Chapter 67

### Reincarnated as the Sword Emperor of the Sword Clan (67)

Mana Accumulation Chamber.

As the name suggests, it was a facility with a simple function, the most common and basic in the magic tower. Any magician of the 4th rank or higher would have a mana accumulation chamber installed in their workshop, using it for various purposes from the synthesis of alchemical compounds to testing new magic formulas.

However, Leonard asked about the schedule of the mana accumulation chamber to use the only special-grade room in the magic tower.

'They said that even the elders can't use this room without the permission of the tower master or the chief elder.'

The limit of a standard mana accumulation chamber is generally 20 to 30 times, and beyond that, one must go to the upper floors of the tower.

Esther's room is slightly below 50 times, and it is speculated that the elders' rooms might exceed 100 times.

However, the limit of the special-grade mana accumulation chamber, which only the tower master and the chief elder can use freely, is close to 1,000 times. For most skilled individuals, it would be difficult to even breathe inside.

'In a world where the natural energy is several times richer than in the Central Plains, to gather it nearly 1,000 times? It turns the mystical forest's secret realm into a neighborhood walking path.'

Of course, just because the amount and density of energy are extraordinary doesn't mean it's all good. As Leonard realized in the training camp, even a few times increase in natural energy can make it impossible to perform qi circulation.

For martial artists who haven't reached the Harmonious Realm, it's not just about failing to accumulate energy in their dantian; they would have to worry about being crushed by the overwhelming energy.

However,

'For me, this is a good thing.'

Having broken through the External Force Realm and gained a much stronger body, this was not a problem he needed to worry about.

The body that had transcended humanity by creating the Five Elements True Dragon Ring was not only stronger in bones and muscles but also in blood vessels and qi meridians. His control over inner energy had also increased several times, making it almost unnecessary to worry about losing control.

'...Is this clan really inheriting the blood of dragons?'

Even though Leonard was growing several times faster than other blood relatives, it was strange that such a significant difference could be achieved just by steadily advancing in mana cultivation.

In the Central Plains, he had faced a few individuals who inherited the blood of ancient clans and were stronger than their martial arts level suggested.

The bloodline of the Gandharvas and the Garudas.

While they possessed extraordinary strength, none of them showed the absurd growth rate of the Cardenas. Considering the superhuman abilities displayed by the direct descendants of the Cardenas, it was possible that the ancestors of this clan were connected to something absurd.

'I should investigate this when things calm down a bit.'

Having thought that far, Leonard cleared his mind. Although it was a matter of just filling it with power, he needed to be thoroughly focused when using inner energy.

And practicing in an environment with 1,000 times the energy was a first for Leonard, both in his past life and this one.

"Huuuuu——…."

His breathing gradually became finer and longer, eventually becoming so faint that it was almost imperceptible.

Leonard, who had entered a state of no-self, opened his qi and blood.

1,000 times.

The energy, which was immeasurable even in numerical terms, sought a place to flow into, pouring into Leonard's body like water being released from a reservoir.

If his entire body's meridians were not already interconnected, even a Hua Jing-level practitioner would burst. The torrent of power inside Leonard's body was so overwhelming that he could feel it.

'A single mistake can be fatal.'

Even dancing on a sharp sword would not be more dangerous than this.

Slipping on a sword blade might only result in a few toes or a slight cut, but this would be instant death.

His mental strength, now thinner and more delicate than silk, controlled the energy, redirecting it to the meridians where it shouldn't flow. The Eight Extraordinary Meridians and the Twelve Regular Meridians swelled as if they were about to burst.

'No, I can endure it!'

Even as the tiny capillaries burst under the pressure of the energy, causing blood to flow from his nose, it was not a significant problem.

Fortunately, the energy inside the mana accumulation chamber, unlike natural energy, had no elemental properties. It was colorless, like spirit stones, and not bound by any element, making it easy to follow the guidance of the One Element Five Phases Divine Skill.

First Circulation.

Second Circulation.

Third Circulation.

As the energy, pouring in like a waterfall, completed one, two, and three cycles, it created a stable flow. Although it was extremely difficult to achieve, the vast power directly translated into stability.

Boom!

Breaking through the 3rd stage of the External Force Realm without any difficulty, the path to the next stage opened up.

The Lower and Middle Dantians resonated simultaneously, expanding the qi and blood more flexibly and compressing the meridians thinner and tougher.

'4th stage of the External Force Realm. At this rate, the 7th stage is within reach.'

The 1,000 times mana accumulation chamber was showing more effective results than he had anticipated.

High Risk, High Return.

This principle was no different in his past life or this one.

Boom!

As he advanced to the 5th stage of the External Force Realm, the density of his inner energy increased, making it ready to transform into Gang Qi at any moment.

He no longer needed to spend several seconds forming Gang Qi as before. This applied to both sword Gang Qi and protective Gang Qi, effectively giving him an extra life.

His inner energy level had now surpassed 2 jia (120 years) and was approaching 130 years.

As his energy increased, so did his recovery and maintenance abilities, extending the 3-minute limit to over 10 minutes.

'Even against a Transcendent Realm opponent, if a few conditions align, it might be worth a try. Unless the opponent is as excellent in both sword and qi as Fabian, I have at least a 30% chance of winning.'

The fifth shadow's strength was half a level below Leonard's.

If their inner energy levels were equal, he could kill the shadow within 300 seconds, and if the goal was just to defeat it, it would take less than 100 seconds.

However, Fabian's sword strikes were in a realm where it was difficult to find any openings, and he had reached a level of speed, sharpness, and fluidity. Leonard had to find a way to break through with his life on the line.

Judging from how he used his Gang Qi like a thin, long thread, his control over inner energy was not much worse than Leonard's.

Boom!

At that moment, the 6th stage of the External Force Realm was broken through.

The remaining energy, after expanding the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and the Twelve Regular Meridians, accumulated throughout his body, turning the collateral meridians into makeshift dantians.

It became possible to perform qi circulation in the collateral meridians, which were previously unusable for any purpose other than as pathways. His inner energy, which had been hovering around 130 years, soared to 180 years, or 3 jia, in an instant.

The energy consumption of Gang Qi techniques was also not a significant concern.

'6th stage consumed a lot of energy. 7th stage might be too much.'

Blindly pouring more energy would not break through the realm. While the energy in the mana accumulation chamber was still abundant, Leonard felt something within himself.

It seemed that he was not yet prepared to reach the 7th stage of the External Force Realm, as if the capacity for growth had reached its limit.

Pouring in more energy would only damage his meridians.

Just as Leonard was about to stop his qi circulation,

Thump!

The remaining energy in his body was suddenly and strongly sucked into his heart.

Perhaps sensing that the breakthrough of the External Force Realm was complete, the Five Elements True Dragon Ring generated an unknown force. The energy that would have leaked out of his qi and blood was absorbed into the center, like a whirlpool surrounding the eye of a storm.

The Five Elements True Dragon Ring, in the form of a five-colored bead, trembled as if singing a tune, having consumed a massive amount of energy in one go.

Rumble!

Leonard immediately noticed the change.

'Control has become even stronger. The function that could only accept up to the 4th rank has expanded to the 5th rank... It seems to be more specialized in magic than in mana cultivation from the beginning.'

The computational function for optimizing magic formulas, the control that doesn't even need circles, and the ability to accumulate and amplify mana on a large scale.

What secrets are hidden in the Cardenas' lineage, and how are they passed down to their descendants?

It was a puzzle that he could never solve.

"I should head out now."

Leonard, who had reset the state of the mana accumulation chamber, soon left the room.

From entering the 3rd stage of the External Force Realm to exiting at the 6th stage.

It took only four days.

* * *

Whoosh!

An arrow flew and pierced the target.

Whoosh!

Another arrow flew and pierced the same spot.

The only things that changed were the archer's stance and position; the target remained the same.

Before entering the mana accumulation chamber, Leonard had given Niniann only one task: to correct her archery, which was marred by bad habits due to relying on wind elemental magic.

—Using wind elemental magic to compensate for the loss of one eye was good, but everything else was a failing grade. You need to start from the basics.

The basic training methods were divided into two main parts, and Niniann could only move on to the second stage after completing the first.

Whoosh!

Taking two steps to the side and bending one knee, she shot the arrow.

A perfect shot that overlapped with the previous one.

The first training method of the Yan family archery was to hit a single point perfectly from different stances and positions.

Leonard's words echoed in Niniann's mind.

—You must be able to see ten thousand as one, and one as ten thousand.

By achieving ten thousand shots hitting one point and one shot hitting ten thousand points, there would be nothing you couldn't kill.

By changing ten thousand times to hit one point and using one arrow to hit ten thousand changes.

This simultaneous achievement is called Yi Gong (Billion Bows), but it is said that no one, not even Yan Kai Suo Wen, has ever reached this level. Only a divine archer who could bring down the nine suns in the sky could even estimate this level.

Whoosh!

Niniann repeated the basic training that Leonard had taught her countless times.

Not a hundred times, not a thousand times.

The initial repetition of shooting, which had already surpassed ten thousand, had worn down her fingernails and pushed her fingers and arm tendons to the brink of breaking. Yet, she did not stop, using potions to heal her wounds and maintaining her focus on each shot.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

When did it start?

She could save Vivian.

What she once couldn't believe was now a reality right before her eyes.

For that, she needed to gain even a little more strength.

Snap!

The bowstring, which had been stretched on the bow, suddenly snapped, and blood trickled down her face where it had grazed.

Niniann, ignoring her wound and bleeding, reached out to replace the bowstring.

And then,

"Failure to notice the condition of the bow is also a sign of an inexperienced archer."

Her single eye, which had been the same as when they first met, but this time without aiming the bow, widened in surprise.

Leonard's extraordinary aspects were known to her.

His combat power that surpassed several minor realms, his insight that could uncover hidden truths from a few clues, and his connections that allowed him to speak with the chief elder of the magic tower at any time.

Yet, this moment was unexpected.

"…What are you, exactly?"

Her sense of time had been distorted from staying in the training room, but the gap between them could not have been more than a week.

The realm Leonard had reached in that time had already far surpassed what Niniann could see. Unlike before, when he was only thought to be stronger in scale, the gap was now so vast that it was impossible to gain any advantage.

The boy who had achieved an absurd growth, Leonard, said,

"Well, I'm the one who's going to save your sister now."

The simple sentence was enough to erase the fear in Niniann's single eye.

Without further conversation, the two of them headed to find Francis in Bermuda.

He was the one who would play the most crucial role in this operation.