Chapter 210
“The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors!”
The Sword Demon took me to the sparring arena, then said, “Let’s spar with wooden swords.”
“Wooden swords? But all we have here are iron swords… don’t you usually use iron swords?”
As far as I knew, wooden swords weren’t really a thing in the Shadowless Sect. They preferred sparring with iron swords for more realistic training. The Sword Demon replied, “That’s just to raise the stakes for amateurs. Both you and I have reached a peak level where we can fully grasp our opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, right? In that case, a blunt and weak weapon is best.”
A peak expert can always kill an opponent using sword energy and flames, regardless of the weapon’s quality. If you don’t control the weapon’s tip, the chances of an accident increase significantly.
“I see…”
With that, I took the wooden sword he handed me and assumed a stance. Since it was clear that the Sword Demon was stronger, I focused on maintaining my energy and reducing any openings. After observing my stance for a moment, he exclaimed, “Impressive! It’s rare to see someone your age reach such a level.”
“You’re being too kind.”
“Let’s see your skills.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a faint vibration pulsed from the tip of the Sword Demon’s wooden sword, followed by a flash of sword energy shooting out. It was like a弹 (bullet) technique, moving incredibly fast. I casually deflected the attack while employing the flashy basics of the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique.
The tension between us was delicately managed. As I attempted to break through the curve with my swift sword, the tension shifted fluidly, and for a moment, I felt like the Sword Demon’s entire body transformed into a massive flow of water.
‘He’s completely aware of my movements.’
I lunged forward with my swift sword, suddenly switching to a phantom technique in an attempt to disrupt the Sword Demon’s rhythm. His swordplay shifted again, expertly defending against my attacks. His defense was so flawless that I felt embarrassed and had to retreat.
KAANG!
A sound like a clash of swords echoed. Even though we were using wooden swords, the clash between our sword flames filled the air. Despite my overwhelming internal power, the Sword Demon’s flames dispersed all my energy.
After about ten seconds passed, the Sword Demon said, “Very good. Your fundamentals in swordsmanship are solid.”
“With all this praise, I hardly know what to do with myself.”
“Hmm? It’s not all just compliments…”
With a swift motion, he suddenly broke through the distance and struck near my throat. I was taken aback by the suddenness of the peak expert’s attack. Despite not being extremely fast, I couldn’t understand why I failed to notice it.
As I hurried to dodge, the Sword Demon casually followed up with a series of attacks, forcing me into a defensive position. I desperately parried his relentless strikes, feeling like a mouse being toyed with.
‘This feels just like when Lee Kwang would wipe the floor with me!’
It was like a cat playing with a mouse! I was holding my ground with minimal energy left, but I saw no way to turn this defensive situation around.
After using all my internal power to block and dodge his attacks for nearly a hundred seconds, the Sword Demon suddenly withdrew his wooden sword and sighed.
“Hmm… just as I thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your swordsmanship is one-sided. You have no understanding of intent.”
“…?”
I cocked my head in confusion and asked, “Intent? Are you talking about the realm of will?”
“You know about it. So why aren’t you using your intent?”
“I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know how to wield it.”
I responded honestly.
Intent!
In fact, I first heard about this realm back when I sparred with Jin So-cheong with wooden spears. But at that time, my martial arts were so weak that I couldn’t grasp her words, and later, I was too focused on practicing techniques to even consider the concept of intent. Hence, I had no proper response to the Sword Demon mentioning it now.
The Sword Demon looked momentarily dazed before responding, almost incredulously, “This can’t be… you clearly have sword techniques and martial arts from a renowned family. To reach a peak level at your age means a peerless master poured tremendous effort into your training. And yet, you don’t know about intent?”
I scratched my head. “Even if you say that… I’ve been too busy mastering techniques to think about intent.”
“That’s ridiculous! Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds?!”
The Sword Demon suddenly shouted angrily, clearly exasperated.
“Whoever taught you must be a complete nutcase! They may have given you heart, technique, and body, but they left out intent? That’s practically asking for you to fail!”
“…!!”
Seeing him shout, I couldn’t bring myself to retort. Even though he was badmouthing my master, something told me to hold my tongue. I think I understood why he was so upset.
‘Lee Kwang…!!’
My master, who had instilled the most martial arts in me, was undoubtedly Lee Kwang. However, I had come to realize through my multiple lives that he had kept various techniques hidden from me, constantly keeping me in check. Being intelligent, he knew how to effectively deceive people. Of course, it didn’t help that my talent didn’t meet his standards, so it was clear he had started to distance himself from me at some point and kept me under control.
After a while, the Sword Demon calmed down and said, “Apologies for badmouthing your master. But you should know that being unaware of intent is truly absurd.”
“It’s fine…”
After staring at the Sword Demon, I asked, “What exactly is intent?”
“Ahem… I honestly didn’t expect to have to explain this to someone of your level.”
Chuckling a bit, the Sword Demon suddenly flopped down in the sparring arena.
“Now, watch me.”
Sitting properly in a lotus position, he continued, “I’m sitting here in a lotus position. How many movements do you think I need to get back up and attack you?”
“Hmm… probably two moves.”
If I were to stab with my sword using the strength of my thighs, that wouldn’t constitute a proper attack. To effectively strike, I’d first need to get my feet firmly on the ground to build up power before launching an attack. No matter how impressive the technique, without lower body strength to back it up, it wouldn’t qualify as an attack.
Therefore, the combined actions of standing up and striking would require at least two moves.
PAH!
“Huh.”
I sucked in a breath. Sudden surprise hit me as the Sword Demon’s wooden sword was suddenly aimed at my heart! He grinned and asked, “How many moves was that?”
“…”
After a moment, I responded honestly, “I didn’t see it.”
Indeed. It completely vanished from my sight. I could faintly see the Sword Demon moving, but how he launched that attack in just a second was beyond my perception. Once again, I felt that same sense of crisis I had before.
‘It was like before…’
Just like when the Sword Demon suddenly pierced through my defenses with a terrifying strike. But it wasn’t that it was too fast; rather, it was almost a normal speed. Yet somehow, he easily broke through my perception.
As I pondered, the Sword Demon spoke. “This is intent. There’s a world of difference between those who grasp intent and those who don’t. The skill level may be equal in terms of internal power and technique, but the application of intent will result in a vast discrepancy.”
“What exactly is that?”
“Intent is human will, and thought signifies actualizing it in the world.”
“…?”
Actualizing will in the world? How does that link to the sublimation of the Ultimate Technique? Suddenly, I recalled something Jin So-cheong had told me long ago.
[No matter how supreme your internal power is, the physical body that controls it is still human. To confront someone with will that has outsmarted you is akin to standing out in the freezing cold of the North Pole naked and dying. It would be utterly tragic.]
[This is the advanced stage of Muwak. Once you move beyond basic techniques or internal powers, experts battle on an entirely different dimension. While you can’t completely ignore basic techniques and powers, they are fundamentally different from those of a low-level martial artist.]
I recalled that Jin So-cheong had indeed cautioned me about intent, stressing that it was a different concept than internal power. Of course, only Jin So-cheong gave me such advice; Lee Kwang never even breathed a word about intent.
The Sword Demon continued to explain. “Where do you think human willpower comes from?”
“That would be… the brain, I presume.”
“That’s quite a materialistic perspective. While it isn’t entirely incorrect, let’s say that idea fits.”
“So the brain is part of the Upper Dantian. Just how quickly do you think the brain transmits commands to the body?”
“Incredibly fast. The higher your skill level, the more swiftly you can move your body in alignment with that speed.”
“Exactly. The fundamental element that enhances that speed is the brain and Upper Dantian. Focusing qi and opening the meridians to mobilize internal power is merely laying the groundwork. The principle of Heart, Qi, Blood, and Essence exists for that reason. Fundamentally, the brain’s capabilities can control all martial arts.”
With that shared, the Sword Demon peered into the air with round eyes.
“However, as I mentioned earlier, this is a mere materialistic interpretation of will. Its true power can be described as the Heavenly Pillar.”
“Heavenly Pillar? You mean the pillar of the sky?”
“Yes. The pillar of the sky.”
With a flick of his finger, I suddenly felt an invisible, violent formless qi envelop me. It felt like being hit by a typhoon, pressure bearing down on me as if I were about to be torn apart. As I desperately mustered my internal power to resist, a moment later, the Sword Demon retracted his formless qi.
“Huff… huff…”
As I gasped for air, the Sword Demon asked, “Did you just resist my formless qi with internal power or will?”
“…”
What was I supposed to say? Of course, I’d stood my ground with internal power, but without strong will, I wouldn’t have endured. Unable to find an answer, I hesitated as the Sword Demon continued.
“A powerful mental strength connects the human mind with heaven and earth. At that moment, it feels as if a pillar of light connects the sky and yourself. It’s that robust a will that serves as proof you can utilize intent.”
“I don’t feel anything like that.”
“No! If you truly are a peak expert, you can definitely utilize intent. The training and patience you’ve amassed to get to this point has surpassed the level of an ordinary person.”
The Sword Demon sighed.
“The reason you can’t grasp my explanation is that you’re too accustomed to fighting using internal power alone. In combat, you need internal power, techniques, strategy, and intent to win, but you’ve never even acknowledged intent.”
“Hmm…”
As I considered this, I asked the Sword Demon, “But I’ve never really struggled against strong opponents before. Is not using intent really that big a drawback?”
“Strong opponents? I don’t know who your definition of strong opponents is, but…”
The Sword Demon seemed almost amused.
“I could kill you within a hundred seconds without caring if your internal power is ten times greater than mine. And there are at least ten people in this world who could do the same! Because you don’t know intent, while I do.”
“……”
If he stated it as such, I had no retorts. The Sword Demon was the strongest of the Heretical Sect, the supreme being of the heretical path, so it only made sense he could assert that. Furthermore, I had seen his formidable abilities with my own eyes countless times.
The Sword Demon continued, “Since you have no inkling how to wield intent, let me teach you properly.”
“Yes, please!”
“Earlier, you didn’t see how many movements I used while seated in the lotus position, nor how I attacked, did you? And you already know that it’s not merely a speed issue.”
He elaborated, “When consciousness is compressed to extreme levels and reaches ultimate clarity, human perception enters entirely new realms. I was accelerating dozens of times faster than your perception while analyzing your weak points. In that instant, I was able to execute transcendent moves that would have been impossible otherwise.”
“……?”
What on earth was he talking about? What did he mean by “perceptual worlds”?
“Hmm, did I explain too complexly? Let’s put it this way.” The Sword Demon looked at me as if I were a difficult pupil. “Have you ever felt like time stopped while facing an opponent of life or death?”
“……!!”
Memories surged back in an instant. ‘The spar with the Master of the Twelve Joules!’
During my tenth reincarnation, when I sparred with the leaders of the Twelve Joules, I distinctly felt a sensation unlike anything describable given human sensations—a fleeting moment where I felt I was hearing the heart of the leader. At that time, it truly felt like time had frozen.
The Sword Demon smiled at my expression. “I knew it.”
“Back then, it felt like time stopped, and I could hear my opponent’s thoughts. I still can’t tell if that was real…”
“No, it was. What you felt was your opponent’s genuine heart at that moment. That’s what we call Heart Command Technique (心的權聽), a space only true experts can perceive. Heightened concentration induces illusions of perception.”
Heart Command Technique!
As I engraved that term in my mind, the Sword Demon continued, “Your entry into that space back then was probably sheer luck. However, masters wielding intent could immerse themselves in that extreme mental state, regardless of whether intentionally or unintentionally, as a result of constantly accelerating their perception.”
“Acceleration…”
“As your perception expands, movements and techniques that are originally impossible for a human become feasible. Mastering this is intent and its application. Formless qi can also be seen as an application of intent.”
I started to understand what intent was. It was about sensing that extreme moment of consciousness to accelerate perception with willpower! Additionally, it meant reinforcing willpower to perform techniques typically impossible for a human body. In short, one could transcend martial arts entirely!
‘I must master intent.’
Suddenly, a thought struck me, and I asked the Sword Demon, “Hold on. If intent is that powerful, what’s the use of all the internal power and techniques I’ve cultivated so far?”
If intent held such power, wouldn’t it be enough to hone just that without practicing internal powers or martial arts? The Sword Demon seemed to anticipate my question and replied, “Intent isn’t something you can deploy just anytime. It drains immense willpower and can only be used at critical moments to enhance specific techniques, perform extreme maneuvers, or unleash ultimate techniques.”
“So it’s something I should use only when needed.”
“That said, it’s entirely possible to defeat peak experts who lack intent, even if you don’t know it yourself. If that peak expert’s skills and internal power fall short, even with intent, they won’t compare to your foundational abilities.”
“Hmmm…”
“The key lies in the harmony of Heart, Qi, Blood, and Essence, achieving optimal conditions. What’s more, the reason peerless masters can execute impossible ultimate techniques relies fundamentally on intent.”
I felt as though I was finally beginning to grasp the concept of intent. ‘So that’s why Lee Kwang unleashed incredible power with Thunder Cloud Palm.’ He was undoubtedly utilizing intent, reinforcing the effectiveness of techniques that would normally be beyond him through the sheer force of intent. With all I had absorbed so far, I committed it to memory and turned to the Sword Demon.
“What should I do to learn intent?”
“It’s not complicated. Just project your will upon the world.”
“……”
“Hmm… then how about training like this?” He realized his earlier explanations had been too abstract.
“Exhaust your internal power to the point of depletion.”
“Huh?”
“After using all your internal power, close down your vital points and assume the lotus position to maintain your life force.”
“You don’t mean…” I fell silent at his next words.
“Naturally, in these situations, you should push yourself to the limit. Heightened sensitivity in your mental state makes accessing intent far easier.”
“……”
I mentally sighed, ‘So he’s another hardcore martial artist…’
“Train until you drop dead!”
This mindset wasn’t limited to Lee Kwang alone. If I engaged in this crazy training method, depleting my internals and closing my vital points just to survive, I might genuinely die. But with no other options, I reluctantly nodded.
“I’ll give it a try.”
