Failed Possession Chapter-71

## Ch-71.

 

The Sword Emperor and Sword Dragon had said that an elixir was a living spiritual medicine.
When he first heard it, Yuri had no idea what that was supposed to mean—but after experiencing it himself, he understood.

In truth, he had not even “drunk” it.
The elixir slipped down his throat on its own, coursed through his meridians, and settled within his dantian.

It would take at least three or four days for the elixir to fully take root in the body.

A spiritual medicine can be described as a mass of qi. The same applies to inner cores harvested from monsters or spiritual beasts. But the elixir was not merely a mass of qi.

The Ascad family, who had risen to the pride of the alchemical cartel, were masters of alchemy. If the Orsia family stood as the head of the western martial houses, then the Ascad family stood as the head of western alchemists.

The elixir was the pinnacle of artificial spiritual medicine created by that Ascad family. In other words, it was the pinnacle of alchemy itself. It was not simply condensed qi or mana—it was magic in the form of something to be drunk and integrated into the body.

Possessors had a high degree of understanding and affinity with mana. Even back when Yuri had barely clung to 1st Rank, without properly building inner qi, he had been able to fully absorb the Namgung family’s Azure Heaven Pill the moment he consumed it.

But the elixir could not be absorbed in that manner.

After settling in his dantian, it moved on its own as though alive, adapting to the environment of Yuri’s dantian and transforming itself to match the nature of the inner force he had cultivated.

A martial artist possesses three dantians.

The lower dantian is the foundation upon which inner qi is built.
Once one becomes conscious of qi, accepts it, accumulates inner force within the lower dantian, and can manifest martial arts through it, one reaches 2nd Rank.

From 4th Rank onward—when one can imbue inner force with attributes—the process begins of opening the middle dantian beyond the lower. The middle dantian, located at the heart, does not store inner force itself, but by opening it, one begins to unify accumulated inner force with the martial arts one practices.

Sharpening qi.
Making it faster.
Hotter.
Colder.

When one can refine it into Aura, it means the middle dantian has been fully opened.

From 6th Rank onward, one surpasses the middle dantian and knocks upon the upper dantian in the head. It is the realm of entering intent.

Yuri was currently 5th Rank, yet his middle dantian had long since been opened, and he was knocking upon the gate of the upper dantian. His use of intent could not compare to high Rank masters, but he could draw upon it to some degree.

In the game, the elixir was a spiritual medicine used to grow stats beyond max level. Its effect was not merely to increase inner qi—it altered the dantian and meridians to suit one’s martial arts. It could even be said to change one’s very constitution.

Though he could not confirm it, his lifespan itself had likely increased. As his innate qi was strengthened and expanded, it meant his body had grown more robust. He would suffer fewer injuries, recover more quickly, and be resistant not only to illness but even to most poisons.

‘…’

Of course, overconfidence in that could still land one in mortal danger—like Sword Dragon, who nearly died from swallowing something reckless.

‘I see why it takes time.’

He felt the powerful current of inner force coursing through his meridians. Yuri’s inner force, shaped by Violet Lightning Flash Art and Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique, had always been swift and fierce. But with the elixir added, it had surpassed its former limits—particularly because even difficult-to-train meridians had benefited.

Both his lower and middle dantians had strengthened. It felt as though his inner force had gained unity.

Though this did not apply to Yuri—if someone struggled to form aura, a single elixir would allow them to shape it as effortlessly as breathing. In other words, the elixir granted those of ordinary talent mana affinity and comprehension rivaling that of Possessors.

That did not mean Yuri gained little from it.

An artificial spiritual medicine that altered constitution itself.

Yuri looked at the spheres of aura floating around him.

Spheres of condensed aura formed externally.

‘Different.’

He studied them.

They moved according to his will—but not satisfactorily. Clicking his tongue, he raised his hand.

Crackle.

Aura born of Violet Lightning Flash Art enveloped his hand. The already-formed violet lightning shifted again under his control, transforming into the cool flame of Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique.

As he continued manipulating the aura, he glanced at the surrounding spheres.

‘Once separated, aura does not change.’

That was disappointing—but the true comparison lay elsewhere.

Chuk Shin-do—Full-Moon Play.

His Full Moon Slaughter had been the finest aura technique Yuri had ever seen.

Hundreds of spheres, freely controlled and raining down like a storm.

Those spheres were different from the ones Yuri had created—not just in power, but in movement.

Yuri could move his spheres—but they could not compare to moving his own body. Their only advantage was that they required no physical strike. Even in raw power, they fell short of his direct blows.

Though they could massacre 4th Rank martial artists easily enough, Yuri did not aspire to remain at that level.

‘Intent…?’

Must one infuse aura itself with intent to move it freely?

That was beyond him—for now.

He focused, attempting to pour additional inner qi into a sphere.

But it would not work. Once separated from his body, it was independent.

‘Intent…’

He concentrated beyond the middle dantian, toward the upper.

A fragment of intent split off and settled into a sphere.

Boom!

It burst.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Five spheres exploded in succession around him.

“You are remarkably shameless for someone in another’s estate.”

Nearby, Haryeong, seated cross-legged, clicked her tongue as she opened her eyes.

“Fortunately, this is the Orsia training ground. Elsewhere, complaints would have flooded in about some madman setting off fireworks in broad daylight outside of festival season.”

“Tch…”

Yuri sniffed, frowning. Overexerting his intent made his head pound, and blood trickled from his nose.

Haryeong rose with a sigh.

“How many times is that now?”

“I can wipe it myself.”

“I am not coming to wipe it. I am coming to hit you.”

She stepped forward and lightly bonked him on the head.

“If you keep forcing an unopened upper dantian, you will damage your brain and become an idiot.”

“That is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“How many martial artists have opened the upper dantian? Such things are not common knowledge—they are spoken of only among those who know.”

“And how do you know?”

“I am a mysterious assassin. I know many things that are not common knowledge.”

Yuri was not the only one to benefit from the elixir.

Haryeong’s greatest flaw had been insufficient inner qi. Despite her innate talent and Rank, her training environment had been lacking.

Sent to the Salho Gate at fourteen and raised as an assassin, she had not fully inherited even the Tang family’s concealed weapon art, nor had she consumed many high-grade spiritual medicines.

But with the elixir, she overcame all such shortcomings.

For three days, Yuri and Haryeong had allowed the elixir to settle. Now they were adapting to the changes it had wrought.

Their bodies and inner force moved far better than before, requiring delicate recalibration.

So absorbed were they that nearly a month had passed in the Orsia estate.

“If you are troubled, why not seek advice from the Sword Emperor? There is at least an 8th Rank supreme master nearby. Why struggle alone?”

“He told me to ask freely—but if I truly do, I may end up trapped here.”

Indeed, every time he met the Sword Emperor, he was subtly—or not so subtly—encouraged to become a knight of Orsia. A vacant battalion vice-commander post. Even, just yesterday, command of Sword Dragon’s personal guard.

For martial artists knocking on Orsia’s gates with ambition, such offers were a dream.

For Yuri, who had no intention of settling here, they were nothing but a burden.

“Maybe I should just run the moment the spar ends.”

Grumbling, Yuri released his nose. The bleeding had already stopped.

“If you flee the Orsia family, where will you go?”

“I haven’t decided. I was thinking of visiting the Ranalsa Rift once… or perhaps I should look for Bakered-nim.”

“After being battered like that in Lagos, you still wish to enter a Rift?”

The casually thrown remark turned Yuri’s gaze icy.

“Joke.”

With a blank face, Haryeong shrugged.

“If you seek a battlefield, how about Bernock?”

“That’s a roundabout way of telling me to die.”

Yuri answered incredulously.

A year ago, an etherium vein was discovered in a small mining town called Bernock.

Etherium—called a miracle of nature not intended by the gods—was the rarest and most valuable material in the world. In the game, the Sword Emperor’s blade Atria, considered the ultimate endgame weapon for swordsmen, was forged from etherium. Most other endgame items carried etherium options as well.

The vein discovered in Bernock was the largest ever found.

The city of Oxybel, which claimed the mine as its territory, tried desperately to suppress the rumor—but words without legs could not all be caught.

The moment the discovery became known, nearby cities declared war on Oxybel, seeking to seize both the city and the etherium vein outright.

Most cities would have surrendered.

But Oxybel housed the Lucionel Mage Tower.

Arsen Lucionel—called the Apex—was the highest-level mage in the game and considered, after the Sword Emperor, the most difficult boss following the Heavenly Demon.

Thus, for a year now, the Bernock Conflict had raged.

The cities that declared war hired mercenaries to monopolize etherium. Now, burdened with immense war reparations, they could not retreat.

Renowned powerhouses across the continent were involved.

Mage Tower Lords: Apex Arsen Lucionel and Xuanye Rodias Casword.

Free mages: Radiant Wheel Dharma King and Chicheon.

Among the Martial Zeniths: Sword Ghost of the Three Tyrants, Slaughtering Mad Wave of the Four Absolute, and Radiant Heaven Extreme.

Large clans besides.

Recently, even a Battle Saint of the War Church had entered the fray with priests and holy knights, turning Bernock into utter chaos.

No matter how outstanding Yuri was among 5th Rank martial artists, in Bernock—where even 7th Rank fighters rampaged—he could be killed by a stray attack.

“Finding the reclusive Fist Wolf will not be easy.”

“I’ve become rather famous this time. Perhaps he will visit me out of fondness.”

“What if he is training deep in some mountain valley where rumors do not reach?”

“Hmm…”

“If you truly have nowhere to go, shall we visit the Salho Gate together?”

“Why the Salho Gate?”

“To pay respects.”

“What kind of respects?”

“I have never once brought a friend home in my life. If I take you, the Gate Master may rejoice.”

Her face revealed nothing—joke or sincerity unclear. Yuri blinked at her, but her expression did not change.

“Are you serious?”

“The Gate Master is rather austere. He may not rejoice.”

“So you are serious about going.”

“I have no intention of making you an assassin at this late hour, so do not worry. And going benefits you.”

“How?”

“Assassin sects gather much information. If you use an information sect like the Hao Gate, you must be at least a branch leader to handle high-grade intelligence. Your fame has risen, so they will not treat you lightly—but going with me to the Salho Gate would be better.”

It made sense. Yuri nodded without further questioning.

He set aside his fixation on the stubborn aura spheres for now.

In two days, he was to spar with Sword Dragon.

Just as Sword Dragon prepared for the match, Yuri had preparations of his own.

He intended to further refine Crimson Blood Flowing Kick, which had felt lacking during the battle with the Withered Crone. He had no intention of using only footwork in the duel—that would be arrogance and discourteous—but he wanted it honed to at least rival Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist.

“Wait—please!”

“This is improper!”

He had been practicing his steps when commotion arose among Orsia knights.

Turning, he saw a tall, gaunt man striding toward them.

“I only wish to see his face—why is that improper?”

“You are a guest of Young Master Estor!”

“I am a guest of Brother Sword Emperor!”

“The Lord said to wait in the reception hall—!”

“My younger brother has come from afar, yet he will not greet me himself? How heartless!”

Though dressed splendidly, he looked like a corpse wearing fine clothes.

Tall and long-limbed, yet fleshless. Pale and withered. Hollow cheeks. Darkened eyes. Yet his pupils burned intensely, as though ink had been dotted into them.

His thin arms swung loosely from wide sleeves, yet did not seem frail—more like dried white charcoal, yet as solid as diamond.

His fists, veins bulging and knuckles protruding like weapons, proclaimed a lifetime of training.

“Yuri.”

Haryeong stepped close and whispered.

“That person is—”

Before she could finish, the man’s dark gaze flashed toward them. In an instant, he stood before them.

“One must state one’s name directly.”

Though Yuri was not short, the man stood a head taller. Hands clasped behind his back, he looked down at them.

“My name is Dokgo Gwi-jin.”

Yuri’s expression stiffened slightly.

He was not shocked. Even from afar, the man’s aura had been extraordinary—far beyond 6th Rank. Among 7th Rank martial artists famed for fist techniques, there was only one Yuri knew.

“Greetings, Senior Fist King.”

Yuri and Haryeong bowed swiftly.

Fist King Dokgo Gwi-jin—one of the Four Absolutes among the Martial Zeniths. Neither righteous nor demonic, but neutral.

He was infamous for his eccentric temperament. If displeased, he beat anyone regardless of faction. Yet he despised evil—slaying cultists and demonic practitioners alike.

“So you are Thunder Cloud, and you are Dark Flower?”

He waved off formalities with a large hand.

“I saw you practicing your legs diligently. In my haste, I have interrupted your cultivation.”

“It is fine.”

“You may say that, but I am not fine. If you had swung your leg a little longer in immersion, you might have gained enlightenment. My impatience may have ruined that.”

Yuri blinked, unsure how to respond. He had not been that immersed.

The Fist King grinned thinly.

“Thus, I shall teach you a move—and test how fierce your fist is.”

“Pardon?”

“What are you asking for? Prepare yourself.”

The moment Yuri questioned, thunderous rebuke fell.

“I will not attack. Strike me!”