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I stood, contemplating what to do facing Yeodong-bin’s sword.

‘Fighting him would be like signing my own death warrant…’

If it were Yeodong-bin, he could wipe me out without a second thought. But sending his spirit straight back to the Celestial Realm accomplishes nothing. I realized I had to understand why Yeodong-bin was so angry, so I clenched my teeth and said, “Yes.”

This was a gamble and an adventure. Even if I got wrecked by Yeodong-bin, it felt like I had to clash with him here. I stepped forward with my sword, and Yeodong-bin lifted his Immortal Sword with the Sword Flying Technique and spoke.

[Knowing the gap in our abilities and still coming at me, are you not afraid for your life?]

“If I was scared for my life, I wouldn’t have come this far.”

Yeodong-bin closed his eyes and sighed.

[Huh!]

With a tremendous force, his sword shot at me, but I managed to see his first move and deflect it. I was secretly overjoyed at blocking his attack, but the next moment, I felt a sharp pain in my solar plexus and ribs.

“Gah…!!”

What just happened?!

I was flustered by the unexpected attack, but then I felt hits in ten more places. Looking around in confusion, I realized Yeodong-bin had launched a barrage with intent at the same time as the sword. I merely failed to notice it coming, but I was quite amazed.

‘His speed was so overwhelming that I was just struggling to block…’

If Yeodong-bin had been serious, I would have been dead just now. Thankfully, he hit my acupoint without killing intent, so I only felt the pain, but that didn’t mean my situation was improving. Yeodong-bin didn’t stop and began to show off the Peerless Sword Technique.

Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram.

Cloud Decision!

Countless shadows of his sword sprang into existence and rushed at me. This was my first time facing the Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram as an opponent, but my heart sank the moment I saw the Cloud Decision.

‘So many… so fast… so powerful!!’

I hastily tried to mobilize the Three Treasure Technique and all the martial arts I knew to dodge the attacks, but I could only block a couple, and the following waves swept me away. The pain felt like my body was being shattered, and I couldn’t even scream for a moment.

Thud.

“Ugh.”

I hit the ground and nearly fainted, but I barely regained consciousness and tried to roll back, yet I had no will to fight anymore. At the sight of Cloud Decision, I understood that the gap in skill between us was astronomical, like an adult crushing a child’s wrist.

‘Why is this happening? I must be dozens of times stronger since we first met!’

No, that’s not it.

I had indeed grown stronger, but Yeodong-bin’s skills were even more astonishing than I realized.

Looking up from the ground or from the peak of Mount Tai, the sky is still the sky!

‘I can’t give up yet!’

I gritted my teeth and picked up my sword again. Even so, collapsing without a fight wasn’t what a swordsman should do. Yeodong-bin immediately raised his sword to strike down on me, and even that simple slash felt like it could take my breath away.

Boom!

I blocked it using the ultimate application of Thunder God Sword Dance, but at that moment, my iron sword broke and flew aside, while Yeodong-bin’s downward stroke came crashing down on my head. The overwhelming difference in the application of techniques and power could not be ignored.

If it continued like this, my skull would crack open, and I’d be done for, so I desperately thought of a way to survive. In that moment, the quality of my experiences and martial arts suddenly merged into one secret technique which transcended into an application of the Mind Control Technique.

Blade-less Technique!

Swing –

Yeodong-bin’s sword froze in the air, and my hands were nearly sliced off. I was holding the blade with both hands, and by some luck, managed to block Yeodong-bin’s vertical strike. Then Yeodong-bin chuckled.

[… Haha.]

It was a laugh that seemed more incredulous than mocking. His anger seemed to have dulled considerably, and he withdrew his sword.

[You dare use the Non-Killing technique against me at such a low level?]

I gripped my bleeding hands and shot back, “I couldn’t think of anything else.”

[Haha… snatching the true sword… Haha…]

After a moment of bewilderment, Yeodong-bin waved his hand. Suddenly, the injury on my hand healed, and all my body aches disappeared. I was baffled by Yeodong-bin’s unexpected healing.

[If I hadn’t held back just now, you would have been split in half, Yeon-ja.]

“……”

[Such a Non-Killing counter technique is incredibly difficult to master, even with decades of dedicated practice.]

Had I been foolish to attempt using the Blade-less Technique that I hadn’t truly mastered? I felt a bit embarrassed but steadied myself and said, “Yeodong-bin, do we really need to fight any longer?”

[What do you intend to do, Yeon-ja?]

“I will restore peace to the chaotic world and save humanity.”

[……]

After a prolonged silence, Yeodong-bin continued.

[I was angry because I heard from the Celestial Realm that Samcheong pointed to you as a pawn of the Evil God…]

“Huh?!”

What on earth is that nonsense? I stared incredulously at Yeodong-bin as he elaborated.

[In the end, the Evil God has been freed by the Law of Cause and Effect, and while searching for who is responsible, it concluded that you are deeply involved. Therefore, I am also being heavily questioned for choosing you as Yeon-ja, and if the Celestial Realm begins to intervene with the earth, I will be branded a sinner due to the deep debts I owe.]

“……!!”

Me? The root cause of this confusion?!

… No, I can’t deny part of it. If I had wanted to, I could have prevented the making of the Portrait Immortal and chose to eliminate it without compromising. But as Yeodong-bin said, that’s merely retrospective reasoning, and the main culprit is undoubtedly the Imperial Palace Forces and the Dharma Protector, Zhuque!

Sorting out my tangled thoughts, I looked straight at Yeodong-bin and said, “While it might sound like an excuse, it’s not entirely my fault. I only meant to stop the evil forces.”

[I understand. However, I have to test whether you are indeed evil or not once more.]

He gazed at me with intense eyes and continued.

[And you summoned the courage to face me on your own. I could feel your righteous intent when our swords clashed, so I will trust you.]

“……”

Just now, Yeodong-bin was not truly angry but was trying to gauge if I was a source of evil plots. If I had used dark powers or tried to send him away without hearing his words, he would have completely lost trust in me. I realized with relief that I had taken the right path, calming my insides, when suddenly I had a realization.

“Wait a moment. Are you saying that from now on, the Celestial Realm will be my enemy?”

[Though I have yet to gather enough evidence, there are larger problems brewing which prevent me from engaging directly with you. However, once the Heavenly Altar descends, those sent to eliminate you will come.]

“Gah. I let Celestial Sage slip past, but…”

[He cares for nothing but his own matters.]

Yeodong-bin’s words were resolute.

[But if you are confident in your own sense of justice, then you may not need to confront the Celestial Realm.]

“What do you mean?”

Suddenly, Yeodong-bin exerted his intent and pulled the Fire Dragon Sword from my waist towards himself. Examining the sword, he spoke.

[If I can awaken my master, the Fire Dragon Incarnate, before the Heavenly Altar descends, there may be a way.]

“The Fire Dragon Incarnate…?”

[If I can channel the powerful flame Qi from the Fire Spirit, my master’s strength will rapidly recover.]

I knew that method. Feeding the Fire Dragon Incarnate the long-concentrated flame energy embedded in Hwayo would cause a swift resurrection. But I still didn’t fully understand what Yeodong-bin meant, so I asked again.

“In a situation where the entire Celestial Realm brands me a betrayer of humanity, how could Fire Dragon Incarnate possibly help?”

I knew the Fire Dragon Incarnate was a remarkable being even within the Celestial Realm, far above any ordinary Great Immortal. However, that didn’t mean his authority surpassed that of Samcheong. My suspicions were entirely reasonable, but Yeodong-bin merely smiled wryly.

[If I first awaken my master and explain the situation, he will tell us what we should do next.]

“Then you…”

[I believe you are walking the right path, so…]

A great blue flame suddenly erupted from Yeodong-bin’s entire body. Then, the blue flames soared towards my heart and plunged inside.

I was shocked, yet strangely found no external or internal injuries, only a powerful emotion surging throughout my heart.

[I will become Yeon-ja’s sword with all my might!]

Crackle, crackle!

As the flames transformed Yeodong-bin and merged into my body, I suddenly felt an immense power igniting within me as the Peerless Sword Technique began to swirl in my mind.

‘This… this is Yeodong-bin’s knowledge? Experience?’

There was no sign of Yeodong-bin’s spirit trying to invade me. But it felt like all the skills and experiences I knew were being overwritten by these intense memories. While I stood there trying to regain my composure, Mangnyang, who had been watching from afar, approached me and said.

“Incredible. Is this what they call the ultimate Immortal Sword Technique?”

“Mangnyang, do you know what’s happening?”

He nodded in response to my question.

“Yeodong-bin is a Sword Flying technique user and the strongest in the Celestial Realm. He not only uses techniques like the Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram and Heavenly Escape Sword Technique collectively called Immortal Sword Technique, but he is also a renowned expert capable of manifesting the intangible Immortal Sword to accomplish anything.”

“Immortal Sword Technique…”

I recalled the memories in my head.

[Why is the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique divided into five stages?]

[It is for the purpose of pursuing the world.]

[You need to teach Yeon-ja the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique so they can reach the realm of the Immortal Sword when the world is in crisis. It questions if one is willing to sacrifice themselves for the needed power, Yeon-ja.]

[You have already started with Faith, continued with Resolution, and from there reached Void and the fifth stage of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique. Hence, it is right to reach the Immortal Sword’s level!]

[But for some reason, the key essence of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique is only used to heal the contradictions within you, preventing you from reaching the proper level of Immortal Sword. I cannot teach you any further in this situation.]

That’s right. Yeodong-bin had passed the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique onto me, but despite having learned all five stages, I had not reached the level of the Immortal Sword. Therefore, Yeodong-bin was greatly disappointed, and even Jang Sam-bong had found it strange that I had the Immortal Sword yet still needed his martial arts.

Based on that experience, obtaining the Immortal Sword was essentially reaching the level of Yeodong-bin in Sword Flying technique!

While I recalled these memories, Mangnyang continued.

“It seems he has turned his body into a sword, synchronizing with your spirit in the process. By doing so, he achieves the level of the Immortal Sword artificially.”

“Is such a thing really possible?”

“What looks like a technique is not a mere technique. It is not an exaggeration to say it is a unique ability possessed only by Yeodong-bin in all the heavens and earth. Nevertheless…”

Mangnyang cleared his throat and continued.

“Yeodong-bin literally became a sword, determined to be of assistance to you, Baek Woong. It is an act that could be viewed as abandoning the Celestial Realm and returning to his former self without any assurance…”

“……!!”

“From the perspective of a Great Immortal, it could be the same as choosing to die.”

Hearing that suddenly shocked me.

For the Celestial Realm, I thought he would endure any filthy deed, that Yeodong-bin would never defy the Celestial Realm’s command. I was seeing a side of him that I had never witnessed in any of my past lifetimes, one that hinted at the resolve he had taken on.

‘It’s because he believes in me.’

Yeodong-bin took this risk because he believed I could awaken the Fire Dragon Incarnate! The source of that trust lies in his belief that I am the entity who will practice righteousness. Feeling the warmth of Yeodong-bin’s pure heart, I couldn’t help but shed tears.

“… I understand.”

I hurriedly wiped my tears with my arm and exclaimed, “Let’s move at once!”

There was no time to cry.

Right away, I would seek the Master of the White Lotus Sect, stop the Young Master’s awakening, and utilize the power of the Fire Spirit to resurrect the Fire Dragon Incarnate!

 

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