NOVPUB
Chapter 117: Qualification (1)
One week.
Not too long, not too short.
Too long to let it pass idly, yet too short to properly immerse oneself in something.
Seojun decided to just live as he had been.
Why should I make an effort to impress that old man?
No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem necessary.
Coincidentally, news came that the Heaven-Man Divine Pills for Chunbong and Namgung Suah were completed. It would be better to focus on this instead.
At the Clan Head’s exclusive training ground, which had now become a regular meeting place.
Seojun sat Chunbong and Namgung Suah down and conducted education about the Heaven-Man Divine Pill.
“You’ve heard the basics, right? Since it’s a spirit pill aimed at improving the body rather than enhancing inner qi, it will be a bit different from the spirit pills you’ve taken before.”
Pae Jingwang examined the Heaven-Man Divine Pill with a strange expression.
“Improving the body? With just one spirit pill?”
“It won’t give you muscles or anything, so don’t get any weird ideas.”
“What weird ideas?”
“Don’t try to destroy it or anything like that just because you’re from the unorthodox path.”
“Am I crazy? I won’t do that.”
“Oh. That’s unexpected.”
“So you’re looking for a fight?”
After briefly squabbling with Pae Jingwang, Seojun snatched the Heaven-Man Divine Pill from his hand.
“It would be useless for you to take it, old man. Your essence has already soared to the heavens, doing tap dances far above your qi and mind. Taking this would just result in you passing some nice poop.”
“I never said I wanted it, you brat!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you separately, old man.”
“I live well enough without you doing anything for me.”
Seojun smiled wryly at Pae Jingwang, who was slightly backing away, then refocused on his education.
“Anyway, you know that consuming the same spirit pill multiple times reduces efficiency, right? So the first time is the most important.”
“You think I’ve only taken a spirit pill once or twice?”
Chunbong grumbled.
She had consumed quite a number of spirit pills to treat her blocked meridians. But these were a bit different.
“Now, now. Focus, Miss Geum.”
Seojun stood between Chunbong and Namgung Suah, who were sitting cross-legged.
“Think of the inner qi I’m inserting as the Heaven-Man Divine Pill, and remember the pathways and sensations well. This is how you should do it to extract all the benefits.”
Having complete understanding of the Five Elements Formation within the Heaven-Man Divine Pill, he also knew well how to extract its efficiency down to the marrow.
“Now, let’s begin.”
The Transcendent Realm was not far off.
*Chunbong and Namgung Suah consumed the Heaven-Man Divine Pills and guided their energy to improve their bodies.
The Heaven-Man Divine Pill is a spirit pill that aims for the middle path among the Five Elements principles of nature.
A state not biased toward any one of the Five Elements.
It was designed to establish such a body first, then allow one to progress in their desired direction.
Since it would take quite some time to fully absorb the medicinal effects, Seojun lay down at the training ground and watched them.
Pae Jingwang, who was exercising in a one-finger handstand nearby, asked.
“Have you given any thought to it?”
“No.”
“What thoughts did you think I meant?”
“Since I haven’t thought about anything, any thought would be the same.”
“My goodness.”
Pae Jingwang clicked his tongue and corrected his posture.
“I’m talking about the three items that Namgung Hyeok set forth. Loyalty, swordsmanship, and martial arts, was it? Those.”
“Wait. Namgung Hyeok?”
Seojun suddenly raised his head.
“Hold on, old man. Are you older than that old man?”
“I am.”
“What...”
This old man, just how old is he?
The Clan Head should be a bit under 300 years old, so to be older than the Clan Head’s great-uncle...
“Wow, a walking corpse.”
“What did you say, you brat?”
Seojun quickly dodged the Fist King’s flick (which would have burst the head of a normal person) and swiftly changed the subject.
“Loyalty, swordsmanship, and martial arts... Let’s skip swordsmanship first.”
“Why would you skip that?”
“Well... because I’m not confident in swordsmanship?”
“What nonsense is this from someone called the Sword Hand?”
“I’m not the Sword Hand.”
“What?”
“My swordsmanship is just average because it’s hard to master without proper training, like qi arts.”
Pae Jingwang deeply furrowed his brow.
“More nonsense... It’s far from average.”
“That’s what my father-in-law said.”
“Hmm. Then it must be true.”
For a walking corpse, he’s quick to acknowledge.
Impressed, Seojun subtly bragged about himself.
“Still, I’ve been holding a sword for about two years, and I’ve heard my level is pretty good?”
“Two years? Hmm... Well, if you started using a sword after reaching the Transcendent Realm, you’d already have established martial arts, so your skills would improve quite rapidly.”
“I’ve been using a sword since I started martial arts.”
“What are you saying? You said you’ve been using a sword for two years.”
Pae Jingwang made a strange expression. He seemed to be doing mental arithmetic.
The Fist King was very weak at arithmetic.
“That’s right. I’ve been practicing martial arts for about two years too.”
“...Are you serious?”
Seojun grinned.
His heart always raced when he engaged in such deception.
Wouldn’t I get tired of doing this repeatedly?
Not at all. It’s fun every time. Each time feels new.
Seojun smiled and said.
“Isn’t the Transcendent Realm something you reach after learning martial arts for about two years? Is that difficult?”
But the reaction was different from what he expected.
After pondering with a furrowed brow for quite some time, Pae Jingwang finally spoke.
“When you succeed and become great later, don’t forget the Supreme Force Strange Divine Martial Art. Remember that I taught you.”
“What.”
“No, actually, why don’t I become your master starting now? I’ll treat you well.”
Is this the wisdom of a centuries-old monster...?
Seojun couldn’t help but be impressed.
*Time passed quickly, and a week had already gone by.
Arriving at the clan’s main training ground, Seojun’s eyebrows rose in surprise at the considerable crowd.
Not only were there many people, but most of those present were experts of Peak Realm or higher.
Despite the shortage of manpower due to the war, such a force remained within the clan.
As expected, a major clan like one of the Six Great Clans can’t be disregarded for its power.
The current Seojun was confident he could easily defeat an army of a hundred thousand martial artists below First Rate Realm.
But hundreds of Peak Realm? That wouldn’t be so easy.
He could win by repeatedly striking and retreating, but a clan as a collective is not just about numbers.
All kinds of formations premised on combining their strengths while practicing the same category of martial arts.
These make it impossible for even a Transcendent Realm martial artist to simply disregard multiple Peak Realm martial artists.
In Seojun’s case, he could solve the problem by just firing the Primordial Sun-Moon Art from a distance, but...
Anyway, that’s the case for most Transcendent Realm martial artists.
“I am Namgung Hyeok, an elder of the clan. The reason I have gathered you here is to judge whether Lee Seojun, the son-in-law of the Clan Head, is qualified to learn the Sword Form of the Emperor, and at the same time...”
As it seemed time had come, Namgung Hyeok began his speech in a loud voice infused with inner qi.
Namgung Jincheon was seated slightly higher than the platform where Namgung Hyeok stood, observing the situation.
This meant that this whole situation was permitted by Namgung Jincheon.
Standing at the center of numerous gazes, Seojun closed his eyes and half-listened to Namgung Hyeok’s speech.
Loyalty... How does one test loyalty?
The question was soon answered.
“If anyone opposes Lee Seojun learning the Sword Form of the Emperor, step forward and speak. In response, Lee Seojun must provide a convincing explanation and gain the consent of more than half of those gathered here.”
It was somewhat unexpected.
Not many people would step forward to oppose in front of so many.
Isn’t this a favorable condition for me?
As Seojun raised his eyebrows, a woman jumped from among the crowd and stepped forward.
“Oh, Aunt? When did you arrive?”
“Hmm, I came last night. I heard there was something interesting going on!”
Namgung Yeon grinned.
Looking at her, Namgung Hyeok said.
“Speak.”
“Well. I am Namgung Yeon, an elder of the clan and the Creation Sky Great Lord.”
Namgung Yeon abruptly shouted loudly.
“Do you know what great things our lucky charm has done?”
She talked about the Azure Lightning Thunder Cultivation Art and the Thirteen Lightning Flashes.
She also mentioned the friction with the Qilian Sect Leader, though it was unclear how she had heard about it.
They had asked for opposing opinions to come forward, but she was just bragging about her nephew-in-law.
As the finishing touch, an excited Namgung Youngbo jumped out and spoke without permission.
“Our Young Master is the God of Alchemy...! The Five Elements Formation! Just! Into a Reverse Five Elements Formation! Huh? That’s no ordinary feat!”
Namgung Hyeok looked at Namgung Youngbo with pitiful eyes.
“...Hall Master of the Heavenly Medicine Hall. If you wish to speak, wait until Elder Namgung Yeon’s turn is over and come forward formally.”
“Oh, yes!”
Seojun was starting to feel embarrassed.
Is the strategy to use shame to kill me?
Since this was a formal occasion, he just quietly listened, and soon enough, Namgung Youngbo’s speech also ended.
The people gathered at the main training ground began to murmur.
They too knew about what Seojun had done, but usually only one or two things, not everything.
“With that kind of achievement, shouldn’t we not only give him the Sword Form of the Emperor but also add more and keep him in the clan? If he stays in the clan for about ten years, we could quickly become the Unrivaled Clan Under The Heavens.”
“Shh. Let’s be quiet for now.”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“It’s better to refrain from hasty remarks in a place like this.”
Amid the murmuring crowd, an old man stepped forward.
“I am Namgung Hyeoncheol, the Head of the Law Enforcement Hall.”
The Law Enforcement Hall is responsible for discipline within the clan.
The Head of the Law Enforcement Hall was naturally a key position and carried considerable weight in his statements.
As Namgung Hyeoncheol opened his mouth, the murmuring people immediately fell silent.
“I do not deny that this young man has achieved remarkable feats. However, the Sword Form of the Emperor has traditionally been permitted only to the Clan Head and the Young Master of the Namgung Clan. Your learning the Sword Form of the Emperor sounds like you intend to compete for the position of Young Master, does it not?”
“It doesn’t?”
“Then, regarding the succession rights...”
Suddenly, Namgung Yeon interrupted.
“Hey, old man! What’s with all this talk about succession rights? Stop making a fuss and come in!”
“Yeon, be quiet. Even in a place like this, your behavior shows no signs of improvement.”
“Old man, would you stop thinking in such strange directions? You’ll die young that way.”
“I’ve lived long enough.”
“Oh, how frustrating! Enough, come in!”
“...Let go of my collar, I beg you.”
It was like a big family gathered for a holiday.
One might wonder if a clan like one of the Six Great Clans should be like this, but in a way, it was possible because it was the Namgung Clan.
What they pursue is solely the sword.
Unless it’s a martial force, a strict atmosphere like that of an army is rare.
It was all possible because of the existence of Namgung Jincheon.
Not someone who received authority from someone else, but a solitary, complete existence.
It’s fundamentally different from modern armies.
Their authority, whether one star or three stars, comes from rank and some ability (which is minimal compared to the influence of rank), but Namgung Jincheon has an authority that no one can defy through his ability alone.
While martial forces that need to act independently might be somewhat of an exception, there is no need to maintain strict discipline otherwise.
In an emergency, everything would be decided under the gesture of the absolute figure.
It could be said that he’s on a completely different level from those who have to continuously instill their authority out of concern for insubordination or uprisings.
Plato, old man, are you watching?
The philosopher-king is right there.
Of course, not knowing much about philosophy, he couldn’t fully sympathize with Plato.
“...Let’s stop here. It seems there’s no need to further prove loyalty.”
Namgung Hyeok seemed to have a slightly different thought.
He looked at the members of the Namgung Clan with a complex expression and sighed deeply.
The Namgung Clan of the past seemed to have been quite disciplined, so seeing the clan so changed after returning after a long time would naturally evoke various thoughts.
Anyway, the proof of loyalty ended so anticlimactically.
There didn’t seem to be anyone with major complaints no matter what he tried to do, and above all, the forces supporting Seojun were much larger than expected.
This was equivalent to saying that Seojun had already proven his loyalty within the clan.
So there was no reason to continue this chaos under the pretext of proving loyalty.
Seojun, who hadn’t even said a few words, just scratched his head.
“The second is swordsmanship. To properly learn the Sword Form of the Emperor, one’s swordsmanship achievement must also be excellent, so this is also a necessary requirement to judge qualification.”
Is that so? It seems like the Sword Form of the Emperor would be pretty good even if you removed swordsmanship entirely.
“The test for swordsmanship... Well, yes, whatever.”
As Seojun raised his hand, Namgung Hyeok, who seemed somewhat resigned, passed the opportunity to speak.
“Can we skip swordsmanship and go straight to martial arts?”
“...”
Namgung Hyeok just wanted to give it all up.
