The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 86

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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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Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family – Chapter 86

Dang So-hye’s blade moved.
Its speed was so leisurely that even a third-rate martial artist could have blocked it.
Yet I couldn’t tear my eyes away from that sluggish sword.
It felt as though I were being pulled in.
And in truth, I was being drawn in.
An invisible tempest of qi coiled around the Sichuan First Sword’s wooden blade.
And I realized that I mustn’t carelessly bring my blade against it.
-It’s the profound mystery of Suction. If I fail to respond properly, I’ll be pulled right in!
My senses sharpened at the Sword Spirit’s warning.
I gritted my teeth and unleashed a torrent of wind in desperation.
To escape the reach of that deceptively slow blade by any means necessary.
“Futile.”
But the wind I poured forth twisted and was simply drawn into the wooden blade.
The Sichuan First Sword laughed as she swung the blade, now brimming with all it had absorbed.
I was instantly overwhelmed.
“Ugh…!”
Whoooosh-crash!
The very technique I had wielded countless times was now turned against me.
Dozens of hidden slashes concealed within the tempest tore through my body.
My clothes were shredded, and my skin bore countless marks.
But what was far more terrifying was that a true killing blow lay hidden among these countless minor cuts.
‘I must block this somehow! Or I die!’
I gritted my teeth and drew upon the Vajra Demon technique.
To counter the profound mystery of Suction, I needed the profound mystery of Repulsion.
With all my strength, I wrapped my sword force around the Windgod Sword.
A tremendous rebound erupted from the blade’s surface.
Boom!
I felt my body hurled backward through the air.
I succeeded in escaping the pulling force through the rebound, but the price was being sent flying a considerable distance.
“Gah!”
The impact was severe enough that blood spilled from my lips.
I barely managed to steady myself and rise to my feet. But Dang So-hye was already upon me.
“So you do know how to fight. But let’s see how far you can truly go.”
This time, her assault was nothing like the leisurely movements from before—a relentless, ferocious barrage.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-crash!
Each time the wooden blade carved through the air, leaving afterimages, my entire body felt as though it were shattering.
I gritted my teeth, desperately trying to mount a defense.
‘Too fast!’
The speed was beyond belief.
The Bukcheon Sword Family’s martial arts were techniques that commanded the wind.
Because of this, speed superior to others became their advantage.
But now Dang So-hye’s blade evoked not wind, but lightning.
It was so swift that even my senses heightened by the Windgod Technique and the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art proved utterly useless.
‘If this were a real blade, or if the Sichuan First Sword had truly committed herself….’
I would have been reduced to a mangled corpse, my form unable to hold together.
A chill ran through me.
The terror of genuine death had drawn perilously close.
I newly grasped just how exalted a realm a master of the Infinite Boundary occupied.
And this was merely her holding back, was it not?
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
‘But even so, I cannot retreat.’
I clenched my teeth and planted my feet firmly against the earth.
Revolving Heaven.
Turbulent currents erupted around me, deflecting Dang So-hye’s blade.
But her sword immediately altered its trajectory, descending toward me.
Crack!
A devastating blow struck my shoulder.
I suppressed the pain and drew my blade.
‘If she wants an exchange of blows, then an exchange of blows it shall be!’
Not even half of the promised quarter hour had elapsed.
I could not yield here.
Enduring the agony, I pushed the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art to greater heights.
‘The Vajra Yaksha Divine Art grows stronger the more one is pressed.’
Its nature shines brightest in moments of crisis.
Precisely like now!
“…!”
Roooaarrr!
The golden aura radiating from my body deepened and intensified.
As I activated Yaksha Transformation, my blood seemed to boil throughout my entire frame.
Thump!
Simultaneously, my heart pounded with frenzied vigor.
The world grew progressively sharper.
It felt as though time itself flowed more slowly.
I pushed myself further still.
‘Faster.’
My blade, which had merely defended, abandoned its passive stance and surged into offense.
Movements that transcended physical limitation flowed through my hands.
A terrifying sword strike descended toward Dang So-hye’s neck.
She met my attack with a look of genuine delight, her blade deflecting my assault with ease.
‘Stronger.’
What followed was a torrential storm of energy pouring forth relentlessly.
The wind enveloping my entire body surged with tremendous force, like a gale pushing against my back.
Accelerated by that momentum, I finally managed to knock Dang So-hye’s sword backward.
‘Now!’
In that instant, I felt my body and spirit become one.
My blade thrust forward along the optimized path visualized in my mind. The Windgod Sword, wrapped in wind, carried my desperate will.
“Yes! That’s it! Maintain that sensation!”
Dang So-hye cried out with exhilaration.
I did not respond.
Rather, I could not respond.
My consciousness had become one with the blade itself.
I could no longer see the world around me.
I could not even remember why I had begun this duel.
I simply surrendered my body to the flow of striking down Dang So-hye.
Spirit guides the path, energy illuminates it, and the body walks it forward.
The three essences, each with their own role, became one within this state of selflessness.
That unified essence transcended the self and communed with the heavens.
‘This is harmony, and simultaneously, inscribing one’s will upon this world.’
The upper dantian, long sealed, burst open. That opening resonated with the lower dantian in my abdomen and the middle dantian in my chest, and in that moment, a miracle occurred.
Whiiiiing!
A strange power wove itself into the rushing wind.
It was intent. Not something with physical substance like energy, nor did it possess any tangible physical effect.
Yet the blade born of that intent pierced through Dang So-hye’s formidable defense and severed the fabric of her sleeve.
Rip!
“….”
In that moment, we both stopped as if by mutual agreement.
Shock crossed the face of the Sichuan First Sword, Dang So-hye.
She had never imagined I could have torn her clothing.
“Hah, hah, hah….”
By contrast, I was barely clinging to consciousness.
Every muscle in my body screamed in agony from overheating.
My pounding heart shrieked for mercy, and my dantians were completely drained with nothing left to squeeze out.
And yet….
“Ha, hahahaha!”
I could laugh with genuine joy.
That final strike I had unleashed moments ago.
It had contained intent woven within it.
In other words.
‘I’ve finally reached it.’
The Johwa Realm.

* * *

I remained sprawled on the ground, unable to rise for quite some time.
“Huff, huff, huff….”
Even though considerable time had passed since the match ended, I couldn’t muster the strength to get up.
The physical toll inflicted upon my body had clearly exceeded my expectations.
Perhaps that’s precisely why I managed to keep pace with both qi and spirit despite my insufficient essence.
Then Dang So-hye approached me.
“I must say, I’m impressed.”
She spoke with genuine admiration evident in her tone.
“Truthfully, I never believed you could actually reach the Johwa Realm. I thought at best you’d merely grasp a clue to it.”
“Yet you’ve accomplished it. Truly remarkable talent.”
Moyong Hyun-rak, who had been observing from the sidelines, chimed in while clicking his tongue.
Dang So-hye also laughed softly in agreement.
“At this rate, your progress surpasses even my own childhood achievements. With age and experience, securing a position among the Thirteen Venerables is practically assured.”
“Thank you.”
I made the effort to rise and bowed deeply to Dang So-hye with sincere gratitude.
Without her pushing me to my limits, such rapid growth would have been impossible.
“Had it not been for the Sichuan First Sword’s guidance, I couldn’t have progressed this swiftly. I would have remained lost at this stage for far longer.”
“Hehe. But it was your own strength that seized this opportunity. So there’s no need to be so grateful.”
Dang So-hye said this with a knowing smile.
“Still, if you truly wish to repay me, then look after Ye-rin more carefully. That child is my treasure, and if you show her affection and offer your help, it will be as though you’ve repaid the debt you owe me.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Then you should rest now. You’ll need time to consolidate your insights, so go to your quarters and recover.”
“Yes.”
Moyong Hyun-rak and I rose and headed toward our lodgings.
I intended to bathe and slowly cool my overheated body.
“What a monster.”
On the way back, Moyong Hyun-rak regarded me with a piercing gaze.
“I never imagined you’d actually break through to the Johwa Realm before even reaching twenty. I only barely attained this realm after passing thirty.”
“I’ve simply been fortunate.”
“Well, I can’t deny that. Without the convergence of various fortuitous circumstances, no amount of talent could have carried you this far.”
He grumbled this before releasing a heavy sigh.
“I’ll have to exert myself considerably to avoid being overtaken by you.”
“You’re welcome to try.”
“Hmph. I’ll inform Elder Won-ju of this through messenger. He’ll be delighted.”
Moyong Hyun-rak spoke those words and departed, leaving me behind as he made his way to his assigned quarters.
I settled into a cross-legged position and observed the state of my body.
‘It has changed.’
As my upper dantian opened, I felt a peculiar sensation I had not experienced since my return—a sixth sense of sorts.
That intuitive awareness others spoke of in hushed tones.
I smiled with satisfaction and began my breathing cultivation.
After some time had passed, I finally felt as though life was worth living again.
-From now on, I must train to master the manipulation of intent. Heh heh, there is much work ahead.
‘I did reach this realm before my return as well. I know how to handle intent.’
-Hmph, do you truly believe your situation then and now are the same? Before your return, you possessed neither the Windgod Arts nor the experiences you have accumulated thus far. It would be fair to say you have ascended to an entirely different realm.
The Sword Spirit’s words held merit, I had to admit.
My circumstances differed greatly from those days.
-Moreover, the Windgod Arts can only be properly wielded once the upper dantian is opened. The martial art itself was the very intent of the Wind God incarnate.
‘That means….’
-You have only now truly reached the starting line.
My eyes gleamed as I absorbed the Sword Spirit’s words.
Then all that remained was to move forward from this point onward.
No matter how grueling the cultivation ahead might be, it mattered not.
If growing stronger meant I could protect my family, I welcomed it wholeheartedly.
-What an optimistic creature you are.
The Sword Spirit grumbled those words.
By the time I had finished my breathing cultivation and even bathed, a visitor arrived.
“Young Master Jin. Let’s have dinner together!”
Dang Ye-rin came to find me in the guest quarters and spoke those words.
“Father… I mean, the Family Head has invited Young Master Jin and Master Moyong to dine with us. You should look forward to it! Sichuan cuisine is the finest in all the Central Plains.”
“I have been wanting to taste Sichuan cuisine for quite some time now.”
We made our way to the dining hall.
Present at the table were only myself, Moyong Hyun-rak, Dang Geuk, Dang So-hye, and Dang Ye-rin.
-Ahhh, spicy food truly is Sichuan’s specialty, isn’t it?
True to Dang Ye-rin’s boast, the Dang Family’s cuisine was exquisite.
Even the Sword Spirit, who fancied himself a connoisseur, lavished praise upon it repeatedly.
As we exchanged warm conversation, including discussion of my recent breakthrough to the Johwa Realm, the atmosphere began to shift.
“I suppose it’s time to broach the main matter.”
At Dang Geuk’s words, the mood at the table transformed entirely.
Moyong Hyun-rak and I straightened our postures and fixed our attention upon him.
“As I told you both, we intend to strike at the subordinate sects of the Black Night Fortress. However, there is one complication.”
“A complication, you say?”
“Indeed. That is why I intend to resolve it first before we proceed. Otherwise, the matter will only grow more troublesome.”
“I would like to hear what you mean.”
I spoke with a grave expression.
Dang Geuk exhaled a long sigh before speaking.
“It’s nothing serious. The problem is that if we move against them, certain troublesome parties will make a fuss.”
“From the way you speak, it doesn’t sound like the Black Night Fortress. Who are they?”
“The Blue Star Sect.”
“…!”
“They’re one of the Nine Great Sects and One Hundred Clans.”

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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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