Book 14 Chapter 16

Volcanic Branch Meeting Schedule

The fact that the revival of the Heavenly Calamity Spirit was mentioned in public proved its credibility. Indeed, even now, a hundred years after the Heavenly Calamity Blood Sea, stories about the Heavenly Calamity Spirit remained a potent remedy whose efficacy had not waned.

"I'm not asking you to understand it right now. I'm not expecting such a dream-like event!"

Hyeokjung's words were cold, yet they reflected reality.

"I'm well aware that changing values built over a lifetime overnight is impossible without a 'considerable' shock."

His words carried a strange resonance. They seemed to imply a premise: 'Be grateful, for we will provide that 'considerable' shock.'

"But I believe your thoughts will soon change."

His words were filled with conviction.

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but just watch! You won't be able to help but change!"

If by chance it doesn't happen, don't worry. We will make it so you can't help but change. It was a statement with a deep, lingering undertone that subtly conveyed this meaning.

"Then I will tell you about the upcoming schedule! For now, you will live in a newly assigned lodging for one week. During this time, focus on your self-training and try to communicate with each other."

'There's no way that's possible!'

A silent scream echoed. It's not that only audible sounds can be perceived. Humans, unless they've developed it, possess far more sensitive perceptive abilities than imagined. Elder Hyeok also clearly perceived this collective consciousness.

"Many people here are probably thinking, 'Crazy! There's no way that's possible!'"

The remark hit so close to home that the assembled crowd flinched as if their collective consciousness had been pricked by a poker.

"Conversation is a good thing. It's the best tool for building relationships, helping us understand each other better. Moreover, don't we need to know each other better to foster friendship and promote harmony?"

The elder's words were undeniably wise, but they did not resonate with the listeners at all. They were not just unwise; they were offensive.

'Who would want to interact with guys like them!'

Glances met, and a magnificent spark ignited. Invisible arrows of ill will flew in all directions for a moment. Whether righteous or wicked, their thoughts seemed similar in such situations.

Hyeokjung watched this silently for a while. This reaction was well within his expected range, so he was neither intimidated nor saddened. Instead, the elder's resolve blazed even stronger than before.

'It seems I need to make them realize their situation more clearly.'

With such a kind thought, the elder spoke again.

"I regret to say, but whether you want to or not, you will have to do it. Because there is no other choice."

A faint smile flickered across the elder's lips. This was the part the elder had meticulously planned.

He would forcibly create a situation where there was no choice but friendship and harmony. This was the theme and core of this year's Volcanic Covenant Branch Meeting.

"I will explain in detail why this is necessary. Starting today, you will move to the official lodging and stay for a week. This is our warm consideration to create a space for better mutual understanding. Because after a week, you will form teams of ten randomly, regardless of your origin in the Orthodox Black or White factions. There is only one principle: five against five, an even split."

In other words, the teams would consist of five from the White faction and five from the Black faction. This seemed to be a newly established rule for this centennial Volcanic Branch Meeting.

The murmuring grew louder, perhaps due to people discussing this sudden announcement. It was likely a sudden development, and they were confused about how to react. The elder didn't miss this chaotic state. Stirring things up further at such a time would have double the effect.

"I advise you again, it will be beneficial for you to do so! Because… if you don't focus on conversation, winning the Volcanic Branch Meeting later will be extremely difficult."

The confusion intensified. Hyeokjung continued to speak.

"You will challenge five gates with the themes of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth in teams of ten. We call these five gates the Five Elemental Gates (五行關). The Five Elements were chosen as themes because they represent the mystical principles of harmony, concord, mutual generation, and mutual conquest, the profound laws of the universe. In these Five Elemental Gates, each team must act collectively, and scores will be awarded to each team."

"Gasp!"

The people were all shocked by Hyeokjung's bombshell. That meant…

Hyeokjung nodded and continued.

"I'm glad you understand. It's exactly as you thought. Since scores are awarded by team, naturally, teams that cooperate and harmonize well will get higher scores. Of course, if you have a mysterious ability to perform well even in a state of discord without coordination, I wouldn't insist on understanding each other through conversation. But if you lack such confidence, wouldn't it be better to build friendships and harmonize?"

It was truly a wicked(?) stratagem. Hyeokjung delivered the final blow, the finishing touch.

"I can guarantee one thing: those who do not achieve good results in these Five Elemental Gates will never win the Volcanic Covenant Branch Meeting. I look forward to your wise judgment."

Finally, the elder finished speaking, but the crowd remained silent. The psychological impact of his words was too great to return to normal immediately.

"Will that really be effective?"

Bilyeon raised his hand and asked. Surprisingly, his voice didn't contain doubt. His tone was more like he was seeking confirmation.

"We expect this method to be very effective!"

Hyeokjung declared with a confident voice. It contained an unwavering determination that failure was impossible.

"We have tried countless methods over the past hundred years. However, none of them yielded proper results. Instead, side effects greatly emerged, causing us much trouble. No matter what method we employed, people remained in a state of disharmony, unable to harmonize, and fueled with malicious competitiveness. We began to ponder the root cause of this disharmony and competitive malice. A hundred years of contemplation, a not insignificant amount of time. But after contemplating for a tediously long period, we achieved results. And finally, we reached its root. A precious outcome obtained after a hundred years!"

"It took a hundred years to identify one cause, which seems like a very inefficient operating method."

He was still a young man who knew the meaning of courtesy(!).

"I won't deny that. But I believe it was worth it! Because by discovering the cause, we were able to seek its solution! It's not a pointless endeavor, you see."

"What was the gain from those hundred years?"

This was also something that could not be overlooked.

"The force that drives people toward disharmony and twisted competition is none other than the most depraved crystallization of selfishness: group egoism, the poison within poison [毒中之毒]."

Hyeokjung said in a firm voice.

"And based on this conclusion, we reached another. That as long as we divide people into groups, factions, and organizations, drawing lines between 'my side' and 'your side,' we can never reach any moderate or excellent conclusion. We also realized that deeply ingrained, wrongly formed values, like deep-seated hypnosis, are difficult to remove without a considerable shock."

"Is it that frightening?"

Moyonghwi asked. Hyeokjung nodded vigorously.

"It is frightening! Extremely frightening! There is no egoism more frightening than group egoism. It's because it evokes an illusion of grand sacrifice and noble mission within the individual, not for oneself, but for the organization. Perhaps like the heart of a martyr… Furthermore, when people join an organization, they tend to mistake that organization's definition of justice as the world's definition. They fail to see the situation from a broader perspective and become solely focused on pursuing the immediate interests of the organization."

Because it was so accurate, it became a sharp remark.

"From the perspective of Buddhism or Taoism, it's all in vain, but I have no intention of denying that it's a useful means for the maintenance and development of this world. Because that would be denying reality."

This was a concept that Moyonghwi, who had germaphobia, could not easily accept.

"As long as we are divided into black and white, it is well known that groups, the more they coalesce, the greater their power becomes. But this also means that they actively exclude other groups just as clearly. Especially when it comes to contests that must determine a winner. Since there cannot be two winners, one of the two groups is destined from the start to be the loser, to enter the doghouse labeled 'loser' and take its place."

"……"

"Moreover, you are not merely a small group of fifty people! Each of you carries the beliefs and will of thousands of people from the Black or White factions of the martial world on your backs. This is no longer a matter of right and wrong."

The audience remained silent.

"However, by focusing so intensely on competition, we overlooked one major problem. We failed to see the situation from the larger perspective of the entire martial world. We focused on competition, ignoring the greater dangers that threatened us. We felt a sense of crisis about this fact. So, we wracked our brains until they were dry. Of course, to find a solution. And after much effort, we were able to come up with one method!"

His voice carried a deeply moving resonance.

"What is it?"

"Are you curious?"

"Of course."

Moyonghwi nodded gracefully.

The elder grinned. Then, in a mischievous voice, he said,

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you yet!"

"What?"

Moyonghwi, bewildered, widened his eyes. Then what was all this he had been saying? Was it mere teasing?

"But don't be so impatient. You will experience it soon. And very slowly, very thoroughly, with plenty of time."

Hyeokjung's face, which had been childishly playful, suddenly turned solemn. Then, he raised his right hand and declared.

"I, as the overseer fully entrusted with the operation of this tournament by the Black and White factions, hereby solemnly proclaim the opening of the 10th Volcanic Covenant Branch Meeting to heaven and earth. All participants, under the three great principles of friendship, harmony, and peace, please engage in fair and excellent competition. I hereby conclude the opening proclamation!"

With black eyes shining like polished swords, emitting a cold, sharp light, the elder, in a low but strong and authoritative voice, proclaimed the opening of the 10th Volcanic Covenant Branch Meeting.