essence, Qi, and Spirit, having grown to their limits, achieved perfect harmony. If one could go beyond this harmony to achieve complete unity, they would break through to the realm of Three Flowers Gather at the Crown, making the leap from a Peak Expert to a Supreme Expert.
'Considering Jun's body, I thought it would take at least another two or three years.'
Objectively, reaching the peak of the Peak Realm had seemed a distant prospect for Namgung Jun. His Qi and Essence had lagged far behind his Spirit.
Yet, whatever he had just accomplished had drastically elevated his Qi and Essence. With just a tiny bit more growth or a catalyst, he seemed ready to harmonize his Essence, Qi, and Spirit at any moment.
"Jun, you're already nipping at my heels."
"The day I surpass you is not far off, Master."
"We'll see about that. Your master isn't going to stand still, you know."
Lee Se-ha looked at Namgung Jun with amusement. Then, her gaze softened with concern as she scanned him up and down.
"You've suddenly gotten so thin, Jun. Though you've gained a lot of muscle."
"That's just how it turned out."
"Still, the Great Art seems to have worked wonders. But for now, let's make sure you get some quiet rest."
Namgung Jun nodded.
Having simultaneously endured the Essence-Steeling Great Art, the rampage of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian, and his second meridian opening, his body had undoubtedly taken a severe toll. He planned to rest thoroughly for at least a few days and replenish his nutrition.
"Let's go to the inn. I need to get some food in you right away."
Led by Lee Se-ha, Namgung Jun headed toward the inn located within the main fortress of the Azure Heaven Association.
"At least we have some time, which is a relief. You can recuperate a bit before entering the training camp."
"The training camp? What's that?"
"Oh? You didn't know?" Lee Se-ha said, still pulling him along. "All those of the Cloud Rank challenging the Third Cloud promotion must enter a training camp. Once you complete the entire course, you get promoted."
"A training camp? This is the first I've heard of it."
Lee Se-ha chuckled and lightly poked Namgung Jun's cheek. "You seem so mature, yet you have these clueless moments sometimes."
When Namgung Jun didn't dodge her touch, Lee Se-ha poked his cheek a few more times before continuing, "There's a special reward for the top scorer of the training camp. Since my disciple has made such great progress, it's definitely worth a shot."
"A reward. I don't know what it is, but I look forward to it."
Mumbling softly, the disciple smiled along with his master.
"I will take the top spot," Namgung Jun declared with absolute confidence.