Chapter 168: 1000 Cyclical Routes (2)
Chapter 168: 1000 Cyclical Routes (2)
With Woon-seong’s permission, Sang Gwan-chuk ducked inside the tent.
He looked up and said, “I am here to report on the situation.”
Woon-seong narrowed his eyes at the word ‘situation’. Was there something that was worth reporting on right now?
Sichuan Murim had collapsed, Ningxia Province had collapsed.
A few days ago, he heard reports that the factions in Chongqing Province had packed up and run away, while those in Guizhou Province were planning the same.
But there was a situation to report?
“Is there something worth mentioning?”
Sang Gwan-chuk nodded with a hardened expression. “The Martial Alliance has called a meeting.”
Hearing this, Woon-seong’s expression also hardened.
“The Martial Alliance intends to use Chongqing and Guizhou as battlefields,” Sang Gwan-chuk said as he laid some new flags onto the map of the world.
They were blue flags, different from the red ones that symbolized the Cult of the Heavenly Demon.
They were flags representing the Martial Alliance.
Woon-seong furrowed his brow. “Is this how they are occupying the area?”
Based on the situation illustrated by the map, it was clear that it would not be an easy fight.
The Martial Alliance had already occupied various highlands and ridges, as well as key strategic points. Still, fortunately, Woon-seong’s worst case scenario seemed to have been avoided.
Sang Gwan-chuk shook his head.
“This is only what I expect based on the current advancement of the Martial Alliance, but not all of these areas have yet been occupied.”
As he spoke, he pulled a pen from his waist. He dipped it in ink and drew a circle around some flags.
“These are the only occupied points. As you can see, there are still many areas that have not yet been taken.”
“In the end, if we want the fight to be a bit easier, we have to move quickly.”
“We have rested long enough during the march, so if we start advancing right now, we should be able to fight with about a third of these occupied.”
Woon-seong nodded. It wasn’t ideal, but it would be much better than going into battle without occupying any favorable land.
“Let us split the rear Southern Army into two, so that they can march through Sichuan and Gansu respectively. The Eastern and Western Armies will continue forward.”
“How would you like them to move?”
Woon-seong responded by moving a red flag without physically touching it. “The Eastern Army will go to Guizhou and the Western Army can move towards Chongqing. That way, the distance traveled by the armies will be shorter.”
Sang Gwan-chuk nodded. “Understood.”
Woon-seong suddenly remembered something. “Oh, and I have a favor to ask you.”
Sang Gwan-chuk titled his head.
Placing one of the iron bracers on the table, Woon-seong said, “I would like to increase the weight of the iron rings by 100 kilograms, please have new ones be made.”
Sang Gwan-chuk had a relatively frightened look on his face hearing that Woon-seong wished to make the rings even heavier. He knew the weight of the current ones, since he had ordered them himself.
But how can you want more weight…?
If exaggerated a little, that was almost double the original.
It made Sang Gwan-chuk wonder if the Leader was truly poisoned or if he didn’t understand the direness of the situation well enough to limit the use of internal qi as much as possible.
I don’t think that’s it.
But soon, Sang Gwan-chuk corrected himself. Woon-seong’s eyes were as serious as ever.
It was not that the Leader is unaware of the situation.
He had made such a request knowing the gravity.
If so… Sang Gwan-chuk swallowed. Have you found a way?
If Woon-seong said he had found a way, Sang Gwan-chuk would believe him. He was young, but the Leader had never let the Strategist down before.
“I heed the command of the Leader,” bowed Sang Gwan-chuk.
After the Strategist left, Woon-seong confirmed that there were no eyes on him. No longer hiding his tired expression, he settled deep into the chair.
He closed his eyes.
The way to drive the body to its limit was to increase the weight of the iron rings. Then what about my qi?
Any martial artist would tell you that above all, harmony between the internal and external were important.
This was no exception for Woon-seong, who was a Semi-Divine Being.
If the body was strengthened, then both his external and internal strength had to develop.
After all, you have to find a way.
The path for his martial arts.
Woon-seong thought of many different paths.
The first thing that came to mind was the Heart Sword, which Moon Cleaving Heavenly Demon Chun Hwi had shown him.
Rather than the moon reflected in the lake, the Heart Sword shattered the moon reflected in the heart.
The memory of that time remained as a shock in Woon-seong’s mind. That was the first time he had seen the physical manifestation of the State of Mind and the Heart Sword of rumors.
Should I have the Heart Sword be my path?
Woon-seong’s brows twitched.
No.
Heart Sword.
Using a sword to soften a person’s state of mind was definitely powerful.
But Woon-seong didn’t think that it was the way to go.
He knew that the Heart Sword was definitely a path to develop his martial arts, but it was not the absolute answer.
If there were a hundred different martial artists, there were a hundred different martial arts.
Only the Heart Sword was chosen and achieved by Chun Hwi; Woon-seong did not have to walk down that path.
Then what path suits me?
Wasn’t there a way for him to strike his opponent across space-time that wasn’t the Heart Sword?
If not, was there a way to forge an intangible sword using intangible sword force?
An endless number of forks in the road appeared in Woon-seong’s mind, then disappeared.
Suddenly, it was like lightning flashed.
Woon-seong’s mind went blank.
It was because of a single word passing through his head.
Why did I forget?
Woon-seong clenched his fists tightly.
His path of martial arts had already been set. He had just forgotten about it.
“An expansive martial sea…” muttered Woon-seong.
A sea made of martial arts knowledge.
An endless sea that weaved the strings of Heaven and earth together.
Wasn’t it a scholar’s dream to make such a theory of academia? Any descendent of the Spear Master Sect, who would be both a scholar and a martial artist, should hope to develop such a grand theory.
No.
Woon-seong shook his head.
He was not here to create some academic theory, but to make a martial technique that would allow himself to transcend his own limits.
And he would have to make the technique again and again.
Woon-seong slowly licked his lips.
“One Thousand Cyclical Routes.”
One thousand routes to capture all of the martial arts that existed in this world.
No faction, no theory, or martial technique would be able to escape this course…
Woon-seong muttered its name again, “One Thousand Cyclical Routes.”
Truly, the sound of that name wasn’t so bad.
The way I must go.
One Thousand Cyclical Routes.
***
As Woon-seong and Sang Gwan-chuk had discussed, the Demonic Army began to advance.
The Southern Army took the spot of the Eastern and Western Armies, as the front of the Demonic Army advanced in separate directions.
This was to grab any and all advantages they could in the battlefield chosen by the Martial Alliance.
It was during the third day of the march that Sang Gwan-chuk visited Woon-seong’s tent once again.
“I have brought the items you asked for.”
Kung-
After Sang Gwan-chuk finished speaking, the soldiers behind him laid down a huge box.
Just by placing it down, the ground seemed to ring — what a terrifying weight.
The demonic soldiers who had carried it inside did not ask anything aloud, but looked on in curiosity.
What is the leader going to do with all this weight…?
It was because they felt first hand and knew the box was heavier than it looked.
The weight of four adults was not easy to carry.
They stuck their tongues out in thought.
Meanwhile, Woon-seong approached the box.
It was made of iron.
“I used an iron box because I feared that a wooden one would have broken under the weight.”
Woon-seong nodded at the explanation and opened the lid.
There was a squeaking sound and the inside was revealed.
Four well made iron rings could be seen.
“A considerable amount of Black Iron Stone was added in order to make sure the small size could accommodate the desired weight. Any missing weight was filled using Mud Iron.”
Both Black Iron Stone and Mud Iron were much denser than other ferrous materials. And they were costly.
Woon-seong picked up one of the weights.
Perhaps it was because they were nearly twice as heavy, but the weight in his hand was quite sturdy.
“Well done,” Woon-seong said, satisfied with the weight.
Sang Gwan-chuk bowed his head.
Meanwhile, Woon-seong clipped one of the four bracers onto his arm.
Clank—
There was the sound of iron interlocking with iron and his arm sagged down. Woon-seong slightly shivered at the weight.
It is definitely heavier than before.
It was enough to force his physical body to the limits. He might even dislocate his shoulder if he wasn’t careful.
Woon-seong silently put the other iron bracers on.
As they watched him do so, the guards and soldiers who had been carrying the box were wide-eyed and slack-jawed.
Oh my…
Even if he’s the Leader, that much…
They were unable to believe that a human could bear such weight with physical strength alone. If you wielded that weight, you might be able to burst someone’s head with just a flick of the wrist.
But can he move? A guard titled his head in wonder.
Woon-seong loosened his shoulders, as if laughing at such thoughts.
Peng—
A fist was thrown forth and a heavy echo sounded. Not done with just that, Woon-seong tested out some more physical combat moves.
Bang, bang, bang!
Thump—
It was truly a terrifying resonance.
Whenever his fist or feet stuck the air, you could see a ring of air being pushed and exploding outwards.
Almost unknowingly, Sang Gwan-chuk chuckled. “Huh, huh.”
The other soldiers did not make a sound, but had similar reactions.
Whether he saw their reactions or not, Woon-seong nodded with a satisfied expression.
It would take some time to adjust, but it was the first step towards crossing a new wall.
That was why Woon-seong spoke, meaning it with all his heart.
“Not so bad.”