Seclusion training. This referred to the practice of cutting off connections with the outside world and focusing solely on training.

It’s likely that even now, dozens of martial masters from Wudang or Shaolin were undergoing seclusion training.

First, they entered a place designated for training and locked the door behind them.

If they were esteemed individuals of a sect, they would even postpone necessary social activities.

Their focus was solely on seeking enlightenment, eating, and practicing martial arts.

However, it didn’t always yield results. In many cases, key figures of the sect who could become major forces ended up wasting time and returning as they were.

Nonetheless, several sects actively encouraged their martial masters to undertake seclusion training.

There’s a reason for that.

“It does have its effects. Definitely.”

Dam Hyun spoke with certainty.

For martial artists below Peak master, accumulating real combat experience and receiving guidance from a good master was the most effective.

But for those who have paved their own way to some extent, especially those who have aged and become set in their ways, it’s necessary to take time to reflect on themselves.

“That’s what seclusion training is for. It’s a convenient way to deal with troublesome old men who are high-ranking and strong but do nothing. Just wait a few years, and they return much stronger. How convenient is that?”

“I’m not an old man, am I?”

“So, you want to gain more of that damn real combat experience here? Just hole up somewhere and learn the Five Elements Divine Art. That seems like the best option right now.”

Yi-gang agreed with Dam Hyun’s words.

In the mountain crevice where the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes resided, there were numerous large and small caves scattered about.

He chose one and sat down in it.

Yi-gang, relying on the light of a lantern, took out and ate a Bigu pill.

It’s a type of raw food made by mixing pine pollen and jujubes. Naturally, it was tasteless, but according to Dam Hyun, one must eat Bigu pills during seclusion training.

“What is Bigu? Nowadays, there are those who add rice flour to Bigu pills and eat it like health food, but that’s missing the original point.”

Bigu was a Taoist training method. It involved avoiding grains because they were considered impure, thus not consuming cooked food or meat.

If one truly followed the Taoist sect, that’s how it should be, but would one have the strength without eating meat?

Even the Azure Forest made sure to feed their young disciples plenty of meat dishes.

“Even if only during the seclusion training, cut out grains. The Gateway of Life and Death, where the Ren and Du meridians intersect, is also blocked by impurities. You must cut off these impurities to achieve the truth of the Tao and reach great enlightenment.”

After chewing on the Bigu pills, Yi-gang looked up at the wall.

What was written there was the Five Elements Divine Art.

The legacy of the Five Elements Divine Lord, left on bamboo slips, remained intact in Yi-gang’s mind.

The first feeling Yi-gang had upon seeing the Five Elements Divine Art was astonishment.

Facing the fruit of such a daring challenge to manipulate all the energies of the five elements with a human body.

‘…Still, it’s a regrettable martial art.’

However, the second emotion he felt was regret.

The Five Elements Divine Art was perfect because it was mastered by the Five Elements Divine Lord.

The Five Elements Divine Lord had a unique constitution. Unlike Yi-gang’s meridian blockage disease, it seemed to be a constitution closer to a blessing.

Originally, it was true that a human body could not contain the energies of the five elements.

In other words, without a special constitution, one could not grasp the essence of the Five Elements Divine Art.

Dam Hyun countered what Yi-gang said.

“Special? Your body is even more special than his.”

“The Five Elements Divine Art and the meridian blockage disease are unrelated.”

“That’s not it. Your body has already accepted the yokai energy of the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon. Don’t you understand what that means?”

When Yi-gang accepted the yokai energy of the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon, he thought he should just carry it within him, just like he did with the spiritual energy of the Immortal Divine Sword deep in his upper dantian.

However, things did not proceed that way. The yokai energy merged with Yi-gang’s spiritual energy.

It was unforeseen that the two powers, which should have been separate like water and oil, mixed.

Because of that, Yi-gang’s body must have changed a bit as well.

“I think it’s because of the Three-Element Sacred Flower.”

Dam Hyun’s opinion was something Yi-gang had also considered.

Yi-gang had consumed a legendary spiritual herb known for its effects of transformation.

At the time, he thought there were no dramatic changes, but something must have changed.

However, it’s unclear exactly how.

“Since you’ve accepted the yokai energy, not being born with the blood of a yokai, you should be able to harmonize the energies of the five elements to some extent. Try to harmonize two, or if possible, three of them.”

Yi-gang decided to master the Five Elements Divine Art.

He chose three types of energy:

Wood, Metal, and Water.

There was a logical reason for choosing these three.

Metal generated water, as metal condensed moisture.

Water generated wood, as water made trees grow.

Metal overcame wood, but with water in between, it acted as a buffer.

Thus, the three energies complemented each other.

‘Wood energy will be the most crucial.’

Lightning, the energy of the Heavenly Thunder Bell, originated from wood among the five elements. The same went for wind; wind and lightning were bound together in sorcery for this reason.

Namgung Yu-baek intended to use the wood energy of the five elements to wield the Blue Lightning True Qi.

‘I’ll give it a try.’

Three days had passed since he started his seclusion training.During that time, his sick body became even frailer.

If his physical condition worsened, he wouldn’t even be able to attempt it.

Yi-gang recited the formulas of the Five Elements Divine Art and moved his Qi.

Time passed in this manner.Dam Hyun once again made Bigu pills.

Initially, he used ingredients like honey that were at least edible.

But now, about ten days into the seclusion training, half of the main ingredients were pine needles.

“Sometimes I have this thought.”

“What thought do you speak of?” Pahan asked.

Honestly, their time staying here was utterly peaceful.

Predicting the outcome of Yi-gang’s seclusion training was somewhat of an amusement.

“Like adding bitterly tasting herbs or a lot of numbing Sichuan peppers into the Bigu pills.”

“…”

“Then Yi-gang, that guy, would eat it coughing and knowing nothing, right?”

Dam Hyun, who had been giggling, clammed up when he noticed Baek Ha-jun glaring at him.

Still, being brothers and having similar looks to Yi-gang, Dam Hyun often felt intimidated by Ha-jun’s gaze.

Fortunately, Ha-jun wasn’t angry.

“Can my brother become a Supreme martial artist?”

“…Is that even possible.”

“…”

“Could you not glare like that?”

Dam Hyun avoided Ha-jun’s gaze and looked back at Pahan.

Pahan also had a curious expression.

“Then why did you recommend seclusion training?”

“Because I believe there will be some results.”

He did not elaborate on the Five Elements Divine Art to Pahan.

However, Pahan seemed to have some understanding of the Five Elements Divine Art as well, though he showed no greed for it.

“Given Yi-gang’s personality… he won’t come out until he sees some results. And he’s smart enough to find a way.”

Right after Dam Hyun said that—a sound of thunder erupted from the cave where Yi-gang was training.

Boom—!

Perhaps he was using the Heavenly Thunder Bell.

Even taking that into account, it was an impressive roar.

“…There’s smoke coming out.”“That’s…!”

White smoke billowed out from the entrance of the cave.

But there was no smell of burning.

Instead of rising to the sky, the smoke thickly blanketed the ground.

As Dam Hyun looked closer, the identity of the smoke was just damp mist.

“Could it be… why is there Water energy already?”

Dam Hyun murmured in surprise.

And Pahan’s eyes widened.

Because Yi-gang walked out from within the mist.

Yi-gang looked even more emaciated after the ten days had passed.

But his eyes were alive. They were intense as if piercing through everything.

Pahan had seen such eyes a few times before.

“Could it be…”

The eyes of a martial artist who had reached a high realm. They were not the eyes that Yi-gang, who had just turned 20, should possess.

“The wall of the Peak realm, he really…”

It was unbelievable, but he couldn’t help but consider the possibility.

As soon as Yi-gang emerged, Ha-jun ran over and asked in place of Pahan, “Did you really become a Supreme Peak master?”

Yi-gang looked at Ha-jun with profound eyes and then glanced around at the group.

His lips slowly parted, “…No, I haven’t.”

The tension dissipated as quickly as it had arrived.

Dam Hyun burst out laughing as if he found it exhilarating.

“Hahaha! Didn’t I say? It’s impossible.”

Pahan also coughed awkwardly, trying to suppress his laughter.

“Huh, what’s there to be so happy about? Heh.”

“You looked like you were almost convinced for a moment there.”

“Cough, not exactly…”

Pahan laughed sheepishly.

He, too, had momentarily thought that Yi-gang might have truly become a Supreme Peak master.

After all, breaking through the wall of the Peak realm in just ten days was unthinkable.

Ha-jun also seemed embarrassed.“Th-then… why did you come out?”

Yi-gang answered nonchalantly, “Because I’ve completed the divine art.”

“What…!”

This time, Dam Hyun was the one surprised.

“I have absorbed the energies of Water, Wood, and Metal into my body.”

“How did you manage that so quickly!”

“You said it would be impossible.”

“No, but still, in just ten days…”

Dam Hyun was about to demand proof of Yi-gang’s achievement but closed his mouth upon seeing what was behind Yi-gang.

The damp mist, still flashing with the energy of lightning, all proved Yi-gang’s success.

“…So it’s possible.”

With a look that said he thought it couldn’t be done, Yi-gang gave Dam Hyun a piercing look.The results of the Five Elements Divine Art were astonishing. In just ten days, Yi-gang had significantly increased his martial prowess.

However, his expression was still not bright.

“…But it was still of no use.”

Mastering the Five Elements Divine Art and breaking through the wall of the Peak realm were fundamentally different.

He hadn’t even dared to attempt crossing the Gateway of Life and Death.

“Heh, such things aren’t supposed to be achieved in just ten days.”

“Why are you so happy?”

“Can’t I laugh?”

At Dam Hyun’s snickering, Yi-gang frowned.

“Didn’t you try your best to help the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon become a yokai?”

“Of course, I’ve been giving it my all. But what does that have to do with you becoming a Supreme Peak master?”

“What do you mean, what does it have to do with it? Haven’t you heard?”

Dam Hyun’s expression turned strange, and Yi-gang realized their stories were not aligning.

“I was sure, the foxes said they would tell you.”

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

It seemed there was a misunderstanding in conveying the message to Dam Hyun.

Although Ha-jun was right there, he didn’t mention that “if you don’t become a Supreme Peak master, you can’t extend your lifespan.”

Dam Hyun was unaware of the situation, after all.

Was it fortunate that he finished his seclusion training early and came out?

Yi-gang relayed the entire story.

To perform the ritual, Yi-gang had to cross the Gateway of Life and Death, as requested by the Nine-Tails.

He also shared that without reaching such a state, it would be impossible to extend his lifespan by connecting the major meridian.

Ha-jun’s face turned as white as a sheet, and Dam Hyun started trembling with his hands shaking.

“This… this… damn it.”

Then, holding his head, he burst out in frustration.

Half of the words coming out of his mouth were curses towards the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes for not sharing the story, and the other half were self-reproaches.

“Arghhh!”

Scratching his face from top to bottom so vigorously that it left scratches, Dam Hyun, with streaks on his face resembling red teardrops, shouted at Yi-gang with damp eyes, “Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“…”

“All our plans could have gone down the drain!”

He seemed extremely angry and upset.

Even if Yi-gang had explained properly, it wasn’t as if Dam Hyun could have easily solved the problem.

But Yi-gang quietly apologized, “I’m sorry.”

“…Argh!”

Dam Hyun, all worked up on his own, punched a rock.

Then, groaning in pain from his hand, he let out a deep sigh.

“There must be some way.”

“The deadline is two months, no, now we have to subtract ten days from that.”

“We can do it.”

“You said it’s absolutely impossible to become a Supreme Peak master.”

Yi-gang was keenly aware of the harsh reality of that wall.

But there was a madness in Dam Hyun’s eyes that hadn’t been seen for a long time.

“That’s why you’re still lacking.”

With a return to his arrogance of a senior brother, Dam Hyun said, “There’s no need to become a Supreme Peak master. Gumiho said so too, such distinctions are meaningless.”

“Then.”

“We’ll just have to break through the Gateway of Life and Death no matter what.”

“…Is that possible?”

Not all Supreme Peak masters have broken through the Gateway of Life and Death, but those who have were all called Supreme Peak masters.

That was the knowledge Yi-gang had learned.Dam Hyun started taking out various items from his bag.

A bottle containing some liquid, a sharp shard, and a sinister-looking large needle with a sharp point.

“It’s possible.”

Laying out those dreadful tools, Dam Hyun confidently claimed, “If it’s me, it’s possible.”

His tone was incredibly reassuring.