Chapter 146: 3 Star (7)

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Enlightenment.

It was a process that any master who reached a certain level of cultivation went through at least a few times.

For martial sects with long histories such as the Nine Great Sects or the Union of the Great Families, even enlightenment itself took on a structured process.

Sometimes, by using a particular trigger, they deliberately entered the realm of enlightenment.

It was an attempt possible only for those who had accumulated data over a very long time.

Perhaps it was because of such things that the great trees of the Central Plains could sink their roots even deeper.

‘But such processes clearly carried risks.’

Artificial enlightenment that was not natural always had drawbacks in one way or another.

According to Carl’s analysis, that type of enlightenment had a much lower ceiling than ordinary enlightenment.

Of course, it was sufficient to break through a wall, but it was a waste to use such a precious opportunity in that way.

Still, it was excellent for forcibly raising the realm of someone with insufficient talent or allowing them to cross an obstructing wall more easily, so it was a method often used.

Yet the best way was when a seemingly coincidental topic of thought suddenly pushed someone into the realm, just like now.

‘…….’

Carl observed his inner self.

The beginning of enlightenment stemmed from Yuria’s words, spoken as if they were nothing.

He desperately calmed his mind to seize the opportunity as much as possible.

Woom, woom, woom.

The three energies in his dantian swirled together, forming irregular shapes.

They merged into unity then scattered apart, repeating the process of mixing and separating, creating a strange sight.

‘I was thinking wrongly.’

Carl realized much from Yuria’s words.

He had thought that orthodox martial arts, demonic arts, and divinity were fundamentally different from the start.

But if what Yuria said was true, then all of them originated from the same source.

Even if something like Aether did not actually exist, from the perspective of martial arts it would still lead to the natural vital energy of heaven and earth.

Even divinity would not be much different.

The natural vital energy in martial arts, and Aether in magic.

In a way, they shared the same essence.

‘What was once one has been split apart, and now must return to unity.’

That meant a complete answer already existed.

Even if he did not try to forcefully shape it, the natural flow would lead to the result.

Since it was originally one, returning to one was the natural course.

Carl first broke the rigid frame of thought lodged in his mind and discarded its form.

He operated the Primordial Unity Divine Art, gathering his energy, and then, without letting any ego intervene, he released everything freely.

‘It was arrogance.’

The Primordial Unity Divine Art.

Because it was a divine art that surpassed even the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and the Bright Heaven Divine Art, he had been biased from the start.

He had thought that since it was the greatest martial art of all ages, it should naturally be a certain way.

The mistake was in trying to judge a martial art created by the Divine Warrior with his meager knowledge.

That way of thinking had kept him from reaching the realm, leaving him frustrated all this time.

Even if, to him, it seemed incomplete, it was in fact a perfectly balanced form in itself.

‘Abandon the past. I must no longer be bound by it.’

Those who forgot the past repeated the same mistakes.

But those bound by the past could not move forward.

He had to remember it without being shackled by it.

Carl constantly repeated this to himself as he operated the Primordial Unity Divine Art.

Paaah!

How much time passed?

The three energies that had been mixing irregularly suddenly began to harmonize.

After hundreds and thousands of adjustments, they found the correct answer and reached completion.

Zzzzzzzzt.

An auspicious aura began to seep from Carl’s body.

His entire body, which had been sitting quietly, slowly rose into the air, and the internal energy circulating inside him burst outward, enveloping the surroundings.

A gray vortex unfolded.

It formed a cocoon, like that which wrapped a silkworm before metamorphosis.

Sssaaaah─.

Above Carl’s head.

Something faintly whitish appeared, wavering as if about to take form, scattering its presence.

But in the end, it did not complete itself, and all the emitted energy was drawn back in through Carl’s nose and mouth, disappearing.

“……”

Carl sat back down, eyes closed, savoring every sensation.

It was a sense of achievement he had not felt in a long time.

It was the first step of casting off human limitations and approaching the heavens.

In terms of martial arts, it was beyond first-class, at the peak, and here, it was stepping into the realm of a Master, a seeker of the Way.

At last, after gathering all his energy and enlightenment, Carl slowly opened his eyes.

The divine light that had lingered in his red pupils withdrew inward, and he returned to his usual appearance.

“……”

Since it was a realm he had already surpassed once before in the Central Plains, it felt a bit easier this time.

Back then, since he had thought of himself not as a martial artist but as an assassin, he had not considered it that important.

But now, each fragment of enlightenment was infinitely precious.

He was in a position where he had to accomplish everything alone without a master or senior brothers.

At last, when he slowly lifted his head, he saw Yuria standing still at the entrance of the laboratory.

“…Ah.”

Realizing the situation late, Carl scratched his head with an awkward expression.

“Did you see that?”

“…Of course. Who do you think was watching over you by your side?”

Yuria replied stiffly.

From beginning to end, she had witnessed every phenomenon that occurred around Carl.

She had only vaguely sensed what was happening, but it had been a series of utterly shocking events.

‘I knew it was the process of breaking through a wall through enlightenment.’

But the resonance Carl showed had far surpassed anything she had imagined.

Just what wall had he broken through, and to what realm had he ascended?

“……”

Meanwhile, as Carl briefly looked around, he realized Yuria’s consideration and bowed his head.

“You set up a barrier for me. Thank you, I almost drew outside attention.”

On this matter, Carl expressed sincere gratitude to Yuria.

The wave of surpassing a realm was enough to stir the surroundings.

And he, a twenty-year-old new cadet, had broken through the wall and reached the level of a Master.

It would not have been strange if it became a hot topic not just in the Empire but across the entire continent.

Even in Bayern, there were not a few Sword Masters and Magi who had reached such a realm, so had Yuria not set up a barrier, they would have noticed his wave.

“What in the world just happened?”

“As you can see, thanks to Miss Yuria’s advice, I broke through the wall.”

“…Don’t tell me you’ve reached Master?”

“Though my body is still lacking.”

Carl nodded and picked up a pen from the desk.

Woom, woom, woom─!

A gray energy surged upward.

Since he had already shown Yuria the energy of the Primordial Unity Divine Art, he felt no hesitation in using it.

“…Aura Blade!”

Yuria’s eyes widened.

Aura Blade, the exclusive power of Sword Masters.

The aura rose above the pen shaft, taking the clear shape of a blade and radiating a sharp killing intent.

It could not be mistaken.

She had seen it countless times since coming to this world.

‘Beautiful.’

Carl was mesmerized by the aura he had created.

The use of aura was originally possible only starting from the Transcendent Peak realm.

But thanks to the functions of the Primordial Unity Divine Art, it was possible even at the Peak realm, though in an incomplete form.

Of course, it was also because Carl had already once reached that realm and was familiar with its usage.

‘The Primordial Unity Divine Art has now reached three stars as well. From now on, my progress will be faster.’

Carl smiled.

Now that he had broken through the wall that had always blocked his path, a wide road lay ahead.

Even now, the power of the Primordial Unity Qi, firmly seated within his dantian, urged him to test it at once.

From here on, even if a considerable enemy appeared, he could easily defeat them.

‘That is why I must keep my mind steady all the more.’

Up to the second star of the divine art, he had managed by relying on the experience and knowledge he had accumulated.

But from the third star onward, he had to rely solely on instinct, so he had to be much more cautious.

It was an unknown realm that no one in the martial world, except the Divine Warrior, had ever ascended.

Even for Carl, trial and error was unavoidable.

“More importantly, how much time has passed? It doesn’t seem to be evening yet.”

Carl lifted the curtain on the wall and looked outside.

It was not very dark.

He had thought a long time must have passed while he was organizing his enlightenment, but fortunately, it had not taken so long.

Then Yuria spoke to him with an exasperated look.

“Yesterday, our study session ended around four, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“It’s seven in the morning now. It’s almost time for class to start.”

“Ah.”

Carl was startled by those words.

That meant nearly fifteen hours had passed.

“Thank you. I will surely repay this in the future.”

Not only had she given him the advice that became the key to his enlightenment, but she had also stood guard for him.

He owed Yuria a great debt.

Carl bowed his head deeply once more with sincerity.

“…Of course. Do you know how worried I was? I did set up a barrier, but I was afraid someone outside might sense it.”

She had even sent out magic and familiars to monitor the surroundings.

Since Carl had ended up like that inside her laboratory, she would inevitably be involved in some way.

If it leaked outside, it would surely become troublesome, so she had layered barrier upon barrier and meticulously maintained security.

‘But still…….’

Yuria let out a long breath and looked at Carl, who was calming his body and mind.

Seeing that made an impulse keep rising in her head.

‘Should I ask him?’

Whether Carl was also a player.

That effect she had just witnessed did not look ordinary at all.

It was something she had never once seen in all her time playing this game.

‘He taught Laysis the Boundless Azure Sword Technique.’

Perhaps the martial art Carl had learned was also a martial art technique.

If so, had he really unlocked martial arts?

‘Even I have not yet reached martial arts.’

Martial arts did exist in this world.

Among the Seven Ancient Heroes, there had been a master from the Central Plains.

But even Yuria had not yet conquered that route.

She figured she would have to research and play through several more times before finding a clue.

After all, content related to the Ancient Heroes only appeared near the very end.

‘If Carl is a player.’

That would mean he was a far more seasoned veteran than herself.

‘That’s a little frightening.’

Given their relationship so far, he was unlikely to turn hostile immediately, but there was always a chance.

He might attack to steal the hidden pieces she had obtained or the knowledge she possessed.

“……”

Yuria clenched her fist as she looked at the Aura Blade Carl had created.

She herself still had a little way to go before reaching Magus.

‘I’ll have to work harder.’

Yuria longed for the day when she could openly tell Carl that she was a player.

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