Chapter 68

Qing pushed the True Energy through the blood vessels of his lower body.

His legs were in agony and weak because the energy couldn’t flow properly due to blockages.

However, the True Energy from the Moon Lady’s Heart Technique managed to seep through a little.

It felt like forcing air into a stuffy nose by blocking one side.

With excessive energy, a pain crept up from his Dantian.

But compared to the refreshing feeling in his lower body, it was bearable.

The Moon Lady’s Heart Technique was the revelation of the Nine Thousand Celestial Maidens who encompass the nine realms.

It represented an enlightenment that balanced both Yin and Yang, good and evil.

Any kind of “possible” that penetrated the meridians would gently dissolve the blocked energy flow.

Just as Qing was forcing open the blocked meridians, an old voice interrupted him.

“Hem-hmm. I am Master Godang.”

Qing naturally struggled against the elderly presence.

Had he seen the face, he might have confirmed the karma, but in the carriage, he couldn’t do that.

“Oh? Suddenly? I’m Seomun Qing.”

“I wish to bestow some teachings upon you, and thus you should rightfully serve me as your master.”

Why the sudden demand to take him on as a disciple?

“I already have a master.”

The old voice cut him off and began reciting a secret technique.

Even Master Godang had no choice.

If that pesky girl rejected him, he would have to plead to teach her.

So before she could refuse, he planned to pass on the techniques quickly and look good later.

Being a disciple of the Orthodox Sect’s lady, her temperament wouldn’t be too different from that of demons. Perhaps she might return to the Divine Sect and treat him as a master.

Even if not, he had some hopeful predictions that it might be better than the Divine Sect’s lackeys who want to devour their masters.

– “In the dark sun’s realm, when the black sun rises, there is no difference between day and night, I have seen…”

Ah, so he must be the Master of Dark Demon Arts.

Qing kept his mouth shut.

After loosely mentioning an inspiration derived from seeing the black sun during an eclipse, how it utilized the operation of blood and True Energy, the beginning and heart’s concept followed.

Most martial arts techniques were structured like this.

Then the Martial Arts Inventory sparkled and emitted light.

Upon opening it, there was a golden frame—

Huh? Just gold-colored?

Qing felt disappointed.

Requiring him to perfectly perform every single step before moving on was annoying.

He poured energy into the liberating training point and achieved a success.

At the same time, an unauthorized invasion began inside his brain.

This sensation, like something was gnawing and twisting inside his brain, was truly indescribable.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh…”

And then it made him feel really dirty.

Had it not been for this maddening experience, he might have been able to be somewhat friendly with Taichang.

However, after going through it, a feeling emerged that was anything but pleasant.

Some malevolence was shaking a person’s life in its grip.

Yet he also realized the indifference that whatever happened to him didn’t matter.

What was that? Some kind of god?

If it’s the kind of god that primitive lunatics believe in, like the Jade Emperor or Baby Buddha, wouldn’t those things be closer to the good side?

Wouldn’t they treat people better than this?

Or is this really a game?

Am I truly acting on my will?

Why are these things entangled with me wherever I go?

Damn it, Mucheondae.

I remember reading something about him.

Suddenly, a strategy I skimmed through struck me like an embarrassing recollection while lying on a bed.

The largest difficulty gap was with Mucheondae.

In easy mode, it said that Mucheondae had controlled the imperial family and dealt with all potential crisis forces, making him the top senior of the Orthodox Sect.

Getting Mucheondae’s legacy was easy enough that one could easily build a following with Sapa or Demonic tendencies in easy mode.

The moderate difficulty Mucheondae was someone spotted only during formal events, where he had strategically messed with the imperial family that made the crisis forces much stronger.

In hard mode, they pretended Mucheondae never existed, and the government had a firm grip on the martial world, with the levels of the warriors’ skills in tatters, leading to differences in the power and acquisition difficulty of high-level martial skills.

Qing had chosen easy mode for his first playthrough.

So, is that why the martial world is like this now?

What if it wasn’t? Would it have been different?

Then what is this world anyway?

Oh. Can’t have that. Bad thoughts. Must stop.

Qing’s body trembled.

Something was off.

He hadn’t felt this intense in a while?

Why? Why? Why?

Then a face came to mind.

Qing quickly recognized his own condition.

That bastard, Representative Ho.

It’s because of that jerk.

His face is like a cackling demon and his legs are crippled, and of course, after being scratched by Taichang, he’d be feeling bad.

Surprisingly, he was starting to calm down without being a mess!

But he was still angry!

His heart thudded, and his hands trembled.

When a person begins to hate someone, they become a wretched creature who’ll make even more reasons to hate later.

All the world’s injustices were directed at one person, so he might feel wronged.

This is why people need to maintain proper courtesy to be kind to each other.

Qing slammed his palm against the wall of the carriage.

It was a strike filled with an overwhelming force that had surpassed the peak levels, full of reckless intent.

With a single blow, his palm penetrated through the inner wall, the iron frame, and the outer wall, shyly revealing his hand outside the carriage.

Master Godang, who was reciting the technique for the third time, was taken aback at the sight.

The tip of his long fingers was completely black.

It was proof that he had properly entered the Master of Dark Demon Arts.

—-

About a week had passed.

Qing stumbled towards the dining table.

His right leg wobbled, while his left leg dragged limply behind him.

Ji Seung-ju admired the sight.

It was a marvelous spectacle every time.

How could someone who had been struck by the Reverse Bloodflow Technique walk on their own?

Of course, he might as well be crawling.

Rumor has it that the Supreme Being didn’t give him much leeway, and he just intended to leave him as a cripple.

One of the protections was nearly completed.

The Reverse Bloodflow Technique originated from the Blood Sect.

It was counted among the second most powerful of their golden techniques.

A mere peak-level warrior with supreme skill was able to endure it?

“Ugh, this is tough. I thought rehabilitation was all just whining. It’s a true human victory.”

Finally, Qing sat down, massaging his thighs and fidgeting.

Then he grabbed a pair of chopsticks and began swinging them rapidly.

Food must be eaten.

Why? Because food is right in front of me.

Ji Seung-ju scrutinized Qing, who was gobbling down the food voraciously.

If someone saw him, they’d think he had a vendetta against the food.

Yet Ji Seung-ju didn’t care about the food’s appearance but rather about Qing’s hand.

The entire length of his long fingers was completely black.

It signified that he had reached the third rank of the Master of Dark Demon Arts.

It had been just a week since he transmitted the technique.

Just a week, and already achieving the third rank?

Ji Seung-ju was only able to tread slightly into the second rank with a brilliantly crafty brain that earned respect from the Divine Sect members.

With his sharp mind, Qing mastering the Dark Demon Arts was an achievement incomparable within the martial world.

If it had been Inner Strength Meditation, he could understand reaching a high level right away due to its nature.

But the Master of Dark Demon Arts was centered on long-range techniques.

How could a swordsman, who usually wielded a sword, possibly develop long-range techniques?

Could it have been that he had hidden talents he had never been aware of?

There was one fact Ji Seung-ju was oblivious to; Qing was also learning the Buddha’s Physical Body and the Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat.

The Buddha’s Physical Body was the most refined technique among long-range styles, while the Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat was one of the roots of numerous demonic arts.

Thus, the nuances of operation and the techniques felt as natural as breathing; no wonder he could comprehend them without pouring unnecessary effort into training.

Before long, Qing finished off the plate and leaned back in his chair, calling out to Ji Seung-ju.

“Hey, kid.”

“What the hell? Kid?!”

“Speak away!”

Oops. That came out wrong.

Ji Seung-ju felt a pang of regret.

Why now?

Then Qing flashed a cute smile.

“You always keep your expression unchanged and act like it doesn’t bother you; but I guess you’re secretly concerned about your height?”

“I sometimes blurt out nonsense when I have a sickness.”

“Right. Kid, from what I see, it’s because you’re not eating well. You should eat more if you want to grow.”

Ji Seung-ju’s eyebrows twitched.

Not eating well? Whose fault is that?!

The table of the Central Plain spun around.

The dining table was designed to pass and serve food conveniently.

Whenever Qing wanted to eat something, he would turn the table entirely, taking all the food for himself.

Ji Seung-ju was constantly being interrupted from having his share.

“It’s nice that the Young Lady is so tall.”

That was meant to be a compliment.

Tall women aren’t popular in the Central Plain.

However, it had no effect on Qing whatsoever.

“Right. If our kid were a bit taller, I’d understand. Do you know how refreshing the air is up here? Sitting down, I feel like the air down here is so filthy I can’t breathe!”

“….”

“But when I sit down, our eye levels match, right? Where does this difference come from? Is it the thighs? Or is it the legs?”

“…damn it.”

“Damn it.”

For the first time, Ji Seung-ju felt a connection between his outer and inner selves.

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