〈 Chapter 649 〉 Back to the Central Plains.
The Ninth Stage of the Nine Flames Wheel Art.
It was the realm I reached in my past life.
Creating a tsunami made of flames, or flying through the sky using heat.
It was the realm that allowed me to use all sorts of things.
If there's a difference from my past life.
‘Now is much better.’
Physically, in terms of enlightenment, and the amount of inner qi, my current state can be said to be much more refined than my past life.
*Fwooosh-!!*
I slightly modified the Flame Jade gathered at my fingertips.
The shape of the delicately formed sphere changes.
*Vrrrrr-*
Accompanied by rotation and compression, friction occurs within the inner qi, causing vibrations.
Without getting impatient at this, I adjusted it little by little, controlling the energy.
*Whoooosh.*
It took merely a few seconds before it took the form of a long spear.
However.
*Crackle-! Sizzle--!!*
When I tried to hold its shape and maintain it, the inner qi couldn't endure it and threatened to burst. Seeing that, I made a regretful expression and then overlaid my mental image onto it.
Only then did the inner qi calm down and take its proper shape.
A modified form of the Flame Jade I created. The Flame Jade Star Spear.
I had used it for the first time just a few days ago, but its level of completion is much higher than back then.
Unfortunately, since I had to overlay my mental image in the end, I couldn't call it perfect, but...
The fact that it's easier to cast than before meant that my realm had elevated that much.
Also, expressing this differently.
‘I'll probably need to reach Great Success to use the Star Spear perfectly.’
It also meant the difficulty of the variation I created was too high.
Damn it. I have to reach Great Success to use it properly?
‘What a load of crap. Out of all things, I had to make this damn thing.’
It still flickers in my mind.
The completed version of the Star Spear held in my father's hand, that is.
It felt like it was snatched away from me in an instant, yet at the same time, a burning desire flared up within me.
The fact that it could be crafted to such an extent meant that, in a way, it was also a source of hope.
‘Great Success, huh.’
*Whoosh-!*
I retrieved the Star Spear and thought.
Six years have already passed since I returned.
I came of age, and my life has become somewhat different from my past life.
During my past life, what was I doing when I came of age?
‘What was I doing? I was a total scoundrel.’
It was a point where I had already fallen out of favor with the clan. It must have been around the time I just took the position of Young Patriarch.
It was also the day I was dragged to the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering and suffered miserably.
Hearing things like, "That bastard is the trash of Shanxi."
Or "A dog born from a tiger."
I heard all sorts of things, threw tantrums, and got beaten up for it.
It wasn't a memory I particularly wanted to recall.
‘Compared to that...’
Now, I've passed adulthood and reclaimed the realm of my past life. Having gained a reputation of sorts for myself, I felt like this life was better than my past, yet...
‘The things I have to do haven't decreased at all.’
There was simply too much piled up for me to actually enjoy my changed life.
‘Not that I had any intention of enjoying such things in the first place.’
*Flick, flick.*
I shook my hands and dispersed the remaining inner qi.
Right now, I was constantly checking my changed body.
Since my realm increased suddenly, I needed to fully grasp the differences.
‘The amount of inner qi has doubled. Even compared to my past life, it doesn't fall behind.’
It meant I was no longer at the level where I'd be panting for breath, lacking energy wherever I went.
‘The physical aspects will take some time to get used to...’
My qi capacity surged, causing a physical disharmony. This would be resolved with a few days of training.
The other problem here is...
‘It's good that my inner qi increased, but...’
The energy itself increased significantly, but there's a slight problem with that energy.
That problem is exactly.
‘The cold qi still hasn't completely melted.’
The cold qi converted into energy was all stored within my vessel, but it hadn't entirely transformed into heat yet.
‘There was just too much of it to melt all at once.’
It was cold qi condensed for hundreds of years. It was impossible to purify it all in a single moment.
Ultimately, I would have to rely on time and hope the Nine Flames Wheel Art would melt it all down.
‘The only fortunate thing I can say is...’
*Swish.*
I held my palms facing each other. Then.
*Crackle-!!*
Cold qi gathered at my fingertips, forming a small ice crystal.
Seeing that, I let out a hollow laugh.
‘To think I'd be able to use cold qi.’
It was a change that occurred when the energy of the Ice Crystal was stored within my vessel.
Since I practice Fire Arts, cold qi doesn't seem particularly useful, but...
Having supreme energies coexist within me gave me a bizarre feeling.
How is this even possible?
It's a bit late to be pondering such things.
‘I can't even understand my own body, after all.’
It was just one more addition to the already abundant energies I possessed. I decided to just accept it as such.
‘Even if the cold qi all melts and is converted into heat. Will I still be able to use cold qi?’
Even if I become unable to use it, there's no problem.
This was just mere curiosity.
‘It doesn't seem like a power that can be used in combat anyway.’
I probably wouldn't be able to use it like the clansmen of the Ice Palace.
‘...Maybe just about enough to chill my drinking water.’
Thinking like that, it's really useless. Just enough to use when making ice water...
It's not something to be used in combat.
Especially forming something akin to the armor that Yuseon had displayed was completely out of the question.
‘Yuseon, huh.’
The moment I recalled that crazy daughter of the Palace Lord, I was reminded of the very last thing I needed to check.
It was regarding the Authority I had extracted from Mang, which was the same Authority Yuseon had used.
I obtained a total of two Authorities from Mang.
One was related to regeneration, but since I had already handed that over to save Woo-hyuk, I'll skip it.
There was still one Authority left that I hadn't handed over.
*Swish.*
I raised my hand just like before.
And I envisioned a small jewel in my mind.
A hexagonal jewel with a blue glow.
Roughly the size of a thumb.
I yearned for it so earnestly. I wished for it with all my heart.
At that moment.
*Hum.*
A small vibration occurred within my body, and then.
*Whoooosh.*
The jewel I had imagined appeared exactly as it was on my palm.
Seeing that, I lightly grasped it.
I could feel its texture. The cold, hard sensation was vivid.
Anyone who saw it would believe it was a real jewel, it looked so real, but...
"Phew."
As I exhaled and relaxed my strength.
*Ssss-.*
The jewel turned into smoke and vanished as if it were a lie.
Looking at the energy scattering into the air, I nodded.
‘The maximum duration I can maintain it is around one gak.’
If I create it this small, it lasts one gak; if I increase its size or add more detail, the duration will shrink even further.
‘It's quite tricky.’
The Authorities I had plundered were all annoying in their own way.
The jewel just now was a phantom conjured using the Authority.
It could be called an illusion or branded as a falsehood.
I considered this a falsehood close to the truth.
It materializes not only sight but also senses like touch and smell.
Not to mention the space Yuseon had created.
Every single moment I had suffered at her hands was like that.
Wish.
Yearn for it earnestly.
Then, it shall come to pass.
This was the Authority's name and its method of use.
‘It's really simple.’
You just have to wish for it.
I wondered if there could be anything easier than this.
Since it could create something akin to a physical entity, it was at least far more useful than the cold qi, but...
‘In the end, this one's efficiency also dropped like Regeneration.’
When I plundered it with Greed, Regeneration couldn't exert its full power.
Wish was the same.
‘Really, does the efficiency decrease if you steal an Authority with Greed?’
Devouring and plundering the Dragon's Authority.
That's the exact extent of what I know about Greed, but...
Here, I needed to express a little doubt.
Perhaps.
‘It's not that the stolen Authority gets weaker.’
Could it simply be because it doesn't suit me?
That kind of doubt.
How I came to harbor such a doubt can be understood by recalling the fundamental nature of what an Authority is.
My Authority is Greed (貪).
I am deeply greedy and loathe having anything taken from me. Greed is an Authority tailored to such a disposition.
Because I loathe losing things, I plunder them. I doubted there could be an Authority more suited to me than this.
‘Wouldn't Wish and Regeneration fall under the same category?’
Perhaps they displayed such efficiency because they were Authorities perfectly suited to that bastard, Mang.
Such suspicion arose.
‘To say it's not, it somehow feels like that's the case.’
I started having this doubt when I handed over Regeneration to Woo-hyuk.
It was true that my recovery power increased when Regeneration was contained within my body, but...
The moment I transferred it to Woo-hyuk. I saw his body heal at a rapid pace instantly.
That was a strange part.
‘If the efficiency got worse when it came to me, it's strange that it gets better when I hand it over.’
So I flipped the hypothesis.
It's not that the Authority gets worse as I steal it.
‘It was just an Authority that didn't suit me.’
It didn't suit me from the very beginning.
If there's a part I can't understand here...
‘What determines whether it suits me or not?’
If it were simply a matter of matching my disposition, there was no reason Regeneration wouldn't suit me.
‘I'm in a position that needs it more than anyone else.’
If only Regeneration had been a perfect fit. I could have fought through torn arms and pierced chests.
Since that's not the case, it's just regrettable.
There must be some other reason, but I couldn't figure it out beyond that.
*Grrrrr.*
A low cry echoed.
Hearing that, I turned my gaze.
"Phew."
Before I knew it, a massive head had approached my side—it was Ttoltoli.
*Drip.*
Something flowed down to the floor. It was blood.
Blood was dripping from what Ttoltoli was holding in its mouth.
It was a demonic beast resembling a wolf with red fur.
Ttoltoli had approached me with the Red Demonic Beast in its mouth.
Given that the average size of a Red Demonic Beast was as large as a living quarter, seeing Ttoltoli carrying one in its mouth showed just how massive it had become.
"Haa...."
Seeing that, I let out a slight sigh and swung my hand down hard.
*Smack-!!*
*Yelp-!!*
Ttoltoli, struck on the head, staggered.
"Damn it... why did you get so huge again! I told you to grow only a little."
*Grrr...*
"What the hell are you feeling unjust about? I'm already annoyed to death by how much it costs to feed you. Looking at you, you're probably going to eat even more."
*Grrr.*
"You say you can feed yourself? If you wander around at that size, you'll just end up getting skewered."
*Grrrrr...*
"Then you should have taken care of me a bit! Look at that tone? You haven't been beaten enough lately..."
*Growl-!*
As I tried to grab its fur, Ttoltoli quickly fled.
*Whoosh--!!* As the massive body soared into the air, dust scattered and a gust of wind swept through.
Seeing that, I frowned and spoke.
"Aren't you coming down?"
*Growl.*
"Yeah, right. I'm telling you to come down because I won't hit you."
*Grrr.*
"If you're not going to believe me, why did you ask! Are you coming down or not?"
Just as I was about to get angry, Ttoltoli picked up speed and flew far away.
For such a massive lump, it was infuriatingly fast.
"Ha."
I had to let out a hollow breath looking at its retreating figure.
A size at least twice as large as when we came to the North Sea.
I wondered what had happened while I wasn't looking, but...
‘Why say it out loud. It's because of me.’
You can tell by looking.
That my energy increased, meaning the guy's size and appearance changed.
‘That guy is linked to me.’
Whether my realm rises, I get physically stronger, or my inner qi increases.
Whenever there was a change in me, there was also a change in Ttoltoli.
‘When I got physically stronger, its appearance changed.’
Fiercer and more ruthless. It gradually morphed into a form so terrifying that just looking at it as a demonic beast would make one's knees buckle.
‘When my energy increased, its size grew.’
Perhaps because I surpassed the qi capacity of my past life, Ttoltoli's size had become far too large.
Do you know what's funny?
‘That bastard can shrink...!’
Since Ttoltoli could also use the Qi Body Transformation Art like me, it was free to grow and shrink its size.
But it seemed it liked being big and purposely went around like that.
"Phew..."
Who on earth did it take after to live like that.
Shaking my head, I watched Ttoltoli disappear and thought.
‘A demonic beast that grows in correlation with me.’
Initially, it was a creature born by consuming my qi from a Red Demonic Beast's demonic core.
And such a guy changed like that.
Recalling that, I thought of Mang.
‘Mang's true body was also in the form of a demonic beast.’
A white demonic beast called a dragon.
That was Mang's true body that popped out of the Ice Crystal.
‘Do all those guys called dragons have true bodies like that?’
Mang was a pure-blood dragon. And I was also called a pure-blood dragon.
Then, do I also have a separate 'true body' like Mang?
‘I haven't particularly felt anything like that, but. If there is one.’
Right on cue, the guy who gets bigger as I grow in the form of a demonic beast had just flown away.
‘...’
Could it be that guy?
Thinking that, I shook my head.
‘Even so, I am the true body, not that guy.’
The very concept of a true body is a strange thing to begin with.
If it's the true body, I am the true body right now, where else would there be another?
It was just a nonsensical thought.
*Swish.*
While erasing my thoughts, I unwrapped the bandages around my chest and set them on fire.
*Fwoosh-!*
The bandages burned, giving off a slight foul odor. It was because blood was soaked into the bandages.
"My internal injuries have all healed."
Three days since the fierce battle.
Even though I had been stabbed and my bones fractured, both my external and internal injuries had healed in mere days.
‘My regenerative power has definitely improved compared to before.’
Considering that the Authority of Regeneration had been taken away from me, it was safe to say my baseline regenerative abilities had simply improved.
‘At this level...’
I can train a bit more intensely.
Even if my bones break and my flesh is torn, they'll regenerate in a few days.
It was without a doubt the most satisfying part of this growth.
*Rustle.*
I turned around at the sound of footsteps.
A handsome young man with a neat martial uniform and pale skin that left an impression. It was Seong Yool.
He had bandages wrapped around his arm. It seemed his left arm had been broken in the fight with the demonic beast.
"Perhaps, did I interrupt you?"
"No, I just finished. Why?"
"The Palace Lord is looking for you, Young Master."
I nodded at Seong Yool's words.
I was about to go find him anyway.