Chapter 177
On the ships deck, Baek Mu-Gun and Beigong Xue stood ten feet apart, facing each other.
As we are on a ship, lets refrain from using our internal energy and spar just with our techniques.
Understood.
You should begin.
Beigong Xue nodded and propelled herself off the deck, hurtling toward Mu-Gun. Closing the gap in a straight line, she swiftly extended her palm. A frigid aura emanated from her, akin to the icy winds and snow of the north. This was the renowned martial art of the Beihai Ice Palace, the Beihai Glacier Divine Palm. The actual techniques of this martial art weren't extraordinary; its true power lay in the bone-chilling coldness it released.
This was known as the Beihai Glacier Qi, and it possessed a potent capability to instantly reduce the surrounding area to absolute zero temperatures. Once the Beihai Glacier Qi reached a certain level, even Absolute Realm masters would struggle to withstand it. Against an opponent of equal level, they would find their movements hampered by the freezing effect of the Beihai Glacier Qi.
Mu-Gun couldn't help but be amazed as the Beihai Glacier Qi from Beigong Xue's palm instantly froze the surrounding space. However, this cold threat posed no real danger to Mu-Gun. Rather than the disparity in realms, this was actually due to the hot aura of the Thunder Gods energy, which neutralized the bone-chilling effects of the Beihai Glacier Qi.
Mu-Gun met Beigong Xue's Beihai Glacier Divine Palm head-on and countered with the Heavenly Descent Thunder Strike. To minimize damage to the ship, Mu-Gun employed just the minimum amount of internal energy necessary. Beigong Xue, rather than directly colliding with the Heavenly Descent Thunder Strike, used the Beihai Snow Shadow Step, slipping past Mu-Gun to his side. In a graceful and agile display of footwork, she extended her palm once more, her movements as fluid as a sled gliding over snow. It was a remarkable sight to behold.
However, it wasn't enough to pose a real challenge for Mu-Gun. He turned calmly to face Beigong Xue's oncoming attack, their hands meeting in a clash. The force pushed Beigong Xue back, but she swiftly regained her stance, using the Beihai Snow Shadow Step once more to close the distance. Despite her relentless efforts, Mu-Gun stood firm, hardly shifting from his initial position.
While Beigong Xue acknowledged Mu-Gun's overwhelming strength, she had hoped to offer some semblance of a challenge. Yet, in their direct confrontation, she came to realize just how misguided her assumptions were. If Mu-Gun had decided to defeat her, it would have taken him just a moment.
In the midst of their exchange, Mu-Gun took the opportunity to thoroughly analyze Beigong Xue's techniques.
The Beihai Glacier Divine Palm's maneuvers were actually very simplistic. Of course, with the added power of the Beihai Glacier Qi, even the simplest technique carried significant impact; however, if she met an opponent who was not affected by the Beihai Glacier Qi, the straightforwardness of these techniques could prove to be a fatal disadvantage. While the swift and agile movements of the Beihai Snow Shadow Step complemented the basic nature of the Beihai Glacier Divine Palm, there were inherent limitations to relying solely on these tactics. After a thorough exchange, Mu-Gun concluded that Beigong Xue's techniques held no extraordinary surprises.
With this assessment in mind, Mu-Gun chose to end the sparring session.
Stop! I think this is enough.
You are really incredible. Beigong Xue said.
Your martial arts are also not bad, Young Matriarch.
Even so, it's like comparing a firefly to the sun when it comes to you, Young Master Baek, Beigong Xue smiled bitterly.
I observed your techniques, and it seemed like you were overly focused on harnessing the Beihai Glacier Qi's power,.
Are you suggesting that the Beihai Glacier Divine Palm's techniques are too basic? Beigong Xue asked.
Yes, exactly. I believe it could be much more powerful if you enhanced the Beihai Glacier Divine Palm. Is there a specific reason why you haven't done that? Mu-Gun said cautiously.
As Young Master Baek mentioned, previous patriarchs of the Beihai Ice Palace attempted to improve the Beihai Glacier Divine Sword Art and the Beihai Glacier Divine Palm Art. However, they encountered a problemthe power of the Beihai Glacier Qi would diminish when they tried to enhance the technique itself. We've been searching for a solution to improve the technique while preserving the Beihai Glacier Qi's power, but we haven't found one yet, Beijing Xue said truthfully.
I see. Mu-Gun nodded.
It was inconceivable that the members of the Beihai Ice Palace were unaware of the limitations of their own martial arts. The challenge lay in finding a way to overcome these limitations. Mu-Gun believed that the most reliable approach to enhance Beigong Xue's martial skills was through technique improvement. However, this was far from a straightforward task.
To begin with, Mu-Gun needed a comprehensive understanding of all the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts. From Beigong Xue's perspective, sharing her martial arts with a stranger like Mu-Gun wasn't an easy decision to make. What's more, even if she did disclose these techniques, there was no guarantee that Mu-Gun could enhance them without compromising the power of the Beihai Glacier Qi. While Mu-Gun possessed a profound understanding of martial arts, it wasn't all-encompassing.
Given these challenges, there seemed to be no immediate solution to improving Beigong Xue's martial skills.
"It appears that the focus of your martial arts, and indeed the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts, is enhancing the Beihai Glacier Qi, which serves as their power source," Mu-Gun shared his analysis.
"You are correct," Beigong Xue acknowledged.
"Furthermore, to strengthen the Beihai Glacier Qi, the most effective path would be to increase your internal energy," Mu-Gun continued.
"That's also true."
"However, immediate increases in your internal energy will be challenging. In that case, there's only one way forward. Firstly, you should enhance your internal energy management skills to maximize the Beihai Glacier Qi's power with your current internal energy. Then, once you've honed your ability to handle internal energy, you'll need to refine your rather simplistic martial arts techniques," Mu-Gun explained.
"Fundamentally, the latter seems nearly impossible," Beigong Xue sounded a bit disheartened.
"As you pointed out, it's a fundamental problem. But in any endeavor, mastering the basics is crucial. Moreover, while improving martial arts techniques without diminishing the Beihai Glacier Qi's power is a challenge, it's not entirely impossible."
"It sounds like you're suggesting that what was impossible for the Beihai Ice Palace's former patriarchs might be possible for you, Young Master Baek," Beigong Xue said, doubtful.
"The Beihai Ice Palace's patriarchs possess unrivaled knowledge of their own martial arts. Nonetheless, every river eventually flows into the sea. It's somewhat embarrassing to say, but I have reached a level of mastery in the Thunder God's martial arts, considered one of history's strongest. This is a testament to my deep understanding of martial arts. I don't intend to belittle the Beihai Ice Palace's ancestors, but it's possible that their enlightenment wasn't as profound as mine. Therefore, I might see possibilities they haven't," Mu-Gun explained.
Beigong Xue found it difficult to dispute Mu-Gun's words. The Beihai Ice Palace's former patriarchs had indeed reached the Absolute Realm effortlessly, but none of them had ever advanced to the Supreme Realm. This limitation was attributed to the constraints of the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts. To propel the Beihai Ice Palace to greater heights, it was imperative to rectify these martial arts.
With that in mind, it also seemed plausible that Mu-Gun, the successor of the Thunder God and a master of the Supreme Realm, could do something to improve the Beihai Ice Palaces techniques.
"To enhance the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts, I would need to share the martial arts scriptures of the Beihai Ice Palace, wouldn't I?" Beigong Xue asked.
This presented a significant issue. It was strictly forbidden to reveal the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts to outsiders, and this rule applied even to someone like Mu-Gun.
"That's correct."
"The Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts scriptures can never be disclosed to outsiders."
"In that case, we might have to forego that option. For now, it seems our only recourse is to enhance your skills through sparring," Mu-Gun concluded.
Mu-Gun had no intention of pressuring Beigong Xue into something that was clearly impossible. His immediate concession indicated that he had no ulterior motives or greed for the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts. In fact, given Mu-Gun's exceptional martial prowess, the Beihai Ice Palace's techniques wouldn't hold much allure for him.
Beigong Xue was left with a choice, one that weighed the importance of upholding the Beihai Ice Palace's taboo against the necessity of enhancing their martial arts. After careful consideration, she made her decision. Despite the potential violation of the taboo, she resolved to improve the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts.
"I'm willing to share the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts scriptures with you. In return, please promise that you will not disclose them to anyone else."
"I promise you in the name of the Thunder God," Mu-Gun assured.
"Thank you. In that case, I will tell you now."
"Before we proceed, there's one thing I need to clarify," Mu-Gun interjected.
"What's that?"
"I will give it my all, but there is a chance that I may not succeed in enhancing the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts."
"I understand. Instead, I trust that you'll keep your promise to do your best," Beigong Xue replied.
"You can rest assured of that."
With Mu-Gun's promise, Beigong Xue relocated to the cabin with him and began revealing the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts scriptures. The Beihai Ice Palace possessed four martial arts disciplines: the Beihai Glacier Cultivation Method, the Beihai Glacier Divine Sword Art, the Beihai Glacier Divine Palm Art, and the Beihai Glacier Vajra Qi. After receiving this knowledge from Beigong Xue, Mu-Gun dedicated several days to analyzing it.
Mu-Gun soon discerned why the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts had to remain simple. The scriptures and the application of internal energy related to the Beihai Glacier Qi were inherently complex and intricate. With it being an Ascension Realm technique, this was only natural. Manifesting the Beihai Glacier Qi was already a daunting task, and it was virtually impossible to wield an Ascension Realm technique simultaneously. There were two potential approaches: either diminish the power of the Beihai Glacier Qi for the sake of using an Ascension Realm technique or forgo the technique and maximize the Beihai Glacier Qi's power. The Beihai Ice Palace had opted for the latter.
For the time being, Mu-Gun endeavored to simplify the oral scriptures necessary to manifest the Beihai Glacier Qi while preserving its power. He attempted to streamline the oral scriptures using all the internal energy cultivation methods and enlightenment at his disposal. However, he realized that this approach would inevitably reduce the power significantly, mirroring the struggles of the Beihai Ice Palace's former patriarchs. Mu-Gun concluded that a different approach was required to solve this problem.
Could the Beihai Glacier Qi itself be transformed into a martial arts technique? Mu-Gun recognized similar martial arts that functioned in a similar manner, one being the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sword Art. Essentially, this martial art revolved around the release of Thunder God Qi, a refined form of thunder qi, with variations in the size and shape of this being the primary distinctions. The strength of the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sword Art derived from the inherent power of the Thunder God Qi.
The Beihai Glacier Qi held a comparable level of power to Thunder God Qi, so the issue lay in how the Beihai Glacier Qi could be harnessed. This qi was able to freeze the surrounding space, which made it powerful in its own right. However, it posed no significant threat to an adversary capable of resisting the glacial qi. To make it effective in combat, Mu-Gun needed to utilize the freezing ability of the Beihai Glacier Qi as a standalone offensive technique.
Mu-Gun contemplated how to best harness the Beihai Glacier Qi's freezing capability and envisioned a storm of icean onslaught of blades infused with glacial qi, capable of cutting through anything. Even the mere thought of it suggested formidable power. Mu-Gun aptly named this technique the "White Ice Blade Storm."
Then, he came up with techniques one after another to support the White Ice Blade Storm.
First, the White Ice Flash Blade, which unleashed blades of ice clumped together by glacial qi.
Second, the White Ice Death Web Blade. It wove a deadly web using ice blades clustered together with glacial qi.
Third, the White Ice Explosive Flying Blade. This technique caused ice blades imbued with glacial qi to explode and scatter ice fragments in all directions.
Fourth, the White Ice Deathbladea technique that unleashed a chain of glacial qi blades.
Finally, the White Ice Impregnable Wall, which constructed a protective barrier of ice blades, formed with glacial qi, capable of blocking the opponent's attacks.
Mu-Gun conceived a martial art that encompassed all six of these techniques and decided to name it the White Ice Divine Sword Art. However, at this point, the White Ice Divine Sword Art was merely a concept. To bring it to fruition, a scripture that could harness the Beihai Glacier Qi effectively needed to be crafted. Mu-Gun locked himself in the cabin, channeling all his energy into the creation of the White Ice Divine Sword Art.
Creating something from nothing would have been an impossible task, even for Mu-Gun. However, he had a perfect reference in the form of the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sword. Mu-Gun began to mold the techniques of the White Ice Divine Sword Art based on the foundation of the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sword. Like this, twenty days passed.
In the meantime, Mu-Gun, Beigong Xue, and their companions passed through Qingdao, Shandong Province, en route to Dalian, Liaoning Province. Beigong Xue and the Beihai Four Shadows felt a mixture of excitement and concern as Mu-Gun secluded himself in the cabin, laboring to invent a new martial art.
"Is it really possible for Young Master Baek to improve the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts?" Dong Ga-Kyung, the first of the Beihai Four Shadows, asked Beigong Xue.
"Who can say? What's evident is that Young Master Baek is giving it his all. All we can do now is hope for a favorable outcome," Beigong Xue replied.
Beigong Xue couldn't predict the future, so she had no choice but to wait and pray for Mu-Gun's success. A few days later, as the ship neared Dalian, Mu-Gun emerged from the cabin.
"How did it go?" Beigong Xue asked with anticipation.
Mu-Gun beamed at her, and from that smile, Beigong Xue was convinced that Mu-Gun had indeed succeeded in improving the Beihai Ice Palace's martial arts.
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