NOVEL NEXT chapter 204
Jeogal Munyeok was puzzled as he prepared.
He had been told that he would stay for only two days, so why was he being asked to prepare two months' worth of food for the seclusion room?
Did it mean he would be instructed on the training he needed to do for two months?
He couldn’t understand.
Regardless, he followed the instructions and finished preparing everything, then informed Yeon Woo Jin.
Yeon Woo Jin responded, “You should tell the people that you’ll be absent for two days.”
The fact that he was told to say he would be away for only two days confirmed that, as expected, Yeon Woo Jin would be giving him training for the two months.
So, he informed the higher-ups that he would be in seclusion for two days and asked them to take care of the clan in his absence.
When Jeogal Munyeok entered the seclusion room, he found Yeon Woo Jin carving something into the floor.
From the patterns, it looked like some kind of formation.
“What formation is that?”
No matter how hard he looked, it was a type of formation he had never seen before.
‘What is that? It’s such a fascinating design.’
He was curious but remained silent, not wanting to disturb Yeon Woo Jin, who was focused on drawing the formation.
As time passed, once Yeon Woo Jin finished the formation, he placed his hand on the floor and began to channel energy into it.
Suddenly, the patterns began to glow, and the walls of the seclusion room started to ripple.
Yeon Woo Jin stood up and spoke.
“You won’t be able to leave this room for two months now.”
“Pardon? But you said you would leave in two days, didn’t you?”
“Don’t worry. Two months inside here is only two days outside.”
“Pardon? So, you mean this formation bends the axis of time?”
“Yes, you’re quick to understand since you’re familiar with formations.”
“Is that really a feasible theory?”
“Yes, but to activate it, I need primordial qi.”
“Pardon? Does that mean you’ve risked your life to activate the formation?”
When Jeogal Munyeok panicked, Yeon Woo Jin reassured him.
“Don’t worry, the primordial qi will regenerate itself.”
If that’s true, then Yeon Woo Jin’s vitality was practically infinite.
‘Could he really be a god?’
He thought for a moment.
He examined the formation again.
To think that he was being trained for two months just by activating this formation…
Jeogal Munyeok was deeply moved.
It was clear that he had made the right choice in serving him.
“Let’s get started. Time is of the essence.”
“Yes! Understood!”
****
One month had passed in the seclusion room.
Jeogal Munyeok had fully learned the Great Heavenly Spirit Art.
Literally, he had only learned it.
Now, he needed to work on his achievements.
The progress he had made in the Great Heavenly Spirit Art was barely at the first stage.
He still had a long way to go to reach the peak.
It felt like he had just put on his clothes and shoes and was now ready to start.
He now had a question.
With just one month left, how much would he achieve in that time?
Would he disappoint Yeon Woo Jin?
He was worried.
However, that worry quickly disappeared when Yeon Woo Jin gave him a fierce glare.
“Wha—Why are you looking at me like that, Young Master?”
“To increase your martial achievement quickly, there’s nothing better than actual combat.”
That was true.
But why was he saying this now?
“Starting now, I’m going to attack you like I’m trying to kill you. You’d better do your best to block it.”
Huh?
Was he joking?
...Just as Jeogal Munyeok thought that, he felt an overwhelming killing intent emanating from Yeon Woo Jin’s body.
He was serious.
Yeon Woo Jin was genuinely trying to kill him.
Jeogal Munyeok’s body trembled as he felt the killing intent.
“Get a grip! You’re really going to do this in real combat too?”
“Hmm? Oh, no, I won’t.”
“This is your final warning. No more warnings after this. Prepare yourself properly.”
“Got it!”
And with that, Yeon Woo Jin rushed at Jeogal Munyeok with terrifying speed.
That was the last thing Jeogal Munyeok remembered.
****
A few days later.
Covered in rags, Jeogal Munyeok stood before Yeon Woo Jin, gasping for air.
Seeing him in this state, Yeon Woo Jin finally smiled with satisfaction.
“You’re not falling so easily now, are you?”
Jeogal Munyeok gave a dry laugh.
Over the past few days, he had visited the threshold of death more times than he could count.
Even when he got close to death, the reapers didn’t even bother to look at him.
They just stared with pity, knowing that he would be dragged back to life anyway.
Yeon Woo Jin never showed mercy and relentlessly attacked him.
But no matter how deadly his injuries were, the moment he opened his eyes, they would be fully healed.
After surviving death multiple times, his progress in the Great Heavenly Spirit Art skyrocketed.
The desperation to survive rapidly accelerated his growth.
Thanks to this, he had raised his proficiency in the Great Heavenly Spirit Art to the fifth stage within just a few days.
If he had trained alone, it would have taken at least a year—maybe two.
Now, he had gained confidence.
Perhaps he could even brush against Yeon Woo Jin’s sleeve.
However, when Yeon Woo Jin spoke again, Jeogal Munyeok’s expression darkened.
“Now, we can really start the attacks.”
What? Was everything up until now just a warm-up?
How could there be such a gap in power?
He had reached the peak level, yet he couldn’t even approach Yeon Woo Jin’s sleeve.
Even now, he thought he had gotten closer, but he hadn’t.
Yeon Woo Jin hadn’t even used his true power.
“Right now, how much strength do you think I’m using?”
“Hmm, just enough to do some work.”
That was insane.
He was barely using any effort at all, and yet Jeogal Munyeok couldn’t even touch him.
What would happen if Yeon Woo Jin used his full strength?
“Now, you’ve rested enough. Let’s begin again.”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s words, Jeogal Munyeok clenched his fists.
He might die, but at least he could make one last strike.
Determined to give everything, Jeogal Munyeok’s eyes gleamed with venom.
Seeing that, Yeon Woo Jin smiled in satisfaction.
Finally, the kind of opponent he was hoping for was emerging.
‘Just a little more, and he’ll be perfect.’
He needed that venom in him.
That was the only way to fight the Demon Sect.
These people had become too accustomed to peace.
In order to wake them up properly, this was the best method.
Of course, it was also the most reliable method for fast progress.
If he showed them this, they would naturally become his subordinates.
While he couldn’t push them to the brink of death like he did with Jeogal Munyeok, they would still enter a hellish training.
How did he know?
Because the Hubei Pang Clan, Namgoong Clan, and Hwangbo Clan were already doing the same.
As Jeogal Munyeok charged forward with all his might, Yeon Woo Jin clenched his fist.
****
The tenth stage of the Great Heavenly Spirit Art.
This was the level Jeogal Munyeok had reached in two months.
He had practically mastered it.
The twelfth stage, known as the Peak Stage, was a level that couldn’t be achieved through training alone.
To reach the Peak Stage, one had to realize the ultimate principle through meditation and solitary cultivation.
Jeogal Munyeok bowed deeply to Yeon Woo Jin and expressed his gratitude.
“I am deeply indebted to you once again, Young Master.”
“Congratulations on your achievement. Now, it depends on what the clan leader decides, but I believe in you. You will certainly reach the Peak Stage.”
“I will perfectly master the Great Heavenly Spirit Art to meet your expectations, Young Master.”
“I’ll give you Vitality Pills to take with you. Feed them to others who seem like they’ll die during training. While it won’t be as good as my healing, they’ll recover somewhat.”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s words, Jeogal Munyeok’s eyes sparkled.
The training he had received…
He vowed to pass it on to his beloved family.
“Now, I must speak on the main issue.”
“The main issue?”
“You know I don’t have much time.”
“That’s right. I’ve been wondering why you rushed to train me so quickly.”
“The Demon Sect will be emerging soon.”
“Pardon?”
Why would the Demon Sect be coming up now?
“What do you mean by that? The Demon Sect you mentioned earlier?”
“Yes, the same one that destroyed half of the Central Plains.”
“They’re going to appear?”
“Yes.”
“Not the Blood Sect?”
Since they were of the same sect, he wondered if he had confused the two.
“The Blood Sect was annihilated by my grandfather in front of me.”
Jeogal Munyeok swallowed nervously.
“Did he… did he go alone and destroy them?”
“Yes. He went alone. He would have enjoyed it, but he quickly wiped them out because of me.”
What did that mean?
Enjoyed it?
What was he talking about?
It seemed like he had hurriedly cleaned up the mess because there was something urgent.
Whether it was the Unborn or Yeon Woo Jin, neither of them were human.
Well, if they were like the Unborn, it made sense that they would release someone like Yeon Woo Jin into the world.
But the Demon Sect…
Now it made sense why Yeon Woo Jin said he didn’t have time and had been pushing him so hard.
They were a group strong enough to make even Yeon Woo Jin feel the pressure.
“You’re feeling tense too, Young Master?”
“I’m not scared, but the problem is that I can’t protect the entire Central Plains. The Central Plains is where my loved ones are. So, we need to increase the strength of the Central Plains to prepare.”
“You’re not scared… does that mean you think you can win?”
Yeon Woo Jin simply smiled.
“If the Heavenly Demon could bring [N O V E L I G H T] out my full strength, he wouldn’t have failed to conquer the Central Plains in the past, would he? Even if he’s grown stronger, I believe I can defeat him.”
Yeon Woo Jin’s confidence.
It was truly reassuring.
Now Jeogal Munyeok understood why such an extraordinary being had been sent to the world.
What was his duty now?
To serve Yeon Woo Jin to the best of his ability and fight against the Demon Sect.
Wait, was the reason for all this training to travel around and train the sects in the Central Plains?
“Are you planning to travel around the sects in the Central Plains, training them like you trained me?”
“Yes.”
“They won’t easily comply. Their pride is too strong. Especially the Wudang Sect and the Huashan Sect. It would be better to just give them secret teachings and leave.”
At Jeogal Munyeok’s words, Yeon Woo Jin smiled.
“If they don’t listen… we’ll make them listen, even if we have to force them.”
A chill ran down Jeogal Munyeok’s spine.
For just a moment, he felt the aura of a tyrant.
He had only seen Yeon Woo Jin’s benevolent side, so he had momentarily been deceived.
Yeon Woo Jin was the bloodline of the Unborn.
How could they possibly listen if forced?
What would they need to do to make them listen?
Jeogal Munyeok couldn’t even imagine.
“But if they really don’t listen… we’ll have to abandon them. I don’t have time to worry about sects that won’t listen.”
It seemed that Yeon Woo Jin’s kindness only applied to those he considered his own.
Seeing Yeon Woo Jin’s demeanor made Jeogal Munyeok feel more at ease.
It meant that Yeon Woo Jin would protect and take care of his people.
Jeogal Munyeok bowed again.
“I will serve you with all my soul, my lord!”
Now, he no longer called him Young Master, but my lord, as if he had fully committed himself.
“Thank you.”
“Of course!”
****
When he left the seclusion room, only two days had passed.
It was truly a mysterious experience.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand how it was possible.
He understood the theory roughly.
But that was just theory, and the practical feasibility seemed like something impossible to achieve.
Yet, he had witnessed it happening perfectly.
He felt nothing but respect.
Yeon Woo Jin was not just strong.
He was far more knowledgeable than Jeogal Munyeok and knew exactly how to utilize that knowledge.
Jeogal Munyeok had felt this while experiencing the training in the seclusion room.
Yeon Woo Jin didn’t just push him to his limits, but he also knew how to bring out his full potential when needed.
Although other places had also used secret techniques to quickly raise accomplishments in martial arts, Jeogal Munyeok saw how quickly it evolved under Yeon Woo Jin’s guidance.
Yeon Woo Jin wasn’t just growing stronger in a physical sense. He was growing stronger in other ways as well.
Jeogal Munyeok couldn’t help but wonder.
What was the limit to Yeon Woo Jin’s abilities?
Up until now, the known abilities included overwhelming martial strength, divine medical skills, and extraordinary intelligence.
What else could there be?
Jeogal Munyeok had witnessed even more ridiculous abilities during the two months he spent living with Yeon Woo Jin.