심수력, after shaking off his surprise at the Thunder Spirit, said with a hint of relief.

“Well, anyway, this is good. Honestly, crafting the ‘vessel’ when mastering the Soul of the Four Gods can be tough, but you’ve made more than enough. Maybe even more than Ho-wol… Now, all that’s left is to grasp the secret of transformation.”

“The secret of transformation! If I learn that, can I use the attributes of other sects at will?”

“That’s about the gist of it. However, when using the Soul of the Four Gods, it doesn’t handle the ‘vessel’ the way your Thunder Spirit does.”

“…I get that the names are the same but the methods differ.”

It seems that the Thunder Spirit of Shim Su-ryeok and the one passed down by Lee Cheong-un from later generations share a similarity only in dealing with the ‘vessel,’ but are entirely different martial arts. Shim Su-ryeok continued slowly.

“First, I’ll teach you the core principles of the Soul of the Four Gods. It’s pretty lengthy, so memorizing it would take some time.”

Shim Su-ryeok began reciting the core principles from start to finish. Indeed, this was a separate martial art, so it had its own core principles.

‘Definitely a lot to take in. Even if it’s made into a secret text, it would easily fill a volume.’

I wasn’t quite able to memorize everything in one go, but my memory had been significantly honed over time, so after listening about 20 times, I felt confident I had it down. I continued repeating it for the next couple of hours, then told Shim Su-ryeok.

“I think I’ve memorized it all.”

“Actually, there’s a bit more content. You’ll need to memorize about twice as much as what you just learned.”

What could possibly be that much?

“Well, it’s not too important—just some detailed tricks for controlling the Soul of the Four Gods. If someone is talented, they might not even need to hear this part.”

I sighed.

“Since I have 300 years anyway, why bother being selective? Just tell me everything.”

Maybe if someone has talent, they might not need to memorize it, but since I lack talent, I’ll have to rely solely on memorization.

If talent is lacking, then memorization it is. That has been my method of learning martial arts to this day.

For about ten days, night and day, I kept receiving and memorizing the secret techniques of the Soul of the Four Gods from Shim Su-ryeok. Even with good memory, if I had too much, I could forget the earlier parts, so I crazily chanted them to engrave them into my mind.

Once we finished the core transferring process, Shim Su-ryeok spoke.

“Well… as you said, your martial talent and understanding aren’t that good. It might take longer to learn the Soul of the Four Gods than expected.”

“That’s something I’ve always experienced. Since I’ve decided not to think about efficiency, just keep passing on the techniques.”

“Got it. Then, let’s move the qi according to the first part of the techniques.”

I directed my qi according to the acupoints Shim Su-ryeok mentioned and executed my inner power. Doing as Shim Su-ryeok instructed, I soon felt my internal power move quickly, transforming into something sharp like an arrow.

“What’s this arrow-like energy?”

“Hoo. It usually takes at least three months to condense into an arrow form, but yours has jumped straight to that stage since you already have the ‘vessel.'”

Shim Su-ryeok murmured in amazement.

“Try to keep that sharp energy swirling near your heart while you draw out the Thunder Spirit.”

Crack!!

“Good. While the Thunder Spirit is drawn out, hit the meridians in the order I give you with that sharp energy.”

Thud thud thud—

As I followed his instructions, the energy from the Thunder Spirit that was being released from my body suddenly diminished and shriveled up enough to look weak.

“Huh! The Thunder Spirit is diminishing…?”

“Hitting the meridians with that arrow-like energy ignites the innate internal qi, condensing the energy of the Four Great Spirits. Then, try moving your qi according to the next 36 characters of the technique.”

Woosh—!!

“…The Flame Spirit!!”

It was astonishing. The lightning energy coursing through my body suddenly transformed into a fierce flame, flowing grandly throughout! Unlike before, where only the basic technique was transformed, the entire attribute of my inner power had flipped, allowing for the possibility to change the attributes of my martial arts techniques or secret techniques as well.

Shim Su-ryeok smiled as he spoke.

“The rest of the techniques of the Soul of the Four Gods follow this same pattern. The methods of changing from the Thunder Spirit to the Flame Spirit and from the Flame Spirit to the Water Spirit, etc… Once you make a change, utilizing the ‘vessel’ to unleash any martial art is entirely up to you.”

“So that’s why it’s so extensive.”

“Exactly. It doesn’t require any special enlightenment, but if you make even one mistake, it could turn into a disaster. Thus, since each technique has its own flow, memorizing them all is tedious, but with some practice, your body will naturally learn. Once you become proficient, the transformation speed will also increase.”

“I get what you mean.”

When you practice the martial techniques thousands of times, even extremely complex techniques will eventually be memorized by your body itself. It’s clear that the Soul of the Four Gods is that kind of technique as well. It would be similar to the notes carried on the strings of a complicated instrument, just like memorizing the score.

‘If I’m just memorizing the invocation methods, then I wouldn’t need much talent. Well, it’s a simple attribute transformation technique, so anything harder would be ludicrous.’

Within roughly ten years, I felt confident I could truly make it my own. Just as I was feeling secure, Shim Su-ryeok continued explaining.

“And this is crucial: using the Soul of the Four Gods consecutively will increase the consumption of power.”

“It increases? What does that mean?”

“Let me explain it simply.”

Hmm.

Shim Su-ryeok opened his palm and performed the technique he had previously shown me. Circling around the Flame Spirit were the Thunder Spirit, Water Spirit, and Wind Spirit like small spheres.

“On the surface, it may seem complicated, but this is merely an extension of the Soul of the Four Gods I taught you. Take a part from the Flame Spirit, convert it into three separate attributes, and then have them orbit around. But, if you manipulate the attributes of the central Flame Spirit, what do you think would happen?”

I tilted my head at Shim Su-ryeok’s words.

“Well… the Flame Spirit would change into the Thunder Spirit, Water Spirit, or Wind Spirit.”

“Right. That’s unchanged. But watch closely.”

Sizzle!

Soon after, Shim Su-ryeok switched the Flame Spirit in the center to the Thunder Spirit. Suddenly, the three little spirits rotating around the Flame Spirit transformed into Thunder Spirits almost simultaneously!

“Gasp! Why did all three little ones turn into Thunder Spirits?”

“There are two reasons: both the technique and strength are insufficient.”

Shim Su-ryeok slowly elaborated.

“First, the technique. With my current power, this level of application is sufficient, but sustaining a significant attribute change while maintaining the smaller ones is too difficult to achieve. To put it another way, it feels like moving all four limbs separately while performing different techniques. You need the godly skill almost like a miracle to execute a higher level of the Soul of the Four Gods I passed down all at once, something that feels like divine skill. So, whenever a significant change occurs with the larger attribute, you must inevitably bind the other smaller changes to its transformation.”

“Hmm.”

“And secondly, strength. Even if you had a natural talent and satisfied the first technical condition, exhausting an enormous amount of inner power and energy while performing these distinctly different transformations would still be necessary. The Soul of the Four Gods was created to facilitate easy movement between the ‘vessels,’ but as the transformations get layered, greater strength is required to overcome that.”

“How much strength is necessary?”

“How much… that varies from person to person, so I can’t say. It’s like the principle that you can’t infinitely fold a piece of paper. At a certain point, you’ll need an enormous power, right?”

“Ah… I see.”

I could understand Shim Su-ryeok’s explanation.

“I can use the attribute transformation two to three times in an actual fight, but trying to use the Soul of the Four Gods excessively drains my strength.”

“Exactly. The law applies as soon as you perform consecutively. So, when using the Soul of the Four Gods in an actual fight, it’s better to use it after a few exchanges to catch the opponent off guard. Even then, maybe once or twice?”

Shim Su-ryeok folded his arms and continued.

“That should be enough explanation. Now, let’s teach you the practical application.”

For the next three months, I learned from Shim Su-ryeok how to apply the Soul of the Four Gods. Naturally, I focused on transforming the Thunder Spirit primarily and refined it, with Shim Su-ryeok simplifying the secret texts while assisting my practice.

Three months later, Shim Su-ryeok remarked.

“You still can’t use it in a real fight yet. You can change the attributes, but you’re way too slow.”

“Umm…”

He was right. I could now use the principles of the Soul of the Four Gods to transform the Thunder Spirit into other attributes, but the issue was that it took me fifteen breaths to do so. In real combat, that was practically useless. I scratched my head and said.

“Whenever I try to hurry according to the principles, it only gets tangled, so I can only go slow.”

“That’s the hallmark of lacking talent.”

“……”

Why did I suddenly feel like I got punched in the gut?

“Still, it’s a field that carries less talent, so if I keep practicing thousands of times, I’ll gradually speed up and eventually be able to use it.”

“That’s what you say, but what the hell are you on about? You act like I’m inferior to you.”

I grumbled, and Shim Su-ryeok responded.

“Anyway, I’ve passed down enough for you to practice the Soul of the Four Gods alone. Now, I hope you can help me a bit.”

“You mentioned that before. What can I possibly help you with? If you want to escape from this space, you could ask Cheon Woo-jin and somehow figure it out.”

Shim Su-ryeok waved his hand dismissively.

“No, I want to train too, so that’s not necessary. What I need help with is something else.”

I looked at him in surprise.

“You’re saying you want to train for three hundred years?”

“What else would I do? Don’t you think training will make me stronger? As a martial artist, I wouldn’t want to miss this chance.”

“Hmm… So you want my help training, especially since you have that ‘true dragon’ power you mentioned.”

“Right. Fuxi subdued you in the past using the true dragon’s power, which is immensely strong. It’s said to be the power of the true dragon that roams the universe, so it’s exceptionally rare.”

Shim Su-ryeok slightly closed his eyes as he thought before continuing.

“To be honest, I have my own guesses about that power.”

My eyes widened at his response.

“You have a guess? What is it?”

“That would… most likely be Ho-wol’s power.”

“..!!”

Ho-wol has the power of the true dragon?

I exclaimed, a clue clicking in my head.

“The Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun! That power is actually the true dragon’s power?”

“That’s what Ho-wol said.”

“The Sect Leader Ho-wol… what relationship do you have with him?”

Shim Su-ryeok’s expression turned nostalgic as he spoke about the past.

“The four of us originally held the highest positions within the White Lotus Sect, but we discarded all previous status and fame while following Ho-wol. We believed he would undoubtedly be the strongest in the martial world for the next thousand years, and we thought we could endure anything to learn from him.”

“The highest positions? But I’ve never heard of your name in my past life…”

Shim Su-ryeok wore a bittersweet expression.

“Hehe… did you ever hear of the Eight Great Experts from your past life?”

“The Eight Great Experts?”

I racked my memory before a light bulb went off in my mind, and I quickly responded.

“The Eight Great Experts were considered the eight peerless masters in Ho-wol’s era.”

“……”

“Three of them became the masters of the Four Great Families, like the first generation figurehead, Cho Mu-rin from the Thunder Spirit lineage. You are one of them?”

“I’d say you’ve got the gist of it, but don’t seem to know the specifics. Then again, what would someone like you care about me in your past life?”

Shim Su-ryeok sighed.

“I am indeed one of the Eight Great Experts, also known as Shim Su-ryeok, King of the Golden Fist. I single-handedly dominated the Jianghu, leading over five thousand martial artists.”

“Woah!”

I thought his claims couldn’t be mere boasting.

‘He had quite a reputation in the Jianghu!’

Five thousand people would easily surpass the capabilities of any average great sect. Considering the ancient times, he must have commanded a truly impressive force. He likely subjugated dozens if not hundreds of sects underneath him.

“I attacked five strongholds and made them my bases. Those were my prime years when I ruled the world…”

Nostalgically mumbling about the good old days, Shim Su-ryeok continued.

“But when I boldly challenged the ruler of the White Lotus Sect, the great dragon lord Ho-wol, I lost within three moves and became one of his subordinates… Not just me, but all of the eight great experts lost to Ho-wol and became part of the White Lotus Sect’s hierarchy.”

I remembered something and blurted out.

“So amongst the Eight Great Experts, while three of them became the leaders of the Four Great Families, the other four chose to remain unrecorded and requested to be direct disciples of Ho-wol?”

Shim Su-ryeok nodded.

“Exactly. These three were indeed the legendary figures of our era, often referred to as the Three Great Ascendants. They had a status above the others, that couldn’t be helped. One was the strongest of the Orthodox Sect, another was the strongest of the Heretical Sect, and the last was an anomaly between the two.”

“Oh. Then the Three Great Ascendants must have held their ground against Ho-wol.”

“No. They managed to endure a mere ten moves. Had Ho-wol wished to eliminate them, it could have ended much sooner. They simply weren’t a match.”

“……”

“While there were disparities between the Eight Great Experts, against Ho-wol, they were all mere amateurs.”

Muttering in a bleak manner, Shim Su-ryeok continued.

“What’s more amusing is that my own martial arts, which were originally far behind the Three Great Ascendants, improved to the point where I could handle them leisurely after becoming Ho-wol’s disciple. He truly was… beyond heaven. I had no regrets in abandoning my reputation in the Jianghu.”

“I see…”

“The Three Great Ascendants were only granted a little training under Ho-wol and served as leaders of the Four Great Families, aiming to develop their martial arts and influence, whereas we purely pursued strength to become Ho-wol’s elite guards and disciples. That is essentially the epitome of our relationship with him.”

As I continued to listen, an unsettling thought struck me.

“Wait a second. If there were Eight Great Experts and three became direct disciples, where did the last one go?”

“He became the disciple of the Divine Maiden Ayuta.”

“Oh.”

“He originally belonged to the sorcerer faction, so Ho-wol thought it would be appropriate for him to become Ayuta’s disciple.”

Only then did I finally feel a past confusion of mine being resolved.

‘So that’s the reason.’

I recalled what Lee Cheong-un had told me.

[The founding master of the White Lotus Sect, Dharma, was said to be a powerful monk overseeing divine laws. He secretly gathered followers to form the White Lotus Sect, but for about a hundred years, that early part of history was utterly absent.]

[It was as if that segment of history intentionally disappeared, leaving only the history from when the Four Great Families were fully established.]

One hundred years of actual history.

That was when the failed endeavor of achieving the True Martial Home needed to be handed over to Ho-wol, revitalizing the White Lotus Sect into a martial world overlord while establishing new Four Great Families.

Moreover, in that process, the identities of Ho-wol’s elite guards, the Eight Great Experts who had become the leaders of the Four Great Families, had to be kept secret. If their true identities got out, the likes of me, capable of using Soul Calling techniques or divine beings, would have summoned their souls to discover the secrets of the White Lotus Sect.

Was Ho-wol careful enough to plot every little detail?

While I was internally amazed, Shim Su-ryeok’s voice brought me back to reality.

“As Ho-wol’s disciple, while learning martial arts, we fervently wished to learn the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun technique. You see, Ho-wol never used the Great Dragon technique in a fight.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“Even when he defeated the Eight Great Experts in under ten moves, he never once used it. Yet, he claimed that when he unleashed the Great Dragon technique, he became several dozen times stronger. In reality, anyone who witnessed Ho-wol using the Great Dragon technique would be taken down in one blow—who wouldn’t drool over that power?”

“……”

So he didn’t use it because he was worried that he’d kill everyone if he did… It turns out, there was such a vast difference in skill compared to mere martial artists, too.

“However, Ho-wol never taught anyone the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun. Not even to his direct disciple Cho Mu-rin… We were always curious about the reason, but after about ten years of following him, he finally taught us the reason.”

“What was the reason?”

Shim Su-ryeok looked skyward as he answered.

“He said it was due to acquiring the cursed power of the Great Dragon through Dharma. Conversely, he desperately cultivated his own martial arts to suppress the Great Dragon’s power in order to survive. Eventually, when his martial arts and the power of the Great Dragon reached equilibrium, the threat to his life vanished; however, he still claimed he couldn’t control the Great Dragon.”

“……!!”

“The reason for having us as his disciples was that if he couldn’t control the Great Dragon’s power and went berserk, we were to risk our lives to stop him.”

I was left stupefied by the unexpected truth. Was that the reason he had four nameless disciples whose past he erased?

Feeling slightly flustered, I spoke up.

“Wait… You’re saying Dharma passed the power of the Great Dragon to Ho-wol? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

Shim Su-ryeok firmly stated.

“Indeed. What you referred to as the true dragon’s power is precisely that Great Dragon’s power.”

“Umm.”

“But like I said, I recall none of that. I went with Ho-wol to Baekdu Mountain, but anything after that is a blur.”

With a darkened expression, Shim Su-ryeok continued.

“So let’s combine our strengths and hone our martial arts here. You and I are to support each other’s training.”

“Train? But you also must have the power of the Great Dragon lying dormant within you. Wouldn’t you have to control that?”

“That’s why I need to train.”

Ho-wol had told me that as he deepened his own martial arts practice, he naturally became able to control the Great Dragon. I, too, couldn’t help but follow in his footsteps. There seems to be something effective about martial arts.

“Ah, I see.”

“And for some reason, it feels like if I can raise the level of my martial arts, I can clear the haze that’s clouding my mind.”

“You could regain your memories.”

I was finally able to grasp what Shim Su-ryeok was trying to convey.

‘There’s definitely no downside to this…’

Feeling a little worried, I muttered.

“Sorry, but I might not have time to help you train while I’m busy with my own practice. Please understand that.”

Having originally intended to have my own time, I didn’t want to lose time helping him.

Just then, Shim Su-ryeok seemed slightly annoyed, his brows knitting.

“Teach you? Do you take me for some low-tier martial artist?”

I was taken aback and struggled to find the right words.

“Well, after having lost so clearly to Ho-wol, it’s not like I’m your match now…”

“Seeing you act like a reborn person, it’s clear you’re quite arrogant. Or is it because you belong to Thunder God lineage?”

Shim Su-ryeok clenched his fists and took up a stance.

“With so much time on our hands, if you have confidence, let’s have a match.”

At that instant, my competitive spirit ignited.

I’ve been wanting to test my skills against this enigmatic master from the Fire Spirit lineage.

“Oho. I’m confident!”

With a swift motion, I stepped back, raising my spear while preparing my stance. I was sure I could handle his attacks with just my Ranna Chul technique.

‘In this battle, I won’t use divine powers or skills!’

If I did, Shim Su-ryeok might unleash the power of the true dragon, which would make it impossible for me to win. But winning through those means would not be an achievement, only a hollow victory. As Shim Su-ryeok suggested, fighting purely with martial arts would be the best way to gain something in this battle, so I resolved to not worry about winning or losing.

Without further ado, Shim Su-ryeok launched into an attack without prattling.

Swoosh!

‘Howling Arrow Strike (弓身彈影)! Outrageous… he can use that legendary light movement skill!’

While this legendary speed technique was once used frequently in the ancient martial world, it faded from memory, becoming a legend itself! By bouncing off like a bow, it had a unique technique and mysterious powers that reinforced existing techniques. He must surely be an unparalleled martial master from ancient times, like Yeodong-bin, renowned for his legendary skills.

‘Here!’

With a clang, my spear’s absolute slash vibrated against Shim Su-ryeok’s fist technique. Though incredibly quick, I’d faced enough masters to know that this speed felt manageable. I transitioned into lightning-fast movements, executing the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms like a swirling torrent.

As Shim Su-ryeok dodged my strike, I started reading the flow, aiming to thrust in a decisive strike at a gap. In my Absolute Realm, I could foresee the potential flow. Given that Shim Su-ryeok was operating within my assumptions, predicting that much was easy for me.

‘If it all goes well, I might resolve this in under fifty breaths… wait?’

Crumble!

But to my surprise, Shim Su-ryeok didn’t dodge my piercing spear at all. He stood steadfast, adopting a posture that appeared to gather strength as if bracing for impact!

Madman… Did he want to die?!

Surprisingly, instead of being skewered, he absorbed the attack as if his powerful aura deflected the strike, sounding like a hammer hitting steel.

Bam!

“……!!”

I was taken aback at his monumental defense.

“No way?!”

How could he withstand my force with just his body?! He hadn’t even used a Protection Energy technique!

Considering that I had channeled my injected inner power into that attack, the sheer strength in Shim Su-ryeok’s defense was unbelievable. At least in the Ming era, no one could inflict wounds on him except for those at Absolute Realm! How could a mere human possess such defense?

As I stood astounded, Shim Su-ryeok murmured.

“It’s said that once you surpass the realm of simple Qi, you can create a protective barrier with your inner qi, but that’s merely the extreme of internal defense. The true amalgamation of external and internal skills is embodied in this Golden Body.”

“Golden Body?! That’s not something I’ve heard of….”

“The martial art of Golden Body is a low-tier martial skill, but I single-handedly perfected it to transcend to my own realm.”

There was a gleam in Shim Su-ryeok’s eyes.

“I, the King of the Golden Fist, may be underestimated, but do not underestimate Ho-wol’s disciples!”

At that moment, it felt as though time paused. I sensed Shim Su-ryeok’s previously quiet aura gathering, rapidly transforming like paint being splashed. As his aura intensified, a white light began to shimmer around his body, and soon the light formed a pillar stretching through the heavens.

‘……!!’

And the very next moment—Shim Su-ryeok unleashed his true martial arts.

Golden Sky Shatter (金鋼天地碎)!

A whirlwind distorted the intent energy, creating a massive cyclone that seemed to draw everything towards it. The pressure felt overwhelming; it was like being submerged deep underwater, rendering movement nearly impossible. Amidst the escalating pressure, a golden fist advanced to pierce my temple with an intense assault.

‘What devastating might!!’

I clenched my teeth, fortifying my Intent Heavenly Pillar alongside my inner power, discarding the immense pressure all at once. The force I released seemed to communicate with Shim Su-ryeok, their expressions subtly shifting.

Boom!

Just after shaking off the pressure, I activated the Three Treasure Technique and narrowly evaded Shim Su-ryeok’s attack. Luckily, I managed to use the Three Treasure Technique’s remarkable properties; otherwise, avoiding it by any other means would’ve been impossible.

‘I could’ve blocked it, but…’

Going straight against it would have meant I entered with an already established stance, and given the initiated Golden Sky Shatter, the likelihood of suffering damage was huge. Even if I had blocked it, continuing to be pushed back would lead me to lose at every opportunity.

With a whoosh, my hair whipped wildly in the wind as I maintained my focus on Shim Su-ryeok. He seemed to admire my evasion.

“I’ve yet to see someone dodge like this aside from Ho-wol. That extraordinary footwork doesn’t seem like something from the Four Great Families, does it?”

“It’s the Three Treasure Technique practiced by the Wudang Sect’s Jang Sam-bong, although Jang Sam-bong is a master from after your time…”

In response to his admiration, I lightly nodded.

“Sorry. I underestimated you.”

“……”

As Shim Su-ryeok silently scrutinized me, I took a deep breath before continuing.

“The King of the Golden Fist Shim Su-ryeok, you are indeed a master of the Absolute Realm.”

What Shim Su-ryeok had just unleashed was the Intent Heavenly Pillar!!

An unquestionable mark of Absolute Realm!

He had been concealing his martial arts prowess since awakening.

‘Damn it. I should’ve suspected something.’)

If he was once a renowned master in the Jianghu, he was undoubtedly an extraordinary peerless expert. Given that he’d spent many decades receiving training from Ho-wol, there was no way he would be anything but extraordinary.

Seeing as Ho-wol nurtured those nameless disciples specifically to have them kill him in case he went berserk made it all the more unnerving.

Then, Shim Su-ryeok casually dropped his battle stance and addressed me.

“Interesting. If your Thunder God lineage strengths were on display here, you wouldn’t hesitate to continue fighting, would you?”

“Well, ordinarily, I would, but since you acted all mad just to spar, I don’t feel the need for hostility. I have a lot of time, but I don’t wish to fight out of anger.”

I worried that if I let my emotions take charge, I’d inadvertently unleash other powers beyond martial arts, which would ruin everything. Realizing my lack of mental training made me all the more cautious.

“……You seem to have firmly resolve if you want to pursue training like that. I understand your mindset.”

That’s right.

Shim Su-ryeok had pretended to be angry just to encourage me to spar. While I hadn’t acted rude, considering his character, it was something he could easily overlook.

Without missing the chance, he shrugged off the act with a smile.

“When did this transformation turn so peculiar? Even Cho Mu-rin wouldn’t cease to proceed despite this.”

“You know Cho Mu-rin?”

“We’ve exchanged names, yes. He’s rather proud, so he wouldn’t particularly bother recalling us.”

“……”

I contemplated before speaking.

“Just to clarify, all three of your other disciples are all of the Absolute Realm too, right?”

“That’s correct. By abandoning their pasts and devoting themselves purely to training under Ho-wol, they all reached that level. When we entered Baekdu Mountain, we all stood at the Absolute Realm.”

A sense of foreboding seized me.

“……If that’s the case…”

“I can guess what you’re thinking.”

The seriousness in Shim Su-ryeok’s eyes darkened.

“You’re right. That mysterious entity from Baekdu Mountain was indeed powerful enough to successfully ambush Ho-wol and the four masters of the Absolute Realm. You’ll eventually face that entity.”

“This discussion ends here. As I mentioned, my memories aren’t complete, and dwelling on useless thoughts will only interfere with training.”

“That’s a valid point. Let’s proceed with our training.”

“Hmm. Let’s see…”

Shim Su-ryeok, as if still trying to settle things, scanned his surroundings before pointing toward the ruins of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

“Before we dive into our training, let’s fix up the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.”

“Huh? We’ve been training perfectly fine in ruins until now. Why the sudden change?”

“Why, you ask? We won’t just be fighting in the wild or open plains. We’ll also need to engage in narrow buildings or hallways, and practicing martial arts in those situations is training in itself.”

“Ah, I see.”

Shim Su-ryeok mentioned this seemingly shyly.

“Perhaps I simply have a desire to live a bit more like a human. I’m not fond of rolling around in ruins covered in dust for hundreds of years.”

“……”

Clearly, my nonchalance towards the training environment was unusual, and it made sense that living like a person would be a natural preference.

I thought that over while extending my hand to channel my divine power.

‘Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, be restored.’

Whirr whirr—

Moments later, amidst the piles of dirt, bricks and wooden beams began floating against gravity, slowly returning to their original forms.

“Oh, amazing.”

Shim Su-ryeok, nearby, marveled.

‘Just as Fuxi said. This divine power doesn’t require any practicing or effort…’

Using divine power felt similar to shooting an arrow. Once I determined my target and pulled the string named ‘will,’ the arrow would fly by itself, and there was no need to struggle to ensure it flew nicely.

Yet that thought also filled me with dread.

‘Indeed, it would be for the best to limit my divine power use during these practice periods…’

Divine power is dangerous.

If I were to become accustomed to the convenience and might of it, I’d have no intention of dealing with the uncomfortable realities of martial arts training. Aside from the surrounding environment, I’d refrain from using it as much as possible.

Once the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School was fully restored, Shim Su-ryeok spoke.

“I have my own training to do, so train at your own pace too. If you hit a snag, we can help each other.”

“Understood.”

“Oh, also prepare a warm bath with hot water at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.”

“……”

As I watched Shim Su-ryeok casually stride into the reopened Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, I contemplated.

‘What should I train in now?’

I’ve learned the Soul of the Four Gods, and the path toward becoming a Martial Soul is indeed grounded. However, aside from that, I have yet to properly master anything I’ve learned, leaving me confused about what to pursue. With so much on my plate, I found myself lost as to where to start.

Doing circles with the Immortal Sword Technique is becoming tedious.

Continuing with the spear technique doesn’t particularly excite me either.

Practicing a hodgepodge of random martial arts from scratch also feels less than appealing.

As I sat there, contemplating my next move, I suddenly felt a sensation.

Crack!

“Ugh… Ughhh!!”

Suddenly, my temples throbbed painfully, accompanied by an unsettling smell that seemed to ignite my mind. I barely endured the extreme pain, relieved that it felt temporary. In a hurry, I conjured a mirror using my powers to inspect my temples. Suddenly, a mark resembling a lightning scar appeared as if I’d been burned!

Staring at the mark, my heart sank.

‘Ah!! Could it be… the lingering effects of the Star God’s blessing still haven’t resolved?!’

The forces containing my divine power weakened as the contained force of lightning seeped from within, leaving marks on my body.

I had assumed that dying would put an end to that phenomenon!

‘What does this mean? Dying yet everything still continues as before…’

Confused, I also realized the very task I now had at hand: controlling the incredible thunderous power latent within me—the tremendous force of Jupiter, hundreds of times stronger than Earth’s lightning.

The Fire Dragon Incarnate had ordered me to waste this energy freely, but how exactly?

“Hmm… Wait… waste the energy? Perhaps…?”

That’s when it struck me.

I felt a sudden connection in my head and began concentrating.

Then, with a snap of my fingers, I exclaimed,

“……It’s the Soul of the Four Gods!!”

I might have stumbled upon an unexpected solution.

Whirr—

I began channeling the energy of the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique throughout my being. Once moving along the meridians, a colossal surge of thunderous energy started to dance within me, and I felt tension radiate as my spine became damp from the process.

‘Ugh, as I thought…’

It wasn’t mere tension. When the Nine Chambers of Thunder was enacted, the flow of Thunder Spirit was supposed to rise to a level I could originally handle. Yet, it was no longer so. Initially, while it flowed in a manageable manner, the size of that force began to escalate and only when I performed the Lesser Circulation once, it swelled to three times its original force. It felt as if I was attempting to force a massive object through a tiny hole, sending my meridians and body quaking in fears of shattering.

The enormity of the lightning force was the cause.

‘The Star God’s blessing…!!’

Because of the still unresolved Star God’s blessing, the colossal force of lightning from Jupiter was seated within me, progressively amplifying whenever I accessed my true martial forces. The troubling part was that this amplification was a mere trace of the original immense force, and the true essence was something I could not control given my current level of mastery over the Thunder Spirit. The successful culmination of the Nine Chambers of Thunder’s training was something beyond what I could currently achieve.

While I could tap my divine powers to stabilize it, there was a ticking time bomb of that raging lightning power.

To control it, I would need to expend absurd amounts of energy.

‘And… if I were to unleash without care, the Soul of the Four Gods might be the answer!’

Backed by the resonating heart resolve akin to that of the Nine Chambers of Thunder, I slow my internal Thunder Spirit’s rush while allowing the force to spread across my whole being.

Crackle…!!

From my body, blue lightning crackled as if encasing me, but this wasn’t the state of Thunder Spirit. At that moment, just an outburst of power was escaping without direction. Maintaining that phase, I began to invoke the core purpose of the Nine Chambers of Thunder, allowing the Thunder Spirit flowing through me to whirl.

Boom boooom…!

The booming resonated beside me as I felt the Thunder Spirit within round into a spherical shape. Currently, though it was rounded, as my willpower strengthened, it began to transform into a pillar-like form. As it continued, I began observing the ‘seam’ gradually.

‘……Didn’t Lee Seol-pyo mention this?’

In learning the Nine Chambers of Thunder from him, I had heard that interspersing the Thunder Spirit would create a ‘seam’ that could be undone with deep practice.

This seam, which practitioners could mistake as a weakness in their core, was something Lee Seol-pyo assured was a feature built into the Nine Chambers of Thunder design.

Why was it constructed to carry such seams?

Back then, I couldn’t grasp the reasoning behind it and had merely been training, yet now I felt as though I might finally be inching toward understanding.

The Intent Heavenly Pillar.

With my willpower erecting a pillar, it felt as though the Thunder Spirit was merging seamlessly with the Nine Chambers of Thunder. I steadily approached the seam, my intent igniting the seeping energy.

And at the moment my hands reached this ‘seam,’ the techniques of the martial arts cascaded through my mind faster than arrows.

The art was the Soul Exchange Technique.

“……!!”

Without a moment to think, I pressed the Intent Heavenly Pillar against the seam and twisted it right and left, unsealing it. Instantly, the energies of the Thunder Spirit effortlessly separated into two pieces, and I held both halves in my hands, initiating their rhythmic spins outside my body.

Assembly of two currents began to whirr in opposite directions. They reflected one another like mirrors, forming two poles, as I steadied myself, realizing I could finally balance and command the energy.

‘Succeeded.’

This wasn’t an awakening.

I had just finally recognized the qualities found in the Nine Chambers of Thunder from the start.

‘I’ve managed to separate the Thunder Soul from the Thunder Force!’

The Nine Chambers of Thunder, rooted in the Soul Exchange technique—created solely for manipulating the essence of thunder as if it were alive, naturally granting the skills needed to separate them!

With my Thunder Soul (雷魂) and Thunder Force (雷焰) now distinctly apart, the velocity of each current increased! Most importantly though, by splitting the energy, my vigor doubled!

When the Thunder Spirit was prohibitively robust, there was simply no better technique than this!

Quite possibly, the masters of the Thunder God lineage who perfected the Nine Chambers of Thunder might have previously foreseen situations like this.

‘Good. Originally, controlling excessive power was challenging, but right now…’

Seizing the opportunity, I began to compress the Thunder Spirit beneath the pillar form using the polar currents together with my Intent Heavenly Pillar, and once it fully solidified into a robust pillar, I opened my eyes to unleash a new technique.

Soul of the Four Gods!

Flame Soul Transformation (炎魂化)!

Whrrrr!!

Just a few moments later, as fifteen breaths slipped by, the intense Thunder Spirit I had been releasing quickly morphed into a fiery spirit—the Flame Spirit (炎靈)! In the process, I could now see that the Flame Spirit had split into two independent flows—two Thunder Spirits turned simultaneously into two Flame Spirits!

‘Hmm… just as Shim Su-ryeok mentioned.’

Every major change precedes a minor one otherwise bound to follow suite.

I experimented with whether I could retain one Flame Spirit and one Thunder Spirit respectively but ultimately found that my technique lacked the proficiency needed. While I wasn’t deficient, mastering the full implications of the transformations using the Soul of the Four Gods seemed to require an extraordinary sensitivity.

When the energy stabilized post-Flame transformation, I pondered.

‘Still maintaining two separate currents. So did the Thunder Spirit and the Flame Spirit transform individually into their respective forms?’

…

Could it grow into another transformation once more?

If so, what would the benefit be?

‘I can’t be certain. It feels as if the seams were made for ease of division, yet right now, this peculiar situation allows me to cleave apart, but splitting becomes imperfect the more I divide… Could I potentially split it into four or eight? But why divide?’

Melting among questions regarding martial arts, I finally returned to the principal aims, refocusing my energy to maintain the pillar form while reciting the core techniques of the Soul of the Four Gods aloud.

‘Shim Su-ryeok claimed the pillar form transforms properties more readily than the spherical form. He was certainly correct.’

In spherical form, energy diffused widely, yet in a pillar shape, the energy’s qualities sharpened markedly. The specifics were unclear, but I merely acknowledged it.

Once more, I recited the techniques of the Soul of the Four Gods, my eyes radiating brilliance.

Soul of the Four Gods!

Water Soul Transformation (水魂化)!

Swoosh!

At that moment, the Flame Spirit coursing through my body transformed into the Water Spirit (水靈). In unison, my inner power receded while my energy sank, and I felt my strength diminish.

Even as the power waned, I was encouraged by how things fell into place, a smile creeping across my face.

“Next up is Wind Soul Transformation. I simply rinse and repeat, right?”

Harnessing the overwhelming thunder of Jupiter within me, I would utilize the method of the Soul of the Four Gods in series, conjuring a continuous cycle of thunder-water-fire-wind alterations. Through this series, the signature of the Nine Chambers of Thunder would grow even stronger, alongside my command of its powers.

I continually adapted my Thunder Spirit using the Soul of the Four Gods. Each transformation broadened my essence, each release of energy pulsating and cascading in streams of thunder, water, fire, and wind, each wave embracing and pouring into the external world.

How many times had I been through this process? Only after approximately twenty uses of the Soul of the Four Gods, an overpowering fatigue forced its way upon me.

‘Ugh… this must be my limit?’

This sensation resembled the overwhelming exhaustion I felt during training thousands of times. I could hold on a little longer physically, but I intuitively sensed it was time to ease off. I decided to stop the transformations of the Soul of the Four Gods and let my body breathe.

Phew…

The area around me was utterly chaotic due to constantly shifting the Soul of the Four Gods’ elements. A reflection of the energies had influenced my surroundings, and I intended to assess how much my Thunder Spirit had then receded.

‘Indeed, it has diminished. But…’

Comparatively speaking, it felt akin to having drained water from a fifty-foot wide lake, merely scooping out a bathtub’s worth or so.

Under normal circumstances, such consumption of inner power would deplete most martial artists entirely, but the vast reserves of my Thunder Spirit left the process feeling ambiguous. Certainly, the amount I had dispensed was substantial, yet as I continued repeating the technique, I would inevitably drain all of my energy.

‘Yet doing this has alleviated the discomfort I felt from my overabundant Thunder Spirit earlier…’

Should I persist, I’d eventually be able to reduce the overarching side effects from the Thunder Spirit surge. Letting out a sigh of relief, I found satisfaction knowing I’d finally chosen a direction for my training.

‘Something feels strange though. Why do I sense that there are more than four energies circulating?’

I originally intended to practice using just the four attributes, yet now it felt like additional currents were keenly vibrating for further transformations. While I remained focused solely on my predetermined practice, I was sure they represented various forces beyond merely thunder, water, fire, and wind.

The Soul of the Four Gods was supposed to cycle among its four vessels; why then could I detect ‘another’ vessel as part of the energies?

While eager to explore this newly identified possibility, my instincts reminded me that I could easily fall into the trap of severe energy depletion. I opted to first drain away as much energy as possible to stabilize my condition before even considering that further endeavor.

“Whew… I’m feeling drowsy. Maybe I’ll take a quick rest.”

With that, I sprawled down and fell fast asleep. Typically possessing an almost infinite endurance, I had previously exhausted my energy reserves beyond racing to the very end, rendering me utterly worn down.

……

Boom boom…

When I awoke, not only had the darkness changed, but I found Shim Su-ryeok was now in proximity and vigorously practicing his martial arts.

As he unleashed fierce attacks, using the Great Wind Technique, he glanced over and remarked.

“Ah, you’re awake, Baek Woong.”

“Is there something you want to say?”

Shim Su-ryeok seemed independent but if he decided to train nearby me, it must be due to a specific intention. He chuckled lightly.

“Well, you see, I’m craving for food.”

“…… Huh?”

“I’m suddenly feeling nostalgic for mundane meals. If I don’t eat soon, I might fall to my heart’s turmoil.”

“Uh… Sure, I got it.”

Whoosh…

“Food, arise!”

I used divine power to conjure the meals I knew how to prepare. As the dishes materialized, Shim Su-ryeok immediately grabbed a chicken leg.

“Chicken is great. I suppose you like it, don’t you?”

“It’s my all-time favorite.”

“In that case, I’ll indulge!”

Nom nom nom…

I gazed over, spaced out while shim su-ryeok devoured the leg. Then he munching rather voraciously, I probed.

“Normally, one wouldn’t feel hunger or engage in bodily matters here, why bother eating?”

“Hmmm… What’s the harm? Eating fulfills a fundamental human desire. Just because I don’t need to eat, the taste of delicious food doesn’t simply vanish, does it? It’s been so long since I savored something delectable—it hit me splendidly.”

“……”

“You, on the other hand, seem oddly disconnected. No matter how monumentally you reached your peak power, eliminating the need for food or rest doesn’t mean you lose your appetite, right? Seeing this exquisite dish of chicken, you don’t find it appetizing?”

“Well… that could be true.”

Since I no longer felt the need to eat, my senses dulled since I could go ages without experiencing hunger’s pangs. It occurred to me that perhaps I had moved past human necessity into an excessively transcendental space, and Shim Su-ryeok was correct.

“Ho-wol was like this too. He appeared to be free from human needs. Watching you, I’m reminded of him.”

“Is that so? Be it Ho-wol or I, facing powerful foes forced us into this state.”

“A needed excuse, I reckon.”

I raised an eyebrow at Shim Su-ryeok.

“Excuse? What do you mean?”

“I’ve spent decades watching Ho-wol, and now it’s your turn to hear what I believe.”

Shim Su-ryeok lifted a chicken leg, a knowing grin on his face.

“It’s as simple as that. You and Ho-wol became wholly unrivaled beings. Not just through the nature of your bodies, but even your motivations and desires veered into a realm beyond that of humans. Yet, if you, someone ‘inhuman’ decides to save humanity, wouldn’t that be akin to a God saving a mere mortal?”

“……”

“I see you pursuing martial arts and forsaking your humanity, yet the reality draws closer to something incomparable. Instead of struggling to assert strength over mere flesh, why not embrace the notion of becoming the ultimate ‘God’ instead?”

The moment I heard that, it felt like I had been struck hard in the head and I went silent, taken aback momentarily.

After a while, I recovered to quickly blurt out.

“When I see myself as human, I am human. That conviction is enough for me.”

“I wasn’t trying to offend you.”

As Shim Su-ryeok finished the last of his chicken, he continued.

“When I see you, it presents a perplexing situation for a martial artist.”

“What’s so perplexing?”

“Honestly, martial artisans dedicate their craft mostly to fight against external beings, not divine beings or monsters. They practice martial arts to become stronger and fulfill human desires. So, when you and Ho-wol, both of you, barely resemble mere humans but still aspire to save the world, I find myself bemused.”

Thump.

Shim Su-ryeok tossed aside the chicken leg until it hit the floor.

“It’s all utter nonsense.”

I felt a flicker of annoyance at his derisive laughter.

“You’re acting high and mighty. Do you think I wasn’t around for over thirty deaths, encountering countless calamities?”

“Of course, I appreciate your concerns for being a lofty hero. I admire the excellence of your purpose to save countless lives while acknowledging your mindset.”

“But who exactly asked you to rescue them? Why must fighting against gods yet seeking martial strength become our only focal point?”

“……”

“I suspect you might be assigning an unreasonably lofty meaning to martial arts.”

I spent some time reflecting on Shim Su-ryeok’s words. Though I’ve discussed this multiple times, he merely presented a different perspective on the gap between the gods and humanity. However, a feeling swept over me that this took on a pivotal distinction. It felt as if I finally grasped the truths I had willfully ignored.

I abruptly let out my thoughts.

“In the end, I was too scared to reveal my true feelings to Ho-wol, but here I am spilling my thoughts because you seemed more approachable.”

Shim Su-ryeok chuckled softly.

“Touché… Hehe.”

“Don’t worry; mentioning this to someone else outside might lead to a beating, but I’m starting to see where you’re coming from.”

When I stood up and brushed myself off, I declared.

“I am bound to follow my own path! The mysteries of the Soul of the Four Gods still await my training.”

“Oh, on that note…”

“Another thing to say?”

Shim Su-ryeok’s glance caught me off guard.

“Isn’t your clever divine power worth using to restore your stamina and inner strength? With that, we could recover faster without the need for breaks!”

“……!!”

“As a little appreciation for the chicken leg.”

Oh, how could I have forgotten?!

Taken aback, I realized that I could readily call upon the energy of my divine power rather than swamp in fatigue!

I was astounded not only by the sudden understanding but also fearful at a corner of my mind.

“Hmm… However, I swore to keep my powers to a minimum while I’m practicing martial techniques. I would prefer to recover using my natural ability.”

“……? Why impose those limitations on yourself?”

“What do you mean?”

With an earnest gaze, Shim Su-ryeok implored.

“Is there no way to master the martial arts using your divine power? If so, you could create a skill of your own!”

“……”

“I thought you were of the Thunder God lineage!”

I could hardly believe it, briefly lost for words. Eventually, I sighed heavily.

“Let’s drop the nonsense and move on.”

“Again, let’s acknowledge you for a moment. Just think: I’m willing to be a bit less of a lazy ass.”

Paaat!

Shim Su-ryeok activated the Light Body Technique and scurried off toward a distant mountain, as I scratched my head in bewilderment.

“What a hilarious human.”

I’d never seen a character quite like Shim Su-ryeok, especially since he expressed his introspective ideas freely. Though amusing, my mind danced with distraction making it hard to focus, thus I shook my head and muttered.

“I’ll just stick to my own post.”

Woosh!

I immediately assumed a cross-legged position to focus on recovering my stamina and mental fortitude. Although slower than my immediate recovery through divine power, my ability ensured it wouldn’t take long to find balance again. Once recharged, I instantly began working on the Soul of the Four Gods’ transformations.

Zziiiiiii—

With the Soul of the Four Gods, I redirected the Thunder Spirit into a Water Spirit, contemplating.

‘The speed at which the energy shifts from sphere to pillar form grows quicker and quicker.’

Dispersing energy seems to sharpen focusing abilities. It was clear this would positively affect both my enactments.

But why on earth the pillar shape?

Despite my curiosity remaining unopened, I pressed forward with my drills, looking to deepen my understanding through repetitive practice.