The wind from the base of the cliff lashed fiercely against Mu-hwi’s entire body. Despite the chaos, he managed to maintain his posture in mid-air.

“Ugh!”

Under normal circumstances, he might have used his sword to slow his descent, but he was too exhausted, and his internal injuries were severe. It wouldn’t have been surprising if he coughed up blood and died right then and there. The only thing keeping him going was his mastery of the Jahashin Technique.

Even so, Mu-hwi forced himself to draw his sword, Shimyeonggeom, with the single-minded determination to save Dokgo-yul. He drove the sword into the cliffside.

Crack!

The sword bit into the rock, slowing his fall momentarily, but it soon came loose. It hadn’t embedded deeply enough. If his body were in better condition, he wouldn’t have needed to use the sword at all; he could have simply used his martial arts to descend the cliff. But with a broken left leg, that was impossible.

His body, pushed to its limits, screamed in protest, making it difficult to even drive the sword into the cliff properly. If he hadn’t trained his external martial arts with the Iron Mountain Fist technique, holding onto the heavy Dokgo-yul would have been impossible.

“You’re… damn heavy.”

Mu-hwi glared at the unconscious Dokgo-yul, gritted his teeth, and thrust the sword into the cliff again.

Boom!

After several attempts of embedding and bouncing off the cliff, they finally reached the bottom. Though he had managed to slow their descent, Mu-hwi’s condition was dire even before they landed. The impact, though minor, sent blood rising in his throat.

“Hah.”

He exhaled a weary sigh, his eyes sharp with determination. Surviving the fall was only the beginning; they were still far from safe. Mu-hwi quickly checked on Dokgo-yul’s condition.

“Hmm.”

A low hum escaped Mu-hwi as his eyes trembled slightly. The internal injuries from withstanding the Tyrant’s ultimate technique were severe, especially since Dokgo-yul had forcibly drawn upon his innate energy.

Dokgo-yul’s breathing was irregular and faint, indicating he was in worse shape than Mu-hwi. The chances of him never waking up were high.

“Master and disciple, both teetering on the brink of death.”

Mu-hwi chuckled to himself and pulled out a small wooden box from his robe, its surface cracked and on the verge of breaking. Despite the fierce battle, the palm-sized box had miraculously survived.

When Mu-hwi opened the box, a refreshing and clean scent filled the air, momentarily clearing his fading consciousness.

“So this is how it ends up being used.”

In his hand was a priceless treasure of the martial world: the Great Return Pill. The golden pill, obtained from the Martial Alliance, was said to be the finest elixir created through alchemy, capable of reviving even the dead.

Mu-hwi glanced between the pill and Dokgo-yul. The problem was, there was only one pill. Splitting it might not yield half the effect, as the precise and delicate balance of its ingredients was crucial.

Stories abounded of martial artists who shared such elixirs, only to find neither received even half the intended benefit.

‘If I split it out of greed, it could lead to disaster.’

Though tales of miraculous encounters after falling from cliffs were common, now was not the time to seek such fortune. Mu-hwi had to make a choice: who would take the Great Return Pill?

“Heh.”

Mu-hwi chuckled softly to himself. It wasn’t really a choice; he had already decided. There was no need for hesitation.

“I failed as a master in my past life, but now I have a chance.”

Slap!

“Wake up, Dokgo-yul. Dokgo-yul!”

Mu-hwi slapped Dokgo-yul’s face, but he showed no sign of waking. ‘Tsk. I didn’t want to resort to this.’ After several more slaps, Mu-hwi pressed on a few of Dokgo-yul’s pressure points.

“Ugh!”

Finally, Dokgo-yul coughed violently and opened his eyes.

“Where…?”

His weak voice barely escaped his slightly parted lips as he tried to take in his surroundings.

“Why did you stand in my way, using even your innate energy?”

To Mu-hwi’s question, Dokgo-yul could only manage a foolish, forced smile, as if to say he was fine.

Mu-hwi sighed and supported Dokgo-yul’s body.

“We don’t have time for explanations. Stay conscious. We’re going to start circulating your energy.”

Dokgo-yul, too weak to sit up on his own, needed Mu-hwi’s help to prepare for meditation. Meanwhile, Mu-hwi’s face grew paler as he suppressed the blood rising within him and placed the Great Return Pill into Dokgo-yul’s mouth.

“Mmm!”

The scent of the pill filled Dokgo-yul’s senses, and his half-closed eyes snapped open. As the pill melted and slid down his throat, Mu-hwi moved behind him and placed his hands on Dokgo-yul’s vital points.

[Focus on your energy flow. I’ll support you.]

Hearing Mu-hwi’s voice in his mind, Dokgo-yul began to control the pill’s energy with his martial technique. Mu-hwi, in turn, channeled the remnants of his own energy to aid him.

As the energy circulation began, Dokgo-yul broke out in a sweat.

‘This is a mess.’

As Mu-hwi guided his energy into Dokgo-yul’s meridians, he found the internal damage worse than expected. He carefully directed the energy flow, healing the torn meridians and treating the internal injuries.

The pill’s energy surged like a vast ocean, overwhelming Dokgo-yul’s weakened state. It was only thanks to Mu-hwi’s guidance that the energy circulation continued, albeit precariously.

‘It’s like walking on thin ice.’

Mu-hwi, familiar with Dokgo-yul’s martial technique, subtly guided him along a more efficient path, taming the wild energy of the pill.

As they slowly mended the torn meridians, the pill’s energy clashed with the remnants of the destructive force within Dokgo-yul.

Boom!

A powerful resonance erupted within Dokgo-yul, causing his body to tremble. The shockwave tore through his meridians, worsening the damage.

In his current fragile state, enduring such violent clashes was nearly impossible.

[Stay with me!]

Dokgo-yul’s head drooped as he lost consciousness again from the repeated shocks. Gritting his teeth, Mu-hwi quickly took control of the wayward energy.

Normally, a practitioner losing consciousness during such a process would be a major issue. But for Mu-hwi, it was no problem.

He knew Dokgo-yul’s technique inside out, and his own Jahashin Technique was based on it, minimizing any conflict between their energies.

Sweat beaded on Mu-hwi’s forehead as he continued to guide the pill’s energy and dissolve the lingering destructive force, though progress was slow.

‘It’s not enough.’

The pill’s energy and the destructive force clashed, with Dokgo-yul’s own energy struggling to maintain balance. His depleted reserves, after using everything to block the Tyrant’s ultimate technique, left him vulnerable.

Even Mu-hwi, with his exceptional energy control, found it challenging.

‘At this rate, neither of us will survive.’

Mu-hwi’s eyebrows lowered as he made a decision. He had been holding back some energy to ensure both their survival, but the situation was becoming dire. If he continued like this, they would both perish.

With a resolute heart, Mu-hwi poured every last bit of his energy into Dokgo-yul. The aura around him flickered and faded as he emptied his reserves.

‘This is fine.’

With a serene expression, Mu-hwi focused entirely on the energy transfer. He guided not only his own energy but also the natural energy he absorbed into Dokgo-yul’s body.

[Live, my disciple. Live a life better than mine.]

Though Dokgo-yul couldn’t hear him, Mu-hwi sent his final message. He concentrated solely on saving Dokgo-yul, channeling all his energy and will into the task.

The natural energy that Mu-hui had painstakingly gathered was used to save Dokgo Yul, causing Mu-hui’s body to cycle through being filled and emptied repeatedly.

In this process, Mu-hui gradually lost awareness of his own existence, leaving only a fierce determination to save his disciple.

When existence faded and only will remained.

That will became part of nature, and the universe responded to it.

And that will guided the universe.

Mu-hui and Dokgo Yul, maintaining their meditative posture, began to float gently in the air.

Whoosh!

The surrounding natural energy was drawn towards Mu-hui, then surged into Dokgo Yul’s body, following the latent will.

If the natural energy that had flowed in so far was like a stream, now it was a waterfall, pouring in endlessly.

The immense amount of natural energy swiftly intertwined with the energy of the Great Elixir and the force of the Heaven-Splitting River, spreading along the path of the Dokgo Heart Technique.

In an instant, the true energy infusion was complete.

The torn meridians healed rapidly, and part of the Great Elixir’s energy and natural energy replenished the innate energy Dokgo Yul had previously cultivated.

Moreover, all the meridians that Dokgo Yul had yet to clear were now effortlessly opened.

It was as if he had undergone a profound cleansing, with all impurities vanishing and his meridians expanding significantly.

Once the true energy infusion ended, the natural energy that had filled Dokgo Yul returned to Mu-hui.

Dokgo Yul slowly descended to the ground, still in a meditative pose.

Mu-hui remained floating in the air.

Having been completely emptied and then refilled with natural energy.

To save his disciple, he was willing to sacrifice himself.

This unwavering resolve was deeply imbued with natural energy.

At the moment when Mu-hui’s will and the natural energy became one, the thin barrier of the Absolute Realm, worn down by his life-and-death battle with the Overlord, melted away.

In that instant, the energy waves emanating from Mu-hui’s body gradually calmed and then vanished entirely.

There were no grand phenomena like the Three Flowers Gathering or the Five Qi Convergence that he had experienced upon reaching previous realms.

Instead, Mu-hui himself seemed to transform into a plum tree, with purple blossoms blooming abundantly around him, their petals dancing and spreading a rich fragrance.

The petals, swirling and overlapping, eventually merged into a single ethereal form, a plum blossom spirit dancing in the air.

When the plum blossom spirit, infused with fragrance, settled into Mu-hui’s body, he opened his eyes wide.

Landing lightly on the ground, Mu-hui examined himself.

His broken bones had healed, and his internal injuries were completely gone. It was as if he had been reborn, with his muscles and meridians in a state entirely different from before.

A completely transformed body.

And more than that.

Even the slightest movement of a finger brought an overwhelming influx of information, unlike anything he had experienced in the Transcendent Realm.

This absolute sense, as if he had become one with nature, allowed Mu-hui to perceive the world in a new way.

Simply by breathing, he could feel everything happening on the mountain.

This is how a master of the Absolute Realm views the world.

Mu-hui closed his eyes briefly to adjust to this sensation.

“So this is the Absolute Realm…”

He murmured to himself, a solitary smile forming on his lips.

Mu-hui had let go of life and accepted death.

He had relinquished everything, pouring all he had into saving his disciple.

Such was his intense desire to save his disciple.

He had accepted death, let go of everything he held, and expressed a will stronger than ever before.

These three things allowed Mu-hui to step beyond the boundary of the Transcendent Realm into the Absolute Realm.

“To think one could reach it this way. Martial arts truly are unfathomable.”

As Mu-hui chuckled to himself, Dokgo Yul also opened his eyes. Sensing the energy wave Dokgo Yul released, Mu-hui’s eyes narrowed.

‘This disciple of mine has truly gained a fortuitous encounter after falling off a cliff.’

Having consumed the Great Elixir and experienced the natural energy of the Absolute Realm during the true energy infusion, Dokgo Yul’s energy wave was nearing the Transcendent Realm.

With a bit of luck, he might break through to the Transcendent Realm.

“Hmm.”

Dokgo Yul, seemingly surprised by his own transformation, paused for a moment before turning to look at Mu-hui.

His gaze was steady, yet subtly trembling as he stared at Mu-hui without a word.

After several attempts to speak, Dokgo Yul finally managed to voice his thoughts.

“Who are you?”

When Mu-hui didn’t immediately respond, Dokgo Yul continued.

“During the energy circulation, I lost consciousness. I don’t know if it was a dream, but I vaguely recall the scene of the true energy infusion. At that time, you were clearly guiding the energy flow of the Dokgo Heart Technique in my place. How do you know the Dokgo Heart Technique?”

As he spoke, Dokgo Yul’s voice began to tremble, his words becoming indistinct. His eyes reddened as he unfolded his legs and slowly stood up.

“And what was that last message? Why did you call me your disciple? Why did you refer to yourself as my master?”

Mu-hui closed his mouth, surprised that Dokgo Yul had heard the message.

After a moment of closing and opening his eyes, Mu-hui met Dokgo Yul’s gaze. He had intended to keep this secret until his dying breath.

But seeing the clarity in Dokgo Yul’s eyes, Mu-hui’s resolve softened.

Mu-hui finally uttered the words he had long hesitated to say, words he had held back for so long.

“My disciple.”