Chapter 1276
“The Soul of the Evil God…”
I headed towards the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. It didn’t take too long to reach a small mountain that overlooked the school. Suddenly, a thought popped into my mind, and I muttered, “Oh, right.”
It struck me that the young master of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Hwan, had an incident where he eloped with his fiancée, Mo Yong-yeon, and sought help from Jin So-cheong around here. In the beginning, I tried hard to resolve that incident, but upon realizing that the true nature of the matter was that Namgung Hwan was human trash and that the entire Namgung Clan needed to be annihilated, I lost interest and just aimed to wipe out the source of evil, which was the Namgung Clan.
However, now that Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen was temporarily sealed, all causal relationships had been reshuffled. Shouldn’t I take a moment to check out what that incident was truly about?
I decided to briefly look into what had happened to Namgung Hwan and Mo Yong-yeon and moved quickly.
‘They were definitely staying at the Zhao Family Estate back then.’
Considering the time since my rebirth hasn’t been that long, typically, that incident would not have been resolved. I went to the Zhao Family Estate to see if Namgung Hwan and Mo Yong-yeon were there, but soon found out they were not.
‘Did Jin So-cheong rescue them already? Or…’
Out of curiosity, I burst into the Zhao Family Estate and said to the Lord of the Zhao Family, “I want to know the whereabouts of Namgung Hwan and Mo Yong-yeon.”
As I exuded a bit of aura, the Lord of the Zhao Family was immediately subdued by mental pressure, and realizing he couldn’t handle me, quickly opened his mouth.
“They… were rescued by Jin So-cheong and taken to Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.”
“Azure Dragon Martial Arts School? They didn’t go back to the Namgung Clan?”
“There are widespread rumors in Jianghu that the Namgung Clan was decimated, so I believe they changed their destination. I don’t know the details.”
“I see. My apology for forcefully extracting information. Consider this a reward.”
I swiftly tossed one of the platinum bars acquired from Longmen Grottoes to the Lord of the Zhao Family.
“Whoa! Platinum…!!”
As soon as the Lord of the Zhao Family recognized the platinum bar, his face lit up, and I paused for a moment to ponder.
‘That means if I head to Azure Dragon Martial Arts School now, Namgung Hwan and Mo Yong-yeon should be there.’
Originally, if Jin So-cheong rescued them, Namgung Hwan would have no reason to stay in this distant Guanzhong, where the Namgung Clan’s influence didn’t reach, so he would be fleeing to Anhui. Even if Jin So-cheong were to protect him briefly, it would only be rational to escape to a place secured by his own clan’s troops.
However, since I destroyed the Namgung Clan, it seems that Namgung Hwan can’t return home and has temporarily sought refuge at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.
But something feels off.
‘I have done this before; destroying the Namgung Clan wasn’t the first time.’
In the past, no matter how casually I destroyed the Namgung Clan, I never found Namgung Hwan at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. Until now, despite whatever fate he faced, he had always managed to escape Guanzhong, yet this time he chose to stay at Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.
This was a clear change.
Unlike before, some variable must have caused a chain reaction influencing Namgung Hwan’s situation!
‘Good thing I took a closer look…’
I left the Zhao Family Estate and headed for the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. Upon reaching the main gate of the school, I encountered a chubby gatekeeper, Bangil. As soon as I met him, I was greeted with a familiar phrase.
“Kid! No begging around here! Scram!”
Bangil and Banggok!
As his student from the previous life, it was nostalgic to see him again. I closed my eyes for a moment and savored the nostalgic feeling.
‘Ugh… when I was risking my life to duel Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen in front of the throne, I never imagined such a normal moment would come…’
Thinking about it made me feel aggrieved that I had been dragged around due to magical side effects, never truly enjoying my 29th life. As I stood there with a pained expression, Bangil, noticing my gaze, grunted and said, “Kid! Are you deaf? Get lost!”
I snapped my eyes open and said, “Bangil, I’m Baek Woong, the village chief from Soeul Village. Tell Lee Kwang I’ve come regarding the Yellow Mountain Sect’s expansion.”
“……?”
“Is this kid out of his mind?”
Bangil’s expression turned bizarre, and Banggok tilted his head in confusion. I was already familiar with bickering with these guys since my third life, so I found them endearing now. I smiled at Bangil and said, “Looks like this won’t do. If you let me in directly, we can talk easily, right?”
I extended my palm, placing it just inches from Bangil’s face, and activated the Ultimate Technique—One Palm.
“What… Aaaah!!”
Bang!
The barrier created from the True Martial Seven Cuts formed a shockwave. An invisible hand seemed to push Bangil’s body back, and as he was lightly nudged several times, the pressure on him was relatively mild. As I executed the Mind Control Technique without any killing intent, the lethality was nearly nonexistent, and Bangil’s body flew smoothly into the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.
Boom!
Shortly after, a sound echoed from afar as Bangil’s body crashed into Waryong Hall. I had successfully sent him flying to the Waryong Hall, where Lee Kwang usually resided! Since Bangil was ensconced in the protective barrier, he surely wouldn’t be harmed.
‘Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have been able to use the protective barrier with such precision, but after my 28th life, my skills have improved considerably.’
While my overall capabilities remained the same, I felt an enhanced precision in applying techniques imbued with great significance. The subtle difference was only perceptible to those at the same Absolute Realm, but it felt like I had shed a layer during my extreme training.
‘So that’s why Yeodong-bin urged me to engage in the Ten Battles?’
Yeodong-bin was right.
There was definitely something to be gained through life-and-death struggles.
As I stood pondering various thoughts for a moment, I noticed Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong rushing towards me.
Thud!
To my surprise, I saw Extreme Tiger accompanying them as well. Seeing that made me feel perplexed.
‘Extreme Tiger should have been guarding the place around this time, right?’
It seems that, like Namgung Hwan’s situation, a transformation had occurred in how the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School responded. Moments later, Lee Kwang, lowering his spear, turned to me and said, “Bangil is rambling about, not quite clear on what’s going on. Can you repeat your name and title to me, esteemed one?”
Lee Kwang showed up.
Given his demeanor, it was clear he had grasped the level of the Mind Control Technique I had just used and somewhat deduced my capabilities, leading him to adopt a more cautious posture.
“……”
Finally…
This moment has arrived!
So much crucial matters had piled up, and with the obsidian I’d received making Jin So-cheong cling to his loyalty to his master, nothing had happened until now. Could it be that I could finally fulfill my desire for revenge!
‘Oh, wait… not yet… heehee…’
I felt waves of emotion trying to crest within me but forced myself to endure. I hadn’t yet commenced the revenge I had planned. I had to remain patient and suppress my excitement if I wanted to proceed with my plans!
I feigned a solemn expression and said, “I am Baek Woong, the village chief from Soeul Village. I’ve come because of the Yellow Mountain Sect’s recent actions, to speak with you, Lee Kwang.”
Lee Kwang raised an eyebrow, saying, “The Yellow Mountain Sect… I’ve heard they declared war on the Huashan and Zhongnan Sects. However, this martial school is uninvolved in their power struggle. I hope the esteemed one didn’t come to the wrong place?”
He didn’t seem to regard my lower status too seriously, thinking I was being disrespectful due to the Half-Transition Master in me. Given my martial skills, it would seem normal to consider me a Half-Transition Master. I crossed my arms and replied to Lee Kwang.
“No, I’ve come to the right place. If the Thunder God Lineage doesn’t seek out its disciples, who else would?”
At that moment, I summoned the essence of the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique, channeling Thunder Energy through my body and beginning the rotation of the core mechanics. Ordinarily, such a process would entail great pain, but perhaps due to frequent cultivation, the pain was minimized. As the rotation completed, an overwhelming burst of electrifying energy erupted from my body.
Cack!
“……!!”
“No way….”
“Huh?!”
Both Lee Kwang, Jin So-cheong, and Extreme Tiger seemed astonished by the might of the Nine Chambers of Thunder. And rightfully so, because the Thunder Energy of the Nine Chambers was created by combining the talents of geniuses from the Thunder God Lineage over the past 500 years, along with the breakthroughs of the illustrious Master, Cho Mu-rin, who was the first Grandmaster of the Thunder God Lineage, and Zhuge Sa’s Soul Exchange Technique!
The pure, powerful Thunder Energy I had was something no traditional Thunder God technique or Qi cultivation could achieve. With my internal powers merging with it, it presented itself like the descent of a thunder deity upon the ground.
Crash!!!
After spewing out wild Thunder Energy for a while, I reverted it back to its original state, addressing Lee Kwang with an arrogant tone.
“Lee Kwang!! You’re the disciple of Lee Cheong-un, right?”
Lee Kwang looked slightly taken aback when I called out Lee Cheong-un’s name, but he quickly regained his composure and replied with calmness.
“That’s correct, a senior of the Thunder God Lineage, Shi-o?”
“Hehe.”
A mischievous smile spread across my face as Lee Kwang’s expression transformed into one of desperate curiosity.
“But… I have never encountered anyone in our Thunder God Lineage who resembles you.”
“So just because you don’t know me, I must not exist? You’ve heard of the Thunderbolt Three Saints and Dokgo Seong, yet you’ve never met someone like me, hence you’re bewildered?”
“…….”
Lee Kwang seemed worried, realizing I knew the inner mechanics of the Thunder God Lineage quite well. I chuckled inwardly, having not seen that expression for a long time.
‘I could have easily suppressed him, but I didn’t; trying to overpower him now would hold no thrill for me. The entire reincarnation itself is a cheat, and doing that would only be a farce before the genuine potentials of true geniuses…’
Having seen the likes of Yeodong-bin, Jang Sam-bong, and Jin So-cheong 500 years later, I understood how degrading that would be.
In the early stages of reincarnation, the fact that my level was higher was merely expected and could not tarnish the inherent value of talent itself. It was merely a power show I could enact on someone I perceived as an enemy, but no matter how many times I think about it, it was a disgrace as a martial artist.
Moreover, Lee Kwang would grow resentful if I crushed him, nurturing feelings ready to explode with vengeance someday. He could adapt to a survival-of-the-fittest scenario, but feeling despair or rage to such extent wasn’t his nature. If he had been that type, he wouldn’t have survived for decades in the phantasmagoric court with vicious scheming, holding position as the Four Great Experts of the Imperial Palace.
I knew better than anyone that this method wouldn’t be enough to assuage his grievances.
I needed to shake the core values he had believed in.
I asked Lee Kwang again, “Lee Kwang, let me ask once more. You are indeed the disciple of Lee Cheong-un, right?”
“…That’s correct.”
I grinned.
“Well then! As a disciple of Lee Cheong-un, you have an obligation to take care of me. If you assist me in toppling the Yellow Mountain Sect, I’ll pass on the Thunder Spirit you weren’t able to learn from Lee Cheong-un!”
“What…?”
“I know you were with Lee Cheong-un till his last moments. How you had to bury your teacher, who had no one to rely on and carried resentment ‘til the end, in a remote mountain….”
Bam!
“…….”
Upon hearing this, Lee Kwang looked utterly stunned, his expression vacant. He was trembling, unable to believe, stuck in a state of shock.
As Lee Kwang couldn’t reply, Jin So-cheong stepped forward, saying, “Village Chief Baek Woong, I’m Jin So-cheong, the Grandmaster of Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. You seem to have a connection with my mentor, Lee Cheong-un. Can you clarify your relationship?”
He probably wanted me to reiterate for confirmation.
I feigned ignorance of Jin So-cheong.
“Hmm. So you’re Jin So-cheong? A fellow who could probably stab the Three Sovereigns to death after 500 years of training.”
“What?”
“I was just joking.”
Shortly after, I straightened, speaking confidently, “What would I hide? The truth is, I am the very disciple of the Thunder God Lineage’s great Master, Lee Cheong-un! I am Baek Woong, disciple of the legendary Master, Lee Gang-ryong!”
“Wha-what?!”
Lee Kwang staggered, taking a few steps back in disbelief. Even someone as steady as he was visibly taken aback by this revelation.
After recovering from his shock, he abruptly shouted, “Don’t joke around! I’ve never heard of anyone besides my teacher and Dokgo Seong who received instruction from Master Lee Gang-ryong! I heard it firsthand; you’re just spinning lies…”
Sure, those two were indeed the only direct disciples, while the other top experts of the Thunder God Lineage followed their methods. However, I remained unruffled and replied leisurely, “Master Lee Gang-ryong went on a quest, seeking to perfect martial arts after Lee Cheong-un finished transmitting all techniques of the Thunder God Lineage. You wouldn’t know what transpired after that.”
This was solid information I learned while reviving Lee Cheong-un, and I had no flaws in my assertions, leaving Lee Kwang unable to retort.
“……”
With nowhere else to rebut, Lee Kwang wore a grim look, burdened by uncertainty.
I decided to manipulate Lee Kwang’s emotions by feigning sorrow.
“In pursuit of mastering the Martial Soul, my mentor toiled both day and night, ultimately grievously injured after collaborating with other grandmasters. I rescued him and became a disciple of the Thunder God Lineage…!!”
“……”
“Thus, Lee Cheong-un would never have known I was in existence.”
“What nonsense…”
“Do you think it’s absurd? Can you dare to deny my Thunder God techniques?”
Cack!
As I unleashed the Thunder Energy from the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique again, Lee Kwang’s gaze turned murky. It was undeniably clear he was struggling to comprehend what was happening.
“That was a century ago! If you have no knowledge, just shut up!”
Lee Kwang had no way of verifying the truth from a hundred years past!
Ultimately, Lee Kwang seemed to half-give in, saying, “…Alright. If you claim to be a respected figure in the sect, then it is indeed right for me to follow… but…”
“But?”
“Why… why is a mere village chief engaging in such grand affairs as this? How could a distinguished master of the Thunder God lineage stoop to…?”
“……”
“I heard the Soeul Village is just a shabby little place in the backwoods…”
Ouch… hitting a sore spot there. Did he analyze that in such a short amount of time?
I found myself at a loss for words, so I wandered a bit and got an idea.
“While attempting to master the Martial Soul, I pondered that perhaps the pinnacle of martial attainment is to return to agricultural life.”
“Return to agricultural life…?”
“Exactly! To resonate with nature and feel its energies through training. Isn’t it said that Daoists also advocate for oneness with nature?”
“That’s nonsense from the Daoists…”
In response to my nonsense, Lee Kwang pointed out my absurdity correctly, to which I quickly retorted.
“Eek! We cannot outmatch nature with martial prowess! One of the mightiest martial artists I know claimed so, why pick at me?”
“N-no… who said that?”
“The Immortal Jang Sam-bong said so!”
This wasn’t a lie!
“……”
Lee Kwang’s face turned ashen. He felt deep within that my words were false, yet he couldn’t find the courage to refute it, revealing a disheartening expression.
After regaining his composure, Lee Kwang managed to stammer, “O-okay. If you truly are a respected figure, then I will assist in the downfall of the Yellow Mountain Sect in exchange for learning the Thunder Spirit, understood?”
Oh, typical Lee Kwang, expertly maneuvering for his gain!
‘But I expected this.’
I crossed my arms and responded firmly, “No. There’s a crucial step missing.”
“What step?”
“Even between fellow disciples, I cannot relay the True Ultimate Technique I’ve painstakingly mastered without establishing a new bond. We need a fresh relationship to proceed.”
“……”
“If you desire to learn the Thunder Spirit, you must undergo this necessary process of becoming my new disciple.”
Lee Kwang looked at me as if pondering the impossibility.
‘Perfect. They’ve gathered quite the audience.’
I noticed the students of Azure Dragon Martial Arts School gathering around to watch, and I smiled slyly. I then pointed to the space right in front of me and declared, “Nine Prostrations Ritual.”
