Almighty God of War - Chapter 115

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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115

 

 

Akasha’s voice echoed in his mind.

[The first task, ‘Harmony,’ seems to have achieved some success. Shall we move on to the second priority task?]

‘Yes.’

The second task was the improvement of the Gale Chain Palm.

In Guyang Cheongang’s mental world, the thirty-six forms of the Gale Chain Palm found in the Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Diagram rose like thirty-six shining meteors.

However, now that he had grasped the essence of martial arts, the distinction between forms no longer held meaning for him.

‘Akasha, the forms of the Gale Chain Palm are too complex and wasteful. I want to compress all of this into just two forms. Two perfect forms that push speed and mass to their absolute limits.’

He set the direction for martial arts improvement.

‘The supreme technique that stakes everything on speed will be called Gale Flash Hand, and the supreme technique that overlaps destructive mass nine times will be called Gale Nine Calamities Hand.’

[Understood. I will reconstruct the Gale Chain Palm in the direction you’ve suggested, Doctor.]

With Akasha’s response, the thirty-six meteors flowing along the Milky Way’s orbit began merging into one massive vortex of light.

First, only the concept of speed was extracted from that vortex of light.

The light condensed to a single point, then transformed into a blue flash that tore through space.

Where the flash passed, everything was silent as if it had been annihilated.

As if cause and effect were reversed, traces of destruction appeared first followed by sound—a speed that defied causality.

It was the moment the Gale Flash Hand was completed.

Next, the concept of mass revealed itself from the vortex.

Nine palm shadows began overlapping in front of Guyang Cheongang’s form in his mental world.

Each time one overlapped, space sank heavily, and when all nine palm shadows perfectly merged into one, the entire mental world seemed to scream as if unable to bear the weight.

Destructive power that crushed everything with mere existence, not even being unleashed yet. This was the Gale Nine Calamities Hand.

The martial arts improvement continued.

The destructive power of the Explosive Thunder Flame King Hammer was enhanced.

Following that, he wove together the Nine Palace Maze Step, Flash Step, and Heavenly Meteor Movement Technique into one.

Guyang Cheongang named this new light body technique the Phantom Shadowless Divine Method.

In his mental world, his movements that repeatedly disappeared and appeared like a ghost showed an otherworldly strangeness on a completely different level than before.

It became possible to suddenly turn at right angles during straight-line movement, or even perform actions that seemed to stop mid-air.

‘This is really amazing. It’s like ignoring the laws of physics.’

[This is a world where internal energy exists. To suddenly mention the laws of physics now is a bit…]

‘Can’t you just play along appropriately?’

[You shouldn’t expect too much from a young girl. I’m only one year old now.]

‘Ah! Right. You were a baby. I was wrong. Hehe.’

[…]

The Dragon Subduing Golden Binding Technique combined with the Phantom Shadowless method became a spider web that, once caught, could never be escaped.

Now only the improvement of the Star Array Great Sword Style remained.

The twenty-four forms of swordsmanship obtained from the Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Diagram were certainly transcendent supreme techniques, but something was decisively lacking to satisfy his heart.

The overwhelming sword mark he had seen underground at Saam Peak on Daeyang Mountain Island flashed through his mind like lightning.

That transcendent realm that split heaven and earth with a single strike.

A single sword strike that contained all principles while surpassing all of them.

It was both reverence and a yearning he definitely wanted to reach someday.

Having glimpsed that absolute realm, the Star Array Great Sword Style, which was merely precise and powerful, felt like an incomplete sculpture.

Guyang Cheongang wanted to imbue his sword with the awe and yearning he had felt there.

In his mental world, the twenty-four forms of the Star Array Great Sword Style rose like twenty-four shining stars.

But now they were no longer the goal, merely materials for a new beginning.

Soon, memories of all the swords he had ever encountered unfolded like phantoms in his mental world.

From the cruel and practical sword paths of the Blood Sea assassins to the majestic flow of hundreds of sword techniques glimpsed in the Imperial Palace Secret Archive.

Thousands upon thousands of sword trajectories mixed together, seeming to form a river of chaos, then began merging into one massive river of light—the Milky Way.

In that magnificent flow, Guyang Cheongang saw the origin of the sword.

‘Ten thousand forms, thousands of variations… but all of it ultimately comes down to just two things. Cutting and thrusting. That’s all.’

According to his will, the massive river of light condensed and transformed into vertical light.

That flash cutting through space like a bolt of lightning was an absolute power that severed everything, even cutting through souls.

‘First Form, One Flash Severing Heaven.’

Then, the vertical flash scattered into the Milky Way before condensing again into a single point.

A destructive point of light that seemed to contain all the principles of the world.

The ultimate strike that could pierce even the heavens.

‘Second Form, Chaos Piercing Sun.’

But that wasn’t the end.

The point of light that had pierced the heavens scattered again into infinite fragments of light, forming a massive sphere of light that enveloped his entire mental world.

Thousands upon thousands of sword trajectories changed ceaselessly, creating a space of perfect defense while simultaneously emitting unpredictable flashes of counterattack from within those changes.

The ultimate defense and counterattack that blocked ten thousand calamities’ worth of attacks through extreme variation.

This was truly the realm of infinite variation.

‘Third Form, Ten Thousand Calamities Infinite Variation.’

Akasha’s voice echoed in his mind.

[The reconstruction of the Star Array Great Sword Style is complete. Theoretically, the power has been amplified by over 700% compared to the existing sword style. Haah…]

The amazing statement ending with a sigh left Guyang Cheongang bewildered.

‘Why the sigh?’

[I was too focused and seem to have made… a mistake.]

‘What do you mean?’

[With your current internal energy, Doctor, it’s impossible to perfectly execute the reconstructed sword technique.]

‘What? How much internal energy is needed?’

[F… four hundred years…]

‘Shi…t…’

Even Guyang Cheongang, who had lived a life far from profanity, found it hard to hold back this time.

Reading his aggrieved(?) atmosphere, Akasha changed the subject.

[Doctor, what would you like to name this sword technique?]

‘Absolute Three Swords?’

[Are you having a chuunibyou episode?]

‘You’re doing this because I called you a baby earlier, aren’t you? You’re surprisingly petty.’

[…]

Looking at the eastern window of the training room, the sky had already brightened considerably.

‘The sun is already rising. Did time pass this quickly?’

[In a state of complete immersion, your sense of time becomes dull.]

Just then, urgent footsteps could be heard from outside the training room.

“Young Master, something urgent has happened.”

It was Yeom Pung’s voice.

When Guyang Cheongang opened the door, Shangguan Wana and Yeom Pung stood there with faces hard as stone.

“What’s the matter, Hero Yeom?”

“A secret messenger has come from the Imperial Palace. There’s an imperial command for you to enter the palace immediately.”

Guyang Cheongang’s face hardened.

“Don’t you know what it’s about?”

Shangguan Wana answered with a troubled expression.

“There are rumors that the Second Prince escaped from Thunder Prison. I think it might be related to that.”

Guyang Cheongang’s complexion changed dramatically.

‘It seems the remnants of the undercurrent have made their move.’

He was annoyed since he was just getting excited about martial arts improvement, but refusing the Emperor’s command was impossible.

 

Munyeong Pavilion.

Emperor Changseong, sitting on the Dragon Throne, greeted Guyang Cheongang with a weary face.

Only Chief Eunuch Jang In Sang-on was attending to him as always.

“Sit.”

The Emperor pointed to the seat across from him.

As Guyang Cheongang took his seat, the Emperor slowly lifted his tea cup and took a sip.

That brief moment of silence made the air in the room heavy.

The Emperor let out a quiet sigh and opened his mouth.

“The Second Prince has escaped. In the process, all twelve Imperial Guards guarding Thunder Prison lost their lives.”

Guyang Cheongang’s expression hardened.

“Thunder Prison is the most heavily guarded place in the Imperial Palace – how could such a thing happen?”

“Dong Chang estimates there was a collaborator inside the Imperial Palace. Or more precisely, it means the undercurrent is still active.”

The Emperor looked straight into Guyang Cheongang’s eyes as he continued.

“While Dong Chang was investigating the incident, they caught one small clue. But that trail led outside the Imperial Palace. More precisely…”

The Emperor paused for a moment.

Guyang Cheongang, understanding the meaning behind that silence, asked in a heavy tone.

“It led to Murim, didn’t it?”

As he hit the core issue in one go, a look of admiration flashed in the Emperor’s eyes.

“Indeed, you’re an easy person to talk with.”

The Emperor leaned back in his chair as he continued.

“If we don’t root out those who insulted the Imperial Palace, our authority won’t stand. But the problem is that Murim is a realm beyond the government’s reach.”

How much Murim people dislike, even despise government interference is something even a child knows.

And the same was true for the government.

Bitterness seeped into the Emperor’s voice as he continued.

“Those martial artists, those lawless bastards, are subjects of the Empire yet think of themselves as beings living in a separate world. They believe Murim’s rules differ from the government’s laws, and that Murim’s territory transcends the Empire’s borders.”

That subtle difference created the long-standing custom of non-interference between government and Murim.

Naturally, the government didn’t officially recognize this. But implicitly, they did.

There were too many incidents in Murim that couldn’t be resolved by government power.

A slight furrow appeared between Guyang Cheongang’s brows.

‘What is this man trying to say with such a long preamble…’

The Emperor continued speaking.

“If my subjects continue tracking those bastards, they’ll inevitably catch the attention of Murim people, and great turmoil will surely arise.”

His gaze intensified.

“But you’re different, aren’t you?”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes deepened.

Finally, the main point had emerged.

He asked.

“…Do you want me to take on that task?”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t belong to the government.”

“But you’re a Murim person who simultaneously has a special relationship with the Imperial Palace. There’s no one more suitable than you to take on this task.”

‘Old man, why would I take that on!’

[…I wish you good luck, Doctor.]

The Emperor’s expression became serious.

“If you take on that task, even if Murim people find out, they won’t think of it as government pressure.”

“I understand His Majesty’s intention. However, I now plan to return to Nanchang to rebuild my family. I don’t have the time to spare for missions. So please find another suitable talent…”

Suddenly, a meaningful smile appeared on the Emperor’s lips.

“Rebuilding the Guyang Family, you say? From what I’ve learned, your family hasn’t been able to escape from the shadow of your maternal family, Golden Tower Manor. Is that correct?”

Guyang Cheongang’s face hardened.

‘He’s investigated everything… This could be troublesome if I get caught in his trap…’

Of course, different words came from his mouth than his thoughts.

“…That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

“The biggest obstacle to rebuilding the family would be funding, wouldn’t it?”

“I’ve already prepared a solution for that.”

Though Guyang Cheongang answered carefully, the Emperor didn’t seem to be listening attentively.

“Of course that might be true. But if I help you, couldn’t you drastically shorten the time needed for rebuilding?”

These were the words of the Emperor who ruled the Empire.

It couldn’t be ordinary help.

Guyang Cheongang swallowed nervously and asked.

“What kind of help are you referring to…?”

The Emperor smiled broadly and said.

“Have the Guyang Family sell anything. Type and quantity don’t matter. All government offices in Jiangsu Province will purchase them with priority.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes widened.

That was truly tremendous preferential treatment.

“Also, I’ll grant your family immunity privileges. Since it’s a family that made great contributions to fighting the plague, there’s sufficient justification. With these two things, even Golden Tower Manor won’t be able to look down on the Guyang Family easily. Don’t you think so?”

“That’s… correct. Your imperial grace is overwhelming, Your Majesty.”

Guyang Cheongang remained silent for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Before accepting the mission, there’s something I’d like Your Majesty’s promise on.”

The Emperor’s eyes lit up with interest.

“What is it?”

“First, please promise that once this matter ends, you won’t make any political interference with the Guyang Family.”

“That’s rather what I wanted to say, so I promise.”

“Second…”

Guyang Cheongang paused briefly before speaking firmly.

“If I discover the true identity of the undercurrent, I will decide how to handle it.”

This time the Emperor remained silent for a moment.

“…What do you mean?”

“As Your Majesty must also sense, there’s a high possibility that a massive force is hiding behind this incident.”

“Hmm…”

“The Imperial Palace’s methods, which must consider political factors, might actually hinder rooting out their foundation.”

The Emperor looked at Guyang Cheongang for a long time.

After a moment, he opened his mouth.

“Understood. I’ll leave it to your judgment.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor called for Eunuch Jangin.

“Sang On.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Arrange for appropriate support to be provided to the Guyang Family and Shangguan Wana’s business as well.”

“I will obey your command.”

The Emperor looked at Guyang Cheongang again and said.

“You’ll be able to receive information about the undercurrent that Dong Chang obtained before you leave Yeom Estate. And the Nine Dragons Divine Talisman I gave you is a precious treasure with the authority to punish anyone except direct members of the Imperial family, so it will be helpful. Since I’m entrusting this to you with trust, don’t disappoint me.”

“I will do my best, Your Majesty.”

Guyang Cheongang leaving the Emperor’s Bedchamber inwardly swallowed a sigh.

In the end, he’d been caught in the trap.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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