Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Crack, crackle—!

Horyeung could not suppress his shock at the scene unfolding before his eyes.

“Bone-Marrow Reforging?”

At Horyeung’s words, everyone turned to look at him.

“Is the Young Master undergoing Bone-Marrow Reforging right now?”

“I–It seems so.”

So flustered that he even stammered, Horyeung widened his eyes and stared at Youngho.

‘Does that even make sense?’

If he had consumed a supreme elixir, then it would make sense. But how? No—when had he taken such an elixir?

‘Come to think of it, he did drink a drop of something like water.’

There were not many spirit medicines in liquid form. And to produce such an effect with merely a single drop? Even more so.

‘Could it be Clear Sky Stone Milk?!’

If that were the case, it would make sense. No elixir under heaven could compare before Clear Sky Stone Milk.

Such was the overwhelming efficacy it possessed.

Crack! Crackle—! Crack!

Youngho’s bones and muscles repeatedly broke and tore apart as his body was reshaped into the optimal physique for martial arts.

Little by little, his limbs lengthened, and his once modest back broadened further and further.

Horyeung let out a hollow laugh at the utterly absurd situation.

“Ha, hahaha……”

The Transformation Realm—yes, it was the Transformation Realm. Of course, Bone-Marrow Reforging did not only occur at the exact moment one crossed from Transcendent Peak Master into the Transformation Realm.

However, considering Youngho’s level, everyone present could only see this as him breaking into the Transformation Realm.

Absurd. To reach the Transformation Realm before even coming of age… it defied all reason.

‘Didn’t the Heavenly Demon also reach the Transformation Realm before coming of age?’

Most likely so. Though his exact age was unknown, the Heavenly Demon of Cheonsan was said to have done the same.

Even if Youngho advanced into the Transformation Realm due to a spirit medicine, the Transformation Realm was still the Transformation Realm.

‘What monstrous talent!’

It was truly inhuman talent. Horyeung thought that, across the world, only the Heavenly Demon could now compare to Youngho’s aptitude.

At that moment, Youngho’s body slowly began to rise into the air. His head ascended to around Horyeung’s waist height, and above it, three black flowers bloomed.

“Three Flowers Gather at the Crown!”

The three flowers that were said to occasionally appear when absolute masters circulated their qi had bloomed above Youngho’s head as well.

Yet even many masters of the Transformation Realm could not display a state like Three Flowers Gather at the Crown. To manifest this state required at least…

‘On par with Nam A-pyeong!’

He would need an enlightenment comparable to that of Nam A-pyeong, the Gold-Blood Hall Master.

‘Just how far is he going?’

At this point, it surpassed shock and bordered on fear. How could a human grow at such a terrifying pace?

Soon, a powerful gust of wind burst from Youngho’s body, and his eyes snapped open.

Whoong—!

Even Hyeon-gang’s body was pushed back slightly by the forceful wind pressure Youngho released. White vapor flowed from his mouth as he looked at Horyeung with clear, purified eyes.

“You worked har—!”

At the moment Youngho tried to say something, his body, which had been floating in midair, suddenly plummeted downward.

Thud!

“What?”

As if unaware that he had been floating, Youngho spoke with a bewildered expression.

“Hey, was I floating just now?”

“No—Young Master, you really shouldn’t be unaware of that.”

Kang Hosan replied in disbelief, and Youngho nodded.

“I suppose you’re right.”

As Youngho laughed lightly as if it were nothing, Horyeung spoke.

“Congratulations on your great achievement, Young Master.”

“It’s not that great. I still have a long way to go.”

“No. It is more than enough. It would not be an exaggeration to say that you have now stepped into the domain of the absolute.”

Horyeung meant every word. Now, when he looked at Youngho, it was no longer mere respect but reverence.

Thus, Horyeung was about to prostrate himself to sincerely celebrate his lord’s advancement.

“Ah, more importantly, Horyeung.”

“Yes?”

At Youngho’s sudden call, Horyeung responded.

“You should undergo Bone-Marrow Reforging too.”

“…Pardon?”

He had just heard something utterly unbelievable.

Without hesitation, Youngho placed a drop of Clear Sky Stone Milk into Horyeung’s mouth and said,

“Prepare to circulate your qi. What you just swallowed was Clear Sky Stone Milk. Absorb its medicinal effects down to your marrow. Oh, and as for what Bone-Marrow Reforging feels like……”

Youngho snickered.

“It hurts a bit. Hang in there, Horyeung.”

Just as Horyeung was about to say something—

Whoooosh—!

A sudden surge of heat spread throughout his body, robbing him of his senses.

“What are you doing? Hurry and circulate your qi!”

“Ghk!”

At Youngho’s words, Horyeung hurriedly sat down in the Cross-Legged Meditation Posture and began circulating his qi.

‘Th-This is!’

It was unmistakably Clear Sky Stone Milk. Otherwise, such pure natural energy could not possibly exist.

‘Why give this to me…?’

It was his first question. Yet within Horyeung still remained the desire to be acknowledged for his worth as a martial artist.

Thus, he gradually immersed himself deeper into his qi circulation. As he rotated the energy, he expanded the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and broke open every blocked blood vessel.

Soon, Horyeung began to fall into a State of No-Self.

Crack, crackle.

As Bone-Marrow Reforging began in earnest, immense pain assaulted Horyeung’s body. Had he not built up sufficient tolerance to pain, he would have fainted.

Even so, determined to follow Youngho’s words, Horyeung steadied his mind further and absorbed the medicinal effects of Clear Sky Stone Milk to the utmost limit.

All external sounds were cut off, and only the flow of energy within his body remained visible to him.

Horyeung pushed the effects of Clear Sky Stone Milk as deeply as possible into his Dantian.

How much time had passed?

Horyeung slowly opened his eyes. His once aged body had vanished without a trace. The wrinkles and blemishes that once marked his skin were gone, leaving it so clear one might think he had just reached the age of forty.

Now no longer an old man but a robust young man, Horyeung knelt on one knee before Youngho and spoke.

“I greet my lord.”

At Horyeung’s calm yet resonant voice, Youngho revealed his white teeth in a smile.

“Good.”

As Youngho spoke, Horyeung slowly rose to his feet. The aged wolf had regained the powerful body of his youth.

Tear.

“…….”

To the point that his clothes ripped apart.

Even in this absurd situation, Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon smiled as they spoke.

“Master! Congratulations!”

“Congratulations on your great achievement, Master!”

Their voices were filled with excitement, and Kang Chowon stared at Horyeung’s now warm and refined face in amazement.

“You’ve changed so much I can barely recognize you, Master!”

“Haha, thank you.”

Horyeung let out a hearty laugh at the sight of his disciples sincerely congratulating him.

“Master, does that mean you’re in the Transformation Realm now?”

When Kang Chowon asked with sparkling eyes, Kang Hosan and Hyeon-gang also looked at Horyeung, clearly curious.

“Yes. I too have reached the Transformation Realm now.”

As if he still could not believe he had stepped into the Transformation Realm, Horyeung examined his own body.

Riiip, tear!

Each time he moved, his clothes kept ripping, yet Horyeung was too busy marveling at his transformed body to care.

“I truly have returned to my former self…….”

No—not merely his former self. Rather, he felt far more powerful than in his youth, and his mind felt clearer than ever.

With muscles stronger and tougher than even in his prime, Horyeung unknowingly smiled.

Youngho allowed Horyeung a moment to inspect his body and speak with his disciples, solely for Horyeung’s sake.

But contrary to Youngho’s intentions, Horyeung approached him first.

“Young Master, just where exactly do you stand?”

He had ascended to the Transformation Realm. And yet, even more so than before, he still could not perceive Youngho’s level.

At that, Youngho wore a vague expression as if to say the answer was obvious.

“You couldn’t properly gauge me even when I was at Transcendent Peak Master. And now?”

“But now I’m in the Transformation Realm.”

Horyeung’s words were reasonable. And at the same time, mistaken.

“Horyeung. It’s precisely because you’re in the Transformation Realm that you can’t see it.”

“What do you mean by that?”

He truly could not understand. Because he was in the Transformation Realm, he could not see it?

“The Transformation Realm is the highest state a human can reach.”

“That is correct.”

“But I don’t believe the Transformation Realm is the end.”

“…Pardon?”

What did that mean? Not the end?

“Even within the Transformation Realm, there are divisions. Even among Master Level martial artists, someone who just entered the level and someone who has remained there for five years differ in Martial Might.”

“Even so, wouldn’t they at least be able to gauge the difference in each other’s strength?”

“They would. But within the Transformation Realm, the disparity is extreme. Imagine two martial artists at the same level.”

“Yes.”

“They are at the same realm, but one has enlightenment a step below the other. What do you think happens?”

“The one a step below would struggle greatly.”

“Right. It would be difficult. But in the Transformation Realm, being even one step lower in enlightenment doesn’t just mean a hard fight—you could be utterly crushed without even being able to resist.”

What kind of statement was that? Could such a thing even be possible? To be only one step weaker and yet be utterly defeated?

“Is that truly possible?”

“That’s why even within the Transformation Realm, the Ten Greatest Masters of the World emerge. And among them, there is the one at the very peak—the Number One Under Heaven.”

“N-No matter how you say it……”

As if he had no intention of answering further, Youngho turned sharply and said,

“You’ll find out for yourself. Understanding with your body is best.”

With that, Youngho lifted Seonpung into his arms.

“It’s your first time going down the mountain, right?”

Seonpung gave a small nod, and Youngho nodded in return.

“Good. Then let’s go.”

Just as Youngho was about to depart—

“You people!”

Someone suddenly shouted furiously at him.

“What did you do to Lord White Tiger?!”

Turning his head, Youngho saw not just one person but dozens glaring at him with fierce expressions.

“The villagers?”

“It seems so.”

It appeared they had come because of the massive light that had covered the entire mountain earlier.

“It’d be better to explain properly. Tell them the truth. Seonpung and I will head out first.”

“No, Young Master—we don’t know the truth either!”

At Kang Hosan’s words, Youngho tilted his head as if puzzled.

“I already explained it.”

“You mean that White Tiger ascended to the Immortal Realm?”

“Yeah.”

“W-What?”

Someone who had overheard their conversation asked, wondering if he had misheard.

“D-Did you say Lord White Tiger went to the Immortal Realm?”

The villagers, who had unconsciously shifted to polite speech, all looked toward Youngho, eager to hear more.

“Do you think I’m lying?”

“N-No, of course not. When you say Immortal Realm, do you mean the place Taoist masters go to?”

“Exactly. He went there.”

“Th-Then the light just now……?”

“That was the light emitted by White Tiger as he departed for the Immortal Realm.”

At those words, the villagers who had been glaring at Youngho’s group with hostility let out deep sighs of relief.

“I see…….”

Seeing that they seemed to have accepted this explanation far more readily than before, Youngho asked curiously,

“Did White Tiger tell you he was going to the Immortal Realm?”

At that, one of the villagers hesitated before speaking.

“We only knew that he was leaving for somewhere. We never imagined it would be the Immortal Realm.”

“Ah, really?”

“Yes.”

“Then do you know that I’ll be taking care of White Tiger’s child?”

“Huh? Now that you mention it, what you’re holding in your hands……?”

“It’s White Tiger’s child.”

“…!”

The villagers once again let out disbelieving gasps.

“It seems we failed to place enough trust in Lord White Tiger.”

“So you didn’t know he had a child?”

“No. We learned that for the first time today.”

“Then I suppose no one will object if I take him?”

“By what right would we raise Lord White Tiger’s child? We only wish for the young White Tiger to live happily.”

It was not entirely pure sincerity. Who would willingly give up a Spirit Creature? Still, Youngho placed significance on the fact that the villagers were trying to cast aside their greed.