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“Does the Martial God hear me?”

For a brief moment, silence lingered.

Yeodong-bin realized he had stepped back into the Martial God’s space. He glanced around and confirmed he had entered the familiar, infinite spiral space.

“I, Yeodong-bin, wish to trade with you!!”

Yet, even as he desperately called out for the Martial God, there was no response. In reality, he had searched for months without a word.

‘…Looks like it can’t be helped…’

Yeodong-bin had the tenacity to search for a year or even ten years. However, he didn’t know how the time spent here would translate back into the real world, so he reluctantly reached out towards a nearby spiral. He couldn’t waste time, especially with the Dragon of the Apocalypse poised to resurrect at any moment.

Absorbing the spiral would bring him tremendous pain, almost to the point of vomiting, but—at the same time, he felt as if he would gain a new level in his martial arts. The intense experience akin to magical power was not something Yeodong-bin could refuse, so he tried to grasp the spiral without hesitation.

But it was at that moment.

“Huh?”

Yeodong-bin suddenly felt his hand freeze. Confused, he quickly realized his fingertips were refusing to touch the spiral. Even forced by sheer will, his hand wouldn’t budge.

Instinctual, engrained fear!

Understanding the source of that terror, Yeodong-bin felt a strange unease. He had long become accustomed to pain and hardship, having developed a steel-like mental strength, so why was he scared? Yes, absorbing the spiral involved suffering, but it was not unendurable.

“Ugh, this much should be…”

With forceful conviction, Yeodong-bin controlled his body with his will and grasped the spiral.

At that moment, words appeared before him.

Digest it.

“…!!”

He reached out to touch the words, but all he did was flail around fruitlessly. Yeodong-bin pondered that the words could perhaps be the Martial God’s intent.

‘Digest it, huh?’

What did it mean to digest? Did he even eat anything?

‘Ate…?’

At that moment, something flashed in Yeodong-bin’s mind.

“Oh, could it be…?”

In a hurry, he scanned the spirals and weapons lined up around him. Upon closer inspection, the spirals were of different sizes and shapes, and the weapons varied similarly—even bizarre items like a woman’s hairpin or a pickaxe were present!

A hypothesis formed in Yeodong-bin’s mind.

As that theory crystallized, everything he had ‘eaten’ up until now began to surge up, flooding his mind with memories. Yeodong-bin suddenly felt his reason and will crumbling as his body felt like it was melting away, experiencing an unspeakable horror.

“Gah! Aah, aaaaaaaah!!”

Screaming, Yeodong-bin desperately tried to maintain his sanity. Simultaneously, he recognized how reckless it was to attempt accepting a fourth spiral. This was not a pleasant treasure trove of fortuitous encounters; no, it was a place that threatened his very existence, causing feelings of resistance.

“Haah, huff, haah…”

Is digestion even possible? Yeodong-bin trembled, accepting the terrifying experiences and knowledge flooding his mind. If absorbing this fourth spiral felt like this, surely reaching true digestion would require centuries of relentless effort. He muttered with a voice hoarse from dry blood.

“What on earth… is this place?”

Why did the Martial God create such a place?

What did the Martial God expect from him?

At that moment, another phrase appeared before his eyes.

Find the door.

‘Door…?’

Yeodong-bin reflexively looked up. It was utterly pointless to search for an edge in this infinite space. In this vast area, with nothing but spirals and weapons around, how could he possibly look for a ‘door’?

But Yeodong-bin could endure no more. As one spiral penetrated his thoughts, he screamed in agony as his entire being was torn apart.

“Aaaaah.”

Whirrrrrr…

Yeodong-bin fainted under the pounding rain on Mount Tai, only to snap back to consciousness promptly. Upon recovery, the Fire Dragon Incarnate scolded him.

[Get a grip, Yeodong-bin!]

“Master… I was out for how long…?”

[You’ve been out for a whole half a moment! It seems I used all my spirit power to keep you from being consumed by the demon! That thief had already fled.]

If it weren’t for the Fire Dragon Incarnate’s help, Yeodong-bin would have surely melted away.

[Let’s get out of here. It’s too dangerous now.]

Yeodong-bin hurriedly utilized the Sword Flying Technique to escape Mount Tai. Once they were out, the Fire Dragon Incarnate asked.

[Yeodong-bin, did you perhaps succeed in the Offering Ceremony?]

“No. I was trying to contact the Martial God.”

[What did you see?]

“……”

After a moment of silence, Yeodong-bin finally replied.

“I don’t think I saw anything yet.”

Yeodong-bin had to admit he still knew nothing until he found that ‘door’ in that space.

Because the spirals he had considered tools for fortuitous encounters were, in fact, outlandish entities! Surely whoever found that ‘door’ would gain powers incomprehensible to others. And he could realize just how god-like the Martial God really was.

[Anyway, I have no clues to find the Xuanyuan Sword for Master Mangnyang…. I witnessed the Offering Ceremony at Mount Tai, but it’s meaningless on its own.]

“I have a method.”

[What method?]

Yeodong-bin gritted his teeth, looking up at the sky.

“Anyway, with my current abilities, even if I knew where the Xuanyuan Sword was, I wouldn’t be able to obtain it. I lack time, ability, and clues, so I’ll just keep being tossed around by fate. So instead of begging Master Mangnyang, I’ll train myself to gain the strength to defeat the Dragon!”

[Are you serious? You must have heard how fearsome the Dragon of the Apocalypse is.]

“I’m serious, Master.”

After pondering Yeodong-bin’s words, the Fire Dragon Incarnate replied.

[Understood. If that’s your resolve, I will accompany you to the end!]

“Thank you.”

Anyone observing Yeodong-bin’s choice would likely call it reckless. Yet he didn’t feel like his choice was wrong. If he had been swept up in the turbulent waves of the world until now, learning the true nature of the spirals gave him the feeling he was boarding a new current centered around himself.

After solidifying his mind, Yeodong-bin sought out Master Mangnyang to express his intent to train alone. Master Mangnyang commented.

[You’ve chosen the branch of the future that has the least chance of success and is the hardest.]

“I’m prepared.”

[Now your future has entered a chaos that even I find difficult to observe. I shall watch over your path.]

With that, the figure of Master Mangnyang vanished.

Yeodong-bin stood quietly for a while before heading to a secluded place. He made his move without informing his companions, the Eight Immortals. Even though he hadn’t received the timing of the Dragon’s appearance from Master Mangnyang, he resolved to complete his preparations within a year.

And for the next two and a half years—he met the Martial God dozens of times. Well, precisely speaking, he entered that infinite space, but that alone was more painful than any trial he had ever experienced until now.

How much had he trained?

The promised moment arrived unexpectedly.

Crack….

A profound, reverberating sound, far more solemn than any earthquake felt, broke through and woke Yeodong-bin while he was meditating in the cave.

In that moment, he focused all the concentration he had built up over the past two and a half years and extended his senses.

Where are you!!

Yeodong-bin soared into the sky using the Sword Flying Technique, seeking out the energy presumed to belong to the Dragon. Normally, using the Sword Flying Technique would exhaust tremendous energy, preventing long use, but Yeodong-bin now flew a thousand li without flinching. He was different from before.

Whoosh!

As he transcended sound and flew through the air, Yeodong-bin suddenly glanced up at the sun. He felt a dark spot wriggling within the sun, which was emitting a terrifying light.

“Is it coming?”

Yeodong-bin paused mid-air, gazing at the vast cloud sea below. Beyond the stars lay the chaos of the universe, and from that chaos, something was slowly descending.

No, it wasn’t just a spot.

It was a dragon.

Realizing this, Yeodong-bin witnessed the Dragon of the Apocalypse slowly entering the atmosphere of the Central Plains, transcending dimensions. When he looked up from afar, he locked eyes with the dragon, which was colossal even though only its head and a part of its leg had emerged—far larger than any region within the Central Plains.

Roaaaaar—!!!

The chaotic aura surrounding the Dragon of the Apocalypse roared, announcing calamity was imminent. A moment later, sunlight vanished, and the ground began to turn dark with the universe’s shadow.

In a state that the current civilization couldn’t possibly oppose—despair!

Yeodong-bin wasn’t concerned about whether he could defeat that entity or not. Regardless, the final battle had approached—whether he cried or laughed. Just as he readied himself to charge at the Dragon of the Apocalypse with all his might, suddenly—

Crack, crack, crack…

He noticed a massive barrier rising, surrounding the land. When he looked down, he realized formidable beings were gradually emerging from all directions. The Fire Dragon Incarnate, seeing them, remarked.

[The Four Sea Dragon Kings have made their appearance. It appears they’ve summoned their full power to construct a barrier to protect the Central Plains.]

The Four Sea Dragon Kings!

They were divine beings transcending even the Great Immortal, esteemed kings among heavenly dragons. For the high-ranking dragon kings to intervene and protect the earth was unheard of! Thinking of the current stance of the Celestial Realm and the situation with the Three Sovereigns, it was shocking. Yeodong-bin let out a low whistle.

“Who summoned the Dragon Kings…?”

[It was us, Yeodong-bin!!]

Bang!

Just then, the apparitions of the Seven Immortals appeared before him. Yeodong-bin was taken aback as all his companions—Zhongli Quan, Han Sang-ja, Jang Gwa-ro—materialized before him. Zhongli Quan smiled and said.

[While we can’t help you directly, the barrier created by the Four Sea Dragon Kings should withstand that dragon’s attack. Don’t worry and fight on!]

“Everyone…”

Feeling a wave of emotion, Yeodong-bin struggled to hold back tears as he lowered his head.

“Have you all given up the ascension to the Great Immortal and offered your treasures?”

There was no other choice.

Otherwise, the Eight Immortals wouldn’t be able to summon the Four Sea Dragon Kings.

[Hahaha! Why the long face, Yeodong-bin! We’re immortal, so we can just practice for another hundred years and figure something out!]

Zhongli Quan said that as if it were no big deal, but Han Sang-ja retorted.

[Master, don’t be fooled! Teacher Zhongli is the most reluctant to part with the treasures.]

[Hey you!]

Yeodong-bin locked eyes with the Eight Immortals, feeling warmth flood through him. Although they jested about another hundred years of practice, it wouldn’t be so easy. Choosing to give up a definite path—especially to become the Great Immortal—required immense courage. And that courage stemmed from the trust and bond the Eight Immortals shared with Yeodong-bin.

He must win.

Yeodong-bin solidified that resolve.

At that moment, Nam Chae-hwa beside him said,

[Yeodong-bin. I’ve called upon some who might assist you. I hope it helps.]

“Thank you.”

[We’ll go regain our powers now. We may not emerge for at least twenty years…. Win.]

Nam Chae-hwa’s voice trailed off, revealing how depleted his energy had become.

Bang!

At that moment, the attention of the Eight Immortals turned towards a beam of light extending from the Dragon King’s mouth. As it descended toward the ground, the light expanded, and moments later, it reached the barrier erected by the Four Sea Dragon Kings.

Crack!

[Kuhahahaha…]

With a lamenting sound, the East Sea Dragon King, Guang De King Ao Guang, was struck, leaving him wounded and plummeting from the sky. Just one attack caused a dragon king to face such severe injury, leaving Han Sang-ja’s face pale.

[N-no way… this can’t be happening…]

It was akin to the Great Immortal being struck down in one blow! The Eight Immortals were stunned at how quickly a dragon king could be taken down.

Whoosh!

The Dragon of the Apocalypse unleashed another beam. This time, the West Sea Dragon King, Guang Shun King Ao Qin’s heart burst, and it seemed he might have perished as he slumped down towards the ground. The Eight Immortals screamed.

[No!!]

While the East Sea Dragon King had always been untrustworthy, the West Sea Dragon King was different; the Eight Immortals seemed to muster all their remaining strength to rescue him. Witnessing this, Yeodong-bin steeled himself and gazed up at the Dragon of the Apocalypse.

‘I must not let it shoot another beam!’

With all his might, he maximized the power of the Fire Dragon Sword and launched himself like an arrow.

He had to eliminate the threat, pouring all his realizations into action.

For this world… And for the future that lay ahead!!

And thus began the legendary battle between Sword Master Yeodong-bin and the Dragon of the Apocalypse, destined to be recorded in the chronicles of history!

 

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