Chapter 95
“I couldn’t say no to the Master of the Twelve Joules.”
Being here for the sparring meant I was actually eager to hear what he had to say, especially with him offering to spill the beans on the whereabouts of the Moon Sovereign among the Seven Luminaries! Just holding out for three seconds seemed manageable, and I thought I might actually pull it off.
As I climbed onto the sparring arena with my spear, I asked, “Is there any chance you could share where the other Seven Luminaries are?”
“I’d love to, but I don’t have that intel,” he replied with a shrug.
“Could I ask just a little more?”
“Go ahead, fire away.”
I hesitated and cautiously threw out my next question, “Why did the Seven Luminaries scatter all over the world in the first place? Doesn’t it suggest that they were all housed back in the ancient Yin Dynasty thanks to the blessings of the Three Sovereigns?”
“The reason the Yin Dynasty fell is because of the Seven Luminaries,” the Master said as he tossed around the Cosmic Fragment.
“I don’t know the specifics, but I’ve heard that a war erupted due to them—the Fengshen War. In its final days, the Grand Scribe of the Yin used his techniques to scatter them across the earth. So, they might be dozens of thousands of miles away!”
“The Fengshen War, huh?”
“If you want to dig deeper, why not check the Dao Veins? But it’s been ages, so who knows if there’s any material left.”
“I have another question.” I swallowed hard and continued, “If we gather all the Seven Luminaries together and combine their powers, could we wipe out beings like the Sea God or Evil Gods?”
“…”
It seemed like my question caught him off guard, as he took a moment to ponder before finally answering with a wry smile, “I can’t say for sure. The power of the Seven Luminaries is immense, but the strength of those Evil Gods can shake the entirety of the Immortal Realm. We can’t know until we try to combine them.”
“Hmm…”
The Master asserted firmly, “But there’s potential. The might of the Three Sovereigns who bestowed the Seven Luminaries is on par with the Sea Gods. Given that they opened the mortal realm, it’s certainly possible.”
I realized one vital thing from the Master’s words: he was just as desperate for the Seven Luminaries to come together. After all, he was battling against wicked gods for generations, so it made sense he would want the only means of defeating them close at hand.
“Which attribute does the Sea God belong to among the Seven Luminaries?”
He sighed, “Hey, are you asking too many questions? Let’s make this the last one. It’s not good for us to be up here chatting for millennia.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“The Sea God belongs to the Wood Element. It boosts the energy of the Sacred Altar Tree to enhance barriers. Thanks to that, we can shake off the powers of Sea Gods and Evil Gods.”
I inwardly sighed with relief. If the Sea God turned out to be the Moon Sovereign, I would be in deep trouble. I was glad to have one assurance under my belt.
“Got it.”
“Shall we get started then?”
The Cosmic Fragment in his hand began to swirl, moving like a living snake, and I could tell it was due to the flow of mysterious energy reaching its peak. The way it moved, defying gravity, was menacing as hell.
I too held my spear tightly, thinking, ‘I guess I have to assume his skills are at least on par with the Dharma Guardian.’
I had thought about it even before coming here. The powers of the Sect Leader of the Soul Clan or the Master of the Zhu Yi Sect were nothing short of spectacular. If this Master was said to be stronger than those two, then really, the only comparison in my mind was with the Dharma Guardian.
I tried to envision Han Baek-ryeong, the Dharma Guardian of the White Lotus Sect, standing right in front of me and recalled our previous sparring session.
Could I really last three seconds?
‘Maybe it’s too much…’
I inwardly sighed. Back then, Han Baek-ryeong hadn’t even shown her true power; she’d merely toyed with me. Even my only trump card, my internal power, had left me outmatched in the end. She was an astonishing master—one who didn’t fit within the concepts of mere mortals. That was just the kind of power she possessed as the leader of the fiery spirit doctrines, the Hua Shin sect.
Resigned, I turned toward the Master of the Twelve Joules and exclaimed, “I will give it my all in this fight! Please, grant me a moment to use my secret techniques.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Let me know when you’re ready.”
I decided it was time to unleash everything I had kept hidden. In fact, over the past ten years in Goryeo, I had gained a lot. I had only used what was necessary, as revealing it all could land me in some serious trouble sometime down the line. Exposing everything was something only a true underling would do.
But now, the stakes were different. The Master promised that if I could endure just three seconds, he’d reveal the whereabouts of the Moon Sovereign. The chances of getting back to this point again in my next reincarnation were slim to none, and let’s face it, I might not even get another shot at meeting the Master. This was a trial worth at least a hundred years of effort.
Swish.
‘There’s no time to hold back now.’
I pulled a needle from my pocket and slowly began to control the flow of mysterious energy with the principles of Hua’s 108 Needles, puncturing the acupoints in the precise order. After hitting about 23 points, I carefully moved to prick the knuckles and completed my grand technique.
Hua’s 108 Needles—
Secret Technique.
Thunder and Wind Interaction!
“Haaaah…”
At that moment, I took the stance of Huatuo’s Five Animals Play, unleashing the internal power that had been suppressed by the Heavenly Blood Sealing Technique. The technique allowed me to tap into only what I needed, minimizing waste, but when its barrier shattered, my energy burst forth like a flood, shining golden.
Boom!
The energy emanating from me took a tangible form, radiating a brilliant golden light. This was a phenomenon I had never experienced before, not even when I went all out. Perhaps it was because I had been practicing the technique for so long, and its effects were magnified.
The Master of the Twelve Joules observed the shifting energy with a quiet comment: “As the I Ching states, ‘The rumbling of thunder and the stormy winds moving together represents their synchronization’. Could it be that the Art of the Healing Techniques manifests that marvelous state?”
Swshhh…
I seized control of my immense energy and swiftly regained my composure, pulling my spear forward as I declared, “You have remarkable insight. You saw through the principles of Hua’s 108 Needles instantly.”
Indeed,
Hua’s 108 Needles, Secret Technique, Thunder and Wind Interaction!
This was a technique I occasionally applied when sparring with the Azure Dragon Sect Leader or other masters. It forcibly opens internal passages, temporarily accelerating and amplifying the flow of mysterious energy. At the same time, it activates all the involuntary muscles throughout my body.
But that was merely a mimicked effect achieved by moving the internal energy; the true essence lay in the technique of using needles. When the acupoints associated with the Thunder and Wind Interaction were pricked properly, my body would automatically release the Heavenly Blood Sealing Technique and unleash a potential beyond its limits.
I felt the gigantic golden aura cloaking my body squirming as if it were alive, and in the next moment, I focused my breathing and glared intensely.
“Haaaah!!”
Thunder God Lineage.
Decisive Enlightenment.
Thunderclap!
Kiieeeng—!!
As the potential surged, it erupted once more through the thunderclap’s power. Having previously tested the overlap of Thunder and Wind Interaction and Thunderclap under the guidance of Hwa Seong-myeong, I knew the moment that the combined effect took hold—I could finally utilize physical abilities that transcended mere humanity.
Did the Master pick up on my thunderclap? His eyes flickered.
“What in the world is that? Such a tremendous technique!”
I controlled the flowing thunder energy coursing through me and replied, “The promise of three seconds still stands, right?”
“Of course. This will be entertaining.”
Bang!
The instant his words ended, I struck first. There were no restrictions against initiating the attack, so my decision was a no-brainer. Even if I failed my initial strike, the Master would surely expend a second in defense. With a crash, the wind itself shattered as I leaped forward, surpassing the speed of sound.
Boom!!
With just a single thrust of my spear, I executed a spinning strike that combined the techniques of “Lan” and “Na.” However, it carved three destructive marks into the sparring arena, while heaps of rubble erupted like a tempest. Following this, a massive wave of energy flooded the ground and the entire arena crumbled beneath it. When the Thunder and Wind Interaction and Thunderclap were both activated, I could deploy my colossal internal power without wasting a drop.
Woooooong!
In that very moment, I felt suspended in time and space—a fleeting slice that was hardly a breath, a sliver of existence that couldn’t even be measured by human sensory perception.
Yet, there was the Master, unscathed, having effortlessly dodged my attack, coiled around his Cosmic Fragment. In that brief instant, he couldn’t possibly have spoken, but strangely, I could feel his thoughts:
[“Impressive. Baek Woong, you’ve revealed a rare technique, so I’ll show you something worthy of it.”]
The energy radiating from his entire being pulsed. Unlike the golden aura I conjured, a vivid silver light enveloped him. Before long, this silver energy began to coalesce into a whirlwind around the Cosmic Fragment.
[“The Lethal River’s Tangled Whip Technique.”]
Bang!
In the next moment, a gigantic ice dragon soared into the sky, appearing almost as an illusion, but it was the Master’s technique freezing everything around him in a massive spell of ice. I was left speechless in awe.
‘No way… a human controlling nature…!!’
In that fleeting moment of terror, his Cosmic Fragment moved at an unseen pace, unleashing hundreds of ice dragons. I could barely catch sight of three amidst the barrage, utterly lost against the rest. All I could do was rely solely on the powers of Thunder and Wind Interaction and Thunderclap to evade.
Bang!
With sparks of lightning darting off my body, I relied on the Thunder Shadow Step to maneuver. I moved dozens of times faster than usual, but I was struggling just to dodge the onslaught of ice dragons unleashed by the Master. If I hadn’t activated either Thunder and Wind Interaction or Thunderclap, my whole body would have ended up frozen solid during this showdown.
Once more, a moment slipped by. I could feel the Master’s thoughts intertwining with the storm:
[“Excellent! Take this dual strike.”]
The Lethal River’s Tangled Whip Technique.
Release and Profound Force of the Absorbing Words Technique!
“……!!”
The energy of the absorbing whip surged, sealing off the space around me. The pointing force dulled my movements, while the energies of “Capture” and “Nail” aimed to snatch my spear away. What was terrifying was that four advanced techniques were unfolding simultaneously, leaving me no room for resistance.
Clear and stunningly powerful—this was the mark of a supreme master, corresponding to a Grand Master level!
Drawing on that power had momentarily immobilized me, before I was pulled in with the Absorbing Words Technique and subsequently had my energy drained with the Pushing Words Technique. I couldn’t gather my thoughts as I felt my body pounded like a drum.
As I crashed to the ground like a ball, I desperately tried to rise, but then the dual strikes of the Leading and Exploding Words Techniques came crashing down simultaneously. The Cosmic Fragment passed through, detonating everything in its wake. I stubbornly clung to my spear, soaring back, yet couldn’t execute a roll and ended up crashing into the ground.
‘Kugh!’
Bang!
Using the Thunder God Lineage’s divine technique, I burst back into the air. As I soared six floors high, the traces of the Master’s techniques manifested vividly before me. It was as if the earth itself had wrapped in ice and snow, swirling with mist. Just the thought of being attacked from that height sent chills down my spine.
“Hah!!”
In a final desperate gasp, I swung my spear, unleashing a torrent of spear flames. A crescent form of energy, spanning several dozen meters, exploded forth. No one could disregard this attack. The Master, who had been watching my strike intently, abruptly let his arms fall.
And then my offensive was gone from sight.
[“Heavenly Unrestrained Technique!”]
Bangbangbang…!!
In one powerful surge, my body shot above the building’s ceiling. I found myself high enough that I could see the Sacred Altar Tree below. I couldn’t even begin to estimate how far I’d been propelled, but one thing was clear—I was utterly outclassed and no longer ready to continue fighting.
‘What… on earth did I just face…?’
With a thud, my body fell back to the ground. Desperate to avoid death, I executed one final rolling maneuver to minimize the impact.
Though my limbs tingled and blood poured from my body, I forced myself to my feet.
“Ugh…”
“Impressive. You lasted three seconds.”
“…Are you mocking me?”
I gnawed my teeth in frustration. I had thought that if I used both Thunder and Wind Interaction and Thunderclap simultaneously, I’d have a shot against Lee Kwang, but that notion was obliterated. From the first attack to the last three seconds, the Master had toyed with me without a single effective strike landing. He chuckled, grinning, “If it had been anyone else, you wouldn’t have lasted. You instinctively triggered your Self-Defense energy by using two techniques together. That’s enough credibility for you to hear about the whereabouts of the Moon Sovereign.”
“Self-Defense energy?”
“Not quite at the level of the High Realm Self-Defense technique, but…” The Master withdrew the Cosmic Fragment. “Your staggering internal control, needle techniques, and powerful breath work enabled you to achieve defense surpassing mere self-protection. You’ve earned some praise.”
“……”
Words failed me.
‘He’s just too strong…’
The Sect Leaders of the Soul Clan or the Zhu Yi Sect were formidable, but not to this extent. The Master of the Twelve Joules transcended any limits of peak or super experts, being an unparalleled existence. The title of the supreme guardian of the Eastern Martial World wasn’t just a catchy phrase.
“First, we should attend to your injuries…” he said. “Ah, do I even need to?”
As he spoke, my body was already visibly healing from even minor abrasions, while lacerations and severe wounds were rapidly closing up. The mutual resonance of Thunder and Wind Interaction and Thunderclap had drastically heightened my life force. I stumbled and remarked, “I’m my own physician, so no need to worry.”
“Haha, you’ve got some spirit!”
After chuckling, the Master said the words I desperately wanted to hear, “The Secret Treasure of the Moon Sovereign is held by the Heavenly Emperor of the Eastern Sea.”
“The Heavenly Emperor of Dongyoung?”
“Exactly.”
He continued, “The Moon Sovereign’s treasure is currently known as the Heavenly Gathering Cloud Sword, one of the Three Divine Tools.”
