Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 189 – Pinnacle (3)

A hundred years ago.

The past, when even the exact time is no longer clearly remembered.

She asked, gazing at the back of a man holding a sword technique manual in the training grounds.

“What are you doing?”

A sword was floating in front of the man.

He tried to move the floating sword more naturally.

However, the sword that had been hovering in the air soon escaped his qi control and flew away with a whoosh, falling to one side of the training grounds.

-Clang!

“As expected, it’s difficult.”

“Of course it’s hard. The moment the connection of qi released outside the body is severed even slightly, the void attraction will be released.”

“Yes, that’s why it’s hard. But what if one could handle that qi more smoothly and manipulate the sword like a living horse?”

“Manipulating the sword like a horse? Is that really possible?”

The qi circulated within the body is the inner force in the danjeon.

Inner force strengthens the body with qi, but the moment it leaves the body, the qi naturally disperses.

Therefore, to maintain the qi sent outside the body, one needs vast and deep inner force and the enlightenment to concentrate it without dispersing.

The man, with his hands clasped behind his back, responded to Cheong-ryeong’s words.

“Yes. It might be impossible. However, I heard that the great sword masters who were renowned in the Old Martial World were capable of it.”

“The Old Martial World…”

The Old Martial World.

Unlike now, when the overall level of martial artists has declined, there was a time in the past when martial arts flourished.

Looking at the oral traditions and records from that time, there was an overflow of techniques that seemed almost absurd.

One of them seemed to be what the man was talking about.

She shook her head and said,

“Even at your age, there’s no one as obsessed with the Old Martial World as you.”

“It’s not an obsession. I just want to recreate the glory of the Old Martial World.”

“Yes, yes, of course. So, what do they call manipulating the sword with qi like controlling a horse in the Old Martial World?”

“That’s…”

***

The sword that flew out of the scabbard on its own and stopped in front of Mong Mu-yak, the son of the Vice-Leader.

Although it was inside a wooden puppet, Cheong-ryeong could instinctively tell upon seeing it.

‘Art of Sword Control!’

It was none other than Art of Sword Control.

Was this actually possible?

Shocked by this, she shouted to Mok Gyeong-un as a warning,

“It’s Art of Sword Control!”

‘Art of Sword Control?’

At her cry, Mok Gyeong-un, who was on guard, quickly twisted his body to the side and avoided the sword rushing at him.

However,

-Swish!

He thought he had dodged the sword, but it changed direction as if someone was wielding it, trying to slash Mok Gyeong-un’s neck.

Mok Gyeong-un drew his Evil Commandment Sword without a moment to think.

-Clang!

-Screech!

The moment the swords clashed, his body was pushed back nearly five steps.

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes flashed with surprise at the unexpectedly fierce sword strike.

Who would have thought that this much qi would be infused into the sword that changed direction midway, even though no one was directly holding it?

But it didn’t end there.

-Swish!

The sword instantly pierced toward Mok Gyeong-un’s glabella as he was pushed back.

Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un hurriedly raised his sword.

-Clang!

However, Mok Gyeong-un’s sword, which had blocked upward, was instead bounced downward.

‘!?’

The force infused into the sword had not diminished at all.

Rather, it had grown stronger than before.

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes sharpened.

Since this was the main building where the Society Leader resided, he had adjusted his martial power to match the level of a pinnacle-stage of Transcendent Realm as a precaution, but it seemed difficult to block with this.

“Don’t confront it and dodge!”

Cheong-ryeong shouted urgently.

At her cry, Mok Gyeong-un hurriedly executed the Light Body Technique.

The Light Body Technique he used was the Ghost Shadow Steps he had learned from Shadow Clan Master.

-Tap tap tap tap tap!

The Ghost Shadow Steps, which valued change, had unparalleled flexibility in foot movements, like reeds.

While avoiding the sword, Mok Gyeong-un asked through voice transmission,

“What on earth is this? The qi is manipulating the sword as if it were a living swordsman.”

“It’s Art of Sword Control.”

“Art of Sword Control?”

“A technique that manipulates the sword with qi.”

“Manipulating the sword? Is it possible to control it so precisely?”

“This is the first time even I have seen it in person… Be careful!”

-Swish!

As soon as Cheong-ryeong’s warning ended, the sword brushed past the chest of Mok Gyeong-un, who was employing the steps.

Narrowly avoiding it, Mok Gyeong-un focused his qi on the Yongcheon acupoint and kicked the ground.

-Bam!

Mok Gyeong-un, who instantly gained a distance of more than six steps backward, shot Profound Energy toward the sword that was trying to change direction.

-Swish swish swish!

Profound Energy flew in succession.

The sword seemed to be briefly blocked by the sharp qi.

-Swish swish swish!

However, the qi infused in Art of Sword Control was so strong that the Profound Energy was split instead.

It seemed useless to try to block it with just Profound Energy.

At least,

-Clang!

At that moment, something flew in like lightning and struck the sword away.

It was none other than Seop Chun, the Third Captain of the main building.

The sword, which had been rampaging on its own, was thrown to the ground by the Blue Martial Saber imbued with blue-colored powerful energy.

-Clang!

‘The qi is weaker than powerful energy.’

The qi infused in the sword was above Profound Energy but below powerful energy.

“Phew, hey, are you alright?”

Seop Chun asked Mok Gyeong-un while waving his left hand.

He had intervened midway, thinking he shouldn’t just stand by and watch.

Mok Gyeong-un was about to express his gratitude for his help when he suddenly shouted,

“Help… Look behind you!”

-Gasp!

As soon as Mok Gyeong-un’s words fell, Seop Chun instinctively sensed a sharp qi and executed his saber technique.

‘Butterfly Saber Technique, Second Stance: Butterfly’s Warning!’

Seop Chun spun his body like a top while wielding his saber.

Then, a whirlwind of powerful energy surged due to the blue-colored saber energy infused in the Blue Martial Saber.

“That guy isn’t ordinary either.”

An exclamation escaped Cheong-ryeong’s mouth.

The saber technique Seop Chun executed was so outstanding that it could be called a transcendent saber technique without hesitation.

Even with Art of Sword Control, it seemed difficult to penetrate that saber technique.

However,

-Swish!

The sword soared upward.

Then, it pierced from above Seop Chun, who was spinning while executing the stance.

‘No way?’

Seop Chun’s eyes widened.

Just like the eye of a typhoon is calm, the only gap in the Butterfly’s Warning stance was right above where the stance was being executed, and it had penetrated that in an instant.

Realizing it wouldn’t work, Seop Chun twisted the trajectory of the stance and executed a variation.

‘Butterfly Saber Technique, Eighth Stance: Butterfly Dance in Full Bloom!’

-Swish swish swish swish swish!

The saber trajectories of the Butterfly Saber, fluttering like a butterfly, created numerous afterimages and instantly trapped the sword that had been piercing toward Seop Chun’s crown.

-Clang clang clang clang clang!

The sword, trapped in the net created by the dazzling saber technique, bounced around wildly, losing its strength.

Seeing this, admiration flashed in Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes.

Seeing the net created by the dazzling saber technique, it seemed evident how exceptional Seop Chun’s combat sense was.

He was completely blocking the connection of qi to the sword.

‘Has it been severed?’

The sword could no longer do anything.

Not only Mok Gyeong-un but also Seop Chun, who had trapped the sword with his saber technique, was confident of this.

However,

‘!?’

Mok Gyeong-un frowned.

Although the qi connection was severed, to find out who had utilized Art of Sword Control and in what way, he opened the power of his Third Eye.

‘What the hell is this…?’

It was completely different from what he expected.

He thought there would be traces of qi connecting to the sword.

But there were no traces of qi.

“Why are you doing that?”

“There are no traces of qi connected to the sword.”

“What?”

If qi had been connected to the sword, traces of it should have remained visible to this eye.

However, nothing could be seen.

That meant the sword had truly moved on its own?

While he was puzzled, Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue in admiration.

“Sword and self as one. The sword itself has been used as a medium for qi.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Instead of sending qi to the sword to connect it, the sword itself is made to gather and manipulate qi. That’s why the sword can be freely controlled like this. Ha!”

She was genuinely impressed by this.

She had even doubted whether Art of Sword Control was actually possible.

But now she had seen the answer to that.

And thanks to that, she realized.

“Mortal. This isn’t a technique that can be achieved by simply surpassing the wall.”

“Then?”

“One must reach a realm where they can harmonize with the surrounding qi and themselves. At least the pinnacle-stage of the Transformation Realm… Or surpassing the wall of walls.”

“That means…”

“Yes. There is only one person here who can display such profound arts to this extent.”

“…The Society Leader.”

Mok Gyeong-un sent a voice transmission with a confident tone.

The only one who had reached a realm beyond walls, to the point where even Mok Gyeong-un, who had surpassed walls himself, could not discern the authenticity of qi with his Third Eye.

That person was none other than the Society Leader of the Heaven and Earth Society, the sole person among the Six Heavens.

Cheong-ryeong spoke in a rather serious voice,

“There are mountains beyond mountains, indeed.”

She had guessed that he might have reached the realm of Profound Realm after reaching beyond the walls.

But now that she knew for certain, the path of revenge still seemed far away.

Perhaps Mok Gyeong-un was feeling similar to her.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un’s shoulders trembled faintly.

‘This guy?’

Could it be that he had encountered a wall?

This was the first time she had seen him react like this.

Seeing his appearance, Cheong-ryeong inwardly understood.

‘When faced with a being whose limits are unknown, it’s natural to feel awe or fear. As expected, even you, Mortal, are human after all…’

Twitch twitch!

‘!?’

Cheong-ryeong couldn’t hide her puzzlement.

That was because she saw the corners of Mok Gyeong-un’s mouth, whose shoulders were trembling even more, twitching.

‘Is this guy actually smiling?’

Shouldn’t one feel fear after encountering a wall?

He’s smiling in this situation?

She thought she might have seen it wrong, but the corners of Mok Gyeong-un’s mouth were faintly raised.

“Mortal, are you really smiling?”

“Huh? Was I smiling?”

“What? You didn’t even know what expression you were making?”

“Ah ah ah. I almost made a mistake.”

“A mistake? Why were you smiling in the first place?”

“Just because.”

“Just because?”

“Yes, it seems that martial arts have more room for further exploration than I thought.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s answer, Cheong-ryeong was inwardly surprised.

To this guy, martial arts were nothing more than a tool for revenge.

But after encountering a higher level of martial arts, instead of being blocked by a wall, he was showing interest in it.

‘Ha!’

Does this guy even realize?

How much his mindset has changed.

But there was no need to mention it.

This was moving in a very good direction.

It was right at that moment.

-Clang!

“No way?”

Seop Chun, who was confident that he had completely severed the sword’s qi by continuously executing the stances of the Butterfly Dance in Full Bloom, tried to stop it, but at that moment, the sword revived and pierced his shoulder.

There was no time to dodge.

However,

-Clang!

The sword that was about to pierce his shoulder suddenly lost its strength and fell to the ground.

‘Huh?’

What’s going on?

Could it be that the person who has been moving the sword with qi had released the connected qi?

While he was puzzled, Seop Chun stepped back to gain distance.

Then he looked towards the entrance of the training grounds.

The person who had controlled the sword with qi might be there.

However, there was no one at the entrance.

‘Who is it?’

He couldn’t sense any qi in the surroundings based on his perception.

But it was right at that moment.

-Rustle!

Suddenly, there was someone standing in the middle of the training grounds with their hands clasped behind their back, their face wrapped and covered with cloth like a bandage.

The moment he saw that person, Seop Chun’s eyes widened, and then,

-Bam! Thud!

He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands together, lowered his head, and shouted,

“Seop Chun, the Third Captain of the main building, pays homage to the Society Leader of the Great Heaven and Earth Society!”

‘!!!!!!!!’

As soon as those words ended, Mong Mu-yak was also startled and knelt on one knee, paying his respects like Seop Chun.

“Paying homage to the Society Leader!”

‘Society Leader? This person?’

Mok Gyeong-un’s right eyelid trembled faintly.

Would everyone present here see this?

The qi stored within that person’s body was so intense and thrilling that no qi he had ever seen could compare to it.

He even wondered what would happen if that qi were to be unleashed.

Is this the pinnacle of the Heaven and Earth Society?

He was in awe.

“Gyeong-un!”

Seop Chun, the Third Captain of the main building, urgently called out to Mok Gyeong-un.

It was disrespectful to stand there blankly when the Society Leader himself was present, not just anyone else.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un knelt on one knee and paid his respects, following their lead.

Seeing that, Seop Chun sighed in relief.

At that moment,

-Thump thump!

Footsteps were heard, and the Society Leader’s legs appeared right in front of him.

Seop Chun lowered his head even more with a tense expression.

Then a voice was heard.

“Cough cough. What are you doing?”

‘Ah!’

At that voice, Seop Chun’s eyes trembled.

He had a hunch, but was this profound art of the sword moving on its own a test from the Society Leader for them?

He had wondered why they were summoned here, but he didn’t know it would be for something like this.

-Tremble tremble!

‘It was indeed a test.’

Seop Chun spoke with an utterly excited voice as if it were an honor.

“My skills are insignificant. I merely did my best…”

“No. Not you.”

“Pardon?”

At this, the startled Seop Chun slightly raised his head.

However, the gaze of the Society Leader, whose face was wrapped and covered with a bandage, was directed at Mok Gyeong-un.

Moreover, it was with a rather intrigued look.

‘Why on earth?’

Why was the Society Leader reacting like this?

While he was puzzled, the Society Leader spoke again.

“How did you scatter the qi infused in the sword?”

‘What?’