전생검신 Vol. 80, Chapter 18

I looked around again to see where my body had gone while I had turned to dirt.

‘Gone.’

Have I really turned to dirt?

But if I’m dirt, I shouldn’t have a brain—how am I even thinking?

It didn’t add up, but then I realized, since I’m dirt, it makes sense that I have a perspective that spans everywhere. It’s like the entire mountain itself has become my body.

‘Hmm… have I turned into Great Nature…?’

While perplexed, I pondered what good this was. Now that I’ve become dirt, my enemy would have to blow up the entire mountain to take me out. So a typical human martial artist or a single immortal wouldn’t be able to do anything to me. After all, not many have the power to take down a mountain in one go.

But is it really allowed in martial arts to be an unyielding mountain that doesn’t lose? It feels more absurd than anything. Like I dodged into a bizarre dimension.

‘The enhancements of Fire Spirit and Water Spirit do definitely feel like they boost combat power, but this…?’

What am I supposed to do now that I’m dirt…?

‘Come to think of it, if I’m dirt, just how far can I manipulate it?’

Curious, I decided to test how far my will could stretch. Gradually expanding my will, I felt my awareness broadening like when I handle intent.

Ssss!

As my vision expanded, I seemed to swallow up the nearby hills, easily going beyond the back mountain of Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. At the very least, it felt like I had a ten-li radius under my control. But even after feeling that limit, fear gripped me.

‘Huh? It’s not just one mountain; I can keep extending my will? Just how far can this go…?’

This really seems excessive for a human, doesn’t it?!

Along with the fear of stepping outside humanity, I also felt a strong curiosity. I wanted to find out just how far I could push the enhancement of Earth Spirit.

‘Alright. Let’s see how far I can dominate!’

Swish!

With unstoppable momentum, my control started stretching, going faster than when I previously expanded my awareness. The more the ground stretched, the wider my field of vision became, and surprisingly, I felt absolutely no dizziness or confusion despite absorbing so many perspectives at once.

‘It feels like at least tens of thousands of perspectives, yet I’m not confused… Is this really possible?’

Even though I’m a master of the Absolute Realm, taking in multiple streams of information at once isn’t like regular focus. It felt as though all this was naturally mine from the very start, without needing to strain my power.

Boom!!

Finally, it seemed my expansion hit a limit, and I felt a splitting headache as I realized I could no longer extend my dominion.

At that moment, I got curious about just how vast my control was.

‘Hmm… Let’s give it a test and ‘stand up’!’

Imagining a human form, I thought that if I stood up right there, I’d intuitively know just how much territory I had dominion over!

Kugugu

With a slight pressure, I felt a heavy weight settle on my shoulders. It was bearable, so I focused for a moment and then pushed up with a burst of strength to stand.

KABLOOM!!

Why did it sound like an explosion?

Confused by the thunderous sound that shook the heavens, I suddenly realized that all my scattered perspectives merged back into a single view like when I was human. My body shot upward rapidly as if I were flying.

‘No, it’s not flying—I’m just too big…’

Boom.

‘Did I really grow tall enough to reach the stratosphere?’

Everything in sight was darkness and stars, while beneath me, I could see the outline of continents and oceans.

A giant!

I had expected it, but instantly becoming a colossal entity was astonishing and amusing. So this is what enhancing Earth Spirit can do!

[Hahaha.]

BOOM!!

When I laughed, it erupted like a roar, shooting a massive beam forward. The beam soared beyond the moon and quickly vanished. I was astonished to see a beam shooting from my mouth.

Huh, what the heck?! Why’s a beam coming out?!

Isn’t it just controlling earth energy?

I was in panic, but soon felt the energy from the Earth Spirit enhancement rapidly fading. I couldn’t articulate it, but it seemed that the amount of energy I could wield was predetermined from the start, and the only difference was how fast I used it.

Sssss

As I quickly shrank back down to a human, I returned to the ground, only to be startled upon my arrival.

“Huh?!”

Everything—the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, the hills—everything had vanished without a trace, buried in an abyss that looked dark as pitch. This abyss seemed endless, and upon straining my ears, I thought I could hear the bubbling sound of lava.

Seeing this horrific scene made me realize what had just happened.

‘I pulled up too much dirt at once, and the entire land has been dug away!’

At the same time, I was grateful I hadn’t tested the enhancement of Earth Spirit in reality. If I had done that, it would have been a real disaster! Since it’s an unattended training world, I didn’t need to worry much about damage.

“Return!”

Woosh

Using my divine power, I restored the damage I had caused. However, the moment I landed back on the ground, I stumbled from dizziness.

“Ugh.”

I felt like I was going to throw up…!!

I understood why this happened. Until now, the range I had been using divine power to restore was limited, so I hadn’t been exhausting myself too much. But this time, I had restored an area of at least a hundred li! It was akin to restoring an entire nation, and even my divine power saw a limit after such an effort.

“Ugh. Wow, that’s some impressive power… but how can I actually use this ability?”

Even if I could create a massive dirt doll huge enough to reach the stratosphere by enhancing Earth Spirit, the enemy I’d have to face to use it would be at least a high divine status. In that case, being physically larger wouldn’t mean much. In practical terms, the enhancement of Water Spirit seemed a hundred times more effective, making me feel like this ability was a double-edged sword.

Or maybe, I still didn’t understand the true potential of Earth Spirit…

How could being ‘the earth itself’ be best utilized?

As I pondered deeply, I suddenly realized something.

“Ah!”

I just succeeded in attempting the ‘5th’ rotation for the first time, and it was through Earth Spirit!

‘So, I could’ve just used Earth Spirit from the start without worrying about enhancing it!’

Wooong!

I immediately activated Earth Spirit on the first rotation. Suddenly, the awkward and stiff feeling of Earth Spirit changed as if it fitted perfectly with my body in a single breath. I hadn’t used Earth Spirit until now because I had only attempted the four transformations of Water, Fire, Thunder, and Wind, but it felt like this attribute was certainly another ‘vessel’ I could naturally wield just like the others.

‘So it’s not Water, Fire, Thunder, and Wind; it’s Water, Earth, Thunder, and Wind…? Hmm…’

Anyway, whether it’s the 5th rotation or whatever, it was made possible by the swift rotations of Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique. That means, whether it’s doing the 4th rotation of Water, Fire, Thunder, and Wind, or the 5th rotation of Water and Earth, the outcome of ‘enhancement’ wouldn’t change. It’s just another form of enhancement that I could use.

Now, finally, there’s something I can attempt.

After releasing Earth Spirit, I calmed my gaze and sat down in a meditative posture. Then I murmured,

“With this, it’s worth trying, even if it kills me.”

Another vessel.

A new change I discovered while searching for Earth Spirit.

The ‘vessel’ that I had previously attempted and failed, leading to my death.

Sssss –

As I quickly drew up energy along with Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique, I felt something rise from the depths of my consciousness within my vast spiritual realm. Though my eyes were closed, I could vividly sense that ‘vessel,’ which seemed to be rotating around like a binary star, and as I saw the rotation of that binary star, I murmured.

“Sun and Moon Spirit.”

Even though it was a temporary name given by Shim Su-ryeok, it couldn’t be more fitting. I hadn’t been able to touch the Sun and Moon Spirit for centuries because my proficiency was insufficient to penetrate through its changes.

However, I had changed much since I first encountered the Sun and Moon Spirit. I had trained like a madman for over a decade with Soul of the Evil God and enhanced it extensively; now I had even reached toward Earth Spirit. My proficiency was now incomparable to what it once was, making this an opportunity for a challenge.

Feeling a slight tension, I took a deep breath and reached out toward the Sun and Moon Spirit.

Here we go!

Suuuu-

‘Last time, I charged straight for the core and got blown apart by the conflicting energies of yin and yang.’

Now, I could see it clearly. One energy was Sun Soul, while the other was Moon Soul. In the situation where the Sun and Moon were orbiting each other, I would have to dive into the center and control both energies simultaneously to grasp them. But diving straight in could lead to death, as I learned from last time.

Skill was needed for that. If I dove in at once, I’d never harmonize the opposing forces, leading to death, and achieving that harmony required the wheel-like sensation of the Soul of the Evil God. Given that I had built up that sense over countless times, I figured I could slowly enter the Sun and Moon Spirit and control it.

‘Hmm… Still, diving right in seems a little scary.’

I didn’t know what kind of variables might arise. So I decided to observe the rotating Sun and Moon Spirit more closely. I didn’t want to miss anything.

How long did I observe the monotonous rotation of the Sun and Moon Spirit?

Suddenly, I noticed something odd about the rotation.

‘… Offbeat!! Even though it seems to rotate at a constant speed, there are subtle variations at times!! And when that slight change occurs, both the Sun and Moon react to match that offbeat!’

Ahhhh…!! That could have been a disaster!

If I had charged in unaware of the offbeat, I could’ve died again?!

‘In that case, I have to consider the offbeat moment when I dive in to reach out to the Sun and Moon…!!’

However, managing both orbital dynamics and the offbeat simultaneously seemed unimaginably difficult. Normally, controlling a single spirit in the Soul of the Evil God isn’t too hard, but this was something else entirely. I realized straightforwardly why the Sun and Moon Spirit was so challenging.

Should I just dive in and align with the offbeat?

If I succeed, I’d only need one attempt instead of multiple tries… but…

‘No… while success would be epic, the failure rate is way too high!’

It would require a near-genius level of intuition, but I am definitely not a genius. It would be too tough to aim for that.

Therefore, I should observe the Sun Soul and Moon Soul carefully and wait for the moment that’s the farthest from the offbeat to dive in. Though there’s the downside of crossing several thresholds due to the offbeat, at least it seemed practical. I reached out toward the Moon Soul first before entering.

Tap…

ZZZZZZ!!!

‘Kuhhhhh!!’

At that moment, an overwhelming chill, like absolute zero, rushed toward me. In an instant, half my body felt frozen, as if what remained of my absolute internal power was worthless. It seemed to completely disregard my defenses against the cold using qi and meridians. I quickly withdrew my hand from the Moon Soul, panting as I calmed the chill.

“Phew. Huh…”

As expected.

The Moon Soul is the embodiment of extreme yin, the essence of cold!

The Sun Soul is the embodiment of extreme yang, the essence of heat!

To control both simultaneously requires exceptional control over the Thunder Spirit, as well as an understanding of yin and yang. On top of that, with the potential offbeat disrupting the delicate balance of control I had carefully set up, another crisis could arise.

But I could only smile slyly.

‘Hehe… I can do this.’

Even if I die, it’s still a gain, and I have every reason to feel confident!!

In the next moment, I courageously dove into the Sun and Moon Spirit and grasped both souls as they crossed paths.

SHIIIIING!!

As I grasped each Sun and Moon Soul, I felt them kicking up a storm, trying to freeze and burn my body in equal measure. But I shouted out strongly with intent as it swirled within me.

[Peerless Technique!!]

Kwahhh!!

Just before the combined forces of the Sun and Moon could obliterate my spiritual body, a ribbon of energy surrounded my spirit, blocking the assault of the Sun and Moon Souls for a moment. At the same time, I felt the immense power of yin and yang that had been spinning within me momentarily restrained by the harmony produced by Six Harmonies, bringing a triumphant smile to my face.

‘There’s nothing more supreme in the world than the harmony of yin and yang through Peerless Technique!!’

If I had preemptively spun the principle of the Peerless Technique around my spirit body, grasping the Sun and Moon Spirit would cause its destructive force to trigger the Peerless Technique’s principle, automatically harmonizing the energies. Thus, the power of the Tai Chi Harmony would momentarily offset the Sun and Moon Spirit’s power! I thought there was no more perfect method than this.

Moreover, Peerless Technique is also a martial art of the Dao, highly valuing the principles of yin and yang, thus aiding control over the energies of yin and yang efficiently within the Six Harmonies. Following the principle of Tai Chi, the energy of Peerless Technique would press the Moon (阴) to the yang area and the Sun (阳) to the yin area.

Kugugu…

Gulp.

I had no choice but to swallow.

‘For now, I’ve managed to suppress the momentum to control the Sun and Moon Spirit… but… the offbeat… is coming!!’

The offbeat isn’t merely a mismatch of the spinning momentum. While the Sun and Moon Spirit is orbiting, the power waves and momentum all vary when they are offbeat. Having only countered with the momentum of the orbits, if the power suddenly changes due to the offbeat, failure to suppress it would lead to immediate death.

Damn it… No matter how I think of it, I’m bound to go through dozens of trial and error…

If I die this time, there’s nothing I can do.

Ticking!!

When the offbeat appeared, I shut my eyes tightly and prepared my energy to adapt to the shift. It was like trying to hit a falling hailstone with a rock, and while it was possible, the chances of failure were also high! I braced myself as I desperately wished for good luck while navigating that perilous threshold.

Gulp…

“Gah!!”

The Sun Soul’s energy suddenly surged, twisting my muscles from my arms to my heart. I sensed that I had failed to perceive the offbeat and, sure enough, with just one failure to respond, both the Sun Soul and Moon Soul started roiling wildly.

It bubbled and boiled, ready to bring death.

I was in a daze, trapped in the all-too-familiar premonition of death.

Am I really going to die like this?

‘I don’t want to die…’

Even though my life has merely become a means to an end, I felt a melancholic mood settling in as I became glum.

Yeah.

Even if I die dozens or hundreds of times, dying just feels bad and unpleasant.

Though I endure with experiential proficiency and spiritual preparation, my primal aversion to death hasn’t been overcome at all. Who would think of me as a Reborn Person when I’m terrified of death, which has become everyday life?

But still, I refuse to accept death.

If possible, I want to win without dying, but it just doesn’t work out.

Because I lack talent…

It was then.

With a sensation like time stopped, I saw a figure swirling in light.

[You’re a one-armed man, yet how dare you try to grasp both?]

Who is this?

Like with Dao Xin, I couldn’t see their face.

I didn’t recognize who the luminous figure was, but oddly, it wasn’t giving off any hostile vibes.

So I replied in my mind.

‘I’m making a hand with intent to grasp one more.’

[No matter how adept you are with intent, you cannot reach the essence of existence. Can you hold the Sun and Moon Spirit with a fake hand?]

I was annoyed as I felt like dying, so I bluntly retorted.

‘What’s with you picking fights? Just grasping the Sun and Moon Spirit isn’t reality either; I’m using willpower to act in the spiritual world, right? If that’s the case, a real hand and a non-existent intent hand should serve the same purpose!’

[You understand that the existence and non-existence are the same. But, why is your knowledge and action not in harmony?]

‘What? I am currently making two hands in my mind to grasp them, aren’t I?’

[That is not so. Your mind is ultimately limited by your concepts.]

‘…?’

I looked at the vanishing hand that couldn’t withstand the energy of the Sun and Moon Spirit. I couldn’t comprehend what they meant by limits set by concepts.

The being before me sat cross-legged, extending one hand in a gesture of joining.

[Concepts may serve as windows to the heart, but can never represent the heart itself. If one cannot awaken to the purest essence from the roots of consciousness, they cannot challenge the Spirit of the Sun and Moon. Your deepest darkness of the heart… since you have not reconciled with that darkness, you shall never reach your true potential as is the principle of this world… however… ]

‘….’

[You. Dismiss the concept of proficiency. If your hands are one, you can grasp but one.]

I felt a profound moment upon their words.

I didn’t fully comprehend it, but I realized that their statement reached beyond the Absolute Realm. And since it somehow linked to the state of mind that Dao Xin spoke of, I couldn’t help but consider the meaning behind those words. At the same time, I found out this entity was certainly not ordinary, leading me to ask.

‘Who are you?’

[…….]

The entity fell silent for a moment before speaking.

[You alone can reach the Sect of White Lotus.]

Blink!!

At that moment, the figure faded, and suddenly, I felt the immense pain in both my hands dissipate. When I looked at my hands, I was utterly shocked.

“……!!”

The overwhelming heat from the Sun Soul had halted, no longer ravaging my arm, because a massive concentration of water energy was blocking the assault. I felt an unsettling familiarity from that energy.

‘… This is…’

Isn’t it the divine energy of Varuna?!

But in a density and quantity far beyond anything I had used before!!

Hastily looking the other way, I saw a colossal fiery ring blocking the oppressive chill of the Moon Soul. That fiery ring was also the divine energy of Agni.

What the heck is happening?!

At that moment, a voice echoed in my mind.

[Reborn one.]

[Are you listening?]

It was the voice of the Four Great Spirits, Agni and Varuna.

[This time, I’ll lend you my aid.]