Yi-gang stared directly into the face of Go Yo-ja, as if trying to grasp his intentions.

His complexion was deathly pale. His beard was starting to show streaks of white, perhaps he was just a bit over 50.

He seemed to have a high status, yet too young to be considered among the elders.

Indeed, he was too young to undergo mortal body shedding and become an immortal. Normally, such an endeavor was only attempted when one’s life was nearly at its end.

He wondered how much blood had been drained to cause such pallor. It was a miracle he hadn’t died yet.

Go Yo-ja eagerly drank from the water pouch handed over by his disciple.

His disciples seemed to deeply respect Go Yo-ja. They sincerely supported their master’s aspiration to become an immortal.

“I have sought the cultivation of my internal elixir, achieving the embodiment of essence and spirit refinement.”

As terms related to Taoist studies were mentioned, Baek Ha-jun and Pahan became speechless.

“I am now on the verge of reaching the state of ascension. You must tell me straight how my achievements compare to those of Sage Yu.”

“What happens if I don’t answer correctly?” Yi-gang asked, curious.

“Then I cannot give you the Blood Moths.”

“How will you know if I’m telling the truth?”

“There’s a way to see through it.”

Meaning Yi-gang couldn’t lie without being found out.

It was a ludicrous story, yet Go Yo-ja’s disciples seemed to seriously believe it.

“How do you intend to demonstrate your Taoist power?”

Indeed, Taoist power wasn’t something that could be compared so easily. Whether it’s extensive knowledge in Taoism or profound cultivation of the mind, all could be considered as manifestations of Taoist power.

There would be two ways to demonstrate such power.

Either through impressive sorcery spells or by showcasing the strength of profound Qi cultivation.

“Since I cannot show ordinary sorcery in front of the Azure Forest… I will demonstrate the achievements of my Qi cultivation. I have finally reached the stage of Refining Spirit.”

When cultivating Qi to train the Essence-Qi-Spirit, the process was divided into three stages:

The first stage was Refining Essence into Qi.

The second stage Refining Qi into Spirit.

The third stage was Refining Spirit back to Void.

Reaching the last stage of Refining Spirit back to Void signified that one’s Qi cultivation has reached an incredible realm.

Indeed, the appearance of Go Yo-ja’s’s commencement of greater circulation was extraordinary.

His breathing seemed visible, and a mirage-like aura undulated around him.

Ha-jun murmured in astonishment, “…A Supreme Peak master.”

“Go Yo-ja is respected even in Kunlun as a sage. He’s the direct disciple of the current sect leader.”

Pahan informed them of this.

It was a ludicrous story, yet the disciples of Go Yo-ja seemed to seriously believe it.

“Three Flowers… Gathered at the Peak.”

Three Flowers at the Peak.

In the distant past, what Lü Dongbin, the Sword Immortal, described as the pinnacle of Qi cultivation, was realized by Go Yo-ja.

His disciples recited the Tao in silence.

Yi-gang and his companions were also amazed by the remarkable phenomenon.

“Incredible…”

Until hearing that his master Yu Jeong-shin and Dam Hyun had humiliated Go Yo-ja, he held not much expectation.

He only thought about how to give a suitable response to get the Blood Moths, but Go Yo-ja was truly a remarkable Taoist.

There was no inferiority compared to his master Yu Jeong-shin. If anything, the achievement in Qi cultivation seemed even more remarkable.

“Cough, cough. H-how is it!”

Go Yo-ja, with his exhausted body, demonstrated his achievement.

And so, it seemed questionable whether someone preparing for ascension through mortal body liberation should exhaust themselves to such an extent.

“Speak. Give an honest answer…!”

He promised that if Yi-gang told the truth, he would capture the Blood Moths and share his Taoist power.

How should Yi-gang respond then?

Yi-gang pondered.

“Do you think my Taoist power surpasses that of Sage Yu?”

Yi-gang had thought that Go Yo-ja’s desire was to surpass his master Yu Jeong-shin.

Then, it seemed appropriate to please him by saying, “Your Taoist power is indeed greater.”

But something felt amiss.

“…”

Everyone swallowed their saliva, waiting for Yi-gang to speak. Go Yo-ja was no different.

Yi-gang felt the need to verify.

“…It seems certain that your Taoist power has reached the heavens.”

“Th-that’s right.”

“My master is also a revered figure who has attained enlightenment, but…”

Go Yo-ja was eager for an answer.

“As someone as humble as I, it seems presumptuous to compare my master’s Taoist power with yours. That is my answer.”

Go Yo-ja momentarily wore a stunned expression, then quickly burst into joyous laughter.“Hahahaha! Is that your honest answer?”

In that moment, Yi-gang was certain.

Go Yo-ja had deliberately set the condition to ‘if you give an honest answer.’

“Yes. How could I possibly speak falsehoods?”

Regardless of Yi-gang’s response, it seemed Go Yo-ja would have said, ‘Hmm, you have spoken the truth.’

And then, he would have allowed the capture of the Blood Moths and, in some way, shared his Taoist power.

The sigh of relief he let out was proof enough.

‘He doesn’t want to die after all.’

There was a reason why, despite having been drained of blood by the Blood Moths for so long, he hadn’t died yet.

The method of mortal body shedding requires one to take their own life first.

Though Go Yo-ja tried to hide it, Yi-gang noticed his desire not to die.

“I would not have forgiven you if you had lied… but to answer in such a way.”

He casually descended from the rock where he had been sitting in a half-lotus position.

It was unclear how such a person had decided to become an immortal through this ritual.

“I simply answered honestly, as you asked.”

What Yi-gang did was merely to facilitate Go Yo-ja being honest.

Go Yo-ja would help Yi-gang capture the Blood Moths. Furthermore, since there was the excuse of imparting Taoist power, becoming an immortal by dying today was out of the question.

“Heavenly opportunities are rare… but today, it can’t be helped. Heh heh heh.”

He seemed very pleased about not having to die.

It was when Go Yo-ja was about to pick up his robe.

Suddenly, Sang Mu knelt down with a thud.

“Master, this is not right!”

“…What do you mean?”

“That young master is clearly lying, Master!”

Go Yo-ja, taken aback, then feigned anger.

“Wh-what are you talking about!”

“Avoiding an answer by claiming ignorance is deceit! To say he does not know, despite witnessing your immortal-like achievements, surely makes him a liar.”

“…”

Yi-gang somehow felt he understood why Go Yo-ja had been pushed into performing the ritual of mortal body shedding.

Perhaps he had been unable to stop at some point. The encouragement and tears from those around him must have influenced him further.

Except for Sang Mu, the other disciples also supported Go Yo-ja and Sang Mu.

“That’s right! Isn’t it the grand plan you’ve dreamed of for ten years!”

“You’ve said if we miss this heavenly opportunity, we’d have to wait another ten years. We cannot allow an uninvited guest to ruin this great event, Master!”Go Yo-ja seemed to be held in high regard by them. Thus, they genuinely wished for their master to become an immortal.

However, Go Yo-ja’s expression was lukewarm. His disciples might not have noticed, but Yi-gang did.

Sang Mu suddenly stood up and pointed a finger at Yi-gang.

“Are you truly a disciple of Sage Yu Jeong-shin!”

He was vehement in his argument.

“As someone who has met Sage Yu personally, I am confident that my master’s Taoist power surpasses his.”

“…No, I was being honest. And yes, I am indeed a disciple of that Sage Yu.”

“Then prove it!”

The manner of proof was clear.

Sang Mu raised his hand to the sky and chanted a spell.

“Six-Man Call Blowing Wind and Drifting Clouds!”

Then, the clouds in the sky slowly moved, and a whirlwind blew.

It was clearly a spell to summon the wind.

A spell fitting for a decent Taoist disciple.

Leaves blown by the wind stuck to Sang Mu’s face.

After removing the leaves, he said, “If you truly inherited the direct lineage of Sage Yu, then you should be superior to me. Show your skills and prove your worth!”

Even when they had come to the Azure Forest to argue, it seemed that Kunlun enjoyed competitions.

“Should I use a spell as well?”

“If it is of a high level, I will believe that your judgment surpasses mine.”

Sang Mu then looked back at his master, Go Yo-ja.

His smile, filled with firm resolve, seemed to say, ‘Please, trust in me, Master.’

And Go Yo-ja, upon receiving that gaze, muttered very quietly.

Yi-gang clearly saw his flustered expression and the shape of his mouth.

‘This brat…’

Then, Go Yo-ja turned to Yi-gang with a look of desperation, as if asking for help.

“Brother…!”

“Young Master Yi-gang!”

Ha-jun and Pahan seemed perplexed. Yi-gang waved his hand, signaling them to step back.

Sang Mu, still summoning the wind, shouted, “Prove it!”Thinking of him as a parrot, Yi-gang took a step forward.

It seemed like he needed to save this Taoist, Go Yo-ja, from his disciple, for his own sake as well.

‘The spell is a bit lacking.’

Sang Mu’s wind summoning technique needed to be visibly suppressed to make an impression.

Using sorcery for that would be challenging.

However, Yi-gang had a secret weapon.

He drew his meteorite sword and raised it towards the sky.

Sang Mu tilted his head at the unusual sight of using a sword for casting a spell.

Then, his eyes widened.

Crack—

A flash of lightning sparked from the tip of the sword Yi-gang held aloft.

It was the harmony of the Heavenly Thunder Bell, but the Taoists of Kunlun, unaware of this, were all greatly surprised.

“Is that…”

“A spell?”

Yi-gang had anticipated this reaction. After inheriting the yokai energy of the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon, Yi-gang’s use of the Heavenly Thunder Bell differed from ordinary martial arts.

It was a step into the realm of sorcery.

In the realm of sorcery, lightning and thunder were considered to possess miraculous properties.

It’s seen as a punishment from the heavens, possessing the power to purify by burning away impurities.

Handling such lightning surely transcended the realm of ordinary sorcery.

It was a deed usually reserved for immortals.

Yi-gang muttered a convincing spell.

“…Summon Thunder from the Great Heavens.”

The sparks flashing from the tip of the sword soon flowed blue along the blade.

With the clouds darkening the sky, the lightning flowing through Yi-gang’s sword was clearly visible to everyone.

Even Go Yo-ja was astonished, and Sang Mu’s face turned deathly pale.

The wind he had been summoning had quieted down.

‘This should be enough.’

Yi-gang intended to retract the Heavenly Thunder Bell he had been mustering.

It was merely a prank, mimicking the Sword Lightning used by the Namgung Clan.

He feared that if he continued, they might discern the truth behind the spell.

However, Yi-gang had overlooked one thing.

This was the Kunlun Mountains.

A sacred place ruled by Queen Mother of the West, where the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes resided.

The Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes felt Yi-gang using the power of the Heavenly Thunder Bell.

The intent to borrow the power of their kind, the power of lightning—

To their eyes, it must have appeared as desperate and naive as a thirsty child seeking water.

Thus, the Nine-Tails, the mother of all Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes, decided to help.

Yi-gang had summoned the lightning he was seeking.

A streak of light fell from the clear sky onto Yi-gang’s sword.

The world flashed.

Everyone’s vision watching Yi-gang turned blindingly white, as bright as the lightning that struck nearby.

And then, a sound as if the world was bursting open.

Roaring—

The hot heat and the shock of the air, compressed then exploded.

In this situation, where all senses were disrupted, it was impossible for anyone, martial artist or not, to remain composed.

This was true for Go Yo-ja and Sang Mu, who blindly worshipped his master, as well.

Sang Mu, who was close by, rolled on the ground before getting up.

He couldn’t fully comprehend what he had just seen.

As he wiped away the tears streaming down his face, he saw Yi-gang still holding up his sword.

His sword was shining a bright blue.

It was clear because he had seen it. The lightning had struck Yi-gang’s sword.

Yi-gang had called forth the lightning.

“S-such a feat…”

He knew how remarkable it was.

The spell to summon lightning from the sky belonged to the realm of immortals.

Could it be a coincidence? Perhaps he was struck by lightning that fortuitously fell while he was holding up his sword.

Yi-gang remained still, supposedly because he was electrocuted…

“Is this sufficient?”

Yet, Yi-gang spoke perfectly fine.

The sound of a beating heart was audible.

Turning to the side, the emaciated master was wiping away tears.“To witness the Thunder God’s Movement Art before dying.”

The Thunder God’s Movement Art.

Sang Mu felt deeply ashamed of himself.

“To audaciously dream of becoming an immortal, what a presumptuous dream we had!”

Listening to their master’s refreshed lament, Sang Mu and the Kunlun disciples bowed their heads.