The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 334

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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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Chapter 334. Tell Them When the Lotus Appears

 

 

Ha Mu-baek slept for a full day.

He was that exhausted.

No matter how strong Ha Mu-baek was, he had run non-stop from Muchang to the North Sea.

And then the battle that immediately followed.

Tak Yo-beom’s final move.

On top of that, resolving the flames of karma that the Tak Family had spread.

Not a single thing among them had been easy.

Ha Mu-baek had accomplished all of this alone.

No matter how strong he was, he had been lost in sleep for a full twelve hours of the day.

It wasn’t a matter of stamina or Internal Energy.

It was the accumulation of mental fatigue.

This was to resolve that.

And so a day passed.

The next day.

Ha Mu-baek was sitting at a Tea Table with Bing Chwi-seol and Han Seol-bing.

It was the Tea Room prepared in the Guest Hall.

Bing Chwi-seol had invited Ha Mu-baek to properly express her gratitude.

The Tea Cups were filled with precious tea.

A deep and subtle tea fragrance that put the mind at ease filled the space.

“I will formally greet you. I, Bing Chwi-seol, Palace Lord of Ice Heaven Palace, represent the Palace in expressing gratitude to Hero Ha who saved us from crisis.”

Bing Chwi-seol rose from her seat, gave a Cupped Fist Salute, and bowed deeply.

Ha Mu-baek stood up in response and returned the Cupped Fist Salute.

“I merely did what needed to be done. Even if it had been a request from another former Subordinate instead of Seol-bing, I would have gladly done the same.”

Ha Mu-baek spoke calmly as he sat down.

Perhaps it was because of Bing Chwi-seol’s strange gaze from last time.

Ha Mu-baek deliberately added that he would have done the same for other Subordinates.

Bing Chwi-seol smiled subtly.

Han Seol-bing looked at Ha Mu-baek with a peculiar expression.

“But how did Tak Yo-beom absorb all that tremendous energy? Even Dan-ju couldn’t handle it and had to scatter it into midair…”

Han Seol-bing spoke with an expression of incomprehension.

Along with that was respect for Ha Mu-baek who had dealt with such a formidable Tak Yo-beom.

“If he had absorbed it completely, would the fire energy have rampaged like that when the bastard died? It’s better to say that the fire energy absorbed him, not that he absorbed the fire energy.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s answer, Bing Chwi-seol and Han Seol-bing nodded as if they finally understood.

“So in the end, Tak Yo-beom was controlled by energy he couldn’t handle.”

Ha Mu-baek nodded at Bing Chwi-seol’s murmur.

“What on earth was in the Underground of the Tak Family? It’s strange that part of the Ice Crystal Energy flowed there. And to obtain and handle such fire energy from the North Sea ground… in just that short time.”

Now that everything was settled, Han Seol-bing’s curiosities poured out.

“Getting such power in that short time is impossible in itself. In the end, he was consumed by the energy, as I said before. And in the Underground of that land…”

Ha Mu-baek paused for a moment.

Bing Chwi-seol and Han Seol-bing’s gazes were fixed on Ha Mu-baek’s mouth.

“A flood dragon.”

Ha Mu-baek answered briefly.

Though it was just two words, the shock it delivered was tremendous.

Han Seol-bing and Bing Chwi-seol.

Both of them couldn’t say anything and froze stiffly.

It was an unbelievable thing.

That’s why.

It made sense.

The reason why the Ten Thousand Year Ice Crystal’s energy extended there.

How Tak Yo-beom freely controlled such tremendous flames.

And the tremendous amount of energy that Ha Mu-baek had bestowed upon Ice Heaven Palace.

All of it made sense.

“Was it a fire dragon?”

Bing Chwi-seol, who had regained her composure, asked.

Ha Mu-baek nodded.

“To be precise, it was one that was on the verge of the final stage of becoming a fire dragon.”

“How, how could such… How was there no incident all this time when such a being existed? Even if there was an ice crystal…”

Bing Chwi-seol muttered with an incomprehensible expression.

If there had been a flood dragon preparing for ascension Underground of Ice Heaven Palace.

There surely would have been signs of it.

However, for the past decades, no, for over hundreds of years, there had been no such signs.

Ha Mu-baek told them about the consciousness left by Bing Ok-ryeong that he had encountered.

Throughout hearing this, Bing Chwi-seol and Han Seol-bing’s faces changed through various expressions.

Eventually, when all the stories ended.

“Whew…”

Bing Chwi-seol let out a deep sigh.

Because it had been a series of unbelievable stories.

She needed time to properly accept what she had heard.

Bing Chwi-seol lifted her Tea Cup to her mouth.

The tea had grown cold.

However, the subtle fragrance remained and filled her mouth.

“Is such Mystical Arts possible? Suppressing a flood dragon that had fallen into its final sleep before ascension and extracting its energy?”

“Is Formation Technique possible?”

At Han Seol-bing’s question, Bing Chwi-seol asked back instead.

The two looked at each other and shook their heads.

That’s right.

It was impossible with just one.

But if both were used together.

“We are inferior to our ancestors from a thousand years ago. Far from advancing further…”

Bing Chwi-seol smiled bitterly.

“Martial Arts seem to have advanced though.”

Ha Mu-baek said, recalling her Sword Technique that he had seen in Bing Ok-ryeong’s consciousness.

Since Han Seol-bing’s Sword Technique was far superior to that.

At those words, the bitter smile on Bing Chwi-seol’s lips deepened.

“It seems our ancestor didn’t tell you everything about Ice Heaven Palace.”

“She only conveyed the memories that the remaining consciousness possessed.”

Ha Mu-baek answered calmly to Bing Chwi-seol’s words.

Seeing this, Bing Chwi-seol nodded.

“Just as our ancestor read Heavenly Divination and left the Palace Lord’s sacred object, she read Heavenly Divination and came to the North Sea.”

At those words, Han Seol-bing’s eyes widened.

This was a fact even she didn’t know.

“To prevent a great disaster that would someday befall All Under Heaven. She came to the North Sea saying she needed to find pure and clean power.”

Ha Mu-baek tilted his head.

In a situation where there seemed to be no records of the arrangements contained in the divine artifacts, how could he know that fact?

“What was found through that search was the Ten Thousand Year Ice Crystal. A crystal formed by filtering out impurities and gathering only the purest qi energy to freeze. And you obtained one martial art.”

“Ah…”

Han Seol-bing let out a small exclamation as if something had come to mind.

Ice Crystal Radiance Great Heaven Power.

The martial art used when transferring the power of the ice crystal to Han Seol-bing.

An Internal Energy Mental Method that only the Palace Lord could learn.

This too was a martial art left behind by the ancestor.

“There is an Internal Energy Mental Method called Ice Crystal Radiance Great Heaven Power. The story that appears on the first page of this secret manual is what I just told you.”

Ha Mu-baek nodded slightly. The small doubt that had occurred to him was resolved.

“And there are words that appeared at the end.”

Bing Chwi-seol took another sip of tea and continued speaking.

“When the destined one appears, pass it on.”

Bing Chwi-seol recited quietly.

And looked at Ha Mu-baek.

“I think that destined one is you, benefactor, Great Hero Ha.”

Bing Chwi-seol smiled brightly.

And took out a book from her bosom and placed it on the tea table.

It was a clean book.

It was not a book passed down through generations.

“This is a secret manual I transcribed yesterday. I didn’t omit a single character.”

“For what reason are you giving this to me…”

“Ice Heaven Palace was known only for martial arts and Formation Technique, but now you understand, don’t you? In truth, it was a sect that could compete for first place under heaven in Mystical Arts as well. Though I’m inadequate and couldn’t reach the level achieved by our ancestor. Even if not heavenly insight, I do possess something like small intuition.”

At Bing Chwi-seol’s words, Ha Mu-baek just listened quietly. He didn’t voice the doubts that arose in his mind.

“Since this intuition doesn’t activate at my will, I’ve often shown pathetic behavior.”

Bing Chwi-seol spoke as if she knew such doubts of Ha Mu-baek.

“Yesterday that intuition activated intensely. That you, benefactor, Great Hero Ha, are the destined one of Ice Crystal Radiance Great Heaven Power.”

Then she smoothly pushed the book toward Ha Mu-baek.

Ha Mu-baek gazed quietly at the untitled book.

“Actually, it’s not really a great martial art. Drawing upon the power of ice crystals to move. That’s all this Internal Energy Mental Method is. I only thought it was a martial art necessary for operating the Formation Technique spread in the Palace Lord’s Hall. So I regarded the final passage as ordinary too. But seeing Great Hero Ha, it seems that’s not the case.”

Having said that much, Bing Chwi-seol urged with her eyes.

To quickly take the secret manual.

“Since you say so much. I shall gratefully receive it.”

Ha Mu-baek took the book and put it in his bosom.

Bing Chwi-seol watched that scene with a pleased expression, then stood up.

“My business ends here. Well then. Please have a comfortable time.”

Giving a Cupped Fist Salute toward Ha Mu-baek, Bing Chwi-seol left.

“Uh, uhh…”

Han Seol-bing was flustered by Bing Chwi-seol’s sudden departure.

Since Bing Chwi-seol had come with her, she thought they would leave together.

“What are you doing?”

Ha Mu-baek spoke bluntly at Han Seol-bing’s behavior as if it was strange.

“Ah, it was so sudden.”

Han Seol-bing soon recovered her composure and answered.

“You seem to have made quite some achievement too.”

Ha Mu-baek said, gazing quietly at Han Seol-bing.

“Who could compare to you? You’ve become a monster beyond monsters.”

Han Seol-bing spoke while recalling the appearance Ha Mu-baek had shown yesterday.

At her appearance, Ha Mu-baek smiled slightly.

“Thank you. As I said yesterday, it’s thanks to you. If you hadn’t sent the ice crystal’s qi energy. I don’t know what would have happened.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s thanks, Han Seol-bing slightly turned her head.

The events of that day quickly flashed through her mind and disappeared.

That time when she couldn’t think of anything and desperately ran toward the ice crystal and moved the qi energy.

“I only did what was natural. Since Dan-ju came here to help me. I also had to he, help.”

“Right. That’s right. I indeed chose my subordinate well.”

Saying so, Ha Mu-baek stood up from his chair.

“Then I’m going.”

“Yes?”

Taking a step, Ha Mu-baek patted around his chest area.

The secret manual that Bing Chwi-seol had given him was inside there.

“Since it was given, I should read it. And get some more of the sleep I’m lacking.”

Leaving those words, Ha Mu-baek also left the Tea Room.

Han Seol-bing was left alone in the Tea Room.

“Hoo.”

She let out a small breath and soon left the Tea Room as well.

 

***

 

A land far south beyond Yunnan Province.

Namman.

This place beyond the Central Plains was hot and humid all year round, a place overflowing with all kinds of poisonous insects and poisonous creatures in dense jungles.

In the deepest part of this place.

A giant cave was winding down underground.

A gaunt old man with white hair and apparently blind eyes sat in Cross-legged Sitting.

Around the old man crawled all kinds of poisonous creatures and poisonous insects.

He stretched out his arm to catch any poisonous creature and brought it to his mouth, crunching and eating it.

“Just a little more now. Just a little more.”

Though his eyes couldn’t see, the old man glanced toward the deep place behind him.

Something black, darker than deep darkness, seemed to flicker into view.

He sniffed with his nose.

“Keke. It’s ripened enough. Just wait a little more.”

A satisfied smile hung on his lips.

The old man uncrossed his legs and stood up.

“Tsk, somehow the guys who came all the way here are so weak and tasteless.”

As if dissatisfied, he patted his waist and moved his steps.

With unfocused pupils covered by white film, he was clearly blind.

Yet he was moving without any inconvenience.

Following the winding rock cave upward, a giant cave was revealed.

Coming out of the cave, a dense forest spread out.

The place the sniffing old man headed to was under dense trees, where rotten roots were gathered in heaps.

There were all kinds of rare herbs and plants there.

There were spiritual herbs and spiritual medicines, as well as poisonous herbs and poisonous medicines.

In the deep jungle where countless Herb Gatherers entered dreaming of striking it rich by finding spiritual herbs.

Today.

One Herb Gatherer had found this place and was looking at the spiritual herbs spread before his eyes with an expression full of joy.

“Tsk. Annoying trash has entered.”

This was a place that could only be reached by passing through lands of all kinds of terrible poisonous insects and poisonous creatures.

Therefore, it was a place where people could hardly enter.

Whether he was a quite capable Herb Gatherer, he had entered all the way here.

“Euhk!!”

The Herb Gatherer, who had been trembling with joy, was startled by the sudden appearance of the Old Man.

The sight of him looking with eyes covered in pure white cataracts was eerie and terrifying.

Swoosh.

In an instant, the Old Man approached the Herb Gatherer and grabbed his throat.

“Gack. Cough.”

The Herb Gatherer struggled, but the Old Man paid no heed and dragged him to one side.

There were Red Mushrooms there.

They looked like deer antlers, or like a young child spreading their palm and extending their fingers.

What was certain was.

The thick poison emanating from those Red Mushrooms.

Poison so vicious and deadly that an ordinary person would be poisoned and lose their life just by touching it.

The Old Man grabbed one of his hands and brought it toward where the mushrooms were.

“Ah, ah, cough, gack, n-no…, don’t…”

The Herb Gatherer clearly knew what those mushrooms were.

Red Deer Poison Horn Mushroom.

A well-known poisonous mushroom.

Just a slight brush would poison you, making you waste away and die.

The longer the contact time, the faster it happens.

With blood vessels throughout the body melting and blood streaming from the entire body.

“Kraaaak!”

The Herb Gatherer’s hand touched the mushroom.

And as it remained there for a while.

The poison gradually burrowed into his body.

Soon his body turned red.

Blood flowed from every hole and pore in his body.

And so he died.

“Tsk. From just this much.”

The Old Man paid no mind and reached out to pluck the mushroom, then brought it straight to his mouth.

Crunch. Crunch.

“What a pathetic bastard. Phew. Now I finally feel like I’ve eaten something.”

The warmth of sunlight felt on his skin.

He raised his head and looked up at the Sky.

“How much time must have passed. Hehe. Wait for me, Heavenly Poison Valley. And Central Plains.”

The Old Man’s two eyes flickered ominously.

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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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