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“It’s chaotic out here!”

As the battle kicked off, I couldn’t think of anything else. I was tuned into the insane combat experience of the “Overlay Technique,” trying to comprehend the frenzied exchanges of these top-tier fighters. Seriously, even with that, the level of their skill swaps was dizzying.

The Sect Leader’s palm shot toward Yeodong-bin’s face like a cannonball. The force emanating from the Mandala summoned by the Sect Leader was on a whole other level compared to the power displayed by the Dharma Protectors. It looked at least ten times faster and stronger, and sure enough, as soon as Yeodong-bin dodged with the Moonlit Evasion, that power uprooted an entire mountain.

Crash!

Before the sound of the mountain collapsing could fully register, the Sect Leader and Yeodong-bin were exchanging strikes at terrifying speeds just a short distance apart. Even for a Peak Expert, it felt nearly impossible to watch or analyze such a spectacle!

The Sword Saint was clearly going all out from the get-go, as if he sensed that this battle was going to be catastrophic and that a top-tier adversary had emerged.

Yeodong-bin’s Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram gathered power and shattered the Sect Leader’s Mandala, unleashing a torrent of lethal sword paths. The Sect Leader, as if confident in his strength, directly countered Yeodong-bin’s attacks with his own martial arts.

Bang!

Each ray of light, bending in a strange yet terrifying arc, exuded power equal to the Sword Saint’s secret techniques. To prove this point, one stray sword strike shot out and landed in Luoyang, leading to dozens of nearby objects being swept away by flames and a storm.

‘Oh, even if the battle of these top-tier fighters rivals natural disasters…’

It had only been a mere ten seconds since the awakened Apostle and Yeodong-bin had started fighting. However, the altar was already half-destroyed, the entire Imperial Palace was in ruins, and several mountains near Luoyang had disappeared completely! I realized this was the clash of true Apostle-level beings, and I could tell that either the Sect Leader or Yeodong-bin could match the Demon King!

Suddenly, amidst the intensifying duel between Yeodong-bin and the Sect Leader, a Thunder Spirit swooped in and swiftly slashed at the Sect Leader’s waist. The Sect Leader shot a brief glance in that direction, flicked his fingers, and then—

—the air tore apart, sending Lee Cheong-un flying.

“Cough!”

Lee Cheong-un managed to block with both hands but seemed to have sustained a minor injury on his arm. The Sect Leader muttered with a mocking tone.

[ Targeting openings with the Thunder Spirit… I can only say that was possible when I was still human…]

And there it was—the Sect Leader’s assault commenced.

Shing!

Dozens of spaces seemed to be pulled in, forming a bizarre Mandala around Lee Cheong-un. Realizing its purpose, he quickly unleashed his intent techniques to shake off the Mandala. But bizarrely, it seemed to track his movements, knowing exactly where he was. This technique was on par with the Three Treasure Technique!

Lee Cheong-un shouted out in frustration, “So you can just casually use what I developed? Sure, you’ve got infinite power, so you can just slap it on and it’s the best!”

Boom!

With that, Lee Cheong-un summoned a ball imbued with Thunder Light and collided it with the Mandala, dispelling it. I was shocked to realize that the reverse celestial wheel was one of the eight possibilities discovered in his Seven Great Techniques, leaving me in a bit of a stupor.

‘Indeed, the Sect Leader can steal the techniques from the owner of the Heavenly Spirit Pill…’

If time went on like this, the Sect Leader would completely master the Seven Great Techniques found by Lee Cheong-un and become the ultimate powerhouse. But hearing Lee Cheong-un’s words, it seemed the Sect Leader could only borrow their forms but could not fully unleash their true strength. If the Sect Leader could use the Essence freely, Yeodong-bin wouldn’t stand a chance!

[ Let’s settle this!]

About a hundred seconds passed, and the fierce battle continued. With his palms pressed together, the Sect Leader had become incredibly swift and powerful since his last fight with Yeodong-bin, attacking with a level of agility and precision far above that of the Demon King. As he overwhelmingly took the offensive, it turned into a dance where Yeodong-bin took on 80% of the attacks while Lee Cheong-un dodged the remaining 20%. It was clear that they were on the back foot.

Could they really not win?

Amidst the chaotic flurry of Thunder Light and sword energy flying through the air, I felt increasingly frustrated that Lee Cheong-un wasn’t being as helpful as I had hoped. He was undoubtedly the greatest genius of the Thunder God Lineage, yet he was only able to relieve some of Yeodong-bin’s burden. But then, sensing my frustration, Yeodong-bin turned to me.

[ Protector, Lee Cheong-un is a superhuman. Just being a part of this battle pushes the limits of humanity. If he hadn’t eased my burden, I would have been deeply overwhelmed.]

[ Ugh… I know, I know…]

[ Summoning the Fire Dragon against such a master is meaningless. It seems the waiting time for the Thunder Spirit is instantaneous, not giving me the chance to call upon the Fire Dragon.]

As he muttered that, Yeodong-bin spoke with conviction, “[ The Sect Leader is just too strong. I will go with a strategy to buy time.]”

[ Huh?]

I was taken aback.

The current Yeodong-bin was using his divine treasure, the Fire Dragon Sword, plus the powers of the Moon Sovereign and the National Seal without reservation, yet he spoke so weakly! I thought for sure they would win, so I couldn’t grasp the actual battlefield situation.

Calmly, Yeodong-bin replied, “[ If it goes on like this, it’ll be a stalemate, but the more we use our full strength, the more I’m at a disadvantage. I have no choice but to endure.]”

[ What are you talking about? We have to win, even if it means exhausting the Moon Sovereign and National Seal!]

[ Protector, your internal energy is already drained, and you have used up more than half the power of those divine treasures. Don’t talk anymore.]

With that, Yeodong-bin refocused on the battle. I realized something from watching his concentration.

The Sect Leader’s capabilities had surpassed even that of the Overlay Technique!

With the fighting strength of the Overlay Technique equipped with top-tier divine treasures, they could only barely hold on. As Yeodong-bin continued his fight, the force he unleashed was already enough to level mountains, while no further power could be generated.

This must be what it looks like for a Demon Sorcerer to receive divine blessings, standing between mortal and divine, reaching half-divine and Demon King realms.

‘Damn it… What the hell…!!’

I was enveloped in a sense of unfairness and felt rage boil inside me. It wasn’t a childish anger about Yeodong-bin not being able to take down the Sect Leader. Rather, it stemmed from the incomprehensible, vast chasm between humanity and divinity that made no sense whatsoever.

If that’s the case, what good is martial skills?

What good are techniques?

Ultimate martial arts and techniques can’t hold a candle to just one blessing from the Old Ruler!

Yet, as I read Yeodong-bin’s fighting experience, I felt a strange reverence. Surprisingly, Yeodong-bin had fought against an equal adversary comparable to the Sect Leader before! In this lifetime, Yeodong-bin hadn’t fought with the Demon King but seemed unperturbed facing the tremendous power of the Sect Leader.

‘The Great Dragon?’

That wicked dragon he faced last on Mount Ye! It seemed to indicate the legendary Great Demon that created chaos a millennium ago! Yeodong-bin, who miraculously defeated and sealed the Great Dragon in that muddied life-and-death battle, was indeed a seasoned warrior.

Crash!

And just at that moment, I felt the Sect Leader take a significant backstep, clearly shaken. It didn’t seem to be due to the combined forces of Yeodong-bin and Lee Cheong-un but rather something outside the battle was affecting him. The confusion in his eyes was palpable.

But Yeodong-bin, who was on the defensive, couldn’t afford to lose that chance. Without a second thought, he charged forward.

[ Take this!]

Heavenly Escape Sword Technique!

Heart Intent Six Harmonies!

Formless Sword!

It felt as if the first independent sword strike that wasn’t part of the Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram had emerged. Or should I say, a secret technique used by the Sword Saint only when facing his fated nemesis? Something beyond a sword strike appeared in the air and sliced through time and space, directed at the Sect Leader.

Swish!

The Sect Leader noticed the advance of the Formless Sword, but his response was a split second too late. Unable to dodge or defend, a massive sword wound was branded across his left arm. Of course, as an immortal being, the injury didn’t mean too much to him, but the Sect Leader’s expression was one of pure shock.

[ Th-this…?]

[ It’s full of gaps!]

Yeodong-bin, fueled by a burst of energy, pressed his attack. For some reason, the impeccable distribution of offensive and defensive tactics from the Six Intent Saintly Heaven Technique had weakened, even feeling clumsy. Sure, a regular martial artist couldn’t detect the minuscule gap, but the Sword Saint was more than capable of exploiting it.

In an instant, the tide turned, and the Sect Leader found himself retreating. If Yeodong-bin had been alone, he wouldn’t have identified the gaps, but thanks to Lee Cheong-un, who repeatedly struck and withdrew with the Thunder Spirit, the Sect Leader’s attention was spread thin, allowing for a more comfortable flow.

“Prepare yourself, Sect Leader!”

But I could see Lee Cheong-un wasn’t doing too hot.

‘He’s exhausted.’

No matter who you were, pushing the Thunder Spirit to its absolute max after this long was unprecedented. The power behind each of the Sect Leader’s minor attacks was enough to collapse mountains, and the unique strategies reflected in the Seven Great Techniques forced Lee Cheong-un to focus solely on evasion. As a result, despite wielding the infinite energy of the Heavenly Spirit Pill, Lee Cheong-un was physically and mentally at his breaking point.

My consciousness was consumed by Yeodong-bin’s martial prowess. Every sword path he revealed was a peak mastery, showcasing new heights to me continuously. It was practically a beautiful dance as he advanced to strike the Sect Leader’s critical point.

And at last, Yeodong-bin’s sword blade landed on the Sect Leader’s reverse scale.

Bang!!

[ Guh… ]

[ Hah! ]

The Sect Leader and Yeodong-bin both screamed in unison as they were blasted back. The Sect Leader’s defensive barrier shattered, and he was left bleeding from his neck, with a massive injury marked across his chest. What’s more, the power of the Fire Dragon Sword seemed to be hindering his recovery, preventing him from stopping the flow of blood.

But Yeodong-bin was in a dire state, too. He looked mournfully at the half-broken sword blade.

[ Master, it seems… you couldn’t withstand it any longer…]

The Fire Dragon Sword was broken in half. No matter how fierce the conflict, it was unbelievable for a legendary divine sword to break. Whatever the circumstances, it was clear that the Sword Saint had weakened significantly now that his sword was gone.

[ Cough, cough… Hah… ]

The Sect Leader, coughing up blood, muttered, “[ This is pointless… so utterly pointless.]”

[ ……]

He looked emptily at the sky, murmuring, “[ Sword Saint, you failed to pierce my reverse scale with your supreme strike… and now your sword is shattered…]

[ … That’s true.]

[ Normally, I should have won this battle. Do you acknowledge that?…]

After a brief silence, Yeodong-bin finally responded.

[ I acknowledge it.]

[ Hahaha! Cough… Ugh… Bhaha! ]

With a crazed laugh, the Sect Leader spoke despondently.

[ The Old Ruler was never satisfied with being just a man in Luoyang… He demanded I sacrifice the members of my sect whom I cherish… The Evil God, reveling in tormenting mortals, I resolved to make that sacrifice too…]

[ ……]

[ I am a great sinner… with every massacre… But I do feel some guilt. Why? Because I am a human.]

The Master of the White Lotus Sect’s human sacrifices were not just his own will, but rather a demand from the Old Ruler. With a somber voice, he said. “[ Are you listening… Baek Woong?…]”

At that moment, Yeodong-bin turned towards me. Thanks to him, I was floating in the air and responded, “I am listening.”

[ Hehe… was my dream nothing but an illusion?…]

I felt a pang of confusion at how to respond to such a question. My heart grew heavy and I struggled to find words.

Although he was a villain, I could tell that his motives were ultimately a choice for the majority’s happiness. Even in speaking of sacrificing the White Lotus Sect members, I felt the guilt he was holding inside.

‘Ah.’

I realized the contradictions I had been harboring.

I didn’t actually dislike the Sect Leader. If I had encountered the White Lotus Sect in my first lifetime, and under the influence of the Master, I might have naturally sympathized with his ideology. It was merely a matter of who had come first.

For some reason, I felt tears welling up. With effort, I swallowed them and said, “It’s not an illusion.”

[ Really…?]

“Yes.”

[ I’m glad…]

It seemed the Sect Leader smiled, wrapped in the chaotic power that had distorted his human form, yet I somehow understood this fact.

Poof!

The Sect Leader’s body began to slowly disperse into chaos. From the edges of his form, he turned to black powder and started to scatter. Yeodong-bin’s last strike hadn’t directly hit the reverse scale, so it shouldn’t be a fatal wound, yet this was strange.

In a voice filled with pity, the Sect Leader spoke, “[ You resemble me… ]”

He was becoming more and more consumed by chaos. This indicated that something outside of the battle had dealt a substantial blow to the Master of the White Lotus Sect. When he spoke of despair, it was evident he had been unexpectedly ambushed, leading to the dissipation of his dreams.

“……”

[ Baek Woong… Beware of the Master of the Twelve Joules…]

With that, he vanished into chaos.

That was the end of the Master of the White Lotus Sect.

I stared blankly for a long time at the remnants of the Master, who had disappeared without a trace.

‘He was definitely an enemy.’

It was unmistakable, yet I hadn’t expected to feel such a weighted, bittersweet sensation. What had I wanted all along? Did it even matter if I suffered under the Master? Confusion washed over me as I froze, until Yeodong-bin spoke to me.

[ Protector… Hurry and get down to the ground. You’ve already expended all the powers of the National Seal and more than 80% of the Moon Sovereign’s strength. You can’t maintain any more martial skills. Plus, your internal energy is exhausted; you’ve drained it to the bottom.]

“Yes.”

[ For now, fighting is out of the question. Take care of your body.]

After finishing his thoughts, Yeodong-bin withdrew from my presence. I hurriedly descended from the air, finally landing on the ground. Before I knew it, Lee Cheong-un had approached me, looking incredibly tired, with drowsy eyes.

“It feels like the darkness of Luoyang has lifted a bit after taking down the Sect Leader.”

He was right. The dark blue mist that had obscured our vision was starting to fade, revealing hints of clarity. The destruction of the altar and the disappearance of the Sect Leader, the officiant of the ritual, had slowed the Old Ruler’s influence.

But I was baffled and asked Lee Cheong-un, “Why did the Sect Leader lose?”

“That’s…,”

Lee Cheong-un opened his mouth, hesitated, then clenched his fists. “It’s probably due to those guys…”

Swish.

From a distance of about ten paces, two shadows emerged. Among them, the Dongyoung Martial Artist quietly gazed our way and spoke.

“Well done, holding on.”

It was Miyamoto Musashi, the ultimate warrior of Dongyoung and the special position of the Twelve Joules.

Beside him stood a man wearing a puppy mask, chuckling away.

“Baek Woong, congratulations on becoming a hero!”

Master of the Twelve Joules.

In one hand, he was holding a familiar braid. The head attached to that braid wore a dazed expression, as if it hadn’t even felt pain before dying. It was none other than the Young Master of the White Lotus Sect.

 

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