Flames continuously erupted from the floor.
Lee Tae-sung moved frantically to avoid being touched.
He couldn’t even flee.
The edges of the room were already blocked by flames that reached the ceiling, making escape impossible.
[Focus. I will recite the formula for the Flying Flame Explosive Shadow one more time. Prepare your feet and lower body to explode at any moment…]
Amidst his frantic movement, the Flame Emperor’s voice echoed from all directions, repeating the same instructions.
It seemed it wouldn’t end until Lee Tae-sung mastered the Flying Flame Explosive Shadow.
‘In that case…’
Despite the chaotic situation, listening to the voice repeatedly allowed the instructions to take root in his mind.
He abandoned the Dragon Shadow Wind God Method he had been using and focused entirely on the Flying Flame Explosive Shadow.
Naturally, it didn’t go well at first.
He almost ended up as a human barbecue several times.
*Whoosh!*
However, the flames surging from the ground weren’t just ordinary fire.
When combined with the Solar Holy Power Art, he felt as if the flames were actually assisting his footwork.
Instead of merely avoiding the fire, he tried to catch it, condense it, and then trigger an explosion as the formula described.
Gradually, he began to understand what he needed to do.
He wasn’t supposed to avoid the flames; he had to seize them and command them like his own limbs!
Lee Tae-sung’s steps slowly transformed.
Eventually, the flames began to dance along his path.
Then, the fire abruptly ceased.
“Huff, huff…”
Lee Tae-sung collapsed, sitting heavily on the floor.
His entire body was drenched in sweat.
[You’ve caught the rhythm of the Flying Flame Explosive Shadow.]
*Rumble!*
A section of the floor in the corner flipped over, revealing a single manual inside.
[If you survived this far, you must have grasped the basics. Use that manual to learn the rest.]
‘…Damn it.’
Lee Tae-sung grumbled inwardly.
‘Learn it if I survived?’
That meant there was a real possibility he could have died.
Lee Tae-sung glanced up.
Avison had been floating in the air, watching him the whole time.
“Master Avison. I think I’m starting to understand why you curse the Flame Emperor so much.”
<…Is that so?>
Avison looked at Lee Tae-sung with a curious expression.
Usually, even after going through such hardships, a student would feel grateful toward a legendary predecessor.
However, Lee Tae-sung possessed the sensibilities of a modern person, which Avison found difficult to understand in many ways.
Of course, he liked the fact that the Flame Emperor’s descendant shared his opinion.
“But Master Avison, haven’t you been laughing at me from up there this whole time?”
<…W-Well. I’m not sure what you’re talking about…>
Avison shifted his gaze away.
Baek Woon-ho had been unable to enter because of the flames, but Avison, being a spirit, had witnessed all of Lee Tae-sung’s suffering.
He had even chuckled, finding it quite entertaining at intervals.
Lee Tae-sung let out a deep sigh, then moved on trembling legs to pick up the manual that had appeared on the floor.
**[Flying Flame Explosive Shadow (Legendary)]**
– **Rank: Peerless Martial Art**
– **Type: Footwork**
A Peerless-ranked footwork technique!
Despite his exhaustion, a smile spread across his face.
*Ding!*
**[A certain level of understanding for the skill exists]**
**[Skill points required to acquire the skill are reduced by half]**
**[Would you like to learn Flying Flame Explosive Shadow (Legendary)?]**
**[16 skill points required]**
Even with the cost halved, it still required 16 points.
Lee Tae-sung flinched at the significant amount.
‘That means the original cost is the same as a Level 6 Hybrid.’
A Peerless martial art was equivalent to a Level 5 or Level 6 Hybrid.
A technique costing 32 points was a Level 6, meaning it was top-tier even among Peerless arts.
It was a powerful technique that couldn’t be found in the marketplace or even in the Forbidden Library of the Flying Dragon Sect!
Fearing the Flame Emperor might change his mind, he immediately invested the points.
*Ding!*
**[Acquired a new skill]**
**Skill: Flying Flame Explosive Shadow**
Knowledge of the Flying Flame Explosive Shadow flooded his mind.
He tried taking a step according to the newly acquired formula.
*Whoosh!*
Flames erupted from the spot where Lee Tae-sung stepped.
They were weak for now, but once he increased his proficiency, he would be able to emit massive bursts of flame.
Furthermore, he could move at incredible speeds by compressing and exploding those flames.
It had been a struggle, but the results were satisfying!
Lee Tae-sung grinned broadly.
“Are you alright?”
Baek Woon-ho approached from behind.
“Yes, well. It was a bit tough, but manageable.”
“That is good. Enjoy it. There are countless warriors who would trade their lives for such a hidden piece.”
Baek Woon-ho was right.
Whether they were warriors or mages, many would sell their own families for an ancient hidden piece.
[Descendant. Let us move on to the next. The Solar Holy Power Art is only for beginners; it is inefficient to keep using it. Move on to the Heavenly Flame Holy Law Art.]
“!?”
Lee Tae-sung was shocked by the Flame Emperor’s voice.
‘The footwork wasn’t the end?’
There was more?
Moreover, it sounded like a Hybrid operation method that surpassed the Solar Holy Power Art.
The Solar Holy Power Art was already an incredible Hybrid technique, yet the Flame Emperor dismissed it as a mere beginner’s tool to give him something better?
Lee Tae-sung’s palms began to sweat involuntarily.
Was it anticipation?
That was part of it, but…
‘If I mess up the learning process for this, I might actually die.’
Mastering the Flying Flame was already difficult.
A Hybrid art expected to be even harder was daunting.
He wondered if the Flame Emperor was going to throw him into another pit of fire just to find the rhythm.
[It is a Hybrid art that combines Holy Power and flames to pursue the subjugation of demons… Study and learn this on your own. I would have liked to pass it down directly, but doing so via a recording is difficult.]
*Rumble!*
Following the Flame Emperor’s voice, another section of the floor moved, and a manual popped out.
Lee Tae-sung almost cheered.
Fortunately, this was something he could learn by dumping skill points into it!
He rushed over and picked up the book.
As he checked the contents…
**[Heavenly Flame Holy Law Art — First Half (Legendary)]**
– **Rank: Level 6 Hybrid Mana Operation Method**
– **Feature: Rank decreased by one because it is limited to the first half.**
“!!!”
A Level 6 Legendary Hybrid Mana Operation Method!
It was one rank higher than the Level 5 Solar Holy Power Art.
But…
‘The first half?’
Only the first half?
As he wondered, the Flame Emperor’s voice continued.
[As for the second half of the Heavenly Flame Holy Law Art, come find me later, descendant. At the time of this recording, I haven’t finished writing it yet because I need to head out soon. For now, I’m going to Cheonghwa Castle, but after that, I might move to Arkanos or Payten. I don’t even know where I’ll build my next hideout.]
Lee Tae-sung muttered in disbelief.
“How can someone be so irresponsible?”
“……”
‘That’s a bit much…’
Avison glared at Lee Tae-sung, but Lee Tae-sung didn’t respond.
If someone with such a personality had become the strongest man on the Western Continent, it meant his skills were even more extraordinary.
It made searching for the Flame Emperor’s traces even more worthwhile.
Looking at the Heavenly Flame Holy Law Art’s features, it was listed as a Level 6 Hybrid because it was only the first half.
That meant if he mastered the second half as well, it would be at least Level 7.
Level 7 was equivalent to the Transcendental level in martial arts.
*Ding!*
**[Would you like to learn Heavenly Flame Holy Law Art — First Half (Legendary)?]**
**[32 skill points required]**
A staggering 32 skill points were needed!
‘…I can’t learn this right now.’
Combined with the Flying Flame Explosive Shadow, he needed a total of 48 skill points.
He had been saving points, but he didn’t have that many.
‘As soon as I head down the mountain, I need to take on quests from the Flying Dragon Sect.’
Since Lee Tae-sung’s fame had increased significantly, he could take on requests that provided a fair amount of skill points.
Named requests, in particular, offered high pay and generous amounts of gold and points.
After completing a few quests, gathering the missing points would be easy.
Lee Tae-sung carefully tucked the secret manual away.
Then, he stole a glance at his companion.
“……”
Something had been weighing on his mind.
‘I’m the only one who got two items.’
Baek Woon-ho was the one who had been searching here first, and regardless of that, they had shared the journey so far.
They had rejoiced together when they discovered the Flame Emperor’s hideout.
Although Baek Woon-ho looked calm, he must have been disappointed inwardly, seeing Lee Tae-sung walk away with everything.
‘Should I give him the manual for the Flying Flame?’
The Heavenly Flame Holy Law Art could probably only be learned by Lee Tae-sung as the direct descendant, but the Flying Flame Explosive Shadow didn’t seem to have such a restriction.
Like the Heavenly Snare Flame Hand, someone of Baek Woon-ho’s caliber should be able to learn the basics from the manual alone.
At that moment…
[And descendant. It seems you’ve brought a subordinate with you. You’re already busy raising followers, I see.]
The voice spoke as if it were looking directly at Baek Woon-ho.
To be precise, it was because the system had scanned Baek Woon-ho earlier to determine his status as an intruder.
Baek Woon-ho wore an awkward expression.
“A subordinate…”
What Baek Woon-ho had learned was also a secret technique of the Flame Emperor, but it wasn’t the orthodox succession; it was merely a powerful Hybrid art he had created.
Thus, the system judged him to be a subordinate of Lee Tae-sung, who held the true legitimacy.
Lee Tae-sung struggled to suppress a smile.
Baek Woon-ho sighed.
“Don’t try so hard to hide it. If you’re going to laugh, just laugh.”
“No… *Ahem*. No, sir.”
That was close.
If he hadn’t experienced the professional world, he might have actually burst out laughing.
It was the biggest crisis he’d faced since seeing his department head’s wig fall off during lunch.
[If he is my descendant’s subordinate, I have something for him as well. Take this and learn it.]
*Rumble!*
Another section of the floor opened up.
Just like before, a manual was inside.
[It’s quite useful, so learn it well and serve my descendant faithfully.]
“Hahaha!”
Baek Woon-ho raced over in excitement and snatched the manual.
“The Hundred Flower Destroyer Flame!”
It was a manual that combined a cultivation-type Hybrid with a combat-type Hybrid.
It focused on refining the properties of flames to extract only their pure destructive power.
Since it suited Baek Woon-ho’s personality, he was greatly satisfied and tucked the manual into his robe.
***
The Flame Emperor’s recording ended there and didn’t continue.
Avison floated over to Lee Tae-sung.
“Thank you.”
“No? Why would we leave?”
Lee Tae-sung shook his head at Avison’s question as if it were absurd.
“The real search starts now.”
“He’s right, Senior.”
Baek Woon-ho nodded beside him.
“Something kept popping out of the corners of the floor earlier.”
“Shall we dig it all up? I have a feeling a few more things might turn up.”
“Good idea. It’s a good thing I brought shovels.”
Baek Woon-ho pulled two shovels out of his herbalist basket.
He had brought them along just in case.
He handed one to Lee Tae-sung, and they began digging and breaking apart anything that looked suspicious.
*Clang! Clang!*
*Crunch!*
<…Wait, aren’t you guys the descendants of the Flame Emperor? You just learned some incredible Hybrid arts… is it really okay to go around destroying the place like this?>
Avison watched the two of them in utter disbelief.
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