Chapter 68: The Prediction Was Wrong

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Seop Pyo, who had briefly flared up, worked to steady his mind and let out a sigh without showing it.

‘Ugh, that damn shit swordsman talk… If I’d known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have mentioned the outhouse killing back then.’

Everything was because of Ascending Heavens Sword Dragon Ba Hun’s diary.

Until he fulfilled all three of Cheol Ryu-heun’s requests, and thus until that record was burned and destroyed, he couldn’t escape the shameful title of “shit swordsman.”

‘Tsk, at least one request will disappear tomorrow.’

What would the other two be?

Surely he wouldn’t order something absurd.

Anyway, there wouldn’t be any requests that violated the iron rules he had upheld as an assassin, so that was somewhat reassuring at least.

-I may look like this, but I’m an orthodox Sect Master. At minimum, I keep what needs to be kept.

Recalling those words from before, Seop Pyo suddenly had this thought.

That it was fortunate he was Cheol Ryu-heun from White Peak Sword Sect.

If a wicked martial artist had discovered that secret place and obtained all the fortuitous encounters, and thus obtained Ba Hun’s Vermillion Dragon Medallion and diary and forced unjust requests… He probably would have broken his long-held oath and stained his blade with that bastard’s dirty blood again.

Just then.

Cheol Ryu-heun turned his head and captured Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon, who were in the middle of energy circulation, in his dark brown pupils.

“It seems to be going well.”

Along with him, Seop Pyo also looked at the two then immediately widened his eyes slightly.

‘Oh?’

It was because he discovered a semi-transparent white disc-like current rising above Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon’s heads, rotating slowly.

It looked as if a white plate was suspended on an invisible string and spinning.

What was that now?

Could it be related to some enlightenment of the upper Dantian?

Just as Seop Pyo was wondering internally, Cheol Ryu-heun, as if having read his thoughts, spoke indifferently.

“Part of the dormant meridians of the upper Dantian is awakening.”

“Ah, I see… Is it a phenomenon unique to White Peak Sword Sect’s internal energy mental cultivation?”

“Yes. Depending on the level of achievement in the upper Dantian in the future, the number of white energy lights will also change. Well, up to five at most.”

“They say they’ve each achieved the Five Energy Alignment and Seven Energy Alignment, so their development speed seems quite fast.”

“Even so, they’re still far from being proper martial artists.”

“What do you mean…”

“They haven’t even achieved Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing once yet.”

“…”

Seop Pyo was at a loss for words.

If you put it that way, even I, who have never achieved Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing until now, am not performing my role as a martial artist.

Cheol Ryu-heun then dropped shocking words.

“I’m planning to have those two achieve Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing soon. It’s somewhat troublesome, though.”

“…!”

Seop Pyo stared blankly.

He says he’ll make them achieve Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing, of all martial arts.

Hah, if someone with no knowledge of martial achievement heard those words, they’d think it’s a level that can be reached just through training.

Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing was, unlike ordinary study, qualitatively different – on par with a supreme enlightenment like a heaven-sent fortuitous encounter.

In reality, even the peak masters renowned in the current era couldn’t guarantee that achievement.

No… A method didn’t exist in the first place.

If it did, records of such achievement methods would already be circulating in the world.

That’s how difficult Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing was.

Yet.

Cheol Ryu-heun had spoken as if confident he could make that tremendous enlightenment be obtained artificially.

His statement completely ignored and destroyed existing common sense.

But Cheol Ryu-heun wouldn’t just spout nonsense for no reason.

Did he have some brilliant plan or solution for others?

Just as he himself had successfully accomplished it…

Right, that’s correct.

It must be because some method known only to Cheol Ryu-heun existed that he could speak that way.

‘Wait, then does that mean I too… Could achieve Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing with his help?’

Elder Yeop Hwon was seventy years old this year, only eight years different from himself.

So the method Cheol Ryu-heun knew was clearly unrelated to age for the most part.

Regardless of young or old, the foremost condition for achieving Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing was probably the subject’s martial level.

Just take Yeop Hwon – wasn’t he currently possessing power surpassing his prime through the Seven Energy Alignment, a new enlightenment never seen or heard of?

Indeed.

If a martial artist possessed a martial level meeting the standard in Cheol Ryu-heun’s mind, they would have the conditions and qualifications to challenge Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing achievement.

Thinking so, Seop Pyo soon wore a self-deprecating smile.

‘Heh, what am I thinking… It’s greedy, greedy.’

He was an old body that had set aside all attachments, left the martial world, and lived in seclusion for thirty years, yet now interest in Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing was arising in his heart.

“Sect Master Cheol, those words just now mean there exists a method to reforge those two people’s bodies?”

When Cheol Ryu-heun nodded, Seop Pyo let out a low exclamation.

Truly remarkable.

An unpredictable talent and ability.

Who in the world could dare show such confident attitude regarding whether Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing could be achieved?

At this point, he became even more curious about the true nature of the secret place said to contain ancient fortuitous encounters.

“Indeed… Those two will soon become just like your body, Sect Master Cheol. White Peak Sword Sect’s fighting strength will surge again.”

“No, even if they die and come back to life, they can’t become like my body.”

“Pardon?”

“I came to possess a body that transcends the profound use of Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing as commonly known.”

Saying that, Cheol Ryu-heun extended one hand.

It meant to confirm through pulse diagnosis.

Seized by curiosity, Seop Pyo quickly touched his fingers to Cheol Ryu-heun’s pulse point and gently sent out vital energy.

Immediately after.

A light of shock fully filled Seop Pyo’s eyes.

‘How can this be…!’

His head felt as if it was being scrambled.

Inside Cheol Ryu-heun’s body, there wasn’t a single energy meridian or pressure point that should rightfully be in place.

The vital energy he had sent out for pulse diagnosis had completely lost direction as if it had fallen into an abyss of unknown depth.

It was natural.

Pulse diagnosis would be achieved by vital energy flowing along the paths inside the body. But if those paths themselves didn’t exist…

‘Good heavens, how was such a body created!’

When Seop Pyo removed his hand with a startled face, Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged and said.

“Do you understand what I meant now?”

Seop Pyo nodded instead of answering, finally gaining some understanding.

Why he couldn’t sense any intangible aura when he first saw Cheol Ryu-heun, as if facing an ordinary person… That strange body was the cause.

“Even I don’t know the limits of the power this body possesses.”

“Ah…”

“What do you think is the best way to test it?”

“I see, not a friendly sparring match but a life-and-death battle… The Dark Hall Master has appeared at an appropriate time.”

“Exactly. With hostile bloodlust and even a divine weapon, he’s an opponent with optimal conditions for gauging my martial level.”

“You’re right. If you exchange blows with a powerhouse of that caliber, it will surely provide considerable reference.”

“Same goes for those two. Through tomorrow’s real combat, they’ll definitely awaken the senses they’ve acquired today.”

Hearing Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, Seop Pyo spoke of what he had figured out.

“You’re aiming for expansion and improvement of whole-body sensations.”

“To awaken senses belonging to the realm of a superhuman, like yours.”

Seop Pyo knew exactly what that was.

Senses belonging to the realm of a superhuman meant extreme awakening – to put it simply, the ability to feel as if the flow of time within space was changing more slowly than reality.

Most importantly was the body’s reaction speed.

In other words, it meant that movements matching the extremely awakened senses had to follow simultaneously for that ability to shine.

Generally, that experience varied widely depending on a martial artist’s innate talent or acquired effort.

Even among fellow high-level masters, there were large and small gaps.

Anyway.

If Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon could place their feet near the entry gate of such super-senses, that alone would be a tremendous achievement.

At that point, Cheol Ryu-heun changed the topic.

“Is the meeting personnel confirmed?”

At that, Seop Pyo nodded and replied.

“Yes, the total number of unorthodox masters gathering in one place tomorrow is thirteen. Adding approximately ten or so from the Thousand Snake Gang side… I understand there have been no additions to the list since yesterday.”

“Good, now we just need to eat well, sleep well, and wake up.”

As Cheol Ryu-heun dusted off his behind and stood up, Seop Pyo also rose.

“Sect Master Cheol, but aren’t you really curious about the divine weapon the Dark Hall Master possesses?”

“What’s there to be curious about? I already know what it is.”

At Cheol Ryu-heun’s disinterested reply, Seop Pyo’s eyes went wide.

“Pardon? What is it?”

“Ghost Skull Divine Armor.”

“…”

“First time hearing it?”

“Ah… Yes. Honestly, I don’t know much besides the Ten Great Heavenly Weapons…”

The Ten Great Heavenly Weapons was a designation referring to ten types of divine weapons including the Divine Martial Sword.

“The Ghost Skull Divine Armor is an armor-type divine weapon that disappeared in the distant past. It was famous at the time as a cursed object that corrupted the owner’s character.”

“Corruption of character… It’s because of the ghost energy.”

“Even if it’s a divine weapon armor, it’s just a defective product that didn’t make the Ten Great Heavenly Weapons tier anyway. No need to worry about it.”

Cheol Ryu-heun then drew the Ganjiang Sword.

SHIIING-

The blade sliding out smoothly.

The blade body, sporting a clear blue color reminiscent of the blue sky, boasted a splendid form.

In that instant, Seop Pyo encountered its intangible edge and marveled.

‘Oh, what a truly remarkable sword.’

At a glance, it deserved to be called a famous sword, a precious sword.

“I’ll try smashing his Ghost Skull Divine Armor with this sword I obtained at the time of Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing.”

“My, remarkable. Is it sturdy enough for that?”

“Of course.”

“Its name…?”

“Doesn’t have one.”

“Pardon?”

“Just a sharp sword.”

“…”

“However, it is an item that will later rise to divine weapon grade and receive a name. Well, if I can just find a method to bestow divine power.”

“Urk…! Is, is that possible?”

“There’s no such thing as impossible in all the affairs of this world.”

Indeed, when rebirth is happening.

Meanwhile, Seop Pyo felt as if those words would really come true.

Suddenly.

Hum.

The blade trembled.

It was the effect of Cheol Ryu-heun injecting massive vital energy.

It seemed he was about to swing the sword.

Sure enough.

Cheol Ryu-heun’s right hand holding the Ganjiang Sword rose up in a flash then descended at tremendous speed.

SHHIIIIING-!

It was the basic slash of swordsmanship.

However, its force was overwhelming and dominating like an ascending ultimate technique.

So much so that one might think if all the energy dwelling in the blade had been converted to sword energy emission instead, everything in that line of direction would have been neatly sliced apart…

It was impressive enough that even the legendary great assassin Seop Pyo momentarily felt a strong sense of threat.

‘What? Is it a profound technique of a different class from an ordinary slash?’

Just now, Cheol Ryu-heun had drawn the sword straight down in a vertical line.

But.

It was strange.

This was because the flow of vital energy within the blade that reached his energy sense was closer to a horizontal slash.

Soon, Cheol Ryu-heun tilted the Ganjiang Sword sideways and asked.

“When you think of a powerhouse from the previous martial world who elevated the basic slash of swordsmanship to the level of supreme technique, who comes to mind?”

Seop Pyo rolled his eyes briefly then parted his lips.

“The Evil Emperor…”

The Evil Emperor, meaning the Emperor of the Unorthodox Path.

An absolute being counted among the five strongest in martial history alongside Heaven’s Demon, Sword Emperor, Martial Immortal, and Blood God.

Though six hundred years had passed since the Evil Emperor’s death, an unorthodox martial artist who surpassed his martial legacy had yet to appear.

“The slash you just saw was the true teachings of the Evil Emperor.”

“Good heavens…!”

“A fitting sword art to surprise someone with a divine weapon, I’d say.”

“…!”

Seop Pyo’s eyes rippled greatly like waves.

It was astonishing.

The true teachings of the Evil Emperor – compared to that renowned fame, Ascending Heavens Sword Dragon Ba Hun was several levels below, not an exaggeration…

That too must have been obtained at that secret place.

CLICK!

Having sheathed the Ganjiang Sword, Cheol Ryu-heun asked suggestively.

“Have you ever seen someone who could perform a slash a hundred times more powerful than what I just displayed?”

At that, Seop Pyo received the question with a puzzled expression.

“Pardon? Not even ten times… At that level, they would be the strongest of all time with no precedent. There’s no way such a martial artist exists in the present world. But why do you suddenly say such things…?”

“Never mind.”

Cheol Ryu-heun, having waved his hand dismissively, snickered internally.

‘What do you mean doesn’t exist.’

Right, there was exactly one.

That mysterious masterless ronin who had smashed the Divine Martial Sword.

‘The strongest of all time with no precedent… Hearing those words makes me newly furious.’

Cheol Ryu-heun soon erased his brief thoughts and rummaged through his clothes to pull out a small pouch containing money.

Seeing that, Seop Pyo immediately furrowed his brow.

This, this, is he going to prattle about dog food again!

But the prediction was wrong.

“Go buy some food.”

“…”

“My body feels stiff so I can’t move. Here, hurry.”

“…”

“When an elder tells you to do something, you should obey nicely. Right?”

“…”

* * *

The next day, around noon.

At a manor in the forest on the outskirts of Youyang, first-rate masters of the unorthodox camp, including Netherworld Sword Fork Jeo Gyeom, began to gather one by one.