Chapter 114
Chapter 114
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: The Truth (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As he descended Mount Tai after sunset, Ouyang Jue was lost in thought.
How should he handle the manual?
He hadn't read it in detail, but it belonged to Jeok Sang, who had wielded immense power even after losing most of his sanity.
Moreover, the Heavenly Light and Sundering Thunder Sword described at the end was a technique that even Ouyang Jue would find difficult to execute at his current level.
If he took his time, the unique adaptability of his Purple Mist Aura would allow him to master it up to the seventh stage, but he couldn't shake the question of whether it was the right thing to do.
He could make excuses.
He could say it was to properly teach a disciple of the Mount Tai Sword Gate he might meet later, or that it was to defeat the Eight Evils who had done this to Jeok Sang.
If he were the old Ouyang Jue—the man he was in his days as the Bloodhound—he would have learned it without a second thought.
‘Now that the Mount Tai Sword Gate has fallen into decline, there’s little risk of being caught even if I learn it.’
Ouyang Jue was once again struck by how much he had changed.
His initial intention to simply imitate the Daoists had somehow led to him breathing and living among them, becoming one of them.
But a worldly heart still remained.
Deep inside, a desire to learn the Heavenly Light and Sundering Thunder Sword, for whatever reason, still lingered.
‘He probably never would have expected this, but… it has surprisingly good synergy with the Thunderclap Lightning Palm, a technique of the Divine Demon Fist.’
The fact that both were executed by striking from a distance was one similarity, and the way they artificially generated a force reminiscent of lightning was another.
The only difference was whether one used a special internal art or clashed pure internal energy against itself to create the effect.
‘The Thunderclap Lightning Palm is far more refined, but in terms of focused destructive power in a single moment, the Heavenly Light and Sundering Thunder Sword is at least three levels higher.’
Ouyang Jue couldn't help but marvel at Jeok Sang's genius time and again.
After all, he had essentially invented a new martial art while demonic energy was gradually encroaching upon his mind.
Compared to the Thunderclap Lightning Palm, which had been perfected over generations, the Heavenly Light and Sundering Thunder Sword was the work of one man: Jeok Sang.
And yet, its level of completion was on par with the Thunderclap Lightning Palm.
While it had the drawback of being purely offensive, viewed differently, it meant it was a technique to be used at the right place and the right time.
From Jeok Sang's handwriting, Ouyang Jue could feel a madness, a desperate desire to leave something behind for the Mount Tai Sword Gate, even in his final moments.
He was, in fact, losing his sanity to the demonic energy, so to accomplish such a feat in that state was nothing short of genius.
It was a pity that he had died so meaninglessly.
“…”
As his thoughts reached that point, a chill ran down Ouyang Jue’s spine.
Whoever the faction that had done this to Jeok Sang was, they had destroyed a perfectly sound Mount Tai Sword Gate and turned its greatest master into a wreck.
But could he say with certainty that the Mount Hua Sect was safe?
If those who had carved a sinister mark on the roof of Jeok Sang's mouth tried to do the same to Ouyang Jue, would they fail?
No, that wasn’t right. As confident as Ouyang Jue was, he was not arrogant.
“My mind is a mess.”
Having made his way down to the mountain trail, Ouyang Jue sat on a flat rock and took out something to write on.
He then began to organize everything he had learned since leaving Mount Hua.
- Twenty years ago, the old Demonic Cult emerged. The Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions formed a martial alliance, joining forces with the government to wage war.
- Afterward, all Daoist sects in the northern region of the river suffered blows. The Mount Tai Sword Gate, which sustained the most damage, suddenly declined. Jeok Sang claimed the leaders of both the Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance had joined hands.
- He pointed to Nangong Cheon as a key figure, claiming he directly attacked the Mount Tai Sword Gate. Needs confirmation.
- During this time, Cheol Geum-san was critically injured by a masked sorcerer.
- All the above is from Jeok Sang, so its credibility is low.
- The Eight Evils.
- Hard to believe, but they are said to be eight demonic beings who have survived since the era of Lü Dongbin. Highly likely they were involved in the war with the old Demonic Cult.
- One of them, the Black Dragon, has been eliminated. Obtained Dragon's Blood. Handed the treasure over to the Mount Hua Sect. Needs re-confirmation.
- The Mount Tai Sword Gate.
- The exact circumstances are unknown, but it was likely attacked by nearby clans after the war with the old Demonic Cult.
- High probability that its martial arts were divided among the Zhenzhou Yan Clan, the Hebei Peng Clan, and possibly even the Nangong Clan.
Having written this much, Ouyang Jue tore off a separate sheet. After looking around and confirming no one was there, he continued.
- The Omniscient One.
- Unlike in my past life, he survived. Pledged to meet him after the ley lines of Mount Mao stabilize.
- Shockingly, the talisman the Omniscient One drew for me did not have the power to return me to my present life.
- Then, how? Why?
“...Hoo.”
After organizing his thoughts, Ouyang Jue let out a deep sigh.
He had learned a great deal, but just as many questions had arisen.
Above all, the fact that the Omniscient One's talisman was not the reason he had been sent back in time was still a shock.
Then what power had pulled him into the past?
‘Could it be the Heaven-Bearing Asura… No, why in the world would he do something so crazy?’
If the Heaven-Bearing Asura possessed such an art, he would have used it long ago.
And he would have used it on himself.
Having witnessed the Heaven-Bearing Asura’s greed firsthand, Ouyang Jue could only scoff at the idea.
The problem was that in the not-so-distant future, he could face enemies on par with, or perhaps even far stronger than, the Heaven-Bearing Asura.
And not one-on-one, but one against many!
‘To reach the level I achieved in my past life, I’ll need to train until I’m at least twenty-five…’
Seven years from now.
Would the Eight Evils or his other enemies wait for him?
‘Not a chance.’
Ouyang Jue lightly shook his head.
Less than a year had passed since he had misjudged, assuming things would unfold as they had in his past life.
People, and the world, were not so simple.
When even a trivial detail changes, people think, and they make decisions.
When one person becomes two, and two become four, even a small situation is bound to change.
And hadn't he himself caused a major incident by crushing the Black Dragon Gang and the Zhenzhou Yan Clan?
Even though his actions were meant to prevent the decline of the Mount Hua Sect, he had nonetheless created a turning point that would alter the future.
As his thoughts reached that point, Ouyang Jue let out a slight smile.
“Well, I never thought it would be easy.”
*Fwoosh!*
After burning everything he had written with a tinderbox, Ouyang Jue rose to his feet.
“In fact, this is a relief.”
It is incredibly difficult for a once-ruined sect to be rebuilt. If it had a glorious past, it was nigh impossible.
Sects that once couldn't even meet your gaze out of fear would rise up to check or attack you.
And so, the Mount Tai Sword Gate was ruined, and its greatest master, Jeok Sang, became a puppet on a string.
In contrast, what about the Mount Hua Sect?
Its heart was still beating strongly, was it not?
There was Jin Mu-wol, whose strength was beyond comparison with most masters, despite the many suspicions surrounding him. Then there were the two Grand Protectors and the three Martial Uncles.
Furthermore, there were promising new talents like the Divine Demon Fist and Ik Hyeon.
Liu Zhangming and Gwan Dae-ryun were not to be forgotten either.
So there was no need to fall into pointless pessimism and let his vision darken. In times like these, he needed the boldness to open his eyes wide and observe his surroundings.
Let them come.
Ouyang Jue clenched his fists tightly, then relaxed them.
It was then.
“Great Warrior Ouyang!”
A familiar face appeared over the ridge of the mountain trail.
If his memory served him right, it was one of the merchants who had been loitering around Bai Chuan.
A look of doubt appeared on Ouyang Jue's face.
“Is something the matter?”
“Hah, huuk, hah…”
The merchant was so out of breath that he had to stop and gasp for air for a long while.
Just as Ouyang Jue's patience was wearing thin, the merchant finally spoke.
“The Mount Hua Sect has a message for you, Great Warrior!”
“...What is it?”
Ouyang Jue tensed, wondering if it was bad news, but the merchant’s next words made him break into a bright smile.
“Your Senior-most Brother’s condition has improved, and he has risen from his bed!”
“Is that really true?!”
Ouyang Jue immediately began preparing to return to Mount Hua.
* * *
“Are you feeling better now?”
At Jeong Pa-ro’s words, Ha Jin-ak offered a gentle smile.
“I’ve gained much strength thanks to you, Protector.”
“Still, you must remember. Once depleted, innate vitality never returns. Your internal energy is barely holding your lifeline together.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Easy for you to say. But when the time comes to fight, you won’t hesitate to step forward, will you?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Unavoidable?”
*Tsk.*
Jeong Pa-ro clicked his tongue at Ha Jin-ak’s stubbornness.
“For a young man, you’re more obstinate than I am!”
“But it’s thanks to Jue that I have my life back.”
Ha Jin-ak tried to persuade Jeong Pa-ro with a soft-spoken voice.
“I’ve taken the Small Purple Spirit Elixir and my martial arts have progressed by leaps and bounds. How could I just stand by and watch from the sidelines?”
“But… your life is directly tied to this. It’s not a matter of dying when your internal energy runs out, but that your body will weaken the more you consume it.”
“Elder Cheong warned me as well. He said if the vitality that was so painstakingly restored were to drain away, he couldn't predict what would happen.”
He had heard about the risks for a very long time.
For as long as he had been bedridden, for a time proportional to his helplessness, he had been told that he must never fight as a martial artist again.
But Ha Jin-ak didn't want that.
During the short time they had spent together, he had noticed that Ouyang Jue had a temperament to push himself just as hard as he did.
He had heard that this junior of his would be leaving Mount Hua periodically for long stretches of time.
‘If he were just a boy who liked his drink, I would have left him be, but…’
Ha Jin-ak had a premonition that Ouyang Jue was caught up in a grand scheme.
The basis for this was the battle against the Black Dragon Gang. At that time, Ouyang Jue had been different from his peers.
Ha Jin-ak clearly remembered the look of resolve and solemnity on his face.
And it was certainly not an emotion a seventeen-year-old should possess.
The skill with which he had rapidly built his martial reputation and fostered ties with the Martial Alliance at the tender age of just-turned-eighteen was also anything but ordinary.
He was a junior brother shrouded in mystery.
Therefore, if possible, he wanted to walk the path with him again and ask.
Drawing his sword, Ha Jin-ak unleashed the Heavenly Flow Fire Cloud Sword, painting the sunset sky with a layer of crimson fire energy.
“...Hmph!”
Even Jeong Pa-ro, who was watching, was momentarily impressed. The sword art Ha Jin-ak displayed was on a completely different level than before.
The Small Purple Spirit Elixir, a condensation of Mount Hua’s spiritual energy, had not only deepened his mastery of the Purple Mist Divine Arts but had also amplified the unique fire energy of the Heavenly Flow Fire Cloud Sword.
However, his lost innate vitality could never be recovered, so physical growth was no longer possible for him.
That was something even a divine physician couldn't heal. The fact that his life had been saved at all was a testament to the incredible medical skill of Cheong Ho-won.
But then, another miracle occurred.
*Fwoosh!*
The fire energy materialized into the form of a fire dragon, dancing upon his blade.
This was something that should have been impossible at Ha Jin-ak’s level of mastery.
But as his innate vitality was depleted and the spiritual energy of the Small Purple Spirit Elixir from Mount Hua took its place, a strange phenomenon occurred.
Ha Jin-ak's body had become partially connected to the ley lines of Mount Hua.
Watching the fire dragon forged from fire energy, Cheong Ho-won let out a dry laugh.
“From now on, as long as he is on Mount Hua, Jin-ak will never lose to an opponent of the same realm.”
His body could hardly be called human anymore. He was, in effect, living by borrowing the spiritual energy of the Small Purple Spirit Elixir and the ley lines of Mount Hua in place of his own innate vitality.
Because of this body, Ha Jin-ak had a question.
‘What in the world is in the Plum Blossom Cave…’
Why were all the ley lines of Mount Hua concentrated in the Plum Blossom Cave?
‘Well, it must be because Mount Hua has a peculiar structure.’
But Ha Jin-ak soon shook his head lightly and let the thought go.