Chapter 95: Strengthened Advancent (5)
“Jin Geonmu, co here and sit.”
Gugwi commanded firmly.
He had always spoken respectfully before, claiming it was difficult not to, yet at that mont, his tone was not that of a superior to a subordinate—it was as if he were dealing with a child.
Everyone’s faces reflected their confusion.
“Sit!”
Jin Geonmu obeyed naturally, stepping forward and sitting before Gugwi.
“Stay still. Don’t move.”
Gugwi moved behind him and placed his hands on Jin Geonmu’s shoulders. His palms touched the man’s back, tracing along the spine. He seed to be inspecting Jin Geonmu’s bones and muscles. Was this Physician of Clarity’s dical Arts?
Swish!
A cold palm pressed against Jin Geonmu’s Myeongmun Acupoint. Instantly, his back twitched.
“Wait, what are you doing?”
Tension filled Jin Geonmu’s voice, and his shoulders stiffened.
“Be quiet.”
“What are you doing! I won’t accept this unless you explain first!”
Jin Geonmu looked ready to rise at any mont.
To touch the Myeongmun Acupoint ant one of two things—
Either to strike and cause internal damage, or to channel Qi and heal it.
“I’m going to pass my Qi to you.”
Gugwi answered calmly. Yet, as soon as the words left his mouth, the air inside the cave grew taut.
“That’s impossible!”
Jin Geonmu tried to stand. Every martial artist knew the rule—giving one’s inner Qi to another was akin to crippling oneself. The very thought of it made his voice tremble in fear.
“Sit.”
Gugwi’s command fell heavy as stone.
When his hand pressed down on Jin Geonmu’s shoulder, he felt as though a mountain had descended upon him. His body sank back into place.
“This strength… it’s of no use to anymore.”
“That can’t be….”
“There are two Qi within .”
Gugwi spoke slowly, his voice echoing softly against the cave walls.
“It may sound unbelievable, but one Qi rests in my Dantian, the other inside my Spirit Flow Core. The Qi in the Dantian was copied into the core. I don’t know why, but I can use both. The one I’m giving you is the Qi that once belonged to the Naless Martial Artist. It’s useless to now.”
“That’s impossible!”
“I told you you wouldn’t believe it. But it’s the truth, so take it. Do you think I’d cripple myself at this age?”
Paaang!
A faint tremor began in Gugwi’s palm.
Qi started to flow through his hand. A gentle warmth—pure Qi left behind by the Naless Martial Artist. The steadfast Qi anchored in his Dantian separated from him and seeped into Jin Geonmu’s Myeongmun Acupoint.
“Ugh….”
Jin Geonmu’s body began to shudder violently.
The foreign energy raced up his spine and plunged straight toward his Dantian.
It felt like a furnace had ignited inside him.
The blazing energy coursed through his ridians, colliding with his own inner power.
‘Sothing’s wrong… it’s too hot….’
Jin Geonmu’s skin flushed red.
Sweat rolled down his forehead like beads, his breathing ragged as if his lungs were being torn apart.
Neither of them truly understood the process of Qi transference. In fact, very few martial artists did. No one ever gave or received Qi—martial artists would rather die of old age than part with their inner strength.
Naturally, neither knew what would happen during the process.
As Gugwi continued to transfer his Qi, he spoke calmly.
“Physician of Clarity said this process would not be easy. Our Qi have completely different natures, so there will be side effects. You must endure them.”
Paaang!
Gugwi carefully expanded Jin Geonmu’s ridians with his Qi, injecting power into them.
“Ghh—!”
Jin Geonmu let out a pained groan.
It felt as if every bone in his body were breaking. Waves of agony crashed through him. His back arched like a bow, blood seeping between his clenched fingernails. His bloodshot eyes looked ready to burst.
Yet, amidst the pain—he felt sothing else. Power.
He was growing stronger.
From deep within his body, a new force surged upward.
Sweat dotted Gugwi’s brow as well.
Transferring Qi was perilous not only for the one receiving but also for the one giving.
Only after an entire sijin passed did the transfer finally end.
When Gugwi lifted his hand, Jin Geonmu gasped for air, clutching his chest.
Slowly, he stood and grasped his spear.
At that instant, sothing unexpected occurred—the mont he touched the weapon, it vibrated like a living serpent. The tremor ran from the shaft, through his arm, and across his entire body.
Shweeeek!
A red aura burst forth from the spearhead like a waterfall.
The crimson light cascaded along the cave walls, painting strange shadows.
“This…”
He could not finish his words. When he swung the spear lightly, the air itself split apart with a sharp tearing sound.
Paaang!
A bright red trail marked the spear’s path, and heat lingered in the air where it passed.
Jin Geonmu turned to face a boulder and aid his spear.
He inhaled deeply, then unleashed a lightning-fast barrage of thrusts.
Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!
Like stabbing tofu with an awl, ten clean holes appeared instantly. Shards of rock scattered in all directions, so clattering against the floor.
Jin Geonmu lowered his spear and looked at his hand.
His fingertips trembled slightly—but not from fear. It was exhilaration.
“This… this kind of power…?”
His voice overflowed with awe.
The strength coursing through his body was incomparable to before.
“It feels like… I could move mountains.”
Gugwi looked upon the group with satisfaction.
Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok had beco Spirit Resonance Summoners commanding three spirits each. Jin Geonmu now possessed enough inner power to stand against the sect leaders of the great orthodox schools.
“This is where it truly begins.”
Gugwi murmured softly.
The Spirit Flow Core within his chest glimred faintly, as if heralding the inevitable clash against the Manifest Demon Emperor.
“Let’s head outside. I want to test it for real.”
Yeon Sohye was the first to step out of the cave.
The dawn breeze scattered her hair into the rising light.
The brookside was a natural training ground gifted by the heavens. Clear streams flowed gently between smooth rocks, producing a soft murmur. Round stones lay scattered in perfect harmony, forming an ideal space for training.
A wide clearing—just right for cultivation.
“First, we need to stabilize your spirits.”
Gugwi approached the two slowly.
Both Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok had their inner energies in disarray due to the new Spirit Union spirits. Yeon Sohye’s fingertips trembled faintly, while beads of sweat ford on Jang Unhyeok’s forehead.
A gentle light began to radiate from Gugwi’s chest, where the Spirit Flow Core resided. The blue glow flowed to his fingertips and wrapped softly around the two.
As Yeon Sohye’s body was enveloped in the light, the clashing spirits within her began to rge, blending together into one harmonious form—like colors of different paints combining into a single painting.
The sa happened for Jang Unhyeok.
The unstable heat rising from his back gradually settled, bringing him calm.
“Now, try it.”
Gugwi stepped back as he spoke.
Yeon Sohye took a deep breath and slowly extended her hands forward.
First, So Ryeonghwa appeared behind her. A silver mist rose from Yeon Sohye’s ankles, winding up her body in ethereal waves. A dreamlike aura filled the air.
At the sa ti, Gale Spirit Guest appeared to her right. Blue winds spiraled from his fingertips, swirling around Yeon Sohye.
Then Baek Seonnyeo erged on her left, casting a soft, moonlight-like radiance that shimred across the mist and wind, creating a breathtaking scene.
At the mont the three energies fused into one, an astonishing phenonon occurred.
The silver mist coiled upward into the sky in a spiral. Within it, a moonlit brilliance danced like a living serpent. The blue winds wrapped around it all, sharpening into countless blades.
A chilling presence filled the air.
It felt as though hundreds of invisible blades floated around them.
When Yeon Sohye flicked her wrist, the silver vortex slid forward toward a boulder.
Jjwaak-jjwaak-jjwaak!
The boulder was sliced apart like thin sheets of paper, scattering into the wind.
As if dozens of razors had cut through simultaneously, the rock split evenly into flawless fragnts.
The cut surfaces glead like polished mirrors.
“Silver Phantom Triple Severance…”
Yeon Sohye murmured unconsciously. The na of a new martial art had ford naturally on her lips.
“Now it’s my turn.”
Jang Unhyeok rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward with determination.
The Fire Spirit Warrior appeared behind him, scattering crimson flas in all directions. The flas danced in midair, radiating scorching heat.
Wind Sword Wolf materialized to his right, summoning fierce gusts of wind. When the wind t the fire, it grew even stronger.
Then Iron Fla Monk appeared to his left, lifting a massive hamr above his head.
The surface of the hamr glead with a tallic luster.
The powers of the three spirits began to rge.
Red flas and blue winds intertwined, forming a massive vortex. At its center, Iron Fla Monk’s hamr grew larger, glowing like molten lava.
Inside the whirlwind, the hamr spun at trendous speed.
The air reeked of burning, and the surrounding temperature soared.
“Go!”
Jang Unhyeok shouted with all his might.
The molten hamr shot forth like a cannonball and struck the boulder.
Kwaang!
With an ear-splitting explosion, the rock was reduced to dust.
A crater as tall as a person ford at the impact site, and all the nearby grass was reduced to ash.
Even the water evaporated, white steam rising in curls.
“Windfire Destruction!”
Jang Unhyeok exclaid, clenching his fist in awe.
Gugwi smiled in satisfaction. The two were far stronger than he had imagined.
“Now, try individual control.”
“Individual control?”
“Like Sa Hyeollin—hide your spirits separately and ambush. I think you can use them that way too.”
Yeon Sohye’s eyes sparkled, like a child discovering a new toy.
She moved her finger slightly.
Instantly, So Ryeonghwa slipped behind a rock and vanished completely. Her presence disappeared as if she had never existed. Gale Spirit Guest rode the wind upward, hiding within the branches, his trace masked by the rustling leaves.
Baek Seonnyeo rged with the moonlight, sinking into the water.
She blended so naturally that it was impossible to distinguish her from the reflected light of the moon.
“Try to find them.”
Yeon Sohye said confidently.
Gugwi scanned his surroundings carefully. No matter how much he focused, he couldn’t sense the spirits’ presences at all—as if they had never existed. Without using the Spirit Flow Core, there was no way to detect them.
“Now!”
Yeon Sohye snapped her fingers.
At that instant, attacks poured in from three directions simultaneously.
From behind the rock, a silver dagger shot forth like lightning. From the tree above, blue blades spun as they flew. From the water, condensed beams of moonlight fired like arrows.
Gugwi swiftly twirled his spear to block them.
The blue whirl of Cloudfire Spear Slash neutralized all three attacks at once, though his heels dug deep into the ground.
“Truly impressive!”
Gugwi exclaid, raising his thumb in admiration.
Yeon Sohye’s individual control was beyond expectation. The three spirits, each hidden in different positions, launched a perfectly synchronized assault.
“I think I can do that too.”
Jang Unhyeok stepped forward with a confident grin.
With a wave of his hand, Fire Spirit Warrior sank into the ground, leaving only traces of molten red energy. Wind Sword Wolf rged with the air, turning completely invisible. Iron Fla Monk blended into the surrounding rocks, transforming into a massive hunk of tal.
“Try guessing where they’ll co from.”
Jang Unhyeok spoke with an easy smile.
At that mont, the three hidden Spirit Union spirits were already on the move—no longer where they had been concealed.
Gugwi surveyed the area closely, but no matter how hard he focused, he couldn’t detect them.
Suddenly, heat surged from beneath his feet. Simultaneously, unseen wind blades struck from behind, and a colossal iron hamr roared toward him from the right.
Gugwi twisted his body and leapt into the air.
The three attacks collided where he had been standing, erupting in a powerful explosion. Dust and fragnts of rock shot skyward.
“Wow! Want to spar with next?”
Yeon Sohye clapped her hands joyfully, her eyes glimring in the moonlight.
“Later. Techniques like this need more practice before they can be used in battle. For now, let’s focus on training.”
Gugwi said as he landed on the ground.
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