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Finally, upon arriving in Luoyang with the Sect Leader, the leader went to meet the Emperor.

“Welcome!”

As the newly crowned Jeonghu spotted the Sect Leader, he joyfully rushed out from the palace. Oddly, despite this being such a private moment, there weren’t any guards or attendants by the Emperor’s side. Jeonghu looked rather worn out, indicating that the situation in the Imperial Palace was anything but normal.

The Sect Leader, looking fatigued, addressed the Emperor.

[ Emperor. I need a place to stay within the palace for the time being.]

“In the palace?”

[ You can certainly do that, right?]

Though the Sect Leader’s tone seemed gentle, it felt like an unarguable absolute command. Jeonghu thought carefully before responding.

“The Shenguan Palace in the Eastern Six Palaces is vacant. I’ll provide you the utmost convenience.”

[ Thank you.]

“By the way, how about the Tai Ping faction…”

[ They won’t cause any more trouble for now.]

With that, Jeonghu bowed deeply to the Sect Leader in gratitude.

“I’m thankful, truly.”

[ I don’t have the time for pleasantries. Just prepare a place for me to rest.]

“Got it!”

Even though it hadn’t been long since Jeonghu had ascended, everything moved quickly from there. In less than half a moment, the Shenguan Palace was cleaned up, and the palace attendants inside were reorganized. Then, they boarded the carriage and entered the Shenguan Palace to rest in the finest separate room.

I asked the Sect Leader,

“What will happen to those in the Wooden Armor?”

[ Remove them now…]

A short while later, the Dharma Guardian and elders who had been in the Wooden Armor stepped outside. The moment they laid eyes on the Sect Leader sitting on a luxurious bed, they immediately bowed down. The Sect Leader silently looked down at them before saying,

[ I’ve dealt with all the Great Immortals of the Celestial Realm.]

“Oh…!!”

[ However, I need to recuperate for a while, so I’ll be staying in the palace for the time being.]

As the Sect Leader spoke, he glanced pointedly at Dokgo Jun.

[ Jun, during my absence, handle all the major and minor affairs of the Sect. I appoint you as Acting Sect Leader.]

Acting Sect Leader! Although temporary, it meant gaining authority in the most powerful sect, the White Lotus Sect. But rather than showing joy, Dokgo Jun appeared confused and replied,

[ Sect Leader, what is going on? Did you sustain injuries in the fight?]

[ It’s not an injury. I just overexerted the power of the Primordial Spirit and need to rest it.]

[ Hmm…!!]

[ Don’t ask more. I trust your abilities.]

Dokgo Jun fell silent, then bowed deeply.

[ Understood.]

A moment later, all the officials of the White Lotus Sect, including Dokgo Jun, exited the room. I tilted my head, unable to make sense of the Sect Leader’s actions.

‘Why?’

It made sense to draw from the Primordial Spirit when overexerting oneself. The chaotic form I had witnessed was truly formidable, power that could hardly belong to a mere mortal. Clearly, that form was a hidden ace belonging to the Sect Leader’s Primordial Spirit.

Yet, if resting, shouldn’t it be in the White Lotus Sect’s base, safeguarded by dozens of elders? At least resting inside Su Shin Sect would be a more suitable choice. Though the Emperor’s influence extended here, it was still an unfamiliar place, not exactly cozy for relaxation.

Noticing my glance, the Sect Leader, seated on the luxurious bed, crossed his arms and said,

[ You must be wondering why I’m here.]

“Yeah, honestly, this isn’t a suitable place to rest…”

[ Right. It’s not a place to rest. I came here to meet someone.]

“……?”

Who could he be talking about? I was completely in the dark, so I asked back,

“Who exactly? Is there such a person in the palace?”

The Sect Leader replied in a somewhat uncertain tone,

[ Well… I’m not entirely sure myself.]

“You don’t know?”

Surprised, I retorted, and the Sect Leader answered.

[ I thought if not now, I wouldn’t get the chance to meet that person. After sorting through my insight, I’ll call for you, so for now, please leave.]

“Understood.”

Who on earth was he planning to meet?

As I left the Sect Leader’s room, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. The reason why the Sect Leader was refusing to return to his base and insisting on occupying the Eastern Six Palaces, even going so far as to borrow it from the Emperor’s harem — did that mean there was someone he desperately needed to meet here?

I eventually asked Zhuge Sa,

[ Hey, I really can’t figure it out. Who is the Sect Leader trying to meet?]

Zhuge Sa replied bluntly,

[ I don’t know either.]

“What? You don’t know?”

[ Based on the information I have, it’s hard to speculate. No matter how you think about it, it just sounds like wild conjecture.]

If Zhuge Sa couldn’t figure it out, there must be something only the Sect Leader could sense. I sat in my room, pondering this when I said again,

[ Could it be… Sangwan Hyuk?]

[ Do you really think the Sect Leader would stay here just to meet someone like Sangwan Hyuk? He could just send you or the Dharma Guardian to fetch him.]

[ Hmm… Someone only able to meet in the palace…]

My head was starting to hurt. Who could possibly be someone that the current Sect Leader, who treats even the Great Immortal lightly, wants to meet so desperately? But if even Zhuge Sa couldn’t guess, it was futile to try to deduce anything plausible at this point. Zhuge Sa said,

[ Anyway, just relax today. In your lifetime, how often will you get the chance to stay in the Imperial Palace?]

“That’s true.”

This is an experience that an ordinary person could never encounter. Since I wouldn’t find out if the Sect Leader didn’t speak, I decided to put off my worries for a while. Then, I practiced the Three Treasure Technique and Soul Exchange Technique to feel the silk golden pillow and comfortably took a nap.

The next day, I visited the Sect Leader’s room.

Gooooo…

The Sect Leader sat cross-legged in mid-air, not moving an inch. As I felt the heat radiating from his body, I stepped back in surprise. At the same time, I could hear a strange, incomprehensible sound spilling from his mouth.

‘Looks like he’s concentrating so hard that he can’t focus on me at all.’

What was that sound?

I listened for a good while, but I couldn’t grasp it. Hearing me, Zhuge Sa remarked,

[ It’s Sanskrit.]

[ Sanskrit? You know Sanskrit?]

[ Of course. A substantial amount of ancient texts related to the Old Ruler have been translated into Sanskrit, so it’s basically essential knowledge. What the Sect Leader is chanting seems like a script from a Sanskrit text.]

[ Which text?]

[ I don’t know. The tone is so low and bizarre that it doesn’t sound like a human voice.]

What Zhuge Sa said was right. Upon closer inspection, the pronunciation seemed to divide into dozens of paths, and sometimes it felt like it brushed against my ears, suggesting it wasn’t a sound produced by an ordinary human vocal cord. I waited a long while for the Sect Leader’s meditation to conclude, and after about half a meal’s worth of time, he finally released his focus and slowly descended to the ground.

“I kept you waiting.”

“Are you feeling better?”

[ There’s been no significant change in my power, be it yesterday or today. I merely needed the time to organize the insights swirling in my mind.]

A long silence ensued. I had come to check on the Sect Leader’s well-being, but what was I supposed to say? Whatever I brought up would surely feel awkward since the Sect Leader was deeply engrossed in his own realizations.

I cleared my throat and said,

“Um… If it’s okay with you, I’d like to ask about yesterday’s events.”

[ What are you curious about?]

“You transformed into that strange form; is that the power of the Primordial Spirit?”

[ Yes. Simply infinite internal energy would be no different from Heavenly Spirit Pill.]

The Sect Leader’s eyes glimmered.

[ Do you know the characteristics that distinguish the Primordial Spirit from the Heavenly Spirit Pill?]

“The Primordial Spirit can freely maneuver the microcosm within, manifesting even the properties of Tai Chi and the Five Elements as it pleases, as you mentioned before.”

When I referenced the teachings received from the White Lotus Sect Leader, he continued.

[ In fact, without more than that, the difference in power compared to the Heavenly Spirit Pill is not significant. The true strength of the Primordial Spirit lies in its ability to extract potential through chaos. Chaos transcends Tai Chi, enabling such miracles.]

“…….!!”

[ The emergence of dormant potential. That is the true ability of the Primordial Spirit.]

I reeled in astonishment.

‘So that’s how it is!’

The Primordial Spirit was a framework that drew strength from Non-Birth Mother. While the Heavenly Spirit Pill merely scrapes a tiny fraction of energy from the chaos occupied by Non-Birth Mother, in the case of the Primordial Spirit, it borrows chaos itself for a moment, awakening the human ego with that stimulation.

Thinking deeply, I asked,

“Is there a weakness to that ability?”

The White Lotus Sect Leader chuckled heartily.

[ Hahaha… Asking about weaknesses, huh? Do you really think I’d tell you, Baek Woong?]

“I just wanted to ask once.”

I smacked my lips and the Sect Leader whimsically continued,

[ Just know it’s a power that can’t be used frequently.]

That made sense. If he could wield the strength capable of shattering the Great Immortals’ joint effort freely, there would be no reason for the White Lotus Sect Leader not to use it. There had to be some restrictions or weaknesses, necessitating caution before using it when the need arose.

Moreover, even when the Sect Leader faced the ruler of the Demon Subduing Hall, he used Heart of Heaven’s Abundance to counter him but refrained from using that transformed state. While I might not have seen it to the end, he likely had persuaded the divine being and conserved that power. If things escalated dangerously, he would have definitely deployed the Primordial Spirit’s transformed state.

‘Why, though? That situation was surely life-threatening…’

I tentatively asked,

“By the way, what kind of sudden realization did you achieve, Sect Leader? Is it also related to the Primordial Spirit’s effect?”

[ No. The insight I obtained yesterday had nothing to do with the Primordial Spirit.]

The Sect Leader’s tone was resolute.

[ It was the realization of the Primordial Void.]

“Primordial Void?”

Now that I think about it, the Sect Leader had suddenly discovered the essence of the treasure and joyfully talked with the Southern Flower Immortal. I remembered that the Southern Flower Immortal had mentioned concepts at that time. I reflected on my memory from that day.

“The qi of heaven and earth disperses and gathers in a hundred different ways, but the Primordial Harmony interacts without limits through collision…”

[ That’s right.]

“What does that mean?”

The Sect Leader continued,

[ The Primordial Harmony refers to the so-called Dao. Inside it, the characteristics of rising, falling, motion, and stillness are mutually responsive. However, there exists even a more fundamental unit beyond that, which is called the Primordial Void, formless, and the essence of qi itself.]

Listening to the Sect Leader’s explanation brought back memories of what he had once described in a past life. So I recited it exactly.

“Primordial Void refers to qi. Therefore, Primordial Void is qi, and scattered qi is precisely the Primordial Void, isn’t it?”

[ …….!!]

The Sect Leader looked genuinely surprised. He froze for a moment before replying,

[ Perhaps you might possess an insight I do not know. Impressive.]

“Haha…”

I felt strangely good, almost smiling, but Zhuge Sa interjected from within me.

[ You fool. You’re pretending to understand when you haven’t grasped a thing. That’s just pitiful!]

[ Ts… What’s wrong with pretending to know something?]

[ Don’t you realize that’s the dumbest thing in learning? Seriously…]

As Zhuge Sa’s sardonic comment almost distorted my expression, the Sect Leader continued speaking.

[ Remember this well, Baek Woong.]

“Sure.”

The Sect Leader chose his words carefully, adopting a serious expression.

[ The gathering and dispersing of qi in the Primordial Void is like the freezing and thawing of water. Hence… if you recognize that the Primordial Void is qi, there are no bounds to martial arts (Wu). This describes the state of no delusions and the cessation of delusions.]

“……”

[ Realizing this means you could transcend a mere mortal to become a divine being.]

So, the Primordial Void signifies qi, right? Did I misunderstand something?

I tilted my head and suddenly realized.

Ah… I don’t understand any of this at all.

Noticing my confusion, the Sect Leader turned and said.

[ This principle isn’t something easy to grasp. After all, it pertains to the truth of this world and is closely tied to the privileges granted solely to humanity… Regardless, I firmly grasped this principle yesterday, and it took some time to organize those insights quietly.]

“I see.”

[ And it was just this morning that I finally assimilated everything.]

With that, the White Lotus Sect Leader stood up grandly.

[ Then, let’s go.]

“Where are we going?”

[ Follow me.]

The Sect Leader marched resolutely toward a destination. I followed him, completely clueless. The White Lotus Sect Leader, possessing the finest light body technique, insisted on walking, signifying that something significant was happening within his heart.

Eventually, he arrived at the main gate of the Shenguan Palace. The guards stationed at the palace entrance were unfazed as a figure wearing a mask stepped out, bowing toward the Sect Leader. However, the Sect Leader paid them no mind, gazing toward the entrance as he spoke.

[ Who are you?]

I looked where the Sect Leader was staring. But there was nothing but empty air.

‘Has someone used a stealth technique?’

Out of sheer curiosity, I heightened my qi sense, sharpening my senses to the point where I could detect ants moving several yards away. However, no matter how much I raised my qi sense, it felt like there was nothing here. Even the guards were observing the Sect Leader’s strange conversation with curious expressions.

‘There’s really nothing…’

Nothing was there. The Sect Leader was looking at an empty space, and no one was present.

What on earth was he staring at?

After a moment, the Sect Leader spoke softly.

[ If you do not come out, I will have no choice but to fight you…]

Goooooo!

Suddenly, the Sect Leader summoned his full strength. The guards screamed.

“Whoa!”

“Gah!”

Just raising his aura, devoid of any killing intent, was so overwhelming that the guards instantly fainted. I rushed to them, only to find they had succumbed to heart attacks. I infused spirit into their pulse, resuscitating their hearts, while the Sect Leader remained unfazed, continuing to glare into the void.

And then… something unbelievable happened.

“Since I’ve stepped into the Central Plains.”

The figure appeared out of nowhere.

Without any sign, a shabby cloak draped over him, a blade sheathed at his side.

The troubling part was that I had no idea when he had shown up. This was because his movements had lightly surpassed my sensory limitations. The moment I realized this, I felt a rush of cold sweat pouring down my back.

Something was different about that guy!

“You’re the second to notice the Lunar Kill Technique.”

His speech was somewhat awkward. It felt like a foreigner struggling to speak the language, giving off a poor impression. Yet, the overwhelming pressure emanating from this swordsman eclipsed any concerns over his clumsiness.

The Sect Leader’s eyes sparked as he spoke slowly.

[ Were you the one surveilling me?]

“Yes.”

[ Can we have an introduction?]

The figure seemed indifferent, as if everything bored him. Though his body appeared to hold many weaknesses, I couldn’t pinpoint any of them.

“Twelve Joules Special Unit.”

His level of martial arts mastery was at an absolutely higher realm than what I could even imagine.

“Two Heavens One Style, Miyamoto Musashi.”

 

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