The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 70 - The Great Art (2)

Namgung Jun re-examined the explanation of the Great Art that he had heard from the Azure Medical Pavilion Head in his mind.

‘The Adamant Essence Art.’

The efficacy of the Adamant Essence Art was simple.

A Great Art that made the physical body strong by using thoroughly combined medicinal herbs and spiritual medicines.

Of course, just by receiving the Great Art, one’s level of external arts would not leap up in a single breath.

“Originally, the Adamant Essence Art is a disused art.”

“Why is that?”

“It is because it is difficult to see a great effect, yet the consumption of the medicinal herbs and spiritual medicines that go into it is immense.”

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head calmly continued his explanation.

“The Adamant Essence Art is not a Great Art for martial artists. It was originally born to raise one who was born with an extremely weak body to the level of an ordinary body.”

“So it is useless for a martial artist who has separately trained their external arts?”

“Even an average member of the Iron Pagoda Hall would likely see almost no effect from the Great Art. At most, their stamina would increase a little and their constitution would change to one that recovers faster.”

Namgung Jun understood immediately.

He had been born with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians in a man’s body, and on top of that, had not been properly cared for while spending his childhood as a Sword Page.

For that reason, around the time he had just been reincarnated, the condition of Namgung Jun’s body was at a serious level, going beyond just being pathetic.

Though he had raised his body’s condition a lot now with sufficient nutritional supply, the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, and the external art training at the Iron Pagoda Hall, he was still far lacking compared to ordinary martial artists.

He had endured until now by making up for his lacking external arts with his internal energy, his artistry, and the experience of his past life.

‘And especially for me, among Jing, Qi, and Shen, my Jing is the most insufficient.’

Jing, Qi, and Shen.

Jing is the physical body.

Qi is internal energy.

Shen is will-intent.

Currently, Namgung Jun’s greatest weakness was precisely his Jing.

If he could just raise the level of his physical body to that of a normal martial artist, there would surely be an immense result.

‘Even if I do not proceed with the Great Art, my body will one day rise to a normal level.’

But that time would surely take quite a long while.

It was partly because of his unique constitution of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, but it was also because the time he had begun his external art training was very insufficient.

In the middle of this, if he could raise the level of his body through the Great Art, it would surely be of great help in both the aspects of his martial arts accomplishment and of overcoming his Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

“An ordinary martial artist would not see much of an effect, but for you, it will be different.”

“I think so too.”

“And on top of that, the Great Art you will receive this time is different from the ordinary Adamant Essence Art.”

Curiosity arose in Namgung Jun’s two eyes.

“If that is the case?”

“This old man has not been playing around until now. I have devised a plan to suppress, even if just a little, the Nine Yin Severed Meridians through the Adamant Essence Art.”

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head showed him the medical texts that were stacked high like a tower and the papers on which something was written in dense script.

“Through the Adamant Essence Art, I will slightly change your constitution.”

“Is that possible?”

“Though I exaggerated and called it a constitution, it is nothing special. It is to tune your body to be closer to a physical form suitable for drawing up even more yang energy innately.”

The detailed explanation that followed had many parts that were difficult for Namgung Jun to understand.

It was because not only were there the names of all sorts of medicinal herbs, but a lot of advanced knowledge that even a physician would not know well popped out.

But he could clearly tell how much interest and effort the Azure Medical Pavilion Head had poured into his Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

Namgung Jun paid his respects to the Azure Medical Pavilion Head once again.

“I will be in your care.”

……

Namgung Jun, who had drunk the decoction that the Azure Medical Pavilion Head had prepared, headed for a hot bath located within the Azure Medical Pavilion.

Inside the hot bath, which had not yet been filled with water, all sorts of medicinal herb pouches were stacked up densely.

Around the hot bath, other physicians were on standby, having piled up medicinal herb pouches high.

The size and contents of each pouch were different, and it seemed the medicinal herb pouches that were to be additionally put in would change as time went on.

“The amount of medicinal herbs consumed for the Great Art is immense.”

“It is truly a lot. This amount of medicinal herbs is to the extent that it could be used for almost half a year.”

“How long does the Great Art take?”

“I do not know the exact time. However, I think it will likely take about two days.”

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head took out an acupuncture needle case from within his robes.

“Sit in the lotus position. I will place the needles in that state.”

Namgung Jun sat in the lotus position in the center of the hot bath.

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head, who had rolled up his sleeves, immediately opened the needle case and began to insert the needles into Namgung Jun’s major acupoints.

The hand movements of inserting the extremely thin needles, which were like thread, without hesitation were very fast and precise.

It was to the extent that it could be compared to the Swift Sword of any master, and the physicians who were on standby at the side could not take their eyes off him.

Even though not much time had passed, the entire body of Namgung Jun, who was sitting in the lotus position, was densely covered in needles.

His appearance was like that of a hedgehog.

As if he had consumed a considerable amount of his mental energy by concentrating so much, the Azure Medical Pavilion Head wiped the cold sweat that had formed on his forehead.

“Now, we will fill the bath with the medicinal liquid. When I give the signal, begin your Qi circulation.”

“Understood.”

As the Azure Medical Pavilion Head, who had come out of the bath, gave the instruction, the physicians who were on standby began to pour the pre-heated medicinal liquid into the bath.

As the dark brown medicinal liquid rose up to below Namgung Jun’s chin, the Azure Medical Pavilion Head shouted.

“Begin your Qi circulation!”

Vwoom!

Namgung Jun immediately closed his eyes and circulated the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.

‘It’s hot.’

The medicinal liquid that was actually touching his body was merely slightly warm.

But not long after he had begun his Qi circulation and breath regulation, the medicinal liquid felt so hot it was as if it were boiling.

It was not that it was actually hot, but it seemed to be a phenomenon that appeared as the medicinal energy contained in the liquid was seeping into his body by way of the Great Art.

‘It’s not unbearable.’

Though a heat as if his flesh were being slowly cooked enveloped his entire body, Namgung Jun continued his Qi circulation without wavering.

The internal energy of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, circulating through his entire system of meridians with a fierce momentum.

He could feel the medicinal energy that had seeped into his body acting on his entire body, centered on his internal energy.

‘Hmm?’

It was when the Great Art was in full swing.

Namgung Jun, who had been continuously performing Qi circulation and breath regulation, felt an anomaly arise in his body.

His Nine Yin Severed Meridians, which had been dormant until now, had suddenly reacted and were writhing violently.

‘Why?’

He had even drunk a decoction that the Azure Medical Pavilion Head had prepared separately, in preparation for the case that an attack might occur during the Great Art.

Despite that, his Nine Yin Severed Meridians had awakened and were indiscriminately spewing a massive amount of Cold Yin Energy throughout his entire body. If he were to leave it as it was, it was clear that it would immediately lead to an attack.

VWOOM!

The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and the medicinal energy of the Adamant Essence Art, which had reacted to the Cold Yin Energy that was filling his meridians with a violent force, were to the point of hesitating and causing a clash.

‘Did it awaken because of the drastic increase of Yang Energy in my body?’

Around the time Namgung Jun was grasping the situation, the telepathic message of the Azure Medical Pavilion Head, who had also sensed the anomaly, was heard.

—Are you alright! It seems the severed meridians have acted up!

—Yes. I am on the verge of having an attack.

The beard of the Azure Medical Pavilion Head, who had heard Namgung Jun’s telepathic message, trembled minutely.

‘I prepared and prepared again, but in the end, has it come to this.’

His trembling at his own insufficiency was only for a moment.

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head made a quick judgment.

—We must suspend the Great Art. Will that be possible?

—It seems it will be difficult.

If he were to stop his Qi circulation to suspend the Great Art, not only the Cold Yin Energy of his Nine Yin Severed Meridians, but also the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and the medicinal energy that were in the middle of a continuous clash, would surely go berserk.

If he made a mistake, it could lead to a situation where not only would he suffer an immense internal injury, but his life would be in a precarious state.

Suspending the Great Art was not the best plan.

—Can you control the energies that are running wild right now?

—Controlling the energies is not the right answer.

—What do you mean by that!

—Pavilion Head. Please do not stop replenishing the medicinal herbs until I stop my Qi circulation. Especially if it is a medicinal herb that holds Yang Energy, that would be even better.

Namgung Jun sent his last telepathic message and then focused on internal observation.

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head’s worry was correct.

The attempt to control the three rampaging energies had a high possibility of failure.

For that reason, Namgung Jun had chosen another option.

‘A Forceful Breakthrough.’

He would guide the destructive power that was arising from the clash of the three energies to the second point of his Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

He intended to attempt a forceful breakthrough by concentrating the after-effects, which could destroy his entire body, into a single acupoint.

V-VWOOM!

Following Namgung Jun’s guidance, the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and the medicinal energy of the Adamant Essence Art turned their paths.

The Cold Energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, which had been in the middle of a power struggle, also fiercely gave chase.

At that, the three energies, in total, plunged down with a massive force.

Their final destination was, as a matter of course, the second acupoint of his Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

As there was nowhere further to extend, the three energies became entangled with each other in the dead end and violently repelled each other.

KWAGAKANG!

A deafening roar erupted in succession from within Namgung Jun.

The after-effects of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and the medicinal energy hammering at the second point.

The shock of the Hot Yang Energy and the Cold Yin Energy clashing at the second point.

As the flow of the energies that he was boldly pushing forward did not cease, a fierce aura erupted in succession around the second acupoint.

‘Keuk.’

Namgung Jun automatically clenched his teeth.

He had to handle not only the shock of the breakthrough, but also the after-effects of the clash of the three energies at the same time.

If in the first breakthrough, he had pushed through all at once by using the power of the Sunfire Core, in the second breakthrough, he was hammering at it in succession with large and small shocks.

Like a siege ram striking a castle gate.

That was how much the shock that was shaking his entire body was endlessly assaulting him in an irregular fashion.

It would not have been strange for him to lose consciousness at any moment.

But Namgung Jun did not stop.

‘I cannot lose to a mere breakthrough process like this.’

KWAGAGAGANG!

Namgung Jun was barely holding on to his consciousness amidst the excruciating pain.

In the middle of that, the meridians around the second acupoint could not endure the clash of the three energies and began to be torn apart.

As large and small internal injuries spread and congested blood rose up to his Adam’s apple, Namgung Jun did not stop.

How long had he been hammering at it?

KWAAAAAANG!

The three energies, which had been haphazardly entangled, broke through the second acupoint and extended throughout his entire body.

The Forceful Breakthrough of the second point of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

As the second acupoint was opened, the surrounding meridians that had been frozen by the Cold Yin Energy opened up.

Following the newly opened meridians, the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art fiercely charged through.

VROOOOM!

The Cold Yin Energy that had been clumped in the second acupoint unraveled like a skein of thread and clung to the internal energy of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.

The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art swallowed the cold energy and swelled in size little by little.

A portion of the Cold Yin Energy stuck to the medicinal energy of the Adamant Essence Art, and this caused a different transformation than that of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.

As the medicinal energy, which carried Yang Energy, and the Cold Energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians became entangled, a pure energy was forged.

Was it because it was comparatively weaker than the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art?

It seemed that by achieving a harmony of yin and yang, it was being transformed into a pure energy.

‘This is!’

The pure energy, which was moving together with the internal energy of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, seeped into his entire body according to the finer points of the Adamant Essence Art.

The meridians that had been torn by the shock of the breakthrough were not only slowly healing, but were also becoming wider.

On top of that, it affected his entire body, as was the original function of the Great Art.

His physical body, heating up once again.

If before it had been hot as if it were on fire, now it was just warm.

Namgung Jun realized it instinctively.

The medicinal energy, now merged as one with the Cold Yin Energy, was beyond compare to what it was before.

The current pure energy was no different from having consumed some precious spiritual medicine.

The more purely forged energy acted positively on his physical body.

Because of this, the efficacy of the Adamant Essence Art could not help but become completely different from the original as well.

The Forceful Breakthrough of the second meridian of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

The energy forged by the combination of Yang Energy and Cold Energy.

The finer points of the Adamant Essence Art.

As these various factors overlapped, a new change arose in Namgung Jun’s physical body.

SWOOOOOOSH!

At the blue lightning energy that was whirling from Namgung Jun’s entire body, the medicinal liquid that had been filling the hot bath rapidly evaporated.