Chapter 339
“I can’t believe the Master of the White Lotus Sect just pointed at me!”
I was so flabbergasted that I momentarily lost all sense of how to respond. Forgetting that I was even standing in front of the Master, I jumped up and blurted out, “I’m not worthy!”
[Why?]
“Jin So-cheong’s talent far surpasses mine!”
The Master of the White Lotus Sect fell silent for a moment, then said, [That’s not a concern of mine. I want Baek Woong to be my disciple.]
“……?!”
What on earth should I do in this situation? I glanced at Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong, but they wore unexpectedly calm expressions. Mangnyang nodded and sent me a secret transmission.
[It’s alright. Just accept it. You have the Suspicious Fishhook, so you can contact us anytime.]
It seemed Mangnyang had anticipated this situation. Finally finding my footing, I bowed to the Master of the White Lotus Sect and said, “I apologize. I acted rashly out of shock. Thank you for your tremendous grace.”
[Good…]
The Master of the White Lotus Sect trailed off, summoning the Six Harmonies Assembly.
[Mangnyang is appointed as the Right Dharma Guardian, while Jin So-cheong is appointed as the Left Dharma Guardian. Since you are originally companions, I hope you will help each other to promote the Sect.]
“Your Honor!”
“Your Honor!”
[Now, I shall give you your first mission.]
The first mission from the Master of the White Lotus Sect! We braced ourselves for his command. The Master continued, without so much as twitching.
[You must gather the Thunder God lineage scattered across the Central Plains and bring them back to the Sect.]
I should’ve expected this. It’s a perfectly reasonable order, yet it’s an extremely challenging one. After all, we signed up with swords in our hearts and have little hope of convincing the Thunder God lineage, who harbor deep grievances against the White Lotus Sect, to return. This dilemma was exactly why I struggled between choosing the Thunder God lineage or the White Lotus Sect.
Mangnyang stepped forward and said, “Master. I have something to say.”
[Speak, Mangnyang.]
“Simply asking the Thunder God descendants to return will only lead to a confrontation, and we lack the strength to subdue each of them. If you could provide some kind of reward for them, we will do our utmost to carry out the mission.”
[Hmm…]
The Master of the White Lotus Sect seemed to ponder Mangnyang’s words for a bit, then said, [Tell them I will guarantee them high positions in the Sect and provide Jin Cheong-un’s teachings. I stake my honor on this promise.]
“……!!”
[Then most will likely return.]
He said it so casually, yet Mangnyang beside me was sweating bullets on his forehead, seemingly feeling the weight of the Master’s ominous intent. Mangnyang managed to reply, “Understood.”
[Furthermore, if you successfully complete this mission, I will grant you the Heavenly Spirit Pill.]
The Heavenly Spirit Pill! I could only let out a low gasp at the mention of it. It was a device that relayed divine power and a body capable of endless internal energy! To offer that was an irresistible temptation for a martial artist. Moreover, was I not here to uncover the method of obtaining the Heavenly Spirit Pill?
‘What is this? The conditions are too favorable!’
No matter how I thought about it, this was an offer that the Master of the White Lotus Sect wouldn’t typically extend to mere remnants of the Thunder God lineage. It felt more like terms given to someone on equal footing. If the Master had threatened us outright without conditions or rewards, we would have had no choice but to comply. Thus, I couldn’t help but doubt the Master’s true intentions.
“I will definitely fulfill it.”
[Good.]
The Master of the White Lotus Sect hummed with satisfaction and pointed at me with his finger. [The Dharma Guardians may leave, but the Right Dharma Guardian Baek Woong will follow me.]
“Yes.”
Once Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong were led away by the hands of the elder council’s experts, I found myself awkwardly bowing in place, unsure of what to do. Even though the Master instructed me to follow, he had vanished without a trace!
However, a moment later, I heard a voice whispering past my ear. “This way.”
Woosh!
Startled by the voice that brushed against me, I quickly turned to my side, but found nothing there. Moreover, the Master’s silhouette had already disappeared. Realizing the Master had zipped past me using some ultra-speed technique while leaving behind his lingering voice, I was left stunned. ‘What a monster…!!’
I had trained hard over the past century and reached a level where I could contend with the top experts of the Central Plains. My body sight and Qi sense far surpassed those of ordinary martial artists. Even the Peak Experts could only reveal their presence to me in an instant, but the Master’s technique didn’t just evade my sight; it wasn’t even there!
Even if I unleashed the maximum speed of the Soul Removal Technique right now, I couldn’t guarantee I could replicate the Master’s technique. In fact, I doubted I could even keep pace with a fraction of it. This led me to a dreary realization.
At this moment, I was just a blink of an eye to the Master of the White Lotus Sect.
If he merely flicked his hand while passing by, my neck would have been gone in an instant!
The height of the mountains was unbelievable. How much training would it take to even stand a chance against such a monster? I bit my lip and followed his Qi, which felt vast as if it was acknowledging my presence.
After about fifty steps, I arrived at a garden brimming with flowers. It was an artificially designed beautiful garden, with trees planted everywhere. The shapes were well-maintained, making it an incredibly fragrant tableau.
The Master of the White Lotus Sect stood in the middle of the garden, quietly gazing up at a tree. He wore the same robes I had seen during the Imperial Palace showdown, a purple cloak embroidered with golden threads, and a crown on his head. His face was covered by a mask, devoid of expression or features.
The Master then asked me, [Baek Woong, do you know what this tree is?]
I glanced at the tree. Judging by the swaying leaves and its shape, it could only refer to a single species. I quietly replied, “The Dragon Flower Tree.”
The Dragon Flower Tree isn’t common but still seen in various places. It was also known as the Bodhi tree, known for its impressive drooping leaves. I had heard that it originated from Tianzhu. Upon my answer, the Master stroked the Dragon Flower Tree and said, [Unlike this commonplace dragon flower tree, I was looking for the real thing. But now, it has become somewhat unnecessary, and I owe you a great deal for that. ]
“……”
If I had entered the White Lotus Sect without any prior information, I would have found the Master’s words odd. However, I knew that he had sent the Young Master to collect legends in the Southern Barbarians to cure the strange disease afflicting the Young Master. I understood that there was knowledge about the powers of the Dragon Flower Tree behind that.
The Dragon Flower Tree is a legendary tree in Buddhism, said to be where future Buddhas would descend. It was also the miraculous tree of the White Lotus Sect lore. The Master had thought of sacrificing the Non-Birth Mother to seek out this tree as a means to cure the Young Master’s strange disease. But since I gave him the Black and White Lotus, the disease was cured, rendering the Dragon Flower Tree unnecessary.
The Master continued, [You must be curious about why I chose you as my disciple.]
“Yes, I am.”
[Even without Mangnyang saying it, I could tell right away that Jin So-cheong’s talent was far superior. At that age, she has already surpassed the Mind Control Technique. I’ve only seen talent like hers once in a lifetime.]
Who was he talking about?
As I pondered this, the Master stated, [However, I find you to be more intriguing.]
“Why so?”
[Did you think that Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong wouldn’t try to divert my interest from you? Additionally, although Jin So-cheong pretends to be the center, I could sense that you’re the natural leader of the group. Yet you show less skill than Jin So-cheong and less intelligence than Mangnyang… Quite interesting, indeed.]
“……”
Ouch.
Somehow, it hurt to have his candid words. After all, the Master seemed to have grasped our relationship at a glance, as one leading a grand organization would. My instinct told me to be wary, and I asked, “Are you planning to kill me?”
In normal circumstances, it’s customary for martial world forces to eliminate suspicious individuals without a second thought. Who would take kindly to an expert hiding ill intentions? I briefly closed my eyes, thinking my end was nigh, but the Master responded flatly.
[I don’t toy with people recklessly. Especially not talents like yours. It’s easy to eliminate enemies, but creating allies is hard work, so I won’t act rashly. You needn’t worry.]
“Hmm…”
For a fleeting moment, I felt the breadth of the Master’s worldview. His apathetic tone surged with absolute confidence and self-worth, embodying a nonchalant composure as a reigning overlord. At the same time, he exuded a strong belief that, no matter how hard we struggled, we would eventually yield to him, which deflated my spirit.
‘Truly, the Absolute Being of the Martial World…!!’
The expanse of his understanding made anyone I had encountered seem trivial by comparison. Perhaps only the Master of the Twelve Joules came close?
As I marveled inwardly, the Master proclaimed, [If you intend to use the White Lotus Sect, then fine. In fact, anyone with enough strength to use me will be welcomed. Such power is required for my acknowledgment.]
“I don’t have plans to betray the White Lotus Sect.”
[Hahaha…]
The Master chuckled ambiguously, then suddenly placed his hand on the Dragon Flower Tree.
Snap!
“Huh!”
I jumped in surprise as the magnificent Dragon Flower Tree, which stood over a palm’s height, shrank to a mere dead stick in an instant. No matter how you looked at it, it appeared to have been drained of life, eliciting a gasp from me.
But that was just the beginning. After another swipe of his hand along the tree, even the shriveled Dragon Flower Tree began to quiver back to life!
Power over life and death!
It implied he could freely absorb and create the Qi of all things, leaving me entranced. What he just performed could hardly be exaggerated as the legendary Absorption Technique and perhaps was even more potent than the original.
After demonstrating his fantastical ability to kill and resurrect the Dragon Flower Tree, the Master inquired, [Baek Woong, what do you think Qi is?]
This was an oddly sudden question. I pondered for a moment and replied, “It’s the force spread throughout the world, the source that sustains life, and the power that drives extraordinary abilities.”
[That’s generally how it’s defined in the martial world.]
“Isn’t it?”
[…]
After a moment of silence, the Master gazed at the sky. [Throughout the countless training sessions I went through to reach the highest realm of martial arts, I realized one thing: The Primordial Spirit I achieved did not originate from the Heavenly Void.]
“What do you mean by that…”
[The Heavenly Void refers to Qi. The Primordial Dimension is Qi; its scattered aspect is precisely the Heavenly Void.]
Upon declaring this, the Master suddenly pointed his finger at the sky. [Behold. What lies at the end of this world?]
I saw nothing.
I couldn’t even grasp what he was talking about.
To me, the Master’s words sounded like the ramblings of a madman. Yet, given that all of this seemed to pertain to the transcendent state of the martial arts, I felt a wave of self-doubt wash over me. When I hesitated, the Master lowered his finger and continued.
[You may not understand now. But… there was one person in the world who comprehended the Heavenly Void. He even reached the Four Calamities…]
“Who is that?”
[He has since passed.]
The Master answered shortly before suddenly being engulfed in silence. It felt like a violent aura enveloped the area. Just being in the same vicinity as him made it feel like my sanity was on the brink of collapse. His overwhelming intent triggered a sense of danger within me, and I felt as if my brain might melt!
The madness of silence.
By the time that silence ended, the Master had vanished like a mirage before my eyes. Yet, the echo of the Six Harmonies Assembly remained.
[Come to me after your mission is complete. I will finish today’s conversation then.]
Thud!
“Huff… Huff…”
I collapsed on the ground, my trembling hand clutching at the earth beneath me, so much so that my hand shook uncontrollably.
“Huff…”
How daunting this was.
The Master wasn’t harboring any malicious intent. He simply sprawled out his influence while standing in his own realm. Yet, I was completely unable to withstand the fluctuating essence! The fact that he could unconsciously create a space comparable to that of the Mind Control Technique indicated his mastery had reached a level where he could easily manipulate the surroundings at will.
I almost felt like crying.
‘Jin So-cheong, can you truly reach that monster?’
No, that’s not it. My worry isn’t whether Jin So-cheong can reach the Master of the White Lotus Sect. What scares me the most is that even this Master, an absolute being in the martial world, is a mere insect before a true God. The memory of him being ruthlessly slain by the divine still resonates vividly within me. The target I need to reach seems insurmountably far away.
Could I truly defeat the Old Ruler?
“……”
I clenched the soil tightly. Once more, I summoned strength to my legs, biting my lip as I stood up.
“Damn… It can’t be helped!”
It still must be done.
It will be done. As long as this life and my reincarnation allow, I will create a future where my companions can find happiness. I will not allow myself to be crushed under the games of the absolute being. That is my resolution.
Even if it seems like a joke to conquer a God – it’s the same for me.
Because I will not give up!
