Chapter 81

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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I recalled the moment I was sparring with my martial nephews.

Just before moving from the Body Cultivation Stage to the Resonance Stage.

I had felt the wave of external energy fluctuating along the routine of the wooden sword through the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

In that respect, true qi is a ‘wave.’

However, at the same time, the internal energy accumulated in the body through breathing methods was different.

At first like smoke, and later like water, it flowed majestically inside the body and then condensed to settle in the chest.

A phase transition.

‘It has particle properties.’

Just like everything in the world, true qi also possesses both ‘particle properties’ and ‘wave properties’ simultaneously.

It was the wave-particle duality of matter proposed by the young genius of France, De Broglie, and highly praised by the Grandmaster Einstein.

It was a common characteristic possessed by all things.

However, the important thing was to check at which moment the two characteristics manifested.

And according to the knowledge I possessed,

‘the moment when the characteristics of waves manifest is in the very small microscopic world.’

Furthermore, it was said that the existence of all things under heaven is the result of true qi condensing. If those words were taken literally?

‘The smallest particle must be true qi.’

There was a similar concept in the world of the butterfly dream as well.

A microscopic particle that could never be seen with the naked eye.

A particle even smaller than an atom, which was said to be indivisible.

It was said that such particles constitute all things under heaven.

Just like true qi.

But are they indeed the same as true qi?

I could not know at this moment.

Because they did not discuss Essence, Qi, and Spirit in that place.

Therefore, what I could say with confidence was, ‘I still do not know.’

I did not know what Qi was.

However,

‘even if I do not understand it,’

I can utilize it.

Because true qi was precisely what I had mastered with my body and felt with my senses until now. I added the senses mastered with my body to what I knew in my head.

The smallest matter constituting the world.

I felt the Qi.

And in the world of such smallest matter?

‘Things that make no sense occur sometimes.’

For instance, an absurd thing like passing through a wall built in front of one’s eyes.

The prophets referred to this phenomenon as the ‘quantum tunneling ‘ phenomenon.

A phenomenon where a microscopic particle collides with a wall and yet passes through that wall to go forward.

As if that wall had not been there in the first place.

A phenomenon of advancing beyond the wall.

It was also similar to the expression Martial Aunt Hye-won had described while recalling the time she reached the Nascent Soul Stage.

I moved my internal energy.

The most pure internal energy contained in the inner core gently released from the tightly condensed inner core and headed toward the upper dantian, the Hundred Convergences acupoint.

And.

It was blocked.

‘Huh?!’

I moved my internal energy once again,

and moved it again…

and moved it…

…but, in the end, the internal energy could not pass beyond the Hundred Convergences acupoint.

The ideal was different from reality!

**

It was not a complete failure.

Since once I utilized the lightning energy accumulated in my inner core, true qi finally flowed minutely. However, the amount of true qi that crossed the wall blocking the Hundred Convergences acupoint was by no means satisfactory. It was unnatural and incomplete.

So, naturally, a thought occurred.

‘Is the theory wrong?’

I had such a thought for a moment.

‘This place’ is not ‘that place’ in the dream.

However, I soon shook my head.

If that were the case, what would all the wisdom of the Grandmasters applied so far be?

It made no sense.

Then, there was only one conclusion.

‘It is my problem.’

And I soon realized.

The true qi released from the inner core flowed like water,

‘and was condensed with high density.’

The internal energy gathered even more purely and densely while forming the inner core of the Elixir Condensation Stage was close to a thick solid.

Even so, that it moved without hesitation through the Girdling Vessel and fine meridians meant that my acupoints were cleansed that well.

Therefore, I had not recognized it.

That my current internal cultivation was exhibiting ‘particle properties’ rather than ‘wave properties.’

That flowing as a single massive fluid meant its size had become that much larger.

‘Then does it mean I must separate qi particles one by one from this flow of true qi?’

However, if that were the case, a proper routine would not even form. Because only an extremely small amount of true qi could pass through. Then what?

I recalled a mechanical device that utilized the principle of the ‘tunneling phenomenon.’

That device was a mechanical device that observed matter at the atomic level constituting our bodies,

and that equipment to observe the surface of a microscopic particle analyzed the properties of the matter by applying strong lightning energy between a sharply honed probe and the matter…

‘Wait? A sharply honed probe…?!’

Only then did it come to mind.

One of the crucial characteristics of that device was.

‘To observe matter at the atomic level, the tip of the probe used there must also be sharply honed to the atomic level.’

Only then did I realize.

‘I was a fool.’

So it was.

Although the internal energy I operated now was thick like a solid, it had not fully acquired its shape.

The surface of the flowing true qi was also blunt.

A surface composed of hundreds, thousands, or rather, countless grains of true qi that are difficult to count by such numbers.

With such a blunt surface, I could not cause the tunneling phenomenon I thought of.

Then what should I do?

A scene at the grand manor of the Yeo Clan suddenly came to mind.

The sight of Uncle Yim-won’s sword, completed through Sword Qi Materialization, parting the water wall of the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas.

I zoomed in on that scene.

I recalled and zoomed in on the sword blade Uncle Yim-won had brandished, focusing on the sharply honed sword edge at the tip of that sword blade.

And I confirmed it.

‘The sword qi honed to the atomic level after being compressed with high density. A sword that even cut water.’

Only then did I realize.

‘If I sharply hone my internal energy to the level of a single grain of true qi.’

If I actively utilize the lightning energy accumulated in my inner core in that state.

I will be able to pass through.

I felt certain.

‘Then what is there to do from now on?’

I must utilize true qi differently from now.

And just in time, I was in the middle of mastering the method of utilizing true qi differently from how I had done until now, so.

‘The Unity of Body and Sword!’

If I can handle the sword like my own body.

True qi can also be honed like a sword edge.

I finally realized.

That the training to advance to the Unity of Body and Sword was precisely the path to draw closer to the Nascent Soul Stage.

Simultaneously with the realization, motivation surged.

From that day on, I began to live without letting the sword leave my hand.

Even when eating meals, training, or resting, I did not detach the sword from my hand and felt the sword with my qi.

I did not discriminate between wooden swords and iron swords.

From first feeling the Girdling Vessel of the sword, I was gradually reaching the point of forming fine meridians.

As I advanced to the local parts of the sword blade, the shape of the internal energy being gradually honed sharply made my heart flutter.

After devoting myself to swordsmanship training for about a month, I realized.

It was a sword qi honed to the point where it could no longer be honed merely by peaceful training on the mountain.

However, with that degree of sharpness of true qi, the tunneling phenomenon of true qi passing beyond the curtain covering the Hundred Convergences acupoint did not proceed smoothly.

I was close to the limit merely with training on the mountain.

**

Wudang Sect’s Sect Leader, Immortal Hyeon-won, asked Immortal Mang-won, who was advising next to him, while reviewing documents.

“Is Junior Brother Gangwon not here yet?”

“It is a matter related to the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest. And looking at this report here, it seems not only the Green Forest but also the lackeys of the Blood Cult are entangled. It seems more time will be needed, Sect Leader.”

Originally, it was the Lord of the Sea Fog Pavilion, Immortal Gangwon, who took on the role of advisor when Immortal Hyeon-won managed the affairs of the sect, but he was currently absent.

It was because he had set out to investigate the Yungzhong Merchant Association to track down the traitor exposed while handling the affairs at the Yeo Clan.

For that reason, Immortal Mang-won, the oldest among the elders, had stepped forward as the advisor.

Furthermore, because he was also the Hall Master of the Mysterious Heaven Pavilion, the greatest library of the Wudang Sect.

Immortal Mang-won was precisely the elder who could advise next to the Sect Leader in the absence of Immortal Gangwon.

At Immortal Mang-won’s words, Immortal Hyeon-won pondered for a moment and then handed over a small letter.

It was a gesture expecting the same from Immortal Mang-won, just as he would receive advice from Immortal Gangwon before making a clear decision.

“It is a letter arrived from the Murim Alliance’s Guizhou branch.”

Watching Immortal Mang-won unfold the letter, Immortal Hyeon-won continued speaking.

“It seems the Dawn Sky Blood Cult has finally advanced into the Central Plains.”

“The Blood Cult in this Central Plains land?”

At the Sect Leader’s words, Immortal Mang-won began to unfold the letter even more busily and scanned it quickly.

It said it was the Guizhou branch of the Murim Alliance.

The land of Guizhou was a region bordering Sichuan to the north, Yunnan to the west, Hunan to the east, and Guangxi to the south.

It was a perfect inland region.

In addition, although one might think of it as a transport hub at first glance, it was out of the question considering the terrain of Guizhou.

Because the entire Guizhou area was precisely the empire’s greatest remote region where mountains and rivers were complexly entangled.

It was said that even the Han Chinese, who lived spread throughout the empire, were hard to find in the Guizhou area.

Therefore, since ancient times, the Guizhou area had been called the land of the barbarians and was a despised region.

Due to the contempt of outsiders and the isolated, rugged terrain,

“it is the best terrain for a heretical cult to take root.”

At Immortal Mang-won’s words, Immortal Hyeon-won nodded.

“Thanks to that, it seems they suffered no small amount of trouble in establishing the branch.”

“Even so, seeing that they managed to establish it.”

“They said the Three Sects of Sichuan, the two major forces of Hunan, and even the Zhuge Clan stepped forward.”

The Three Sects of Sichuan meant the Qingcheng Sect, the Emei Sect, and the Sichuan Tang Clan,

and the two major forces of Hunan were the Zhenzhou Yan Clan and the Mount Heng Sect.

Although one might think it surprising that even the Mount Heng Sect, which was said to be undergoing internal strife, participated, since Guizhou bordered both Hunan and Sichuan, it was not strange for them to participate in the construction of the branch.

However,

“Even the Zhuge Clan? Why them?”

It was surprising that even the Zhuge Clan of Hubei, which was far from Guizhou, stepped forward.

At Immortal Mang-won’s question, Immortal Hyeon-won replied calmly.

“Would it not be to oppose dark sorcery?”

When it came to the prestigious family of mechanisms and formations under heaven, the Zhuge Clan was picked, and as such, the Zhuge Clan was also exerting great influence in the school of esoteric techniques.

To the point that the head of the Zhuge Clan was counted as the first among the sorcerers under heaven.

Immortal Mang-won, who understood, quickly scanned the letter.

The point was one.

-Request for support.

The prestigious righteous sects of Sichuan and Hunan.

Although they said that the Zhuge Clan also participated there, there were not many sects under heaven that had directly faced blood ghouls.

Because the existence of a blood ghoul itself was an extremely rare monster.

And in that respect, it was reasonable that the request for support came to the Wudang Sect.

“It means they want us to share the experience of wiping out the Blood Selling Cult.”

The Blood Selling Cult was a heretical cult organization that had been rampant among the influential families of Hubei with a doctrine similar to the Dawn Sky Blood Cult.

It had expanded its influence by putting forward the belief that one could regain youth by newly transfusing young and fresh blood.

Of course, although it had been exterminated by the Wudang Sect after it was exposed that they exploited the blood of commoners in exchange for money and power, since among their leaders there were blood ghouls who exerted significant authority mixed in,

“It is just as Senior Brother Mang-won said. Because the number of warriors who have directly faced a blood ghoul is not that many. It seems they are collecting as many diverse experiences as possible.”

However, no matter how much they had faced the Blood Selling Cult, the blood ghouls belonging to the Blood Selling Cult were an extreme minority.

Even within the Wudang Sect, those who directly faced blood ghouls were only a few, including the elders.

And since the elders mostly managed one of the sect’s affairs each, it was a situation where it was not easy for them to free themselves.

“Then it means we must send a child with abundant experience facing blood ghouls among the young disciples… Wait, wait! Absolutely not, no way!”

Immortal Mang-won shouted in surprise at the words he was speaking himself.

Why?

“Not the Bringer of Chaos! Did he not almost die at the hands of the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest leader not long ago! No! Absolutely not! Sect Leader, I cannot agree.”

Because among the young disciples, the one who achieved the most dazzling military exploits against the blood ghouls was none other than Yeon Baek-jung.

At Immortal Mang-won’s violent resistance, Immortal Hyeon-won let out a small sigh and spoke.

“Is there no suitable person to send to the land of Guizhou. The Martial Star Unit and the Army Breaker Unit, who had faced the Blood Selling Cult directly, have been dispatched to the north. A significant number of the Greedy Wolf Unit children have also descended the mountain at the request of Junior Brother Gangwon.”

Indeed, it was so.

Among the disciples with abundant experience directly facing blood ghouls, the only one currently remaining on the mountain was Yeon Baek-jung.

At that moment, Immortal Mang-won spoke with shining eyes.

“You too will remember, Sect Leader. That we decided to let that child, the Bringer of Chaos, choose the missions given to him in the future.”

It was a decision made thanks to the talent recognized while Yeon Baek-jung newly modified the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.

Since it was a decision made by Immortal Hyeon-won himself in the elders’ meeting, there was no way he would not know.

“Then let us ask that child.”

Immortal Mang-won let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

Why?

Because Yeon Baek-jung was currently preoccupied with swordsmanship training. Any warrior would know. That feeling of not wanting to receive external disturbance when devoting oneself to a single martial art!

Therefore, he calculated that no matter how great the cause of slaying the Blood Cult was, Yeon Baek-jung would not accept the mission…

“I will do it.”

“What did you say?”

…and a look of sheer dumbfoundedness appeared on the face of Immortal Mang-won, who had made such a calculation. Yeon Baek-jung accepted the mission so readily!