NOVEL NEXT Chapter 563
563——————==
Dark Heaven Village
“Method?”
“The method is to obtain the ancient text of the Four Great Families.”
The ancient text of the Four Great Families?
“From there, I will explain.”
Lee Cheong-un cleared his throat and spoke.
“It’s common for a master of the Thunder God Lineage, like yourself, to unleash explosive power that far exceeds your abilities. However, in the early history of the Four Great Families, it was merely regarded as martial arts rampage. The serious study of that phenomenon began only a few generations ago when we started researching the Thunder Spirit Technique.”
“Centuries ago, then.”
“As the grandmaster, I inherited all the research materials and was enhancing the Thunder Spirit Technique… But as I’ve heard through various transmissions, this rampaging phenomenon has likely existed since the founding days of the White Lotus Sect.”
Lee Cheong-un continued gravely.
“In other words, the first grandmaster who created the martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage had an idea about why that phenomenon occurred, and the ultimate direction that the martial arts of the Four Great Families, including the Thunder God Lineage, would eventually gravitate toward.”
“The first grandmaster of the Thunder God Lineage… who is that?”
“Not certain.”
I asked in disbelief at Lee Cheong-un’s answer.
“What?”
“I said I’m not sure who it is.”
“It’s absurd to claim that the creator of the Thunder God Lineage’s martial arts, which has a thousand-year history, is unknown.”
“Because after the first leader of the White Lotus Sect, Dharma, there exists a gap of about a hundred years in the history of the Four Great Families. This is a secret passed down among the masters of the Four Great Families. I didn’t mention it before since it wouldn’t have particularly aided your martial arts until now…”
A gap?
Hearing this for the first time, I focused my thoughts as Lee Cheong-un continued.
“The initial ancestor of the White Lotus Sect, Dharma, was said to be a strange monk who controlled the power of profound Buddhism. He secretly gathered his followers to establish the White Lotus Sect, and for about the first hundred years, there is a complete gap in history.”
“Why? Were there not disciples of Dharma or founders of the Four Great Families?”
“That part of history has seemingly vanished as if it was intentionally erased. So what I know only pertains to the history after the Four Great Families were solidly established.”
“……”
“However, ‘someone’ must have created the Four Great Families for them to exist.”
“Couldn’t it be Dharma himself?”
“That’s possible, but according to transmissions, Dharma had little interest in martial arts. Based on the information you’ve gathered so far, he would be purely a demon sorcerer and a monk. Thus, within the White Lotus Sect, martial arts and sorcery are considered fundamentally different.”
“Hmmm.”
So that means the ones who created the Four Great Families are not disciples of the leader of the White Lotus Sect, Dharma?
“Anyway, returning to the topic, we must obtain the ancient book containing the lost history of the Four Great Families of the White Lotus Sect. Only by understanding that record can we grasp the significance of the Thunder God Lineage’s martial arts, and what the essence of the Thunder Spirit Power truly is.”
“Do you know where that ancient text is?”
“You’ve already been there.”
Lee Cheong-un’s eyes sparkled.
“The village of the Water God Lineage.”
“That artificial fortress!”
“That place is home to the bloodline of the White Lotus Sect’s priest, and the priests have been passing down the entire history and knowledge of the White Lotus Sect for generations. Therefore, it is certain that all historical records of the White Lotus Sect exist in that village.”
As I was listening to that, something suddenly struck my mind. I then said,
“… The Master of the White Lotus Sect is likely aware of the lost history of the White Lotus Sect.”
“Right on the dot. I heard you’ve been studying hard, so it seems your brain is working faster.”
Lee Cheong-un, somewhat impressed, continued.
“The Master of the White Lotus Sect wasn’t originally a martial artist. He was born with the bloodline of a natural sorcerer and spent decades holed up in the village of the Water God Lineage, reading books. He must be the one who thoroughly understands the hidden dark secrets and history of the White Lotus Sect.”
“Could it be that the Master of the White Lotus Sect desires the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder God Lineage as well…”
“He likely knows the lost history of the Four Great Families and the ultimate realm that the Ultimate Technique of the Four Great Families will reach. Perhaps he has already read the secret records left by the first grandmaster of the Four Great Families? That is why he’s trying to make the other Four Great Families his own.”
“……”
Everything is connected.
Despite possessing overwhelming power, the Master of the White Lotus Sect has deliberately left Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong and the like, the remnant of the Thunder God Lineage, unharmed, and is now searching for the Non-Birth Mother’s Dharma Technique; the reason he’s suddenly aiming for dominance over the Four Great Families…
“In the end, we have no choice but to negotiate with the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”
“Not just a relationship of using each other for immediate purposes as before.”
“I understand.”
“He is a very cunning and wise individual. Trying to probe him superficially will likely result in either being used or outright failure.”
Jin So-cheong, who was beside me, added,
“To fully uncover secrets from the Master of the White Lotus Sect, you must completely subdue him from the heart. You must reform someone who is despairing deeply from the darkness of the world.”
“From the heart…”
“It’s certainly a difficult task, but it must be done.”
‘To subdue’ the Master of the White Lotus Sect from the heart?
Whether to make him an ally or a subordinate, it was an incredibly absurd task.
Knowing this well, I couldn’t help but feel negative thoughts creeping in.
“The Master of the White Lotus Sect views this martial arts world merely as a cover and is consumed by the mission of saving humanity. He wouldn’t hesitate to kill millions to achieve his goal. What could possibly sway him in a conversation?”
“True sincerity will resonate.”
With that retort, Jin So-cheong chuckled.
“… And you, Baek Woong, might find it easier than anyone else.”
“……?”
“Let’s end the information sharing here. Now we need to devise a way to negotiate with the Master of the White Lotus Sect, and that task falls to our strategists rather than our martial artists.”
“I understand.”
After futzing around with Jin So-cheong in some more sparring, I withdrew from that place. I then approached Zhuge Sa and showed him the conversation I had with the obsidian. He crossed his arms and spoke.
“So? Do you possess the ability to withstand about ten exchanges against the Master of the White Lotus Sect?”
“Ugh…”
“Be sure.”
I hesitated before mentally estimating, then answered.
“It might be possible during the initial stage of rebirth…”
“I see. Then, once you reach the Absolute Realm, you’d surely be able to withstand a hundred exchanges?”
“How would I know that… I can’t discuss realms I haven’t achieved.”
“How boring. It makes strategizing difficult, doesn’t it?”
Muttering something, Zhuge Sa said,
“I’ll devise a plan with Hyun, so you gather the remnants of the Thunder God Lineage with Lee Cheong-un.”
“Got it.”
I headed towards the Azure Dragon Gate, the base of the Azure Dragon, along with Lee Cheong-un. Since I had been there before, I quickly used the Golden Lamp technique to arrive, and upon arrival, Lee Cheong-un stormed in without hesitation.
Boom!
Bang!
Kaboom!
“Ahhh!”
“Ahhh!”
Screams echoed, and the disciples of the Azure Dragon Gate were launched about. Like a gust of wild wind, dozens to hundreds of martial artists were scattered in an instant. Following Lee Cheong-un, I entered, and there stood the Thunderbolt Three Saints, Red Moon, facing Lee Cheong-un.
Upon seeing Lee Cheong-un, Red Moon was struck by fear, his teeth chattering.
“G-g-g-g-g-g-host? Could it be that the grandmaster… after fifty years…”
Lee Cheong-un smiled brightly.
“It’s been a while. But here, the disciples of the Azure Dragon Gate have mastered the martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage, and are expanding their influence in this remote place?”
“No way!! The grandmaster… can’t be alive!!”
Red Moon screamed, but at that moment, Lee Cheong-un shot a gust of wind laden with the Thunder Spirit Technique, sending him crashing into the wall.
Boom!
“Cough…”
Red Moon was incapacitated with a single blow. Both his intentions and strength were not even a match for Lee Cheong-un in the slightest. Lee Cheong-un looked at Red Moon with disdain.
“From today, the Azure Dragon Gate is dissolved. You will work under me to rebuild the Thunder God Lineage starting today.”
“G-grandmaster. Please… this faction is something I’ve spent decades building my life around…”
“That’s not my business.”
“But…”
Slap!
Lee Cheong-un rushed and slapped Red Moon ten times. Red Moon, missing teeth and drenched in blood, knelt down, and his expression changed to one of astonishment.
“Ugh.”
Lee Cheong-un brushed off Red Moon’s teeth from his fist.
“Your stubbornness has turned to foolishness over those fifty years. Why do you resist a grandmaster like me?”
“Ugh… but…”
Bam!
“Gah.”
Lee Cheong-un kicked Red Moon’s shin and sighed.
“Just shut it.”
“… Yes…”
Red Moon, streaming tears from his unjustified sense of grievance, barely stood up and announced the restructuring of his faction, dissolving the Azure Dragon Gate. After throwing Red Moon into a wooden armor, I went to the location of the Black Moon Group where Green Moon was, and repeated the same actions.
However, Green Moon’s reaction was different from Red Moon’s. When he saw Lee Cheong-un, who had been missing for fifty years, his expression showed great shock, but he quickly regained his composure and said,
“Greetings, Grandmaster.”
Green Moon, who had maintained arrogance against everyone until now, immediately knelt down, in stark contrast to Red Moon, who had just been slapped. Perhaps realizing this, Lee Cheong-un sparkled with interest.
“You actually believe I’m real, after appearing after fifty years?”
“There’s no need to test me. I’ve always thought the grandmaster might still be alive.”
“Oh? On what basis?”
“……”
After a moment of silence, Green Moon spoke.
“If you wish, I will gather all remaining forces of the Ghostly Spirit Sect and follow you.”
“The Black Moon Group wasn’t everything, huh?”
“Yes. Our Ghostly Spirit Sect preserved ourselves using sorcery on the day of the incident fifty years ago.”
At that, Lee Cheong-un nodded quietly.
“Follow me.”
“Yes…”
And just as I was about to approach Green Moon to throw him into the wooden armor,
Suddenly!
Flash!
A blinding light erupted, and the scenery around transformed. Green Moon’s sword form turned to mist and vanished from that spot. In the altered situation, Green Moon’s voice echoed through the darkness like an echo.
[Even if you truly are the grandmaster Lee Cheong-un, it would be absurd to follow you! Our Ghostly Spirit Sect shall declare independence here!]
Ssssss
As the mist began to dissipate, Lee Cheong-un murmured calmly,
“An illusion technique. It was a while ago that you were reasonably skilled in sorcery.”
[No matter how calm you act, I can’t land a single strike on you, but you’ll never capture me. Hahaha!]
“Is that really so?”
[What?]
Lee Cheong-un said,
“Green Moon. I’ll say this one last time. If you surrender, I’ll let go of one arm.”
[Ha ha ha! Do what you will.]
“Is that so?”
Suddenly, Lee Cheong-un unleashed the Thunder Spirit Technique, condensing the Thunder Soul around him. Instantly, his entire body transformed into a shimmering mass of light, brightening to a degree visible to the naked eye. A burst of light started flooding the area as if one were witnessing the sun directly.
Thunder Spirit Technique.
Indra’s Net.
A feeling enveloped me as if the net of lightning spread in all directions. The actual unfolding of that net occurred in the blink of an eye, enough to cover dozens of pages. And at that instant, as Green Moon, who was turning to mist to escape, attempted to slip through the net, he was violently scorched.
Zzzz!!
“Ahhhhh!”
Green Moon screamed, getting electrocuted into unconsciousness. It seemed that he had been kept from dying or being seriously injured as Lee Cheong-un had controlled his power, but judging by the foaming at the mouth, he was certainly incapacitated. I watched the scene and asked,
“Was that technique you just used…?”
“It’s an application of the Thunder Spirit Technique. It can incapacitate the enemy with extreme thunder.”
“Could you always do that?”
“Of course not. I created this application after receiving your obsidian and going through extensive training.”
“……”
At that moment, I felt pity for the Thunderbolt Three Saints. They were caught off guard by a bolt from the blue, to be precise.
“With this, I’ve captured all of the Thunderbolt Three Saints. Now, I’ll make these guys work to guide you to the essence of the Thunder God Lineage.”