Chapter 336
After exchanging the Crystal Stele and the Soul Exchange Technique, I began learning the Soul Exchange Technique from Zhuge Sa alongside Mangnyang. While the technique itself was an ancient secret, learning from someone who had mastered it was undoubtedly the better choice. The difference in achievements at the basic level was immeasurable, so it made perfect sense.
Zhuge Sa spoke.
“The Soul Exchange Technique is a skill that deals with the soul (魂) and the spirit (魄). While it’s conveniently referred to as a technique for moving the soul, it fundamentally involves manipulating the essence of the spirit itself. Therefore, to practice this technique, one must possess a talent for being a spirit medium.”
Spirit Medium. It was a constitution suitable for mastering spirit summoning techniques—a natural talent. Those born with the spirit medium constitution could see souls or spirits without training in any techniques. After saying this, Zhuge Sa glanced back and forth between Mangnyang and me while stifling a giggle.
“Neither of you has innate spirit medium talent, but you’ve both stacked up enough experience over time. You’re meeting the basic criteria.”
As for Mangnyang, he gained qualification thanks to a significant leap in spirit power after acquiring the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, while my own qualification seemed to stem from a decade of practicing the sacred texts granted by Miho, along with excessive use of the Black and White Lotus, plus the techniques of the Heavenly Secret Technique.
Then Mangnyang said, “I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“The Baehwa Sect originally sought to communicate with the Otherworldly Race to gain power. The faith of their heretical sect, Ahura Mazda, is a dualistic monotheism. The flames and the Ahura Mazda symbolically represent the [Old Ruler] of the distant celestial realms.”
Zhuge Sa silently listened before retorting, “That’s right. So?”
“If its attribute is fire, what’s the background for a high-level spiritual technique like the Soul Exchange Technique to be born? I didn’t get to ask my master about this.”
“Hmm. You’re curious about all sorts of things…” Zhuge Sa grumbled, though with a hint of amusement. Being the master of a heretical sect, it was no surprise he didn’t mind someone taking an interest in his faith.
After a brief thought, Zhuge Sa replied, “The Baehwa Sect originally worshipped the spirit of flame. As you said, that being was the [Old Ruler]. However, due to its apparent disinterest in this world, the sect slowly declined and was left pondering how to maintain its followers as its power waned. Consequently, they acquired the techniques from the Taoist ancient arts and the sorcery from the Left Path, which eventually led to the creation of the Soul Exchange Technique.”
“……”
Upon hearing that, Mangnyang seemed dumbfounded for a moment before responding, “Are you telling me that the divine being they worship is indifferent to the human world, hence the decline of the sect? You expect me to believe such nonsense?”
“Who said anything about believing? Whether you do or not is up to you, it’s just a fact.” Zhuge Sa bluntly retorted.
“In the first place, it was a mistake to worship a colossal being that can live without faith. Anyway, even though there’s still some evil within the heretical sect, the focus on mastering the Soul Exchange Technique is the reason for that.”
“I see.”
Eventually, Zhuge Sa started teaching us the method to practice the Soul Exchange Technique. He showed us both several hand signs and stances before saying, “Keep practicing the hand signs and stances I’ve just shown for three months. This training method builds the ability to separate the spirit, and it will take at least three years to reach mastery.”
“Understood.”
“For now, I have nothing more to teach you. Whether or not you consult a secret technique makes no difference at this early stage. Once your training is complete, come back to me.”
With that, Zhuge Sa abruptly left for his quarters, seemingly eager to see the Crystal Stele he received.
‘How rude.’
But what could I say? With the emphasis on the initial stages, it was tough to complain. The beginning of any study or practice usually involved boring and simple training.
Turning to me, Mangnyang said, “Baek Woong. You don’t have to focus solely on the Soul Exchange Technique. I’ll take the lead on this; use any remaining time to learn the Three Treasure Technique from Jin So-cheong.”
“Is that okay? I thought focusing on just one would be insufficient…”
“Regardless, the Soul Exchange Technique cannot be mastered quickly. Still, the Three Treasure Technique can get you familiarized faster if you just remember the essentials. Plus, we’ll be better off if we cultivate Jin So-cheong first, so compromising on this is advisable.”
Mangnyang firmly asserted, “It’s better to properly master something, which is true; however, in this case, getting started on anything is beneficial.”
“Understood.”
I decided to follow Mangnyang’s advice and spent half my days practicing the Soul Exchange Technique, while the other half learning the Three Treasure Technique from Jin So-cheong. Since the Soul Exchange Technique was just basic training for separating the spirit, I felt confident I could practice it alone.
Jin So-cheong explained the Three Treasure Technique to me, saying, “Baek Woong, don’t just view these three steps as mere footwork.”
While settling back, I gazed up at Jin So-cheong, thinking it was about time he offered a word of advice, now that the training was getting stifled.
“The Seven Stars Shadow moves, adapt to the shifting energies of the Big Dipper,” Jin So-cheong continued. “And when the energy of the Seven Stars surges, your position will be reversed.”
Swish!
Without a sound, Jin So-cheong appeared in a different position. It was such a bizarre display, it felt almost like teleportation. He added, “Anchor yourself with the Big Dipper and visualize the movements of the remaining six stars in your mind. This will allow you to connect the stars and complete the Three Treasures of Heaven, Earth, and People.”
Even after hearing his advice, I couldn’t grasp what he meant. I understood the theory but it felt like chasing shadows; I had no clue how to proceed. As one ascends in skill, the metaphors grow stronger, and so many realizations are embedded within those metaphors that ordinary insights can hardly unravel them.
I practiced fervently for two hours but still, it led to naught. Finally, releasing a deep sigh, I said, “This is too hard. Honestly, I have no idea what’s going on.”
“Hmm… I thought I explained it pretty simply.” Jin So-cheong too seemed frustrated. He pondered for a moment before suggesting, “How about this: why don’t we harvest another great Obsidian, and I can pass on martial arts insights to you?”
“I’ve thought about that before, but it’s on the condition that you master the Obsidian techniques. It’s risky to make deals with the prophet without prior knowledge, plus we can’t seem to find an Obsidian as massive as the previous one.”
“Hmm, indeed.”
“The Sword Demon is looking for an Obsidian mine, so I’ll reconsider if news arrives.”
Although I briefly entertained the thought of sneaking away the Nameless Ritual Book from the imperial palace to strike a deal with the prophet, I held back. The allure of the Three Treasure Technique was strong, but given the unpredictable future and what we might need to trade, I wanted to conserve my options with the prophet for now.
For the next ten days, I trained with Mangnyang on the Soul Exchange Technique and Jin So-cheong on the Three Treasure Technique. However, even after drilling for ten days, I felt like I had made little progress, weighing on my spirit.
Then Mangnyang spoke, “It’s normal, so don’t worry.”
“Normal?”
“Yes. Both the Soul Exchange Technique and the Three Treasure Technique are extraordinary means which could lead you to being king of the world. Just mastering one within the next ten years is enough for success, so don’t stress over it too much.”
“……”
In other words, it meant I had to seclude myself for ten years just like I’ve been doing? I felt a bit daunted but shook my head. Just the opportunity to learn such extraordinary techniques was already a blessing! I kept that thought in mind and tried to focus solely on training.
Time passed, about a month later.
One day, Mangnyang went down to Jinrang Valley and returned with a letter, saying, “Let’s head to Luoyang Han Clan immediately. We’ve received a summons.”
“A contact has come?”
Mangnyang nodded, “We’ve been granted permission to join the White Lotus Sect. It seems they plan to relocate us using the Flame Spirit techniques from the Han Clan.”
“Ahh.”
The Flame Spirit technique was a handy ability that allowed you to teleport to any place with a similar furnace. I had no idea why the Flame Spirit held such a powerful technique, but the Flame Spirit was also the driving force behind their tremendous wealth. The advantage of moving goods swiftly without wastage brought unimaginable benefits to trade.
We prepared and visited Zhuge Sa. He appeared to be engrossed in some metallurgy, handling mercury with a large furnace set up. He glanced at us and asked, “What’s up?”
“We’re heading to the White Lotus Sect. Please act accordingly to what we discussed. Utilize whatever manpower you need from Jinrang Valley.”
He replied, “I understand. Anyway, I didn’t let Cheon Woo-jin roam free under my watch, did I?”
“Don’t think of it as surveillance, just see him as a companion.”
At Mangnyang’s words, Zhuge Sa chuckled, “Companion, huh? You try being cooped up in the Land and Earth Diagram and see if you still feel that way.”
“I merely requested to shorten the perception of time inside the Land and Earth Diagram out of respect for my uncle, so there’s no reason for complaints.”
“Just go on your way. This is simple enough for me to handle.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
We left Zhuge Sa and mounted our horses. Rather than teleporting straight to Luoyang with techniques or using our powers, we chose this more cumbersome method due to White Lotus Sect’s surveillance. It was bound to be obvious that they sent elite martial artists to keep an eye on our activities, so arriving instantly would arouse suspicion. Also, using techniques would waste unnecessary energy, so riding seemed preferable.
About four hours later, while resting on an uninhabited path, I asked Mangnyang, “I realized I forgot to ask earlier; what did you request from Zhuge Sa?”
“Oh, that thing.” Mangnyang replied. “I asked him to produce firearms.”
“Firearms?”
“I disassembled the weapon from that foreigner you gave me and created a rough structural diagram, which I then gave to Zhuge Sa. Since using the Crystal Stele allows creating metal of superior quality regardless of the flames’ temperature, Zhuge Sa should be able to replicate it. He should be able to produce around five thousand in half a year.”
I cocked my head. “What do you intend to do by making firearms?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I plan to supply them to General Hwang Yeon’s North Dragon Troops in Liaodong.”
“……!!”
Are we really talking about the North Dragon Troops now? I stared at Mangnyang in shock, and he explained, “Those firearms are game-changers. They’re breech-loading, not matchlocks.”
“Breech-loading?”
He continued, “They use cartridge cases.”
Mangnyang explained further, “And the North Dragon Troops will soon be a crucial force in seizing the imperial palace. Therefore, I intend to supply them with the most advanced firearms to boost their chances against the Imperial Guards.”
“Hmm… will the North Dragon Troops even be able to use firearms?”
“The North Dragon Troops have always been at the forefront of deploying the latest technology from the Great Ming Empire. They’re already familiar with firearms and cannons. Just supplying them will have them trained in no time.”
His eyes sparkled. “Even if only three thousand out of the North Dragon Troops can operate as sharpshooters, it will completely shift the tides of war!”
“……”
I found myself lost for words. Having experienced warfare and firearms firsthand, I wondered if merely arming more people with guns would truly yield that significant power. While I admired the rapid reload, I couldn’t quite see how crucial it would be in massive battles with hundreds of thousands of lives at stake. However, it seemed Mangnyang felt something monumental about those firearms.
Jin So-cheong voiced his concerns, “Mangnyang. While it’s good for the North Dragon Troops to grow stronger, we cannot be sure that General Hwang Yeon or the Master of the Twelve Joules will fully comply with our wishes. Each of them are formidable figures with the potential to change the course of the times; they might take different actions at critical moments.”
“Of course. We must watch out especially for the Master of the Twelve Joules.” Mangnyang added.
“However, as long as we possess the Seven Luminaries, that Master of the Twelve Joules can never backstab us. Until then, it means we can keep him in check.”
“The Master of the Twelve Joules… I can’t even begin to understand what’s going through his mind.”
“I don’t quite know either, but during the last meeting, I sensed something interesting.”
“Interesting?”
As Jin So-cheong and I shifted our attention to Mangnyang, he fidgeted with his hands, stating, “He seemed to approach worldly affairs as though from a long-term perspective.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s as if he’s observing affairs from a celestial height. More accurately, it’s like he’s making moves as though he believes he’ll live forever, methodically placing one piece at a time. There’s a sense of shrewdness in his demeanor.”
“Hmm…”
“Though he appears to be in his twenties at first glance, his actual age could be quite advanced.”
Could the Master of the Twelve Joules also be someone of transformation?
While I pondered, Jin So-cheong interrupted, “Baek Woong. We have an incoming power.”
With this, both Mangnyang and I snapped to attention, extending our senses toward the campfire. I could distinguish around forty forms of stealth even without focusing, yet felt nothing at all. It seemed our intruder was farther away, and Jin So-cheong’s instincts could sense it.
Quietly, I asked, “Is it powerful?”
“…Powerful.” Jin So-cheong replied bitterly.
“I’ll talk to them. Baek Woong, just observe.”
Who was this person for Jin So-cheong to make such a request? I was puzzled, but the answer soon unraveled. As the brush pushed aside, a middle-aged man’s face appeared—one I could never forget even in dreams. His well-honed physique radiated with a chilling aura. He stared intently at Jin So-cheong and spoke.
“The Namgung clan has been eradicated.”
“Yes.”
“I heard that the Sword King Namgung Myeong is a vile person. And just recently, his son, the Azure Dragon of the Sky Namgung Hwan, was struck down after suffering a rain of stones from women in the marketplace before being killed with the Thousand Kills Slash.”
“I apologize for killing your friend.”
“It’s fine. I never considered the wretched creature to be a part of my life. Instead, I thank you.”
The man spoke with a low voice, slowly continuing, “I understand that you can take responsibility for your actions. But aren’t your companions leading you down a treacherous path?”
“……”
Jin So-cheong remained silent for a moment before responding, “Absolutely not! These two are Mangnyang and Baek Woong, my benefactors. They are helping to guide us on the path of cooperation.”
“Is that so? They are indeed exceptional.” The man replied with a hint of profundity.
“However, I can no longer remain passive. If I draw any more attention, the revival of the Thunder God Lineage will become difficult, so I propose we return to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.”
It was then that I recognized him. My master, the Celestial Dragon Lee Kwang, appeared – a hundred years of bitter entanglement manifested once more.
