전생검신 87권 19화

[Is that so?]

Ajidahaka didn’t seem surprised by my declaration of not using internal energy. Instead, he immediately took a strange stance with his sword reversed.

Argel also wielded the Sword Emperor’s Immortal Outer Thousand Techniques.

Ceremony 411th Technique.

Blood Palace Seven Moon.

Kugugugu!!

Suddenly, a formidable blood qi began to form visibly on the sword held in reverse. Knowing that this was a manifestation of condensed Qi layered over itself, I couldn’t help but imagine the power of Blood Palace Seven Moon, realizing it was on par with the ultimate techniques of the peerless masters I’d encountered so far.

Ajidahaka spoke in a voice devoid of emotion.

[It seems you’ve caught on. Prove that you truly possess the Divine Realm!]

Thuwak!

In the next moment, Ajidahaka slashed the air with a single stroke, and at the same time, a vast crimson aura filled the entire arena to create a sword qi. I watched as the sword qi transformed into a myriad of colors in the blink of an eye.

‘A spectrum of colors… that’s the realm Ajidahaka has attained!’

It’s highly likely that this is another absolute realm with no official name that I’m aware of!

This means I was already facing overlapping sword techniques from that absolute realm. Among martial artists on this earth, there was no one who could pull off such a crazy feat, and in terms of technique, I could only think of the future Asura as a comparable entity.

But, thanks to the Nine Chambers of Thunder and the Soul of the Evil God, my internal energy was still superior. If it came down to raw strength, I wouldn’t be at a disadvantage. With that thought, I yearned to unleash my full body internal power right away to counter Ajidahaka with my superior energy.

‘… No. I promised I wouldn’t use my internal energy. Besides…’

Naturally, if I tried to face Ajidahaka’s techniques through conventional means, it would only lead to unfavorable outcomes for me.

Honestly, being forced to rely solely on brute strength against someone of his caliber was another humiliation!

I had endured this humiliation in order to continue my life, but I couldn’t bear it today.

Isn’t the essence of martial confrontation about overcoming the opponent with skill as well?

I felt a rebellious spirit rising within me. If things went wrong, it would just lead to death, right? I thought I’d rather lose due to a lack of skill here than break my oath. So, I concentrated all my mental strength and tried to read the opponent’s [flow] in a natural state.

Ssss.

Sure enough, it naturally came to me. Amidst the vivid realization of the flow I sensed from the uproar of the Soul of the Four Gods’ techniques, I felt like a dandelion seed swaying helplessly in a gale. I felt the force, but lacked the determination to counter it directly. On the surface, I looked utterly disadvantaged, and it seemed like a mere touch would hasten my demise under the Blood Palace Seven Moon, yet I remained calm, focusing my mind.

Flash!!

Suddenly, the Blood Palace Seven Moon flew toward me with the speed of the Thunder Spirit, smashing everything in its path. It turned out, being a long-anticipated technique, it possessed tremendous power and speed once unleashed.

Boof-boom!

Everything shattered around me, but amidst all that chaos, I successfully perceived the [flow]. Even without using internal energy, it felt as if I was absorbing the opponent’s strength within me, taking steps forward. When I advanced seven steps, I felt that I was finally within Ajidahaka’s range and dove in.

Dark Night Slash!

Kagakang!!

“……!!”

I launched the Dark Night Slash, which had previously buried all my foes in a single strike. However, Ajidahaka effortlessly blocked it as if he had anticipated it, deflecting my slash in mid-air with his sword. I was so taken aback by his defense that I almost fell into despair as Ajidahaka eyed me, a sheen of light escaping his gaze.

[If I were an ordinary master of the absolute realm, your counterattack, having read the flow, would have been the end here. But you’re not the only one who can read the flow.]

“…….”

Stunned, I momentarily stood there before breaking into a smirk.

“I knew it.”

Creak!

I subtly shifted my weight forward, changing my center of gravity. As I tried to adjust the distance, Ajidahaka smoothly adapted, aiming to turn the situation in his favor. Within this close-quarters duel, I realized I was engaged in a fierce mental battle with my opponent.

Boom!

Ajidahaka suddenly launched a kick, striking my solar plexus and sending me flying backward. I lightly received the blow using my transformation technique, soaring back while utilizing the recoil to close in on Ajidahaka once more. He then conjured up sixteen spectral swords surrounding his body and sent them hurtling toward me.

Pew pew pew!

Normally, I would have just blasted through this and blocked it all using the Nine Chambers of Thunder’s energy. I had more than enough ability for that. But instead, I detected each spectral sword with my intent, calculated their trajectories, and effortlessly evaded them using the Three Steps technique.

Then, I moved in once more and unleashed the Dark Night Slash again. Ajidahaka easily parried the second strike as well.

Kakang!!

Locked in another clash of swords, Ajidahaka looked me in the eyes and remarked.

[Your hesitation in technique has vanished!]

“Hah, an evaluation? You think you’re better than me?”

[No… However, to shake off confusion in a split second… it looks like you’ve encountered a good teacher recently.]

To think he could sense the existence of Asura beyond my martial skills in that brief moment spoke volumes about his reputation as a Sword Saint.

Tydaht!

This time, Ajidahaka withdrew his sword and stepped back. He lowered his sword and remarked.

[It seems you’ve realized that you’re not yet capable of wielding the Soul of the Evil God properly. And to think you can precisely control everything without relying on internal energy… I apologize for my previous words.]

I smiled and replied.

“No need for apologies.”

Ajidahaka was right.

Using the Soul of the Evil God after so long, while each individual technique was powerful, I still had no idea how to combine them into ‘one great strength.’ My innate power was enough to counter Ajidahaka even without proper techniques, but that didn’t qualify as true martial combat.

‘I need further research and combat experience with the Soul of the Evil God. The potential is immense, but my comprehension lacks! At the very least, in this state, I can only overpower him with brute force…’

Thus, I resolved to discard my dependence on raw strength and shed everything rooted in internal energy. I decided to consciously cease using internal energy and move everything solely through intent. By doing this, I found I could read the flow even better, and it felt like I could use the previously exhausting Dark Night Slash multiple times now.

Of course, since I was striking purely with intent without internal energy, I was forfeiting any boosted attack or defense power I’d typically gain from combining the two. But as long as I could accurately respond to my opponent’s techniques, it wouldn’t pose a major problem. If I focused the right strength on the right point, there really wasn’t much difference.

And by setting constraints on my strength, I could finally use my techniques naturally and fight without falling behind Ajidahaka’s sword aura.

I felt suddenly unshackled and liberated!

‘This is fascinating. Objectively speaking, using internal energy would make my power significantly stronger… but by relinquishing uncontrolled power, my strategy has become quicker and more precise.’

Ajidahaka said.

[You are now a worthy master. You might just be eligible to sit upon the seat…!]

No way?

As I stared at him with curiosity, Ajidahaka continued.

[This attack, launched sincerely… bring it on!!]

Chiriching!!

Suddenly, all the energy around Ajidahaka vanished, and a multicolored halo appeared behind his head. I instinctively sensed that this halo wasn’t formed from energy or intention, and I felt a kind of divine aura that startled me.

‘Divine power? Ah… no, that’s something entirely different.’

Ajidahaka extended his sword forward, seemingly measuring the distance to his opponent, adopting a sword stance. As he focused all his intention on this single motion, he eventually withdrew his mind entirely, entering a state of complete void.

In that instant, I too realized that I had to erase all my power. Up until now, I had been tracking his changes with my eyes, but from here on out, I understood it was a level beyond mere sight. Even activating my sixth sense wasn’t enough to perceive Ajidahaka’s techniques, and I felt anxious.

When I intensified my seventh sense, I finally noticed that his sword harbored the essence of nature, but I still couldn’t grasp the totality of his changes. Facing Ajidahaka’s enlightenment, I felt awe rather than pressure.

‘No doubt about it…!!’

This is definitely the Divine Skill!!

In the next moment, Ajidahaka’s blade swept horizontally.

Argel also wielded the Sword Emperor’s Immortal Outer Thousand Techniques.

First Technique.

Divine Realm.

Ganges Sand.

Swhhhuuu!

Was I imagining that countless grains of sand spread around me? But in an extreme state of heightened perception, there was no way it was an illusion, and soon I became aware that countless invisible sword energies filled the earth. Bewildered, I tried to comprehend this phenomenon when a chill ran down my spine.

“……!!”

Cloud-like sword energy.

Petal-like sword energy.

Common techniques used in Jianghu were all related to density. And as I contemplated the density symbolized by the grains I perceived, something out of the blue struck me.

A desert…?!

Sweeping winds began whooshing around me, and suddenly my surroundings were engulfed by a mirage of a desert. I couldn’t distinguish whether it was an illusion or reality, but I realized these were techniques of a level far beyond the ordinary. Moments later, Ajidahaka’s sword came lunging at me, cutting right through the mirage.

There was no other option.

As I prepared to counter with the Dark Night Slash, I suddenly recognized something was amiss.

Swick!

‘Ugh! I’ve never encountered this absolute technique before…’

My Dark Night Slash could dispel the Divine Ganges technique, but all other ranges remained intact! I realized I was incapable of handling this unless I could cut through all directions in one go, but it was already too late.

Boom!!

Caught up in the swirling sands, I was immediately turned into a mass of blood and sent flying. As I rolled on the ground, quickly getting up, Ajidahaka commented in awe.

[You successfully shielded all acupoints from the Ganges attack at that moment. How do you manage that?]

“…….”

[An impenetrable defensive technique even I can’t discern. You are indeed a more impressive sword hero than I thought.]

No kidding…

I felt a sense of something being off. Just a moment ago, I had failed to counter with the Dark Night Slash, and I was on the verge of being completely shredded. Fortunately, it ended merely with superficial wounds, and while I was bleeding profusely, it seemed to be a surface injury. Considering that internal injuries are far more perilous for masters, I had actually gotten off quite lightly.

The problem was, I couldn’t fathom how I had managed to withstand Ajidahaka’s Ganges attack without using internal energy. But I found it awkward to ask my opponent about this while stalling for time, and just as I was hesitating, Ajidahaka spoke again.

[It’s slightly understandable why someone of your caliber hasn’t sat upon the seat until now… but with this, it’s my victory.]

“…….”

[You won’t be able to withstand just with that Dark Night Slash!]

Ajidahaka was speaking the truth. The Dark Night Slash was undoubtedly comparable to the Divine Skill, but it was essentially created to counter the Divine Skill and had almost no inherent power or characteristics on its own. Thus, against an absolute technique like the Ganges, wielding it was like swinging a sword against pouring rain—utterly pointless.

‘Hmm… I could use internal energy to employ the Nine Chambers of Thunder and the Soul of the Evil God… but…’

I couldn’t break the vow I made to myself to not use internal energy. Plus, with a warrior’s pride on the line, I had to navigate this battle using only the techniques I possessed.

More importantly, how had I just managed to survive? Normally, the verdict would have been decided the instant I couldn’t block the Ganges…

‘Clearly, I didn’t use my body’s energy or intent. If I had, using ordinary techniques would have meant a puncture against the Divine Skill… how did I escape unscathed?’

…

Wait a minute…

Surviving against the Divine Skill means…?

‘Oh!’

In that moment, I realized a shocking truth.

“……!!”

There’s something within me, a realization akin to the Divine Skill.