Chapter 221: Enlightenment Has No End

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Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, and Gal Jung-heon each stared at Cheol Ryu-heun on the platform with shocked expressions.

Newly becoming this era’s representative Sword Emperor and Sword Empress, and a demonic person of the strongest caliber and highest caliber… They were truly amazing words.

However, it wasn’t surprising.

Because the person who mentioned it was Cheol Ryu-heun.

Everyone already knew well.

That words Cheol Ryu-heun spoke out loud would definitely be realized someday.

All the changes that had already occurred surrounding White Peak Sword Sect were proof of that.

Soon, Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent voice continued.

“First, start with mastering the Soul Devouring Eye. That is the true starting point.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Gal Jung-heon answered with dignity while burning with desire in his heart.

Meanwhile, Hae Su-yeon felt her heart swelling.

‘What Should I Do. I never thought it would really come to this…’

Great excitement beyond surprise made her heart pound.

Mong Ye, the ancient strongest female master who first obtained the title of Sword Empress in martial world history.

Her true transmission, spanning seven hundred eighty years, had entered her hands.

A thought crossed her mind again.

That fate is truly mysterious.

During the past few years, she had vaguely sought only methods to complete the unfinished internal power cultivation method, yet before she knew it, she had not only achieved the unity of the Heavenly Demon Incarnation and Enchanting Flower Sword but could even study Mong Ye’s exclusive sword study…

Hae Su-yeon, her heart swelling again, gripped the booklet with force.

Suddenly, one person’s face floated in her mind.

Forty years ago, a hapless nun who had been the chief disciple of Putuo Temple’s sect leader Jeong-sim of the Nine Great Sects, accidentally touched the Enchanting Flower Sword and inevitably had her dharma name Il-jeong stripped away and was excommunicated.

It was precisely the face of her master, Kang Hee-san.

Her late teacher’s wish was one.

The completion of the internal power cultivation method left behind by Flower Spirit Empress Heon Sae-ah , the supreme female master who ranked in the top three fingers among orthodox and heterodox factions two hundred years ago.

Hae Su-yeon remembered those final words.

-In the distant past, they say Heon Sae-ah said this before drawing her last breath. That flowers bloom but there are no butterflies… It means that no matter how diligently you practice this internal power cultivation method, completion is impossible. But Su-yeon… Don’t be too disappointed. You’ve not only awakened the latent Enchanting energy of the Enchanting Flower Sword but are handling it quite skillfully. You… Might be able to find a way to complete this internal cultivation method.

‘MASTER! Are you watching? As a martial artist, I’ve gained a new goal. Through forming ties with that mysterious Sect Leader Cheol… But before that, if you hadn’t existed, the current me wouldn’t exist either. I’m truly grateful. For raising me like a daughter. I will now walk my own path while deeply engraving in my heart the great teachings from when you were alive. And so… I will prove myself a disciple even more worthy of pride.’

Let’s become the new Sword Empress.

And

Let’s also create a new martial sect that honors her master’s grace.

Having steeled her resolve thus, a smile spread across Hae Su-yeon’s lips.

At that moment, Namgung Sang-rin asked cautiously.

“Sect Leader Cheol, you suddenly giving me this… Does it mean rebuilding my household is difficult with just my family’s sword studies?”

Recently, he had received the completely restored Heaven Vault Formless Sword, Imperial Four Arts Sword Technique, Azure Sky Sword Form, Heaven Flow Cloud Wall Sword Technique and Sky Breaking Sword Forms essentials in their entirety.

Therefore,

He had thought mastering those to peak level would be sufficient.

But was Cheol Ryu-heun’s judgment actually different?

Cheol Ryu-heun asked back indifferently.

“What do you think I mean?”

“PARDON? Ah… I don’t know.”

“Think about it later. What my intention is. Well, if you read it, you’ll realize something. Just like your younger brother.”

At the unexpected words, Namgung Sang-rin’s eyes widened.

“EH? Heon-rin…? Wh-what do you mean by that…”

At that, Cheol Ryu-heun briefly explained about Sword Emperor Buk Ga-shin’s fortuitous encounter location and then added.

“Probably Heon-rin will visit that place even if there’s no crisis situation. If only because he’s curious about what it is. Generally, a martial artist’s curiosity is stronger than an ordinary person’s. Anyway, if he sets foot there, he’s a fellow who will surely realize something and come out. Though it will take quite a bit of time.”

Following that, his gaze shifted toward the executive staff.

“Elder and Chief Supervisor, start tomorrow.”

“Yes. Sect Leader-nim.”

Both quickly grasped the meaning.

It meant that since their ability to execute the three ultimate forms of White Peak Sword Art Final Chapter had reached the level of completion, they should enter the next stage and proceed with a series of training.

That’s right.

It referred to the new White Peak Sword Art ultimate technique that Cheol Ryu-heun had created using the incomplete forms left by the first sect Leader White Peak Sword Patriarch Do Dae-dam, which he had once said was a required formula for all sect executives to learn.

‘FINALLY, THE TIME HAS COME!’

Having spoken inwardly, Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk had eyes brimming with anticipation.

Cheol Ryu-heun’s instructions continued.

It was the turn of Instructors Guyang Cheon, Guyang Ji, and Guyang In.

When they received orders to perfectly master the essentials and applications of Mountain Coming, Mountain Spirit, and Mountain Road within the next five days and then consume the elixirs he had prepared, their eyes burned intensely.

“YES! We will definitely accomplish it! This Billowing Passion Swordsman…”

“NOISY. Shut your mouth. I don’t want to hear this and that.”

“…”

Cheol Ryu-heun shifted his gaze again and quietly looked at the Yaksha Squad, the bandit-origin group including Tae Sa-ja.

“You all need to become martial artists first.”

Tae Sa-ja, representing them all, nodded and answered boldly.

“Yes! Sect Leader-nim! We are diligently learning how to handle swords!”

“Naturally, that’s not enough.”

“PARDON…?”

“I plan to deploy the Yaksha Squad in actual combat soon. You grow faster by throwing yourself against things.”

Tae Sa-ja asked with a startled face.

“J-Just now, you said actual combat… Perhaps in the Sun Moon Demon Cult hunt…?”

At that, Cheol Ryu-heun replied as if it was pathetic.

“Hunting? what nonsense. You’d become prey instead.”

“AH… Yes. R-Right. Then…?”

“I’ll tell you separately later. So wake up that collapsed sleeping fellow later and learn diligently. His skills are quite good, so he’ll teach you the basics of sword forms well.”

The collapsed sleeping fellow meant precisely Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo.

That was tantamount to saying he would accept him as an official Guest Retainer.

Immediately after.

The roughly one hundred disciples who were the Mountain Martial Association members also received new training courses and plans.

It was a hellish schedule where even sleeping time was reduced.

Even a level of intensity that seemed as hard as repeating that body-twisting they hated more than death tens of thousands of times…

The content made one wonder if a person could endure it.

However, Gwak Woon-bi, Yeong Ho-woong, and the other disciples all had faces filled with enthusiasm.

It was natural.

Because thanks to Cheol Ryu-heun, they had all cast off life’s heavy burdens and become carefree.

It was the creation of an optimal environment for focusing solely on martial arts training.

So there was absolutely no way there could be complaints.

Meanwhile,

The workers, including Qidiao Gon had envious expressions.

‘TSK, if only we could receive teachings too…’

Soon, Qidiao Gon whispered to his group.

“Let’s repent our past wrongs and work even harder. Then we too, someday… Such opportunities may come.”

At that, the three people standing beside him nodded vigorously.

Yes, even that group including Tae Sa-ja were at first mere workers here.

The possibility of receiving great teachings later wasn’t nonexistent.

Cheol Ryu-heun finally looked at the face of Cui Lan standing to one side and opened his mouth.

“You’d also want to become like your master, right?”

“YES! Sect Leader-nim!”

Cui Lan answered loudly as if she’d been waiting, and her round eyes sparkled brightly.

“Give it here. That.”

Cheol Ryu-heun sent a hand gesture with those words.

“YES.”

Tae Sa-ja quickly grabbed a small bundle and went before her, then untied the knot.

Cui Lan, seeing what was inside, couldn’t close her startled mouth.

“TH-THIS IS…”

Various elixirs emitting sweet fragrances.

By rough estimate, more than twenty.

They were some of the items brought back when he visited the cave where Martial Immortal Dongbang Ya had stayed for a period for martial arts training in those old days.

“Eat all of that before sleeping tonight and wait. I’ll come and personally work on you.”

“EH?”

Cui Lan suddenly covered both cheeks with her hands and reddened her face.

“TH-THEN… THE FIRST NIGHT…? AH, WHAT DO I DO, SO Embarrassing?! Yes. Understood. Sect Leader-nim. I’ll go eat it all… And clean up the bed too.”

Not to be outdone, Hae Su-yeon added words coyly.

“How cruel. Setting up a concubine already while having a legal wife… AIYU, they say heroes are lewd, truly…”

“TSK, TROUBLESOME ONES.”

Cheol Ryu-heun clicked his tongue and furrowed his brow, then looked at the disciples in front of the platform and spoke brusquely.

“All Personnel, in commemoration of vacation return, will perform one shichen of body training. Body twisting, squat jumps, two hundred each.”

EOEOK! Why are you taking it out on us!

* * *

That night.

Namgung Sang-rin sat at his desk, chin in hand, lost in deep thought.

‘INDEED, it’s an outstanding sword study.’

Currently, he was reading the several booklets placed before him and repeatedly admiring them inwardly.

Upper Emperor Three Swords, Great Emperor Three Sword Forms, Heavenly Emperor Three Sword Forms.

The true transmission of Sword Emperor Buk Ga-shin, who had left great martial achievements in martial world history.

How many times already?

Namgung Sang-rin devoured the contents, forgetting the flow of time.

The three types of sword arts composing Celestial Emperor Sword Path were each truly the greatest absolute arts ancient and modern.

Just mastering even one of them to the end would be enough to stand tall as the era’s strongest swordsman.

Yet.

With what intention did Cheol Ryu-heun give him this?

In truth, Buk Ga-shin’s sword study was separate from rebuilding the Namgung Family .

‘HM. Overall, the flow is similar to Azure Heaven Great Evolution Sword Art but… The accompanying internal power operation method is considerably different. No matter that it’s a masterless sword study, incorporating it into our family’s study would be difficult…’

But at that moment.

Namgung Sang-rin’s expression changed completely.

‘AH!’

A lightning-like thrilling sensation pierced through his body.

He had realized something.

Soon, Namgung Sang-rin examined the contents of Heaven Vault Formless Sword, Imperial Four Arts Sword Technique, and others.

‘HARMONY! And… EVOLUTION! So that’s it! This is a new path!’

Yes, now he understood what Cheol Ryu-heun’s intention was.

Celestial Emperor Sword Path was the answer.

In other words, just as Upper Emperor Three Swords, Great Emperor Three Sword Forms, and Heavenly Emperor Three Sword Forms, each with differentiated essentials and applications, exquisitely interweave into one to become Celestial Emperor Sword Path, the Namgung Family’s different sword studies could also sublimate into a unified sword path…

“HAHAHA, HAHAHA!”

Namgung Sang-rin, having burst into refreshing laughter, clenched both fists.

‘IT WAS THE INTENTION! To research that method using the Sword Emperor’s sword study as reference!’

Tremendous excitement swept through him.

If he wove together the Azure Heaven Great Revolution Sword Art and various other sword studies into one to complete a new sword path… A tremendous Absolute sword art technique that would shake the current martial world would be born.

It would probably be possible.

Because it was something Cheol Ryu-heun, of all people, had intentionally assigned.

‘LET’S START IMMEDIATELY! No matter how difficult… I will definitely accomplish it!’

From that moment, Namgung Sang-rin spread open each booklet, then compared and researched a series of contents while falling into a state of no-self.

Thus, the dark night quietly deepened.