Rebirth of the Thunder God

Namgung Hui, who had widened his eyes while looking at the manuals scattered on the floor.

He soon turned his gaze to the Sect Leader and said with a squint.

"Sect Leader. This isn't some flea market. Why are you spreading out the manuals like this?"

"I didn't know what you would like, so I brought some out. Because I thought your heart would be relieved a little that way. Hohoho."

Still, the Sect Leader, who was smiling awkwardly, as if he felt sorry for Namgung Hui.

"Since the Sect Leader is coming out like that, I'll ask you right away. Why on earth did you make me chase the Sect... no, the feudal lord?"

"What else would it be but to connect you? And in the end, didn't you get quite a lot from the Zhuge family?"

As the Sect Leader said, Namgung Hui had gotten several things from the Zhuge family.

Although he hadn't gotten anything material, he had received a sufficient answer and an imperial edict from the emperor.

‘Was it to have me receive the imperial edict while avoiding the eyes of the Hoicheon Association? Or was it to arrange a meeting with the feudal lord?’

"I wonder if it was something that had to be done by creating such a troublesome situation. If you had just told me frankly..."

"...it could have become a problem. And there was also the fact that I wanted to test you. I don't know if you'll be offended."

As expected, it seemed it was to verify Namgung Hui's ability.

For some reason, the Sect Leader's eyes were full of a desire to compete, and it felt as if he were asking if he had the qualifications of a Ziwei Star.

If he were to judge that Namgung Hui had sufficient qualifications, how would he come out?

"So did I pass the test?"

"Of course you passed. The manuals scattered on this floor are one of the rewards. As much as a heavy responsibility is given, a reward must also follow, shouldn't it?"

"Are you trying to solve everything with the manuals of the Wudang Sect?"

"Hoho. Don't look at it so unfavorably. If there is an outstanding martial art, shouldn't we share and learn it from each other? If we just let it rot like this, the manual might really rot and fall apart. Sometimes, we have to air it out like this. So is there no martial art that you like?"

"Of course there is."

In fact, wasn't the biggest reason Namgung Hui had visited the Wudang Sect to read the martial arts manuals?

He had already obtained the right to read them from the Wudang Sect by performing a great feat as Namgung Jayeon.

On top of that, he had faithfully followed the Sect Leader's instructions, so there would be no problem in reading at least two more books.

"First of all, I want to see the Ten Section Brocade."

"It's in front of you, so find it and look. Our disciples are also familiar with it to that extent, so even if you perform it, they won't say much. To be honest, I'd like you to perform a feat with the Ten Section Brocade. So that our disciples will also know the greatness of the Ten Section Brocade."

Namgung Hui also nodded his head at the Sect Leader's words.

Because even Namgung Hui, who was from a fist user background, felt sorry for the low evaluation of the Ten Section Brocade.

Namgung Hui carefully picked up the Ten Section Brocade manual that he had been eyeing.

A manual full of handprints.

As much as those traces, it also looked as if it had been neglected for a long time.

Should he say that it tragically showed the appearance of the Ten Section Brocade, which was being ignored these days?

Since Namgung Hui was also walking the path of a swordsman rather than a fist user, he had no choice but to smile bitterly.

‘Still, for now, I'll read it from the perspective of a fist user.’

It wasn't that Namgung Hui had completely abandoned the path of a fist user.

Hadn't the utility of fist and palm techniques been revived while learning the Dividing Thunder Flashing Shadow recently?

Moreover, since there were many cases where he had to let go of his weapon during battle, including the Art of Controlling the Sword with Ki, the importance of fist and palm techniques had risen again.

The incantation of the Ten Section Brocade was indeed profound.

As its name suggests, it was composed of ten stances, and not only did each of these stances have a strong characteristic, but their forms were also all different.

If some stances had a gentle nature, befitting the Wudang Sect, some stances had a strong and fierce nature, unbecoming of the Wudang Sect.

And more than anything, the peculiarity of this Ten Section Brocade was that it focused on linking all ten stances into one.

This was called the One-Stroke Pure Brocade, and it referred to linking the ten stances into one stance.

‘If this becomes a realm that is actually possible, it will be difficult to block.’

Should he say that it's impossible to deal with even if you know it?

The protective Ki would also become useless.

And whether one's external skills were outstanding or one's internal energy was outstanding, it would break through them all and penetrate inside.

In a way, it felt like looking at a master key.

And the threshold for entry was also high.

And even if one were to enter, it seemed it would be difficult to reach the realm of the One-Stroke Pure Brocade.

It was a natural thing.

Because linking ten stances into one stance was that difficult.

‘But this incantation is not unfamiliar.’

Hadn't there been a manual he had obtained from the Imperial Palace's secret repository a while ago?

A martial art that had brought him disappointment, not a martial art that had made his heart pound like the Great Hand Seal.

[Three Talents Sword Art]

Although it was a third-rate martial art that could be easily obtained in the marketplace, what Namgung Hui had obtained was the True Three Talents Sword Art, which was presumed to have been created by Zhang Sanfeng.

Perhaps if this Ten Section Brocade was also created by Zhang Sanfeng, it made sense that their principles were similar.

Because what the Three Talents Sword Art pursued was also extreme simplicity, and the context of this Ten Section Brocade was also the same.

And so, Namgung Hui fell into a state of samadhi and indulged in the Ten Section Brocade, not knowing the passage of time.

The incantation was stuck in his head, and he even implemented its principles and how to use it in actual combat in his mental world.

The result of creating a virtual clone and even having a match.

‘Indeed...! The Ten Section Brocade is truly legendary.’

First of all, its utility was endless.

That was because it was intertwined with the various forms that the Ten Section Brocade possessed.

And it was even flexible enough to be applied to sword arts.

Hadn't the Three Talents Sword Art also had a character that could be incorporated into all sword arts?

It was a moment where he clearly realized that the principle that Zhang Sanfeng pursued was 'harmony'.

"Seeing your expression, it seems you've gained some enlightenment. Congratulations."

"Thanks to you, I've received good teachings."

"Teachings. You've learned it yourself. And rather than saying it's thanks to me, you should say it's thanks to the founder. Then, if there's another manual you want, feel free to look. I think I can give you about two more books."

"Is that really alright? Then I'll be learning a whopping three martial arts of the Wudang Sect."

"Heul, heul. Instead, you'll have to use the words 'lay disciple of the Wudang Sect' wherever you go in the future. Well, since it won't be a losing business, isn't that alright?"

This was a deal that was not bad for both Namgung Hui and the Wudang Sect.

As Namgung Hui's fame grew day by day, the influence and status he possessed would not be able to be ignored.

Moreover, Namgung Hui was very young.

If Namgung Hui were to become a famous master of the martial world in the future, the influence he would have would be truly immense.

"Do you know the fact that I'm called a lay disciple of the Hao Faction outside?"

"You haven't even studied it properly. And who would believe that you're a lay disciple of the Hao Faction? It's just a hollow title that doesn't even exist."

"That's true, but I wonder if the disciples of the Wudang Sect will look at it favorably."

"You don't have to worry about that much. As for those guys, if their skills are outstanding, they'll say it's fine to accept anyone as a disciple."

Skill-based supremacy.

The reason the Wudang Sect had risen to become the number one sword sect in the world was because there had been that much thorough competition.

And hadn't the main public opinion been that even the one who had been selected as the direct disciple should be pushed aside by skill?

Although it was something that would never have happened in other sects, in the Wudang Sect, where skill was everything, even this had become a possible thing.

‘In the past, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was also like this. That place was an even more extreme law of the jungle.’

It was like looking at an ecosystem where the winner took all.

That was similar to the physiology of the Tianshan Mountains, where the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was located.

Since it was a barren environment, any living creature could not survive if it were weak.

That's why the land creatures each had a poison, and it was thought that it was the same for humans.

Perhaps the reason the leaders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had become cruel was not because of the demonic arts they had learned, but because of the surrounding environment.

Perhaps because the people of the Central Plains, who had grown up in a prosperous environment, would have more leisure.

And the people of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, who had grown up in that barren wilderness, would have no choice but to become more harsh.

"Alright. In the future, I will strive not to show a lacking appearance as a lay disciple of the Wudang Sect."

"Alright. That kind of mindset is enough. Then what will you choose for the remaining martial arts?"

Namgung Hui hesitated for a moment.

Whether to pretend not to have learned the Two Principles Heart Art and choose two more martial arts.

But the hesitation was not long.

Since the situation was not favorable to perform the Two Principles Heart Art while watching for others' reactions, he immediately picked up the Two Principles Heart Art.

"That's unexpected. To think you would choose the Two Principles Heart Art that you've already learned."

"..."

Namgung Hui was so surprised at the Sect Leader's sharp remark that he couldn't even react.

He hadn't even shown the 'yang' of the Two Principles Heart Art in front of him.

How on earth did he know?

"Seeing your reaction, it seems you didn't secretly learn it when the manual was leaked. Ahem! I'm sorry for doubting you."

Was it just a test?

Since the Sect Leader was so unpredictable, his intentions were highly suspicious.

Whatever the case, he had to at least pretend to read it as if he were learning the Two Principles Heart Art.

But even though the incantation of the Two Principles Heart Art was clearly in his head.

The incantation of the Two Principles Heart Art that he was reading again felt somewhat different.

‘Is it because of the Ten Section Brocade? There are parts that are organically intertwined.’

If the common point of the Three Talents Sword Art and the Ten Section Brocade was simplicity.

The common point of the Ten Section Brocade and the Two Principles Heart Art was inclusiveness.

The Ten Section Brocade that contained all forms.

It expressed it by linking it in one stroke.

And the Two Principles Heart Art also had an inclusiveness that allowed any martial art to be performed simultaneously.

His understanding of the Two Principles Heart Art that he had already learned deepened even more.

It seemed that when he performed two martial arts at the same time, rather than when he performed one, he could increase the power of the stance.

Interaction and synergy.

Hadn't Namgung Hui also exploded two kinds of energy at the same time with the principle of Taiji before?

The martial art that was displayed at that time had boasted a much more outstanding power than when it was performed individually.

‘Sometimes, when you pour water on a blazing fire, it explodes. That would also be a kind of synergy.’

That was an experience that Namgung Hui, who had exchanged blows with Sosu Mahu, had felt directly with his skin.

If he were to mix this with the principle of Taiji and make it explode, it seemed a terrifying martial art would be born.

‘I can try making this later after discussing it with Seolhwa. Since I promised to give her the Ten Section Brocade, it would be fine for me to ask for a few phrases of the ice art.’

Although he didn't know how much of the ice art she remembered, he thought she would at least know a few phrases that could be mixed with the Purple Divine Art.

Well, if she didn't know, Sosu Mahu's Demon Art would also be fine.

"Since you seem to have memorized the Two Principles Heart Art, choose the last martial art."

Namgung Hui nodded his head and then glanced through the martial arts for his last chance.

Taiji Fist.

Cloud-Treading Steps.

Flowing Cloud Lightness Skill.

Nine Palaces Sword Formation.

Wudang Cotton Palm.

Profound Heaven Sword Art.

... ...

Each and every one was a legendary divine art.

But since the martial arts that Namgung Hui had learned were what they were, it was also true that he was not very keen on them.

And so, when he thought he had looked through all the martial arts, there was a manual that caught Namgung Hui's eye.

‘Nine Yang Divine Art?’

(End of Chapter)