Chapter 004. Regaining the Dantian.
‘Fatal damage is recovered.’
It is a phrase dry beyond measure.
However, the changes that occurred in Dam Jeok-san's body were too drastic to be expressed by just such a phrase.
Because…….
The place where the dantian was shattered had been cleanly healed.
As if nothing had happened.
“……It can't be.”
Destruction of the dantian.
That does not simply mean returning to before the dantian was formed.
When the dantian is destroyed, scars so deep that they cannot be recovered remain in that place.
This is because fragments of the shattered dantian become embedded in every corner of the acupoints.
To remove the fragments, breathing exercises are necessary.
However, performing breathing exercises in a state where the acupoints are torn to shreds is practically close to impossible.
In fact, even throughout the long history of Murim, there were almost no martial artists who made a comeback after losing their dantian.
Everyone in the Martial Sovereign Castle, as well as the Murim world, said so.
The Sword Dragon Dam Jeok-san is finished.
From the subordinates who trusted and followed him, to even the master who took him in as a disciple.
But Dam Jeok-san did not give up and searched the world thoroughly.
In the midst of that, he found hope in the memoirs of an unknown monk.
That was precisely the Prajna Heart Technique.
The Prajna Heart Technique is one of the arts of Shaolin Temple, the Mount Tai and North Star of Murim.
However, it is a basic technique widely spread even to secular sects, so it is an ambiguous martial art that cannot be called a supreme divine art.
However, the monk said that he recovered a shattered dantian through that Prajna Heart Technique.
‘The problem was that the monk said he accumulated merit for a full 50 years…….’
Dam Jeok-san did not have such a long time. Because he could not be sure if he could last even 5 years right now.
But he did not hesitate and moved Gyeong-won to obtain the Prajna Heart Technique.
Fortunately, the majestic yet gentle genuine qi of the Prajna Heart Technique could flow even through torn acupoints.
The problem was that it was only at a very meager level.
‘Empty titles like genius of the century or sword talent to define an era really had no meaning.’
It seemed that a truly long time was needed to recover his condition through Buddhist martial arts.
‘At least 15 years.’
Even that was possible because it was Dam Jeok-san. He was a genius who earned the alias Sword Dragon in just a few years despite becoming the Martial Sovereign's disciple at a quite late age.
However, all those processes.
Were resolved with just one Predation.
It was truly something close to a miracle.
Indeed, it was worthy of an ability that made an ordinary human the strongest in a world.
Surprising and joyful.
He felt like shouting in exclamation right now. But Dam Jeok-san had no such leisure.
Isn't he a body that must leave for the North in just a few days?
He immediately inhaled and started qi circulation.
VROOOM―
The clear energy of the Prajna Heart Technique dug into Dam Jeok-san's body riding the heart meridians.
That energy swirled around the acupoints of the whole body and headed for Dam Jeok-san's lower abdomen.
And after swirling around the lower abdomen once, it disappeared softly.
Because the dantian was not formed.
The pain felt when swirling around the acupoints torn to shreds with embedded fragments was nowhere to be found.
‘This…… was true.’
Dam Jeok-san, having finished checking, began to recite the chant of another martial art without delay.
The divine art given to the disciples of the Martial Sovereign.
Instead of the extremely high difficulty of training, it is a supreme art with which one can easily discuss the world if mastered.
It was the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art (Geuk-Cheon-Gwe-Hwang-Gong).
Dam Jeok-san falling into qi deviation was also because this Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art was blocked by a wall.
He reached the 4th star faster than anyone else.
Due to that, he could earn the alias Sword Dragon in the Kangho.
However, the realm of the 5th star is a wall of demons.
Quite a few practitioners of the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art are blocked here and waste decades or fall into qi deviation and become crippled.
But at that time, Dam Jeok-san had no choice but to hurry.
The first disciple of the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle and his Eldest Senior Brother, Martial Heaven Sword Tiger (Mu-Cheon-Geom-Ho) Cheon Woo-myeong.
Because he had already trained the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art to above the 5th star.
‘The gap must have widened even more now.’
Dam Jeok-san did not stop reciting the chant of the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art even while thinking so.
No, before he knew it, such distracting thoughts had cleanly disappeared from his mind.
Only the chant of the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art and the genuine qi springing up following that chant.
And the acupoints through which that genuine qi flows.
Dam Jeok-san's mind was filled only with thoughts about such things.
The genuine qi of the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art runs through the acupoints of his whole body dozens and hundreds of times.
But that genuine qi all scattered in vain upon reaching the lower abdomen where the dantian should be.
The reason was simple.
‘Not enough.’
He was intentionally scattering it to create a slightly more perfect and solid form of dantian.
Because he didn't want to experience losing everything due to qi deviation again.
How much time passed like that?
It might be a few hours, or it might be just a few seconds.
He just concentrated to the extent of completely forgetting the flow of time.
A dantian the size of a small seed formed in Dam Jeok-san's lower abdomen.
Because the demonic energy absorbed by the ability of Predation remained intact, internal energy that could only be obtained by circulating qi for several months was accumulated.
Moreover, since it was formed in an almost perfect shape, it was small but solid.
That wasn't the end.
‘This…… isn’t simply a matter of shape. The genuine qi is pure to the extent that it cannot be compared to before losing the dantian.’
Purity of genuine qi.
That was a problem that always held Dam Jeok-san back.
Because the time he started learning martial arts was late.
However, as the injury of the dantian healed, it became a purer state than before learning martial arts.
A body that even the mighty Martial Sovereign had given up on cleansing the marrow and cutting the hair.
It was truly worthy of being called a miraculous encounter.
With this, Dam Jeok-san stood at a much more advantageous starting point than before.
Although the amount of internal energy is absolutely insufficient, he can also resolve that by using the authority of Predation.
To him, monsters were no different from spiritual medicine.
Dam Jeok-san thought so and rose from his seat.
Then sticky black lumps fell from his body with a thud.
A terrible stench emanated from those black lumps.
Wastes accumulated in the body during that time came out as the dantian was newly formed.
Although it was enough to make one frown, Dam Jeok-san didn't care much.
Because before becoming the Martial Sovereign's disciple, he used to wander around in a much worse state than this.
“Gyeong-won.”
Dam Jeok-san called the subordinate who did not leave his side even while going through all sorts of hardships and disgrace.
“Yes, Young Master.”
Gyeong-won, who was guarding his quarters from outside, answered immediately.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
At Dam Jeok-san's words, Gyeong-won opened the door immediately without asking twice.
The moment he walked into the room.
Dam Jeok-san slowly raised internal energy from the bean-sized dantian.
Originally, it is a meager amount that should scatter without any meaning.
However, Dam Jeok-san's ability to control qi is on a different level from ordinary people.
The meager internal energy spread widely in the air and began to form a heavy presence.
The pressure that can be shown only by a martial artist possessing internal energy weighed down on Gyeong-won's shoulders.
“……!”
Gyeong-won felt a sensation of his whole body trembling for an instant, despite having vastly deeper internal energy than Dam Jeok-san.
What kind of nonsense is this?
Gyeong-won was astonished for a moment, but soon began to grasp the situation.
‘Did the Young Master…… regain his dantian?’
It is nonsense.
Even if one searches through the vast history of Kangho, there is no one who recovered a shattered dantian so easily.
But Gyeong-won also thought that it was not just an impossible thing.
Because he had always believed that it would be like this someday.
If it is Dam Jeok-san, his liege. He believed he would achieve it regardless of whether there was a precedent or not.
Even so, he didn't know it would happen so quickly.
Perhaps it was a mistake to try to judge Dam Jeok-san by his own standards.
“Young Master…….”
Gyeong-won thought so and spoke to Dam Jeok-san with a slightly trembling voice.
“Congratulations.”
He said, bowing deeply at the waist.
“It is still early.”
Dam Jeok-san slowly shook his head looking at such a Gyeong-won.
“I have only taken the first step. In this state, I won't be able to achieve even one-tenth of what I confidently declared to the Black Panther Spear.”
He continued speaking with a still nonchalant look.
Even though he was talking about insufficiency, it was a tone filled with hope, not despair.
Because Dam Jeok-san had a firm plan.
What to do from now on.
* * *
Iron Blood Woo Clan, one of the Five Great Families of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Its main house was located on the outskirts, a little away from the center of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Amidst the lines of luxuriously unmatched pavilions.
A very noisy sound was heard from Woo Seo-gwang's quarters.
“Damn it……. I will surely tear that lowly Dam Jeok-san to shreds with my own hands!”
The moment his large fist struck the table, the table made of thick stone split into several pieces.
Even if internal energy was imbued, it was a move showing that Woo Seo-gwang's martial prowess far exceeded the level of his peers.
Although the realm of the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art is merely at the 3rd star, it is because he trained martial arts under the full support of his clan.
Especially recently, he was able to achieve great success by periodically receiving spiritual pills.
Although lowly ones died in that process…….
‘Since I became stronger and can save more people, the lowly ones should also consider it an honor.’
Woo Seo-gwang did not think so seriously.
The only thing filling his mind was matters regarding Dam Jeok-san.
Why does a guy who even lost his dantian emit such pressure?
He thought he would just quietly become a corpse and disappear in the North.
Even now, there is no change in that thought.
But Dam Jeok-san's clear and cold eyes looking at him were never forgotten.
Because that was primal fear rising from instinct.
“It’s fine.”
Woo Seo-gwang muttered forcibly to shake off that fear.
He just needs to squeeze the lives of the lowly ones a little more.
If he becomes one step stronger than now.
And if news comes that Dam Jeok-san died in the North.
Then this uncomfortable feeling will also disappear.
Woo Seo-gwang wanted to believe so sincerely.
* * *
Dam Jeok-san opened his mouth without even changing his clothes soaked in wastes.
“Gyeong-won, do you remember what I was investigating before I fell into qi deviation?”
At Dam Jeok-san's words, Gyeong-won pondered for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“It was the matter regarding the Iron Blood Woo Clan. They were raising monsters in violation of the Imperial Order and the Castle Lord's Order.”
Monsters were enemies threatening the existence of the Central Plains. And at the same time, treasure troves leaving behind countless resources.
With their hides and bones, weapons more powerful than steel can be made.
Also, although limited to extremely few monsters.
One could make spiritual pills by processing parts of their bodies.
“Seeing the spirit of our Second Senior Brother today, it became certain.”
The monster the Iron Blood Woo Clan is raising is a rare species capable of making spiritual pills.
And the fact that Woo Seo-gwang took the spiritual medicine made by processing that monster.
For an instant, deep contempt dwelt in Dam Jeok-san's eyes.
That was in line with the reason why raising monsters was banned in the Central Plains.
“……They raised the monster by feeding it living humans.”
“Yes, because that way the monster doesn't die.”
Dam Jeok-san spoke in an indifferent tone.
The Martial Sovereign Castle is a barrier protecting people from monsters.
From the first Castle Lord, they have claimed to be so.
The nameless warrior whose memories Dam Jeok-san read today was so.
And Dam Jeok-san, who lost everything to monsters, also wanted the same and held the hand of the Martial Sovereign.
However, a member of such a Martial Sovereign Castle, one who calls himself the Martial Sovereign's disciple, offers humans to monsters.
Dam Jeok-san overlooked it at first even knowing that it might be so.
Because the political burden was too great to strike immediately.
‘There was no guarantee that I could punish the Iron Blood Woo Clan behind him and the Second Senior Brother either.’
Therefore, at that time, he postponed the matter with various excuses.
Intending to deal with it after breaking through the realm of the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art and becoming a little stronger.
But now there was no reason to do so.
Predating on monsters is precisely the way for Dam Jeok-san himself to become stronger.
Even though he predated on demonic energy that was merely residual traces left on a sword, he obtained more genuine qi than expected.
If he predates on a living monster, he would be able to obtain results beyond what he imagined.
Of course, the risk he has to bear for that is quite significant.
But Dam Jeok-san had no intention of looking on with folded arms at the barbarity of the Iron Blood Woo Clan anymore.
Before leaving for the North, he will clearly imprint it on the entire Martial Sovereign Castle.
The fact that nothing is finished yet.