Volcanic Age

Whew!

It seemed like the danger had passed, but Zhou Xuchuan remained on edge. Although he was the one who said it, he understood just how absurd and unreasonable it was.

The principles and composition of the Violet Haze Divine Art were far more complicated than the Plum Blossom Cultivation Art.

It was an art so intricate that most people couldn’t even complete the missing sutras. How could he figure it out on his own?

So, what could have made You Riwen accept such a wild idea?

That question didn’t remain unanswered for long.

"If you really saw something beyond the wall, I don't know if this will help you or not, but I will give you some advice."

"I will listen carefully to your advice, Sect Master."

Zhou Xuchuan’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, even though he was nervous.

These were the teachings of the Exalted Sword Immortal of the Ten Empyrean Overlords. Just like when he had been with Nangong Weiwu, he couldn't allow himself to miss a single thing.

"I'm saying this just in case, but you should only ever listen and consider the advice, not accept it as fact. While it could also be your answer, it could also be completely different from your answer. So, keep that in mind."

"I will do so."

“Do you know what the level above the Harmony Realm is?”

“No.”

"It's not something that was explicitly decided, but it's generally referred to as the Coruscant Realm."

"The Coruscant Realm…"

The name was unfamiliar to him.

There was no specific term for the realm above Harmony.

Instead, there were names for absolute beings depending on the era, like the title of Empyrean Overlord. If one really had to define it, those who had reached this realm were called Absolute Masters.

"It uses a character that can mean to shine, to dazzle, to boast. So, which do you think it means?"

"To… shine?"

“It’s ‘to boast.’”

Zhou Xuchuan was a little surprised by the unexpected answer. He had assumed that ‘boasting’ would be the least likely answer since it could easily be seen as arrogant. More than that, he was sure that someone like You Riwen, honored with the title the Exalted Sword Immortal, wouldn’t care about showing off. 𝘙

However, things were completely different from what he had expected.

When Zhou Xuchuan gave You Riwen a puzzled look, the Sect Master of Mount Hua stroked his beard and smiled faintly.

"It could be self-esteem or self-sufficiency. But what matters most is self-confidence."

It was completely different from Nangong Weiwu’s advice!

But the fundamental self was the same.

"If the Harmony Realm is the pinnacle of one's comprehension of the Martial Path, then the Coruscant Realm is a leap toward the unknown. An adventure, and, at the same time, creation."

The confusing words that followed were no different coming from the Exalted Sword Immortal than they had been from the Completion Sword.

Zhou Xuchuan tried to make sense of them but ultimately couldn’t.

"Show off to the world, let them know who you are, and let them see your brilliance. However, if you insist on doing so, you may never reach that point, and if you become obsessed with it, you will never find the answer."

Just what bullshit is that?

Zhou Xuchuan almost cursed in front of the Sect Master.

"I may become an obstacle for you if I say too much, so let's stop here."

"As I'm too stupid and lacking in many ways, I wasn't able to understand everything you graciously taught me."

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"You'll understand it on your own when the time comes, so there's no need to rush. Perhaps, if you really have your heart set on the Violet Haze, the Divine Art itself could have been your process."

Are you fucking kidding me?!

Zhou Xuchuan had not achieved the Violet Haze through enlightenment.

He had only lied about it because he couldn’t reveal he had obtained the Violet Haze Divine Art in his previous life.

Still, it wasn't like he could just say, 'It was all a lie, so please just teach it to me properly.'

I guess there's nothing I can do.

Looking at the situation, even if he had told him the truth, it didn't seem like he would be able to reach the Coruscant Realm. He kept asking, but he only got answers that he didn't understand. Since You Riwen told him not to take it to heart, he decided to give up.

"Anyway, the real issue is what’s happening right now,” You Riwen sighed. "The Violet Haze Divine Art has such strong identifiable characteristics that it can't be hidden. While it's okay to let out a little qi, if you ever form aura, anyone who isn't blind would be able to recognize it."

There was only one cultivation method that had purple qi—the Violet Haze Divine Art. That characteristic was so well known that not only martial artists but even ordinary people knew about it.

"It's good that a disciple of our sect has achieved such great things, but it's a shame that I can't just be happy about it."

You Riwen rubbed his temples as if he had a headache.

***

A few days later, the elders of the Mount Hua Sect were in an uproar.

"I mean, just what the hell are you talking about?" Zhao Wuyang shouted.

"Ugh." Xue Song groaned with a troubled look

The reactions of Ling Zhen and Shen Yulian weren't much different.

A practitioner of the Violet Haze Divine Art had appeared.

The news itself was not bad. On the contrary, it was actually welcome.

However, that was only true if the successor was the disciple of the Sect Master, Exalted Sword Immortal You Riwen.

If not, the situation would inevitably become far more complicated. And that was exactly the case now.

"When did you take that child in as your disciple, Sect Master?" Shen Yulian, who was more careful about the distinction between master and disciple than anyone else, asked in a questioning tone.

"I didn't."

"I'm sorry, Sect Master. I don't understand what you're saying."

The rest of the elders nodded in agreement.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

You Riwen then explained it to the elders as simply as he could.

However, unlike You Riwen, who already knew about the Coruscant Realm, the Five High Elders of Mount Hua weren't so easily convinced.

"Even if that were true, the problem is what follows. Then, are we considering Zhou Xuchuan as the next Successor?"

Shen Yulian pointed out the biggest problem at the moment.

Among the qualifications for the Sect Master, the first requirement was the Violet Haze Divine Art. In other words, a practitioner of the Violet Haze Divine Art would soon be selected to be the next Sect Master.

So, would Zhou Xuchuan become the next Sect Master of the Mount Hua Sect?

There were no issues with Zhou Xuchuan’s character. Martial skills aside, Zhou Xuchuan’s personality and reputation were highly regarded throughout the murim.

On top of that, wasn’t he the one who had led the Mount Hua Sect into its golden age? There was absolutely no problem with him being selected.

No, the problem was something else.

"Don't you have your own disciples, Sect Master?"

Yes. That was the problem.

The Violet Haze Divine Art was difficult to cultivate. It wasn't something that one could finish in a decade. That was why the Sect Master had taken in disciples long ago and taught them diligently. A disciple had already been chosen as the next successor, and it was impossible for them to go back on that promise.

In the Righteous Faction, tradition and convention mattered more than most people realized.

If they broke this promise, it could create a mess down the road. Word would spread, and it could escalate into something much bigger later on.

"Firstly, you don't have to worry about the succession issue. I assure you that Zhou Xuchuan has no desire for the Sect Master position."

“Can't you tell that that’s not the problem? Even if that child doesn’t have any desire for the Sect Master position, what should we do with your disciple, Zheng Huilian?” Shen Yulian pointed out sharply.

Zheng Huilian was You Riwen's disciple whom he had accepted later in life.

In terms of age, he would be one of the fourth-generation disciples. He was actually the youngest among them. However, as the disciple of the Sect Master, he was considered a third-generation disciple in terms of rank.

"Zhou Xuchuan is so outstanding. He's one of the ten strongest in the sect in terms of cultivation alone and is respected by many people. What happens if it becomes known that he has also inherited the Violet Haze Divine Art?"

“As Elder Shen said, there is a high chance that the child will not be able to withstand the pressure.”

Xue Song added to Shen Yulian’s words.

Even if Zhou Xuchuan had truly awakened the Violet Haze Divine Art on his own without any guidance, the idea was so absurd that no one would believe him.

People would definitely think, ‘Oh, Zhou Xuchuan is so outstanding that the Exalted Sword Immortal must be trying to pass his martial arts to him and make him the next Sect Master.'

You Riwen was also aware of this. That was why he couldn't say anything and just sighed deeply.

His expression was extremely grim.

"Zheng Huilian is young. It's impossible for someone of his age to control his feelings of jealousy.

"Not even I, an old man, can control such feelings, so how could I expect a child like that to be able to do it?" Ying Jin muttered, sighing deeply.

"It's too dangerous," the Destiny Hand warned sharply.

“You're all right," You Riwen admitted wearily.

“It is dangerous," Shen Yulian agreed. "While Zhou Xuchuan may have a narrow circle of friends, the fourth-generation disciples all unknowingly admire him and follow his lead."

He was the hero of the Righteous Faction.

At first, many people were jealous. However, because of his great achievements, he had become well respected.

"If the younger generation who will lead Mount Hua in the future follow Zhou Xuchuan instead of the next Sect Master, that will lead to an unsolvable problem. At worst, Mount Hua could split into two factions after our deaths."

"Since Xuchuan has no intention of becoming the Sect Master…"

"It doesn't matter whether he has the intention or not. The issue will be those around him who support him. What do you think would happen to Zheng Huilian in this situation?”

For Zheng Huilian, who had been officially recognized as the legitimate successor, Zhou Xuchuan would be worse than a thorn in his side.

“Sect Master. Have you ever talked about Zhou Xuchuan in front of your disciple?”

“I have…”

You Riwen trailed off and closed his eyes.

"I could see him tremble as soon as he heard Zhou Xuchuan’s name."

Gasp!

The Five High Elders of Mount Hua gasped and bowed their heads.

Could he have been so angry that his teeth chattered just by hearing his name?

What if Zheng Huilian ends up wanting to kill Zhou Xuchuan when he finds out?

This is a big deal. I’m worried about the future of Mount Hua!

“We must prevent Zheng Huilian from meeting Zhou Xuchuan.”

***

Zhou Xuchuan froze in place.

The person he least wanted to meet was standing in front of him.

Zheng Huilian…!

Zheng Huilian was going to be the next sect master. However, he would unfortunately lose his life in the wars before he ever reached middle age.

All Zhou Xuchuan really knew about him was that they were around the same age.

“Zhou Xuchuan…”

Zheng Huilian began to tremble.

They had just met by coincidence. While waiting for the results of the elders’ meeting, Zhou Xuchuan had gone to the training hall to warm up.

However, there was an unexpected guest.

After a moment, he recognized the face in front of him. It was Zheng Huilian. He had seen the successor a few times in his previous life, so it didn’t take long for him to recall his face.

I'm screwed. He's definitely going to hate me.

Zhou Xuchuan was also aware of the complicated issues surrounding Zheng Huilian. He’d been too preoccupied with other matters, like the Dark Heavens Association, to deal with it.

But now, thanks to the Violet Haze Divine Art, the issue was unavoidable.

“Zhoooooou Xuuuuuuchuaaaaaaaaan!”

Zhou Xuchuan stiffened. He tried to turn around, thinking he could escape. But before he could move, Zheng Huilian bowed deeply, bending at a full ninety degrees.

“Elder Brother! It’s an honor to meet you!”

Zhou Xuchuan blinked, utterly baffled.

Zheng Huilian straightened up, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

“Wow! You're really here!!”

He was quivering, apparently in excitement. Then, he suddenly took off the top of his uniform.

"Please sign your name here with your sword!"

Cyncoco's Thoughts

It's me, Cyncoco!

Now, the three "self" terms the sect master refers to are an absolute PAIN to translate. Not because they don't have accepted English terminology, but because when you get philosophical like this, word choice and even rhyming scheme become incredibly important.

The key thing about Chinese and Sino-Korean is that, fundamentally, the language is a puzzle. You take what amounts to pictographs, meaning specific things, and smush them together to create new words based on said pictographs.

In this case, the important word is 自(ja), which means “self.”

There are three words used in this chapter that we translated as self-esteem, self-sufficiency, and self-confidence. They are all combinations of 自 with another character: 자존(jajon), 자존(jajon), 자신(jasin).

As you can see, two of the words are identical (no, that’s not a typo) but that’s just the Korean reading. The original Sino-Korean characters are different: 尊 and 存, which mean “to respect/honor/revere” and “to exist,” respectively. Thus, one word means respecting/revering oneself, while the other means being independent, self-sufficient. It’s a basic contrast between accepting yourself and being overwhelmingly proud of who you are.

Sadly, expressing things this way deprives you of the mystical “aha!” moment that comes with philosophical rhyming schemes, so we have to be a little obscure instead.

As for the final 신, 信, it means to believe, Thus, the meaning of the word 自信 is “to believe in oneself,” i.e. self-confidence. So the full and literal translation of that sentence should be:

“The meaning of ‘coruscant’ is to show your brilliance. It could mean revering yourself and having overwhelming pride, or it could just mean being good enough for yourself. But either way, the most important part is to believe in yourself.”

There’s a similar issue between the 자신 of You Riwen and the 자신 of Nangong Weiwu. They are both read the same, but while the first character is the same “self,” the second is different. The first 신 信 is, like I said, “to believe.” The second, 신 身, is “body,” and the meaning of the word 自身 is simply “oneself.”

Thus, while the core concept of the Coruscant Realm is the self, people seem to have very different understandings of what that “self” is and how to relate to it—whether it means being proud of yourself to the extent of feeling on top of the world, or to feel satisfied with yourself, or to be confident in yourself and your identity.

In any case, the point of the Corruscant (i.e. brilliant) Realm is to show off your inner brilliance, i.e. the brilliance of yourself.

This philosophical understanding can’t be rendered all that well in English because it’s actually a form of poetry and memorization that a student would technically learn in higher-level hanmun. Because it's not written into the text, I didn't want to just add my own development. Still, I wanted to make sure those of you who don't know Chinese would at least understand the basics of what the author is trying to convey.