NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique (破極心功).
As its name suggests, this technique allows one to accumulate internal energy faster than any other.
However, it also comes with the highest risks compared to other heart techniques.
Nine out of ten—or rather, ninety-nine out of a hundred fail to withstand the essence of the Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique and succumb to Qi deviation (走火入魔).
In a mage’s terms, it would be akin to a mana backlash, where the body’s energy pathways become twisted, rendering one incapable of using internal energy ever again.
Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique goes even further—at the moment Qi deviation strikes, all the body’s energy pathways burst, leading to certain death.
The reason Se-woon chose such a dangerous mental cultivation technique:
‘It’s possible with Samjaegong (三才功).’
Because he had solidly refined his dantian with Samjaegong.
Although Samjaegong is slower than other mental cultivation techniques, it helps to lay a solid foundation, which he believed would allow him to endure the essence of Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique.
Thump, thump!
He could clearly feel his heart pounding.
If accumulating internal energy with Samjaegong was like a gentle stream, then the internal energy pouring in through the Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique was like waves crashing.
Without considering the strength or size of his dantian, the energy forcefully surged in.
Naturally, the blood vessels blocking its path were forcefully cleared.
Splurt—
Black blood gushed from Se-woon’s mouth. The forced clearing of his meridians expelled the stagnant blood.
Whoooosh!
The dantian, solidly trained with Samjaegong, withstood the rough waves of internal energy.
As Se-woon anticipated, Samjaegong held back the waves of internal energy like a breakwater.
Yet, there was one thing he hadn’t foreseen.
‘The energy is too strong.’
Utilizing the Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique requires an abundance of internal energy, enough to create waves.
Moreover, to absorb all the energy in the chamber before the final wave starts, a highly efficient mental cultivation technique was necessary.
Hence, he chose the Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique, believing it to be the most suitable. However, the surrounding energy was far more abundant than he had expected.
What flowed into his dantian wasn’t just waves, but a tidal wave, causing even the breakwater that was Samjaegong to begin shaking.
‘At this rate, I can’t keep this up.’
The moment he succumbed to Qi deviation, it would be the end.
Even if he somehow survived, without the ability to use internal energy and mana, climbing the tower would be impossible.
At that moment, a brilliant idea flashed through Se-woon’s mind.
‘Wait a minute, with mana!’
Think carefully, and act swiftly.
While enduring the tidal wave of internal energy, Se-woon urgently activated the Power of Greed and chose the treasure he had thought of.
– Opened the Treasury of Greed.
[ Dark Mana Circle ]
– A training method for Dark Mana Circle, taught only to direct disciples of the Black Tower, the homeland of dark mages, known as the Empire’s enemy.
The training method of the Black Tower.
The difference was merely between internal energy and mana. The principle of the Dark Mana Circle was very similar to that of the Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique. Both training methods forsook stability in the pursuit of great power.
Just as Samjaegong focuses on stability, the training method from the Blue Tower, which Se-woon originally used when creating his circle, also emphasizes stability.
Although a bit premature, it was a necessary choice given the circumstances.
Whooosh!
Whooosh!
Dantian and mana circle.
Both cores, holding mana, were activated simultaneously.
Ordinarily, this would be a direct path to Qi deviation and mana backlash, leading to incapacitation.
In accord with the movements of heaven and earth, the infinite harmony pursued by Samjaegong suppresses the effects of Qi deviation.
Following the natural flow and with the receptiveness of the ocean, the cultivation method of the Blue Tower suppresses the effects of mana backlash.
Se-woon’s predictions came true.
On the brink of Qi deviation and mana backlash, energy was absorbed into both the dantian and the circle at the same time.
The original forceful wave of energy divided into two streams, rapidly seeping into the solid base he had carefully laid.
“Phew…”
Is it said that humans are animals of adaptation?
Just a moment ago, the pain was so severe that he spat out stagnant blood, but as his breathing stabilized, he began to regain his rationality.
Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique and the training method of the Black Tower.
These two processes became as natural as breathing, allowing him to entertain other thoughts.
Keeping his breathing steady, Se-woon calmly reviewed the numerous messages that appeared before him.
[ Tutorial Chapter One – Adaptation ]
– Successfully cleared the sixth wave.
– All participants in the wave are awarded 100 points.
[ Tutorial Chapter One – Adaptation ]
– Successfully cleared the seventh wave.
– All participants in the wave are awarded 200 points.
[ Tutorial Chapter One – Adaptation ]
– Successfully cleared the eighth wave.
– All participants in the wave are awarded 200 points.
‘Has that much time passed already?’
Before he started using the Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique, it was just before the sixth wave began. While struggling to absorb the surging energy like a tidal wave, time seemed to have flown by in an instant.
Roughly calculating, it had already been a day and a half since he left the camp.
‘I’m glad they managed to hold out.’
Just like in the fourth wave, where the monster level rose from Brown Wolves to Gray Wolves, the seventh wave saw another increase from Gray Wolves to Red Wolves.
Moreover, by the eighth wave, they likely faced a horde of Red Boars, meaning the camp might have suffered significant damage.
‘I should stay at the camp for a while and help out since I could come out here and obtain the Hidden Piece thanks to them.’
Even if the monster wave was not successfully defended, one could still climb the tower. However, failing to defend the camp would result in automatic exclusion from the individual merit ranking.
One of the reasons Se-woon paid close attention to the camp was precisely this.
‘And the tenth wave is approaching soon.’
The first chapter of the tutorial, Adaptation.
Its finale is the tenth wave.
Being the final wave, the monsters that appear far exceed the previous ones in difficulty.
Even if they had managed well so far, the tenth wave would be nearly impossible to manage without Se-woon.
– Through the Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique, you have accumulated half a cup of internal energy in your dantian.
– Even when not using martial arts, the internal energy circulates through your meridians, enhancing your basic physical abilities.
– The efficiency of all martial arts used increases according to the amount of internal energy. The destructive power of martial arts used according to the principles of Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique increases even further.
– Earned a remarkable achievement.
– Earned 5,000 points as a reward.
Half a cup.
Typically, this amount of internal energy is what a player would accumulate over 30 years with a basic heart technique.
Of course, as time passed and the efficiency of heart techniques improved, this timeframe significantly shortened.
Se-woon had accumulated this much internal energy in less than two days.
Had Mammon not been blocking communication with the Constellations, various Constellations would have shown significant interest in Se-woon, perhaps even making offers for him to join their ranks.
– Through the training method of the Black Tower, you have successfully created a second mana circle.
– With the creation of a new circle, you can now use 2nd Circle magic.
– The level, power, and speed of the magic you can use increase according to the level of your mana circle.
– The destruction power of the magic used is further enhanced according to the principles of the Black Magic Tower’s training method.
– Earned a remarkable achievement.
– Earned 5,000 points as a reward.
The same applied to his mana circle.
Even those called geniuses need at least two to three years to form such a circle, but Se-woon achieved it in an instant.
Although it was just another mana circle, it was not simply double the level of a single circle.
For instance, Se-woon could now use Fire Ball four to five times more frequently than before.
He could also cast new spells, and thanks to the Black Magic Tower’s cultivation method, their power had significantly increased.
In less than two days, Se-woon’s martial and magical prowess had astonishingly improved.
Most importantly:
[ Durandal, the Sword that Split the Rock (Sealed) ]
Category: Longsword
Rank: B
Description: A legendary sword used by legendary heroes. Its potential is greatly sealed as it hasn’t fully recognized the power of its master.
Abilities:
1. Hero’s Sword: Increases cutting efficiency by 50%.
2. Hero’s Qualification: Increases attack power against monsters by 30%.
3. The Sword that Split the Rock: The blade never dulls or chips under any circumstances.
4. (Sealed)
5. (Sealed)
“To think that it was slumbering within the first chapter of the tutorial.”
Durandal.
The sword once wielded by Hector, the Hero of Troy, and known to be bestowed upon Roland, the Leader of Charlemagne’s Twelve Paladins.
Its power was so great that it was said to be capable of cutting everything it touched in two.
Even before Se-woon’s regression, Durandal was one of the legendary swords yet to be discovered in the tower. He never imagined that he would find such a weapon here.
– The Constellation, ‘Bowed Raven, expresses admiration at the true radiance of Durandal.
It was only natural for Mammon, the Demon of Greed, to marvel at it.
Even the treasures in his warehouse before Se-woon’s regression, while retaining the power of the originals, were mere replicas.
Swish!
With a light swing of Durandal, the air was sharply sliced.
As if enveloped in sword energy, the sharpness was extraordinary.
If Se-woon’s own skills increased to the point where he could add sword energy to his attacks, even the armor of a sturdy player would be cut, along with the wearer.
“The abilities that are still sealed are already this impressive.”
Moreover, this was only a fraction of Durandal’s true power.
It seemed that the seal hadn’t been fully lifted, likely because the power Se-woon infused into the sword before extracting it was insufficient.
Well, even so, its might was…
Crack!!
It could split even rocks, which was extraordinary in itself.
Even with this much power, any foe unable to handle mana would surely be unable to withstand Se-woon’s strikes.
[ Tutorial Chapter One – Adaptation ]
– Time remaining until the ninth monster wave: 24 minutes.
With a satisfied smile, Se-woon sheathed Durandal, its blade completely undamaged even after splitting a rock.
He had planned to defeat the boss monster of the rocky mountain and return at least before the seventh wave, but his return had been delayed more than anticipated.
Though he wasn’t sure about the camp’s current situation, any more delays could lead to worse damage than he had imagined.
Whoosh!
Relishing the fulfillment of internal energy that filled his dantian, Se-woon moved to exit the dungeon.