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I have already mastered the Tua Pacheonmu. Faced with the words of the Pejon, I found myself at a loss for words.

His gaze was more resolute than anyone else’s. Filled with certainty.

‘How?’

How could he know?

Let’s set the Sword Sovereign aside. That part was indeed my mistake, so it wouldn’t be strange to be found out. But this was different.

‘Where from?’

Where did he pick up on it? If it were the Technique of the Flame Wheel, that wouldn’t be too surprising. I had used it a few times since coming to this era. The chances of my father noticing were slim, but if he had, reminding himself of it might help him understand.

‘How did the Pejon know?’

The Tua Mu Quan was different.

I had never used it since coming to this era.

Not even once.

‘The effectiveness of the Technique of the Flame Wheel is superior.’

The Pejon’s martial arts were meant to combat humans, and it was not very effective when hunting demon beasts.

Moreover,

‘Now that I know there’s a Pejon, I should be even more cautious.’

The Pejon in this era was not the being I once knew, but the original Pejon. In other words,

‘A martial artist in their prime.’

Knowing that it wasn’t a weakened being through the Rejuvenation Technique, but rather a time when he was called the monster of the Three Eminent Beings.

I was even more careful.

I didn’t let the Tua Pacheonmu slip out of my grasp.

‘Did he notice it?’

If he had noticed this, it left me utterly astonished.

‘No, it’s not just astonishment.’

What should I even do about this situation?

I pondered it, but the truth is, I already knew the answer.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

I feigned ignorance. I had to pretend not to know at all.

“I do not comprehend your words well—.”

At that moment.

Kwaaaa—!!!

“……!”

I turned my head.

Kwaduk—!!

The Pejon’s fist grazed my head. It was fast.

‘This crazy old man.’

I frowned.

That last attack was serious. Had I not dodged, my head would’ve certainly exploded.

Moreover.

Hooook—!

It wasn’t just a single strike.

The Pejon unleashed an incredible speed, continuing the assault.

I dodged while gritting my teeth.

‘Ha.’

Is he really serious?

The Pejon was intent on beating me to a pulp. Even if he wasn’t using all his power, this was still hard to evade with him holding back.

Wiggle—!

“……!”

My eyes shifted. My focus was fixed on the Pejon’s left hand.

The air was warping over there.

I sensed what he was about to employ.

Tua Mu Quan.

Kwadeuk.

The ground shattered under the tip of his stomp. Twisting his waist, the Pejon unleashed a powerful strike.

Kwaaa—!!!

The shockwave from his fist engulfed the front.

The Tua Mu Quan became a storm, wreaking havoc all around.

However, there was no impact.

It slid past my side. I had dodged just in time, keeping my arm close to my side.

Thanks to that, the attack brushed past me without hitting, sweeping only the area in front.

But.

Wuuung.

After that, my eyes caught on to what came next.

‘The Tua Mu Quan is a feint.’

It was originally intended to seal my movements and allow him to approach.

Chiiiiiick—!!

I felt the heat radiating from the Pejon’s body. This was.

‘The Changcheon.’

I bit down. The Pejon’s body was oozing with powerful momentum.

Bang—!

“Cough!”

My vision changed.

With a dull sound, my body was pushed back. My abdomen took the hit, swaying me back heavily.

‘I let it slip.’

With my Heart Eye suddenly activated, I saw the Pejon’s movements but reacted too slowly.

And then.

Sssssss—

‘Ha.’

As the distance increased, my Heart Eye envisioned an astounding predicted trajectory.

Countless possibilities. I bit my lip observing them.

The Pejon was already moving. He was right in front of me.

‘No choice then.’

Clack.

I felt something rattling within me and unleashed the energy I had suppressed.

Whaaaaa—!!!

I blocked the punch intended to send me flying.

“Ho.”

The Pejon’s eyes widened at the sight.

“This damned old man is really something.”

Frustration washed over me.

Flame burst.

Heat surged through my body. The energy I had contained erupted, drastically enhancing my reaction speed.

“Why is this happening?”

Whether he was an old Pejon or a young one, this damn character always irritated me whenever I saw it.

Kwaduk.

I tightened my grip on his wrist and pulled slightly.

The Pejon’s balance faltered, drawing him closer to me. Seeing this, I concentrated force into my hand.

As the heat shifted, vitality surged throughout my body.

Changcheon.

I raised my energy and drew it inward.

Concentrating it in my palm.

A mass of gray energy formed in the shape of a circle.

“Hmm?”

The Pejon’s expression twisted upon seeing it. It must have been because it was a martial art he had never seen before. It made sense. This wasn’t the Pejon he knew but a variant created by the young Pejon I was aware of.

Breaking Heaven.

I would shatter the sky I had created with my own hands.

Kwadik—!!

Kwaaaaaahhh—!!!!

The Breaking Heaven shattered and surged through the surroundings. A chaotic tempest of energy erupted. The frictions of qi ran rampant, demolishing every tree and rock in the vicinity.

Kwadukududuk—.

After tearing through everything for a while, the gray energy of Breaking Heaven briefly paused.

The surrounding area had already turned into a mess. Upon the ruins of a dilapidated zone.

“Aha ha.”

The Pejon, not a speck of dust on him, let out a laugh.

“This is fun.”

However, though he smiled at his lips, his eyes weren’t smiling.

“What was that you just used?”

“It was Breaking Heaven.”

“Breaking Heaven, huh? Quite the rough name.”

“Right? It’s not a great name at all.”

Whose name is it, anyway? It really is quite awful.

As I pondered who came up with it, he said.

“Given this much, it would be fair to say you’re not trying to hide anything, right?”

“…….”

The Pejon spoke to me. He wasn’t wrong. I had blatantly used the Tua Pacheonmu.

So I decided to ask boldly.

“How did you know?”

“What are you talking about?”

“That I have mastered the Tua Pacheonmu. I’m sure I hid it well.”

“Hahaha.”

The Pejon laughed as if he found it ridiculous.

“How amusing.”

“What do you mean?”

“No matter how well you hide it, do you really think I wouldn’t notice something I’ve created? I am Pejon Bi Ju.”

“…….”

Such arrogant and heated words.

Despite that, his title and name only reinforced the truth in his words.

‘This is insane.’

In other words, it meant he had realized it the moment he touched it.

Or perhaps.

‘When he saw me.’

It’s also possible he recognized it from the first moment he laid his eyes on me.

Whichever it might be, one thing is certain; the Pejon is a being beyond rational comprehension.

‘Was this just a mistake?’

Not knowing how exceptional the Pejon’s perceptiveness was could be called my misstep if you want.

‘Damn.’

If that’s a misstep, that’s just too unjust. How could that possibly be a misstep?

‘Ha.’

I suppressed my disbelief and scrunched my brows.

At that moment.

“I will ask again.”

The Pejon’s heavy voice echoed.

“Who are you? How did you come to master that?”

“…….”

“Don’t spout nonsense that you don’t know. That’s not a helpful statement. Furthermore.”

Kuuuuuuu—!!!

“……!”

Zzziiing.

An incredible pressure enveloped me. The presence emanating from the Pejon that hadn’t been felt until now burst forth. The air around him was being crushed and distorted.

‘Ha.’

What the hell is that mindless pressure?

Just a simple release of his qi, and yet cold sweat dripped from me. I thought I had reached the same level, but what the hell was that?

Not to mention.

‘The Pejon said he hasn’t even reached transcendence.’

He said it himself, after all.

Claiming he hadn’t mastered the Tua Pacheonmu and therefore hadn’t broken through in realm.

So he said he hadn’t reached transcendence like the other Three Eminent Beings.

‘But still, can he exert this much?’

Despite being at a lower realm than me, he radiated that sense of being. Tension mounted and my Blood Qi swelled.

“There won’t be a second chance. If you do not answer, I will destroy you.”

A clear threat.

And I could tell he was serious. I bit my lip.

I looked around, glancing at the surroundings. I knew there was something hidden beyond this rubble.

Energy Barrier.

The Pejon had spread an energy barrier around.

It was suppressing and crushing sounds and energy from traveling out. I realized he must have set this up right after we arrived.

In other words.

‘To be able to exert such a degree of strength while maintaining an energy barrier like that.’

It made me reflect on the Pejon’s sheer depth.

‘Could I win?’

If I fought the Pejon now, could I win? If I pushed myself to my limits, it might be possible.

If I poured everything I had, I might stand a chance against the Pejon.

Including the Technique of the Flame Wheel.

‘The Heavenly Demon Technique.’

The chaotic power I had created.

If I used that, perhaps it might just work.

But.

‘……if I do that now.’

The energy barrier wouldn’t be able to withstand it, and I would truly have to face the Pejon for life or death.

The Pejon was serious right now.

“Ha.”

I let out a sigh.

“If you won’t speak, so be it. I’ll respect that.”

The Pejon began to move.

“Then, Ah-ya. You should respect me as well.”

He was about to charge, fist clenched. The Tua Pacheonmu enveloped him. A life-and-death bout with a Three Eminent Being?

‘Honestly, I must admit I’m a little intrigued.’

To be a challenge I could unleash my full potential against.

That alone was a bit tempting.

‘But not now.’

Now’s not the time.

Kugung!

The Pejon’s fist was aimed at me. I didn’t dodge but merely watched as it approached.

“I’m your disciple.”

The fist stopped right in front of my face.

Looking at the massive fist before me, I remarked.

“What?”

The Pejon, seemingly unable to comprehend, responded.

I looked into his eyes and said.

“I’ve traveled back in time.”

I chose the path of direct confrontation.

 

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