Chapter 70
Great Law (2)
Namgung Jun recalled the explanation of the Great Law that the Pavilion Master had given him.
The Essence Fortification Great Law.
The effect of the Essence Fortification Great Law was simple.
It was a grand treatment that used meticulously prepared medicinal herbs and spiritual medicines to strengthen the physical body.
Of course, receiving the Great Law would not cause one’s external cultivation to skyrocket overnight.
“The Essence Fortification Great Law was originally an abandoned technique.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the benefits are difficult to notice, while the consumption of medicinal herbs and spiritual medicines is enormous.”
The Pavilion Master continued his explanation calmly.
“The Essence Fortification Great Law was never intended for martial artists. It was originally created to elevate those born with extremely frail bodies to the level of an ordinary healthy person.”
“So if a martial artist has already trained external arts, receiving the Great Law would be pointless?”
“Once someone reaches even the average level of an Iron Tower Hall member, the effects become negligible. At most, they would gain a little more stamina and recover slightly faster.”
Namgung Jun immediately understood.
He had been born with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians despite being male, and he had spent his childhood as a sword attendant without receiving proper care.
As a result, the condition of his body shortly after reincarnation had not merely been poor—it had been severe.
Now, thanks to adequate nutrition, the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, and external body training in the Iron Tower Hall, his physical condition had improved tremendously.
Even so, compared to ordinary martial artists, he still fell far short.
Until now, he had compensated for his deficient physique through internal energy, skill, and the experiences of his previous life.
Of the Three Treasures—Essence, Qi, and Spirit—my greatest deficiency is Essence.
Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
Essence was the body.
Qi was internal energy.
Spirit was will and intent.
At present, Namgung Jun’s greatest weakness was Essence.
If he could raise the level of his body to that of an ordinary martial artist, it would be a tremendous achievement.
Even without this Great Law, my body would eventually reach a normal level.
However, that would take a very long time.
Partly because of his unusual Nine Yin Severed Meridians, but also because he had simply not trained external arts for very long.
If the Great Law could elevate his physical condition now, it would greatly aid both his martial progress and his efforts to overcome the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
“An ordinary martial artist would gain little from it, but you are different.”
“I agree.”
“Furthermore, the Great Law you will receive is not the ordinary Essence Fortification Great Law.”
Curiosity flickered in Namgung Jun’s eyes.
“In that case?”
“I haven’t been idle all this time. I devised a method to use the Essence Fortification Great Law to suppress your Nine Yin Severed Meridians, even if only slightly.”
The Pavilion Master showed him towering stacks of medical texts and sheets of paper densely covered with notes.
“Through the Great Law, I intend to alter your constitution slightly.”
“That is possible?”
“I may be exaggerating by calling it a change in constitution. It’s nothing so dramatic. I merely intend to make your body naturally draw in greater amounts of yang energy and adjust it to become more suitable for that purpose.”
Much of the detailed explanation that followed was difficult for Namgung Jun to understand.
The Pavilion Master spoke of countless medicinal ingredients and advanced medical theories unfamiliar even to many physicians.
Still, Namgung Jun could clearly see how much effort and attention the Pavilion Master had devoted to researching the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
Once again, Namgung Jun bowed respectfully.
“I leave it in your hands.”
After drinking the medicinal decoction prepared by the Pavilion Master, Namgung Jun headed toward a medicinal bath located within the Azure Medicine Pavilion.
The bath had not yet been filled with water.
Instead, it was packed with countless pouches of medicinal herbs.
Around it stood several physicians waiting beside towering piles of additional herb pouches.
The pouches differed in size and contents, suggesting that different medicines would be added at various stages of the treatment.
“A tremendous amount of herbs is being consumed for this Great Law.”
“Indeed. This amount alone could last nearly half a year.”
“How long will the Great Law take?”
“I cannot say for certain. However, I expect it will take about two days.”
The Pavilion Master removed an acupuncture case from his robes.
“Sit in the lotus position. I will begin inserting the needles.”
Namgung Jun crossed his legs at the center of the bath.
Rolling up his sleeves, the Pavilion Master immediately opened the case and began inserting needles into Namgung Jun’s major acupoints.
The needles were as thin as strands of silk.
Yet his hands moved with absolute confidence, speed, and precision.
His movements rivaled the swift sword strikes of a master swordsman, leaving even the physicians standing nearby unable to look away.
Before long, Namgung Jun’s entire body was covered in needles.
He resembled a porcupine bristling with quills.
Having concentrated intensely and expended considerable mental energy, the Pavilion Master wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
“Now we will fill the bath with the medicinal solution. Begin circulating your energy when I give the signal.”
“Understood.”
At the Pavilion Master’s command, the waiting physicians began pouring preheated medicinal liquid into the bath.
The dark-brown solution gradually rose until it reached Namgung Jun’s chin.
Then the Pavilion Master shouted,
“Begin your breathing and energy circulation!”
Woooong!
Namgung Jun immediately closed his eyes and activated the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.
It’s hot.
The liquid itself was only mildly warm against his skin.
Yet shortly after he began circulating his energy, it felt as though the entire bath had started boiling.
The heat was not physical.
Rather, it seemed to be the medicinal energy contained within the solution being absorbed into his body through the Great Law.
It’s not unbearable.
A heat like slowly roasting flesh spread throughout his body, but Namgung Jun continued his breathing technique without the slightest wavering.
The internal energy of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art surged powerfully through every meridian.
He could feel the medicinal energy permeating his body and working in tandem with his internal energy.
Hm?
It happened while the Great Law was proceeding smoothly.
As Namgung Jun continued his energy circulation, he sensed an unexpected change within his body.
The Nine Yin Severed Meridians, which had remained dormant until now, suddenly reacted and began writhing violently.
Why?
The Pavilion Master had even prepared a special medicinal decoction beforehand to prevent an attack from occurring during the Great Law.
Yet despite that precaution, the Nine Yin Severed Meridians awakened and unleashed an immense surge of frigid yin energy throughout his body.
If this continued, it would undoubtedly trigger a full-blown episode.
Woooong!
The frigid yin energy that suddenly flooded his meridians with explosive force caused the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and the medicinal energy of the Essence Fortification Great Law to falter as they collided against it.
Has it awakened because of the sudden increase in yang energy within my body?
Just as Namgung Jun grasped the situation, a voice transmission from the Pavilion Master reached him.
—Are you alright? It appears the Severed Meridians have activated!
—Yes. I'm on the verge of an episode.
Upon hearing Namgung Jun's response, the Pavilion Master's beard trembled.
I prepared for this again and again, yet it still came to this...
His frustration at his own inadequacy lasted only a moment.
The Pavilion Master quickly made a decision.
—We must stop the Great Law. Can you do it?
—It will be difficult.
If he halted his energy circulation to stop the Great Law, the yin energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians would run rampant.
Not only that, but the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and the medicinal energy, already colliding with one another, would also spiral out of control.
At best, it would result in severe internal injuries.
At worst, it could place his life in immediate danger.
Stopping the Great Law was not the optimal choice.
—Can you control the energies that are rampaging inside you?
—Controlling them is not the answer.
—What are you saying?!
—Pavilion Master. Until I stop my circulation, do not cease supplying the medicinal herbs. In particular, continue providing herbs rich in yang energy.
After sending his final transmission, Namgung Jun focused entirely inward.
The Pavilion Master's concerns were justified.
Attempting to suppress and control the three raging energies carried too high a chance of failure.
That was why Namgung Jun chose another path.
Meridian Opening.
He would direct the destructive force generated by the collision of the three energies toward the second acupoint of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
Rather than allowing the aftermath to ravage his entire body, he intended to concentrate everything into a single point and forcibly break it open.
Wooooong!
Following Namgung Jun's guidance, the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and the medicinal energy changed course.
The frigid energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, which had been fiercely battling them, pursued them relentlessly.
Then all three energies descended with overwhelming force.
Their destination was naturally the second acupoint of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
With nowhere else to go, the three forces became trapped within that dead end and violently resisted one another.
KWA-GAGANG!
Explosions echoed repeatedly within Namgung Jun's body.
The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and the medicinal energy hammered relentlessly against the second acupoint.
The collision between yang energy and frigid yin energy erupted continuously.
The flow of power surged forward without pause, causing violent shockwaves to burst around the surrounding meridians.
Ghk!
Namgung Jun instinctively clenched his teeth.
He had to endure not only the impact of the forced meridian opening but also the aftermath of the collision between all three energies.
During the first opening, he had relied on the power of the Solar Flame Li Inner Core to smash through in one decisive strike.
This time was different.
The second opening battered him with countless large and small impacts.
Like a siege ram repeatedly striking a fortress gate.
The relentless shocks pounded through his entire body without rhythm or end.
It would not have been strange if he lost consciousness at any moment.
Yet Namgung Jun refused to stop.
I will not be defeated by something as trivial as this.
KWA-GAGAGANG!
Amid the agony, he barely managed to maintain his awareness.
Meanwhile, the meridians surrounding the second acupoint began tearing apart under the strain of the three colliding energies.
Internal injuries spread throughout his body.
Blood rose into his throat.
Still, he did not stop.
How many times had they struck?
KWAAAAAANG!
The three wildly entangled energies finally blasted through the second acupoint and surged throughout his entire body.
The opening of the second acupoint of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
As the second acupoint broke open, the nearby meridians that had been frozen by yin energy were released as well.
The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art immediately surged through these newly opened pathways.
Wooooong!
The yin energy that had been gathered within the second acupoint unraveled like a spool of thread and attached itself to the internal energy of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.
As it devoured the cold energy, the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art gradually grew stronger.
Some of the yin energy attached itself instead to the medicinal energy of the Essence Fortification Great Law.
There, a completely different transformation occurred.
As the yang-aligned medicinal energy intertwined with the cold energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, an exceptionally pure energy was born.
Perhaps because it was weaker than the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.
Rather than being consumed, the two forces achieved harmony between yin and yang and transformed into something entirely new.
This is!
The pure energy moved alongside the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and spread throughout his body according to the principles of the Essence Fortification Great Law.
The torn meridians caused by the meridian-opening process gradually healed.
Not only did they recover, they became wider and stronger.
At the same time, the Great Law's original effects began influencing his entire body.
His flesh heated up once more.
Previously, it had felt as though his body were being burned alive.
Now it felt merely warm.
Instinctively, Namgung Jun understood.
The medicinal energy fused with the yin energy was incomparably superior to what it had been before.
The pure energy now flowing through him was no different from consuming an extremely precious spiritual medicine.
Refined to an even greater degree, the energy exerted a profoundly positive effect upon his body.
Naturally, the effectiveness of the Essence Fortification Great Law became entirely different from before.
The opening of the second acupoint of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
The energy born from the fusion of yang and yin.
The profound principles of the Essence Fortification Great Law.
As all these factors overlapped, a new transformation occurred within Namgung Jun's body.
Swaaaaa!
Blue lightning qi burst from every pore of his body.
The medicinal liquid that had filled the bath rapidly evaporated under the torrent of lightning energy swirling around him.