Chapter 25 – Toward the Goal

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read more at Nineheavens.org

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Chapter 25 – Toward the Goal

All the disciples were swept up in a peculiar mix of tension and anticipation.

'He's going to completely remake us? Into capable swordsmen? So does that mean he'll raise us to the level of disciples from a prestigious major sect?'

Yes, it was probably possible.

If it was Cheol Ryu-heun's mysterious ability, which had miraculously healed Yeop Hwon who had struggled with even simple movements…

Well, even if they couldn't grow quickly, it was fine.

Whether it took months or years, just mentioning the possibility of development here had ambition and fighting spirit welling up.

I can do it!

I will definitely succeed!

Having endured and persevered all this time, what's a little more waiting – they were confident they could be patient!

Thus, the disciples renewed their resolve and determination, setting their eyes ablaze.

Cheol Ryu-heun soon went and stood at the front edge of the platform.

"The Elder is lost in a meditative trance with energy circulation, so leave him be for now… Before I begin what I've been planning, let me first clear up a few major questions in your heads."

At that, the gathered personnel all shouted "Yes!" in unison and focused on his mouth on the platform.

"The truth is, over the past ten days, I went to a secret location arranged with ancient fortuitous encounters and achieved Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing. You all witnessed the results with your own eyes yesterday."

Simultaneously, ripples of surprise spread across the eyes of everyone except Hyeop Mu-geuk.

'Good heavens…!'

No one had expected it.

That he had actually achieved Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing, the supreme enlightenment.

It was the moment when the core question about Cheol Ryu-heun's shocking martial prowess was finally resolved.

"The contents of the bundles I brought are also things that were stored there, and there's absolutely no problem making them our sect's property, so don't mind it."

The disciples all had curious eyes.

'What did he bring?'

Guyang Cheon, the eldest of the three Head Instructor brothers, raised one question.

"Sect Master, how on earth did you know about that location?"

"Originally, it was a place my Master discovered long ago. However, he left it untouched for me, who possessed great potential, waiting for the right time. Of course, he never expected to pass away like that in the middle."

"Ah, so there was such a secret…"

"Anyway, I felt my potential was completely unlocked as I overcame the vegetative state, and judged there was no need to leave the location of the fortuitous encounter alone anymore, so I hurried on my way."

"Then did you also awaken the unfamiliar sword forms we saw yesterday at that place?"

Cheol Ryu-heun nodded lightly and said in an indifferent tone.

"Currently, my martial knowledge has reached an exalted level capable of comprehending the essence of all unparalleled martial arts under heaven. So even if more amazing things happen in the future, just take them as they come."

At those words, not only the Head Instructors and disciples but even Hyeop Mu-geuk showed shocked reactions.

What kind of fortuitous encounter was it that made such a thing possible?

Moreover, the study period was only ten days – at that level, wasn't he a monster beyond genius?

Just how powerful was Sect Master Cheol's true martial prowess?

While a few major questions were resolved, hearing the story only spawned more questions.

Cheol Ryu-heun spoke as if annoyed.

"Alright, I won't take any more questions about the fortuitous encounter. What would you do knowing about it in detail anyway?"

The disciples had no choice but to suppress their curiosity and keep their mouths shut.

Hyeop Mu-geuk also wanted to ask more but soothed his regret thinking there would be another day to tell them.

"Sect Master, but where did you leave the scabbard?"

"I met someone last night and gave it as a gift. Chief Supervisor, you'll have occasion to meet him later too."

"…?"

Hyeop Mu-geuk tilted his head, then guessed that he must have had some thought behind it and spoke again.

"Understood. Oh, the eleven new workers who joined aren't shown here…"

"I had them do something earlier."

Speak of the devil – right on cue, the workers led by Tae Sa-ja came into view.

"Not running?"

The moment Cheol Ryu-heun's words ended, all the workers flinched in surprise and hurriedly ran toward the platform.

Suddenly, the disciples blinked their eyes.

'Huh? What's all that?'

It was because they saw what each worker was holding.

Three held bundles, another three held small wooden boxes, and the remaining five carried fairly large pots and sets of ladles, taking position beside the platform.

Hyeop Mu-geuk, Guyang Cheon, and the others roughly guessed what it was.

'I see. The loads that the Sect Master brought yesterday…'

Cheol Ryu-heun looked at Tae Sa-ja expressionlessly and asked.

"Did you bring everything properly?"

"Yes, Sect Master! I checked twice, three times!"

"Good. Everyone, attention."

The executives and disciples quickly composed their expressions and assumed listening postures.

Soon, Cheol Ryu-heun sat comfortably at the edge of the platform and gestured with his chin toward the workers.

"Give me one bundle and one wooden box."

After Tae Sa-ja swiftly followed the instructions, Cheol Ryu-heun's gaze swept over the disciples in front.

"Our sect has now cleanly resolved two problems. The first is poor finances."

As Cheol Ryu-heun said this while opening the bundle, the disciples all exclaimed in wonder.

"Wooow!"

Inside the bundle were various treasures glittering in gold and silver.

Cheol Ryu-heun's voice continued.

"The second is insufficient elixirs."

When he opened the lid of the box this time, all sorts of medicinal ingredients revealed themselves, emitting a strange fragrance.

'C-Could all of those be elixirs…?'

The moment all the disciples were gripped by some instinct.

"These are rare elixirs that are difficult to obtain even with ten thousand gold."

At Cheol Ryu-heun's casual remark, the disciples were so surprised they were speechless.

Hyeop Mu-geuk standing at the back of the platform had the same reaction.

'So he didn't only obtain the Ink Softshell Fruit needed for the Elder! To think those bundles were filled with various treasures and elixirs…'

Having confirmed the contents of the bundles like this, his curiosity about the location of the fortuitous encounter was amplified.

Cheol Ryu-heun paid no mind to the reactions around him.

"As you can see, deteriorating finances and elixir supply are no longer worries for our sect. But one very important problem remains."

Hyeop Mu-geuk caught on and replied.

"Are you referring to personnel replenishment and strengthening combat power?"

"Yes, more precisely, a talent shortage."

"Mm, that's right. Compared to other martial sects, we're significantly lacking in immediate combat assets…"

"Any renowned martial world force would have at least one or two elite groups. Currently, the most famous one in this region is the Thunder Lightning Sect's Thunder Court Sword Squad, I believe?"

"Yes, it's that sect's core combat unit of swordsmen."

"We had one too, once."

At that, Hyeop Mu-geuk recalled a three-character name he had forgotten for a while.

Mountain Martial Association.

A group composed of the sect's elite swordsmen that had been highly active until White Peak Sword Sect fell into decline.

The only person who had last seen the Mountain Martial Association, whose legacy had since been severed, was Elder Yeop Hwon.

Hyeop Mu-geuk, Guyang Cheon, and others had only heard about it through words.

"Yes, our sect's Mountain Martial Association also made a great name in the past. Though it's difficult to form again now…"

"I plan to revive that Mountain Martial Association."

"Pardon?"

"Our sect is lacking in personnel, so we will now walk the path of selection and concentration. In other words, I intend to make everyone here into swordsmen worthy of the Mountain Martial Association's former reputation. Until we reach the goal I want, we won't accept new disciples."

Before this unexpected announcement, the executives and all the disciples were greatly surprised once again.

The revival of the Mountain Martial Association was something they had never even thought about.

Hyeop Mu-geuk carefully expressed his opinion.

"Sect Master, still, wouldn't it be better to recruit disciples in parallel? Along with that, teaching and refining the existing disciples seems like the most efficient method for sect revival."

Following that, Guyang Cheon also supported his words.

"Of course it will take considerable time, but if we work harder from now on…"

"Working hard – nice words. But working hard doesn't necessarily lead to excellent results. No matter how hard you work, if other conditions aren't met, a martial artist's growth will inevitably be slow. That's why I ordered the new body tempering method the other day."

What was he talking about again?

As everyone wondered, Cheol Ryu-heun's words delivered a fresh shock.

"That arduous training you performed is a type of great method composed of postures that stimulate the vital acupoints, fine meridians, and dormant meridians required for internal energy advancement. Well, you could call it special measures for training everyone into elite swordsmen in the shortest time. Today, without exception, you will all gain twenty years' worth of internal energy."

"…!"

As everyone was dumbstruck, Hyeop Mu-geuk asked with a stammer.

"A-All of them…? Is that truly possible?"

"Don't set the goal in your heart low. The reputation and position I want for the Mountain Martial Association is the current martial world's top super-first-rate group of swordsmen."

The disciples stared at Cheol Ryu-heun's face with dumbfounded expressions.

'The era's top super-first-rate group of swordsmen…?'

Whether they did or not, Cheol Ryu-heun continued to say only what he wanted to say.

"Within one month, I'll lay the foundation for the Mountain Martial Association, so keep that in mind."

Following that, he pointed with his finger at the five large pots.

"Each of you take a ladle and drink the medicine inside those. This is the first step toward the great goal."

"What is that?"

When Hyeop Mu-geuk asked curiously, Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged.

"It's a stew made by combining and boiling various elixirs like Celestial Moon Beans, Earth Spirit Purple Grass, Red Flame Fruit, Red Crane Inner Core, Nuwa Fruit, Hundred-Year Jade Spirit Water, and so on. It won't taste very good though."

"S-Such things…!"

"Since the frame has been set with the new body tempering method, once you drink that, even if your study of internal energy cultivation is lacking, all your energy channels and acupoints will open up and internal energy will accumulate steeply."

He had called it special measures earlier, but in reality it was nothing less than the rarest fortuitous encounter of all time.

At that moment, Yeop Hwon, having finished his energy circulation, steadied his breath and quietly opened his eyes.

Cheol Ryu-heun turned his head and grinned.

"How do you feel?"

Yeop Hwon smiled back as he rose to his feet and answered.

"Thank you, Sect Master. It couldn't be better. I feel like I've been reborn."

Cheol Ryu-heun soon took a piece of paper from his clothes.

"Chief Supervisor, take this. I've written down what needs to be done while I'm away."

At the sudden words, Hyeop Mu-geuk's eyes widened.

"Sect Master, where are you going this time?"

"Recruitment."

"You intend to bring people? Didn't you just say you won't accept new disciples…"

"Not new disciples."

"Pardon?"

"Recruiting guest retainers."

"…!"

"There's someone I locked up somewhere a while back, so I'm going to check on their condition first. He's not that weak, so he shouldn't be dead yet."

When Cheol Ryu-heun finished speaking and gave a sharp whistle, Divine Wind soon appeared with a fierce wind.

"Wait just one day. This fellow's strength has improved so much that I'll be back in no time."

With that, Cheol Ryu-heun mounted Divine Wind and gripped the reins.

"Let's go."

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-!

Divine Wind galloped across the training grounds, then with a tremendous leap cleared the main gate's roof and disappeared in an instant.

As everyone watched that direction with blank expressions, Hyeop Mu-geuk murmured.

"Ah, come to think of it, I didn't get to ask how that horse changed like that."

Hearing that, Tae Sa-ja suddenly spoke up.

"Huh? You didn't know? It's been like that since consuming the Thousand-Year Immortal Ginseng."

Simultaneously, Hyeop Mu-geuk, Yeop Hwon, and everyone else couldn't contain their shock.

Gaaaah! Thousand-Year Immortal Ginseng? A mere horse ate that peerless elixir called the Three Triple King?

Soon, the disciples exchanged glances with each other and began to competitively scoop up the elixir stew from the pots with ladles and gulp it down.

"Let's hurry and drink and become strong!"

"That's right, we can't be worse than a horse!"

"Urgh! It tastes terrible! But… good!"