Chapter 224: Chapter 224

Heavenly Realm

The day after I liberated the Masters of Shadowless Gate, I headed straight for the Wudang Sect. Since I had visited once before, I told the Sword Demon that we could use Golden Floating to get there quickly. He replied, clearly pleased,

“We can save time.”

“The reason for seeking out Minglong Master is, of course, for the Arched Sky Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword, right?”

“That, and I have something I wish to discuss with him.”

Swish!

With Floating, I arrived in front of the Wudang Mountain Gate. We were just a little further from where the Guardians would appear, but due to the early morning hour, the area felt eerily deserted. However, after walking for about twenty steps, I sensed something slowly beginning to react.

‘Gate Guardian.’

A considerable master detected our presence and was on high alert. It seemed the Sword Demon noticed first, as he began to mumble and sent a signal somewhere.

Hiss…

In the eerie morning mountain scene, a Taoist appeared. Unlike the Master Mugwang I had seen last time, this man was not one of the Eight Swords of Wudang. I could tell this because the power emanating from the Taoist before me was many times stronger than Mugwang.

Clearly, a Peak Expert!

His hair was white at the temples but mostly dark, giving him a calm presence. He glanced over at us and spoke,

“I am Master Hyunjong. It is an honor to meet the renowned Sword Demon of Shadowless Gate.”

Upon hearing this, the Sword Demon returned the gesture with a bow.

“I didn’t expect to encounter Master Hyunjong of the Wudang Sect here.”

Master Hyunjong!

I’d heard about him from Master Hyuncheon.

‘He’s said to be especially skilled among the Sages.’

The Hyun faction of the Wudang Sect was a current stronghold, serving in a council role. Though Master Hyuncheon had left to create his own Daoist sect to educate disciples, Master Hyunjong remained at Wudang Mountain, a key figure in the clan and influential among the martial artists of the world—though he didn’t step into the spotlight much.

The strengths of Master Hyunjong matched the evaluations given by Master Hyuncheon. His aura—it felt so solid, possibly developed from decades of mastering the pristine techniques of the Wudang Sect. In terms of martial skill, he could be classified as a Peak Expert on the verge of transcending!

Master Hyunjong continued slowly,

“I was taking a stroll towards the mountain gate in the early morning when this unexpected event occurred. What brings you to my sect, Master of Shadowless Gate?”

It seemed Master Hyunjong and the Sword Demon were previously acquainted. The Sword Demon replied nonchalantly,

“I’ve come to see Minglong Master.”

The brows of Master Hyunjong twitched.

“What? Are you talking about Master of the Wudang Sect?”

“Well, there’s only one remaining from the Ming faction in the current world of martial arts.”

“Leave now.”

Without waiting for an explanation, Master Hyunjong issued an order to dismiss us. His demeanor suggested he thought it was preposterous. He glared at us with a fierce aura and added,

“Master of the Wudang Sect is occupied with important matters and cannot entertain outsiders.”

“That matter concerns the restoration of the Arched Sky Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword, does it not?”

“……!!”

“I’ve come to discuss that very project.”

Before Master Hyunjong could protest in shock, the Master of Shadowless Gate smiled wickedly and continued,

“If you don’t quickly lead me to Minglong Master

, I might just reveal that secret throughout the martial world.”

“Ugh… How dare you threaten us at the main residence of the Wudang Sect!?”

“The truth is, Minglong Master and I are already familiar with one another. He is just an easy-going person; I’m sure he’ll understand me better.”

The Sword Demon skillfully toyed with Master Hyunjong, alternating between pressure and respite. As the Sword Demon spun his web of persuasive words, Master Hyunjong’s eyebrows knitted together in irritation. However, the fear of the secrets leaking into the martial world caused him to hesitate.

After a brief silence, Master Hyunjong glared at the Sword Demon and asked,

“Have you told anyone else?”

“Not at all. Do I look like the kind of person to do that?”

“… Very well. But if that claim is found to be false, you won’t leave here alive.”

“Don’t worry, just show me the way.”

“Wait here.”

Swish!

Suddenly, Master Hyunjong utilized an Elder’s Technique and disappeared right before our eyes. He probably went to inform another Wudang Sect Taoist or perhaps a master of the Sage faction. The Sword Demon nonchalantly perched on a nearby tree stump, chuckling softly.

“You must be sweating bullets.”

“Impressive.”

“One can easily converse with someone like Master Hyunjong.”

“……”

Considering that Masters of the Sage faction were usually Peak Experts and leaders in the Wudang Sect who frequented the martial world, such words shouldn’t be spoken lightly. Especially with someone of Master Hyunjong’s caliber, he could easily establish his own sect if he left the Wudang Sect. It made sense that the Sword Demon, a top master, could treat him casually.

About two meals later, Master Hyunjong returned, not alone but with a total of six masters accompanying him. He looked at us as if he meant to devour us.

“Follow me.”

“It seems you don’t trust me at all. I didn’t think you’d rush to bring Cheongilja with you.”

“……”

Indeed. Among the six Wudang Sect masters he brought back, five were Sages, and the other was Cheongilja, whom I had seen before. This Cheongilja, being the disciple of Cheongpungja, was undoubtedly a Peak Expert himself. The power of the Wudang Taoists gathered here was truly staggering.

Cheongilja, with his deep-set eyes, turned to the Sword Demon and said,

“I’ve heard you’re usually humble and polite, Master of Shadowless Gate, but when you show your resolution, you become the Sword Demon as per your title. Therefore, I must be cautious, and I hope we can avoid any major conflicts.”

“Do as you wish. After all, I’m beginning to suspect you are leading me into a trap.”

“Hmph…”

Cheongilja scoffed and turned away. He then took the lead, guiding us onward. As I followed, I thought,

‘What a spectacle!’

There can’t be many places in the martial world that have such a high density of masters. Peak Experts are hard to come by, after all. I suddenly pondered how many of the Wudang Sect’s strength this assembly represented, but I gave up my calculations as I couldn’t ascertain the powers of Minglong Master or the Cheong faction’s experts.

After about a meal’s passage, we reached a sizable peak.

“Wait here.”

Upon reaching the cliff’s midsection, Cheongilja climbed up to a cave without using his hands. His skill in lightness was remarkable.

Then, shortly after, something small soared out from the cave and glided swiftly toward us.

Tah!

Even after flying a distance of dozens of feet, the small figure landed with barely a sound. It was clearly Air Walking at an extraordinary level. The figure that appeared before us, dressed in Wudang Sect robes, looked at the Sword Demon blankly and said,

“Hey, kid, what are you plotting?”

To which the Sword Demon chuckled and replied,

“Plotting, you say? I need to discuss something important, so could you clear your folks out of here?”

Minglong Master nodded.

“I understand. You all step back.”

“Master of the Wudang Sect!!”

The Wudang masters of the Sage

faction were evidently flustered. It made sense; Minglong Master facing the top master of the Shadowless Gate alone seemed risky. Just as Minglong Master was about to throw a fit, Cheongilja, who had followed him down, interjected.

“I understand, Master. Be careful.”

“Right. I’ll contact Cheongpungja differently.”

“Yes.”

Swish!

Finally, with Cheongilja included, the Wudang masters vanished from the scene. Minglong Master, crossing his arms, said,

“You’re here for the Arched Sky Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword? Sword Demon, are you making a joke?”

“This isn’t a joke. You’ll understand once you see.”

Without giving Minglong Master a chance to retort, the Sword Demon drew his sword and slowly began demonstrating technique in the spacious area. His movements were surprisingly slow, almost as if an average person could follow along. It was hardly the legendary swordplay one would imagine; yet, beneath the surface lay the essences of the Arched Sky Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword.

Swishhhh

“……!!”

As the Sword Demon mixed in the fundamentals with his technique over about fifty seconds, the expression on Minglong Master’s face hardened. After the demonstration concluded, the Sword Demon inquired,

“Now, do you believe me?”

“How did you acquire that?”

“Thanks to Master Baek Ho over here.”

Minglong Master’s gaze shifted toward me before the Sword Demon continued explaining.

“Master Baek Ho obtained a legacy from a Wudang relic. The contents included Arched Sky Sword, Heavenly Contraction Sword, True Martial Seven Limitless Styles, Master’s Five Divine Bindings, Tai Chi’s Flowing Technique, Seven Stars Float, and Unique Supremacy. I was able to learn the helpful techniques of Arched Sky Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword thanks to him.”

“Hard to believe.”

“Go on and show him, Baek Ho.”

At the Sword Demon’s request, I nodded and jumped right into demonstrating the Wudang Sect’s techniques.

Bam bam bam!

Now that I had memorized it thoroughly, my proficiency in the techniques had significantly improved. I performed them quickly and flawlessly in succession. In less than a meal’s time, I had finished the demonstration, leaving Minglong Master dumbfounded.

“……”

For a long moment, Minglong Master remained stiff before finally finding his voice,

“Good lord! How did that Shadowless Gate manage to grasp such insights?!”

Suddenly furious, Minglong Master glared at the Sword Demon and shouted,

“You brat… What is your plan?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If you’d monopolized this technique and trained for just ten years, your martial prowess would have improved exponentially! Why come to tell me this?”

“An astute question.”

The Sword Demon chuckled bitterly and replied,

“Because this isn’t a time for us to be fighting each other.”

“Could it be…?”

“Indeed. The White Lotus Sect has already secretly decided to take over the martial world. And I, too, have nominally fallen under their banner.”

“……!!”

Master Minglong thought long and hard before exclaiming,

“So it is the Assembly of the Eight Demons. Was the Dharma Protector himself involved?”

“Yes. The very one known as Dokgo Jun has subdued me. The remaining Eight Demons have likely become puppets of the White Lotus Sect.”

“Damn it…”

As he spat venomous words, Minglong Master continued,

“You’re unwilling to stay under the White Lotus Sect, then. That’s why you want to share the Arched Sky Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword with me to develop our skills further.”

“Exactly.”

“Hahaha, you madman. Do you really think you can defeat a Dharma Protector with your own power?”

The incredulity in Minglong Master’s voice almost carried a hint of exhaustion. Yet, the Sword Demon merely nodded.

“I believe it’s highly probable that the insights obtained by Master Baek Ho were directly from Zhang Sanfeng. No one would dare believe that those insights fall short of the strongest teachings of the White Lotus Sect.”

“……”

Master Minglong seemed to ponder deeply. He then questioned,

“What was your impression of Dokgo Jun’s martial prowess?”

“Even if we both rushed him simultaneously, neither of us would even manage to cut off one of his arms.”

“Ah… It’s only natural for White Lotus Sect’s second-in-command.”

Despite the Sword Demon’s grave assessment, Minglong Master simply sighed. Seeing this, the Sword Demon raised an eyebrow.

“You already have knowledge of the martial capabilities of the Dharma Protectors?”

“I haven’t been oblivious to the power of those monsters…”

Minglong Master murmured.

“As you said, mastering this technique could have martial prowess equal to or surpassing the Dharma Protectors. However, you’re overlooking the most crucial issue.”

“The Heavenly Spirit Pill, right?”

Master Minglong nodded.

“If you cannot achieve a level that corresponds to the Heavenly Spirit Pill, no matter how profound the technique or mindset, you will always be at a disadvantage.”

“Does the Wudang Sect possess a level that corresponds to the Heavenly Spirit Pill?”

“If that were the case, I would have mastered it by now! Such a ridiculous level doesn’t exist, and if we were to define it, the only way would be to become a celestial being!”

“……”

Ridiculous levels.

The Sword Demon seemed to catch on to something from that remark and shut his mouth.

Master Minglong chuckled and added,

“It appears you’ve figured it out.”

“You’re among the oldest genuine representatives of the Nine Great Sects who have accomplished a feat that brought back harmony to the martial world. If you’re saying the Heavenly Spirit Pill is absurd, it means…”

Minglong Master nodded.

“Correct. The Heavenly Spirit Pill isn’t a martial level. It’s a state achieved through special rituals to borrow divine powers!”

Divine possession and divine power!

These were terms not to be discussed in the usual martial arts hierarchy. Such terminology clearly belonged to the leftist sects. That a prominent figure like Minglong Master would reference the Heavenly Spirit Pill meant it was undoubtedly a suspicious state. He continued,

“The reason I believe this is because each time the Dharma Protectors unleash their Heavenly Spirit Pill, I sense a surge of divine presence akin to divine possession.”

“Divine possession, you say?”

“I encountered the Wind Spirit and Fire SpiritDharma Protectors. The precognition I felt cannot be mistaken.”

The Sword Demon pondered deeply after hearing this from Minglong Master. He finally replied,

“I find it hard to grasp. Does this mean that the Dharma Protectors achieved their Heavenly Spirit Pill through the power of someone else?”

“Not precisely. I believe the Heavenly Spirit Pill is the state of connecting with power, rather than achieving it.”

“Connecting? With whom?”

“With the divine.”

The light in Minglong Master’s eyes grew sharper.

“The link between the White Lotus Sect, which venerates that enormous ‘something’, and the individual’s inner self must intertwine, granting them infinite power… That’s the only explanation for the Heavenly Spirit Pill. No ascended status of any sect can define it.”

“……”

“I believe it’s the power of the divine.”

The Heavenly Spirit Pill represents accessing divine power!

That was Minglong Master’s definition of the Heavenly Spirit Pill.