episode_0052

Naturally, most elixirs are processed directly by humans. To be considered an elixir, it must contain ki. However, natural ki existing in nature is rough and scattered, making it difficult to permeate herbs or minerals, and unlike internal energy, it’s unrefined, so it doesn’t accumulate easily.

But there are always exceptions.

There are elixirs that form naturally, breaking through extremely low probabilities, and naturally, such natural elixirs are extremely rare.

Among them is an elixir that looks like an icicle, crystallized from extreme Yin energy.

It is called Ice Essence.

For Cheongun, who desperately needed Yin energy at that moment, it was truly a heaven-sent opportunity.

“…”

Cheongun closed his eyes.

And for a moment, he recalled the process of searching for the Ten Thousand Year Ice Essence in the original story.

First, he would have to travel from here, Sichuan Province, all the way to the Northern Snowfield. Of course, finding carriages or merchant groups that travel to such remote areas is difficult. What about the beasts and bandit groups that appear along the way? Furthermore, the further north he went, the more the cold accumulated, slowly depleting his stamina, and with limited supplies, he would have to endure hunger and cold simultaneously.

Once he broke through the blizzard and reached the snowfield, that’s when it would truly begin. He would have to search that vast snowfield to find a cave whose location was unknown. Once he finally entered the desired cave, he would then have to wander through a labyrinthine ice cave. Navigating past hidden traps scattered everywhere, he would finally face an ice cliff.

It was a colossal ice wall called the Ice Heaven Wall, and astonishingly, its height reached a thousand *jang*.

Only by painstakingly climbing that cliff to its peak could he finally obtain the Ten Thousand Year Ice Essence.

But he could skip all this?

‘Even the Ten Thousand Year Ice Essence?’

Ice Essence itself was already a natural product, crystallized from extreme Yin energy accumulated over a long period, but for it to have “Ten Thousand Years” attached to its name?

It was truly an icicle. No, it was a super-premium lucky icicle!

Good heavens, they were giving him such a precious thing as a gift. And the condition was for him to become the Vice Chief of the Escort Agency. If he refused this just to save face, wouldn’t he be the biggest fool under heaven?

Thus, Cheongun’s conclusion was simple.

“From now on, I am the Vice Chief of the Ten Thousand Dragons Escort Agency.”

“…”

Lee Gunbaek was flustered. Because Cheongun’s change of stance was too sudden. Moreover, it was too natural and shameless.

Lee Gunbaek chuckled and asked, “I have no intention of forcing you, so take your time to think about it.”

“I did think about it slowly.”

“…Are you truly fine with this?”

“Yes. By the way, may I ask the Chief something?”

“Feel free to ask.”

Cheongun nodded. “Where did you obtain the Ten Thousand Year Ice Essence?”

“I received it as a gift.”

“A gift?”

Lee Gunbaek replied, “I once had a connection with the Haomun.”

“Haomun?”

Lee Gunbaek nodded. “When the Haomun was in distress back then, our escort agency lent them aid, and this elixir was given as repayment.”

“Why haven’t you used this precious item until now?”

“Because such strong, raw Yin energy would be poison to my constitution.”

Indeed.

Unlike elixirs in the form of pills or pellets, which are artificially processed solely to enhance human internal energy, natural elixirs usually have an excess of either Yin or Yang energy. In other words, consuming them without knowing could easily lead to death.

The Ice Essence was no different. If consumed incorrectly, one could be swallowed by the surging Yin energy and freeze to death.

But Cheongun didn’t need to worry about it. Because he had reached the Honwon realm, where the distinction between different types of ki disappeared.

Moreover, didn’t Cheongun have his unique characteristic? As long as his Spirit Physique was activated, he could manipulate natural ki as he pleased, so fully absorbing the raw Yin energy was not an issue.

“What do I have to do if I become the Vice Chief?”

“There are separate people who handle the actual work, so you don’t need to worry too much. You just need to patrol each branch, moving around as you do now.”

Did that mean he should normalize things as he had been doing?

That wouldn’t be difficult at all. Because he just needed to smash the teeth of guys like Namhyuk whenever they appeared.

“Take this.”

Cheongun received a wooden box from Lee Gunbaek. It was an elongated wooden box, plain with no special decorations or patterns on its surface. When he subtly opened the lid, a transparent, bluish crystal appeared. It was shaped like a pointed chunk of ice, about the thickness of a finger, and a chilling Yin energy subtly emanated from within.

“…”

Cheongun subtly closed the wooden box. And when he raised his head, he saw Lee Gunbaek grinning at him.

To Lee Gunbaek, the Ice Essence was merely a tempting but unusable item. Since he couldn’t consume it directly, he didn’t need it, but it was too wasteful to discard, so he left it untouched like a chicken rib [something not valuable enough to keep but too good to discard]. And if he sold it, he would incur the displeasure of the Haomun.

Thus, the Ice Essence had been a troublesome item to deal with, but seeing the Vice Chief before him so satisfied, Lee Gunbaek couldn’t help but beam with a wide, gummy smile.

As Lee Gunbaek laughed heartily, Cheongun also began to laugh heartily. After a long time of hearty laughter, they shared and drank the remaining liquor, and for some reason, a strange sense of camaraderie washed over them.

Lee Gunbaek liked Cheongun, and Cheongun also liked the man Lee Gunbaek.

Lee Gunbaek handed a token to Cheongun. It was a token proving his identity as the Vice Chief of the Ten Thousand Dragons Escort Agency.

“I look forward to working with you, Vice Chief.”

****

“…Wait.”

An old man said, his eyes wide. “Did you say you’ve identified him?”

“Yes, Elder.”

The masked man reporting bowed his head. He was one of those sent to investigate the identity of the rat who killed the demonic cultivators and stole the demonic sword from Bloodflow Valley, and the bastard who attacked the Flying Horse Brigade’s branch.

“Speak.”

“It’s the same person’s doing.”

“What’s his name?”

“His true name is Cheongun. His alias is Mad Heaven No Sword.”

“Mad Heaven No Sword? Isn’t he the Sword Sovereign’s disciple? Is this information accurate?”

“Yes. It’s intelligence from a secret meeting, so it’s reliable.”

The old man clicked his tongue. He knew the fellow was no ordinary person, but a disciple of the Sword Sovereign, of all people. Though their periods of activity differed, preventing him from personally experiencing the Sword Sovereign, he had certainly heard enough of his formidable reputation, one that could make even birds flying in the sky fall [an idiom for immense power].

For that old monster’s disciple to suddenly raid the Flying Horse Brigade? Was Red Night Sword Sovereign, that old man, behind this, using his disciple? Or was the Righteous Alliance involved?

“Tsk. This is troublesome. No, perhaps it’s a good thing. I was planning to expand our territory soon, so this could be seen as a good pretext.”

At that moment, the masked man asked. “Should we pursue him immediately?”

At that question, the old man chuckled. “There’s no need to rush.” He continued, “Because the Great Leader has already moved personally.”

****

Cheongun took off his upper garment. Then he sat in the middle of the solitary room, assuming a lotus position. And without hesitation, he swallowed the Ten Thousand Year Ice Essence in one gulp.

A massive surge of Yin energy began to spread throughout his body, flowing through his meridians. At first, it flowed like a gentle stream, but soon it surged like a raging torrent.

An extremely raw mass of Yin energy.

Cheongun immediately raised his internal energy. The Honwon qi, filling his dantian, began to boil and spread throughout his entire body.

Calm, and again, calm.

There was no need to rush at all. He had ample time to dissolve them.

Blue script floated in the air. They were the cultivation formulas of the Heaven and Earth Primal Chaos One Qi Art that Cheongun had learned.

Exhale, inhale.

Cheongun repeated the cultivation formulas in his mind, inhaling and exhaling at regular intervals. It was time to transcend the Honwon realm and advance towards the Ilgi realm.

Mutual generation and mutual restraint. Extremes reverse. Yin-Yang harmony. Union of Heaven and Man. All things return to one…

What is Ki?

What determines the nature of Ki, why is it set that way, and what makes it so?

Why is it divided into Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements?

Why does the energy originating from Heaven and Earth converge into a single point, becoming Honwon?

Can it advance to Ilgi?

The Ice Essence’s Yin energy surged in his dantian, raging as if it would freeze his blood vessels.

“Ugh!”

Cheongun gritted his teeth and grabbed the demonic sword he had prepared beforehand. In an instant, Cheongun’s eyes turned pitch black, and natural ki surged into his body like a swirling storm.

The characteristic of his Spirit Physique had been activated. The natural ki mixed in, beginning to neutralize the rampaging Yin energy of the Ice Essence. Cheongun struggled, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, as he barely managed to send the neutralized energy up his Du Meridian to the Baihui acupoint.

A fierce flash of light split his entire body in two. A massive bolt of lightning struck his mind like a roar.

Yin and Yang.

The Five Elements.

A complex, intertwined mass of ki broke through the Gate of Life and Death, passing through the Ren and Du Meridians. Thus, he began the Great Heavenly Cycle, circulating his internal force throughout his entire body.

Then, a distracting sound came from afar outside.

Clang clang! Clash clash!

Weapons clashed noisily, and what sounded like screams echoed. The distant commotion about intruders and such pounded at his ears.

Cheongun’s eyelids, though closed, trembled. His extremely heightened sense of ki detected sounds and presences floating in the air. Some voices could be heard faintly.

‘What now… looking for someone… Cheongun… Vice Chief…?’

It was clearly Yeonbaek’s voice.

‘Why that… even if you ask a hundred times… I can’t say… Ugh!’

Bang-!

Something hitting a wall. Followed by Yeonbaek’s groan.

Thump thump.

Someone was moving. The sound of footsteps grew closer.

…Was Yeonbaek dead?

Fortunately, he could faintly hear breathing, so it seemed Yeonbaek was still alive.

Which bastard was this?

His concentration was divided. Circulating the damn ki mass through all the meridians in his body was already overwhelming, and now having to worry about what was happening outside felt like he was losing his mind.

Cheongun continued to raise his internal energy. Something unusual was happening, so it was best to focus as much as possible and finish what he was doing, even if it meant pushing himself.

Thump. Thump.

A presence drew closer. Dense killing intent. A sneering laugh. A faint scent of blood.

Creak. The door opened.

The sound of a sword being dragged across the floor could be heard.

“So you’re Cheongun…”

Some guy was spouting nonsense. Something about the Flying Horse Brigade, something about the demonic sword, something about his life.

It was noisy.

His head ached maddeningly. His whole body was hot. It was chilling. Yang and Yin surged, freezing and melting his meridians.

An indescribable ki transformed over a thousand times, steadily accumulating in his dantian.

It was neither immortal qi nor demonic qi.

It was simply Ki.

The ki received from nature through breathing.

All the energy of the myriad things.

It was Yin energy and Yang energy simultaneously.

It was true qi with the properties of the Five Elements.

At the same time, it was consciousness.

Something spiritual. And yet, something that extended into the mental domain.

All sorts of vexations stormed through his mind. But he was calm. He felt nothing, as if his mind were empty.

Whoosh. Something cut through the air.

It was the sound of a sword strike descending from above.

At that moment, Cheongun’s eyes shot open.

The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was a sword strike falling towards his neck.

The man holding the sword shouted, “Die—”

——————–!!

Suddenly, his ears muffled as if submerged underwater. A piercing tinnitus pricked his eardrums like needles. A massive pressure of time surged in, making everything slow down, then suddenly spreading into pure white like spilled paint.

Simultaneously, his senses expanded.

A scene unfolded as if black ink had dropped into a purely white space.

Green wood sprouted, red fire blazed, yellow earth accumulated, white gold glittered, and black water flowed. Within it, sprouts emerged and withered, and life cycled once more.

This time, it transformed into another shape. Bright energy and dark energy embraced each other, forming an endlessly swirling Yin-Yang symbol.

“!!!”

His physical body underwent a genesis.

The nature of his ki began to change.

Yin energy, Yang energy, turbid ki, mixed ki, original ki.

The forms of ki that had been mixed together slowly turned pale, then transformed into an empty, void-like energy, as if it were nothing.

Cheongun reached out his hand towards it. He imbued it with his consciousness.

At that moment, the empty void erupted with vivid colors.

Crackling—!

The purely white space cracked like shattering glass, then broke into countless pieces.

He could still see the face of the man who was bringing down the sword. But what had changed was that the man was frozen in the posture of bringing down his sword, his face filled with shock.

No, he hadn’t stopped.

The man was moving.

It was just that the sword had stopped.

Crackle—!

Azure lightning ki stopped the descending sword, holding it in place.