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Crunch!

As soon as I started, I lunged forward with a swift sword, aiming right for Jin So-cheong’s neck. It didn’t have a fancy name, but it was the basic thrust taught first in the Thunder God lineage.

But Jin So-cheong wasn’t about to let that slide; using the Three Treasure Technique, he swiftly dodged back, giving me a look.

Whoosh!

Boom!

Just then, a sound like explosions erupted on both sides of Jin So-cheong’s head, making his long hair flutter like leaves in the wind. He had let his hair grow all the way down to his shoulders while doing closed-door training in the mountains, and now it was going everywhere.

He glanced at the damage done to his hair and remarked, “What a terrifying thrust. Was that… Zankong Eunyoo?”

I nodded. “You recognized it right away.”

“And you twisted the trajectory using the powers of the Heavenly Contraction Sword… That last attack was practically a killing blow.”

“No need to flatter me. What the heck are you when you dodged that so easily?”

“Just lucky, I guess.”

As I heard Jin So-cheong’s words, a wave of unease washed over me. ‘To break through such a refined linkage technique while practicing the Mystical Art—how arrogant.’

What I had been training in wasn’t just some flashy martial art; it was a way to enhance my grasp of the Thunder God lineage’s techniques while vastly improving my adaptability. It intertwined both the Seven Great Techniques and the Eight Immortals Divine Art I had learned over time.

My last attack had come from the realization of Zankong Eunyoo, using the Heavenly Contraction Sword to twist the space as I accelerated. So while my thrust seemed straightforward, my opponent would suddenly be faced with a triple attack meant to finish them off.

But Jin So-cheong, in that mere instant, grasped every change in my approach and backed away just enough using the Three Treasure Technique. To him, my previous attack had hardly been an attack at all.

“Now I understand. I need to wield a spear to face you properly.”

With that, Jin So-cheong calmly lifted his spear, assuming stance. Just that movement sent waves of presence surging from him. It was as if an ominous creature was breathing down my neck, sending chills all over my body. I felt the sweat pooling in my palms and couldn’t help but grin.

“It’s an honor.”

Jin So-cheong had a habit of not using his spear against weaker opponents. Just like the time he knocked the Sword King Namgung Myeong to the ground, if he deemed it unnecessary, he’d take a casual swing. I wasn’t sure if that was just his pride or his true nature, but the moment he decided to wield that spear, it meant something heavy.

It signified that he acknowledged me as someone worthy of putting in his utmost effort!

Despite the outrageous differences in training time, I had no doubts about his exceptional talent. I could hardly feel jealousy or envy over it.

“Three Yards Craft.”

With an almost lazy motion, Jin So-cheong’s spear shot forward.

‘What’s this?’

It didn’t look different from the slow thrust I’d just encountered. I wondered if his spear bore any essence of the Seven Great Techniques or the Eight Immortals Divine Art but felt nothing significant.

How should I respond?

As I hesitated, Jin So-cheong’s spear was slowly invading my space. It was clear that allowing any more encroachment would spell disaster.

But I decided to remain patient and kept my focus solely on his thrust, following through my senses.

Then it happened.

Bang!

“……!!”

I was unexpectedly flung backward several feet. After bouncing off the ground, I used my light body technique to regain my stance, but the power behind that thrust was insane, forcing me to concentrate all my internal energy just to halt my momentum.

“Ugh…”

I grimaced as I stood up. My sword nearly shattered, but against Jin So-cheong’s strike, I miraculously held my ground, much to his surprise.

“You blocked that? How did you sense the moment to strike?”

“I had a hunch…”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “That was the next level of Thunder God spear technique, wasn’t it?”

He readily admitted, “That’s correct.”

In a previous life, Jin So-cheong had once told me, “I didn’t use it when we fought before since it was incomplete. But I consider this the next stage of the Thunder God spear technique.”

“When I consulted my master on this stage, they said it was the integration of the spear’s six forms into one.”

“Though it’s hard to explain, you combine the steps from one strike all the way to six into a single technique. My master called this stage the pinnacle of thrusting.”

If Thunder God Sword Dance was the final technique in the Thunder God’s sword arts, then there was a higher state reserved just for the Thunder God spear techniques. It involved the union of the six forms: the single thrust, second advance, three barriers, four binds, five captures, and six lines, all executed simultaneously.

‘Is he truly at that level of transcendence?’

Absolutely. Past Jin So-cheong must have completely mastered a technique he had merely theorized in the past. Still, even with my insight, curiosity nagged at me.

‘One merging moment doesn’t exist… what’s the underlying principle here?’

No matter how you slice it, there had to be some martial rationality even within the concept of intent. However, Jin So-cheong’s recent strike seemed less about technique and more like “it simply came,” without distinguishing any specific spear maneuvers. Thankfully, I could defend against it, so I decided to stand my ground.

Clang!

Our powers clashed in midair, and after testing the waters, it seemed he switched to lighter exchanges as he sought an opening. I unleashed everything I had honed in training against him, and in a flash, over fifty seconds zipped by.

Both of us used the Three Treasure Technique to adjust our powers with the Heavenly Contraction Sword. Since our available techniques were so similar, we could mostly fend off or dodge without deploying wildly alien methods.

Just as things started to feel a bit wearisome.

‘Here it comes!’

Bang bang bang!

“Urgh.”

Once again, I was forced back by a single thrust, scraping against the ground. There was no time to use my falls or other techniques; Jin So-cheong’s spear packed an overwhelming force. I shot back up into position only to feel my nose bleed.

Drip drip.

Blood poured from the inside, soaking my clothes. But I didn’t bother wiping it away and instead glared at Jin So-cheong, grasping my sword fiercely. Even if my fingers or arms got taken off in a duel, I couldn’t lose focus on my opponent right in front of me.

For some time, our lethal energies clashed as we engaged in an intense duel.

“That’s enough!”

At that moment, Lee Cheong-un called for a halt. Finally able to wipe my nose, I noticed my upper body was drenched in sweat. With how things were going, I felt I would inevitably be the one to lose.

“Stop the bleeding.”

“Yes.”

I pressed on a pressure point to temporarily stem the blood flow. Meanwhile, I used my spit to help the wound close quickly. While I administered first aid, Lee Cheong-un spoke up.

“That was a good match. You must’ve learned a lot.”

With a sigh, I replied, “No need to hold back.”

“Huh?”

“I noticed. Jin So-cheong was being rather lenient with me.”

That much was true. Around twenty seconds in, I sensed with my instincts that Jin So-cheong was reserving power for our duel, estimating about thirty percent of his strength pulled back against me.

Hearing that, Lee Cheong-un sighed wryly, “Even still, you did remarkably. Even a Dharma Guardian from the White Lotus Sect would struggle against the current Jin So-cheong, yet you pulled some serious force from him.”

“So that’s the gap between me and the absolute realm?”

“You were going toe to toe with a true superhuman.”

Lee Cheong-un shot a look at Jin So-cheong. “Now watch closely.”

Boom!

“…!! Wait, what?”

Out of the blue, Lee Cheong-un charged Jin So-cheong with a Thunder Spirit attack!

The intense thunder light and explosive boom shocked me. Lee Cheong-un showed no signs of holding back, unleashing a power strong enough to create a chaotic earthquake of sound; I even worried for Jin So-cheong’s safety.

But when the dust settled, the scene left me even more awestruck.

Stalemate!

Lee Cheong-un had his fist just inches from Jin So-cheong’s throat, while Jin So-cheong had the spear’s tip poised against Lee Cheong-un’s neck. Both of them could end the other with a single, swift move.

Leaning back, Lee Cheong-un retracted his fist, and so did Jin So-cheong with his spear. Turning to me, Lee Cheong-un said, “See? Jin So-cheong can keep pace against my Thunder Spirit attack.”

“Gah!!”

“That right there shows the difference between those in the absolute realm and everyone else.”

It all made sense now. Traditionally, the Thunder Spirit strike was so overly rapid that human reflexes could hardly keep up; even a Dharma Guardian needed to be utterly defeated in one blow. Yet Jin So-cheong managed to respond to Lee Cheong-un’s surprise assault without breaking a sweat.

“Not just Jin So-cheong, mind you; those who reach the absolute realm can generally keep up with the Thunder Spirit strike. This suggests that moving at the speed of lightning isn’t as intimidating for those who have reached that level.”

“Hmm…”

“Do you see what I’m saying?”

As I contemplated, Jin So-cheong, who had been quiet all along, finally spoke up.

“Baek Woong, I think I came at the perfect time for a reason.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Thunder Spirit is an understanding that ranks high among those in the absolute realm. That said, the difficulty of mastering the techniques within the Absolute Law is great, and even gifted individuals can’t achieve it quickly. Thus, while I sought to grasp the Seven Great Techniques and the Eight Immortals Divine Art, I was also focused on carving out my own path. This led me to the ultimate essence of Thunder God spear techniques and allowed me to reach that absolute level.”

In that moment, he added, “I believe that this way, you too can reach the ultimate essence.”

I caught on to what he meant. “You want me to observe the ultimate essence of Thunder God swordplay?”

“Exactly.”

Jin So-cheong nodded vigorously.

“You, Baek Woong, are undeniably among the top three sword masters in Thunder God history. Aside from Lee Cheong-un, there won’t be many on this continent capable of teaching you Thunder God swordplay. During this time, your mentor guided you on the Mystical Art while also meticulously offering swordsmanship lessons. Additionally, there were indeed signs that you were about to reach the absolute realm.”

“Signs?”

“When you severed the Sea God’s head, you awakened the Thunder God Sword Dance without knowing why. In that moment, you exhibited such exceptional strength that even I believed you couldn’t be beaten.”

“Ah!”

That experience rushed back to me. When everything collapsed and despair hung heavy, I had set my last shred of will ablaze and unleashed the Thunder God Sword Dance. In that moment of inexplicable awakening, I had indeed managed to sever the neck of the Old Ruler, the Sea God. As my memories resurfaced, Jin So-cheong continued.

“I think that was a moment when all your abilities exploded and you reached the absolute realm.”

“But if that’s true, why can’t I replicate that enlightenment now?”

“For years, my master and I have debated that very question. In short, the Thunder Spirit is the ‘vessel,’ and the Thunder God Sword Dance is the ‘content.’”

“Vessel? Content?”

What does that even mean?

As I tilted my head, Lee Cheong-un crossed his arms.

“When one masters the Thunder God Sword Dance or one of the Thunder God techniques to the absolute realm, they gain the qualification to ascend to further levels. It’s almost akin to a divine descent, allowing one to wield intent and summon a heavenly pillar at will. In that state, they could be invincible in the mortal realm.”

“Whoa! I can reach that level?”

“However, that state hinges on the power of the Thunder God. A human, even with their physique and spirit, cannot properly control such forces. Even if they could, it would be like temporary surges, leaving them in the dust.”

“So, I need a ‘vessel’ to contain that power?”

“Precisely! That vessel is the Thunder Spirit.”

“That’s why our lineage has passed down the study of the Thunder Spirit through generations. While there are cases, like yours, where someone experiences temporary awakening, those who manage to make it their own have virtually been too few to count.”

Lee Cheong-un nodded in agreement. “Our trio here possesses the qualifications to temporarily awaken the Thunder God’s power. That’s because we stand atop the pinnacle of Thunder God martial arts. But turning that power into stable usage is something I alone can do theoretically.”

“…”

“When the Thunder Spirit energy resides within the Thunder Spirit vessel, the ultimate essence of the Thunder God lineage will come even closer.”

To harness the power of a deity, one must possess the spirit of that deity.

Such is the natural order of things for the Thunder Spirit!

As I listened to this revelation, curiosity piqued in my mind, and I asked Lee Cheong-un, “Wait a sec. Something seems off…”

“What is it?”

“If that’s the case, shouldn’t you have already surpassed the absolute realm?”

This was bugging me. Considering Lee Cheong-un held all the prerequisites to be closer to the ultimate essence of Thunder God martial arts, combined with his exceptional talent, it was only fair he would stand out among true masters at the absolute level.

Even facing off against the likes of Tosen shouldn’t surprise anyone given his credentials.

Yet, Lee Cheong-un’s actual strength seemed significantly lower than Sword Master Yeodong-bin and slightly above the White Lotus Master. He hadn’t encountered Musashi or the Twelve Joules yet, but they were no pushovers either. According to Lee Cheong-un’s theory, there was a clear contradiction here.

Seeming to catch my meaning, Lee Cheong-un answered with a bitter smile. “The difference between having the ‘qualification’ and awakening the Thunder spirit power at will is vast. I’ve never once felt the Thunder God’s strength flow into me as you described. I don’t even know what it feels like.”

“Wait… what?!”

“Hence, even though I’ve speculated about your awakening with the Thunder God Sword Dance, I couldn’t bring myself to advise you. In fact, none of us here can intentionally awaken the Thunder God’s power like you did back then.”

“…”

“That realm truly seems indifferent to the capabilities or limitations of humanity. It’s one of fate’s grand designs, if you will. Even Jin So-cheong may leap in strength but may never truly harness the power of the Thunder God.”

“What?! That’s crazy…”

Listening to Lee Cheong-un made me feel a wave of despair creeping in.

So, no matter how hard I worked to learn the Thunder Spirit, depending on luck, would I be able to draw forth that power like I did during that one moment? Could I really depend on such unstable strength to get through what lay ahead?

Then Jin So-cheong spoke up once more.

“However, there is a way to gain more clues.”

 

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