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“I think I did well. I’ve broken the curse, right?”

Back from the Zhuge Clan and the Shadowless Gate, I recounted everything to the Sword Demon. He listened calmly and said, “You did well. That’s the important thing, isn’t it?”

“I’m not sure it is,” I confessed, pouring out my honest feelings. “It’s just that he seems way too dangerous.”

The Sword Demon gazed at me, his eyes piercing me like a thunderous storm. “But he’s competent. It’s hard to find someone that capable in the Central Plains right now.”

“But…” I stammered, not convinced.

“What matters is understanding where his abilities stem from and what he’s truly trying to achieve. I believe this will greatly benefit the growth of the White Dharma Protector,” he continued, his tone serious.

“I see,” I replied reluctantly.

“Now about that issue…” The Sword Demon trailed off for a moment, pondering. “First, we should go to Dragon King’s Valley. That would be the best course of action.”

“Is that really enough?” I questioned hesitatingly.

“Of course.” Just then, a voice interrupted, echoing in my mind. [Not enough. But you still need to go to Dragon King’s Valley.]

What the heck?! A complete contradiction to the conversation we were having! I was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained my composure, playing along with the Sword Demon’s orders. “Thinking about training makes my heart race!”

[Why should we go to Dragon King’s Valley?] he shot back in my head.

“Haha, it takes more than a day or two to comprehend martial arts. This will be a great learning experience, I’m sure!”

[If you disappear, the Zhuge Clan will definitely kick off their serious plans. I’m trying to guide that process.]

Now that I thought about it, I did have some delicious chicken porridge at lunch. The newly hired head chef seemed pretty fantastic.

[You wish to see the true intent of the Zhuge Clan, huh?]

“Of course! The chef was specially recommended by the Jeong Clan. He’s unbelievably skilled compared to other chefs in the Central Plains.”

[You need to quickly decide whether to continue welcoming the Zhuge Clan or to turn them away. Just know that this is extremely important.]

“Haha! I babbled too much. So, I’m leaving now!”

[Honor!]

“Take care.”

[Regardless of the mission, ensure your training is diligent.]

After that strange conversation, I stepped outside with a poker face, though my heart raced a bit. It was my first time having a secret exchange like that! Just a few steps into my walk, my mind was already swirling with thoughts.

‘So, the Zhuge Clan is starting to move, huh?’ Were they really watching my every move? It felt odd considering I only perceived them as chaotic.

But then it hit me. The Sword Demon was watching the Zhuge Clan. I was the one brought in to engage with them and it was me who had been conversing with them extensively. All the while, the Sword Demon stood back, quietly observing.

From the perspective of a third party, he might seem disinterested, but he was actually scrutinizing what kind of person the Zhuge Clan was and what they were thinking.

And ultimately, he must’ve concluded that the Zhuge Clan was adjusting their actions because of me. I tilted my head in confusion, unable to grasp the bigger picture that the sect leader saw.

Was it because I was seen as the owner of the Seven Luminaries that they were so wary? Then, why did they still speak to me in such a dismissive way?

I soon buried my multitude of questions within my brain and let out a sigh. ‘I really lack experience in reading people.’

No matter how much I had lived, enduring trials and meeting all kinds of characters over a century, I couldn’t match the Sword Demon’s experiences as the top figure of the Heretical Sect.

He had no doubt encountered countless demons and sinister characters during his lifetime. I felt that I needed to learn from his judgment, the ability to discern the good from the vile amongst them.

I shook off my deep thoughts and headed straight to Dragon King’s Valley. The swirling mist felt alive, barreling through the canyon with ferocity. Once I climbed to the unnamed cliff, I shouted, “I have arrived!”

No need to use the Lion’s Roar. Dokgo Seong could sense the entire Dragon King’s Valley as it was, so little disturbances would be enough for him to find me.

Sure enough, I soon felt him approaching from the mist with an effortless stride. In an instant, his figure appeared just three meters away, clear and distinct.

He stared at me intently and said, “You look like you have a lot on your mind. If you’re going to train with that kind of mindset, just scram.”

“……”

I was taken aback by the sudden insult. But then it struck me that he had a point. I was still shaken up from just hearing the Sword Demon’s true intent, which must be obvious to a master like Dokgo Seong.

Clearly, it would be disrespectful to be flustered during a training session with someone like Dokgo Seong.

Therefore, I stood still to gather my thoughts and finally said, “I’m ready now.”

“……”

“Is there still something wrong?”

“Rookie. Let me ask you one thing.” Dokgo Seong crossed his arms.

“You’ve already reached a master level in the Thunder God Lineage. You can be considered a Peak Expert anywhere in Jianghu. Because of that, if I take you under my wing, the training will be incomparably harder than for any ordinary trainee. Do you still want to learn?”

“It’s only natural for the Thunder God Lineage to seek power,” I replied bravely.

“So you don’t plan to back off? It seems that’s the mindset of the Thunder God Lineage.” Dokgo Seong smirked wryly.

“Fine. Let’s see what you know.” I showcased my sword techniques to him again. Dokgo Seong watched calmly from start to finish, but there was a distinct absence of amazement in his expression.

Instead, he eyed me with a deep concentration as if he was deep in thought.

After a long pause, he finally said, “You came to learn the Thunder Dragon Sword and the Thunder God Sword Dance, didn’t you?”

“Yes, and you mentioned you would pass down the techniques of the Thunder God Lineage’s purification.”

“That might be a bit of a hassle.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s easy to teach you the forms of the Thunder Dragon Sword right now, but your sword techniques have already evolved into your own unique style. To apply the Thunder Dragon’s Thunderbolt in your Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, you’ll need to completely overhaul your sword form.”

“……!!” I widened my eyes in shock. “You mean I need to change the entire sword form I’ve built up until now?”

“You’ll probably have to change over 60% of it.”

“Is it really that important to incorporate the Thunderbolt into the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique?”

“Hmm…” Dokgo Seong sighed before explaining, “Considering you’ve already learned supreme sword techniques like the Cave-Collapsing Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword, it’s questionable whether you need to go this route. In fact, the problems arose precisely because you’ve grasped those two extraordinary techniques. They have elevated your Thunder God Lineage’s sword techniques to another level.”

“I see.”

“But let me be clear: to grasp the Thunder God Sword Dance, mastering the flow of the sword in the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique with Thunderbolt is the minimum requirement. If you ever want to master the Thunder God Sword Dance, you must be prepared to give up everything you’ve accomplished so far.”

“……” Faced with this unexpected hardship, I hesitated.

Changing 60% of the sword form?! That’s not just a matter of stretching or learning some form like a neighborhood military officer teaches. It meant overhauling all the habits, sword flow, breathing techniques, and footwork that I had cultivated over a hundred years of dedication. I surely needed to invest tremendous effort as if starting to learn martial arts from scratch.

Seeing my contemplation, Dokgo Seong said, “Think it over carefully. This is my first time experiencing anything like it myself.”

“Isn’t there an easier path?”

“You could choose to abandon the Thunder God Sword Dance and just train under the Sword Demon. Attempting to delve into this half-heartedly could end up being worse than not doing it at all.”

He was essentially telling me to make a choice. Should I thoroughly learn the supreme techniques of Jang Sam-bong or strive to master the Thunder God Sword Dance, even if it was going to be grueling?

After much thought, I replied, “No. I will learn.”

“Good.” The supreme techniques of Jang Sam-bong are probably on par with the completed form of the Thunder God Sword Dance, if not higher. Yet, something inside me sensed that if I chose to skip the Thunder God Sword Dance just because it seemed difficult, I wouldn’t get another chance to learn it again. Even if I had to withstand another century of suffering, I knew I had to learn this.

Dokgo Seong sat in the expansive area of the mountains and began to explain, “The essence of the Thunder Dragon Sword is to draw out the Thunderbolt.”

“What’s a Thunderbolt?”

“You are aware that our Thunder God Lineage fundamentally deals with the Thunder Spirit Energy that exists between Heaven and Earth, right? Whether it be spear, fist, or sword, it’s essential to incorporate the Thunder Spirit Energy into techniques. This energy is a highly refined force drawn from pure nature possessing incredible efficiency and might. Did you not know this?”

“Yes, I know.”

Dokgo Seong nodded and continued, “The Thunder Dragon Sword was crafted to maximize the utilization of that Thunder Spirit Energy. It pulls that energy from the surrounding environment and allows you to wield it with complete control.”

“So, it’s about creating a Thunder Sword?”

“As your mastery of the Thunder Dragon Sword increases, that’s what will happen.”

“But that doesn’t seem very practical…” I hesitated.

Hearing that, Dokgo Seong chuckled softly, “Right. It is weak. Drawing Thunder Spirit Energy from outside to generate Thunderbolt is practically the same as using sword qi or sword flames.”

“Then why…”

“Originally, the priest practiced the sword techniques of the White Lotus Sect to perform rituals. There’s no way they can be very practical. After all, it’s wholly focused on generating the Thunderbolts of the Thunder Spirits between Heaven and Earth. Most who begin in the Thunder God Lineage usually get disillusioned and quit at the stage of the Thunder Dragon Sword.”

After explaining that, Dokgo Seong clenched his fist. “But that’s not the case! If you deeply learn the Thunder Dragon Sword and enter the Thunder God Sword Dance, reaching profound realms will make a massive difference.”

“So, what do I need to do?”

“First, I’ll teach you the forms of the Thunder Dragon Sword for a day. There are a total of 18 basic techniques, which shouldn’t be hard to memorize.”

A flurry of movements followed as I focused on memorizing the sequence of the strikes. Memorizing 18 movements might seem like a lot, but now that I was a master, I could accurately track the movement of the human body. Understand the flow of motion, and the meaning of each gesture reveals itself, making it easier to memorize.

It took me about five moments to get the basic movements down. We practiced from sunrise until sunset. When Dokgo Seong felt I had memorized it pretty well, he started to explain how to apply the techniques.

“Now, let’s talk about how to draw Thunderbolt through your sword techniques.”

“Is there a specific essence for this?”

“Of course! How could everyone in the Four Great Families of the White Lotus Sect carry the basic natural energy and wield Thunderbolts? This is a secret of our sect, and unless they are your direct disciples, you must keep it under wraps.”

Crack!

Just a moment later, I was astonished by the sight of Dokgo Seong performing the Thunder Dragon Sword. Waves of pulsating Thunder Light danced around his blade like a river of lightning. Gazing at the flickering sword body, I was entranced by its beauty.

Eventually, once his demonstration concluded, he remarked, “Start by getting accustomed to drawing out Thunderbolt through the esoteric techniques of the Thunder Dragon Sword. Once you are familiar with this process, then you’ll begin to harness Thunderbolt within the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique.”

“Does it have to be with the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique?”

“Yes.”

“Why is that?”

Dokgo Seong fell silent for a while. Finally, he said abruptly, “I don’t really know!”

“What?”

“Of course, I have mastered the Thunder God Sword Dance to its utmost limits, so I have a vague understanding of its importance. But that doesn’t provide the answer to why the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique is necessary. That secret is known only to the founding four ancestors of the Thunder God Lineage.”

“This is all quite perplexing.”

“Once you reach the same level as me, you’ll understand what my answer means.”

At that point, Dokgo Seong seemed to want to avoid saying more on the subject. I felt a nagging discomfort, but I understood that when explaining such advanced martial arts, attempting to articulate it might dilute its true meaning, making details harder to communicate.

For ten days following that, under Dokgo Seong’s guidance, I practiced the principles of drawing Thunderbolt from the Thunder Dragon Sword. I felt like I was spending my days exclusively on it.

Zap!

Three days later, I managed to properly draw Thunderbolt according to the principles. Watching me, Dokgo Seong noted, “With just a bit more practice, you’ll completely infuse Thunderbolt into your Thunder Dragon Sword.”

“I’m picking it up quickly!” I exclaimed, feeling elated. My martial arts talent wasn’t anything special, yet somehow, mastering the Thunder Dragon Sword seemed to make fast progress.

Dokgo Seong gave a dismissive response, “Well, of course, since you’re a master of the Thunder God Lineage. It wouldn’t be strange if the forms and principles became fully developed in a shorter time frame.”

“Hmm.”

“But that’s not the important part. From here on out is where it gets tough.”

Initially, I didn’t grasp the meaning behind his statement. However, after about six weeks of becoming accustomed to infusing Thunderbolt into the Thunder Dragon Sword and then preparing to transition to the next step, it dawned on me.

As I began to infuse Thunderbolt into the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, I felt Dokgo Seong’s sharp voice call out, “You got it wrong!”

“What?”

“Why couldn’t you evenly distribute Thunderbolt in the form of the Ten Thousand Success Sword Mirage?”

“It’s just that maintaining the Thunder Spirit Energy while spreading the illusion is quite difficult…”

“Ugh… I knew it.” Dokgo Seong rubbed his head in frustration. “Do you know why it’s so hard to maintain both at the same time? It’s because the principles of the Cave-Collapsing Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword have become ingrained in you.”

“……!!”

“Those who have only studied the Thunder God Lineage’s martial arts don’t have to deal with such complexities.”

Complaining under his breath, Dokgo Seong concluded with one line that made me feel dread. “You really need to start from the fundamentals again!”

His eyes shone with a sinister gleam, resembling that of a ferocious tiger, sending a shiver down my spine.

 

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