Chapter 387

Displaying a rare momentary lapse in composure, Jin Ha-yeon quickly recovered her poised demeanor.

“Would you be willing to share with this maiden the purpose behind your desire to acquire the Bare Hand Demon Art?”

“It is essential for developing a confidential method to counteract formidable opponents such as the Thousand Blood Stiffened Corpses.”

“…Is that truly the case?”

Jin Ha-yeon, whose countenance briefly reflected a touch of bewilderment, gave a slow nod of understanding and commenced imparting the fundamental concepts of the Bare Hand Demon Art to Il-mok.

Having practiced the style daily for a major portion of her existence, the core tenets were etched flawlessly into her memory, making it a simple task to prepare ink and document the principles on parchment alongside her verbal guidance.

Following several careful reviews of her explanations and the written doctrines, Il-mok assumed a cross-legged position to engage in Qi Circulation and Breath Adjustment.

Even for a martial artist of Il-mok’s advanced capabilities, initiating this specific cycle of Qi Circulation and Breath Adjustment required immense focus and proved to be quite a grueling undertaking.

The difficulty stemmed entirely from the residual blood energies lingering within his pathways.

Because those exact blood energies were vital for cultivating the Hot Yang Earth Art, purging them completely was out of the question.

Il-mok chose to first deploy the specific force of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword to corral those scattered blood energies into a singular location—specifically channeling them toward the meridian routes that the internal manual of the Bare Hand Demon Art bypassed.

Once he had cleared a secure path for the yin cold qi utilizing the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, Il-mok established a connection with the frigid internal energy residing within his dantian.

Exercising the utmost precision, akin to gently drawing a single strand from a tangled skein of yarn, he extracted a minuscule fraction of that power and began circulating it according to the structural dictates of the Bare Hand Demon Art.

‘Retaining three distinct classifications of inner force inside one’s center is essentially equivalent to wandering around with an explosive device set to detonate within the torso.’

This hazardous reality was the primary reason Il-mok had painstakingly reviewed the detailed instructions provided by Jin Ha-yeon multiple times.

He had already grasped the underlying mechanics, but the repetition was necessary because he intended to fundamentally alter their application.

Drawing upon the vast accumulation of martial theories and insights he had gathered throughout his journey, Il-mok had designated a specific site to establish the focal center for this new Bare Hand Demon Art energy.

The destination to which Il-mok chose to steer the yin cold qi was not the traditional lower abdominal center, but rather upward toward his skull.

In the ancient eras, when the foundational structures of the martial world were newly forming, an immense variety of distinct combat disciplines existed across the lands.

Given such a wide array of experimental martial philosophies, the physical locations utilized for anchoring internal centers were similarly diverse.

Out of all those experimental points, the three locations most prominently utilized across ancient generations were recognized as the upper dantian, the middle dantian, and the lower dantian.

The lower abdominal center is what the modern era universally refers to whenever anyone utters the word ‘dantian.’ The middle center resides near the heart. And the final one is the mind hall, situated deep within the brain.

Historically, there were numerous instances where practitioners chose to anchor their primary reservoirs within either the middle center or the mind hall.

For those who favored the middle center, the rationale was that all internal energy eventually circulates through the primary vascular pathways, and since the heart functions as the origin of all blood flow, it served as a logical hub.

For those who chose the mind hall, the logic dictated that since the manipulation of internal energy is ultimately governed by cognitive focus and mental intent, positioning the reservoir directly within the skull would grant far more meticulous control over its movement.

However, as these diverse martial styles evolved across centuries of historical refinement, a collection of practical factors ultimately led to the contemporary consensus of focusing almost exclusively on the lower dantian.

The primary catalyst for this shift was basic physical efficiency.

Because combat disciplines inherently demand the coordinated utilization of the entire physical frame, projecting internal force outward from a centralized reservoir located at the body’s physical core offered countless mechanical advantages.

To put it plainly, if the primary reservoir were situated within the skull, an unavoidable discrepancy in travel time would occur when sending energy down to the arms versus attempting to route it all the way to the feet.

The secondary catalyst was fundamental personal safety.

Throughout the rigorous process of cultivating internal strength, incidents of cognitive disharmony and severe internal trauma are incredibly frequent. If the primary reservoir is anchored directly inside the brain or the heart, even a minor instance of cognitive disharmony or a slight internal rupture carries an immense risk of sending the practitioner straight to the gravesite.

Bound by these two critical liabilities, the evolution of martial arts progressively narrowed down until almost every style developed around the lower dantian.

Yet, the unique strategy Il-mok devised after acquiring the Hot Yang Earth Art involved a bold departure: deliberately splitting his secondary forces between the upper dantian and the middle dantian.

Predictably, the initial inspiration for this arrangement stemmed from a distinct recollection belonging to his previous existence.

It was a universally recognized maxim from that old world: ‘A cool head paired with a warm heart.’

He wasn’t thinking of the comical variant regarding a hairless man’s burning chest, but rather the genuine philosophical phrase emphasizing an analytical intellect alongside an affectionate disposition.

From Il-mok’s professional assessment of internal mechanics, it felt far more structurally sound for the cognitive faculties to maintain a chilly temperature rather than a scorching one, just as it was safer for the cardiac region to remain heated rather than frozen. Consequently, he forged an energetic container within his upper dantian specifically designed to house the yin cold qi.

While it was admittedly a decision influenced by an abstract philosophical preference, the reality was that the precise assignment of locations wasn’t an incredibly critical variable.

Had he attempted to circulate the yin cold qi and the scorching hot yang qi through the exact same channels simultaneously, his vascular system would have ruptured instantly, securing him a direct ticket to the afterlife. Therefore, Il-mok’s strategy was to utilize both the upper and middle reservoirs strictly as isolated storage depots.

His core martial foundation would remain anchored upon the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, and he only intended to mobilize these two secondary elements when executing newly formulated confidential techniques.

‘At the very least, until I manage to achieve the level of Transcending Demon in both the Bare Hand Demon Art and this newly acquired Hot Yang Earth Art, I must strictly avoid deploying either of them during actual life-or-death engagements.’

The stage of Transcending Demon.

In his earlier days, when he was first beginning to grasp the fundamentals of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, that particular realm had appeared as an unimaginably lofty and unreachable mountain peak.

However, now that his mastery over the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword had progressed past Transcending Demon to enter the foundational tiers of the Profound Realm, that previous boundary no longer seemed like such a daunting height.

Even if the specific methodology and energetic pathways of a new art were completely unfamiliar, a traveler who had already scaled a significantly grander mountain would encounter no monumental hardship when attempting to ascend a shorter, unfamiliar slope.

“Sip. Hoo.”

Maintaining a rhythmic pattern of deep, extended inhalations and exhalations, Il-mok carefully directed the concentrated yin cold qi upward from his lower abdominal reservoir, using it to gradually expand the newly established container within his upper dantian.

Yet, because this specific repository was located directly within the brain’s domain, he refrained from attempting any reckless or overly aggressive expansion of its capacity.

Once he had secured a stable, albeit minimal, internal reservoir in his head, Il-mok rose to his feet and began executing the individual combat forms of the Bare Hand Demon Art one after the other.

He moved with deliberate slowness. He proceeded with extreme vigilance.

He ensured that the remaining blood energies cornered within his meridians were held securely in place by the restraining force of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, all while simultaneously drawing the chilly yin cold qi down from his upper dantian.

Furthermore, because the flow of internal energy was originating from the upper dantian rather than its traditional source, he had to introduce incremental modifications to the standard execution methods of the Bare Hand Demon Art.

He spent a considerable period practicing the movements, expending the newly stored energy of the upper dantian with immense care.

The moment that specific reservoir ran dry, he returned to a cross-legged position, channeled another portion of the remaining yin cold qi from his lower abdomen up into his skull, and restarted the entire training cycle.

Il-mok’s extraordinary innate capacity paired with his advanced martial comprehension, the over two decades of accumulated internal force resting in his lower reservoir, the naturally accelerated progression inherent to unorthodox demonic cultivation paths, and the direct supervision of Jin Ha-yeon—a martial expert who had already attained the tier of Transcending Demon within this exact discipline.

When all of these exceptional advantages converged simultaneously, it became possible for his mastery over the Bare Hand Demon Art to advance at a staggering, borderline unnatural velocity.

The instant he finished transferring the final remnants of the yin cold qi from his lower abdomen into the upper dantian, Il-mok snapped his eyes open, emitting a frosty breath into the air.

“Allow me to offer my congratulations on your successful advancement, Young Master.”

In response to Jin Ha-yeon’s polite words of praise, a distinct, mocking voice resonated clearly within Il-mok’s consciousness.

• Well, well. You’ve accumulated quite a bit of built-up desire, haven’t you?

  This was the inevitable psychological backlash tied to the cultivation of the Bare Hand Demon Art.

  While it tended to completely freeze away the emotional capacity of female practitioners, it manifested as overwhelming carnal desire when cultivated by men.

• That maiden quite clearly harbors affection for you as well, so why not simply overpower her right now?

  As the dark impulse attempted to exploit his focus, directing his attention toward Jin Ha-yeon who was watching him intently, Il-mok delivered a sharp internal retort.

  ‘Silence.’

  Stung by his immediate reprimand, the intrusive psychological backlash that had been subtly trying to manipulate him instantly retreated into the deeper recesses of his mind to hide.

  “Tch. Just as expected, managing the inherent backlash remains a nuisance.”

  Il-mok let out a silent click of his tongue, though he didn’t feel any genuine alarm regarding the occurrence.

  Had he been dealing with something as absolute as the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, it might have posed a challenge, but given that his current martial comprehension was already exceptionally advanced, he could not be easily compromised by standard unorthodox psychological corruptions.

  In truth, Il-mok’s current comprehension of the Bare Hand Demon Art had already advanced well beyond the foundational tiers, drawing incredibly close to the level of Extreme Demon.

  His cognitive grasp of the style’s intricacies and the manipulation of yin cold qi was already sophisticated enough to match the Extreme Demon standard.

  The sole limiting factor was that the physical capacity of his upper dantian and the total volume of yin cold qi currently stored within it were far too sparse to officially claim that rank. Because of this deficiency in raw energy volume, he was physically incapable of practicing the advanced, high-tier forms of the style for the time being.

  ‘Hmm. This situation feels remarkably redolent of my circumstances back during my time at the Demonic Path Academy.’

  The structural conditions were certainly parallel, but the actual psychological pressure exerted by the style’s side effect was night and day compared to the past.

  During his younger days, he had found himself constantly battling to maintain control against its influence, whereas now, the dark urge fled in absolute terror at his simplest mental decree.

  ‘Once a practitioner elevates the Heavenly Demon Divine Art to a particular threshold, they naturally gain total immunity against the corrupting influences of all lesser unorthodox arts. Alternatively, achieving the level of the Heavenly Clarity Scripture that Master spoke of would likely produce the exact same protective outcome naturally.’

‘I merely need to exercise a reasonable degree of caution when I officially cross into the Extreme Demon realm. Hmm. Once I manage to expand the capacity of the upper dantian a bit more and familiarize myself with the concluding katas, I will bypass the Extreme Demon threshold effortlessly, so it shouldn’t present any real obstacle.’

Il-mok viewed the prospect of surpassing the formidable Extreme Demon rank as casually as one might consider taking an ordinary stroll to visit a neighbor.

After continuing his rigorous training of the Bare Hand Demon Art until the night had grown deep, Il-mok took his rest and departed for Wi Jin-hak’s private residence at the break of dawn the following morning.

“Greetings to the Cult Leader.”

“Ah, enter. I am unaware of the specific circumstances, but did the pressing matter that prompted your abrupt visit to young Jin yesterday conclude favorably?”

Facing Wi Jin-hak, who posed the question out of genuine, polite curiosity while remaining entirely oblivious to the underlying details, Il-mok carefully neutralized his facial expression and offered a nonchalant reply.

“It was handled satisfactorily for the most part.”

“Hahaha. Of course it was. Since you personally took charge of the situation, I had no doubt it would be settled correctly.”

As Il-mok suppressed a bitter, knowing smile within his thoughts upon hearing Wi Jin-hak’s remark, the Cult Leader inquired further.

“So, what urgent matter prompts you to seek me out at such an early hour of the morning?”

The fundamental objective driving Il-mok’s visit to Wi Jin-hak was to secure instruction in the Explosive Soul Demon Net Sword Art.

In the exact same manner that he had paired the Bare Hand Demon Art with his cold internal energy, his grand strategy involved pairing the Explosive Soul Demon Net Sword Art with the Hot Yang Earth Art.

However, the dynamics of this interaction were entirely distinct from his previous encounter.

He could not, after all, approach his senior brother and sovereign ruler, Cult Leader Wi Jin-hak, using the same direct methodology he employed with his personal attendant, Jin Ha-yeon.

Furthermore, separate from his desire to acquire the martial art, there were several critical administrative issues that demanded a private consultation.

“Yesterday, due to the urgency of my schedule, I was unable to seek clarity on certain matters, which is why I made haste to see you early this morning.”

“Certain matters you left unasked, you say? Please, speak without reservation.”

Looking back at his senior brother, whose gaze radiated an unshakeable, absolute confidence in him, Il-mok phrased his inquiry with deliberate care.

“What is your genuine assessment regarding the impending matrimonial alliance with the daughter of the Zhuge family?”

He was fully aware that Wi Jin-hak had consented to the arrangement strictly to solidify their grand coalition, yet it remained a political development that left him feeling distinctly uncomfortable.

“It certainly wasn’t an arrangement that brought me any personal joy. Nevertheless, I chose to acquiesce due to the specific arguments presented by the patriarch of the Zhuge family.”

Appearing to instantly divine the underlying concern behind Il-mok’s probing question, Wi Jin-hak slowly stroked his beard before offering his explanation.

“The adversary we are destined to confront is an exceptionally terrifying enemy, so I find myself in agreement with his perspective that we must employ every conceivable strategy to forge a unified front. Even if we are partners who harbor mutual distrust, a matrimonial bond stands as the most legally binding mechanism to lock our factions together.”

“Surely, no matter how short-sighted you might assume your senior brother to be, you did not journey here out of a fear that I would allow myself to be manipulated by a woman’s charms? Hahaha.”

Seeing that Wi Jin-hak had candidly exposed his unspoken anxiety, Il-mok brought his hands together in a respectful martial salute and responded honestly.

“It is widely recognized that Zhuge Wen is a highly volatile individual who takes immense pride in his own strategic brilliance, and it was that specific variable that prompted my concern.”

While it was entirely true that he harbored apprehensions about Wi Jin-hak—who had remained unattached past his fiftieth year—becoming compromised by a spouse, he could not voice such a blunt sentiment directly.

Regardless of how profound their familial bond as martial brothers was, the elder brother held the supreme rank of Cult Leader, meaning there were distinct boundaries dictating what could be spoken aloud and what must remain unsaid.

“Hahaha. Dismiss those worries from your mind. In my capacity as Cult Leader, my absolute focus is perpetually tethered to the prosperity and longevity of our organization. Should that young lady attempt to implement any policy that threatens the well-being of the Divine Cult for the benefit of her own Zhuge family, I will show her no leniency, regardless of her status as my wedded wife.”

Reassured by Wi Jin-hak’s unyielding declaration, Il-mok resolved to place his complete confidence in his senior brother’s judgment for the time being.

‘My anxieties were entirely unwarranted. There is truly no force more unshakeable than absolute devotion.’

No matter how outsiders might perceive him, Wi Jin-hak was an uncompromising, lifelong loyalist who had dedicated over half a century of his existence entirely to the service of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

With this initial complication successfully addressed, Il-mok parted his lips to introduce the second critical topic of their discussion.