Chapter 14: Power Unleashed  

There was no reason to delay. Gaon intended to consume Luel’s Blessing immediately.  

“Of course!” Oris replied, beaming. “I’ll guide you to my personal training room.”  

Gaon dispelled the Pacheongi barrier. Their discussion was complete.  

“Let’s go,” Oris said, leading the way. Gaon followed.  

Soon, they arrived.  

“Here it is,” Oris announced, explaining the room with pride.  

Gaon nodded, impressed. The training room was exceptional, even by his standards.  

“If you need anything, pull this cord,” Oris said. “Blanc, whom you met earlier, will come.”  

“Thanks. It’ll take about two days,” Gaon replied.  

“Understood. I’ll see you then.”  

Oris bowed and left. Gaon closed the door, sat cross-legged in the center, and pulled Luel’s Blessing from his pouch.  

How much will I gain?  

In his 7th Circle days, he’d consumed fifteen Luel’s Blessings, unable to fully harness their power before and deeming them unnecessary after reaching the 8th Circle. 

Now, confident he could maximize its effects, he wondered how much Pacheongi it would yield.  

If I can form the 5th Circle…!  

Swallowing the green orb with anticipation, it melted down his throat, transforming into a massive mana surge. 

The sheer intensity was painful.  

Gaon began channeling Pacheon Simbeop. 

As the mana circulated, the pain eased, gradually converting into Pacheongi.  

Watching the growing Pacheongi, he thought, What’s changed?  

Cheon Muhyeok had advised maintaining a cross-legged posture until breaking the second wall, implying a change afterward. Yet, no significant shift in posture occurred.  

He’s not one to joke.  

While Cheon Muhyeok enjoyed humor, he was deadly serious about training.  

Is the Circle the variable?  

If not a jest, the lack of change pointed to Gaon—specifically, the Circle in his heart.  

As he pondered, 30% of the mana converted. Gaon grinned broadly.  

It’s done. 4th Circle.  

Enough Pacheongi had gathered to form the fourth Circle.  

Remarkably, only 30% had converted. If the remaining 70% followed—  

Could I reach the 5th Circle?  

The 5th Circle, which he’d thought would take time, seemed within reach.  

But what if the third wall appears?  

If the third wall of Pacheon Simbeop emerged alongside the 5th Circle, which should he prioritize?  

I think I can handle 5th Circle output.  

His body, strengthened by breaking the second wall, felt capable of withstanding both 4th and 5th Circle outputs. 

The difference was significant—5th Circle mages were high mages, with vastly expanded magic range, power, and versatility. 

With Pacheongi-based Circles, Gaon’s power would surpass ordinary 5th Circle mages, potentially rivaling 6th Circle masters or even challenging 7th Circle archmages.  

Breaking the third wall would also bring immense growth, but Gaon’s path wasn’t the sword. 

His goal as a Swordmaster was for a robust body to support the 9th Circle, not to master swordsmanship. 

For now, enduring Circle outputs was enough.  

Yes, the 5th Circle is the way.  

For his future plans, the 5th Circle was more practical.  

Decision made, Gaon focused on channeling. At 70% conversion—  

…!  

His eyes gleamed. The third wall appeared.  

Having chosen the 5th Circle, he calculated the Pacheongi needed to break the wall and pressed on.  

Soon—  

Hoo.  

Having fully converted Luel’s Blessing, Gaon exhaled deeply, a faint smile forming. He had enough Pacheongi for both the fourth and fifth Circles.  

He began forming the fourth Circle. Having walked this path before, it proceeded smoothly. Soon, it was complete.  

Activating it, he tested its output. The four Circles spun, unleashing immense power—far greater than three Circles.  

Yet, his expression darkened.  

What’s this?  

The output was impressive, enabling faster, stronger magic. But it was too strong.  

While his body could handle it, the 5th Circle posed a problem. 

From the 5th Circle onward, lower Circles activated during formation, requiring him to withstand maximum output. Could he endure it?  

No need for long deliberation—he couldn’t.  

So, it’s the third wall after all.  

His earlier choice was moot. To reach the 5th Circle, he needed to break the third wall.  

Gathering Pacheongi before the wall, he charged.  

Boom!!  

The impact shook the wall, but Gaon was slightly startled. 

He’d braced for intense pain, yet it was merely a pinch compared to the first and second walls.  

Why?  

Charging again, he thought—  

Boom!!  

The wall cracked, and he realized why.  

It’s the Pacheongi.  

The excess Pacheongi absorbed the shockwaves from the collision, minimizing pain. 

Had he challenged the wall immediately, the pain would’ve been excruciating.  

Valuable information.  

Painless wall-breaking was significant.  

Boom!! Crack!  

The third wall crumbled, its fragments transforming into Pacheongi and spreading through his body, strengthening muscles and blood vessels. 

His senses sharpened too—wider, more precise.  

6th Circle might do it.  

He’d thought the 7th Circle would restore his former senses, but with each wall enhancing them, the 6th Circle might suffice for his 8th Circle master-level perception.  

Smiling, Gaon continued channeling Pacheon Simbeop.  

The 5th Circle will take time.  

Half the Pacheongi was consumed breaking the wall. Without another elixir, reaching the 5th Circle via channeling alone would take a month—or a week with nonstop focus.  

I need another elixir.  

Oris, with Luel’s Blessing, likely had more. 

But Gaon wouldn’t ask outright—free gifts could strain relations.  

Pausing his channeling, he stood to test and adapt to his enhanced body.  

Freeze!  

He stopped mid-motion.  

What’s this?  

Not his physical strength, but the Pacheongi. 

He’d stopped channeling, yet it continued circulating—slower, at 90% of active channeling speed.  

This is it.  

He understood Cheon Muhyeok’s promised change after the second wall: automatic Pacheongi circulation.  

No need for an elixir…  

He grinned. 

Still, he wouldn’t abandon his pursuit of elixirs—the more, the better, especially beyond the 5th Circle.  

Shifting focus, he reached out. An iron sword floated from a weapon rack in the corner.  

His gains from Swordmasters weren’t limited to channeling methods. 

He’d learned swordsmanship, spearmanship, and martial arts, not to master them but to test and adapt to his body.  

Let’s try Pacheon Swordsmanship.  

Cheon Muhyeok had boasted that mastering Pacheon Swordsmanship could surpass his exclusive Cheonma Swordsmanship. Its complexity made it ideal for testing his enhanced body.  

Lowering the sword tip for the first stance—an upward slash requiring three breath changes and precise Pacheongi injection into five points—Gaon exhaled, inhaled, and executed.  

Whoosh!  

The sword cut through the air.  

Crack!  

For a moment, it affected space itself.  

What…  

Gaon was dumbfounded. 

He’d practiced mentally countless times, but this was his first physical attempt—with an ordinary iron sword, no Pacheongi infused. 

Yet it influenced space?  

What if I infuse Pacheongi?  

Cheon Muhyeok had said the swordsmanship’s true power emerged with Pacheongi infusion. 

If it affected space without it, what would happen with it?  

Instinctively, Gaon infused the sword with Pacheongi and repeated the stance.  

Whoosh!  

The sword sliced the air.  

Crack!  

Space split.  

Then—  

Whoosh!  

The infused Pacheongi burst from the sword, shooting toward the ceiling.  

The ceiling?!  

Snapping to attention, Gaon tried to redirect it, but the Pacheongi was too fast.  

Boom! 

Crack! 

Crack!  

It exploded, shattering the room’s magic arrays and blasting a massive hole in the ceiling.  

Staring at the blue sky through the hole, Gaon let out a low groan.  

“Hm…”