1025——————==

True Martial Home

Hu Woong

After a clash, the golden whip rose to the sky again, stitching the starry night. I mean, it looked less like a whip and more like a bunch of light clumped in the air like cotton. The dazzling light surge was so intense it might have caused that illusion.

‘Could it be that the golden whip is wrapped in strong Qi? But then…’

I felt something off but, in the next moment, Cho Mu-rin launched another attack.

Kwah-gwah!!

“Ugh!”

On my left, over two hundred flickering whip lights flew in, while on the right, an even greater number of light beams came rushing at me. Initially, I activated my Protection Energy Technique to block this absurd number of whip lights—far too overwhelming for an ordinary martial artist—but when I saw it getting sliced apart like tofu, I was certain.

‘Each strike is heavy! Simple defense won’t work.’

If I can’t block it, I had to dodge, but for some reason, that Three Treasure Technique felt like my opponent already had it figured out. I wanted to observe their attack patterns more, but there was no time, so I quickly gathered my martial power to both my left and right hands.

True Martial Seven Cuts Classic

Left Yin Right Yang

Mysterious Resonance!

Papapan!

The energy of Yin gathered in my left hand and Yang in my right responded, producing a powerful wave; as they overlapped, it created a loud resonance. I infused the principles of the True Martial Seven Cuts, the perfection of protective technique, with the harmony of Yin and Yang to further amplify it. Then, the fierce wave began to scatter Cho Mu-rin’s whip lights immensely, and the protective energy emanating from my hands caused the waves to bounce outwards.

Then, in an instant, Cho Mu-rin seemed to mumble.

[Superior defensive technique…. But isn’t it from our sect?]

Pibi-bibik!

Pookang!!

“……!!”

Just when I thought I had deflected all of Cho Mu-rin’s attacks, my forearm was suddenly pierced through. It caught me off guard since I hadn’t expected an attack like that, but soon I realized it wasn’t too serious, so I leaped back to create some distance. The wound was about as deep as two chopsticks, and the precise nature of the injury meant it hardly hurt at all.

‘How did he break through my defense?’

I couldn’t understand. With my current internal power and mastery wielding the True Martial Seven Cuts’ protective energy, I was confident I could repel even the strongest sect leader. But to have not even sensed the attack just before? This indicated there was a secret to my opponent’s martial skills.

I started to clot the wound with my internal power and asked Cho Mu-rin.

“Why did you suddenly attack me? Thunder God Lineage’s Cho Mu-rin!”

“…I told you. I’ve come to test you according to the Law of Cause and Effect.”

“What does that even mean? Explain why you are testing me.”

Cho Mu-rin gazed up at the sky with a vacant expression, then replied.

“I’m just doing what I was told.”

“Who told you? Why?”

“Celestial Sage Mangnyang of the Hyunheogung. He interlinked the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique with me to have you tested.”

“……!!”

“Mangnyang?!”

The unexpected mention of Mangnyang made my eyes widen in shock.

‘Mangnyang sent Cho Mu-rin to test me? Why…?’

But it wasn’t the time to be panicking. I looked at Cho Mu-rin and said.

“So, I just need to knock you out? No time limit?”

“Not really, but I’m drawing endless Qi from the Heavenly Altar right now. Delaying won’t do you any good.”

I frowned at Cho Mu-rin’s words.

“…You’re quite considerate. But you claim to be at Absolute Realm, yet you’re so confident against me?”

Cho Mu-rin glanced at me with a vacant stare.

“What of it? Why should I fear your Absolute Realm?”

“Huh….”

He slowly lifted his whip.

“Here I come.”

Pa-at!

Eight Desolate Heavenly Demon

Unleashing

The next moment, Cho Mu-rin charged directly at me. I tried to dodge his attack using the Three Treasure Technique, but he spun around three times in an instant, executing another technique.

Fog-shrouded Sky Royal Shadow 108 Techniques

Initial Kill

Lightning Strike

Swish!

The dazzling lights whirled around. Cho Mu-rin’s golden whip suddenly transformed into particles like pollen, swirling around until it became a golden dust. It felt as if I was enveloped by the pouring streams of those golden particles. I sensed an overwhelming crisis upon seeing the progression of this Intent Heavenly Pillar’s Lightning Strike.

‘This… this isn’t something the Three Treasure Technique can handle!! I can’t believe such a killing move exists.’

No matter how much the Three Treasure Technique can grasp the essence of Heaven, Earth, and People and avoid all martial techniques, certain preconditions had to be met. First, there had to be enough room to establish that essence, and my opponent couldn’t disrupt my balance while I executed the Three Treasure Technique. However, every single golden particle of the Lightning Strike was a killing move and simultaneously a piercing intention that left no room for the Three Treasure Technique to flow through.

Thump!

As I dodged the Lightning Strike, I realized Cho Mu-rin’s attacks never slowed.

Fog-shrouded Sky Royal Shadow 108 Techniques

Shattered Soul Nine Sections

Ta-da-ta! Tadaang!

The nine strands of whip material twisted around and flew toward me, forcing me to make a choice—either block or evade. In that moment, I realized this flow was exactly what Cho Mu-rin intended.

‘If I keep being led around like this, I’ll end up with no choice at all.’

Cho Mu-rin wasn’t someone who overwhelmed with strength like the White Lotus Sect Leader. Instead, he used meticulously calculated applications of intention, forcing his opponent into a tight spot, where a single failure in choice would result in getting battered down to the ground.

In simpler terms, he waited for his opponent to counterattack, dealing damage from afar, slowly wearing down their stamina and Qi to determine the outcome!

I had encountered many martial artists like this at the peak expert level, but the numbers had dwindled as the levels rose. This was because, once one reached the peak expert level, they could use Intent cultivation to flip the scenario in one go, and recklessly tightening options would often lead to getting counterattacked and killed. Moreover, as one’s martial skill improved, predicting moves became easier, making it hard to pressure the opponent with sheer reading skills.

But who would have thought I’d face a peerless master who treats the Absolute Realm like a living thing?

At first glance, Cho Mu-rin seemed similar to Master Yu, but he was far more overt in his approach. While Yu was more aggressive than Cho Mu-rin.

‘Damn. I’ve never seen an Absolute Realm like this…’

Though this situation was unexpected, I realized being established within such an overpowering type of absolute martial skill was the last thing I wanted to see. I knew well that if I made a wrong move, even if I were on the same level as my opponent, I could end up dead without a chance to fight back.

I had to counterattack now.

If this dragged on, as Cho Mu-rin said, I would be finished.

I thought about launching an attack but rapidly felt deflated.

‘It’s not a good situation for a counter!’

I could dive in, but the problem was Cho Mu-rin had created enough turn radius in his surrounding attacks that he wasn’t risking alarming himself at all. Meanwhile, I was still being pressed, feeling my footing shifting precariously, so if my counterattack failed, Cho Mu-rin could easily cut me down in one breath!

‘Then let’s create some openings with a heavy drain to my Qi!’

Absolute Realm

Infinite Slash!

I unleashed the strongest sword energy capable of slicing even the sect leader’s Heart of Heaven’s Abundance in an instant. As the strengthened power of my water spirit blended in, it felt like my attack was on a whole new level of potency.

Purbang!!

As the Infinite Slash expanded, the golden whip strands in front of Cho Mu-rin snapped and bounced away, revealing a significant opening in front of him. In a direct confrontation, my Infinite Slash had a greater destructive power than Cho Mu-rin’s Eight Desolate Heavenly Demon techniques!

Alright! Let’s thrust again and finish this!

Thinking that, I activated the Soul Removal Technique, rushing towards Cho Mu-rin with immense speed to sever his neck. If I don’t stab now, when would I?

Although Cho Mu-rin’s vacant expression worried me a bit, it was still my chance.

But just as I prepared to attack, my water spirit suddenly screamed in my head.

[Stop, Baek Woong!!]

Startled.

I hesitated mid-attack because of the spirit’s warning. In that moment, Cho Mu-rin reorganized his posture and backed off, leaving me to waste my Infinite Slash’s consumption.

I mentally asked my spirit.

[Spirit, why the sudden urge to stop? Just a second ago I was going to stab him…!]

[It would have been dangerous.]

[Why?]

[Baek Woong. I’ve faced life and death alongside you in all battles since you’ve held me. So I have what could be termed a martial artist’s intuition as well. I’ve grown alongside you. And just now, I realized that the opponent was not genuinely displaying a crisis!]

[…….]

The spirit calmly advised me.

[Understanding from past experiences that engaging in a stalemate with the opponent may not be favorable is good. But if he reads that mindset as well and uses it against you… we walk right into a trap.]

[What? He plans for even that?! No way…!]

[He is certainly someone of that caliber. Among all Thunder God Lineage masters, he is one of the finest. Your past experiences can act as prejudices. Break that perception and look straight at the opponent, Baek Woong!]

[Umm…!!]

I resolved to heed the spirit’s words. I decided not to dwell on wasting my previous Infinite Slash and focused on gathering my thoughts. Since the opponent was also at Absolute Realm, I had to be prepared to deplete my power entirely to win this.

Seeing me prepare, Cho Mu-rin showed an unusual light in his eyes.

“You’re cooler than I expected. Isn’t it a waste of your technique?”

I replied bluntly.

“Your hidden nature is more ominous than expected. Is it not a waste of your sect’s reputation?”

“You’re quite persistent. I like it.”

“…….”

Cho Mu-rin, muttering happily, continued.

“The only one who pierced through my Eight Desolate Heavenly Demon head-on was my master during my lifetime. There were a few in the Celestial Realm, but can you really compare yourself to them?”

“If you’re referring to Yeodong-bin and Jang Sam-bong, I admit my martial skills haven’t reached their level yet.”

“Then you’ll die here.”

I clenched my spirit tightly and replied.

“No! Think about it differently. If I pierce through your Eight Desolate Heavenly Demon right here, wouldn’t it mean I’m nearly at their level?”

“Alright, show me.”

Swish…

Once again, the golden whip gathered around Cho Mu-rin, appearing as a solid mass. I focused my mind, drawing up my Intent cultivation from the bottom and honing in with my gaze. This time, unlike before, I decided to observe the entirety of Cho Mu-rin’s movements.

‘It’s not just about blocking the attack. If I can prevent his rush, there should be answers within the range he stands…’

Woosh!

At that moment, when Cho Mu-rin’s attack unfolded once more, I counterattacked, closing the distance between us with the Heavenly Contraction Sword. As the sword’s intent approached, Cho Mu-rin, unperturbed, unleashed a series of thirty-six mid-level techniques in a split second, moving at such a speed it looked like mist.

Papapapapat!

‘So this is why it’s called Fog-shrouded!’

I finally understood why he had never faced a rival in his life. This speed was among the top three I had encountered in all my life. If coupled with movement techniques, martial spirits would have absolutely no way to counter.

Astounded by the speed of the Fog-shrouded Sky Royal Shadow, I calmly evaded it with the Three Treasure Technique and, as I gracefully shifted my position to strike with my sword, it happened again.

Pook!

‘……!! Again?!’

Out of nowhere, I was stabbed in the calf this time. I was using all my focus on my intent, being so close to Cho Mu-rin that I could see his true form clearly. Once I confirmed that, I struck down with the Infinite Slash, stunning Cho Mu-rin as I leaped back to safety.

‘I see now!’

I gazed at Cho Mu-rin and said.

“I was mistaken. You aren’t waiting for a counterattack; you’re simply catching prey caught in a web.”

“Hmph….”

Cho Mu-rin glanced at me for a moment, then gradually manifested his intent visibly.

Whew…

A while later, I noticed that over a hundred threads of intent were strung around us like a spider’s web. They appeared sparse but were actually tightly woven to trap anyone just moving a little.

This was the true nature of the Absolute Realm’s Eight Desolate Heavenly Demon.

The moment someone brushed against those threads, escape or counterattack would be utterly impossible as deadly intent would shoot out, piercing flesh. If that repeated, I’d ultimately bleed out or create an opening for Cho Mu-rin to finish me off.

‘Damn it. This is ridiculous…. It’s impossible to detect those threads with my Qi sense, as his intention overlays it so thoroughly. Even my Fire Eye Golden Spirit can’t see those!’

If I got close enough, I could sense the Eight Desolate Heavenly Demon, but the feeling wouldn’t be too precise. I had never imagined the stealth of intent techniques could develop to such a level.

Cho Mu-rin revealed his intention.

“The way to break it is simple. Either achieve ultimate mastery of your technique to disregard the Eight Desolate Heavenly Demon and capture my real form, or avoid the threads altogether while exchanging facings with me.”

“…….”

“Yeodong-bin and Jang Sam-bong were the former. Only Yu managed to do the latter.”

“What about the Celestial Sage?”

“With him, there was too much of a difference in our levels, making a martial clash impossible. I never expected him to use clones and piercing eye beams. He was an overwhelmingly strong entity.”

Having said that, Cho Mu-rin stared me down.

“Do you understand? The martial arts of humans have distinct limits.”

Sis-sis…

Cho Mu-rin’s Eight Desolate Heavenly Demon began to vanish once more. I inwardly spoke to my spirit.

[Spirit! I’m going to slice all those threads with the Infinite Slash and hit him!]

[Do you think that will work? He’s become a martial legend through hundreds or thousands of bloody battles. An opponent using direct martial principles would surely receive the full brunt of that. Charging headlong will only invite trouble. Best to find another way.]

[What other way?]

[While you could utilize the Heavenly Destruction Step to pierce through his defenses, if even that gets caught, you’ll be torn to shreds alive. So…]

With that, my spirit shared a strategy with me, and I quickly realized the logicality of the plan.

Alright, let’s do this!

Pa-at!

I charged again directly at Cho Mu-rin, launching another Infinite Slash. Cho Mu-rin evaded the strike using a Thunder God Lineage technique, dodging to the side, and in that moment, I summoned the Flame Spirit I had equipped, the Blessed Fire.

Sword Flying Technique!

Using the Flying Sword technique, I sent the Flame Spirit soaring. As it approached Cho Mu-rin, he had no choice but to fortify against it, yet even with his strength, he was bounced away by the Flame Spirit, now enhanced by my intention.

Kwang!

An opening opened up in Cho Mu-rin, though it wasn’t large, I began boosting my Qi perception, intensely studying the surrounding Eight Desolate Heavenly Demon. It wasn’t easy to recognize just with Qi sense, but if I blocked my five senses and awakened intuition, I could vaguely grasp their locations.

‘I need to memorize the positions of the threads…’

Frantically, I recalled the locations of the threads in my mind while still moving through them. Following that, I contemplated every angle of engagement before quickly charging at Cho Mu-rin again, urging my spirit forward.

Ta-da-dat!

Reaching Cho Mu-rin, I flipped in the air three times before pivoting, narrowly avoiding the threads. And when I stood right in front of him, I struck with the Infinite Slash aimed directly at his neck.

Taaang!

Purbang!

As Cho Mu-rin activated the Fog-shrouded Sky Royal Shadow to block, the Infinite Slash detonated against a mass of whips, yet it still failed to land a hit on him. However, that instant, the Flame Spirit I was controlling struck, and it appeared that Cho Mu-rin had no way to evade.

“……!!”

For the first time, his expression seemed to waver. He was undeniably backed into a corner of life and death, glancing quickly at the Flame Spirit before executing another technique.

Divine Dragon Awakening

Strangling Dragon Switching Heaven

Swiiish!

Huh?! What’s happening?!

‘Cho Mu-rin and I just swapped places…’

Caught off guard by the sudden shift, I quickly reoriented myself and executed my own technique.

‘Fine, let’s swap again!’

Technique of All Things

Stealing Space Again!

Whoosh!

I swiped the space again and swapped places with Cho Mu-rin. It was as if everything was restored to its original state.

“Ha!”

Seemingly in disbelief, Cho Mu-rin took a quick breath. As the Flame Spirit approached, he lifted his whip to block the blade; in that moment, a bright flash erupted as his weapon flew off far into the distance. The Flame Spirit, now powered up by intention, couldn’t possibly be thwarted by a mere temporary measure of the Absolute Realm.

Kuh-goo-goong!

Thud thud thud…

“Cough….”

I saw Cho Mu-rin spitting a bit of blood. I turned to him and said.

“Does this mean I won?”

“…Looks like you did.”

Cho Mu-rin mumbled as he dusted himself off and stood up.

“Humans are ultimately beings beneath the Gods… Why put in so much effort? Neither you nor that Hyunheogung understands it.”

His pessimistic tone almost made me feel exhausted too. I never expected to encounter a Thunder God Lineage disciple with such thoughts, leaving me a bit taken aback, but I still responded.

“That’s for me to decide. Now tell me why you were summoned.”

“…It’s for your own good. I was summoned once you began mastering the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique and mixed the Fog-shrouded Sky Royal Shadow within it. The first purpose for my summoning was to test your potential; however, the true purpose is…”

He paused before speaking again.

“To find Yeodong-bin, who exists in this world, on the orders of Celestial Sage Mangnyang.”