1211——————==

Soul of the Evil God

Thunder Principle Realm!

Just like the Thunder Sword art reached its peak, the spear arts had an equivalent level as well, known as the Thunder Principle Realm, where one could freely manipulate thunder energy. The ability to generate lightning in one’s mind was the same; the only difference was that sword arts were called Thunder Sword, while spear arts were referred to as Thunder. I also heard there were about 4 to 5 masters at the Thunder Principle level during the previous Thunder God lineage.

Of course, they were outstanding masters. A master of the Thunder God spear arts at the Thunder Principle Realm would hardly find any rivals in Jianghu, aside from the Absolute Realm masters or Dharma Guardians from my past life. But my astonishment didn’t come from that.

This place was right in front of the Throne.

Why was there a master of the Thunder God lineage in a location that could be considered the most fearsome and terrifying den of evil in this world? Moreover, he had become a Guardian!

The guardian answered my question.

[What’s the Thunder Principle Realm?]

“It’s a martial arts level in the Thunder God lineage….”

[Thunder God lineage?]

“…You don’t even know what the Four Great Families are?”

[I don’t know even that. I don’t even know my own name, so just start from the beginning.]

“Alright. Pay attention.”

I began fervently explaining the Thunder God lineage and the Four Great Families. Somehow, thinking of the guardian as a part of the Thunder God lineage made it feel less alien.

‘That Nyarlathotep guy might have told me to come to the Throne, but he never specified to hurry, so I guess I can take my time.’

After about a full meal’s time of explanation, the guardian mumbled something.

[I remembered. I came here because of Howol.]

“……?! You know Master Howol?”

[I don’t know. It just suddenly popped into my mind. Who is Howol?]

“The second master of the White Lotus Sect and the founder of the Four Great Families. You were acquaintances, apparently.”

[Acquaintances… Hmm…]

The guardian shook his head in confusion for a bit. After a moment of silence, he spoke again.

[Howol told me to meet Daewoo. Because… my memories are… gone. Hmm… What is Daewoo?]

“…How would I know? Isn’t it a person’s name?”

[No… It’s not a person’s name… It’s some… foretold being… a divine maiden said… ]

While mumbling, the guardian suddenly exclaimed.

[Ah! The destined time of pain is approaching.]

Whoosh!!

Suddenly, dozens of black tentacles shot out from the guardian’s whole body. I stepped back in shock as I saw his skin and bones being torn apart one by one; it was grotesque beyond belief. Eventually, the guardian let out a painfully suppressed groan.

[Oooooo…. Oooooo…. Why….]

“Uh, are you okay?”

[Why… did you… sacrifice me? I… never knew… it would hurt… like this…]

“……”

The guardian roared with genuine resentment and despair.

[How long must I suffer in this hell…!!]

Creak

The black tentacles completely enveloped his body and settled down firmly on the ground like a massive plant. In an instant, all that remained of the guardian was his head in a black hood hanging in the air.

After a while, regaining some composure, he looked at me and said.

[Baek Woong… here, there are others like me… If you’re heading to the fog behind you… don’t fight them for too long….]

“More guardians are wandering around? Why shouldn’t I fight them for long?”

[…Guardians grow indefinitely stronger… That’s the law of this place….]

“……!!”

What the?!

[It seems… while talking to you, I have regained some past memories….]

After a moment of silence, the guardian continued.

[I’ve forgotten my name, but… will you remember my martial arts… ?]

“Martial arts…”

I hesitated but eventually nodded.

“Alright! Show me!”

Swish

From the black tentacles, something resembling a clone flowed out like a shadow. The clone rushed toward me, and I drew my sword to counter the attack.

One hand, one palm.

I could immediately grasp the features of the martial arts. The left hand was in the form of a hand blade, while the right hand took the typical posture of a palm strike. Such a martial art might be rare, but it wasn’t nonexistent, so I watched carefully until left hand came in to stab my heart, and I dodged quickly, retaliating with a slash to the neck.

But at that moment, as if waiting for me, the right hand’s palm followed my sword’s trajectory as it latched onto my blade, while the left hand shifted from the hand blade stance into a palm position, creating suction to pull my sword off course. It was an exquisite combination; realizing that if I forced a strike, it would end badly. I retreated half a step with a divine technique and aimed to seize the next opportunity with the Three Treasure Technique.

Crash!!

“Gah!”

A violent surge erupted from my entire body! Precisely, every drop of blood inside me seemed to boil and explode. No, it should have exploded by now, but my internal power was so massive that it was being forcibly suppressed. Overcoming the pressure that felt like my eyes were going to burst, I sensed the blood in my vessels swirling and rotating.

‘What is… this…?’

It felt like a dragon was coiled up in my bloodline…!!

Clenching my teeth, I unleashed a Lion’s Roar to boost my energy. To technically solve this water dragon would require mastery of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, but my understanding of internal power wasn’t at the divine level yet. If I didn’t forcibly drive it out, my body would surely burst.

“Cough!!”

Boom

Could it be because of the immense internal power I had unleashed? The opponent’s secret technique halted instantly, and it seemed that our exchange had reached a standstill. I had consumed considerable physical strength; taking a moment to catch my breath, I asked the guardian.

“What kind of martial art was that? It’s the first I’ve ever seen…”

[It’s the Eight Extremities of the Water Dragon and the Bloodstorm of the Water Dragon… I utilized suction to imprint the Water Dragon seal on you, and through that, forced the intent of the water dragon into you to manipulate the blood and make it explode….]

“……!! Ah, wait, are you saying… ?”

I shouted in disbelief.

“Aren’t you a Thunder God lineage? That’s a technique of the Su Shin lineage!!”

I had never heard of either the Eight Extremities of the Water Dragon or the Bloodstorm of the Water Dragon before, but if they involved manipulating water and controlling Qi, it could only belong to the Su Shin lineage! Then the guardian said.

[I don’t know…. I just suddenly remembered… Perhaps I have learned both Su Shin and Thunder God lineage… ]

“……”

[No… Perhaps even more than that….]

“What the hell! Who are you really? The martial art you know seems unknown even to the Master of the White Lotus Sect… what on earth… ?”

[Uooooo… Oooooo…. The pain… is coming again….]

“Ahh.”

Swish

Swish

As the guardian’s face got covered by tentacles, he seemed to realize something and shouted.

[Ah, I see…. The Throne refuses to give you any information…. So the next guardian you encounter will be a different one…!!]

“What?!”

[Run…!!]

Whoosh!

A moment later, the guardian’s form vanished into the tentacled tree. Even his scream was swallowed; it seemed he had been devoured against his will. I stood there in shock, unable to take my eyes off the scene, but at the same time, I couldn’t shake off the chill running down my spine.

‘Damn it… what on earth…?’

I decided to leave. According to his last words, the chance of seeing the previous guardian again was gone. Eager to escape this grotesque spectacle, I began to move.

Tydaht

After some time of walking like I was running, suddenly a figure of a guardian appeared before me. This time, he posed for battle with dual blades in hand, making it clear I wouldn’t be able to dodge easily.

Thunder Spirit Seal!

Crackle!!

I immediately unleashed my Thunder Spirit Seal at full strength to keep the guardian at bay, yet I saw him counter with a technique of his own.

Wind Spirit Sect

Heaven’s Arrival Wind Spirit

“……?!”

Is that the technique of Cheon Woo-jin?!

With a crackling sound, my Thunder Spirit Seal collided with his Heaven’s Arrival Wind Spirit. Naturally, when it comes to ranks, his technique would be much higher than my Thunder Spirit Seal, but if we consider the potential of martial arts, in his prime, Cheon Woo-jin wouldn’t have been able to block my Thunder Spirit Seal.

But I saw the opponent’s hand swirl, executing a strange hand movement as the form of Heaven’s Arrival Wind Spirit morphed into intent. It was like he was knitting something.

True Ultimate Technique

Transparent Butterfly Blade

The form of the Heaven’s Arrival Wind Spirit transformed into a gigantic and clunky knife. At the same time, the opponent gathered his momentum and accelerated toward me; I quickly realized that if I faced it head-on, even I would take considerable damage. Urgently, I dodged the direction where the knife was aimed and deployed a defensive stance, and at that moment, something truly shocking happened.

Swish!!

“Gah?!”

I screamed as my arm got sliced off!

‘What the hell! Why?! I blocked it!’

I definitely blocked it! With all certainty, I raised my Thunder Sword to defend! Yet, it penetrated right through my blade and all my internal power defenses as if they didn’t exist!

Analysis

I hurriedly grabbed my severed arm and placed it against the wound. I instantly felt it sticking back on, sending chills through my spine.

‘Just how precisely was that cut?’

Was this truly a technique of the Wind Spirit Sect? They had a property to make defenses null and penetrate invisibly?! I thought the Wind Spirit Sect survived through clone and illusion techniques, didn’t I?!

And I could intuitively sense.

The Guardians here were using a version of the Four Great Families that was different from what I knew!

“Hey, wait a second! You seem to have forgotten something too. Let me explain…”

True Ultimate Technique

Transparent Butterfly Blade

Swish!!

“Gah! Damn!”

Once again, a transparent magic blade that ignored all defenses came flying at me, and I panicked and dodged. That transparent butterfly blade pierced through everything, leaving no way to block! To make matters worse, it became completely transparent in the void, making it impossible for my eyes to catch the trajectory of this magical technique! I could barely guess with my Absolute Realm intent, but that alone was not certain, making it a truly sinister martial art.

The opponent didn’t seem interested in talking at all. He was simply attacking recklessly, and I realized I had two options: knock him out or run away.

‘Damn… I’m a practitioner of the Thunder God lineage! Why am I running from a Wind Spirit?!’

Trembling

I suddenly felt immensely proud to flee from the Wind Spirit. I needed to at least confront that butterfly blade to salvage my pride. So, this time, instead of my Thunder Sword, I raised my Immortal Sword to block his transparent butterfly knife.

Kiing!!

Then a strange resonance burst forth, and my Immortal Sword shone like a light blade, reflecting off the guardian’s glass-like butterfly blade. In that instant, seeing the reflected transparent butterfly blade resembling a dense thicket filled with pointed edges gave me goosebumps.

‘This is truly a final technique meant to kill silently!’

Feeling relieved that I could at least block it with the Immortal Sword, I found it strange.

‘If the Wind Spirit Sect had such overwhelming techniques, why didn’t Cheon Woo-jin ever learn them?’

Looks like Cheon Woo-jin lacks talent as much as I do!

I cursed Cheon Woo-jin in my mind and created some distance using the Three Treasure Technique. As soon as I unleashed it, no matter how transparent that butterfly blade was, it couldn’t catch up to hinder my movement. I took advantage of a slight opening and used the Soul Removal Technique to escape.

Surge

As long as I had maintained my reputation, that was enough. There’d be no benefit in continuously clashing since they would simply become infinitely stronger. After running with the Soul Removal Technique for a long while, I encountered another guardian.

‘Cough. I feel like I’m almost there…’

This guardian had a rather peculiar feeling. He was standing still, hands in prayer position, and oddly enough, I felt uneasy about passing by him.

Right in that posture, I felt I could use either the Three Treasure Technique or Soul Removal Technique to slip away, but it felt foreboding. I got a strange feeling that I would get caught trying to escape that space.

Then, after a moment, the guardian spoke.

[You’ve finally arrived.]

The guardian, who had been making unintelligible noises, suddenly changed from his prayer position, and a massive mandala began to rise around him.

Wu~~~~!!

A mandala that had grown ten times larger than before! I recognized the full bloom of the mandala and widened my eyes; shortly after, the guardian expanded his intent.

[I have been waiting.]

“……”

I instantly recognized the identity of my opponent, and I stood there blankly. Then I spoke to him.

“You haven’t lost your memory like the other guardians, have you?”

[It hasn’t been long since I arrived at the Throne, but it was a close call….]

“The Heavenly Demon killed even Yeodong-bin and Jang Sam-bong who reached the Divine Realm. Did you know?”

[There was no other way…. It was designed that way from the start.]

He muttered, as if he understood, then took the stance of a master in the Su Shin lineage and continued speaking.

[So, you won’t fight?]

“…… No.”

[That’s enough. While I can’t defeat the Heavenly Demon….]

Master of the White Lotus Sect, Dokgo Uncheon, chuckled.

[I shall teach you the way to never lose.]