1197——————==

Soul of the Evil God

The Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen descends upon Sagong Lin!

In an instant, the atmosphere of battle thickened, and I could feel the absolute warriors unleashing their intent like a tsunami of fear directed at him. A brief, eerie silence hung in the air as the ethereal white sword struck out toward Gong Sun Xuanwen.

Divine Skill

One Hand Seizing the Soul

The first attack aimed at him came from the Divine Thief. It wasn’t that the Divine Thief had a superior realm compared to others; it was just that this person had relatively less fear of the Emperor in the crowd.

One Hand Seizing the Soul wasn’t particularly fast. For some reason, it was laughably slower than Thunder Spirit, moving at a speed no more than that of a peak expert giving it their all! It seemed more like a technique meant for checkmating rather than a serious threat to someone as significant as Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.

However –

Thwack!

The Divine Thief’s hand unexpectedly latched onto Sagong Lin’s face, accompanied by a swift motion, like unscrewing a cap. It was a move that seemed so easy to dodge with Sagong Lin’s abilities, yet it struck true!

‘What the?!’

It felt all too accurate to say that dodging was impossible.

And that was an attack I had seen before!

The realm of the divine flips the law of cause and effect!

What happened next was even more astonishing.

In that fleeting moment, the echo of intent resonated, and it felt as if everything paused in a black-and-white space-time. The Divine Thief checked his hand, saw nothing, and then wore a look of utter confusion.

[……?!?!]

He seemed utterly defeated, stiffening for a moment before spouting out curses.

[F*ck! What a ridiculous situation… The mask from the very beginning…!]

Before I knew it, my eyes were on Sagong Lin’s face. Her peerless beauty still radiated a golden light, flowing with the calm smile of an absolute being.

Boom!

Then, in the next moment, the Heavenly Demon Sagong Lin surged toward the Divine Thief, her entire being imbued with the energy of the Yellow Dragon, as if strong lines of intent were being etched into reality like an ink wash painting. The fierce aura of the Yellow Dragon filled the environment, compressing the energy that gave onlookers chills.

Krrrch!

The energy within both of her palms let out a screech as it twisted dimensions. The momentum of the twin dragons soared from Sagong Lin’s arms.

I had to question my own eyes. The once-dodging figure of the Divine Thief appeared as if all at once, in front of the eyes of every absolute expert present.

Clone Technique?

Boom!

But when Sagong Lin’s palms began attacking everyone, a swirling vortex of energy erupted from her palms, creating countless echoes. Short sounds resonated, forming millions of waves, wrapping the surroundings in a rainbow-hued mist.

Swish!

As if unable to watch the completion of such a primal technique, Yeodong-bin and the blue-faced warrior almost simultaneously conjured their ultimate moves. They seemed to struggle against the twin dragons’ energy, their skin turning crimson from the strain, yet an ominous instinct told them they would be completely devoured if they didn’t act now.

Ping!

First came Yeodong-bin’s Formless Sword, dancing in a waltz as it pierced toward Sagong Lin’s upper lip. Just like before, it was a blend of chaos and nature, an impossible blade to predict for anyone seeking to block it.

At the same time, the blue-faced warrior unleashed five great swords, making them feel alive as they performed their techniques.

Divine Skill

Peerless Technique – Immortal Outer Thousand Functions

Eighth Hundred and Sixty-Third Style

Melting Star Shatter

Boom-ba-da-boom…

The blue-faced warrior’s five swords suddenly transformed into orbs of light, each radiating different alien colors. From these round orbs, azure blades extended as if being forged in a furnace, and in no time, the eyes of another world shimmered in the air.

And each wavelength of light became a beam, morphing into countless luminous blades, as the blue-faced warrior extended his six arms to caress the dazzling blades.

Zing!!

In the next moment, the beams surged out, responding to the blue-faced warrior’s every breath, striking Sagong Lin!

‘What… is that also martial arts?!’

It was an exceedingly strange and overpowering move! But it absolutely didn’t feel like a martial technique that was the doing of mere mortals. It felt as if I were witnessing the manifestation of an otherworldly fighting style that transcended human capability, seeing the blue-faced warrior with six arms was a bewildering sight.

Boom!

When confronted with the dual Divine Skills, Sagong Lin crossed her arms, forming a wall to shield her upper body, and with a heavy impact, she was pushed back a step.

‘Sweet!’

Realizing that even the Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen could take hits from a Divine Skill, I was inwardly thrilled, but Yeodong-bin and the blue-faced warrior’s faces had turned stonily pale. Meanwhile, Sagong Lin maintained her stance, golden light rippling from her eyes, as she murmured:

[Apostles of the Martial God, this is where your fate ends.]

Lord of Ten Thousand Demons

Sagong Lin’s sword form vanished completely from my perception. Even the Thunder Spirit could still be recognized, but the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons completely surpassed that realm and was no longer visible.

Whoosh – !!

The next moment, the Divine Thief’s head went flying. It seemed he tried to counter the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons with his Divine Skill, the Technique of All Things, but his hand was left uselessly frozen in the air. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

Swish!

At the same time, the blue-faced warrior, attempting to create a barrier with his Immortal Outer Thousand Functions, was stricken and was cut in half before becoming airborne. I watched, bewildered, unable to comprehend what technique had struck the blue-faced warrior.

Thud!

One half of the blue-faced warrior fell to the ground, groaning out through the cracked blue mask.

[…I, Sword Saint, have come to protect this world with the wishes of billions across the galaxy… How infuriating.]

He lay still afterward, as if fully dead.

Splat!

All that survived was Yeodong-bin and Jang Sam-bong, who somehow managed to subdue or block the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons. The Asura also suffered an attack but seemed to have successfully neutralized it with the Dark Night Slash.

“Gag!”

Gurgle!

Yet, Yeodong-bin collapsed on the spot, spluttering blood, while Jang Sam-bong’s complexion turned entirely pale. Even such absolute experts couldn’t withstand the overwhelming force of the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons.

I gritted my teeth at the horrifying scene.

“Enough!! How could the god use [Small Cycle] against humans to massacre them!”

Then, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, through Sagong Lin’s body, shot me a glance and said.

“Foolish one, Reborn Person.”

“What?”

“Your words desecrate the dead even more.”

Wh-what is he talking about?

Caught off-guard, I heard Cheon Woo-jin’s calm voice cutting through the tension.

“…King of Humans, Baek Woong. That person did not manipulate the cycle.”

“……?!”

“That is the power of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen and the true force of the Heavenly Demon who rules the world.”

Step.

The comparably less articulate Asura stepped forward to join Yeodong-bin and Jang Sam-bong. With a very composed expression, feigning cheerfulness, he spoke to me.

“Hey Baek Woong! Like it or not, this is the end.”

“…Asura.”

“In two basic techniques, we might die. But before that, let us find a way to create hope.”

At that moment, the golden light flickered in Sagong Lin’s eyes. She gave Asura a somewhat peculiar glance and then said.

“O you, child of Chi You. After being forsaken by the Martial God, do you still dare to oppose me?”

“…….”

“Do you swing your sword in endless meaninglessness, sword-wielding dead?”

Her solemn words felt more regal than mocking.

Asura grinned at those words, bowing deeply in respect, and then replied courteously.

“Since I heard of your name from Chi You, it is my first meeting with you, great one. However, please do not speak as if you know everything.”

Despite being a foe of life and death, Asura maintained his respect. That implied he recognized the greatness of his adversary to be more than simply friend or foe.

“It is indeed true that you have not reached the Divine Skill.”

“That was only my role.”

“Isn’t that just mental victory?”

“…I am satisfied with that.”

The Heavenly Demon squinted his eyes.

“How pitiful.”

That was as far as the dialogue went. The intense intent from absolute beings twisted space-time and boxed us in, and I could feel the tension as they faced each other, exchanging numerous techniques.

…

The silence descended.

To brace for the next impact, nature wrapped itself in silence, and all the chaotic cries and horrors that blanketed the world hushed, just for this moment. Yeodong-bin and Jang Sam-bong moved to encircle the Heavenly Demon with Asura in the formation of the Three Talents, waiting, while the Heavenly Demon did not make any counteractions.

In a split second, light crossed paths.

Lord of Ten Thousand Demons

The twin arms filled with golden energy struck decisively against Yeodong-bin’s Formless Sword Path.

Zzzzzat!!

Then, Yeodong-bin’s singular sword, achieving the realm of the Divine Domain, cleaved through the air, raising a substantial wound on Sagong Lin’s body. It was such a free-spirited strike that I thought victory was being decided in one go.

‘Indeed Yeodong-bin!’

But the astonishing event followed immediately.

Suddenly, the twin arms of the Heavenly Demon swept back around to strike straight at Yeodong-bin’s heart! Somehow, the previously wounded form of the Heavenly Demon did not show the slightest trace anymore.

“Unbelievable!”

Divine Skill

Peerless Technique

Tai Chi Center!

In a moment of sheer desperation, Jang Sam-bong emerged from behind Yeodong-bin, arms stretching out wide, redirecting the Peerless Technique’s energy toward Yeodong-bin’s back and the void. Two Tai Chi circles emerged simultaneously around his body, and I distinctly saw the ascendancy of the Yellow Dragon’s energy spiraling from Jang Sam-bong’s outstretched left hand.

Thud!

Blood tears flowed from Yeodong-bin’s six holes, but it seemed he owed his life to Jang Sam-bong. However, that did not signify he fully avoided the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons’ attack, as an abnormality surfaced upon Jang Sam-bong, who had defended Yeodong-bin.

Splat!

Jang Sam-bong’s left arm could no longer endure the shock and burst off. In an instant, he became one-armed, yet it seemed he overcame the pain with supernatural mental strength as he shouted with renewed vigor.

“The last move of the Heavenly Demon, I shall seal it!”

Boom!

The two divine beings, like a single entity, surged toward the Heavenly Demon. Yeodong-bin, feeling no less than energized, performed the Formless Sword Path again, and even with only one arm left, Jang Sam-bong mimicked Yeodong-bin and created a Peerless Technique’s Tai Chi.

Swish!

As if the halo of Tai Chi accelerated the formless divine sword, their joint strike was worthy of being called a pinnacle of harmony!

Perhaps the Heavenly Demon felt that too?

He hesitated, observing them as if he missed a cue in their moves. In the blink of an eye, the fleeting intent drifted aimlessly, and the Heavenly Demon began to move slowly.

[A worthy opponent indeed.]

His single line echoed in the realm of absolute silence.

Eternal Dance

It was a dance. A simple series of moves comprising cutting, thrusting, and blocking, yet it gradually developed more flourishes. In the intertwining forms of the elegant dance, a moment of clash with the Formless Sword Path occurred as the Eternal Dance merged with reality.

Then, Yeodong-bin struck, but the Heavenly Demon thrusted.

The quintessential essence of backfire – Yeodong-bin’s false strike created the perfect line of entry for the Heavenly Demon that might well determine Yeodong-bin’s fate.

A mere step apart.

Yeodong-bin’s Moonless Blast fell to the Heavenly Demon’s Eternal Dance.

Boom!

Yeodong-bin’s solar plexus was pierced through with the Eternal Dance, at the same moment as Jang Sam-bong’s Peerless Technique shattered. The Divine Skill protecting Yeodong-bin surrendered under the overwhelming power brought by the Eternal Dance.

The Heavenly Demon’s eyes glimmered with golden light as he delivered the final strike.

Chi You Kill

Zzzzzz!!

At that moment, it felt like a golden heavenly sword slicing down! With that strike, Yeodong-bin and Jang Sam-bong’s fates were sealed, as the Heavenly Demon soared into the sky, gleaming like the halo of the sun.

Thud…

I found myself kneeling in shock.

“A… ah…”

Annihilation.

Even with five absolute warriors charging in, they couldn’t withstand the sudden onslaught from Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen wielding a divine move. However, the real despair creeping into my heart wasn’t just because the absolute warriors lost their lives.

In a daze, the voice of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen seemed to seep into my ears.

“Reborn Person, how does it feel?”

In the next moment, I had to recognize that what I had just witnessed was indeed reality.

“The strength of the Heavenly Demon’s Divine Skill, having reached the divine realm.”

That’s right.

Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen has – reached the divine realm.