Chapter 78: Guiding True Qi (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 78: Guiding True Qi (2)
Starting from the Mingmen Acupoint, where Hahu Seon’s palm made contact, the Spear King Azure Aura began to flow into him.
It was a truly clear and pure energy.
It felt like the sky itself, glimpsed through a hazy dawn mist, was seeping into him with each soft breath.
Although the Spear King Mental Method produced a fairly pure internal energy, it was nothing compared to the Spear King Azure Aura. Feeling the energy directly like this made the advancement of the mental method feel all the more real.
Advancing one's martial arts was no easy feat, especially for a superior art with a solid foundation like the Spear King Mental Method. To have developed it to this extent was an incredible achievement in itself—an accomplishment that could not be reached through the mere passage of time and cultivation.
Within the Spear King Azure Aura, Namgung Jun could faintly feel the sheer tenacity of the successive Association Leaders who had resisted the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult.
Wuuung!
Hahu Seon's Guiding True Qi was gentle yet unstoppable. Backed by the seasoned skill of a peerless expert, the Spear King Azure Aura rapidly filled Namgung Jun’s meridians.
At the appearance of this unfamiliar energy, the Thunder Qi of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula squirmed for a moment before quieting down. As the Spear King Azure Aura surged along the circulation path, the manipulation of internal energy shifted with exquisite delicacy, adapting to each acupoint and meridian.
'I see. So in this part…'
Namgung Jun focused his mind entirely on Hahu Seon's control. Although he could learn this from the mnemonic formulas in the secret manual, there was no better way to study than to intuitively grasp the process while feeling the master’s touch during Guiding True Qi.
This was undoubtedly why Hahu Seon had gone out of his way to perform the technique for him. Since Namgung Jun had started learning it much later than the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula, this was a considerate gesture to help him achieve mastery faster.
[The residual energy from the meridian opening and the Essence-Steeling Great Art remains throughout your meridians. This is good.]
Hahu Seon's voice transmission reached him, but Namgung Jun didn't reply. He was too absorbed in unearthing the insights and principles underlying the flow of internal energy.
Meanwhile, the movement of the Spear King Azure Aura transformed once again. The pale, sky-blue energy that filled his major meridians began to circulate, spreading out like clouds and gathering every last drop of residual energy lingering in the corners of his body.
Originally, this was energy he had intended to slowly assimilate using the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula. Though scattered, the total volume was substantial, and trying to gather it all in a hurry carried a high risk of Qi Deviation.
Wuuung!
But now, there was no need for such worries. Hahu Seon's Guiding True Qi, anchored by the Spear King Azure Aura, held a firm grip on the reins.
'It's gathering. Not a single shred is wasted.'
If the residual energy in his meridians was added to the Guiding True Qi of the Spear King Azure Aura, his starting point would be incredibly high. On top of that, the insights he retained from cultivating the Spear King Mental Method in his past life would be an immense help.
'Perhaps I can reach thirty… no, forty percent achievement in a single bound.'
It was then that Namgung Jun sensed an anomaly.
'Hmm?'
The flow of the Guiding True Qi, which Hahu Seon had been leading, began to change abruptly.
Wuuuuung!
The Spear King Azure Aura, which had been spreading throughout his meridians, ceased its circulation and rushed into his dantian all at once. The flow, which had been as continuous as the sky itself, abruptly snapped.
Like a piece of silk forcibly torn at the edge, a fragment of the Spear King Azure Aura was left sitting alone in his dantian.
'This manipulation of internal energy is…!'
Just as a startled Namgung Jun was about to send a voice transmission to Hahu Seon, another message arrived.
—Stay calm and focus only on manipulating your internal energy.
Hahu Seon's voice was so firm, carrying an air that brooked no argument, that Namgung Jun found himself unable to even swallow.
'If I make a rash move, we'll both be in danger.'
Left with no choice, Namgung Jun surrendered his body entirely to Hahu Seon's will.
The fragment of the Spear King Azure Aura left in his dantian… no, could it even be called a fragment?
'This is far too much internal energy to be called a fragment.'
Around the piece that Hahu Seon had intentionally severed, the residual energy scraped from every meridian in his body began to coalesce. At the same time, Hahu Seon's control shifted in earnest.
Following Guiding True Qi, he had initiated Remote Power Transmission.
Wuuung!
The fragment of Spear King Azure Aura, which had been injected for the Guiding True Qi, began to settle firmly in his dantian. Namgung Jun immediately realized Hahu Seon's intention.
'Is he planning to force my mental method's achievement to leap forward by combining his transmitted energy with the residual energy from my meridian opening and the great art?!'
It was an attempt most experts wouldn't even dare to dream of. Yet, Hahu Seon suppressed every single variable with a level of control that possessed the transcendent quality unique to a peerless expert.
By the time ten breaths had passed, Hahu Seon had successfully settled the Spear King Azure Aura into Namgung Jun's dantian. There was no clash between it and the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula. Though not perfectly harmonized, they blended in their own way, coexisting peacefully.
"Cough!"
Having performed Guiding True Qi and Remote Power Transmission back-to-back, Hahu Seon slowly lowered his hand. Sweat dripped from his face, and his wrinkles had deepened as if he had aged another five years.
"Cough!"
"Association Leader!"
His breathing ragged, Hahu Seon coughed repeatedly before finally spitting up blood. Startled, Yun Gyeong-jong rushed over to support him.
"I am fine."
"Why must you overexert yourself like this? Even Guiding True Qi was too much for you, but to suddenly perform Remote Power Transmission as well?"
"My body can no longer fight properly anyway. Is it not better to use what remains for a young junior?"
Yun Gyeong-jong squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. "There is truly no stopping your stubbornness, Association Leader."
"I only transferred a tiny fraction of my internal energy. Pay it no mind."
Namgung Jun stared intently at Hahu Seon, who could not stop coughing.
'To think he would go this far.'
The internal energy transmitted through Remote Power Transmission was by no means a small amount. A significant amount of power is always lost during the process, meaning Hahu Seon had expended far more than Namgung Jun had received. To perform such a technique with a substantial amount of energy while suffering from severe internal injuries was practically suicidal. Even for a peerless expert whose control had reached a miraculous level, this was not an easy choice.
"Heh." Sensing Namgung Jun's heavy gaze, Hahu Seon casually wiped his blood-stained lips. "There's no need to feel burdened. If this old man's remaining time can hasten yours even a little, then it is more than worth it."
"You are the heart of this association, Association Leader."
"Which is precisely why it was a choice I had to make. This is the duty and chivalry of the Azure Heaven Association Leader."
Though Hahu Seon's body trembled faintly as he spoke, the answer flowing from his dry lips was incredibly firm—like steel that, despite being battered and worn, would never break. This was the chivalry the Azure Heaven Association Leader believed in.
"Association Leader."
Namgung Jun did not say much more. He quietly looked at the chivalrous hero before him for a moment, then bowed deeply to show his respect, all the while feeling the refreshing and noble presence of the Spear King Azure Aura newly settled in his dantian.
"Check your condition," Hahu Seon urged.
At his words, Namgung Jun closed his eyes and examined his inner self. His senses swept rapidly through his entire body. Thanks to the Guiding True Qi, the trace amounts of turbid qi that had lingered even after the Essence-Steeling Great Art were completely swept away. Furthermore, in the process of adapting to the Spear King Azure Aura, the meridians throughout his body had become firmer and wider. This would undoubtedly help when he opened the next acupoints of his Nine Yin Severed Meridian.
'Flawless.'
Naturally, the final destination of his senses was his dantian, where two distinct energies now resided. The volume of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula was overwhelmingly larger, but the Spear King Azure Aura was by no means small. Considering he had only just initiated into the art, it was an astonishing amount.
Recalling the mnemonic formulas from the secret manual, Namgung Jun immediately gauged his progress.
'Have I reached thirty… no, forty percent achievement?'
It was no exaggeration to say that his mastery had leaped this far upon his very first initiation, all thanks to Hahu Seon's Guiding True Qi and Remote Power Transmission. By expanding its volume so significantly right from the start, harmonizing it with the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula would also be much easier.
'My achievement in internal energy has taken a massive leap forward. I've shaved off at least two to three years of time.'
Not long ago, he had achieved growth in his Essence through the Essence-Steeling Great Art and meridian opening. Today, he had experienced the elevation of his Qi through Guiding True Qi and Remote Power Transmission. A tremendous change had occurred in the state of his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, which had previously been nowhere near balanced, let alone harmonized.
"Huuu."
Having finished his internal examination, Namgung Jun opened his eyes with a deep exhale.
"It is excellent."
A faint light gleamed from his eyes, as if they held the sky itself, centered around a now sharper and more agile aura.
"Hah!"
Supporting Hahu Seon while watching Namgung Jun, Yun Gyeong-jong gasped.
'It's clear! Namgung Jun has crossed the wall.'
Namgung Jun felt like he was in a completely different body. The once-distorted harmony of his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had finally been aligned.
The harmony of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, grown to their absolute limits. Most martial artists failed to raise all three to their peak even after a lifetime of cultivation. But Namgung Jun's case had been far more severe; his peculiar constitution, born male with the Nine Yin Severed Meridian, and a mind that vividly remembered a past life, made achieving this harmony exceptionally difficult. Yet, through various fortuitous encounters, he had finally done it.
The absolute peak of the Peak Stage was a realm where one filled and harmonized their Essence, Qi, and Spirit to match the vessel of martial arts they had forged. If one could go beyond simple harmony and achieve perfect unity, only then could they attain the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown. That was the step that broke one out of the mold of a Peak Expert and into the domain of a supreme expert.
'The Spear King Azure Aura. And the Association Leader.'
He had been able to fill his lacking Qi with the help of the Spear King Azure Aura and Hahu Seon.
"Good." Wiping the blood from his beard, Hahu Seon spoke softly. "Just one more step from there, and you will achieve the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown." He looked at Namgung Jun with proud eyes. "I never imagined you would attain such an achievement simply by initiating into the martial art. You always exceed this old man's expectations."
"It is all thanks to your help, Association Leader. Having even received Remote Power Transmission, I would be ashamed if I hadn't reached this level."
"No. You were already fully prepared. I merely provided a small catalyst." Hahu Seon slowly placed his hand on the back of Namgung Jun's. "I hope your newly sharpened sword points in the right direction. Your Martial Path is only just beginning."
"I will walk it steadfastly."
Pleased with Namgung Jun's answer, Hahu Seon smiled and nodded. "This old man wishes to rest now. I am tired."
At Hahu Seon's dismissal, Yun Gyeong-jong and Namgung Jun quietly stepped out of the Azure Heaven Pavilion. Yun Gyeong-jong cast a worried glance back before turning away. Though his eyes were filled with deep concern, he seemed to force himself to walk on, trusting in Hahu Seon's wishes. Only after confirming that the old man's breathing had calmed as he drifted off to sleep did Yun Gyeong-jong finally look at Namgung Jun.
"You are truly incredible. It has not even been a year since you became a Cloud of our association, yet you are already on the verge of achieving the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown."
"It would have been impossible had I not joined the Azure Heaven Association."
Yun Gyeong-jong realized once again that his eye for talent had not been wrong. Namgung Jun's achievement was simply that astonishing. Even someone cultivating a peerless Demonic Art could not match his rate of growth. It was truly a stroke of heavenly luck that such a once-in-a-generation genius had joined them.
Yun Gyeong-jong gently patted Namgung Jun's shoulder. "A new Fourth Cloud will soon be born in our association. I shall look forward to that day."
Namgung Jun nodded calmly. "The Association Leader's time will not have been spent in vain."
He tightly gripped the hilt of the Eternal Righteous Sword.
*
The grand conference room of the Ink Fragrance Department.
The core members had gathered to conduct their meeting as usual. Since Yun Gyeong-jong had accompanied Namgung Jun to the Azure Heaven Pavilion, today's meeting was conducted solely among the Pavilion Masters and Hall Masters.
Kang Mong, seated in his role as the scribe, spoke up. "The first agenda item to discuss today is the upcoming strength evaluation."
At his words, the eyes of the Hall Masters seated in the room gleamed.