The atmosphere of celebration continued throughout the manor of the Tianxia Association's pavilion.
Red lanterns embroidered the night sky, and the sll of rich lamb and the scent of fine wine intertwined to create a lively mood.
"Congratulations, Great Hero. After the Dark Path of Guangxi Province, even the Tianxia Association has fallen within your plans at last."
Lee Rin, her cheeks flushed, offered her cup.
In her gaze shone unmistakable pride in Jaseong.
"Thank you, Lee Rin."
Jaseong lightly smiled and clinked his cup against hers.
At that, Gu Janghu also raised his cup and offered congratulations.
"With sothing of this scale, even the Green Forest's Seventy-two strongholds sor Changjiang's channel can't compare. Most importantly, all the money coming out of the pleasure district scattered throughout the Central Plains now belong to our branch leader... Now, the financial power of Hao Sect's Ansun branch can rival any sect in the Central Plains."
"And Hao Sect's upper managent has fully acknowledged that the Tianxia Association belongs to our Ansun branch. Heh."
Just as they said, Hao Sect's guardian general, Gal Seo-ryeong, had entrusted all authority of the Tianxia Association to Jaseong.
Originally, it had been a joint operation with three factions and the Ansun branch, but in the end, it was the Ansun branch that accomplished almost everything.
It was only fitting.
"With this, the largest Dark Path force in the Central Plains is within the branch leader's hand. Your revenge will proceed even faster now."
"That's right. This is only the beginning."
Jaseong drained his cup, silently vowing to himself.
The Murong Clan, hebei Peng Clan, Zhongnan Sect, and the Demonic Cult.
The faces of his enemies flickered in the surface of his cup.
The feast continued deep into the night.
Wine and at flowed without end, and the hearty laughter of the Dark Path filled the manor.
But Jaseong did not stay long in the revelry.
His focus was already elsewhere.
'The next martial art of the Heaven Evading Way.'
Jaseong silently slipped away from the gathering.
He went to a secluded main training yard behind the Tianxia Association's pavilion.
Sitting cross-legged in the center, Jaseong took out the translucent manual of the Heaven Evading Way from his robes.
*Chwararak!*
As the manual unfurled, a new chapter appeared before Jaseong's eyes.
'Last ti, I learned the ninth sword technique―the ultimate move. I wonder what astonishing martial art I'll learn this ti....'
But the mont he saw the new chapter, Jaseong's eyes widened involuntarily.
[Chapter Ten: Cultivation thod―Advanced-Rank]
"... Advanced-rank cultivation thod?"
Just the title was enough to make Jaseong's eyes go wide.
Up to now, the only cultivation thods he'd learned were the Heaven Evading Breathing Technique and Heaven Evading Soul Transformation Formula.
With those alone, Jaseong had reached the later peak realm and increased his internal energy for over a shijin.
Especially, the Heaven Evading Soul Transformation Formula was the core internal cultivation thod of Heaven Evading Way, which lengthened the duration of secret arts like the Celestial Gate Opening Art, and had the effect of purifying poisons and evil ki.
But now, there was an even higher-level cultivation thod.
What could it possibly be?
*Fwiiaa!*
As Jaseong opened the manual, suddenly, an unusual wind swept through the area.
'This is...'
It was a strange phenonon he'd already experienced multiple tis.
Like when the past executors of Heaven's Mandate had appeared.
Soon, as before, his crown of the head grew hot, and the Samadhi Eyes activated on their own.
*Suaaa—*
When Jaseong's consciousness entered the Samadhi State, the air split and a flood of light poured down.
Within that light, a figure gradually took shape.
'Who will it be this ti... Baek Cheon-gwang? Hong Gukyul? Could the Sword Demon show up again? Or perhaps the Immortal Physician, Dongfang Hwabin...'
Whoever it was, Jaseong was excited.
Each of them was a legendary expert whose nas echoed throughout the martial world.
But when the light cleared, an unexpected scene unfolded.
"ow—ng."
The being that appeared through the light spoke.
It was a cat with black fur and yellow eyes.
Jaseong had seen this cat before.
When he was choosing the fourth secret art, it was the Celestial Realm's spirit beast, the Night Cat Celestial Spirit, who had granted him three choices.
"I greet you, Spirit Beast Night Cat Celestial Spirit."
Jaseong bowed formally, and the Night Cat Celestial Spirit brushed its face with its forepaw and spoke.
"That's right. Your exploits have been well observed from the Celestial Realm."
"Thank you. But is it you, Night Cat Celestial Spirit, who will transmit the advanced cultivation thod of Heaven Evading Way?"
"You foolish thing. How could a spirit beast use human martial arts?"
The Night Cat Celestial Spirit licked its paw as it spoke.
Whether when they first t or now, its arrogance was unchanged.
"... Then why have you co here?"
"It seems so explanation is needed for the advanced cultivation thod you've been given, so the Sword Immortal sent ."
"Explanation...?"
The Night Cat Celestial Spirit suddenly wrinkled its brow.
"First of all, what you did was truly foolish. What were you thinking, awakening the Wicked Fla Sword as an executor of Heaven's Mandate?"
"... Why is that a problem?"
"Foolish and more foolish. Do you still not realize your current state?"
Despite the criticism, Jaseong remained puzzled.
He had thought that he just needed to recuperate after the recent battles, and with so rest, he'd be able to use his martial arts again.
"Tsksk. As you think, if you recuperate, you'll be able to use your martial arts as before. But the period of recuperation will be very long. At least several years."
"Several years of recuperation...?"
"That's right! You gave so much vital essence to the Wicked Fla Sword!"
At the Night Cat Celestial Spirit's thunderous statent, Jaseong's eyes twitched.
He had just created a rift in the martial world.
At this crucial ti, with the unorthodox and orthodox factions split and new powers erging.
To be forced to recuperate for several years now—
It would be impossible for him to expand his influence for revenge.
"On the subject of the Wicked Fla Sword, the fools of the world prattle on about it being one of the Eight Great Treasures, but it is not a treasure of this world. It is a demon artifact born in the Celestial Realm."
"... The Wicked Fla Sword was made in the Celestial Realm?"
"That's right. The immortals of the Celestial Realm extend their lives through a special form of training, becoming immortal existences."
"......"
"And the Wicked Fla Sword is a divine artefact created by immortals with vast lifespans, to convert their life force into power."
"... Why is such an object in the human world?"
"Because of the sword's curse."
"A curse?"
"Up until now, every owner of the Wicked Fla Sword, immortal or human, ca to a bad end. In the Celestial Realm, the sword is called a cursed blade and a source of calamity."
"... So it was abandoned in the mortal world."
"Exactly. You're lucky to have survived after using the Wicked Fla Sword so much, but who knows how long your luck will hold. Most previous owners t untily deaths."
The Night Cat Celestial Spirit's warning was sharp as a blade.
But honestly, Jaseong didn't care.
He didn't believe in curses.
Whether the Wicked Fla Sword was cursed or not, so long as it provided strength when he lacked it, that was enough.
The only regret was that he now had to recuperate for years.
As said before, the martial world was changing its power structure, sparked by him.
'If I just lie low and recuperate, the other factions will devour .'
Jaseong pondered seriously.
Then, a thod to regain his lost vital essence and lifespan ca to mind.
'The badge of the Eternal Divine Physician, given by the Murim Alliance Leader... It's ti to use it.'
That was the token given to him by Namgung Cheon-rui, leader of the Murim Alliance, as a reward for eradicating the Demonic Cult when Jaseong had visited the Murim Alliance with Lee Rin to et the North Sea Ice Palace Mistress, Lee Seol-hwa.
Of course, Namgung Cheon-rui couldn't be fully trusted.
His na was on the Celestial Realm's Kill List, and he was a hypocrite hiding greed behind a kind face.
'Whether this is the right path or not... for now, it's the only way to restore my vital essence...'
Then, the Night Cat Celestial Spirit spoke unexpectedly.
"In any case, because of the vital essence you've lost, the Sword Immortal sent this advanced cultivation thod to you."
"?"
"The advanced cultivation thod you are to learn this ti will not only let you rapidly build up internal energy, but also build up innate true ki—that is, vital essence."
Jaseong's eyes widened even further.
"A cultivation thod to restore vital essence...?"
"More precisely, a thod to cultivate innate true ki in the middle dantian. Originally, immortals of the Celestial Realm use it to extend their lifespan, but because you lost so much vital essence to the Wicked Fla Sword, the Sword Immortal has bestowed it especially."
... A thod created by immortals of the Celestial Realm to increase longevity.
Truly a fearso and advanced cultivation thod.
"Of course, using this thod in the mortal world, you won't be able to restore vital essence as quickly as in the Celestial Realm."
"What do you an?"
"This world is not brimming with external ki like the Celestial Realm. No matter how well you master this thod, vital essence and innate true ki accumulate slowly here. The concentration of external ki is far too low."
It was a little disappointing.
"Well, don't be so discouraged. You just won't be able to accumulate innate true ki as quickly as in the Celestial Realm—here, this thod is still second to none through the ages. But,"
"?"
"Learning this thod is by no ans easy."
"Is it the manual's difficulty? But I mastered the Celestial Gate Opening Art, which none of the previous executors succeeded in."
Jaseong replied boldly.
At his words, the Night Cat Celestial Spirit's yellow eyes twisted.
"Arrogant brat. I'll admit, your martial talent is enough to astonish even the Celestial Realm. But this thod's difficulty is beyond your imagination. Even immortals approaching enlightennt use it!"
"Hm. I feel like I heard similar warnings when it ca to the Celestial Gate Opening Art..."
"It's not the sa at all! If you're careless, the flow of vital essence may reverse and send you into ki deviation! Why the Sword Immortal would grant such a thod, used only by immortals, to a re human is beyond ..."
The Night Cat Celestial Spirit clicked its tongue.
But just then—
*Zzzt!*
A thin bolt of lightning flashed, striking the Night Cat Celestial Spirit.
"Kyaaak!"
She shrieked and rolled across the ground.
Then, it prostrated itself, pressing itself face to the floor.
"F-forgive , Sword Immortal! This lowly spirit beast has overstepped!"
... So that's what the lightning was—the Sword Immortal's rebuke?
Watching the trembling Night Cat Celestial Spirit, Jaseong couldn't help a brief chuckle.
"I'm sorry, Sword Immortal! I'll complete the task you assigned and return at once!"
Only after apologizing at length did the dark clouds above part.
Lifting its head at last, the Night Cat Celestial Spirit glared at Jaseong, its yellow eyes even more distorted.
"Whew... I nearly provoked the Sword Immortal's wrath because of you."
"... And that's my fault why?"
"Tch! You never lose an argunt! At any rate, among all executors of Heaven's Mandate so far, not one has mastered this thod, so there is no transmission master to teach you. You'll have to study the manual and self-learn."
"That's fine by ."
"Are you serious? You could die of ki deviation while learning it!"
Jaseong genuinely didn't mind.
This wouldn't be the first ti.
Instead, he felt his resolve burning brighter.
He must master it—
This cultivation thod created by the immortals of the Celestial Realm on the path to immortality!
"You reckless fool. Then, since you've been warned enough, I'll give you the clue the Sword Immortal left."
"Clue...?"
The Night Cat Celestial Spirit drew a Taiji symbol in the air.
Golden lines intertwined, forming a mysterious pattern embodying the harmony of yin and yang.
Staring at those golden lines, Jaseong felt his chest swell with emotion.
He couldn't explain it, but there seed to be a vast enlightennt hidden within that pattern.
"To be honest, even I don't know what this clue ans. But the Sword Immortal said it would grant you enlightennt."
"......"
"And don't use Celestial Gate Opening Art for a while. If you use that powerful secret art with your body in its current state, you really will die."
Having to seal away the art that allowed him to defeat countless supre experts was a pity, but Jaseong silently nodded.
Right now, his realm was at the peak later stage.
He was more than strong enough, even without the Celestial Gate Opening Art.
"Oh, and the Sword Immortal had one more thing to say."
"?"
"The evils of the Celestial Realm are bestowing opportunities upon those in the mortal world, selling their lifespan into causality—faster than ever before."
The Night Cat Celestial Spirit's eyes grew chilly.
In that mont, Jaseong suddenly recalled the words of the Sword Demon.
—Right now, there are three Heavenly Demons in the Celestial Realm. The first, fourth, and seventh generation. They bestow opportunities upon worthy candidates, sacrificing the longevity they've cultivated in the Celestial Realm.
—So, no matter how much protection we executors of Heaven's Mandate receive from the Sword Immortal, completing our mission is no easy task. What happens here in the mortal world is nothing less than a proxy war waged by enlightened immortals on this side of existence.
... Was that prophecy now coming to pass?
"Anyway, be careful. In your current state, if you encounter incarnations nurtured by the evils of the Celestial Realm, you'll fare poorly."
With that, the Night Cat Celestial Spirit was enveloped in light.
Swishing her tail, she disappeared, returning to the Celestial Realm.
"......"
After the Night Cat Celestial Spirit left, Jaseong fell into quiet thought.
The conversation they'd just shared was inevitably cause for much contemplation.
But no matter how much he pondered, there was no clear answer.
"Well, nothing will change by overthinking... For now, let's see just what kind of cultivation thod the immortals have handed down."
Once again, Jaseong looked at the translucent Heaven Evading Way manual.
There, it read:
[Heaven Evading Celestial Formula (天遁仙訣)]
As the Night Cat Celestial Spirit had warned, at a glance the text overflowed with martial arts of daunting difficulty.
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