Chapter 37

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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It was the formula for the amplification of telekinesis through internal energy that I had been thinking of.

“However, since it is entirely filled only with thoughts of harming the opponent.”

With those words, the internal energy that was rotating in the Hundred Convergences acupoint corresponded with the true qi, twisting into dozens of strands and spinning like a thread, just like the internal energy that had blocked the noise of demonic energy before.

The tough yet soft thread of true qi transformed from lines into a surface, as if woven on a loom.

The spread-out surface of true qi was softly covering the entire body of the Sword Immortal like silk.

It was the study of Body-Protecting Qi that Senior Brother Myeong-hun had mentioned once during the training of the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art.

‘Shedding the opponent’s force with the torque through the rotation of true qi. In addition, the coefficient of friction was reduced by making the surface of the true qi barrier smooth. At the moment of impact, the point of contact can be deflected.’

In the silk-like soft barrier formed by the Grandmaster, the formula of softness overcoming strength, which could deflect any danger, was felt.

“Before thinking of harming the opponent, protecting one’s own body is the priority.”

With those words, the scars that filled half of the Sword Immortal’s face wriggled.

Although I did not know the exact circumstances, I felt an intuition that the Grandmaster’s loss of half his body was somehow related to those words, allowing me to feel the Grandmaster’s sincerity.

Sincerity moved the middle dantian.

In addition, what moved my mind was…

‘The study of Body-Protecting Qi based on the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art!’

In addition to being created based on the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art completed by recovering the manuscript of Immortal Jin-heo of the Eight Disciples of Sanfeng, the seed of inspiration once shared with Senior Brother Myeong-hun had manifested in the body of the Sword Immortal, Immortal Jin-cheon.

I immediately took in with my eyes and engraved in my upper dantian everything, from the initial formula of true qi amplifying telekinesis to the process of the telekinesis activated in the upper dantian controlling the external qi.

Although it felt as if my upper dantian was burning as if scorching, it was not to the point of being unbearable like before.

‘By rotating the core of the middle dantian.’

The telekinesis manifested from the spirit of the upper dantian awakened the essence of the middle dantian, and the essence rotated the core of internal energy at the Danzhong acupoint. Along the self-rotating core, a vortex of external qi was formed. In addition, the rotation of the core was accelerated through the telekinesis of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

Along the core under rotational acceleration, true qi rotated around the Hundred Convergences acupoint at the crown of the head, twisting and spinning like a single thread. As if that line of true qi was woven on a loom, it transformed into a single surface. Like a sleeve fluttering in a gentle breeze, it fluttered weakly in the wind of true qi, but the silk of true qi, which could neither be torn nor cut, covered the entire body.

“Phew.”

One breath.

That entire process was formed in just a single breath.

What was even more surprising was that the Body-Protecting Qi formed through the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art consumed almost no internal energy.

‘I think it was said that other studies of Body-Protecting Qi consume a massive amount of internal energy…’

It was maintained solely by the breathing of true qi according to the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art.

It was thanks to the extreme efficiency through the study of the upper dantian.

Of course, compared to the deep blue silk of true qi that covered the body of the Sword Immortal, the density was lower and the silk woven from true qi was also sparse. As proof of that, the silk of true qi I spun was at an almost translucent level.

Although it originated from the same principle, it was because there was an insurmountable gap in accumulated effort. To be compared to the World’s Best Sword, the depth of my study was still shallow.

In other words.

‘With my current Body-Protecting Qi, can I really deflect high-level martial arts?’

That dissatisfaction stimulated the upper dantian once again.

Just as the Sword Immortal had his own path, I had my own path. I added my own thoughts to the steps taken by the predecessor.

I was able to conceive an inspiration from the flow of true qi spreading throughout the entire body from the rotating core.

‘Earth’s outer core.’

Just as the Earth’s magnetic field, created by the flow of molten alloy below the crust, became a shield blocking the solar wind, which was a massive flow of particles emitted from the sun’s surface.

The dense true qi melting and flowing from the core circulated through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, forming a force field around the body.

Along the axis penetrating the Hundred Convergences acupoint of the upper dantian and the Meeting of Yin acupoint below the lower dantian, the core rotated on its axis, and a dipole was formed.

**

As the wave of internal energy emitted from the Hundred Convergences acupoint swirled around the body and converged at the Meeting of Yin acupoint, the wave of true qi constantly pulsating along the flow of internal energy draped another layer over the feather robe of true qi spun like silk.

Jin-cheon wore a smile on his lips as he looked at his granddisciple.

He was not satisfied with just what was given, but took another step forward.

From the perspective of a teacher, he could not help but be delighted.

Even Jin-cheon, who had seen countless juniors over a long period of time, felt his heart become cheerful whenever he saw Yeon Baek-jung.

It was because it was a talent he had never seen before.

If one who realized ten when taught one was called a genius, what would one call one who realized a hundred?

An eccentric? A superhuman?

Although the people of the world called Jin-cheon himself a genius, his granddisciple seemed to have surpassed the category of the word ‘genius.’

‘Yes. It must be at least that much.’

Only then could it be called the ‘qualities of a grandmaster’ that his disciple Gangwon bragged about, just as his master, Immortal Sanfeng, had been.

When he first saw the secret manual of the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art after hearing that his granddisciple had completed the manuscript of his senior brother, Jin-heo, who had passed away first, Jin-cheon was able to think of a way to block the tyrannical force of the ‘Northern Emperor’, who had dealt him the only defeat of his life.

Although it was a study that had not even been named yet.

‘If only a single layer of a sheet could be increased to ten layers.’

He would be able to deflect the brutal hand of that ruler of the northern martial world, which could not be blocked even by the Supreme Clarity Feather Robe or the Body-Protecting Qi of the Yin-Yang Prosperous Strong Barrier based on the Two Polarities Creation Art.

And if it were at that level?

It would be enough to protect his granddisciple from the demons of the Six Great Evils who disturbed the Central Plains’ Jianghu.

However, Jin-cheon knew that the time heaven had granted him was not that much. He could not guarantee whether his incomplete vessel would hold out until the single layer of protective robe increased to ten layers. That was why he had shown it. Because his granddisciple was different.

And just like that expectation.

his granddisciple, who possessed a healthy, sturdy body and comprehension comparable to his master’s, was further developing the study of Body-Protecting Qi that he had created in his old age.

‘It is good.’

Like the saying ‘The Great Tao has no gate, yet there are a thousand different paths’, his granddisciple was pioneering his own path even with a core that had not yet reached the Nascent Soul stage.

Watching the scene where the second protective robe, similar to yet different from the study of softness overcoming strength he had created, wrapped around his granddisciple’s body, Jin-cheon could not hold back the smile that naturally rose.

And someone approached. However, Jin-cheon did not stop that person.

The person who approached, stepping aside past the granddisciple who was mindlessly absorbed in his own world, cupped their fists to him with utmost respect.

“I greet the Sword Immortal. I congratulate you on creating a new divine art.”

It was Hye-won, who was in charge of the Greedy Wolf Unit.

Jin-cheon said, gripping once again the staff that had floated in the air.

“You have properly established the foundation of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.”

“It is something that child achieved on his own.”

He momentarily looked at Hye-won. He wondered if it was a word of humility, but her gaze was serious. She truly thought so.

However.

“There is no need to show humility.”

Jin-cheon left a word of praise for Hye-won and turned around.

He had given what was to be given, and received an unexpected gift.

His granddisciple, whom he only wanted to give to entirely, was gradually becoming a joy in his later years.

“It is only a pity that he does not take the sword as his main study.”

Leaving behind those words to himself, Jin-cheon began to move his steps.

Just as the granddisciple had his own path, Jin-cheon himself had his own path.

‘The Great Tao has no gate, yet there are a thousand different paths.’

Although he wanted to keep him by his side and raise him completely, Jin-cheon could tell that it was not the path for his granddisciple.

It was because his granddisciple was already pioneering his own world and his own path.

Therefore, what he could do would only be to push his back once in a while, just like now.

**

He walked once again, scattering a streak of lingering regret into the mountain wind of Wudang Mountain.

When I regained my senses, Martial Aunt Hye-won stood before me instead of Immortal Jin-cheon. At the moment when a strange lingering regret and the pride that filled my middle dantian coexisted, Martial Aunt Hye-won asked.

“What is its name?”

She was asking for the name of the Body-Protecting Qi study I had just shown.

However, I did not know the name.

Because the Grandmaster had not told me.

However, there was one name that tickled my head.

‘The effectiveness of the Body-Protecting Qi will increase as the protective robes are layered. Since it is still two layers…’

I answered calmly.

“It is the Two-Section Brocade. For now.”

“For now?”

“Because it is not a completed study.”

“Then, to what extent would it be completed?”

First, a protective robe spun out tough and soft by twisting.

The second stage was a membrane inspired by the field that protects our lives.

Although I did not know yet what kind of protective robe would be added next.

“It must reach tenfold perfection.”

I answered while recalling when I first created the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art, and at my words, Martial Aunt Hye-won spoke with a smile.

“Tenfold perfection. Then, when it is completed, you can name it the Ten-Section Brocade.”

**

It was the moment the name of the Body-Protecting Qi given by the Grandmaster was decided.

Hye-won recalled the reports she had received so far while looking at Yeon Baek-jung, who had even mastered the study of Body-Protecting Qi in addition to his internal energy having reached the Elixir Condensation Stage.

– His talent in martial arts seems difficult for anyone in the Wudang Sect to match.

– Even the First Senior Brother was not at that level at the same age, so that says it all.

In addition to comprehension that far surpassed the disciple of the Immortal Sect Leader, the First Senior Brother of the Myeong generation.

– His eloquence is also considerable. He led the conversation against the Zhuge Clan’s Sagacious Eye Scholar. Although he did not obtain the Zhuge Clan’s cooperation, his skillful handling against a renowned figure of the martial world was unlike his age.

– He persuaded the Calamity Divine Hand Tang Baek-seon and brought about the Tang Clan’s cooperation. Without Junior Brother’s persuasion, it seems it would have been difficult to draw out the Tang Clan’s cooperation. Although he is younger than me, I learned a lot.

The senior brothers and senior sisters who had gone on the mission together gave high marks not only to Yeon Baek-jung’s martial prowess but also to his handling of people from other sects.

This meant that in addition to simple martial prowess, he also possessed the negotiation skills and intelligence to draw cooperation from people of surrounding sects.

Furthermore, he had already gained the trust of the senior brothers and senior sisters of the Greedy Wolf Unit.

Martial power, intelligence, and prestige.

There was nothing to criticize in any of them.

Although she had never assigned him a mission as a leader before.

‘Now I can entrust him with the work.’

She spoke to Yeon Baek-jung with confidence.

“There is a new mission. However, you may refuse this mission. It is dangerous, and I can give you time to focus on your training instead.”

However, Yeon Baek-jung shook his head.

“It is fine. I just finished my secluded cultivation not long ago, and I want to gain more experience now.”

Confirming Yeon Baek-jung’s intention, she nodded and spoke.

**

“If so…”

“…Recently, in the Chibi area, the sect leader of a newly emerged unorthodox sect called the Danyang Sect killed the hall master of the Cloud Sword Hall, an affiliate branch of our Wudang Sect, through a duel.”

“A mere black path unorthodox sect killed the hall master of our Wudang Sect’s affiliate branch?”

Founding an affiliate branch of the Wudang Sect meant that they were a first-class expert who had at least reached the Resonance Stage from the Wudang Sect’s headquarters. That such an expert was killed during a duel with a mere member of a black path unorthodox sect was a puzzling detail.

Moreover, killing the sect leader of a Wudang Sect affiliate branch in Chibi, located within the Hubei region, was something impossible without some kind of backing.

“Yes. What is even more suspicious is because of the information from the Sea Fog Pavilion.”

“What kind of information is it?”

“It is said that the body of the murdered Cloud Sword Hall Master stiffened hard, even to the muscles and veins of the four limbs, before even a single shixing had passed.”

For a moment, I thought of rigor mortis, but one shixing was too early for rigor mortis to occur.

“Furthermore, the Danyang Sect Leader’s signature martial art was identified as a blazing Yang-type martial art.”

“!”

If one was struck by a blazing Yang-type martial art, rigor mortis would occur even later. This was because rigor mortis was a phenomenon that occurred as the body’s Yang energy dissipated and Yin energy prevailed.

Traces that did not match the martial art used to kill him, in addition to the backing.

“Could it be…”

“Yes. The Sea Fog Pavilion is currently suspecting that the imitation of the Tang Family’s Immortal Ruiner, which was secured from the Green Forest, found its way into the Danyang Sect.”

For the body to stiffen so quickly despite being hit by a blazing Yang art was a trace of being struck by a paralyzing poison. Furthermore, this was information revealed through the murdered corpse after the duel.

“So no one saw the poison being used at the scene.”

“Correct.”

Even if the eyes of ordinary people could not compare to those of martial artists, normal poison was bound to have a scent or color. Yet, that poison was utilized during a duel in broad daylight and no one saw it was beyond suspicious.

I had no choice but to agree with the Sea Fog Pavilion’s suspicion.

And that was not just the Wudang Sect’s thought. It was the common thought of the righteous martial world’s seniors who held the information.

“We have received word that the Beggars’ Sect and the Tang Family are also dispatching people. Representing Wudang, you must join them and verify if the Danyang Sect utilized the imitation of the Tang Family’s Immortal Ruiner.”

I immediately nodded at Martial Aunt Hye-won’s command.

At that moment, the Martial Aunt caught me as I was about to leave to prepare and added.

“You must prioritize your own safety above all else. If it becomes dangerous, or if you encounter an expert you cannot handle, you must turn around and run away.”

Barely suppressing the spring wriggling in my chest, I answered. “Yes.”