The dantian is also called the Sea of Energy Acupoint.
It’s where the body’s energy gathers and is stored.
But for Seo Jinha, who learned the Ten Thousand Transformations Wheel from Hwa Mi, he could gradually generate energy in his body using his upper dantian instead of the lower one.
Moreover, by receiving the palace’s supreme technique, the Crimson Fire Cloud Technique, he could amass immense energy through his upper dantian.
"Phew." After circulating energy for half an hour, Seo Jinha exhaled turbid air and slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes gleamed with divine light, as they had when he possessed great power.
Drip.
Black liquid dripped from his fingers after finishing his energy circulation.
By using the Poison Expulsion Technique, he was gradually expelling the remnants of the poison techniques once injected into him.
Though harmless for now, poison techniques were still poison techniques. Unless one reached the Saintly Poison Body, absorbed poison could cause issues later.
"Remarkable. Mastering the Ten Thousand Transformations Wheel and the Crimson Fire Cloud Technique in just half a month." Hwa Mi, who had been teaching him, nodded in admiration at Seo Jinha’s exceptional talent. "There’s nothing more for me to teach you."
"It’s all thanks to your guidance and care, Palace Lord."
While Seo Jinha trained, Bu Eunseol was the busiest.
He immediately sent word to Nangyang Pavilion, requesting talented young disciples to be stationed at the Azure Cloud Sea Palace. He also meticulously prepared to formally integrate the palace into Majeon’s forces.
When this news spread, Majeon was astounded.
—"The Martial Soul Command Lord brought a mysterious Western Region sect into Majeon?"
—"They say it has incredible spirit herbs and elixirs."
—"Thanks to that, the Medicine Hall can resume producing the Subduing Demon Elixir…"
Even as everything was resolving smoothly, one person wore a serious expression.
It was So Okrim.
"To think he’s the Martial Soul Command Lord."
Bu Eunseol was the heir of Majeon and the legitimate successor of Nangyang Pavilion. How could he be the heir of the Martial Emperor?
"Then…" After staying holed up in her quarters, she emerged, resolute.
Azure Cloud Sea Palace. Small Training Ground.
Having finished his tasks, Bu Eunseol was discussing internal energy methods with Seo Jinha at the small training ground.
Soon, Bu Eunseol would leave.
But Seo Jinha decided to stay at the palace for over a year to master his energy, aiming to restore his power as quickly as possible to support Bu Eunseol. Before leaving, Bu Eunseol was carefully checking Seo Jinha’s energy flow to ensure there were no side effects from opening his upper dantian.
"By the way," Seo Jinha said while discussing internal energy methods, "you broke the Heart Sect Gate in one move. Does that mean… you’ve reached the Martial Supreme Realm?"
Seo Jinha’s face was slightly flushed.
It was thrilling to consider.
No one in martial history had reached the Martial Supreme Realm at such a young age. If true, Bu Eunseol could soon surpass the Twin Heavenly Emperors, becoming an unparalleled martial grandmaster.
"No way." Bu Eunseol calmly shook his head. "As I said before, the Martial Supreme Realm manifests as a phenomenon. It’s not something you achieve by doing something specific."
"Phenomenon…"
"Yes. It’s not as clear as the Supreme Heavenly Realm." Seeing Seo Jinha’s confused expression, Bu Eunseol explained calmly.
"Reaching the Supreme Heavenly Realm through enlightenment allows you to use your body’s potential to its fullest and manipulate time far more precisely than ordinary martial artists."
"Hmm, true."
"But the Martial Supreme Realm masters I’ve seen can’t be described by martial prowess. They each possess unique abilities, creating a phenomenon by their very existence."
Bu Eunseol’s eyes deepened, as if recalling memories.
"The Demon Emperor stood at the boundary of the Beyond Origin, unreachable by enlightenment alone. Facing him induced uncontrollable chaos or loss of self, leading to aimless thoughts." He continued in a low voice.
"Perhaps… that’s why the Demon Emperor called himself ‘Ignorance.’ Life seems eternal but changes and vanishes in an instant…"
Seo Jinha swallowed hard.
Bu Eunseol’s words were profound, tinged with mystery.
He couldn’t grasp them fully or unravel their meaning.
"Of course, whether demonic or orthodox, the goal is to place humans at a cosmic level, transcending existence and non-existence, life and death."
Seo Jinha realized something.
Why Bu Eunseol’s martial prowess advanced so rapidly.
‘He’s not just training in martial arts.’
He wasn’t merely diligently practicing martial arts… like a Zen master, he was exploring questions beyond life and death.
"And speaking of the phenomenon I felt when I saw the pavilion lord called the Human Demon…"
"No, stop." Seo Jinha waved his hand. "You don’t need to continue."
The Martial Supreme Realm masters Bu Eunseol described were transcendent beings who shed the mold of ordinary humans.
To Seo Jinha, Bu Eunseol, observing and analyzing these mysterious masters, seemed no different from them.
"So, you haven’t reached the Martial Supreme Realm?" As Seo Jinha summed it up concisely, Bu Eunseol nodded.
"Correct. To be precise, I’ve only stepped into the Supreme Heavenly Realm." He sighed. "I can’t split time as finely as the Needle King, let alone the Bullet King or the Chief Instructor."
But Bu Eunseol wasn’t fully aware of his own abilities.
He had mastered the supreme techniques of both orthodox and demonic paths, possessed immense internal energy, exceptional combat sense, and insight. By observing and understanding everything beyond himself, seeking enlightenment like a Zen master, he harmonized emptiness and the Way…
Thus, he wielded power several times greater than his actual martial realm.
"Then how did you break the Heart Sect Gate?" Seo Jinha tilted his head. "The Palace Lord said it could only be broken by reaching the Martial Supreme Realm. Was that a lie?"
"Not a lie. The Heart Sect Gate’s gate indeed exerted power similar to an attack from a Martial Supreme Realm master."
"Then doesn’t that mean you’ve reached it if you could withstand it?"
Bu Eunseol gave a wry smile.
Even before mastering the supreme methods of both paths, his spirit was always divided. Thus, even if one side collapsed, he could recover easily.
Moreover, his body contained two essences of Shaolin’s supreme techniques: the Great Prajna Power and the Muscle-Changing Sutra. The fusion of the Ban-geuk Method, the demonic supreme method, and Shaolin’s mystical energies caused this phenomenon… but explaining it to Seo Jinha was difficult.
"Withstanding and unleashing are different. My spirit is slightly different from others, allowing me to defend to some extent." Generalizing the explanation, Seo Jinha, still hopeful, asked again.
"You broke the Heart Sect Gate. Isn’t that a phenomenon of reaching the Martial Supreme Realm?"
"It was just a coincidence where the cracked method and my energy fused, greatly enhancing my power." Shrugging at Seo Jinha’s gaze, Bu Eunseol said. "In simple terms, I broke the Heart Sect Gate with force."
Seo Jinha couldn’t hide his shock.
Bu Eunseol’s power already surpassed the Heavenly Sword. And it had “greatly” increased?
"Your energy increased again? By how much?"
"Slightly over six cycles."
Thud.
Seo Jinha’s eyes nearly popped out.
"Six cycles?"
"Yes."
Seo Jinha’s jaw dropped.
Bu Eunseol tended to downplay his abilities. This meant his energy was roughly equivalent to four hundred years.
"Who in the world has amassed such energy at your age?"
"Energy isn’t the measure of prowess. Well… I won’t be disadvantaged by my energy level."
Seo Jinha was beyond dumbfounded, almost laughing hysterically.
Four hundred years of energy meant he could compete with the world’s top masters in an energy contest without falling behind. Yet Bu Eunseol only thought it meant he wouldn’t be disadvantaged.
"While prowess isn’t solely about energy, still…"
As Seo Jinha tried to continue—
Step, step.
At noon, with sunlight pouring down, So Okrim appeared at the small training ground. She marched up to Bu Eunseol, crossing her arms.
"Can we talk for a moment?" Despite her bold tone, her gaze wavered, unable to fix on Bu Eunseol.
‘Damn, he’s ridiculously handsome.’
Even Seo Jinha, standing nearby, was no slouch.
But Bu Eunseol, with long lashes under the sunlight and a profound gaze, stirred the soul like a marvel of nature’s harmony.
"What’s the talk about?" Bu Eunseol’s eyes, looking at So Okrim, sparkled like sunlight reflected on a river.
Determined not to back down, she widened her eyes and flared her nostrils.
"Serious talk." Noticing the complex emotions in her eyes, Bu Eunseol said to Seo Jinha.
"Let’s continue later." Turning to her, he said.
"Speak."
"Here?"
"Is there a reason not to?"
"Fine." Crossing her arms, So Okrim said gravely. "How can the heir of the Martial Emperor be a disciple of Majeon?"
"I don’t feel the need to explain."
"You’d better." Rubbing her fists with a menacing expression, she said. "If you don’t explain properly, I might have to kill you."
A sharp aura radiated from her, and fierce, piercing light spread from her eyes.
Humm.
As So Okrim gathered her energy, the sky and earth seemed to shift, as if rain were imminent. If she acted, her strike would be faster and more threatening than lightning from the heavens.
"Are you serious?" Red light particles spread from Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Having gathered his energy, he wouldn’t hold back, even if her attitude was a jest.
"Wait." As the situation grew tense, Seo Jinha stepped forward. "Miss So, explain what’s going on, and he’ll respond."
After all, So Okrim had consistently helped them. And he knew Bu Eunseol’s personality well. If threatened with force, even against the Demon Emperor or the Righteous Heavenly Emperor, he wouldn’t flinch.
"Her martial arts are too strong." Seo Jinha looked to Bu Eunseol as he said it,trying to pacify both sides.
So Okrim’s skills were so formidable that even Bu Eunseol couldn’t take her lightly. Since neither would yield, a single argument could lead to mutual destruction.
"Fine." So Okrim reluctantly spoke. "Someone who mastered the demonic supreme martial arts wouldn’t risk everything to learn the Martial Emperor’s techniques."
The supreme methods of both paths inevitably include heart techniques that enhance their power.
The problem is that these heart techniques cannot mix. Mastering both simultaneously would likely regress one’s martial arts.
"Just because others can’t doesn’t mean he can’t." Seo Jinha shook his head calmly. "He’s the greatest talent in the demonic path. What does it matter to you if he learns both?"
"It matters. There’s only one type of person who masters both supreme methods simultaneously."
"What’s that?" At Seo Jinha’s question, white flames flickered in So Okrim’s eyes.
"A double agent." Turning to Bu EunSeolsolemnly, she said. "Only a double agent would risk martial regression and spiritual fracture to master both supreme methods."
Seo Jinha was dumbfounded.
"The legitimate heir of Nangyang Pavilion and Majeon—why would he be a double agent?"
"You really know nothing." So Okrim said coldly. "Double agents always hold high positions. Being Majeon’s heir doesn’t mean he’s not one."
"A double agent?" Bu Eunseol’s eyes changed, intrigued by her words. "Even if I were a double agent, why do you care?"
"One reason I entered the martial world is to deal with double agents rooted in both paths."
"Dealing with double agents? What does that mean?" When Seo Jinha asked, So Okrim sighed and replied slowly.
"Since four hundred years ago, a group has manipulated both paths to control the martial world. And…" Staring at Bu Eunseol, she said in a low voice. "That group includes descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars. Their leader is likely one of them."
Bu Eunseol’s eyebrow rose at this unexpected revelation.
According to the Martial Emperor’s records, the Martial Emperor Seop Muhun was framed as a double agent by a shadowy force and forced to leave the martial world.
Was one of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars behind it?
"That’s absurd." Seo Jinha shook his head. "I heard the Eight Emperors and Three Stars transcended both paths, imparting great teachings to martial artists."
Four hundred years ago, martial arts were as advanced as today.
It was a golden age with many great masters contributing to martial development.
The Eight Emperors and Three Stars were unparalleled grandmasters who enlightened themselves and generously taught those they encountered in the martial world. Could one of them be the martial world’s shadowy mastermind?
"Teaching martial arts is a big deal? When they already hold the martial world in their grasp?"
"There’s a flaw in your logic." Bu Eunseol asked sharply. "Even if your words are true, the Celestial Emperor was considered mid-tier among the Eight Emperors and Three Stars."
He looked at So Okrim suspiciously.
"Yet the Celestial Emperor’s descendant claims to take down the descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars controlling the martial world? With what power?" Despite the piercing question, So Okrim smirked. "My Dual-Severed Galaxy Technique was refined by my ancestor in his later years to counter them."
Tilting her head, she continued.
"He left a will not to enter the martial world until our family’s technique was perfected. Without mastering the refined Dual-Severed Galaxy Technique, we can’t face those rooted in the martial world."
"So, your ancestor’s will was to eliminate the leader among the Eight Emperors and Three Stars’ descendants disrupting the martial world?" Bu Eunseol said coldly. "Even if they’re the martial world’s masterminds, why is that wrong? The only one wronged was the Martial Emperor."
"You really know nothing." So Okrim sighed deeply, hesitating.
Facing their sharp gazes, she reluctantly said.
"They use their power for evil. They abduct people to cultivate spirit herbs or create things like Bound Asuras." Bu Eunseol and Seo Jinha exchanged glances.
Were the human puppets and Bound Asuras they’d seen made by some descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars?
"Hmph, looks like you know something." So Okrim smirked. "Now, is that explanation enough?"
Bu Eunseol said calmly. "The martial world’s masterminds only abduct people and cultivate human puppets?"
"No way. Their history of cultivating human puppets is short."
"Then what’s their goal?"
"I don’t know. But," Crossing her arms gravely, So Okrim continued.
"All the brutal bloodbaths written in history were their doing."
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