Chapter 25
The North Sea Ice Emperor's martial arts was back in my possession, but there was nowhere to use it.
Martial Arts I can't learn. Spiritual Medicine I can't consume.
Could I even wield the sword she left behind?
The moment I drew the Sword Body, a terrible Yin Qi spread around me. Part of my flesh froze, forcing me to give up.
It’s like carving away at my own flesh. Without this special scabbard, I wouldn't even be able to carry it.
I decided to leave it for now. Focus on the power I already possess.
That's all I can do, I thought.
The applied forms of the Soul Chasing Technique. The first one, Demon Countering Strike, had reached a proficient stage. Practicing alone had been difficult, but now I had a sparring partner.
＂You…still haven’t mastered the Soul Chasing Technique? I've already learned Nine Peaks Sword Draw!＂
＂I'm a slow learner."
＂But your Muwui is higher than mine, right? You’re at the Peak after breaking through the Wall, aren’t you?＂
The 29th couldn't understand it, yet she still indulged my practice. After exchanging a few blows, her face hardened.
＂…It’s…kind of…something else, you know?＂
She, who usually spoke without hesitation, was now watching my expression.
＂I understand what you mean by slow learner now.＂
＂You can just be blunt.＂
＂You’re incredibly slow at learning new things, aren't you?＂
＂......＂
＂But the previous Sword Manual you mastered…It’s ridiculously polished…as if it were a sword painstakingly honed through sheer effort, even though the actual learning process was slow…＂
The 29th, having grasped my situation at once, nodded.
＂You’re a strange, stubborn one.＂
＂Is that supposed to be an insult?＂
＂I’m just stating facts, aren't I?＂
She undoubtedly possessed skills at the very peak of First-Rate. Despite being much younger than me, her achievements were remarkably high.
＂You know that Soul Chasing Technique is the basic form of the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts, right?＂
＂I do.＂
＂Do you also know what the four applied forms of Soul Chasing Technique represent?＂
＂I learned from the book.＂
＂Hmm… Let’s just cover the basics briefly.＂
Although my Muwui level was higher, she taught me. She didn't seem to mind the seemingly reversed roles.
＂This settles our debt. Understood?＂
＂If you wish.＂
She took a stance.
＂Soul Chasing Technique is simply a Martial Arts Move where you swing the sword. At least, that’s how it appears on the surface. An overwhelmingly dominant sword art. It doesn’t particularly incorporate things like Void Step or Illusory Sword. Instead, it's heavy and fast. Specialized in severing with decisive cuts. But because of that, the trajectory itself is simple, making it easy for Masters to block.＂
The 29th swung her sword down.
A clean Soul Chasing Technique.
＂If the incoming sword is predictable, it's easy for the opponent to counter, right? No matter how strong a sword is, it's useless if it doesn't connect. That’s why the creator of the Soul Chasing Technique added four variations. Like the Demonic Claw, the first form of the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts. Stand in front of me.＂
＂Is this distance alright?＂
＂Yes. That's good.＂
The 29th aimed her sheathed sword at me diagonally.
＂Let's make sure you understand Demon Countering Strike, the first form of Soul Chasing Technique, before moving on. That way, you’ll be able to proceed to the next stage. Now, watch. What is Demon Countering Strike? It’s a counter-attacking sword technique. You observe the opponent's attack and then strike. How far apart are we right now?＂
＂About two steps close.＂
＂Demon Countering Strike is an extreme counter. You predict the sword's trajectory and counter accordingly. An attack launched simultaneously with evasion. The closer the distance, the higher the chance of landing the Form.＂
＂…It can’t be used in any situation, then.＂
＂You have to grasp the flow of your opponent's martial arts before using it. If successful, you can inflict a fatal wound, but if you fail, you'll lose your head.＂
She flicked her sword. At her silent invitation, I swung my sheathed sword at her.
The second form of the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts, Soul Chasing Technique.
But the instant I extended my arm, she ducked beneath the tip of the sword. Simultaneously avoiding the trajectory and striking my waist.
A series of movements too quick to evade.
My waist stung.
＂…Ugh!＂
＂I was able to easily neutralize it because I know the Sword Technique of Soul Chasing Technique. So, the key to this applied form is…how well you understand your opponent.＂
I exchanged blows with her. After a few more exchanges, I started to get a feel for it, and then, with some difficulty, I could mimic her.
Having an opponent was definitely beneficial. I could test the Sword Techniques I could use.
The 29th, who initially accepted my attacks patiently, grew increasingly pale as days passed. Finally, she yelled at me.
＂Hey, you crazy practice demon! Take it easy, will you?!＂
＂It’s only been six Si Chen.＂
＂Only six Si Chen?! My stamina can't handle it!＂
When she wasn't sparring with me, I reviewed what I had learned. After another month, I started to get a feel for the sword.
I clashed swords with the 29th. A Sparring Match with restricted Qi.
My sheathed sword slammed against hers. The 29th stumbled and tilted back.
＂You…damn brute…!＂
Crack!
The scabbard rattled. Her stance crumbled.
The 29th thrust her sword towards my exposed body.
Soul Chasing Technique. Its basic form.
I read the gap first. I corrected my stumbling posture.
I focused my strength on my core. I drew a circle with my toes. I moved just like the day she first taught me about Demon Countering Strike.
Reading the distance between us.
Reading the power of the Martial Arts Move.
Evasion at the perfect moment.
The three elements aligned. I slipped between the passing swords and struck her waist.
Thwack!
The 29th collapsed onto the ground.
＂Ow, ow, ow, that hurts!＂
＂…Hmm. Perhaps my strength is still lacking.＂
＂What…What strength…Have you been training your External Qi or something?＂
＂Doesn't the Demonic Claw form itself aid in External Qi training?＂
＂What kind of lunatic would train it to this extent? You might as well move on to the next form in that time! You get noticeably stronger with each new form!＂
＂Sir 1st Demon often said something.＂
＂Y-Yes?! Sir 1st Demon?! What did he say?!＂
＂He said that easily gained power comes with a price.＂
He always told me to build a solid foundation.
＂He told me to keep swinging my fists instead of picking up a sword if I didn’t want to die."
＂…There’s no way Sir 1st Demon would use that kind of tone! He’s such a refined person! Don’t slander him!＂
She’s living in a fantasy.
I subtly turned my head. It’s best not to wake her.
＂I’ll practice more with Demon Countering Strike.＂
＂What about the other forms? At this rate, by the time you learn all of the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts, you’ll be nothing but bones.＂
＂Ah. If it’s the other forms of Soul Chasing Technique, I’d like to learn them together. I think it will be mutually beneficial.＂
＂…Isn’t your current training load enough already?＂
＂It’s not enough.＂
＂Ugh.＂
The 29th waved her hand at me with a tired look.
＂Go and pick up two sticks. About the length of a sword.＂
As her student, I obeyed without question. When I returned with suitable branches, the 29th took one.
＂The second form is a form of power struggle. Friction. Touch the sticks together. Infuse them with a moderate amount of Qi. Don't break them.＂
I followed her instructions. I could feel the 29th drawing up her Qi as well.
The touching branches trembled.
＂If these were swords, Friction is the form where you win the power struggle and break your opponent’s sword. It’s completely different from simply infusing them with Qi to break them.＂
＂What exactly is different?＂
＂The direction of Inner Qi manipulation is different. You concentrate your Qi only at the point of contact. You extremely compress the area where you infuse Qi, momentarily drawing out a powerful output. Like this.＂
Crack.
A moment later, my branch snapped in half and fell to the ground.
＂The reason the Friction stance is inherently a downward pressing form is to induce a power struggle. Since you can't instantly change the method of Inner Qi manipulation, you have to preemptively determine the part you’ll reinforce with Qi.＂
＂Intentionally clashing the Qi-compressed part with your opponent?＂
＂Exactly.＂
＂What if you miss?＂
＂Since the other parts aren’t infused with Qi, your extended sword will break instead.＂
Everything is so extreme.
As if to prove that Soul Chasing Technique itself is a sword art that doesn't account for failure.
＂Next is Nine Peaks Sword Draw. This one is just a drawing technique. A decisive strike meant to end the fight with the first move. A technique that uses the acceleration gained from scraping the scabbard to cut down the opponent in one stroke… If done well, it's an applied form that can end the fight in the first move. However, the stance is large, so if you miss, it becomes a big problem.＂
＂The last one is…＂
＂I don't know this one myself, but the book called it Fierce Rain. It’s an applied form where you unleash multiple Sword Techniques like a scattering downpour. The power in each individual strike is weak, but it's the only form that can deal with multiple opponents.＂
I had learned everything there was to learn. I mimicked the sword techniques she had shown me.
Demon Countering Strike, Friction, Nine Peaks Sword Draw, and Fierce Rain.
As if she had developed a competitive spirit, the 29th gradually matched my training pace. Although she stumbled most of the time, she still worked diligently.
＂The 30th is a bit strange.＂
＂What do you mean?＂
＂The Nine Heavenly Demon Arts has nine forms, right? Usually, once you’ve mastered one form, you move on to the next stage.＂
＂That’s correct.＂
＂Every time you learn a new form, your skills improve. Your enlightenment, body, and Qi all increase significantly. By the time you learn Demonic Claw and acquire Soul Chasing Technique, most people reach from Second-Rate to First-Rate, right? And then, the majority move on to the Peak only after tackling the third form.＂
＂The third form…You mean Tyrant's Demonic Path?＂
＂Yes. Tyrant's Demonic Path. But the 30th, despite being at the Peak Realm, hasn't even learned all the applied forms of Soul Chasing Technique yet. Moreover, you’re still constantly practicing Demonic Claw…＂
The 29th lightly kicked the air beside me. A clean Devil's Horn of the Demonic Claw.
＂…Practicing the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts inevitably turns you into a madman. The higher the achievement, the higher the probability. But thinking about it differently…The 30th doesn’t show any signs of that at all, right? Even after reaching the Peak.＂
＂Hmm.＂
＂I think chasing quick results is what contaminates the user with the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts. I think if you build a solid foundation like the 30th, you'll be able to control the madness even if it arises.＂
It’s not entirely baseless. The 1st Demon also emphasized the foundation repeatedly.
But I didn’t think that was the sole reason.
That battle on the Death Line. Wasn't I repeatedly gripped by a feeling of madness within it?
It wasn't just because of the pain. Simply building a foundation wasn't enough. Being able to control it all must also be related to mental strength.
Continuing to move my body without giving up.
I lightly executed Demonic Claw. The first form, though taking shape, still felt endlessly distant.
＂Then, the 29th should train with me as well.＂
＂…It’s already incredibly tough…Ugh…But I don't want to lose to you either…Guess I have no choice. I'll catch up soon, so watch out.＂
＂I'll be waiting.＂
Two people striving together is better than one struggling alone.
As if to prove that simple truth, I managed to acquire the fourth form of Soul Chasing Technique without much difficulty. Competing with her, striving side by side, greatly increased the results of our training.
"...Phew."
The 29th had also changed. An energy started to faintly settle on the tip of her sword, which had been dormant for a while.
A Realm approaching the Peak. A Wall being broken.
I, too, gripped my tempered sword.
The crimson blade accelerated from its scabbard.
Amidst the battered rocks, I visualized what I could accomplish.
—Shhk.
A line was drawn on the massive boulder. Immediately after, it split in two, fragments scattering in all directions.
The cut wasn't clean. Not as smooth as the 29th’s used to be.
But even if crude, I had completely severed it. The massive boulder before my eyes.
I had grown. My mind, my body, and my spirit.
I smiled faintly. Almost simultaneously, an order came from above.
＂29th. 30th.＂
A cold voice I had heard before addressed us.
＂A mission.＂