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00338 Celestial Realm ————————————————————————=

I could soon reach the Five Harmonies region in Gansu Province without much trouble. This place was unfamiliar to me, as I had never passed through here when I crossed Gansu before. Following Lee Kwang’s lead through the basin terrain and along the great river, we stumbled upon a valley cluttered with raging rapids. As we ventured deeper into the valley, we discovered an open area, and then we climbed the mountain again.

Lee Kwang spoke as we ascended the mountain path.

“It was during the time when I was fleeing from Gansu, protecting my master, Lee Cheong-un, from the White Lotus Sect.”

It seemed he was reminiscing about the past. As the three of us followed him, we listened closely to his calm recollection.

“I sustained significant injuries from pursuers, but my master was in a dire state. At that time, he met his end near the currents of this gorge, and I couldn’t leave his remains by the waters, so I made a grave on the mountain instead.”

“So, this is the place.”

“I’ve felt immense sorrow since then. I worried that the White Lotus Sect might desecrate my master’s grave to insult the Thunder God lineage, which is why I couldn’t visit the grave all this time.”

Lee Kwang suddenly turned around to look at Jin So-cheong.

“But since you’re taking a dangerous path, I wish for the blessing of my master. The Thunder God’s investigators will likely be watching.”

Jin So-cheong nodded.

“Understood.”

Eventually, we discovered a mounded piece of land that looked like a grave. It hardly resembled a proper burial site. It was just a large pile of dirt, overgrown with weeds and trees nearby. Lee Kwang glanced at the mound and swung his spear to clear the obstruction.

Swoosh!

As we helped him clean up the grave, it started to take shape. Lee Kwang gazed at it and said,

“This is certainly the spot.”

“Is it?”

“If that’s the case…”

Lee Kwang took out some liquor from his pocket and knelt before the grave. We followed suit and bowed in unison. After two bows and pouring the liquor on the grave, Lee Kwang weighed down his gaze and quietly said,

“Master. My successor, Jin So-cheong, has come here.”

His subsequent remarks shocked me.

“Knowing you must’ve thought I betrayed you, but I never did such a thing. It feels sorrowful to think you won’t understand this until your last moments.”

Jin So-cheong looked surprised by those words, glancing at Lee Kwang. What exactly happened in the past? After a brief silence, Lee Kwang continued.

“Please bless So-cheong so she can remain safe from the sect leader’s wicked grasp, Master…”

His demeanor was heavy and gloomy. Lee Kwang wished Jin So-cheong wouldn’t go to the White Lotus Sect, but since he could no longer dissuade her, he could only pray for her safety. After another bow, once we completed the grave-sweeping, we sat in a circle and pulled out the meager food we had brought along.

Lee Kwang heavily stared at Jin So-cheong and spoke.

“You were surprised by what I just said, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“The two beside you are those you trust with your life, so I wish to share this secret with you. I want to let you know I trust you in this way.”

“……”

With a resigned sigh, Lee Kwang began his tale of the past.

“My master was suddenly summoned by the sect leader. This was over fifty years ago.”

“I know that.”

“I can’t tell what they talked about. But one thing is certain… it wasn’t in private.”

Jin So-cheong’s face hardened.

Of course, she already knew that. Han Baek-ryeong had told her. But hearing it confirmed from Lee Kwang made me even more curious about what had happened that day. Lee Kwang continued speaking.

“Master went to speak with the sect leader and Dokgo Jun, but it turned into a fight and came back in chaos, with no time to hear my master’s thorough explanation. I had to escape with the lineage’s successors while fleeing myself.”

Lee Kwang bit his lips tightly.

“I sheltered my master while we fled, but got caught by Cheon Woo-jin at the cliff and fell down. When I came to my senses in this area, my master’s condition had worsened. His injuries were beyond what could be healed with the Heavenly Spirit Pill, and I realized that even if the Great Immortal came, he couldn’t save him.”

“……”

“However, when my master regained consciousness with his spirit refreshed, he thought of me as a betrayer. I don’t know how this misunderstanding arose, but he believed I had sold the secrets of the Thunder God lineage. I protested, but it seemed my master lost the fight against the sect leader due to the existence of those secrets.”

“What secrets are we talking about?”

“The Ultimate Technique of the Thunder God lineage!”

“……!!”

At that moment, the atmosphere completely tensed up.

The Ultimate Technique of the Thunder God lineage!

That was something the sect leader had obsessively sought and demanded in all my previous lives, wasn’t it? I couldn’t ascertain whether it existed or not, but at least Lee Kwang had adamantly denied its existence before. Yet now, that topic came up again right here.

Jin So-cheong swallowed hard and asked,

“Does the Ultimate Technique really exist?”

Lee Kwang nodded vigorously.

“It exists!”

And in that moment, so much changed. The Ultimate Technique, which I had assumed to be merely a figment of fantasy because Lee Kwang denied it, was now confirmed to exist! I had suspected it might still be out there, but having the official heir of the Thunder God’s Dharma Guardian affirm it carried significant weight.

“I was able to clear my name before my master passed away because I explained my innocence to him. However, according to my master, the research he was conducting on the Ultimate Technique’s secrets had been leaked, and the sect leader had apparently obtained it beforehand to study its weaknesses. That’s why he had no choice but to lose.”

“What do you mean?”

Jin So-cheong asked back, flustered.

“Are you saying that Grand Master Lee Cheong-un could have defeated the sect leader…?”

“Indeed. That’s certainly possible.”

Flames flickered in Lee Kwang’s eyes.

“On that day, the sect leader collaborated with Dokgo Jun to confront my master. Even in that scenario, my master managed to gain a slight upper hand by utilizing the Ultimate Technique’s secrets. If that technique had truly succeeded, it could have even led to a decisive victory.”

“……!!”

Everyone had to be astonished.

That there was a chance of victory against that sect leader!

The Apostle of the God, Daji, could engage with composure even against the sect leader; the sheer power and reasoning he possessed surpassed common martial arts understanding. Especially the way he freely manipulated the elements of the Five Harmonies and Tai Chi coupled with his ability to manipulate time and space through that experience left us all in awe. Yet to think that the previous Thunder God’s Dharma Guardian, Lee Cheong-un, nearly triumphed in a joint attack against such formidable adversaries!

Lee Kwang said,

“I’ve pondered this ever since that day. So then, wasn’t there someone who stole the secrets of the Ultimate Technique and gave them to the sect leader? And that person was surely from the Thunder God lineage and a traitor.”

“Hmm…”

“So-cheong, considering you, you would understand why I recount this story.”

Jin So-cheong’s eyes sparkled.

“We must identify the identity of that traitor.”

“Exactly. Originally, I planned to spend decades gathering the successors of the Thunder God lineage and observing them to uncover the culprit. That’s why I accepted you three as successors.”

Lee Kwang continued,

“The traitor wouldn’t want the sect leader to re-accept the Thunder God lineage and succeed again; because once the successors convened for interrogation, they’d surely catch the traitor. Thus, if you were to join the White Lotus Sect as a disciple, the traitor would certainly intervene.”

“Why did the traitor turn against you?”

“I’ve mulled over various possibilities but couldn’t arrive at a conclusion.”

Lee Kwang sighed and turned to Jin So-cheong.

“If you don’t mind, I wish to share what I know about the Ultimate Technique with you.”

“Is that true?!”

“Indeed.”

Lee Kwang smiled wryly.

“But this is merely information. It won’t aid you in enhancing your martial arts, and that’s why I’ve kept it from you until now.”

“Please, do tell.”

Lee Kwang nodded and spoke.

“First, unlike the other three great sects, the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder God lineage is incomplete and was a fantastic technique that no one in history has mastered. Furthermore, the foundational requirement is to master techniques in the fist, sword, and spear up to the Final Technique before acquiring the Heavenly Spirit Pill. Afterward, with the assistance of three peerless masters from the Thunder God lineage, it can be completed, but the problem is that after completion, one must forget everything and start anew to finally obtain the Ultimate Technique.”

I was aware of this information already. But now came a revelation I had never known before.

“However, the Dharma Guardians of the Thunder God lineage appeared to have concealed the fact that the Ultimate Technique was incomplete and have been secretly researching it over the generations. My Grand Master had already formed a fair bit of foundation during his time, and my master secretly cultivated it.”

“How much was it completed?”

“Rather than completed, it was standardized. This is because the Martial Soul, or Muwak, cannot be perceived as having absolute limits at a human level, so basically, they crafted fundamental martial arts that humans could grasp. My master referred to this as the Thunder Spirit.”

The Thunder Spirit!

It seemed to refer to the essence possessed by the god of thunder. Jin So-cheong pondered and remarked,

“So by practicing the Thunder Spirit, one can hastily advance towards the Martial Soul.”

“Correct. The Martial Soul is infinite, so the Thunder Spirit can essentially be regarded as the Ultimate Technique.”

“Then why didn’t you cultivate it?”

“The Thunder Spirit, unlike conventional martial arts, requires true masters who have reached an extreme level, even amongst Peak Experts, to begin cultivation. Thus, my master only informed me of its existence and its essence but spoke nothing of the methods to practice it.”

Lee Kwang chuckled somberly.

“Even the essence I’m aware of is an assortment of bewildering phrases whose meanings I can hardly decipher. They’re more akin to incantations. At this point, the Thunder Spirit has been entirely actualized.”

“Please tell me that essence.”

“Very well.”

Without hesitation, Lee Kwang recited the incantation. Given that I and Mangnyang were present, it seemed he was unconcerned about sharing it openly; perhaps it truly wasn’t useful for martial arts training. After reciting the essence two or three times more, Lee Kwang said,

“My master, anticipating his demise, passed this essence off as insignificant—not just to me but to other successors as well. That’s why identifying the traitor remains all the more difficult. The only thing is, the traitor understood the ambiguous nature of this essence, which means they were someone motivated enough to sell it to the sect leader…”

“That’s troublesome.”

“Thus, I can’t help but worry about your involvement with the White Lotus Sect.”

With a confident expression, Jin So-cheong replied,

“Don’t you worry; I will definitely find and kill that traitor.”

“Good. I believe in you.”

After that, Lee Kwang learned about the secrets and training methods of the Seven Great Techniques from Jang Sam-bong before leaving. No matter how much he valued his disciple, joining the White Lotus Sect simply wasn’t in the cards for him. As Lee Kwang departed, Jin So-cheong turned to us.

“It would be best to alter our plans.”

At that, Mangnyang’s face instantly tightened.

“That’s unacceptable.”

“What am I suggesting that could possibly be wrong?”

“I’m saying we’re going after the Black Hand of Seven Kills Village!”

Mangnyang outlined the Five Harmonies of Seven Kills.

“Our strategy involved joining as disciples for the White Lotus Sect and then utilizing the Black Hand to assassinate the Old Sage of Mount Tai! There’s absolutely no way that plan can save Lee Cheong-un!”

I glanced at Jin So-cheong at Mangnyang’s words.

“Resurrect Lee Cheong-un?”

Sure enough, I could read Jin So-cheong’s intentions as she stared silently at Mangnyang. After a lengthy standoff of glances, Jin So-cheong finally spoke.

“If we don’t expend any extra power through the Offering Ceremony, the Imperial Palace forces can definitely be handled with the power of the White Lotus Sect.”

“Zhuque only fights those who are certain victories. The sect leader might struggle with that aspect too. Then, we must subdue Zhuque using Divine Power.”

“I believe that resurrecting Grand Master Lee Cheong-un carries significant advantages.”

“Due to the Thunder Spirit?”

Jin So-cheong nodded at my inquiry.

“It seems the Grand Master Lee Cheong-un at the peak of his power had martial skills comparable to the sect leader. If we could obtain the Thunder Spirit from him and additionally gain him as an ally, it would make confronting the sect leader much easier. More than anything, killing a person is something that can be done through sheer human effort, but resurrecting someone can only be done by a divine being.”

Mangnyang shook his head.

“We must eliminate Zhuque first. Once Zhuque falls, the remainder of the Imperial Palace forces will collapse easily, so I can’t let that go.”

“……”

Watching the disagreement between Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong, I felt stuck in a tough spot. Both sides had valid points. After pondering it for a moment, I suggested,

“Regardless, we’re not killing Zhuque right now, are we? Let’s observe the situation a bit more and decide later.”

“Sounds good.”

“Understood.”

As I mediated, Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong seemed to agree. Despite their differences, it was ultimately me who could head to Seven Kills Village to request a reversal.

Mangnyang glanced at the grave again and spoke.

“Let’s at least try using the Heavenly Spirit’s techniques first.”

“You mean summoning Lee Cheong-un’s spirit?”

“Indeed.”

Swoosh—

I concentrated on my Qi from the index finger to sense the spirit’s energy. However, even within a twenty-mile radius, there wasn’t any significant energy present for a summoning. Frowning, I turned to Mangnyang.

“There’s no spirit of Lee Cheong-un…”

“It’s as I foresaw,” said Mangnyang knowingly. “A strong and capable spirit doesn’t necessarily anchor itself to the earth. Lee Cheong-un has likely ascended and left this realm.”

“……”

Originally, we had planned to summon Lee Cheong-un’s spirit with the Heavenly Spirit’s techniques, but that plan now seemed utterly pointless. I exclaimed in disbelief, “Can’t a spirit that has ascended be summoned with the Heavenly Spirit techniques?”

“Of course not. It’s strictly limited to spirits remaining in this realm.”

“Hmm…”

Mangnyang sighed as if exhausted.

“Given the circumstances, Lee Cheong-un can only be resurrected through the power of reversal.”

I scratched my head.

“Let’s go for it.”

“Understood.”

Swoosh!

I immediately set out with my party using the Golden Lamp toward Luoyang. Upon entering the Han Clan estate in Luoyang, we were guided straight to the Clan leader’s reception hall, where Han Baek-ryeong was leaning against a wooden pole with her spear.

Han Baek-ryeong glanced over us and said,

“We’ll move via the Flame Spirit.”

The Flame Spirit of the Fire Spirit Techniques! Following Han Baek-ryeong, we arrived at the Flame Spirit and could teleport directly to the main sect of the White Lotus Sect.

Swoosh!

Upon arrival at the White Lotus Sect, with Han Baek-ryeong leading the way, we progressed to the sect leader’s chambers without any hindrance. Even the Elder Council’s experts simply avoided making eye contact with us.

“I greet the sect leader!”

The sect leader, as always, remained hidden behind a facade.

As soon as he saw us, he spoke.

[ First, let me thank you. Thanks to the Black and White Lotus you provided, the Young Master has fully recovered.]

“Yes.”

Indeed, the efficacy of the Black and White Lotus had released the Young Master from his curse. Eventually, the sect leader continued speaking.

[ Now, our sect will commence the process of taking over the Central Plains. As you requested, I shall designate the Thunder God’s Dharma Guardian and accept him as my direct disciple.]

Finally, that moment had arrived.

If Jin So-cheong was selected, we could make contact with him while unraveling the martial techniques and secrets of the sect leader!

My heart swelled with excitement, feeling like we had crossed two-thirds of the journey.

“……?”

Something felt off. Both Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong’s gazes were directed at me.

Lost in thought, I discovered that the sect leader’s shadow of his finger behind me was pointing towards me. Pointing at myself like a fool, the sect leader’s words rang like a hammer hitting a nail.

[ Was it Baek Woong? From today onward, you shall be the Thunder God’s Dharma Guardian and my direct disciple.]

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