Chapter 32: Life (7)

Chapter 32: Life (7) On the day of the decisive battle, during the waiting time outside the Imperial City, I began to read a book carefully. "Hmm, but why did you ask for that?" Kim Young-hoon asked, looking puzzled as he saw me reading. The book I was reading had no title. It was a manuscript written by Kim Young-hoon. In the first regression, Kim Young-hoon, who became the best martial artist in the world and reached the Five Energies Converging to the Origin realm, created the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts in order to allow martial artists to escape from cultivators. The Record was further improved upon and evolved into the Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts by the second regression Kim Young-hoon. It was meant to give martial artists a lifeline against cultivators. The Record became Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts Scripture after the third regression Kim Young-hoon added 6 volumes regarding his insights fighting and escaping from cultivators. The fourth regression Kim Young-hoon integrated and simplified the six volumes into the Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts which paved the way for a new realm. The nameless book I was reading right now was the evolved version of the Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts, further advanced by this regressions Kim Young-hoon through endless battles against cultivators. If the Scripture and Secrets discussed transition from the Five Energies to the next realm, the nameless book detailed the extreme resentment () seen in the new realm Of course. I dont understand even when Im reading it. The complexity of this martial art system, evolved again from the Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts, was beyond my comprehension. Kim Young-hoon, noticing my struggle, clicked his tongue and said. You dont need to force yourself to understand. This is not a completed martial art. Not completed? "Mhmm, martial arts should be passed down. Even though I've become an unparalleled great master, I will die someday. But my martial arts live on as my legacy, proving my existence. Thus, the completion of a martial art is in its transmission," he explained, glancing at the book in my hand. "Its minimum entry requirement is Five Energies Converging to the Origin. Just as a first-rate cannot understand the world of the pinnacle and an early peak cannot understand the world of Three Flowers Gather at the Summit. Anyone below Five Energies cannot comprehend this martial art system. It's incomplete because it can't be properly transmitted." "Hmm, so it's complete but incomplete due to its extremely high entry barrier?" I summarized. "Right. This martial art needs to be adapted so that it can be understood even by those at the level of Three Flowers..." As I listened, I smiled slyly. "Is there a need for that? In my opinion, just give it to a warrior who can reach the Five Energies or someone with Kim Hyungs level of talent. Theres no need to simplify it for them." "Haha, Eun-hyun. Talent like mine in martial arts comes once in a thousand years. I assure you, my talent is almost implausibly high..." "Hmm, that is true." This is how I felt seeing him evolve his martial arts to a new realm every regression and faster each time. But don't worry, Kim Hyung. I'll pass down this martial art to you in the next regression" His martial arts will always be passed down without the need for simplification. Because I will always ensure its transmission "...Anyway, how about naming this martial art?" I suggested. "Hmm, a name," he pondered and then smiled. "Gazing at cultivators (), eventually surpassing the limits of martial arts (), and condensing these Secrets (). The creator of Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts () probably spent his life just observing cultivators, and that's how it ended. He could never surpass them. However, I have surpassed the Secrets of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts and discovered the possibility of surpassing cultivators. With my current level, I won't be inferior in a battle against late-stage Qi Building cultivators! If I ambush a Core Formation cultivator, I can inflict significant injuries..." He wrote characters in the air. The energy flowing from his fingertips beautifully illuminated the void. "Surpassing cultivators (), surpassing the martial arts framework () and recording () the achievements!" Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Martial Arts(). That was the name of the newly evolved martial arts record. 'Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Martial Arts...' Reminiscent of the combination of Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts and Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts. Seeing the name, I recalled the Young-hoons of the 1st and 2nd regressions. Their unfulfilled wishes were slowly being realized. With a slow smile, I put the fully read Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Martial Arts in my chest pocket. Having memorized the Record, I could pass it on again, even if I died today. "Lets go, Kim Hyung." "Yes, its about time." Today, the Imperial Family of Yanguo will change. Whoooosh! In the skies above Seokyung City, blue and red lights flashed. It signaled the end of the agreement between the Jin and Makli Clans. 'Now, we just need to enter.' Flash! Blue lights burst from the eastern, western, southern, and northern gates of Seokyung City. At the same time, red lights also burst from the southeast, southwest, northwest, and northeast directions. Lights from the Makli and Jin Clan cultivators intermingled above the city, casting their magical influence over Seokyung City. Rumble... A barrier conjured by the two cultivator clans enveloped the city. As it formed, ordinary pedestrians began to stagger and collapse. Anyone below the mid first-rate lost consciousness and fell on the streets, while late first-rate warriors barely resisted the barrier's influence with their weapons. But even they would succumb if they lost focus for even a moment. Now, only the masters who had entered the world of intent remained conscious inside Seokyung City. Even among them, those who had recently entered the Pinnacle Realm and couldn't constantly operate in the world of intent would soon faint. 'Terrifying.' The terror of cultivators wasn't just about individual strength. It was about their formations and mystical abilities! A formation powerful enough to seize a city in an instant, laid by just eight Qi Building cultivators. Even that was because the Jin and Makli Clan cultivators were mutually restraining each other. In reality, just four of them could have set up this formation. 'No wonder they treat ordinary people like insects. They wouldn't even acknowledge or listen to us.' But still... There is basic human decency.Updated from Being born human, asserting oneself as a human, there are obligations that come with it. I clenched my teeth, recalling the atrocities of the Makli Clan. 'As long as I can, I will stop you.' Swoosh! As soon as the barrier formed, I used my movement technique towards the Imperial City. Simultaneously, my disciples and Kim Young-hoons followers, who were lying in wait around Seokyung City, picked up their weapons and moved out. Additionally, over a hundred cultivators from the Jin Clan in red robes flew above us on their flying devices. Whirr! Inside the barrier of Seokyung City, a deep blue barrier spread around the Imperial Palace. The defensive barrier looked thick at first glance. Inside, cultivators from the Makli Clan in blue robes strengthened the formation and prepared their spells. Just then, Kim Young-hoon took flight. Boom, boom! He stepped on the air, rising, and stretched out his hand. "Everyone, prepare to enter!" His voice seemed to cover the entire Seokyung City. Kim Young-hoon, floating in the air, gently extended his palm. A round sphere of Gang Qi emerged from his hand. 'That is...' I observed the new realm he had achieved. The bright sphere split into three. Three Gang Qi spheres! But they split again around Kim Young-hoon, forming nine spheres. Nine Gang Spheres lined up behind him. Then, they arranged around him. Bang, bang, bang! The nine spheres struck the barrier over the Imperial Palace, creating nine holes. "Enter!!" Crash! The Jin Clan cultivators threw their talismans which stuck to the holes in the barrier, preventing its repair. The cultivators from the Makli Clan seemed surprised by the size of the openings created by Kim Young-hoons strike. Swoosh! I used Mountain Lords Soaring Flight, scaling the outer wall of the Imperial Palace and entering through the hole Kim Young-hoon had made. "A mortal has entered! Block..." Severing Vein Saber Method, Mountain Wind! Thud! My piercing strike, filled with Sword Gang, penetrated the shouting Makli cultivators mouth, creating a hole in his medulla. Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Ninth Move. Landscape Painting. Boom, boom, boom! Snap- How many people were sacrificed to create these Jiangshi? I gritted my teeth and gripped my sword. 'It should be about time now...' Thud! At that thought, my disciples jumped down from the outer wall below. "Any casualties?" "None at all." "Thank you. Have you cleaned up everything?" "We've only dealt with the Jiangshi; the remaining Makli cultivators are engaged in combat with the martial arts experts brought by Sir Kim and the Jin Clan cultivators." "Good, from now on, everyone will follow me. We will go to where the Emperor is." "Yes!" At my words, my disciples shouted excitedly. "First, we break through the Jiangshi horde. Since they're just to entangle us, there's no need to kill them all. Everyone, form a wedge!" Leading the way, my disciples lined up behind me in a triangular formation. "Let's break through!" "Yes!!!!!" Peak masters of this level, with their internal energy, is equivalent to a cavalry in terms of power and speed. Although fewer in number, their strength and speed are in no way inferior. I ran ahead, allowing my disciples to follow, infusing my sword with Sword Gang. Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Fourth Move. Flowing Ridge()!" As I called out the sword moves, just like we practiced during training, my disciples assumed their appropriate stances and connected their positions. While a standard formation typically unifies weapons, to peak masters who can read intent, such variability is not a flaw. Instead, they break through by compensating for each others weaknesses! Boom! Initially a straightforward stabbing technique, it transformed with the force of breakthrough, erupting like a clash of chariots, shattering the Jiangshi before us. Qi Mountain, Heart Heaven! I opened my meridians wide and pulled forth even more Sword Gang. Rumble! Leading from the front, I mowed down the Jiangshi, making my way through. The disciples on my flanks also infused energy into their weapons, shaking off and breaking through the Jiangshi. Hundreds of peak masters carved a path through the black ocean of Jiangshi. 'This is it!' As we tore through, the dividing wall of the Imperial Palace came into view. Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Mountain and Valley Transformation! Unleashing Sword Gang, I demolished the wall and altered the nearby landscape. I then positioned myself at the forefront and made my way through the collapsed wall. My disciples on the flanks quickly closed in from a wedge formation to a parallel 'I' formation. Following through the gap I created, my disciples streamed in like a tail. Entering through the wall, the Imperial Garden, Guhwawon, came into sight. 'Formations lie ahead.' Fortunately, they werent too strong, and I knew all the life gates of the formations. (Life gates in cultivation stories are basically the exit points in formations and arrays) "Everyone, follow exactly behind me!" Recalling the life gates spread around Guhwawon, I stepped through them, unraveling the formations as I went. My disciples followed precisely, and the Jiangshi, lacking this knowledge, aimlessly entered Guhwawon but couldnt penetrate the interior, just circling around. At the edge of Guhwawon, another wall appeared. Having already shaken off the Jiangshi, instead of hastily breaking the wall, I used Mountain Lords Soaring Flight to leap over it and landed on the other side. A quiet, small pavilion floated on a little lake, devoid of people. My disciples also streamed in behind me. "...Master, theres no one here..." Without a word, I raised my Sword Gang and launched it towards the pavilion. Boom! Simultaneously, my Sword Gang collided with an invisible barrier around the pavilion and dissipated. "This is the place! Kae-hwa, shoot the flare!" Before I finished speaking, a crackling sound came from behind and a flare shot up into the sky. Whoosh - Bang! A five-colored cloud exploded in the sky. Simultaneously, about five Jin Clan cultivators in red robes flew towards us on their flying devices. "The Emperor is here!" "Well done! We'll dismantle the formation!" The Jin Clan cultivators, still on their flying devices, took positions around the pavilion and cast their spells. Flash! A bright light burst, shattering the invisible wall, revealing the Emperor and the Palace Guards, previously hidden in the pavilion. Dozens of cultivators in blue robes from the Makli Clan were waiting in the pavilion. The face of Makli Jung twisted like a vengeful ghost. "Damn it! How did you find this place? Only the Palace Guards and the Shadow Guards know about the Glowing Scenery Pavilion!" Boom! As Makli Jung shouted, one of the Jin Clan cultivators who had dismantled the formation launched another flare. This time, a white smoke cloud. A signal that the Emperor has been confirmed to be found. At the same time. Boom! Dozens of Jin Clan cultivators who were pushing back the Makli Clan cultivators on the outer wall began flying towards us. The Jin Clan cultivators arriving at the lake quickly took up positions. As light burst forth, they formed a formation. "Heat!" Roar! A fireball the size of ten meters appeared in the sky. "Go!" Simultaneously, the fireball created by the Jin Clans formation plunged towards the pavilion. Rumble! Besides the illusion formation hiding its appearance, several other barrier formations, seemingly layered, enveloped the pavilion in a blue sphere. Hiss- However, the fireball evaporated all the water around the pavilion, wrapping the area in steam. Through the steam, wind and yin spells shot towards the Jin Clan cultivators in the sky. The Makli Clan cultivators inside the barrier started to move out. A Jin Clan cultivator cast a spell and shouted at me. "Hey, mortal! We'll handle the cultivators; you break through the Palace Guards! The barrier is weakened enough by the previous attack; you should be able to penetrate it with your Sword Gang!" "Understood!" I responded to the Jin Clan cultivator and dived into the now-dry lake towards the pavilion. As I neared the pavilion, Bang! A halberd thrust out from the shadow beneath the pavilion. Clang! I deflected the halberd and smiled at my opponent. "Leader of the Shadow Guard, Tiger Slaughtering Halberd, Kwak Il-guk. Long time no see." Translator notes: Regarding the part about 'Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Marital Arts' being a combination of the previous records is because Exceeding, Transcending, and Surpassing are all the same word in the raws, as I mentioned before in a previous translator note. So the direct translation of the new martial art would be 'Record of Surpassing Cultivation and Surpassing Martial Arts' or 'Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts', a combination of the words 'Transcending Cultivation' and 'Exceeding Martial Arts.' Of course, I translated it as Surpassing Cultivation and Martial Arts to make it easier to differentiate and it's shorter to type. On that note, I rant: This bastard Kim Young-hoon cant name for his life. Of all 5 (and even more books later on), theyre all a pain in the ass to type and I can barely remember their names in the Korean raws. They're all 'wol' this and 'wol' that. I have to use the fricken wiki to make sure I get them right *** Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried Link to donations in the discord!