Chapter 63

Chapter 63
The hidden area beyond the stone barrier proved far wider than anyone would have guessed.

It seemed less like an enclosed room and more like stepping through a narrow tunnel straight into an immense cavern. Because the space was not truly carved beneath the earth, natural sunlight filtered softly through an elevated opening, and a tranquil brook wound its way across the ground. Patches of wild grass and fresh blossoms dotted the interior. Taking in the view, one could hardly believe they were standing in an indoor retreat.

At the very heart of the expanse sat its most remarkable element: a compact thermal pool. Sized to accommodate two or three grown men, fine wisps of white vapor curled quietly from its surface. Anywhere else in the realm, it might have seemed like an ordinary warm bath, yet here it radiated a distinct and mysterious pressure.

“This is known as the Dragon Spring. Resting within its waters mends shattered meridians, and meditating beside it condenses internal energy far faster than the world outside. It restores vitality to worn flesh. I truly ought to have guided you to this place three years ago.”

Had he done so back then, they would have made a genuine effort to restore Baek So-cheon’s dantian. Yet the moment the Heavenly Outer Manuscript embedded itself within Baek So-cheon’s flesh, every thought of leading him to this sanctuary had been cast aside.

“I should have opened this door for you so much earlier…”

Listening to the heavy remorse in Ak So-gun’s voice, Baek So-cheon offered gentle reassurance.

“There is no need to torment yourself, Alliance Lord. None of that occurred by your personal design, did it?”

“No amount of kind words can erase the truth that I succumbed to my own prejudices.”

Perhaps such relentless remorse was the burden he had to bear. After all, he stood at the absolute pinnacle of the Murim Ranking Record. Overcoming such profound regret would take the Alliance Lord considerable time.

“And what might those be?”

Baek So-cheon pointed toward roughly a dozen earthenware vessels resting against the far wall.

“Supplies meant to sustain prolonged periods of closed-door cultivation.”

Inside lay fasting rations such as wall-grain pills along with assorted preserved provisions. Between the gentle sunlight and steady air circulation, the environment was remarkably hospitable. A bed had been arranged for resting, and an isolated privy sat tucked into a far corner for personal needs. With so much open ground, it served as an extraordinary training ground for martial arts.

“Take your time to mend and steady yourself here. Though, mere rest will hardly be sufficient…”

Ak So-gun walked toward a corner of the Heavenly Dragon’s Secret Chamber and picked up a meticulously preserved wooden container.

“I kept this hidden away for dire circumstances. With your comprehension, you may discover a way to reconstruct your dantian through this and the Dragon Spring.”

When Ak So-gun raised the lid, an intact root of snow ginseng appeared, releasing an intense, clean fragrance that immediately filled the chamber.

Baek So-cheon’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Could this be…!”

“Indeed. A Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng.”

A Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng!

Among all the miraculous herbs and legendary medicines under heaven, it was revered as the ultimate treasure, possessing medicinal qualities without equal.

Witnessing Ak So-gun’s profound goodwill, Baek So-cheon knew he could no longer keep the truth hidden. Originally, he had considered revealing the matter only after gathering a greater measure of inner force, but faced with such an extraordinary gift, concealing his condition felt impossible.

“Alliance Lord, to tell you the truth… my dantian has already been completely restored.”

Ak So-gun’s eyes flared with shock.

“Is that true? When did this happen?”

“Only recently.”

Baek So-cheon shared the story of his encounter with Ban Yun-saeng, detailing how his flesh had been cleansed of poison and his foundation renewed.

“Ah! What a blessing! A magnificent blessing indeed! The heavens have not forsaken our cause.”

Ak So-gun beamed with pure joy, celebrating as though the victory were his own.

“Because of this, Alliance Lord, you must keep the Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng for yourself.”

“Nonsense. If your foundation is healed, you need this even more urgently to replenish your drained inner reserve.”

“Please, Alliance Lord, take it.”

When Baek So-cheon declined once more, Ak So-gun shook his head with a patient smile.

“As you well understand, my own inner energy is already close to saturation.”

When an expert’s cultivation reaches immense heights, the benefits granted by spirit herbs diminish drastically. Up to a single gapja, an elixir imparts its full potency; beyond that threshold, the absorption rate drops by half or worse; once one surpasses three gapja, the returns dwindle to almost nothing.

Put plainly, once a martial artist possesses three gapja of cultivation, acquiring merely two additional years of inner force demands the wealth of hundreds of thousands of nyang.

Even so, Baek So-cheon, who possessed three gapja, had matched Ak So-gun blow for blow before suffering defeat—a truly terrifying display of skill.

“Even if I consumed this Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng, I would gain perhaps a dozen years of inner force at best. But your body could readily absorb a full gapja.”

Baek So-cheon could feel the profound sincerity of the older man. Had it not been entirely genuine, he never would have unlocked the Heavenly Dragon’s Secret Chamber, nor would he have parted with such an invaluable relic so freely.

“I accept your kindness with deepest gratitude, Alliance Lord.”

Baek So-cheon ceased his refusals and bowed his head. To overcome the dark storm gathering over the martial world, regaining his former power was non-negotiable.

For any ordinary master, a Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng typically granted between one-and-a-half to two gapja of internal reserves. With his natural capacity, Baek So-cheon estimated he could safely harness roughly forty years—about two-thirds of its full essence.

When added to the fifty-one years of refined energy he currently possessed, it would provide the final surge he needed to soar once more.

‘And what if I refine it while immersed within the Dragon Spring?’

He suspected he might even surpass that forty-year mark.

Confessing his recovered state brought an unexpected second gift.

“Since you can circulate inner power once more, you are fit to learn this as well. Come over here.”

Ak So-gun walked toward a set of wooden shelves placed near the resting area.

Dozens of bound volumes rested upon the boards. This location was the true heart of the Murim Alliance’s Ten Thousand Scroll Library—housing supreme manuals forbidden even to top division commanders, along with ancient scriptures virtually unknown across the common jianghu.

One volume perched at the very crown of the collection.

A single glance was enough to tell that it eclipsed every other scroll in the room.

Ak So-gun reached up, took down the text, and placed it directly into Baek So-cheon’s hands.

“Since your energy has returned, studying this will serve you well.”

The instant his eyes fell upon the title, Baek So-cheon froze in sheer awe.

“This manual…!”

It was one of the legendary four supreme manuals, revered across history as the zenith of martial arts.

The Thousand-Handed Asura God Sword.

It represented one of the final two manuals Baek So-cheon had spent his life pursuing. He had assumed it would be the most elusive treasure of all, yet here it rested in his palms.

“This is far too grand a gift for me to accept.”

“I secured this for your sake, as a fitting tribute for halting the war. Were it not for your sacrifice, the Black Heaven Alliance Lord would be the one lounging beside this Dragon Spring today. You have earned this right. Keep it.”

“Alliance Lord, you ought to cultivate it yourself.”

“My years are far too advanced for such an endeavor. To let an art of this caliber turn to dust on a shelf would be a disgrace to any martial practitioner. It belongs to you.”

“Then I shall accept it with reverence. Thank you, Alliance Lord.”

Baek So-cheon bowed deeply toward Ak So-gun. A sharp pang of shame struck his heart at the thought of having ever doubted a man of such honor.

“It brings me no joy to mention this, but should fortune abandon us and the Black Heaven Alliance triumph, this scroll must never land in their leader’s grip. I will not abide that outcome. Imprint every word into your mind, and then burn the parchment to ash. When your own twilight approaches, pass the art to an honorable successor.”

“I will do as you say.”

Baek So-cheon accepted the manual with profound care.

“I understand that rare medicines have grown exceptionally scarce across the lands. I shall endeavor to track down more for you.”

Baek So-cheon raised his hand in polite refusal.

“There is no need. The Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng is already beyond generous.”

“It does not feel like enough to me.”

The Alliance Lord appeared resolute in his desire to wash away every trace of the previous three years of cold neglect.

“The Black Heaven Alliance Lord remains unaware that my dantian has been restored. It would be wisest to keep this hidden.”

“Naturally. Not a soul outside this room will hear of it from me.”

“I am grateful.”

“The Black Heaven Alliance has forged an alliance with the Blood Cult. It pains me to say it, but I must ask for your sword once more—for my sake, and for the peace of this jianghu.”

“If we cannot sever their pact, surviving the coming clash will be an arduous struggle.”

During the previous conflict, both sides had stood evenly matched. Yet without Baek So-cheon, the Black Heaven Alliance held an overwhelming seven-to-three advantage over their coalition. It was his lone blade that had tipped the scales and forced them to accept an armistice.

“That is why you must restore your foundation without delay. This sanctuary belongs entirely to you now. Disregard the chaos beyond these walls, cultivate at your own pace, and step forth only when your blade is ready.”

Ak So-gun turned to depart, but Baek So-cheon spoke a final warning.

“Now that our bond has been restored for the world to see, whoever engineered our divide may try to move against us. Please remain on guard.”

“I shall.”

Ak So-gun stepped through the threshold, leaving the Heavenly Dragon’s Secret Chamber behind.

Left to the quiet cavern, Baek So-cheon pulled a long breath into his lungs.

“Very well. It is time.”

Carrying the Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng, he walked directly toward the Dragon Spring.

Shedding his garments, he slipped down into the mineral pool.

A soothing, pervasive warmth wrapped around his limbs. The gentle currents of energy sinking through his pores confirmed this was no simple mountain spring.

Slowly and deliberately, Baek So-cheon initiated the breathing cycle of the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method.

The speed at which pure qi gathered inside his core was astonishing—easily thrice as fast as practicing outside. For a common martial artist, the pool might double their progress at best, but combining his profound realm of comprehension with the ancient art elevated the rate beyond three times the norm.

Furthermore, meditating within the spring infused his meridian channels with an intensely fresh and buoyant vitality.

Such was the wonder of the Dragon Spring.

It was the sort of retreat one entered and wished never to depart.

After allowing his internal energy to circulate through several complete cycles over weeks of quiet meditation, Baek So-cheon drew forth the container.

His pulse quickened as he looked upon the treasure. Though he had ingested countless rare herbs to build his previous three gapja of cultivation, he had never consumed an elixir of such absolute supremacy.

He brought the Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng to his lips and began to chew.

A rich blend of sweet and earthy bitterness flooded his senses, eclipsing the taste of every rare medicine he had ever known.

Chewing every fiber to fine pulp, he swallowed the essence and used the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method to guide the flood of medicinal energy through his pathways.

A gentle hum echoed through his marrow.

Aided by the soothing properties of the Dragon Spring, his body converted the medicine with shocking efficiency.

The total yield reached fifty years. That was ten full years beyond his highest expectation.

“It worked!”

A quiet shout of triumph slipped from Baek So-cheon’s lips.

When combined with the fifty-one years he had already cultivated, his foundation now held an astounding century of untainted inner power. He stood merely nineteen years away from reaching two full gapja.

What mattered even more was its pristine quality, which far surpassed the density of his past reserves. Though his endurance in a prolonged siege might be slightly lesser, his striking force now rivaled the power he commanded at his absolute peak.

‘Still, this is not enough.’

The Black Heaven Alliance Lord possessed a staggering foundation of more than four gapja, and the enigmatic strength of the Blood Cult Lord remained a formidable mystery.

Submerging himself once more within the steaming waters of the Dragon Spring, Baek So-cheon unrolled the text and immersed his thoughts in the secrets of the Thousand-Handed Asura God Sword.

—

Three days slipped by in absolute stillness.

Baek So-cheon stood firmly at the center of the Heavenly Dragon’s Secret Chamber, his grip tight around the hilt of his cherished Ghost Shadow Sword.

Across those three days, he had etched every verse and diagram of the Thousand-Handed Asura God Sword into his mind. Having verified every concept until it was beyond doubt, he consigned the manual to the flames as commanded. If the time came, he would pass down the teachings directly to a chosen disciple or rewrite the manuscript with his own hand before his life ended.

Holding more than a century of immaculate internal power while gripping his most trusted blade, Baek So-cheon felt the blood surging wildly through his veins.

While he was currently progressing through the formidable fist technique known as the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists, his heart had always belonged to the way of the blade.

Now, establishing the Thousand-Handed Asura God Sword as his primary martial craft, anchoring it with the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists for auxiliary combat, and using the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method as the core foundation created an immaculate harmony.

Of course, acquiring one final martial art would bind the entire structure into flawless perfection, but that technique remained distant and elusive.

‘For now, the sword demands my total focus.’

Drawing the steel, he flowed straight into the opening forms.

The Thousand-Handed Asura God Sword belonged to the lineage of fast-sword styles.

Yet it was not merely rapid—it was blindingly, impossibly swift.

The opening four forms contained no insurmountable obstacles, but beginning with the fifth form, the manual demanded terrifying mastery and profound insight.

The technique he initiated was the opening movement: the Heavenly Pivot Form.

Baek So-cheon’s wrist snapped, and the steel darted forward.

The air hissed sharply as cold metal cleaved the void.

Over a dozen residual sword trails hung visibly in the empty space.

According to the scroll’s descriptions, reaching supreme mastery over this art would cause every scattered sword shadow to fuse into a single, cohesive phantom illustration. All variations would lock together into one magnificent image.

Even Baek So-cheon, who had previously stood at the summit of the martial landscape, found himself questioning whether such a feat could truly be achieved by human hands.

Even now, sustaining the distinct trails of merely the first movement pushed his precision to its limits.

To execute the seventh form and have every afterimage manifest simultaneously? That required delivering all seven complex sequences in a single, imperceptible heartbeat.

If someone could genuinely manifest that realm, it would represent the absolute zenith of speed swordsmanship. Perhaps it would stand as the greatest blade art ever wrought by mankind—or perhaps something transcending mortal boundaries entirely.

A blazing spark of determination flared deep within Baek So-cheon’s spirit. Setting aside the impending war, as a pure seeker of the martial path, he resolved that he would one day conquer this art and witness that breathtaking illusion with his own eyes.

For the first time in years, Baek So-cheon let the heavy burdens of the world fall away, abandoning himself entirely to the dance of his blade.