It’s been over a month since I started staying at Podalap Palace.
Busy days if busy, laid-back if laid-back.
In the morning, I practiced martial arts with Miss Yeo Il-ye or hammered metal with Tang So-yeol. In the afternoons, when the various martial artists scattered around brought materials, I inspected them with the doctors at Podalap Palace.
About once a week, I’d go down to Rasa for a performance. When I had time in the evenings, I showed magic within the palace.
Sara was doing well and healthy. Every day, she ran around Podalap Palace holding Black Cat’s hand and seemed so lively that when she showcased her magic, she would mysteriously appear sitting in the front row.
Whenever it was time to go for a performance, it became routine to hold Black Cat’s hand as we went down to Rasa together.
The lord and lady of the palace seemed determined to let Sara do whatever she wanted, as they only cheered her on without any sign of wanting to stop her.
As a result, Black Cat ended up looking after her sister, but it appeared that Black Cat didn’t mind.
However, I was a bit worried about Black Cat’s hair. Although the white color pattern remained unchanged, the silver and blue were getting darker, which didn’t seem like a good sign.
Rano Jingbu also seemed to worry about that part, volunteering to check on Black Cat’s martial arts.
While it’s beyond anyone’s capacity to absorb Sara’s Nine Yin, I guess he just wanted to teach her a way to digest and use it.
Ssssss…!
Nine Yin matched well with Black Cat’s combat style.
Black Cat’s fighting method mainly involved controlling space and pressuring the opponent with traps. While hidden traps could strike as the opponent attacked to shake off their defense, it wasn’t exactly effective in martial arts combat.
Still, the reason Black Cat loved to fight by scattering traps with Black Shadow Qi was that it was specialized for escape.
If an opponent with suppressed presence runs away, and there are hidden traps everywhere? The pursuit would be a headache.
Ssssss!
The goal of Black Cat’s martial arts wasn’t to attack and suppress but to hinder and flee, so when combined with the biting cold, it suddenly became whole.
Ordinary traps are merely obstacles that could trip someone, but with the addition of extreme chill exuded by the Nine Yin, it became a wall.
Black Cat pressured Rano Jingbu while laying traps for defense.
In actual combat, Rano Jingbu, with his superior mastery, wouldn’t fall to such pressure from Black Cat, but this was a match for Black Cat’s growth. The levels were aligned out of respect for that.
“Your pressure has greatly increased.”
“Thanks to the lord!”
The two exchanged blows repeatedly.
Black Cat’s movements had improved immensely over the past month. Well, it makes sense. After all, the opponent was a Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist, the lord of Podalap Palace famous for his overwhelming techniques.
Boom! Bang! Boom!
The duel between the two accompanied quite a few loud explosions. With the powerful hand of Rano Jingbu extending palm-sized techniques at Black Cat’s traps, the clash of Qi and energy went uninterrupted through the match.
Ultimately, Rano Jingbu gained the upper hand. His energy broke through Black Cat’s traps and the chill. Black Cat had no choice but to face Rano Jingbu’s palm, forming energy even knowing it would be an unfavorable exchange.
Bang!
As the two collided mightily, they pulled their hands back. If they continued any longer, someone could get seriously hurt, so it seemed they agreed to stop at a suitable boundary.
Rano Jingbu looked down at his hand. Surprisingly, a portion of the massive palm made of energy, that of the MilJong Daesoo, had frozen.
Considering Black Cat had only been practicing Nine Yin for a month, it was astonishing. Even skilled ice cultivators would find it difficult to freeze energy like that.
Having integrated the Nine Yin into her body, I never expected her to use ice techniques so skillfully in just a month.
Could this be the power of her Taiyin constitution?
The Taiyin physique might be more remarkable than I thought. I only assumed it beautified one’s appearance and emitted an alluring effect…
The Taiyimg-based Tai Chi embodies the fundamental principles of the changing world. When the sun rises, the world brightens and heat arises; when the sun sets, the world darkens and cools.
This is the most basic logic and grand premise of the daily changes in heaven and earth.
Perhaps the Nine Yin energy naturally possessed by Black Cat allows her to influence all the negative energies in the world.
I gazed at the shimmering white hair of Black Cat. If the Taiyin constitution could truly exert such effects, then the Nine Yin she accepted could be fully absorbed. If so, it’s understandable that Black Cat would feel confident about returning to her previous self with white hair.
If she ever can master the Nine Yin, her hair color would surely return to what it was.
“Sister!”
As soon as the martial arts match ended, Sara dashed over and hugged Black Cat tightly. Black Cat welcomed Sara, and Rano Jingbu smiled happily at the scene.
Switching between the frozen palm and looking at Black Cat and Sara, it felt as if Sara was imagining a future where she becomes a supreme ice cultivator.
Well, it may seem a bit premature, but dreaming of the future is a good thing.
Rano Jingbu, whose expression had previously resembled a dry rock, also appeared much more human now.
Though Sara’s Nine Yin Absolute Pulse wasn’t completely resolved, seeing Sara play joyfully and the steadily accumulating treatment materials must have filled him with hope.
“My Lord!”
Lost in thought, I found three scruffy monks appearing before us.
They were the monks who originally came to see our performance… Rano Jingbu, Nima Galchen, and Sudalcha, right?
“We found it. The Black Armored Dragon.”
* *
Array Formation!
Array Formation can be considered one of the representative elements of martial arts.
Especially sects that reign at the pinnacle of the Martial World like the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Clans possess array formations.
In this [Martial World], the major sects all possess array formations without exception.
108 Lohan, 72 Holy Dragon Array, 24 Ghost Flower Sword Array, etc.
However, with members ranging from as many as 108 to at least over ten, these array formations can’t actually be used against people in the Martial World.
To be frank, it could be said that they aren’t needed.
Think back to the bandit suppression alliance. Compared to the martial artists of Sacheon City, the qualitatively superior bandits were deliciously seasoned and defeated with their overwhelming numbers.
Do the martial artists of a major faction have low martial arts levels? No, they usually possess peak or peak expert martial artists. So, if dozens to a hundred of them mobilize to attack one person, even the absolute expert grandfather wouldn’t stand a chance.
Moreover, due to face and honor, would they even stoop to such a thing?
Taking the representative array of the Martial World, the 108 Lohan Array of Shaolin Temple, for example.
108 monks charging to beat up a single person 108 to 1?
What on earth is this?
Even catching a serial killer would provoke little applause if 108 teamed up to do it.
Yet, when discussing the grand principles of the major sects, the existence of the array is mentioned alongside martial arts, prompting the sects to dedicate their disciples’ training time to array formation. Why?
While this may not be clearly outlined in other martial arts worlds, in this [Martial World], there’s a clear reason.
The existence beyond humanity. Entities.
They train in array formation to catch monsters like the Black Armored Dragon, which Sudalcha has discovered lurking in a rift.
Even for a peak expert, defeating an entity alone is incredibly tough.
The entities, possessing enormous size, speed, and strength, are generally very hard to face one-on-one. What’s so great about a martial artist? They’re just humans utilizing Qi. What about the entities? They’re beings infused with Qi from various otherworldly existences.
Since most entities possess bodies much more suited for combat compared to humans, even the most exceptional experts can’t expect to subdue an entity on their lonesome.
That’s why one needs the power of multiple martial artists employing array formations to hunt the entity down.
By concentrating the strength of dozens of martial artists through array formation, they generate tremendously potent offensive capabilities to seize the massive entities.
Entity hunting is the most sure-fire method to secure spiritual medicines and rare materials.
While regular folks think major sects hold powerful array formations, in reality, holding a mighty array formation is the driving force behind their rise as major sects.
“It’s time to mobilize the experts of the palace.”
Since Podalap Palace is a major faction, it should have excellent array formations and plenty of skilled martial artists. A subtle confidence emanated from Rano Jingbu’s calm tone.
“I believe our forces are sufficient… but what do you think? I would like to hear the opinion of someone with experience with various entities.”
“If the experts of Podalap Palace step in, what’s there to fear about an entity? The only concern is the damage.”
Spirit Beast Hunting is extremely dangerous.
Imagine a giant worm over three meters thick and over thirty meters long running wild. And it has rock armor?
Even a martial artist could risk their life if they hit such a monster.
“…We have no choice but to take risks. I plan to accept as many volunteers as possible.”
Rano Jingbu said with a solemn expression. While his words may sound harsh, they are not incorrect. Ultimately, to catch an entity, risks must be taken.
“Could you grant me command of this operation?”
“Hmm…”
After a moment of hesitation, Rano Jingbu continued.
“No matter how the lives of the practitioners are at stake, I cannot divulge the essentials of my Surahana-hanjin to you. Even if you command, you won’t be able to grasp the core of the array. But are you confident in producing results?”
“Of course. While the completeness of the array is crucial in spirit beast hunting, it’s not the entirety.”
I am Ho Cheon-an.
Before dropping into this Martial World, I was the number one invitee for raids in the Martial World’s group chat.
Whether I participated in a raid or not, the reactions were either extreme.
With such a body, facing merely the Black Armored Dragon?
Raid members consisting of Podalap Palace’s peak experts, not a single troll in sight?
The Surahana-hanjin, renowned for its exceptional might in the Martial World?
And even having the authority to sketch out my tactics as I please?
The outcome was already clear.
A black worm raid, casualty count: 0.
Of course, for that to happen…
“Please gather volunteers as quickly as possible. The quicker, the more stable it will be.”
A lot of preparations will be needed, indeed.
It’s going to get busy for a while.
