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**Rebirth Sword God Volume 80, Chapter 19**

In the moment of life and death, the spirits of the Four Great Spirit Deities suddenly came to my aid!

Why were those who hadn’t moved an inch for hundreds of years suddenly stepping in?

In this unexpected situation, I was confused and spoke in my inner world.

“Why are you helping me all of a sudden?”

Then Agni retorted with a slightly menacing tone.

[Are you unhappy even when we’re helping?]

“It’s not that… it’s just so out of the blue…”

At the same time, Varuna’s voice echoed in my ear.

[The spirits have been sufficiently compensated. We are merely repaying that compensation with results.]

“Compensation…? What kind of compensation?”

[I cannot disclose any details due to the agreement with the one who provided the compensation.]

‘…’

[If you wish to find out, you will have to figure it out yourself in the future.]

It seemed I wouldn’t be able to uncover the reasons for their aid right now. I quickly adjusted my perception of reality and said,

“Alright then, if you’re going to help, help me all the way!”

Since I was already in this situation, I would make sure to pass the training of the Sun and Moon Spirit in one go! That was probably the intention of those who were helping me!

Ku-gugugu!!

[You can’t just rely on talk…]

[Hehe.]

At that moment, the rings of Agni and Varuna began to shine even brighter, gradually pushing back the power of the Sun and Moon Spirit. The Four Great Deities were seriously exerting their power now. I realized I barely felt the mental degradation caused by the Sun and Moon Spirit anymore and confidently seized hold of it.

Chijijijik!!

*Gah!!*

However, as I attempted to exert control over the Sun and Moon Spirit again, I felt the searing pain once more from the hand gripping the Spirit of the Sun, while the Spirit of the Moon enveloped me in a freezing cold sensation that took my breath away. Realizing this was the extent of Agni and Varuna’s help, my mind became alert.

“I-I absolutely cannot break through with just my own internal power and intention…”

How could the power of the Spirit of the Sun and the Spirit of the Moon be this strong?

It felt like I was reaching out to the center of a star.

This was undoubtedly a barrier I couldn’t surpass with mere repetitive training!

Just then, Varuna, who was helping me control my energy, spoke softly.

[Reborn one, the vessel of the sun and the vessel of the moon are fundamentally different from the ordinary primordial vessels you’ve dealt with. Do you realize that the challenge you are facing is far more reckless than hitting an egg against a rock?]

“I knew it would be tough… but do you know something specifically about the Sun and Moon Spirit?”

Varuna was one of the four great spirits governing ‘water’ in the universe. I didn’t know if he had different knowledge about the Sun and Moon Spirit than humans did. When I asked, hopeful, Varuna responded.

[This cosmos is inherently filled with a tangible darkness. The giant of order opened the beginning, yet the essence did not transform from chaos to order. Thus, as light squirmed within the darkness, the interplay of circles of harmony continued for eons, gradually dividing light and darkness like oil and water.]

“…….”

[The realm of primordial elements is an additional phenomenon that arises as boundaries are separated… however, reaching directly into the axis of the interplay between the harmony and confrontation of light and darkness signifies venturing into a vast area even we could not anticipate… therefore, to exert your will upon all phenomena and influence the order of the universe means…]

Oh, that’s complicated…

I felt a headache creeping back, but I tried to respond in the way I understood.

“So… you mean the Sun and Moon Spirit is an incredibly powerful force, different from the other evil spirits?”

This time Agni answered my question.

[It’s not just about the strength of power; the Sun and Moon Spirit is the force that aims to break the boundaries of the universe… Unlike the existing vessels that receive our blessings, it’s normal for it to receive no assistance.]

“Ugh… so the pain I’m feeling now is…?”

[Is the pain a problem? Originally, you must accept the explosive result of extending into a realm you cannot handle. The fact that you can endure this much is because we are shouldering the power of the moon on your behalf.]

‘…….’

[Reborn one, are you daring to challenge the law of the universe?]

I was momentarily speechless at Agni’s question.

“Hell no!! Why should I have to have that determination!!”

I had naively thought of the Sun and Moon Spirit training as a frustrating challenge, never considering the laws or order of the universe!

Just as I stood there blankly, feeling the broadening of the worldview, Varuna spoke.

[If you lack determination, stepping back from here is also an option. If you continue to challenge and fail… our power will be permanently diminished.]

“Excuse me? Diminished?”

[Correct. What’s assisting you here is not the simple ability of blessings, but we are drawing upon the power of our true form through an agreement. If we exert our true power and you fail, our strength will be absorbed by the scales of the Sun and Moon.]

‘……’

[The power of the Four Great Spirits you can use in your future reincarnations will diminish.]

This was such a harsh training.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but ponder intensely.

“Dying once should be manageable excluding the pain… but if the power of the Four Great Spirits decreases permanently… this, this is too painful.”

The Four Great Spirits are indispensable when facing the highest divine status that I cannot contend with on my own. It would be impossible to measure the extent of the losses if their power weakened. If my advisors were here, they would have surely stopped me from this madness.

But…

I gritted my teeth and shouted.

“Let’s do this!!”

[Are you serious?]

“Are you kidding? I’m going all the way!”

[Hehe… a madman.]

Ku-wahaa!!

Once again, the rings of Agni and Varuna began to shine brightly. As the pulse of the Sun and Moon Spirit gradually intensified, it became nearly impossible to endure, marking this as likely my last attempt to control it.

I knew I was making a reckless challenge, but intuitively, I sensed something.

‘This is… this is… a risky bridge that must be crossed!’

The mysterious being that had spoken to me earlier had paid the price to the spirits of the Four Great Deities on my behalf—this was a golden opportunity I could not miss! I had a strong intuition that they wouldn’t offer up a price again next time. So, while it wasn’t entirely in my will to challenge, this opportunity was undoubtedly one I would encounter only once in a lifetime.

If I kept chasing mere safety, I would be stuck in place like a hamster on a wheel. I had felt the stagnant boredom and despair continuously, and I wasn’t afraid of failing in my challenge. I thought even if it took thousands of reincarnations, I would reclaim the power of the Four Great Deities.

“Ahhhhh……!!”

Chijijijik!!

I shouted at the top of my lungs and, syncing with the pulse of the Sun and Moon Spirit, began to push the rings of Agni and Varuna towards the Spirit of the Sun and the Spirit of the Moon. The key was whether I could manifest the Peerless Technique during the brief moment when the powers of the two spirits were momentarily suppressed, tempering their properties and gaining control. The chances of success were exceedingly low, but I resolved to be bold until the very end.

I didn’t want to stop here.

I would advance even further!

Pachik!!

At the moment the rings of the two spirits collided with the different powers of the Sun and Moon Spirit, a cracking sound erupted. As the ceaseless waves of the Spirit of the Sun and the Spirit of the Moon momentarily halted, I quickly unleashed the Peerless Technique to control both energies using the Wuwei Transformation.

Stop

But just then, I remembered the words from that strange being that had appeared before me earlier.

[You are one-armed, how can you grasp two at once?]

[You must abandon the concept of proficiency. If your hand is one, you can only grasp one.]

Suddenly, those words struck me.

No matter how much I thought about it, that remark seemed to provide a clue to my current situation.

‘A one-armed person cannot grasp two with one hand…?’

However, this training was less about using my bodily form and more about creating a mental hand within my mental world to grasp the virtual vessel of the Sun and Moon Spirit. My physical body barely moved, sitting cross-legged and still. Thus, in this imaginary mental space, it didn’t matter if my arm had been cursed—it didn’t change much at all.

Why had that being made me aware of my one-armed status?

‘Could it be that…?’

In that moment, I felt a chill run down my spine. Without realizing it, I glanced at the cursed arm, which looked normal on the surface.

Tsutsutsutsu—

I quickly focused my intention, looking deeper. In the very next moment, I realized that arm was tainted with thick darkness and curses.

Krooo!!

‘……!!’

How is this possible?!

Could it be that even in the world of my mind, my arm had been contaminated by curses?! No matter how powerful the curse was, it had affected my mind as well! Moreover, it had been intentionally obscured, hiding the wicked energy from my senses to appear normal—it left me utterly aghast.

Thud!

And from the cursed arm, I could feel the “heart” of ‘someone’ leaking out. It was a dreary curse itself.

[… Fail… do it…]

[Not knowing who you are… was a mistake…]

[Even I cannot corrupt your heart… but I will hinder every step you take!!]

Upon realizing the identity of that heart, I bit my lip tightly.

“……!!”

Hong Gyun Do-in!!

This was undoubtedly the heart of Hong Gyun Do-in, who had died after being robbed of his mask!

He had infused his being into the curse itself and faded away!

‘Damn it… I couldn’t restore my arm when upgrading to level three in the merchant rank because it all reset to zero… but now I’m caught in something like this!’

If I had known the existing Dae Myo would all be erased upon leveling up to the high rank, I wouldn’t have spent them this way, but since I didn’t know, it couldn’t be helped. I had thought that someday I would die and gather treasures again, so I hadn’t considered it deeply. But who would have thought I would face such a situation in the Sun and Moon Spirit?!

However, there was no use regretting it. I decided to be grateful that the unidentified being had made me aware of my one-armed condition.

‘The cursed arm houses the heart of Hong Gyun Do-in, making it essentially absent in this mental world! Then… I can’t control both the Spirit of the Sun and the Spirit of the Moon at once. I must control them one by one.’

The problem was that if I didn’t control the Sun and Moon Spirits simultaneously, I would be crushed by the surging strength from one side. I had no clue what to do but suddenly the memories of the past surfaced.

‘That’s right…’

The memory of a comrade who never gave up despite facing even greater adversity.

In the memories of my comrades from the Great Bear Empire revealed to me by Cheon Woo-jin, I could find a lead.

I focused my mind intensely and conjured a singular thought in my mind.

Tai Chi.

In the form of yin and yang, the universe’s principles were made understandable by humans.

Humans had utilized the power of the Tai Chi in myriad ways, among which was the Peerless Technique of Jang Sam-bong the True Man. It was logical that the Peerless Technique combined with the Wuwei Transformation would be effective in controlling the Sun and Moon Spirit. However, since I couldn’t use both hands due to my one-arm situation, I couldn’t control the Spirit of the Sun simply with regular Peerless Techniques and had to find another way.

‘That doesn’t mean I should find another martial art for a method. The answer remains in Tai Chi.’

This fact, acknowledged as I was one of the few who had mastered the Peerless Technique after Jang Sam-bong, stemmed from having seen similar situations in the past among my comrades from the Great Bear Empire.

In the desperate battle against the Fighting Spirit—

There was a being who had lost both arms yet never lost courage.

[If I can practice the Correct Heaven in this life.]

He wasn’t a comrade with whom I shared a great bond, but he was a true hero willing to die for righteousness.

[I, Wei Zhi-hun, shall die without shame in this world!]

Absolute Realm

Tai Chi Sword

Yigyeon Wuwei to the end

That was the answer.

I was not able to acquire the Tai Chi Sword, the Absolute Realm of Wei Zhi-hun, but I understood how he had handled the sword in the midst of battle against the Fighting Spirit Arjuna. He formed a heart blade with a determination that ignored the fact that he had lost both arms and, at the same time, he made his absolute realm into the Intent Heavenly Pillar.

‘That’s an idea I wouldn’t have thought of…’

The important thing was creating a balance of yin and yang through the heart blade!

That balance of yin and yang wasn’t merely achieved by expressing the energy within my body in terms of yin and yang—underlying it must be an extraordinary mental strength that could interpret everything within this world as yin and yang!

Could I truly reach the realm of Yigyeon Tai Chi like Wei Zhi-hun?

‘This isn’t the time to be questioning! I must do it, no matter what!’

I decided simply to think that I was completely armless. I focused all my thoughts on the one Tai Chi, letting go of any fixation on my body, and seized both the Spirit of the Sun and the Spirit of the Moon with my mental power.

Chijijijik

It felt like I was placing my hand on a hot grill and experiencing alternating torturous pain and icy cold agony all at once. Even though that pain was brief, I felt my consciousness blurring and blood pouring from my nose. It was a malicious pain that one could barely endure even through torture, so instead of screaming, I bit down hard, realizing moments later that my teeth had cracked.

Crack!

‘Ah… it hurts…’

But I had to endure. I needed to ignore all signals of pain from my body and transform everything through Wuwei Transformation to interpret it as yin and yang in Tai Chi. As I focused on the Tai Chi, triggering Wuwei Transformation, I could truly feel the tremendous willpower of Wei Zhi-hun. How could he have endured this pain?

But I would keep going.

It wasn’t just because of the hopes of my comrades on my shoulders.

It wasn’t simply because I needed to save this world.

Those weren’t the greatest motivations I could have.

“I am…”

I shouted with bloodshot eyes wide open.

“I will destroy this world!!!”

If I aimed to obliterate this world, I had to possess enough willpower to erase everything in it!

I wanted to see everything in this world being overturned and destroyed by those arrogant deities at least once…!!

Gu-wung…

At that moment, as my willpower peaked, I felt the Tai Chi begin to rotate. Just like how Wei Zhi-hun had once done, the rotating Tai Chi engulfed the Spirit of the Moon among the Sun and Moon Spirits and I felt the swallowed Spirit of the Moon being absorbed toward my one good arm.

“The cursed arm?”

In that instant, the waves surged.

In the arm that had continuously exuded curses until now, a faint echo of Hong Gyun Do-in’s heart began to be consumed by the power of the Spirit of the Moon. As the cursed essence faded, the pulsing wave sounded as if it were the final breath of Hong Gyun Do-in.

At the moment the power of the Spirit of the Moon reached its peak, I felt as if my whole body was being absorbed into Tai Chi, knowing I was melting into the yin of Tai Chi. The sensation of my mental being melting away was so overwhelming, it felt like I was being reduced to a melted candle.

‘Hoooh.’

The balance of yin and yang was completely off.

At this rate, I would surely vanish!

As my consciousness wavered, I realized the Thunder Spirit of the Nine Chambers of Thunder widely illuminated deep within me. At the same time, the powerful energy infused with the thunder of Jupiter crackled momentarily, preventing my body from being completely submerged by the Spirit of the Moon, and in that fleeting moment, I quickly reevaluated.

“I successfully grasped one… now I must absorb the remaining Spirit of the Sun… but with my remaining strength, it’s impossible to absorb the Spirit of the Sun…!”

I had exhausted every ounce of effort to suppress the Spirit of the Moon, leaving me with no strength to absorb the Spirit of the Sun. It was like hitting an egg against a rock. However, if I gave up now, it would be the end, so I kept pondering until unexpectedly a thought sprang to mind.

‘Yin and yang… yin and yang can also be interpreted as the soul and spirit… what if…?’

Could it work?

No one had likely attempted something like this…

‘Hell, I’m unsure!’

In that moment, I found myself making a leap of faith.

Soul Exchange Technique!!

[Draw the spirit from the sun and use the moon as a pivot to attract it!!]

Shuwaaaa!!

“It worked!!”

I felt the Spirit of the Sun pulled towards the Spirit of the Moon, allowing my half-submerged self to recover and regain consciousness. This was because when the Spirit of the Sun suddenly made contact with the Spirit of the Moon, the power of the Spirit of the Moon began canceling out the Spirit of the Sun, gradually restoring balance to the yin and yang! I was left in disbelief as I stabilized the balance.

‘I… I can’t believe… the Soul Exchange Technique could be used in this way?’

The Soul Exchange Technique, like the Intent Heavenly Pillar, meant that if I could interpret everything in terms of soul and spirit, it was a grand technique applicable everywhere!

Relief washed over me.

The pressure from my blood vessels lifted.

The Sun and Moon Spirit began to stabilize!

As I gradually returned to my practice breathing, Agni and Varuna’s voices rang in my ears.

[You actually made it.]

[When we first decided to assist a human, we never anticipated this would happen… ]

Soon, Agni spoke in genuine admiration.

[As long as the Sun and Moon Spirit is maintained… until then, you will be able to wield the new power of the Thunderous Before the Dawn.]

When the voices of the two spirits faded away, I realized the world around me had fallen completely silent.

It was like a deathly stillness.

No… time and space seemed completely under my control as if I possessed omniscience.

In that unprecedented sensation, I wondered if this was what the divine sense felt like, a sensation which only gods possessed. Yet, it still felt different; it wasn’t quite like the feeling I had when I sensed the gaze of the Three Sovereigns before.

What kind of realm had I just stepped into?

Chilinding—

I saw a minuscule line right before my eyes. It shimmered, emanating colors like a rainbow. It seemed to sway, inviting me, and I was entranced—I placed my hand on that shimmering line filled with the energy of the Sun and Moon Spirit.

Swash…

The space before me tore apart like wet paper. Beyond the torn space loomed an ever-bright multicolored realm, and I knew that even without conscious effort, I could control time and space as I wished. The moment I took a bold step inward, I sensed a new space.

Thud…

As I stepped into this new space, I found myself in an oddly desolate place.

A barren, ash-gray canyon.

The fog was thick, obstructing sight.

Afloat were ripped pages and books, and within this shadowy canyon, I discovered a familiar face.

The owner of that face, seemingly deep in thought before a massive door, turned to me as if sensing my presence.

“Hmm?”

I stared at him blankly.

After a brief moment, he looked back at me with a shocked expression of disbelief.

“I thought you would be in the Training World. How did you end up here, at the edge of this [dream], Baek Woong?”

Nailatop.