Chương 156: Master's Grace (2)

Oh Hyun-seok's eyes snapped open.

"Ugh! Huk!"

The pain was so intense, he momentarily lost consciousness.

'What just happened?'

The last thing he remembered was his master, Azure Tiger Saint, appearing before him and raising his fist.

'Ah, I see.'

Oh Hyun-seok quickly understood the situation. He passed out during sparring.

It's not surprising.

It was the usual kind of sparring they always did.

'... But something feels off.'

However, he felt puzzled by a strange sense of déjà vu.

By now, Azure Tiger Saint should have appeared with his hearty laughter, turning Oh Hyun-seok into minced meat.

Kwaang!

Then, in the distance.

He saw one side of the training ground's mountain crumbling.

Blue and white rays of light are flying back and forth atop the mountain.

The white ray seems to be desperately trying to escape the blue ray.

'Ah, that explains it.'

Oh Hyun-seok then fully grasps the situation he had just experienced.

'It was right after reaching Qi Building with Seo Eun-hyun, wasn't it?'

That must've been it.

Right after entering the Qi Building stage with Seo Eun-hyun.

His master, Azure Tiger Saint, had cheerfully suggested celebrating their rise to Qi Building by sparring, and Oh Hyun-seok had been thoroughly beaten until he passed out.

'Phew, truly a terrifying strike.'

The mere thought makes his body shudder.

But he's intrigued as he watches the two glowing entities demolishing a mountain peak and flying in the sky.

"How is Seo Eun-hyun managing to hold up like that under Master's training?"

This world has already become familiar to him.

He had perfectly learned the language, culture, and constellations.

Even cultivation methods, which seemed like strange make-believe from fantasy novels, have long become second nature to him.

He had long understood the realms of Qi Refining, Qi Building, and others.

However, understanding them only made Oh Hyun-seok more puzzled.

"Wasn't that guy only entering Qi Building with me?"

Kugugugu!

Once again, another mountain peak crumbles in the distance.

Kugugugu!

Within the white ray of light, a figure extended a hand towards the blue ray.

The white force emanating from the hand was what collapsed the mountain.

An incredible power!

'He's far more talented than I am.'

Oh Hyun-seok recalled his master's words, saying his own talent of reaching Qi Building within a year is an impossible feat under normal circumstances.

But he shakes his head, thinking.

"True talent lies in that guy. What kind of talent do I have?"

The talent to reach Qi Building in less than a year.

The talent to unleash a strike of the Nascent Soul stage with the body of Qi Building in less than a year.

It's clear which one is superior.

"He was always diligent at the company too. It seems like he found his talent after coming here."

He recalls Seo Eun-hyun at the company.

Certainly, he was a man of few words, but he was a junior who always tried his best at everything.

'The guy who I took care of has become…'

While Oh Hyun-seok is reminiscing about his time at the company.

Kwaang!

A burst of blue light explodes.

From a distance, a white beam of light falls beneath the mountain.

And, before Oh Hyun-seok can react, light flashes again. Azure Tiger Saint, surrounded by blue energy, appears in front of Oh Hyun-seok.

"Oh no, you've been waiting. Seo Eun-hyun, that kid, was showing a lot of interesting abilities, so I got a bit excited and ended up focusing on him."

"Haha... he's a talented guy, so it wouldn't hurt to watch him a bit more…"

"Nonsense. There's no favoritism among my disciples! Don't worry! I'll make you strong too!"

"Just a moment…"

Kwaang!

And before he could say anything else.

Azure Tiger Saint's fist slammed into Oh Hyun-seok's stomach.

Oh Hyun-seok immediately vomited blood and lost consciousness.

Azure Tiger Saint laughs heartily, raising his fist.

"Such excellent disciples. Don't you worry. Both of you possess tremendous talents, but even if you were the dullest in the world, humans are creatures with the potential capable of anything.

As your master, I will never give up on you and will teach you no matter what."

Azure Tiger Saint grabs one of the unconscious Oh Hyun-seok's legs and begins dragging him somewhere.

"It's been about a year, so the training ground should be completed by now. With their talents, now that they've reached the Qi Building stage, it's time to start training them to confront nature with their human bodies."

Azure Tiger Saint, smiling broadly and eyes shining, notices Seo Eun-hyun trying to get up in the distance.

And before Seo Eun-hyun can regain his senses.

Azure Tiger Saint charges at him and launches a punch towards Seo Eun-hyun's head.

Kwaang!

Seo Eun-hyun vomits blood and faints again, and Azure Tiger Saint drags the feet of both disciples towards the 'training ground'.

"Kyaaaaah!"

Kwooooom!

A massive surge of water sweeps all around.

Oh Hyun-seok screams towards the 'tidal wave' rushing towards him and thrusts out his fist.

Kugugugugu!

From his fist, trained in the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, a blue light spirals, creating a dragon fist wind.

Kwaaaaaah!

The dragon fist wind shot from Oh Hyun-seok's fist pierces through the tidal wave.

"Haaaaah!"

Kwooooom!

As he shouts, his momentum pushes the surrounding water currents away in all directions.

But he does not relax his vigilance. He gasps for breath while keeping an eye on his surroundings.

Then, Azure Tiger Saint's voice echoes from all around.

[Five Colors Substitution. White Lung, Metal.] Kiring, kiriririring!

Simultaneously, the 'sea' surrounding Oh Hyun-seok suddenly starts to harden.

Along with it, the hardened 'sea' extends spikes in all directions like thorns.

"Krugh!"

Oh Hyun-seok hastily leaps into the air.

Chwajwajwajwang!

Metal!

Metallic spikes stretch out in all directions, chasing after Oh Hyun-seok.

Chachang, chang!

From afar, a white light sweeps through, sending the metallic spikes flying.

'Is that Seo Eun-hyun over there? I need to regroup with him first.'

But before Oh Hyun-seok can make a decision.

Azure Tiger Saint's voice is heard again from all around.

[Eun-hyun, shouldn't you use the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture in your training. It seems it's too easy for you, so I'll increase the intensity of your training a bit more.] Simultaneously.

Kugugugugu!

From the sky, a massive chunk of metal falls towards Seo Eun-hyun.

Kwaang!

The surroundings erupt with a loud bang, and a storm filled with metal dust blows in all directions.

Oh Hyun-seok, enveloped in Protective Body Force, looks beyond the metal-dust-filled storm.

'Is he okay….'

And to his relief, with a glow of brilliance!

The chunk of metal is split in half with a white flash of light, and Seo Eun-hyun soars into the sky from within.

'... He's already surpassed the realm of ordinary humans.'

Oh Hyun-seok realizes there's no need for his concern.

Kagagagak!

But before he can feel relieved about Seo Eun-hyun's safety, tens and hundreds of metallic spikes attack him.

"Keeugh!"

After wrestling with the domain of metal for a while and finally adapting to it, Azure Tiger Saint's voice rumbles from the sky again.

[Five Colors Substitution. Yellow Spleen, Earth.] Kugugugu!

The property of metal in all directions changes, and mountains start rising from the ground.

Kwagwagwagwa!

The landscape continuously transforms, pressuring Oh Hyun-seok.

"Is it ten Li in all directions?"

The training ground, where the properties of the Five Elements change according to Azure Tiger Saint's will, spans ten Li in all directions.

Once Oh Hyun-seok and Seo Eun-hyun adapt, the properties change again.

[Red Heart, Fire.] Kugugugugu!

The mountains melt, and within a ten-li radius turns into a sea of lava.

Oh Hyun-seok feels a terrible sensation of melting all over and uses his body refining method to adapt to the extreme environment.

[Green Liver, Wood.] Kugugu!

Suddenly, trees grow out of the flames, and the area is once again covered in a forest sea.

[Black Kidney, Water.] Chwurururu!

Soon after, the sea of trees dissolves according to Azure Tiger Saint's command and turns back into the blue sea that engulfed him.

Azure Tiger Saint's training method called the Five Elements Supreme Response, is designed to repeatedly throw disciples into constantly changing extreme environments to ensure their survival and to face higher realms of cultivation.

It's a training method designed to enable them to survive against natural disasters.

[Listen well, Hyun-seok. Your Unique Holy Body, also known as the Primordial Chaos Holy Body, has the quality to disperse the boundaries of all things and phenomenons. The Unique Holy Body possesses numerous abilities, but its most famous ability is undoubtedly the Five Elements Primordial Chaos! In essence, the Unique Holy Body corresponds to the Five Elements Spiritual Roots, but its training speed is at least seven times faster than a Heavenly Spiritual Root! Therefore, you can master all properties of the Five Elements and even manipulate the forces of Yin and Yang. Though I'm not sure what the sharp energy Seo Eun-hyun possesses is, your one ability alone signifies you have a talent far surpassing Seo Eun-hyun!] Kugugugu!

The Five Elements around Oh Hyun-seok transform, pressuring his body.

[Furthermore, the Unique Holy Body is a divine physique born with countless unknown abilities! If you train well in the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, you will become invincible! Have confidence and use your method well, my disciple! I believe in you!] Kugugugu!

'Please save those words for after getting us out of this brutal place!'

The Five Elements around him changes, increasing the pressure on him.

And at some moment.

Oh Hyun-seok feels his body surpassing a 'critical point.'

Puuung!

Blue light explodes, healing all the minor injuries on Oh Hyun-seok's body.

"This, this is..."

Woowooong!

Oh Hyun-seok notices an additional Spiritual Energy Star formed in his dantian.

[As expected, it's astonishing! To form two stars within a day of reaching Qi Building!] Azure Tiger Saint's laughter fills the surroundings, and soon after, An even more intense storm of Five Elements engulfs Oh Hyun-seok and Seo Eun-hyun.

[Now then, shall we continue with the training?] Oh Hyun-seok clenches his teeth and endures Azure Tiger Saint's training.

Just like that, 10 years passed in a blink of an eye.

Kugugugu!

Mountains rise from the ground.

"Haaaaat!"

As Oh Hyun-seok shouts, a mountain that sprung up in front of him bursts apart.

Kugugugu!

Trees grow on top of the mountain and rush towards Oh Hyun-seok, trying to bind him.

"Huhahaha!"

But Oh Hyun-seok, finding it laughable, charges towards the trees.

The trees are torn apart like paper, failing to stop Oh Hyun-seok at all.

Whooosh!

The trees catch fire, and the surroundings turn into a flaming mountain.

Yet, Oh Hyun-seok, undeterred, aims a punch at one spot.

Kwaang!

The mountain is ripped apart, and a blue light bursts forth from within.

At the center of the blue light sits Azure Tiger Saint in a meditative pose.

Azure Tiger Saint smiles warmly.

"You've managed to reverse-engineer the intricacies of the Five Elements Supreme Response and find me. Excellent!"

"Thank you, Master!"

Woowooong!

Oh Hyun-seok laughs heartily as he charges at Azure Tiger Saint with a punch.

Azure Tiger Saint laughs heartily in response, throwing a punch back at him.

"Excellent, but not yet there!"

Kwaang!

Their fists collide, and blood spurts from Oh Hyun-seok's arm.

"Kuh...!"

Oh Hyun-seok steps back but then, just like Azure Tiger Saint, laughs heartily and raises his fist again.

His bleeding arm has already stopped bleeding.

An unbelievable regenerative ability healed his body.

And then, the two muscular giants begin exchanging punches like madmen.

Kwaang, kwaang, kwaang!

With each exchange of punches, the Five Elements around them change.

The flaming mountain melts into a great sea.

The sea hardens into a world of metal.

The metal softens into earth.

Boom, boom, boom!

With each punch from Azure Tiger Saint, Oh Hyun-seok's body is battered.

But each time Oh Hyun-seok exerts force, blue light swirls, healing his flesh.

Kuwang, kwaang, kwaang!

The explosions grow faster, and the pace of their exchange increases.

But suddenly.

Kwaang, bang, kwaang!

Oh Hyun-seok's punches ingeniously pass Azure Tiger Saint's, hitting even more areas.

The exchange rate reaches seven blows from Oh Hyun-seok for every one from Azure Tiger Saint.

And when their clash reaches its climax.

Kwaang!

The Azure Tiger Saint's punch pushes aside all of Oh Hyun-seok's attacks and strikes him directly.

Oh Hyun-seok's body explodes.

Kugugugugu!

Simultaneously.

Kwarururung!

A blue thunderbolt descends from the sky, striking Oh Hyun-seok's body.

"Heh, hehehehe! Hahahaha!"

The Azure Tiger Saint laughs heartily.

Shiiii...

Oh Hyun-seok walks out from within the smoke.

"Congratulations! Reaching Core Formation in just 10 years! This is an unbelievable speed of cultivation. Even natives of the Bright Cold Realm take at least 50 years to reach this stage."

Oh Hyun-seok smiles sheepishly.

"It's still slower than Seo Eun-hyun."

"Well, that kid's talent is on an unbelievable level too."

Azure Tiger Saint laughs heartily.

Oh Hyun-seok joins in the laughter, thinking of Seo Eun-hyun.

In just 5 years.

Seo Eun-hyun has already reached Core Formation and moved on to training in the Starlight Protecting Void Body after mastering the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture.

"Now that you've reached Core Formation..."

"Another spar?"

At Oh Hyun-seok's words, Azure Tiger Saint grins.

"Of course! Seo Eun-hyun! Where are you?"

Shortly after.

Seo Eun-hyun, in a white radiance, flies in.

Kwoong!

Seo Eun-hyun lands in the training ground and emerges from the brilliance.

Oh Hyun-seok swallows hard.

'Can I win this time?'

Under Azure Tiger Saint, the two continuously sparred against him.

But oftentimes, Azure Tiger Saint made them spar against each other.

And the result was always Oh Hyun-seok's defeat.

He has never won against Seo Eun-hyun.

'I have no grudge against him, but...

Kuuuk....

He had lost more than a thousand times already.

At this point, it's a matter of pride.

'In the company, it was always me teaching him. But here, I'm the one always learning.'

The situation was the same even when exchanging punches with Azure Tiger Saint just now.

He faced Azure Tiger Saint using the Fighting Monster Traceless Fist created by Seo Eun-hyun.

Over the past 10 years, Seo Eun-hyun had taught Oh Hyun-seok not just fist techniques but also the 'art of fighting.'

"Congratulations on reaching Core Formation."

"Hahaha! Right, thanks. Now that I've reached Core Formation, let's spar again."

Oh Hyun-seok clenched his fists as he spoke.

To that, Seo Eun-hyun just smiles slightly.

"You're not yet a match for me."

Oh Hyun-seok looks at Seo Eun-hyun.

"Length and shortness are known only through comparison, aren't they?"

10 years.

For 10 years, they were both hammered by Azure Tiger Saint, fought together, and sparred.

Yet, Oh Hyun-seok still couldn't defeat Seo Eun-hyun.

Nor could he fully comprehend him.

Despite the days filled with struggling to survive Azure Tiger Saint's training, there came a time when they stood face to face, exchanging punches with each other.

It's said that when people are close, they can sense each other's feelings.

However, he has never once felt any emotion from Seo Eun-hyun.

'After coming to this world, something changed in him.'

It wasn't a physical change.

It was something mentally.

He became a completely different person.

The somewhat clueless but diligent and occasionally smiling junior, Seo Eun-hyun at the company, never showed that demeanor again after coming to this world.

Though he sometimes smiled, that smile lacked the previous innocence, and whenever Oh Hyun-seok looked into his eyes, it felt like staring into an endless abyss.

And more than anything.

Since arriving in this world.

Seo Eun-hyun had never once sought Oh Hyun-seok out separately.

'At the company, we used to have coffee and chat during breaks.'

It was mostly Oh Hyun-seok listening to Seo Eun-hyun's worries.

But since they came here, he hadn't come for advice or casual talk.

He spent every spare moment training or poring over manuals, engaged in something.

This isn't the person he once knew.

'When people suddenly change, there's always a reason.'

The spar begins.

Taatt, tat!

The two clash.

Three exchanges.

Within three exchanges, Oh Hyun-seok is immediately subdued by Seo Eun-hyun.

"I have won."

Seo Eun-hyun spoke with an emotionless face, twisting Oh Hyun-seok's arm behind him.

However.

Kugugugugu!

Blue light burst from Oh Hyun-seok's entire body.

"It's not over yet!"

Oh Hyun-seok thinks to himself.

'He's gotten stronger. But at the same time, he's changed too much. So much that I'd mistake him for a completely different person.'

Paang!

Releasing an immense force, Oh Hyun-seok frees himself from Seo Eun-hyun with sheer strength and looks at him.

'Since he won't tell me why he's changed so much, I have no choice.'

Kuuuuung!

On each of Oh Hyun-seok's arms, the illusion of a blue dragon swirls.

The dragons circle his arms briefly before seeping inside.

Paaaat!

A pair of blue wings sprout where the dragons entered on each arm.

'He may be emotionless, but he definitely occasionally shows feelings when fighting with Master. If so…'

"Azure Spirit Starlight, First Wing!"

'If I become as strong as him, and properly compete against him, maybe I can truly understand him...!'

With that resolve, Oh Hyun-seok, to his once junior, vowed to hear Seo Eun-hyun's heart and charged towards him, kicking off the ground.