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I faced off against Zhuge Bu. Unlike before, I felt surprisingly calm. Back then, I was severely outmatched by Zhuge Bu’s skills and techniques. But not now. After living through several reincarnations, my strength had grown significantly.

‘That guy has peak skills and ultimate techniques at his age.’

A prodigy who mastered the level of a master that most people can only dream of in their entire lifetime! That’s why Zhuge Bu was revered and regarded as the best of the Central Plains.

Normally, for someone like me, who only knew how to escort people, challenging him would look like a pathetic struggle. Even with my current qualifications as a Master of the Thunder God lineage, it was absurd.

But – I already know his weakness. Smiling slyly, I pointed my sword at him.

“Shall I make the first move, or do you want to?”

“Hmph!”

Zhuge Bu made a somewhat sharp expression before casting the Five Elements Technique into the air, making five elemental orbs buzz around in a circular formation, then they shot towards me at high speed.

Bang! Bang!

‘Small, but all of them have deadly force…’

I tried to use my sword energy to deflect the elemental attack, but the feedback felt heavy. Despite their tiny size, each orb was charged with a lethal amount of natural power.

Thinking he might launch another attack, I was surprised when Zhuge Bu suddenly used the Space Technique to distance himself, dodging the confrontation. In mere moments, he created a protective barrier around himself.

‘Heh… I knew it.’

Normally, I’d be in awe of Zhuge Bu’s skill, but not anymore. I had spotted a strange vulnerability hidden beneath his flashy techniques, so I calmly spoke.

“What’s the matter? Aren’t you going to fight me with your skills?”

“Hmph! This is a duel I cannot lose. Why would I take unnecessary risks? You will ultimately fall prey to my tricks.”

Zhuge Bu was still preparing spells with his Five Elements Technique, likely plotting something elaborate.

“Hmm, I see…”

While trailing off, I suddenly activated the Thunderclap Technique and charged with the Soul Removal Technique, blasting towards him.

Slice!

“…!!”

Only when my sword sliced through his barrier, leaving a mark on his flesh, did Zhuge Bu finally react. My speed was so much that even a powerful guy like Zhuge Bu was late to the realization.

His expression turned to shock as he activated his defense technique.

Asura Heaven Light Technique!

Being a peak expert, he wasn’t unused to defense techniques, so my surprise attack didn’t yield significant effects, forcing me back for a moment. Just as I spun and aimed my sword at his forehead, his upper body was encased in a barrier from his Asura technique.

Swish!

Boom!

“Argh!”

Despite my attack piercing through, Zhuge Bu screamed as blood poured from his hands and wrists, being knocked back. Even with the Asura technique and all his powers amplified, he couldn’t block my simple thrust.

It was merely a basic thrust from the Thunder God lineage, yet Zhuge Bu couldn’t defend against it.

Clearly, this was proof my skills were superior by several levels.

I laughed coldly and mocked him, “Your skill level is about that of a Grand Elder from the White Lotus Sect.”

“What did you say?”

“Sorry, but this is where I stop holding back. Take this!”

Suddenly, my sword’s aura ignited brightly, swirling with the energy of lightning. I focused intently, aiming my sword towards him.

Thunder Sword!

The same trick wouldn’t work on him twice. I aimed my Thunder Sword with the maximum attack force and remembered the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword Technique I had learned. The Heavenly Escape Sword Technique might also do, but I was better versed in the Shadowless Sword Technique.

Victor!!

The condensed lightning sword left my hand and shot toward Zhuge Bu at an incredible speed. It was many times faster than before, and it felt like this time would surely end it for him, but he didn’t look complacent and activated his defensive technique.

Creeeek!

“Ack… Ugh…”

His meticulously created defense struggled against my powerful attack, causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead. While he blocked with that technique, I concentrated all my internal power and unleashed it explosively.

“Ha!”

Boom!

As my arms swelled with the force of a titan, Zhuge Bu’s face drained of color. He screamed in disbelief.

“No way!! Crafting techniques while using the sword!”

He was shocked not without reason; mastering the sword was synonymous with exhausting excessive energy, meaning normally one couldn’t do anything else when controlling the sword. If one tried to perform additional actions, they’d quickly drain their energy reserves.

But – I was different. I’d achieved a level of internal power where I could match the Dharma Guardian. I felt my energy depleting rapidly but thought I could handle it.

With shining eyes, I shouted, “Eat this!”

Thunder God Lineage!

Thunder God Fist!

Ultimate Move!

Thunderclap Explosion!

Bang!

As I swung my Thunder God arm, Zhuge Bu tried to teleport away to escape. But my sword cut through him, piercing his vital point, right before my thunderstorm energy brushed against his side.

Splatter!

“Aaaaah!”

With an explosion of energy, his side burst open like a firework. Zhuge Bu, howling in agony, seemed to have sustained a major injury. While I hadn’t finished him off, it looked like he retreated in absolute panic.

I flew upwards to reclaim my sword, muttering, “So that’s the play he goes for…”

I could predict Zhuge Bu’s strategy. Sure enough, a moment later, several hundred talismans surrounded the area, seemingly creating a formation around me. I suspected Zhuge Bu was gambling on his last move while cornered.

Falling Soul Separation!

As countless talismans surrounded me, each one wielded the power of extinguishing souls. Each talisman was a formidable breeding ground for his tricks! According to Mangnyang, the Falling Soul Separation was one of the ultimate talisman techniques. If maximized, it would be nearly impossible to survive without proper defense.

In the past, I couldn’t challenge Falling Soul Separation at all and would just run away. Usually, even deploying it requires vast energies, so I could wait for him to tire out. However, with Baek Woong at his side, Zhuge Bu would be an absolute tyrant.

But I’d foreseen this moment.

‘Great…’

Bang!

I devoted my full efforts into unleashing my Divine Techniques to escape as my Soul Removal move avoided the waves of the talismans. In that instant, Zhuge Bu’s shocked shout echoed somewhere.

[ No way?! ]

In the blink of an eye, I moved out of the stream of more than a hundred talismans, and far behind me, I could see a burst of light from the Falling Soul Separation. I checked my body to see if I’d been hit, but I hadn’t so much as scratched.

I grinned.

“Heh, it’s hard to hit what you can’t pin down.”

Right now, for someone of my capability, the Falling Soul Separation wasn’t much more than a target to dodge. I could easily shift more than fifty talismans in a brief moment.

Excited, I cast my secret technique.

Soul Removal Step!

Heavenly Escape!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Not as skilled yet as a seasoned expert, but I had received the techniques and essence of it all. Using the Soul Removal Step, I created clones of light and darted around the space, making Zhuge Bu appear flustered as he struggled to locate his talismans.

“Is that all you’ve got? Can’t you hit something when it’s hard to catch?”

Zhuge Bu appeared about ten paces away, but he could guess my clones were just illusions due to my newfound agility. He stared at me with a perplexed expression.

“Who the hell are you? You’re a Half-Transition Master but I’ve never seen anyone with skills like you. No one from the Righteous Sects could match your strength.”

“Curious about my identity?”

When he nodded vigorously, I crossed my arms and replied, “I am the Master of the White Lotus Sect!”

His eyes widened.

“What…!! No way. I thought the Master of the White Lotus was Dokgo Uncheon?”

“Hmm…”

While I shrugged with mock confidence, I noticed his complexion had grown pale.

“You’re using the alias Baek Woong…? Master of the White Lotus, why are you doing this?!”

What? It seemed Zhuge Bu was half believing my words. I had aimed to mock him with something absurd, yet it looked like part of him bought it. I struggled to understand why he believed my nonsense but just raised an eyebrow.

“Isn’t your father, Zhuge Yulong, trying to unleash a calamity upon the human realm by conspiring with the Old Ruler? If you don’t act to stop it, an enormous disaster will surely come.”

“……!!”

Zhuge Bu gazed at me, his face drained of color as he bit his lip.

“It’s amazing… as expected of the Master of the White Lotus Sect… you know everything.”

“Well, that’s just how it is.”

“If you’re not the Master of the White Lotus, there’s no way you overpower me this easily…”

I was taken aback and snorted.

“Ha! Really?”

I was baffled by Zhuge Bu’s overconfidence. He misinterpreted my strength, thinking anyone with my skills had to be the Master of the White Lotus Sect. His reasoning came from his thought that if I weren’t a master of that level, I couldn’t have cornered him this easily.

However, I traveled the world like I owned the place and had faced numerous top martial experts, from the great Hua Clan and living legends, to legendary figures like Miyamoto Musashi!

From my experience, Zhuge Bu wasn’t particularly impressive. In terms of martial prowess, he’d barely scrape by as a Grand Elder within the Four Great Families. Compared to the high-ranking Elders, he was just another mediocre expert.

Including hidden experts from the Martial Arts World, he wouldn’t even make the top thirty!

Moreover, Zhuge Bu’s failure lay right there.

‘He knows both martial arts and techniques, but they’re not integrated. He can’t reach true strength.’

The confidence I felt in challenging Zhuge Bu stemmed from spotting his weakness. Though mastering both martial skills and techniques seemed impressive at first glance, in reality, they paled compared to someone who had achieved true mastery in one discipline.

If either the Master of the White Lotus or Miyamoto Musashi came here, they would have decapitated Zhuge Bu within ten seconds of encountering him.

Moreover, reaching the peak seemed to give him no outstanding advantage in combating another peak expert. Ultimately, Zhuge Bu’s strategy relied on keeping distance with his Asura Heaven Light Technique while relying on flashy spells and the Falling Soul Separation to attack. If he could only defend himself with martial arts and not help maintain those techniques, the Asura technique would become largely useless against a true master.

It seemed he was stuck with this contradiction and flaw due to not believing he needed to strengthen further. He enjoyed absolute power, wealth, and honor in the Imperial Palace, so he probably never felt the need to push himself hard enough to truly refine his practices. Even if he engaged in epic duels, he likely didn’t think such a situation would arise.

Our paths had diverged. I had always looked up, fighting off stronger opponents in my pursuit of Asura’s path. Yet this guy, with his dazzling talent, completed his techniques quickly and stopped striving for more. Had he combined his martial arts with techniques to forge a new level, he could’ve rivaled or even surpassed a true master, but he hadn’t pushed that far.

But I didn’t bother to mention any of this. Instead, I smiled coldly and said to Zhuge Bu, “I could let you live, but…”

Zhuge Bu hardened his expression.

“Speak.”

“Did you learn that Asura Heaven Light Technique from your father, Zhuge Yulong?”

“……”

After a brief hesitation, he answered, “I don’t know how you know the name of my technique, but this is a pinnacle martial art passed down in the royal family. My father didn’t learn much of the Asura technique.”

Is he willing to speak the truth? Truth is, I’d tortured Zhuge Sa into revealing everything about the Asura technique when he captured Zhuge Bu before. I was simply testing if he genuinely intended to respond to my query, so I casually said.

“I heard the sword technique your father wields is the world’s finest martial style. Do you know its origin?”

“The Gongsun Sword Technique…”

Zhuge Bu seemed ready to share something. I sensed his silence stretched on awkwardly and suddenly realized something.

Bang!

Without warning, Zhuge Bu vanished and unleashed countless surprise strikes upon me. All sorts of techniques flew at me, including the defensive ones. I managed to evade them by using my defensive techniques, but he disappeared again afterward.

He hadn’t given up, pretending to converse with me while aiming for an ambush. Thanks to my quick reflexes, I managed to dodge, but just a moment’s hesitation would have spelled doom. I understood Zhuge Bu’s strategy.

‘He’s hiding within the space to sap my energy.’

It was logical. If he hid with Stealth Techniques and ambushed me repeatedly, I’d have no way to retaliate. While I could track him down, pinpointing exactly where he hid required considerable concentration. His ultimate aim seemed to be stretching out the fight until I wore out.

Well, if that’s the case, then I’m obliged to play along!

Thirteen days and nights passed.

Bang!

“Gurk… Ugh…”

I delivered a punch directly to Zhuge Bu’s solar plexus, forcing him to retch violently. Zhuge Bu had become so drained he couldn’t even activate his defensive techniques, leaving him to spew without holding back.

Zhuge Bu collapsed, moaning with blurry vision.

“Ugh… monster… how… for thirteen days and nights… did you keep dodging my attacks… what about your energy and stamina…”

I grabbed his hair and laughed.

“I’m confident in my stamina!”

Indeed. He had attacked sporadically, trying to catch me when my concentration dipped, but I was now accustomed to functioning non-stop without eating, sleeping, or resting. So I had continuously chased him around for thirteen days, wearing him out as he faltered first.

Thud! Thud!

In a fit of rage, I repeatedly slammed Zhuge Bu’s head to the ground until he was unconscious. I then shouted into the air, “Prophet, I’ve won!”

Whoosh!

Moments later, the space for our duel faded, revealing the Great Temple of Astana. The Prophet stared at me blankly, then spoke.

[ Your stamina is incredible… truly… you have achieved peak strength that mankind can possess… ]

“So he’s now my slave, right?”

[ Hmm… not quite. ]

“What?!”

What nonsense is this guy spouting again?

I tensed up, thinking I might have to confront the prophet immediately after a grueling chase with Zhuge Bu’s relentless attacks.

After a moment, the Prophet extended a tentacle resembling a hand toward me and said, [ My fee… ]

“……”

I found it absurd, but I had already worn myself out dealing with Zhuge Bu, so I had no energy left to argue. Reluctantly, I pulled out a few more Sacred Lotus stems for the Prophet, who seemed satisfied as he spoke.

[ Baek Woong has triumphed in battle. Zhuge Bu is now acknowledged as your lifelong servant and slave in the name of me, the Tao King… This grand contract will be validated under my authority and the name of the Seo Eun-ha Tribe Alliance, and if Zhuge Bu should try to escape or revolt, all my strength will ensure his recapture and subjugation. ]

“Oh, really…”

His proclamation sounded grandiose, but I felt drained of gratitude, having already given up all my energy to him. I’d surely find a way to rip those tentacles off someday.

Instead, I glared at the crumpled Zhuge Bu, jealousy boiling in my eyes.

‘I will recover my principal!’

This guy had made me suffer enough; I would definitely get even!

 

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