Life doesn't wait for anyone and time keeps on elapsing. Jin kept cultivating and learning more visual techniques. After every dozen he mastered, he was given another dozen so that such techniques were the only 'moves' he knew when it came to spiritual energy.

He was 19 years old and some now.

He had reached the 8th stage of spiritual accumulation after building core sphere after core sphere. Building a new bigger one over the previous one constantly before filling them up and having them solidify. His soul sea expanded along with the size of the core and it seemed as if space remained the same. The only difference being the size of the pellets when consumed. Before they were far bigger than the core. It was the opposite now.

He finalized his 250th visual technique today. That's right. 250th. That's the grand total of visual techniques Jin mastered since he began. It had been quite a long time and an arduous task, though it became easier and easier as he kept working on the same body parts. He knew his eyes more than anything else.

And the 250th technique marked the end of the task. Hae-Hyuk told him once he gave him this last jade slip. 250 was the end. He could now learn the hidden technique.

Right now, they were travelling from one sect to another, as usual. They were camping in a forest clearing. Jin went to see his Master and reported. Hae-Hyuk was very pleased about it. Jin had mixed feelings though. He was a young adult right now and only at the 8th stage of spiritual accumulation. He was far from being considered a genius. Hell, he might even be under-average or just average... To join the inner sect of Twenty-Two Suns, one had to have at least gone beyond the 10th stage... Back then, Han-Bi and Sang-Min, who had been the weakest of their generation, were already further than that.

Yet here he was still at the 8th stage. As for the reason why? Isn't it obvious? He focused on the four principles and the 250 visual techniques under the orders of his Master. Why was it so? To learn the secret technique. As for whether it was worth it or not...He would soon find out.

"I'm glad, Jin, congratulations. You did very well. I can now impart onto you my hidden technique"

After saying so, he asked Jin to lay down on the ground while he sat close to him. Enough that both his hands were on Jin. One on his dantian and the other on his heart. Min-Su was sitting on the side, watching closely. He had the same cultivation but only mastered 234 visual techniques. He was a few months away from it. But it would be a good learning experience.

Hae-Hyuk began to explain the process to Jin: "First, I will use one hand to hold you in place so don't be afraid of it, it is a requirement. Secondly, I will use my other hand, on your dantian, to infuse spiritual energy onto your circuitry so that you can keep using it without shortage. So far, so good?"

"Yeah"

"Alright. Now, what you will do is simple. Activate and maintain all 250 visual techniques you have mastered at once"

That was very far from simple. One technique was easy. Two was easy too. Three wasn't too difficult...Even a dozen or so was doable. But 250? That was madness. Putting aside the fact that one would need to focus hard enough to direct the energy, activate and maintain the techniques...It would come with dire effects. Mixing techniques similar yet different could result in very dangerous situations. Jin wasn't quite sure about this anymore.

"This doesn't seem feasible, Master"

"It is. I did it back in the days. You only need to focus on the techniques and forget the pain"

"...The pain?"

"You are going to send enough spiritual energy to maintain 250 spiritual techniques at once. In a very small area of your body called the eyes. It will hurt. Feel free to close your eyes. You don't need to use the techniques, just maintain them active"

"Wait. Wait a minute. Won't I be bursting my eyeballs then?!"

"Not if you don't make mistakes. So make sure to concentrate"

"...Can't you give me some painkiller pills, Master?"

"This is a spiritual-induced pain, average painkillers wouldn't work and I am not that generous and wealthy that I would waste a grade 3 painkilling pill for this. Now, get on with it"

Jin had followed Hae-Hyuk for a few years now. He trusted the man. He was a con artist by profession but he never once lied throughout those years and had always been right. At least, he never made mistakes in front of Jin. Which prompted Jin to trust the man fully. And this time would not be any different. What was a little suffering if it brought great benefits? It was not worth talking about it.

So, Jin began. He activated the first technique as he felt Hae-Hyuk fueling his spiritual well. Slowly but surely, he kept on activating them one after another. The pain was felt starting from the 37th technique. And it grew more violent as he kept pushing further. Every time he was on the verge of passing out due to the sheer pain, Hae-Hyuk kept him conscious using some complex spiritual technique targeting the mind.

He was forced to endure for close to an hour. It was only as he activated the 250th technique that the pain grew to a new high before disappearing altogether. Every ounce of energy was no longer felt. Min-Su was soaking in sweat. The horrifying show he witnessed scared him shitless. He witnessed his fellow disciple scream in pain for an entire hour.

Yet, on the other side, Hae-Hyuk was grinning brightly while repeatedly nodding his head. To think the kid would succeed on the first try, this was a great achievement. When it had been him, he tried fifteen times before succeeding... Now, it was time to check the results!