Chapter 3
—You, who have opened your upper dantian and connected with the heavens.
A majestic voice that hardly seemed human thundered through the air.
Seeing the mysterious middle-aged man who suddenly appeared, Jaseong was left dumbfounded.
"... Who are you?"
—The title the humans of this world use for me is 'Sword Immortal'.
"...?!"
—My true name is Lü Dongbin.
Jaseong's eyes widened in shock.
It was a name that even if he wanted to, he could never not recognize.
The Sword Immortal, Lü Dongbin.
A man who, as a mortal, reached the ultimate mastery of the sword, and eventually achieved the ascension to become an immortal.
It was said that through riding his sword and using legendary swordsmanship, especially the Heaven-Evading Sword Technique passed down in legends, he possessed a martial prowess capable of slaying even other immortals in an instant.
... But why would such an incredible being appear before me?
—Student. You have been chosen.
"... Chosen?"
—Your anger has awakened a talent that no one else could possess.
"... A talent no one else could possess...?"
—The state of total absorption where, within the slowed flow of time, you can see the energy and intention of all living beings in the world: the Samadhi State.
"...!"
—You have attained eyes capable of glimpsing that realm. If these eyes grow, they will become an extraordinarily rare spiritual fruit.
Lü Dongbin spoke as he balanced himself atop his sword.
Of course, for Jaseong, these were words so staggering he could hardly process them.
But the surprises were not over yet.
—And just now, you have passed the test of the Celestial Realm.
"... What test are you talking about?"
—You instantly rejected the temptation of evil and, without the slightest hesitation, eradicated that evil. You fully demonstrated the abilities granted to you.
"...!"
Lü Dongbin glanced at the corpse of the Demonic Cult's master.
—Moreover, that cultist you just defeated—he was one of those whose names are written in the Celestial Realm's Book of Death.
"The Book of Death of the Celestial Realm...?"
—In recent times, more and more mortals like myself, after ascending in the human realm, are becoming immortals in the Celestial Realm.
No doubt this is thanks to the extreme development of martial arts among humans...
—Among them, some immortals, just like when they lived in the mortal world, have become intoxicated by their strength and consumed by greed.
— 1st Heavenly Demon, 4th Heavenly Demon, and even 7th Heavenly Demon... There are three such existences.
—And in addition, there are countless others: like the leader of Mount Hua Sect, the abbot of Shaolin Temple, the Sword God of the Namgung family, and more.
—These claim to be the greatest in the Celestial Realm and are constantly fighting among themselves, plunging that realm into chaos.
—Thus, like-minded immortals and I have reached a decision.
—To prevent greedy mortals, drunk with power, from ascending, we must cut them down while they still exist in the mortal realm.
"...!!"
—Therefore, I and other immortals wish to appoint you, student, as the executor of Heaven's Mandate.
Executor of Heaven's Mandate...?
—Harvest the souls of evil men, maddened by power, who disrupt the mortal realm.
Become a calamity from the heavens—genius—and judge the world according to that decree!
Lü Dongbin's resounding voice filled every corner of Jaseong's mind.
And then,
Shaaak!
A colossal translucent scroll unfurled before his eyes.
〈Celestial Realm Book of Death〉
[Murim Alliance Leader Namgung Cheonroe]
[Thirteenth Heavenly Demon Dok Go-hyun]
[Head of the Murong family, Murong Cheolsan]
[Leader of Zhongnan Sect, Shim Yeop]
[Patriarch of the Peng Family in Hebei, Peng Unmak]
.
.
.
[Blood Demon, Chu Hyul-gwang]
—These men harbor evil spirits and would do anything to seize power.
—Therefore, harvest the souls of each and every one of these men. Leave nothing behind.
Hearing this, Jaseong's fist tightened without him realizing.
The names on the list were all as despised as the foes who killed his eldest brother and his sister-in-law.
In other words, this Heaven's Mandate was perfectly aligned with Jaseong's own goals.
Moreover, enormous rewards awaited for completing the mandate.
—Of course, student as you are now cannot even scratch a single name on the Book of Death.
"..."
—That's why I prepared this.
Lü Dongbin handed Jaseong a martial arts manual.
[Heaven-Evading Way(天遁道)]
That was the title written on the cover.
As soon as he saw it, Jaseong's eyes grew as wide as saucers.
The legendary Heaven-Evading Sword Technique said to have been used by the Sword Immortal, Lü Dongbin.
The name was nearly identical.
—The Heaven-Evading Way is a further evolved version of the Heaven-Evading Sword Technique I devised as a mortal, enhanced with secret arts from the Celestial Realm.
"...!"
—Once you master this, you will become a monster with none to rival you in this world.
"...!!"
—However, as an item of the Celestial Realm, this manual comes with many restrictions.
"Restrictions...? What are they?"
—With each Heaven's Mandate you fulfill, the seals on this manual will be unlocked.
With this, Lü Dongbin's explanation concluded.
—Well, student, do you accept and become the executor of Heaven's Mandate?
Just as his title, the greatest master of all ages, implied, Lü Dongbin emitted an indescribable and awe-inspiring pressure as he asked.
To his question, Jaseong slowly nodded.
"I accept. I'll be the executor of Heaven's Mandate."
Jaseong, the boy of the lowest rungs in the Red Light District.
This was the moment he awakened as the calamity decreed by the heavens—a prodigy.
* * *
[The Heaven-Evading Way serves the executor of Heaven's Mandate...]
As soon as Jaseong accepted the offer of the Celestial Realm, the translucent manual flashed golden.
Next,
Shaaak!
The pages of the manual turned by themselves.
[Heaven-Evading Breathing Technique]
[Heaven-Evading Movement Technique]
[Heaven-Evading Sword Technique]
[Heaven-Evading Secret Arts]
.
.
.
Legendary martial arts coveted by any practitioner of Martial World flashed before his eyes.
Standing before them, Jaseong's heart thundered.
With these, he could achieve revenge for his elder brother and sister-in-law so much faster.
But unfortunately—
'... The pages won't turn?'
Just as Lü Dongbin had said, the Heaven-Evading Way was firmly sealed by powerful enchantments.
Because of that, Jaseong could not browse through the manual at his will.
For now, he could only access the very first stage: the Heaven-Evading Breathing Technique.
[The Heaven-Evading Breathing Technique is a unique internal energy method employing the breathing of immortals.
By circulating energy through this, not only does one amass internal power at a greatly accelerated rate, but they also acquire a uniquely pure and powerful form of ki.]
... The breathing method of immortals.
Such an introduction caused Jaseong's eyes to widen.
He immediately sat down cross-legged.
He wanted to grow stronger, even one second sooner.
Reciting the formulas from the manual, Jaseong began his very first self-training.
"Hoo..."
Of course, since it was his first time ever cultivating internals, it was only natural that he struggled.
All he could rely on was Lü Dongbin's voice echoing from within the Heaven-Evading Way.
〈Student. Close your eyes and feel the external energy of nature.〉
〈Inhale according to the immortal's breathing technique and pull in the external energy.〉
〈Along with your breathing techniques, focus and recite the following mind-method formulas:
Sangcheon Janggi (上天藏氣) — Store energy in the heavens
Geukjeong Yangsin (極靜養神) — Extremely calm, nurture the spirit
Il-sik Nap Cheonji (一息納天地) — In a single breath, take in heaven and earth
Il-to Jeong Manmul (一吐淨萬物) — Exhale once, purify all things
Cheondun Jigyeong (天遁至境) — Reach the ultimate realm of heavenly evasion
Manbeop Gwiywon (萬法歸元) — All methods return to the origin ...〉
To someone new to force-cultivation, this was perilously abbreviated instruction.
Above all, the internal energy method he was trying to master was the Heaven-Evading Breathing Technique itself.
The legendary internal energy method of the Sword Immortal.
Who could possibly master such a method—with only these succinct directions?
But Jaseong possessed a talent that made the impossible possible.
Sssaaa—
He activated Samadhi Eyes once again.
It was already his third time using it, so it wasn't hard to trigger.
With a feeling of heat spreading from his crown, time slowed down.
At the same time, green dots appeared all throughout the cave.
They were the energy of nature, the external energy.
Employing the unique breathing technique, Jaseong drew those green dots into himself.
He sensed the external energy perfectly through his Samadhi Eyes and, reciting the formulas, brought the energy down to his lower abdomen.
It was an energy path completely different from any human internal method, an exceedingly unique circuit for true ki.
Through this, golden true ki accumulated within him.
Jaseong repeated the process again and again, losing all track of time.
A month passed in this way.
* * *
Fwhooosh!
One early morning, as Jaseong sat cross-legged, wind began to swirl fiercely around him.
The green specks—the external energy—spiraled about him.
Rumble—rumble—!
A sudden gale whipped up, scattering every pebble on the cavern floor.
"Hoo..."
With a long exhale, Jaseong finally opened his eyes.
His entire body was drenched with foul toxins and impurities expelled from within.
Yet his mood could not have been better.
The golden true ki in his dantian made his whole body overflow with strength.
"... With this, the foundation of my martial arts is set."
Jaseong muttered nonchalantly, but it was truly a phenomenal breakthrough.
Not only had he formed his dantian in mere days, but he had mastered the Sword Immortal's internal energy method—celebrated as the greatest in the ages.
It was purer and more powerful than any other method.
Still, Jaseong did not leave his meditation.
"... Now it begins."
He continued to amass inner strength using the immortal's technique.
For half a year straight, living in the dark cave, chewing on moss and tree roots.
He could not rest for even a day if he wished to avenge his brother, sister-in-law, and nephew.
The result was...
Goooo—
After half a year, Jaseong's eyes held a new, mystical radiance unseen before.
'... Just how well would this ki fare in the martial world?'
Feeling the golden energy surging in his dantian, he muttered inwardly.
But then, just when he was singularly focused on cultivating—
〈Student. Fulfill Heaven's Mandate.〉
Suddenly, Lü Dongbin's voice echoed in Jaseong's mind.
Then,
Flutter—flutter—
A translucent slip fell before Jaseong's eyes.
It bore the following inscription:
[The First Mandate — Form a Faction]
It was only natural that Jaseong stared in confusion.
"... A faction? Isn't that far too grand a word for me right now?"
At present, Jaseong had only mastered the internal method; he knew nothing of swordsmanship, movement techniques, or anything else necessary for combat.
So how could he possibly form a faction?
"... Well, if the mandate came to me, there must be a way."
Having lived in the underbelly of the Red Light District, he'd experienced all sorts of things.
So Jaseong simply accepted the first mandate, muttering calmly.
Before leaving, he went to the cave's entrance.
There, under the clear sky and brilliant sunlight, stood two graves.
"... Big brother. Sister-in-law. Please wait a little longer. I'll become strong soon, and avenge you both."
Standing before the graves of his elder brother and his wife, Jaseong spoke.
He then placed the rattle he'd bought for his unborn nephew atop the grave tablet and bid farewell.
"Then... I'll be going."
The prodigy of the Red Light District,
The boy called the Calamity Sent from Heaven,
Was now stepping forth into the martial world.
The lowest dragon in the depths was soaring toward the world above.
* * *
The first place Jaseong visited after descending the mountain was the Red Light District where he'd originally lived.
He had a favor to ask of the courtesans there.
'I wonder how everyone's been...'
But when Jaseong reentered the Red Light District—
"...?"
The entire district felt completely different from before.
The brothels and courtesan houses, which would normally be bustling at this hour, were quiet, without even lanterns lit.
'... What's going on? Is something happening again?'
Suspicious, Jaseong headed for his destination, Moon Castle Pavilion.
In a dark alleyway, he ran into a very familiar face.
"Jaseong!"
The cat-eyed beauty about his own age, her name was Hyang-I, a courtesan of Moon Castle Pavilion.
"Where have you been all this time? That at your waist... is that a sword?"
"I had things to do."
"Things...?"
"More importantly, I have a request for you, Hyang-I."
"A request? What is it?"
"I heard from my sister-in-law. She told me you're working for the Hao Sect."
"...!"
The Hao Sect.
Once called the gate of the lowest, but five years ago, its status changed greatly when a mysterious supreme expert took over as its leader.
Since many courtesans were part of its membership, some in the Red Light District also belonged to the Hao Sect.
Hyang-I was one of them.
"... Big sis So Yeon told you even that. But why are you asking about the Underworld Gate all of a sudden?"
"I need information."
"Information?"
"This isn't something to discuss here... But why is the whole district so deserted?"
"That's..."
At Jaseong's question, a shadow fell over Hyang-I's face.
It was clear that something had indeed happened.