Chapter 19
“I don’t know exactly how the martial arts folks do Xiao Jue Tian, but it’s best to assume it’s different from what I do.”
“I’ve never learned the martial arts version of Xiao Jue Tian,” I said.
“Really? I assumed you’d be connected to that side since you use the martial arts-style Tu Na method.”
The Monkey Sage brought up martial arts before I even mentioned it.
I felt my trust in him rise rapidly.
“You’re doing very well with Da Jue Tian. Keep going. There are better methods, but this is fine.”
The Monkey Sage stared intently at me.
“If an O-star cultivator can advance this much alone, you can continue on your own without trouble. If you feel uneasy, you can return to the 6th floor and ask Icha.”
The 6th floor also functioned like a city, so returning there was possible if necessary.
“You humans… your bodies contain countless paths. The main path is used during Da Jue Tian, but there are many smaller paths. Depending on which path you choose for Xiao Jue Tian, the flow of your energy changes, and so do the results. So, one person doesn’t have just a single Xiao Jue Tian path. Sometimes, you handle thousands. Da Jue Tian has only one path, so a talent like yours can grow alone. But Xiao Jue Tian is difficult. You don’t know what each path does.”
―Heh heh heh… new information…
Lucy laughed darkly. This was a very good sign.
“However, there are too many paths to teach them all. I can’t explain the meaning contained in each path either.”
“I’ll study hard.”
“First, I’ll show you the paths to accumulate mana.”
The Monkey Sage placed his hands on my back.
“Do nothing and follow my guidance. Once you move, you’ll understand.”
I could vividly feel the Monkey Sage’s mana flowing into me.
Even as someone inexperienced with mana, I immediately recognized its purity and strength.
His mana didn’t interact with any part of my body, yet it guided only my mana.
‘Is this… truly a sage?’
―I’ll analyze the information immediately.
Lucy began exploring the path the Monkey Sage was showing us at once.
I had avoided experimenting before, fearing death from mistakes, but the Monkey Sage wouldn’t guide me into a lethal path. Lucy memorized all the information quickly.
“Now, try it on your own.”
“Understood.”
Technically, I wasn’t alone—Lucy was with me.
‘Symbiosis.’
My memory was human-level, but Lucy’s wasn’t. She could process information at incredible speed, so I could follow the path exactly as the Monkey Sage instructed.
―I see areas for improvement.
Following Lucy’s input, I adjusted the mana flowing along the Da Jue Tian path while performing Xiao Jue Tian.
“Ha… If he were a normal person, three hours of work would take him three minutes, and he even optimized it for his body?”
After completing Da Jue Tian and Xiao Jue Tian, I opened my eyes to see the Monkey Sage looking at me in disbelief.
“You really are something. If you weren’t a climber, I would have taken you as my disciple…”
“The Monkey Sage? Didn’t you say you never take disciples?”
“With someone like you… I’m tempted. But since you’re a climber, I can’t make you my disciple even if I wanted to.”
“Can we move on to the next stage now?”
“Yes. Alright, kid.”
For the next three hours, he taught me the detailed mana accumulation routes, and the remaining time was spent teaching combat techniques.
‘I might even be able to link this with Lucia.’
Most of the practitioner techniques relied on fists or staves, but following the ideas from Xiao Jue Tian, I could utilize Lucia effectively.
―Close combat ability greatly improved. And thanks to all the new information, there are plenty of things to research further.
Today’s growth was significant, but gaining all this information meant I could continue growing later.
After 23 hours on the 9th floor, I had learned all the basic principles the Monkey Sage could teach.
“You are an outstanding O-star. With this much, you can find your own path.”
“Thank you, Monkey Sage.”
I bowed sincerely in gratitude.
“One hour left?”
“About 50 minutes.”
“What do you plan to do in the remaining time?”
“I’ll spend it hunting the beasts.”
The Monkey Sage made a complex expression.
“I heard climbers heal all wounds when they move between floors. Is that true?”
“I think so. At least when clearing the 9th floor, I should heal.”
“Sit down. I’ll teach you a forbidden technique.”
―Oh! Hidden information!
“A forbidden technique? What will you teach me?”
“About Sa Xue.”
Sa Xue. Even the name sounded violent.
“Monkey Sage… using Sa Xue kills you.”
“You know it won’t while it flows. If you close it before climbing the Tower, your wounds heal without aftereffects. And who knows? Maybe the clever kid will find a way to survive it open.”
“I’ll learn it.”
After a day of training, I realized the Monkey Sage was wise. He was kind and never gave impossible tasks.
‘Time to take the risk.’
To climb higher…
“It will hurt.”
I wasn’t worried. Using symbiosis, the pain my body felt could be reduced.
―You must open Sa Xue yourself. My energy will guide you to a blocked spot.
Following his guidance, I moved mana to my solar plexus and felt a dangerous blockage.
Now I understood why Sa Xue needed to be opened. It acted as an entrance to a massive channel.
―I don’t need to worry about it closing.
Lucy analyzed the route inside Sa Xue and guaranteed safety.
―Thump!
It didn’t actually make a sound, but that’s how it felt.
“If it doesn’t open… tough. Sa Xue is dangerous. It won’t open without force.”
I concentrated all my mana to strike the blockage.
‘It would’ve hurt like hell if not for symbiosis.’
―Crack!
After several strikes, the Sa Xue finally opened.
―Whoooosh!
Mana inside Sa Xue surged like a black hole. It flowed uncontrollably along the internal paths.
“Ugh!”
“What? You opened it already? It normally takes 30 minutes to open.”
“Some humans aren’t really human.”
Mana rushed through my body like a storm.
‘My whole body is burning.’
I couldn’t track the flow precisely, only that mana raced along the paths throughout my body.
‘Where’s the exit?’
―Basic routes are all stored.
Luckily, I had Lucy. She monitored everything inside my body.
“I’ll tell Icha everything I know about Sa Xue. Focus on controlling your inner self for now.”
Lucy continued analyzing the internal route and optimized it. Mana that had been chaotic now moved safely through selected paths.
―This is lethal for most. Even with optimization, a normal person could last about an hour.
Lucy finally located an exit from Sa Xue.
―Found it!
It wasn’t exactly an exit, more like a side path. It didn’t forcibly pull mana like Sa Xue, so it was safer to use the path while keeping Sa Xue open.
[9th floor cleared.]
I couldn’t close Sa Xue until fully clearing the 9th floor.
―After moving to the 10th floor, all wounds will heal, and I can close Sa Xue then.
Unfortunately, Lucy’s plan didn’t happen. The floor-clear healing effect closed Sa Xue.
‘Does the Tower treat Sa Xue being open as an injury?’
[9th floor rewards granted.]
[You achieved an unbelievable feat as a single disciple!]
[You will receive a mass-bleeding service as a reward. Don’t worry about not carrying over for bigger rewards; this is given at risk to upper management.]
[Special trait unlocked.]
‘Not bad.’
This was excellent. The Monkey Sage still had plenty to teach, so this alone was a big gain.
[10th floor entered.]
[Theme: Protection.]
[Protect the temple from the hands of the corrupted.]
[Practitioners will aid your power.]
‘Finally, the 10th floor.’
If I cleared this floor, I could return to reality.
