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“Just as Yeodong-bin prepared to summon his powers, Lee Cheong-un struck with the Thunder Spirit!”

In an instant, Lee Cheong-un’s index finger aimed for Yeodong-bin’s neck, akin to that sparring match we had. It might have seemed like a simple thrust, but somberly, I knew it packed a devastating punch that few could counter, not even a Dharma Guardian.

But here’s the twist—Yeodong-bin was no ordinary man.

Heavenly Escape Sword Technique!

Moon-Style Defense Technique!

With his senses honed to perfection, Yeodong-bin detected movements in the blink of an eye, not giving even a moment’s leeway. Just like during that epic showdown against the Master of the White Lotus Sect, he deflected all those dazzling energy surges, his Moon-Style forming a barrier that repelled Lee Cheong-un’s strike effortlessly.

Clang!

The collision between his sword and finger resonated like metal clashing, thanks to Lee Cheong-un condensing his Thunder Spirit power into that finger.

“Hmph.”

Undeterred by his failed thrust, Lee Cheong-un wielded a spear, shifting into an offensive stance.

Thunder God Martial Art!

Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear!

Sparks erupted as Lee Cheong-un unleashed an attack, blue lightning crackling as the atmosphere warped, giving rise to countless whirlwinds.

“……?!”

What on Earth was that?!

A deluge of lightning bolts poured forth—so many martial arts combined that it was impossible to keep track. I sensed the core of it emanating from the Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear’s iconic slashes, but then, it twisted into complex variations that spiraled chaotically, leaving me utterly confounded. Meanwhile, Yeodong-bin remained focused, calmly practicing his sword techniques.

Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram!

Ocean Resolution!

His sword movements flowed like waves, graceful and fluid. Although Lee Cheong-un’s initial lightning spear spun with terrifying force towards him, enveloped by the waves of Yeodong-bin’s techniques, it quickly lost its power. The storm of lightning bursts expanded around me, erupting with a barrage of attacks.

Ping! Ping! Ping!

From the depths of the sea surged the mighty Thunder Dragon!

This was the essence of their duel. Lee Cheong-un had vanished from sight, while Yeodong-bin seemed to be effortlessly dismantling an infinite array of attacks with his unparalleled swordsmanship. In the span of a moment, hundreds of strikes emerged and retreated, showcasing their expertise in martial arts.

Suddenly, the blue lightning reverted back to Lee Cheong-un, who launched a powerful strike toward Yeodong-bin.

Bang!

It looked like a sneak attack, but Yeodong-bin, attuned to the situation via the Moon-Style, aimed to decapitate Lee Cheong-un as he readied a counter of his own.

Crash!

Every blow exchanged resonated like thunderclaps, as Lee Cheong-un effortlessly wielded the eight techniques of spear arts while weaving in advanced techniques that astonished me. It was a terrifying choreography of martial prowess that left me in awe.

“Thud!”

After about three hundred seconds passed, Lee Cheong-un withdrew, returning to human form, brushing off his hands with a wry smile.

“You’ve let me off easy. Indeed, you’re impressive.”

Let off easy? I felt none of that from our clash. But Yeodong-bin, with the calmness of a sage, replied,

[ I only needed to focus on striking against dark forces. Your Thunder Spirit isn’t a vile technique; thus, there’s no need for bloodlust against you. ]

“I also have my own techniques, but I doubt they’d be effective against you; that ‘sight’ of yours is truly remarkable.”

[ …… ]

Lee Cheong-un muttered, pondering something. Then with a peculiar expression, he asked, “Yet, can that sword technique truly create something from nothing?”

What a strange question!

The onlookers had baffled expressions, while only Yeodong-bin seemed to grasp the question, momentarily sinking into thought before responding.

[ That is merely a perspective skewed by human martial arts. My sword of nothingness defies such simplistic terms. ]

“Ah, I see. Where there’s nothing, something is born; where there’s something, it lives… Truly, the way of the Immortal’s sword.”

[ If you understand, then pursue the unarmed mastery. ]

“Haha! Don’t tease me. The sword arts I study differ significantly from yours.”

Chuckling, Lee Cheong-un remarked, “Yeodong-bin, you surely know that Baek Woong’s martial potential has merely a decade left.”

[ Of course. ]

“The way to strengthen your Heavenly Escape Sword is singular… Can you assist with that?”

[ It is possible. ]

As Yeodong-bin affirmed, he added a note of caution.

[ However! It is but a temporary solution. If you do not offer your lifespan, you must pay a price corresponding to the effort. ]

“Understood. I’ll discuss this with Baek Woong.”

[ It was a fun duel. ]

With a whoosh, Yeodong-bin released his binding technique. I collapsed to my knees in the training ground, exhausted after that battle.

“Huff, huff…”

After just three hundred seconds of fighting, I felt as though I had run all night. Engaging in a contest of absolute realms expended every ounce of my energy. As I knelt, Lee Cheong-un approached.

“Baek Woong, do you understand what I just said?”

I wiped the sweat from my chin and nodded.

“Yes, the Supreme Master Jang Sam-bong taught me.”

I recalled him saying during my past life when he instructed me in martial arts.

[ With Yeodong-bin’s Immortal Sword forcefully stamped upon your vessel, it will soon overflow. The Seven Great Techniques and even the Offshoots of the Eight Potential Strategies were all honed by geniuses. Achieving mastery in them all is impossible. ]

[ The fundamental solution is to enhance the Heavenly Escape Sword embedded within your spirit. However, that is something only Yeodong-bin can accomplish. My role is merely to slightly expand your vessel while postponing its limits… ]

[ Protector, I will bless you to suspend training for about ten years. I will teach you the Seven Great Techniques to the best of my abilities, but I hope you will then control your own training. Otherwise, your vessel will crack, letting madness intrude into your mind. If you wish to avoid true self-destruction, heed my advice. ]

That was it. I had received the Seven Great Techniques and then the Eight Immortals Divine Art, but my vessel was too frail to digest it. Soon, even the Immortal Sword’s foundational disturbances would reach their limits, and I had to strengthen the sword. Only Yeodong-bin could do that.

Thankfully, he confirmed he could enhance the sword. Now, I merely had to persuade him. Lee Cheong-un rubbed his chin as if contemplating.

“I think it would be better to offer up the treasures you possess to Yeodong-bin as a sacrifice. Even if you’re merely a fleeting existence, carelessly offering your lifespan isn’t wise.”

“That makes sense.”

“And one more thing… it seems your vessel still has more capacity than you think.”

“What?”

“From what I gather, you struggled to comprehend my techniques and precision during that recent duel.”

I begrudgingly nodded.

“True.”

“Although you’ve faced various powerhouse-strengthened adversaries, your experiential capacity hasn’t caught up. But not recognizing my Thunder God lineage techniques—that clearly indicates your spirit isn’t keeping up with the fundamentals, leading to poor control on Yeodong-bin’s part.”

“……”

That’s right. While attempting to focus during the binding technique, I ended up becoming a hindrance for Yeodong-bin. Lee Cheong-un seemed to have sensed my struggle with his keen awareness.

“You need to train the Thunder God techniques for a longer duration. A solid foundation is essential for advancement.”

“Hmm… I lack training.”

I understood the implication. Jang Sam-bong mentioned my capacity maxed out at ten years, but my poor grasp of the Thunder God lineage would extend that timeline. Looking at it favorably, it was just an indirect jab at my inadequate training, making my cheeks flush.

Lee Cheong-un chuckled softly.

“Don’t be too disappointed. The expectations set by absolute realms and the standards of Thunder God lineage are simply too high; you’re already an impressive expert. Besides, you hardly dedicated yourself to martial arts during your prior life.”

“What should I do from here?”

“You must first consult the Zhuge Clan. You’ll need to decide how much of an offering to make to Yeodong-bin.”

We approached the Zhuge Clan to explain the situation. After a moment of thought, they replied.

“Lee Cheong-un. I’m not a martial artist, so I wouldn’t know, but how many obstructions remains for Baek Woong to ascend to the Absolute Realm?”

“Although Baek Woong has nearly reached peak expertise, there are still at least five barriers to the Absolute Realm that he must overcome. This world of martial arts is vast and profound. Considering Baek Woong still gains certain benefits from his profound internal energy, he still has a long way to go.”

“What’s so complicated about that?”

The Zhuge Clan grumbled and said, “Then it’s unavoidable. You’ll have to conduct a proper offering ceremony with dignity rather than casually presenting your offerings in a casual manner. That would be more effective…”

“Understood.”

With that, I arrived at Master Mangnyang’s village, packed with treasures. I met Cheon Woo-jin and informed him I was there for the offering ceremony. Cheon Woo-jin, looking slightly weary, frowned at the idea.

“Must we really do it here? Connecting with Yeodong-bin makes it possible to do it directly…”

“Performing the ritual in the celestial domain guarantees Yeodong-bin gains a greater share.”

“Sigh… follow me.”

As expected, his words echoed Master Mangnyang’s sentiments. It seemed he had something to say but chose to proceed without discussing terms.

I prepared the ritual for the offering and called out to Yeodong-bin from the start.

“Come forth, Yeodong-bin!”

Pop!

Yeodong-bin appeared atop the altar.

[ Quite a hassle… ]

“Just remember to take good care of things later.”

[ You’re rather superficial. ]

Who’s the shallow one here!

I grit my teeth inwardly, but I presented the offerings to him.

I felt like I was throwing everything in except what was utterly necessary. Especially the gold and silver bars—those treasures snatched from pirates were hard to part with due to their potential for expanding my wealth. Nevertheless, I maintained a neutral expression as I watched Yeodong-bin gaze down thoughtfully.

[ It’s sufficient. ]

“Oh, then the strengthening of the Immortal Sword…”

[ But why is this item here? ]

With a whoosh, Yeodong-bin summoned a mysterious power, placing the Silver Phoenix Fragment upon his spirit palm. He looked oddly displeased while eyeing the fragment. I furrowed my brow in confusion and asked,

“Huh? Not sure why, but it seems like it’s a treasure you might appreciate…”

[ Hmmm. ]

“……”

Growing curious, I probed, “What’s the deal with that?”

[ This… ]

Yeodong-bin hesitated before responding,

[ It’s a treasure of the Balhae royal family. I have a grudge against it, so I refuse to accept it. ]

His blatant rejection told me he genuinely found the Silver Phoenix Fragment distasteful.

“A grudge, you say?”

[ No reason to elaborate. ]

It seemed like there was more to this grudge than meets the eye. I hurriedly retrieved the Silver Phoenix Fragment from the altar, and only then did Yeodong-bin accept the offerings, glowing brightly.

[ I will reinforce your Immortal Sword to stabilize your vessel. ]

Wooosh!

I felt a notable clarity in my mind compared to before. At the same time, I sensed an almost pearly blade flickering within, quietly subsiding in the shadows of my heart but emanating an extraordinary aura.

‘Is this the Immortal Sword?’

Once I completed my task, I returned to Jangryeong Valley. Upon explaining the situation to the clan, they appeared intrigued.

“A royal treasure from Balhae?”

“So he claimed.”

“Hand it over so I can take a look.”

The Zhuge Clan examined the fragment carefully, observing it from all angles.

“It looks like we need to investigate the origins of this item further…”

 

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