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One more condition was added to Team Seolhwa's martial arts training.

That is, not all of the martial arts of the Heavenly Demon would be passed down. The reason was that it wasn’t suitable for a woman's body and he didn’t want to modify them.

Instead, he said he would choose the martial arts that Team Seolhwa would learn from the Heavenly Demon Cult.

That's how Team Seolhwa's training was decided, and we headed to Bukhan Mountain.

Lee Seong-jin was also invited to practice, but he said he was too busy and postponed it to a later date.

He was busy dealing with the proceeds from the vitality potion and the Gate Detector, as well as the mana stones and items I had collected while going around the Gates.

It must have been tiring, but he seemed to be enjoying himself. I wondered if he was a workaholic.

I didn't know if Lee Seong-jin would agree, but I thought it would be a good idea to hire more secretaries and accountants to help him.

I also thought that I should give him a generous bonus too.

I climbed the mountain thinking about all manner of things until Team Seolhwa and I arrived halfway up. This was the place where I had practiced before, it was now opened wide after an explosion had leveled the surrounding area.

"You say you're making an energy center?"

They must have assumed we'd be doing regular training outdoors. I guess that's because I didn't explain everything in full.

As soon as I mentioned I'd be creating an energy center, the members—apart from Ji-young—whispered to each other, and confusion, astonishment, and disbelief were all visible on their status windows.

I sighed.

The entire team seemed to know how I made Seol-ah's energy center.

"I'm against that method... huh? Ji-young Unnie, what are you doing?”

Seol-ah got angry and objected when Ji-young lay down with her knees up.

“I don’t mind, so please make it quick.”

Expectation and excitement displayed on her status window as she spoke shyly with a blushing face.

“…Ahem. You don't have to do that, Ji-young. Get up. It was a special situation at the time, so I couldn't help it. Now I have another way.”

"Really?"

Seol-ah said with a questionable expression, and Ji-young stood up in embarrassment.

[That child looks somewhat disappointed.]

“…”

Just as the Heavenly Demon said, Ji-young's status window changed to reflect her disappointment. I didn't know what the hell she wanted.

“How is it done?”

The new method the Heavenly Demon taught me was to inject internal energy through the Waist Point and make an energy center through the rules of the Mind Moves that the girls learned.

The Mind Move they would learn was the Three Varieties of Mind Technique commonly learned by the members of the Martial Arts Society, but since the speed at which the energy built up was pretty slow, the Heavenly Demon had to help a bit.

With his help, I made an energy center for each of them.

Since they weren't familiar with exercising energy, it was a hassle to help them operate their internal energy twice a day.

In the process, the girls cried out that it hurt and that I was a pervert.

In the end, I took out the Bone Club and showed them some actual violence, and then they calmly let me continue teaching.

Only after a week could they stably capture the magic power spread throughout their bodies.

[Good job. Kukuku.]

Whew, it's been a tough week.

If it weren't for the Two Hearts title and the Heavenly Demon's assistance, it would have taken more time and mental effort.

As I watched them exerting their energy, I posed a question I'd been wondering about to the Heavenly Demon.

“Even in this era, there is a breathing technique called Energy Center Breathing. So, isn't there a similar way to breathe?”

[That's right, but not quite.]

Again, not a clear answer. The Heavenly Demon continued.

[I don't think you should compare it to such a straightforward method.]

The Heavenly Demon explained everyone was born with an energy center, but if you didn't use it as you grew up, it would eventually disintegrate.

Therefore, if you learned the Mind Move and martial arts from a young age, it was possible to achieve fast growth because there was no need to make a new energy center.

“How was I?”

[Hmm, that was weird. I said I would make an energy center, but you already had one.]

"What? Why didn't you tell me?”

[I just accepted it at the time. However, seeing that you abnormally built up your inner power and became stronger, I started to have questions.]

“Is this why you kept talking like you knew something?”

I remembered what the Heavenly Demon said when I killed Oh Young-seok and went to the Hunter Management Bureau to meet Koh Tae-wook.

He told me to stop thinking and practice, and he wanted to say something more but then shut his mouth.

Coming to think of it, even when he told me about the rules for the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art in the Tutorial Dungeon, he only gave vague answers.

[At that time, there was an energy center in your body. It was the same as that of a warrior who had trained for quite a long time. But it was empty. It was as if someone had intentionally emptied it of inner power and blocked its flow.]

“I don’t understand at all.”

[I don’t either. I didn't think much about it then, and I just made it so you could feel the energy center by breaking through the blockage and activating it.]

Ultimately, he didn't pay much attention because it wasn't his body. He had the confidence to prepare for the consequences, too. It was a bit disheartening, but it was already way in the past.

[Now that I think about it, it's strange your energy center accepted the energy of the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art without much resistance.]

He speculated my martial arts skills had risen dramatically because of that.

When I thought about it, it made sense.

If I already had an energy center and made it usable, it would have been quicker to fill it up.

I wondered how I had gotten the energy center, though, but even the Heavenly Demon didn't have a clue.

“I just have to accept that it's something good.”

[You seem carefree at odd points. I can't figure you out.]

“Even if I knew my current condition, the only thing I could do was practice. There must be a reason why I suddenly regressed and became stronger.”

[Has the main character's disease struck you again?]

“It’s not that the disease hit me. I'm talking about the causality you keep bringing up. Since there is a cause, shouldn't we wait for the result? You train to get the best results.”

[The problem is that we don't know the exact cause.]

“By the way, what kind of martial arts do you plan on having me teach these kids?”

[When you were constructing an energy center for them, I examined their bodies. There are suitable techniques.]

“I don’t have a clue what they are, so I should get educated on them first.”

[Kukuku, be ready.]

The Heavenly Demon must have been getting pretty bored. I remembered how I’d been whacked by his long pipe while learning martial arts, and my head started to throb.

[When your martial arts are leveled up, and you're ready to learn something new, I'll tell you about the Yin-Yang Fusion Technique. So don't worry too much. Kukuku.]

This I’d be looking forward to.

***

Except for the time I spent watching Team Seolhwa's training, I spent most of my time with the Heavenly Demon in the mental world of the Mind Divine Shifting Art. It was to relearn the basics and learn the skills to teach them. In this process, I'd be able to balance my martial arts in accordance with the Harmony Grade.

“How do you know all these martial arts from other factions?”

“There's nothing the Heavenly Demon Cult doesn't have their hands on. They've got all the combat techniques used in faction wars.”

“Like, the martial arts each faction uses?”

“Our school's been around for ages. We've been in plenty of battles with demons, and we've picked up some new moves along the way.”

The Heavenly Demon Cult had the upper hand in the fight against the conventional faction, so they were able to snatch up their secrets. But since they never had to face any retaliation, they were able to keep their own techniques safe.

In addition, they studied the sects they had destroyed and the techniques they collected. After that research was complete, this knowledge was transcribed and used as an advantageous political tool when negotiating with conventional factions.

Changing the subject, the Heavenly Demon taught me martial arts that fit the characteristics of Team Seolhwa, as well as bits of knowledge that I didn’t know but needed.

In line with the rising level of my martial arts, I naturally absorbed everything he had to teach me.

He imparted knowledge such as Secret Voice Delivery and Moving Without Touching, both of which were bordering on the miraculous.

The Heavenly Demon said that I should be able to manipulate nearby objects with my inner power now that I had reached the stage of Harmony Grade, so that was why he taught me Moving Without Touching.

It was a telekinesis-like ability, but he said it would be necessary when my stage rose, and I’d have better control over my Blade Energy.

That's how I spent all my time learning skills suitable for my level and martial arts to teach the team.

“How's it going for you girls?”

In response to my question, the girls who had finished their energy training sat in the lotus position with revitalized expressions.

“I think I know why you’re strong.”

“This works really well.”

“That’s right. I didn’t even level up, but my magic power went up.”

"When are you going to tell me how to use Mitchell?"

As expected, they were lively.

"Ji-young speaks well. Since you seem to have gotten accustomed to the energy training, I'll be instructing you in fighting techniques from now on."

Seol-ah and Ji-young were thrilled with my announcement, but Hye-jong and Eun-joo showed their displeasure.

I had to use this opportunity to get them to adjust their behavior, too.

“It will be tough as hell, but I hope you follow along with the knowledge that you can become stronger. Kukuku.”

[Are you planning on making up for what I did to you?]

It'd been challenging in the meantime.

While learning how to teach them, I'd been severely beaten by the Heavenly Demon's long pipe.

“What’s with that evil laugh, Oppa?”

“You look like a pervert.”

"I don’t like it!"

“…”

The members of Team Seolhwa, upon seeing my expression, hesitated and started to back away.

***

Two more months passed, and the friendly matches between Korea, China, and Japan were fast approaching.

The members' achievements so far had been so great that, in terms of the Martial Arts Society, they had the skills of a First Class master.

It was Woo Seol-ah who showed the best results, and she was close to reaching Peak master, but the others weren’t trailing too far behind.

At this rate, they would be helpful in future fights against enemy guilds and Gate Managers.

Above all, the most significant achievement was that they came to their senses with the affectionate encouragement of the Bone Club. I thought, however, that periodic mental training would be necessary in the future.

For two months, they learned the Three Basic Movements in common: footwork, physical arts, and speed, which formed the basis of the martial arts they learned.

After learning the basics, I moved into teaching them martial arts that fit their individual traits. The martial arts they learned were as follows:

Woo Seol-ah: Demonic Fire Blood Heavenly Sword

This martial art was said to have been created after gaining insight while studying the method of destruction of the Twenty-Four Plum Flower Moves of the Hwasan Clan.

The Demonic Fire Blood Heavenly Sword consisted of the first form, Demonic Fire One Flash, the second, Demonic Fire Full Bloom, and the third, Demonic Fire Blood Heavenly Dance.

Yoo Hye-jong: Heavenly Demon Shadow Kick

Initially, it belonged to a small military officer using the Hung Ga Kuen near Guangdong Province. Still, it was adapted by the Heavenly Demon, inspired by their mysterious kicks.

It was said that it was made of only one move, but it was ever-changing and powerful.

Min Eun-joo: Heavenly Demon Cloud Stick

The Heavenly Demon improved the martial arts practiced by religious warriors to oppose the Thirty-Six Ways of Dog Beating Strikes.

To match, it also consisted of a total of thirty-six types.

Kim Ji-young: Heavenly Demon Northern Fists Technique

It was a martial art created by the Heavenly Demon to pass time while he gazed at the night sky.

To match the names of the stars, this martial art was composed of seven moves: Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid.

He said these martial arts were necessary to learn to reach the rank of a lord in the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Of course, I also received all kinds of scolding from the Heavenly Demon to teach them.

To know the principle behind them, I had no choice but to learn the Plum Flower Sword and the Dog Beating Strike together.

He said that it would be easier to teach this way. Thanks to that, I came to feel the movement and energy of the skills.

As a result, my martial arts also progressed.

Although the stage of a fully matured Harmony Grade was still far away, I gained new enlightenment by teaching the members of Team Seolhwa.

With this realization, my understanding had increased, my energy center had grown, and my magic power had swelled.

When I converted the amount of magic power I had into the inner power measured in Martial Arts Society, it was slightly more than three Gapja (180 years).

In addition, I reached 60% on the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art and formed Strong Energy by reaching 100% with the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style.

By achieving perfect unity between body and soul and body and blade, I had reached the state of martial arts where I could use my blade while handling Strong Energy freely.

In addition, it became possible to naturally spread my Body Energy and move objects at close range.

But though I learned various moves and skills, the most useful was Secret Voice Delivery.

The members of Team Seolhwa had come to understand this too.

[Now you're showing aspects of a master of the Harmony Grade.]

“I picked up a lot while instructing them.”

[The order was messed up, but it's great that you've found your footing now. So, do you like these new martial arts?]

“I don’t just like them.”

When I reached this stage, the Heavenly Demon taught me a new martial art skill known as Yin-Yang Fusion Technique.

As the name suggested, it was a skill that used the energy of both extreme yang and extreme yin simultaneously.

To use the two energies simultaneously, I had to split my consciousness into two, and thanks to that, I was able to think of two things at the same time.

This martial art skill consisted of a total of two forms as follows:

First Form. Yang Dance Shadow, Yin Shift to Zero.

Second Form. Yang Affection Steal, Yin Ice Water.

Here, martial arts that dealt with Yang energy were called Heavenly Demon Yang Techniques, and those that dealt with Yin energy were called Heavenly Demon Yin Techniques.

Although those skills released energy waves, they could also be used for various skills that utilized one’s weapons, fists, and legs.

“Thanks to these skills, I can move my hands freely according to two minds.”

[I reckon I know what you're thinking.]

"Is it possible?"

[Do your own digging like you did when teaching the girls. You'll find the answer if you review what you've learned up to now.]

“You’re giving me homework.”

[It's time to find the answer yourself. It'll be a good learning experience for you.]