Purifying the demonic Qi that invaded Yi-gang’s body.

What would be needed to connect the remaining great meridian that still could not fully link?

Yi-gang needed to fundamentally heal his body to regain the use of his arms.

The Divine Monk explained that the fundamental solution was called body transformation.

Transformation of a person’s physical body.

It was a process where the entire skeletal system was rearranged, the sticky impurities scattered throughout the Eight Meridians were expelled, and the muscles and nerves became resilient like fresh rubber.

This process reconstructed the body into an ideal form suitable for martial arts.

However, it was as far-fetched as the concept of the telekinetic sword technique.

If it were truly possible to replace a sick and deficient body with a new one, surely Absolute masters would have already done so.

“Body transformation is impossible,” Tang Eun-seol stated bluntly.

It was rare to find someone who would speak their mind so freely even in the presence of the Divine Monk, who was vastly superior in both distribution and martial arts.

“When was it last recorded? I heard that a Namgung Clan Head achieved body transformation long ago.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Yi-gang nodded in agreement.

It was a story Yi-gang had heard briefly before in the Azure Forest.

“I’m not a Taoist, but as far as I know, the soul inherently belongs to the body, right?”

“That’s correct.”

Because of this, possessing another person’s body was extremely difficult.

It’s similar to forcing your body into an ill-fitting suit of armor. That’s why Yi-gang was unique, but…

“In short, if the body changes that drastically, it wouldn’t withstand the shock, and the person would die. The soul would be separated.”

“The Tang Clan’s knowledge is profound, I see.”

“To be precise, I didn’t learn it from the Tang Clan but from the Five Poisons Sect. In any case, the reason the Namgung Clan Head succeeded in body transformation was that they consumed something special that affects both spirit and body.”

When it came to expertise in herbal medicine, the Tang Clan surpassed even the Azure Forest.

Tang Eun-seol’s eyes briefly shone green.

“The Three-Element Sacred Flower. It was only possible because they consumed that.”

Yi-gang fell silent for a moment.

“I’ve eaten it too.”

“…”

With her characteristic sleepy-looking gaze, Tang Eun-seol stared directly into Yi-gang’s eyes.

“Are you joking right now?”

“No, I’m serious.”

“…”

To be precise, Yi-gang had only eaten the root of the Three-Element Sacred Flower.

At that astonishing confession, Tang Eun-seol remained silent for quite some time.

However, in the end, she shook her head again.

“Well, it’s still unrealistic. Even more so if you only consumed the root. Above all, you’d need to at least reach the Absolute realm.”

The Divine Monk also agreed with her words.

“The Tang Clan child is correct. However, Yi-gang, you must set foot in the Absolute realm in the near future.”

It was the first time the Divine Monk had spoken so decisively.

It hadn’t been long since Yi-gang had become a Supreme Peak master. Could such a thing even be possible?

Yi-gang nodded heavily.

“However, in my view, there will come a time when you must act as a swordsman before that. If you wish to accompany me, your arms must at least be usable.”

The Divine Monk mentioned going to a “certain place” with Yi-gang.

Since then, the Divine Monk had displayed a sense of urgency.

This was why he had sought help from the Tang family. He hadn’t expected Tang Eun-seol herself to appear.

“I may not be able to drive out the demonic Qi, but I can handle it.”

Tang Eun-seol raised her left hand.

It had been impossible to look away from it since earlier.

Three of her left hand’s fingers were as blackened as Yi-gang’s arm.

“Is it because of poison?”

“It’s not demonic Qi.”

That relaxed voice of hers was just as it had always been.

Tang Eun-seol tied her hair.

Her entire body was adorned with an excessive number of ornaments.

Even the nape of her neck, revealed as she tied her hair, was decorated with jewels cascading down.

“You see, I don’t really have much talent for martial arts.”

“…”

Tang Eun-seol made a sudden confession.

Yi-gang, thinking it might hold some significance, listened silently.

“I also don’t have much talent for hidden weapons. That’s why I wasn’t even granted permission to handle the Ten Pairs of Forbidden Techniques.”

To anyone else, her words would have been utterly ridiculous.

As the Tang Clan Head’s treasured jewel, she had fully inherited their venom-infused blood.

Because of that, she had even gone to the Five Poisons Sect to learn about poison.

And for someone who claimed to lack talent in martial arts, didn’t she achieve fairly decent results at the Seven Stars Conference without even using poison?

However, Yi-gang didn’t bother pointing it out.

“What I’m talking about is the highest level. Martial arts at the level capable of unleashing Full Sky Flower Rain.”

“…”

“To achieve that, one must already have mastered hidden weaponry to reach the level of a Supreme Peak master and then step into the Absolute realm. Just like the ancestors who once raised the Tang Clan to be the strongest in the world.”

The strength of a great sect lay in its history.

A history that once reached the heavens. A mindset of following the footsteps of ancestors and predecessors who transcended human limits.

Even Tang Eun-seol, who always seemed drowsy and lethargic, harbored such ambitions.

“That’s why I chose poison.”

“I heard you aspire to become the ultimate poison master.”

The Tang Clan has two main pillars: hidden weaponry and poison.

Believing she couldn’t achieve Peak through hidden weaponry, she chose poison.

The ultimate poison master. A dreamlike state where venom flowed through one’s veins, and with a mere gesture, hundreds can be poisoned to death.

“That’s why I went to the Five Poisons Sect to study poison under the Five Poisons Divine Master. He’s my maternal grandfather.”

Yi-gang had heard of the Five Poisons Divine Master before.

He was the mysterious master of Yunnan’s secret sect, closely tied to the Tang Clan.

“My grandfather is an incomplete poison master. I trained to carry on his legacy and become a complete poison master. After the Seven Stars Conference, I returned to Yunnan for further training.”

She too had fought her own battles.

“There is a place in Five Poisons Valley called the Well of Ten Thousand Poisons. It’s like an enormous well. Inside, they put 100 venomous snakes, 1,000 poisonous insects, and 10 taels of toxic herbs.”

“That must be terrifying.”

“After receiving the great technique of becoming a poison master, I stayed there.”

Tang Eun-seol’s voice sank further.

It was as if a snake hissed in the darkness.

“Try to imagine it.”

In the darkness, the air would be suffused with a dizzying poison scent.

Venomous snakes with gleaming scales would slither at your feet.

Hairy poisonous insects with dozens of writhing legs would cling to your shoulders…

“I stayed there for 15 days.”

“…!”

She had endured 15 days in a poisonous pit where even a moment was unbearable.

The outcome was predictable.

“When they pulled me up using the rope tied around my waist, they said my entire body had turned pitch black.”

Tang Eun-seol examined Yi-gang’s arms.

She took out a needle made of silver and plunged it deeply into the blackened skin.

When she asked if it hurt, Yi-gang shook his head.

She collected the pitch-black blood seeping from the wound into a small crystal vial.

“It was a matter of life and death. Becoming a poison master is like that. You completely exhaust your vitality, then replace it with poison.”

To the point where her entire body turned pitch black.

She had approached the brink of death.

“Only those with the greatest talent dare to attempt the great technique. And half of the 100 who attempt it come out as corpses.”

Tang Eun-seol tasted Yi-gang’s blood.

Yi-gang frowned, but he remained composed.

“Half of the remaining survivors die within three days. Half of those left die within 15 days. Finally, only half of that final group awakens.”

Tang Eun-seol, who had looked as though she had fallen into black oil, must have awakened in that way.

“The body, which had been filled with poison, began to regain vitality. Starting with my right eye, the color of my skin began to return.”

The Divine Monk let out a small exclamation, “You’ve embraced the void within your heart.”

“I began to conceal the poison energy within my Qi. The remaining poison slowly condensed into a single point…”

She explained how the poison, once spread throughout her entire body, had been condensed.

First into her upper body.

Then into her left arm.

Finally, she concentrated the poison into her left hand, until it could be contained in just three fingers.

“When I completely expel even this poison energy, the first stage of ultimate poison will be complete.”

Tang Eun-seol finished telling her story.

The story had been long because she was confirming whether Yi-gang could also utilize what she had gained.

“It seems demonic Qi is essentially another form of poison.”

Tang Eun-seol slightly stuck out her crimson tongue.

The tip of her tongue was stained pitch black.

Except for Beop Yun, the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering coughed awkwardly, clearing their throats.

“Let’s first test just how potent this demonic Qi is.”

Yi-gang nodded in agreement.

A few days later, the restriction preventing the successors from leaving the Guest Hall was lifted.

The range of movement for the successors who had come to visit Shaolin was greatly expanded.

“The successors are now free to train at three martial training halls, including the Guest Hall.”

Hearing this, the expressions of the successors turned peculiar.

Hwa Mu-cheon and the representatives of the great sects stood beside the Guest Hall Head, Grand Master Hyun Gak.

Hwa Mu-cheon stepped forward to make the announcement.

“We hope you will freely practice the martial arts of each sect.”

His words carried a subtle resonance.

Most of the sects’ signature techniques were closely guarded secrets that were rarely shown to outsiders.

Some of the martial arts of the sects were not casually practiced in public.

This was to prevent the techniques from being leaked and to avoid other sects studying countermeasures against them.

“Freely. That’s what it means.”

The representatives of each sect nodded in agreement.

“Stagnant water rots. Do not fear exposing your martial arts but exchange and learn from each other. The swords of the righteous Murim should not be aimed at one another.”

Instead of being wary of each other, they were encouraged to sharpen their martial skills with open hearts.

Despite these words, the successors were still busy reading each other’s expressions.

No one would immediately reveal everything about themselves.

“Additionally, sparring within the premises is allowed. If a Shaolin witness is present, sparring with live blades is also permitted.”

Grand Master Hyun Gak’s words carried significant weight.

Until now, Shaolin had all but confined the successors to the narrow space of the Guest Hall.

The spirited young talents, already itching to move, now had a chance to act.

Sparring would occur countless times, and clear hierarchies of power would undoubtedly form.

However, the announcement everyone had been secretly hoping for did not come.

“You may now disperse!”

There was no mention of the test format.

Noh Shik and So Woon continued to stick together after meeting Yi-gang.

The combination of the Nine Spear King’s child and a Beggars’ Gang member was unique, drawing amused looks from others.

However, Noh Shik didn’t pay any attention to it.

“Do you see that?”

“Yes, I see it.”

At some point, the two had started speaking casually to each other.

Noh Shik was pointing to a side path leading up the mountain.

“That path leads directly to the Second Founder Meditation Room.”

“Oh.”

“But, a few days ago, a barrier rope was put up there. And there’s a monk guarding it.”

“That’s suspicious.”

“That’s not the only problem.”

Noh Shik grabbed So Woon and pulled him closer to the chicken coop.

It was unclear what he was doing until he suddenly stuck his hand inside and chased the hen away.

“What are you doing…?!”

“Look at this!”

Noh Shik thrust an egg in front of So Woon’s face.

So Woon wrinkled his nose at the smell of chicken droppings but was soon startled.

“It’s pitch black!”

“Exactly.”

The egg, which should have been white, was inexplicably pitch black.

Noh Shik cracked the egg open as if to prove a point.

Its contents spilled onto the ground.

Instead of a bright orange yolk, a murky grayish-white substance emerged.

“The egg has gone completely rotten.”

“It’s not just old and decayed, is it?”

“Something must have happened.”

It was often said that animals were the first to sense ominous energy.

“You rascals!”

At that moment, someone shouted behind So Woon and Noh Shik.

However, instead of being startled and running away, So Woon and Noh Shik turned around with unimpressed expressions.

If it had been a Shaolin monk yelling at them, it certainly wouldn’t have been in a woman’s voice.

There stood Hwa So-so, arms crossed, looking displeased.

“Pranking without making it fun… What are you doing? Why aren’t you going already?”

“Where are we supposed to go?”

Noh Shik shrugged his shoulders.

At that, Hwa So-so grinned and said, “I heard the successors of the Seven Great Clans have all arrived at Mount Song.”

“Oh!”

Noh Shik also broke into a wide smile.

“So, they’re all finally here.”

Now, it was clear that the real competition was about to begin.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep