I found myself muttering without realizing it.

“So the condition for the Martial Soul (武魂) existed for that reason, huh?”

Somehow, it all made sense. Even if I mastered the Immortal Sword Technique to its peak and reached the Absolute Realm, there’s a limit to the power of martial arts itself. If we’re talking pure power, spear techniques would be even stronger. However, even a peak expert in spear techniques has weaknesses they might not be aware of. The same goes for fist techniques.

The ridiculous condition that one must master spear, sword, and fist techniques to their extremes — the reason for that condition…

Isn’t there another absolute technique that only reveals itself when the three extremes come together?

Maybe the Martial Soul refers to that technique.

“…?”

I tilted my head since it felt ambiguous to think I had gained enlightenment just like that. I sensed a logical contradiction with what I was thinking.

‘Um… Something feels off… Not wrong, but seems like something is lacking…’

The realization that something exists when the three extremes gather is correct. Yet, something still feels strange. It’s like having a stone stuck in my foot that holds me back from just brushing it off as some technique existing.

I wasn’t clever enough to figure out what it was, and after struggling for a while, I soon caught onto where the contradiction lay.

“The Martial Soul isn’t related to the Thunder Spirit Soul, is it…?”

This was something that not a single past Thunder God lineage master had ever considered.

I seemed to have faced that contradiction for the first time.

“What… is this…”

I shook my head vigorously.

Wait, are they related? Anyway, it seems like one has to master the Thunder Spirit Soul to use the Martial Soul…

But why do those two seem unrelated?

If I need to master the Martial Soul anyway, shouldn’t I master the Thunder Spirit Soul as well? Huh? Or not?

I couldn’t easily explain why they seem unrelated due to my lack of brains. I couldn’t sort it out in my mind. Yet, my feeling as someone in the Absolute Realm was saying otherwise, leaving me confused.

I spent the entire day groaning in my seat, and after a while, I finally organized my thoughts and stood up energetically.

“Mmm! Damn… I really don’t know!!”

I can’t claim to know something I don’t!

I won’t deceive myself!

Accepting that I don’t know, I picked up my spear again. Then, for no particular reason, I started swinging it around.

‘This is fun.’

Swinging the spear didn’t exactly make me stronger. I hadn’t discovered any new weapon hints either. Though I had a realization, it wasn’t a sign of entering a new realm. Right now, swinging the spear was just without any reason, just because it loosened my body.

In other words, I was just wasting time.

Whoosh whoosh!

Days passed, and I mindlessly spent another month, then another month. Unsurprisingly, my level didn’t rise, and this swinging was meaningless.

Ordinarily, during this time, I would have been thinking about my lacking skill proficiency and the countless advanced techniques I learned in my past life. But now, I didn’t want to worry about that and just mindlessly kept swinging until I felt relaxed, and strangely enough, it made the pent-up frustrations in my heart disappear. While mindlessly swinging the spear for three whole months, I finally realized why I was doing this.

Wiping my sweat while watching the setting sun, I smiled.

“This is enjoyable.”

Not to improve my skills.

Not to raise my proficiency.

Not to seek sustenance.

This complete waste of time is simply too enjoyable.

I thought while swinging my spear.

‘To be honest, I didn’t really hate spear techniques that much.’

Thanks to learning spear techniques under Lee Kwang, I rose from a low-tier warrior’s level to the status of a well-regarded martial artist… it was a joyous moment! Having a systematic martial arts training was a tremendous stroke of luck for someone like me, who had been stuck as a low-level escort for a lifetime. The gradual structuring of my martial arts and the joy upon learning advanced techniques were indescribable. If I had continued that way, I wouldn’t have particularly needed to differentiate between swordsmanship and spear techniques. Although I ended up diving into swordsmanship, it’s not that I hated spear techniques.

It took me over three months of mindlessly swinging the spear, but I finally realized this fact.

I actually wanted to train hard in spear techniques as well.

‘But… I hadn’t properly confronted my true feelings until now.’

I muttered bitterly while extending my spear.

“Since I know that as long as I’m training spear techniques, I can never surpass him…”

That’s it. That’s the real reason.

Although I hadn’t faced it head-on, it was something I had been contemplating in my mind.

‘The Azure Dragon Martial Arts School was my first stroke of luck, but it was also my despair.’

Yeah… it’s like just as I started to feel the fun of martial arts and take my first steps, I came face to face with a mountain.

“Jin So-cheong…”

The more I thought, the more I became dizzy, and I kept repeating that name in my mind.

There was a huge gap in talent between me and Jin So-cheong, so if I were to learn the same type of martial arts as him, I felt it would inevitably lead to comparison. Merely learning the Thunder God lineage martial arts would make me feel ashamed and inferior, and if the weapon type was the same, I felt there would be no way to overcome it.

So I might have chosen swordsmanship.

Since Jin So-cheong doesn’t focus on swordsmanship, I might have hoped that by delving into a new field he doesn’t practice, I could possibly catch up to him. Also, I wanted to take pride in being better at swordsmanship than Jin So-cheong.

Realizing my sincere feelings after hundreds of years of life, I could only afford to let out a hollow laugh.

“Damn it… In the end, it’s all the same… Haha.”

Achieving the Absolute Realm in the sword technique won’t change anything.

Once Jin So-cheong reaches the Absolute Realm in spear techniques, he’ll just inevitably learn swordsmanship as a secondary skill anyway. Ultimately, it’s all pointless.

It’s just my act of fleeing from reality by ignoring the objective talent gap.

Moreover, I realized yet another reason why I was mindlessly swinging the spear.

‘I want to feel again the enjoyment of spear techniques that I had been avoiding for so long because of my inferiority complex.’

Swordsmanship is fun.

But spear training is fun too.

I merely optimized it for efficiency to become stronger according to my aptitude, and I only focused on that.

Now I want to abandon efficiency.

Instead of forcefully pushing to understand the Ultimate Technique of swordsmanship that builds the flow of cause and effect, I revealed my true desire to dive into spear training, which feels comfortable and familiar to me!

Whoosh whoosh!

I unleashed the Ranna Chul with a cheerful shout.

“Damn it!! I don’t care about circles or whatever!!”

Block, swipe, thrust!

Is there anything easier, more satisfying, and straightforward in martial arts than this?

No matter how I think about it, Yeodong-bin’s martial techniques never resonated with me. I always admired and envied his astounding power and dignified aura, yet they just didn’t suit my style when I actually tried to learn them. I felt this so often when I attempted to replicate his techniques.

‘Yeodong-bin’s swordsmanship is intangible! There’s no way a dullard like me can replicate it. Even if I am a genius, if I can’t internalize Yeodong-bin’s philosophy of life, I can’t unleash its real power!’

The fact that his seemingly intangible technique had completely vanished signifies it possesses qualities akin to the Heart Command Sword (心御劍). In other words, it’s the closest transcendent phenomenon to materializing intent in the Absolute Realm through the Intention. Even someone from the same dao lineage like Jang Sam-bong wouldn’t be able to replicate it.

Because Yeodong-bin’s swordsmanship emerges from his overwhelming mental strength and unwavering mental state, it’s not something anyone can replicate unless they are Yeodong-bin himself, making it an utterly unique Absolute Technique that can’t be acquired even with over 30 lifetimes’ worth of research.

What’s more, surpassing the level of Yeodong-bin in terms of swordsmanship to achieve the Ultimate Technique of the Sword in the flow of cause and effect is simply impossible when even so low as a genius could polish their arts with the help of another genius.

So by all means, I was attempting to divert my attention away from the objective difference in talent.

Additionally, I realized a different reason why I was going about swinging the spear thoughtlessly.

‘I want to rediscover the enjoyment of spear techniques, which I’ve been neglecting due to my inferiority complex.’

Swordsmanship is enjoyable.

But spear training is enjoyable too.

I simply chose to train in swordsmanship for the sake of optimizing my strength according to my aptitude.

Now, it’s time to abandon efficiency and dive into spear techniques just because I feel like it!

Whoosh whoosh!

The very next moment, standing in the ruined Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, I was struck by a shadow of nostalgia.

“I will destroy everything!!”

Whoosh whoosh!

I swung my spear a few more times, reducing the vast Azure Dragon Martial Arts School to empty ruins without a trace.

Yes! After getting bullied by Lee Kwang and getting hit every day, I always wanted to do this!

I wanted to grab Lee Kwang by the collar and obliterate the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School!

I used to be someone who could easily do it!

But…

“If only it weren’t for Jin So-cheong!!”

The grudge against Jin So-cheong felt like a monumental loss that I couldn’t ignore!!

Argh, I’m so mad!!

“Lee Kwang, you bastard!! You should bow to Jin So-cheong a hundred times!! If it weren’t for Jin So-cheong, I would…!!”

Thump!

After loudly yelling that, I suddenly felt all my energy drain away, causing me to lie back on the ground. Though I wasn’t actually tired, my mental strength just plummeted.

Just as expected.

I hadn’t resolved my hidden grudge against Lee Kwang in this lifetime. I was just holding it back; the negative feelings were still piling up.

How could I resolve it just by bullying him a few times?

I mean, I’ve gone to torment Lord of Haedong Milcheon countless times, but the grudge against Lee Kwang isn’t something I can easily clear out.

…

The sky was blue.

Here I felt a little unburdened that I’d released some of my pent-up frustrations, so I gazed blankly at the sky for a while.

‘By the way, I haven’t practiced fist techniques much.’

The conditions for the Thunder God lineage’s Martial Soul.

That requires mastering the spear, sword, and fist techniques to their limits and then forgetting them before returning to that ultimate level.

I’m at the highest level when it comes to the sword, so it would make sense to start learning the fist techniques now. The highest stage of spear techniques, which can be called the Six Harmonies, was only achieved by Jin So-cheong out of all the past martial artists, and honestly, it’s not something one can easily achieve without a master. Therefore, it would be beneficial for me to learn the less proficient fist techniques and reach a corresponding level of mastery that corresponds to the Absolute Realm.

I muttered while lying down.

“I’m familiar with the existence of the fist techniques from Jang Sam-bong’s Seven Great Techniques. But I haven’t really practiced much of the Thunder God’s fist techniques.”

In reality, my proficiency in fist techniques would be closer to the Wudang Sect than to the Thunder God lineage. Since the Seven Great Techniques incorporated a lot of fist techniques, I’ve practiced quite a bit, and thanks in part due to the teachings from a renowned martial artist from the Wudang Sect.

On the other hand, I’ve only practiced the Thunder God lineage fist techniques until I reached the Thunder God Fist and then pretty much just left it alone. The Thunder God lineage’s fist techniques aren’t that famous, and with Jang Sam-bong’s superior variant existing, there wasn’t much incentive to delve deeper into them. Thus, it’s only natural that I’ve ignored the Thunder God lineage’s fist techniques.

‘Of course, I learned the advanced martial arts like Thunder Spirit and Hell King’s Hand through other masters from the Thunder God lineage, but… those are just powerful techniques, and don’t symbolize the ultimate state of the fist techniques.’

Thunder Spirit and Hell King’s Hand pale in comparison to Thunder God Sword Dance or the Six Harmonies of spear techniques.

Although Thunder Spirit showed some prowess in his peak, it’s not like he was at the Absolute Realm. After all, a person who’s been hit once or twice by Lee Cheong-un wouldn’t stand a chance against the Thunder God’s extreme techniques!

As I thought deeper, a question arose in my mind.

‘Now that I think about it, Jin So-cheong mentioned that the true condition for the Martial Soul requires not just spear, sword, and fist techniques, but five fields in total, including divine techniques and miscellaneous skills… How far have I reached in those five fields?’

Swordsmanship can be considered at its peak, although I really can’t call back the essence of the Thunder God Sword Dance comfortably.

Spear techniques are on a grandmaster level, but far from the peak.

Fist techniques exceed a training master level but wouldn’t be considered grandmaster. I’m better off with the Wudang Sect’s fist techniques.

Divine techniques? I’ve reached the peak, having mastered the Soul Removal Technique.

I started wondering about the miscellaneous skills.

‘The Thunder God lineage’s miscellaneous skills belong to the Ghostly Spirit Sect. I have learned and memorized dozens of the Ghostly Spirit Sect’s techniques and sorcery… But honestly, I’ve only skimmed the surface and haven’t really proficiently learned any of them.’

I just wanted to be recognized as part of the Thunder God lineage, doing it casually while learning from Seong Jin and other masters from the Ghostly Spirit Sect. However, that was merely the basic memorization, and later on, I planned to train whenever I had the time. Hence among the five fields, the one I least mastered is probably the miscellaneous skills.

But something feels off.

‘Why did Jin So-cheong tell me that the weak and seemingly insignificant Ghostly Spirit Sect skills are a requirement for the Martial Soul?’

The real master of the Ghostly Spirit Sect, Seong Jin, who’s been alive for over a thousand years, isn’t that strong either. Of course, considering the martial world, he could sweep through the Nine Clans or Five Great Families in a single day, but still, when factoring in all the dark forces, Seong Jin’s abilities aren’t overwhelmingly powerful. I would say his strength is comparable to one or two Dharma Guardians.

Therefore, the lower-tier techniques created by Seong Jin aren’t strong either. They are called miscellaneous skills for a reason.

Yet Jin So-cheong insisted I should master those skills to witness the Martial Soul.

Why?

‘It felt like Jin So-cheong had a conviction in his words…’

Jin So-cheong wouldn’t have known much about the Ghostly Spirit Sect’s techniques or sorcery at that point. I’d likely know better since I had learned from the Ghostly Spirit Sect directly. Yet, what could have moved Jin So-cheong to decisively claim that the power from the Ghostly Spirit Sect was necessary?

I decided to test myself by recalling a few of the Ghostly Spirit Sect’s techniques that I knew.

They were decent enough to be considered excellent in the martial world, but there were plenty of illusions and distractions involved, so I couldn’t genuinely affirm their strength. Compared to the likes of Hong Gil-dong, who dominates in illusionary techniques, they were pathetically crude.

‘Why on earth should I push myself to master something like this to its peak?’

No matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t feel a need to. Why would I bother to master them when the most I could achieve would only be at Seong Jin’s level?

Jin So-cheong… what on earth made you say that?

For the first time, I found myself doubting Jin So-cheong’s judgment, muttering aloud.

“Hmm… So, has this led me to meet two requirements out of the five? It could be important to know what the other three extremes are.”

I already know the extreme of spear techniques, but I have no clue what the extremes of fist techniques and miscellaneous skills are.

As I sorted through my current situation in my mind, a sudden realization struck me.

‘Wait a second… Isn’t there an extreme for fist techniques?’

My memory recalled there being a formidable master of fist techniques.

In the next moment, I felt as though I had been struck hard in the head, shouting out loud.

“Ah!! That’s right!”

There was indeed the supreme master of fist techniques.

The second leader of the White Lotus Sect, Howol!!

The Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun he unleashed could repel the Eight Parts of the Divine all at once, so how could that not be called the extreme of fist techniques?

“If I learn Howol’s Absolute Realm technique, the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun, I should be able to reach the pinnacle of the Thunder God lineage’s fist techniques!!”

Feeling ecstatic for finding a clue, I soon realized something puzzling, causing me to frown.

“Wait a minute… Howol mastered martial arts before the formation of the Four Great Families, right? So can we truly call his fist techniques the Thunder God lineage’s techniques?”

After all, the first master of the Thunder God lineage, Cho Mu-rin, was a disciple of Howol. Given that he’d learned from the founder of the Thunder God lineage, one couldn’t necessarily claim he had mastered the Thunder God lineage.

I scrutinized this confusing memory and muttered.

“Well, Howol did create the foundations of the Four Great Families and shared them with Cho Mu-rin, so that may hold true… However, Cho Mu-rin never learned the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun.”

Now that I think of it, why didn’t he learn it?

The Absolute Martial Art is dozens of times stronger than Cho Mu-rin’s original strength; why didn’t he learn it?

I hadn’t ever thought about this before, but I found myself indubitably curious as to why such a genius as Cho Mu-rin didn’t learn the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun.

‘If Howol didn’t teach it to him, then… Why didn’t Howol pass on the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun to Cho Mu-rin?’

I pondered deeply but ultimately felt there was only one logical conclusion.

Howol must have had a reason why he couldn’t pass down the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun, and he didn’t intend to offer it to the Thunder God lineage.

Consequently, the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun is not a part of the Thunder God lineage’s techniques.

Now that I thought about it, the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun stood as one of the most powerful forms of techniques I had witnessed, yet its origins remained completely elusive. Howol, a disciple of Dharma, began training it at some moment, but even Seong Jin, his disciple, didn’t know when or how he came to master it.

“…”

What kind of martial technique is the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun?

“Will it even work?”

I contemplated up to this point when something suddenly came to my mind, prompting me to rummage through my belongings.

Clank!

I found myself holding the wooden armor. Sure enough, even though I had died, the items I possessed had come along into this realm. I briefly peered inside the wooden armor and saw I still had the petrified treasures I had and those of Lee Kwang, Lee Hwan-woong, and others. Among them, I discovered a recently acquired unfamiliar existence, and I pulled it out.

Whoosh!

Shortly after, a fainted man tumbled out in front of me. He remained unconscious, and I gazed at him, recalling Fuxi’s words.

“To train, I need the Seven Stars? So if I pull him out and wait for the Seven Stars, that should be fine.”

Since time flows slowly inside the wooden armor, I need to take him out to help him regain consciousness.

Divine Strength.

Before he fainted, he spoke about having served Howol, so if I probe through his memories well enough, I should be able to obtain clues related to Howol, along with any information that might aid me. I also planned to ask about the martial arts of the Four Great Families.

“I’ll take this time to thoroughly review the Thunder God lineage’s fist techniques from start to finish.”

Just with that, the Seven Stars will pass in no time.

After sorting through what I needed to do, I thought.

‘Since it hasn’t even been a year, there’s plenty of time. Let’s do what I want to do!’

I’m going to have fun exploring all the Thunder God lineage’s techniques I learned but never practiced!

Whoosh whoosh!

I kept unfolding all the Thunder God lineage’s fist techniques I had learned up until now from start to finish.

‘Hmm… Turns out I really lack talent.’

I was hoping, but indeed, I lacked talent in fist techniques as well.

Thunder God Fist, Thunder Spirit Seal, Hell King’s Hand.

In practice, these three techniques are the most frequently used and understood martial arts from the Thunder God lineage, yet due to my overuse and practice, my proficiency in Thunder God Fist was high. However, while I had practiced Thunder Spirit Seal and Hell King’s Hand periodically, those techniques were notably challenging, and I hadn’t grasped their essence. Still, with my HIGH internal strength, even if practiced haphazardly, they showcased decent might—but my expertise in these two techniques was only about level five.

Realizing that made me automatically recognize that my talent in fist techniques fell between mediocrity and slight proficiency.

‘If I focus on learning Thunder Spirit Seal and Hell King’s Hand systematically, it would take years to master them…’

But even if my attainment in Thunder Spirit rose, it wouldn’t make much of a difference in might. After all, the output was primarily due to my internal strength.

Given that, thinking efficiently now seems completely foolish.

I gritted my teeth.

‘Hmph. No more worrying about efficiency.’

Rather than let what I could learn rot unused, that’s far more wasteful!

Whoosh whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, the Seven Stars passed, and at some moment, I began to hear a man’s voice.

“Is that the Thunder God lineage (雷神流)?”

I turned my head. There, sitting amidst the ruins, was Shim Su-ryeok, who had regained consciousness and was staring blankly at me.

I halted the technique I was practicing and replied.

“Indeed. You’re from the White Lotus Sect, then.”

“Previously, you claimed to be Shim Su-ryeok from the Fire Spirit lineage. So you mastered the Fire Spirit lineage’s martial arts?”

Shim Su-ryeok sat cross-legged on the ground in silence, then spoke.

“I have hazy memories, but two things are certain.”

“Two things?”

“The first is that I followed Howol to Baekdu Mountain….”

From the follow-up words of Shim Su-ryeok, I understood that his internal strength was quite formidable.

“The second is that I also learned the Thunder God lineage, not just the Fire Spirit lineage.”

“… Really?”

“Yes. Try and take it.”

Whoosh!

The next moment, Shim Su-ryeok vanished into thin air and appeared right in front of me, and his handblade aimed straight at my neck.

‘So fast!!’

It felt faster than your average peak expert! However, this wasn’t an ambush undetectable by the senses of the Absolute Realm. I quickly raised my spear in defense and unleashed my thrust technique, blocking the attack. But as soon as his handblade rebounded with a loud clang, he suddenly seemed to amplify his momentum several times more.

Whoosh!

Fire Spirit lineage (火神流)

Ultimate Technique of the Thunder King (無極龍王所)

As the fiery intent merged with Shim Su-ryeok’s handblade, I immediately recognized this as the fire spirit lineage’s ultimate technique, the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder King! The supreme might of the Fire Spirit lineage! If this technique were evolved even more, it would become the Twelve Ultimate Dragon Kings, and its power would be staggering.

‘But no matter how powerful the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder King is, it shouldn’t be beyond my capability to block it!’

I had the confidence to respond, whether using the Seven Great Techniques to deflect it or with Infinite Slash to retaliate. So, I stand ready, waiting for the moment the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder King would come rushing at me.

Then it happened.

Crackle!

The next instant, the head of the dragon in the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder King began transforming from flames into lightning?

“…?!”

Boom!

As Shim Su-ryeok assumed his stance, the energy of the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder King transformed from the Fire Dragon into the Thunder Dragon and charged at me at the incredible speed of a lightning bolt. It seemed almost unnecessary to describe it as coming at me. It moved exactly like lightning, breaking through space before striking me.

‘Oh no! I’ve lost a beat due to my surprise…’

No matter how fast the speed of lightning, I should’ve been able to counter it with my senses in the Absolute Realm! But due to my surprise, I ended up accepting the attack. I had no choice but to envelop my entire body with the Protection Energy Technique to withstand it. Even still, it felt like I would be electrocuted due to the current.

Zzz!

“……?”

“Hah. To think you absorbed the Thunder Dragon’s power!!”

Oddly enough, it was Shim Su-ryeok who appeared astonished by the result of his own attack. Because the energy that should have consumed my protection was instead absorbed into my body! He watched in shock as an immense bolt of lightning penetrated through me without leaving any trace!

“Whoa, this is not ordinary. I didn’t expect there to be a human with stronger lightning energy than mine, the power of the Gold Thunder Lion (金雷獅子).”

It was in that moment that I realized what had occurred. The formidable thunder energy infused by the spirit of the Thunder God had become so potent that any thunder-type attacks were absorbed completely. However, I didn’t feel it was the right moment to explain, so I instead spoke to Shim Su-ryeok.

“Hey, more importantly, how did you change the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder King from fire energy to lightning just now…?”

“Huh? You don’t know this technique?”

Shim Su-ryeok tilted his head in confusion.

“Howol distinctly left behind the secrets of the Thunder Spirit Soul in the White Lotus Sect.”

Thunder Spirit Soul!

The moment I heard that term, my mind cleared back to focus. For it was that very term I had carefully heard from Han Baek-ryeong and Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.

[The Four Divine Spirits (四神之魂) will soon be revived!]

After five hundred years, Han Baek-ryeong, who succeeded as the leader of the White Lotus Sect, could master the spell known as the Four Divine Spirits. Somehow, she knew how to restore the Four Divine Spirits, and she even explained how to rotate the ‘plate’ of the Four Divine Spirits. She also spoke about the ‘vessel’ of the Four Divine Spirits.

Moreover, obeying Han Baek-ryeong’s instructions during my final confrontation with the Emperor, I utilized two of the Four Divine Spirits, combining my sword and spear techniques to repel the Emperor’s forces using martial arts. However, I had to move because Han Baek-ryeong’s spirit was controlling my body; therefore, I couldn’t pinpoint what exactly that technique was.

[The Four Divine Spirits… Did I have no way of reading that myself…?]

But the Emperor spoke as if he was unable to foresee the techniques of the Four Divine Spirits through his foresight.

‘Even after that, I had been preoccupied with the Four Divine Spirits… but had no means to understand it.’

It’s understandable, though, since Han Baek-ryeong suddenly materialized and then vanished during the final battle, and she couldn’t explain what the Four Divine Spirits truly was, seemingly held in check by the Azure Demon Sagong Lin and the Emperor.

Given that the former leader of the White Lotus Sect from the Ming Dynasty likely had little grasp of what the Four Divine Spirits involved, it made sense I would have abandoned any hope of uncovering its secrets. But never would I have thought suddenly that Shim Su-ryeok would mention it!

I settled my startled heart and calmly addressed Shim Su-ryeok.

“I have also heard of the Four Divine Spirits. It’s said that it’s a technique passed down through the secret arts, right?”

Upon my inquiry, Shim Su-ryeok shrugged his shoulders as he replied.

“I learned directly from Howol, but he mentioned he left the secret techniques for later generations at the White Lotus Sect. Since those in the subsequent generations couldn’t receive Howol’s guidance, it was bound to happen.”

“Directly learned from Howol?”

“That’s correct. The four of us who served him were all directly his apprentices.”

However, the connection originally held a different nature than being strictly apprentices.

Shim Su-ryeok, staring up at the sky, continued to speak.

“I know you’re extraordinary. With your understanding and curiosity about the Four Divine Spirits, you might have practiced them to some degree. Although it seems the technique has been lost to posterity.”

“… What you say is true.”

“Your face shows an eager curiosity. Do you wish to learn the Four Divine Spirits from me?”

I nodded vigorously.

“Of course. Teach me.”

“I would love to, but you must give me something in return.”

“What do you want?”

Shim Su-ryeok chuckled softly.

“What I need is a clear explanation of where this is, who you are, and the circumstances surrounding the situation. Because frankly, I have no clue at all.”

“Ah…”

Well, how could he know? I unwittingly summoned Shim Su-ryeok after creating a human playing with divine strength. He wouldn’t know how I ended up here, especially since I had died in the Takrok Era and found myself in the knot of the Heavenly Spirit Pill.

I calmly said.

“This will take a bit of time, but please sit down and listen. And even if it seems ridiculous, just try to accept it.”

“I look forward to it. Just how absurd can it get…”

I began explaining my past and how I ended up in this place to Shim Su-ryeok. Once I summarized my tale within a meal’s time, his jaw dropped in disbelief, revealing a comically shocked expression.

“…Wait, what? You’ve reincarnated? You’ve gone back in time through the Great Cycle (大循環) a couple of times? You’ve died and been reborn thirty times, and are now training in a closed-off world for 300 years, and you’ve pulled me out of there? You expect me to believe this right now?!”

“You think I went through all this trouble just to pull a fast one on you?”

Crackle!!

As I concluded, I immediately unleashed the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique. An incredible thunder energy surged around me, causing Shim Su-ryeok to be stunned, and I then calmed the energy down as I spoke.

“This, just now, was the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique I told you about. I obtained this martial art from the future. It’s probably unlike anything you’ve seen before.”

“Hmm…”

“And… come forth, Agni!”

Whoosh!

As I summoned the Divine Spirit Agni into my hand, Shim Su-ryeok’s eyes widened with astonishment. I firmly declared.

“As you can see, the Divine Spirits belong to me. Doesn’t this serve as proof?”

“… It really is Agni. Don’t tell me you have other Divine Spirits too?”

I revealed the remainder of the Divine Spirits barring Vajra, one by one, showing them off. Upon seeing my collection, Shim Su-ryeok had a dazed look unto his face, and I returned the divine items back to their places while stating.

“Since I died due to Indra, if I try to take out Vajra, the Thunder God will likely try to kill me again. So I can’t show it.”

“Unbelievable events unfold before my eyes. To think that a person as remarkable as Howol has appeared before me…”

Shim Su-ryeok now praised me, his earlier trepidation switching to admiration.

“Well then. I will trust everything you said. So you’re saying you’ll return to the Takrok Era after training for 300 years?”

“That sounds about right.”

“… It won’t be too difficult for you to learn the Four Divine Spirits within those 300 years. Now that I understand the necessity of teaching you, it makes sense.”

Shim Su-ryeok began to calmly sit down on the training grounds, straightening himself before speaking further.

“However, alongside that, I would appreciate some help in return.”

“You mean in exchange for teaching me the Four Divine Spirits?”

“It’s not exactly in exchange. In truth, I’ve lost my memories.”

“Lost your memories?”

Upon my repeat of his words, Shim Su-ryeok nodded.

“As per your observations, it looks like you also don’t know how you summoned me. My last memory was when I entered Baekdu Mountain with Howol, discovered the Demon Sorcery Pillar, and encountered the Mountain Spirit. After that, I have no recollection of what happened to me.”

“Hmm. I’m curious about that too.”

I folded my arms while questioning Shim Su-ryeok.

“What’s your relationship with Howol, and why exactly did you go to Baekdu Mountain with him? What happened there?”

“I would like to reply to all, but let’s keep it a secret for now.”

At Shim Su-ryeok’s response, I furrowed my brow.

“A secret? What do you mean? I feel I’ve shared everything about me by now.”

“I still have no understanding of what kind of person you are. Therefore, I wish to observe as you master the Four Divine Spirits and use it to judge you accordingly.”

“What significance could mastering the Four Divine Spirits carry to you?”

“You seem like a person with many complicated thoughts, from my perspective.”

Shim Su-ryeok smirked, a slight mischief gleaming in his eyes.

“According to your speculation, you say you lack talent, but you’re expected to concentrate for the 300 years granted to you, right? If I generously teach you too much, with talent like yours and all those mixed thoughts, you won’t be able to focus on your training at all. The thing is, with reincarnated lives, you have to remember everything.”

“…….”

“During closed training, it’s usually better to forget everything and just solely concentrate. With a timeframe of 300 years, you have more than enough time to first attain one thing before pursuing others.”

He had a point. It would be best to solidify my understanding of the Four Divine Spirits before listening to Shim Su-ryeok’s story.

‘Seems like you have quite a lot of experience in the martial world…’

Recognizing the depth within Shim Su-ryeok, I nodded appreciatively.

“Alright then. Please teach me the Four Divine Spirits.”

“Some of what I can teach might seem trivial; the essence of the Four Divine Spirits is simply about channeling the attributes of the Four Divine Spirits into one another. Now, watch closely.”

Whoosh!

Shim Su-ryeok generated a sphere of Fire Spirit energy, floating effortlessly above his palm.

“Just like this.”

Crunch!

In the following moment, the red sphere of fire energy instantly transformed into a storm of lightning. I realized immediately what he had executed.

“You turned it into Thunder Spirit energy!”

“Correct.”

“Yet that much can already be achieved by several masters of the Four Great Families! It merely requires sharing the fundamentals and the basic qualities you possess to convert them into energies of other martial lines. However, the fact you transformed the powerful technique of the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder King altogether is something no one I know of from the Four Great Families can achieve!”

With my words, Shim Su-ryeok chuckled.

“Hahaha. Perhaps that happened because it’s a result of handling Thunder and Water attributes with a curious blend of various energies. Thus, it could be a sign that the technique has taken a shape fitting of its original power.”

“What do you mean? Wasn’t that also a natural energy?”

“Natural energy only addresses the superficial attributes of Thunder, Water, and Fire. In reality, there is a different technique for entirely changing the ‘vessel’.”

Whoosh—

“Like this.”

In the next instant, the Thunder energy from Shim Su-ryeok’s energy transitioned into Wind energy and back to Water energy. Now I could do that much, but then something astonishing took place.

Whoosh!

“…!!”

In no time, the Fire Spirit became entangled into the others, creating a sphere that swirled around the central Fire Spirit, which I could not pull off even if I died trying. So, in surprise, I turned to him and exclaimed.

“H-How did you do that?”

Even the former leaders of the Ming Dynasty’s White Lotus Sect wouldn’t manage such a feat!

“You can’t achieve such a synchronization using merely the natural energies of the Thunder, Water, and Fire. That’s because the natural energies get caught in the balance of Yin and Yang, which prevents them from being handled all at once. It’s natural; hence it’s guaranteed to be real…”

Squeezing his hand closed, all energies vanished entirely. Shim Su-ryeok continued speaking.

“But the essence of the White Lotus Sect’s Thunder energy doesn’t confine itself within the bounds of the Five Elements. It can still operate even if the natural law of the Five Elements that composes the world is disrupted. That’s due to its capability to ‘move’ the very nature itself— and Howol named that process as the Four Divine Spirits.”

“Hmmm!! Are you saying it’s a martial art invented by Howol?”

“Exactly.”

“Does that imply that vessel refers to the Thunder Spirit Soul (雷神之魂)?”

“Well, it seems you understand a bit about the Thunder Spirit Soul.”

“Let’s say I know about it? I can even use it, haha.”

“…?”

Feeling quite proud of myself, Shim Su-ryeok appeared somewhat perplexed, then replied.

“That’s not something to brag about…”

“What do you mean! Let me see it!”

I felt a sting of irritation as if my Thunder Spirit Soul was being belittled because of what Shim Su-ryeok said. So I drew upon the power of the Nine Chambers of Thunder and began to channel my energy towards the celestial might.

‘I may not be able to use it as freely as the Thunder Spirit Soul… but by using the sensations I had from wearing Jin So-cheong’s mask, at least for a moment…’

I should be able to manifest the Nine Chambers of Thunder’s energy with a brief burst!

I had used it against the Emperor as well, so isn’t it absolutely possible to wield such a power?

Whoosh!

With the energy swirling intensely around me, I attempted to condense it into a whirling sphere and channel it through my body; suddenly, I felt something wasn’t right.

‘Wait, why is it so strong?’

Boom!

Overcoming the Three Corporeals and Four Greens to reach Beyond the Five Fires, I suddenly noticed that the flow of the power felt completely different from what I usually felt in the Nine Chambers of Thunder. While before it merely felt like that large wheel was the size of my body, now it felt like it swelled to an insane size beyond what I could comprehend!

‘It’s way too big?! What’s going on here?!’

Surely, this was impossible?! It’s clearly surpassed my range of control!!

But if I were to let it go at this point, I knew I would face dire consequences; thus, I grit my teeth and focused hard, pouring all my strength into spinning the energy within me. As I did, the very fibers of my being threatened to tear apart, as if each pore was being sliced by blades, and I couldn’t help but scream.

“Kyaaa!!”

I bore through every ounce of pain. But this was seriously too much!!

As I screamed through the agony, the thunder’s giant wheel continued to turn, and I soon felt that the entirety of its energy was beginning to transform into the shape of the Thunder Spirit Soul.

Kaboom!

I sensed my entire being merge with the thunder energy. It felt similar to how Lee Cheong-un felt when drawing forth this power and despite feeling faint due to the pain, I managed to force a smile and shout.

[L-LOOK! This is the Thunder Spirit Soul… With the speed of lightning, I can move!]

“……?!”

[Hah!]

Zing!

Before I knew it, I was racing about at speeds akin to lightning, darting across the training ground in circles several hundred times. Once returning to my starting point, the Thunder Soul I conjured was released, and I dropped to my knees, out of breath, gasping for air.

“Cough! Hack… Ugh… Did you see that? It wasn’t anything impressive… Darn it.”

Ugh… I tried to put on a show, but it didn’t quite go as planned!!

Trying to force it without fully understanding the essence of the Thunder Spirit Soul was definitely draining!!

As I silently regained my power, Shim Su-ryeok stood there, still processing what he just witnessed.

“W-What… did you just say? You moved at the speed of lightning? That’s insane!”

“Insane? Isn’t that the nature of the Thunder Spirit Soul?”

Shim Su-ryeok shook his head in dismay.

“The Thunder Spirit Soul is merely about forming the ‘vessel’ for the Thunder Essence and controlling it through correspondence with the vessels of the other Divine Spirits, but what have you just done?”

“……?”

“That’s definitely not the Thunder Spirit Soul I know.”

I was stunned by Shim Su-ryeok’s words.

“Howol’s Thunder Spirit Soul lacked the technique to move at speeds like yours.”

“……?!”

“They would have never considered developing it that way in the first place.”

What… what did you just say?

My mind was left completely baffled, blinking in disbelief as he explained.

“Jin So-cheong’s Thunder Spirit Soul and his mastery of techniques were completely different at their roots.”

It’s safe to say that the vessel was merely a secondary function of what activated!

That can’t be… I started to hesitate.

‘Then does that mean…?’

I felt a shock hit me like a revelation akin to a lightning bolt.

The Martial Soul (武魂).

This was originally nothing to do with the Four Divine Spirits!