Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 344: The Divine Azure Dragon Sword

TL: FoodieMonster007

What the fuck?

Baek Suryong was startled by the divine energy seeping into his body, but he did not reject it. If it were harmful, his divine art would have reacted automatically. Still, that didn't mean this energy was beneficial.

SLUMP!

Following Baek Suryong's assimilation of the Dark Heaven Goddess's energy, her body tilted to the side. She had lost consciousness.

Baek Suryong caught her before she hit the floor. Her breathing was so faint that it could stop at any moment.

"Hey, are you okay?"

VWOOOOM!

Suddenly, the Azure Dragon Sword at his waist began to vibrate on its own, and a portion of the energy that had seeped into his body flowed into the sword.

[Do not be alarmed. My soul has merely left the flesh for a time.]

Baek Suryong flinched, startled. This voice echoing in my head… it's not telepathy!? She's transmitting her will directly into my mind? How?

"Don't tell me…"

Baek Suryong looked back and forth between the unconscious Dark Heaven Goddess and the Azure Dragon Sword, which was vibrating and singing on its own.

Is she doing this through her divine energy?

Remembering Jongri Yeon from the Namgung Clan, he intuitively realized something.

This is a non-profit translation. You should not be seeing ads.

"Did you… possess my sword?"

[That is correct. Until my physical body awakens, I will accompany and assist you.]

Yep, her voice is coming from the sword. Holy shit.

Baek Suryong stared at the talking Azure Dragon Sword, dumbfounded. "So you did possess my sword like a ghost?"

[You will refrain from making such insulting remarks,] the Dark Heaven Goddess warned in a dignified voice.

However, Baek Suryong remained skeptical. "How is this going to benefit me?"

[I possess vast knowledge gained from observing the heavenly order. I believe that alone will be of great help to you.]

Baek Suryong sighed. She wasn't wrong. As the Dark Heaven Goddess, the world's strongest sorcerer, she knew more about bizarre phenomena and ancient mysteries than anyone else.

[Furthermore, if I borrow your energy, I should be able to perform simple spells.]

"…That would certainly be helpful."

Even something simple to the Dark Heaven Goddess would be far superior to an ordinary sorcerer's spell.

Well, it can't really hurt to have her around, right…?

Nevertheless, a feeling of unease still remained.

Baek Suryong eyed the Azure Dragon Sword suspiciously. "What if…"

[I know what you're worried about, but rest assured, I cannot control your body without your permission. Besides, the reason my soul inhabited the sword is because your Heaven Defying Divine Art prevented me from dwelling within you.]

That was somewhat reassuring. If the Dark Heaven Goddess could control his body or access his memories at will, he would destroy her, even if it meant breaking the sword.

[I swear by the heavens, such a thing will not happen.]

This is a non-profit translation. Ads? What ads?

"…How long are you going to possess my sword?"

[…I do not know either. Until my body awakens, I cannot leave the sword even if I wished to.]

"So you can't just back out even if you don't like it, huh."

[Hmph, this is a great miraculous encounter for you.]

Baek Suryong scowled in annoyance. At his current level, mere 'miraculous encounters' hardly tempted him anymore. "You're not going to chatter noisily in my head all day, are you?" he complained.

[…Are you treating me like some pesky ghost?] the Dark Heaven Goddess said sternly. Her tone remained elegant, but was noticeably sharper.

It was understandable. She had made the significant decision to reside in the Azure Dragon Sword, yet Baek Suryong treated her like an unwanted ghost.

"Ah, sorry. It just feels like I'm possessed by a ghost." With a tone that didn't sound sorry at all, Baek Suryong lightly tapped the hilt of the Azure Dragon Sword.

Despite her deep cultivation, the Dark Heaven Goddess's voice trembled slightly as she said, […Regardless, let us descend from the mountain. There are a few things we need to prepare before we leave.]

"And how, might I ask, do I go about descending the mountain?" Baek Suryong asked. He looked around, but the sorcery everywhere made it impossible for him to get his bearings.

Suddenly, the Azure Dragon Sword slowly floated up and pointed in one direction.

Baek Suryong let out a small gasp of admiration. "My, aren't you useful?"

[Watch your words and actions. I am not an object.]

"Then who told you to possess my sword?"

[……]

Baek Suryong picked up the unconscious Dark Heaven Goddess and ran in the direction the sword pointed.

If you′re seeing this, you are at the wrong place.

The two were greeted in the Black Tortoise Academy's staff office by an old man dressed like an immortal deity.

Baek Suryong immediately tried to explain the situation before the old man misunderstood. "What happened was…"

However, the old man smiled gently, as if he already knew what had transpired. "We have been waiting. Please hand me Master's body."

"…Ah, yes."

[Would you excuse us for a moment?]

"Yes, Master."

The old man took the Dark Heaven Goddess's body from Baek Suryong, glanced at the Azure Dragon Sword, then bowed respectfully and withdrew.

"Who was that?"

[He is the Vice Principal of the Black Tortoise Academy, and also my disciple. He, along with the other Black Tortoise Academy teachers, will manage the academy in my absence. They are all my disciples, children I formed connections with after descending to the secular world.]

Hearing her words, Baek Suryong suddenly recalled something.

"Artist Pung Wol is also your disciple, right? He asked me to send his regards."

At some point, Baek Suryong naturally stopped using honorifics with the Dark Heaven Goddess. Fortunately, she wasn't someone who cared much about formalities.

[Artist Pung Wol… Indeed, I thought I sensed Chunsam's sorcery from your travel bag.]

Why aren′t you reading this at northbladetldotcom?

"That's right, he gave me two of his paintings… Wait, Chunsam? Artist Pung Wol's real name is Chunsam?"

[Did you not know? That child's name is Jang Chunsam.]

He couldn't have imagined, but he finally understood why Artist Pung Wol never used his real name. It was simply too embarrassing.

Bwahaha, how could a man with such a refined face be named Chunsam?1

"No wonder he never told me his name until the end…"

[That boy always disliked his own name. I scolded him several times for not cherishing the name his parents gave him, but it seems he hasn't changed.]

As if exposing a secret her disciple had hidden for decades was no big deal, the Dark Heaven Goddess casually instructed Baek Suryong to sit cross-legged on a formation in the center of the Principal's Office. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"Why do I have to do this?" Baek Suryong asked curiously.

[I examined your body earlier. You are in quite a precarious state.]

"…I suppose so."

Baek Suryong knew his body's condition best. To use an analogy, it was like a bowl filled to the brim with water. This was a dangerous state, as just one more drop could cause the water to spill onto the floor.

Since she knew about his past life, Baek Suryong honestly admitted, "My attainment in the Heaven Defying Divine Art has reached its limit. To become stronger, I must completely change my constitution."

The Heavenly Yin Severed Meridians was a once-in-a-millennium constitution that allowed him to learn the Heaven Defying Divine Art faster than anyone else, but it had its limits. If he wanted to reach the 8th Star and beyond, he would have to completely transform his constitution and turn his Severed Meridians into Divine Meridians.

"For that reason, I'm looking for the Divine Physician. Do you know where he is?"

[Even I do not know everything. It has been over a decade since the Divine Physician vanished without a trace. No one knows his current whereabouts.]

If the Dark Heaven Goddess doesn't know where he is, then no one else will either.

Baek Suryong sighed softly and reached into his robes, taking out a small wooden box and fiddling with it. The box contained the finger of the previous Blood Demon, which he obtained at the Namgung Estate, as well as the poison crystal left behind by the Poison Demon.

"I know the method, and I have enough materials. I just need to find someone to perform the great ritual…"

Besides the Divine Physician, there were many other famous physicians. However, since none of them possessed martial arts as outstanding as his, they could not perform the great ritual, which required manipulating an absurd amount of inner qi.

[I cannot solve the root your problem, but I can alleviate your condition to some extent.]

You ought to read this at northbladetldotcom.

Baek Suryong's eyes shot open. "…How?"

[First, sit down.]

As instructed, Baek Suryong sat cross-legged in the center of the sorcery formation and placed the Azure Dragon Sword on his lap.

[Activate the Heaven Defying Divine Art. I will assist you.]

Despite still feeling somewhat skeptical, Baek Suryong obediently activated the Heaven Defying Divine Art.

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!

His crimson hair whipped around wildly as the overpowering energy of the art filled the principal's office.

VWOOOOM!

At the same time, the Azure Dragon Sword vibrated and released a thin, white thread of energy. One by one, this thread intertwined with the red energy flowing throughout Baek Suryong's body.

A short while later, Baek Suryong finished circulating his qi and opened his eyes. A red light momentarily flashed from his eyes, then gradually subsided.

"…I feel a lot better," he said, looking down at the Azure Dragon Sword on his lap in surprise. "What on earth did you do?"

If you′re seeing this, you are at the wrong place.

The Dark Heaven Goddess replied proudly, [The Heaven Defying Divine Art is the strangest martial art in existence. It even touches on the realm of sorcery. To put it simply, I cast a protective spell on your Heaven Defying Divine Art. Your vessel will endure without breaking even if you exert power beyond your limits once or twice.]

"Huh…"

[Of course, this is only a temporary measure. In order to solve the problem completely, you must change your constitution, as you said.]

Still, not knowing who he might fight next made being able to use his full strength once or twice very reassuring.

Baek Suryong stroked the scabbard of the Azure Dragon Sword admiringly. "From now on, I'm going to call you the Divine Azure Dragon Sword. I never imagined I'd receive so much help from you."

VWOOM!

Was it just my imagination, or did I feel a sense of smugness from the sword?

[Besides this, I can perform various other sorceries, and I possess knowledge you cannot even imagine. You will come to feel even more grateful to me over time.]

"That's amazing! It seems you'll be an incredible help from now on," Baek Suryong praised.

Deep down though, he smirked slyly. I think I've gotten the hang of manipulating this woman.

After basking in praise for a while, the Divine Azure Dragon Sword asked seriously, [So, what are your plans for the future?]

"I'm going to the North Sea Ice Palace."

Read this at northbladetldotcom, or else.

The North Sea Ice Palace was the last stop on his summer vacation itinerary.

Baek Suryong explained why he wanted to visit the palace. He also briefly recounted Master Eun and Moon Yul's story.

"…I plan to convey Master Eun's last wishes and, if possible, form an alliance with the Ice Palace."

Surely the North Sea Ice Palace would not turn a blind eye to the Blood Cult if they learned that their young mistress had been abducted decades ago, right?

[But what if, as Chunsam suspected, the Ice Palace has joined hands with the Blood Cult?]

"Then… I'll have to devise another method," Baek Suryong replied. Although Master Eun didn't have much affection for the North Sea Ice Palace, as her disciple, he really didn't want to make enemies of them.

The Divine Azure Dragon Sword fell silent, lost in thought. Finally, she said, [I have one disciple from the Ice Palace.]

Baek Suryong fought to keep a smile from spreading across his face.

Hey, this sword is proving to be surprisingly useful!

Chunsam: Chunsam meaning "Spring Three", or "third son born in spring". It's one of those names that makes it obvious a kid's parents put absolutely zero effort into naming them, and is usually associated with being a country bumpkin. If you're familiar with Japanese media, it's the Korean equivalent of the Taro (meaning 'eldest son'), Jiro (second son), Saburo (third son) naming system. Moreover, Chunsam just sounds absolutely horrible as a name, like Boksoon (remember when Baek crossdressed?). ↵