The six figures who entered were white-clad priestesses, tasked with performing the final sword dance to conclude the martial arts festival.
They are also the heirs to one of the highest sword techniques I’ve created since arriving in this world: the Harmonic Sword Technique.
“Truly, these are my first masterpieces created in the human world.”
Individuals who have surpassed the realm of sword scents, capable of showing the illusion of blooming flowers.
In the martial world, they are among the chosen ones who have reached the peak realm.
Among my human disciples, only Priegoss and Duberv have reached the second-tier realm.
Indeed, considering their late start in martial arts and lack of special elixirs, their growth has been unusually rapid.
Naturally, it’s still impossible for any ‘human’ to reach the peak realm yet.
‘Among humans.’
The so-called “Maidens of Life,” who may seem rustic to outsiders, are actually Alia’s sisters and subordinates: succubi.
Lamia and the four succubi who once surrounded me, along with one who was absent at the time.
Having survived for centuries in the eastern continent, they possess a significant amount of energy within them.
To quantify it, perhaps three times that of the forest guardian elf when I left the woods.
Although this isn’t remarkable for survivors of centuries-long wars, it’s an immense difference compared to humans.
‘Which is why Priegoss has always been yearning.’
Priegoss isn’t an idealist. Though he hopes for the strength of humans in the distant future, he wouldn’t turn his back on a powerful sword right before his eyes due to his convictions.
Still, Alia and the succubi couldn’t be anything but Priegoss’s hidden blades.
The subordinates of Ul Kanadiel generally carry energies that feel malevolent and repulsive to natural life forms.
And the nature of succubi… well, let’s say… lascivious? They carry that kind of demeanor.
Even Alia, who controls her energy well, exudes a charm that’s hard for human men to resist.
Without the succubi’s help, hunting Roa would be impossible for humans.
That’s why Roa hunting was exclusively conducted under the trusted soldiers of Priegoss.
For it wouldn’t benefit anyone to reveal that he’s close to women who soar through the skies with ominous bat wings, radiating evil auras.
When Priegoss first approached me to study, he had a question and favor regarding these succubi.
“Can martial arts alter the temperament of these children?”
Priegoss wanted to bring the succubi out into the open, to make them part of humanity’s most crucial forces.
Afterwards, I began to ruminate.
On how to control the malevolent energies of the succubi and transform them into positive energies, using martial arts.
Most importantly, to transform the martial arts of central plains, which tend to be either impure or close to demonic energies, towards the right path.
The principle of overcoming evil to reveal righteousness should be applied here.
Thus, I envisioned a martial art with religious undertones.
Historically, religious martial arts also flourished in the central plains. Notably, the Shaolin Temple representing Buddhism and the Wu Tang Sect representing Daoism.
The Wudang lineage founded by Zhang Sanfeng, comparable to the patriarch Bodhidharma of Shaolin.
The Huashan Sect, rooted in the teachings of Yin Xi, the disciple of Laozi, who established himself in the harsh terrains of the five famous mountains of Central Plains.
Even the so-called heretical and bloody cults have their own schools with widespread influence.
Originally, magical techniques and martial arts are inseparable.
Nonetheless, it wouldn’t do to teach demonic martial arts when the aim is to bring the succubi into the light.
I didn’t desire to create any such demonic arts either, so naturally, I referenced Buddhist and Daoist martial arts.
Both would have been fine, but what I particularly referred to was Huashan’s ideology.
The Shaolin and Wu Tang martial arts may be excellent, but their foundational philosophies don’t align with this world, and the knowledge base is lacking.
In contrast, Huashan’s ideology is deeply grounded in the earth.
Huashan is one of the five famous mountains, consisting of extremely rugged peaks.
Moreover, it faces environmental conditions exceedingly harsh, where even worldly sects would find it difficult to survive without a religious inclination.
The Plum Blossom Sword Technique, developed by Huashan, was born in such an environment.
I imagine the Taoist priests of Huashan, training in the harsh natural elements, seeing the plum trees blooming despite frost and snow, breaking through frozen ground to perfume the mountain with their delicate flowers, must have identified themselves with those trees.
A desire to rise above and bloom triumphantly after enduring countless trials.
I see the Plum Blossom Sword Technique not merely as a sword technique, but as a philosophical martial art that embodies the aspirations of those who live on this land.
Though the Shaolin and Wu Tang traditions are remarkable, this world needs a philosophy and ideology conceived purely within itself, not imported from another realm.
Thus, I chose the foundation ideology of Huashan.
The profound yearnings that arise from observing ‘something’ on this land.
A martial art needed its ‘foundation’.
It wasn’t hard to find that foundation.
After all, if something can be perceived universally, it’s because it’s close to us.
When I saw that tree, it reminded me of the palm trees of the central plains, growing even in barren sandy lands, radiating immense vitality.
The bountiful fruits on swaying branches exuded sweet aromas.
The date palm.
A tree referred to as the ‘Tree of Life’ within its ecological region.
Dried dates from Pohelrn were widely circulated.
If one were to name the most valuable crops in the human world, they’d say barley and the date palm.
‘This is what I shall use.’
Just as the ascetics of Huashan saw profound meaning in the plum blossoms blooming in a harsh environment…
I wanted the people of this land to see their own profound meaning in the date palm trees, radiating life despite the harsh conditions.
The characteristics of the date palm symbolize resilience and fertility.
Ironically, these qualities resonate surprisingly well with succubi.
Survivors who endured centuries of war, braving stormy seas to arrive here.
And while excessive lust may be sinful, purity alone couldn’t conceive new lives.
In this way, I began weaving the philosophical foundations of martial arts, merging these concepts with the aspirations of the local population.
Thus were born the Pure Life Divine Ability (正命神功) and the Date Blossom Sword Technique (棗花劍法).
I encountered many martial arts in my previous life, but never the exclusive techniques or divine abilities of a school’s grandmaster or unique lineage.
Still, I’m confident that the arts I’ve created will surpass even the divine arts and plum sword techniques of Huashan.
Though the Date Blossom Sword Technique did develop a stronger religious character than the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
The succubi, upon learning the Pure Life Divine Ability, saw their previously demonic-like energies gradually transform into life-affirming, warm energies, much like ink dissolving in warm water.
Through this transformation, the six maiden warriors came into being, serving as priestesses who dedicate their sword dances to deities, as deputies to the earthly representative of the King, and as the world’s top combat force capable of slaying the 72 demons.
Since the Mother World Tree known as El Prigion is also a tree, symbolizing something very common and essential to humanity, the Date Tree has become one of the sacred symbols of the immigrant theology.
This is also why the World Tree, the divine embodiment located behind the Grand Temple in the Room of Worlds, is of the species date palm.
The divine embodiment of the Mother in the immigrant faith is known as the Sacred Wood, and all the sword handles used by the Date Blossom Sword Maidens are crafted from the branches of the Sacred Wood.
Perhaps someday, human Date Blossom Sword Masters will also be presented with sword handles crafted from branches of the Sacred Wood.
But judging by the current state of the human race, that’s something for the distant future.
“Lady Araya, the warriors of the martial arts festival are waiting outside the Room of Worlds.”
“Ah, well done. Everyone, prepare yourselves to welcome the new ones.”
The words of a Date Blossom Sword Maiden interrupted my musings. I replied to her and then addressed those around me.
Without chairs, the vast Room of Worlds saw figures who’d been kneeling in prayer rise silently and orderly.
In an instant, the priests and students arranged themselves neatly in rows and columns left and right.
With everything ready, the lead Date Blossom Sword Maiden nodded and signaled outside.
Then, nine men of various ages dressed in green martial uniforms entered.
Though they’d been treated, a few still bore signs of lingering swelling from severe injuries.
“Welcome to the embrace of the Divine, young warriors.”
The sight of a ten-year-old addressing a group that included men beyond their teens would look quite absurd to outsiders, yet I tried to maintain my gravest demeanor.
“This place is the sacred land where those descended from the heavens interact with those of the human world.”
I raised the lush branch of the Sacred Wood placed beside the jade throne.
“…!”
With a single step, I moved in front of the first of the warriors in formation, and the humans inhaled sharply.
“I know not of any worldly positions you may have held. But here, you are merely mortals with finite bodies.”
“Kneel!”
At the cry of the Date Blossom Sword Maidens, the nine sank to their knees.
I moved along the line, brushing the humans with the Sacred Branch.
When I reached the last boy, who looked about thirteen, I paused.
The child had a hardened look in his eyes.
‘This face… Ah, I see.’
Seven years ago, when I first arrived in Pohelrn, I’d seen a slave boy repairing the city walls.
The boy who sheltered a smaller child and faced punishment from his overseer.
‘…So fate does play tricks.’
In Pohelrn, five years of slave labor could set one free.
However, this lad’s position, third in the last row, indicated…
Still a slave at this martial arts festival, the youngest in the slave class.
Despite his effort to hide it, I could see the deep resentment in his eyes.
In these times, a child wouldn’t escape the vagaries of life.
‘Yet, having come here, ties to the mortal world must be forgotten.’
I moved my hand again to brush the boy with the Sacred Branch and returned to the jade throne in a single step.
“Through this act, you have shed all bonds with the mortal world. Here, as of today, you take refuge as divine servants in this place, forgetting all worldly ties, and shall receive new names.”
I granted names prepared by Alia to the previous eight.
I somewhat irresponsibly delegated this task to Alia.
Since I’m not really skilled at naming.
When it was the last boy’s turn, I felt this child deserved a name I chose personally, rather than one prepared by Alia.
“The depths of emotion in your gaze. Henceforth, you shall be named Iscariot, embraced by the divine.”
As I looked into the cold eyes of my first personally-named disciple, inexplicably, a smile graced my lips.
