Chapter 120 – Energy of the Luminous Wheel that Transcends Law (8)

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

‘A fragment of Bodhidharma’s qi?’

It was the treasure embedded in the City of Renowned Craftsmen’s treasure. 

A halo of light spread across the boy’s upper dantian. This light, spiritual energy, was said to elevate weapons to the realm of divine weapons.

‘This is…’

An explosion of inspiration erupted in his mind. It was an intense revelation, as if it was pulling out all the potential the boy had..

Bodhidharma. The pure essence of Buddhist martial arts surged within him, but it didn’t strain his Baihui point.

Could Bodhidharma’s true energy resolve his condition of having a short lifespan?

The moment he sat in the lotus position, everything else faded from his mind. It was as if he had detached from the world.

Whether it was the battlefield situation, Ma Jin’s left arm, or the helplessly pushed back Desolate Fortress warriors and the Seventh Apostle’s strange conduct.

To complete a martial art capable of turning the tide of battle, his mind had to be free of distractions. He calmed his thoughts

He thought of emulating a craftsman’s mindset from the iron clan’s City of Renowned Craftsmen.

The Tang Clan Leader’s cheerfully given teachings also came to mind, advice given during his conversation with Hyeon Won-chang.

—”If you strike the hammer with your soul imbued in it, the weapon will gain spiritual energy. That’s what is commonly referred to as a divine sword or divine weapon.”

—”Imbuing……? What exactly is spiritual energy?”

—”It’s a subtle willpower, imperceptible to the human eye, but it’s a different kind of power from internal energy. It has a kind of mysterious quality, only masters who have reached a certain level can handle it.”

—”Are you flattering yourself?”

—”Imagine a rusted piece of iron repairing itself. Creating such a divine weapon is a truly great feat. It’s like creating life with human hands, akin to the giant Pangu from the creation myths.”

What Jeong Yeon-shin was trying to create now was also a divine weapon.

A foundation that would let him handle the World Tree’s fruit and elevate him to an even higher realm. It was about breathing life into martial arts.

‘The speed of energy accumulation is crucial. Think of it as creating the fastest and most stable mental technique in the world. Even if I can’t truly achieve that.’

Jeong Yeon-shin, deep in meditation, observed the Hundred Meetings point at the crown of his head.

It was as thick as the upper dantian just below it. He could feel the approaching end of his life, which was now less than three years away.

He had to survive.

He had to reach purple-rank. The Divine Sword Group Leader’s position was another matter.

Just sitting in that position wouldn’t bring in any merits.

He even had to establish justification that would force the Lord of Desolate Fortress to give him the World Tree’s fruit.

The world the boy saw ended in three years. That was the deadline.

The end of his world was coming. He would die. That’s what makes this moment so much more important.

‘Today, I must become equal to black-rank supreme masters.’

This was a cultivation method for that purpose.

He had already created the energy pathway. He had meticulously planned everything.

From the Demon Roaring Blood Technique to the Moon Spirit Harmony Technique, he had completely dismantled cultivation method verses that many would covet.

He knew what affects the whole body’s meridian energy pathways and mind method intentions produced.

He had analyzed the cultivation methods’ effects and created new pathways.

The boy had finished his preparations before coming to the City of Renowned Craftsmen. He knew all too well the energy pathways he needed and built the framework.

He only lacked inspiration, to put the finishing touch on the cultivation method that best suited his body.

Will.

When visualization and energy operation unite, it becomes a cultivation method. Mind and natural energy harmonize to create internal energy.

‘I just need one last component.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

He recalled the first verse. The will to accumulate energy. He wanted to draw out the energy of nature with utmost sincerity.

Creating the verse was easy, instead the boy focused his mind on something else entirely.

[As the sun sets, another day is lost.

The flow of the sun and moon is like a wave, but this body is no better than a salmon swimming against the current.

I yearn to defy heaven, yet I follow its laws. However much I struggle against it, I cannot break free from it.]

The verse of a cultivation method not yet named. It was the first line that would give birth to the will of a new cultivation technique.

Saa―

As he activated the energy and raised his will, a response came. The natural energy began to rise with his breath.

Everything so far played out as he had expected. The problem was what came next.

Distractions.

There was clutter in his mind. With his current breathing technique, he couldn’t fully draw out the energy. It would build up and then dissipate.

The residual energy scattered throughout his body was also inconsistent.

Jeong Family Dynamic Technique, Moon Spirit Harmony Technique, Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm, Demon Roaring Blood Technique… It was because the cultivation method wasn’t fully complete.

He needed a final realization to connect the flows.

‘I must weave it with the Diamond Sutra’s teachings.’

With Bodhidharma’s spiritual energy in him, now was the time he was waiting for.

Kiiiiing—!

The upper dantian sharpened his senses and strengthened his will to control the energy.

Through the Baihui point, which endlessly opened and closed uncontrollably, there was an infinite supply of power.

As his consciousness heightened, Jeong Yeon-shin’s innate energy also surged.

Hwaaak!

The hundred meeting points filled with light. It even filled and pierced through Bodhidharma’s spiritual energy fragment.

At this moment, it expanded once again. But he didn’t panic, he had expected as much.

Bodhidharma’s spiritual energy and Jeong Yeon-shin’s will merged together in perfect harmony.

He recalled the teachings of the Diamond Sutra.

—”Abiding nowhere, let the mind arise. Let it flow freely, without attachment, just being.”

Then when visualization finally takes form, the devotion built with mind becomes a cultivation method.

[TL Note- Cultivation method can also be translated as Mental Technique or Mind Technique since they are synonymous to each other.]

‘Ah.’

Realizing that this feeling he felt was enlightenment, the flower of light in his head fully bloomed.

It spun whirling like a wheel, a movement that drew in nature’s energy as its own.

The boy thought with closed eyes.

……My distractions are solely the desire to burn through this short cycle of reincarnation.

To do so, he would borrow Buddha’s wheel and use it as a stepping stone.

”Therefore, I shall call this Luminous Wheel.’

As soon as he thought that, the scattered energy throughout his body ignited in a single color.

Even with his eyes closed, his vision turned white. It was so bright it hurt his eyes.

But he didn’t mind. The boy’s consciousness continued to whirl.

If the predetermined fate is the law of heaven.

Then I will transcend that law.

And someday, surpass it altogether.

‘Let it be called, The Luminous Wheel that Transcends Law..’

He gave the cultivation method a name. He defined this identity against the world’s mysteries.

Finally, the finishing touch. Bodhidharma and Jeong Yeon-shin’s spiritual energies were superimposed onto the formless martial art.

And to that, he added The Jeong Family Dynamic Technique that tempered the body.

What he wanted to create now was different. He incorporated both the subtleties and cultivation method abilities of the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.

It was the constant use of energy accumulation and circulation.

A stream of light rose within his body. It raced through his meridians, channels, and acupoints.

As one massive blob took root in all his body’s energies and rode the rapid changes… The Demon Roaring Blood Technique’s qi became divine…. The Jeong Family Dynamic Technique, Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm, and Moon Spirit Harmony Technique melted together in the cultivation method’s furnace.

Blood technique qi and orthodox qi.

Like different beasts transforming into spirit beasts, his internal force was taking on spirit nature and transforming into a different dimension of qi.

Jeong Yeon-shin sensed it. That it could smoothly become one or roughly split in two anytime.

It was a completely different realm.

‘You who have become one…’

He clearly envisioned the desired form. He grasped the spiritual energy with his consciousness and shaped it into a tangible form.

At the same time he gave it a concept to become clearly recognizable anywhere. Like the craftsmen of the City of Renowned Craftsmen do.

‘I shall make a Luminous Wheel that Transcends Law and use it to face the world!’

He shouted with his soul. A tremendous echo spread in the realm of visualization.

Woong!

“What’s happening now?”

“Commander! Are you alright?”

Baek Mi-ryeo and Lazy Flame Dragon’s voices brushed his ears.

The white energy flow wrapping Jeong Yeon-shin’s body in lotus position gathered to one point.

It was around his solar plexus, the middle dantian. A whirlwind swept through.

The wheel spinning in his visualization became clear. It took form settling in his heart.

Woong woong woong!

The resonance sound was thunderous.

A ring of light. The driving force of the new mental technique.

He brought with him the entirety of Buddhist mythology. The wheel of the Wheel-Turning Sage King moves forward without hesitation.

It is said to crush mountains and rocks as it rushes to spread the teachings.

‘This is my divine weapon.’

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his eyes. There was something he could clearly feel without even observing.

The luminous wheel embedded in his heart was pulsating.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

Jeong Yeon-shin broke away from the formation and walked forward, alone.

Namgung Hwa-shin led the Return Wing Corps to join the battlefield. Four blue-rank experts including Crimson Day Sword rushed out following Jeong Yeon-shin.

Besides White Qilin, there was no one suitable to be unit commander. It wasn’t something that could be entrusted to Lazy Flame Dragon either.

“The Ten Perfections Sect b*st*rds brought their elites!”

“Their skills are top-notch! Avoid sword fights and use swift sword techniques to gain the upper hand!”

The Return Wing Corps soon scattered. There were too many enemies of equal rank.

Originally the difference between the Thirteen Evil Sects and Desolate Fortress was in the number of warriors.

Compared to individual major sects of the Thirteen Evil Sects, Desolate Fortress was overwhelmingly large, but against all Thirteen Evil Sects combined, Desolate Fortress was at a disadvantage.

Now, it was the latter.

‘We must cut off the leaders’ heads.’

Namgung Hwa-shin thought. It was a natural conclusion.

He turned his gaze.

The center of the battlefield came into view.

Jeong Yeon-shin who had coughed blood was pulled by Blue Eye Demon Sword’s hand, and the Blood Flame Sect’s Seventh Apostle was clearly planning something.

It was a battlefield where it was hard to predict even an inch ahead. Namgung Hwa-shin’s emotions were fluctuating.

Meanwhile Blue Eyed Demon Sword Cheong Myeong barely managed to deflect Sword Scorpion Demon Du Gu-gwang’s greatsword, not an easy feat.

The Desolate sword of the swordsman said to compete for first among blue-ranks had already become quite dull.

His movements were sluggish. He was barely holding on with the noble clan’s innate ability to create mysterious winds.

‘He must have been at a disadvantage for over seven days. It’s amazing he held on this long.’

An incredible senior.

Cheong Myeong was a very famous master.

He was known for his strict division between those he liked and those he didn’t, and he enjoyed a greater position due to his status as a pure-blooded member of the noble clan.

Someone who was always so relaxed was now in such a state.

‘If we fall further, we’ll truly have no chance of winning.’

Namgung Hwa-shin ran ahead at a lightning-fast speed. The fluttering blue robe containing the vastness of the sky.

He fully unleashed the secret technique of the Unhindered Clear Flow Body and reached the center of the battlefield in an instant.

His skin tingled due to Du Gu-gwang’s powerful energy waves.

“Desolate Fortress. It’s indeed a den of demons.”

The beard covering Sword Scorpion Demon Du Gu-gwang’s lips curled up. It was right after strongly deflecting Cheong Myeong’s Desolate sword.

The noble clan swordsman’s body drew a far backward somersault in the air in response to the terrifying sword force.

It was enough to make Namgung Hwa-shin’s hair flutter violently as he just arrived.

“There are uselessly many extraordinary rising talents. Imperial swords shouldn’t be so sharp. It’s right that you all die here.”

Du Gu-gwang said.

His tone was indifferent, but it was filled with killing intent. He swung his greatsword forward again. It was a heavy sword force. Even though he wasn’t from a noble clan, the wind emanating from his sword swept the front like a cannonball.

Kuung!

Namgung Hwa-shin met the sword wind head-on with his Desolate sword. But he couldn’t dodge.

Because Shin Bin-bin, the white-rank junior was there, anxiously hovering behind him with concern.

The waves of colliding energy waves swept in all directions. The dust on the vast cave floor scattered outward.

“Kuk!”

He let out an involuntary groan. The energy wave that Jeong Yeon-shin had to deal with before was truly heavy.

It didn’t feel like something a human could produce. It was clearly at a higher level than Namgung Hwa-shin, the realm of black.

Cheong Myeong and Namgung Hwa-shin’s sword paths immediately returned, drawing two trajectories.

Clang! Clang!

Du Gu-gwang’s great sword had a blade length seven-tenths his height.

Among martial artists, only a few used such strange weapons, but wielding such a massive sword seemed overwhelmingly natural.

The power and the precision of the sword techniques almost seemed alive and breathing. With a single thrust, the upper part of Cheong Myeong’s ear was cut off.

Kooong!

That was only because he reacted quickly.

Though Cheong Myeong’s evasive technique had the noble’s wind imbued, just fragments of force exploding from Du Gu-gwang’s sword technique made his blood burst.

And yet, the sword strikes didn’t stop. After the thrust came a slash. It was immediately to the side.

The large sword blade was aimed at Namgung Hwa-shin.

At that moment, Namgung Hwa-shin was pushing the ground backward.

The sword force tore through the front of the blue robe with a tearing sound. 

He barely managed to dodge using the Namgung family’s Boundless Step.

‘I can’t win. It’s hard even to breathe.’

He thought, feeling a sharp pain in his chest.

A master’s breath is proof of their martial arts level. They release techniques with their exhale and raise internal energy with their inhale.

The cycle of sword techniques is the measure of a swordsman’s level.

Du Gu-gwang’s breathing clearly overwhelmed Namgung Hwa-shin and Cheong Myeong. The number of sword strikes released in an instant was different.

Power, technique, breathing.

‘It’s hopeless. I can’t keep up. I felt the same sense of powerlessness I had grown accustomed to recently.

When Jeong Yeon-shin killed my half-brother Namgung Se-jin, and when the Divine Sword Deputy Leader Yue Shou-lin knocked me out, it was the same.

If I were black-rank…’

Desolate Fortress black-ranks are in the realm called supreme masters. Even in territory equivalent to a small country it would be hard to find their equal.

Presumptuous titles like Sword King or Fist King mostly came from this realm.

“Though outside lands suffer constant poor harvests, today’s City of Renowned Craftsmen enjoys bountiful harvests. To think we’d take this many heads of Desolate Fortress’s rising talents. Fortune smiles on us today. It makes up for the treasure stolen by that Blood Flame Sect witch. It was Pure Demon Alliance’s debt anyway.”

Du Gu-gwang said. With a composed posture, his great sword planted in the ground.

He was showing leisure. An attitude saying there was no hurry.

Namgung Hwa-shin ignored him and focused on controlling his breathing.

It wasn’t time to think about the secret agreement between Ten Perfections Sect and Pure Demon Alliance. Cheong Myeong approached while exhaling a tired breath.

“You’re White Qilin? I remember because you’re a junior with potential.”

“Senior Demon Sword.”

“The Ten Perfections Sect masters train in all eighteen types of weapons. It was founded by a supreme master from the military, similar to Radiant Demon Wing in a way. My Demon Sword Style is inferior to his weapon techniques. I’ve experienced him suddenly throwing daggers while using the great sword. He’s even proficient in fist techniques so be careful of distance. He’s a monster with no openings even if you get in close for a hundred strikes.”

“…Yes.”

“He doesn’t seem to particularly care for his subordinates, looking so relaxed while the Tang Clan Leader rampages. These Sichuan b*st*rds are truly incomprehensible. Well, we’re grateful for it. Let’s look for an opening. Though I’m worried about… the squad leader.”

Cheong Myeong glanced across. One-armed Ma Jin was moving precariously.

He was barely avoiding the fist techniques of Pure Demon Divine Hand from the Pure Demon Alliance.

Du Gu-gwang smiled.

“Such noble conduct. But you know too little. To master all eighteen types of martial arts of our sect, one must necessarily pass through death’s door. I’m rather grateful if the deteriorated Tang Clan Leader faces us. How strong will the surviving disciples become? The losses are still within my calculations, so you just need to focus on showing off your Desolate Fortress martial arts.”

[TL Note- Du Gu-gwang is implying that the more Tang clan leader faces his disciples, the stronger the disciples will become.] 

His words were harsh but true.

The Ten Perfections Sect was also famous for breaking techniques. They use all kinds of weapons to tear apart the gaps in major sects’ martial arts.

In this place.

They’re just playing around. They thoroughly exploit the strong preying on the weak.

How could the Ten Perfections Sect not be counted among the Thirteen Evil Sects? His conduct instantly revealed the behavior of an evil path master.

That’s when it happened.

Gooo―!

An overwhelming air-breaking sound rang from behind. Like wind echoing in a deep valley.

At the same time a pure white flash brushed past between Cheong Myeong and Namgung Hwa-shin. A storm swept in belatedly.

Kwaaak―!

It was Jeong Yeon-shin, his eyes emitting pure white light. It wasn’t a particularly graceful technique.

It was as if he couldn’t control the overflowing energy, tearing through the air as he charged forward.

Du Gu-gwang raised his great sword with wide eyes.

Clang!

An explosion that shook the cave rang out. The Desolate sword and greatsword collided. But it wasn’t the end.

Jeong Yeon-shin twisted his leg while gripping his sword. While the sword blades were locked, he used his wrist to perform a technique.

He redirected the force to the side. It was a technique created in the moment after being hit by the Thunderclap bomb.

Du Gu-gwang’s greatsword grazed past the side of Jeong Yeon-shin’s head. The boy didn’t even blink.

He raised an eyebrow at the exposed side. His eyes were glowing white.

‘Is he human……?!’

Du Gu-gwang’s eyes widened for the first time. He felt an overwhelming sword force that was hard to suppress.

How could a human change this much? He hurriedly exploded qi from his bubbling well point.

His leg immediately lifted. It was extreme speed. He intended to release a knee strike with explosive force.

At that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin’s left hand appeared. It was a technique he had prepared the moment he stood up from the lotus position.

He had already activated it while approaching. His unique weakness, the activation time, became meaningless at this moment.

Another weakness was precision, but Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t care and extended his hand.

The trajectory reached straight to Du Gu-gwang’s side.

He used Brilliant River.

The tremendous force swirling in his palm was immense. The aftermath of the force alone had destructive spatial control.

The surrounding ground shook violently. The swirling energy waves tore through the cave floor, smashing and collapsing it.

It continued until the moment of impact.

With overwhelming force, he compensated for the weak striking point with sheer power.

Namgung Hwa-shin thought of his brother for a moment. He could feel the Imperial Sword Form.

The image of Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin and Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin’s spirit seemed to overlap and interweave.

It happened in an instant, in the realm of split-second exchanges.

A colorless qi shield formed at Du Gu-gwang’s waist, an astonishing display of internal energy control.

It was a protective energy as hard as glass.

At that moment Du Gu-gwang and Jeong Yeon-shin’s gazes met.

“…!”

Du Gu-gwang’s eyes widened like they would tear.

It was a master’s sudden insight. He sensed death.

The boy’s indifferently shining eye light was approaching relentlessly. While condensing pure white radiance above his palm.

Kwaaang――!

It was a direct hit. It exploded upon touching the qi shield at his flank. For a moment the City of Renowned Craftsmen shook.

A tremendous collision sound echoed in all directions. The echo seemed to take physical form, pressing down on the air.

But it didn’t end there. The sharp Jeong Yeon-shin emerged through the massive dust cloud.

Behind the fluttering robe, blood and dust scattered together.

Through the open space dyed white, Du Gu-gwang’s upper body was flying. He died instantly.

He had moved like lightning, just like his nickname. His reflexes had become astonishingly fast.

It was enough to instantly wedge between Radiant Demon Wing Leader Ma Jin and Pure Demon Divine Hand from the Pure Demon Alliance.

Kwak!

The hand technique about to strike down Ma Jin’s right arm was blocked. It was caught by a smaller hand.

Jeong Yeon-shin, using his Grappling Technique, had caught the fist technique strike of the Pure Demon Alliance supreme master.

“What… are you…?”

The blue-eyed westerner Pure Demon Divine Hand asked. His voice broke.

He had sensed the unusual qi energy and was trying to quickly end it.

Only he and Ma Jin hadn’t stopped fighting even when Brilliant River exploded.

Silence befell the battlefield.

All battles had stopped.

The gazes of masters from major sects like Desolate Fortress, Pure Demon Alliance, Ten Perfections Sect, Tang Clan, Beggar Sect and warriors from various small and medium sects silently converged.

Toward here, the very center.

“You’re too extraordinary. I must kill you here.”

The demonic path master’s declaration was rough and bold.

Pure Demon Divine Hand Ha Yul-geok poured energy into his hand. A terrifying demonic energy wave surged.

The surrounding air flow became irregularly different. But Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand didn’t move at all.

His grip only tightened..

Luminous Wheel that Transcends Law Energy.

It was energy constantly containing Buddhist dharma power.

“…”

It was an energy that constantly contained the profundity of Buddhist teachings.

“…….”

Jeong Yeon-shin stared ahead silently.

Grabbing the hand that had taken his uncle’s arm, his eyes flashed with pure white light.

The young grandmaster began to breathe with divine energy.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Edited by Mgt