Chapter 16 Ghost Gate

Chapter 16 Ghost Gate

[It seems a battle has broken out.]

Those running right beside Namgung-woo’s group.

At the forefront of the Peng Clan martial artists, Pung Mu-ho sent a Sound Transmission to Peng Ha-ryeong.

Peng Ha-ryeong, a formidable Peak Transcendence Master in her own right, replied with a Sound Transmission.

[The Aura is quite strong.]

[Indeed. At least a Peak Transcendence Master.]

[Their speed seems to be increasing. Perhaps we should also pick up the pace… Uncle.]

Piii-

Piii-

Piii-

A Whistling Arrow was fired. A long whistle, followed by two short ones.

It was a pre-arranged signal indicating the Ghost Gate’s type.

“A Spirit-Body Type… This is going to be troublesome.”

Pung Mu-ho spoke aloud.

While they had discussed Namgung-woo’s situation via Sound Transmission, as it was still uncertain, the Gate Closing Battle was different. Other Peng Clan martial artists needed to hear.

“Ha-ryeong, what will you do?”

At Pung Mu-ho’s question, a conflict arose in Peng Ha-ryeong’s heart.

She wanted to follow Namgung-woo and discover his true nature.

But the Spectral Fiends were too dangerous.

After the Imperial Court moved its capital to Beijing, many Martial World powers in Hebei couldn’t withstand the Imperial Court’s pressure. They either left for other regions or abandoned their martial arts to become officials. Yet, the Hebei Peng Clan managed to hold its ground. Why?

Was it because they voluntarily left Beijing, their original base, for Tianjin? Because they sided with Emperor Yongle, the victor in the civil war between Emperor Jianwen and Emperor Yongle? Or because, after Beijing became the capital of the Ming Dynasty, they sent Peng Clan martial artists to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to prove their loyalty?

Those reasons certainly played a part.

However, there was a more fundamental reason. The Peng Clan survived and maintained its influence in Hebei because it had the support of the Common Folk. As a renowned martial family walking the Righteous Path, they had dedicated themselves to the common people, and it was the common people themselves who rose to protect them, leading the Imperial Court to acknowledge the Peng Clan’s continued presence in Hebei.

This was in stark contrast to the Jinju Eon Clan, another martial family established in Hebei, which was driven out of the region.

Therefore, the Hebei Peng Clan must not abandon the Common Folk. They simply couldn’t.

Peng Ha-ryeong closed her eyes tightly, then opened them, making her decision.

“…Peng Wi, Peng Sa-beon, and Peng U-chaek, the three of you, scatter and assist the martial artists. First-rate Martial Artists might be able to contend with the Spectral Fiends, but without a Peak Transcendence Master, it will be difficult to eliminate them.”

“We obey your command.”

The three individuals whose names were called replied in unison.

“Hurry. If even one Spectral Fiend enters Wu’an County, it could lead to a catastrophe.”

Monsters and Demons are not born and remain in the same state.

They grow. And unlike humans, who are inevitably influenced by time, their growth rate is unparalleled, making them rapidly stronger.

This was because their method of growth wasn’t through Qi cultivation, meditation, or training, but simply through predation.

“Uncle, let’s go too. We need to close the Ghost Gate.”

Pung Mu-ho was one of the few Grandmasters in the Peng Clan. Although he hadn’t yet crossed the threshold of Peak Transcendence, he might still be able to close even a Blue Ghost Gate.

At this moment, there was no one else.

‘I don’t know how strong this man, Nam-woo, is… but choosing the certain path is the right thing to do.’

‘If he truly is someone who can be Peng Ha-ryeong’s, and by extension, the Peng Clan’s hope, then he will surely distinguish himself even without her by his side.’

Believing this, Peng Ha-ryeong changed her course to narrow the Ghost Gate’s encirclement as much as possible.

‘They’re getting further away.’

Namgung-woo confirmed the Presence of those gradually moving away from his side.

The Peng Clan martial artists, who had been maintaining their distance around him for some reason, suddenly scattered. Seeing this, Namgung-woo retracted the Qi Senses he had spread wide.

The Internal Qi he had spread out, following Namgung-woo’s will, gathered back. His Internal Energy Control had become quite proficient by now.

However, the Yang brothers, unaware that Namgung-woo had been invisibly extending his Qi Senses, were captivated by the scene unfolding before them and hastily offered advice.

“Young hero! You must conserve your Internal Energy! There are an unusual number of these creatures!”

“Damn it! Is this really Red? It looks Azure to anyone!”

Swish! Slash!

Namgung-woo, who was handling the front, didn’t bother dealing with the Spectral Fiends targeting his sides. He left those to the Yang brothers.

Namgung-woo had already assessed the brothers’ capabilities. He had even calculated that they could handle this much.

This meant Namgung-woo only needed to freely cut down the ghost-like creatures blocking his path.

Namgung-woo’s sword flashed once more.

Skraaaak!

“Flying Sword Qi again…! Young hero, I told you to conserve your Internal Energy!”

“It’s fine.”

The Heavenly Thunder Qi filling his Lower Dantian was immeasurable. Even though he had been continuously manifesting Sword Qi and using Flying Sword Qi since taking the lead, the Heavenly Thunder Qi, far from weakening, grew even more vigorous.

Furthermore, Namgung-woo possessed not just the Internal Energy of his Lower Dantian, but two other Dantians comparable to it.

The Three Dantians: Upper, Middle, and Lower.

Namgung-woo filled each Dantian with different Internal Energies. One might wonder why he didn’t unify them with a single cultivation method, but filling all three Dantians with one Internal Energy was an exceedingly difficult feat.

Internal Energy Cultivation Methods vary infinitely depending on which Dantian is used.

The Eight Extraordinary Meridians and the Twelve Meridians. Including all Minor Meridians of the Body, the Meridian Channels through which Qi flows possess countless possibilities. An Internal Energy Cultivation Method’s Qi circulation path refers to how it circulates through these Meridian Channels, so its effectiveness changes significantly depending on which Dantian is chosen as the center of Qi circulation.

The Qihai Acupoint of the Lower Dantian, the Okdang Acupoint of the Middle Dantian, and the Yintang Acupoint of the Upper Dantian.

While the Qihai Acupoint and Okdang Acupoint belong to the Conception Meridian, the Yintang Acupoint is among the Forty-Eight Acupoints not included in the Fourteen Meridians.

Therefore, a cultivation method centered on the Lower Dantian could naturally train the Middle Dantian, as both belong to the Conception Meridian. However, the Upper Dantian is an entirely separate domain. Moreover, most Lower Dantian cultivation methods could open the Middle Dantian but rarely encompassed the Upper Dantian.

For example, the Heavenly Thunder Emperor’s Divine Art is a cultivation method primarily based in the Lower Dantian, aiming to spread its thunderous power throughout the entire body, thus mainly dealing with the Meridian Channels of the Twelve Meridians.

In such a case, it doesn’t significantly involve the Okdang Acupoint of the Middle Dantian or the Yintang Acupoint of the Upper Dantian, making them unsuitable for the Heavenly Thunder Qi’s Internal Energy to reside.

While one could forcibly store Internal Energy in a Dantian not part of the Qi circulation path, it would be an inefficient choice, and there was no need for it.

Conversely, the Internal Force of the Azure Sky Great Evolution Divine Art, residing in Namgung-woo’s Middle Dantian, was different.

The Intent contained within the Azure Sky Great Evolution Divine Art was that of the vast, endlessly stretching sky, unwavering.

In other words, the Azure Sky Great Evolution Divine Art focuses on the Middle Dantian, the body’s core, and establishes its Qi circulation path around the five viscera and six bowels to enhance the body’s homeostasis.

In other words, unless the Internal Energies possessed conflicting properties that would harm his body, there was no need to cling to just one. While simultaneously cultivating orthodox Internal Energy and demonic Internal Energy would be sheer madness, with Internal Energies of the same lineage, it was even possible to foster a symbiotic relationship.

Of course, one might argue that instead of learning multiple Internal Energies, it would be better to simply master a single cultivation method that trains all Three Dantians, leading to deeper achievements. Indeed, many martial artists have undertaken various challenges to achieve this.

And significant results did exist: Shaolin’s Muscle and Marrow Cleansing Scripture, Mount Hua Sect’s Violet Mist Divine Art, Xuanyuan Clan’s Yellow Emperor’s True Scripture… Martial Arts that simultaneously cultivate all Three Dantians are not unheard of.

However, martial arts that genuinely yield such profound efficacy are exceedingly rare.

It’s not for nothing that effective martial arts are called Divine Arts and become the profound techniques of Great Factions.

Though the explanation was lengthy, simply put, even if Namgung-woo completely expended the Heavenly Thunder Qi in his Lower Dantian, he would still have the Azure Sky Qi remaining in his Middle Dantian.

Knowing this, Namgung-woo unleashed his Heavenly Thunder Qi without reservation, pouring it out freely.

Platinum lightning brilliantly extended from the foothills of Wolong Mountain. The Spectral Fiends blocking Namgung-woo vanished as soon as they appeared, leaving no screams behind before the lightning erupting from the ground.

‘This is too easy.’

With Sword Qi flowing freely, there was no need to even use Sword Art.

Simply imbuing the slashes of the Iron Sword Ten Forms with Sword Qi unleashed power as if it were some ancient peerless Sword Art.

While it was good to use his Internal Energy freely on this occasion, it was far from enough to quench his thirst for martial arts.

“Brother Jeong, do the enemies get stronger as we approach the Ghost Gate?”

“N-not particularly, but…”

“Hmm…”

Despite that, the creatures stubbornly guarding the Ghost Gate possessed an aura of a different caliber compared to the other Spectral Fiends he had encountered so far.

Namgung-woo harbored the question internally, then quickly dismissed it. He had to go there anyway. He would see for himself.

“…The Peng Clan has reached the Ghost Gate first. Let’s increase our speed a bit more.”

“Even more?”

“Y-younger brother… I’m sorry, but this is already our maximum speed.”

Peng Ha-ryeong and Pung Mu-ho reached the Ghost Gate before Namgung-woo not because they were stronger than him.

Unlike Namgung-woo, they didn’t have others whose speed they needed to match. As accomplished Peak Transcendence Masters, they unleashed the Peng Clan’s Light Body Technique to its fullest, naturally making them faster than Namgung-woo.

‘I need to get there before those two close the Ghost Gate.’

At Namgung-woo’s silence, the Yang brothers, who had unexpectedly become a burden, stood awkwardly, awaiting his next words.

Yang Kwae, observing Namgung-woo, subtly glanced at Yang Jeong.

‘Can the two of us turn back?’

Though there was no Sound Transmission or spoken word, his twin brother, who had been with him for over 20 years, perfectly understood his elder brother’s intent.

‘It’s possible. All the Spectral Fiends have been annihilated by the young hero’s Sword Qi.’

‘But pulling out now would be a bit… awkward, wouldn’t it?’

‘You’re telling me. We have to stick with him to the end. How many masters use the same Thunder Qi as us?’

For the Yang brothers, this situation was akin to a Fortuitous Encounter.

Just as Song Chae-ji had gained a small enlightenment from Namgung-woo’s Unity of Body and Sword, the Yang brothers were also learning by observing Namgung-woo’s Sword Qi, which wielded Thunder Qi.

Thunder Qi was incredibly fierce and unpredictable. Though stronger than other energies, it was equally difficult to control. This was also why the Yang brothers, despite possessing excellent Internal Energy Cultivation Methods, hadn’t mastered other martial arts suited to it.

“Younger brother, uh, I’m sorry, but could you eliminate all the Spectral Fiends? If no Spectral Fiends come our way, we might be able to focus solely on our Light Body Technique and somehow increase our speed.”

“Of course, asking for this without offering anything in return is…”

“I’ll do it.”