Chapter 94: Chapter 94
Chapter 94: Strengthened Advancement (4)
A cold wind seeped in.
Gugwi closed his eyes and began to steady his breathing.
Entry into the Realm of the Threshold.
It was an easy task with the issuance of the Illusory Name Command, or by using the Spirit Flow Core… Yet he entered by passing through the barrier of the Realm of the Threshold using the method he learned from the Cold Wolf Sect.
The cold energy enveloped his body, and his consciousness was gradually drawn deeper.
The sound of the wind in reality drifted away. In its place, the characteristic silence of the Realm of the Threshold filled his ears.
Gugwi's voice echoed throughout the Realm of the Threshold.
And as if it had been waiting, as if it had been right next to him, a bright cluster of light approached.
Whenever one met a spirit in the Realm of the Threshold, they always appeared this way. A bright cluster of light.
When called in the real world, a swirl of cold energy would arise first. The cold energy of the spirit would invade. Only after that would the air ripple and reveal a faint shape.
To summon them into the world was undoubtedly to disturb their rest. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel[f]ire.net
Gugwi spoke politely, as if to a person.
The bright cluster of light flowed through the dark void.
It left the Realm of the Threshold and headed into the world. In that moment… the very instant it exited the Realm of the Threshold into the world… the bright, peaceful light transformed into a cold and gloomy energy.
“Huu! I know it's not good… but I need your help.”
Gugwi shook his head slowly.
Namgung Hoyoung raised his hand and pointed at the void.
From the tip of his finger, blue needles began to form one by one. They were Spirit Needles—formed from the spiritual energy of souls—floating in the air and emitting a gentle glow. They looked like starlight condensed into needle form.
Namgung Hoyoung approached Yeon Sohye.
Among the four injured, Yeon Sohye was in the most critical condition. The arrow lodged in her back hadn’t even been removed yet.
Around the wound, black veins had spread like spiderwebs, and the poison was slowly infiltrating. Beads of cold sweat dotted her face from the pain.
When Namgung Hoyoung pointed his finger again, a Spirit Needle flew.
The first needle struck the Zusamni Acupoint.
A subtle vibration spread.
From where the needle struck, a warm energy radiated and flowed along Yeon Sohye’s meridians.
The black veins began to gradually fade.
Yeon Sohye let out a faint groan.
The pain pressing down on her back began to ease.
The second needle was embedded in the Gyeonjeong Acupoint. This time, a deeper vibration occurred. The energy that surged from the needle tip clashed directly with the poison. From Yeon Sohye’s back, black smoke drifted out like threads.
Yeon Sohye murmured as she watched the black smoke scatter into the air.
The pain that had felt like it would kill her had subsided. Her stiff muscles loosened… and all her senses returned vividly.
Yeon Sohye bowed deeply toward Namgung Hoyoung.
But Namgung Hoyoung responded only with silence. His form grew more indistinct as he moved on to the next patient.
Yeon Sohye rose and performed the Silver Spirit Sword Technique.
As she slowly rotated her wrist, silver energy flowed from her fingertips. The energy danced through the air, leaving a trail like moonlight.
“Thanks to the spirit, my inner energy has become smoother.”
A note of admiration was in her voice.
Sword qi now flowed much more naturally than before. It felt like a dammed river had started flowing again.
Namgung Hoyoung then turned to Jang Unhyeok.
Residue from the Poison Darts still remained in Jang Unhyeok’s arm. Black spots were embedded throughout his muscles… his entire arm was paralyzed. He tried to clench his fist, but his fingers wouldn’t move properly.
A Spirit Needle pierced the Gokji Acupoint.
A vibration starting from his elbow spread like a wave through his entire arm. When another needle struck the Susamni Acupoint, the paralyzed muscles twitched and began to revive.
Jang Unhyeok opened and closed his fingers repeatedly.
Sensation had returned.
When he tested out the Harmony of Flame and Wind, a faint red flame flared up and remained stable.
“Now I can swing properly again.”
Jang Unhyeok grinned brightly as he drew his twin blades. Flames rippled along the blade, casting bright light on the cave walls. The fire danced along the sword with lively motion.
“Don’t overdo it. You just got treated.”
Yeon Sohye chided him.
From the impact of the iron mace, his arm had gone completely numb. He hadn’t noticed during the fight, but now he couldn’t feel anything from shoulder to fingertip. Even lifting his spear was a struggle.
Namgung Hoyoung simultaneously inserted needles into the Hapgok and Yangneungcheon Acupoints.
As both Spirit Needles embedded at once, Jin Geonmu’s body convulsed violently.
Hot energy surged through his blood vessels. In his Dantian, his inner energy began to whirl.
“Feels like I’ve completely recovered. Even Hua Tuo couldn’t match this divine healing.”
Jin Geonmu marveled as he raised his spear high.
Namgung Hoyoung’s form grew fainter and finally vanished. He did not utter a single word until the end. Only in silence did he demonstrate his medical arts.
Gugwi was self-healing within the Realm of the Threshold.
A blue light slowly shimmered in his chest. Warm energy circulated through his body, healing his wounds. The cracked ribs fused, the reversed blood flow normalized. The blood at the corner of his lips completely disappeared.
Once the healing was complete, it was time to search for a new spirit.
Countless clusters of light floated in the darkness. Each one was a spirit, but outwardly, they were simply blobs of light—impossible to distinguish their identity. Whether man or woman, child or elder…
Large and small lights drifted slowly through the void, tracing their own orbits. Some shone brightly, others flickered dimly. They were simply lights. It didn’t even feel right to call them souls.
In his consciousness, Gugwi recalled Yeon Sohye’s image. The chilling sword qi of the Silver Spirit Sword Technique, the wind-like movement of the Flowing Willow Storm.
‘To strengthen these two martial arts even further….’
Gugwi fell into thought.
The Silver Spirit Sword Technique excelled in illusion and concealment, while Flowing Willow Storm was specialized in speed. Yet something was missing.
‘What if… moonlight?’
A flash of insight crossed his mind.
‘What if I added the chill of moonlight to the silver sword qi? Mixed the mystery of moonlight into the wind of Flowing Willow Storm?’
He infused a powerful thought into the Spirit Flow Core.
‘A swordsman who wields moonlight. One who can elevate silver energy into the chill of the moon….’
The clusters of light began to ripple.
As if it understood his earnest call, several lights responded. According to their instinct to gather with like, spirits with similar energies began to converge one by one.
Among them, one shone brighter than the others and approached Gugwi.
From that light emanated a sharp, cold aura like midnight moonlight. It was similar to silver sword qi, yet more refined and mysterious.
Gugwi, satisfied, gently pushed the light aside.
Now it was Jang Unhyeok’s turn. Within Gugwi’s consciousness, Jang Unhyeok’s Harmony of Flame and Wind unfolded—a vortex of red flame and blue wind.
‘Fire and wind alone have their limits.’
Gugwi closed his eyes and pondered deeply.
‘What if I added the hardness of steel to the flame? What if I mixed the heat of a smelting furnace into the wind?’
He envisioned the smithy where iron and fire met to birth new weapons. The process where heated metal was forged under the hammer to become stronger.
‘Iron-Flame Arts. One who knows the secret art of uniting steel and fire.’
Gugwi once more infused strong will into the Spirit Flow Core.
‘A blacksmith who commands both steel and flame. One who can wield the furnace’s heat and the chill of forged steel simultaneously.’
This time, a reddish-hued cluster of light reacted.
From it, both the searing heat of a furnace and the cold hardness of tempered steel could be felt. A unique and powerful aura as though fire and steel had fused into one.
Other spirits were also drawn to this aura, but the one that reacted most strongly rose before Gugwi.
Gugwi carefully pushed the second light aside as well.
Both spirits were perfect.
They were beings with martial arts that matched Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok exactly.
Gugwi called for Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok.
“To ascend from Spiritual Sensitivity to Resonance, you must expand the vessel of your soul. You must widen your very soul.”
He placed his hands simultaneously on their foreheads. Warmth spread from his palms.
“I’m going to create space within your souls now.”
The power of the Spirit Flow Core flowed out and wrapped around their souls.
The transition from Spiritual Sensitivity to Resonance.
This was a miraculous encounter. A once-in-a-lifetime grand opportunity. That it could occur in such a straightforward way… Considering that it usually took ten to fifteen years to ascend from the fourth stage of Spiritual Sensitivity to Resonance, it would not be excessive to kneel in gratitude.
Blue light pierced through their heads and seeped deep into their souls. It felt like a new room was being added to a cramped space. A vivid expansion was felt in the soul.
Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok’s bodies trembled at the same time.
Though they had heard of it, the sensation of their minds swelling was surreal. Something was forcibly expanding. It was a truly strange feeling and sensation.
“Now, enter the Realm of the Threshold. When you reach the entrance, you’ll meet the spirits I’ve prepared.”
Yeon Sohye entered the Realm of the Threshold first.
She activated the Silver Spirit Technique and focused her consciousness. Silver mist enveloped her, and her awareness slowly detached. The sounds of reality faded as the silence of the Realm of the Threshold filled her ears.
At the entrance, a moonlight-like spirit awaited her.
‘Moonshadow Swordswoman.’
A clear voice of a female swordswoman echoed. In her voice was the pure, cold clarity of moonlight.
‘You wield moonlight?’
‘When moonlight infuses the blade, it severs resentment.’
Yeon Sohye approached the spirit.
The aura of the Moonshadow Swordswoman began to seep into her soul.
Cold moonlight wrapped around her consciousness, and the memories of the Moonshadow Sword Technique flowed in like water.
The method of imbuing moonlight into the sword, the technique to enchant foes with silver energy along the blade, and the secrets of adjusting sword qi based on the moon’s phases—all were engraved into her memory one by one.
Jang Unhyeok also entered the Realm of the Threshold.
As he activated the Harmony of Flame and Wind, his consciousness shifted. Red flame and blue wind wrapped around him, guiding him into the Realm.
A spirit glowing with red light awaited him.
‘Iron-Flame… Captain.’
A deep and powerful voice of a male martial artist resounded.
‘Is it alright for me to form Spirit Contact with you?’
‘Harmony of steel and flame…’
‘I have fire and wind.’
‘Proper heat of flame, proper flow of wind… melting steel, hardening steel. The chill of forged iron.’
Jang Unhyeok attempted Spirit Contact with the Iron-Flame Captain.
The heat of a burning furnace and the hardened energy of steel enveloped his soul.
The heat of fire used to temper metal, the firmness of refined steel, and the secrets of forging strength through the union of fire and steel were transmitted in succession.
The two returned to the present world.
A silver glint flickered in Yeon Sohye’s eyes.
Now three spirits resided within her soul: So Ryeonghwa, Gale Spirit Guest, and the Moonshadow Swordswoman.
From Jang Unhyeok’s twin blades, a new aura emerged.
Between the red flames, a silver light blended, releasing a more complex and powerful energy. The Fire Spirit Warrior, Wind Sword Wolf, and Iron-Flame Captain harmonized within his soul.
“So now we’re… in Resonance?”
Yeon Sohye spoke as if still unable to believe it.
Gugwi replied with satisfaction.
“You’re on par with the Seven Cold Wolves and the Twelve True Armies. I chose the Moonshadow Swordswoman and Iron-Flame Captain… but the next Spirit Union spirit, you’ll find yourselves. Surely there’s a martial artist you desire.”
“No, I love the Moonshadow Swordswoman. She’s perfect for me. Thank you so much.”
“I’m also very pleased with the Iron-Flame Captain. Fire, wind, blacksmith—this combination is simply the best.”
Jang Unhyeok beamed with satisfaction.
Joy didn’t leave their faces. The newfound power surging within them thrilled their bodies.
Now, it was Jin Geonmu’s turn.
Gugwi looked toward Jin Geonmu.