Published at 5th of February 2026 2:36 pm

Chapter 385

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Muscle-Tendon Transformation.

Muscle-Tendon Transformation—quite literally, it means to replace all the bones and joints. Among martial artists, it's called a miracle.

Most say it's not a realm you reach through martial arts, but rather resembles a fortuitous encounter.

'A transformation of the body itself.'

A state achieved.

A vessel expanded.

And even the enlightenment that would fill that vessel.

A life lived is embedded in the body, changing what should never have changed. The Divine Physician's knowledge explained such "rebirth" in these terms. He called it a miracle that couldn't be explained with medicine alone.

'That kind of rebirth...'

Did I really have to attempt it now? I frowned at Yu Chun-gil's words.

"You come back all of a sudden and say something like that—what are you talking about?"

『What do you think I'm talking about? Did you not hear me?』

"No, I heard. That's why it doesn't make sense."

Rebirth, regarded as a miracle. Was it really possible to do that now?

"... What exactly are you having me do? And where am I supposed to go?"

『Just follow me. We don't have much time. Took me some effort to figure out the location.』

"Location?"

『Yeah. I needed to find something.』

Yu Chun-gil grinned at me.

『The Moonlit Night Spirit Herb. I tracked down a root of this rarest of things.』

"...!"

My eyes widened at his words—a knowledge not my own, but Sung Hun's knowledge, flared up within me.

'If it's the Moonlit Night Spirit Herb...'

It was a mythical plant, said to grow from the leavings of a dragon, a mystical beast of legends.

It was a blue spirit herb, blossoming where moonlight touched the earth, and according to stories, only in places brimming with lunar yin would it sometimes sprout, and even then, only at the slimmest chance.

Its value defied all price; even Shaolin, famed for collecting every rare herb, was said not to possess the Moonlit Night Spirit Herb.

That's how precious this herb was.

'He actually found that?'

I was astonished at his claim, abrupt as it was.

"... Where did you find such a thing?"

『Buried it in the back mountain.』

"What?"

What sort of crazy nonsense was this? You buried the spirit herb in the back mountain?

『I thought, if my strength ever waned, I could dig it up and chew on it... but who'd have guessed I'd end up dying like this. Tsk...』

Yu Chun-gil spoke with a face wracked with regret.

『Well, since things turned out this way, I'll have you eat it, and at least put it to some use.』

"... What the..."

It was shocking enough just to learn he'd buried the Moonlit Night Spirit Herb in the back mountain.

"And you're saying just eating that will let me undergo transformation?"

No matter how miraculous, I couldn't believe simply consuming it would allow me such transformation.

『You don't believe it, do you?』

"Of course not."

『Hah.』

Yu Chun-gil laughed at my answer. It was as if he was mocking me—in fact, he definitely was.

『This is why people who haven't tried it themselves say all sorts of foolish things.』

"... What?"

『Boy, do you know how transformation is actually accomplished?』

"Well, that's..."

『Don't give me stuff about reaching new heights, preparing your vessel, or enlightenment. I'm talking about the underlying principles.』

"...?"

What underlying principle was there beyond those things? The moment my brows furrowed in confusion,

『Transformation is born from the friction and collision inside the martial artist's own body.』

"... Huh?"

Friction and collision? What did that mean?

『Anything that grows stronger or larger needs pain and impact befitting the transformation. It's the same as muscle tearing and regenerating, becoming stronger.』

In spite of myself, I listened intently. Yu Chun-gil's expression was serious, and his words were unfamiliar—not even Sung Hun's knowledge had offered this.

"... How does this collision occur?"

『What, do you think can clash inside a martial artist's body? In the end, it's only energy, so you use that.』

"Energy?"

『Do you understand why a minimum level of mastery, preparedness of your vessel, and enlightenment are needed for rebirth?』

"... I don't."

『When you're prepared—at that level, the enlightenment causes your energy to surge. That's when the energies inside you collide, and you use that.』

"...!"

My eyes widened.

Achieving enlightenment makes the energy inside you move. At that moment, the collision happens, and rebirth is triggered?

'... Was that ever written anywhere?'

It was news to me.

Still—

"Then, why do you need a spirit herb?"

It made sense, the matter of colliding energies. But why did one need a spirit herb, specifically?

"Is it to build up even more energy, so the collision is greater?"

That was the most straightforward logic I could manage, but—

『Heh heh...』

Yu Chun-gil merely chuckled at my answer, as if to say I hadn't guessed right.

『That's a simple way of looking at it. If it were that easy, every dog and cow would achieve rebirth.』

"... So, then what is the reason?"

『You're mistaken, thinking the clash is merely about colliding internal energy.』

"Then...?"

『Do you suppose that humans have only one type of energy within them?』

What else was there? What energy could a martial artist possibly have, apart from the usual?

『There's yang and yin energy, aren't there.』

"... Ah."

Yu Chun-gil supplied the answer, which I hadn't thought of.

Yang energy and yin energy.

Not only martial artists, but even ordinary folk had them.

"Don't tell me... We need to use that, too?"

『It's not about having both equally prepared; you just need an abundance on one side... and in your case, boy, you'd do better with more yin, I reckon.』

"Me?"

『Yes, you know it yourself, don't you?』

He smiled softly as he said it.

『That you possess an abnormally high amount of yin energy in your body.』

"..."

I clammed up. He was right.

'So he knew.'

Because of the karma clinging to my soul, my body had an unusually high degree of yin. It wasn't that my yang was lacking, just that the yin dominated...

'Probably because of my Ghost Eyes.'

I could see ghosts, be near them—my very body was shaped for that. Hence, the predominance of yin.

『That's why you're the right vessel.』

"... You mean, my yin energy?"

『The Moonlit Night Spirit Herb is a spirit herb filled with yin. It's rich in energy overall, but its yin component is overwhelming.』

Given that it sprouted under moonlight in damp places, that was only natural.

『So for an ordinary person, eating the Moonlit Night Spirit Herb without preparation would kill them, swamped under the yin... but for you, that shouldn't happen.』

He was definitive—almost puzzlingly so, as if there was no room for doubt.

"... So you mean, I'll gather more yin, crash it together with my own energy, and that will trigger transformation?"

『Now you've got it.』

"Will it really work like that...?"

『Ha.』

Yu Chun-gil sounded exasperated at my question.

『Who do you think you're talking to?』

There was a huge confidence and pride in his tone.

『I am Yu Chun-gil, the Sword Saint. If I say it'll work, it will.』

Annoyingly, he made it sound convincing.

* * *

"Huuu..."

I climbed the mountain at night, lit by moonlight. This really was a cursed mission.

"This is absurdly steep."

It was the mountain behind the Blue Moon Sect. When the moon was perched at its peak, it was said to look so beautiful, and thus gained the name Moonlit Night Mountain.

Moonlit Night Mountain or not—

'What kind of demented mountain is this?'

It didn't seem made for people to climb.

Huff—!

I scaled it, using my footwork, for there was no path for humans. I stepped over cracks in rocks, grabbed at branches, relying on precarious holds; it was dizzying, hazardous progress.

"This is really the right way?"

『That's what I said. Watch out for the moss there.』

"For wh— Augh!"

I slipped on a rock, hitting a mossy patch.

Hwaaak—!

"Damn—!!"

I staggered and lost my balance—nearly fell off a cliff.

Srrrng—!! I drew my Divine Sword, wrapped it with aura, and stabbed it into the rock.

KRKKKK—!!!

"Whew, damn..."

I barely hung on.

『Ha, hahaha—nearly got yourself killed, huh.』

What was so funny to this annoying old man? I ignored the cold sweat, found a crevice, and climbed up.

"Huff... Huff..."

Even though I'd reached the Transcendent realm, I'd die for sure if I fell from here. I had really almost died.

"Man..."

If I was going to die, it shouldn't be like some idiot.

I raised my trembling head to look up.

"What's with the moss on this rock..."

It didn't fit the environment. Why was there moss here, of all places?

I stared at it in disbelief.

『That means you're nearly there.』

Yu Chun-gil's words prompted me to focus on the mossy rock.

『It means the humidity is just about right.』

I felt the moist air. The moss must have grown thanks to the presence of the Moonlit Night Spirit Herb.

『Boy.』

"Yes?"

『If you keep trying to climb like this, it'll take forever. Use Moon Heaven. That'll be faster.』

"..."

Without complaint, I unleashed my energy.

BZZZZZT—!!! Pure, white energy surged through my body. I kicked off with elated strength.

Thwip!

The speed was in a different league from before. The fear I'd felt melted away.

A self-induced state of selflessness, it seemed.

'Still...'

I had to stay vigilant.

I stepped on moss, keeping my balance, and climbed for a long while.

'My energy's running low...'

I couldn't keep Moon Heaven going much longer before it got risky—

『Here's the spot.』

Yu Chun-gil's voice was a welcome sound.

There was a cramped space ahead, just enough for a person, and there he stood.

The moment I got there, I released Moon Heaven. My energy faded, and my body felt heavy.

"It's in here?"

『Yes.』

Just large enough for one person. Frankly, Yu Chun-gil's body would've gotten stuck if he tried.

"... Hmm."

I cautiously stepped inside. In that instant—

Fwoooosh—!!!

"...!!"

My entire body stiffened.

'What is this?'

A tremendous wave of yin energy brushed against me on the wind.

At this level...

'... This is like the aura of an evil god.'

That meant the amount was staggering. Thankfully, there was no evil ki mixed in, so it wasn't quite as terrifying as an evil god's aura.

'My insides are quaking.'

Just sensing the yin made my body tremble.

My hands registered a strange sensation. Moss coated everything, and the walls were slick with moisture.

Through the darkness, I activated my Moon Eye.

The foggy world cleared. I leaped forward.

Splash.

Soon I felt water flowing beneath my toes.

At the cliff's edge, water was flowing downward.

『Go on down.』

At his direction, I jumped.

Splash—!!

Water splashed, soaking my foot.

"..."

It was cold enough to freeze my feet.

Odd that the water hadn't frozen in here, given the chill.

What was this place, really? Hard to believe it was just the inside of a cave, given the yin energy.

I narrowed my eyes.

『Look ahead.』

Yu Chun-gil instructed, and I followed his gaze.

There—

"Ah."

Moonlight of unknown origin shone down on a single spot.

There, on the rock illuminated by moonlight,

"... Moonlit Night Spirit Herb."

A pure white flower bloomed,

emitting a blue aura that wavered like a shimmering mirage.

TL's Corner:

Time for another level up.

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