TRDT 9

Chapter 9 — Treasure Vault

A graveyard of discarded martial arts?

Trash left behind by previous masters?

‘What the hell is he talking about?’

As I tilted my head in confusion, Jin Gwang-ung continued in a low voice.

“Since ancient times, Kunlun has been locked in endless struggle against the Heavenly Demon Cult right at our doorstep. To fight against those monsters wearing human skin… Kunlun had no choice but to become stronger. We desperately needed more power, more perfect martial arts. Naturally, research into martial arts also became extremely active.”

A chilling sense of regret flickered across Jin Gwang-ung’s face, as if he were revealing an old secret.

His gaze drifted toward the dust-covered bookshelves.

“There were countless attempts to reach higher realms, and as time passed, the results continued to pile up. Some called it ‘Kunlun’s progress.’ But to me, it was nothing more and nothing less than a desperate, bloody struggle for survival…”

I unconsciously swallowed hard at his words.

Could all these countless books in front of me really be secret manuals containing the martial knowledge of Kunlun’s previous masters?

If so…

‘…If I properly learn even one of them, wouldn’t I become an incredible expert?’

I asked carefully, my voice slightly trembling.

“Master, are you saying all the books here are martial arts manuals left behind by Kunlun’s previous high-level experts?”

Jin Gwang-ung snorted as if he had read my mind.

“Don’t even dream about it. Abandon those useless fantasies.”

He chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

“What remains here are nothing but the remnants and failed byproducts of hollow desires. They are horrifying failures.”

Jin Gwang-ung slowly walked over to the bookshelf, pulled out one book covered in dust, and tossed it to me.

“See for yourself.”

I reflexively caught the book. On the dusty cover, faint characters were visible.

[Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture (崑崙靑魂經)]

Just from the name, it sounded like a noble and profound internal energy cultivation manual that contained the essence of Kunlun’s martial arts.

However, the mocking smile on Jin Gwang-ung’s lips instantly shattered that illusion.

“Don’t get any funny ideas. It may have a decent-sounding name, but in reality, it’s a vicious manual that leads its practitioners to ruin.”

“Ruin?”

“At first, it grants rapid internal energy growth. But soon after, it drives the practitioner into <Qi Deviation>. The dantian becomes twisted, the mind is consumed by madness, and eventually the user ends up as a half-paralyzed lunatic. Every single book here is like that — incomplete failures that devour their practitioners.”

Just listening to him sent a chill down my spine.

Martial arts manuals that turned people into cripples…

Still, one thing didn’t make sense.

“If they’re as dangerous as you say, Master… then why have they been carefully stored here all this time?”

Jin Gwang-ung answered in a bitter voice.

“Because of vain hope… Or more precisely, because of an unattainable delusion.”

“Delusion?”

“It’s true that the manuals in the Abandoned Martial Hall are secret transmissions containing the martial research of past masters. So people held onto the delusion that someday, someone in a later generation might ‘complete’ these flawed arts.”

He let out a short sigh.

“But no one has ever succeeded. Even so, we couldn’t just destroy them recklessly. After all, these are records of Kunlun’s blood, sweat, and years of martial scholarship.”

Only then did I understand.

The Abandoned Martial Hall was like a white elephant to Kunlun.

‘Too valuable to throw away, yet too poisonous to use.’

A repository of Kunlun’s dark past — a collection of failures that no one wanted to touch.

A place that couldn’t be entrusted to just anyone, yet no one wanted to approach.

‘So that’s why Jin Gwang-ung… this mad old monster is stationed here.’

A First Elder with one of the highest positions in the sect, and one of Kunlun’s strongest experts in terms of martial prowess.

Yet because of his unpredictable and eccentric personality, no one wanted to stay near him.

In the end, Jin Gwang-ung himself was a living Abandoned Martial Hall.

‘Kunlun pushed this headache onto him, and this weirdo gladly accepted it.’

I looked at the rows of old, worn-out books filling the shelves and unconsciously shook my head.

‘To think I have to waste my precious time after regression surrounded by these murderous, monstrous things…’

At that moment, Jin Gwang-ung noticed my expression and burst into laughter.

“Kle kle kle. Your eyes have already gone dead. Excellent. That’s exactly the right look for the Abandoned Martial Hall.”

The serious expression from earlier had vanished, replaced by a playful, mischievous grin.

It seemed this old monster had a natural talent for enjoying other people’s misfortune.

Before I could even calm my boiling insides, another ridiculous statement came out of his mouth.

“Good. Then it’s time for you to show your duty as a disciple, isn’t it?”

“Duty?”

‘What nonsense is he going to pull now?’

The corners of Jin Gwang-ung’s mouth curled up slyly.

“What else could it be? Keeping the area where your master resides clean as if it were your own body. Isn’t that the most basic duty and first step of a loyal disciple?”

He jerked his chin toward the side.

I turned my head and saw an old broom lying alone in the corner.

“Sweep and clean every nook and cranny. Get rid of all the spiderwebs too. Since this is where you’ll be eating and sleeping from now on, you’d better clean it with utmost care.”

“…Pardon? I have to eat and sleep here? Earlier I saw what looked like living quarters next to the—”

“Ahem!”

Jin Gwang-ung widened his eyes and barked.

“You bastard! Are you already eyeing your master’s personal quarters?! The place where this old man resides is a sacred sanctuary filled with pure Taoist energy! How dare you think of defiling the space where your master comprehends the Dao through wall-facing meditation? This is the height of disrespect!”

Jin Gwang-ung raised his eyebrows and spouted nonsense with a straight face.

I was left utterly speechless.

‘Taoist energy my ass… He just doesn’t want to share his room.’

I already knew this old man had a terrible personality. Arguing with him would only give me a bigger headache.

I reluctantly nodded.

“My apologies. My thoughts were shallow. I will quietly stay here so as not to disturb Master’s cultivation.”

“That’s more like it! Good, now you finally understand a disciple’s duty.”

Jin Gwang-ung stroked his beard, looking satisfied.

“Then, this old man will go inside for wall-facing meditation. Make sure you clean the Abandoned Martial Hall properly. I’ll be watching to see just how useful a disciple you can be.”

With those words, Jin Gwang-ung walked out of the Abandoned Martial Hall with his hands clasped behind his back, disappearing from sight shortly after.

“…Sigh.”

Left alone, I let out a long, deep sigh.

‘If I stay with that old monster for too long, this life is going to be ruined too.’

Becoming the representative for the Great Assembly of Elders or learning advanced martial arts from Jin Gwang-ung could wait.

First, I needed to escape this place. That was the only way to survive.

“I can’t waste my life guarding these trash martial arts manuals.”

I absentmindedly glanced down at the book still in my hand.

It was the same cultivation manual Jin Gwang-ung had thrown at me.

[Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture (崑崙靑魂經)]

“Kunlun’s Azure Soul… The name sounds pretty grandiose.”

But in reality, it was an incomplete failure that led practitioners to ruin.

‘Just what kind of content does it have?’

Out of curiosity, I flipped open the cover of the <Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture>.

The first page was filled with clear, elegant brush strokes on yellowed paper.

―The energy within the body originally takes clarity as its foundation. This flow of energy is called Azure Clarity (靑明). As Azure Clarity deepens, the practitioner’s soul grows closer to the Heavenly Qi. However, even the slightest deviation in this flow will twist the meridians and rupture the soul. Therefore, the practitioner must entrust both body and will entirely to this flow.

Although it was a failed cultivation method that twisted the practitioner’s dantian, the content itself carried considerable depth, as expected from the legacy of a past Kunlun master.

I thought about reading a bit more, but an ominous feeling washed over me.

‘Better stop. No need to invite trouble.’

Just as I was about to close the book—

‘…What?’

The brush strokes on the page suddenly began to tremble faintly.

At first, I thought it was an illusion, but it wasn’t.

The characters were wriggling as if they were alive.

Startled, I dropped the book.

With a thud, it hit the floor.

At that exact moment—

Chrrrrrrrrrr!

The book flipped open violently, and the characters exploded outward.

Thousands upon thousands of brush strokes burst from the pages and scattered into the air.

They emitted a azure glow like freed souls and filled the entire space.

The azure characters linked together into ribbons, forming a massive spinning circle above my head.

The azure band woven from countless sentences slowly rotated, radiating brilliant light.

“W-what the hell is this?”

I instinctively took a step back at the bizarre sight.

Wooooooooong—

The band in the air suddenly let out a violent vibrating sound and began spinning faster.

And in the next instant—

Flash!

The azure band shattered, and countless characters poured down like rain.

The falling characters surged straight toward me, gathering into a single streak of light that pierced into my mind.

At the same time—

[New martial arts information has been transmitted to the Awakened.]

[Martial Art: Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture]

[Analyzing the cultivation method…]

I nearly jumped out of my skin at the familiar voice ringing in my head.

‘N-no!’

The [Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture] was a defective cultivation method that destroyed its practitioners. It didn’t just ruin them — it drove them into Qi Deviation, turning them into raving lunatics before destroying them completely.

So why?!

Why was my body reacting to it?!

[Severe errors have been detected in some of the core principles.]

[Warning: Training in the current state carries an extremely high risk of physical and mental damage.]

My breath caught in my throat.

I had to stop this right now.

If my body ended up accepting this cursed manual…!

‘Stop! It’s dangerous!’

Despite my desperate mental resistance, the process did not stop.

[Detailed analysis of the Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture is underway.]

“Don’t! Stop! Please!”

My earnest cry scattered uselessly into the air.

At the same time, continuous warning messages rang inside my head.

[Intermediate analysis result: This cultivation method will definitely inflict fatal harm upon the Awakened.]

[If acquired in its current state, the Awakened’s mind and meridians will completely collapse.]

I felt like I was going insane.

Was my second life really going to end like this?

Was I doomed to die a pointless death from Qi Deviation?!

Right at that moment—

Ding!

[Structural errors in the ‘Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture’ have been identified. Correction measures are possible.]

‘…Huh?’

What did that mean?

Correction was possible?

[Cause of Error: Distorted operation of the Extraordinary Meridians causes the practitioner’s qi and blood to twist.]

[Analysis Result: The meridian flow method can be readjusted to strengthen stability and modify the cultivation method.]

[Would you like to correct the contents of the manual and acquire it?]

I froze on the spot, too shocked to move.

I could only blink blankly at the blue characters floating in the air.

‘This… is actually possible?’

The defective martial art that even Kunlun’s previous masters had given up on — I could fix it?

Shock, curiosity, and indescribable excitement surged through me all at once.

‘If it’s really possible…!’

My heart pounded wildly.

I wanted to accept it immediately and learn the completed version of the Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture.

However, one thing still bothered me.

The phrase “strengthened stability” was only relative. In the worst case, even if the chance of Qi Deviation dropped from 100% to 90%, the system could still call it “strengthened stability.”

For a moment, I considered stopping here.

But soon, another voice whispered from the corner of my mind.

‘No. This is an opportunity no one else has. A truly special chance given only to me.’

Moreover, I had a strong gut feeling that it would be safe this time.

It was a conviction born from my vague but powerful belief in the ‘martial arts acquisition ability’ I had awakened after regression.

At the very least, I was certain that ability wouldn’t lead me to my death.

I swallowed hard once and made my decision.

“I will acquire the Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture.”

[Awakened’s will has been confirmed.]

[Commencing error correction on the Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture.]

[Correction in progress…]

Unlike when I had acquired the Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique and Three-Section Palm, the process didn’t complete instantly this time. It seemed the error correction was taking extra time.

After roughly the time it took for one incense stick to burn, the long-awaited result finally appeared.

[Error correction on the Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture has been completed.]

[Risk Level: Changed from ‘Qi and Blood Rampage Inevitable’ to ‘Safe to Train’.]

[Grade Assessment: Changed from ‘Qi Deviation Trash-tier’ to ‘Superior Grade’.]

[Judged to be a superior cultivation method that will greatly aid the Awakened’s internal energy growth.]

[The Awakened can acquire it immediately.]

[Commencing automatic acquisition process of the ‘Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture’.]

“Nice! This is it!”

A cheer burst out of my mouth involuntarily.

It was the moment that proved my choice had been correct.

Just as my excitement over acquiring a new martial art reached its peak—

[Conflict detected between the meridian operation method of the previously learned ‘Mid-Celestial Breathing Technique’ and the ‘Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture’.]

[For more efficient martial arts operation, all elements related to the ‘Mid-Celestial Breathing Technique’ inside the Awakened’s body will be temporarily sealed.]

[The sealed ‘Mid-Celestial Breathing Technique’ can be released at any time by the Awakened’s will. However, temporary qi and blood turbulence may occur upon release.]

‘Temporary seal? Can be released?’

Before I could even process the unexpected message, the next step began immediately.

[The ‘Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture’ has been optimized for the Awakened and acquired.]

Immediately afterward, my brain felt like it was burning.

My entire body’s meridians shook violently, and a clear, pure energy exploded outward from my dantian.

‘This feeling…!’

At that moment, I realized it.

My mind and body were perfectly absorbing every single part of the Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture.

Not the defective failure that dragged practitioners into the abyss, but the true Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture filled with Kunlun’s pure and clear spirit.

Its perfect essence was being engraved inside me.

In a form perfectly optimized for me.

[The Awakened has perfectly acquired the ‘Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture’.]

I closed my eyes.

The clear, pure energy flowing through my body felt vividly real.

It was qualitatively different from the inner energy I had gained from the Mid-Celestial Breathing Technique.

Solid yet not rough. Relaxed yet not slow.

A pure energy infused with Kunlun’s spirit coursed through my meridians and swept across my entire body.

The flow felt as natural and stable as a blue river.

‘So this is the true Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture.’

I savored that pure energy for a moment.

It was soft yet noble — an energy that carried Kunlun’s lofty traditions.