Chapter 11

## Chapter 11. The Eighteen Techniques of the Green Forest

Meteorite.

A mineral that can be obtained very rarely from the place where a shooting star falls, it is an extraordinary material that can only be acquired by a stroke of luck.

Weapons forged from meteorite can withstand not only the sword qi of a peak master but also the powerful energy of a blacksmith, depending on their skill.

In my past life, I had seen a weapon made of meteorite only once.

‘The Blood Demon Sword…’

Without realizing it, I clutched my chest.

The chilling sensation that pierced my heart has never left me.

Not only did it withstand the Blood Demon's formidable inner strength, but it also amplified the power of his techniques, a divine weapon.

Since I awoke in this body, I have sometimes indulged in meaningless hypotheticals.

If the sword in the Blood Demon's hand back then wasn't a meteorite sword...

No, at the very least, if I had the same sword in my hand...

‘But they are all meaningless hypotheticals.’

In any case, what is in front of me now is the same metal used to make the Blood Demon Sword.

‘Not exactly the same, though...’

The meteorite used in the Blood Demon Sword had a faint red glow, while the meteorite in the hot spring had a faint blue glow.

But I was certain it was meteorite.

I couldn't imagine any other mineral emitting such a mysterious aura.

"What's so special about this rock that you've been staring at it like a zombie?"

Father waved his hand in front of my eyes and asked.

Father, who was well-versed in medicine and elixirs, seemed to have no knowledge of meteorite.

“This is...”

After a moment's hesitation, I decided to be honest.

It would be disastrous if I casually mentioned seeing a peculiar rock somewhere.

“It's meteorite.”

“Me... what?”

Father's eyes widened in shock.

Even if he had never seen it, as a martial artist, he would know what meteorite is.

“Meteorite? Son, what kind of nonsense...”

“Do you think I'm joking?”

Seeing my serious expression, Father's face gradually hardened.

He didn't ask how I could recognize meteorite.

Bai Shulong, having read various martial arts books and traveled extensively since he was young, would naturally know.

After a moment of silence, Father spoke in a low voice.

“...A treasure that cannot be handled will bring disaster. If this is really meteorite, it's something we absolutely cannot handle.”

Treasure brings disaster.

Secret manuals of supreme masters, halberds that can cut through rock like tofu, defensive armors that can deflect such halberds, and the inner cores of mystical creatures that can enhance a hundred years of cultivation.

Whenever a treasure appeared, the martial world shed much blood.

Meteorite was one such treasure.

“If this gets out into the world... countless martial artists will shed blood to claim the meteorite. We won't be safe either.”

“Can't we quietly dispose of it in the black market?”

Father shook his head firmly at my suggestion.

“Maybe for some minor stolen goods, but with a treasure of this caliber, the buyer will definitely come looking for us. They'll have to eliminate us to keep it a secret.”

“...I see.”

I only said it out of hope, but I agreed with Father's thoughts.

If we tried to sell the meteorite in the black market, we would likely end up dead without a trace.

Seeing me nod, Father seemed a bit relieved.

“The sage who created this place must have known this fact and left the meteorite untouched. And he must have hidden this place with an array formation.”

...No, that's not it.

Meng Shifu was so clueless that he didn't even recognize the meteorite.

But I couldn't say that, so I responded differently.

“I have a different opinion.”

“You don't mean to take it with you, do you? Are you really trying to cause a bloodbath in the martial world...!”

“We just need to keep it and not sell it.”

“Why take such a dangerous risk!”

Father glared at me, clearly unwilling to accept it.

I logically laid out my thoughts.

“...Even if we just leave, someone will eventually find it. Since Baiyun Mountain isn't far from our village, martial artists who hear about the meteorite will swarm here. They might think: If we dig through Baiyun Mountain, we might find more meteorite. So let's search the mountain thoroughly. Oh, and there's a village nearby, so we'll stay there for a while!”

“...What...”

Father's face hardened. I quickly continued.

“Among them, there will be righteous sect members, but there will also be evil sect scoundrels. They'll harass women and start fights over the slightest provocation. Can Father stop all of them?”

“...”

I smiled bitterly as I looked at Father's hardened expression.

“Do you understand? If we ignore this discovery, we'll bear some responsibility for the bloodshed that follows.”

“Hmph. Your sophistry is quite convincing.”

“If you really thought it was sophistry, you wouldn't have that expression.”

Father sighed deeply.

Though he now teaches self-defense in a rural village, Father was once an outstanding disciple of the Five Great Martial Academies, well-versed in righteousness and chivalry.

He wouldn't have turned a blind eye to such a situation in the academy.

Sure enough, Father struggled to speak.

“...So what?”

“Let's take it and hide it well. Who in this remote village would recognize it, especially without its mystical aura? Even Father didn't know what it was.”

While there might be some exaggeration, there was no falsehood in my words.

I pressed on, seeing Father's wavering gaze.

“If we keep quiet, we can even display it in Father's room, and no one will know. They'll just think Master brought back a pretty rock. So...”

“Alright.”

I thought I would need more persuasion, but Father surprisingly nodded.

He smiled weakly at me, looking resigned.

“If I said no, you would have just lain down on the ground, wouldn't you?”

...I should have done that from the start.

Why did I waste my breath arguing?

Father chuckled weakly.

“Let's take it. If we hide it well, as you say, it should be fine.”

“Yes!”

I took the meteorite out of the water, put it in my backpack, and secured it tightly.

Do you really think I'll just hide the meteorite at home?

‘Are you crazy? I need to take it with me when I go to the Qinglong Academy.’

My mind was already brimming with ideas on how to use the meteorite.

It wasn't enough to melt it entirely and forge a weapon, but mixed with other metals, it could make several weapons.

The Blood Demon Sword itself wasn't entirely made of meteorite but was mixed with cold iron.

‘Or I could make a small weapon entirely out of it. With the leftovers...’

Just imagining it made the corners of my mouth curl up.

“Shall we go back?”

I put the three ginseng roots in my backpack and wrapped them carefully in cloth.

With me taking care of everything, Father was left empty-handed.

This was all out of consideration for him.

Just carrying one big thing, after all.

“Father, just carry this.”

My finger pointed to the giant tiger, which was as big as a house.

Father's expression immediately twisted.

“Me, carry that thing alone?”

“Should I help you carry it?”

I looked at my weak body, both objectively and subjectively.

“It's fine. But if I faint on the way down, Father will have to carry me too...”

“Grrr!”

In the end, Father hoisted the giant tiger over his shoulder.

Its massive size made its hind legs drag along the ground.

“Grrr. If only you weren't my son... No, if only you were healthy... Grrr!”

He grumbled all the way down the mountain.

In contrast, my steps were as light as if I were flying.

‘I got the elixirs I wanted, made enough money to live comfortably for a while by catching the tiger, and even got the meteorite...’

It feels like I got more than I bargained for.

“This guy... Ah! Slow down a bit...!”

You should have practiced your leg strength more often.

* * *

As soon as we got home, I washed the three ginseng roots thoroughly and dried them in the sun.

It took me two full days to carefully peel them and grind them into powder.

“Finally...”

Now, in front of me, was a bowl filled with concentrated ginseng powder and warm water.

I stirred the ginseng powder into the water to mix it well.

“Phew...”

I took a deep breath before taking the elixir.

Father had gone to the market far away to sell the tiger skin and other items.

In other words, I was alone in the Wu Pavilion.

- Absolutely! Don't take the elixir until I return. I'll help you...

- Do you think I'm a fool? Go sell the tiger skin for a good price.

I told Father, but now,

“I'm sorry, but I lied.”

I briefly paid my respects to Father, who had left with strict instructions.

I had no choice.

What I was about to do was completely different from the usual cultivation of internal energy.

The Reverse Heaven Divine Skill.

This martial art, which defies the will of heaven, would be seen as a demonic technique by ordinary martial artists, and Father would never let me practice it.

“It's better to get scolded later.”

Gulp, gulp.

I mixed the ginseng powder in the lukewarm water and drank it in one go.

‘Grrr!’

Immediately, a hot energy rose in my stomach.

I sat in a cross-legged position, closed my eyes, and focused on the energy in my stomach.

I recalled the incantations of the Reverse Heaven Divine Skill.

‘Move.’

The medicinal power of the ginseng, following my will, began to move.

While it takes some cultivators months to even feel this energy, it wasn't the case for me.

The medicinal power of the ginseng slowly circulated through my meridians, guided by the Reverse Heaven Divine Skill.

‘I've done this before, but...’

In the past, when I practiced the Reverse Heaven Divine Skill, I didn't have the constitution of the Heavenly Sound Sealed Pulse.

Immediately, I hit a wall.

“Grrr...!”

Cold sweat began to trickle down my forehead.

‘I expected this...’

Most of the major meridians in the Eight Extraordinary Vessels were blocked, and a massive amount of turbid energy was accumulated in those spots.

A body cursed by heaven.

Just by living, turbid energy accumulated in my body, and I was destined to die before I turned thirty with all my meridians blocked.

‘Let's give it a try!’

I had no intention of humbly accepting such a fate.

Neither did the first Blood Demon Sect leader, who created the Reverse Heaven Divine Skill.

He, too, was born with the Heavenly Sound Sealed Pulse.

And the method he used to escape the curse of the Heavenly Sound Sealed Pulse was...

‘Gather the turbid energy in the dantian.’

It was a crazy idea.

Sssss...

The medicinal power of the ginseng, following the incantations of the Reverse Heaven Divine Skill, transformed into a thin, needle-like form.

It sharply pierced the gaps in my blocked meridians.

The pain was indescribable.

‘Grrr...!’

I gritted my teeth and endured the pain.

The turbid energy clung to the medicinal power and, guided by me, gradually gathered in the dantian.

It gathered and condensed.

The process was like accumulating poison in the dantian.

Shiver...

I barely suppressed my trembling body and focused my mind.

Blood trickled from between my tightly clenched teeth.

‘If I lose my mind here, it's over.’

Now, the most crucial step remained.

The incantations of the Reverse Heaven Divine Skill would form a protective layer around the condensed turbid energy in the dantian.

And then, transform it into an inner core!

‘Grrrr...!’

After what felt like an eternity, a tiny inner core, smaller than a grain of rice, was formed in my body.

I had reached the First Rank of the Reverse Heaven Divine Skill.

“Phew...”

I opened my eyes, untangled my legs, and slowly stood up.

I wobbled for a moment due to dizziness but managed to stand.

My body was drenched in sweat, and I reeked as if I had been covered in filth.

But a proud smile formed on my lips.

“Success.”

My body felt incredibly light.

As the turbid energy in my body gathered in the dantian, my body became lighter, and my senses became much sharper.

I clenched my fist, feeling the heightened sensations.

‘This is just the beginning.’

With the help of the medicinal power, I had successfully laid the foundation for practicing the Reverse Heaven Divine Skill.

To advance further, I would need many more elixirs and great techniques, but reaching the First Rank had already extended my lifespan by at least three years.

Moreover, even with a tiny inner core, I could now begin to practice martial arts techniques.

But I couldn't practice the Reverse Heaven Divine Skill right away.

‘It would be meaningless. Each technique requires at least the ability to handle powerful energy to perform.’

Practicing an unmanageable martial art would only harm my body.

First, I needed to strengthen this frail body.

Fortunately, I knew a martial art perfect for body training.

“The Eighteen Techniques of the Green Forest.”

The exclusive martial art of Meng Huo'e, who had reached the realm of Indestructible Body.

I decided to start with that to build my body.