Sword God Reborn

Chapter 4 : Heaven-Shaking Soul Art (2)

"Heaven-Shaking Soul Art."

A cultivation method that makes the heavens tremble in fear.

'Well, in theory, that's what it is.'

Despite its direct and powerful name, Cheon Mubaeck was indifferent.

When was it?

'It was when I was almost publicly condemned. Was it my eighth life?'

Damn. That time was a bit tough.

It was probably his eighth past life.

At that time, Cheon Mubaeck was tired of the continuous cycle of reincarnation.

Because the egg, who never said a word, kept blocking his path to the underworld.

He wanted to obtain a martial art and power that could defeat the egg face by any means necessary.

So, based on the knowledge, martial arts, and studies he had acquired during his past lives, he created a new martial art, and that was Heaven-Shaking Soul Art.

However, at that time, although it was his eighth life, Cheon Mubaeck had not yet reached the pinnacle of martial arts.

Because of this, Heaven-Shaking Soul Art was riddled with fatal weaknesses.

To put it bluntly, the Cheon Mubaeck of the eighth life failed to learn Heaven-Shaking Soul Art.

It wasn't just a simple failure.

It was a complete failure. He had overexerted himself by forcibly expanding his upper dantian and had fallen into qi deviation.

In the end, he had to learn demonic arts to survive, and as a result, he was ridiculously called the Sword Demon and suddenly became the enemy of the orthodox sects.

'But, there's nothing more suitable than this right now.'

Cheon Mubaeck's eyes shone.

After his eighth life ended, from his ninth life onwards, Cheon Mubaeck gritted his teeth and revised Heaven-Shaking Soul Art.

Of course, he didn't fix it all at once.

He had suffered so much in his eighth life, so he revised it cautiously. He continued to work on it throughout his endless past lives.

And in his previous life, when he reached the position of Sword God, Cheon Mubaeck was finally convinced.

He had finally completed it.

However, he had not yet properly learned it.

He had created it by thoroughly analyzing what he had learned and what was lacking, but in order to learn Heaven-Shaking Soul Art, the opening of the upper dantian was essential.

Cheon Mubaeck had tried to open his upper dantian towards the end of his previous life, but he had no time because the Demonic Cult was stirring and he had to beat them down.

'Theoretically, there are no more shortcomings.'

He dared to be proud and assert that there was absolutely no one in the martial world who could criticize this martial art.

It was a cultivation method that contained hundreds of years of martial studies.

Moreover, wasn't it the most suitable cultivation method for his current body?

'It's a body with an open upper dantian. As if Heaven-Shaking Soul Art was created during my past lives for this very moment.'

The upper dantian was something that even most martial arts masters could not easily touch.

It was so difficult that finding an internal energy cultivation method that used the upper dantian was a handful.

But the reason why efforts to develop the upper dantian were persistent in the Central Plains martial world was clear.

A method of operating internal energy that was on a different level from existing martial arts.

The extraordinary martial arts and overwhelming internal energy that burst forth from it.

'To be honest. Can I grow any further with the existing methods?'

The realm he had reached in numerous ways was the Sword God of his previous life.

The position of the greatest master of his time.

Even after reaching that position, Cheon Mubaeck did not neglect his training.

Because he had to defeat that damn egg.

But there was no further path to climb. He could not grow any further. It was to the point that even Cheon Mubaeck thought that position was finally the end of martial arts.

"But it's not."

Heaven beyond heaven.

There is another heaven above the sky.

Cheon Mubaeck looked up at it.

The supreme realm called the end of the sword.

To reach that realm, he had to walk a path he had not walked.

Perhaps Cheon Mubaeck's body, with its open upper dantian, was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

'Moreover, Heaven-Shaking Soul Art is optimal for my current body.'

Looking at the key points of Heaven-Shaking Soul Art, its efficacy lies in the completion of the body.

In other words, it has the power to overhaul his current rotten constitution as much as possible.

'It's not just a cultivation method for accumulating energy, but a cultivation method that creates a perfect foundation.'

If it were just about accumulating energy, the numerous demonic arts of the Demonic Cult would be more effective.

The frightening thing about Heaven-Shaking Soul Art was that although the initial accumulation of energy was slow, it laid a perfect foundation. As time passed, it would even surpass other cultivation methods in terms of accumulating energy.

Of course, this was Cheon Mubaeck's predicted analysis.

He didn't know what would happen when he actually learned it.

"Hoo."

A path not taken.

But a path that must be taken.

Sitting in a cross-legged position, Cheon Mubaeck slowly began to breathe.

As he closed his eyes, the incantations of Heaven-Shaking Soul Art that he had memorized floated in his mind.

The strong will that moved his mind affected his surroundings.

All the senses of his skin awakened keenly, and his perception of the world expanded.

The expansion of his senses was stronger than usual.

Was it because his upper dantian was open?

The numerous dust particles, smells, and faint noises floating outside.

Among them, Cheon Mubaeck felt a faint energy.

This is it.

A faint smile appeared on Cheon Mubaeck's lips.

It was external qi. The process of accumulating this energy was the internal energy cultivation method.

Even a prodigy of a thousand years would take a huge amount of time to feel external qi. Unless there was a master by their side to guide the flow. It was absurd for someone like Cheon Mubaeck to feel external qi in a single breath. But Cheon Mubaeck felt external qi in a single breath.

The developed upper dantian caused a tremendous expansion of his senses. In addition, Cheon Mubaeck's genius senses and experience accumulated over countless past lives combined to produce a tremendous effect.

One inhale, one exhale.

The qi that had been floating around nonchalantly suddenly flowed in one direction.

At first, it was a thin stream, as if a drought had dried it up.

But as he continued to breathe, the stream flowed majestically and began to grow stronger.

The stream of the Yangtze River flows majestically.

A stream that flows while washing away all the miscellaneous, evil, and turbid energies around it.

The stream grew stronger, and stronger, and the more it did, the more majestically and quietly it flowed through Cheon Mubaeck's upper dantian.

Once, twice, three times.

As he continued to breathe, the stream flowed majestically through Cheon Mubaeck's body via his upper dantian.

The more it did, the sharper and more sensitive his senses became.

After some time had passed, when his clothes were all soaked in sweat and the floor was damp, and all sorts of impurities had come out, emitting a foul smell, Cheon Mubaeck opened his closed eyes.

"Hoo."

Refreshing.

Cheon Mubaeck felt like he could fly, not just refreshed, from cultivating for the first time in a long while.

Of course, it was his first time properly cultivating using his upper dantian, but he was satisfied.

Because his mind had become as clear as if he had washed his face with cold water. Was that all? It was a refreshing feeling, as if all the miscellaneous thoughts that had always cluttered his mind had disappeared.

Only now did Cheon Mubaeck feel like he was starting a new life.

'It might be a little funny.'

Being a martial artist.

To have done that countless times.

It was perilous, and how many times had he felt like he wanted to leave the martial world?

But Cheon Mubaeck could not leave the martial world.

To hold a sword.

The way of the sword, the life-saving sword that saves people, whatever, but isn't a sword ultimately for subduing, defeating, and killing someone?

Cheon Mubaeck held a sword, was crazy about the sword, and lived a life solely for the sword.

For him, the sword was inseparable.

Only when he held a sword did he feel like he was living.

It might be a terrible fate.

And the end of that fate would be to see the end of the sword.

Right in this life.

To stand at the end of the sword on the foundation of Heaven-Shaking Soul Art.

Cheon Mubaeck slowly got up.

He would check the pure internal energy that had accumulated in his upper dantian... huh?

What is this?

"...?"

Why is there nothing?

...Why is it completely empty?

The faint smile on Cheon Mubaeck's lips hardened.

His body feeling refreshed was one thing.

Why?

He had cultivated, but there was no internal energy in his dantian.

Cheon Mubaeck comforted himself by thinking he had seen something wrong and observed his body again.

"There is!"

There is.

Internal energy so pure that it was beyond clean.

Even compared to the bald monks of Shaolin or the long-nosed Taoists of Mount Hua, there was internal energy that was even purer.

The problem was that... it was a very minute, truly minute amount that could only be seen after searching dozens of times.

A cultivation method that would make the heavens tremble and fear?

Yes, that's right.

If I accumulate internal energy properly with this, there will be no opponent to face me.

I'll be able to beat up that egg bastard too.

If I practice it steadily, very stea. di. ly.

"I'll have to gather it for at least a hundred years."

Cheon Mubaeck's vision went dark.

* * *

To conclude, the internal energy accumulated through Heaven-Shaking Soul Art far exceeded Cheon Mubaeck's expectations.

Clear and pure internal energy.

Even Cheon Mubaeck was impressed by this.

Even if the amount was insufficient, the power was different.

The power of one-tenth of internal energy mixed with miscellaneous energies would be greater than the power of one fen, no, one li of the current internal energy.

That's how much more powerful internal energy becomes as it is refined purely.

Moreover, the internal energy accumulated now was judged to be better than the internal energy of the Sword God, who was the greatest master of his time, so how much more so would it be?

The problem was the amount.

It was small.

Extremely small.

No, of course, if he had been thinking about accumulating energy, he would have thought of another cultivation method.

Well, the more supreme the cultivation method of the orthodox sects, the slower the accumulation of energy, but...

"This is on a different level."

The accumulation of energy was not just slow.

"It comes in and just goes out? It's wide open. The door? The upper dantian is not just wide open, but the exit is open too?"

That's right.

The majestic stream of water entered the upper dantian and then went out again.

It should accumulate in the process, but it flows out again without even having time to accumulate.

Of course, the effect is also great.

In the process, all sorts of miscellaneous things are swept away.

Creating a clean and solid foundation.

Although very minute, a change had occurred in his terrible constitution.

It was a surprising thing.

In the first place, wasn't the only way to change one's constitution through bone and marrow cleansing, which was achieved through overwhelming internal energy and new enlightenment?

But just by circulating Heaven-Shaking Soul Art, a change was occurring in his terrible constitution.

'In the end, it is the most optimal cultivation method for my body. It's just that the speed is a bit disappointing.'

It would be a relief if the accumulation of energy was as slow as that of a normal orthodox sect's internal energy cultivation method, but it was even slower than that...

Well, seeing his body become cleaner and harder, that disappointment quickly disappeared.

"Young Master! It's Jeombak."

At that moment, Jeombak carefully opened the door and came in.

He was holding something well-wrapped in his arms.

"What is it?"

"Haha. It's a gift that the Chief bought last time, but the Vice Chief hid it."

"A gift?"

"Yes, yes."

"What kind of gift..."

Cheon Mubaeck grumbled, but a look of anticipation appeared on his face.

"What is this?"

"What do you mean what is it? Isn't it the daegeum from the Southern Barbarians that you wanted so much last time, Young Master? You said it's a little different from our daegeum, right?"

"..."

No, I'm learning martial arts now, but he didn't give me a sword as a gift.

What's with the instrument?

That's what he thought inside, but for some reason, Cheon Mubaeck's cheekbones twitched.

Didn't the original Cheon Mubaeck go crazy for arts and music? The feelings from that time were fully revived.

"Ahem. Tell my father I'm grateful."

"Young Master."

"Yes?"

"Why don't you play a refreshing tune?"

"What, this daegeum?"

"Yes. Young Master. No matter how much the Vice Chief forbade you from all instruments and painting until you get healthy, she couldn't have been serious, right?"

At Jeombak's words, Cheon Mubaeck wore an embarrassed expression.

No, it wasn't exactly because of that that he had stayed away from instruments and painting.

Jeombak was unusually insistent.

Cheon Mubaeck looked at Jeombak's expression and smirked.

'This kid. Trying to cheer me up.'

His head had been hurting for the past few days. Wasn't he a little down because of the slightly disappointing accumulation speed of Heaven-Shaking Soul Art?

As for Jeombak, his heart ached at the sight of the downcast young master's face.

So what came to mind was playing an instrument.

Wasn't the young master happier than anyone else when he was playing instruments and painting?

Saying he was training in martial arts, and that the Vice Chief would not let him do the music and painting he wanted until he got healthy, he hadn't touched them for the past ten days.

How surprised he was.

The young master who never let go of his brush and instruments.

So his mood must not be good right now.

That's what Jeombak thought, and he was subtly urging him to play.

"Didn't you always play the daegeum whenever you were tired or having a hard time? You said that if you play a refreshing tune, your head becomes clear and your heart feels full. You were always happy then, so I'll keep it a secret from the Vice Chief."

Hmph, this kid. Even if he keeps it a secret, how could it not reach Cheon Yuhwa's ears?

Cheon Mubaeck smirked and looked at the daegeum, then suddenly stopped.

A thought that suddenly pierced his mind.

"Wait a minute, playing a tune clears my head?"

"Pardon? Yes. That's what you always said, Young Master."

Cheon Mubaeck carefully recalled his thoughts.

That's right.

The reason the original Cheon Mubaeck liked instruments was because of his taste, but also because of the feeling he got after playing them.

"You said it felt like the cold air from outside was washing your head clean. You said it was so refreshing that you couldn't keep the instruments away from you..."

Suddenly, Cheon Mubaeck's eyes flashed open.

His head becomes clear.

The feelings and sensations from that time that remained in his memory.

Wasn't it too similar to the feeling of external qi accumulating through the upper dantian while circulating Heaven-Shaking Soul Art?

Cheon Mubaeck's head spun quickly.

'Every time I played, my head became clear and my body felt cool. Even if it wasn't Heaven-Shaking Soul Art, Cheon Mubaeck originally reacted sensitively to the surrounding external qi while playing. Because his upper dantian was developed, he had become very sensitive.'

People with open upper dantians are, unlike ordinary people, and even more so than other martial artists, extremely sensitive to external qi.

'Moreover, this upper dantian, although it is innate, may have been further developed by playing instruments.'

The connection between the upper dantian and the arts and music that Cheon Mubaeck usually enjoyed.

Then what kind of reaction could Heaven-Shaking Soul Art, which uses the upper dantian, and arts and music have with each other?

Cheon Mubaeck's body grew hot at the hypothesis that came to his mind.

He immediately grabbed the daegeum.

The original Sword God would not know how to play an instrument at all, and he would not know the fingering either.

But isn't he Cheon Mubaeck?

Cheon Mubaeck, the best artist and musician in Henan Province.

Cheon Mubaeck quietly played the daegeum.

"..."

As the beautiful melody flowed out, Jeombak's eyes became hazy.

Indeed.

Indeed, it was the young master.

It was a cheerful but pleasant melody. Just listening to it was refreshing, and it felt like all the inner demons had disappeared.

It was good.

The beautiful melody, the strange emotion that moved his heart.

And the handsome face of the young master, who was smiling broadly while pretending to dislike playing the daegeum.

Everything was good.

'Huh?'

Jeombak's eyes, which had been completely immersed in the melody, widened.

The moment the performance was nearing its end.

Cheon Mubaeck's fingers holding the daegeum were trembling.

Was that all?

A heat haze rose around Cheon Mubaeck.

There was also a somewhat foul smell.

What was this situation?

What happened to the young master?

The moment Jeombak was flustered, the performance was cut off.

And Cheon Mubaeck suddenly put down the daegeum and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! It's complete!"

"Y-Young Master?"

"Jeombak, it's finally perfect!"

"W-What do you mean by that?"

The pupils of Cheon Mubaeck, who suddenly grabbed both his hands, shone with a clearer light than ever before.

(End of Chapter)