Chapter 5
Commencement! (4)
Day 175 since the start of training.
“Chah-hah!”
Namgung Hyuk moved across the vast, pure-white space, performing sword forms with precision.
The sword left afterimages in the air, moving seamlessly according to the predetermined sequences.
“Baekgeom Jise (Hundred Sword Momentum)!”
The afterimages of the sword multiplied rapidly in all directions.
Although the number didn’t reach a literal hundred as the name suggested, countless afterimages cut through the void before gradually fading away.
[Achievement of ‘Baekro Geomgyeol (Hundred Path Sword Formation)’ has increased to 10 stars.]
Namgung Hyuk only stopped after reading the message.
“Took about four months, huh? Well, considering this is a secret sword technique left by a master of the previous Namgung clan, that’s actually pretty fast.”
If he hadn’t skipped the process of understanding and absorbing the essence of the sword techniques using his Martial Arts (Mugong) trait, mastering it this quickly would have been impossible.
Also, he had ignored almost all rest, swinging the sword relentlessly, focusing solely on the perfection of Baekro Geomgyeol.
“Baekro Geomgyeol… a brilliant sword technique embodying the principle of Split Sword. Thanks to it, I’ve gained clues for new insights, and my swordsmanship has evolved as well.”
Muttering with satisfaction, Namgung Hyuk considered which sword technique to train next.
But then, a message window he had never seen before appeared in front of him.
**[Conditions met. It is now possible to synthesize ‘Soyeon Sword Technique (Soyeon Geombeop)’ and ‘Baekro Geomgyeol (Hundred Path Sword Formation)’.
Do you wish to proceed?
If synthesized, the two martial arts used as materials will be completely forgotten.]**
“You can synthesize martial arts?”
He hadn’t expected the Martial Arts trait to have such a function.
The condition for synthesis required two or more martial arts at 10-star mastery as materials.
“To create a new martial art through synthesis… this is absurdly overpowered.”
Even the martial arts acquired at Changmun-gak were the culmination of a master’s lifetime of martial knowledge.
Yet now, this ability could accomplish in an instant what once took decades.
Of course, the outcome wasn’t guaranteed to be better.
“There’s always a chance the synthesized technique could be weaker than the originals.”
Achieving the best result required utmost caution. Namgung Hyuk did not rush.
“I originally intended to learn several sword techniques to find the one that suits me best.”
Given the situation, all nine sword techniques he learned at Changmun-gak would now need to reach 10-star mastery.
Once mastered, synthesizing them into one technique could yield an incredible result.
“It would be a lie to say I’m not curious.”
Satisfied at having another goal to endure the long hours of training, Namgung Hyuk picked up his sword again.
Day 1,241 since the start of training.
[Achievement of ‘Gohon Ilgeom (Lone Soul Single Sword)’ has increased to 10 stars.]
Finally, Namgung Hyuk had mastered all the sword techniques he had learned at Changmun-gak.
“It’s been long… very long.”
He muttered while looking at the countless lines drawn on the floor.
Externally, nothing seemed different from the first day, but internally, three and a half years of training had matured him.
His gaze, now deeper, faced the long-postponed moment of choice.
“Even if I forget the sword techniques I’ve practiced, the insights gained remain with me.”
In this room, he selected all ten sword techniques he had mastered and activated the synthesis ability.
[Synthesis initiated.]
“This… this is…!”
Suddenly, his vision went dark, then exploded into a panorama of countless sword movements around him.
He couldn’t look away, couldn’t close his eyes.
As he watched in awe, he realized these movements were the ten sword techniques he had trained so long.
The various sword forms gradually merged, reducing in number until they naturally formed several distinct shapes.
“Ah… ahh!”
A silent exclamation escaped his lips as he witnessed the process purely with his consciousness.
As the saying “All streams converge into one” suggests, despite differences in origin or intent, all ten techniques ultimately shared the same principle.
“The sword is emptiness, yet also infinite. It contains the essence of all transformations.”
Through the final synthesized sword form, Namgung Hyuk achieved a new enlightenment, elevating his realm to its pinnacle.
[Synthesis successful.]
Opening his eyes slowly, Namgung Hyuk saw the message.
“…I have truly gained much.”
The new insight surpassed all his previous learnings, allowing him to overcome the long-dreaded barrier of the pinnacle realm.
The resulting sword technique was also a resounding success.
“I expected something good, but I didn’t think it would be this extraordinary.”
The ten techniques had each been sublimated into a single form, creating a sword technique that surpassed them all.
[Please assign a name to the newly synthesized skill.]
“This is a martial art I created, so I should name it myself.”
He considered several impressive names, but none suited the technique.
Then a combination of words came to him:
“Shin… Musipgeom (New Martial Ten Swords).”
It felt inspired, fitting for his first original technique.
Player Name: Namgung Hyuk
Level: 2
Stats: Strength 10, Agility 12, Stamina 10, Magic 8
Internal Energy: 15 years in 1st Rank
Traits: Room, Martial Arts
Skills: Soyeon Sword Technique [10★], Choyeong Body Technique [10★], Soyeon Divine Technique [10★], Cangkung Great Divine Technique [6★], Cheonryeok Qi [1★], Shin Musipgeom [1★]
The ten previous sword techniques were gone, replaced by Shin Musipgeom.
Not only that, he couldn’t recall the sequences, forms, or breathing methods from his past training. Even the movements ingrained over hundreds of days had vanished.
“Even if forgotten… I could relearn them from scrolls if I start from scratch.”
Time alone could make it possible. But was it necessary?
“I’ll let go of the old martial arts and focus on mastering Shin Musipgeom.”
Sitting cross-legged, Namgung Hyuk concentrated on understanding the core of Shin Musipgeom.
Yet it demanded a far higher level than anything he had learned, and progress was minimal after a full day.
“This isn’t going to be easy.”
Even at the pinnacle, he hadn’t anticipated such difficulty.
Mastering Shin Musipgeom would require far more time than any martial art he had learned before.
Day 1,478 since the start of training.
As the planned time neared its end, Namgung Hyuk’s expression darkened.
“Cheonryeok Qi, the technique that converts human energy into thunder qi, is arguably the greatest divine skill of all time.”
It was said to be the final martial art left by the world’s top master, Namgung Hweol.
Even superficial understanding inspired awe.
“While there are martial arts that manipulate heat and cold, few can wield lightning.”
Namgung Hweol had attempted to create the ultimate sword technique fused with lightning, but the dream remained half-finished.
Hence, the manual remained hidden, unfinished, in the corners of Changmun-gak’s shelves.
Even the completed half was extremely difficult.
“I’m glad I waited until now. Otherwise, I’d have wasted all this time with no progress.”
As it neared time to leave, he hesitated to continue training Cheonryeok Qi.
“It’s wiser to focus on Shin Musipgeom until the end. But…”
His past life as a hunter also pulled him toward lightning. He remembered wielding thunder to annihilate countless monsters.
“If I master Cheonryeok Qi and complete the sword techniques Namgung Hweol couldn’t… I could become an unrivaled master in the martial world.”
The vision made it hard to give up Cheonryeok Qi.
Thus, he sat cross-legged and began training along the sequences of Cheonryeok Qi once more.
And…
Crackle.
A tiny surge of electricity flickered across his shoulders like static before vanishing.
At the foot of the mountain leading to the Namgung clan’s training hall.
Two guards stood at attention near well-crafted stone steps.
“Has it been fifteen days?”
“Seems like it’s about time he comes out.”
Jang Sam and Oh Pyeong, low-ranking martial artists of the Namgung clan, were discussing Namgung Hyuk, who was inside the training hall.
Originally, neither knew anything about him, but rumors over the past fifteen days had piqued their curiosity.
“They say the young master boasted he’d win the Cangkung Martial Competition.”
“Oh, come on. That’s impossible.”
Oh Pyeong waved off the claim.
“The one to win this time will be Namgung Jin, no doubt.”
Most martial artists in the clan thought the same, but Jang Sam had a different opinion.
“I’d rather see Namgung Hwarin win. She’s kind to people like us and… she’s beautiful too.”
“Haha, beauty doesn’t determine the champion. Martial prowess does.”
“Of course she’s skilled. No wonder she’s called the Sword Flower of the martial world.”
“But she still can’t beat Namgung Jin.”
As they chatted, footsteps approached from the stairs.
“Wait… someone’s coming down.”
“What?”
The two guards turned, and Namgung Hyuk appeared on the steps.
“…!”
Both froze in place.
Though he looked unchanged from two weeks ago, his aura was completely different.
Descending the steps, he saw the two still frozen in shock.
Jang Sam and Oh Pyeong swallowed nervously under his gaze.
“Sorry to startle you,” Namgung Hyuk said as he passed.
By the time he moved out of sight, his presence had completely vanished.
Watching him go, the two guards muttered half-awake.
“What… did we just see?”
“Yeah… what was that?”
