Chapter 164
The Qingdao Sects remaining forces ran away as fast as they could, and the three families forces chased after them with all their might. When they got right under the three families noses, Young Patriarch Ha Hu-Gon had a quick discussion with the Qingdao Five Swordmasters and concluded that running away blindly was meaningless. However, they were no match against their opponents either. Fighting them would mean total annihilation.
Eventually, Hu-Gon and the Qingdao Five Swordmasters chose to split up and run away. It was every man for himself. They would not be able to shake off the pursuit if they stayed together. On the other hand, even the three great families would find it impossible to chase after them all if they scattered.
Hu-Gon and the Qingdao Five Swordmasters gathered all their members and told them to escape by themselves. Their members initially thought that Hu-Gon and the Qingdao Five Swordmasters wanted to abandon them, but hearing Hu-Gons explanation convinced them otherwise.
Hu-Gon and the Qingdao Five Swordmasters ordered the Qingdao Sects members to try their best to shake off their pursuers and gather at Hongze Lake in Jiangsu Province. They decided to leave their headquarters in Qingdao, create a new home, and reorganize their forces somewhere the Great Huangfu Familys influence was yet to reach. Following the command of the upper brasses, the Qingdao Sects members split up into groups of two or three and scattered in different directions in an effort to escape. Hu-Gon and the Qingdao Five Swordmasters also split into pairs and ran away.
The situation flustered the three families forces. With the Qingdao Sects members scattered, chasing after them all became impossible. Eventually, the three families forces gave up on pursuing the Qingdao Sects remnant forces and headed to Qingdao instead to claim the Qingdao Sects headquarters and take over Qingdao.
While the three families forces headed to Qingdao, the three outlaw groups remaining Absolute-Realm masters traveled south to Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Thinking about where they could go to avoid the pursuit of the three families, they decided to rely on the Lee Household, which was based in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Along with the Taiyun Household, the Lee Household was connected to the Asura Cult of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.
The Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin and the Changjiang Waterway Alliance still existed. However, they were nothing more than empty shells now. Most of the martial arts masters who made up their core forces had been killed, weakening them enough to no longer be considered a part of the murim forces. They were nothing but mountain bandits and river thieves now, and they would gain nothing from returning to their bases. They could build their power from scratch again, but the righteous factions would definitely not leave them alone.
In this situation, all they could do was have faith in the Nine Celestial Demons Sect and stick with them no matter what. If the Nine Celestial Demons Sect succeeded in conquering murim, they would get to bask in glory and wealth. That was why they headed to the Lee Household.
* * *
Through Dan Seol-Young, Baek Mu-Gun received news that the three families lost five Absolute-Realm masters and more than four hundred martial artists. On the other hand, they managed to kill the three outlaw groups elite forces and a Demonic Monarch of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. He also learned that the Qingdao Sects surviving members scattered in all directions and escaped.
It is regretful that they lost five Absolute-Realm masters.
They would have suffered even greater losses if you did not send the Specter Slayer King to aid them, dear husband, Seol-Young comforted Mu-Gun.
I actually did not expect that the Specter Slayer King would do such a good job. He even killed the Nine Celestial Demons Sects Demonic Monarch.
That is true. We still shouldnt let our guard down around him, but this incident showed us how determined he really is.
Youre right. Anyway, what happened to the outlaw groups three Absolute-Realm masters? Mu-Gun asked.
When the situation worsened for them, they abandoned the Qingdao Sects remnant forces and escaped on their own, Seol-Young briefed Mu-.
As expected. It seems they really cannot abandon their roots. Do you know where they are?
We spotted them crossing over to Jiangsu Province from Shandong Province.
They crossed over to Jiangsu Province?
Yes, but we lost them not long after. The Heavenly Secret Hall chased after them while being mindful to not reveal themselves. Considering they have remarkable skills, we were bound to lose them.
Can you find them again?
We spread posters about them all over Jiangsu Province and instructed our information network to find them. We should be able to locate them soon, Seol-Young answered.
Good. We have to find them no matter what. I doubt they went to Jiangsu Province for no reason, Mu-Gun firmly said.
Understood. I will tell the Hall Leader to pay special attention to this.
I will leave it to you. On that note, how is the Hall Leader doing? Mu-Gun asked.
She is doing well. She is a little disappointed that you have not visited much these days, though, Seol-Young said.
I should visit her soon.
Please be understanding of her, dear husband. The Hall Leader simply values and likes you very much.
Dont worry. I also value and like the Hall Leader, Mu-Gun reassured Seol-Young.
Alright.
After talking to Seol-Young, Mu-Gun called the seven wanderers to the training hall. The seven wanderers immediately answered his summons.
Welcome, Mu-Gun greeted.
Why did you ask us all to come? Jade-Faced Swordmaster Lee So-Ho asked
Over the past month, the seven wanderers had frequently visited the training hall for their sparring sessions with Mu-Gun. However, Mu-Gun never gathered all of them like this before.
Do you remember the promise I made when we first hired you all? Mu-Gun smiled widely and asked.
Are you talking about the spiritual pill? Whirlwind Fist Kwon Ho answered.
Thats right. We are done producing the spiritual pills we will be giving to you.
Really?
Yes. As promised, I will give each of you two Heavenly Medicine Pills. Each one contains thirty years worth of internal energy.
Consuming two Heavenly Medicine Pills would give them sixty years worth of internal energy. The seven wanderers possessed over one hundred twenty years worth of internal energy right now. If they absorbed the energy of two Heavenly Medicine Pills, they would have a total of one hundred eighty years worth of internal energy, which was the requirement to reach the Absolute Realm.
Of course, that growth did not necessarily mean that their advancement into the Absolute Realm was certain. They would have to first gain enough enlightenment to use all that internal energy to break through the Heaven and Earth Gateway and undergo metamorphosis.
Mu-Gun had been closely examining their martial arts enlightenment by sparring and having discussions with them. As a result, he found out that the Jade-Faced Swordmaster Lee So-Ho, Ink Soul Sabermaster Lim Hun, and Sky-Shocking Palm Pung Il-Bang were ranked higher than the others. Those three had such a high level of enlightenment that they could advance into the Absolute Realm on their own. Unfortunately, the others were yet to reach that level. To enhance their enlightenment, Mu-Gun conveyed his martial arts enlightenment to them through constant discussions.
However, gaining enlightenment was not something that could be done through teaching. It was something that they had to feel and realize for themselves. Mu-Guns guidance only served as the foundation for it. Although he should not jump to conclusions, he thought that it would be difficult for the other four wanderers to reach the Absolute Realm even if they consumed the Heavenly Medicine Pills. However, there was a way to solve that. Mu-Gun could help them the same way he helped Cho Woo-Kyung.
This worries me. Well be receiving not only one but two precious spiritual pills. If we do not reach the Absolute Realm even after consuming them, I fear that they would be wasted on us, Soul-Breaking Swordmaster Hwa So-Gun anxiously said.
The other wanderers were also worried about the same thing. Even the three wanderers who had relatively higher enlightenment were not confident.
With all due respect, I can help you break into the Absolute Realm if you want.
You can do that, Young Patriarch Baek? Whirlwind Fist Kwon Ho asked with a surprised look.
Yes, but if you want my guidance, you have to tell me the scriptures of your internal energy cultivation method. Only then can I guide you properly.
Do we really have to? Spirit Sabermaster Jang Hyun asked with a reluctant expression.
It would be great if they could reach the Absolute Realm, but they had to carefully consider if they should reveal their internal energy cultivation methods scripture to Mu-Gun.
Only so I can guide you to the Absolute Realm. I swear that I have no other motives. Naturally, I will never leak the information youll be giving me either. Moreover, I would like to reiterate again that I am not forcing anyone. This only applies to those who want my help.
Mu-Gun had no intention of pressuring them. If they did not want to do it, it would not be possible for him to force them. Moreover, it did not really matter even if they refused. Even without his help, they would eventually reach the Absolute Realm anyway.
We dont have to make a decision right now, do we? In-Hyuk asked.
No, you dont. The Heavenly Medicine Pills should be consumed seven days apart anyway. You just have to make a decision before consuming the second pill, Mu-Gun explained.
I will give it some thought for now, then.
Understood. I will now distribute the Heavenly Medicine Pills to everyone. As I have already said, please consume the two Heavenly Medicine Pills separately seven days apart so you can properly absorb their medicinal properties, Mu-Gun said as he handed two Heavenly Medicine Pills each to the seven wanderers.
Thank you very much for giving us such precious spiritual pills even though we are not members of the Baek Sword Sect. Even if you are doing it for the sake of murim, you are still truly big-hearted. I promise to emulate your generosity and do my best in the fight against the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, So-Ho said in a determined tone.
Mu-Gun sensed that So-Ho truly meant what he said. He could even feel his sincerity.
We promise the same thing as well.
The other six wanderers seemed sincere as well.
That makes me feel glad. I knew I was not wrong to give you all two Heavenly Medicine Pills each.
Mu-Gun was not planning on recruiting the seven wanderers into the Baek Sword Sect, but it would still be great if they joined on their own accord because his actions touched them. Either way, that was not something he could accomplish using force. Hence, for now, he found contentment in the fact that the seven wanderers would be helping them fight the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.
Mu-Guns mindset made the seven wanderers feel at ease. He did not expect anything in return for his generosity, which only made them even more grateful and think that they should repay him. Hence, they decided to do their best for the Baek Sword Sect at least throughout the duration of their contract. Fighting the Nine Celestial Demons Sect with all their might was just one of the things they intended to do. Even if they were not up against that faction, they would still devote everything they had to the Baek Sword Sect. As people said since the olden days, sincerity was the best policy.
After receiving the Heavenly Medicine Pills, the seven wanderers left the training hall and returned to their respective residences. They then immediately consumed one Heavenly Medicine Pill and began circulating their qi. The qi circulation process lasted three days and nights. After absorbing the energy within the pills, they began to agonize about whether to accept Mu-Guns guidance to the Absolute Realm.
Reaching the Absolute Realm was every martial artists dream. With the research on martial arts, the development of various spiritual pills, and the improvement in training methods continued to prosper, that feat recently became much easier to achieve. That was why there were more Absolute Realm masters now than ever.
Despite that, they only accounted for the very few martial artists in all of murim who could reach the Absolute Realm. After all, even in this day and age, only the chosen ones could reach it. That made the opportunity to reach the Absolute Realm all the more valuable. If they accepted guidance from Baek Mu-Gun, the Thunder Gods successor, they would likely be able to achieve such a feat. No, considering Mu-Guns martial realm, it would be safe to say that it was a certainty.
With that in mind, they would have already accepted Mu-Guns guidance if not for the fact that they had to tell him the scriptures of their internal energy cultivation method first. Despite how excellent their internal energy cultivation methods were, they were still nowhere near as great as the Thunder Gods martial arts. However, telling someone the scriptures of their internal energy cultivation method was like revealing their own weakness. No matter how much they trusted Mu-Gun, it was still difficult to reach a decision.
After a few days of consideration, the seven wanderers finally made up their minds. So-Ho, Lim Hun, and Il-Bang chose to reach the Absolute Realm on their own. Since they had relatively higher martial arts enlightenment and were confident in their own martial arts, they did not require Mu-Guns help.
Meanwhile, the others decided to accept Mu-Guns guidance. Their desire to reach the Absolute Realm was far greater than their hesitation to reveal the scriptures to their internal energy cultivation method. Jang Hyun, Kwon Ho, Hwa So-Gun, and Mok In-Hyuk told Mu-Gun about the scriptures of their internal energy cultivation method. Mu-Gun then spent four days studying the scriptures.
Their internal energy cultivation methods were all outstanding, but they were still inferior to the Heavenly Thunder Constellation Divine Art. The martial arts principle that the Heavenly Thunder Constellation Divine Art contained was much more profound than their internal energy cultivation methods martial arts principles. Hence, Mu-Gun had no problem understanding their internal energy cultivation methods. No, that was an understatement. During the four days that he studied their scriptures, he gained a higher understanding and enlightenment of the internal energy cultivation methods than their owners. That feat was a testament to the principle that all rivers would eventually reach the sea.
Now ready to guide the four wanderers, Mu-Gun called for the four wanderers and brought them all to a higher martial realm one by one. After four days, all four wanderers reached the Absolute Realm.
They were all in a half-baked martial realm just like Cho Woo-Kyung right now, but with their enlightenment, they would likely become true Absolute-Realm masters within a year or two. Meanwhile, the three wanderers who refused Mu-Guns guidance also advanced into the Absolute Realm after consuming the second Heavenly Medicine Pill.
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