Rebirth of the Thunder God

[What. This. Aaaak!]

Namgung Hui, sensing the unusual atmosphere, carefully placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Still, the fortunate thing was that the Thunder God Sword calmed down just by Namgung Hui grasping it.

The Sword Spirit, as if nothing had happened, spoke in a calm tone.

[Phew... I thought I was going to die. What on earth was that just now?]

"That, you see. It was to test if you were a wicked spirit. I'm sorry if it was painful."

The Kunlun Sect Leader, who answered in Namgung Hui's stead, as if he could hear the Sword Spirit's words.

Despite his seasoned age, seeing his sturdy physique, he received an overwhelming feeling from his appearance alone.

Not only that. His eyes, full of spirit, were so fierce that it was as if they could change the atmosphere.

Should I say it was like the gaze of a judge looking at a sinner?

But soon, as if that spirit had gone somewhere and disappeared, he returned to a calm gaze and spoke.

"I checked once more out of an old woman's worry. It seems I was rude from the first meeting, so I'm sorry to you too. Now, sit."

As Namgung Hui sat down in front of the Sect Leader, he spoke again.

"The soul dwelling in the sword. Do you know its identity?"

Namgung Hui, since the other party was who he was, answered obediently without hiding anything.

"I don't know for sure, but I think it's probably the soul of a spirit beast."

The form of the Sword Spirit he had seen before.

Its appearance was so different that it couldn't be that of a human.

It was probably closer to a spirit beast with a snout.

As if Namgung Hui's speculation was correct, the Sect Leader nodded his head and said.

"Yes. From what I see, it's the soul of a spirit beast. But unlike the spirit beasts of the Kunlun Mountains, it didn't look very clear. That's why I tested it, and that spirit let out a cry full of pain. Well, since it doesn't seem to be a wicked soul, I stopped there."

Namgung Hui, who stealthily checked the Sword Spirit's mood.

He had thought it would flare up and rage, but it didn't say anything in particular even at the Sect Leader.

Rather, it had a confused look, as if it were re-establishing its own identity.

[Am I a spirit beast...? Yes. I don't think I was a human. And I wasn't that good of a being either.]

The reason he had liked the name 'Sword Spirit.'

He had been pleased because it seemed to also mean 'black spirit.'

But it was not a fallen spirit beast.

The Sect Leader had also recognized that and had stopped the test he had been conducting on the Sword Spirit.

"Well, since I'm not an expert in this field either, it would be faster to ask the sect leader of the Maoshan Sect, who is in your party. In the first place, I don't understand why you haven't asked until now."

There were several reasons for that.

At first, it was because he couldn't trust Jang Hwang.

And it was also because he wasn't particularly curious about the Sword Spirit's identity.

As it was, he was getting along well with the Sword Spirit, so he didn't think there was a need to dig up the past.

And if by any chance the Sword Spirit were to leave the Thunder God Sword, there would be no gain for Namgung Hui.

'Right now, the Sword Spirit is quite helpful to me. And more than anything, I've grown fond of it.'

The talkative Sword Spirit, unlike the taciturn Chichi.

If Chichi was the type to speak only when he needed to, the Sword Spirit was nosy and seemed to have a lot of experience.

The advice he sometimes gave showed that the Sword Spirit had accumulated a considerable amount of experience.

"That's enough about that spirit. Shall I hear the reason you wanted to see me?"

Namgung Hui shook off his idle thoughts and straightened his expression.

"Yes. Sect Leader. The reason I came here to the Kunlun Sect is to ask for two favors."

"Two... That's a lot. Let's hear them."

"First of all, I wish to climb the Supreme Purity Peak."

The Sect Leader, who had been smiling benevolently, squinted his eyes and asked.

"Do you even know where the Supreme Purity Peak is?"

The Three Purities of the Kunlun Sect. This was a term referring to the Supreme Purity, the Jade Purity, and the High Purity.

Among them, the Supreme Purity referred to the peak where the Sect Leader resided.

The Jade Purity was a place where martial arts manuals were stored, like the Shaolin Temple's scripture repository.

Lastly, the High Purity was a place where the remains of the ancestors were enshrined, corresponding to the ancestral hall.

Although the Jade Purity Peak, where the manuals were stored, was also a difficult place to climb, the ancestral hall, which honored the ancestors, was no different from being forbidden.

In the first place, there was no justification for an outsider to enter such a place.

Although one might visit the Jade Purity Peak out of greed for martial arts manuals, there was no reason to enter the ancestral hall where the remains were stored.

Unless one were to damage the remains of the ancestors.

Nevertheless, Namgung Hui had a clear reason to enter the Supreme Purity Peak.

'The map that the Mad Dragon gave me is pointing to the Supreme Purity Peak. I must enter, even if it's just to find out the whereabouts of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.'

The Heavenly Demon Divine Art might not be on the Supreme Purity Peak.

Or a disciple of the Kunlun Sect might have acquired it and be learning it.

If not that, and if another third party were to be learning it, there was a need to recover it.

'Even if a disciple of the Kunlun Sect is learning it, it's a difficult problem.'

If it were not just the derailment of a young disciple, but a problem of an elder-level person, the Kunlun Sect itself could be in trouble.

"I know it is an ancestral hall where the remains of the ancestors are enshrined."

"You ask, knowing that. May I know the reason?"

"It would be difficult to tell you that far. Still, I will pay a reasonable price to the Sect Leader."

"Pay a price? Ha. I was so kind as to let you come all the way to the Supreme Purity Peak because a distinguished guest was coming. But you seem to be making a fool of me. Go down now. I will not see you off."

Namgung Hui took out a manual from his bosom with an expressionless face.

"Sect Leader. Let's continue our talk after you've seen this."

"Do you think I'll change my mind over a single manual... No! The Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art?!"

His already small eyes opened wide, and his face became full of wrinkles.

It was not strange for the Sect Leader to be that surprised.

Because the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art, which was no different from the symbol of the Sect Leader, had returned.

"I-Is it really the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art?"

"If you read it, it will be easy to determine its authenticity."

"Ahem... Then wait a moment. If you try to run away, you will be severely punished."

Namgung Hui, looking at the Sect Leader who was making a threat, smiled faintly.

Since he was sure that it was genuine, Namgung Hui's smile could only become deeper.

'Not everything in the Imperial Palace's secret repository is genuine. But the trajectory of the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art was so outstanding that it couldn't be called a fake.'

If Namgung Hui had also focused on learning the martial arts of the upper Dantian.

Or if he had been engrossed in mental training like the side effects of demonic arts, the value of the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art might have been outstanding.

But Namgung Hui had already transcended the realm in terms of the mental aspect through the experience of his past life.

Hadn't he opened his upper Dantian early?

That didn't mean the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art was not helpful, but it meant that its efficiency was lower.

A moment later. The Sect Leader, who had finished reading the manual, narrowed his eyes and asked.

"Where on earth did you get this?"

A sharp tone.

It was so fierce that it was like walking on thin ice.

Since it was not something Namgung Hui had to hide, he answered obediently.

"I obtained it from the Imperial Palace's secret repository. To be honest, I stole it."

"There is a rightful owner, yet you say you stole it. That's a bit much."

"So you don't like the manual? Then I'll take it back..."

"No. It has returned to its rightful owner's bosom. How can I not like it? For now, thank you. For recovering the martial art of our Kunlun Sect. I mean this sincerely."

The Sect Leader, who conveyed his sincere thanks.

Seeing his eyes become moist, it seemed it was by no means a lie.

There was no way Namgung Hui would miss the moment he had gained the upper hand like this.

"Then will you allow me to climb the Supreme Purity Peak?"

"...What a cunning Daoist friend. Alright. If it's you who brought the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art, the founder will also allow you. Instead, I will watch what you do from the side."

The Supreme Purity Peak, where the manual of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art might be hidden.

It was necessary to visit alone and go through the verification process.

Because Namgung Hui might find the manual of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

What would happen if he were to find it in front of the Sect Leader?

'Not only the ownership of the manual, but he will surely question how I knew about it.'

It was not just any martial art, but the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, which was no different from the martial art of an enemy.

Although it was a question why it would be on the Supreme Purity Peak in the first place, he thought he might be able to infer to some extent if he were to find the manual.

Perhaps just as this map was left, the reason for it would also be left somewhere.

Namgung Hui, thinking about how to deceive the Sect Leader, began to form a plan.

'Alright. It's about time to wake that fellow up. I'll have to make him pay for his meals... no, his drinks.'

"What's with that sinister expression? Don't tell me you're planning to do something bad on the Supreme Purity Peak?"

"Of course not. And I would like to ask for a second favor."

"Speak."

"I would like to meet Cheongheo Jin-in, an elder of the Kunlun Sect. Would you arrange a meeting?"

The Sect Leader, for the first time, made a variety of expressions and took a troubled attitude.

"Cheongheo... Daoist friend, you only make difficult requests. First, will you tell me where you heard that name?"

"I heard it from a monster called the six-tailed fox. The Heavenly Dao Immortal has enlightened it, so it's not a being to worry about."

"A six-tailed fox. I've heard of it faintly. It was said to take care of humans in the mortal world. Although it's a little uncomfortable that it's revered as a spirit, if it can enter the path of immortality by accumulating spiritual power like that, it's not a bad thing. Then it must be that you came because of the Heavenly Dao Immortal, not to meet Cheongheo."

"Yes. I don't know if the Sect Leader also knows, but do you know anything about the law of causality or the constellations?"

The words he had wanted to ask the Heavenly Dao Immortal.

If it were the Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect, it would not be strange for him to know this.

However, contrary to Namgung Hui's expectations, the Sect Leader shook his head and continued.

"About that, Cheongheo will surely know more than me. But Cheongheo is in a difficult state to meet right now."

"Has he gone out?"

"How can he be allowed to go out when the gates are sealed? Since the Heavenly Dao Immortal secretly took him out before, Cheongheo has not gone down below the Kunlun Mountains."

"If so...?"

"Ahem. It's a little awkward for me to say this, but Cheongheo's mind is not sound right now. Even if you meet him, it will be difficult to get the answer you want."

A story he had heard faintly from Nahi.

He had said that he was not just eccentric, but that his mental state was not good.

But what was strange was that if he were the disciple of a great person like the Heavenly Dao Immortal, shouldn't his mental training not be low?

Well, since there was no law that said a disciple had to be as good as his master, he decided to judge Cheongheo after meeting him in person.

"Still, I would like to meet him first. Who knows, his mind might return after hearing what I have to say."

"That's true. Or his mind might return if he sees the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art."

If it were the effect of the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art, it was quite possible.

But since this was a martial art that only the sect leader's disciple could learn, it was questionable if it would be allowed for a mere elder like Cheongheo.

Whether the Sect Leader's choice would be rules or his junior brother, only he himself would know and be able to decide.

"Then, to call Cheongheo, I'll have to hold an elders' meeting for the first time in a long time. You should also attend that meeting."

"Is it okay for an outsider like me to attend?"

"You're the one who brought the manual. Why can't you participate? It will be an interesting thing to explain in detail how you obtained it to the elders who are just stuck in a corner of the mountain. Will you tell us your adventure story?"

"That's not difficult."

While he was at it, if he were to explain in detail the matter of obtaining the Sword Spirit, he could arouse even greater interest.

Since the existence of the Sword Spirit had been revealed, he decided to use it.

Unlike the Central Plains, the elders of the Kunlun Sect, who had a deep connection with spirit beasts, would accept the Sword Spirit without any resistance.

Perhaps there would be someone among them who could give useful advice.

"Alright. Let's go right away. I've sent out the summons, so if you go to the main hall, the elders will be there."

Was the movement of his hand a moment ago the signal for the summons?

It seemed to be a concept of a Daoist art, but Namgung Hui did not recognize it.

"Don't worry too much. If it were a Daoist art that could cause harm, you would have recognized it. It's because your subconscious judged that it was not harmful that you did not recognize it."

The Sect Leader, who spoke as if he had read Namgung Hui's thoughts.

Namgung Hui, contemplating his mental defense, followed the Sect Leader down the Supreme Purity Peak.

As expected, as he said, when they came down from the Supreme Purity Peak, people who looked like elders were waiting.

But among the waiting people, there was a truly unexpected person standing there.

(End of Chapter)