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I first made my way to Henan Province. Asking the nearby folks for directions, I began to head towards Mount Song, wondering how strange this must all be.

“You know, I’ve been reborn so many times, and this is my first attempt to visit Mount Song.”

At Mount Song, nestled in the vast expanse, lies the Shaolin Temple, a cornerstone of the Nine Great Sects with a history stretching well over a millennium, on par with the White Lotus Sect. While martial arts existed before Shaolin Temple, the remnants left suggest its might.

I had a sudden thought: perhaps a tragedy similar to that of Huashan Sect might have also occurred at the Shaolin Temple. So sneaking in seemed wiser than confronting them openly. After all, if I had approached Huashan directly, the flies might have summoned their human minions to pretend everything was fine.

Eventually, I spotted the peaks of Mount Song in the distance. I gazed at its scenery, then headed towards a nearby village, giving a few silver coins to the villagers to glean some information.

“Suspicious activities? Not really….” The farmer replied, looking bewildered.

“Monks sometimes come down to the village. Or common folk come to buy groceries…”

“So, no bizarre incidents?”

“Well, not that I know of…”

“Thank you.”

After leaving the farmer’s home, I ventured into Mount Song, navigating the desolate paths. I had noted the peak known as Small Loss Peak, which serves as Shaolin Temple’s base, and decided to explore other peaks first. Maybe, just maybe, the Old Sage of Mount Tai could be hiding away, unnoticed.

Rustle!

Searching through sixteen of the seventy-two peaks of Mount Song took nearly a day. I heightened my Qi senses, scanning for anything suspicious, yet nothing stood out. I soon ducked into a cave to take a breather.

“Shouldn’t I learn some sorcery?”

After my skirmish with the flies of Huashan, I realized that dealing with otherworldly beings might require sorcerer skills rather than those of a mere martial artist. The special ability known as Spiritual Transformation was a nightmare for martial artists, but as Yeodong-bin noted, sorcerers had plenty of ways to counter it. Considering how few martial artists have reached the Realm of Intent, acquiring sorcery skills might just come in handy.

Absolutely, I needed defensive skills against the demonic forces!

Of course, I was in a prime position to learn sorcery now. Thanks to receiving the sacred text from Miho and carrying the Water Element Divine Sword for several decades, my potential blossomed. Reaching a plateau in martial arts had made it seem reasonable to delve into sorcery.

Having finished my thoughts, I resumed my search. My remarkable internal power meant that even brief rests fully restored my strength, and I didn’t even need to eat or drink.

For about three days, I roamed Mount Song searching for traces of the Old Sage of Mount Tai. I caught a few hints of otherworldly beings, but they remained elusive. I estimated I had explored around seventy percent of the area around Mount Song.

… Time to step into the Shaolin Temple.

Keeping the possibility of encountering otherworldly creatures in mind, I cautiously approached the location of the temple’s buildings. Climbing the steep, rugged terrain and cliffs where few tread, I managed to do so without drawing attention. From a high peak, I cautiously surveyed the interior of Shaolin Temple.

“The monks seem to be going about their business…”

At first glance, everything appeared normal. Still, I couldn’t judge too quickly, so I intended to use the Soul Removal Technique to sneak further into the temple, hoping to uncover the truth deeper inside.

As I moved quickly using the Soul Removal Technique, I suddenly heard—

[Young Hero, cease your movements for a moment.]

Freeze!

Startled, I halted mid-air, balancing on a branch of a cliffside tree. I wanted to pinpoint the source of the voice but couldn’t track it.

The mysterious expert sent another message.

[I sensed your activity over the days you’ve been snooping around Mount Song. However, since you didn’t seem to bear ill intent, I let it slide. But if you attempt to invade the temple, I won’t stand idly by.]

I had a hunch I was getting the gist of things. Although unsure of their exact position, I could feel someone watching me about three hundred or so yards away. I decided to shoot back a message.

[And who might you be?]

[I am Master Myung-jeong of the Shaolin Temple.]

Master Myung-jeong!

Having never heard that name before, I was a bit floored. Naturally, I assumed anyone with such impressive martial arts would be the grandmaster, Master Myung-ho! But that wasn’t the case. The aura emanating from the other party strong suggests they were at least a peak expert, amplifying my surprise.

“Is a monk like Master Myung-jeong hidden away in Shaolin Temple, without any fame attached?”

A sense of awe washed over me regarding the potential lurking in Shaolin Temple. Undoubtedly, real peak experts like him were buried around, and it was all too clear that should they band together, my chances of defeating them with my current skill set were slim.

Deciding to avoid confrontation, I leaped up the cliff. I responded courteously.

[Recently, the Huashan Sect faced annihilation, linked to the malevolent demonic beings. I was merely checking if the same befell Shaolin Temple.]

After a momentary silence, Master Myung-jeong replied.

[The heavenly cycle is disrupted, and I expected something would happen… The Huashan Sect has indeed suffered! However, Shaolin Temple currently faces no such peril.]

[Is that truly so?]

[While I appreciate your concern, it’s our duty to address temple matters.]

Then, an impending chill raced up my spine at his next words.

[We shall need to converse with you to understand the circumstances surrounding these events.]

Swoosh!!

Suddenly, powerful auras surged all around me. They were all formidable beings, and it didn’t take long for them to reach the cliff where I stood.

There were three of them, each with long-flowing beards and dressed in monk robes. Their deep internal power radiated prowess. The monk in the center gazed at me with sharp eyes.

“I am Master Myung-jeong, and to my sides are Master Myung-woo and Master Myung-jin.”

“……!!”

“Young Hero, reveal your identity.”

I let out a slow breath.

Here stood the most venerated monks of the Shaolin Temple! I could hardly believe three peak experts were standing right before me. The enormity of their internal power, honed across half a century, made it reasonable to consider them some of the best of the Nine Great Sects.

“If I try to outmatch them in martial feats, I might not survive!”

Right in front of me were the pillars of justice in the martial world. Had I not amassed strength through countless rebirths, I wouldn’t have dared to look at them. After pondering for a moment, I spoke up.

“The annihilation of the Huashan Sect is indeed true. The news hasn’t reached here yet due to the distance, but they were assaulted by the otherworldly clan, resulting in the death of the leader and elders. I came to offer assistance.”

“You’ve failed to mention something crucial. Who are you, and why are you visiting both Huashan and the temple in succession?”

“……”

“Your martial prowess is surprisingly high for your age, so we suspect you might be a Half-Transition Master or even a member of the White Lotus Sect.”

They were right; it made sense they might think that way. Given my abilities, it was reasonable to assume I could be among the ranks of either. However, I firmly denied it.

“Not at all. To clarify, I am currently seeking the Old Sage of Mount Tai across the Five Great Mountains, hence my visits to Huashan and Shaolin Temple.”

A spark of interest flickered in Master Myung-jeong’s eyes.

“The Old Sage of Mount Tai?”

“Yes.”

“And why are you searching for him?”

Since we were at this point, I decided it would be prudent to share some information with the Shaolin Temple. It seemed beneficial for them to remain alert regarding the Old Sage of Mount Tai, who was indeed suspicious in my eyes. I began to share my concerns.

“I received intelligence that links the Old Sage to the Imperial Palace and that he has been conspicuously interested in performing sacrificial ceremonies across the Five Great Mountains. His affairs seem dubious, leading me to investigate his whereabouts.”

“Hmmm…!!”

Master Myung-jeong pondered briefly, then spoke.

“Who are you to be so curious about such matters? We can only regard you as an operative of the White Lotus Sect.”

I shot back calmly.

“Just to clarify, if I were indeed affiliated with the White Lotus Sect, I wouldn’t be scrapping around like this. I’d have brought along a Dharma Guardian to face you, wouldn’t I?”

“……”

“I apologize for being a nuisance. If you could provide me with the whereabouts of the Old Sage of Mount Tai, I promise I’ll leave Mount Song and never return.”

Master Myung-jeong exchanged glances with Masters Myung-jin and Myung-woo and fell silent for a bit. They seemed to be discussing amongst themselves. I opted to cross my arms and wait patiently. After a moment, Master Myung-jeong spoke again.

“Could you share your name and title?”

“I am known as So Woong.”

“So Woong, while I appreciate your concern, no disturbances have occurred at Shaolin Temple, and the Old Sage hasn’t visited in over a year.”

It seemed they were trying to shoo me away by sharing minimal intel, likely considering it a favor. I thought to myself, “Well, half success is better than none,” and replied.

“A year ago? Did the Old Sage do anything remarkable during that time?”

The reply made my eyes widen.

“He performed a sacrificial ceremony at the Heavenly Altar.”

“……!!”

The Heavenly Altar?! Wasn’t that a tale I heard about at Mount Heng? I masked my surprise and asked.

“If I’m not mistaken, the Heavenly Altar is located at Mount Heng. Are you saying there’s one here at Mount Song as well?”

“Young Hero, there’s a Heavenly Altar at each of the Five Great Mountains. These were remnants of ancient faiths dedicated to the Three Sovereigns.”

What a revelation! Although I hadn’t fully searched Hengshan or Huashan due to time constraints, who would’ve thought each mountain would host a Heavenly Altar? Considering its significance as the place that connects heaven and earth, it seemed quite profound.

“I need to tell Mangnyang about this!”

So, the reason the Old Sage had been circling the Five Mountains was to conduct sacrificial ceremonies at these altars? What could his intentions be? Deep in thought, I addressed Master Myung-jeong.

“I must visit the Heavenly Altar. Is there no possibility of that?”

“Not at all.”

Master Myung-jeong replied firmly.

“You don’t seem inclined to clarify your identity. While I appreciate your information regarding the Old Sage, we can’t be sure of its authenticity. As guardians of the Shaolin Temple, we cannot allow you to wander our mountains recklessly.”

His intent was evidently to assert authority, signaling me to leave immediately after providing the minimum intel. He might believe he was already granting me a generous amount of information. I nodded, realizing there was no alternative for now.

“Then… I’ll take my leave.”

At that moment.

[Hold on a moment!]

A booming voice echoed, greater than before, creating an overwhelming pressure that felt like the heavens collapsing onto the earth. The force was such that all present, myself included, staggered.

What… what was this insane internal power?!

If internal power potential could be compared, could they be at my level? Their energy had released all at once while mine remained hidden, which made a difference. Even so, given my experience with internal energy, it seemed utterly strange for any ordinary martial artist to match me.

Whoosh!

A sudden gust of wind stirred as a monk descended from the sky, radiating incredible power. I held my breath in awe.

“The Master of Zen…!!”

The highest expert of Shaolin Temple and one of the Three Great Masters of Justice, Master Myung-ho! I had seen his face once when I visited Wudang with Jin So-cheong, so I recognized him instantly. Master Myung-ho was now hovering above me! He gazed at me for a moment before speaking.

“I heard your tale from Master Mangnyang. They said you’d arrive today.”

“Huh?”

With a swift turn, Master Myung-ho said, “Follow me. I’ll show you the Heavenly Altar.”

 

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