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Chapter 72. Do You Know How to Use the Multiple Swords Technique?
Bobong County
Five Peaks Mountain.
Even though the appearance of the Yoomyung Cult had shaken the Seven Great Sects and the Five Great Families, there were places that remained unaffected. One of them was Five Peaks Mountain. Five Peaks Mountain was quieter than ever.
Thanks to the formidable presence of the Yoomyung Cult, the small bandit groups in Nokrim were forgotten. They no longer feared the vengeance of the martial families of Luoyang.
The warm summer passed.
With the arrival of autumn, changes also came to Five Peaks Mountain.
The martial prowess of the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain had surpassed that of Hwang Yomyung, the Venomous Wanderer. They had become true masters. Knowing this, Hwang Yomyung's attitude became even more humble.
As for Yeon Jeokha, the sword became as familiar to him as the machete.
In fact, it was predictable that he would quickly adapt to the sword. Moreover, the Nine Heavens Technique he had learned was a body control technique, which facilitated the change of weapon.
Once he got used to the sword, Yeon Jeokha began to seriously train in the Nine Heavens Supreme Swordsmanship.
The day the first snow fell.
Shim Yanggak, the Immortal Sword Demon and outcast of Five Peaks Mountain, reached meditation while practicing the classic of three hundred characters. If it had been only for a moment, it would not have been a big deal.
He remained in meditation for three days.
Just before waking, three golden flowers appeared above his head. It was the state of "Three Flowers Gather on the Crown" in Taoism.
When the body and spirit combine as one, an internal transformation occurs, manifesting in the appearance of golden flowers above the head. This phenomenon is called "Three Flowers Gather on the Crown."
Upon reaching this state, Shim Yanggak regained his lost internal energy. His energy, which had been corrupted by demonic power, was purified and transformed into a pure and peaceful force through the classic of three hundred characters.
Shim Yanggak, who had been a mid-level master, was now considered an absolute master. Even when wielding his sword randomly, his energy extended up to three meters.
After recovering his energy, Yeon Jeokha taught Shim Yanggak the first six techniques of the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship.
Shim Yanggak's rebirth was a hard blow to Hwang Yomyung. For several days, Hwang Yomyung stopped eating and watched Shim Yanggak.
In the past, Shim Yanggak would have immediately cut off one of Hwang Yomyung's arms.
However, Shim Yanggak did not touch him. Instead, he only said, "Keep striving."
Eventually, Hwang Yomyung began to eat again and trained diligently.
The new year arrived.
The Ten Heroes, inspired by Shim Yanggak, did not stop training.
Shim Yanggak was also immersed in the practice of the True Classic of the Nine Heavens as One, living in the backyard even in the cold.
One afternoon, while Yeon Jeokha was walking through the backyard, he suddenly stopped.
Shim Yanggak, now older, was sweating profusely while wielding his sword.
Yeon Jeokha stood watching him.
The six techniques of the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship flowed like water.
Perhaps due to his previous experience with weapons, his movements were meticulous.
Seeing Shim Yanggak's elegant and vigorous sword technique made it hard to believe that he was once a feared demonic leader.
"Young Master, what are you observing so intently?"
Shim Yanggak wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and approached Yeon Jeokha.
"I was just thinking that an old man is working very hard."
Even after recovering his internal energy, Shim Yanggak continued to call Yeon Jeokha "Young Master." In turn, Yeon Jeokha had gotten used to calling him "Old Shim."
"Hehe, am I the only one working hard? The Ten Heroes and you yourself train until dusk."
"We are young. We have a lot of time ahead of us. But you, Old Shim, don't know when you might be called."
"Don't you know it's sadder to be despised for being old and weak? To be respected until the end, one must strive."
"Wow! Who dares to despise you? Everyone pays attention to you."
"Exactly. They pay attention because I am strong. If I were weak, I would be treated like a stone in the mud."
"What a peculiar mind you have! It's admirable."
"Who can have a mind as peculiar as you, Young Master? You take money from merchants and soldiers but teach precious techniques to bandits."
"We need money to live. Should we starve to death? They say that after three days without eating, one climbs the walls of others. I just do the same."
"Then why do you teach those valuable techniques to bandits?"
"If my sworn brothers and you, Old Shim, are injured outside, I will have to go avenge you. It's all for my own convenience."
"Hehe, you are truly peculiar. I respect you, Young Master."
"Respect nothing. Don't laugh like that. Your eyes look like those of an immortal, but your laugh is unpleasant."
"It's a deeply ingrained habit."
"By the way, have you overcome the obstacle you wanted to? You had many problems because of it."
"Overcome the obstacle? My dream was to reach the state of 'Five Qi Converge in the Origin.' That's why I tried everything. I ate anything they said was good for internal energy. When I was young, I ate many poisonous herbs without knowing it. That's why I had dark spots on my face since my thirties."
"You were precocious."
"And now I have reached the state of 'Three Flowers Gather on the Crown,' which is much higher. Honestly, it's a state I couldn't reach even if I died and revived a hundred times. All thanks to you, Young Master. I will live to repay this debt."
"How long do you plan to live? That's just an empty promise."
"Hehe."
Shim Yanggak let out a laugh.
"So, have you made progress in your sword technique?"
"More or less. Following your advice, I am finally as comfortable with the sword as with the saber."
"Congratulations on reaching the supreme level with the sword as well."
"Don't exaggerate. You speak as if you had honey on your lips."
"That's why they called me 'the one with the honey mouth.'"
In fact, Shim Yanggak's nickname "Honey Mouth" came from his ability to say pleasant things. Of course, "Hidden Sword" meant he carried a hidden sword in his heart.
"If you could live by talking, why did you become a thief?"
"It's easier to steal with a sword. Making people happy is exhausting."
"Wow. You are extraordinary. You have a lot of energy."
"No. I no longer have so much energy."
A calm smile appeared on Shim Yanggak's face.
It was partly true. If it weren't, he would have at least cut off one of Hwang Yomyung's arms.
Suddenly, Yeon Jeokha spoke with curiosity.
"By the way, do you know how to do the Sword Control Technique, Old Shim?"
"Sword Control?"
Shim Yanggak blinked at the unexpected question.
"Yes, you know, throwing a sword and making it move all around. Last year, the Great Swordmaster threw a sword at me and it surprised me."
"Wow! Did you face the Great Swordmaster's Sword Control?"
"Yes, it was so sudden that I could only flee. Imagine a sword flying at you like a bee. It's terrifying."
"To begin with, the Sword Control Technique is not a special posture."
"It's not a posture?"
"For example, the aerial sword technique draws internal energy towards the sword."
"Right."
"But the aerial sword technique is not a posture in itself. The Sword Control Technique is similar. It requires an advanced mastery of internal energy. Have you heard of the skill of moving objects with energy?"
"No."
"It's the skill of moving objects using internal energy, releasing energy to move things. They say it's not possible unless your internal energy has reached a supreme level."
The term "supreme level" refers to an advanced state in internal energy training, achieved only by high-level masters.
"So, it's something like moving objects with energy?"
"Yes, it consists of dividing the energy into two parts: internal energy and external energy. External energy is imbued into the sword and connected with internal energy to move the sword, that's the Sword Control Technique."
"Two energies, internal and external?"
"Yes, although I also heard it from my deceased master, so I don't know all the details. My master didn't reach that level either."
"Still, it was a good explanation. It makes sense. The connection of two energies is necessary to move the sword. Now I understand it's not a posture."
"They say that achieving unity with the sword is necessary for the Sword Control Technique. First, you must become one with the sword, and then you can divide the energy."
"Old Shim, you really know a lot."
"Hehe, I have spent many years in Murim. Most of the things I have heard from others. I'm sure you'll soon reach that level."
"Really?"
"In learning, the mind is crucial. If you don't have faith, you can't achieve anything. At first, it may seem strange, but just like a fish breathes in water, you must believe it's natural."
Shim Yanggak's serious words made Yeon Jeokha nod.
For someone who had learned on his own without a master, Shim Yanggak's words were a valuable guide.
"Understood. Faith."
"Yes, people can achieve what they imagine and believe. Whatever it is."
"Imagine and believe?"
Yeon Jeokha compared it to "drawing with the mind."
Imagine and believe?
I can do it. If I can live in a mirror and see the Mysterious Woman of the Nine Heavens, this is nothing.
"Yes, since you haven't walked that path, you can only imagine it. Just like internal energy, something you can't see, but you have brought it into the real world. Even if you don't see it, it exists. Believe it will become a reality."
"Thank you for your good words."
"It's nothing. First, you should practice moving objects with energy. You must be able to release your energy to move things before attempting the Sword Control Technique."
"Ah!"
That makes sense.
While they were talking, the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain came out to the backyard one by one.
Yeon Jeokha exchanged greetings with them and then headed to the main peak of Five Peaks Mountain.
At the top of Five Peaks Mountain, he sat on a large rock in the lotus position.
The wind blew strongly, but having reached an advanced level, he didn't feel the cold.
"Moving objects with energy..."
Yeon Jeokha took out a dagger from his chest.
It was the same one that the kidnapper had thrown in the ancestral shrine of the Po Family last year.
He dropped the dagger a step away and extended his hand.
With his clear intention, internal energy surged from his Dantian and extended through his fingers.
Boom!
"Huh?"
The energy that came out of his hand hit the dagger and made it fly far away.
"Damn!"
Yeon Jeokha realized his mistake.
When releasing energy, he had only thought about emitting it forcefully.
The True Classic of the Nine Heavens as One spoke of different types of energy. Even the five elements have properties of fire, water, wood, metal, and earth.
And not only that.
Vital energy, righteous energy, ancestral energy, protective energy, spiritual energy, internal organ energy, meridian energy, malignant energy, solar energy, turbid energy, yin energy...
There are dry and sticky energies, energies that push and energies that pull.
Yeon Jeokha reflected on what type of energy was needed to move objects.
It must be an energy of attraction.
He imagined that energy and projected it with his hand.
An energy resembling a spider web extended from his fingers.
Yeon Jeokha had imagined a spider web.
Gently, the dagger moved towards his hand.
Finally, when he managed to grab the dagger, a laugh of satisfaction burst from his lips.