The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

Chapter 170: Must One Become A Supreme Peak Master? (1)

Yi-gang asked the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon about the principle of the Heavenly Thunder Bell.

How could there be a method to control Thunder Qi? What kind of effect does her yokai power have that ordinary people can’t use it?

There was a complex explanation for that, but the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon summarized it.

「It’s borrowed power.」

“Borrowed power? Like the tricks peddlers do in the marketplace?”

「Yes, that’s right. The meaning is the same.」

Breaking stones with bare hands on the street, chewing blades with the mouth, and withstanding clubs with the bare body.

Most of it was close to crude fraud, but borrowed power does exist.

Borrowed power means ‘the power that was borrowed.’ Then, from whom was this power borrowed?

「It responds to the blood and yokai power residing in me, connecting to the distant Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox.」

“If you wish for the power of the Heavenly Thunder Bell?”

「Yes, it provides the power.」

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon raised her hands high towards the sky and shouted, 「Grant me the power!」

Of course, there was no response.

「Like this.」

At that time, those words didn’t resonate much with him.

But here at the Kunlun Mountains, where the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes gathered, it was different.

Yi-gang harbored the yokai energy given by the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon.

With a strong desire, he called for lightning.

The dormant mother of the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes thus granted a streak of lightning.

“Wow! The art of Thunder God’s Movement!”

“What are you doing? Sheathe your sword!”

“To have reached the realm of entering godhood…”

Among the Taoists of the Kunlun Sect, waves of emotion flowed.

As much as they were obsessed with the path of immortals, the ripple effect of the lightning called by Yi-gang was tremendous.

Originally, the power of lightning was not something that even a Taoist who has practiced diligently could handle recklessly.

That’s why Yi-gang initially intended to make his sword flash with lightning, and up until then, the effect had been sufficient.

“To be hit by lightning through the sword and still be fine…”

“Does it make sense for the body to be harmed by the lightning one called forth?”

“That’s true. It’s indeed the realm of the Thunder God…”

The Sang Mu, who had been threatening Yi-gang with the spell of Blowing Wind and Drifting Clouds, had long since knelt.

Attempting to shed his mortal body and become an immortal, Go Yo-ja also endlessly chanted about the “Great Tao is Boundless” and “Supreme Resonance” without doing much else.

Then, what were the feelings of Yi-gang himself, who had so shocked them?

Though he maintained a resolute expression, his inner state was not as calm.

‘I can’t hear anything.’

His ears were still ringing with a beeping sound due to the thunder that exploded right in front of him.

His heart was still pounding fiercely.

He had not anticipated that lightning would strike.

What would have happened if the sword he was holding wasn’t the meteorite sword but an ordinary one?

Long ago, the Immortal Divine Sword had shared with Yi-gang an experience of being struck by lightning.

He said he was fine even when the lightning struck the sword. It was hard to believe, but truly, the lightning did not flow into his hand.

The mysterious meteorite not only held the lightning but also absorbed it.

“Brother… a-are you okay?”

Ha-jun tried to approach Yi-gang.

Yi-gang raised his hand to stop Ha-jun.

“Don’t come. I’m okay.”

He wasn’t okay.

He didn’t know what to do with the flashing Shooting Star Fang in his hand.

If he were to sheathe his sword now, Yi-gang would turn into a roast.

Not wanting to become Baek Yi-gang, the electric grilled, Yi-gang took action.

He lifted the sword and threw it far away.

Swish—

The Shooting Star Fang flew away, leaving only a blue streak that seemed to be targeting something.

Soon, the sword embedded itself in a tree, flashing a bright blue light.

The mountain birds flew away in a flurry.

No one quite understood the meaning behind Yi-gang’s action, but it was certainly impressive.

Clap Clap Clap Clap—

Applause broke out.

Yi-gang glanced at Go Yo-ja and nodded seriously, saying, “I will take some Blood Moths.”

“Go ahead.”

The tone of the highly esteemed Go Yo-ja changed to a semi-respectful one.

In his eyes, looking at Yi-gang, there was admiration along with gratitude.

He had relieved the pressure of having to become a corpse-free immortal right away.

Even if he says, ‘I am still lacking,’ and delays the mortal body liberation, no one would be able to say anything now.

Gathering 100 Blood Moths didn’t take much time.

Yi-gang and his party shouldered the net that had captured the Blood Moths and turned around.

Initially wary, the Kunlun martial artists personally saw Yi-gang off when he was leaving.

Go Yo-ja insisted on meeting Yi-gang alone.

He grasped Yi-gang’s hand tightly with his bony fingers.

“Please make sure to visit us. It would be of great help to our Kunlun disciples.”

“Speak comfortably. What great thing do I have… It was just good luck that I could handle Thunder Qi, nothing remarkable.”

Yi-gang spoke modestly.

Indeed, that was the case. He was still in a lacking state, and handling Thunder Qi wasn’t because Yi-gang was remarkable.

“Still, I hope you can come. The closed-minded elders will understand if they see you. How confined Kunlun has been in its narrow world.”

“Haha…”

“They oppressed me so much. Saying, is it even appropriate for ascending to do this to me…”

Go Yo-ja seemed to harbor a deep resentment. It appeared that his desire to become a corpse-free immortal wasn’t entirely his own will.

“I’ve spoken too much. Please come, didn’t I promise to share my Taoist power?”

“Ah, the Taoist power you mentioned…”

It seemed that the promise to share his Taoist power if he spoke the truth was still valid.

The Kunlun Sect was further to the west from here. He had no intention of going there and inviting trouble.

Yi-gang, becoming a bit curious, asked, “But how do you transfer Taoist power?”

“…Are you asking sincerely?”

“Yes.”

Surely, he didn’t mean transferring his own internal energy as True Qi Transfer. If so, he would have mentioned internal energy.

Go Yo-ja said, as if it were obvious, “I have to give you a pill that I’ve refined with the spiritual herbs I possess.”

“Ah…”

Meaning, he intended to make an elixir.

Yi-gang bowed deeply.

“If I have the chance, I will surely visit.”

“Y-you should!”

Go Yo-ja was very pleased.

Yi-gang returned to the residence of the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox.

Upon quickly capturing 100 Blood Moths, Dam Hyun and the foxes greeted him with surprised expressions.

It seemed they hadn’t thought it possible to gather 100 Blood Moths in just a day.

Yi-gang told Dam Hyun about his encounter with the Kunlun Sect martial artists.

At the mention of their attack, Dam Hyun burst into laughter.

Then, seeing Yi-gang clench his fist, he quickly shut his mouth.

“Well, it all turned out well in the end, didn’t it? That Go Yo-ja might be a bit simple-minded, but he’s a Taoist recognized for his Taoist power in the Kunlun Sect. So, he was probably talking about becoming an immortal or something.”

“He said he would make a pill.”

“We should definitely visit later, after all this is over.”

Dam Hyun slightly opened a part of the cage that held the Blood Moths and swiftly took one out.

During this, Cheok-yo, who had returned to his fox form, interjected, “Unbelievable. Mother lent her power for you?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“The lightning struck the sword, right? Since we didn’t lend our power, it must have been Mother.”

“Then, it must be so.”

The fact that the Heavenly Thunder Bell lent Yi-gang the power of lightning seemed shocking enough.

At Yi-gang’s indifferent response, Cheok-yo seemed to grow more irritated.

“Presumptuous… Argh!”

He growled, baring his sharp teeth in pain, as he twitched from the discomfort.

Dam Hyun, who had caused the pain in his forepaw, chuckled.

“You’re really making a fuss.”

Dam Hyun had only made a very slight cut with an obsidian dagger.

Feeling embarrassed, Cheok-yo kept quiet, and Dam Hyun caught a few drops of blood in a small cup.

Then, he released the Blood Moth.

The Blood Moth with bright red wings fluttered away and then landed on the cup containing the blood drops.

“Try tasting this…”

Dam Hyun fully focused. The Blood Moth dipped its long tongue into the blood drops.

Soon, a change occurred.

The red wings of the Blood Moth started to gradually turn white.

“It turns white as well. Is it really because the blood is different?”

“…Is it going well?”

“It’s going well indeed. But it won’t be easy… We have to wait for master and Senior Uncle Do Gyeon.”

When Yi-gang and Dam Hyun set off for Kunlun, Jin Ri-yeon and the third-generation disciples returned to the Azure Forest to report Yi-gang’s news.

If nothing else, Yu Jeong-shin and the Golden Needle Phantom should be rushing here by now.

“We have to prepare everything we can until then.”

Dam Hyun would be quite troublesome as an enemy, but as an ally, he was a reliable person.

Yi-gang trusted Dam Hyun and nodded.

“It seems we’ll need your efforts. Have a good talk with Gumiho.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

The Nine-Tails called for Yi-gang once again.

It seemed that Yi-gang’s role was necessary in creating a new body for Namgung Seo-ryeon.

The Nine-Tails would explain the details directly.

Yi-gang, guided by Cheok-yo, headed towards the Nine-Tails’s dwelling.

He walked into the dark, damp cave once again.

Soon, he was able to meet the Nine-Tails again.

However, this time, no light rose.

Only the Nine-Tails’s voice echoed in the darkness.

“How did you find calling down the lightning?”

“It was a bit troublesome. I hadn’t expected anything so grand.”

Then, a sound like distant thunder rolled, which Yi-gang belatedly realized was Gumiho’s laughter.

“It wasn’t me who caused it. I merely lent my strength. The lightning you desired fell.”

“It’s due to my inexperience.”

“Yes, this poor child has given you much. Almost all her power has gone to you.”

The poor child must be referring to Namgung Seo-ryeon.

Yi-gang asked cautiously, “You mentioned my role was necessary.”

“For a human to become a fox, a bridge is needed. You’ll have to serve as that bridge.”

Half-human, half-yokai.

It wouldn’t be accurate to describe Yi-gang’s state as such, but it was certainly not ordinary.

“If by bridge you mean…”

“You just need to transfer yokai energy as Qi to this child to obtain a new body.”

Yi-gang realized what the Nine-Tails was asking for.

It was similar to how the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon’s yokai energy was used to restore Namgung Shin’s middle dantian.

However, the level of yokai energy required and the level of the task to be done were incomparably greater.

“…Can I really do it?”

“I even thought of opening your major meridians in advance. But that won’t work.”

Yi-gang frowned.

Soon, the Nine-Tails brought up something unimaginable.

“With your current level, even if I opened your major meridians, you’d vomit blood and die immediately.”

“Die…?”

Yi-gang’s lifespan was not much longer.

Thus, the major meridians should be opened to extend his life.

However, the Nine-Tails was saying the opposite.

“How much do you harbor within?”

Something, likely the Nine-Tails’s claw, poked sharply at Yi-gang’s solar plexus.

“It seems you’ve picked up more than one or two things, filled with Qi you haven’t digested. Moreover, with added yokai energy. You’re alive because only one major meridian is connected, rather than more.”

The numerous elixirs Yi-gang consumed and the yokai energy transferred from the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon had become a poison instead.

“If we open the major meridians now, the True Qi would burst through your body like a summer river breaking its banks.”

“What should I do then?”

“Before connecting the major meridians, you must reach a higher realm.”

“A higher realm…”

“Aren’t you still too weak?”

Yi-gang was considered to have reached the realm of Peak.

Who among his peers could call Yi-gang weak?

But the Nine-Tails seemed to view Yi-gang as a child.

“You need to elevate your realm to fully control the Qi you possess.”

Being able to control True Qi meant a deep understanding of Qi cultivation.

“How well do I need to do?”

“If possible, it would be good to reach the realm she was in during her lifetime.”

The level the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon had before dying.

At those words, Yi-gang’s face hardened.

At that time, she was said to be close to the level of the Ten Grandmasters.

Such a level was well beyond the middle of the Supreme Peak, a realm Yi-gang currently couldn’t even dream of reaching.

“At best, I only have two months left, how can I…”

“Don’t be afraid before you even start, I will help you.”

The Nine-Tails spoke as if it were possible.

“Just meet the minimum qualifications. Sit in a lotus position and try to draw up True Qi.”

Even if Gumiho was a great yokai, could she impart enlightenment that wasn’t there?

Despite his doubts, Yi-gang sat in the lotus position.