The Elixir’s True Master (5)
“I had a feeling you’d manage to scrape together the money somehow, and here you are, proving me right.”
The old man, Heukshi, was genuinely surprised that his prediction had come true.
“Perhaps your parents are blessed with a dutiful child in their twilight years.”
Recalling the young man’s earlier claim that he wanted the elixir to honor his parents, the old man let out a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha, that’s a noble cause indeed. A very noble cause.”
“Here’s the money.”
He handed over forty-three thousand nyang.
Though he still had a few thousand left, forty-three thousand nyang was an astronomical sum. It was enough for an ordinary person to live a life of luxury, not just for themselves but for their children as well.
For those outside the martial world, spending such an amount to gain fifteen years of internal energy would be incomprehensible. But for a martial artist, acquiring fifteen years’ worth of internal energy was akin to buying fifteen years of time and effort.
For some, fifteen years of effort might be worth four thousand nyang, while for others, it could be worth four hundred million. This is why the value of the elixir cannot be measured in mere currency.
The old man took the money.
Without payment, the goods would never be shown. Holding the old man hostage or even killing him would be futile. Only after the money was delivered inside would the item emerge, having passed through a gauntlet of deadly traps and mechanisms. This was why transactions with Heukshi had become safer over time.
After a short while, the old man returned with a small box.
Inside was the Millennium Pyangcho, in excellent condition.
The old man chuckled as he spoke.
“Didn’t I tell you? You’re incredibly lucky.”
He closed the box, tucked it into his robe, and stood up.
“Thank you for your kindness. I truly appreciate it.”
As he walked away, he heard the old man’s low voice from behind.
“The true master of the elixir is always someone else.”
This was followed by a contented hum, as if the old man’s worldview had been affirmed.
An hour later, I sat in a cave deep in the nearby mountains.
Before me lay the Millennium Pyangcho I had just purchased from Heukshi.
The Millennium Pyangcho.
For ordinary people, it promised a long, healthy life. For martial artists, it was said to increase internal energy by at least ten to fifteen years.
While most martial artists could gain ten years of internal energy from it, I could absorb fifteen years’ worth, thanks to the exceptional capabilities of the Cheonmuho Simjeol, which allowed me to fully harness the elixir’s potential.
This was the first elixir I would consume with my Byukridan body.
As one’s internal energy grows, the effects of elixirs diminish. No matter how many elixirs one consumes, internal energy doesn’t increase infinitely.
For instance, if the first elixir grants fifteen years of internal energy, the second might only provide ten, and the third just three. The effectiveness varies depending on the elixir and the practitioner’s mastery of their techniques.
The more internal energy stored in the dantian, the less effective the elixirs become, even if consumed in large quantities.
This is why having a lot of money doesn’t equate to limitless internal energy. Eventually, one would have to spend tens of thousands of nyang just to gain a few months’ worth of internal energy.
The primary reason I went through the trouble of acquiring this Millennium Pyangcho was not just to increase my internal energy, but more importantly, to open the Ren and Du meridians.
Once the Ren and Du meridians are opened, the body’s energy circulates perfectly through all the meridians, maximizing the effectiveness of internal energy.
Not only would the dantian expand, but complex and intricate techniques, like the final three forms of the Chuhonsura Sword Technique, would become much smoother and more natural to execute. In simple terms, five years of internal energy would become far more potent.
The Millennium Pyangcho’s efficacy was more than sufficient to attempt opening the Ren and Du meridians.
My only concern was whether my Byukridan body could handle it, but fortunately, I was born with a robust physique.
Of course, such an attempt is only possible because it’s me.
Opening the Ren and Du meridians might sound easy, but typically, it requires the assistance of family elders or seasoned masters, and even then, many martial artists end up dead or crippled.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
I carefully consumed the Millennium Pyangcho.
Chewing it thoroughly, I swallowed. As it passed down my throat, the elixir quickly dissolved and began to be absorbed throughout my body.
Sssssss.
I didn’t miss a beat, using the Cheonmuho Simjeol to draw the energy into my meridians.
Swish, swish, swish!
The sensation of the elixir’s energy being absorbed into my meridians was as exhilarating and thrilling as being with a lover.
I squeezed out every last drop, ensuring not a single bit of the elixir’s energy was wasted.
Now, if I channel this energy into my dantian, it will become fifteen years of internal energy.
But I didn’t send it to the dantian just yet.
I began to accelerate the flow of energy through my meridians. I intended to open the Ren and Du meridians in quick succession.
Starting with the Ren meridian.
Sssssss.
The energy of the Millennium Pyangcho surged toward the previously untouched meridians.
Pop!
The Huiyin point was the first to open.
Pain surged through me, but it was bearable.
Pop! Pop!
The Qugu and Zhongji points opened in quick succession.
Fortunately, my Byukridan body withstood the process.
Having practiced the Cheonmuho Simjeol for seventy years, I was confident that, at least when it came to meridians, I surpassed even the gods.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
The Xiawan, Zhongwan, and Yutang points opened, and finally, the Chengjiang point burst open.
The Ren meridian was fully opened without any major crises.
Yes, as a martial artist, I could say “this is nothing” when it came to opening the Ren and Du meridians.
Riding the momentum from opening the Ren meridian, I began to open the Du meridian.
Pop!
The Changqiang point opened first, followed by the Zhongshu and Shenzhu points, and finally, the Baihui point.
Each opening was accompanied by pain. But I could endure it. Compared to the suffering martial artists endure due to weakness, this pain was a joyful one.
The Qianzhong, Shangxing, and Suli points opened in succession.
The moment the Yinjiao point opened.
Boom!
A loud noise echoed in my head, signaling the birth of a new meridian.
Unlike most people, I didn’t collapse or scream at the final moment. A small smile of triumph graced my lips.
It was a perfect opening of the Ren and Du meridians. I was confident that no one in the martial world had achieved such a swift and clean opening.
I slowly stood up and examined my body internally.
With the Ren and Du meridians opened, my physical state had completely transformed.
The flow of internal energy through my meridians was now incredibly fast. The sensation of energy freely coursing through my body was exhilarating. My body had finally shed its restraints.
Though I couldn’t see my reflection, I was certain my gaze had become much calmer.
I checked the internal energy in my dantian.
With the addition of fifteen years of internal energy, I now possessed twenty years’ worth.
I now had internal energy equivalent to my Byukridan age.
But could twenty years of my internal energy be compared to anyone else’s? It was an unparalleled depth of energy cultivated through the Cheonmuho Simjeol.
With this level of internal energy, I could defeat most opponents.
“Phew. That’s a relief.”
Though I couldn’t yet use the final forms of the Chuhonsura Sword Technique, with the Ren and Du meridians opened, I would reach a full cycle of internal energy within four or five years.
“Hahaha.”
I laughed heartily as I stepped out of the cave.
As soon as I emerged, I leaped into the air. While I couldn’t soar into the sky as I once could, I managed to reach the top of a tree at the cave’s entrance.
Swish!
The blade’s fleeting energy tore through the air. It was far more powerful than when I had killed the Bloodhound.
Whoosh!
A piercing energy shot in the opposite direction. It was incomparable to when I had killed Yang Gicheol. If they had been hit by this attack, their bodies would have shattered into pieces.
After executing two consecutive moves, I landed on a branch.
The branch bent significantly but didn’t break. Once my internal energy surpassed a full cycle, the branch wouldn’t even tremble.
Despite the mere fifteen-year increase in internal energy, the thrill and excitement were overwhelming.
When had I last felt such exhilaration?
I hoped to continue experiencing this joy. I wished for this path of martial arts to be different from my past life.
And I hoped that at the end of this path, I would find what I had always desired.
I wanted to see the sword of my heart.
In the distance, I spotted a squirrel scurrying between the trees. With the Ren and Du meridians opened and my internal energy increased, all my senses, including my vision, had sharpened. At my peak, I could focus and see even an ant from this distance.
“Someday.”
I leaped down lightly. My movement was as gentle as a feather and as soft as down.