NOVEL NEXT Chapter 240: The Imperial Palace Armory (3)
The Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion.
Just as its name suggested, the Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion had a nature different from other martial arts, being more like a scripture.
The manual itself was thin, only about 50 pages.
If it weren’t for Zhang Sanfeng’s advice, he probably wouldn’t have chosen the Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion from the special-grade bookshelf.
Compared to other renowned techniques like the Barehand Demonic Art or the Great Mudra of Vajrayana, it was virtually unheard of.
「The Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion is the absolute technique of Potala Palace.」
He never expected the words “Potala Palace” to come from Zhang Sanfeng’s mouth.
Potala Palace was a martial sect outside the Great Wall.
A grand sect that ruled over the distant northwest region of Tibet.
The lamas there rarely ventured out, making them incredibly mysterious.Thus, the martial artists of the Central Plains tended to disregard the martial world beyond the Great Wall, often dismissing Potala Palace.
But such behavior was no different from that of a frog in a well. Potala Palace was powerful.
The fact that the headquarters of the Demon Cult was nearby and still remained strong was proof of this.
「The head of Potala Palace is a lama called the Dalai Lama.」
Dalai Lama.
Baek Yi-gang had also encountered that name a few times before.
「The Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion was founded by the first Dalai Lama.」
There was a reason why the name Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion was unfamiliar.
「Potala Palace has clashed with the Demon Cult and Shaolin more than anyone else. The Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion cultivates anti-demonic power while also developing the upper dantian.」
It was Zhang Sanfeng who had fought against the Heavenly Demon. Because of that, he seemed well-versed in the Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion and Potala Palace.
「This is a divine art that only the Dalai Lama and the high-ranking monks of Potala Palace can master… You are quite fortunate.」
Baek Yi-gang recalled the Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion that he had memorized.
Originally, it would have been written in Tibetan, but it had been translated and transliterated.
「The training method is simple. You just have to recite it. That’s how this martial art works.」
Though it sounded simple enough to be memorized in his head, something about it felt strange.
‘Is it acceptable for a Taoist to learn Buddhist martial arts?’
「Hahaha…」
It was indeed a fundamental question.
In a stricter sect, this might even be considered grounds for expulsion.
However, Zhang Sanfeng dismissed it easily.
「If anyone questions you, just tell them that Immortal Zhang Sanfeng said that the Tao is infinite, and the Taiji stems from Wuji.」
At times like this, it was clear that Zhang Sanfeng was not a humble man.
‘If I mention your name, it might seem odd, so I’ll just use the Sword Emperor’s name instead.’
Baek Yi-gang closed his eyes and recalled the Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion he had memorized.
……
May the Heavenly Dragon and the saints protect us.
With the power of countless samadhi, it shall be achieved in an instant.
Cleanse all suffering and cross the sea of affliction.
May I quickly gain the eyes of wisdom.
……
May I quickly attain the body of truth.
While walking, Baek Yi-gang recited the verses silently, feeling his vision grow dim.
Baek Yi-gang’s steps naturally slowed, and he came to a halt.
“Teacher?”
The Honorable County Princess, startled, grabbed Baek Yi-gang’s arm.
The Embroidered Uniform guard who had been leading the way also stopped and turned his head.
“I-I’m fine.”
It didn’t take long to recite the Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion from start to finish.
But he sensed some kind of change.
「How do you feel?」
‘My head feels light and dizzy… and my vision is…’
At first, he thought his vision was getting blurry.
But it wasn’t.
‘…I can see clearly.’
Rather, things that were previously invisible were now visible.
He could see a strange mirage-like aura around the Honorable County Princess and the Embroidered Uniform guard in front of him.
It appeared for a moment like a mirage, then disappeared.
「It seems your spiritual eyes have temporarily awakened.」
‘Is this the effect of the Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion?’
「Yes, the stimulation of the upper dantian caused it. Make sure to recite the Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion daily from now on.」
Baek Yi-gang made up his mind to do so.
It wasn’t a martial art with overwhelming destructive power, but it was more unique than any martial art he had encountered so far.
As Baek Yi-gang remained still, the Embroidered Uniform guard quietly spoke, “If you are fine, shall we continue walking?”
“Let’s do that.”
The group started walking again.
The time allowed in the Imperial Palace Armory was nearly over.
In the Honorable County Princess’s hand was the Azure Dragon’s Demon-Breaking Roar manual.
They had managed to borrow that single manual for seven days and nights.
Once back, Baek Yi-gang planned to master the Azure Dragon’s Demon-Breaking Roar manual himself and teach the royal siblings.
As they reached the exit of the Imperial Palace Armory, the tightly closed door opened by itself.
As soon as Baek Yi-gang’s group stepped out, the door closed again.
The guards reported to the person in charge that there were no abnormalities.
“With this, the procedure for entering and exiting the Imperial Palace Armory is complete.”
Thus, the inspection of the Imperial Palace’s treasure vault, the armory, was concluded.
“You may return the way you came.”
In front of the Imperial Palace, the eunuchs and palace maids accompanying the Honorable County Princess would be waiting.
However, Baek Yi-gang did not move and remained standing still.
The Embroidered Uniform guard looked puzzled.
“Is there… something you need to say?”
“Where is the Medicine Vault?”
Although the Honorable County Princess had finished her business, Baek Yi-gang’s task was not yet complete.
“I still have something to attend to in the Medicine Vault.”
“Ah…”
There was still something Baek Yi-gang needed to receive, the elixir from the Imperial Palace’s Medicine Vault, as promised by King Gye-yeong.
“This way, please.”
The Embroidered Uniform guard, looking somewhat reluctant, guided Baek Yi-gang.
The Medicine Vault was truly the crown jewel of the Imperial Palace’s treasure vault.
At least, that’s what Baek Yi-gang thought.
Perhaps due to the importance of natural ventilation and humidity control, the structure of the Medicine Vault was different from that of the armory.
As soon as the large doors were opened, an overwhelming fragrance of medicinal herbs wafted out.
“Ah…”
Baek Yi-gang closed his eyes without thinking.
It was as if he were strolling through a flower field on a warm spring day.
Unlike the armory, there were staff members present inside the Medicine Vault. They were royal physicians managing the medicinal herbs of the Imperial Palace.
“Ahem, may I ask what brings you here?”
“I’ve come to collect a third-grade elixir, as per the orders of His Majesty, King Gye-yeong.”
The Embroidered Uniform guard explained on Baek Yi-gang’s behalf.
The royal physician furrowed his eyebrows slightly but nodded.
He had been informed in advance.
“Please, come in. Although the imperial physician is currently absent…”
In the Forbidden City, the organization to which the imperial physician and royal physicians belonged was called the Imperial Institute of Medicine.
Here, the esteemed physicians who could treat the emperor and the royal family were known as imperial physicians.
The Imperial Institute of Medicine also had a pharmacy, known as the Imperial Pharmacy, which managed the medicinal herbs. An imperial physician from the Imperial Pharmacy was responsible for overseeing the Medicine Vault of the Imperial Palace.
“Here we are.”
“Ah…”
At the place where the imperial physician led him, Baek Yi-gang couldn’t help but gasp in awe.
The sight was overwhelmingly grand, incomparable even to the medical hall of the Azure Forest.
The entire visible wall was filled with elixirs.
Drying, grinding, making them into pills, wrapping them in paper, storing them in crystal containers.
The various methods used to refine or preserve the elixirs, or to keep them raw as they were.
Baek Yi-gang’s expression was even more moved than when he had seen the special-grade bookshelf.
“Third-grade… elixirs, you said?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Baek Yi-gang had knowledge of herbal medicine.
He had learned some medicine from the Golden Needle Phantom and had studied on his own, so his understanding of elixirs was far deeper than that of the average martial artist.
He hadn’t expected much when they said they would give him a third-grade elixir…
“These are only third-grade?”
“Haha.”
The royal physician’s expression changed.
He looked smug, as if he had encountered someone naive.
“This is His Majesty the Emperor’s Medicine Vault. Even the third-grade elixirs here, above the fourth and fifth grades, are not to be taken lightly.”
“Isn’t that… Purple Spirit Phantom Herb!”
“Oh, you have a discerning eye.”
In the corner, there was even some dried Purple Spirit Phantom Herbs that Baek Yi-gang had taken before.
This Medicine Vault truly seemed to demonstrate the Emperor’s majesty.
The Honorable County Princess whispered to Baek Yi-gang, “Is it really that amazing?”
“Yes. It’s truly precious.”
“I see.”
How well could a young royal girl understand the greatness of these elixirs?
Baek Yi-gang deeply savored this moment.
For some reason, just the scent of the elixirs made him feel as if his heart was being healed.
「A Taoist must not be too greedy,」 Zhang Sanfeng sternly warned.
But Baek Yi-gang quietly retorted, ‘Even so, aren’t you smiling as well, Sage?’
「Haha…」
The one with a warm smile was indeed Zhang Sanfeng.
Baek Yi-gang had a rough idea why.
「With so many elixirs brimming with spiritual energy, it’s natural to feel uplifted.」
Elixirs could not be simply dismissed as just something good for the body.
These were treasures filled with the condensed energy of nature.
“If by chance there’s ten-thousand year snow ginseng, what grade would that be?”
“Ten-thousand year snow ginseng is classified as first-grade.”
He asked just in case, and it turned out that ten-thousand year snow ginseng was indeed first-grade.
If so, how extraordinary must the special-grade elixirs be, if they even existed?
He swallowed as his mouth watered involuntarily.
It was a foolish thought. Unlike in the armory, stealing an elixir here would immediately get him caught and branded a traitor.
“Well, would you like to choose one? Anything here will do.”
“Let me take a look first,” Baek Yi-gang said as he examined the elixirs.
They were varied. There were truly many different kinds of elixirs.
Just as poisons were categorized—plant poisons, mineral poisons, animal poisons, insect poisons, ancient poisons, and bacterial poisons.
Elixirs were categorized similarly.
The most common were spiritual herbs.
Purple Spirit Phantom Herb, ten-thousand year snow ginseng, and even the Three-Element Sacred Flower—all of them were miraculous plants that were themselves elixirs.
But, not all elixirs came from plants.
The inner cores of animals were also elixirs. Spiritual beasts, or yokai, have inner cores within their bodies.
If purified, these elixirs also displayed tremendous efficacy.
In the deep caves of sacred mountains, over thousands of years, something like the Pure Sky Oil, a type of mineral, accumulated.
Mushrooms and other fungi were also considered elixirs.
Pills made by combining these miraculous materials were also elixirs.
Things like the Violet Sky Pill, Grand Purity Pill, Great Rejuvenation Pill, and Small Rejuvenation Pill were also present in this Medicine Vault.
This place, filled with third-grade elixirs, had nearly every kind of elixir.
But Baek Yi-gang soon realized there was a problem.
‘What should I choose?’
There were too many choices. Too many.
If he had suddenly acquired just one of the elixirs here, he would have been overjoyed.
But when it came time to choose, he felt overwhelmed.
「Hmm, I’m not particularly knowledgeable about elixirs…」
Noticing Baek Yi-gang’s hesitation, the royal physician chimed in, “From what I can see, it would be best for you to choose an elixir brimming with yang energy. How about the Purple Spirit Phantom Herb you mentioned earlier?”
“Hmm…”
It wasn’t a bad choice.
Recalling the experience of boiling and consuming three roots in the past, the effects were quite good.
「That wouldn’t be a bad choice, but it might be better to select an elixir that can nourish your Innate True Qi and cultivate your spiritual energy.」
Zhang Sanfeng’s advice was sound.
In the past, when Baek Yi-gang was much weaker, the reason he survived even after being possessed by the Immortal Divine Sword was because he had consumed ten-thousand year snow ginseng beforehand.
‘I don’t think there’s an elixir as extraordinary as that here.’
However, among the third-grade elixirs, none had the level of spiritual energy as potent as ten-thousand year snow ginseng.
“By any chance…”
“Yes?”
“Can I see the fourth or fifth-grade elixirs?”
“Hmm… It’s not impossible, but our classification system is quite strict, so you might be disappointed.”
The royal physician’s tone carried a hint of pride.
The implication was that even if he saw the fourth or fifth-grade elixirs, they wouldn’t surpass the third-grade ones.
However, Baek Yi-gang was firm.
“Please show me.”
With the permission of King Gye-yeong and Baek Yi-gang’s status as the Crown Prince’s teacher, higher than that of a mere royal physician, the physician couldn’t refuse.
Though muttering under his breath, the physician complied.
“There’s no need to go elsewhere. They’re right here.”
The royal physician grabbed what looked like handles protruding from the wall with both hands.
When he pulled with force, a display cabinet hidden within the wall slid out.
“These here are fourth-grade. And…”
He also pulled on a door covering one side of the wall.
This revealed a disorganized workspace.
“This is where we store the fifth-grade elixirs and those currently being processed.”
There were various ways to prepare elixirs.
In the case of spiritual herbs, they could be dried or have unnecessary parts trimmed off.
For the internal elixirs of animals, the process involved extracting them from the carcass of the spiritual beast and then purifying them of toxins.
Perhaps because of this, a strange, bloody smell permeated the newly revealed space.
“Ugh.”
It was only natural for the Honorable County Princess, who was with him, to cover her nose.
“What do you think? There’s really no need to look, is there?”
The royal physician spoke curtly, but there was no reply.
Baek Yi-gang’s gaze was fixed, as if nailed to the spot, on the place where the fifth-grade elixirs were stored.
To be precise, his gaze was fixed on one internal elixir that was being detoxified.
“That one.”
“…Yes?”
“What grade is that?”
Baek Yi-gang didn’t immediately recognize what that internal elixir was.
However, Zhang Sanfeng did.
「That’s definitely… No, it couldn’t be.」
His tone suggested uncertainty.
「It looks just like the heart of an evil dragon.」