전생검신 Volume 85, Chapter 2

I realized my plan had succeeded and grinned.

[Well, I got a body.]

It seems like I can now operate in this world.

I made a contract with my soul using the Soul Exchange Technique and got a steel body in return!

I need to float to my inner sanctum according to Zhuge Sect.

I repeated this in my mind, pondering how to make use of this steel body.

‘If only I could use the Light Body Technique…’

I decided to give it a try and raised my internal power. But every route of internal energy I knew was missing, and I felt no Qi either. Well, of course, this wasn’t a human body, but a machine made of steel. My expression soured as I realized this.

‘Ugh. I finally get a body, but I can’t use any martial arts?’

Should I give magic a shot this time?

[Clone Technique!]

The words came out with a clunky mechanical sound, but nothing happened. This was because my hand, which I tried to put on my head, embarrassingly brushed through the air.

Oh right, machines don’t have hair!

‘Damn… I could use body hair if I had any, but I don’t have that either…’

Still, it felt oddly nice, so I absentmindedly patted my bald head.

I think I’m getting addicted to this…

‘Fingertips are responding just fine… Ah, this isn’t the time for that.’

I started testing one magic technique after another. But it seemed I couldn’t use any of them either. I felt a growing defiance and tried to draw out my divine power.

…

The divine power was even harder to summon. I realized that almost all my abilities were sealed and felt completely defeated.

What’s the point of having this body if I’m still useless? I’m just as incapable as ever!

I felt frustrated but couldn’t shake the thought that there had to be some way out. I’d faced so many obstacles before that I knew if I gave up, that would be the end, and I was aware that keeping at it would eventually lead to a way forward. After some intense thinking, it suddenly hit me — I had forgotten another ability!

‘… Right! That one…!!’

Hermes’ words flashed in my mind.

[The Soul Exchange Technique is completely different from the Sephiroth I possess. It’s an outcast among outcasts. Even I, a god of magic, can’t use the Soul Exchange Technique better than Si-mon Magus or his disciples. However, if you understand the fundamental principle…].

[Whether it’s the Soul Exchange Technique or Sephiroth, they will eventually converge at the pinnacle.]

[A person who can handle Sephiroth can also handle Qliphoth. You can manipulate the Tree of Life like the soul and project waves beyond the otherworldly realm. To do so, you need to master at least five or more Sephira to the extreme.]

I didn’t fully understand what Hermes said; it was too complicated. But what was clear is that even a being like a god of magic confirmed one thing.

‘He said the Soul Exchange Technique and Sephiroth become one at the pinnacle. That means… even if their systems are different, their essence is the same.’

And it seems I can use the Soul Exchange Technique right now.

So…?

Hmm…

I hesitantly used the Soul Exchange Technique to sense my own soul. I felt the soul moving according to the principles of the Soul Exchange Technique and began to manipulate it further using attraction. When the wave of my soul was at its strongest, I unleashed the essence of the Soul Exchange Technique.

Soul Exchange Technique

Rebirth!

This was a forbidden technique used to temporarily revive the corpse of the otherworldly scientist Nailatop! Originally, it’s a technique used to move another’s corpse to my will, but this time, the target isn’t anyone else.

It’s me!

I consider my body dead, controlling the spirit to overlay the essence of the Soul Exchange Technique onto myself! Usually, such a technique would risk serious side effects if used on a living body, but after all, this is a steel body, isn’t it?

Zcha—

As the Rebirth technique activated, a fog-like energy began enveloping my body. This energy was the maximized action of the spirit; to be exact, it was my soul overlaid onto this steel body, starting to influence it. As the energy intensified and my entire body started to look white, changes began.

Chicchiching!

At that moment, silver spiderweb-like energy began to rise all over my body like veins. I realized that this energy was different from regular Qi or magic, and I started getting excited as things progressed far better than I expected.

‘Awesome!! Seth is responding!’

I recalled the moment the Cheon Woo-jin had taught me about Sephiroth.

[Sephiroth is divided into three major categories—infinitum, sublimation, and control. You create three distinct spiritual worlds in your mind to enhance your upper dantian. Wizards of Sephiroth harmoniously cultivate these three to learn advanced magic known as Sephira. Mastering the ten Sephira allows one to become a lower demon god like Simon Magus.]

That’s right. The silver spiderweb emerging on me was the preparatory stage called Seth, aimed at freely casting the powers of the three categories!

[Seth is not much different from the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. The difference is that Qi is absorbed from nature, while Seth summons power from the World Tree somewhere in the universe.]

Exactly! Seth is a specialized system for mastering Sephiroth!

Holding onto that principle, I leveraged the fact that Sephiroth has the same root as the Soul Exchange Technique to enhance my own spirit through the Rebirth technique, entering a state where my spirit completely dominated my body. Soon, my spirit synchronized with the steel body, naturally recalling the Seth that was memorized.

Kugugugu!

Through Seth, I felt an unidentified force flowing in from somewhere. This was something I had barely dealt with, a quality I had only felt briefly while casting the final command, Tetragrammaton, with Cheon Woo-jin’s help. But thanks to the dense layering of Seth onto my spirit, I found I could control the power flowing in without any discomfort.

[UAAH.]

Kuwakwang!

I unleashed the gigantic power that had been condensed through Seth with a roar. A tremendous wind erupted from the back alley, startling the passersby outside. As I unleashed the power once, I felt a wave of energy stabilize, and soon after, something triangular emerged in my mental world.

‘What’s this…?’

Seeing it was a triangle reminded me of the Trimurti passed down from Brahma, but it felt different. The Trimurti merely divided an infinitely extending area, while this triangle seemed to symbolize a lineage with each angle.

In that moment, Cheon Woo-jin’s explanation passed through my mind.

[The three categories are infinitum (infinity), sublimation (elevation), and control. The sorcerer builds three distinct spiritual worlds to empower their upper dantian. A wizard of Sephiroth harmonizes these three to master Sephira, and by acquiring the ten Sephira, one can become a lower demon god like Simon Magus.]

Got it.

This triangle symbolizes the foundational three categories of Sephiroth… each symbolizing infinitum, sublimation, and control, right?

Oddly enough, it felt like I had officially begun my journey into Sephiroth. It was ironic that I only understood this ability when a need arose, after previously overlooking it entirely.

‘Well, at least I can temporarily use the powers of Sephiroth now!!’

I clenched my steel fist and started contemplating how to make my way to the inner sanctum in the void using the power of Sephiroth.

[Hmm…].

It was daunting. In reality, Zhuge Sa couldn’t teach me proper commands due to my low level of Sephiroth, and even Cheon Woo-jin had only shared Tetragrammaton without any other details. In short, I had immense internal power but lacked any martial arts or techniques. I couldn’t use Tetragrammaton in this situation either, nor did I even remember how to use it.

How do I fly using the power of Sephiroth? Should I just release the force gathered in Seth strongly?

Just then, I was interrupted.

“What are you doing! Why are you recklessly exuding strong energy and threatening the people of Luoyang!”

Chichiching!!

Before I knew it, a bunch of murderous killing intent and sword light appeared around me. About twenty warriors had quickly surrounded me in a formation, all of them radiating sword energy, indicating they were quite skilled. Unlike the usual martial artists I knew, they were all donned in armor that looked just as sturdy as what I had seen with Chugma Army.

I glanced at the armored warriors and said.

[I think there’s a misunderstanding. I’m not a suspicious character.]

The leading armored warrior tightened his stance and shouted.

“Of course, you aren’t! You’re just a machine!”

[…….]

Uh, can’t argue with that…?

As I stood there dumbfounded, one of the other warriors next to him spoke with a slightly angry tone.

“Captain! That’s a discriminatory remark against mechanical beings.”

“That’s right.”

“Apologize! Our father, who died in the Great Calamity, also had his body implanted into a machine.”

As the warriors began to confront their captain, he frowned, clearly irritated, and replied.

“…Fine, let’s just say you’re a person with a mechanical body! What’s this about discrimination… Ugh!”

“Captain, I’m reporting this to HR as a discriminatory comment.”

“Shut up! Is that really important right now? There’s an impure individual right in front of us!”

Kugugugu!!

The captain stepped forward, radiating an intense aura around his sword. I flinched in surprise when I saw the light.

[Sword Strength!]

Sword energy was much rarer and a higher level than mere sword energy. One had to be at least a peak expert to use it freely, which meant the captain was a peak expert right before my eyes. What was shocking was he looked like he was barely in his thirties, suggesting he could be in his prime.

Seeing that I recognized his sword strength, the captain grinned and said.

“Oh, you recognize sword strength! I am none other than Hwan Ji-gwang, the youngest elder of the Huashan Sect and the greatest genius! The Azure Dragon Sword Master of Luoyang!”

[…….]

“You suspicious machine! Kneel and receive my orders. If you don’t, I’ll cut you down.”

An elder of the Huashan Sect, who looked like a kid?

‘A peak expert like him is just the Chief of Security? That’s something you’d never imagine in the martial arts world.’

It seems Luoyang is quite a big city, and the Chief of Security’s martial arts seems high-level as well. As I pondered how to deal with the Azure Dragon Sword Master Hwan Ji-gwang’s threats, a thought popped into my head.

‘Huashan Sect… Hwan…? Could it be?’

Tentatively, I addressed the Azure Dragon Sword Master.

[Hwan Ji-gwang, do you happen to know the Elder of the Huashan Sect, Zilinjian (紫靈劍仙) Hwan Woo-jung (桓優貞)?]

The moment I asked, Hwan Ji-gwang confidently smiled.

“Hoho! I’ve heard some things… Yes, he is my grandfather!!”

[……!!]

“I’ve diligently trained swordsmanship under my grandfather since I was young, becoming a master of the Huashan Sect! If you don’t think you can match my strength, surrender now.”

Ah, as expected… this kid is the grandson of someone I know!

Nodding, I replied.

[By the way, I think I heard that the elder of the Huashan Sect got beaten by the Soeul Village Chief! You might want to ask if you know about that.]

No doubt about it.

That elder from the Huashan Sect I had beaten early in my current life!!

He’s that guy’s grandson!

“Uh, how do you know about that…?!”

As soon as Hwan Ji-gwang heard my words, his eyes widened with shock. I could hear murmurs from the other swordsmen around him. Clearly flustered, Hwan Ji-gwang yelled.

“You audacious one! Do you think you can survive after insulting the Hwan clan? Die!”

Swaaa!

Hwan Ji-gwang’s sword energy flew at lightning speed with a plum blossom sword technique. Normally, I would sense that attack in the realm of intent, but since my intent wasn’t working now, I could merely rely on feeling that incredibly fast speed physically.

‘So this is what it feels like to react without any martial arts.’

Bang!!

In the blink of an eye, Hwan Ji-gwang sliced off my right arm. Yet, feeling no pain, I looked at my severed arm, and Hwan Ji-gwang said.

“I’ve severed your arm as a punishment for your rudeness, but then again, you’re a machine, so it shouldn’t hurt. If you don’t want your entire body cut into pieces, kneel right now.”

[Hmm… Was that your fastest move?]

“What?”

Hwan Ji-gwang’s eyebrows twitched as I picked up my mechanical arm from the ground and grinned.

[Let’s make a wager. Try to hit me with your fastest sword attack. I will catch your attack with a martial arts technique.]

“……!!”

[If I successfully grab your technique, you let me go, and you, Hwan Ji-gwang, will apologize and kneel for cutting off my arm.]

People murmured…

Everyone was bewildered as the situation unfolded unexpectedly. It was just about catching a suspicious mechanical being, but now, for some reason, Hwan Ji-gwang’s pride as a swordsman was triggered.