Chapter 009. Master, I Have a Favor to Ask.
Before monsters appeared.
It is said that the level of martial arts and martial artists in the Central Plains was significantly lower than now.
There are various reasons.
For example, before monsters appeared, it was difficult to experience brutal actual combat like now unless a war broke out.
Or that in the process of struggling to confront monsters with a single weapon, the level of martial arts rose a step further.
But the most important thing is precisely spiritual medicine.
Because at that time, spiritual medicine was something so precious that it could not be obtained even with a thousand gold.
Legendary spiritual medicine commonly called priceless treasures.
So things like Shaolin's Great Cycle Pill were things difficult to refine even one in 10 years in those days.
The reason is simple.
Because obtaining the ingredients was very difficult.
What are the ingredients needed to refine spiritual medicine?
They are spiritual herbs and spiritual creatures.
Things like the famous thousand-year fleeceflower root or the inner core of a ten-thousand-year fire carp.
Would such things be rolling around on the streets?
Thus, to create one Great Cycle Pill-level spiritual medicine, even prestigious sects had to endure great expenditure.
Clearly, it was so.
But the situation changed after monsters appeared.
The byproducts monsters left after dying were of a nature similar to the inner cores of spiritual creatures. Although they emitted terrible demonic energy, it was insufficient to overcome the martial artists' obsession with spiritual medicine.
They somehow purified and processed the monster byproducts and used them as ingredients to create various treasures including spiritual medicine.
As a result, the level of Murim warriors in the Central Plains has advanced much further over the past hundreds of years than before.
However, those who receive the benefits are mainly martial artists of large factions who can subjugate monsters and process their byproducts to make spiritual medicine.
Woo Seo-gwang, a direct descendant of the Iron Blood Woo Clan and the second disciple of the Martial Sovereign, was also one of them.
He was even periodically supplied with ingredients necessary for refining spiritual medicine by secretly raising the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake.
The Iron Heart Pill, the secret spiritual pill of the Iron Blood Woo Clan, poured out constantly like a cornucopia.
Of course, the Iron Heart Pill does not have excellent efficacy like priceless treasures such as the Great Cycle Pill.
Moreover, the more repeatedly one consumes it, the more its efficacy drops. Now, even if Woo Seo-gwang consumes the Iron Heart Pill, his internal energy only accumulates to the level of a few months of accumulation at best.
But making it was that simple as well.
So Woo Seo-gwang didn't care.
If the efficacy is insufficient, he just needs to take more Iron Heart Pills.
Because what is sacrificed in that process is only the lives of lowly things that are of no help to the world.
‘If I rise to the absolute realm, I can repay such sacrifices at once.’
Woo Seo-gwang truly believed so.
He was currently swinging his sword in the training ground of the Iron Blood Woo Clan.
Because recently, there was a breathtaking realization that seemed just within reach.
Swish―!
Woo Seo-gwang's sword cuts through the air, making a heavy piercing sound.
Soon, a haze-like energy wrapped around his sword blade.
It was sword qi.
And that sword qi was slowly becoming thicker.
Perhaps because the energy of the spiritual medicine had not completely melted in yet, it was a quite turbid color.
But the spirit was unusual.
“Just a little more……!”
Woo Seo-gwang said, clenching his molars tightly.
If he goes just a little further, he can reach the realm of Sword Flame.
Isn't that the realm that damn bastard, Dam Jeok-san, reached a few years ago?
Of course, that guy has now become a cripple. A level where it is difficult to call him a competitor anymore.
However, Woo Seo-gwang could not accept that he was inferior to Dam Jeok-san.
When a few double hours had passed fully like that.
Fwoosh!!
Sword qi like burning flames soared from Woo Seo-gwang's sword.
Although full of turbid energy, that was definitely Sword Flame.
“Kuh……! Finally!!”
Woo Seo-gwang burst into laughter looking at the flame wrapping his sword blade.
Although it is late compared to Dam Jeok-san, it is literally an achievement that can be counted on one hand among the young prodigies of the vast Kangho.
Besides, isn't Dam Jeok-san already fallen and waiting only for the day he dies?
On the other hand, how about Woo Seo-gwang himself?
Now that he has risen to the realm of Sword Flame, it is truly like giving wings to a tiger. In the future, only the days of the Iron Blood Woo Clan's tiger soaring high remain.
When he was celebrating his achievement like that.
Sizzle…… zzt…….
The flame that was wrapping the sword blade and burning suddenly died down.
It happened even though Woo Seo-gwang didn't intend it. It was because excessively turbid energy was mixed in his genuine qi.
His eyebrows twitched, but he withdrew his sword with a snort. It is something that will be resolved if he spends time purifying his genuine qi.
What he learned is the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art.
A domineering martial art capable of dyeing any energy in the world with its own color.
Of course, even so, one cannot take turbid energy lightly but……
Unless he intends to engage in a life-and-death duel with someone right now, there will be no problem.
At least as long as he is in the Martial Sovereign Castle.
The only ones who can request a life-and-death duel against a disciple of the Martial Sovereign are martial brothers who have the same successor qualifications.
Even that is customarily possible only when the opponent has committed an unforgivable grave sin.
Actually, cases where life-and-death duels occurred were rare even in the history of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
They say the last time was when the current Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle ascended to the position of Castle Lord.
Thus, Woo Seo-gwang also couldn't kill Dam Jeok-san who lost his dantian.
Moreover, there were no martial brothers to request a life-and-death duel from Woo Seo-gwang right now. The Eldest Senior Brother is in the Great Desert in the west. And Dam Jeok-san is in a shell-like state.
‘If it goes like this, competing with the Eldest Senior Brother won't be entirely impossible…….’
Of course, he didn't intend to reveal his claws right now. He must hold his breath until his ability rises.
So that the Eldest Senior Brother doesn't consider him a competitor.
Dam Jeok-san that bastard said so, right?
That if he dies, the Eldest Senior Brother will cast away Woo Seo-gwang himself like a hunting dog after the hunt.
Just watch.
Who eats whom.
Of course, Dam Jeok-san won't even be able to see that scene.
Because before that, he will be buried in the cold land of the North.
A dreamlike future unfolded in the mind of Woo Seo-gwang who broke through the realm of Sword Flame.
* * *
Heavenly Martial Hall, the residence of the Martial Sovereign Man Su-geuk, boasts a sheer height and dizzying majesty.
A lofty building unmatched not only in the Martial Sovereign Castle but in the entire Shanxi Province.
Building the highest pavilion in a city means that the Martial Sovereign Castle has been recognized by the Imperial Court with authority no different from a feudal lord.
“It looks damn high whenever I see it.”
Dam Jeok-san muttered looking up at the Heavenly Martial Hall.
As seen from him going around saying he would tear his Second Senior Brother's limbs apart before.
Dam Jeok-san wasn't a personality to shrink before authority.
But the Heavenly Martial Hall is a bit different.
First of all, the majesty the building exudes was overwhelming.
Moreover, the authority the Heavenly Martial Hall possesses is something successive Lords of the Martial Sovereign Castle have built by shedding blood and fighting against monsters.
The people of the world have maintained their lives under that dedication.
One must acknowledge what is due.
Dam Jeok-san slowly nodded and looked up at the pavilion.
The Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle must be at that peak.
Because he felt a will calling him from there.
It was a faint feeling at first, but it became clearer as he approached.
Now it has reached the point where a heavy presence is felt on both shoulders.
Dam Jeok-san took a deep breath for a moment. To relieve tension.
While doing so, he pondered.
What should he call his master whom he sees after a long time.
Would it be better to call him Master rather than coldly calling him Castle Lord.
But the one who ordered him to transfer to the Northern Branch to die was exactly the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Acting affectionately might rather be counterproductive.
‘No, no.’
Rather, the more it is so, the more brazenly he should act.
Boldly as if nothing had happened.
Dam Jeok-san loosened his stiffly hardened body while making a plan on how to treat the Martial Sovereign.
“Master!”
Dam Jeok-san shouted looking up at the Heavenly Martial Hall.
“Your disciple has come.”
[Ha.]
At those extremely bold words, a very faint laughter was heard.
[Come up.]
At the same time, immense formless power wrapped around Dam Jeok-san.
His body floats into the air mercilessly. As if an invisible hand grabbed him.
The Martial Sovereign is pulling Dam Jeok-san up with the art of psychokinesis.
It is a technique that can only be said to have literally reached a transcendental realm.
But Dam Jeok-san balanced himself without panicking.
He didn't come here simply to have a chat with his master right now.
As a disciple and successor, he intends to negotiate with the master of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
To do so, he must show something.
‘He definitely told me to come up…….’
He didn't specify how to come up.
Being dragged up like a dog on a leash like this is detestable.
Clang!
Dam Jeok-san drew his sword without an inch of hesitation.
And swung it without an inch of hesitation.
Swish!
A sword cutting through the air with a violent sound.
However, the trajectory of the sword was blocked with a thud not long after.
The obstacle blocking his sword.
That is precisely the formless barrier created by the Martial Sovereign's psychokinesis.
“……Damn hard.”
It was a slash that would easily split even the carapace of most monsters.
Not even close.
Dam Jeok-san clicked his tongue and infused genuine qi into the sword.
Vroom!!
Along with a magnificent sword cry, his sword blade begins to shine brightly.
Manifestation of sword qi.
However, that was not ordinary sword qi.
Intense will to cut contained in the sword qi Dam Jeok-san manifested.
In other words, Sword Intent was contained.
Psychokinesis is a kind of formless energy.
Formless energy is a kind of will, a supreme art manifested through the upper dantian.
As such, one must have power that can at least chase the heels of will to be able to cut it.
Thus, Dam Jeok-san infused as much will as possible into the sword, his most familiar weapon.
His head hurt as if it would break, but he swung the sword without caring.
Crack― Crackle―
Every time Dam Jeok-san swung the sword overcoming the maddening pain, cracks began to appear little by little on the formless barrier.
Just a little more…….
If he swings just a little sharper.
If he imbues sword intent just a little more earnestly.
If he digs into the gap just a little more acutely.
He can definitely break it.
Dam Jeok-san swung the sword with conviction.
How much time passed like that?
When it reached the point where he felt the illusion that the sword and himself had completely become one.
Crash!
With a sound like glass breaking, the formless barrier shattered.
At the same time, Dam Jeok-san's body began to fall down below.
“Damn it…….”
Dam Jeok-san spat out a curse while grinding his teeth.
The Martial Sovereign's psychokinesis was the only rope pulling him up from this empty air. If that disappears, it is extremely natural to fall.
Originally, he would have devised a countermeasure and put it into action, but he was so engrossed in the single thought of destroying the barrier that he didn't think about what comes after.
‘It’s bewildering but it can't be helped…….’
Who can he blame? Dam Jeok-san sighed, turned his body in the air, and firmly grabbed the protruding part of the pavilion with his hand.
Intense pain surged as if his wrist would break right away, but he endured without caring.
Then he became dangling on the pavilion holding the corner with one hand.
From then on, Dam Jeok-san began to slowly climb the pavilion.
Step by step, moving hands and feet upwards.
Like climbing a cliff with a bare body.
An action no different from a truly crazy person.
“Huff…… Huff…….”
Dam Jeok-san, breathing heavily, climbed the pavilion endlessly and finally arrived at the top.
At the summit of the pavilion, a middle-aged man with a carefree impression sitting carelessly was seen.
He was blurry as if assimilated with nature, yet showed a distinct presence as if to swallow the world.
It is a contradiction.
But Dam Jeok-san didn't think it strange at all.
Because in the first place, the existence of the absolute master called the Martial Sovereign itself was a contradiction distorting the providence of the world.
He stretched his shoulders that were shrinking naturally and approached toward the Martial Sovereign.
Because he crawled up here on his own without borrowing the Martial Sovereign's power.
Wouldn't it be okay to show off a little bravado?
Dam Jeok-san thought so and slowly opened his mouth.
“Master, I have a favor to ask.”
A friendly tone as if talking to someone he met yesterday.
Hearing those words, an unknown glint lingered in the Martial Sovereign's eyes.
Seeming to mock, or seeming to admire.
Eyes whose inner thoughts could not be guessed at all.
But Dam Jeok-san continued speaking without hesitation.
“Please allow me to have a life-and-death duel with the Second Senior Brother.”
“Ha…….”
A very faint laugh flowed from the Martial Sovereign's mouth.
An appearance as if sneering at hearing such an absurd request.
But Dam Jeok-san opened his mouth again.
“As you might have seen, I made a promise. With a child named Hyang-ie. To tear that bastard's limbs apart.”
“Hahahahahaha!”
Then the Martial Sovereign burst into laughter refreshingly as if a dam had burst.
How long has it been since his prediction missed this frequently?
“Continue.”
In the face of the Martial Sovereign saying so, a shred of amusement was glimpsed instead of boredom.