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Crack!

I immediately headed towards the Dragon King’s Valley in Sichuan. I had all my words planned for when I would face Dokgo Seong again. The Dragon King’s Valley, with its grand, majestic clouds, looked inhospitable and not at all suited for human life.

Within the massive, thick fog, I sensed a faint killing intent.

‘So this is it?’

In the past, when the Sword Demon rushed out of nowhere, I wondered why. But now, I could feel a disturbing presence somewhere that was pricking my instincts. It seemed to be a phenomenon arising from my deep mastery and familiarity with intent in the peak state. Although I couldn’t identify the source directly, I sensed there was an overwhelming force more terrifying than any tiger lurking about.

I stood quietly at the mountaintop and began performing martial arts.

Swish, swish.

Starting with a large nearby wooden stick, I practiced the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms. Once I finished, I unfolded the Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear, followed by the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique and the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, mixing in some Heavenly Gathering Kill here and there.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

My body spun like a whirlwind, unleashing winds against the colossal nature around me, dancing with thunder energy. The chaotic movements turned into a dance of martial arts. I was leading the sword dance with all my skills, consolidating everything I had learned so far.

After some time, I ceased showcasing the Thunder God lineage techniques and returned to my original position.

A presence that had emerged about ten paces away sent me a message through the Six Harmonies Assembly.

[You are a master of the Thunder God lineage. State your name and title.]

This reaction was different from when I sought out the Sword Demon. I knew that Dokgo Seong had an aggressive attitude towards strangers, so my strategy was to lower his guard and spark his curiosity. I intentionally showcased my mastery of the Thunder God lineage. No matter how aggressive Dokgo Seong was, he wouldn’t just attack a fellow sect member.

Looking in his direction, I said, “I am Baek Woong of the Thunder God lineage. I’ve come to find Senior Dokgo Seong in hopes of fulfilling the lineage’s aspirations.”

Dokgo Seong paused, seemingly stunned by my response. He then appeared within sight and spoke, no longer using the formal six-fold assembly but his own voice.

“How do you know my name?”

“While searching through Heaven and Earth Sea, I discovered that you are known as the foremost expert among the Thunder God lineage, after the Dharma Guardian. After considerable effort, I finally found you.”

“……”

Dokgo Seong averted his gaze, perhaps feeling embarrassed. While he was certainly the best master in the Thunder God lineage now that the Dharma Guardian, Lee Cheong-un, had died, receiving such praise from others was indeed unusual. But considering it came from Han Baek-ryeong, a close friend of the Dharma Guardian, it was without doubt an objective assessment.

“What do you mean by coming in hopes of fulfilling the Thunder God lineage’s aspirations?”

I knelt before him, almost bowing, and said, “I had a fortuitous encounter and mastered the martial arts of the Thunder God lineage, yet I felt the walls I have to break through. Given the current plight of our lineage, worrying about its future naturally led me to seek you out, Senior. Please accept me as your disciple.”

“Hmm…”

He uttered a baffled sound. This was understandable, as he was a seasoned warrior and training enthusiast, completely absorbed in his own mastery and ignoring worldly matters. A fellow sect member suddenly asking to be taken as a disciple would indeed be perplexing.

After a brief silence, Dokgo Seong replied in a slightly frosty tone, “I’m sorry, but I cannot accept that request.”

“Why not?”

“To have an exceptional disciple like you would be a blessing for the sect, but I have reasons that prevent me from stepping outside. You already have the qualifications to become the lineage’s Grand Master, so you will be fine on your own.”

Reasons that prevent him from stepping outside.

If I had approached him without any understanding, I’d be completely flabbergasted right now. It sounded absurd that the current top master of the Thunder God lineage wouldn’t help his junior. But knowing the truth, I looked at him with calm eyes and said, “Is it perhaps because of the Dharma Guardian of the Su Shin Sect, Dokgo Jun?”

“……!!”

Dokgo Seong looked genuinely shocked. His surprise was so evident he couldn’t hide it. After stuttering for a moment, he said, “You’ve done a lot of digging into my affairs.”

“I already know that you are cousins with Dokgo Jun. I suspect he must have forced you into hiding at your retreat.”

“Hmm… You’re right about that.”

Dokgo Seong sighed and replied, “As it stands, there seems to be no chance for the Thunder God lineage to resist the White Lotus Sect. Lee Cheong-un was the strongest of all the Dharma Guardians, and now that he’s dead, what can we do?”

“… I see.”

Essentially, Dokgo Seong’s perspective was quite similar to that of the Thunderbolt Three Saints. Being a veteran elder of the Thunder God lineage, he could objectively see the power disparity between the Thunder God lineage and the White Lotus Sect more clearly than anyone. I met his gaze calmly and said, “Regardless, I still wish to learn the Thunder God lineage’s swordplay deeply. You are the only one in the world who can teach me.”

“Hmm… I did sense some uniqueness in your swordplay.”

“Even if you don’t venture out into the martial world, wouldn’t teaching me contribute greatly to the revival of the Thunder God lineage? Isn’t that something a lineage elder should do?”

“Revival, you say…”

Dokgo Seong muttered, then asked, “Are you perhaps intending to become the Grand Master of the Thunder God lineage?”

Grand Master!

That term didn’t just mean the master of the sect; it represented the leader who commands all masters and experts within the Thunder God lineage—a position once held by the Dharma Guardian himself. However, with the Thunder God lineage fragmented and divided now, no one dared to carelessly talk about the title of Grand Master. Even Lee Kwang had only attempted to reach that status after his martial arts attained world-class level, and even then, he faced harsh criticisms from the Thunderbolt Three Saints.

I shook my head. “I know I still have much to learn. Therefore, I will only do what I can.”

“What can you do?”

“I will seek out the weaknesses of the White Lotus Sect and build the strength to confront them.”

“Hmm… With your abilities, you could dominate the martial world, yet you’re choosing to walk the thorny path.”

“That is the duty of a sect successor.”

“……”

Dokgo Seong fell into silence. After a long ponder while crossing his arms, he finally relaxed his posture and said, “Alright. In that case, I will teach you. It seems that is what I ought to do.”

“Thank you.”

Afterward, I briefly explained to Dokgo Seong how I had arrived here. I mentioned the master who first taught me, who died after giving me the fundamentals of swordplay, spear techniques, and footwork, and how I had subsequently received an opportunity from the Wudang Sect, taking refuge with the Sword Demon of the Shadowless Gate to train my sword energy. While the details may have differed greatly, they weren’t entirely false, so Dokgo Seong listened with great interest.

He commented, “The techniques of the Wudang Sect you mentioned pique my curiosity. What kind of martial arts are they?”

“Would you like to spar for just a few seconds?”

“That would be fine.”

Clang!

My sword energy collided like a deluge. While it mirrored the unwavering sword technique I faced with the Master of the Great Sword Gate back in Luoyang, this time I felt a tremendous pressure flooding my throat, overwhelming me. Dokgo Seong’s sword energy contained such profound power that I couldn’t stabilize it.

It was certain: Dokgo Seong was one of the best masters, aside from the Dharma Guardian.

I could see thunder roaring from his blade as he unleashed a ferocious energy, causing me to quickly adjust my footing with the Cave-Collapsing Sword and the Heavenly Contraction Sword. Blinding flashes erupted ten times in place, and each time, I barely managed to respond by shifting my sword form.

Ta-dah!

Even after just sparring for a few seconds, I felt utterly drained. Cold sweat trickled down my back as I thought to myself, ‘As the Sword Demon advised, the Thunder Sword truly is intimidating.’

The Thunder Sword!

It was a technique that even the Sword Demon, who reached the peak level due to mastering the Wudang Sect’s techniques, greatly feared. It went beyond just producing thunder from the sword; it held the power of a killing strike, making dodging the only feasible option. It was a slaughter technique that rendered direct defense impossible.

Dokgo Seong’s eyes sparkled with intrigue as he remarked, “You’ve managed to evade my Thunder Sword. A sword path that allows freedom in the manipulation of space and coordination… indeed, quite marvelous and powerful.”

“Phew… I thought I was going to die.”

“The techniques of the Wudang Sect are world-class martial skills. I would love for you to teach them to me.”

Dokgo Seong, unlike before, now showed a keen interest in acquiring the techniques of the Wudang Sect. In the past, he would merely express casual interest, but today, there was something more compelling in his expression. It seemed that after solidifying his own achievements over the past eight years, he felt the necessity to delve into other martial arts.

‘What should I do? Teaching Dokgo Seong the Wudang techniques…’

It was undeniable that if he learned from Zhang San-bong, he’d become extraordinarily strong, perhaps surpassing the previous Sword Demon.

However, I couldn’t predict what actions such an extremely powerful Dokgo Seong would take, nor could I control him. It would be one thing if he continued to remain in his retreat, but if he ventured out into the world… I couldn’t foresee the consequences. The biggest issue was that there wasn’t a solid foundation of trust between Dokgo Seong and me.

After pondering for a moment, I spoke up. “Of course, I can teach you. But in return, I would like your help with one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Dokgo Jun will soon be coming to visit. Please convey my story well to him.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I shared the events from Luoyang with Dokgo Seong. Once he heard everything, he said, “So your plan is to infiltrate as a disciple of the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

“Yes, I believe that’s the best method.”

“Hmm…”

Dokgo Seong seemed contemplative. “You posing as my disciple isn’t an issue to me. After all, seeing how you’ve openly admitted to it shows you have no ulterior motives. The problem is, I don’t quite understand why you’re so eager to become a disciple of the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

I looked him in the eye and said, “As you know, there is a tremendous secret within the Su Shin Sect. You know this very well, don’t you?”

“……”

“Especially, I believe that only the current Master of the White Lotus Sect knows something significant. No matter how much of a genius he is, reaching a state where he can integrate the Four Great Families’ techniques and use them at will is beyond human capability. I think I need to become his disciple to uncover what secrets and weaknesses he possesses to stand against the White Lotus Sect.”

“Secrets… hmmm…”

Dokgo Seong appeared to be pondering for a while. Then he said, “In truth, I was unable to bear the weight of that secret and fled my clan. That secret is potentially too profound and vast for a human to manage. Still, do you wish to become the disciple of the Master of the White Lotus Sect?”

What does he mean by that?

I was shocked, saying to Dokgo Seong, “What are you talking about?”

With a grave expression, he replied, “The current Master of the White Lotus Sect is my uncle. Since he became the sect’s Grand Master, the Su Shin Sect has undergone many changes. I was deeply afraid of those transformations and sought pure martial arts, hence I joined the Thunder God lineage as an equal. Yet even now, more than fifty years later, I still fear the secret he carries.”

“What is that secret?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but… my uncle has received assistance from something that is not martial arts. The rest of the Su Shin lineage members have become something other than human.”

He sighed, almost extinguished. “You might be right that uncovering the Su Shin Sect’s secret should come first. However, that path will undoubtedly be fraught with danger, and even if you’re a peak expert, there’s always the risk of dying along the way. Do you still wish to become a disciple of the Master of the White Lotus Sect?”

“……”

I sensed a serious undertone from Dokgo Seong’s words. Yet, with my resolve unwavering, I firmly nodded.

“Absolutely. Even if it meant my life, I will surely uncover his weaknesses and share them with you. If I can bring down the Master of the White Lotus Sect, everything else will resolve itself.”

“Hmm!!”

At that moment, Dokgo Seong seemed to show a look of admiration. A young genius from the Thunder God lineage daring to challenge fate with his life must have brought a deep sentiment to the elder.

“…Alright. Let’s do this. I will now officially accept you as my disciple, and our fates shall entwine.”

“Thank you.”

I could sense that a minimum level of trust had been established between Dokgo Seong and me. To save time, I explained my current predicament regarding the confusion in sword family teachings and my martial arts barriers in detail. After hearing my story, Dokgo Seong remarked, “You’re right; the only method would be to become the disciple of the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

“Yes. As the absolute ruler of martial arts, he should be able to assist me.”

“Hmm, but I sense you have some other plan in mind.”

“What do you mean?”

With a hint of mischief, Dokgo Seong responded, “I have a feeling you aren’t solely relying on the Master of the White Lotus Sect. Do you perhaps know of a peerless absolute being?”

“…That’s correct.”

I told Dokgo Seong, “I may be able to break through with the power of Yeodong-bin, the Sword Master.”

“Oh!”

I proposed the idea that if I could invoke Yeodong-bin and learn the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, it might just allow me to pierce through my current limitations. I also mentioned my experience of receiving the blessing from the water spirit, but Dokgo Seong appeared to be disinterested in the technique.

Dokgo Seong, listening intently, marveled, “You lack any hint of a Half-Transition Master yet you seem so young. What kind of Asura have you battled through?”

“Well, I think if anyone were to die about sixteen times, they’d have some experience.”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing.”

I shook my head and asked, “So what do you think?”

“Hmm…”

Eventually, seeing Dokgo Seong deep in thought, he said, “I have come up with a brilliant idea that is truly a win-win situation.”

“What kind of idea?”

His subsequent words left me flabbergasted.

“Invoke Yeodong-bin to have a spar with me.”

 

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