I decided to forget everything about my situation.
My progress down the mountain, the time limit, even the routine I had formulated, I erased it all from my mind.
I’d realized: thinking everything through just wasn’t how I did things.
The method that fit me best was ordering my obstacles by their priority and solving them one at a time.
First, I decided to adjust the circulation formula.
I wasn’t going to proceed as I had been, using my spare time to make adjustments.
I was going to focus on this task until it was done.
And if it took all the time I had left... it couldn’t be helped.
Even if I trained my body for a hundred days, it was impossible for me to reach the ground at this pace.
I might’ve been too arrogant.I tore my muscles like crazy and used the time spent recovering to begin my adjustments.
I didn’t know if this was the most efficient or effective method, but whatever.
Thinking about it now, I was attempting to alter the martial arts of Baek Nogwang, so any such doubts would only get in my way.
“Fuu...”
The basics.
I would start with the basics.
As I stepped foot into this task, I first abandoned all of the adjustments I had already done...
And then I began circulating using the original method.
Just like someone who was learning the Strongest Fire Technique for the first time.
“...”
Leaving behind all the adjustments I had made didn’t mean I had wasted my time.
Thanks to the time I’d spent adjusting this technique before, I was able to focus on it for a long time, and I learned even more about this breathing technique.
As a result, even though I was using the original formula, I had a deeper understanding and appreciation for it.
The channels I’d thought were natural, the intersections, the total amount of internal energy being circulated and its divisions, and even the thin routes that spread out into their own little sections, they were all that way for a reason.
I see.
I had only understood this martial art through memorization before.
Rather than feeling surprised or dumbfounded, I felt amazed.
I felt like I understood how some of the effects I’d come to be familiar with were produced.
“Fuu...”
When I finished circulating, it felt like I had executed a proper rotation of the Strongest Fire Technique for the first time in my life.
At the same moment, I also had a thought.
Am I even allowed to alter this amazing martial art with my hands?
With such a perfect work, adding or removing anything would make a mark.
However...
“...”
I once again began to adjust the formula.
I wasn’t doing this to descend the mountain.
I wanted to prove that my initial selection wasn’t wrong.
I wanted to prove that altering the formula wasn’t a mistake and that I hadn’t chosen the wrong path. I wanted to prove it to myself.
“...One step at a time.”
Other people wouldn’t even notice that I was walking. They wouldn’t be able to even see it.
Even so, I could see it.
I knew that I was taking one step at a time. My steps might have been slow, but I was moving forward nonetheless.
And maybe that was good enough for now.
* * * * *
* * * * *
Not all surges of enlightenment seemed to come immediately.
Kraaaah.
As the nameless monster bird let out another cry, I rose from my seat in a daze.
“...”
I looked at the thing that had been by my side this entire time.
“...FAD.”
[Yes?]
“What day is it today?”
[It has been 90 days since you began your descent.]
Time flowed slower than I expected.
I’d been sure that 100 days had already passed.
[Current Progress: 33.2%]
My current progress was displayed on FAD’s screen, but my heart remained calm.
I didn’t feel even a hint of urgency.
I felt like laughing, but I held it in for now.
As it was an important problem, I felt the need to check one last time.
I immediately sat back down in a lotus position...
And began circulating.
Fwoosh...
The flames that erupted in my inner core—my true ki moved as I directed the current of my flame.
I didn’t allow the flames to deviate even a little bit within the Twelve Standard Meridians or the Eight Extraordinary Meridians as they spread throughout my body.
The core of the new formula I’d created wasn’t for the ki to pass through the baihui point.
To increase the regenerative capabilities of the Strongest Fire Technique, it was important to spread the heat evenly throughout my entire body.
Among the many bodily organs, there was only one that could accomplish that task.
The heart.
Badump!
Each heartbeat felt like a small explosion.
This explosion then turned into a conflagration as it spread throughout my body.
Rather than spreading out... it felt more like the flame was expanding.
Naturally, the body had a few spots that were less sensitive than others.
For example, the butt was less susceptible to pain, and it was difficult to move it compared to my hands and feet.
No matter how sensitive someone was, there were muscles that they couldn’t control with will alone.
Through this circulation technique, I was freed of that limitation.
In my current state, I could tear the muscles in my body without lifting a single finger, and I could accelerate or even stop the beating of my heart.
Rumble...
At this moment, I realized a huge pillar within my body had crumbled.
“Haah...”
The moment that pillar was destroyed, I let out a hot sigh.
My breathing felt comfortable.
It was like I had only been allowing half the energy to flow around my body my entire life and I was finally experiencing it all being let through.
After opening my eyes, I realized I could see the fog much more clearly and even taste the air around me.
My senses had improved at least threefold.
Although the internal energy within my body was lacking, I was confident I could use the energy I had better than anyone else.
“...I see.”
I realized that I had reached beyond my original level.
I’d reached the second stage of the Strongest Fire Technique.
Just like all breathing techniques, the Strongest Fire Technique had its own stages, but unlike other breathing techniques, the boundaries between them weren’t clear.
Master had told me that this technique had a total of five stages...
He’d also told me that I would reach the stages naturally so long as I was patient.
“So simply increasing my internal energy wasn’t the method.”
...To reach the next stage, I’d had to alter the fundamental formula.
I wondered if there was another martial art as crazy as this in the world, but I could accept it since this was a martial art created by the Strongest Under the Heavens, Baek Nogwang.
Maybe he was aiming for this from the start.
I suddenly thought back to my first meeting with Kayan.
Back then, I’d struggled a lot due to my terrible body and lack of internal energy.
But it would be different now.
Although the situation would still be difficult, I realized that I didn’t need to focus only on my internal energy and external body.
Just having a normal body with four limbs was enough.
Step.
I walked through the foggy path.
It felt like the limitations placed upon me by Spirit Mountain had disappeared, but that wasn’t the case.
The pressure still surrounded me.
Since I could exhibit this much power here, how much stronger would my body be after I left Spirit Mountain?
Hm. I’m looking forward to it.
I shook my head.
[First... I guess I should congratulate you.]
I heard the voice of my senior brother through FAD.
[I expected you to make some progress, but I didn’t realize you would enter the second stage of the Strongest Technique in History. There was only a slim chance.]
“Really?”
My mood improved—Fourth Senior Brother wasn’t one to say empty words.
[Now, you will be able to descend the mountain much faster than before...]
“But it’ll still be difficult, right?”
[Right.]
When I heard his words, I thought back to his attitude all this time, and I suddenly felt that something was off.
“Senior Brother, even before I started, were you perhaps expecting me to fail?”
It was in the form of a question, but I asked while already being half certain.
[That’s right. It’s not that I was looking down on you or anything of the sort. You haven’t even begun the true test of Spirit Mountain.]
So there was something worse yet to come.
[Your innovation is definitely impressive... but I suggest you give up at this point.]
“Hm.”
I continued walking and reached the edge of the cliff.
[Are you going to take a shortcut again? Unfortunately, my suggestion was made with that in mind.]
A shortcut...
Maybe he wasn’t wrong.
“Honestly, since the first time I jumped down, I’ve been thinking about another method. I never thought about actually putting it into practice, but it might be possible now.”
[What is it?]
I didn’t answer with words, instead replying with action.
I stepped onto the empty air.
Of course, I hadn’t reached the level of Sky Walking at my current stage.
My body immediately fell due to the force of gravity.
Even if I couldn’t take a step on empty air, I felt that I could at least step on the sheer cliff face of the mountain.
Crunch!
This... is more tricky... than I expected...!
I couldn’t tell if I was running down or simply tumbling.
My legs, which continued to extend forward, felt as if they were disconnecting from my body.
But even in this state, my eyes only looked forward.
I can’t see properly because of this damned fog.
In any case, I hadn’t been planning on running all the way down the mountain like this. There was far too much distance to travel.
Fourth Senior Brother shouted at me with an uncharacteristic amount of worry.
[Luan, this is dangerous!]
I continued to run as I shouted back, “Why! Am I not going to meet the deadline even if I keep running like this?”
[That’s not it. A straight path is the fastest path to your destination... in theory. However, this path is dangerous.]
“Spirit Mountain is already dangerous!”
[That’s not what I mean. Even if your physical capabilities were boosted, it’s impossible to run all the way down the mountain without stopping. You’ll get exhausted before that happens.]
He was right.
However, I had already thought of a way to take a break.
After running down for a while, when I felt that I was about to run out of stamina, I put all my strength into my steps.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
I took about ten steps this way before my leg became embedded in the side of the mountain like a tree.
My calf was dug into the mountain.
“Fuu...”
In this position, I pushed my butt against the wall and leaned back.
It was an odd position, but so what?
I could rest like this.
“I can rest like this if I need to. I’m pretty sure I’m a genius.”
Seeing my actions, my senior brother sighed.
[...As expected of Master’s disciple.]
For some reason, it didn’t sound like a compliment.