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00366 Celestial Realm ————————————————————————=

After that, I wandered around the interior of the castle where the White Lotus Sect was for three days. The territory of the White Lotus Sect was vast enough to surpass that of an ordinary castle, and the stronghold seemed to prepare for the likelihood of war. There appeared to be a large number of farmers and ordinary people engaged in agriculture, suggesting a self-sufficient community. Considering the influence of the sect, there were thousands to hundreds of thousands of people under its wing. Of course, while they were all affiliated with the sect, it seemed that few formally learned martial arts or directly assisted the White Lotus Sect’s activities.

When I met one of the farmers and asked why he hadn’t properly joined the sect to learn martial arts, the farmer replied.

“Oh, that’s a dreamlike idea.”

“Why is it a dream?”

“They prioritize young kids with talent in martial arts and even then, you have to go through fierce competition to be recognized. With a strict selection process, people like us, ordinary folks, can only dream of becoming a member of the White Lotus.”

“Hmmm…”

From what I gathered, not many people truly became members of the White Lotus Sect or joined the Four Great Families. Since they grew Sacred Lotus in large quantities, they could produce powerful experts, so I wondered why they did it. Zhuge Sa mused.

[Interlopers can slip in anytime, yet they’d accept just anyone as a White Lotus member? If there are intruders, it would be proper to monitor them properly before admitting members. Why think of just one side and ignore the other?]

[Shut up. It’s clear if you think a little.]

[Even if it’s few, there could be hundreds or thousands of members who consumed Sacred Lotus. The White Lotus Sect is indeed a frightening organization.]

[……]

Zhuge Sa’s words were correct. Even if they selected elite warriors from the hundreds of thousands of influential members of the White Lotus Sect, that number would still be considerably high. This is because the sect operated in opposition to the Imperial Palace in the shadows, and they had to be ready for an all-out assault from the imperial forces at any time. Hence, under the assumption of countering tens of thousands of soldiers, they must maintain a standing army, which would likely result in the education and arms of the Sacred Lotus members.

“But this is practically a nation in itself.”

I couldn’t help but let out a low voice. The internal fortress of the White Lotus Sect was towering, with at least dozens of miles under their control, and close by, there were watchtowers and buildings that could serve as fortresses in case of emergencies. There were even well-equipped armories stocked with weaponry, indicating they were always prepared for warfare. Additionally, this area even used a different currency system from the outside.

In this place, the Master of the White Lotus Sect was like an emperor. No, to the people of the White Lotus Sect, the leader might as well be treated like a god. As I realized the might of the White Lotus Sect, I felt pity for those from the Thunder God Lineage, including Lee Kwang.

Such a fearsome organization had previously never existed and would likely never exist again. To fight against the White Lotus Sect would be akin to committing suicide.

After finishing my reconnaissance, I returned to my lodging to rest. Today marks the third day, so tomorrow I will meet the sect leader and begin my training in martial arts secrets. As I gazed up at the night sky from the pavilion, I spoke to Zhuge Sa.

[There’s something I’m curious about.]

Zhuge Sa replied tersely.

[Do I have to answer just because you’re curious? Why don’t you just shut up and sleep?]

[Damn it. Just…]

I frowned and continued.

[Why does the White Lotus Sect aim to cure the Young Master before conquering the Central Plains?]

Zhuge Sa answered, seemingly intrigued.

[Oh… what makes you think that?]

[Based on what I observed today, my doubts have deepened. The current power of the White Lotus Sect boasts hundreds, if not thousands, of formidable warriors, Dharma Guardians, and senior experts, rivaling an army of one hundred thousand. While the Young Master’s martial arts are excellent due to training in the Su Shin Sect, compared to the total might of the sect, it’s like comparing an ant. In terms of fighting power, he seems negligible.]

[So?]

[Looking at it from another angle, wouldn’t it be faster for the sect leader to suppress the Imperial Palace and conquer the world first, and then search for a cure rather than focusing on finding it while practicing self-discipline?]

[Hehe… for a blockhead, you’ve thought quite a bit.]

Zhuge Sa, mocking me, paused for a moment before responding.

[You’ve missed something.]

[What did I overlook?]

[The situation regarding the Young Master being cursed by the gods. That’s known solely from the sect leader’s mouth; a third party is unaware of it, and there’s no solid evidence confirming it.]

I was taken aback!

Zhuge Sa’s observation startled me, as it was something I hadn’t considered. After pondering for a moment, I asked,

[Are you saying the leader lied about the curse on the Young Master?]

[Why not? You already know he’s a devious character. He could easily manipulate the Dharma Guardians, who are merely outsiders like you. Isn’t that true?]

[……]

He was right. Zhuge Sa chuckled disdainfully.

[By your reasoning, the leader wouldn’t let the achievement of his great ambitions hinge on the life and death of the Young Master. Such a person wouldn’t forgo conquering the Central Plains simply out of care for the Young Master. Hence, I believe the sect leader didn’t fail to conquer the Central Plains; he wasn’t able to.]

[Wasn’t able? Why?]

[It must relate to the Young Master. He’s likely more significant than you think.]

With that, Zhuge Sa continued.

[You should’ve joined the sect a lot earlier. How many years have you been just scratching the surface? The information you and Hyun have is just what the sect leader nonsensically handed to you, ha ha ha.]

[Damn! That’s why I’m part of the sect now. Quit scratching around in my head!]

[You wanted to gather everything and ended up like this.]

[Please, stop it?!]

When I expressed my annoyance, Zhuge Sa seemed to step back a bit.

[First, you need to gain the sect leader’s trust to learn about the actual situation. But to earn that trust, you’ll need to serve diligently for at least forty to fifty years. So, either gather information or directly ask the Young Master, or else…]

[Or else?]

[There’s a way to dig for information when you go back.]

What did he mean by that?

Zhuge Sa scoffed at my confusion.

[Geez, you’re really slow. Normally, one would get it with just a single mention, right?]

[Explain it.]

[The leader said he fought the [Old Ruler] suddenly summoned by some sorcerer from the Western Regions. Excluding the leader and the [Old Ruler], what else remains?]

[A sorcerer.]

[Still can’t figure it out?]

[Oh!]

Finally, I understood what he meant.

Exactly. If that statement is true, then there must indeed be a deceased sorcerer’s spirit nearby! If that spirit wasn’t sent to ascend but rather could still be summoned through the Heavenly Secret Technique, I could learn about those events back then. I marveled at how clever that would be, as I hadn’t thought of a way to go back.

Suddenly feeling flabbergasted, I exclaimed to Zhuge Sa.

“Hey! If you knew about that method during the three-day buffer, you could have told me! Then I could have searched for the sorcerer’s spirit and gathered that info. Why make me waste time?!”

“Are you kidding? Do you really think you can wander freely now?”

“What?”

“Surely, you understand your every move is being watched. There are those possessing Spirit Eyes lurking around. In this situation, would the leader be so trusting as to let you openly use the Heavenly Secret Technique to summon that spirit?”

[……]

When I fell silent, Zhuge Sa said,

[If you want to save time, don’t sleep and practice the Soul Exchange Technique instead. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen a dullard like you.]

“I got it!”

Angered, I raised my voice without meaning to. I was feeling irritated just having a mental dialogue with him. Zhuge Sa, unlike Mangnyang, could have spoken kindly, yet he insisted on using a mocking and sardonic tone, giving me a headache. Plus, the occasional hint of madness I sensed from Zhuge Sa only emphasized that he wasn’t entirely sane.

Let’s practice the Soul Exchange Technique like yesterday.

I sat in meditation, calmly gathering Qi to my palms. Then I immersed myself in the exercises to absorb energy. Zhuge Sa remarked.

[The soul is energy. Therefore, the power you absorb will inevitably become Soul Power. Additionally, since the method for cultivating this Soul Power after the initial training is highly limited, you must learn the techniques to enhance your absorption.]

Suuuh…

[Soul Power is unrelated to Qi or Internal Power. Therefore, you need to envision what your soul is and materialize it, believing in such. If you believe, that reality will somehow manifest and create a virtual attraction.]

That was much more detailed than the information I got from Mangnyang. Thanks to that, I began to grasp what it meant to absorb the essence. However, despite all that, my ability to absorb energy never seemed to increase, leaving me feeling as though I were just stuck in place.

After spending about two moments practicing the Soul Exchange Technique, Zhuge Sa grumbled.

[In foundational exercises like this, the instructor usually doesn’t go out of their way to explain. That’s because it’s assumed the learner is a martial arts genius. I thought you’d figure out at least this much. Understand? You dullard.]

“I know I lack talent.”

I replied tersely.

“But once I reach that point, everything ends up the same, so just shut it.”

[Self-deception has reached the level of divinity.]

It wasn’t worth responding.

I ignored Zhuge Sa’s taunts, cleaned up, and headed to meet the sect leader.

“I pay my respects to the sect leader.”

As I bowed in the audience chamber, the sect leader slowly rose from behind me.

[Baek Woong, Dharma Guardian. Follow me.]

“Your Honor.”

Whoosh!

Just like before, the sect leader vanished like a shadow using exceptional Light Body Technique, pointing me in the direction to follow. I arrived at the garden with the Dragon Flower Tree. It seemed the leader intended to use this for training.

The leader spoke.

[From today onward, we shall begin the teachings and reinterpretation of the Seven Great Techniques. You shall regard me as your master and swear to apply your utmost effort in your training.]

“I swear!”

[Then, explain the techniques.]

“Understood.”

I began recounting the essence of the Seven Great Techniques to the sect leader over the span of an hour. He seemed to focus intently on absorbing the information, unable to remember everything from before. As he grasped the content, he remarked.

[Why was the Peerless Technique created?]

“What?”

[Just talking to myself.]

I felt perplexed, as earlier remarks from the leader seemed open to various interpretations. Eventually, after going over the interpretations again for a while, the leader said.

[Hmm… right now, I don’t know. It’ll require a bit of practice before I can catch the main points of the Three Treasure Technique.]

“Yes.”

[Baek, Dharma Guardian, today you will practice autonomously. Starting tomorrow, do not come to the audience chamber but head straight for the garden.]

“Uh…?”

Whoosh!

With those words, the leader vanished once more. Left standing alone in the Dragon Flower Tree garden, I felt utterly perplexed, losing my words.

“……”

Starting with autonomous practice on the first day, what on earth is this about?

While it could be a unique directive from the Master of the White Lotus Sect, I couldn’t help but feel an underlying discomfort. I couldn’t comprehend the source of that discomfort, which pricked at my anxiety about potential dangers approaching me in the future. No matter how much I thought about it, it remained difficult to identify any particular significance in the leader’s actions.

Zhuge Sa remarked.

[Don’t overthink it. Why not just do what you’re told?]

“Hmm… That sounds reasonable.”

Right now, Zhuge Sa’s words seemed spot on. Regardless, the leader, as the greatest martial artist in the world, held absolute reliability regarding anything martial arts-related. Given my position as an underling compared to the leader, instead of agonizing over what to do, it made more sense to trust and follow the guidance.

[Eh? That’s not what I meant.]

“Then what do you mean?”

[You dullard. Think that one through yourself.]

“Hey!”

I shouted in frustration, but this time Zhuge Sa seemed reluctant to respond. I was continually annoyed by Zhuge Sa, yet I decided to focus on my training. After all, without any talent, the only solution lay in my steady diligence in training.

How long had I been testing the Seven Great Techniques in solitude? As the sun began to set, a senior expert from the Elder Council entered the garden and spoke to me.

“The Dharma Guardian has finished today’s sessions, so you may take your rest.”

“Understood.”

I returned to my lodgings. And thanks to my profound internal power, I didn’t need to sleep; I used that energy to recover vitality and continued practicing the Soul Exchange Technique through the night. As dawn broke, I refreshed myself and headed toward the Dragon Flower Tree.

[Dharma Guardian. Explain the essence to me again.]

“Yes.”

Upon reaching the Dragon Flower Tree, I began clarifying the essence to the sect leader for several moments. When we finished, the sect leader said.

[You may return again tomorrow.]

“Excuse me?”

[You may use any training ground within the sect, so practice diligently on your own.]

“… Yes.”

Something felt off.

I sensed a discomfort again but, for now, I acted as directed. After all, it was a fact that the sect leader agreed to become my master, and I believed adhering to his words was the right decision. So, while occupying the large training ground alone, I polished the martial arts I had learned thus far.

About sixty days passed like this.

‘Something is definitely off.’

Unable to hold back any longer, I said to the sect leader, “Sect leader… if you had meant to teach me the Three Treasure Technique…”

Then the sect leader said,

[Upon deliberation, it seems the Dharma Guardian has an urgent mission to attend to.]

“What?!”

[There’s been news of cruel Otherworldly beings terrorizing a village in the northwest canyon; the Dharma Guardian is to help them and protect the disciples.]

“……”

[I’ve granted you the use of the Spirit of Flame, so go ahead.]

“Your Honor.”

As I stepped back from the sect leader, a harsh realization struck me.

‘Still… he hasn’t taught me the Seven Great Techniques properly…’

If I had acquired them thoroughly and could apply them, there wouldn’t have been a need for such repetitive explanations and interpretations. The leader tirelessly called me over, demonstrating that his progress in training was quite slow. Right now, the reason for sending me out for work instead of explaining the Three Treasure Technique was likely due to his own sluggish progress in mastery.

Zhuge Sa scratched my mind.

[Did you just now realize? You should’ve caught on from day one.]

[What are you talking about? There’s no way the Master of the White Lotus Sect, the greatest in the world, would come up with an excuse about a slow training process.]

[Kekekek.]

When I grew annoyed, Zhuge Sa snickered.

[While the sect leader’s martial level may be the greatest, his talent isn’t necessarily the highest, and you already knew that. Originally, Lee Cheong-un’s talent far surpassed his.]

[That doesn’t make sense. How can someone not the greatest in talent still be the greatest out there?]

As one aware of the influence of talent, I could hardly accept that. There’s simply no explanation for this contradiction with the principles I understood. Then Zhuge Sa said, with a meaningful tone,

[You have far too many illusions about the leader. Or rather, your admiration for the greatest in the world seems excessive? To me, that guy merely has a lot of greed.]

[Greed?]

Zhuge Sa chuckled quietly.

[Hehe. Speculating at this point is pointless; just go do what you’re tasked with. Everything will become clear once we revive Lee Cheong-un.]

 

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