The Martial Master - 28 Get your axes!

Watching the thick strand of gold dart across his body, Su Min closed his eyes and focused his senses onto the symbol on his chest. The symbol trembled as his sense locked onto it, humming and shining with an exorbitant amount of lifeforce that he absorbed in the tournament.

*SHEWW*

The darting strand of gold in his body seemed to have reached its peak velocity as it blurred through him. The cycle of his martial energy outlined the golden blur, looking like a golden canvas that is been wrapped with black. It was strange, yet beautiful.

Su Min breathed, then with his fatigued will, he commanded that golden strand to fly towards his chest!

*PSHEW*

A blinding halo rose from his chest, liting up the area around him with gold. An invigorating spew of lifeforce exploded out of the symbol atop his chest, cramming his body with vitality!

Watching this, Su Min remained calm and guided the lifeforce towards the central part of his body. The spine!

*SHHING*

It was unknown whether it was due to the symbol, but the lifeforce was shining a deep gold as it travelled down him, dazzling him. As it got near his spine, the symbols covering it seemed to flash as a weak but mystical suction force erupted out them.

The lifeforce, like a shimmering golden stream of syrup, poured itself right onto his spinal cord as those symbols gurgled and sucked it up with glee, disappearing forever…

This continued on for a few seconds until Su Min started to run out energy, and regarding this, a few seconds more was all he had left. So, he pushed himself and poured as much life force as he could into it!

‘More!!’

Surges and surges of lifeforce spewed onto his spine without end, yet it still seemed that he wouldn’t be able to deplete his lifeforce reserves!

*Mmmmm*

He, unwillingly, had started to run dry as the golden energy strand thinned out with a vigorous nature. And in no time, it was used up.

Feeling the golden strand of energy run out, Su Min sighed as his glowing chest dimmed and the remaining lifeforce within it become dormant. But, without warning, a distinct crackling sound shuddered out of Su Min’s body as his spine started to shiver.

It was like someone had shoved a skewer right into him and plucked at his spine whilst wiggling it around, making him feel a sharpness pierce right out of it. His body froze as this strange feeling shrouded him, and accompanied with numerous small pops, an orchestra of bone curdling bursts began to play a symphony in him.

It didn’t last long, though, as the sound died down after a few seconds of constant thrumming. Afterwards, Su Min felt a sickly pain emerge from his spine and everywhere in general. It was a peculiar feeling that originated in his bone.

Deciding to look at it, he gasped.

‘It really can turn golden!’

Numerous grains of gold were scattered across his spine, sparkling like jewels. Although, the number was too sparse for anyone to notice them without looking closely. The symbols on his spine also seemed to be tinged with a drop of gold, making them look abnormal compared to the ordinary ones everywhere else.

If he were to sell his spine in an exhibition, then it would most likely be considered modern art.

Nevertheless, maybe it was due to him having the worst possible body to practice the technique or maybe it was just normal, but an unending ache quivered down him, making him hunch his back like an old man. He felt his strength get zapped as he became weak, so, staggering onto his knees, he got up and stumbled back into the hut.

‘I need some sleep…’

…

…

*Chirp* *Chirp*

A couple of birds covered in an illustrious air flew through the blue sky with a surreal majesty, lighting up the world with cheerful chirps. Turning, Su Min’s eyes trembled as he opened to see daylight spewing into the room.

*Pop* *Pop* *Pop*

A successive number of popping sounds erupted from his back as he moved it, wakening him with a throbbing ache. Nonetheless, his mind felt beyond refreshed as a constant cycle of martial energy breathed life into him…

It was just that he didn’t know what to do with it. He doesn’t have any techniques that utilise martial energy, and the benefits of superhuman vision and strength didn’t even improve his current self. Of course, now that he has this energy his endurance has shot up again, and the only other real benefit was the strange transformation with his soul, where it seemed to now contain a wisp of something no mortal can have.

It happened when he stepped into the Martial Condensation stage, where, like a law, his soul evolved!

This caused his soul to become in touch with the world, allowing him to sense martial energy with a lot more ease. Or, in his case, Martial energy and the golden Ancient energy.

‘I need techniques…’

Su Min knew that he can only rely on the strange golden energy for now, but he can’t store it in him like Martial Energy! The only reason for this is that the energy will dissipate, even when inside of his body.

At most, he can hold the energy in his body for ten minutes before it disappears. If this was just it then it wouldn’t be a problem, but the requirement for him to actually use the energy requires time in itself.

He has to wait for those symbols engraved in every part of his body to propel the golden energy, propel it till it reaches an insane velocity. Only then can he use it.

Luckily, it only takes a couple seconds…

“Uh…”

Whilst feeling a headache coming along due to the strange rules his body has, Su Min scratched his head as he saw the girl that was meant to be sleeping on the other bed hugging his leg, huddled like a pillow.

She was sleeping with him…

‘My plan on getting her independent isn’t going well.’

With a wry smile, he pulled her off his leg and got up, leaving her there.

…

…

“Hm…”

Su Min rubbed his eyes as he stared outside, where some people were standing around chatting. One or two seemed to notice him, where they gulped before walking away.

Although, near him stood a man in white robes, holding a sword scabbard. His eyes lit up as he walked towards Su Min. A woman followed him, and so did an arrogant man.

“Aye! Su Min, your up?”

Speaking, the sword youth eyed him up before looking at the hut behind him. He pondered for a second and spoke.

“Is the kid still eh… asle~!”

“Will you shut up!”

Just as he was about to finish, a thud smacked the back of his head as Yi Zan glared at him. Su Min, albeit confused, remained placid at the sight and just asked.

“Uh, do you know what we’re meant to be doing?”

Everyone paused until shaking their heads. Yi Zan spoke, following this.

“No clue. I think we should just wait for that scary fellow to come… Ah! Su Min, did you find that cultivation manual as well?”

Yi Zan’s eyes glistened as she asked him, causing Su Min to look at her with surprise. To be honest, although was book wasn’t exactly hidden, with everyone being tired, they probably would’ve ignored it yesterday.

“Mhm.”

Nodding, Su Min rubbed his hair, finding that it was pretty greasy.

‘That black gunk that came out yesterday needs to be washed off…’

Looking at the dilapidated huts, Su Min could only sigh. Yi Zan, on the other hand, laughed and said.

“Well, I tried to do what it says, but I got nowhere… How exactly are you meant to ‘sense the world’?”

As if she was questioning Su Min, although there wasn’t a reason to, Su Min replied with bluntness.

“Just sense it.”

“Uh..?”

*BANG*

Though, just as Yi Zan was questioning the redundancy in what he said, a terrific bang ricocheted in the atmosphere as a burly man revealed himself in the sky.

Su Min, for the first time, felt something different as he looked at the sudden arrival of the man. He saw numerous strands of black energy seep out of the man and gather, supporting him by creating a platform of black beneath his feet. In fact, his whole body was covered in the energy, holding him in the air.

‘You can do stuff like that?’

Feeling enlightened, Su Min felt that he should try it some time. Despite this, the quantity of energy coming out of the man was beyond anything he had seen; it was like a comparing tsunami to a pond.

Considering this, he would probably run out of energy before he could even cover his whole body in energy and the only way to recover the energy is to sit down and cultivate…

“Oi! You lot, get your axes in the count of five!”

A sudden shout erupted from the man as he glared at everyone below him, making some quiver. Su Min didn’t feel shocked, though, as he has already seen people here carry axes with them, so why wouldn’t he?

“Quick, quick!”

“Axes? Huh?”

Panic spread as group after group ran to their huts and scampered to get an axe, not knowing why. Su Min did a light step and darted towards his hut, grabbing an axe and leaping back out. He looked like a literal blur to everyone.

‘Wow…’

Su Min’s expression changed as he felt a stabilisation in him; it came from his spine. In fact, his spine now had a strange property that absorbed forces to an amazing degree. It also seemed to be able to bend, yet it carried a hardness that surpassed iron.

Put simply, moving at his top speed felt a lot easier now; he could make abrupt turns without hurting himself, and also do things like rapidly punching without feeling strain. This all boils down to the fact that everything he does draws upon his spine, so when his spine strengthens his everything becomes more stable and unmoving.

If it was like before, then if he moved the way he moved right now, he would feel his spine jerk due to the sudden forces he exerted it on it! Now, however, he can move as he pleases without even affecting it!

His shaky foundation has now been reinforced!