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0157 ———————————————-

Three Sovereigns

And so my life at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School began. Sure, it could get dull or annoying, but I was feeling good about things going smoothly for a change. The confidence came from my belief that learning the Soul Removal Technique would elevate my abilities significantly.

‘I’m feeling motivated!’

The next day, after greeting Jin So-cheong, I started learning the Soul Removal Technique from Extreme Tiger. Luckily, I had already memorized the key points and even recapped them while passing them on to the Sword Heroes of Dongyoung, so memorization was the least of my worries.

After sharing the key points, Extreme Tiger scratched his head, looking a bit unsure.

“Um… actually, no one else at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School has learned this Soul Removal Technique besides me, disciple. So, it’s not weird if you can’t master it.”

His tone was serious, not his usual carefree and playful style. I guessed it was because of the weight my status held in the Thunder God Lineage.

In Extreme Tiger’s mind, he was sharing something of incredible swordsmanship with me, and the fact that he was handing over the ambiguous Soul Removal Technique felt a little awkward for him. After all, it was a unique martial art that couldn’t be simply achieved through talent or effort.

I pretended to practice the Soul Removal Technique, then quickly asked, “Extreme Tiger, isn’t this martial art related to the mind?”

I had already demonstrated to him how I almost got lost in myself while reciting the Soul Removal Technique once before. Extreme Tiger looked a bit glum, but my question seemed to snap him back to attention. He responded, “What do you mean, Baek Woong?”

“I mean, it feels like… maybe it’s about throwing oneself away, that destructive feeling is just too overwhelming to follow. So, I can’t maintain consciousness either. Isn’t this related to an innate character… like temperament?”

“……!!”

“Unlike others, only Extreme Tiger seems to have this innate temperament…”

Instantly, Extreme Tiger’s expression brightened as if he suddenly grasped something. After some thought, he said, “Please wait a moment, disciple. I’ll go meet Master Lee Kwang for a bit.”

Extreme Tiger returned about half a moment later from Waryong Hall. It seemed he had taken some time discussing the Soul Removal Technique with Lee Kwang. With a slightly flushed face, Extreme Tiger announced, “Master will be here soon.”

Sure enough, Lee Kwang followed him in, and to top it off, Jin So-cheong tagged along. Lee Kwang glanced at me and said, “Baek Woong, it looks like your speculation was correct.”

“Then…”

“It appears that only those with an innate destructive and free-spirited temperament are permitted to learn it. After testing it in various ways, we confirmed it.”

Not sure what he did, but Lee Kwang seemed to have convinced himself through experimentation. Judging from Jin So-cheong’s pleased expression, there appeared to be no doubt about their conclusion. As I stood there blankly, Lee Kwang continued, “If the requirement for the Soul Removal Technique is a free-spirited temperament, it’s not impossible to acquire it. There are two methods we can use to artificially learn the Soul Removal Technique.”

The Sword Heroes of Dongyoung hadn’t been able to offer any solutions at this stage. But Lee Kwang, being a Peerless Master, had come up with a way.

“What are the methods?”

“First, control your spirit and change it to fit the requirements of the Soul Removal Technique. Of course, to use this method, you’ll have to reach the Master Level in your training, which requires significant focus. It might be best to create a new internal martial arts key focused on controlling the mind using Thunder Spirit.”

“Hmm.”

Then, crossing his arms, Lee Kwang added, “Secondly, learn Dual Mind Cultivation.”

“Dual Mind Cultivation?”

“It’s reportedly one of the rarest and most unique internal martial arts. It allows you to split and operate your mind simultaneously; it’s said to be passed down only among a very select few in the Daoist sects. The most famous would be the Wudang Sect, but acquiring it would be like plucking a star from the sky.”

“……!!”

“Since the second method lacks feasibility, we’ll have to use the first. It will take considerable time…”

I suddenly recalled something from Lee Kwang’s words.

‘Wait, Dual Mind Cultivation… Wudang Sect…?’

I had already learned the key principles of Wudang’s Hyun Cheon Divine Art and had maximized its power through internal energy to evolve it into Baek Woong’s Formation. Although I had only practiced it a little, I was sure it had the benefits of Dual Mind Cultivation. Excited, I turned to Lee Kwang. “Could this work?”

“Hmm?”

I revealed Baek Woong’s Formation to the gathered Thunder God Lineage experts. As I shared the key points, their faces lit up with shock. Especially Jin So-cheong, who was standing nearby, was so excited she gripped my shoulder and shook me.

“Amazing, disciple! How did you know about this? Merging it with Thunder Spirit will perfectly integrate it with the Thunder God techniques!”

“Ha… Ha ha…”

Of course, Lee Kwang couldn’t hide his joy either, saying, “Hmm. We’ll need to examine it further, but this clearly has the qualities of Dual Mind Cultivation. If we isolate the qualities of the heart and mind here, it will be much easier to develop a formula that fits the Soul Removal Technique. It will be several dozen times faster than creating it from scratch!”

“Wooow…”

“But how did you come to know this?”

I explained to Lee Kwang, “I learned it from the Wudang Sect’s mystical master I mentioned earlier. At that time, I only used it to assist my internal cultivation, but it’s helpful now.”

“Hmm… Do you know the name or appearance of that master?”

“I’m sorry. As part of the agreement for receiving the teachings, I swore on the honor of the Thunder God lineage to never disclose it.”

“Hmm.”

When I mentioned the honor of the Thunder God lineage, Lee Kwang’s expression shifted to one of resignation. Although he sensed some discomfort from my words, he had to tread carefully in front of all the disciples, so he couldn’t press for answers. He replied curtly, “It’s nothing. I figured your extraordinary swordsmanship and the creation of such a formidable martial art would mean that person is among the best in the world.”

Naturally, it’s the martial arts of the legendary Jang Sam-bong.

“Yes…”

I nodded vaguely and asked Lee Kwang, “But the Soul Removal Technique seems a bit odd. Unlike other techniques of the Thunder God lineage, it feels like it just popped out of nowhere…”

“The history of the Thunder God lineage is incredibly old. Over the years, countless masters and experts have researched and redefined it. The Soul Removal Technique likely emerged by chance during one of those experiments, but it got interrupted when an incident broke out at the White Lotus Sect.”

“Ah…”

“There were likely other techniques or connections that naturally linked with the Soul Removal Technique. But now that the successors are scattered, we have no way of knowing…”

Lee Kwang’s words were laced with resignation. He implied that even he didn’t know everything about the techniques of the Thunder God lineage. Listening to Lee Kwang, I thought, ‘Finding other successors will be difficult. I’ll have to work hard until the Thunder God lineage can rise again, so I can unite others under our banner.’

I then practiced the Soul Removal Technique in front of Extreme Tiger for a bit longer and confirmed that I was making no progress before calling it a day. The experts from the Thunder God lineage memorized Baek Woong’s Formation after hearing it from me a few more times and then began their individual training. I felt like I was the only one missing out, but with the research on the Soul Removal Technique taking time, there wasn’t much I could do.

“Tch. Then I’ll have to practice Jang Sam-bong’s insights more.”

I started pulling out the insights from Jang Sam-bong that had been passed down to me and began persistently practicing them. As of now, the only techniques I could share were the Bowing Sky Slash and Heavenly Contraction Sword; for the rest of the insights, it required an intense amount of time to reconstruct them. Especially since I wasn’t particularly gifted, I needed a long period of training.

At least I benefited from the sense I gained when Yeodong-bin descended and fought the demon beasts, so I aimed to create an environment where I could summon Yeodong-bin more frequently.

Then, the next day, Miho transformed into a childish little girl and came to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. She pouted like a brat and begged to be enrolled, so I tentatively asked if it really was okay. Lee Kwang then accepted Miho as a disciple in the small circle.

That night, Miho stealthily crept into my chamber and chuckled with restrained laughter.

“Hehe, learning human martial arts sounds fun.”

“Don’t lie. You’re not interested or in need at all.”

I responded curtly. From my experience when Miho first entered the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, she seemed to put in some effort for a month or two before she got bored and quit, because learning martial arts tends to be a tough and exasperating process. Miho giggled, saying, “Haha… What’s the point of me learning martial arts anyhow?”

“Wouldn’t you be stronger if you fought using Thunder God techniques?”

Miho nestled close under the same blanket with me and whispered softly.

“That’s not how it works. Martial arts and techniques are ultimately about using what you attain at a higher level. For me, martial arts are like a chicken bone; there’s no reason to waste my attention on it. Instead, I’ll hone my spell techniques during this time.”

“Hmm.”

“Alright, is training a bit manageable for you?”

I nodded beneath the blanket.

“Just give me 5 years. I need to see results then.”

“Ugh… I’m so bored.”

Then Miho started wagging her tail, pushing her alluring figure against me, leaving me unsure where to place my hands in the blanket. I shook my head vigorously.

“Please. Do you know what happens if you get suspicious here? Everything will go down the drain.”

Given Miho was halfheartedly compromising, it could have turned into a messy situation if I decided to attack her right there. But it was impossible to hide such a ruckus from Lee Kwang or Jin So-cheong. Even if I wanted to, this was a situation I couldn’t act on.

“Oh, I’m really so bored. Should I charm some trainees for fun instead?”

“Ugh… please hold back.”

Seeing the mischievous glint in Miho’s eyes made me uneasy. Miho could genuinely lure in innocent trainees and toy with them. Using just her natural allure and beauty, she could easily do so without even using her Enchantment Technique. In that case, I’d be in quite a bit of trouble.

Miho laughed and said, “Just kidding. Living here doesn’t seem too exciting, so I think I’ll withdraw soon and go hang out at Jinrang Valley.”

“To help Mangnyang?”

“Honestly, if I stay here too long, my identity might be revealed. Lee Kwang might be one thing, but Jin So-cheong seems to have a particularly sharp sense.”

“Hm… I understand.”

Miho’s true intent was likely keeping an eye on me while pretending to be a low-level trainee in the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. She recognized the danger posed by Jin So-cheong instinctively and came to warn me before she left. I felt that Jin So-cheong was more dangerous than first impressions gave off.

‘Jin So-cheong is hiding a lot too.’

Like Lee Kwang, she never reveals her true self to those she considers beneath her. She uses minimal strength to repel underlings while trying to conceal her true intentions as much as possible. As a Jianghu person, it’s the best way to conduct oneself, but someone as thoroughly discreet as Jin So-cheong is rare in Jianghu.

Two days later, Miho withdrew, claiming that the training was too tough, and no one paid attention to her leaving. A few trainees that had tried to charm her were disappointed but moved on.

Meanwhile, my training and teachings continued. I tirelessly immersed myself in practicing Jang Sam-bong’s insights every day, while occasionally discussing Muwak with the visiting Thunder God experts. Most of the discussions revolved around perfecting the nuances hidden in the Heavenly Contraction Sword and Bowing Sky Slash through integration with the Thunder God martial arts.

‘Huh?’

I was surprised to find that when I had expected to collapse from these discussions, unexpectedly, two or three months passed, and I was still holding my ground. In fact, if I didn’t contribute my thoughts, the discussions wouldn’t progress at all. Considering the talents sitting around me, like Lee Kwang, Jin So-cheong, and Extreme Tiger, it was truly astonishing.

I realized the reason I felt this continuous flow of ideas sprouting within my mind was due to the experiences I had accumulated through training. I had gathered enough practical experience through many masters, including the Sword Demon and the Twelve Joules Sect Leader, to the point where just calling myself talentless was insufficient. The vivid martial arts I had built through my experiences and hardships were still alive within me.

Learning is happening.

‘This is fun.’

Half a year flew by like an arrow. Strangely enough, I found genuine joy in learning martial arts like never before. Despite the lack of tangible progress in my skills, the very act of discussing with Thunder God experts brought me joy. It was because I could share realizations that I had only kept to myself while directly perceiving their talents.

Feeling that learning martial arts was enjoyable even without progress was something I had never experienced before in my life.

“Today, I have a significant announcement.”

All eyes, including Jin So-cheong, myself, and Extreme Tiger, were fixed on Lee Kwang as he spoke slowly.

“I have completed the integration formula for the Soul Removal Technique. We will combine this to practice the Soul Removal Technique, and I shall call it the Split Heart Technique.”

“Split Heart Technique!”

“The order of practice will be Thunder Shadow Step, followed by Heavenly Gathering Kill, which will serve as a foundation for the Split Heart Technique leading to the Soul Removal Technique. This will be the most natural progression.”

Lee Kwang was right. It took everyone about seven weeks to grasp the Split Heart Technique, and those who mastered it could now use the Soul Removal Technique. Particularly, the expressions on Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong’s faces showed immense confidence upon grasping the Soul Removal Technique.

‘It’s like giving wings to a tiger.’

Extreme Tiger, who had initially learned the Soul Removal Technique, also seemed to have gained something. With easier control over the technique, there are hardly any capable of catching up to him using modern techniques. I, too, could now utilize the fundamentals of the Soul Removal Technique, meaning I merely needed to fill in the gaps with practice.

Three months later, Lee Kwang called me over.

“Baek Woong, Dongbang Mu-gyeol has returned to Zhongyuan.”

“……!!”

I thought the day would come. I had been completely absorbed in practicing martial arts to the point where I had forgotten about Dongbang Mu-gyeol, but his information was crucial. Lee Kwang must have contacted an intelligence organization to gather news about him.

“He is currently in Henan, they say.”

I replied to Lee Kwang, “We must make contact. We need information from Dongbang Mu-gyeol to move forward.”

“I think so too. However, it seems Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s martial arts are quite formidable, so we must be cautious in capturing him.”

“What are you planning?”

After a moment of thought, Lee Kwang said, “It would be best if the Thunder God lineage mobilized, but we can’t leave the school unattended. Jin So-cheong, you and Extreme Tiger should go together.”

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Jin So-cheong can subdue him alone. You three must focus on forming an encirclement.”

“Yes.”

After I responded and turned to leave, Lee Kwang called me back.

“Baek Woong.”

“Yeah?”

When I turned around, Lee Kwang gazed at me thoughtfully. He then remarked,

“You’re truly a mysterious one. While you seem like a tremendous genius, everything about you appears built through effort… it feels like I’m conversing with someone who has lived for several hundred years.”

“……”

“However, even though I find you somewhat suspect, I won’t pursue this matter further. Your genuine heart for the Thunder God lineage and your martial arts teachings have undeniably advanced the Thunder God lineage’s martial arts. You can clearly be considered the future of the Thunder God lineage.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Go well.”

“Yes, I will succeed.”

As I strode away, I was in thought.

‘This isn’t like Lee Kwang.’

It was impossible for him to lay bare his feelings like that. The reason he mentioned his suspicion this time was that he genuinely wanted to [trust me]. In other words, Lee Kwang is in the process of deciding whether or not to trust me.

I paused suddenly, realizing,

Is it right to fully pass on Jang Sam-bong’s insights to the Thunder God lineage?

If the Thunder God lineage becomes too powerful, could that also bring about its own side effects?

“… What an unnecessary worry.”

I chuckled. Considering that powerful masters and monsters abound in this world, my concerns were mere delusions. There is no way that with just a few lines of Jang Sam-bong’s insights, Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong could rise to claim dominion over the world.

And the operation to capture Dongbang Mu-gyeol for the Thunder God lineage began.

—————————= Author’s Note —————————=

So there’s a split between chapters, and this otherworldly realm is a hassle… AAAAAAAAH

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