The meeting ended as peacefully as I had hoped.

I am quite good at conducting meetings like this. I first sent the subordinates away, and while So Gunpyeong led the elite of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion on a tight security detail, I was able to welcome a quiet and holy night.

It was also a day when the power of the Heavenly Pearl was fully within me.

As I sat alone in the main hall, breathing quietly with my mask on, a servant approached and asked.

“Pavilion Master, would you like to have a meal? Or should I prepare a bath first?”

Did this servant know that the Pavilion Master had changed? Or was he unaware? It was natural if he had been doing menial tasks here without coming out, so I answered just to make my voice heard.

“I don’t need a bath, and I’m fine after having the pig's bones earlier. But it seems there’s some blood on my face, so bring me some water to wash it off.”

“Understood.”

The servant, not noticing anything unusual, walked away. I thought for a moment.

‘Does my voice sound like a rabbit’s?’

Both are low-pitched, but the qualities are different.

The servant quickly returned with a basin of water and was walking toward me when I took off my mask.

The servant looked at my face without thinking, then gasped in shock, dropping the basin full of water onto the floor.

The servant's eyes were as wide as they could get.

I looked at the water spilled on the floor and, in a calm tone, said,

“Go fetch more. Clean up the floor too. You really threw that basin with style.”

“A-a-yes…”

“Don’t be surprised. Don’t spill it this time.”

“Understood. I apologize.”

A moment later, the servant returned with trembling hands, placed the basin on the table, and immediately lowered his head.

“Don’t tremble. There’s nothing to fear. I am the new Pavilion Master of the Black Rabbit Pavilion.”

“Yes, Pavilion Master. It’s an honor to meet you.”

I wiped the bloodstains from my face, then cleaned the mask with the bloodstains while asking the servant,

“Does my voice sound similar to the previous Pavilion Master?”

“It doesn’t sound similar now.”

“Now?”

“Yes, when you wear the mask, your voice usually comes out slightly altered, so I didn’t notice the difference.”

“Seems like it sounds similar when I speak with the mask on.”

“Yes.”

Looking closely, the inside of the mask was made of a sturdy material, and the mouth area had tiny holes for air to escape, but the overall closed structure caused the voice to be distorted. With a mask like this, it wouldn’t be too hard to keep my identity concealed, and I could even imitate the previous Pavilion Master’s voice and tone to some extent.

Suddenly, I noticed the servant glancing at me a few times, so I asked,

“What? Am I handsome? Is my face catching your attention?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Hm.”

What does “I’m sorry” mean? Does he think I’m not handsome, or is he apologizing for daring to look at the Pavilion Master?

“As you know, today is my first day as Pavilion Master. You should show me around. Tell me about my residence, personal training room, and the place where I store medicines. Lead the way.”

“Yes, Pavilion Master.”

I followed the servant as he showed me the various places used by the Pavilion Master. It was quite a luxurious structure, with everything imaginable. There were places just for changing clothes, two bedrooms, a personal bathroom, and a room with an odd-looking pillow placed in the middle.

“What is this place? Just bedding placed here.”

“This is where you relaxed your muscles after practicing external martial arts.”

“Who relaxed them for you?”

“The servants did, of course.”

“Training wasn’t done here, just unnecessary things…”

The next place the servant showed me was a combined personal training room and medicine storage room.

I gave the servant an order.

“Gather the other servants and tell them to spread out and stand guard a little farther away. Don’t forcefully stop anyone, but ask them, ‘What brings you here?’ I’ll handle the rest. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Pavilion Master.”

I waved my hand to send the servant away and closed the door.

***

There are both rare and more common types of medicines that one could never see in their lifetime in Jianghu.

Those who take truly rare medicines are a very small number.

Heirs of great families, successors of sects, patriarchs in their prime, or martial artists who obtain rare medicines due to an extraordinary opportunity—these are the few who consume them.

In contrast, most martial artists in Jianghu end up taking common medicinal pills throughout their lives and die.

The common pills are essentially high-grade medicinal ingredients created by physicians. This is why those called “Divine Healers” in Jianghu are sometimes just people who make good common medicines.

I knew one such person.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

He was a problematic individual with a tragic end, and he, along with the Left Guardian, was someone I had to find first.

I didn’t want him to face another tragic death. In any case, he was also entangled with the Grand Master, but now wasn’t the time. What was certain was that the faster I killed the Grand Master, the less likely this man would live a miserable life. Of course, in my past life, I was still in Ilyang County, so there was plenty of time.

I opened small drawers one by one and checked the common medicinal pills.

There were various types of common pills.

Pills for internal injuries, detoxification pills, and Golden Fragrance Pills mixed together—one couldn’t just take them recklessly. Common pills can be broadly categorized like this, but if you break it down further, there are many more types. One of the most notable types is the Golden Beast Elixir.

“Golden Beast” refers to both birds and beasts.

It’s the kind of medicine used for pigeons that deliver letters, or for horses to permanently enhance endurance or explosive strength. The Black Rabbit Pavilion seemed to have handled pigeons in the past, as I found some of these medicines there.

The reason the Jianghu Alliance is powerful is that they mass-produce these common medicinal pills. With strong financial backing, they breed horses that consume these pills and secretly operate a cavalry made up of martial artists.

The Demon Sect is even worse.

They don’t see people as people and conducted various experiments with beasts. All of these experiments were carried out to oppose the elite cavalry of the Jianghu Alliance, and as a result, many innocent beasts were sacrificed.

While searching through the drawers, I finally found three pills of the common Heartfire Pills.

The reason these were left was simple.

Heartfire Pills, despite being considered common, cause fever and aftereffects that feel like you’re suffering from a cold after taking even just one. I knew about these pills well, having dealt with internal energy and psychological distortion during my martial training.

The time to take these pills is when your internal energy is solid and strong.

Surprisingly, my current condition was perfect for it. I listened carefully to the surroundings and then chewed and swallowed all three Heartfire Pills at once.

A moment later, warmth filled my entire body.

With a flushed face, I crossed my legs to begin practicing the Golden Glorious Solitary Arts. Since I had already reached the realm of flame control, the heat from the Heartfire Pills was gradually subdued.

In that moment, with my eyes closed, I was briefly taken by a strange imagination.

Before I could even begin the heart technique, the process of the heat consuming itself was vividly drawn in my mind by my bizarre imagination.

It was a scene where the masters trapped inside {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} the Heavenly Pearl rushed forward, each of them charging like beasts to devour the heat of the Heartfire Pills for themselves.

I felt a slight chill in my stomach.

‘Ah, that startled me...’

Before beginning the internal cultivation, I felt the energy of the Heavenly Pearl subtly grow stronger. The energy of the Heartfire Pills was absorbed into the Heavenly Pearl, merging seamlessly in an instant.

The sensation was truly odd, so I stretched out my hand and drew up the essence of the Golden Glorious Solitary Arts into my palm.

I gathered the energy of the Spirit Realm in my hand, then transferred it into the energy of the Flame Realm. As the Flame Realm energy condensed in my palm, my palm gradually turned a bright red.

‘Something’s strange today.’

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.

The Heavenly Pearl was likely a vessel that absorbed and accumulated the energy, vitality, and essence of living warriors.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind—was there an uncanny ability now residing within me, or within the Heavenly Pearl I absorbed, that allowed me to absorb the energy or internal energy of others?

I mumbled to myself with a blank expression.

“Could it be...?”

I only wanted to live as a madman.

I had no desire to become a monster beyond the madman like the Cult Leader. Closing my eyes for a moment, I took a deep breath and calmed my mind, like a wooden chicken.

In the meantime, I silently hoped nothing too strange was happening to my body.

There were still far too many monkeys I wanted to kill.

Even so, with a sense of uncertainty...

If such a power had awakened within me, I couldn’t help but think I’d want to give it a name.

Absorption Arts, Absorption Technique, Absorption Spirit Arts, Heavenly Pearl Absorption Arts.

Heavenly Pearl Absorption Divine Arts, Heavenly Pearl Absorption Demon Arts, Crazy Demon Heavenly Pearl Absorption Spirit Arts.

‘Absorp— forget it.’

It’s always the hardest part, naming things.

I knew the word ‘absorb’ should be in it, but none of the names felt right. I would think about it later. After all, I wasn’t even sure if I had truly developed such an ability yet.

I continued my process of drawing up the energy of the Flame Realm in my palm, repeatedly testing this ability without doing any breathing exercises in the personal cultivation room. After realizing no progress was being made, I decided to sit cross-legged and meditate quietly.

I mixed the words of the Left Guardian with my own speculations.

I added some inferences and imagination about the true nature of the Heavenly Pearl.

And I quietly observed my body’s condition.

Then I began to think from the Cult Leader’s perspective.

What actions did the Cult Leader take right after acquiring the Heavenly Pearl? It must have been a matter of whether the Cult Leader could become the greatest in the world. The Demon Sect would have gone into full defensive mode like never before. The Dharma Protectors would have stood vigil, waiting with bated breath, tense and cautious.

Did he just practice breathing exercises...?

I doubted it. The Cult Leader would likely have simultaneously performed a great ritual to become a Demon God. The Demon Path’s techniques differed vastly from those of standard sects.

My free imagination reconstructed the image of the Cult Leader. He probably performed the ritual while taking the Heavenly Pearl, and if successful, he would have become an unstoppable, otherworldly monster.

That was why I had been granted this absurd opportunity of regression.

After finishing my meditation, I briefly crossed my arms and, with a strategy in mind, reached toward the small drawer where the medicinal pills were stored, using the auxiliary technique of “Absorption” to draw them toward me.

I waited for a long time.

Nothing happened.

Even though nothing occurred, I remained there, like a fool, extending my hand while adjusting my strategy, flexing my thoughts to try different ideas and refine my understanding.

Creating new martial arts that didn’t exist in the world was the domain of madmen.

It was crucial not to follow the thoughts of others, for that’s when something truly new emerges.

Even though my martial arts level and internal energy were not yet sufficient to achieve the Void Absorption Technique, I held out my hand like a steadfast stone, rechecking the world of martial arts that I had spent my life building.

And then, in an instant, I discarded the entire theory of the martial arts I had accumulated.

In the realm of blankness, I used the brush of my mind to organize the power of the Heavenly Pearl and the subtle art of Absorption, inscribing it into my mental teachings. I then called upon the fundamental power of the Heavenly Pearl and re-dyed the center of my palm a deep red.

With a sharp sound, a small drawer containing the medicinal pills shot through the air, crashing into my palm.

Thud!

I quickly grabbed the drawer, calming my racing heart as I exhaled.

“Phew…”

The realization struck me like a whirlwind in an instant. Along with it, I immediately decided on the name for this power.

Heavenly Pearl Absorption Great Art.

However, since the Heavenly Pearl was my own secret that no one could know, I decided to omit those two characters in any public usage.

On the historic first night of my tenure as Pavilion Master, I focused solely on martial arts.