1022——————==

Soul of the Evil God

Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique!

I was taken aback by Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo’s words. He said the Thunder God Lineage developed this technique while perfecting the Thunder Spirit? Naturally, I had to respond.

“Wait… Are you saying they perfected the Thunder Spirit in just five hundred years?”

I had to ask that first. If he mentioned the Thunder Spirit, of course, I’d be curious about its completion. Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo shook his head and replied.

“Not quite, Grandmaster. However, during extensive research, a different answer was found.”

“A different answer?”

“……”

After a moment of silence, Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo gathered his energy at the tip of his spear and declared.

“The answer lies in the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique. Therefore, as the current successor of the Thunder God Lineage, I’d rather say it with one hit than a hundred words!”

Got it!

I agreed with him and drew my sword. Then I said,

“Come at me.”

No need for more words among the Thunder God Lineage.

Swoosh!!

A tremendous energy gathered at the tip of Seol-pyo’s spear. That energy was a mass of intent to pierce and kill. Unlike regular energy, it didn’t possess a visible form, but when concentrated, it could shatter an opponent’s spirit.

Just by looking at the energy, I could tell. Seol-pyo was undoubtedly a peerless master who devoted his life to mastering the Thunder God Lineage’s techniques. He must have trained tirelessly every day and was gifted with great talent. In my era, there weren’t many experts as formidable as Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo in the Jianghu.

‘But that’s not enough for me…’

The opponents I had to face transcended the realm of martial arts. To overcome them, my skills needed to surpass the Absolute Realm and transcend human martial arts entirely. A martial skill ranked within human society would be useless to me now.

What realizations might the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique hold?

While I pondered, Seol-pyo shouted a command.

“Hit!”

Boom boom!

‘Thrust?’

The first attack was disappointingly a basic thrust from the three fundamental spear techniques. Of course, it was a piercing strike I had witnessed hundreds of thousands of times, so while I recognized its sharpness, I dodged it easily. This didn’t require the Three Treasure Technique; just a simple self-defense maneuver worked just fine.

‘Just a thrust, huh.’

Though it had the might of exceptional fundamentals, I certainly couldn’t consider it a world-class martial skill! Disappointed with the first technique of the Nine Chambers of Thunder, I was about to smirk at Seol-pyo and say,

“Hey, you’re telling me the culmination of five hundred years of the Thunder God Lineage is only this…?”

Piying –

…Huh?

In that moment, I felt a light cut across my cheek. The cause of that wound was Seol-pyo’s skill—a faint twist after his thrust caught me off guard.

I thought I’d dodged…

It felt like some hidden trick was embedded within that technique.

‘Did I underestimate too much?’

Of course, with the Three Treasure Technique, I wouldn’t have been grazed, but I seemed to have attempted dodging too casually. Seol-pyo then pulled back his spear to reevaluate his stance and spoke.

“Grandmaster, do not underestimate my skill level. Use the Three Treasure Technique! Only when you give it your all can you truly witness the power of the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique!”

“What? You know the Three Treasure Technique too?”

“Of course. Your legacy remains, and the Thunder God Lineage’s masters have been perfecting it since then. I too can use the Three Treasure Technique.”

“Hmm.”

“In terms of mastery, you’re not necessarily ahead of me.”

His words snapped me back to reality. I had indeed underestimated Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo due to my assumption of the Absolute Realm. Thus, I thought it excessive to use the Three Treasure Technique or Absolute Realm techniques, but I realized I wouldn’t just afford him the courtesy of seeing the true might of the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique if I didn’t engage fully.

“Let’s start over…!!”

Whoosh!

Again, Seol-pyo’s thrust came flying at me. This time, I performed a defensive maneuver while transitioning my defense into an offensive strike, unleashing a snake-like sword technique aimed at him. To showcase my true power, I knew merely being a spectator wasn’t enough; I had to counterattack as well.

Clang!

His spear struck my blade midway, rotating smoothly. He then stepped his left foot slightly forward and suddenly tightened the rotational energy behind his spear, making him look like a whirlwind.

Tatata!

Seol-pyo’s strike sliced towards me like a tornado—intense and fierce. I considered dodging with the Three Treasure Technique again, but the area it covered was too broad to avoid. So, I opted to use the Cave-Collapsing Sword to create distance and shot off three streams of sword strength to handle his attack.

Seol-pyo suddenly halted his rotation and executed a horizontal slash.

Sky Island!

I recognized this technique instantly! It was one used by Lee Kwang when he battled the Wind Spirit Sect’s Cheon Woo-jin! Naturally, I was familiar with it and knew how to perform it. However, I hadn’t expected to encounter Sky Island five hundred years later, which made me a little excited. Since I knew Sky Island was based on the Three Treasure Technique, I was aware I could shatter it using the harmony of the Three Treasure Technique.

With a swoosh, my sword smoothly cut through the core of Sky Island’s technique. As long as I maintained my stance, I could easily split apart Sky Island. However, when I unleashed the cut, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes in shock.

‘…Huh?!’

The cut was twisted unexpectedly in a way I didn’t anticipate. Thus, I couldn’t slice through Sky Island neatly, causing my movement to falter. In the midst of that opening, Seol-pyo began swinging his spear like a whip.

Eight Desolate Thunder!

Fog-shrouded Sky Royal Shadow 108 Techniques!

Pipipiping!

An utterly otherworldly display of swordsmanship! The mix of illusion and domination created a chaotic flow that engulfed my entire being. It felt simultaneously bizarre and eerily ancient, yet undeniably radiated from the Thunder God Lineage!

In that instant, I perceived thousands of energy strikes descending like meteors. I was so startled by the sudden change in technique that I lost all composure, my heart skipping a beat as only one thought ran through my mind.

‘I… must use the Peerless Technique!’

I had to! It was do or die!

‘No… wait. Stay calm!’

But soon, thanks to my experience, I was able to shake off the anxiety and panic. Having fought with my life on the line many times before, I could restore my composure. And even if it seemed like I was about to get caught in the opponent’s attack, I realized I could rely on my other skills without resorting to the Peerless Technique.

Ninety-Nine Harmonies Return!

I scattered my technique to counter the barrage of spectacular sword strikes. In an instant, the makeshift sword barrier awkwardly wove into place around the flowing energy of the Fog-shrouded Sky Royal Shadow Techniques, while I gathered Five Elements Energy in one hand and launched it backward.

Boom!

I retreated with minimal backlash, but the urge to counterattack soared within me. Since he was not in the Absolute Realm, I figured someone performing such an extensive martial skill would likely leave ample openings.

‘…Forget it.’

But instinct kicked in, and something told me now wasn’t the right time to strike back. So I subtly fell back, on guard, and sure enough, once again, a horrifying power rained down as the previous attack had.

Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear!

Ultimate Technique!

Kwahh!

Kaboom…

“……!!”

I felt a numbing sensation in my hands after blocking Seol-pyo’s Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear head-on. The sheer destructive force from the front suppressed my internal power temporarily; it was astounding.

“Cough… cough!! Hah… haah….”

It felt as if my strength had drained completely. With that level of overwhelming martial skill unleashed, it was only natural. However, that wasn’t the point.

“Amazing, Seol-pyo. How…”

I expressed my astonishment to Seol-pyo.

“You can chain techniques and use them consecutively, right? And the power amplifies each time…!!”

That was what shocked me.

Typically, top-tier experts with immense power could unleash a powerful ultimate technique even if only momentarily, but they often suffered severe fatigue afterward and entered a state where they could no longer fight.

Yet Seol-pyo had been able to sequentially deploy techniques with entirely different attributes without exhausting himself, increasing their potency each time! This action transcended anything I knew about martial arts, leaving me astounded.

‘That’s impossible.’

That chaining technique itself was the work of a world-class martial skill.

I might roughly imitate it by forcing my internal energy supply, but Seol-pyo before me was achieving peak efficiency while minimizing energy expenditure, truly a different level altogether.

Seol-pyo coughed up blood while wiping it from his lips, sighing.

“Alas… My internal power and skills were lacking, forcing me only to display up to the third phase of the technique…. I couldn’t deliver the complete Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique operates according to the principle of the nine formations. It begins with the first and second formations and ultimately leads to the eighth and then the ninth to achieve the Thunder Rupturing. Do you understand what this means?”

“…I know about the formations.”

Naturally, I understood the principles behind it since I’d studied them. They referred to the nine formations that construct the Eight Trigrams, serving as the basis for the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique. However, I couldn’t quite grasp how their assembly functioned, so I tilted my head, prompting Seol-pyo to let his spear hang.

“The Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique can unleash an infinite series of martial skills, with power amplifying with each step. Also, if one can unleash it beyond the seventh phase, they can repel even the divine beings.”

“Is that true?”

“Humans weren’t the only ones to create the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique.”

Seol-pyo nodded proudly.

“Grandmaster Baek Woong. You should know that the invincible Red Dragon was developed in collaboration with the summoned divine beings of the Celestial Realm when they arrived in the human world for ten years. The martial skills I just demonstrated, Eight Desolate Thunder, are the result of that collaboration.”

“……?!”

“Originally, this was the martial skill of the supreme martial artist of the Thunder God Lineage, which had been missing for over a thousand years… but it has now been restored. As a successor, I mastered it and am ready to pass it on to you.”

Two great masters?

Could it be…

Just as I was stunned, Seol-pyo continued.

“The Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique’s power theoretically depends on the skill of the practitioner. Even I, at the peak of the top-tier, can only execute it up to the fourth phase in my current state. Beyond that, it is designed to account for the Absolute Realm and Divine Realm.”

I pondered and replied to Seol-pyo.

“I still don’t fully understand. The formations seem to arrange martial arts techniques with the energy principle; how does the power amplify with each use?”

“It nurtures the Thunder Soul within the spirit. That Thunder Soul serves as the foundation of the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique.”

“The Thunder Soul? Isn’t that the Thunder Spirit?”

Seol-pyo nodded, explaining further.

“Originally, the Thunder Spirit is a technique that transforms the whole body into a Thunder Soul, freely controlling the power of lightning. However, it has such immense requirements that only a rare talent could hope to master it. Thus, the later masters of the Thunder God Lineage relaxed those conditions and adopted the method to cultivate a trace of the Thunder Soul within their spirit over an extended period.”

“……”

“The Thunder Soul can replace human emotions and consume the intentions necessary for practice, displaying an incredible efficiency. With the power of this Thunder Soul, amplification of technique power is indeed possible.”

“A Thunder Soul…?! Is that really viable?”

I expressed my disbelief.

“The Thunder Soul is pure lightning energy, having immense destructive potential. The moment one attempts to cultivate it, ordinary internal energy could burn out their body, and thus, the Heavenly Spirit Pill is a necessity. But if you can imbue the spirit with a small amount of the Thunder Soul over time, it would offer serious injuries.”

It made sense why the previous masters of the Thunder God Lineage chose an inefficient path with the Thunder Spirit. To cultivate that Thunder Soul separately was perilous due to its raw destructive potency, posing a high risk of harming the practitioner’s physical and mental state. If mismanaged, it could lead to instant demise, making it a real concern shared by Lee Cheong-un during my training.

“That’s right, Grandmaster. Initially, it sounded impossible, but now it has become a reality.”

“A reality?”

Seol-pyo nodded affirmatively.

“I’ll explain further later. For now, we have outsiders here, so I can’t reveal all insights carelessly. Will you learn the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique from me now?”

“Hmmm….”

I felt an overwhelming urge.

‘The Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique.’

The power Seol-pyo displayed moments ago far exceeded the limitations of typical top-tier masters. Even if I desperately gathered the last of my internal energy, it was generally impossible to unleash such a peerless martial art like the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique in succession. And if this was what he could perform, I should be capable of unleashing even greater might.

I thought for a moment before asking.

“Does it take long to master?”

Upon his next response, my expression soured.

“Yes. It’s the highest difficulty technique in Thunder God Lineage’s history. Even called a genius, it will take at least ten years. I was also considered quite remarkable, yet it took me twelve years to fully inherit the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique from my predecessors.”

“……”

“It’s only natural, as the techniques are designed for geniuses.”

Seol-pyo said this with a tone of admiration.

“However, for you, the first Emperor of the Great Bear Empire who faced divine beings and stood as a legend, it shouldn’t be an overly difficult feat…!!”

“No…”

“Ten years shouldn’t be too long, right…!!”

“Here’s the thing…”

What should I say…

As I struggled, Seol-pyo glanced at the nearby Zhu Xian with icy eyes and stated.

“Originally, I intended to teach that talent how to perform the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique, but since you’ve returned, that’s no longer necessary… Fortunately, there was no need to cling to one when every genetic descendant of the Thunder God Lineage was a genius.”

“……”

“I’ll devote my entire spirit and consciousness to teaching you… with the talent of Grandmaster Baek Woong, who is said to equal the Thunder God Lineage’s greatest genius, five years should suffice!”

What the hell!

What’s going on?

As I contemplated how to reply to Seol-pyo, he laughed heartily.

“No need for humility. No one among the original elite of the Great Bear Empire questioned that!”

“……”

I caught on.

‘These guys… they’re all in on it!’

If the Thunder God Lineage’s first emperor was said to have bottom-tier martial arts talent, the lineage would have zero motivation to pass down skills. The successors of the Thunder God Lineage were all recognized as at least bright or talented, and only someone deemed a genius could hope to lead the Thunder God Lineage. Hence, my past associates, including Mangnyang, probably coordinated to bolster the narrative that I possessed the exceptional skills of the legendary Thunder God Lineage, Baek Woong.

Quickly, I said to Seol-pyo.

“Well… I’d like to learn the basics first since I have many matters to attend to that I can’t spend long learning.”

“Of course, it’s only expected that you would wish for that. I will wholeheartedly pass on my teachings during your stay.”

If I only learned the basics in a short time, it wouldn’t reveal whether I had talent or not. And even if it did, the odds were high they would think it must’ve been their misconception.

“…Thanks. And please teach Zhu Xian too.”

“To that kid?”

“Yeah. If possible, focus on the Thunder Soul training techniques.”

“Understood.”

I thought to myself.

‘Damn. I have no choice here. I’ll have to leverage Zhu Xian.’

If the fact that I was talent lacking were discovered, it would bring shame to the future generations of the Thunder God Lineage. And given the stubbornness and pride of the Thunder God Lineage, Seol-pyo would surely be rocked by the surprise and refuse to carry on the teachings. To learn the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique, crafted after 500 years of development, I must hide my lack of talent while indirectly learning through Zhu Xian!

If absolutely necessary, I could snatch Seol-pyo’s mask using the second phase of the Technique of All Things, but I wasn’t keen on that. The possible side effects would be significant, and the Divine Thief had warned that doing so could bring me face-to-face with ‘myself,’ making me hesitant to use it at this peculiar time. Moreover, it wasn’t really morally right to retrieve the mask of someone genuinely willing to convey their teachings.

‘Let’s make Zhu Xian into an expert of the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique! Remove the side effects of the Sacred Lotus leading to the Thunder Realm, while accomplishing the Thunder Spirit and Thunder Soul. And then, I can persuade Seol-pyo somehow.’

Once Zhu Xian has fully grasped the teachings, I’ll learn the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique safely from him. He wouldn’t resist against my talent because the nature of the Thunder God Lineage would be less evident in him. This way, I could avoid a public disgrace while reaping the benefits.

I organized my thoughts and then said to Zhu Xian.

“Zhu Xian. Let’s learn the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique together. I trust you.”

I believe I can hide the fact that I’m talent-deficient!

“Your Majesty, I…”

Zhu Xian appeared confused, but I patted his shoulder reassuringly.

“I’ll help you become the rightful successor of the Thunder God Lineage.”

“I’m struggling to accept the Sacred Lotus. I’m ashamed.”

I chuckled at Zhu Xian’s words.

“No, it’s possible.”

As soon as my words ended, I instructed him to sit cross-legged. While granting him my True Internal Power, I stimulated him with Spirit Power.

“Ugh…!!”

Zhu Xian felt an intense chill from my Spirit Power and coughed up blood. The Spirit Power was not something an ordinary human could handle, and improper use could lead to a freezing of his vital blood flow. However, I compensated by combining my True Internal Power so he remained protected from the peril of my Spirit Power. As he endured the pain, I reflected.

‘The reason he cannot achieve the Thunder Spirit is due to the disharmony of Yin and Yang. This instability prevents the retention of the Thunder Elemental power. The Sacred Lotus is an artificially cultivated spiritual pill that generates excessive internal energy but causes much instability and significantly hampers the retention of Thunder Spirit. Thus, I must redistribute that excessive power to establish harmony in Yin and Yang.’

My mastery over internal energy allowed me to distribute my internal energy all over Zhu Xian’s body, shaking up the excessive force residing within his meridians. The considerable influx of energy, which was frozen by Spirit Power, began to condense with my immense internal energy swirling within him.

Grugugugu…

A while later, I felt a massive energy concentrating at Zhu Xian’s Dantian, causing it to radiate brilliantly. I then yelled.

“Focus your spirit! Imagine your intentions becoming lightning, striking from your head down to your Dantian!”

“……!!”

“Activate the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique!”

Kaboom!

It felt like an explosion of energy erupting from Zhu Xian’s body. Moments later, Zhu Xian opened his eyes, radiating light. The amount of energy remained unchanged, but it was now qualitatively compressed, pulling the Thunder Spirit from within him, causing a surge of lightning energies to ripple from Zhu Xian.

“Whoa… whoa…!!”

Watching from the side, Seol-pyo trembled, overwhelmed by excitement.

“Is this… a miracle? Improving the constitution of someone consuming the Sacred Lotus to gain the Thunder Spirit? I’d have never imagined… just how far does Grandmaster Baek Woong’s capability go…”

“Now Zhu Xian is also qualified as a successor of the Thunder God Lineage, right?”

“……”

On that question, Seol-pyo fell silent. Then Zhu Xian stood up and, bowing deeply, struck his head to the ground in front of Seol-pyo.

“Master! I’m sincerely sorry!! I have been too eager to work alongside His Majesty, but I failed to consider your heart.”

“…You rascal! What’s the point of saying sorry now?”

“It matters! I’ve committed a grave mistake, but from now on, I wish to support His Majesty Baek Woong. For that, I’d pledge my life to the Thunder God Lineage!”

“…Hmm…”

“Please forgive me.”

After a moment of observing Zhu Xian’s profound sincerity, Seol-pyo, seeming to relent, finally admitted.

“Very well. I shall acknowledge you as a successor of the Thunder God Lineage…!!”

“Thank you!”

“However, should your talent remain lacking compared to Grandmaster Baek Woong’s ability, I shall have no choice but to slice off your head! Be prepared.”

Seol-pyo was making a dramatic threat as Zhu Xian gritted his teeth.

“I will train with my life on the line!”

“Hmph! What a foolish young man….”

“……”

I didn’t think Zhu Xian’s head would be at risk anytime soon.