The World of Absolute Peak - 2
The blood-and-flesh-grinding training resumed once again. Now that Mookhyang had a clear goal and a general method to achieve it, he threw himself into it without any hesitation. However, after one year, two years, time passed, but grasping the concept of strong energy was still elusive. He had mastered both the Heavenly Descent Blood Dragon Sword and the Asura Moon Blade techniques up to the ninth level, but even these two techniques, which he was training to enhance his understanding of strong energy, were difficult to master up to the tenth level. While he managed to reach the ninth level fairly well, advancing from the ninth to the tenth felt overwhelmingly challenging.
Mookhyang finally understood why Yoo Baek, the greatest master he had ever seen, had only reached the ninth level in both techniques. Seeing Mookhyang struggle day and night, Yoo Baek couldn't just watch and intervene.
"What's coming out at the ninth level isn't true strong energy. It's more like a condensed form of sword energy. True strong energy is pure destruction. It's something that can't be broken by anything. At the ninth level, the energy you release may break through a wall, but true strong energy would pierce dozens of small holes rather than just one large one. You know how it works. When you gather energy with the palm strike technique and break through a wall, it creates one big hole, but when your power surpasses a certain limit, it creates many smaller, deeper ones instead. So, what you're experiencing isn't true strong energy—just an advanced form of sword energy. Don't rush. You're not yet prepared to step into the tenth level. Take your time, train sufficiently, and reflect. You'll find another way."
"Yes, teacher. Thank you for your guidance. But, senior, you've been so kind to me. I will never forget this even if I die."
"Ha! Maybe I'm getting old. In the past, I used to discipline my students harshly, but as the years passed, I realized that's not always the way. Some need harshness, others need gentleness. You belong to the latter group. And I suppose since I think of you as my last disciple, I've grown a bit sentimental."
Mookhyang turned thirty-seven. One morning during meditation, he suddenly realized that meeting Yoo Baek was the greatest fortune of his life. Yoo Baek possessed knowledge so vast it would be impossible to acquire even if he came back to life after dying. He was a warrior but also had a wide range of hobbies.
Aside from sparring with Mookhyang at noon and evening, and sometimes ambushing him for training, Yoo Baek spent his mornings training and engaging in various activities. Near the place they lived, he planted all kinds of trees, but he particularly loved plum blossoms. He also tended to flowers, practiced ink painting, and played the flute and zither, despite starting these in his fifties. He would even teach these to Mookhyang whenever there was time, saying that a warrior should not become a mindless sword-wielder.
He also taught Mookhyang some classic texts, though his own knowledge was limited and he couldn't teach in great depth. Additionally, he provided thorough instruction in several tactical formations. One day, Mookhyang asked Yoo Baek a question out of curiosity.
"Master, these formations seem rather useless to me. Is it necessary to learn them?"
Yoo Baek was dumbfounded.
"This... I've been teaching a blockhead all along, haven't I? You fool! If you don't know, just listen quietly. The most basic tactical formation starts with understanding the heavens, earth, and humans. It then develops into more complex and effective formations. If you attack without a plan, all three of you might get in each other's way. But with an organized strategy, you can take down a target more efficiently. The purpose of formations is to achieve maximum results with minimum effort.
"There are also ways to break formations. One method is to locate and strike the formation's weak point, something any skilled fighter with knowledge of formations can do. That's why I'm teaching you everything I know about formations, as much as possible. But since you're so ignorant, I'll give you two options."
"What are they? Is there a more effective method?"
"It's very simple. You go in and die. If you're not skilled enough to break the formation, you must die. Hah! Why would someone who isn't confident in breaking the formation even step into one?"
"And what's the other way?"
"If your martial arts have reached the pinnacle of strength, you can survive most formations, even if you enter one. Kill everything in sight. But it's hard to reach that level. To destroy a well-made formation, you'd need to be among the top 20 masters in the martial world.
Once you've reached the peak of demonic power, you can rely on the strength that comes from the extreme of demonic energy to destroy everything. Those who make up the formation can be sent to the afterlife. No matter how strong the formation is, it was still made by people. For example, seven people can form the Northern Dipper Formation. The primary purpose of this formation is to allow the seven to assist each other in simultaneously attacking and defending against one or more enemies. If the enemy attacks, one or three people will defend while the rest attack. If the enemy focuses on defense, everyone attacks. This way, the defenders and attackers follow a set pattern, avoiding interference with each other and even gaining a synergistic effect, producing great power. Of course, if the enemy is skilled enough to send all seven to the afterlife at once, the story changes. All seven would die. However, even if you aren't that skilled, if you know who will attack, who will defend, and what their movements will be, you can hinder their coordination or even use their formation against them. Got it, you fool?"
"Y-Yes... But isn't calling me a fool a bit harsh?"
Yoo Baek smacked Mookhyang on the head and said, "Stop complaining and focus on learning."
When Mookhyang turned forty, he was meditating one morning when a sudden realization struck him like a flash of light. At that moment, a tremendous shock hit him, causing him to vomit blood. Seeing this, Yoo Baek, watching nearby, grinned broadly and shouted, "Congratulations! You've finally realized it!"
"Yes, senior. I'll continue meditating a little more and then show you."
However, the meditation continued for quite a long time. In orthodox sects, it was common for martial artists to vomit blood after a breakthrough realization, but in the demonic sect, it rarely happened. Still, Yoo Baek, having grown curious about orthodox martial arts, had heard enough to recognize it, so he shouted in excitement.
Mookhyang's meditation lasted until the next morning. Afterward, he stood in the yard where he always sparred with Yoo Baek, holding his beloved sword, Mookhon.
"I've realized it. Please watch me."
After briefly saluting Yoo Baek, Mookhyang slowly drew his sword. As he held the sword at an angle, a faint red glow began to emit from the blade. Seeing this, Yoo Baek's breath caught in his throat. The red glow expanded and spread outward. Soon, it stretched about five feet in front of him, resembling both a red flame and lightning. Then, with a sudden shout, the sword cleaved through the air from top to bottom. In an instant, a semicircular burst of red energy shot forward, gouging a long, vertical trench into the wall. With another shout, this time Mookhyang thrust forward, and a red thread-like beam extended from the sword, piercing a small hole in the wall.
Watching all this, Yoo Baek shouted, "Amazing! Is this sword energy? In all my years, this is the first time I've seen true sword energy. You've finally become a great master!"
"I'm not sure. I still feel somewhat dazed. I struggled so much to manifest sword energy... I couldn't even produce it using set techniques. But yesterday morning, I had this sudden thought that I was on the wrong path, and then suddenly the energy just... became clear. I can't even explain how to unleash it, but at that moment, I felt immense peace and joy."
"Haha, you've surpassed me now. I can finally retire knowing that you're ahead."
"I still have much to learn from you, senior. Why don't you delay your retirement for a little longer?"
"Perhaps I will... Though I have nothing more to teach you about martial arts, I still surpass you in other ways. I've lived longer, after all. If you treat me to a hearty drink, I might change my mind."
"Understood. Please wait a moment."
Mookhyang, using his peak movement techniques, quickly fetched a bottle of liquor. He and Yoo Baek shared a drink, engaging in conversations they hadn't been able to have before. Until now, Yoo Baek had always treated Mookhyang as a distant junior, maintaining a line he thought Mookhyang could never cross. But today was different. After Mookhyang had demonstrated his sword energy, Yoo Baek's attitude completely changed. He treated Mookhyang as a longtime friend, openly acknowledging his accomplishments.
"Your progress is so fast, perhaps one day you'll fulfill our sect's long-cherished wish."
"Our sect's long-cherished wish?"
"Martial arts have no limits. The deeper you delve, the more you feel your own limitations. There are even those who, after feeling the limits of their swordsmanship, cut off their own fingers. Delving deeply into one discipline is incredibly difficult. But you must not be like them. Why torture your body needlessly? If it doesn't work now, it will later. If you can't achieve it, your disciple will. Just pass down everything you've learned to the next generation. Come to think of it, not all seniors believed in this either..."
"And who might that be?"
"Long ago, there was a nation called Balhae, founded by ancient people. Do you know about it?"
"Yes, I've heard of it. But I only learned briefly about it. It wasn't a major power like our great Han people, just a peripheral state eventually overtaken by barbarians. I heard that Goguryeo, the state founded before it, was much more impressive."
"No, you've misunderstood. Balhae was an extraordinary nation. In terms of martial arts, it was remarkable."
"Remarkable? Are you saying a nation so powerful in martial arts fell to mere barbarians?"
"Yeah, Gu Hui, in his later years, studied various forms of martial arts and gathered techniques from the old Balhae kingdom. He compiled them into a skill called Northern Darkness Divine Art. Originally, 'Northern Darkness' referred to the region where Balhae existed. Did Gu Hui consider it such a great technique to call it a divine art?"
"That's right. It was so incredible that most people couldn't even comprehend it."
"I don't understand what you mean..."
"Well, it's an ancient art, and with the country long gone, only remnants of it survived, written on worn-out parchments. However, it's said that this divine art was designed to absorb the breath of nature itself, allowing one to enhance their inner energy and reach the level of ancestors in martial arts. Instead of moves, it recorded the mindset needed for training, precautions to take, and the best methods to practice martial arts.
Many in the martial world have tried to master the Northern Darkness Divine Art, but it's too difficult. There are hardly any moves, and its content is so unconventional. Worse, a lot of it is incomplete, so no one has fully mastered it."
"If no one can master it, isn't it just useless?"
"No, some martial arts have been derived from the Northern Darkness Divine Art, and you've probably heard of them—Essence Absorbing Method, Flame Divine Art, and Thunder Divine Art. The Essence Absorbing Method isn't that remarkable. It was widely practiced when it first developed, but it causes severe aftereffects, so it's rarely used today.
The Essence Absorbing Method was an offshoot of the Flame Divine Art. Although the Flame Divine Art is a powerful technique, it had many problems. After it spread to our sect, it evolved into the Essence Absorbing Method. But even as an evolved form, the Essence Absorbing Method isn't as good. It focuses so much on absorbing energy and managing it that it loses its original offensive power. That's why it's merely a method of absorbing inner energy, making it more advanced in that aspect.
Then there's Thunder Divine Art, known for its immense destructive power. However, it's extremely difficult to master. It only enhances the destructive aspect of the Northern Darkness Divine Art, but without a solid foundation of inner energy, it's nearly impossible to learn. Additionally, it consumes too much energy, so it's rarely practiced. Our sect has it, though, and I hear some high-level experts have mastered it."
"If high-level experts have learned it, then it must be an incredible technique."
"Not really. These are all just derivatives of the Northern Darkness Divine Art. Even though they're called advancements, in my view, they're regressive. That's why you should diligently study Balhae's martial arts from now on. I'll get you some books on it, so make sure you learn it. The Northern Darkness Divine Art is kept in our sect, but only the top experts are allowed to see it. The idea of learning from a book you might not even get to see seems a bit laughable, doesn't it?"
"Stop talking nonsense and focus on learning. Also, when you're out in the martial world, be cautious around women. They're a distraction in martial arts training and will waste your time. You can indulge in women once you're older like me. There's no rush."
"Hehe, senior, you're over eighty, and you still think about women?"
"Enough with the jokes. Be careful. And when you encounter an enemy while out there, don't waste time; just take them out. If you hesitate, your abilities might be exposed, and the enemy will become more cautious. A strong, decisive attack from the start is best. Also, never leave any evidence behind. Anyone who witnesses your kill should be silenced. Got it? This is an order from your teacher."
"I will remember that."
"I've seen too many people die because they showed unnecessary mercy. I wouldn't mind if you died to a stronger expert, but to a weaker one—that's something my pride can't accept."
The Appearance of a Master - 1
For three years, Mookhyang lived a peaceful life without any significant events. During this time, he continuously trained to master his inner energy and finally fully understood it. He learned to emit inner energy even with his bare hands. Additionally, he took the time to learn the script of Balhae. While doing so, he also made time to learn various techniques from Yoo Baek to enrich his knowledge. He was often told he was an ignorant fool…
One day, a person came to visit him. He was a significant master and could not detect any presence until he approached within ten paces. He politely greeted Yoo Baek. "Hello, Elder Yoo Baek?"
"Oh... what brings you here? Hey! Mookhyang, this elder is Zhang Yang. Greet him."
"Hello. I'm Mookhyang, a junior."
"Quite the master, indeed. Elder Yoo, you certainly have remarkable skills in teaching your juniors. I suppose this will be your last disciple. But why are you only teaching one person? Teaching several would be more beneficial for our sect..."
"Well, I've been instructed to teach only this one. Given my age, I suppose they made an exception for me. Thanks to that, I've been able to teach comfortably. But what brings you here?"
"I'm here because I have business with Mookhyang."
"With Mookhyang?"
"Yes. Here, take this."
Zhang Yang handed a letter to Mookhyang. The letter instructed him to go to the county in Luoyang to assist with work. Along with it, there was a mention of his appointment as a deputy county chief, and inside the letter were the nameplate and appointment documents for the deputy county chief position. Zhang Yang glanced at the nameplate and congratulated him.
"Mookhyang, congratulations. Your rise is quite swift; you're already a deputy county chief. Luoyang is a significantly important place with quite a number of followers. Recently, skilled masters have been continuously dispatched there. You never know what might happen, so be careful."
"Thank you."
"When do you plan to leave?"
"It's already getting late, so I'll prepare to depart and plan to leave tomorrow. Since there hasn't been any urgent instruction for departure, it doesn't seem pressing."
"Then I'll relay that up. Take care. And farewell to you too, Elder."
That day, Mookhyang quickly finished his travel preparations and drank with Yoo Baek late into the night to ease the sadness of parting. The next dawn, he set off toward his new assignment.
Mookhyang was traveling toward Luoyang at the fastest pace possible. As he passed by, he tried to avoid getting involved in any disputes. He only drew his sword when a group of five insignificant bandits blocked his path. Following Yoo Baek's teachings, he swiftly beheaded them and continued on his way calmly.
It had already been 13 days since he started his journey. That evening, although it was still early, he realized that continuing on would likely mean sleeping outdoors, so he decided to find an inn and settled in for the night, entering a state of relaxation.
As dinner time approached, Mookhyang headed to the restaurant on the first floor. The restaurant was bustling with many people. After looking around but not finding a seat, he thought about going upstairs and coming back down later. However, he figured that with so many people, he might overhear something useful, so he called a waiter.
"Did you call, sir?"
"Is there a seat available?"
"As you can see, there are no seats. Would you mind sharing a table?"
"Please do."
The waiter looked around, asking guests for their willingness, and soon came to Mookhyang's table.
"Please come this way, sir."
"Thank you for offering your seat." The older man replied, "It's nothing. As fellow countrymen, we should help each other in difficult times. Please have a seat."
"Yes. I'll have some duck soup and a few dumplings, along with some green tea."
"Of course, sir."
Mookhyang sipped the green tea placed in front of him while listening to the conversations around him. However, most of the exchanges were of little use to him. At that moment, the older man asked, "Where is the young man headed?"
"Yes, I'm going to Chenyang."
"Oh, what brings you to Chenyang?"
"I'm thinking of stopping by the Heavenly Spring Pavilion."
"Oh, it seems this is your first trip to the martial world."
"Haha, I've been to the martial world a few times, but each time I was pressed for time and couldn't visit the Heavenly Spring Pavilion, which is a must-see for newcomers. This time, I have some leisure, so I plan to go."
"If you're heading that way, let's go together. It will be good company. This kid is also going for the first time, and he's planning to treat us all when we get there. What do you think, young man?"
"That sounds good. My name is Mookhyang. May I ask your name, senior?"
"Mookhyang? That's a peculiar name. You can just call me Nobak. And this young lady is called Mureung."
Mookhyang noticed that this man, appearing to be in his early 40s or late 30s, was trying to disguise his identity. Nobak refers to the head of a family, indicating he is a senior figure in the martial world. Additionally, the young lady's name, Yeong, clearly indicated she was a woman. Nobak's aura suggested he was a formidable practitioner, which made Mookhyang feel slightly uneasy. However, since he didn't need to reveal his own identity, he decided to simply mingle with them and started engaging in small talk.
"Grandfather, there's a beautiful place nearby called Cheonilru. Let's take a detour and check it out."
"What do you think? Do you have time for that?"
"I haven't been in this area before, so I'll defer to your judgment, senior."
"Understood. By the way, what sect do you belong to?"
"Haha, I can't disclose that. If you don't wish to share, I think it's fair for me not to reveal it either."
"If you prefer not to disclose it, I can't force you... but that's impressive."
"What's impressive about it, Grandfather?"
"I don't know who your master is, but to produce someone of your caliber, it seems your sect must be quite prestigious."
At that, Mureung looked surprised and studied Mookhyang closely before speaking. "I'm not so sure about that? This is the first time I've heard you give such praise, Grandfather."
"You might be among the best of the late-stage practitioners in the martial world... I would find it difficult to defeat you. How old are you, young hero?"
"I wouldn't say I'm that young anymore. I'm now forty-three."
"Such a mistake on my part... I apologize. Seeing your face, I thought you had just turned twenty. Have you mastered Zhuan Shou?" Mookhyang had never practiced Zhuan Shou, but due to his high inner energy and solitary life in the mountains, he appeared very young. However, feeling that his abilities were too exposed, he decided to play along with Nobak's words. "Yes, I learned Zhuan Shou from a young age, and living in the mountains has likely contributed to my youthful appearance."
"Hm... Zhuan Shou is indeed a remarkable technique, but don't get too caught up in it. You may look young on the outside, but there are costs to your inner energy, and you might forget that your body is aging too, so it's best to use it sparingly."
"A little inner energy consumption is unavoidable, isn't it?"
"Right. Do you have children?"
"No, I can't even think of marriage thanks to my training in Dongza Gong."
As Mookhyang casually lied, Nobak looked at him with a hint of sympathy. "It's truly unfortunate that a young man like you has no descendants, especially since Dongza Gong is not something that can really lead to progeny."
Mureung, who had been listening curiously, asked, "Grandfather, what is Dongza Gong? Is it a powerful technique?"
Nobak, unsure how to explain this to his naïve granddaughter, felt a bit flustered and reddened. "Dongza Gong is a significant technique for enhancing inner energy, but it has many weaknesses, so most people struggle to master it."
"What are the weaknesses?" Nobak was at a loss for words in response to his granddaughter's curiosity and abruptly ended the conversation with irritation. "You'll naturally find out later, so don't ask here. I'm talking with this young man, so why do you keep interrupting?"
"Hmph..." Upon hearing Nobak's curt response, Mureung let out a low snort and turned away, clearly sulking.
"It seems you look younger because of Dongza Gong. But it can be very dangerous if it's broken, so it's best to always be cautious."
"Yes." Mookhyang continued to chat with Nobak over drinks and food before eventually standing up.
The next morning, the group left the inn and wandered around, exploring the area. After three days of traveling together, Nobak revealed that Mureung was his granddaughter. He explained that they were traveling in disguise due to the various dangers present in the martial world. However, Mookhyang couldn't accept this at face value. Nobak was a considerable master, and Mureung also had enough skill to protect herself. It seemed they were likely a group traveling while hiding their true identities.
Fifteen days after traveling with them, the group arrived at Cheonilru. Cheonilru was a massive three-story restaurant built along the river, and the surrounding scenery was stunning. As expected, many martial artists carrying weapons were present, most of whom seemed to be seniors celebrating the newcomers' first outing, sharing various advice about the martial world, and offering drinks. Since there were no seats available on the third floor, the group settled on the second floor. The view from the second floor was also extraordinarily beautiful. They ordered some snacks and drinks and sat together.
"This place is truly beautiful, grandfather."
"Of course. That's why many ordinary people come here to enjoy the scenery, not just martial artists."
While they were chatting, a commotion suddenly broke out at the next table. Three men and two women were drinking, and one of the men sitting nearby initiated a confrontation.
"Oh, who do we have here? To see the famous 'Three Ghosts of Cold and Heat' here. Do you think you lowly scoundrels can just roll in here?"
Mookhyang turned to see that the eight people at the other table clearly had stronger individual martial skills than the five men and women who were being insulted. Initially, Mookhyang considered ignoring the situation, but it was hard to turn a blind eye when it was the scoundrels causing trouble. Therefore, he decided to ask Nobak, who was sitting in front of him, to intervene instead of stepping in himself.