Chapter 79

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“I want to train.”

Actually, it was not merely said to escape the situation.

After all, it was a review of the battle that I would have carried out immediately, had it not been for the task of finding the traitor of the Yeo Clan.

‘Although I also confirmed the practicality of the newly refined Four Symbols Flowing Sword.’

It was the Four Symbols Flowing Sword that I had created by pursuing a moment of realization.

I thought there were many parts to be corrected through real combat.

‘Although it is proficient in utilizing the opponent’s force in reverse when outnumbered, there are still gaps in delivering direct strikes.’

Optimizing my internal energy to the minimum was good.

However, reflection followed that I had not fully utilized the core principle of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword, ‘swing-by.’ It was a realization that I had not properly utilized what I already possessed in my body.

‘It would have been correct to maintain the rotational force along the routine of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword. If I had utilized the formula of “deflecting a thousand catties with four taels” and made use of the martial principle of “grafting flowers onto a tree”, I would have been able to suppress the enemies beyond simply deflecting them. If that had been the case, I might have been able to capture either the Great Sage Who Drives Spirits or the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas.’

The fruit of the efforts of scientists who had to explore space with limited fuel was ‘swing-by.’

And this swing-by?

‘To think that I could not properly utilize a theory rooted in elastic collision. I still have a long way to go.’

Elastic collision.

A situation where momentum and total energy do not change before and after a collision.

That meant I could add speed and force to my sword simply by adjusting the routine of receiving the opponent’s attack.

This was just like transferring the beauty of a flower blooming on another tree by grafting it onto a new tree.

The formula of grafting flowers onto a tree, which utilized the enemy’s attack as one’s own propulsion, was precisely this.

Just when I thought I had completed it, parts to be corrected emerged.

When I resolved them, another new problem appeared before me.

The more I walked the path, the more forks in the road I saw.

The path of climbing the peak of martial arts was so wide and diverse.

It was the reason why the path of martial arts was said to be endless.

‘This is the reason why I cannot quit this.’

The desire for martial arts, spreading through my entire body like an addiction, burned red like maple leaves ripening in the middle of autumn.

‘It is fun.’

The fifteen-year-old greenhorn, who had felt no interest in the Wudang Sect’s martial arts, recognized that I had truly changed in the span of two seasons.

With the change, the coordinates of my mind rose.

The moments of the critical, bloody battle were beautifully packaged.

What did it mean to be beautiful?

It meant that only the trace of stirring trajectories and collisions remained.

I grasped the movements of force and muscles, and the superposition and diffraction of force waves.

‘If I had tilted the sword blade a bit more to receive the trajectory of the crescent blade at that time…’

The meeting of trajectory and trajectory.

I calculated and analyzed the changing forces in the process of that collision and friction. I newly refined the trajectories of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword that changed before and after the collision.

I turned the sword blade to redirect the frictional force and varied the distribution of force in my fingertips holding the hilt.

It was a fine adjustment to utilize the formula of grafting flowers onto a tree.

It was a supplementation through real combat.

Following the realization that could not be obtained merely by recuperating on the mountain, I newly wrote down the manual of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.

It took me a full seven days and nights.

And the conclusion I reached was.

‘Completing it alone ends here.’

As I judged that a higher principle of martial arts was needed.

I stepped out of the room where I had been holed up.

**

With a significant number of the senior brothers and sisters of the Greedy Wolf Unit having set out to the Jianghu again for new missions, the Greedy Wolf Unit’s quarters should have been quiet at other times.

“I was worried because you didn’t come out for seven days!”

“I heard you received the original sword manual from Immortal Mang-won!”

The Greedy Wolf Unit’s training ground was bustling.

It was because the senior brothers of the Prosperity Star Unit were naturally mingled there as if it were the Prosperity Star Unit’s building.

Additionally, in a shaded spot.

An elder senior of a higher generation than the senior brothers.

Uncle Yim-won was also looking at me with eyes that seemed to expect something.

I approached Uncle Yim-won.

The pupils of Uncle Yim-won, who checked the sword manual I handed over, dilated.

Like a traveling monk who had starved for three days stuffing white rice into his mouth, Uncle Yim-won scanned the sword manual and soon nodded.

“This is good.”

Uncle Yim-won immediately drew his sword and said,

“Everyone, come over here.”

He ordered the senior brothers and sisters of the Prosperity Star Unit.

It was an order to launch a coordinated attack on him.

It was an order that a Taoist who had only studied Taoist teachings would never obey, but

the senior brothers and sisters of the Prosperity Star Unit were those who walked the path of martial arts.

They immediately drew their swords and surrounded Uncle Yim-won.

Everyone knew that this was also a part of training.

In addition, they had eyes fluttering with expectation that they too would obtain teachings through this.

I closely observed the one-versus-many sparring scene that unfolded in that manner through my sensitivity refined by the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

And I confirmed it.

The advancement of the sword manual, which melted the experience obtained through real combat.

Uncle Yim-won recreated the sword paths, muscle utilization, and internal energy operation that I had modified exactly as they were against the disciples of the Prosperity Star Unit.

The sword manual, implemented by the sword of a high-level expert, contained the exact effect I had wanted.

‘Since Uncle Yim-won’s torso is longer than mine. Yes, it is right to make changes like that.’

It was not completely identical to the sword manual I had completed.

Because the person wielding the sword was different, the form of the sword paths had no choice but to be different as well.

That was why formulas were added to the sword manual.

It was a quantification of the formulas containing the changes.

For that reason, the profound meaning contained in the sword manual was perfectly implemented despite the deformation of the form.

The more he received the swords of the senior brothers and sisters, the more Uncle Yim-won’s sword accelerated, making it harder for the Prosperity Star Unit’s senior brothers to maintain their encirclement.

The subtle principle of grafting flowers onto a tree, which utilized the opponent’s force in reverse, was gradually adding weight and speed to Uncle Yim-won’s sword.

On top of that,

‘That is it!’

Sword qi ‘condensed’ on Uncle Yim-won’s sword.

Uncle Yim-won resolved the traces of concern that I could not solve during the seven days and nights with his own sword, as if saying, ‘This was what you were worried about, right?’

It was the water-parting sword that he had shown against the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas previously.

It was a sword that changed the texture of matter itself.

A realm near the very top of the arts that could be displayed with a sword.

It was the realm of Sword Qi Materialization.

It was a sword art that could only be implemented when sword qi possessed not only color but also texture and shape.

It was possible only when the flowing Qi became closer to the shaped Essence.

The essence of the sword qi, completed through Sword Qi Materialization in that manner, flowed and condensed on the sword blade.

It grew in size by absorbing the sword qi force waves emitted by the Prosperity Star Unit’s senior brothers.

Accordingly,

‘Space is distorted!’

Although it was a level too fine to be noticed by eye,

the sword paths of the senior brothers and sisters bent as they stretched out.

It was not that the sword paths themselves were twisted.

Rather, the sword paths were diverted as space bent.

At the same time,

“Uh, uh?”

“Suddenly, my sword won’t listen to me!”

They could not control their own sword paths and sword speeds.

Mistakes that could not possibly happen at the level of the Prosperity Star Unit’s senior brothers and sisters occurred.

It was the true essence of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.

Swing-by.

The change in sword speed and orbit due to elastic collision.

The intended acceleration and trajectory collided with unintended ones.

Clang-!

The sword blades that broke all at once were driven into the floor of the Greedy Wolf Unit’s training ground.

Five swords.

In a single strike, he cut five iron swords in two.

Some of the Prosperity Star Unit’s senior brothers were those with internal energy at the Elixir Condensation Stage. Even if they had not reached Sword Qi Materialization, they were those who handled sword qi with visible colors.

He broke five swords of such people in a single strike.

“Congratulations, Unit Leader!”

At the shout of the Prosperity Star Unit’s senior brothers who lost their swords, Uncle Yim-won instead flashed his eyes as if surprised.

Then he looked back and forth between me and his own sword in succession,

and soon sheathed his sword, sat cross-legged on the spot, and entered meditation.

Such was the appearance of my martial uncle organizing his realization.

**

A day passed since he had entered meditation,

and Uncle Yim-won opened his eyes.

Dismissing the other disciples, only me, Aunt Hye-won, and he remained on the training ground.

“This sword manual. It must contain the realization from real combat, right?”

“Yes.”

“Once again, this Yim-won cannot help but express admiration at the depth of your realization. My martial nephew is a talent of a thousand years!”

I was at a loss for words at the sight of my martial uncle spitting out such embarrassing words so casually. Of course, it was not that I felt bad. Rather, it could be said to be good.

However, the first thought that came to mind was,

‘Is it that much?’

In reality, because it was my martial uncle who completed the sword in the realm of Sword Qi Materialization, I could not shake the thought that what I had done was merely like priming the pump.

And as if noticing my expression, my martial uncle pointed to a part of the sword manual and spoke.

“You must be the only one under heaven who thinks of the concern arising from not reaching Sword Qi Materialization as nothing. You ill-mannered fellow!”

A hand, in inverse proportion to the sudden scolding, moved in a direction that increased the disorder of my hair.

It was a rough patting.

“You punk. How many guys collapse after hitting the wall of the Nascent Soul Stage and Sword Qi Materialization… No, never mind. Yes, since it does not apply to you. If you have a concern, it must be resolved. That must be why you sought me out as soon as you came out of closed-door cultivation.”

My inner thoughts were completely exposed, but I was not embarrassed.

I was in front of my martial uncle and martial aunt.

After all, if I had intended to hide it, I would have presented a sword manual with the traces of my concerns erased.

“Just give me a clue.”

A path dimly visible.

However, it was said because the way to reach it right now was faint.

Martial Aunt Hye-won, who gently pinched and stretched my cheek, opened her mouth.

“A clue.”

My martial aunt, who seemed to ponder for a moment, soon spoke.

“Try to recall the time when you trained in the Cloud-Dispelling Divine Palm previously.”

Following her words, Uncle Yim-won also chimed in.

“What do they call the stage before achieving the Resonance Stage?”

“Do you mean the Body Cultivation Stage?”

“Indeed. Try to recall the operation of internal energy at that time. How did you do it?”

Because the Body Cultivation Stage was, literally, the stage of cleansing the body with qi,

“I mastered the returning force that circulates true qi through the acupoints of the entire body, right?”

Returning force was, in other words, circulating true qi throughout the entire body. However, what was the relationship between circulating internal energy and Sword Qi Materialization…

‘Ah!’

I once again recalled the sword qi, possessing shape and color, that ‘circulated’ on Uncle Yim-won’s sword blade.

Circulating on the sword blade.

Circulating qi inside the body.

In the end, the principle was the same.

‘Then how? Ah!’

It meant I had already heard the answer to that question as well.

The formula of the Cloud-Dispelling Palm technique.

-The extremely soft gallops through the extremely hard; that which has no substance enters where there is no space.

When extreme softness comes into contact with hardness, energy leaks into the space without gaps.

A soft energy can permeate any gap.

If the sword force I had utilized until now was emitting internal energy through the surface of the sword blade, it meant that to advance to Sword Qi Materialization, I had to fill the entire sword blade with true qi, not just the surface!

And that meant,

“Are you saying that weapons like swords or sabers also have a ‘path of true qi’ similar to our bodies?”

At my question, satisfied expressions appeared on the faces of my martial uncle and martial aunt.

“Yes. Though they do not call it acupoints or fine meridians, it is similar. No matter how perfectly a weapon is made, it is not homogeneous. There is a path where true qi flows easily, and if you carry true qi along that path, something like fine meridians will form in the sword as well.”

Following my martial uncle’s explanation, my martial aunt spoke with a satisfied smile.

“The state where one becomes able to form fine meridians throughout the entire sword blade in that manner. Wielding the sword and fully loading your true qi onto the entire sword blade to operate neutralizing force, which combines returning force and releasing force over the sword. This realm is referred to as the Unity of Body and Sword.”

‘Returning force and releasing force simultaneously throughout the entire sword blade! Neutralizing force!’

The peak of sword arts that every swordsman under heaven dreams of.

That was precisely the Unity of Body and Sword,

so I immediately drew my sword.

Just like when I trained in the Cloud-Dispelling Divine Palm and explored the inside of the rock,

I began to scan the sword blade by finely operating true qi with my hand holding the hilt.

Though I operated my internal energy for quite a long time to the point of sweating,

“It is not going well, is it?”

To Uncle Yim-won, who smiled mischievously, I replied in a slightly dejected state.

“I can feel the main path, but forming fine meridians is difficult.”

“…You found the main path?”

“Yes. Just as Martial Aunt Hye-won said, when I operate true qi in the form of feeling the gaps in the boulder during my training in the Cloud-Dispelling Divine Palm, I can feel it easily.”

“…I see. Yes. If it is you, the Bringer of Chaos, it is only natural. Yes, if it is you, it is only natural…”

Closing my ears to my martial uncle’s muttering, I once again infused internal energy starting from the hilt along the path of true qi formed throughout the entire sword blade.

Although a sword cry resonated with a hum,

‘It means I must repeat this to form what could be called fine meridians, right?’

Because it meant a realm that could not be reached overnight,

I relaxed my concentration with a soft sigh and sheathed my sword.

‘Since one cannot be full at the first spoonful.’

If it were that easy, swordsmen who reached the Unity of Body and Sword would be dime a dozen.

As I struggled to think so, my martial uncle and martial aunt also added a word each.

“Do not be discouraged.”

“Indeed. You are already sufficiently ahead of the other kids. Impatience can rather become poison, so you may let go of your greed a little.”

“…Yes.”

“Forming energy channels in a sword blade is something that takes time. It is completely different from natural objects.”

A sword was a work made by a craftsman striking iron thousands or tens of thousands of times. The explanation was that finding energy channels in a sword was on a different dimension from feeling energy channels formed naturally in natural objects.

Therefore,

“If you train steadily, the path will show itself at some point.”

From now on, it was the standard theory again.

And,

“Well, although there is a training method that a Bringer of Chaos like you could try.”

“What is it?”

At Uncle Yim-won’s words, my eyes shone.

Looking at me, Uncle Yim-won glanced at the five broken sword pieces driven into the ground, and then opened his mouth again.

“Spar with multiple people who are similar to or slightly weaker than you.”

“Opponents weaker than me?”

“Yes. When facing someone stronger than you, the operation of internal energy in the form most familiar to your body will naturally come out. However, if you train against kids weaker than you… you will be able to focus a bit more on the energy sensation of feeling the sword blade. It seems you might be able to form fine meridians in the sword blade a bit faster.”

If they were too weak compared to me, my concentration could drop,

and it meant that if I faced strong people, I would focus only on the martial arts most familiar to my body.

At Uncle Yim-won’s words, faces naturally came to mind.

And just in time,

“Excuse me… I heard that Martial Uncle Yeon Baek-jung has returned to the mountain, so could you perhaps call him…”

a disciple of the Yang generation with a pitiful gaze like a dog that needed to poop poked his face through the main gate of the Greedy Wolf Unit,

and it was Yeo Sim-yang, who had been anxiously waiting for a reply to the letter sent to the Yeo Clan.