전생검신 91권 18화

The moment I faced Howol, an odd feeling washed over me.

‘Come to think of it, I did see Howol when I helped the Dharma of the Outer Universe perform the True Martial Home…’

Something felt weirdly different.

The overall impression and appearance were similar, but the energy emanating from him was drastically different. Unlike Seong Jin, who still had a human feel, Howol radiated a powerful aura that seemed capable of distorting the entire space.

What bothered me the most was Howol’s abilities.

‘He isn’t even trying.’

With the Asura, transformed into a demon king, right in front of me, Howol remained completely at ease. It seriously felt like he had only revealed one-third of his power if that. The fact that Asura was getting angrier due to Howol’s calmness made total sense.

‘In the history of the Great Bear Empire, even that powerful empire would struggle to face just one of the Eight Parts of the Divine, pouring all its national strength into it.’

Yet, at this moment, Howol was an entity that overshadowed even one of those Eight Parts of the Divine.

This is the second Master of the White Lotus Sect and the first Grand Master of the Four Great Families!

“……”

While I was silent, Howol spoke first.

“Now that your identity is revealed, it’s time for you to reveal your name and title.”

Snapping back to reality, I replied.

“I am Baek Woong.”

“Baek Woong? I’ve never heard of that name… What brings you here?”

I glanced at the Eight Parts of the Divine behind me and thought,

‘What should I do now…? What had happened at this point?’

I vaguely remembered that something did happen when I heard Seong Jin’s past. As I gathered my thoughts from his story, I began to piece together the situation.

‘…Today is the day the Dharma attempts the ultimate True Martial Home, sacrificing the next reincarnation! And if Howol and Seong Jin are battling the Eight Parts of the Divine… surely the Dharma…’

I abruptly looked somewhere. There it was, the immensely powerful Heart of the Mind Barrier that had been bothering me. It was much smaller than the massive barrier set up to contain the [Old Ruler], but the sealing power it had was even greater. Only now did I recognize the true nature of that Heart of the Mind barrier.

‘They’re performing the True Martial Home inside there!’

The inner part of that Heart of the Mind barrier was the altar for True Martial Home!

Just like I once experienced, it was the place the Outer God whispers incantations to lead the universe to destruction, and it was where the Dharma was located!

As soon as I deduced this, my face scrunched up.

‘Damn it. Seong Jin! You talked about the True Martial Home altar without mentioning the Heart of the Mind barrier, didn’t you? Even if you described everything in detail, experiencing it directly isn’t the same…’

That meant some variable that Seong Jin didn’t mention might exist right now. I thought this could get more troublesome than I’d expected.

‘That Heart of the Mind is probably a place only the Dharma and his disciples can enter freely. I’ll need to break through that barrier before getting to where the Dharma is…’

But if I entered where the Dharma is…

“……!!”

It suddenly hit me what I was facing.

Because according to Seong Jin’s story, the one inside the Heart of the Mind wasn’t just the Dharma!

‘N… Nyarlathotep…!!’

That being is undoubtedly inside the Heart of the Mind now!

If I remember correctly, Seong Jin said that while Howol was holding off the Eight Parts of the Divine, he returned to assist his master, the Dharma, but it was already too late, and he witnessed Nyarlathotep approaching and murdering the Dharma.

If that’s the case, heading to the Dharma inside the Heart of the Mind means facing Nyarlathotep at the same time!

“……”

What should I do?

No matter how much power I have now, I have no chance against the real Nyarlathotep…!! Because he’s the most powerful mask of the Outer God capable of displaying transcendent power in reality!

And why the hell did Al Karda throw me into this crazy situation?

‘What should I do?’

As I was in a state of confusion, the Asura behind me shouted in a raspy voice.

[Whoever you are, don’t interrupt my battle with Howol and just die!!]

Swoosh!!

The Asura’s fast sword sliced through where I was standing with incredible speed.

‘Ugh!’

I barely sensed the [Flow] in advance, managing to dodge the Asura’s fast sword using the Three Treasure Technique, but the deep cut along my forearm, looking like a long scar, was unavoidable. It showed that, even while concentrating, I couldn’t guarantee an absolute dodge—that’s how impressive Asura’s martial level was.

‘Even in the fast sword skill, he’s not that far behind Musashi…!!’

If I hadn’t sparred with Asura so hard, I might’ve lost an arm by now!

As I dodged the Asura’s sword, I noticed Howol seemed surprised, adjusting his chin.

“Ho! Not bad at all.”

[……!!]

It seemed Asura was just as surprised, squinting his eyes. He readied his sword and this time attacked me with the Sword Flying Technique.

Royal Sword Technique

Secret Technique

Blood Bound Hundred Miles Sky Piercing Blade

Kughuhuh!!

In that moment, Asura unleashed intent that split into thousands of pieces, each turning into a small dagger-like form raining down on me as the Sword Flying Technique commenced. The range and number of projectiles quickly covered several miles, making it apparent it was the Mind Control Technique Asura used for wide-area massacres.

‘What a brute! Even the future Asura didn’t teach me such a technique, when the heck did he learn this?!’

Is he bragging about being the Supreme Martial Artist for thousands of years?!

Despite my grumbling, I could perceive the [Flow] through Asura’s wild Sword Flying Technique.

‘…Easy!’

To the naked eye, it appeared impossibly dazzling to follow, but having learned about “Fast” and “Illusion” from countless peerless masters, it wasn’t that difficult at all. Plus, because it was divided into many fragments of intent, each one was weaker, so I felt as if there were several paths amongst the many flying daggers.

In that moment, without opposing my senses, I naturally extended a sword to pierce through.

Swish!

Like a streak of light cutting through the rain – my sword glided through effortlessly, slicing just an inch from Asura’s chest. Due to my natural momentum, Asura momentarily froze in shock before hurriedly reacting to block my sword light.

Clang!!

[Ugh!]

That was shallow.

Realizing I’d given Asura the chance to defend when I could’ve finished him off in one hit, I profoundly felt the disappointment of not being able to take him out.

‘…It’s not just a lack of focus. I couldn’t see the [Flow] to penetrate Asura’s last defense!’

I recognized that I had failed to perceive the final sword path that could cut through the slim gap of the master’s area.

In that split second, while sensing countless martial thoughts, Asura’s eyes glowed with a red light, and he shouted.

[You…!! I’ll end you with all I’ve got!]

And the intent began to spin!

Instantly, I recognized the overwhelming pressure from Asura launching a torrent of intense energy.

‘Is it the Nirvana of the Absolute?!’

Simultaneously, memories of the battle with Asura from the 29th incarnation flooded back. At that time, I had just received the secret method to overcome the Nirvana of the Absolute in the 28th incarnation, but I couldn’t use it in real combat, so I had to rely on the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique and the Infinite Slash.

‘And I survived then, but I definitely can’t claim to have mastered Nirvana of the Absolute…’

Pumped with determination, I felt the urge to take vengeance on past defeats.

In that very moment, the Nirvana of the Absolute began to activate with a force far beyond a regular Absolute Realm technique.

I recalled Asura’s advice.

[The real weakness of the Nirvana of the Absolute is at the seam of the wheel.]

[The weakness of the seam is invisible to the absolute eye.]

[Listen closely. It’s the [Flow]. The artificial flow created when five thoughts merge into one. If the opponent can identify that flow and cut the seam… the Nirvana of the Absolute will be completely powerless.]

Back in my 29th life, I could barely comprehend his advice regarding Nirvana of the Absolute because, at that time, I had acquired the incredible Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique but had no understanding of the [Flow]. Yet in this 30th life, through the Great Cycle and countless battles, I began to realize what [Flow] meant. Finally, I could apply the strategy Asura had given me back then.

‘The seam of the wheel.’

Before, I couldn’t see or feel it. Even though the Nirvana of the Absolute seemed to move slowly as it spun, once ignited, it would strike like a flash, leaving no room to pinpoint it.

But as I focused on sensing the [Flow] instead of peering at the Nirvana of the Absolute, I saw something different.

‘…There it is.’

How do I describe it?

It could never be expressed in drawings or shapes. It was simply the metaphysical [Flow] existing in my mind. Yet, this flow clearly indicated the gaps in the seam like a neat solution derived from a mathematical formula.

The moment I saw that neat seam expressing one clear answer, I understood.

‘Ah.’

That seam could be a weakness that the Nirvana of the Absolute could never resolve as long as it remained the Nirvana of the Absolute.

And with that realization, my blade moved even more naturally than before, retreating all unnecessary force while concentrating the minimal effort into my sword strike. I had no idea what sword technique I was employing—as it was merely the best sword path to break the seam. Perhaps depending on the opponent’s strength, it morphs constantly, so it could be said to be formless.

Swish!!

In the next instant – I had moved behind Asura in a downward cutting stance, and he stood frozen in place, caught in the stance of Nirvana of the Absolute.

After about two breaths’ worth of time passed, Asura’s arm slowly slipped away with his weapon.

Thud!!

[……!!]

[No!! What just happened?!]

The other members of the Eight Parts of the Divine watching were left in shock. To them, the blend of energy just moments ago between me and Asura was incomprehensible.

However, Howol reacted differently.

“I see you’ve reached the Divine Realm. Will you soon be able to sense the universe…”

Just as he finished that muttering.

The stunned Asura, still standing there with his severed arm, finally turned to me.

And then spoke.

[Baek Woong! What… did you see…?]

It seemed like an odd Zen question, but as a martial artist, I understood what he meant, so I replied calmly.

“I saw the seam.”

[The seam…? That cannot be…!! All six ultimate techniques are acclaimed as the strongest in Tianzhu… no, all of the Martial World! Each one is proof of those who conquered the Martial World! How could there possibly be a weakness in the strongest combination?!!]

Kwah!!

The powerful magical energy erupted from Asura’s whole being like a scream. His latent magic poured out so intensely that everyone in the hall recoiled, proving that his true magic rivaled even the lower Eternal Rulers. This was why at this time, the Asura of the Eight Parts of the Divine was recognized as the strongest demon king on the ground.

However, I steadied my posture and returned to my natural body, lightly replying.

“Nirvana of the Absolute is a circle, isn’t it?”

[……? What do you mean?]

“It’s exactly what your future self told me.”

At my continuous words, Asura froze, shocked.

“Five thoughts merging to form one flow create the Nirvana of the Absolute. But to maximize its power, it must be knitted together in a specific order, and that joins create a weakness that can never be resolved.”

[……!!]

“It seeks a circle, yet it’s not the real circle, which makes it weak. If it doesn’t become simpler, you’ll fall prey to the same trick as before.”

Asura seemed to be stammering. After standing still for a moment, he yelled.

[Is that reasonable! To be simpler? That would only weaken me further…!! I still need to be stronger, and you say to become weak instead?]

“I don’t have the qualifications to answer that.”

I replied that and sighed.

“What I want to tell you is… by giving up your power, in the future, you’ll become a master that I cannot even begin to rival.”

[……!!]

Asura appeared so shocked that he trembled his body before suddenly bursting into laughter.

[Hahaha… I see! I must let go of something!]

Boom!!

With that proclamation, Asura vanished from the hall. Surely, he escaped using a teleportation technique. The celestial being witnessing this was greatly confused.

[What the hell! You can’t just run away after losing!]

“……”

Of course, a celestial like him wouldn’t understand what Asura had gained.

As I gazed at him with a bitter look, I heard Howol call out to me.

“Baek Woong.”

Turning towards Howol, he unexpectedly said.

“Let’s begin the Life and Death Decision.”

“`

 

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