Ultimate Martial Venerable - Chapter 46

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

Episode 46. The Divine Soul Force Awakens
Yuk Beom looked down at his own body.
No arms. No legs.
There was only a single point of light, floating in the darkness.

“Is this… me?”

The Ilwon Martial Sage

nodded as though it were obvious.

“A Divine Soul Force that has only just been born

takes such a form naturally. If you cultivate it beyond the fifth stage, you can achieve human form like I have.”

Yuk Beom examined the light that composed him again and again.

“But I have no memory of creating this Divine Soul Force.”
“You truly have none?”

The old man’s eyes deepened.

“The path of transforming Strong Energy into Divine Soul is excessively difficult. You must cross seas of blood, pass through the threshold of life and death, and convert your power into essence, raising it all the way to the heavens of the mind.”

At the mention of the threshold of life and death, a memory surfaced—what had just happened moments before.
Do Gwang the Sageun’s sword light.
The moment when bones shattered, blood poured forth, and he truly thought he might die.

“I did come to the brink of death.”
“That’s it.”

The Ilwon Martial Sage smiled bitterly.

“At the boundary between life and death, doors that are usually sealed open. I myself forged my Divine Soul Force only after passing through the threshold of death countless hundreds of times.”

For the first time, a sense of longing moved through that vast presence.

“Yet even this power alone could not completely free me from the constraints of heaven and earth. Perhaps if Strong Energy and Original Qi were to be unified into one, I might reach places I could never attain.”

Yuk Beom’s consciousness reeled.
Strong Energy and Original Qi unified into a single force.
That was the Fusion Strong Energy

he already possessed.

‘Is that why Divine Soul Force was born from just one brush with death?’

The Ilwon Martial Sage raised his hand.

“My successor. If ever you fully cultivate this Divine Soul Force, merge the Original Qi within it completely. I wish for you to walk the path I could never finish.”

There was so much he wanted to ask.
He wanted to show the Fusion Strong Energy and confirm whether this was correct. He wanted to ask about Dual Cultivation of Qi and Martial Arts

as well.
But the old man did not wait for an answer.

“First, receive what I have completed.”

A streak of light extended from his fingertips.
Yuk Beom’s small radiant core was pierced clean through.
Along with the agony of a soul shattering to fragments, countless scenes crashed in upon him.
The Ilwon Martial Sage in white robes walked between wild demons and ravenous beasts

without end in sight.
A single flip of his palm crumbled mountain ranges. Rivers that had flowed toward earth surged backward to cover the heavens, and monsters that touched the light vanished without so much as a final cry.
Every attack carried Divine Soul Force within it.
Though the power bore down with crushing weight, not a grain was wasted. It was a force that shattered not only the opponent’s flesh, but mind and will together, all at once.
Yuk Beom watched the battle and received its methods into his body.
Changes began in his physical form in the waking world.
The dormant Fusion Strong Energy moved of its own accord. The transparent force first split into five lights symbolizing the Five Elements, and between them appeared white, the color signifying a martial artist’s Gangjing.
Six lights spun rapidly.
From the center, a final color was born.
Deep and silent—a black radiance.
The color of the soul.
The moment the seven lights tangled into one, the surging power divided into two streams.
The five lights sank down to the dantian, forming a small Five Elements Formation

The black light and white rose upward, becoming a perfect Yin-Yang Array

in his head.
The two formations, separated far apart, began to spin in unison.
The power born in the dantian and the head flowed into the meridians, merging like transparent dewdrops. Clear on the surface, yet all seven lights lived and moved within it.
It was the same Fusion Strong Energy as before, yet utterly different.
The moment that power pulsed for the first time, the entire Martial Arts Academy trembled.
The Principal, launched above the meditation hall, gazed toward the sky over Ilwon Academy.

“Has a divine weapon been born? Or has someone ascended to the Yin-Yang Realm

?”

His face hardened as he probed the energy further.

“No. It’s different even from the Yin-Yang Realm’s aura.”

Sages from other academy branches ceased their movements as well.
Il Cheong, who had been heading toward the meditation hall, stopped mid-air.

“What’s happening at the academy lately? Events piling up like this?”

The enormous aura vanished as abruptly as it had appeared.
The one nearest of all, Do Gwang, was rummaging through Yuk Beom’s quarters.

“It was definitely around here somewhere.”

The room held only a disciple bearing serious wounds and Kkamangi huddled beneath the bed.
Confirming that Yuk Beom’s injuries had already healed more than halfway, Do Gwang cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Indeed, his recovery is impressive. My Ice-Fire Dual Yin Pill

is certainly excellent, but still.”

The sealed eyelids trembled ever so slightly.
Spotting this, Do Gwang’s voice grew louder.

“Can you hear me? Come now, wake up. Once you’re conscious, I’ll teach you several proper martial techniques in earnest.”

The eyebrows twitched again.
Do Gwang nodded with satisfaction and fed another strand of Gangjing into his disciple’s body.

“Right. If you cross paths with whoever wears that black robe, I’ll settle your vendetta too. So don’t dwell on what’s past.”

The moment he left the room, Kkamangi’s bared teeth grew sharper still.
Only this creature knew whose power had just shaken the entire academy.
The black body transformed into light and seeped into Yuk Beom’s right arm.
Within the meridians, the shape of a black dragon appeared. As the newly transformed Fusion Strong Energy flowed through his right arm, the small dragon drank in that power like a fish finding water.
Its body swelled rapidly.
Two protrusions rose from its head, as if becoming horns.
Four days later.
The commotion from outside seeped even into the darkness.
Yuk Beom’s eyes opened.
From his gaze, True Light of Eyes sliced through empty air.
The world before him had changed. Walls and floor, sunlight and air—all seemed to overlap like a single thin layer. It was a strange sensation, as if reaching out to touch the outermost layer would tear a hole in the world itself.
After a long breath, he pushed himself upright.
Kkamangi lay sprawled beside the bed.

“You’ve grown even bigger.”

What had been the size of a wolf not long ago had swollen once more. Two rounded protrusions rose clearly above its head.
Instead of answering, Kkamangi bounded over and licked his face.

“Stop. I’m fine now.”

He pushed the great head away, but the tongue swiped across his cheek several more times. Four days of worry needed no words to be understood.
After straightening his clothes and stepping outside, Han Pung’s voice was the first to greet him.

“The youngest is awake! Sleeping like a dead pig for four days—finally got up!”

Cho Haeng smacked the back of Han Pung’s head.

“Is that what you say to someone who just woke?”
“Well, he’s alive now, so I can say it.”

On the Open Ground, everyone from Ilwonwon had gathered. The senior disciples carried weapons at their sides, and both Il Cheong and Do Gwang sat in chairs dressed in fresh clothes.
Il Cheong gestured to the seat beside him.

“Your wounds probably haven’t healed completely, but sit. Coming to in four days is already quick.”
“Did I really sleep for four days?”
“Given the injuries you took that day, sleeping for a month wouldn’t be strange. You should thank Do Gwang—he didn’t spare a precious pill.”

Yuk Beom looked at Do Gwang with an odd expression.
He remembered all too clearly who had inflicted those wounds.
Do Gwang’s beard twitched slightly.

“Enough thanks. It’s fortunate you’ve woken in time. Today is the day Ilwonwon receives a challenge.”

His lips didn’t move, yet the voice entered directly into Yuk Beom’s ears.

—Let’s bury that day’s matter. In exchange, I’ll give you several sets of direct techniques.

Yuk Beom thought for a moment.
One sword strike from the Heavenly Force Realm Sageun and several sets of direct techniques.
Whether the scales balanced, he wasn’t certain, but keeping Master Che’s secret unrevealed was already no small gain.
He gave a small nod, and Do Gwang’s tense shoulders relaxed.

“But a challenge—from whom?”

Han Pung cut in as if he’d been waiting for it.

“Those from the other branches. The Ranking Tournament is two months off, so they figure they’ll batter us a bit to loosen up beforehand.”

Mu Wi pulled up a large chair and drew near.

“In the Branch Division Ranking Tournament, only academies ranked lower can challenge those ranked higher. Five fighters from each side compete, and whoever wins three matches first claims victory.”
“Then Ilwon Academy, being last, would never face a challenge?”
“That’s correct in the formal tournament.”

The elder’s smile faded.

“But the other branches bring their disciples here to participate. When they win, it affects nothing in the rankings, and when they lose, they can simply call it practice.”
“So we’re meant to be their training partners.”
“Yes. That’s precisely the situation.”

Six figures descended from the sky right on cue.
Three men and three women.
At the head stood a man in his thirties with a Long Sword at his waist. The disciples behind him wore elaborate robes, and at the very end stood a familiar face.
Jang Wol Ham.
The moment her eyes met Yuk Beom’s, a deep resentment blazed across her gaze.
A woman standing nearby wrinkled her nose at the sight of Ilwon Academy’s crumbling buildings.

“Is this really a branch academy? It looks no different from a pigsty.”

Han Pung’s and Cho Cheon’s eyes turned ice-cold in unison.
Even Mu Wi’s perpetual smile vanished from his lips.
Il Cheong didn’t rise from his chair as he fixed his gaze on the man at the front.

“Nang Geom, spare us the pleasantries. Emblem Tomb Academy disciples

must blow in the wind so much that they’ve all turned frail.”

Han Pung laughed the loudest of all.
The faces of the Emblem Tomb disciples darkened.
A man with triangular eyes sneered as he spoke.

“So the rumors that Ilwon Academy folk are crude are true.”
“That so?”

Han Pung withdrew a Black Sphere from his pouch.

“Then accept a crude welcome.”

The sphere burst before the Emblem Tomb group.
Yellow smoke spread in an instant.
Those who inhaled it twisted their faces in unison. Jang Wol Ham and the woman beside her wept and coughed, while Nang Geom frantically waved his sleeves to disperse the smoke.

“What is the meaning of this!”

Han Pung held medicinal herbs to his nose and answered with perfect composure.

“A crude welcome. The scent lasts so long you needn’t worry about losing your way.”
“Han Pung!”

At Il Cheong’s shout, Han Pung’s hand—which had been reaching for more Black Spheres—froze.

“Stop making those things!”
“I haven’t shown them half of what I’ve prepared.”
“Empty your pouch. All of it.”

Han Pung shook out his robes, and the ground was soon littered with silver needles, rusty daggers, and vials of colored liquids. A vile stench wafted even from a distance.
The Emblem Tomb people stepped back two paces, as if by agreement.
Cho Cheon and Cho Haeng both stepped back from Han Pung, widening the distance.
Do Gwang stroked his beard and let out a sigh.

“Nang Geom, let’s not waste time. Begin.”

Nang Geom clenched his teeth and sent forward his first disciple.
A man named Ja Haeng drew the Purple Crescent Blade.

“I won’t fight that one.”

His finger pointed at Han Pung.

“Send someone else.”
“And I’ve no interest in crossing blades with a face reeking of your stench.”

As Han Pung shot back the retort, Cho Haeng stepped forward.

“I’ll face him.”

The momentum of both sides clashed in the center of the Open Ground.
Meanwhile, Jang Wol Ham pressed herself against the man beside her.

“Senior, that’s Yuk Beom. Please fulfill my grudge against him today.”

The man surveyed Yuk Beom and smiled with confidence.

“Don’t worry. After today, he won’t be able to show his face before your eyes again.”

His voice was quiet, but Yuk Beom heard every word clearly.
Mu Wi turned his head.

“Shall I handle it?”
“No need.”

Yuk Beom gave a brief answer, then turned his awareness inward to examine himself.
Since awakening, a power he had yet to fully comprehend filled his meridians.
The Five Elements Formation in his dantian

and the Yin-Yang Array in his mind

blazed simultaneously.
He barely stirred his intent, yet the Heavenly and Earthly Force

surged toward him like a violent tide.
Yuk Beom’s gaze transformed.
He could not tell if he had reached the fifth or sixth stage of the Inner Gangjing Realm.
One thing was certain.
He had grown incomparably stronger than before.
The transparent force flowing through his meridians was heavier and more fluid than it had been. Without forcing it, it reached wherever he willed it first, and as he expended it, the two formations in his dantian and mind drew in the Heavenly and Earthly Force to fill the void.
It was not a simple ascent of one or two stages in the Inner Gangjing Realm. Both the vessel that held his power and the way he perceived the world itself had transformed.
In the center of the Open Ground, the Purple Crescent Blade and Cho Haeng’s sword clashed.
Clang!
The man beside Jang Wol Ham flashed a cold smile at Yuk Beom as though the match were already decided.
Yuk Beom did not avoid that gaze.
His opponent would come to him of his own accord, and then he would know the measure of this newfound strength.

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