Chapter 56

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The moment the shockwave of Martial Aunt Hye-won’s internal heavy strikes method struck,

Bbududeuk—!

The spine of the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas shattered. However, he did not fall.

“You bastard!”

Was the mental strength of an unorthodox master who had surpassed the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and achieved the Five Qis Gathering at the Source derived from greed? The Great Sage’s eyes glistened. The water qi at his fingertips exploded.

A drawn-out chut— sound rang in my ears.

However, since his internal energy did not connect perfectly, it was not as powerful as when I first saw it. Thanks to that, the routines and formulas of the opponent’s martial arts, which had not been easily read, came into view, and I realized what it meant for all paths to return to the source.

‘It follows Bernoulli’s theorem, Pressure, Combination, Density, and Displacement; Velocity Squared is Constant. The compressed water qi from the fingertips is sprayed into the void, and instead of the pressure disappearing, that force is entirely converted into velocity.’

To block the sword of water that was substituted from pressure to velocity, I just had to conversely form strong pressure to slow down the velocity.

Over the water blade extending along the same gesture and internal energy formula seen at the moment he had ruthlessly killed his own subordinate called ‘Young Master’ some time ago, I slammed my hands.

Upon doing so,

along with a slap—! sound, a fierce energy was felt between my hands, but the velocity that the water sword possessed was offset by the strong pressure formed in my palms.

“How do you know the art of the Rapid Thrust of Dui Water—?!”

Despite his spine being crushed and his body’s harmony completely collapsing, the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas recognized his own martial art.

Since he showed nothing but his usual greed even while nearing death, there was absolutely no room for reflection; he deserved to disappear from the world.

But I also was not in a good state, as the aftermath of excessively managing the thunder qi made it difficult to manage my internal energy and muscle movements smoothly.

The Cloud-Dispelling Divine Palm was impossible. It was not even easy to break the injured opponent with physical strength alone.

In an instant, I stretched out my hand with the minimum movement following the martial arts routine engraved on my body. A touch imbued with the realization obtained through sparring that was like real combat.

—Since I had parried Heaven’s Net with the minimum force-release formula, it was an imagery where the internal energy, like a thin thread, connected endlessly.

Recalling the imagery that the senior brothers of the Giant Gate Unit had implanted in me, I formed a flow of internal energy in my palm that seemed to break but did not break.

The internal heavy strikes method I created.

It was the palm force of the Wudang Cotton Palm.

The moment the palm force touched the chest of the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas just like that, the vibration frequency of the vital energy forming the pirate leader’s body and the vibration frequency of my palm force coincided, and…

“Uh?!”

The moment the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas briefly let out a groan,

along with a bbududeuk—! sound, the sensation of his breastbone shattering was vividly felt. Over the pupils of the master who had surpassed the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and reached the Five Qis Gathering at the Source, the fear of death, instead of greed, spread.

“Keo-heok!”

With his breastbone shattered following his spine, the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas vomited red blood beneath his mask. His falling, massive body slowly sank below the water surface that harbored the darkness of the night.

As if into the deep and dark abyss, like the bottomless pit that had been contained in his eyes.

**

The moment the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas fell, the masked warriors in black, instead of facing us, threw themselves into the Xiang River where the Great Sage’s body had been sucked in.

“The Great Sage has fallen!”

“The mask!”

“All retreat!”

Following the frantically shouting voices, some threw their bodies into the water, while other pirates rowed their oars to break the encirclement and began to withdraw.

“Are you alright?!”

At Martial Aunt Hye-won’s worried question, I nodded silently. It felt as if the vitality that always overflowed in my body had drained away. I didn’t even have the energy to speak.

Confirming my condition, Martial Aunt Hye-won, even while injured herself, carried me on her back and unleashed her footwork force toward the ship where the Group Bing members were.

“The one who brought down the Great Sage!”

“He is impossible to oppose! Retreat!”

Amid the chaos, the masked warriors on the flood dragon ship who had surrounded Group Bing also disappeared into the water or moved to other ships, so we were able to naturally secure the empty vessel.

“Heok. Heok.”

“W-We survived.”

The Group Bing members, exhausted from the fierce battle, slumped down on the deck.

Although there were some who had sustained minor flesh wounds, none of the Group Bing members died.

That sight came to me as a sense of ultimate fulfillment.

‘This is it.’

The reason for practicing martial arts.

The reason for dedicating oneself to Taoist studies.

To enjoy peace and fortune without dying a tragic death.

It was the reason why the common people made offerings to temples like the Wudang Sect, and at the same time, the reason why Taoists followed the teachings of Taoism, living in accordance with the principles that compose the universe and build the harmony of all things under heaven.

In that respect, physics and Taoist studies were certainly not different.

‘To solve the problems at hand by exploring the operation and behavioral principles of all things.’

It was the raison d’être shared by Taoist studies and physics.

Thanks to being well-versed in physics inside the butterfly dream, it was as if I survived against a matchless master like the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas and defeated him.

Indeed, it was as if I realized the principles of Taoist studies in the flesh.

However, the aftermath of using excessive thunder qi to break the water qi barrier of the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas was considerable. Perhaps because I used the internal energy of the Cotton Palm in succession, it was even difficult to support my body.

At that moment, a soft sensation was felt behind my back, and a refreshing energy cooled my hotly heated blood vessels.

The boiling internal strength subsided calmly, and vitality was returning to my body.

Only then did the Group Bing companions around me approach.

“That Great Sage Who Overturns Seas!”

“Indeed! Taoist Yeon is not daily progress, but hourly progress!”

“Taoist Yeon, are you safe?”

“Yes. I am fine.”

“To face that Great Sage Who Overturns Seas and break his water qi barrier, it would be an unbelievable thing if one hadn’t seen it with their own eyes!”

Looking at the Group Bing members who reacted even more than when I defeated the Young Spirit Slayer, especially Namgung Hyeok, I had to praise his virtue instead. Thanks to the conversation I shared with Namgung Hyeok during this mission, I had grasped the formula connecting wind to thunder.

‘Because the condensation of electrolytes in the air through wind and the generation of a potential difference were decisive.’

The rotation of the middle Dantian’s inner core was a part of such wind power generation.

“Brother Namgung’s contribution to this matter is not small either. Thanks to you, I obtained a clue in utilizing thunder qi.”

At my answer, the corners of Namgung Hyeok’s eyes suddenly became moist.

“Taoist Yeon indeed possesses the demeanor of a great hero.”

“Pardon?”

When I questioned back at his sudden remark, he took my hand and continued.

“Actually, isn’t sharing martial discussions with Taoist Yeon only beneficial to me? What would a superior gain from an inferior? Yet, since you speak like that, this Namgung can only deeply admire the character of Taoist Yeon—no, Great Hero Yeon.”

Although I had only spoken the plain facts, it was a situation where some misunderstanding had arisen, but…

‘Is it rather a good thing?’

I did not bother to correct that misunderstanding.

Even reflecting on the memories inside the butterfly dream, pointing out the facts at a time like this was not a wise course of action.

I merely smiled softly.

“Since you evaluate me so highly, I do not know what to do with myself.”

Watching my companions’ continuing looks of admiration, I pressed down my shoulders that were about to shrug in pride and composed my breath and thoughts.

‘It is a life obtained through the teachings of ancient sages.’

As soon as that thought arose, the Shoulder Well acupoint regained its original position without my having to lower my shoulders. The moment my eyes met Martial Aunt Hye-won’s, Senior Sister stroked my head.

“You were right. Since you saved everyone, I cannot help but express my gratitude. Thanks to Martial Nephew Yeon, I survived as well.”

To praise me for disobeying the order to leave her behind and run away. It was the highest praise a superior could give.

That day, I could not easily fall asleep.

It was because of the middle Dantian that surged with fullness, even though fatigue pressed down on my entire body.

**

The road to Shaolin.

There were no raids like before.

The River of Three Crossings assassin, Young Spirit Slayer, whom we faced right after destroying the last workshop in Happo.

And even the massive fleet of the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas that raided us on the Xiang River.

All of them were enemies that were too overwhelming for the young experts of the Murim Alliance to handle, and it wouldn’t have been strange if we were completely wiped out.

And we survived.

It would be difficult for anyone to think of raiding us with any ordinary strength.

In addition, one thing we could think of was that our route was being read by at least two sects among the Six Great Evils. After the excitement of the bloody battle subsided, the members who regained their composure put their heads together.

“Has the information leaked from the Murim Alliance?”

The first to raise the doubt was Yan Cheol-san from the Zhenzhou Yan Clan.

However, the majority did not agree with his opinion.

“Doesn’t that mean there is a traitor among the renowned seniors who assigned the mission? It is too hasty a judgment.”

“Correct. Even if there were no betrayal, tracing our tracks would not have been that difficult. The location of the counterfeit poison workshop would be something the Green Forest bandits know better than us. Calculating backward from there to the route leading to Shaolin, the headquarters of the Murim Alliance, is not a difficult task.”

“If similar things happened in other groups… we could suspect it.”

The members—excluding Taoist Su-gyo, of course—shared various opinions while traveling by boat.

However, such speculations and suspicions felt like matters that had nothing to do with me.

For keeping matters that could not be verified immediately in one’s head was not the attitude of one who explored Taoist studies and physics.

Instead, I reviewed the water art cultivation that the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas had shown.

It was a water art cultivation that was not as common as exotic weapons.

Since it was one of the finest water arts under heaven, it could not be overlooked, no matter how much it belonged to the martial arts of the unorthodox and demonic paths.

‘He actually loaded internal energy into real water to form a water barrier.’

The water qi barrier was not composed of qi alone.

The actual river water wrapped around the Great Sage’s body as if it possessed life. Furthermore, the cultivation of handling that water like a sword was an example of utilizing the extremely developed upper Dantian’s function.

Proof that telekinesis reacts not only to natural qi but also to existing matter. It was something I had only heard of when learning martial arts theory, but since it was the first time I had actually seen it, the form of the Great Sage’s utilization of true qi and telekinesis, read through the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition, could not help but be deeply engraved in my mind.

‘He restrained external objects through internal energy and accomplished what was physically close to impossible.’

It was the reason why the path of martial arts was difficult.

Making the impossible possible with a human body.

High-level martial arts had aspects that transcended human intuition.

After all, contemplating high-level martial arts,

rather than doing it alone, seeking advice was a better choice.

Martial Aunt Hye-won readily sat down facing me.

Martial Aunt Hye-won was one of the Nine Swords of Wudang. Like my master, who was also a member of the Nine Swords, she was a master of the Deity Transformation Stage that had surpassed the Nascent Soul Stage, a so-called master of the Five Qis Gathering at the Source in the martial world.

Receiving advice from such a person was no different from receiving advice from my master.

“Of course, there would be differences in each martial lineage. If one’s internal strength surpasses the Nascent Soul Stage and reaches the Deity Transformation Stage, one can influence external objects.”

“Then is such a thing impossible in the Nascent Soul Stage?”

Tilting her head slightly at my question, she opened her mouth.

“No. Didn’t you accomplish a similar thing even with the internal energy of the Elixir Condensation Stage? Well, your case is something that cannot be explained in a general way. I would rather like to ask how that is possible.”

It was referring to the work of moving charged particles in the air, which were external objects, during the utilization of thunder qi.

“It is thanks to the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition that Senior Sister taught me.”

At my words, she looked at me with a strange expression.

That is, it was a gaze waiting for the subsequent explanation.

“···.”

“···.”

“That’s all?”

“Through the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition? That is all?”

“I watched the senior brothers of the technique studies division using upper Dantian telekinesis and tried to utilize it similarly, and it worked well. The internal energy that reached the Elixir Condensation Stage was also sufficient to awaken the upper Dantian’s spirit.”

“······.”

“······?”

Martial Aunt Hye-won looked like she had something to say, but her mouth remained frozen open. Since it seemed no more noteworthy information would come out, I focused on the teachings she had given me.

“So you are saying that because it was possible in the Elixir Condensation Stage, it is possible a bit more easily in the Nascent Soul Stage, right, Senior Sister?”

“···.”

Gaining confidence from her slight nod, I slowly began to ponder the principles.

‘If the Elixir Condensation Stage is the unification of the lower Dantian and the middle Dantian, the Nascent Soul Stage is the unification of the upper, middle, and lower Dantians. The realm called the state of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown in the Jianghu is precisely the Nascent Soul Stage.’

The achievement I assessed of myself was only entering the mid-stage after passing the early-stage of the Elixir Condensation Stage. Thanks to rapid growth under the influence of the Flesh-Generating Tendon-Connecting Pill and the Supreme Clarity Pill consumed after facing the Red Yang Demonic Immortal, I was able to quickly escape the early phase.

‘It was said that when reaching the end-stage of the Elixir Condensation Stage, the middle Dantian’s inner core becomes more condensed and hard like a rock.’

Recalling the internal alchemy studies learned from my sect, I recalled the teachings that led from the Elixir Condensation Stage to the Nascent Soul Stage.

‘It was said that through the internal energy that has become so hard and condensed, one can break the wall blocking the upper Dantian, the Conception Vessel, and the Governing Vessel, thereby reaching the Nascent Soul Stage.’

It was explained that if the unified internal energy flows to the entire body following the pulsation of the heart and the concentration and density of that flow become fierce, one can break the wall blocking the Conception and Governing Vessels. It was explained that through breaking that wall, the Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel would be cleared.

While understanding such an explanation, a single question arose in me.

‘But… is it correct to break a wall that exists inside the body?’

So to speak, it meant destroying one of the bodily organs.

Furthermore, because I had heard stories of seniors falling into deviation into heresy during the transition from the Elixir Condensation Stage to the Nascent Soul Stage several times since my childhood as a young temple acolyte, it was a fundamental question that arose.

When I spoke of the question that occurred to me straight to Senior Sister, who looked complicated in front of me,

“···That sensation, there is no other way to express it except that the wall has been collapsed. However, that is merely the impression I felt; you might feel it differently. Since it is a sensation you will naturally feel when you reach the very end of the Elixir Condensation Stage, there is nothing I can tell you except to dedicate yourself to cultivation.”

Just as she said, in the end, to reach the Nascent Soul Stage, reaching the end-stage of the Elixir Condensation Stage was first.

I from then on dedicated myself to the dynamic cultivation of the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art. As was the case before, this was a part that could not be achieved with someone else’s help.

I was still staying in the Elixir Condensation Stage.

Although the road to travel was far, since the steps forward were large, there was a pleasure in walking it.

**

While repeating cultivation and contemplation alone, we ascended Mount Song before we knew it.

In front of the main gate of the Shaolin Temple seen in the distance, due to the intense waves of internal energy vibrating the cultivation of the upper Dantian’s Tai Chi Diagram Exposition, I could not help but doubt for a moment.

‘Has the Shaolin headquarters been attacked?’

Fortunately or unfortunately, my concern was nothing but a groundless fear, and…

“Who is the young hero who ended the life of the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas?!”

“Are you the Wudang Sect’s Monster and Spirit?!”

“Did that young Taoist exchange a blow with the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas? It makes absolutely no sense, though!”

The renowned masters of the martial world gathered to attend the Murim Alliance meeting were welcoming us.