전생검신 91권 19화

‘Wait… what is this… technique?’

Surprisingly, the attack from Howol wasn’t the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun. In fact, it felt slower than the Quick Sword of the Asura I had just experienced. But I couldn’t grasp the mysterious energy embedded in that nameless technique, causing me to lose my judgment for a moment.

Kaang!!

With a cheerful clang, my sword clashed against Howol’s spear, sending sparks flying. I could feel that my defensive posture was much stronger and faster than Howol’s attack during this clash, but that only left me feeling unsettled.

Why was it that despite having the upper hand, I couldn’t decide what to do?

‘Ugh!’

I realized that I was not only unable to read Howol’s weaknesses but also hadn’t fully carved out my own path. I couldn’t recklessly switch to an aggressive strategy in this situation. Still, what puzzled me was that I couldn’t see clearly why I felt this way.

What’s going on?!

It’s been a while since I felt this way. Even when facing formidable experts, I always had a sense of calmness and could at least vaguely grasp what to do next. But with Howol, in just one second, I felt completely lost and confused.

‘It’s not my first time feeling this, but…!!’

I had experienced this sensation before, and it wasn’t that long ago. But for the life of me, I couldn’t remember exactly when that had been.

Swish

In the next moment, Howol’s spear slowed down and began releasing a heavy Qi wave as it weaved in an arc towards me. Since I had never come across this technique among all the martial arts I had encountered, I was momentarily taken aback.

‘What?! Is there a technique like that in the White Lotus Sect?’

How bizarre. After reincarnating dozens of times, rummaging through the Su Shin Sect’s library, and studying the martial arts of the Four Great Families for centuries, I felt confident in my knowledge of the White Lotus Sect’s techniques. Yet, the technique Howol was currently displaying felt completely foreign, lacking even the slightest similarity to what I had learned!

Tzzzzz

The more I felt Howol’s attacks cutting through my defenses—albeit not fast—the more anxious I became. I just couldn’t figure out what hidden tricks were behind Howol’s spear techniques.

Change? Illusion? Heavy? Counter? Swift? Flow?

‘…I don’t know!!’

Kaang!!

With another clash that sent sparks flying, I oddly realized once again that despite my sword being faster and stronger, I was still too focused on just blocking Howol’s attacks.

“…!!”

This makes no sense. According to the principles of martial arts, if your technique is faster and stronger, you should naturally press your advantage and either strike back or situate yourself in a more favorable position. But despite being stronger and faster than Howol’s techniques, I couldn’t leverage that advantage at all.

I could, in theory. With a half-strike advantage, I could just attack. But my instincts as an expert warned me that doing so would lead to bloodshed, preventing me from acting.

‘Am I really that foolish…? If I just attacked…’

No way.

As my reason and instinct battled it out, I finally chose to trust my senses. I solidified my defensive stance even more and quickly retreated three steps back.

Tydaht!!

Seeing my response, Howol smirked and I could faintly hear him murmuring with intent.

“You’re wandering around at the threshold of the Divine Realm, but I can see potential in you!”

At that moment, it seemed like Howol suddenly held two spears in his hands. One spear was a tangible, physical weapon, but the other was a formless spear made of pure intent. However, the intent spear applied pressure on me as if it were real, and Howol began to spin both spears towards me in a clash.

Kwaaaang!!

“…?!”

In the third clash that followed, my eyes widened in shock.

‘This defense…!!’

Once again, I tried to hold my ground defensively, but Howol’s dual spears flowed around my defenses like something that had foreseen my actions, utterly nullifying my efforts. I was taken aback because this technique had once been effective against the Ajidahaka.

Damn it…?!

I was penetrated… but why couldn’t I figure out how it got through?

Tydaht

But Howol smoothly withdrew instead of striking at the gap in my defense, almost as if he was yielding to me. I felt a surge of annoyance and blurted out,

“What are you doing right now?!”

“Why do you ask?”

“Here you are, throwing life and death into the mix, and you’re letting me off?!”

It was clear.

If I had been hit after letting him through my defenses just now, I would have suffered a heavy loss. It could have even been fatal, possibly losing a limb.

When I lashed out, feeling utterly toyed with, Howol merely smiled back.

Then he spoke.

“You were the same, weren’t you? In the first two exchanges, you had the speed and strength advantage, yet you didn’t retaliate.”

“That’s…!!”

I wanted to say I was different, but I hesitated. He was right; in the end, both of us had acted similarly. We had each gained a half-strike advantage yet chose to withdraw instead of pressing forward.

But… how could that be the same?

If that’s what we call “the same,” it feels disgraceful as someone who has touched the Divine Realm.

I couldn’t define it precisely, but there was something definitively different between Howol and me.

“Ugh…!!”

As I ground my teeth, searching for the right words, Howol spoke again.

“You seem incredibly strong. Just looking at your astounding divine power is proof of that.”

“…”

Just as expected from Howol. Has he already figured out my potential?

“If you use that potential to attack, you could sweep not only me but also the Eight Parts of the Divine behind me in one go. So why are you holding back?”

I paused at Howol’s words.

‘He’s not wrong, but…’

Then I replied gruffly.

“You, as a martial artist, have thrown down a life-and-death challenge. How can it not be shameful to respond with something other than martial prowess?”

“Haha!! Quite good. That’s a great attitude.”

For some reason, Howol looked pleased with my response and laughed heartily. After a moment of amusement, Howol brought up a curious point.

“However, you’re too rigid. Why define a life-and-death struggle according to your own rules?”

“What do you mean?”

His next words made me flinch.

“A duel where life and death are at stake… isn’t it a disrespect to withhold your full arsenal against your opponent?”

“…!!”

“Not using your divine power and supernatural abilities against me is, in fact, a form of impropriety.”

“…”

I pondered over his words for a while. Then I spoke.

“Wait… were you holding back against me just to say that?”

His act of pulling back even after clearly demonstrating a superiority left me feeling quite insulted. It made me feel as if Howol was sending me a coded message.

[Wasn’t what you did exactly like this?]

Howol didn’t respond directly to my question. Instead, he maintained a calm smile and quietly said,

“Well, I simply dislike your attitude of not going all out.”

I was dumbfounded and responded,

“…Even if I used my divine power to win against you, what use would that be? Divine power is simply the chaotic force inherent in me; it has nothing to do with martial prowess. I don’t see the point in you demanding me to play with such cheats!”

“Cheating? So you’re saying a martial artist can never defeat one with divine powers using martial arts?”

“That…!!”

Isn’t it obvious?!

Do you even know how monstrous divine power is? Even if I go all out, no matter how skilled that divine expert is…!!

But I couldn’t muster the words and instead stammered, and in that moment, Howol suddenly took a stance.

Swish!

His stance resembled that of the Thunder God Lineage, but still, something felt off. No, it wasn’t so much that it was different—it seemed like it might be the original style! The primordial stance before it branched into various techniques in the Four Great Families—this primal technique was precisely what Howol was now displaying.

Adopting that nameless stance, Howol quietly said,

“You seem to lack talent in martial arts. Yet, even so, reaching the entry of the Divine Realm as a reborn person is commendable. However, if you maintain this attitude, you’ll never surpass that level.”

“What…?!”

“Did you not realize that the ultimate martial arts is infinite?”

What did he just say?

Could it be he’s figured out I’m a reborn person?!

“Wait… who are you…?”

Just as I was flustered, Howol’s eyes sparkled.

“As a senior of the White Lotus Sect, I now intend to show you the true Divine Realm!”

Kugugugugu!!

In the next moment, the twin spears Howol held began to shine with different lights. The brilliantly glowing physical spear radiated a massive Yang energy, burning with a crimson yellow hue, while the formless spear on the other side emitted a dark, moonlight-like essence.

‘It’s coming…!!’

Immediately, I had three thoughts on how to counter that.

And I instinctively knew that the outcome would vary drastically depending on what I used to confront ‘that.’

“…!!”

I decided on the very first option that popped into my head.

Zzziizzt

Transforming my whole body into a mass of Thunder Energy, I formed my intent into a sword shape that floated on my palm.

Wuuuu—

The sound of the sword rang out.

Considering this was the second time I would use the True Body Ultimate Technique, I channeled my entire spirit into the forward release of the Thunder God Sword Mark.

Heaven’s Escape

Thunder God Sword Name!

Flash!

At that moment—the Thunder God Sword Name resounded—Howol couldn’t evade and was instantly pierced. It made sense, as this Heaven’s Escape Thunder God Sword Name was a technique that even the Sword Emperor Ajidahaka struggled to block with his divine technique, the Divine Skill ‘Samsara.’ I had been holding back on using this thunderous attack due to the extreme consumption of my spirit, but against Howol, I felt a strong instinct that I had to unleash it without hesitation.

Zzzzt!

Yet Howol didn’t even let out a scream. Though my Thunder God Sword Name pierced his heart like a sword spirit, it seemed he hadn’t suffered any physical harm.

‘What?’

What just happened?

No matter how ethereal the Thunder God Sword Name was, if I harbored murderous intent, it should have pierced his soul and delivered a serious shock. But for some incomprehensible reason, Howol appeared completely unfazed, as if he had not been hit at all.

Tzzzzz…

And at that moment, I sensed a change occurring within Howol’s body—a change in the flow.

‘He… spins.’

The Thunder God Sword Name that pierced Howol seemed to flow into the formless spear of Yin energy he possessed. Then, after rotating through the Yin, the potency of my electric power returned to him as a spear mixed with Yang energy, and in that moment where the power converged into a single point, I realized that Howol had completely suppressed it.

Tonk!!

“Ghah!”

In the next instant, I took a solid blow to my solar plexus and was sent flying backward, spitting out blood. As soon as Howol successfully took my Thunder God Sword Name, he retaliated, and one of his arms had already transformed into a dark dragon-like form. Upon realizing he had momentarily elevated his power using the technique of the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun, I felt my consciousness fading.

‘C-Crap… even with my divine defense, if he attacks with power like that, I’m done for…’

No, this felt like a definite attitude of wanting to kill me, whether I used my divine power or not!

Struggling to keep my bearings while swaying, Howol said,

“This is the Sun and Moon Divine Art. The Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun is merely a bonus.”

“Geh…!!”

I vomited blood and finally couldn’t hold on, collapsing to my knees while gasping for breath.

“Hah… Hah… This… How could it be that the White Lotus Sect’s descendants… hold no remnants…”

This made no sense.

To come this far only for Howol to have mastered another trump card, the Sun and Moon Divine Art, instead of just the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun?!

Given that this fact wasn’t documented anywhere, I could only be left bewildered.

Then Howol spoke.

“If you’re a reborn person from the future, it’s only natural you wouldn’t know.”

At Howol’s following words, I realized I had grasped some thread of clarity.

“This is a divine art I developed with a single-minded desire to repress the energy of the Great Dragon after obtaining the Sun and Moon Spirit.”