Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 385

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 385
“The path to reaching the Third Celestial Realm is never smooth.”
“…I’m prepared for that.”
Seol Woon-hwi, who had been observing Won Yang, spoke with firm resolve.
“Still, if you reach that pinnacle, an opportunity will arise to drive a blade through Namgung Won Yang’s throat.”
“That’s enough for me.”
Whether in the carriage that brought him to Gongneung or the one heading toward Geonkon Castle.
From the beginning, Seol Woon-hwi sensed something upon observing Namgung Won Yang’s physical condition.
The possibility of the Third Celestial Realm.
He wanted to confirm it with certainty.
So he continuously checked her meridians, circulated his energy through her, and conducted every examination possible.
Only then did Seol Woon-hwi gain absolute conviction.
Namgung Won Yang could ascend to the Third Celestial Realm.
Seol Woon-hwi withdrew a manual from the Sunset Platform and handed it to Won Yang.
It was an utterly unremarkable tome, bearing no title whatsoever.
The moment Won Yang received it and opened the first pages, her eyes widened.
“Master… what is this…?”
“The essence of the Third Celestial Realm.”
Seol Woon-hwi answered tersely.
“Given its sensitive nature, memorize everything within a single time period and burn it.”
“Understood, Master.”
* * *
The following morning.
The Martial Alliance’s vast Training Ground.
The Cheonmu Platform.
This venue, capable of accommodating thousands, was already filled to capacity.
Elders from each sect, masters of the Murim, and spectators alike.
Approximately three hundred Later Generation Prodigies had gathered in the center of the Training Ground.
All of them were young.
And all brimmed with confidence.
At the highest tier of the spectator stands.
Gun Mu-gyeol, the Martial Alliance Leader, was seated, with Seol Woon-hwi beside him.
Gun Mu-gyeol turned to Seol Woon-hwi at his side and asked.
“Isn’t it magnificent? So many Later Generation Prodigies gathered in one place.”
“I cannot deny it. Truly, this is the Martial Alliance.”
“…”
“Without the Martial Alliance, how could such a gathering of talent be assembled?”
“That’s… true.”
“Moreover, the Cheonmu Platform, which I had only heard rumors of, is indeed as magnificent as they say. To accommodate such a multitude, even the Jeokna Kingdom would covet it.”
Caught off guard by the sudden barrage of praise, Gun Mu-gyeol was visibly flustered.
Even Zhuge Yeong-hyeon, standing beside him, widened his eyes in astonishment—there was no need to say more.
Gun Mu-gyeol, clearing his throat awkwardly, continued speaking.
“…I suppose I’m tempted, but what can be done? This place is nothing short of a sacred ground for martial artists.”
“How fortunate. Truly, you are worthy of the title, Alliance Leader.”
“…Ahem.”
Seol Woon-hwi paid no mind to the reactions around him and gazed downward.
Seol Yeon-hwa came into view.
She too wore an expression of composure.
Gun Mu-gyeol slowly raised his hand.
The Training Ground fell silent.
“The Dragon Phoenix Gathering begins.”
Gun Mu-gyeol’s voice resonated throughout the entire Training Ground.
“The rules are simple. Draw lots and engage in sparring matches. Victory comes from subduing your opponent or extracting their surrender.”
“…”
“Continue until thirty-eight remain. Begin.”
A roar erupted.
The later generation prodigies began to move.
After drawing lots, they headed toward the sparring arena.
The exact number of later generation prodigies gathered here was three hundred and four.
To reduce that to thirty-eight, each person would need to spar three times.
Beyond managing one’s strength, crafting a brief strategy in such a short timeframe meant that identifying who your first opponent would be—understanding that—was paramount.
Soon, the first sparring match began.
Two martial artists clashed swords.
Clang—!!
Sword energy scattered.
But it did not last long.
One fell swiftly.
“The victor: Lee Mu-jin of the Qingfeng Sword Sect!”
Cheers erupted.
The second and third matches followed in succession.
Time passed.
Then it came.
“Next match! Seok Cheon-han of the Paedo Gate, Bang Mu-hyeok of the Heavenly Fire Sword Sect!”
The Training Ground stirred with tension.
The Young Sect Master of the Paedo Gate.
That name alone commanded attention.
Seok Cheon-han walked toward the center of the Training Ground.
A massive blade was strapped across his back.
An arrogant expression.
Eyes that looked down upon his opponent.
“The Young Sect Master of Paedo Gate, Seok Cheon-han.”
Gun Mu-gyeol muttered, and in that instant, Seol Woon-hwi’s eyes sharpened.
There had been a time when he’d mentioned it casually.
How Seol Yeon-hwa had died in his previous life.
And those directly responsible for that death—Seol Woon-hwi had hunted them all down and tortured them.
He ignored their pleas to be killed, healed them, healed them again, and tortured them once more.
Whenever he grew bored, he tortured them.
Whenever he had something to contemplate, he tortured them.
He even procured spirit medicine to feed them, ensuring they never became completely broken.
One of them was Seok Cheon-han.
And there are always signs in such matters. Now Seok Cheon-han was staring at Seol Yeon-hwa with a meaningful gaze.
His gleaming eyes held something distinctly peculiar.
“What do you make of it?”
To Gun Mu-gyeol’s question, Seol Woon-hwi answered briefly.
“Intriguing.”
“Intriguing, you say… Heh heh…”
Soon the sparring match began.
Seok Cheon-han drew his blade.
Kwaaang—!!
As the blade swept through the air, blood-red sword energy erupted forth.
Overlord Heaven Blood Blade.
A technique that cleaves the heavens.
Bang Mu-hyeok, his opponent, hastily raised his sword to block.
Clang—!!
The sword was sent flying.
“Ugh!”
Seok Cheon-han’s blade descended again toward Bang Mu-hyeok, who staggered backward.
Bang Mu-hyeok quickly planted his feet and spun his body, attempting to redirect the blade’s trajectory with a leg sweep.
Unfortunately, Seok Cheon-han ranked among the finest of the later generation prodigies. As a martial artist of the Five Energy Harmonizing Origin, there was nothing more to say.
Before Bang Mu-hyeok’s foot could even touch the blade, Seok Cheon-han tilted it slightly to the side, and the edge struck Bang Mu-hyeok’s temple.
Kwaaang—!!
Had it been a true blade, his head would have split in two.
Seok Cheon-han, looking down at Bang Mu-hyeok sprawled on the ground, raised his blade high into the sky.
“Victory goes to Seok Cheon-han of Paedo Gate!”
Cheers erupted.
But the highest tier of the spectator stands remained silent.
“The Overlord Heaven Blood Blade, then…”
Gun Mu-gyeol spoke, resting his chin on his hand.
“They say Paedo Gate made the Hebei Peng Family’s Overlord Blood Blade their own. What are your thoughts, Young Master Seol?”
Everyone present turned their gaze toward Seol Woon-hwi.
Seol Woon-hwi clicked his tongue inwardly before slowly opening his mouth.
“I have also heard the story that the Paedo Gate inherited the true transmission of the Hebei Peng Family.”
“It is a famous tale even in the Murim.”
“Yes. However, I see not even a shadow of the Hebei Peng Family in that martial art.”
“Hmm.”
Seol Woon-hwi continued quietly.
“The Hegemon Blood Path of the Hebei Peng Family drew upon the qi of both the Middle and Lower Dantians simultaneously, channeling them into the blade. It was a martial art that could only be wielded upon reaching the Five Energy Harmonizing Origin.”
The surrounding Elders held their breath.
“But the Tyrant Heaven Blood Path that Seok Cheon-han employs…”
Seol Woon-hwi paused before continuing slowly.
“It is a martial art that explosively draws upon only the Lower Dantian’s qi to create temporary power. The shell may appear similar, but the essence is entirely different.”
“Indeed.”
Gun Mu-gyeol nodded his head.
“Moreover, that martial art possesses a fatal flaw.”
“A flaw?”
“Each time the blade is swung, the connection with the Upper Dantian is severed.”
Gun Mu-gyeol’s expression grew serious at Seol Woon-hwi’s words.
“Severed, you say… Yes, that would certainly be the case. By wielding the blade with only the Lower Dantian’s qi, one becomes unable to read the Heaven and Earth Energy. One who has ascended the Four Stages of Heaven and Earth would not miss that opening.”
“Furthermore.”
Seol Woon-hwi added.
“With that method, five times is the limit. From the sixth use onward, the Lower Dantian cannot endure it and will suffer internal injury.”
“Hmm…”
“Should he attempt a seventh time, the Dantian would be destroyed.”
The surrounding Elders’ eyes widened.
They looked back at Seok Cheon-han.
‘To such an extent…?’
‘To perceive the very essence and limits of a martial art from witnessing it but once…?’
Gun Mu-gyeol chuckled softly.
“Indeed, you have a discerning eye, Young Master Seol.”
“Alliance Leader must have perceived it first.”
“Hehe…”
The two locked eyes.
On the surface, the atmosphere was warm, yet beneath lay a chill of mutual appraisal.
The sparring match continued.
“Next match! Chu Sect’s Chu Mu-geuk, Heavenly Thunder Sect’s Noe Mu-jin!”
The Training Ground stirred once more.
The Chu Sect.
One of the Five Great Families.
Chu Mu-geuk stepped into the Training Ground.
A long spear was held in his hand.
“The main lineage of the Tyrant King Spear Art.”
Gun Mu-gyeol murmured.
The sparring match began.
Chu Mu-geuk swung his spear.
Kwaaaang—!!
Thunder roared through the air.
The spear thrust forward as if to pierce the heavens themselves.
Heavenly Extreme Tyrant King Spear.
Noe Mu-jin unleashed his palm technique, but—
Thwack—!!
He was driven back by the spear’s force.
Chu Mu-geuk’s spear continued its relentless advance.
Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!
It was overwhelming.
“Argh!”
Noe Mu-jin fell.
“The victor—Chu Mu-geuk of the Chu Sect!”
Cheers erupted.
“The Heavenly Extreme Tyrant King Spear, then…”
Gun Mu-gyeol murmured.
“It’s a martial art of the Supreme Three Extremes.”
“You saw it?”
Seol Woon-hwi nodded and answered quietly.
“In the first extreme, he draws up the energy of the Jin Danjeon. In the second extreme, he accepts the Heaven and Earth energy. In the third extreme, he merges both and detonates them.”
Gun Mu-gyeol nodded.
“It’s the transition from Five Energy Harmonizing Origin to the Four Stages of Heaven and Earth woven into martial art. Befitting the martial learning of the Five Great Families—exquisite.”
“But there is a flaw.”
Gun Mu-gyeol chuckled softly.
“Vulnerabilities are exposed before reaching the third extreme.”
“Yes. Between the first and second extremes, in that fleeting instant, the flow of energy breaks.”
Seol Woon-hwi continued.
“His opponent was simply insufficient, so he missed the opening. Against a martial artist of equal standing, it would have been read.”
The Chu Sect was one of the Five Great Families, yet this was their first participation in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
Perhaps that was why they were nervous.
Or perhaps they wished to display a higher level of martial learning.
No matter how I looked at it, it resembled a child proudly displaying clothes that didn’t fit their frame.
At least, that was how these two perceived it.
Gun Mu-gyeol rested his chin on his hand.
“Moreover, Supreme martial arts consume internal energy at an extreme rate the higher one ascends. If he uses the third extreme more than three times, his Danjeon won’t endure until he reaches the Harmony Realm.”
“I agree. However, the moment that spear technique is perfected—when Chu Mu-geuk can wield the third extreme with complete freedom—at his current realm, he will have no equal.”
Seol Woon-hwi stated it with absolute certainty.
Their eyes met across the distance.
The Elders around them held their very breath.
‘Supreme Threefold Extremity….’
‘He perceived such a technique after displaying it only once…?’
It was beyond comprehension.
So Cheon Ui Jung-jeong had not founded the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance under that name without reason.
How could he possibly engage in discourse about Gun Mu-gyeol and martial learning with such ease?
The surrounding Elders could not close their mouths.
Admiration, reverence, and fear mingled together.
Time passed.
The sun climbed to its zenith, and the sparring matches continued.
“Next match! Gongsun Sect’s Gongsun Myeong-wol against Iron Blood Sword Sect’s Kang Mu-cheol!”
The Training Ground stirred once more.
The Gongsun Sect.
One of the Five Great Families.
And the rumor that its young Family Head was a woman.
Gongsun Myeong-wol stepped onto the Training Ground.
She wielded a slender, elongated sword.
Her gaze was cold and piercing.
“This… she was listed among the participants, yet did not appear at yesterday’s banquet, so I assumed she would not be competing… but the Gongsun Sect has indeed joined us.”
Which of the Five Great Families stands supreme?
To that question, the majority of people would name the Gongsun Sect.
Seol Woon-hwi spoke in a quiet voice.
“I have heard that the Gongsun Sect’s movement technique is unparalleled under heaven. Today, I shall witness it myself.”

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