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After about a half moment, I finally suppressed my pain and regained my senses.

If it weren’t for the breathing techniques of Huatuo’s Five Animals Play and the Three Blood Vessels, I might have thought I was about to kick the bucket from the agony. Yeodong-bin literally pushed my body to its limits without giving a second thought. If I’d been a regular person, I would have been screaming in agony.

It seemed like Cheongwol and Dokgo Seong had finished their chat. Once I regained my focus, Dokgo Seong spoke up.

“Feeling better now?”

“Yeah…”

“If it’s just surface wounds, that’s one thing, but it felt like pure pain was just stimulated. There’s nothing I could do.”

With that muttering, Dokgo Seong continued.

“Did you achieve any success in swordplay?”

“……”

I took a moment to reflect deeply. After tidying up my memories, I shared my honest opinion.

“It feels… cleaner somehow.”

“Is that so? I suppose so.”

Dokgo Seong regarded me as he spoke.

“There’s nothing left for us here. Let’s use the Thunderbolt Technique and return to Dragon King’s Valley.”

“Sure.”

With a swift movement, we bid farewell to Dongyoung’s great swordsmen and made our way back to Dragon King’s Valley. Cheongwol was curiously observing the treacherous terrain and mists of the valley, while Dokgo Seong silently led us deeper into Dragon King’s Valley.

After a short while, we passed through a valley where the mists reached their peak, revealing a somewhat sizeable temple built with considerable architectural skill. My curiosity got the better of me, and I asked Dokgo Seong.

“Did you build this, Master?”

“No, it was already here.”

With a casual swipe at one of the temple’s pillars, Dokgo Seong added, “According to records left here, it was built in the later years by Master Ha Taek, the seventh of the Southern School. Many ancient texts of Zen Buddhism are said to be preserved here.”

The “Southern School” refers to Buddhist Zen, and Ha Taek, being the seventh patriarch, would have been a disciple of the sixth Patriarch, Huineng. This was clearly an ancient ruin dating back hundreds, if not thousands, of years from the Tang Dynasty.

“A high monk’s relic, huh?”

“It’s still in quite useful condition.”

As we stepped inside, a warm, lived-in atmosphere greeted us. Various animal skins laid out, and plates and everyday items were scattered throughout the space. Dokgo Seong sat down in the center and began to speak.

“First, properly greet Cheongwol.”

“Right.”

With a bow befitting of the Thunder God lineage, I proclaimed, “I am Baek Woong, successor of the Thunder God lineage. It’s an honor to meet you, Senior Cheongwol.”

Cheongwol smirked dryly, replying, “Hardly. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve met a pitiful end right there.”

“I knew you were searching for the Lunar Kill Technique, but couldn’t you move past the Entrance Sea?”

“It took me decades just to break through the Death Sea. However, after entering the Entrance Sea three years ago, I realized my own limits. The demon beasts occasionally appearing in the chaos had immense power. Breaking through the Entrance Sea was simply beyond my reach.”

He sighed.

“So I ended up living day by day in a cave I discovered along the way.”

“……”

Cheongwol was indeed an extreme peak expert. Looking back at the other Dharma Guardians, it was clear he wasn’t falling short and could be much stronger than I was now. Especially considering that the martial arts of the Thunderbolt Three Saints usually surpass Lee Kwang at this point.

But for Cheongwol to be trapped without being able to move in the Entrance Sea? Aokigahara Life Sea was undoubtedly a demon realm lurking within the mortal world.

Listening intently, Dokgo Seong asked, “Cheongwol, did that person really pass you information?”

Cheongwol’s expression twisted in horror. His eyes flared with rage as he replied, “Yes, indeed. I will definitely confront that person!”

“Hmm… that’s surprising. Why would that person…”

“I don’t really know, but at that time, it was credible information.”

“Well, given that person’s renown, I suppose.”

I was left dumbfounded listening to their conversation.

“That person? Who are you talking about?”

“The one who passed information regarding the power and location of the Lunar Kill Technique to Cheongwol.”

I felt my eyes widen.

“Who is it?”

“Old Sage of Mount Tai.”

“……!!”

“As you know, he’s one of the Three Great Masters.”

Old Sage of Mount Tai! I was taken aback because I hadn’t expected his name to come up here. Known as one of the top figures in Jianghu and possessed of world-class martial arts, he was famous after all!

Unlike the previous legendary figures like the great monks or Grand Master Myung-ho, he wasn’t known to hail from a specific sect, which added to his mysterious flair. As far as I knew throughout my past lives, Old Sage of Mount Tai was merely the master of Sagong Lin.

‘No… that’s not right. I definitely had that information.’

Suddenly, a memory flickered in my mind. It was during the time when the Sword Demon annihilated the Black Night Gate and extracted information from the Black Horse. The Black Horse had poured out all sorts of information to avoid a gruesome death and proudly touted it as top-notch intel. I distinctly remembered him mentioning Old Sage of Mount Tai back then.

[Old Sage of Mount Tai, one of the Three Great Masters, has a significant connection with the Imperial Palace and has been observed in regular contact with them. There have been hints of a meeting between Old Sage of Mount Tai and Zhuge Bu, indicating some sort of conspiracy. This is likely classified information unknown to anyone in Jianghu.]

At that time, the Black Horse was desperate to survive. The Sword Demon had simply asked, [Is that true?]

[Yes.]

[Old Sage of Mount Tai?]

[What I just mentioned is the most reliable top-secret information I have. Please, consider this.]

Of course, the Sword Demon wasn’t one to leave loose ends, and he paid the price for the information with a clean death. Back then, even the mention of Old Sage of Mount Tai didn’t resonate much with me, so I tucked it away in the back of my mind. I only needed to know he was connected to the Imperial Palace.

Yet here it was again, the name Old Sage of Mount Tai. My mind began to twist.

‘Old Sage of Mount Tai contacts the Imperial Palace… and Zhuge Bu… Furthermore, years ago, he leaked info about the Lunar Kill Technique to send Cheongwol into the Life Sea…’

This was shaping up to be a far more important figure than I had thought!

Finding out about Old Sage of Mount Tai’s secrets might just be the key to undermining the Imperial Palace!

I couldn’t help but feel exhilarated having stumbled upon this unexpected lead. I considered sharing this with Cheongwol, but ultimately decided against it.

‘I can’t trust Cheongwol.’

This wasn’t a matter of whether the Thunder God lineage had good or bad people. My ultimate goal of taking down the Imperial Palace and Heavenly Realm would likely cause friction along the way. The revival of the Thunder God lineage wouldn’t necessarily align with my greater purpose, so I needed sound advice from Mangnyang to calibrate the various variables at play.

As I fell silent, Dokgo Seong spoke up.

“You said you’ve gotten close to that old witch of the Fire Spirit Techniques. If you rely on their powers, finding Old Sage of Mount Tai would be a piece of cake.”

“Isn’t Old Sage of Mount Tai at Mount Tai?”

In response to my inquiry, Cheongwol answered.

“Not exactly. I met him once in Anhui Province. Old Sage of Mount Tai is known to traverse freely across the world and isn’t tied to just one spot.”

“……”

The two of them seemed to be subtly hoping for my assistance. Refusing wasn’t really an option, and besides, wasn’t this a chance to get some help in my quest to find Old Sage of Mount Tai? I nodded without hesitation.

“I will definitely aid in locating that person.”

“You’re reliable.”

And so, I started to re-learn the basic techniques of the Thunder Dragon Sword from Dokgo Seong. I was advancing from the Thunder Shadow Sword to the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, and eventually, I’d enter the realm of the Thunder Dragon Sword when I reached the tenth level of the True State of Martial Arts. Just about an hour into my training with Dokgo Seong on the foundational aspects of the Thunder Dragon Sword, he said,

“Alright, show me what you’ve got.”

Having previously learned the fundamental techniques of the Thunder Dragon Sword and layering it with the Thunderbolt Technique, I executed it without any hesitation. Dokgo Seong looked quite surprised, and Cheongwol’s expression mirrored his amazement. Dokgo Seong exclaimed, “Indeed… with talent like that, you must have reached an extreme peak at such a young age!”

“……”

I wondered if I should correct him, but this wasn’t exactly the time for that. I decided to let it slide and just accept being a genius. After an hour of teaching me how to harness the Thunderbolt Technique, Dokgo Seong transitioned us to the next stage.

Layering the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique with the Thunderbolt Technique!

This was the key to truly infusing my swordplay with the Thunderbolt Technique in a natural way. I had struggled with that in the past due to the countless styles that cluttered my body. I took a deep breath and lifted my sword, hoping for nothing but success.

‘This better go well!’

Whoosh!

The Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique flowed with an air of dignity, sweeping grandly like it was looking over a kingdom, then billowing like clouds before finally crashing down like a tempest. True to its reputation as the most dazzling and varied swordplay technique of the Thunder God lineage, the more I practiced, the more satisfying it became. I expanded the sword form of the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique while simultaneously injecting the Thunderbolt Technique into it.

Whoooosh—

“Wow!!”

Cheongwol exclaimed in amazement from the side. Just as expected, my sword qi and sword flame naturally unleashed the Thunder Energy as if they were meant to be.

This was undeniable proof that I could freely control the Thunderbolt Technique!

When the demonstration of the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique came to an end, Dokgo Seong nodded vigorously.

“I guess you’ve reached the point where the only thing I can teach you now is the Thunder God Sword Dance!”

“You flatter me!”

“I’m genuinely envious of you.”

There was sincere envy behind Dokgo Seong’s eyes.

“Most likely, Yeodong-bin fought like hell and absorbed all that experience and expertise, which, due to the pressure involved, unified all the muddled sword styles and martial arts swirling within you. You’ve had a fortuitous encounter!”

Indeed, it felt like I had broken through the confusion I’d faced after Yeodong-bin’s descent. But I was baffled and said to Dokgo Seong, “But I don’t have a clue what the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique even is.”

“Isn’t it a technique of the Immortal? You probably just lack the understanding.”

“Hmm…”

At that moment, Cheongwol, who had been listening, suddenly addressed me.

“Baek Woong, I see you can unleash the Soul Removal Technique, but did your former master teach you that?”

“Yes, he did.”

“If you’re willing, would you demonstrate the Soul Removal Technique here?”

I nodded and unleashed the Soul Removal Technique with everything I had. Having learned it for over a decade, it had become second nature by now. As the manifestations of the technique faded and the Thunder Energy diminished, Cheongwol said, “Are you familiar with the secrets of the Soul Removal Technique?”

“I’m not.”

Pausing to gauge Dokgo Seong’s reaction, Cheongwol said, “If you help us deal with Old Sage of Mount Tai, I’ll gladly pass on that secret to you.”

“No need for that. Since it’s a request from a senior within my circle, I’m obliged to assist.”

“I’m not so shameless as to act like that. I owe you a favor for saving my life, so repay you I must. So while I’m indebted to you, I can share my most precious secret technique with you.”

Cheongwol seemed to have a better temperament than the other Thunderbolt Three Saints. Regardless, he was considerate enough to repay kindness with respect. Listening to Cheongwol made Dokgo Seong smirk.

“Look at that. Even if the Red Moon or Green Moon came begging, would you teach them your secrets?”

“I’d rather kill myself than hand it over to them. But for Baek Woong here, I think it would be wise to teach him.”

At that moment, a thought struck me.

‘No way?’

As expected, Cheongwol confidently mentioned a name I had heard before.

“I will now impart the secret of the Soul Removal Technique, Heavenly Light! This is for you.”

It was indeed the secret technique used by the Peak Expert, Guk-ho. It seemed Cheongwol’s Soul Removal Technique overlapped with the one Guk-ho inherited. In some sense, it felt like I was losing out after saving Cheongwol, but I didn’t think so.

‘Cheongwol is a master compared to Guk-ho. Besides, Guk-ho hardly ever shared the Soul Removal Technique with anyone, so of course, he’d never disclose his secrets. This is a golden opportunity to learn the secrets of the Soul Removal Technique!’

I bowed deeply to Cheongwol.

“As a disciple, I thank you.”

In this way, I acquired the mysteries of the Thunder God Sword Dance from Dokgo Seong and the secret of the Soul Removal Technique, Heavenly Light from Cheongwol. Following through with my promise, I decided I would, in turn, teach Dokgo Seong about various martial arts from the Wudang Sect, including the Cave-Collapsing Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword.

Once the training schedule was established, Dokgo Seong addressed Cheongwol.

“As I mentioned before, rushing out into the world rashly isn’t wise. You’ve suffered mentally and physically being trapped in the Life Sea, so take your time and build up your strength while recuperating at Dragon King’s Valley.”

“Understood.”

“If Old Sage of Mount Tai lied to you, there’s definitely some dark force behind him. If it’s a dark force related to the Three Great Masters, it’s not to be taken lightly. Be cautious, as the White Lotus Sect might be involved.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dokgo Seong was a martial arts enthusiast who focused on his personal training, but he also possessed considerable leadership skills, judgment, and decisiveness. I guessed his organizational management and resourcefulness were quite impressive, along with his depth of insight. It’s no wonder he wasn’t the leader of the Thunder God lineage; the past Dharma Guardian, Lee Cheong-un, must have been an extraordinary figure indeed.

As I prepared for training, I thought, ‘After learning the Thunder God Sword Dance, I should find Sagong Lin first.’

In fact, she held the most concrete lead on Old Sage of Mount Tai.

Having learned some martial arts from Old Sage of Mount Tai, Sagong Lin was bound to have the biggest clues about him.

 

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