Chapter 127 : Chapter 127
Chapter 127: Wudang’s True Appearance (3)
Rejuvenation.
It is a story handed down like a legend in the Jianghu Murim.
The story that an old master who has reached the extreme state regains the body of his prime days.
The reason it cannot be dismissed as a complete legend is that, like the Vermilion Fruit, although extremely rare, its existence has been proven.
Many people often confuse Body Reformation and Rejuvenation, but the two are not the same.
If there is a point where Rejuvenation is different from Body Reformation, it would be that Body Reformation only improves the quality of the body but cannot turn back time.
If I were to express it specifically, it would be the difference between becoming an old man as vigorous as a young man and transforming into a real young man, so it cannot be expressed as a small difference.
I said Rejuvenation is a story like a legend.
Although it has been proven several times over a long period, it is because the sample number is extremely small.
It can be expressed that it was insufficient to accumulate information due to lack of data and historical records.
Originally, isn’t lack of information mystery, and mystery the essence of legend?
In other words, it means I do not know much about Rejuvenation.
But didn’t I say inference through fragments of information is the qualification of a capable informant?
Therefore, I am guessing several facts about Rejuvenation.
The most important fact would be that Rejuvenation does not become a watershed that determines the realm like Three Flowers Realm or Five Qis Courting the Origin.
The reason is that Bodhidharma of Shaolin, Sambong of Wudang, Healing Sage, Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha, etc., who are not insufficient to be called Grandmasters, did not achieve Rejuvenation.
Since masters who achieved Rejuvenation occasionally appeared even among martial artists walking in lower realms than them, there would be no gap in my inference.
Anyway…….
“This Daoist is called Wuji. Since I am of the same Mu character generation as Mudam whom you faced just now, there would be no unfairness.”
Seeing the posture of Wuji Jin-in claiming himself to be of the Mu character generation while unfolding the art of the Formless Sword in the ‘New Star’ Exchange Meeting, I realize the fact that this Daoist who achieved Rejuvenation is a truly shameless person.
* * *
The Beggar’s Gang is originally a group without hierarchy. Therefore, Myeong-gae was a figure without hierarchy. It is because humans inherently resemble their affiliation.
Dancheon Myeong before becoming a Beggar’s Gang disciple was also not a character with clear hierarchy due to the characteristics of a famous clan’s direct lineage.
So, the basic frame of my speech tone can be called the Hao-style (low form).
“I request your teaching.”
Therefore, my tone towards the Sword Emperor was no different.
I use the Hao-style even to Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha, so there is no reason for it to be different for the Sword Emperor.
Although some Daoists of the Nine Sects showed appearances of frowning, it was not a matter to care about.
The person involved, the Sword Emperor, also didn’t seem to care much.
To be a bit more honest, I do not like the immortals of the Nine Sects that much.
It is not because I was born in a famous clan, but because of their behavior shown during the Great War of Righteousness and Evil.
Of course, the Nine Sects are indeed those who traversed the forefront of the Great War of Righteousness and Evil as the pillars of the Righteous Faction.
However, it would be right to say that was the elders of the Council of Elders and the masters of the first, second, and third generations of the Nine Sects.
One cannot look favorably upon the masters of the previous generation who ignored the tribulation of the secular world just because they secluded themselves.
Chuck—
I took a starting stance for fist and kick arts.
The Sword Emperor told me to show everything, but what reason is there to specifically follow his command?
Due to various circumstances, I cannot reject his spar request, but there is also no need to show everything I have.
Just then.
—Can you hear me?
The Sword Emperor’s faintly clear voice was heard.
Faintly and clearly.
Since it was a voice with two clearly contradictory concepts inherent together, it would not be unreasonable to express this also as a divine skill.
It was Qi-Transmission Telepathy.
If it were Secret Sound Transmission, it could not deceive the eyes and ears of numerous masters located here, but if it is Qi-Transmission Telepathy, it would be sufficiently possible.
Since he could mix it into the spirit he releases towards me.
Perhaps the Sword Emperor has something to convey to me secretly.
I met eyes with the Sword Emperor.
Because the days were busy even training martial arts, I did not learn lofty arts like Qi-Transmission Telepathy.
Saying that, giving an answer with Secret Sound Transmission does not fit the status, so it would be better not to speak.
—I realize your realm is extraordinary. But, it seems you don’t have much intention to show it?
Is he the Sword Emperor worthy of the reputation?
He seemed to have seen through my inner thoughts.
Behind that mischievous expression, there must be the old wisdom of surviving in the Jianghu Murim for over a cycle of sixty years.
—If you face me with full power now, I want to give you a small teaching, how about it?
The Sword Emperor saying so smiled clearly and raised the Formless Sword.
Although the general view is that the Formless Sword is no different from Sword Flux except that it doesn’t borrow the power of a vessel, I felt that immense power beyond Sword Flux was contained in his Formless Sword.
“Hmm…….”
“Isn’t the Formless Sword a bit excessive?”
“……The Sword Emperor must have his own thoughts.”
“Perhaps the Sword Emperor is trying to take care of Wudang’s face. Since the Supreme Ultimate Wisdom Sword, the true body supreme art of Wudang, was broken so futilely…….”
Regardless of the crowd’s chatter, my brain was checking the gains and losses.
‘Sword Emperor’s teaching, huh.’
I am the successor of the Healing Sage.
In addition, I am a body that learned the teachings of Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha.
In reality, since the essence of martial learning lies in polishing oneself, seeking learning from various masters does not necessarily mean an increase in realm.
But…….
The fragment of spirituality the Sword Emperor showed me came to mind repeatedly.
I cannot suppress the curiosity about that art which I myself came to name Mind Sword.
“I will go.”
Rumble—
In my hand, before I knew it, a complete Formless Sword had taken its shape.
“Good.”
The Sword Emperor smiled, and all the Daoists of the Nine Sects who were listing their own worries shut their mouths.
* * *
Kwa-gwang—!
Intense collision of Formless Swords.
Puhwa-ak!
The aftermath turned into a shockwave and tore the air apart.
It was a struggle of supernatural phenomena that had never been seen in the New Star Exchange Meeting before.
Even masters of the State of Harmony cannot withstand this level of dignity, so the elders of the Nine Sects, who had long distanced themselves from the sparring stage, also let go and were only boosting their eye techniques.
Because their role as safety personnel had ended long ago.
“Ha…….”
Only the lament of one elder embroidered the space for a moment and faded away.
In the first place, all other elders here had the same imagery.
Because young men boasting fair skin were unfolding a realm of martial arts that they could not reach even after investigating and polishing all their lives.
Even if one of them is the old master Sword Emperor of the previous generation who achieved Rejuvenation, since the person dealing with him neck and neck was merely a young man around the Weak Crown age, a sense of despondency hovered in their admiration along with wonder.
Clang—!
The extreme supreme art called Formless Sword.
Tat!
Supreme movement art not lagging behind Cloud-Treading Steps.
Clang—!
Above all, even the tenacity to chase and create a collision against the Sword Emperor’s Songmun Ancient Sword which was clearly unfolding the profundity of Soft Sword.
Only then could everyone fully accept.
The fact that Flowing Dragon Mudam, the Wudang talent who faced the Divine Dragon of Dancheon, was not lacking.
The truth that his Supreme Ultimate Wisdom Sword was not lacking.
Rather, since he exchanged intact moves twice with such a supreme master, perhaps it would be right to evaluate that Mudam received a miraculous encounter.
As if proving that fact, Mudam was watching the spar between the Sword Emperor and the Divine Dragon of Dancheon with an upright gaze.
No, to express it accurately, it is difficult to call it watching.
Because it was burdensome even to chase the afterimages they left while struggling.
Even the elders of the Nine Sects, who had long entered the State of Harmony and were running towards the Path of the Immortal, could not fully read the profundities, so a mere third-generation disciple around the Weak Crown age could not fully contain them.
Even a talent of the ages cannot narrow a vast gap at once.
But Mudam never blinked his eyes.
Tenacity and effort.
Perhaps Mudam’s true talent lay there.
“Does it mean the martial arts of the secular world have developed that much?”
One elder muttered as if sighing…….
“Rather than the greatness of martial arts, that child’s talent is…….”
The other elder receiving those words soon blurred the end of his sentence.
It was because he realized the fact that just a while ago, when Dancheon Hak, not the Divine Dragon of Dancheon, proved himself entering the State of Harmony, he had said the exact same words.
“……Was it obstinacy?”
Ending with those words, that elder did not open his mouth anymore.
He just silently watched the spar between the Sword Emperor and the Divine Dragon of Dancheon.
He realized it himself.
When Dancheon Hak showed his dignity, he remembers saying the words just now as if the victor was bestowing generosity.
But this case was different.
Because it was difficult to deny the fact that even to his own thoughts, it felt like the grumbling of a loser pushed away by the rear waves of the Yangtze River.
“Oh, alas…….”
Since there was no Dao in his own conduct, he would have to refine himself again as soon as he returned to the sect.
Nine Sects.
Those who reigned at the apex of the Jianghu Murim were looking at a new horizon.
* * *
“Quite good.”
“It is because the Sword Emperor showed mercy in his moves.”
There would be no error in my words.
Although it is awkward to say this myself, the exchange between the Sword Emperor and me right now is no different from a teaching spar.
It is a fact I realized only after exchanging dozens of moves, but my sword is not advancing according to my will right now.
What I mean is, my sword paths are all shaped in the direction the Sword Emperor wants.
The Sword Emperor’s gaze, breath, posture.
The way the Sword Emperor steps and the direction he moves his body, and the shift of the center of gravity.
Added to that, the power, speed, direction of the sword strike the Sword Emperor thrusts, and the time his sword and my sword are in contact.
All of that was controlling my sword path.
It was a time to realize my insufficiency, thinking that the profundity of Soft Sword was merely flowing away the opponent’s strong strike with Softness Overcoming Hardness.
“I will go…….”
Clang—!
“……again.”
Before the words ended, the Formless Sword held in my hand touched the Sword Emperor’s Formless Sword.
It was just that the sword strike was too fast and outpaced the sound, so it cannot be said that I did a surprise attack during the spar.
“Ho. Did you realize?”
As if detecting my significantly changed sword path, the Sword Emperor asked.
“Not yet. I merely imitated what the Sword Emperor showed.”
Although a martial artist is one who transforms with realization that comes suddenly, at the same time, a martial artist is one who steadily polishes what one has grasped.
Therefore, it would be right to consider my realization still insufficient.
“Excellent.”
A smile settled on the Sword Emperor’s mischievous expression.
“If a guy like you had entered the mountain, maybe the Nine Sects would have changed a little.”
But I cannot agree.
“That wouldn’t be so.”
For me who achieved up to the Fifth Stage: Union, maturity enough to look back on myself has come.
I have grown.
It would be right to not allow comparison with Dancheon Myeong of the past life, and the person quite different from even Myeong-gae who could be called somewhat mature is exactly the current Dancheon Myeong.
But I know the fact that the current growth was not achieved because I am a great person myself.
I know now that regression and the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art, the experience of living the life of a Beggar’s Gang disciple, the family of the Dancheon Clan, the new master Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha, Brother Chun-baek, Ma Sok, and friends like Yeo-wol made it.
Even if there is a world with a different timeline from here and there is a Dancheon Myeong who entered the mountain and became a Daoist before growing up, he would not be like me.
“You would be right.”
As if understanding the meaning, the Sword Emperor also nodded.
“Now let’s match moves in earnest.”
Saying so, the Sword Emperor’s spirit changed completely.
In reality, it would be a situation where it is unreasonable to call it a spar now.
Excluding the point that there is no intent to kill each other, it means our struggle has already reached the intensity of actual combat.
Rumble—
As if they weren’t empty words, immense power stirred around the Sword Emperor.
A truly formidable spirit that would not allow comparison with the Formless Sword, which accepts the energy of heaven, earth, and all things and materializes it, encroached on the space.
“Hmm.”
The master of the previous generation known to have reached the extreme of the sword finally released his Will intact.