전생검신 94권 05화

I felt flustered as the Prophet vanished.

‘Is there really no other way than directly asking that Evil God?’

But the risk was too high. My instincts were outright warning me against such a choice; it felt like a recipe for disaster. If it’s the Evil God we’re talking about, he might do something even more terrifying than failing to complete the foreign mission. If that’s the case, I was basically out of options.

After thinking it over, I finally reached a conclusion:

“I guess there’s no choice.”

I’ve already searched thoroughly for external clues… Now, all that’s left is to study the ‘power’ that the owner of this body possessed!

I called in the Zodiac members waiting outside and asked,

“Is there a training room like the one I used to practice in?”

“I’ve never seen you train separately.”

“Hmm… I figured as much.”

As I smacked my lips, Merlin cautiously added,

“Just to check, did you perhaps experience memory loss?”

I shrugged my shoulders in response.

“Something like that. It seems the power I was training with is causing side effects… If I can figure out the nature of the power I was using, I might recover my memory.”

After giving a kind of half-lie, Merlin pondered for a moment and then said,

“If that’s the case… you once told me something in the past that might help.”

“What did I say?”

“You claimed that you obtained the power to save humanity through the Celestial Script.”

“……?”

Celestial Script? What’s that?

I was puzzled by this story I had never heard before and asked Merlin,

“What’s the Celestial Script?”

“It’s said to be a classic text unique to a certain Eastern tribe, and it contains such content.”

Saying that, Merlin conjured a book with some writing and showed it to me. I slowly read through the 81-character long text written in Chinese characters and finally began to recall memories.

“Yin Shi Wu Shi Yi, Shi San Ge Wu Jin Ben Tian Yi Yi Zhi Yi…”

Ah!

This sounds like the knowledge Chaeon Woo-jin passed on to me!

‘No… this… seems to be something I saw along with the great heart training of weary modern people in the Reverse Root Water Mirror… didn’t it all come together?’

The 81-character scripture looked somewhat impressive and sophisticated, but in reality, it was nothing special. If it had any substance, I wouldn’t have missed it over the course of 30 lives, and my comrades in the Great Bear Empire would have treated it as important. While it had philosophical notions, it was too vague to serve as a breakthrough in martial arts or sorcery, so no one bothered to train with it.

‘But this useless Celestial Script still exists in a world without the Three Sovereigns?’

Confirming that the information from the original world was the same here felt oddly fascinating.

As I stared intently to memorize the 81 characters, Merlin continued,

“As you can see, it’s a scripture of obscure meaning. I tried hard to interpret it upon your claim of it being the source of your power, but it didn’t make much sense. However, if you’re experiencing memory loss, it might be of some help…”

“Hmm. Celestial Script…”

Could it really be that the owner of this body built his power with the Celestial Script?

Or was I just throwing out nonsense to tease Merlin?

I felt doubtful, but still, each clue was precious at this point. So I asked Merlin one more time,

“Just to check, Master… Is there a term used to refer to the power I wield?”

“Not really. You typically referred to it as the ‘Great Power’ yourself.”

“Great Power…”

“If there’s something troubling you, do let us know. We’ll cooperate to help you find your memory quickly.”

Letting out a sigh from Merlin’s concerns, I said,

“It’s fine. I just need a bit of my own time, so wait by the round table.”

“Understood.”

Whoosh!

In an instant, I transported myself to the barren desert of the Barren Lands with no signs of life. I searched for a familiar cave but ended up giving a wry smile since there was nothing there.

‘I met the Thunder Dragon’s Divine Art and Lee Gang-ryong here… well, it’s not like anything’s here.’

There couldn’t be a better place to practice in silence than here.

I thought so, assuming a lotus position and began meditating.

“Hmmm.”

This body showed no signs of having undergone martial arts training. It seemed that while inner power definitely existed in this world, it didn’t have the unique blood flow characteristic of those who had trained in it. Thankfully, Al Karda had passed down my inner power intact, so using immense inner power wasn’t a problem, but this body seemed completely clueless about martial arts.

‘How do I use this chakra that’s flowing out of this body….’

Since it clearly wasn’t based on divine energy, it had to be a unique technique of this guy’s, but I had no idea how to execute it. I closed my eyes and while in a lotus position, tried to raise my intent.

Shhh shhh shhh

Through my intent, a translucent sword materialized in the air. I altered the sword’s shape into a chakra form and sent it flying into the void.

Swish!

‘It has some semblance of power, but in the end, it’s just been turned into chakra—it has no correlation to that mysterious technique….’

What on earth could this technique be, that it was strong enough to slice the Old Ruler without utilizing inner power, intent, or divine energy?

My curiosity grew, and I decided to recite the Celestial Script passage I just viewed.

“Yin Shi Wu Shi Yi, Shi San Ge Wu Jin Ben Tian Yi Yi Zhi Yi In Yi San …”

I recited the 81 characters hundreds of times.

While doing this, I observed whether merely reciting would generate power, but I had no such luck. Instead, I felt a bit of fatigue creeping in.

‘Well… Merlin must’ve tried something like this too… After all, can mere recitation enhance power? Even the foreign magic spells wouldn’t allow that.’

Still, there had to be a reason to mention the Celestial Script…?

While I thought Merlin wouldn’t know, my curiosity peaked as I examined the Celestial Script. But still, I couldn’t sense any meaning at all.

“Yin Shi Wu Shi Yi (一始無始一)… a starting point is a starting point without a start…? What nonsense is this.”

The phrase Yi Zhong Wu Zhong Yi (一終無終一) behind it was similar. It seemed like it paralleled yin shi wu shi yi, meaning ‘the one end is the one that has no end.’ It seemed grand, but it looked like another riddle for intellectual play, leaving me feeling conflicted.

‘Did this guy merely tease Merlin… After all, there’s no way he’d spill the real secret of power to a mere burden.’

Letting out a sigh, I suddenly found myself wanting to train in martial arts for the first time in ages.

‘It hasn’t even been a day out of the three days yet. Maybe I’ll stretch for just one moment.’

For now, I’d put off discovering the nature of this guy’s power and instead focus on resolving the knot in my heart.

Given the trials posed by the foreign missions, moving without a care would only see me succeed by chance, but even running around like a mad dog consumed by confusion would be meaningless. It wouldn’t be too late to move forward once I held at least a shred of inspiration and calmness. And right now, training in martial arts seemed like it would give me the peace I sought.

Swiiiish!

I displayed all the Thunder God sword techniques I knew, just as I did in the training world. After that, I showcased every spear technique and all the miscellaneous skills from the Thunder God lineage. Finally, I wrapped things up by trying each technique learned from the Wind Spirit Sect, Su Shin Sect, and Fire Spirit Techniques. As I showcased the Four Great Families’ techniques, I began to feel a slight surge of power.

“Ugh. I wish I could just train in martial arts all day without this annoying trial…”

I hadn’t seen the ultimate for martial prowess, but I craved the act of training itself. I was beginning to find it enjoyable. Besides, having recently gotten a lead on the pitch-black Immortal Sword following my discovery of the Thunder God Sword Name, I was eager to delve deeper.

While I indulged in these thoughts, I suddenly recalled the training I had almost forgotten about and slapped my forehead.

“Ah! I haven’t been doing this lately.”

The practice of Immortal Sword Technique!

It had been a long time since Yeodong-bin told me to draw circles daily. I found it shameful that I had overlooked it since I was so busy lately. I had attained some achievement in the Immortal Sword Technique; why should I neglect it?

Whoooosh!

Unlike the joyful swishing of the Four Great Families’ techniques, this time, a solemn and precise qi surrounded my body. Unlike martial arts that must be executed accurately and quickly, the act of drawing circles in the Immortal Sword Technique required my intent to be immaculate. Focusing all my concentration on drawing and tying the circle within a state of pure qi and spirit was essential.

‘Even though it seems like I understand everything about Immortal Sword Technique… there’s still so much left to learn.’

No, it’s more than that—I finally felt I was starting to understand.

Why exactly did Yeodong-bin tell me to draw circles?

In each instance of unleashing the Thunder God Sword Name, my intent manifested, and I sensed that the very power needed to launch came in relation to my circle.

Of course, just drawing a circle wouldn’t allow that power to accumulate like inner power, but when combined with the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s Immortal Sword Technique, it might enable me to condense the sword’s strength and unleash it at a necessary moment, akin to Yeodong-bin.

‘My Thunder God Sword Name can become even stronger…!’

If I had figured out Yeodong-bin’s and the Thunder God Sword’s meanings earlier, perhaps I could have attained the pinnacle of martial arts sooner?

Yet realizing that earlier could have meant mastering the Realm of the Divine Domain in one stroke, which could have been a different matter entirely.

As I was lost in thought while drawing circles meticulously thousands of times without interruption.

Swoooosh

At the moment I drew a single circle, I instinctively recited the Celestial Script.

“Yin Shi Wu Shi Yi…”

And then I was struck with shock.

“…?!”

Wait, hold on…?

I halted my sword and stared blankly at the sword techniques. I swallowed hard, using my intent to leave a lingering afterimage in the space.

Swoosh

After completing a perfectly drawn circle, my sword technique arrived precisely at that afterimage’s location.

Seeing that moment, I mumbled in awe,

“…Yi Zhong Wu Zhong Yi.”

No way…

I couldn’t help but feel flustered by this sudden insight.

Yin Shi Wu Shi Yi.

A beginning is not a beginning –

‘Because it’s a circle… a beginning might not actually be a beginning.’

Yi Zhong Wu Zhong Yi.

An end is not an end –

‘…the same goes. A circle might not really have an end.’

Oh…

Wait a second…

At that moment, the words the Sword Demon once shared with me flashed through my mind.

[Listen closely. A circle symbolizes infinity.]

[There are no limits. Beginning and end are the same; so, how could there be limits? Isn’t that right?]

That’s right. It was then that the Sword Demon elucidated Yeodong-bin’s words, allowing me to grasp precisely why the Immortal Sword could gather the Law of Cause and Effect in the shape of a circle. But now, the [Yin Shi Wu Shi Yi] and [Yi Zhong Wu Zhong Yi] from the Celestial Script were undeniably aligned with that principle.

“……!”

I see now… this Celestial Script is explaining circles from beginning to end!

‘And when you look closely… it emphasizes the principles of Heaven, Earth, and People and the three talents…’

Is this a coincidence?

In essence, the principles of Heaven, Earth, and People and the principles of circles were so commonly known that it didn’t seem particularly intriguing by itself. However, it certainly wasn’t something to be overlooked that precisely someone with the immense strength to slash the Old Ruler would mention the Celestial Script.

“……”

Could it be that this guy… holds the answer to the [Incomplete Infinity] that Jang Sam-bong, the True Immortal, spoke of?

Is he really that formidable?

As I felt confused, I suddenly realized something strange.

“Hmmm…?”

Whoooosh!

While reciting the Celestial Script during my training –

Light began to emanate from my body.

And shortly after, an unrecognizable voice echoed through the heavens.

[Do you wish to renew the contract of the Primordial Void?]