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“Is there a way?” I asked, intrigued by Subori’s words.

“Of course, there is,” Subori replied, descending from the tree with an air of mystery.

“But first, I’d like to know why you want to learn the Six Heaven Unity Spear right now.”

“Why do you want to know?” I countered.

Subori clasped his hands together solemnly. “Even if the sects may be diverse, every human has limitations. To achieve a goal, you need sufficient focus. Especially since you’re not exactly brimming with talent.”

I squirmed at his observation. “Of course, I understand. Why would I spread my focus when I haven’t even mastered what’s currently before me?”

“But if you think about it, you should tell me why you need to learn the Six Heaven Unity Spear now, especially when it seems more like a spear technique than a sword technique,” he urged.

His insight hit home, and I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

“I’ve been told this many times before. I had many martial arts masters who worked hard to guide me toward the most efficient techniques, thinking I lacked talent. Thanks to them, despite my mediocre abilities, I excelled at swordsmanship and I’m grateful for that.”

“Sounds like you had quite a struggle, huh? Ah, those masters of yours,” he chuckled.

“But looking back, it’s a shame that even after reaching the Absolute Realm through hard work, I couldn’t fully enjoy martial arts,” I admitted, feeling a tinge of regret.

Subori’s eyes gleamed with interest. “Enjoy? Ha! So you claim to be a dullard yet find the time to enjoy?”

This would have normally pierced my ego, but I felt surprisingly relaxed. “Is there a reason I shouldn’t enjoy martial arts? If that’s the case, then I’d like to know: Are geniuses only considered geniuses if they reach their goals faster?”

“Generally, yes,” Subori acknowledged.

“But those geniuses who reach their goals quickly are rarely satisfied with mere speed. They don’t concern themselves with the mediocre—only with pushing their own limits further,” I argued.

At one point, I feared that a genius might look down upon me, but the reality is more humbling. True geniuses don’t even register people like me. Mocking them would be an honor.

“Especially the greatest geniuses I know— since they only focus on enjoying, I see no fault in striving to enjoy myself!”

“No fault?”

“Exactly. By enjoying martial arts, pathways open up gradually. I’ve felt that during this training period,” I affirmed.

To my surprise, Subori looked bewildered. “So, regardless of your talent, you’re saying your willingness to enjoy opens doors for you? And you fearlessly approach something inefficient that could waste time?”

“Exactly, that’s why I’m reaching for the Six Heaven Unity Spear,” I declared with confidence, crossing my arms.

“Even if I spent three hundred years here, I’m unafraid! I choose to enjoy myself and maximize the benefits of being a reborn person. If I don’t master this in this life, I’ll spend thousands of years in the next one pursuing my expertise!”

Subori pondered for a moment, resting his chin on his hand. Eventually, he nodded in approval. “You’ve certainly proved yourself. Trying to pressure you to recognize your own worth has yielded no benefit.”

“Are you willing to apologize?”

“I gladly apologize. Now that I know you’re not just a greedy fool, how could I not?” He said, bowing slightly, looking oddly cheerful.

“There’s a simple way to avoid the side effects of the Six Heaven Unity Spear. If you want to experiment one by one, I’ll share my insights,” he offered with a hint of mischief.

“What are you waiting for? Tell me!”

“First, if dying right after summoning is the issue, then you should strengthen the Water Spirit before unleashing the Six Heaven Unity Spear. Haven’t I said that dying isn’t on the menu? If you can withstand strikes from the Thunder Spirit and still be fine, there’s a good chance it’ll work,” he explained.

Wait, that’s a genius suggestion!

“Ooh! I’m going to try that right now!!”

With inspiration coursing through me, I grabbed my spear and began executing the basic techniques. Subori gasped, “W-Wait a second!! Why are you in such a rush!”

With quick work, I fortified myself with the Water Spirit, and then Subori vanished in what seemed like a transparent cloud. Just before he disappeared, I felt the sensation of the Six Heaven Unity Spear surge within me, and I swiftly aimed.

Twang! My ears buzzed as if struck with lightning.

Moments later, dazzling light burst forth, and I felt my strengthened body disintegrate into nothing. But thanks to the Water Spirit, I didn’t feel any pain, allowing me to relish the moment and flash a smile.

“Great! This will solve the side effects… huh?” But then, my self began to scatter into particles, far smaller than raindrops, and I felt my consciousness and presence plunging into chaos.

Bang!

“Gah!”

In that instant of confusion, a sensation of burning blue flames coursed through me, igniting a deep, debilitating pain that I realized was a mental torment, rather than a physical one.

Before I could comprehend how many times I had been shattered and burned, I felt something explode as I slipped into unconsciousness.

…

…

I found myself staring at Mephistopheles, who was fiddling with his monocle.

“Care for some herbal tea? Judging by the drool, I’d say the agony was quite significant, but this should ease it,” he offered, a grin on his face.

Normally, I would have shot back, but I was far too exhausted.

“…Just give me a cup.” I responded, accepting the herbal tea that would hopefully revive me.

…

Then, a moment later, I spotted Shim Su-ryeok and Subori approaching. Shim had transformed in a flash, possibly to avoid being struck by the Thunder Spirit, while Subori returned enveloped in a transparent cloud.

“They say reincarnated beings fear death, but you seem even bolder than I expected. I was about to warn you that you might die, but you’ve already jumped in,” Subori remarked with a frown.

“…Doesn’t seem to work. Is there another way?”

“First, let’s analyze why it failed. The force generated when you thrust the Six Heaven Unity Spear might have been too overwhelming, right? Meaning, your own strength is rebounding against it, so strengthening the Water Spirit won’t help if it just results in self-destruction,” he deduced.

I was flabbergasted. “Damn… Hearing you say that made me believe this method was the one. If that doesn’t work, what on earth am I supposed to do?”

Subori looked at me intently. “The second method involves you making use of me.”

“Use you? I can’t—” I gawked.

“You guessed right. Use me as a mask,” he instructed.

“How could you having a mask provide better immortality than just the strengthened Water Spirit?”

Subori tapped his head as if to signal thought. “Consider this: if you’re not using it for self-destruction, the idea of withstanding with just the Water Spirit is fundamentally simplistic. If you want to wield it properly, you need to analyze the technique itself.”

“Hmmm… You might have a point, but…”

“Think about the proportional value. If you view it negatively, you’ll see it as mere self-detonation, but if used well, it can become a weapon of incredible might,” he explained.

“How do you plan to analyze it?”

“Let’s start by using the mask, and then I’ll guide you through it. I’m just worried you might make irrational moves again.”

“Fine.”

As Subori transformed into a mask that I then donned, I could feel his powers enveloping me once more. His voice rang in my head.

[Try the Clone Technique.]

Clone Technique? I was skeptical but committed to following his lead.

Taking a deep breath, I plucked a handful of hair and tossed it forward, summoning my clones. I conjured thirty clones; the one closest to me stomped over and seized me by the collar.

“Hey!”

“What’s wrong?” I was startled.

“I warned you about summoning yourself again! You dumb clod!”

“Uh…”

“I said to summon yourself as Fuxi!”

Right, I forgot again, didn’t I?

But I didn’t feel remorse; I simply replied, “I take pride in my appearance too…”

“Don’t be so full of yourself! It just means you’re ignoring what I’m saying!”

Suddenly, my clone summoned the Water Spirit in an act of rebellion, prompting the thirty clones behind him to follow suit. I was taken aback.

“Wait! What?!”

“You’ve never thought through such tactics, have you?” My clone scoffed.

Then, a dark aura surged from the Water Spirit, and in an instant, I recognized it as the Spirit Power of Jeon Wook. Wielding it, the Water Spirit released a bizarre scream as it distorted the space around us.

My leading clone shouted, “Die!”

BOOM!

Then an inordinate explosion erupted before me, far exceeding any detonation I had witnessed in my past life. I instinctively activated Protection Energy, preparing to shield myself when suddenly, Subori’s voice echoed in my mind, prompting me with a Great Immortal Level Technique.

Time Split Mirror!

Subori’s own transformation technique, a potent protective spell! As it unfolded, I morphed into beams of light, seamlessly transitioning through a dimension of mirrors, though it felt as though my limbs were ignited when crossing over.

In a split second, Subori’s voice whispered, [Since it’s an explosion of divine energy, you won’t be able to ignore the impact through spatial shifts! What kind of absurd power is this… I must act.]

Life Cycle Technique!

As my form shifted into blinding radiance, I felt multiple rings encircle my body, as if Lord Fuxi’s techniques had suddenly intertwined with me! Waves of turquoise energy radiated outwards, and I sensed these rings dampening the energy from the impending explosion. As the Life Cycle Technique shielded me, it struck me suddenly what this represented.

“Is this… one of Han Sang-ja’s techniques from the Eight Immortals?”

Indeed, this was the mystical technique of Han Sang-ja from the Eight Immortals! Having interacted with them numerous times and indirectly studied their techniques, I recognized it immediately. But how could Subori wield their skills?

Uh-oh!

My body suddenly erupted with pain as if my skin was tearing away. In that split-second agony, I realized how futile my attempt was against the sheer power of the explosion. Subori’s once-panic-stricken voice echoed in my head, [This… this is insane. My techniques can’t contain this any further! What can we do?]

“Tch!”

I surmised the terrifying weight of the divine energy dispersing around us. Performing even a basic technique might not suffice to combat it.

In this dire situation, was there any technique I could utilize?

Wait! There is something!

I thought nervously, quickly activating the technique!

‘To steal space… that was it!’

Even so, how would I implement it?

Technique of All Things!

Spatial Theft!

As the command ignited, I pulled the very essence of my space away, instantly drawing forth my original occupied spot and then explosively shoving it back. The sudden bounce projected me vast distances, propelling me into a land I had never seen. In the distance, what appeared to be a nuclear explosion expanded, radiating an overwhelming heat reminiscent of the sun.

Oh, no!

As I witnessed nearby mountains being annihilated, panic washed over me. Did I just amplify the Water Spirit’s divine energy to achieve that explosive power?

But surely, Shim Su-ryeok would have evaded a fatal blast, given his own feat of using the Thunder Spirit.

As I stooped, stunned at the devastation before me, Subori, now a mask, perked up, [How did you just do that? Was that also a martial technique?]

“The technique is from the Divine Thief — Manipulation of Space,” I replied.

“Steal space? Then how did you move such a vast distance?”

“I drew the space and then returned it back! Hence the recoil was intense!”

“Did the Divine Thief utilize a technique like that?”

“Eh, I don’t know! I just did what came to my mind,” I stated confusedly.

I figured that teleportation would likely burn up the divine energy within it, so by retracting my space when the explosion was released, it created a unique gap in front of where Subori had previously cast spells.

Subori quietly contemplated for a moment and then remarked, [Your potential is disturbingly high in bizarre areas. Those self-destructing clones are strong because they’re all aspects of you. To think one could summon divine-energy-based weapons and cause explosions…]

“Heh…”

[Don’t get too proud! While the Clone Technique is strong, if thoughtlessly managed, they can self-destruct, like the mess you’ve just created. It’s a control issue you’ve intentionally exacerbated, isn’t it?]

I shrugged. “As long as I’m alive, that’s the important part!”

“Well then,” he said. “How can Han Sang-ja’s Eight Immortals techniques come out of you?”

“Well, indeed. Han Sang-ja, who became one of the Eight Immortals, devised them when there was virtually no room for independent technique development. He’s been working with me and other senior deities since ancient times,” Subori disclosed.

I found this revelation surprising, but I nodded, recognizing the truth. “So you’re saying you helped create the techniques for the Eight Immortals?”

“Not all, but a few. Didn’t I mention that I’ve existed for thousands of years? I’ve been in touch with them since the dawn of time,” he reaffirmed.

Such insights about Subori and the interplay with the Eight Immortals made for fascinating material, but it didn’t warrant fuel for my impending panic as I scratched my head, “Darn it. I really made a mess with that self-destruct technique… Can I try the Clone Technique again?”

“Go for it. But this time, please heed the clones’ requests!”

“Um, fine…” I sighed, returning to the task.

Subori transformed back into his mask form, and when I donned it again, I felt his presence intertwine with mine. Then, the leading clone looked at me, smiling.

“You know, you could have done this from the beginning.”

All the clones had morphed into Fuxi’s image. I found it frustrating yet incredulous, “Why would you pull such threats by self-destructing?”

Then the clone pondered. “What’re you saying? We reflect your core self. If you were in my position, you’d think just like me. Self-detonating fits your personality, don’t you think?”

…”Serious?”

“Spitting at me won’t help.”

Uh, no! That’s not my intention!

“Anyway, hurry and command! After all, our divine energies and martial techniques draw from your original power, so stop sulking.”*

Sure, it’s outrageous that these clones would threaten me!

I pressed my temples in frustration and sighed dramatically. “Fine, Subori, what’s the next step?”

“Simple! Have each of the six clones execute different initial techniques of the Six Heaven Unity Spear simultaneously.”

“What?!”

The shock rendered me speechless, and the clones mirrored my surprise. I turned to them. “Wait, how did you understand Subori’s instructions?”

One clone shrugged. “What’s the problem? Our consciousness is linked to you, so we hear everything.”

…

Such useless additions baffled me!

Subori confirmed, “Baek Woong, these clones may resemble you in powers, but they are not the same!”

“Naturally, that’s clear. They can’t possibly be identical to me!”

“Exactly! They might seem to wield your strength in this dimension, but the powers are all drawn from you. If your original power totals 100, and each clone uses 10, won’t it drain you dry?”

“Huh?!”

“You see… They don’t create new power, but share the existing strength,” Subori elaborated.

How earth-shattering! Had I thought of it this way?

Understanding struck me as I questioned, “So, Jeon Wook could utilize hundreds of clones with each possessing the power of an immortal, yet how is that even feasible?”

“That’s possible. The Divine Sage simply withheld his essence. Being restrained doesn’t stop the clones from tapping into the latent powers within. Truly, their original force is astounding,” he clarified.

…

So, the True Immortal’s raw power surpassed that of hundreds assembled? My mind whirled as Subori continued.

“In your case, the same logic applies. You’ve never summoned the Water Spirit to explode intentionally. However, your clones can utilize unimagined strategies or techniques at will.”*

“Well, they certainly couldn’t self-destruct!”

“But the key point is, they can tap into your latent divine energy! You have far greater untapped potential than you realize. If harnessed completely, you might even rival Heuk Woong—but you’re unable to tap into that now…”

“Mm… Okay.”

“Anyway, let’s return to the question. If those clones utilize the Six Heaven Unity Spear, what will happen?”

My mind reeled, grappling with the staggering complexities of combat techniques.

What outcomes lay ahead? Perhaps there were no parallels! Could there actually be a path to success waiting for me? I felt a spark of profound intrigue surge.

“Hold on. This is a mere test of the Six Heaven Unity Spear’s limits, not a means of preserving my life. Does testing it actually validate my analysis?”

I found myself perplexed, anxiety creeping in.

Subori calmly responded, “As far as I know, there is no stronger immortality technique than the Water Spirit. If that fails, couldn’t it just boil down to enhancing your divine energy to withstand whatever comes? Yet with contorts of proportion, failure is highly probable. Thus, we’ll have to contemplate the essence of this martial art! “

“……”

“Through thorough analysis, you may discover a method of survival!”

Still reeling, a sense of determination hardened within me. “Then let’s do it!”

With the prospect of death now a foregone conclusion, I felt oddly liberated.

With renewed resilience, I shouted, “Let’s begin!!”

As the clones surged forward to execute the initial techniques of the Six Heaven Unity Spear, I felt an improbable synergy coalesce into existence—

Suddenly, everything aligned perfectly.

We occupied the same shared space.

In the interstitial realm of the mind, I experienced an incandescent synchrony unlike any I’d known.

This emptied expanse was replete with an unfathomable depth beyond comprehension.

Subori and I danced through the void where every thought connected with each isolated pulse of spirit, forming an intricate tapestry of martial discipline.

“We’re all interpreting the initial thrust with different subtleties,” I realized, marveling at our collective execution.

Our unity transcended the act of performing, enveloping the essence of our being in a moment of serene beauty.

“Aha!” I grasped the concept. Each ‘clone’ bore its interpretation, influenced by the spirit of their manifestation—even as mere reflections of me.

Next, we collectively emerged from that mindscape, throwing our spears with unerring precision.

It was a staggering sight—.

Our visions interlocked in perfect harmony as we released our energy in tandem.

Something invaluable flowed back through us: The indomitable strength of my will, ignited by our unity!

Finally, we grasped our intentions as strings sought to sew the world together—the essence of the Six Heaven Unity Spear revealed itself. A single truth reigned supreme. The apparent difficulty of binding our techniques lay shrouded in an ethereal haze.

Moreover, the complexity of the flow transcended mortal understanding.

This was the true identity of the Six Heaven Unity Spear.

 

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