Ch.4848. Sacred Law

There are three main ways for a Sacred Awakener to become stronger.

Offerings, Devotion, and Sacred Law.

The ritual of slaying monsters in dungeons and settling karma at sanctuaries is called an “Offering.” Most Sacred Awakeners receive divine power from gods by presenting offerings.

Conversely, Devotion comes with rather ambiguous conditions. When one performs acts favored by a particular deity, their divine power increases slightly—this is called “Devotion.”

For example, Boreas, the wind god who oversees Lindvale’s dungeons, prefers prayers offered “where the wind blows.” However, since the rewards are meager compared to the effort required, most people rarely attempt it.

Anyway, both Offerings and Devotion are widely known among ordinary Sacred Awakeners. But the third method is treated as an esoteric art, making it extremely difficult to access unless one belongs to the upper echelons.

Sacred Law.

All Sacred Awakeners must master at least one Sacred Law to advance to higher levels. Sacred Flame is the limit of what one can achieve by merely accumulating divine power. Eventually, every Sacred Awakener hits a wall.

Only by attaining enlightenment can one break through this wall and continue advancing, and that’s where Sacred Law becomes necessary. Since it’s far more difficult and complex than the previous methods, a teacher is essential—in Rex’s case, he had Berger.

“Sacred Law can be thought of as a prayer text. By reciting the given incantation while circulating divine power within your body, you can gain special abilities depending on the Sacred Law.”

Rex sat on the ground as he listened to the explanation. Berger had told him this posture was more comfortable for receiving Sacred Law instruction.

“What I’ll teach you is the Celestial Steel Formation.”

The Celestial Steel Formation differs fundamentally from the basic Sacred Laws bestowed upon acolytes. While entry-level Sacred Laws merely increase one’s energy capacity slightly, using the Celestial Steel Formation not only grants far more divine power but also makes one’s body as hard as steel.

“I’ll now teach you the incantation for the Celestial Steel Formation. Follow along silently and guide your divine power in the direction I lead you.”

Merely reciting the incantation would be just an ordinary prayer, but guiding divine power along the prescribed path can produce miraculous effects.

Berger placed his hand on Rex’s back. Rex closed his eyes and concentrated.

He was still wearing the training armor, so the divine power remaining in its patterns was weak. He had deliberately kept it on. The more constraints one practices under, the greater the future growth.

“Let’s begin.”

Hot energy seeped in from Berger’s fingertips touching Rex’s back. Rex tried his best to follow the flow of energy accurately. The divine power, suppressed by the training armor, moved as slowly as a crawling beetle. Still, it didn’t stop.

“Don’t hold your breath. Control your exhalation and inhalation. Think of drawing the world into your body and expelling the impurities within. In short, visualization is crucial.”

At those words, Rex relaxed his muscles and breathed in comfortably. In his mind, he continuously recited the Celestial Steel Formation incantation that Berger had taught him.

‘Steel is tempered in fire, and faith is forged in hardship.’

‘Train the body to become an unbreakable fortress.’

‘Hone the mind to become an unwavering sword.’

‘Though this body may break, my will shall not bend.’

‘Though this sword may dull, my conviction shall never fade.’

At first, he felt nothing special, but once he began actively channeling divine power, something changed within him. He now seemed to understand what Berger meant about visualization being important.

Rex imagined a sword—the world’s finest blade that could cut anything and would never break. Then, like the cool touch of steel, a cold sensation spread from within.

‘It’s cold.’

The Celestial Steel Formation.

The power of the Celestial Steel Formation transformed Rex’s previously bland divine power. The divine power flowing through his veins became heavier than before. Not “slower,” but heavier in the sense of being “more powerful.”

Rex suddenly realized that his surroundings had grown quiet. At some point, Berger’s voice had disappeared. He felt as if he were drifting somewhere, like sinking into a deep lake.

Then suddenly, the world brightened.

What unfolded before his eyes was a familiar landscape.

A snow field.

Kaordix had called this Rex’s inner world.

Though he didn’t know why he had come to the snow field, Rex looked around.

Unlike usual, Kaordix was nowhere to be seen.

Only a single sword made of black iron stood planted in the ground. The pitch-black blade possessed a mesmerizing power that captivated anyone who looked at it.

Rex unconsciously reached for the sword.

Just as his hand was about to touch the upraised hilt, a stinging pain shot up his skin. —Crack! Black lightning flashed for an instant, as if saying:

You are not yet worthy to wield me. Return when you have attained the proper caliber to match me.

The sudden shock broke his concentration. His consciousness, which had sunk deep within, gradually rose. The snow field with its raging blizzard instantly receded, and the sounds around him began to return.

“…Huh?”

Rex blinked in confusion. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.

It had clearly been noon when they arrived at the training ground, but now the sun was setting beyond the horizon. The dusky sky was tinged red, signaling the imminent arrival of evening.

“You’re awake.”

Berger was watching him from a short distance away, wearing a satisfied smile.

Rex scratched his cheek awkwardly and spoke.

“How much time has passed?”

“Just about five hours now.”

“Wow…”

It had felt like barely ten minutes to him.

As Rex clicked his tongue, Berger chuckled and continued.

“It’s a common experience when practicing Sacred Law.”

Of course, achieving such deep concentration from the start wasn’t easy. Rather than mentioning that fact, Berger decided to offer more useful advice.

“Today there were no problems because I was watching over you, but if you plan to practice alone in the future, find an isolated space. It’s best to avoid places where untrustworthy strangers might enter freely.”

“Understood.”

After answering obediently, Rex asked something he’d been curious about.

“I saw a sword.”

A black longsword, lonely and planted in the snow of his inner world. Rex suspected it was the source of the Celestial Steel Formation.

“…A sword?”

However, Berger seemed completely puzzled. His furrowed brow and the way he stroked his chin revealed that he had no idea what Rex was talking about.

The Celestial Steel Formation was considered quite advanced even among Sacred Laws treated as esoteric arts. Naturally, few people had mastered it, and information about it was scarce.

Berger had never heard of anyone seeing a sword while practicing the Celestial Steel Formation.

“I’ll contact someone I know and look into it.”

Still, he couldn’t dismiss Rex’s words lightly.

Berger recalled the face of someone he hadn’t thought about in a long time.

He too had someone he could call a master—the person who had passed down techniques including the Celestial Steel Formation. Even after decades, his master still firmly held a high position and was a true monster even by Berger’s standards.

Perhaps he would know the cause of this phenomenon.

“It’s not really a problem.”

Rex hesitated, feeling unnecessarily burdened, but Berger firmly shook his head.

“Your story has piqued my interest as well. I’ll handle it, so don’t worry about it.”

At his decisive tone, Rex could only nod.

“Anyway, it’s getting late, so head back for today. Starting tomorrow, I’ll teach you swordsmanship.”

Berger said this as he turned his head to look up at the sky.

And with that, the training concluded.

***

‘Swordsmanship, huh.’

His steps were light as he returned to the inn. Though his body felt heavy due to the training armor, the anticipation for tomorrow made it bearable.

‘I wonder what it will be like.’

Moreover, the pressure weighing down on his body had eased considerably after reciting the Celestial Steel Formation incantation.

Rex reflected on what he had learned from Berger today.

The effects of Sacred Law are primarily divided into two categories. The first involves sitting down, closing one’s eyes, concentrating, and practicing the Sacred Law. Through this method, Sacred Awakeners increase both the quantity and quality of their divine power. Practice typically consumes a considerable amount of time. This was the method Rex had attempted earlier at the training ground.

The second is amplifying the effects of physical enhancement. Rex was currently using the Celestial Steel Formation in this latter way.

Though he was merely walking, maintaining the Sacred Law required significant concentration. He wasn’t entirely confident he could use it while engaged in intense combat.

In the end, the only answer was to practice as diligently and consistently as possible.

For today, he planned to rest as soon as he got to his room. After a simple meal, he intended to practice the Celestial Steel Formation until bedtime.

With these thoughts, he flung open the door of the inn, only to freeze with his hand still on the doorknob.

“…You’re back?”

“Hmm. You’re late.”

Two completely unexpected guests were sitting at the table.