전생검신 Volume 94 Chapter 17

After that, I practiced hand seals for quite a long time.

Papa Pat

I formed one seal with my left hand, then supplemented it with my right. Once I quickly completed the seal, I muttered.

Maoshan Sect’s Ten Major Seals, Yuji Bongcho.

A basic form of sealing technique. It’s said that the disciples of the famous Maoshan Sect have memorized this and around ten other seals every day from waking up in the morning until going to bed at night.

I then moved on from Yuji Bongcho to the next seal, Seoji Bonggeum. Suddenly, the Necronomicon, watching me, got annoyed.

“Your pinky is wrong.”

Ah!

“Remember the form and start over.”

‘…….’

When I sifted through the countless data I remembered from my adventures and what I had inherited from Cheon Woo-jin, I found that I knew over 500 types of hand seals.

‘Did I really know that many hand seals?’

Of course, a good chunk of that number came from Ji-seon Mang-nyang’s knowledge of sorcery, the spells of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, and the data from the Great Bear Empire that Cheon Woo-jin passed on. The comrades from the Great Bear Empire had entered all martial arts history’s spell data into Cheon Woo-jin’s database in case I ever needed to learn sorcery or magic. Although most of it was at the basic level, they thought it might be something I would cultivate someday.

So, although I had only memorized and practiced fewer than ten seals myself, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of seals in my head.

Papa Pat

As I succeeded in displaying the Ten Major Seals one by one, the Necronomicon spoke again.

“You’ve displayed all of Maoshan’s seals. Now here’s a question.”

‘What is it?’

“If you display Maoshan’s seals, can you only use Maoshan’s spells?”

‘……?’

Oh……?

I was completely caught off guard by that question. So I cautiously replied.

‘That, that can’t be right, can it?’

“Nope. It’s not like that at all…”

Papa Pat

The Necronomicon also formed a hand seal just like me. I thought it wouldn’t work because it had a cat’s paw, but while it didn’t exactly look the same, it wasn’t too different from the Ten Major Seals I was forming. A moment later, when the Necronomicon completed its seal, something marvelous happened.

Chiing!

Suddenly, the Five Stars appeared in the air, and a powerful black thunder burst out, radiating like a beam. The magical power embedded in it was so strong that I couldn’t help but flinch.

“Even if you use Maoshan’s seal, the destructive magic of black magic can be triggered.”

‘……!’

I was startled.

‘What?! How can that be?!’

“The hand seal is a conduit that compresses the understanding of the techniques so they can efficiently release power when needed. However, if your understanding of the techniques is profound, it is possible to bypass the nature of the hand seals and trigger the techniques you desire without their help.”

‘What?! Why am I just realizing this now?!’

I never knew techniques had this sort of nature until now!

Seeing me flustered, the Necronomicon continued.

“Well, it’s far more efficient to skip the hand seals rather than confusing your opponent with incorrect ones…… Those who’ve reached a higher realm don’t need to tell you this principle because if you can skip processes, why wouldn’t you?”

‘Ah…….’

I nodded in understanding but then frowned.

‘Hey, then why bother training in hand seals? Once you reach a high level, you can just skip it anyway, so why bother…?’

“Hmmm. Since you claim to know martial arts, let’s use that as an analogy.”

‘Martial arts?’

The Necronomicon pointed to the hand seal I was making with its finger.

“A hand seal is like the form in martial arts.”

‘Form?’

“Exactly. They’re not completely identical but that’s a decent comparison. The pinnacle of martial arts is said to involve forgetting everything you’ve learned and reaching a state of no self, is that right?”

‘Sort of.’

After reaching the pinnacle stage and acquiring unity of body and sword and sword strength, practitioners transition through a stage of forgetting themselves to eventually understand the Intent Heavenly Pillar and arrive at the Absolute Realm. Most followed this sort of path, so the Necronomicon wasn’t entirely wrong.

“However, there’s a prerequisite to reaching a state of no self. You can’t forget what doesn’t exist in your memory.”

Only then did I grasp the Necronomicon’s analogy.

‘Hmm……! If you have nothing in a bowl, you can’t spill it. So, to reach the upper realms of the Demon Path, you must first learn the forms, right?’

“Exactly. You got it.”

‘Whoa……!’

I was delighted, as the Necronomicon’s analogy made the reason behind training in hand seals clearer. Until now, I had only heard confusing stories, and now I felt I was getting a narrative connected to my major.

Indeed.

The most basic forms, which seem to be the most trivial and bothersome! If I don’t diligently reinforce those basics, I’ll never gain the higher realms.

‘The Demon Path is also quite similar to martial arts…….’

“That’s right. As one progresses to the highest realm, they’ll become more alike.”

‘Wait a minute. Then why don’t I see Demon Sorcerers seriously training in hand seals? Most just use spells or offerings to get by…….’

“That’s also a crucial question.”

The Necronomicon grinned slightly and said:

“Whether in martial arts or sorcery, the skills become stronger the more time you invest in them. Although talent may create differences in speed, that’s usually the case. But the Demon Path is different.”

‘How is it different?’

“The Demon Path can allow one to possess immense magical power overnight with no foundational knowledge, simply by offering the right offerings and gaining favor from a superior demon. The approach to ‘cutting corners’ is disturbingly easy, and they even research how to do it more easily. It’s a field where luck is much more significant than effort.”

‘…….’

“Just by making one good contract, you can have your life turned around, so there’s really no reason to risk your life on fundamentals. You can see that through Hermes or Simon Magus, can’t you?”

‘Hermes? Simon Magus? You mean the Demon Sorcerers from the Landlord Doctrines?’

The Necronomicon nodded at my question.

“As you know, Simon Magus became a powerful being after successfully making a contract with an outside entity and could disregard even the Three Sovereigns. And Hermes, Simon’s master, also became a Demon God simply due to luck after acquiring a slab that flowed out of Monad.”

‘……?’

I was stunned for a moment.

‘Wait…… I knew about Simon Magus, but what’s this about Hermes? A slab from Monad?’

The Necronomicon briefly licked its pink paw and said:

“Looks like you didn’t know. Hermes was also a genius who became an abbot not through his own power but because he summoned the primitive slab that lay dormant in Monad by chance with a Demon Ritual.”

‘Huh!’

“That guy became a Demon God thanks to the slab’s magical power. He was just extremely lucky.”

Who would have thought I’d hear such a backstory about the God of Magic, Hermes!

‘How do you know this? Are you his colleague or something?’

“Not at all. I, Necronomicon, know the histories of all magic users across the Three Thousand Worlds. I’m essentially the root grimoire.”

‘……!’

Is there such a thing?!

This guy is more amazing than I thought?!

After calming my surprise, I asked:

‘By the way, what is this primitive slab that rests in Monad? Hermes doesn’t carry it around, does he?’

“It’s one of the strongest Demon Artifacts. While it’s not as powerful as me, it’s still quite formidable. Of course, the slab itself isn’t amazing, but it’s enhanced because it’s condensed with Monad’s magical power.”

‘Can I get that?’

“Since it’s fused with Hermes’ soul, you might be able to obtain it by absorbing his soul. But the magical power contained in that slab is much stronger than Hermes’, so be careful.”

‘Hmm…….’

“You would need separate disassembly work.”

So there’s an ultimate Demon Artifact resting within Hermes’ soul……

“In any case, I’ve gone on too long, but the conclusion is that the Demon Path lends itself to shortcutting, which is why few are serious about building their fundamentals. Even if they learn the techniques of the Demon Path, it’s primarily to summon a higher Demon God for survival, not for serious development like martial arts. Even those who built civilizations through the Demon Path reached a limit and gave up on the path itself.”

‘……It’s strangely the most widely used power across the universe yet a field where shortcuts are so easily taken.’

“Not just humans want to take shortcuts. If there’s a way to easily and conveniently gain power, which race in the universe would refuse that?”

‘…….’

Listening to the Necronomicon, I responded:

‘In any case, the Demon Path has its similarities to martial arts. The hand seals are the training stage for forming the essence. So how do I train now?’

“It’s nothing special. Yanwu Formation!”

‘Huh?!’

Woosh!

Then, just like before, I experienced my own existence overlapping again within the Yanwu Formation’s phenomenon. As I desperately tried to arrange my own insights, I felt enlightenment pouring down on me like I was being squeezed.

‘……!’

I understood the meanings of all Ten Major Seals of the Maoshan Sect……!

But in the next moment, I felt dizzy, even without a body.

‘Ugh…… I’m dizzy…….’

“No surprise there. Forcing all triggers to activate enlightenment can strain your spirit body too.”

‘W-wait… You’re not suggesting I gain enlightenment with each hand seal by using the Yanwu Formation, right?’

“That’s the plan.”

‘No way! You said that might harm my spirit body! What if I get erased in the middle of this training?!’

As I yelled, the Necronomicon replied, unfazed.

“Now that you’ve grasped the Ten Major Seals of the Maoshan Sect, you can unfold those seals while deploying different techniques, right? Just like I did earlier.”

‘……Yeah.’

“Countless forms of hand seals contain compressed enlightenment. You will use those to stack the axes of enlightenment one by one. Even seemingly unrelated insights can create a synergistic effect to allow you to attain a greater understanding. Like waves overlapping to create a larger wave.”

‘Got it…… But what about the problem of damage to my spirit body from the Yanwu Formation?’

“You need to reduce the damage yourself.”

‘……?’

What does that even mean……?

As I stared at the Necronomicon with perplexed eyes, it spoke with a sense of pride.

“You’ve already gained two enlightenments with the help of the Yanwu Formation, and that would take a normal person a minimum of 50 years, and a prodigy about 20 years of relentless training to achieve. After that, you should create a new hand seal to reduce the Yanwu Formation’s damage using the enlightenment you’ve gained from the seals!”

I was taken aback by the unexpected proposal.

‘Wha, what? You want me to create hand seals?!’

“Did you think you could just take everything without giving anything?! If I’m feeding you enlightenment in real time, you should at least be able to handle that much yourself.”

‘……!’

“I’ll give you precisely 24 hours to organize the enlightenment you’ve gained. After that, I’ll give you the enlightenment of a new hand seal. While repeating this process, if you manage to completely reduce the damage caused by the Yanwu Formation to your spirit body, I’ll consider your training in hand seals complete.”

‘H-hold on! What exactly are the criteria for the enlightenment you give me? Are you just throwing random enlightenments my way?’

I exclaimed in disbelief, but the Necronomicon looked at me as if I was crazy.

“There’s the flow of myriad paths returning to the source, and there’s also the flow of sect paths. I already know which enlightenment will be most efficient for you to establish your realm from the countless techniques of the Demon Path across the Three Thousand Worlds. If you summon a hand seal you know, I’ll adjust the enlightenment accordingly.”

‘…….’

The Necronomicon’s strangely alluring response left me bewildered. It possessed abilities that transcended common knowledge.

To be able to attain the optimal enlightenment while comprehensively understanding the infinite variations of the Demon Path and their foundations—this could only indicate an unfathomable level of mastery!

‘Is that…… really possible?’

At the same time, I could feel it.

This guy is a monster.

It made sense why it was sealed away in the Void Record, the repository of knowledge across the Three Thousand Worlds.

“This magic is only possible in this chaotic space.”

Saying this, the Necronomicon looked at me with cold eyes.

“Spend the next 24 hours deeply contemplating the magic itself based on the enlightenment you’ve gained. The toxin has already begun to spread within you.”

Toxin?

Zzzzt!

As soon as the Necronomicon finished speaking, I suddenly felt a heavy pain and heard crackling sounds coming from my arm. At the center of that heavy pain, I could see the color of my spirit body fading significantly.

‘Is this the toxin?’

“Exactly. While forcibly awakening enlightenment, your spirit body is literally falling apart in real time.”

‘……!’

“It would be wise to think seriously. If you fail to obtain a hand seal capable of neutralizing the Yanwu Formation’s poison in time…… your spirit body will be completely disintegrated and vanish here.”

‘Damn it! Do we really have to go this hard?!’

To suddenly be faced with the risk of obliteration mid-training!

In my shock, the Necronomicon watched me with unyielding eyes, chuckling softly.

“You’ve been fed decades’ worth of insights without effort. The essence of the Demon Path is to sacrifice something for the powerful strength it yields. This is what true training in the Demon Path looks like, don’t you think?”

‘Ugh…….’

“Enough with the crying. I’ll give you a short break, so think carefully. Honestly, you’ve no reason to be whining about this training.”

‘…….’

“I’ll head to the Void Record.”

Poof!

The Necronomicon disappeared with a pop. It was literally a sound like a pop, and I almost let out a breath of laughter, but as I watched the scene of the Necronomicon’s disappearance, Ji Jiang let out a sound of concern.

[What an unimaginable being…… I wonder if it’s a blessing or a curse that such a thing roams the universe.]

‘Ji Jiang, what do you mean?’

[Baek Woong…… are you considering lifting the seal on that Necronomicon in the future?]

Ah…… now that you mention it, I do need to consider the seal of the Necronomicon?

After pondering Ji Jiang’s words for a moment, I answered.

‘For now, to get out of this Void, I’ll need to release at least Stage 2…….’

[Is that so…… Stage 2 is unavoidable…… But…… once you leave this Void, think carefully about lifting the seal beyond that…….]

I couldn’t help but be puzzled. I couldn’t understand why Ji Jiang, who had been calm, suddenly showed rejection toward the Necronomicon.

‘Why?’

[…… I, Ji Jiang, know everything about this ‘dummy data’ that the author referred to. Moreover, while I’m not clear on the details, this dummy data contains information related to the conduct of that Necronomicon…….]

‘There’s information about the Necronomicon’s actions in the dummy data?’

What does that mean?

Intrigued by the unexpected comment, Ji Jiang continued.

[Those actions are…… quite horrific and dark from a ‘human’ perspective…… I can’t provide details, but I can feel vividly that madness emanates from it…… The Necronomicon was…… once deemed worthy of the title of ‘Lord of Ten Thousand Demons’ to roam the world…….]

‘The Title of Lord of Ten Thousand Demons?’

[It’s a concept not left in the current world…… that title was…… enough to frighten even the gods. That being was truly…… truly a terrifying existence before it was sealed.]

‘…….’

[Baek Woong…… keep this in mind…… Why would a grimoire so powerful that it’s been sealed away from the world, be sealed for ‘some’ reason…….]

…….

Indeed…… there’s so much I don’t know about that Necronomicon……

After a moment of contemplation, I replied to Ji Jiang.

‘Thanks for the advice. I’ll proceed with caution regarding the Necronomicon’s seal.’

[Be careful…… It’s not a being that can be handled with normal ability…….]

‘I know.’

I smiled slightly.

‘Whatever the case may be, until I can fly, stressing about something that can fly is pointless, right?’

Regardless of good or evil, the chasm between me and the Necronomicon in the world of the Demon Path was unfathomable. Even calling it heaven and earth difference would be an insult to Necronomicon.

Unless I somehow bridge that outrageous gap, I wouldn’t even be able to handle or comprehend the Necronomicon. What I needed now wasn’t doubt, but the determination to train with utmost effort in the Demon Path, which was a new realm to me.

Woosh!

I sat cross-legged and observed my state of spirit body. Unlike when handling qi, perceiving my spirit body as magical power brought about a different sensation.

I deeply immersed myself in thought.

‘The flow of magical power differs entirely from the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. If I hadn’t practiced the paths of Sephiroth, I wouldn’t have even been close to comprehending this irregular flow of magical power…’

The reason I grasped the operation of magical power.

It came from my rough understanding of the significance behind the challenges presented by the Necronomicon.

‘The phenomenon where my spirit body is destroyed due to excessive enlightenment. To resolve this, I need to develop a hand seal of detoxification using the capabilities of the Demon Path…… which means I’ll need to first learn how my body’s magical power flows.’

Even detoxification would be meaningless without analyzing this spirit body itself.

I knew I needed to understand the structure of my body in the realm of magical power.

The reason I could draw this conclusion was that the Necronomicon had force-fed me enlightenment.

‘The enlightenment I obtained from Zhuge Sa’s hand seals and the enlightenment gained from the Ten Major Seals of the Maoshan Sect. Each one seems trivial……’

But the essence is compressing intention within form.

I repeated that thought to myself. It was a concept I had never even considered since I was born.

‘The hand seals of Zhuge Sa contain enlightenment that enables me to easily strip away the essence…… but that understanding doesn’t stop there…… but rather, includes comprehension of the Soul Exchange Technique itself…… Thus, by having form, I can reversely recognize the cause from the effect.’

The same was true for the Ten Major Seals of the Maoshan Sect. Even a disciple who had only entered the Maoshan Sect for around three years can memorize the Ten Major Seals and display them with eyes closed, but truly understanding the significance of the Ten Major Seals and applying them fluently requires at least the level of an Elder. And it was through the Ten Major Seals that I had indirectly gained an understanding of Elder-level techniques. Because of this level of understanding, I was able to deduce the true intention of the Necronomicon.

I felt an inner admiration.

‘This is a reverse training method! Rather than attaining intention by practicing form in martial arts, I can gain enlightenment latent within form, thereby obtaining all understandings falling within the scope of cause and effect instantaneously…!’

Having reached the divine realm through mastering martial arts, no expert I had ever encountered could impart martial arts knowledge in such a manner. Because for this to be feasible, one must have the foresight to comprehend every potentiality that has spawned thousands of martial techniques throughout the Three Thousand Worlds. In contrast, to allow such a possibility indicates that Necronomicon’s level of mastery is beyond that of the Grand Master, a term that doesn’t do it justice.

I sensed it. The overlapping of two insights that appeared irrelevant signaled the presence of a third realm.

‘Is this what the Necronomicon meant by the axes of enlightenment overlapping…….’

Stzzzzz!

I stabilized the magical power flowing through my spirit using the paths of Sephiroth. At the same time, I pondered what form could maintain the stable state of my body’s magical power utilizing the enlightenment from the hand seals.

‘How about trying this?’

Pababat

Unintentionally, I created a hand seal. It was a combination of the micro-usage of the Soul Exchange Technique obtained from the Zhuge Sa hand seal and the handling techniques of the ‘direction’ of the sorcery embedded in the Ten Major Seals.

Crunch

I could sense the magical power within my body movement in line with the hand seal. Within this process, I began to better understand what the Necronomicon had said earlier.

‘Hmm. A hand seal is a conduit that compresses enlightenment to efficiently release power, that is…’

In other words, it involves creating a structure that serves as a neat passage for extracting transcendent abilities like magical power, qi, and supernatural ability from within one’s body.

Consequently, I could create a seal for detoxification as well.

If I devised a ‘passage’ suitable for discharging the ‘spirit poison’ residing within my body, then it would be possible.

“`

 

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