Jeok Wigang opened the box beside him.
Inside was a large stack of oversized talismans.
“What are those?”
“Talismans infused with the energy of my Heavenly Mechanism Seal. If an emergency arises, whoever tears one will alert me immediately, allowing me to respond.”
“What if trouble breaks out in several places at once?”
“I intend to make use of the demons I've bound to my control.”
“And if even they aren't enough? What will you do then?”
“I'll have to call upon the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Families, whichever are nearby. I'll also mobilize the forces of Heavenly Martial Castle.”
“Will those sects be able to hold out until help arrives?”
“They will. White Horse Heaven is powerful, but that strength is concentrated among a relatively small number of individuals. Between the Nine Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Families, the demons I've brought under my control, those I've already eliminated, and the many who haven't even arrived in the Central Plains yet, there can't be many powerful demons left to infiltrate the mid-tier sects or unorthodox factions. And those they did send would most likely have infiltrated the larger, more influential sects. Planting them in small sects wouldn't accomplish much.”
Jeok Mugun and Jeok Rihyeon nodded at Wigang's explanation.
Indeed, placing a demon comparable to one of the Four Divine Demons inside some obscure, nameless sect would make little sense.
“That narrows our search considerably. Among the mid-tier sects, we should focus on those whose reputations rival the Nine Sects and One Gang, along with the prominent martial families.”
“And you're not concerned about the unorthodox factions?”
“No. From the demons' perspective, the unorthodox factions are easier to manipulate. They have no reason to provoke internal conflicts that would weaken those factions. The Sichuan Divine Cult is a good example. They'll try to win the unorthodox factions over rather than attack them.”
“I believe you're right.”
Wigang had already made his preparations.
“In that case, wouldn't distributing these talismans be unnecessary?”
“If demons on the level of the Four Divine Demons begin attacking smaller sects at random, those sects will be helpless. They need some way to buy time until I can reach them. That's why the talismans are necessary.”
“How do you intend to distribute them?”
“Through the Beggars' Union, the Lower Gate, the Thousand Flowers Sect, and the True Martial Merchant Company. They'll be delivered in Heavenly Martial Castle's name. That should convince the sects to accept them.”
“Some sects may refuse.”
“I have no intention of saving those who refuse. If they throw away their opportunity, they'll have to deal with whatever happens afterward.”
“And if they become our enemies and attack us?”
“Then I'll destroy them without mercy.”
Hearing Wigang's resolve, Jeok Mugun nodded.
“Excellent.”
Jeok Rihyeon also smiled, satisfied with his son's answer.
“I'll do everything I can to help. As long as they're not Fell Demon class, I should be able to handle them myself.”
“I'm going to draw out your latent potential too, Grandfather. And I'll make you a new sword. With those improvements, you should be able to fight Fell Demon-class enemies as well.”
“Urgh...”
Jeok Mugun wasn't pleased by the offer.
But he couldn't refuse it.
This was no time to worry about his pride.
His grandson was working so hard to preserve the peace of the Central Plains. As his grandfather, how could he refuse to help, much less stand in his way?
“Very well. Let's start with me, then.”
“Thank you.”
Jeok Mugun knew exactly why his grandson was thanking him and gave a wry chuckle.
“You brat. Did you think I'd stand by and watch my grandson work himself to the bone just to protect my pride? Enough talk. Let's get started. Though I wonder if I have any potential left to draw out.”
“I'm sure you do. And while we're at it, let's do Father too.”
“Hm? Me as well?” Jeok Rihyeon asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, all right.”
“Incredible...”
Jeok Mugun couldn't stop marveling at what had happened.
“Th-this power... It's overflowing!”
He stared at Wigang in astonishment.
“Is there anything that sorcery of yours can't do? I know a thing or two about sorcery myself, but none of the arts I'm familiar with could accomplish something like this.”
“That's because it isn't sorcery from the Central Plains. I never imagined I'd find so many different ways to use it, either.”
“Well, now you've made me want to learn it myself.”
“Would you like me to teach you?”
“No, thank you. How am I supposed to work through all those complicated formulas? Teach them to our Heavenly Martial Castle strategist sometime instead. That fellow should be able to learn them.”
“That's a good idea.”
If I inscribe an enhancement formula on his heart, he should be able to master at least the Seven-Book Cycle.
That would be a tremendous asset to Heavenly Martial Castle.
Of course, Gongsun Cheongi wouldn't be able to reach Wigang's own level.
There were now no fewer than ten rings revolving within Jeok Wigang's heart.
Since reaching that point, the variety of sorcery he could wield had expanded so dramatically that there seemed to be almost nothing he couldn't do.
That didn't mean the spell for drawing out latent potential had been easy to create.
Of all the spells Wigang had developed, this one had required the most deliberation and the longest calculations. Its formula was extraordinarily complex.
Even the slightest mistake could cause the spell to consume the subject's innate true qi while attempting to awaken their potential, potentially killing them instead.
And the people he was using it on weren't strangers.
They were his grandfather and father.
That was why Wigang's concentration had been almost frighteningly intense as he drew out their latent potential.
The smallest error could have disastrous consequences.
Fortunately, everything had gone smoothly.
Jeok Mugun had grown powerful enough to face Fell Demon-class enemies without difficulty, while Jeok Rihyeon had become strong enough to contend with Demon-Slayer-class enemies.
The results were far greater than Wigang had expected, and his expression brightened.
If he could draw out the potential of the various sect leaders as well, they should at least become capable of fighting Demon-Slayer-class enemies, and possibly even Calamity Demon-class ones.
If he equipped them with enhanced weapons on top of that, they might even be able to hold their ground against Fell Demon-class enemies.
It was an enormous relief.
“Let's get started on the others right away.”
“Hm? Right now? Won't you be exhausted?”
“We don't have time. I need to send them back as soon as possible so they can prepare before the enemy makes its move.”
“But you'll have to perform Bone-and-Body Rebirth on the others as well. Why don't you rest for today and—”
“No, I'm fine. You know me, Grandfather. Something like this won't wear me out.”
“Urgh... Very well. I'll gather everyone. At least get some rest while I'm doing that.”
“All right.”
At Jeok Mugun's summons, the heads of the Five Great Families and the leaders of the Nine Sects and One Gang gathered in one place.
“Is everyone here?”
“Yes. You said it was urgent, so we came as quickly as we could. Has something happened?”
“Something urgent indeed. It looks like those bastards from White Horse Heaven are preparing to make their move in earnest.”
The mention of White Horse Heaven immediately brought grave expressions to everyone's faces.
“Once they begin moving, every sect and martial family will experience turmoil and internal conflict to some degree, whether large or small. You must return to your respective organizations and prepare for what is coming.”
The leaders grew even more serious.
“We'll return immediately.”
“Thank you for everything you've done for us. We will never forget your teachings.”
But as the family heads and Sect Masters hurried to leave, Jeok Mugun called them back.
“And where do you think you're going?”
“Pardon? Didn't you just tell us the enemy was about to make its move? We must hurry back and protect our sects.”
“And once you get there? Do you think you can defeat them?”
“Pardon?”
“You still have a long way to go. Those enemies are far more powerful than you. If you go back without any preparations, what do you think will happen? You'll simply be defeated.”
“Then what would you have us do? Martial progress isn't something one can achieve overnight.”
“It is possible.”
“...Pardon?”
For a moment, everyone wondered if they had misheard him.
“You lucky bastards...”
What's so lucky about this?
“Today, every one of you will undergo Bone-and-Body Rebirth.”
“How could anyone possibly undergo Bone-and-Body Rebirth in a single day?”
The claim was so outrageous that everyone stared at him in disbelief.
“That's exactly why you're lucky. Others can spend their entire lives training without ever achieving it, and you lot are about to undergo Bone-and-Body Rebirth without lifting a finger. If that isn't luck, what is?”
None of them had the slightest idea what he was talking about.
“You can hear the details from our Lord of Heavenly Martial Castle. For now, introduce yourselves. Some of you have met him before, while others will be meeting him for the first time.”
At the mention of the Lord of Heavenly Martial Castle, everyone's attention shifted toward Wigang.
Some looked delighted to see him.
Others were visibly astonished.
“He's that young...?”
“He looks about the same age as a second-generation disciple... And he's the Lord of Heavenly Martial Castle?”
“Is that young man truly the greatest expert of all time?”
They kept staring at Jeok Wigang, disbelief written all over their faces.
Those who already knew him watched their reactions with amusement.
Jeok Mugun enjoyed the spectacle for a while before finally stepping forward.
“What? Don't believe it? Would you like to find out for yourselves?”
The expressions of those present changed at his words.
“Would that really be permitted?”
“Of course. What do you say? Shall we head to the training ground?”
When the others nodded, Jeok Mugun turned toward Wigang.
Wigang chuckled.
Settling the matter beyond any doubt would make things easier in more ways than one.
“Let's go.”
The training ground was littered with people sitting on the ground, their expressions vacant.
“I-I was... defeated in a single move...”
The Sect Masters of the Kongtong Sect and Zhongnan Sect sat there looking as though they had just awakened from a nightmare.
Beside them, the Sect Masters of the Mount Hua Sect and Wudang Sect wore equally incredulous expressions.
It hadn't even been an ordinary contest.
It had been one man against many.
And yet they had suffered a completely one-sided defeat.
Jeok Wigang existed on an entirely different level.
He didn't even look tired.
“He wasn't even fighting us at full strength?”
Jeok Mugun overheard someone's muttering and gave a derisive chuckle.
“You fools. He doesn't even use his full strength when he fights me. Why would he bother using it against you? Think before you speak.”
“What?!”
Everyone was startled by his words.
The people gathered here knew Jeok Mugun's strength better than anyone.
Hadn't he regularly challenged them to sparring matches where he fought several of them at once?
Not once had they managed to defeat him.
They had regarded him as someone they could never hope to catch up with.
Yet Jeok Wigang stood even further beyond their reach.
And now they were being told that he didn't even fight at full strength against Jeok Mugun.
They couldn't begin to fathom how powerful he truly was.
“Do you understand now? Why I handed Heavenly Martial Castle over to that boy? And why I called him the greatest expert of all time?”
Everyone nodded.
Ak Jinpung, Sect Master of the Mount Hua Sect, closed his eyes.
So the age of Mount Hua will never come, even in the future...
Master Wongak, the Abbot of Shaolin Temple, was having similar thoughts.
Amitabha... Perhaps it's time to make Shaolin a place devoted solely to making offerings to the Buddha and cultivating ourselves in his service.
By demonstrating Wigang's power, Jeok Mugun had inadvertently accomplished something else.
The leaders of sects that had still harbored lingering ambitions of restoring their former glory finally abandoned those hopes and resolved to cooperate with Jeok Wigang.
Now everyone's attention turned to the Bone-and-Body Rebirth that Jeok Mugun had mentioned earlier.
How exactly was Wigang going to make them undergo Bone-and-Body Rebirth?
It sounded impossible.
But now that they had witnessed the truth of the claims surrounding Jeok Wigang, they couldn't help feeling a little hopeful.
“I'll use sorcery to forcibly reconstruct your bodies and induce Bone-and-Body Rebirth. The process will be painful, but if you endure it, you'll experience the same benefits as someone who has achieved Bone-and-Body Rebirth naturally.”
“Sorcery?”
Everyone looked puzzled.
Someone that powerful practiced sorcery as well?
And more importantly, Bone-and-Body Rebirth through sorcery?
They had never heard of such a thing.
They were still struggling to decide whether to believe him when Baek Un, the Sect Master of the Qingcheng Sect, stepped forward.
“Allow me to go first.”
Abbess Unjeong of the Emei Sect also stepped forward.
“I would like to undergo the procedure as well.”
The Union Chief of the Beggars' Union followed suit.
“Hohoho. Count me in, too.”

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