Chapter 633: Flame Jade Sacred Spear (Flame Jade Sacred Spear)

The first time I got inspiration for this was.

It was right after engaging in a martial arts sparring match with the White Heaven Sword Lord, at the point when I was having a brief conversation with my father.

Father clearly told me to figure out what the rotation, not the compression, meant in the Nine Flame Wheel Technique (九炎火輪功).

What does the Wheel (輪) signify?

Furthermore.

What is the meaning contained within the Nine Flame Wheel Technique itself?

A fire technique (火功) that purely ignites flames.

One life lived thinking that way.

That has passed, and now this is my second life.

With just that one piece of information Father told me, another world was being visualized in my mind.

Perhaps.

The Nine Flame Wheel Technique isn’t just about igniting flames.

Perhaps its focus was on rotating it rapidly?

Instead of creating flames into a ring and emitting heat from within,

perhaps the flames come as a bonus by rotating the ring rapidly?

As the core of my thinking changed, my attitude towards learning and expressing martial arts also shifted.

Rotation.

That’s why the Wheel (輪).

Starting from that thought, I moved forward step by step.

I tried my best to use rotating flames rather than emitting huge ones,

and whatever martial art of Gu Clan I used, I tried to pay attention to the rotation within it.

After living like that for several years,

a thought occurred while I was training to use the Flame Jade (炎玉) a bit more intensely.

The Flame Jade in my hand, compressed and rotating flames.

While watching it intently, I threw it into the air with a whoosh.

Kwang-!

As I watched the Flame Jade explode in the air, a strange feeling arose.

The difference between the Flame Jade Father threw and the one I create and throw.

It wasn’t just about the power.

There was clearly some difference in Father’s martial arts.

This might be due to a difference in realm, but there would also be a difference in the rotation rate contained within it.

‘Hmm.’

The compression I learned from Old Master Shin (申老爺).

And the rotation of the Flame Jade.

As I watched these intently, something I wanted to try arose.

It’s a fundamental question.

The Flame Jade was a martial art used with explosion in mind, but if the rotation were increased, its power would become stronger.

Because it’s a simple spherical shape, it’s also convenient to throw.

From here.

I thought of a hypothesis.

A martial art that involves throwing with increased rotation.

Since it’s spherical, it’s easy, but what if we add this:

‘Make the shape a bit sharper. And add stronger rotation?’

Couldn’t it generate immense destructive power by itself?

That’s the kind of thought.

It was a crazy idea.

The Flame Jade is already a perfected martial art, and it’s considered high-difficulty even without that.

The fact that its usage condition is the Transformation Realm (化境) is also telling.

One must compress heat and rotate it continuously, and maintaining this requires extremely delicate internal energy (內氣) manipulation.

To do that, it takes the simplest shape, a sphere.

Maintaining that is already overwhelming,

let alone modifying its shape for this, and then adding more rotation?

There’s no way the Flame Jade could withstand this. It’s obvious the heat inside would explode with recoil if attempted.

How do I know this in such detail?

I didn’t want to know either.

Kwaaaaaaaa!

‘Y-Young Master-!’

‘Kyaaak!’

Fuck.

---

I barely survived.

That would be the correct way to put it.

The reason for failure was trying to forcibly change the shape of the Flame Jade.

The Flame Jade, containing immense firepower and rotating based on countless rotations.

Since I tried to forcibly twist its shape, it couldn’t withstand it and exploded.

Thanks to that, the arm I was using was engulfed in flames, and my skin was burnt off.

My body, which took the explosion head-on, had its internal organs and bones shattered.

If I hadn’t had a Dragon’s body,

and if Shin-ui (神醫) wasn’t present in Gu Clan (九家) at the time?

It was an ending I really didn’t want to imagine.

Based on my immense regenerative power, around the time I barely managed to restore my body to normal,

[You lunatic.]

Hegemon Lord (覇尊) said, looking at me.

[You keep saying you’re crazy, so have you really gone mad?]

[…]

Even seeing Hegemon Lord speak to me so pitifully, I had nothing to say.

[You dare to recklessly modify a martial art? An ultimate technique (절기) at that? Why didn’t you just say you wanted to die!]

At the chilling rebuke, cold enough to be called icy, I had to lower my head further in intimidation.

[I didn’t know it would turn out like this…]

[Does it make sense that you didn’t know that at your level? It would be better to see you call yourself an idiot.]

Despite my efforts to offer an excuse, I was immediately beaten down.

Not knowing how dangerous this was, despite having reached the Transformation Realm (化境).

That alone was embarrassing enough.

No, honestly, I did know.

I knew it was a dangerous action, and I knew what a disaster could occur from it, but

I did it anyway.

Probably, that’s why Hegemon Lord was angry.

[It wasn’t just an ordinary modification; you tried to change the framework itself. Did you truly not know how big a deal that is?]

[…]

The Nine Flame Great Wheel (九炎太輪), which ignites large flames on the body.

There are modified martial arts that use the Nine Flame Great Wheel Transformation (九炎太輪化) by utilizing it, but

these are just minor applications within a similar framework, so they aren’t that difficult, but

the action I tried to take was far more problematic than that.

Because I tried to change the form itself.

The martial art retaliated and exploded.

The explosion was so severe. I almost fucking died.

[You exceeded the level you could handle. Even if it meant risking your life. You crossed that line.]

[…]

I nodded like a criminal. To almost die while training martial arts, of all things!

I have so much to do, and such a death would truly be a dog’s death.

Indeed, I shouldn’t do it twice.

The moment I thought that,

[However.]

Hegemon Lord said, looking at me.

[I think the attempt itself isn’t bad.]

[…?]

At his words, I had to tilt my head in confusion.

After all that nagging, he says it wasn’t bad?

[It could be something worth trying. It’s just that your level was far too lacking to handle it.]

[…Does that mean if my realm increases, it would be worth trying?]

[I don’t know that either. I’m not proficient in that martial art myself. Ask your father for the specifics.]

[Ah, Father is currently a bit…]

Even without this, I had just come from being scolded near death by Father.

I hadn’t seen Father get that angry since my regression.

I was so scared I almost pissed myself.

Just as his voice was about to get louder, if Madam Mi (彌夫人) hadn’t appeared and intervened, I might have actually pissed myself.

At my words, Hegemon Lord looked at me as if I were the most pathetic thing in the world, and then said:

[I won’t tell you not to do it. I’m telling you to be careful.]

[…You won’t stop me, even though I might die doing it?]

[If you were the type to listen when told not to do something, you wouldn’t have done such a thing in the first place.]

That was also true.

[If you were that type, I wouldn’t have bothered teaching you because it would be boring. And.]

Hegemon Lord, continuing his words, chuckled.

[A martial artist grows by experiencing things like nearly dying while learning martial arts.]

I don’t think that kind of terrifying growth is necessary.

It was a thought that suddenly occurred, but I didn’t voice it.

Hegemon Lord, who said that with a smile, then turned serious and spoke to me.

[First. At least for this martial art, do not attempt it until you reach the Realm of Mental Imagery (心象境界).]

I nodded without answering Hegemon Lord’s warning.

It was a warning from Hegemon Lord, who usually encourages me to try things, telling me not to do it.

That means I shouldn’t even attempt it unless I’m truly at that level.

[If you die doing that, wouldn’t your life be wasted?]

I couldn’t help but be moved by those words.

Was he worried about my life?

Yes, even though he always scolds me, a master is still a master.

Thinking that, I considered saying some flattering words I don’t usually use.

[There’s still a mountain of martial arts left for you to learn.]

[…]

Hegemon Lord’s words made my expression crumple.

Something about his words felt off.

[Um, Elder (어르신).]

[What is it?]

[I’m asking, just in case.]

I asked Hegemon Lord with a suspicious expression.

[You getting angry earlier. Was it perhaps not because I got hurt, but because if I get hurt, I can’t learn martial arts?]

Rather than scolding me because I got hurt,

wasn’t he angry because I couldn’t practice my martial arts if I got hurt?

That’s what I meant when I asked, but

[What nonsense is that?]

Hegemon Lord said incredulously, and I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Right, no matter how crazy a person is, martial arts wouldn’t be more important than his disciple getting hurt…

[Of course, I get angry because you can’t learn martial arts if you get hurt. Do you know how many things are left for me to teach you?]

[Therefore, take good care of your body. The road ahead is still long-]

Damn it.

It was the day the tiny bit of respect I had left for Hegemon Lord shattered completely.

Anyway, in the end,

Hwarururuk-!

Most of what Hegemon Lord said back then was true.

If you want to improve the ultimate technique (절기) called Flame Jade (炎玉), at least reach the Realm of Mental Imagery (心象).

I felt like I understood the meaning of those words now.

The moment I entered this realm, things that were invisible became visible.

Woooong-!

Immense heat gathers in my eyes.

I feel pain, but even before that, ecstasy arises.

I can see.

The countless lines emanating from the Flame Jade.

The flow of my internal energy (內氣) poured into forming this small orb.

The ceaseless rotation to maintain this shape.

I see the martial art.

Not using it, but seeing it.

An attempt I had never made before became possible the moment my eyes opened and my body could feel it.

This is the first time.

A moment of such admiration while seeing a martial art.

And being surprised while looking at my own martial art, which I’ve used countless times.

‘It’s incredible.’

The martial art called Flame Jade is far more difficult than I thought.

And complex.

To use Flame Jade, one must reach the Transformation Realm (化境).

I finally seemed to understand the reason for that.

Until now, I just thought it was a condition, but

delving deeper, it wasn’t such a simple reason.

Flame Jade consumes a lot of internal energy.

However, it’s not to the point where it can’t be used.

But why was the Transformation Realm set as the standard?

It was because a body that could withstand the Flame Jade was needed,

and the internal energy control needed to gather, form, and rotate the Flame Jade was necessary,

and the Transformation Realm was that standard.

One could only use it upon reaching around the Transformation Realm.

I finally seemed to understand the reason for that.

‘Trying to use it recklessly without experiencing that.’

Around the time of peak mastery.

That was when I repeatedly tried to use Flame Jade, intending to use it, and suffered recoil.

‘…It was somewhat forced.’

Looking back now, it was forced.

I could at least use it because I had the experience from before my regression, but

it was incredibly forced.

Now that I understand, it’s even more so.

‘I see.’

Realizations steadily accumulate.

Martial arts are about understanding.

It’s not just about using internal energy and circulating techniques, but understanding why it can be used.

What kind of power this is.

I need to understand each of those things.

My heart resonates with the realization about this.

The slowly resonating vibration crumbled a subtle wall within me.

Waaareureu!

I feel the sensation of debris falling from within.

‘Enlightenment in the middle of a fight. How absurd.’

To have something I longed for so much come at the moment I was fiercely fighting!

It was a funny thing.

Moreover.

‘It’s fortunate.’

A strange sense of gratitude brushes past.

For a failure like me, it was a clean emotion.

I waved my hand.

Hwarurururuk—!!!

The rotation of the Flame Jade intensifies.

However, it wasn’t a thought of strengthening the rotation, but rather

making the flow of internal energy denser.

I changed the way of approaching it.

That trivial difference brings about more than I expected.

Hwaaaaaak-!

The surrounding air is pulled towards the Flame Jade.

As it seeps into a specific space, flames bloom, interlocking with my heat.

The problem is, the flames being sucked in are stronger than I thought.

My legs almost gave out.

I endure.

If I give in now.

‘I die.’

I’ll really die.

The pressure gathering towards the Flame Jade is immense.

It’s not simply adding more energy.

It was spinning much faster.

In reality, the Flame Jade is already complete.

And stronger at that.

If I just threw it at the guy like this, it would be over, but

End it here?

No way.

‘I can’t be satisfied with just that.’

I didn’t attempt this just for something like that.

Watching the maddeningly rotating Flame Jade, I think.

If I change the framework like this, the rotating framework will twist and explode.

Then I’d have to change it slowly while controlling all this complex internal energy, but

even if slowly, the problem is whether I can withstand this now.

Don’t get lost in enlightenment; let’s look objectively.

Am I worthy of withstanding this?

‘No.’

Just thinking about it makes my head feel like it’s cramping.

So what should I do?

If I can’t move while tied up, what should I do?

Should I give up like this or let it explode as is?

‘Hmm.’

If I had to choose, it would be the latter.

There’s no such thing as giving up.

Since I vowed to live such a life, it’s time to achieve it.

Besides.

‘Letting it explode.’

It seemed like not a bad idea in its own way.

If changing the form while maintaining rotation is impossible,

let’s let it go as is and make it explode.

However.

Create a framework and put it inside.

Thinking that, I gripped the Flame Jade.

Kwak-!

Kwaaaaaaaa!!!

As the Flame Jade explodes, immense heat bursts forth.

Fortunately, I didn’t feel any damage.

Externally, that is.

‘Ugh.’

My insides, which received the shock, are screaming, but

I could endure it.

The energy felt in my hand was enough to endure the pain.

“This…”

I uttered, examining my right hand.

“It’s not bad, considering…”

In my hand was a spear covered in flames.

A spear created by improving the Flame Jade.

The name is… hmm.

‘Roughly.’

Flame Jade Sacred Spear (Flame Jade Sacred Spear)

It seems fitting to name it like that.

Simply a long rod with a sharp end.

In that shape, tremendous flames are spinning.

Overwhelming heat and overwhelming energy.

Just looking at it, one can feel immense explosive power.

Moreover.

‘This is still unfinished.’

Due to my insufficient level, I cannot assume its perfect form.

Because I can’t shape it while controlling the rotation, I created a framework.

‘Using a mental image.’

Like using a mental technique, I used my soul as the framework and stuffed the flames inside.

It’s accurate to say I’m forcibly controlling what was about to explode.

In a way, it’s just stretching the Flame Jade long and adding rotation power, but

just by that, it can possess immense power.

As proof of that.

Drip… drip drip.

While attempting the Flame Jade Holy Spear,

my chest was cut by an attack that guy hastily swung, and blood is soaking my chest.

Jjeojeojeok-!

Ice grew on the sword wound, causing secondary damage.

‘Damn, that hurts.’

I tried my best not to get hit, anticipating this, but

it was unavoidable to attempt the technique.

Though thanks to that, I succeeded.

“…You bastard…!”

I hear Wang’s (魍) voice.

He was looking at me, greatly surprised, with that smug face.

“What… what on earth is that? What did you create?”

“This?”

I didn’t take action wanting to show it.

Holding and moving it is a bit difficult.

I have to be careful, afraid it might explode if I mess up.

“Can’t you tell? It’s a spear.”

“…Hah.”

Tension appears on his face.

Is it that much of a threat?

‘Isn’t it somewhat similar?’

The spear he was holding, too.

After all, it was made by condensing cold energy, so he shouldn’t be surprised like that seeing mine.

Ah, of course.

‘I didn’t make it to swing or stab, though.’

If I did such a thing, I wouldn’t be able to maintain it and would explode and die.

Nevertheless, the reason I deliberately changed it into the form of a spear was solely for one reason.

Seueuk.

Taking a low stance,

I slightly raised the hand holding the spear and pulled it back.

“…!”

Seeing that, he flinched and tried to move.

He seemed to have figured out what I was going to do.

Right.

The reason I deliberately took the form of a spear,

and the reason I put more rotation inside it,

was solely for this.

To be a little faster.

And to throw it a little stronger.

Although the name I gave it is Flame Jade Holy Spear,

‘Its reason for existence is to be a throwing spear (投槍).’

Pierce quickly.

Leave nothing behind.

Kkuuuuk–!!

Stabilizing my center, I focus all my strength into my right hand.

And I said,

“Dodge if you can.”

“Wh-?”

After finishing my warning,

I threw the spear I was holding straight at him.

Swish-!

The spear extended, cutting through the wind for a moment.

Then,

Tuk! I retrieved the spear-shaped mental image vessel that enveloped the flames.

At that moment,

Ung! The air distorted, and

Kuuaaaaaaaa—-!!!!

Immense flames caused an explosion.

It was an unbelievable level for a small spear to create.

Hwaaaaaa–.

My body swayed from the wind pressure caused by the explosion.

That means it was an immense offensive power.

Kkeudeudeuk!!

I hear the sound of something breaking somewhere and debris settling.

As time passed like that, the smoke obscuring the view disappeared, and

‘Wow.’

I had to exclaim in admiration at the scene created before me.

A hole was pierced through the space forming the ice crystal.

A massive spiral hole.

Sizzle sizzle.

The walls were gradually collapsing, melting from the heat.

It was a chilling sight.

‘…It’s stronger than I thought.’

I thought, watching the gradually melting walls.

A level incomparable to the simple Flame Jade.

‘It seems.’

Even I can see that I seem to have created something absurd.

‘The problem is.’

Leaving the situation created by the Flame Jade Holy Spear behind, I shifted my gaze.

‘Where did it go?’

I can’t see Wang.

It doesn’t seem like he was hit by the spear, but

It wasn’t a range easily avoidable, so where could he have gone?

Just as such a question arose,

Seueuk.

Feeling a presence, I turned around.

Then,

Puuk–!!

“…!”

My stomach is pierced by something sharp.

Upon checking, it was Wang.

He approached and thrust his sword into my stomach.

The sensation of cutting through flesh.

Just as I was frowning, feeling this,

“It was surprising.”

Wang said to me.

“Its majesty was enough to make one hesitate for a moment. It even made me flee disgracefully.”

I observed the guy spewing words continuously.

Except for the arm that thrust the sword, his left arm was gone.

It seems he didn’t dodge properly.

“It’s great power. However.”

An annoying smile was formed on his face.

“If you can’t hit the target, isn’t it ultimately meaningless?”

“…”

I nodded at his words filled with mockery.

“That’s right.”

“…Hm?”

As I admitted it nonchalantly, he reacted with a questioning look.

“You’re right.”

If you can’t hit the target, it’s meaningless.

It was the biggest problem even I could think of.

That’s the problem with this martial art.

The casting time is long, and it takes a long time to create, so if you fail once, the damage is significant.

“But.”

Kkwaak.

While speaking, I grabbed his hand.

The hand that thrust the sword into my stomach.

“…!?”

“As long as I can create a situation where I can hit the target, it doesn’t matter, right?”

“…You bastard!?”

At my words, Wang’s eyes shake greatly.

Only then did he seem to realize my intention.

Right, if I can’t hit it properly anyway, let’s create a situation where I can hit it.

That was my thought process.

And he fell right into it.

I smiled back at him.

“You should have aimed for the neck. Why did you stab my stomach?”

Dragons are inherently arrogant.

That’s probably why he had to give me that smug smile.

That’s why he deliberately approached and thrust his sword into my stomach.

Ah, of course.

I wouldn’t have let him even if he aimed for the neck.

Holding his hand fixed so he couldn’t escape, I said,

“Gotcha.”

“Gk-!”

Deolgeureok-!

The sword stuck in my stomach moves.

He seems to be trying to pull it out somehow.

Pain arises in this process, but I could endure it.

This is ridiculous.

How many times has a sword been stuck in my stomach within a few days?

Jjeojeojeok.

I feel something from the stomach where the sword is stuck.

Gradually, the cold energy is making my skin freeze.

I suppressed this with heat.

I judged by seeing the creeping cold energy.

‘About seven seconds.’

The limit I can endure.

Just about that much.

It’s a short time.

However.

That much was enough.

Hwaaak-!

I immediately wrapped my hand in flames.

Since I’d done it once, it was faster this time.

Kuuuuuu–!!

While still stuck in the sword, I created the Flame Jade Holy Spear.

My hand is trembling.

Is twice the limit consecutively?

“Let go! Let go right now!”

Seemingly panicked, he keeps raising his voice.

“You bastard! Do you not care what happens to this body!”

Is he threatening me with Woo Hyuk’s body? It was laughable.

“That’s that guy’s responsibility.”

“…!”

“And.”

I distorted my smiling face strongly.

“That bastard would curse me like hell later if I hadn’t stabbed him here.”

If he got caught trying to protect me futilely, he would have cursed me for it.

If it were the opposite, it would have been even more so.

I gripped the spear.

Seeing this, Wang shouted.

“If you use that at this distance… you won’t be unharmed either!”

“Yeah, but so what?”

I don’t care.

I can handle that much.

As no words worked, his expression gradually broke down.

“Jee–!”

He seemed about to say something more, but

I didn’t listen to his noisy barking anymore.

I thrust the spear I picked up straight into his abdomen.

Puk-!

And then.

Kuuaaa-!

The explosion swept the surroundings.