전생검신 87권 01화

The moment I saw Soeul dash towards Taegongmang using a unique technique, I realized something.

‘Is that… the Soul Removal Technique?’

What really matters in a technique isn’t the moving body but the feet. Every technique begins and ends with the feet, so regardless of how the rest of the body moves, it’s the footwork that dictates the entire configuration of the technique. When I saw Soeul’s first two steps, they closely resembled the foundational movements of the Soul Removal Technique, making it clear he was using something similar.

But by the third step, I was utterly flabbergasted.

Pa-hat!!

It was as if Soeul’s entire body dissolved into mist, and in an instant, he vanished!

‘Is that a change in the Wind Master Technique?’

I wasn’t the only one taken aback; Taegongmang raised his eyebrows, and in the next moment, Soeul reappeared behind him.

Chwa-za-jak – !!

“Secret Technique: Black Dragon Double Crescent Slash. I’ve actually tried to chop off a real dragon’s head with this…”

Soeul had sent out a staggering twenty-four slashes, leaving dark sword marks on Taegongmang’s robe while muttering to himself.

“That’s some crazy defense.”

Indeed.

Even though Soeul’s pitch-black sword strikes savagely carved at Taegongmang, they didn’t inflict any damage, similar to how Taegongmang had dispatched the goons from Yangsanbak earlier. Instead of causing harm, the marks left by Soeul’s sword were fading away as if paint drying under the scorching sun.

Without even turning around, Taegongmang chuckled lightly.

“You fighter from the human realm. Have you ever heard of the Eight Trigrams Purple-Robed Immortal Garment?”

“……!!”

“Of course, I didn’t have to rely on the Eight Trigrams Immortal Robe. I’ve got six treasures of my own, so I’m not worried. Hahaha…”

Just then, the Four Divine Beasts that were supporting Taegongmang piped in.

[You just panicked and started shaking your limbs when you lost sight of him.]

Taegongmang roared.

“Shut it, Four Divine Beasts!”

He’s got the Eight Trigrams Immortal Robe and six treasures more?!

Realizing Taegongmang’s current armament status left me feeling dizzy. I had learned just how formidable that Eight Trigrams Robe was during that fight with Peng Zuo. Back then, Peng Zuo was completely impervious to sword strikes and barely scratched by a master’s basic technique, making it nearly indestructible in terms of defense.

I suddenly found it strange and asked Taegongmang.

[Taegongmang. That Eight Trigrams Robe should be with Peng Zuo, who fled west. Why do you have it?]

“As expected of a genius, you’ve got a lot of information. Before the turmoil began, Peng Zuo collaborated with the human masters and got taken down. The treasures seized from him were stored in the Celestial Realm, and I brought them out.”

[Hmm…….]

So that’s how it was.

Given Taegongmang’s status, he could have taken as many treasures as he wanted from the Celestial Realm’s storeroom, making it no exaggeration to say he had the most treasures among all I knew in my previous life. If that’s the case, Taegongmang is practically invincible right now. Could I actually bring him down?

‘Breaking through even one Eight Trigrams Robe is already immensely tough, and factoring in those other treasures…’

While I was lost in concern, Taegongmang cast a quick glance back at Soeul and said.

“I’ll say it again: I don’t wish to kill. If you retreat now, there will be no harm done.”

What a refreshing blend of arrogance with absolute confidence in his skills!

Indeed, Taegongmang was among the strongest even in the current chaotic world, and Soeul seemed far too weak to take him on. Soeul seemed to notice this as well, hesitating for a moment but eventually, he didn’t lose his spirit and gripped his sword, declaring.

“I’ll give it my all, so if you’re gonna kill me, go ahead!”

“Stubborn, huh….”

“Yet I will land at least one strike on you. That’s the pride of the Subjugation Squad.”

Ssssss

Soeul’s sword began moving slowly, tracing a half-moon. During this languid movement, I felt all of his Qi and Intent concentrating on the blade. I realized this motion was something I had never seen in any techniques of the Four Great Families. With over a hundred years of training in the Four Great Families, I knew there was no way I could be mistaken.

‘What kind of martial art is that?’

I had discerned earlier that Soeul’s martial arts were based on the Thunder God Lineage and Nine Chambers of Thunder, but the way he occasionally transformed was something fundamentally different. If I were to say that it exuded a sense of ‘freedom’ unbound by the Four Great Families’ norms, would that be too extravagant a claim?

As Soeul prepared his Absolute Slash, Taegongmang effortlessly pulled out a palm-sized silver bell from his robe, as if he couldn’t be bothered.

“Sorry, but I can’t play around for long. If your technique fails to land a blow this time, I’ll use this treasure, the Soul-Breaking Bell, to drain your soul, making it impossible for you to continue living.”

“…….”

“This is me being generous, so don’t take it personally.”

The Soul-Breaking Bell!

That was known to be among the treasures of Guang Chengzi from the Twelve Great Immortals of Kunlun. Once it was shaken, it could disturb the souls of mortals, causing them to lose consciousness on the second ring and, if it rang a third time, the soul would immediately ascend toward the Divine Spirit Pavilion. It seemed Taegongmang had taken out even such a powerful weapon from the Celestial Realm.

However, Soeul didn’t back down and boldly retorted.

“What if I manage to land a hit?”

“Haha. Then I’ll concede today. But that won’t happen.”

“Don’t forget those words.”

Soeul took a moment to gather his focus before suddenly releasing a battle shout.

“Slash!”

Kuwat!

In the next moment, as Soeul drew his sword, it seemed Taegongmang’s entire figure was engulfed by a dark crescent resembling a black moon. I mean, should we even call that a sword strike? The spiritual energy from that blade expanded like a living creature, as if it was about to slice Taegongmang’s upper and lower halves in half.

Yet I immediately sensed that this attack wouldn’t succeed.

‘No! The Eight Trigrams Robe didn’t show any cracks!’

I could sense the flow of energy; even though that powerful black moon sword technique appeared to be striking Taegongmang’s body, it ultimately failed to dismantle the core of the opponent’s defense, rendering it utterly ineffective! Despite being surrounded by the sword energy, Taegongmang’s expression remained one of mild annoyance.

Is this really how it ends?

But just then, something strange stirred within my senses.

Zhincheon Aryu

Inverse Light

I felt something rotating from within Soeul! At the same moment, a glow began to radiate from behind Soeul’s head, and in a blink, the light flowed down his arm and onto the blade. The very instant the mass of light flowed down the sword, I sensed a radical change in Soeul’s technique.

‘This… this is…!!’

How is this even happening?

As I struggled to hide my shock, the now transformed black moon sword energy started to emit blinding white light. At that moment, Taegongmang’s expression drastically changed, his eyes widening in disbelief.

“Uaaah…?!”

As Taegongmang flailed his arms, the strike of the white moon descended like moonlight.

Kuwakawaka-kwang!!

An explosive sound! Simultaneously, a massive shockwave and gust of wind swept through, sending me flying backward helplessly. If I could have used my internal power, I’d have pulled off the Heavenly Roots Technique; if I could have utilized my magical power, I’d have grounded myself to the earth, but I had no options. I was sent soaring through the air for over thirty yards before crashing to the ground.

Tatata-tang

A few metallic clanging sounds!

I grimaced at finding out I had turned into a tin can.

‘Damn it! At least in this situation, being a tin can is a blessing. No worries about internal bleeding.’

Having barely landed and regaining my senses, I hurriedly dashed back to where I had been thrown from. I was itching to know what the situation was.

When I finally returned to the scene, I was in for the shock of my life.

Chijijijik…….

Lightning surged like a flowing river over the ground! And in the middle of all that stood Taegongmang, grinning coldly while riding on the Four Divine Beasts. Locking eyes ahead of him, I saw Soeul, sword in hand, who seemed to have lost consciousness.

And upon seeing Taegongmang, I grasped the situation.

‘… The Eight Trigrams Robe… was cut!!’

And exactly in line with the traces left by Soeul’s Absolute Slash!

I couldn’t believe a mere martial artist could inflict damage on one of the most powerful artifacts known for its unmatched defense in the Celestial Realm!

Taegongmang didn’t appear to be wounded, a fact that wouldn’t alter the significant impact of Soeul’s blow to the Eight Trigrams Robe.

As Taegongmang remained silent, the Four Divine Beasts grumbled.

[You fool. If I hadn’t nullified the shock with Shenglong’s power, you might have actually died.]

Shenglong’s power?

Could it be that the Spirit Beast, Four Divine Beasts, had more abilities beyond dimensional travel?

‘Right… the Four Divine Beasts are said to encompass the powers of all the Supreme Beasts of the Celestial Realm. Then…’

Could it be that the true ability of the Four Divine Beasts is…?

While I was secretly shocked by this newfound truth learned in my rebirth, Taegongmang sighed.

“Hoh… thank you, Four Divine Beasts. I’ve underestimated humans too much.”

Taegongmang himself seemed to be in a bit of shock. He had thought he could just let Soeul hit him without any defense, but Soeul’s attack exceeded his expectations.

But that didn’t mean Soeul was stronger than Taegongmang. Taegongmang hadn’t even utilized his true treasures, the Three Treasures and Ta Shin-pyeon, nor had he employed the strongest Spirit Beast, the Four Divine Beasts. Above all, he merely stood there to take the hit without a thought. If he tapped into all his power, it wouldn’t change the fact that he’s still one of the strongest Divine Beings between Heaven and Earth.

As Taegongmang spotted me arriving in the back, he said.

“Promises are promises. I’ll let you go today. Nanjing Castle’s Baek Woong.”

I felt a sudden urge to tease him and replied with a smirk.

[Heh, you sure you wanna do that? You won’t get another chance like today.]

“I know that better than anyone. But having messed up due to my arrogance, I at least need to keep the promises I made.”

With a glum expression, Taegongmang slowly began to rise into the air atop his Four Divine Beasts. He looked down at me with a somber face and spoke.

“Humans! If you truly wish to save this world, you must first understand that you must ultimately follow the will of the Three Sovereigns…!!”

Pahat

[…….]

The will of the Three Sovereigns…

Does that mean Taegongmang from Gangdong Castle is also part of the forces under their control?

‘Then does that include Xiang Yu…?’

My mind was in a jumble. But since there was nothing I could discern right now, I shook my head and examined Soeul, who was lying in a faint. Noticing his current state, I frowned.

[As expected.]

His vital energy was messed up, and his internal power was completely in chaos.

That meant he was in a state of Walking Fire Entering Demon!

Soeul had deep internal power, but he was unable to pull off that technique after leaping beyond his limits with a special martial skill.

I had no internal power and thus no way to properly cure his Walking Fire state, but I knew exactly how to save Soeul. I quickly pointed my finger, as sharp as a needle, and rapidly pressed on the acupuncture points along Soeul’s meridians.

Pa-pa-pa-pat!

I was the best in the world at using the Huatuo’s 108 Needles and Huatuo’s Five Animals Play! Even without internal power, once I opened up the flow of his meridians with the 108 needles, curing his state would be a walk in the park!

For about half a moment, I pressed on the acupuncture points desperately, working my hardest to bring Soeul back to life. If I had my internal power, I could have completed this in a fraction of the time, but without any help, it was bound to take longer. After some time, I finally managed to see Soeul vomit up a chunk of vile blood.

“Cough!!”

Soeul coughed up the bad blood and barely regained consciousness. Looking down at him, I said.

[Sorry. With my internal power absent, I probably diminished the efficacy of your true internal power.]

“……Cough… cough… Thank you. Just that is enough for me.”

[But may I ask you something?]

“Go ahead.”

At my question, Soeul flinched.

[The technique you used just now to pierce Taegongmang’s Eight Trigrams Robe… was it possibly a technique for transforming the Thunder Soul into another type of soul?]

“……!!”

Soeul’s expression turned to one of utter surprise. He was stunned for a moment, struggling to keep his composure as he finally nodded heavily.

“Yes.”

[Who taught you that technique?]

“Jin So-cheong.”

[…….]

I couldn’t help but close my eyes for a moment at that revelation.

‘As expected.’

The processes may have been drastically different, but the principles were the same.

Jin So-cheong must have also grasped the principles of the Soul of the Evil God.