Three months had passed.
I, dressed in black martial attire, looked around at my disciples, each tending to their weapons.
"...Is everyone ready?"
"Yes!!!"
Their response was resoundingly loud.
Three months ago,
At the meeting where the plan to invade the Makli Clan's territory was explained.
Everyone was shocked, almost losing their minds at the news that they wouldn't be killing the Emperor.
It was almost a serious incident when they were subsequently informed that, while not the Emperor, they would attack another territory of the Makli Clan.
'They all have complex feelings.'
They couldn't kill the Emperor they had been dreaming of, but instead, they could kill the other monsters.
However, despite having the killing they wished for right before them, each of my disciples seemed to have complex feelings.
It wasn't simple hatred, anger, or anticipation.
It was a strange mix of emotions.
'I can't read what color it is.'
And it wasn't desire either.
Looking at it, I realized something.
'Maybe, even if I can discern thousands of colors, I may never completely understand all the hues of human emotion.'
How many emotions do humans have?
Who can define them?
Emotions are indescribable.
That's why you can't categorize them or know all their colors.
'...Then, what exactly is the realm of Five Energies Converging to the Origin?'
The realm of Five Energies didn't seem to be just about knowing all colors.
It was impossible unless one was a god.
But what I saw when Kim Young-hoon reached the realm of Five Energies was...
'From within Kim Young-hoon, infinite hues of colors came out, filling his realm.'
His consciousness was made up of infinite colors.
Then why do I now feel that it's impossible to fully comprehend human emotions?
'I don't know...'
It's strange.
Infinity is never achievable.
If it were possible, Kim Young-hoon wouldn't have been surpassed by cultivators, but would have overwhelmingly dominated them, whether at the Core Formation or even higher.
But what I saw then was infinity.
"...I don't understand."
It was something I couldn't know just by thinking about it now.
Even with my talent, I wouldn't easily understand even if Kim Young-hoon explained it to me.
'Then, instead of focusing on what I can't understand, I should focus on what I can do now.'
After confirming my disciples were ready, I distributed the special poison and antidote I had concocted to each of them.
The disciples took the poison I had mixed and put it in their sleeves or pockets. After I checked their preparations, I shouted.
"Today, we go to kill cultivators!"
A determined expression swirled on everyone's face.
However, I did not want them to be merely determined.
"Don't think recklessly about dying. Don't plan to die alongside the cultivators!"
At my words, my disciples' determined expressions began to show slight irritation.
Talking about living or whatnot would only irritate them further.
There was no real reason I could give for why they truly needed to live.
'Then, I need to create a goal for them to live.'
"You may be somewhat dissatisfied that we're not attacking the Emperor but just the lowly cultivators of the Makli Clan. But! I promise you this. If you successfully destroy all the territories and strongholds of the Makli Clan, then I will trust your abilities.
I promise I will join you to attack the Imperial Palace! I will help you claim the head of Emperor Makli Jung! But! Until then, do not die easily. Desperately survive, and make sure the reason for your training isn't in vain! Absolutely!!!"
I shouted with a roar filled with determination.
"Survive!"
In my justified command for survival, my disciples' eyes no longer glowed with just determination, but with resolute will and anger towards Makli Jung.
"Yes!"
Hearing their response, I led the way with over 500 disciples quietly following me, using their stealth techniques.
We left the Jin Clan's territory and headed for the northwestern hills of Cheombyeok City.
There lies a secret base of the Makli Clan.
'...Far more than in my past life.'
I looked at the martial arts masters Kim Young-hoon had gathered and the 500 peak masters who followed me, thinking.
Different from my previous life, none of my disciples were forcibly elevated to half-baked peak masters.
Each had gone through bone-crushing training, equipping themselves with abilities worthy of their forcibly attained realm.
'There won't be any proper cultivators in this territory.'
Most cultivator clans don't place important personnel in territories scattered across the country.
Just the lowest level Qi Refining cultivators of the clan, from 1st to 5th Star, were sent, along with one or two higher-ranked Qi Building cultivators to manage them.
The majority of the clan's strength was deeply hidden in the main house of the cultivator clan.
The territory we were about to enter was merely a primary refinery where low-tier cultivators performed dirty elixir refining, and significant personnel were not heavily deployed.
'In my past life, I didn't have any disciples.'
In this life, hundreds of formidable masters have been added.
Probably, it would be possible to simply push through without much struggle.
However, unable to shake off my worries, I spoke to my disciples in a low voice.
"Everyone, when we enter the territory of the Makli Clan, you will witness many horrific scenes. But! No matter what you see, maintain your composure. Our priority is not to get carried away in anger, but to coldly kill more cultivators and save any civilians that might still be alive."
My disciples nodded slightly at my words.
Shortly after, a late-stage Qi Building cultivator of the Jin Clan formed a hand seal in front of a hill.
"Open!"
Paah!
The scenery around us distorted, and a passage to the Makli Clan's territory opened up.
We followed the cultivators into the territory of the Makli Clan, and I recognized the familiar landscape.
A large village engulfed in a barrier.
And the Makli Clan cultivators, hastily alerting others of our intrusion.
'It's just the beginning.'
Woo-woong!
Once again, Kim Young-hoon was leading the vanguard.
He, who had reached a new realm with the Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts, demonstrated the same divine technique as in the past.
Gang Qi Compression Sphere ()!
Koogoo-koogoo-koogoo-
I couldn't fully see the intricacies of Gang Qi Compression Sphere in my past life as I was only at the mid-peak.
Now, having reached Three Flowers Gather at the Summit, I could see the numerous intents and intricacies that were previously hidden.
To be precise, I was only 'allowed' to see.
'I still have no clue how it's done.'
I understood that countless intents were swirling within that sphere.
But how exactly one detaches their intents and swirls them inside remains a mystery to me.
Nevertheless, I watched, my eyes nearly popping out.
Finally.
Kwakwang!
Kim Young-hoon's powerful strike hit the barrier of the Makli Clan.
The barrier burst open, creating a large hole.
The cultivators, Kim Young-hoon, and about a dozen masters of Three Flowers entered through the hole first.
"Let's go."
I too led my disciples through the hole.
"Attackers! Take them down!"
"These vermin-like mortals, how dare they trespass here..."
Pak!
A cultivator who was mouthing off was swiftly struck in the head by Kae-hwa and died.
Kae-hwa moved quickly with a dagger, confronting the cultivators.
Kwang!
Man-ho swung his great sword, smashing the cultivators' defensive techniques, and Nok-hyeon wrapped the legs of a Jiangshi controlled by a cultivator with an iron whip and flung it away.
Unlike my past life, the cultivators' village began burning overwhelmingly fast.
Kwakwang!
Just as I defeated a 3rd Star Qi Refining cultivator,
The house of a cultivator collapsed, and blood and corpses flowed out.
Cheong-ya, who mainly used hidden weapons, was the one who destroyed the house.
She lifted the unconscious cultivator by the neck, then thrust him back down to the ground.
Kwakwang!
As she struck down with internal energy, the cultivator died, almost shattered in half, and she stood amidst the corpses, silently shedding tears.
"Sister..."
She had said her family didn't die in front of her eyes but were taken somewhere unknown.
It was obvious what she must be thinking, having seen the cultivators make elixir.
Her eyes seemed to be shedding red tears, with burst blood vessels.
[Regain your senses. This is a battlefield. Tearing apart the Makli Clan cultivators can wait until after we've won the battle.]
I sent a telepathic message to her, who was on the verge of going berserk in rage.
After receiving my telepathy, she glanced at me briefly, then moved to capture other cultivators.
"...I'm sorry."
That was all I could do for her.
"You mortals! How dare you, a mere nobody!"
I looked at the 3rd Star Qi Refining cultivator rushing towards me, yelling, and drew my sword.
"A mere nobody, huh."
Swish!
My sword cut through the cultivator's defensive spell and aimed at his neck.
The defense seemed to activate, but when I concentrated deeply on the sword energy for a moment, a bright sword light burst out.
Crack, swish!
My Sword Gang shattered the cultivator's defense like glass and cut off his neck.
"You're also just a 3rd Star Qi Refining cultivator..."
For early to mid-stage Three Flowers, 1st and 2nd Star Qi Refining cultivators are manageable.
Starting from Three Flowers, I could see the intricacies of intent more clearly, eliminating all vulnerabilities and using Sword Gang.
An experienced master of Three Flowers has the power to confront 3rd to 6th Star Qi Refining cultivators.
Moreover, due to my long life, I was advancing through the realm of Three Flowers much faster than other masters.
Additionally, with the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, I had stepped out of the typical relationship between cultivators and martial artists.
Now, only Qi Refining cultivators of 5th to 8th Star were a match for me.
"...Is this coming to an end?"
I passed by the corpses of cultivators, looking around the burning territory of the Makli Clan.
"Is everyone safe..."
The duels between Qi Building cultivators in the sky had also ended, thanks to Kim Young-hoon's efforts.
We had won.
"Everyone survived."
I spoke briefly to my disciples.
"...Well done."
'And, thank you.'
For surviving.
"Now, let's search the houses of the cultivators, gather the bodies of the unfairly sacrificed civilians, and bury them."
At my words, my disciples silently followed me, digging the ground and burying the bodies.
We, led by Kim Young-hoon, briefly recited prayers in front of numerous graves.
'May you find peace there.'
After offering a brief prayer for their souls, I looked at my disciples.
Their minds had become rough after seeing the brutal massacre of civilians by the cultivators.
"How are you all feeling?"
"..."
No one answered.
But I could read their emotions and guess their feelings.
Or perhaps, I couldn't.
The intents emitted by my disciples were so tangled and chaotic that they were unrecognizable.
However, one thing was clear.
The red, rage-filled intent.
There was no disciple who wasn't emitting the intent of rage.
"Everyone feels the same. But remember, our goal is not to kill cultivators. It should be to end your revenge!"
"...What's the difference?"
A disciple named Giseok-gura asked.
I looked into his eyes, and into everyone elses, then said.
"You'll understand later. Let's move. Follow me."
What's the difference?
I chuckled bitterly to myself.
'You don't know yet.'
You probably don't want to know.
There's nothing harder than telling someone who doesn't want to know. They'll have to learn slowly...
We ran again towards another territory of the Makli Clan.
Six months passed.
We burned down 13 territories of the Makli Clan and collected the bodies of 156,000 mortals.
As time passed, the eyes of my disciples increasingly filled with bloody intentions.
Their anger seemed to grow each time they saw the extreme actions of the cultivators.
"These mortal scum! These martial arts riff-raff!!"
Kwang! Kwang, kwang!
A 3rd Star Qi Refining cultivator struggled against my disciples' combined attack, scattering his spells wildly.
But in a flash.
Kwakwang!
Hee-ah, who quickly rushed towards the cultivator with a small scythe, swung towards the cultivator's neck.
Kaang!
The internal energy in the scythe penetrated the cultivator's defense.
The cultivator clenched his teeth trying to concentrate on his defense. Yet, weakened from the combined attack, the light of his defense spell gradually faded.
"I can't die like this! How can I, how did I...! How did I get to this point..."
Then.
Shuk!
Eventually, the cultivator's defense broke under the combined attack of Nok-hyeon and Hee-Ah, and his head was severed.
His face remained incredulous, unable to accept his fate even in death.
'Soon, the Makli Clan will start to prepare as well.'
I organized the battlefield, checking on my disciples.
'Initially, there were many 1st and 2nd Star Qi Refining cultivators, but now there are more 3rd and 4th Star ones waiting in their territories. The Makli Clan is also preparing...'
This wasn't good news.
Even the weakest Qi Refining cultivators were not to be compared with ordinary martial artists.
'Just a one star difference makes a huge impact.'
The number and range of spells they could use increased, as did the scope of their consciousness and the power of their attacks.
'If these guys keep showing up, it could be dangerous...'
Of course, cultivators above 7th Star Qi Refining were at least countered by masters of Three Flowers, and those above 9th Star were dealt with by Kim Young-hoon, but as we continued to attack the territories of the Makli Clan, I felt their defenses were getting increasingly stronger.
'Even this is done by exploiting the Jin Clan's intelligence network, targeting the most vulnerable territories...'
If we keep attacking the Makli Clan's territories, we will eventually face severe consequences.
'What's even more frightening is that it's not yet a full-scale war between the Makli and Jin.'
According to the Jin Clan, this level of conflict is considered an 'underground battle.'
Can it really be called an underground battle when dozens of territories are burnt down and dozens of cultivators killed?
I had thought so, but apparently, to the high-ranking cultivators of the cultivator clans, the lives of the lowest-tier Qi Refining cultivators are not significantly different from those of mortals.
Moreover, the personnel sent with us to attack the Makli Clan's territories are considered mere bugs in the eyes of the upper ranks of the clan.
'The masters in the Pinnacle Realm are all Qi Refining cultivator-level in strength, but they are still martial artists and mortals. Although the Qi Building cultivators of the Jin Clan clan fight alongside us...
It's always Kim Young-hoon's role to strike the decisive blow after they weakened the Qi Building cultivators of the Makli Clan...'
So far, it's been treated as a fight under the control of the two clans, preventing a full-scale war.
The lower territories of the Makli Clan that were killed by such 'mortals' were considered too weak to be of concern by the upper ranks of the clan.
'...But if a real full-scale war breaks out...'
After cutting down all the cultivators of the Makli Clan, I saw my disciples gathering and burying the bodies of civilians who had been sacrificed.
It was only after the battle and the burial of civilians that the blood-red intent in my disciples' eyes seemed to fade.
'Those below Three Flowers will be too busy fleeing. And my disciples...'
If lucky, about 10-30 of them might survive.
If not, they could all be annihilated.
After the raid on the Makli Clan's territory was over, I, along with my disciples, gathered the bodies to create graves and recited prayers under Kim Young-hoon's lead.
Woong-
As Kim Young-hoon recited prayers, a faint light seemed to wash away the resentment and strange energy surrounding the graves.
Over the past few months, Kim Young-hoon had started learning cultivation.
It wasn't because his martial arts had hit a wall or he was in despair.
Rather, he learned it to recite prayers for the dead and to learn the arts of comforting spirits.
From Kim Young-hoon's low-level cultivation, I could visibly see the remaining spirits being led to heaven.
Originally, spirits not visible to the human eye.
Only those deeply accomplished in Three Flowers Gather at the Summit or who could read the flow of intent could barely see souls.
But the souls hit by the heavenly arts briefly floated around the graves as orbs of light before scattering into the sky.
We watched this and prayed for their souls.
I looked at this scene for a while, then spoke to my disciples.
"We have destroyed several territories of the Makli Clan so far. We have cut down countless cultivators of the Makli Clan and buried the bodies of their victims, leading their souls to heaven."
I cautiously looked around at my disciples and asked.
"Isn't this enough now?"
At my words, there was a twitch in their expressions.
"What do you mean by enough?"
Cheong-ya asked me in a harsh voice.
"There are still plenty of these filthy monsters. No matter how many we kill, the resentment doesn't subside, and every time we go to the next territory, civilians' bodies pour out... What do you mean by enough, Master!"
I looked at her with pity and asked.
"...Do you think the anger in your heart is entirely your own?"
"What do you mean?"
"All of you. Do you really think it's normal for a human to remember such clear anger from years ago?"
I looked at my disciples. I looked at their intents.
Their intents were not solely their own. Among their intents, foreign and murky ones seeped through.
The resentment of relatives and family members.
The Jin Clan used the resentful spirits of my disciples' relatives, wrongfully killed by the Makli Clan, to forcibly awaken their talents.
Their lifespan had already been shortened, but if the spirits are led to heaven now, they can still live for as long as they can.
"...I suppose what our master is talking about are the family members who are with us,"
Man-ho stepped forward and said.
"That's right. No matter how many Makli Clan cultivators we slay, our boiling rage does not subside, because surely, it includes the anger of our families as well. It's not just our own anger. But that is why!"
Man-ho's expression was resolute.
"We can not just end our vengeance because our own anger is appeased! It can only be resolved by resolving the grudges of our families, along with them!
Because it's not just my grudge. We must resolve everyone's grudges!"
I briefly turned my head towards the graves we had tended to.
"Did everyone just see that light?"
"...We did."
"That light just now was the souls of the victims. However, although the victims died in pain, at the moment of their passing, they scattered with a burst of light."
Looking again at Man-ho and my other disciples, and seeing the murky intents hiding in their minds, I spoke.
"I won't tell you to stop right now. But at least, having taken some measure of revenge, don't you think it's time to let the dead rest?
The dead now need to be released to their rightful places, don't you think?"
At my words, a moment of hesitation appeared on Man-ho's face.
But he gritted his teeth and said,
"...You don't understand our pain. You don't know how comforting it is for us to be able to avenge our dead families like this."
"The more you hold onto your family, the worse the outcome will be for both your family and yourselves! Your lifespan will continue to decrease, and your family will have to live as resentful spirits, unable to go where they belong"
"...You're just trying to keep us alive Master."
In his eyes, an indescribable hue emerged.
"We don't care if we die! Even if we spend the rest of our lives cutting down the Makli Clan and die when our lifespan runs out, it's worth it if we can go to the afterlife properly with our families!"
"..."
"..."
For a moment, my disciples and I looked at each other.
"...Alright, that's enough."
I sighed softly.
"Let's talk again later."
And so, we avoided further discussion for that day.
Months passed, and we continued to raid the Makli Clan's territories.
Many of the Makli Clan cultivators were slaughtered, and the prowess of those we faced steadily increased.
The realm of the cultivators we faced had risen from Qi Refining 1-3 to 2-5.
'Damn, they're strong!'
I gritted my teeth as I fought a Qi Refining 7th Star cultivator.
"Sharp eyes. Unlike most mortals, you seem to have awakened senses. Mortals too can open their consciousness with enough training, right? I wonder if the Jiangshi I'll make from your corpse will be as strong as a cultivator's corpse?"
I released Sword Gang at the cultivator controlling dozens of Jiangshi.
'There are too many of these guys. The disciples are in danger!'
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship,
Mountain and Valley Transformation!
Boom!
My Sword Gang dug into the terrain, disrupting the formation of the Jiangshi.
Severing Vein Saber Method,
Mountain Wind!
Whiz!
My Sword Gang, as fast as a beam of light, shot through the Jiangshi towards the cultivator.
Clang!
"Hmm, to scratch my defense spell, impressive..."
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Qi Mountain, Heart Heaven!
Whoosh!
Opening my meridians wide, I greatly enhanced my Sword Gang and slashed diagonally.
Boom!
A massive Sword Gang tore through the cracked defense spell and split the cultivator's body.
"What, what...! How can a mere mortal..."
Crash!
After completely severing the cultivator's upper body, I looked around.
'Damn it, damn it!'
There were too many strong enemies.
'Please, let them be alive!'
My sword cut through flames, heading towards a 4th Star Qi Refining cultivator attacking my disciples.
The cultivator was casting wind spells, and my disciples were struggling to block them.
I cut through the wind pattern and approached him with Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, swinging my sword.
Flash!
My Sword Gang surged, and the cultivator's head rolled on the ground.
However, I saw several bleeding disciples as the wind cleared.
"...You kids..."
Gritting my teeth, I approached them.
They had stopped the bleeding with basic medical techniques I had taught them, but I knew.
'They're dying.'
There was no way to save them.
Aside from the heavy blood loss, some had completely twisted meridians or ruptured organs.
"...You fool."
I confirmed the last disciple's face with clenched teeth.
It was Nok-hyeon, who had once recklessly left the training ground.
"I told you to stop with the revenge."
"Heh, heh... I'm, satisfied... Finally, finally, I can be with my family..."
My disciple's life force was draining away.
His body was getting colder.
"The people left here, they aren't my family."
Gritting my teeth. my throat was choked.
Their eyes, even in death, were peaceful.
The dead disciples looked at me with distant expressions.
"Thank you for everything, Master."
"Because of you, we made it this far..."
My vision blurred somewhat.
But any more emotional change would be dangerous.
This was a battlefield.
I gritted my teeth hard, to prevent my vision from blurring further, and whispered slowly to my disciples.
"...do so."
At my words, my disciples' eyes widened.
"...Will you be alright?"
"Not all of your grudges have been resolved."
I looked at my disciples, nodded once, and stood up.
"...I pressed their sleep points. They'll fall asleep soon. I must go now. I need to save the others as much as I can."
Leaving behind seven dying disciples, I grabbed my sword.
"Nok-hyeon, Hui-ah, Cheong-ju, Jang-samso, Guoh-oh, Seomun-rim, Geum-lan... Everyone, rest well.
Biting my lips, I charged to slay the cultivators and save my disciples.
This battle was intense.
And 34 of my disciples perished.
"Nok-hyeon, Hui-ah, Cheong-ju, Jang-samso, Guoh-oh, Seomun-rim, Geum-lan, Gae-jin, Gu-sam, Il-mae, Seo-jin, Gijin-tae, Baegi-tae, Heo-jinsu, Sang-hyeon, San-ho, Geum-jok, Dae-a, Chil-deuk, Pal-oh, Pall-yuk brothers, Yeor-yeok, Geum-sam, Gyeon-hun, Dae-sik, Gil-su, Han-su, Mong-jin, Joo-han, Joo-gyeom, Geum-oh, Jang-chil, Hong-hwa, Man-suk..."
I called out the names of my disciples, collected their bodies, and made graves for them.
"I am sorry, everyone."
After burying my disciples, I looked at the remaining ones.
"Listen, all of you. The resistance of the Makli Clan cultivators is getting fiercer. Even if you form a combined force, it'll be hard to counter the late Qi Refining cultivators that are now abundant.
So, as your martial arts master, I command."
My vision blurred.
As a master, I should have shown a better side, but I kept showing an embarrassing scene.
"From the next raid, you won't join. From now on, you'll be refining your martial arts back at the training ground."
"...What are you saying? Dont you know how we feel? We want to..."
My disciples resisted with bloodshot eyes, but I spoke sharply.
"Sorry, but this is not a request or a suggestion. It's an order from your master."
Swoosh-
I drew my sword from its sheath.
"If you want to defy me, try to defeat me. Until you defeat me, you can't continue your revenge!"
I couldn't stand it anymore.
Hundreds of intents shot at me, but I observed thousands, even millions of intents, calculating the optimal path that my disciples couldn't even imagine.
"From now on, you will not die... No, you cannot die...!"
***
My intent clashed with that of my disciples.
For a while, we glared at each other, exchanging volleys of intent.
In that silence, Man-ho took a step forward.
"...Master, are you going to break your promise with us?"
"Promise...?"
"Yes. You clearly promised that once we destroyed all of Makli Clan's territories, we would strike together at the Imperial Palace. You told us to survive for that. But... Why are you changing your words now? Telling us to go back?"
Other disciples, besides Man-ho, also emitted fierce intent as they joined in.
"That's right. Why do you make a promise with us and then prevent us from fulfilling it?"
"We are trying to survive to keep our promise!"
"We all thought it didn't matter if we died and endured hell-like training.
So why...!"
I examined the children's intents.
They were of an indescribable color.
But, generally, their colors were casting a dark blue light.
Sorrow.
My disciples were all crying together.
'You too, are grieving.'
Over the deaths of comrades, of friends...
'I'm sorry.'
I'm so sorry and ashamed as a master.
As a master, I let my disciple die.
'My heart aches with regret.'
But that's why I couldn't back down anymore.
"I will... keep my promise. The day you can truly defeat me, I'll join you to strike at the Imperial Palace."
As soon as I finished speaking, Kae-hwa lunged at me with a dagger.
"Surround him!"
With that, Man-ho shouted in a booming voice, and the disciples quickly formed the Transcending Cultivation Formation around me.
A formation created to counter cultivators.
Peak experts in the martial world cannot properly sense the intent of cultivators from inside their domain.
Conversely, cultivators can easily see through the movements of peak experts,
A formation created to mitigate the extreme disparity between martial artists and cultivators.
'Even if a cultivator can observe actions within and even if we can't predict the cultivator's movements...'
The Transcending Cultivation Formation is capable of completely grinding down anyone trapped within.
'Basically, since the Transcending Cultivation Formation is infused with the insights of the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, the flow of the formation itself disrupts the flow of consciousness.'
Even if I execute the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts and escape their perception, it's not easy to escape from the formation.
The Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts is essentially about cutting off the opponent's consciousness and escaping from their perception.
It's not a technique for sudden spatial movement.
It is a formation designed to counter cultivators, regardless of whether the opponent's actions can be predicted or not.
Whether or not the opponent escapes perception, anyone trapped in the formation will be shredded.
That's the Transcending Cultivation Formation!
Despite the loss of 34 members, the disciples linked their intents well, filling the gaps and pressuring me.
Whoosh!
The disciples surrounding me in a circle started to close in, rotating around me.
Multiple human barriers surround me, rotating in different directions to tighten the formation.
Within this formation, numerous flows of intent intertwined.
'The proficiency of the Transcending Cultivation Formation among the disciples has significantly increased.'
The movement of the disciples themselves disrupts the direction of intent, making it difficult to discern whose intent belongs to whom.
With the strange optical illusions caused by the formation, I couldn't read their movements.
"...But this is not enough."
It's certainly a formation that can counter cultivators.
Even a martial artist of the Three Flowers Gather at the Summit would be shredded by this formation.
However, I am nearing the extreme limit of Three Flowers.
I am on the verge of achieving the ultimate realm of Five Energies Converging at the Origin.
Recently, I have also understood the superior counterparts of the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts the Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts and Gazing Martial Arts and Exceeding Martial Arts Scripture.
"Are you saying with just these skills you won't listen to me? What confidence do you have?"
Whizz-
As my concentration reached its peak, I entered the world of intent, seeing thousands of colors.
Entering that spectrum of colors, I assimilated my disciples' intents with my own through the enlightenment of Three Flowers.
Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts.
Not just cutting off consciousness and intent as in Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, but developing the enlightenment of Three Flowers to its extreme.
A martial art that completely dives into the opponent's movements.
My sword pierces through the rapidly rotating Transcending Cultivation Formation of intents.
Although a distinctly different intent intervened, the disciples didn't feel anything unusual until my sword energy completely mingled within the formation.
If even one of them was at the level of a mature mid peak master, they would have felt something.
But their growth was hindered by the resentful spirits of their families entwined in their upper dantians.
Whoosh!
Without hesitation, I dove into the flow of the formation, swinging my Sword Gang towards it.
Boom!
Dust scattered.
The ground shook.
"Ugh...!"
"Block it!"
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Layered Mountains!
The Sword Gang split into thousands of strands, scattering in all directions.
Even when split, it was still Sword Gang.
It was a different dimension from just splitting sword energy.
Boom!
Their initial actions, designed to nullify sword energy, now scattered in all directions, annihilating the formation.
"You can't stop me. Unless you sever that obsession, release your families' resentful spirits,
And realize intent!"
Boom!
The Transcending Cultivation Formation collapsed.
"Wasn't avenging your families' against their murderers your goal!
If you want to become stronger, first sever your attachments!"
Flash!
I executed the Mountain and Valley Transformation to shake the terrain, completely breaking the formation, and scattered paralysis powder.
The disciples, having used up all their poison and antidote during the territory raids, could not resist my paralysis powder and all fell.
The disciple who used the Langya Staff, named Gyu-san, looked at me and said,
"...How can I sever this. How can I... sever the voices of my family...!"
"..."
"You don't understand us!"
I couldn't respond.
All I could do was forcibly drag my fallen disciples away.
That was all I could do.
"I am a poor master, I am sorry... Let's go. I'll help you become stronger. More..."
"Where do you think you're going? I waited for you to finish making graves for mortals, but suddenly you're fighting amongst yourselves... This is why I despise martial artists."
The overseer of the assassination squad, the old man, clicked his tongue and interrupted me, descending on a flying artifact.
"From what I hear, you're talking nonsense. What right do you have to take away the assassination squad?
I acknowledge you're a good martial arts instructor, but I can't allow the detachment of the squad in this situation."
"...What use will my weak disciples, who haven't even reached Three Flowers, be in the upcoming battles? From now on, those who haven't reached Three Flowers will be useless... Quality will become more important than quantity."
"They're not useless just because they're not important."
"The Makli Clan has started preparing. Most of the cultivators in the remaining territories are in the mid to late stages of Qi Refining. My disciples are no longer useful against them."
"So you admit that you've been insufficient in your training."
"That's right. Since I've been insufficient, I'll take the blame and retrain my disciples to be useful. Please allow me this."
Squirm
Veins bulged slightly on the forehead of the old man.
He raised his spirtual energy with an annoyed expression.
I hastily retreated out of his range, ready to draw my sword at any moment.
"Constantly talking nonsense and trying to detach the squad. Are you in your right mind? The secret battle between the Jin and Makli is justified due to the high proportion of mortals.
If a large number of mortals suddenly detach in such a situation, it only gives the Makli Clan's upper class a reason to intervene."
"Even if my inadequate disciples leave, the forces brought by Sir Kim..."
"Enough with this nonsense. For disobedience..."
Vroom-
Spiritual energy gathered in the old man's hand.
That's when it happened.
Crack!
A strong hand silently grabbed the old man's arm.
It was Kim Young-hoon.
"When did you enter my consciousness..."
"Hmm, look here, Sir Jin."
Kim Young-hoon tightened his grip on the old man's arm, smiling.
The old man's arm lost blood circulation, turning pale as his energy scattered.
"Seo, my brother, is from my hometown. The crimes of a fellow townsman are my crimes too, so please punish me as well."
"Eeek..."
The overseer old man strained to escape from Kim Young-hoon's grip, and his other hand seemed to cast some spell.
However, the flow of energy around Kim Young-hoon sliced and erased all the old man's spells.
After a while of struggling, the overseer old man, with a flushed face, shouted.
"Fine, fine. I'll overlook the disobedience. Just let go of my arm!"
"Hmm."
Only then did Kim Young-hoon release the old man's arm, and the old man, sweating, began to restore energy to his arm.
"...I may overlook it, but the clan elders won't let you just leave. What I said isn't just my personal opinion. These kids are more than just a force; they're a justification! Whether they're effective or not, they must be deployed in battle!"
"Then, I have a request," I said, looking at my disciples.
"My disciples have forcibly awakened their talents and reached the Pinnacle Realm. Somehow, I have managed to stabilize them there with my training. Yet, to transcend beyond this point, they need to realize intent and reach the realm of Qi Silk. Howevr, as long as the resentful spirits of their relatives linger in their upper dantians, they cannot progress further."
"So?"
"I know you're the one who bestowed the resentful spirits on them. Please help their spirits ascend. At this point, it's just a limitation for my disciples."
"Hmm, you want to detach the spirits?" the overseer old man, who was scanning my disciples' upper dantians, clicked his tongue and spoke.
"Sorry, but it can't be done. Even if I try to undo the spell, it won't work unless these kids want to let go of their families. There are only two ways to undo it now: Either a Core Formation elder forcibly removes the spirits, or the disciples themselves let them go."
"..."
"Ah, now that I think about it, there's another way. If these kids die, the spell will be undone automatically. You knew all this, didn't you?"
The old man looked at me with half-closed eyes and asked.
'Did I know?'
I smiled bitterly and nodded.
Yes, it was a question grasping at pointless hope.
Slowly, as the paralysis began to wear off, my disciples started speaking.
"Who, just who... thinks they can separate me from my family..."
"It can't be done..."
"Inadequate skills can be improved by accumulating more battle experience!"
Without exception.
None of them wanted to let go of their families.
Nobody.
The overseer old man, looking at my disciples, turned to me with a mocking tone.
"Ha, the so-called master doesn't even know who he's teaching. Do these kids seem alive to you? All of these kids have already resigned to death! Your disciples are alive but not living!
They are the dead, obsessed with revenge!
Ha, fine. I'll help a little."
Whoosh!
As the old man formed a spell, a green light burst from his grasp and seeped into the minds of the remaining disciples.
"It's the spirit ascension spell. If your disciples succeed in letting go of their attachments to their families and undo the spell, their families spirits will naturally ascend. Yes, 'if' your disciples let go of their attachments!"
"..."
"Heh, not even knowing who you're teaching and giving such ridiculous orders. Both the clan elders and your disciples themselves don't want to withdraw from the upcoming battles!
Stop clinging to pointless delusions and lead the troops properly."
After finishing, the overseer old man gave Kim Young-hoon a brief glare, muttered something about 'mortal origins,' and flew away on his flying artifact.
I clenched my teeth and looked up at the sky.
There was nothing I could do.
"...Kim Hyung, I wonder if relying on the power of the Jin Clan... was the right thing to do. I have so many doubts."
"Me too."
"What should we do..."
"..."
"What should I do..."
He sighed softly.
"There's no choice. The Jin Clan may not be good, but the cultivators of Makli are worst! We have to choose such an option..."
I clenched my teeth, fed my fallen disciples the antidote, and helped them up.
Then, we had no choice but to gather and head to the next battlefield.
It was what everyone wanted, except me.
Half a year passed.
Today, another fierce battle ended, and I roamed the territories of the Makli Can, collecting the bodies of the victims and my disciples.
"Recently, it seems your hair has been turning white more and more."
"..."
"Are you okay?"
Kim Young-hoon, who was helping me collect the bodies, looked at me with a pitiful expression and asked.
Lately, I have been aging rapidly.
Until now, I hadn't aged much due to consuming many health-related medicine.
However, my hair has been turning white at an alarming rate.
"...I'm fine."
"...Don't overdo it."
Kim Young-hoon looked at me with pitying eyes and then went off to collect other bodies.
Among the ruins of the destroyed Makli territory, I found the body of my disciple, Gise-gu.
His poison blade, a large sword always well-maintained, reflected my face cleanly even after his death.
My eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles underneath.
My lips were dry, and my hair was a mess of white and gray.
Once again, I pulled the body of a dead disciple from the debris.
Because of my weakness, I couldn't save my disciple today.
"Why!!!!!"
I screamed towards the sky.
"Why is this happening to me! Why!!!"
I screamed until my throat was soar.
"Why did I receive such talent! Why must I still remain in the state of Three Flowers!
Why! Why! Why can't I still enter Five Energies!
Why am I..."
I roared, gripping the earth.
The imprint of my hand was embedded in the ground.
"Why... am I powerless to do anything..."
I knew.
It wasn't the fault of the heavens.
It was all my fault.
If only I had tried a little harder.
If I had trained even a bit more desperately.
Even if it meant my brain might explode, if I had aspired for a higher realm.
Yes, if I had been just a little stronger, it would have been resolved.
"Please... give me talent... please... give me strength..."
I gritted my teeth and howled.
"Why am I still... after doing this much... so powerless..."
I regretted it.
Why did I stupidly put my disciples in such a place? I should have opposed even at the risk of my life.
No, why did I teach these kids? Even if I had to be chased away, I shouldn't have taken them in.
No... why did I even come to this place and form a bond? Yes, I shouldn't have joined the Jin Clan to stop the evil deeds of the Makli Clan.
The disciples I taught out of guilt had become a part of my life.
Every time these children died, it felt like my flesh was being carved away.
"...The bodies have been collected, Master."
"...Any survivors?"
Man-ho, with tearful eyes in front of Gise-gu's body, came to me, clenching his teeth to report.
"314... are left."
"Alright... Let's go."
I staggered, carrying the body of my disciple, and headed to the burial site.
I buried my disciples in a sunny place and recited the rites led by Kim Young-hoon.
The ritual of soul consolation, mastered by Kim Young-hoon, seeped in, and the spirits of the victims ascended.
Kim Young-hoon also recited the rites for my disciples' bodies.
From the graves of the mortals he recited for, small light orbs rose and scattered into the air.
We silently watched the scene.
Then it happened.
"Ha, haha! Finally, the permission has been granted!"
One of the Qi Building cultivators from the Jin Clan, who had been fighting with us, exclaimed with a face full of joy.
In his hand was a piece of communication paper.
"Everyone, gather! The conversation between the elders of our main house and the upper ranks of Makli is over!"
He exclaimed with a joyful expression, looking around us.
"The negotiation is over. They say if the Jin Clan accepts only the participation of mortals and Qi Refining cultivators, they will allow a challenge to replace the Yanguo Imperial Family!"
"Ooooh! Finally, the elders have succeeded in the negotiation."
"Indeed, the elders are commendable."
The eyes of the Jin Clan cultivators shone with excitement, and so did the eyes of my disciples and the martial artists under Kim Young-hoon's command.
However, Kim Young-hoon and I each wore a bitter smile.
'Negotiation.'
The hundreds of lives that had been lost were merely tools for negotiation in the upper echelons of the cultivator clans.
Kim Young-hoon seemed to feel the same way.
As he was scoffing, he questioned the Qi Building Cultivator.
"So... you're saying that by 'allowing a challenge, we can challenge the Yanguo Imperial Family, a branch family of the Makli Clan?"
"That's right. Originally, if we attacked the Imperial Family on a large scale, it would be considered a challenge to the Makli Clan, and we would have to wage a full-scale war. But them accepting the challenge means we can attack the Makli Imperial Family with a large army without a full-scale war."
'...So even the replacement of the Imperial Family is just a disappearance of a branch family.'
From his tone, it seemed like the Makli Clan considered Yanguo as just a subordinate force and that their replacement was within acceptable limits.
"However, they won't just obediently allow the change of the Imperial lineage.
They only permit a challenge, and even then, as mentioned earlier, our side can no longer involve Qi Building cultivators. Even..."
The Jin Clan's Qi Building cultivator frowned.
"The Makli Clan allows all cultivators directly related to the Imperial Family to participate. The former emperors of Yanguo. Especially..."
"You're talking about the Founding Emperor..."
"Yes, the Yanguo Founding Emperor, Makli Wangshin! While all former emperors were low-level Qi Refining, he was a highly talented late-stage Qi Refining cultivator when he ascended to the throne. And... he stepped down from the throne and ascended as a Qi Building cultivator."
A shadow fell on the faces of the Jin Clan cultivators.
"That means..."
"Yes, while we can only challenge them with mortals and Qi Refining, they have Makli Wangshin, a Qi Building cultivator on their side."
"Those damn Makli Clan dogs! How can Qi Refining defeat Qi Building! This..."
However, the Jin Clan's Qi Building cultivator who was briefly irritated, smiled.
"But don't worry... we have this guy!"
He approached Kim Young-hoon and patted his shoulder.
"This young martial artist has the power of a Qi Building cultivator.. Your mission is crucial!
After this mission, the elders of our clan have decided to marry you into a higher family and take you as a son-in-law of the Jin Clan. Consider it an honor!"
"Marriage..."
Kim Young-hoon grimaced as if remembering something.
"...Well, let's talk about that later. Does the Makli Clan know my power is at the Qi Building level? Isn't there something else they're going to say later?"
At his words, the Jin Clan's Qi Building cultivator grinned.
"Huh, even if you recently started learning this and that about cultivation, your cultivation is clearly at Qi Refining 3rd or 4th Star. Their set limit was clearly up to 14th Star Qi Refining, and you fit within that standard!
Hahaha, what can they do even if they try to nitpick? Hahaha!"
He laughed, seemingly in a good mood.
"Although we can't help you, with your skills, you should be able to handle Makli Wangshin. You don't even need to kill him. Just holding him off is enough!"
The explanation continued.
"Regardless of the legitimacy of the Yanguo Imperial Family, if we successfully assassinate the current Emperor Makli Jung and his son Makli Hyun, it will be the victory of the Jin Clan. All former emperors were talentless and couldn't ascend to Qi Building and hence died.
While you hold off Makli Wangshin, Qi Refining cultivators and the mortals will only have to kill Makli Jung and Makli Hyun,
And the Jin Clan can reclaim this country!"
The Qi Building cultivator excitedly announced.
"The Jin Clan can restore its name as the Imperial Family!"
It seems this cultivator was originally a descendant of the Jin Imperial lineage, fervently desiring to reclaim the Yanguo Imperial Lineage.
Even if it is a subordinate force of the cultivator clans, an Imperial Family is no light matter.
He passionately spoke of the glory of the Jin Clan reclaiming the Imperial lineage for some time. Then, with an excited expression, he flew away with the other Jin Clan cultivators on a flying artifact.
We left the territory, and I quietly looked at my disciples who had been listening attentively to the Qi Building cultivator's words.
"...It's time to fulfill our promise."
Though the intents of the disciples were varied,
They all had determined expressions.
However, I clenched my teeth and made the same request I had made when they first went into battle.
"Please, survive."
And their response was the same as before.
"...I'm sorry, Master."
"I ask you as your master. Please, survive."
"..."
Now, I had no reason to stop them.
I had promised them with my own mouth to join them in revenge if they survived.
"...You all must have lived so far to avenge your families. And you must have no hesitation in dying.
But what about those who will be left behind... Why don't you think about my feelings?"
"...I'm sorry."
Their eyes were filled with dark blue intent.
"It's not that we don't know Master's feelings. But... Master, you don't understand..."
"Your feelings? Eun-hyun doesn't understand your feelings? Eun-hyun?"
Just then, Kim Young-hoon, who had been watching our conversation, approached me.
"These ungrateful brats... Do you know what your master has been feeling while saying such harsh words!"
A massive surge of energy burst from him.
Under his presssure, all my disciples fell to the ground.
"Cough!"
"Keugh..."
"Kuugh...!"
"Do you not know what Seo Eun-hyun has been through! Haven't you heard from him!"
He showed an angry expression and growled.
"Your friends who died in the past, their resentful spirits are still not fully appeased. So, Seo Eun-hyun asked me to let their spirits possess him! It's because of that my brother is getting old, and yet you dare to speak such nonsense!
You insolent ones, how can you..."
While speaking, Kim Young-hoon read the intents of my disciples and, noticing something strange, turned to look at me sharply.
"...You, did you not tell anything to your disciples?"
"..."
"...Foolish one. Stupid one! A stupid master with stupid disciples!"
He beat his chest in frustration.
"Listen, all of you! Your master, in order to fulfill your unfulfilled wishes even in death, did the same foolish thing as you!
Despite not being related by blood, he accepted the resentful spirits of your friends into his body, and has been fighting against the cultivators with them!"
The revelation from Kim Young-hoon shocked the faces of the children.
"Didn't you feel anything strange seeing your master aging so rapidly? His life was drastically shortened because he was forced to accept more than two hundred vengeful spirits not related by blood!
To fulfill your stubborn and insolent wishes... did you not realize how your master has been feeling?"
He shouted with great anger.
"These foolish, insolent, and selfish brats! Are only your grievances important? Don't you care about your master's feelings?"
"...Stop it, Hyung-nim."
"...Such a foolish and frustrating man. Why did you bear it all alone?
Did you think you'd be praised for it? Did you expect these foolish and selfish brats to support you?
I accepted your request considering your relationship with your disciples. But what is this! You've kept it to yourself all this time without saying a word!
This, this..."
Overwhelmed, Kim Young-hoon sighed.
"Hoo... it's enough. Such a foolish man. Sort it out among yourselves. I will leave first."
For a moment, the surroundings were enveloped in silence.
After collecting my emotions, I spoke.
"At first, I accepted the first thirty-four fallen disciples. I obtained permission from each of them, and contained my disciples' spirits in my upper dantian. Since then, the deceased children have been with me...
Although it was hard to accept all their relatives, at least those children have been with me after death..."
Until now.
I felt frustrated by my disciples who clung to death and honed their revenge.
But after accepting vengeful spirits like my disciples, I finally understood the children.
Master and disciple influence each other.
Just as they were influenced by me, I was also influenced by them.
That's why the master-disciple relationship is called a familial relationship.
Now, I can no longer simply block my disciples.
I have come to understand their emotions, the grudges in their hearts.
"Now, I can empathize with you, even if it's weak. I understand a little of the pain and grudge you all bear..."
Looking around, I said.
"But still, I..."
Facing their emotions head-on and empathizing with them,
I expressed my desire.
"I wish you are alive."
My talent is extremely modest.
Even though I maximized my limited talent by accepting the resentful spirits of my disciples under much more favorable conditions than other masters, I have yet to discover the last of the Seven Emotions.
Desire is my unattainable emotion.
Even though I know that desire equals life, I have not yet discovered this last emotion.
I have not reached the Ultimate Enlightenment, nor have I understood what life is.
It has been a life of not being able to do, and not doing.
So please.
"I won't tell you to forget your grudges or not to repay them. But..."
At least all of you.
"Please, live..."
Live that life.
Before today, my disciples never listened to me.
But now, they nodded to my words.
"We will definitely live."
"We will live and greet you, Master...!"
Starting with Man-ho, they all fell prostrate before me.
"We will survive! For you, Master!"
Maybe, for the first time since establishing this master and disciple relationship.
It was a moment when the hearts of the master and disciples connected.
Thus, we were successful in opening our hearts before the final battle.
And the day of the decisive battle arrived.
***
On the day of the decisive battle, during the waiting time outside the Imperial City, I began to read a book carefully.
"Hmm, but why did you ask for that?"
Kim Young-hoon asked, looking puzzled as he saw me reading.
The book I was reading had no title. It was a manuscript written by Kim Young-hoon.
In the first regression, Kim Young-hoon, who became the best martial artist in the world and reached the Five Energies Converging to the Origin realm, created the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts in order to allow martial artists to escape from cultivators.
The Record was further improved upon and evolved into the Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts by the second regression Kim Young-hoon. It was meant to give martial artists a lifeline against cultivators.
The Record became Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts Scripture after the third regression Kim Young-hoon added 6 volumes regarding his insights fighting and escaping from cultivators.
The fourth regression Kim Young-hoon integrated and simplified the six volumes into the Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts which paved the way for a new realm.
The nameless book I was reading right now was the evolved version of the Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts, further advanced by this regressions Kim Young-hoon through endless battles against cultivators.
If the Scripture and Secrets discussed transition from the Five Energies to the next realm, the nameless book detailed the extreme resentment () seen in the new realm
Of course.
I dont understand even when Im reading it.
The complexity of this martial art system, evolved again from the Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts, was beyond my comprehension.
Kim Young-hoon, noticing my struggle, clicked his tongue and said.
You dont need to force yourself to understand. This is not a completed martial art.
Not completed?
"Mhmm, martial arts should be passed down. Even though I've become an unparalleled great master, I will die someday. But my martial arts live on as my legacy, proving my existence. Thus, the completion of a martial art is in its transmission," he explained, glancing at the book in my hand.
"Its minimum entry requirement is Five Energies Converging to the Origin. Just as a first-rate cannot understand the world of the pinnacle and an early peak cannot understand the world of Three Flowers Gather at the Summit. Anyone below Five Energies cannot comprehend this martial art system. It's incomplete because it can't be properly transmitted."
"Hmm, so it's complete but incomplete due to its extremely high entry barrier?" I summarized.
"Right. This martial art needs to be adapted so that it can be understood even by those at the level of Three Flowers..."
As I listened, I smiled slyly.
"Is there a need for that? In my opinion, just give it to a warrior who can reach the Five Energies or someone with Kim Hyungs level of talent. Theres no need to simplify it for them."
"Haha, Eun-hyun. Talent like mine in martial arts comes once in a thousand years. I assure you, my talent is almost implausibly high..."
"Hmm, that is true."
This is how I felt seeing him evolve his martial arts to a new realm every regression and faster each time.
But don't worry, Kim Hyung. I'll pass down this martial art to you in the next regression"
His martial arts will always be passed down without the need for simplification.
Because I will always ensure its transmission
"...Anyway, how about naming this martial art?" I suggested.
"Hmm, a name," he pondered and then smiled.
"Gazing at cultivators (), eventually surpassing the limits of martial arts (), and condensing these Secrets (). The creator of Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts () probably spent his life just observing cultivators, and that's how it ended. He could never surpass them.
However, I have surpassed the Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts and discovered the possibility of surpassing cultivators. With my current level, I won't be inferior in a battle against late-stage Qi Building cultivators! If I ambush a Core Formation cultivator, I can inflict significant injuries..."
He wrote characters in the air. The energy flowing from his fingertips beautifully illuminated the void.
"Surpassing cultivators (), surpassing the martial arts framework () and recording () the achievements!"
Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Martial Arts().
That was the name of the newly evolved martial arts record.
'Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Martial Arts...'
Reminiscent of the combination of Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts and Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts. Seeing the name, I recalled the Young-hoons of the 1st and 2nd regressions.
Their unfulfilled wishes were slowly being realized.
With a slow smile, I put the fully read Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Martial Arts in my chest pocket. Having memorized the Record, I could pass it on again, even if I died today.
"Lets go, Kim Hyung."
"Yes, its about time."
Today, the Imperial Family of Yanguo will change.
Whoooosh!
In the skies above Seokyung City, blue and red lights flashed. It signaled the end of the agreement between the Jin and Makli Clans.
'Now, we just need to enter.'
Flash!
Blue lights burst from the eastern, western, southern, and northern gates of Seokyung City.
At the same time, red lights also burst from the southeast, southwest, northwest, and northeast directions.
Lights from the Makli and Jin Clan cultivators intermingled above the city, casting their magical influence over Seokyung City.
Rumble...
A barrier conjured by the two cultivator clans enveloped the city. As it formed, ordinary pedestrians began to stagger and collapse.
Anyone below the mid first-rate lost consciousness and fell on the streets, while late first-rate warriors barely resisted the barrier's influence with their weapons.
But even they would succumb if they lost focus for even a moment.
Now, only the masters who had entered the world of intent remained conscious inside Seokyung City.
Even among them, those who had recently entered the Pinnacle Realm and couldn't constantly operate in the world of intent would soon faint.
'Terrifying.'
The terror of cultivators wasn't just about individual strength. It was about their formations and mystical abilities!
A formation powerful enough to seize a city in an instant, laid by just eight Qi Building cultivators.
Even that was because the Jin and Makli Clan cultivators were mutually restraining each other. In reality, just four of them could have set up this formation.
'No wonder they treat ordinary people like insects. They wouldn't even acknowledge or listen to us.'
But still...
There is basic human decency.
Being born human, asserting oneself as a human, there are obligations that come with it.
I clenched my teeth, recalling the atrocities of the Makli Clan.
'As long as I can, I will stop you.'
Swoosh!
As soon as the barrier formed, I used my movement technique towards the Imperial City. Simultaneously, my disciples and Kim Young-hoons followers, who were lying in wait around Seokyung City, picked up their weapons and moved out.
Additionally, over a hundred cultivators from the Jin Clan in red robes flew above us on their flying devices.
Whirr!
Inside the barrier of Seokyung City, a deep blue barrier spread around the Imperial Palace.
The defensive barrier looked thick at first glance.
Inside, cultivators from the Makli Clan in blue robes strengthened the formation and prepared their spells.
Just then, Kim Young-hoon took flight.
Boom, boom!
He stepped on the air, rising, and stretched out his hand.
"Everyone, prepare to enter!"
His voice seemed to cover the entire Seokyung City.
Kim Young-hoon, floating in the air, gently extended his palm.
A round sphere of Gang Qi emerged from his hand.
'That is...'
I observed the new realm he had achieved.
The bright sphere split into three.
Three Gang Qi spheres!
But they split again around Kim Young-hoon, forming nine spheres.
Nine Gang Spheres lined up behind him.
Then, they arranged around him.
Bang, bang, bang!
The nine spheres struck the barrier over the Imperial Palace, creating nine holes.
"Enter!!"
Crash!
The Jin Clan cultivators threw their talismans which stuck to the holes in the barrier, preventing its repair.
The cultivators from the Makli Clan seemed surprised by the size of the openings created by Kim Young-hoons strike.
Swoosh!
I used Mountain Lords Soaring Flight, scaling the outer wall of the Imperial Palace and entering through the hole Kim Young-hoon had made.
"A mortal has entered! Block..."
Severing Vein Saber Method, Mountain Wind!
Thud!
My piercing strike, filled with Sword Gang, penetrated the shouting Makli cultivators mouth, creating a hole in his medulla.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Ninth Move.
Landscape Painting.
Boom, boom, boom!
My sword filled with Sword Gang wildly slashed in every direction.
Though it seemed haphazard, each strike followed the optimal trajectory!
Each perfect trajectory smashed the defensive spells of the lower-grade cultivators of the Makli Clan, tearing their bodies apart.
In the hole at the outer wall of the Imperial Palace where I was located, a mist of blood formed around me in an instant.
"Ugh, a peak martial artist! Everyone, use the Jiangshi as shields and prepare spells from the rear!"
Screech, screech!
Thus, the battle unfolded with an intensity that shook the very foundations of Seokyung City.
Second Move, Entering Mountain ().
Fourteenth Move, Qi Mountain, Heart Heaven ().
Connecting Technique ().
Qi Mountains Entry Path ()!
Whoosh!
Switching to a lower stance, I opened up the meridians, expanding the force of my energy and slicing widely through my opponents.
Swish Boom!
In a single move, the attacking Jiangshi had their legs severed and fell to the ground.
'Deep Mountain (). Ascending Vein ().'
Charging in with Mountain Lords Soaring Flight, I entered the embrace of a cultivator chanting from behind, and cut him upwards.
Crack!
My Sword Gang pierced through the cultivator's defensive spell, splitting his body diagonally.
''Ah, ah... How can this mortal...!''
The other astounded cultivators used some kind of spell.
Swoosh!
Fwoom!
Boom!
A water orb and wind blades, along with a yin ring, were cast towards me from different directions.
'Secluded Valley ().'
Along with Secluded Valley, I used Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts to penetrate the intents behind the spells, twisting the direction of their power.
Rotating in place, I neutralized all three spell attacks.
The spells didn't even brush my clothes.
'What, what...'
'Bouldered Cliff ().'
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Crack!
Spinning in place, I shot circular Sword Gang at the confused cultivators.
Before they could use another spell, they were shredded by my Sword Gang breaking through their defenses.
Flesh and blood sprayed in all directions, filling the air with the scent of blood.
My commotion drew the attention of all the cultivators.
"Stop that martial artist first!"
"Deploy all the Jiangshi!"
"Drive him out!"
Hundreds of Jiangshi, oozing with poison, rushed towards me.
Meanwhile, others began to enter through the hole behind me.
Boom!
314 of my disciples, each armed, lined up behind me.
"Clean up. I'll go inside first."
After giving a brief order, I headed below the outer wall.
Led by Man-ho, my disciples nodded briefly before clashing with the horde of Jiangshi.
Whoosh!
I jumped down from the outer wall.
A cool wind rose from below.
And then.
Boom!
A spear was hurled at me with a breaking sound.
'It's awkward to dodge, and if I parry in mid-air, I'm at a disadvantage.'
Quick judgment.
In an instant, I swung my sword against the outer wall.
Crack!
After emitting sword silk and embedding my sword into the wall, I used it as a support to leap up again.
Then, I powered my legs and deflected the spear with a spin.
Clang!
My counterattack, optimally executed, sent the spear flying back, and I quickly pulled my sword from the wall, using Heavy Fall Technique to quickly land on the ground.
Martial artists, including the one who threw the spear at me, started to gather around.
"Ah, long time no see, everyone."
"Shut up, villain! We've never seen someone like you!"
Faces I had seen during my time in the Shadow Guards.
The chief and deputy chief of the Imperial Outer Defense Force, the admiral and deputies of the Golden Army, and the generals of the United Guard.
Faces I had occasionally seen.
Although their relationship with the Shadow Gaurds was indifferent, as we were supposed to hide in the shadows.
'It's a bit tricky to kill them.'
They were just following orders. What fault did they have?
Each was simply acting out of the loyalty they were taught.
"Don't worry. I won't kill you."
It's harder not to kill cultivators due to their defensive spells.
But against these people, it's much easier.
Fling!
Infinite Fighting Hidden Weapon Technique, Straight Snake!
The quickly thrown weapon lodged in the shoulder of the Outer Defense Force chief.
Coated with poison, he would soon be paralyzed.
I took an antidote from my pocket and scattered paralysis powder in all directions.
Infinite Fighting Hidden Weapon Technique, Illusionary Snake Mist!
Several weapons accurately grazed the bodies of the deputy chief and United Guard generals beyond the paralysis powder.
I coated my sword tip with poison, and using Deep Mountain, I lunged at the generals of the United Guard and the admiral of the Golden Army, lightly cutting their skin.
What remained were the deputies of the Golden Army.
Infinite Fighting Hidden Weapon Technique, Double Killing Snake
Swish, swish!
Two weapons flew in different trajectories towards them, and in that moment, I re-grasped my sword stance.
Severing Vein Saber Method, Mountain Wind!
Fling!
A rapid thrust pierced the deputies trying to block the hidden weapons, and the poison on my sword tip entered their bodies, causing them to collapse soon after.
'They're not fatally poisoned, so they can be detoxified later in the Imperial Medical Hall. The Imperial physician is a bit better than me, so he should be able to decipher the mixture.'
I left the twitching peak masters lying in foam behind me and surveyed the layout of the surrounding buildings.
'The emergency shelter for the Emperor in case of emergency is the Hidden Dragon Hall. Officially, that is.'
But as the former deputy-leader of the Shadow Guards who closely guarded the Emperor, I knew.
'The actual shelter is the Glowing Scenery Pavilion, located beyond the northwest corner of the Imperial City...'
During my time in the Shadow Guards, I didn't understand why I had to guard a cultivator emperor.
Nor did I understand why such a shelter existed.
After all, neither the commoners' rebellion nor the army could match up to them, so why the need for such a shelter?
But now I understand.
'It's a place prepared in case other cultivator clans conspire to usurp the Imperial Throne.'
Screech!
More Jiangshi than I saw from the outer wall screamed and rushed towards me.
Easily hundreds in number.
Apparently, they were just released en masse to entangle any intruders.
Snap-
How many people were sacrificed to create these Jiangshi?
I gritted my teeth and gripped my sword.
'It should be about time now...'
Thud!
At that thought, my disciples jumped down from the outer wall below.
"Any casualties?"
"None at all."
"Thank you. Have you cleaned up everything?"
"We've only dealt with the Jiangshi; the remaining Makli cultivators are engaged in combat with the martial arts experts brought by Sir Kim and the Jin Clan cultivators."
"Good, from now on, everyone will follow me. We will go to where the Emperor is."
"Yes!"
At my words, my disciples shouted excitedly.
"First, we break through the Jiangshi horde. Since they're just to entangle us, there's no need to kill them all. Everyone, form a wedge!"
Leading the way, my disciples lined up behind me in a triangular formation.
"Let's break through!"
"Yes!!!!!"
Peak masters of this level, with their internal energy, is equivalent to a cavalry in terms of power and speed.
Although fewer in number, their strength and speed are in no way inferior.
I ran ahead, allowing my disciples to follow, infusing my sword with Sword Gang.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Fourth Move.
Flowing Ridge()!"
As I called out the sword moves, just like we practiced during training, my disciples assumed their appropriate stances and connected their positions.
While a standard formation typically unifies weapons, to peak masters who can read intent, such variability is not a flaw.
Instead, they break through by compensating for each others weaknesses!
Boom!
Initially a straightforward stabbing technique, it transformed with the force of breakthrough, erupting like a clash of chariots, shattering the Jiangshi before us.
Qi Mountain, Heart Heaven!
I opened my meridians wide and pulled forth even more Sword Gang.
Rumble!
Leading from the front, I mowed down the Jiangshi, making my way through.
The disciples on my flanks also infused energy into their weapons, shaking off and breaking through the Jiangshi.
Hundreds of peak masters carved a path through the black ocean of Jiangshi.
'This is it!'
As we tore through, the dividing wall of the Imperial Palace came into view.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Mountain and Valley Transformation!
Unleashing Sword Gang, I demolished the wall and altered the nearby landscape. I then positioned myself at the forefront and made my way through the collapsed wall.
My disciples on the flanks quickly closed in from a wedge formation to a parallel 'I' formation.
Following through the gap I created, my disciples streamed in like a tail.
Entering through the wall, the Imperial Garden, Guhwawon, came into sight.
'Formations lie ahead.'
Fortunately, they werent too strong, and I knew all the life gates of the formations. (Life gates in cultivation stories are basically the exit points in formations and arrays)
"Everyone, follow exactly behind me!"
Recalling the life gates spread around Guhwawon, I stepped through them, unraveling the formations as I went.
My disciples followed precisely, and the Jiangshi, lacking this knowledge, aimlessly entered Guhwawon but couldnt penetrate the interior, just circling around.
At the edge of Guhwawon, another wall appeared.
Having already shaken off the Jiangshi, instead of hastily breaking the wall, I used Mountain Lords Soaring Flight to leap over it and landed on the other side.
A quiet, small pavilion floated on a little lake, devoid of people.
My disciples also streamed in behind me.
"...Master, theres no one here..."
Without a word, I raised my Sword Gang and launched it towards the pavilion.
Boom!
Simultaneously, my Sword Gang collided with an invisible barrier around the pavilion and dissipated.
"This is the place! Kae-hwa, shoot the flare!"
Before I finished speaking, a crackling sound came from behind and a flare shot up into the sky.
Whoosh - Bang!
A five-colored cloud exploded in the sky.
Simultaneously, about five Jin Clan cultivators in red robes flew towards us on their flying devices.
"The Emperor is here!"
"Well done! We'll dismantle the formation!"
The Jin Clan cultivators, still on their flying devices, took positions around the pavilion and cast their spells.
Flash!
A bright light burst, shattering the invisible wall, revealing the Emperor and the Palace Guards, previously hidden in the pavilion.
Dozens of cultivators in blue robes from the Makli Clan were waiting in the pavilion.
The face of Makli Jung twisted like a vengeful ghost.
"Damn it! How did you find this place? Only the Palace Guards and the Shadow Guards know about the Glowing Scenery Pavilion!"
Boom!
As Makli Jung shouted, one of the Jin Clan cultivators who had dismantled the formation launched another flare.
This time, a white smoke cloud.
A signal that the Emperor has been confirmed to be found.
At the same time.
Boom!
Dozens of Jin Clan cultivators who were pushing back the Makli Clan cultivators on the outer wall began flying towards us.
The Jin Clan cultivators arriving at the lake quickly took up positions.
As light burst forth, they formed a formation.
"Heat!"
Roar!
A fireball the size of ten meters appeared in the sky.
"Go!"
Simultaneously, the fireball created by the Jin Clans formation plunged towards the pavilion.
Rumble!
Besides the illusion formation hiding its appearance, several other barrier formations, seemingly layered, enveloped the pavilion in a blue sphere.
Hiss-
However, the fireball evaporated all the water around the pavilion, wrapping the area in steam.
Through the steam, wind and yin spells shot towards the Jin Clan cultivators in the sky.
The Makli Clan cultivators inside the barrier started to move out.
A Jin Clan cultivator cast a spell and shouted at me.
"Hey, mortal! We'll handle the cultivators; you break through the Palace Guards! The barrier is weakened enough by the previous attack; you should be able to penetrate it with your Sword Gang!"
"Understood!"
I responded to the Jin Clan cultivator and dived into the now-dry lake towards the pavilion.
As I neared the pavilion,
Bang!
A halberd thrust out from the shadow beneath the pavilion.
Clang!
I deflected the halberd and smiled at my opponent.
"Leader of the Shadow Guard, Tiger Slaughtering Halberd, Kwak Il-guk. Long time no see."
Translator notes: Regarding the part about 'Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Marital Arts' being a combination of the previous records is because Exceeding, Transcending, and Surpassing are all the same word in the raws, as I mentioned before in a previous translator note. So the direct translation of the new martial art would be 'Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Surpassing Martial Arts' or 'Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts', a combination of the words 'Transcending Cultivation' and 'Exceeding Martial Arts.' Of course, I translated it as Surpassing Cultivation and Martial Arts to make it easier to differentiate and it's shorter to type.
On that note, I rant:
This bastard Kim Young-hoon cant name for his life. Of all 5 (and even more books later on), theyre all a pain in the ass to type and I can barely remember their names in the Korean raws. They're all 'wol' this and 'wol' that. I have to use the fricken wiki to make sure I get them right
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