There is a phrase called ‘picking up a flower and smiling.’

When people asked Śākyamuni to preach, he did not preach but simply held up a single flower.

Among his disciples, only Mahākāśyapa smiled gently.

Why did the Śākyamuni raise his hand, and why did Mahākāśyapa smile?

It has been a long-standing riddle for those who study the Buddha’s teachings.

Sculptors of Buddha statues always imagined that smile of Mahākāśyapa.

They of course had never met the Buddha, so they depicted the statue’s smile from imagination.

They wondered how Mahākāśyapa smiled upon seeing the flower Śākyamuni held…

Yi-gang felt slightly awkward.

“…Could it be that Master…”

Yu Jeong-shin’s smile looked as gentle as the Buddha’s.

It was not just a metaphor. Yi-gang even sensed a familiar lotus scent.

When Yi-gang voiced his guess, Yu Jeong-shin’s eyes widened in surprise.

Soon he burst into a hearty laugh.

“I didn’t expect you’d guess it right. It’s almost uncanny.”

“Really?”

“I may be a man of the Tao, but what of it? Yes, I had the aid of Amitabha.”

Yi-gang was surprised that his guess was true.

Yu Jeong-shin, had borrowed power from Amitabha.

The Buddha’s right hand he had seen at Potala Palace. Perhaps that was why the energy felt so familiar.

“So such things are possible too.”

“The sources of Power Borrowing aren’t limited to immortals. It’s also possible to borrow power from great yokai. Among the elite disciples there are such children.”

Yi-gang certainly knew that.

Come to think of it, the power of lightning he borrowed from the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox could itself be called Power Borrowing.

“I understand.”

So Yu Jeong-shin had borrowed the Buddha’s power.

Yi-gang wondered what would be possible by borrowing Amitabha’s power.

Śākyamuni nearly crushed Mang-hon with that palm.

Of course, it was in a constrained state compared to the present Cardinal.

Yu Jeong-shin muttered in a barely audible voice.

“Of course, I don’t borrow power from Amitabha alone…”

Yi-gang’s eyes widened.

“Did I not say? That you can borrow power from others as well.”

He couldn’t have missed that murmured remark right beside him.

Yu Jeong-shin sniffed and looked embarrassed.

At that, Do-seon, who had been watching nearby, chuckled.

“Junior Brother Jung-shin borrows power not only from Amitabha but from three Heavenly Deities.”

“Is that possible?”

“Not anyone can do it. But your master succeeded. The strongest among us right now is the youngest… no, Junior Brother Jung-shin.”

Yu Jeong-shin was notably young among the first-generation disciples.

Among the first-generation disciples in the forest, he was of the youngest age and disposition. Of course, counting all the Honor Flower Disciples outside would tell a different story.

“Does that mean Master is the strongest?”

“Strongest? Ha ha ha.”

At the embarrassing word “strongest,” Yu Jeong-shin wiped under his nose.

At that moment, Do-gang stepped between them.

“Yes, now that I think about it, it’s not only us you should spar with.”

He glanced alternately at Yu Jeong-shin and Yi-gang.

“Yi-gang, you’ve entered the Absolute Realm, but as you know, right now we can’t get by on martial arts alone.”

It wasn’t for the swordmaster who’d devoted his life to the Azure Sword to say, but it was certainly true.

“You too didn’t unleash everything you have, including the Supreme Ultimate Technique, did you?”

Yi-gang could not deny it.

When he fought Do-gang and Do-seon, he had held back.

“This is an opportunity. Show your master everything.”

Show everything?

Do-gang might be angry if he heard that, but there was no way around it.

Yi-gang had a Supreme Ultimate Technique and maneuvers unseen by others.

The Qi-Control Swordsmanship using White Fang could be vicious in real combat.

How could he demonstrate the Qi-Control Swordsmanship which buries itself in the ground then slashes up through the groin before his master?

‘No matter what, that would be difficult.’

Moreover, the Yu Jeong-shin he knew wasn’t actually someone of enormous martial power.

Putting strength aside, it was a matter of personality.

He had the gentle, tearful temperament befitting the Library Master of the Great Library.

Yi-gang was about to politely refuse.

“Since even Senior Brother says so, I have no choice.”

Yu Jeong-shin stepped forward with an awkward expression.

Do-gang and Do-seon nodded in satisfaction.

But Yi-gang was a little flustered.

There was no need for his master to step up like that.

“Master, it’s fine.”

“My life has dragged me through the world’s mire, and cruelty and ruthlessness have seeped into my techniques. I’m afraid I might wound you, Teacher.”

It was a polite, roundabout refusal saying he didn’t want to end up having stabbed his master.

Dam Hyun standing beside him flinched at the remark.

“Ha… haha.”

But Dam Hyun wasn’t the only one whose feelings were hurt.

Yu Jeong-shin’s laugh sounded unnatural.

“Even if I’m old, you needn’t fuss so much. Come forth.”

He had misspoken. He hadn’t meant to wound the master’s pride.

But the water was already spilled.

Yi-gang quietly sighed and stepped forward.

“Then, I seek your instruction.”

He drew Shooting Star Fang and took a combat stance.

He didn’t intend, as Do-gang had said, to hold back.

But that didn’t mean he was careless.

Do-gang and Do-seon had declared Yu Jeong-shin the strongest.

Knowing the terror of Power Borrowing, Yi-gang assumed Yu Jeong-shin’s power was at least equal to his own.

His expression grew solemn, and his sword halted in the air without the slightest tremor.

A chilling tension flowed through the air.

Yu Jeong-shin picked up a strange practice sword.

The problem was the fan held in his other hand.

His expression was too serious for a joke.

Ha-jun was also watching the duel from a short distance away.

His face looked a bit sullen. It wasn’t a particularly interesting match.

To be honest, Yu Jeong-shin didn’t look that strong.

Ha-jun also felt he could easily beat Yu Jeong-shin.

Although what kind of Power Borrowing Yu Jeong-shin might display was an important question…

“I’ll go first.”

“All right, come.”

Still, he watched the duel calmly.

Ha-jun’s eyes slowly widened.

His mouth opened, and his pupils dilated.

Not long after, Ha-jun sprang to his feet.

He couldn’t help it. Something impossible had occurred.

Yi-gang was sent rolling on the ground.

Instead of piercing Yu Jeong-shin, White Fang plunged into the ground and vibrated.

“How!”

Ha-jun couldn’t accept with his own eyes what he’d just seen.

Yi-gang had been knocked out so easily.

Even through the sharp gaze of a martial artist, it was incomprehensible.

By contrast, Yu Jeong-shin was only slightly winded.

“Phew, so you’re Yi-gang’s younger brother.”

“…I’m Baek Ha-jun.”

Ha-jun bowed courteously first.

After all, he was his brother’s master.

“Are you curious how I felled Yi-gang?”

“Curious? Absolutely.”

When Ha-jun said that, Yu Jeong-shin laughed heartily.

“Would you like to experience it directly?”

There were no need for questions or answers.

Ha-jun drew his sword.

He had the martial arts he had learned from the Heavenly Demon, but his swordsmanship had not disappeared.

He had seen what just happened to Yi-gang.

Therefore Ha-jun didn’t hesitate and took the initiative.

Yi-gang had initially taken an upper stance to probe; Ha-jun remembered that and chose a different approach.

He lowered his body extremely and then charged fast and ferociously.

Instead of stabbing, he swept the sword long as if cutting weeds on the ground.

It was a sword technique called Half-Moon Stance, leaving a crescent-shaped slash.

And Yu Jeong-shin swung the fan instead of the practice sword.

It was a completely different method from when he faced Yi-gang.

Instead of a gentle breeze, a fierce gale swept through.

He had no footing and rolled on the ground just like that.

The result was no different from Yi-gang’s.

Seeing Ha-jun’s astonished face, Yu Jeong-shin chuckled gleefully.

‘These brothers are similar it seems.’

The force that sent Yi-gang flying was power borrowed from Amitabha.

A technique that momentarily reverses the direction of force, the Gentle Overcoming Hardness maneuver.

He had intended to show the same thing to Ha-jun, but after seeing what happened to Yi-gang, Ha-jun moved more cautiously.

So when facing Ha-jun, he borrowed the power of the eldest of The Eight Immortals, Zhongli Quan.

He borrowed the might of the Banana-Leaf Fan that Zhongli Quan carries.

“Hoo, hoo. How was that!”

Yu Jeong-shin called out as he caught his breath.

In truth, Yu Jeong-shin had used quite a lot of power in that short time.

It had all been for Yi-gang and Dam Hyun.

He wanted to show them the use of Power Borrowing to ignite their will to learn.

To do that, he had to present himself as a confident, strong master.

“This should be enough.”

He intended to finish with a confident smile, but Yi-gang suddenly sprang up.

“Could you do it once more?”

He must have taken quite a jolt, but he looked fine.

No, he wasn’t just fine, he looked perfectly intact.

Had the Power Borrowing not worked?

‘Could it be that the supernatural effect of the Power Borrowing leaked at that moment!’

Flustered, Yu Jeong-shin quickly shook his head.

“Ah, no.”

“As your disciple was unable to understand at a single glance…”

“Enough, enough!”

Yu Jeong-shin hurriedly cut Yi-gang off.

“Let’s go inside. We’ll see your talents there.”

He’d sufficiently asserted himself as his master.

Yi-gang lowered his sword with a hint of regret.

Yi-gang and Dam Hyun, following Yu Jeong-shin’s orders, prepared to learn Power Borrowing.

This hideout was not a very pleasant environment.

Huts sturdy enough to withstand midwinter cold had been built, and the most comfortable spot was a narrow ravine carved between cliffs.

A roof had been placed there to shield against rain and night dew.

Straw mats were spread on the floor, and Yi-gang and Dam Hyun sat cross-legged upon them.

“Have you cleansed your body?”

“Yes, I have.”

Yi-gang answered on behalf of them.

Yu Jeong-shin ordered them to wash themselves clean.

It was natural. Power Borrowing meant borrowing power from higher beings.

Thus the ritual naturally took the form of an offering ceremony.

“I will light incense.”

Yu Jeong-shin lit incense in the censer.

The appearance of that incense burner was unusual.

Word had it that it was a ritual relic called Heavenly-God Smoke, one of the forbidden treasures.

They said Honor Flower Disciples use that incense burner when first acquiring Power Borrowing.

The subtle scent of the incense calmed the spirit.

“Sit cross-legged, with the left hand facing the heavens and the right hand facing the earth.”

Power Borrowing is permitted only to Honor Flower Disciples.

That meant special talent was required to acquire Power Borrowing.

“Your cultivation is not meager, so you should know how to open the Heavenly Gate.”

“Of course we do.”

“Just listen quietly, Dam Hyun.”

Dam Hyun gave a sly grin.

He still hadn’t learned Power Borrowing, but he felt no urgency.

“As the furnace flame turns pure blue again, calm your mind and open the Heavenly Gate.”

The master spoke of the furnace flame turning pure blue.

Dam Hyun prided himself on his above peak-level martial arts and sorcery, second only to Do-seon.

What Yu Jeong-shin instructed was exceedingly simple.

“We’ll start with Dam Hyun. First, think of gradually expanding the corporeal-soul in your soul fragment through the Celestial Gate.”

Even Yu Jeong-shin thought Dam Hyun would accomplish it easily.

“Begin.”

With that command, he stared intently at Dam Hyun.

The Honor Flower Disciples beside Yu Jeong-shin did the same.

After a long while passed.

Dam Hyun snapped his eyes open.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep