Chapter 127

Qing then refocused on the exchange window.

For now, let’s just efficiently max out this to level six and hold off on the rest.

Once I’ve got my head straight later, I can gradually raise it to use like a purification spell, I thought.

Having wrapped up the 2000-point exchange, Qing summoned the next exchange window and grimaced.

“Why is it 3000 points…”

Shouldn’t it be 2500 after 2000?

Why does it jump to 3000?

I grumbled in frustration, but truthfully, considering my many experiences, it was common knowledge that such exchanges increasingly devoured resources over time.

This now meant instead of 500 points, exchanges were going to be done one at a time with 1000 points each.

The prospect of potentially being stuck at 1500 or 2000 was terrifying, and I couldn’t help but wonder how many I could actually exchange for 1000 points, which made me even more anxious.

If I had known it would be like this, I would’ve postponed the reverse time manipulation technique.

But regrets always come too late.

If the reverse time technique knew, it would impart a lesson of “What will you do about something I’ve already learned? The original flame has already settled in the dantian, so it’s not a minor victory.”

I thought I had two free martial arts skills left, but in reality, there was only one.

My expected income had also plummeted to less than half.

With a sigh, Qing closed the exchange window.

I figured I’d need to subtly ask my master later and make a decision.

After that, I called up the martial arts inventory to raise the reverse time manipulation skill to level six.

Qing stared intently at the martial arts inventory for a long time.

Then, focusing on one spot, the bar shot up and the number changed, finally reaching level twelve!

Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat. Great Success.

Apparently, when you hit Great Success, it was said you reached an invincible state below the elbow or something.

I can’t even wrap my head around the Supreme-level skills.

I’m going to need some more ways to counter Qi.

Plus, there’s my grandpa to help me with the performance test.

Above all, blocking Qi with just my bare hands?

Isn’t that just too cool?

Estimating the remaining training points, Qing maxed out a purple martial skill to level twelve.

Buddha’s Physical Body, Great Success.

When I think about it, no martial skill had been as helpful as Buddha’s Physical Body, no matter how bland its appeal.

Qing spread out new thoughts in his mind like a parasite burrowing in deep.

A fantastic scene of wielding Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat with one hand and Buddha’s Physical Body with the other.

If someone saw it, they’d rub their eyes and double-check, lamenting, “Even in broad daylight, can’t believe my eyes! What’s the use of sight if you can’t see things for what they are?!”

Besides, freely showcasing completely different martial skills with both hands was an astonishing feat in itself.

It was a skill only possible as a result of the techniques honed by unparalleled masters or through the development of upper level techniques.

However, Qing hadn’t trained martial arts through physical experience in the first place.

It was more like just pulling out some moves lodged in his brain, so who cared if the right hand or left hand was used?

Qing was truly milking it.

Or hey, should I at least learn a kick?

With one hand holding a sword and the other ripping something apart while throwing out some wind blasts or kicking when needed.

Qing considered it a great idea.

But when looking for a retreat skill in the martial arts inventory, there was no purple option at all—just a single gold option, the Sublime Projection, and barely a few with even a red border.

What’s this? Have the skills not been developed enough yet?

Had I jumped the gun?

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Qing got an answer from Choi Riyong, who clicked his tongue.

“The feet are, after all, the start of all martial skills. Whether you extend a spear or throw a punch, the feet go first, propelling the body’s power. Isn’t it true that almost all martial skills involve using the feet?”

“Ah. So, the Sublime Projection is…”

“Isn’t it a Shaolin skill? Those who base themselves on external techniques, at least crafted a few foot techniques.”

“Oh, Shaolin.”

“Though if you’re a woman, it wouldn’t hurt to learn at least one. The female physique is inherently more suited for foot techniques, and using it deftly can prove troublesome for your opponent. If you ask your master, I’m sure they’ll teach you at least one.”

The term “Deft Girl’s Kick” refers not to a specific martial skill, but the foot technique women perform while wearing skirts.

Since they could hide the leg’s position beneath the skirt, its efficacy was doubled.

Some may see this as a sneaky trick, but who would dare criticize a woman for wearing a skirt?

If a man tried to enjoy the benefits of a Deft Girl’s Kick by wearing skirts, it wouldn’t cause any issues as long as he wasn’t trying to make a spectacle of it.

However, the act of fighting in a skirt was itself inconvenient and could easily hinder mobility, making it not particularly worth the training effort.

This explains why women warriors often favored wearing skirts with side slits.

And so, the riddle was fully solved.

The foot technique was garbage!

If the Shaolin monks had known, they’d have nodded sadly in agreement with the conclusion.

While one could argue that the Sublime Projection and the Virtuous Bodyflow were great techniques, the fact remained that it’d be better to learn other divine skills instead.

“Hmm, Grandpa, if I must learn one martial skill, what do you think I should focus on?”

“Well, from my perspective, I’d prefer you studied the Zaha Divine Skill.”

“Zaha Divine Skill?”

“You have that special ability to handle various energies, don’t you?”

“Oh? You knew?”

“Well, how could I not?”

Choi Riyong let out a snort.

Choi Riyong had dispersed the Demonic Arts and gained a precious divine skill, so in the end, it was a big win. But ultimately, he shattered all of his internal forces.

Nevertheless, Qing took it eagerly, thinking, since I handle multiple colored energies, there were ways to utilize them without them clashing.

However, he hadn’t seen the purple energy of the Master of Thunder Arts, which meant he needed to be mindful of how others might see it.

“Zaha Divine Skill and Master of Thunder Arts look nearly identical to the naked eye! So if I learn the Zaha Divine Skill, I could use it without anyone noticing, right?”

But Choi Riyong had made a misunderstanding.

Qing wasn’t avoiding using the Master of Thunder Arts; he just couldn’t use it.

The Master of Thunder Arts should naturally surge forth according to the master’s emotions, taking the form of lightning.

But in reality, he was too busy running away from the cheerful energy of the girl and couldn’t squeeze out any time to do anything else.

The demonic energies had set up an adorable scheme to cultivate their powers through automatic training to counter Hwanhee Jin-gi, but they crumbled under the weight of one Buddha and then collapsed completely under the second Buddha.

Regardless, Qing wasn’t particularly focused on the Master of Thunder Arts and wanted a different answer.

“What about Inner Strength Meditation Technique?”

“Well, if it’s swordsmanship, isn’t Taeguk’s Sword the best?”

“Wow. Taeguk!”

Zaha Divine Skill, Taeguk’s Sword.

Looking it over, both had elegant purple borders on their divine arts.

I realized I had neglected swordsmanship far too much.

The sword artistry that formed in Moon Lady’s technique wasn’t really Moon Lady’s sword style but rather Moon Lady’s saber style!

The Divine Maiden Sword Form had its thrilling essence but was blue.

Seomun Sulin preferred engraining the firmly structured sword artistry of the Moon Lady’s style over any fresh techniques and just diligently practiced dual dueling (which ended up being a nuclear bombardment).

In the end, I didn’t have a proper sword style at all.

Of course, by my standards, a proper martial art was one with a purple border; real divine skills recognized in the world.

Gold bordered techniques were what I considered slightly useful and wait—wasn’t there something I had registered with a gold border?

Why hadn’t I trained it?

Was there some side effect?

Qing seriously pondered but couldn’t recall anything conclusive and quickly made a decision.

The World’s Ten Greatest Martial Skills, Hundred-Eight Sura Sword.

Level six.

—-

Tang Nan-ah seemed to have realized that it was quite tough to sleep close to others.

After that, she hadn’t suggested sharing a bed, it seems.

Well then.

It’s a privilege only those with dull minds like mine can enjoy.

Attempting it recklessly could lead to a disastrous mess of sleep rotation.

After spending a few days in training, the day of the decisive battle finally dawned.

A gang burst in arrogantly through the Great Gate of the Tang Family from the morning.

Of course, they didn’t sneak in but confidently marched in, which had the elite warriors of the Sicheon Tang Family rushing out to face them.

In the center stood a hefty guy, looking just like Dong Zhuo reincarnated, who opened his mouth.

“Ha, you treasonous scum of the world. You dared to leave your lair, despite the Emperor’s orders that commanded you to remain hidden! Just how much blood from the common folk have you consumed to have such a heavy backside that you can’t even move? Tell me!”

Oh, starting off strong, aren’t we?

Qing recalled Tang Tu-juk’s advice.

Since they were coming to openly scrape for trouble, the first strike shouldn’t be theirs.

Then, Tang Tu-juk responded politely.

“Going out? Didn’t I hear you were supposed to come find us? So we must wait?”

“Tsk tsk. What kind of nonsense is that?”

Then, Door-sa clicked his tongue again.

“Even so, the treasonous lot’s attitude is utterly disrespectful. I explicitly commanded you all to show yourselves as criminals, but does this look like the demeanor of a criminal?”

If you were a criminal, you should be disheveled with unkempt hair and wearing a coarse garment, pressing your arms and knees to the ground.

Yet there they were, standing confidently on both feet—that’s what he meant.

But Tang Tu-juk remained utterly composed.

“What do you mean? Under the heavens, we have no crime, so it’s madness to label us criminals based on unfounded accusations. Isn’t it more a crime against the Emperor to call innocent persons criminals?”

“Ha. Your words flow like a river, don’t they? Fine then. Let’s see if you plotted a revolt or not. Hey, everyone! Go in and scratch out every last letter, don’t let a single word slip by!”

“Oh, that’s a bit inappropriate.”

Tang Tu-juk stopped Door-sa mid-sentence.

“What was that? Does that mean you admit to plotting a revolt? That’s proof there’s evidence within!”

“Not at all. The truth is, a mischievous stray cat wreaked havoc in the storeroom last night. It happened to run around with a pouch full of extreme poison and made the Tang Family a mess.”

It was such nonsense from the start.

If a storeroom had poison, it would be among the most dangerous on-site, and who would believe a cat got in there?

Plus, was this cat some indestructible, invincible monster that ran around with deadly poison?

Even if you kindly imagined such an invincible cat existed and raided the poison storeroom, that wasn’t how it would distribute poison over the vast Tang residence.

Door-sa was dumbfounded, totally baffled and flabbergasted, merely gaping like a fish.

At that, Qing was impressed.

Wow! Your Honor!

It’s all the work of a cat!

---