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0163 ———————————————-

Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

Mangnyang’s advice was to use the blessing I obtained from Jang Sam-bong through my offerings to take over the Wudang Sect. I was baffled and asked,

“Is that really possible?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well, I’ve stored Jang Sam-bong’s ultimate insights in my head and practiced diligently, but I’m only at 20% of my potential. Right now, I can barely bring out the effects of the sword technique; to show its true power is still a long way off. Trying to become the leader of the orthodox sect, Wudang, with that is just absurd.”

“……”

“Plus, whether they would even acknowledge me is a whole other question.”

That was my candid opinion.

Of course, it was true that my swordsmanship had progressed significantly after acquiring Jang Sam-bong’s insights, and I had reached heights that were previously unattainable for someone of my natural talent.

But knowing peerless swordplay and actually using it were two vastly different matters. I was aware that the limitations of Jang Sam-bong’s martial arts were unfathomably high compared to where I stood now, and reaching even half of it was daunting. After decades of dedicated practice, mastering techniques like Bowing Sky Slash or Heavenly Contraction Sword would still be a monumental challenge.

Then Mangnyang let out a quiet chuckle.

“Of course, I’m not saying to go right away. But soon enough, you’ll make that trip, so put your swordsmanship to good use until then.”

“Soon, you say… It’s not like I can become a master that quickly.”

“Hahaha. What do you think about becoming the leader of the Wudang Sect?”

“Well, that would mean being the head honcho.”

“Hehe. Leader… that’s a misconception about the Daoist sects.”

“What do you mean?”

Mangnyang smiled and settled down in the yard, unfolding a scroll as if to explain.

“Listen well. The title of leader is not the pinnacle of the Daoist sects. It’s more like a mid-level management position.”

“Wha… what do you mean?”

I was flabbergasted. The leader! Isn’t that a term referring to the head of the Nine Great Sects? When I looked at Mangnyang, he waved the scroll again to elaborate.

“What do you think is the origin of the Nine Great Sects?”

“I understood that it started when legendary individuals each from different areas gathered to create a sect with Taoists and monks.”

“Exactly. So at first, the title of leader hardly meant anything. As the Nine Great Sects became more entangled with the mundane world, they created it to serve as a focal point for the sect amidst escalating conflicts with outsiders. Additionally, in the current martial world where sect battles have completely devolved into a power struggle, it makes sense that the leader is merely composed of the strongest experts from each sect.”

Mangnyang continued casually, “So, can we say that the leader is simultaneously the supreme being of the Nine Great Sects? Think about whether they wield the same strong leadership as the leader of the Twelve Joules within their respective factions.”

“Naturally not!”

“Far from it. The leadership role of the current Nine Great Sects has morphed into something that each sect’s strongest person merely passes through. Naturally, any real political power is divided among the Elders or controlled by their higher-ups.”

“……!!”

“If a leader were to show overwhelming authority like the supreme beings of other sects, then chaos would ensue. That’s the peculiarity of the current Nine Great Sects.”

I was taken aback. While I understood the general framework of the Nine Great Sects, I had no idea there was such a backstory to the title of leader. I had simply accepted that the leader of the Nine Great Sects was the strongest without much thought. As I looked at Mangnyang, he continued,

“In short, the title of leader no longer means what it originally did, which is that of a monarch over the sect; it’s now closer to that of a frontline commander who leads the charge during conflicts with other forces. This is why the leaders of the Nine Great Sects are only composed of the strongest experts.”

“Understood.”

“Well, the situation with the recently joined Huashan Sect seems a bit different.”

As he mumbled this, Mangnyang said,

“The true pinnacle of the Nine Great Sects lies with the previous generation’s peak experts who have stepped back. They notably include the Three Great Masters.”

“The Three Great Masters, you say…?”

“I speak of Old Sage of Mount Tai, Geol-seon, and the Shaolin Master.”

Upon hearing their names, I couldn’t help but inhale sharply.

The Three Great Masters of orthodox sects! A name I had heard countless times in my past life, with a renown that could reach the heavens. With the Neutral Old Sage of Mount Tai, the open-minded Geol-seon, and the righteous Shaolin Master, the Eight Demons of the Demon Path always lived in their shadows. Plus, Old Sage of Mount Tai had even taught Sagong Lin, making him an indirect figure of concern for me.

Mangnyang continued, “So you don’t need to have martial arts strong enough to defeat the top experts of the Nine Great Sects. You only need to prove that the martial arts you possess are Jang Sam-bong’s insights to the concealed top-tier. With that alone, the Nine Great Sects will view the Thunder God Lineage favorably.”

“Hmm.”

“The Wudang sect’s previous generation’s masters are not likely to be unaware of techniques like the Heavenly Contraction Sword or Bowing Sky Slash. They’re highly attuned to the arts learned from past masters.”

It was all about proving myself. That was definitely less insane than trying to knock down the top experts of the Nine Great Sects whom even Lee Kwang couldn’t underestimate. I mulled over Mangnyang’s words before responding,

“Talking is easy, but as I said, I’m still not even at 20% of Jang Sam-bong’s profoundness. I’m nowhere near their level.”

“Hmm. That’s the issue…”

After a moment of contemplation, Mangnyang then said, “Normally, I would prefer to resolve the palace matter first and create time for your training, but it seems I can’t. You’ll have to forcibly learn by borrowing some talent.”

“Borrowing talent?”

Mangnyang smiled widely.

“Just wait. I’ll set things up for you.”

Following Mangnyang’s words, I waited in Jinrang Valley for several days. Of course, during this waiting period, Miho came to tease me, and I hardly made any progress in my martial arts training due to the distractions. But the time spent joking around with Miho was still quite enjoyable, so I didn’t mind.

While playing with me, Miho commented about my current situation, “Hmm, borrowing talent… I think I get what he’s planning.”

“What do you mean?”

“It won’t mean much for me to know beforehand, so I’ll just keep quiet about it. By the way, how’s the blessing of Xiang Yu treating you?”

Upon hearing that, I felt cold sweat trickle down my back. Miho had reminded me of something that I had been desperately trying to forget.

In this life, I had received Xiang Yu’s blessing. Xiang Yu was known as the most brutal and infamous general in history, a tyrant notorious for his cruelty. What that blessing entailed was beyond my comprehension, and I was even more afraid because I had already experienced death due to Yeodong-bin’s rampage, someone I had trusted to be on my side.

Miho tilted her head and asked, “Don’t you feel Xiang Yu’s presence when you’re around Yeodong-bin? Or does he ever suddenly manifest during a fight?”

“Nothing like that has happened.”

“That’s strange. Xiang Yu always seemed like the type who wanted to be in on the action, so something must be up.”

“Something particular?”

As Miho’s tail playfully brushed my collarbone, she continued, “You know it’s weird that the infamous Xiang Yu was summoned as a Celestial Guardian to receive your offerings?”

“Honestly, it was baffling.”

I agreed with Miho. It made little sense; it’s hard to believe that a being as egregious as Xiang Yu could achieve the status of a Great Immortal in the Celestial Realm, given that most humans struggle their whole lives just to reach the level of an Earth Immortal.

“Based on his history, it’d be odd for him not to end up in Hell, yet there he is in the Celestial Realm for a reason. It’s because, during his time, he wielded the fate of the world while committing evil deeds, and all of that was the destiny granted by the constellations.”

“Constellations, you say?”

“Yes… The most cunning, absolute, and fearsome power of fate in the world.”

In a hushed voice, Miho leaned closer and pointed to the starry night sky. “Look up there. Aren’t there a lot of stars?”

“Yeah, there are a ton.”

“Among those stars, some specific constellations possess powerful sorcery. Occasionally, the mystical energy from those constellations impacts the mortal realm, causing natural disasters or even giving birth to people with innate powers.”

I pondered Miho’s words, attempting to grasp the meaning through my insights of Taoist knowledge and the art of sorcery, and replied, “Are you referring to the 36 Heavenly Constellations and the 72 Earthly Kills?”

“Exactly. Xiang Yu was a human born under a whopping twelve of those stars. That’s why he was an extraordinary person from a young age, and as he grew up, his might intensified. His deeds stained the world with blood for a reason.”

“……”

To be born under the influence of a dozen constellations as a human! I was at a loss for words, mulling it over. “So he wasn’t originally human.”

“He had the exterior of a human. However, his innate power was so overwhelming that he ended up as a special entity who defied mortality and settled in the Celestial Realm after death. They call him a pariah even in the Celestial Realm.”

“Wow, so he was an unreasonable being after all.”

I sighed. If what she said was true, it meant that before he became a Great Immortal, he was even more powerful in life. Perhaps having someone so formidable gave me pause. Miho continued, “As you’ve probably guessed, the Celestial Realm is not a place for just anyone who has amassed merit. Rather, it’s like a special otherworldly realm that administers the world from astral centers. You might want to curb your expectations about the Celestial Realm.”

It seemed like Miho was giving me sound advice. For some reason, I felt this piece of advice might actually be beneficial, so I nodded in agreement. “Got it.”

“But anyway, considering that Xiang Yu is a being who forcibly attained his position as a Great Immortal, there are undoubtedly major limitations placed on how he exerts his power. If he didn’t explain it himself, then the conditions must surely not bode well for you.”

“Eep, I don’t even want to think about it.”

Miho laughed heartily, giving my back a friendly pat. “Oh come on, stay strong! It’s not like you’re going to die or anything!”

I feigned a dramatized pout. “That’s not very comforting for me!”

“Just know I said it intentionally, so feel free to hurt a bit more.”

“Ugh… you sly fox.”

“Haha.”

Thus, after goofing off with Miho for a while, I continued to relax in Jinrang Valley. About a month passed before Mangnyang called for me.

“Everything is ready, so follow me.”

“Are we finally doing that ‘borrowing talent’ thing?”

“Yes.”

I followed Mangnyang as we proceeded somewhere, venturing deeper into the desolate mountains before finally arriving in front of an ancient temple. The temple felt old but had evidently been restored recently, making it habitable.

In front of the temple stood five individuals—men and women. I was taken aback when I recognized them.

“No way?!”

“You’re late, Junior.”

Indeed, waiting for me were the fiercest Thunder God Lineage masters, including my senior disciple, Jin So-cheong. Next to Jin, was the Extreme Tiger, and Master Lee Kwang was also there, arms crossed, waiting.

While I knew those three, the other two were unfamiliar. I noticed one appeared as a beauty straight from a fairy tale, her pure features strikingly familiar, imprinted in my memory despite the passing years. Staring at her dreamily, I mumbled,

“…Sagong Lin…”

Sagong Lin, the talented genius of the Sagong Clan and the escort leader! She gave me a slight nod and said,

“Nice to meet you, Baek Woong.”

“S-Senior?”

Not grasping the mention of that term, I glanced around bewilderingly, but Lee Kwang, standing quietly, spoke up.

“Baek Woong, this is Sagong Lin, who will be your junior disciple from today onward. Make sure to greet her properly.”

“Ah, right. Nice to meet you, Junior.”

“Yes.”

I responded absentmindedly as my heart raced. Why was the girl I once had a crush on suddenly popping up here? Moreover, it seemed strange that she, being older than me, would become part of the Thunder God Lineage.

The other person was a boy who looked drowsy. He blinked at me and bowed with a wooden sword, saying, “I’m Jae-hu, the new addition to the Thunder God Lineage. Nice to meet you, Senior.”

“Nice to meet you too, junior.”

I answered, still questioning the odd gathering and shot a look at Mangnyang, who only chuckled.

“Master Lee Kwang will explain.”

As my gaze turned to Lee Kwang, he slowly dropped his arms and said,

“Master Bancheon just contacted me to discuss how to proceed with you. He proposed a method, and I pointed out some additions to it as well; then he brought the excellent talents he has gathered.”

“Master, what’s up with the disciples? I don’t quite understand.”

“It’s simple. Master Bancheon has provided talented geniuses to the Thunder God Lineage. From now on, we’ll research Bowing Sky Slash and Heavenly Contraction Sword together with you.”

“……!!”

Surprised, I stared at Lee Kwang, who continued,

“Sagong Lin and Jae-hu might not be at So-cheong’s level, but they possess enough talent to impact the world. I’m confident we can nurture them into experts in ten years. Furthermore, it’ll be simpler to study the peerless arts of the Wudang Sect with a group of talented individuals bringing their insights together.”

“That’s…”

“Are you still not getting it? The message is to use the Thunder God Lineage’s talent.”

It finally clicked; I understood the strategy Mangnyang had devised.

The ultimate collaboration!

It was like Mangnyang aimed to bring in the best of the best from the Thunder God Lineage, already filled with geniuses, and then further amplify our resources with these exceptional talents. With the cleanup of the peerless martial arts behind us, rapid advancements in training would undoubtedly occur at an unprecedented rate.

Mangnyang then patted my shoulder while sending a secret message.

[ Sagong Lin was the genius you regretted in your previous life. It seemed wasteful to have her talent stagnate after being recognized by the Old Sage of Mount Tai. If she mastered the martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage and Jang Sam-bong, she would undoubtedly evolve into a formidable female expert within five years.]

[And Jae-hu?]

[He is the final card I’ve kept hidden. I’ll reveal his true identity later, but you should know his talent is just as impressive as Sagong Lin’s.]

Though I was curious about Jae-hu’s identity, I decided to hold off on asking, knowing Mangnyang would fill me in later. Once I fully grasped the situation, Lee Kwang grinned and said,

“Given that old man’s nature, in his infinite wisdom, it will take at least three months to negotiate, and until then, we’ll all train our martial arts here to boost our prowess. This is an opportunity not to be missed!”

“So, we’re going to live and breathe martial arts in this temple?”

“Exactly. From now on, we’ll treasure every moment, even turning meal times into practice.”

With that, Lee Kwang issued a stern warning.

“Especially you, Baek Woong! As someone responsible for transmitting the foundational message, you must stay alert. Otherwise, I won’t spare you.”

“Ugh… understood.”

I turned hurriedly back to Mangnyang, but he had already darted away using his teleportation technique, leaving me in the lurch. That was when I finally grasped why Mangnyang hadn’t told me beforehand.

This was surely going to be a hellish training period.

Especially for me, it would be immensely difficult.

Knowing that, he probably refrained from divulging too much to avoid demotivating me before it began.

“Ugh…”

Although I had the willpower to endure training, I knew very well the level of challenge that Lee Kwang dubbed “hellish.”

Shaking my head vigorously, I said, “Alright then, Master!”

And thus, training commenced until the negotiation contact arrived.

 

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