Chapter 20
Training (3)
Lee Seha carefully observed Namgung Jun's condition.
His breathing was ragged.
His chest rose and fell heavily, and his limbs trembled intermittently.
The fact that he had endured such a lengthy spar with such a frail body was remarkable in itself.
His perseverance and concentration were astonishing.
No one his age could have displayed the same level of determination.
Lee Seha did not bother asking whether he was alright.
By now, he understood as a master.
He knew how unwavering his disciple's will was.
And he knew that this request had come only after serious contemplation.
'In that case, I can't refuse.'
The corners of Lee Seha's red lips lifted.
His disciple's enthusiasm was contagious.
"Alright. If you're my disciple, then of course you should experience this martial art."
His sword spun lightly.
The sword path changed erratically and unpredictably.
Had Namgung Jun not created the Thirteen Flashing Lightning Swords, this would have been the first sword art Lee Seha taught him.
Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art
The sword art paired with the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.
And Lee Seha's ultimate specialty.
CRACKLE!
When he had demonstrated the Cloud-Piercing Wall Stance, the lightning qi had drifted together like gathering clouds.
Now it sharpened into something far more dangerous.
The dense lightning gathered upon Lee Seha's blade erupted all at once.
Sword strikes shot toward twelve directions in an instant.
Even with his strength deliberately restrained, the speed and power were overwhelming.
The air itself seemed to split apart.
Faced with the merciless barrage, Namgung Jun did not retreat.
He twisted his hilt slightly and thrust forward head-on.
Thirteen Flashing Lightning Swords.
Eighth Form. Eight Layers.
Azure streaks erupted outward, piercing toward eight directions simultaneously.
Curved swift-sword strikes swept forward like diagonal brushstrokes.
The attacks intertwined perfectly and deflected every incoming sword strike.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Swift Sword against Swift Sword.
A storm of metallic impacts echoed without end.
Dozens of collisions blended together into a single continuous sound.
Only afterward did the shockwaves arrive.
Dust rose from the training ground like clouds.
Lee Seha had been impressive while using the Cloud-Piercing Wall Stance.
But the current Lee Seha, wielding the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art, felt several levels more formidable.
Pain shot through Namgung Jun's hands as though his palms might split apart.
Yet a faint smile appeared on his face.
'Excellent.'
He could not help but admire Lee Seha's sword.
Though his master was young, there were unquestionably things worth learning from him.
Things that could inspire him.
A high cultivation realm alone did not make someone a good teacher.
Compatibility between master and disciple mattered as well.
And in that regard, it would be difficult to find a better master than Lee Seha.
'Together with Master, I can become even stronger.'
Namgung Jun felt it clearly.
This life was different from his previous one.
Back then, he had no master.
Now he had Lee Seha.
And that presence would become the driving force that allowed him to surpass the Sword Emperor of his previous life far more quickly.
The influence worked both ways.
Lee Seha was changing as well.
By crossing swords with Namgung Jun, she too would grow stronger at an astonishing pace.
Perhaps one day she might even reach the level of the Sword Emperor from his previous life while still young.
'And then we'll point our swords at the Sun Moon Demonic Cult together.'
The two swords intertwined ceaselessly.
The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen watching nearby were unable to hide their amazement.
"To think he can exchange swords with the Hall Master like this."
"The Hall Master is matching his level, of course, but still..."
"He's truly a monster beyond reason."
The spectators became completely absorbed in the duel.
There was not a single movement worth missing.
Not from the Hall Master's sword.
Nor from the youngest disciple's.
Exquisite swordsmanship seemed to breathe naturally from every exchange.
If they could absorb even a fragment of these sword techniques as their own, it felt as though they would gain tremendous insight.
Several swordsmen had already sat down cross-legged and entered meditation.
***
'A supreme Swift Sword art.'
Using the principles of Infinite Step, Namgung Jun spun sharply to the left and narrowly evaded an incoming strike.
His eyes shone brightly.
'The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art. In the Martial Archive, it would undoubtedly be classified as a Four-Cloud-level supreme art at minimum.'
His Baihui Point burned hot.
Blue lightning flashed repeatedly through his mind.
'It's the same category of Swift Sword... yet fundamentally different.'
He was dissecting the sword paths of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art.
Reading them.
Understanding them.
And then incorporating them into the Thirteen Flashing Lightning Swords.
The entire process felt completely natural.
The first person to notice the change was Lee Seha.
At some point, the sword paths of the Thirteen Flashing Lightning Swords had begun to change.
The alterations were subtle.
Yet they were familiar.
They carried traces of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art itself.
The forms of the Thirteen Flashing Lightning Swords remained largely unchanged.
But hidden within the details of the sword paths were unmistakable hints of Lee Seha's art.
The lightning produced by Namgung Jun's sword became sharper and more dangerous.
'My disciple is terrifying.'
Lee Seha's smile deepened as she thrust her sword forward once more.
She still had not shown him the manual.
Before handing it over, she had wanted him to experience the technique directly.
Yet Namgung Jun had already begun integrating it into his own swordsmanship without ever seeing the text.
'Then again, he mastered the Cloud-Piercing Wall Stance just by crossing swords with me. Perhaps this shouldn't surprise me.'
The sight was both wondrous and heartwarming.
'If one day...'
As a Cloud member of the Azure Heaven Society, she fought against the Sun Moon Demonic Cult.
Death had always been close at hand.
Because of that, knowing she had a disciple capable of inheriting her martial path filled her with joy.
And all the more so because his sword and heart were both righteous.
'I'm truly glad I met Jun.'
Lee Seha's sword gradually accelerated.
One by one, even the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen observing the duel began losing track of the sword paths.
A streak of blue lightning pierced through the distance between them in an instant.
It sought to strike straight through Namgung Jun.
But he was not overwhelmed.
Because in this place, only Namgung Jun could fully perceive Lee Seha's Swift Sword.
At some point, his sword had already risen overhead.
Then it surged forward with explosive force.
A bolt of lightning descended vertically.
Namgung Jun's strike slammed directly into the incoming streak of thunder and crushed it head-on.
CLANG!
With a crisp metallic ring, the swords of master and disciple came to a halt.
Namgung Jun withdrew his blade first and offered a respectful salute.
"I learned a great deal."
"The Thirteen Flashing Lightning Swords have changed considerably."
"Thanks to you, Master."
Lee Seha was right.
The transformation of the Thirteen Flashing Lightning Swords was immense.
If the Sword Demon who had first witnessed the technique were to see it now, he would likely think it an entirely different sword art.
"And you've even learned the Cloud-Piercing Wall Stance. My disciple is incredible."
"Not at all. I merely imitated it. I still need to study the manual and learn it properly."
"Don't worry. I'll teach you thoroughly."
A smile appeared on Namgung Jun's face at Lee Seha's confident declaration.
"Yes, Master."
***
Cloud-Piercing Wall Stance
Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art
Namgung Jun had successfully incorporated two entirely new sword arts into himself.
His sword hilt felt hot in his grasp.
Afterward, he devoted himself to external body cultivation.
He ate hearty meals, steadily putting weight on his frame, then refined that newfound mass through rigorous training.
There was nothing particularly special about his external training.
He simply focused on the fundamentals.
It was the same way he had trained in his previous life.
The growth might be somewhat slower, but that could always be compensated for later.
After consuming the spiritual medicine received as a mission reward, his progress accelerated further.
With the right opportunity, he felt he could immediately break into the Peak Realm.
The external cultivation methods Lee Seha had studied and explained to him were also tremendously helpful.
Previously, Namgung Jun had only understood the basics of body cultivation.
Now he could pay attention to countless subtle details he had overlooked before.
During that period, he received additional advice from Gong Junam.
"Your situation isn't bad right now, but if you want to deepen and accelerate your external cultivation, visit the Iron Tower Hall."
"What kind of place is the Iron Tower Hall?"
"A gathering place for the largest brutes in the Society. Go there yourself and you'll understand."
**
After completing his daily training, Namgung Jun headed straight for the Iron Tower Hall.
"Hah!"
"HRAAAH!"
The atmosphere inside was completely different from that of the Heavenly Sword Hall.
Unlike the Heavenly Sword Hall, where countless swords lined the walls and disciples endlessly sparred with one another, the Iron Tower Hall seemed focused almost entirely on personal training.
Various iron training devices filled the area.
The disciples used them relentlessly.
Namgung Jun's attention naturally shifted toward their bodies.
'Every one of them possesses astonishing external cultivation.'
Whether due to some special training method unique to the Iron Tower Hall or not, their physiques were exceptional even by martial world standards.
'So this is why the Iron Tower Hall is considered one of the Three Pillars.'
Among the ten halls belonging to the Sword Fragrance Division, the three strongest were collectively known as the Three Pillars.
The Iron Tower Hall was one of them.
'It's slightly frustrating that the Heavenly Sword Hall isn't among them.'
Perhaps it was because both he and his master belonged there.
Although he had not been part of the Heavenly Sword Hall for very long, Namgung Jun already felt a strong sense of belonging.
Almost as though he had entered a new sect.
'The Three Pillars...'
Just as he found himself lost in thought, a massive shadow fell over him.
A giant even larger than the Iron Tower Hall disciples before him stood looking down at him.
"Namgung Jun! What brings you here?"
"You know who I am?"
"How could I not?"
The huge middle-aged man flexed both arms.
Namgung Jun was already famous.
He had drawn attention since the placement examinations.
And after his accomplishments during his first mission, everyone at Azure Heaven Society headquarters knew his name.
Even now, several Hall Masters still regretted failing to recruit him.
That was how much attention he attracted.
"More importantly, do you know who I am?"
Namgung Jun glanced at the four clouds embroidered on the man's sleeve and bowed.
"I greet the Iron Tower Hall Master."
"Kuhahaha! Good. At least you know me."
The giant laughed heartily.
"So, why are you here?"
"I was hoping to receive some guidance regarding external cultivation."
"Oh?"
The exclamation from the Iron Tower Hall Master, Dan Jungse, echoed throughout the hall.
At the same time, the disciples who had been training in the distance all stopped.
Their gazes immediately locked onto Namgung Jun.
The intensity of their attention was so great that even he turned his head in surprise.
'What is this?'
Dan Jungse's booming voice thundered through the hall.
"Many Cloud members have come here seeking advice about external cultivation."
His grin widened.
"But every single one of them gave up before reaching the end."
His eyes narrowed.
"I wonder what you'll do."
The Hall Master's gaze remained fixed on Namgung Jun.
A peerless genius born with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
He had heard endless stories about the boy's talent.
But Dan Jungse did not view him entirely favorably.
His natural gifts had allowed him to advance to his current level with unbelievable speed.
Such growth was absurd.
Which also meant he likely had not suffered many hardships.
The Hall Master questioned whether this genius could withstand the brutal training of the Iron Tower Hall.
Rather than encountering a wall of enlightenment, he might instead face an entirely different kind of obstacle.
For that reason, Dan Jungse had no intention of granting him access to their training immediately.
He would have to prove himself first.
"Hm."
Namgung Jun sensed that something unusual was happening.
Yet he did not retreat.
There was no such thing as strength gained easily.
The Iron Tower Hall's training would be no exception.
If it allowed him to become stronger with certainty, he was willing to endure something even harsher than what awaited him here.
No—
He had to.
This era of the martial world was clearly descending into chaos.
And the enemies he would face were powerful.
"I'll see it through to the end."
"Excellent choice!"
The moment Namgung Jun answered, the Iron Tower Hall disciples stopped their training entirely and began gathering around him.